GOD'S

GREAT LOVE UNTO MANKIND,

THROUGH

JESUS CHRIST,

OUR LORD.

HAVING been concerned for the good and welfare of the children of men, in my youthful days, and tasted of the infinite love of God, in, and through his dear Son, the holy Lamb Jesus, who laid down his life for the sins of the world; and, in my tender years, reaped great benefit, through faith in, and obedience unto, him; for, truly, I have found, by sufficient experience, that one without the other, to wit, faith without works, will not answer the end of the great love of Christ Jesus, our Lord, in that he offered himself a sacrifice for all mankind; not for people to live in sin, but to take away the sin of the world; in a word, "Faith without works is dead." James ii. 20. For my part, I found it so, and so must all true believers in the Son of God.

Christ first loved us, and paid that debt for us, that, of ourselves, we were not able to do. Oh! his infinite love! it hath oftentimes melted my soul into tenderness.

Methinks it is abundance of pity, that ever the sons of men should requite evil for good, or disobedience for such gracious obedience; I would to God, that all believers in Christ would live in that fear of God, and that love to Christ, that keepeth the heart clean; because nothing unclean can enter the kingdom of heaven. I do not mean a slavish fear; but fear that is wrought by love: for them that love the Lord, the great, everlasting God, will fear to offend him.

This is the matter that chiefly beareth stress on my mind, at this time: the necessity of love to God and

Christ, and one another; "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, the things that God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Cor. ii. 9. For my part, I cannot pretend to tell thee, Oh, man! to the full; but only a little to hint at it: it is, Joy unspeakable, and full of glory:" but then we must love him, so as to keep his commandments. This is the work that I am very earnest in pressing people to, whether youth or aged: it is not too soon for the young, neither too late for the aged, to begin this work of obedience, through faith, and love to God and Christ, if his spirit is reproving or striving in them. But it is more honourable and acceptable, for a man to give up the strength of his days to serve the Lord, and to remember his Creator in the days of his youth, before sin is too much rooted and grown in him; for then it will be much more labour, to get the root of unrighteousness plucked up.

So that in that ability, which God hath given me, I would endeavour to stir up all to serve him, and to be in good earnest, and not to put the day of God, even the mighty Jehovah, afar off; but to love the Lord unfeignedly, and with true obedience; since it is that sacrifice, that is only acceptable to God; that is to say, to love him in deed and in truth, more than in word, and with tongue for against such a people, the Lord, by his servant, complained, in old time; "They (saith the Lord), draw nigh to me with their mouths, and with their lips do honour me :" but, Oh! their great misery was, their hearts were far from him; they did not love him with their whole hearts; that was their great fault this thing is also a great evil in the sight of the great God, in this our age; and is too frequent in England, the land of my nativity, as also in other islands and places beyond the seas. What lamentation shall be taken up, for such as do so mock the Lord, the great God of love? Surely he will render vengeance, as in flames of fire, upon all the wicked and ungodly, and those that forget him. It is not by saying, but by doing, that we are justified, through faith in Christ; not he

that saith, Lord, Lord, only; but he that doth his will also, shail enter the kingdom.

Now the will of God, and Christ his son, is, that we should love him above all; and in loving him, we shall love one another; for Christ saw the great need there was of loving God above all, and also of loving one another; therefore he answered thus to him that asked him, which was the greatest commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Mat. xxii. 37.

"This (says Christ) is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets," verses 38, 39, and $40.

Now if these two great commandments were obeyed, it would answer God's great love to us, in sending his Son to bless us. Oh! the glory of God, how it would shine! it would make the young men as valiants of Israel, and the old men às captains of thousands; then Christ would reign gloriously indeed, in the hearts of the children of men; here the Lamb and his followers (that walk in the light, and in that commandment, that burns as a lamp), would get the victory over the devil and his followers; but, on the contrary, this is the great error of mankind, they talk of God, and Christ, in words; but deny him in works: nay, some will not stick to say, it is impossible to keep the commands of Christ. It is too commonly spoken, and also believed, that there is no perfection on this side the grave, contrary to the saying of Christ, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven, is perfect." Mat. v. 48. Yet, say they, it is impossible; which is as much as to say, Christ is a hard master, in commanding what cannot be done; consequently, out of their own mouths they will be condemned; for Christ is not a hard master. I testify against all such unholy and imperfect believers, in solid fear before the Lord; but according to such people's faith and belief, he must needs be hard. Oh! that people would but so love God, and his dear Son, as to strive

to do his commands; for it is impossible they should obey, if they do neither believe nor endeavour: but let such know, that " Many shall strive, and shall not enter;" much less enter if they do not strive: but we must, of necessity, strive, in obedience to his will, and by his assistance, (not in our own natural will) "to enter in at the strait gate:" man would enter in with all his pleasant things, and in all his bravery and gallantry; but God's will is, that he should be brought low, that he might exalt him. Oh! this self, it is a great enemy to

mankind.

My intention is, to awaken people out of the sleep of sin, which is death; and to stir them up to righteousness, and love to the Lord, and their neighbour, even with their whole heart; this is what my heart breathes to, and supplicates, the Lord of heaven for; then would the end of my labour, in his love, be answered; for great is the love of God, in sending his Son, and, also, in sending his servants, and stirring them up, to rouze people out of the sleep of security, that they might see the danger they are in, and how near they lie to the brink of the pit of burning. Oh! that people would but seriously consider that which is shewed and told them in the love of the Lord. Oh! that it might be laid to heart. However, whether they will hear, or forbear, God will be clear, and his servants also will be clear. But if we not only hear, but also obey, that peace, which passeth the understanding of men (that our Lord giveth to his followers) will be our portion, and the lot of our inheritance forever: but this is on condition of our obedience, and keeping the commands of God; "If ye love me, keep my commandments," (John xiv. 15.) saith the Lord. So, if people live in saying, and not in doing, in professing, and confessing, yet still living in pride and high-mindedness, and in sin, it is apparent, they do not love Christ Jesus (according to his own words) neither doth he justify them; it is only the doers that he will justify. The apostle John says, "If a man says, he loves God; and yet hateth his brother, he is a liar.". 1 John, iv. 20. and, by plain scripture testimony, such are not of God.