1709. he would have none to perish, if any perish, their Destruction is of themselves, but their Help is of the Lord. Oh! that People would be entreated and perfuaded, through loving Invitation, to follow the Lord fully, and do his Work faithfully.

Mat. 5.

Jer. 31.

33.

Now let me return a little to, and let my Pen drop somewhat concerning that Three-fold Cord above-mentioned. I again humbly beg of the Lord, the great God, and Father of Spirits, and of our dear Lord Jefus, that this may be inftrumental, in his Hand, to draw fome poor feeking, travelling Soul, from Earth towards Heaven; the which, if it doth, let the Praises alone be given to God, through his well beloved Son.

First then: As to Truth; I would hope few in this Generation, who profefs Chriftianity, need to fay, What is Truth? God Almighty, Chrift Jefus, the Holy Spirit, is that infinite, Divine Truth, which will endure for ever: And he hath faid, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, with all tby Mind and Strength. And indeed, he is an Object that is thereof richly worthy; and this is his Law which is to endure for ever; and he which doth and teacbeth it, is to to be called Great in the Kingdom of God; and that it might not be forgotten, he wrote it in ftony Tables: Which Law, Jacob's Seed broke and tranfgreffed. Wherefore, thus faith the Lord, who fpoke it by the Prophet, I will put my Law in their inward Parts, and write it in their Hearts: Oh! there 'tis written in large Characters, very plain and legible, and easy to be read of Mankind. And whereas Mofes, the Man of God, was an Inftrument to promote the holy Law outwardly, written on Tables of Stone, among the Children of Ifrael; fo Chrift Jefus, in this Gofpel-, day, is promoting and proclaiming the Power of this Law, inwardly engraven in Mens Hearts by God's Finger, throughout the whole World: This great Law of Love (in which all the Law and the Prophets is contained) Chrift not only lived in it, and declared it to

Mortals

18.

Mortals; but he alfo died in it, and for it, and for us 1709. alfo, and fealed his holy, glorious Teftimony, and Doc- ✔ trine, with his noft precious Blood: This is he of whom the Voice from the moft excellent Glory, faid, This Mnt, 17. is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, bear ye him. This is he, of whom the former Law-giver faid, The Deut. Lord your God ball raise up a Prophet from amongst your Pt. 18. Brethren, bim fhall you bear in all Things. Things. This is he who faid, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This John 14 is he that faid, be dwelleth with you, and fhall be in 17. you: And again, I ftand at the Door and knock, if any Man will bear my Voice, and open the Door, I will come 20. in unto him. Oh! Methinks his Love is wonderful; he not only commands Obedience, but invites to it. Oh! who can be fo hard-hearted and fo cruel to him, and themselves alfo, as to flight and refuse such heavenly divine Offers of infinite Love, Grace and Mercy? The Spirit and the Bride fays, Come; and all that are Rev. 21. a-tbirft, may come, and drink freely; and buy heavenly Milk, and rich Wine, without Money, or any natural or outward Price.

Rev. 3:

17.

Ija. 55. %.

Secondly, Touching Reafon: It is very reasonable, that we fhould ferve and love God Almighty, in this Space of Time that we have here in this World, and work the Works of Piety and Virtue; for, and because there is folid Peace therein: Here none can make afraid, but the Soul is calm and quiet, as being anchor'd in a fafe Harbour. Here no Law can take hold of us. If any fhould imagine, that there is no future Rewards or Punishments, which no Mortal can do without Blushing, or Self-condemnation, as I conceive: Yet a Life of Holiness is a much better Life, even for the Body, for its Health, and moft fweet Repofe, and Pleasure that is folid, and not flashy, and its outward Tranquility in every Refpect; I appeal to the reasoning Wits of the Age, whether the above be not a great undeniable Truth: Befides, all true Men and Women, in Practifing as above, have a living Hope

1709. Hope and Faith, through and in Chrift, of a glorious Reft to Eternity, which is very reasonable to believe, fince undeniably Chrift wrought fuch wonderful Works, and mighty Miracles, which before were never wrought by Man on Earth: So that those must needs be Self-condemned too, that believe not in him, his Works and Grace. There is no Writ nor Wit in the whole World, that did, can, or ever will be able to make void, or lay wafte the great, mighty, and miraculous Works of Truth, which were done by the Bleffed Jefus. Mofes was a mighty Man of God, and highly favoured, and greatly beloved of him, and did many mighty Works; yet Chrift exceeded him, as alfo did his Difpenfation. Mofes went through the Sea: Chrift went upon the Sea. Mofes prayed for Bread from Heaven, and it was given in Abundance: Mat. 15. Chrift with a few fmall Fishes, and seven Loaves, fed many Thousands (which were unreasonable to expect, but from a Divine Hand.) Mofes prayed for Water for the People: Chrift made Wine, and admirable Wine too, even of Water. Mofes preached the Law and Judgment to Ifrael only: But Chrift Jefus preached Grace, Mercy, Peace and Truth, not only to Ifrael, but alfo to all the World, through Divine Faith in God, in and through Repentance, and the Work of the Spirit. Oh! is not here Reafon and Truth pleading with, and perfuading poor Creatures, to love, ferve and follow, reverence and fear, their Creator.

36.

John 2:

Whether the above Matter be pleasant News to our fprightly Youths, I'll not determine; but I am pofitive, they'll find it Truth one Day.

'Tis likely fome fuch Doctrine as this might better please the Sparks of the Age, and the jolly young Men and Maidens up and down in the World, viz. Eccl. 11. Rejoice, O young Man, and young Woman, and let thy Heart chear thee in the Days of thy Youth; follow the Luft of thy Heart, and the Sight of thine Eyes: But,

9.

let

let them remember, that for all thefe Things God will 1709. =bring them to Judgment: They muft furely come to Judgment: They'll have it inwardly and fecretly in their Hearts, here in this World (notwithstanding they may endeavour to hide it from Men; but they cannot hide it from Heaven, from the All-feeing, Heart-piercing Eye of the Holy One: He who inhabits Eternity, whofe Dwelling is in the Light; and whofe Eye goes through the Earth, bebolding the Evil and the Good) Likewise they will have Condemnation without End, in the World that is to come. Oh, let the Youth and Aged seriously confider of it!

=

And farther, let them call to Mind, the great and heavy Judgments that have fallen upon wicked and ungodly Men, many of which were foretold by the Mesfengers of Heaven, and came to pafs according to their Sayings, viz. The Flood of Waters, which deftroyed the Old World (which the very Indians in A. merica have a notable Notion of, handed down to 'em by the Tradition of their Fathers to this Day) As also the Destruction of the Land, and Inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah: And the Thoufands of Thoufands that have been deftroyed in Battles and Fights; which will still be, and continue to the World's End, unless People come into the Love of God, which will teach them to Love one another; and into the Faith and Doctrine of the Prince of Peace, which is, To do Mar. 7. unto all Men, as we would have them do unto us, and to do Good for Evil; which to be fure is not to deftroy. Likewife the Deftruction of Jerufalem, and Scattering of the Jews, the Seed of faithful Abraham; and divers difmal and terrible Earthquakes, which have happen'd in these latter Ages of the World; fome of the dreadful Ruins of which, mine Eyes have seen in my Travels. Surely there is much Reason to walk in Reverence, and holy Fear, before the great Lord of all: He who made the Heavens and the Earth, the Seas, and the Fountains of Water, and

hath

12.

1709. hath given Life and Breath to all that move therein, w can take it from them at his Pleasure, in the Twinkling of an Eye.

Gen. 27.

Oh! Happy is that Empire, Kingdom, State, or Province; Emperor, King, or Governor; Family, or particular Perfon, whofe Inhabitants live and dwell in the holy Fear of God, and in the Self-denying Life of Jefus: No greater Happiness or Felicity, than to be one of these. Oh! let my Soul dwell here, and be in Unity and Fellowship with all fuch for ever.

Now, as to the third and laft Part of the abovefaid Three-fold Argument, viz. Example; which, as the Proverb fays, is above Precept. Good Example is very taking with many, and oft happens to be very affecting to the younger Sort more particularly: For they look out much at others, and take great Notice of the Words and Conduct of their Elders and Superiors. Good Jacob was a good Example to his great Family: He was a pious, affectionate Father, a loving Husband, a faithful Servant, and an obedient Son: The Hiftory of his Life and Travels in Holy-Scripture is affecting: Oh! how he fought God betimes! how humble, how lowly, as well as lovely, doth he behave himself in his Pilgrimage! his Father and Mother call'd him, and bid him go; he does it, without any Replies to the contrary; not like fome of the Youth of this Age. And on his Way being benighted, he lays himfelt down, his Pillow was hard, but his Bed large, and the Heavens was his Curtain; his Sleep was fweet, and his Dreams precious. (Oh! the very Thoughts of it affects me at this Time) In which Sleep he fees Angels; and when he awakes, he fays, Surely this is none other than the Houfe of God, and ibe Gate of Heaven. Now he makes the Conditions of his Covenant with his Maker, which (as to outward Things) was as fmall as well could be, viz. Bread to eat, and Raiment to put on, and the Prefence of bis Maker, with his Bleing. This was now when he was

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