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SUMMONS, OR CALL,

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CHRISTENDOM:

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An earnest Expoftulation with her, to prepare for

that great and' notable Day of the Lord, that is at the Door.

Published in the Year 1675.

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WAKE, O Christendom! Awake, and come to

judgment; for the great and notable day of the Lord is drawing apace upon thee: prepare to meet him, thou and thy children, for the hour of his judgment hafteneth upon you, as travail on a woman with child, in which all your works shall be tried, and that by fire: for “ the day of the Lord shall burn as an " oven, and all the proud, and all that do wickedly, “ shall be as stubble.” Yea, “ by fire and by sword « will the Lord God Almighty plead with all Aesh ;" with all felhly worshippers and workers, who live after the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof: and with the spirit of judgment, and the spirit of burning, that is, with Spiritual judgment and burning, will he visit all ranks and regions upon the earth: yea, his holy terVOL. III.

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rors shall take hold of the rebellious, and anguish and distress shall fill the souls of the guilty. The faces of nations shall gather paleness, and their knees smite together, because of the anger of God that is kindling against them, and his fierce wrath that is revealing from heaven against all the ungodly, but more especially against the children of the “ Mystery of “ iniquity :" it is in this day that the kindreds of the earth shall mourn with a great lamentation.

O Christendom! Thou hast long fat as a queen, that should never know forrow: great have been thy pretences, and large thy profession of God, Chrift, Spirit, and scriptures: come, let me expoftulate with thee and thy children, in the fear and presence of him that shall bring every word and work to judgment. God is pure, and the pure in heart only see him: now, are you pure? Do you see him? God is a Spirit, and none can worship him aright, but such as come to his Spirit, and obey it: do you so ? Chris is the gift of God: have you received him in your hearts? Does he rule there? Then have you eternal life abiding in you:

if not, you are not true Christians. The Spirit of Truth leadeth into all truth; and the children of God are born of it, and led by it. But are you led into all the holy ways of truth, born of this eternal Spirit? Then you follow not the spirit of this world; nor do your own wills, but the will of God. You profess the holy scriptures; but what do you witness and experience? What interest have you in them? Can you set to your seal they are true, by the work of the fame Spirit in you, that gave them forch in the holy ancients ? What are David's roarings and praises to thee, that liveft in the lufts of this world? What are Paul's and Peter's experiences to thee, that walkeft after the flesh

O you, that are called Christians, give ear a little unto me, for I am pressed in spirit to write to you: read with patience, and consider my words ; førjobehold, what I have to say unto you concerneth your eternal good,

** God hath so loved the world, that he hath sent “ his only-begotten Son into the world, that those that " believe on him, should have eternal life.” And this Son is Christ Jesus, the true light, that lighteth every one coming into the world; and they that abide not in him, the light, dwell in darkness, in fin, and are under the region and shadow of death: yea, dead in fin, and see not their own states, neither perceive the sad conditions of their own souls. They are blind to the things of God's kingdom, and unsensible of true and spiritual life and motion, what it is to live to God; and, in that state, are alienated from God, without true judgment and living knowledge, and under the curse. For in Jesus Christ, the light of the world, are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, redemption and glory; they are hid from the worldly Chriftian, from all that are captivated by the spirit and lufts of the world : and whoever would see them

(for therein consist the things that belong to their eternal peace) must come to Christ Jesus, the true light in their consciences, bring their deeds to him, love him and obey him; whom God hath ordained - a 66 light to lighten the Gentiles, and for his salvation °C to the ends of the earth.” Light and salvation are joined together; and none can come to salvation, buc as they come first to the light, and submit to the ma"nifestation of it, which leadeth to salvation. For -56 the nations of them that are saved, shall walk in kot the light of the Lamb, Christ Jesus.” Light and juftification are also joined together: “ If we walk in

the light, as God is in the light, the blood of Jesus 6 Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” And light and life eternal are joined together : “ For in the

Word (that was with God in the beginning, and “ was God, by whom all things were made, that were so made) was life, and the life was the light of men.” And this is the testimony of Jesus, “I

am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not abide soin darkness, but have the light of life:” yea, it is eternal life to believe in him, in Christ, the light; to bon

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receive,

receive, embrace, and to follow him. And " that “ was the true light,” saith the same beloved disciple, “ which lighteth every man that cometh into the “ world.” Now this light shineth in darkness, in the children of darkness, in their dark hearts, in their black souls, and defiled consciences; but in this darkness they comprehend it not: neither can man know the nature and benefit of it, whilft he rebelleth against it: for the virtue and excellency of it is shut up and hid from the « children of disobedience."

To as many as received him of old, gave he power to become the children of God; and they that did his will, knew his doctrine to be of God, and of power and efficacy to their salvation.

But this is the great condemnation of the world at this day, that though God hath sent his Son, a light, into the hearts of all men and women, to manifest and reprove their evil deeds, and to save them; yet they love darkness, they love the lusts and imaginations of their vain hearts, better than this holy light, that is given unto them for salvation : they choose Barabbas rather than Jesus. Yea, they have set up other lights, than Christ Jesus, God's great light; and other prophets than Christ, God's great prophet; and other priests than Jesus, the High Priest of the new covenant: but they are dark lights, false prophets, and blind priests. “ All that came before me,” saith Christ, 6 are thieves and robbers:” and all that pray, preach, sing, worship, &c. and not by the light and spirit of Jesus, they go before Christ, before Christ.cometh, before he prepareth their hearts, and toucheth their lips, with a coal from his heavenly altar; and perforin worship in their own will, time, and power, and stay not for his leadings. And therefore all such rob Christ of his office, who is the leader of the true Christians ; their heavenly high priest, to anoint them, and offer up their facrifice to God for them; and prophet, to let them see and know, by his light in their hearts, what they ought to do, according to the new and everlasting covenant; “I will write my law in their hearts,

" and

" and put my spirit in their inward parts, and they “ shall be all taught of me, saith the Lord.”

Now this is the question to the whole world called Christians: Do you see with this divine light? Have you searched your hearts with it? And are you anointed by this High Priest with his holy unction, that leadeth into all truth? Doth this heavenly prophet give you vision, and reveal the Father to you? Is he your eye, your head, your wisdom? Do you live, move, and have your life and being in him, in praying, preaching, and singing, yea, in your whole conversation ? Are you renewed into his life and image ? And have you heard his voice, and feen his shape? Are you witnesses of his holy rebukes, his pure judgments, the shame and death of his cross? Is he the fountain of your knowledge? The author of your faith? O confider! are you of those that have spoke with Jesus? That have been taught in the school of his holy cross? Students in his heavenly academy ? O have you drank of his cup, and been baptized with his baptism? Tell me, in the fear of the Lord God, you that call yourselves Christians, doth he

go

before you, as a master teachech his disciples, and a captain leadeth his foldiers? And do you follow him in all the weighty things of this life? And doth he order your minds, and rule your affections ? If not, you are thieves and robbers; for you rob Christ of his office. For God hath appointed him to be the leader and ruler of all people; yea, it is God's decree; and those that he leadeth not, in their thoughts, words, and works, Thall never come to God : for all must come to God by him, that is, by his light and spirit ruling in their hearts, which sanctifieth, regenerateth, and converteth the soul to God.

And the cause of the confusion and contention that is about religion in Europe at this day, is, that men have deserted this true light and holy spirit, and so are degenerated from the life and power of pure and unspotted religion, and have attempted to comprehend Christ's doctrines without Christ's light, and to know T 3

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and lead you,