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Show .... ,. \ . . ' T R U T H Exalted, f$c. TO Princes, Priejls, and People. JEHOVAH, the Everla!ling Power, that fpans out the Heavens witH His Span, and meafures the \Vaters in the Hollow of his Hand, before whom aU Nations, Tongues and People, are lefs than the Drop to the Ocean, ur the Sand to the Sea:Shoar; who faid, Ler aUThingr be, and they were, and by the fame Word of his Might, preferves them to this very Day, is Holy, Merciful, and Juft; and, as the moft excellent Part of the whole Creation, made He Man, tbe Imnge of Himfelf, by invefting him with that Righteous Principle, and Innocent Life, which gave him Dominion and Authority over all his Works, allowing him t9 ear of every Tree, faving that of the Knowi<dgeofGood and Evil, of which if he did Eat, he ihould certainly die. Happy had it been for Adam and his Po!lerity, had he obeyed Gods Commands ; bur Tranfgreffion by Difobedience getting Entrance, he foon died to his Innocent State, in which God created him, and became alive in the Dominion Sin had over him, being now :JS one without Law, in whofe fallen Scare aU Nations have been, and are, (let their Profeffions feem never fo great, and their Sacrifices never fo many) that live in the Difobedienc Nature, and fo Strangers to that Immortality and Life Eternal, the Firjl JJ.dam became dead and darkened to by his Tranfgreflion, and which the Suond Adam raifes to the Knowledge andPolTeJiion of, by :he Power of Hi< ff&ick· ning Spirit ; yet where the Devil (that fubril Serpent) hath nor totally ex"' tinguilbed the Notion of a God, and the Neceffiry of his being wor01ippecf, it has been rather his I ntereft than DiC:fervice, to pur the felfifh Part of rhe Creature upon S:~crificing, wickedly infinuating that none can be freed from Sin, and that the performing_ of Rites, Duties, and Ceremonies, is all God tequires, and what is neceffary to procure Acceptance with him. Thus 'twas that murthering Cain became a 5acrificer, whofe Sacrifice God rejefiet!, becaufe offered in the Fallen, Unrighteous, and A,::curfed Nature. Such alfo were thofe Generations who drew near to God with their Lips; and to whom he faid of old, To what Purpofe i.r the .lt1H/!irude of your Sacrifices unto me? I am full of Bllrnr-Offering.r, bring no more vain Obltllion.r; Incenfe U an .Ahomination unto me; the }{ew Moons and Sabbatb.r ; the Catling of the ~.ffemblie.r I cannot 11way with, it i.r Iniquity; roen the Solemn .Aluting: I am wehry to bear them; and when ;·oufpreadfortb your Hand.r, 1 toill hide mine Eyes ; yen, when you make many Prnyer.r, I will not bear_, yo11r Homl.r are full of Blood: Wafo you, make ymt clean, put away the Evil of your Doing.r, &c. Ifa. i. 1 r, 13, 14, 15, 16. • ~herefore 0 ye Princu, Prie/l.r, and People, the Solid, N eccffary, . ar.d We1ghty Que!hon I have to afk yon all, in the Dre:~d and Fear of the Everlal\ ing, Holy, Lord God Alrnight[, (by whofe Eternal Spirit the Scnfe of your prefent Stare and Condition perfeflly hl\'e received) is this: 1Vhat Nature, what Heart~ what . Spirit, and whJt Ground is it in Which your Rdigions, F.1iths, ' :Vorks, Words and Wor!hips ftand :md gro~t > Is it the Di\•ine, not the Fallen Nature? Is it the Brolten, not the Srony Hearr? ls it the Contrite, not the Formal Spirit? Is it the Gofpel increa ling Good, not Old .dd"m's corrupt, thorny Ground? For this know, that. no P;rformances bur by clean Hands, and a pure Hearr, from Whence Evll D Jwgs: Jre put away, can give Acceptance with the Pure God. * I l Corne:; !6681 ~ Life P· ~· |