98. If you had been then told, that the jealous God would soon arise and maintain his own cause; that he would pour down his Spirit from on high, and renew the face of the earth; that he would shed abroad his love in the hearts of the outcasts of men, producing all holy and heavenly tempers, expelling anger, and pride, and evil desire, and all unholy and earthly tempers; causing outward religion, the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love, to flourish and abound; and wherever it spread, abolishing outward-irreligion, destroying all the works of the devil: if you had been told, that this living knowledge of the Lord would in a short space of time overspread our land; yea, and daily increase, in spite of all the opposition which the devil and his children did or could make against it: Would you not have vehemently desired to see that day, that you might bless God and rejoice therein?
99. Behold the day of the Lord is come. He is again visiting and redeeming his people. Having eyes, see ye not? Having ears, do ye not hear? Neither understand with your hearts? At this hour the Lord is rolling away our reproach. Already his standard is set up. His spirit is poured forth on the outcasts of men, and his love shed abroad in their hearts. Love of all mankind, meekness, gentleness, humbleness of mind, holy and heavenly affections, do take place of hate, anger, pride, revenge, and vain affections. Hence wherever the power of the Lord spreads, springs outward religion in all its forms. The houses of God are filled; the table of the Lord is thronged on every side. And those who thus shew their love of God, shew they love their neighbour also, by being careful to maintain good works, by doing all manner of good, as they have time, to all men. They are likewise careful to abstain from all evil. Cursing, sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, with all other (however fashionable) works of the devil, are not once named among them. All this is plain demonstrable fact. For this also is not done in a corner. Now, do you acknowledge the day of your visitation? Do you bless God and rejoice therein?
100. What hinders? Is it this, that men say all manner of evil of those whom God is pleased to use as instruments in his work? O ye fools, did ye suppose the devil was dead? Or that he would not fight for his kingdom? And what weapons shall he fight with, if not with lies? Is he not a liar, and the father of it? Suffer ye then thus far. Let the devil and his children say all manner of evil of us. And let them go on deceiving each other, and being deceived. But ye need not be deceived also.――――Or if you are, if you will believe all they say: be it so, that we are weak, silly, wicked men; without sense, without learning, without even a desire or design of doing good: yet I insist upon the fact. Christ is preached and sinners are converted to God. This none but a madman can deny. We are ready to prove it by a cloud of witnesses. Neither therefore can the inference be denied, that God is now visiting his people. O that all men may know in this their day, the things that make for their peace!
101. Upon the whole, to men of the world I would still recommend the known advice of _Gamaliel_: _Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God_. But unto you whom God hath chosen out of the world, I say ye are our brethren, and of our father’s house, it behoveth you, in whatsoever manner ye are able, _to strengthen our hands in God_. And this ye are all able to do; to wish us good luck in the name of the Lord, and, to pray continually, that none of _these things may move us_, and that _we may not count our lives dear unto ourselves, so that we may finish our course with joy, and the ministry which we have received of the Lord Jesus_!
Written in the year 1744.
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_Primitive Christianity._
1 HAPPY the souls who first believ’d, To Jesus, and each other cleav’d, Join’d by the unction from above, In mystic fellowship of love.
2 Meek, simple followers of the Lamb, They liv’d, and spake, and thought the same, Brake the commemorative bread, And drank the Spirit of their head.
3 On God they cast their every care, Wrestling with God in mighty prayer, They claim’d the grace, thro’ Jesus given: By prayer, they shut, and open’d heaven.
4 To Jesus they perform’d their vows, A little church in every house; They joyfully conspir’d to raise Their ceaseless sacrifice of praise.
5 Propriety was there unknown, None call’d what he possess’d his own; Where all the common blessings share, No selfish happiness was there.
6 With grace abundantly endu’d, A pure, believing multitude; They all were of one heart and soul, And only love inspir’d the whole.