The Missing Cross to Purity

Sermons by Stephen Crisp Continued

Text in Light Blue or bold Light Blue can be "clicked" for backup in scripture or detail in writings.

Quaker ministers, such as Stephen Crisp, served without pay and never spoke from a prepared text or notes. They only spoke under control of the Holy Spirit of God. All sermons were unrehearsed and completely extemporaneous. The early Quakers frowned on recording the spontaneous words of a sermon, believing they were meant for that time and audience only. For that reason, there are very few recorded sermons of the countless delivered. Steven Crisp's sermons were recorded in shorthand by a non-Quaker, who found his speaking to be particularly inspiring and instructive. For a description of a early Quaker worship service, see Proper Worship.

THE STANDARD OF TRUTH

Delivered by Stephen Crisp at Gracechurch-Street on the 29th Day of the Fifth Month, 1692

There is a universal standard of truth, that God has set up over all the sons and daughters of men; he has given the knowledge of it in and through Jesus Christ; he has dealt it out to them, that they may be capable of joining and adhering to the truth, and to be delivered from eternal condemnation. This standard and measuring-rule is revealed and manifested in every man and woman, by the light that shines in their hearts, by which they are able to discern, and give a sound judgment (if they are only willing) upon all their own ways. A man or woman may know in every word they speak, in every action they do, whether they speak, or do, according to the truth, or whether they are justified by the truth, in what they speak and do.

I tell you, my friends, this is no small mercy, that mankind has obtained at the hand of his Maker, that he is brought into a capacity of not acting blindfolded, but that he may see his way, and his own inclinations, and pass judgment upon them, whether they are good or evil. Whether they will stand justified in the sight of his Maker, or whether they will be condemned.

I confess, the veil of ignorance, that is come over the sons and daughters of men, through sin, transgression, and rebellion, is very great. And I may say, as the apostle said, sometime you were in darkness. And what can darkness see? What can darkness discover? the Lord our God, that made us, has not left us in that state of darkness, blindness and ignorance, but through the riches of his mercy and goodness, has found out a way, to command that light should shine out of darkness, into peoples hearts, for all that the Devil did to darken man, to alienate and estrange him from his Maker.

The same Almighty Power, that said in the creation, let there be light, and it was so; he has shined into our hearts, and the way by which he has done so, is through the mediator, through Jesus Christ the Redeemer, in whom the fullness of the God-head dwells. He has receive power from his Father, not only to be a light and salvation, but to impart and communicate of the divine light to them, even to every one that comes into the world; so that by means of this, they may be delivered from their darkness, and ignorance of the mind of God, that they were liable to in the fall, and might be restored, through the mediator, to a capacity of judging of their own actions, and of the own words, and ways, and inclinations.

This is the standard which God has pitched in every one of our bosoms, for the trial of ourselves, either for our justification, or condemnation, of every word and action. Now, to make everyone sensible of the greatness of this blessing, consider, it is not only given to augment and increase knowledge, it is given on purpose to allure and persuade men into a liking of truth, into a love of truth. The apostle esteemed it a wonderful mercy that came by Christ; he has sent him to bless us, in turning every one of us from the evil of his ways. So that here is a capacity that the sons and daughters of men have, through the mediator of being turned from the evil of their ways and doings, to what is well-pleasing to God.

The next work, after God has wrought thus mercifully for the sons and daughters of men, is, that they would be good to themselves, and merciful to themselves, and take pity upon themselves, by a due improvement of the grace, and mercy, and kindness of God, that he has bestowed freely upon them and in bring all their deeds to that standard, all of their words and actions to that rule; so that whatever they may be, or however many, if they do not answer that standard and rule, they may deny, withstand and resist them, so that they may keep out of condemnation; for the apostle declared it plainly without a doubt, "there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." If he had said, "to them that profess Christ Jesus," there had been a large latitude, especially for those nations; but the words are limited, and you will find so; that is, "to them that are in Christ Jesus;" and (as if he should say) that you may know rightly what I mean; "I mean such as walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." They that are in Christ, walk after his Spirit; for, they that walk not after the Spirit of Christ, are none of his; but they that are his, walk after the spirit the spirit of truth, and there is not condemnation to them.

It is not only the scriptures that ratify and confirm this doctrine, but you yourselves are all living witnesses of the truth of this, that so far as you do act and speak in obedience to the principle of truth, that God has planted in you, you feel no condemnation upon you: "Such a thing I did at such a time, and I had no condemnation." Why so? "Because I did it in obedience, and subjection to that measure of grace that God set up in me;" and, "such a thing I did, for which I was condemned." Why so? "because I did it according to the inclinations of my own corrupt mind, and in contradiction to the truth that opened in me."

My friends, I would have you in point of the doctrine of christianity, to be the better for what you read and hear. It is for me to preach the truth, and you may believe what I say, and you may read the Holy Scriptures, and have the belief of what you read; but if you come to a perceived feeling of the fulfilling of things you hear, you will give a greater seal to the truth of the doctrine, than by all you have read and heard. And you will grow wise to Salvation, by trying and experiencing the effect of everything you understand; and not like the carnal men of this world, who do not have faith, who attend to only their worldly profits and pleasures, such are earthly, sensual, and devilish; but I would judge of actions and words, according to truth, and according to the effect I find in me. "I did such a thing, and I had peace in the doing of it; I feel no reproach, no condemnation upon me." Here is a way for people to grow up in the life of christianity; to keep to the standard of truth. For whether men desire it or not, they must do it at last; and they may now, if they please, make a trial of their words and actions.

As for the most part of you, you have gone further than Pilate. Pilate could make that inquiry, "what is truth?" said he. And I confess, it is not long ago, it is within the memory of man, that a more serious and better sort of people were confounded with the darkness and ignorance of those times, that they were ready to cry out, what is truth? and where is truth? Their eyes were so blinded, and things were so jumbled and confused by the disputations that men raised, that made things so dark people could not see their way. But God who has commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has brought a glorious day; has dissipated, and scattered, and driven away a great deal of that darkness and mist, that overspread men's minds. As many as have sincerely sought the truth in the inward, they have found a divine principle of truth, that has a self-evidencing quality in itself, to convince the minds and consciences of the sons and daughters of men, that it is the truth. And to this the Lord has brought most of you, to be sensible of something that is truth in itself. There are many things that are true in the words of them; many true expressions; but there is truth in itself, the essential truth of God, which, as it is in God, is everlasting and eternal, and will stand over all errors, and falsehood and deceit. The truth, as it is in Christ Jesus, is a standard and rule for men to act by; he has given it to the sons and daughters of men; and as it appears in them, it is either a Judge to condemn them, or a savior to save them from their sins, and to justify them.

Now, what concerns us, is to find out the measure of truth, or manifestation, or principle of truth, which it has pleased God to reveal in ourselves. And whoever will turn their minds a little while inward, into serious search and consideration, how the Lord has dealt with them, they will find they are not quite destitute of truth. One that makes his practice to lie, cheat and cozen, is not utterly destitute of truth; for there is a principle of truth in him, that does check and reprove him for his theft, lying, and falsehood, and he lives under condemnation himself. He cannot draw near to the God of truth upon any occasion, but his lying and falsehood stand in his way. Now, if is so, that this liar is made sensible of a principle of truth in him, and will bring his words and actions to the truth, so much of it as he knows will make him leave lying and deceiving, and to practice truth to escape condemnation. If he will but leave lying and falsehood, and live in the truth, and speak the truth to his neighbor, he will find another state, condition and frame in his soul, than there was before. He is now more at peace, and has a clear and serene way, to come to God by prayer, and for pouring out his supplication, which he had not before; for he had barred up his own way by his sin, which lay continually at his door; if you do not well, sin lies at your door, said God to Cain. So, when you do evil, you cannot but know it. When you are drunk, or swear or tell a lie, and deceive you neighbor, and carry on the design for sinful profit, you know it, whether men know it or no, and God that made you know it; and there sin lies at your door, and blocks and bars you out, and you cannot offer your prayers to God with that clearness, as if you had spoken the truth. So that it highly concerns every one of us, to be waiting upon God, for the discovery of his truth to us; and then we must embrace, adhere and join to the truth, as our greatest good.

But some will say, this adhering and joining to the truth, is a hard lesson. It is pretty easy to find out a principle of truth, that stands against, and opposes all manner evil. Very few, now a-days, will deny a settled principle of truth in all men, that judges falsehood, and condemns deceit, and witnesses against it in others, and in themselves. But this same joining, and adhering to it, that cannot be done, without a cross to the carnal mind.

Now, if the cross of Christ is not taken up, there is no good Christianity among us. Where this is neglected, it spots and stains the profession of Christianity. It is so directly opposite to the doctrine of Christ: "he that will be my disciple, must" it is not, he may if he will, but, he "must take up the cross" of Christ and follow HIM. They were a sort of people, that were never likely to be made Christian, that wanted to be exempt from taking up a daily cross; therefore he presses it upon them to deny themselves, and take up his cross and follow him. No man is able to live a Christian life, without taking up a daily cross.

Now...when a light is broken forth, and men have a principle of truth in their own hearts, it comes to this; said one, "I ought to be holy, in all manner of conduct, and to be watchful over my words, and have my conduct honest and just, without deceit. See what a great deal I know, yet I can never live this life, even though I know it so well; I cannot take up a daily cross, which is so much against the contrary inclinations working in me. Then the question I put to myself is, shall I take up a cross or not?

It comes to this point with every man or woman, after they come to the knowledge of this standard of truth. If the world would but come to this rule and standard, there would be no more cheating nor cozening, no more fraud, deceit or hypocrisy, nor war and bloodshed; but if men would, in everything they do, answer the principle of truth in themselves, they would put the question to themselves, shall I take up my daily cross, or not? Shall I deny myself those pleasures that my conscience condemns; and those ungodly gains that I seek after by falsehood, by lying, prevaricating and departing from the truth? Shall I do this, that I may be rich and great in the world, or shall I not?

You know what I say, many of you, and have put this question to yourselves, and some have made a good answer to it: "I will take up my daily cross, by the grace of God; this stand of truth shall be the rule of my words and actions to my dying-day."

Those who have learned this lesson, and obtained peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, they have not only made a resolution, but performed it in act and deed. By the power of Christ's cross, they are purified, and sanctified, and washed from their old conversations, and have their conduct in heaven; that is, live after a heavenly life, live a godly life here upon earth, when they have come to this resolution, and also the practice of it.

I would desire, and it is my labor, that you that hear me this day, who are unaware of what I am speaking, namely, the standard of truth, the principle of truth, that unerring Guide, which is placed in the conscience of every man, and justifies, or condemns his actions and words: that, you who are come to be aware of this, may all come to this godly resolution in yourselves, so I would have this dispute carried on in every one's bosom. When the question is stated, I would have your really answer it; shall I guide my actions and words according to this unerring rule, or not? "I cannot tell what to say," say some, "there is danger in it." What danger can there be to answer what a man knows to be truth? I will tell you what danger. The world is perverse, and most men live out of truth, and the Devil is a cunning adversary, and he would have none live in it. He abode not in truth; and he would not have us live in it, nor regulate our words and actions by the truth in our own souls. What if most men in the world pervert the truth? What if so few walk in the narrow way, and so few come to life eternal; is than an argument that I must not come there? Should it not stir me to greater diligence, that by any means I may be of the number of that few that shall obtain salvation, and not go with a great company in the way that leads to destruction? If we improve our times, and seasons, and opportunities, and mercies, and blessings, that are vouchsafed to us, we at last may obtain life eternal.

But some may say, "I must sit down in despair, for I cannot come there of myself, though I do what I can to work out my own salvation. There is a decree against me; which, though I should pray ever so much, and spend my nights in grief and sorrow, if I am decreed to eternal damnation, there is not help for me, no hope that I should escape; and if I am decreed to salvation, though I take my liberty to sin, and be loose and wanton, as others, it cannot hinder me from attaining salvation at last."

For this reason, many have laid aside the spiritual warfare against corruption, and their spiritual travel, that they will no nothing to [gain] their everlasting happiness; therefore they think they might as well take their pleasure. But, my friends, the case is not so with us; let every soul among us praise the Lord for his mercy, in expelling that thick cloud of darkness, which is vanished and gone. This I know, and I hope you do all believe, that God does every where, and in every nation, call sinners to repentance, and that he delights not in the death of him that dies, but rather that they would turn and live; and in order to do this, he has given his Son, Jesus Christ, to be a savior and mediator; and he has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, to give direction to us in our own way. Now our duty is, to make improvement of those visitations of mercy, that God has bestowed upon us, in order to come to our salvation, and not live in rioting and drunkenness, chambering, and wantonness, strife, and envying, and following the fashions of the world. But we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

But some will say, "is this not already wrought by our savior and mediator? Christ has tasted death for every man, and laid down a price for the soul of every man."

But still there must be a change wrought in us; there must be a translation of our souls, from one state to another. This is called in the scripture, regeneration, and being born again; this is called being baptized into Christ, and described also by other expressions. But the real matter is, to change your life; for there is a sinful source of wickedness, that is stirred up by the motions of the powers of darkness, and our own concupiscence; but God is always ready to bring us under the government of his Holy Spirit, that will lead us into all truth; and this cannot be done without a Cross. But the question lies here, "shall I take up this Cross or not? If I do, it will crucify my affections to the world. Let me see, how much do I love the world? A great deal, but do I love the world better than my own soul? What will it profit me, to gain the whole world and lose my own soul? Or what shall I give in exchange for my soul? I cannot get to heaven without denying myself; let me take care of my immortal soul. I am a poor creature; I will serve the Lord my Maker, and make it my business to glorify and please him. He can snatch me away by death when he pleases; therefore will I labor, that my thoughts, words, actions, and conduct, may answer to that rule that he has set before me, as a standard of truth, to square and regulate my actions by. I will not live any longer in vanity, as many do. I do not know but my breath may be stopped today, before tomorrow; therefore today, while it is called today, I will hear God's voice, and not harden my heart, but receive that counsel, that is offered to me, for the benefit of my soul. I am bought with a price, I am not my own; I will live to him who died for me. I have more reason to live to Christ, and serve him, that shed his precious blood for the redemption of my soul, and to be subject to him, than to be Christ's enemy, to the prince of the power of the air, who rules in the children of disobedience. I will take up a resolution to serve God, but I can do nothing of myself; but the grace of God, which brings salvation, will teach me to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live righteously, soberly, and godly; in this present world." Take heed of being deceived and beguiled, for there is no way [that] will bring you to Heaven, but a holy and undefiled way.

Therefore, come and take this standard of truth in your hands, to guide you in your way, that you may neither turn to the right hand or the left. This will show you the way that you should walk in, and be like a cloud and pillar of fire to the Israelites, in their journey to Canaan, which was a type of Heaven. The cloud they could see by day, and the pillar of fire by night. So this standard of truth will direct you in your travel to the heavenly Canaan. Let this be the rule and measure of your thoughts, words, and actions.

If a workman, that is a builder, has a rule to work by; and if he goes on and never examines his work by his rule, but makes his eye his rule; if he does not bring this rule to his work every little while, to see whether his work is right; if he works on, and never minds his rule, what a sad work will he make. But a prudent skillful workman will say, "I will not trust my eye too much, but I will look to my rule, my rule will not fail me; if there is bad work, it will discover it to me, that I may mend it before I go any further." Thus a discrete workman will often bring his rule to his work, and use his line and plummet, that he may make it workmanlike. He will say, "if I leave my rule alone, and not make use of it, but work as I please, and trust to my eye, no wonder if I make bad work, and what I build fall down again, and tumble about my ears."

You to whom God has given the standard of truth, as a rule and measure, to govern you thoughts, words, and actions by, let every thing be tried with it, before you die, and leave this world. If you do so, and make this your daily practice, then ask yourselves, and you will be able to tell yourselves, and tell me, and say, "I have now obtained more hopes of God's favor, and a greater sense of his life and goodness to me, than ever I had before." The apostle does exhort us, "to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming our time." We have spent a great deal of time in vain, let us now be wise, and improve our time, for our eternal advantage; let us walk circumspectly, that is, look round about us, consider our ways, and try all our thoughts, words and actions, by the standard of truth. Today (my friends) while it is called today, hear the voice of God, and harden not your hearts, and receive the heavenly counsel, that is tendered to you, that you may be partakers of the inheritance, among the saints in light.

The Prayer

Blessed and eternal Father! You have brought forth your glorious name, and revealed your power and your mighty arm; and you have caused a remnant to bow and worship at your appearance. You are wonderful, your majesty is great; they that do behold you, will, with reverence, worship before you. Thy power is gone forth, and has reached the hearts of your people; you have humbled them, and subjected them to your Divine, Almighty Power, that they might appear in the earth, to the praise and glory of your great name.

And, O Lord, as you have begun a great work in the earth, so you have committed this work to your servants and children that bear your name among the sons of men, that they should show forth your righteousness, among the inhabitants of the earth; and our souls have said many a time, who is sufficient for these things? All our fitness and sufficiency, our fitness and preparation is from you. Reveal your power, and make bare your Almighty arm. We have found your presence from day to day, and you have beheld them that know your love.

O glorious God of life! Herein we have encouragement to go in the work which you have called us to; hereby we are enabled to worship before you, and to offer up living praises to your great name, for that refreshment and consolation, which you have ministered to your people.

And, O Living Father! We have never waited on you in vain; whenever we have met together in your name, we have found your Divine Presence, and the opening of the treasure of your love, of your wisdom, and of your favour to your children. So that from day to day, and even at this day, you remember your people, and you give them fresh occasion to draw night to you, and receive their daily nourishment and strength, from the operation of your power.

O living God of Life! Gather up the hearts of your people more and more, and draw them into a nearness to yourself, that their understandings many be more and more opened to discern your will, and subject themselves to your wisdom, that every thought that is exalted against your divine power, and living voice, in their own consciences, may be brought down; so that all the nations of the earth may bow before you; so that your truth may reign, and your power be exalted, and the righteousness which you have revealed, may shine forth more and more, in the brightness and glory of it, and enlighten those that are afar off, that they may be brought to seek after God.

And, Living God of Life! Let those that are bowed down under the weight of sin, be supported and raised up; and those that are weary and heavy laden, let them have rest to their souls.

Powerful God of Life! Keep your people in a fresh and living sense of your love, and of your heavenly virtue, by which you nourish the children, and satisfy them from day to day; not only when they are met together, but when they are separated one from another. Let your people be preserved from the evil of the world, while they are in it, and let your wisdom and power give them victory over it, that you may have the glory of all the mercies and blessings, vouchsafed to them. For you alone are worthy, who are God over all, blessed forever and ever. Amen.

THE EXCELLENCE OF PEACE WITH GOD

STEPHEN CRISP speaking at Devonshire House, (meeting house) on the 5th day of the 8th month, 1691.

My Friends,

It is man's great happiness in this world to have acquaintance with God, with the Lord that made him, from whom he has life and breath here, and his eternal welfare hereafter. This doubtless every one will acknowledge one time or another, that peace with God is a great jewel, and the best estate and riches. It is the great desire of everyone, that they may attain to this one time or other; and there is a great neglect of happiness among the sons and daughters of men, in not seeking it, in not laboring to attain it while it is to be had. Oh! How many trifle away their time about fading and perishing objects, and know at the same instant that they are yet destitute of the favor of God, and peace with Him. Oh, friends! The very thoughts and consideration of the worth of this jewel, and all the misery of being without it, and the uncertainty of our time while it is to be attained, might put everyone upon a serious, diligent inquiry, after the way and means by which they might attain it, so that they might have a resting place for their souls, and satisfaction to their inward man; that it shall go well with them, when time shall be no more.

And they that come to this consideration, and are resolved in their hearts and minds, that they will labor after this, and set their whole endeavor after it, they will in the first place seek The Kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof. These do need a daily encouragement in their way to heaven, and there is nothing on the Lord's part lacking for all such souls, but that they may attain their desire.

But, alas! This has been, and is still, the misery of thousands. They are seeking after peace with God, but they err in the way to it, they do not seek in that way, nor take hold of those methods, by and through which God has promised peace. You shall scarcely find anybody, who would not like to have eternal life, and peace with God; we shall not need to persuade people to wish for, and to desire to have peace with God, when they shall come to die, and lay down their heads in the dust. There is not a Balaam, but he desires to die the death of the righteous, and that his last end may be like his. There is not a Scribe, or a Pharisee, or any that profess religion, but those who are seeking eternal life. The Lord Jesus did witness concerning them, that they were an envious, proud, persecuting people, yet that they did seek after eternal life, and they fixed upon some methods and ways whereby they thought to get and enjoy it, and so are a great many people at this every day. They are in a state and condition in which they are not likely to enjoy it; the methods and ways that they have chosen to themselves, by which to find eternal life, and to obtain peace with God, will never answer the end.

And God has been pleased to discover in us the many byways that people have chosen, and by which they seek peace with god, therefore we are willing at all times to show people their error, in these greatest matters, a highest concern to them. If they did err in their way of seeking to obtain some earthly good, and missed their end, they know the price of it, it is a loss of so much, which, if they had taken a right course, they might have attained; but it is an unspeakable loss, an inestimable loss, if they lose peace with God, and all the pains and labor they seek to obtain it.

I beseech you, friends, consider these things; they are of great weight, and your will say so one day or another. For, said our savior, what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Oh, how sad is it to consider, that a man has not made provision for his soul; that he has not a place of rest for his immortal soul, when his body can retain it no longer! If this be a man's state when he comes to die, it had been better for him that he had never been born. Men may live and gather riches, and enjoy a plentiful estate; but if they are destitute of the favour of God, lack peace with Him, what will they do with their perishing enjoyments? They cannot really satisfy themselves with these transitory, visible things; but if these person's mind only their bodies, and neglect their souls, do they not live like the beasts that perish? The beast seeks after his meat, and when he finds it, he eats it with delight and pleasure, and in a little while he lies down and dies; and so it is with careless souls, they have no regard for their future state; but say, Let us east and drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die.

Oh that every one of us here did apply our hearts seriously, to the consideration of the weight of these things which concern our eternal state. If persons did this, then they might come to an inquiry into their own souls, what method and way is most safe for the attaining of so blessed an end. For you know there are abundance of people,--if you look up and down in the world, you will see almost everybody hunting up and down, in some way of religion or other, and engaged in religious performances. What is the matter? What would you have? We would have peace with God here, and everlasting rest in the kingdom of heaven in this life and the next. Thus have the nations been scattered and driven up and down, in the pursuit of happiness and satisfaction.

There is a general belief among people, that there is a heaven, and a hell; and that they must have their part in one of them. There are none that desire a portion in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. These profane wretches that cry to God to damn them, they do not mean what they speak, they would be saved for all that; every one will cry at last, "Lord, have mercy upon me!" if he only has time to say so. Let us cry now: Lord, have mercy upon me! Lord, bestow your favour upon me! Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon me! Lord, touch my hard heart and soften it, and break it by the power of your Spirit; open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things of your law; open mine ears, that I may hear your voice! It is good for people to make use of time while they have it. Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, and God will pour out his wrath upon those that do not call upon his name. He that calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved; and God gives great encouragement to people to seek after him.

What do you mean by seeking after God? I have gone to church, and said my prayers; I have gone in that way in which my fathers have led me, and directed me; I hope I shall find mercy at last. I am a believer; I believe in Jesus Christ that died for my sins; and rose again for my justification; I hope, through the merits of Jesus Christ, I shall be saved. What do you mean by seeking after the Lord? Do not we all hear of Him, and pray to him every day?

Is there anything more common than this, that people speak to one another generally about. As for the general knowledge of God, you and I may see to our sorrow, that a great many cry, Lord! Lord! that are never likely to enter into the kingdom of God. If all that take the name of God in their mouths, should enter into the kingdom of heaven, it would be a very foul kingdom. If all the drunkards and fornicators of England, and all the profane and ungodly person, that will take the name of God in their mouths, should enter into the kingdom of heaven, it would be a very unclean and impure kingdom. There is nothing enters therein that is unclean, that is abominable, that loves to make a lie. So that there must be some more peculiar people that shall have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God; and there must be something that will entitle them to it. For you may remember our savior said, No man knows the Father but the Son, and him to whom the Son shall reveal Him. So much as may be known of God by works, you and I may know, without the revelation of Christ; we need not wait for this knowledge; we can have it by books, we can have it without Christ's revelation. Nothing would serve some in our savior's time but eternal life; and our Lord Jesus bids them Search the Scriptures, for in them, said he, you think to have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. Yet, for all the profession they made, He tells them: No man has seen God at any time, neither seen his shape nor heard his voice. They were strangers to God, though they had a general knowledge of God.

So it is at this day; there is a general knowledge of God, and people hope to attain peace with God, and eternal life. Their parents and their tutors have instructed them in the principles of Christianity, and about the attributes of God; but all this will not bring them to a saving knowledge of God, and reconciliation with Him. For a man who is as wicked as the devil can make him, knows these things, and yet may be a servant of the devil, and do his work. He is not born again, and become a child, by all his eternal knowledge. Now that he desires to come to the true saving knowledge of God, our savior has told us, That none know the Father but the Son, and him to whom the Son will reveal Him. This is the sure way to come to the true knowledge of God the Father. Christ has the key of David, which opens and no man can shut; and shuts and no man can open. He can bring us to behold the glory of God in his own face. Without Him we are never likely to come to the saving knowledge of God.

Poor man is in a lapsed, fallen state! He is fallen into sin, and is in a state of alienation from God; and therefore he cannot come to Him but by a mediator: There is one mediator between God and man, the Man, Christ Jesus; and He must make peace for him, else he will never have it. How then shall we come to Christ, if He is the only means, and there is not other, by which we may come to the knowledge of God, as the Scripture speaks? Hearken to it, how may we come to Christ? I answer, you will never come to Him, if he does not first come to you; you will never be able to do it. It is not coming to Christ, when you say, you believe that Christ died and rose again, and ascended up into heaven and that He sits at the right hand of God, and lives forever to make intercession for his people; and when you read those words and doctrines which He preached up and down, at meetings and solemn assemblies. But if you believe the He is the eternal Son of God, and the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him, you must come to Him, and entirely give up yourselves to his glory and service. Without this, you cannot come to Him, nor will He bring you to the Father. Christ is come near to us, He stands at the door of our hearts, and He stands and knocks. Behold! that is the word that calls for attention, for people to take notice of, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. What do you knock for? Said Christ, That you may open the door of your heart; for if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me, and this grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men. This manifestation of the Spirit and light within, we have from Christ. These are the ways and methods which the Lord Christ has taken to approach near to us. Now your own reason will tell you, if this is the way and means that Christ takes to approach near to us, we cannot take another way to approach to Him. If Christ has taken I say, this way to approach us, by the light and manifestation of his own Spirit, which convinces us of sin; if this is Christ's way of coming to us, there can be not other way of our coming to Him, but by the same method of his grace.

He said: If you have the light, believe in the Light. I have the light; I am enlightened; there is something that discovers your evil thoughts. Why must I believe in the light? That you may be the children of light as our savior speaks. They that are the children of the light shall have it for their inheritance; and they that are children of darkness, must have darkness for their inheritance. While we have the light, we must believe in it, and we shall be made children of the light. God has sent his Son, and the Son has sent his Spirit and his heavenly grace into our hearts, that we may draw near to Him, and be directed how to attain acquaintance with Him, and to do what pleases God, and come to be in union with Him, and do the works of God. This is what God requires of us, That we believe on Him whom He has sent; that we may embrace the light, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray what do you mean by believing? There is something within me checks and reproves me for sin, and calls me off from it, and bids me turn over a new leaf. Must I hearken to this? Is this what you mean by believing? As to this degree of believing, they that neglect it now, shall believe it hereafter; for all the world at last, and the damned in hell, shall certainly confess, that there was grace, and light, and means afforded to them, and they might have gone further, and escaped that misery which they are fallen into.

But there is a more precious faith that I would have you partake of, a Faith that works by Love. Since the Lord has been so gracious as to extend his mercy and love to me, I am so captivated with the love of God, that I will be obedient to Him. This Faith that works by love, is the faith of God's elect; that by which we may obtain victory over our passions and lusts, and over Satan and the snares of the world. When we are come close with the grace of God, and to believe in Christ, this is well; but we must also yield obedience and subjection. Yet when faith has brought forth obedience, you cannot be justified by it, you cannot be saved by your obedience, without Christ: He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and a mediator from first to last.

Now all who come close with the appearance of Christ in their own hearts, they have laid hold of the method appointed for their coming to him. It is Christ they must hear; He is come so near to men that they may hear his voice, and hear Him tell us our very thoughts. Why should I not hear Him when he checks me and reproves me for sin? He comes near, and tells me that I have done amiss. Lord, I have done iniquity, I will do so no more. Thus Christ converses with his people, and does not only check and reprove them, when they do what is evil; but persuades them and enables them to do good. He is a mediator, He is a middle person, and has taken flesh upon Him, that He might reconcile them to God, who believe in Him.

Now, when we come to have acquaintance with God, and have chosen Him to be our God, he teaches us what is good, and reproves us for what evil we have done. Who can choose a better guide, to lead him into acquaintance with God, than Christ that is conversant with us, piercing into our thoughts, and speaking to us? I may hear Him with the inward ear of my heart. When I do evil, He checks me for it, and tells me the thing I should seek is of inestimable value; and if, through my unbelief and carelessness, I miss of it, it had been better for me that I had never been born. Now we are in the way of coming to receive the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls, let us not neglect so great salvation. No man can save himself, nor save the soul of his brother, nor find a ransom, nor procure an offering for the expiating of his sin; therefore let every one that would have his sin expiated and pardoned, and cannot be satisfied and quieted till he has peace with God, let him come to Christ the mediator, and come with faith and truth in the inward parts, and submit to Him, and be willing to be ruled by Him; then Christ will save him, and present him without spot or blemish to his Father.

Consider that those who are the people of God, are led by the Spirit of God; and those who have missed their way to reconciliation with God, that love any other way, or think to come to God any other way than by Jesus, the mediator: their labor will be lost. Therefore I must exhort and persuade you who are out of the way, that you would take God's method, and come into God's way. The terms, I have told you, are made already; the bargain is not to make now,--I will give you so much to be at peace with God, or I will part with this or the other thing that is dear to me. No, the agreement is made between God and Christ, and his Covenant is ordered in all things, and sure; and his covenant stands sure with none, but those that are in Christ Jesus. There was a covenant made with Abraham: In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. The promise is made to the seed, that is, to those that are in Christ; the faithful are counted the seed. Now the faithful are those that are obedient to Christ, who is the seed of promise, in whom all the families of the earth are blessed. They must come to Christ the seed; they must not rebel against Him; they must come to Him, and believe in Him. Be there never so many nations and families in the world, the promise is not to them, but to as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Here is the way for people to lay hold of, for coming into acquaintance with God, which is of so great necessity before they die; they must come to Christ himself, by his Spirit in their own hearts. We need not go to this and the other learned man, and inquire of this and the other sort of people; but we must cry to God for help and direction, and come unto Him, and give up all the powers and faculties of our souls to Him, to be governed by Him. God will have servants that will be obedient to Him. If ever we come to obtain salvation, we must have another master: One is your master, even Christ. I must come under the government of Christ, and He must lead me, and rule me, if I will be a child of God.

When people come to see there is not an effectual way, except submitting to the grace of God in their own hearts, and yielding themselves up to the dictates of the Spirit of Christ in their souls; when they come to this, there are many hazards and difficulties to be encountered. There is the appearance of the cross of Christ, and we must take up this cross if we will follow Christ, and be obedient in all things unto Him. This is what will kill all my pleasures, lay waste all my religion, and destroy all my hopes, I must be like a man that has built a house without a good foundation; I must pull it all down again, and I must come to build up again upon a new foundation.

Here many have turned aside; the cross of Christ has seemed to them so sharp, and hard, and intolerable, that they could not bear it; they would not be at the charge of such a religion. What! Must I part with all my delights, and my beloved lusts and pleasures, and all my interests in the world, for Christ? I cannot part with these; these things lie in my way, I must rather lose my soul than part with what is so pleasing to me, and join with the light of my own conscience, and the truth in my inward parts? What! Must I not have so much as liberty of thought? What! Must my thoughts be regulated by what is so cross and repugnant to my mind? Must I throw out all evil thoughts out of my heart, and suffer none but the good thoughts to remain there? Who can stand here? Who can bear such strictness as this? Rather than endure this, I will choose to lose my soul. Many have lost the truth on this account; and many are in danger to lose their souls.

If there is in you any desire of peace with God, so that you may not go from here before you have attained it, take hold of the present opportunity. Hardness of heart is a desperate plague; it comes from a long obstinate continuance in sin. When we have withstood the day of God's patience and long-suffering, and grieved the Holy Spirit of God; then God gives us up to our own hearts' lusts, because we choose to follow the voice of the charmer, however wise he appears . When we stop our ears, and will not attend to the calls of God; when men will go on, and nothing can stop them, in the career of their lusts and pleasures, but they will retain their carnal delight and friendship with the world, this hardness of heart becomes a desperate plague. Take heed of it, that it does not overtake you, and bring ruin and destruction upon you. Consider the patience and long-suffering of God, and let his goodness lead you to repentance. Consider, God has waited to be gracious to you, he has exercised much long-suffering and patience towards you; whereas He might have cut you off long ago, and given you your portion with the damned in hell: but He has hearkened to the voice of the mediator who has pleaded for you; He has extended his patience and long-suffering to the wicked and rebellious also; and for this reason, the apostle tells us, Christ is the savior of all men, especially of them that believe.

Now the patience and long suffering of God has been lengthened out to all, and we have not improved it. Conscience has been sensible of the inward strokes and rebukes of God for sin, and of the inward calls of his grace to bring us to repentance; but we have not regarded these calls, nor hearkened to the voice of God, so as to hear, that our souls might live. Oh let us not put off our repentance any longer! But today, while it is called today, let us hear his voice, and harden not our hearts; but be of tender heart; let our hearts be softened and tendered under the word of God, and under the strokes of his judgment. If ever the Lord bring you under a tender frame, you will receive the word of God with meekness, and mix it with faith. Then it will work effectually to the amendment of your lives; it will work faith in those that are unbelievers, and strengthen the faith of those that believe. Then we shall have come to bless the Lord, and praise and magnify his great name, for his patience, long-suffering, and mercy, which at this day he has lengthened out, and graciously extended to us.

Pure and Spiritual Worship

Delivered by Stephen Crisp at Devonshire-house, on the 12th day of the 11th month, 1690.

The worship of God, of the great God, is pure; He is a Holy God, of purer eyes than to behold evil. Those who are resolved to worship God, whose souls are breathing to have a return of a testimony in his sight, must offer up pure worship, and it must come from what is pure. For that purpose the greatness of the love of God is made manifest in Christ Jesus. There is a diffusing of his grace and virtue in the hearts of the sons and daughters of men, by which he has laid a foundation for his own worship; because his worship must be pure. Therefore he has freely given to us, through his son, the knowledge of that pure principle of life and grace, from where and out of which, all true worship springs, and all true honor to God rises, and real obedience to his holy will springs forth out of what is from himself.

Therefore all, who wish to be worshippers of God correctly, must first know and be sensible of the ability and capacity in which it stands; what may enable them to so great and so good a work. Some have imagined it as standing in their own will; and according to the workings of their own will, they have framed worships, religions, and observations, thinking that will please God. But you know the apostle in a few short words lays down a positive Christian doctrine, without faith it is impossible to please God.

Now this declares and signifies that there must be something upon which this faith must work, which must be the object and foundation of faith. Faith as it works in the creature, works upon something. It lays hold upon something in which there is a capacity of pleasing God. Now if we are all by nature children of wrath, and that no one of himself can please God, then there must be something that is supernatural that must be the object of that faith, by which men alone can please God. This something must be made manifest to the creature for its help; it must be its director and supporter in that work, which is too mighty for himself, too great a work for a man or woman, too deep, too profound for any man's abilities, power, wisdom, and acquirements, that he can attain to in this world, to worship God correctly. To worship God, that is, to perform a pure worship to a pure God; who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Now if we are all obliged to bring a clean worship, a pure worship to a pure and holy God, who has created us and all things; where shall we obtain it? Not out of an unclean heart; not out of a defiled mind. There is no bringing it forth from there, for that is the state and condition in which men have fallen into sin, in which their minds and consciences are defiled, their hearts are polluted, and their affections depraved and set upon wrong objects; and in this state none can serve God properly. What is pure and holy must be first made known, revealed, discovered and believed, before people can perform a proper worship to God.

Therefore it is in vain to go and compel people to this and that worship, and force people to this and that service and conformity, to supposedly worship of God. When they have done all, and it is not acceptable to God, this is vain worship; the poor creature has no return from the Lord, for God accepts no service or worship, but only through his son. If this is true, men cannot pray and preach in the Spirit of his Son, and cannot present their complaints and supplications to God without the assistance and help of his blessed Spirit; there is no reason in religion why people should expect a return and answer from God of the prayers they make. For it is the general doctrine of Christendom, that Christ Jesus is appointed of God for a mediator between God and man, and all the acceptance we have, or desire to have, must be through him. Therefore if we pray without him, and perform this and the other duties without him, it is contrary to the doctrine of Christianity to think that we should ever have acceptance in God's sight.

Therefore there is a necessity for every man and woman that desires to be religious, that has a religious mind, and is willing to worship God, and serve God aright, there is a necessity that they come to the knowledge of Christ, who tells us that he is the way to the Father. They that go any other way go a wrong way; but they that go to God by Christ, they receive from him power to draw near to God; and through him they receive from God all those blessings that their souls stand in need of.

So here would be an end of all religions the world is full of, of all the several worships that men have made. They have invented and found out several ways for people to worship and serve God. This and that other ceremony, this and that other observation and method of preaching and praying. If all this is without the assistance and divine help of the mediator, through whom alone we can justly expect acceptance at God's hands, it is all good for nothing. Therefore the first lesson of a Christian in point of worship, is that he come to the knowledge of Christ, by whom, and through whom he may expect favor with God.

Now say some people: We have already come to the knowledge of Christ; we have read the relation in the gospel of his conception, birth, life and death, resurrection and ascension. Now whether this belief gives a man this kind of Christian knowledge that opens a door and way for him into the presence of God, this is a question that ought seriously to be considered, for if we err in this question, we err in all. This is like stumbling at the threshold, and never coming into the house. If we mistake in laying hold of Christ, we mistake in our worship, and in all matters that relate to life and salvation.

For if we must have another sort of knowledge of Christ than we can have from the reports of others; if I must have Christ revealed in me before I can have the Hope of glory; if I must have the Spirit of Christ in me, to help me to put up my requests and supplications before he can present them to the Father, then all literal knowledge and faith cannot be of any advantage to men. But this is evident by the testimony of all the writers of the New Testament. Christ and his apostles did concurrently signify, that the hope of a Christian, that the power and strength of a Christian, it all lies in this, in that they had known the revelation of Christ, and the powerful operation of the Spirit working in them; this was what was well pleasing to God. Many scriptures might be spoken of, but you know the scriptures, and can read them, and see in them the concurrent testimony of all Holy men to this day, that the knowledge they had of Christ was a divine knowledge, a spiritual knowledge, it was knowing him after the Spirit, it was a revelation of Christ in them, that separated and distinguished them from reprobates, even the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ their Lord. Why should we not come to this knowledge as well as they? The Lord is the same, and his power is the same and his arm is not shortened. We may see as much need of divine assistance, and divine Love as any men ever did; we can perform no duty, either of prayer or preaching, without divine Assistance; not so much as a sigh or groan, that may have acceptance with God, without the help of his spirit, Rom 7:26, The Spirit helps our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself makes Intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. If we go about the duty of prayer without divine assistance, we see what sad work we make of it; if we pray not in the Spirit and with the understanding, how can we receive the thing we pray for? But if we pray in the Spirit, and with the understanding also, then the Spirit helps our infirmities; the Spirit that came from God brings us the things we stand in need of.

So that a Christian has a foundation for his worship and Christian performance; what is that foundation? Nothing that is corrupt, if it be so, it is good for nothing; for nothing that is corrupted and that defiles, can be acceptable and pleasing to God; we are all polluted and defiled by nature; how can carnal men worship a Spiritual God? Carnal men that are in death and darkness; cannot worship that God that is Light, and dwells in Light, that is inaccessible, that is of purer eyes than to behold Iniquity. Carnal men lack a foundation for their worship, and will, until they come to that foundation that God has laid.

Now, that I may speak intelligibly what the Lord has laid upon my heart, I would say thus; There is a universal benefit and privilege distributed and given freely of God, unto the sons and daughters of men, in their natural state, through his son Jesus Christ, in that he has caused his Light to shine, and his grace to be extended to every man; for the grace of God which bring salvation (for it is not by works) has appeared unto all men, and brings Light, by which every man may see how to worship God. God has enlightened every man, and this Light comes by Christ the mediator. This mediator is the way that men must walk in, if they will come back again to God; for men have run out and departed from God. If men desire to draw near to God, and take some footsteps towards the Kingdom of God, away from the kingdom of sin and Satan, they must mind the way, the way must be their director, they must not go whichever way they like.

This is what was prophesied of Christ, said God by the prophet Isaiah, I will give him for a Leader. I would willingly return to God, and go out of the Kingdom of sin and Satan, to the Kingdom of God. God has given Christ to lead me. If I knew that way which he would lead me in, I would go that way. As soon as a man takes hold of Christ, his grace, and Spirit, and life, he will be ready to say, I am corrupt, my senses are corrupt, my mind is depraved, my conscience defiled and polluted; but I have found out something that God has bestowed upon me, that is essential, holy and pure, that never consented to my corruption, but is a witness for God against it. Now when a Christian lays hold of Christ, the leader; which way will he lead him? If you lay hold of this guide, he will lead you out of evil, he will teach you to cease to do evil, and speak evil. This Light will lead you to nothing that will dishonor God, or defile your own soul. But this is not all, we must not only cease to do evil, but we must be doing something; there must be a breaking off from pride, foolish jesting, and evil communication. But this is not all that he will lead me to; let us learn that lesson, cease to do evil. This doctrine was preached before Christianity was preached, as it is now preached. The prophets of old preached this doctrine to the Jews who were under an outward administration, Cease to do evil, and learn to do well, then I will plead with you, and discourse with you, said the Lord: Come now let us reason together, said the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

This is the first lesson that a true Christian learns in his turning to God, in his change and translation: to cease from what is evil. Here is a cessation of rebellion, and here is some hopes of being reconciled to God. A man has been a rebel against his maker, but he has now received help to resist those temptations that prevail over him. But there is no worshipping yet. There is a forward mind in men to do something that is pleasing to God. But there are some that are not troubled at all for their evil ways, and dread not God's anger, but make a mock of sin, which mocking draws others to it, and make themselves merry in sin. But there is a sort so far touched with a divine sense of God's love to them, that they have also a sense of his anger and indignation, because of their sin; and they would willingly be out of his anger; and who can blame them? When a man feels the anger of God burning like a fire in his bosom, who can blame that man if he desires peace with God? If he is under a sense of the displeasure and indignation of the Almighty, he must not depart too soon out of that condition he is brought into. For this is God's purpose, and this is the fruit of all his troubles and afflictions, to take away sin. God had no other end or design in the affliction that came upon man, than to take away sin. When God has brought a people into a distressed and dejected state resulting from their sin, the fruit that God expects, is the taking away of their sin, and he will take their pride from them, and humble them before Himself. If this is the purpose of God, that he intends to purge and purify his people; then says the poor creature, if God designs to purify me from sin, then I will pray to God to support me, and bear me up under his indignation. That is the cry of the soul, that he may not be brought too soon from under the judgment of God, but he may be supported and hidden in the hollow of God's hand, until the time of remission and refreshing comes, that he may behold the Light of God's countenance.

Here is encouragement for everyone that is acquainted with this divine principle of grace, who desires to be led by it, and follow it so far as to be led out of evil. Then they will be prepared to do something in the work of God. Every sigh and groan, in which you have had the assistance of the Spirit of God to help you, is part of worship. All your brokenness of heart is part of worship. By this you acknowledge the great God, that he is able to help you on your way, and to pardon your iniquity, and blot out your transgression, and give you all those heavenly blessings of which your soul stands in need. Then your soul will bow down to God in acts of holy worship, and say, with a humble confidence and expectation: God will do all these things in me, and for me, that will promote my salvation. It is nothing in religion for people to go from praying and preaching to singing; for God must have a holy sacrifice, and that must come out of a pure heart. Now when a man is brought by the help of God, and by the divine assistance of the mediator, Jesus Christ, to break off from his sin, then he stands worthy of becoming a child of God, and to be a servant of God, and to do something for God in his generation, and to offer to God praise and thanksgiving, and to perform all other duties into which God shall lead him.

But some will say: What, must we do anything? I have deeply weighed that question, what a poor man or woman must do, that has come out of bondage? There is a propensity in people to be doing; they would willingly do something. They would be doing. They say: What shall I do? If I do something that does not pleases God, I had better attempt to do nothing to please him; for I can do nothing acceptable to God without divine assistance. Such a person that sees his own impotency and inability, will cast his care upon God, and will say: The Lord is able to lead me and guide me; I am ready to do your will, O God. Make it clear to me that this is your will, and that this is what you require. I am ready to do it, though it is a cross to my own will. He is ready to go on in God's way, in the way of Christianity. Such a person that has the true knowledge of Christ. If he speaks, the Spirit of Christ speaks in him; if he prays, it is through the assistance of the Spirit of Christ, through whom God alone is appeased and reconciled, and through whom they may receive a blessing from God's hands. But for men to run out in their own wills, and to do any thing because they will do it, they had better sit still; this doing in their own wills, has filled the world with a sort of Christians that lack acceptance with God, which is to be had alone through the Lord Jesus Christ. And the lack of the guidance of God's Holy Spirit, is the misery and downfall of Christianity in our days.

Therefore it is our work and business to build upon that foundation which God has laid; no worship is pleasing to God, but that which rises from that spring that is pure and holy. If I cannot find what will keep me from all pollution and defilement, if I cannot find that, I must stay till I can. For to begin a worship and a religion without what I know is acceptable to God, it is only worthless labor, and time spent in vain.

Therefore, friends, let every one that desires to be religious, turn their mind inward, wait for the gift of God, which is essentially pure, that never did consent to evil, that never mixed with the corruption of nature, but bears witness to the Light, that will guide you and lead you, and conduct you, first out of sin, and then it will lead you into that worship and religion, and the performance of those things that are pleasing to God. Those, who have come to this worship, do not only know what the Lord requires of them, and when he requires it of them, but they are given up into the hands of God; they pray, preach, exhort and live according to the will of God.

It is hard for people in a carnal state to believe this; but you that are believers, that have come to know the gift of God in yourselves, and the necessity of being ruled by him; you will believe us, for no one else will believe us. Let us preach to as many people and nations as we will, none will receive us as true ministers, but those that have the truth in their own hearts. If there is any that despises the grace of God in his own hearts, he hates what chides and reproves him. If there is such a man, he will hate me because I am a minister and a witness of the grace of God, and of that truth in the inward parts, which is the ground and foundation that man has of acceptance with God. A wicked carnal wretch will say, I hate such a person; I hate the Light, which checks me and witnesses against me.  You are a person that bears witness against me; therefore I hate you. It is very true, it cannot be otherwise. Now our desire and labor is, that men may come to the love of the truth in themselves.

You know there are a great many other ministers, whose labors are to persuade people to believe what they say; to lay down a doctrine, and prove it by scripture and reason, and set it home upon their minds by such testimony as the scripture affords; and by this they prevail upon the minds and judgments of people, to believe what they lay down.

It is easy to lay down a position and prove it, and convince people that it must be according to scripture; but when a person is convinced of a principle of truth, he is not regenerated and does not come to God. Therefore, although he cannot deny the doctrine of truth in words, yet he can deny it in works, and does not rightly come to love it. If people would believe what we say, and observe what argument we bring for proving a position, they may be convinced of the doctrine of truth, and come to a profession of it, and yet be strangers to it, until they come to love it in themselves. If it were not for this, we would leave preaching. If God had not given a measure and manifestation of the Spirit to every man to profit withal, [we would not be effective]. You have it in yourselves, we are only monitors to you, to put you in mind of it. You have so much business in the world, that you have not had leisure to take notice of it.

A man may have a rich jewel, and still be poor until he comes to know the value of it. A man has a rich and precious jewel, a pearl bestowed upon him that would make him rich in faith and love to God, and qualify him for the Kingdom of God, and make him an heir of it; but he knows not, nor understands the value of it, and esteems it not. Therefore God has raised up ministers to put you in mind of it, that you may be happy forever, and live in blessedness to all eternity. Whoever has an Ear to hear, let him hear; and when they hear what we say, let them take the benefit of it to their own souls. We do not bring truth to you, because God has bestowed it upon you. You will be rich indeed, if you do as a man that bought a field where the precious pearl was, and dug till he found it. Come to the foundation upon which you should build all your hopes of happiness, and depend not upon your own works, or religious performances, for acceptance with God. For there is no acceptance with God, but only through Christ, we are only accepted of God through him. Those who will become Christians indeed, and worship God as he has ordained and appointed himself to be worshipped; they must come to the principle of Light and grace in their own hearts, which they have in, and through Christ, and they will find acceptance with God.  Amen.

This web site's purpose is to show how to become
free from sin
by benefiting from the changing power of God through the cross,
which leads to union with God in his Kingdom.