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ALLEGATIONS OF SERIOUS PEOPLE. 121

vation, viz. of eating the bread and drinking of the cup; from whence they conceive they have had some comfort and inward satisfaction.

Wherein I apprehend there lies a mistake; for what real comfort any such do inwardly receive, is not obtained by their outward observation, but by feeding upon Christ through faith in their hearts. It is the sincerity of heart, and not the outward formality God has regard to; and many such hath he further enlightened to see the necessity of the substance, and discern the Lord's body, the end of types, shadows, and veils, that they may enter into the new and living way, wherein they may draw nigh unto God.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The eating of spiritual meat strengthens the .. spiritual man in the holy warfare.

THIS partaking of the spiritual meat strengthens the spiritual man to persevere in the way and work of the Lord; though he meets with opposition without, yet he is strengthened within, and enabled to go on serving God, whose very work is wages. The aforesaid author hath a hint of it:-"What our Saviour said of himself, is in some measure applicable to his followers, that it is their meat and drink to do their Father's will."

To experience a child's state is very comfortable; for those to become children of God, who once were children of wrath, is cause of true joy. These can read that saying of John, "I write unto you, little

122 THE GROWTH FROM A BABE'S STATE.

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children, for your sins are forgiven you."1 A child's state is a good state, but is more easily thrown down and hurt, than after a greater growth is attained; therefore we must not always remain as children, but by receiving that sincere milk of the word, grow into a further state, that we may become strong men, young men strong in the Lord, and know his word abiding in us ;3 and in the exercise of it be as instruments in the Lord's hand to turn many to righteousness, as it was said of Levi:-" My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him, for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid of my law; the law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; he walked with me in truth and equity, and did turn many from their iniquity." What was here spoken in the person of Levi, may, in some sort, be applicable to the High Priest of our profession, and to his ministers under him, whom he makes use of to turn many from their iniquities. Thus Peter preached him to the Jews:-"Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."5 That is indeed from a state dead in sins, to a being quickened by him who alone can beget to God, yet he is pleased that his servants may be concerned with him in this work. Thus Paul can say to Timothy, My own son in the faith; yet in another place calls him, Timotheus our brother and fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ; and to the Corinthians, In Christ I have begotten you through the gospel. And yet it is the work of God, as he saith, God who is rich in mercy,

(1) John ii, 12. Mal. ii, 5, 6. (5) i, 1; 2 Thes. iii, 2.

(2) 1 Peter ii, 2. (3) 1 John ii, 14. (4) Acts iii, 26. (6) 1 Tim. i, 2. (7) 1 Thes (8) 1 Cor, iv, 15.

A STATE OF MANHOOD IN CHRIST.

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even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.1

Thus, as there is an increase in strength, and a growth in the spiritual life is attained, the Lord is sometimes pleased to make use of such as fathers to beget men unto God, to turn them from death to life, from the death in old Adam, to the life in Christ the second Adam; that as there is life in Christ our head, every true member may be living in a measure of the same life that is in him, therein to live to serve and honor God. But what have dead men to do in this work? Can dead men procreate living children? No more can men dead in sin beget children to God. God, who gives life to children, useth living parents as instruments; so doth he also in the spiritual birth ordinarily make use of spiritual men, such as have not only known a receiving life from him, but have grown therein to a state of manhood. It is these the Lord employs to turn men from their iniquities, wherein they have been dead unto God, though alive to the world; nay, perhaps alive to forms, and earnest for some external ceremonies; yet have really been dead while they live, as to the life of God in the soul of man.

Though I have shewed that it must be living men who are usually the Lord's instruments to beget men to life, yet I would not be understood to intend that the Lord doth not prepare the heart both to believe and receive the gospel, yea many times doth the Lord visit immediately without instruments. We have the instance of Paul in the primitive times, the work was begun immediately. Of Abraham it is

(1) Eph. ii, 4, 5.

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A STATE OF MANHOOD IN CHRIST.

said, I called him alone and blessed him, and caused

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him to increase. 1 David was a keeper of the sheep, and the Lord made him a prophet; and Amos said, I was no prophet, neither a prophet's son. The Lord took me as I followed the flocks; and the Lord said to me, Go and prophesy to my people Israel." Besides divers other examples that might be given.

And blessed be his name, he hath in this day of restoration visited divers alone, and blessed them, and caused them to increase in the knowledge of his will, power, and goodness.

But, be it begun immediately or instrumentally, it is still the Lord's doing; either the preparing of the heart to receive his word by instruments, or by his Spirit manifesting this divine life in the soul, that therein we may grow up and become young men and fathers.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Concerning an established state, and the
glorious promises pertaining thereto.

IN which state, an establishment, I believe, is attainable. That Holy Power that hitherto hath brought and preserved his obedient followers in their testimonies and services, notwithstanding they have met with various temptations and exercises, as they go on to follow the Lord, he leads unto an established state.

That a being so established in Christ, hath been a doctrine both doubted and denied by many, is well known.

(1) Isaiah li, 2.

ESTABLISHMENT IN GRACE.

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1. Yet it is frequently recommended in Holy Scripture.

2. And ought to be believed attainable.

3. To those that attain thereunto are glorious promises annexed. And of these I am willing to treat a little.

First. That it is recommended, whereof many instances may be given, of which I shall only note a few.

The Apostle to the Ephesians writes:-"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.'

Here the Apostle exhorts to all perseverance, and in order to it, to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; then he proposes armour, the whole armour of God, with the girdle of truth, and breast-plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and helmet of salvation; and he doth not forget that prevailing weapon the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And having thus recommended such soldier-like furniture, that the Christian may be

(1) Eph. vi, 10 to 18.

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