enjoy quietness, one not envying the other, nor they vexing them, but serving God according to the light which he is graciously pleased to afford them, they wait for farther manifestation of the glorious gospel; and that God hath broken, and will break, every design, that either openly, and professedly, or under specious pretences of crying, lo here is Christ, or lo there, hath sought, or shall seek and endeavour to subvert this his work, to the preservation whereof he will certainly mould the government, and interest of this nation, ordering its affairs in a peculiar manner on that account only; and not that he delighteth in one way or form, whereinto it hath been cast, more than another. And whatever high-minded men, full of their own apprehensions and wisdom, may do, to this 'work of God, the poor of his people shall repair.' And for my insisting on this answer, and this only, I have these farther reasons to add for my justification.

(1.) This is an interest comprehensive of all the sons of Zion, whose founding God intends; it excludes none that can claim a share in the city of the living God. God takes equal care of all the dwelling-places of Zion. Every dwellingplace of Zion hath its beauty, hath its glory; Isa. iv. 5. The glory of one may be as the glory of the sun, of another as the moon, of others as the stars, and those differing from one another in glory; yet each hath its glory, and upon it there shall be a defence,' a covering, a protection. This is the promise, this hath been the work of God.

(2.) This compriseth all them who have lived by faith, and abode in supplications in reference to God's late dispensations amongst us. Who dare despise any one of those little ones, and say, God hath heard me, not you; regarded me, not you; you have no share or portion in the returns of supplications, which we enjoy ?

(3.) This alone preserveth the dwellers of Zion from offering violence one to another, from taking the work of Babylon out of its hands, and devouring one another. Let any other apprehension whatever of the work of God be embraced, and the first work that thereby men will be engaged in, is the oppressing, persecuting, ruining of their brethren; which whether it be the founding of Zion, or no, the day of judgment shall determine.

(4.) This is that, which the common enemy seeks to destroy. It is not this, or that party, that he would devour; it is not this, or that persuasion, he would cast down; his hatred is, πρòs Tò Yévoç, against the whole race' and kind. This is that which he would accomplish, that all the children of God, however differenced among themselves, might be ruined, destroyed, cast down, and rooted out for ever, that the name of Israel might no more be had in remembrance. This then is that which God, in their disappointment, aims to establish.

(5.) Because the founding of Zion doth not consist in this, or that form of the civil administration of human affairs; there being nothing promised, nor designed concerning them, but that they be laid in an orderly subserviency to the common interest of the saints; which let men do what they will, yea, what they can, all government shall at last be brought unto. And who is there amongst us, that in singleness of heart dares make such an answer to the messengers of the nations,' inquiring after the peculiar work of God amongst us, namely, that it consists in the establishment of this, or that form of civil administration, though much of the work of God lies therein, in relation to this general end? This then is the answer which I shall give to the messengers of the nations,' and of it there are these three parts.

[1.] God hath broken, destroyed, ruined them and their contrivances, who made it their business to overthrow Zion, and to root out the generation of the righteous, not under this, or that way or form, whereby they are differenced among themselves, but as such, as the saints of the Holy One, and will continue so to do.

[2.] He hath given to them, to the poor of his people, peace, liberty, freedom from impositions on their consciences, with much glorious light in several degrees in his worship and service.

[3.] He hath cast (as he hath promised) the power of the nation into a subserviency to this common interest of Christ, and his people in this world; and hath made, or will make them to understand, that as the peace of Zion lies in their lies in the peace, so their peace peace of Zion. And what to say more to the messengers of the nation,' I know not.

Use 2. If this then be the work of God, let us repair to it. The poor of the people shall trust therein, or join themselves thereunto. That you may do this in judgment, be pleased to take these directions, which with all humility I offer to you, and I hope from the Lord.

(1.) Engage in no way, no counsels, be the reasonings and pretences for them never so specious, which have an inconsistency with this common interest of Zion in this generation. If, instead of repairing to the work of God, you should be found contending against it, and setting up your own wisdom, in the place of the wisdom of God, it would not be to your advantage. I know many things will be suggested unto you; settling of religion, establishing a discipline in the church, not to tolerate errors, and the like. From which discourse I know what conclusions some men are apt to draw, if no otherwise, yet from what they have been doing for many years. Do we then plead for errors and unsettlement? God forbid! God hath undertaken to found and establish Zion, to settle it, and he will do it; and I pray God you may be instrumental therein according to his mind. He will also give his people one heart, and one way; and I pray that you, by your example of union in love, and by all other good means, may be instrumental towards the accomplishment of that promise amongst us. It is only the liberty and protection of the people of God, as such, that is pleaded for; and he that shall set up any thing inconsistent therewith, as so set up, will lay the foundation of his building in the first-born of his peace, and set up gate of it in the utmost and last of his welfare. In a word: The people of God may possibly in this nation devour one another, and wash their hands in the blood of one another, by widening the breaches that are among them; and woe be to them that shall be instrumental herein. But if ever they come to a coalescency in love and truth, it must be by their mutual forbearance of one another, until the Spirit be poured down from on high, and the fruits of peace be brought forth thereby. And herein the Lord make you as the mountains that bring forth righteousness, and the little hills that bring forth peace unto his people.

the

There are some things that I am afraid of, that lie contrary to what I am exhorting you unto. I wish the event

manifest that I am afraid without cause. However, give me leave to caution you of them, because I cannot be faithful to my call if I do not.

[1] Take heed, lest that evil be still abiding upon any of our spirits, that we should be crying out, and calling for reformation, without a due consideration of what it is, and how it is to be brought about. I wish one of many of them, who have prayed for it, and complained for want of it, had endeavoured to carry it on as they might. Would you have a reformation? Be you more humble, more holy, more zealous; delight more in the ways, worship, ordinances of God; reform your persons in your lives, relations, families, parishes, as to gospel obedience, and you will see a glorious reformation indeed. What mean you by a reformation? Is it the hurting of others, or doing good to ourselves? Is it a power over other men's persons, or our own lusts? God hath now for sundry years tried us, whether indeed we love reformation, or no. Have any provoked us, or compelled us to defile the worship of God with ceremonies or superstitions, and our own consciences therewithal? Have we been imposed on in the ways of God by men ignorant of them? Hath not God said to us, You that have prayed under persecution for reformation; you that have fought in the high places of the field for reformation; you that have covenanted and sworn for reformation, go now, reform yourselves; you ministers, preach as often as you will, as freely as you please, no man shall control you; live as holily as you can, pray as often, fast as often as you will, be full of bounty and good works, giving examples to your flock, none shall trouble you; be instant in season, out of season, preach the whole counsel of God without control; you people, be holy, serve God in holiness, keep close to his worship and ordinances, love them, delight in them, bring forth such fruits as men may glorify' God on your account; condemn the world, justify the cause of God by a gospel conversation, take seven years peace and plenty, and see what you can do? If after all this we still cry out, Give us a reformation, and complain not of our own negligence, folly, hatred of personal reformation, to be the only cause of that want, it is easy to judge what we would have, had we our desires.

[2.] Take heed, lest any who have formerly desired the

day of the Lord, considering the purity and holiness wherewith it will be attended, grow weary of it and its work, as not being able to abide it, and so lay aside all thoughts of growing up with it in the will of God; lest any say, Is this the day of the Lord, that holiness, godliness, exact obedience, should be prized, exalted, esteemed; that profaneness, pride, selfishness, formality should be despised, consumed, devoured? We will have none of this day.

[3.] Take heed that there rise not up a generation that knew not Joseph: that knew us not in the days of our distress, and contending with those who would have destroyed us; who were not engaged with us in praying, fasting, fighting in England, Scotland, and Ireland; but were unconcerned in all our affairs who know nothing of the cries, tears, trembling, and fears, wherewith this cause hath been managed. Can we expect that they should be acted by the spirit of it, or have a due sense of what they must be engaged in? What know they of the communion we have had with God in this business all along, what answers he hath given us, what obligations he hath put upon us thereby? The whole business is to them as a story only of that which is past, wherein they are not concerned. There are such abiding impressions left on the souls of as many as have been engaged in the work of God in this nation, from the beginning to the end, as will never be blotted out. If a spirit not sensible of former ways should arise amongst us, and prevail, it would be sad with the interest of Christ, and his people in this nation. To return to my directions:

(2.) Make this work of God your pole-star, that you may steer and guide your course by it. In all your consultations and actions, whatever is proposed, whatever is to be done, let this consideration attend it-But how will it suit the design of God in establishing Zion? Men speaking of a thing of manifest evidence, say that it is written with the beams of the sun. Give me leave to tell you of a thing that is written in the prayers of the saints, the fears of your enemies, the condition of this nation, the counsels of princes of the earth, the affairs of the nations abroad in the world, all the issues of the providence of God in these days; all which concurring, I suppose, will give as good an evidence as any thing in the