^  PRINCETON.    N.    J.  <ff 
 
 Presented  by  Mr  Samuel  Agnew  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
 
 Agnciv  Coll.  on  Baptism,  No. 
 
 7f73 
 
 ••  •     \ 
 
WATER    BAPTISM, 
 
 Circumcision, 
 
 AND    THE 
 
 LORD'S  SUPPER, 
 
 DISSECTED  and  ANALIZED ; 
 
 SHEWING  THE  DANGER  OF  RESTING  IN  THOSE  SIGNS  J 
 
 The  Spiritual  Substance,  and  import  of  them,  opened 
 
 up  in  aa  experimental  May. 
 
 TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 
 OF    THE 
 
 ANABAPTISTS,  or  BAPTISTS,    , 
 
 Calculated  to  establish  Aveak  Believers,  and  io  rescue  them  from 
 the  power  of  the  Devil,  from  Errors,  and 
 '  False  Teachers. 
 
 THE  WHOLE   BEING  THE 
 
 SUBSTANCE  of  SEVERAL  DISCOURSES, 
 
 PREACHED  ON 
 
 BAPTISM, 
 
 And  Written  in  consequence  of  special  Impressions 
 from  GOD. 
 
 By  JOSEPH  FRANCIS  BURRELL, 
 
 A  SERVANT  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  ; 
 
 And  Minister  of  Eshcol  Chapel, 
 
 It  is  the  spirit  that  quickeneth  ;  the  flesh  profiteth  nothing  :  the  words 
 that  1  speak  untp  you,  they  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life.     John  f,  63. 
 
 But  the  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God:  for 
 they  are  foolishness  unto  him:  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they 
 {are  to  be  spiritually  discerned.  1  CoR'2,  14. 
 
 PRINTED  by  T.  KAYGILL,  36,  FRITH.STREET,;;SOHO ; 
 ATiD    SOLD    AT 
 
 EsucoL  Chapel,  Marshall- Street,  Carnaby  Market ;  by  the 
 Author,  17,  Soho-Square;  also  by  W.  Jermain,  116, 
 Edgeware  Road;  Thomas  Nunn,  19,  Great  James-Strcet, 
 Bedford  Road  3  and  J.  Cull,  12,  RoBamond-Streetj  Clerk. 
 enwell. 
 
 TiieT 
 
}    ■; 
 
Wednesday/,  June  26th,  1816. 
 
 ^^^r^HTt^'^* 
 
 l^OR  upwards  of  two  years,  my  mind  has 
 been  greatly  affected,  to  see  the  infatuation  of 
 professing  people  for  baptism,  and  being  led 
 to  meditate  much  on  this  subject,  I  have  felt 
 an  earnest  desire  to  communicate  what  the 
 Lord  had  shewed  to  me ;  and  I  had  the  satis- 
 faction to  find,  that  some  of  God's  people 
 were  much  established,  edified,  and  comfort- 
 ed, by  several  discourses  I  preached  on  this 
 difficult  and  much  controverted  point.  Since 
 that,  I  have  often  felt  a  pressing  desire  to 
 write  on  this  subject,  in  order,  if  possible,  to 
 defeat  the  baneful  effects  of  this  pestilence 
 that  walketh  in  darkness.  Whenever  it  came 
 upon  my  mind,  I  found  my  heart  led  out  in 
 prayer  to  God,  for  wisdom  and  understand- 
 ing, being  conscious  of  my  weakness,  and 
 that  it  required  more  than  common  power 
 from  on  high,  to  treat  this  subject  with  dis- 
 cretion and  prudence.  I  had  already  began 
 to  write  concerning  Circumcision,  and  the 
 Lord's  Supper;    and  finding  that  God  had 
 
 a2 
 
VI. 
 
 mility ;  for  I  was  really  overcome  with  a 
 sense  of  the  goodness^  mercy,  and  faithfulness 
 of  my  gracious  God,  who,  thus  answered  me 
 by  fire ;  even  the  fiery  baptism  of  everlasting 
 love.  In  consequence  of  this  condescending 
 answer  from  God,  and  the  unspeakable  views, 
 and  the  enlargement  of  heart  he  gave  me,  I 
 feel  an  humble  confidence,  that  my  writing  on 
 the  subject  of  baptism,  &c.  is  according  to  his 
 mind  and  will ;  and  that  he  will  most  assu- 
 redly put  his  blessing  upon  it,  that  we  may 
 both  now  and  for  ever,  ascribe  all  wisdom, 
 power,  and  glory  to  him  alone,  who  is  most 
 worthy,  and  blessed  for  ever,  amen. 
 
 To  the  Christian  Reader. 
 
 I  have  the  satisfaction  to  say,  that  I  have 
 not  consulted  with  flesh  and  blood,  nor  sought 
 to  give  flattering  titles  to  any  man :  for  though 
 I  am  persuaded,  that  many  persons  who  are 
 of  the  baptist  persuasion,  are  very  respectable 
 characters,  yet  as  their  superstitious  notions 
 concerning  the  sign  of  baptism  render  them 
 not  so  in  the  sight  of  God,  I  have  used  great 
 plainness  of  speech ;    instrumentally  if  possi- 
 
vu. 
 
 ble,  to  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  their  danger. 
 Secondly,  I  hope  that  the  Christian  reader, 
 will  also  be  led  to  check  his  critical  remarks, 
 and  look  more  at  the  subject  matter  of  this 
 book,  than  at  the  style  it  is  written  in ;  and 
 rather  give  glory  to  God,  who  has  given  pow- 
 er to  a  stranger,  to  record  and  glorify,  the 
 wonderful  works  of  God,  in  a  language  that  is 
 not  native  with  him.  Thirdly,  I  can  truly 
 say  from  my  heart,  that  since  the  book  has 
 been  written,  and  sent  to  the  press,  I  have  had 
 that  peace  of  mind  and  heart,  which  passeth 
 all  understanding ,  for  against  God  and  con- 
 science what  can  be  heard  ?  May  the  Lord, 
 the  God  of  peace,  give  thee  also,  O  reader, 
 the  witness  of  his  peaceful  spirit,  that  thou 
 mayest  worship  the  Lord  thy  God  in  newness 
 of  spirit,  and  not  in  the  oldness  of  the  letter  ; 
 and  that  thou  mayest  comprehend  with  all 
 real  saints,  what  is  that  exceeding  great  ex- 
 cellence in  spiritual  baptism,  which  is  not  to 
 be  found  in  the  water  literally,  but  in  the  spi- 
 rit, through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  amen. 
 
Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
 
 in  2011  witin  funding  from 
 
 Princeton  Tiieological  Seminary  Library 
 
 littp://www.archive.org/details/waterbaptismcircOOburr 
 
CHAP.  I. 
 
 Of  Signs,  and  their  use. 
 
 JriAN  since  the  fall  is  become  so  limited  a  crea- 
 ture, that  like  a  little  child,  he  must  receive  the 
 iustructions  of  his  heavenly  father,  in  a  way  and 
 mode,  suited  to  his  capacity.  God  hath  made  all 
 things  in  the  creation  to  be  subservient  to  this  hea- 
 venly purpose  ;  so_,  ''  That  the  heavens  declare  the 
 *'  glory  of  God ;  and  the  firmament  sheweth  his 
 *'  handy  works,"  All  things  are  our  instructors  and 
 teachers  ;  the  inanimate  parts  of  the  creation,  as 
 well  as  the  animate.  Man  like  a  little  child^  hath 
 need  to  have  these  things  inculcated  again  and 
 again,  by  way  of  remembrance,  and  at  best,  feels 
 himself  but  a  dull  scholar,  even  as  our  Lord  said 
 to  Nicodemus,  "  If  I  have  told  you  earthly  things, 
 '^'^  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall  ye  believe,  if  I  tell 
 '^  you  of  heavenly  things  ?'*  God  has  seen  good  to 
 convey  heavenly  instructions,  by  the  medium  of 
 figures,  signs,  types,  and  images,  that  we  are  well 
 acquainted  with,  in  order  gradually  to  lead  our 
 minds  through  the  teaching  of  the  Spirit  into  all 
 truth ;   even  as  he  saith  by  Hosea,  "  I  have  also 
 
% 
 
 "  spoken  by  the  prophets,  and  I  have  multiplied 
 "  visionSj  and  used  similitudes,  by  the  ministry  of 
 ^'  theprophets."  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  used  many 
 similitudes  and  parables  in  his  discourses;  and  so 
 did  the  apostle  Paul,  who  compared  himself  to  a 
 planter,  and  Apollos  to  a  waterer,  saying,  "  And 
 ''■  these  things,  brethren,  I  have  in  a  figure  trans- 
 ''  ferred  to  myself  and  to  Apollos  for  your  sakes  ; 
 '"  that  ye  might  learn  in  us,  not  to  think  of  men 
 "^  above  that  which  is  written,  that  no  one  of  you 
 "  be  puffed  up  for  one  against  another."  1  Cor. 4. 6. 
 Independent  of  the  many  similitudes,  and  figures 
 made  use  of  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  God  has  set 
 forth  three  grand  figures,  to  be  as  striking  signs 
 of  good  things,  namely,  circumcision,  baptism, 
 and  the  Lord's  supper. 
 
 2dly. — Danger  of  resting  in  these  Signs  onlj/,  and 
 of  coming  short  of  the  substance. 
 
 Satan,  in  all  ages  has  been  a  roaring  lion,  seek- 
 ing whom  he  might  devour,  and  his  infernal  hatred 
 and  malice,  has  lead  him  continually  to  work  up- 
 on the  blindness,  ignorance,  and  corruption  of 
 men,  to  pervert,  resist,  and  turn  all  things  into 
 bane.  The  ceremoiiial  law  was  certainly  ordained 
 of  God,  for  the  welfare  of  Israel ;  for  it  was  their 
 gospel ;  but  they  trusted  to  the  blood  of  bulls  and 
 of  calves,  and  vainly  thought  themselves  clean, 
 by  conforming  to  those  carnal  ordinances,  imposed 
 
3 
 
 iipon  them  until  the  time  of  reformation.  With 
 Corah,  Dathan,  and  the  other  rebels  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, they  reckoned  themselves  holy,  and  smote 
 with  the  fist  of  wickedness,  by  persecuting  the 
 prophets  God  sent  them,  who  declared, ''  That  God 
 "■  had  greater  delight  in  them  who  obeyed  his 
 ^'  voice, than  in  all  burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices;" 
 ''  for  to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  to  hearken 
 "  than  the  fat  of  rams.  For  rebellion  is  as  the  sin 
 "  of  witchcraft,  and  stubbornness  is  as  iniquity  as 
 "  idolatry."  These  carnal  jews  delighted  in  those 
 sacrifices,  and  outward  ordinances,  even  as  our 
 modern  professors  also  rest  satisfied  with  outward 
 duties,  and  the  mere  knowledge  of  things,  while 
 they  were  destitute  of  the  power  of  vital  godliness  ; 
 God  therefore  loathed  them  and  their  offerings, 
 because  they  saw  not  the  death  of  his  dear  son,  the 
 real, offering  for  sin,  and  rejected  his  voice  in  the 
 prophets  who  were  sent,  to  clear  up  and  unravel 
 these  mysteries  to  them.  He  finds  fault  of  his  own 
 institutions,  because  of  their  perverting  them  to 
 a  wrong  use,  saying,  "  To  what  purpose  is  the 
 ''  multitude  of  your  sacrifices  unto  me  ?  saith 
 "^  the  Lord  :  I  am  full  of  the  burnt  offerings  of 
 "  rams, — I  delight  not  in  the  blood  of  bullocks,  or 
 "  of  lambs,  or  of  he  goats."  He  declareth  that 
 their  oblations,  were  vain;  incense,  abominable; 
 that  the  calling  of  assemblies,  the  new  moons,  and 
 sabbaths,  he  hated,  yea,  that  their  most  solemn 
 meeting  was  iniquity.  Do  we  not  run  the  same 
 risk  of  God's  displeasure,  if  we  trust  to  the  out- 
 
 B  3 
 
4 
 
 ward  hearing  of  the  gospel,  to  baptism^  and  the 
 Lord's  supper^  and  go  no  further  than  in  a  blind 
 zeal  for  these  signs,  while  we  remain  ignorant,  that 
 the  gospel,  and  its  signs,  is  the  power  of  God  to 
 salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth  ?  It  is  with 
 no  small  grief  of  mind,  that  I  behold  the  progress 
 of  that  deluded  set  of  men,  the  advocates  for  water 
 baptism,  who,  with  much  craft  and  fraud,  propa- 
 gate their  false  glosses  upon  the  scriptures,  and 
 make  many  proseljtes  to  the  sign,  while  they  hide 
 either  knowingly  or  ignorantly,  the  precious  sub- 
 stance of  it,  and  make  their  converts  to  sit  down 
 as  members  of  Christ,  who,  notwithstanding  they 
 have  been  solemnly  immersed  in  the  water,  yet  are 
 totally  ignorant  of  the  mysteries  of  true  baptism 
 with  Christ.  I  am  aware,  that  to  combat  with 
 errors  like  these,  which  are  so  zealously  defended, 
 and  so  greedily  received,  is  a  very  arduous  under- 
 taking, if  not  a  hopeless  one,  as  some  may  think, 
 yet  I  am  not  without  some  comfortable  hope,  that 
 as  all  things  are  for  the  elect  sake,  some  of  these, 
 who  stagger,  may  be  established  ;  and  others  may 
 be  rescued  out  of  the  snare  of  the  fowler.  Several 
 also  of  the  people  of  God,  have  expressed  a  desire, 
 that  the  things  which  they  have  heard  from  me 
 in  several  discourses  concerning  baptism,  might  be 
 published,  for  the  benefit  of  others ;  and  being 
 also  encouraged  by  the  testimony  of  some,  who 
 have  received  essential  benefit,  I  have  laid  the 
 matter  before  God,  from  time  to  time,  for  wisdom, 
 understanding,  and   the  special  influence  of  his 
 
most  holy  spirit  to  guide  me,  and  he  has  made  me 
 willing,  to  minister  the  things  I  have  received  out 
 of  Christ's  fullness  to  his  elect,  which  are  scat- 
 tered abroad  ;  knowing,  that  none  but  such,  will 
 receive  my  testimony  ;  "  But  they  will  rather  be- 
 '•'  lieve  a  lie,  who  received  not  the  love  of  the 
 ''  truth : — for  he  that  is  of  God,  will  hear  God's 
 '*^  words:  but  such  hear  them  not,  because  they 
 ''are  not  of  God." 
 
 Man  in  his  fallen  state,  is  so  blind  and  ignorant, 
 that  unless  he  is  guided  into  all  truth  by  the  spirit 
 of  God,  he  stumbles  at  every  step  he  takes,  calling 
 evil  good,  and  good  evil.  I  am  certain,  that  ma- 
 ny will  cavil  at  me,  and  think  that  I  seek  to  make 
 void  all  signs  and  figures,  which  God  has  enjoin- 
 ed ;  whereas  God  is  witness,  that  I  earnestly  seek 
 to  establish  them,  even  according  to  God's  intent 
 and  purposes,  so  that  by  separating « the  vile 
 from  the  precious,  the  people  of  God  may  reap 
 the  spiritual  blessings  held  forth  by  them. 
 
 Srdly. —  Why  Professors  are  so  zealous  about  Signs. 
 
 The  reason  wherefore  the  professed  baptists,  (as 
 well  as  the  advocates  of  circumcision  of  old, )  con- 
 tend so  furiously  about  these  figures,  is  this,  be- 
 cause they  being  ignorant  of  the  power  of  them 
 upon  their  souls,  and  thinking  that  they  have  the 
 word  of  God  on  their  side,  they,  with  crafty  or 
 ignorant  zeal,  enforce  with  great  vehemence,  the 
 
necessity  of  conforming  to  the  sign^,  saving,  "He 
 "  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved." 
 Thus  by  various  false  glosses,  they  force  baptism 
 upon  the  consciences  of  their  hearers,  as  absolute- 
 ly necessary  to  salvation ;  but  in  the  same  time 
 they  offer  not  the  savoury  meat  to  the  people  ;  they 
 keep  the  kernel,  and  make  them  to  be  satisfied  with 
 the  shell.  All  pulpits  ring  with  this,  the  ordi- 
 nance of  God  !  the  ordinance  of  God  !  so  did  the 
 judaizing  teachers  of  old,  sajing,  "  Except  ye  are 
 "  circumcised,  and  keep  the  law,  ye  cannot  be  sav- 
 *'  ed."  These  also  cried  out,  the  ordinance  of  God  ! 
 yet  none  sent  them  but  the  devil ;  in  order  to 
 bring  God's  people  into  bondage.  I  conclude 
 therefore,  that  these  errors  gain  ground,  be- 
 cause the  people  are  totally  kept  in  the  dark  as 
 to  the  spiritual  meaning  of  the  signs  of  God's  in- 
 stitution, and  it  is  woefully  true,  that  such  blind 
 guides  manifestedly  appear  as  limbs  of  antichrist 
 or  the  beast,  "  whose  kingdom  is  full  of  darkness/' 
 I  shall  therefore  endeavour  by  God's  gracious 
 help,  to  shew  the  spiritual  meaning  of  these  three 
 great  signs,  namely,  circumcision,  baptism,  and  th^ 
 Lord's  supper. 
 
 4thly. — Of  Circumcision^  and  its  spiritual  meaning. 
 
 God  called  Abraham  alone  and  blessed  him,  and 
 increased  him,  and  said  to  his  seed,  "You  only 
 "  have  I  known  of  all  the  families  of  the  earth." 
 He  had  chosea  them  a  peculiar  people  to  himself, 
 
above  all  the  people  that  were  upon  the  face  of  the 
 earth,  and  in  order  to  distinguish  them  from  all 
 others,  commanded  them  to  be  circumcised.  Cir- 
 cumcision therefore,  was  the  outward  seal  or  token 
 of  the  covenant,  God  made  with  Abraham  and  his 
 seed^  to  distinguish  them  from  the  unadopted  part 
 of  the  vtorld.  Circumcision  as  an  outward  sign  of 
 the  covenant,  was  strictly  commanded  of  Godj  say- 
 ing, "  Every  male  among  you  shall  be  circumcised, 
 "  and  ye  shall  circumcise  the  flesh  of  your  fore- 
 "  skin  ;  and  it  shall  be  a  token  (seal  or  sign)  of 
 "  the  covenant  betwixt  me  andyou/^  This  token 
 like  baptism,  was  enjoined  with  great  severity,  even 
 on  pain  of  being  eternally  cut  off.  Even  he,  that 
 was  born  in  his  house,  and  he  that  was  bought 
 with  money  of  any  stranger,  and  not  of  Abraham's 
 seed,  God  said  "  he  must  be  circumcisedj"  (de- 
 noting that  the  Gentiles  should  be  also  partakers 
 of  the  benefits  of  this  covenant  spiritually.)  The 
 necessity  of  obedience  to  this  command  was  so 
 great,  "^  That  the  uncircumcised  man  child  whose 
 *'  flesh  of  his  foreskin  is  not  circumcised,  that  soul 
 "  saith  God,  shall  be  cut  off  from  his  people;  he 
 "  hath  broken  my  covenant."  What  are  we  to  un- 
 derstand by  these  things  ?  Surely,  they  have  im- 
 portant significations,  namely,  that  God  made  this 
 covenant  with  Christ,  who  was  in  Abraham's 
 loins ;  and  saith  by  the  prophet  Isaiah,  "  Look  un- 
 **  to  the  rock  from  whence  you  are  hewn — Look 
 '^  unto  Abraham  your  father,  &c."  Surely  Christ 
 p  meant  here,  who  saith,  '*  look  unto  me,  and  be 
 
8 
 
 *'  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth :    for  I  am 
 '*  God,  and  there  is  none  besides  me."  Isai.  45.  23. 
 
 In  order  to  see  this  more  clearly,  let  us  trace 
 things  to  their  original  sources.  Man  was  cre- 
 ated in  God's  image,  in  righteousness  and  moral 
 holiness  ;  the  love  the  law  commanded,  he  was 
 able  to  render,  and  being  strictly  upright  he  loved 
 his  maker  ;  but  when  he  believed  Satan's  delusi- 
 ons, and  evil  surmisings  entered  his  soul,  of  God's 
 good  intents,  in  debarring  him  from  eating  of  the 
 fruit  of  the  forbidden  tree,  when  he  believed  the 
 witchcraft  of  the  devil,  and  an  evil  heart  of  unbe- 
 lief got  the  dominion  over  him,  he  then  fell  from 
 his  stedfastness,  and  was  transformed  into  the 
 image  of  the  devil  ;  and  his  love  to  God,  was 
 changed  into  enmity  against  him.  The  scriptures 
 declare  that  his  children  are  born  in  the  same  fal- 
 len image  :  "  For  by  one  man's  disobedience  many 
 "  were  made  sinners."  And  it  is  clear  that  all  men 
 by  nature  are  enemies  to  God  by  wicked  wofks  ; 
 "For  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God:" 
 being  therefore,  like  a  broken  vessel,  which  could 
 not  be  made  whole  again,  '*^Not  subject  to  the 
 "  law  of  God,  nor  indeed  could  be."  Man's  case 
 therefore,  was  most  deplorable,  as  God  saith, 
 "  O  Israel,  thou  has  destroyed  thyself;  but  in 
 ''  me  is  thy  help  found."  This  marvellous  help 
 is  given,  in  consequence  of  the  eternal  counsel  of 
 Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  the  immutable  Jeho- 
 Tah.  God  is  love;  he  is  unchangeably  so,  and 
 this  eternal  love  flowed  towards  his  elect  from 
 
9 
 
 everlasting  ;  but  it  was  in  Christ  Jesus,  tliat  "  he 
 "  so  loved  them,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten 
 "^  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him  should  not 
 "  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."  The  love  of 
 God  in  Christ  Jesus  is  the  substance  of  circumci- 
 sion ;  for  he  saith,  /"^yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with 
 "  an  everlasting  love,  therefore,  with  loving  kind- 
 "  ness  have  I  drawn  thee."  By  this  covenant  of 
 imniutahie  love,  God  promised,  that  through 
 Christ,  the  hatred  and  enmity  of  his  elect,  which 
 they  were  influenced  with  by  the  fall,  should  be 
 removed,  saying,  "  And  the  Lord  thy  God  will  cir- 
 "^  cumcise  thine  heart,  and  the  heart  of  thy  seed, 
 ^'  to  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart, 
 ''  and  with  all  thy  soul,  that  thou  mayest  live." 
 
 It  is  evident  therefore,  from  the  universal  state 
 of  enmity  of  all  mankind,  that  Abraham  himself 
 w  as  but  a  sign  or  type  of  Christ,  with  whom  alone 
 this  covenant  was  made  ;  Christ  is  the  fulfilling  end 
 of  circumcision,  and  being  circumcised  the  eighth 
 day,  he  became  a  debtor  to  fulfill  this  law  of  love, 
 which  we  had  broken.  This  is  the  truth  of  God 
 in  circumcision,  of  which  Christ  was  the  minister, 
 as  Paul  saith,  "  Now  I  say  that  Jesus  Christ  was 
 '^  a  minister  of  the  circumcision  for  the  truth  of 
 ''  God,  to  confirm  the  promises  ma,de  unto  the 
 "  fathers,"  For  his  heart  was  truly  circumcised 
 with  everlasting  love  towards  God  and  man ;  the 
 spirit  of  love  come  upon  him  without  measure, 
 and  he  truly  delighted  to  do  the  will  of  God  ;  and 
 by  this  spiritual  circumcision  of  his  heart  (or  love) 
 
 c 
 
10 
 
 he  perfectly  fulfilled  tlie  law  we  bad  transgressed. 
 Nothing  can  be  plainer  to  an  enlightened  under- 
 standing ;  for  we  are  enabled  to  see  and  feel  the 
 opposite  influences  of  Adam  our  natural  corrupt 
 head,  and  of  Christ  the  spiritual  immaculate  head 
 of  his  elect  people:  for  as  we  were  in  the  loins  of 
 Adam  when  he  fell^  we  partook  with  him  of  his 
 enmity  to  God;  but  as  chosen  in  Christ,  and  being- 
 spiritually  in  his  loins  when  he  was  spiritually  cir- 
 cumcised with  the  spirit  of  love^  we  as  truly  par- 
 take with  him  of  his  circumcision,  (or  love)  as  we 
 naturally  partook  of  enmity  (or  uncircumcision) 
 in  Adam  :  "  For  as  b}'  one  man^s  disobedience 
 '*  many  were  made  sinners,  so  by  the  obedience  of 
 "  one  (Jesus  Christ)  many  shall  be  made  righte- 
 "  ous."  Moreover  we  are  partakers  with  Christ, 
 and  drink  with  him  into  one  spirit  of  love,  as 
 it  is  written,  ''  As  for  me,  this  is  my  covenant 
 "  with  them,  saith  the  Lord;  my  spirit  that  is 
 "  upon  thee,  and  my  words  which  I  have  put  in 
 ''  thy  mouth,  shall  not  depart  out  of  thy  mouth, 
 *'  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed,  &c."  Thus 
 are  we  circumcised  to  love  God^  with  a  spiritual 
 circumcision  made  without  hands  ;  the  spirit  re- 
 veals it,  and  sheds  it  abroad  in  our  hearts,  out  of 
 the  fulness  which  is  in  Christ,  ''  we  are  now  the 
 "  circumcision,  which  worship  God  in  the  spirit, 
 "  and  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  have  no  confi- 
 "  dence  in  the  flesh." 
 
11 
 
 stilly. — Therefore  Circumcision  of  the  hearty  is  a  glori- 
 ous reality ;  hut  this  Sign  without  the  substance  of 
 divine  love  is  nothing. 
 
 Paul  saith,  "  But  he  is  a  jew,  which  is  one  in- 
 "  wardly;  and  circumcision  is  that  of  the  hearty, 
 *'  in  the  spirit  and  not  in  the  letter;  whose  praise 
 ""  is  not  of  men,  but  of  God.''  Thousands  and 
 millions  have  received  the  sign  of  circumcision, 
 who  were  only  distinguished  from  the  heathen 
 world  by  it;  but  were  destroyed,  for  want  of  the 
 love  of  that  truth  in  their  hearts :  "  For  he  is  not 
 '/  a  jew,  which  is  one  outwardly  ;  neither  is  that 
 "  circumcision,  which  is  outward  in  the  flesh." 
 So  the  like  may  be  said  of  baptism  as  a  sign  :  for 
 he  is  not  a  christian  who  is  outwardly  baptized; 
 neither  is  that  baptism  which  is  outward  in  the 
 flesh :  but  he  is  a  christian,  which  is  one  inwardly; 
 and  baptism  is  that  of  the  heart,  in  the  spirit,  and 
 not  in  the  letter  ;  whose  praise  is  not  of  men,  but 
 of  God.  .  Christian  friend,  whom  God  has  made 
 willing  to  be  instructed,  consider  attentively  what 
 God  saith  concerning  circumcision,  that  hereafter 
 thou  mayest  understand  what  shall  be  said  con- 
 cerning baptism  ;  for  these  two  signs  have  a  great 
 affinity,  the  one  to  the  other^  and  are  enjoined  with 
 equal  severity;  however  God  shews  in  his  word, 
 that  the  sign  did  not  in  the  least  benefit  the  great- 
 est part  of  Israel,  for  want  of  the  reality  of  the 
 substance  :  for  although  they  frequently  vaunted 
 themselves  about  their  distinguishing  sign,  and 
 called  the  Gentiles  by  way  of  contempt,  the  uncir- 
 
 c  2 
 
12 
 
 cunjcised,  yet  as  Paul  saith,  iVieir  circumcision, 
 became  uncircumcision,  through  their  idolatry, 
 whoredoms,  thefts,  contempt  of  God's  laws,  perse- 
 cutions, and  unbelief,  &c.  therefore  thej  were  ren- 
 dered obnoxious  to  punishment  even  beyond  the 
 heathens,  as  it  is  written,  '•'  Behold,  the  days  come, 
 "  saith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  punish  all  them 
 "  which  are  circumcised  with  the  uncircumcised  ; 
 "  Egypt,  and  Judah,  and  Edom,  and  the  children 
 "  of  Amon,  and  Moab,  &c.  for  all  these  nations 
 "  are  uncircumcised,  and  all  the  house  of  Israel 
 "  are  uncircumcised  in  the  heart."  Jer.  9.  25,  26. 
 You  see  therefore,  that  both  are  punished  for  want 
 of  the  substance,  consequently  we  must  conclude 
 with  Paul,  that  "  Circumcision  is  nothing,  nor 
 '^  uncircumcision  is  uothing,  but  the  keeping  of 
 "  the  commandments  of  God."  1  Cor.  7.  19.  He 
 therefore  i§  truly  circumcised  who  loves  his  God  ; 
 "  For  this  is  the  end  of  the  commandment,  even 
 "charity  out  of  a  pure  heart,  and  faith  unfeign- 
 "  ed,  &c."  The  sign  is  of  no  manner  of  utility, 
 if  any  come  short  of  the  love,  which  God  has  pro- 
 mised freely  to  give  to  them  that  are  in  Christ 
 Jesus :  "For  in  Christ  Jesus  neither  circumcisioq 
 "  availeth  any  thing,  nor  uncircumcision ;  but 
 "  a   new   creature,    and   faith    that   worketU    by 
 
13 
 
 Glhly. — The   reason   icherefore  the   Sign   was   strictly 
 enjoined. 
 
 1st.  By  way  of  con\fiction,  to  all  the  world,  of 
 the  absolute  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart,  from 
 enmity  to  love  ;  promising  his  mercy  to  thousands 
 of  them  that  love  him,  and  declaring  that  he 
 would  repay  his  enemies  to  their  face,  &c. 
 
 2dly.  As  Israel  was  distinguished  from  the 
 heathen  world  by  circumcision,  so  the  true  wor- 
 shippers, and  spiritual  Israelites,  should  be  mani- 
 festedly  distinguished  by  their  love  to  God,  his 
 word,  ways,  and  people,  and  really  appear  a  spe- 
 cial people  unto  God  above  all  people  upon  the 
 face  of  the  earth  ;  and  particularly  so,  by  their 
 g'odly  fear,  and  their  hating  of  all  evil,  as  it  is 
 written,  "  Ye  that  love  the  Lord  hate  evil."  For 
 this  love  shed  abroad,  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law, 
 and  every  one  who  is  led  by  the  spirit,  is  under  the 
 sweet  influence  of  it ;  these  stumble  at  nothing, 
 and  are  distinguished  from  an  ungodly  world 
 who  walk  in  enmity  :  these  walking  in  love,  as 
 CVirist  hath  loved  them,  are  the  true  circumcision  ; 
 for  as  Christ  saith,  "  By  this  shall  all  men  know 
 ''  that  you  are  my  disciples,  if  you  love  oiic 
 ^'  another." 
 
 7thly. — Will/   Circumcision  outward  in  the  Flesh   is 
 abolished. 
 
 Because  as  I  said  before,  Christ  is  the  fulfilling 
 eud  of  it,  who  being  circumcised  the  eighth  day, 
 
14 
 
 inadc  himself  a  debtor  to  give  the  law  we  had 
 broken,  that  obedience  which  it  demanded.  God 
 is  well  pleased  for  his  righteousness  sake,  and  by  his 
 circumcision  we  who  believe,  are  truly  benefited, 
 because  he  kept  and  magnified  the  law,  and  made 
 it  honorable  ;  and  having  fulfilled  all  laws,  types, 
 and  shadows,  he  as  a  vesture  folded  them  up.  It 
 is  therefore  evident,  that  as  the  priesthood  was 
 changed,  so  was  the  law;  for  the  law  of  the  spirit 
 of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  makes  us  free  from  the  law 
 of  sin  and  death.  The  new  covenant  is  establish- 
 ed, being  signed  and  sealed  with  the  blood  of 
 Christ,  and  by  his  meritorious  death  is  now  in  full 
 force,  so  that  the  old  covenant  is  swallowed  up  in 
 him,  and  vanished  out  of  sight.  God  is  now  just  and 
 the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus;  and 
 having  received  full  satisfaction  for  sin,  by  the 
 circumcision  of  his  son,  he  applies  the  promises  of 
 the  new  covenant,  by  writing  the  law  of  love  upon 
 the  heart  of  his  chosen  people.  Thus  all  types  and 
 figures,  vanished  in  Christ,  the  ever  blessed  sub- 
 stance, and  circumcision  in  particular,  as  a  sign 
 under  the  old  covenant,  is  abolished,  and  has  made 
 room  for  two  new  signs,  namely,  baptism,  and  the 
 Lord's  supper. 
 
15 
 
 CHAR  II. 
 
 Of  the  Lorcfs  Supper. 
 
 1  HAVE  already  shewed  very  largely,  -what  God 
 saith  concerning  circumcision^  a  sign  of  his  own  in- 
 stituting, and  how  weak  and  beggarly  it  is  in  itself, 
 if  the  precious  substance  is  wanting.  The  same  may 
 be  said  of  the  sign  of  the  Eucharist,  or  the  Lord's 
 supper,  which  is  of  no  efficacy  whatsoever  to  any, 
 but  to  them  which  believe.  Thousands,  if  not 
 millions,  have  come  to  this  sign  and  partook  of  it, 
 who  did  it  to  their  own  condemnation,  not  discern- 
 ing the  Lord's  body  ;  such,  were  moved  by  carnal 
 views  and  motives.  Some,  after  a  life  spent  in  va- 
 nity, sin,  sensual  pleasures,  and  lust,  when  they 
 come  upon  a  death  bed,  and  begin  to  reflect  upon 
 their  ill  spent  life,  then  are  they  moved  by  legal 
 convictions  to  fear  the  consequences,  and  have  re- 
 course to  the  Lord's  supper  ;  looking  upon  this 
 sign,  as  a  sure  passport  to  heaven.  Others,  after 
 they  have  heard  the  gospel,  and  received  it  with 
 seme  degree  of  joy,  these  also  partake  of  the 
 bread  and  wine,  although  they  never  had  any 
 fellowship  with  Christ  in  his  suff*erings. 
 
 Many,  because  their  natural  understandings  are 
 enlightened,  to  discern  the  mystery  in  the  letter, 
 are  moved  with  some  degree  of  pleasure,  on  ac- 
 
16 
 
 Count  of  their  ready  comprehension:  for  man  is 
 ever  pleased  with  the  offspring  of  his  own  fancy  ; 
 suchj  being  puffed  up  with  pride,  eat  and  drink 
 damnation  to  themselves,  not  discerning  the  Lord's 
 body.  Some  also,  being  hardened  through  the 
 deceitfulness  of  sin,  \vhoss  conscience  is  seared 
 with  a  hot  iron,  satan  having  deeply  skilled  them 
 in  the  arts  of  hypocrisy,  like  Ananias  and  Sa- 
 phira,  and  with  Judas,  they  creep  into  to  the 
 guest  chamber,  for  by-ends,  and  carnal  motives  ; 
 some  to  get  customers  to  their  shop,  or  trade  ; 
 others,  with  a  view  to  partake  with  them  that  are 
 poor,  and  widows  indeed,  of  the  bounty  of  Godf? 
 people  ;  such,  indeed,  ''  Feast  themselves  without 
 ^'  fear  ;  but  are  spots  in  the  feast  of  charity, — to 
 "  whom  is  reserved  the  blackness  of  darkness  for 
 "^ever:  for  their  damnation  is  sure."  On  the 
 other  hand,  many  of  God's  people,  as  Paul  saith, 
 "  are  weak  and  sickly,  and  many  sleep, '  being 
 contented  to  receive  the  sign,  without  making  spi- 
 ritual efforts  to  brine:  the  substance  into  their 
 souls.  No  wonder  therefore,  that  God  chasteneth 
 such  that  belong  to  him,  lest  they  should  be  con- 
 demned with  a  blind  world,  which  can  see  nothing 
 but  a  sign  ;  who,  like  the  adulterous  woman, 
 "  She  eateth,  and  wipeth  her  mouth,  and  saith,  I 
 "  have  done  no  iniquity."  Prov.  30.  20.  This 
 sign  therefore  is  vain,  if  the  hidden  power  of  it  is 
 not  felt  and  understood,  even  as  our  Lord  saith, 
 "  It  is  the  spirit  that  quickeneth  ;  the  flesh  profit- 
 "  eth  nothing  :    the  words  I  speak  unto  you,  thejr 
 
17 
 
 "  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life."  Many  vainly  seek 
 to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  by  an  outward  obedi- 
 ence to  the  ordinances  of  baptism^  and  the  Lord's 
 supper,  and  shall  not  be  able;  for,  "When  once 
 "  the  master  of  the  house  is  risen  up,  and  hath 
 "  shut  to  the  door,  and  ye  stand  without,  and 
 *'  knock  at  the  door,  saying  Lord,  Lord,  open  unto 
 '^  us ;  and  he  shall  answer,  and  say  unto  you,  I 
 *'  know  not  whence  ye  be  :  Then  shall  ye  begin  to 
 "  say,  we  have  eaten  and  drank  in  thy  presence, — 
 '^  but  he  shall  say,  I  tell  you,  I  know  not  whence 
 "  ye  are  ;  depart  from  me,  all  ye  workers  of  inir 
 "  quity."  When  we  consider  how  awfully  men 
 may  be  beguiled  by  the  devil  and  sin,  into  ways 
 that  seem  right  in  their  own  eyes,  and  know  not 
 that  the  ends  thereof  are  the  ways  of  death,  it  is 
 high  time  to  consider  our  privileges,  lest  we  also 
 being  led  away  with  the  errors  of  the  wicked, 
 should  fall  from  our  own  stedfastness,  into  a  form 
 of  godliness  without  the  power.  Let  us  in  a  few 
 words  consider  what  is  meant  by  the  sign  of  the 
 Lord's  supper. 
 
 1st. — Spiritual  Meaning  of  the  Lord^s  Supper. 
 
 As  the  feast  of  the  passover,  and  the  pascal 
 lamb,  were  typical  of  Christ,  so  is  also  the  bread 
 and  wine  in  the  Eucharist.  The  lamb  was  to  be 
 without  any  blemish, — so  Christ  is  the  true  Lamb 
 of  God,  without  blemish,  and  without  spot^  being 
 
18    " 
 
 holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from  simierS;, 
 and  made  higher  than  the  heavens,  as  Paul  saith, 
 *'  For  even  Christ  our  passover  is  sacrificed  for 
 ''  us."  He  being  the  substance  of  that  sign,  has 
 abolished  it,  and  has  substituted  another  big  with 
 meaning,  and  by  it,  has  opened  up  many  gracious 
 promises  made  to  God's  people.  Bread  is  the 
 stay  or  staff  of  life  ;  and  who  is  the  staff  of  eternal 
 life  but  Christ  ?  So  he  saith,  ''  I  am  the  way, 
 "^  the  truth,  and  the  life."  We  cannot  eat  the 
 flesh  of  slain  beasts,  and  the  fruits  of  the  earth, 
 which  nourish  our  mortal  bodies,  and  not  see,  if 
 taught  by  the  spirit,  that  our  souls  cannot  live, 
 without  the  divine  virtue  of  the  flesh  and  blood  of 
 him,  "  Who  is  the  lamb  slain  from  the  foundation 
 "  of  the  world  ; — who  died  the  just  for  the  unjust, 
 ''^  that  he  might  bring  us  unto  God."  Christ  is 
 the  truth  which  sprung  out  of  the  earth,  and  his 
 Godhead  called  righteousness,  looking  down  from 
 heaven,  this  is,  that  great  mystery  of  godliness, 
 by  which  those  who  believe,  are  nourished,  and 
 shall  live  eternally  with,  and  in  him. 
 
 2dly. — Christ  Crucified,  the  gift  of  God. 
 
 Behold,  the  wonders  of  free  grace  !  That  ''GoCl 
 "  should  so  love  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only 
 **^  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him 
 "  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  lifei^," 
 Consider  the  love  of  the  eternal  God  the  Son,  for, 
 
19 
 
 ''  He  gave  himself  for  us  that  he  might  redeem  us 
 '^  from  all  iniquity. '' — And  can  we  not  see  the 
 gift  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  it  was,  ''  through 
 ''  the  eternal  spirit  he  offered  himself  without  spot 
 '' unto  God. **  Christ  declares  ''that  verily  ex* 
 "  cept  a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the  ground,  it 
 ''  abideth  alone :  but  if  it  die  it  bringing  forth 
 ''  much  fruit."  God  gave  his  Son  as  the  chosen 
 Israel,  who  should  blossom  and  bud,  and  fill  the 
 world  with  fruit,  Christ  saith,  ''  My  Father  giv- 
 ''  eth  you  the  true  bread  from  heaven.  For  the 
 "  bread  of  God  is  he  which  cometh  down  from 
 '*  heaven,  and  giveth  life  unto  the  world."  We 
 all  should  have  died  under  the  hot  displeasure, 
 the  curse,  and  eternal  wrath  of  God,  unless  God 
 had  given  his  Son,  who  was  made  a  curse  for  us, 
 by  hanging  on  the  tree,  and  so  delivered  us  from 
 the  wrath  to  come.  We  were  all  perishing  with 
 hunger;  but  God  gave  us  Christ  the  true  bread, 
 which  came  down  from  heaven,  as  it  is  written, 
 ''  Truth  shall  spring  out  of  the  earth,  and  righteous- 
 ''  ness  shall  look  down  from  heaven.  Yea,  the 
 ''  Lord  shall  give  that  which  is  good,  (even  Christ 
 ''  crucified)  and  our  land  shall  yield  her  increase,'' 
 that  is,  we  shall  be  nourished,  and  grow  up  in 
 him,  and  live  for  ever.  What  shall  we  say  to 
 these  things,  and  what  shall  we  render  unto  the 
 Lord  for  his  saving  benefits  ?  Let  us  by  faith 
 take  this  bread  and  drink  this  cup  of  salvation, 
 ever  calling  upon  the  Lord  for  more  of  it,  and 
 from  an  overflowing  sense  of  spiritual  gratitude, 
 
 D  2 
 
^^0 
 
 say  with  Paul,  '^Thanks  be  to  God  for  his  un- 
 ''  speakable  gift.''  Therefore,  I  conclude  that  a3 
 God  has  freelv  sriven  us  bread  and  wine  to  sustain 
 our  bodies  in  natural  life,  so  also  has  he  freely 
 given  Christ  crucified,  to  sustain  our  souls  in  eter- 
 nal life.  The  similitude  is  exceedins:  strons*. 
 and  by  taking  the  bread  and  wine,  we  are  couti- 
 uually  reminded  of  the  infinite  merits  of  Christ's 
 death  and  sufterings ;  he  therefore,  hath  ordained 
 this  feast,  as  a  most  solemn  feast  day  ;  "  For  this 
 "  is  a  statute  for  Israel,  and  a  law  of  the  God  of 
 "  Jacob.  This  he  ordained  in  Joseph  for  a  testi- 
 "  mouy." 
 
 According  to  the  Commandment  of  God  our  Saviour, 
 this  Ordinance  is  to  be  obserted,  by  all  such  uko  have 
 tasted  that  God  is  gracious. 
 
 God  is  determined  that  none  of  his  people  shall 
 smuggle,  nor  hide  his  favour  like  Nicodemus, 
 and  Joseph  of  Arimathea  ;  but  with  them,  iVey 
 must  come  forth  and  shew  themselves,  otherwise, 
 the  Son  of  Man,  would  be  ashamed  of  them  be- 
 fore God  and  the  holy  angels.  Consider  there- 
 fore !  Hark,  and  listen  at  the  mighty  voice  of 
 the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  God  of  our  solemnities  ! 
 ''^  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me!"  Many  are 
 contented  to  look  on,  and  consider  not,  that  it  is 
 as  great  a  command,  as  any  in  the  book  of  God  ; 
 others,  although  they  favour  the  cause  of  God  ia 
 heart,  yet  through  the  craft  of  the  devil,  they 
 
21 
 
 iiang  back,  fearing  publicity,  and  through  the 
 fear  of  man  are  brought  into  a  snare,  I  am  per- 
 suaded that  God  will  be  obeyed,  and  will  work 
 that  obedience,  by  the  power  of  his  spirit  in  his 
 own  people  ;  and  this  I  have  particularly  observed, 
 that  hvpocrites,  are  very  ready  to  come  to  this  or- 
 dinance, for  sinister  views,  and  from  wrong  mo- 
 tives ,•  but  those  who  have  a  right  to  come,  the 
 devil  tempts  them  to  transgress  this  command, 
 that  he  may  finally  bring  them  into  bondage. 
 Christ  saith,  "  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body  broken 
 ^'  for  you,  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me/'  He 
 doth  not  say,  peep,  gaze ;  but  take  and  eat ;  God 
 therefore,  often  comforts  his  people  while  they 
 look  on,  and  sends sthem  tokens  for  good,  to  encou- 
 rage them  to  come  in,  that  their  joy  may  abound, 
 and  that  by  obeying,  they  may  be  blessed  in  their 
 deed  :  for  our  Lord  saith  to  his  disciples  ''  Know 
 "■  ye  these  things  ?  And  they  answered,  yea.  Lord, 
 then  said  he,  happy  are  ye  if  vou  do  them."  *^For 
 *'  whoso  looketh  into  the  perfect  law  of  liberty, 
 *'  and  continueth  therein,  he  being  not  a  forgetful 
 ^shearer,  but  a  doer  of  the  work,  this  man  shall  be 
 *'  blessed  in  his  deed."  You  will  say,  why  do  you 
 so  vehemently  press  us  to  come  and  partake  of  the 
 ordinance,  and  yet  do  affirm  that  there  is  no  efficacy 
 in  this  sign  ?  I  answer,  that  I  do  not  contradict 
 myself,  but  still  say,  that  there  is  no  virtue  in  the 
 sign  to  any  who  partake  of  it,  but  to  the  chosen 
 people  of  God ;  for  them  the  feast  is  made,  and 
 they  only  shall  suck  honey  out  of  the  rock  by 
 
22 
 
 faith  :  for  to  them  it  is  given  to  know  these  won- 
 derful mysteries,  and  to  others  not.  Some  come 
 without  understanding,  and  God  hath  said  he  will 
 shew  them  no  favor.  Some  neglect,  and  despise 
 the  table  of  the  Lord,  and  God  hath  declared  that 
 he  will  despise  also  their  image,  and  that  they 
 shall  never  taste  of  his  supper  ;  therefore,  which 
 ever  way  we  consider  the  matter,  this  is  the  eSect^ 
 to  the  one  it  is  a  savour  of  life  unto  life  ;  but  to 
 the  other  a  savour  of  death  unto  death.  Some 
 trembling  soul  will  say,  I  would  most  willingly 
 join  the  heavenly  guests,  but  I  feel  myself  so  un- 
 worthy, blind,  ignorant,  troubled,  and  sinful,  that 
 I  am  afraid,  lest  if  I  join  and  partake,  I  should 
 eat  and  drink  damnation  to  myself.  O  the  craft  of 
 the  devil  !  How  on  the  one  hand  he  flatters,  and 
 imboldens  the  hypocrite,  and  on  the  other  hand 
 depresses,  torments,  and  detereth  the  real  saint 
 from  coming  to  his  own  resting  place.  In  order  to 
 defeat  all  his  attempts  upon  such,  consider  the 
 following  scripture  evidences. 
 
 2dly. — Signs,  marks,  evidences,  and  characters  ofthenif 
 who  are  counted  toorth?/ to  come  to  the  Lord^s  Table; 
 who  by  faith  shall  draw  divine  virtue  through  the 
 sign,  and  by  digging  deep,  shall  Jind  the  treasure  un- 
 der it. 
 
 Not  those  whose  well  furnished  heads,   make 
 them  to  think  that  they  are  worthy ;    nor  those 
 
23 
 
 who  are  lifted  up  with  pride^  and  imagine  that 
 -they  are  rich  and  increased  with  goods,  and  have 
 need  of  nothing  :  for  they  are  sent  empty  away  ; 
 but  the  feast  is  made  for  the  poor,  and  the  maim- 
 ed, and  the  halt,  and  the  blind.  Luke  14.  21. 
 Such  as  feel  their  poverty,  having  not  a  single  rag 
 of  righteousness  to  plead,  who  like  the  publican, 
 feeling  how  beggarly  sin  has  made  them,  and 
 from  a  bitter  sense  of  their  wants,  cry  with  him, 
 "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  Such  whom 
 the  devil  by  his  fiery  darts,  blasphemous  suggesti- 
 ons, filthy  dreams,  and  dreadful  temptations,  has 
 cripled,  mutilated,  wounded,  and  maimed  ;  such, 
 God  hath  said,  "  Shall  come  that  are  ready  to 
 •''perish; — bread  shall  be  given  them,  and  their 
 "  water  shall  be  sure."  Such  who  are  ready  to 
 halt,  who  are  baffled  and  wearied  out,  with  the 
 conflicts  between  flesh  and  spirit,  grace  and  cor- 
 ruption, who  at  times,  when  grace  reigns,  when 
 they  eat  the  word  to  th-e  joy  and  rejoicing  of  their 
 hearts,  think  and  believe,  that  they  surely  have  a 
 right  to  the  Lord's  table  ;  but  when  through  the 
 power  of  gatan  their  corruptions  are  stirred  up, 
 unbelief  getting  the  mastery,  they  let  go  their  for- 
 mer confidence,  and  fear,  that  all  they  felt  before 
 was  but  a  delusion  ;  these  things  filling  thera  with 
 dismay,  they  are  halting  in  their  judgments  :  ne- 
 vertheless, these  are  the  characters,  which  are  ex- 
 pressly invited  to  this  feast :  and  they  shall  look 
 through  the  sign,  as  through  a  transparent  glass, 
 at  him  ^yho  was  broken^  and  pierced  for  them ; 
 
their  halting  shall  be  healed :  "  They  shall  walk 
 *'  and  not  faint  ;  and  shall  run  and  not  be  weary." 
 The  last  notable  characters  are  the  blind  ;  and 
 they  are  accounted  worthy,  because  the  spirit  of 
 God  has  made  them  sensible  of  their  native  blind- 
 ness, ignorance,  darkness,  and  want  of  spiritual 
 judgment ;  for  these  have  nothing  left  to  boast  of, 
 but  being  made  honest,  light  is  sown  for  them,  and 
 gladness  for  these  upright  ones  ;  "  For  judgment, 
 "  saith  Christ,  I  am  come  into  this  world,  that 
 *'  they  that  see  not  might  see  ;  and  they  that  see 
 ''  might  be  made  blind." 
 
 If  my  reader,  upon  self  examination  finds  him- 
 self to  be  one  of  these  miserable,  perishing,  poor, 
 maimed,  halt,  and  blind  persons,  then  let  him 
 know,  that  none,  but  the  eternal  spirit,  hath  pre- 
 pared his  heart  to  know  his  state  ;  and  that  being 
 row  a  sensible  sinner,  he  cannot  have  any  better 
 qualification,  higher  claim,  and  greater  title  or 
 right  to  come,  and  eat  and  drink  at  the  Lord's 
 table  :  for  he  is  really  worthy,  because  he  feels 
 himself  most  unworthy  :  ^''  For  Christ  came  not  to 
 "call  the  self  righteous,  (who  think  themselves 
 *^'  worthy,)  but  sinners,  (yea,  sensible,  perishing 
 "  sinners)  to  repentance  ; — They  shall  look  at  him 
 "  whom  they  have  pierced,  and  mourn, — ."  More- 
 over, a  feeling  sense  of  their  unprofitableness,  po- 
 verty and  unworthiness,  doth  produce  real  humili- 
 ty in  them  ;  to  such  it  shall  be  said,  '■'  Friends, 
 "  come  up  higher  :  for  whosoever  humbleth  him- 
 ^"^  self  shall  be  exalted; — but  whosoever  ex altetli, 
 ''  himself  shall  be  humbled." 
 
25 
 
 Blessed  effects,  and  gracious  promises  made  to  such, 
 who  are  poor,  maimed,  halt,  blind,  and  greatlj/ 
 humbled,  and  who  obey  ChrisCs  voice. 
 
 1st. — It  is  life  eternal. 
 
 God  has  in  a  special  manner  promised,  that 
 he  will  abundantly  bless  their  provisions,  and  sa- 
 tisfy such  poor  with  bread;  with  the  hap.d  they 
 take  the  sacramental  bread,  and  eat  it ;  but  the 
 hand  of  their  faith  takes  Christ  and  his  satisfacti- 
 on, and  their  souls  eat  immortal  food,  being  re- 
 plenished with  vigour  and  satisfaction  ;  they  eat 
 his  flesh,  and  drink  his  blood,  and  have  eternal 
 life;  they  abound  in  hope,  and  being  sensibly 
 raised  to  newness  of  life,  they  joyfully  believe, 
 that  Christ  will  also  raise  them  up  at  the  last  day  ; 
 they  find  as  the  Lord  saith,  "That  his  flesh  is  meat 
 *'  indeed,  and  that  his  blood  is  drink  indeed." 
 Though  they  may  be  unfruitful  in  their  under- 
 standings for  a  season,  wanting  a  greater  measure 
 of  the  light  of  life,  yet  by  the  joy,  sweet  mourning 
 over  Christ,  and  brokenness  of  heart,  they  are  re- 
 plenished with,  this  promise  of  their  heavenly 
 father  is  fulfilled  in  their  happy  experience,  "  Thy 
 *^  dead  men  shall  live;  yea,  (saith  Christ,)  with  my 
 "  dead  body  they  sliall  arise."  Thus  they  eat,  and 
 live,  not  upon  the  sign,  but  through  the  sign  upon 
 bim,  who  is  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life,  God 
 the  Father  in  his  demands  upon  them  in  a  broken 
 law,  had  been  a  terror  to  them,  when  he  seeming- 
 ly turned  them  to  destruction ;  but  now  they  feel, 
 
Jthat  he  accepts  them  in  his  beloved  Son  as  cruci- 
 fied for  them,  and  applieth  his  atonement,  saying, 
 "  Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love  : 
 "  therefore,  with  loving  kindness,  I  have  drawn 
 *'  thee  ; — return  ye  children  of  men."  Christ  the 
 bridegroom  of  their  souls  also  rejoiceth  over  them 
 with  joy,  saying,  "  Eat,  O  friends  ;  drink,  yea, 
 "  drink  abundantly  O  beloved."  The  spirit  of 
 life  within  them  saith,  "  Give  strong  drink  unto 
 "  him  that  is  ready  to  perish,  and  wine  unto  those 
 "  that  be  of  heavy  heart.  Let  him  drink,  and 
 "  forget  his  poverty,  and  remember  bis  misery  ne 
 "  more."  This  blessed  comforter  beareth  witness 
 with  their  spirits,  that  they  are  the  children  of 
 God,  who  eat  and  drink  this  eternal  life  ;  yea,  he 
 mightily  constrains  them  to  say,  "  I  shall  not  die, 
 "  but  live,  that  I  might  declare  the  works  of  the 
 "  Lord."  Consider  therefore,  thou  trembling  soul, 
 what  a  blessed  thing  it  is,  to  be  poor,  maimed, 
 halt,  and  blind  ;  for  to  such  the  promises  in  Christ 
 are  made,  of  bread,  health,  and  eternal  life ; 
 "^They  shall  eat,  and  be  satisfied,  and  praise  tlie 
 "  Lord,  who  hath  dealt  wonderously  with  them, 
 ^'  and  my  people  shall  never  be  ashamed,  saith  the 
 "Lord."  And  as  Christ  declareth,  they  shall  know 
 the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make  them  free : 
 "  For  it  is  life  eternal  that  they  might  know  thee, 
 "  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  thou 
 "  has  sent." 
 
27 
 
 2dly. — Thei/  repent^  and  die  xi^'dh  Christ, 
 
 The  very  moment  the  spirit  of  God  comes 
 upon  the  elect,  to  convince  them  of  sin,  the  work 
 of  repentance  is  hcgun  ;  because  hv  the  fea-r  of  the 
 Lord  men  depart  from  evil,  and  this  foar  is  the 
 beginning  of  knowledge  and  wisdom  ;  they  gra- 
 /fually  turn  tlieir  backs  upon  the  world,  the  flesh, 
 and  the  devil  ;  sin  appears  more  and  more  hateful, 
 as  they  suffer  for  it  with  Christ ;  and  this  experi- 
 ence, whicVi  Peter  speaks  of,  is  wrought  in  them, 
 "  Forasmuch  as  Christ  has  suffered  for  us  in  the 
 "  flesh,  arm  yourselves  with  the  same  mind  ;  for 
 •'  he  tliat  hath  suffered  in  the  flesl),  hath  ceased 
 *' from  sin."  1  Pet.  4.  1.  When  such  come  to 
 the  Lord's  table,  and  hear  their  experience  opened 
 up  and  explained,  they  perceiving,  that  they  al- 
 ready have  fellowship  with  Christ  in  his  sufferings, 
 that  their  daily  conflicts  with  all  the  powers  of 
 darkness,  the  bitterness  they  feel  when  iniquities 
 prevail,  crying  out  with  Paul,  "  O  wretched  man 
 '•  that  I  am,  who  sliall  deliver  me  from  the  body 
 '■  of  this  death."  I  say.  when  they  begin  to  un- 
 derstand, that* by  the  spirit's  work  upon  their 
 hearts,  they  raanifestedly  are  one  bread  with 
 Christ,  being  broken  with  him  for  sin,  tliis,  revives 
 their  hope  ;  they  feel  overcome  with  gratitude  and 
 xompunction  ;  they  melt  under  a  sense  of  God's 
 goodness,  who  hath  given  theui  light  to  see  where 
 they  are,  and  that  they  already  have  fellowship 
 with  the  Lamb  of  God,  being  sore  broken  with 
 him  under  a  sight  and  sense  of  their  sins  ;  and  this 
 
28 
 
 goodness  of  God  leads  them  to  that  repentance, 
 that  needs  not  to  be  repented  of;  thus  being  en- 
 couraged to  look  at  the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh 
 away  the  sin  of  the  world,  and  believing  that 
 they  have  a  part  and  lot  with  him,  they  melt  with- 
 in, and  repent ; — "  They  smite  upon  their  thighs, 
 "  because  they  did  jbear  the  reproach  of  their 
 ^'  youth."  They  look  at  him  whom  they  have 
 pierced,  and  mourn  for  him,  as  ciie  mourneth 
 for  an  only  son,  and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him, 
 as  one  is  in  bitterness  for  his  first  born.  Zech. 
 13.  10. 
 
 This  blessed  experience,  leads  them  to  die  with 
 Christ  to  the  world,  and  to  themselves  ;  the  more 
 they  hate  sin,  so  much  the  more  they  die  to  it,  and 
 are  freed  from  its  tyrannical  power.  The  law 
 ■which  gives  vigour  to,  and  is  the  strength  of  sin, 
 becomes  lifeless  and  dead,  loosing  in  Christ  its 
 condemning  power  :  "  For  there  is  no  condemna- 
 "  tion  to  them  that  arc  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk 
 ''  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  spirit."  By 
 feeling  the  weight  of  their  sins,  their  blindness, 
 ignorance,  unbelief,  and  universal  depravity,  and 
 being  with  Christ  bruised  for,  and  hating  these 
 dreadful  effects  of  the  fall,  they  experimentally 
 discern  the  broken  body  of  Christ,  and  effectually 
 die  with  him  ;  but  are  also  quickened  together 
 •with  him,  and  are  raised  up,  and  made  to  sit  to- 
 gether in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus,  being 
 made  fruitful  unto  God  ;  as  Paul  saith,  ''  Where- 
 "  fore^  my  brethren,  ye  also  are  become  dead  to 
 
29 
 
 '-  the  law  by  the  bodj  of  Christ;  that  ye  should 
 ''  be  married  to  another,  even  to  him  who  is  rai- 
 ''  sed  from  the  dead,  that  we  should  bring  forth 
 "  fruit  unto  God."  Rom.  7.  4. 
 
 Sdly. — Union  with  Christ. 
 
 Thus  being  sensibly  poor,  and  needy,  maimed, 
 halt,  and  blind,  they  feel  themselves  one  with  him, 
 who  is  called  the  poor  and  needy  man  ;  they  dis- 
 cern their  lord's  body,  by  being  also  sore  bruised 
 and  broken  with  him  :  because  with  him  they  suf- 
 fer for  and  hate  sin,  and  drink  into  one  spirit. 
 Christ  sanctified  himself  for  their  sakes ;  that  is, 
 he  so  hated  sin,  that  he  gave  himself  no  rest  until 
 he  had  purged  it  away  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself. 
 They  are  sanctified  by  the  same  truth,  for  being 
 made  to  hate  sin,  they  cease  not  to  look  at  the 
 Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away  their  sin  ;  by 
 looking,  they  feel  salvation  flow  in  and  repentance 
 unto  life  ,*  by  faith,  they  look  through  the  sacra- 
 mental bread,  and  discern  his  broken  body  for 
 them,  which  they  eat  spiritually,  and  find  it  to  be 
 meat  indeed ;  they  drink  his  blood  as  shed  for 
 them,  and  the  cords  of  their  sins  giving  way,  they 
 find  it  to  be  drink  indeed.  Thus  by  faith  partak- 
 ing of  this  bread  of  life,  they  become  one  bread, 
 and  effectually  live  with  him  ;  this  life  flowing  out 
 of  his  fullness,  they  grow  now  exceedingly  under  its 
 nourishing  and  invigorating  efficacy  ;    so  as  to  bej 
 
so 
 
 able  to  do  those  things  which  please  their  heavea- 
 iy  father  :  for  like  the  prodigal  they  repent ;  with 
 David  they  offer  the  sacrifices  of  thanksgiving', 
 being  tilled  with  unutterable  gratitude ;  and  the 
 dying  love  of  their  suffering  Lord  being  shed 
 abroad  in  their  hearts^  they  repent,  and  abhor 
 themselves,  for  their  iniquities  ;  they  mourn  over 
 him  like  doves  ;  yea,  they  glow,  they  burn,  and 
 rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory, 
 finding  truly,  that  he  that  dweileth  in  this  love, 
 dwelleth  in  God,  and  God  in  him.  Thus  as 
 Christ  saith  ?  "  He  that  eateth  my  flesh  and  drink- 
 "  eth  my  blood,  dAvelleth  in  me,  and  I  in  him." 
 
 4thly. — Matter  of  comfort  to  God's  elect.. 
 
 It  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  ac- 
 ceptation, that  "  God  hath  chosen  the  poor  of  this 
 "  world  (who  are  poor  in  spirit, )  but  rich  in  faith, 
 ''  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom."  Such  are  blessed,  and 
 particularly  invhed  to  come  to  this  feast  by  name; 
 they  thought  themselves  ^the  very  last,  who  could 
 have  any  right  to  come,  feeling  themselves  empty^ 
 waste  and  void  ;  yet  God  hath  promised  "  to  com- 
 "  fort  these  waste,  places  of  Jerusalem."  They 
 have  been  lead  to  take  an  inventory  of  their  spiri- 
 tual goods  and  chattels,  and  found  that  they  had 
 not  even  a  bed  to  lie  on,  that  is,  they  found  no  rest 
 for  their  souls :  in  mustering  up  their  cloaths, 
 they  found  them  torn,  tattered  and  stinking,  evea^ 
 
31 
 
 no  better  than  filthy  rags  ;  that  is,  they  find  not  a 
 good  thought,  or  word,  or  work,  but  what  they  see 
 dirt  in,  and  find  themselves  altogether  unrighte- 
 ous; destitute  of  comeliness  :  they  have  travelled 
 with  the  companion  to  the  altar,  and  have  toiled 
 with  the  week's  preparation,  but  under  these  phy- 
 sicians they  grow  worse  and  worse  :  for  the  sor- 
 rows of  death,  and  the  pains  of  hell  were  not 
 removed  by  these  "  Weak  and  beggarly  elements." 
 I  am  a  living  witness  of  the  things  I  speak  of;  for 
 none  could  labour  harder,  to  prepare  himself  by 
 various  means  of  abstinence,  reading  most  devout- 
 ly, the  things  my  task  masters  set  before  me,  but 
 all  to  no  purpose;  for  when  I  came  to  receive  the 
 elements  of  the  Lord's  supper,  instead  of  comfort, 
 I  found  an  horror  of  great  darkness  overwhelm 
 me ;  my  soul  was  made  to  tremble,  and  all  my  ig- 
 norant, blind,  and  proud  preparations,  were  not 
 acceptable  to  God ;  "  For  he  resisteth  the  proud  ; 
 "  but  giveth  grace  to  the  lowly."  Souls  that  are 
 labouring  in  their  own  supposed  strength,  to  pre- 
 pare, fit,  and  make  themselves  comely  before 
 God,  know  not  that  they  are  poor,  and  wretched, 
 and  miserable,  and  blind,  and  naked  ;  but  when 
 God  set5  their  sins  in  order  before  them,  and  their 
 secret  sins  in  the  light  of  his  countenance,  then 
 these  preparations,  with  their  best  performances, 
 appear  to  be  the  most  dangerous  sins,  they  were 
 ever  guilty  of ;  because  that  in  their  blind  zeal, 
 they  sought  to  cover  themselves  with  a  covering, 
 but  not  of  God's  spirit,  not  knowing  they  were  ad- 
 
39 
 
 ding  sill  to  sin.  Under  the  mighty,  and  all-con- 
 vincing power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  they  now  being 
 with  Paul,  stripped  of  all  their  supposed  good 
 deeds,  thoughts,  purposes,  and  works,  they  begin- 
 ning to  see  them  no  better  than  dung  and  dross  ; 
 they  sensibly  feel  their  spiritual  poverty,  and  abso- 
 lute neediness ;  this  brings  a  mighty  famine  upon 
 them  ;  they  are  astonished,  grieved,  and  dismay- 
 ed; a  keen  hunger  is  felt,  and  they  intensely 
 thirst  after  a  better  righteousness,  and  the  mercy  of 
 God.  Consider,  mark,  and  inwardly  digest  these 
 things,  thou  famished,  bewildered,  and  trembling 
 soul,  that  thou  art  this  character  !  And  that  all  the 
 promises  in  God^s  book  are  thine;  because  the 
 preparation  of  thy  heart,  thy  sensible  poverty,  hun- 
 ger, thirst,  and  spiritual  longings,  the  whole  of 
 ttiis  is  God's  work;  the  effect  of  spiritual  light 
 and  life,  wrought  within  thee  by  the  spirit  of  the 
 living  God.  Let  me  now  give  thee  a  further  token, 
 that  thou  art  this  very  character;  for  thou  thinkest 
 within  thyself,  and  sayest,  "  O  that  I  could  believe 
 "  that  this  is  my  case  ;  for  I  could  patiently  wait 
 and  bear  all  these  things,  could  I  but  be  persuaded 
 that  what  I  feel,  is  the  work  of  God  ;  but  alas,  in- 
 stead of  poverty,  I  am  surrounded  with  hosts  of 
 devils ;  hard  thoughts  of  God,  and  despondency, 
 are  my  sorrowful  meat ;  I  am  full  of  murmuring, 
 and  fearfully  hurried  with  unutterable  impatience, 
 full  of  confusion,  and  wearied  out  with  torrents  of 
 rolling  thoughts,  confusedly  contradicting  one  ano- 
 ther ;    with  David  1  say,  in  my  haste,  that  "  All 
 
33 
 
 "  men  are  liars."  For  I  cannot  believe  that  I  am 
 spiritually  poor,  while  I  feel  such  an  unrelenting 
 spirit  within  me.  O  !  What  obstinacy  I  see  in  my 
 will ;  and  feel  such  amazing  rising  in  my  spirit 
 against  election,  and  the  sovereignty  of  God,  and 
 that  he  will  not  accept  my  tears,  nor  my  best  en- 
 deavours to  please  him.  When  I  consider  how 
 long  I  have  sought  him,  how  many  prayers  I  have 
 put  up,  what  agonies  I  have  felt,  mine  eyes  failing 
 while  I  wait  for  God  ;  all  this,  so  far  from  pro- 
 ducing the  poverty  you  speak  of,  I  feel  a  proud 
 rebellious  spirit  rise  within  me,  not  much  unlike 
 that  miserable  apostate,  who  said  in  his  despair, 
 "  O  !  I  wish  I  could  be  above  God."  O  !  What 
 enmity  I  feel  at  such  seasons,  what  quick,  anxious, 
 and  swelling  thoughts,  seeking  to  escape  in  a  way 
 of  my  own  casting  up.  Surely  this  is  not  poverty, 
 to  which  the  promises  are  made  ;  but  the  height 
 of  arrogance  and  pride,  rebellion,  and  obstinacy  ; 
 therefore,  the  terrors  of  God  surround  me,  and  I 
 am  almost  distracted,  feeling  unutterable  condem- 
 nation, especially  when  influenced  with  bold,  dar- 
 ing presumption,  accompanied  with  unspeakable 
 oaths,  curses,  and  blasphemous  suggestions  :  can  I 
 therefore  presume  to  think,  that  I  am  poor  in  spi- 
 rit ?  I  answer,  that  I  have  felt  all  this,  and  more 
 too  ;  for  these  things  cannot  be  fully  descriFjed,  and 
 yet  I  believe  noAV,  that  I  was  the  very  poor  man, 
 to  whom  the  promises  were  made ;  for  in  God's 
 time  they  flowed  in  to  my  astonishment.  Consider 
 therefore,  that  real  poverty,  is  a  deep  sense  of 
 want.  E 
 
34 
 
 A  poor  and  needy  man,  would  be  rich  if  he 
 could ;  he  would  have  a  good  house^  bed,  furni- 
 ture, food,  and  all  good  and  convenient  necessa- 
 ries of  life;,  but  he  cannot ;  he  works,  labours,  con- 
 trives, but  all  in  vain  :  want  is  still  at  the  door  ; 
 his  utter  inability  thereforCj  is  the  reality  of  his 
 poverty.  This  is  the  case  with  you  spiritually  ;  for 
 you  would  ]3e  rich  in  grace,  and  have  a  peaceable 
 dwelling  place  for  your  soul ;  you  would  most  wil- 
 lingly put  on  the  beautiful  garments  of  salvation, 
 righteousness,  and  praise,  but  cannot  lay  hold  of 
 them,  for  want  of  faith.  A  poor  man  fears  his 
 landlord,  and  other  creditors,  lest  they  should  cast 
 him  into  prison  ;  so  in  like  manner,  you  are  afraid 
 that  God  will  not  hold  you  innocent,  but  cast  you 
 into  the  prison  at  last,  because  you  have  nothing  to 
 pay  ;  yet  I  am  sure  he  will  frankly  forgive  your 
 enormous  debt,  according  to  his  own  promise,  if 
 you  can  but  ask,  seek,  and  knock  at  mercy's  door. 
 If  you  really  experience  the  things  described  here, 
 how  can  you  doubt  of  being  spiritually  poor  ? 
 Read  what  Paul  saith  of  himself,  "  For  that  which 
 "  I  do  I  allow  not :  for  what  I  would,  that  do  I 
 "  not ;  but  what  I  hate,  that  do  I. — For  I  know 
 *'  that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my  flesh)  dwelleth  nothing 
 *'  good  :  for  to  will  is  present  with  me  ;  but  how  to 
 '^  perform  that  which  is  good  I  find  not."  You 
 see  therefore,  how  poor  the  great  Apostle  of  the 
 gentiles  was  ;  even  like  yourself,  he  felt  himself 
 utterly  destitute^  poor,  maimed,  halt,  and  blind ; 
 yet  Christ  told  him  that  his  grace  was  sufficient 
 
35 
 
 for  him,  and  that  his  strength  was  made  perfect  in 
 his  weakness.  Therefore,  the  riches  of  his  grace 
 is  made  perfect  in  our  deep  felt  poverty,  and  none 
 other  have  any  claims  to  the  promises,  but  the 
 poor,  the  hungry,  and  the  thirsty, — "  For  he  fil- 
 *'  leth  the  hungry  with  good  things  ;  but  sendeth 
 *'  the  rich  empty  away ; — he  will  pour  water  up- 
 "  on  him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the 
 *'  dry  ground, — and  Zion's  poor  shall  be  satisfied 
 "  with  bread."  Thus  I  have  shewed  in  as  few 
 words  as  I  could,  the  meaning  of  circumcision  and 
 the  Lord's  supper,  in  order  instrumentally  to  es- 
 tablish and  comfort  the  poor  of  God's  flock,  that 
 they  may  be  lead  to  distinguish  the  precious  sub- 
 stjance  from  the  sign  ;  and  may  God  our  heavenly 
 teacher  put  a  blessing  upon  it,  and  upon  the 
 doctrine  of  true  baptism,  which  I  am  going  now 
 Jo  set  forth,  according  to  its  true  spiritual  import. 
 
 £  2 
 
36 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1st. — Of  Baptism,  and  its  origin. 
 
 x5  APT  ISM,  like  circumcision,  and  the  Eucha- 
 rist, is  of  divine  institution  ;  being  really  an  ordi- 
 nance of  God,  which  he  has  not  commanded  in 
 vain,  for  it  is  also  a  sign  of  good  and  heavenly 
 things,  and  if  spiritually  understood,  and  scripturally 
 used,  becomes  a  real  blessing.  God  gave  this  mi- 
 nistry to  John,  (called  the  Baptist,)  by  revelation, 
 and  sent  him  to  baptize.  John  1.  33.  Our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  who  had  already  taken  upon, him- 
 self, to  become  sole  debtor  for  all  the  sins  of  his 
 people,  by  being  circumcised  the  eighth  day,  now 
 also  came  to  be  baptized,  that  he  might  fulfill  all 
 righteousness,  and  be  anointed  with  the  Holy 
 Ghost.  As  an  example  to  all  he  used  the  sign,  in 
 order  to  shew,  that  as  water  taketh  away  the  filth 
 of  the  flesh,  so  the  Holy  Ghost  should  sanctify 
 and  purify  him  and  his  elect  in  him,  from  all  their 
 sins  and  manifold  defilements.  In  order  to  shew 
 forth  the  weakness  of  water  baptism  alone,  as  ad- 
 ministered by  John,  our  Lord  having  finished  the 
 great  work  of  redemption,  the  father  himself  being 
 well  pleased  and  reconciled,  having  made  peace 
 by  the  blood  of  his  cross,  I  say,  in  order  to  shew 
 forth  the  sign  in  a  more  spiritual  point  of  view,  he 
 
37 
 
 commanded  all  nations  to  be  baptized  in  the  name 
 of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Mat. 
 28.  19.  Whosoever  therefore  is  baptized  in  that 
 name,  ought  not  to  be  baptized  again,  whether 
 man,  woman,  or  child,  because  the  sign  thus  con- 
 veyed, shadows  forth  the  sum  and  substance  o^ 
 the  gospel. 
 
 2dly. — ft  is  an  error  to  set  aside  the  Sign  altogether. 
 
 Seeing  that  God  himself  sent  John  to  baptize, 
 John  1 .  33.  ;  and  that  it  was  an  heavenly  doctrine 
 like  circumcision,  and  the  Lord's  supper,  typifying 
 heavenly  realities,  Mat.  20.  25.  ;  and  that  our  Lord 
 himself  was  baptized  with  water,  as  an  example, 
 therefore,  those  men  who  reject  water  baptism  as  a 
 sign  of  good  things,  err  greatly  ;  for  the  spiritual  im- 
 port of  it  doth  not  invalidate  the  sign,  that  it  should 
 be  neglected  ;  he  that  neglects  it,  is  not  obedient  to 
 God's  word,  and  acknowledges  not  the  truth  which 
 is  after  godliness  :  he  is  a  fool,  not  discerning  the 
 wisdom  of  God  in  the  institution.  Let  u«  there- 
 fore take  heed,  that  while  we  seek  to  establish  the 
 substance,  we  do  not  reject  or  neglect  the  figure ; 
 "^  What  therefore,  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
 "  no  man  put  asunder." 
 
 Sdly. — General  utiiitT/  of  Baptism  as  a  Sign. 
 
 It  leads  us  to  an  enquiry  what  it  is  for ;  the  uti- 
 lity of  it,  and  is  calculated  to  convey  strong  con- 
 
38 
 
 victlons,  when  it  is  duly  administered  : .  for  as  cir- 
 cumcision was  an  argument,  that  all  men  were 
 enemies  to  God  by  wicked  works,  and  that  except, 
 they  were  circumcised  in  heart  to  love  God,  they 
 should  all  be  cut  off ;  so  likewise  baptism,  con- 
 veyeth  a  strong  conviction,  that  as  all  men  by 
 nature,  are  unrighteous,  filthy,  abominable,  and 
 unclean,  that  except,  their  souls  are  washed  and 
 cleansed  from  sin,  by  spiritual  and  heavenly  things, 
 prefigured  by  the  water,  they  cannot  be  saved. 
 Baptism,  is  therefore,  a  standing  sign  in  the  christi- 
 an church  ;  a  perpetual  argument,  to  press  men  to 
 go  after  the  substance  ;  like  the  sign  of  an  iim, 
 denoting,  that  there  is  provision,  ( not  in  the  sign, 
 but  in  the  house  within. )  When  these  things  are 
 faithfully  handled,  by  a  minister  sent  of  God,  he 
 that  is  in  a  state  of  unbelief,  or  ignorance,  is 
 through  the  sign  being  opened  up  and  explained, 
 convinced  of  all  ;  he  is  judged  of  all  :  the  spirit  of 
 God  sets  in  with  the  word  preached,  and  works 
 faith  in  his  heart  to  believe,  that  he  is  that  filthy 
 creature,  whose  soul  needs  spiritual  washing  :  thus 
 are  the  secrets  of  his  heart  made  manifest ;  and  so 
 falling  down  on  his  face  he  will  worship  God,  and 
 report,  that  God  is  in  you  of  a  truth.  Thus, 
 *'  Faith  Cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the 
 ''  word  of  God  ;"  of  which,  baptism  is  a  part,  that 
 shall  answer  God's  purpose  in  appointing  it,  and 
 it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  he  sent  it. 
 
39 
 
 4tlilj. — It  is  a  hand  post,  that  points  to  Christy  and 
 his  Baptism. 
 
 We  must  take  notice  that  water^,  whether  used 
 by  Johoj  or  Christ's  disciples,  was  the  same  sign, 
 and  not  a  different  baptism  :  for  some  imagine 
 that  there  was  a  difference,  if  so,  whj  were  not  the 
 disciples  re-baptized  ?  But  as  we  do  not  read, 
 that  they  were,  we  must  conclude,  that  water  from 
 first  to  last,  was  the  standing  sign  of  both.  The 
 reason  why  some  were  re-baptized  shall  be  consi- 
 dered in  its  proper  place.  John's  baptism  in  sub- 
 stance was  the  same  with  Christ's,  who  drew  the 
 substance  of  John's  ministry  into  this  standing 
 form,  "  Baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
 ''  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  Joha 
 baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father  that  sent  him, 
 John  1.  S^.'y  and  in  the  name  of  the  Son,  and 
 Holy  Ghost,  saying,  "  I  indeed  baptize  with  wa- 
 ''  ter  unto  repentance  :  but  he  that  cometh  after 
 *'  me  is  mightier,  whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to 
 '•'  bear :  he  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy 
 "  Ghost,  and  with  fire."  Here  he  humbly  ac- 
 knowledges his  baptism  to  be  but  a  sign  of  good 
 things  ;  but  that  the  spiritual  baptism  of  Christy 
 and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  was  the  blessing  prefi- 
 gured by  the  water.  Christ  also  sets  it  forth  as 
 a  hand  post,  saying,  "  John  truly  baptized  you 
 "  with  water  ;  but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the 
 "  Holy  Ghost  not  many  days  hence."  Acts  1.  5, 
 and  11,  16.  Baptism  is  also  a  hand  post  to  true 
 repentance ;   for  as  I  said  before,  wlien  it  is  duly 
 
40 
 
 administered,  it  convinces  the  sinner  of  the  need 
 his  soul  has  of  being  washed,  and  repentance  be- 
 ing thus  began,  leads  him  finally  to  Christ,  "  Who 
 "  is  exalted  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  give  re- 
 "  pentance  unto  Israel ;" — therefore,  it  is  called 
 the  baptism  of  repentance,  or  unto  repentance. 
 Mat.  3.  11. 
 
 5thly. — TVhi/  was  Baptism  instituted. 
 
 Circumcision  being  as  I  said  before,  a  sign  in 
 the  flesh  of  the  children  of  Israel,  of  the  covenant 
 God  made  with  them  in  Christ,  he  fulfilled  all 
 righteousness,  and  by  his  wonderful  love  to  God 
 and  man,  he  became  the  end  of  circumcision,  for 
 life  and  salvation  to  all  them  that  were  in  him  : 
 for  none  ever  loved  God  with  all  the  heart  and 
 mind, — but  he  ;  therefore,  circumcision  has  au 
 end  in  him,  and  he  was  the  minister  of  it,  that  the 
 promise  of  God  made  to  the  fathers  might  come 
 upon  them  ;  that  the  love  wherewith  he  loved 
 God  and  them,  might  be  in  them.  Therefore, 
 having  abolished  the  enmity,  and  made  peace  by 
 the  blood  of  his  cross,  ''  For  greater  love  hath  no 
 "  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for 
 '^  his  friends ;"  he  verily  manifested,  that  he  was 
 circumcised  with  this  wonderful  love,  by  purging 
 away  our  sins  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself;  thus 
 having  cancelled  all  laws,  types,  and  shadows, 
 which  were  under  the  Old  Testament,  he  also  can- 
 celled the  sign  of  circumcision,  which  was  the 
 
41 
 
 iseal  under  that  dispensation  ;  and  having  sealed 
 the  New  Testament  with  his  blood,  he  abolished 
 circumcision,  which  was  now  fulfilled  in  him  ;  and 
 ordained  a  new  outward  seal  or  sign,  of  the  effica- 
 cy of  his  blood  and  dying  love ;  saying,  "  Go  ye 
 *■■  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them 
 *'  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
 ''  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Thus  the  Lord  left  Israel 
 in  the  flesh,  to  toil  at  their  sacrifices,  which  could 
 not  take  away  sin  ;  and  circumcision  also  became 
 a  trap  to  them,  because  the  veil  of  ignorance, 
 blindn£ss,  and  prejudice,  being  upon  their  hearts, 
 they  could  not  look  to  the  end  of  that  which  is 
 abolished  ;  God  therefore,  because  of  their  unbe- 
 lief, took  the  kingdom  away  from  them,  and  gave 
 it  to  the  gentiles,  who  should  bring  forth  the 
 fruits  thereof;  as  it  is  written,  "And  ye  shall 
 "  leave  your  name  for  a  curse  unto  my  chosen : 
 "^  for  the  Lord  God  shall  slay  thee,  and  call  his 
 "  servants  by  another  name."  That  is,  they  shall 
 be  called  christians,  from  Christ,  in  whose  name 
 they  should  be  baptized.  \ 
 
 6thly. — The  Gentiles  now,  are  God's  national  people 
 hij  Baptism^  even  as  the  Jems  were  in  time  past  h%f 
 Circumcision, 
 
 God  commanded  Abraham,  that  all  belonging 
 to  his  household  should  be  circumcised,  even  such 
 also,  as  were  bought  with  his  money,  being  not  of 
 his  seed,  and  we  find  afterwards^  that  all  the 
 
42 
 
 liouse  of  Israel  was  continually  distinguished  from 
 the  heathens,  by  having  this  sign  in  their  flesh  ;  so 
 likewise  the  visible  church  now,  is  distinguished 
 from  the  heathen  world  by  baptism,  which  he  hath 
 commanded  to  be  administered  to  all  nations. 
 Christ  the  spiritual  Abraham,  is  a  son  over  his 
 own  house ;  Avhich  is  the  visible  church  among 
 the  gentiles,  distinguished  by  baptism  ;  "  Who 
 "  in  time  past  were  not  a  people,  but  are  now  the 
 *'  people  of  God  :  which  had  not  obtained  mercy, 
 "^  but  now  have  obtained  mercy."  Now  the  great 
 mistake  of  many  in  all  ages,  especially  the  anabap- 
 tists or  baptists,  is  this,  they  vainly  supposed  the 
 christian  church  militant,  should  be  pure  and  in- 
 accessable  to  wicked  men  ;  not  a  few  of  the  wal- 
 denses  thought  so.  This  notion  produced  a  vast 
 many  different  sects  among  the  anabaptists,  who  to 
 this  day  cannot  agree  how  to  obtain  this  pure  state : 
 for  they  understand  not  the  voice  of  the  prophets^ 
 nor  the  rest  of  the  scriptures  ;  which  shew^  that  in 
 the  kingdom  of  God  now,  which  is  distinguished 
 by  baptism,  there  should  be  tares  and  wheat,  good 
 fishes  and  bad,  wise  virgins  and  foolish.  It  is  ne- 
 cessary also  to  consider,  that  all  the  things  which 
 happened  to  Israel,  the  adopted  people  of  God, 
 are  written  for  our  admonition,  and  do  surprizing- 
 ly  belong  to  the  gentile  or  christian  church  now, 
 who  at  present,  are  the  only  adopted  people  of 
 God.  Israel's  call  out  of  Egypt,  their  travails  in 
 the  wilderness,  their  murmurings,  rebellions,  pro- 
 Tocations^  and  their  idolatry,   with  all  that  the 
 
43 
 
 prophets  have  spoken  concerning  them,  every  tittle 
 of  it  belong  to  us,  as  a  national  people  now.     All 
 this  serves  to  shew,  the  propriety  of  infant  bap- 
 tism :  for  if  none  are  to  be  baptized,  but  such  who 
 have  a  real  change  of  heart,  or  as  some  say,  who 
 can  answer  truly  for  themselves,  the  visible  church 
 of  Christ,  might  really  be   confined  into  a  very 
 small  compass.     Let  us  therefore  consider,  what  is 
 really  the  truth,  that  although  millions  of  Israel, 
 were  circumcised  according  to  God's  command, 
 yet  only  a  remnant,  according  to  the  election  of 
 grace  returned  and  were  saved :  being  circumci- 
 sed in  heart  to  love  God.     Of  all  that  came  out  of 
 Egypt,  who  were  circumcised  in  the  wilderness, 
 none  entered  the  promised  land,  save  Joshua,  and 
 Caleb;  so  in  like  manner,  as  God  had  a  pure  invi- 
 sible cViurch  among  Israel,  he  has  also  an  holy, 
 pure,  unde filed  church  now,  which  is  truly  bap- 
 tized with  the   Holy  Ghost  and  with   fire :    the 
 members  of  which  are  called  with  an  holy  calling, 
 from  time  to  time,  from  the  midst  of  a  crooked, 
 and  rebellious  generation,  who  have  nothing  of  the 
 christian  about  them,  but  the  name  and  the  sign, 
 which  is  baptism.     The  prescribed   limits  of  the 
 book  I  am  writing,  do  not  permit  me  to  enlarge 
 much  upon  these  things,  but  only  to  give  an  idea 
 to  my  reader,  how  he  may  by  the  word  of  God, 
 and  humble  prayer,  escape  the  subtle  snares  of 
 those,  who,  by  good  words  and  fair  S'peeches,  de- 
 ceive the  hearts  of  the  simple ;  and  endeavour  to 
 bring  them  into  bondage  to  the  sign ;  to  be  re- 
 
44 
 
 baptized,  when  God  commands  it  not.  As  I  write 
 also  chiefly  for  the  sake  of  those,  who,  by  their 
 daily  avoCations  and  necessary  labours,  have  not 
 any  opportunity  to  investigate  every  thing,  that 
 may  cast  a  light  upon  the  subject  I  am  treating 
 upon,  I  think  it  not  unprofitable,  to  trace  the  rise 
 of  the  doctrine  I  am  opposing. 
 
 7(hly. — A  concise  historr/  of  Anabaptism, 
 
 Even  so  early  as  in  the  Apostle  Paul's  days, 
 the  mystery  of  iniquity  in  various  shapes, 
 forms,  and  modes,  had  already  began  to  work. 
 John  declares  "  That  many  false  prophets  or  anti- 
 *'  christs,  had  come  forth  into  the  world."  After 
 the  departure  of  those  great  and  eminent  servants 
 of  God,  many  grievous  wolves  entered  the  sheep 
 fold,  not  sparing  the  flock.  Many  from  the  Apos- 
 tle's days,  to  the  end  of  the  first  century,  had  al- 
 ready separated  themselves,  being  sensual,  not 
 having  the  spirit;  and  the  carnal  mixture  of  hu- 
 man science,  falsely  so  called,  had  made  many  io 
 start  aside  from  the  simplicity  of  the  gospel ;  so 
 that  their  faith  stood  in  the  wisdom  of  men,  and 
 not  in  the  power  of  God.  Christ  tells  us,  that,  his 
 word  is  spirit  and  life,  and  that  the  flesh  profitelh 
 nothing;  but  men  in  all  ages  have  perverted  his 
 word,  by  putting  carnal  constructions  upon  it,  and 
 have  made  it  of  none  efiect  by  their  traditions. 
 Many  who  had  started  aside  from  the  truth  in* 
 
40 
 
 sisted  upon,  that  such  who  came  over  to  their  par- 
 ty, should  be  re-baptized,  vainly  imagining  that 
 this  sign  could  not  be  administered,  but  by  such, 
 who  were  truly  saints  of  God  ;  they  never  consi- 
 dered that  Judas  also  baptized,  as  well  as  the 
 rest  of  the  disciples,  yet  we  no  where  read,  that 
 any  that  he  baptized,  were  baptized  again.  When 
 we  come  to  consider,  how  soon  the  seeds  of  the 
 grand  apostacy  began  to  be  sown  in  the  church, 
 how  many  frivolous  ceremonies  were  introduced, 
 the  swarms  of  monks,  hermits,  and  other  useless 
 idle  members  abounded,  moreover,  that  a  form  of 
 godliness  without  the  power  was  esteemed  by  ma- 
 ny, so  that  it  is  not  safe  to  depend  upon  the  exam- 
 ple of  such  contending  parties,  who  tore  one 
 another  to  pieces.  Again,  we  cannot  but  stand, 
 astonished,  that  so  soon  after  Constantine  the 
 Great,  had  as  an  instrument,  restored  peace  to  the 
 church,  3'et  how  rapidly  errors  of  all  sorts  spread 
 themselves,  especially  that  damnable  and  monstrous 
 doctrine,  of  Arius  ;  which  in  a  short  time  infected 
 the  whole  christian  world ;  and  even  to  this  day, 
 many  thousands,  who  make  an  open  profession  of 
 Christ,  are  poisoned  with  it.  It  is  with  grief  one 
 beholds  so  eminent  an  instrument  as  Constantine 
 was,  surrounded  with  arian  bishops;  while  in  the 
 same  time  he  persecuted  and  banished,  that  great 
 champion  for  the  truth  Athanatius.  How  blind 
 must  that  good  emperor  be,  as  to  the  nature  of 
 baptism  ?  Who  put  off  being  baptized,  and  wait- 
 ed, until  he  had  committed  all  bis  sins,  before  he 
 
46 
 
 thought'  proper  to  receive  the  sign.  How  blind 
 therefore,  must  the  general lity  of  those  bishops 
 be,  who  could  not  teach  him  better  ?  And  point 
 out  to  him  the  spiritual  meaning  of  baptism,  and 
 so  bring  him  off  from  looking  to  the  sign,  as  effi- 
 cations  in  cleansing  him  from  his  transgressions, 
 and  point  him  effectually  to  the  blood  of  Christ, 
 which  alone  could  cleanse  him  from  all  his  sins. 
 It  is  evident^  from  the  whole  course  of  ecclesiasti- 
 cal history,  that  most,  especially  those,  who  re- 
 baptized  all  who  came  over  to  them,  believed  that 
 the  Holy  Ghost  and  remission  of  sins,  were  confer- 
 red by  baptism  ;  so  that  this  sign,  for  want  of  di- 
 vine light,  became  a  most  dreadful  bone  of  con- 
 tention, murder,  and  blood-shed.  This  murder- 
 ous spirit,  has  always  been  the  characteristic  mark 
 of  this  sect  in  all  ages  ;  and  it  is  certain,  that  they 
 would  now  shew  themselves  in  similar  colours,  if 
 the  excellent  laws,  and  constitution  of  this  coun- 
 try, were  not  a  check  upon  them  :  for  their  bigotry, 
 stiffness,  and  rancorous  spirit,  sufficiently  shews, 
 what  many  would  do,  if  they  could.  My  reader 
 must  consider,  that  I  am  not  speaking  of  indivi- 
 duals, who,  many  of  them  are  harmless  and  quiet, 
 but  I  am  endeavouring  to  discover  the  false  spirit 
 and  errors  of  the  party  at  large,  hoping  that  God 
 will  give  him  light,  not  to  be  brought  in  bondage 
 to  the  sign,  and  so  come  short  of  the  substance. 
 
 I  hasten  now  to  shew,  that  this  spirit  of  contenti- 
 on about  baptism,  began  very  early  in  the  church, 
 and  that  many  rested  in  the  signs  of  divine  things, 
 
47 
 
 and  came  to  no  perfection  in  experimental  know- 
 ledge ;  this  the  Apostle  Paul  plainly  points  out, 
 saying,  "^  Therefore  leaving  the  principles  of  the 
 ''  doctrine  of  Christ,  let  us  go  on  unto  perfection; 
 "  not  laying  again  the  foundation  of  repentance 
 "  from  dead  works,  and  of  faith  towards  God,  of 
 "  doctrines  of  baptisms,  — ."  Heb.  5.  I,  2.  He 
 certainly  meant  the  perfection  of  spiritual  baptism, 
 of  which  water  baptism  is  the  sign  ;  I  have  hint- 
 ed already,  that  many  had  began  to  separate  them- 
 selves, under  the  idea  of  forming  themselves  into  an 
 holy  pure  church,  and  with  this  view  they  re-bap- 
 tized all  that  came  over  to  them.  None  among  the 
 ancients,  occasioned  more  disturbances  than  the 
 montanists,  and  donatists. — 1st.  Montanus  an  igno- 
 rant enthusiast,  of  Pepuza,  in  Phrvgia,  pretended^ 
 God  sent  him  to  perfec!;  the  gospel  which  Christ 
 had  left  unfinished  ;  he  gave  himself  out  to  be  the 
 comforter,  promised  by  our  Lord  to  his  people. 
 He  denied  and  prohibited,  all  lapsed  persons,  who 
 had  fallen  into  gross  sins,  ever  to  be  re-admitted  into 
 communion.  The  necessity  of  frequent  fastings, 
 and  other  austerities,  the  uselessness  of  learning, 
 meanness  in  apparel, — he  mightily  inculcated  in 
 his  followers  ;  all  which  sufficiently  shew,  the 
 sandy  foundation  on  which  he  was  built ;  while 
 his  pretentions  of  being  the  comforter, — point  him 
 out,  to  be  in  the  same  condemnation  as  the  devil 
 his  father.  None  were  admitted  into  this  sect, 
 but  such  as  believed  these  things,  and  they  re- 
 haptized  all  such  who  joined  them: — and  it  is 
 
48 
 
 said,  that  they  even  baptized  the  dead.  The  fair 
 shew  he  made  in  the  flesh,  by  macerating  his  bo- 
 dy, and  his  insolent  boldness, — procured  him  avast 
 number  of  converts,  among  all  ranks  of  people, 
 and  even  some  among  the  learned  :  for  the  famed 
 TertuUian,  not  only  espoused  this  bad  cause,  but 
 also  defended  it,  with  the  utmost  vigour  and  ob- 
 stinacy. Well  might  the  Apostle  say,  "  Hath  not 
 *'  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  world  :  for 
 "  the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God."  Thus 
 he  brings  to  nothing  the  understanding  of  the  pru- 
 dent, and  destroyeth  the  wisdom  of  the  wise  ;  who, 
 will  proudly  look  into  the  ark  of  God's  mysteries, 
 by  the  eye  of  their  corrupt  reason  ;  and  therefore, 
 are  left  twice  dead  and  plucked  up  by  the  roots, 
 in  possession  of  an  empty  sign,  without  the  preci- 
 ous substance. 
 
 2dly. — The  Cathari,  or  pure. 
 
 About  the  year  250,  Novatian,  a  presbyter  of 
 Rome,  eminent  for  his  learning  and  eloquence,  be- 
 ing a  man  of  an  inflexible  rigid  disposition,  like 
 all  those  who  are  righteous  overmuch,  insisted  up- 
 on that  gross  transgressors,  ought  never  to  be  re- 
 admitted into  the  communion  of  the  church.  Most 
 however,  of  the  Roman  presbyters,  chiefly  Corne- 
 lius, were  of  very  diff'erent  sentiments.  Shortly 
 after,  in  spite  of  all  that  Novatian  could  do  to 
 prevent  it,  Cornelius  was  chosen  bishop  of  Rome. 
 Novatian  refusing  to  submit  to  his  authority.  Cor- 
 
nelius  called  a  synod  at  Rome,  in  A:D.  261,  and 
 excommunicated  him.  In  consequence  of  this,  he 
 and  Novatus,  a  Carthageuian  presbyter  of  ill  fame, 
 formed  a  party  distinct  from  all  others,  which  they 
 denominated  cathari,  or  pure ;  to  which  like  the 
 montanists  they  admitted  none  without  a  new  bap- 
 tism ;  for  they  reckoned  no  church  pure  but  their 
 own,  and  supposed  that  all  others  were  polluted, 
 the  baptism  ihey  administered  null  and  void  ;  such 
 defiled  churches  having  no  power  to  impart  remis- 
 sion of  sins.  Take  notice  therefore,  what  wonder- 
 full  stress  is  laid  again  here  upon  the  sign,  by 
 these  separists,  and  what  clouds  and  darkness 
 came  upon  those  things,  which  should  have  been 
 for  their  welfare,  for  they  became  a  trap.  Not 
 long  after  this  controversy,  that  relative  to  the 
 baptism  of  lapsed  persons,  and  heretics,  troubled 
 again  the  churches  in  Asia  and  Africa  exceeding- 
 ly: for  many  of  them  would  not  re-admit  such  to 
 communion  without  being  re-baptized  ;  this  cau- 
 sed most  violent  disputes  between  Cyprian,  bishop 
 of  Carthage,  and  Stephen,  bishop  of  Rome,  who 
 opposed  this  erroneous  baptism.  The  controversy 
 however,  in  a  measure  abated,  by  the  death  of 
 Stephen,  and  the  opposite  party  went  on  with 
 their  unscriptural  baptism.  What  shall  we  say, 
 that  it  is  truly  astonishing  that  so  near  the  aposto- 
 lic age,  men  departed  so  quickly  from  the  simpli- 
 city of  the  truth,  enacting  spiritual  laws,  which 
 God  ho-d  not  commanded  :  for  there  is  not  a  word 
 in  all  the  scriptures^  which  can  possibly  encourage 
 
 F 
 
50 
 
 anj  to  re-baplize  such,  as  had  received  this  sign  in 
 the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 
 It  is  in  vain,  for  some  to  bring  in  the  example  of 
 those  t\yehe  v,'e  read  of  in  the  16th  of  Acts,  for 
 they  having  never  heard  that  there  was  any  Holy 
 Ghost,  it  appears,  that  they  had  not  been  bapti- 
 led,  even  in  the  purity  of  John's  baptism,  who  tes- 
 tified of  Christ,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  it  was 
 therefore  necessary,  to  administer  to  them  the  true 
 form  of  baptism. 
 
 3d]y. — The  Donatists  inSW,  xery  like  the  Anabaptists 
 in  1525. 
 
 This  party,  took  its  name  from  Donatus  bishop 
 of  Carthage;  their  rise  and  tenets,  were  similar  to 
 the  Montanists  and  Novatians ;  but  of  far  more 
 dreadful  consequences  than  either.  The  Donatists, 
 like  the  baptists  now,  professed  themselves  the  on- 
 ly  pure  and  holy  church,  and  admitted  none  that 
 came  over  to  them,  without  being  re-baptized  ; 
 they  reckoned  all  other  churches  polluted,  and 
 held  no  communion  with  them ;  and  pretended  that 
 the  sanctity  of  their  own  bishops  was  such,  that 
 they  only,  could  confer  the  Holy  Ghost  by  bap- 
 tism :  they  however,  held  in  a  great  measure  the 
 same  doctrines  as  their  orthodox  opposers.  The 
 question  now  is,  how  we  must  judge  of  this  pesti- 
 lent sect  ?  Even  as  Christ  saith,  "  Every  tree 
 *'  is  known  by  its  fruit ;  for  a  good  tree  cannot 
 5*-bring  forth  evil  fruit,  neither  can  a  corrupt  tree 
 
51 
 
 "  bring  forth  good  fruit;  therefore  by  their  fruits, 
 "  ye  shall  know  them."  If  violence  and  fury^ 
 murder  and  blood-shedding,  if  opposition  to  civil 
 government^  end  disobedience  to  rulers, — are  the 
 marks,  and  evidences  of  a  pure  and  holy  church, 
 then  we  must  allow  these  re-baptizers,  to  be  the 
 only  pure  church  upon  earth.  In  A.D.  313,  they 
 brought  their  cause  before  the  emperor  Constan- 
 tine,  who  assembled  a  synod,  by  which  they  were 
 condemned.  In  consequence  of  their  clamours^ 
 he  appointed  another  much  more  numerous  assem- 
 bly of  bishops,  and  the  determination  of  this  sy- 
 nod, were  also  against  them.  The  Donatists,  not 
 satisfied  with  this,  appealed  to  Constantine  him- 
 self, who  gave  also  sentence  against  them  ;  and  be- 
 cause of  their  desperate  unchristian  like  conductj 
 deprived  them  of  their  churches,  banished  some 
 of  their  seditious  bishops,  and  put  some  of  them  to 
 death,  for  their  rebellious  practices.  The  rest  be- 
 ing very  numerous,  and  full  of  rage,  raised  dread- 
 ful commotions  in  Africa.  The  Donatists,  under 
 the  name  of  circumcellions,  took  up  arms,  and 
 made  war  against  all  magistrates  and  civil  govern- 
 ment ;  perpetrating  the  most  unheard  of  cruelties 
 among  their  opposers.  Their  horrible  crimes, 
 murders,  pillage,  slaughter,  and  perfidious  con- 
 duct, rendered  them  objects  of  the  utmost  detesta- 
 tion of  all  men.  Their  fury  was  such,  that  potent 
 as  Constantine  was,  he  found  himself  under  the 
 necessity  of  abolishing  the  laws  enacted  against 
 them.     Under  the  succeeding  reigns,  being  agaio 
 
 F  2 
 
52 
 
 opposed  because  of  their  murderous  spirit,  their 
 circumcellion  troops^  committed  again  mos_t  hor- 
 rible assassinations,  massacres,  and  murders,  with 
 the  utmost  violence  and  rage  ;  they  were  however, 
 attacked  and  defeated  with  great  slaugliter,  by 
 Macarius,  the  African  governor.  Though  they 
 were  brought  under  at  this  time,  yet  at  every  op- 
 portunity, they  did  again  and  again,  manifest  their 
 murderous  and  rebellious  spirit.  It  must  be  al- 
 lowed, that  the  pen  of  St.  Augustine,  and  the  pru- 
 dent manner  with  which,  he  managed  this  dread- 
 ful controversy^  more  effectually  defeated  them, 
 than  even  the  emperor's  troops  :  for  he  exposed 
 their  principles  and  tenets,  in  such  a  light,  as  ren- 
 dered them  absolutely  detestable  to  all  men.  This 
 murderous  sect  of  re-baptizers,  after  having 
 troubled  the  church  for  near  three  hundred  years^ 
 at  last  came  to  nothing. 
 
 4thly. — The  Baptists^  or  Anabaptists  in  1525. 
 
 Satan  in  all  ages,  hath  transformed  himself  into 
 an  angel  of  light,  to  deceive  the  world ;  no  marvel 
 therefore,  that  his  ministers  are  also  transformed 
 as  the  ministers  of  righteousness.  When  God  sent 
 prophets,  the  devil  also  sent  false  prophets ;  when 
 God  sent  apostles,  teachers,  ajid  in  latter  times  re- 
 formers, the  adversary  sent  forth  the  same  charac- 
 ters ;  but  the  spirit  of  God  calls  them  false  apos- 
 tlesj  false  teachers^ — therefore,  we  must  not  won- 
 
53 
 
 der,  that  some  of  the  re-baptizers,  came  forth  some 
 time  after  Peter  Waldo's  reformation,  under  the 
 venerable  name  of  waldeiises,  to  cast  a  blind  be- 
 fore the  world  ;  as  if  it  had  been  a  very  ancient 
 practice,  among  the  truly  godly,  to  re-baptize 
 those  that  came  over  to  them.  About  the  year 
 1525,  when  the  contentions  of  the  Pope,  with 
 Luther  and  the  rest  of  the  reformers,  attracted  the 
 attention  of  Europe,  swarms  of  anabaptists  started 
 up,  like  locusts,  under  a  variety  of  leaders,  who 
 fancied  themselves  immediately  sent  by  the  Hol]^- 
 Ghost,  to  establish  a  pure  church,  which  ought  to 
 be  inaccessible  to  wicked  men.  These  like  the 
 Donatists  above  mentioned,  re-baptized  all  that 
 joined  them,  and  were  influenced  at  that  time, 
 with  the  same  murderous  principles ;  for  be- 
 ing headed  by  Munzer,  he  commenced  a  fu- 
 rious war  against  all  princes,  laws,  and  magis- 
 trates ;  giving  out  that  Christ  was  just  going 
 to  take  the  sole  rule  over  all  nations.  The  Elec- 
 tor of  Saxony,  and  some  other  princes,  seeing  that 
 there  was  no  end  to  the  horrible  massacres  they 
 committed,  at  last,  fell  upon  them  with  a  nume- 
 rous army,  and  defeated  them  at  Mulhausen.  It 
 is  said,  that  no  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  of 
 them  were  cut  to  pieces.  Munzer,  their  diaboli- 
 cal chief  was  taken,  and  put  to  a  shameful  death. 
 In  the  year  1533,  notwithstanding  they  had  receiv- 
 ed repeated  checks,  and  were  much  intimidated, 
 John  Bockold,  commonly  called  John  of  Leyden, 
 a  tailor,  with  several  others,  collected  a  vast  num- 
 
54 
 
 ber  of  frantic  enthusiasts,  and  made  themselves 
 masters  of  the  city  of  Munster ;  giving  out,  that  it 
 was  to  be  the  new  Jerusalem,  and  that  the  spiritu- 
 al kingdom  of  Christ  should  immediately  appear. 
 Bockold,  being  noAV  king  of  Munster,  attempted  to 
 seize  upon  Amsterdam,  and  several  other  places  of 
 importance  in  Holland,  but  was  disappointed.  For 
 near  three  years,  did  he  and  his  mad  brethren 
 reign  in  this  city,  committing  in  it  the  most  enor- 
 mous crimes,  and  ridiculous  follies,  that  men  under 
 tne  influence  of  the  devil  could  devise.  It  is  said, 
 that  John  wallowed  in  lust ;  rioting  in  sensual  gra- 
 tifications, with  no  less  than  eleven  wives  he  had 
 married  ;  however,  he  came  to  an  awful  end,  being 
 put  to  death  in  a  most  ignominious  manner,  by 
 Count  Waldeck,  who  retook  Munster,  in  1536. 
 
 The  anabaptists,  were  at  this  time  almost  brought 
 to  utter  ruin  ;  for  their  principles  making  them  to 
 be  detested,  they  were  treated  every  where  with 
 that  severity,  their  manifold  crimes,  murders,  and 
 lawless  ravages  deserved;  however,  they  were 
 kept  from  sinking,  by  the  exertions  of  Menno 
 Simon,  who  from  being  a  most  abandoned  popish 
 priest,  had  become  a  zealous  anabaptist.  This 
 man  travelled  about  in  various  countries,  as  a  pub- 
 lic teacher,  and  spent  five  and  twenty  years, 
 labouring  to  animate  his  dispirited  brethren,  and  in 
 a  great  measure  succeeded.  Menno,  being  a  man 
 df  some  genius,  he  soon  became  the  oracle  of  his 
 party ;  and  with  his  seeming  meekness,  gentleness, 
 imd  discreet  behaviour,  he  endeavoured  to  conquer 
 
56 
 
 their  ferocious  spirit,  so  as  to  render  them  less  ob- 
 noxious, to  the  censure  of  civil  laws  and  govern- 
 ments. He  succeeded  in  a  great  measure,  and 
 united  them  into  one  body  ;  but  they  soon  split 
 again,  into  two  notable  parties,  called  rigid  ovfine^ 
 and  the  moderate  or  gross ;  and  he  lost  his  cha- 
 racter and  reputation,  by  sometimes  siding  with 
 one,  and  then  with  the  other.  Menno  believed  and 
 taught,  that  our  Lord's  humanity,  was  not  formed 
 of  the  substance  of  the  virgin  Mary,  but  was 
 brought  from  heaven,  or  was  created  by  the  Holy 
 Ghost ;  and  many  other  tenets,  he,  and  his  follow- 
 ers held,  which  when  brought  to  the  test  of  God's 
 word,  appear  rotten  and  dangerous  to  the  souls  of 
 men. 
 
 8thly. — Reflections,  upon  the  Jiistorj/  of  the  Anabap- 
 tists ;  shewing  also,  that  the  three  angels j  Rev.  14, 
 had  no  commission  to  rc'baptize  any. 
 
 Thus  I  have  endeavoured  to  shew,  in  as  few  words 
 as  I  could,  the  rise,  progress,  and  chief  principles, 
 of  this  re-baptizing  sect  in  all  ages  of  the  church. 
 Any  person  therefore,  that  is  taught  of  God,  and 
 not  biassed'by  prejudice,  must  if  truly  enlightened, 
 consider  and  say,  "  How  can  such  men  be  taught 
 *'  of  God,  who  in  all  ages,  have  laid  such  a  stress 
 **■  upon  the  sign  of  baptism,  and  have  so  grossly 
 •'  mistaken  the  spiritual  import  of  it  ?  How  can 
 ''  we  for  one  moment  suppose  that  such  pretenders 
 
56 
 
 "■  to  purity  and  holiness,  were  really  baptized  into 
 '*■  Christ,  who  so  manifestedly  trampled  upon  all 
 •^^  divine  and  human  laws  ?  Who,  thought  them- 
 "  selves  authorized  by  divine  grant,  and  that  they 
 "  were  doing  God  service,  by  being  filled  with  all 
 ''  unrighteousness,  fornication,  wickedness,  covete- 
 "  ousness,  maliciousness  ;  full  of  envy,  murder, 
 "  debate,  deceit,  malignity; — who,  by  spreading 
 "■  slaughter,  assassination,  and  desolation  where 
 "  ever  they  came,  plainly  shewed  to  all  the  world, 
 *'  that  they  were  under  the  influence  of  Apollyon 
 *'  the  destroyer  ? — Can  we  behold  the  present  bap- 
 "  tists,  aKhough  considerably  milder  and  harmless, 
 "  without  remembering  that  these,  are  the  bigoted 
 "  children  of  such  diabolical  fathers  ?  Do  they 
 '^  not  hold  the  same  doctrines,  excluding  all  others 
 ^*  from  any  communion  with  them,  except  they 
 '"'■  submit  to  their  baptism  ?  Have  not  the  present 
 "  baptists,  received  the  doctrines  they  hold  from 
 "  those  murderous  fathers,  by  lineal  descent  from 
 "  generation  to  generation  ?  Are  they  not  tenaci- 
 "  ous,  and  ignorantly  bigotted  to  the  sign  ?  Do 
 "  they  not  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  like  their 
 "  fathers,  tell  us  the  wonderful  revelations,  experi- 
 "  ences,  and  manifestations,  they  have  had  in  con-^ 
 ''  sequence  of  being  plunged  in  water?"  Consir 
 der  the  deadness,  stiffness,  and  rage  of  this  party, 
 when  opposed.  The  scriptures  point  them  out,  as 
 it  is  written,  ^^  The  fool  rageth,  and  is  confident  ; 
 "  but  a  wise  man  feareth  and  departeth  from  evil." 
 Is  it  not  evident,  that  satan  has  decoyed  them,  to 
 
make  the  same  handle  of  baptism,  as  they  of  old 
 did  of  circumcision,  saying,  "■  Except  ye  be  cir- 
 ^'  cumcised,  and  keep  the  law  of  Moses,  ye  cannot 
 ^^  be  saved/'  The  same  delusive  spirit  causes  our 
 modern  baptists  to  cry  out,  "  The  ordinance  of 
 "God?  The  ordinance  of  Gk)d  ?"  While  they 
 tiiemselves  know  not  what  they  say,  nor  whereof  they 
 alhrm ;  but  make  baptism,  an  instrument  to  cement 
 men  together  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  bond  of 
 iniquity  ;  leaving  them  stone  blind  and  totally  ig- 
 norant, of  the  real  spiritual  blessings,  ofthe  signs 
 of  God's  instituting. 
 
 Consider  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  read  the  13th 
 and  i4th  Chap,  of  Revelation,  in  which  you  will 
 see  the  rise  of  the  beast,  or  the  power  and  domini- 
 on of  antichrist,  and  the  horrible  darkness  that  fol- 
 Jowed  for  many  centuries ;  when  the  religion  of 
 Christ,  was  so  disfigured  by  multitudes  of  ceremo- 
 nies, rites,  and  inventions  of  men,  as  scarcely  to  be 
 known  ;  when  nothing  but  religious  fraud  was 
 practised,  as  it  is  written,  ''  And  he  doeth  great 
 *'  wonders,  so  that  he  maketh  fire  come  down  from 
 ^'  heaven  on  earth  in  the  sight  of  men,"  and  that 
 none  might  buy  or  sell,  save  he  that  had  the  raark^ 
 that  is,  an  open  profession  of  popery.  In  the  I4th 
 Chap,  we  read  of  three  angels  flying  in  the  midst 
 of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach. 
 Rev.  14.  6. — These  were  not  angels  by  nature, 
 but  angels  by  office  ;  ministers,  sent  of  God,  to 
 rescue  his  elect  from  papal  darkness.  According- 
 ly we  read  that  when  the  man  of  sin  had  arrived 
 
5^ 
 
 to  estate  of  manhood,  that  is  when  the  bishop  of 
 Rome,  had  at  last  obtained  the  title  of  universal 
 bishop,  from  Phocas,  emperor  of  Constantinople, 
 in  the  year  608,  after  reigning  for  upwards  of  two 
 hundred  years,  with  little  or  no  opposition,  and 
 every  succeeding  Pope  and  his  instruments,  had 
 brought  the  world  iuto  worse  than  Egyptian  dark- 
 ness ;  however,  God  was  pleased  to  raise  up  a 
 great  light,  namely  Claude,  bishop  of  Turin,  who 
 in  823,  made  a  noble  stand  against  popery  ;  he 
 taught  a  most  evangelical  religion,  and  his  doctrines 
 took  deep  root  in  Savoy,  Piedmont,  and  many  more 
 places.  About  1160,  Peter,  surnamed  Waldo, 
 was  also  raised  up  by  God,  to  oppose  the  prevail- 
 ing errors  of  popery;  this  man,  employed  his 
 wealth  in  getting  the  greatest  part  of  the  scriptures 
 translated  ;  and  having  formed  a  society  of  men, 
 who,  like  himself,  were  dissatisfied  with  the  reli- 
 gion of  that  dark  age,  he,  in  the  year  1180,  began 
 publicly  to  preach,  and  his  doctrines  in  a  short 
 time,  shot  like  lightening  through  many  parts  of 
 Europe.  This  is  the  first  angel  who  had  the  ever- 
 lasting gospel  to  preach.  The  second  angel  must 
 be  Wickliff,  who  gave  another  blow  to  popery,  by 
 translating  the  scriptures  from  the  Latin  into 
 English  ;  he  mightily  exposed  the  superstitions  of 
 the  times,  and  his  doctrines  spread  far  and  wide 
 over  Europe.  The  third  angel  is  Luther,  and  his 
 companions,  who  gave  antichrist  a  mortal  blow  in 
 1517.  The  vehement  manner  with  which  he  at- 
 tacked the  fraud,  hypocrisy,  and  enormous  wicked- 
 
59 
 
 iiess  of  popeSj  cardiimls;,  and  the  school-men,  is 
 marvelloiLsly  predicted  by  John  in  the  Revelations, 
 saying,  ^^  And  the  third  angel  followed  them,  say- 
 *^'  ing  with  a  loud  voice,  if  any  man  worship  the 
 ''  beast  and  his  image,  and  receive  his  mark  in  his 
 "  forehead,  or  in  his  hand,  the  same  shall  drink  of 
 "  the  wine  of  the  wrath  o^  God,  which  is  poured 
 "  out  without  mixture  into  the  cup  of  his  indig- 
 ''  nation  ;  and  he  shall  be  tormented  with  fire  and 
 ''  brimstone  in  the  presence  of  the  holy  angels^  and 
 ''  in  the  presence  of  the  Lamb."-— 
 
 These  angels,  or  ministers  of  God,  had  a  com- 
 raission  to  preach  the  gospel,  which  they  also  did; 
 we  therefore,  challenge  all  the  baptists  in  the 
 world  to  prove,  or  once  to  shew,  that  they  rejected 
 infant  baptism,  or  re-baptized  any,  who  had  re- 
 ceived baptism  in  the  due  order  and  form ;  but 
 God  sent  them  as  he  sent  Paul,  "  Not  to  baptize, 
 *'  but  to  preach  the  gospel."  Luther  was  so  far 
 from  giving  any  countenance,  or  encouragement  to 
 the  baptists,  who  started  up  in  his  days,  that  he 
 declared  them  the  plague  of  his  life  ;  the  pests  of 
 society  ;  and  exhorted  the  princes  of  Germany  to 
 suppress  them  :  for  because  of  them,  the  good  way 
 of  God  was  exceedingly  blasphemed ;  he  there- 
 fore, took  great  pains  by  his  writings  and  preach- 
 ing against  them,  to  convince  all  men,  that  he  had 
 no  connexion  with  them,  either  in  principle  or  in 
 practice.  What  shall  we  say  to  these  things  ? 
 Must  we  not  conclude,  that  except  the  baptists  can 
 shew,  that  their  leaders,  or  fore-fathers  in  their 
 
60, 
 
 faith,  were  tliese  angels  I  am  speaking  of,  they 
 must  absolutcij  be  found  liars,  and  intruders  into 
 those  things  which  they  have  not  seen,  being  vain- 
 ly puffed  up  by  their  fleshly  minds.  But  who  in 
 their  senses,  can  once  suppose;  that  a  cause,  which 
 in  all  ages  began  in  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  can  be 
 ihe  long  suffering  cause  of  God  ?  And  who  can, 
 except  they  are  blinded  by  the  god  of  this  world, 
 to  call  evil  good,  once  suppose,  that  leaders  who 
 were  murderers,  who  built  up  their  church  in  as- 
 sassinations, massacres,  and  blood,  are  the  holy 
 sanctified  angels,  or  messengers,  that  God  hath 
 sent  to  turn  men  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
 the  power  of  satan  to  God  ?  The  professing  bap- 
 tists now,  as  I  said  before,  have  not  received  the 
 doctrines  they  hold  from  God,  but  from  Munzer, 
 Stork,  Rothmau,  Gerard,  Knipperdoling,  John 
 Bockold  of  Leydcn,  but  especially  from  Menro 
 Simon  ;  who  considerably  modified  their  tenets, 
 yet  this  tnan  was  an  heretic,  as  I  shewed  before. 
 I  say  again,  that  this  doctrine  of  rc-baptizing  came 
 not  from  God,  but  the  devil  brought  it  over  here  in- 
 to England,  from  Germany  and  Holland  ;  that  ma- 
 ny who  seemingly  had  began  in  the  spirit,  miglit 
 be  made  perfect  in  the  flesh,  and  come  short  of  the 
 substance;  Avhile  they  are  deluded  to  feed  upon 
 the  naked  sign.  God  forbid,  that  I  should  either 
 through  malice,  spleen,  or  envy,  utter  the  things  I 
 do ;  but  it  is  really  from  a  thorough  conviction,  of 
 the  devifs  subtle  snare,  and  the  cunning  craftiness 
 of  meDj  whereby  they  lay  in  wait  to  deceive,  that  I 
 
61 
 
 am  constrained  to  testify,  what  God  hath  in  great 
 mercy  shewed  me,  which  things  through  grace,  he 
 hath  enabled  me  to  prove.    It  is  most  certain,  that 
 the  principal  leaders  now  of  the  baptist  persuasion, 
 and   chiefly  those,  who   make  the  most  converts, 
 a.re  deeply  tinged  with  errors,  of  a  very  serious  and 
 damnable  nature  ;  and  some  of  their  writings  suf- 
 ficiently testify,  that  I  speak  the  truth  :    for  some 
 are  subtle  arians,  denying  the  only  Lord  Godj  and 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  making  him  inferior  to 
 the   Father,  and  the  Holy   Ghost  inferior  to  the 
 Son^    thus  l)ringing   upon  themselves,  and  their 
 followers  swift  destruction.     Many  hold  the  pre- 
 existence  of  the  hum  an  soul  of  Christ ;  others  with 
 Menno,  that  he  brought  his  human  nature  from 
 heaven,    which   things    they    cannot   prove    from 
 scripture  ;   but  they  wrest  the  scriptures  unto  their 
 own  destruction  ;    they  continually  stumble  at  tiie 
 word,  being  disobedient :   whereunto  also  they  were 
 appointed.     Others  are  altogether  of  the  arminiaii 
 stamp  ;    while   some  are  antinomians  of  the  iirst 
 magnitude,  screwing  up  men  into  such  a  height  of 
 faith,  or  as  I  may  call   it  fleshly  confidence,  that 
 will   not   admit  of  any  doubts  or  fears;  but  this 
 will  be  found  at  last,  to  be   a  conscience   seared 
 with  a  hot  iron;    such  men  by  resisting  the  truth, 
 and  not  receiving  it  in  the  love  of  it,  have  in  just 
 judgment  all  these  strong  delusions  sent  to  them, 
 that  the}'  should  believe  a  lie  :  that  they  all  might 
 be  damned,  who  believe  not  the  truth,  but  have 
 pleasure    in   unrighteousness.    2  Thess.  2.   11,  12. 
 
6^ 
 
 "  O,  reader,  let  not  thy  wrath  and  indignation  be 
 *'  kindled  against  nle,  because  I  use  such  plain- 
 ness of  speech  ;  but  exceedingly  fear  and  tremble, 
 lest  thou  be  swallowed  up  by  the  horrible  tempest, 
 which  shall  come  upon  such  men.  If  thou  believ- 
 cth  not  my  testimony,  yet  if  thou  canst  not  over- 
 turn it,  I  tell  the  fear  ;  lest  it  should  be  found  to 
 be  the  truth  of  God  at  last.  If  what  I  have  testi- 
 fied, has  brought  thee  to  shake  and  to  fear,  that 
 thou  art  yet  after  all  thy  profession,  upon  a  rotten 
 foundation,  then  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  do  this : 
 confer  not  with  flesh  and  blood :  give  no  sleep  to 
 thine  eyes,  and  trust  in  no  human  guide  ;  but 
 draw  near  to  God,  tell  him  thy  bewildered  state, 
 thy  fears,  and  desires  ;  pour  out  thy  heart  before 
 him,  and  wrestle  with  him  like  Jacob  ;  give  him 
 no  rest :  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  suffereth  all 
 this  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force. 
 Let  thy  heart  go  out  continually  to  him ;  yea^  cry 
 day  and  night  before  him  without  ceasing;  then 
 shalt  thou  most  assuredly  know,  whether  I  have 
 testified  the  truth  or  not.  May  God  give  thee  this 
 great  wisdom  for  Christ's  sake,  Amen. 
 
 9thly. — How  some  good  men  j  both  Ministers  and  others, 
 came  to  hold  with  and  inforce  the  baptism  of  Adults. 
 
 I  am  persuaded,  that  they  never  received  this 
 doctrine  from  God,  but  from  men  :  they  have 
 given  a  fleshly  assent  and  consent  to  it,  especially. 
 
63 
 
 as  there  are  many  scriptures  which  seemingly  do 
 wonderfully  favour  the  practice  of  it.  These  good 
 rr^en,  have  trusted  to  their  reason,  and  brought  not 
 these  things  before  God,  who  hath  declared  that 
 he  will  be  enquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel,  to  do 
 these  things  for  them.  They  have  not  drawn  near 
 to  God,  saying  from  a  heart  felt  sense  of  their 
 blindness  and  spiritual  ignorance,  "  Lord,  I  am  a 
 "  fool ;  do  thou  make  me  wise ;  I  am  more  brutish 
 ^'  than  any  man,  and  have  not  the  knowledge  of 
 "  the  holy  ;  but  thou  hast  promised  to  open  the 
 "  eyes  of  the  blind.  O  !  Thou  eternal  Father, 
 "  Son,  and  Spirit,  shew  me  the  mystery  of  thy 
 "  baptism."  If  John  Bunyan,  that  excellent  man  of 
 God,  had  gx)ne  this  way  to  work,  his  G©d,  would 
 have  delivered  him,  from  his  bondage  concerning 
 water-baptism,  which  he  received  the  notion  of  in 
 his  spiritual  youth  from  the  baptists  he  was  among ; 
 his  Avritings  sufficiently  shew,  that  he  was  not  clear 
 in  this  point,  and  the  tenderness  of  his  conscience 
 singularly  appeared,  in  that  he  dared  not  refuse  to 
 commune  with  the  godly,  who  held  not  with  water 
 baptism  ;  and  his  godly  fear  in  this  matter,  by  al- 
 lowing an  open  communion,  drew  upon  him,  the 
 resentment  of  his  more  rigid  brethren.  I  say 
 therefore,  that  as  many  such  good  men,  did  not 
 make  the  Lord  their  counsellor  and  guide,  he  hath 
 for  wise  ends  left  them  in  the  dark,  in  those  very 
 points,  Avherein  they  thought  they  had  light  enough, 
 without  troubling  the  prophet  of  the  church  for 
 wisdom  ;    yet  he  saith,  "  Without  me  ye  can  do 
 
.64 
 
 "  nothing."  God  suffereth  some  good  men,  yea, 
 very  wise  men  to  stumble;,  that  others  may  fear, 
 and  have  no  confidence  in  the  flesh  ;  but  triist  in 
 the  Hving-  God  only  :  '"  Who  layeih  up  sound  wis- 
 "  dom  for  the  righteous.'^  I  am  sure  that  Luther, 
 would  not  have  allowed  a  carnal  presence,  of  our 
 Saviour's  body  in  the  Eucharist,  if  he  had  not 
 trusted  to  his  own  wisdom,  and  to  the  ideas  he  had 
 imbibed  from  his  former  profession  of  popery  ; 
 "  He  had  not,  because  he  asked  not."  But  those 
 who  are  conscious  of  their  ignorance,  and  shall  seek 
 at  God's  hand,  for  understanding,  shall  find  th^ 
 knowledge  of  God :  "  For  if  any  man  lack  wisdom, 
 *'  let  him  ask  of  God,  thatgiveth  to  all  men  liberal- 
 •^  ly,  and  upbraideth  not ;  and  it  shall  be  given 
 "  him."  You  may  see  therefore,  how  some  good 
 men  have  erred  in  the  matter  of  baptism.  I  shall 
 bring  only  one  more  example,  as  a  warning  to  us  ail, 
 that  even  the  great  Apostle  of  the  gentiles,  exceed- 
 ingly erred  through  natural  affection  towards  his 
 brethren,  and  also  because  he  asked  not  wisdom 
 of  God  :  for  I  am  sure,  that  he  would  neither  have 
 circumcised  Timotheus,  nor  would  he  have  gone 
 with  the  four  men  to  purify  himself  with  them  in 
 the  temple,  Acts  2\.  21. — if  he  had  asked  wis- 
 dom of  his  God  ;  for  the  Lord  would  have  said  to 
 him,  '^  Paul,  if  thou  build  again  the  things  which 
 "  thou  hast  destroyed,  thou  makest  thyself  a  trans- 
 *'  gressor."  Gal.  2.  18.  Let  us  now  leave  for  a 
 season,  these  dry  regions  of  water  baptism,  and  by 
 the  help  of  God  break  ihe  shelly  that  we  may  get 
 to  the  kernel. 
 
65 
 
 CHAR  IV. 
 
 Concerning  spiritual   baptism. 
 
 1st. — Tkej^  that  are  truli/  convinced  of  sin  hy  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  are  spirititalli/  baptized  into  one  body,  with 
 Christ  their  suffering  headi 
 
 V-/HRIST,  was  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted 
 with  grief  all  his  days  ;  but  as  he  had  still  greater 
 afflictions  to  go  through  for  our  sakes,  these  he 
 called  his  baptism  ;  sa^ying,  "  I  have  a  baptism  to 
 "  be  baptized  with  ;  and  how  am  I  straitened  till 
 "  it  be  accomplished  '/'  He  was  anointed  with 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  that  his  humanity  might  be  made 
 of  quick  understanding  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
 which  isj  to  hate  evil ;  and  being  tempted  in  all 
 points  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin,  he  was  made 
 perfect  in  this  knowledge  of  our  sins  through  suf- 
 ferings ;  therefore,  he  hated  wickedness,  and  long- 
 ed to  purge  and  sanctify  himself  from  our  sins, 
 w  hich  were  upon  him ;  this,  he  did,  in  the  body 
 of  his  flesh  through  death,  and  by  his  bloody  bap- 
 tism, put  away  our  sins  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself. 
 As  it  is  impossible^  that  the  head  of  any  man,  can 
 be  dangerously  and  painfully  wounded,  and  the 
 rest  of  his  members  in  the  body  not  suffer  with  it, 
 so  it  is  spiritually  true,  that  all  J^od's  people  are  a 
 
66 
 
 poor  and  afflicted  people,  who  are  by  one  spirit, 
 baptized  into  one  suffering  body  ;  of  which  Christ 
 is  the  suffering  head.  The  spirit  which  came  up- 
 on him,  to  make  him  of  quick  understanding  in 
 the  fear  of  the  Loid,  according  to  promise,  com- 
 eth  upon  every  member  of  his  mj'^stical  body,  to 
 create  and  work  in  them,  that  same  fear  of  the 
 Lord,  or  hatred  to  the  evil  of  their  nature,  especi- 
 ally, the  damnable  consequences  of  an  evil  heart 
 of  unbelief ;  even  as  Christ  saith,  speaking  of  this 
 branch  of  the  spirit's  work,  *'  And  when  he  is 
 "  come,  he  will  reprove  the  world  of  sin,  because 
 "  they  believe  not  on  me." — The  spirit  applieth 
 the  word  of  God  with  power,  to  convince  and  open 
 the  sinner's  eyes  to  see  his  miserable  state  ;  he 
 feels  the  word  to  be  '^  Quick  and  powerful,  sharp- 
 *'  er  than  any  two  edged  sword  ;" — it  becomes  a 
 hammer,  to  break  in  pieces  his  insensible  stony 
 heart ;  it  is  a  vehement  fire  :  for  it  revealeth  the 
 fiery  indignation  and  burning  wrath  of  God.  The 
 sinner  crieth  out  with  David,  saying,  '"  Shall  thy 
 *^' wrath  burn  Uke  fire."  Again,  ''Remove  thy 
 "'  stroke  away  from  rae  ;  I  am  consumed  by  the 
 "  blow  of  thine  hand."  This  divine  teaching, 
 brings  unspeakable  spiritual  afflictions  upon  the 
 souls  of  God's  people;  in  these  waters  they  are 
 baptized  into  Christ,  to  suffer  with  him,  on  ac- 
 count of  their  sins ;  upon  these  deep  waters  they 
 mount  up  to  heaven  before  the  judgment  seat  of 
 Christ;  again,  they  go  down  into  the  depths  of 
 soul  trouble,  being  plunged  by  this  baptism  into 
 
67 
 
 manifold  fears,  raiserj,  and  despondency ;  lest, 
 they  should  finally  be  swallowed  up,  ajad  come 
 short  of  salvation.  The  Apostle  Paul,  setteth  forth 
 this  great  and  wonderful  work  of  the  spirit,  in  a 
 beautiful,  but  tremendous  figure,  saying,  "  More- 
 '•  over,  brethren,  I  would  not  that  ye  should  be  ig- 
 "  norant,  bpw  that  our  fathers  were  under  the 
 ''  cloud,  and  all  passed  through  the  sea  ;  and  were 
 "  all  baptized  unto  Moses  in  the  cloud  and  in  the 
 "  sea."  The  situation  of  the  children  of  Israel  was 
 v/onderful  and  terrific  ;  when  we  come  to  consider, 
 that,  Pharoah  and  his  host,  with  innumerable 
 armed  chariots,  were  close  at  their  heels,  pursu- 
 ing them  ;  the  red  sea  also  being  divided,  stood 
 up  in  heaps,  like  a  wall  on  their  right  and  left ; 
 the  terror  behind,  forced  them  to  go  into  the  midst 
 of  the  sea,  upon  the  dry  space  between  the  waters. 
 Only  imagine  their  critical  situation,  and  what  ter- 
 ror their  hearts  must  be  influenced  with  ;  death 
 and  destruction  were  behind  them,  lest,  the  Egyp- 
 tians should  overtake  them :  death  was  on  the 
 right  and  left,  lest  the  waters  of  the  sea  should  re- 
 turn in  their  strength,  and  overwhelm  them.  The 
 Holy  Ghost  calleth  this  a  baptism,  which  all  God's 
 people,  the  spiritual  Israel,  must  be  baptized  with: 
 for  what  happened  to  them,  is  left  upon  record, 
 for  our  admonition ;  so  that  in  Pharoah,  and  his 
 armed  chariots  and  host,  we  may  discern  the  rage 
 of  the  devil  against  every  man,  whom  God  hath 
 quickened  and  enlightened ;  how  he  helps  forward 
 their  afflictions,  by  unbounded  accusations,  tempt- 
 
68 
 
 ations,  and  fiery  darts  ;  saying,  "O  foolish  man, 
 "  it  is  in  vain  for  you  to  hope  of  being  saved  ; 
 "  you  have  too  long  and  willingly,  been  the  servant 
 ''  of  sin  and  of  the  devil ;  therefore,  your  way  is 
 ''  hid  from  the  Lord,  and  your  judgment  is  passed 
 "  over  from  your  God ;  and  he  is  now  come  to  de- 
 "  stroy  you  for  your  wickedness :  besides,  you  see 
 "  that  sin  still  reigns  in  you,  notwithstanding  your 
 "^  efforts  against  it ;  the  devil  also  has  still  domi- 
 "^  nion  over  you,  though  you  have  tried  to  resist 
 "  him  to  the  utmost  of  yqur  power.  Your  solemn 
 *'  vows,  resolutions,  and  covenants  with  God,  that 
 "^  you  would  serve  him,  and  relinquish  the  devil 
 ^'  and  all  his  works  of  darkness,  these,  you  have 
 "  broken  again  and  again.  Surely,  you  have  sin- 
 '^  ned  against  light,  even  against  the  Holy  Ghost; 
 "  this,  is  the  great  transgression ;  therefore,  your 
 *^*^  damnation  is  just:  for  you  knew  the  will  of 
 "  God,  and  did  it  not ;  you  knew  the  nature  of 
 "  evil,  and  yet  entered  into  it ;  therefore,  hath  the 
 '^  Lord  delivered  you  into  the  hand  of  the  devil." 
 Thus  as  Israel  feared  Pharoah,  so  the  terrified 
 sinner,  apprehends  the  devil  and  his  power  ;  who 
 with  incredible  violence,  stirreth  up  the  sins  of 
 his  nature,  and  then  with  hellish  malice  and  fraud, 
 accuseth  him  day  and  night ;  saying,  "  How  can 
 "  you  think,  O  vain  man  !  That  a  creature  so  full 
 "  of  lust,  envy,  inordinate  affections,  and  evil  con- 
 *'  cupisceuce,  can  hope  for  salvation.  Behold, 
 *'  what  a  covetous  grudging  spirit  you  have ;  you 
 "  are  a  downright  idolater,  and  a  slave  to  the  fear 
 
69 
 
 '*^  of  man  ;  the  devil  himself^  shall  be  sooner  saved 
 "  than  you/'  Thus  he  is  pursued  by  the  devil 
 and  his  host,  and  is  terrified  at  the  dreadful  sight 
 he  has,  of  the  evil  of  his  sinful  nature  ;  and  noth- 
 ing alarms  him  more,  than  the  discovery  he  has, 
 of  the  carnal  enmity  of  his  mind  against  God  and 
 his  law  :  likewise  the  unbelief  of  his  heart  grieves 
 him  amazingly,  knowing,  that  he  that  believeth 
 not  shall  be  damned ;  he  therefore,  sinks  in  his 
 mind,  and  his  hope  is  removed  like  a  tree.  On 
 the  other  hand,  he  dares  not  look  up  to  heaven^ 
 for  in  his  mind,  he  sees  the  fncensed  majesty  of 
 God,  whose  infinite  holiness,  righteousness,  and 
 justice,  trouble  his  soul ;  and  the  curses  of  a  broken 
 law,  enter  with  great  terror  into  his  conscience. 
 On  the  left  hand,  a  flood  of  wrath  stands  as  a  wall 
 against  him,  saying,  "  The  soul  that  sinneth,  it 
 "^  shall  die  :"  for  it  is  written,  .''Cursed  is  every 
 ''  one  that  continueth  not  in  all  things  which  are 
 "  written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them.*' 
 And  this  sentence  shooting  through  him  like  an 
 arrow,  chains  him  down  to  the  meditation  of  ter- 
 ror, namely  this :  '"  There  shall  be  weeping,  and 
 *^'  gnashing  of  teeth.'*  On  the  right  hand,  a  flood 
 of  wrath  like  a  tottering  walL  seemeth  ready  to 
 fall  upon  him,  because  he  has  heard  the  gospel, 
 and  does  not  yet  believe  on  the  Son  of  God  for 
 life  and  salvation ;  and  these  fearful  sentences 
 make  him  afraid,  "  He  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
 "  damned."  Again,  **  The  soul  that  doth  ought 
 "  presumptuously,  shall  be  destroyed  from  among 
 
70 
 
 "  his  people."  He  feareth,  that  he  is  in  the  same 
 case,  and  shall  meet  with  the  same  end^  as  many 
 sinners  in  Zion  did,  snch  as  Cain,  Achan,  Esau, 
 Onan,  and  Judas, — Moses  was  an  eminent  type  of 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  as  the  children  of  Israel  were 
 baptized  unto  him  in  the  figure,  so  must  the  peo- 
 ple of  God  be  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of 
 Christ's  suflferings.  A  spiritual  experience  of  these 
 things,  is  the  beginning  of  the  real  and  only  true 
 baptism ;  of  which  the  water  is  only  a  sign  or  dis- 
 tant figure.  The  fears,  alarms,  distresses,  trials, 
 apprehensions  of  God's  fiery  indignation,  and  the 
 floods  of  wrath,  which  are  felt  when  the  spirit  of 
 God  convinceth  and  reproveth  the  world  of  sin, 
 righteousness,  and  of  judgment,  these,  are  the  bap- 
 tismal waters  of  manifold  afflictions,  which  God's 
 saints  are  called  to  experience  in  one  body  with 
 Christ ;  to  such,  the  following  sweet  promises  are 
 made.  "Though  the  Lord  give  you  the  bread  of 
 *'  adversity,  and  the  waters  of  affliction,  yet  shall 
 *'  not  thy  teachers  be  removed  into  a  corner  any 
 '^  more ;  but  thine  eyes  shall  see  thy  teachers." 
 Again,  "  Many  are  the  afllictions  of  the  righte- 
 "  ous:  but  the  Lord  delivereth  him  out  of  them 
 "  all;"  and  this  is  no  small  branch  of  affliction 
 to  some  who  are  weak  in  judgment,  when  water 
 baptism  is  preached  up  to  them,  they  are  brought 
 into  bondage,  not  knowing  what  to  do  :  let  such 
 acknowledge  the  Lord  in  all  their  ways,  and 
 he  shall  deliver  them  out  of  the  hands  of  false 
 prophets,  and  establish  them  in  all  their  ways. 
 
71 
 
 2dly. — Thei/  who  being  convinced  hy  the  spirit  of  their 
 last  estate^  who  die  to  sin,  to  themselves^  to  the  world, 
 and  to  the  deviVs  allutementsy  these^  being  spirituallt/ 
 dead  and  buried  "With  Christy  are  truly  baptized. 
 
 For  sin  which  was  by  imputation  upon  Christ, 
 he  suffered  in  the  flesh,  aud  died  the  just  for  the 
 unjust;  he  was  plunged  into  the  very  depths  of 
 the  baptismal  waters  of  oppression^  sorrow^  and 
 affliction.  The  floods  of  wrath  entered  into  him 
 to  the  uttermostj  and  no  abatement  was  made  to 
 him  for  our  infinite  debt;  for  the  Lord  was  pleased 
 to  bruise  and  put  him  to  infinite  grief;  he  was  in- 
 deed the  "  Lamb  roast  with,"  and  baptized  in  the 
 burning  fire  of  God's  hot  displeasure  and  fiery  in- 
 dignation. God  spared  not  his  oAvn  Son,  but  deli- 
 vered him  up  for  us  all.  The  sword  of  justice 
 awoke  against  the  Lord's  equal,  and  smote  the 
 shepherd,  and  he  was  put  to  death  in  the  flesh. 
 Our  sins  and  the  just  wrath  of  God  due  to  sin,  put 
 him  to  death ;  this,  our  Lord  calls  his  baptism, 
 and  has  declared  that  all  his  members,  shall  be 
 baptized  with  the  same.  Mat.  20.  23.  Now  it  is 
 certain,  that  if  a  man's  head  is  cut  off",  it  dieth,  and 
 his  whole  body  dieth  with  it.  The  church  and 
 Christ  are  one,  our  sins  killed  him,  and  all  his 
 members  die  also  with  him,  when  they  are  deeply 
 convinced  and  reproved  for  sin.  The  Apostle  ar- 
 gueth  thus,  saying,  "  If  one  died  for  all,  (that  is 
 "  Christ)  then  were  all  dead."  They  were  all 
 dead  in  law,  being  under  sentence  of  condemnati- 
 on, through  the  offence  of  Adam  ;    besides  that. 
 
72 
 
 they  were  all  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  being 
 alienated  and  enemies  in  their  o^n  minds  by  wicked 
 works.  All  men  are  in  this  dreadful  state  of  death 
 and  separation  from  God  ;  but  none  know  this  ef- 
 fectually, but  the  elect  members  of  Christ's  body, 
 who  by  the  spirit  of  the  living  God,  are  baptized 
 into  Christ :  for  to  them  only  it  is  given  to  suffer 
 with  him.  This  is  really  the  truth  in  Christy  for 
 so  Paul  declareth,  saying,  "  Know  ye  not,  that  so 
 "^  many  of  us  as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ 
 "  were  baptized  unto  his  de^th  ?  Therefore  we 
 *'  are  buried  with  him  by  baptism  into  death  :  that 
 *'  like  as  Christ  was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by 
 "  the  glory  of  the  Father^,  even  so  we  also  should 
 *"  walk  in  newness  of  life."  Surely,  this  is  not  wa- 
 ter baptism,  but  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
 of  fire,  whereby  a  man  js  brought  in  guilty  before 
 God,  under  whose  sentence  he  effectually  dieth  to 
 all  hopes  of  being  saved  by  his  own  righteousness. 
 Christ  certainly  was  holy,  harmless,  undefiled;,  se- 
 parate from  sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the 
 heavens t  his  human  nature  was  such,  because  of 
 its  union  with  his  self  existent  Godhead  ;  and  he 
 could  not  have  tasted  of  death,  unless  our  sins  had 
 been  upon  him.  I  say  therefore,  that,  as  our  sins 
 were  layed  upon,  and  revealed  in  him  by  the  Holy 
 Ghost;  "  For  the  Lord  layed  upon  him  the  iniquity 
 '^  of  us  all ;"  for  this,  he  was  oppressed,  afflicted, 
 bruised,  and  sorely  wounded,  and  at  last  effectu- 
 ally died  unto  and  for  sin.  So  in  like  manner,  the 
 Holy  Ghost  descendeth  from  him  the  head,  uppn 
 
73 
 
 every  member  of  his  body,  to  quicken  them  to  feel, 
 and  suffer  with  him  the  wrath  and  displeasure  of 
 God,  and  finally  to  die  with  him  unto  sin.  If  any 
 man  hath  felt  the  wrath  of  God,  the  weight  of  his 
 transgressions,  seeth  no  hope  in  himself,  but  can 
 say  with  the  publican,  ''  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
 ''  sinner,"  this  man  is  spiritually  dead,  and  he  is  to 
 summon  up  all  the  blows  he  has  received  from  the 
 curses  of  a  broken  law,  the  anger  of  God,  the  mi- 
 sery, fears,  and  despondency  of  his  heart,  when  in 
 his  dying  agonies  he  hath  said,  *'  I  am  cut  off;  for 
 "  I  feel  the  Lord  will  not  hold  me  innocent ;  I 
 ''  shall  certainly  perish  one  day  by  the  hand  of  the 
 ''  devil,  and  shall  not  see  the  Lord,  in  the  land  of 
 "  the  living ;  wo  !  is  me,  because  I  have  sinned 
 "  against  the  Lord." — Paul  saith  that  such  an  one 
 is  to  gather  up  all  these  deadly  feelings,  and  dying 
 speeches,  and  to  "  Reckon  himself  dead  indeed 
 "  unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God  through  Jesus 
 "  Christ  our  Lord."  He  is  a  member  of  Christ, 
 and  therefore  by  virtue  of  union  with  him,  "  He 
 "is  become  dead  to  the  law  by  the  body  of  Christ," 
 and  is  truly  baptized  into  his  death ;  he  suffereth, 
 grieveth,  and  dieth  with  him,  and  shall  also  reign 
 with  him  :  "  For  if  Ave  have  been  planted  together 
 *'  in  the  likeness  of  his  death,  we  shall  be  also  in 
 "  the  likeness  of  his  resurrection."  Happy  are 
 they,  who  are  thus  baptized  into  Christ's  death  ; 
 for  they  shall  receive  the  promise  ;  as  it  is  written, 
 "'  Thy  dead  men  shall  live,  (then  saith  Christ) 
 ''  together  with  my  dead  body  shall  they  arise." 
 
74 
 
 Men  that  have  been  thus  humbled,  and  taught  by 
 the  spirit,  will  not  hastily  contend  for  water  bap- 
 tism ;  for  they  shall  sooner  or  later  know,  that  the 
 truth  of  baptism,  hath  been  fulfilled  in  them,  who 
 die  daily,  as  Paul  saith,  '•'  For  ye  are  dead^  and 
 "  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God.'" 
 
 SJly. — Scriptural  examples  of  some  who  were  baptized 
 into  Christ s  deathy  being  plunged  in  ajiictions,  be- 
 cause  of  sin. 
 
 Certainly  Abraham  was  baptized  here,  when 
 that  mysterious  darkness  came  upon  him,  just  be- 
 fore God  made  a  covenant  with  him,  as  it  is  writ- 
 ten, "  And  when  the  sun  was  going  down,  a  deep 
 "  sleep  fell  upon  Abraham  ;  and,  lo,  an  horror  of 
 "great  darkness  fell  upon  him."  Surely  noth- 
 ing in  the  world  can  produce  or  create,  an  hor- 
 ror of  great  darkness  upon  any  man,  but  a  deep 
 sense  of  his  miserable  state,  as  a  sinner,  and  God',-? 
 wrath  revealed  in  a  broken  law  ;  this  is  the  only 
 place,  where  distress,  affliction,  darkness,  and 
 horror,  can  possibly  be  felt  and  experienced.  The 
 testimony  of  the  saints  of  old,  as  well  as  the  godly 
 experience  of  good  men  now  upon  earth,  will  agree 
 with  my  assertion.  God  is  light,  and  in  him  there 
 is  no  darkness  at  all ;  he  that  by  faith  cleaveth  close 
 to  Jesus  Christ,  cannot  either  find  darkness  nor 
 horror  :  but  in  times  of  trial,  temptation,  and  af- 
 fliction, faith  being  out  of  exercise,   Christ  the 
 
75 
 
 light  and  peace  of  our  souls  being  out  of  sight,  fit 
 such  seasons,  the  saint  of  God  finds  himself  over- 
 whelmed with  darkness  and  horror,  from  a  feelin- 
 sense  of  the  deep  depravity  ot  his  nature.  An  eMl 
 heart  of  unbelief,  and  tVie  furious  accusations  of  tli  - 
 devil,  becloud  his  former  sweet  evidences,  and  darl:- 
 ness  with  horror  often  ensue.  Jeremiah  when  tri- 
 ed, complains  of  tbis^  saying,  "  He  hath  led  mcs 
 ^'  and  brought  me  into  darkness,  but  not  into  light,' 
 Another  saith,  "  Thou  hast  laid  me  in  the  lowest 
 "  pit,  in  darkness,  in  the  deeps,"  Again,  "  Fear- 
 *'  fulness  and  trembling  are  conae  upon  me,  an:* 
 **  horror  hath  overwhelmed  me."  Christ  positive- 
 ly deelareth,  that  in  this  miserable  world,  we  shuJ 
 be  baptized  with  tribulation  and  afflictions  daily  ; 
 he  forey>arned  John,  and  James  of  this,  when  the  v 
 sought  great  things  for  themselves,  saying,  ^'  \  i' 
 "  shall  indeed  drink  of  my  cup^  and  be  baptize  J 
 ''  with  fhe  baptism  that  I  am  baptized  with:  br:t 
 "  to  sit  on  my  right  hand,  and  en  my  left,  is  not  mi;. . 
 *'  to  give,  but  it  shall  be  given  to  them  for  whom  ■ 
 *'  is  prepared  of  my  father."  Moses,  also  was  h-^ 
 quainted  with  these  waters,  and  had  been  of.  r 
 baptized  in  them  ;  these  sanctified  afflictions,  re 
 dered  him  more  and  more  fit  and  capable  to  be:  . 
 that  burden  layed  upon  him,  as  a  type  of  our  \v 
 suffering  Saviour,  and  obtained  him  the  epiti:  \ 
 of  being  the  meekest  man  upon  the  earth.  His  ]},,- 
 tience  in  bearing  the  manners  of  rebellious  Israc ; 
 was  such,  that  we  scarcely  could  have  brought  .i 
 proof  that  he  had  tasted  of  Christ's  cup,  and  bc'cu 
 
76 
 
 baptized  with   his   baptism,    unless    the    iaithlul 
 word,  had  given   us  one  or  two  evidences  of  it, 
 when  the  tribulation  of  his  heart  was  made  mani- 
 fested by  his  unadvised  speech  ;  saying,  "  Whence 
 "  should  I  have  flesh  to  give  unto  all  this  people? 
 '•  For  they  weep  before  me,  saying,  give  flesh  that 
 '^  we  may  eat.     I  am  not  able  to  bear  this  people 
 *'  alone,  because  it  is  too  heavy  for  me.     And  if 
 ''  thou  deal  thus  'with  me,  kill  me,  I  pray  thee, 
 "  out  of  hand,  if  I  have  found  favour  in  thy  sight; 
 ''  and  let  me  not  see  my  wretchedness."     Again, 
 when  the  people  chode  with  him,  at  the  waters  of 
 Meribah,  in  the  anguish  of  his   wrath  he  said, 
 "  Hear  riow>  ye  rebels ;    must  we  fetch  you  water 
 '"  out  of  the  rock  ?"     But   David  gives  us  abun- 
 dant proofs  of  this  baptism  having  been  well  un- 
 derstood by  him,  not  only  as  a  type  of  Christ,  but 
 as  having  felt,  and  deeply  experienced  it  himself. 
 Let  us  therefore  consider,  a  few  lively  descripti- 
 ons he  gives  of  it.     ''  Save  me,  O  God  ;  for  the 
 "^  waters  are  come  in  unto  my  soul.    I  sink  in  deep 
 *'  mire,  where  there  is  no  standing  :   I  am  come  in- 
 *'  to  deep  waters,  where  the  floods  overflow  me. — 
 "  For  mine  iniquities  are  gone  over  mine  head  ;  as 
 "  an  heavy  burden  they  are  too  heavy   for  me." 
 Again,  "  My  spirit  is  overwhelmed  within  me. — 
 ''  Deep  calleth  unto  deep  at  the  noise  of  thy  water 
 "  spouts  :  all  thy  waves  and  billows  are  gone  over 
 "  me.'*     Thus  a  sense  of  his  sins,  the  floods  of  un- 
 godly men,  a  feeling  sense  of  his  corruptions,  as  a 
 loathsome  disease^  often  plunged  him  into  the  bap- 
 
77 
 
 tif5inal  waters  of  affliction  ;  and  a  keen  apprehen- 
 sion of  God's  hot  displeasure  and  wrath,  because 
 of  sin,  turned  it  often  into  a  fiery  baptism  :  yet 
 God  hath  ordained  that  his  people  should  go 
 *' Through  fire  and  through  water:  but  it  is  to 
 *'  bring  them  into  a  wealthy  place  ; — for  the  Lord 
 "  will  purge  the  blood  of  Jerusalem  from  the 
 "  midst  thereof  by  the  spirit  of  judgment,  and  by 
 "  the  spirit  of  burning." 
 
 The  prophet  Isaiah  was  well  acquainted  with 
 this  baptism,  and  gives  us  a  moving  account  of  it  ; 
 for  after  the  Holy  Ghost  had  opened  his  eyes  to 
 see  the  Lord  sitting  upon  a  throne,  high  and  lifted 
 up. — The  infinite  holiness  of  God,  Father,  Son, 
 and  Spirit,  being  proclaimed  by  the  seraphims, 
 made  him  sensibly  to  tremble,  at  the  discovery  of 
 his  own  filthiness,  unholiness,  and  misery;  under 
 this  baptism  he  died  with  Christ,  crying  ont, 
 ^'  Woe  is  me  !  For  I  am  undone ;  because  I  am 
 '^  a  man  of  unclean  lips :  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
 ''  the  king,  the  Lord  of  Hosts."  This  is  more  or 
 less,  the  experience  of  every  real  christian ;  for 
 God  hath  chosen  his  elect  in  the  waters  and  fur- 
 nace of  affliction,  and  hath  faithfully  promised  to 
 Israel,  that  is,  to  every  wrestling,  praying  soul, 
 ■who  cry  to  him  from  these  depths,  saying,  '"  When 
 ''  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with 
 ^'  thee  ;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not 
 ''  overflow  thee  :  when  thou  walkest  through  the 
 **  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the 
 1*  flame  kindle  upon  thee." 
 
78 
 
 I  shall  now  conclude,  by  bringing-  in  the  Apos- 
 fn*  Paul;,  as  a  striking  example,  to  illustrate  the 
 liaptism  of  the  spirit.  He  tells  us,  that,  '*  He  was 
 "  alive  without  the  law  once  :  but  when  the  com- 
 '•  mandment  came  sin  revived,  and  I  died."  He  was 
 :ilive  to  the  works  of  the  devil,  to  the  world,  and 
 .<in  ;  in  his  blind  ignorance,  he  thought  he  was  do- 
 ing God  service  to  murder  his  saints  ;  "■  For  as  he 
 '•  journejed,  he  came  near  Damascus  :  and  sud- 
 '"  denlj  there  shined  round  about  him  a  light  from 
 ''  heaven  :  and  he  fell  on  the  earth,  and  heard  a 
 "'  voice  saying  unto  him,  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecu- 
 '■'  test  thou  me."  In  that  light  he  saw  the  offended 
 majesty  of  God  ;  the  spirit  of  Christ  reproved  him 
 of  sin,  that  is,  of  his  ignorance  and  unbelief.  God 
 "  set  his  sins  before  him,  even  his  secret  sins  in  the 
 ""  light  of  his  countenance."  The  impressions  he 
 received,  made  him  afterwards  to  warn  sinners  for 
 three  years,  night  and  day  with  tears.  Thus  he 
 was  by  the  spirit  baptized  into  Christ's  suffering 
 body  ;  he  died  spiritually,  and  counted  all  things 
 be  trusted  in  before,  but  dung  and  dross,  that  he 
 alight  win  Christ.  God  sent  him  not  to  baptize 
 with  water,  but  to  preach  the  gospel;  that  is,  to 
 tell,  poor  sinners,  who  are  over  head  and  ears  in 
 afflictions,  sorrows,  and  horrors,  who  are  sensibly 
 lost,  cut  to  the  heart,  and  undone,  whose  false  hopes 
 are  destroyed,  I  say,  that  God  sent  him  to  inform 
 them>  that  this  is  being  baptized  into  Christ's 
 death;  "  That  they  are  buried  with  him  by  bap- 
 *'  tism,  and  shall  also  be  raised  with  him,  through 
 
79 
 
 '*  the  faith  of  the  operation  of  God,  who  raised 
 **^  him  from  the  dead  :''  such,  Christ  came  to  re- 
 deem   from   death,   and  from   the  power  of  the 
 grave  :    "  For  he  came  not  to  call  the  righteous,. 
 ^'  but  sinners  to  repentance." 
 
 4tlily. — An  honest  appeal  to   the   Baptists,   and  all 
 others. 
 
 Consider,  that  a  great  and  awful  day  is  coming, 
 in  which  God  will  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
 ness by  Jesus  Christ ;  it  will  not  avail  then,  for  any 
 to  enter  into  strife  about  words  to  no  profit.  It 
 will  be  of  no  manner  of  use  to  cry  out,  the  ordi- 
 nance of  God  !  The  ordinance  of  God  !  The 
 foolish  and  simple,  can  no  more  be  deceived  in 
 that  tremendous  day.  Hell  and  destruction,  false 
 prophets  and  deceivers,  shall  have  neither  cloak 
 nor  covering  ;  for  all  things  shall  be  made  mani- 
 fest, when  the  mystery  of  God  shall  be  finished. 
 The  question  will  not  be,  whether  you  have  been 
 sprinkled,  or  dipped  in  water,  but  whether  you 
 have  really  and  spiritually  been  baptized  into 
 Christ's  death.  Remember,  that  Christ's  words 
 are  spirit,  and  they  are  life  ;  the  flesh  profiteth 
 nothing.  Spiritual  experience  only,  can  produce 
 a  good  hope:  Let  me  ask  you  the  following 
 questions,  according  to  God's  word.  Can  you  re- 
 member the  time  when  you  were  like  Gallio,  oar- 
 mg  for  none  of  these  things,  being  alive  to  the 
 
86 
 
 world  and  all  its  vanities,  when  the  devil  and  isin, 
 bad  an  absolute  sway  over  you  ?  Has  a  divine 
 light  ever  shone  into  your  souls,  to  make  manifest 
 your  sinful  nature,  and  either  suddenly  or  gradu- 
 ally, shewed  you  the  deceitfulness,  wickedness, 
 hypocrisy,  and  desperate  unbelief  of  your  hearts  ? 
 Have  you  at  all  perceived  iii  the  same  light,  the 
 infinite  holiness,  justice,  and  righteousness  of 
 God  ;  so  that  wherever  you  went,  or  whatever 
 you  did,  he  followed  you  up,  as  a  swift  witness 
 against  you,  searching  your  hearts,  and  making 
 manifest  that  in  your  flesh  dwelleth  no  good  thing, 
 but  a  loathsome  disease^  which  made  you  to  stink 
 even  in  your  own  nostrils  ?  Have  these  spiritual 
 visions  and  reproofs,  from  God's  word,  sunk  deep 
 into  your  hearts  ;  so  that  your  life  abhorred  bread, 
 and  your  souls  dainty  meat ;  all  things  becoming 
 vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit,  wishing,  you  had 
 been  either  a  horse,  or  a  dog,  rather  than  a  sinful 
 man,  who  must  give  an  account  of  himself,  before 
 the  judgment  seat  of  Christ?  Have  you  under 
 these  apprehensions  of  God's  wrath  and  fiery  in- 
 dignation, sunk  in  your  minds,  being  filled  with 
 fears,  despondency,  tremblings,  and  painful  agp- 
 nies  ?  Saying,  "  I  am  undone ;  I  have  cut  off 
 ''  like  a  weaver  my  life  :  I  have  no  righteousness, 
 "  and  shall  not  see  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  liv- 
 *'  ing ;  for  his  terrors  have  cut  me  off,  and  I  have 
 "  no  hope  ;  moreover  I  have  rebelled  against  the 
 "  words  of  the  Lord,  and  contemned  the  counsel 
 *'  of  the  most  high,  so  that  I  feel  there  is  not  a  st^p 
 
'81 
 
 "  between  me  and  death ;'' — have  these,  and  ma- 
 ny  more  painful  experiences  troubled  your  minds  ? 
 Have  you  had  all  your  false  hopes^,  refuges  of  lies, 
 and  towering  imaginations  brought  down^  being 
 made  exceedingly  to  tremble  at  God's  word; 
 which  like  a  fire  has  searched  and  burned  up  all 
 your  sandy  foundations,  of  being  saved  by  your 
 own  good  deeds,  and  has  made  your  own  wisdom 
 to  appear  foolishness ;  which  tremendous  word  has^ 
 revealed  the  curses  of  a  broken  law^  so  that 
 wherever  you  read,  flashes  of  lightening  and  of 
 fiery  indignation^  have  like  a  sword  pierced  you 
 through  ?  Has  your  sore  ran  in  the  night  and 
 not  ceased  ;  so  that  to  this  very  day  you  are  con- 
 strained to  cry  out  in  the  agony  of  your  soul^  "  O 
 •'  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me 
 "  from  the  body  of  this  death  ?''  If  you  say  to 
 me,  *'  You  are  a  mystic,  and  screw  up  things  too 
 "  high ;  it  is  enough  for  me  that  God  has  said,  he 
 ''  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved.  I 
 "  have  believed  in  water  baptism,  and  have  hum- 
 "  bly  submitted  to  be  re-baptized,  and  have  a 
 *'  comfortable  hope  that  I  shall  be  saved."  I  an- 
 swer in  the  name  of  God,  whose  word  shall  stand 
 for  ever,  that  if  you  have  not  experienced  the 
 things  I  have  just  stated,  that  you  are  carnal,  and 
 have  never  yet  believed:  for  the  Spirit  of  God 
 when  he  comes  to  reprove  of  sin,  worketh  also 
 faith  in  the  sinner's  heart,  to  believe  the  reality  of 
 man's  dreadful  fall,  and  the  infinite  wrath,  anger> 
 and  hot  displeasure  of  God  against  sin  and  sin^ 
 
 u 
 
ners;  but  if  your  heart  heaves  against  the  things  I 
 have  proved,  and  your  enmity  is  stirred  up,  to  rail 
 and  cavil  at  these  truths,  which  you  cannot  over- 
 turn, then  it  is  evident,  that  you  are  totally  igno- 
 rant of  Christ's  baptism,  having  never  been  bapti- 
 zed into  his  death  ;  and  your  water  baptism  you 
 hug  and  defend,  appears  to  have  done  nothing  for 
 you :  for  you  are  ignorant,  whole  hearted,  having 
 never  yet  repented,  and  cannot  understand  with 
 Paul,  what  it  is,  to  be  baptized  into  Christ's  death, 
 nor  what  is  meant,  by  being  buried  with  him  by 
 spiritual  baptism  :  for  if  you  did  really  experience 
 those  things  in  the  spirit,  you  would  let  the  shell 
 of  your  carnal  baptism  go,  and  thankfully  embrace 
 the  nourishing  kernel  of  this  divine  baptism  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost ;  "  Knowing,  that  if  we  be  baptized 
 "  into  his  death,  and  are  spiritually  buried  with 
 '"'  him,  we  also  shall  be  raised  with  him. — If  we 
 *'  be  dead  with  Christ,  we  believe  that  we  shall 
 "  also  live  with  him. — If  we  suffer,  we  shall  also 
 *'  reigti  with  him."  Hezekiah  acknowledgeth  with 
 gratitude,  the  benefit  he  had  received  after  he  had 
 gone  through  this  baptism  of  sorrow,  affliction,  and 
 manifold  fears,  saying,  "  By  these  things  men 
 *'  live,  and  by  all  these  things  is  the  life  of  my 
 "  spirit."  Paul  likewise  glorieth  in  the  same, 
 when  he  saith,  ^'  Most  gladly  therefore  will  I  ra- 
 *'  ther  glory  in  my  infirmities,  that  the  power  of 
 '^  Christ  may  rest  upon  me.  Therefore  I  take 
 '^  pleasure  in  infirmities,  in  reproaches,  in  necessi- 
 "  ties,  in  persecutions,  in  distresses   for  Christ's 
 
83 
 
 "  sake :  for  when  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  strong.'* 
 This  is  the  verity  of  baptism :  he  therefore,  that 
 cannot  see  these  things  is  blind,  and  cannot  see 
 afar  off.  He  therefore,  who  is  not  wilHng  to  be 
 blinded  hy  satan,  prejudice^  and  carnal  concepti- 
 ons of  divine  truths,  must  from  a  sense  of  his  own 
 native  ignorance,  go  to  the  prophet  of  the  church, 
 even  to  Christ,  who  hath  promised  that  his  spirit 
 shall  guide  him  into  all  truth.  Men  err  from  the 
 truth,  only  because  the  v  come  not  to  Christ,  who 
 only  is  the  truth  ;  but  they  go  to  man's  wisdom^ 
 and  trust  to  their  own  sagacity.  The  devil  knows 
 that  the  sign  of  baptism  is  of  no  use  without  the 
 spiritual  substance  ;  no  wonder  therefore,  that  he 
 doth  influence  men  to  be  such  sticklers  for  the 
 water  ;  here  he  suffers  no  loss,  and  does  with  hel- 
 lish wisdom  promote  his  own  interest,  and  that  un- 
 der the  deceptive  appearance  of  great  zeal  foi^  re- 
 ligion. On  the  other  hand,  Christ's  wisdom  in 
 his  word,  is  neither  heard  nor  understood  ;  "  For 
 "  the  light  shineth  in  the  darkness,  and  the  dark- 
 ""  ness  comprehendeth  it  not."  But  those  who  are 
 taught  by  the  spirit,  will  be  instructed  to  make 
 God  their  refuge,  who  hath  said,  *'  All  thy 
 *^'  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord  ;  and  great 
 "  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children."  O  christian  ! 
 plead  this  before  thy  God,  and  thou  shalt  be 
 taught  indeed  ;  thou  shalt  not  be  ashamed  nor, 
 confounded,  world  without  endj  amen. 
 
 H  3 
 
84 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 OTHER    NOTABLE     BRANCHES     OF     SPIRITUAL 
 BAPTISM. 
 
 hit. — He  that  is  washed  in  the  hlood  of  Jesus  Christy 
 is  truly  and  spiritually  baptized  hy  the  Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 J.  HE  baptism  I  have  described,  though  perfect- 
 ly safe  and  sure,  yet  is  it  not  joyous  to  them  that 
 receive  it,  but  exceeding  terrible  and  grievous ; 
 however,  Jhe  Holy  Ghost  which  hath  began  the 
 gracious  work,  will  also  carry  it  on.  Could 
 the  sinner  but  see  at  first,  the  infinite  wisdom  of 
 God  in  bringing  him  through  this  baptism  of  fire 
 and  water,  he  then  would  much  more  patiently 
 bear,  being  plunged  into  this  fellowship  with 
 Christ  in  his  sufferings ;  and  would  even  rejoice, 
 knowing,  that  if  he  is  a  partaker  of  the  sufferings, 
 so  shall  he  be  also  of  the  consolations.  This  how- 
 ever, being  hid  from  him,  doth  nevertheless  bring 
 nJbout  the  gracious  purposes  of  God  concerning 
 him ;  "  Who  turneth  man  to  destruction,  and 
 "  saith,  return  ye  children  of  men."  Man's  igno- 
 rance of  what  God  is  about,  doth  effectually  pro- 
 duce those  mighty  alarms,  fears,  terrors,  and  has- 
 ieneth  that  spiritual  death,  which  is  so  necessary  to 
 
85 
 
 produce  the  new  birtb  ;  "  For  unto  God  the  Lord 
 *'  belong  the  issues  from  death."  When  through 
 the  mightj  teaching  I  have  described,  man  is 
 brought  "  To  put  his  mouth  in  the  dust ;  if  so  be 
 "  there  may  be  hope  ;"  when  there  is  none  left^ 
 nor  shut  up,  and  his  soul  draweth  near  unto  the 
 gates  of  the  grave,  and  his  life  unto  the  destroy- 
 ers, this,  is  God's  opportunity,  to  reveal  the  effica- 
 cious righteousness  of  his  dear  Son,  whose  preci- 
 ous blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin.  Here  \?e  may 
 again  see  the  truth  of  spiritual  baptism  ;  for  as  the 
 water  serveth  to  cleanse  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  so  the 
 blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  washeth  the  soul  from  the 
 defilements  of  sin.  God  who  has  opened  the  sinner's 
 eyes  to  see  his  deadly  wound,  and  utterly  lost  con- 
 dition, doth  now  change  the  scene,  by  opening  his 
 eyes  to  see,  and  his  heart  to  believe,  that  in  Christ 
 only,  he  hath  redemption  through  his  blood,  even 
 the  forgiveness  of  sins.  Man  by  sinning  has  com- 
 mitted an  infinite  transgression,  because  he  sinned 
 against  God  ;  who  is  infinite  justice,  righteousness, 
 holiness, — who  declareth  that  be  will  by  no  means 
 clear  the  guilty  ;  and  that  his  blood  shall  be  upon 
 his  own  head  ;  thus,  he  has  forfeited  his  blood,  or 
 life,  by  transgressing  the  law  of  God,  and  except  a 
 proper  satisfaction  can  be  made,  to  the  immutable 
 justice  of  God,  he  must  perish  for  ever.  God,  the 
 Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  three  persons,  of 
 equal  majesty,  power,  and  eternal  glory,  being  yet 
 one  God  of  undivided  essence,  this  great  and  mys- 
 terious God  in  infinite  wisdom,  mercy,  and  love, 
 
86 
 
 resolved,  purposed,  and  agreed,  that  this  wonder- 
 ful work  should  be  accomplished,  to  the  praise  of 
 the  glory  of  the  riches  of  his  grace,  wherein  he 
 has  abounded  towards  us  in  all  wisdom  and  pru- 
 dence :  for  Christ  the  Lord  from  heaven,  the 
 quickening  spirit,  and  who  is  in  all  points  equal 
 with  the  Father,  hath  condescended  to  undertake 
 man's  desperate  cause  ;  and  hath  really  appeared 
 upon  earth,  as  God  manifest  in  the  flesh.  In  that 
 nature  which  he  assumed,  he,  as  a  public  head, 
 stood  in  the  gap ;  and  closed  the  breach  sin 
 had  made,  by  obeying  in  all  points  the  precepts 
 of  the  law ;  and  humbled  himself,  and  became 
 obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the 
 cross.  Christ  being  a  divine  and  infinite  per- 
 son, every  thing  he  did  for  his  elect,  acquired  an 
 infinite  dignity,  virtue,  and  efficacy  ;  so  that  man's 
 infinite  transgression  was  completely  removed  in 
 that  day,  when  he  said,  *' It  is  finished."  Christ 
 being  Jehovah,  the  blood  of  his  humanity  is  called 
 the  blood  of  God,  because  of  the  mysterious  union 
 of  his  two  nature  in  one  divine  person.  This  pre- 
 cious blood,  is  that  blessed  fountain,  which  now 
 standeth  wide  open,  for  sin  and  uncleanness ;  it 
 floweth  freely  for  ail  sensible  sinners  ;  who  have 
 been,  as  I  described  before,  baptized  into  Christ's 
 death.  The  spirit  of  God,  who  hath  reproved  and 
 mightily  convinced  the  sinner  of  his  transgressions, 
 so  as  to  cause  him  to  die  with  Christ,  doth  now  fur- 
 ther take  of  the  things  of  Christ,  and  washeth  hinj 
 in  his  blood  ;  and  by  working  faith  in  his  heart,  he 
 
87 
 
 is  made  to  look  at  him  whom  he  hath  pierced,  and 
 to  pass  from  death  unto  life ;  this,  is  the  glorious 
 baptism  of  the  spirit ;  as  Christ  saith,  "  Except 
 "  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  spirit,  he  can- 
 "  not  enter  the  kingdom  of  God."  The  water,  is  not 
 water  baptism,  but  the  deep  affliction^  distress,  and 
 deadly  sorrows,  he  hath  gone  through,  being 
 plunged  with  Christ  into  death  and  the  grave  ; 
 but  he  is  quickened  and  made  to  rise  with  him  into 
 newness  of  life,  by  the  almighty  power  of  the  spi- 
 rit of  God.  Thus  he  is  born  again  of  the  spirit, 
 who  applieth  the  atonement,  and  doth  bear  witness 
 with  his  spirit,  that  he  is  a  child  of  God.  Sinners 
 that  are  thus  baptized,  and  washed  freely  from  all 
 sin  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  will  joyfully  give  all  the 
 glory  to  God,  saying,  "■  Not  of  works  of  righte- 
 ousness which  we  have  done,  but  according  to  his 
 mercy  he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  regenerati- 
 on, and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  "  They  will 
 *'  not  say,  unto  us,  but  unto  him  that  loved  us, 
 "  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood,  and 
 "  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  his 
 ''  Father  ;  to  him  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever 
 "  and  ever,  amen  :"  for  being  taught  of  God,  they 
 shall  sooner  or  later  know,  that  they  were  not  re- 
 deemed with  silver  and  gold,  nor  with  water  bap- 
 tism, which  are  in  themselves  corruptible  things ; 
 "  But  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a 
 "  lamb  without  blemish  and  without  spot." 
 
88 
 
 2dly. — He  is  truly  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
 with  JirCf  who  hath  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in 
 his  heart* 
 
 The  everlasting  love  of  God,  which  he  fixed 
 upon  his  elect  in  Christ  from  eternity,  moved  him 
 not  to  spare  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for 
 Hs  all,  that  whosoever  believcth  on  him  should  not 
 perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  The  love  of  God 
 the  Son  was  such,  that  from  the  days  of  eternity, 
 he  went  forth  in  a  way  of  loving  kindness,  to  re- 
 deem his  people  from  the  power  of  the  devil,  sin, 
 hell,  destruction,  and  from  the  wrath  of  God  ;  the 
 curses  of  a  broken  law,  and  all  evil.  He  veiled 
 his  glory  ;  made  himself  of  no  reputation  ;  became 
 obedient  unto  death  ;  and  declareth,  that  "  Great- 
 "  er  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay 
 "  down  his  life  for  his  friends."  Of  this  wonder- 
 ful love,  he  gave  full  proof,  b}'  making  his  soul  an 
 offering  for  sin,  and  giving  his  life  a  ransom  for 
 many.  The  eternal  love  of  God  the  Spirit  is  ma- 
 nifest, in  that  he  came  upon  the  humanity  of 
 Christ  in  his  fulness,  to  equip  that,  for  the  great 
 work  of  redemption,  which  required  such  infinite 
 love  to  accomplish  it.  Christ  being  thus  anointed 
 with  the  spirit  of  love,  set  his  face  like  a  flint,  and 
 for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the 
 cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  went  through  that 
 tremendous  baptism  of  sufferings,  until  he  accom- 
 plished it,  by  dying  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he 
 might  bring  us  unto  God.      Now  as  Christ  is  not 
 
89 
 
 only  a  head,  but  hath  a  body  united  to  him,  con- 
 sisting of  many  members,  the  same  spirit  of  love 
 out  of  his  fulness,  descendeth  also  upon  them  in 
 due  time,  and  as  I  described,  baptizeth  them  in 
 the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings;  until  they  are 
 made  effectually  to  die  to  sin,  and  all  vain  expect- 
 ations, of  what  they  can  do  towards  their  own  sal- 
 vation. Some  may  say,  what  sort  of  love  can  there 
 be  in  poor  sinners,  who  are  convinced  of  sin  ;  feel 
 the  desperate  enmity  of  their  hearts,  and  who  ex- 
 pect to  be  swallowed  up  by  the  wrath  of  God,  be- 
 ing filled  with  affliction,  grief,  and  bitterness  of 
 soul,  and  are  trembling  under  a  deep  sense  of  their 
 manifold  transgressions,  their  stubbornness,  rebel- 
 lion, and  hard  thoughts  of  God  ?  I  answer,  that 
 all  this  which  you  have  said,  and  ten  times  more 
 than  you  could  advance,  would  only  be  a  greater 
 proof,  that  the  dying  love  of  Christ,  is  at  the  root 
 of  all  their  convictions ;  for  you  can  never  make 
 me  believe,  that  they  either  would,  or  could  seek 
 after  Christ,  with  such  bitter  weeping  and  suppli- 
 cations, with  such  renewals  of  patience  and  long- 
 suffering,  such  intense  hungering  and  thirsting  af- 
 ter the  mercy  and  righteousness  of  Christ,  if  this 
 spirit  of  love  was  not  upon  them.  Shall  it  be  said, 
 that  a  lover,  who  is  filled  with  grief,  and  pineth 
 away,  that  he  hates  the  object  which  causes  all 
 these  painful  feelings  ?  Surely,  every  one  will 
 say  of  him,  he  is  sick,  and  dying  for  love.  Just  so 
 is  the  sensible  sinner,  who  is  baptized  into  Christ's 
 death,  he  is  sick  of  love,  and  pineth  after  a  com- 
 
90 
 
 fortable  persuasion,  that  he  hath  a  pait  in  the  dy- 
 ing love  of  Christ ;  this  is  all  he  wants,  and  in 
 spite  of  the  devil,  the  world,  the  rebukes  of  God, 
 his  unbelief,  doubts,  and  fears,  he  is  still  led  by 
 that  almighty  spirit  within  him,  to  go  through  this 
 baptism  of  affliction  ;  until  he  is  sensibly  raised  to 
 a  lively  hope  by  the  resurrection  of  Christ  from 
 the  dead.  While  his  hope  was  deferred,  his 
 heart  was  sick  ;  but  when  the  desire  is  come,  he 
 findeth  it  a  tree  of  life.  Before  this,  he  saw  him- 
 self a  leper  from  head  to  foot ;  but  now  Christ  the 
 high  priest,  pronounceth  him  clean  every  whit. 
 He  found  himself  under  the  taunting  accusations 
 of  the  devil,  as  fit  fuel  for  hell;  but  the  angel  of 
 the  everlasting  covenant  saith,  "  The  Lord  rebuke 
 "  thee,  O  satan  ;  even  the  Lord  that  hath  chosen 
 "  Jerusalem  rebuke  thee :  is  not  this  a  brand 
 "  plucked  out  of  the  fire."  He  was  sensibly  turn- 
 ed to  destruction,  and  felt  that  God  was  angry 
 with  him;  but  he  comforteth  him  now,  saying, 
 "  Return  ye  children  of  men."  O  what  a  change  ! 
 For  he  was  just  before  under  condemnation,  feel- 
 ing himself  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  but  now, 
 God  calleth  to  him  out  of  heaven,  Baying,  "  Arise 
 "  (from  the  dead,)  shine,  for  thy  light  is  come, 
 "  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee — 
 "  ( for, )  I  have  blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cloud,  thy 
 *'  transgressions,  and,  as  a  cloud,  thy  sins  ;  return 
 *'  unto  me  ;  for  I  have  redeemed  thee." 
 
 The  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  the  heart  by 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  is  therefore  the  height  of  spirit-u- 
 
91 
 
 al  baptism  :  into  which,  when  a  pardoned  sinner 
 is  plunged,  he  is  then  baptized  indeed.  Water 
 baptism  alone,  is  but  a  cold  bath,  both  to  the  bo- 
 dy and  soul ;  but  the  real  baptism  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  war'  ,s  the  heart  indeed,  and  is  rightly  cal- 
 led fiery.  Both  John  the  Baptist,  and  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  speak  the  same  things,  and  set  aside 
 the  sign  of  water,  to  establish  this  precious  sub- 
 stance only,  saying,  "  I  indeed  baptize  you  vvhh 
 "^  water  unto  repentance;  but  he  (Christ,)  shall 
 "  baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire.'* 
 The  disciples  had  been  baptized,  yet  Christ  after 
 his  resurrection  speaks  to  them  of  another  baptism, 
 saying,  "  For  John  truly  baptized  with  water ; 
 "  but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  not 
 ^'  many  days  hence."  Now  of  the  things  which 
 we  have  spoken  this  is  the  sum  :  every  one  that  is 
 afflicted  under  a  sense  of  his  sins,  the  wrath  of 
 God,  and  dies  to  the  world  and  every  thing  in  it ; 
 he  is  according  to  God's  word,  baptized  into 
 Christ's  death,  and  buried  with  him. 
 
 Secondly,  every  one,  who  has  been  raised  to 
 hope  in  a  crucified  Saviour,  by  receiving  the  word 
 with  power,  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assu- 
 rance, who  loves  his  word,  ways,  and  people,  if  the 
 real  enjoyment  of  the  love  of  God  has  lasted  but 
 one  single  minute,  yet  this  is  essentially  the  true 
 baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  the  fire,  is  love  ; 
 which  makes  his  heart  to  burn.  Ifanywishto 
 know  further,  Avhether  this  baptism  of  love  is  ge- 
 nuine in   them  or  not,  then  let  them  consider  the 
 
92 
 
 following  tokens  of  it.  Hath  it  produced  self-loth- 
 ing  and  indignation,  against  your  sins  and  sinful 
 nature  ;  also  contrition  and  godly  sorrow,  humili- 
 ty and  self-abasement,  so  that  you  could  not  for- 
 give yourself,  although  you  felt  the  merciful  bow- 
 els of  God  move  towards  you  ?  Ifyoucansay 
 that  you  really  have  felt  these  things,  then  the 
 scriptures  tell  you,  that  this  is  the  true  baptism  of 
 repentance;  produced  by  godly  sorrow  which 
 worketh  repentance  unto  life  not  to  be  repented  of. 
 ^'  O  Lord,  that  thou  wouldst  of  infinite  mercy, 
 "  open  the  eyes  of  thine  own  people,  thine  elect ; 
 *'  who  are  scattered  abroad  ;  that  they  may  under- 
 ''  stand,  that  the  things  thy  servant  hath  written, 
 "  are  really  the  verities  of  true  baptism.  Deliver 
 *'  them  out  of  the  hands  of  crafty  ignorant  men, 
 "^  who  would  bring  tlicm  into  bondage  to  the  sign  ; 
 '^  and  thine  shall  be  the  glory,  for  Christ's  sake, 
 '^  amen." 
 
93 
 
 CHAR  VI. 
 
 WHO    THEY    ARE,    THAT    NEVER    YET   "WERE 
 BAPTIZED. 
 
 1st. — The  proud  professor  is  not  baptized  yet. 
 
 Jt  RIDE,  is  that  master  sin,  which  caused  both 
 men  and  angels  to  fall  into  condemnation.  ''God 
 "  hateth  pride  and  arrogancj,  and  bcholdeth  the 
 "  proud  afar  oflf ;  but  he  giveth  grace  to  the  low- 
 "  ly."  He  that  is  proud  and  lifted  up,  because  he 
 thinks  himself  endued  with  parts  and  abilities ; 
 that  he  hath  knowledge,  understands  the  scrip- 
 tures, can  dive  into  mysteries,  glorieth  in  his  wis- 
 dom, and  in  the  witness  of  men  ;  who  with  devil 
 like  pride  saith  in  his  heart,  "  Stand  by  thyself,  I 
 *'  am  holier,  and  wiser  than  thou  ;  I  have  experi- 
 '*  enced  the  terrors  of  a  broken  law,  and  also  know 
 *'  more  of  the  love  of  God,  than  ever  you  did  ;  be- 
 ''  sides  I  fe,st  twice  a  week,  I  give  tithes  of  all  I  pos- 
 *'  sess,  I  am  not  as  other  men  ;  but  live  a  most  up- 
 *'  right  life." — God  saith  that  such,  are  a  smoke  in 
 his  nose,  a  fire  that  burneth  all  the  day.  They 
 have  a  name  among  men,  that  they  are  alive  to 
 God,  but  Christ  saith,  that  they  are  dead  ;  they 
 are  neither  hot  nor  cold ;   but  appear  among  mea 
 
94 
 
 to  ''be  rich,  and  increased  with  goods,  and  have 
 "  need  of  nothing ;'  however,  Christ  the  faithful 
 witness  declareth,  that  they  are  bhnd  and  ignorant, 
 not  knowing,  "  That  they  are  wretched,  and  misera- 
 "  bic,  and  poor,  and  bhnd,  and  naked."  Such,  though 
 thejmay  have  been  immersed  in  ten  thousand  fa- 
 thoms of  water,  yet  in  God's  account,  they  have  ne- 
 ver been  baptized  ;  but  are  still  in  their  filth,  sins, 
 and  all  their  uncleanness.  It  is  but  too  true,  that  ma- 
 ny, who  from  blind  zeal  and  much  ignorance,  have 
 submitted  to  be  re-baptized,  are  exceedingly  proud 
 of  it ;  because  they  vainly  think,  that  God  is  well 
 pleased  with  them,  for  their  fleshly  obedienceto  that, 
 which  he  hath  no  where  in  his  vvord  commanded 
 them  to  do.  In  this  their  will- worship,  they  ma- 
 nifest themselves  to  be  yet  under  the  law,  which 
 doth  not  exclude  boasting  ;  for  as  they  think  them- 
 selves to  be  the  only  pure  and  holy  church,  and 
 reject  all  communion  with  others,  they  manifest 
 themselves  to  be  "  Proud,  knowing  nothing,  but 
 "  doting  upon  questions  and  strifes  of  words, 
 "  whereof  coraeth  envy,  strife,  perverse  disputings 
 "  of  men  of  corrupt  minds,  and  destitute  of  the 
 "  truth."  Is  he  not  a  proud  man,  who  vainly 
 seeks  to  establish  the  sign  in  a  way  not  command- 
 ed ;  and  rails,  disputes,  and  denies,  the  power  of 
 the  spiritual  baptism,  I  have  described  from  the 
 word  of  God  ?  Consider  therefore,  the  following 
 important  effects  of  spiritual  baptism.  Christ  most 
 certainly  became  a  man  of  sorrow,  and  acquainted 
 with  griefj  because  of  the  pride  of  man  :  he  suffer- 
 
95 
 
 ed,  bled,  and  was  baptized  even  into  death,  being 
 also  buried,  for  that  predominant  sin  of  man's  na- 
 ture ;  therefore,  as  he  triumphed  and  vanquished 
 pride  by  his  bloody  baptism,  so  in  like  manner, 
 the  spirit  comes  upon  his  elect,  reproving  them  of 
 this  sin  of  their  nature  ;  and  they  also  are  made  to 
 die  to  it,  by  being  plunged  into  sorrow,  and  the 
 same  baptism  of  affliction,  that  they  may  be  purg- 
 ed from  it  by  the  blood  of  Christ.  "  God  chasten - 
 ^'  eth  man  with  pain  upon  his  bed,  and  the  multi- 
 *•  tude  of  his  bones  with  strong  pain  :  so  that  his 
 "  life  abhorreth  bread,  and  his  soul  dainty  meat. 
 "  — Yea,  his  soul  draweth  near  unto  the  grave, 
 '^  and  his  life  unto  the  destroyers."  Job  33.  J 8. 
 Thus  they  are  baptized  and  planted  into  the  like- 
 ness of  Christ's  death.  And  pray  what  is  all  this 
 for  ?  "  That  he  may  withdraw  man  from  his  pur- 
 "  pose,  and  hide  pride  from  man."  I  conclude 
 therefore,  that  none,  whether  calvinists,  presbyte- 
 rians,  baptists,  or  independants, — are  really  and 
 truly  baptized,  but  such  who  have  been  deeply 
 humbled  under  a  feeling  sense  of  the  desperate 
 pride  of  their  hearts.  Your  baptism  is  vain  ;  and 
 so  is  your  knowledge,  wisdom,  and  all  your  la- 
 bour, if  you  are  not  clothed  with  humility.  Christ 
 positively  saith,  "  Except  ye  be  converted,  and  be- 
 ''  come  as  little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the 
 ^'  kingdom  of  God  ; — for  whosoever  humbleth  him- 
 ^'  self  shall  be  exalted  ;  and  whosoever  exalteth 
 ^'  himself  shall  be  humbled."  If  you  wish  further 
 to  know  whether  you  are  dead  to  your  pride^  and 
 
96 
 
 baptized  with  Christ,  then  consider,  whether  you 
 can  come  up  to  the  following  criterions.  Do  you 
 find  your  heart  as  proud  as  ever  ?  Daily  seek- 
 ing the  praise  of  men,  in  all  you  say  or  do,  feeling 
 within  you  a  swelling  balmy  sensation  ?  Do  yoii 
 find  that  the  more  you  grow  in  grace,  that  pride 
 seems  to  grow  too  ;  so  that  you  see  yourself  worse 
 than  ever  ?  But  do  jou  mourn  within  yourself, 
 because  this  deadly  evil  intrudes  itself  continually, 
 and  often  macs  your  peace  and  comfort  ?  Do  you 
 daily  fight  against  it,  by  humble  confession  and 
 prayer  ?  Saying  with  David,  '*  Let  not  the  foot  of 
 "  pride  come  against  me,  and  let  not  the  hand  of 
 "  <he  wicked  (the  power  of  the  devil)  remove 
 "  me^''  Do  you  exceedingly  suspect  it  in  all  your 
 actions  ;  fearing  its  deceitful  workings,  when  it 
 applauds,  and  seeks  to  puff  you  up  ?  If  you  say, 
 I  find  all  thisj  and  more  too,  and  am  led  both  to 
 wrestle  against  and  to  hate  it ;  exceedingly  loth- 
 ing  myself  on  the  account  of  it,  and  am  led  to  lift 
 up  my  heart  to  Jesus  Christ,  who  has  times  with- 
 out number  broken  the  power  of  it,  by  humbling 
 me  under  a  sense  of  his  long-suffering  goodness, 
 that  he  still  looks  upon  such  a  proud  creature,  as 
 I  feel  myself  to  be.  If  this  is  really  your  daily 
 experience,  give  God  the  glory  ;  for  you  are  most 
 assuredly  baptized  into  Christ's  death,  because 
 you  are  humbled  under  a  sense  of  the  pride  of 
 your  nature  ;  for  you  die  daily  to  it,  and  are  "  Led 
 "  through  the  spirit  to  mortify  these  deeds  of  the 
 "  body."    You  are  aliv.e  to  God  ;  but  dead  to  sin, 
 
97 
 
 if  you  thus  wrestle  against  the  powers  of  dark- 
 ness. Let  me  now  tell  jou,  that  you  are  baptized 
 with  an  holy  baptism  ;  for  the  spirit  of  the  living 
 God,  doth  all  these  mighty  works  within  you. 
 Fear  not ;  Christ  will  bring  you  through  ;  for  he 
 hated  wickedness  and  loved  righteousness,  and  so 
 do  you,  hate  the  pride  of  your  heart.  In  all  this, 
 you  are  of  one  mind  with  him,  and  are  his  peculiar 
 charge  and  treasure  :  for  you  are  evidently  cruci- 
 fied with  him.  The  scriptures  declare  that  you 
 have  the  experience  of  Christ's  sheep,  saying, 
 "  And  they  that  are  Christ's  have  crucified 
 *'  the  flesh  with  the  affections  and  lusts."  Gal. 
 5.  24.  Again  '•^  Forasmuch  then  as  Christ  hath 
 '*  suffered  for  us  in  the  flesh,  arm  yourselves  like- 
 *'  wise  with  the  same  mind  :  for  he  that  hath  suf- 
 "  fered  in  the  flesh  hath  ceased  from  sin."  1  Pet. 
 4.  1.  I  conclude  therefore,  that  he  that  walketh 
 in  pride,  is  not  baptized  ;  but  he  that  hates  it,  and 
 grieves,  wrestles  against^  and  suffers  for  it  in  the 
 flesh,  dying  daily  to  it,  he  is  clean,  and  hath 
 ceased  from  it  ,-^  he  is  assuredly  baptized  with  the 
 Holy  Ghost. 
 
 2dly. —  Unclean  Prof essors  not  baptized. 
 
 How  can  a  professor  of  religion,  whether  inde- 
 pendant  or  baptist, — who  is  not  dead  with  Christ, 
 to  the  lusts  of  his  corrupt  nature,  be  baptized  ip- 
 to  Christ,  f'  Who  is  holy,  harmless,  unde filed,  se- 
 
 I 
 
98 
 
 "  parate  from  sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the* 
 *'  heavens  ?  I  say,  how  can  such  an  one,  who 
 makes  his  boast  of  baptism,  be  really  saved,  by 
 the  washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  and  yet  walks  in  the  lust  of  unclean- 
 ness ;  who  is  not  able  to  restrain  the  secret  lusts 
 of  his  unbaptized  heart  ?  Such  the  scriptures 
 point  out,  as  being,  "  Filled  with  all  unrighteous- 
 "  ness,  fornication  ; — having  eyes  full  of  adultery, 
 "  and  that  cannot  cease  from  sin ;  cursed  child- 
 *'  ren."  Many  such,  both  preachers  and  profes- 
 sors, are  not  ashamed  to  add  drunkenness  to  thirst, 
 being  full  of  wantonness  and  levity,  not  only  in  the 
 pulpit,  ''  But  they  creep  into  houses,  and  lead 
 *'  captive  silly  women  laden  with  sins,  led  away 
 "  with  divers  lusts."  Many,  even  preachers,  in- 
 stead of  exhorting  the  younger  women  as  sisters, 
 with  all  purity,  give  a  wanton  loose  to  all  sorts  of 
 jestings,  frivolous  talk,  and  are  not  ashamed  even 
 to  dandle  their  young  female  converts  upon  their 
 knees  :  this  is  termed  innocent  freedom  ;  but  God 
 calls  it  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  saying,  "^  For  the  land 
 "  is  full  of  adulterers, — both  prophet  and  priest 
 "  are  profane  ;  yea,  in  my  house  have  1  ibnnd 
 "  their  wickedness  ;  for  they  commit  adultery,  and 
 *'  speak  lies :  they  also  strengthen  the  hands  of 
 "  evil  doers,  that  none  doth  return  from  his  wick- 
 "  edness  :  they  are  all  of  them  unto  me  as  Sodom, 
 "  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  as  Gomorrah."  The 
 devil  himself  may  as  well  be  said  to  be  baptized  as 
 such  men ;  who  are  thus  enticed  by  their  secret  lusts. 
 
99 
 
 Surely,  they  are  ignorant  of  their  weakness,  and 
 the  power  of  sin.  Such  levity  both  secret  ajnd 
 open,  though  it  may  not  come  to  an  outward  act, 
 yet  Christ  declares,  that  a  wanton  look  is  adultery 
 in  the  heart.  Christian  reader,  except  thou  hast 
 been  led  by  the  spirit  of  the  living  God,  to  make 
 with  Job  a  covenant  with  thine  eyes,  and  with 
 Joseph  to  fear,  saying,  "  How  then  can  I  do  this 
 "  great  wickedness,  and  sin  against  God."  And 
 with  David,  to  lament,  repenting  in  dust  and  ashes, 
 thou  art  not  yet  baptized  ;  but  art  still  in  thy  sins, 
 filth,  and  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  as  sure,  as  there 
 is  a  righteous  God  in  heaven,  who  shall  himself 
 be  a  swift  witness  against  thee.  If  thou  art  rotten 
 at  heart,  thou  shall  know  it  evidently  by  this :  thy 
 heart  doth  now  rise  in  enmity  against  me,  for  my 
 honest  testimony.  Some  poor,  tempted  soul,  may 
 feel  cast  down,  and  say,  "  I  fear,  I  am  this  very 
 "  character ;  for  I  am  continually  assaulted  with 
 "  the  things  you  hint  at,  and  find  my  heart  some- 
 "  times  singularly  inflamed  with  these  fiery  darts  ; 
 ^'  so  that  I  am  at  my  wits  end,  fearing  that  I  have 
 "  often  consented  to  the  thoughts  of  my  heart :  if 
 "  so,  then  I  am  not  baptized  yet."  Be  not  hasty 
 to  write  bitter  things  against  thyself;  but  see, 
 whether  thou  canst  come  up  to  these  few  criteri- 
 ons.  When  thou  art  thus  attacked,  and  carried 
 away  in  a  measure,  dost  thou  feel  a  secret  fear 
 start  up  within  ?  Is  there  an  alarm  there  ?  Dost 
 thou  cry  with  Peter,  saying,  *'  Lord  save  ;  I  perish." 
 Art  thou  led  to  know,  that  the  thoughts  of  fool- 
 
 I  2 
 
100 
 
 ishness  is  sin  ;  and  dost  thou  as  fast  as  they  rise 
 within  confess  them  to  God  ?  Dost  thou  shut 
 thine  eyes  from  seeing  of  evil,  and  thine  ears  from 
 hearing  of  filth  ?  Art  thou  led  daily  to  fight, 
 wrestle  against,  and  oppose  the  deadly  actings  of 
 that  wretched  man  of  sin  within  thee,  being  exceed- 
 ingly grieved  in  spirit  at  sin,  hating  it  with  perfect 
 hatred,  and  daily  dying  to  it?  If  thou  canst  say, 
 this  is  my  experience  ;  then  bless  God  for  it ;  for 
 thou  shalt  soon  be  delivered  from  the  very  in  be- 
 ing of  sin  ;  for  Christ  hath  pronounced  this  bles- 
 sing upon  thee,  saying,  "^  Blessed  are  the  pure  in 
 "  heart ;  for  they  shall  see  God."  Thou  art  truly 
 baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  art  led  in  se- 
 cret before  God,  to  wrestle,  to  contend,  and  vehe- 
 mently to  resist  the  corruptions  of  thy  heart ;  and 
 dost  give  thy  God  no  rest  until  he  maketh  his 
 strength  perfect  in  thy  weakness.  O  how  thou 
 dost  rejoice  !  When  by  faith  in  the  eternal  Son  of 
 God,  thou  hast  overcome  the  world  of  iniquity 
 that  is  within  thee.  Be  assured  that  no  unbap- 
 tized  hypocrite,  can  produce  such  fruits  of  spiri- 
 tual baptism  as  these. 
 
 3dly.— TAe  covetous  Professor  is  not  baptized. 
 
 The  devil,  for  coveting  to  be  like  the  most  high, 
 was  cast  down,  he  and  his  angels  into  hell.  Adam 
 and  Eve,  having  through  this  spawn  of  satan,  as- 
 pired to  godhead^  were  drove  out  of  paradise. 
 
101 
 
 God,  hath  pronounced  "  A  woe  to  him^  that  covet- 
 "  eth  an  evil  covetousness  to  his  house,  that  he 
 "  may  set  his  nest  on  high,  that  he  may  be  deli- 
 "  vered  from  the  power  of  evil.'*  The  scriptures 
 declare  that  *'  A  covetous  man  is  an  idolater^ — 
 ''  and  that  the  Lord  abhorreth  such."  How  can 
 any  imagine  that  he  is  baptized,  whose  heart  is 
 set  upon  the  world  and  the  things  of  it ;  who 
 covets  the  applauses  and  admiration  of  men,  in  all 
 he  says  or  does  ?  Who  seeks,  honour  from  men, 
 and  not  that  honour  which  cometh  from  God ;  and 
 whose  idolatrous  heart  is  set  upon  money,  which  is 
 the  root  of  all  evil  ?  Do  not  such  err  from  the 
 faith,  and  pierce  themselves  through  with  many 
 sorrows  ?  Thousands  are  now  in  a  high  professi- 
 on, both  preachers,  and  their  converts,  who  are 
 blinded  by  mammon  ;  and  deceive  their  own  souls, 
 **  Having  an  heart  exercised  with  covetous  prac- 
 *'  tices,"— ^doth  not  God  bear  witness  against 
 them,  saying,  "  Yea,  they  are  greedy  dogs,  which 
 •'  can  never  have  enough,  and  they  are  shepherds 
 "  that  cannot  understand :  they  all  look  to  their 
 *'  own  way,  every  one  for  his  gain,  from  his  quar- 
 ■•'  ter  ; — for  from  the  least  of  them  even  unto  the 
 "  greatest  of  them,  every  one  is  given  to  covetous- 
 •'  ness  ;  and  from  the  prophet  eren  unto  the  priest 
 "  every  one  dealeth  falsely."  Look  abroad  into  the 
 professing  world,  and  if  you  have  eyes  to  see  in 
 God's  light,  you  shall  perceive  abundance  of  false 
 teachers,  who,  through  covetousness  do  with 
 feigned  words  make  merchandize  of  the  people ; 
 
102 
 
 and  nianj  do  follow  their  pernicious  ways.  Let 
 us  remember,  that  God  is  not  mocked  ;  '•'  For 
 ''  whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  reap." 
 Surely  Christ  suffered  for  the  sins  of  his  chosen 
 people ;  the  sword  of  justice  awoke  against  him, 
 and  the  divine  wrath^  smoked  against  the  Lamb  of 
 God  ;  he  was  made  sorrowful  even  unto  death, 
 and  sweat  bloody  being  baptized  into  the  agonies 
 of  death.  What  was  all  this  immense  weight  of 
 sufferings  for  ?  It  was  for  the  pride,  uncleanness, 
 and  covetousness  of  his  elect.  And  shall  ihey  live 
 under  the  influence  of  a  covetous  spirit  ?  God 
 forbid  :  yea,  the  Lord  who  spared  not  his  own 
 Son,  will  also  visit  this  sin  in  his  people  with  the  rod, 
 saying,  *'  For  the  iniquity  of  his  covetousness  was 
 "  I  wroth,  and  smote  him  :  I  hid  me,  and  was 
 "  wroth." — How  can  any  think  they  are  truly  bap- 
 tized, who  have  no  experience  of  this  branch  of 
 the  spirit's  baptism ;  whose  hearts  are  choked 
 with  the  thorny  cares,  profits,  and  pleasures 
 of  this  life  ?  How  many  professors,  do  with 
 the  utmost  cruelty,  covetously  pant  after  the 
 dust  of  the  earth  on  the  head  of  their  poor 
 brethren  ;  and  make  them  work  at  low  wages ; 
 while  they  enrich  themselves,  by  charging  large 
 profits  ?  And  though  their  unbaptized  hearts  are 
 daily  exercised  with  covetous  practices,  yet  will 
 they  with  feigned  lips  bless  God,  because  they 
 have  gotten  much  ;  supposing  that  gain  is  godli- 
 ness. Such,  a  deceived  heart  hath  turned  thera 
 aside ;  they,  like  serpents,  feed   upon  dust  and 
 
asljes.  I  will  shew  you  now  wLo  they  are,  that 
 the  baptism  of  the  spirit  has  made  to  difFefj  from 
 such  professing-  muckworms.  1st.  Those  who  have 
 been  deeply  convinced  by  the  spirit,  that  all  their 
 life  long,  they  have  coveted  the  things  of  this  pe- 
 rishable world,  evil  things,  and  they  profited  them 
 not ;  under  these  rebukes,  their  former  vain  beau- 
 ty is  consumed  away  like  a  moth,  and  thK)Ugh  the 
 law  being  applied  to  them  with  all  its  condemning 
 power,  they  become  dead  to  it.  2dly.  Those  who 
 have  been  raised  from  this  state  of  death,  by  faith 
 in  the  Son  of  God,  and  have  triumphed  in  him  over 
 covetousness,  saying,  "Whom  have  I  in  heaven 
 "  but  thee,  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  I  desire 
 "  besides  thee."  Happy  souls  Avho  are  thus  bap- 
 tized, and  purified  by  the  spirit  of  love  :  for  they 
 are  prevailing  Israelites  who  are  holiness  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  they  have  cast  all  their  former  idols  to  the 
 moles  and  to  the  bats.  Covetousness,  which  is 
 idolatry,  is  destroyed  ;  "  For  the  Lord  alone  doth 
 ''  lead  them,  and  there  is  no  strange  God  with 
 "  them."  3dly.  Those,  who  after  they  have 
 greatly  rejoiced  in  Christ's  salvation,  hoping  that 
 they  should  never  be  moved,  have  however,  found 
 great  heaviness  through  manifold  temptations,  for 
 the  trial  of  their  faith,  and  have  to  their  great  sor- 
 row been  weaned  from  the  breasts  of  consolation, 
 to  lead  them  to  make  still  deeper  discovS(eries,  of 
 the  fountain  of  the  deep  of  their  covetous  spirit.  O 
 how  grievous  it  is  to  their  souls  !  When  they  find 
 that  their  covetous  flesh  lusteth  against  the  spirit^ 
 
104 
 
 dragging  them  down  again  to  conceive  a  thousand 
 cares  !  O  how  they  are  alarmed,  to  find  in  them- 
 selve  a  grasping,  calculating  and  planning  spirit  ! 
 This  is  now  the  trial  of  their  faith  ;  and  here  they 
 may  know,  whether  they  are  really  and  truly  bap- 
 tized or  not  I  for  if  they  are  not,  the  thorns  will 
 surely  choke  the  word,  I  am  persuaded  by  heart 
 felt  experience,  that  the  man  who  is  baptized  into 
 Christ's  death,  cannot  live  any  longer  in  sin  ;  but 
 with  David,  he  will  cry  out,  saying,  "  Incline  my 
 "  heart  unto  thy  testimonies,  and  not  to  covetous- 
 "^  ness."  Let  no  man  deceive  himself  here,  and 
 think  that  God  will  at  all  wink,  at  a  grudging, 
 covetous  spirit,  even  in  his  own  people  ;  '^  He  is  of 
 ^'  purer  eyes  than  to  behold  evil,  and  cannot  look 
 "^  on  iniquity  ; — but  will  visit  their  transgressions 
 *'  with  the  rod,  and  their  iniquity  with  stripes." 
 God  will  rather  strip  them  of  all  they  have,  as  he 
 did  Naomi,  than  they  should  sacrifice  to  mam- 
 mon, and  worship  him.  None  therefore  are  bap- 
 tized with  the  Holy  Ghost,  but  such  "^  Who  trera- 
 "  ble  at  his  word,-^and  hear  the  rod,  and  who 
 "  hath  appointed  it ;"  who  are  spiritually  taugVit 
 to  fight,  resist,  contend,  and  wrestle  even  against 
 the  very  imagination  of  covetousness.  Such  "  Are 
 *'  dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God, 
 "  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."  Are  you  thus 
 purified  and  cleansed  ?  If  so,  you  are  truly  bap- 
 t-ized,  and  need  not  any  other  baptism. 
 
105 
 
 4thly. — The  Professor  whose  heart  heaves  with  enmifij 
 against  the  power  of  godliness  which  I  have  described, 
 is  not  baptized  ^et. 
 
 Through  the  fall,  man  is  become  an  enemy  to 
 God  ;  yea,  "  The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against 
 "^  hira  ;  it  is  not  subject  to  his  law,  nor  indeed  can 
 "  be."  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  suffered,  and  was 
 baptized  into  death,  that  he  might  deliver  his  elect 
 from  the  power  of  enmity,  and  bring  them  to  God, 
 as  Paul  saith,  "  And  you,  that  were  some  time 
 "  alienated  and  enemies  in  your  mir>ds  by  wicked 
 ''  works,  yet  now  hath  he  reconciled  in  the  body 
 *'  of  his  flesh  through  death,  to  present  you  holy 
 "  and  unblameable,  and  unreproveable  in  his 
 "  sight"  As  Christ  thus  suffered  and  died  for 
 the  enmity  of  man,  so  also  do  his  members,  when 
 the  spirit  doth  mightily  convince  them,  of  their 
 being  by  nature,  nothing  but  enmity  against  God, 
 his  word  and  ways.  Under  this  spiritual  teach- 
 ing they  sicken,  and  effectually  die  with  Christ, 
 being  buried  with  him  by  baptism  into  death. 
 How  can  they  who  are  such  sticklers  for  the  sign 
 of  baptism;  who  resist,  gainsay,  and  rail  against 
 the  power,  whose  enmity  is  evidently  seen  in  all 
 they  preach,  say,  or  do,  how  can  such  have  any 
 claim  to  baptism  ?  He  is  truly  baptized,  who  hath 
 been  deeply  convinced  of  his  enmity,  and  is  become 
 dead  to  it  with  Christ ;  but  is  raised  to  newness 
 of  life  by  faith  in  the  bleeding  Lamb.  He  knows 
 experimentally,  what  it  is  to  be  baptized  with  the 
 
106 
 
 Holy  Ghost ;  for  the  love  of  God,  being  now  siied 
 abroad  in  his  heart,  under  the  influence  of  this 
 fiery  baptism,  he  looks  at  him  whom  he  hath 
 pierced  ;  he  rejoiceth  with  joy  unspeakable  and 
 full  of  glof V  ;  he  sweetly  mourns  and  repents,  hat- 
 ing himself  for  the  enmity  of  his  heart.  A  man 
 that  thus  hates  himself  for  his  iniquity,  who  mourns, 
 repents,  and  loatheth  himself,  doth  evidently  shew, 
 that  he  is  saved  by  the  washing  of  regeneration^ 
 and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost :  for  while  the 
 blind  baptist,  is  satisfied  with  the  sign,  which  can 
 only  put  away  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  the  other  who 
 is  spiritually  baptized,  has  the  answer  of  a  good 
 conscience  toward  God,  by  the  resurrection  of 
 Jesus  Christ.  Such  an  one,  is  washed  indeed,  in 
 the  blood  of  Christ,  "^  Which  cleanseth  him  from 
 "  all  his  sins,  being  sanctified,  and  justified  in  the 
 *'  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  spirit  of  our 
 "  God."  Happy  soul  that  is  daily  led  by  the  power 
 of  the  spirit,  to  mortify  the  enmity,  that  remaineth 
 in  his  corrupt  part ;  such  are  undefiled,  pure  in 
 heart,  being  baptized  indeed,  and  partakers  of  the 
 divine  nature. 
 
 5thly. — Solemn  appeal  to  the  Baptists^  and  all  others. 
 
 Men  and  brethren,  and  all  ye  that  fear  God, 
 consider  attentively,  that  I  have  not  presumed  in 
 all  I  have  said,  to  use  my  own  thoughts,  ideas,  and 
 words,  but  have  brought  my  proofs  from  the  scrip- 
 
107 
 
 tures  of  truth  ;  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's 
 wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  of 
 power.  Let  me  therefore  ask  you,  whether  the 
 baptism  you  have  submitted  to^,  has  really  produ- 
 ced the  experiences  I  have  all  along  described  ? 
 Have  you  really  with  David,  come  into  deep  wa- 
 ters, while  the  terrors  of  God  have  set  themselves 
 in  battle  array  against  you  ?  Have  you  trembled 
 with  Isaiahj  at  the  infinite  holiness  of  God^  while 
 you  saw  yourselves  undone,  and  men  of  unclean 
 lips  ?  Hath  the  wrath  of  God  burned  within  you 
 like  fire,  feeling  yourselves  turned  to  destruction, 
 being  consumed  by  the  blow  of  his  hand,  when  he 
 did  set  your  iniquities  before  you,  and  your  secret 
 sins  in  the  light  of  his  countenance  ?  With  Paul, 
 have  you  found  that  the  commandment  which  you 
 laboured  to  keep,  instead  of  being  ordained  unto 
 life  to  you,  a  guilty  sinner,  you  found  it  the  minis- 
 tration of  death  ;  which  as  a  bright  looking  glass 
 has  shewed  you  in  a  most  convincing  manner, 
 your  dreadful  deformities,  sins,  and  abominations, 
 and  by  working  up  the  anger,  and  wrath  of 
 God  as  a  flood,  has  overwhelmed  you  with 
 the  sorrows  of  death,  and  the  pains  of  hell, 
 while  one  deep  view  of  God's  immutable  righte- 
 ousness and  justice,  called  unto  another  deep  sen- 
 sation of  your  infinite  transgressions,  trembling  at 
 the  tremendous  noise  of  his  water  spouts,  namely, 
 the  curses  of  that  law,  which  you  had  dishonoured 
 and  broken,  so  that  with  the  holy  man  above  men- 
 tioned, you  sickened  under  the  revelation  of  jour 
 
108 
 
 manifold  sins,  and  did  finally  die  to  all  hopes  of  be- 
 ing saved  by  your  own  obedience  to  the  law  ?    Was 
 not  Christ  a  man  of  sorrow  and  acquainted  with 
 griefj  who  bore  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the 
 tree  ?     Consider,  how  the  wrath  of  God  smoked 
 against  him,  and  how  he   felt  the  weight  of  our 
 transgressions,   our  pride,    uncleanness,   covetaus- 
 ness,  and  infernal  enmity,  which  made  him  to  cry 
 out  bitterly,  saying.   "  I  sink  in  deep  mire,  where 
 "  there  is  no  standing  :   I  am  come  into  deep  wa- 
 *'  ters,  where  the  floods  overflow  me. — O  God,. 
 "  thou  knowest  my  foolishness  ;    and  my  sins  are 
 "  not  hid  from  thee."     Mark,  how  deeply  he  was 
 wounded  for  our  transgressions,  when  the  sword 
 of  justice  awoke  against  him,  which  made  him  to 
 cry  out,  "My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  for- 
 "^  saken  me  ?"     Again,    "  My   soul    is   exceeding 
 "  sorrowful,  even  unto  death. "    Doth  he  not  him- 
 self call  all  these  sufferings  which  he  endured  for 
 our  sakes,  his  baptism  ?     And  moreover  declared 
 that  all  his  spiritual  members  should   drink  wiih 
 him,  of  the  same  bitter  cup,  and  be  baptized  with 
 the  baptism,  he  was  baptized  with  ?     Do  noi  his 
 faithful  servants  declare  the  same  things  ?     Prov- 
 ing, that  we  must  die  \yith  Christ,  to  our  sins, 
 lusts,    wisdom,   and   carnal  conceptions  of  divine 
 things ;    and  that  is  really  a  being  buried  with 
 Christ  by  baptism  ?     Now  let  me  ask  you  in  the 
 name  of  God  ?     Have  you  indeed  been  thus  bap- 
 tized into  death  with  Christ,  under  the  almighty 
 reproofs  of  the  spirit  of  God  ?     If  you  will  be 
 
109 
 
 liotiest^  and  say  that  you  really  do  not  understand, 
 »or  experience,  any  of  the  things  I  have  stated, 
 then  let  me  tell  you  plainly,  that  although  you 
 may  have  been  dipped  into  the  ocean,  yet  the  word 
 declares  you  to  be  still  in  your  sins,  whole  heart- 
 ed, filthy^  and  totally  ignorant  of  fellowship  with 
 a  suffering,  dying  Saviour.  You  will  find  your 
 water  baptism  vain  ;  and  if  you  belong  to  Christ, 
 he  will  bring  you  through  fire,  and  through  water, 
 and  teach  you  experimentally  to  know  what  it  is  to 
 be  baptized  into  his  death.  Many  preachers,  and 
 professors,  will  tell  you,  that  they  never  experien- 
 ced such  comforts  and  consolations  before,  as  they 
 have  since  they  submitted  to  be  re-baptized.  Be- 
 lieve them  not ;  for  they  speak  a  vision  out  of 
 their  own  hearts,  haviu'g  seen  nothing ;  they  de- 
 ceive you  with  vain  words,  that  they  might  bring 
 you  into  bondage  to  the  sign.  The  love  of  God, 
 which  is  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  not 
 shed  abroad  in  the  heart,  by  either  preaching  or 
 administering  water  baptism,  or  else  the  apostle 
 would  not  have  set  it  aside,  saying,  "  For  Christ 
 "  sent  me  not  to  baptize,  but  to  preach  the  gos- 
 "  pel." — Water  baptism,  is  the  letter  that  killeth, 
 because  it  shews  the  necessity  of  being  washed  by 
 heavenly  things ;  but  the  spirit  giveth  hfe  ;  which 
 the  preaching  alone  of  the  gospel  bringeth  to 
 light.  Consider  well,  what  the  apostle  Paul  means 
 to  establish  ;  for  he  tells  you  in  plain  terms,  that 
 wrangling  about  doctrines  of  baptisms,  and  in- 
 veigling the  souls  of  men,  to  look  tq  those  impcr^ 
 
110 
 
 feet  signs,  is  not  preaching  the  gospel :  for  the 
 gospel  is  the  power  of  God  to  salvation  to  every 
 one  that  believeth ;  this  power,  I  have  endeavour- 
 ed through  the  grace  of  God  given  unto  me,  to 
 enforce,  exalt,  prove,  and  establish  ;  having  the 
 testimony  of  God  and  conscience,  that  what  I 
 have  advanced,  is  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 I  have  not  wearied  myself  in  fumbling  commenta- 
 tors, in  order  to  know  what  this,  or  that  author 
 saith  concerning  baptism  ;  but  have  been  enabled 
 by  prayer  and  supplication,  to  let  my  request  be 
 made  known  unto  God,  who  hath  made  me  often 
 to  weep  and  rejoice,  under  the  influence  of  that 
 heavenly  peace  that  passeth  all  understanding, 
 witnessing  to  my  soul,  that  what  I  preach  and 
 write,  is  the  truth  of  God  in  Christ ;  which  if  a 
 man  continue  in,  he  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the 
 truth  shall  make  him  free.  The  baptism  of  suf- 
 fering, which  holy  men  of  old  went  through  with 
 Christ,  I  have  not  quoted  like  a  parrot,  but  have 
 myself,  been  exceeding  deeply  immersed,  in  the 
 baptismal  waters  of  convictions,  sorrows,  afflicti- 
 ons, and  distresses  with  Christ.  It  is  now  four 
 and  twenty  years  ago,  since  my  blind  eyes  were 
 enlightened  to  see  the  incensed  majesty  on  high, 
 and  my  own  depravity.  My  heart  did  continually 
 meditate  terror.  Death,  hell,  and  judgment,  also 
 my  sins,  the  infinite  holiness  of  God,  and  the  rea- 
 lity of  his  anger  against  me  as  a  sinner,  engrossed 
 my  whole  soul  from  day  to  day.  My  appetite 
 failed  me  j   my  strength  wasted  away ;    and  in  my 
 
Ill 
 
 heart  there  was  as  It  w^re,  a  most  vehement  fire 
 burning  continually.  With  Job,  I  found  that  the 
 arrows  of  the  almighty  were  within  me,  the  poison 
 whereof  drank  up  my  spirit.  The  terrors,  fears, 
 and  dreadful  alarms,  I  was  influenced  with, 
 brought  my  animal  spirits  into  such  a  state  of 
 trouble  and  effervescence,  that  I  could  plainly  see 
 my  heart  violently  beat  through  ail  my  clothes. 
 My  extreme  ignorance  of  God's  way  of  dealing  with 
 sinners,  ( for  I  had  never  heard  any  preaching,  nor 
 was  I  acquainted  with  any  professors  ofreligion;) 
 this,  made  me  to  conclude,  that  God  had  come  down 
 to  destroy  me.  O  !  How  often  have  I  wished,  that  I 
 had  been  a  dog,  or  any  reptile,  rather  than  a  man  ! 
 The  fierce  assaults  of  the  powers  of  darkness,  join- 
 ing also  with  hellish  noise,  made  me  to  die  to  all 
 hopes  of  ever  being  saved  ;  for  all  my  former  good 
 works  and  vain  hopes,  had  been  swept  away  by 
 these  waters  of  affliction  ;  and  this  fiery  baptism, 
 had  burnt  up  all  my  refuges  of  lies.  Thus  I  was 
 made  to  die  with  Christ  by  spiritual  baptism,  and 
 sunk  in  unspeakable  misery  ;  but  especially,  a  lit- 
 tle time  before  God  raised  me  to  hope ;  when  in 
 consequence  of  a  very  remarkable  impression,  I  ex- 
 pected every  moment  to  give  up  the  Ghost,  or 
 that  the  earth  would  open  and  swallow  me  up. 
 Now  was  I  on  the  other  hand,  made  evidently  to 
 experience,  the  marvellous  truth  of  God  in  these 
 blessed  words  :  ''  Unto  God  the  Lord  belong  the 
 '•  issues  from  death."  Again,  *'  For  the  Lord  shall 
 ['  judge  his  people,  and  repieut  himself  for  his  ser- 
 
112 
 
 "  varrts,  when  he  seeth  that  their  power  is  gone> 
 "  and  there  is  none  shut  up,  or  left  ;" — for  he  had 
 indeed,  planted  me  together  in  the  likeness  of  his 
 dear  Son's  death,  and  buried  me  with  him  by 
 baptism  into  death,  that  he  might  raise  me  with 
 him  into  newness  of  life,  and  he  made  me  to  ex- 
 perience in  a  most  powerful  manner,  these  words, 
 "  He  that  believeth  on  me,  though  he  were  dead, 
 "  yet  shall  he  live. — Veril_y,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
 "  the  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is,  that  the  dead 
 **"  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  :  and 
 "  they  that  hear  shall  live."  I  was  evidently  that 
 dead  man,  lost,  undone,  without  hope,  and  sinking 
 under  the  dreadful  sentence  of  the  righteous 
 judge ;  but  God  who  is  wonderful  in  working-, 
 was  pleased  to  work  faith  in  my  heart,  to  appre- 
 hend Christ  in  his  sufferings,  by  applying  these 
 Avords  with  such  a  power,  as  to  open  my  grave, 
 "  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
 "  death."  Tly  heart  was  broke  in  an  instant ;  all 
 my  sorrows  fled  away  in  a  moment ;  and  I  was 
 made  to  mourn  for  him  only,  who  had  endured 
 such  grief  and  sorrow  for  me.  While  I  was  thus 
 made  to  rise  with  him,  these  words,  ''  It  is  finish- 
 ''  ed,"  had  such  an  astonishing  effect  on  me,  that 
 I  lost  sight  of  every  object  in  the  room  where  I 
 was,  and  suddenly  I  saw  Christ  most  evidently  ex- 
 hibited to  my  astonished  view,  in  his  dying  ago- 
 nies on  the  cross,  •while  his  dying  love,  like  a  most 
 vehement  flame,  was  shed  abroad  into  ray  heart, 
 in  a  most  abundant  manner  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
113 
 
 O  !  How  I  was  made  to  look  at  him  whom  I  had 
 pierced  !  My  eyes  streamed  with  tears  of 
 godly  sorrow,  contrition,  and  repentance  unto 
 life.  I  wept ;  I  rejoiced  ;  I  mourned,  and  shout- 
 ed for  joy ;  for  my  heavy  burden  was  all  gone  ; 
 and  my  heart  was  exceedingly  enlarged  by  faith 
 in  a  crucified  Saviour,  being  most  evidently  rais- 
 ed from  a  state  of  death  and  condemnation,  as  it 
 is  written,  "  Thy  dead  men  shall  live,  together 
 ''  with  my  dead  body  shall  they  arise."  After  I 
 came  to  myself,  (for  I  scarcely  could  tell  whe- 
 ther I  was  asleep  or  awake,  in  the  body  or  out 
 of  the  body,)  the  joy  and  peace  I  felt,  were  un- 
 speakable and  full  of  glory  ;  which  abode  with 
 me,  so  that  I  could  not  afterwards,  bring  my  bur- 
 den back  again  :  for  my  light  was  come,  and 
 the  glory  of  the  Lord  was  risen  upon  me,  and 
 God  made  me  to  rejoice  from  all  my  sorrows. 
 Thus  God  make  me  to  experience  with  Christ 
 the  sorrows  of  death,  and  the  pains  of  hell,  which 
 is  a  being  baptized  into  Christ's  death.  Second- 
 ly, God  raised  me  from  this  state  of  death,  by- 
 working  faith  in  mj  heart  to  look  to  Christ ;  the 
 spirit  of  God  also  revealing  the  dying  love  of 
 Christ  to  my,  soul,  I  was  truly  baptized  with  the 
 eternal  love  of  God ;  having  my  sins  washed 
 away  in  his  blood,  being  saved  by  the  washing 
 of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 The  salvation  of  God  by  faith  in  Christ,  I  have 
 found  to  be  so  complete,  that  nothing  can  be 
 added  to  it ;    and  I  declare  before  the  living  God, 
 
 K 
 
114 
 
 that  I  have  never  at  any  time,  been  impressed 
 with  any  conviction  whatsoever,  that  God  reqiii- 
 rethany  to  be  re-baptized  ;  and  the  same  God 
 who  was  pleased  to  baptize  me  with  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  hath  also  given  me,  a  special  call,  to  tb^ 
 ministry  of  his  word,  and  hath  shewed  me  evid  jnt- 
 ly,  that  those,  who  so  obstinately  hold  forth  water 
 baptism,  are  either  totally  ignorant  of  the  glori- 
 ous baptism  of  the  spirit,  or  are  sadly  beclouded 
 with  darkness,  even  as  some  good  men  have  been, 
 because  they  trust  to  their  own  judgment,  and 
 have  not  wrestled  with  God  day  and  night,  for 
 illumination,  wisdom,  and  understanding,  in  this, 
 as  in  all  other  points,  concerning  their  eternal 
 welfare. 
 
 (^WJWU 
 
115 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 SUNDRY    ESSENTIAL    THINGS     CONSIDERED;, 
 RELATIVE    TO    BAPTISM. 
 
 1st.  —  The  Baptism  of  Infants ,  not  forbidden, 
 
 IjrOD  bath  no  where  laid  any  injunction,  or  com- 
 mand, that  infants,  should  not  receive  the  sign  of 
 baptism  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  Christ  rebuked  his 
 disciples,  for  their  narrow  spirit,  when  they  thrust 
 away  those,  who  brought  little  children  to  him, 
 saying,  "  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me, 
 "  and  forbid  them  not :  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
 "  of  God."  If  he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  and 
 blessed  them,  which  blessing  is  eternal  life,  were 
 they  unworthy  to  receive  the  sign  of  baptism  ? 
 Some  say,  that  it  cannot  be  proved,  that  any  in- 
 fants or  children,  were  baptized  in  the  apostolic 
 age.  Such  objectors,  on  the  other  hand  cannot 
 prove,  that  any  who  had  received  baptism  in  the 
 name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  were 
 re-baptized.  Those  who  reject  infant  baptism 
 must  also  prove  that  children  are  no  part  of 
 a  person's  household ;  but  this,  they  cannot  an- 
 swer, for  it  is  written,  that  Abraham  commanded 
 his  household  after  him,  and  he  had  them  all  cir- 
 
116 
 
 cumcised,  children  as  well,  as  the  men  of  his  house: 
 Paul  baptized  the  household  of  Stephanas.  The 
 Lord  opened  the  heart  of  Lydia  that  she  attended 
 unto  the  things  which  were  spoken  of  Paul ;  she 
 it  appears  only  believed,  yet  her  household,  was 
 also  baptized  with  her.  The  jailer,  and  all  his 
 were  baptized.  Now  unless  it  can  be  proved  that 
 these  several  households  which  were  baptized^  had 
 no  children,  or  that  these,  are  no  part  of  a  man's 
 household,  they  weary  themselves  in  vain  who  op- 
 pose infant  baptism.  Paul  tells  the  Corinthians,  that 
 their  children  were  holy ;  but  how  could  they  be  holy, 
 unless  they  had  been  baptized  into  the  faith  of  their 
 parents  ?  which  we  are  to  understand,  to  be  an  out- 
 ward ceremonial  holiness,  a  sign  of  what  God  would 
 do  for  them  spiritually,  iftheybelongedto  the  house- 
 hold of  faith.  The  children  of  Israel,  were  all  holy 
 to  the  Lord  in  this  sense  :  but  were  infants  among 
 them  holy,  because  their  fathers  were  circumcised  ? 
 certainly  not  ;  but  the  children  themselves  were 
 circumcised  also,  to  make  them  ceremonially  ho- 
 ly :  therefore,  the  children  of  christian  parents, 
 cannot  in  any  sense  be  holy,  except  they  are  bapti- 
 zed also.  The  baptists  object,  that  infants  cannot 
 manifest  themselves  to  be  saints,  nor  bind  them- 
 selves to  an  holy  life.  I  answer  that  circumcisi- 
 on, was  as  important  a  sign  as  baptism,  yet  an  in- 
 fant was  circumcised  at  eight  days  old,  although 
 it  could  not  bind  itself  to  an  holy  life,  nor  promise 
 God  to  love  him  with  all  the  heart,  which  is  the 
 substance  of  that  sign.     As  for  that  binding  of 
 
117 
 
 themselves  to  an  holy  hfe,  which  some  of  them 
 talk  of,  it  is  nothing  but  a  rotten  arminian  tenet, 
 which  will  leave  them  who  hold  it  in  bondage^ 
 destitute  of  the  righteousness  of  Christ ;  and  ex- 
 cept -God  binds  us  together  by  love^  into  the  bun-^ 
 die  of  life  with  Christ,  all  such  fleshly  bonds,  will 
 prove  at  last  to  be  but  ropes  of  sand,  which  will 
 lead  men  to  ruin,  death,  and  destruction  ;  for  if 
 David  was  obliged  to  cry  out,  sajiing,  "  Hold  thou 
 "  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe."  How  can  men 
 with  their  fleshly  covenants  stand  ?  I  believe,  that 
 men  binding  themselves  to  live  an  holy  life,  and 
 others  promising  the  same  for  ap  infant  that  is 
 baptized,  are  both  doctrines  and  commandments  of 
 men^  which  have  no  place  in  the  word  of  God. 
 
 2dly. — The  Church  of  Christy  hath  a  discretionary 
 power^  to  administer  Baptism  in  a  comely  manner, 
 suitable  to  time  and  circumstances. 
 
 The  Baptism  of  Adults  is  uncomely,  if  not  indecent., 
 
 Seeing  that  God  hath  no  where  in  scripture  po- 
 sitively commanded  when  and  how,  baptism  is  to 
 be  administered,  nor  hath  he  fixed  the  age,  as  he 
 did  with  respect  to  circumcision^  I  conclude  there- 
 fore, that  the  church,  which  is  guided,  led,  and 
 instructed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  hath  power  to  take 
 care,  that  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in  order. 
 God  having  not  fixed  the  terms  of  baptism,  the  ex- 
 ample of  immersing  in  baptism  is  no  more  binding 
 
118 
 
 upon  us,  than  the  prohibition  of  eating  blood,  and 
 things  strangled.  The  church  hath  power  in  some 
 measure,  to  consider  that  both  climates  and  man- 
 ners of  nations,  ought  to  make  a  great  difference  in 
 the  administration  of  such  things  as  are  not  com- 
 manded, nor  clearl J  defined  in  scripture.  If  the 
 apostles  themselves,  in  order  to  humour  the  bigot- 
 ry of  the  jews,  and  to  prevent  them  being  offend- 
 ed, issued  forth  a  decree  forbidding  the  eating  of 
 blood  and  of  things  strangled,  and  in  some  other 
 things  in  a  manner  build  up  again  those  things, 
 which  Christ  had  fulfilled,  and  which  were  va- 
 nished away ;  I  say,  shall  not  the  church  now, 
 have  power  in  the  matter  of  baptism,  to  consider 
 what  is  comely,  proper,  and  decent  ?  In  those 
 hot  climates,  where  the  gospel  was  first  preached, 
 immersing,  dipping,  and  plunging  by  baptism  into 
 water,  could  neither  hurt,  nor  be  displeasing, 
 but  was  rather  a  luxury,  or  gratification,  to  those 
 who  went  under  the  water;  but  in  these  cold 
 northerly  climates  which  we  inhabit,  the  case  is 
 materially  different,  and  plunging  people  into 
 •water,  is  not  always  practicable  ;  for  all  men  have 
 neither  an  habit  of  body,  or  constitution,  calcu- 
 lated to  undergo  the  operation.  Is  it  not  there- 
 fore wonderful,  to  see  men  so  bigoted  to  these 
 things,  which  are  left  undefined,  while  they  omit 
 the  weightier  matters  of  baptism  ?  An  old  lady, 
 who  sat  some  time  under  my  ministry,  thought 
 proper  to  leave  it,  and  went  to  hear  a  certain  bap- 
 tist minister,  whom  she  relished  so  well,  that  she 
 
119 
 
 communicated  her  desire  to  the  deacons  of  becom- 
 ing a  member.  They  told  her  that  she  must  sub- 
 mit to  the  ordinance.  She  urged  her  age,  infir- 
 mities, and  the  inclemency  of  the  season.  They 
 answered  her,  that  they  would  mention  it  to  the 
 minister,  whether  he  would  under  such  circum- 
 stances admit  her.  However,  they  had  the  cru- 
 elty to  deny  her  request,  and  would  by  no  means 
 admit  her  as  a  member,  unless  she  submitted  to 
 their  cold  ceremony.  Thus  they  would  rather 
 have  suffered  their  font  or  baptistry,  to  become  a 
 watery  grave  for  the  poor  old  woman^  who  was 
 near  eighty  ye^rs  of  age,  than  to  part  with  the 
 least  trifle  of  their  superstition  and  will-worship. 
 John  Bunyan,  though  a  professed  baptist,  did  not 
 so ;  but  had  too  much  of  the  fear  of  God,  to  reject 
 any  from  communion,  who  could  give  a  reason  of 
 the  hope  that  was  in  them,  although  they  submit^ 
 ted  not  to  baptism.  On  the  other  hand,  the  cus» 
 toras,  manners,  ways,  and  circumstances  altogether 
 of  these  latter  ages,  are  so  different  from  old  time, 
 that  reason  itself,  is  not  satisfied  with  the  manner 
 of  administering  baptism  by  immersion ;  when  old 
 and  young,  male  and  female,  are  dragged  through 
 the  water,  which  is  neither  comely,  decent  or  edi- 
 fying ;  but  is  calculated  to  make  sport  for  fools. 
 On  these  occasions,  there  is  what  is  called  a  bap- 
 tismal sermon  preached,  calculated  to  promote  zeal 
 for  the  sign,  and  to  move  the  fleshly  passions  of 
 those,  who  have  submitted  to  what  they  call  the 
 ordinance,  extolling  their  faith  and  piety^  endea- 
 
120 
 
 vouring  also  to  draw  others  to  the  same  obedience^ 
 that  they  may  glory  in  their  flesh  :  but  in  all  these 
 discourses,  the  substance  of  real  spiritual  baptism 
 is  obscured,  hid  and  out  of  sight,  even  as  they  of 
 old  did,  who  in  preaching  up  circumcision,  took 
 care  under  the  influence  of  the  powers  of  dark- 
 ness, to  baffle  and  bewilder  the  minds  of  men,  to 
 bring  them  into  bondage  to  the  sign  ;  for  then, 
 Christ  could  not  profit  them  ;  so  here,  a  supersti- 
 tious confidence  in  water  baptism,  while  the  soul 
 is  ignorant  of  the  power  of  godliness,  leaves  a  man 
 utterly  destitute  :  Christ  shall  not  profit  him,  who 
 blindly  thinks,  he  is  not  complete,  except  he  be 
 re-baptized.  Sach,  if  they  had  been  baptized 
 with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire,  would  have 
 been  satisfied  with  that  glorious  substance,  and 
 not  have  turned  away  in  'order  to  be  made  perfect 
 by  their  fleshly  obedience  to  the  sign. 
 
 Sdly. — The  Baptism  of  infants^  is  godlj/y  comelj/,  and 
 edifying. 
 
 Christ  is  the  Saviour  of  little  children,  as  well 
 as  of  men ;  for  he  saved  the  child  of  Jeroboam, 
 "  In  whom  there  was  some  good  thing  tov^ard  the 
 "  Lord  God  of  Israel."  Those  children  that  were 
 killed  by  Herod  at  Bethlehem,  for  Christ's  sake, 
 God  [saith  to  Rachel,  "  Refrain  thy  voice  from 
 "  weeping, — there  is  hope  in  thine  end,  saith  the 
 I'  Lord,  that  thy  children  shall  come  again  to  their 
 
121 
 
 '■'  own  border."  Seeing  therefore,  that  Christ  hath 
 elect  children,  as  well  as  men,  for  whom  he  hath 
 shed  his  blood,  and  that  he  hath  no  where  in  his 
 word  commanded,  that  little  children  should  not 
 come  to  him  by  baptism,  it  is  therefore  comely 
 and  edifying,  to  baptize  them  :  for  if  baptism  is 
 absolutely  comely  and  necessary  to  salvation,  as 
 the  baptists  certainly  hold  and  maintain,  seeing 
 that  they  consider  none  to  be  saints  without  it,  I 
 say,  what  is  to  be  done  Avith  elect  children,  who 
 die  in  infancy,  and  cannot  manifest  themselves 
 to  be  saints  ?  Are  such,  to  remain  unbaptized  ? 
 If  baptism  is  so  necessary,  must  it  not  be  a  great 
 satisfaction,  to  you  parents  to  consider,  that  if  God 
 takes  your  child  away  by  death,  that  it  was  bap- 
 tized, and  had  the  prayers  and  intercession  of  the 
 church  ?  And  if  water  baptism  is  so  essential  a 
 point,  must  it  not  be  a  double  satisfaction  to  you, 
 if  your  child  arrives  at  the  age  of  five  or  six 
 years,  and  God  should  work  upon  its  soul  by  his 
 spirit,  so  as  to  perfect  praise  out  of  its  mouth,  and 
 leave  a  testimony  behind  of  the  love,  mercy,  and 
 goodness  of  God  in  the  land  of  the  living  ?  Will 
 you  not  have  reason  to  bless  God,  saying,  "  My 
 **  child  was  baptized,  and  had  the  prayers  of  the 
 ^'  godly,  and  the  Lord  hath  been  pleased  also  to 
 ''  baptize  it  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire. 
 *'  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  for  his  won- 
 *'  derful  works  to  the  children  of  men  ?"  You 
 must,  acknowledge  that  infant  baptism,  under  the 
 circumstances  I  have  been  describing,  is  both 
 comely  and  edifying. 
 
122 
 
 4tlily. —  "Extery  godly  Minister,  who  is  guided  by  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  hath  a  discretionary  fower,  to  administer 
 Baptism,  in  a  way  that  is  most  edifying. 
 
 I  have  proved,  that  as  God  hath  not,  for  wise 
 ends,  defined  in  his  word  the  age,  timen,  and  cir- 
 cumstance of  baptism,  but  by  his  spirit  hath  endu- 
 ed his  ministers,  with  a  discretionary  power,  to  ad- 
 minister it  in  that  wa}^  manner,  and  at  that  age, 
 as  shall  most  redound  to  his  glory,  and  the  edifica- 
 tion of  his  people.  Though  God  hath  in  a  most 
 special  manner,  called  me  to  preach  the  gospel, 
 yet  I  refuse  not  to  baptize,  as  long  as  I  am  direct- 
 ed by  the  spirit  of  God,  to  do  it  in  a  gospel  way, 
 and  preach  the  gospel  in  the  very  act  of  adminis- 
 tering it.  I  wish  not  to  bind  others  with  my 
 practice  in  these  things,  no  further,  than  the  word 
 of  God,  and  the  spirit's  teaching  shall  convince 
 thera,.  that  it  is  both  godly  and  edifying.  This 
 then,  is  ihe  way  that  God  hath  led  me  to  admi- 
 nister this  ordinance.  I  have  the  child  brought 
 into  the  midst  of  the  congregation,  and  then  in  the 
 presence  of  them  all,  I  endeavour  to  enter  into  the 
 nature  and  substance  of  baptism,  with  words  to 
 this  effect,  saying,  "  Brethren,  you  see  this  infant, 
 "  Vrhich  among  men  is  called  and  esteemed,  as 
 "  being  perfectly  innocent,  having  never  yet  actu- 
 *'  ally  nor  wilfully  sinned  against  God ;  yet  we 
 "  believe  most  assuredly,  that  according  to  God's 
 "  unerring  word,  it  is  a  transgressor ;  and  ha(h 
 *'  broken  God's  law  in  Adam  its  natural  head. 
 "  We  believe  furthermore,  that  this  infant,  "  was 
 
1^3 
 
 *'  shapen   in  iniquit)' ;  and   in  sin  did   its  motlier 
 ''  conceive  it  :'*  and  that  being  born  of  an  unclean 
 *'  sinful  mother,  it  is  therefore  utterly  unclean  in 
 "  the  sight  of  God.     God  hath  declared  that  the 
 "  Soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die."     Seeing  there- 
 ^'  fore,  that  death  is  the  sentence  of  a  broken  law, 
 "  for  the  wages  of  sin  is  death  ;  which  could  bj  no 
 "  means  touch,  or  overtake  this  child,  if  it  were 
 "  perfectly  innocent  and  without  sin ;  but  we  all 
 "  know  that  it  is  really  mortal,  and  liable  to  be 
 *'  crushed  to  death  in  a  moment ;  it  is  therefore  a 
 *'  most  miserable,  sinful,  and  unclean  thing  in  the 
 ''  sight  of  God,    being  obnoxious   to  the  eternal 
 *'  wrath  of  God.     Brethren,  be  assured  that  what- 
 "  soever  may  excite,  move,  and  stir  up,  your  ten- 
 '^  der  pity  and  compassion,  toward  this  seeminglj 
 "  innocent  babe,  yet,  "  Let  God  be  true,  but  every 
 "  man  a  liar  : — for  we  walk  by  faith,  and  not  by 
 "  sight."      I  therefore  declare  unto  you,  that  as  I 
 •*  am  directed  in  a  figure,  even  baptism,  to  wash, 
 *'  cleanse,  and  sprinkle  this  child  with  water,  so 
 ^'  must  it  be  washed  and  sprinkled,  with  the  blood 
 '/  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  alone  cleanseth  from  all 
 '^  sin.     It  must  be  saved  according  to  God*s  mer- 
 "  cy,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration,  and  renew- 
 "  ing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Christ  himself  must 
 *'  sanctify  it  with  the   washing   of  water   by  the 
 "  word,  or  else  it  must  sink  eternally  in  the  ruins 
 "  of  the  fall,  and  the  fearfultur.se  of  God."  When 
 baptism   is  thus  administered  in  a  gospel  way,  it 
 hath  a  tendency  to  convey  conviction,  instruction, 
 
124 
 
 ,  and  godly  fear  into  the  hearts  of  those  who  stand 
 by  ;  for  God  hath  declared,  that  preaching  the 
 dreadful  fall  of  man,  and  the  wonderful  recovery 
 by  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  is  that  word,  wKich 
 *'  Shall  not  return  void  unto  him,  but  it  shall  ac- 
 ''  coraplish  that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall 
 "prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it."  If  the 
 Lord  therefore,  should  send  his  word  with  power 
 into  the  heart  of  a  careless  sinner,  whom  curiositj' 
 hath  brought  into  the  place,  he  is  struck  with 
 awe  ;  he  finds  that  there  is  nothing  for  him  to 
 laugh  at ;  his  fancy  is  not  tickled  to  say,  that  he 
 urent  to  see  a  parcel  of  drowned  rats  ;  but  being 
 seized  with  convictions,  he  will  fall  down  in  his 
 mind,  and  worship  God,  saying,  'Mf  this  innocent 
 *'  babe  is  by  nature  in  such  a  fearful  case,  exposed 
 *'  to  the  wrath  and  eternal  vengeance  of  God,  and 
 "  cannot  possibly  be  saved,  if  it  should  die  bow 
 "  without  being  spiritually  baptized  with  Christ, 
 *'  washed  in  his  blood,  and  renewed  by  his  spirit, 
 *'  where  then  shall  I  appear,  who  have  sinned  from 
 "  the  cradle,  and  have  drank  in  iniquity  like  war 
 "  ter  ;  who  have  rebelled  against  God's  word,  and 
 ''  contemned  the  counsel  of  the  most  High  ?  Woe 
 '^  is  me  !  For  I  am  surely  undone  ;  because  I  am 
 "  a  man  of  unclean  lips,  — ."  These  are  the  ef- 
 fects I  find,  that  my  preaching  up  spiritual  bap- 
 tism, hath  upon  the  hearts  of  many  to  whom  I 
 minister  to,  who  are  led  to  look  deep,  and  are  made 
 earnestly  to  seek  after  that  soul  satisfying  baptism 
 of  the  spirit. 
 
125 
 
 5thly. — Sprinkling  not   an    unscriptural  mode  of 
 Baptizing. 
 
 I  have  already  sufficiently  shewed  in  the  2nd  ar- 
 ticle, of  this  7th  Chapter,  that  God  hath  not  en- 
 joined by  any  positive  commandj  that  dipping  or 
 plunging  into  water,  should  be  the  mode  of  bap- 
 tizing in  all  climates.  God  who  is  infinitely  wise, 
 well  knew  that  satan  and  his  instruments,  would 
 in  all  ages,  endeavour  to  put  carnal  constructions 
 upon  his  word,  by  enforcing  a  form  of  godliness 
 more  than  the  power  thereof,  and  by  making  a 
 great  noise  about  doctrines  of  baptism,  and  other 
 outward  things,  to  divert  the  attention  of  men  from 
 the  spiritual  import  and  substance  of  vital  godli- 
 ness ;  we  may  therefore  see  how  the  Lord  hath 
 baffled  the  wise  and  prudent,  by  setting  forth  spi- 
 ritual baptism,  as  often  under  the  notion  of  sprink- 
 ling, as  any  other  mode  of  administration.  Accord- 
 ingly we  find  that  "  Moses  took  the  book  of  the 
 "  covenant,  and  read  in  the  audience  of  the  peo- 
 "  pie  : — and  he  also  took  the  blood  of  the  beasts 
 "  slain  in  sacrifice,  and  sprinkled  it  on  the  people, 
 ''  and  said,  behold  the  blood  of  the  covenant, 
 ''  which  the  Lord  hath  made  with  you  concerning 
 "  all  these  words."  Exod.  24.  6.  Under  these 
 types,  we  may  see  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleans- 
 ing from  all  sin,  delivering  his  people  from  the 
 prison  and  pit  of  corruption,  as  it  is  written,  "  As 
 "  for  thee  also,  by  the  blood  of  thy  covenant  I 
 i[  have  sent  forth   thy  prisoners  out  of  the   pit 
 
UG 
 
 "  wherein  is  no  water."     If  the  blood  of  the  co- 
 venant in  the  type  was  sprinkled  to  cleanse  the 
 leper,  who  can  forbid  that  water  now   should  be 
 sprinkled  to  answer  the  same  end  ;  for  no  leprous 
 soul  can  be  cleansed^  but  bj  being  sprinkled  with 
 the  blood   of  the  Lamb,  as  Peter  saith,   ''  That 
 "  through  sanctification  of  the  spirit  and  sprink- 
 "  ling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  are  mani- 
 "  festedly  the  elect  according  to  the  fore-know- 
 "  ledge  of  God."     When  the  blessed  spirit  hath 
 revealed  the  efficacy  of  this  precious  blood,  and 
 baptized   us   in  it,   Paul  saith  that  we  are  then 
 come  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling  that  speaketh  bet- 
 ter things  than  that  of  Abel,  having  the  happy  en- 
 joyment of  that  peace,  which  Christ  hath  made  by 
 the  blood  of  his  cross.     Thus  the  efficacy  of  spiri- 
 tual baptism  is  said,  according  to  scripture,  to  lay 
 as  much  in  sprinkling,  as  in  washing.  Why  should 
 any  set  aside  sprinkling  in  baptism,  seeing  it  is  en- 
 joined in  plain  terms  ?      All  God's  elect  are  saved 
 indeed,  who  have  fled   from   the  wrath   to  come, 
 to  take  shelter  in  Christ  the  Lamb  of  God,  that 
 taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world  ;  for,  "^  Through 
 "  faith,  with  Moses,  they  keep  the  passover  and 
 *'  sprinkling  of  blood,  lest  he  that  destroyed  the 
 "  firstborn  should  touch  them."     It  is  also  assert- 
 ed that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  by  his  bloody  bap- 
 tism  ?nd  sufferings,  should  take  this  method  of 
 purifying  them,  as  it  is  written,  "  His  visage  was 
 "  marred  more  than  any  man, — so  shall  he  sprinkle 
 "  many  nations."     The  waters  of  purifying,  and 
 
127 
 
 *'  of  separation,  which  were  sprinkled  upon  any  that 
 "  were  unclean  by  touching  a  dead  body,  a  bone, — 
 "  were  typical  of  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  of 
 ^'  the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  of 
 "  the  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  the  pu- 
 *'  rifying  efficacy  of  his  dying  lo^^  ;  as  Paul  saith, 
 '^  For  if  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the 
 '*  ashes  of  an  heifer  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sancti- 
 *^  fieth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh  :  how  much 
 "  more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who  through  the 
 *'  eternal  spirit  offered  himself  without  spot  to 
 *'  God,  purge  your  conscience  from  dead  works  to 
 "  serve  the  living  God."  Seeing  therefore,  that 
 God  hath  said,  that  he  himself  will  "  Sprinkle  clean 
 ''  wafer  upon  us,"  in  order  to  sprinkle  our  hearts 
 from  all  our  filthiness,  idols,  and  from  an  evil  con- 
 science, that  having  our  bodies  washed  with  pure 
 water,  as  Paul  saith,  we  may  draw  near  ^vith  a 
 ^'  true  heart,  in  full  assurance  of  faith."  I  say, 
 why  should  sprinkling  in  baptism  seem  strange, 
 when  we  see  here,  in  the  testimonies  I  have 
 brought  forth,  that  God  himself  promiseth  to 
 sprinkle  his  elect  with  pure  water,  and  that  Christ 
 is  to  sprinkle  many  nations,  with  his  atoning  blood  ? 
 all  which  things,  when  applied  to  the  souls  of  men, 
 by  the  spirit  working  faith,  are  the  very  substance 
 of  real,  divine,  and  spiritual  baptism  ;  which  bring 
 them  to  unite  with  Christ,  to  have  fellowship  \*th 
 him  in  his  sufferings,  and  also  to  rise  with  hira 
 into  newness  of  life,  rejoicing  with  joy  unspeaka- 
 ble and  full  of  glory.     I  conclude  therefore,  that 
 
128 
 
 sprinkling  in  baptism  is  truly  comely^  and  godly  ; 
 inasmuch,  as  it  rfescmbleth  strikingly,  that  heaven- 
 ly and  spiritual  baptism  of  the  sprinkling  of  water, 
 (the  Holy  Ghost,)  and  sprinkling- of  the  blood  of 
 Jesus  Christ,  which  alone  do  save  us. 
 
 Gthly. — Some  reason^  pointed  out)  wherefore  men  have 
 been  induced  to  enforce,  and  maintain  xnater  baptism 
 so  strenuously. 
 
 I  can  truly  appeal  to  the  most  high  God,  the 
 searcher  of  hearts,  that  I  could  have  no  objection 
 whatsoever,  for  men  to  be  re-baptized,  if  it  really 
 answered  some  essential  good.  Paul  saith,  "  Cir- 
 *'  cumcision  is  nothing,  and  uncircumcision  is 
 "  nothing,  but  the  keeping  of  the  commandments 
 "  of  God/'  which  is  charity  out  of  a  pure  heart 
 and  faith  unfeigned ;  for  this  is  the  end  of  the 
 commandment,  and  the  very  substance  of  spiritual 
 circumcision.  What  Paul  said  concerning  circum- 
 cision, may  be  applied  to  the  point  in  hand,  "  That 
 *'  baptism  as  a  sign,  whether  administered  or  not, 
 "  is  nothing,  but  the  being  regenerated  by  the  spirit, 
 *'  washed  in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  have 
 "  real  fellowship  with  Christ,  both  in  his  suiFer- 
 ''  ings,  and  love,  is  the  real,  divine,  and  most  glo- 
 "  rious  substance  ;  before  which,  the  sign  must 
 *'  vanish,  and  be  nothing."  All  men  however, 
 have  not  this  faith  and  spiritual  understanding  ; 
 and  though  some  may  have  their  understandings 
 enlightened  to  see  clearly,  that  what  I  have  all 
 
 i 
 
129 
 
 along  advanced  on  this  important  subject,  is  con- 
 sistent with  scripture,  yet  for  Avaiit  of  the  pow- 
 er of  these  things  upon  their  hearts,  they  will  stick 
 to  their  old  notions,  through  the  enmity  of  their 
 minds.  The  reason  why  many  have  started  aside 
 after  doctrines  of  devils,  strange  notions,  and  er- 
 rors, is,  as  God  saith,  "  Through  deceit  they  refuse 
 "  to  know  mCjSaith  the  Lord."  When  a  preacher  who 
 hath  stolen  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  his  neigh- 
 bour, Cometh  forth  with  sound  speech,,  and  preach- 
 eth  the  letter  of  the  truth  clearly,  yet  when  tempt- 
 ations, persecutions,  and  many  afflictions  arise 
 against  him,  this  man,  having  not  had  a  real  call 
 from  God,  nor  being  humbled  in  the  furnace  of 
 affliction,  he  is  offended  at  the  cross,  and  enters, 
 moves,  and  acts  in  his  own  spirit ;  thus  he  begins, 
 to  depart  from  the  Lord,  foolishly  trusting  in  his 
 own  heart,  his  knowledge  in  the  scriptures,  and  his 
 parts  and  abilities;  when  his  heart  has  thus  far 
 deceived  him,  he  now  grasps  at  all  manner  of  car- 
 nal means ;  he  aims  much  at  great  swelling  words 
 of  vanity,  and  as  there  is  no  real  power  under  his 
 ministry,  he  studies  to  elevate  and  lower  his  voice, 
 to  produce  an  electrical  effect  upon  his  hearers,  so 
 as  to  move  their  passions.  Having  succeeded  in- this, 
 he  gets  now  as  many  commentators  as  he  can,  so 
 as  to  repair,  and  replenish  the  emptiness  within, 
 and  comes  forth  in  borrowed  plumes,  speaking 
 things  he  has  never  experienced,  uttering  also  vi- 
 sions out  of  his  own  heart ;  and  as  God  saith, 
 ''  The  prophets  prophecy  lies  in  my  name  :    I  sent 
 
 L 
 
130 
 
 '^  them  not,  neither  have  I  commanded  them  ;  nel- 
 ♦'  ther  spake  unto  them  :  they  prophec_y  unto  you 
 "^  a  false  vision,  and  divination,  and  a  thing  of 
 "  nought,  and  the  deceit  of  their  heart."  Such 
 an  one  being  imboldened,  he  secretly  aims  at  some- 
 thing striking  in  his  ministry,  and  begins  mightily 
 to  lift  up  his  voice  against  errors  ;  but  chiefly  en- 
 deavours to  cut  at  the  real  servants  of  God,  taking 
 care  not  to  offend  his  own  flock  by  unseasonable 
 reproofs.  May  God  of  his  infinite  mercy,  pre- 
 serve his  own  elect  from  such  fleshly  teachers,  of 
 whom  there  are  thousands  roving  about  in  this 
 world,  like  the  devil  their  father,  seeking  whom 
 thej  may  deceive  and  devour.  Men  of  this  stamp, 
 whose  minds  are  not  fortified  by  the  spirit's  might 
 in  the  inward  man,  often  fall  into  their  own  trap  ; 
 for  while  they  amuse  themselves  to  search  for  mat- 
 ter in  reading  heretical  books,  the  venom  of  asps, 
 enters  into  their  own  bowels ;  because  they  receiv- 
 ed not  the  love  of  the  truth,  strong  delusions  are 
 sent  to  them  in  just  judgment,  to  believe  a  lie. 
 Some  begin  to  make  bold  attacks  upon  the  trinity  ; 
 some  dwindle  into  arminianism  :  while  others,  per- 
 ceiving how  stiff  and  staunch  the  baptists  ar^  to 
 their  teuets,  and  what  stable,  immoveable  church 
 members  they  make,  are  induced  through  self-de- 
 ception, secret  carnal  motives,  and  with  much 
 blindness  of  heart  to  enter  into  that  connexion. 
 Having  now  got  over  all  scruples,  and  being  not 
 able  to  see,  or  e?xperimentally  to  understand  the 
 mysteries  of  spiritual  baptism,  they  begin  boldly 
 to  preach  up  water  baptism;   and  thinking,  that 
 
131 
 
 they  bave  the  scriptures  on  their  side,  they,  instead 
 of  crying  holy,  holy,  holy  ;  cry  without  ceasing  the 
 ordinance  of  God  ;  the  ordinance  of  God  ; — as 
 this  is  a  way,  that  seemeth  right  to  many,  that  are 
 ever  learning,  and  are  not  able  to  come  to  the 
 knowledge  of  the  truth,  who  being  laden  with 
 many  sins,  and  go  on  still  in  their  sinful  course, 
 these,  having  never  been  baptized  into  Christ's 
 death,  by  real  spiritual  convictions,  so,  as  by  the 
 fear  of  the  Lord  to  depart  from  evil,  and  finding 
 the  ministry  of  those,  whom  God  hath  really  sent, 
 not  agreeable,  nor  calculated  to  flatter  them  in  their 
 vain  profession,  their  enmity  being  stirred  up 
 against  the  truth,  and  against  them  that  preach  it, 
 these  I  say,  being  disgusted  with  a  heart  searching 
 ministry,  are  easily  entrapped  by  spiritual  harlots  ; 
 "  For  the  lips  of  a  strange  woman  drop  as  an  ho- 
 "  neycomb,  and  her  mouth  is  smoother  than  oil." 
 God  therefore,  in  just  indignation,  taketh  them 
 away  as  unfruitful  branches,  and  men  gather  them 
 to  believe  lies,  that  they  may  finally  be  burned,  as 
 it  is  written,  *'  The  man  that  wandereth  out  of  the 
 "  way  of  understanding,  shall  remain  in  the  con- 
 <'  gregation  of  the  dead."  Of  all  doctrines  of  de- 
 vils, heresies,  and  errors,  water  baptism,  is  most 
 likely  to  seduce  men,  who  have  long  sat  under  a 
 faithful  ministry,  and  have  not  reaped  any  spiritu- 
 al advantage  thereby,  but  a  little  head  knowledge : 
 for  they  find  here  no  difficulties,  but  every  thing  is 
 within  the  reach  of  human  power ;  only  believe, 
 and  be  baptized,  and  the  bi^siness  is  done.     Let 
 
 L  2 
 
132 
 
 men  be  ever  so  much  enlightened  in  their 
 judgments,  so  as  to  know  perfectly  that  salvation 
 is  not  of  works,  but  of  grace,  yet  as  sure  as  there 
 is  a  God  in  heaven,  if  the  truth  they  hold  in  their 
 understanding,  hath  not  made  them  free  from  the 
 dominion  of  sin,  they  are  still  in  bondage,  legal, 
 and  under  the  curses  of  a  broken  law.  The  great 
 I,  hath  never  been  brought  down  to  nothing- ;  and 
 as  kind  parents  are  fond  of  their  own  children,  so 
 these,  dote  upon  their  own  performances,  works, 
 plans,  and  conceits,  as  being  the  ofTspring  of  their 
 corrupt  unsanctified  reason.  Take  notice  there- 
 fore, mark,  behold,  and  consider  it  well,  that  here 
 lies  the  master  piece  of  satan's  craft  in  water  bap- 
 tism !  I  repeat  it  again  in  the  name  of  God,  that 
 a  secret  legal  spirit,  is  the  corner  stone  and  found- 
 ation, upon  which  all  are  built,  who  are  seduced 
 to  be  re-baptized.  1st.  Their  faith  being  but  a 
 human  assent  to  the  letter,  or  outward  written 
 word  of  scripture,  and  not  being  able  to  understand 
 what  Christ  has  asserted,  that  his  word  is  spirit, 
 life,  and  that  the  flesh  profiteth  nothing,  they  are 
 moved  through  the  workings  of  a  legal  conscience, 
 to  think  it  absolutely  their  duty,  to  submit  to  bap- 
 tism :  for  their  thou,ghts,  and  blinded  conscience, 
 violently  urge  them  to  it  from  within,  saying, 
 "^  You  see  that  many  good  men  have  held  this 
 "  doctrine,  and  that  the  scriptures  point  it  out 
 *'  clearly  ;  you  see  the  example  of  saints  of  old, 
 "  and  many  more  things  shew,  that  this  is  the  right 
 "  way  :  if  therefore,  you  resist  these  things,  how 
 
133 
 
 ''  can  jou  be  saved  ?  Your  best  way  is  to  submit 
 "  to  the  ordinance,  and  you  shall  also  find  that 
 "  peace  and  comfort,  which  many  talk  of." — Thus^ 
 the  poor  blinded  soul,  being  drove  by  threaten- 
 ings  and  legal  terrors  within,  also  by  vehement 
 crafty  discourses  of  blind  interested  preachers,  and 
 satari  helping  tberh  forward,  either  by  some  suita- 
 ble application  of  scripture,  or  by  fallacious 
 dreams,  all  these  things  acting  upon  them  with  in- 
 fernal power,  and  deep  hellish  deception,  they  are 
 at  last  brougjht  to  yield  to  the  flattering  speech  of 
 the  subtle  harlot,  as  it  is  written,  "  He  goeth  after 
 "  her  straitway  as  an  ox  goeth  to  the  slaughter, 
 '^  or  as  a  fool  to  the  correction  of  the  stocks  ;  till 
 "  a  dart  strike  through  his  liver  ;  as  a  birdbasten- 
 * '  eth  to  the  snare,  and  knoweth  not  that  it  is  for 
 "  his  life."  Thus  many  are  brought  to  a  full  re- 
 solution to  go  into  the  water  ;  yet  the  whole  is  pro- 
 duced by  legal  workings,  blind  zeal,  and  is  from 
 first  to  last  a  master  piece  of  hellish  wiles,  fraud, 
 and  deception  ;  for  the  soul  being  now  brought 
 over,  fully  to  consent  to  perform  this  dead  work, 
 satan  turns  round  ;  ceases  to  tempt ;  he  leaves  the 
 house  empty,  swept,  and  garnished,  leaving  the 
 soul  in  a  false  peace.  -Men  thus  deceived  by  the 
 devil,  finding  such  a  change  in  their  feelings, 
 think,  that  this  is  the  power  of  vital  godliness;  and 
 being  persuaded  of  it,  they  will  go  from  house  to 
 house,  telling  others  how  miserable^  harrassed,  and 
 tried  they  have  been  concerning  baptism,  and  how 
 they  have  been  delivered  from  their  bondage, 
 
134 
 
 what  answers  they  have  got,  and  what  tranquillitj, 
 peace,  and  joy,  they  have  had  since  they  have  heen 
 brought  to  obey  the  ordinance.  If  ray  reader  is  a 
 well  taught  discerning  christian,  he  will  however, 
 not  fail  to  consider,  that  the  whole  of  this  experi- 
 ence, is  evidently  rotten  and  a  mere  deception  ;  for 
 he  will  find  that  if  this  work  was  of  God,  and  the 
 still  small  voice  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  this  man  would 
 shew  evident  signs  of  a  humble  and  teachable  spi- 
 rit ;  but  this  is  far  from  being  the  case  ;  for  he  is 
 like  a  fool  that  rageth  and  is  confident,  being  wiser 
 in  his  own  conceit,  than  seven  men  that  can  render 
 a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  them,  with  meekness 
 and  godly  fear.  More  than  nine  parts  out  of  ten, 
 of  all  the  experiences  that  we  hear  of,  are  of  like 
 fallacious  nature,  beginning  with  such  convictions, 
 as  all  men  are  capable  of  receiving  in  their  state  of 
 nature ;  they  begin  in  the  flesh,  ( which  Paul 
 saith,  seems  to  be  in  the  spirit)  howbeit  these  con- 
 victions came  not  from  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  they 
 end  in  the  flesh. 
 
 2dly.  Take  particular  notice,  as  I  said  be- 
 fore, that  a  legal  working  spirit^  is  the  master 
 wheel  that  moves  and  governs  all  those,  who  are 
 drawn  to  be  re-baptized  ;  for  there  is  a  vast  deal 
 of  will-worship,  and  voluntary  humility  in  the 
 whole  of  it,  which  men  untaught  by  the  spirit^ 
 cannot  see,  nor  will  they  acknowledge  it ;  however, 
 nothing  is  more  certain,  that  they  are  not  a  little 
 exercised  in  their  minds,  about  the  novelty  of  the 
 ceremony,  feeling  a  natural  reluctance,  to  make  a 
 
185 
 
 gazing-stock,  or  spectacle  of  themselves,  and  it  re- 
 quires a  time,  before  they  can  be  reconciled  to  the 
 idea  ;  but  when  their  minds  are  once  made  up,  in 
 the  waj  I  have  described,  and  they  have  mustered 
 up  courage  to  go  under  the  water,  Jhen  their  legal 
 conscience  being  satisfied,  will  now  turn  tale,  and 
 instead  of  roaring,  will  praise  them  for  their  obe- 
 dience, their  contempt  of  what  fools  should  say ; 
 it  will  tell  them  how  meek  and  lowly  they  are,  and 
 that  now  they  have  given  full  proof  of  the  sinceri- 
 ty of  their  hearts;  all  which  things  combine  toge- 
 ther to  produce  in  them  most  wonderful  fleshly 
 joys,  comfort,  and  satisfaction.  Thousands  have 
 thus  been  influenced  by  water  baptism,  who  not- 
 withstanding their  glee  and  joy,  had  no  more  fel- 
 lowship with  Christ  in  his  sufferings  and  his  spi^ 
 ritual  baptism,  than  satan  himself  Their  joys  are 
 nothing  but  natural  affections  stirred  up,  by  the 
 approbation  of  their  legal  conscience,  soothed  and 
 calmed,  by  the  dead  work  they  have  performed. 
 O  how  lamentably  such  are  deceived  !  For  they 
 cannot  see,  that  the  end  of  such  things  which  seem 
 right  unto  them,  are  the  ways  of  death,  as  it  is 
 written,  "  Behold  all  ye  that  kindle  a  fire,  that 
 "  compass  yourselves  about  with  sparks  :  walk  in 
 "  the  light  of  your  fire,  and  in  the  sparks  that  you 
 "  have  kindled.  This  shall  you  have  of  my  hand, 
 '*  ye  shall  lie  down  in  sorrow,"  for  their  obedience 
 is  fleshly  ;  their  humility,  self  denial,  and  joy,  all 
 flow  from  blind  corrupt  nature,  acted  upon  by  sa- 
 tanic  craft  and   influence ;    while  the   scriptures 
 
136 
 
 which  move  them,  are  carnally  understood  ;  how- 
 ever, as  Paul  saith,  "^  These  things  have  indeed  a 
 *^  shew  of  wisdom  in  will-worship,  and  humility, 
 ''  and  neglecting  of  the  body  ;  not  in  any  honour 
 "to  the  satisfying  of  the  flesh."  God  saith, 
 ''  And  there  shall  be,  like  people,  like  priest." 
 For  as  the  people  are  deceived,  so  are  they  which 
 preach  up  baptism,  who  seek  only  to  make  their 
 nest  as  easy  as  they  can  ;  "  They  eat  the  fat,  and 
 ^'  clothe  themselves  with  the  wool,  they  kill  them 
 '^  that  are  fed,  ( with  their  sophistry  and  carnal  con- 
 ''  structions  upon  the  word  of  God  : )  but  they  feed 
 '^  not  the  flock."  Every  member  that  is  added  to 
 their  church,  fills  them  with  carnal  joy ;  for  the 
 pews  are  filled  with  such  bigoted,  stiff",  unsociable 
 members,  that  unless  God,  in  infinite  mercy,  doth 
 open  the  eyes  of  any  among  them,  to  see  that  they 
 are  destitute  of  the  substance  of  baptism,  they  are 
 not  likely  to  lose  them.  If  the  zealous  apostle 
 Paul  was  alive  in  our  days,  how  he  would  lift 
 up  his  voice  like  a  trumpet,  to  shew  the  vanity 
 of  trusting  to  the  sign  of  baptism,  and  all  such  ex- 
 periences as  they  talk  of:  would  he  not  say,  "  y\s 
 "  many  as  desire  to  make  a  fair  shew  in  the  flesh, 
 "  they  constrain  you  to  be  re-baptized  :  only  lest 
 '"  they  should  suff'er  persecution  for  the  cross  of 
 "  Christ  ?  For  neither  they  themselves  who  are  re- 
 "  baptized  keep  the  law,  ( that  is,  they  are  unac- 
 "  quainted  with  the  baptism  of  the  spirit,  and  with 
 "  the  fire  of  real  divine  love  ; )  but  desire  to  have 
 "  you  re-baptized,  that  they  may  glory  in  your 
 
137 
 
 *'  flesh."  This  is  all  they  want :  for  if  they  ca« 
 but  preach  you  into  the  water,  then  they  exult : 
 but  Christ  and  his  spiritual  baptism  is  far  from 
 their  thoughts  ;  even  as  Paul  saith,  "  They  zea- 
 "  lousiy  affect  you,  but  not  well  ;  yea,  they  would 
 "  exclude  jou  (froip  Christ,  and  his  real  ministers) 
 'Mhat.you  might  affect  them.''  As  the  baptist 
 leaders  in  1525,  went  about  among  the  people,  re- 
 lating their  wonderful  visions,  dreams,  revelations, 
 and  experiences,  so  at  this  present  time,  some  of 
 the  preachers  of  the  same  denomination,  are  not 
 wanting  in  telling  the  people,  of  the  comforts  and 
 joys,  they  have  found  in  submitting  to  water  bap- 
 tism ;  but  alas  !  alas  !  The  whole  of  it  is  a  lie,  of 
 which  the  devil  is  the  author,  who  by  his  infernal 
 power,  craft,  and  lamentable  deception,  worketh 
 up  their  affections  to  the  height  they  speak  of. 
 God  is  not  the  author  of  confusion,  neither  will  he 
 sanction  men's  mistakes  ;  but  they  that  murmured 
 shall  learn  doctrine,  and  they  that  erred  in  spirit 
 shall  come  to  understanding:  when  he  hath  thus 
 purged  them,  then  shall  they  find,  that  God,  hath 
 not  given  to  his  people  the  spirit  of  fear,  to  be 
 brought  into  bondage  to  the  naked  sign  ;  but  the 
 spirit  of  love,  power,  and  of  a  sound  mind,  which 
 is  truly  the  spiritual  substance  of  baptism,  I  con- 
 clude now  by  observing  again,  that  the  doctrine 
 of  re-baptizing,  is  not  according  to  scripture  ;  but 
 is  a  pernicious  wind  of  doctrine,  hatched  by  the 
 devil,  and  committed  by  him  to  teachers  of  his 
 own   sending,   who,   with   good   words,  and   fair 
 
138 
 
 speeches,  with  slight  and  cunning  craftiness,  lie  in 
 wait  to  deceive  the  hearts  of  the  simple ;  and  in- 
 stead of  bringing  them  into  the  liberty  of  the  gos- 
 pel, they  verily  bring  them  into  bondage. 
 
 Take  notice  therefore  of  the  following  Anathema, 
 
 In  the  name  of  the  most  high  God,  the  Father, 
 Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  that  you  who  read  these 
 pages,  may  know  that  I  am  not  doubtful,  but  fully 
 persuaded  that  the  things  I  have  written,  are  ac- 
 cording to  the  word,  will,  and  verity  of  God ;  I 
 am  therefore  constrained  with  the  apostle  Paul  to 
 bear  this  tremendous  witness,  that  whosoever,  whe- 
 ther I  myself,  or  an  angel  from  heaven,  or  any 
 man  whether  learned  or  illiterate,  teach,  or  preach 
 any  other  baptism,  than  that  which  God  enabled 
 me  to  preach  to  you  in  these  writings,  let  him  be 
 anathema  maran-atha.  As  I  said  before,  so  say  I 
 again,  if  any  man,  however  apparently  holy,  preach 
 to  y©u  any  other  baptism,  than  the  ever  blessed, 
 glorious,  and  soul-satisfying  baptism  of  ihe  Holy 
 Ghost,  I  have  through  rich  grace  preached  unto 
 you,  let  him  be  accursed.  Say  not  in  your  heart, 
 "  This  is  an  hard  saying,  who  can  hear  it  ?"  Nor 
 tell  me  of  the  many  good  people  you  know,  who 
 have  been  re-baptized.  I  tell  you  in  the  name  of 
 God,  that  except  you  cease  looking  to  man,  and 
 repent,  looking  to  Christ  only,  to  his  word^  and 
 his  spiritual  baptism,  ye  shall  all  likewise  be  ac- 
 cursed and  perish :    for  the  good  people  ^1)u  look 
 
139 
 
 to,  shall  never  be  saved,  who  deride,  lampoon,  and 
 speak  evil  of  the  baptism  I  have  by  the  grace  of 
 God  set  forth  ;  they  must  be  purged  from  all  this, 
 or  else  they  make  themselves  manifest,  that  they 
 are  none  of  Christ's,  having  not  his  spirit ;  and  ex- 
 cept they  believe  and  are  baptized  spiritually,  they 
 shall  be  damned.  Look  not  to  the  apparent  zeal, 
 fervour,  and  earnestness,  of  those  teachers,  who 
 would  persuade  you  to  be  re-baptized  :  for  although 
 they  make  their  plants  to  grow  in  the  day  time, 
 and  in  the  morning  shall  make  their  seed  to  flou- 
 nsh  ;  yet  God  calleth  these  seemingly  pleasant 
 plants,  strange  slips,  and  solemnly  declareth,  that 
 the  harvest  thereof  shall  be  a  heap  in  the  day  of 
 grief  and  of  desperate  sorrow.  You  are  fallen 
 from  grace,  and  Christ  shall  profit  you  nothing, 
 who  are  seduced  by  the  sign  ;  for  you  are  in  bon- 
 dage, whose  heart  is  brought  to  say,  "  I  must  be 
 **^  re-baptized,  or  else  I  cannot  be  saved  ;  there  is 
 "  nothing  better  for  me  than  to  go  under  the  water, 
 "  then  shall  I  have  peace."  All  your  uneasiness, 
 trouble,  and  haste  about  baptism,  is  produced  by 
 Satan's  policy,  your  ill-grounded  fears,  and  the 
 legal  bondage  you  are  brought  into  :  for  the  law 
 worketh  wrath  ;  this  you  feel,  because  you  arc 
 ignorant  of  the  word  and  power  of  God. 
 
 7thly. — A  word  to  the  Elect  among  the  Baptists. 
 
 Some  who  fear  God  may  say,  "  I  am  fearful, 
 "  from  all  that  you  have  said,  that  I  am  not  right, 
 
140 
 
 ''  for  I  have  really  been  exceedingly  troubled 
 "  about  baptism  ;  I  have  understooa  the  scriptures 
 "^  in  a  literal  sense,  and  the  preaching  I  have 
 "  heard  with  the  persuasion  also  of  many,  whom 
 *'  I  thought  to  be  good  men,  these  things  have  so 
 *'  operated  upon  my  mind,  that  I  have  indeed 
 ''  brought  such  heavy  distress,  and  bondage  upon 
 "  my  soul,  that  I  was  forced  to  go  under  the  wa- 
 "  ter,  hoping  to  find  peace  and  quietness  in  so  do- 
 "  ing  ;  but  I  am  now  in  greater  trouble  than  ever  ; 
 "  for  if  all  that  you  have  said  concerning  baptism 
 "  is  the  real  truth,  woe  is  me  !  I  am  undone,  dis- 
 "  tracted,  and  exceedingly  moved  ;  for  you  saj^ 
 ""  that  I  am  fallen  from  grace,  and  that  Christ 
 "  shall  not  profit  me.  I  feel  now  a$  if  a  sword 
 "  had  pierced  my  heart  ;  O  !  What  confusion, 
 "  darkness,  perplexities,  and  misery  I  feel.  Tell 
 "  me,  O  tell  me !  You,  whose  writings  have 
 "^  brought  me  into  this  burning  trial,  and  grievous 
 "  bondage,  tell  me  if  you  can,  how  I  may  undo 
 "  what  I  have  done  ?"  I  answer,  that  you  cannot 
 undo  what  you  have  done  ;  Christ  your  husband 
 must  do  that  for  you.  Your  present  trouble  and 
 casting  down  if  sincere,  plainly  shews  that  God 
 your  heavenly  Father,  and  Christ  your  husband, 
 disalloweth  all  your  vows,  acts,  and  deeds  ;  and 
 your  ignorance,  mis-constructions  of  God's  word, 
 shall  be  forgiven  you.  Read  the  golden  law  of 
 thy  release,  left  upon  record  for  thee,  through  the 
 tender  mercy  of  God  in  Christ ;  for  thee  misera- 
 ble blind  creature^  who  hast  ignorantly  performed 
 
141 
 
 thy  vows  by  going  under  the  water.     Thy  Father 
 which  is  in  heaven,  disalloweth  thy  rash  vow,  Christ 
 thy   husband,    also   disalloweth   it.      Read,  *' If  a 
 **  woman  also  vow  a  vow  unto  the  Lord, — but  if 
 *'  her  father  hear  her  vow, — and  disallow  her   in 
 *'  the  day  that  he  heareth  ;  not  any  of  her  vows, 
 *'  or  of  her  bonds  wherewith  she  hath  bound  her 
 '*  soul,  shall  stand :    and   the   Lord    shall   forgive 
 ''  her,  because  her  father  disallowed  her."     Your 
 trouble,  distress,   and   confusion,  is  the   voice  of 
 God  to  you,  disallowing  your  water  baptism,  as  a 
 most  vain  religion,  only  standing  in  outward  things, 
 which  cannot  profit  your  soul.     Again,  consider 
 this  that  is  written,  "  Every  vow,  and  every  bind- 
 "  ing  oath  to  afflict  the  soul,  her  husband  may  es- 
 *'  tablish  it,  or  her  husband  may  make  it  void." 
 Num.  30.  3,  13.     If  Christ  had  held  his  peace  at 
 you,  and  left  you  to  go  on  in  a  blind  zeal  for  water 
 baptism,  you  must  have  perished  with  the  multi- 
 tude of  professors,  who  have  only  an  outward  form 
 of  godliness  in  will-worship  ;  but  are  ignorant,  and 
 deny  the  power  thereof.     Your  present  anxiety,  is 
 a  plain  proof  that  he  hath  opened  his  mouth  wide 
 against  you,  testifying,  disallowing,  and  reproving 
 you  in  righteousness,  that  he  may  bring  you  to  see 
 and  taste,  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Have 
 you  been  re-baptized  ?     Then  seek  not  to  be  un- 
 baptized ;  for  baptism  is  nothing,  and  what  you 
 have  done  is  no  more  in  itself,  than  if  you  had 
 bathed  in  a  tub  of  water  ;    but  the  religious  and 
 superstitious  motives  that  induced  you  to  do  it^  are 
 
142 
 
 sharp  and  subtle  poisons,  which  destroy  the  souls 
 of  the  foolish  and  simple.  With  Paul,  count  all 
 your  fleshly  and  ignorant  obedience  to  baptism,  as 
 dung",  that  you  may  win  Christ ;  and  be  found 
 baptized  with  him  into  his  death,  and  into  his  love, 
 by  the  mighty  power  of  the  eternal  spirit.  If  you 
 wish  to  know  further  what  you  are  to  do,  then 
 search  the  scriptures,  which  are  able  to  make  you 
 wise  unto  salvation,  read  ako  my  book  ;  pray  for 
 light ;  make  God  in  Christ  your  only  refuge,  coun- 
 sellor, guide,  and  strength,  and  you  may  rely  up- 
 on it,  that  he  will  give  you  power  over  serpents 
 and  scorpions,  and  over  all  the  power  of  the  ene- 
 my, and  nothing  by  any  means  shall  hurt  you. 
 Your  leaders  really  deceive  you,  who  direct  you 
 not  to  God,  for  wisdom  in  all  these  things,  whdch 
 must  be  spiritually  apprehended  ;  for  human  rea- 
 son is  a  fool  here,  you  must  be  guided  by  the  spirit 
 of  God.  It  is  the  will  of  God,  that  you  should 
 make  full  proof  of  what  I  have  asserted,  by  bring- 
 ing all  your  doubts  before  him  in  humble  prayer, 
 even  as  Christ  saith,  "  If  an}'  man  will  do  his  will, 
 '*  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of 
 ''  God,  or  whether  I  speak  of  myself."  The  only 
 way  therefore,  to  get  real  establishment  in  all 
 things,  is,  to  act  as  Paul  teaches,  saying,  ''  Pray 
 '^  without  ceasing. — And  the  peace  of  God,  which 
 **  passeth  all  understanding,  shall  keep  your  hearts 
 "  and  minds,  through  Jesus  Christ." 
 
143 
 
 CHAR  VIII. 
 
 SOME  SCRIPTURES  CONCERNING  BAPTISM  CLEARED 
 UP,  SHEWING  THAT  THEY  ARE  TO  BE  SPIRI- 
 TUALLY UNDERSTOOD^  &C. 
 
 ist. — Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations^  baptizing 
 them  in  the  name  of  the  Father^  and  of  the  Son,  and 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 
 JL  HEY  are  blind  and  carnal,  who  understand 
 this  literally  of  water  baptism,  and  either  igno- 
 raatly,  or  craftily  hide  the  great  mystery  that  it 
 holds  forth  :  for  Christ  positively  declareth,  that 
 '^  It  is  the  spirit  that  quickeneth  ;  the  flesh  profit- 
 ''  eth  nothing  :  the  words  that  I  speak  unto,  they 
 ''  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life."  Preachers,  as  well 
 as  professors  who  are  in  the  flesh,  notwithstanding 
 all  the  gifts  and  abilities,  they  are  possessed  of,  do 
 but  weary  themselves  in  vain,  in  all  their  endea- 
 vours to  put  carnal  constructions,  and  false  glosses 
 upon  the  word  of  God.  The  carnal  man  receiv- 
 eth  not  the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God  :  for  they 
 are  foolishness  to  him  :  neither  can  he  know  them, 
 because  they  are  spiritually  discerned.  The  tares, 
 ihe  stony  ground  hearers,  the  foolish  virgins,  and 
 every  one  in  a  profession  that  stumbleth  at  the 
 word,  is  blind  and  carnal ;  "  For  lione  of  the  wick* 
 
144 
 
 '"  ed  shall  undersland."  I  declare  in  the  name  of 
 God,  that  they  utterly  deceive  the  people,  who 
 perpetually  enforce  and  haiiimer  out  water  bap- 
 tism, from  the  words  of  our  Lord  which  are  be- 
 fore us  :  for  they  are  to  be  spiritually  understood, 
 and  fulfilled.  I  shall  now  endeavour  by  the  help 
 of  God,  to  shew  the  spiritual  meaning,  so  that  an 
 infant  in  grace,  may  by  faith,  see  the  truth  as  it  is 
 in  Christ. 
 
 None  can  administer  spiritual  Baptism,  but  such  jMinis- 
 ters  as  are  sent  of  God. 
 
 Every  one  who  is  found  exercising  the  ministe-- 
 rial  functions,  can  administer  water  baptism.  Ju- 
 das did  ;  "  For  he  was  one  of  the  disciples  who 
 "  baptized."  But  none  can  baptize  with  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  except  they  are  called,  chosen,  and  sent,  by 
 Father,  Son,  and  Spirit.  Go  ye  therefore,  saith 
 Christ,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them — -and 
 so  must  every  minister  now  receive  his  orders  and 
 commission  from  Christ ;  "  For  how  shall  they 
 "  preach,  except  they  be  sent,"  as  it  is  written, 
 "  Behold,  I  am  against  them  that  prophecy 
 "  false  dreams,  saith  the  Lord,  and  do  tell 
 "  them,  and  cause  my  people  to  err  by  their 
 "  lies,  and  their  lightness  ;  yet  I  sfent  them  not, 
 "■  nor  commanded  them  :  therefore  they  shall  not 
 "  profit  the  people  at  all."  Many  are  now  bap- 
 tizing with  water  ;  but  can  they  give  any  evidence 
 that  God  hath  sent  them  ?     Though  they  cannot 
 
145 
 
 give  the  necessary  proofs  of  their  commission,  yet 
 thej  haptize  many  ;  therefore  the  people  whom 
 they  immerse  in  water,  are  not  spiritually  benefited 
 by  such  a  baptism. 
 
 2Jly. — How   spiritual    Baptism    is    administer edy    hy 
 Ministers  of  God's  own  sending. 
 
 They  stand  in  the  name  of  God,  and  declare  the 
 tilings  which  they  have  heard,  seen,  looked  upon, 
 and  handled  of  the  word  of  life.  With  the  sera- 
 phims  in  Isaiah,  "  They  cry,  holy,  holy,  holy,  is 
 ''the  Lord  of  Hosts."  With  Christ  they  cry, 
 saying-,  "  Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
 "  perish."  They  declare  that  the  wrath  of  God 
 is  revealed  from  heaven  ao-ainst  all  unocodliness 
 and  unrighteousness  of  men  who  hold  the  truth  in 
 unrighteousness.  They  set  forth  the  dreadful 
 fall  of  man,  and  God's  infinite  justice,  righteous- 
 ness, and  holiness,  who  cannot  look  upon  evil  ; 
 but  will  requite  sinners  with  death,  hell,  and  de- 
 struction,  declaring  that  man  by  sin  hath  "  Kindled 
 ''  a  fire  in  God's  wrath  and  anger,  and  shall  burn  > 
 ''  unto  the  lowest  hell,  and  shall  consume  the  earth 
 *'  with  her  increase,  and  set  on  fire  the  foundations 
 ''  of  the  mountains."  Thus  they  baptize  them  in 
 the  name  of  the  Father,  by  setting  forth  his  infi- 
 nite and  just  demands  upon  the  sinner,  because  he 
 hath  broken  all  his  commandments.  They  si,ho 
 set  forth  the  just  indignation  of  the  eternal  Son  of 
 
 M 
 
146 
 
 God,  who  as  God  co-equal  with  Ihe  Father, 
 "  Searcheth  the  hearts,  and  trieth  the  reins,  and 
 "  all  the  churches  shall  know,  that  it  is  a  fearful 
 "  thing  to  incur  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  :  for  he 
 ""  will  not  forgive  their  iniquities,  who  go  on  wil- 
 "  fully  in  their  presumptuous  trespasses."  They 
 preach  up  also  the  infinite  holiness,  terrible  majes- 
 ty of  the  eternal  spirit  of  God,  who  is  sent  to  re- 
 prove the  world  of  sin;  and  set  forth  everlasting 
 damnation,  perdition,  and  destruction,  as  the  iiie- 
 vitable  portion  of  those  that  sin  against  him. 
 
 Ministers^  who  have  really  experienced  these 
 terrors  of  God  in  a  broken  law,  are  made  instru- 
 mental in  persuading  the  elect,  who  are  in  the  ru- 
 ins of  the  fall,  and  being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 while  they  enforce  these  things,  the  spirit  issueth 
 forth  from  their  hearts,  and  cometh  with  power 
 upon  as  many  as  are  ordained  unto  eternal  life, 
 and  fasteneth  upon  them,  as  a  spirit  of  conviction. 
 Thus  men  are  spiritually  baptized,  under  the  minis- 
 try of  the  word  faithfully  handled.  The  wrath  of 
 God,  of  the  Lamb,  and  of  the  spirit  of  God,  is  evident- 
 ly the  first  branch  of  that  baptism  which  I  have  al- 
 ready described  at  large,  which  causeth  those  deep 
 afflictions,  fiery  sensations,  and  intolerable  agonies, 
 of  that  spiritual  death  they  experience  with  Christ, 
 who  are  convinced  of  sin.  This  is  the  truth  of 
 baptism,  which  if  any  man  is  ignorant  of,  he  know- 
 eth  nothing  yet  of  Christ  as  he  ought ;  for  water 
 doth  not  minister  the  spirit  to  convince  a  man  of 
 the  things  I  have  pointed  out,  but  the  hearing  of 
 
147 
 
 faith  doth  bring  the  soul  into  deep  waters,  to 
 die  with  Christ  by  spiritual  baptism  into  his 
 death ;  for  he  that  believeth  not  that  God  is 
 holy,  just,  and  righteous,  can  never  tremble  at  his 
 word  ;  but  he  that  believeth  in  his  just  threaten- 
 ings,  is  baptized  into  the  same  sorrows,  griefs,  and 
 afflictions,  which  put  Christ  his  suffering  head 
 to  death.  .  ^ 
 
 2dly.  They  further  teach,  and  baptize  them  in 
 the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  by 
 setting  forth  the  eternal  love  of  God  the  Father 
 in  Christ  from  everlasting,  fixed  upon  his  chosen 
 people,  and  the  many  great  and  exceeding  precious 
 promises  made  to  them  in  Christ.  They  baptize 
 them  in  the  n^ime  of  the  Son,  by  preaching  the 
 love  of  Christ  before  all  worlds  ;  his  going  forth 
 from  the  days  of  eternity,  in  a  way  of  loving  kind- 
 ness ;  and  finally  giving  them  a  most  wonderful 
 proof  of  his  love,  by  dying  the  just  for  the  unjust, 
 that  he  might  bring  them  to  God.  The  love  of 
 tiie  spirit  they  also  set  forth,  who  undertook  to  re- 
 veal these  precious  things,  to  the  souls  of  God's 
 elect,  and  be  in  them  as  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  sup- 
 plication, guiding  them  into  all  truth,  witnessing 
 to  their  adoption,  and  sealing  them  to  the  day  of 
 redemption.  This  is  the  holy  baptism,  that  Christ 
 has  commanded  his  servants  to  administer  to  his 
 people  :  for  while  Peter  preached  to  Cornelius  and 
 to  his  company,  setting  forth  the  love  of  God  in 
 the  gift  of  his  Son,  his  raising  him  the  third  daj 
 from  the  dead;    Christ  as  crucified,   being  set 
 
 M  2 
 
148 
 
 forth  before  them.  ''  While  Peter  jet  spake  these 
 ''•  words,  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  all  them  which 
 "heard  the  word."  Peter  having  thus  as  an 
 instrument  baptized  them  with  the  spirit  of  love, 
 power,  aiid  praise  ;  com;manded  them  to  be  bap- 
 tized, saying,  "  Can  any  man  forbid  water,  that 
 *'  these  should  not  be  baptised,  which  have  re- 
 ''  ceived  the  Holy  Ghost  as  well  as  we  ?"  We 
 are  to  notice  here,  that  the  sign  did  not  bring  the 
 Holy  Ghostj  but  the  preaching  of  Christ  crucified, 
 and  as  they  had  never  received  the  §ign,  it  was 
 needful  to  baptize  them  ;  and  to  shew  the  iriferio- 
 rity  of  it,  to  the  substance,  which  they  had  beerx 
 just  receiving  from  the  mouth  of  Peter,  he  did 
 not  baptize  them  himself,  but  commarided  others 
 to  do  that.  The  jailer  was  spiritually  baptized 
 with  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  the  preaching  of  faith 
 from  the  mouth  of  Paul,  and  fruits  meet  for  re- 
 pentance immediately  followed  ;  for  from  a  merci- 
 less cruel  jailer,  he  was  turned  into  a  compassion- 
 ate tender  nurse  :  "  And  he  took  them  the  same 
 "  hour  of  the  night,  and  washed  their  stripes." 
 The  scriptures  abound  with  divine  testimonies, 
 that  this  is  the  baptism,  that  the  real  ministers  of 
 God  should  administer ;  whose  hearts  being  full 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith,  they  should  bap- 
 tize the  nations  wrth  that,  they  had  so  freely  receiv- 
 ed ;  and  that  faith  should  come  by  hearing,  and 
 bearing  by  the  word  of  God  faithfully  preached. 
 
149  , 
 
 3rdlj. — Important  question.     Why  did  not  Christ  him- 
 self baptize  ? 
 
 Christ  himself  baptized  not  any  with  water^  lest 
 men  should  take  off  their  ejes  from  the  substance, 
 aiifl  think  that  the  efficacy  lay  in  the  sign  ;  for 
 this  reason  he  said  to  his  disciples  "  John  truly 
 "  baptized  you  with  water,"  as  if  he  should  say, 
 look  not  at  the  sign  with  a  superstitious  eye,  for  it 
 is  only  water,  for  it  has  not  communicated  to  you, 
 what  you  want,  "  But  ye  shall  be  baptized  with 
 "  the  Holy  Ghost  not  many  days  hence."  There- 
 fore did  he  not  at  any  time  himself  baptize  with 
 water,  that  all  men  might  look  to  him  for  the  pro- 
 mise of  the  Father,  even  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  it  is 
 w  rit<en,  "^  So  shall  he  sprinkle  many  nations,"  for 
 he  sanctifieth,  and  cleanseth  his  church  with  the 
 washing  of  water,  by  the  word  ;  that  is,  while  the 
 word  is  faithfully  prearched  by  a  man  whose  heart 
 is  purified  by  faith,  the  living  water  within  him 
 (which  is  the  Holy  Ghost)  breaks  forth,  and 
 washeth  the  conscience  of  those^  who  like  Lydia, 
 attend  unto  the  things  that  are  spoken. 
 
 4thly. — He   that   believeth    and  is  Baptized  shatl  he 
 
 saved. 
 
 This  is  by  far  the  strongest  hold,  that  the  re- 
 baptizers  have,  and  yet  Christ's  words  are  still  spi- 
 rit, and  life,  for  no  fleshly  construction  can  profit 
 here  no  more  than  in  any  other  parts  of  the  scrip- 
 
150 
 
 ture.  If  we  are  to  understand  this  portion  of 
 scripture  literally,  then  I  could  prove  that  some 
 believed,  and  were  baptized,  and  yet  were  not 
 saved.  Passing  by  the  examples  of  Judas,  also 
 Ananias,  and  Sapphira,  we  may  at  once  see  a  strik- 
 ing instance  in  Simon  Magus,  who  both  believed, 
 and  was  baptized,  and  yet  was  not  saved  ;  but 
 was  a  child  of  the  devil,  both  before  and  after  his 
 baptism,  and  continued  one  of  the  greatest  enemies 
 Christ  had  in  the  east,  remaining  in  the  gall  of 
 bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity  to  the  end  of 
 his  life.  The  stony  ground  hearers  in  the  parable 
 of  the  sower,  are  set  forth  as  believing,  receiving 
 the  word  with  joy,  and  yet  though  many  such 
 are  baptized  and  believe,  Christ  saith,  for  all  that, 
 in  time  of  temptation  they  fall  away,  and  are  not 
 saved.  I  conclude  therefore,  upon  most  solid 
 ground,  that  as  the  word  of  Christ  cannot  be 
 broken,  that  the  faith  and  baptism  in  the  text,  must 
 be  altogether  of  a  spiritual  nature  ;  for  then  it  will 
 sweetly  harmonize  with  the  scriptures,  the  expe- 
 rience of  God's  people,  and  we  shall  see  no  con- 
 tradictions :  but  if  we  do  make  a  carnal  tool  of  it, 
 as  the  baptists  understand  it,  namely,  that  upon 
 believing,  you  must  go  under  the  water,  then  the 
 text  is  full  of  contradictions  and  perplexities  :  for 
 some  have  believed,  and  been  baptized,  yet  they 
 are  not  saved,  but  lost.  Thus,  to  what  miserable 
 shifts,  men  are  brought,  who  loose  the  golden 
 chain  of  spiritual  truth,  and  by  stumbling  at  the 
 spirit's  work,  evidently  appear  those  fools,  whose 
 
151 
 
 light  is  darkness,  and  being  lifted  up  with  pride, 
 subverted,  and  condemned  of  themselves,  are  final- 
 ly driven  to  outer  darkness.  If  you  have  kept  in 
 mind  what  hath  already  been  said  about  spiritual 
 baptism,  you  will  then  clearly  see,  that  the  word 
 of  God  is  pure  indeed,  as  silver  tried  in  a  furnace 
 of  earth,  purified  seven  times.  When  any  of  God's 
 elect,  who  are  in  their  ignorance  and  state  of  na- 
 ture, are  by  the  wonderful  and  secret  power  of 
 God,  either  led  to  read  the  word,  or  brought  to 
 hear  it  preached,  the  spirit  worketh  a  mighty  per- 
 suasion upon  their  minds,  that  what  they  hear  is 
 the  truth.  Their  eyes  are  opened  gradually  to 
 see  the  miserable  state  they  are  in,  fearfulness  and 
 trembling  taking  hold  upon  them,  they  sink  in 
 their  minds,  and  are  full  of  sorrow,  trouble,  and 
 heaviness ;  but  when  in  God's  own  time,  he  send- 
 eth  the  blessed  spirit  to  raise  them  to  hope,  and 
 enlargeth  their  hearts  by  communicating  a  sense  of 
 his  love,  they  then  say  with  the  church,  "  Though 
 "  thou  wast  angry  with  me,  thine  anger  is  turned 
 "  away,  and  thou  comfortedst  me.''  The  credence 
 and  persuasion,  that  such  an  one  hath,  is  the  spirit  of 
 faith,  which  cometh  upon  him  by  hearing.  The 
 convictions,  sense  of  wrath,  fears,  and  all  the  af- 
 flictions of  his  soul,  are  the  baptismal  waters,  into 
 which  he  is  baptized  with  Christ  into  his  death. 
 The  joy,  love,  and  comfort,  he  afterwards  is  fa- 
 voured with,  is  that  fiery  baptism  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  which  maketh  his  heart  to  bum  in  love, 
 gratitude,  and  contrite  joy,  to  the  Father,  Son, 
 
152 
 
 and  Spirit^  the  God  of  his  salvation,  for  his  un- 
 speakable mercies  to  him  a  miserable  sinner.  This 
 is  that  spiritual  baptism  in  the  power,  as  Paul 
 saith,  "  For  our  gospel  came  not  unto  you  in  word 
 "  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
 "  much  assurance  ;  and  ye  became  followers  of  us, 
 *'  and  of  the  Lord,  having  received  the  word  in 
 ^'  much  affliction,  with  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  The 
 man  therefore  that  receiveth  the  word  in  a  good  and 
 an  honest  heart,  (that  is,  an  heart  plowed  up  by  spi- 
 ritual convictions,)  and  that  bringeth  forth  fruit 
 meet  for  repentance,  even  love,  joy,  peace, — thi 
 blessed  fruits  of  the  spirit,  such  an  one  belie veth, 
 and  is  baptized  indeed,  and  shall  be  saved  ;  he 
 shall  endure  unto  the  end,  and  cannot  be  lost,  but 
 shall  be  saved  with  an  everlasting  salvation  :  for 
 the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.  On  the 
 other  hand  it  is  evident,  that  the  faith  and  baptism 
 of  Simon  Magus,  and  many  thousands  more,  who 
 are  lost  and  perished,  was  a  way  that  seemed  right 
 to  them,  but  the  end  is  death  ;  for  their  faith  was 
 not  a  fruit  of  the  spirit,  but  only  a  human  assent, 
 which  all  are  capable  of  without  divine  teaching  ; 
 their  baptism  is  carnal ;  and  their  joys  are  natural 
 affections  roused  and  stirred  up  bj  the  promises, 
 which  they  apply  to  themselves.  Some  may  say, 
 *'  Be  not  so  severe,  they  mean  well,  and  believe 
 "  as  they  are  taught,  and  if  they  are  ignorant  of,  and 
 *'■  understand  not  your  spiritual  baptism,  let  us 
 "  hope,  that  as  they  are  honest  in  their  profession, 
 l[  that  God  who  is  merciful,  will  overlook  their 
 
153 
 
 "  ignorance  in  some  things.''  Want  of  under-' 
 standing,  and  ignorance,  will  not  protect  any  man 
 from  the  wrath  of  God  ;  for  it  is  certain,  that 
 ""'  When  Christ  is  revealed  from  heaven  with  his 
 ''  mighty  angels,  he  will  in  flaming  fire  take  ven- 
 ^'  geance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  that 
 "  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
 which  gospel  is  not  water  baptism,  nor  human 
 faith,  hut  is  the  power  of  God  in  spiritual  baptism, 
 through  faith  unto  salvation,  which  I  have  fully 
 declared  in  this  book.  If  any  man  be  ignorant, 
 let  him  be  ignorant ;  but  let  him  know  that  God 
 will  bring  him  into  judgment  for  it,  as  it  is  writ- 
 ten, "  For  it  is  a  people  of  no  understanding  : 
 ''  therefore  he  that  made  them  will  not  have  mercy 
 "  on  them,  and  he  that  formed  them  will  shew 
 *^' them  no  favour."     Isai.   27.  11. 
 
 5llily. — Appeal  to  all  them  that  fear   God   and  his 
 
 word. 
 
 Men  and  brethren,  if  you  have  been  led  by  the 
 holy  spirit,  before  you  ventured  to  read  this  book, 
 to  lift  up  your  hearts  in  prayer  to  God,  that  he 
 would  shew  you,  what  manner  of  spirit  it  is  writ- 
 ten in,  lest  instead  of  gaining  any  advantage,  you 
 shpuld  suffer  loss.  If  he  hath  given  you  the  un- 
 prejudiced mind  of  the  noble  Bereans,  to  seek  the 
 real  advantage  of  your  souls,  I  say,  you  must  by 
 this  time,  have  perceived  the  line  of  conduct  the 
 
154 
 
 Lord  hath  been  graciously  pleased  to  give  me, 
 that  so  far  from  rejecting-  the  sign  of  baptism,  I 
 have  through  grace,  established  it  in  the  most  edi- 
 fying, and  profitable  manner  possible.  I  have 
 taken  great  pains  according  to  the  light  given  to 
 me,  to  shew  you  the  craft,  wiles,  and  policy  of 
 satan  and  his  ministers,  in  bringing  men  into  bond- 
 age to  the  sign,  in  order  to  rob  them  of  the  sub- 
 stance, which  is  the  power  of  baptism  upon  the 
 heart.  A  form  of  godliness,  and  the  power  can 
 never  stand  together.  If  you  are  a  professed  stiff 
 baptist,  you  are  certainly  ignorant  of  the  spiritual 
 baptism  I  have  described  by  the  word,  and  that 
 Tou  are  deceived  by  the  devil,  you  shall  assuredly 
 know  by  this  token  :  for  while  you  are  reading 
 these  pages,  you  will  be  offended  ;  your  heart 
 i;hall  swell  with  enmity,  revenge,  wrath,  and  vexa- 
 tion ;  you  shall  grin  like  a  dog,  roar  like  a  lion, 
 and  hiss  like  a  viper.  And  pray,  against  whom  is 
 yonr  wrath  stirred  up  ?  Not  against  me,  who  am 
 but  a  worm,  but  against  God,  against  Christ,  and 
 against  his  spiritual  baptism  :  for  your  carnal 
 mind  being  enmity  against  God,  you  cannot  be 
 subject  to  the  spiritual  wisdom  of  God,  which  I 
 have  set  before  you  in  a  mystery  ;  but  you  shall 
 lean  upon  your  house  which  you  have  built  upon 
 the  sand,  though  it  is  ready  to  fall  upon  yoiur 
 head.  O,  what  an  awful  deception  you  are  in  ! 
 for  your  water  baptism,  and  the  whole  of  your  re- 
 ligion hath  never  done  any  thing  for  you  ;  for  it 
 hath  never  delivered  you  from  anger,  wrath,  and 
 
155 
 
 malice,  against  a  faithful  servant  of  Jesus  Christ, 
 who  in  love  and  tender  compassion,  warneth  you 
 of  your  danger,  in  preferring  a  form  of  godliness, 
 to  the  excellency  of  the  power  thereof.    May  God 
 open  you  eyes  to  see,  that  in  all  that  heat,  railing, 
 and  evil  speaking,  yea  shew  yourself,  that  proud, 
 foolish  man  that  rageth  and  is  confident.     If  on 
 the  other  hand,    you   are  one  whom   God  hath 
 taught,  whose  conscience  is  tender,  if  you  have 
 been  much  exercised  with  spiritual  sorrows,  griefs, 
 te<iiptations,  and  afflictions  with  and  for  Christ,  so 
 that  you  have  learned  of  God  to  love,  fear,  reve- 
 rence, and  tremhle  at  his  word  ;    you,  I  am  sure, 
 can  do  nothing  against  the  truth,  except  you  are 
 prejudiced  for  a  season,  that  you  might  learn  how 
 deceitful  and  desperately  wicked  the  heart  is ;  but 
 if  you  are  really  walking  with  God,  and  are  spi- 
 ritually  taught,  I  am  confident,  you   cannot  put 
 away,  nor   think   lightly,  nor  rail   at   the  strong 
 proofs  I  have  been  enabled  to  bring  from  the  word 
 of  God,  that  all  forms,  and  especially  water  bap- 
 tism are  vain,  if  destitute  of  the  substance.   John 
 the  Baptist,  was  so  sensible  of  the  weakness  of  wa-  . 
 ter  baptism,  that  when  Jesus  came  to  be  baptized 
 of  him,  he  forbad  him,  saying,  ''  I  have  need   to 
 "  be  baptized  of  thee,  and  comest  thou  unto  me." 
 If  you  are  taught  of  God  let  nothing  move  you  to 
 be  re-baptized,  as  if  that  was  lacking,  to  make 
 you  perfect :    for  you  who  have  been  baptized  in 
 infancy,  you  have  never  denied  your  baptism  since 
 jou  have  come  to  years  of  discretion  ;  it  hath  ever 
 
i5e 
 
 distinguished  j'ou  from  the  heathen  work! ;  and 
 by  it,  you  have  been  incorporated  into  the  nationa] 
 visible  church  of  christians,  among  ivhoni  the  elect 
 now  are  found ;  you  want  nothing  now  to  make 
 you  perfect  and  complete,  btit  the  substantial  bap- 
 tism of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Let  no  man  intice  you, 
 and  bring  you  into  bondage,  saying,  "  Fot  thus  it 
 "  becometh  us  to  fulfill  all  righteousness."  This 
 is  the  devil's  craft  and  policy,  to  bring  you  into  a 
 tormenting  legal  working  spirit,  that  your  eyes 
 TOsy  be  taken  off  from  Christ,  who  alone  fulfilled 
 all  righteousness,  being  anointed  with  the  fulness 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost  for  that  purpose,  and  we  being 
 spiritually  in  his  loins,  are  partakers  of  his  righte- 
 ousness, as  fulfilling  it  with,  and  in  him  :  he  in- 
 deed was  made  sin  for  us,  being  baptized  into 
 drath,  "  God  sending  his  own  Son  in  the  likeness 
 '^  of  sinful  flesh  :  and  for  sin  condemned  sin  in 
 ''  the  flesh,  that  the  righteousness  of  the  law 
 '^  mio-ht  be  fulfilled  in  us,  who  walk  not  after 
 "  the  flesh,  but  after  the  spirit."  I  testify  to  you, 
 that  if  you  are  wrought  upon  to  be  re-bap- 
 'vtized,  you  certainly  w-alk  after  the  flesh  ;  for  the 
 spirit  of  God  v/ill  never  move  you  to  perform  dead 
 works,  nor  drive  you  to  go  under  the  water  ;  for 
 where  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty,  and 
 he  will  guide  you  into  all  truth.  May  God  open 
 your  eyes  to  discern,  that  holy  men  of  old,  pro- 
 phets, and  apostles,  spake  as  they  were  moved  by 
 the  Holy  Ghost;  so  that  wherever  baptism  is 
 spoken  of,  it  is  to  be  spiritually  discerned,  even 
 where  Peter  saith,  "  Repent,  and  be  baptized  eve- 
 
157 
 
 "  ry  one  of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Chriut  foi* 
 *'  the  remission  of  sins,  and   ye  shall  receive  the 
 "  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost."     These  to  whom   he 
 spake,    had   already    been    baptized  into    Christ's 
 death  under  the  word  ;  "  For  they  were  pricked  in 
 ^'  their  hearts."  They  wanted  now  the  fiery  briptisin 
 of  love  to  cast  out  all  their  fears,  and  the  baptism  of 
 water  they  received  afterwards  was  needful,  for  they 
 had  not  been  baptized  before  ;     and  that  the  Holy 
 Ghost  by  Peter's  mouth  meant  a  spiritual  baptism 
 is   evident;    for    Peter   saith,    "The   like    figure 
 ^'  whereunto  even  baptism  doth  also  now  save  us.' 
 Doth  he  really  mean  water  baptism  ?     Oh  no,  this 
 was  far  from  his  thoughts,  for  he  setteth  the  Avater 
 quite  aside,  saying,  **  Not  the  putting  away  of  the 
 "  filth  of  the  flesh,"  as  if  he  should  say,  I  do  not 
 mean  water  literally,  which  can  only  wash  off  the 
 Ciirt  from  the  skin,  "  But  the  answer  of  a  good  con- 
 •'  science  toward  God,  by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus 
 "  Christ ;"    therefore   what  the  water  cannot  do, 
 the  Holy  Ghost  most  effectually  doth,  by  applying 
 the  blood  of  Jesus   Christ,  which  cleansing  from 
 all  sin,  purifieth  and  cleanseth  the  conscience  from 
 dead  works  ;    and  by  faith  in  him  who  bled,  died, 
 and  rose  from  the  dead,  we  are  made  to  rise  with 
 him    into   newness   of  life   by  spiritual    baptism. 
 Take   particular   notice,  that  whenever  the  devil 
 and  his  instruments,  seek  to  subvert  you  with  water 
 baptism,   only   bring   this    last   scripture,  out   of 
 Peter's  epistle,  and  it  will   effectually  stop  their 
 mouth  ;  for  they  cannot  get  over  it,  therefore  nail 
 
158 
 
 them  down  here,  and  say  to  them,  "  Shew  mc 
 *'  your  baptism,  without  the  spirit,  and  I  will 
 *'  shew  you  my  baptism,  by  the  spirit's  work  upon 
 *'  my  heart. "  I  conclude  therefore  upon  the  strong- 
 est evidences  possible,  that  God  never  intended 
 more  than  this  :  that  the  sign  of  baptism  should  be 
 a  standing  figure,  sign,  or  conviction  of  the  neces- 
 sity of  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  as  a  distinguishing  mark 
 to  separate  his  professing  people  called  christians, 
 from  the  rest  of  the  world,  which  have  not  yet  re- 
 ceived the  doctrine  of  Christ.  The  Holy  Ghost 
 never  did,  nor  ever  shall  come  upon  any  by  being 
 plunged  into  water,  but  by  the  hearing  of  faith,  and 
 by  laying  on  of  hands ;  that  is,  faithful  men  \\\\\ 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  who  have  been  called  and 
 sent  to  the  work,  have  by  supplications,  and  the 
 prayer  and  preaching  of  faith,  been  instrumental 
 in  conferring  the  Holy  Ghost,  "  God  bearing  them 
 "  witness,  both  with  signs  and  wonders,  and  divers 
 *'  miracles,  and  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  according 
 to  his  own  will."  It  is  certainly  very  remarkable, 
 that  in  all  those  passages  of  scripture,  relating  to 
 the  sign  of  baptism,  that  the  Holy  Ghost  never 
 came  upon  an}',  in  the  very  act  of  baptizing  them 
 with  water  ;  but  always  by  the  preaching  of  faith. 
 Thus  the  apostles,  although  baptized,  received  not 
 the  Holy  Ghost  in  his  mighty  operations,  and  as  a 
 comforter,  until  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Acts  2.  3,  4. 
 The  multitude,  to  whom  Peter  and  the  apostles 
 preached,  were  spiritually  baptized,  before  they  re- 
 
159 
 
 ceived  the  sign,  by  the  hearing  of  faith  ;  "  For 
 ''  they  were  pricked  in  their  hearts,  and  gladly 
 "  received  the  word  ;  but  were  not  baptized  with 
 "■'  water  till  after wards^  to  distinguish  them  from 
 "the  rest:  who  believed  not."  Acts 2.  37,41, 
 The  Samaritans,  believed  and  were  baptized  ;  but 
 \\\e  Holy  Gliost  had  fell  upon  none  of  them,  until 
 Peter  and  John  came  from  Jerusalem,  who  by 
 laying  on  the  hand  of  faith,  with  prayer  and  sup- 
 plications, then  they  received  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 While  Peter  preached  Christ  crucified,  and  his 
 resurrection,  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  Cornelius, 
 and  upon  them  which  heard  the  word ;  but  the 
 sign  they  received  not  till  afterwards.  The  eunuch, 
 by  the  preaching  of  Philip,  received  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  as  a  spirit  of  faith,  and  believed  that  Christ 
 was  the  Son  of  God.  God  also  sent  his  spirit  to 
 open  the  heart  of  Lydia,  while  she  attended  to  the 
 filings  which Vere  spoken  of  Paul.  All  these  re- 
 ceived not  the  Holy  Ghost  through  water  bap- 
 tism ;  but  by  the  hearing  of  faith.  Remember 
 therefore  that  the  kingdom  of  God  standeth  not 
 in  word,  nor  is  it  meat,  drink,  and  water  baptism, 
 but  \i  is  power,  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in 
 the  Holy  Ghost.  Consider  also  that  all  those  ac- 
 counts we  have  in  scripture  of  adults  being  bap- 
 tized, do  not  in  the  least  invalidate  infant  baptism  ; 
 for  it  was  really  necessary,  that  they  should  sub- 
 mit to  receive  the  sign,  to  distinguish  them  from 
 the  heathens  and  unbelievers.  If  an  African,  or 
 any  other  heathen  was  to  come  into  our  assembly, 
 
160 
 
 and  upon  hearing  the  word  preached,  he  was  made 
 conscious  of  his  lost  estate,  so  as  to  be  baptized 
 into  Christ's  death,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  receiving  the  word  in  much  affliction,  and 
 with  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghost  afterwards  ;  I  say,  if  he 
 came  to  me,  saying  with  the  eunuch,  '•  What  doth 
 ''  hinder  me  to  be  baptized  ?"  I  should  answer  him 
 even  as  Philip  did,  '^  If  thou  believest  with  all 
 "thine  heart,  thou  mayest."  I  should  not  hesir 
 tate  one  moment  to  baptize  hira,  upon  his  de- 
 claring, that  Christ  was  become  to  him  the  Son  of 
 God  with  power,  according  to  the  spirit  of  holi- 
 ness, by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead.  But  we 
 as  a  national  church  of  christians,  are  already  dis- 
 tinguished from  others,  by  having  received  the 
 sign,  being  brought  up  from  our  youth  in  the  nur- 
 ture and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  We  avow,  ac- 
 knowledge, and  openly  adhere,  to  the  distinguish- 
 ing sign  we  have  received  ;  all  that  we  want  is 
 the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  baptized  spiritu- 
 ally into  Christ's  death,  and  into  his  everlasting 
 love,  and  that  his  blood  may  wash  and  cleanse  us 
 from  all  our  sin  ;  then  shall  we  be  baptized  and 
 saved  indeed,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration  and 
 renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  we  have  no  need  of 
 any  other  baptism.  I  solemnly  declare  in  the 
 name  of  God,  that  whosoever,  whether  an  angel 
 from  heaven,  or  any  man,  would  constrain  you,  to 
 be  re-baptized,  let  him  be  accurecd  :  for  these, 
 you  shall  find  every  one  of  them,  desperate  against 
 the  spiritual  baptism  I  have  been  enabled  to  set 
 
161 
 
 forth  ;  thej  shall  oppose,  reproach,  rail,  and  fight 
 against  it  with  the  greatest  malice,  to  their  own 
 eternal  destruction.  Christian  reader,  and  you 
 that  fear  God,  if  jou  still  find  douhts  upon  your 
 minds,  cease  not  to  call  upon  your  God,  your  only 
 prophet,  and  wonderful  counsellor,  and  he  shall 
 deliver  you  from  all  false  prophets,  errors  and  lies. 
 Woe  be  to  you,  if  you  trust  to  your  own  wisdom, 
 and  call  not  upon  him  day  and  night !  But  if  you 
 trust  in  him,  you  shall  be  like  Mcunt  Zion  v/hich 
 cannot  be  moved,  and  you  shall  bless  him  for  all 
 his  saving  benefits,  saying  with  David,  "  For  thou 
 "  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death,  mine  eyes 
 ^*  from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  falling/'  To  him 
 be  everlasting  praise  and  glory,  v^orld  without 
 end.  Amen. 
 
 dTint)^* 
 
 Locdoa  : — Printed  by  T.  Kaygill,   ) 
 36,  Frith-Slrcet,  Soho.  5 
 
Z ION'S  WAY-MARKS; 
 
 on, 
 
 TRIUMPHS 
 
 OVER 
 
 SATAN     AND     UNBELIEF; 
 
 BEING 
 
 AN  ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 Cl)e  aut|)0v'2;  Call  to  fte  jHimstrj), 
 
 TENDITiG 
 
 TO  ENCOURAGE  GOD'S  PEOPLE, 
 
 TO  MAKE  THEIR. 
 
 CALLING  AND  ELECTION  SURE. 
 BY  JOS.  FRAN.  BURRELL, 
 
 A  SERVANT  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 
 
 PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST. 
 
 ♦*  Set  thee  up  Way-Marks,  make  thee  high  heaps,"  Jer.  xxxi.  21.;   "  wherefore 
 ,  the  rather,  brethren,   give   diligence  to  make  your  Calliug  and  Election 
 
 .  sure  :  for  if  ye  do  these  things,  ye  ihall  uever  fall."    2  Pet.  i.  10. 
 
 nontron: 
 
 PRINTED  BY   L.  NICHOLS,  EARL's  COURT,  KEWPOUT-STREET  ; 
 
 And  sold  at  Eschol  Chapel,  Marshal  Street,  Carnaby  Market ;    by  the 
 
 Author,  17,  Solio  Square;  also  by  W.  Jirmain,  116,  Edgeware 
 
 Road;    Thomas  Ncnn,    1&,  Great  James  Street;    aud 
 
 J,  CuLi/,  12,   Rosomoii  Sireet,  ClerkeuwelJ. 
 
 1816. 
 
ZION'S   WAY-MARKS, 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 Early  Impressions  concerning  the  Ministry. 
 
 1  Hou  most  holy  and  gracious  God ;  the  Father, 
 the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  who  art  of  purer 
 eyes  than  to  behold  evil,  and  canst  not  look  on 
 iniquity  :  who  hast  said,  that  all  liars  shall  have 
 their  portion  in  the  lake  of  fire  burning  with 
 brimstone ;  being  persuaded  that  thou  wilt  truly 
 fulfil  thy  vengeance  upon  such ;  and  that  a  false 
 witness  shall  not  go  unpunished.  It  is  my  desire 
 to  utter  nothing  but  those  things  which  thou  hast 
 wrought  and  applied  with  power.  Lord  guide 
 thou  me  by  thy  spirit,  and  bring  all  things  to  my 
 remembrance,  whatsoever  thou  hast  said  unto 
 me.  Convince  thy  people  by  putting  thine  own 
 seal  to  my  testimony,  that  they  may  believe, 
 and  not  reject  it;  lest  haply  they  should  be 
 found  fighting  even  against  thee.  Do  thou,  Lord 
 make  this  honest  account  profitable  to  thine  own 
 
 B 
 
sheep,  that  they  may  take  courage  by  thy  dis- 
 criminating dealings  towards  me;  and  be  also 
 led  to  make  thee  their  whole  and  sole  refuge. — 
 Amen. 
 
 Being  frequently  solicited  by  some  god-fear- 
 ing people,  who  sit  under  my  ministry,  to  give  an 
 account  of  my  call  to  this  office,  by  publishing  it, 
 ,1  have  put  it  off  from  time  to  time,  being  unwil- 
 ling to  run  in  haste,  lest  I  should  run  in  vain. — 
 The  calls  of  men  may  be  great,  but  the  calls  of 
 God  are  greater;  however,  as  it  pleased  the 
 Lord  to  enable  me  to  make  to  myself  certain 
 "way-marks,  of  his  kind  and  soul-establishing 
 visitations,  since  I  began  to  speak  in  his  name ; 
 and  believing  that  they  might  be  profitable  to 
 promote  godliness,  I  have  been  seriously  im- 
 pressed, not  to  keep  these  things  back  from  the 
 spiritual  treasury. 
 
 What  has  more  particularly  induced  me  to 
 publish  these  way-marks,  is  this,  that  when  I 
 have  been  in  darkness,  cast  down,  and  troubled 
 with  many  temptations,  I  have  been  led  to  look 
 after  those  peculiar  promises  that  God  had  ap- 
 plied in  the  time  of  need  ;  and  while  I  have  been 
 considering  my  former  trials,  and  the  kind  deal- 
 ings of  God,  my  darkness  has  been  removed, 
 my  heart  got  warm,  yea,  burned  in  love  and  gra- 
 titude to  that  loving  and  unchangeable  friend, 
 who  has  hitherto  guided  me.  He  has  made  my 
 cup  to  run  over  in  reading  those  genuine  expe- 
 
riences,  •\vliicli  I  had  been  enabled  to  pen  down 
 warm  from  my  heart,  and  under  the  gracious 
 influence  of  God's  spirit.  At  such  seasons  it  has 
 been  strongly  suggested  to  my  mind,  that  these 
 simple  accounts  might  be  useful  to  the  poor, 
 maimed,  halt,  and  blind,  of  the  flock;  for  whose 
 sake  only,  I  find  my  heart  made  willing  to  pub- 
 lish them.  It  has  also  been  suggested  to  me, 
 that  those  who  hate  me  without  a  cause  may  have 
 their  mouths  stopped ;  as  I  am  persuaded  that 
 none  of  them  will  be  able  to  gainsay,  nor  resist 
 the  spirit  by  which  I  am  led;  for  if  they  do,  they 
 will  most  glaringly  make  manifest  their  malice, 
 envy,  and  enmii.y,  by  blaspheming  the  gracious 
 operations  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  run  the  risk  of 
 appearing  in  no  better  situation,  and  receive  the 
 same  sentence,  which  they  of  old  did,  who  mali- 
 ciously said,  that  Christ  cast  out  devils  by  Beel- 
 zebub. 
 
 I  shall  now  chiefly  confine  myself  to  give  an 
 account  of  those  parts  of  God's  dealings  with  me, 
 which  have  an  allusion  to  my  call  to  the  ministry 
 of  God's  word.  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  call 
 me  in  the  year  1792,  in  a  most  extraordinary 
 manner,  without  the  usual  ministry  of  the  word 
 preached :  by  revealing  his  dear  Son  in  me,  the 
 hope  of  glory.  I  had  for  several  years  before 
 this  happy  event,  been  under  most  dreadful  con- 
 victions for  sin,  sinking  in  my  own  mind  in  a  state 
 of  despondency,  fear,  and  horror,  not  to  be  de- 
 scribed ;  being  bound  in  aftliciion  and  irons,  and 
 
 B  2 
 
Jed  captive  by  the  devil  at  his  will :  I  had  really 
 concluded,  without  doubt,  that  I  should  be 
 damned.  In  those  days  I  had  no  knowledge  of, 
 nor  acquaintance  with,  any  professing  people ; 
 neither  was  I  possessed  of  a  bible,  for  having  been 
 born  and  brought  up  a  Roman  Catholic,  I  was 
 not  allowed  to  read  that  book.  However,  it 
 pleased  God  to  bring  into  my  possession  a  book 
 called  "  A  Harmony  of  the  Four  Evangelists." — 
 Some  time  after  this  valuable  acquisition,  the 
 Lord  was  pleased  to  manifest  and  reveal  his 
 dear  Son  in  me,  who,  to  my  astonished  view, 
 manifested  himself  to  me,  in  all  the  agonies  of 
 his  dying  love,  with  so  great  a  power,  and  in  so 
 marvellous  a  manner,  that  he  made  me  to  for- 
 get my  poverty,  and  remember  my  misery  no 
 more.  Many  other  things  did  the  gracious 
 Redeemer  shew  me,  both  in  the  heights,  and  in 
 the  depths,  which  I  cannot  at  present  speak  of. 
 Some  time  afterwards  I  was  led  to  sit  under  the 
 
 ministry  of  the  late  Mr.  H ,  and  growing  now 
 
 exceeding  fast  in  understanding,  and  possessing 
 some  degree  of  utterance,  I  was  enabled  to  de- 
 clare what  God  had  done  for  my  soul :  these 
 things  put  together,  made  me,  at  times,  seriously 
 to  think  that  God  intended  me  for  the  ministry. 
 The  amazing  conflicts  I  was  engaged  in  with  the 
 world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil ;  as  also  the  very 
 conspicuous  deliverances,  and  singular  manifes- 
 tations of  Christ's  love;  his  great  and  mighty 
 power  enabling  me  to  hold  fast  my  testimony. 
 
when  heaven,  earth,  and  hell,  seemed  lo  make 
 head  against  nie:  all  these  things  had  the  same 
 tendency.  At  one  time  in  particular,  feeling  great 
 desires,  and  longing  wishes  to  be  laid  out  in  the 
 service  of  the  blessed  saviour  of  my  soul,  thes^ 
 words  came  with  great  power  :  "  And  the  spirit  of 
 the  Lord  began  to  move  him  at  times  in  the  camp 
 of  Dan,"  Judges  xiii.  15.  My  soul  melted  ex- 
 ceedingly, and  my  understanding  was  enlight- 
 ened to  comprehend,  that  the  singular  power  I 
 felt,  was  the  dawning  influence  of  God's  spirit  to 
 make  me  willing.  1  was  led  to  place  implicit 
 confidence,  and  to  credit  the  impression  ;  be- 
 lieving it  to  be  the  voice  of  God,  informing  me, 
 that  he  certainly  intended  to  make  me  a  witness 
 of  the  things  I  had  seen.  I  kept  this  very  close, 
 but  feeling  it  work  much  upon  my  mind,  I  took 
 courage  one  day,  and  went  privately  to  the  mi- 
 nister I  sat  under,  and  without  relating  eiiher  the 
 text,  or  the  manner  of  its  working,  1  blundered 
 out  with  much  fear,  that  I  thought  the  Lord  in- 
 tended me  for  the  ministry  :  he  looked  at  me  very 
 earnestly  and  said,  "  You  will  have  preaching 
 enough."  By  his  manner,  I  thought  he  gave 
 no  credit  to  my  assertion,  and  looked  upon  it  as 
 a  trap  of  the  devil.  I  went  away  very  much  cast 
 down,  wondering  that  I  should  be  left  to  utter  a 
 thing  of  such  importance,  having  no  better  foun- 
 dation. Some  time  afterwards  I  was  much  cut 
 up  while  hearing  him  preach,  for  he  asserted, 
 that  satan  did  not  fail  to  lov  this  suitable  snare 
 
6 
 
 for  the  feet  of  young  lively  christians,  that  they 
 were  fit  for  a  pulpit ;  thus  endeavouring  to  puff 
 them  up  with  spiritual  pride  and  self-conceit. — 
 I  had  no  need  of  any  further  interpretation ;  I 
 felt  myself  to  be  the  very  man  ;  I  trembled  from 
 head  to  foot,  and  received  the  admonition  iu 
 much  sorrow  and  contrition,  exceedingly  sus- 
 pecting myself,  my  state  and  my  religion  ;  in  fine, 
 it  led  me  to  my  never-failing  friend  that  sticketh 
 closer  than  a  brother.  I  poured  out  my  soul  be- 
 fore him,  begging  pardon  for  my  presumption, 
 most  earnestly  desiring,  that  I  might  never  be 
 tempted  in  like  manner ;  and  he  was  pleased  to 
 wipe  ofi"  my  tears,  and  restored  me  again  to  the 
 joy  of  his  salvation.  About  two  years  after  this 
 I  began  to  feel  my  first  love  gradually  to  abate: 
 the  heavens  began  to  look  black,  and  the  clouds 
 gathered  thicker  day  after  day ;  being  attacked 
 pontinually  with  most  dreadful  temptations,  per- 
 secutions, and  all  sorts  of  trials,  doubts,  fears, 
 and  vehement  assaults  of  unbelief.  On  the  other 
 hand,  the  lifts  I  received  by  the  way  were  as 
 conspicuous.  My  cup,  at  intervals,  was  made  to 
 run  over  to  such  a  degree,  that  notwithstanding 
 the  humbling  lesson  I  had  received,  yet  my  mind 
 vehemently  led  me  to  think,  that  all  those  mani- 
 fold changes  came  upon  me,  as  preparations  to 
 fit  me  for  the  ministry.  I  felt  the  same  longing 
 desire  as  before,  being  very  singularly  led,  at 
 every  fresh  manifestation,  to  entreat  the  Lord 
 to  make  me  useful  among  his  people  in  some 
 
capacity  or  other.  God  gave  me,  at  times,  sin- 
 gular enlai-gement  of  heart,  and  uncommon  ut- 
 terance, when  I  have  been  among'  some  of  the 
 poor  of  the  flock,  feeling  my  soul  drawn  out  for 
 their  spiritual  welfare.  When  these  happy  frames 
 subsided ;  when  darkness,  blindness,  ignorance, 
 and  other  changes  came  on,  then  I  questioned 
 the  whole  of  it,  and  felt  exceedingly  grieved,  that 
 a  good  and  a  gracious  God  did  not,  in  answer  to 
 my  agonizing  prayers,  deliver  me  from  this  most 
 obstinate  temptation  about  preaching.  Thus  I 
 went  up  and  down  for  many  years,  when  I  en^ 
 J03'ed  the  presence  of  God  ;  then,  in  spite  of  my 
 judgment,  I  wished  earnestly,  and  was  compel- 
 led to  pray  fervently  to  be  made  useful  to  his 
 people ;  but  when  I  was  uncomfortable  and  tried, 
 1  felt  as  averse  to  it,  and  very  seriously  thought 
 myself  no  more  fit  for  so  great  an  office,  than  a 
 horse  or  a  mule,  which  have  no  understanding. 
 However,  these  exercises  were  over-ruled  for 
 good ;  they  led  me  continually  to  pray  in  the 
 spirit,  that  if  the  Lord  really  intended  that  I 
 should  preach  his  word,  he  would  make  it  as 
 manifest  as  the  call  he  had  given  me  to  the 
 fellowship  of  his  dear  Son.  I  wish  to  glorify  the 
 Lord,  who  enabled  me  to  stick  close  to  his  ex- 
 cellent purpose ;  for  in  so  doing,  I  found  my 
 mind  kept  stayed  upon  him,  and  he  made  me 
 afterwards  to  reap  the  benefit  of  it,  by  calling 
 me  effectually.  Previous  to  this  I  have  been 
 assaulted  with  fierce  temptations,  as  if  a  neces- 
 
8 
 
 si'ty  v/;is  layecl  upon  me  to  begin  directly  to 
 preachy  and  tiiat  nothing  but  my  pride  and  car- 
 iial  fears  prevented  me  from  it.  By  the  time  I 
 had  been  six  years  in  a  profession,  new  scenes 
 opened,  and  new  trials  came  on  of  all  sorts,  but 
 (•specially  in  Providence:  the  Lord  now  began 
 to  cut  me  shorter  than  ever,  because  my  love  to 
 him  rather  waxed  cold  :  this  led  me  to  rise  early, 
 and  sit  up  late;  eating  the  bread  of  carefulness  ; 
 often  neglecting  the  word,  and  the  means  of  God's 
 appointment:  this  effectually  brought  the  rod  of 
 God  heavier  upon  my  back;  yet  he  left  me  not 
 altogether  to  the  blindness  of  my  heart,  but  was 
 often  pleased  to  soften  my  hardness,  and  gave 
 me  space  and  power  to  repent,  by  sometimes 
 pouring  down  upon  me  such  an  amazing  spirit 
 of  confession,  prayer,  and  supplication,  that 
 my  soul  became  like  a  watered  garden;  while 
 his  kind  providence  also  appeared  in  supplying 
 the  wants  of  my  family;  yet  my  backslidings 
 were  many,  which  made  ray  gracious  Father  to 
 follow  me  up  with  many  deserved  blows,  so  that 
 I  have  often  felt  as  if  1  had  been  beaten  with 
 rods  ;  quite  weary  with  crosses,  losses,  tempta- 
 tions, and  mortifying  dispensations.  Blessed  be 
 the  God,  and  father  of  all  our  mercies,  who  chas- 
 tiseth  us  for  our  profit,  that  we  might  be  par- 
 takers of  his  holiness  ;  for  by  these  things  men 
 li'^  ^,  and  in  all  these  things  is  the  life  of  our  spi- 
 rit. God  sanctified  these  afflictions,  and  made 
 my  spirit  so  tender,  that  the  least  shaking  of  his 
 
9 
 
 fod,  brought  me  to  humble  myself  before  him 
 into  confessioti  and  prayer.  U»-l 
 
 While  I  was  under  these,  and  many  other 
 exercises,  the  ministry  was  quite  out  of  sight ; 
 especially  as  by  continual  sorrow,  study,  fears, 
 and  various  conflicts  with  satan  and  wicked  men, 
 my  health  was  considerably  impaired,  labouring 
 much  under  a  dreadful  bilious  complaint,  with 
 frequent  sickness  even  unto  death  ;  i  considered, 
 therefore,  that  I  should  never  be  able  to  sustain 
 the  fatigue  of  preaching,  except  God,  with  whom 
 nothing  shall  be  impossible,  gave  me  power,  by 
 overruling  my  infirmities.  At  other  times,  I 
 secretly  rejoiced,  that  he  had  not  suffered  me  to 
 be  deceived,  as  many  have  been,  to  set  their 
 hands  to  the  plough,  who,  when  tried,  have  with 
 shame  drawn  back.  After  sixteen  years  of  many 
 fears  within,  and  hard  fightings  without ;  the 
 many  exercises  I  had  gone  through,  had  this 
 blessed  tendency,  in  humbling  me  greatly  under 
 the  mighty  hand  of  God.  I  was  now  led  more 
 and  more  to  have  singular  fellowship  with  Christ 
 in  his  suffering,  being  daily  weaned  from  a  sin- 
 ful world,  and  my  sinful  self;  made  willing  to 
 take  up  my  cross,  yea,  frequently  rejoiced  in  it 
 exceedingly. 
 
 The  Lord  now  often  visited  my  soul  with  his 
 marvellous  love,  and  made  me  long  to  be  with 
 him.  O  how  frequently  have  I  begged,  that  he 
 would  take  me  out  of  this  miserable  wilderness, 
 that  I  might  be  with  him,  which  is  far  better ;  for 
 
 c 
 
10 
 
 hi&kincl  arid  blessed  tisitatiotts  weVe;  such,  that  I 
 really  thought  the  time-  of  my  departure  was 
 nigh  at  hand;  but  our  gracious  Father  knows 
 best  of  those  times  and  seasons  which  are  in  his 
 hands. 
 
 ,u  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  visit  me  with  a  sore 
 trial,  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  my  profession,  by 
 taking  away  from  me  my  second  wife,  a  truly 
 gracious  woman,  witli  whom  I  had  lived  in  much 
 union  of  soul  for  ten  yeare.  The  loss  of  her 
 brought  on  a  grfeat  variety  of  trials,  ^hich  led  me 
 into  man>y  new  experiences :  but  God  was  with 
 Ine,  and  by  leaditig  me  with  much  bitter  weep- 
 ing and  su])plicati6us,  he  brought  ine  through 
 with  a  very  high  hand  and  great  power;  with 
 much  affliction,  and  yet  mixed  with  joy  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost.  Being  now  Settled  again,  the  gra-^ 
 titnde  I  felt  was  unutterable.  My  mind  was  now 
 daily  led  to  love  tiie  word  of  God,  above  my  ne- 
 cessary food ;  the  more  I  meditated  therein,  so 
 much  the  more  spiritually-minded  1  became,  and 
 the  heavenly  dew  thereof  seemed  to  abide  upon 
 my  souL;  The  Lord  of  life  made  ray  feet  like 
 hind's  feet,  and  made  me  to  walk  upon  mine  high 
 places.'  My  shattered  vessel,  which  had  been  in 
 many  storms  for  some  years  past,  seemed  now  to 
 have  arrived  at  the;  desired  haven;  The  Lord 
 brought  me  again  to  the  days  of  my  spiritual 
 youth,  when  hisi  word  was  so  exceeding  sweet 
 and  precious  to  me,  that  I  have  pressed  the  bible 
 to  my  bosom,  and,  with  uplifted  eyes  and  hearty 
 
11 
 
 lou^ll}^,  praised  ,  and  blessed  my  Hjost  gracious 
 F^tji^r  tki ,  Qkiist,,  d[oE  liis  un  speak  able  gift., ,;  <^  -  ■ 
 
 ■■■       "'-■        •.;•»      •    'i''    ••■*      -:■    ;  Miff    liWG 
 
 ofil  iwuiinebnwo    brr    .l;.>iji_  mHj   ^iiii/i;-!    ru    tiiod 
 :i'3q  'i*  CHAP.     11.'^  rboic>     AiBAoiw 
 
 'trWt' conflicts  concerniiig  ihe  Minisiiy^'un^  Mep 
 ^^'iniprissions,  ivith  most  dreadful  temptations  of 
 ^^S''  Satan,  to  cause  me  to  run,  befpre  I  was  sent 
 "^"^  'X)f  God.     '«^^"^'"  >i"J«d  9,'i  bfb  yiifiti 
 
 In  consequence  of  God's  singular  manifestations, 
 all  my  former  desires  and  earnest  longings  re- 
 vived again,  as  I  could  not  conceive  that  the 
 Lord  should  deal  so  wonderfully  with  me  for  my 
 sake  only;  but  1  secretly  thought  it  was  for 
 the  sake  of  some  of  his  people  ;  however,  I  kept 
 these  things  very  close,  not  daring  to  tell  any  one 
 the  mighty  workings  of  my  mind,  nor  even  relate 
 the  unutterable  blessings  I  received.  About  this 
 time  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  open  my  understand- 
 ing much,  to  see  into  the  mystery  of  the  union 
 of  Christ's  two  natures  in  one  person  ;  and  I  was 
 led  to  bow  before  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  in 
 such  a  manner,  that  I  scarcely  knew  whether  I, 
 was  in  the  body  or  not ;  for  the  glory  I  saw, 
 quite  overcame  me,  so  that  I  rejoiced  with  tremb- 
 ling. I  was  led  also  to  justify  the  Lord,  in  his 
 infinite  a/ud  tiemendous  sovereignty;  begging, 
 that  as  he  had  niade  me  to  stoop,  and  worship 
 
 c  2 
 
12 
 
 him  as  the  great  sovereign  of  heaven  and  earth, 
 "who  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
 own  will,  that  he  would  also  enable  me,  by  his 
 spirit,  mightily  to  vindicate  his  infinite  justice, 
 both  in  saving  the  just,  and  condemning  the 
 wicked.  God,  in  answei;  to  my  petitions,  was 
 pleased  to  shine  upon  his  word,  and  led  me 
 deeper  than  ever,  nqt  only  to  see  his  npright- 
 ness,  but  guided  me  also,  singularly,  to  discern 
 the  gracious  operations  of  his  spirit  i^pon  my 
 soul.  Daily  did  he  bring  me  nearer  and  nefirer 
 to  himself,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to  make  a  full 
 surrender  of  myself  into  his  hands  ;  to  be  guided 
 and  instructed  by  him.  The  word  of  God  seemed 
 to  talk  with  me  all  the  day  long,  which  produced 
 such  meltings  of  soul,  that  I  sensibly  felt  myself 
 one  of  those  chosen  companions  that  hearken  to 
 the  voice  of  Christ.  I  often  said  to  him,  "  Lord, 
 how  is  it,  that  thou  hast  done  such  marvellous 
 things  for  me  who  am  so  unprofitable  unto  thee? 
 O !  that  thou  would'st  open  my  mouth,  that  I 
 might  declare  thy  glory  to  thy  people.  |low  is 
 it,  that  thou  hast  given  me  such  longing  desires 
 to  speak  of  thy  power?  for  thy  word  seemeth 
 like  fire  shut  up  in  my  heart."  However,  at  other 
 times,  I  had  very  humbling  views  of  myseJfj  con- 
 sidering that  the  great  Jehovah  had  no  need  of 
 me,  who  am  but  dust  and  ashes:  then  1  cried  to 
 him  again,  saying,  "  Lord,  suifer  me  not  to  run  of 
 mine  own  head,  but  call  thou  me  effectually,  and 
 G^use  me  to  know  thy  will,  by  giving  me  tokens 
 
13 
 
 for  good."  My  exercises  about  the  ministry  were 
 now  more  frequent  than  ever,  and  I  was  obliged 
 to  watch  the  way  exceeding  close,  for  satan  was 
 at  my  heels  continually,  with  many  suggestions, 
 temptations,  and  infernal  arts,  to  make  me  run, 
 if  possible,  without  a  proper  call :  he  often  as- 
 sumed the  appearance  of  an  angel  of  light,  and 
 endeavoured  to  work  upon  my  passions  with  un- 
 utterable craft,  to  make  me  believe  a  lie.  One 
 day,  in  particular,  while  I  was  engaged  in  my 
 business,  and  thinking  much  about  these  things, 
 I  found  my  mind  suddenly  wound  up,  in  a  most 
 extraordinary  manner,  as  if  I  should  have  some 
 very  wonderful  manifestation  of  God's  will  con- 
 cerning the  ministry.  I  felt  a  palpitation  at  my 
 heart,  for,  all  of  a  sudden,  the  room  where  I 
 was,  seemed  blazing  with  light ;  I  felt  a  trembling 
 in  my  body,  and  my  hairs  seemed  to  stand  erect. 
 Several  scriptures  came  with  extraordinary  force; 
 but  withal,  1  felt  a  contraction  at  my  heart,  for  I 
 could  not  trust  the  report ;  and  it  seemed  not  to 
 be  the  voice  of  my  Lord.  I  was  thrown  into 
 confusion,  and  feared  greatly,  lest  1  should,  on 
 the  one  hand,  be  deceived,  and  on  the  other, 
 reject  the  voice  of  God :  for  the  words  I  heard, 
 bent  all  their  force  to  enter  into  my  heart,  vio- 
 lently seeking  to  break  in  like  a  storm  ;  yet  my 
 heart,  by  a  secret  power  within,  repulsed  them ; 
 for  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  lifted  up  a  standard 
 against  them.  The  conflict  was  so  great,  that  I 
 (iould  hardly  stand  upon  my  legs,  being  made 
 
14 
 
 fiick  at  heart,  and  ready  to  faint.  I  called  mlgli- 
 tily  upon  God  in  this  perplexity,  begging  ibr 
 light,  power,  and  speedy  deliverance,  who  was 
 pleased  gradually  to  draw  near,  and  saved  me 
 out  of  the  hand  of  the  terrible.  This  was  liot  the 
 only  time  that  satan  sought  to  perplex  me  ;  but 
 this  last  attack  was,  by  far,  the  most  formidable  I 
 had  ever  experienced  of  tlie  kind.  AVho  teacheth 
 like  unto  our  God?  for  such  lessons  as  these 
 have  been  made  useful  to:  me,  by  discovering  to 
 my  view  the  awful  ease  of  many  preachers,  who 
 run,  and  yet  God  has  not  sent  them,  but  the 
 devil,  who  begets  a  presumptuous  confidence  in 
 them  to  believe  a  lie.  Many,  therefore,,  came 
 out  into  the  ministry,  fully  deceived  by  satan's 
 signs,  visions,  and  lying  M'onders.  I  have  known 
 many,  who  could  talk  surprisingly  of  scriptures 
 applied  to  them,  who,  notwithstanding,  were  in 
 the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity ; 
 walking  in  the  lust  of  the  iiesh,  being  fidl  of  pre- 
 sumption and  pride,  "  having  eyes  full  of  adul- 
 tery, and  that  cannot  cease  from  §in ;  beguiling 
 unstable  souls :  an  heart  they  have,  exercised  with 
 covetous  practices ;  cursed  children."  Such  hold 
 the  truth  in  unrighteousness.  Is  not  the  devil  the 
 author  of  this  religion  ?  So,  on  the  other  hand, 
 whatever  cometh  from  God,  or  is  bora  of  him,, 
 overcoraeth  the  world;  for  he  gives  his  people 
 divine  and  strong  consolations,  sure  resting 
 places,  and  unctuous  evidences  that  may  be  de- 
 pended upon.    When  God  applies  liiis  <?wn  word, 
 
15 
 
 he  TWatesit  quick,  and  powerful ;  a  mighty  wea- 
 pon to  pull  down  every  strong-  hold  of  sin  and 
 satan,  with  every  high  and  proud  imagination  that 
 exalteth  itself  against  the  truth  ;  "the  law  of  the 
 Lord  i^  perfect  converting  the  soul, "  and  when- 
 the  Holy  Ghost  applies  it,  it  will  reprove  of  sin, 
 and  convert  from  it ;   it  will  perform  a   spiritual 
 cure,  as  it  is  written,   "  He  sent  his  word  and 
 healed  them."     In  short,  the  very  reverse  of  pre- 
 sumption, is  the  effect  of  a  divine  application,  for  it 
 will  humble  the  soul  in  the  dust  before  God  ;  pro- 
 ducing repentance  toward  him,  and  faith  toward 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  it  will  make  sin  exceed- 
 ing hateful,  and  self,  because  of  sin.     There  is 
 no  greater  evidence  whereby  we  may  know  thaf 
 God  has  spoken  to  us,  than  this  self-loathing  and 
 abhorrence  of  sin,  while  the  soul  is  filled  with 
 love,    and   holy   admiration,    at    a  feeling   sense 
 of  the  long-suffering  mercy  of  our  blessed  Father 
 iiv  Christ.     The   last  conflict  I  had  about   the 
 ministry,  made  me  ten  times  more  cautious,  fear- 
 ful, and  brought  me  almost  to  despair  of  ever 
 knowing  the  difference  between  a  real  call,  and 
 a  false  on€ ;  however,  it  led  me  to  cry  most  ear- 
 nestly to  Qod,  thathe  would  not  suffer  me  to  be 
 deceived.  ^^  -"♦^  ''"^  *'■  '''^• 
 
 In  addition  to  the  abovementioned  trials,  God 
 exercised  rae  much  at  this  time,  in  providence, 
 having  nothing  to  do  sometimes  for  four  or  five 
 months  together;  this  made  me  very  earnest  with 
 him  in  continual  prayer,  for  had  I  not  been  enabled 
 
16 
 
 so  to  do,  the  rebellion,  mnrmuring,  despondency, 
 hard  thoughts  of  Godj  and  the  stubbornness  of  my 
 heart  would  have  en  prevailed.  The  Lord,  who 
 overrules  all  things  for  good,  did,  in  answer  to  my 
 bitter  weeping,  give  me  such  humbling  grace,  as 
 brought  me  to  say,  with  Job,  "  Though  he  slay  me, 
 yet  will  I  trust  in  him."  Yea,  his  marvellous  grace 
 did  so  prevail  and  reign,  as  to  make  me  often  say 
 to  hinij  "  Lord,  thou  art  holy  and  just  in  afflict- 
 ing me :  I  am  a  sinner,  and  feel  myself  as  such : 
 thou  hast  made  me  a  sensible  sinner,  and  though 
 thou  should'st  bring  me  into  a  garret,  or  the  mean- 
 est hole  upon  earth,  naked,  and  hungry,  or  even 
 into  the  dust  of  death  :  yet  remember  thy  former 
 lovingkindness ;  shine  upon  my  soul,  and  be  thou 
 my  portion.  Thou  hast  said,  call  upon  me  in 
 trouble,  ask,  seek,  knock,  watch,  and  pray  al- 
 ways; subdue  my  unbelief,  and  despondency; 
 give  me  patience,  and  resignation  ;  and,  with  thy 
 mighty  povver^  pull  down  all  those  devils  within 
 me."  How  shall  I  find  suitable  words  to  glorify 
 that  marvellous  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  the  only 
 wise  and  gracious  God?  who  not  only  conde- 
 scended to  listenv->(  to  such  groanings,  but  has 
 often  turned  my  captivity,  by  bowing  the  hea- 
 vens, and  come  down  with  such  an  effusion  of 
 power  and  love,  that  my  soul  and  body  have 
 been  made  to  shake  under  the  joy  unspeak- 
 able, and  full  of  glory,  wherewith  I  was  filled. 
 While  I  have  been  constrained,  from  a  loving 
 sense  of  his  righteousness  in  all  his  dispensations. 
 
17 
 
 to  cry  out,  saying,  "O  Lord  !  I  bless  thee  for  all 
 thy  chastisements,  lead  on.  Lord,  stiil  draw  me  in 
 -  thine  own  way.  Lord,  strike  deeply  at  the  root  of 
 every  evil ;  search  me,  and  discover  the  founda- 
 tions to  the  neck,  but  let  not  my  love  to  thee 
 wax  cold ;  be  thou  my  only  portion,  my  God,  and 
 ray  guide,  even  unto  death.  "  Thus,  I  have  been 
 led  to  labour  in  spirit,  when  I  saw  my  help  in  the 
 gate,  being  sweetly  drawn  to  petition  for  those 
 mercies,  I  knew  I  should  want  in  time  to  come. 
 No  wonder,  therefore,  that  I  should  be  influenced 
 to  preach  up  these  things  to  the  poor  of  the  flock, 
 having  myself  reaped  such  immense  benefits  by 
 such  humbling  providences,  and  God's  goodness 
 to  me  while  under  them. 
 
 These  considerations  made  me  often  to  think, 
 that  God,  perhaps,  ivas  going  to  bring  me  out  of 
 the  entanglements  of  this  world,  in  order  to  make 
 me  a  witness  of  his  truth,  in  those  things  he  had 
 so  powerfully  wrought  upon  my  heart.  Upon 
 the  whole,  I  found  great  opposition  in  my  mind 
 to  the  work,  when  I  considered  the  great  power 
 and  faith  it  required ;  also,  the  deadness  to  the 
 world,  long-suffering,  light,  and  ministerial  abili- 
 ties, necessary  to  qualify  a  preacher ;  but,  above 
 all,  the  great  difhciiUy  to  know,  and  perceive  a 
 divine  call  to  it :  the  weakness  of  my  body  seemed 
 also  an  insurmountable  obstacle  in  the  way,  so 
 that  I  often  gave  it  up  in  my  mind,  and  used  most 
 agonizing  prayers  to  tlie  Lord,  for  ever  to  root 
 out  the  very  idea  of  it.     This  has  since  been  a 
 
18 
 
 great  comfort  to  me,  that  God  who  hears,  and 
 answers  the  prayers  of  his  people,  would  cer- 
 tainly have  delivered  me  from  this  deeply  rooted 
 desire,  had  it  not  been  his  will  to  do  with  me 
 according  to  the  mighty  impressions  he  had  given 
 me.  "  God  speaketh  once,  yea  twice,  but  man 
 perceiveth  him  not:"  thus  Elijah  requested,  ear- 
 nestly, that  he  might  die,  but  God's  intention 
 was,  to  translate  him,  that  he  should  not  see 
 death.  David  also  desired  to  build  God's  house, 
 but  Solomon  was  to  be  the  builder,  and  David's 
 good  will  was  accepted  for  the  deed.  Our  bles- 
 sed Lord  himself  requested,  that  the  bitter  cup 
 might  pass  from  him;  but  God's  gracious  will, 
 in  our  behalf,  was,  that  he  should  drink  it.  So 
 I  was  also  led  to  pray,  most  fervently,  that  he 
 would  deliver  me  from  what  I  supposed  a  most 
 violent  temptation ;  but  though  God  accepted  my 
 prayers,  as  tokens  of  the  godly  fear  he  had  given 
 me,  yet  it  was  his  will  that  I  should  preach,  and 
 he,  accordingly,  gave  me  a  very  conspicuous  call, 
 even  as  I  had  prayed  for. 
 
19 
 
 CHAP.    III. 
 
 A  very  conspicuous  manifestation  of  the  mystery 
 of  the  Trinity,  not  in  the  letter,  hut  in  the 
 Spirit ;  with  a  faithful  description  of  the  poiver 
 and  consequences  thereof. 
 
 About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1813,  I  was 
 favored  with  a  marvellous  discovery  of  the  mys- 
 tery of  the  Trinity ;  I  shall,  therefore,  relate  it  in 
 the  same  words  I  made  use  of,  when  \  wrote 
 th^  account  warm  from  the  heart.  I  am  aware, 
 that  some,  even  of  God's  people,  may  be  at  fir^t 
 startled  at  the  manner  of  the  description ;  but 
 surely  they  will  acknowledge,  if  they  have  tasted 
 that  the  Lord  is  gracious ;  that  no  words  or 
 similies  can  possibly  describe  even  the  smallest 
 token  for  good  :  for,  as  simple  knowledge  puffeth 
 up,  so  this  edifieth,  and  greatly  humbles  the  sou|. 
 The  great  value  and  beauty  of  those  spiritual 
 blessings  in  high  places,  is  the  excellency  of  the 
 power  that  is  felt.  Holy  men  of  old  often  described 
 their  feelings,  according  to  the  various  discove- 
 ries they  had  of  the  attributes  and  perfections  of 
 God  :  when  they  apprehended  his  justice,  righ-r 
 teousness,  and  infinite  holiness;  then  they  de- 
 scribed the  sense  they  hj^d  of  their  unholiness ; 
 one  said,  that  he  was  a  man  of  unclean  lips  ;  an- 
 other trembled  and  said,  that  rottenness  had  en- 
 
 D  2 
 
20 
 
 tered  into  his  bones  ;  others,  when  favored  with 
 a  sense  of  his  love,  mercy,  coinj)assion,  and  good- 
 ness, expressed  their  feelings,  even  as  the  Holy 
 Ghost  gave  them  utterance :  for  in  all  these  things 
 they  were  our  examples,  who  being  led  ,by  the 
 Holy  Spirit  to  believe,  so  they  spake.  We,  hav- 
 ing the  same  spirit  of  faith,  speak  also  those 
 things  which  God  is  pleased  to  shew  us,  both  in 
 the  heights  and  in  the  depths.  I  am  happy  to 
 say,  that  there  is  not  an  expression  I  have  made 
 use  of,  but  what  comes  far  short  of  the  power  I 
 felt.  The  following  account  I  wrote  in  a  book 
 shortly  after  I  had  the  manifestation. 
 
 God  is  a  sovereign,  and  acts  as  such  at  all 
 times  ;  he  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of 
 his  own  will,  and  that  to  answer  his  own  righ- 
 teous purposes.  I  am  persuaded  that  he  did  not 
 favor  me  with  such  wonderful  discoveries,  for  my 
 sake  only ;  nor  did  he  apply  them  with  so  great 
 a  power,  because  I  was  more  holy  than  the  least 
 of  God's  children ;  but,  as  he  calleth  whom  he 
 will,  for  the  defence  of  the  truth,  therefore  has  he, 
 in. a  sovereign  way,  been  pleased  to  prepare  my 
 heart  for  years,  to  receive,  love,  and  adore  the 
 glorious  "  mystery  of  God,  and  of  the  Father,  and 
 of  Christ,"  by  often  giving  me  to  see,  and  to  feel, 
 experimentally,  the  gracious  perfections  of  the 
 one  and  only  true  God :  the  Father,'  the  Son,  and 
 the  Holy  Ghost.  If  God  is  pleased  himself  to 
 begin  a  work,  he  has  also  promised  to  carry  it 
 on  •,  this  he  did, by  giving  me  the  following  experi- 
 
21 
 
 etice  on  a  sabbath  day  morning:  T  called  upon  God 
 that  he  would  bless  me  in  his  house  of  prayer, 
 and  give  me  the  hearing-  ear,  tlie  seeing  eye,  and. 
 the  understanding  heart.  1  cannot  remember  any 
 thing,  either  of  the  text,  or  the  subject  matter  of 
 the  discourse;  but  after  sermon  was  over,  I  leaned 
 forward  upon  the  back  of  the  next  pew,  with  my 
 face  concealed  in  my  hands,  Cwhile  the  hymn  was 
 sung)  begging  for  some  farther  token  for  good 
 from  the  Lord,  though  never  so  small ;  and  I 
 must  acknowledge  that  it  has  been  a  practice 
 very  much  blessed  to  me,  times  without  number, 
 so  that  his  promise  has  been  fidiilled  to  me, 
 "  The  diligent  soul  shall  be  made  fat."  I  cannot 
 say,  that  when  I  began  to  pray,  that  I  felt  any 
 energy  or  power;  nevertheless,  being  enabled  to 
 persevere,  I  felt  a  small  springing-up  within,  of 
 the  blessed  Spirit  helping  mine  infirmity  ;  en- 
 couraged by  this,  and  secretly  believing  that  it 
 was  the  sound  of  abundance  of  rain,  I  became 
 more  earnest  in  prayer,  and  making  violent  efforts 
 to  bring  him  into  my  heart,  and  lo !  or  ever  "  I 
 was  aware,  my  soul  made  me  like  the  chariots  of 
 Aminadib."  I  had  a  most  sweet  view  of  Christ's 
 gradual  approaches  towards  my  soul,  which, 
 under  the  Holy  Spirit's  influence,  made  me  so 
 much  the  more  earnest  in  prayer,  until  my  soul 
 was  filled  with  his  sensible  presence  and  everlast- 
 ing love.  The  power  I  felt  was  so  great,  that  my 
 whole  frame  shook ;  and  feeling  his  goodness,  it 
 made  mp,  as  God  saith,  "  to  fear  and  tremble  for 
 
22 
 
 f^ery  joy  of  heart."  Now  was  my  soul  most 
 sweetly  engaged  in  blessing  and  praising  him 
 with  unutterable  spiritual  language;  receiving, 
 in  exchange,  most  gracious  answers,  and  testimo- 
 nies of  his  dying  love  to  my  soul ;  for  his  mouth 
 is  most  sweet,  and  he  knoweth  how,  and  when, 
 to  speak  a  word  in  due  season.  While  I  was  re- 
 ceiving these  blessings  out  of  his  fulness,  ,of  a 
 sudden,  he  sent  this  portion  into  my  heart  with  a 
 mighty  power :  ♦'  The  Father  himself  loveth  yon, 
 because  you  have  loved  me/'  The  words  sunk 
 into  my  soul  with  so  great  a  weight  and  power, 
 that  behold !  the  eyes  of  my  understanding  being 
 anointed  with  encreasing  light,  I  had  such  an 
 amazing  view,  and  feelmg  sense  of  the  everlasting 
 love  of  God  the  father,  that  words  cannot  possibly 
 describe.  My  hairs  seemed  to  stand  erect,  and 
 my  body  shook  and  trembled  exceedingly,  while 
 the  blood  trickled  in  my  veins  from  head  to  foot ; 
 but  the  sensations  of  my  soul  were  truly  mar- 
 vellous; for  how  can  I  sufficiently  set  forth  the 
 love  and  sweetness,  the  deep  humility  and  con- 
 trition, the  brokenness  of  heart  and  self  abase- 
 ment 1  felt  at  every  fresh  view  and  discovery,  of 
 the  love,  compassion,  tender  mercy,  and  the 
 moving  of  the  bowels  of  that  most  loving  and 
 blessed  Father  in  Christ  Jesus.  O!  how  my 
 soul  melted,  being  dissolved  into  nothing  before 
 him  !  The  lower  I  sunk  in  humility,  the  greater 
 weight  of  love  and  mercy  ca\^ie  upon  me :  "  far 
 be  giveth  grace  to  the  lowly:"  his  favor  was  such, 
 
23 
 
 as  to  enable  me  to  enter  into  his  very  lieart,  a?s 
 my  own  habitation  : ""  for  he  that  loveth,  dwelleth 
 in  God,  and  God  in  him."  Every  faculty  of  both 
 my  soul  and  body,  were  deeply  engaged  in  un- 
 speakable praise,  adoration,  and  worship,  in 
 spirit  and  in  truth  ;  while  floods  of  tears  ran  from 
 mine  eyes,  being  pressed  out  under  a  sense  of 
 the  multitude  of  his  tender  mercies.  Every  fresh 
 revelation  or  discovery  of  his  perfections,  came 
 with  additional  power — what  shall  I  say  ?  like  a 
 mighty  sound  :  like  thunder  and  lightning,  diffus- 
 ing itself  throughout  my  whole  man.  My  soul 
 lay  all  the  while  prostrate  before  him,  swallowed 
 up  in  holy  astonishment,  endeavouring  to  sink 
 still  lower  under  a  sense  of  such  free  and  unme- 
 rited goodness.  This  was  repeated  so  many  times, 
 and  in  such  a  manner  with  encreasing  power, 
 that  being  scarcely  able  to  breathe,  I  really 
 thought  my  gracious  Father  was  come  down  to 
 take  me  home  to  himself.  Death,  that  awful  king 
 of  terrors,  being  swallowed  up  in  victory,  left  me 
 without  so  much  as  a  shadow  of  fear  ;  for  I  was 
 fully  persuaded  and  deeply  experienced,  that  the 
 Father  himself  loved  me ;  and  I  felt  that  there  is 
 no  fear  in  love,  but  that  his  unspeakable  love 
 did  cast  out  all  my  fears  ;  expecting,  yea,  pant- 
 ing after  death,  as  the  mean  to  be  let  into  the 
 complete  joy  of  the  Lord.  I  saw  no  figure  nor 
 similitude ;  but  these  were  the  things  I  saw  and 
 felt,  namely,  light  and  glory,  peace  and  recon- 
 ciliation, everlasting  love,  with  joy  unspeakable 
 
24 
 
 and  lull  of  glory.  And  whoever  lias  seen  these 
 things,  understands  and  knows  God,  and  is  a 
 real  partaker  of  the  divine  nature.  This  is  to  be 
 noted  also,  that  these  soul-ravishing  discoveries 
 of  the  Father's  love  and  tender  mercies,  were  not 
 divided  from  Christ,  but  in  him  ;  for  I  feit  myself 
 ill  spirit,  as  standing  in  the  cleft  of  that  rock, 
 even  as  Moses  did,  while  God  manifested  him- 
 '  self  to  him  in  like  manner,  as  the  Lord  God, 
 gracious,  and  merciful,  &c.  I  saw  the  Father  in 
 Christ,  according  as  our  Lord  said  to  Philip — 
 *'  He  that  hath  seen  me,  hath  seen  the  Father ;" 
 just  so,  did  I  both  see  and  feel  the  unutterable 
 love  of  the  Father;  and  the  heavens  appeared  as 
 if  they  were  open  over  my  head  ;  while  my  soul, 
 all  the  while  seemed  to  be  burning  like  fire. 
 The  Lord,  my  exceeding  joy,  constrained  me, 
 from  a  deep  sense  of  his  mercies,  to  utter,  in 
 spirit,  every  sweet  expression  I  could  think  of, 
 calling  him  nay  father,  my  only  portion,  my  glory, 
 and  the  lifter  up  of  my  head ;  receiving  back 
 again,  most  gracious  answers  in  the  joy  of  my 
 heart,  which  were  so  mighty  and  powerful,  as  to 
 make  me  sensibly  to  shake  every  time.  At  last, 
 being  unable  to  find  words  suflicient  to  praise 
 him  with,  and  my  heart  and  soul  being  filled  witli 
 such  an  amazing  weight  of  inconceivable  glory, 
 and  praise,  that  as  fast  as  my  soul  was  reple- 
 nished, so  I  poured  it  back  again  to  him  with 
 wonderful  delight ;  then  he  would  answer  and 
 fill  me  again  with  light,  power,  and  unspeakable 
 
 1 
 
25 
 
 love,  which,  immediately,  I  returned  to  him  again, 
 in  gratitude  and  contrition,  M'ith  such  spiritual 
 vigour,  might,  and  power,  not  possible  to  describe. 
 My  most  blessed  Father  knows,  that  his  poor  ser- 
 vant speaks  the  truth  in  simplicity ;  for  the  eter- 
 nal God,  who  is  omniscient,  and  before  whom 
 no  false  dreamer,  nor  impostor  can  hide  himself, 
 knows  that  I  cannot,  with  human  words,  set 
 forth  the  hundredth  part  of  the  thing  as  it  was 
 really  manifested  to  me. 
 
 While  I  was  (as  I  related  above)  sensibly  bles- 
 sed with  the  love  of  the  gracious  Father,  in  Christ, 
 having  no  other  thought,  but  to  make  the  most  of 
 it,  eagerly  endeavouring  to  retain  him  as  long  as 
 I  could  ;  all  in  a  moment  mine  eyes  were  en- 
 lightened to  see  the  perfections  of  the  eternal  God 
 the  Spirit,  as  taking  of  the  things  of  Christ,  and 
 of  the  Father,  and  shewing  them  unto  me.  O ! 
 what  sensations !  how  can  I  possibly  tell  the  fresh 
 meltings  of  my  soul :  the  love,  the  gratitude,  I 
 was  influenced  with,  for  his  distinguishing  good- 
 ness, in  thus  helping  my  infirmities,  and  for  guid- 
 ing me  into  these  treasures  of  wisdom  and  know- 
 ledge. I  bowed  in  spirit  before  him,  with  pro- 
 found reverence  and  adoration,  striving,  as  it 
 were,  to  sink  before  his  eternal  love,  into  the 
 lowest  abyss  of  self-abasement  and  humility,  for 
 this,  as  well  as  for  all  his  former  kind  manifes- 
 tations, weeping  out,  abundantly,  tears  of  gra- 
 titude to  him,  who  had  so  often  borne  witness  t(> 
 
 £ 
 
26 
 
 my  adoption,  and  had  been  with  me  in  prospe- 
 rity, and  in  many  days  of  adversity ;  and  had 
 enlightened  my  darkness,  making  intercession  for 
 me  with  groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered  ;  and 
 by  lifting  up  the  wonderful  standard  of  Christ 
 crucified,  had  often  routed  and  put  to  flight,  the 
 arQiies  of  the  aliens.  While  I  was  thus,  with  joy, 
 drawing  water  out  of  these  wells  of  salvation, 
 being  swallowed  up  in  contemplating,  even  with 
 an  agony  of  bliss,  the  merits  of  this  most  blessed 
 comforter,  behold,  I  had  a  fresh  and  sudden  dis- 
 covery of  the  most  blessed  and  adorable  Trinity 
 in  unity,  from  this  portion  of  scripture,  coming 
 like  thunder  and  lightning  into  my  soul,  (Deut.  vi, 
 4.)  "  Hear,  O  Israel,  the  Lord  our  God  is  one 
 Lord,"  My  soul,  from  this  fresh  discovery,  fell 
 into  wonder,  love,  and  holy  admiration ;  wor- 
 shiping, with  the  profoundest  reverence,  adora- 
 tion, and  joy  unspeakable,  this  great  and  ter- 
 rible God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  in  one 
 undivided  essence,  and  yet  three  distinct  persons. 
 I  was  so  exceedingly  carried  away  in  spirit,  all 
 this  while,  that  I  was  altogether  insensible  of 
 what  was  going  on  in  the  chapel,  neither  did  I 
 hear  the  singing  of  the  hymns,  nor  the  prayer ; 
 and,  indeed,  when  I  can»e  to  myself,  I  was  greatly 
 concerned  how  I  should  compose  my  counte- 
 nance, for  I  was  like  one  astonished,  and  my  eyes 
 were  swelled  with  excessive  weeping.  I  spoke 
 not  a  single  word  to  my  wife,  in  my.  way  home, 
 being  in  a  state  of  unusual  astonishment  at  the 
 
 1 
 
27 
 
 things  the  Lord  had  wrought.  Every  fresh  re- 
 membrance of  any  part  of  this  manifestation, 
 made  my  soul  to  melt  again  and  again,  bringing 
 tears  of  gratitude  and  joy.  The  power  and  sweet- 
 ness I  was  filled  with,  in  a  great  measure,  fol- 
 lowed me  for  many  days. 
 
 I  have  been  frequently  tempted  to  write  an 
 accoimt  of  this  remarkable  experience,  to  our 
 departed  friend  and  pastor,  but  was  held  back 
 from  my  purpose,  fearing,  lest  it  should  seem  too 
 great  for  such  an  one  as  I  appeared  to  be ;  being 
 also  suspicious,  lest  a  spirit  of  self-seeking  and 
 pride  should  be  one  of  my  motives,  I,  therefore, 
 dropped  the  idea,  and  remained  contented,  that 
 I  knew  these  things  for  myself  in  the  sight  of 
 God.  However,  I  can  now  discern  the  wisdom  of 
 God,  in  not  suffering  me  to  make  a  blaze  about 
 this,  and  many  more  singular  dealings  of  God 
 with  me,  for  many  years  past;  and  also  for  keep- 
 ing close  the  impressions  I  had  concerning  the 
 ministry,  lest  I  should  go  forth  with  carnal  wea- 
 pons and  means,  with  the  witness  of  men,  and 
 not  in  the  power  of  God.  No  doubt,  but  many 
 superficial  professors  may  be  Ipd  by  the  devil  to 
 cavil  at  this  experience:  I  am  sure  that  Arians, 
 Socinians,  and  all  formal  professors  will  join  with 
 the  rest  of  the  world,  apd  call  it  madness  and 
 enthusiasm ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  none  who 
 love  and  fear  God  will  treat  it  so;  for  although 
 they  may  not  have  experiencd  this  great  mys- 
 
 E  2 
 
28 
 
 tery  to  the  same  degree,  yet,  from  what  they 
 already  know  of  the  sweet  power  of  the  truth, 
 they  will  not,  nay,  they  cannot,  do  any  thing 
 against  these  things  that  are  founded  upon  the 
 word  of  God,  and  give  the  Most  High  the  lie,  by 
 doing  despite  to  the  Spirit  of  Grace,  who,  of  his 
 sovereign  will,  has  been  pleased  to  reveal  these 
 thiugs  to  me.  The  whole  of  this  experience  is 
 so  sweetly  as  well  as  powerfully  established  and 
 wrought  in  me,  by  a  suitable  application  of  God's 
 word,  that  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  men  or  devils 
 to  overturn,  or  wrest  it  from  my  confidence.  O  ! 
 how  often  have  I  found  this  experience  a  support 
 to  my  soul,  when  tempted,  tried,  and  brought 
 low ;  especially  when  I  have  had  occasion  to 
 vindicate  the  eternal  power  and  god-head  of  the 
 Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit.  At  other  times, 
 when  overwhelmed  with  darkness  and  many  fears, 
 I  have  pleaded  before  God  his  former  mercies, 
 bringing  in,  also,  this  blessed  manifestation,  who 
 has,  again  and  again,  bore  witness  to  his  own 
 work,  filling  me  with  joy  and  peace  in  believing. 
 I  am  fully  satisfied  with  the  witness  of  God,  and 
 have  sought,  not  the  witness  of  men,  but  the 
 profit ;  for  I  consider  it  not,  as  adding  any  thing 
 to  me,  no  further  than  I  am  enabled  to  give  God 
 all  the  glory ;  and  being  enabled  so  to  do,  great 
 joy,  peace,  and  spiritual  satisfaction,  has  accrued 
 to  my  soul  from  it;  however,  I  must  confess,  that 
 it  rather  encreased  my  secret  expectations,  and 
 
29 
 
 workings  concerning  the  mijiistry,  as  I  couM  not 
 conceive,  why  the  Lord  should  set  his  heart  upon 
 me,  day  and  night,  shewing  me  such  things  as 
 these,  and  make  me  feel  them  so  deeply,  were  it 
 not,  that  he  designed  to  use  me  as  an  instrument 
 for  others.  My  love  to  his  word  became  more 
 vehement,  so  that  the  bible  was  now  my  com- 
 panion and  delight  daily:  being  led  to  pray  most 
 earnestly,  that  his  word  might  dwell  in  me  richly, 
 not  to  furnish  my  head,  but  to  my  edification, 
 comfort,  and  his  glory :  1  begged  that  he  would 
 give  me  an  humbling  knowledge  and  experience 
 of  it,  often  saying,  "  Lord,  1  beseech  thee,  for 
 Christ's  sake,  that  as  thy  mercies  have  abounded 
 towards  me,  who  am  most  unworthy,  that  thoa 
 wouldst  humble  me  to  the  uttermost,  under  a 
 deep  sense,  that  thou  alone  art  the  author  of  all 
 these  things.  Pardon,  Lord,  if  I  ask  amiss,  but 
 grant,  if  consistent  with  thy  will,  that  I  may  be 
 spent  in  thy  service,  to  proclaim  thy  glorious 
 power,  and  that  sinners  may  be  converted  unto 
 thee.  Condescend  to  give  me  an  holy  call,  that 
 1  may  know  thy  will,  but  let  me  not  run  of  mine 
 own  head." 
 
80 
 
 CHAP.    IV. 
 
 Further  impressions,  and  deep  exercises  concerning 
 the  3Iinisry ;  tending  to  shew,  that  God  ivould 
 not  suffer  me  to  trust  in  the  testimojii/  of  man; 
 but  in  the  witness  of  his  Spirit  onlif. 
 
 JoETNG  now  frequently  faTOured  with  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  Lord,  who  would  shine  upon  his 
 word,  and  extend  my  views  in  a  wonderful  man- 
 ner ;  so  that  my  heart  being  enlarged,  has  burnt 
 with  zeal  for  his  service.  I  felt  his  word  like  a 
 fire  shut  up  in  my  bones,  and  such  an  assurance 
 wrought  in  me,  that  amounted  to  a  full  persua- 
 sion, that  the  Lord  would  certainly  give  me  the 
 call  I  desired.  Many  things  however,  presented 
 themselves  as  insurmountable  obstacles  in  the 
 way.  I  considered  that  the  Most  High  had  no 
 need  of  me,  and  that  it  might  be  nothing  but 
 stinking  pride  in  me,  thus  to  desire  the  upper- 
 most seat ;  besides  I  thought  he  would  have 
 called  me  sooner,  and  that  I  was  now  too  old 
 and  infirm.  I  soberly  considered,  that  there  was 
 no  need  of  it,  seeing  we  had  such  an  eminent  in- 
 strument already,  who  was  so  deeply  engaged  in 
 the  work  ;  these,  and  many  other  considerations, 
 wrought  upon  me  at  times,  to  such  a  degree,  that 
 the  colour  has  come  up  in  my  face,  being  covered 
 with  shame  and  confusion,  and  I  blushed  at  my 
 
81 
 
 foolishness  :  then  have  I  cried  unto  the  Lord, 
 saying,    *'  O  Lord,  I   beseech   thee,  tear  these, 
 my  foolish  thoughts,  out  of  my  heart ;  let  me  be 
 contented,  and  joyful  to  be  the  very  least  in  thy 
 train  ;  let  this  be  my  heaven,  to   be  humbled  in 
 the  dust  before  thee.     Lord,   destroy  these  aspi- 
 ring thoughts,  and  let  not  the  foot  of  pride  come 
 against  me."    Thus  was  I  led  continually  up  and 
 down,  travelling  with  God  only,  not  daring  to 
 mention  a  word  to  any  creature,  firmly  resolving 
 rather  to  die,  than  to  run  before  I  had  a  divine 
 call.     Some  months  before  the  illness  of  our  late 
 pastor,  while  I   was  engaged  one  morning,    in 
 reading  the  word  of  God,  seeking  the  comfortable 
 presence  of  God  only,  and  not  having  the  least 
 thought  concerning  the  ministry,  these  words  fell 
 upon  me  like  lightning,    Jer,  i.  5.  "  I  have  or- 
 dained thee  a  prophet  unto  the  nations :"  the 
 words  pierced  me  to  my  very  heart,  and  shook 
 me  all  over,  so  as  to  cause  a  great  trembling  in 
 my  body.     When  1  was  recovered  from  my  sur- 
 prise,  and  had  considered  the  matter,  well  re- 
 membering that  great  and  fierce  temptation  I  had 
 laboured    under   before;    I    endeavoured,    with 
 all  my  might,  to  put  it  far  from  me,  even  M^ith 
 agonies,  exerting  myself  to  vomit  up  the  deadly 
 poison;  the  words  seemed  too  great  and  won- 
 derful for  me  to  receive  them,  as  I  could  not  con- 
 ceive how   I  could  be  made  a  prophet  to  the 
 nations  :  I  laboured,  therefore,  with  great  fear, 
 lo  put  them  away  from  me,  but  laboured  in  vain, 
 
82 
 
 ami  to  no  purpose,  for  tliey  came  again,  several 
 times  soiuitling'  within  me:  "  I  have  ordained 
 thee,  thee,  thee!"  I  must  acknowledge,  that  I  felt 
 DO  great  joy  nor  comfort  accompanying  the 
 words,  yet  they  caused  a  great  revolution  within 
 me ;  1  was  filled  with  great  astonishment  and 
 wonder,  not  knowing  what  would  be  the  end  of 
 all  these  things  ;  however,  the  impression  I  re- 
 ceived was  such,  that  I  could  not  help  going 
 down  into  the  parlour  to  tell  my  wife  of  it,  who 
 immediately  poured  cold  water  upon  it,  by  say- 
 ing, she  feared  that  it  was  nothing  but  a  snare, 
 and  a  temptation  of  the  devil,  and  that  she  could 
 not  be  reconciled  to  the  idea  of  my  being  a 
 preacher.  I  went  and  poured  out  my  soul  before 
 God,  earnestly  begging,  that,  if  it  was  a  temp- 
 tation, he  would,  in  mercy,  defeat  it;  but  if  he 
 had  indeed  sent  the  word,  that  he  would  encrease 
 my  faith  to  receive  it  and  hold  it  fast,  and  that 
 he  would  give  me  further  tokens  of  his  will,  but 
 by  no  means  suffer  me  to  be  deceived  ;  however, 
 from  this  time  forward,  I  kept  pondering  the 
 matter  in  my  heart.  New  difficulties  and  temp- 
 tations started  up,  causing  many  bitter  cries  to 
 God,  for  light,  power,  and  deliverance.  I  was 
 exercised,  at  times,  with  mountains  of  unbelief, 
 looking  upon  the  whole  of  it  as  an  idle  dream. 
 Again,  when  favoured  with  the  presence  of  God, 
 I  then  was  constrained  to  believe  it,  being  singu- 
 larly led  out  in  prayer,  that  he  would  give  me 
 every  necessary  grace  and  gift  for  so  great  a 
 
83 
 
 >vork.  I  had  charged  my  wife,  particularly,  not 
 to  mention  what  I  had  told  her,  to  any  creature, 
 as  1  was  determined  to  keep  these  things  to  my- 
 self, until  I  could,  with  more  certainty,  disco- 
 ver the  will  of  God.  Thus  I  went  on  for  some 
 time,  nor  could  I  lose  sight  of  these  things,  be- 
 ing not  a  little  puzzled  how  it  should  come  to 
 pass  for  me  ever  to  preach,  who  was  determined 
 to  keep  silence  about  my  call ;  I  sometimes 
 thought  that  God  would  reveal  it  to  our  late  pas- 
 tor, and  that,  by  his  instrumentality,  I  should 
 be  brought  out  to  speak  in  the  Lord's  name: 
 thus,  in  our  haste,  we  often  chalk  out  ways  for 
 our  God  to  walk  in,  although  he  saith,  *'  that  his 
 thoughts  are  higher  than  our  thoughts,  and  his 
 ways  higher  than  our  ways." 
 
 It  has  been  a  matter  of  no  small  comfort  to 
 me,   that  the  Lord,  in  infinite  wisdom,  did  not 
 give  me  the  desire  of  my  heart,  namely,  the  wit- 
 ness and  approbation  of  that  good  man,  because 
 the  witness  of  God  has  been  much  greater  to  me. 
 I  can  now  look  back,  and  see  the  hand  of  God  in 
 gradually  weaning  me  from  man;  for  the  reve- 
 rence,   love,  and  godly  respect   I  had  for  that 
 man  of  God  was  such,  that  there  seemed  to  me, 
 to  be  no  higher  attainment  in  tliis  world,  than  the 
 great  privilege  of  being  admitted  into  his  com- 
 pany, and  to  converse  with  him  about  spiritual 
 things ;  this  I  most  earnestly  coveted  after,  and 
 left  no  stone  unturned  that  I  might  attain  to  it; 
 but  the  Lord,  in  pity  and  compassion  to  my  soul, 
 
 F 
 
u 
 
 ■constantly  defeated  my  attempts.     By  the  time 
 I  sat  two  months  under  his  ministry,  and  being 
 full  of  brotherly  love,    I  went  one  day  to  his 
 house,  to  tell  him  what  God  had  done  for  my 
 isoul ;  he  received  me  with  a  stern  and  frowning 
 countenance,    saying   roughly,    "  what   do   you 
 Hvant?"  he  never  desired  me   to   sit  down,    but 
 \v'hen  he  saw  that  I  was  not  so  easily  to  be  moved, 
 and  perceiving  my  simplicity,  he  then  entered 
 into  some  edifying  conversation  ;  I  still  pursued 
 tiim,  being  prompted  by  the  strong  affection  I 
 felt  for  him,  and  his  ministry:  many  times  I  have 
 gone  with  much  inward  fear  and  trembling,  and 
 just  peeped  in  at  the  vestry  door,  saying,  "  How 
 do  you  do?"  but  was  generally  answered  thus, 
 *'  Why  are  you  come  plaguing  me  ?  Do  you  in- 
 tend to  drive  my  discourse  from  me?"  yet  1  had 
 the  mortification  to  see  some  vestry  man  or  other 
 go  in  when  I  went  out,  aye,  and  stop  there  too ; 
 this  made  me  to  envy  their  happiness,  while  I  was 
 not  a  little  tempted,  that  no  doubt  he  saw  some- 
 thing in  me  that  was  not  right;  however,  this 
 often  sent  me  to  God  with  earnest  prayer,  who, 
 in  answer  thereto,  has  often  sent  me  such  a  bles- 
 sing under  the  word,  that  there  was  not  room  to 
 contain   it ;   notwithstanding,   I   was   not  to  be 
 beaten  off  so  easily,  for  being  so  richly  fed  under 
 his  ministry,  I  longed,  exceedingly,  to  tell  him  of 
 it,  especially  as  writing  was  too  great  an  under- 
 taking for  me  in  those  days,  being  but  an  indif- 
 ferent English  scholar  ^  I  sought,  therefore,  every 
 
35 
 
 opportunity  where  I  could  meet  him,  and  finding 
 that  the  vestry,  in  the  city  chapel,  was  not  quite 
 so  sacred  as  the  other,  I  often  ventured,  with  no 
 small  palpitation  at  my  heart,  to  intrude  there, 
 but  never  had  sufficient  courage  or  power  to 
 speak,  with  freedom,  the  thing's  I  intended  :  God, 
 in  great  love  to  my  soul,  drove  me  out  of  this 
 vestry  also,  for  he  was  determined  that  I  should 
 Bot  rejoice  in  the  testimony  of  man  ;  but  in  that 
 of  his  spirit  only.  One  evening,  as  I  was  sitting 
 there  in  great  silence,  waiting,  like  the  husband- 
 man, for  the  early  and  later  rain ;  so  was  I  pain- 
 fully waiting  to  hear  something  from  his  mouth ; 
 he  earnestly  looked  at  me,  and  said,  "  Mr.  Burrel, 
 is  it  that  you  wish  to  appear  studious,  that  you 
 go  about  with  these  spectacles  continually?"  I 
 was  not  a  little  astonished,  that  a  man  of  God, 
 like  him,  whom  I  considered  to  be  so  feeling  and 
 sympathising,  should  not  enter  into  the  nature 
 of  my  infirmity,  biit  suppose,  that  all  the  fruit  I 
 had  reaped  under  his  ministry,  should  lead  me 
 to  the  vanity  of  wearing  spectacles,  in  order  to 
 appear  studious  ;  being,  therefore,  roused,  I  an 
 swered  him,  saying,  "  Judge  not  according  to 
 appearance,  but  judge  righteoxis  judgment."  I 
 began  now,  gradually,  to  see,  that  it  was  not  God's 
 Avill  I  should  be  very  intimately  acquainted  with 
 his  person,  that  his  ministry  might  be  made 
 more  profitable  to  me,  and  lest  also,  this  curse 
 should  come  upon  me,  *•  Cursed  be  the  man  that 
 trusteth  in  man,  and  maketh  flesh  his  arm,  and 
 
 F  2 
 
36 
 
 %vhose  heart  departeth  from  the  living  God."  At 
 another  time,  when  I  went  for  my  sacramental 
 ticket,  he  received  me  like  a  bear :  I  acknow- 
 ledge, that  through  ignorance,  I  went  at  an  im- 
 proper time,  just  as  he  was  coming  from  the 
 vestry  to  administer  the  ordinance;  being  thus 
 roughly  handled,  I  went  back  to  my  pew  full  of 
 confusion,  rage,  and  enmity ;  I  could  hardly 
 breathe,  being  filled  with  indignation,  saying 
 within  myself,  *'  Is  this  being  gentle,  as  a  nurse  ? 
 is  this  being  no  striker,  or  being  kindly  affecti- 
 onate, feeding  the  sheep?"  O!  Lord!  who  is 
 like  unto  thee?  who  teacheth  like  unto  thee?  for 
 thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death,  mine 
 eyes  from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  falling."  The 
 Lord  led  me  to  confess  my  revenge,  and  the 
 enmity  of  my  heart,  and  not  in  vain,  for  not  a 
 word  I  heard  fell  to  the  ground  :  he  made  me 
 to  drink,  and  forget  my  poverty  ;  my  cup  ran 
 over:  O  what  repentance  and  contrition,  what 
 thanksgiving  and  gratitude,  M'hat  adoration  and 
 praise  ;  yea,  what  holy  triumph  my  long-suffer- 
 ing Saviour  made  me  to  feel,  by  giving  me  so 
 signal  a  victory  over  the  image  of  the  devil,  and, 
 in  exchange  for  enmity,  filled  my  soul  with  joy 
 and  peace  in  believing.  The  gracious  Lord  led 
 me  also  heartily  to  pray  for  hini,  who  just  before 
 had  roused  my  indignation ;  behold,  therefore, 
 and  wonder ;  mark  it  well,  and  rejoice  exceed- 
 ingly, if  you  can  produce  such  a  token  as  this: 
 ^'  Great  peace  have  they  which  love  thy  law,  and 
 
37 
 
 nothing  shall  offend  them."  In  consequence  of 
 those  wholesome  lessons,  I  began  to  be  more  cir- 
 cumspect, and  satisfied  with  having-  my  faith  to 
 myself  before  God.  I  was  much  eulightened  to 
 see  the  vain  profession  of  many,  who,  if  a  minis- 
 ter does  but  receive  their  testimony,  they  are 
 presently  wafted  into  the  third  heaven,  and  settle 
 upon  their  lees ;  and  rest  satisfied  with  the  appro- 
 bation and  praise  of  men,  more  than  the  soul- 
 satisfying  witness  of  God,  who  saith,  "Cease  ye 
 from  man  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils  ;  for 
 whereof  is  he  to  be  accounted  of?"  Notwith- 
 standing I  had  received  so  many  rebuffs,  still  my 
 spiritual  affections  were  not  abated  towards  that 
 good  man,  but  they  ran  in  a  nobler  channel ;  for 
 when  he  was  in  trouble,  I  carried  the  burden 
 with  him  ;  when  he  sinned  and  did  wrong,  I  was 
 grieved,  and  did  heartily  pray  for  him  ;  if  pros- 
 perity attended  him,  then  also,  I  rejoiced  with 
 him.  I  have  often  thought,  if  he  had  but  known, 
 what  real  spiritual  union  I  felt  with  him  in  his 
 ministry,  we  should  not  have  had  those  sniall 
 differences,  which  a  gracious  God  overruled  for 
 good.  I  have  been  so  much  the  more  particular, 
 in  relating  these  small  circumstances,  in  order,  if 
 possible,  to  remove  the  carnal  prejudices  of  some 
 of  my  brethren,  who  look  too  much  on  the  out- 
 ward appearance  of  things,  as  if  I  could  not  be 
 a  minister  of  Christ,  because  I  never  had  his 
 recommendation,  nor  particular  friendship.  I 
 would  only  ask  the  moderate  question,  whether 
 
38 
 
 those  ministers  who  have  the  advantages  I  wanted, 
 have  really  reaped  any  solid  benefits  from  them  ; 
 "without,  therefore,  entering  into  any  other  instan- 
 ces, wherein  God  frustrated  my  hankering  after 
 the  good  man,  I  think  it  will  evidently  appear  ta 
 any  sober  experimental  christian,  that  the  wholtf 
 was  of  God:  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  hi? 
 gTace,  wherein  he  had  accepted  me  in  his  belovet^ 
 Son,  that  I  should  not  make  flesh  my  confidence, 
 and  so  depart  from  Him. 
 
 In  consequence  of  the  teaching  I  have  just 
 related,  I  was  led  to  travel  much  with  God  ia 
 private,  cleaving  close  to  him,  his  word,  and  the 
 means  of  his  appointment;  endeavouring,  daily, 
 to  make  straight  paths  for  my  feet ;  practising, 
 by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  things  I 
 heard  from  the  pulpit,  and  seeking  the  honor  of 
 God  only,  and  was  daily  striving  to  keep  a  con- 
 science void  of  oftence,  toward  God  and  man. 
 All  this  while,  the  excercises  about  the  ministry 
 went  on,  and,  as  I  said  above,  I  was  kept  looking 
 out,  wondering  which  way  the'Lord  would  work; 
 the  uncertainty  of  the  matter ;  the  doubts  and 
 fears  I  felt ;  and  the  views  I  had  of  my  insuffi- 
 ciency for  so  great  a  work,  often  drove  me  back. 
 I  considered  that  many  had  been  deceived,  who 
 seemed  to  have  the  same  longing  desires  for 
 the  glory  of  Christ,  and  the  good  of  souls.  None 
 have  appeared  more  zealous  than  the  Jesuites  and 
 Monks  among  the  Roman  Catholics,  who  have, 
 like  the  I^harisees   of  old,  compassed  sea  and 
 
so 
 
 land  to  make  proselytes;  and,  from  blind  legal 
 motives,  have,  with  furious  zeal,   traversed  the 
 ^  oceans,  and  exposed  themselves  among  barbarous 
 nations  to  great  hardships,  perils,  and  most  ter- 
 rible deaths.     Again,  at  home,  how  many  have 
 forsaken  their  estates  and  worldly  expectations, 
 in   order   to    commence   preachers?    experience 
 shews  us  that  this  is  really  the  case,  and  the  word 
 is  very  plain  upon  it,  that  many  run,  and  yet  God 
 has  not  sent  them.    Ecclesiastical  history  informs 
 ns,  how  vigorously  the  Arians,  Socinians,  Mora- 
 vians, and  Arminiaus,  &c.  have  ran  to  propagate 
 their  delusions.     The  frantic  zeal  of  the  re-bap- 
 tizers,  especially  those  in  the  days  of  Luther, 
 sufficiently  shews,  to  what  length   men  may  go. 
 It  is  dreadful  to  read  of  the  visions,  preposterous 
 experiences,  and  frantic  revelations,  their  disor- 
 dered brains  conceived,  which  they  also  brought 
 forth  to  the  people  in  their  violent  discourses, 
 while,  in  the  same  time,  they  practised  every  thing 
 horrid  :  all  these  had  pretentions  of  being  called 
 to  the  work.     How  many  in  our  days,  who,  with 
 prodigious  clear  heads,  well  furnished  with  the 
 plan  of   salvation,  having   also  bodily  strength, 
 great  power  of  speach,  anued  with  abundance  of 
 zeal,  and  appear  every  way  qualified  to  shine  as 
 popular  preachers,  yet  many  of  them  are  manifest 
 to  be  instruments  without  life-giving  sound,  even 
 no  better  than  tinkling  cymbals,  being  void  of 
 true  charity. 
 
40 
 
 1  considered  ^\hat  Paul  said  about  a  bishop, 
 1  Tim.  iii.  1.  "If  any  man  desireth  the  office  of 
 a  bishop,  he  desireth  a  good  Avork."   But  alas! 
 how  difficult  it  is  to  be  at  a  point,  whether  God 
 has  put  the  desire  in  the  heart  or  not.     Are  there 
 not  many  who  deceive   themselves?  Vvho  seem- 
 ingly have  tliese  vehement  desires,  and  yet  per- 
 ceive not  the  deceitfulness  of  their   hearts ;   nor 
 those  flattering  expectations  deeply  couched  be- 
 neath, of  being  called  of  men,  Reverend  ;  and  to 
 be  held  in  admiration.     The   pleasing  prospect 
 also   of  receiving   presents,   gifts,    and  legacies, 
 secretly  sways  the  minds  of  many  preachers,  who, 
 therefore,  haunt  the  death  beds  of  such,  especially, 
 who  have  some  property;  feeling,  therefore,  much 
 of  the  deceitfulness   of  my  heart,   I  have  often 
 beeu  in  great  distress  of  mind,  ho\v  to  make  sure 
 of  the  sincerity  of  my  desires.     I  was,  moreover, 
 led  to  weigh  the  dangers  that  often  befall  the  real 
 ministers  of  Christ ;  for  reproaches  and  persecu- 
 tions, hunger  and  nakedness,  perils  and  sword, 
 are  not  pleasant  things  to  flesh  and  blood.     I  am 
 persuaded,   that  the  man  who  covets  after  the 
 ministry,  and  seeks  great  things  for  himself,  is  a 
 fool.     The  experience  I  have  had,  has  led  me  to 
 view  it  a  dreadful  thing,  to  put  the  hand  to  the 
 plough,  without  a  divine  call;  for  when  tribula- 
 tion arises,  and  the  powers  of  hell  combine  to 
 resist  such  an  one,  if  he  cannot  appeal  to  God, 
 and  plead  his  call,  he  must  give  way,  and  shame- 
 fully draw  back  in  the  day  of  battle. 
 
 J 
 
4X 
 
 CHAP.   V. 
 
 Further  impressions  concerning  the  Ministnj ;  with 
 trials  and  temptations ;  the  instrument  also  God 
 made  use  of  in  bringing  ine  into  the  Ministry  ; 
 with  an  account  of  a  clearer  revelation  of  God's 
 will,  that  I  shoidd  preach  the  Gospel, 
 
 1  HAVE  endeavoured,  in  the  above  account,  to 
 give  some  small  idea  of  the  conflicts  I  have  had 
 about  the  ministry  ;  and   God  knows  that  I  lie 
 not  when  I  say,  that  I  have   related  but  a  very 
 small  part  of  the  trials  and  fears  on  the  one  hand, 
 and  the  powerful  drawings  and  leadings  of  God 
 on  the  other  ;  I  shall,  therefore,  proceed  to  shew, 
 by  God's  help,  how  I  was  further  made  willing. 
 When  I   heard  of  the  illness  of  our  late  pastor, 
 and  the  dangerous  nature  of  his  complaint,  I  can 
 truly  say,   before   God,    that   I   was    exceeding 
 sorry;  it  brought  a  sense  of  guilt  vipon  me,  as 
 not  having  been  sensible  enough  of  the  value  of 
 such  a  minister,  and   I  thought  I  had  been  re- 
 miss, at  times,  in  not  sufficiently  calling  upon 
 God  for  his  preservation  ;  I  was,  therefore,   led 
 heartily   to   pray   for   his   recovery,   feeling   the 
 danger  of  loosing  him  a  great  calamity.     I  shall 
 never  forget  the  sorrow  I  felt,  when  I  heard  of  his 
 death  ;    I  could    not   speak  a  word,   but,   in    a 
 moment  of  time,  I  saw,  in  spirit,  the  whole  of  his 
 
 G 
 
numerous  congregation  scattered  into  all  winds, 
 and  I  said  within  myself,  where  shall  we  now  go 
 to  hear ;  it  was  immediately  suggested  to  my  mind 
 to  go  up  to  my  study,  and  call  upon  God,  and 
 as  I  went,  my  heart  began  to  melt ;  I  drew  near 
 and  said,  *'  O  Lord,  thy  servant  is  dead  ;  but 
 thou  art  alive  for  evermore  :"  while  I  was  speak- 
 ing, nay,  even  before  I  had  done,  the  answer 
 came,  for  I  felt  my  prayer  sensibly  go  up  with 
 such  acceptance,  that  my  heart  melted  within  me, 
 and  all  my  sorrow  fled  away  in  a  moment.  I 
 felt  the  sweet  approbation  of  God,  for  being 
 enabled  to  make  him  my  trust,  and  only  refuge, 
 I  could  not  help  crying  out,  for  very  joy  of  heart, 
 for  the  consolation  ;  he  told  me  "  that  he  would 
 surely  do  me  good,  and  be  my  God  and  guide, 
 even  unto  death."  My  eyes  became  like  too 
 fountains,  feeling  sweet  gratitude  and  godly  sor* 
 row,  the  usual  effect  of  God's  genuine  visitations  ; 
 and  a  mighty  spirit  of  prayer  came  upon  me,  and 
 I  ^aid,  **  Lord  there  is  nothing  too  hard  for  thee, 
 and  as  thou  hast  taken  thy  servant  from  us,  I 
 beseech  thee  let  a  double  portion  of  his  spirit  rest 
 upon  me."  I  chuse  to  conceal,  because,  indeed, 
 I  am  not  able  to  describe  the  views  the  Lord  was 
 pleased  to  give  me,  of  the  happiness  of  that  spirit 
 now  made  perfect,  who  had  so  long  laboured  in 
 his  vineyard,  and  was  now  enjoying  his  exceed- 
 ing great  reward.  Though  I  had  no  particular 
 scripture  applied  in  answer  to  my  last  petition, 
 yet  the  power  with  which  it  went  up,  the  answer 
 
43 
 
 of  peace  and  joy  I  received  in  return,  is  quite 
 enough  for  me;  while  my  soul  lay  flat  in  the 
 dust  before  my  gracious  God,  swallowed  up  in 
 self-abasement  and  nothingness,  and  He  all  in 
 all. 
 
 Notwithstanding  the  mighty  workings  I  felt 
 concerning  the  ministry,  yet,  because  I  was  not 
 at  a  point,  I  was  determined  to  stick  close  to  the 
 means,  and  was  enabled  heartily  to  pray  for  those 
 ministers  we  had  left ;  having  heard  Mr.  B — , 
 with  some  satisfaction,  and  believing  him  to  be 
 faithful,  X  was  glad  that  God  had  left  him  among 
 us.  I  now  begged,  day  and  night,  that  the  Lord 
 would  keep  me  humbly  seeking  his  will,  that  I 
 might  be  upon  my  guard,  and  very  narrowly 
 watch  his  hand.  Shortly  after,  hearing  that  Mr, 
 C —  was,  in  a  manner,  nominated  to  be  the  suc- 
 cessor of  Mr.  H — ,  I  sunk  in  my  mind,  and  was 
 perplexed  with  many  temptations,  especially  as 
 I  had  secret  thoughts  tha|;  God  would  work  in 
 the  way  I  hinted  at  before ;  this  sent  me  to  niy 
 never-failing  friend  and  guide,  where  I  obtained 
 submission,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to  deny  myself, 
 and  bow  to  his  sovereign  will.  I  heard  Mr.  C — 
 from  1  Pet.  i.  1,  and  although  he  was  led  to 
 handle  the  subject  according  to  the  word,  bring- 
 ing forth  a  great  deal  of  scripture,  yet  there  being 
 but  little  experience  brought  out,  I  was  not 
 edified  ;  the  fear  of  God,  however,  preserved  me, 
 lest  T  should  make  him  an  offender  for  a  word, 
 who,- perhaps,  might  feel  timid  before  a  people, 
 
 G  2 
 
44 
 
 hitherto  considered  so  wise  and  enlightened. 
 Now  I  found  sore  conflicts  with  the  devil  and  cor- 
 ruption, feeling  a  secret  satisfaction  when  I  heard 
 of  the  general  discontent  of  the  people  concern- 
 ing his  ministry.  O  !  how  I  was  led  to  wrestle 
 with  God,  that  he  Avould  cleanse  me  from  all 
 such  iniquity,  and  keep  me  undefiled  in  the  way. 
 The  changes  that  I  found  in  me,  daily,  were  such, 
 that  ray  heart  was  continually  wounded  and  sore, 
 so  that  this  burden  was  laid  upon  me,  to  cry, 
 pray,  wrestle,  and  supplicate  constantly,  for  I 
 could  not  maintain  my  standing  in  these  deep 
 waters  w^ithout  it.  At  other  times,  when  the 
 Lord  has  \isited  me  with  his  comfortable  pre- 
 sence, making  darkness  light  before  me,  and 
 crooked  things  straight,  at  such  seasons,  I  have 
 felt  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  come  sensibly  upon 
 me,  producing  most  vehement  supplications  and 
 prayers  to  God,  that  he  would  make  me  useful 
 among  his  own  sheep.  I  felt  a  most  wonderful 
 love  to  them,  and  was  exceedingly  grieved  to  see 
 them  scattered  upon  the  mountains  and  hills. 
 My  heart  was,  at  times,  much  enlarged,  having 
 extended  views,  and  I  felt  singular  utterance 
 within  me.  In  answer  to  my  prayers  and  anx- 
 ious cares  for  his  people,  I  received  also  many 
 promises,  with  so  much  power  and  sweet  assu- 
 rance, that  I  have  been  often  drowned  in  tears 
 of  gratitude  before  God.  O!  how  I  have  been 
 melted  with  these  words :  Joel  ii.  21,  "  Fear  not, 
 O  land ;  be  glad  and  rejoice :  for  the  Lord  will 
 
45 
 
 Ao  great  things."  Again,  "  Be  glad,  then,  ye  chil- 
 dren of  Zion,  and  rejoice  in  the  Lord  yonr  God; 
 for  he  hath  given  you  the  former  rain  moderately, 
 and  he  will  cause*to  come  down  for  you,  the  rain, 
 the  former  rain,  and  the  latter  rain,  in  the  first 
 month.""  Again,  this  assuaged  my  grief,  "And 
 I  will  restore  unto  you  the  years  that  the  locusts 
 have  eaten,  the  canker  worm,"  &c. ;  but  this 
 quite  overcame  my  soul,  as  a  crowning  blessing, 
 *'  And  ye  shall  eat  in  plenty,  and  be  satisfied,  and 
 praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  your  God  that  hath 
 dealt  wonderfully  with  you :  and  my  people  shall 
 never  be  ashamed."  On  the  other  hand,  God 
 gave  me  to  see  the  backslidings  of  many,  the 
 legal  pride  of  others,  and  that  an  evident  dege- 
 neracy had  alreacly  taken  place ;  so  that  covet-^ 
 ousness,  uncleanness,  prejudice,  and  worldly- 
 mindedness,  had  spread  their  baneful  eflects. 
 When  influenced  with  these  views,  I  have  found 
 my  mind  singularly  led  out,  to  grasp  all  the  wea- 
 pons of  our  w^arfare  against  these  evils  ;  this 
 especially  sounded  within  me:  1  Tit.  xi.  13 — 
 "  Wherefore  rebuke  them  sharply,  that  they  may 
 be  sound  in  the  faith."  Afterwards,  I  have  re- 
 turned, being  in  a  great  measure,  ashamed  of 
 the  vehement  cogitations  of  my  mind,  saying, 
 *'  who  am  I,  that  I  should  presume  to  censure 
 the  conduct  of  a  people  so  wise  and  so  richly 
 taught?  I  must  be  under  a  delusion,  and  not  in 
 my  right  senses."  This  served  me  for  another 
 errand  to  God,  for  light,  wisdom,  discretion,  and 
 
46 
 
 humility.  I  still  kept  silence,  being  determined 
 to  have  no  hand  in  it  myself;  I,  therefore,  kept 
 very  close  at  home,  and  rarely  went  out,  lest  I 
 should  seem  to  run  to  and  fro,  like  many,  to 
 make  friends,  being  vainly  puffed  up  with  pride; 
 such  are  trying  their  gifts  before  men,  by  torrents 
 of  words,  and,  like  prating  fools,  are  spouting  in 
 what  they  call  prayer. 
 
 By  a  singular  impression  upon  my  spirit,  I 
 was  kept  looking  out  with  a  supernatural  confi- 
 dence, that  my  standing  still  was  my  wisdom 
 from  above,  and  that  I  should  see  tlie  salvation 
 of  God.  I  had  a  strong  persuasion,  that  the 
 time  of  God  was  near,  and  that  I  should  soon  see 
 it.  My  expectation  was  not  cut  off,  nor  my  faith 
 disappointed,  because  I  was  enabled  to  trust  in 
 God  only. 
 
 Accordingly,  a  person  of  the  name  of  H — , 
 called  upon  me,  with  whom  I  had  but  a  slight 
 acquaintance,  he  having  employed  me  some  time 
 before  in  my  professional  capacity.  He  came  to 
 lament  with  me,  our  common  loss ;  and,  as  I  be- 
 lieved him  to  be  a  good  man,  I  was  glad  to  see 
 him.  In  the  course  of  our  conversation,  we  both 
 lamented  the  unsettled  state  of  the  church,  and  I 
 was  led  to  speak  rather  fervently  on  the  subject, 
 feeling  an  uncommon  impulse  upon  my  spirit. 
 While  I  was  thus  engaged,  I  perceived  him  to 
 laugh  almost  at  every  thing  I  said,  I  looked  at 
 him,  wondering  at  his  behaviour,  and  I  asked 
 him  wherefore  he   laughed  ?    he  answered  me 
 
47 
 
 smiling,  saying,  *'  I  really  believe  you  are  the 
 man  that  we  look  for ;"  it  startled  me  exceed- 
 ingly to  hear  him  say  so,  and  being  filled  with 
 fear,  I  could  have  dropped  on  the  floor.     After 
 much  conversation  on  the  subject,  he,   at  last, 
 drew  out  my  secret,  and  seemed  to  rejoice  much, 
 when  he  heard  that  my  mind  had  been  exercised 
 on  the  subject,  although  I  told  him  but  a  very 
 small  part  of  the  exercises  I  went  through,  touch- 
 ing the  ministry.    When  he  heard  of  the  scrip- 
 ture that  was  applied  to  me,  he  said,  that  he  be- 
 lieved it  was  of  God,  and  further  added,  saying, 
 **  you  know,  that  as  one  of  the  Trust,  I  have  a 
 right  to  introduce  and  propose  any  qualified  per- 
 son ;  shall  I  mention  you  to  my  Brethren  of  the 
 Trust,  that  you  may  give  an  exhortation  to  the 
 people  on  some  Wednesday  evening?"    The  san- 
 guine manner  in  which  he  spoke,  by  bringing  the 
 matter  to  such  a  speedy  conclusion,  rather  start- 
 led me.    I  was  now  brought  into  a  great  per- 
 plexity, which  made  me  look  up,  and  inwardly 
 to  pray  to  the  Lord  for  wisdom  and  direction ; 
 and  I  said  to  Mr.  H —  "  Let  us  not  be  too  hasty, 
 but  let  us  ask  counsel  of  God ;  mention  it  to  a 
 few  godly  friends,  that  they  may  also  seek  God 
 with  us,  that  we  may  be   further  established." 
 After  he  was  gone,  I  was  left  in  a  state  not  easy 
 to  be  described,   and  I   lamented  much  that  I 
 had  told  him  the  secret  of  my  heart.     New  per- 
 plexities, fears,  and  temptations,  started  up  in 
 abundance ,  never  did  I  feel  my  weakness,  help- 
 
48 
 
 lessness,  and  unfitness  for  the  office,  to  sucii  a 
 degree ;  in  a  moment,  I  saw,  as  it  were,  the  head» 
 of  many  okl,  wise,  and  deeply  experienced  per- 
 sons  before   me,  and  I,    a  child   and  a  novice 
 speaking  to  them  ;  I  really  thought  that  I  should 
 sink  into  the  earth,  or  else  die  for  fear.  O  !  how  I 
 lamented    my    imprudence,    and    with    David^ 
 wished  I  had  the  wings  of  a  dove,  that  I  might 
 iiee  away,  and  be  at  rest.    I  poured  out  my  soul 
 before  God,   and  was  quite  in  an  agony,  begging 
 pardon  if  I  had  done  amiss,  and  asking  for  light, 
 power,  and  further  direction;  I  confessed  all  my 
 fears  and  faintings,  and  earnestly  prayed  for  more 
 strength  and  fortitude,  if  he  really  intended  that 
 I  should  preach.     The  Lord  was  not  deaf  to  my 
 intreaties,  for  he  often  hushed  the  tumults  of  my 
 soul,  but  as  they  were  but  passing  blinks,   I  was 
 left,  upon  the  whole,  in  a  state  of  suspense,  and^ 
 my  sleep  departed  from  me.     Mr.  H —  sent  me  a 
 letter  in  the  mean  while,  to  encourage  me  not  to 
 faint,  but  to  go  to   the  work,  exhorting  me  not 
 to  give  way  to  doubts  and  fears  ;  he  bid  me   to 
 consider  what  God  had  applied,  saying,  "  1  have 
 ordained  thee  a  prophet  unto  the  nations."    Not- 
 withstanding all  that  he  could  say,  my  fears  con- 
 tinued, and   no  persuasion  had  any  effect,  for  I 
 could  not  rest  without  light  and  instruction  from 
 God  himself:    both  my  appetite  and  sleep  de- 
 parted from  me,  and,  as  1  could  not  rest  in  bed, 
 I  have  got  up  at  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
 ing to  seek  God,  that  I  might  get  my  mind  estab- 
 
49 
 
 lished,  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  cried  to  him 
 day  and  night. 
 
 I  wish  not  to  forget  to  mention  some  })articu- 
 lar  experiences,  which,  when  opened  up  and  de- 
 scribed, may,  under  God,  be  a  comfort  to  some 
 of  his  people,  who,  after  they  have  tasted  that 
 the  Lord  is  gracious,  and  received  the  word  with 
 power,  yet,  after  all,  doubt  of  the  reality  of  the 
 work,  and,  in  time  of  trial,  stagger  at  the  pro- 
 mise through  unbelief  I  have  already  given  an 
 ample  account  of  the  many  changes  I  had,  to 
 make  sure,  whether  the  promises,  and  the  power 
 I  felt  were  of  God.  The  time  being  now  rather 
 pressing  for  me  to  give  a  definitive  answer,  the 
 strait  I  was  brought  in,  made  me  very  diligent, 
 even  beyond  measure,  to  seek  the  will  of  God. 
 Sometimes^  I  was  bowed  down  to  the  earth,  with 
 misery,  dejection,  and  doubts.  Again,  in  answer 
 to  my  bitter  weeping  and  supplications,  I  have 
 manifestly  felt  the  Spirit  of  God  come  upon  me, 
 like  the  sun  breaking  suddenly  out  from  behind 
 a  dark  cloud  ;  my  bondage  and  misery  fled  away, 
 all  was  light,  and  no  darkness  left ;  I  could  then 
 believe,  without  a  doubt,  that  the  Lord  was  with 
 me,  that  it  was  his  voice,  and  not  another.  I  was 
 then  persuaded  that  none  but  God  himself  could 
 effect  such  a  prodigious  change,  from  such  ex- 
 treme misery,  to  such  joy  and  peace  in  believing. 
 I  have  sometimes  remained,  for  an  hour  or  two, 
 in  this  sweet  frame,  clothed  with  the  garments 
 ©f  salvation,    while  this  mighty  power  of  God 
 
 H 
 
50 
 
 upon  my  soul,  led  me  to  be  persuaded  that  he 
 had  certainly  called  me  to  the  work.  Again,  I 
 have,  after  these  indulgences,  gradually  sunk  into 
 the  deep,  and  the  pit  had  almost  shut  hcT  mouth 
 upon  me ;  not  that  I  had  any  doubt  of  a  saving 
 interest  in  Christ;  but  it  was  my  call  to  the 
 ministry,  not  being,  as  I  thought,  clear  enough 
 about  it :  this  was  ihe  cause  of  all  my  trouble. 
 
 So,  in  like  manner,  many  poor  souls  have 
 been  called  to  Christ,  and  have  tasted  that  he  is 
 gracious;  yet,  when  they  come  to  be  engaged 
 in  the  indispensable  duties  of  their  occupations 
 in  the  world,  what  with  hearing  and  seeing  the 
 evil  communication,  they  feel,  in  a  measure,  their 
 good  manners  corrupted,  and  they  sink  in  fears 
 and  despondency,  because,  being  but  weak  in 
 faith  and  knowledge,  they  judge  only  accord- 
 ing to  the  frame  they  are  in,  especially  if  the 
 trials  they  endure  are  somewhat  new  to  them. 
 A  man,  under  such  changes  will  say,  "  where  am 
 I  ?  In  the  morning  Christ  was  precious  to  me,  I 
 then  loathed  the  world  and  myself,  my  prayers 
 and  praises  were  sweet,  believing  that  I  should 
 not  die  but  live,  that  I  might  declare  the  works 
 of  the  Lord.  I  was  filled  with  joy  and  peace  in 
 believing,  hoping,  that  he  who  had  began  the 
 work,  would  also  carry  it  on.  But  now,  O ! 
 what  a  change !  I  seem  like  another  man  ;  was  it 
 then  a  delusion,  or  do  I  dream  ?  I  am  filled  with 
 doubts,  fears,  and  confusion.  Is  there  no  reality 
 in  religion  ?  Why  then  cannot  I  hold  fast  my  con* 
 
51 
 
 fidence  ?  I  feel  myself  more  like  a  devil  than  like 
 a  saint :  O !  what  unbelief  I  discover;  what  hard 
 thoughts  of  God ;  what  risings  of  rebellion ;  dis- 
 content, and  murmurings ;  I  am  afraid  of  these 
 luy  sorrows,  because  of  the  hardness  of  my  heart ; 
 I  really  fear  that  I  am  a  hypocrite,  and  have  no 
 part  or  lot  in  the  matter,  for  God  saith,  that 
 *'  there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked :"  I  am  the 
 man,  for  my  heart  is  like  the  troubled  sea,  cast- 
 ing up  dirt  and  mire.  Do  I  not  read  that  God 
 saith,  "  Behold  I  create  Jerusalem  a  joy,  and 
 her  people  a  rejoicing."  Such  a  troubled  soul  will 
 say  with  him  of  old,  "  my  confusion  is  ever  be- 
 fore me  ;"  yet  this  is  the  way  that  God  leads  his 
 people,  for  when  we  are  on  the  mount,  we  then 
 think  with  David,  that  we  shall  never  be  moved ; 
 but  when  God  hideth  his  face,  for  the  trial  of  our 
 faith,  then  we  fear  that  his  mercy  is  clean  gone  : 
 this  is  our  infirmity. 
 
 The  ministry  being  a  new  thing,  I  found  my- 
 self very  dull  and  aukward,  in  those  trials  which 
 came  upon  me  respecting  it,  not  properly  under- 
 standing the  voice  of  God.  I  was  often  ashamed 
 of  my  unbelief;  that  was  my  sin,  and  I  could  not 
 act  faith  wher^  I  pleased,  for  this  is  the  gift  of 
 God.  My  only  and  best  resource  was,  to  cry 
 to  God  day  and  night.  I  have  purposely  related 
 some  of  my  prayers  and  cries  to  God,  verbatim, 
 that  many  hungry  and  thirsty  souls  may  be  en- 
 couraged, by  my  example,  to  cry  also  to  him  iii, 
 
 «  2 
 
62 
 
 their  troubles,  and  obtain  deliverances,  as  I  also 
 obtained  ;  to  the  praise  of  him,  who  is  a  present 
 help  in  time  of  need. 
 
 One  day  in  particular,  being  led  to  seek  God 
 incessantly,  and  finding  some  energy  and  strength 
 communicated,  I  went  again  and  again,  and 
 finding  every  time  an  increase  of  power  and 
 sweetness,  I  felt  a  strong  confidence  springing 
 up,  that  this  was  the  acceptable  time ;  this  led 
 me  to  make  free,  and  use  uncommon  efforts,  and 
 to  wrestle  with  God,  saying  :  "  Lord,  let  me  not 
 be  deceived ;  but  shew  me  thy  will :  hast  thou 
 not  said,  seek  ye  my  face,  ask,  seek,  knock?  for 
 thy  dear  Son's  sake,  clear  my  doubts  ;  pardon 
 my  unbelief;  and  enlighten  my  darkness.  Lord, 
 I  feel  resignation  to  thy  will  either  way;  but  as 
 I  know  my  heart  to  be  deceitful,  search  it  deeply, 
 tiiat  I  may  know  whether  I  am,  through  grace, 
 made  sincere  indeed.  Lord,  let  me  not  run,  but 
 in  consequence  of  being  sent  by  thee."  I  then 
 pleaded  his  former  mercies,  and  cried  with  such 
 vehemence,  that  being  in  an  agony  of  pain  to 
 bring  forth,  I  really  thought  my  very  heartstrings 
 would  break ;  but  at  this  critical  moment,  just 
 ^s  my  strength  began  to  fail,  and  my  soul  was 
 ready  to  faint,  the  gracious  answer  came.  Never 
 did  I  receive  such  an  answer  as  this  concerning 
 the  ministry.  O,  what  power!  what  light!  yea, 
 what  glory !  In  an  instant,  it  appeared  to  me 
 as  if  heaven  was  open  over  my  head ;  while  I  was 
 
53 
 
 surrounded  with  light  within,  and  wihout,  God 
 broke  in  pieces  the  gates  of  brass,  and  cut  the 
 bars  of  iron  in  sunder.  My  soul  was  restored  in  a 
 moment,  and  the  breaches  thereof  were  healed. 
 The  Lord  filled  my  mouth  with  laughter,  and 
 my  tongue  with  singing :  he  said  unto  me,  "  As 
 a  prince  hast  thou  power  with  God  and  with 
 men,  and  hast  prevailed."  My  spirit  bowed 
 before  him  under  the  deepest  sense  of  humility, 
 saying :  "  Lord,  who  am  I,  that  I  should  be  thus 
 made  to  prevail  with  thee,  who  am  but  dust  and 
 ashes?  Lord,  let  thy  will  be  done;  guide  thou 
 me  continually,  and  never  leave  me  to  myself." 
 While  I  was  blessing,  and  praising  him  with 
 unutterable  language,  the  joy  and  peace  I  felt 
 increased  to  such  a  degree,  that  I  could  hardly 
 bear  the  precious  weight ;  tears  of  gratitude  ran 
 down  my  cheeks  abundantly,  while  my  uplifted 
 hands  were  like  an  evening  sacrifice.  O  how 
 glorious  is  the  state  of  a  man  !  who  is  enabled  by 
 the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  by  living  faith 
 in  Christ,  to  kneel  down  in  spirit,  and  worship 
 that  loving  and  blessed  Father,  the  God  of  all 
 comfort.  I  believed  now,  indeed,  "to  see  the 
 goodness  of  God  in  the  land  of  the  living ;" 
 which  led  me  deeply  into  that  godly  sorrow  and 
 repentance,  not  to  be  repented  of.  I  felt  the 
 greatest  submission  imaginable  to  his  sovereign 
 will,  and  bowed  before  him  with  the  profoundest 
 reverence.  While  I  was  thus  alternately  rejoicing, 
 praising,  and  also  praying  fervently :  God  made 
 
54 
 
 me  to  ride  upon  the  high  places  of  tlie  earth. 
 Every  fresh  token  for  good  made  me  still  to 
 sink  lower  before  him  in  humility,  being  wi!ling 
 to  be  nothing,  that  he  alone  might  be  exalted. 
 The  power  that  was  upon  my  soul  was  such,  that 
 in  a  moment  it  seemed  as  if  my  heart  suddenly 
 expanded  ;  and  1  believed,  with  all  my  soul,  that 
 God  had  really  called  me  to  proclaim  his  great 
 name ;  and  that  it  was  his  will  I  should  preach 
 this  gospel,  that  had  been  his  power  towards  me, 
 in  saving  my  soul.  My  heart  was  filled  with 
 inexpressible  love  towards  the  Great  Shepherd, 
 and  toward  his  sheep ;  the  tears  ran  down  my 
 cheeks  under  the  sweet  pressure ;  while  the  eyes 
 of  my  understanding  saw  the  Iieavens  opened ; 
 being  swallowed  up,  as  it  were,  with  the  glory  of 
 God ;  and  while  I  was  bowing  before  him  in  the 
 deepest  humility,  being  inexpressibly  moved  with 
 trembling  and  rejoicing,  these  words  rushed  in 
 upon  me  with  exceeding  great  power;  **  The  Lord 
 God  and  bis  Spirit,  hath  sent  me."  Although 
 I  knew  not  where  these  words  stood  in  the  bible, 
 yet  the  great  power  with  which  they  came,  left 
 my  soul  without  a  single  doubt,  but  that  it  was 
 God's  word  to  me.  The  meltings  of  my  soul  I 
 cannot  describe,  feeling  a  tumult  of  gratitude, 
 love,  praise,  godly  fear,  and  profound  est  humility, 
 saying  to  God  :  "  Lord,  hast  thou  indeed  sent  me, 
 who  am  the  most  unworthy  of  thy  creatures? 
 what !  such  a  dead  dog  as  I  ?  O  Lord  !  be  thou 
 my  teacher,  guide,   and  counsellor ;    make  me 
 
55 
 
 very  faithful,  and  humble  me  so  much  the  more, 
 as  thy  mercies  abound  towards  me.  O !  humble 
 me  greatly,  and  keep  me  exceedingly  abased  in 
 my  sight,  now,  and  for  ever." 
 
 I  felt  now  so  established,  that  I  thought  I 
 ishould  not  be  afraid  to  preach  before  ten  thou- 
 sand people,  for  the  perfect  love  I  was  filled 
 with,  had  cast  out  all  fear.  I  told  Mr.  H — 
 that  I  was  now  at  a  point,  and  that  he  might  do 
 as  the  Lord  directed  him ;  accordingly  he  con- 
 sulted with  the  gentlemen  of  the  Trust,  who, 
 every  one,  seemed  to  have  no  objection,  that  I 
 should  give  an  exhortation  to  the  people  on  the 
 Wednesday  following ;  but  after  all,  it  appeared, 
 that  notwithstanding  these  gentlemen  had  the 
 same  power,  which  they  have  exercised  since, 
 yet  a  fifth  person  being  consulted,  they  unani- 
 mously agreed  that  I  should  not  preach  in  their 
 chapel ;  I  have  since  been  informed,  that  the 
 Lady,  who  so  strenuously  opposed  my  preaching 
 there,  has  been  sorry  that  she  prevented  me  from 
 80  good  a  work ;  I  wish,  therefore,  to  spare  re- 
 flections, hoping,  that  she  was  sorry  before  God, 
 and  not  merely  from  private  motives.  As  the 
 Lord  directs  me  to  seek  the  good  of  those  who 
 are  made  willing  to  walk  safely,  I  wish,  therefore, 
 to  observe,  what  an  unspeakable  blessing  is 
 reaped  by  those  who  walk  in  the  fear  of  the 
 Lord,  as  it  is  said :  "  Trust  in  the  Lord,  with  all 
 thine  heart;  and  lean  not  unto  thine  own  under- 
 standing :  in  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and 
 
56 
 
 he  shall  direct  thy  paths ;"  for  had  Ihey  done  this, 
 they  would  liave  prospered ;  the  hand  of  the 
 Lord  would  have  been  known  towards  his  ser* 
 vants,  and  his  indignation  toward  his  enemies ; 
 but  they  obeyed  not  the  voice  ;  they  received  not 
 correction  ;  they  trusted  not  in  the  Lord ;  they 
 drew  not  near  to  their  God ;  therefore  they  are  in 
 danger  of  their  house  being  left  unto  them  deso- 
 late, for  they  have  rendered  themselves  abomi- 
 nable in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  by  justifying  the 
 wicked,  and  condemning  the  righteous.  Had 
 they  travailed  with  God,  with  bitter  weeping  and 
 supplication,  and  watched  thereunto  w  ith  thanks- 
 giving for  all  past  favors,  even  as  God  led  me  to 
 make  my  calling  and  election  to  the  ministry 
 sure ;  certain  I  am,  that  the  windows  of  heaven 
 would  have  been  opened,  and  God  would  have 
 poured  down  such  a  blessing  upon  them,  that 
 there  would  not  have  been  room  to  contain  it. 
 Christ  saith,  "  that  if  two  or  three  agree  upon 
 earth,  as  touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask, 
 it  shall  be  done  for  them,  of  my  Father  who  is 
 in  heaven  :"  how  much  more,  if  two  or  three  thou- 
 sand souls  had  mightily  cried  to  God,  even  as  the 
 church  in  the  apostolic  age  did,  when  God,  in 
 answer  thereto,  sent  an  angel  from  heaven,  who 
 delivered  Peter  out  of  the  prison,  and  restored 
 him  again  to  the  church.  I  say,  if  they  had  done 
 so,  no  doubt  but  God  would  have  sent  a  second 
 Paul  among  them. 
 
 Forasmuch  as  many  who  have  seen  my  bold- 
 
5T 
 
 tiess  in  the  Lord^  and  have  heard  me  confidently 
 assert  my  call  to  the  ministry,  but  have  doubted 
 of  the  reality  of  it,  supposing,  that  without  much 
 trial,  I  have  rushed  forward  to   the  work:  for 
 their  sakes  have  I  largely  described  my  changes, 
 that  they  may  evidently  see,  that  the  fear  of  God 
 is  in  me,  except  they  give  the  lie  to  the  Spirit's 
 work.     I  return,  therefore,  to  the  glorious  mani- 
 festation God  gave  me  of  his  determinate  will, 
 that  he,  the  Lord  God,  and  his  Spirit,  had  sent 
 me  to  the  work,  which  powerful  persuasion  abode 
 with  me  all  that  day,  feeling  frequent  meltings 
 and  much  brokenness  of  spirit,  at  the  very  recol- 
 lection of  the  goodness  of  God,  in  not  suffering 
 me  to  seek  his  face  in  vain.    Next  morning,  how- 
 ever, I  awoke  with  a  gloom  upon  my  spirit ;  I 
 felt  after  the  Lord,  and  he  had  withdrawn  him- 
 self; 1  looked  for  my  evidences,  and  a  bare  re- 
 membrance was  left  of  them  without  any  savour. 
 A  storm   gradually  came  on,  and  the  wind  of 
 temptation  began    to   blow ;   clouds   Of  doubts, 
 many  fears,  and  unbelief,   obscured  my   mind  ; 
 freezing  sensations,  mixed  with  grief  and  sorrow, 
 seemed  like  forerunners  of  evil  tidings,  to  beset 
 me  round  about,  so  that  my  vessel  began  to  be 
 tossed  up  and  down  upon  these  waves.    I  endea- 
 voured, with   all  my  might,   to  keep  my  mind 
 stayed  upon  the  Lord,  and  cried  unto  him  most 
 vehemently.     Never  did  I  m'ore  distinctly  per- 
 ceive    those     two    natures    wrestling    together, 
 namely,  the  flesh  lusting  against  the  spirit,  and 
 
58 
 
 the  spirit  against  the  flesh.  With  my  mind  I 
 served  the  law  of  God,  that  is,  I  believed  the 
 report  God  had  given  me ;  but  with  my  flesh  I 
 served  the  law  of  sin,  that  is,  I  doubted  the  whole 
 of  it,  as  being  only  an  idle  dream,  the  effusion 
 and  produce  of  a  lively  imagination.  I  began 
 now  very  soberly  to  examine  my  evidences,  and 
 the  strong  reasons  I  had  for  believing,  that  God 
 had  spoken  to  me  in  reality  by  his  word,  saying : 
 "  Was  I  not  deeply  distressed,  sore  broken,  mar- 
 vellously bowed  down,  and  sick  at  heart?  What 
 power  can  that  be,  which  restored  me  in  a  mo- 
 ment? Surely,  power  belongeth  unto  God  only, 
 therefore,  this  change  must  have  been  effected 
 by  none,  but  by  the  omnipotence  of  the  Most 
 High,  who  saith,  "  I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth 
 thee."  Again,  *'  He  sent  his  word  and  healed 
 them,"  which  word  came  to  me  with  great  power 
 in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  much  assurance ;  here 
 I  endeavoured  to  stand.  On  the  other  hand, 
 Satan,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  doubts  and  stub 
 born  unbelief,  with  all  the  rage  imaginable,  as- 
 saulted me,  saying :  ' '  Many  have  deceived  them- 
 selves who  had  greater  evidences,  for  they  could 
 speak  with  the  tongue  of  men  and  of  angels,  and 
 yet  were  nothing.  Judas  received  power  to  cast 
 out  devils,  performed  cures,  and  yet  proved  a 
 child  of  hell.  Demas  also  engaged  in  the  minis- 
 try, but  turned  his  back  upon  God,  having  loved 
 this  present  evil  world.  Balaam  too,  saw  the 
 visions  of  God,  yet  proved,  at  last,  to  be  nothing' 
 
59 
 
 but  an  enemy  to  him,  and  to  his  people.  Many 
 have,  like  you,  received  the  promises  with  great 
 joy,  who,  notwithstanding,  have  fallen  away  in 
 time  of  temptation :  your  joy,  therefore,  might 
 only  be  the  effect  of  intense  application  in  think- 
 ing, and  by  winding  up  your  imagination  to  an 
 extreme  pitch  of  extension,  cause  violent  distor- 
 tions of  your  mental  faculties,  and  produce  such 
 persuasions,  which  nobody,  in  their  right  senses, 
 will  believe.  It  is  utterly  impossible  fully  to 
 describe  what  the  malice,  the  rage,  and  craft  of 
 the  devil,  is  able  to  hatch,  in  order  to  vex,  tor- 
 ment, and  distress  those  who  are  led  the  right 
 way ;  but  God,  by  these  trials,  teacheth  "  the 
 prudent  to  look  well  to  his  way,  while  the  simple 
 pass  on,  and  are  punished."  Many  other  things 
 made  head  against  me,  but  I  wish  for  the  present 
 only  to  take  notice,  that  all  who  will  live  godly  in 
 this  evil  world,  shall  have  every  step  they  take  in 
 the  heavenly  race,  disputed  by  the  devil  and 
 lunbelief:  God  permits  it  for  the  trial  of  our 
 faith,  which  faith  being  heaven-born,  will,  most 
 certainly  overcome  the  world,  with  all  the  devils 
 and  unbelief  in  it.  My  reader  may  look  back, 
 and  clearly  see,  that  every  token  for  good,  con- 
 cerning the  ministry,  was  most  fiercely  attacked 
 by  Satan  and  sin,  for  the  resistance  1  found  was 
 truly  infernal ;  but  they  were  not  able  to  prevail, 
 being  constantly  defeated  by  faith  in  the  Son  of 
 God :  "  for  we  are  always  made  more  than  con- 
 
 I  2 
 
60 
 
 querors  through  him  that  hatli  loved  us."  Though 
 I  knew  all  this  in  my  judgment,  and  had  often 
 proved  it,  yet,  when  under  these  trials,  I  have 
 found  it  hard  Avork  indeed,  to  stand  in  these  deep 
 waters. 
 
 I  passed  the  whole  day  long  under  grievous 
 temptations,  being  tossed  to  and  fro,  like  the 
 locusts,  but  the  blessed  Spirit  left  me  not,  how- 
 ever, to  myself,  for  he  helped  mine  infirmities  so 
 wonderfully,  that  I  was  enabled  to  turn  every 
 motion  within  into  prayer.  I  confessed  my 
 doubts  and  unbelief,  my  murmuring  and  fears  ; 
 I  begged  for  more  strength,  and  that  his  grace 
 might  be  sufficient  for  me.  The  subtle  insinu- 
 ations of  Satan,  I  brought  before  the  Lord,  tel- 
 ling him,  that  he  suggested,  that  1  must  cer- 
 tainly be  mad,  and  beside  myself;  that  my  long- 
 ing and  vehement  desires  for  the  ministry  were 
 the  effect  of  a  heated  and  distempered  imagi- 
 nation. I  endeavoured  thus,  to  lodge  my  appeals 
 in  the  court  of  heaven,  intreating  the  Advocate 
 of  my  soul  to  plead  ray  cause,  and  vindicate  his 
 own  work.  1  obtained  many  small  lifts  by  the 
 way,  so  as  to  enable  me,  in  this  dark  day,  to  trust 
 in  the  Lofd,  and  stay  myself  upon  my  God, 
 
61 
 
 CHAP.    VI. 
 
 Further  trials,  shelving,  that  as  Christ  was  re- 
 jected of  professing  Jews,  so  was  7,  as  his  in- 
 strument, rejected  of  professing  Gentiles ;  also, 
 the  tokens  for  good,  given  to  me,  and  how  I 
 came  at  last  to  preach,  when  all  doors  were 
 seemingly  shut  a^^ainst  me;  ivith  the  strong 
 and  mortijying  oppositions  I  met  ivith  from 
 professors,  ^t. 
 
 In  the  mean  while  Mr.  H —  brought  me  word 
 that  I  was  rejected,  and  should  not  preach  at  the 
 chapel.  As  I  had  found  some  forebodings  of  it 
 upon  my  spirit,  it  did  not  take  any  violent  hold 
 upon  me,  so  as  to  cast  me  down  much,  for  this 
 word  had  often  sounded  in  my  heart:  "  Get  thee 
 out  of  Jerusalem :  for  they  will  not  receive  thy 
 testimony  concerning  me."  The  Lord  strength- 
 ened my  faith,  so  that  I  was  enabled  to  lay  pas- 
 sive in  his  hands,  for  my  heart  was  made  so  soft 
 by  the  many  exercises  I  had  laboured  under,  that 
 I  said  in  my  heart:  "  Lord,  do  with  thy  servant 
 what  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight,  and  increase  my 
 patience."  Mr.  H — ,  however,  was  not  daunted 
 to  all  appearance,  but  endeavoured  to  comfort 
 me,  saying,  **  As  God  has  called  you,  a  necessity 
 is  laid  upon  you  to  preach,  therefore  let  us  not 
 
62 
 
 faint;  they  have  shut  one  door,  the  Lord  is  able 
 to  open  another."     Upon  this  he  went  away,  and 
 in  a  short  time  returned  with  Mr.  B — ,  whom  he 
 had  met  with,  not  far  from  my  house:  after  a 
 little  conversation,    Mr.  H —  mentioned  to  him 
 the  refusal  I  had  met  with,  expressing  his  asto- 
 nishment, that  they  should  reject  a  man  who  had 
 been   a  member  foj  up\vards    of  twenty  years, 
 and  -whose  life,  walk,  and  conversation,  was  un- 
 blamable ;  he  urged  me  then  to  tell  Mr.  B —  the 
 reasons  wherefore  I  desired  the  ministry :  I  gave 
 a  very  concise  account  of  my  hope,  and  also  of 
 my  call  to  the  ministry,  which  he  seemed   to  ap- 
 prove of,  and  he  gave  me  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
 lowship, saying:   *'  As  I  am  to  preach  next  sab- 
 bath in  town,  will  you  preach  at  my  chapel  for 
 me?"     After  some  hesitation  I  consented  to  it- 
 When  I   was  left  alone  I  sought  the  Lord,  my 
 only  refuge  and  friend,  for  my  mind  was  by  no 
 means  settled,  neither  did  I  feel  elated  with  the 
 prospect  of  exercising  the  ministerial  function ; 
 but  I  felt  poor  and  sorrowful,  because,  being  but 
 an  infant  in  the  ministry,  I  could  not  be  quiet 
 without  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word.  The  Lord, 
 in  great  mercy,  gave  me  many  singular  tokens 
 of  his  tender  mercy  and  love  towards  me,  by  fre- 
 quently giving  me  strong  foretastes  of  the  joy, 
 fervour,  and  spiritual  might,  which  I  have  since 
 found,  while  1  have  been  engaged  in  his  work. 
 He  often  clothed  me,   even  before  hand,  with 
 amazing  zeal  for  his  truth,  and  most  undaunted 
 
63 
 
 courage  to  rebuke,  exhort,  and  reprove,  with  long'' 
 suffering,  being  fully  determined,  by  the  power  I 
 was  under,  neither  to  spare  the  rich  nor  the  poor, 
 but  faithfully  to  declare  all  things,  even  as  the 
 God  of  my  praise  had  taught  me.  One  day,  in 
 particular,  being  much  blessed  with  God's  pre 
 sence,  while  the  word  of  his  grace  came  from  all 
 parts  of  his  book  to  comfort  me  ;  while  I  feasted 
 upon  it,  the  joy  and  rejoicing  of  my  heart  be- 
 came so  great,  that  I  vehemently  cried  out  unto 
 God,  saying  :  "  Lord,  make  me  exceeding  faith- 
 ful to  the  souls  of  thy  people."  I  felt  a  most 
 astonishing  energy  upon  my  spirit,  and  these 
 words  came  into  my  heart  with  surprising  force : 
 "  Truly  I  am  full  of  power  by  the  Spirit  of  the 
 Lord,  and  of  judgment,  and  of  might,  to  declare 
 unto  Jacob  his  transgression,  and  to  Israel  his 
 sin ;"  this  power  and  might  I  felt  to  such  a  de- 
 gree, that  my  soul  seemed  all  on  fire,  like  the 
 living  creatures  in  Ezekiel's  vision.  These  sweet 
 visitations  and  love  tokens,  were,  however,  only 
 to  prepare  me  as  cordials  for  another  onset  of  the 
 devil,  who  well  knew,  that  the  armour  God  had 
 equipped  me  with,  would  be  terrible  to  his  king- 
 dom ;  therefore,  as  he  knew  that  I  was  none  of 
 his  sending,  he  bestired  himself  again,  if  possible, 
 to  shut  every  door.  On  the  Saturday  morning, 
 Mr.  H —  came  to  me  with  a  letter  that  he  had 
 received  from  Mr.  B — ,  wherein  he  informed  him, 
 that  he  could  not  let  me  preach  in  his  chapel  the 
 next  day,  and  assigned  no  reason  wherefore  he 
 
64 
 
 treated  me  in  such  an  unscriptural  way.  Thk 
 Dew  trial  filled  me  with  fear,  being*  grieved  to  see 
 such  conduct  in  a  man,  who  ought,  in  all  things 
 to  adorn  the  gospel,  as  an  example  to  others ; 
 for,  after  giving  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
 he  ought,  at  all  events,  to  have  written  to  me, 
 and  should  have  assigned  godly  reasons  where- 
 fore his  mind  was  changed  ;  seeing,  that  of  his 
 own  accord,  he  had  asked  me  to  preach  in  his 
 chapel. 
 
 Many  were  the  changes  that  passed  upon  my 
 mind,  feeling  sore  broken,  poor,  and  exceeding 
 sorrowful ;  and  reproach  began  to  break  my 
 heart ;  for  they  talked  to  the  grief  of  those  whom 
 God  had  waundedi  Princes  spake  against  me, 
 but  I  was  enabled  to  meditate  in  God's  word ; 
 Satan  failed  not,  however,  to  lay  my  reproach 
 before  me,  and  spared  not  his  fiery  darts  ;  by 
 magnifying  my  being  now  rejected  in  two  places, 
 saying :  "  Where  is  now  your  God,  that  you 
 trusted  in  ?  and  where  is  now  your  mighty  call? 
 I  went,  like  Hezekiah,  and  spread  these  things 
 before  the  Lord,  who  propped  up  my  heart.  I 
 had  need,  indeed,  of  God's  might  to  hold  me  up, 
 for  every  thing  1  heard  tended  to  cover  me  with 
 shame  and  confusion.  I  was  informed  that  many- 
 people  had  made  preparations  to  go  down  to  P. 
 in  order  to  hear  me;  some  had  hired  carriages, 
 others  had  cooked  their  dinners  to  take  with 
 them.  The  Lord,  who  comfo^teth  them  that  are 
 cast  down,  was  pleased  to  prop  up  my  drooping 
 
65 
 
 S{)intSj  by  sanctifying  these  trials,  for  he  gave 
 me  such  an  amazing  spirit  of  meekness,  to  coun- 
 teract the  rage,  malice,  and  infernal  enmity,  which 
 Satan  endeavoured  to  rouse  within  me,  that  I 
 cannot  find  words  to  express  it.  O  !  what  a  sa- 
 tisfaction it  is,  to  be  enlightened  to  see,  that  this 
 is  verily  drinking  of  our  blessed  Lord's  cup  ;  and 
 if  we  thus  suffer  with  him,  we  shall  also  reign 
 with  him ;  for  shame  also  covered  his  face,  and 
 he  hid  it  not  from  spiting.  "  Blessed  be  thou, 
 O  Lord,  my  strong  refuge,  for  thou  hast  not  left 
 Rie  in  their  hands ;  but  thou  hast,  in  the  multi- 
 tude of  thy  mercies,  said  unto  me :  "■  For  shame, 
 ye  shall  have  double ;  and  for  confusion  they 
 shall  rejoice  in  their  portion :  for  they  shall  not 
 be  ashamed  that  wait  for  me  :  let  them  curse,  but 
 bless  thou,  for  thou  art  the  portion  of  my  soul, 
 my  God,  and  the  lifter-up  of  my  head."  My  soul 
 being  thus  meekened  and  humble,  I  determined 
 not  to  hide  myself  in  my  house,  and  thus  to  neg- 
 lect the  means  of  God's  appointment,  but  I 
 went  on  the  sabbath  day  to  hear  the  word.  Mri 
 B —  took  occasion  to  observe,  that,  now  our  pas- 
 tor was  dead,  many,  no  doubt,  would  rise,  even 
 from  among  us,  speaking  perverse  things,  in 
 order  to  draw  disciples  after  them.  I  cannot  help 
 observing,  w^ith  much  grief,  that  a  man  like  him, 
 whom  I  considered  to  be  a  sympathising  mi- 
 nister of  Christ,  could  thus  wantonly  sport,  and 
 talk  to  the  grief  of  those  whom  God  had  wounded. 
 Had   he    not    heard    my   experience   and   call, 
 
 K 
 
66 
 
 1  should  make  no  remark,  but  after  hearing  my 
 testimony,  and  inviting  me  himself  to  preach  in 
 his  chapel,  to  act  thus  towards  me  without  righ- 
 teous judgment,  is  altogether  inconsistent  with 
 the  word  of  truth.  God  is  a  great  sovereign, 
 who  dispenseth  his  grace  in  a  discriminating 
 manner ;  he  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel 
 of.  his  own  will.  If  God,  therefore,  has  been 
 pleased  to  reveal  his  dear  Son  in  me,  by  mani- 
 festing him  in  his  dying  agonies,  and  by  an  open 
 vision  of  faith,  to  give  me  testimony  of  my  part 
 and  lot  in  his  great  salvation,  is  another,  who  has 
 not  found  these  things  revealed  in  the  same  de- 
 gree, to  reject  the  counsel  of  God  ?  and  is  he  to 
 trample  on  the  Spirit's  work,  by  doing  despite  to 
 sovereign  grace  ?  Shall  his  not  believing  the  tes- 
 timony of  another,  make  the  faith  of  God  of 
 none  efJect  ?  Shall  his  envying  another  man's  ex- 
 perience, make  that  same  experience  less  godly 
 and  true?  "Envy  slayeth  the  silly  one."  It  is 
 recorded  that  our  Lord,  "  called  to  him  whom 
 he  would;"  if  Christ,  therefore,  has  given  me  a 
 real,  true,  and  genuine  call  to  preach  his  gospel, 
 which  he  so  freely  revealed,  and  which  has  been 
 so  graciously  the  power  of  God  to  save  me ;  if  the 
 Lord  God,  and  his  Spirit,  have  sent  me  to  this 
 good  work,  with  power,  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
 much  assurance,  is,  therefore,  another  man  to 
 run  upon  the  thick  bosses  of  God's  buckler,  and 
 to  withstand  the  will  of  the  Lord?  Is  such  a  man 
 to  give  the  lie  to  God,  because  he  has  not  had 
 
67 
 
 such  a  call,  but  was  forced  into  a  pulpit  by  men? 
 Shall  a  minister's  blindness  obscure  the  truth  of 
 <jlod's  word  ?  and  because  he  thinks  these  words, 
 "  The  Lord  God  and  his  Spirit  hath  sent  me," 
 applicable  to  none  but  Christ ;  are  they,  there- 
 fore, not  applicable  to  his  ministers  ?  Woe  be  to 
 him  who  assert  such  things  ;  for  if  the  Lord  God 
 and  his  Spirit  hath  not  sent  him,  how  can  he  profit 
 the  people  ?  Let  us,  therefore,  ask  the  import- 
 ant question,  and  take  notice  of  the  soundness  of 
 the  argument :  who  sent  Christ  ?  the  answer  is, 
 Jhe  Lord  God  and  his  Spirit ;  but  Christ  saith  to 
 his  disciples  and  ministers  :  **  As  the  Father  hath 
 sent  me,  even  so  send  I  you;"  but  the  Lord  God 
 and  his  Spirit  sent  him,  therefore,  the  same  Lord 
 God  and  his  Spirit,  hath  sent  all  his  ministers, 
 to  whom  he  is  pleased  to  give  a  divine  call  to  the 
 work.  This  same  minister  informs  us,  that  he 
 was  forced  into  the  pulpit  by  men,  yet  I  do  not 
 presume  to  say,  that  he  is  not  called  of  God  to 
 the  office,  though  his  evidences  appear  so  small. 
 May  we  not,  in  a  judgment  of  charity,  say,  that 
 the  same  God,  who  called  me  in  so  discriminating 
 a  manner,  not  by  men,  but  by  his  Spirit,  may  also 
 make  use  of  men,  as  his  instruments,  to  place 
 him  in  that  office? 
 
 God,  who  searcheth  the  heart,  knows,  that 
 notwithstanding  the  private  and  public  oppo- 
 sition that  man  has  made  to  my  testimony,  that  I 
 have  been  led  often  to  pray  for  him,  rather  than 
 indulge  any  rancour  or  enmity  against  him.    I 
 
 K  2 
 
OB 
 
 really  oxprctcd,  that  tlio  late  aniirlinpj  tlispcnisa- 
 tion,  woiiKl  load  him  to  souio  acknoNvlcdgments: 
 I  expected  a  letter,  daily,  to  inform  me,  that  he 
 repented  of  what  he  had  done,  but  none  came: 
 (see  my  reasons. for  asserting-  this,  Luke  xvii.  3,  4. 
 Mat.  xviii.  l/>.)  I  had,  heforo  this,  written  to  him, 
 to  promote  fellowship,  but  received  an  answer 
 full  of  bitterness.  1  ani  fearful  that  he  is  a  stranger 
 to   the  sweet  influences  of  God's  Spirit,  which 
 Avill  lead  a  man  to  be  exceeding  sorry  to  hurt  the 
 least  of  Christ's  flock.    On  the  other  hand,  I  wish 
 to  make  some  allowance,   for  he  might  be  under 
 the  inlluencc  of  great  temptations:  lirst,  in  look- 
 ing greedily  after  a  larger  congregation  ;  secondly, 
 in  not  resisting  this  lust  in  the  s|)irit,  it  might 
 bring  a  large  train  of  other  snans,  such  as  envy 
 and  jt^alousy  against  all  oth<>r  pntenders,  which 
 corruptions,  if  clnirishcd,  will  finally  bring  hard- 
 ness of  heart,  wrong  judgment,  and   blindness; 
 this  wjH  cause  the  Lord    to  hide  his  face,  and 
 woe  be  to  such  a   one   when  (lod    de[)art.s  from 
 liim;  for,  **  tlieiv  way  shall  be  nnto  them  as  slip- 
 pery ways  in  the  darkness:  th(>y  shall  be  driveu 
 on,  and  fall  thev<  in  ;  for  1  will  bring  evil  upon 
 them,  oven  the  year  of  their  visitation,  saith  the 
 Lord."     If  these  remarks   I  have  made  are  not 
 applicable  to   him,  they   ujay,  after  all,  have  a 
 tendency  to  i)ut  him  upon  his  guard  against  the 
 snares  of  t|ie  devi|.     Jf  he  is  a  tool,  he  will  rage 
 against  me  for  my  faithful  dealings;  but  if  he  is 
 a  wise  man  and  endued  with  k^iowledge,  he  will 
 
69 
 
 shew  out  of  a  i^ood  conversation,  his  works  with 
 meekness  of  wisdom.  I  am  confident  that  his 
 happiness  cannot  he  distnrbed,  in  consequence 
 of  the  honesty  of  my  remarks  ;  for  if  he  loves  the 
 law  of  God,  nothing- shall  offend  him.  I  conclude, 
 therefore,  by  observing,  that  if  God  has  really 
 called  me  to  the  work,  he  has  done  foolishly 
 in  opposing  it ;  and  except  he  repents,  God  will 
 deal  with  him  according  to  his  ignorance  and 
 folly.  The  only  charge  he  has  brought  against 
 me  is  this,  of  having  publicly  said,  that  I  had 
 payed  some  of  his  expences,  when  we  went  down 
 to  Lewes.  I  can  appeal  to  God,  that  when  I  said 
 so,  that  I  neither  intended  to  shew  my  generosity, 
 nor  to  make  him  appear  needy,  but  publicly  to 
 shew  the  tender  regard  and  respect  I  bore  to- 
 wards him,  believin<^  him  to  be  a  good  man,  and 
 worthy  of  double  honour  ;  seeing,  therefore,  that 
 my  heart  was  so  tender  towards  him,  I  could  not 
 but  be  grieved  to  find  him  oppose  me  from  mo- 
 tives of  envy,  ignorance,  and  blind  prejudice  to 
 his  own  hurt  and  destruction. 
 
 I  return  now  to  give  an  account  of  the  benefit 
 I  reaped  by  going  to  chapel.  I  have  already 
 taken  notice  of  the  remark  the  preacher  had 
 made,  which,  though  a  scriptural  and  suitable 
 one  on  the  occasion,  yet  I  could  not  but  take  it, 
 as  really  pointing  at  me,  and,  as  such,  1  received 
 it.  Reproof,  whether  applicable  or  not,  will  enter 
 jnore  into  an  honest  heart,  than  an  hundred 
 stripes  into  a  fopj :  witness  the  suspicions  of  every 
 
70 
 
 one  of  Christ's  disciples,  when  he  declared  that 
 one  of  them  should  betray  him  ;  "  for  they  were 
 exceeding  sorrowful,  and  began,  every  one  of 
 them  to  say  unto  him,  Lord,  is  it  I  ? "  So,  in  like 
 manner,  being  thrown  into  confusion,  I  began  to 
 fear  that  I  was  such  a  character ;  but  when  I  re- 
 covered myself,  and  remembered  what  God  had 
 done  for  me,  1  was  ashamed  of  my  unbelief; 
 being  also  grieved  at  the  hardness  of  his  heart, 
 who  thus,  with  force  and  cruelty,  endeavoured  to 
 rule;  thrusting  with  side  and  with  shoulder, 
 and  pushing  all  the  diseased  with  his  horns,  till 
 he  had  scattered  many  abroad,  Ezek.  xxxiv.  21. 
 However,  I  gave  myself  unto  prayer,  begging  for 
 a  double  measure  of  humbling  grace,  that  as  our 
 Lord  was  bufleted  and  mocked,  I  might  also  be 
 enabled  to  bear  it,  wath  all  long-suflering  and 
 godly  patience.  Christian  reader,  who  art  in  the 
 path  of  tribulation,  in  all  thy  troubles,  cease  not 
 to  commit  all  thy  ways  unto  God ;  supplicate  and 
 and  persevere  thereunto  with  all  watchfulness,  if 
 heaven,  earth,  and  hell,  seem  all  united  to  make 
 head  against  thee ;  "  yet  trust  thou  in  the  Lord, 
 and  thou  shalt  stand  like  Mount  Zion,  which 
 cannot  be  moved  :  thou  shalt  abide  for  ever  ;  for 
 he  shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he  ci'ieth ;  the 
 poor  also,  and  him  that  hath  no  helper :  he  shall 
 redeem  thy  soul  from  deceit  and  violence,  and 
 precious  shall  thy  blood  be  in  his  sight."  I  speak 
 from  healt-felt  experience,  for  I  called  not  upon 
 God  in  vain,  who  wrought  in  me  such  amazing 
 
71 
 
 submission  and  meek  humility,  that  I  gratefully 
 thanked  him  for  the  trial.  However,  the  hum- 
 bling dispensations  were  not  yet  at  an  end,  for  this 
 was  the  sabbath,  on  which  I  should  have  been 
 given  out  to  preach  on  the  following  Wednesday  ; 
 but  Mr.  L —  being  given  out,  in  a  moment,  many 
 eyes  were  upon  me,  with  seeming  triumph  at 
 what  they  supposed  my  disappointment :  may 
 the  lord  forgive  them,  and  cause  them  to  remem- 
 ber, that  "  he  that  is  glad  at  calamity,  shall  not 
 go  unpunished  ;  for  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked 
 is  but  short."  Had  they  known  what  precious 
 benefits  I  reaped  b}'^  the  trial,  they  would  have 
 envied  my  portion;  for  the  Lord  Jehovah,  in  very 
 deed,  w  as  my  portion  and  shield,  and  his  Spirit 
 came  so  mightily  upon  me,  with  such  humbling 
 power,  that,  for  the  joy  set  before  me,  with  my 
 suffering  Saviour,  1  was  enabled  to  endure  the 
 cross,  and  to  despise  the  shame,  while  these 
 words  darted  into  my  soul  with  a  glorious  power: 
 *'  The  cup  which  my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall 
 I  not  drink  it?"  Never  did  I  feel  a  greater  glory 
 upon  my  spirit,  nor  did  God  ever  give  me  a 
 greater  victory,  through  the  blood  and  sufferings 
 of  the  Lamb  :  my  soul  seemed  to  be  embalmed 
 in  sweetness,  glorifying  God,  and  praying  for 
 those  very  persons  who  sought  to  cast  me  dowa 
 from  mine  excellency.  I  am  certain  that  a  man 
 cannot  be  exalted  to  a  greater  height  of  glory, 
 than  when  he  is  deeply  humbled  into  divine  and 
 spiritual  fellowship  with  Christ  in  his  sufferings. 
 
72 
 
 The  Clip  that  was  given  me,  I  was  enabled  to 
 dnnk,  and  I  blessed  God  for  so  great  a  gift,  who 
 had  counted  me  worthy  to  sufter  shame  for  his 
 name  sake ;  for  I  found  this  truly  fulfilled :  "  If 
 ye  are  reproached  for  Christ's  sake,  happy  are  ye  ; 
 for  the  Spirit  of  Glory  and  of  God  resteth  upon 
 you."  How  unsafe  is  it,  therefore,  to  judge  ac- 
 cording to  outward  appearance?  for  every  one 
 who  judgeth  after  the  flesh,  must  think  me  the 
 most  disappointed  and  unhappy  person  in  all 
 that  congregation  ;  but  the  reverse  Was  the  truth, 
 for  it  is  not  improbable,  that  by  faith  in  the  Son 
 of  God,  I  was  indeed  the  happiest. 
 
 Being  now  rejected  in  two  places,  it  was 
 enough  to  daunt  the  courage  of  my  friends;  but 
 the  unwearied  zeal  of  Mr.  H —  was  not  so  easily 
 damped  at  this  time ;  he  left  no  stone  imturned 
 to  find  out  a  place,  and  spared  no  pains,  for  it 
 seemed  to  be  his  meat  and  drink  to  promote  this 
 cause.  He  endeavoured  to  comfort  me  with  the 
 word  of  God,  and  reminded  me,  that  meditation, 
 experience,  and  such  trials,  made  a  minister ;  if 
 so,  I  think  that  this  proverb  is  applicable  :  "  Phy- 
 sician, heal  thyself;"  for  I  believe,  that  medita- 
 tion, godly  experience,  and  sanctified  trials,  make 
 also  a  private  christian  to  be  perfect,  stablished, 
 strengthened,  and  settled.  Moreover,  he  re- 
 minded me  of  the  faithfulness  of  God  to  his 
 word  ;  and  that  he  would  not  have  sent  it  with 
 such  power,  if  he  had  not  purposed  that  I  should 
 preach.     He  told  me  also  of  many  portions  of 
 
73 
 
 scripture  that  came  to  him,  to  encourage  him  itt 
 so  good  a  work.  I  must  confess,  that  his  smiling, 
 happy  countenance,  wisdom,  and  hberty  of 
 speech,  was  such,  that  I  often  secretly  wished 
 he  had  been  called  instead  of  me,  for  I  felt,  at 
 times,  so  much  confusion,  darkness,  and  bitter 
 workings  within,  that  I  saw  myself  a  mere  fool. 
 When  I  considered,  sometimes,  what  I  should 
 preach  about;  alas!  I  could  not  tell,  for  a  thousand 
 things  presented  themselves,  but  I  could  fix  upon 
 none;  for  I  felt  myself  like  him,  who  saw  men  as 
 trees  walking.  I  had  no  plan,  no  settled  views, 
 no  sermons  before  hand,  like  some  who  have  stu- 
 died the  scriptures  for  years ;  1  had  not  tried 
 before  men,  to  see  whether  I  could  pray,  or  preach 
 from  a  text,  divided  into  heads  and  tails.  I  could 
 not  go  in  this  armour,  and  was  destitute  of  all 
 such  furniture.  At  other  times,  when  the  Lord 
 was  with  me,  1  have  mounted  up  with  wings  as 
 an  eagle,  feeling  within  my  soul  unspeakable  ut- 
 terance, and  matter  enough  for  a  thousand  dis- 
 courses. Notwithstanding,  God  tried  me  with 
 disappointments,  and  permitted  men  to  set  them- 
 selves against  me,  yet  there  was,  at  the  bottom, 
 a  firm  expectation  that  the  time  was  at  hand. 
 Accordingly,  jVJr.  H —  came  to  me  one  morning 
 and  informed  me,  that  he  had  met  with  a  place 
 that  was  licensed  in  Rowland  Mews,  where  I 
 might  speak  to  a  few  people,  which  he  judged 
 better  at  the  first,  than  to  have  a  larger  place ; 
 however,  I  must  confess  my  weakness  and  want 
 
 L 
 
74 
 
 of  experience  in  the  ministry,  and  what  advan- 
 tages Satan  took  of  me  ;  for  when  God  was  with 
 Uje,  like  David,  I  thought  1  should  never  be 
 moved :  then  I  imagined,  that  I  could  have 
 preached  before  ten  thousand  people.  Again, 
 when  I  went  to  see  the  place,  I  found  my  conse- 
 quence rather  hurt,  that  I  should  begin  to  preach 
 in  a  place  which  appeared  so  mean  and  contemp- 
 tible. The  Lord  of  infinite  mercy,  left  me  not  in 
 this  dangerous  spirit  without  convictions  ;  but 
 enabled  me  to  cry  out  against  it,  and  made  me 
 to  mourn  under  a  sense,  both  of  his  pardoning 
 love,  and  the  plague  of  my  heart;  I  was  greatly 
 humbled,  when  it  came  suddenly  into  my  mind, 
 that  Christ  the  Lord,  from  heaven,  lay  in  a  man- 
 ger, and  that  perhaps,  the  upper  room,  where  he 
 eat  the  passover,  was  no  better  than  the  one  I  was 
 to  preach  in.  These  mighty  attacks  of  the  devil 
 greatly  alarmed  me,  knowing,  that  if  I  regarded 
 such  iniquity  in  my  heart,  the  Lord  would  neither 
 hear  nor  prosper  me. 
 
 The  8th  of  August  was  fixed  upon,  for  me  to 
 preach  at  the  above  mentioned  place.  I  endea- 
 voured, with  all  diligence,  to  Seek  the  Lord,  beg- 
 ging that  he  would  shew  me  what  I  should  speak 
 from,  and  he  was  pleased  to  give  me  these  words : 
 •'  That  which  we  have  seen  and  heard,  declare  we 
 unto  you,"  &c.  1  John  i.  3.  On  sabbath  day  morn- 
 ing, when  I  arrived  at  the  place,  I  found  abdut 
 fifty  or  sixty  people  assembled  there  ;  I  took  my 
 station  with  great  fear  and  trembling,  and  not- 
 
75 
 
 withvstanding  I  cried  to  the  Lord  most  vehe- 
 mently, yet  I  could  not  get  rid  of  my  agitation  ; 
 I  stood  up  and  prayed  with  a  trembling  heart, 
 being,  according  to  my  feelings,  in  a  high  fever, 
 and  I  endeavoured  to  give,  as  well  as  I  could,  an 
 account  of  the  reason  of  the  hope  that  was  in  me, 
 which  I  did,  feeling  myself  much  fettered  in 
 speech  most  of  the  time.  When  I  had  done  speak- 
 ing, some  of  the  people  tried  to  encourage  me, 
 but  I  really  could  have  crept  into  a  mouse-hole. 
 When  I  came  home,  I  mourned  exceedingly  be- 
 fore the  Lord,  and  entreated  him  much,  that  he 
 would,  for  Christ's  sake,  give  me  more  enlarge- 
 ment of  heart;  and  I  secretly  mourned,  because 
 he  did  not  clothe  me  with  that  power  I  expected. 
 I  was  assaulted  with  many  doubts  and  fears, 
 being  almost  ready  to  say  with  him  of  old,  *'  O 
 Lord,  thou  hast  deceived  me,  and  I  was  de- 
 ceived," &c.  Jer.  XX.  7  ;  for  my  expectation  was 
 cut  off,  and  I  felt  ashamed  of  my  confidence. 
 As  I  had,  in  the  morning,  endeavoured  to  declare 
 what  God  had  done  for  my  soul,  so  now,  in  the 
 evening,  I  brought  forth  a  few  broken  expe- 
 riences concerning  my  call  to  the  ministry.  The 
 place  was  excessively  crowded,  so  much  so,  that 
 some  were  alarmed  lest  Uie  floor  should  fall  in 
 with  us.  Though  I  related  the  dealings  of  God 
 with  me,  in  a  very  confused  manner,  yet,  upon 
 the  whole,  1  found  more  liberty  than  in  the  morn- 
 ing. After  it  was  over,  the  people  crowded  round 
 
 L  2 
 
T6 
 
 Mr.  H—,  and  found  fault  with  the  smalhiess  of 
 the  place,  and  very  earnestly  desired  him  to  get 
 a  larger  and  more  comfrfrtable  one.  I  thought 
 now,  that  the  bitterness  of  death  was  pnssed,  and 
 that  God  would  strengthen  me  mure  and  more, 
 to  bear  witness  of  the  things  he  liad  shewed  me; 
 for  after  having  had  so  many  exercises  about  my 
 call,  I  concluded  that  I  should  now  enjoy  the 
 expected  comfort  in  the  work.  1  was  a  <  hild  in 
 the  ministry,  and  as  such,  I  verily  needed  much 
 of  the  rod,  and  I  bless  his  holy  name,  that  his 
 good  will  and  love  to  me  in  Chri^t,  led  him  to 
 apply  it,  lest  I  should,  like  a  novice,  be  lifted  up 
 with  pride.  God  has  chosen  his  people  in  the 
 furnace  of  affliction,  and  his  tire  is  in  Zion: 
 young  ministers  have  as  much  need  of  it  as  any, 
 if  not  more  so  ;  therefore,  lest  too  much  ho- 
 nour should  puff  me  up,  humbling  dispensations 
 were  sent,  that  before  honour  there  might  be 
 humility. 
 
 Our  zealous  friend  Mr.  H — ,  in  the  mean  while, 
 heard  of  a  place  at  H — ,  where  I  might  preach 
 on  the  Friday  following,  and  he  gave  notice  of  it 
 in  due  time.  1  prepared  myself,  therefore,  to 
 seek  the  Lord  for  a  text,  and  though  1  sought 
 him  very  diligently,  begging  for  utterance,  liberty, 
 and  the  influence  of  his  Spirit  to  guide  me,  yet, 
 for  all  that,  my  mind  seemed  confused,  and  my 
 meditation  much  scattered:  clouds  and  darkness 
 often  passed  over  my  understanding ;  finding  but 
 
77 
 
 little  light,  and  I  had  singular  forebodings  of  a 
 heavy  storm  coming  on.     Mr.  H —  took  me  and 
 my  wife,  on  the  Friday  afternoon,  to  drink  tea  at 
 the  house  of  a  friend,  in  our  way  to  li — ,  w  ho  re- 
 ceived us  in  a  very  friendly  manner.     This  per- 
 son began  to  speak  of  the  things  of  God,  in  so 
 soft,  correct,  and  fluent  a  manner,  that  it  quite 
 startled  me,  for  I  really  felt  myself  unworthy  to 
 wipe   the  good  man's  shoes.     I  could  not  help 
 feeling  envious,  having  been  led  all  the  week  long, 
 "with  bitter  weeping  and  supplications,  with  little 
 seeming  success,  "  for  I  was  weary  with  crying: 
 my  throat  was  dried  up  :  and  mine  eyes  failed 
 while  I  waited  for  my  God."    All  the  lime  I  was 
 there,  my  heart  went  up  in  prayer  to  God,   for 
 every  thing  I  saw  and  heard,  had  a  tendency  to 
 wound  my  Spirit :  every  word  they  spoke,  and 
 even  the  blessing  that  was  asked  before  tea,  went 
 to  my  heart.     Satan  took  occasion  to  buffet  me, 
 saying:  ^'  Look  at  these  men,  can  you  pray  so? 
 You  are  nothing  in  comparison  with  them  ;  what 
 presumption  it  is  in  you  to  think  that  you   are 
 called  to  preach.  Consider  these  good  men,  w  hat 
 fluency  of  speech  they  have,  what  discernment, 
 what  wisdom  ;  how  calm  and  placid  :  are  they 
 not  ten  times  more  fit  for  a  pulpit  than  you  ?     I 
 really  thought  I  should  drop  from  the  seat  1  sat 
 upon  ;  my  heart  felt  heavy  and  deeply  wounded, 
 being  filled  with  grief,  at  a  sight  and  sense  of 
 my  darkness,  blindness,  and  ignorance.    At  last 
 
78 
 
 we  all  got  up,  to  go  to  the  intended  place,  and 
 even  this  came  like  a  dagger  to  my  heart,  dread- 
 ing the  appointed  time.  I  went  more  like  a  thief 
 between  two  constables,  than  like  an  ambassador 
 of  peace.  What  shall  we  say?  '*  that  it  is  good 
 for  a  man  to  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth."  "  Lordj 
 who  teacheth  like  unto  thee ;  how  deep  are  thy 
 judgments  ;  and  thy  ways  are  past  finding  out ! 
 I  will  bless  thee,  O  my  Father  :  for  thou  art  the 
 only  wise  God,  who,  by  such  wonderful  hum- 
 bling lessons,  dost  effectually  teach  us  to  live  by 
 faith  upon  thy  dear  Son."  At  last  we  arrived  at 
 the  place,  when  I  was  immediately  introduced 
 into  a  parlour  to  be  by  myself;  here  I  endea- 
 voured to  pour  out  my  soul  before  God,  but  Satan 
 was  permitted  to  torment  me  to  such  a  degree, 
 that  I  conld  hardly  bear  it,  for  my  breath  was 
 obstructed  and  short,  through  the  amazing  load 
 I  felt  upon  my  spirit ;  I  was  overwhelmed  with 
 tormenting  fears  and  doubts,  which  I  endea- 
 voured to  counteract,  by  most  agonizing  prayers 
 to  the  God  of  my  help  ;  I  felt  as  if  I  was  torn  to 
 pieces  by  wild  beasts.  The  master  of  the  house, 
 (who  was  also  a  preacher)  came  in  to  ask  me 
 a  question;  I  took  this  opportunity  to  ask  him 
 whether  he  felt  any  fear  when  he  was  going  to 
 preach ;  he  turned  lightly  upon  his  heels,  and 
 said,  "  I  have  felt  a  little  abashed  at  first,  but  as 
 soon  as  I  have  been  shut  up  in  the  box  I  have 
 lost  all  my  fears."    This  answer  cut  me  to  the 
 
t9 
 
 heart,  for  I  really  tlionght  there  never  was  any 
 body  like  me,  so  weak,  so  helpless,  even  like  a 
 man  in  whom  there  is  no  strength. 
 
 At  last,  the  fatal  signal  was  given,  and  I  went 
 lip  to  the  preaching  room  with  a  trembling  heart, 
 and  took  my  station.  The  thing  that  I  greatly 
 feared,  came  upon  me,  for  as  1  looked  across  the 
 room,  I  saw  there  several  persons  whose  faces 
 daunted  me ;  '*  they  were  famous  in  the  congre- 
 gation, men  of  renown,"  whose  wisdom,  judg- 
 ment, and  long  standing  profession  was  enough 
 to  cause  me  to  be  dismayed  at  their  very  looks. 
 The  text  I  endeavoured  to  speak  from  was  this, 
 Eph.  ii.  9.  "  Not  of  works,  lest  any  man  should 
 boast :"  in  my  discourse,  if  a  discourse  it  may  be 
 called,  I  spoke  something  of  angels,  and  of  Adam, 
 being  desirous  to  prove,  that  both  angels  who 
 were  kept  from  falling  ;  and  men  who  were  saved 
 by  grace,  had  nothing  to  boast  of,  except  in  their 
 infinitely  gracious  God  and  Redeemer.  I  was 
 under  very  heavy  temptations  all  the  time,  feeling 
 myself  no  more  master  of  my  subject  than  an 
 infant,  consequently,  nothing  that  I  advanced 
 could,  under  such  circumstances,  be  taken  as 
 the  sober  standard  of  the  doctrines  I  held  ;  I 
 shall,  therefore,  take  no  trouble  to  vindicate  my- 
 self about  these  matters,  having  already  done  it 
 many  times  in  public.  While  I  was  speaking,  it 
 happened,  that  a  very  heavy  cloud  came  gra- 
 dually on,  and  obscured  the  room  where  I  was 
 preaching,  and  this  added  to  my  confusion ;  for 
 
80 
 
 not  being  used  to  compute  time,  I  really  thought 
 it  was  late,  and  that  I  had  detained  the  people 
 long  enough ;  this  mistake  led  me  to  conclude 
 hastily,  without  clearing  up  any  thing.  Thus 
 God,  in  infinite  wisdom  overruled,  that  all  things 
 should  contribute  to  humble  me  in  the  dust  I 
 am  sure,  that  if  many,  who  are  trained  up  at  the 
 academy  of  the  same  place,  had  been  taught  such 
 wholesome  lessons,  and  by  the  same  master,  they 
 would  be  more  profitable  to  the  people.  The  dis- 
 appointment of  many  was  obvious  enough  ;  some 
 looked  dejected,  others  rushed  violently  by  with 
 disdain  ;  some  murmured,  saying :  "  Where  are 
 We  now  ?"  My  best  friends  looked  sad,  and  were 
 ashamed,  thinking  that  their  groaning  petitions 
 were  all  in  vain.  I  went  down  into  the  parlour, 
 feeling  so  oppressed  that  I  could  not  speak. 
 JNow  my  preaching  seemed  all  at  an  end,  for  who 
 could  stir  in  my  behalf,  who  appeared  such  a 
 miserable  instrument?  iVly  call  to  the  ministry 
 and  preaching  too,  might  have  been  checked  here 
 for  ever,  had  not  the  infinitely  wise  God,  the  Sa- 
 viour of  my  soul,  who  had  promised  to  me  years 
 before,  that  he  would  stick  closer  to  me  than  a 
 brother,  appeared  at  this  critical  moment,  for 
 while  a  few  of  us  were  yet  in  the  parlour,  a  mi- 
 nister, by  the  name  of  F — ,  inquired  for  Mr. 
 H — ,  and  said  to  him,  "  I  have  been  informed 
 that  you  wanted  a  place  to  preach  in  till  you  could 
 suit  yourselves;  ill  health  constrains  me  to  go 
 into  the  country  for  a  few  days,  you  are,  there* 
 
81 
 
 fore,  very  welcome  to  bring  your  minister  to  my 
 chapel;  I  require  nothing  for  the  use  of  it,  but 
 you  are  at  liberty  to  occupy  it  till  my  return ;"  it 
 was,  therefore,  agreed  upon,  that  I  should  preach 
 there  the  ensuing*  sabbath.  The  providence  of 
 God,  who  overruleth  all  things  in  a  wonderful 
 manner,  is  remarkably  obvious  here,  for  although 
 the  man's  secret  design  was  to  promote  the  sale 
 of  a  book  he  had  written  upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
 H — ,  and  freely  offered  the  use  of  little  Provi- 
 dence Chapel,  with  that  view ;  yet  God's  purpose 
 by  it  was  to  keep  me  standing,  who,  to  all  appear- 
 ance, was  ready  to  fall. 
 
 How  shall  I  describe  now,  the  amazing  work- 
 ings of  my  mind,  concerning  the  things  which  had 
 just  befallen  me?  Does  it  not  appear  very  extra- 
 ordinary, that  a  man  like  me,  who  had  been  fa- 
 voured with  such  a  wonderful  manifestation  of 
 the  dying  love  of  Christ ;  and  also,  with  such  un- 
 doubted tokens  of  a  real  call  to  the  ministry; 
 who  had,  as  it  were,  been  carried  into  the  third 
 heaven,  and  made  to  see,  experimentally,  that 
 glorious  mystery  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
 Ghost,  the  one  great  Jehovah  ?  I  say,  does  it  not 
 appear  strange,  that  I  should  be  brought  so  low, 
 as  almost  to  cast  away  my  confidence?  Christian 
 friend,  who  art  in  the  furnace  of  affliction,  and  in 
 the  mysterious  path  of  tribulation,  see  thine  own 
 experience  in  mine ;  for  thy  sake,  therefore,  have 
 I  been  so  explicit  in  describing  my  changes,  that 
 in  my  castings  down,  thou  mayest  see  thine  own, 
 
 M 
 
m 
 
 and  that  thy  hope  may  be  enconvaged,  when  thou 
 shalt  see  me  again  ride  upon  the  high  places  of 
 the  earth,  shouting  unto  the  God  of  our  salva- 
 tion, with  the  voice  of  triumph.  Affliction  is  the 
 high  way  to  the  kingdom,  in  which  all  the  saints 
 of  old  went,  suffering  much  tribulation,  through 
 fire  and  through  water,  by  living  faith  in  a  cru- 
 cified Saviour ;  "  for  our  light  affliction,  which 
 is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more 
 exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  Consi- 
 der, my  friend,  and  by  faith  have  respect  to  the 
 recompense  of  reward,  "  for  if  we  suflfer  with 
 him,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him."  The  thoughts 
 of  our  God  "  are  thoughts  of  peace  and  not  of 
 evil,  to  give  us  an  expected  end  :  for  he  will  be 
 our  God  and  guide,  even  unto  death  :"  to  whom 
 be  everlasting  praise  and  glory.  Amen. 
 
 When  1  returned  from  H — ,  with  Mr.  H — ,  I 
 said  but  little,  for  my  soul  was  overwhelmed  with 
 sorrow,  grief,  and  consternation.  Some,  indeed, 
 endeavoured  to  speak  a  word  of  comfort  to  as- 
 suage my  grief,  yet  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief  got 
 such  an  ascendancy  over  me,  that  I  said  in  my 
 haste,  "  all  men  are  liars."  I  roared  inwardly, 
 through  the  disquietude  of  my  heart,  and  it 
 seemed  as  if  I  \vas  gradually  swelling  with  it,  till 
 I  should  burst.  1  was  truly  overtaken  with  storms 
 and  tempests,  while  the  deep  appeared  to  open, 
 ready  to  swallow  me  up :  upon  these  waves  my 
 soul  was  tremendously  tossed  up  and  down. 
 Satan  appeared  to  have  broken  loose  from  his 
 
83 
 
 chain,  and  overwhelmed  me  with  his  fiery  darts, 
 and  unbounded  accusations.  The  Lord  now  had 
 brought  me  into  darkness,  and  not  into  light.  I 
 endeavoured  to  remember  my  former  tokens  for 
 good,  trying  to  hold  fast  those  things  I  had  re-^ 
 ceived  with  so  much  power,  but  all  in  vain,  for 
 the  rolling  billows  of  temptations,  sorrow,  and 
 despondency,  swept  away,  almost,  the  very  re- 
 membrance of  former  mercies.  The  accuser  of 
 the  brethren  stood,  furiously  accusing  me,  say- 
 ing: "  You  have  ran,  and  God  has  not  sent  you, 
 therefore  has  he,  in  anger,  broken  you  to  pieces. 
 Look  at  the  prophets  and  apostles,  God  was  with 
 them  in'^*^^  work,  clothing  them  with  might  and 
 power,  but  you  have  presumed,  therefor^  has  he 
 confounded  you  before  the  people :  if  the  Lord 
 had  sent  you,  he  would  certainly  have  appeared 
 for  you.  You  had  inward  checks  not  to  run,  but 
 you  would  presume,  therefore  has  he,  in  just 
 judgment,  filled  you  with  bitterness.  God  has 
 no  need  of  such  an  ass  and  ignorant  fool  as  you 
 are ;  return,  therefore,  to  your  painting,  and  med- 
 dle no  more  with  a  work  of  such  importance." 
 Under  such,  and  many  more  bitter  taunts,  I  sunk 
 almost  without  dimensions  :  a  secret  power,  how- 
 ever, held  me  up,  while  the  unutterable  groanings 
 of  the  Most  Holy  Spirit,  were  powerfully  lead- 
 ing  me,  to  turn  every  thing  that  grieved  my  soul 
 into  confession  and  humble  prayer.  I  was  enabled 
 to  plead  with  God,  by  appealing  to  him,  whether 
 that  sweet  power  I  had  felt  was  not  of  him  5  beg- 
 
 M  2 
 
S4 
 
 giiig,  most  earnestly,  for  him  to  bear  witness  io 
 his  own  work,  for,  in  the  main,  I  could  not  let  go 
 altogether,  those  things  which  he  had  so  mightily- 
 wrought  ;  1  might  as  well  deny  my  own  existence 
 as  absolutely  to  doubt  such  evident  matters  of 
 fact ;  however,  in  spite  of  all  I  could  do  to  hold 
 fast  my  confidence,  many  swarms  of  distracting 
 fears  and  doubts  still  invaded  my  troubled  spirit ; 
 greatly  suspecting  that  1  had  ran  before  my  com- 
 mission was  properly  sealed,  not  waiting  liU  I 
 was  sufficiently  endued  with  the  necessary  power 
 from  ou  high.  O!  how  anxiously  I  wished  I  had 
 been  contented  with  my  lot ;  I  then  looked  ear- 
 nestly at  my  painting  desk,  feeling  stung  at  my 
 heart,  that  I  did  not  abide  in  my  calling  with 
 God,  for  the  agony  of  my  mind  was  such,  that  I 
 was  obliged  often  to  cry  to  him,  saying :  "  O  Lord 
 God  of  Israel,  thou  hast  most  certainly  called 
 me  by  thy  grace,  and  thou  art  my  father  in  Christ ; 
 thou  hast  taught  me  hitherto,  and  guided  me  by 
 thy  great  power:  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  enlighten 
 my  darkness,  and  shew  me  thy  will ;  for  if  I  have 
 really,  through  blindness  and  ignorance,  taken 
 upon  me  to  preach,  pardon  thou  my  sin,  and 
 restore  me  again  unto  the  joy  of  thy  salvation : 
 1  am  greatly  oppressed,  undertake  for  me."  In 
 answer  to  those  cries,  it  has  pleased  the  Lord 
 often  to  shine  for  a  moment,  and  I  saw,  in  his 
 light,  that  judgment  should,  by  and  by,  return 
 unto  righteousness,  and  that  I  should  yet  praise 
 him  who  was  the  lifter-up  of  my  head,  and  my 
 
85 
 
 '?♦ 
 
 God.  The  changes  I  felt  were  exceeding*  stron' 
 for  I  was  made  to  mount  up,  with  wings  as  eagles, 
 for  a  few  minutes,  with  such  a  power,  that  I  cried 
 out  for  joy  of  heart,  melting  before  my  gracious 
 God.  Again,  in  a  moment,  I  sunk  as  low, 
 under  the  power  of  unbelief;  this  I  confessed 
 before  God,  saying :  "  Lord,  thou  seest  the  evil 
 heart  of  unbelief  that  is  in  me;  O  Lord!  1  am 
 ashamed  and  confounded  before  thee ;  0 1  in- 
 crease my  faith  :  art  thou  not  the  author  and 
 finisher  of  it?  O!  how  sweetly  have  these  words 
 sounded  in  my  heart  in  answer  to  my  breathings : 
 *'  For  shame  you  shall  have  double ;  and  for  con- 
 fusio!!  they  shall  rejoice  in  their  portion  :  for  ther 
 shall  not  be  ashamed  that  wait  for  me."  Thus  I 
 was  marvellously  exercised  ;  sometimes  mounting 
 up  to  heaven ;  then  again,  going  down  to  the 
 deep,  being  often  at  my  wits  end.  Woe  be  to 
 those  deluded  men  wlio  rush  into  the  ministry 
 without  these  needful  instructions ;  for  how  shall 
 they  be  able  to  lead  a  poor  and  afflicted  people? 
 Many,  therefore,  in  our  days,  step  into  a  pulpit, 
 with  light  and  unhumbled  hearts ;  they  build  up 
 hypocrites  in  a  presumptuous  confidence,  and 
 sing  songs  to  a  heavy  heart;  they  encourage, 
 *'  and  still  say  to  them  that  despise  me,  the  Lord 
 hath  said,  ye  shall  have  peace;  and  they  say  unto 
 every  one  that  walketh  after  the  imagination  of 
 his  own  heart,  no  evil  shall  come  upon  you ;" 
 but  the  children  of  God  are  sent  away  empty. 
 *'  These  shepherds  feed  themselves,  they  eat  the 
 
86 
 
 fat,  and  clothe  themselves  with  the  wool ;  they 
 kill  them  that  are  fed :  but  they  feed  not  the  flock 
 of  God." 
 
 Now  that  I  had  began  to  preach,  the  weight 
 of  the  ministry  appeared  to  me  so  great,  and  my 
 insufficiency  still  greater,  that  I  really  thought  it 
 would  soon  bring  me  to  my  end ;  but  whenever 
 I  looked  for  some  way  or  other  to  make  my  re- 
 treat, this  text  thundered  at  me  most  tremend- 
 ously :  "  No  man  having  put  his  hand  to  the 
 plough,  and  looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom 
 of  God."  None  know  the  power  of  God's  word, 
 but  such  upon  whom  it  fastens,  and  they  know 
 that  it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  trifle  with  it.  My  soul 
 has  since  been  exceedingly  grieved,  that  some, 
 who  appeared  giants  in  grace,  have  made  light 
 of  thai  word  that  will  shake  heaven  and  earth. 
 One  man,  in  particular,  who,  at  first,  was  most 
 zealous  in  the  cause  I  am  engaged  in,  but  he 
 looked  back,  and  most  shamefully  turned  aside 
 in  the  day  of  battle.  I  wrote  him  a  long  letter, 
 in  which  I  warned  him  chiefly  from  this  very 
 word  of  the  Lord,  but  he  cast  it  behind  his  back. 
 This  I  am  sure  of,  except  God  give  him  repent- 
 ance, that  word  will  grind  him  to  powder ;  for 
 if  any  man  rejects  the  word  of  the  Lord,  what 
 wisdom  is  there  in  him  ?  Therefore,  behold !  if 
 the  cause  I  am  engaged  in,  is  the  real  cause  of 
 God,  who  made  me  effectually  to  stand,  by  fear- 
 ing and  keeping  his  saying ;  shall  he  stand  who 
 does  so  presumptuously  reject  it?  Certainly  not. 
 
87 
 
 for  God's  word  will  not  admit  of  lies  and  shuff- 
 ling excuses  ;  seeing,  that  it  is  a  fearful  thing  for 
 any  to  put  his  hands  to  the  plough,  and  then  to 
 let  it  go,  by  looking  back ;  hence  the  exhorta- 
 tion :  "  Remember  Lot's  wife."  Again,  "  To-day, if 
 you  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts," 
 for,  '*  he  that  being  often  reproved  hardeneth 
 his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that 
 without  remedy:"  mind  this,  therefore,  that, 
 "  except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish." 
 Brethren,  be  ye  therefore  followers  of  God  and 
 his  word  ;  but  cease  ye  from  man,  and  *'  let  God 
 be  true,  but  every  man  a  liar." 
 
 The  Lord  has  hitherto  taught  me  by  his  word, 
 and  made  me  to  tremble  at  it  too,  so  that  I 
 never  wish  to  move  to  the  right  or  left  M'ithout  it ; 
 and  all  my  endeavours  have  been,  through  grace, 
 to  cleanse  my  way,  according  to  those  blessed 
 records  of  heaven.  My  last  trial  and  perplexity 
 chiefly  arose  from  this,  that  I  could  not  reconcile 
 the  promises  of  God,  and  his  divine  manifesta- 
 tions with  his  late  dealings  with  me :  I  really  con- 
 cluded, that  there  was  a  flaw  or  defect  in  my  call, 
 otherwise,  he  would  have  appeared,  and  not  left 
 me,  to  feel,  at  first,  so  much  weakness  in  the 
 execution  of  the  office  he  had  called  me  to  ;  yet 
 Paul  himself,  who  had  stood  many  years  in  this 
 warfare,  complains  of  this  infirmity,  saying:  "And 
 I  was  with  you  in  weakness,  and  in  fear,  and 
 much  trembling."  Another  said,  "  I  cannot 
 speak,  for  I  am  a  child."     Moses  excused  him- 
 
88 
 
 self,  saying:  "  I  am  not  eloquent :"  that  great  man 
 of  God  wanted  to  retreat,  and  begged  of  God, 
 that  he  would  send,  by  whom  he  would  send. 
 These  examples  being  far  from  my  sight,  I  was 
 left  to  fight  my  way  without  them  ;  for  the  Holy 
 Ghost  supplied  this  deficiency,  by  most  power- 
 fully helping  mine  infirmities,  to  cry,  groan,  pe- 
 tition, confess,  plead,  and  give  my  gracious  God 
 no  rest,  day  nor  night,  until  he  had  mercy  upon 
 me.     On  the  one  hand,  I  was  grievously  accused, 
 that  I  had  intruded  into  the  ministry,  though  God 
 had  not  sent  me  ;  but  on  the  other  hand,  when  I 
 thought  of  drawing  back,  I  was  fearfully  encoun- 
 tered by  this  sentence,  that  I  was  not  fit  for  the 
 kingdom  of  God.     I  must  observe,  that  my  fears 
 were  not  of  that  nature,  to  make  me  apprehend 
 the  loss  of  property,  reputation,  or  the  danger  of 
 persecution  ;  but  my  whole  concern  led  me  more 
 perfectly  to  know  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  to 
 make  sure  my  call,  and  to  be  clothed  with  his 
 almighty  power  in  tlie  execution  of  my  office : 
 thus  I  was  hemmed  in   by  these  two   contrary 
 workings  :  if  I  went  forward,  1  was  afraid  of  pre- 
 sumption; but  if  I  went  backward,  the  word  of 
 God    hedged   me   up  there.     In   this   distress  I 
 called  upon  God,  saying  :  "  Lord,  pardon  thou 
 me,  if  I  have  presumed;  search  me,  and  try  me; 
 have  I  not  moved  according  to  thy  word,   which 
 thou  didst  send  with  so  great  a  power  ?    Where- 
 fore didst  thou  leave  me?    Is  it  to  humble  me? 
 if  so,  give  me  submission,  and  sanctify  the  trial ; 
 
but  if,  through  the  craft  of  the  devil,  I  have  in- 
 truded into  an  office  thou  hast  not  designed  me 
 for,  pardon  this  for  thy  dear  Son's  sake,  and 
 shew  me,  by  thy  word,  a  way  in  which  I  may 
 draw  back,  without  coming  short  of  thy  king- 
 dom." God,  in  answer  to  this,  gave  me  light  to 
 see  clearly,  that  the  devil  and  my  unbelief  were 
 the  causes  of  my  trouble:  this  settled  the  point, 
 so  that  I  became  more  calm :  and  my  former 
 evidences  began  to  revive  and  shine.  I  blessed 
 tiie  Lord  for  the  timely  support  he  had  given 
 me,  although  I  found  no  extraordinary  comfort 
 at  this  time,  yet  I  was  more  established. 
 
 Having  been  engaged  in  continual  prayer  to 
 God,  he  led  me  to  take  this  portion  of  his  word 
 for  the  ensuing  sabbath  :  "  Shall  not  God  avenge 
 his  own  elect,  which  cry  day  and  night  unto  him, 
 though  he  bear  long  with  them."  The  troubles 
 of  my  mind,  and  my  continual  cries  under  them, 
 furnished  me  with  this  subject,  upon  which  I 
 meditated,  having  many  fears,  lest  Satan  should 
 rob  me,  by  his  temptations,  of  the  power  of  de- 
 scribing what  I  knew  so  well  of  my  text  by 
 experience.  Notwithstanding  all  my  efforts  in 
 prayer,  yet  I  went  into  the  pulpit  in  chains,  influ- 
 enced with  much  fear  and  trembling.  Against 
 hope,  I  believed  in  hope;  for  the  Lord  brought 
 me  through  in  spite  of  t^e  devil,  who  endeavoured 
 to  confuse  me  several  times.  In  the  evening,  I 
 found  much  more  liberty,  and  once  or  twice  I 
 felt  a  glory  and  much  sweetness  upon  my  spirit ; 
 
 N 
 
90 
 
 but,  upon  the  whole,  my  fears  and  tremblings  left 
 me  not  as  yet,  being  still  in  a  high  fever.  When 
 I  came  home,  I  felt  exceedingly  drained  and 
 empty,  though  the  things  I  had  advanced  in 
 preaching,  were  but  small,  and  very  weakly 
 handled,  yet,  I  felt  as  weary  and  languid,  as  if  I 
 had  Avounded  Rahab,  and  slain  the  dragon  in  the 
 sea.  Satan  insinuated,  that  I  should  never  be 
 able  to  hold  out,  and  that  my  constitution  was 
 too  feeble  to  bear  the  weight  of  so  arduous  a 
 charge,  and  that  I  should  certainly  die  under  it. 
 The  fear  of  dying  had  no  weight  with  me,  being 
 made  willing  to  die  many  deaths,  for  the  sake  of 
 my  gracious  God  and  Saviour  ;  my  greatest  con- 
 cern still  tending  to  this,  that  as  God  had  called 
 me  with  so  great  a  power,  and  had  given  me  such 
 s^yeet  foretastes  of  his  goodness,  saying :  "  Ye 
 shall  eat  in  plenty  and  be  satisfied."  I. say,  this 
 stumbled  me  amazingly,  that  God  stood  aloof 
 from  me,  and  left  me  to  grope  in  the  dark,  and 
 fulfilled  not  his  word,  upon  which  he  caused  me 
 to  hope.  Alas !  what  short-sighted  creatures  we 
 all  are;  how  fretful,  and  impatient  to  bear  the 
 cross:  we  forget  that  God's  judgments  are  a 
 great  deep,  and  that  his  ways  are  past  finding  out. 
 Is  not  the  weak  to  say,  I  am  strong  ?  and  hath  he 
 not  said,  I  will  give  power  to  the  faint,  and  to 
 them  that  have  no  might  I  will  increase  their 
 strength  ?  that  the  youths  shall  faint,  and  young 
 men  shall  utterly  fall;  because  they  being  not 
 plogued  like  other  men,  they  trust  to  their  might 
 
91 
 
 and  power;  but  that  they  who  wait  upon  the 
 Lord  shall  renew  their  strength.  *'  O  Lord,  I 
 beseech  thee,  for  thy  tender  mercies  sake  in  thy 
 beloved  Son,  pardon  thou  all  my  blindness,  igno- 
 rance, and  unbelief;  lead  me  on  in  thy  own  way, 
 and  make  darkness  light  before  me,  and  crooked 
 things  straight :  for  thou  alone  art  infinitely  wise, 
 and  worthy  to  be  praised  :  so  shall  I  be  delivered 
 from  all  mine  enemies.     Amen." 
 
 On  the  ensuing  Monday,  I  got  up  very  early 
 to  seek  the  Lord,  without  whom,  I  was  more 
 and  more  persuaded,  that  I  could  do  nothing  : 
 all  my  fears  and  dismal  doubts  again  compassed 
 me  about  like  bees.  O!  how  little  I  appeared  in 
 my  o\\  n  eyes ;  I  dreaded  the  ensuing  Thursday, 
 because  a  necessity  being  now  laid  upon  me  to 
 preach,  I  could  not  draw  back,  for  it  was  death 
 to  me  either  to  pursue  or  to  run  away.  Under 
 these  manifold  spiritual  troubles,  my  only  and 
 best  resource  was,  still  to  call  upon  him  who  is 
 never  weary  ;  I  endeavoured  to  giv^  him  no  rest; 
 wrestling  daily  with  him,  against  all  the  plagues 
 of  my  heart,  begging  for  patience,  long-suffering, 
 and  above  all,  for  submission  to  his  will.  While 
 I  was  thus  seeking  in  the  spirit,  to  harden  myself 
 against  all  the  sorrows  and  despondency  that 
 weighed  down  my  soul,  these  words  came  to  my 
 mind  with  great  energy  and  light :  "  Who  hath 
 despised  the  day  of  small  things?"  A  sudden: 
 light  shone  upon  my  path,  and  I  saw  as  clear  as 
 noon  day,  that  I  had  innujuerable  things  to  be 
 
 N  2 
 
92 
 
 thankful  for.  I  felt  reproved,  that  instead  of 
 praising  God,  for  the  day  of  small  things,  I  had 
 given  way  to  my  v^^orst  enemies,  the  devil  and 
 unbelief.  I  saw,  evidently,  that  J  had  looked  too 
 high,  and  expected  things  of  such  importance 
 to  grow  up  at  once ;  even  as  many  fools  have 
 done  since,  who,  because  I  was  not  like  one  that 
 had  been  forty  years  in  the  ministry,  would  not 
 allow  me  to  be  a  minister  at  all.  Awakened  by 
 these  considerations,  I  kneeled  down  before  God, 
 according  to  the  mighty  impulse  I  felt  in  my 
 ieart,  and  began  to  thank  and  bless  him,  for  the 
 strength  he  had  hitherto  given  to  me;  J  blessed 
 him  even  that  he  had  not  permitted  my  mouth  to 
 be  stopped  at  H —  altogether.  My  heari  got  so 
 warm,  that  I  most  humbly  thanked  him  for  all 
 the  shame,  confusion,  and  other  mortifying  les- 
 sons he  had  taught  me.  I  believed  from  my  soul, 
 that  the  Lord  would  bring  good  out  of  all  these 
 seeming  evils,  and  that  for  shame,  I  should  have 
 double.  While  I  was  thus  humbly  engaged  with 
 God,  feeling  like  a  weaned  child,  these  words 
 came  as  a  sound  from  heaven,  and  tilled  my  heart: 
 *'  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  pre- 
 cious seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with  re- 
 joicing, bringing  his  sheaves  with  him."  Being 
 enabled  to  mix  faith  with  the  word,  I  found  my 
 bow  renewed  in  my  hand ;  all  my  fears  gave  way 
 in  a  moment;  and  the  devil,  with  his  darts, 
 vanished  like  lightning.  God  sent  his  word,  and 
 fcealed  me,  so  that  my  youth  was  renevyed  lilie 
 
93 
 
 the  eagles.  I  was  ashamed,  yea,  confounded, 
 because  of  the  iniquity  of  my  doubts,  mistrusts, 
 and  unbelieving  suspicions  of  God's  faithfulness. 
 I  bowed  before  him,  and  worshipped  him,  in 
 spirit  and  in  truth,  repenting  in  dust  and  ashes, 
 saying :  "  Behold  I  am  vile,  and  am  not  worthy 
 of  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies  and  truth,  which 
 thou  hast  hitherto  shewn  towards  thy  servant. 
 O  Lord  !  strengthen  thou  me,  and  make  my  fore- 
 head like  adamant,  that  I  may  endure  all  long- 
 suffering  with  joyfulness."  I  was  made  to  see 
 the  blessed  face  of  him,  in  whom  alone  the  Father 
 is  well  pleased  with  us  :  as  it  is  written  (here) 
 **■  I  will  no  more  be  wroth  with  thee,  nor  rebuke 
 thee."  Instead  of  rebukes,  he  commanded  the 
 best  robe  to  be  brought,  the  ring  also,  and  the 
 shoes ;  I  was  made  again  to  feed  upon  the  fatted 
 calf,  while  God  extended  peace  to  me  like  a  river. 
 My  cup  ran  over,  and  with  flowing  tears  of  con- 
 trition, I  blessed  him  with  joyful  lips.  I  found 
 him  indeed,  "  glorious  in  holiness,  and  fearful  in 
 praises,  doing  wonders." 
 
 Christian  friend,  consider  attentively  the  won- 
 ders of  God's  faithfulness  ;  his  immense  bowels 
 of  mercy,  love,  and  goodness  to  such  as  suffer 
 tribulation  with  his  dear  Son ;  is  it  not  good  to 
 be  afflicted,  poor,  needy,  halt,  and  blind  ?  None 
 shall  enter  the  kingdom  of  God  but  such  as  suffer 
 with  Christ,  for  they  shall  reign  with  him.  Aftiic- 
 tions  thus  sanctified,  brings  us  closer  to  the  God 
 of  our  mercies ;  they  teach  us  to  cry  unto  him  in 
 
04 
 
 our  troubles,  and  he  delivers  us  out  of  our  dis- 
 tresses. We  are  enabled  to  make  our  calling  and 
 election  surer, daily:  and  an  entrance  is  uiinistered 
 unto  us  abundantly  into  the  everlasting  kingdom 
 of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Must  we 
 not  say  with  David,  "  it  is  good  for  me  that  I 
 have  been  afflicted,  that  I  might  learn  thy 
 statutes?"  therefore  I  conclude,  that  those  spiri- 
 tual afflictions,  which  I  have  described,  however 
 alarming  they  may  appear  to  many  a  trembling 
 soul,  yet  are  they  a  sure  evidence  of  their  being 
 elected :  for  God  hath  chosen  his  saints  in  the 
 furnace  of  affliction,  and  will  save  his  afflicted 
 people,  but  will  bring  down  high  looks.  O  !  how 
 mysterious  are  the  ways  of  our  God !  how  exceed- 
 ingly grieved  has  my  soul  been,  to  see  the  mighty 
 rod  that  many  have  made  for  themselves  :  the 
 Lord  will  certainly  bring  down  the  lofty  looks  of 
 those  high  and  mighty  professors,  whose  over- 
 grown faith  is  above  all  real  sensibility  and  godly 
 affliction:  such  are  all  faith  and  all  knowledge, 
 spliting  hairs  in  doctrine  ;  but  they  are  at  ease  in 
 Zion.  Woe  unto  them,  yea,  woe  unto  them  that 
 are  wise  in  their  own  eyes,  and  prudent  in  their 
 own  sight!  Double  woe  unto  them  which  are  not 
 grieved  for  the  affliction  of  Joseph  !  who  despise 
 those  lamps  which  God  hath  lighted,  because,  in 
 their  blind  estimation,  tliey  seem  ready  to  go  out; 
 God,  however,  will  light  them  again,  and  anoint 
 them  with  fresh  oil,  to  the  confusion  of  such  arro- 
 gant professors.     Woe  be  Unto  them  that  say, 
 
95 
 
 stand  by  thyself,  come  not  near  unto  me,  for  I 
 am  holier,  wiser,  and  more  prudent  than  thou. 
 Such,  jfinding  none  like  themselves,  go  into  cor- 
 ners, in  order  that  they  may  nurse  their  pride, 
 and  enjoy  their  imaginary  excellence:  though 
 their  heads  touch  the  clouds,  and  they  set  their 
 nests  among  the  stars,  from  thence  God  will  bring 
 them  down.  If  they  have  a  talent,  why  do  they 
 bury  it  in  the  earth?  Do  they  not  run  the  risk  of 
 being,  at  last,  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  cast  into 
 outer  darkness,  as  unprofitable  servants?  God 
 has  not  made  one  member  in  the  mystical  body 
 stronger  than  another  to  no  purpose :  if  an  arm  is 
 separated  from  the  body,  is  not  the  body  maimed? 
 What  profit  is  that  member  to  the  body  ?  Has 
 not  such  an  one  reason  to  fear,  that  the  heavenly 
 husbandman  hath  taken  him  away  from  Christ  as 
 an  unfruitful  branch  ?  Consider,  and  tremble, 
 thou  useless,  idle  member,  who  art  stiffened  with 
 pride  and  self-conceit ;  and  sayest,  that  God  hath 
 forsaken  the  earth  :  there  is  no  minister  now  sent 
 to  suit  me.  Art  thou  of  the  privy  council  of  God  ? 
 Dost  thou  really  know  the  thoughts  of  his  heart? 
 No  wonder  that  thou  art  in  darkness,  thou  proud, 
 stiff  professor,  for  thou  limiteth  the  Holy  One  of 
 Israel,  saying :  "  What  can  the  man  do  that 
 coraeth  after  the  king?"  Thou  fool,  read  the 
 answer,  Eccles.  ii.  12.  *'  Even  that  which  hath 
 been  already  done."  Awake  out  of  thy  dangerous 
 lethargy,  O  blind  professor;  open  thine  eyes  and 
 consider,    that  in  so  saying,  thou  makest  flesh 
 
96 
 
 thine  arm,  and  not  the  living  God  thy  trust,  who 
 hath  promised  to  be  with  us  always,  even  to  the 
 end  of  the  world.  O  thou  misguided  man,  why 
 dost  thou  separate  thyself  from  every  humble 
 and  broken-hearted  soul?  Art  thou  not  afraid, 
 lest  the  Holy  Ghost  should  point  thee  out  as 
 "  sensual,  not  having  the  Spirit  ?"  Has  not  Satan 
 blinded  thine  eyes,  because  of  thine  hatred  to  the 
 truth  ?  for  thou  sayest,  "  if  this  matter  was  of 
 Godj  he  would  have  shewed  it  to  me."  Let  me 
 tell  thee  the  real  truth,  for  thou  goest  not  in  the 
 right  way  to  know  the  secrets  of  God :  thou  art 
 full  of  prejudice,  enmity,  and  legal  pride,  there- 
 fore doth  he  behold  thee  afar  off.  Dost  thou  not 
 remember,  that  the  true  God  dwelleth  with  every 
 humble,  broken,  and  contrite  spirit?  these  he 
 will  revive,  and  they  shall  learn  his  secrets,  but 
 not  a  deceived,  stiff,  proud,  and  conceited  pro- 
 fessor. God  grant  that  thou  mayest  understand 
 this,  that  "  the  wolf  also  shall  dwell  with  the 
 lamb,  and  a  little  child  shall  lead  them  ;"  but 
 thou  dost  reject  the  word  of  God  continually,  and 
 and  pray  what  wisdom  is  there  in  thee?  Thou 
 dost  reject  them  that  God  hath  sent,  because 
 thou  thinkest  thyself  a  leader,  though  God  hath 
 not  sent  thee.  I  am  in  duty  bound  to  tell  thee, 
 that  except  thou  repenteth,  that  judgments  are 
 prepared  for  thee,  **  whose  name  is  proud  and 
 liaughtyscorner,  who  dealest  in  proud  wrath." 
 *'  0  Lord !  enlighten  the  eyes  of  thine  own 
 people,  who  have  erred  through  ignorance  and 
 
9T 
 
 the  craft  of  Satan ;  and  bring  them  to  understand 
 ing:  pardon  their  murmurings,  and  cause  tliem 
 to  learn  that  doctrine,  which  is  according  to  god- 
 liness. Let  none  of  thine  own  sheep  be  offended 
 with  my  honest  dealings,  but  lead  them  to  self- 
 examination  and  humble  confessions;  bring  them 
 very  near  to  thyself,  humble,  clothed,  and  in  their 
 right  mind.  Thou  light  of  the  world,  shew  them 
 the  crooked  paths  they  have  been  beguiled  in, 
 far  from  peace  and  tranquillity  ;  let  them  not 
 alone,  but  manifest  thyself  to  them  in  all  thy 
 righteous  judgments,  until  they  say,  behold  I  am 
 vile,  wherefore  1  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust 
 and  ashes.  Do  those  things  for  them,  and  forsake 
 them  not,  for  Christ's  sake.     Amen." 
 
 God  having  graciously  enlarged  ray  heart,  by 
 the  late  blessed  visitation,  1  felt  like  a  giant,  re- 
 freshed with  new  wine.  I  believed  with  my  whole 
 heart  that  I  should  reap  in  due  time,  and  that 
 he  would  keep  me  from  fainting.  My  hope  being 
 encouraged,  became  now  an  helmet,  humbly 
 expecting  that  God  would  bring  me  again  re- 
 joicing, bringing  my  sheaves  with  me;  for  this 
 precious  hope  set  before  me,  I  was  enabled  to 
 endure  the  cross  and  despise  the  shame ;  yea, 
 God  made  me  to  abound  in  hope,  by  the  power 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  I  was  enabled  now  to 
 meditate  upon  his  word  with  greater  delight  and 
 satisfaction.  The  following  Thursday  I  preached 
 from  these  words:  Ron?,  v.  4.  *'  And  not  only  so, 
 
 o 
 
9a 
 
 but  we  glory  in  tribulation  also."  The  Lord  was 
 pleased  to  give  me  more  liberty  at  this  time,  and 
 the  people  also  seemed  better  satisfied.  I  must 
 observe,  with  Jeremiah,  "  that  it  is  good  for  a 
 man  to  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth:"  for  when  I 
 found  that  the  number  of  the  people  was  increas- 
 ing, my  foolish  heart  would  have  been  lifted  up 
 with  pride,  but  I  remembered  my  misery,  the 
 wormwood  and  the  gall,  and  my  heart  was  yet 
 tender  and  sore,  so  that  I  was  humbled  to  the 
 dust.  O  how  excellent  is  the  teaching  of  our 
 God,  whose  love  is  so  great,  that  he  will  not  let 
 Jacob  go  altogether  unpunished,  lest  being  lifted 
 up  with  pride,  he  should  fall  into  condemnation. 
 I  was  therefore  led  to  look  upon  this  seeming 
 prosperity  with  a  jealous  eye;  knowing,  that 
 every  step  of  my  way  has  hitherto  been  severely 
 tried.  To  ballast  my  seeming  success,  God  suf- 
 fered me  still,  at  times,  to  be  much  distressed 
 with  weakness,  fear,  and  trembling;  however,  it 
 had  this  blessed  eflect,  to  keep  me  very  close  to 
 the  Lord,  by  incessant  prayers  and  supplica- 
 tions. 
 
 I  cannot  but  be  astonished,  that  many  preach- 
 ers can,  without  meditation,  private  wrestling  in 
 prayer  with  God,  and  spiritual  labour,  step  into 
 a  pulpit:  such,  trust  only  to  their  memory ;  no 
 wonder,  therefore,  that  the  same  slothful  and  pre- 
 sumptuous spirit  is  communicated  to  their  hearers. 
 God  tells  us  who  shall  be  made  fat  and  flourish- 
 
w 
 
 mg,  saying:  "  The  idle  soul  shall  suffer  hunger, 
 but  the  soul  of  the  diligent  shall  be  made  fat." 
 This  I  found  to  be  a  truth,  for  when  I  have 
 retired  to  meditate  upon  my  subject,  the  darkness 
 and  confusion  I  felt,  obliged  me  often  to  pray 
 most  fervently,  for  light  and  understanding:  I 
 was  constrained  to  cry  against  my  fears  and  my 
 despondency,  begging,  that  I  might  be  clothed 
 with  the  spirit  of  power  and  of  might.  A  sense 
 of  my  wants  compelled  me  to  pray,  while  on  the 
 road  to  the  chapel,  and  also,  when  I  was  in  the 
 "Vestry ;  when  sitting  in  the  pulpit,  instead  of 
 looking  about  with  that  brazen  face  of  such,  who 
 are  insensible  of  the  great  importance  of  the  work 
 they  are  engaged  in,  I,  finding  myself  beset  with 
 many  fears,  temptations,  and  snares,  was  con- 
 strained earnestly  to  look  up,  for  the  powers  of 
 darkness  wrestled  against  me  with  such  unre- 
 lenting fury,  and  infernal  malice,  yea,  with  such 
 intolerable  violence,  that  T  have  been  obliged  to 
 cry  unto  God,  with  all  my  heart,  strength,  power, 
 and  perseverance  imaginable ;  if  I  ceased  to  pray 
 at  any  time,  like  Peter,  I  began  to  sink  ;  the 
 proud  waves  of  unbelief,  tormenting  fears,  with 
 innumerable  fiery  darts,  surrounded  me  on  every 
 side.  In  this  deep  have  1  often  seen  the  won- 
 derful works  of  God,  in  strengthening  that  faith, 
 which  was  born  of  him.  Who  is  that  godly  man 
 who  can  contradict  and  fight  against  the  truth  ? 
 ^or  his  own  experience  will  constrain  him  tQ  say, 
 
 o  2 
 
100 
 
 this  is  the  finger  of  God  ;  consider,  therefore,  the 
 "work  of  God  ;  behold  a  poor  worm  overwhelmed 
 with  all  that  the  devil's  rage  and  malice  could 
 devise,  this  enemy  throwing  mountains  of  unbe- 
 lief and  doubts  in  my  soul,  hurling  bitter  oaths, 
 and  blasphemies    through    my    wearied    mind ; 
 dragging    my   deeply    wounded    spirit  into   the 
 deepest   abyss   of  dejection    and    despondency. 
 Behold !  the  power  of  God  ;  that  by  the  means 
 of  that  little  weapon,  even  all  prayer,  being  made 
 violent  under  the  influence  of  God's  spirit,  I  have 
 been  made  to   stand.    jVly  faith  suddenly  caught 
 hold  of  him  who  is  mighty  to  save,  and  he  came 
 swiftly  down  into  my  soul,  as  the  captain  of  my 
 salvation ;  in  a  moment,  the  raging  of  all  mine 
 enemies  ceased,  and  there  was  a  great  calm  :  my 
 'winged   affections  have  gone  up  to  him,  with  the 
 humblest  strains  of  gratitude,  while  my  enlarged 
 soul,  full  of  wonder,  adoration,  and   praise,   has 
 shouted  unto  him  with  the  voice  of  triumph  ;  ray 
 soul  has  burnt  under  a  sense  of  his  everlasting 
 love,  while  an  unutterable  experience  of  his  good- 
 ness opened  the  sluices  of  my  head,  to  pour  out 
 tears  of  unfeigned  contrition  and  godly  sorrow  to 
 him  who  worketh  all  these  things  in  us  by  his 
 Spirit.     Thus,  by  the  power  of  faith,  the  tremen- 
 dous hosts   of  hell  have  been   discomfitted  and 
 vanquished,  by  a  poor  and  needy  man,  the  least 
 of  all  saints,  through  the  mighty  power  of  that 
 gf«at  God,  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom, 
 
101 
 
 he  everlasting  glory,  world  without  end.    Amen. 
 Thus,  mightily  strengthened,  I  liave  been  enabled 
 to  stand   up,  feeling  the  meekness  of  the  lamb, 
 and  the  boldness  of  the  lion,  fearing  neither  men 
 nor  devils.     Sure  1  am,   that  if  I  had  no  other 
 call  to  produce,  than  what  I  have  just  related,  of 
 the  hand  of  God  made  bare  in  my  behalf,  it  is 
 enough  to  confound  all  the  men  and  devils,  which 
 have  taken  such  pains  to  oppose  me,  for  God 
 could  not  give  me  a  greater  token  of  his  goodness, 
 faithfulness,  and  truth,  to  persuade  my  struggling 
 soul,   that  the  Lord  God  and  his  Spirit  had  sent 
 me,  then    by  manifesting   himself  so  graciously 
 in  the  very  exercise  of  the  ministry.     If  what  I 
 have  stated  here  are  really  spiritual  facts,  pray 
 in  what  light  must  those  ministers  and  professors 
 appear,  who    have,    either  maliciously  or   igno- 
 rantly  opposed  me  in  these  things?     Do  we  not 
 hold  this  mystery  of  faith  in  a  pure  conscience  ? 
 Can  I  not  prove  that  this  free  gift  has  purified  my 
 heart?  If  they  know  any  of  these  things,  let  them 
 produce  a  better  experience,  founded  upon  the 
 power  and  word  of  God  ;  but  if  they  are  spiritnal, 
 let  them  acknowledge  that  this   is  the  finger  of 
 God,  lest  they  should  do  despite  to  the  Spirit  of 
 Grace,  and  this  fearful  sentence  should  overtake 
 them :  "  Behold,  ye  despisers,   and  wonder,  and 
 perish :  for  I  work  a  work  in  your  days,  a  work 
 that  ye  shall  in  no  wise  believe,  though  a  man 
 declare  it  unto  you." 
 
102 
 
 Christian  reader,  I  iiave  endeavoured,  as  far 
 as  God  has  given  me  power,  to  remove  the  stum- 
 bling blocks  out  of  thy  way  ;  but  if  any  thing 
 stumbleth  thee  yet,  take  it  to  God,  who,  alone, 
 can  make  that  straight  which  may  appear  crooked. 
 I  have,  from  my  heart,  studied  thine  edification, 
 in  freely  describing  my  secret  experiences,  and 
 the  various  conflicts  I  have  gone  through,  with 
 men  and  devils;  as  also,  the  power  of  God  in  de- 
 livering me  out  of  all  my  troubles.  I  have  been 
 enabled  to  avoid  all  bitterness  and  malice  towards 
 them  who  have  been  wrongfully  my  enemic-S, 
 making  use  of  no  other  words  but  what  the  holy 
 Ghost  teacheth  ;  the  reproofs  that  I  have  dealt 
 out,  are  according  to  God's  word  and  tlie  com- 
 mission I  have  received,  contrary  to  which,  I  can- 
 not possibly  act,  if  I  should  even  lose  my  life.  If 
 thou  art  honest  and  sincere,  thou  wilt  bless  God 
 for  the  faithfulness  he  has  given  me:  "if thou 
 scornest,  thou  alone  shalt  bear  it."  I  shall  now 
 conclude  by  adding  a  few  answers  to  some  un- 
 «criptura]  objections. 
 
 Objection    1. 
 
 How  is  it  that  we  never  heard  of  his  impres- 
 sions about  the  ministry  before  now ;  and  why 
 <]id    he  start  up  so  soon  after  the  death   of  Mr. 
 
 ii . 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Both  objections  being  not  from  the  word  of 
 
103 
 
 God,  are  void  of  nnderstanding-,  for,  *'  if  any  man 
 speak,  let  bim  speak  as  the  oracles  of  God."  If 
 no  body  heard  of  me  before,  it  is  because  God 
 enabled  me,  like  Mary,  to  ponder  these  things  in 
 my  heart.  As  to  my  coming  out  at  this  critical 
 time,  I  answer :  *'  Nay,  but  O  man  !  who  art  thou 
 that  repliest  against  God  ?  Shall  the  thing  formed 
 say  to  him  that  formed  it,  why  hast  thou  made 
 me  thus."  I  came  not  of  myself,  but  appeared 
 when  God  thought  good  to  send  me ;  for  we  must 
 allow  that  our  times  are  in  his  hands.  Prove  that 
 God  has  not  sent  me;  but  if  you  cannot,  then 
 consider,  and  read,  that  "  the  foolishness  of  man 
 pei'verteth  his  way ;  and  his  heart  fretteth  against 
 thie  Lord:"  "  Therefore  judge  not  according  to 
 appearance,  but  righteous  judgment." 
 
 Objection     2. 
 
 We  believe  him  to  be  a  good  man,  but  we  are 
 doubtful  of  his  being  sent  of  God. 
 
 Ansv/er. 
 
 Bring  your  charges  according  to  the  law  and 
 the  testimony,  for  if  you  speak  not  according  to 
 this  word,  what  light  and  wisdom  is  there  in  you  ? 
 Shew  first  that  I  have  not  profited  the  people  of 
 God  ;  that  I  hold  errors;  that  I  make  merchan- 
 dize of  the  people;  that  1  walk  not  becoming  the 
 gospel ;  for  by  these  things  you  will  establish 
 your  point,  and  prove  that  I  am  not  sent  of  God ; 
 
104 
 
 hut  if  vou  cannot  do  if,  then  consider  what  God 
 proves  against  you,  sayins^ :  "  Be  swift  to  hear, 
 and  slow  to  speak  :"  "  for  the  lips  of  a  fool  will 
 swallow  up  himself"  How  can  you  so  grossly 
 commit  your  judgment,  and  call  me  a  good  man, 
 and  object  to  my  being  called  to  preach  ?  You 
 will  say,  we  know  some  good  men  who  preach, 
 and  yet  there  are  strong  evidences,  that  God  has 
 not  sent  them.  Well,  that  may  be;  but  have 
 they  insisted  upon  that  God  has  sent  them  ?  Have 
 they  lifted  up  their  hands  to  the  most  high  God, 
 the  judge  of  quick  and  dead  ?  Have  they  pub- 
 licly called  God  to  witness,  as  I  have  done,  that 
 the  Lord  God  and  his  Spirit  hath  sent  them  ? 
 Brethren,  be  men  in  understanding,  for  I  must 
 be  a  most  awful  liar,  and  not  a  good  man,  if  the 
 things  I  have  so  boldly  asserted  are  not  true : 
 "  for  with  my  heart  I  have  believed  unto  riglite- 
 ousness ;  and  with  my  tongue  I  have  made  con- 
 fession unto  salvation." 
 
 Objection     3. 
 
 You  may  be  sent  of  God,  as  a  minister  to 
 some,  but  not  to  us,  for  we  cannot  profit  under  you. 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Shew  me  the  word  of  God  for  all  this,  but  if 
 you  cannot,  hear  then  what  it  says  to  you.  If 
 my  ministry  is  from  heaven  as  St.  John's  was» 
 then  why  do  you  not  believe  me  ?    If  God  sent 
 
105 
 
 tne,  doth  not  Christ  speak  by  me?  If  so,  then 
 you  are  in  the  same  case  as  them  of  old^  who  said, 
 **  we  will  not  have  this  man  to  reign  over  us :"  he, 
 therefore,  that  despiseth  the  man,  despiseth  the 
 God  that  sendeth  him  ;  so  saith  Christ  also  : 
 *' He  that  despiseth  you,  despiseth  me;  and  he 
 that  despiseth  me,  despiseth  him  that  sent  me." 
 I  say,  therefore,  that  as  many  as  have  heard  me, 
 and  yet  have  turned  away,  and  received  me  not, 
 it  is  at  their  peril ;  for  I  believe,  according  to 
 God's  word,  that  if  he  has  sent  me,  i  am  as- 
 suredly a  minister  to  all  that  hear  me:  mark, 
 therefore,  the  words  of  our  Lord,  Luke  x.  14. 
 "  Whosoever,  mind,  whosoever,  (meaning  you  in 
 particular,  as  well  as  all  others)  whosoever  shall 
 not  receive  you,  nor  hear  your  words,  when  ye 
 depart  out  of  that  house  or  city,  shake  oft'  the 
 dust  of  your  feet.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  it  shall 
 be  more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
 morrha  in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  that  city." 
 God  saith  by  Ezekiel,  "  they  will  not  hearken 
 unto  thee,  because  they  will  not  hearken  unto 
 me."  I  will  tell  you  plainly  who  they  are  that 
 cannot  hear  me :  every  one  that  is  proud  and 
 lifted  up  with  his  knowledge  and  experience ; 
 such  also,  who  secretly  live  in  the  lust  of  unclean- 
 ness,  my  preaching  is  too  hot  for  them.  Thirdly, 
 all  lovers  of  the  world :  the  covetous  professor 
 who  panteth  after  the  dust ;  such  who  grind  the 
 poor,  ill  order  to  enrich  themselves ;  these  can- 
 
 p 
 
106 
 
 not  profit  under  my  nlinistry.  Fourthly,  every- 
 one that  abhoreth  not  evil,  yea,  all  evil,  he  also 
 is  an  enemy  to  ray  ministry.  Lastly,  every  simple 
 soul  that  is  deceived  by  such  false  brethren,  such 
 also  cannot  hear  me  for  a  season  ^  and  why  ? 
 because  every  one  that  doeth  evil  will  not  come 
 to  the  light,  lest  his  deeds  should  be  reproved. 
 
 Objection     4. 
 
 We  are  highly  offended  with  you,  because  yow 
 said  publicly,  that  you  believed  there  were  more 
 real  children  of  God  in  your  little  congregatioiH 
 than  in  any  ten  congregations  in  London, 
 
 Answer. 
 
 I  will  not  deny  my  words,  but  airi  inclined  to 
 believe  what  I  have  asserted,  because  you  are 
 offended,  for  I  am  sure,  that  except  God  had  kept 
 his  restraining  hand  upon  you,  I  should,  with 
 Christ,  have  been  led  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  for 
 speaking,  in  a  measure,  the  same  things  that  he 
 did.  Before  you  took  the  offence,  you  should 
 have  known  my  reasons  ;  besides,  such  a  trifling 
 thing  could  not  have  moved  you,  if  you  knew 
 more  of  the  depths  of  God's  judgments  ;  for  it  is 
 written:  "Great  peace  have  they  that  love  thy 
 law,  and  nothing  shall  offend  them  ;"  know  then, 
 that  God  had  shewed  me,  even  before  I  began  tO" 
 preach,  that  most  of  those,  who  were  in  church 
 fellowship  witli  me,  would  not  receive  ray  testi- 
 
mony ;  and  he  sent  this  portion  of  his  word  with 
 ^reat  power,  to  make  me  sure  of  it :  *'  Get  thee 
 <>ut  of  Jerusalem,  for  they  will  not  receive  thy 
 testimony  concerning  me."  It  is  obvious,  that 
 many  have  heard  me,  who,  at  first  received  it, 
 but  aftervi'ards  were  oiTended;  others  have  heard 
 me,  and  never  received  it ;  why  ?  because,  as  I 
 have  asserted  in  my  third  answer,  their  hearts 
 were  not  right  wdth  God,  being  filled  with  enmity, 
 tmcleanness,  bitterness,  and  covetousness ;  stuffed 
 with  legal  pride,  and  seeking  after  the  witness 
 and  praise  of  men  more  than  that  of  God.  What 
 I  have  asserted,  I  am  still  inclined  to  believe; 
 few  will  believe  my  testimony,  because  it  is  of 
 God.  The  prophet  Isaiah  found  it  as  I  do ;  he, 
 therefore  must,  like  me,  give  great  offence  in  his 
 ^ays,  when  he  said,  "  Who  hath  believed  our  re- 
 |)prt,  and  to  whom  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  re- 
 vealed." You  have  not  believed  my  report,  be- 
 cause the  arm  of  the  Lord  hath  not  been  revealed 
 unto  you;  why?  because  of  your  unbelief ;  for 
 you  are  yet  carnal,  and  judge  after  the  £esh, 
 being  disobedient  to  the  word  of  God.  Let  me 
 now  give  you  a  token,  that  you  are  blinded  by 
 the  God  of  this  world :  I  say,  wa;tch  your  feel- 
 ings ;  if  your  heart  heaves  at  the  things  I  have 
 asserted^  it  is  an  evident  token  that  you  are  in 
 the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity* 
 God  hath  once  and  again  applied  these  words, 
 with  power  to  my  heart :  "  Behold !  1  will  nlake 
 
 p  2 
 
108 
 
 thee  a  sharp  threshing  instrument  having  teeth  : 
 thou  shalt  thresh  the  mountains,  and  beat  them 
 small,  and  shall  make  the  hills  as  chaff:  thou 
 shalt  fan  them,  and  the  wind  shall  carry  them 
 away,  and  the  whirlwind  shall  scatter  them  ;  and 
 thou  shalt  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  glory  in  the 
 Holy  One  of  Israel."  God  has  evidently  fulfilled 
 his  word,  and  you  are  a  witness  of  the  truth  of 
 it,  for  you  are  scattered,  and  the  devil  and  unbe- 
 lief have  taken  you  away.  Produce  now,  if  you 
 can,  that  peace,  love,  and  joy,  that  a  gracious 
 God  has  given  me,  for  a  testimony  of  his  appro- 
 bation, that  he  has  counted  me  worthy  to  be 
 engaged  in  so  good  a  work.  I  am  persuaded, 
 therefore,  that  none  can  hear  my  testimony  for 
 God,  but  such  as  he  hath  humbled  for  himself, 
 who  shall  receive  with  meekness  the  ingrafted 
 word,  which  is  able  to  save  their  souls.  The 
 truths  I  preach,  and  the  searching  manner  in 
 which  the  Lord  leads  me  to  enforce  them,  con- 
 vinces me  that  those  who  love  the  testimony,  and 
 are  made  fruitful  thereby,  I  say  I  am  at  a  point, 
 that  such  are  the  children  of  God,  for  they  do  the 
 truth,  and  are  come  to  the  light,  that  their  deeds 
 may  be  made  manifest,  that  they  are  wrought  in 
 God.  Christ  saith,  ^'  by  their  fruits  ye  shall 
 know  them,"  and  you  are  also  known  by  your 
 separating  spirit ;  for  if  what  I  have  declared  in 
 the  truth,  woe  be  to  you,  who  have  broken  the 
 broflierly  covenant,  by  turning  your  back  upon 
 
109 
 
 such;  for  you  walk  in  darkness,  having  hated 
 every  humbled  and  broken-hearted  christian:  the 
 "wor  1  of  God,  therefore,  points  out  such  :  "  They 
 went  out  from  us,  because  they  were  not  of  us :  for 
 if  they  had  been  of  us,  they  would  have  continued 
 with  us;  but  they  went  out,  that  they  might  be 
 made  luanifest  that  they  were  not  all  of  us."  You 
 have  turned  to  your  crooked  ways,  and  God  has 
 led  you  forth  with  the  workers  of  iniquity :  but 
 peace  shall  be  upon  Israel.  This  peace  that  pas- 
 seth  all  understanding,  God  has  given  us,  because 
 he  has  given  us  power,  like  Jacob,  to  prevail  with 
 him,  by  humble  prayer,  "  and  this  is  the  confi- 
 dence that  we  have  in  him,  that  if  we  ask  any 
 thing,  according  to  his  will,  he  heareth  us."  Had 
 you  gone  the  same  way  to  work,  you  would  not 
 have  justified  the  wicked  and  condemned  the 
 just. 
 
 Objection     5. 
 
 He  wants  to  pull  us  down,  that  he  may  build 
 us  up  again. 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Is  it  not  most  true,  that  the  lips  of  a  fool  will 
 swallow  up  himself?  Any  humble  discerning 
 christian  may  discover,  that  he  who  makes  this 
 objection,  thinks  himself  to  be  something,  when 
 he  manifests  himself  to  be  nothing ;  he  is  built 
 up  in  his  own  conceit ;  and,  like  the  Laodicean 
 
110 
 
 cliurcfi,  *'  be  is  rich  and  increased  with  g:oods, 
 and  bath  need  of  nothing;  and  knoweth  not,  that 
 lie  is  wretched,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked." 
 **  The  way  of  a  fool  is  right  in  his  own  eyes,  yet, 
 when  he  walketh  by  the  way,  his  wisdom  faileth 
 him :  and  he  saith  to  every  one,  he  is  a  fool."  This 
 objector  and  his  wisdom  really  appears  foolish ; 
 lie  is  a  child,  and  knows  not  what  he  says,  for 
 by  his  objection,  he  has  pointed  me  out,  in  the 
 strongest  manner,  as  a  real  minister  of  Christ,  for 
 he  asserts,  that  I  am  none  of  those  who  build  up 
 professors  m  presumption  and  pride,  but  that  I 
 endeavour  to  pull  them  down  from  their  imaginary 
 exc^llenc-e,  lest  they  should  fall  into  condem- 
 nation. Consider  the  loftiness  of  this  deceived 
 man  ;  O !  how  high  his  dwelling,  even  among  the 
 stars ;  for  he  is  built  up,  and  scorns,  that  God,  in 
 bis  ministers,  should  pull  him  down  :  but  has  he 
 fellowship  with  a  lowly  Saviour  ?  Doth  he  look 
 at  him  whom  he  has  pierced  ?  Is  he  humbled  in 
 the  dust,  pouring  out  tears  of  oontrition  and 
 godly  sorrow,  unto  his  merciful  dying  Lord?  If 
 be  were  built  up  here,  he  would  find  fellowship 
 with  me,  for  this  is  the  place  where  a  gracious 
 sin-pardoning  God  has  placed  me,  ^nd  he  pulls 
 me  down  daily,  that  I  may  settle  no  where  else. 
 Christian  friend,  take  heed,  for  Christ's  sake,  that 
 thou  be  not  enticed  by  such  men's  delusions,  for 
 if  they  belong  to  God,  they  must  vomit  all  this 
 up  again;  but  if  not,, God  saith,  Ezek.  xxxiv.  IQ. 
 
Ill 
 
 *•  I  will  destroy  the  fat  and  the  strong;  I  will 
 feed  them  with  judgment;"  believe  not  their 
 experiences  which  they  relate  to  you,  nor  their 
 comforts  and  joys,  for  the  whole  of  it  is  a  lie,  even 
 the  deceit  of  their  hearts,  and  why?  because  they 
 are  lifted  up  with  pride;  they  are  built  up,  and 
 have  no  need  of  pulling  down.  A  professor  who 
 is  thus  blinded,  cannot,  if  it  were  to  save  his  soul 
 from  hell,  say,  with  David,  "  Let  the  righteous 
 smite  me,  it  shall  not  break  my  head  ;"  but  he 
 flattereth  himself  in  his  own  eyes,  until  his  ini- 
 quity be  found  to  be  hateful."  Such  go  far  and 
 wide,  begging  the  witness  of  men,  because  they 
 cannot  obtain  the  real  witness  of  God ;  why  ? 
 *'  because  he  resisteth  the  proud,  but  giveth  grace 
 to  the  lowly;"  I  conclude,  therefore,  that  they 
 only  are  built  up  in  a  crucified  Saviour,  who  are 
 most  willing  to  be  pulled  down  :  *'  for  wliosoever 
 humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted ;  but  whoso- 
 ever exalteth  himself  shall  be  humbled." 
 
 You  may  say,  that  I  bear  too  hard  upon  some 
 who  are  manifestedly  good  men ;  God  forbid ;  I 
 seek  not  to  wound  any  good  man,  but  rather  to 
 heal  such  who  have  been  wounded  by  the  devil 
 and  sin.  A  good  man  is  known  by  his  fruit,  and 
 the  axe  must  be  laid  at  the  root  of  every  tree ; 
 therefore,  every  tree  that  bringeth  not  forth  good 
 fruit  is  hewn  down  and  cast  into  the  fire.  God's 
 word  is  the  fire  that  doth  now  try  every  man's 
 work.     Happy  should  I  be  if  a  gracious  God 
 
112 
 
 would  send  his  word  like  a  prevailing  fire,  and 
 burn  up  all  their  pride,  wisdom,  and  self-conceit, 
 that  their  spirits  may  be  saved  in  the  day  of 
 Christ's  power,  while  they  fall  do\YA  with  Job, 
 saying :  "  Behold  I  am  vile :  wherefore  I  abhor 
 myself  in  dust  and  ashes:"  thisis  verily  being  built 
 up.  He  is  a  good  and  free  man,  indeed,  who  hates 
 pride,  arrogance,  and  strife,  and  who  repents  in 
 dust  and  ashes,  because  he  is  conscious,  that  in 
 his  flesh  dwelleth  nothing  good,  and  that  he 
 wants  pulling  down  daily.  Shew  me  such  an 
 humble,  meek,  and  lowly  man,  and  the  word  of 
 God  pronounces  such  a  one  a  good  man ;  because 
 by  faith,  he  draws  this  virtue  out  of  the  fulness  of 
 a  meek  and  lowly  Saviour,  and  manifestedly 
 appears  in  his  image  ;  but  pride,  self-conceit,  and 
 especially  enmity,  is  evidently  the  image  of  the 
 devil :  "  for  in  this  the  children  of  God  are  mani- 
 fest, and  the  children  of  the  devil :  whosoever  doth 
 not  righteousness  is  not  of  God,  neither  he  that 
 loveth  not  his  brother."  Such,  evidently,  violate 
 Christ's  commandment,  who  declares  how  good 
 men  may  be  known,  saying:  "  By  this  shall  all 
 men  know,  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  love  one 
 another*" 
 
 Objection    6. 
 
 He  keeps  all  the  comfort  to  himself:  there  is 
 none  for  us  ;  we  cannot  tell  how  it  is  that  he  gets 
 at  these  things  sooner  than  we  do. 
 
 \ 
 
lid 
 
 Answer. 
 
 When  will  they  speak  the  words  of  truth  ? 
 they  have  left  off  to  be  wise,  for  they  conceive 
 mischief,  and  bring  forth  iniquity.     Do  y«)u  thus 
 requite  God  ?  O  foolish  people  and  unwise ;  for 
 they  set  their  mouths  against  the  heavens,  and 
 their  tongue  walketh  throughout  the  earth.    Doth 
 not  Christ  say,  by  your  words  ye  shall  be  jus- 
 tified or  condemned  ;  but  what  do  your  words 
 reprove?  consider,  what  will  you  do  in  the  end 
 thereof?  Do  you  not  expose  your  leanness  to  all 
 the  world,  and  proclaim  your  shame  ?  "  Are  you 
 not  like  children  in  the  market  place?  for  we 
 have  piped  unto  you,  and  you  have  not  danced  ; 
 and  we  have  mourned  unto  you,   and  you   have 
 not  wept,"  and  wherefore?  because  of  your  en- 
 mity, prejudice,   and  unbelief;  therefore,  Christ 
 could  not  do  many   mighty  works  among  you ; 
 you  have  no  comfort,  because  your  way  is  per- 
 verse and  froward,  therefore  the  Lord  hides  his 
 face  from  you,   and  walketh  frowardly  towards 
 you.     Prove  now,  if  you  can,  that  the  comf  ;rt  I 
 have  preached,  is  not  the  real  comfort  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost ;  make  it  appear,  as  some  have  done,  that 
 it  is  nothing  but  wildfire;  call  it  feigned  humility; 
 say  that  the  devil  has  sent  me.    Alas !  what  shall 
 we  say,   but  that  their  tongue  is  like  an  arrow 
 shot  out;  for  they  delight  in  lies,  and  theiiTe- 
 
 Q 
 
114 
 
 joicing  is  to  devour  the  poor  secretly.  Surely  riiy 
 rejoicing  is  this,  even  the  testimony  df  a  good 
 conscience,  that  in  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity, 
 not  with  fleshly  wisdom,  I  have  had  my  conver* 
 sation  atnong  them.  Let  them  convince  me  of 
 errors  in  spirit,  or  in  practice  if  they  can  ;  but  if 
 I  hate  spoke  the  truth  in  Christ,  why  do  they 
 not  believe  my  testimony  ?  even  because  an  evil 
 heart  of  unbelief  has  caused  them  to  depart  from 
 the  living  God,  and  their  hearts  seem  to  be  har- 
 dened through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin  ;  they  are 
 like  the  deaf  adder,  and,  with  violent  hands,  stop 
 their  ears,  for  they  will  neither  receive  comfort 
 nor  reproof.  God  has  made  me  manifest  in  their 
 consciences,  and  many  of  them  know  that  God  is 
 with  me;  but  their  pride,  enmity,  and  the  power 
 of  the  devil  will  not  permit  them  to  return  in  a 
 gospel  way,  saying :  "  Brother,  I  have  sinned,  I 
 repent,"  for  this  would  be  an  abomination  to  such 
 proud  spirits.  I  am  glad  that  God  himself  has 
 taken  them  away,  and  I  never  wish  to  see  any  of 
 them  again,  except  the  Lord,  in  answer  to  my 
 prayers,  bring  his  own  people  from  among  them, 
 truly  humbled,  clothed,  and  in  their  right  minds. 
 Many  are  convinced  and  lashed  by  their  own 
 conscience  for  their  hatred,  therefore  they  pre- 
 tend that  they  have  no  enmity  against  me  ;  how- 
 ever, the  Lord  declares  that  open  hatred  is  better 
 than  such  secret  love :  for  they  love  in  word  only, 
 and  not  in  deed  and  in  truth,  seeing,  that  we  are 
 
115 
 
 not  at  all  benefited  by  it.  God's  judgments  are 
 made  truly  manifest;  {ar,  as  they  have  hated, 
 reproached,  and  opposed  one,  whom  God  has 
 sent,  he_^ierefore  has  suffered  them  to  turn  after 
 such,  j^^iiom  he  has  neither  called  nor  sent.  O! 
 thou  most  proud,  behold  !  thou  art  wearied  in  the 
 greatness  of  thy  way,  and  canst  not  say,  is  there 
 not  a  lie  in  my  right  hand?  Thou  has  turned  to 
 thy  crooked  ways,  and  God  hath  led  thee  forth 
 M'ith  the  workers  of  iniquity.  Such  are  proud  of 
 their  darkness,  the  dirt  and  mire  they  cast  up : 
 they  take  pleasure  in  telling  others,  how  many 
 months  they  have  waded  through  deep  waters, 
 without  sun,  moon,  or  stars ;  yet  not  for  any  fault 
 in  them ;  for,  they  are  pure  in  their  own  eyes, 
 and  would  make  you  believe,  that  all  the  reproof 
 from  God's  word,  pronounced  by  a  faithful 
 minister  of  Christ,  fly  over  their  heads,  saying : 
 "  They  belong  not  to  me;  they  touch  me  not;  I 
 am  not  the  man ;"  yet  they  are  in  the  dark,  and 
 God  is  not  with  them  ;  but  they  say,  that  they 
 are  under  great  exercises,  and  why  ?  because  they 
 are  neither  poor,  nor  tremble  at  the  word  of  God, 
 therefore,  God  is  not  with  them ;  but  he  does 
 iesist  them,  and  they  are  full  of  confusion,  both 
 in  their  words  and  in  their  deeds. 
 
 Brethren,  be  wise,  and  cleave  close  to  the 
 Lord,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace ;  for  be  assured 
 of  this,  that  if  a  minister  of  Christ  comes  to  you 
 with  ever  so  much  comfort,  yet  yp.u  sliEtll,  iq  pa 
 
116 
 
 >yise,  get  any  part  of  it,  except  you  labour  for  it 
 in  spirit,  as  he  has  done.    The  violent  take,  by 
 force,  tills  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy,  in  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  in  which  the  kingdom  stands.     If 
 you  cannot  get  at  these  things,  it  is  because  of 
 your  sins,  which  yon  nourish  and  indulge:  your 
 idleness,  sloth,  and   cavelling  spirit,  have   with- 
 holden  good  things  from  you:  the  fault  is  in  you, 
 *'  for  your  own  foolishness  perverteth  your  way' 
 and  your  heart  fretteth  against  the  Lord,"  when 
 he  speaks  to  you  through  the  medium  of  a  faith- 
 ful, heart-searching  minister      Let  me  now  shew 
 you  the  hypocrisy  of  your  heart,  and  take  notice 
 of  your  sloth,  and  the  power  that  the  devil  has 
 over  you.     The  reason  why  you  get  no  comfort, 
 layeth  with  you  :  for  you  are  not  straightened  in 
 God,  nor  in  his  ministers,  but  you  are  contracted 
 in  your  own  bowels ;  for  when  you  come  to  hear, 
 you  trust  to  your  own  judgment,  you  wrestle  not 
 with  God  for  a  blessing,  neither  continue  at  it,  but 
 soon   give  up  the  contest.     By  and  by,  you  hear 
 something    which    gives    you    offence,    this   you 
 cherish,  instead  of  resisting  it ;  thus  the  devil  gets 
 an  advantage  over  you,   by   working  up  anger, 
 wrath,  malice,  and  enmity.    When  you  are  here, 
 you  can  by  no  means  deliver  your  soul,  but  are 
 held  fast  in  Satan's  strong  hold.     Now,  you  are 
 beclouded  with  darkness,,  blindness,  and  preju- 
 dice, and  cannot  form  a  right  judgment  of  any 
 thing,  but  are  perversely  led  to  put  a  wrong  con- 
 
117 
 
 struction  upon  every  thinj?  you   bear :    putting 
 light  for  darkness,  anil  darkness  for  light ;  calling 
 evil  good,  and  good  evil  ;  thus  when   you   come, 
 your  heart  gathereth  iniquity  to  itself;  when  you 
 are  abroad,  you  tell   it  to  others,  and  add  sin  to 
 ^in,  by  infecting  others  with  the  bane  of  your 
 own  heart.     Thus  yoa  go  about  hardly  best^^ad 
 and  hungry,   and  fret  yourself,  and  are  ready  to 
 curse  your  king  and  your  God.    All  this  coaie? 
 upon  many,  that  are  betrayed  into  Satan's  sieve, 
 by  believing  the  testimony  of  hypocrites  and  false 
 brethren:  they  are  filled  with  prejudice,  and  call 
 not  upon  God  ;  or,  if  tiiey  do   it  is  with  a  deceit- 
 ful heart,  for   they  regard   iniquity,   and  make  a 
 joint  with  the   prevailing  corriptions,  which  are 
 led   in   battle  array  against  tht^ni  by  the  devil. 
 Surely,  INathanael   had  the  strongest  reasons  to 
 be  preju  lice  I  against  Cnrist;  for  as  no  pronliet 
 was  to  arise  out  of  Galilee,  he  justly  thought  that 
 the  good    Saviour    of  mankind  could    n<»t  come 
 from   thence;  yet.  being  moved  with  godly  fear, 
 when  he  heard  the  fame  of  him,   he  prayed  fer- 
 vently under  the  fig   tree,    that   God    would    not 
 suffer  him  to  be  deceived  by  false  pro[)hets  ;  and, 
 being  delivered  from  guile,  he  received   this   tes- 
 timony from    Christ :    that  he  was  an   Israelite 
 indeed,   in   whom  there  was  no  guile.    You  see 
 how  he  got  at  these  things;  for,  being  filled  with 
 comfort,  he  cries  out :  "  thou  art  the  Son  of  God  ; 
 thou  art  the  King  of  Israel."  Wdl  you  have  com- 
 
118 
 
 fort?  t^n  go  and  do  likewise,  and  consider,  that 
 "  |>e  idle  soul  shall  suffer  hunger;  but  the  soul 
 6f  the  diligent  shall  be  made  fat." 
 
 Brethren,  suffer  the  word  of  exhortation  which 
 I  am,  in   conscience,   bound  to   speak,  and  may 
 God  inake  it  a  blessing  to  your  souls.     Should 
 the  gracious  Lord  make  these  Way-Marks  profit- 
 able to  you,  so  as  to  move  you  with  godly  fear 
 ^nd  love,  and  influence  you  to  live  nearer  to  your 
 lod,  I  shall  be  abundantly  rewarded;  and  upou 
 due  notice,  that  you  have   been  profited,   I  shall 
 be  encouraged   to  send   out  a  few   more  Way- 
 Marks,  which  I  have  by  me.     O  !  Lord  God  of 
 our  salvation,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
 I  bless  thee  who  hast  enabled  me  to  pen  down 
 those  things  which  thou  hast  revealed  unto  me ; 
 apply  them  with  power,  and  make  them  profitable 
 unto   thine  own  people,    even   a  savour   of  life 
 unto  life  to  them ;  but  a  savour  of  death  unto 
 death  to  thine  enemies,   according  to  thy  word  : 
 and  tiiine  be  everlasting  glory  and  praise,  >Yorld 
 without  end.     Amen. 
 
 Kjehols,  Printer,  F.art'sCourt, 
 Newport-Street,  Soho. 
 
THE 
 
 WILL  OF  GOD, 
 
 A  MYSTERY, 
 
 PROVED  TO  BE  ETERNAL,  IMMUTABLE,  AND  ABSOLUTE. 
 
 SIN  ANB  THE  FALL, 
 
 With  all  other  Events,  demonstrated  to  be  fixed  from  all 
 
 eternity ;  coming  to  pass,  and  happening  no  otherwise 
 
 than  according  to  God's  will,  yet  he  is  not  the 
 
 author  of  Sin, 
 
 By  JOSEPH,  FRANCIS,  BURRELL, 
 
 A    SERVANT    OF    JESUS    CHRIST. 
 
 £xoDr«  Jtxxin.l9.  "  And  I  will  proclaim  the  name  of  the  Lord  before  thee;  and  will  be 
 gracious  to  whom  I  will  be  gracious,  and  will  shew  mercy  ou  whom  I  will  «hew  mjrcy." 
 Era.  iii.  11. "  Accordiug  to  hi«  eternal  purpose  which  he  purposed  in  Christ  Jesns  our  Lord/* 
 
 r^s^^^,/^rv^^'/s^/'^^ 
 
 SrOnlron: 
 
 r|IKTFD  BY  S  W.  &  8.  OIRPINER,  PRINCES 
 
 AND  SOLD 
 fisHCOL  Chapel,  Marshall  Street,  C? 
 17,  Soho  Square ;  also  by  W.  jERMy 
 NiNW,  19,  Great  James  Street, 
 Rosomon  Street,  Clerkenwell. 
 
^  ._. 
 
CHAP.  I. 
 
 1.  God  is  immutable  in  Jus  essence  and  attributes,  being 
 so  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  the  eternal  i  AM. 
 
 CxOD  is  immutable  in  his  nature  or  essence,  and 
 cannot  be  otherwise,  or  he  would  cease  to  be  God : 
 for  he  declares,  saying,  Mai.  iii.  6.  "I  am  the 
 Lord,  I  change  not;  therefore  ye  sons  of  Jacob 
 are  not  consumed."  The  Scriptures  positively 
 affirm,  that  the  Father  of  lights  is  without  vari- 
 ableness, neither  has  he  in  his  nature,  even  the 
 least  shadow  of  turning,  being  always  the  same, 
 from  eternity;  as  it  is  written,  Psal.  xc.  2.  *'  Before 
 the  mountains  w^ere  brought  forth,  or  ever  thou 
 hadst  formed  the  earth,  even  from  everlasting  to 
 everlasting,  thou  art  God."  The  Most  High  is 
 not  only  immutable  and  unchangeable  in  his  es- 
 sence, but  also  in  his  attributes  and  perfections; 
 for  his  attributes  are  indeed  himself;  as  it  is  written, 
 Exod.  iii.  14.  "And  God  said  unto  Moses,  i 
 AM  THAT  I  AM."  This  Avonderful  name,  so  ex- 
 pressive of  the  self-existent  eternity  of  God,  does 
 at  once  crush  the  erroneous  principles  of  some,  who 
 affirm,  that  God's  attributes  are  different  from  his 
 
 A  2 
 
essence ;  for  there  is  not  an  attribute  or  perfection 
 ascribed  to  him,  but  he  is  that  in  his  nature  or  es- 
 sence. Certainly  the  Scriptures  shew  that  Love 
 is  an  essential  attribute  of  the  Most  High,  and  that 
 it  is  also  the  very  nature  of  his  essence;  John.  iv. 
 8,  "For  God  is  love."  i  am,  is  expressive  of 
 his  nature ;  so  that  whatever  name  he  is  called, 
 whether,  "The  Lord,  The  Lord  God,  merciful, 
 gracious,  longsuffering,  and  abundant  in  goodness 
 and  truth,  keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  forgiving 
 iniquity  and  transgression  and  sin," — or  whether 
 we  ascribe  to  him  immutability,  povv^er,  justice, 
 holiness,  righteousness,  goodness,  faithfulness, 
 truth  or  glory,  I  say,  he  is  from  everlasting  to 
 everlasting  the  God  of  all  these  perfections;  and 
 these  attributes  are  himself,  being  essential  to  his 
 nature  or  essence :  for  he  is  from  eternity  the  im- 
 mutable great  I  AM.  We  may  therefore  conclude 
 upon  the  strongest  evidences,  that  there  is  nothing 
 in  the  Godhead  but  what  is  co-eternal  with  him, 
 being  the  very  nature  of  his  divine  essence:  for 
 love,  goodness,  power,  wisdom, — are  perfections 
 or  attributes  ascribed  to  God,  but  he  himself  is 
 Love,  goodness,  power,  wisdom — in  the  abstract; 
 therefore  his  attributes  are  himself;  being  the  very 
 nature  of  his  glorious  essence.  Sound  Spiritual 
 reasoning  teaches  us  also  to  conclude,  that  all 
 these  attributes  being  infinite,  do  infinitely  glorify 
 each  other ;  and  when  compared  together,  shine 
 forth  with  infinite  lustre  in  all  directions  to  proclaim 
 his  self-existent  Glory:  and  at  every  step  or  view 
 detect  the  ignorance,  pride,  and  folly  of  those  who 
 
fil*e  wise  in  their  own  conceits ;  who,  when  they 
 have  stretched  their  limited  mind  to  the  highest 
 pitch,  make  their  Infinite  Creator  to  appear  alto- 
 gether such  an  one  as  themselves. 
 
 2.  God's  will  eternal,  Immutably  the  same  from  eternity. 
 
 By  faith  we  believe,  that  the  perfections  ascribed 
 to  God,  are  essentially  descriptive  of  his  nature ; 
 this  is  the  heavenly  armour  with  which  those 
 honest  souls  who  are  taught  of  God,  will  ever 
 be  able  to  overcome,  confound,  and  break  to 
 jjieces,  every  species  of  erroneous  professors  of 
 religion :  for  God  is  love,  mercy,  goodness,  truth^ 
 faithfulness, — but  he  is  also  immutable,  and  cannot 
 change.  O  what  a  blow  against  the  Socinians, 
 and  Arminians,  who  pretend  that  God  is  change- 
 able with  respect  to  nature  and  will!  For  if  we 
 bring  immutability  to  shine  upon  those  attributes 
 of  God  already  named,  we  defeat  these  enemies, 
 and  obtain  to  ourselves  Heb.  vi.  17.  *'  Strong  con- 
 solation, who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  upon 
 the  hope  set  before  us."  For  what  can  be  more 
 comfortable  to  the  poor  in  spirit,  to  sensible  sinners, 
 to  whom  the  promises  are  made,  than  the  infinite 
 lustre  of  immutable  love,  unchangeable  mercy, 
 goodness,  truth,  power,  and  faithfulness.  These 
 eternal  and  immutable  attributes  harmonizingin  the 
 finished  work  of  Christ,  are  the  strong  foundations 
 of  those  poor  creatures  who  are  quickened  to  feel 
 many  changes  in  themselves,  but  are  raised  to 
 immortal   hope,  by   hearing   the  voice   of  their 
 
6 
 
 Father  in  Christ,  saying,  Isai.  xli.  10.  "  Fear  thou 
 not;  for  I  am  with  thee:  be  not  dismayed;  for 
 I  am  thy  (michangeable)  God :  I  will  strengthen 
 thee:  (though  thou  hast  many  changes,  yet  my 
 immutable  power  and  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee) 
 yea,  I  will  help  thee ;  (though  thou  art  ready  to 
 faint,  I  will  give  thee  power,)  yea  I  will  uphold 
 thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness." 
 
 Through  Satan's  malice  and  craft,  the  children 
 of  this  wicked  one,  have,  and  do  continually  dis- 
 figure and  obscure  the  truth,  and  that  with  the 
 most  plausible  pretences  of  loving  it ;  and  beguile 
 the  hearts  of  the  simple  by  good  words  and  fair 
 speeches.    The  pride  and  selfishness  of  many,  have 
 rendered  all  the  arts  and  sciences  among  men  al- 
 most unintelligible,  by  cramp   words,  technical 
 terms,  and  innumerable  quaint  sayings,  by  which 
 means  the  generality  of  men,  who  have  but  ordi- 
 nary capacities  are  kept  in  the  dark.     The  same 
 pernicious  ingredients  have  been  mixed  with  the 
 things  of  God,  and  selfish  proud  men  have  not  a 
 little  obscured  the  truth,  by  endless  distinctions ; 
 who,  departing  from  the  noble  simplicity  of  the 
 holy  Scriptures,  have  brought  in  the  wisdom  of 
 this   vain   world,  and   cause    their   readers   and 
 hearers  to  receive  the  Spirit  of  it,  and  not  the 
 Spirit  of  God ;  and  make  their  faith  to  stand  in  the 
 wisdom  of  men,  but  not  in  the  power  of  God. 
 Thus  they  have  multiplied  their  soul  obscuring  dis- 
 tinctions concerning  the  will  of  God,  until  the  poor 
 and  needy  can  scarcely  discover  what  the  real  will 
 of  the  Lord  is.     We  both  hear  and  read  of  God's 
 
absolute  will,  of  his  efficacious  will,  his  condi- 
 tional and  inefficacious  will,  his  will  of  purpose,  his 
 decretive  will,  his  good  will,  and  of  his  permissive 
 will ;  but  the  Scriptures  inform  us  that  God  has 
 but  one  will ;  which  is  eternally  the  same  like 
 himself,  immutable,  absolute,  and  uncontrollable, 
 and  that  he  takes  counsel  with  none;  but  Eph.  i.  11. 
 "  Worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own 
 will."  However  harsh  and  dreadful  it  may  ap- 
 pear to  corrupt  blind  men,  yet  his  divine  will  both 
 in  the  salvation  of  the  elect,  and  in  the  damnation 
 of  the  reprobate,  is  infinitely  glorified  by  his  in- 
 effable attributes ;  so  that  it  is  eternally  good,  perfect, 
 holy,  almighty,  sovereign,  and  unchangeably  the 
 same  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  to  the  great 
 comfort  of  God's  people,  and  to  the  terror  of  Devils 
 and  wicked  men.  Some  may  say.  How  shall  we 
 certainly  know  the  will  of  God  is  as  you  represent 
 it  ?  by  his  word,  which  is  the  perfect  image  of  him- 
 self; being  eternal,  1  Pet.  i.  23.  good,  Heb.  vi.  5. 
 faithful,  Tit.  i.  9.  being  called  the  word  of  righ- 
 teousness, of  patience ;  it  is  like  God  a  consu- 
 ming fire,  being  Spirit,  life,  quick  and  powerful; 
 in  short  it  is  the  perfect  revelation  of  his  immu- 
 table mind  and  will  concerning  all  things.  Only 
 mind  in  what  a  lofty  strain  the  Scriptures  speak  of 
 the  Sovereign  will  of  him  with  whom  we  have  to 
 do.  Psal.  cxv.  3.  "Our  God  is  in  the  heavens: 
 he  hath  done  whatsoever  he  hath  pleased."  Dan. 
 iv.  35.  "  And  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are 
 reputed  as  nothing ;  and  he  doth  according  to  his 
 will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inha- 
 
bitants  of  the  earth  :  and  none  can  stay  his  hanrf, 
 and  say  unto  him  what  doest  thou."  Seeing  there- 
 fore that  God's  will  is  absolute  and  sovereign,  who 
 is  he  that  saith,  that  his  will  in  all  things  is  not 
 eternal  and  immutable?  Is  it  not  written,  Psal.  cii. 
 27.  "  But  thou  art  the  same?"  Immutability  is 
 a  fixed  state,  which  belongs  to  none  but  to  him 
 who  is  the  most  high  over  all  the  earth,  whose 
 name  alone  is  Jehovah.  Would  it  not  be  blas- 
 phemy and  high  treason,  to  say,  that  the  un- 
 changeable God  hath  willed  any  thing  in  time, 
 which  he  hath  not  willed  from  eternity  ?  But  let 
 God  be  true  and  every  man  a  liar :  for  he  himself 
 tells  us,  saying,  Mai.  iii.  6.  *'  i  am  the  lord, 
 (Jehovah)  i  change  not."  I  conclude  therefore, 
 God's  will  in  all  things  is  one  immutable  eternal 
 will,  which  cannot  be  turned  nor  changed ;  or  else 
 God  would  be  mutable,  which  cannot  be. 
 
 3.  All  the  acts  of  Gods  inwiutable  will,  whether  negativt, 
 or  positive,  are  also  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  being 
 eternally  immutable  like  hi?nself. 
 
 He  is  a  liar  and  an  heretic,  who  says,  that  the 
 decrees,  purposes,  and  acts  of  God's  sovereign 
 will  are  not  from  eternity;  and  who  says,  that 
 they  are  merely  accidental  in  him,  or  took  place 
 in  his  mind  only  in  time  :  for  such  an  assertion,  is 
 no  less  than  an  impious  attack  upon  his  immu- 
 tability. If  any  man  say,  where  are  your  scripture 
 proofs  for  all  this  ?  I  answer,  that  I  do  not  talk 
 without  book:  for  though  I  could  bring  many 
 scriptures  to  prove  this  point,  yet  I  choose  to  stand 
 
upon  this  immoveable  ground,  namely,  the  im- 
 mutabihty  of  God's  essence  and  attributes ;  as  it 
 is  written  Mai.  iii.  6.  *'  i  change  not."  The 
 immutable  Jehovah  hath  said,  that  Mat.  xxiv.  35. 
 **  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  my  words 
 shall  not  pass  away."  If  my  reader  is  one  that  is 
 taught  of  God,  and  fears  him,  I  earnestly  invite 
 him  to  come  and  stand  with  me  upon  this  sure 
 foundation;  for  with  these  three  small  words,  "i 
 CHANGE  NOT,"  WO  shall  be  able  by  faith  to  con- 
 found, overcome,  and  grind  to  powder  all  the 
 heretics  in  the  world ;  and  make  all  the  wisdom  of 
 Arians,  Sabellians,  Socinians,  and  Arminians,  to 
 appear  foolishness,  madness,  and  ignorance. 
 
 There  is  nothing  in  God  but  what  is  co-eternal, 
 and  co-essential  to  his  nature :  for  if  any  thing  caa 
 be  found  in  him,  of  which  it  may  be  said,  behold, 
 this  is  new !  he  would  then  have  changed  from  what 
 he  was,  and  could  no  more  challenge  immutability 
 to  himself.  I  conclude  again,  that  there  is  no 
 irresolution,  nor  staggering  in  God's  will;  but  it  is 
 in  all  things  absolute  and  immutable ;  being  like 
 himself,  eternally  the  same.  The  will  of  God  i« 
 either  negative  or  passive,  and  positive  or  active, 
 according  as  he  chooseth  or  refuseth ;  and  whether 
 he  allows,  permits,  and  suffers  events  to  come  to 
 pass,  they  are  still  acts  of  his  sovereign  will :  for 
 certainly  they  could  not  have  come  to  pass  without 
 it;  as  it  is  written.  Lam.  iii.  37.  "  Who  is  he  that 
 saith,  and  it  cometh  to  pass,  when  the  Lord  com- 
 mandeth  it  not  ?"  Before  I  speak  more  ftilly  of 
 tjhe  acts  of  God's  will,  it  will  be  necessarj^-to  con- 
 
10 
 
 sider  the  will  of  his  creatures,  and  endeavour  by 
 so  doing  to  shew  the  justice,  righteousness,  and 
 holiness  of  God  in  all  his  judgments. 
 
 4,  The  toill  of  man  was  created  freCy  and  was  not  at  any 
 time  influenced  to  act  under  the  compulsion  of  God's 
 will. 
 
 Gen.  i.  2fJ.  "  And  God  said,  let  us  make  man 
 in  our  image,  after  our  likeness."  The  Trinity  in 
 Unity  is  speaking  here,  to  the  confusion  of  wicked 
 men,  who  deny  what  is  so  clearly  defined  here, 
 namely,  a  plurality  of  persons,  and  yet  but  one 
 God.  This  mysterious  God,  is  a  free  agent:  for 
 *'  he  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own 
 will,"  and  he  created  man  a  free  agent:  created 
 holiness,  righteousness,  perfect  liberty  and  free 
 agency,  was  the  image  of  God  he  was  made  in. 
 Adam  had  no  bias,  nor  even  a  shadow  of  propen- 
 sity to  evil :  for  sin  being  the  transgression  of  the 
 law,  how  could  evil  be  found  in  him,  as  long  as 
 he  kept  the  commands  of  God  ?  His  will  was  free, 
 his  afiections  pure,  his  understanding  clear,  and 
 his  obedience  was  altogether  free  from  slavery, 
 being  acceptable  as  such  to  God :  he  was  a  most 
 glorious  creature,  and  was  the  chief  of  all  the  works 
 of  God  upon  earth,  whom  he  pronounced  "very 
 good."  It  is  absolutely  necessary,  therefore,  to 
 consider  that  the  will  of  God,  and  the  will  of  man. 
 are  two  distinct  principles ;  and  that  God  entered 
 into  covenant  with  Adam,  whom  he  viewed  as  a 
 responsible  free  agent,  and  treated  with  him  as  a 
 great  |iing  v.ould  vdthan  interior  prince  his  vassal : 
 
11 
 
 for  God  made  him  upright,  created  him  with  a 
 stock  of  righteousness,  constituted  him  king  of  the 
 terrestrial  creation,  and  expected  from  him  the 
 stipulated  tribute  of  obedience,  which  he  certainly 
 was  abundantly  able  to  render.  It  is  therefore 
 most  evident,  that  the  acts  of  God's  will  are  one 
 thing,  and  the  acts  of  man's  will  are  another :  for 
 if  the  will  of  God,  had  at  any  time  influenced 
 Adam's  will  in  his  obedience,  he  would  not  then 
 have  been  a  free  agent,  neither  could  he  have  been 
 responsible  for  his  actions.  So  on  the  other  hand, 
 if  in  any  of  the  acts  of  God's  will,  influencing  man's 
 will,  there  had  been  a  fatal  necessity  to  cause  him 
 to  fall,  then  this  would  prove  God  to  be  the  au- 
 thor of  sin,  which  is  impossible :  for  he  is  "  A  God 
 without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  he."  Man  there- 
 fore being  a  free  agent,  his  transgression  was  an 
 act  of  his  own  will ;  as  it  is  written,  Eccl.  vii.  29. 
 *'  God  made  man  upright ;  but  they  sought  out 
 many  inventions,"  Again,  Hos.  xiii.  9.  "  O  Israel, 
 thou  hast  destroyed  thyself. 
 
 5.  God's  will  had  no  influence  over  man's  ivill,  so,  as  to 
 cause  him  to  fall ;  but  man  being  a  free  agent,  his  fall 
 was  an  act  of  his  own  will.  The  creature  is  therefore 
 inexcusable,  and  God  who  takes  vengeance,  is  infinitely 
 justified  in  his  judgments. 
 
 We  cannot  act  with  too  much  godly  fear,  in 
 treating  upon  such  profound  subjects,  when  the 
 least  unguarded  expression  may  produce  an  error 
 in  the  judgment.  No  man  can  either  read,  write, 
 or  speak  to  profit,  except  he  is  convinced  by  tlic 
 
12 
 
 Spirit  of  his  own  ignorance,  and  the  contiimal 
 need  he  has  of  being  guided  into  all  truth,  and  that 
 this  can  only  be  obtained  by  humble  confession  of 
 his  blindness,  and  fervent  prayer  to  God,  as  it  is 
 written,  Prov.  ii.  3,  4,  5.  "  If  thou  criest  after 
 knowledge,  and  liftest  up  thy  voice  for  under- 
 standing; yea,  if  thou  seekest  her  as  silver,  and 
 searchest  for  her  as  for  hid  treasure ;  then  shalt 
 thou  understand  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find  the 
 knowledge  of  God."  The  best  of  men  are  liable 
 to  err,  if  they  neglect  to  cry  to  the  Lord  for  his 
 promised  wisdom :  this  consideration  has  often 
 made  me  to  tremble.  A  certain  good  man,  used 
 often  to  say,  and  has  also  pubhshed  the  idea  in 
 his  writings,  "  That  it  was  impossible,  for  either 
 angels  or  man,  to  stand  in  their  created  righteous  - 
 ness."  No  doubt  but  he  looked  more  to  the  matter 
 of  fact,  of  the  many  who  did  fall,  not  considering, 
 that  by  his  affirming  that  none  could  stand,  he 
 made  God  the  immediate  author  of  sin:  for  if 
 none  could  stand,  they  must  be  either  influenced 
 by  fate,  or  a  peremptory  act  of  God's  will,  or  else 
 they  must  be  weak,  helpless,  and  defective  in  their 
 constituting  parts ;  which  in  either  case,  would 
 manifestly  prove  God  to  be  the  cause  of  their  ruin; 
 and  consequently,  make  him  the  author  of  sin.  But 
 this  is  the  truth,  that  God  made  them  free,  and 
 being  responsible  agents,  he  left  them  entirely  to 
 themselves,  to  exert  their  created  powers ;  they 
 were  made  upright  and  very  good  ;  but  left  their 
 %|)rn  habitation ;  sin  entered  by  their  disobedience, 
 and  God  is  most  just  in  his  wrath,  indignation, 
 and  in  the  vengeance  that  he  takes. 
 
IS 
 
 6.  A  sir'iking  instance  of  the  possibility^  that  rational 
 creatures  could  stand,  hy  which,  the  infinite  justice, 
 holiness,  and  righteousness  of  God,  is  set  forth  in  ike 
 most  illustrious  manner  possible. 
 
 Xt  is  a  very  common  notion,  that  the  elect  an- 
 gels, who  fell  not  with  the  apostate  crew,  were 
 secretly  kept  from  falling  in  consequence  of  the 
 eternal  decree  of  election,  and  the  secret  purpose 
 of  God ;  the  effect  of  which,  operating  upon  them, 
 effectually  kept  them  in  their  allegiance.  But  this 
 is  a  very  great  error  in  judgment,  being  again  a 
 most  formidable  attack  upon  God's  infinite  justice 
 and  holiness.  I  have  already  proved  that  God 
 made  all  his  rational  creatures  free  agents  like 
 himself,  and  that  neither  his  will,  nor  any  of  the 
 eternal  acts  thereof,  had  any  influence  upon  their 
 faculties,  to  cause  them  to  stand,  or  to  fall ;  but 
 freely  they  stood,  or  fell,  according  to  the  power 
 which  was  put  into  their  own  hands.  Now  to  say, 
 that  God,  secretly  helped  the  elect  angels,  while 
 he  denied  the  same  help  from  the  rest  whom  he 
 suffered  to  fall,  this  would  prove  God  to  be  un- 
 just, making  him  the  wilful  author  of  his  creature's 
 ruin :  for  there  would  have  been  manifest  partiality 
 in  God,  who  viewed  them  all  very  good,  if  he  had 
 afforded  extraordinary  might  and  power  to  some, 
 and  not  to  the  others.  There  is  no  caprice  in  the 
 Most  High,  nor  injustice  in  him  ;  but  the  wisdom 
 from  above  is  without  partiality:  for  he  made  both 
 angels  and  man  upright,  and  put  them  into  a  state 
 of  trial ;  he  absolutely  left  them  to  themselves, 
 freely  to  stand,  or  fall.     Satan  and  his  angels,  by 
 
14 
 
 an  act  of  their  own  will,  *'  kept  not  their  first  estate, 
 but  left  their  own  habitation."  The  scriptures 
 every  where  inform  us,  *'  that  God  cannot  be 
 tempted  of  evil,  neither  tempteth  he  any  man:" 
 Jam.  i.  14.  "  but  every  man  is  tempted,  when  he 
 is  drawn  away  of  his  own  lust  and  enticed."  It 
 is  very  clear,  therefore,  that  the  immutable  will 
 and  purposes  of  God  had  no  efficacious  influence 
 over  his  creatures,  either  to  cause  them  to  stand  or 
 fall ;  but  they,  as  free  agents,  being  left  to  their 
 own  free  will,  acted  in  such  a  manner  as  to  justify 
 God  to  the  uttermost.  Those  angels  who  fell,  it 
 is  evident  that  they  fell  of  their  own  accord :  for 
 they  "  abode  not  in  the  truth."  The  rest  who  fell 
 not,  acted  according  to  the  freedom  of  their  own 
 will ;  they  stood  freely  in  their  own  created  strength, 
 as  it  is  written,  Psal.  ciii.  20.  "  Bless  the  Lord,  ye 
 his  angels,  that  excel  in  strength,  that  do  his  com- 
 mandments, hearkening  to  the  voice  of  his  word." 
 God  therefore  is  infinitely  glorified  both  by  the  fall 
 of  some,  and  by  the  standing  of  others  ;  he  is  jus- 
 tified in  punishing  those  free  agents  who  were  self- 
 tempted,  and  abused  the  freedom  of  their  will ;  he 
 is  also  greatly  exalted  and  glorified  in  those  free 
 agents,  who  stood  the  trial  at  this  time :  for  by 
 their  standing,  he  has  convinced  the  world  of  the 
 possibility  of  his  creatures,  whom  he  had  created 
 in  his  image,  to  abide  in  their  strength  by  obedi- 
 ence to  his  will. 
 
 Question  1.  Did  God  choose,  elect,  and  con- 
 
 i#rm  those  holy  angels  in  Christ  as  their  head,  in 
 
 consequence  of  their  obedient  standing,  and  as  a 
 
15 
 
 reward   of  their  unshaken    allegiance  to    their 
 maker  ? 
 
 Answer,  1 .  By  no  means :  for  if  any  imagine 
 that  eternal  life  was  absolutely  promised  to  created 
 righteousness,  or  that  the  creature  by  his  obe- 
 dience could  attain  to  a  fixed  immutable  state, 
 he  is  greatly  mistaken  as  to  the  nature  of  the 
 covenant  which  God  made  with  his  creatures. 
 It  is  an  error  that  many  have  imbibed,  that  if 
 Adam  had  stood  unshaken  in  his  obedience,  we 
 his  offspring  should  have  gone  to  heaven,  and 
 there  have  enjoyed  eternal  life  and  glory ;  whereas 
 there  is  not  a  single  word  in  all  the  Scriptures  to 
 support  such  a  notion.  The  covenant  God  made 
 with  his  creatures  was  not  a  covenant  of  Grace,  but 
 of  works;  saying,  "This  do,  and  thou  shalt  live." 
 As  a  faithful  creator,  he  had  made  them  good  and 
 upright,  and  had  put  a  stock  of  life  into  their  hands 
 which  they  were  to  manage  according  to  their 
 own  discretion ;  the  continuance  of  which  life  was 
 promised  to  them,  on  condition  of  their  continual 
 obedience  to  God's  will;  as  it  is  written,  Exod. 
 XX.  12.  '*  Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother:  that 
 thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the  land  which  the  Lord 
 thy  God  giveth  thee."  This  is  the  only  promise 
 made  to  legal  obedience,  which  God  on  his  part 
 engaged  to  fulfil,  if  the  creature  continued  in  his 
 obedience.  We  see  therefore,  that  by  the  tenure 
 of  the  first  covenant,  neither  angels  nOr  man,  had 
 any  thing  secured  to  them ;  but  that  the  continu- 
 ance of  their  primitive  estate,  enjoyments,  and 
 created  glory,  depended  entirely  upon  the  acts  of 
 
1« 
 
 their  ottii  free  will;  whether  they  would  abide 
 stedfast  or  not.  We  must  observe  also,  that  if 
 angels  and  men  had  all  continued  in  their  stedfast 
 allegiance  to  God  according  to  the  first  covenant, 
 if  they  had  continued  as  many  millions  of  years  as 
 there  are  grains  of  sand  in  the  world,  yet  could 
 they  not  by  such  an  amazing  long  obedience,  have 
 at  all  merited  a  higher  estate,  than  that  which  they 
 were  created  in:  for  after  all  their  long  continued 
 obedience,  and  if  we  add  as  many  millions  of  years 
 as  the  stars  in  heaven,  though  multiplied  by  the 
 leaves  that  fall  in  autumn,  yet  the  Law  at  the  end 
 of  this  prodigious  obedience  would  say,  "You 
 have  done  your  duty;  the  life,  glory,  and  enjoy- 
 ments proniised,  you  retain  to  this  moment,  as  the 
 consequence  of  your  free  obedience.  The  pro- 
 mise is  sure  to  you,  if  you  continue  to  obey; 
 and  now  that  you  have  come  thus  far,  go  on  with 
 the  same  perseverance;  obey,  obey,  obey,  go  on 
 with  it ;  for  you  live  while  you  obey;  and  if  you 
 will  live  eternally,  then  eternally  obey."  "  This 
 DO,  AND  THOU  SHALT  LIVE."  It  is  evident  therefore 
 from  what  has  been  said,  that  those  angels  who 
 stood  the  trial,  were  not  confirmed  in  Christ  as 
 their  immutable  head,  because  they  fell  not  from 
 their  allegiance,  but  by  an  eternal  act  of  God's 
 Sovereign  will.  God  who  foreknew  from  eternity 
 that  they  would  abide  in  their  created  uprightness, 
 yet  as  he  had  created  them  free  agents,  who, 
 though  they  stood  this  first  trial,  yet  as  there  was 
 a  possibility  of  there  falling  hereafter,  he  did  by  a 
 sovereign  act  of  his   eternal  will,  choose,  elect 
 
them,  and  confirm  their  eternal  standing  in  Christ, 
 removing  thereby  the  very  possibiHty  of  their  ever 
 falhng.  Having  now  shewed  in  as  few  words 
 as  I  could,  that  the  eternal  will  of  God  had  no  in- 
 fluence over  the  will  of  his  creatures,  either  to 
 cause  them  to  stand  or  fall,  I  shall  endeavour  in 
 the  following  chapter  to  shew  that  the  acts  of 
 God's  will  are  founded  upon  the  harmony  of  his 
 eternal  attributes,  especially  his  foreknowledge. 
 
 -  ♦  — 
 
 CHAP.   H. 
 
 1.  Shewing  that  all  the  acts  of  God's  eternahvill  are  in- 
 finitely  holy,  just,  and  good;  being  founded  upon  his 
 eternal  foreknowledge  of  all  things  that  should  come  to 
 pass. 
 
 By  foreknowledge  in  God,  I  do  not  understand 
 that  knowledge  the  blind  Arminians  ascribe  to 
 him,  by  which  he  only  guesses  what  creatures  en- 
 dued with  rational  powers  are  likely  to  do,  but  I 
 mean  that  unclouded,  free,  and  eternal  attribute 
 of  the  immutable  jehovah,  who  is  infinite  in 
 knowledge ;  so  that  the  past,  present,  and  future, 
 are  all  alike  known  to  his  infinite  mind  :  for  Psal. 
 cxlvii.  5.  "His  understanding  is  infinite."  Heb. 
 iv.  13.  "  Neither  is  there  any  creature  that  is  not 
 manifest  in  his  sight ;  but  all  things  are  naked  and 
 open  unto  the  eyes  of  him  with  whom  we  have  to 
 do."  In  heaven  and  earth  there  is  none  like  him ; 
 who  at  once,  enters  into  all  the  concerns,  proper- 
 ties, and  motions  of  his  creatures,  from  the  smallest 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 atom  to  the  highest  Archangel :  who  knew  them  as 
 perfectly  from  eternity,  as  he  does  now  they  are 
 created;  and  has  given  us  the  strongest  proofs 
 thereof:  for,  Rom.  iv.  17.  "  He  calleth  those 
 things  which  be  not  as  though  they  were."  And 
 saith,  Isai.  xlvi.  9,  10.  "  Remember  the  former 
 things  of  old:  for  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none 
 else;  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  like  mc. 
 Declaring  the  end  from  the  beginning,  and  from 
 ancient  times  the  things  that  are  not  yet  done, 
 saying,  my  counsel  shall  stand,  and  I  will  do  all 
 my  pleasure."  God  is  truly  without  passions  or 
 parts  :  for  he  is  indeed  immutable,  and  cannot  be 
 surprised  with  any  event  which  he  knew  not. 
 For  according  to  the  nature  of  things,  foreknow- 
 ledge goes  before  counsel  and  decree:  if  God 
 therefore,  is  immutable  in  his  counsel  from  ever- 
 lasting, (Heb.  vi.  17.)  how  much  more  is  he  immu- 
 table in  his  foreknowledge  from  eternity;  seeing 
 that  all  the  acts  of  his  eternal  will,  his  counsel 
 and  decrees — are  truly  founded  upon  his  fore- 
 knowledge. 
 
 It  is  most  certain  therefore,  that  God  is  infinite 
 in  knowledge,  and  that  from  eternity  he  knew,  not 
 only  all  events  that  should  take  place  in  time,  but 
 even  the  most  secret  thoughts  of  all  his  creatures, 
 and  had  no  need  to  wait  till  they  actually  came  to 
 pass  in  order  to  establish  his  judgments;  for,  Isai, 
 xl.  13.  "  Who  hath  directed  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord, 
 or  being  his  counseller  hath  taught  him?"  Is  he 
 a  God  of  judgment,  knowledge,  justice,  holiness, 
 love,  mercy,  or  whatever  other  name  he  is  called 
 
i% 
 
 by?  The  scriptures  inform  us  that  his,  Isai.  Ixiii.  17. 
 ^'  Name  is  from  everlasting."  I  conclude  therefore, 
 that  as  all  things  were  foreknown  by  the  omnis- 
 cient God,  so  he  willed  also  all  things,  else  they 
 never  would  have  taken  place:  for,  "Heworketh 
 all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will."  Rom. 
 xi.  36.  "For  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to 
 him,  are  all  things."  Who  can  read  such  things 
 as  these,  and  not  see  the  infinite  acts  of  God's 
 eternal  will;  but  he  is  as  holy  and  just  in  these 
 acts,  as  he  is  absolute :  for  we  must  not  suppose, 
 that  he  willed  all  things  in  a  peremptory  manner, 
 without  regard  to  justice,  seeing  that  he  is  infinite, 
 justice,  righteousness,  and  holiness  itself;  Dent, 
 xxxii.  4.  "  He  is  the  Rock,  his  work  is  perfect: 
 for  all  his  ways  are  judgment,  a  God  of  truth  and 
 without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  he."  Let  us 
 now  consider  more  minutely  the  acts  of  God's  will, 
 and  shew  how  admirably  they  are  founded  upon 
 his  foreknowledge. 
 
 1.  The  purpose  of  God  concerning  all  things,  is  eternal 
 like  himself;  and  is  founded  upon  his  eternal  fore- 
 knowledge. 
 
 As  God  is  eternally  self-existent,  and  immu- 
 table in  his  nature,  so  is  he  also  in  his  pui'pose; 
 by  which  he  intended,  designed,  meant,  and 
 fixedly  resolved,  to  create  angels  and  man,  after 
 his  own  image.  He  purposed  to  set  them  up  as 
 free  agents,  and  to  put  them  in  a  state  of  trial ;  and 
 as  he  eternally  foreknew  the  dreadful  issue  of  this 
 great  probation,  so  in  consequence  of  his  infinite 
 
20 
 
 foreknowledge,  he  from  eternity  absolutely  dis- 
 posed of  them  according  to  his  purpose,  and  the 
 good  pleasure  of  his  eternal  will.      My  reader  if 
 taught  of  God,  must  bear  with  me,  and  attentively 
 consider  my  drift  in  repeating  so  often  the  words 
 eternal,  everlasting,  immutable,  and  self-existent: 
 for  this  is  the  touchstone,  by  which  all  doctrines 
 of  devilsmay  be  known.   Once  for  all,  let  it  be  ob- 
 served, that  none  can  understand,  nor  come  to  any 
 solid  establishment  respecting   these  mysterious 
 points,  except  they  are  enabled  by  faith  to  view  the 
 purpose  of  God,  the  acts  of  his  will,  yea,  all  his 
 eternal  attributes,  as  being  in  motion,  and  acting 
 in  concert  from  everlasting  to  everlasting:  none 
 going  before  or  after  the  other:  so  that  we  must 
 conceive,  that  he  no  sooner  foreknew,  but  he  also 
 purposed  and  predestinated.  God  is  not  man  that  he 
 should  first  conceive  or  foreknow  a  thing,  and  then 
 by  revolving  it  in  his  mind,  should  afterward  come 
 to  a  fixed  purpose  or  resolution  to  do  it:  for  such 
 a  notion  of  him  is  utterly  repugnant  to  the  immu- 
 tability of  his  counsel,  purpose,  and  nature ;  wha 
 saith,  "I  CHANGE    NOT."     Whosocvcr  therefore, 
 denies  the  perfect  eternity  of  God's  foreknowledge, 
 purposes,  or  the  acts  of  his  will,  is  an  enemy  to 
 the  immutabihty  of  his  nature;  and  shall  finally  b« 
 dealt  with  as   an   adversary  to   the  truth.     But 
 the  scriptures  inform  us,  that  the  Most  High  is 
 as  eternal  in  his  purpose,  as  he  is  in  his  nature ; 
 as  it  is  asserted,  Tit.  i.  2.     "In  hope  of  eternal 
 life  which  God,  that  cannot  lie,   promised  before 
 the  world  began."     Here  we  see  that  God  is  re- 
 
21 
 
 |>resented  from  eternity,  as  actively  promising 
 eternal  life  to  them  whom  he  foreknew  in  his 
 purpose.  All  things  in  nature  do  change ;  But 
 then  truly,  they  change  not,  but  according  to  his 
 purpose  and  will ;  he  alone  changeth  not  in  his 
 purpose;  as  it  is  written,  Isai.  xiv.  24.  "The 
 Lord  of  Hosts  hath  sworn,  saying,  Surely  as  I 
 have  thought,  so  shall  it  come  to  pass  ;  and  as  I 
 have  purposed,  so  shall  it  stand."  The  Lord  in 
 condescension  to  our  finite  and  weak  capacities  hath 
 tised  similitudes  by  the  ministry  of  the  prophets, 
 that  by  earthly  transactions,  we  may  in  some  mea- 
 sure comprehend  heavenly  things.  The  Scriptures, 
 are  the  medium  through  which  the  eternal  purpose 
 of  God  is  revealed  to  us ;  and  lest  we  should  ima- 
 gine that  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  and  his  purposes 
 spring  up  in  him  accidentally,  he  informs  us  of  the 
 eternity  and  immutability  of  his  counsel,  by  gra- 
 dually leading  our  minds  into  eternity;  there 
 to  view,  his  fixed  immutable  resolution  con- 
 cerning his  righteous  acts  in  saving  his  chosen 
 people,  and  damning  the  wicked  for  their  sins. 
 Is  any  saved  from  eternal  destruction,  and  raised 
 to  hope,  being  quickened  by  the  Spirit,  and  effec- 
 tually called  ?  Then  let  him  know,  that  the  life 
 imparted  to  him,  is  not  given  in  consequence  of  a 
 new  act  of  God's  will  and  purpose,  but  according 
 to  his  immutable  promise  in  Christ  before  the  world 
 began.  God  saveth  his  elect  freely,  and  calleth 
 them  with  an  holy  calling,  by  an  act  of  his  eternal 
 will;  as  Paul  saith,  2  Tim.  i,  9.  ''Who  hath 
 saved  us,  and  called  us  with  an  holy  calling-,  not 
 
22 
 
 according  to  our  works,  but  according  to  his  own 
 purpose  and  Grace,  which  was  given  us  in  Christ 
 Jesus   before  the   world  began."     And  lest   any 
 should  doubt  the  reality  of  these  things,  the  same 
 Apostle  informs  us,  that  they  all  come  to  pass, 
 Eph.  iii.   11.     "  According  to  the  eternal  purpose 
 which  he  purposed  in   Christ  Jesus  our  Lord." 
 Here  is  no  room  for  cavilling:  for  if  any  say,  that 
 God's  purpose  concerning   all  things,  took  place 
 in  his  mind  only  since  the  creation,  or  as  occasion 
 required,  the  word  of  God  finds  them  liars,  which 
 asserts  it  to  be  in  his  mind  before  the  world  began ; 
 yea,  calls  it  an  eternal  purpose,  which  being  from 
 everlasting,  shall  stand  to  everlasting:  for,  Eccl. 
 iii.  14.  "  whatsoever  God  doeth,  it  is   done  for 
 ever :  nothing  can  be  put  to  it,  nor  can  any  thing 
 be  taken  from  it"     It  is  certain  that  God  acted 
 before  his  works  of  old :  for  he  promised  life  before 
 the  world   began :  and  his  purpose  is  eternal  like 
 himself.     All  the  acts  of  his  will  are  done  for  ever ; 
 they  are  immutably  fixed  from  eternity,  for  no- 
 thing can  be  added  nor  taken  from  them.     It  is 
 evident  therefore,  that  the  eternal  purpose  of  God 
 is  holy,  just,  and  good,  being  founded  upon  the 
 harmony  of  his  eternal  attributes.     Is  Pharaoh 
 raised  up  to  vex  his  people?  Is  he  hardened  to 
 pursue   after   them   to   his    destruction?    This  is 
 not  the  work  of  chance,  but  according  to  the  eternal 
 purpose  of  God;  who  from  eternity  foreknew  him 
 fallen  in  Adam,  and  by  an  act  of  his  will  rejected 
 him  from  everlasting,  to  glorify  his  name;  as  he 
 saith,  Rom.  9.  17.     *'  Even  for  this  purpose  have  I 
 
2S 
 
 raised  thee  up,  that  I  might  shew  my  power  ia 
 thee,  and  that  my  name  might  be  declared  through- 
 out all  the  earth."  Is  the  power  of  kings,  nations, 
 and  mighty  men  brought  to  nought?  It  is  according 
 to  the  eternal  purpose  of  him  who  worketh  all 
 things  after  the  counsel 'of  his  own  will ;  who  from 
 eternity  foreknew  the  unrighteous  acts  of  their  own 
 free  will,  and  by  a  righteous  act  of  his  own  eternal 
 will,  resolved  to  destroy  them  for  their  iniquities  ; 
 as  it  is  written,  Isai.  xiv.  26,  27.  "  This  is  the 
 purpose  that  is  purposed,  upon  the  whole  earth : 
 and  this  is  the  hand  that  is  stretched  out  against 
 all  nations."  "For  the  Lord  of  Hosts  hath  pur- 
 posed, and  who  shall  disannul  it?  and  his  hand 
 is  stretched  out,  and  who  shall  turn  it  back?" 
 Sin  being  foreknown  in  his  professing  people 
 Israel,  brought  on  the  purposed  destruction  upon 
 themselves  and  their  land  ;  as  it  is  Avritten,  Jer.  iv. 
 28.  "For  this  shall  the  earth  mourn,  and  the 
 heavens  shall  be  black  :  because  I  have  purposed 
 it,  and  will  not  repent,  neither  will  I  turn  back 
 from  it." 
 
 2.  All  things  happening  according  to  the  eternal  will  and 
 
 and  put  pose  of  God,  it  consequently  folloivs,  that  the 
 
 fall  itself  happened  according  to  an  act  of  God's  will, 
 
 and  yet  he  is  not  the  author  of  sin,  which  is  a  mystery.. 
 
 This  proposition  I  have  handled  in  six  public 
 discourses  since  the  8th  of  May,  1816,  wherein  I 
 have  always  asserted  and  clearly  proved,  that  God 
 really  willed  the  fall  of  man,  and  yet  he  is  not  the 
 
•2-4 
 
 author  of  sin,  nor  the  cause  of  his  ruin.  Some  may 
 say,  is  not  such  a  perplexing  point  more  calculated 
 to  puzzle  the  mind,  than  profitable  for  edification? 
 1  answer,  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  set  forth 
 the  absolute,  eternal,  and  uncontrolable  will  of 
 God,  as  his  word  reveals  it,  except  we  admit,  that 
 as  he  foresaw  all  events  from  eternity,  so  he  also 
 willed  them  :  for  here  we  perceive  the  mystery  of 
 his  will,  that  though  he  Milled  the  fall,  yet  he  is  not 
 the  author  of  sin,  nor  the  cause  of  it.  He  there- 
 fore, that  saith  God  willed  not  the  fall,  may  as  well 
 assert  that  he  willed  nothing,  and  that  all  things 
 happened  by  chance  ;  but  if  it  be  wrong  to  say  so, 
 then  it  is  equally  as  ignorant  to  maintain,  that  he 
 willed  not  so  great  an  event :  for  then  how  could 
 it  have  come  to  pass  ?  especially  when  we  come 
 to  consider,  that  all  the  acts  of  the  eternal  will  of 
 the  omniscient  Jehovah,  such  as  election,  predes- 
 tination, and  reprobation,  are  absolutely  founded 
 upon  his  eternal  foreknowledge  of  them.  Let  us  not 
 forget  what  has  been  clearly  proved  in  this  book, 
 namely,  that  God  is  immutable  in  his  essence  and 
 attributes,  and  that  all  the  acts  of  his  will  in  time, 
 are  only  the  effects  of  his  will  and  purpose  from 
 eternity ;  here  we  must  stand,  and  hear  him  say, 
 
 "  I  AM  JEHOVAH,    I  CHANGE  NOT." 
 
 Many  who  are  not  sound  in  the  faith,  and  be- 
 lieve not  the  eternity  of  God's  will,  nor  the  immu- 
 tabihty  of  his  nature,  do  but  cloak  their  pride  and 
 deep  ignorance,  by  pretending  that  by  the  above- 
 mentioned  proposition  we  make  God  the  author  of 
 sin ;  yet  when  they  are  pressed  by  arguments,  their 
 
05 
 
 answers  altogether  establish  the  point  in  hand. 
 Could  not  God,  who  is  almighty,  have  prevented 
 the  fall?  this  must  be  granted.  If  then  he  could 
 have  prevented  it,  then  how  came  it  to  pass?  They 
 have  been  obliged  to  answer,  that  he  only  permit- 
 ted it.  Thus  we  see  the  nature  of  error,  which  in- 
 fluences men  to  speak  things  that  they  know  not: 
 for  if  they  know  not  the  meaning  of  the  words  they 
 make  use  of,  how  shall  they  understand  the  mj^- 
 tery  of  God's  will?  Are  they  not  self-condemned, 
 who  tell  us  that  God  permitted,  or  suffered  the  fall  of 
 man,  and  yet  deny  that  he  willed  it  ?  O  the  blind- 
 ness and  ignorance  of  men !  who  creep  into  the 
 church  of  God,  and  have  no  godly  fear  nor  real  ex- 
 perience of  these  great  mysteries  in  their  hearts,  and 
 even  cannot  perceive  that  the  permission  or  suffer- 
 ance in  God,  which  they  themselves  are  obliged 
 to  allow,  is  really  an  act  of  his  will :  for  if  he  suf- 
 fered or  permitted  the  fall,  then  it  is  clear,  that  he 
 willed  it.  On  the  other  hand,  if  any  say,  that  it 
 was  not  the  will  of  God  that  man  should  fall.  I 
 answer  then,  "  Who  hath  resisted  his  will  ?"  their 
 pride,  unbelief,  and  folly,  is  manifest  on  all  hands, 
 according  to  the  true  proverb,  "  When  a  fool  walk- 
 eth  by  the  way,  his  wisdom  faileth  him,  and  he 
 saith  to  every  one,  that  he  is  a  fool."  And  when 
 their  ignorant  cavils  against  the  infinite  sovereignty 
 of  God  is  laid  open,  then  they  start  back,  to  hide 
 themselves  under  the  plausible  pretension  of  jus- 
 tifying God,  crying  out,  God  is  not  the  author  of 
 sin;  sin  is  the  will  of  the  devil.  Which  is  quite 
 foreign  to  the  point  in  hand. 
 
26 
 
 3.  The  mystery  of  God's  will,  further  discerned,  that 
 although  he  foreknew  the  fall  of  man  from  everlasting, 
 yet  he  both  purposed,  and  did  create  him,  which  are 
 acts  of  his  will. 
 
 God  foreknew  that  man  would  fall,  and  that 
 millions  should  be  utterly  destroyed  for  their  sins, 
 yet  his  purpose  and  eternal  will  is  still  immutably 
 the  same :  for  notwithstanding  his  essential  fore- 
 knowledge of  that  dreadful  event,  he  created  man ; 
 by  which  act  of  his  eternal  will,  he  appears  clearly 
 to  permit  the  fall,  and  therefore  willed  it. 
 
 Objection.  Doth  not  God  appear  cruel  beyond 
 measure,  who,  when  he  knew  that  man  by  his  fall 
 should  be  instrumental  in  destroying  millions  of 
 his  offspring,  that  yet  he  should,  as  it  were  per- 
 versely create  them  for  the  very  purpose  of  damn- 
 ing them.  Better  be  a  Turk,  or  a  beast,  than  be- 
 lieve a  doctrine  so  contrary  to  common  sense,  and 
 the  implanted  feelings  in  every  man's  heart. 
 
 Answer.  O  poor  besotted  man  !  how  blind  and 
 dead  you  are  to  your  own  miserable  state.  As  for 
 your  common  sense,  and  much  boasted  feelings 
 upon  which  you  rely,  they  are  but  evidences  of 
 the  amazing  deceit  of  your  heart;  for  you  are,  Rom. 
 i.  29,  "  filled  with  all  unrighteousness,  fornication, 
 wickedness,  covetousness,  maliciousness ;  full  of 
 envy,  murder, debate  deceit,  malignity;  whisperers, 
 backbiters,  haters  of  God,  despiteful — without  un- 
 derstanding, and  have  a  form  of  godliness,  but 
 deny  the  power  thereof."  *'  Who  art  thou  that  re- 
 pliest  against  God  ?"  Are  not  his  judgments  un- 
 searchable and  his  ways  past  finding  out  ?  Do  you 
 
not  know  that  "  There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not 
 one  ?"  And  are  you  not  in  this  dreadful  case  ?  for 
 sin  lieth  at  your  door,  and  death  is  at  hand,  ready 
 to  cut  you  down.  You  are  a  hving  witness  that 
 God,  who  foreknew  you  from  all  eternity,  a  miser- 
 able fallen  creature,  yet  that  he  created  you,  ac- 
 cording to  his  sovereign  will,  which  is  a  deep 
 mystery ;  revealed  in  a  measure  to  God's  elect, 
 who,  by  faith  see  their  God  most  holy  and  just  in 
 all  the  acts  of  his  eternal  will ;  and  that  the  fall, 
 ein,  and  disobedience  is  the  act  of  every  man's  will 
 under  heaven ;  whereby  he  is  accountable  to  God 
 and  shall  receive  according  to  his  works. 
 
 It  is  indisputably  a  matter  of  fact,  which  no  man 
 can  possibly  get  over,  that  God,  who  foreknew  the 
 fall  of  man,  yet  did  he  by  an  act  of  his  will  create 
 him ;  by  which  he  certainly  has  allowed,  permitted, 
 and  suffered  the  fall,  and  therefore  willed  it.  We 
 must  never  forget  that  the  will  of  God  has  always 
 been  the  same  from  everlasting,  and  never  influ- 
 enced the  will  of  man  one  moment,  either  to  obey, 
 or  disobey.  God  therefore  is  a  free  agent,  and 
 man  is  a  free  agent ;  which  both  acted  according 
 to  the  counsel  of  their  own  will :  for  if  man  had 
 not  been  free  in  his  will,  he  certainly  could  not 
 have  been  accountable  for  his  actions.  God  is 
 therefore  infinitely  just,  holy,  and  true,  in  all  the 
 acts  of  his  eternal  will ;  seeing  that  his  foreknow- 
 ledge of  man's  fall  had  no  influence  over  him  to 
 cause  him  to  fall. 
 
28 
 
 4.  God  who  forelcnew  the  fall,  hy  an  act  of  his  will,  when 
 he  purposed  to  create  man,  purposed  also  to  leave  him 
 to  himself;  hy  which  passive  act  he  willed  the  fall. 
 
 God  purposed  from  eternity  to  create  the  earth : 
 Isai,  xlv.  18.  '*  He  created  it  not  in  vain,  he  form- 
 ed it  to  be  inhabited."  His  eternal  foreknowledge 
 therefore,  had  no  influence  over  his  absolute  w^ill, 
 to  prevent  him  from  his  purpose  of  creating 
 man,  though  he  knew  he  should  fall.  He  pur- 
 posed to  create  him  upright  in  his  own  image ; 
 he  saw  him  very  good,  a  most  glorious  crea- 
 ture, and  purposed  from  everlasting  that  he  should 
 be  absolutely  a  free  agent,  capable  of  being  re- 
 sponsible for  all  his  actions ;  as  such  he  left  him, 
 to  rule  and  govern  himself  according  to  the  recti- 
 tude of  his  own  will ;  and  as  God  tempteth  no  man, 
 he  purposed  that  he  himself  would  not  put  a 
 stumbling  block  in  his  way,  to  cause  him  to  fall. 
 Therefore  by  an  eternal  act  of  his  will,  he  left  man 
 to  his  own  will,  though  he  knew  that  he  would 
 fall,  consequently,  God  is  not  the  author  of  sin, 
 though  he  willed  the  fall. 
 
 Objection  2.  Seeing  that  God  is  good,  merci- 
 ful, and  of  great  pity,  why  did  he  not,  according 
 to  the  benignity  of  his  nature,  prevent  the  fall  ? 
 Doth  he  not  appear  cruel  and  unrighteous,  who 
 from  eternity  knew  the  fall,  and  yet  let  it  come  to 
 pass?  Are  not  such  doctrines  repugnant  to  the 
 known  attributes  of  God,  who  in  his  nature  is 
 love  I 
 
 Ansiver  2.  It  is  a  matter  of  fact,  that  God,  who 
 could  have  hindered  the  fall,  yet  suffered  it  to 
 
take  place,  and  denied  man  that  extraordinary- 
 help  which  could  have  prevented  it.  The  denying 
 man  that  help,  and  suffering  him  to  fall,  is  an  evi- 
 dent proof,  that  God  by  an  eternal  act  of  his  will, 
 willed  the  fall :  for  he  could  have  prevented  it  if 
 he  would ;  but  by  a  negative  act  of  his  will,  he 
 would  not;  therefore  he  willed  it.  This  argument 
 is  so  exceeding  strong,  that  none  can  possibly  gel 
 over  it,  except  they  deny  the  eternity  of  God's  will 
 and  fore  knowledge,  in  which  case  they  manifest 
 themselves  heretics  at  once.  The  deep  ignorance 
 of  man  only,  has  given  rise  to  this  objection,  that 
 God's  passive  or  negative  will  in  the  fall  is  repug- 
 nant to  his  goodness,  love,  mercy,  and  compas- 
 sion, because  they  cannot  see  that  goodness  and 
 love,  had  already  been  most  abundantly  displayed 
 towards  man,  inasmuch  as  he  was  endued  with 
 power,  wisdom,  favour,  and  glory ;  he  was  con- 
 stituted a  free  agent  after  the  image  of  God,  and 
 possessed  every  thing  in  himself,  except  self-exist- 
 ence and  immutability,  which  being  the  incommu- 
 nicable nature  of  Jehovah  alone,  could  not  be  given 
 to  man  to  possess  in  himself  Man  however  had 
 it  in  the  power  of  his  will  to  be  absolutely  immu- 
 table, by  filial  obedience  and  union  with  the  immu- 
 table God.  Had  he  firmly  continued  in  the  cove- 
 nant God  made  with  him,  no  created  power,  though 
 ten  million  times  more  deceitful  and  hostile  than 
 Satan  himself,  could  have  moved  him.  Man's 
 power  being  therefore  so  great,  and  having  even  in 
 himself  the  means  of  eternal  happiness,  if  he  eter- 
 nally obeyed,  reason  itself  will  suggest,  that  there 
 
30 
 
 was  no  room  for  mercy  and  compassion  to  display 
 themselves  towards  a  creature  so  good,  upright, 
 and  replenished  with  self-sufficient  power.  Fur- 
 thermore, the  nature  of  the  contract  between  God 
 and  man  cannot  admit  either  of  mercy  or  compas- 
 sion, for  it  was  not  a  covenant  of  grace,  but  of 
 works,  the  language  of  which  is  unvariably,  "  This 
 do,  and  thou  shalt  live. — The  soul  that  sinneth  it 
 shall  die."  They  talk  therefore  like  fools,  who 
 represent  God  as  unrighteous  and  cruel  in  those 
 eternal  acts  of  his  sovereign  will :  for  the  ground 
 of  their  best  reasonings  is  rotten  and  foul;  their 
 conclusions  evidently  false,  as  being  the  produce 
 of  blind  reason,  pride,  ignorance,  and  enmity  to 
 God.  The  sum  therefore  of  this  great  argument 
 is  this:  that  God's  will  is  eternal  like  himself; 
 that  from  eternity  he  knew  all  things,  and  ^villed 
 all  events  and  things  which  he  foreknew;  he 
 therefore  willed  the  fall  and  sin,  yet  he  is  not  the 
 author  of  it.  For  sin  being  the  transgression  of  the 
 law,  how  can  this  be  imputed  to  him,  who  immu- 
 tably "  will  do  no  iniquity,"  who  being  incapable 
 of  changing  in  his  nature,  purpose  and  will,  cannot 
 possibly  sin ;  who  being  infinite  perfection,  righte- 
 ousness and  self-existent  eternity,  can  be  account- 
 able to  none :  "for  there  is  none  else."  This  is  the 
 true  scriptural  description  of  God's  eternal,  holy 
 will.  And  the  will  of  man  in  his  primitive  state, 
 was  the  very  image  of  it :  for  his  will  was  free  like 
 God's ;  he  did  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
 own  will :  for  he  freely  stood  in  his  excellence  and 
 uprightness  while  he  obeyed,  and  as  freely  fell 
 
n 
 
 when  he  wilfully  disobeyed ;  therefore,  man  is  the 
 author  of  his  own  sin;  as  it  is  written,  Hos.  xiii,  9. 
 *'  O  Israel  thou  hast  destroyed  thyself."  It  is  the 
 nature  of  the  will  in  every  free  agent,  to  be  abso- 
 lutely free  and  uncontrollable,  and  cannot  be  forc- 
 ed without  the  free  consent  of  it :  for  though  a  man 
 may  be  brought  into  bondage  under  a  tyrannical 
 yoke,  yet  his  will  is  still  free ;  he  would  certainly 
 shake  it  off  if  he  could.  But  man  abused  the  free- 
 dom of  his  will,  and  became  a  willing  slave  of  the 
 devil  and  sin :  he  has  lost  his  free  will  to  all  that 
 is  good,  and  now  has  only  a  free  will  to  do  evil : 
 and  having  thus  destroyed  himself,  he  is  most  cer- 
 tainly the  author  of  his  own  ruin.  It  is  most  eri- 
 dent,  therefore,  that  the  eternal  will  of  God  is  one 
 thing,  and  that  the  will  of  man  is  another ;  and 
 though  God  willed  the  fall,  yet  he  is  not  the  author 
 of  sin,  but  man ;  who  alone,  could  bring  sin  into 
 the  world  by  disobedience;  the  creature  alone, 
 therefore,  is  the  author  of  sin  and  death. 
 
 — *-♦-• — 
 
 CHAP.  Ill, 
 
 God,  ivho  f/'om  eternity  foreknew  the  fall,  and  willed  it, 
 did  also  by  an  eternal  act  of  his  immuiahle  will,  choose, 
 predestinate,  foreordain  and  appoint,  so?ne  of  the  fallen 
 race  of  man  to  eternal  life,  and  some,  to  eternal  damna- 
 tion.   In  all  this  God  is  most  just. 
 
 This  doctrine  is  truly  from  heaven,  having  in 
 itself  every  characteristic  mark  of  divine  revelation : 
 for  it  is  utterly  repugnant  to  carnal  reason,  and 
 
32 
 
 could  never  have  entered  into  the  mind  of  man,  had 
 not  God  plainly  revealed  it.  Man,  in  his  fallen 
 state,  has  no  idea  of  the  desperate  case  he  is  in : 
 all  his  hopes  of  acceptance  with  God,  centre  in 
 what  he  thinks,  he  himself  can  do  towards  his  own 
 salvation  by  the  works  of  the  law.  As  soon  as  he 
 hears  of  election,  or  predestination,  his  carnal  en- 
 mity is  roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  indignation ; 
 he  storms,  raves,  and  awfully  rebels  against  the 
 infinite  sovereignty  of  God ;  and  is  not  afraid  to 
 call  this  holy  act  of  his  eternal  will,  an  horrible 
 decree.  Leaving  therefore,  such  blind  and  hor- 
 rible blasphemers  of  God's  decrees,  to  fill  up  the 
 measure  of  their  iniquities,  let  us  by  the  help  of  the 
 Lord,  go  on  to  shew  his  infinite  righteousness, 
 holiness,  and  truth,  in  all  (he  eternal  acts  of  his 
 will. 
 
 1.  Election  is  an  eternal  act  of  God's  tvill;  and  is  found- 
 ed upon  his  eternal  foreknowledge  of  the  fall  of  man. 
 
 I  repeat  it  again,  that  though  we  are  obliged  to 
 speak  of  the  attributes  of  God,  and  the  acts  of  his 
 will,  as  succeeding  one  another  in  order  of  time, 
 yet  we  are  to  understand  no  such  thing,  but  are 
 only  to  conceive  of  the  connexion  and  relation  they 
 have  one  with  another.  For  surely,  as  we  cannot 
 fix  any  date  to  eternal  acts,  so  then  we  must  view 
 them  as  done  at  once  from  all  eternity ;  otherwise 
 we  disfigure  the  immutability  of  the  divine  nature. 
 This  then  is  the  true  faith  concerning  election :  that 
 God,  by  an  eternal  act  of  liis  will,  purposed  to 
 
3B 
 
 create  man  a  perfect  free  agent;  who  should 
 freely  act  in  and  from  himself,  according  to  the 
 counsel  of  his  own  will,  and  created  power; 
 but  that  God,  by  virtue  of  his  foreknowledge  saw 
 his  fall  from  everlasting,  and  in  consequence  of 
 this  foreseen  event,  disposed  of  him  and  all  his 
 future  race,  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own 
 eternal  will ;  as  it  is  written,  Rom.  ix.  2 1 .  "  Hath  not 
 the  potter  power  over  the  clay,  of  the  same  lump 
 to  make  one  vessel  unto  honour,  and  another  unto 
 dishonour '"  Human  nature  is  the  clay,  which 
 God  viewing  from  eternity  as  ruined  by  the  future 
 disobedience  of  Adam,  he  concluded  all  men 
 under  sin,  in  a  state  of  death,  wrath  and  condem- 
 nation. Man  being  therefore  considered  as  a 
 transgressor,  losing  the  freedom  of  his  will,  and 
 departing  from  God  by  sin,  is  altogether  inexcu- 
 sable ;  and  his  holy  creator  is  infinitely  justified 
 in  the  acts  of  his  eternal  will.  If  God's  fore- 
 knowledge of  man's  sin,  is  not  laid  as  the  ground 
 of  his  justice  in  election,  then  man  had  reason  to 
 complain;  but  God  is  not  represented  as  choosing' 
 or  refusing  in  a  peremptory  mannetwithout  acause, 
 which  was  known  to  him  from  eternity  ;  therefore 
 the  eternal  foreknowledge  of  God  is  the  ground 
 upon  which  the  eternal  acts  of  his  immutable  will 
 in  election  and  reprobation  are  justly  established. 
 it  is  the  peculiar  mercy  of  fallen  men,  that  there 
 are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father, 
 the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost :  who  from  ever- 
 lasting entered  into  covenant  in  the  behalf  of  man  : 
 whom  they  foresaw  as  fallen,  and  totally  ruined. 
 
34 
 
 The  eternal  son  of  God,  Mic.  v.  2.  *' Whose 
 goings  forth  have  been  from  the  days  of  eternity," 
 proposed  to  take  into  union  with  himself  man's 
 nature,  and  as  a  new  spiritual  head,  to  undo  all 
 the  evil  man  by  disobedience  should  bring  upon 
 himself;  he  undertook  to  obey  the  law  which  they 
 should  break,  and  by  offering  himself  up,  as  an 
 infinite  sacrifice  to  the  incensed  justice  of  God, 
 for  ever  to  *'  Ransom  them  from  the  power  of  the 
 grave,  and  redeem  them  from  death."  The  eternal 
 Father,  accepting  the  infinitely  meritorious  medi- 
 ation of  the  Son  of  his  love,  freely  promised 
 eternal  life  to  that  nature  he  should  assume,  and 
 to  every  individual  of  mankind  he  chose  and 
 accepted  in  him.  The  eternal  Spirit  also  agreed, 
 to  come  upon  the  humanity  of  Christ,  and  to 
 proceed  from  him  to  every  chosen  vessel,  as  a 
 Spirit  of  conviction,  illumination,  union,  power 
 and  glory ;  He  engaged  to  search  the  deep  things 
 of  God  in  this  eternal  covenant,  and  to  shew  them 
 to  the  chosen  seed.  By  this  covenant,  eternal 
 mercy,  love,  and  compassion  flows  through  Christ 
 to  his  chosen,  and  it  is  absolutely  founded  upon 
 the  eternal  foreknowledge  of  God  ;  hence  they  are 
 juss;ly  called,  1  Peter  i.  1.  "  Elect  according  to 
 the  foreknowledge  of  God." 
 
 Objection  1.  Seeing  that  God  has  chosen  some 
 to  eternal  life,  and  left  others  in  the  ruins  of  the  fall, 
 have  not  the  non-elect  just  reason  to  complain,  that 
 he  is  partial,  as  well  as  unjust  in  rejecting  them  ? 
 
 A?isivcr  1 .  How  can  this  be ?  for  we  have  already 
 proved  that  God  foresaw  all  men  under  sin.   Shew 
 
35 
 
 us  a  man,  that  has  not  wilfully  departed  from  God 
 by  wicked  works,  and  we  will  admit  of  his  plea, 
 if  he  is  rejected ;  but  if  all  have  sinned,  theil  God 
 is  just,  who  rejects  many,  and  takes  vengeance  on 
 them  for  sin.  If  he  has  utterly  rejected  all  the 
 angels  that  sinned,  would  he  not  have  been  equally 
 as  just,  if  he  had  rejected  all  men  ?  for  they  have 
 all  sinned  as  well  as  devils.  What  claim,  there- 
 fore, has  that  man  upon  God,  who  does  so  dar- 
 ingly rebel,  and  reply  against  the  eternal  wisdom 
 of  the  infinite  Johovah  ?  Does  he  not  truly  make 
 manifest  the  sin  of  his  nature,  by  seeking  to  resist 
 and  deny  the  eternal  will  of  a  just  creator,  who 
 will  deal  with  every  man  according  to  his  works  ? 
 God  is  not  partial :  for  he  chooseth  no  man  because 
 he  is  better  than  another;  but  in  consequence  of  his 
 eternal  foreknowledge  of  man's  fall,  and  Christ's 
 midertaking,  he  has  freely  chosen  some,  saying, 
 Exod.  xxxiv.  19.  "  I  will  be  gracious  to  whom  I 
 will  be  gracious,  and  will  shew  mercy  on  whom  I 
 will  shew  mercy,"  Rom.  ix.  18.  *'  and  whom  he 
 will  he  hardeneth."  Thus  we  plainly  see  that  God's 
 eternal  will  is  most  holy  and  just,  being  established 
 upon  his  foreknowledge ;  that  he  will  be  gracious 
 to  the  elect,  according  to  his  foreknowledge  of  them 
 in  Christ ;  but  will  leave  the  wicked  in  their  hard- 
 ness, according  as  he  foreknew  them  in  sin ;  these 
 shall  fill  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquities. 
 
 Let  us  now  consider  how  the  rotten  Arminian 
 is  made  manifest  as  a  liar,  witli  his  human  invent- 
 ed election.  O  how  blind  and  foolish  are  they ! 
 who  pretend  that  God  elected  some,  in  conse- 
 
 c2 
 
36 
 
 quence  of  his  foresight  of  the  good  works  they 
 would  perform.  Is  it  not  wonderful,  that  men 
 who  read  the  Bible,  should  so  grossly  deceive 
 themselves,  and  others  too,  when  the  scriptures 
 tell  us  so  plainly  that  salvation  is,  Eph.  ii.  9.  "  not 
 of  works,  lest  any  man  should  boast  ?"  For  what 
 good  works  could  God  foresee  in  men,  whom  he 
 foreknew  as  fallen  from  everlasting  ?  This  he  bears 
 witness  to,  saying,  "  Isai.  xlviii.  8.  "  For  I  knew 
 that  thou  wouldest  deal  very  treacherously."  Where 
 then  are  those  good  works  he  foresaw?  But  he 
 declares  their  works  are  works  of  iniquity,  which 
 shall  not  profit  them;  neither  shall  they  cover 
 themselves  with  them ;  Rom.  ix.  11.  "  For 
 the  children  being  not  yet  bom,  neither  having 
 done  good  or  evil,  that  the  purpose  of  God  ac- 
 cording to  election  might  stand,  not  of  works,  but 
 of  him  that  calleth :  it  was  said  unto  (Rebecca), 
 the  elder  shall  serve  the  younger.  As  it  is  writ- 
 ten, Jacob  have  I  loved,  but  Esau  have  I  hated. *^ 
 Is  it  not  plain,  that  God  had  no  respect  to  fallen 
 men's  dead  works?  but  regarded  only  his  own  eter- 
 nal purpose  in  election,  according  to  his  foreknow- 
 ledge of  the  fall,  whereby  he  worketh  all  things 
 after  the  counsel  of  his  own  eternal  will.  I  need 
 not  bring  any  more  scriptures  concerning  election 
 or  the  choice  of  God,  whereby  he  disposeth  of  his 
 sinful  creatures  in  a  free,  just,  and  sovereign  way : 
 for  they  are  so  numerous  that  they  would  soon  fill 
 a  volume ;  however,  it  is  needful  to  observe,  that 
 they  are  all  founded  upon  the  eternal  foreknow- 
 ledge of  God  ;  and  upon  this  mysterious  ground, 
 
d7 
 
 every  well-taught  christian  will  see  with  great  joy 
 and  comfort,  how  infinitely  wise,  holy,  and  just  his 
 covenant  God  is  in  all  the  acts  of  his  eternal  wDl. 
 
 2.  Predestination  "being  also  founded  om  the  eternal  fora- 
 knowledge  of  God  is  an  act  of  his  eternal  will. 
 
 This  is  that  tremendous  actof  God's  eternal  will, 
 whereby  he  has  from  eternity  irresistibly  decreed, 
 foreordained,  and  fixedly  determined,  the  future 
 condition,  state,  and  fate  of  all  his  creatures.  It 
 is  the  result  and  consequence  of  eternal  election, 
 whereby  all  men  are  chosen,  set  apart,  and  irre- 
 vocably classed  in  life  or  death,  under  grace  or 
 sin,  in  Christ  or  the  devil.  This  eternal  act  of 
 God  is  most  just  and  holy :  for  it  is  founded  upon 
 his  eternal  foreknowledge  of  the  sins  of  all  men, 
 who  fell  in  Adam :  he  is  that  divine  potter,  who 
 from  all  eternity  saw  that  lump  of  clay,  of  man's 
 fallen  nature,  and  he  might  have  left  it  in  ruins, 
 had  he  been  so  minded  :  but  exerting  the  divine 
 prerogative  of  his  eternal  sovereignty,  he  chose 
 of  the  same  perishable  lump,  some  to  eternal  life, 
 and  by  a  negative  act  of  his  eternal  ^vill,  some  he 
 chose  not,  but  for  sin  foreseen,  predestinated  them 
 to  death,  wrath,  and  eternal  destruction.  The 
 free,  irresistible  and  eternal  will  of  God,  with  re- 
 spect to  his  sovereign  disposal  of  his  fallen  crea- 
 tures, is  therefore  most  just,  being  founded  upon 
 his  foreknowledge :  for  even  the  elect,  he  foreknew 
 as  children  of  wrath  in  a  broken  law ;  and  that  he 
 might  shew  the  exceeding  riches  of  his  fr^e  grace, 
 
 ?«» 
 
38 
 
 in  Christ  and  the  impartiality  of  his  eternal  will, 
 he  chose  them  without  any  regard  to  their  works, 
 1  Tim.  i.  9.  "  but  according  to  his  own  purpose 
 and  grace,  which  was  given  (them)  in  Christ  Jesus 
 before  the  world  began."  He  no  sooner  foreknew 
 them  in  sin,  but  he  also  foreknew  them  in  Christ ; 
 as  it  is  written,  Rom.  viii.  19.  "  For  Avhom  he  did 
 foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate."  That  is,  he 
 irrevocably  fixed  their  state  and  condition  in  Christ, 
 by  an  eternal  act  of  his  predestinating  will,  "  to 
 be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son."  By  this 
 eternal  act,  God  in  Christ  eternally  willed,  that 
 the  called  according  to  his  purpose  should  be 
 saved  fiom  all  evil,  and  be  installed  into  all  that 
 is  truly  great,  glorious,  and  good ;  that  they  should 
 not  be  appointed  to  wrath,  1  Thess.  v.  9,  "  but  to 
 obtain  salvation  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;"  that 
 the  good  pleasure  of  his  eternal  will  towards  them 
 was,  that  from  desperate  enemies  they  should  be- 
 come loving  sons,  in  consequence  of,  Eph.  i.  5. 
 *'  having  predestinated  them  unto  the  adoption  of 
 sons  by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself ;"  that  they  only, 
 should  obtain  precious  faith,  as  the  gift  of  God  to 
 them,  as  it  is  written.  Acts  xiii.  48.  "  And  as 
 many  as  were  ordained  to  eternal  life  believed ;" 
 That  God  should  cause  all  things,  whether  ad- 
 verse or  prosperous  to  work  altogether  for  their 
 good  ;  so  that  they  are  predestinated  to  obtain  the 
 gift  of  the  Spirit,  to  be  truly  convinced  by  him  of 
 sin,  and  to  obtain  real  godly  sorrow  and  repen- 
 tance on  account  of  it;  that  they  should  have  fel- 
 lowship with  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  and 
 
39 
 
 walk  with  God  in  love,  faith,  unity,  and  peace ; 
 that  they  should  obtain  all  the  precious  promises, 
 whereby  they  might  be  partakers  of  the  divine 
 nature,  and  be  made  one  with  the  three  Eternal 
 Persons  as  they  are  one ;  that  they  should  hold 
 on  their  way,  and  invincibly  persevere,  and  most 
 assuredly  overcome  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the 
 devil ;  and  finally  die  in  faith,  rise  from  the  dead 
 incorruptible,  be  glorified,  and  rejoice  before  God 
 to  all  eternity.  This  is  the  happy  lot  of  those  poor 
 creatures,  whom  God  did  foreknow ;  who,  though 
 no  better  than  others  in  themselves,  he  did  also 
 predestinate,  and  did  by  gracious  acts  of  his 
 eternal  will,  effectually  call,  justify  freely  from  all 
 sin,  and  finally  glorify. 
 
 3.  Reprobation,  is  an  eternal  act  of  God's  will ;  ivJierehj/ lie 
 leaves  some  in  the  ruins  of  the  fall,  denies  to  them  that 
 grace  and  salvation,  which  is  freely  given  to  others,  and 
 is  founded  upon  his  eternal  foreknowledge  of  their  sins. 
 
 It  is  truly  wonderful  and  astonishing,  to  see 
 men  endued  with  rational  powers,  surprising  geni- 
 us, and  admirable  sagacity,  who  can  reason  most 
 soundly  upon  things  which  seem  to  transcend  hu- 
 man capacity,  wlio,  notwithstanding  all  their  na- 
 tural parts  and  abilities,  can,  with  the  scriptures  in 
 their  hands,  deny  the  infinite  wisdom,  justice,  and 
 holiness  of  God  in  all  the  eternal  acts  of  his  will, 
 especially  predestination :  by  which  he  disposed 
 from  all  eternity  of  his  fallen  creatures,  fixed  all 
 future  events,  even  the  very  fall  of  a  sparrow  upon 
 the  ground,  and  worketh  all  these  things  after  the 
 
40 
 
 counsel  of  his  own  will.  Behold,  therefore,  with 
 astonishment,  wonder,  and  fear,  how  marvel- 
 lously such  men  establish  the  verity  of  God's 
 eternal  will,  in  predestinating  them  for  sin,  to 
 that  very  condemnation  they  are  in ;  and  by  their 
 unbelief,  justify  him  in  all  his  sayings !  Are  they 
 ignorantly,  or  wilfully  blind,  so  that  having  eyes'yet 
 they  will  not  see  ?  They  are  by  these  very  features, 
 pointed  out,  as  rejected  by  God  from  attaining 
 any  true  wisdom,  and  are  left  by  an  act  of  God's 
 eternal  will,  to  the  blindness  of  their  mind  for  the 
 sin  of  their  nature:  for  Dan.  xii.  10.  "The 
 wicked  shall  do  wickedly :  and  none  of  the  wicked 
 shall  understand."  Do  they  maliciously  corrupt, 
 wrest,  and  stumble  at  the  word  of  God,  which 
 does  so  plainly  testify  of  God's  eternal  acts  in 
 predestination-  it  is  to  shew  the  immutability  of 
 God's  eternal  will :  for  they  evidently  1  Peter,  ii. 
 8.  "  Stumble  at  the  word,  being  disobedient : 
 whereunto  also  they  were  appointed."  Do  they 
 creep  into  churches  for  by  ends,  seeking  proudly 
 the  pre-eminence,  gain,  or  applause,  and  make  them- 
 selves manifest  to  be  ungodly  men,  by  turning  the 
 grace  of  God  into  lasciviousness,  and  denying  the 
 only  Lord  God,  and  our  Lord  JesusChrist  ?  These 
 also  are  monuments  of  the  eternal,  immutable  will 
 of  God :  for  such  evident  tokens  of  reprobacy  be- 
 long to  none,  but  to  such,  Jude  4.  "  Who  were 
 before  of  old  ordained  to  this  condemnation." 
 Are  they  grievous  revolters,  walking  with  slan- 
 ders, being  brass,  iron  and  corrupters?  Are 
 they  proud,  boasters,   incontinent,    given  up  to 
 
41 
 
 horrible  lusts,  despisers  of  them  that  are  good, 
 and  lovers  of  pleasure  more  than  lovers  of 
 God?  have  they  a  form  of  godlmess,  but  denying 
 the  power  thereof,  who,  though  they  profess  that 
 they  know  God,  do  really  by  their  abominable 
 disobedience  deny  him?  All  these  marks  and 
 evidences  in  such  wicked  men,  shew  forth  the 
 verity  of  God's  predestination  ;  whose  eternal  mil 
 in  rejecting  them  for  sin,  he  hath  manifested  to 
 all  men ;  saying,  Jer.  vi.  30.  "  Reprobate  silver 
 shall  men  call  them,  because  the  Lord  hath  re- 
 jected them."  They  are,  pointed  out  as  2  Tim.  iii. 
 8.  "  Men  of  corrupt  minds,  reprobate  concerning 
 the  faith,"  whom  Rom.  i.  28.  "God  gave  over 
 (in  just  judgment  for  sin  foreseen)  to  a  reprobate 
 mind,  to  do  those  things  (in  their  time  state)  that 
 are  not  convenient.  "  If  some  preachers  and  pro- 
 fessors too,  do  through  covetousness  make  mer- 
 chandize of  simple  people,  it  is  a  proof  of  God's 
 eternal  will,  who  for  sin,  left  them  to  their  own 
 pernicious  ways;  2  Pet.  ii.  3.  "Whose  judg- 
 ment now  of  a  long  time  lingereth  not,  and  their 
 damnation  slumbereth  not."  Do  any  run  upon 
 the  thick  bosses  of  God's  buckler,  being  pre- 
 sumptuous and  self  willed  ?  do  they  harden  their 
 necks  like  Pharaoh,  and  endeavour  like  him  to 
 resist  his  will  ?  it  is  declared,  that  God  himself 
 raised  them  up,  according  to  his  eternal  purpose 
 and  will,  to  shew  his  revenging  power  in  them, 
 and  that  his  name,  as  an  infinitely  just  and  holy 
 God,  might  be  declared  in  their  destmction  for 
 pin ;  and  as  his  saints  by  eternal  predestination  are 
 
42 
 
 called  vessels  of  mercy,  which  he  had  afore  pre- 
 pared unto  glory,  so  these  by  the  same  divine  will, 
 were  also  afore  prepared  as  Rom.  ix.  22.  "  Vessels 
 of  wrath  fitted  for  destruction.'  Do  I  now  speak 
 all  these  things  of  my  own  head?  Is  it  not  most 
 evident,  that  God  himself  in  his  word  is  a  swift 
 witness  against  all  opposers  of  his  eternal  will? 
 Did  not  God  destroy  many  millions  of  Antidi- 
 luvians,  and  saved  only  Noah,  a  preacher  of 
 rightecmsness?  For  according  to  his  eternal 
 purpose  in  Christ,  he  saw  him  just,  and  he  only 
 obtained  grace  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord.  Did  not 
 Achan,  Korah,  and  his  company,  with  many 
 more  of  tlie  rebellious  Israelites  die  in  their  sins  ? 
 And  were  not  those  sinners  in  Zion,  even  Ahitho- 
 phel,  Judas,  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  overthrown 
 with  many  more  for  their  wickedness  ?  Was  it  by 
 chance,  that  such  monsters  of  iniquity  appeared 
 ill  the  world  !  Is  it  not  most  evident  that  God  from 
 everlasting,  did  appoint  them  to  wrath,  according 
 to  his  foreknowledge  of  their  future  transgressions? 
 And  hath  not  Tlie  Lord  made  all  things  for  him- 
 self :  yea,  even  the  wicked  for  the  day  of  evil  ? 
 Prov.  xvi.  4. 
 
 1  concluide  therefore,  that  there  is  no  such  thing 
 as  chance,  or  even  the  very  appearance  of  perad- 
 venture  wi  th  God,  though  many  things  may  appear 
 so  to  men' s  limited  understanding  ;  but  all  events 
 whatsoever,  whether  prosperous  or  adverse,  are 
 most  certainly  foreordained  from  eternity,  by  the 
 sovereign  will  of  Jehovah  ;  whose  infinite  judg- 
 ments are  estabhshed  upon  his  eternal  foreknow- 
 
43 
 
 ledge,  he  having  from  everlasting  fixed  all  oc- 
 currences whatsoever :  as  it  is  written,  Amos.  iii. 
 (j.  *'  Shall  there  be  evil  in  a  city,  and  the  Lord 
 hath  not  done  it  ?' 
 
 »  »  » 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1.  Sheicing  the  cause  wherefore  this  was  written. 
 
 On  Wednesday  the  8th  of  May,  1816,  I  was 
 led  to  preach  from  these  words :  Heb.  x.  36,  "  For 
 ye  have  need  of  pntience,  that,  after  ye  have  done 
 the  will  of  God,  ye  might  receive  the  promise." 
 According  to  God's  word,  I  was  led  to  trace  his 
 will  into  eternity,  proving,  that  as  he  willed  all 
 events,  because  he  permitted  and  suffered  them 
 to  come  to  pass,  he  must  of  necessity  have  willed 
 the  fall,  yet  so  as  not  to  be  the  author  of  it,  but 
 man,  who  abusing  the  freedom  of  his  will,  fell  of 
 his  own  accord.  As  the  will  of  God  is  called  a 
 mystery,  £ph.  i.  9.  which  bhnd  reason  cannot 
 comprehend,  I  endeavoured  to  shew  to  the  faith 
 of  God's  people,  that  the  mystery  of  it  appears  in 
 this :  that  God  who  foreknew  the  fall  of  man, 
 would  not  frustrate  his  own  eternal  purpose,  but 
 he  created  man,  according  to  his  own  eternal  de- 
 sign. It  certainly  appears  by  this  act  that  he  willed 
 the  fall,  yet  his  will  is  so  mysterious,  and  his  fore- 
 knowledge so  wonderful,  that  neither  had  any  in- 
 fluence over  man's  will,  so  as  to  cause  his  fall ; 
 which  things  1  have  sufficiently  proved  in  this  book. 
 
44 
 
 Some  time  afterward,  being  informed  that  some 
 among  us  had  not  received  my  testimony  concern- 
 ing the  eternal  will  of  God,  although  I  had  been 
 enabled  from  the  word  to  prove  so  clearly,  that 
 God  foreordained  all  events,  or  else  how  can  he  be 
 immutable  ?  Being  alarmed,  lest  others  should  also 
 be  influenced  with  the  same  spirit  of  opposition,  w^ell 
 knowing  the  danger  that  a  people  are  likely  to  be 
 in,  if  Satan  can  get  them  to  strive  with  the  priest ; 
 I  was  enabled  therefore,  to  bring  this  important 
 matter  before  the  Lord,  begging  that  he  would 
 give  me  an  increase  of  wisdom  and  power  to  speak 
 the  truth  clearly,  and  that  his  people  might  Jaave 
 an  understanding  heart  to  receive  it.  As  the  sub- 
 ject is  exceeding  deep,  and  the  ears  of  many  dull 
 of  hearing,  I  began  to  fear,  lest  Satan  should  get 
 an  advantage  over  some  that  are  weak :  for  a  great 
 outcry  was  made,  that  I  certainly  made  God  the 
 author  of  sin.  The  storm  coming  on  very  rapidly, 
 and  the  vessel  appearing  to  be  in  danger,  I  began 
 to  be  much  cast  down  at  times,  finding  myself  in- 
 fluenced with  many  fears  and  changes :  but  the 
 Lord  was  my  refuge.  Whatever  some  may  think, 
 who  are  at  ease  in  Zion,  I  must  confess  that  I  could 
 not  be  brought  to  mitigate  what  I  had  advanced, 
 either  to  hush  the  matter,  or  to  give  place  by  sub- 
 jection ;  but  being  made  to  stand,  1  found  that 
 God,  who  comforteth  them  that  are  cast  down,  did 
 wonderfully  support  and  strengthen  me  in  answer 
 to  prayer :  for  he  was  pleased  to  shine  upon  the 
 subject  again,  and  made  me  to  find  such  amazing 
 comfort  and  delight  in  the  eternal  will,  and  m  the 
 
45 
 
 infinitely  glorious  sovereignty  I  had  preached  with- 
 out reserve,  that  I  went  in  the  strength  of  that  meat, 
 and  preached  on  the  same  subject,  on  Wednesday 
 the  loth  of  May,  1816,  from  these  words :  Eph. 
 i.  9,  *'  Having  made  known  unto  us  the  mystery 
 of  his  Avill."  In  which  discourse  I  was  enabled 
 to  advance  the  same  truths,  without  any  variation, 
 as  many  can  bear  witness. 
 
 2.  Beware  of  men,  who  are  outwardly  smooth,  and  have 
 no  changes. 
 
 **  God  speaks  once,  yea,  twice,  but  man  per- 
 ceiveth  it  not."  A  smooth  behaviour,  and  much 
 outward  love  and  zeal,  is  apt  to  impose  upon  the 
 best  of  men.  David  thought  Ahithophel  an  angel ; 
 but  found  him  to  be  an  incarnate  devil.  I  have 
 also  been  made  to  learn  this  painful  lesson,  by  re- 
 peated instances,  since  I  have  been  in  the  ministry : 
 for  those  who  have  most  vehemently  cried  Ho- 
 sanna,  have  also  many  of  them  turned  round,  and 
 with  the  same  mouth  have  cried  most  outrage- 
 ously, crucify  him.  I  must  confess,  that  I  have 
 often  been  exceedingly  shocked,  to  find  men  so 
 shamefully  treacherous  both  towards  God  and 
 man.  How  many  have  seemingly  received  my 
 testimony  to  an  incredible  degree  of  extravagance ; 
 saying  to  others,  "  Come  along  with  me,  to  hear 
 this  blessed  man  of  God :  for  since  the  Apostle 
 Paul  there  has  not  been  his  fellow."  Some  have 
 come  to  me,  saying,  "  From  the  first  time,  I  have 
 heard  you,  the  word  came  with  such  power,  that 
 I  have  never  had  a  single  doubt  about  your  mi- 
 
46 
 
 nistry."  Others  have  cried  out,  saying,  "  In  an- 
 swer to  vehement  prayer,  I  had  this  portion ; '  Thine 
 eyes  shall  see  thy  teachers.'  And  when  I  heard  of 
 you,  God  said  to  me,  *  This  is  the  teacher!'  and  1 
 have  not  had  a  doubt  about  it  ever  since."  But 
 where  are  all  these  stout  champions  for  the  truth? 
 Gone.  But  where  are  they  gone  ?  Where  they 
 find  more  food  in  a  month,  than  under  me  in  four 
 years.  However,  let  us  not  be  deceived :  for  every 
 creature  feeds  according  to  its  nature :  the  crow 
 feeds  upon  carrion ;  and  dust  shall  be  the  serpent's 
 meat. 
 
 According  to  the  saying  of  Christ,  "  By  their 
 fruits  ye  shall  know  them,"  I  have  been  led  to  see, 
 that  men  who  have  no  doubts,  have  not  the  changes 
 of  God's  people ;  and  if  they  have  no  changes  they 
 fear  not  God.  No  wonder,  therefore,  that  they 
 cannot  bow  to  the  blessed  doctrine  of  the  eternal, 
 immutable  sovereignty  of  God's  will,  when  faith- 
 fully preached.  Notwithstanding  I  had  repeated 
 impressions  concerning  some,  because  of  their  con- 
 duct, yet  I  was  willing  to  hope  for  the  best ;  ex- 
 pecting, that  faithful  dealing  in  preaching,  might 
 have  the  desired  effect,  to  bring  them  to  see  the 
 error  of  their  ways.  It  was  with  much  grief  and 
 sorrow  that  I  often  beheld  the  hand  of  God  going 
 out  against  them,  and  I  wondered  to  see  them  so 
 little  concerned  or  sensible,  as  to  the  procuring 
 causes  of  such  blows  from  God.  However,  I  la- 
 boured in  prayer  for  them  with  God ;  being  de- 
 sirous instrumentally  to  pull  them  out  of  the  fire, 
 hating  the  garments  spotted  by  the  flesh.   I  doubt 
 
4T 
 
 not  but  such,  when  they  found  that  a  few  presents 
 could  not  stop  my  mouth,  from  shewing  to  then* 
 honestly  wherefore  God  contended  with  them  by 
 sickness,  poverty,  and  all  adversity,  I  say,  tl;iat 
 for  my  love,  they  became  my  adversaries ;  and 
 their  hearts  gathered  secret  enmity  against  me  for 
 the  truth's  sake.  I  was  not  a  little  grieved  when 
 I  found  that  those  very  people  opposed  the  eternal 
 will  of  God,  for  whom  I  had  so  often  deeply  felt 
 in  my  soul,  often  bearing  their  burdens,  earnestly 
 begging  of  the  Lord,  that  they  might  not  continue 
 to  be  a  scandal  to  us,  and  his  righteous  cause.  In 
 order  to  heal  these  wounds,  I  conferred  from  time 
 to  time  with  several,  and  was  really  astonished  at 
 the  pride,  ignorance,  and  obstinacy  of  some,  who 
 had  been  in  a  profession  for  so  many  years,  for 
 they  appeared  so  exceeding  short  sighted  as  to  the 
 decrees  of  God,  that  like  Arminians,  they  could 
 not  trace  them  higher  than  the  creation.  After 
 much  debate  on  the  subject,  they  appeared  more 
 reconciled,  and  seemed  in  a  measure  to  see  eye  to 
 eye  with  me  :  but  whether  private  motives  of  self 
 interest  secretly  swayed  some  to  yield  to  me,  I 
 cannot  determine  ;  but  this  I  know,  that  they  af- 
 terwards returned  to  their  vomit  again.  I  took 
 occasion  seriously  to  admonish  them  with  respect 
 to  their  private  walk,  bringing  before  their  eyes  so 
 many  palpable  proofs  and  evidences  of  the  facts, 
 that  they  themselves  were  constrained  to  acknow- 
 ledge the  verity  of  them.  When  I  found  that  they 
 fell  under  reproof,  and  shewed  some  signs  of 
 repentance  for  their  past  conduct,   my  bowels 
 
48 
 
 began  to  yearn  over  them,  to  pity  their  case,  being 
 willing  to  hope  that  the  root  of  the  matter  might 
 yet  be  in  them  ;  but  that  through  the  force  of  mani- 
 fold temptations,  they  could  not  at  all  times  do  the 
 things  that  they  would.  Being  influenced  with 
 fear,  I  was  led  to  consider  myself,  lest  I  also 
 should  be  tempted  :  this  tenderness  towards  them, 
 induced  me  to  give  them  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
 ship; and  after  much  exhortation,  we  parted 
 friends  to  all  appearance.  However,  it  appeared 
 their  repentance  was  not  sincere :  for  their  pride 
 would  not  suffer  them  to  receive  such  a  notable 
 defeat,  without  hiding  it,  by  smoothing  it  over  in 
 a  hypocritical  manner,  lest  they  should  sink  in  the 
 esteem  of  men.  I  found  out  a  considerable  time 
 afterwards,  that  they  had  made  it  to  appear,  as  if 
 I  had  yielded  to  the  soundness  of  their  views  and 
 judgment :  and  that  I  had  been  brought  to  make 
 an  apology ;  saying,  that  I  was  in  some  sense 
 sorry  for  what  I  had  advanced:  as  I  wished  not 
 to  give  offence  to  the  children  of  God.  However, 
 many  of  my  friends,  who  know,  how  I  get  my 
 instructions,  could  scarcely  believe,  that  I  should 
 retract  so  soon  from  heavenly  truths,  which  I  had 
 publickly  preached,  and  so  zealously  defended ; 
 but  being  afraid  to  fish  in  troubled  waters,  they 
 held  their  peace.  Thus  I  remained  ignorant  for  a 
 long  while,  of  this  studied  piece  of  craft  and  hy- 
 pocrisy ;  and  yet  the  same  people,  with  seven  abo- 
 mi)!ations  in  their  hearts,  could  both  come  into 
 the  vestry,  and  to  my  house,  and  in  the  most 
 friendly  manner  give  me  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
 
49 
 
 ship,  in  token  of  their  unfeigned  approbation  of  my 
 ministry  ;  but  when  out  of  my  sight,  they  eagerly 
 disputed  against  the  soul-estabHshing  doctrines  I 
 held  forth,  and  have  overthrown  the  faith  of  some. 
 However  grievous  such  events  may  appear,  yet  we 
 know  that  they  shall  work  together  for  good  to 
 them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called 
 according  to  his  eternal  purpose :  for  as  Paul  saith, 
 1  Cor.  xi.  19.  "There  must  be  also  heresies  among 
 you,  that  they  which  are  approved  may  be  made 
 manifest  among  you." 
 
 About  a  year  and  a  quarter  after  these  painful 
 transactions,  I  was  led  from  special  impressions, 
 and  heart  felt  experience,  to  preach  from  these 
 words:  Psal.  xvii.  4.  "  Concerning  the  works  of 
 men,  by  the  words  of  thy  lips  I  have  kept  me  from 
 the  path  of  the  destroyer."  I  shewed  from  God's 
 word,  that  there  are  seven  notable  destroyers; 
 namely,  1.  God  in  a  broken  law.  2.  The  moral 
 law.  3.  Death.  4.  Sin.  5.  The  Devil.  6.  The 
 world.  7.  Self.  While  I  was  describing  in  the 
 morning  discourse,  the  wrath  of  God  in  a  broken 
 law,  and  how  a  convinced  sinner  is  delivered  from 
 him,  (whom  he  views  as  a  consuming  fire  therein,) 
 by  the  words  of  his  lips,  which  reveal  his  eternal 
 love  in  Christ  Jesus,  I  say,  while  I  was  bringing 
 in  the  blessed  experience,  God  had  been  pleased 
 to  give  me,  of  that  wonderful  passage  from  death 
 unto  life,  the  Lord  bore  such  amazing  testimony 
 to  what  I  advanced  by  suddenly  shining  into  my 
 soul,  that  T  could  hardly  stand  upon  my  legs. 
 The   love,    gratitude,    and    meltings    of   soul  I 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 felt  were  such,  that  I  could  hardly  speak,  iin(| 
 scarcely  knew  where  I  was ;  being  quite  overcome, 
 and  swallowed  up,  with  the  sensible  love  and 
 presence  of  him,  who  hath  delivered  us  from  the 
 wrath  of  God.  Neither  did  I  eat  this  sweet 
 morsel  alone,  but  many  more  shared  m  the  royal 
 bounty  of  Christ ;  who  was  pleased  to  comfort  hir) 
 servants :  saying,  "  Eat  O  friends ;  drink,  yea, 
 drink  abundantly,  O  beloved."  While  many  were 
 rejoicing  in  hope,  who  knew  God  to  be  a  destroyer, 
 a  consuming  fire  in  a  broken  \%x?,  but  now  in 
 Christ  had  experienced,  and  sweetly  discerned 
 the  same  terrible  Go4  to  be  a  most  kind  and 
 loving  Father,  I  say,  while  these  were  singing 
 the  song  of  Moses  and  of  the  Lamb,  there  were 
 others  who  would  not  look  at  these  things ;  but 
 gtood  afar  off,  making  a  noise  like  a  dog ;  they 
 gnashed  with  their  teeth,  and  would  by  no  meant 
 come  near  to  partake  with  us  of  Christ's  salvatioiji 
 from  so  great  a  destruction ;  but  like  serpents, 
 they  rather  chose  to  feed  upou  the  dust  of  carna] 
 enmity,  pride,  and  anger. 
 
 Only  consider  my  feelings ;  as  I  had  reason  iQ 
 inspect  that  some  of  the  ancients  of  Israel,  Ezek* 
 viii.  11.  were  in  the  forefront  of  the  scorners:  for 
 pne  of  them  declared,  that  when  I  set  forth  God^ 
 as  a  destroyer,  he  was  so  shocked  at  my  ignorance, 
 that  he  felt,  as  if  he  could  have  sunk  through  the 
 seat  he  sat  upon.  It  is  most  evident,  that  such, 
 must  be  either  strangers  to  the  spirits  work,  or 
 fadly  beclouded  m  their  judgments,  or  never  had 
 fellewship  witk   Christ,    so   as  to  di©  with  hiim 
 
51 
 
 uncler  the  terrors  and  curse  of  a  destroying  God 
 in  his  injured  law :  whom  we  have  reason  to  feair 
 there,  more  than  all  other  destroyers ;  even  as 
 Christ  himself  testifieth  ;  saying,  Mat.  x.  28.  "  Fear 
 not  them  which  kill  the  body,  but  are  not  able  to 
 kill  the  soul :  but  rather  fear  him  which  is  able 
 to  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell." 
 
 Finding  that  new  commotions  had  been  rais- 
 ed, and  that  some  began  to  be  leavened  with 
 bitterness  and  prejudice  against  those  truths  I  had 
 preached,  I  was  enabled  with  all  diligence  to  de- 
 fend those  verities  ;  and  to  reprove  and  to  exhort 
 with  all  longsuftering  and  doctrine.  One  Wed- 
 nesday evening,  being  particularly  led  out,  and 
 shewing  the  extreme  danger  that  men  are  in,  who 
 continue  to  oppose  the  truth,  the  very  person  came 
 in,  who  had  been  particularly  active  in  opposing- 
 both  the  points  in  hand,  and  in  the  presence  of 
 five  or  six  witnesses,  began  to  testify  his  sorrow, 
 that  he  in  particular,  had  given  me  so  much 
 trouble ;  he  loudly  acknowledged,  that  the  pride 
 of  his  heart  had  led  him  astray ;  and  that  it  would 
 have  been  better  for  him  in  many  instances,  if  he 
 had  not  given  way  to  it.  Under  the  impressions 
 I  then  was,  doubting  greatly  as  to  the  nature  of 
 the  repentance  he  professed,  as  also  the  motives 
 that  might  influence  him  to  humble  himself  before 
 lis,  I  could  not  lay  suddenly  hands  upon  him, 
 nor  pronounce  definitively  at  that  time  with  respect 
 to  his  case ;  but  I  earnestly  desired  him,  and 
 another  also,  to  lay  the  whole  before  the  Lord'; 
 and  that  we  would  appoint  a  day  to  nieet  together, 
 
 d2 
 
52 
 
 when  these  matters  should  be  discussed  accordiug 
 to  the  word  of  God.  Let  me  pause  here,  and  give 
 glory  to  God,  who  in  our  days,  as  well  as  in  the 
 days  of  old,  gives  to  his  servants  the  Spirit  of 
 wisdom  to  discern  Spirits,  even  their  thoughts  and 
 purposes  being  made  manifest:  for  it  is  with 
 gorrow  I  am  constrained  to  say,  that  my  secret 
 suspicions  with  respect  to  the  man's  repentance 
 were  absolutely  confirmed :  for  he  returned  back 
 to  his  former  opinions,  and  with  other  heretics, 
 holds  them  as  fast  as  ^ver. 
 
 8.     A  trua  staiamtnt  of  thhiffs,  against  lying  reports. 
 
 Some  have  no  greater  delight  than  to  eat  up  th« 
 sins  of  God's  people ;  and  if  they  can  but  hear  an 
 evil  report  of  them  that  go  right  on  their  ways,  O 
 how  delighted  they  are !  If  they  do  but  see  the  foot 
 of  the  righteous  to  slip,  O  how  they  show  their  flesh- 
 ly glee !  crying,  Ps.  xxxv.  25.  "  Ah,  so  we  would 
 have  it."  But  they  forget,  that  he  who  uttereth 
 slander  is  a  fool,  and  that  such  as  rejoice  in  evil 
 reports  shall  not  go  unpunished  ;  and  it  is  a  sure 
 thing  that  he,  who  taketh  up  an  evil-grounded 
 reproach  against  his  neighbour,  shall  neither  abide 
 in  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  nor  dwell  in  his 
 holy  hill. 
 
 It  has  certainly  been  spread  abroad,  by  such 
 who  delight  in  lies,  that  we  have  with  great  in- 
 justice, violently  thrust  out  some  members  belong- 
 ing to  our  church,  and  have  used  them  very  cruelly. 
 Some  have  advised  me  to  take  no  notice  of  theee 
 
5S 
 
 things,  fearing,  lest  it  should  stir  up  more  strife  and 
 enmity  among  those,  whohave  without  a  foundation 
 fabricated  such  falsehood,  and  lying  tales.  But 
 shall  I  be  silent  in  Zion,  and  act  the  part  of  an  idle, 
 sleepy  watchman  ?  Must  we  not  earnestly  contend 
 for  the  faith  ?  Shall  not  the  innocent  stir  up  him- 
 self against  the  hypocrite?  "  Shall  such  a  man  as 
 I  flee?"  Neh.  vi.  11.  Such  reports  cannot  pass 
 unnoticed,  seeing  that  the  cause  of  truth  is  essen- 
 tially injured  ;  and  that  the  hearts  of  many  godly 
 persons  may  be  prejudiced  against  it,  for  want  of 
 knowing  the  true  statement  of  the  matter  of  fact. 
 Shall  I  not  have  an  ample  reward,  if  the  Lord 
 is  pleased  by  means  of  this  book,  to  make  me  in- 
 strumental in  plucking  out  some  sheep  from  among 
 professing  wolves,  that  are  ready  to  devour  them? 
 My  motive  therefore  is  pure ;  as  I  seek  more  the 
 welfare  of  God's  people,  than  my  own  justifica- 
 tion. The  prophets  and  apostles  in  old  time  did 
 not  stand  still,  saying,  "  Our  cause  is  good ;  let 
 us  be  quiet,  lest  we  should  stir  up  the  devil  and 
 his  bands :  God  will  plead  his  own  cause."  But 
 on  the  contrary,  they  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith; 
 and  by  preaching,  writing,  and  watchfuhiess,  they 
 mightily  exposed  the  devilish  wiles  of  ministers  of 
 Satan,  evilworkers,  dogs,  hypocrites,  and  false 
 brethren.  No  man,  therefore,  can  make  full  proof 
 of  his  ministry,  except  he  is  led  by  the  same  spirit, 
 to  do  as  they  did. 
 
 In  the  first  place,  I  appeal  to  the  parties  them- 
 selves, that  they  would  contradict  such  falsehood : 
 for  although  they  may  consider  themselves  inju^- 
 
54 
 
 ed  ill  some  sense,  yet  if  they  are  not  destitute  of 
 common  honesty,  probity,  and  truth,  they  must 
 give  the  he  to  the  scandalous  reports  that  are  gone 
 abroad.  But  if  they  are  not  inchned  to  plead  the 
 cause  of  truth,  then  I  must.  Be  it  known,  there- 
 fore, that  on  the  25th  of  August,  1817,  I,  and  nine 
 of  the  members  of  the  church  met  at  my  house, 
 for  the  purpose  to  bring  about  a  unity  in  the 
 spirit,  if  possible.  When  the  parties  cited  came, 
 they  had  nothing  to  say  for  themselves,  but  at 
 every  touch  and  turn  cried  out,  **  Sin  is  the  will 
 of  the  devil."  When  they  were  asked,  why  God, 
 "who  foreknew  the  fall,  did  not  prevent  it,  seeing 
 that  he  had  all  power  to  do  it,  if  he  would  ?  they 
 answered,  that  he  suffered  it.  Thus  they  refuted 
 themselves  :  for  what  God  suffers  he  permits,  and 
 what  he  permits  he  wills ;  therefore  he  w  illed  the 
 fall :  for  if  he  willed  it  not,  then  "  Who  has  resist- 
 ed his  w  ill,"  that  it  should  come  to  pass  ?  Being 
 thus  slain  by  their  own  sword,  they  skulked  back 
 to  their  old  haunt,  crying  out,  "  God  is  not  the 
 author  of  sin.  Sin  is  the  w  ill  of  the  devil."  As 
 for  the  decrees  of  God  and  his  eternal  counsel, 
 they  would  not  so  much  as  look  at ;  but  wearied 
 themselves  to  utter  error  before  the  Lord,  breath- 
 ing out  such  corrupt  confessions  as  these :  "  That 
 we  have  no  business  to  pry  into  eternity,  seeing 
 that  secret  things  belong  to  God ;  that  our  busi- 
 ness is  altogether  w  ith  the  beginning,  or  the  crea- 
 tion, from  whence  we  are  to  date  the  purposes  and 
 decrees  of  God,  and  not  from  eternity ;  that  the 
 determinedcounselof  God  concerning  Christ,  and 
 
66 
 
 thft  wicked  hands  tliat  should  crucify  him ;  that 
 God's  love  to  Jacob  and  his  hatred  to  Esau,  and 
 all  such  acts  of  his  eternal  will,  are  not  to  be  view- 
 ed from  eternity,  but  as  newly  come  into  God's 
 mind  from  the  beginning  of  time."  All  the  wit- 
 nesses can  attest  that  these  are  the  principles  they 
 zealously  maintained  and  held.  When  I  found 
 that  they  w  ere  absolutely  deaf  to  every  wholesome 
 admonition,  but  held  fast  deceit  and  falsehood,  I 
 »aid  to  them  before  the  whole  assembly,  "  .As  you 
 cannot  see  eye  to  eye  with  us,  in  things  that  are 
 so  essential  to  salvation,  1  desire  you  not  to  come 
 to  the  Lord's  table  for  the  present ;  but  consider 
 not  yourselves  as  being  cast  out  of  the  church, 
 but  give  yourselves  up  unto  prayer,  if  peradven^ 
 ture  God  may  give  you  repentance  to  the  acknow- 
 ledging of  the  truth.  On  the  other  hand,  if  you 
 think  yourselves  injured  by  this  judgment,  and 
 wish  to  bring  your  cause  before  the  whole  church, 
 you  are  at  liberty  so  to  do  ;  as  it  is  not  my  inten- 
 tion at  any  time,  to  separate  finally  any  person  from 
 the  church,  without  the  sanction  of  such  a  lawful 
 assembly."  Thus  I  spoke  to  them,  before  the  om- 
 nipresent God,  and  nine  very  respectable  witnesses, 
 who  will  be  ready  at  any  time  to  attest  these  facts. 
 Let  them  who  are  wise  judge,  wherefore  they  woulcj 
 not  come  to  a  church  meeting. 
 
 I  cannot  but  lament  w  ith  much  grief,  to  see  sp 
 many  in  a  high  profession,  who  seemed  to  run  well 
 for  a  time,  and  yet  when  suddenly  influenced  with  a 
 spirit  of  error,  O  how  they  fall !  Consider  what 
 rage  and  enmity  they  shew  towards  them,  wht 
 
m 
 
 have  loaded  them  with  many  favours.  O  how 
 they  make  themselves  manifest  by  their  obduracy, 
 hardness,  and  by  hating  those,  whose  godly  con- 
 versation they  have  so  highly  extolled !  Like  un- 
 faithful branches,  they  violently  tear  themselves 
 from  the  living  vine,  and  fulfil  this  awful  sentence ; 
 1  John  ii.  19.  "  They  went  out  from  us ;  but  they 
 were  not  of  us ;  for  had  they  been  of  us,  they 
 would  have  continued  with  us  :  but  they  went  out, 
 that  they  might  be  made  manifest  that  they  were 
 not  all  of  us." 
 
 Question  1.  But  are  you  not  afraid  that  you 
 may  judge  too  severely  ?  Have  not  many  of  God's 
 people  erred  from  the  truth ;  and  will  not  many 
 think  that  the  things  alledged  against  some,  are 
 too  trivial  to  make  so  great  a  noise  about- 
 
 Ansiver  1.  What!  is  it  a  trifling  thing  to  deny 
 the  eternal  purpose  of  God?  How  can  they  be 
 sound  in  the  faith,  who  will  not  allow  God,  ac- 
 cording to  his  immutable  nature,  to  have  an  un- 
 changeable mind  from  everlasting,  and  say,  that 
 he  only  began  to  think  and  to  will  from  the  be- 
 ginning of  time  ?  Doth  not  the  Most  High  re- 
 prove such  fleshly  conceits  ?  saying,  Psal.  1.  21. 
 "  Thou  thoughtest  that  I  was  altogether  such  an 
 one  as  thyself:  but  I  will  reprove  thee. — Now 
 consider  this,  ye  that  forget  God,  lest  I  tear  you 
 in  pieces,  and  there  be  none  to  deliver."  It  is 
 therefore  a  dreadful  thing,  to  run  upon  the  thick 
 bosses  of  God's  buckler,  by  disfiguring  the  eternal 
 attributes,  counsel,  will  and  decrees  of  the  eternal 
 Jehovah.    Such  enemies,  if  they  have  never  found 
 
67 
 
 him  a  destroyer  yet,  will  find  him  so  hereafter : 
 for  except  they  repent,  he  will  certainly  tear  them 
 to  pieces. 
 
 Question  2.  But  do  you  make  no  allowance 
 for  the  weakness  of  some  men's  understand- 
 ings and  judgments  in  things  so  mysterious,  as  the 
 eternal  foreknowledge,  will,  purposes,  and  decrees 
 of  God? 
 
 Ansiver  2.  What  allowance  can  be  made  for 
 many  professors  in  our  days,  who,  though  they 
 exercise  not  even  common  sense,  shew  themselves 
 so  wise  in  their  own  conceits,  above  all  that  is 
 written,  and  acknowledged  by  all  real  saints  ;  who 
 for  many  years  have  ever  been  learning,  and  yet 
 treat  the  deepest  mysteries  of  God  with  contempt, 
 sneering  at  those  who  labour  to  instruct  them ; 
 saying,  with  them  of  old,  "  Are  we  blind  also  ?" 
 
 A  solemn  caution  to  God's  people  against  liars. 
 
 Christ  saith,  "  Beware  of  false  prophets,  which 
 come  to  you  in  sheep's  clothing."  Paul  gives  the 
 same  caution  against  "  False  brethren."  But  none 
 are  more  to  be  dreaded  than  those  smooth  hypo- 
 critical liars,  who  "  Subvert  whole  houses;"  who 
 inshrine  themselves  into  men's  affections  for  filthy 
 lucre's  sake.  Many  a  wealthy  professor,  whose 
 covetous  heart  (being  set  upon  increase)  sadly 
 groaned  under  the  intolerable  burden  of  a  faithful 
 ministry,  hath  at  last  been  freed  from  the  terrible 
 peel  by  such  bold  liars,  whom  the  devil  sends 
 among  professing  people,  in  order  to  cause  di- 
 
visions.  Therefore,  beware  of  such  who  sow  di;?- 
 cord  among  brethren :  for  your  destruction  is  the 
 devil's  design  in  them,  and  money  is  their  aim; 
 yea,  they  will  spend  money  in  the  cause ;  but  after 
 all,  money  is  their  end  ;  and  by  giving  a  little,  they 
 aim  to  get  the  more.  If  such  accomplish  their 
 designs,  they  are  sure  to  be  friendly  to  that  cause 
 f\  hich  brings  in  the  perishable  things  of  this  life  ; 
 but  if  they  are  disappointed,  then  their  love  waxes 
 cold,  and  they  quickly  turn  round  to  something 
 better.  We  must  not  think  that  difference  of  doc* 
 trinal  sentiments  is  always  the  cause,  why  men  go 
 about  making  such  a  siir  among  religious  people ; 
 doctrines  are  the  pretext,  but  exposing  their  secret 
 lusts  in  the  light  of  God's  word  is  the  real  cause 
 of  offence.  I  have,  without  ceasing,  been  enabled 
 to  distinguish  the  vile  from  the  precious,  the  cleaa 
 from  the  unclean;  therefore  all  the  coveteus  friends 
 of  the  world,  the  lovers  of  Belial,  and  the  partisans? 
 of  the  bottle  and  tankard,  have  greedily  taken  up 
 a  reproach  against  me,  in  the  case  of  the  people 
 who  left  our  communion  :  for  it  is  scarcely  credi- 
 ble that  they  themselves  who  have  left  us,  should 
 act  such  a  base,  infamous,  and  deceitful  part,  t6 
 raise  against  the  testimony  of  their  consciences! 
 such  Ipng  tales ;  when  they  recollect,  that  my  acts 
 towards  them  were  done  amongst  many  honest 
 men,  who  were  eye  and  ear  witnesses  of  the 
 whole. 
 
 Such  as  delight,  for  sinister  pmposes,  to  sow 
 discord  among  brethren,  are  ten  times  worse  than 
 1  can  describe  them ;  Jude  19,  "  These  be  they 
 
59 
 
 who  separate  themselves,  sensual,  not  having  the 
 Spirit."  O  how  wonderfully  they  talk  about  their 
 experience !  What  love  they  express  to  Jesus  i 
 but  they  hate  an  honest  reprover  in  the  gate.  Such 
 make  Christ  the  minister  of  sin  indeed  ;  speak  hes 
 in  hypocrisy,  and  do  all  manner  of  abominations, 
 telling  people  that  they  have  the  word  of  God  for 
 their  warrant;  but  all  men  shall  know  sooner  or 
 later,  that  the  devil  is  their  God  :  who  also  com- 
 pletely deceives  them,  by  applying  passages  of 
 scripture,  to  cause  them  presumptuously  to  rush 
 headlong  into  everlasting  perdition. 
 
 Thus  they  most  awfully  pollute  the  word  of 
 God  ;  raging  like  fools,  and  stumble  many.  1  Tim. 
 iii.  8.  "  Now  as  Jannes  and  Jambres  withstood 
 Moses,  so  do  these  also  resist  the  truth  :  men  of  cor- 
 rupt minds,  reprobate  concerning  the  faith.  But 
 they  shall  proceed  no  further :  for  their  folly  shall 
 be  manifest  unto  all  men,  as  their's  also  was." 
 God,  in  his  own  time,  shall  bring  their  infernal 
 works  of  darkness  to  light :  for  wherever  they  go, 
 they  carry  with  them  a  seared  conscience,  a  lying 
 spirit,  a  proud  heart,  a  presumptuous  faith,  and 
 they  shall  be  an  abhoring  to  all  men;  when  by 
 woful  experience  their  heads,  hearts,  and  pockets> 
 have  most  grievously  been  made  to  suffer,  by 
 being  too  familiarly  acquainted  with  them. 
 
Bitt  those  who  how  to  the  eternal  will  of  God,  shaM  stand ; 
 and  overcome  them  all  hy  faith. 
 
 For  God  shall  put  his  fear  into  their  hearts, 
 that  they  shall  not  depart  from  him.     While  a 
 blind  professing  world  is  at  ease,  dreaming,  that 
 "  The  Lord  will  not  do  good,  neither  will  he  do 
 evil."     But  those  who  have  been  taught  of  God, 
 know  that  he  is  an  absolute  sovereign ;  and  that 
 he  is  eternally  immutable  in  essence,  attributes, 
 puiposes,  and  will.     They  have  experienced  hiip 
 to  be  of  one  mind  and  will  in  a  broken  law,  where 
 he  is  a  destroyer  of  the  workers  of  iniquity ;  here 
 they  have  meditated  terrors,  and  an  endless  eter- 
 nity has  been  brought  to  view ;  they  have  been 
 brought  in  guilty,  and  have  discerned  how  inflex- 
 ible the  Lord  is  in  his  justice.     Such  have  found 
 that  God  is  a  consuming  fire,  a  destroyer  indeed 
 in  his  injured  law :  for  by  such  teaching  he  has 
 effectually   destroyed  all  their  false  confidence, 
 brought  their  mouths  into  the  dust,  if  so  be  there 
 might  be  hope,  and  by  thus  breaking  up  the  fal- 
 low  ground  of  their  hearts,   chasing  them   from 
 all  confidence  in  the  flesh,  he  has  prepared  their 
 hearts  to  receive  Christ,  as  the  only  hope  set  before 
 them.     This  is  the  horrible  pit   and  miry  clay, 
 which  all  must  sooner  or  later  be  brought  into 
 with  Christ,  that  they  maj'^  have  fellowship  with 
 him  in  his  suflerings.     From  this  state  of  death 
 and  condemnation,  by  the  same  eternal  vaW  in 
 Christ,  they  are  raised,  and  spring  forth  as  "  Issues 
 from  death,"  by  the  faith  of  the  operation  of  God  ; 
 
61 
 
 who  leads  them  to  his  dear  Son,  the  eternal  Rock 
 higher  than  they ;  and  a  new  song  is  put  into  their 
 mouths,  even  praise  unto  their  God,  Such  who 
 have  been  spiritually  instructed  to  discern,  that  th» 
 eternal  will  of  God,  is  but  one  immutable  purpose 
 either  in  a  broken  law,  or  in  Chris^  Jesus,  will  be 
 far  from  finding  fault  with  this,  book,  which  God 
 has  enabled  me  to  write,  .but  will  sooner  or  later 
 receive  it  with  all  gratitude,  an^  godly  fear ;  know- 
 ing it  to  be  that  truth,  wlijch  phall  be  an  impene- 
 trable buckler  to  them  that  walk  uprightly.  Take 
 notice  therefore,  that  faith  in  the  immutable  nature 
 of  God  is  that  strong  immoveable  foundation, 
 upon  which  both  myself,  who  have  built  this  my 
 testimony  thereon,  and  all  those  who  receive  it  in 
 love  and  affection,  shall  stand  immutable,  in  the 
 perfect  eternal  will  of  Jehovali  for  ever.  Awak^ 
 awake,  stand  up  together,  ye  that  fear  God ;  take 
 hold  of  this  mighty  weapon  of  your  warfare,  Mai. 
 iii.  6.  "  I  AM  the  Lobd,  I  change  not;  there- 
 fore YE  SONS  OF  Jacob  are  not  consumed.'* 
 For  with  this  great  and  terrible  sword,  you  shall 
 by  faith  overcome  serpents  and  scorpions,  devila, 
 and  liars. 
 
 O  Lord  God,  absolute,  eternal,  and  unchange- 
 able, the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  give  thy 
 people  eyes  to  see  thy  truth,  that  they  may  tri- 
 imipli,  and  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full 
 of  glory,  and  stand  immoveable,  in  thine  eternal, 
 immutable,  and  unchangeable  love  and  favour  in 
 Christ  Jesus  our  Lord  ;  both  now,  and  ever,  world 
 without  end.     Amen. 
 
(M 
 
 An  exhortation  to  those  who  fear  God. 
 
 They  certainly  are  in  worse  than  Egyptian 
 bondage,  who  fight  against  the  eternal  will  of 
 God  :  for  they  are  in  the  bosom  of  the  wicked  one, 
 even  the  father  of  rebellion.  The  glorious  gospel 
 of  the  eternal  son  of  God,  has  never  enlightened 
 their  darkness,  who  cannot  see  farther  into  the 
 decrees,  purposes,  and  acts  of  God's  will,  than 
 from  the  creation :  for  the  god  of  this  world  has 
 blinded  their  minds,  that  they  cannot  perceive  that 
 they  are  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the 
 bond  of  iniquity:  surely,  they  stand  upon  the 
 very  foundation  of  everlasting  perdition.  O  what 
 pains  some  take  to  sell  themselves  to  the  devil,  to 
 work  spiritual  wickedness  with  all  greediness! 
 how  furiously  they  toss  themselves  in  a  evil  cause, 
 like  raging  waves  of  the  sea !  Is  it  not  most  evident, 
 that  as  soon  as  professors  begin  to  separate  them- 
 selves from  the  righteous,  the  little  light  they 
 seemed  to  have,  is  taken  away  in  just  judgment, 
 and,  "They  shall  remain  in  the  congregation  of 
 the  dead  ?"  Men  may  learn  to  talk  about  religion, 
 but  faith  is  the  gift  of  God ;  which  no  prating  fool 
 shall  attain  mito,  so  as  to  minister  grace  to  the 
 hearers :  for  their  speech  is  always  grievous, 
 "And  their  words  will  eat  as  doth  a  canker." 
 But  blessed  be  God,  who  has  kept  us  from 
 wresting  his  word,  and  has  given  us  a  sound  mind 
 to  understand,  that  what  he  sutlers  to  come  to 
 pass,  he  also  permits,  allows,  and  absolutely 
 wills. 
 
'i  was  told  by  two  respectable  friends,  that  z 
 woman  who  used  to  set  among  us,  whose  mind 
 is  most  wofiilly  beguiled  by  the  father  of  lies,  to 
 fidit  aaainst  the  eternal  immutable  will  of  God, 
 did  most  vehemently  dispute  against  the  sufferance 
 of  God  being  ai:  act  of  his  will,  and  produced 
 an  old  spelling  book,  from  which  she  demons- 
 trated the  ground  of  her  confidence.     However, 
 it  is  evident  to  the  smallest  capacity  of  them  who 
 are  taught  of  God,  that  among  the  various  syno- 
 nymous significations  of  the  word  suffering,  all  of 
 them  cannot  be  applied  to  God :  for  he  cannot 
 teuffer  pain,  nor  misery ;     he  is  absolutely  impassi- 
 ble, and  nothing  can  disturb  his  eternal  felicity. 
 To  suffer,  signifeeii  to  bear,  undergo,  let,  allow, 
 permit,  or  to  be  m  pain,  distress,  or  misery.     If 
 we  take  away  those  significations,  that  cannot  be- 
 long to  God,  we  then  say  truly,  that  suffering 
 with  God  is  an  act  of  hie.  will,  whereby  he  has 
 allowed;  permitted,  and  therefore  willed  the  fall, 
 that  he  might  bring  to  passs  his  glorious  designs, 
 and  eternal  purposes  in  Christ ;  yet  the  infinitely 
 Holy  God  is  not  the  author  of  sin  in  all  this,  as  I 
 have  proved.     Man  indeed  suffers  pain,  misery, 
 and  distress,  because  he  camiot  help  hiniself  for 
 want  of  power ;  but  it  is  far  otherwise  with  God, 
 w  ho  bears  for  a  season  with  blmd  opposers  of  his 
 eternal  will  and  purpose,  suffers  their  ungodly 
 ways  and   speeches,  allows  them  to  fill  up   the 
 measure  of  their  iniquities,  and  as  he  is  immutable 
 in  his  nature,  will,  and  purposes,  allowed,  per- 
 »itted  and  therefore  willed  the  fall  from  all  eternity: 
 
64 
 
 for  if  it  had  been  contrary  to  his  will,  his  almighty 
 power  could  have  prevented  it.  Who  is  the  man 
 that  would  suffer  his  wife,  children,  or  servants, 
 — to  grieve  him,  make  him  miserable  and  distress 
 him  by  their  evil  conduct,  if  he  had  power  to  pre- 
 vent it :  and,  if  on  the  other  hand,  he  had  power 
 to  prevent  these  evils,  but  yet  allows,  permits, 
 and  winks  at  them  for  the  trial  of  his  family,  in 
 order  that  he  might  see  to  what  length  they  would 
 go,  pray,  is  not  such  suffering,  or  allowance  an 
 act  of  his  will?  The  long-suffering  of  God,  that 
 Peter  speaks  of,  2  Pet.  iii.  9.  is  a  negative  act  of 
 his  eternal  will,  by  which  he  absolutely  willed,  that 
 neither  Peter,  nor  the  saints  he  wrote  to,  yea  that 
 none  of  the  all  of  God's  elect  should  perish,  but 
 that  all  should  come  to  repentance.  Brethren, 
 let  not  the  horrible  blasphemies  of  deceived  men 
 nor  their  crafty  speeches  seduce  you  from  the  truth; 
 but  sanctify  the  sovereign  Lord  of  eternity,  who 
 has  by  an  act  of  his  eternal  will  declared,  that 
 Psal.  Iv,  22.  "  He  will  never  suffer  the  righteous 
 to  be  moved." — Nor  will  he  sufter  his  faithfulness 
 to  fail."  The  lions  may  roar  at  his  will,  and  shall 
 lack,  and  suffer  hunger :  but  he  will  never  suffer 
 the  souls  of  the  righteous(who  bow  to  his  eternal 
 will,)  to  famish :  for  they  shall  eat  and  be  satisfied, 
 and  ascribe  immutable  glory,  power,  and  praise, 
 to  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  One  Lord 
 Jehovah,  who  is  now,  what  he  was  from  everlast- 
 ing, and  shall  be  to  everlasting,  the  same  blessed 
 potentate,  "  Who  worketh  all  things  after  the 
 (eternal)  counsel  of  his  own  will."  Amen. 
 
 THE    END. 
 
PART  II. 
 
 THE 
 
 MYSTERY  of  GOD; 
 
 OR,    THE 
 
 AMIAN  MONITOR. 
 
 BY    WHICH, 
 
 The  Wisdom  of  the  Children  of  the  Flesh  is  exposed, 
 
 AND  THE  EVER  BLESSED  DOCTRINE  OF  TItE 
 
 ^Triniti?  in  Hnitg, 
 
 IS  INVINCIBLY  DEFENDED. 
 
 And  brought  down  to  the  experience  of  the  weakest  of 
 Gods  people. 
 
 Wherein  also,  the  eternal  Majesty,  and  self-existent  Godhead 
 of  our 
 
 LORD  JESUS  CHRIST 
 
 In  all  his  Office  Characters,  is  evidently  proved ; 
 
 AND  THE   PEKNiCIOUS    NOTION    OF  THE 
 
 PRE-EXISTENCE  of  his  HUMAN  SOUL, 
 
 Exposed  to  contempt. 
 
 By  JOSEPH  FRANCIS  BURRELL, 
 
 A  SERVANT  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 
 
 "  That  their  hearts  might  be  comforted,  being  knit  together  in  love,  and 
 uGto  all  riches  of  the  full  assurance  of  understanding,  to  the  ackcow- 
 Icdgement  of  the  mystery  of  God,  and  of  the  Father,  and  of  Christ." 
 
 Col.  ii.  2. 
 
 Eonlron: 
 
 FRIKTBD  BY  B  W.  &  S.  OARDINER,  PRINCES  STREET,  CAVENDISH  iqVARI. 
 
 AND  SOLD  AT 
 FtHCOL  Chapel,  Marshall  Street,  Carnaby  Market ;  and  by  the  Autrok 
 17,  Soho  Square;  also  by  W.  Jermain,  116,  Ed ge ware  Road ;  Thomas 
 NuNN,  19,  Great  James  Street,  Bedford  Row;  J.  Cull,  12,  Rojomcn 
 Street,  Clerkenwell ;  and  by  T.  Gardiner  and  Sov,  Princes  Street, 
 Cavendicb  Squtre. 
 
CHAP  III. 
 
 Proof  10. — Christ  as  the  High  Priest  of  our  profession 
 is  co-equal,  and  co-eternal  with  the  Father. 
 
 I  HAVE  proved  in  the  first  part  of  the  Mystery  of 
 God,  page  151,  that  as  siii  is  an  infinite  trans- 
 gression, so  Christ,  must  of  necessity  be  an 
 infinite  Person  in  his  Priestly  office.  I  have  also 
 shewed  that  all  those  passages  that  point  him  out 
 as  inferior  to  the  Father,  do  only  set  forth  the 
 perfection  of  his  humanity,  but  have  nothing  to 
 do  with  the  divine  acts  of  his  Person :  for  as  God 
 and  man,  one  Christ,  the  divine  nature  always 
 dignified  all  his  infinitely  meritorious  works.  To 
 shew  how  the  Person  of  the  Father  concurred 
 with  him,  I  have  for  the  edification  of  God's 
 people,  represented  him  as  speaking  to  his  beloved 
 Son,  according  to  the  tenor  of  those  sweet  asser- 
 tions contained  in  the  scriptures  of  truth.  I  shall 
 now  proceed  as  follows. 
 
 From  what  has  been  said,  it  appears  evident 
 from  the  testimony  of  the  word,  that  the  Father 
 and  the  Son  being  one  in  essence,  they  are  also 
 one  in  mind  and  operations.     Is  it  not  therefore 
 
 A  2 
 
a  matter  of  great  comfort,  to  behold  the  Father 
 concurring  with  the  Son,  in  all  things  respecting 
 om*  salvation?  Christ  freely  and  of  himself  as 
 Lord,  says,  that  he  will  be  an  High  Priest,  to 
 give  his  life  a  ransom  for  many ;  saying,  "  I  \viU 
 ransom  them  from  the  power  of  the  grave." — 
 For  he  put  away  our  sins  by  the  sacrifice  of  him- 
 self. Thus  his  divine  nature  became  the  altar, 
 which  sanctified  the  gift.  The  Father  also  con- 
 curred :  saying,  Psal.  ex.  4.  "  The  Lord  hath 
 sworn,  and  will  not  repent,  thou  art  a  Priest  for 
 ever  after  the  order  of  Melchisedek."  And  again, 
 Isai.  liii.  10.  "  It  pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise  him ; 
 he  hath  put  him  to  grief:  when  thou  shalt  make 
 his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall  see  his  seed. 
 — And  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall  prosper  in  his 
 hand."  Here  we  see  Christ  as  man,  at  the  dis- 
 posal of  the  Father ;  whose  love  to  men  is  wonder- 
 fully commended,  in  that  Avhile  we  were  yet 
 sinners,  the  sword  of  his  justice  awoke  against  this 
 just  one  ;  and  he  offered  him  up  as  a  sacrifice  to 
 his  avenging  justice.  The  Holy  Spirit,  also  con- 
 curred ;  for  Heb.  ix.  14.  '*  Through  the  eternal 
 Spirit  he  offered  himself  without  spot  unto  God." 
 Christ  therefore  loseth  nothing  of  his  self-existent 
 glory,  because  he  humbled  himself,  and  is  spoken 
 of  as  a  servant,  and  was  offered  up  by  the  Father 
 and  the  Spirit ;  but  it  proves  him  to  be  one  essence 
 of  God  with  them  :  and  evidently  shews  that  the 
 highest  part  of  the  Priestly  dignity  lay  in  the  God- 
 head ;  which,  as  the  infinitely  glorious  altar, 
 sanctified  his  humanity,  and  gave  infinite  dignity 
 
and  efficacy  to  the  sacrifice  thereof.  May  we  not 
 say  to  them  that  are  of  a  fearful  heart,  who  desire 
 to  come  to  the  h'ght?  "  Consider  the  Apostle  and 
 High  Priest  of  your  profession,  Christ  Jesus ; 
 who,  though  he  made  himself  of  no  reputation," 
 yet  as  touching  his  higher  nature  was  found  to  be 
 both  a  Mediator,  and  an  High  Priest  of  such  in- 
 finite prevalency,  that  all  concurring  power  was 
 with  him,  and  in  him.  Shall  the  great  power  of 
 Satan  be  able  to  break  this  threefold  divine  ag-encv? 
 Shall  he  prevent  the  power  and  efficacy  of  this 
 great  sacrifice  ?  How  can  he  ?  It  is  God  himself 
 that  is  High  Priest:  for  *'God  was  in  Christ  re- 
 conciling the  world  to  himself."  Is  not  this  quite 
 enough  to  settle  the  weakest  believer^  "  O  Lord, 
 stir  up  thy  strength  among  us,  and  ever  lighten 
 our  darkness,  by  shewing  unto  us  experimentally 
 the  infinite  power,  dignity,  and  glory  of  thine 
 equal  Son,  the  eternal  Hioli  Priest  of  our  profes- 
 sion ;  and  thine  shall  be  the  glory.     Amen." 
 
 Some  may  say  to  me,  doth  not  Paul  set  forth 
 Christ  as  a  man,  in  his  Priestly  office  ?  Hath  he 
 then  no  dignity,  power,  and  merit  as  such  ?  None 
 at  all :  for  as  I  said  before,  as  man,  he  is  not  a 
 person,  neither  could  he  merit  as  man  only ;  it  is 
 evident  therefore,  that  all  the  power  of  acting. 
 The  dignity,  and  Glory  of  his  manhood  is  al- 
 together derived  from  his  being  as  man  and  God, 
 the  Eternal  Son  of  God.  My  reader  must  over- 
 look my  using  at  times,  a  multitude  of  words, 
 or  that  I  sometimes  repeat  myself:  for  the  subject 
 J  am  upon,  being  exceeding  difficult  to  utter,  I 
 
(5 
 
 cannot  be  too  explicit,  that  I  may  be  understood. 
 I  say  then,  that  Christ  had  no  need  of  the  real 
 manhood  to  make  him  a  Person,  but  was  the 
 Word  before  his  incarnation,  being  the  Person  of 
 of  the  Son  of  God  from  the  days  of  eternity. 
 Therefore  being  not  a  Person  as  touching  his 
 manhood  only,  we  must  conclude  that  when  the 
 scriptures  call  him  Mediator,  High  Priest, — as 
 man,  that  it  is  on  account  of  the  strict  union  of  the 
 manhood,  with  the  self-existent  Divinity  of  the 
 Son  of  God,  from  which  flows  all  the  power  of 
 acting  to  the  human  nature,  in  all  the  office 
 characters  he  has  assumed  :  for  God  and  man  by 
 ineffable  union,  is  one  divine  Person,  one  Christ. 
 As  such,  the  Father  viewed  him  in  his  purpose 
 from   eternity. 
 
 That  Christ  as  a  Priest  is  co-equal  to  the  Father 
 needs  therefore  no  further  proof:  for  surely,  as 
 there  is  no  man  upon  earth  that  can  prove  him  to 
 be  a  person  as  touching  his  manhood  only,  none 
 can  possibly  prove  him  as  man  to  be  a  competent 
 Priest.  This  single  argument  is  enough  to  shew 
 the  ignorance,  malice,  and  nakedness  of  some 
 brawling,  ignorant,  and  self-conceited  preachers, 
 who  teach,  that  Christ  is  inferior  to  the  Father  in 
 his  office  characters  ;  but  we  have  proved  that  he 
 is  inferior  only  in  his  manhood,  and  that  as  such, 
 he  cannot  be  an  acting  personal  Priest ;  but  the 
 Priestly  office  being  executed  by  the  divine  nature 
 as  the  acting  principle,  Christ  as  Priest,  is  there- 
 fore evidently  proved  to  be  equal  with  God. 
 But  the  Holy  Ghost  has  furnished  us  with  another 
 
proof,  in  the  mysterious  person  of  Melchizedek ; 
 who,  as  a  type  of  Christ,  evidently  shadows  forth 
 his  divine  and  self-existent  Person,  as  an  Eternal 
 Priest.  God  himself  acknow^ledgeth  his  Son  to 
 be  a  divine  and  infinite  Priest ;  saying,  "  Thou 
 art  a  Priest  for  ever  after  the  order  of  Melchi- 
 zedek," This  Melchizedek,  king  of  Salem,  vras 
 the  priest  of  the  most  High  God ;  Gen.  xiv.  18. 
 being,  as  Paul  saith,  Heb.  vii.  2. — 3.  By  inter- 
 pretation king  of  righteousness,  and  after  that 
 also  king  of  Salem,  which  is  king  of  peace :  With- 
 out father,  without  mother,  without  descent, 
 having  neither  beginning  of  days,  nor  end  of  life  ; 
 but  made  like  unto  the  Son  of  God  ;  abideth  a 
 priest  continually."  Though  Melchizedek  was 
 so  eminent  a  character,  and  was  well  known  by 
 Abraham,  being  acknowledged  by  him  as  the 
 Priest  of  the  Most  High  God,  (for  to  him  he  paid 
 the  tenth  of  the  spoils,)  yet  God  in  wisdom  so 
 ordered  it,  that  we  have  no  account  of  his  descent, 
 birth,  nor  death ;  that  he  might  be  an  eminent  type 
 of  Christ,  the  infinitely  mysterious  High  Priest  of 
 our  profession.  For  who  is  king  of  righteousness,  but 
 Christ,  the  king  Eternal,  Jehovah  our  Righteous- 
 ness? And  who  is  really  king  of  peace,  but  he,  who 
 hath  made  it  for  us  by  the  blood  of  his  cross?  Is  he 
 not  the  sovereign  of  it?  For  hecalls  it  his  own ;  say- 
 ing, John  xiv,  27.  "  My  peace  I  give  untoyou."  His 
 human  nature  never  had  an  earthly  father,  and  he  is 
 also  without  father  and  without  mother,  as  touching 
 his  divine  nature;  who  then,  can  declare  his 
 generation  ?  He  is  declared  to  be  without  descent, 
 
8 
 
 beginning  of  days,  or  end  of  life:  for  who  can  tell 
 the  origin  of  infinite  divinity?  or  trace  the  days  of 
 him  whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  eternity ; 
 who,  though  all  things  were  to  perish,  is  the  same 
 God  from  everlasting  to  everlasting. 
 
 What  shall  we  say  to  these  things  ?  Must  we 
 not  acknowledge  that  God  has  magnified  his  word, 
 which  has  hitherto  furnished  us  with  such  mighty 
 proofs  of  the  self-existent  divinity  of  him  who 
 was  made  flesh,  and  dwelleth  now  among  us ;  even 
 with  such  who  worship  him  in  Spirit  and  in  truth. 
 But  many  will,  in  order  to  fill  up  their  measure, 
 even  give  the  lie  to  the  word,  insinuating,  that 
 the  scriptures  have  been  sadly  corrupted,  mis- 
 translated, and  that  the  penmen  in  what  they 
 wrote,  were  often  left  to  themselves.  All  such 
 objections  are  lies,  the  effect  of  unbelief  and  deep 
 rooted  malice :  for,  *'  All  scripture  is  given  by  in- 
 spiration of  God. — An^  the  prophecy  came  not 
 in  old  time  by  the  will  inan :  but  holy  men  of  God 
 spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost." 
 Not  only  the  penmen  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  but 
 all  God's  people  have  this  promise:  Isai  Hv.  13. 
 *'  All  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord  " 
 Christ  declares,  saying,  John  xiv.  26.  *'  But  the 
 Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the 
 Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you 
 ail  things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your  remem- 
 brance, whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you."  With- 
 out this  divine  inspiration,  and  teaching  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  no  scripture  can  profit ;  men  write, 
 read,  and   Iiear  in  vain:  for,  1  Cor.  ii.  14.  "The 
 
natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit 
 of  God :  for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him :  nei- 
 ther can  he  know  them  because  they  are  spiritually 
 discerned."  They  that  are  of  God  hear  God's 
 words :  for  the  Spirit  will  ever  bear  his  witness  to 
 all  things  that  come  from  above,  so  that  if  we  be- 
 lieve Christ's  words  and  keep  them,  we  shall  also 
 keep  the  words  of  those  whom  he  hath  sent  and 
 commissioned. 
 
 Consider  therefore,  that  Christ,  the  Apostle  and 
 High  Priest  of  our  profession,  is  very  God  and 
 Eternal  life  in  this  very  office  character;  and  that 
 his  self-existent  nature,  essence,  and  Godhead, 
 have  rendered  his  humanity  so  exceeding-precious, 
 and  the  sacrifice  thereof  so  delightful  to  the  Fa- 
 ther, that  he  hath  "  Highly  exalted  him,"  and  hath 
 -set  that  nature  even  at  his  right  hand  in  his  throne, 
 making  it  higher  than  the  heavens. 
 
 BEHOLD  THEREFORE  THE  BLOOD  OF  GOB! 
 
 If  Christ  was  inferior  to  the  Father  in  his  Priestly 
 office,  wh3^then  does  the  holy  Ghost  call  his  blood, 
 The  Blood  of  God  ?  for  so  he  expressly  calls  it, 
 saying.  Acts  xx.  28.  "  Take  heed  therefore  unto 
 yourselves,  and  to  all  the  flock,  over  which  the 
 Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  overseers,  to  feed  the 
 church  of  God,  which  He  hath  purchased  with 
 His  Own  Blood."  Christ  is  both  the  Priest  and 
 the  sacrifice;  but  certainly  his  human  nature 
 alone  could  die,  and  become  a  proper  expiatory 
 .'sacrifice :  with  what  propriety,  therefore,  can  the 
 blood  of  the  humanity  bo  called  the  Blood  of 
 
10 
 
 God  ?  Is  it  not,  but  to  shew  unto  us  the  ineffable 
 and  mysterious  union  of  Christ's  two  natures? 
 and  also  to  confound  the  enemies  of  his  self-exist- 
 ent deity,  in  his  office  characters  ?  for  here  we  see 
 him  to  be  God  indeed,  at  the  very  moment  he  is 
 executing  the  highest  act  of  his  Priestly  office ; 
 namely,  purchasing  his  flock,  his  church,  by  shed- 
 ding His  Own  Blood.  But  as  his  human  nature 
 is  not  God,  it  is  evident  that  the  dignity  of  the 
 sacrifice,  the  glory,  power,  and  efficacy  of  it,  is 
 entirely  derived  from  the  divine  nature ;  which 
 constantly  remained  in  perfect  union  with  his  hu- 
 manity ;  and  in  consequence  of  this  divine  union, 
 infinite  value,  merit,  and  dignity,  was  stamped 
 «pon  his  blood,  so  as  to  be  called  the  Blood  of 
 GoD.  Therefore  Christ  is  Jehovah  as  our  Priest, 
 and  every  way  equal  with  God,  to  the  comfort  of 
 all  that  love  him  ;  who  have  experienced  the  effi- 
 cacy of  his  blood,  and  know  it  to  be  the  Blood  of 
 God ;  because  he  that  shed  it  as  the  High  Priest 
 of  our  profession,  is  in  our  nature,  God,  from  ever- 
 lasting to  everlasting,  being  one  Jehovah  with  the 
 Father  and  Spirit,  even  the  God  that  in  Christ 
 was  reconciling  the  world  to  himself;  to  whom  be 
 everlasting  dominion,  power,  glory,  and  eternal 
 praises,  world  without  end.     Amen. 
 
 Proof  11. — Shewing  that  Christ,  as  Prophet,  is  God. 
 
 Christ  in  his  Prophetic  character  is  set  forth  in 
 the  same  mysterious  manner,  as  in  those  two  cha- 
 racters already  described  ;  and  because  the  scrip- 
 
li 
 
 lures  have  represented  him  as  being  sent,  com- 
 missioned, ordained,  and  taught,  many,  in  all 
 ages,  have  sought  by  various  insidious  means,  to 
 lay  hold  of  such  expressions,  which  represent  him 
 at  the  disposal  of  the  Father,  and  have  maliciously 
 denied  his  self-existent  glory  in  this  character  also. 
 It  is  pretended,  that  he  that  is  sent,  is  inferior  to 
 him  that  sent  him ;  which  is  certainly  a  false  coii- 
 clusion  :  for  an  equal,  or  even  an  inferior  person, 
 may  send  another,  without  making  the  persons 
 sent,  either  inferior  or  equal  to  the  sender.  It  is 
 argued  also,  that  as  God  is  One,  if  Christ  there- 
 fore is  God,  it  follows  that  God  sent  himself; 
 which  would  be  a  true  conclusion,  if  God  was  one 
 person;  but  as  we  have  evidently  shewed,  that 
 there  are  three  Persons  in  One  God,  who  may 
 send  one  another,  the  objection  falls  into  the  dust, 
 with  them  that  make  it.  Christ  as  a  Son  honour- 
 ed his  Father,  by  continually  ascribing  glory  to 
 him  in  all  things ;  and  by  Jio  means  meant  to 
 teach  us,  that  he  was  any  wise  inferior  to  him  in 
 dignity,  because  he  so  frequently  repeats,  that  the 
 Father  sent  him  :  but  "  these  things  (he)  spake  in 
 the  world  that  they  might  have  his  joy  fulfilled  in 
 themselves."  Those,  therefore,  that  have  eyes  to 
 see,  may  discern  with  joy,  the  infinite  dignity,  and 
 self-existent  poAver  of  their  Divine  Mediator,  whose 
 prevalent  merits,  engaged  the  infinite  Majesty  of 
 heaven,  to  manifest  his  tender  pity  and  love,by  shew- 
 ing himself  so  earnest  in  his  concurrence  with  his 
 dear  Son.  The  word  of  God,  is  that  precious  and 
 spiritual  field  where  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
 
12 
 
 knowledge  are  hid;  the  godly  are  fed  by  the 
 precious  fruits  thereof;  but  the  gainsaying  genera- 
 tion of  serpents,  extract  poison  from  this  same 
 ground,  and  feed  upon  dust  and  ashes.  I  am 
 sure  of  this,  that  notwithstanding  I  have  brought 
 such  multitudes  of  scripture  evidences,  of  the  eter- 
 nal power  and  Godhead  of  the  great  Prophet  of 
 the  church,  yet  some  who  love  contradiction,  will 
 even  now  bring  these  words  of  our  Lord,  as  a 
 matter  of  cavil ;  John  xiv.  28.  "  For  my  Father  is 
 greater  than  I."  The  Avian  caviller,  without 
 paying  the  least  attention  to  the  sweet  import  of 
 the  words,  hastily  concludes  that  Christ  is  less,  or 
 inferior  to  the  Father :  however,  our  Lord,  meant 
 to  inculcate  no  such  thing;  but  his  disciples,  having 
 much  sorrow  of  heart,  because  he  had  told  them 
 that  he  would  shortly  leave  them,  he  spake  it  for 
 their  comfort,  as  if  he  meant  to  convey  this :  "  You 
 have  seen  me  hitherto  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  ac- 
 quainted with  grief;  and  in  as  much  as  you  were 
 partakers  of  flesh  and  blood,  it  was  necessary  that 
 I  should  take  your  nature,  and  fulfil  all  righteous- 
 ness for  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  be- 
 cause 1  said  I  must  leave  you  :  for  it  is  expedient 
 for  you  that  I  should  go  away,  to  make  reconcilia- 
 tion for  you  in  the  body  of  my  flesh  through  death, 
 that  I  may  present  you  holy,  and  unblameable  in 
 the  sight  of  my  Father.  If  ye  loved  me  ye  would 
 rejoice,  because  I  said  I  go  to  the  Father ;  but 
 when  the  Holy  Ghost  shall,  at  the  set  time,  more 
 powerfully  operate  upon  your  souls,  then  shall  you 
 rejoice  indeed,  when  you  shall  in  Spirit  see  this 
 
IS 
 
 nature  which  I  have  assumed,  exalted  at  the  right 
 hand  of  God.  This  nature  which  appears  to  you 
 so  weak,  in  which  I  have  humbled  myself  to  ap- 
 pear the  servant  of  my  Father,  shall  nevertheless 
 be  exalted  above  the  heavens.  My  humanity  is 
 of  itself  inferior  to  the  Father ;  but  it  shall,  through 
 my  all-prevaihng  merits,  be  crowned  by  my  Father 
 ■with  glory  and  honour ;  and  when  you  shall  see 
 this,  your  heart  shall  be  enlarged  and  rejoice :  for 
 my  high  exaltation  is  the  prelude,  earnest,  and 
 first  fruits  of  your  own,  w^ho  are  one  body  mysti- 
 cal with  me :  for  I  will  give  you  power  to  over- 
 come all  your  enemies,  that  you  may  sitw^ith  me 
 in  my  throne,  as  I  also  overcame  them  in  your 
 nature,  and  am  set  down  w  ith  my  Father  in  his 
 throne."  We  must  remember  what  our  Lord  saith 
 concerning  his  words,  and  that  they  are  far  above 
 human  capacity :  *'  For  they  are  spirit  and  they 
 are  life."  Christ,  by  exalting  the  dignity  of  the 
 Father,  was  far  from  lowering  his  own  self-exist- 
 ent glory  :  for  w  halever  excellency,  power,  wis- 
 dom, and  incommunicable  self-existent  attributes 
 he  ascribes  to  him,  he  solemnly  declares,  saying, 
 John  X.  30.  "  I  and  my  Father  are  One,"  in  all 
 these  things.  We  must  therefore  take  particular 
 notice  at  all  times,  that  on  account  of  Christ's  two 
 natures  in  one  person,  the  scriptures  speak  of  him 
 in  a  two  fold  sense ;  and  that  they  greatly  err  from 
 the  truth,  who  suppose  him  to  be  inferior  to  the 
 Father,  because  he  is  spoken  of  as  receiving  all 
 things  from  him.  Some  may  say,  how  can  Christ 
 be  equal  with  the  Father  in  his  Prophetic  office, 
 
14 
 
 when  he  himself  intimates  the  contrary  in  many 
 places?  saying,  John  xii.  49.  "  For  I  have  not 
 spoken  of  myself;  but  the  Father  which  sent 
 me,  he  gave  me  a  commandment,  what  I  should 
 say,  and  what  I  should  speak."  And  again ;  John 
 xiv.  24.  "  The  word  which  ye  hear,  is  not  mine, 
 but  the  Father's  which  sent  me."  If  therefore 
 the  word  was  given  to  him,  and  he  could 
 not  do  any  thing  of  himself,  is  it  not  most 
 evident,  that  being  a  Prophet  instructed  of  God, 
 he  must  be  inferior  to  him  that  sent  him,  and  put 
 his  word  into  his  mouth  ?  I  answer,  that  all  these 
 things  rather  prove,  and  more  abundantly  esta- 
 blish, all  that  hass  been  demonstrated  of  the  infi- 
 nite and  self-existent  equality  of  the  Eternal  Son 
 with  the  Father ;  who  by  his  infinite  merits  as  one 
 Jehovah  and  all-prevailing  Mediator,  obtained  such 
 wonderous  grace,  gifts,  power,  and  glory  for  us, 
 through  his  dignified  humanity.  For  all  spiritual 
 blessings  flow  to  us,  by  virtue  of  that  ineffable 
 union  of  our  nature  with  him,  who  is  the 
 First  and  the  Last,  the  Almighty;  as  it  is 
 written,  Isai.  hx.  21.  "  As  for  me,  this  is 
 my  covenant  with  them,  saith  the  Lord  ;  my  spirit 
 that  is  u^on  thee,  and  my  words  which  1  have 
 put  in  thy  mouth,  shall  not  depart  out  of  thy 
 mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed,  nor  out 
 of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed,  saith  the  Lord, 
 from  henceforth  and  for  ever."  If  this  is  hid  from 
 any,  "  It  is  hid  from  them  that  are  lost :  in  whom 
 the  god  of  this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of 
 them  which  believe  not,  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious 
 
15 
 
 gospel  of  Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should 
 shine  unto  them." 
 
 The  word  of  God,  is  the  image  of  God ;  it  is 
 declared  to  be  like  himself,  Holy,  Eternal :  for  it 
 liveth  and  abideth  for  ever ;  it  is  spirit,  life,  quick 
 and  powerful,  faithful,  immutable,  gracious,  being 
 the  truth,  and  is  the  very  image  of  the  great 
 Prophet  of  the  church ;  who  is  the  true  God  and 
 Eternal  Life.  God  is  incomprehensible  to  all 
 created  understanding ;  his  mind,  will,  and  pur- 
 poses, cannot  be  known  by  the  most  dignified 
 creatures ;  and  his  ways  are  past  finding  out : 
 "For  who  hath  known  the  mind  of  the  Lord?" 
 none  therefore,  but  the  only  Begotten  Son, 
 which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  has  seen 
 and  known  him ;  he  has  declared  him  in  all  his 
 divine  purposes  of  grace,  love,  mercy,  and  truth: 
 for  being  one  with  him  in  essence,  self-existence, 
 glory,  power,  and  infinite  knowledge,  such  a 
 Prophet  became  us,  who,  as  the  uncreated  Word, 
 knew  the  mind  and  will  of  God  from  everlasting. 
 1  conclude  therefore,  that  our  Prophet  as  man, 
 grew  in  wisdom  and  stature;  but  as  God,  he  had 
 no  need  that  any  should  instruct  him  what  to  say; 
 being  the  infinite  uncreated  Wisdom,  from  the 
 days  of  eternity.  If  any  therefore,  will  still  main- 
 tain that  Christ,  as  the  Prophet  of  his  people  is 
 not  a  self -existent  Person,  and  equal  to  the  Father 
 in  that  office,  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in 
 him:  for  he  only,  could  declare  the  infinitely 
 mysterious  will  of  God ;  being  that  Holy  con- 
 substantial  Person  in  the  undivided  essence,  who 
 
16 
 
 from  eternity  undertook  to  reveal  it,  and  as  the 
 messenger  and  Prophet  of  these  wonderful  dis- 
 coveries, is  called  the  Word :  and  as  such,  the 
 sciiptures  declare  and  prove  him  to  be  the 
 Omniscient  God.  Read  then  this  decisive  sen- 
 tence, thou  besotted  heretic :  John,  i.  1.  "In  the 
 beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with 
 God,  and  the  Word  was  God." 
 
 Let  no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  words:  for 
 our  gracious  Prophet  is  the  Lord  from  heaven : 
 he  is  as  God,  omniscient ;  and  the  past,  present, 
 and  future,  are  all  alike  unto  him.  His  words  are 
 purer  tlian  silver;  rely  and  trust  to  his  infinite 
 verity  in  his  sayings,  and  you  shall  neither  be 
 deceived,  nor  be  confounded,  world  without  end. 
 I  repeat  now  again,  that  as  man  only,  he  is  not  a 
 person ;  as  such,  he  never  acted  as  a  Prophet ;  but 
 his  humanity  is  the  channel  by  which  the  divine 
 instructions  of  our  Prophet  are  conveyed  to  us ; 
 through  it  we  have  access  to  God,  as  the  new  and 
 living  way,  which  he  hath  consecrated  for  us. 
 Christ  as  man  was  not  Omniscient,  nor  infinite  in 
 knowledge,  seeing  that  some  things  were  hid  from 
 him;  but  as  God,  he  knew  all  things;  being  as 
 the  divine  Prophet,  Omniscient,  even  as  the  Father. 
 I  say  therefore,  that  those  who  do  consider  him 
 as  inferior  to  the  Person  of  the  Father  in  know- 
 ledge, expose  their  judgment  to  contempt:  for 
 they  might  as  well  say,  that  God  has  no  more 
 wisdom  than  they  ascribe  to  the  son ;  but  it  is 
 most  evident  from  the  testimony  of  Christ  himself, 
 that  there  is  perfect  equality  of  incommunicable 
 
17 
 
 attributes  between  those  divine  Persons .  Consider 
 therefore,  these  important  words:  John  x.  15. 
 *'  As  the  Father  knoweth    me,  even  so  know 
 
 the  Father." 
 
 Let  us  take  particular  notice  also,  how  God 
 speaks  of  Christ,  as  the  Prophet  of  the  church, 
 saying,  Deut.  xviii.  18.  "  1  will  raise  them  up  a 
 Prophet  from  among  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee, 
 and  1  will  put  my  words  in  his  mouth :  and  he 
 shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  I  shall  command 
 him."  Here  Christ's  human  nature  in  which  he 
 acted  as  Prophet,  is  set  forth  as  being  inferfor  to 
 him  that  raised  him  to  the  Prophetic  office :  for 
 as  man  he  was  at  the  disposal  of  the  Father. 
 But  in  another  place,  God  speaks  of  him  in  a 
 most  wonderful  and  mysterious  manner ;  saying, 
 Exod.  xxiii.  20.  "  Behold,  I  send  an  Angel  before 
 thee,  to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and  to  bring  thee 
 into  the  place  which  I  have  prepared.  Beware  of 
 him,  and  obey  his  voice,  provoke  him  not ;  for  he 
 will  notpardon  your  transgressions  :  for  my  Name 
 is  in  him."  Every  body  knows  that  this  is  spoken 
 of  Christ,  and  the  Jews  themselves  when  they  saw 
 his  mighty  acts,  and  heard  his  wonderful  sayings, 
 said,  John,  vii.  40.  "  Of  a  truth  this  is  the 
 Prophet."  At  another  time,  when  he  multiplied 
 the  loaves  and  fishes  they  cried  out ;  "  This  is  of 
 a  truth  that  prophet  that  should  come  into  the 
 world."  None  will  dispute,  that  God  alone  is  that 
 Holy,  Just,  and  infinitely  righteous  being,  against 
 whom  all  men  have  sinned  :  as  it  is  written,  Psal, 
 li    4.     Against  thee,    thee  only,  have  I   sinned, 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 and  done  this  evil  in  thy  sight."  It  is  certain  also, 
 that  none  else  can  forgive  our  sins,  but  that  very 
 God  against  whom  we  all  have  transgressed. 
 We  know  also,  that  all  manner  of  sins  may  be 
 forgiven,  except  such  as  are  termed  presumptuous 
 sins ;  this  at  once  proves  Christ  as  the  Prophet, 
 Angel,  or  Messenger  of  the  covenant  to  be  the 
 Holy  Jehovah,  who  would  not  pardon  the  pre- 
 sumptuous transgressions  of  Israel.  Take  notice 
 therefore  to  the  following  invincible  proof:  for  it 
 is  WTitten,  Psal,  Ixxviii.  56.  "  They  tempted  and 
 proAid  the  most  High  God."  But  Paul  declares, 
 that  Christ  w  as  the  Person  whom  the  children  of 
 Israel  tempted  :  saying,  1  Cor.  x.  9.  "  Neither  let 
 us  tempt  Christ,  as  some  of  them  also  tempted, 
 and  were  destroyed  of  serpents."  We  obtain  from 
 thus  comparing  the  scriptures  together,  the  follow- 
 ing invincible  argument.  God,  even  the  Most 
 High  God,  is  the  only  object  of  sin,  temptation, 
 and  of  provocation,  against  whom  the  children  of 
 Israel  sinned ;  but  Christ  is  declared  to  be  the 
 object  whom  they  tempted,  therefore,  he  is  indis- 
 putably the  most  High  God,  who  would  not 
 pardon  their  transgressions.  It  must  therefore  be  a 
 great  verity,  that  Christ  as  the  angel.  Messenger,  or 
 Prophet,  is  not  inferior  to  the  Father  in  this  office ; 
 but  being  the  most  High  God,  is  co-equal  w  ith  him 
 in  all  things,  in  the  very  exercise  of  that  office. 
 
 Behold !  behold !  hear  it  with  admiration  and 
 praise,  and  consider,  that  Christ  as  the  Messenger 
 and  Prophet  of  his  people  is  Jehovah  indeed : 
 for  God,  even  the  Lord,  saith,  "  For  my  Name  is 
 
19 
 
 in  him."  Search  the  scriptures,  and  tell  ns,  which 
 of  all  the  created  powers  can  say,  that  God  at  any 
 time,  has  made  them  to  share  in  his  great  and 
 Holy  Name  ?  Has  he  not  said,  "  I  am  the  Lord, 
 that  is  my  Name,  and  my  glory  will  I  not  give  to 
 another?" — The  utmost  that  is  promised  to  the 
 saints,  is,  that  they  should  be  partakers  of  the 
 divine  nature ;  and  that  Rev.  xiv.l.  "The  Father's 
 Name  should  be  in  their  foreheads."  The  Son  of 
 God  alone,  can  have  this  Name  in  him,  by  right  of 
 Consubstantial  union  and  self-existent  nature.  Let 
 us  now  in  a  measure,  consider  this  great  Name, 
 which  Christ  as  the  Angel  or  Prophet  of  the  church 
 bears ;  but  how  shall  we  be  able  to  do  this  ?  is  it  not 
 infinite  ?  Is  he  not  called  El,  (strong,)  to  shew  that 
 he  is  almighty  to  save?  or  Shaddai*  (self  sufficient) 
 to  redeem,  and  deliver  his  people  from  infinite 
 WTath,  the  devil,  the  world,  and  from  their  infinite 
 transgression  ?  verily,  his  sufficiency  is  not  bor- 
 rowed, but  he  has  it  in  himself:  for  he  is  powerful 
 to  save  his  sheep,  and  almighty  to  destroy  his 
 enemies.  His  name  Elion,  the  (most  High)  shews, 
 that  as  there  cannot  be  two  Gods,  that  are  Most 
 High,  that  Christ  therefore,  is  the  Most  High 
 with  the  Father.  How  many  times  have  I  already 
 proved,  that  the  glorious  name  of  El-Sabaoth, 
 (the  God  of  Hosts)  belongs  to  the  Prophet  I  am 
 speaking  of?  Take  notice  therefore ;  that  the 
 strength  of  the  argument  lies  in  this :  that  God 
 speaks  in  the  present  tense,  before  Christ  appeared 
 
 *  Shaddai,  signifies  also,  the  Destroyer,  the  powerful  One. 
 B    2 
 
20 
 
 ill  the  flesh :  for  he  saith  not,  My  Name  shall  be 
 in  him,  but  "My  Name  is  in  him."  Obserre 
 also,  that  the  scriptures  again  represent  him  in 
 this  particular  as  being  inferior  to  the  Father  as 
 man ;  saying,  Psal.  Ixxxix.  24.  *'  In  my  Name 
 shall  his  horn  be  exalted."  again.  Psal.  xci.  14. 
 "  I  will  set  him  on  high,  because  he  hath  known  my 
 Name."  This  is  promised  to  the  manhood  of 
 Christ ;  because  of  its  mysterious  union  with  him, 
 who  is  One  Name  with  the  Father.  Christ  there- 
 fore as  God,  is  co-equal  in  all  things  with  the 
 Father:  "For  my  Name  is  in  him,"  saith  the 
 Lord.  So  that  if  God  is  said  to  be  Exod.  xxxiv.  6. 
 The  Lord,  The  Lord  God,  merciful,  and  gracious, 
 longsuffering,  and  abundant  in  goodness  and  truth, 
 keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  forgiving  iniquity  and 
 transgression  and  sin,  and  that  will  by  no  means 
 clear  the  guilty," — this  also  is  the  name  of  Christ, 
 the  Angel  or  Prophet  of  the  Church ;  whom  we 
 have  proved  to  be  the  object  of  sin  and  temptation, 
 and  who  as  the  Lord  God  can  either  forgive,  or 
 retain  the  sins  of  men :  for  as  none  can  forgive 
 sins  but  God  only,  therefore,  Christ,  who  retains 
 or  forgives  them  is  God.  The  Lord,  in  order  to 
 impress  Moses,  and  the  children  of  Israel,  that 
 he  was  self-existent  in  his  nature,  answered  Moses, 
 who  requested  to  know  his  name,  saying,  Exod. 
 iii.  14.  "I  AM  THAT  I  am:  and  he  said,  thus 
 shalt  thou  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  am 
 hath  sent  me  unto  you."  This  great  and  incom- 
 municable Name  is  in  Christ;  who  claims  it  as  his 
 own,  by  right  of  self-existent  nature:  saying, 
 John,  viii.  24.     "  For  if  ye  believe  not  that  I  am, 
 
21 
 
 ye  shall  die  in  your  sins."  (The  learned  know 
 that  the  personal  pronoun  he,  is  not  found  in  the 
 original,  and  has  no  connexion  with  any  thing, 
 either  before  or  after :  and  that  Christ,  claims  the 
 same  name  in  another  place ;  saying,  John,  viii. 
 58.  "  Verily,  verily, — before  Abraham  was,  I 
 AM.")  Self  existence  cannot  be  communicated  to 
 any  created  being  whatsoever ;  and  the  name  of 
 Jehovah  can  only  belong  to  him,  who  is  the  Most 
 High,  and  the  unrivalled  possessor  of  self-existent 
 essence ;  but  this  name  is  also  in  Christ,  whom  we 
 have  already  proved  to  be  Jehovah  our  Righteous- 
 ness, therefore  he  is  truly  co-equal  with  the  Father 
 in  his  Prophetic  office :  *'  For  my  Name  is  in 
 him,"  saith  the  Lord.  The  co-equal  glory,  eter- 
 nity, self-existence,  and  union  betw;een  the  Father 
 and  the  Son,  is  most  wonderfully  expressed  by 
 our  Lord ;  saying,  John,  xiv.  9.  "  He  that  hath 
 seen  me,  hath  seen  the  Father. — I  am  in  the 
 Father,  and  the  Father  in  me."  I  conclude  there- 
 fore, that  the  divine  Person  of  our  great  Prophet, 
 is  One  Jehovah  with  the  Father,  and  that  all  men 
 are  liars,  who  say,  that  Christ  in  any  of  his  office 
 characters,  is  not  co-equal,  and  self-existent  with 
 him. 
 
 Take  notice  of  this  ! 
 The  Name  of  Jehovah,  is  incomprehensible,  as 
 well  as  incommunicable,  and  cannot  be  under- 
 stood by  any  created  capacity ;  and  I  really  think 
 that  the  Holy  Ghost,  alluded  to  this  mysterious 
 Name,  as  belonging  to  Christ,  saying,  Rev.  xix. 
 12.     "  And  he  had  a  Name  written,  that  no  man 
 
22 
 
 knew,  but  he  himself."  This  Name  is  certainly 
 written  in  the  scriptures  of  truth,  and  is  un- 
 doubtedly Jehovah ;  which  although  we  know  it  to 
 signify  One  that  exists,  yet  no  man  knows  the 
 manner  of  his  existence :  for  who  can  declare  the 
 eternal  generation  of  the  Son  of  God,  the  self- 
 existent  Jehovah?  If  we  multiply  the  grains  of 
 sand  which  are  in  the  world,  by  the  drops  of 
 water  in  the  ocean,  again,  take  the  sum  total, 
 and  multiply  it  by  the  stars  of  heaven,  and  when 
 you  have  so  done,  multiply  the  sum  total  by  itself 
 as  many  million  times  as  there  are  objects  in  the 
 world,  let  your  imagination  make  this  prodigious 
 sum  as  many  thousand  millions  of  years,  yea, 
 suppose  a  string  of  numbers  long  enough  to  go 
 round  the  earth,  or  even  to  be  as  long  as  the  cir- 
 cumference of  the  heavens,  yet  after  all  your 
 mental  labour,  you  are  as  far  from  knowing  the 
 eternal  existence  of  Christ,  as  one  end  of  eternity 
 is  far  from  the  other :  for  when  the  North  and 
 South  Poles  can  meet  together,  then  shall  we 
 be  able  also  to  bring  our  thoughts  to  a  focus,  and 
 know  the  years  of  him,  whom  we  have  proved  to 
 be  one  Jehovah  with  the  Father.  As  none  can 
 possibly  know  the  tremendous  import  of  our 
 Prophet's  Name,  so  also,  no  man  can  conceive 
 the  wrath  and  fiery  indignation,  that  shall  fall  like 
 a  tempest,  upon  those  men  who  deny  the  self- 
 existent  majesty  of  the  eternal  Son  of  God. 
 Happy  are  those  simple  souls,  who  are  taught  by 
 his  Spirit  to  honour  him,  as  they  honour  the 
 Father '-,  they  shall  find  him  true  to  his  word  ;  for 
 
2S 
 
 they  shall  really  discern  him  to  be  in  the  Father, 
 and  the  Father  in  him :  for,  "  He  will  shew  them 
 plainly  of  the  Father."  They  shall  know  and 
 believe,  that  as  all  the  children  of  Zion  are  to  be 
 taught  of  God,  that  Christ  is  he,  who  is  Jehovah* 
 their  divine  Prophet ;  as  it  is  written,  Isai.  lii.  6. 
 "Therefore  my  people  shall  know  my  name: 
 therefore  shall  they  know  in  that  day  that  I  am  he 
 that  doth  speak  ;  behold,  it  is  I." 
 
 Proof  12. — Christ,   as  Kincf  in  Zion  is  equal  to  the 
 Father. 
 
 Let  no  man  beguile  you  with  enticing  words, 
 to  worship  a  God  by  office,  a  created  king ;  but 
 ever  remember  that  in  the  Person  of  Christ  are 
 two  natures.  As  man  he  is  inferior  to,  and  at  the 
 disposal  of  the  Father ;  and  as  such,  he  receives 
 a  kingdom ;  being  set  up  as  king  in  Zion, 
 according  as  God  saith.  Psalm  ii.  6.  "  Yet 
 have  I  set  my  King  upon  my  holy  hill  of 
 Zion."  Christ  as  touching  his  manhood  is  said 
 to  be  anointed  to  this  office;  Psal.  xlv.  1, — 7. 
 *'  Grace  is  poured  into  his  lips  :  strength  is  given 
 unto  him ;"  1  Sam.  ii.  10.  "  and  he  is  upheld  by  the 
 right  hand  of  Jehovah's  righteousness."  But  then 
 we  must  always  remember,  that  as  man  only, 
 Christ  is  not  a  person,  having  no  personal  existence 
 as  such  ;  the  dignity,  glory,  and  power,  that  he 
 exercises  as  King,  must  consequently  be  derived 
 from  his  Godhead.  When  we  come  to  consider 
 the  power  of  those  mighty  enemies  he  had  to  cope 
 with,  such  as  an  iiitinite  transgression,  eternal 
 death,   the  powers  of  darkness,  and  what  gave 
 
24 
 
 power  to  all  these,  even  the  infinite  wrath  of  God, 
 we  see  at  once,  that  such  a  King  became  us,  who 
 is  the  Lord  mighty  in  battle ;  and  hath  really, 
 "  Spoiled  principalities  and  powers," — destroyed 
 the  works  of  the  devil, — overcome  the  world, 
 — appeased  the  wrath  of  God,  and  delivered  us 
 from  it.  Consider  therefore,  how  could  a  finite 
 created  agent  encounter  such  adversaries,  subdue 
 them,  and  sway  his  regal  sceptre  over  enemies  of 
 such  infinite  hostile  power?  Eternal  destruction 
 and  death,  the  devil  that  has  the  power  of 
 it,  an  infinite  transgression,  and  infinite  wrath 
 smoking  against  it,  required  in  the  Person  of  our 
 King,  an  infinitely  divine,  and  self-existent  agent, 
 whose  almighty  arm  could  rule  for  him.  Some 
 say,  that  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  his 
 humanity,  with  the  power  of  the  Father  concur- 
 ring, was  quite  sufficient  to  make  him  conquer 
 all  opposition.  This  is  most  dreadfully  con- 
 founding the  Persons,  and  robbing  Christ  of  his 
 real  Personality :  for  neither  the  Person  of  the 
 Father,  nor  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  were  incarnate ; 
 but  the  Person  called  the  word,  was  made  flesh, 
 and  none  other.  The  concurrence  of  the  Father, 
 and  the  anointing  of  the  Spirit,  could  not  there- 
 fore influence  his  manhood  to  be  a  Person  :  for  he 
 is  of  himself  a  distinct  Person  from  eternity :  who, 
 at  the  appointed  time  took  our  nature  into  union 
 with  himself,  and  became  God  manifest  in  the  flesh. 
 The  flesh  therefore,  is  not  the  ruling  and  con- 
 quering king,  but  the  God,  who  manifested  his 
 kingly  power  in  it.     Christ  himself  shews  forth 
 
25 
 
 the  infinitely  mysterious  nature  of  both  the  King 
 and  the  Kingdom;  saying,  Mat.  vi.  13.  "For 
 thine  is  the  Kingdom,  and  the  power  and  the 
 glory,  for  ever."  Again,  Mat.  xviii.  23.  "  The 
 kingdom  of  heaven  is  hkened  unto  a  certain  King, 
 which  would  take  account  of  his  servants."  So 
 again.  Mat.  xxii.  2.  "The  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
 like  a  certain  King,  which  made  a  marriage  for 
 his  son."  In  all  these  places  and  many  others 
 also,  both  the  Kingdom,  the  disposal  thereof, 
 the  power,  the  glory,  and  Kingly  authority  are 
 ascribed  to  the  Father.  Some  say,  that  these 
 very  things  confuse  their  minds :  for  here  the 
 Father  is  evidently  set  forth  as  supreme  and  only 
 King ;  and  in  other  places,  Christ,  is  also  re- 
 presented as  such,  is  there  then  two  supreme 
 Kings  ?  I  answer,  that  such  imaginations  are  ex- 
 ceeding dangerous :  for  this  is  really  dividing  the 
 essence  of  God,  which  is  One.  We  must  re- 
 member, that  though  the  Person  of  the  Father  is 
 supreme  King,  and  also  the  Person  of  the  Son  is 
 the  same,  yet  are  they  not  two  supreme  Kings, 
 but  only  One  God,  who  is  supreme  King :  for  the 
 scriptures  testify  so  every  where :  saying,  that 
 Psal.  xxiv.  10.  "The  Lord  of  Hosts  he  is  the 
 King  of  Glory, — For  God  is  the  King  of  all  the 
 earth."  Therefore  God  himself  who  was  manifest 
 in  the  flesh  is  this  King ;  but  Christ  is  he,  who 
 was  made  man,  and  took  our  nature  into  union 
 with  himself,  who  is  thereby  proved  to  be  equal 
 to  the  Father :  for  he  is  God,  the  supreme  King 
 by  self-existent  union  with  the  Father. 
 
26 
 
 The  mystery  of  the  Trinity  is  so  great  a  deep, 
 and  most  men's  conceptions  of  it  so  confused,  that 
 I  feel  it  my  dnty,  according  to  the  grace  given  to 
 me,  to  use  great  plainness  of  speech;  but  if  any 
 after  all,  cannot  understand,  or  make  confusion 
 of  these  things,  they  have  nobody  to  blame 
 but  themselves :  for  the  ignorance  and  confnsion 
 is  natively  their  own,  which  cannot  be  removed, 
 but  by  constant  and  fervent  prayer  to  him,  who 
 has  promised,  that  "Light  shall  be  sown  for  the 
 righteous," — ^And,  that  he  wdll  give  it  liberally  to 
 all  that  feel  their  need.  Now  in  order  to  give  a 
 clearer  view  of  Christ's  kingly  office  and  self- 
 existent  dignity  as  King,  let  us  again  bring  for- 
 ward those  truths  which  have  already  been  proved ; 
 namely,  that  there  are  three  Persons  in  one 
 essence  of  God,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
 Ghost;  which  names  are  not  assumed  by  these 
 holy  Persons  to  give  us  any  idea  of  their  manner 
 of  existence,  (which  is  a  mystery,)  but  of  their 
 manner  of  operations.  These  Persons  entered  into 
 covenant  from  eternity  in  behalf  of  man,  whose 
 fall  from  his  ci-eated  righteousness,  as  well  as  the 
 infinite  wrath  due  to  his  sin,  being  foreseen  by  the 
 eternal  Son  of  God,  he  freely,  as  an  independent 
 agent,  struck  hands  with  the  Father,  and  engaged 
 to  become  man,  by  taking  human  nature  into 
 union  with  himself;  and  in  that  very  nature  which 
 should  offend,  to  give  him  the  infinite  satisfaction 
 that  should  be  demanded.  As  King  of  eternity, 
 he  promised  to  «xert  his  almighty  power,  in  sub- 
 duing, conquering,  and  effectually  ruhng  his  own 
 
27 
 
 people,  and  destroying  all  his,  and  their  potent 
 enemies.  His  co-equal  Father,  whose  eternal  pur- 
 poses of  grace  in  his  dear  8on,  came  not  behind  one 
 single  moment,  being  delighted  with  the  mediation, 
 and  intercession  of  one  so  mighty,  who  was  his 
 fellow  and  equal,  in  order  to  shew  his  good  will 
 and  love  to  his  elect  in  ages  to  come,  he  promised 
 and  engaged,  to  concur  with  him  in  all  things  con- 
 sistent to  his  covenant  character  as  a  Father. 
 In  consideration  of  the  high  and  eternal  dignity  of 
 him  who  engaged  to  become  man,  The  Father 
 declared,  that  he  would  assuredly  highly  exalt  that 
 nature,  and  set  him  as  King  supreme  upon  his 
 holy  hill  of  Zion;  that  his  dominion  should  be 
 from  sea  to  sea,  that  he  would  strengthen  him, 
 and  that  angels  and  authorities  should  be  subject 
 unto  him  ;  and  that  he  should  reign  as  man,  until 
 he  had  subdued  all  opposition,  and  put  down  all 
 rule,  authority,  and  power.  The  Holy  Spirit  also 
 engaged  to  come  upon  Christ's  humanity,  and 
 anoint  him  to  his  kingly  office  with  power  and 
 might,  so  that  we  can  evidently  see,  that  in  him  as 
 King  was  to  dwell  the  fullness  of  the  Godhead 
 bodily. 
 
 Let  us  now  shew  a  few  proofs  from  scripture, 
 that  Christ  is  indeed  equal  with  the  Father  in  his 
 kingly  office.  The  Spirit  of  God  by  the  prophet 
 Jeremiah  gives  us  this  glorious  description  of 
 Jehovah  as  the  only  king,  saying,  Jerem.  x.  10. 
 "But  the  Lord  is  the  true  God,  he  is  the  living 
 God,  and  an  everlasting  King." — But  Christ  also 
 claims  these  titles,  I  John,  v.  20.  "  And  we  are  in 
 
28 
 
 him  that  is  true,  even  in  his  Sou  Jesus  Christ. 
 This  is  the  true  God,  and  eternal  Life."  As  there 
 is  but  One  True  and  Living  God,  who  is  an  ever- 
 lasting King,  and  we  see  evidently  that  Christ  is 
 also  the  true  God,  and  as  the  scriptures  have  no 
 where  set  before  us  two  Gods  as  objects  of  wor- 
 ship, we  must  conclude  that  Christ,  is  the  True 
 God  with  the  Father,  in  the  Unity  of  One  divine 
 essence ;  and  that  he  is  also  the  Lord  Jehovah,  and 
 an  everlasting  king.  The  argument  is  certainly  true 
 and  invincible,  and  may  be  framed  thus  :  Jehovah, 
 who  is  the  True  God,  is  also  an  everlasting  King, 
 but  Christ  is  the  True  God,  therefore,  he  is  also 
 Jehovah,  an  everlasting  King. 
 
 The  Prophet  Isaiah  saw  the  glorious  majesty 
 of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  sitting  upon  a  throne  high 
 and  lifted  up,  and  said,  Isai.  vi.  5.  "  Woe  is  me! 
 for  I  am  imdone  : — for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the 
 King,  the  Lord  of  Hosts."  But  John  tells  us  that 
 the  glory  which  the  prophet  saw,  was  the  glory  of 
 Christ ;  saying,  John.  xii.  41.  "These  things  said 
 Esaias,  when  he  saw  his  glory,  and  spake  of 
 jhira,"  (Christ.)  By  thus  comparing  the  scriptures, 
 we  have  again  the  following  unanswerable  argu- 
 ment. There  is  but  one  Lord  of  Hosts,  who  is 
 the  King,  whom  the  prophet  saw ;  but  John 
 tells  us,  that  the  divine  person  whose  glory  he 
 sawwas  Christ,  therefore  he  is  equal  with  the 
 Father ;  being  with  him.  One  Lord  of  Hosts,  and 
 supreme  King.  I  conclude  therefore,  to  the  con- 
 fusion of  all  opposers,  that  Christ  who  saves  his 
 people  from  all  their  potent  enemies,  so  far  from 
 
being  inferior  to  the  Father  in  his  Kingly  office,  is 
 really  One  everlasting  King  with  him ;  and,  is 
 Zeph.  iii.  15. — 16.  *'The  King  of  Israel,  even 
 Jehovah,  who  is  in  the  midst  of  them,  as  the 
 Lord  God  almighty ;  he  will  save,  he  will  rejoice 
 over  them  with  joy ;  he  will  rest  in  his  love,  he 
 will  joy  over  them  with  singing."  O  Lord  who 
 art,  Isai.  xliv.  6.  "  Jehovah,  the  King  of  Israel, 
 and  his  redeemer  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  First 
 and  the  Last,  let  all  the  children  of  Zion  be  joyful 
 in  thee,  their  self-existent  eternal  King  ;  and  let  all 
 thine  enemies  be  covered  with  everlasting  shame 
 and  confusion,  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  thy  great 
 name;  who  art  with  the  Father,  and  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  One  God,  even  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
 our  King. 
 
 Some  may  perhaps  for  want  of  judgment,  and 
 others  through  enmity,  stumble  at  this  assertion 
 of  the  apostle  Paul ;  1  Cor.  xv.  28.  '•  And  when 
 all  things  shall  be  subdued  unto  him,  then  shall 
 the  Son  also  himself  be  subject  unto  him  that  put 
 all  things  under  him,  that  God  may  be  all  in  all." 
 -  This  difficulty  may  soon  be  removed,  if  we  do 
 but  remember,  that  Christ  as  man  receives  a 
 kingdom ;  and  as  anointed  King,  he  is  to  reign  in 
 our  nature,  until  he  hath  put  down  all  rule  and 
 authority  and  power.  As  man,  a  kingdom,  power, 
 and  glory  is  given  to  him  ;  again  as  man,  he  is  to 
 deliver  the  same  kingdom  to  God,  even  the 
 Father.  But  in  all  this,  Christ  is  by  no  means 
 pointed  out  as  being  inferior  to  the  Father,  or 
 suffering  any  loss   as  touching  his  self-existent 
 
30 
 
 Personality :  for  as  I  have  already  proved,  that 
 as  man  alone  he  is  not  a  Person,  how  then  can  he 
 be  subject,  or  inferior  to  him  whose  equal  he  is 
 from  eternity  ?  This  mystery  of  the  most  Holy 
 Trinity  in  Unity,  is  wonderfully  set  forth  in  this 
 passage  ;  For  as  one  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling 
 the  world  to  himself;  even  so  the  same  Jehovah, 
 one  God,  will  in  the  humanity  of  Christ,  reign, 
 and  subdue  all  things  unto  himself,  to  the  praise 
 and  eternal  glory  of  him,  whose  name  alone  is 
 Jehovah,  one  self-existent  God ;  who  was,  and  is, 
 and  shall  be,  three  divine  Persons,  and  yet  but 
 One  God.  Christ  therefore  as  man  shall  himself, 
 as  well  as  all  the  members  of  his  mystical  body, 
 lay  down  his  regal  sceptre,  and  cast  down  his 
 crown  before  the  throne  as  well  as  they :  for  the 
 end  being  come,  when  all  things  shall  be  subdued, 
 this  is  that  great  and  notable  day,  when  the  Lord 
 of  Hosts  alone  shall  be  exalted,  and  be  all  in  all. 
 Christ  will  then  according  to  his  promise  shew  us 
 plainly  of  the  Father,  by  making  it  fully  manifest, 
 that  a  Trinity  in  Unity,  is  the  first  cause,  and  last 
 end  of  all  things ;  and  that  all  power,  glory,  praise, 
 and  everlasting  thanksgiving,  is  due  to  that  One 
 great  God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 
 We  see  therefore,  how  necessary  it  is,  to  make 
 very  nice  distinctions  between  the  two  natures  of 
 Christ :  for  this  great  point  being  well  understood, 
 all  difficulties  and  stumbling-blocks  are  removed 
 out  of  the  way :  and  the  self-existent  power  and  glory 
 of  the  Son  of  God,  is  most  wonderfully  discovered. 
 Take  notice  therefore,  that  though  Christ  as  man 
 
31 
 
 shall  deliver  np  his  mediatorial  kingdom,  yet  he 
 has  still  a  kingdom  as  God ,  which  he  will  never 
 deliver  up  to  any:  for  this,  the  heavenly  messenger 
 saith  to  Mary,  that,  Luke,  i.  33,  "  He  shall  reign 
 over  the  house  of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of  his  King- 
 dom there  shall  be  no  end."  Thus,  as  One  su- 
 preme self-existent  God  with  the  Father  and  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  he  shall  be  all  in  all,  and  shall  reign 
 as  the  eternal  King  of  Glory.  W  here  is  the  Avian 
 disputer  and  his  wisdom?  Has  not  God  made 
 foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  world?  do  not  the 
 scriptures  sweetly  harmonize,  and  constantly  shew 
 forth  the  wisdom  of  God  in  a  mystery?  Is  it  not 
 truly  wonderful,  that  however  contradictory  the 
 sayings  of  the  holy  penmen  may  appear  at  first 
 sight,  yet  how  surprisingly  they  point  to  the  two 
 natures  of  Christ,  so  that  seeming  contradictions 
 are  reconciled  to  admiration?  For  Paul,  saith, 
 that  Christ's  Kingdom  has  an  end,  and  he  shall 
 deliver  it  up  to  God ;  but  the  angel  contradicts 
 this,  and  affirms,  that  he  shall  reign  for  ever,  and. 
 of  his  Kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end ;  and  yet 
 both  are  true  witnesses :  for  as  man  he  delivers 
 up  the  mediatorial  Kingdom ;  but  as  God  he  is 
 to  be  all  in  all,  and  shall  reign  in  glory  for  ever. 
 
 Proof  13. — Christ  as  Judge,  is  equal  to  the  Father, 
 As  the  Avians  and  all  other  enemies  of  Christ's 
 self-existent  glory,  have  endeavoured  to  represent 
 Christ  as  inferior  to  the  Father,  in  all  the  covenant 
 characters  I  have  already  spoken  of,  so  in  like 
 manner  do  they  seek  to  pervert  the  scriptures,  that 
 
32 
 
 set  him  forth  as  being  constituted  and  ordained 
 by  the  Father,  as  Judge  of  the  wodd,  and  hastily 
 conclude,  that  he  that  is  ordained  by  another, 
 must  be  i  iferior  to  him  who  ordains  him ;  but  they 
 have  continually  need  to  be  reminded,  that  Christ's 
 two  natures  is  the  real  cause,  why  the  scriptures 
 .^peak  of  him  in  a  twofold  sense.  I  have  already 
 proved  that  Christ  as  man  receives  a  kingdom, 
 •which  he  shall  deliver  up  at  the  end  ;  but  as  God, 
 it  is  his  own,  and  he  will  never  give  it  up  to 
 another:  for  as  such,  he  is  supreme  governor  and 
 magistrate,  sitting  in  the  throne  judging  right; 
 being  no  less  than  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  even  as  the 
 prophet  testifies;  saying,  Isai.  vi.  1. — 5.  "  I  saw 
 also  the  Lord  sitting  upon  a  throne,  high  and  lifted 
 up, — Then  I  said,  woe  is  me  !  for  I  am  undone; 
 for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the  Lord  of 
 Hosts."  The  Holy  Ghost  by  John,  declares,  that 
 Christ  was  the  divine  Person,  which  the  prophet 
 saw:  John  xii.  41.  "These  things  said  Esaias, 
 when  he  saw  his  (Christ's)  glory,  and  spake  of 
 him."  The  conclusion  therefore  is  mighty,  and 
 invincibly  proves  Christ  as  supreme  King,  and 
 magistrate,  to  be  a  divine  Person :  for  the  prophet 
 saw  the  King  the  Lord  of  Hosts;  but  John  saitli 
 that  Christ  was  the  Person  whose  glory  he  saw, 
 therefore  Christ,  is  evidently  the  King,  even  the 
 Lord  of  Hosts  ;  who  as  the  supreme  Judge  sitteth 
 upon  the  throne  of  his  humanity.  Let  us  therefore 
 distinguish  between  the  throne,  and  him  that  fills 
 it;  for  God  saith,  that  as  man,  he  shall  be  Isai. 
 xxii.  23.     "  Fastened  as  a  nail  in  a  sure  place ; 
 
3.3 
 
 and  he  shall  be  for  a  glorious  Throne  to  his  Father's 
 house."  This  is  the  tabernacle,  sanctuary,  or 
 throne,  which  God  pitched  and  not  man  ;  and  is 
 glorious,  because  in  it  sits  the  divine  Majesty  of 
 heaven;  asitis  written,  Jer.  xvii.  12.  "A  glorious 
 high  Throne  from  the  beginning  is  the  place  of  our 
 sanctuary."  God  himself,  Psal.  ix.  4.  "  setteth  in 
 (this)  Throne  judging  right." 
 
 It  is  an  imdoubted  truth,  that  Christ  as  man, 
 was,  Acts,  X.  42.  "  Ordained  of  God  to  be  the 
 judge  of  quick  and  dead."  But  as  God  supreme, 
 he  hiiiiself  is  not  constituted  nor  ordained,  but  is 
 omniscient ;  acting  as  such,  in  his  own  right,  and 
 will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his  works. 
 In  order  to  see  this,  let  us  take  particular  notice, 
 that  Paul  sets  it  forth  in  a  mystery  :  saying,  A  cts, 
 xvii.  30, — 31.  "And  the  times  of  this  ignorance 
 God  winked  at ;  but  now  commandeth  all  men 
 every  where  to  repent :  Because  he  hath  appointed 
 a  day,  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
 righteousness  by  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained." 
 The  learned  well  know,  that  instead  of  (by  that 
 man)  as  it  stands  in  our  translation,  it  should  be 
 according  to  the  literal  greek,  (In  that  man)  then 
 the  sense  will  be  materially  altered,  and  will  read 
 thus:  "  He  (God)  will  judge  the  world  in  righte- 
 ousness In  that  man  whom  He  hath  ordained." 
 Here  we  evidently  see  the  manhood  of  Christ  set 
 forth  as  an  instrument,  or  a  throne  of  Judgment, 
 filled  with  the  infinite  majesty  of  the  Trinity  in 
 Unity,  even  One  holy  and  just  God  judging  the 
 world  in  righteousness. 
 
34 
 
 Let  us  consider  now  by  the  help  of  God,  and 
 reconcile  the  seeming  contradictions  which  lay  in 
 our  way.  Christ  positively  declares,  saying,  John, 
 r.  22.  '•  For  the  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  hath 
 committed  all  judgment  unto  the  Son."  If  the 
 Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  all  judgment  is  com- 
 mitted to  Christ  only,  how  shall  we  reconcile  all 
 the  following  scriptures,  where  God  alone  is  set 
 forth  as  supreme  Judge?  as  it  is  written,  Psal. 
 Ixxv.  7.  "  God  is  the  Judge."  Paul  saith,  that 
 we  are,  Heb,  xii.  23.  "Come  to  God  the  Judge  of 
 all."  Moses  declares,  that  Dent,  xxxii.  36.  "The 
 Lord  (Jehovah)  shall  judge  his  people."  And 
 David  saith,  that  the  Mighty  God,  even  the  Lord, 
 Psal.  I.  4.  "  Shall  call  to  the  heavens  from  above, 
 and  to  the  earth,  that  he  may  Judge  his  people. — 
 And  the  heavens  shall  declare  his  righteousness : 
 for  God  is  Judge  himself."  This  great  difficulty, 
 and  seeming  contradiction,  cannot  be  reconciled, 
 but  by  the  mysterious  manner  of  God's  nature  and 
 mode  of  existence  :  for  two  supreme  Judges  there 
 cannot  be,  but  the  scriptures  have  wonder- 
 fully ascribed  all  judgment  to  be  vested  in  the 
 Son,  and  then  seemingly  contradict  themselves 
 by  declaring  that  God  is  Judge  himself,  in 
 order  to  shew,  that  the  Son  as  supreme  Judge, 
 is  One  God  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 The  argument  is  irresistible,  and  may  be  framed 
 thus  :  all  judgment  is  committed  to  the  Person  of 
 the  Son,  there  is  therefore  none  other  that  can  share 
 with  him,  for  he  has  it  all  to  himself:  but  God  is 
 said  to  be  that  Judge  himself;  it  is  evident  there- 
 
fore,  that  as  supremacy  can  only  belong-  to  One, 
 and  yet  the  scriptures  have  ascribed  it  to  two, 
 namely,  to  God  himself,  and  also  to  the  Son 
 alone,  who  has  the  power  of  judging  only,  to  the 
 exclusion  of  all  others,  for  the  Father  himself 
 judges  no  man,  it  follows  therefore,  that  the  Son 
 is  that  very  God  himself;  even  one  Jehovah  with 
 God,  who  shall  judge  his  people.  Thus  this 
 difficult  question,  with  many  more  of  like  nature, 
 are  sweetly  resolved  by  faith  in  the  Mystery  of  a 
 Trinity  of  Persons,  existing  in  the  Unity  of  One 
 essence  of  God.  This,  as  w^ell  as  Christ's  two 
 natures  in  One  Person,  is  the  key  to  open  up,  and 
 reconcile  all  seeming  contradictions,  doubts,  and 
 perplexities,  we  meet  with  in  the  scriptures.  If 
 Christ  had  been  inferior  to  the  Father  in  any  of  his 
 office  characters,  he  could  never  have  destroyed 
 the  works  of  the  Devil :  for  Satan  has  made  full 
 discovery  of  the  immutable  holiness  of  God  ;  who 
 in  just  judgment  has  bound  him  over  to  everlast- 
 ing punishment ;  and  being  on  that  account  full 
 of  malice,  wrath,  and  deadly  enmity  against  man, 
 in  whose  nature  the  Son  of  God  was  to  bruise  his 
 head,  he  vainly  imagined,  that  by  bringing  man 
 to  sin  against  God,  he  had  frustrated  the  purposes 
 of  the  Most  High,  and  rendered  it  impossible  now 
 for  the  Holy  Son  of  God  to  appear  in  the  nature  of 
 Man,  which  he  had  to  all  appearance  brought 
 under  the  same  condemnation  with  himself.  The 
 hellish  wisdom  of  the  subtle  serpent  was  however 
 completely  defeated  :  for  being  ignorant  of  the  in- 
 finite foreknowledge  of  God,  and  by  seeking  to 
 
 c2 
 
80 
 
 prevent  the  high  purposes  of  the  Lord,  he  most 
 effectually  fulfilled  his  word,  by  those  very  means 
 ■which  seemed  calculated  to  frustrate  them.  The 
 Devil  well  knows  that  sin  is  an  infinite  transgres- 
 sion, and  that  he  and  all  his  fallen  Legions  are 
 under  the  irrevocable  sentence  of  eternal  death : 
 but  he  knew  not,  what  he  has  learned  since,  that 
 there  are  in  One  God  three  self-existent  Persons, 
 of  equal  power,  glory,  and  dignity,  who  from 
 eternity  purposed  to  defeat  all  his  designs  and 
 hellish  wisdom :  by  entering  into  a  covenant  in  the 
 behalf  of  man,  which  being  founded  upon  all  the 
 attributes  of  God  harmonizing  in  the  finished  work 
 of  Christ,  should  most  effectually  counteract  the 
 gates  of  hell,  and  rescue  the  elect  from  the  eternal 
 condemnation  of  the  devil.  Here  we  may  discern 
 the  infinite  wisdom  of  God;  that  as  Satan  ruined 
 man,  and  thought  himself  sure  of  victory,  it  really 
 turned  to  his  everlasting  shame  and  final  destruc- 
 tion :  for  this  dreadful  event,  brought  the  eternal 
 Son  of  God  from  heaven,  that  in  man's  nature  he 
 might  destroy  the  devil,  and  all  his  works,  give 
 the  Law  of  God  a  divine  obedience,  die  the  just 
 for  the  unjust,  and  by  making  an  end  of  Sin, 
 destroy  most  efiectually  the  powers  of  darkness ; 
 and  finally  Judge  them  in  that  very  nature, 
 they  despised  and  disdained  to  worship  their 
 maker  in. 
 
 Every  thing  in  the  creation  acts  according  to  its 
 nature:  for  a  hungry  lion  will  roar,  and  a  serpent 
 will  hiss,  so  the  devil  also  is  so  drove  by  the  power 
 of  Sin,  that  he  cannot  rest  day  nor  night.     He 
 
S7 
 
 knows  that  Christ  is  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  God 
 in  human  nature,  and  a  self-existent  Person;  yet 
 notwithstanding,  he  becomes  daily  a  lying  spirit 
 in  the  mouth  of  all  his  children,  and  opposes  this 
 glorious  doctrine  I  have  been  so  earnestly  setting 
 forth ;  and  though  he  knows  that  by  so  doing  he 
 shall  receive  the  greater  damnation,  he  neverthe- 
 less goes  on  in  his  rage  and  malice,  and  influences 
 his  ministers  with  the  same.  It  is  truly  lamentable 
 to  see  the  extreme  sloth  of  many,  who  are  esteem- 
 ed as  sound  ministers,  who  are  contented  with 
 a  dry  formal  knowledge  of  these  things,  without 
 making  any  spiritual  efforts  to  defend  them  ;  while 
 on  the  other  hand,  we  behold  so  many,  exerting 
 all  the  infernal  sagacity  and  strength  they  are 
 masters  of,  in  opposing  and  beclouding  the  self- 
 existent  sonship  of  Christ.*  I  shall  therefore 
 endeavour  in  the  name  of  God,  to  give  my  testi- 
 mony of  this  great  and  weighty  matter  in  the 
 following  chapter. 
 
 *  Not  only  the  ignorance  and  sloth  of  preachers  in  general 
 is  remarkable  enough,  but  the  enmity  and  stupidity  of  many 
 professors,  who  think  themselves  rich,  and  increased  with  goods, 
 and  have  need  of  nothing,  is  truly  lamentable.  Some,  when 
 they  have  been  asked,  whether  they  had  read  the  Mystery  of 
 God,  have  exposed  their  folly  by  answering,  that  they  had  no 
 desire:  "  For  the  D*****,  has  written  upon  the  Trinity,  and  no- 
 thing can  be  added,  to  what  he  has  said  on  the  subject."  Would 
 it  not  be  very  absurd  and  ridiculous  to  say,  that,  because  Luther 
 has  written  on  Justification,  and  Calvin  on  the  Trinity,  that  it 
 is  of  no  use,  either  to  preach  or  write  on  these  subjects,  as  if 
 nothing  could  be  added?  Is  not  tiiis  ascribing  Omniscience  and 
 self-sulficicncy  to  tlie  creature,  which  belongs  to  God  only? 
 *'  How  long,  ye  simple  ones,  will  ye  love  simplicity?  and  the 
 scorners  deliglit  in  scorning,  and  fools  hate  knowledge?"  Prov, 
 i.  22. 
 
38 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 Wherein  the  self-existent  divinity  of  Christ,  in  the  Cove^ 
 nant  character  of  a  Son,  is  clearly  vindicated,  proved, 
 •  and  established,  and  the  pre-existence  of  his  human  soul 
 overturned,  as  a  satanic  lie. 
 
 Proof  1. — Hoio  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God  hy  eternal 
 generation. 
 
 Christ  is  so  wonderful  and  mysterious  in  his 
 infinitely  glorious  Person,  that  although  I  have 
 said  so  much  about  him  already,  yet  I  perceive 
 that  I  have  scarcely  began  the  outlines  of  his 
 wonderful  character ;  having  yet  many,  things  to 
 say  concerning  him,  and  hard  to  be  uttered, 
 seeing  thiat  we  are  both  dull  of  speech  and  of 
 hearing.  However,  having  obtained  grace  to 
 come  thus  far  with  the  measuring  reed  in  my  hand, 
 I  doubt  not,  but  that  the  same  God,  who  has 
 enabled  me  to  vindicate  his  truth  in  faith  and 
 much  love,  will  also  enable  me  now  to  give  a  satis- 
 factory account  of  the  eternal  Sonship  of  his  dear 
 
 Son. 
 
 I  have  already  hinted,  that  neither  the  Father, 
 
 Son,  nor  Holy  Ghost,  have  assumed  the  names 
 
 they  are  distinguished  by,  to  give  us  any  idea  of 
 
 their  manner  of  existence,  but  to  shew  us  in  some 
 
39 
 
 measure  their  manner  of  acting;  and  the  part  that 
 each  of  those  divine  Persons  has  taken  in  the  im- 
 portant management  of  man's  redemption.  On 
 the  other  hand,  take  heed,  lest  you  should  mis- 
 understand my  meaning,  and  run  away  with  an 
 ignorant  notion,  that  1  attempt  in  any  wise,  to 
 represent  the  three  Persons  of  the  Trinity  to  be 
 only  covenant  names.  Take  notice  therefore  of 
 this  important  distinction,  that  their  names  are 
 truly  covenant  names  ;  but  that  they  themselves 
 are  real,  distinct,  and  self-existent  Persons,  who 
 bear  those  covenant  names.  The  names  which 
 the  three  Persons  have  assumed,  do  not  make 
 tiiem  to  be  Persons :  for  as  such,  they  were 
 distinct  agents  from  everlasting  to  everlasting ; 
 and  because  they  were  Persons,  they  have  revealed 
 themselves  by  those  sacred  names  they  are  dis- 
 tinguished by.  I  assert  therefore,  that  both  the 
 names,  and  Persons  must  be  connected  together; 
 not  to  identify  their  nature  or  mode  of  existence, 
 but  to  evince  their  distinct  operations,  as  distinct 
 agents  in  One  mysterious  essence  of  God.  So 
 far  from  supposing  that  the  self-existent  God,  is 
 only  a  Trinity  of  names,  I  believe,  and  maintain, 
 with  the  sweetest  confidence  imaginable,  that  the 
 Person  of  the  Father,  was  always  a  Father  from 
 all  eternity ;  and  that  the  Person  of  Christ,  was 
 alw  ays  the  Son  of  the  Father,  in  truth  and  love 
 from  everlasting ;  and  that  the  Person  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  was  always  from  eternity  that  Holy 
 inspirer,  who  undertook  to  reveal  the  deep  things 
 of  God  unto  the  elect. 
 
40 
 
 That  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God  from  eternity,  is 
 evident,  from  what  as  ah*eady  been  said  in  the 
 2d  Chap.  1  Art.  where  I  have  proved,  that  God 
 is  self-existent,  immutable,  and  was,  what  he  is, 
 and  shall  ever  be  the  same,  from  everlasting  to 
 everlasting :  but  he  has  revealed  himself  to  be  a 
 Trinity  of  Persons,  which  exist  in  one  essence  or 
 nature  of  God ;  therefore,  Christ,  who  is  one  of 
 those  Persons,  is  thereby  proved  to  be  the  Son  of 
 God  from  eternity.  Consider,  that  my  proof  is 
 solidly  founded  upon  the  word  of  God ;  w  ho  de- 
 clares, saying,  Mai  iii.  6.  "  I  am  the  Lord,  I 
 change  not."  Seeing  that  he  is  the  same,  and 
 that  with  him  there  is  no  variableness,  nor  shadow 
 of  turning,  my  argument  takes  this  invincible 
 form  :  God  is  immutably  the  same  from  eternity ; 
 but  three  Persons  are  that  immutable  eternal  God, 
 therefore,  Christ,  who  is  One  of  those  Persons,  is 
 evidently  the  immutable  Son  of  God  from  eternity. 
 Immutability  being  a  fixed  state,  it  is  evident,  that 
 three  Persons  of  equal  eternity,  power,  and  glory, 
 always  existed  in  God,  who  cannot  change :  for 
 if  he  became  three  Persons  in  time  only,  and  was 
 not  so  from  eternity,  then  he  is  not  immutable;  and 
 has,  contrary  to  his  o^^  n  word,  changed  his  man- 
 ner of  existence,  from  being  one  Person  to  three : 
 but  Jehovah  is  not  One  Person,  but  One  self-ex- 
 istent essence  of  immutable  Godhead,  and  yet 
 three  Persons.  These  three  Persons  must  of  ne- 
 cessity be  immutable,  eternal,  and  self-existent  : 
 for  they  themselves  are  that  very  God,  who  is  im- 
 mutably the  same  from  all  eternity. 
 
41 
 
 TaJce  heed,  not  to  conceive  carnally,  concerning  the  eternal 
 generation  of  the  So7i  of  God. 
 
 Behold,  there  is  nothing  new  to  the  Father  of 
 eternity  :  the  past,  present,  and  the  future,  are  all 
 alike  to  him,  who  is  omniscient  and  infinite  in  all 
 his  attributes.  He  always  loved  the  Son  of  his 
 bosom,  who  was  daily  his  delight.  The  Son  was 
 always  with  him,  by  him,  and  in  him ;  Prov.  viii. 
 23 — 31,  "  Rejoicing  always  before  him."  The 
 Holy  Spirit  was  ever  the  Spirit  of  joy  and  love : 
 for  he  is  in  God,  and  of  God,  being  One  with  Je- 
 hovah, and  is  God  himself,  who  is  love.  The 
 eternal  Father  always  loved  his  elect  in  the  eternal 
 Son;  Eph.  i.  4.  "  According  as  he  hath  chosen 
 (them)  in  him  before  the  foundation  of  the  world;" 
 and  "  Promised  them  eternal  life  in  this  Beloved 
 before  the  world  began, — According  to  the  eter- 
 nal purpose  which  he  purposed  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
 Lord."  But  how  could  an  .absolute  God,  a  con- 
 suming fire,  a  just  and  Holy  God,  who  from  all 
 eternity  saw  his  elect  in  the  ruins  of  the  fall,  de- 
 parted from  him  by  wicked  works,  and  utter  ene- 
 mies to  him,  I  say,  how  could  he  foreknow,  pre- 
 destinate, love,  and  have  such  purposes  of  grace 
 towards  them  ?  I  answ  er,  that  in  Christ  Jesus  he 
 purposed  these  things  from  all  eternity,  Eph.  i.  6. 
 "  To  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  wherein 
 he  hath  made  us  accepted  in  the  Beloved." 
 Take  notice,  therefore,  that  although  these  things 
 are  exceeding  hard  to  be  understood  and  uttered, 
 yet  this  is  the  ground  where  we  must  stand  upon, 
 m  order,  in  some  measure,  to  comprehend  the 
 
4a 
 
 eternal  generation  of  the  Son  of  God.  No  other- 
 wise, nor  on  any  other  ground,  could  a  most  Holy 
 God  accept  and  love  his  people  with  an  everlast- 
 ing immutable  love,  but  in  his  Only  Begotten 
 Son.  Great  care  now  must  be  taken,  lest  we 
 should  think,  that  the  Son  of  God,  because  he  is 
 said  to  be  Begotten,  is  produced  of  the  essence  of 
 the  Father:  for  this  is  the  Avian  heresy;  who 
 conceive  carnally  of  this  most  mysterious  beget- 
 ting ;  but  we  must  consider  this  difficult  point  in 
 the  most  sublime  and  spiritual  manner  imagina- 
 ble, by  God's  gracious  help. 
 
 Proof  2. — Shewing  how  Christ  is  the  Only  Begotten  of 
 the  Father  by  sphitual  and  eternal  Generation;  which 
 mystery  must  he  spiritually  understood. 
 
 I  HAVE  already  sufficiently  proved,  that  Chjist 
 is  co-equal  and  co-eternal  with  the  Father,  being 
 consubstantial,  and  essential  to  the  very  manner 
 of  Jehovah's  existence.  The  Son  of  God,  there- 
 fore, could  never  be  produced  of  the  substance  of 
 the  Father,  because  he  was  always  with  the  Fa- 
 ther from  everlasting,  being  with  him  the  First, 
 (self-existent  principle)  and  the  Last  (who  would 
 uphold  all  others  in  existence)  ;  if  then  he  is  the 
 First,  and  the  Last,  how  could  he  be  Begotten, 
 .seeing  that  he  himself  is  the  self-existent  God  ? 
 The  immutability  also  of  the  nature,  essence,  and 
 fixed  state  of  the  Godhead,  will  not  allow  of  such 
 a  begetting ;  because  such  a  change  cannot  pos- 
 sibly take  place  in  him  who  is  unchangeable.  I 
 coacludt,  therefore,  that  Christ  as  God  onlv,  can 
 
43 
 
 never  be  termed  Begotten ;  because  we  have  proved 
 him  aheady  to  be  the  First  unbegotten  principle, 
 who  gave  existence  to  all.  How  then  is  he  Be- 
 gotten ?  Some  say,  that  he  was  Begotten  for  ought 
 we  know  many  ages  before  the  world  began. 
 This  I  utterly  deny :  for  it  is  a  horrible  blasphemy, 
 invented  by  the  devil ;  who,  begets  this  lie  in  the 
 hearts  of  his  blind  children,  in  order  to  rob  Christ 
 of  his  eternal  Sonship.  You  will  say,  how  then 
 is  he  the  Only  Begotten  ?  I  answer,  that  as  God 
 and  Man,  he  is  the  Only  Begotten  ;  and  has,  as 
 such,  the  pre-eminence  over  all  others.  You  will 
 say  to  me,  how  can  this  be,  seeing  that  Christ  was 
 not  incarnate?  Though  man  was  not  yet  formed, 
 nor  Christ  manifest  in  the  flesh,  yet  the  Eternal 
 Father,  who  seeth,  "  And  calleth  those  thing;? 
 which  be  not  as  thouigh  they  were,"  viewed  his 
 Son,  as  God  and  Man,  as  touching  his  divine 
 Person  from  all  eternity.  None  will  deny,  but 
 that  the  human  nature  of  Christ  was  begotten, 
 formed,  or  made  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  by  the 
 Father,  one  God ;  but  the  Father  in  his  eternal 
 purpose,  begat  him  from  everlasting ;  and  as  such 
 he  is  essentially  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  and  the 
 Only  Begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and 
 truth  from  eternity.  Thus  the  Son  of  God  was 
 always,  and  ever  Begotten.  Some  may  say,  how 
 can  Christ  be  the  Only  Begotten,  seeing  that  all 
 the.  children  of  God  were  according  to  his  eternal 
 purpose  also  begotten  in  his  infinite  mind  from 
 everlasting?  Wherein  then  has  Christ  the  pre- 
 eminence of  being  the  Only  Begotten  ?  Christ  has 
 
44 
 
 no  advantage  or  pre-eminence  over  angels:^  and 
 men,  as  man  only ;  but  all  dignity,  glory,  power, 
 and  pre-eminence  flows  to  the  manhood  fi'om  his 
 higher  nature,  in  which  he  is  the  true  God  and 
 eternal  Life.  Angels  and  men,  though  they  had 
 an  existence  as  sons  of  God  in  the  eternal  pur- 
 pose of  their  maker,  yet  they  had  not  personal 
 existence  from  eternity,  but  were  created  in  time. 
 The  Son  of  God  is  not  so,  but  he  was  and  is  a 
 reality  ;  actually  existing  from  eternity,  as  a  real 
 self-existent  Person,  as  I  have  already  proved  in- 
 disputably. God  himself  has  declared,  that  he 
 is  the  Only  Reality ;  saying,  "  There  is  none 
 beside  me."  But  Christ  himself  as  God  claims 
 this;  saying,  Isai.  xlv.  22.  "  Look  unto  me, 
 and  be  ye  saved  all  the  ends  of  the  earth ; 
 for  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  else."  None, 
 therefore,  of  the  sons  that  God  begat  in  time,  can 
 claim  personal  existence  in  reality  from  everlast- 
 ing ;  consequently,  the  Son  of  God  alone,  is  truly 
 by  right  of  self-existence  in  his  higher  nature  the 
 Only  and  eternally  Begotten  of  the  Father;  whom 
 he  viewed  eternally  man  as  well  as  God.  Christ's 
 manhood  was  so  completely  viewed  by  the  Father 
 as  united  to  the  Godhead  from  eternity,  that  it 
 served  as  the  pattern  in  heaven,  after  which  Adam 
 was  made;  Rom.  v.  14.  "  Who  is  the  figure  of 
 Him  that  was  to  come."  Adam  and  all  the  elect 
 were  foreknown  in  Christ ;  as  Paul  saith,  Rom. 
 viii.  29.  "  Whom  he  foreknew  he  also  did  pre- 
 destinate to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his 
 Son :"   But  Adam,  who  is  the  figure  of  Christ,  is 
 
45 
 
 also  declared  to  be  created  in  the  image  of  God  ; 
 it  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  Son  of  God  in 
 whose  image  he  was  made,  is  that  God,  whom 
 the  Father  considered  also  as  man  from  everlast- 
 ing. 
 
 I  hope  that  by  this  time,  every  honest  simple 
 christian,  who  is  taught  of  God,  can,  in  answer  to 
 his  prayers  and  desires,  see  evidently  the  eternal 
 generation  of  the  Only  Begotten  Son  of  God  ;  and 
 also  perceive  the  awful  errors  of  those  proud  self- 
 conceited  men,  who,  for  want  of  the  illumination  of 
 God's  Spirit,  get  blinder  and  blinder,  by  denying 
 the  things  I  have  so  clearly  proved.  As  I  have 
 advanced  nothing  of  my  own,  but  only  those  things 
 which  all  good  men  read  and  acknowledge,  I  am 
 therefore  fully  persuaded,  that  all  those  who  are 
 influenced  to  believe  and  rejoice  with  me  in  this 
 great  mystery,  are  of  God ;  but  those  miserable 
 men,  who  continue  in  their  opposition,  and  gain- 
 say this  great  verity,  are  not  of  God.  The  cau- 
 tious, scrupulous  christian,  may  see,  that  I  have 
 used  no  deception,  nor  built  arguments  upon  a 
 rotten  foundation :  for  I  have  laid  for  a  solid  foun- 
 dation, the  self-existent  immutable  nature  of  God ; 
 and  have  clearly  proved  that  Father,  Son,  and 
 Holy  Ghost,  is  that  One  immutable  eternal  God ; 
 so  that  Christ  is  thereby  proved  to  be  the  Son  of 
 God  from  everlasting.  I  have  also  clearly  shewed, 
 that  Cln-ist,  as  touching  his  divinity,  is  neither 
 generated,  made,  produced,  nor  begotten  of  the 
 Father ;  but  is  co-essentially  One  eternal  self-exis- 
 tent imcreated  principle  with  him,  being  without 
 
46 
 
 beginning  of  days  or  end  of  life.  From  all  tiiat 
 has  been  said,  it  is  evident,  that  God  foreknew  the 
 human  nature  of  Christ,  begat  it  from  everlasting 
 in  his  eternal  mind,  and  viewed  it  as  united  to  his 
 divine  nature,  forming  the  glorious  Person  of  the 
 Only  Begotten  Son  of  God  ;  whose  human  nature, 
 in  consequence  of  this  foreseen  determined  union, 
 he  chose,  and  set  up  from  everlasting,  and  the 
 elect  in  him.  The  Son  of  God  being  a  reality, 
 that  is,  a  real,  divine,  living,  and  self-existing 
 Person  from  eternity,  when  neither  angels  nor  men 
 had  any  real  existence,  gives  him  in  this  foreseen 
 union  of  the  tw^o  natures,  that  glorious  pre-emi- 
 nence of  being  the  Only  Begotten  Son  of  God. 
 The  Person  of  the  Father,  saw  him  from  eternity 
 as  God  and  man,  his  fellow,  and  self-existent 
 equal  in  one  undivided  essence  of  immutable 
 Godhead;  and  as  such  found  him  all-sufficient, 
 and  worthy  to  enter  into  covenant  with  from  ever- 
 lasting ;  w  hich  eternal  covenant  is  not  a  nonentity, 
 as  foolish,  and  blind  heretics  pretend,  but  a  re- 
 ality :  for  it  was  made  with  the  eternal  Son  of 
 God,  whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  the  days 
 of  eternity,  to  fulfil  the  conditions  thereof.  Mic. 
 V.  2.  The  grand  blessing  contained  in  the  ever- 
 lasting covenant,  is  eternal  life;  Tit.i.  2.  "Which 
 God,  that  cannot  lie,  promised  before  the  world 
 began."  The  Father  is  here  represented  in  the 
 act  of  promising  life,  not  to  a  nonentity,  but  to  him 
 whom  he  viewed  as  God  and  man,  a  real  living 
 person,  actually  contracting  with  him  before  the 
 world  began ;  that  is,  from  eternity :  2  Cor.  i.  20. 
 
47 
 
 "  For  all  the  promises  of  God  in  him  are  yea,  and 
 in  him  amen ;"  as  it  is  written,  Psal.  xxi.  4.  "  He 
 asked  life  of  thee,  and  thou  gavest  it  him,  even 
 length  of  days  for  ever  and  ever."  The  Father 
 promised  him,  saying,  Isai.  xxvi.  19.  "■  Thy  dead 
 men  shall  live."  According  to  this  eternal  coun- 
 sel, the  Son  of  God  came  in  due  time,  and  reveal- 
 ed this  eternal  purpose  to  us ;  saying,  John,  xii. 
 49.  "  I  have  not  spoken  of  myself;  but  the  Father 
 which  sent  me,  he  gave  me  a  commandment  M'hat 
 I  should  say,  and  what  I  should  speak.  And  I 
 know  that  his  commandment  is  life  everlasting." 
 
 Finally,  nothing  will  clear  this  mysterious  point 
 more  satisfactorily  than  Christ's  own  testimony, 
 who  declares,  that  as  the  Only  Begotten  Son,  and 
 as  a  real  living  divine  Person,  he  had  a  glory  as 
 God  and  man  from  eternity ;  saying,  John,  xvii. 
 4,  5.  "I  have  glorified  thee  on  the  earth :  i  have 
 finished  the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do. 
 And  now,  O  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  tliine 
 own  self  with  the  glory  which  I  had  with  thee 
 before   the   world   was."      As  if  he    had  said, 
 "  Father,  from  everlasting  I  engaged  to  undertake 
 for  ruined  men,  to  become  their  Almighty  Media- 
 tor,  Intercessor,    Surety,   Priest,    Prophet,    and 
 King ;  and  thou  didst  view  me  in  my  Person  as 
 God  and  man,  in  all  these  covenant  characters. 
 Thou  didst  verily  enter  into  covenant  with  me,  as 
 thy  co-equal  eternal  Son,   and  considering  me  a 
 most  mysterious  Person  possessing  two  natures; 
 thou  didst  from  the  ages  of  eternity  accept  my 
 all-prevailing  mediation,  and  didst  promise  to  he 
 
48 
 
 the  Father  of  my  humanity.  Father,  thou  only 
 knowest  me,  even  as  I  also  know  thee :  for  beinj^ 
 One  in  essence,  mind,  and  pmpose,  I  knew  that 
 my  mediation  was  according  to  thine  own  pur- 
 pose and  grace  in  me:  for  all  that  I  purpose  and 
 do,  is  thine  own  purpose  and  act,  being  well-pleas- 
 ing to  thee.  Thou  didst  from  eternity  view  me 
 with  great  delight,  as  man,  dignified  by  mysteri- 
 ous union  with  my  Godhead ;  and  saidst,  Isai. 
 xlix.  3.  '  Thou  art  my  servant,  O  Israel,  in  whom 
 I  will  be  glorified.'  Father,  thou  knowest  that  1 
 am  a  self-existent  Person  with  thee  from  everlast- 
 ing, and  that  I  really  existed  in  thy  sight,  as  God 
 and  future  man ;  as  such,  thou  gavest  me  glory : 
 John,  xvii.  24.  '  For  thou  lovest  me  before  the 
 foundation  of  the  world.'  And  now  Father,  I  am 
 really  man  as  well  as  God,  and  in  that  nature 
 which  I  have  assumed,  I  have  glorified  thee  upon 
 the  earth  ;  J  have  finished  the  work  which  thou 
 gavest  me  to  do.  I  have  magnified  thy  law,  and 
 given  it  a  perfect  obedience;  and  now,  I  ahi 
 coming  to  thee  through  death,  as  thy  first-born 
 from  the  dead,  that  I  might  have  the  pre-eminence, 
 of  being  the  First  Begotten  in  this  mysterious  way, 
 as  well  as  from  everlasting.  Therefore,  as  thou  didst 
 glorify  me  from  everlasting,  and  I  dwelled  in  thy 
 bosom,  as  God  and  man,  thy  Only  Begotten  Son, 
 glorify  me  now  (as  man  dignified  by  ineffable 
 union,  and  infinite  merits  of  my  Godhead,)  with 
 thy  own  self  with  the  glory  which  I  had  co-equally 
 with  thee  as  such  before  the  world  was." 
 
 The  testimony  we  have  obtained  from  the  word 
 
49 
 
 of  God,  will  enable  us  now  to  draw  up  such  argu- 
 ments, and  inferences,  which  neither  men  nor 
 devils  shall  be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist. 
 
 Argument.  1.  Christ  as  God  and  man,  is  the 
 Person  of  the  Only  Begotten ;  who  as  such, 
 petitioned  to  be  glorified  with  the  same  glory  which 
 he  had  before  the  world  was.  I  conclude  there- 
 fore, that  he  who  had  a  glory  from  eternity,  is  the 
 same  who  claimed  it  when  upon  earth;  But 
 Cluist  who  claims  this  glory  is  as  God  and  man 
 the  only  Begotten,  therefore  the  Father  viewed 
 him  as  God  and  man  before  the  world  was  ;  and 
 as  such,  he  had  a  glory  with  him  from  eternity, 
 as  the  Only  Begotten  full  of  grace  and  truth. 
 
 Argument.  2.  God  who  cannot  change,  is  the 
 self-existent  immutable  living  principle  from  eter- 
 nity ;  but  three  divine  Persons  are  this  immutable 
 eternal  God,  therefore  Christ,  who  is  one  of  those 
 immutable  Persons,  was  considered  as  God  and 
 man  by  the  Father  from  everlasting  ;  and  as  such, 
 he  is  the  Person  of  the  Only  Begotten  Son  of 
 God. 
 
 Argument.  3.  Christ  is  not  a  Person  as  God  only, 
 nor  as  man  abstractedly  considered  ;  but  as  God 
 and  man,  he  is  that  wonderful  mysterious  Person 
 from  eternity,  in  whom,  God  chose  the  elect,  had 
 purposes  of  grace  towards  them,  and  blessed 
 them  with  all  spiritual  blessings  in  him  before  the 
 foundation  of  the  world.  God  entered  not  into 
 covenant  with  a  nature  only,  but  with  a  Person  ; 
 even  with  Christ,  who  is  God  and  man  the  only 
 Begotten  :  *'  For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 gave  his  Only  Begotten  Son  :"  but  he  loved  his 
 people  with  an  everlasting  love,  which  could  not 
 have  flowed  towards  them  but  through  the  beloved, 
 in  whom  he  accepted  them  from  eternity.  Now 
 it  is  certain,  that  God  could  not  give  the  higher 
 nature  of  his  Son  in  sacrifice  for  the  life  of  the 
 world,  for  that  cannot  die,  but  he  gave  the  human- 
 ity of  him,  who  in  his  Person  is  God  and  man, 
 Eph.  3.  11.  "According  to  his  eternal  purpose 
 which  he  purposed  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord."  I 
 conclude  therefore,  that  as  Christ  has  already 
 been  proved  to  be  a  real,  living,  self-existent 
 Person,  that  the  Father  considered  him  in  all  his 
 office  characters,  as  the  Person  of  God  and  man 
 from  eternity :  "  For  the  counsel  of  peace  was 
 betwixt  them  both,"  and  God  was  reconciled  to 
 love  his  elect  from  everlasting,  by  the  future  death 
 of  his  Son,  who  in  time  was  taken  and  crucified 
 by  wicked  hands ,  and  thus  fulfilled  the  designs 
 of  the  eternal  purpose,  covenant,  and  agreement 
 entered  into  from  the  days  of  eternity,  between 
 Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  For  Christ  the 
 Only  Begotten,  was  really  delivered  into  the 
 hands  of  wicked  men  to  be  slain ;  but  it  was  in 
 consequence,  of  Acts.  ii.  23.  "  The  determinate 
 counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God."  God  there- 
 fore viewed  Christ,  as  God  and  man  from  eternity, 
 and  in  time ;  and  as  man  united  and  dignified  with 
 his  eternal  Godhead,  he  is  the  eternal  Son  of  God, 
 and  the  Only  Begotten.  The  argument  is  both 
 scriptural  and  clear,  and  may  be  drawn  up  thus : 
 the  elect  world  cannot  be  reconciled  to  God,  but 
 
51 
 
 by  the  death  of  his  Son  ;  but  he  was  reconciled  to 
 his  church  from  eternity ;  for  he  immutably  loved 
 his  elect  ill  his  Sou  with  au  everlastiug  love  ;  but  as 
 this  recouciUation  and  eternal  love  can  only  flow 
 to  them  through  the  death  of  his  Son,  whose 
 humanity  only  could  suffer  death,  it  is  evident 
 therefore,  that  the  Father  considered  him  as  God 
 and  man  from  everlasting:  as  such,  he  is  the 
 Person  of  the  Only  Begotten  son  of  God ;  whom 
 he  always  gave,  and  delivered  up  by  determinate 
 counsel,  foreknowledge,  purpose,  and  decree  from 
 eternity,  that  he  might  be  manifested  to  be  the 
 immutable  God  of  Love. 
 
 Thus  I  have  laboured,  by  the  grace  of  God  to 
 set  before  his  people,  the  truth  concerning  the 
 eternal  Sonship  of  Christ,  as  the  Only  Begotten 
 of  the  Father  full  of  Grace  and  truth.  If  any  that 
 fear  God,  find  that  they  cannot  fully  comprehend 
 these  things,  notwithstanding  I  have  endeavoured 
 to  be  as  exphcit  and  as  clear  as  1  possibly  could, 
 then  let  such,  instead  of  fainting  at  the  appearance 
 of  difficulties,  call  upon  God  for  more  wisdom, 
 and  labour  in  the  Spirit  as  1  have  done,  and  they 
 also  shall  reap  in  due  time,  if  they  faint  not. 
 Happy  are  those  souls,  that  receive  the  truth  I 
 have  been  enabled  to  vindicate  in  the  love  of  it: 
 for  it  is  eternal  life  to  know  experimentally,  that 
 Jesus  Christ  is  the  eternal  Son  of  God.  He  that 
 from  an  application  of  the  infinite  merits  of  Christ 
 to  his  heart,  has  found  him  to  be  the  Son  of  God 
 with  power,  according  to  the  spirit  of  hohness, 
 by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,  and  confesses 
 
 D  2 
 
52 
 
 liiiii  to  be  the  Only  Begotten  eternal  Son,  the 
 great  i  am,  the  Holy  Ghost  declares  of  such  an 
 one,  that  1  John,iv.  15.  "God  dwelleth  in  him, 
 and  he  in  God."  But  if  any  deny  his  eternal  Son- 
 ship  as  God  and  man,  or  bring  any  other  form  of 
 doctrine,  bid  him  not  God  speed,  nor  receive  him 
 into  your  house  :  for  Satan  dwelleth  in  him,  and 
 he  in  him. 
 
 Proof  2. — Shewing  clearly  from  Scripture^  that  the  long 
 invented  notion  of  the  pre-existence  of  the  human  Soul 
 of  Christ,  is  a  capital  error;  of  ivhich  the  devil  is  the 
 author,  in  order,  to  lead  men  to  Arianism,  destruction, 
 and  everlasting  perdition. 
 
 Christ  in  his  Person,  office  characters,  and 
 especially  as  the  Only  Begotten  eternal  Son  of  God, 
 is  a  profound  and  exceeding  deep  mystery;  as 
 such,  I  have  endeavoured  in  the  fear  of  God  to 
 treat  this  important  subject.  When  clouds  and 
 darkness  have  overwhelmed  my  judgment,  I  have 
 been  enabled  to  cry  to  the  Lord  for  wisdom  and 
 understanding,  who  according  to  his  promise, 
 has  sent  his  word,  and  has  by  his  spirit  enlightened 
 my  darkness.  I  believe  from  my  heart,  that  being 
 enabled  through  grace  to  go  this  safe  way  to  work, 
 he  has  kept  me  from  mixing  my  own  wisdom 
 with  this  great  argument.  Had  the  famed  Origeu, 
 among  the  ancients,  and  many  more  among  our 
 modern  supposed  wise  men,  counted  their  attain- 
 ments in  human  erudition  as  dung  and  dross  with 
 the  humble  Apostle  Paul,  and  been  contented  like 
 him  with  the  teaching  of  God,  they  would  not 
 
53 
 
 have  followed  that  vain  and  pestilent  deceit,  cal- 
 led Philosophy.  Not  the  teaching  of  God  in  his 
 word,  but  their  own  corrupt  reason  and  wisdom, 
 have  led  these  men  to  pervert  the  truth  of  Christ's 
 mysterious  Sonship,  by  inventing-  the  unscriptural 
 notion  of  a  human  Soul  being  united  with  the 
 Logos,  or  Word,  before  the  foundation  of  the 
 world.  Some  have  been  so  deprived  of  their 
 senses,  that  they  have  not  been  ashamed  to 
 advance  this  monstrous  absurdity ;  that  Christ's 
 human  soul  pre-existed  from  everlasting.  How- 
 ever, this  single  question  will  overturn  this  foolish 
 notion :  (How  can  that  which  is  created  and  made 
 be  self-existent  from  everlasting?  for  none  but 
 Jehovah  is  self-existent ;  but  a  created  Soul  is  not 
 the  everlasting  God.)  I  am  persuaded  that  this 
 pernicious  doctrine,  is  so  much  the  more  danger- 
 ous to  the  souls  of  men,  because  it  seems  in  itself 
 at  first  sight  to  be  harmless,  and  consistent  with 
 many  scriptures  to  all  appearance ;  but  in  reality 
 it  is  the  very  depth  of  Satanic  craft,  deceit,  and 
 the  fittest  shoe-inghorn  of  the  gates  of  hell,  to  lead 
 men  to  deny  the  Lord  that  bought  them,  and 
 bring  upon  themselves  the  greater  damnation. 
 None  shall  escape  these  wiles  of  Satan,  and  the 
 snares  of  that  whore,  which  is  Pro  v.  xxiii.  31, — 
 32.  "A  deep  ditch,"  but  those  that  please  God; 
 who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose,  and 
 who  have  ears  to  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  to  the 
 churches  in  these  important  words :  "  Look  not 
 thou  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it  giveth 
 its  colour  in  the  cup,  Avhen  it  moveth  itself  aright, 
 
54 
 
 At  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent,  and  stingeth  like 
 an  adder." 
 
 Let  us  ask  the  important  question,  wherefore 
 the  noiiou  of  the  pre-existence  of  Christ's  human 
 Soul,  has  been  invented,  and  what  end  it  answers, 
 or  what  advantage  and  benefit  they  reap,  and 
 what  they  really  aim  at  who  holtl  it,  and  who  is  the 
 gainer  by  it?  Satan  himself  is  the  reaper,  and 
 gains  much  every  way  :  for  as  he  was  cast  out  of 
 heaven,  by  not  abiding  in  tlie  truth,  and  by  denying, 
 opposing,  and  rebelling  against  the  self-existent 
 power  and  Godhead  of  the  eternal  and  Only  Begot- 
 ten Son  of  God,  so  he  travails  now  with  the  same  lie, 
 and  begets  it  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men ; 
 knowing  it  to  be  the  most  cfiectual  way  to  bring 
 them  under  the  same  condemnation,  and  with  him 
 to  be  reserved  in  the  same  everlasting  chains  under 
 darkness  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 
 
 1.   Why  men  hold  the  pre-existence  of  the  human  soul  of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 It  is  in  general  held  by  such,  who  being  lifted 
 up  with  pride  trust  in  their  own  wisdom  and 
 reason;  who  have  been  ever  learning  for  many 
 years,  and  yet  have  never  been  able  to  come  to 
 the  real  experimental  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
 Such  men  being  not  taught  of  God,  destitute 
 of  the  spirit  of  Grace  and  supplication,  and  being 
 not  able  to  comprehend  the  mysterious  Sonship 
 of  Christ  from  eternity,  these,  knowing  nothing 
 
55 
 
 but  what  they  know  naturally,  become  fit  tools 
 of  the  Devil;  who  begets  m  their  hearts,  the 
 same  inveterate  enmity  against  the  eternal  Person- 
 ality of  the  Son  of  God  he  himself  labours  under; 
 with  this  difTerence,  that  he  completely  deceives 
 them,  by  teaching  them  to  deny,  ^'vhat  he  woe- 
 fully knows  to  be  the  truth.  When  men  who  are 
 destitute  of  godly  fear,  and  of  that  faith  which 
 works  by  love,  receive  not  the  love  of  the  truth, 
 but  hold  it  in  unrighteousness,  God  in  just 
 judgment  sends  them  strong  delusions,  that  they 
 should  believe  a  lie ;  and  verily  many  are  now 
 held  fast  here,  who  shall  never  return.  The 
 Mystery  of  the  Trinity,  and  the  eternal  Sonship 
 of  the  Only  Begotten,  is  too  high  for  flesh  and 
 blood,  and  the  prying  reason  of  men ;  it  is  really 
 painful  to  the  utmost  stretch  of  human  investiga- 
 tion, and  reason  though  wound  up  to  the  utmost 
 pitch  of  extension,  suddenly  droops,  and  cannot 
 attain  unto  it.  Men  may  go  a  great  way  in  the 
 outward  knowledge  of  the  letter  of  Scripture,  so 
 as  to  have  all  knowledge,  and  understand  all 
 mysteries,  and  yet  for  want  of  the  faith  of  God's 
 elect,  not  hold  the  mystery  I  am  treating  of  in 
 the  fear  of  God,  and  a  pure  conscience.  Reason 
 when  alone,  is  too  weak  and  blind  to  understand 
 the  things  of  God  ;  but  when  the  Holy  Ghost 
 takes  possession  of  the  heart,  he  then  influences 
 the  understanding  to  reason  according  to  the 
 analogy  of  faith  and  the  mind  and  will  of  God. 
 Sanctified  reason,  being  guided  by  the  Spirit  of 
 faith,  will  argue  soundly  from  the  word  of  God: 
 
saying',  "  God  is  immutable  and  eternally  self- 
 existent;  but  he  is  three  persons,  which  conse- 
 quently must  prove  these  Persons  to  be  immutable 
 and  self-existent.  Christ,  therefore,  cannot  be 
 Begotten  as  God ;  because  self-existence  and 
 immutability  cannot  be  generated,  produced,  nor 
 Begotten ;  it  being  a  fixed  state.  But  as  Christ 
 is  man  as  well  as  God  in  his  Person,  therefore  as 
 man,  he  is  the  eternal  Only  Begotten  Son  of  God  ; 
 whose  infinite  self-existent  divinity  being  viewed 
 by  the  Father,  as  united  to  his  purposed  hu- 
 manity, made  him  in  this  mysterious  way,  to  be 
 in  his  Person  the  eternal  Son  of  Gad."  Carnal 
 reason  on  the  other  hand,  is  not  satisfied  with  this 
 mysterious  doctrine,  and  will  say,  "  T  cannot 
 understand,  nor  receive  this  definition;  1  must 
 have  souiething  to  look  at,  to  stay  my  mind  ; 
 and  as  1  cannot  deny  but  that  the  scriptures  hold 
 forth  a  Trinity,  I  am  determined  to  understand  it 
 in  my  own  way:  for  1  cannot  believe  that  Christ 
 is  a  Person  without  his  human  soul  being  really 
 united  to  him ;  but  I  can  easily  understand  that 
 the  word,  and  this  created  Soul,  is  that  Person 
 Avith  which  the  Father  entered  into  covenant 
 before  the  world  began  :  here  I  have  something  to 
 look  at."  Thus  instead  of  believing  in  a  mysteri- 
 ous, self-existent  Christ,  they  set  up  this  Idol, 
 which  they  view,  and  call  the  Only  Begotten  Son. 
 It  is  truly  lamentable,  that  even  in  early  ages  of 
 the  church,  the  doctrine  of  Christ's  eternal  Son- 
 ship  was  not  clearly  defined.  Many  on  the  other 
 band  are  full  of  confusion ;  and  seem  to  hold  forth. 
 
57 
 
 as  if  Christ  as  God,  was  Begotten  of  the  substance 
 of  the  Father ;  and  lose  sight  of  his  humanity, 
 which  only  can  make  him  to  be  Begotten.  Even 
 the  fathers  of  the  Council  of  Nice,  are  not  clear 
 upon  this  point,  in  their  famous  Creed,  in  which 
 no  mention  is  made  of  the  union  of  the  two  natures 
 of  Christ ;  which  indispensibly  make  him  to  be 
 both  a  Person,  and  the  Only  Begotten.  This, 
 they  did  not  point  out,  as  a  matter  of  such  infinite 
 importance  requires;  as  we  may  read,  "We 
 believe  in  God,— And  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 the  Son  of  God,  the  Only  Begotten  of  the  Father, 
 that  is,  of  the  Substance  of  the  Father;  God  of 
 God." — I  say,  that  this  expression  of  Christ  being- 
 Begotten — of  the  substance  of  the  Father,  is 
 rather  ambiguous,  and  seems  too  much  to  convey 
 the  idea,  as  if  Christ's  Godhead  w^as  Begotten  of 
 the  Father ;  which  is  a  notion  thai  many  entertain, 
 not  considering  that  Godhead  cannot  be  Begot- 
 ten, produced,  nor  made.  In  the  Creed  above 
 mentioned,  an  attempt  was  made  to  express  the 
 mysterious  begetting  of  the  Son  by  these  words: 
 "Begotten  not  made,  being  con-substantial,  or 
 of  one  substance  with  the  Father."  Christ  being 
 said  here,  to  be  con-substantial,  or  of  one  sub- 
 stance with  the  Father,  is  most  excellently 
 expressed  :  for  he  certainly  is  so,  being  one 
 essence  of  God  with  the  Father ;  but  the  distinc- 
 tion between  "  Begotten  and  not  made,"  is  by  no 
 means  clear,  nor  conclusive :  for  he  must  be  a 
 very  nice  reasoner  indeed,  who  can  make  such  a 
 distinction,  seeing  that  the  word  Begotten,  does 
 
58 
 
 really  si;;iiify  generated,  and  produced ;  now  ^vhat 
 is  produced,  is  certainly  made,  created,  and  form- 
 ed ;  and  I  believe,  that  when  God  tells  us  in  his 
 vford  that  Christ  is  Begotten,  that  he  certainly 
 means  to  convey  that  he  is  produced,  generated, 
 or  made  after  a  mysterious  manner ;  as  we  read 
 of  his  being  "  Made  of  a  woman."  Again,  *'  Being 
 made  so  much  better  than  the  angels."  I  con- 
 clude therefore,  that  the  Fathers  of  the  council  of 
 Nice,  notwithstanding  they  have  given  wonderful 
 offence  to  the  Avians,  by  so  excellently  contend- 
 ing for  the  real  divinity  of  the  Only  Begotten,  and 
 Iiave  made  the  word  con-substantial,  a  barrier  of 
 separation  between  themselves,  and  those  here- 
 tics, yet  they  have  not  done  it  effectually,  by  not 
 shewing  in  their  Creed,  the  mystery  of  Christ's 
 two  natures  in  One  Person :  for  as  such,  he  is 
 the  Only  Begotten.  The  introduction  of  the 
 pre-existence  of  the  human  Soul  of  Christ,  might 
 have  been  more  effectually  exploded,  if  the  Creed 
 had  been  framed  thus  : — 
 
 "  We  believe  in  one  God,  and  in  the  Person  of 
 the  Father  almighty, — And  in  One  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  the  self-existent  Son  of  God  ;  who,  in  his 
 Person  being  both  God  and  man,  is  as  such.  Begot- 
 ten of  the  Father  as  man,  from  everlasting  in  his 
 eternal  purpose ;  but  as  God,  he  is  in  his  Person 
 consubstantial,  thatis,  of  one  substance,  or  essence 
 with  the  Father.  As  man  he  was  framed,  set  up, 
 created,  made,  produced,  and  Begotten,  from  eter- 
 nity, by  the  Father  in  his  purpose ;  who,  also  as 
 God  in  the  same  mysterious  Person,  was,  is,  and 
 
69 
 
 ever  slialibe  Jehovah,  the  self  existent  God  ;  being 
 essentially  One  essence,  substance,  or  nature  of 
 God  with  the  self-existent  Father,  and  by  virtue 
 of  this  union  of  the  two  natures  in  One  Person,  he 
 is  the  Only  Begotten  of  the  Father  from  everlast- 
 ing, having  the  pre-eminence  over  men  and  angels  ; 
 who,  though  begotten  also  in  the  eternal  purpose 
 of  God,  had  no  real  existence  as  yet;  but  Christ 
 who  was  begotten  as  man,  in  the  eternal  purpose 
 of  the  Father,  was  also  in  his  Person  really  self- 
 existent,  being  essentially  One  ever  living  sub- 
 stance of  divine  nature  with  the  Father  ;  and  from 
 everlasting  to  everlasting  One  self-existent  God 
 with  him.  This  is  the  mysterious  Person  of  the 
 Only  Begotten  Son  of  God,  fall  of  grace  and 
 truth  from  eternity  ;  whom  we  worship  and  adore 
 as  the  Great  I  am,  the  eternal  Jehovah  with  the 
 Father,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  One  God."  I  have 
 not  a  doubt  but  many,  who  are  under  the  in- 
 fluence of  the  God  of  this  world,  will  cavil  at  this 
 creed  ;  but  I  am  sure  that  none  can  overthrow  it : 
 for  if  they  say,  that  the  Godhead  is  begotten,  they 
 know  not  what  they  say,  and  are  fully  as  absurd 
 as  those,  that  maintain  that  the  human  Soul  of 
 Christ  pre-existed  from  everlasting.  But  my 
 principal  business  is  with  those,  who  would  appear 
 rational  by  setting  up  the  human  soul  of  Christ 
 before  the  world  began,  and  so  frame  to  them- 
 selves a  Trinity,  that  they  can  both  see  and  un- 
 derstand; which  after  all  they  cannot  possibly 
 prove  from  scripture. 
 
60 
 
 2.  Shewing  to  what  end  Satan  and  his  ministers,  have 
 brought  in  the  pre-existence  of  the  human  soul  of  Christy 
 and  the  fearf  id  consequences  of  this  hellish  doctrine. 
 
 Satan's  wiles  are  too  deep  for  the  wisest  and 
 most  learned  men  upon  earth ;  and  in  all  ages,  he 
 has  been  an  overmatch  for  all  those  who  were  not 
 divinely  taught,  equiped,  and  armed  by  the 
 Spirit,  to  resist  him  stedfast  in  the  faith.  Men 
 are  not  aware  of  the  awful  and  dreadful  tendency 
 of  seemingly  harmless  principles,  which  at  the 
 first,  they  entertain  as  a  matter  of  speculation, 
 and  like  Eve,  they  look  at  the  forbidden  tree, 
 till  they  conceive  lust,  and  eat  to  their  condem- 
 nation. But  happy  is  the  simple  fearing  christian, 
 Avho  mistrusting  his  own  power,  light  and  under- 
 standing, brings  all  things  before  his  God ;  "  Who 
 layeth  up  sound  wisdom  for  the  righteous,"  and 
 promises,  "That  he  shall  never  be  ashamed,  nor 
 confounded  world  without  end."  But  when  men 
 ask  not  counsel  and  wisdom  of  God  in  all  things, 
 no  wonder  that  Satan  should  get  the  advantage 
 over  them,  so  that  the  greatest  favourites  of  heaven, 
 have  procured  to  themselves  the  severest  rods  and 
 fatherly  chastisements.  Very  few  are  awakened 
 enough  to  suspect  how  exceeding  alert  and  industri- 
 ous the  Devil  is,  in  sowing  false  conceptions  of  divine 
 things,  especially,  wrong  notions  concerning  the 
 Mysterious  Personality  of  the  Son  of  God  :  for  he 
 knows  that  if  his  bait  is  taken,  the  consequences 
 are  dreadful.  I  will  now  by  the  help  of  God, 
 take  away  the  mask:  from  those  men  that  hold 
 
61 
 
 the  doctrine  I  am  exploding.  Some  after  the 
 the  manner  of  Origen  pretend  that  Christ's  human 
 soul  was  created  before  the  world  began,  and 
 that  it  was  united  to  the  Word,  forming  the  Person 
 of  the  Son  of  God ;  but  they  all  believe  him  to  be 
 inferior  to  the  Father,  and  stumble  at  or  deny  his 
 eternal  sonship  ;  and  call  the  everlasting  covenant 
 a  nonentity.  Now  what  will  be  the  consequence 
 of  such  a  denial?  Christ  himself  tells  us  :  John  viii. 
 24.  "  For  if  ye  beheve  not  that  I  am,  ye  shall 
 die  in  your  sins." 
 
 The  enmity  of  those  men  who  stumble  at  the 
 self-existence  of  Christ  is  such,  that  they  will  tell 
 a  thousand  lies,  cheat,  and  deceive  the  simple, 
 and  make  him  any  thing  but  self-existent.  I  will 
 give  an  instance  of  it,  by  exhibiting  the  Creed 
 that  was  drawn  up  by  the  bishops  of  the  Ariaj% 
 Council  of  Sirmiwn,  in  Pannonia,  in  A.  D.  340- 
 *' We  believe  in  One  God  the  Father  almighty, — 
 And  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  only  begotten  Son,  our 
 Lord,  begotten  of  his  Father  before  all  worlds,  God 
 of  God ,  Light  of  Light,  by  whom  all  things  were 
 made  both  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  visible  and  in- 
 visible, who  is  the  word  and  wisdom,  the  true 
 Light  and  life," — Moreover  they  added  many 
 Anathema's  against  those  that  affirmed  the  Son  to 
 be  of  things  not  existing,  or  of  any  other  substance 
 and  not  of  God,  or  that  there  was  any  time  or  age 
 when  he  was  not,  or  that  he  was  of  Mary  only, 
 according  to  God's  foreknowledge,  and  not  born 
 of  the  Father,  and  with  God  before  all  worlds, 
 and  that  all  things  were  made  by  him  :  or  that  say 
 
 V.V1 
 
6^ 
 
 the  divine  essence  is  dilated  or  contracted,  or  that 
 the  Son  makes  it  sc,  oris  the  Dilatation  of  the  di- 
 vine essence ;  or  that  being  born  of  Mary  he  was 
 a  mere  Man,  or  that  being-  God  and  Man,  he  i-:} 
 the  unbegotten  ;  or  that  the  word  being  made  flesh, 
 shall  suppose,  that  the  word  was  changed  into 
 flesh,  or  suffered  any  change  by  that  assumption, 
 or  that  by  his  crucifixion,  his  divinity  was  ob- 
 noxious to  any  corruption,  passion,  or  alteration, 
 or  that  it  sustained  any  diminution  or  separa- 
 tion ;  or  that  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
 are  but  One  Person,  or  that  there  are  three 
 Gods."— 
 
 O  the  craft  of  the  Devil  and  his  instruments ! 
 how  plausible  and  seemingly  sound  in  their  Creed ! 
 But  the  whole  of  it  is  a  mere  deception,  and  a 
 crafty  snare  to  beguile  the  simple :  for  they  run 
 the  utmost  length  in  setting  forth  the  divinity  of 
 Christ,  and  make  him  like  the  Father  in  all  things, 
 using  a  multitude  of  deceitful  words,  to  cover 
 their  villany :  for  after  all  their  fine  spun  Creeds, 
 and  heap  of  words,  they  cannot  take  the  short 
 straight  course,  and  honestly  say,  that  Christ  is 
 self-existent,  or  consubstantial  with  the  Father, 
 from  eternity.  This  is  the  test,  for  if  any  man 
 doth  not  acknowledge  that  Christ  is  an  eternal 
 self-existent  Person,  the  Devil  is  in  him  :  dam- 
 nation is  his  portion ;  because  he  believes  not  in 
 the  immutable  eternal  I  am.  Take  particular 
 notice !  that  however  fair  any  man  may  speak  con- 
 cerning the  divinity  of  Christ,  yet  if  he  doth  not 
 plainly  confess,  that  he  is  in  his  Person  self-existent, 
 
03 
 
 and  the  eternal  God,  believe  him  not,  nor  bid 
 him  God  speed :  for  there  are  seven  abomina- 
 tions in  his  heart. 
 
 I  shall  now  exhibit  another  creed  composed  by 
 the  same  men,  who  made  the  above.  "  We  believe 
 in  one  only  true  God,  the  Father  Almighty, 
 maker  and  creator  of  all  things,  and  in  the  only 
 Begotten  Son  of  God,  Begotten  of  God,  impas- 
 sibly  before  all  ages,  and  before  all  beginning, 
 before  all  time  that  can  be  imagined,  and  before 
 any  comprehensible  conception ;  by  whom  the 
 ■worlds  were  framed,  and  all  things  made;  the 
 only  Begotten,  Begotten  alone,  of  the  Father 
 alone,  God  of  God,  like  to  the  Father  that  begat 
 him,  according  to  the  Scriptures  ;  whose  genera- 
 tion none  knows,  but  the  Father  only  that  begat 
 him."  Take  notice  again,  that  they  allow  Christ 
 to  be  the  Only  Begotten,  before  all  time  that  cam 
 be  imagined,  using  many  words  of  like  import, 
 but  after  all,  confess  him  not  to  be  such  from  ever- 
 lasting, nor  that  he  is  self-existent  in  his  Person. 
 In  the  Creeds  that  I  have  quoted,  and  many  more 
 which  were  drawn  up  in  those  days,  this  particu- 
 lar error  is  to  be  noticed  :  that  the  Son  is  set  forth 
 as  being  Begotten  as  God,  and  his  manhood  is 
 not  so  much  as  hinted  at;  consequently,  they 
 knew  not  w  hat  they  said,  nor  whereof  they  affirm- 
 ed :  for  they  talk  of  him  as  of  a  Person,  and  yet 
 snake  mention  of  a  Begotten  Godhead  only,  in 
 which  nature,  he  can  neitlier  be  Begotten,  nor 
 be  a  Person.  The  Church  of  England  has  not 
 been  guilty  of  such   a    manifest  error;  but  hath 
 
64 
 
 most  excellently  defined  the  Person  of  Christ,  in 
 the  unity  of  his  t>vo  natures ;  declaring,  that  ho 
 is,  "  One ;  not  by  conversion  of  Godhead  into 
 flesh :  but  by  taking  the  manhood  into  God ; 
 One  altogether ;  not  by  conversion  of  substance  : 
 but  by  unity  of  Person.  For  as  the  reasonable 
 soul  and  flesh  is  One  man :  so  God  and  man  is 
 One  Christ."  If  therefore  God  and  Man  is  One 
 Person,  One  Christ  now,  he  is  such  also  from 
 eternity ;  being  Begotten  of  the  Father  as  man 
 from  everlasting  in  his  purpose,  who,  in  his  Per- 
 son was  also  the  self-existent  God.  All  that 
 deny  this,  who  maintain  him  to  be  Begotten  as 
 God  only,  or  unite  to  him  a  human  soul  before 
 the  world  began,  that  they  may  see  him  to  be 
 a  Person,  all  such  err  exceedingly ;  knowing 
 nothing  but  what  they  know  naturally,  and  ex- 
 cept God  gives  them  repentance  to  the  acknow- 
 ledging of  the  truth,  they  undoubtedly  shall  die 
 in  their  sins  ;  because  they  believe  not  in  the  Only 
 Begotten  Son  of  God  :  who  declares  himself,  that 
 he  is  the  self-existent  I  am  from  eternity ;  being 
 One  Jehovah  with  the  Father.  Let  us  now  pro- 
 ceed by  the  help  of  God  and  his  word,  to  shew 
 the  fallacy  of  the  doctrine  of  the  pre-existence  of 
 the  human  soul  of  Christ. 
 
 3.  Shewing  that  the  notion  of  the  pre-existence  of  Christ's 
 human  Soul  is  a  lie,  ivhich  has  no  foundation  in  the  word 
 of  God. 
 
 Men  in  all  ages  have  erred,  and  stumbled  at 
 the  truth  for  want  of  faith;  they  have  set  up  their 
 
05 
 
 corrupt  notions,  and  have  not  believed  the  word 
 of  God,  which  is  the  only  ground  of  our  confi- 
 dence. All  notions,  doctrines,  and  ideas,  which 
 cannot  be  established  by  the  testimony  of  the 
 scriptures,  are  to  be  rejected  as  most  dangerous 
 lies ;  and  none  are  to  be  heard,  who  speak  not 
 according  to  the  words  of  divine  revelation  :  for 
 I  Pet.  iv.  11.  "If  any  man  speak,  let  him  speak 
 as  in  the  oracles  of  God."  However  wise 
 and  learned  men  may  appear,  yet  if  they  wrest, 
 or  reject  the  word  of  the  Lord,  Jer.  viii.  8.  "What 
 wisdom  is  there  in  them  ?"  The  prophet  tells  us, 
 that  such  grope  in  the  dark:  saying,  Isai.  viii.  20. 
 "To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony:  if  they  speak 
 not  according  to  this  word,  it  is  because  there  is 
 no  light  in  them."  I  say  therefore,  that  none 
 could  influence  men  to  set  up  the  pre-existence  I 
 am  exploding,  but  the  powers  of  darkness  :  for  it 
 has  no  manner  of  foundation  in  the  word  of  truth ; 
 but  is  an  infernal  lie  against  the  real  and  eternal 
 sonship  of  the  Only  Begotten  Son  of  God.  Let 
 us  now  come  to  the  weapons  of  our  warfare, 
 earnestly  contending  for  the  faith  once  delivered 
 to  the  saints,  and  by  scripture  proofs,  bring  such 
 erroneous  notions  into  contempt. 
 
 Proof  1. — By  xvJdch  is  ckarhj  demonstrated,  that  no- 
 thing created,  could  have  any  real  existence  before  ivhat 
 the  word  calls  the  Beginning. 
 
 Foolish  and  unscriptural  have  ])een  the  notions 
 of  many  wise  and  learned  men,  who  have  uttered 
 lying  conjectures,    supposing    that    angels  were' 
 
 E 
 
oc 
 
 created  many  ages  before  men,  and  the  visible 
 world.  Milton  also,  notwithstanding  his  learning 
 and  wisdom,  has  uttered  the  same  error  in  his 
 Paradise  Lost ;  where  he  represents  Satan  and  his 
 angels  as  falling  from  their  allegiance  to  God, 
 sometime  before  the  creation  of  the  world,  accor- 
 ding to  the  notion  of  many  of  the  ancient  fathers  of 
 the  church ;  whose  poor  heads  like  his,  were 
 stuffed  with  heathen  erudition  and  philosophy^  by 
 which  they  have  obscured  the  truth,  and  laid  the 
 foundation  of  many  errors.  Let  us  therefore 
 cease  from  men  whose  breath  is  in  their  nostrils, 
 and  by  the  grace  of  God,  let  us  with  a  grain  of 
 heaven  born  faith,  exercised  upon  the  unerring 
 word,  overturn  all  such  corrupt  notions.  Let  this 
 be  the  standard  of  our  faith,  according  to  the 
 word  of  God;  that,  Exod.  xx.  11.  *' In  six  days 
 the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all 
 that  in  them  is,  and  rested  on  the  seventh  day:" 
 — ^The  first  six  days  are  what  the  scriptures  call 
 the  Beginning,  constantly  meaning  the  beginning 
 of  time.  Some  may  object  and  say,  that  the  word 
 heaven  being  only  in  the  singular  number  denotes 
 the  firmament:  as  it  is  written,  Gen.  i.  8.  "  And 
 God  called  the  firmament  heaven ;"  and  they  may 
 infer  from  this,  that  the  heaven  of  heavens,  might 
 after  all,  be  created  long  before  as  the  residence  of 
 God  and  the  holy  angels.  This  objection  God 
 himself  has  demolished  in  his  word,  by  bringing  in 
 all  the  heavens  in  the  plural  number ;  declaring, 
 that  he  made  them  all  in  six  days,  and  the  inha- 
 bitants thcaeof:  for  Gen.  i.  1.  **In  the  Beginning 
 
6T 
 
 God  created  the  heaven  and  the  earth :"  that  is,  on 
 the  first  day,  he  began  his  work,  by  creating  the 
 heaven  and  the  earth,  and  formed  the  light,  and 
 proceeded  every  day  to  make  additions  to  his 
 work,  till  the  whole  was  accomplished  iu  six 
 days.  The  scriptures  being  silent  with  respect  to 
 any  other  works,  or  creatures  made,  bul  those 
 which  God  created  within  the  limited  time  of  six 
 days,  we  have  the  strongest  reason  to  believe  that 
 the  heavenly  host,  as  well  as  heaven  their  resi- 
 dence, were  created  on  the  first  day;  as  it  is 
 written.  Gen.  ii.  1.  2.  "Thus  the  heavens  and 
 the  earth  were  finished,  and  all  the  host  of  them. 
 And  on  the  seventh  day  God  ended  his  work  which 
 he  had  made ;  and  he  rested  on  the  seventh  day 
 from  all  his  work  which  he  had  made."  From 
 the  scriptures  before  us  we  may  draw  up  the 
 following  strong  arguments. 
 
 Argument  I.  We  beheve  not  that  the  angels 
 were  created  before  the  six  days  of  God's  work- 
 ing, because  the  scriptures  being  silent,  they  move 
 us  not  to  conjecture,  or  give  credence  to  things 
 not  revealed  ;  but  they  constrain  us  to  believe  and 
 confess,  that  nothing  was  created,  or  made  before 
 the  Beginning:  for  if  "Thus  God  finished  the 
 heavens  and  the  earth,  and  all  the  host  of  them," 
 (that  is,  in  six  days,)  the  heavenly  host  or 
 angels,  must  of  necessity  have  also  heen  made,  or 
 created  in  the  same  specified  time,  and  not  before; 
 because  there  is  no  account  of  his  working,  or 
 creating  any  thing  before  the  Beginning. 
 
 Argument  2.  Gen.  ii.  3.  "  And  God  blessed  the 
 e2 
 
68 
 
 serenth  day,  and  sanctified  it :  because  that  in  it 
 he  had  rested  from  all  his  work  which  God 
 created  and  made."  Now  it  is  most  certain,  that 
 the  angels  are  the  work  of  his  hands,  and  were 
 created  and  made,  and  are  included  among  the 
 ALL  of  his  works  which  he  created  and  made  from 
 the  Beginning.  I  conclude,  therefore,  that  neither 
 angels,  nor  any  other  created  substance,  had  any 
 real  existence  before  the  six  days  of  God's  work- 
 ing, consequently,  both  the  pre-existence  of  the 
 angels,  and  of  the  human  soul  of  Christ,  is  a  lie. 
 Arguments.  If  God  had  created  the  angels  some- 
 time or  some  ages  before  the  world,  he  would  have 
 told  us  so ;  but  God,  who  cannot  lie,  nor  deceive 
 any,  tells  us  but  of  one  Beginning  of  the  creation ; 
 saying,  Gen.  i.  1 .  "  In  the  beginning  God  created  the 
 heaven  and  the  earth. — And  the  evening  and  the 
 morning  were  the  first  day."  Foolish  men,  however, 
 only  expose  their  infidelity,  and  want  even  of  com- 
 mon sense,  by  inconsiderately  maintaining  two  Be- 
 ginnmgs  of  God's  works ;  One  before  the  world 
 began,  and  another  at  the  first  day.  What  shall 
 we  say  then  ?  Let  God  be  true,  who  speaks  but  of 
 one  Beginning,  and  let  every  man  be  a  liar,  who 
 presumes  to  point  out  two  Beginnings,  contrary  to 
 God's  express  word.  Doth  not  the  Spirit  of  God 
 in  the  inspired  Apostle  tell  us,  that,  Heb.  iv.  3. 
 "  The  works  were  finished  from  the  foundation  of 
 tlie  world  ?"  But  he  says  nothing  of  any  human 
 soul,  or  angels,  or  any  such  works,  being  finished 
 before,  but  only  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  ; 
 and  we  also  conclude  with  him,  that  there  was  no 
 
69 
 
 such  pre-existence ;  but  that  the  whole  of  this 
 scheme  is  a  most  dangerous  lie,  of  which  the  devil 
 is  the  author ;  in  order,  if  possible,  to  deceive  the 
 simple,  by  disfiguring*  the  mysterious  sonship  of 
 Christ,  the  Only,  and  Paternally  Begotten  of  the 
 Father.  Seeing,  therefore,  that  God  in  the  be- 
 ginning created  heaven  and  the  earth,  and  that  the 
 evening  and  the  morning  were  the  first  day  in 
 which  he  created  them,  we  most  undoubtedly 
 believe  that  the  third  heaven  and  the  heavenly 
 host,  or  angels,  were  created  on  the  first  day :  for 
 they  were  present,  and  shouted  for  joy,  when  God 
 laid  the  corner  stone  of  the  earth.  Job,  xxxviii. 
 6,  7. 
 
 Sundry  obscure,  passages  of  Scripture  cleared  up;  hy 
 which,  the  pre-existence  of  Christ's  human  soul  is  evi- 
 dently exploded,  and  those  who  made  use  of  those  Scrip- 
 tures to  prove  it  are  confounded. 
 
 1.   There  are  tico  Beginnings,  the  one  natural,  the  other 
 spiritual. 
 
 "  Through  faith  we  understand  that  the  worlds 
 were  framed  by  the  word  of  God,  so  that  the 
 things  which  are  seen  Avere  not  made  of  things 
 which  do  appear."  This  is  the  first  beginning, 
 when  God  created  heaven  and  the  earth,  who  by 
 his  wonderful  power  brought  forth  all  things, 
 which  naturally  exist,  out  of  a  void  state  of  con- 
 fusion, Gen.  i.  2.  darkness,  and  comparative 
 death.  In  six  days  he  made  them,  and  on  the 
 seventh  he  rested  from  all  his  work  (of  natural 
 
70 
 
 creation)  which  he  had  made.  This  rest,  and  the 
 creation  before  it,  are  types  and  shadows  of  the 
 spiritual  creation  that  God  is  represented  to  be 
 engaged  in  now,  and  the  spiritual  rest  that  is  to  fol- 
 low ;  as  it  is  written,  Psal.  xcv.  11.  "  Unto  whom 
 I  swaie  ill  my  wrath  that  they  should  not  enter 
 into  njy  rest."  God  speaks  here  of  another  rest 
 besides  the  first ;  in  consequence  of  which  Paul 
 saith,  Heb.  iv.  9.  "  There  remaineth  therefore  a 
 rest  for  the  people  of  God."  It  follows,  that  the 
 first  creation  and  rest  were  the  figures  of  the 
 second  :  for  man  being  created  in  honour  and 
 glory,  abode  not,  but  perished  ;  being  reduced 
 by  sin  into  a  state  of  darkness,  death,  and  was 
 like  the  earth  at  the  first,  "  Without  form  and 
 void  ;  and  darkness  covered  the  face  of  the  deep." 
 But  as  Paul  saith,  2  Cor.  iv.  6.  "  God,  who  com- 
 manded the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath 
 shined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the  know- 
 ledge of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
 Christ."  Christ  therefore  is  called,  Rev.  iii.  14. 
 "  The  Beginning  of  the  creation  of  God."  Col. 
 i.  18.  "  And  he  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church ; 
 who  is  the  Beginning,  the  first  born  from  the 
 dead."  He  is  also  called,  Col.  i.  15.  *•  The  first 
 born  of  every  creature."  JNot  as  some  foolishly 
 imagine,  who  pervert  the  obvious  sense  of  the 
 scriptures,  and  maintain  that  his  soul  was  created 
 first ;  but  he  is  the  Beginning  of  the  creation  of 
 God,  because  he  is  the  first  born  from  the  dead. 
 
 The  whole  body  of  the  elect,  was  through  the 
 fall  like  the  earth,  without  form  and  void,  being 
 
Tl 
 
 in  a  state  of  death  and  darkness ;  but  Christ  the 
 second  Adam  and  spiritual  head  of  this  body,  in 
 ."^vhom  all  the  elect   were  existing,    even    as  the 
 branches  exist  in  the  vine,  came  forth  in  their  be- 
 half, representing  them  all,  and  took  upon  him- 
 eelf  their  uncomeliness  and  void  state ;  he  veiled 
 bis  glory,  and  took  our  misery,  being  made  sin  for 
 us,  that  through  death  he  might  destroy  the  power 
 of  sin  and  the  devil.     He  gave  the  law  a  perfect 
 obedience,  and  ratified  the  eternal  peace  between 
 God  and  his  elect  by  the  blood  of  his  cross ;  he 
 died  the  just  for  the  mijust,  that  so  he  might  bring 
 us  unto  God.     Thus  Christ,  made  in   himself  of 
 twain  (Jews  and  Gentiles)  One  new  man ;  that  as 
 all  men  are  considei-ed  as  One   natural  body  in 
 Adam  their  federal  head,  even  so,  the  elect  are 
 also  viewed  as    one    man    or  body  mystical  in 
 Christ.     Now  God  the  Father  considered  Christ 
 and  all  the  elect  in  him  as  one  common  lump  of 
 fallen   clay,  like  the   earth,   which   was  without 
 form  and  void :  for  being  made  sin  for  us,  he  was 
 numbered  among  the  transgressors ;    and   being 
 found  under  all  our  sins  by  imputation,  God  took 
 infinite  vengeance,  by  delivering  him  up  to  death 
 in  his  flesh,  who  in  his  Person  was   also  the  in- 
 finite God.     Thus  died  the  Lord  from  heaven  and 
 his  elect  in  him,  and  lay  for  three  days   without 
 form  and  void  ;  but  the  same  Spirit  which  moved 
 upon  the  face  of  the  waters,  quickened   his  hu- 
 manity, and  the  Father  raised  his  Son  from  the 
 dead ;  begetting  him  from  death  to  life,  now  to 
 die  no  more.     Thus  Christ  is  not  the  beginning  ot 
 
72 
 
 the  creation  of  God,  by  pre-existing  in  his  human 
 soul,  but  by  being  begotten  from  the  dead.  He 
 is  the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept :  1  Cor.  xv. 
 21 — 23.  "  For  since  by  man  came  death,  by  man 
 came  also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as 
 in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made 
 alive.  But  every  man  in  his  own  order:  Christ 
 the  first  fruits  ;  afterwards  they  that  are  Christ's  at 
 his  coming."  This  is  the  new  and  living  w^ay  of 
 God's  spiritual  creation  in  Christ,  in  whom  the 
 elect  are  created  anew  through  spiritual  death, 
 being  also  quickened  with  him  by  the  Spirit,  and 
 are  "  Risen  with  him  through  the  faith  of  the 
 operation  of  God,  who  raised  him  from  the  dead." 
 I  think,  that  by  this  time  every  enlightened  chris- 
 tian may  clearly  see  this  spiritual  Beginning,  which 
 is  a  deep  mystery  to  all,  but  to  those  who  have 
 experienced  a  state  of  death  and  condemnation ; 
 who  also  have  passed  from  death  unto  life  by  faith 
 in  Christ,  and  walk  now  in  newness  of  life,  being 
 manifestly  those  issues  from  death,  which  belong 
 to  God  the  Lord.  Psal.  Ixviii.  20. 
 
 2.  Christ  is  Begotten  in  a  threefold  sense. 
 As  many  have  attempted  to  pervert  the  scrip- 
 tures, by  supposing  that  Christ  w  as  the  first  born 
 of  every  creature,  because  they  think  his  soul  was 
 created  before  all  others,  I  shall  therefore  endea- 
 vour, to  clear  up  those  portions  of  God's  word, 
 which  many  seem  to  stumble  at.  In  the  first 
 place,  1  have  no  need  to  shew  that  Christ  is 
 begotten  of  the  Father  from  everlasting,  having 
 already  proved  this  point  beyond   controversy. 
 
73 
 
 Secondly,  Christ  was  also  Begotten  of  the 
 substance  of  the  vh-gin  Mary,  hy  the  power  of  the 
 Father  tli rough  the  Spirit:  which  Begetting,  was 
 in  consequence  of  his  being  Begotten  in  the  purpose 
 of  God  from  everlasting,  and  is  as  mysterious, 
 being  aitogetiier  a  new  thing  in  the  earth;  and 
 shews  forth  the  supernatural  and  infinitely  glorious 
 power  of  God,  who  really  did  bring  a  clean  thing 
 out  of  an  unclean.  For  the  Father  did  really  and 
 truly  beget  his  Son  Jesns  Christ,  by  the  power  of 
 his  Holy  Spirit,  of  the  very  identical  substance  of 
 the  Virgin  Mary.  Is  it  not  truly  wonderful,  that 
 many  should  make  themselves  manifest  by  denying 
 this  ?  And  is  it  not  as  strange,  that  so  many  with 
 the  bible  in  their  hands,  should  be  such  fools  and 
 idiots,  as  to  believe  such  lying  assertions  con- 
 cerning thfe  miraculous  begetting  of  the  Son  of 
 God  ?  Who  would  have  ever  supposed,  that 
 men  should  be  under  the  influence  of  such  very 
 strong  delusions,  as  to  assert  with  the  utmost 
 effrontery,  that  Christ  brought  his  human  nature 
 from  heaven ;  and  that  it  passed  through  the  virgin 
 Mary  as  wine  passes  through  a  funnel,  and  par- 
 took not  of  her  nature,  no  more  than  the  wine 
 partakes  of  the  funnel  ?  To  the  Law  and  to  the 
 testimony  :  and  let  God  be  true,  and  every  man 
 a  liar:  for  God  that  cannot  lie,  has  told  us  in 
 plain  words,  that  Christ  is  the  seed  of  the  woman. 
 Gen.  iii.  14.  Also  the  seed  of  David  according  to 
 the  flesh  ;  Rom.  i.  3.  to  whom  he  promises  in 
 express  terms,  saying,  Psal.  cxxxii,  11.  "The 
 Lord  hath  sworn  in  tiaith  unto  David ;  he  will  not 
 
?4 
 
 turn  from  it ;  of  the  fruit  of  thy  body  Trill  I  set 
 upon  thy  throne."  This,  the  angel  Gabriel,  by 
 the  commanc^  of  God,  confirmed  to  Mary; 
 saying,  Luke,  ii.  32.  **  And  the  Lord  God  shall 
 give  unto  him  the  throne  of  his  father  David." 
 God  forbid  therefore,  that  we  should  also  be 
 blinded  by  the  God  of  this  world,  to  overlook 
 things  attested  so  very  clearly  by  the  word. 
 
 Christ  therefore  as  man,  is  truly  the  seed  of  the 
 woman,  the  Son  of  David,  being  really  the  son  of 
 Adam,  who  was  the  Son  of  God  :  and  according 
 to  scripture,  could  not  pre-exist  in  either  body  or 
 soul  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  ;  for  it  is 
 written.  Gen.  iii.  20.  And  "  Adam  called  his  wife's 
 name  Eve;  because  she  was  the  mother  of  all 
 living."  If  therefore  Eve,  is  the  mother  of  all 
 living,  she  is  consequently  also  the  mother  of  Christ's 
 human  nature,  which  existed  in  her  as  the  mother 
 of  all  living;  and  he  could  not  as  man  in  either 
 body,  or  soul,  be  created,  or  made,  or  have 
 existed  before.  This  scripture  argument  alone, 
 is  altogether  decisive ;  and  overturns  completely 
 the  whole  of  the  pre-existing  scheme  ;  and  shews 
 at  once  the  folly,  and  madness  of  those  that  hold 
 it.  It  is  true,  that  some  may  cavil  and  say,  that 
 Eve  might  be  the  mother  of  Christ's  human  body, 
 whose  soul  notwithstanding,  miglit  be  created 
 long  before  the  world  began.  O  fools  and  void  of 
 understanding !  has  notGod  made  all  your  wisdom 
 foolishness  ?  has  he  not  foreseen  all  your  clamour, 
 and  ungodly  tumult  against  him  and  his  truth  ? 
 He  has  therefore  in  his  word,  provided  a  hook 
 
75 
 
 for  your  nose,  and  a  bridle  for  your  lips ;  and 
 shall  turn  you  back  by  (be  way  of  ignorance,  by 
 which  you  came.  Read  therefore  this  sentence  : 
 Jam.  ii.  '26.  "For  — the  body  without  the  spirit  is 
 dead." — The  Holy  Ghost  informs  us  here,  that 
 the  body  alone  is  not  a  whole  human  nature: 
 for  without  the  spirit  it  is  dead.  Bat  the  same 
 Spirit  tells  us  also,  that  Eve  was  the  mother  of 
 all  living;  I  conclude  therefore,  that  Eve  was  not 
 the  mother  of  Christ's  body  only,  for  that  would 
 have  been  dead  without  the  soul,  bat  of  his  whole 
 human  nature,  body  and  soul.  Not  that  we  are 
 to  understand,  that  the  souls  of  men  are  generated 
 like  the  body  :  for  God  really  created  them  all  in 
 Adam  from  the  beginning.  It  is  most  evident 
 therefore,  that  as  all  the  offspring  of  Adam  were 
 created  and  existed  in  him,  as  the  branches  exist 
 in  the  stock,  that  Christ  himself  being  the  offspring 
 or  son  of  Adam,  existed  also  in  him  as  man,  and 
 not  before.  Common  experience  informs  us,  that 
 no  man  has  any  real  personal  existence  before  he 
 is  born  of  his  mother,  though  he  existed  in  her  as  his 
 living  root ;  so  Christ's  human  nature  also,  lived 
 and  existed  in  Adam  as  the  stock,  and  in  Eve  as 
 the  mother  of  all  living:  it  is  therefore  folly  to  say 
 that  he,  as  man  pre-existed  before  the  world 
 began.  None  but  the  devil  cotild  have  blinded 
 the  eyes  of  men,  that  they  cannot  discern  that  the 
 whole  current  of  scripture,  is  against  the  fallaci- 
 ous notion  I  am  exploding :  for  if  the  human  soul 
 of  Christ  had  really  been  created  many  ages 
 before  the  world,  it  Avould  by  virtue  of  union  with 
 
76 
 
 the  word,  and  intercourse  with  God,  and  the 
 glory  it  enjoyed  before  the  world  was,  have 
 arrived  at  the  summit  of  all  wisdom,  knowledge* 
 and  understanding :  but  we  are  informed  by  the 
 word,  that  Luke,  ii.  52.  "  Jesus  increased  in 
 wisdom  and  stature." — -Though  Christ's  human 
 nature  was  begotten  of  the  substance  of  Mary  by 
 the  power  of  God,  yet  in  all  things  it  behoved  him 
 to  be  made  like  unto  his  brethren ;  if  so,  then  he 
 could  not  have  existed  really,  either  in  body  or 
 soul,  before  he  was  actually  born  of  his  mother, 
 or  in  Adam  as  his  root,  and  in  Eve  as  the  mother 
 of  all  living. 
 
 It  will  be  necessary  to  caution  the  godly  reader 
 against  the  errors  of  those  men,  who  would 
 pervert  the  truth,  by  asserting,  that  because  Christ 
 is  the  son  of  Adam,  his  humanity  was  tainted  with 
 onginal  sin,  was  capable  of  sinning,  and  died  to 
 expiate  his  own  sin,  as  well  as  the  sins  of  his  peo- 
 ple. I  am  really  grieved  to  be  obliged  to  bring 
 such  abominations  to  view  ;  but  as  I  foresee,  that 
 such  men  will  seek  to  pervert  those  things  I  have 
 asserted  in  this  book,  I  wish  therefore  to  be 
 before  hand  with  them  ;  by  cautioning  the  people 
 of  God  against  such  dangerous  lies.  How  can 
 Christ  as  man  be  tainted  with  sin,  when  the  Spirit 
 of  Truth  positively  asserts  him  to  be,  Heb.  vii.  26. 
 "  Holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from  Sin- 
 ners, and  made  higher  than  the  heavens  ?"  Is  he 
 not  declared  to  be  the  Lamb  of  God  without 
 blemish  and  without  spot?  The  Father  would 
 never  have  declared  him  to  be  an  Holy  Thing, 
 
77 
 
 and  borne  witness  from  heaven  that  he  was  his 
 Beloved  Son,  in  whom  he  was  well  pleased,  if  he 
 had  seen  any  blemish  in  him,  or  guile  had  been 
 found  in  his  mouth.  That  there  was  not  the  de- 
 filement of  sin  in  Christ,  he  himself  avouches ; 
 saying,  John,  xiv.  3.  "  For  the  prince  of  this^ 
 world  cometh,  and  hath  nothing  m  me." 
 
 But  there  is  also  another,  and  no  less  weighty 
 reason,  why  Christ's  human  nature  could  not  be 
 tainted  with  sin,  though  he  was  a  son  of  Adam ; 
 because  sin  cannot  be  imputed  but  to  such  who 
 are  considered  as  personal  agents  in  Adam.  All 
 whether  male  or  female,  being  born  distinct  agents, 
 are  concluded  in  unbelief,  and  are  accountable  to 
 God  for  their  actions :  for  none  but  persons  can 
 either  do  good  or  evil,  and  persons  as  such,  must 
 give  an  account  of  every  idle  word  they  have 
 spoken.  But  Christ's  human  nature  never  had 
 personal  existence  of  itself;  Jie  never  acted  as  man 
 only ;  but  is  spoken  of  by  the  angel  in  the  neuter 
 gender.  Luke  i.  35.  "  And  the  angel  answered 
 and  said  unto  her.  The  Holy  Ghost  shall  com© 
 upon  thee,  and  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall  over- 
 shadowthee:  therefore  also  that  HolyThingwhich 
 shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be  called  the  Son  of 
 God."  Christ's  human  nature  being  therefore  in 
 a  perfect  state  of  neutrality  or  inaction,  he  could 
 not  as  such,  either  commit,  or  be  charged  with 
 sin :  for  Christ  is  a  Person,  only,  as  he  is  God 
 and  man.  How  wonderful,  therefore,  is  the  Son 
 ©f  God  in  the  constitution  of  his  Person  !  who  is 
 the  eternal  Sou  of  God,  by  eternal  and  unspeak- 
 
78 
 
 ably  mysterious  generation,  being  the  Only  Be- 
 gotte))  from  everlasting  as  God  and  man ;  who, 
 was  also  begotteu  in  due  time  of  the  substance  of 
 the  woman  ;  being  Begotten,  not  as  man  only,  but 
 that  Holy  Thing  by  immediate  union  with  the 
 divine  nature,  was  the  eternal  Person  of  the  Son 
 of  God  ;  and  was  Begotten  as  such  by  the  Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 In  the  next  place,  Christ  is  also  the  first  Be- 
 gotten of  the  dead  ;  and  all  those  scriptures  which 
 set  him  forth  as  the  beginning  of  the  creation  of 
 God,  the  first  born  of  every  creature,  have  all  a 
 reference  to  his  being  raised  from  the  dead  by  the 
 glory  of  the  Father ;  as  the  apostle  Paul  plainly 
 proves,  saying.  Acts,  xiii.  32,  33.  "  And  we  de- 
 clare unto  you  glad  tidings,  how  that  the  promise 
 which  was  made  unto  the  Fathers,  God  hath  ful- 
 filled the  same  unto  us  their  children,  in  that  he 
 hath  raised  up  Jesus  again  ;  as  it  is  written  in  the 
 second  Psalm,  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day  have 
 I  Begotten  thee."  We  may  therefore  perceive  at 
 once,  how  exceeding  erroneous  those  men  are, 
 who  endeavour  to  apply  the  passages  that  refer 
 to  this  great  event,  to  his  being  the  beginning  of  the 
 creation  of  God,  by  supposing  that  his  soul  was 
 created  first,  and  pre-existed  before  the  creation. 
 I  conclude  again  most  seriously,  that  they  have 
 no  scripture  to  support  this  baneful  notion ;  but 
 only  manifest  their  deep  ignorance  of  the  power, 
 and  word  of  God,  being  altogether  unable  to  under- 
 stand the  mysterious  Sonship  of  Christ ;  and  ex- 
 cept they  repent  and  believe  him  to  be  the  eternal 
 
79 
 
 self-existent  I  am,  they  shall  utterly  perish  in  their 
 own  corruption. 
 
 3.  The  pre-existence  of  Christ's  human  soul,  proved  to  h* 
 a  doctrine  of  devils,  hy  those  very  scriptures  which  many 
 have  wrested,  in  order  to  establish  this  error. 
 
 Prov.  viii.  22,  23.  "  The  Lord  possessed  me  in 
 the  Beginning  of  his  way,  before  his  works  of  old. 
 I  was  set  up  from  everlastiisg,  from  the  Beginning, 
 or  ever  the  earth  was."  "^riiese  two  portions  of 
 God's  word  have  made  a  vast  stir  in  the  church  in 
 all  ages;  and  many,  by  wresting  these  words, 
 have  endeavoured  to  hammer  out  the  lying  doc- 
 trine of  the  pre-existeiice  of  the  human  soul  of 
 Clirist.  It  has  been  my  lot  to  be  much  exercised 
 with  this  tenet  from  the  very  beginning  of  my  pro- 
 fession of  religion :  for  Satan,  who  is  never  divided 
 against  himself,  is  always  sure  to  introduce  his 
 tares  among  the  wheat ;  and  false  brethren  shall 
 not  be  wanting,  even  in  the  purest  church  state, 
 who,  by  evil  example,  fraud,  lies,  and  errors, 
 shall  endeavour  to  bring  into  bondage  those  that 
 go  right  on  their  way.  It  is  now  upwards  of  four 
 and  twenty  years  ago,  since  this  error  was  brought 
 to  my  notice,  when  1  was  but  eight  or  niiie  month* 
 old  in  grace ;  being  at  that  time,  altogether  unac- 
 quainted with  the  painful  path  of  religious  strife 
 and  controversy :  for  being  under  the  special  in- 
 fluence of  the  everlasting  love  of  God,  my  whole 
 time  was  taken  up  in  weeping  over,  and  rejoicing 
 in  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,  which  comforted 
 
80 
 
 me  on  every  side.  Daily  was  I  more  and  mors 
 astonished  at  the  prodigioas  change  that  had 
 taken  pi  ace  in  me;  being  led  with  abundant  thanks- 
 givings, praise,  and  many  tears  of  unutterable  grati- 
 tude to  glorify  him,  who  had  so  lately  been  pleased 
 to  bring  me  out  of  misery  and  darkness  into  his 
 marvellous  light.  My  whole  soul  was  entirely 
 swallowed  up  in  Christ  my  saviour,  and  having 
 found  him,  I  was  lost  to  every  thing  else ;  being 
 like  a  man,  who,  when  his  fortune  is  made,  re- 
 tires from  business  :  for  having  found  the  pearl  of 
 great  price,  I  was  enabled  through  all  prevailing 
 grace  to  sell  all  that  my  heart  was  set  upon 
 before,  and  esteem  nothing  but  communion  and 
 fellowship  with  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
 in  all  the  means  of  God's  appointment.  The  rock 
 poured  me  out  rivers  of  oil ;  and  I  could  say  with 
 David,  "  The  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant 
 places ;  yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage."  But  the 
 Lord,  who  had  designed  me  for  a  larger  field  of 
 action,  soon  permitted  the  devil  to  disturb  my 
 sweet  rest  in  a  variety  of  ways :  for  the  fervent 
 love  I  was  influenced  with  towards  the  people  of 
 God,  led  me  to  have  many  religious  acquaint- 
 ances :  nay,  numbers  courted  my  company,  whom 
 I  received  with  open  arms,  believing  them  to  be 
 very  sound  christians.  I  really  thought  in  those 
 days,  that  every  one  that  acknowledged  the  doc- 
 trines of  the  gospel,  believed  election,  justification 
 by  faith,  and  that  could  relate  an  experience,  and 
 utter  the  scriptures  fluently,  was  undoubtedly  a 
 choice  soul.     I  had  not  yet  learned  to  prove  all 
 
81 
 
 things,  and  to  hold  fast  that  which  is  good  ;  but 
 instead  of  bringing  my  rehgious  friends  to  the 
 Lord,  begging  that  he  would  make  them  mani- 
 fest in  my  conscience,  I  was  left  for  a  season,  to 
 receive  many,  according  to  their  outward  appear- 
 ance; because  they  were  church  members,  and 
 seemingly  approved  of  by  the  minister.  This  was 
 the  error  of  Joshua  and  of  the  Princes  of  Israel, 
 who,  without  asking  counsel  of  the  Lord,  made  a 
 league  with  the  Gibeonites ;  and  my  ignorance  of 
 men  and  things  betrayed  me  into  the  same  error : 
 for  1  could  not  conceive,  that  men  who  exposed 
 themselves  to  contempt,  reproaches,  and  the 
 sneers  of  the  world  for  the  profession  they  made, 
 should  not  be  God's  people,  but  tares  of  the  devil's 
 sowing ;  brought  in  by  him  as  false  brethren,  for 
 the  very  purpose  of  spying  out  our  liberty,  which 
 we  have  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  they  might  bring  us 
 into  bondasre. 
 
 I  fell  in  among  a  most  desperate  set  of  spiritual 
 thieves ;  whom  I  thought  to  be  the  excellent  of 
 the  earth,  and  accordingly  delighted  in  their  com- 
 pany. It  happened  that  one  of  them,  with  whom 
 1  had  often  taken  sweet  counsel,  shewed  to  me  this 
 portion  of  the  word,  Prov.  viii.  23.  "  I  was  set 
 up  from  everlasting,"  saying,  Do  you  know  who 
 it  is  that  is  speaking  here  ?  I  answered,  I  suppose 
 it  is  Christ.  But  I  was  amazingly  surprized,  when 
 he  told  me  that  it  was  his  human  soul.  I  said  to 
 him  in  great  simplicity,  "  How  can  this  be,  seeing 
 that  he  was  not  yet  born  ?"  He  told  me,  that  the 
 scriptures  declared,  that  Christ  is  the  Beginning 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 of  the  creation  of  God,  being  the  first  bom  of  every 
 creature,  and  that  as  such  he  existed  before  the 
 foundation  of  the  earth  ;  nay,  from  everlasting.  I 
 objected  to  this  ;  arguing,  that  whatever  is  created 
 or  iBade,  must  have  a  beginning,  and  cannot  be 
 from  everlasting.  How^ever  he  brow  beat  me  with 
 many  scriptures,  and  fallacious  arguments,  so 
 that  being  not  able  to  answer  him,  nor  yet  receive 
 the  doctrine  he  advanced,  I  was  brought  into 
 great  confusion  ;  lest,  on  the  one  hand  I  should 
 believe  a  lie,  and  on  the  other  hand  reject  the 
 many  scriptures  he  brought  to  confirm  his  point. 
 I  went  away  deeply  wounded,  my  mind  being 
 leavened  with  the  things  I  had  heard;  which 
 things  made  the  greater  impression  upon  me, 
 because  I  had  a  great  opinion  of  my  friend, 
 thinking  him  to  be  no  less  than  an  angel  of  light, 
 and  far  before  me  in  knowledge.  To  make  short 
 of  it,  I  found  his  words  did  eat  as  a  canker;  find- 
 ing great  palpitations  at  my  heart,  so  that  I  could 
 not  quiet  myself.  My  concern  was  so  much  the 
 more  weighty,  because  I  had  but  little  knowledge 
 of  the  scriptures,  having  been  called  but  a  few 
 months  before,  and  was  not  capable  to  disprove 
 the  things  my  companion  adva*nGed.  But  what 
 an  unspeakable  mercy  it  is,  that  there  is  a  faithful 
 unchangeable  God,  who  has  promised  to  lead  the 
 blind  by  a  way  that  they  knew  not :  for  my  feel- 
 ings, and  the  secret  whispers  of  God's  Spirit  made 
 me  greatly  to  suspect,  that  the  devil  had  en- 
 deavoured to  lay  a  snare  for  my  feet;  and  I  was 
 not  a  little  confirmed  in  my  suspicion,  because  I 
 
83 
 
 had  lost  my  comfort,  and  that  peace  that  passeth 
 all  understandmg.  It  was  therefore  suggested  to 
 my  mind  to  go  to  God  immediately,  and  to  lay 
 the  whole  before  him  in  humble  prayer,  feeling 
 secretly  a  sweet  persuasion,  that  he  would  most 
 assuredly  give  me  light,  and  guide  me  into  all 
 Iruth.  My  expectation  was  not  cut  off:  for  while 
 I  was  confessing  my  blindness  and  ignorance, 
 begging  of  the  Lord  that  he  would  keep  me  from 
 being  deceived,  and  make  the  man,  who  had 
 brought  me  into  trouble,  manifest,  I  say,  while  I 
 was  thus  engaged,  wrestling  with  the  Lord  even 
 to  an  agony,  I  found  my  heart  began  to  melt, 
 which  causing  my  fervour  to  increase,  all  my 
 darkness,  bondage,  fears,  and  trouble  vanished 
 away  like  smoke ;  and  the  Lord  of  my  life  shone 
 upon  me  like  the  sun,  when  breaking  out  from 
 behind  a  dark  cloud,  so  very  conspicuous  was  his 
 presence  to  me.  Having  found  him  again  whom 
 my  soul  loved,  I  wept  aloud  for  joy,  feeling  un- 
 speakable gratitude  and  holy  astonishment,  at  the 
 glory,  power,  and  love,  with  which  he  was  pleased 
 to  answer  me.  It  is  not  in  my  power  to  desciibe 
 the  magnitude  of  the  views,  and  the  heavenly  in- 
 struction I  received  at  that  highly  favoured  time : 
 for  I  had  a  clear  discovery  in  God's  light  of  the 
 erroneous  tenets  proposed  to  me,  and  the  awful 
 tendency  of  them,  being  fully  satisfied  that  the 
 human  soul  of  Christ,  never  had  any  real  exist- 
 ence before  he  assumed  human  nature. 
 
 I   have  thus  far  digressed  from   my   subject, 
 with  this  view,  that  tliose  that  fear  God,  may  also 
 ■  F  2      ■ 
 
84 
 
 he  led  to  make  the  Lord  their  only  counsellor  and 
 guide;  who  layeth  up  sound  wisdom  for  the 
 righteous,  and  has  promised,  "  that  they  that  seek 
 him  early,  shall  find  him;"  while  those,  that  are 
 wise  in  their  own  conceits  are  taken  in  their  own 
 craftiness.  The  instruction  1  had  now  received 
 from  the  Lord,  enabled  me  to  contend  earnestly 
 with  the  man,  who  had  sought  to  turn  me  away 
 from  the  truth ;  but  he  only  laughed  at  me ;  and 
 went  on  from  bad  to  worse,  mfecting  whole  houses 
 with  his  abominations.  And  I  found  him  and 
 many  more,  to  be  lovers  of  themselves,  boasters, 
 proud,  blasphemers,  incontinent,  fierce,  despisers 
 of  them  that  are  good,  traitors,  heady,  high- 
 minded,  lovers  of  pleasure  more  than  lovers  of 
 God ;  having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the 
 power  thereof.  1  have  lived  to  see  every  one  of 
 those,  who  continued  obstinate  in  the  errror  I  am 
 opposing,  come  to  most  awful  ends  ;  not  one  of 
 them  prospered,  either  temporally  or  spiritually. 
 They  turned  every  one  to  their  crooked  ways, 
 and  the  Lord  in  just  judgment  led  them  forth  with 
 the  workers  of  iniquity  ;  being  guilty  of  the  most 
 shamefid  unnatural  crimes :  evidently  shewing, 
 that  errors  in  principles,  produce  errors  in  practice. 
 On  the  other  hand,  I  am  a  living  witness  of  the 
 love,  and  great  faithfulness  of  God,  and  that  his 
 mercy  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  upon  theni 
 that  fear  him ;  that  seek  his  face  and  trust  in  his 
 holy  name.  O  how  I  have  been  made  to  look 
 back  upon  the  carcases  of  the  men  that  had  sinned 
 against  him !  and  with  what  deep  felt  love  and 
 
85 
 
 gratitude,  have  I  been  led  to  sing  unto  him  with 
 the  voice  of  thanksoiving,  praise,  and  holy  tri- 
 umph ;  saying,  *'  O  Lord  who  am  1,  that  thou 
 shouklest  deal  so  wonderously  with  me,  who  am 
 unworthy  of  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies:  for  thou 
 hast  found  me  in  the  waste  howling  wilderness  of 
 this  wicked  world :  thou  hast  led  me  about,  in- 
 structed me,  plucked  me  as  a  brand  from  the 
 burning,  and  hast  kept  me  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye. 
 A  thousand  have  fallen  at  my  side,  and  ten 
 thousand  at  my  right  hand;  but  thou  hast  kept  me 
 from  the  errors  of  the  wicked.  Though  I  have 
 been  among  Serpents  and  Scorpions,  and  many 
 have  given  me  deadly  things  to  drink,  yet  through 
 thy  mercy  they  have  not  been  able  to  hurt  me ; 
 but  I  have  only  been  brought  nearer  to  thyself,  to 
 put  my  trust  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings. 
 Lord,  thou  knowest  how  weak  and  frail  I  am ; 
 keep  me  and  guide  me  continually  by  thy  counsel, 
 and  all  the  praise  and  glory  sliall  be  thine,  for  ever 
 and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 How  Christ  is  set  up  from  everlasting,  from  the 
 Beginning. — ,  or  ^c. 
 
 The  word  everlasting,  in  Prov.  viii.  23.  is 
 neither  of  doubtful,  or  of  limited  signification,  as 
 if  it  denoted  a  long  period  of  time;  but  really  de- 
 notes eternity.  Time  is  a  creature  that  has  a  be- 
 ginning, and  shall  have  an  end ;  but  God  in  his 
 word  has  most  clearly  given  us  to  understand  by 
 those  expressions,  "  Before  the  world  began,  or 
 
86 
 
 before  the  foundations  of  the  ^Torld,  or  from  ever- 
 lasting-/' that  a  pure  eternity  is  meant.  None, 
 therefore,  but  idiots,  or  fools,  will  seek  to  limit 
 the  sense  of  the  word  Everlasting*  in  this  place. 
 God  himself  has  most  admirably  disposed  the 
 words,  by  placing  the  beginning  of  time  in  the 
 middle,  and  eternity  at  the  two  extremities ; 
 saying,  "  I  was  set  up  from  Everlasting,  from  the 
 Beginning,  or  ever  the  earth  was,"  Is  it  not  ab- 
 solute nonsense,  to  reckon  time  before  the  begin- 
 ning of  it?  Has  it  not  a  beginning,  and  an  end,  when 
 time  shall  be  no  more  l  and  were  not  all  things 
 created  in  time?  as  it  is  written,  Gen  i.  1.  '-In 
 the  beginning  God  created  the  heaven  and  the 
 earth. — And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
 first  day."'  I  conclude,  that  Christ  was  set  up 
 from  all  eternity,  and  also  from  the  beginning  of 
 time,  according  to  his  own  assertion ;  "I  was  set 
 up  from  Everlasting,  from  the  beginning." — "  Two 
 objections  present  themselves  to  our  view :  for  the 
 question  may  be  asked,  how  can  Christ's  man- 
 hood be  set  up  from  eternity  ?  and  how  can  that 
 which  is  created  and  made,  exist  from  everlasting? 
 I  answer,  that  even  a  very  small  share  of  common 
 sense  will  clearly  see,  that  there  is  a  great  differ- 
 ence between  a  created  principle,  and  an  eternal 
 uncreated  one.  It  is  evident  therefore,  that 
 Christ's  human  nature,  because  it  is  created  and 
 made,  could  iiot  really  exist  from  everlasting, 
 nor  be  set  up  from  eternity.  Secondly,  it  may  be 
 demanded,  how  can  Christ  as  God  be  set  up,  pro- 
 duced, placed,  or  established?  Can  infinite  self- 
 
87 
 
 existent  Godhead  be  set  up,  raised,  or  shaped 
 into  any  thing  it  Avas  not  from  eteniity  •  I  answer, 
 that  this  also  is  impossible :  for  the  immutability 
 of  God's  nature  \^'ill  not  admit  of  the  idea  of  his 
 being  set  up,  seeing  that  he  is  the  same  now,  that 
 he  was,  and  ever  shall  be  from  everlasting  to 
 everlasting.  I  conclude  therefore,  that  Christ  as 
 being  the  self-existent  immutable  God,  could 
 not  undergo  any  such  change,  nor  can  as  such  be 
 setup.  It  is  most  evident  also,  that  the  Socinian^ 
 who  considers  Christ  as  a  mere  man,  and  the 
 Arian,  who  views  him  a  created  God,  that  both 
 these  stumble  and  err ;  because  they  are  through 
 unbelief,  altogether  incapable  to  understand  the 
 mysterious  way  in  which  Christ  is  set  up  from 
 everlasting.  However,  Christ,  the  wisdom  of 
 God,  has  plainly  told  us,  that  he  was  set  up  from 
 everlasting,  or  ever  the  earth  was  ;  and  though  he 
 cannot  be  setup  as  really  pre-existing  as  man,  nor 
 as  God  abstractedly  considered,  yet  as  man  and 
 God,  is  he  to  be  viewed  as  being  set  up  from 
 eternity.  It  is  in  the  mysterious  union  of  Christ's 
 two  natures  in  one  self-existent  eternal  Person, 
 that  we  shall  see  this  difficult  point  cleared  up, 
 and  no  otherwise :  for  in  his  humanity  only,  can 
 he  be  set  up,  established,  and  fixed ;  while  his 
 self-existent  dignity  as  the  living  eternal  God, 
 causes  this  mysterious  setting  up  to  be  from 
 everlasting.  Those  who  have  been  enabled  to 
 understand,  what  has  already  been  said  and  proved 
 of  Christ  in  his  office  characters,  will  find  also  an 
 easy  solution  with  regard  to  the  point  in  hand :  for 
 
86 
 
 as  we  have  proved,  that  he  was  as  God  and  man 
 one  divme  Person,  co-eqnal  and  co-eternal  with 
 the  Father  in  all  his  office  characters,  being  from 
 eternity  considered  as  Mediator,  Priest,  Prophet, 
 King",  Surety, — so  iu  like  manner  we  must  under- 
 stand, that  as  man  and  God,  he  was  set  up  to 
 sustain  these  office  characters. 
 
 God  the  Father,  loved  his  elect  from  eternity; 
 and  had  gracious  thoughts,  and  fixed  intentions 
 to  save  them  with  an  everlasting  salvation ;  but  we 
 are  told,  that  all  these  mercifid  designs  were  none 
 otherwise,  than,  Eph.  iii.  11.  "According  to  the 
 eternal  purpose  which  he  purposed  in  Christ  Jesus 
 our  Lord:"  in  whom  he  blessed  them  with  all 
 spiritual  blessings,  and  chose  them  in  him  before 
 the  foundation  of  the  world.  It  is  most  evident 
 therefore,  that  the  Father  viewed  Christ  as  the 
 propitiation  for  the  sins  of  his  people,  and  that  as 
 man  and  God,  he  was  set  np  from  everlasting : 
 for  he  has  not  blessed,  nor  chosen  us  from  ever- 
 lasting in  a  nonenity,  or  in  a  Christ  that  had  no 
 real  existence ;  but  in  him,  who  was  set  up  from 
 everlasting,  to  be  future  man  to  redeem  us  from 
 all  evil.  Thus  the  Father  really  possessed  him 
 before  his  works  of  old,  that  is,  from  all  eternity; 
 and  set  him  up  in  his  purpose  as  man,  who,  in 
 his  higher  nature  was  the  eternal  God.  Thus 
 Christ,  was  a  real  self-existent  Person  from  ever- 
 lasting, rejoicing  always  before  the  Father,  being 
 daily  his  delight,  in  whom,  and  through  whom, 
 his  gracious  purposes  and  everlasting  love  took 
 real  and  effectual  vent  towards  his  people  :  for  his 
 
89 
 
 unspeakable  mercy  in  Christ  has  flowed  towards 
 tliem  "  From  everlasting  to  everlasting." 
 
 My  reader  must  not  expect  from  me  such  a 
 solution,  or  definition  of  this  profound  and  deepljr 
 mysterious  subject,  as  shall  satisfy  his  natural 
 reason :  for  if  any  man  is  destitnte  of  real  faith,  he 
 will  lose  sight  of  those  scriptures  by  which  the 
 mystery  is  discerned,  and  notwithstanding  all 
 that  has  been  said  upon  the  subject,  he  will  fol- 
 low his  carnal  thoughts  and  reasonings ;  saying, 
 '*  How  can  Christ,  as  God  and  man  from  ever- 
 lasting be  really  a  Person?  and  how  can  he,  as 
 such,  be  efficaciously  viewed  as  Mediator,  Priest, 
 Prophet,  and  Surety  ?  for  his  manhood  having  no 
 real  existence  from  eternity,  he  cannot  therefore 
 be  a  real  Person  as  God  and  man  :  for  the  ab- 
 sence of  the  manhood  causes  his  Personality  to  be 
 defective."  Thus  the  carnal  man  leaving  the  word 
 of  God,  will  ebb  and  flow  in  his  limited  mind,  and 
 will  at  last  run  into  the  wide  maze  of  error ;  denying 
 the  reality  of  the  eternal  Sonship  of  Christ,  of  the 
 everlasting  covenant,  and  in  fact,  will  either  take 
 the  Socinian  or  Avian  road,  and  greedily  swal- 
 low their  delusions,  by  blaspheming  the  mystery 
 of  the  Trinity,  as  held  forth  by  the  word.  It  is 
 owing  to  the  wild  flights  of  besotted  reason,  that 
 we  hear  of  such  unscriptural  notions  as  these : 
 namely,  that  revenging  justice  is  not  essential  to 
 God,  but  he  can  pardon  sin  without  satisfaction; 
 which  is  certainly  clean  contrary  to  the  testimony 
 of  the  scriptures.  The  original  cause  and  root  of 
 such  conceits  and  false  notions,  is  the  enmity  of 
 
m 
 
 the  carnal  mind  against  Ciirist;  which  being 
 spirited  up  by  the  devil,  cannot  receive  him  as 
 God  and  man  in  One  eternal  Person.  But  when 
 Satan  is  cast  out  of  the  heart,  and  the  carnal  en- 
 mity subdued,  the  enlightened  christian  can  clearly 
 miderstand  by  faith,  that  Christ  in  his  two  natures 
 is  One  self-existent  Person  from  eternity ;  that  as 
 such,  he  was  set  up  from  everlasting  in  the  infinite 
 purpose  of  God,  who  saw  him  man  as  well  as 
 God ;  and  so  effectual  was  his  eternal  mediation, 
 that  it  stayed  the  eternal  wrath  of  God,  and 
 caused  his  eternal  love  to  flow  towards  his  elect, 
 so  that  they  were  effectually  chosen  and  accept- 
 ed in  this  beloved  from  eternity. 
 
 It  is  needful  at  all  times  for  us  to  remember, 
 that  God  is  not  like  man,  neither  are  his  thoughts 
 and  ways  like  our's ;  as  he  himself  saith,  Isai.  Iv. 
 9.  "  For  as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth, 
 so  are  my  ways  higher  than  your  w^ays,  and  my 
 thoughts  than  your  thoughts."  The  utmost 
 stretch  of  man's  finite  capacity,  when  his  thoughts 
 soar  beyond  their  usual  bounds  of  investigation, 
 I  say,  when  he  has  ran  round  the  whole  circle  of 
 his  ideas  concerning  the  most  High,  this  is  the 
 fruit  of  all  his  researches  ;  as  God  testifies,  Psal, 
 1.  21.  "  Thou  thoughtest  that  I  was  altogether 
 such  an  one  as  thyself"  Man  in  the  most  refined 
 state  of  nature,  thinks  that  nothing  is  really  sub- 
 stantial, but  those  things  which  are  obvious  to  his 
 senses  ;  and  those  things  which  he  cannot  see,  or 
 feel,  or  understand,  he  is  ever  ready  to  deny  the 
 reality  of  their  existence.     Seeing,  therefore,  that 
 
91 
 
 sin  has  covered  the  earth  with  darkness,  and  all 
 the  people  thereof  with  gross  darkness,  we  must 
 not  wonder,  that  men  of  parts  and  abilities,  who 
 have  rendered  themselves  famous  by  their  learn- 
 ing, wit,  and  transcendant  miderstandings,  have 
 treated  the  deep  things  of  God  as  mere  nonen- 
 tities :  and  because  they  could  not  understand 
 them,  have  denied  the  reality  of  their  existence. 
 The  Scriptures  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  however, 
 teach  us  that  those  things  which  are  not  seen,  are  the 
 only  realities  ;  while  those  things  which  are  highly 
 esteemed  among  men  are  vanities,  M'hose  appa- 
 rent reality  shall  perish  in  the  using.  O  how  fal- 
 lacious is  human  knowledge!  None  can  suf- 
 ficientlv  shew  the  amazins;  deceitfulness  thereof: 
 for  it  has  led  men  impiously  to  investigate  the 
 vei'y  being  and  nature  of  God  ;  and  with  its  much 
 applauded,  but  yet  false  and  treacherous  light, 
 has  left  them  in  worse  than  Egyptian  darkness : 
 1  Cor.  i.  21.  "  For  after  that  in  the  wisdom  of 
 God  the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God."  Has 
 not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  world  ? 
 Where  is  the  wise  ?  Where  is  the  subtle  reasoner, 
 the  scribe,  the  philosopher?  O  how  vain  and 
 foolish  are  all  their  notions,  when  brought  to  the 
 test  of  God's  word  !  We  must  not  therefore  think 
 it  strange,  that  God  in  his  word,  has  denounced 
 such  fearful  judgments  against  such  wicked  men, 
 who,  making  an  idol  of  their  corrupt  wisdom  and 
 reason,  have  most  blasphemously  set  their  mouth 
 against  the  heavens ;  and  have  called  the  most 
 holy  mystery  of  three  divine  Persons  in  One  God, 
 
92 
 
 9.  three  headed  monster  :  and  have  denied  the 
 self-existent  Personality  of  the  only  Saviour  of 
 mankind  ;  calling  the  realities  of  God's  eternal 
 purposes,  and  the  everlasting  covenant,  nonentities. 
 Must  we  not  acknowledge  that  God  is  most  just, 
 in  takino:  veno-eance  of  such  sinners  asainst  their 
 own  souls  ?  who,  without  fear,  speak  evil  of  the 
 things  that  they  understand  not ;  and  shall  utterly 
 perish  in  their  own  coiTuption. 
 
 How  Christ  teas  set  up  from  the  Beginning. 
 I  HAVE  endeavoured  to  shew  that  Christ  was, 
 is,  and  ever  shall  be  a  divine,  self-existent  Person 
 from  everlasting  to  everlasting ;  being  as  such  im- 
 mutable, eternal,  and  of  one  divine  essence  Avith 
 the  Father,  and  the  Holy  Ghost;  whom  the 
 Father  set  up  before  him  as  man  from  eternity,  and 
 viewed  him  as  such,  in  his  eternal  mind,  counsel, 
 decree,  and  purpose ;  but  he  did  not  consider  him 
 as  man  only,  but  as  being  in  the  mysterious  con- 
 stitution of  his  Person,  the  real,  living,  and  eter- 
 nal God.  In  his  manhood  he  was  set  up  ;  but  his 
 divine  nature  stamped  eternal  reality  and  dignity, 
 as  well  as  efficacy,  upon  this  infinitely  mysterious 
 act  of  the  eternal  mind  and  will  of  God ;  so  as 
 to  cause  this  setting  up  to  be  from  everlasting. 
 As  the  everlasting  love  of  God  is  an  eternal  reality, 
 (for  God  is  love)  so  also  the  Person  of  God  and 
 man,  through  whom  this  everlasting  love  flowed, 
 is  essentially  proved  to  be  an  eternal  reality.  I 
 think  that  by  tliis  time,  my  reader,  if  he    is  a 
 
98 
 
 spiritual  man,  may  perceive  that  the  most  high 
 God  did  not  set  up  a  nonentity,  in  the  Person  of 
 his  eternal  Son ,  but  a  reality,  that  will  ever  be 
 infinitely  precious  to  those  who  believe  this  great 
 mystery :  for  they  may  see  that  God  who  is  immu- 
 table love,  so  loved  the  world  of  the  elect  from 
 everlasting,  that  he  always  set  up  his  eternal  son, 
 as  an  all  sufficient  propitiation  or  sacrifice ;  and 
 delivered  him  up  freely  for  their  sakes,  to  be  their 
 all  in  all  from  eternity. 
 
 As  Christ  was  set  up  from  everlasting,  so  wat 
 he  also  set  up  no  less  mysteriously  from  the 
 Beginning  of  time.  I  have  already  clearly  shewed 
 how  Christ  was  set  up,  as  being  the  Beginning  of 
 the  creation  of  God,  the  first  born  of  every 
 creature;  because  being  raised  from  the  dead  by 
 the  glory  of  the  Father,  he  is  become  the  first 
 born  and  first  Begotten  of  the  dead.  Therefore, 
 as  the  scriptures  are  not  of  private  inteipretation, 
 it  may  be  that  Christ  the  wisdom  of  God,  when 
 he  saith,  '^I  was  set  up  from  the  Beginning," 
 doth  also  point  out  to  this  great  event,  when  he 
 was  raised  from  the  dead  :  for  this  is  the  Beginning 
 of  the  new  and  spiritual  creation  of  God  ;  in  which 
 Christ  was  set  up  as  the  first  fruits  of  them  that 
 alept.  But  I  believe  that  the  word  Beginning  in 
 the  text  under  consideration,  being  contrasted 
 with  the  word  everlasting,  has  a  more  particular 
 reference  to  the  Beginning  of  the  creation  of  the 
 world ;  and  though  the  word  is  indefinitely  used, 
 as  it  is  also  in  many  other  scriptures,  yet  by  the 
 •  eneral  teuor  or  sense,  we  clearly  understand, 
 
94 
 
 that  the  beginning  of  the  world  is  meant.  Christ 
 speaks  after  the  same  manner,  when  he  shewed 
 to  the  Jews  their  sin,  who  put  away  their  wives 
 upon  every  trifling  occasion  :  saying,  Mat.  xix.  8. 
 "But  from  the  Beginning  it  was  not  so."  So 
 again  when  speaking  of  the  Devil,  he  saith  :  John, 
 viii.  44."  He  was  a  murderer  from  the  Beginning." 
 So  John  also  saith :  I  John,  iii.  8.  "For  the  Devil 
 sinneth  from  the  Beginning."  All  these  passages, 
 and  others  that  might  be  brought,  plainly  shew, 
 that  the  word  Beginning,  though  indefinitely  used, 
 evidently  signifies  the  Beginning  of  the  world.  I 
 conclude  therefore,  that  Christ  who  was  set  up 
 from  everlasting,  was  also  set  up  in  a  mysterious 
 way  from  the  Beginning  of  the  creation  of  the 
 world. 
 
 Christ  set  upfront  the  Beginning,  in  a  figure,  image,  or 
 
 type. 
 
 It  has  already  been  most  soundly  proved,  that 
 none  of  the  things  which  are  created  or  made,  had 
 any  real  existence  before  the  Beginning  or  the  six 
 days.  It  is  evident  also  that  the  angels  were 
 created  the  first  day  or  at  least  before  Adam  :  for 
 they  were  present  when  he  was  created.  Job. 
 xxxviii.  7.  It  is  also  most  evident,  that  those 
 angels  which  fell,  were  charged  with  folly  in  con- 
 sequence of  their  breaking  a  law:  Rom.  iv.  15. 
 "  For  where  no  law  is,  there  is  no  transgression." 
 In  order  to  understand  how  and  wherefore  Christ 
 was  also  set  up  from  the  Beginning  of  the  Creation, 
 it  will   be   necessary  to   consider  a  few   things, 
 
95 
 
 leading,  to  clear  up  this  mysterious  event.  I 
 must  now  digress  a  little,  not  to  make  a  show  ol 
 v/isdom,  but  to  clear  up  truth :  for  I  feel  the  im- 
 portance and  weight  of  the  great  argument  I  am 
 going  to  enter  upon,  like  a  huge  mountain  upon 
 my  shoulders  ;  but  as  my  motive  is  from  first  to 
 last,  to  justify  God  in  all  his  ways,  I  doubt  not, 
 but  that  he  will  enable  me  to  cast  a  light  upon  the 
 subject. 
 
 It  will  be  necsssary  first  to  consider,  that  God 
 alone  is  self-existent,  independent,  unbegotten, 
 being  immutably  that  eternal  living  principle  which 
 gave  existence  to  all  his  creatures ;  who  by  an  act  of 
 his  eternal  sovereign  will  created  them  all  in  time. 
 We  believe  also  according  to  the  word  of  God, 
 that  angels  as  well  as  man  were  created  free  agents, 
 and  stood  in  their  created  uprightness  or  native 
 righteousness,  having  no  bias  whatsoever  to  evil : 
 for  it  is  written,  Gen  i.  31.  "  And  God  saw  every 
 thing  that  he  had  made,  and  behold  it  was  very 
 good."  This  is  enough  to  stop  the  mouth  of  those 
 blasphemous  spirits,  who  pretend,  that  the  fall 
 was  owing  to  the  creature  being  created  with  a 
 natural  propensity  to  evil,  as  well  as  to  good, 
 making  God  himself  the  immediate  author  of  sin, 
 which  is  a  lie.  But  this  is  the  truth  :  that  God 
 really  made  them  very  good,  and  upright;  but 
 that  they  themselves  abusing  their  free-agency, 
 sought  out  those  many  inventions  which  proved 
 their  ruin.  Eccles.  vi.  29.  ^yhen  we  affirm  that 
 ihey  were  made  free  agents,  we  do  not  mean  that 
 they  were  independent,    or  immutably   so,    but 
 
96 
 
 that  they  were  by  creation  absolutely  free  to  all 
 good,  being  the  willing  servants  of  righteousness, 
 knowing  nothing  of  slavish  fear,  compulsion,  or 
 of  bondage  in  the  worship  they  rendered  to  their 
 bountiful  creator.  Union  with  and  obedience  to 
 God  was  their  privilege,  happiness,  and  freedom; 
 while  the  very  idea  of  independency  has  the  nature 
 of  sin  in  it ;  and  none  but  the  devil  is  the  father 
 of  that  proud  conception,  that  to  walk  humbly 
 with  God,  to  obey  his  voice,  and  serve  him,  is 
 not  perfect  freedom  and  libe4'ty.  Even  reason 
 itself  is  capable  of  discerning,  that  a  second  cause 
 is  not,  nor  can  be  independent,  but  always 
 depends  and  hangs  upon  the  first  cause ;  which 
 like  a  mother  gives  it  birth,  life,  strength,  and 
 activity.  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  illustrates  the 
 same  verity  from  the  book  of  nature ;  saying, 
 John,  XV.  4.  '*  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As 
 the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it 
 abide  in  the  vine,  no  more  can  ye,  except  ye 
 abide  in  me."  This  shews  the  absolute  necessity 
 of  the  creature's  dependence  upon  God,  union  with, 
 and  obedience  to  him ;  and  that  it  cannot  thrive  and 
 bear  fruit,  no  more  than  the  branch,  if  separated 
 from  the  vine.  The  scriptures  declare,  that  God 
 in  three  Persons  is  alone,  the  self-existent  immu- 
 table Jehovah,  whose  immutability  cannot  be 
 communicated  to  any  finite  creature,  so  as  to 
 render  them  immutable  in  themselves;  because 
 they  all  are  second  causes,  produced  by  him,  in 
 whom  they  live,  move,  and  have  their  existence. 
 It  was  therefore  not  possible  for  angels,  or  men, 
 
97 
 
 to  stand  alone,  without  being  under  some  law, 
 expressive  of  their  dependence  upon  God;  and 
 that  the  continuance  of  their  felicity,  life,  and 
 derived  glory,  should  be  secured  to  them,  in  con- 
 sequence of  their  yielding  uninterupled,  perpetual, 
 and  continued  obedience  to  the  author  and  feeder 
 of  their  comforts.  The  covenant  that  God  made 
 with  his  creatures,  and  the  law  given  to  them  was 
 love :  for  God  is  love  ;  and  his  law  is  like  himself, 
 and  is  according  to  sciipture  completely  fulfilled 
 by  love.  In  this  love  they  were  created,  and  life 
 was  promised  and  secured  to  them,  on  condition 
 of  their  continuance  in  love,  and  implicit  obedience 
 to  his  sovereign  will  in  all  things.  Thus  were  they 
 created  upon  a  perfect  level  with  the  law ;  for 
 God  expected  filial  obedience  and  love,  and  they 
 were  able  to  render  it,  so  that  their  disobedience 
 and  fall  cannot  in  any  sense  be  imputed  to  God, 
 who  having  constituted  them  free  agents,  left  them 
 to  the  freedom  of  their  will ;  and  it  is  evident 
 from  the  testimony  of  the  scriptures,  that  God's 
 foreknowledge  of  their  fall,  and  his  secret  decrees 
 from  eternity,  had  no  manner  of  influence  what- 
 soever to  cause  their  ruin  :  "  For  he  is  a  God  of 
 truth  and  without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  he: 
 For  he  cannot  be  tempted  with  evil,  neither 
 tempteth  he  any  man  :"  but  the  creature  is  the 
 author  of  its  own  destruction ;  as  it  is  written, 
 Hos.  xiii.  9.  "  O  Israel  thou  hast  destroyed  thy- 
 self." 
 
 I  am  persuaded,  that  although  man  was  made 
 a  little  lower  than  the   angels,  yet  all  the  united 
 
 G 
 
98 
 
 powers  of  hell  could  never  have  prevailed  against 
 him,  had  he  but  made  a  right  use  of  his  created 
 power,  and  kept  close  by  obedience  and  love  to 
 his  almighty  creator.  For  as  the  branch  by 
 abiding  in  the  vine,  is  made  vigorous  and  fruitful, 
 and  draws  continual  virtue  from  the  stock,  so  man 
 by  union  with  God,  would  have  drawn  from  him 
 such  almighty  virtue  and  power,  as  to  be  able  to 
 defeat  ten  million  Devils.  All  things  are  possible 
 to  them  that  believe ;  but  man  doubting  the 
 veracity  of  God,  and  believing  Satan's  lie,  wil- 
 fully became  a  servant  of  sin,  a  drudge  of  the 
 devil,  and  exposed  himself  to  the  infinite  wrath 
 of  God;  who  is  infinitely  justified,  in  taking 
 vengeance  of  him  to  whom  so  much  was  given. 
 Having  now  shewn  the  propriety  of  men  and  angels 
 being  under  a  law  to  God,  I  shall  proceed  to 
 point  out  when  it  was  given  to  them. 
 
 I  have  proved  that  the  angels  were  created  first, 
 and  were  all  present  when  God  formed  Adam, 
 who  was  the  figure  of  him  that  was  to  come. 
 This  is  the  time  when  the  angels  received  their 
 law :  for  when  Adam  was  set  up  as  the  figure  of 
 Christ,  the  decree  went  forth,  and  they  were  all 
 commanded  to  bow  down,  adore,  and  worship 
 the  eternal  Son  of  God  who  should  appear  hke 
 Adam,  a  man;  and  be  God  manifest  in  the  flesh. 
 This  is  mysteriously  set  forth  by  the  Lord  himself; 
 who  asked  Job,  saying.  Job,  xxxviii.  4. — 7. 
 *'  Where  wast  thou  whew  I  laid  the  foundations  of 
 the  earth ;  declare  if  thou  hast  understanding. 
 Who  hath  laid   the  measures   thereof,    if  thou 
 
99 
 
 knowest  ?  or  who  hath  stretched  the  line  upon  it? 
 Whereupon  are  the  foundations  thereof  fastened ? 
 or  who  hath  laid  the  corner  stone  thereof; — When 
 the  morning  stars  sang  together,  and  the  sons  of 
 God  shouted  for  joy?"  Christ  himself,  is  that 
 eternal  self-existent  Person  upon  whom  the  foun- 
 dations of  the  earth  are  fastened,  human  nature 
 is  that  nail  which  is  fastened  in  the  sure  place  of  his 
 eternal  Godhead :  in  him  all  the  attributes  and 
 perfections  of  God,  his  eternal  purposes  of  grace, 
 love,  mercy,  and  good  will,  I  say,  in  him  they 
 sweetly  harmonize,  who  is  also  the  corner  stone, 
 uniting  all  things  together:  Col.  1.7.  "  And  he  is 
 before  all  things,  and  by  him  all  things  consist." 
 The  corner  stone  therefore,  is  most  certainly 
 Christ ;  who,  though  kicked  against,  and  rejected 
 both  by  men  and  devils,  is  nevertheless,  become 
 the  head  stone  of  the  corner.  Psal.  cxviii.  22. 
 called  a  precious  corner  stone,  and  the  only  sure 
 foundation :  whom  God  set  up  as  such  from 
 everlasting,  or  ever  the  earth  was,  even  before  his 
 works  of  old ;  Prov.  viii.  22.  which  point  has 
 already  been  sufficiently  proved.  From  what  has 
 been  said,  it  is  evident  also  that  Christ  as  God 
 and  man,  was  set  up  from  the  Beginning  of  the 
 world  in  a  lively  figure,  even  Adam :  who  being 
 tlie  most  sublime  part  of  the  terrestrial  creation, 
 is  called  Prov.  viii.  26.  "  The  highest  part  of  the 
 dust  of  the  world."  This  was  the  famous  period 
 of  angelic  probation,  when  the  Lord  conunanded 
 them,  saying,  Psal.  xcvii.  7.  "Worship  him  all  ye 
 Gods."     Then  it  was,  that  these  glorious  morning 
 
 G  2 
 
100 
 
 stars  sang  the  high  praises  of  him,  who  should 
 become  man,  and  be  like  Adam,  the  figure  set 
 up  before  their  eyes :  and,  as  Israel  did  not 
 worship  the  figures  representing  Christ,  nor  do  we 
 worship  the  bread  and  wine  in  the  sacrament, 
 but  adore  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  took  away  the 
 sin  of  the  world,  so  the  angels  worshipped 
 neither  the  figure,  nor  the  human  nature  he  should 
 appear  in,  but  the  eternal  son  of  God  in  that 
 nature,  as  the  head  of  their  principalities ;  whom 
 these  Sons  of  God  received  with  heavenly  shouts 
 of  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of  glory  ;  greatly  re- 
 joicing in  the  commandment,  that  eternal  law  of 
 matchless  love :  for  they  saw  the  eternal  love  of 
 God  displayed  in  the  highest  degree,  who,  had 
 not  only  given  to  them  excellent  glory  by  creation, 
 but  had  also  in  infinite  goodness,  provided  for 
 them,  his  co-equal  Son  as  their  head ;  in  whose 
 self-existent  glory,  power,  and  stability,  they 
 should  by  divine  grant,  be  for  ever  established, 
 and  rendered  immutable  by  mysterious  union  with 
 him,  who  is  Jehovah  the  self-existent  God.  Thus 
 we  see  the  ground,  or  cause  of  their  heavenly 
 song  and  glorious  shoutings ;  and  that  the  law 
 which  was  given  to  them,  was  not  grievous,  but 
 was  a  yoke  or  burden  both  light  and- easy,  which 
 they  received  and  bowed  their  necks  to,  with  extra- 
 ordinary demonstrations  of  joy,  shoutings,  and 
 holy  triumphs.  But  all  obeyed  not  the  truth,  nor 
 fciincerely  rejoiced  in  it.  Satan  being  lifted  up  with 
 self-admiration  and  pride,  conceived  sin  in  his 
 heart,  and  scorned  to  worship  his   maker  in  a 
 
101 
 
 nature  not  equal  to  his  own.  He  despised  the 
 infinite  wisdom,  goodness  and  love  of  God,  and 
 obeyed  not  the  holy  decree ;  but  was  self-deceived, 
 and  got  blind  to  his  ow  n  interest ;  forgetting  that 
 he  was  a  creature,  he  aspired  to  Godhead  and 
 independency,  and  by  disobedience  fell  with  many 
 more,  headlong  into  condemnation.  This  dread- 
 ful event  took  place  at  the  Beginning,  when  Christ 
 was  set  up  in  Adam,  who  was  the  figure  of  him 
 that  was  to  come.  To  this  our  Lord  particularly 
 alludes  ;  saying,  John,  viii.  44.  *'  You  are  of  your 
 father  the  Devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your  father  ye 
 will  do. — He  was  a  murderer  from  the  beginning, 
 and  abode  not  in  the  truth,  because  there  is  no 
 truth  in  him."  I  conclude  therefore,  that  the 
 Son  of  God,  who  was  set  up  as  God  and  man 
 from  everlasting,  or  ever  the  earth  was,  that  is  to 
 say,  from  eternity,  was  also  set  up  from  the 
 Beginning  of  time,  in  Adam  his  type,  or  figure ; 
 who,  though  thus  mysteriously  set  up,  was  not 
 in  himself  a  nonentity,  or  a  mere  shadow,  but  a 
 reality ;  being  the  self-existent  Person  of  the  Word, 
 who  in  the  Beginning  was  with  God;  John,  i.  i. 
 against  whom  Satan  sinneth  from  the  Beginning;. 
 John,  ii.  8.  who  from  the  Beginning  was  revealed 
 the  head  stone  of  spiritual  unity,  in  whom  elect 
 angels  rejoiced  as  their  sure  abode  and  impreg- 
 nable habitation  :  while  others  abusing  of  the 
 freedom  of  their  will,  rejected  him  to  their  confu- 
 sion, shame,  and  everlasting  destruction.  These 
 proud  principalities  and  powers,  are  reserved  iu 
 everlasting  chains  under  darkness  unto  the  judg- 
 
102 
 
 ment  of  the  great  day ;  while  many  of  the  sons  of 
 men  whom  they  have  ruined,  have  through  rich 
 grace  beHeved  in  him,  who  was  set  up  from  the 
 Begiiniing;  rejoicing  in  him  with  joy  unspeakable 
 and  full  of  Glory ;  as  it  is  written,  Psal.  xcvii.  8. 
 *'  Zion  heard  and  was  glad  :  and  the  daughters  of 
 Judah  rejoiced  because  of  thy  judgments  O  Lord." 
 From  all  that  has  been  said  and  proved,  it  is 
 evident,  that  the  doctrine  of  the  pre-existence  of 
 Christ's  human  soul,  is  a  doctrine  of  devils ; 
 which  the  advocates  thereof  cannot  prove  from 
 scripture :  and  that  it  is  only  a  pestilence  that 
 walketh  in  darkness,  being  the  high  way  leading 
 to  Arianism,  and  perdition. 
 
 *  ♦  • 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 Cautions  against  a  number  of  other  errors,  concerning  the 
 mysterious  Person  of  Christ,  tvith  proper  refutations. 
 
 Error.  1  Sabellius  a  Bishop  of  Cyrenaica, 
 westward  of  Egypt,  who  lived  in  A.  D.  250, 
 maintained  that  there  is  but  one  divine  person  in 
 the  Godhead,  namely  the  Father;  and  that  only 
 a  certain  energy  from  him  was  united  to  Christ, 
 and  made  him  the  Son  of  God;  and  that  the 
 Holy  Ghost  is  a  portion  of  the  eternal  Father. 
 
 According  to  this  Heretic,  there  is  not  three 
 distinct  Persons  in  the  Godhead,  but  only  the 
 same  Person  has  different  names,  according  to 
 his   different  relations   and   works.     The   same 
 
103 
 
 Heresy,  is  very  rampant  in  our  days,  with  this 
 difference,  that  many  instead  of  the  Father,  they 
 make  the  Person  of  Christ,  the  only  Person  in  the 
 Godhead,  and  artfully  insinuate,  that  the  Father 
 and  Spirit,  are  only  names  of  Persons,  or  office 
 characters.  Thus  while  the  Arians,  and  Socinians^ 
 rob  Christ  of  his  essential  divinity,  our  modern 
 Sabellians  make  him  to  be  the  only  Person  in  the 
 Godhead.  I  have  no  occasion  to  refute  this  error, 
 having  already  abundantly  done  it  in  this  book, 
 wherein  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  has  been 
 defined.  Before  I  leave  this  subject,  let  me 
 caution  the  people  of  God  against  these  dangerous 
 heretics,  whom  Satan  has  influenced  with  all 
 deceivableness,  of  unrighteousness :  for  they  are  not 
 so  soon  found  out  as  the  Arians  and  others,  who 
 absolutely  deny  the  self-existent  divinity  of  Christ. 
 Take  notice  therefore,  that  as  the  real  ministers 
 of  Christ,  cease  not  to  preach  him  as  crucified, 
 set  forth  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead,  and  are 
 sure  to  set  him  forth  as  the  way,  the  truth,  and 
 the  life,  so  also  these  Sabellians,  deceive  jnen, 
 by  the  prodigious  noise  they  make  about  Christ; 
 giving  him  many  flattering  titles,  and  luscious 
 names ;  they  particularly  deceive,  by  their  stren- 
 ously  enforcing  his  self-existent  Godhead,  and 
 well  they  may :  for  they  believe  him  to  be  the 
 only  Person  in  God,  and  that  the  Father  and  Spirit 
 are  only  names,  and  office  characters,  which  he 
 (Christ)  sustains.  These  deceivers  however  are 
 made  manifest :  for  they  pretend,  that  it  is  very 
 dangerous  to  hai-p  too  much  upon  three  distinct 
 
104 
 
 Persons  in  God,  lest  the  people  should  be  led  to 
 frame  three  distinct  substances  in  their  minds,  and 
 be  thus  driven  to  worship  three  Gods :  they 
 incessantly  enforce  the  unity  of  God ;  but  avoid 
 carefully  to  speak  of  a  Trinity  of  Persons.  God 
 preserve  us  from  such  murderers. 
 
 Error  2. —  That  in  Christ  there  are  two  Hypostases,  or 
 Persons,  the  one  human,  and  the  other  divine. 
 
 This  was  the  error  of  the  Nestorians,  in  the 
 fifth  century,  who  like  many  in  our  days,  being 
 not  able  to  understand  the  mysterious  uuion  of 
 Christ's  two  natures,  have  been  driven  to  view 
 two  Hypostases  or  Persons  in  him,  calling  the 
 one  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  other  the  son  of  man; 
 and  that  the  union  between  these  two,  is  not  a 
 union  of  natures,  but  in  will  and  affection.  Thus 
 we  see  how  God  has  in  all  ages  baffled  and  con- 
 founded the  carnal  wisdom  of  proud  arrogant 
 men,  who  seek  not  by  humble  prayer  to  God  for 
 divine  wisdom,  but  trusting  to  their  own  under- 
 standing make  shipwreck  of  faith :  for  these  wise 
 men  in  their  own  conceit  by  holding  this  tenet, 
 evidently  err  in  the  Trinity,  by  bringing  in  four 
 Persons,  namely  the  Father,  the  Son  of  God, 
 the  son  of  man,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  I  shall 
 not  multiply  words,  in  order  to  shew  here,  the 
 real  and  eternal  constitution  of  the  Son  of  God, 
 but  refer  my  reader  to  the  fourth  Chap.  1st.  and 
 2nd.  Proofs,  and  the  arguments  that  follow; 
 where  I  have  proved  that  Christ  is  not  a  Person 
 as  God,  nor  as  man  only,  but  that  God  and  man, 
 
105 
 
 by  mysterious  union  of  natures  are  one  Person, 
 one  Christ. 
 
 Error  3. — That  in  Christ,  there  is  hut  one  nature,  namely 
 the  Incarnate  Word. 
 
 This  pernicious  error  was  hatched  in  the  fourth 
 Century,  by  Apollinaris  the  younger  oi  Laodicea^ 
 while  he  opposed  the  Avians ;  he  was  decoyed  to 
 affirm  that  Christ's  human  nature  was  compounded 
 of  a  fleshly  body,  and  only  a  sensitive  soul,  or 
 what  we  call  animal  spirit,  and  that  his  divine 
 nature  supplied  the  place  of  the  living  or  rational 
 soul,  and  suffered  with  his  body  the  pains  of 
 death.  In  the  Year  448.  Eutyches  Abbot  of  the 
 Constantinopolitan  monks,  by  holding  the  same 
 error  caused  prodigious  divisions  in  the  primitive 
 church;  for  he  maintained  that  in  Christ  there 
 was  but  one  nature,  namely  the  Incarnate  Word. 
 I  should  not  have  taken  notice  of  this  error,  had 
 it  not  reached  our  times ;  but  finding  that  many 
 have  been  poisoned  with  it,  an  antidote  is  abso- 
 lutely necessary;  especially,  as  I  know  some 
 private  christians  who  have  been  tempted  to  mis- 
 conceive these  mysterious  points.  Nothing  can 
 be  more  dangerous,  than  for  a  man  to  entertain 
 vain  speculations  concerning  such  deep  things: 
 for  while  he  seeks  by  his  corrupt  reason  to  com- 
 prehend the  mysteries  of  God,  he  neglects  the 
 spirits  teaching,  God  resists  his  pride,  and  hides 
 his  word  from  him,  so  that  he  is  left  to  wander  in 
 a  labyrinth  of  errors.  I  have  been  exceedingly 
 exercised  with  innumerable  perplexities  concerning 
 every  truth  revealed  in  the  bible,  and  should  like 
 
lOG 
 
 many  more,  have  fallen  into  the  snare  of  the  devil, 
 had  it  not  been  for  that  blessed  grace  which  is  so 
 lightly  esteemed  in  the  professing  world,  namely 
 the  fear  of  God :  for  by  this,  1  have  been  led  to 
 go  continually  to  God  for  wisdom,  intreating  the 
 great  prophet  of  the  church,  to  teach  and  guide 
 me  in  the  way  that  I  should  go.  This  is  the  only 
 safe  way,  called  the  way  of  holiness.  In  which  the 
 poor  bewildered  "  Wayfaring  men,  though  fools 
 shall  not  err  therein."  With  respect  to  the  error 
 in  hand,  how  can  it  be  said  that  Christ  is  the  seed 
 and  son  of  David,  if  he  had  not  partook  of  a 
 whole  and  complete  human  nature?  And  with 
 what  propriety  can  Adam  be  styled  the  figure  or 
 image  of  Christ,  if  the  manhood  of  the  Son  of 
 God  had  been  defective?  The  Holy  Ghost  tells 
 us  by  the  inspired  Apostle,  that.  Jam.  ii.  26. 
 "  The  body  without  the  spirit  is  dead."  I  con- 
 clude therefore,  that  Christ  took  not  a  dead  body 
 into  union  with  his  divine  nature,  but  a  living  soul 
 and  body,  in  which  also  he  suffered  the  pains  of 
 death  :  for  his  soul  or  created  spirit  was  made  an 
 offering  for  sin,  Isai.  liii.  10.  His  heel.  Gen.  iii. 
 15.  or  weaker  nature  was  bruised,  and  not  his 
 Godhead  ;  1  Pet.  iii.  18.  "  Being  put  to  death  in 
 the  flesh ;  but  quickened  by  the  Spirit."  I  should 
 not  have  taken  notice  of  this  error,  if  writers  of 
 hymns  and  others,  had  not  by  their  unguarded 
 expressions  given  room  to  suppose  that  Christ 
 suffered  in  his  Godhead :  nay,  I  myself  was 
 tempted  many  years  ago  to  conceive  this  erroneous 
 notion,  ignorantly  misconstruing  the  word  of  God ; 
 
107 
 
 not  knowing,  that  Christ's  blood  is  called  the 
 Blood  of  God,  because  that  God  and  man  being 
 one  mysterious  Person,  the  shedding  of  his  blood 
 became  infinitely  meritorious,  so  that  divine  dignity 
 was  stamped  upon  all  the  acts  he  did  in  his  human 
 nature.  How  can  it  be  supposed,  that  he  who 
 solemnly  declares,  that  "He  liveth  for  ever,"  can 
 suffer,  or  die,  in  a  nature  which  is  self-existent, 
 and  eternal  life  ?  Jam.  i.  13.  "  For  God  cannot  be 
 tempted  with  evil ;"  neither  can  he  possibly  suffer 
 for  it,  being  perfectly  unchangeable  in  his  essence. 
 When  the  scriptures  set  forth  God  as  being 
 grieved,  Gen.  vi.  6.  and  afflicted,  we  are  not  to 
 conceive  such  gross  ideas  of  him,  who  saith,  "I 
 change  not "  But  all  such  expressions  are  to 
 lead  us  to  consider  the  great  mystery  of  godliness, 
 "  God  manifest  in  the  flesh."  Therefore,  in  no 
 other  sense  can  we  admit,  that  he  is  grieved, 
 afflicted,  or  suffered,  than  in  this  mysterious  con- 
 sideration, that  he,  who  is  in  his  person  the  in- 
 finite unchangeable  God,  has  been  grieved,  afflic- 
 ted, and  that  he  suffered,  in  his  humantiy  only; 
 the  properties  of  this  nature  being  ascribed  to  his 
 Divinity,  because  of  the  unity  of  those  two  natures 
 in  one  Person.  For  Christ  being  not  a  person  as 
 touching  his  human  nature  only,  the  sufferings  of 
 this  nature  would  have  been  of  no  efficacy,  with- 
 out the  union  of  the  Godhead  with  it :  therefore, 
 Christ  who  is  God,  suffered  in  his  flesh  only, 
 and  not  in  his  Godhead. 
 
loa 
 
 Error  4. — That  Christ  suffered  not  in  his  Soul,  hut  &nhj 
 in  his  body  and  the  sensitive  part  of  his  soul ;  nor  did 
 he  endure  the  ivrath  of  God,  nor  spiritual  punishment. 
 
 This  is  one  of  the  favourite  lies  of  the  man  of 
 sin,  by  which  the  holy  attributes  of  God,  and  the 
 unspeakable  sufferings  of  Christ  are  disfigured. 
 
 To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony :  for  there  we 
 find  that  Christ  suffered  spiritual  punishment,  and 
 the  infinite  wrath  of  God  in  body  and  soul.  All 
 sufferings,  whether  in  soul  or  body  may  be 
 viewed  in  a  very  small  compass,  namely  death  : 
 for  this  is  the  essence  of  all  suffering.  The  Son 
 certainly  suffered  death  in  a  threefold  manner. 
 First  of  all  he  suffered  spiritual  death  in  his  soul, 
 (which  is  the  separation  of  that  spiritual  part  from 
 God,)  for  when  our  sins  were  laid  upon  him,  God 
 hid  his  face  from  him,  and  his  wrath  awoke 
 against  his  beloved  Son ;  Zech.  xiii.  7.  the 
 sword  of  the  infinite  justice  of  God  began  to  enter 
 his  soul,  death,  or  separation  from  his  Father 
 took  place,  and  in  his  agonies  he  cried  out,  Psal. 
 xxii.  1.  ''  My  God,  My  God,  why  hast  thou  for- 
 saken me?  why  art  thou  so  far  from  helping  rae  ?" 
 Again,  consider  the  spiritual  punishment  and 
 wrath  that  came  upon  him  for  our  sins,  even 
 before  he  was  nailed  to  the  cross  :  for  the  infinite 
 weight  of  God's  displeasure  was  so  great,  that  he 
 Mat.  xxvi.  37,  38.  "  Began  to  be  sorrowful  and 
 very  heavy."  And  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "  My 
 soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death."^ 
 
109 
 
 As  for  what  is  called  the  sensitive  part  of  the  soul, 
 or  nervous  system,  that,  as  well  as  the  body,  is  ab- 
 solutely dead,  and  has  no  feeling,  without  the 
 soul  or  living  sjDirit.  I  conclude  therefore,  that, 
 as  all  sorrow,  grief,  and  sufferings  are  chiefly  of  a 
 vspiritual  nature,  that  Christ  principally  suffered  in 
 his  soul,  as  an  all  sufficient  offering  for  sin. 
 Secondly  he  suffered  death  temporal,  (which  is  a 
 separation  of  the  soul  from  the  body,)  for  he 
 laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep,  1  Pet.  iii.  18. 
 •"  Being-  put  to  death  in  the  flesh,  but  quickened  by 
 the  Spirit."  Thirdly  he  suffered  eternal  death, 
 (which  is  a  separation  of  soul  and  body  from  God,) 
 for  when  he  hung  on  the  cross,  the  Father  de- 
 parted from  him,  as  he  himself  testifieth ;  saying, 
 *'My  God,  My  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
 me."  A  separation  took  place  also  between  his 
 soul  and  body,  and  the  mysterious  constitution 
 of  his  person  was  cut  in  sunder  :  for  the  manhood 
 also  was  parted  from  his  Godhead.  Some  may 
 say,  how  can  this  be  termed  eternal  death,  seeing 
 that  in  three  days  he  rose  again  to  die  no  more  ? 
 In  order  to  understand  this,  we  must  remember 
 that  sin  is  an  infinite  transgression,  and  that  God, 
 "who  is  infinitely  just,  according  to  the  immuta- 
 bility of  his  nature  and  perfections,  cannot  but 
 demand  infinite  satisfaction  for  the  offence  of  man 
 in  a  broken  law.  Supposing  now  that  creatures 
 ten  thousand  times  more  glorious  and  mighty  than 
 the  angels,  could  have  been  found  to  undertake 
 man's  cause,  yet  as  their  obedience  and  sufferings, 
 would  have  been  the  acts  of  finite  creatures,  the 
 
110 
 
 infinite  justice  of  God  could  not  have  been  satisfied ; 
 and  the  infinite  wrath  of  God,  and  the  vengeance 
 of  eternal  fire  would  have  seperated  them  for  ever 
 from  God,  without  being  able  to  redeem  man; 
 and  all  this  everlasting  destruction  would  have 
 come  upon  them,  for  their  ignorant  and  presump- 
 tuous attempt,  in  offering  such  a  hmited  obedience : 
 for  God  is  inexorable  as  well  as  immutable  in  his 
 justice,  and  nothing  short  of  infinite  obedience  in 
 all  things  can  satisfy  him  ;  therefore,  when  Christ 
 appeared  in  our  nature,  both  the  merits  of  his 
 person  and  works,  were  viewed  with  infinite 
 scrutiny :  infinite  justice  and  judgment  took  hold 
 upon  him,  the  everlasting  fire  of  God's  wrath, 
 and  eternal  death  invaded  the  innocent  Lamb  of 
 God,  and  finally  overcame  him  in  his  humanity, 
 in  which  alone  he  could  die.  Thus  Christ  was 
 eflfectually  cut  off  out  of  the  land  of  the  living, 
 and  would  have  remained  separated  from  God 
 both  soul  and  body  under  the  sentence  of  eternal 
 death,  had  he  not  been  in  the  mysterious  consti- 
 tution of  his  person,  the  Mighty  God,  Jehovah, 
 and  Eternal  Life  itself;  it  was  therefore  impossible 
 for  this  "  Holy  one  to  see  corruption."  He  truly 
 suffered  eternal  death  in  body  and  soul,  and 
 would  have  remained  under  the  power  of  it,  had 
 it  been  possible  for  guile  to  be  found  in  his  mouth, 
 but  being  infinitely  Holy,  his  self-existent  power 
 and  love  "  Swallowed  up  death  in  victory."  God 
 in  his  law,  seeth  his  Son  and  all  his  elect,  still  as 
 dying  unto  sin  everlastingly,  but  in  that  both  he 
 and  his  mystical  body  live,  is  owing  to  his  eternal 
 
Ill 
 
 power  and  Godhead  wherein  he  is  One  God  with 
 the  Father  and  Spirit,  who  loosed  the  pains  of 
 death,  and  quickeneth  the  dead.  This  may  suffice 
 to  shew,  how  maUciously  the  devil  and  his 
 children,  seek  to  obscure  the  unspeakable  glory, 
 and  divine  majesty  of  the  Almighty  Son  of  God, 
 whose  sufferings  in  the  body  and  soul  are  infinitely 
 great,  wonderful  and  meritorious ;  because  he  is 
 Jehovah,  whose  everlasting  divine  love,  is  "  Strong 
 as  death."  Let  us  therefore  hasten,  and  bow 
 down,  worshipping  him  as  the  King  Eternal,  in- 
 visible, who  is  "  The  Lord  mighty  in  battle,"  the 
 almighty  conqueror  of  death,  hell,  and  destruc- 
 tion; to  him  be  everlasting  glory,  praise,  and 
 thanksgivings,  world  without  end.  Amen. 
 
 Error.  5. — That  the  Son  of  God  alone  cannot  become 
 man,  unless  the  three  Divine  Persons  were  three  distinct 
 natures  or  essences,  separately  existing,  though  acting 
 by  the  same  power  and  will. 
 
 This  exceeding  gross  error,  has  nevertheless  had 
 many  advocates  in  this  blind  world,  who  have 
 swallowed  down  this  blasphemous  and  unscrip- 
 tural  notion.  My  reader  must  not  expect  a 
 laboured  refutation  of  this  error  here,  but  I  must 
 refer  him  to  the  proofs  and  arguments  already 
 given  in  this  book,  proving  that  there  is  but  one 
 nature  or  essence  of  self-existent  Godhead ;  as  it 
 is  plainly  written,  Deut.  vi.  4.  "  Hear  O  Israel ; 
 the  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord."  I  have  also 
 fully  proved,  that  the  scriptures  set  before  us 
 three  Divine  Persons,  and  not  three  divine  natures 
 
112 
 
 or  essences ;  and  that  these  Persons  are  one 
 essence  of  God.  Every  branch  of  the  mystery 
 of  GodHness  is  incomprehensibly  great,  and  the 
 ignorance,  pride,  and  foolishness  of  the  natural 
 man  is  wonderful :  for  in  the  above  error,  by 
 supposing  three  divine  natures  acting  by  one  will 
 and  power,  it  is  establishing  contrary  to  scripture 
 a  doctrine  of  T'ritheism,  or  three  gods,  which 
 would  be  no  mystery  at  all.  The  faith  of  God's 
 elect  alone  can  believe  with  unshaken  confidence, 
 that  although  three  Persons  are  one  God,  yet  that 
 only  the  Person  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  is 
 Jehovah,  was  made  man,  as  I  have  plainly  proved 
 in  Chap.  iii.  Proof  2.  We  must  therefore  conclude, 
 that  all  men  who  seek  by  their  corrupt  reason  to 
 meddle  with  the  mysteries  of  God,  are  made 
 manifest  at  once  as  being  no  better  than  the  beasts 
 that  perish :  "  For  every  man  is  brutish  in  his 
 knowledge." 
 
 Error  6. —  That  Christ^s  human  nature  is  to  he  wor- 
 shipped; and  is  also  omnipresent,  omniscient,  and 
 omnipotent, — hy  virtue  of  its  union  with  his  Godhead. 
 
 This  absurd  tenet,  the  devil  has  hatched  in  the 
 hearts  of  many,  especially  the  Lutherans;  not 
 that  Luther  himself  is  the  author  of  it,  but  his 
 followers,  who,  in  after  ages  have  corrupted  them- 
 selves. The  Socinians  also,  that  pestilent  sect  of 
 Deists,  do  hold  pretty  near  the  same  fallacious 
 notion  ;  they  pretend  that  Christ  was  born  a  mere 
 man,  and  that  by  his  good  behaviour  and  the 
 favour  of  God,  he  acquired  the  dignity  of  God- 
 
113 
 
 head,  and  is  as  such  become  an  object  of 
 worship.  Christ,  however,  puts  such  fools  to 
 silence  by  this  faithful  testimony;  saying*,  Mat. 
 iv.  10.  "  Get  thee  behind  me  Satan :  {^Lutheran, 
 Socinian,)  for  it  is  written.  Thou  shalt  worship 
 the  Lord  (Jehovah)  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt 
 thou  serve."  I  conclude  therefore,  that  as  Christ 
 is  in  his  Person  the  self-existent  Jehovah,  the 
 Lord  our  Righteousness,  he  only  is  to  be 
 honoured,  worshipped,  and  served,  with  the 
 Father  and  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  unity  of  One 
 essence  of  undivided  Godhead.  The  temple  of 
 God  though  holy,  is  not  the  object  of  worship, 
 but  God  who  dwells  in  it ;  so  also  the  humanity  of 
 Christ,  though  highly  exalted  and  holy,  is  not  to 
 be  worshipped,  but  the  Lord  from  heaven,  wlio 
 was  manifest  in  the  flesh.  The  foolish,  and 
 ignorant  notion  of  the  omnipresence  of  Christ's 
 humanity,  requires  no  other  answer  than  this, 
 which  the  angels  gave  to  the  disciples  ;  saying. 
 Acts,  i.  11.  "Yemen  of  Galilee,  why  stand  ye 
 gazing  up  into  heaven  ?  this  same  Jesus,  which  is 
 taken  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in 
 like  manner  as  ve  have  seen  him  2:0  into  heaven." 
 Acts,  iii.  21.  "Whom  the  heaven  must  receive 
 until  the  times  of  restitution  of  all  things."  1 
 conclude  therefore,  that  the  humanity  of  Christ  is 
 not  omnipresent ;  but  went  by  local  motion  through 
 the  air  into  heaven,  where  he  is  also  locally  seated 
 at  the  right  hand  of  God  ;  and  shall  as  man  remain 
 there,  until  the  times  when  he  shall  locally  descend 
 again  without  sin  unto  salvation.     Who  then  is 
 
 H 
 
114 
 
 the  fool  who  dares  contradict  such  plain  testi- 
 monies, and  cannot  perceive  that  Christ  is 
 omnipresent  only  as  touching  his  Godhead  ?  for 
 so  he  declares,  saying,  iMat.  xxviii.  20.  "  And, 
 lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
 world."  Besides  all  this,  Christ's  human  nature 
 being  created  and  made,  is  not  consubstantial 
 with  God,  nor  can  it  possess  in  itself  those  un- 
 created eternal  perfections,  which  Jehovah  has 
 declared  he  will  not  give  to  another.  Therefore 
 as  God  is  one,  or  unity,  and  will  not  ascribe, 
 nor  give  his  incommunicable  attributes,  even  to 
 Christ's  human  nature,  because  it  is  created  and 
 made,  it  follows,  that  as  touching  his  higher 
 nature  alone  he  is  omnipresent,  in  the  unity  of  one 
 omnipresent  Godhead.     See  Chap.  2.  Proof  8. 
 
 Error  7. — That  Christ  was  taken  up  into  heaven,  to  he 
 instructed ;  and  to  qualify  him  for  his  public  ministry. 
 
 This  again,  is  a  most  daring  as  well  as  ignorant 
 attack,  upon  the  infinite  wisdom,  knowledge, 
 and  ineffable  merits  of  the  Son  of  God.  The 
 word  of  God  is  altogether  silent  about  his  being 
 taken  up  into  heaven,  in  order  to  receive  instruc- 
 tions :  for  as  God,  who  could  instruct  him?  and 
 as  man,  where  was  he  instructed,  but  upon  earth? 
 where "  He  grew  in  wisdom  and  stature."  In 
 defence  of  their  unscriptural  notion,  these  words 
 of  Christ  are  brought ;  John,  iii.  1 3.  *'  No  man  hath 
 ascended  up  to  heaven,  but  He  that  came  down 
 from  heaven,  even  the  Son  of  Man  which  is  in 
 heaven."     But  they   weary   themselves  in   vain, 
 
115 
 
 who  labour  from  this  assertion  to  prove,  that 
 Christ's  human  nature  was  thus  caught  up  to 
 heaven,  and  came  down  again:  the  wisdom 
 couched  under  these  words  of  our  Lord  is  too 
 high  for  a  fool ;  he  cannot  attain  unto  it.  In 
 order  to  clear  up  the  seeming  difficnlties,  in  this 
 mysterious  saying  of  our  Lord,  we  must  notice, 
 that  Nicodemus  was  greatly  at  a  loss,  how  to 
 make  out  those  earthly  similes  which  Christ 
 made  use  of,  when  he  enforced  the  absolute 
 necessity  of  the  new  birth  ;  and  Jesus  perceiving 
 him  to  stagger  through  unbelief,  said  unto  him, 
 John,  iii.  12.  "  If  I  have  told  you  earthly  things, 
 and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall  ye  believe,  if  I  tell 
 you  of  heavenly  things.  And  no  man  hath 
 ascended  up  to  heaven,  but  He  that  came  down 
 from  heaven,  even  the  Son  of  Man  which  is  in 
 heaven."  Had  the  Son  of  God,  been  pleased  at 
 that  time,  to  explain  his  meaning  to  Nicodemus, 
 as  he  has  condescended  by  his  Spirit  to  unfold  it 
 to  me,  he  would  have  said  thus :  "  I  have  in 
 condescension  to  your  finite  capacity,  spoken  to 
 you  after  the  manner  of  men,  because  of  the 
 infirmity  of  your  flesh :  for  I  have  used  types, 
 figures,  and  earthly  similes,  that  by  these  you 
 might  receive  heavenly  instructions.  Conceive 
 not  carnally  of  my  words,  concerning  the  new 
 birth :  for  if  ye  could  re-enter  your  mother's  womb 
 and  be  born  again,  you  would  come  out  the  same 
 imclean  thing  as  you  are  now :  being  as  all  men 
 are,  born  in  sin,  and  shapen  in  iniquity.  My 
 words,   though    expressing   earthly    things,    are 
 
 H  2 
 
116 
 
 nevertheless  mysterious,  and  of  spiritual  import : 
 for  instead  of  re-entering  a  second  time  your 
 mother's  womb,  you  must  really  and  sensibly  die 
 to  sin,  and  be  buried  witli  me  by  spiritual  baptism 
 into  my  death.  From  the  grave,  death  and 
 destruction,  as  from  the  womb  you  shall  break 
 forth  with  me  to  newness  of  life :  and  as  *'  The 
 wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest 
 the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence  it 
 Cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth :  so  is  every  one 
 that  is  born  of  the  Spirit."  By  spiritual  convic- 
 tions, he  is  brought  into  a  state  of  death  and 
 condemnation  ;  and  says,  "  Woe  is  me !  for  I  am 
 undone ;  l;>ut  by  faith  in  me,  he  passes  from  death 
 unto  life,  through  the  quickening  operation  of  the 
 Spirit;  and  comes  forth  unto  the  Lord,  as  an 
 issue  from  death."  Psal.  Ixviii.  20.  He  is  now  a 
 new  creature :  old  things  are  passed  away ;  be- 
 hold, he  has  a  new  heart,  will,  understanding, 
 and  affections ;  he  has  new  eyes,  new  objects  of 
 pursuit,  new  friends,  new  pleasures  and  sorrows; 
 yea,  all  things  are  become  new.  "  Art  thou  a 
 master  in  Israel,  and  knowest  not  these  things,'' 
 which  are  so  plainly  known  by  their  effects  ?  How 
 shall  you  then  believe,  If  I  tell  you  of  high  and 
 heavenly  mysteries,  concerning  my  ineffable 
 Person  ?  you  say,  that  I  am  a  teacher  sent  of 
 <^jIod,  and  that  God  is  with  me ;  but  do  you 
 believe  me  to  be  Wisdom  itself,  and  that  Word, 
 which  was  not  only  with  God,  but  is  God?  If 
 you  cannot  as  yet  understand  the  mysteries  of  the 
 new  birth,  for  want  of  an  experimental  knowledge 
 
117 
 
 of  the  enlightening  power  thereof,  liow  then  shall 
 you  be  able  to  see  with  the  eye  of  faith,  the 
 wonders  of  my  Person?  Fori  am  not  only  sent 
 as  a  teacher  from  God,  but  I  am  the  First 
 eternal  principle  of  uncreated  Wisdom,  and  the 
 Last;  so  that  without  me  there  is  no  wisdom  at 
 all.  Prov.  viii.  12, — 14.  "  I  wisdom  dwell  with 
 prudence,^ — Counsel  is  mine,  and  sound  wisdom : 
 I  am  understanding ;  I  have  strength."  I  am  the 
 self-existent  Jehovah,  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the 
 Mighty  God,  the  King  Eternal,  invisible,  the  Al- 
 mighty :  I  am  all  this,  by  right  of  eternal  incom- 
 municable existence,  with  the  Persons  of  the 
 Father,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  undivided - 
 essence  of  one  eternal  Godhead.  O  Nicodemus, 
 although  there  is  but  one  Jehovah,  yet  we  are 
 three  self-existent  Persons,  who  bear  record. 
 John,  iii.  11.  "Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee. 
 We  speak  that  we  do  know,  and  testify  that  We 
 have  seen ;"  "I  am  one  that  bear  witness  of  my- 
 self," and  no  man  in  the  flesh  can  receive  my 
 testimony :  for  the  words  I  speak  unto  you,  they 
 are  spirit,  and  they  are  life.  Some  when  they 
 hear  me  say,  that  "  No  man  hath  ascended  up  to 
 heaven,  but  he  that  came  down  from  heaven;" 
 they  will  wrest  my  words,  and  construe  them 
 according  to  their  own  finite  corrupt  reason ; 
 saying,  that  I  either  brought  my  humanity  from 
 heaven,  or  that  it  was  caught  up  there,  to  qualify 
 me,  by  heavenly  instructions  for  my  public  minis- 
 try. Both  are  wrong;  and  so  are  all,  that  judge 
 after  the  flesh.     Others  again,  when  they  he?ir 
 
118 
 
 me  affirm,  that  I  am  "  He  that  came  down  from 
 heaven,  even  the  son  of  Man  which  is  in  heaven." 
 These  also,  being  unable  to  understand  the 
 mysterious  wisdom  of  my  words,  shall  expose 
 their  madness,  ignorance,  and  stupidity,  by  as- 
 cribing omnipresence  to  a  created  nature,  which 
 attribute  can  only  belong  to  Jehovah,'  whose 
 attributes  are  incommunicable  :  for  they  will  draw 
 up  this  fallacious  argument :  saying,  "  The  Son 
 of  man  is  both  in  heaven,  and  upon  earth  at  the 
 same  time ;  but  as  he  cannot  be  the  son  of  man 
 in  heaven,  if  his  Godhead  is  only  there,  his  man- 
 hood therefore  must  be  omnipresent,  by  virtue 
 of  union  with  the  Godhead."  Ah  wicked  genera- 
 tion! children  that  are  corrupters!  who  cannot 
 perceive  that  the  ground  of  their  argument  is  a  lie, 
 and  a  spirit  of  falsehood  ;  leading  them  to  ascribe 
 to  the  creature,  what  belongs  to  God  only. 
 Many  also  will  stumble;  because  I  say,  that 
 "  No  man  hath  ascended  up  to  heaven,  but  He 
 that  came  down  from  heaven  :"  for  they  will 
 immediately  say,  that  both  Enoch  and  Elijah  have 
 ascended  before  me  ;  and  that  I  either  contradict 
 the  scripture  account,  or  that  my  humanity  must 
 have  been  created  ages  before  the  world,  and 
 thus  ascended  to  heaven,  to  come  down  again  in 
 due  time.  But  all  these  things  will  they  say, 
 because  they  neither  know  me,  nor  him  that  sent 
 me ;  they  remain  effectually  blinded,  and  the 
 mysteries  of  God  are  hid  from  all  those,  who  are 
 wise  and  prudent  in  their  own  conceit.  But  all 
 my  chosen  people  shall  know  and  believe,  that  I 
 
119 
 
 am  not  only  a  teacher  sent  of  God,  and  that  God 
 is  with  me,  but  that  I  am  the  eternal  wisdom  and 
 WORD,  which  is  God. 
 
 Take  particular  notice  therefore,  that  my  people 
 shall  1)8  divinely  instructed  by  my  spirit,  to  believe 
 and  know  upon  most  solid,  invincible,  and  satis- 
 factory ground,  that  God  is  immutably  One 
 essence,  or  nature  of  undivided  Godhead ;  that 
 in  that  eternal  essence,  are  comprehended  three 
 eternal  immutable  Persons,  of  equal  glory,  power, 
 and  seif-existeut  majesty,  w^ho  are  now,  what 
 they  were  from  eternity,  and  ever  shall  be  to  all 
 eternity  the  same ;  so  that  the  Person  of  the 
 Father,  was  always  the  Father  of  my  human 
 nature,  which  he  always  begat  from  everlasting 
 in  his  eternal  purpose.  I  was  always  the  eternal 
 Son  of  God,  the  Only  Begotten,  being  alwayi 
 with  him,  dwelling  in  his  bosom  from  eternity; 
 he  saw  me  always  in  his  eternal  mind  and  purpose 
 as  God  and  man,  one  consubstantial  eternal 
 Person,  in  the  unity  of  one  essence  with  him,  and 
 and  the  Spirit.  The  Father  begat  my  human 
 nature  from  inconceivable  eternity,  and  always 
 viewed  it  as  united  to  my  self-existent  Godhead* 
 forming  the  ineffable  Son  of  God  :  for  as  God  and 
 man,  I  am  a  divine  Person.  As  God  only,  I  am 
 not  a  Person,  nor  am  1  a  personal  agent,  as  man 
 simply  considered  :  for  my  Godhead  cannot  die, 
 nor  can  my  humanity  merit ;  but  as  God  and  man, 
 in  one  undivided  eternal  Person,  I  can  both 
 eternally  merit  and  die.  Consider  well,  and  re- 
 member for  ever,  that  God  is  absolutely  unchange- 
 
120 
 
 able  and  immvitable  in  nature,  essence,  and 
 properties :  so  that  he  coukl  not  have  turned  from 
 his  unchangeable  anger  against  the  elect  in  a 
 broken  law,  whom  he  viewed  according  to  his 
 eternal  foreknowledge  as  fallen  in  Adam,  except 
 he  had  also  from  eternity  viewed  them  in  me,  as 
 their  all  sufficient  eternal  Mediator,  Surety,  King, 
 Priest,  Prophet,  Reconciler,  and  infinite  sacrifice. 
 How  then  could  I  have  gone  forth  from  the  days 
 of  eternity  ?  or  how  could  I  have  been  set  up  from 
 everlasting  in  all  these  office  characters,  except  I 
 had  been  from  eternity,  what  I  am  now,  and 
 shall  be,  even  the  immutable  Son  of  God,  God 
 and  man,  one  divine  Person?  Take  notice  there- 
 fore, that  in  this  mysterious  way,  I  am  the  only 
 Begotten  of  the  Father ;  that  as  God  and  man 
 one  self-existent  Person,  he  saw  me  always 
 proceeding  and  going  forth  from  everlasting  in  my 
 finished  work :  for  he  viewed  me  from  eternity  as 
 dying  for  my  people,  and  also  as  rising  or  asceti- 
 ding  for  their  justification  ;  and  he  had  me  always 
 with  him  as  the  almighty  conqueror  of  eternal 
 death,  wrath,  and  all  the  powers  of  darkness :  as 
 such  I  always  set  at  his  right  hand,  immensely 
 exalted  upon  the  throne  of  my  underived  glory. 
 This  I  claim  as  due  to  me,  by  right  of  self-existent 
 Godhead  with  my  Father,  and  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
 saying,  John,  xvii.  4,  5.  "I  have  glorified  thee 
 on  earth :  I  have  finished  the  work  which  thou 
 gavest  me  to  do. — And  now,  O  Father,  glorify 
 thou  me  with  thine  own  self  with  the  glory  which 
 I  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was." 
 
121 
 
 Thus  I  have  endeavoured  to  shew,  how  this  dif- 
 ficult saying  of  Christ  miisi  be  understood ;  for  all 
 carnal  constructions  upon  it,  only  tend  to  errors  and 
 lies,  while  the  solution  I  have  been  enabled  to  give, 
 harmonizes  with  the  truth  of  God's  word.  If  my 
 reader  is  truly  Godly,  and  desirous  of  knowing 
 the  truth,  then  let  him  go  back  and  carefully 
 read  the  4th  Chap,  of  this  book,  1.  and  2.  Proofs, 
 and  the  arguments  which  follow :  for  there 
 the  mysterious  constitution  of  the  eternal  Son  of 
 God  is  set  forth,  and  is  the  only  key  to  open  up 
 spiritual  difficulties  concerning  the  mystery  of 
 Godliness.  This  therefore  is  a  great  error  in 
 many,  who  either  view  Christ  a  person,  as  God, 
 or  man  singly,  and  cannot  see  him  a  divine  person 
 from  everlasting  in  the  unity  of  two  natures :  for  1 
 have  proved  him  to  be  such,  by  arguments  which 
 cannot  be  overturned,  shewing,  that  the  real  as- 
 sumption of  human  nature  does  not  make  Christ 
 a  Person,  more  than  he  was  before  his  real  in- 
 carnation. 
 
 Let  us  therefore  take  notice,  that  God's  eternal 
 purpose  is  that  great  and  immutable  reality, 
 which  as  a  root,  spring,  or  fountain,  gives  real 
 existence  to  all  things.  Christ's  Personality  as 
 God  and  man,  is  an  eternal  reality :  for  God 
 viewed  him  as  his  only  Begotten  Son  from  ever- 
 lasting, in  the  unity  of  his  two  natures  ;  and  his 
 real  incarnation,  is  only  the  effect  of  that  eternal 
 cause.  These  things  being  well  understood,  will 
 enable  us  to  give  a  satisfactory  interpretation  of 
 these  words.     '*No   man   hath  ascended  up  to 
 
122 
 
 heaven,  but  he  that  came  down  from  heaven, 
 even  the  Son  of  Man  which  is  in  heaven."  I  shall 
 therefore,  make  Christ  to  speak  again,  according 
 to  the  tenor  of  his  own  word,  as  if  he  had  said, 
 "  1  am  the  only  Begotten  of  the  Father,  in  whose 
 bosom  I  dwell,  by  consubstantial  union  with  him, 
 in  one  undivided  Godhead  ;  he  always  foresaw 
 me  as  God  and  man,  his  equal  in  divine  majesty, 
 glory,  and  self-existent  eternity.  He  did  really 
 and  truly  beget  me  in  his  infinite  mind  and  purpose, 
 as  man  in  union  with  my  Godhead  :  for  though  he 
 begot  my  human  nature,  yet  he  did  not  beget  me 
 simply  as  having  but  one  nature,  but  as  man  and 
 God  he  begat  in  my  eternal  Person,  that  nature 
 ■which  could  be  begotten,  while  my  higher  nature 
 which  could  not  be  begotten  stamped  infinite 
 dignity  upon  my  begotten  manhood.  The  Holy 
 Ghost  truly  testifieth,  that  I  am  the  only  Begotten 
 from  everlasting,  and  that  my  real  assumption  of 
 human  nature,  did  not  cause  me  to  be  more  the 
 Son  of  God  or  man,  than  I  was  before :  for  long 
 before  my  incarnation,  I  am  called  the  son  of 
 man,  and  also  the  Son  of  God.  (see  Dan.  vii. 
 13  and  iii.  25.)  Thus  I  am  the  eternal  Son  of 
 God,  and  also  the  Son  of  man,  by  inseparable 
 union  of  my  two  natures,  possessing  in  my 
 wonderful  Person  all  the  attributes  of  self-existent 
 divinity ;  so  that  I  am  Onmipresent  as  touching 
 my  Person,  being  the  Son  of  man  in  heaven, 
 personally  present  there,  while  I  am  also  person- 
 ally manifest  in  the  flesh,  and  seen  by  men  upon 
 earth.     Consider  therefore,   with  godly  fear,  and 
 
123 
 
 holj  admiration,  the  mysterious  things  belonging, 
 to  my  ineffable  Person :  for  as  man  only,  I  am 
 now  locally  upon  earth,  and  shall  shortly  be 
 locally  seated  at  the  right  hand  of  God  in  heaven. 
 As  touching  my  manhood  simply  considered,  I 
 am  not  omnipresent ;  but  as  man  and  God,  I  am 
 omnipresent,  being  the  same  Jehovah,  and  self- 
 existent  luicreated  principle  with  the  eternal 
 Father  and  Spirit.  No  man  hath  ascended  up  to 
 heaven ;  but  I  the  son  of  man,  have  as  a  divine 
 Person  ascended  up  to  heaven.  I  have  engaged 
 my  heart  from  all  eternity  to  draw  near  to  the 
 infinite  majesty  of  Jehovah,  (Jer.  xxx.  21.)  I  am 
 one  eternal,  ever  living  divine  essence  with  my 
 incomprehensible  Father,  in  whom  I  dwell  and 
 he  in  me;  "And  as  the  Father  knoweth  me, 
 even  so  know  I  the  Father."  I  know  his  eternal 
 mind  and  will,  and  all  his  purposes  of  grace,  and 
 by  self-existent  union  with  him,  know  all  the  in- 
 comprehensible secrets  of  his  heart.  "All  things 
 that  I  have  heard  of  my  Father,  I  have  made 
 known  unto  you."  For  I  am  the  uncreated  eternal 
 Word,  and  as  such,  I  have  spoken  from  the 
 beginning,  by  my  Spirit,  in  all  my  prophets. 
 (I  Pet.  i.  11.)  None  of  them  have  ascended  up  to 
 heaven,  in  order  to  know  the  mind  and  will  of 
 God  ;  but  I  the  Son  of  Man,  by  right  of  my  divine 
 Person  being  one  with  him,  have  from  everlasting 
 ascended  up  to  the  eternal  height  of  his  incompre- 
 hensible wisdom ;  and  descended  by  special 
 manifestation  upon  earth  to  reveal  the  deep  things 
 of  God   to   his    children.     Therefore,   lest  you 
 
124 
 
 should  think  that  I  am  simply  a  teacher  sent  of 
 God,  or  that  I  am  a  created  finite  creature,  or 
 that  I  made  a  chasm  in  the  Godhead,  or  left  my 
 place  vacant  when   I  came  out  from  God,  be  it 
 known  unto  you  that  I  am  the  omnipresent  Lord 
 of  Hosts,  filling  both  heaven  and  earth  :  for  I  am 
 the  Son  of  Man,  who   as  man  and  God,  am  an 
 eternal,  immutably  unchangeable  Person,  the  Son 
 of  Man  in  heaven,  and  the  Son  of  Man  upon 
 earth.     As  for  Enoch,  and  Elijah  being  taken  up 
 to  heaven,  this  only  confirms  the  reality  of  my 
 eternal    Sonship,    and    the    infinite   power,    and 
 ascension  of  my  Person ;  for"  they  ascended  not 
 up  to  heaven  by  their  own  power,  but  I  translated 
 them  by  my  infinite  power,  which  I  have  with  the 
 Father   and   the   Spirit,    one   God ;  that  angels, 
 principalities,  powers,  and  all  men  might  know, 
 that  I  the  son  of  man,  have  as  God  and  man 
 prevailed  with  the  Father  from  all  eternity :  for 
 he  saw  me  from  everlasting  so  glorious  a  Person 
 in  the  mysterious  union  of  my   two   natures,   he 
 viewed  my  eternal  undertaking,  glorious  purposes, 
 and   finished    work   so    complete,    and   of  such 
 infinite  efficacy,  that  he  translated  some;  while 
 many  more  received  the  end  of  their  faith,  even 
 the   salvation   of  their    souls;    being   ranked   in 
 heaven,  in  the  bosom  of  my  Father,  among  the 
 spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect." 
 
 A  Tribute  of  praise,  and  a  thing  icorthy  of  notice, 
 I  wish  now  to  magnify  the  Lord  with  thanks- 
 giving, who  has  given  me  light,  power,  love,  and 
 divine  courage,  to  accomplish  the  great  design  he 
 
125 
 
 has  put  in  my  heart,  namely,  to  treat  upon  this 
 wonderful  argiuuent,  the  Mystery  of  God.  Surely 
 the  promise  is  fulfilled  in  me,  who  have  sensibly 
 felt  my  blindness  and  ignorance ;  for,  "  Light 
 hath  been  sown  for  the  righteous,  and  gladness 
 for  Ihe  upright  in  heart."  For  he  is  righteous, 
 who  from  a  feeling  sense  of  his  manifold  infir- 
 mities, acknowledges  his  blindness,  ignorance, 
 and  all  his  other  short  comings ;  such,  shall  never 
 want  the  true  light :  for  Christ  shall  be  their  ever- 
 lasting light :  as  he  himself  saith,  John,  ix.  39. 
 "  For  judgment  I  am  come  into  this  world,  that 
 they  which  see  not  might  see ;  and  that  they 
 which  see  might  be  made  blind."  I  can  truly  say, 
 that  ever  since  I  have  been  writing  upon  this 
 glorious  subject,  my  soul  has  been  "  Like  a 
 watered  garden ;"  and  the  Lord  has  guided  me 
 continually.  Guides,  1  have  found  none,  but 
 Jehovah  :  for  though  many  have  written  upon  the 
 eternal  Sonship  of  Christ,  and  the  mystery  of  the 
 Trinity,  according  to  their  several  abilities  given 
 to  them,  yet  it  has  pleased  the  Lord,  that  I  should 
 neither  imitate,  nor  follow  them.  Many  have 
 taken  this  difficult  subject  in  hand,  only  to  set  up 
 their  own  importance,  by  making  a  pompous 
 display  of  their  universal  erudition  ;  but  the  glory 
 of  the  mystery  has  been  hid  from  these  wise  and 
 prudent  men.  Some  good  men  truly  have  seen 
 the  weighty  importance  of  this  great  argument; 
 but  appear  to  have  been  afraid  of  the  amazing 
 difficulties  which  lay  in  their  way,  and  the  incessant 
 labours  and  toil  it  requires  in  prayer,  meditation, 
 
120 
 
 searching  the  scriptures,  fasting  from  sin,  watch- 
 flihiess,  and  often  walking  in  darkness :  so  that 
 many  have  been  contented,  to  advance  these 
 great  mysteries  as  truths,  without  labouring  to 
 clear  them,  to  the  strengthening  of  God's  people, 
 by  removing  the  stumbling  blocks  out  of  the  way. 
 Some  may  think,  when  they  read  these  things 
 made  ready  to  their  hands,  that  I  wrote  this  book, 
 with  as  much  ease  as  they  can  read  it ;  but  God 
 only  knows,  who  hath  led  me  through  fire  and 
 through  water,  that  I  have  not  come  out  to  this 
 wealthy  place,  namely  the  Mystery  of  God,  "  In 
 whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
 knowledge,"  I  have  not  come  here,  I  say,  without 
 coming  through  manifold  temptations,  trials,  and 
 spiritual  labours :  and,  behold,  O  christian  reader! 
 so  must  you,  if  this  book  is  made  truly  profitable 
 to  you. 
 
 I  am  certainly  convinced,  that  although  I  feel 
 myself  to  be  the  least  of  all  saints,  yet  great  grace 
 hath  abounded  towards  me  for  the  sake  of  his 
 people:  for  if  the  witness  of  God's  Spirit,  the 
 testimony  of  a  pure  conscience,  if  the  love  of  God 
 shed  abroad  in  my  heart,  the  testimony  also  of 
 the  unerring  word  of  God,  and  the  influence  of 
 the  peace  of  God  that  passes  all  understanding,  if 
 these,  I  say,  are  the  divine  tokens  by  which  we 
 may  know,  whether  the  truth  is  in  us,  and  has 
 made  us  free,  I  may  then  lift  up  my  hand  and 
 heart  to  the  most  High  God,  the  Father,  Son, 
 and  Holy  Ghost,  and  say,  "  Lord,  these  tokens 
 thou  hast  given  to  me  most  abundantly,  through 
 
127 
 
 faitli  ill  thy  dear  Son,  by  the  mighty  power  of  thy 
 Spirit,  who  hath  shed  abroad  in  my  heart  the  love 
 of  these  truths  thou  hast  enabled  me  to  write. 
 All  glory,  praise,  and  power,  be  for  ever  thine. 
 Amen. 
 
 I  shall  cease  for  the  present  to  bring  to  view,  any 
 more  errors  against  the  self-existent  Son  of  God; 
 being  fully  satisfied,  that  whosoever  shall  receive 
 the  testimony  I  have  been  enabled  to  bear  of  him, 
 shall  most  midoubtedly  overcome  all  errors,  lies, 
 and  liars.  Every  teachable,  honest,  faithful  soul, 
 shall  tread  upon  serpents  and  scorpions,  and  upon 
 all  the  power  of  the  enemy,  by  holding  in  faith 
 and  affection,  the  immutable  nature  of  One  un- 
 changeable Jehovah,  the  reality  of  three  immuta- 
 ble Persons  in  one  God  from  eternity,  the  real 
 existence  of  Christ  from  everlasting  as  God  and 
 man,  and  especially,  the  mysterious  way  in  which 
 he  is  as  man  and  God,  the  Only  Begotten  from 
 all  eternity ;  the  simplest  christian,  1  say,  who  is 
 equiped  with  this  heavenly  armour,  shall  most 
 assuredly  overcome,  demolish,  grind  to  powder, 
 and  confound,  all  Arminians,  Avians^  Socinians, 
 SabellianSy  Antinoynians^  and  all  lies  and  liars,  of 
 whatever  denomination  they  be. 
 
128 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 Containing  a  few  familiar  proofs,  of  the  self-existent 
 Divinity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  with  final  Reflections, 
 Warnings  and  Cautions. 
 
 I  repeat  again,  what  I  have  said  so  cautiously, 
 before,  that  my  labour  in  prosecuting  this  pro- 
 found subject,  is  not  to  make  plain  to  the  natural 
 man,  the  manner  in  which  God  does  exist,  which 
 will  ever  remain  a  mystery  to  all  men  in  the  flesh  ; 
 but  my  intention  from  first  to  last,  is  to  defeat 
 t|iose  monstrous,  abominable,  and  hell-born  no- 
 tions, the  wisest  of  them  have,  and  do  entertain 
 of  the  Most  High.  The  light  of  nature,  though 
 capable  of  discerning  that  God  does  exist,  yet  it 
 Cannot  see,  that  a  Trinity  of  Persons  exist  as 
 distinct  living  agents  in  one  essence  of  undivided 
 Godhead  :  for  it  would  never  have  come  into  the 
 mind  of  any  man,  that  God  is  three  Persons,  and 
 that  three  Persons  are  one  God.  The  mystery  of 
 God,  being  a  matter  of  divine  revelation,  is  there- 
 fore not  subject  to  the  carnal  reason  of  man,  but 
 is  the  grand  object  of  the  faith  of  God's  elect. 
 The  manifold  perplexities,  temptations,  and 
 darkness,  that  the  people  of  God  labour  under, 
 shew  the  absolute  necessity  of  strengthening  their 
 faith  in  this  great  mystery ;  but  as  faith  comes  by 
 hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God,  the 
 the   word  of  truth  therefore,  must  be  faithfully 
 
129 
 
 handled,  that  they  may  grow  in  faith,  and  be 
 strong  in  this  most  important  point  of  salvation  : 
 especially,  as  wicked  men  have  opposed  it  in  all 
 ages,  whose  satanic  craft  must  be  exposed  to  con- 
 tempt. Some  have  pretended,  that  the  Spirit  is 
 the  eternal  spouse  of  God ;  others  like  SabelUus 
 have  divided  the  essence,  by  pretending,  that  he 
 was  an  emanation,  or  a  portion  of  the  eternal 
 Father  ;  others,  confounding  the  creature  with  the 
 self-existent  creator,  conceited  that  the  air,  and 
 living  principle  in  every  creature  throughout  the 
 world  is  God,  or  the  Spirit  of  God.  Origen 
 himself,  and  many  more,  have  erred,  concerning 
 the  self-existent  personality  of  God  the  Spirit ;  by 
 pretending  him  to  be  inferior  to  the  Son,  and  the 
 Son  inferior  to  the  Father.  All  these  men  were 
 influenced  by  that  cursed  thing,  called  "  Philo- 
 sophy and  vain  deceit,  after  the  tradition  of 
 men,  after  the  rudiments  of  the  world,  and  not 
 after  Christ."  God  our  heavenly  Father,  preserve 
 us  for  ever-from  this  heathen  spirit  of  philosophical 
 deceit  and  nonsense ;  which  has  stained  the 
 memory  of  many,  who  have  been  reputed  as  good 
 men.  Only  consider  to  what  a  pitch  Mr.  Toplady's 
 fleshly  mind  must  be  pufled  up,  who  though  he 
 gave  it  out  as  his  private  opinion,  yet  by  cor- 
 rupting the  word  of  God,  attempts  to  prove,  that 
 lions,  tigers,  serpents,  horses,  cows,  dogs,  cats, 
 rats,  cormorants,  sparrows,  maggots,  and  the 
 whole  brute  creation,  was  ''  subjected  to  vanity 
 (corruption  and  death;)  not  ivilUngly,  hit  hy 
 reason  of  him  ivho  hath  subject  eel  the  same.     "  Iti 
 
 I 
 
130 
 
 hope,"  and  with  a  view,  that  this  vety  (animal) 
 creation  shall  likewise  he  emancipated,  from  the 
 bondage  of  corruption,   into  the  glorious  liberty  of 
 the  children  of  God.     What  a  field  of  pleasing 
 and  exalted   calcnlation,  does  this  open   to  the 
 benevolent  and  philosophic  mind !"  These  are  his 
 express  words  ;  but  alas  I  they  do  him  no  credit; 
 and  in  him  is  this  saying  fulfilled :  Eccle.  x.  J . 
 "  Dead  flies  cause  the  ointment  of  the  apothecary 
 to  send  forth  a  stinking  savour :  so  doth  a  little 
 folly  him  that  is  in  reputation  for  wisdom  and 
 honour."     Had  he  stuck  like  David,  to  the  testi- 
 monies  of  his   God,   he    then    would    not  have 
 exposed  his  folly  ;  but  would  have  remembered, 
 that   as  every  natural  *'  Man  is   brutish   in  his 
 knowledge,"  it  is  a  vain  thing,  to  be  enchanted 
 with   the   sayings   of  heathen   sages.     We   then 
 should  not   have   been   pestered  with  so   many 
 quotations  from  Plato,  Aristotle,  Propertius,  Ho- 
 race, and  other  heathen  trappings;  which  have 
 only  a  satanic  tendency  to  becloud  the  mind ;  as 
 it  is  written,  Prov.  xiv  7.  "  Go  from  the  presence 
 of  a  foolish  man,  when  thou  perceiveth  not  in  him 
 the  lips  of  knowledge."     I  am  certain,  that  if  the 
 good   man   above    mentioned,    had    by    humble 
 prayer,    sought   for   wisdom  from  his  God,    he 
 would  not  have  drawn  water  from  such  corrupt 
 springs;  neither  would  he  have  so  grossly  erred 
 in  his  application  of  the  word  creature,  to  the 
 brute  creation.     For  there  is  no  promise  made  to 
 the  brute  creature,  but  to  that  poor  creature  man ; 
 wjio  groans  in  body  and  soul  under  the  wretched 
 
131 
 
 weight  of  a  body  of  sin  and  death ;  who  finds 
 daily  a  desperate  lusting,  fighting,  and  wearisome 
 warfare  between  flesh  and  spirit :  to  him  who  is 
 created  anew  in  the  image  of  God,  (not  to  brute 
 creatures)  is  the  promise  of  eternal  life  made ;  as 
 Paul  saith,  1  Cor.  xv.  53.  "  For  this  corruptible 
 must  put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  must 
 put  on  immortality."  But  let  us  not  rake  into  the 
 ashes  of  this  good  man,  without  reaping  some 
 good,  by  considering,  that  unless  we  are  enabled 
 to  cleave  close  to  the  great  Prophet  of  the  church, 
 whose  word  is  able  and  all-sufficient  to  make  us 
 wise  unto  salvation,  we,  who  find  fault,  may  be 
 left  to  do  worse.  Therefore,  to  the  law  and 
 testimony,  if  we  wish  to  know  the  destiny  of 
 brute  creatures :  for  it  will  inform  us,  that  they 
 were  not  created  to  be  saved,  but  were  2  Pet.  ii. 
 12.  "made  to  be  taken  and  destroyed." 
 
 Let  us  therefore,  leave  those  whimsical  pro- 
 fessors of  religion,  who  have  in  all  ages,  endea- 
 voured to  perplex  and  obscure  the  truth,  by  bring- 
 ing ill  the  wisdom  of  Aristotle,  Plato, — and  many 
 more  heathen  productions,  as  helps  to  illustrate 
 divine  revelation ;  and  have  proudly  aspired  to  be 
 esteemed  learned  and  elegant  writers,  more  than 
 to  be  faithful  witnesses  of  the  truth.  By  the  grace 
 of  God,  I  have  surely  been  enabled  to  count  the 
 cost ;  and  I  had  sooner  wear  with  an  afflicted  and 
 poor  people,  the  humble  garment  of  contempt, 
 reproach,  and  be  clothed  with  sack-cloth,  (Rev. 
 xi.  3.  than  be  adorned  with  the  embroidered  robe 
 of  human  applause. 
 
 I  2 
 
132 
 
 I  have  already  spoken  much  concerning  the 
 
 divine  Personality  of  the  Spirit,  and  I  hope  that 
 
 my  reader  has  not  forgotten  the  strong  foundation 
 
 w^hich  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  lay,  upon  which 
 
 all  God's  people  must  stand,  if  they  wish  to  make 
 
 short  work  with  all  opposers  of  the  truth.     There 
 
 cannot   be  a  stronger  foundation  than    this :  that 
 
 there   is   one  God,  who  is    immutable,  having 
 
 never  suffered   any   change  or  alteration  in  his 
 
 manner  of  existence  ;  as  it  is  written,  Psal.  xc.  2. 
 
 "  Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
 
 thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world,  even 
 
 from   everlasting  to    everlasting  thou  art   God." 
 
 But  I  have  proved,  that  this  same  Jehovah,  has 
 
 also    plaiidy   revealed  in  his   word,  that  Three 
 
 divine  Persons  of  equal  glory,  and  dignity,  really 
 
 exist  in  his  undivided  essence,  and  that  these  are 
 
 the  one  self-existent  Jehovah.     In  order  therefore, 
 
 to  prove  the  divinity  of  the  Spirit,  we  cannot  have 
 
 a  shorter,  nor  a  more  satisfactory  argument  than 
 
 this :  (MaJ.  iii.  6.)  Jehovah,  is  unchangeable,  or 
 
 immutable  ;  but  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  are  this 
 
 immutable  Jehovah  :  it  follows  therefore,  that  the 
 
 Spirit  is  very,  and  true  God,  being  essentially 
 
 one  eternal  immutable  Jehovah  with  the  Father 
 
 and  the  Son.     I  have  also  shewed  from  the  word 
 
 of    God,    that    all    attributes,    perfections,    and 
 
 divine  operations  in  God,  are  also  ascribed  to  the 
 
 Holy  Ghost;  which  things  are  largely  set  forth  in 
 
 the  11th  Chap,  so  that  the  Spirit  is  proved  to  be 
 
 the    Creator,    Jehovah,  the    Eternal    Spirit,  and 
 
 Absolute  Lord  ;  being  the  Omniscient   God,  the 
 
183 
 
 Almighty,  the  Omnipresent  God  ;  that  he  has 
 one  infinite  Mind  and  Will  with  the  Father  and 
 the  Son;  who  is  also  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  and 
 the  Author  of  Life  ;  dispensing  all  things  according 
 to  his  own  sovereign  will  and  pleasure.  Now 
 that  I  have  gone  thus  far,  I  wish  for  the  further 
 establishment  of  those  who  are  tossed  about  with 
 various  winds  of  doctrine,  to  add  a  few  more 
 scripture  proofs  of  the  self-existent  Divinity  of  the 
 blessed  Comforter. 
 
 Pboop  1. —  The  Holy  Ghost  is  a  Divine  Person. 
 Wonderful  is  the  blindness  of  wise  mert  in  the 
 flesh,  who  have  imagined  in  spite  of  the  most 
 glaring  scripture  evidences,  that  the  Spirit  is  an 
 emanation,  a  ray  of  light,  or  a  portion  of  God, 
 or  any  such  thing:  for  though  irrational  inanimate 
 things  are  represented  in  scripture  as  uttering 
 speech,  such  as  the  Depth,  and  the  Sea,  Job. 
 xxviii.  14. — 22.  Destruction  and  Death,  as  also, 
 the  Thistle  in  Lebanon,  2  Kings,  xiv,  9.  yet  we 
 know  them  to  be  figures  or  metaphors.  But  the 
 Holy  Ghost  is  not  a  metaphor  or  allegory,  but  a 
 real  self-existent  personal  agent :  for  all  things  be- 
 longing to  a  Person,  such  as  real  existence, 
 speech,  and  motion,  are  absolutely  ascribed  to 
 him.  Consider  therefore,  that  no  created  subor- 
 dinate agent  or  irrational  emanation,  can  speak 
 with  such  self-existent  authority  as  the  Spirit  of 
 God  does ;  as  it  is  written.  Acts,  xiii.  2.  "  The 
 Holy  Ghost  said,  separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul 
 for  the  work   whereunto    1   have  called  them." 
 
134 
 
 In  verse  the  4th.  we  read  that  they  were  "  Sent 
 forth"  by  the  same ;  and  it  is  most  certain,  that 
 the  act  of  sending  forth  men,  cannot  be  ascribed 
 to  any  thing  but  to  a  person.  The  Spirit  is  that 
 Divine  Person,  who,  as  the  Holy  Treasurer  of  the 
 deep  things  of  the  Father  and  the  Son,  searches, 
 and  reveals  them  unto  men :  for  1  Pet.  i.  21 .  "  Holy 
 men  of  old  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the 
 Holy  Ghost."  Is  it  not  written  ?  Acts,  xxviii.  25. 
 *'Well  spake  the  Holy  Ghost  by  Esaias  the 
 prophet  unto  our  fathers,  saying,  Go  unto  this 
 people," — again,  Acts,  xxi.  11.  "Thus  saith  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  so  shall  the  Jews  at  Jerusalem  bind 
 the  man  that  owneth  this  girdle."  Christ  does  by 
 no  means  call  him  a  comfortable  influence,  But 
 styles  him  by  way  of  eminence,  that  eternal  Person, 
 who  has  undertaken  to  be  the  Comforter  of  his 
 people :  saying,  John,  xiv.  26.  "  But  the  Com- 
 forter, which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the  Father 
 will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all 
 things."  The  godly  and  observing  reader,  will 
 find  many  more  proofs  in  the  word,  of  the  essential 
 Personality  of  the  Spirit,  and  that  as  such,  he 
 bears  witness ;  see  Rom.  viii.  16.  1  John,  v.  6. 
 Helps  our  infirmities,  by  making  intercession  for 
 us.  Rom.  viii.  26.  Are  not  these  the  acts  of  a 
 personal  agent?  I  conclude  therefore,  that  none 
 but  fools,  madmen,  and  satanic  influenced  heretics, 
 will  attempt  to  hide  or  contradict  such  evident 
 scripture  testimonies.  And  who  but  blind  idiots, 
 will  attempt  to  prove,  that  the  Spirit  of  God,  as 
 touching  his  personality  is  not  Jehovah,  the  om- 
 
135 
 
 niscient  God  ?  Where  will  such  foul  spirits  find 
 solid  ground  to  build  their  false  arguments  upon  ? 
 Not  in  the  word  of  God  :  for  it  evidently  grinds 
 them  and  their  lying  cavils  to  powder  and  dust ; 
 saying,  Isai.  xl.  13.  "  Who  hath  directed  the 
 Spirit  of  the  Lord,  or  being  his  counsellor  hath 
 taught  him ;"  If  the  Spirit  had  been  a  created 
 agent  inferior  to  God,  the  answer  would  have 
 been,  "  God  hath  directed  him,  and  hath  been  his 
 counseller ;"  But  no  where  in  scripture  has  ever 
 such  an  answei*  been  made;  on  the  contrary,  we 
 read,  that  he  is  the  Spirit  of  Wisdom,  Under- 
 standing, Counsel,  and  Might,  not  by  derivation, 
 but  of  himself,  as  the  self-existent  omniscient  God : 
 for  if  he  took  counsel  with  none,  then  it  is  evident, 
 that  neither  God,  nor  any  created  agent  could 
 instruct  him,  or  teach  him  the  path  of  judgment; 
 because  he  himself  is  the  one  God  of  infinite 
 knowledge  and  understanding.  Are  there  two, 
 or  three  Gods  then  ^  By  no  means :  there  is  but 
 6ne  God,  even  the  Spirit  of  underived  wisdom, 
 who  with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  is  the  God  of 
 infinite  knowledge.  But  some  affirm  that  the 
 Holy  Ghost  is  inferior  and  subordinate  both  to 
 the  Father  and  the  Son,  because  he  is  sent  and 
 proceeds  from  them,  and  doth  not  act  by  his  own 
 authority ;  according  to  this  saying  of  Christ, 
 John,  xvi.  J  8.  "  For  he  shall  not  speak  of  himself; 
 but  whatsoever  he  shall  hear,  that  shall  he  speak." 
 — Ignorant  men  do  stumble  through  unbelief, 
 because  they  cannot  see  the  mystery  of  the 
 Trinity,  nor  this  Trinity  in  unity.     Consider  there- 
 
136 
 
 fore,  that  the  Sphit  is  one  eternal  God  with  the 
 Father  and  the  Son,  and  as  God,  knows  the  deep 
 things  of  both  Father  and  Son  ;  and  he  knows  the 
 eternal  counsel  and  purposes  of  God,  not  by 
 revelation,  or  communication,  but  by  unity  of 
 infinite  Godhead,  attributes,  and  purposes ;  so 
 that  the  wisdom,  knowledge,  power,  and  eternity 
 of  God,  is  truly  the  wisdom,  knowledge,  &c.  of 
 the  Spirit ;  because  he  is  inseparably  one  essence 
 of  undivided  Godhead  with  the  other  Persons. 
 The  Apostle  Paul  well  understood  this  mystery, 
 when  he  uttered  these  important  words :  1  Cor. 
 ii.  11.  "For  what  man  knoweth  the  things  of  a 
 man,  save  the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him  •  even 
 so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man,  but  the 
 Spirit  of  God."  Therefore  I  conclude,  that  the 
 Spirit  searcheth  and  knows  the  deep  things  of 
 God,  because  he  is  in  God,  and  is  God.  But  the 
 wondrous  things  of  God,  would  have  remained  a 
 profound  secret  to  all  created  understanding,  had 
 not  the  Spirit  as  a  distinct  Person  revealed  them  : 
 for  this  is  the  office  he  has  taken  upon  himself, 
 that  as  a  divine  eternal  Person,  distinct  from  the 
 Father  and  Son,  he  would  distinctly  and  person- 
 ally teach,  speak  and  reveal,  all  the  deep  and 
 glorious  things  he  has  seen  and  heard,  as  being 
 one  God  with  the  Father  and  the  Son.  This 
 is  the  truth  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  blessed  is  he 
 that  loveth  and  understandeth  this  mysterious 
 point ;  but  whosoever  cavils  against  and  resists 
 this  exposition,  let  him  be  accursed. 
 
13T 
 
 Proof  2. — An  answer  to  those,  ivho  say  that  the  Spirit 
 is  not  called  God,  any  where  in  the  Scriptures. 
 
 The  word  of  God  has  really  furnished  us  with 
 a  very  remarkable  instance,  in  answer  to  the  above 
 objection,  where  Peter  said  to  Ananias,  Acts.  v. 
 3.  4.  "  Why  hath  Satan  filled  thine  heart  to  lie 
 unto  the  Holy  Ghost  ? — Thou  hast  not  lied  unto 
 men,  but  unto  God."  Here  we  see  evidently, 
 that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  really  called  God,  and  no 
 man   can    contradict    the   following    arguments. 
 
 Argument  1.  Ananias  lied  unto  God,  who  was 
 in  Peter,  but  God,  unto  whom  he  lied  is  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  therefore  the  Holy  Ghost  is  God. 
 Or  it  may  be  constructed  thus  :  Ananias  by  lying 
 mito  Peter  in  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  was,  lied  not 
 mito  men,  but  unto  God,  who  was  in  Peter ; 
 therefore  the  Holy  Ghost  is  God. 
 
 Argument  2.  John  iii.  24.  "  And  hereby  know 
 we  that  he  (God)  abideth  in  us,  by  the  Spirit 
 which  he  hath  given  us."  It  is  most  evident 
 therefore,  that  wheresoever  the  Spirit  is,  there 
 also  God  doth  abide  ;  but  how  could  this  be  true, 
 miless  the  (Spirit  was  essentially  one  God  with  the 
 Father  and  the  Son?  Again  John  saith,  John, 
 iv.  13.  "Hereby  know  we  that  we  dwell  in  him, 
 (God)  and  he  in  us,  because  he  hath  given  us  of 
 liis  Spirit."  It  follows  therefore,  that  as  the 
 Spirit  dwelling  in  a  man,  gives  him  spiritual 
 knowledge  that  God  is  really  abiding  in  him, 
 the  Person  of  the  Spirit  is  thereby  proved  to  be 
 one  God  with  the  Father  and  the  Son.  For  how 
 could  God  manifestedly  dwell  hi  any  man  through 
 
138 
 
 the  Spirit,  if  the  Spirit  is  absent  from  the  Godhead, 
 and  not  a  self-existent  Person  in  the  unity  of  God  ? 
 but  it  is  clear,  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  God,  and 
 that  wheresoever  the  Spirit  manifests  himself, 
 there  also  is  the  Father  and  the  Son,  one  God, 
 even  as  Paul  saith,  Eph.  ii.  22.  *'  In  whom 
 (Christ)  ye  also  are  builded  together  for  an  habi- 
 tation of  God  through  the  Spirit."  This  proof 
 therefore,  is  most  establishing  and  sweet  to  any 
 experienced  Christian:  for  he  may  with  holy 
 boldness  say,  "  I  know  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
 has  convinced  me  of  my  sins,  by  searching  my 
 heart;  he  also  helps  my  infirmity  in  prayer,  by 
 making  intercession  for  me  with  groanings  which 
 cannot  be  uttered;  he  searcheth  moreover,  all 
 the  deep  things  of  God,  and  sheweth  them  unto 
 me:  and  hereby  do  I  know,  that  God  dwelleth 
 in  me,  and  walketh  in  me,  by  the  Spirit  which  he 
 hath  given  me." 
 
 Proof  3. — That  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  true  object  of 
 worship. 
 
 It  is  written,  Deut.  vi.  13.  Thou  shalt  fear  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  and  serve  him, — ye  shall  not  go 
 after  other  Gods,  of  the  gods  of  the  people  round 
 about  you ;  (For  the  Lord  thy  God  is  a  jealous 
 God  among  you.)  With  this  sore  and  great 
 and  strong  sword,  did  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  slay 
 the  dragon ;  saying.  Mat.  iv.  10.  "  Get  thee  hence, 
 Satan  ;  for'  it  is  written,  thou  shalt  worship  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt  thou  serve." 
 Nothing  is  more  abominable  in  the  sight  of  God 
 
139 
 
 Uian  to  build  temples,  and  to  consecrate  them  to 
 any,  but  to  himself;  nay,  he  has  declared,  that  he 
 dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands,  but 
 Isai.  Ivii,  15.  "  With  him  that  is  of  a  contrite  and 
 humble  spirit," — Zion,  or  his  elect  people  is  the 
 living  temple,  that  God  hath  pitched  and  not 
 man;  as  he  has  said,  "Here  will  I  dwell  for  ever." 
 The  bodies  of  the  saints  is  the  temple  that  the 
 scriptures  have  ascribed  to  the  High  and  lofty  One 
 that  inhabiteth  eternity ;  as  it  is  written,  1  Cor. 
 iii.  26.  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of 
 God,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you? 
 But  it  is  most  evident,  that  the  same  word  of 
 truth,  has,  without  making  any  difference,  ascribed 
 the  same  holy  temple  to  the  Person  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost;  saying,  1  Cor.  vi.  19.  "What?  Know  ye 
 not  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost?"  I  conclude  therefore,  that  as  God  has 
 but  one  temple,  which  is  sanctified  by  his  presence, 
 where  he  alone  is  to  be  worshipped,  that  it  would 
 be  most  abominable  idolatry,  to  ascribe  the  holy 
 temple  of  the  jealous  Jehovah  to  an  emanation, 
 or  a  ray  of  light,  or  to  a  Spirit  which  is  inferior 
 in  essence,  dignity,  and  glory  to  himself:  there- 
 fore, as  he  will  not  give  this  glory  to  another, 
 nor  his  praise  to  any  created  power  whatsoever, 
 we  must  1  Cor.  vi.  20.  "  Glorify  God  (the  Holy 
 Ghost)  in  our  body,  and  in  our  Spirit,  which  are 
 God's :"  and  say,  with  the  scriptures,  that  as  our 
 body  is  declared  to  be  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  he  is  most  assuredly  the  Lord  our  God ; 
 who  alone  is  to  be  worshipped   and  served  as  an 
 
140 
 
 eternal  self-existent  Person,  in  the  unity  of  one 
 essence  of  immutable  Godhead.  How  can  any 
 man  escape  the  damnation  of  hell,  who  denies  the 
 essential  Divinity  of  the  Spirit  ?  For  nothing  can 
 be  more  evident,  and  more  soundly  proved  by 
 the  Apostle,  who  as  soon  as  he  has  declared  that 
 our  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  im- 
 mediately styles  him  that  only  true  God,  who  is 
 to  be  worshipped  and  glorified  as  such  in  his  holy 
 temple ;  saying,  "  Therefore  glorify  God  in  your 
 body  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's.",  Let  no 
 man  therefore,  be  afraid  to  worship  the  eternal  Spi- 
 rit, and  to  pray  unto  him :  for  he  is  with  the  Fa- 
 ther and  the  Son,  the  true  God  and  eternal  life. 
 
 Proof  4. — Shewing  that  the  Holy  Ghosts  though  called 
 the  Spirit,  is  nevertheless  the  self-existent  God  himself. 
 
 The  Arians  and  other  enemies  of  the  self-exis- 
 tent Godhead  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  pretend,  that 
 he  cannot  be  God,  because  he  is  only  called  the 
 Spirit  of  God.  These  men  being  deceived  by 
 Satan,  reason  after  the  flesh,  which  profiteth  no- 
 thing ;  but  if  we  reason  after  the  Spirit  and  his 
 unerring  word,  we  shall  stand  for  ever.  Let  us 
 therefore  consider  again  this  scripture :  1  Cor.  2. 
 II.  "  For  what  man  knoweth  the  things  of  a  man, 
 save  the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him  ?  so  the 
 things  of  God  knoweth  no  man,  but  the  Spirit  of 
 God."  Can  any  man  in  his  senses  prove,  that 
 the  spirit  of  man,  and  the  man  himself  are  two 
 different  essences,  natures,  or  beings  ;  are  they  not 
 one  man?    so  likeAvise  the  Spirit  of  God,  and 
 
141 
 
 God  himself  are  one  Supreme  Being,  one  un- 
 divided essence  of  Omniscient  Godhead.  There- 
 fore as  a  man's  spirit,  knows  that  man's  thoughts 
 and  purposes,  because  his  spirit  is  in  him,  being 
 one  nature  of  man  with  him,  so  also  does  the 
 Spirit  of  God  know  all  the  thoughts,  purposes 
 and  deep  things  of  God ;  because  he  is  in  God, 
 being  one  nature  of  eternal  Godhead  with  him. 
 
 Proof  5. — Shewing  that  the  Spirit  is  not  inferior  to  God. 
 This  is  the  snare,  and  the  suitable  trap,  in  which 
 the  Devil  catches   heretics :   he  allures   them  to 
 resist  the  truth,    by   making  them  furiously   to 
 argue  from  single  passages   of  scripture.     Thus 
 they  contend  that  the  Spirit  of  God,  is  not  the 
 most  High  God,  because  they  suppose  him  to  be 
 under  the  control  of  God's  will,  which  error  they 
 attempt  to  found  upon  this  scripture :  Heb.  ii.  4. 
 "  God  bearing  them  witness,  both  with  signs — 
 and   gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  according  to  his 
 own  will."     But  I  have  already  proved  (Chap.  II. 
 Proof  10.)  that  the  will  of  God,  is  the  will  of  a 
 Trinity  of  Persons,  and  that  the  spirit  as  a  Divine 
 Person  in  God,  has  one  sovereign  will  with  him ; 
 as  it  is  written,  1  Cor.  xii.  11.      "  But  all  these 
 (administrations  and  operations)  worketh  that  one 
 and    self-same    Spirit,   dividing    to    every    man 
 severally  as  he  will."     If  the  Holy  Ghost  there- 
 fore,   worketh  all  things   as   he   will,   he  is   not 
 subservient  to  the  will  of  another ;  but  has  one 
 sovereign  absolute  will  with  the  Father  and  the 
 Son,  which  three  divine  Persons  are  that  uncon- 
 
142 
 
 trolable  God,  who,  "Worketh  all  things  after  the 
 counsel  of  his  own  will." 
 
 Proof  6. — Shewing  that  the  Hohj  Ghost  is  the  Supreme 
 God,  in  spite  of  all  the  cavils  of  infidels. 
 
 When  Arians  and  other  proud  opposers  of  the 
 truth,  are  beaten  out  of  the  field,  by  the  former 
 proofs,  they  will  return  again,  and  most  astonish- 
 ingly expose  their  deep  ignorance,  folly,  and 
 hellish  malice :  for  although  they  see  the  truth,  yet 
 their  furious  enmity  hardens  them  to  oppose  it  to 
 their  destruction ;  as  it  is  written,  2  Tim.  i.  2. 
 *'  Now  the  Spirit  speaketh  expressly,  that  in  the 
 latter  times  some  shall  depart  from  the  faith, 
 giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits,  and  doctrines  of 
 devils  ?  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy ;  having  their 
 conscience  seared  with  a  hot  iron."  They  will 
 wdth  the  utmost  craft,  endeavour  to  subvert  the 
 faith  of  the  weak,  by  pretending,  that  as  the 
 Spirit  is  said  to  be  sent,  to  proceed,  to  be  poured 
 out,  to  he  given,  he  cannot  be  the  one  Supreme 
 God:  for  say  they,  God  cannot  send  himself. 
 If  God  was  but  one  person,  this  lying  representation 
 might  have  some  appearance  of  probability ;  but 
 such  weak  and  impotent  cavils,  are  soon  brought 
 into  contempt,  when  those  who  make  them,  are 
 put  in  mind,  that  Jehovah  has  no  where  said,  that 
 he  is  but  one  Person:  for  he  has  solemnly 
 declared  himself  to  be  three  Persons,  and  yet  but 
 one  God ;  as  I  have  indisputably  proved  in  this 
 book.  If  God  then  is  three  Persons,  it  is  most 
 evident,  that  the  Father  who  is  God,  can  pour 
 
143 
 
 out,  or  send  the  Spirit,  who  is  God.  The  Person 
 also  of  Christ,  who  is  God,  can  send,  or  give  the 
 Person  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  is  God.  There 
 is  no  difficulty  liere,  to  an  honest  mind,  that  is 
 furnished  with  the  faith  of  God's  elect. 
 
 The  prescribed  limits  of  this  book,  will  not 
 permit  me  to  add  those  many  convincing  proofs 
 of  the  essential  Divinity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which 
 might  yet  be  brought  from  the  scriptures?  but 
 those  few  I  have  been  enabled  to  bring,  are  more 
 than  enough,  to  silence  all  gainsayers  whatsoever; 
 but  if  any  man  will  yet  be  contentious,  then  let 
 him  be  contentious  still.  It  is  a  common  saying, 
 that  there  are  none  so  blind,  as  those  who  will 
 not  see;  this  is  really  applicable  to  all  those 
 malicious  opposers  of  the  mysteries  of  God ;  who, 
 though  they  are  not  void  of  natural  understanding, 
 yet  are  they  not  ashamed  by  their  foolish  reasonings, 
 to  make  themselves  appear  like  idiots,  or  destitute 
 of  even  common  sense.  The  ground  of  all  con- 
 troversy with  respect  to  the  right  knowledge  of 
 divine  things,  are  the  scriptures  ?  Therefore,  "If 
 any  speak,  let  him  speak  as  the  oracles  of  God.'* 
 Upon  this  groimd  we  have  a  manifest  advantage 
 over  all  those,  who  have  ever  attempted  to  disfigure 
 the  mystery  of  the  Trinity ;  but  if  they  begin  to 
 deny  the  scriptures,  then  we  may  as  well  contend 
 against  brutes,  as  with  such :  they  are  no  more 
 worthy  of  any  attention. 
 
 liejleclions,  warnings,  and  exhortations. 
 
 I  am  not  so  left  of  God ;  as  to  suppose,  that 
 this  book  will  make  many  converts  to  the  truth : 
 
144 
 
 lor  I  am  persuaded,  that  by  far  the  greatest 
 number  will  not  be  able  to  understand  it.  The 
 very  cold  recej3tion  the  jfirst  part  has  met  with 
 from  some,  has  convinced  me  that  they  were  but 
 strangers  to  the  power  of  the  mystery  of  God,  as 
 well  as  to  the  manifold  temptations  and  perplexi- 
 ties the  people  of  God  labour  under  with  respect 
 to  the  Trinity.  Others  again,  whose  pride  will 
 never  suffer  them  to  acknowledge  their  need  of 
 being  taught,  (though  they  profess  great  love  to 
 me,  and  are  men  of  property,)  yet  they  have 
 borrowed  the  book,  that  they  might  furnish  their 
 heads  and  tongues  with  those  arguments  they 
 could  not  meet  elsewhere.  The  enthusiasm , 
 depravity,  pride,  and  detestable  arrogance  of 
 dissenters  in  general  is  inexpressible ;  they  make 
 manifest  their  sin  as  Sodom,  while  they  despise 
 others :  for  by  their  pride,  deep  ignorance,  and 
 covetous  practises,  they  dishonour  God,  his  cause, 
 and  make  the  very  name  of  religion  to  stink ;  as 
 it  is  written  2  Pet.  ii.  2.  "  By  reason  of  whom  the 
 way  of  truth  shall  be  evil  spoken  of."  How  can 
 we  suppose,  that  men  that  have  the  love  of  money, 
 the  root  of  all  evil  within  them,  who  pull  down 
 barns,  to  build  greater,  whose  inordinate  affec- 
 tions to  their  offspring  leads  them  (notwithstanding 
 their  covetousness)  to  set  them  off  in  all  the 
 wanton  fashions,  and  foolish  trappings  of  a 
 wicked  generation,  and  yet  groan  on  the  other 
 hand,  at  the  moderate  charge  of  a  few  seats 
 at  a  place  of  worship,  I  say,  it  is  no  marvel 
 that  such,   should  shift  away  from  the  true  light 
 
145 
 
 %hich  makes  manifest,  their  form  of  godliness 
 "without  the  power.  Christian  reader,  be  not  sur- 
 prised, nor  dismayed  to  hear  such  wretched 
 partisans  of  Mammon,  call  the  Mystery  of 
 Godliness  *'  Errors,  that  they  wish  by  no  means 
 to  support."  Notwithstanding  the  many  wonder- 
 ful experiences  they  can  relate  to  you,  the  amazing 
 light  they  appear  to  have,  whereby  they  may 
 move  you  to  great  spiritual  jealousy,  by  their 
 seeming  correct  and  shining  accounts  of  a  work 
 of  grace  upon  their  hearts,  yet  you  have  greater 
 reason  to  fear  and  to  tremble  at  their  doubtful 
 state,  than  to  envy  it :  "  For  he  that  hateth 
 reproof  shall  die."  Remember  that  as  the  Jews 
 gnashed  with  their  teeth  on  Stephen,  and  stopped 
 their  ears,  when  he  told  them  that  he  saw  "The 
 heaven  opened,  and  the  Son  of  Man  standing 
 on  the  right  hand  of  God,"  so  also  do  these,  speak 
 evil  of  things  they  understand  not,  and  shall 
 utterly  perish  in  their  own  corruption.  **  Woe 
 unto  them !  for  they  have  gone  in  the  way  of 
 Cain,  and  ran  greedily  after  the  error  of  Balaam 
 for  reward,  and  perished  in  the  gainsayings  of 
 Core."  Be  not  deceived ;  for  these  brute  beasts 
 rage  not  so  much  at  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity, 
 and  the  eternal  will  of  God,  as  they  do  at  the 
 power :  for  had  I  gone  the  same  way  to  work 
 with  many,  who  have  written  on  those  mysterious 
 subjects,  they  would  have  had  no  ground  of 
 offence;  but  their  infernal  enmity  is  roused,  be- 
 cause a  good  and  a  gracious  God  has  enabled  me 
 indeed  to  exalt,  and  glorify  the  infinite  majesty 
 
140 
 
 of  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  by  bringhig  forth 
 such  heavenly  experiences,  such  holy  and  heart 
 felt  communion  and  fellowship  with  those  ever 
 blessed  Persons,  so  that  their  carnal  minds  and 
 hearts  being  moved  with  indignation,  mahce,  and 
 envy,  they  have  conceived  all  that  abundance  of 
 deceit,  which  they  bring  forth  in  word  and  in  deed. 
 And  pray,  what  is  all  this  for  ?  surely,  it  is  to 
 hide  the  secret  testimony  and  consciousness  they 
 have  in  their  hearts,  that  they  are  destitute  of 
 those  sMTet  tokens  for  good,  neither  have  an  heart 
 to  seek  after  them.  Such  are  like  reprobate 
 Saul:  for  "They  see  and  know  that  the  Lord  is 
 with  me  (like  a  mighty  terrible  one)  and  they 
 become  enemies  to  me  continually"  1  Sam.  xviii. 
 28.  None  of  them  dare  confront  me;  but  like 
 dogs,  they  bark  at  a  distance :  for  when  they 
 are  near,  "They  dissemble  their  hatred  with 
 lying  lips,  and  lay  up  deceit  within  them ;  when 
 they  speak  fair,  believe  them  not :  for  there  are 
 seven  abominations  in  their  hearts.  Whose  hatred 
 is  covered  by  deceit,  their  wickedness  shall  be 
 shewed  before  the  whole  congregation."  (Prov.  xxvi. 
 26.)  These  are  that  wicked  generation  of  poison- 
 ous seipents,  who  after  all  their  flourishing- 
 profession,  are  yet  stiffnecked  and  uncircimicised 
 in  heart  and  ears.  Do  they  not  now  resist  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  even,  as  their  fathers  in  wickedness 
 did?  For  as  the  Jews  received  the  law  by  the 
 disposition  of  angels,  and  kept  it  not,  so  also  have 
 these  nominal  Christians  received  the  law  of  faith 
 by  the  ministry  of  Apostles,  and  Ministers  sent 
 
147 
 
 of  God,  and  keep  it  not ;  but  "  like  a  disobedient 
 and  gainsaying  people,  they  turn  from  the  holy 
 commandment  delivered  unto  them."  Thou- 
 sands and  tens  of  thousands  in  our  awful  days, 
 are,  it  is  to  be  feared,  under  the  fearful  con<Ipm- 
 nation  of  doing  despite  to  the  Spirit  of  Grace ;  who 
 flatter  themselves  in  their  own  eyes,  until  their 
 iniquities  becoming  hateful  in  the  sight  of  God, 
 they  shall  be  evidently  sealed  up  to  the  day  of 
 wrath,  with  a  **  Behold,  ye  despisers,  and  won- 
 der, and  perish,  for  I  work  a  work  in  your 
 days,  a  work  which  ye  shall  in  no  wise  believe, 
 though  a  man  declare  it  unto  you."  Acts,  xiii.  41. 
 This  work  is  the  wondrous  work  of  a  glorious 
 immutable  Trinity,  in  the  Unity  of  one  Jehovah: 
 which  I  have  through  grace  fully  declared  in  this 
 book,  by  doctrinal,  experimental,  and  most  in- 
 vincible scripture  proofs,  which  many  such  proud 
 and  ignorant  professors,  shall  in  no  wise  believe,  till 
 in  hell  they  shall  lift  up  their  eyes  being  in  torment: 
 
 An  address  to  my  beloved  little Jlock,  over  which  the  Father, 
 Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  one  ever  blessed  friend  and 
 loving  Jehovah  has  made  me  an  Overseer  and  Minister. 
 
 Consider  what  an  unspeakable  blessing  it  is  for 
 you,  brethren,  beloved  of  God,  that  while  these 
 mysteries  are  hid  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  it 
 has  pleased  the  Father  of  mercies  to  reveal  them 
 unto  such  insignificant  creatures  as  we  are  in 
 the  eyes  of  a  proud  professing  race;  who,  are 
 altogether  insensible  where  they  are  going.     It 
 
 K  2 
 
148 
 
 also  has  rejoiced  my  heart  greatly,  that  the  Lord 
 has  opened  your  eyes  to  see,  and  your  hearts  to 
 receive  those  heavenly  truths,  which  so  many 
 reject  to  their  destruction.  I  have  been  favoured 
 with  singular  consolations,  amazing  displays  of 
 everlasting  love,  and  soul  ravishing  views  of  the 
 unspeakable  Mystery  of  God,  while  from  time  to 
 time,  I  have  been  led  by  the  good  spirit  both  to 
 preach  and  to  write  upon  this  glorious  subject. 
 I  have  sown  these  things  in  many  tears  of 
 of  gratitude,  contrition,  joy  unspeakable,  holy 
 triumphs,  and  agonizing  prayers,  and  supplica- 
 tions; and  the  Lord  also  has  given  me  the  sweet 
 consolation,  by  causing  me  to  reap  the  fruit  of  my 
 labour,  so  that  I  have  not  ran  the  heavenly  race 
 in  vain.  Seeing  therefore,  that  you  have  received 
 these  things  in  faith  and  love,  see  that  ye  increase 
 more  and  more.  Be  not  wise  in  your  own  conceit; 
 but  know,  that  real  humility,  poverty  of  spirit, 
 and  a  sense  of  native  ignorance,  are  the  golden 
 pipes,  through  which  the  eternal  wisdom  of  God 
 in  Christ,  flows  to  us  by  the  eternal  Spirit.  As 
 God  has  in  mercy  made  you  of  a  teachable  spirit, 
 to  receive  with  meekness  the  ingrafted  word,  I 
 have  this  confidence  in  you,  through  Christ,  that 
 you  will  readily  receive  the  word  of  exhortation. 
 I  exhort  you  therefore,  in  the  name  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  be  not  moved  from  the 
 soul-establishing  things  written  in  this  book :  for 
 many  instruments  of  Satan  have  already  resisted, 
 and  will  continue  in  their  opposition  to  these 
 things.     Some  poor  foolish  creatiu"es,  with  scarce- 
 
149 
 
 ly  half  a  grain  of  common  sense,  have  already 
 passed  sentence  upon  the  first  part  of  this  book  ; 
 saying,  "  Mr.  Burrell  is  a  poor  divine."     Others 
 have  said,  "  It  is  full  of  errors."     You  will  find 
 many,  who  can  scarcely  read  or  write,  much  less 
 understand   the  deep   reasoning  and   arguments 
 made  use  of  to  clear  so  profound  a  subject,  yet 
 these   poor   satanic   influenced   creatures,    being 
 lifted  up   with  pride,  will   also  belch   out   their 
 corrupt  words  against  those  things,  which  they 
 have  never  been  spiritually  qualified  to  understand. 
 Every  instrument  of  hell  is  dangerous,  whether 
 learned   or  unlearned :  for  the  Devil  who  is  in 
 them,  is  very  strong,   and  as  a  roaring  lion  seeks 
 whom  he  may  devour;  therefore,  despise  none; 
 but  either  depart  from  them,  when  you  perceive 
 not  in  them  the  lips  of  knowledge,  or  in  much 
 meekness  and  godly  fear,  desire  them  to  bring 
 forth  their  scripture  proofs,  and  to  make  good  their 
 bold  attacks,  by  clearing  up  with  solid  arguments 
 the  ground  of  their  opposition.     Thus  by  simply 
 asking  a  few  sober  questions,  you  will  find  many 
 utterly  incapable  to  shew  you  why  they  find  fault, 
 and  they  will  soon  leave  you  alone,  (John,  vifi.  24.) 
 to  wonder  at  their  madness  and  ignorance.     Be- 
 ware of  your  natural  heat  and  warm  temper:  for 
 there  is  no  promise  made  to  that ;  but  the  heart 
 going  up  in  faith  to  a  Trinity  of  Persons  in  one  gra- 
 cious God,  and  a  mouth  and  wisdom  given  to  ask  a 
 few  questions,  this  will  settle  the  point  to  admira- 
 tion :  for  (Isai.  xli.    15.)  God  has  promised  to 
 make   you   a  new   sharp    threshing    instrument 
 
150 
 
 having  teeth,  with  which  you  shall  be  enabled  to 
 divide  and  grind  to  powder  their  fleshly  notions 
 as  easily  as  you  do  your  daily  food. 
 
 Some  on  the  other  hand  will  seek  to  perplex  you, 
 and  with  some  shew  of  wisdom,  and  much  more 
 impudence  will  tell  you,  that  the  passages  you 
 bring  in  defence  of  the  truth  are  not  properly 
 translated.  In  order  to  silence  these  pretenders 
 to  learning,  ask  them  to  shew  you  the  places  and 
 words  which  will  bear  another  reading,  and  you 
 will  quickly  see  the  mask  of  erudition  fall  from 
 their  face,  and  old  ignorance  will  soon  frame  this 
 excuse,  "  I  have  been  told  so."  Brethren,  be  not 
 deceived :  for  if  your  faith  is  not  to  be  settled  in 
 this  important  point  of  your  salvation,  till  you  are 
 become  proper  judges  of  Greek  and  Hebrew 
 niceties,  you  would  most  certainly  be  exposed  to 
 perilous  judgments,  and  finally  die  in  your  sins. 
 These  are  some  of  the  innumerable  traps,  in 
 which  many  are  caught:  "  But  God  is  faithful, 
 who  shall  stablish  you,  and  keep  you  from  evil." 
 Be  not  therefore,  afraid  of  the  revilings  of  wicked 
 men  in  a  profession :  for  when  their  measure  of 
 spiritual  wickedness  is  full,  "  The  worm  shall  eat 
 them  up  like  wool.  The  hard  speeches  which 
 they  utter,  shall  fall  upon  their  own  heads ;  and 
 my  soul  shudders  at  their  present  state  of  hardness, 
 as  well,  as  at  the  horrible  tempest  of  wrath  that 
 shall  overwhelm  them. 
 
 Finally  Brethren,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and 
 in  the  power  of  his  might ;  and  though  some  have 
 daubed  the  margins  of  my  books  with  unlearned 
 
151 
 
 and  foolish  remarks,  and  others  have  said,  that 
 "  Zion's  way  marks,  and  Zion's  Traveller  are  fit 
 to  be  bound  together."  While  others  have 
 affirmed  that  "  The  Mystery  of  God,  was  enthu- 
 siastic nonsense,  and  unintelligible  jargon."  yea, 
 even  some  friends  have  stumbled  at  some 
 expressions  in  this  book  ;*  yet  let  not  all  these 
 wiles  of  the  Devil  prejudice  your  minds  against 
 those  glorious  verities,  which  the  captain  of  our 
 salvation,  has  enabled  me  to  defend  with  sach 
 
 *  This  assertion  in  the  1st  part  of  the  mystery  of  God,  Chap. 
 III.  Proofs.  "  Man  was  made  in  the  image  of  God;  upright, 
 and  a  free  agent  in  that  very  God  who  is  a  free  agent ;  but  he 
 sinned  against  him,  by  departing  from  the  Godhead."  I  say, 
 this  stumbled  a  friend  of  mine  ;  who  it  should  seem,  could  not 
 make  out  how  Adam  could  be  a  free  agent  in  God,  nor  how  it 
 could  be  said  with  any  propriety,  that  by  sin  he  departed  from 
 the  Godhead.  The  novelty  of  expressing  those  ideas,  does  not 
 however,  invalidate  the  truth  of  the  assertion :  for  Adam  certainly 
 was  a  free  agent,  else  how  could  he  be  responsible  toGod,  yet  he 
 was  not  an  independant  free  agent  being  not  self-existent ;  but 
 was  united  to  his  God  by  the  law  of  Love ;  even  as  a  wife  is  to  her 
 husband  ;  as  it  is  written,  Jer.  iii.  20.  "  Surely  as  a  wife  treache- 
 rously departeth  from  her  husband,  so  have  ye  dealt  treacherously 
 with  me,  O  house  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord."  Is  not  this  said 
 in  allusion  to  the  covenant  of  works  which  God  made  with  Adam, 
 and  renewed  afterwards  with  his  seed  in  the  wilderness,  saying, 
 Jer.  xxxi.  32.  "  Which  my  Covenant  they  brake  although  I  was 
 an  husband  unto  them  saith  the  Lord."  Did  not  Adam  depart 
 from  God  the  Father  by  disobediently  casting  his  word  behind 
 his  back,  and  by  despising  Christ,  (shadowed  forth  by  the  tree 
 of  Hfe)  and  by  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit?  And  was  not  this  de- 
 parting from  the  Godhead  ?  And  while  Adam  walked  in  perfect 
 unity  and  love  with  his  God,  as  a  wife  with  her  husband,  was 
 he  not  one  with  l»im  ;  being  really  a  free  agent  in  his  God  by 
 xmion,  and  as  such  the  image  of  his  maker?  Who  then  can 
 object  to  the  expressions  I  have  made  use  of,  seeing  that  they 
 are  both  sound,  as  well  as  they  are  mysterious?  Pray  therefore 
 for  light. 
 
152 
 
 burning  love  and  zeal.  Think  not  that  you  are 
 complete  masters  of  the  subject,  for  reading  the 
 book  once  over;  but  let  it  be  your  constant 
 companion,  and  by  prayer  and  supplication, 
 diligently  seek,  ask,  petition,  and  earnestly  groan 
 after  the  glorious  power  and  love  of  those  truths. 
 If  you  are  thus  spiritually  led  to  seek  after  these 
 realities,  as  for  those  hid  treasures  which  are  alone 
 worth  having;  Prov.  ii.  5.  "Then  shall  you 
 understand  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find  the 
 knowledge  of  God.  "  For  the  Lord  shall  ripen 
 your  judgments,  and  extend  your  views  in  such 
 a  marvellous  manner,  that  the  very  names  of 
 those  Most  Holy,  Divine  Persons  in  one  gracious 
 God,  shall  be  as  ointment  poured  forth.  There- 
 fore, I  intreat  you  in  the  Lord,  that  you  be  not 
 slothful,  but  daily  seek  to  have  an  unctious 
 experience  of  the  Father's  love,  the  wonderful 
 grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  sweet 
 communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Beg  of  God,  to 
 give  you  a  sanctified  memory,  that  yon  might 
 retain  and  become  masters  of  the  holy  arguments 
 and  mighty  scriptures,  which  like  sharp  goads 
 shall  confound  your  adversaries,  and  drive  them 
 to  shame  and  contempt.  Beware  of  a  spirit  of 
 pride,  which  Satan  will  not  fail  to  puff  you  up 
 with:  for  if  he  can  get  an  advantage  over  you 
 here,  and  is  not  vigorously  counteracted  by  confes- 
 sion and  prayer,  your  progress  in  knowledge  will 
 be  in  vain :  but  if  it  leads  you  to  humility,  and 
 holy  admiration,  that  God  has  opened  your  blind 
 eyes  to  see  such  wonders  in  his  law,  then  shall 
 
153 
 
 you  eat  and  be  satisfied,  and  praise  the  Lord  who 
 has  dealt  so  woiidrously  with  you :  "  For  with  the 
 lowly  is  (this)  wisdom." 
 
 BEWARE,  AND  TREMBLE  AT  SATAN'S  WILES! 
 
 For  if  by  God's  special  grace,  you  are  inflamed 
 with  holy  desires  and  love  towards  this  important 
 subject,  and  discern  it  to  be  that  unfadiomable 
 mystery  in  which  '"  Are  hid  all  the  treasures  of 
 wisdom  and  knowledge;"  if  you  are  fully  deter- 
 mined "  To  give  earnest  heed  to  the  things  which 
 you  have  heard,  lest  at  any  time  (you)  should  let 
 them  slip,"  Satan  will  not  fail  to  give  you  all  the 
 trouble  and  annoyance  he  possibly  can. 
 
 1st.  He  will  damp  your  zeal,  by  neans  of  Heretics,  and 
 sluggish  professors. 
 
 If  at  any  time  you  have  made  a  considerable 
 progress  in  the  experimental  knowledge  of  the 
 love  of  God,  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  feel 
 yourselves  built  up,  as  well  as  armed  with  those 
 mighty  proofs  from  scripture,  which  you  think 
 altogether  invincible,  yet  to  your  grief  and 
 astonishment,  you  shall  hear  of  some,  who  are 
 so  completely  under  the  influence  of  the  Devil, 
 as  to  seal  openly  their  own  damnation,  by 
 inserting  in  the  newspapers,  that  they  are  going 
 publicly  to  prove,  that  there  are  not  three  Persons 
 in  the  Trinity,  and  that  Christ  is  neither  a  divine 
 Person,  nor  the  supreme  God  that  bought  us. 
 A  tender  hearted  christian,   when  he  hears  such 
 
horrid  blasphemies  as  these  is  exceedingly 
 shocked :  he  finds  himself  not  altogether  proof 
 against  such  hellish  attacks  against  the  truth ; 
 because  of  the  cornipt  principle  within  himself, 
 which  takes  the  devil's  part,  and  causes  his  soul 
 to  sink  in  despondency,  filling  him  with  many 
 doubts  and  evil  questionings.  Some  however, 
 are  not  so  easily  moved  when  the  truth  is  so 
 impudently  reviled  ;  "  But  their  strength  is  firm. 
 They  are  not  in  trouble  as  other  men ;  neither  are 
 they  plagued  like  other  men."  This  is  mostly  the 
 case  with  such,  who  receive  the  form  of  the  truth 
 in  the  letter,  and  having  no  real  change  of  heart, 
 nor  untuous  experience  of  the  work  of  a  Trinity 
 of  Persons  upon  their  hearts,  they  are  not  aware 
 that  their  boldness  and  fortitude  is  fleshly,  and  shall 
 give  way  in  the  hour  of  temptation.  A  good  man  has 
 first  the  heretics  within  his  own  heart  to  overcome, 
 and  if  he  can  by  prayer,  confessions,  and  earnest 
 wrestlings  prevail  against  his  own  doubts,  fears, 
 and  confusion,  he  shall  most  certainly  overcome 
 all  heretics ;  and  their  deadly  poison  shall  not 
 hurt  him.  Think  it  not  strange  therefore,  that 
 even  in  protestant  countries,  where  the  truth  of 
 the  mystery  of  the  Trinity  is  clearly  defined  in 
 books,  as  well  as  established  by  law,  that  many 
 public  blasphemers  shall  escape  unpunished.  Let 
 us  not  think  however,  that  God  is  an  unconcerned 
 spectator,  or  wants  power  to  execute  vengeance 
 upon  the  ungodly;  But  in  his  long-suffering,  he 
 only  waits  until  they  have  filled  up  the  measure  of 
 their  iniquites  :  for  whatever  fools  may  think,  yet 
 
155 
 
 "  Their  judgment  now  of  a  long  time  lingereth  not, 
 and  their  damnation  slumbereth  not." 
 
 When  the  Devil  finds,  that  you  are  not  moved 
 from  the  mystery  of  Godhness  by  his  horrid  out- 
 cries, he  will  quickly  change  his  battery,  and 
 assault  you  from  another  quarter,  where  he  hopes 
 to  find  you  off  your  guard.  You  shall  now  be 
 introduced  into  the  company  of  some  of  your  old 
 friends,  whom  you  formerly  esteemed  as  men  of 
 profound  judgment,  "  Famous  in  the  congregation, 
 men  of  renown ;"  who  shall  not  fail  to  blunt  the 
 edge  of  your  zeal  and  love  for  a  time ;  nay,  some 
 have  ah'eady  been  served  so  by  such,  who,  when 
 they  have  been  asked,  whether  they  had  read  the 
 Mystery  of  God,  have  answered  with  the  greatest 
 indifi^erence,  saying,  "  The  Doctor  has  largely 
 written  on  the  Trinity,  and  1  think  that  there  can 
 be  nothing  added  to  it."  Others  have  in  a  similar 
 manner  given  it  as  their  opinion,  that  in  all  ages, 
 many  have  been  ambitious  to  write  upon  that 
 sublime  subject;  it  has  been  handled  over  and 
 over  again,  by  men  of  the  greatest  abilities, 
 and  we  have  no  end  of  treatises  on  the  Trinity ; 
 nothing  new  can  be  said  on  the  subject."  These 
 seemingly  sober  answers  have  a  wonderful  effect 
 to  wound  an  honest  mind :  for  such  men  are 
 the  Devils  buckets ;  out  of  which  he  endeavours 
 to  pour  cold  water,  upon  the  holy  flame,  that  a 
 lively  faith  in  the  Mystery  of  God  doth  produce. 
 Rev.  xii.  15.  *'  Can  the  north  wind  blow,  and  you 
 not  feel  the  cold?  so  such  cold,  lifeless,  and 
 dead  speeches  freeze  the  heart :"  For  evil  commu- 
 
156 
 
 nications  corrupt  good  manners."  But  if  you 
 talk  to  such  earthly  minded  men,  about.  "  The 
 piece  of  ground,  the  five  yoke  of  oxen  they  have 
 bought,  and  the  new  wives  they  have  married,'" 
 Luke,  xiv.  19.  you  shall  find  them  full  of  life  and 
 spirits  on  those  subjects :  "  For  they  that  are  after 
 the  flesh  do  mind  the  things  of  the  flesh."  Brethren, 
 look  up  to  him,  who  is  able  to  keep  you  from 
 falling  into  the  same  dead  sleep  they  are  in ;  that 
 you  may  not  be  deceived  nor  cast  down,  by  their 
 arrogant  pretensions,  of  being  masters  of  the 
 subject :  for  as  sure  as  there  is  an  omniscient  God, 
 who  knows  the  hypocrisy  of  their  hearts,  there  is 
 not  one  of  them  all,  knows  what  he  says,  nor 
 whereof  he  afiirms.  Only  ask  such  a  poor  self 
 deceived  creature,  whether  he  has  compared  the 
 books  together,  and  to  point  out  to  you,  where 
 the  author  has  stolen  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 from  his  neigbour,  or  wherein  the  impertinence 
 consists  in  writing  on  the  same  subject,  if  it 
 materially  differs  from  many,  as  to  real  information, 
 profit,  and  edification,  of  God's  people.  *' Prove 
 all  things ;"  and  answer  a  fool  according  to  his 
 folly,  lest  he  be  wise  in  his  own  conceit :  for  by 
 doing  this  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  by  thus  trying 
 the  spirits  whether  they  are  of  God,  you  shall 
 resist  the  Devil,  unmask  the  hypocrite,  and  save 
 yourselves  from  many  sorrows,  doubts,  and 
 sinking  fears,  when  their  vain  shew  of  wisdom 
 shall  forsake  them,  and  old  ignorance  shall 
 evidently  appear.  "Be  wise  as  serpents:"  for 
 by  simply  asking  a  few  home  questions,  you  shall 
 
157 
 
 fliscover  their  nakedness,  ignorance,  and  enmity: 
 for  when  any  one  of  them  is  urged  to  give  you  an 
 answer,  he  will  not  fail  to  say,  "  I  have  not  read 
 much  of  the  Mystery  of  God,  neither  can  I  call 
 to  mind  exactly  what  the  Doctor  says  on  the 
 subject,  but  a  friend  of  mine,  who  has  well 
 examined  tliem  both,  says,  that  nothing  new  can 
 be  written  on  the  subject ;  however,  when  I  shall 
 see  you  again  I  shall  be  prepared  to  give  you  a 
 better  answer."  Thus  will  many  shuffle  off,  and 
 take  good  care  to  avoid  your  company  for  the 
 future!  and  you  shall  bless  God,  when  he  has 
 thus  discovered  to  you  their  rotten  foundation  to 
 the  neck,  who  like  fools,  "  Answer  a  matter 
 before  they  hear  it."  Prov.  xviii.  13.  Take  care 
 not  to  judge  of  them  by  their  outward  stout 
 appearance  :  for  if  you  could  but  see  the  misery 
 within,  and  the  deep  wound  a  few  godly  answers 
 have  given  to  them,  you  would  plainly  see  that 
 "  The  ungodly  shall  not  stand  in  judgment,  nor 
 sinners  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous." 
 However  you  are  not  liJiely  to  be  troubled  with 
 them  any  more  :  for  they  *'  Shall  see  that  thou  art 
 called  by  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  and  they  shall  be 
 afraid  of  thee."  Deut.  xxviii.  16.  Woe  unto  such 
 Churls !  for  they  speak  villany,  and  in  heart  work 
 iniquity  ;  they  practice  hypocrisy,  and  utter  error 
 before  the  Lord.  Now  consider  carefully,  the 
 wiles  of  the  Devil  their  father,  who  is  in  them,  and 
 speaks  by  them  ;  is  it  not  to  rob  you  of  the  Grace 
 of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of  God,  and 
 the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  Is  it  not,  as 
 
158 
 
 God  saith,  Isai.  xxxii.  6.  "To  make  empty  the 
 soul  of  the  hungry,  and  (to)  cause  the  drink  of  the 
 thirsty  to  fail  T'  Be  not  deceived  :  for  if  the  work 
 of  a  Trinity  of  Persons  was  upon  their  hearts, 
 they  would  sweetly  join  with  you,  in  singing  the 
 high  praises  of  those  divine,  self-existent  Persons, 
 in  one  Lord  God  of  Israel.  They  neither  under- 
 stand the  Doctor,  (as  they  please  to  call  him)  nor 
 any  body  else,  that  is  led  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
 either  to  write  or  speak  eS:perimentally  on  the  sub- 
 ject :  for  after  twenty  or  thirty  years  profession, 
 this  is  all  they  have  learned  concerning  the  un- 
 speakable Mystery  of  the  Trinity ;  mark  it  well, 
 and  be  astonished  ;  they  have  been  brought  to  give  a 
 human  assent  and  consent,  That  three  are  one 
 AND  ONE  IS  three  :  further,  they  have  n«t  attained. 
 Let  no  man  think  me  too  severe  in  my  judgment 
 against  such :  for  as  long  as  they  would  appear  to 
 be  rich  and  increased  with  goods,  and  have  need 
 of  nothing ;  I  say,  while  they  earnestly  seek  for  a 
 name,  that  they  are  alive  to  God,  while  they 
 pour  contempt  upon  the  real  hidden  power  of  the 
 Mystery  upon  the  heart,  I  must  according  to 
 Christ's  testimony,  pronounce  all  such  prevarica- 
 ting professors,  to  be  truly  "  Wretched,  and  miser- 
 able, poor,  and  blind,  and  naked,  and  dead." 
 Rev.  iii.  1—17. 
 
 Finally,  the  Devil  will  not  fail  to  perplex  women, 
 and  others  who  feel  the  weakness  of  their  judgment, 
 saying,  "  You  see,  what  a  very  great  deep  the 
 Mystery  of  the  Trinity  is  ?  it  is  only  fit  for  men  of 
 strong  parts   and   abilities:   for  since  you  have 
 
159 
 
 endeavoured  to  consider  it,  you  have  found  ten 
 times  more  confusion  than  before :  you  had  better 
 leave  such  a  difficult  subject,  to  such  who  are  able 
 to  understand  it."  Brethren,  give  no  place  to  the 
 Devil ;  but  remember  for  ever,  that  the  mysteries 
 of  the  kingdom  are  not  revealed  to  men  of  parts 
 and  natural  abilites  :  for  they  are  "  Hid  from  the 
 wise  and  prudent ;  but  are  revealed  unto  babes," 
 "  The  race  is  not  to  the  swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the 
 strong,  neither  yet  bread  to  the  wise,  nor  yet 
 riches  to  men  of  understanding,  nor  yet  favour  to 
 men  of  skill ;  —  But  the  lame  take  the  prey." 
 Remember  that  the  church  of  the  living  God  has 
 this  promise :  "  All  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of 
 the  Lord;  and  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy 
 children."  Isai.  liv.  13.  Now  consider,  and  let 
 us  give  thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  his  holiness, 
 who  has  fulfilled  his  word  unto  us :  for  he  has 
 really  taught  us,  by  enabling  me  to  set  forth  the 
 Mystery  of  God  after  a  godly  manner ;  he  has 
 not  set  me  at  it  in  vain,  but  for  the  sake  of  his 
 people,  to  whom  he  has  absolutely  promised, 
 that  "  Wisdom  and  knowledge  shall  be  the 
 stability  of  thy  times,  and  strength  of  salvation." 
 Seeing  therefore,  that  all  his  children  are  to  % 
 *'  Know  him,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest  of 
 them,"  let  us  take  courage,  and  continually  plead 
 those  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises, 
 whereby  we  are  made  partakers  of  the  divine 
 nature,  and  has  given  us  an  understanding  to  know 
 him  that  is  true.  I  conclude  now  with  this 
 tremendous  observation  :  that  if  the  things  I  have 
 
160 
 
 so  boldly  advanced  and  proved  from  the  v^^ord 
 of  God,  are  not  those  truths  which  are  absolutely 
 essential  to  your  salvation,  then  have  you  beheved 
 a  lie ;  I  must  be  an  impostor,  and  heaven  is  shut 
 against  you.  But  if  "  The  Lord  God  and  his  Spirit 
 hath  sent  me"  to  clear  up  those  truths,  by  remov- 
 ing many  stumbling-blocks  out  of  the  way  of 
 God's  people,  then  consider  with  me;  "  Stay 
 yourselves  and  wonder"  at  the  mad  opposition  of 
 ignorant,  sleepy,  drunken,  envious,  non-com- 
 missioned preachers,  and  their  simple  and  besotted 
 hearers !  Where  are  they  all,  who  believe  the  lying- 
 insinuations  of  greedy  dogs,  and  of  foolish  shep- 
 herds that  cannot  understand  ?  where  are  they, 
 but  in  the  depths  of  hell  ?  Brethren,  consider,  for 
 if  my  report  is  true,  and  you  reject  it,  you  are 
 lost  for  ever:  if  on  the  other  hand,  I  hold  an 
 error,  you  are  destroyed  without  remedy.  O  what 
 a  perplexity!  what  shall  a  poor  creature  do,  who 
 earnestly  desires  to  know  the  truth  ?  cease  from 
 your  own  wisdom,  and  from  all  men ;  pray  to 
 your  Father  who  seeth  in  secret;  entreat  the 
 Divine  Prophet  to  give  you  spiritual  light,  call 
 upon  the  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  understanding, 
 and  the  God  of  all  grace  shall  give  you  light, 
 power,  establishment,  and  an  unctuous  experience; 
 so  shall  you  praise  him  with  me  for  his  wonders, 
 ascribing  all  wisdom,  power,  and  everlasting 
 thanks  to  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost-,  one 
 Faithful  Jehovah.    Amen. 
 
 London:  Printed  by  IJ  W.  &  S.  Gardiner,  Priuces-strect,  Cavcndish-sq. 
 
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