1719: Verfe of the fame Chapter, "That that Church had a Few in her who had not defiled their Garments, who fhould walk with him in White, for (faith he) they are worthy." So that they were a Few undefiled Ones, who had overcome; although others were blameable, whom the Spirit reproved fharply; but alfo, as above, promised that thofe who overcame Thould be clothed in white Raiment; which Raiment is that clean Linen called the Righteoufnefs of the Saints, or elsewhere, the Wedding Garment, and the Garment unspotted of the World, without having which, me may expect to be afked, how we dare to prefume to approach the Holy Prefence of a Juft and Righteous God, who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Allowance or Approbation, as it is written, Friend, bow camest thou hither not having on the Wedding Garment? And by the Promife to the Church, that those who overcame, their Names fhall not be blotted out of the Book of Life." It plainly appears, that those who fight the Lamb's Battle, and overcome Sin and Satan, their Names are upon Record in Heaven, and written in the Lamb's Book of Life: It also appears that we may have done well or valiantly in fome Things, yet if we fuffer ourselves to be overcome of Sin, there is danger, though our Names are in, we may have them blotted out of, the Book of Life.

Third Promife is very excellent and glorious, viz. But I will confefs him before my Father, and before his Angels. Oh! wonderful Honour! to have Chrift. confefs that we are his, and belong to him, and have been Men of Courage in this holy War, and overcame the Enemy, and been victorious in this Fight of Faith; to confefs us there before God and his Angels, must needs be unfpeakable Honour done us before the Armies in Heaven. He expreffed again his repeated Advice to those who have Ears, faying, He that bath an Ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith to the Churches: Which is much wanting among Men, and alfo a believing

believing Heart: I query, Is not God, Chrift, and the 1719. Holy Ghoft, ftronger than the World, the Flesh, and the Devil? But is not this Belief of it not being poffi ble to overcome Sin, and faying, that we can't do it while we are here in this World; as much as to believe and fay, that Satan and Nature is ftronger than God and Grace.

Sixthly, To the Church at Fhiladelphia, the Spirit faith, Rev. iii. 12, 13. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: And I will write upon him, the Name of my God, and the Name of the City of my God, &c. He that bath an Ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the Churches. Here is Promise upon Promife, all to perfuade, excite, and invite People to fight the Fight of Faith, believing they fhall obtain the Victory, and to destroy the Principle of Unbelief: The Overcomer, through Grace, is to be made a Pillar in the Temple of God; that is, one of his Church, who helps to fupport the Credit of it, through a true Chriftian Reputation in his Converfation. Such an One is a Pillar in the Church-militant here on Earth, and will, if he is faithful to the End, be alfo of the Church-triumphant in Heaven;" and he will not go out any

more, but will abide in, and with Chrift for ever." Here are Gospel Promifes and Privileges, happy are they who through Faith attain thereto: How much have Chriftians need to be concern'd before God, for the excellent Gift of Faith, fince "without Faith it is "impoffible to please God." And as our Saviour faith, If ye bad Faith but as a Grain of Mustard-feed, ye might fay to this Mountain, be removed, and caft into the Sea, and it should be fo. Now though Sin indeed is grown a very great Mountain, in this Age and Generation, yet through true Faith it is removed, according to the Doctrine of Chrift (bleffed be his Holy Name.) Upon thofe Overcomers, the Lord hath alfo promifed as above, to write upon them the Name

" of

५.

Gal. 4

26.

1719. " of God, and the Name of the City of God, which is new Jerufalem, which cometh down from Heaven, "which is the Mother of all Saints." Here is a Train of glorious Expreffions, and mighty Promiles enough to inspire the tender Soul with ftrong Defires after God and Chrift, and his Kingdom. My Heart is deeply affected at this Time, in the Senfe of the Love of our heavenly Father; and my Spirit is greatly concerned for the Welfare of the Children of Men, my Fellow Mortals. Oh! that they might believe, and that believing they might have Life, through the Name of Chrift. It is obfervable, that to overcome, is the Condition of obtaining all these great and glorious Promises; and Overcoming is repeated feven Times, once to every Church. And to fay after all thofe glorious and fair Promises, that Sin and Satan cannot be overcome, is not the Confequence of fuch Saying or Belief, to make Chrift a Deceiver? Which is abfurd and Antichriftian Doctrine.

22.

Seventhly, To the Church of Laodicea, Rev. iii. 21, To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my Throne, even as I alfo overcame, and am fet down with my Father in his Throne. He that bath an Ear to bear, let him hear what the Spirit faith to the Churches. What greater Promife could Chrift make to his Church than this, to take her into his Throne, and into his Father's Kingdom, into his Bofom of Love? This is wonderful kind indeed. But then, Oh! Chriftian, the Condition is to overcome, as Chrift overcame.

Now fince it may be beneficial to Chriftians to underftand, and to confider duly, this great Fight or Battle, and how this great Conqueror overcame; and because we are to follow him, and to take him for our Example, let us have a Defcription of it, it being the greatest Encounter or Battle, that ever was in the World, between the Prince of Life, and the King of the bottomlefs Pit. The Hiftory of which, is worth the Reading of the greatest Prince or Monarch on Earth, fince

they

they must leave this low World, and lay down all their 1719. Crowns when Death calls them to fight this Battle, and to follow this Monarch, who hath all Divine Power in Heaven and Earth, and to take his Direction, is every Man's Duty and Intereft, both Noble and Ignoble. The holy Evangelifts, Matthew and Luke, give us an Account of this great Fight, in the 4th Chapter of Matthew, and 4th Chapter of Luke, and agree in the moft weighty Matters, though they did not exactly word it alike, yet the Subftance is the fame, and the Temptation, Conflict or Battle, all one. 1ft, Satan bids Christ (as Matthew and Luke has it) "command the Stones, "or Stone, to be made Bread. 2dly, To caft himself "down from the Pinacle of the Temple. 3dly, To wor"fhip the Devil, or fall down to him." Matt. Chap. 4th, ift Verfe, to the 11th. Then was Jefus led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil: And when he had fafted forty Days and forty Nights, be was afterward an hungred. And when the Tempter came to him, he faid, If thou be the Son of God, command that thefe Stones be made Bread. But be (i. e. Chrift) anfwered and faid, it is written, Man fhall (or doth) not live by Bread alone, but by every Word that proceedetb out of the Mouth of God. Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy City, and fetteth him on a Pinacle of the Temple, and faith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, caft thyself down: For it is written, He shall give his Angels Charge concerning thee (it is obfervable that the Devil was here at his old Trade of perverting of the Holy Scriptures: The Scriptures faying, that he fall give bis Angels Charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy Ways, &c, as in the Pfalms: Which Words Satan left out, for they gave much Light to fee his Temptation. Thofe Words which expofed him he hides, for he hates Light and Truth) and in their Hands they shall bear thee up, left at any time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone. Jefus faid unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding bigh Mountain,

and

1719. and fheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them. And faith unto him, All thefe Things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then faid Jefus unto him. Get thee bence, Satan: For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and bim only fhalt thou ferve. Then the Devil leaveth him, and bebold, Angels came and miniftred unto him. Behold how the Saviour of the World overcame the Devil, and his Temptations. As he did, fo ought all Chriftians to refift the Tempter, as it is written, Refift the Devil, and be'll fly. Here we may fee he is a conquered Enemy; and we are told," By Chrift's Spirit, we must "overcome, as he allo overcame." After our Lord had fasted forty Days, and forty Nights, he was hungry, at which Time the Devil urged him, if he was the Son of God, then to make the Stone or Stones Bread, knowing him to be hungry: Thus after the fame Manner he tempts us poor Mortals, by laying his Snares, and baiting his Hook, according to the Nature and Propenfity of the Perfon he is engaged withal: If a Man, Woman, or Child, be addicted to Paffion, Pride, Swearing, Lying, Drunkennefs, taking the facred Name in vain, idle or vain Difcourfes to fteal away our precious Time: Let the Sin be what it will, that which we are most naturally addicted to, there will he lay his Temptations, for he preys upon our Weaknefs, and plies the weakest Part in us moft; for which Reason, we have need to keep a ftrict Watch: As Chrift advised to "watch and pray continually, left we should "enter into Temptation;" for it is no Sin to be tempted, but the Sin is to entertain, and enter into the Temptation; if we overcome, as Chrift did, it is an Honour to be tempted, and a fecret Joy fprings in the Soul, in a Senfe of its Victory, in fore Conflicts between the Enemy and the Soul; the Lord manifefting his Divine Grace for our Affiftance and Help. Here we can take the Advice of the Apoftle, when he fays, Count it all Joy when ye fall into divers Temptations; and alfo overcome them as Chift did, by Refiftance.

If