,transcribed from the #ahaa ,r4 ,thomas edition1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,many thanks to the ,bodleian ,library for allowing their copy to be consulted4 ,picture3 ,public domain book cover ,,the ,thirteen ,names ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,patriarchs1 ,,considered ,,as ,,figurative ,,of ,,the ,progressive ,influences of the ,spirit4 ,,being ,,the ,,substance ,,of ,,two ,,sermons1 ,preached on ,wednesday ,march #bd1 and ,april #c1 #ahaa1 ,at the ,obelisk ,chapel1 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,j4 ,,church1 ,,minister ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 99 99 99 99 99 ,interspersed with some ,account of ,,the ,,author',s ,,experience4 99 99 99 99 99 ,published by ,request4 99 99 99 99 99 ,what are the ,names of the ,men that make this ,building8 ,,ezra iv1 #e4 ,if it be a ,question of ,names and ,words1 look ye to it4--,,acts xviii4 #ae4 ,thine ,age shall be clearer than the noon ,day2 thou shalt shine forth1 and be as the ,morning4 ,,job xi4 #ag4 99 99 99 99 99 ,picture3 ,graphic with ,london printed in it ,printed by ,r4 ,,thomas1 ,red ,lion ,street1 ,st4 ,,margaret's ,,hill1 ,borough4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sold at the ,obelisk ,chapel4 99 99 99 99 99 ,to ,mrs4 ,a--4 ,,dear ,,madam1 ,agreeable to your request ,i have endeavoured to recollect the parts of the ,sermons1 and present them to the ,church of ,god1 which is the pillar and ground of the truth4 ,my mind has been fixed on the important subject of the ,work of the ,spirit--for what are ,doctrines and ,practice without this8--,i have spoken a little freely of the dealings of ,god with my own soul1 of which ,i shall never be ashamed2 this may1 indeed1 expose me to the censure of those who are strangers to this work1 and1 of course1 may ridicule it as enthusiasm--but the way-faring men1 redeemed by ,jesus1 will not err therein1 as ,i have endeavoured to point out the truth clearly1 though feebly4 ,i have not aimed at elegance1 it being beyond my reach2 but to set forth the truth in a plain style1 and now commit it to ,god--humbly hoping your pious desire in the publication may be abundantly answered1 in the consolation of ,israel and the honour of ,israel's ,god4 ,encouraged by the following command1 ,i send this ,sermon into the world--8,give strong drink to them who are ready to perish1 and wine to those that be heavy of heart20 and surely tasting the old wine of the kingdom1 ,god's everlasting love1 covenant grace1 finished salvation1 with the sovereign agency of his ,spirit1 in his efficacious operations1 sanctifying1 witnessing1 and comforting influences1 we desire no better4--,may this animate your heart2 so prays1 ,madam1 ,your's affectionately1 ,for ,christ's sake1 ,picture3 ,signature of ,j4 ,church ,a ,,sermon4 #a ,,chron4 #ast ,chap4 #d first ,verses4 ,adam1 ,seth1 ,enosh1 ,kenan1 ,mahalaleel1 ,jared1 ,methuselah1 ,henoch1 ,noah1 ,shem1 ,ham1 ,japheth4 ,,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 7says the great ,apostle7 and is profitable for doctrine--to declare and confirm the truth--for reproof--to convince men of sin and confute errors--for correction--to reform the life1 upon conviction--and for instruction in righteousness1 in the obedience of ,god our ,saviour1 as the only justifying righteousness of his ,church4 ,every part of the sacred writings has an importance1 a dignity1 and a spirituality1 becoming their divine author--and they are designed by ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 to exhibit the glorious character of ,god our ,father1 as engaged in a covenant of redemption with his dear ,son--,likewise1 to hold forth the precious ,person and finished work of ,god our ,redeemer1 as the only foundation and joy of poor guilty men1 convinced of sin1 and seeking his salvation4 ,they likewise maintain the nature and necessity of a divine change1 through the operation of ,god the ,spirit upon the souls of his elect1 to make known to them the suitableness of ,jesus and his salvation2 to persuade the mind of its interest in him2 and to witness to their renewed consciences they belong to ,god4--,these1 with many other grand truths1 are everywhere set forth in ,god's most holy word2 sometimes in very plain and clear language1 so that he who runs may read2 at other times the same truths are couched in ,parables1 ,allegories1 and dark ,sayings3 this shews what a pleasing variety there is in ,god's most holy word1 to entertain an enlightened mind4 ,as ,god1 our ,covenant ,father1 has made nothing in vain1 so he has revealed nothing in vain2 his peculiar wisdom is seen even in giving names1 or causing such and such names to be given to various characters1 either in allusion to some circumstance attending their birth1 or prophetical of what they were to be--or1 as holding forth something of importance1 either to themselves or to others4 ,it is not from a desire of singularity1 nor an affectation of novelty1 that ,i have read this text2 but would proceed with caution and humility4 ,i apprehend the first design of the text is to point out the ,genealogies of the tribes of ,israel1 and is supposed to have been wrote by ,ezra1 and put into their hands1 soon after the return from ,babylon1 as the captivity for seventy years1 had thrown every thing in confusion4--,the second design is to shew the ,pedigree of the ,messiah1 that it might appear that our dear ,lord was1 according to the prophecies that went before him1 the ,son of ,david1 the ,son of ,joseph1 the ,son of ,adam--this the ,evangelists1 in the ,new ,testament1 have shewn4 ,there still appears one more worthy our observation2 that the first thirteen ,names in this ,chapter have a signification in them1 as they are ,hebrew ,names1 and appear to be expressive of a ,work of ,grace in its commencement1 carrying on1 and completion1 in the happy departure of the soul to glory4 ,i pretend to no learning myself1 of course must be indebted to ,hebrew scholars for the translation of them--to ,god the divine ,spirit1 ,i am entirely indebted for the knowledge of the great things these ,names express4 ,on each ,i shall write but little1 as it would swell this ,sermon to a volume if ,i were to write all that ,i apprehend2 ,i will only give the out-lines1 and hope the reader will be entertained1 and1 above all1 instructed1 comforted1 and built up on his most holy faith4 ,the ,names1 as they stand before us1 are thus in their signification3 ,adam1 ,earth--,seth1 ,foundation--,enosh1 ,weakness--,kenan1 ,mourning--,mahalaleel1 ,illumination of ,god--,jared1 ,reigning--,enoch1 dedicated--,methuselah1 sending forth ,death4--,lamech1 cutting down--,noah1 ,rest1 or ,consolation--,shem1 a ,name--,ham1 ,warmth--,japheth1 ,enlargement4 ,there is a beautiful gradation in them1 and we shall consider them in order1 and enlarge particularly on some4 ,,adam4 ,this word signifies ,earth2 some read it red ,earth1 to shew our original--formed of the dust of the earth1 and in consequence of sin1 to dust we must return6 ,this is an humbling thought to proud mortals4 ,adam was a striking figure of our blessed ,jesus1 in many instances2 at present we only view him in his origin4 ,god displayed his sovereignty in creating man1 and setting him up as the head of all mankind4 ,he viewed him as the figure in which our blessed ,jesus should hereafter appear4 ,he viewed all the elect in him1 ordained the fall through him1 for the grand purpose of displaying the riches of his grace1 and the exaltation of our nature1 through its union to ,jesus3 so the elect1 as fallen in ,adam1 and actual transgressors1 are become earthly1 sensual1 and devilish6 ,almighty grace appears1 in its sovereignty1 passing by fallen angels1 and raising such earthly creatures as we are6 ,here1 believer1 admire and adore the ,god who loved your nature so well as to chuse it1 and redeem it1 and afterwards1 by the gracious inhabitation of ,god the ,spirit1 to make it his holy1 living temple4--,this leads me to notice the name ,,seth4 ,this word is rendered by some put--by others1 appointed--by others it signifies foundation4 ,consider the word in either sense it still seems expressive that ,god's elect1 though fallen in ,adam1 are put1 or appointed to be partakers of covenant grace in their hearts4 ,god would lay a foundation in the divine operations of the ,spirit1 for every good word and work2 the new man is the foundation of every good desire--this new man is formed at once2 it is not done by piece-meal1 but it is done the moment the divine ,spirit takes up his abode in the soul2 the train of graces always follows the blessed ,spirit of all grace1 in the temples of the souls of his elect2 his train fills the temple4 ,this new man is the image of ,christ2 this is that which is born of ,god1 and sinneth not1 neither can it commit sin--it is ,spirit1 it is the kingdom of ,god within us1 that does not come by observation1 it chiefly consists in light1 life1 and love3 and this new man1 though often hid from its possessor1 and always opposed1 from a body of sin and death1 yet it shall reign1 through righteousness1 to everlasting life--a troop may overcome1 but it shall overcome at last4--,we shall now trace it in its various operations and blessed effects2 this leads us to the ,name of ,,enos1 signifying ,weakness4 ,this is one of the sad effects of the ,fall2 but an experimental acquaintance with it is an evidence of grace--a branch of that knowledge ,god has promised to give his people--all thy children shall be taught of ,god4 ,our blessed ,jesus is revealed in the ,word as the strength of his saints2 and has promised we shall say for ourselves1 in the ,lord have ,i righteousness and strength--this can be of no use to a sinner till he is first convinced of his criminality and weakness2 we learn the former much sooner than the latter--we soon find our criminality1 and feel wretched in consequence1 but we do not soon learn our strength is perfect weakness4 ,we soon believe we have violated the ,law1 but we are some time learning to cease from our vain labour and rest alone in ,jesus2 to work we generally go1 with all our might1 quite forgetting that it is written1 to him that worketh not1 but believeth1 is the reward reckoned4 ,we strive to keep the ,law2 ,i can truly say ,i did3 ,i began first with the fourth commandment2 then ,i vowed to set a watch over my thoughts1 but1 alas6 ,i found ,sin and ,satan too strong for me3 in the next place ,i saw the law was spiritual1 and cursed me for every sinful thought6 this threw down my ,babel building4 ,i strove to pacify my conscience with many prayers1 and to please ,god with vows2 to conquer sin by my own arm2 by watchfulness1 by reading more prayers1 performing my duty with greater diligence4 ,i read the ,whole ,duty of ,man2 on my knees ,i said over all the prayers in it--still sin overturned the whole of my performances2 ,god still appeared angry2 the ,law cursed me1 and the fears of death1 the prospect of future judgment1 and the horrid idea of standing at the bar of ,god1 overcame me1 till ,i wished ,i never had been born4 ,i can truly say that ,i envied the brute creation2 begged of ,god to annihilate me2 my heart rose in awful rebellion against him in all his dealing4 ,often have ,i said1 in the language of ,dr4 ,watts's ,songs for ,children1 ,and must the crimes that ,i have done ,be read and publish'd there2 ,be all expos'd before the ,sun1 ,while men and angels hear6 ,lord6 at thy feet asham'd ,i lie-- ,upward ,i dare not look2 ,pardon my sins before ,i die1 ,and blot them from thy book4 ,these words exactly suited my case2 in these things ,i have1 and do feel my native weakness--in keeping the ,law1 in pleasing ,god with human performances1 in pacifying conscience with mere vows1 in conquering sin1 in my own strength1 and in keeping up my own animal spirits1 under desertion1 darkness1 guilt1 and trouble4 ,o6 what a mercy it is to have a burden-bearer6 if it was not for this ,i must sink6 and what a privilege to be taught how to cast our burthen on him who careth for us4 ,under the conviction of our native weakness1 the character of ,jesus1 as the strength of our hearts1 is exceeding precious2 while we daily learn by constant experience1 that as fallen sinners we are weak as we are wicked2 the blessed ,spirit convincing us of this1 always produces the next name1 ,,kenan1 ,mourning4 ,this generally stands connected with deep-rooted spiritual convictions of our state1 as fallen1 depraved1 guilty1 and helpless4 ,we mourn on various accounts2 sometimes because of our depravity1 our guilt1 and weakness2 that do what we can1 we are no better--still ,god is angry with us2 the rebellion we feel1 which must be ,god-provoking4 ,we are grieved we ever sinned against him1 because it has exposed us to his wrath4 ,all this mourning comes from a legal spirit2 but there is a godly mourning1 or a mourning after ,god--this comes from every sweet view we have of ,jesus1 as held forth in the ,gospel2 as the ,saviour1 ,surety1 ,righteousness1 and atoning ,sacrifice--the soul is following after him--we want the happy enjoyment of him in our souls4 ,with pleasure we listen to the ,gospel1 which exhibits his charms2 the soul is filled with longing desires after him--a moving in the mind towards him--a venturing near to him--a longing for the day of his espousals--to read its part and lot in him4 ,i am sure that the above was my case2 ,i ran to the house of ,god1 in hopes that every sermon ,i was going to hear1 would be the time1 and ,o how grieved was ,i when ,i had to return1 and my beloved had not appeared in the way and manner ,i expected him4 ,i find through all my pilgrimage1 that the ,lord always works in his own time and way4 ,this1 however1 was mourning after him2 this is certainly some small proof of love4 ,sometimes ,i longed to see my part and lot in him1 from a principle of fear2 sometimes from a principle of love1 the going out of affection to him2 hearing so much of him1 and having an inward spiritual perception of his suitableness and glory4 ,two passages of scripture often did me good2 the one says1 ,by faith ,noah was moved with fear1 prepared himself an ,ark3 the other says1 ,whom having not seen we love2 and though now we see him not1 yet1 believing1 we rejoice4--,but as ,i must be brief1 ,i will mention the next ,patriarch's name1 ,,mahalaleel4 ,this signifies the ,descending1 or the ,illumination of ,god--and follows the other name with great propriety4 ,it is written1 ,seek1 and ye shall find2 knock1 and it shall be opened to you2 you shall find ,christ the pearl of great price4--,while the prison doors of unbelief and sin1 horrors and gloomy fears are opened1 the ,lord ,jesus descends to those who look for him1 wait for him and expect him1 for there shall be a reward1 and thine expectation shall not be cut off2 the blessed ,spirit that has once operated upon the mind1 as a reprover1 convincer1 and begotten the soul to an hope1 will answer to his lovely character1 the ,comforter4 ,if he communicates life to feel after ,god1 to desire ,christ above all1 to keep up a constant hoping-for a smile from ,god1 he will never1 no1 never disappoint it4 ,take courage1 then1 ye fearing characters1 look to his word and faithfulness1 who has said1 ,shall ,i bring to the birth1 and not cause to bring forth8 ,he is faithful that promised1 who also will perform it--,if we believe not1 he abideth faithful1 he cannot deny himself1 nor of course his people1 who are part of himself4 ,this kept up my mind in looking for a deliverance4 ,sometimes ,i vowed ,i would give it up altogether1 but ,god would not1 did not give me up4 ,sometimes my heart fainted within me1 lest ,i should never see the ,lord in the land of the living1 especially after waiting long1 and praying much4 ,i well understood that text in the ,proverbs1 ,hope deferred makes the heart 7full of expectation7 sick4 ,when ,i could get out to hear the ,word1 ,i ran to ,providence ,chapel2 heard the ,word greedily1 and kept watching for something that might be said1 as a voice to me1 or some sweet sight of a smiling ,god2 but ,i returned again and again1 sadly disappointed2 and being under a legal spirit1 began to quarrel with myself1 and said1 ,ah6 ,god has not appeared propitious yet1 because ,i am such a sinner3 ,oh1 if ,i was more diligent1 more watchful and less sinful1 then1 indeed1 ,i might rest assured he would shew my sins forgiven1 and smile upon me4 ,thus ,i wanted1 fool-like1 to take a price in my hand1 to set wisdom4 ,sometimes my rebellious heart would quarrel with ,god himself2 when ,i had been remarkably devout1 then my expectations were great1 and ,i was still disappointed2 so that ,i have often been led to see that ,god acts from no motive1 but in himself2 all his operations of providence and grace1 are to display his sovereignty--it is not of him that willeth1 nor him that runneth1 for ,i did both2 all must be solved here1 ,even so ,father1 it seemeth good in thy sight4 ,not but we are still to be found in the use of means1 for he purposed from everlasting to save his people2 he promised the same in his word2 all is made sure to us2 yet he will be enquired of to do these things for his people4 ,however1 we are to subscribe with the hand1 to the ,god of ,jacob1 or1 in ,new ,testament language1 to set to our seal he is true4 ,this work1 or spiritual building1 must go on2 ,i will work and who shall let it8 ,god begins it with a view to carry it on1 and who can frustrate the designs of ,jehovah to ,sion's mourners8 ,to ,sinners1 weak1 worthless1 and mourning1 ,god has sent his dear ,son3 here is ,god descending1 and the ,holy ,spirit bearing an internal clear testimony to the soul1 that it is born of ,god2 leading us to see him1 and sweetly persuading the soul to say1 ,father6--while he shines into the heart1 and gives us the light of the knowledge of his glory4 ,this is illumination indeed6 ,his glory is seen in pardoning sin1 displaying his free grace1 and exalting a precious ,jesus6 ,the knowledge of this we get under the ,word1 but the light of the knowledge is the clear shining of it in our own personal experience2 by the witness of the ,spirit--an holy joy in ,god--solid peace in the conscience--access to the throne of ,god--a full persuasion of our interest in the love and covenant ,god of our salvation3 this is scriptural1 experimental1 heart-felt religion2 this is ,god descending1 and such appearances are always attended with divine illumination--in his light we see light2 in his light we saw darkness before--now we see ,god as our ,god2 and ,god is light--we see ,jesus1 and can exclaim1 ,the ,lord is my light4--,all this is manifested to us by the teachings1 the clear persuasions of ,god the ,spirit2 thus we see the religion that comes from ,god always leads to ,god again4 ,the light of the hypocrite makes him proud1 puffs him up2 but this leads us out of self1 to admire1 enjoy1 and adore the glorious undivided ,trinity in ,unity1 the center of our happiness1 the source of our joy3 this is the nature of true joy in the ,lord1 whether experienced at our first conversion1 or in all our after renewings--all joy which does not center in ,god1 will go out2 it is the lamp of the foolish ,virgins1 that will expire4 ,on this part of the subject ,i would say a few words on the way the ,lord led me4 ,it must ever be remembered by us1 that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,sovereign in all his dispensaries2 so his sovereignty is particularly discerned in the manner of his operations upon his people--the way in which they are called--the more gentle leadings1 and the awful storms that others experience2 with the manner of introducing the soul into the liberty of the sons of ,god1 appears to manifest that the ,almighty ,minister in the ,church does as he please--for there are diversities of operations1 but it is the same ,spirit4--,i find the ,work of the ,spirit is the same in its nature and tendency1 on all ,god's elect4 ,but there is a material difference in the way in which this ,work is begun and carried on3 ,paul and ,lydia were in possessions of this ,work1 yet the way they were brought into it was very different--the grand end was answered1 namely1 in bringing them to ,jesus4 ,this is the covenant ,work of the ,spirit upon all--many are driven by fearful horrors2 others are led on very gradually--,i must confess the latter was my case1 yet ,i have often wished it had been the former1 because1 then ,i think the deliverance would have been the more conspicuous2 but my convictions were gentle1 and my deliverance was gradual2 not that ,i was without fears1 horrors1 or terrible ideas--,i saw ,god was angry with me for sin2 ,i tried to please him1 but in vain--the ,law came home to my heart1 and much bondage1 legal striving1 and awful rebellion did ,i feel2 the fears of death and dread of hell ,i was seldom free from for years together4 ,i have often thought my case was very singular4 ,it is said in the ,book of ,psalms1 ,the entrance of thy ,word givith ,light4 ,now ,i know the first time ,i ever felt or saw the light1 was at the age of fifteen4 ,being naturally an enemy to ,god's ,saints1 ,word1 and ,ministers1 and living in an enemy's house1 that enmity1 through native blindness1 was increased4 ,being apprenticed in the neighbourhood of ,providence ,chapel1 ,i heard much of1 and joined in the ridicule against ,mr4 ,huntington4 ,one evening going of an errand1 the ,chapel being opened1 ,i thought ,i would go in to hear what the babbler had to say1 that ,i might have a little sport the next day4 ,as soon as the text was read1 the words came home to my mind in such a way as ,i cannot describe1 only by the idea of a candle brought a light into a dark room6 ,this overcame me1 melted my heart1 and ,i went out of the ,chapel a few minutes after4 ,from that moment ,i was led to feel my need of a ,saviour4 ,this light was attended afterwards with love1 with desire1 hopes1 and a turning my feet to ,god's testimonies4 ,i loved the people1 minister1 and word ,i before hated--,i now saw with new eyes2 ,i had many convictions before1 but no desires after an interest in the ,saviour--they were doubtless from ,god1 though they were legal1 but from this period ,i believe they were spiritual4 ,my mind was set to seek the ,lord--great pleasure ,i found in the ways of the ,lord4 ,i now had clearer convictions than ever of my ruined state1 and they were attended with eager desires after a sense of my part and lot in ,christ4 ,sometimes ,i thought ,i should be favored with it--othertimes not4 ,the next very clear entrance of light was more visionary on the mind--,i was hearing a minister on the ,sufferings of ,christ but felt an unusual indifference to all that he said4 ,when the ,sermon was ended the grand ,hymn was gave out1 ,when ,i survey the wond'rous cross1 ,on which the ,prince of ,glory died-- ,this was attended in a moment with such an affecting view of the ,sufferings of ,jesus as is impossible to describe3 ,i saw him clearly on the ,cross1 in great agonies--this deeply affected me--,i covered my face lest any one should see my tears4 ,this was followed with a thought that every sin of mine 8did cost his heart a groan60--,the ,lord now led me on to seek him more than ever1 and to know that he actually died for me2 for the above vision was only on the mind2 it did not shine into the heart with any assurance1 therefore ,i could not rest on it4 ,i told a good woman of it who attended ,providence ,chapel1 and she assured me it was a token from the ,lord1 that ,i should be brought into glorious liberty1 and1 perhaps1 preach a crucified ,christ3 ,though this at the time appeared very unlikely1 yet so it came to pass4 ,the next clear light manifested to my mind in a sensible way1 was in hearing ,mr4 ,h4 on--,go forth1 ,o ye daughters of ,zion1 and behold ,king ,solomon4 ,this was sweet1 clear1 and precious indeed4 ,under that ,sermon ,i had very blessed discoveries of ,jesus1 in the ,suitableness of his ,person1 and the ,love of his ,heart1 yet could not say he was mine4 ,the ,lord the ,spirit continued my teacher1 and many encouraging seasons ,i experienced4 ,sometimes full of doubts and fears--shut up in unbelief--overcome at times with besetting sin1 which brought on all my horrors again2 and while expecting to be cut off and sent to hell1 was1 on the contrary1 many a time melted with his forbearing and tender mercy4--,thus ,i was kept1 hoping and depending1 looking for a deliverance and often disappointed4 ,these words of ,mr4 ,toplady1 the first time ,i saw them1 was very sweet to me1 at a time when ,i was particularly low2 ,yet1 ,lord1 if thou ne'er had'st design'd ,no covenant blessing for me2 ,ah1 tell me how is it ,i find ,such sweetness in waiting for thee4 ,for ,i often found it blessed to be waiting upon1 and waiting for ,god4 ,i often envied the felicity of those who could say1 ,my ,god4--,when ,i was a little indisposed in body ,i was much afraid ,i should die in the pit--this made me in a hurry to get out of it4 ,i think such a state is described by ,isaiah--,the captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed1 lest he should die in the pit1 and that his bread should fail4 ,here such a case is exactly set forth2 and fast held we are--,i felt it so--held by the chains of sin1 the iron bars of unbelief1 the curses of the ,law1 the fears of death1 and the dread of future judgement4 ,sometimes ,i got very cold and indifferent about it--then that text would make me tremble--,ephraim is joined to idols2 let him alone6 ,this made me chuse my burden1 for ,i was always afraid of ease1 or losing my burden ,i knew not how4 ,sometimes ,i got sweetly refreshed under the word2 then my hope was busy1 expecting greater things than those--at other times ,i got cut up1 root and branch2 this made me go away1 groaning in spirit1 yet obliged to go to the same place where ,i had been wounded1 and there ,god generally healed me4 ,i felt great liberty at times1 in reading some of ,mr4 ,huntington's ,works1 namely1 the ,letters to the late tried ,mr4 ,jenkins--one ,passage especially1 which is rather too long to transcribe1 was particularly blessed to me1 in the first volume of the 8,living ,testimonies10 page #fa--the latter part of the ,sermons on 8,the ,dimensions of ,eternal ,love10 and 8,the ,law established by ,faith40 ,these were marrow and fatness to my soul2 but after waiting1 seeking1 longing1 desiring1 fearing1 desponding1 and praying1 the ,lord descended to give me a clearer illumination of mind--it shone into my heart1 lifted me up with joy1 overcame me with love1 made me cry1 my ,father6 my ,god6 my ,beloved6 my ,portion6 my ,all6--,i wondered1 ,i rejoiced1 ,i wept1 ,i was completely absorbed in love1 wonder1 and joy4 ,one ,day at work1 thinking over my state1 and inwardly fretting in my heart1 the ,lord suddenly whispered1 with peculiar power1 and clothed it with much light--the ,son of ,man is come to save that which was lost6 ,there was such a peculiar emphasis upon the word1 that ,i stood still2 ,i was1 for a few moments1 quite confused1 but presently ,i felt a sweet sensation of gratitude1 love1 and joy4 ,i was enabled to see my sins were forgiven1 my soul justified in ,christ1 ,god well pleased with me1 and a throne of grace open to me4 ,i humbly conceive this was the ,joy of ,faith1 ,god had blest me with the ,grace of it before--now ,i had the ,joy of it--,i was happy in ,christ4 ,this pleasure of mind gradually abated4 ,on the following ,sunday morning ,i went1 as usual1 to ,providence ,chapel4 ,mr4 ,huntington preached on1 ,cast out the bond-woman and her son4 ,when the text was read ,i thought there would be nothing for me--but ,o6 the sweet surprize6 ,god spoke almost every word of the ,sermon to me4 ,the preacher was led to describe bondage and liberty2 the latter he shewed was gradual--in some cases sudden2 in short1 it was the making my new birth clear to me2 nor have ,i had the fears of death and dread of hell1 in that legal1 horrid manner1 come upon me ever since4 ,thus the light came--light of the knowledge of his glory4 ,this has been often renewed to me since1 but never in so glorious a manner--,god has led my faith often to make use of the same precious truth that was so directly applied to my heart4 ,this experience is described by ,john--perfect love casteth out fear--this love leads up the mind to ,jesus2 and it being attended with sweet views of him in his offices1 and those offices exercised in our hearts--his prophetic office1 in the teachings of his word and ,spirit2 his priestly office1 in the application of pardon2 we are made his willing subjects1 while he reigns king in our affections4--,this leads to the name ,,jered1 which signifies ,reigning4 ,christ's spiritual reign in the soul2 his reign in the ,church1 as his holy hill2 and our reigning with him4 ,much is said in ,scripture about the ,saints' reign--hence they are called ,kings2 ,christ reigns in them2 their hearts are his throne for ever--as ,christ reigns in their hearts so do they in his1 and they shall overcome and sit down with him in his throne4 ,this is accomplished in some degree1 in a time state1 when we are led to the ,atonement1 and ,faith receives it2 all the while we enjoy the blessing of it we shout victory through his blood4 ,faith in ,jesus overcomes the world1 the fears of death1 and our own inbred corruptions--they overcame by the blood of the ,lamb--and being favored with victory1 we are crowned--we take our rest in the love of ,god2 this is the throne on which we sit1 and shall reign for ever--we shall likewise reign in the new heaven and earth a thousand years--,blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth--we shall reign on the earth2 and they lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years2 this last reign is as sure to us as we are crowned conquerors now4 ,as ,christ lives in us and reigns king in our affections1 so he gives us grace to swear eternal allegiance to him4 ,thus we are led to the next name1 ,,enoch1 dedicated4 ,our souls and bodies are his1 by the eternal gift of the ,father--he purchased the ,church with his own blood--and having conquered our hearts with his love1 we are his willing subjects--made willing to be1 to do1 and suffer any thing and every thing he calls us to1 and gives us grace for4 ,we wish him to have the whole heart1 without a rival--our time and talents we would give to him1 who has done such great things for us2 not that we must for a moment1 think we can do any thing for ,god1 no2 he must work all in us1 and do all for us2 and by all-powerful grace keep us in the good ways of ,god4 ,this operation of light1 and reign of love1 is always attended with a devotedness of spirit to ,god2 hence the ,apostle says1 ,none of us should live to himself1 but to ,god--and again1 ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the mercies you have received1 that you present yourselves a living sacrifice1 holy and acceptable unto ,god1 which is your reasonable service4 ,the ,apostle here addresses converted men1 who have received ,christ1 the mercy promised1 and all blessings in him4 ,these blessings are communicated to the soul1 and manifested in the exercises of faith and love4 ,life--this makes us a living--a new nature--this makes us a holy1 sacrifice4 ,it is our desire to be the ,lord's for ever2 to enjoy him in all1 to see him in all1 to be dependent on him1 and to praise him for all1 in life1 death1 and eternity2 while1 as it respects the ,church and the ,world1 we wish to walk as he walked2 this is summed up in that striking passage--that we1 being delivered from our enemies1 might serve him without fear1 7servile1 slavish fear7 in holiness and righteousness all our days--this1 arising from love1 is the service in the spirit1 and not in the oldness of the letter--not from a fear of death and judgment1 or from the pride of the heart1 hoping to bring in ,god a debtor2 but from the influence of sovereign love-- ',tis love that makes our willing feet ,in swift obedience move-- ,thus we run the way of ,god's commandments1 as he enlarges the heart with the influence and full persuasion of his love4 ,this is highly commended of the ,lord2 hence he says1 ,i remember thee1 the kindness of thy youth1 and the love of thine espousals1 when thou wentest after me in a land that was not sown4 ,so he complains of others1 that they had left their first love4 ,with respect to this willingness to serve the ,lord1 ,i am sure1 as ,i felt this love1 so ,i was anxious to spread the savour of it in every place2 and though entirely destitute of human learning1 eloquence1 and oratory1 yet the ,lord went before me1 opening my mouth1 and opening doors in his providence for me1 giving testimony to the word of his grace2 some were convinced1 others comforted1 some brought into sweet liberty1 some were brought out of damnable errors1 and many sweetly instructed in the grand plan of a sinner's salvation2 and ,i bless ,god there are many witnesses to these things to this day4 ,this incurred the displeasure of the ,devil1 of the ,citizens of a barren country1 and those ,preachers who knew nothing of the power of ,god in their souls1 and of course never were the instruments of communicating it to others4 ,though in this ,work ,i have discerned in myself too much a savoring of flesh and blood--a willingness to cry1 a confederacy1 to any--and ,i have sorely smarted for my folly1 though ,i never gave up an inch of truth to please any2 yet being naturally facile1 and filled with zeal1 with but little knowledge1 perhaps1 in many instances1 ,i have not acted so decidedly as ,i ought to have done--,i hope my ,lord has forgiven me this wrong1 and of the ,church ,i must beg pardon1 while ,i must plead youth and inexperience--but by many scourges1 reproaches1 temptations1 and trials1 ,i have been since a little better informed1 and now understand the meaning of that singular text in the ,proverbs--,a whip for the horse1 a bridle for the ass1 and a rod for the fool's back4 ,it is now my most sincere desire to glorify ,god1 to speak good of his name1 to be of use to his dear people1 and to make manifest the savoriness of divine truth in every place2 but this cannot be done1 either by a minister or private believer1 without opposition4 ,this leads me to the following names1 which in the experience of ,god's saints are inseparable-- ,,methuselah1 which signifies the sending forth of ,death--and ,,lamech1 the cutting down4 ,indeed what was death ever sent for but to cut down8 ,death penal1 temporal1 spiritual1 or eternal4 ,it appears the above characters were the father and grand-father of ,noah1 and seem to be prophetic of the ,flood which should destroy an ungodly world2 that at the death1 or soon after the death of ,methuselah the ,flood would break out1 and cut or sweep away the old world1 which was soon accomplished4 ,but1 to carry on the figure1 as expressive of the ,work of the ,spirit1 may not these ,names set forth that internal war which every convinced1 mourning1 illuminated believer experiences in his own soul8 ,there is a warfare before we know our part and lot in ,jesus2 and there is a perpetual one after--the one before1 is between hope and despair2 the life1 or salvation of the soul1 hanging in doubt for years together2 but upon the accomplishment of this warfare1 through the application of pardon1 and receiving the double exchange of ,beauty for ashes1 the oil of joy for mourning1 and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness1 as the light of ,god's countenance and his glory shines upon the soul--this is the sending forth of death1 to cut down the old man with his deeds2 and as the new man receives and enjoys the above blessings1 so the old man is put off1 nor can our weaker passions dare consent to sin1 for ,god is there4 ,but is it not a truth in the experience of ,god's elect1 in a greater or less degree1 that they are weaned from the milk1 and drawn from the breast1 that they must be conformed to their ,covenant ,head in suffering8--that as our blessed ,jesus1 after his glorious baptism1 was led into the ,wilderness1 to be tempted of the ,devil1 so must his followers1 else what is the use of the spiritual armoury1 whereon there hangs a thousand bucklers1 all shields of mighty men--the very idea of conquest must1 of course1 imply a war2 and this is carried on between the flesh and the spirit1 the old man and the new2 these are yet like the ,philistines and ,israelites--we are in the field1 with our spiritual ,david1 and ,goliah1 the ,devil1 at the head of each--army1 against army--the flesh lusteth1 warreth against the spirit1 the spirit warreth against the flesh--these are contrary1 the one to the other1 as light and darkness1 sin and grace1 ,god and the ,devil can be4 ,he that has sent forth light to see and enjoy ,god's salvation1 sends forth death to the old man--so the ,apostle says1 ,we are dead to sin by the body of ,christ2 sin is not dead to us1 though we die to it1 through an application of the atonement2 and as we live upon it from day to day1 this leads us to long for the time when we shall get entirely rid of it4 ,but into the field of battle we are led1 to prove our spiritual armour2 to make use of the helmet of salvation1 the shield of faith1 the breast plate of righteousness1 the sword of the ,spirit1 and the iron shoes of ,gospel peace2 all of which centre in one word1 and that is ,,christ--this is the ,captain of our salvation2 he heads the train of graces1 for they are all given to us1 to be exercised on ,christ and his finished salvation2 and as they are exercised on him so they are a death blow to all that oppose1 both within and without1 and we rejoice in hope that as he has bruised the ,devil's head on the cross1 and in our hearts1 he has dethroned him2 so he will1 shortly1 bruise ,satan under our feet this is our prospect1 nor shall we be disappointed--our way to the kingdom is hard and rugged1 through the corruptions of the human heart and the wiles of the ,devil2 he has the impudence1 at times1 to dispute every inch of ground4 ,we have been brought to raise up some sin in our nature1 to oppose some grace in the new man2 this ,i find in my own experience--and if any tried1 benighted travellers can get any comfort from my afflictions they are welcome to it2 but the true state of the case is this1 ,i find a law in my members1 warring against the law in my mind1 always trying to bring me into captivity to the power of sin and death--but ,i am happy at times that ,christ has engaged that grace shall reign1 nor do ,i wish a greater felicity in death than to be enabled to exclaim1 ,grace reigns6 ,faith and ,unbelief strive in their turns for the mastery--,hope and ,despondency1 ,love and ,hatred1 ,joy and ,sorrow1 ,patience and ,murmuring1 ,resignation and ,complaints1 ,carnality and ,spirituality--sometimes ,i am really overcome by this troop2 but as soon as ,jesus puts fresh strength in these graces1 the enemy is routed1 and ,i can sing1 ,nay1 in all these things we are more than conquerors1 through him that hath loved us--his appearance cuts down all my foes2 as soon as he is gone they all come again1 and vex my soul4 ,as he shines upon my faith1 leads forth my love1 and invigorates my hope1 ,i die to the world1 to sin1 to self1 to the creature1 and live only to1 as ,i live only upon1 a precious ,saviour6 ,this is a little of what ,i do know of the subject1 but must not enlarge here1 only remark1 that as this world is not our rest1 nor the arm of the creature our strength1 so the blessed ,sprit by this warfare1 leads us to see the vanity of the world1 the emptiness of the creature1 the vast importance of a ,work of ,grace upon the heart1 and the malice of the ,devil1 the deceitfulness of our own hearts1 and all this1 that we may highly prize1 make much of1 and find rest and consolation only in ,jesus4 ,this leads us to the ,name1 ,,noah1 ,rest or ,consolation4--,this only is to be found in ,christ2 hence ,david said1 upon the reflection of his sad troubles1 ,return unto thy rest1 ,o my soul6--the learned say in the original it is ,noah1 perhaps in allusion to the ,dove1 who was sent out of the ,ark1 but could find no rest for the soul of its foot1 till it returned4 ,so we find it1 experimentally1 in all seasons of worldly-mindedness1 carnality1 and backsliding2 we are truly miserable1 we are out of our element2 we can get no consolation1 no rest1 till we have a sweet1 cordial reception from our dear ,lord again--the ,spirit has engaged to glorify ,jesus1 and he does it in presenting him in his beauty and glory to the mind1 by bringing us to enjoy him1 to prize him1 and keep near him2 hence the command1 ,abide in me4 ,so the blessed ,spirit carrying on the ,work of ,faith in our minds1 by exercising it on the ,person1 ,work1 and ,love of ,jesus1 here we find rest2 we which believe do enter into rest2 ,christ is our rest--here we cease from legal striving1 and find a ,sabath rest in ,christ alone3--hence he is called the consolation of ,israel1 and we want him1 as such1 all the way to glory4--,considering the sins1 the trials1 the crosses1 losses1 and disappointments of ,god's children1 no doubt sent on purpose to keep us near the ,saviour1 and that we might make up all our happiness in him2 hence he says1 ,cease ye from man1 whose breath is in his nostrils4 ,we must learn to cease from the best of men--,god often tries his people with his people2 perhaps this made the ,prophet exclaim1 the best of them is a briar1 the most upright it sharper than a thorn edge4 ,how wisely has our ,english poet expressed it-- ,i can not on earth2 'twill pierce thee to the heart6 ,a broken reed at best1 but oft a spear2 ,on its sharp point ,peace bleeds and ,hope expires6 ,this is designed to lead us to ,jesus1 as our consolation--,christ is set before us as our rest1 a resting and a dwelling place2 and if ,i may express a few words on this part of the subject1 ,i must confess that ,i have found1 and do find rest alone in him2 in his precious ,atonement ,i get rest from sin--in his imputed ,righteousness1 ,i cease from legal striving and rest alone on it--in the witness of the ,spirit ,i find rest from doubts1 fears1 and the accusations of ,satan1 and a quickened conscience--in point of felicity1 ,i feel rest in the eternity of his love1 the unalterableness of his covenant1 the immutability of his nature1 decrees1 and purposes2 and although that declaration made me tremble in my first setting out1 ,i rejoice in it now--he is in one mind and none can turn him2 this is our mercy and our rest2 this is what ,satan1 by the instrumentality of false preachers1 labours to destroy--but if the foundation be removed1 what can the righteous do8 ,this warfare1 and the consolation we find in ,jesus1 proves to us our ,adoption2 as this is a path no fowl knoweth1 and the ,vulture's eye hath not seen1 so1 on the contrary1 the blessed ,spirit leads his people into this path--a way of holiness1 and an highway4 ,this leading1 teaching1 and witnessing1 evidences we have a place in his heart1 in his covenant1 in his house1 and that we belong to ,god--hence the ,apostle says1 ,as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god they are the ,sons of ,god4 ,this naturally leads me to the #aath ,name1 ,,shem4 ,this word signifies a ,name or ,renown4 ,are not ,god's children renowned--some for faith1 others for love1 for wisdom1 for devotedness1 and above all1 for objects of eternal discriminating grace8 ,has not our dear ,lord given them a name1 even that of ,sons and ,daughters--of ,children--of ,beloved--of a ,spouse8--and1 to shew our ,union to ,christ1 were not the ,disciples first called ,christians at ,antioch8 ,and no one has a just right to this name who has not received the ,spirit of ,christ2--hence1 it was long before prophesied that they should be called by a new name1 which the mouth of the ,lord should name4 ,so when ,god makes our eternal election manifest1 he says1 ,i know thee by name4 ,he knew our persons1 and what names we should be called by1 even literally1 before the world was made2 and appointed all the circumstances which should bring about our birth and name2 and this he does in a very singular way1 to many of his people1 to shew we are preserved in ,christ ,jesus1 until called4 ,perhaps many in infancy and youth1 have met with great pain1 poverty1 want1 and cruelty1 from parents1 friends1 and guardians2 others have been in deaths oft1 yet could not be destroyed1 for of such was the kingdom of ,god to be composed2 others have been forsaken of parents entirely1 they have forgot their sucking children1 and left them to perish in helpless infancy1 either through want1 shame1 or cruelty4 ,i1 myself1 was so left1 forsaken by parents and friends1 if report be true2 and according to my name ,i was left in a ,church1 as it is usual to name ,foundlings where they are found4 ,this was really the case with my brother1 ,moses1 who was found in the bulrushes by ,pharoah's daughter1 and she called him ,moses1 7drawn out of the water7 because she took him out of the water4 ,yes1 my parents1 whoever they were1 forsook me in infancy1 and left me1 probably1 to perish6 ,left on the world's bleak waste1 forlorn1 ,in sin conceiv'd1 to sorrow born2 ,no guide the devious maze to tread1 ,above no friendly shelter spread4 ,but1 ,when parents1 deaf to nature's voice1 ,their helpless charge forsook2 ,then1 nature's ,god1 who heard my cries1 ,compassion on me took4 ,thus ,i can testify to the truth of the ,prophet1 ,in thee the fatherless findeth mercy2 for when my father and my mother forsook me1 then the ,lord took me up1 and gave me the name he had appointed me from eternity4--,this is our mercy--adopted into his family as his ,sons and his ,daughters1 he has given a name1 ,ye shall be called the children of ,god--and to be favored with the witness of our adoption in the soul1 is an unspeakable blessing indeed2 every sweet view of this privilege is calculated to warm the heart1 animate the mind1 fill it with holy fervour1 inflame the affection1 and fill it with burning zeal4 ,this is included in the #abth ,name1 ,,ham1 which signifies ,warmth or ,heat4 ,this1 in one sense1 distinguishes the mere nominal professor and the real professor2 one may have some light1 be in the judgment clear1 and like a frosty night1 clear1 but very cold2 but ,god has promised to his children these two should go together--a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning4 ,when we are favored with peculiar seasons of holy familiarity with ,god our covenant ,father1 when divine love is shed abroad1 and flows out to ,jesus1 in sweet return--when we meet with a brother in ,christ1 and he gives a sweet account of the ,lord's gracious dealings with him--when we are particularly blest under the word1 or impressed with grand and precious ideas of ,jesus1 these things kindle a holy flame in the spirit4 ,or when we fall in company with the enemies to ,jesus1 to the ,father or the ,spirit1 or to any of the leading ,doctrines of the ,gospel1 we may be silent a little1 while musing on their errors1 boldness1 and effrontery2 but while we are silent his word is as a fire shut up in our bones2 we are weary with forbearing1 and at last1 speak we must2 the fire of holy zeal is kindled in the heart1 and though we can say but little1 yet we must plead for our master's honour1 his perfection1 and his saints4 ,this zeal is discovered1 at times1 by the enemies of truth1 and by them called ,bigotry1 or a bad spirit4 ,but holy zeal is tempered with love to ,god and truth1 and springing from a real spiritual knowledge1 can never be a bad spirit4--,the many storms a child of ,god meets with from ,satan1 the world1 a body of sin and death1 persecution1 and infirmities1 these wean him from the world1 while the love of ,god sweetly operating upon his mind1 he longs to be dissolved and be with ,christ1 which is far better for him4 ,his soul feels at times like a bird in a cage2 it beats its pinions1 and longs for enlargements4 ,this leads me to the last name1 ,,japheth--this signifies ,enlargement4 ,hence the ,promise and ,prophecy1 ,god shall enlarge ,japheth1 and he shall dwell in the tents of ,shem4 ,this is a sweet hint dropped of the salvation of the ,gentiles1 and a gracious promise of a ,saviour--he1 7that is7 ,god1 shall dwell in the tents of ,shem4--,this was verified when the word was made flesh and dwelt among us1 and when the ,gentiles were fellow heirs with the believing ,jews1 in a ,gospel ,church ,state4 ,this name was figurative of that enlargement the souls of ,god's dear people experience in life1 and in the article of death1 when the spirit is freed from its cumberance4 ,perhaps the greatest part of a believer's life is in a state of bondage2 this comes from various quarters1 and on many accounts2 this makes him sigh1 for in this we groan being burdened2 and feeling this we exclaim1 ,bring my soul out of prison1 that ,i may praise thy name4 ,while the ,gospel is a proclamation of liberty to the captive1 the holy ,spirit brings that enlargement to the mind2 and every child of ,god is sensible when he is in liberty and when in bondage--when shut up and when at large4 ,perhaps the frequent enlargements with which we are favored1 are the earnests of our entire discharge from earth to heaven4 ',tis blessed to notice these enlargements in our own experience1 and compare them with what the saints of old have experienced2 the ,apostle ,paul knew these things1 and at one time speaks of being straitened--at another he says1 ,our mouth is opened unto you1 our heart is enlarged4 ,i must confess ,i am glad these were the feelings of an ,apostle1 as ,i have felt them so frequently--in many sermons1 alas1 how ,i have been shut up--often in prayer--in the company of ,god's people1 and in the presence of his adversaries4 ,at other times ,i have felt sweet liberty in speaking of the glory of ,god's kingdom1 and talking of his power4 ,so1 also1 in the defence of truth1 ,god has given me a mouth and wisdom1 that no adversary could gainsay or resist4 ,the first enlargement ,i found was when ,god led my mind to ,jesus1 as my ,surety1 ,advocate1 ,ransom1 ,righteousness1 and ,remedy4 ,when he shed abroad his love1 ,i lost that kind of fear that tormented me1 and ,i could say1 ,o thou whom my soul loveth--and in sweet confidence--he loved me2 my mouth was enlarged to pray1 to praise1 and bless my ,god--his ways were pleasantness1 and his paths peace1 and ,i could run the way of his commandments1 while his love enlarged my heart--though many things have too often occurred to bring me into bondage again1 which has raised the cry in my soul1 ,restore unto me the joys of thy salvation--and the piteous moan of one of old1 ,he hath fenced up my way that ,i cannot pass1 and he hath set darkness in my paths2 while ,i sensibly1 at times1 felt a backwardness to all that was good--no pleasure in the ,bible--reluctantly going to a throne of grace--fit for no company--ordinances very dry to me--my love cold1 hope low1 faith weak1 and every thing ,god did1 my heart fretted against him for it1 so that ,i was ready to cry out to all the people of ,god ,i was acquainted with-- ,ye that love the ,lord1 indeed1 ,tell me--is it so with you8 ,thus ,i generally remained till the application of a promise--one sweet word under a sermon--or a part of an hymn--or opening the mind to plead the promises at a throne of grace--or a sweet ray of light let in upon the mind1 that led me to review the way ,i was led--this brought enlargement again--the above ,i have experienced many times4 ',tis this makes our life a warfare2 while our inbred sins gaining the ascendancy1 brings the mind into sad bondage--this even works for our good1 leads us to hate self1 see the malice of ,satan1 the need of divine keeping1 and constrains us from necessity to pray1 ,hold thou me up and ,i shall be safe4 ,this warfare must be accomplished1 this combat must have an end1 the sooner the better2 our happy release must come1 we must soon be put in possession of that glory which we are favored with the earnest of1 even eternal light1 life1 and love4 ,feeling1 knowing1 and enjoying these things1 we shall have the glorious fruition of them by and by2 the way to it is painful1 and much dreaded by the best of men1 but ,god has always been better to them than their fears1 they have been made willing to go2 nature has shuddered1 but faith has gained the victory2 their fears and unbelief has often suggested1 ,who shall roll away the stone from the door8--but lo1 the angel of the ,lord descends in time1 to roll it away2 hence the ,redeemer says1 ,i will come again and receive you to myself1 that where ,i am ye may be also4 ,thou shalt come to thy grave in full age1 like a shock of corn1 fully ripe1 that cometh in his season--the wicked is driven away in his wickedness1 but the other comes to his grave1 or like a lily full blown2 for1 ,my beloved 7says the ,church7 has gone down to his garden to gather lillies--and as sure as we are gathered from the world1 gathered into his ,church by effectual calling1 so surely shall we be gathered into his garner4 ,o what an enlargement6--now safe arrives the heavenly mariner2 the battering storm1 the hurricane of life1 all dies away in one eternal calm4 ,with joy divine1 and transport in his breast1 ,he gains the port of everlasting rest4 ,this will be an enlargement1 or freedom from sin1 from all temptations to it1 from its dominion1 from the commission of it1 from the very inbeing of it4 ,now shall that promise have its accomplishment1 ,there shall be no more the ,canaanite in the house of the ,lord--from ,satan and his temptations1 from evil men1 they that offend will be gathered out of this kingdom1 from bodily afflictions2 the ,inhabitants shall no more say ,i am sick--here we shall be at liberty1 enjoy ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit2 hold fellowship with him without interruption1 be favored with clear apprehensions of his perfections and glory1 as they shine in ,christ4 ,then we shall see1 love1 admire1 and adore the ,lamb in the midst of the throne--see the glory of his person1 with the eyes of the soul1 and his body with our bodily eyes--the glory of his human nature3 see him in that nature that bore our sins1 wearing the very marks and scars he received for us2 that dear head that was once crowned with thorns6 that dear face that was once marred more than any6 those dear hands1 feet1 and side1 that were wounded6 ,we shall then see him in all his glory--,this is the joy set before us1 for which we endure the cross2 we shall see him as he is1 and be like him for ever--,this is the glory to be revealed in the saints1 beyond all comparison2 this will be a joy unspeakable1 and full of glory4 ,how sweet the promise1 ,the ransomed of the ,lord shall return1 and come to ,zion with songs1 and everlasting joy upon their heads2 they shall obtain joy and gladness1 and sorrow and sighing shall flee away6 ,this shall be the high priviledge of every vessel of mercy4 ,i close this ,sermon with an excellent quotation from ,mr4 ,huntington's 8,spiritual ,sea ,voyage20 which book has often entertained me4 8,free grace and her crew all arrived at last1 ,no sailor was miss'd1 when the muster was past2 ,by thousands and millions the angels appear'd1 ,and welcomed us with the anthems we heard4 ,we sung of ,redemption1 in ,jesus the ,lord-- ,of sovereign ,love1 and how we were restor'd-- ,the dangers we met1 and the helps that appear'd-- ,of infinite ,wisdom1 by which we were steer'd4 ,delightful the ,union1 and great was the throng1 ,the melody charming1 delightful the song3 ,an order came forth for ascending the throne1 ,and when we were seated the judgment came on40 ,thus1 christian reader1 ,i have shewn my opinion of the ,names of the ,patriarchs4 ,i have not written all ,i wished1 lest it should swell this ,sermon to a volume4 ,i have noticed some of the ,lord's dealings with my own soul--every minister ought to give some account of a ,work of ,grace upon his own heart2 ,i have not made myself all in all1 rather nothing at all2 ,i only aimed at the exaltation of that grace it is ,god's delight to display4 ,i have chosen this method of sending it into the world1 because1 as ,i went over these ,names1 various parts of my own experience appeared so clear ,i could not forbear mentioning them1 to the honour of ,god4 ,i originally intended to publish an ,account of the ,dealings of the ,lord with me1 in a ,series of ,letters1 when ,i could have been more explicit and regular in my ,narrative2 but as ,i intend those ,letters1 only for a few thoughts on some interesting passages of ,scripture1 ,i have made mention of the above in this ,sermon2 this will no doubt procure me much more opposition from friend and foe2 however1 what ,i have written is the truth2 to the ,god of all truth ,i commit it1 hoping it will be blessed to the friends of truth--remembering divine ,love1 or ,charity1 rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the truth1 beareth all things1 hopeth all things1 endureth all things4 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,author wishes to inform his friends1 that1 he has some remaining ,copies left 7,price #as47 of the ,,sermon entitled1 ,spiritual ,victories1 or the ,sword of the ,lord of ,gideon4 ,likewise1 shortly will be published1 a ,,sermon1 ,on the ,difference the ,lord has put between the ,egyptians and the ,israelites4--,from ,exodus xi1 #g4 ,the ,reader will please to observe the following ,errata4 ,title ,page4 ,instead of thine ,eye2 read thine ,age4 ,and in the last line of ,page #g 7after ,enoch7 introduce1 ,,methuselah1 sending forth ,death4--,,lamech1 cutting down4 99 99 99 99 99 ,thomas1 ,printer1 ,red ,lion ,st4 ,borough4