Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, To the reader 1

Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life · To the reader 1

Christian Reader,

IF thou answer this designation, and art really a partaker of the Unction, which is the high import of that blessed and glorious name called upon thee, thine eye must affect thy heart, and … soul swelled with Godly sorrow must at last burst and bleed forth at a weeping eye, while thou looks upon most of this licentious and loathsome generation, arrived at that h…ight of prodigious profanity, as to glory in their shame, and boast of bearing the very badge and blake marke of damnation. but, besides this swarme, who savage it to h…ll, and make such hast thi…her, as they foame themselves into everlasting flames, carrying, under the shape and visage of men, as Devils in disguise. The face of the Church is covered with a sc…me of such, who are so immersed in the concerns of▪ this life, and are so intense in the pursute of the pleasures, gaine and honours thereof, as their way doth manifestly witnesse them to be sunk into the deep oblivion of God, and desperat inconsideration of their precious and immortal souls: But in the 3. place besides these, who are hurried into such a distraction with the cares of this life, that they as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and d…stroyed, are never at leasure to consider either the nature and necessitie of their noble souls, or to converse with the notion of a Deitie. Thou may perceive a company of self deceiving speculatists, who make broad the phylacteries of their garments, and boast of some high attainements, in religion; yea, would have others look upon them as arrived at the very porch of heaven, and advanced to a high pitch of proficiency in the wayes of God, because they can discourse a little of the mysteries of salvation, and without ever diveing further into the depth and true nature of Religion, dream themselves into a confidence of being saints, and conclude themselves Candidats for glory.

This is that heart-moveing object, which presents itself to thy eye & observation this day: this is that deplorable posture, wherein thou mayst perceive most men at the very point of perishing eternally, who are within the pale of the visible Church; some danceing themselves headlong in all hast into the lake of fire and brimstone; some so much concerned in things, which have no connexion with their happiness, as to drop inconcernedly into the pit, out of which there is no redemption; and others dreaming themselvs into endlesse perdition; & all of them unite in a deriding at or despiseing the means used, & essays made, in order to their recovery.

Now while Religion (which is the beautie of the soul, and the basis of mans blessednesse, advanceing him both to a conformity to God, and qualifying him for the fruition of Him) by the generality of those, called to be saints, (that they may be haved) is not onelyonly upon deliberation and choice laid aside, as having nothing in it to recommend and endeare it to the souls of men, but hated, floured, fled from and forsaken, as if it came on purpose to marre mens tranquillity, and torment them before the time. While I say it is thus some faithful Servants, who make conscience to carry on His work, who came to destroy the works of the Devil, and went about, while in the world, healing all that were oppressed of him, set themselves to pray, preach and perswad the things concerning the Kingdome of God, yea to write and warne and weep men into a compliance with their own happipinesse; they endeavour solicitously to informe mens minds, that they may reforme their manners, and rescue them with feare, who are runing upon their own ruine, but alas with so little successe, that they doe the work of the Lord with grief, and have much sorrow of those, of whom they ought to have joy; and after all their beseechings, obtestings, requestings and cryings, this is the way, walke yee in it, turne you, turne, oh! why will you dye; have this as the last returne to all their importunities, Nay, there is no hope; speake no more to us of that matter; do not offer to perswade us to relinquish the old road, or disswade us from following our lovers; for when ye have done all, after these we will go; we resolve to abide, what we have been, children of imperswasion.

But if his Servants, in following their work closly, seem to have gained a little ground upon men, and almost perswaded them to be Christians, Satan, to the end he may make all miscarry, and counter worke these workers together with God, and poison poor souls by a perversion of the Gospel, beyond the power of an antidot, hath raised up, instigat, and set on work a race of proud Rationalists (for they are wiser then to classe themselves amongst those poor fools, those base things, those nothings, to whom Christ is made all things, to whom Christ is made wisdome that he may be righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption to them; nay, they must be wise men after the flesh, wise above what is written: a crucified Christ is really unto them foolishnesse and weaknesse, though the power of God and the wisdome of God; they will needs go to work another way; they will needs glory in his presence, and have a heaven of their own hand-wind. (O my soul enter not into their secrets! and, O sweet Jesus, let thy name be to me, the Lord my righteousness, thou hast wone it, weare it; and gather not my soul with such, who make mention of any other righteousness, but of thine onelyonly!) to bring-in another Gospel amongst men, then the Gospel of the grace of God; as they determine to know some other thing then Christ and him crucified; so with the inticeing words of mans wisdom, they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth, setting somewhat else before them then a crucified Christ: And this they do, that they may remove men from those, who call them into the grace of Christ, unto another Gospel: A Christ, it is true, they speake of; but it is not the Christ of God; for all they drive at (O cursed and truely Antichristian designe!) is, that he may profite them nothing, while they model all Religion according to this novel project of their magnified morality? This is that which gives both life and lustre to that image they adore, to the Dagon, after whom they would have the world▪ wonder and Worship.

That there is such a moralizeing or muddizeing (if I may be for once admitted to coine a new word to give these men their due) of Christianity now introduced and comeing in fashion, many of the late pieces in request do evince? Now, that Christianity should moralize men above all things, I both give and grante; for he who is partaker of the divine nature, and hath obtained precious faith, must adde vertue to his faith; But that it should be only conceived and conceited as an elevation of nature to a more cleare light, in the matter of morality, wherein our Lord is onelyonly respected, as an heavenly teacher, and perfect paterne proposed for imitation, is but a proud pleasing fansie of self conceited, darkened and deluded dreamers, robing God of the glory of his mercy and goodnesse; our Lord Jesus Christ of the glory of his grace and merit; The Spirit of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations; and themselves and their pilgrimes, who give them the hand as guids, of the comfort and frute of all.

This is the pilgrimage, we are perswaded to undertake to the holy Land; this is that reasonablenesse of Christianitie, which with great swelling words of vanitie is ventilat, to the allureing and ensnareing of such, who had almost escaped the corruption, which is in the world through lust, and the pollutions of the flesh through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; This is the way which they, who undertake to publish to the world the true causes of the decay of pietie, take to revive and introduce that pietie, which they complain is wanting: O impious invention, not only encroaching upon the unsearchable mysterie of the Gospel; but subversive of the whole method, and blessed and beautiful contrivance of salvation, and rendering salvation impossible to the greatest proficients in this studie; and the grand patrons and practitioners in this new art, the greatest opposers of that grace of God, which b…ingeth salvation unto all men. It is true, they will not plainly plead for profanitie, Nay, they may and do make a great noise about the practise of pietie, as if they were the only patrons thereof; that with lesse observation and greater facility, they may beguile themselves and their followers of the reward: they may possibly perswade even to a pinching of the body, that they may puffe up, and pamper their fleshly minde; and while they overdrive men to the practise of will - worship, and performance of those things, which have a shew of wisdome, it is that they may withdraw them from holding that blessed head, from which all the body by joints & bands, having nourishment ministred, and knit together, encreaseth with the encrease of God; yet the grace of God, that onelyonly liveing principle of all true pietie, which they dispute out of the souls of men, that they may debauch them into a contempt of the Spirits working in men to will and to do, takes frequent vengance on this their invention, by leaving them not onelyonly to play the Devil in disguise, that they may be known by their fruits; but also to lay aside that garbe of external godlinesse, (for the Devil nor his Domesticks cannot long weare a strait doublet) that it may appeare, how it is verified in them, from him that hath not shall be taken away even that he hath; which is so plain, that to many of these pleaders for this new way, and their pros…lyts, in the righteous judgement of God, it happeneth according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his owne vomit againe, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

It cannot escape thy observation, how busie Satan is this day, upon the one hand, to keep men, under the call of the Gospel to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure, idle all the day; so that no perswasion can enduce them to engage seriously to fall about a working out their own salvation in feare and trembling; and on the other, equally diligent and industrious to divert men from trusting in the name of the Lord, and staying upon their God; seting them on work to go and gather fewel, and kindle a fire, and compasse themselves about with sparks, that they may walk in the light of their own fire, and in the sparks that they have kindled; knowing well that they shall this way most certainly lose their toil and travel, and have no other reward at his hand of all their labour, but to ly down in everlasting sorrow, while the stout hearted and far from righteousnesse, and salvation, shall get their soul for a prey, and be made to rejoyce in his salvation, and blesse him who hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

It is fit therefore, in order to thy own establishment in the present truth, and that thou mayest so work, that thy labour be not in vaine, but God may accept thy works, often to think, and seriously to consider in thy own soul, what that Gospel holinesse is, and what these men substitute in the place of it, that thou may choice the perfect and pleasant way of Gospel holinesse, and exercise thy self to that godlinesse, which is profitable for all things, haveing the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

I am neither the fit person for so great an undertaking, nor do these limits, within which I must bound my self, permit me to expatiat, in many notions about the nature of this excellent and precious thing, true Gospel holinesse: Oh if, in the entry, I could on my own behalfe and others, sob out my Alas, from the bottome of my soul, because, be what it will, it is some other thing then men take it to be: few habituat themselves to a thinking upon it, in its high nature, and soul enriching advantages, till their hearts receive suteable impressions of it, and their lives be the very transumpt of the law of God written in their heart; the thing (Alas!) is lost in a noise of words, and heap of notions about it, neither is it a wonder that men fal into mistakes about it, since it is onelyonly the heart possessed of it that is capable to understand & perceive its true excellency: But if it be asked, what it is? we say, it may be shortly taken up, as the elevation and raising up of a poor mortal unto a conformity with God; As a participation of the divine nature; or as the very image of God stamped on the soul, impressed on the thoughts & affections, and expressed in the life and conversation; so that the man, in whom Christ is formed, and in whom he dwells, lives and walks, hath, while upon the earth, a conversation in heaven; not only in opposition to those many, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who minde earthly things; but also to these pretenders unto & personaters of religion, who have confidence in the flesh, & Worship God with their own Spirit (which in the matters of God is flesh, and not Spirit) and have somewhat else to rejoyce in, then in Christ Jesus, and a being found in him not having their own righteousnesse.

True Gospel holinesse then consists in some similitude and likenesse to God, and fellowship with him, founded upon that likenesse: there is such an impression of God, his glorious attributes, his infinit Power, Majesty, Mercy, Justice, Wisdom, Holinesse, and Grace, &c. As sets him up all alone in the soul without any competition, and produceth those real apprehensions of him▪ that he is alone excellent and matchlesse. O how preferable doth he appeare, when indeed seen, to all things? And how doth this light of his infinit gloriousnesse, shineing into the soul, darken & abscure to an invisiblenesse all other excellencies, even as the riseing of the sun makes all the lesser lights to disappear. Alas! how is God unknown in his glorious being and attribute? When once the Lord enters the soul, and shines into the heart, it is like the riseing of the sun at midnight: all these things, which formerly pretended to some lovelinesse, and did dazil with their lustre, are eternally darkened: now all natural perfections and moral vertues, in their flowr and perfections are at best looked upon as aliquid nihil: what things were formerly accounted gaine and godlinesse, are now counted losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord; and the soul cannot onelyonly suffer the losse of them all without a sob, but be satisfied to throw them away as dung, that it may win him, and be found in him. Now the wonder of a Deity, in his greatnesse, power and grace, swallowes up the soul in sweet admiration: O how doth it love to lose it self in finding here what it cannot fathome? And then it begins truely to see the greatnesse and evil of sin; then it is looked upon without the covering of pleasure or profit, and loathed as the leprosy of hell. Now the man is truely like God in the knowledge of good and evil, in the knowledge of that one infinit good, God; & to the knowledge of that one almost infinit evil, sin. This is the first point of likenesse to him, to be conformed to him in our understanding, that as he knowes himself to be the onelyonly self being and fountain good, and all created things in their flour and perfection, with all their real or fancied conveniencies being compared with him, but as the drop of a bucket, the small dust of the ballance, or nothing, yea lesse then nothing, vanity; (which is nothing blown up, by the force or forgery of a vainly working imagination, to the consistence of an appearance) so for a soul to know indeed and beleeve in the heart, that there is nothing deserves the name of good besides God, to have the same superlative and transc…dent thoughts of that great and glorious self being God, and the same diminishing and debaseing thought …o all things & beings besides him. And that as the Lord seeth no evil in the creation but sin, and hates that with a perfect hatred, as contrary to his holy will; so for a soul to aggravat sin in its own sight to an infinitnesse of evil, at least till it see it onelyonly short of infinitnesse in this respect, that it can be swallowed up of infinit mercy. But whence hath the soul all this light? It owes all this and owns it self as debtor for it to him, who opens the eyes of the blind: it is he who commands the light to shine out of darkenesse, who hath made these blessed discoveries, and hath given the poor benighted soul, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Iesus Christ: These irradiations are from the Spirits illumination: it is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that hath made day light in the darkened soul: the man who had the heart of a beast, as to any saveing or solid knowledge of God or himself, hath now got an understanding to know him that is true: now is Christ become the poor mans wisdome, he is now renewed in knowledge after the image of him that oreated him: he might well bable of spiritual things, but till now he understood nothing of the beauty & excellency of God and his wayes: Nay, he knew not what he knew, he was ignorant as a beast of the life and lustre of those things, which he knew in the letter: nothing seemed more despicable to him in the world, then true godlinesse; but now he judgeth otherwise, because he hath the mind of Christ: the things, which in his darkenesse he did undervalue as trifles to be mocked at, he now can onelyonly minde and admire▪ since he became a child of light: now being delivered from that blindnesse and brutishnesse of Spirit, which possesseth the world, (and possessed himself till he was transformed by the renewing of his minde) who esteem basely of spiritual things and set them at nought, he prizeth as alone precious: the world wonders, what pleasure or content can be in the service of God, because they see not by tasteing how good he is: to be pryeing into, and poreing upon invisible things, is to them visible madnesse, but to the enlightened minde, the things that are not seen are onelyonly worth seeing, and while they appeare not to be they onelyonly are; whereas the things that are seen appeare but to be, and are not. Though the surpassing sweetnesse of spiritual things should be spoke of to them, who cannot savour the things of God, in such a manner as the giorious light of them did surround men; yet they can perceive no such thing: all is to them cuningly devised fables: let be spoke what will, they see no forme, no comelinesse, no beau…y in this glorious object, God in Christ reconcileing sinners to himself. Alas the mind is blind…d, the dungeon is within▪ and till Christ open the eyes, aswell as reveal his light, the foul abide… in its blindnefse, and is buryed in midnight darkenesse; but when the Spirit of God opens the mans eyes, and he is translated by an act of omnipotency out of the kingdome of darken…sse into the kingdome of his dear son, which is a kingdom of marvellous light; O! what matchlesse beauty doth he now see in these things, which appeared despicable and …ke rothings to him, till he got the unction, the eye salve, which teacheth all things: now he sees (what none without the Spirit can see) the things, which God hath prepared for them that love him, and are freely given them of God; and these, though seen at a distance, reflect such rayes of beauty into his soul, that he beholds and is ravished, he sees and is swallowed up in wonder.

But then, in the next place, this is not a Spiritlesse inefficacious speculation about these things, to know no evil but sin and separation from God, and no blessednesse but in the fruition of him; it is not such a knowledge of them as doth not principle motion to pursue after them. This, I grant, is part of the image of God, when the sun of righteousnesse, by ariseing upon the man, hath made day light in his soul, and by these divine discoveries hath …aught him to make the true parallel betwixt things that differ, and to put a just value upon them according to their intrinsick worth: But this divine illumination doth not consist in a meer notion of such things in the head, nor doth it subsist in enlightening the mind; but in such an impression of God upon the soul, as transformes and changes the heart into his likenesse by love: knowledge is but one line, one draught or lineament of the souls likenesse to him; that alone doth not make up the image; but knowledge rooted in the heart, and engraven on the soul, shineing & shewing it self forth in a gospel adorneing conversation, that makes a comely proportion; when the same hand that touched the eye, and turned the man from darkenesse to light, and give an heart to know him, that he is the Lord, doth also circumcise the mans heart, to love the Lord his God, with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his minde▪ and this love manifesting its livelinesse, in its constraining power to live to him and for him: light without heat is but wild fire; but light in the mind begetting heat in the heart, making it burne Godward, Christward, and Heavenward, light in the understanding setting on fire and enflameing the affections, and these shining out in a heavenly conversation, makes up the lively image of God, both in feature & stature, both in proportion and colour: faith begins this image and drawes the lineaments; and love bringing forth obedience finishes, and gives it the lively lustre: the burneings of love in obedience to God is that which illuminats the whole, and maks a man look indeed like him, to whose image he is predestinat to be conforme, and then maks him, who is ravished with the charmes of that beauty, say, as in a manner overcome thereby, how fair is thy love, my Sister, my spouse? How much better is thy love, then wine, and the smell of thine ointments then all spices? But consider, that as these beames, which irradiat the soul, are from the Spirit of Christ, so that spiritual heat and warmth come out of the same airth, and proceed from the same Author▪ for our fire burnes as he blowes, our lampe shines as he snuffes and furnisheth oile: men therefore would not indulge themselves in this delusion, to think that, that which will passe for pure Religion and undefiled before God, consists either in an outward blamelesse conversation, or in putting on and weareing an external garbe of profession: no, as the top of it reacheth higher, so the root of it lies deep…r; it is rooted in the heart, this seed being sowen in an honest heart (or makeing the heart honest, in which it is sowen) takes root downe ward, and brings forth fruit upward; as trees that g…ow as far under ground as above, so these trees of righteousnesse, the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified, grow as far and as fast under ground, as above; godlinesse growes as far downward in self emptying, self denyal and self abaseing, in hungring and thirsting after more of righteousness, in the secrete engagements of the heart to God in Christ, in these burstings of heart and bleedings of soul (to which God alone is witnesse) because of shortcomeing in holinesse, because of a body of death within, and because of that law in the members warring against the law of the mind, and bringing often into captivity to the law of sin; as it growes upward in a profession: and this is that pure Religion and undefiled before God, which is both most pleasant to him, and profitable to the soul.

But to make the difference betwixt dead morality, in its best dress, and true godlinesse, more cleare and obvious (that the loveliness of the one may engage men into a loathing of the other, this dead ca…ion and stinking carca…e of rotten morality, which still stinks in the nostrills of God, even when embalmed with the most costly ointments of its miserably misled patrons) we say, that true godlinesse, which in quality and kinde differs from this much pleaded for and applauded morality (a blake heathen by a …el kinde of Christians baptized of late with the nam… of Christianity, and brought into the temple of the Lord, concerning which he hath commanded hat it should never, in that shape, and for that end it is introduced, enter into his congregation; and the bringers for their pains are like to seclude themselves for ever from his presence) It respects Jesus Christ. 1. As its Principle. 2. As its Paterne. 3. As its Altar, and. 4. As its end.

First, I say, true holinesse, in its being and operation, respects Jesus Christ as its principle: I live, (said that shineing saint) yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: as that which gives religion its first being, is the religation of the soul to God; so that which gives it motion, and drawes forth that life into action, is the same God's working all their works in them and for them, so that in all they do, they are workers together with God; every act of holinesse is an act of the soul made alive unto God through Jesus Christ, and quickened to each action by the supervenience of new life and influence: therefore, says Christ, without me you can do nothing: it is not, being out of me you can do nothing (for he spoke it to those who were in him) but if ye leave me out in doing, all ye do will be nothing: Its Jesus Christ who gives life and leggs, so that our runings are according to his drawings: my soul followeth hard after thee (said that holy man;) but whence is all this life and vigour? Thy right hand upholdeth me. O it is the upholdings and helpings of this right hand, enlargeing the mans heart, that makes a runing in the way of his command…ents; it is he who, while the saints workeout the work of their own salvation, work…th in them …th to will and to do: It is he, who giveth power to the faint, and who to them that have no might encreaseth st…ength; so that the poor lifelesse, languishing ly by is made to mount-up with Eagles wings, and su…mount all these difficulties, with a holy facility, which were simply insuperable, and pure impossibilities: now the man runs and doth not weary, because Christ drawes; and he walks and doth not faint, because Christ, in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God-head bodily, dwels in him, and walks in him, and dwels in him for that very end, that he may have a compleatnesse and competency of strength for duety: all grace is made to abound unto him, that he alwayes having all sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work: he is able of himself to do nothing, no not to think any thing as he ought, but he hath a sufficiency of God, whereby he is thorowly furnished unto every good work; so that he may say, I am able for all things, it is more then I am able to do all things (as we read it) its just import is. I am able to do all things, and to endure all things; and that which keeps it from vain boasting is what is ad led, through Christ which strengtheneth me, or putting power in me, or rather impowering me, which is by a supervenient act drawing forth life into a livelinesse of excercise, according to the present exigent. There is a power in a saint, because Christ is in him, that over powers all the powers of darknesse with out, and all the power of indwelling corruption within, so that when the poor weak creature is ready to despond, within sight of his duty, and say because of difficulty, what is my strength that I should hope? Christ saith, despond not, my grace is sufficient forthee, and my power shall rest upon thee, to a reviveing thee, and raising thee up, and putting thee in case to say, when I am weake then am I strong; his strength, who impowers me, is made perfect in my weakenesse, so that I will glory in my infirmities, and be glade in being graces debtor. But what power is that, which raiseth the dead finner, and carries the soul in its actings so far without the line, and above the sphere of all natural activity, when stretched to its utmost? O it is an exceading great power, which is to them ward who beleive, that must make all things, how difficult so ever, easie, when he works in them to will and to do, according to the working of his mighty power (or as it is upon the margent, & more emphatick, of the might of his power) which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand, &c. he that raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead, raiseth up beleevers also by Jesus, and being raised and revived by him, to walk in new nesse of life: the life of Jesus, in its communications of strength, is manifest in their mortal flesh, according to that of the same Apostle, the life that I live in the flesh (sais he) I live by the faith of the Son of God: faith brings in Christ in my soul, and Christ being my life carries out my soul, in all the acts of obedience, wherein▪ though I be the formal agent, yet the efficiency and the power, by which I operat, is from him; so that I can give no better account of it, then this, I not I. But who then, if not you? The grace of God, sais he, which was with me. But this mystery to our bold, because blind, moralists, of an indwelling Christ, working mightily in the soul, is plain madnesse and melancholy; however we understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ, who said, the life I live in the flesh, &c. and from what we understand of his knowledge in that mystery, which he had by revelation, we understand, our moralists to be men of corrupt minds, who concerning the faith have made shipwrack; but what is that, the life I live in the flesh, &c? The …port of it seems to be this, if not more, while I have in me a soul animating my body, as the principle of all my vital and natural actions, I have Jesus Christ animating my soul, and by the impulse and communicat vertue and strength of an indwelling Christ, I am made to run the wayes of his commandements, wherein I take so great delight, that I am found of no duty as of my enemy.

Secondly, This gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its patern. It proposeth no lower patern for imitation, then to be conforme to his image; he that is begotten againe unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Christ from the dead, girds up the loins of his minde (wh…ch are the affections of his soul, lest by falling flat upon the earth he be hindered in runing the race set before him, as looking to the foreruner his patern) in this girdle of hope, that he may be holy in all manner of conversation, keeping his eye upon the precept and paterne, that his practice may be conforme. It is written, saith he, Be ye holy for I am holy, the hope of seeing God, and being ever with him imposeth a necessity upon him who hath it, to look no lower, then at him, who is glorious in holinesse; and therefore he is said to purify himself, even as he is pure; and knowing that this is the end of their being quickened together with Christ, that they may walk even as he walked; they, in their working and walking, aime at no lesse then to be like him; and therefore never sit down upon any attained measure, as if they were already perfect: the spotlesse purity of God expressed in his laws, is that whereto they study assimilation; therefore they are still in motion towards this mark, and are changed from one degree of glorious grace into another, into the same image, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, who never gives over his putting them to cleanse from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the Spirit, till that be true in the truest sense, thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee. And knowing that perfect fruition of him cannot be without perfect conformity to him, herein do they exercise themselves, to grow in grace, and to be still advanceing towards some more likenesse to his image, forgetting all their attainments, as things that are behind, and by their reachings forth unto that which is before, make it evident, that they make every begun degree of grace and conformity to God, a prevenient capacity for a new degree, which yet they have not attained. I know, our maralists look upon themselves as matchlesse, in talkeing of following his steps, as he hath left us an example: in this they make a flourish with flanting effrontry, but for all their boasting of wisdom, such a poor simple man as I, am made to wonder at their folly, who proposeing, as they say, the purity of Christ for their paterne, are not even thence convinced, that in order to a conformity thereto, there is a simple & absolute necessity of the mighty operations of that Spirit of God, whereby this end can be reached; but while they flout at the Spirits working, as a melancholy fancy, whereby the soul is garnished with the beauty of holinesse, and made an habitation for God, I doubt not to say of these great sayers, that they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirme: nay doth not their talking of the one, not only without seeing the necessity of the other, but speaking against it, say in the heart of every one, (who hath not the heart of a beast) that they have never yet got a sight of the holinesse of that paterne, nor of their own pollutions and impotency; for if they had, they would give themselves up to Jesus Christ to be washed by him, without which they can have no part with him. O there will be a …ast difference, at the latter day, betwixt them who have given their blake souls to Jesus Christ to bletch, when he shall present them without spot, not onelyonly cloathed with wrought gold, but all glorious within, and these who have never dipped, yea who have despised to dip their defiled souls in any other fountain, save in the impure pudle of their own performances: this will make them loathsome in his sight, and cause his soul abhorre those, whō have done this despite unto the Spirit of grace, as to slight that bl…ssed fountaine, opened for sin & for uncleannesse, let them pretend as high as they will, to look to him, as a paterne, while (because the plague sore i… got up in their eye) they look not to him as a price, no… to the grace of Jesus Christ, as that which can onelyonly principle any acceptable performance of duety, he will plunge them in the ditch, and it Will cost them their souls, for rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, in not making use of him who came by water, as well as by blood.

Thirdly, This gospel holinesse respects Christ as the Altar. It is in him and for him that his soul is well pleased with our performance, this is the Altar, upon which thou must lay thy gift, & leave it, without which thy labour is lost, and whatsoever thou dost is loathed, as a corrupt thing. As beleevers draw all their strength from him, so they expect acceptation onelyonly through him, and for him: they do not look for it, but in the beloved: they dare not draw near to God in duty, but by him: this is the new and liveing way, which is consecrat for them: and if such, who offer to come to God, do no enter in hereat, in stead of being admitted to a familiar converse with God, they shall finde him a consumeing fire: when the saints have greatest liberty in prayer (and so of all other performances, when their hearts are most lifted up in the wayes of the Lord) they abhorre at thinking their prayer can any otherwise be set forth before him as incense, or the lifting up of their hands as the evening sacrifice, but as presented by the great intercessor and perfumed by the merit of his oblation. If they could weep out the marrow of their bones, and the moisture of their body in mourning over sin; yet they durst not think of having what comes from so impure a spring▪ and runs thorow so polluted a channel, presented to God but by Jesus Christ, in order to acceptation; for as they look to the exalted Saviour, to get their repentance from him, so when by the pourings out upon them the Spirit of grace and supplication, he hath made them pour out their hearts before him, and hath melted them into true tendernesse, so that their mourning is a great mourning, they carry backe these teares to be washen and bathed in his blood, as knowing without this of how little worth and value with God their salt water is; but when they are thus washed, he puts them in his bottle, and then pours them out again to them in the wine of strong consolation: thus are they made glade in his house of prayer, and their sighes and groans come up with acceptance upon his Altar. O blessed Altar, that sanctifies the gold! This is that Altar, whereto the mocking moralist hath no right. It is by him, that the poor beleever offers up his sacrifice to God continually; what ever he doth, in word o… deed, he desires to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus: as he knowes, He lives to make intercession, and to appeare in the presence of God for his poor people, both to procure influences for duety, and plead for acceptation; so he depends upon him for both, as knowing he can never otherwise heare, or have it said unto him, well done, good and faithful servant. It may be he can do little, he hath but a mite to offer; but he puts it in the mediators hand to be presented to God: he hath not gold, nor silver, nor purple to bring, he can do no great things, he hath but goats hair or rams skins, but he gives them the right tincture, he makes them red in the blood of Christ, and so they are a beautiful incarnat.

Lastly, This Gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its last end: as it hath its being from him, so it is all directed toward the praise of his grace; while the beleeving soul in whom Christ dwells designes no l…sse, and aims at no lower mark, then assimilition to God, and f…uition of him, while he is endeavouring, alwayes and in all things, to be unlike himself and what he was, that he may be like God; it is not to be like him on that wicked and wretched designe, which man had at first in his eye, whereby he lost his God, and unmade a man▪ but it is that thereby he may be in better case to glor…fy him, and that God may be the more endeared to his own soul, because of what he hath done for him, and commended and mad… precious to the souls of others, while they take notice of what a change grace hath not onelyonly made in his most eminent appearances for God: he contracts himself into a disappearance, that God may appeare and be seen, in the shin…ing glory of his grace bestowed upon him: for the godly man of all men is …he most humble▪ this is the garbe he cloaths himself with, if his face shine in his accesses to God, that pride may be h…d f…om his eyes, he wots not of it; the very thoughts of …obing God of his glory, and clothing himself with th… spoils of his honour▪ are terrible to him, and looked upon as that wherein th… soul resembls Satan most manifestly; and therefore that great practitioner, who ou… stript all others in doing and suff…ring for God, dare not stand up to intercept the glory due to his Master, but ascribes all to him, with a neverthe lesse, neverthelesse not I, but the grace of God which was with me: what hast thou, which thou hast not received, prevents his boasting, and imposeth the necessity of blessing the donor: the marke he aims at in his exerciseing himself to godlinesse, is mainly this, that men seeing his goods works may glorify his Father which is in heaven. As he knowes, he acts not in his own strength, but in his, who counts him worthy of the high calling, and fulfils all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in him, and the work of faith with power; so he considers for what all this is, it is that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us, and we in him, according to the grace of our God & the Lord Jesus Christ: and he hath a sweet complacency in complying with this God-exalting and grace-magnifiing designe: when grace hath set a crown upon his head, and made him a king (for the meanest beleever is truely a more illustrious Prince, then the greatest Potentat of the earth, not onelyonly because under his rags lyes hide a title to a crown, and his expectation is to sit with Christ upon his throne; but because he is already crowned with loving kindenesse and tender mercies, and doth, while on the earth, sit together with Christ in heavenly places; Christ is possessed of glory in his stead, as his representee and head, and a man is all crowned and acknowledged as king, when his head is crowned) he knowes he is made a preist al…o, to sacrifice it to the giver; and therefore he casts downe his crown before the throne with this, thou art worthy to receive glory and honour, &c. and he esteems the priviledge of doing so…, as great as the prerogative of haveing it set on: when he works hardest to adorne himself with the beauty of holinesse, it is not so much that his beauty may appeare perfect, as that that grace, to which he is a debtor for all his comelinesse, may shine in its lustre; and his vertues, who hath called him to glory and vertue, may be shewed forth: he designes not, in his diligence in duty, to be taken notice of as a singular saint, but his great and shineing singularity, which he doth most ambitionat, lyes in this, that Christ, in the communications of his grace, and efficacy of his influence, may be admired in him, as in all that beleeve. In a word, as all he hath is of him and from him, so all he does or designs is for him and to him; it is Christ to him to live, in whom Christ lives: now this is the very nature of pure religion and undefiled, and that which compleats the image of God, and puts it beyond all debat, that his soul hath received the stamp and impression of the royal seal on it, and that his heart is the epistle of Christ, written not with inck and pen, but with the Spirit of the liveing God, when his glory and the exaltation of the manifold grace, and manifold wisdom of God, in the contriveance of salvation, is upmost in his thinkings, desireings, Projectings and endeavourings, and hath the first place in the roll of his wishings; while other men seek their own things, it is his own, his onelyonly own, his one, his all, to seek the things of Christ, that blessed seeker, who came to seek him and save him; and being found of him, he endeavours to carry as one no more his owne; the glorifieing of him in his body and Spirit, which are his, because bought by him, is his begun heaven; and the greatest errand he hath in heaven, is to get a more cleare sight of that blessed object of all admiration and adoration, and to be in better case to cry him up for ever.

Now this is but a short and general Character, drawn by an unskilful hand, of that holinesse, which will abide the test, and be found true, when tried by the touch stone of the word.

But let us, on the other hand, take a short view of what our moralists substitute in its place, as (in their account) both more beautiful to the eye, and more beneficial to the souls of men; wherein I intend to be breife. I might compend the account to be given shortly, and give it most exactly, yet trueln, in these few words. As the most undoubted deviation from, and perfect opposition unto the whole contriveance of salvation, and the conveyance of it unto the souls of men, as revealed in this gospel, which brings life and immortality to light, that fighters against the grace of God in its value and vertue can forge, stretching their blind reason to the overthrow of true religion, and ruine of the souls of men: for to this height these Masters of reason have in their blind rage risen up against the Lord and against his Anointed; this is the dreadful period of that path, wherein we are perswaded to walk, yea Hectored, if we would not forfeit the repute of men by these grand Sophies, who arrogat to themselves the name and thing of knowledge, as if wisdome were to dy with them. The deep mysteries of salvation, which Angels desire to look into, and onelyonly satisfy themselves with admiration at, must appeare as respondents at their bar, and if they decline the judge and court, as incompetent, they flee out and flout at subjecting this blinde mole, mans reason, to the revelation of faith in a mystery. The manifold wisdome of God and the manifold grace of God, must either condescend to their unfoldings, and be content to speak in their dialect, or else these wits, these Athenian dictators will give the deep things of God, because beyond their diveings, the same entertainment, which that great gospel preacher, Paul, met with from men of the same mould, kidney and complexion, because he preached unto them Jesus, what would this babler say, said they; The Spirit of wisdom and revelation they know not, they have not, they acknowledge not; nay they despise him in his saveing, and soul - ascertaining illuminations; and the workings of that mighty power to them ward who beleeve, is to the men of this new mould (because they have not found it) an insufferable fansy, to be exploded with a disdain and indignation, which discovers what Spirit acts them in this opposition.

But what do they say, that will found this charge, and free us from casting iniquity upon them? They are of age and can speake for themselves: when they have vomit out their gall against the imputed righteousnesse of Christ, and the new birth, and that holinesse, which is imparted to the real members of Christ, with a scoffeing petulancy, they then make a great noise of holinesse, as who but t…ey; the thing they plead for and perswade unto▪ is a kinde of holinesse educed out of natural abilities, wherein Christ, the Spirit and the Gospel of the grace of God, is permitted no greater interest, nor allowed a more effectual adjuvancy, then to concurre by way of precept, motive and example? Thi… is now that admired and applauded Diana, morality. It is true, they will sometime chirt thorow their teeth (for what ever Christ, the Spirit and Gospel gets of our Moralists, it is against the hair, and they are hard put to it, ere they give it) a tepid acknowledgement, that the gospel doth afford men some special help, and is of singular use and advantage, in shewing the way and rule with greater clearnesse, and guiding and directing how to walk in it with a plain perspicuity, and exciting by noble examples▪ and some do also adde some faint and frigid motions of the holy ghost, in the dispensation of this truth, put forth to make men more foreward; but all this salvo jure of the great Diana: so much and no more is yeelded to the gospel, then to shew men with clearnesse, how they may exert and put forth their proper and innat power, it affords them some special help in holding the candle, or rather snufing it, that so they may with more promptitud see how to operat, and by the motives it adduceth, and examples it brings, have a special provocation to the exercise of these vertues commanded: the gospel, with all it brings and doth, does no more but hold the candle, till these artists weave their web, shape and shew their garment, and then let them see how to put it on▪ and being put on perswade them to weare it, as the highest beauty and chief ornament of the soul: this is all the provision they lay up for eternity, and in this dresse and garb of guilded morality, they mind to addresse themselves to God, and appeare before his tribunal with confidence of acceptation: they will beare their own charges to heaven, and carry a summe with them to purchase the possession of the saints in light, with a little abatement, which a mercy of their own moulding (for God mercy it is not) must make; and thus they make all sure.

But what is all this noise, that these vain talkers make about holinesse; they heap up words (which weep to be so abused) about vertue, love to God, mortification, &c. But they have really taken away our Lord Jesus Christ, and will not tell us where they have laid him, for feare we should go seek him, and foresake them. What are these rotten and loathsome raggs, where with they would cloath us, that the shame of our nakednesse may not appeare, to that holinesse, whereto we are predestinat before the foundation of the world, and whereto (in order to the obtaining of that salvation, even the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, to which we are chosen) we are created againe in Christ Jesus, and made meet to be possessed of by sanctification of the Spirit, and beleife of the truth? What is all this tattle of theirs to the new birth, the saveing work of regeneration (without which a man cannot enter into the kingdome of God) the new creature, the new heart, haveing the law written in it, the Spirit which he puts within us, causeing us to walk in his wayes; that noble principle of spiritual life, whereby we are quickened, raised from the dead, made alive unto God through Christ Jesus, disposed, enclined and enabled to live to God, and walk before him to all pleasing? Nay, according to the imposeings of these new dogmatists (beware of dogs, says the Apostle of the same size and sort of men) in stead of that principle implanted, and that power produced in us by the effectual operation of the H. G. working in us mightily, according to the workings of that mighty power, which was wrought in Christ, when raised from the dead; we must be content with some what, which was liveing, though lazie and dormant, in the natural powers of our own soul, now awakened out of its sopor, and educed into act by the meer application of external means: in a word, in stead of all that, which is purchased and procured unto us by the death of Jesus Christ, wrought in us by his Spirit (who takes of his, and shews it unto us) whereby our conformity to Jesus Christ is begun and carried on, we must be content with this morality (good Lord prevent such madnesse!) whose Principle is natural reason; whose Rule is the law of nature, as explained in the scriptures; whose use and end is acceptation with God, and justification before him; which is pure (impure) Pelagianisme, propagat now in Brittan, where it had its unhallowed birth; a tremenduous signification of the high displeasure of God against these huffeing arrogants of this age, who, because they have not received the truth in love, are left to soul-murthering delusions, and for their dispiseing the unsearchable riches of Christ, held forth in the gospel, are left, in stead of embraceing Christ Jesus into their soul as altogither lovely, whom God hath made unto us wisdom, righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption; to embrace in their bosome, and hug between their brests this hell-borne, and (after all the cost they have bestowed upon it, wherein they are at the expence of their precious soul, if repentance prevent it not) hell-blake brate, morality, in opposition to that gospel holinesse, wherein conformity to God consists.

It concernes thee, Christian Reader, whoso▪ ever thou art, carefully to observe, that the great designe▪ the Devil this day drives in the world, i… how to introduce a Religion, amongst these called Christians, which for the soul and substance of it is an Antichristian masse and medly, substitute and obtruded, in place of the marrow of the gospel, & mysteries of salvation: And though Christ be named amongst these perverters of the gospel; yet he is really exautorat and robbed of his offices; and while false ends are assigned, the great end of his comeing in the world is denied, and the blessed intendment and designe of the gospel of the grace of God is defeat. Now because Satan finds no mids so propper for his purpose, nor mean so certain to accomplish his end, as to corrupt the minds of men with perverse principles (for they are more then halfe way to hell, when their principles state them in an opposition to thē Prince of life) he perverts them into a nauseating of the plain path way of salvation by a slain Saviour (for the preaching of the crosse, what ever they pretend, is really to them foolishnesse) and seduceth them into a satisfaction with, and pleading for this pagan piety, as preferable to pure Religion and undefiled before God: And then under this maske of morality, and disguise of vertue, doth Abaddon muster all his several legions, and mannage his opposition against the Mediator, in the comeing of his kingdome in the world, and conquering the souls of men. It is true, there may be some small differences betwixt his forces when gathered in the field, in their manner or method, and marke; some attacqueing the gospel in the very substance of it, with a flouting and fierce insolency, others with a subtile and snarkeing fullenness; but all of them concenter in the designe, and bewray such a keenness and diligence in driveing it, as showes both under whose banner they fight, and how true they are to their collours and Captain: herein Papists, Pelagians, Socinians, Arminians, and (the compound of all abominations) Quakers are unite. And r…uely if I might be heard, I would beseech also our pepper corne men to consider, how far the Adversary of mans salvation hath improved their assertions and concessions, and how much advantage the common enemies of the truth have got thereby.

Take notice therefore, I say, Christians, of this, being Satans main designe, and how and by whom it is mannaged, lest yee be seduced into the same conspiracie; for many, who seemed to be of understanding, have fallen; and fallen, because the did not feare to fall: O beware, lest yee also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness; but study to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (for there is none other name given und… heaven, whereby men may be saved) Jesus Christ▪ I know, that every Reader and serious Christian▪ in order to his own establishment, is not able to purchase, nor is at leisure to peruse what Godly men have written for this end, and whose praise, because of their pains, is in the Church of Christ, such as that large discourse of learned and truely religious Doctor Owen, upon the Holy Spirit… wherein that worthy Author, as he hath given▪ proof to the world of Christs being formed in him, and that his working, and walking, and witnessing to the truth▪ proceeds from the same noble principle, Christ dwelling in him, and walking in him; so he hath with a profound perspicuity, and convinceing plainnesse, discovered the nature, pedegree, discent and tendency of this monster; and then, haveing discovered whence it came, and for what end, he hath given it a mortal blow, whereby he hath laid it all alongs, and left it sprawling and gnawing its tongue and gnashing its teeth: for which learned, elaborat and judicious discourse, as all the lovers of that truth, which is according to godlinesse, are obliged to blesse the Lord; so are they under the obligation of thankfulnesse to him; and by this I returne him my poor insignificant thanks, And I have the allowance of the Author, to do the same in his name.

But I would recommend to you, who can neither purchase nor peruse what is more voluminous (how worthy soever) the serious perusal, as of the whole of that savoury & grace-breathing peece. The fulfilling of the Scriptures; so therein that short but sweet digression, against blake-mouthed Parker, wherein the gracious Author takes out his own soul, and sets before thine eye, the image of God impressed thereon; for while he deals with that Desperado by clear and convinceing reason, flowing natively from the pure fountain of divine revelation, he hath the advantage of most men, and writers too, in silencing that blasphemer of the good wayes of God. with arguments taken from what he hath found acted upon his own soul. And likewise I would recommend, as a soveraigne antidot against this poison, the diligent peruseing, and pondering of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the same unhallowed Author, (in the preface to that piece of great Mr. Durham, upon the Commands) by a disciple, who, besids his natural acuteness and subactness of judgement in the deepth of gospel mysteries, is known by all who know him (and for my self, I know none now alive his equal) to have most frequent accesse to lean his head on his Masters bosome, and so in best case to tell his fellow disciples and brethren, what is breathed into his own soul, while he lives in these embraces, and under the shedings abroad of that love of God in his soul, which drew, and did dictat these lines▪ against that flouter at all such fruitions. Nor can I here omit to observe, how when the devil raised up Parker, that Monster, to barke and blaspheme, the Lord raised up a Merveil to fight him at his own weapon▪ who did so cudgel and quell that boasting Bravo▪ as I know not if he be dead of his wound, but for any thing I know, he hath laid his speech.

But to close this short account of that new gospel, that other gospel introduced and obtruded upon us, with a foameing flourish of words; and to say it before thee, in its pure and perfect opposition to the gospel of the grace of God, take a short compend of it, in the words of one of its great patrons, they are set down in that new piece, called Claustrum animae Pag. 114. where the Author haveing cited some scriptures, which do indeed press and perswade to the practice of pure religion and undefiled, lest his morality should suffer loss, and be found reprobat mettal, if tried by such a touchstone, he guards his Reader from falling into such a mistake (a dangerous one it is indeed to his designe, for if thou fall in it thy soul is escaped out of his cloister, he loses his prey, and he will not be able to car…y thee hood-winked to the pit) as if he meant or were pressing that holiness, which for its foundation hath peace with God through Christ Jesus, and for its working principle hath the life of God, whereby the dead is quickened; and for its progress the renewed influences of the Spirit: no, by no means, he cleares himself that he is of a far other minde, and therefore to make his Reader of his minde too, he adds—Here is nothing to countenance these frightful fanatical pangs of the new birth, which proceed from Enthusiasme or Melancholy, nothing to countenance the … applications of a barrowed or rather snatcht away righteousnesse: why not? The change (says he) that our religion requires, the scripture supposeth it in all that have embraced Christianity, Pag. 113. And again to the same purpose Pag, 114. in opposition to the new creature, which he mocks and murthers, the real change in our affections is supposed and recommended (Pelagius redivivus) which is this upon the matter; it is frightful, fanatical melancholy, mad fansy to talk and tell people of being borne againe, of quickening the dead: no, the soul is alive, itis not dead, itis but at worst a little drowsy or a sleep; there needs no more but knock at the door, and the man will rise and run in the way of commanded duties, and acquire more liveliness and agility by a frequent and reiterat eduction of his innare power into act: let objective grace be but given (and to these great wits every stone and brute is a bible, on which they can read, what will regulat them in their walk; so that there is no simple necessity of the scriptures to them, for makeing them wise to salvation: these concurre onelyonly ad bene esse, and are given ex superabundante); there is subjective grace enough; one needs not go without the powers of his own soul, to seek a sufficiency; he can will, and he can do, without a dependence upon any real lifegiving power, or supervenient influence, working in him to will and do: And then, in opposition to that fansieful, borrowed and snatched away righteousnesse (to him an odde and new devised doctrine) do and live is substitute at the close of the Paragraph: and that to him is the onelyonly way, how the offered salvation is obtained.

Now Reader, if thou be not an utter stranger to the work of God upon the souls of his people, the poison dropped from this impure and impious pen, is so hell-blake and bitter, that it needs not my antidot; and it is so palpable and plain a perversion of the gospel, as will vindicat and acquite any thing, which hath been said of these perverters of the right wayes of the Lord, and layers of another foundation, besides Jesus Christ▪ from the imputation of severity. Christ had told us, that the way to heaven is strait and narrow, and few finde it; but out comes one out of the Cloister (I suspect hell is broke loose against us) and having laid aside Christ, who is the door, and the way, and the light, and the life, showes us an easy, plaine and pleasant way to heaven.

Well, before thou follow such a▪ guid, I desire thee to take notice, how well the all of what is contained in this cursed claustrum, doth agree unto, and is a just commentar upon what is prefixed in his frontispeece, wherein he hath Christ drawn upon the crosse, but not satisfied to crucify him in effigie, he, through the whole of his discourse, doth really crucify him againe, and put him to an open shame▪ the sense and soul of every line, as it lies in his book, & is levelled to his designe, is away with him, away with him, he calls him self the Lord our righteousnesse, take away that name from him, we owne him not, we acknowledge him not, as our righteousnesse, we will not beg nor borrow a rob from him, our owne mantle of morality must be to us, in stead of this Mediator: and for the two theevs that must be crucified with him, the one is the new birth, the other is the all of that gospel obedience, performed by vertue of supervenient influences, communicat from that sole spring of spiritual life, Christ dwelling in the soul of the regenerat person: two (in their account) as great theeves as ever run, for they have stole away mistresse morality her plumash, and stript her of her ornaments, so that it is impossible to hide the shame of her nakednesse but in their death, and for this must they be taken and crucified with their Master, that morality, having what these took from her restored, may bewitch the world with her beauty, and ravish them with her charmes. And for his title to his book, The love of Iesus, I▪ judge, considering, how he explaines it in his book, and how true he is to his undertaking, this question is a suteable returne to it, betrayest thou the son of man with a kisse? O he is killing kind, it is not enough that he act Pila…'s part▪ unlesse he act Iudas his part also. But why did he not speake more modestly of the new birth, lest men should remember that it was Jesus his own doctrine? Why? (the man goes not mad without reason) first because in prejudice to morality, and its merite, he had delivered this doctrine with such a severe certification, that there is no seeing the kingdome of God without it. But secondly lest any thing of the solemnity, that attended the crucifieing of Christ, should be wanting, after he hath nailed him upon the crosse, and thrust a speare in his side, falls a mocking, to encrease his pangs; for having taught so frightful, fanatical, enthusiastick and melancholy a doctrine, as the necessity of being in pangs of the new birth, if ever men would be in heaven.

However, I perceive some are now upon a reformation (good newes if true, for the world will beare them witness of its necessity.) But is this it? is this the mode of the Religion to be introduced with such a pomp and parad? Is this the reformation, that the reformed Church must be taken away and thrown down, to make way for the erection of this new monastry? Well, when it is built (which onelyonly mercy can prevent) to give it its due, you see, lesse cannot be writen over the poarch of this aedifice, if according to the paterne, then this; The unclean spirit that was cast out, is returned, and hath taken possession, with seven devils worse then himself.

Now while Satan drags most men with their own consent, thorow the pudle of grosse profanity, & these swine, swallowed up in sensuality▪ run as he drives (being led captive of him at his pleasure) without all dread of being drowned in the lake, where he will land them. And while he besots the soreing witts of the age, into a slighting and setting at naught the glorious Saviour, with that invaluable and precious salvation, which he brings to poor self destroyed sinners; some few there are, whom he will not want, and whom he will not suffer to wander from the refuge and resting place of souls, and whom he will not suffer to rest satisfied while they want him; these he delivers from the imposeings of Satan, and the betrayings of their own deceitful and desperatly wicked heart, by opening their eyes, so that they are made to approve the things, which are more excellent, being taught of God, and are prevailed with, through the efficacious perswasions of that grace, which will take no refus…l from some, to subject their consent unto the gospel▪ But Alas! even many of these, into soul the light hath shined, and who have a liveing principle implanted in them, which will spring up into everlasting life; (and therefore cannot misse of the end of their faith, the salvation▪ of their souls) yet how busy is Satan, and how doth he hang upon their working hand, so that the good which they would that they do not; and in this he hath the concurrence of that law, which is in their members, carrying them impetuously to do what they would not, and captivating them unto that law of sin, which is in their members? How often Alas! are they engaged by the slye suggestions of Satan, and specious solicitations of their own hearts, into things unworthy of their high and holy calling; so that however grace, which prevented them at first, will also rescue them at last; yet by their untender way and walk, as they rob God of the glory of his grace, in not shewing forth his vertue… in all things, they also deprive themselves of the comfort thereof, through their uncircumspect walking, and of that sweet inward serenity of minde, and unspeakable joy, which is to be had in fellowship with him; and in the end must suffer loss, by heaving their works burnt, and they themselves but almost, yea scarcely saved; saved they must be (because on the foundition) yet so as by fire; while the tender Christian, who exerciseth himself to godlinesse, hath a sweet life, his heaven is serene and cleare, his study to purge his heart from corruption and cleanse his hands in innocency, keeps his interest unclouded; his care not to grieve the Spirit in his workings, delivers him from the grief, flowing from the Spirits ceasing to witnesse; he so thinks on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, as to do them, knowing this is the way to have that peace of God, which passeth all understanding, to guard his heart and mind through Christ Jesus: he who hath a conversation in heaven, cannot want a consort of sweet musick in his own soul. O what melody must it make in the soul, how sweet must the chirpings and chimeings of such a bird be singing in the bosome, as the testimony of a mans consesence, that in simplicity and Godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdome, but by the grace of God (O mark how the crown of his gloriation and gladness is put upon grace's head!) he hath his conversation in the world; and then when he hath served his generation thus, according to the will of God, haveing made it his work, as one made partaker of the divine nature, to adde one grace to another, he enters his harbour (O glorious landing, where God is seen, and glory dwels!) with a roome sea, and a porting winde: for says the Holy Ghost, an enterance shall be ministered unto you aboundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and saviour Iesus Christ: whereas the man, whose work it hath not been, so to walk as he might adorne the doctrine of God the saviour, in all things, & hold forth in his way the word of life, dies often in the dark, because he did not walk as become a child of light: & though that God, whose gifts & calling are without repentance, may save him; yet his glory may require it, to withhold from him the testimony of the Spirit, which is by watter, and never, while he is in this world, either let himself or others wit of it, nay not onelyonly so, but he may go off the stage with horrour, and go out of this life under the terrors of God; for, though the Spirit of God being the spirit of truth will never alter the word that is gone out of his mouth; and once having said, thou art a son, and in a gracious state, will never againe say, thon art no son, and thy grace is no grace; but yet, when his conscience awaks upon him, and aggravats his guilt, from what he had formerly been helped to do, and stings him till he roar by reason of the disquietnesse of his heart, and all his evidences for heaven are so blurred, (though not delet) as there is not one legible letter in them, he cannot say, when he is just laying speech, that he hath one toaken for good; and in this mist, the sincerity and reality of the whole may not onelyonly be questioned, but denied. The Spirit, I say, though once haveing wrought the good work, and translated the soul out of a state of bondage into a state of glorious liberty, will never againe deny his owne work; yet may he stand by silent, and say nothing, and see the poor man, whom he will save for all this (as a just punishment for his untendernesse, and that all, who heare or look on, my learne to walk more circumspectly, and take heed of grieving the Spirit, whereby they are sealed) expire under these pangs, throwes, tossings, terrors, affrightments, and soul-distracting feares, wherewith he was filled and overwhelmed, under the first workings of the Spirit of bondage.

But besids these, a little lovely flock there is, a few number, who through grace obtaine mercy to walk, as hateing the garment spotted with the flesh; they make Religion their businesse; it is their one thing, to abstaine from all appeareance of evil; and to excercise themselves to godlinesse: by the circumspection of their walking, it is evident, they are upon their watch, and make it their work, not onelyonly to keep their heart with all keeping, but so to keep themselves in their converseings in the world▪ amidst a croud of snares, and throng of tentations, as that evil one touch them not: they carry as knowing that Satan, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour, way … layes them, and watches to catch all advantages against them; and therefore as not ignorant of his devices, they study sobriety and vigilancy, left through a secure incircumspection they be circumvented, and give him the advantage he seeks; and so beare the marke of his blake hand: yea some of these, at some rare times, do not onelyonly satisfy themselves to carry as defendants, but are helped to such a heroick heavenly and Christ-like resistance, as to make Satan flee from them; and when they, through him who strengtheneth them unto the battal, (and will at last once for all and for eve…, tread Satan under their feet, and make the weakest wrigling, that ever gave up their names to the Captain of salvation, set their feeble feet as more than conquerours upon the neck of the great red dragon, and off his neck, to his everlasting confusion, mount up in their triumphing charriot, and receive the conquerours crown) have acquit themselves, as the good souldiers of Jesus Christ, not onelyonly in warding off the blowes of that soul enemy, but in manageing the sword of the Spirit, and the sheild of faith, so in the conflict, as they make the enemy, who stretched out the hand to strick at them, take in a stump, they then pursue their victory, on purpose to set the crown on the Captains head, through whose strength alone they gained it. But Alas! even amongst this select number, these more serious souls and single servants of God, how few do improve, as they ought and might, that strength and help, which is their allowance▪ and whereby they might be made strong for the labour of Religion? How many, of these few followers after holinesse, do move slowly, and promove little? They cannot give over the study of holinesse, (their heart being engaged to God and his wayes, beyond a retreat) but how heartlesse and handlesse are they at their work? They tugge at duty, and tire themselves in the wayes of God, without any seen successe, or experiencing the sweet of his service; their profiting doth not appeare to all, which, as it is their sin, is also attended with shame and sorrow: yea, they carry so despondently in duty, as if the gospel required brick without furnishing straw, whereas if they took the right way, they might walk without wearying; even the faint, and they who have no might, if they knew, and had learned how to lay their help upon him, who is mighty, where God hath laid it, should finde their strength encreased, to a surmounting of all difficulties, and an experienceing of a sweet facility in the wayes of God, so that in stead of whineing and sobing over their duty, of which they are often found as an enemy, and sinking under a hand … weakening despondency, they might sing in the sweet, pleasant and plain wayes of holinesse, they might make his statutes their songs in the house of their pilgrimage, and be able from their own experience to say it and seal it, that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

Now, that the lesse tender, in whom the root of the matter is, may be perswaded and provoked to a shineing seriousnesse, to the adorning of that doctrine of God, the Saviour, which they profess: And they whose souls are not onelyonly byassed towards the wayes of God, but have some holy habitual bentness heaven - wards, and it is their burden that the whole of their course doth not evidence a conversation in heaven: To the end, I say, that both may not onelyonly be prevailed with, to study more conformity to the Head, whose members they are, and have a conversation such as becometh the gospel indeed; but may through grace acquire a blessed facility▪ in going from strength to strength, and growing strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, this ensuing Treatise is put in thy hand, that thy heart may be lift up, in the waves of the Lord, wherein the Author hath, with a peculiar perspicuity and special plainness, not onelyonly set before thine eye that blessed Sun of righteousness, as shineing in this gospel with a meridian brightness, to the irradiating, with the rayes of his glorious light, the darkened soul; & likewise thou hast him not onelyonly here held forth as that alone liveing fountaine and overflowing spring of all spiritual life and strength. But he hath taught thee and me, how to make use of him, in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God head bodily, in all the several steps of darkenesse or difficulty, which may emerge and occurre, to the fore-slowing us in our course of Christianity, so as we may finde a compleatnesse and competency of strength communicat unto us. That blessed high way, called the way of holinesse, is made so plaine herein, that the way fareing man cannot erre in it, because it shewes how to give the hand to God, as a gu…d to Jesus Christ, that blessed leader, who brings the blind by a way that they know not, and leads them in paths that they have not knowen, who maks darkenesse light before them, and crooked things straight: And the apparently rough and rigid wayes of godliness are discovered to be so easy and sweet, that the lame may leap as an hart, because of life-giveing influence; and the tongue of the dumb or disconsolat Christian may sing, under these gracious supportings, and say, his wayes are indeed ways of pleasantnesses.

It was not the Authors designe in this peece, (levelled onelyonly at this marke, to teach thee how to make use of the strength and grace, that is in Christ Jesus, and finde the promised ease in performance of duties; in handleing of which argument, he hath been remarkably assisted; and thou canst not read with attention, but thou must beare him witness, and bless the Lord on his behalfe, that he hath hit the marke at which he aimed) to engage in a formal debate with these audacious moralists, who would boast and bogle us out of the good old way▪ wherein if men walk they must finde rest to their souls: yet if by the doctrine he hath here explained and pressed, as the onelyonly way of life, they do not finde, what a mortal wound he hath given their morality, all the lovers of the truth will see it; and it may be, the Lord spareing life, and continueing the same gracious and great assistance, he hath had in engageing with many great adversaries to the truth at home & a broad, they may see somewhat from his pen▪ which may make the lovers of our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and of the operations of his Spirit, sing over these successors to Sisera, who with their jumping charriots and rattleing wheels assault the truth, at his feet they bowed, they fell, they lay down at his feet, they bowed, they fell where they bowed, there they fell down dead; so let all the enemies of thy truth perish, O Lord. How to make the whole more useful for thee, for whose advantage its mainly intended I leave to the Author's own direction; onelyonly this I must say, his method and mould, wherein he casts this sweet matter; and his way of handling this so seasonable a subject, it so accommodat to each case, and brought home to the conscience, and down to the capacity of the meanest Christian, which was his aim, that the feeble, in this day, might be as David; that howbeit many worthy men have not onelyonly hinted, but enlarged upon the same matter, yet thou canst not but see some heart-endeareing singularity in his way of improveing and handleing this great gospel truth. Next I must tell thee▪ that as I my self read it with much satisfaction (though Alas! I dar not say, I have by reading reaped the designed advantage so that thou mayest be blushed into a peruseal thereof, and profiting thereby, I must likewise tell thee, I say, it hath been turned into dutch, and that it hath not onelyonly met with great acceptation, amongst all the serious and Godly in these parts, who have seen it; but is much sought after; and they professe themselves singularly thereby edified, and set a going after God, by its efficatious perswasivenesse, with a singing alacrity; and if it have not the same effect upon thee and me, they▪ and it will rise up against us in judgment.

Up therefore, Christians, and be doing: listen to such a teacher, who, lest thou tire in thy race or turne bake, teacheth thee a certaine and sweet way of singular proficiency and progresse in the wayes of God. It may be, it is not thy work▪ nor mine, to writ books against these soul murthering, however magnified, methods of takeing men off Jesus Christ; but our pe…ury of parts for that▪ should (1.) Put us to seek plenty of teares▪ that we may weep, to see our Master so wounded, by the piercing pens of those, who, to patronize their mock religion, wrest the Scriptures, and with wicked hands wring the word of the Lord, till it weep blood: this▪ I say, should provoke thee and me to weep upon Him, till He appeare, and beat the pens of such deceivers out of their hand by a blow of his. (2.) It should provoke us to know the truth, that we may contend earnestly for the faith delivered to the saints, and to have these contradicted truths so impressed in their life upon our souls, that the pen of the most subtile pleader, for this perversion of the gospel, may neither delet th…se, nor be able to stagger us, but we may from the efficacious workings of these, have the witnesse in our selves, and know the men who teach otherwayes not to be of God. (3.) It should be our ambition, when the all of religion is cryed down, and a painted shadow, a putrid (however perfumed) nothing put in its place, to make it appeare by our practise, that Religion is an elevation of the soul above the sphere and activity of dead morality; and that it is no lesse or lower principle that acts us, than Christ dwelling in us, and walking in us: how can the love of God, & of Christ, & of the Spirit be in us, if these perverse pratters against, the power of godlinesse, provoke us not to emit a practical declaration to the world, & extort a Testimony to his grace by our way, from the enemies thereof▪ Improve therefore this his special help to that purpose, which in a most sensonable time is brought to thy hand.

But to sum up all shortly, there are but three things which make religion an heavy burden. First, the blindnesse of the minde; & here thou art taught to make use of that eye-salve, whereby the eyes of the blind see out of obscurity and out of darkenesse he who formerly erred in Spirit, by the light held forth in these lines, may see a surpasseing beauty▪ in the wayes of God. Secondly, That aversion and unwillingnesse, which is in the minde, whereby the sweet & easy yoke of his commands i… spurned at as heavy; in order to the removing thereof; & that thou mayest be among his willing people, here thou hast Christ held forth in his conquering beauty, displaying his banner of love over souls, so that thou canst not look upon him as held forth, but …ith will bow thy neck to take on his yoke, because it sees it is lined with the love of Christ, & then this love, that line the yoke, shed abroad in the heart, will constraine to a bearing of it. O it must be an easy yoke, because itis love, tender love, that imposeth it; and it must be easy & delightful to the bearer, because itis the nature of love to think the greatest difficulties easy, if thereby an evidence of loves reality may be given to the party beloved: now, if Christ thought the greatest burden easy, even that which with its weight wrung these words from him, now is my soul troubled, &c. to perswade souls of the reality and riches of his love to them; Then the soul can think nothing heavy that he imposeth, since he will interpret the bearing of it an evidence of its love to him: none of his commandments can be grievous to the man now, since he hath saide, This is the love of God, that yee keep his commandments. Now there is a readinesse of minde to do all things without disputings & murmurings; as love knowes no lyon in its way, so it is no murmuring disputant; when this question is cleared, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do, then love hath no moe questions; its greatest difficulty is solved. But Thirdly when the Spirit is willing, there remains yet much weaknesse, love kindled in the heart conquers the mind into a compliance with his will, and a complacency in his commands, but its greatest strength is often to weep over a withered hand: now that thy hands which fall down may be made strong for labour, and thou mayest be girded with strength, and have grace for grace, yea all grace, to make thee abound unto every good word and work; The Author leads thee up unto the sull fountaine of all Gospel furniture, and strength; and teacheth thee how to make use of Jesus Christ, as thy sufficiency, for working all thy works in thee and for thee. Take heart therefore unto thee: when thy looking unto du…y may make thee dispair of performance, lift up thine eyes to him, who is here set before thee; look till every new look upward bring light and life inward, and capacitat thee for makeing a new louse foreward, in the power of … might: …he was but a wicked servant who said, I … thou art a hard master: No, it is false. That religion which gives ease must be an easy religion; and truely such … Gospel holinesse, not onelyonly in regaird that it is the liberation of the soul from the basest bondage, but in regaird that he who is thy Master will be served of his own: the allowed supplies for all commanded duties▪ are full measure, heaped, up, shaken together, and runing over. And though he who hath much hath nothing over, yet he … hath little hath no inl…ke, for he abounds towards us in … wisdome. I say therefore againe unto thee, take heart, let not thine hands fall down, essay nothing thou would have well done or easily done, in thine own strength▪ but yet how difficult so ever the duty be, approach it as haveing no confidence in the flesh, but with an eye to thy stoc… that rich store house of all furniture, and it shall be with thee, as it was with the priests, before whom jordan recoiled, so soon as their foot entered within the … ▪ God shall make thy difficulties evanish; and by the … the Spirit of power and might, from Jesus Christ depended upon, shall so strengthen thee, that thy duty is made easy to admiration, and becomes the delight of thy souli … I have exceeded the just limits of an Epistle: pray for the continuance of the life of the Author, who by his assiduous working for Christ, hath been often neir unto death, not reguarding his own life, to supply the lake of other meus service, … the interest & Church of God; & let him be comforted for this piece of travel, undertaken for thy soul's m…erest, by hearing thou dost improve it to thy advantage, for which it is so exactly calculat: And withall I beg thy fervent & earnest intercessions for grace, & more grace, to him who is.

Thy poor, yet souls well wisher and servant for Christ's sake. R. Mc. W.