IX.

We shall conclude this our treatise, with holding forth the

Birth, Life and Travels of a True Christian.

"And the Lord said unto her, two nations and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger." – Gen. 25. 23.

The elder or first nation, is the posterity of the first Adam, and is of the earth, earthy; and their kingdom and glory is of this world, and to them God hath committed the sword of justice or civil power, to rule in their own kingdom, they being born after the flesh.

The younger or second nation, are such as are called out of the dominion of this world, and are born anew; as Christ saith, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." And so they come under a second or general ministration, whose kingdom is not of this world – as Christ saith again, "They war not of this world, even as I am not of this world," John 17. 16. In the second place, the one people shall be stronger than the other people.

This strength is the mighty power of Christ which is in every true christian, and is stronger than the power of sin – as Christ saith, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace; but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour," Luke 11, 21. So when Christ comes upon the strong man of sin, and casts him out, the man feels delivered from all his sins. The old man of sin being thus dethroned by heavenly love, and he rejoices in victory and can say with Job, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye seeth thee," Job 42. 5. Now he is sanctified and cleansed by the Word, or Son of God, and God requires of him the fruits of righteousness; and though he hath received this great change in himself, yet he knoweth but little of a christian travel, but is as a new born babe.

Now let us follow this select number that are delivered from their sins, and see what their travel is. "Then said Jesus to his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me," Matt. 16. 24. By denying ourselves and taking up the cross, we are to understand that we must deny ourselves of all worldly lusts, and all superfluities in dress, and the friendship of the world; and to bury all the honor and glory of this world in the dust, and become a stranger and pilgrim, for the sake of him who hath redeemed us from our vain conversation. And when those converts feel this great change wrought in their souls, and have tasted that the Lord is gracious; they answer with great confidence, we will go with thee to prison and to death – we will lay down our lives for they sake. Now they are raised up in themselves, and begin to trust in their own strength; so Christ leaves them to try their strength and their faith, that they may know their own weakness.

They now set out with great confidence in themselves, to keep a clear conscience; but find they fall short of the performance of their duty and become guilty; then they will make promises to live a better life, and try again and again, but to no purpose; then they begin to find they are poor creatures, without strength, wallowing in their own confusion. Thus they lie in this low state, till their hearts are melted, and they fall down, and there is none to help; then they cry unto the Lord, and pour out a prayer, without hypocrisy, saying, Lord save us, we perish. –Then the Lord Jesus Christ remembers them in their low state, and answereth them saying, "My grace is sufficient for thee, and my strength is made perfect in weakness," 2 Cor. 12. 9. So he freely forgives all their sins again and cleanseth them from all unrighteousness, and fills them with the same heavenly love that they had when they were first converted. And so, from time to time, as often as they fall by their infirmities, if it be seven times in a day, and turn and repent with all their hearts, they are freely forgiven, and cleansed from all their sins. God doth not justify them in their sins, but cleanseth them from their sins. Now they open their mouths again, saying, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name; Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; Who forgiveth all thy iniquities – who healeth all thy diseases – who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercy," Psalm 103., 1. 2. 3. 4. "Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty – give unto the Lord glory and strength – give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name," Psalm 29. 1. Now they being filled with heavenly love and comfort, every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come ye, buy and eat – yea, come buy wine and milk, without money and without price," Isaiah 55. 1. "Unto you, O man, I call – and my voice is to the sons of men," Prov. 8. 4. "There is a river, the streams of whereof makes glad the city of God," Psalm 46. 4. "And on either side the river, was there the tree of life, which beareth twelve manner of fruits, and yeildeth her fruits every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Both spiritually and temporally; yea, the wounds of the broken-hearted, shall it heal.

Now they learn by experience, that it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. – "Being made free from sin, we become servants of righteousness," Rom. 6. 18. So we can rejoice in a freedom from sin, on this side of the grave. And when we come to gain by experience, and go from strength to strength, we find the scriptures true, that saith, "I write unto you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one," 1. John 2. 13. Therefore, by this warfare it is brought to pass, that the elder, which is the old man of sin, becomes a servant to the younger, which is the new man in Christ.

POETRY.

O! what is flesh and blood, that in the dust hath lain;
That like a shadow moves about, and falls to dust again.
Yet an immortal soul, is held within this clay;
And like a prisoner confin’d till death takes it away;

And leaves this little lump to moulder in the ground;
And never see the light again, nor hear an earthly sound,
Should the immortal soul, the body glorify;
And deck it round with ornaments, as though it would not die.

The body is not made, but for a little space;
But if the spirit rules the flesh, it finds a resting place.
The flesh and spirit must, a tedious war maintain;
The spirit valiantly must fight, or else the flesh will gain.

The devil hath engaged, the flesh for to assist,
And fights the spirit day and night, so that it hath no rest.
But Christ so loved us, he died that we might live;
So flesh and devil let us fight, and to him honor give.

And if we are so weak, we cannot stand the test;
Then let us flee to Christ for help; and he will give us rest.
Christ doth not need our strength, to help him in this fight;
But in our weakness we find that he will give us might.

When we trust in our strength, we flee before our foe;
But after all our strength is spent, then we like heroes go.
When we like nothing feel, we’re apt to be more wise;
But when our hearts are lifted up, the hidden wisdom dies.

And then after the world, our hearts will draw away;
And join the devil and the flesh, and after pleasures stray.
And then Christ’s helping hand, will quickly be forgot;
And tho’ he made us free from sin, yet we believe it not.

And then Christ’s spirit mourns, to see us go astray;
And tho’ we turn our backs to him, he calls us day by day.
But if we will not hear, he stands his gentle rod,
And smites us less than we deserve, that we may turn to God.

And when we feel the stroke, the flesh is apt to say;
The tender mercy of the Lord, has from us passes away.
But when the flesh doth yeild, and satan doth depart,
Christ’s mighty power will appear, and enter in the heart.

So we are lifted up, with such a strength of love,
That like mount Zion we do feel, that never can remove.
But soon we’re let to fall, our righteousness to try;
And when we see our strength is gone, unto the Lord we cry.

O Lord, thou art our strength, we pray thee to be near,
And save us when we have no might; thy wrath is all our fear.
Forsake us not, O Lord, tho’ we have gone astray;
For all our righteousness we loath, and cast it all away.

And when our hearts are broke, Christ ever will appear;
And freely pardon all our sins, and wholly set us clear;
So we rejoice in God, to see his righteous ways;
And bow under his mighty hand, and meekly sing his praise.

O sing unto the Lord, whose word is always sure;
Because his mercy and his love, shall evermore endure.
If we through weakness fall, then let us strive again;
For we are never justified, till God forgives our sin.

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