Sermons on Various Subjects Volume 1, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
The MARKS of the NEW-BIRTH.
ACTS xix. 2.
Have ye received the Holy Ghoſt ſince ye▪ believed?
TWO Conſtructions have been given us of theſe Words; ſome have ſuppoſed, that the Queſtion here put, is, Whether theſe Diſciples, whom St. Paul found at Epheſus, after he had paſſed through the upper …ſts, had received the Holy Ghoſt, by Impo…tion of Hands at Confirmation.—Others think, that theſe Diſciples had been already baptiſed into John's Baptiſm; but that not being attended with an immediate Effuſion of the Holy Spirit, the Apoſtle here asks them, Whether they had received the Holy Ghoſt by being baptiſed into JESUS CHRIST? And upon their anſwering in the Negative, he firſt baptiſed, and then confirmed them in the Name of the Lord JESUS CHRIST.
Which of theſe Interpretations is moſt true, is …her eaſy nor very neceſſary to determine. Ho…er, as the Words contain a moſt important Enquiry, without any Reference to the Context, I ſhall from them draw theſe two general Heads of Diſcourſe.
I. Firſt, I ſhall ſhew who the Holy Ghoſt, here ſpoken of, is; and how we muſt all receive him before we can be ſtiled True Believers.
II. Secondly, I ſhall lay down ſome Scripture Marks, whereby we may know, Whether we have thus received the Holy Ghoſt, or not.
III. Thirdly, By Way of Concluſion, I ſhall addreſs myſelf to ſeveral diſtinct Claſſes of Profeſſors, concerning the Doctrine that ſhall have been delivered.
I. And Firſt, I am to ſhew who the Holy Ghoſt, ſpoken of in the Text is; and how we muſt all receive him ere we can be ſtiled True Believers.
By the Holy Ghoſt here ſpoken of, is ſignified the Holy Spirit,—the third Perſon in the ever bleſſed Trinity,—conſubſtantial and coeternal with the Father and the Son,—proceeding from, yet equal to them both.—He is emphatically called Holy, becauſe infinitely Holy in himſelf, and the Author and Finiſher of all Holineſs in us.
This bleſſed Spirit, who once moved on the Face of the great Deep, who overſhadowed the Bleſſed Virgin before that Holy Thing was born of her, who deſcended in a bodily Shape like a Dove on our Bleſſed LORD, when he came up out of the Water at his Baptiſm; and lighted afterwards in fiery Tongues on the Heads of all his Apoſtles at the Day of Pentecoſt; this is the Holy Ghoſt, who muſt move on the Faces of our Souls; this Power of the Moſt High muſt come upon us, and we muſt be baptiſed with his Baptiſm and refining Fire, before we can be ſtiled True Members of its myſtical Body.
Thus ſays the Apoſtle, Know ye not that Chriſt is in you? that is, by his Spirit, unleſs you are Reprobates? Now if any Man hath not the Spirit of CHRIST, he is none of his.—And again, ſays St. John, We know that we are his by the Spirit that he hath given us.
It is not indeed neceſſary that we ſhould have it now given in that miraculous Manner in which it was at firſt given to our LORD's Apoſtles, by Signs and Wonders.—But it is abſolutely neceſſary that we ſhould receive the Holy Ghoſt in his ſanctifying Graces as really as they did, and ſo will it continue to be till the End of the World.
For thus ſtands the Caſe between GOD and Man.—GOD at firſt made Man upright, or as the ſacred Penman expreſſes it, In the Image of GOD made he Man, that is, his Soul was the very Copy, the Tranſcript of the Divine Nature.—He that before had by his Almighty F…at ſpoke the World into Being, breathed into Man the Breath of ſpiritual Life, and his Soul became adorned with all the Perfections of the Deity.—This was the finiſhing Stroke of the Creation: The Perfection both of the moral and material World,—and ſo near reſembled its Divine Original, that GOD could not but rejoyce, and take Pleaſure in his own Likeneſs—And therefore we read, that when GOD had finiſhed th… inaanimate and brutiſh Part of the Creation, he looked upon it, and behold it was Good; but when that lovely Godlike Creature, Man, was made, behold it was very Good.
Happy then, unſpeakably happy muſt Man needs be, who was thus Partaker of the Divine Nature; and thus might. we have ſtill continued, had he ſtill continued Holy.—But GOD had placed him in a State of Probation, with a free Grant to eat of every Tree in the Garden of Eden, except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.—The Day he did eat thereof he was ſurely to die; that is, not only to be ſubject to temporal, but ſpiritual Death, and conſequently to loſe that Divine Image, that ſpiritual Life GOD had not long ſince breathed into him, and which was as much his Happineſs as his Glory.
Theſe, one would imagine, were eaſy Conditions for a finite Creature's Happineſs to depend on. But Man, unhappy Man, being ſeduced by the Devil, and deſiring like him, to be equal with his Maker, eat of the forbidden Fruit, and thereby became liable to that Curſe which the Eternal GOD, who cannot lie, had denounced againſt his Diſobedience.
Accordingly we read, that ſoon after Adam had fallen, he complained that he was naked.—Naked not only as to his Body, but Naked and left deſtitute of thoſe Divne Graces, which before decked and beautified his Soul.—The unhappy Mutiny and Diſorder which the viſible Creation fell into, thoſe Briars and Thorns which now ſprung up and overſpread the Earth, were but poor Emblems, but lifeleſs Repreſentations of that Confuſion and Rebellion, thoſe divers Luſts and Paſſions which ſprung up in, and quite overwhelmed the Soul of Man immediately after the Fall.—Alas! he was now no longer the Image of the inviſible GOD; but as he had imitated the Devil's Sin, he became Partaker of the Devil's Nature, and from an Union with, ſunk into a State of direct Enmity againſt GOD.
Now in this dreadful diſordered Condition are all of us brought into the World.—For as the Root is, ſuch muſt the Branches be.—Accordingly we are told, that Adam begat a Son in his own Likeneſs, that is with the ſame corrupt Nature which he himſelf had ſunk into after he had eaten the forbidden Fruit. And Experience, as well as Scripture proves, that we alſo are …ltogether born in Sin and Corruption, and therefore uncapable, whilſt in ſuch a State, to hold Communion with GOD.—For as Light cannot have Communion with Darkneſs, ſo GOD can have no Communion with ſuch polluted Sons of Belial.
Here then appears the End and Deſign why CHRIST was made manifeſt in the Fleſh.—viz. to put an End to theſe Diſorders, and to reſtore us to that primitive Dignity in which we were at firſt created.—Accordingly he ſhed his precious Blood to ſatisfy his Father's Juſtice for our Sins, and thereby alſo he purchaſed again for us the HOLY GHOST, who ſhould once more re-inſtamp the Divine Image upon our Hearts, and make us capable of living with and enjoying GOD.
This, I ſay, was the only End of our LORD's coming into the World—Nay, this is the only End why the World itſelf is now kept in Being. For as ſoon as a ſufficient Number are ſanctified out of it, the Heavens ſhall be wrapped up like a Scrowl, the Elements ſhall melt with fervent Heat, the Earth and all that therein is ſhall be burnt up.
This is that New-Birth mentioned by our bleſſed LORD to Nicodemus, without which we cannot ſee the Kingdom of GOD. This is what St. Paul calls being renewed in the Spirit of our Minds, and herein conſiſts that Holineſs without which no Man ſhall ſee the LORD.
In this manner then it is undeniably certain we muſt receive the HOLY GHOST e'er we can be ſt…ed true Members of CHRIST'S myſtical Body.
II. I come now, in the Second Place, to lay down ſome ſcriptural Marks, whereby we may eaſily judge whether we have received the HOLY GHOST or not.
And the Firſt Mark I ſhall mention is,—our having received a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication:—For that always accompanies the Spirit of Grace.—No ſooner was Paul converted, but behold he prayeth, ſays JESUS CHRIST. And this was urged as an Argument to convince Ananias that he was converted. And GOD's Elect are ſaid to cry to him Day and Night.
For ſince one great Work of the Holy Spirit is to convince us of Sin, and to ſet us upon ſeeking Pardon and renewing Grace thro' the all-ſufficient Merits of a crucified Redeemer, whoſoever has felt the Powers of the World to come awakening him from his ſpiritual Lethargy, cannot but be always crying out, LORD what wouldſt thou have me do? Or in the Language of the importunate blind Bartimeus, JESUS, thou Son of David, have Mercy upon me.
The bleſſed JESUS, as he received the Holy Ghoſt without Meaſure, ſo he evidenced it by nothing more than his frequent Addreſſes at the Throne of Grace. Accordingly we read, that he was often alone on the Mountain praying—That he roſe a great while before Day to pray.—Nay that he ſpent whole Nights in Prayer.—And whoſoever is made Partaker of the ſame Spirit with the HOLY JESUS, will be of the ſame Mind, and delight in nothing ſo much as to draw night unto GOD, and lift up holy Hands and Hearts in fervent and devout Prayer.
It muſt be confeſſed indeed that this Spirit of Supplication is often as it were ſenſibly loſt, and decays for ſome Time even in thoſe who have actually received the Holy Ghoſt. And they, thro' ſpiritual Dryneſs and Barrenneſs of Soul, find in themſelves a Liſtleſſneſs and Backwardneſs to this Duty of Prayer;—but then they take it as their Croſs, and ſtill preſevere in ſeeking JESUS tho' it be ſorrowing. And their Hearts notwithſtanding are fixed upon GOD, tho' they cannot exert their Affections ſo ſtrongly as uſual, on Account of that ſpiritual Deadneſs which GOD for wiſe Reaſons has ſuffered to benumb their Souls.
But as for the formal Believer, it is not ſo with him. No, he either prays not at all, or if he does enter into his Cloſet, it is with Reluctance—out of Cuſtom—or to ſatisfy the Checks of his Conſcience—Whereas the true Believer can no more live without Prayer, than without Food Day by Day. And he finds his Soul as really and perceptibly fed by the one, as his Body is nouriſhed and ſupported by the other.
A Second Scripture Mark of our having received the HOLY GHOST, is—not committing Sin.—
Whoſoever is born of GOD, ſays St. John, ſinneth not, neither can be ſin becauſe his Seed remaineth in him—Neither can he ſin—This Expreſſion does not imply the Impoſſibility of a ſpiritual Man's ſinning. For we are told, that in many Things we offend all. It means only thus much; that a Man that is really born again of GOD, doth not wilfully commit Sin, much leſs live in the habitual Practice of it. For how ſhall he that is dead to Sin, as every converted Perſon is, live any longer therein?
'Tis true a Man that is born again of GOD may, thro' Surprize or Violence of a Temptation, fall into an Act of Sin: Witneſs the Adultery of David, and Peter's De…ial of his Maſter. But then, like them, he quickly riſes again, goes out from the World, and weeps bitterly; waſhes the Guilt of Sin away by the Tears of a ſincere Repentance, joined with Faith in the Blood of JESUS CHRIST; takes double Heed to his Ways for the future, and perfects Holineſs in the Fear of GOD.
The Meaning of this Expreſſion of the Apoſtle, that a Man that is born again of GOD, cannot commit Sin, has been*Law's Chriſtian Perfection. fitly illuſtrated in the Example of a covetous Worldling, to the general Bent of whoſe Inclinations, Liberality and Profuſeneſs are directly oppoſite. But if, upon ſome unexpected ſudden Occaſion, he does play the Prodigal, he immediately repents him of his Fault, and returns with double Care to his Savingneſs again.—And ſo is every one that is born again. To commit Sin is as contrary to the habitual Frame and Tendency of his Mind, as Generoſity is to the Inclinations of a Miſer. But if at any Time he is drawn into Sin, he immediately with double Zeal returns to his Duty, and brings forth Fruits meet for Repentance.
Whereas the unconverted Sinner is quite dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins,—or if he does abſtain from the groſs Acts of it, from worldly ſelfiſh Motives, yet there is ſome Right Eye he will not pluck out; ſome Right Hand which he will not cut off; ſome ſpecious Agag that he will not ſacrifice for GOD; and thereby he is convinced, that he is but a mere Saul; and conſequently, whatever Pretenſions he may make to the contrary, he has not yet received the HOLY GHOST.
A Third Mark whereby we may know whether or not we have received the Holy Ghoſt is,—our Conqueſt over the World.—For whoever is born of GOD, ſays the Apoſtle, overcometh the World.—By the World we are to underſtand, as St. John expreſſes it, all that is in the World, the Luſt of the Eye, the Luſt of the Fleſh, and Pride of Life,—And by overcoming of it is meant our renouncing theſe, ſo as not to follow or be led by them.—For whoſoever is born from above, has his Affections ſet on Things above: He feels a Divine Attraction in his Soul, which forcibly draws his Mind Heavenwards; and as the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks, ſo doth it make his Soul to long after the Enjoyment of his GOD.
Not that he is ſo taken up with the Affairs of another Life, as to neglect the Buſineſs of this. No, a truly ſpiritual Man dares not ſtand any Day idle: But then he takes Care, though he laboureth for the Meat which periſheth, firſt to ſecure that which endureth to everlaſting Life. Or if GOD has exalted him above his Brethren, yet, like Moſes, Joſeph and Daniel, he notwithſtanding looks upon himſelf as a Stranger and Pilgrim upon Earth.—Having received a Principle of new Life, he walks by Faith and not by Sight.—And his Hopes being full of Immortality, he can look on all Things here below as Vanity and Vexation of Spirit.—In ſhort, tho' he is in, yet is not of the World: And as he was made for the Enjoyment of GOD, ſo nothing but GOD can ſatisfy his Soul.
The ever bleſſed JESUS was a perfect Inſtance of overcoming the World. For though he went continually about doing Good, and always lived in a Preſs, yet wherever he was, his Converſation tended Heavenwards. In like Manner he that is joined to the LORD in one Spirit, will ſo order his Thoughts, Words, and Actions aright, that he will evidence to all, that his Converſation is in Heaven.
On the contrary, an unconverted Man being of the Earth, is earthly: And having no ſpiritual Eye to diſcern ſpiritual Things, is always ſeeking for Happineſs in this Life, where it never was, will, or can be found. Being not born again from above, he is bowed down by a Spirit of natural Infirmity; the Serpent's Curſe becomes his Choice, and he eats of the Duſt of the Earth all the Days of his Life.
A Fourth Scripture Mark of our New Birth, or of our having received the Holy Ghoſt, is,—our loving one another.
We know, ſays St. John, we are paſſed from Death unto Life, becauſe we love the Brethren.—And by this, ſays JESUS CHRIST, ſhall all Men know, that you are my Diſciples, if ye have Love one towards another.—Love is the fulfilling of the Goſpel, as well as the Law; for GOD is Love, and whoſoever dwelleth in GOD, dwelleth in Love.
But by this Love we are not to underſtand, a Softneſs and Tenderneſs of meer Nature, or a a Love founded on worldly Motives (for this a natural Man may have) but a Love of our Brethren proceeding from a Love towards GOD. Loving all Men in general, becauſe GOD loves all Men, and loving good Men in particular, for the Grace we ſee in them, and becauſe they love our Lord JESUS in Sincerity.
This is Chriſtian Charity, and that new Commandment which CHRIST gave his Diſciples. New not in its Object, but in the Motive and Example whereon it is founded, even JESUS CHRIST. This is that Love which the primitive Chriſtians were ſo renowned for, that it became a Proverb.—See, how theſe Chriſtians love one another.—And without this Love, tho' we ſhould give all our Goods to feed the Poor, and our Bodies to be burnt, it would profit us nothing.
Farther, this Love is not confined to any particular Set of Men, but is impartial and catholic. A Love that embraces GOD's Image where-ever it beholds it, and that delights in nothing ſo much as to ſee CHRIST's Kingdom come.
This is the Love wherewith JESUS CHRIST loved Mankind.—He loved all, even the worſt of Men, as appears by his weeping over the obſtinately perverſe; but wherever he ſaw the leaſt Appearance of the Divine Likeneſs, that Soul he loved in particular.—Thus we read, that when he heard the young Man ſay, All theſe Things have I kept from my Youth, that ſo far he loved him. And when he ſaw any noble Inſtance of Faith, though in a Centurion, a Syro-phoenician, Aliens to the Commonwealth of Iſrael, how is he ſaid to marvel at it, as Man, to rejoyce in it, ſpeak of, and commend it?—So alſo every ſpiritual Diſciple of JESUS CHRIST will cordially embrace all that worſhip GOD in Spirit and in Truth, howſoever they may differ as to the Appendages of Religion, and Things not eſſentially neceſſary to Salvation.
I confeſs indeed that the Heart of a natural Man is not thus enlarged all at once; and a Perſon may really have received the Holy Ghoſt (as Peter no doubt had when he was unwilling to go to Cornelius) though he be not arrived to this.—But then we affirm, where a Perſon is truly in CHRIST, all Narrowneſs of Spirit decreaſes in him daily; the Partition-Wall of Bigotry and Party Zeal is broken down more and more; and the nearer he comes to Heaven the more his Heart is enlarged with that Love which there will make no Difference between any People, Nation or Language, but we ſhall all with one Heart, and one Voice, ſing Praiſes to him that ſitteth upon the Throne for ever.
But I haſten to ſhew a Fifth, and … laſt Scripture Mark of our New Birth, … ſhall at preſent mention,—Loving our Enemies.
I ſay unto you, ſays JESUS CHRIST, Love your Enemies, bleſs them that curſe you, do good to thoſe that hate you, and pray for them that deſpitefully uſe you and perſecute you.—And this Duty of loving our Enemies is ſo neceſſary, that without it, our bleſſed LORD tells us, our Righteouſneſs does not exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, nay, or of Publicans and Sinners: For if you do Good to them only which do Good to you, what do you more than others? What do you extraordinary? Do not even the Publicans the ſame?—And theſe Precepts our LORD confirmed by his own Example, when he wept over the bloody City; when he ſuffered himſelf to be led as a Sheep to the Slaughter; when he made that mild Reply to the Traytor Judas, Judas betrayeſt thou the Son of Man with a Kiſs;—And more eſpecially when in the Agonies and Pangs of Death, he prayed for his very Murderers, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
This is the moſt difficult Duty to the natural Man, but whoſoever is made Partaker of that Promiſe of the Father, will find it practicable and eaſy. For if we are born again of GOD, we muſt be like him; and conſequently delight to be perfect in this Duty of doing good to our worſt Enemies in the ſame Manner, though not in the ſame Degree as he is perfect.—And he ſends his Rain on the Evil and the Good, cauſeth his Sun to ſhine on the Juſt and Unjuſt: And herein more eſpecially commendeth his Love towards us, that whilſt we were his Enemies, he ſent forth his Son, born of a Woman, made under the Law, that he might become a Curſe for us.
Many other Marks there are ſcattered up and down the Scriptures, whereby we m…y know whether or not we have received the Holy Ghoſt. Such as to be carnally minded is Death, but to be ſpiritually minded is Life and Peace.—Now the Fruits of the Spirit are Joy, Peace, Long-ſuffering, Meekneſs, with a Multitude of Texts to the ſame Purpoſe.—But as moſt, if not all of them, are comprehended in the Duties already laid down, I dare affirm, whoſoever, upon an impartial Examination, can find the aforeſaid Marks upon his Soul, may be as certain, as though an Angel was to tell him, that his Pardon is ſealed in Heaven.
And as for my own Part, I had rather ſee theſe Divine Graces, theſe Heavenly Tempers ſtamped upon my Soul, than to hear an Angel from Heaven ſaying unto me, Son, be of good cheer, thy Sins be forgiven thee.
For theſe are infallible Witneſſes; theſe are Emanuel, GOD with and in us; theſe make up that white Stone, which none knoweth, ſaving he who receiveth it; theſe are the Earneſts of the Heavenly Inheritance in our Hearts. In ſhort, theſe are Glory begun, and are that good Thing, that better Part, which, if you continue to ſtir up this Gift of GOD, neither Men or Devils ſhall ever be able to take from us.
III. I proceed now, as was propoſed, in the Third Place, to make an Application of the Doctrine delivered, to ſeveral diſtinct Claſſes of Profeſſors.
And Firſt, I ſhall addreſs myſelf to thoſe who are dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins.—And here how could I weep over you, as our LORD wept over Jeruſalem! For alas! how diſtant muſt you be from GOD, what a prodigious Work have you got to finiſh, who inſtead of praying Day and Night, ſeldom or never pray at all! And inſtead of being born again in GOD, ſo as not to commit Sin, are ſo deeply ſunk into the Nature of Devils as to make a Mock at it. Or inſtead of overcoming the World, ſo as not to follow or be led by it, are continually making Proviſion for the Fleſh, to fulfil the Luſts thereof. And laſtly, inſtead of being endued with the Godlike Diſpoſitions of loving all Men, even your Enemies, have your Hearts full of Hatred, Malice and Revenge, and deride thoſe who are ſincere Followers of the lowly JESUS.—But think you, O Sinners, that GOD will admit ſuch polluted Wretches into his Sight? Or ſhould he admit you, do you imagine you could take any Pleaſure in him? No, Heaven itſelf would be no Heaven to you: The Deviliſh Diſpoſitions which are in your Hearts would render all the ſpiritual Enjoyments of thoſe bleſſed Manſions ineffectual to make you happy.—To qualify you to be bliſsful Partakers of that Heavenly Inheritance with the Saints in Light, there is a Meetneſs required, to attain which ought to be the one Buſineſs of your Lives.
It is true, you, as well as the Righteous, in one Senſe ſhall ſee GOD (for we muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt) but you muſt ſee him once. never to ſee him more. For as you carry about in you the Devil's Image, with Devils you muſt dwell. Being of the ſame Nature, you muſt ſhare the ſame Doom. Repent therefore and be converted, that your Sins may be blotted out. See that you receive the Holy Ghoſt before you go hence: For otherwiſe how can you eſcape the Damnation of Hell?
Secondly, I ſhall apply myſelf to thoſe who deceive themſelves with falſe Hopes of Salvation. And becauſe, through the Influence of a good Education, or other providential Reſtraints, they have not run into the ſame Exceſs of Riot with other Men, think they have no Need to receive the Holy Ghoſt, and flatter themſelves that they are really born again.
But do you ſhew it by bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit? Do you pray without ceaſing? Do you not commit Sin? Have you overcome the World? And do you love your Enemies, and all Mankind, in the ſame Manner as JESUS CHRIST loved them?
If theſe Things, Brethren, be i… … abound, then may you have Confidence towards GOD: But if not, altho' you may be civilized, yet you are not converted. No, you are yet in your Sins. The Nature of the old Adam ſtill reigneth in your Souls. And unleſs the Nature of the ſecond Adam be engrafted in its Room, you can never ſee GOD.
Think not therefore to dreſs yourſelves up in the Ornaments of a good Nature, and civil Education, and ſay with Agag, ſurely the Bitterneſs of Death is paſt. For GOD'S Juſtice notwithſtanding that, like Samuel, ſhall hew you to Pieces.—However you may be highly eſteemed in the Sight of Men, yet in the Sight of GOD you are but like the Apples of Sodom, Dunghills covered over with Snow, mere whited Sepulchres, appearing a little beautiful without, but inwardly full of Corruption and of all Uncleanlineſs.—And conſequently will be diſmiſſed at the laſt Day, with a Verily I know you not.
But the Word is profitable for Comfort, as well as Correction.
Thirdly, therefore do I addreſs myſelf to thoſe who are under the Drawings of the Father, and are going through the Spirit of Bondage, but not finding the Marks before-mentioned, are ever crying out, Who ſhall deliver us from the Body of this Death?
But fear not, little Flock; for notwithſtanding your preſent Infant State of Grace, it ſhall be your Father's good Pleaſure to give you the Kingdom.
The Grace of GOD, thro' JESUS CHRIST, that ſhall deliver you, that ſhall give you what you thirſt after.—He hath promiſed he will alſo do it.—Ye ſhall receive the Spirit of Adoption, that Promiſe of the Father, if you faint not.—Only perſevere in ſeeking it,—and determine to find no Reſt in your Spirit, till you know and feel that you are thus born again from above, and GOD's Spirit witneſſeth with your Spirits that you are the Children of GOD.
Fourthly and laſtly, I addreſs myſelf to thoſe who have received the Holy Ghoſt in all its ſanctifying Graces, and almoſt ripe for Glory.
Hail happy Saints! For your Heaven is begun on Earth.—You have already received the firſt Fruits of the Spirit, and are patiently waiting till that bleſſed Change come, when your Harveſt ſhall be compleat.—I ſee and admire you; tho' alas! at ſo great a Diſtance from you.—Your Life, I know, is hid with CHRIST in GOD.—You have Comforts, you have Meat to eat, which a ſinful, carnal, ridiculing World knows nothing of.—CHRIST'S Yoke is now become eaſy to you, and his Burden light: You have paſſed through the Pangs of the New Birth, and now rejoice that the Man CHRIST JESUS is ſpiritually formed in your Hearts. You know what it is to dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in you. Like Jacob's Ladder, although your Bodies are … Earth, yet your Souls and Hearts are in Hea… And by your Faith and conſtant Recollection, like the Bleſſed Angels, you do always … the Face of your Father which is in H….
I need not then exhort you to pr… … For you know that in walking by the …pir… there is great Reward. Rather will I exhort you in Patience to poſſeſs your Souls yet a little while, and JESUS CHRIST will deliver you from the Burden of the Fleſh, and an abundant Entrance ſhall be adminiſtered unto you into the eternal Joy and uninterrupted Felicity of his Heavenly Kingdom.
Which GOD of his infini… M…y grant, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt, Three … and One GOD, be aſcri…d all …, Power, and Glory, for ever and ev….