A guide to the godly, or, The dayly meditations of Returne Hebdon Gentleman who for his conscience (through the tyrany of the Bishops) suffered many years imprisonment in the Kings-Bench and their remained till death : being very useful for instruction of all those that desire to walke in the paths of Jesus Christ.

The 6. day of the week. (Book 6)

1. IT is a misery to have ones body at liberty by the procurement of men, and ones minde and conscience in perpetuall prison, by ones own Act.

2. There is a twofold justification arising from the Law: the one of workes under the Leviticall Priesthood, the other of faith under the Priest∣hood of Christ Jesus. The former justifica∣tion is only if sight, and by report of men, and it was effectuall to justifie the slosh before the King, and the authority of the Kingdom, according to this justification, was Zachary and his wife, righ∣teous before God in this life, Luke 1.5.6. but

this Law made none perfect and pure in Consci∣ence before the spirit of God, Heb. 9 8. to 14.

Therefore of necessity, upon the defect of this first justification, ariseth a perfect justification which is of the Kingdom of God, Mat. 6.33. This justification is of faith, in spirit and truth, accor∣ding to the spirituall Priesthood of Jesus Christ, which is effectuall, to justifie the heart and spirit of a man: so that in conscience of the worke of the spirit (whereby the justifications of the Law, is fulfilled in us, Rom. 8.3.4.) we have boldnesse to come to the Throane of the grace of God in the Heavens, Heb. 4.14, 15 16. which freedom no unclean person, or secret sinner can have; but only such as being condemned of men, have good Consciences towards God: so as they can wil∣lingly suffer in the mortall blood, that so they may come to be present with the Lord, for the justification of their spirit, 1 Tim 3.15.16.

3. In the power of Christianity there is a two∣fold knowledge at the gate, the one of Christ, Rev. 3.20. the other of the Christian, Mat. 7.8. The gate standeth as an interstitium, or interposi∣tion between immortality and mortality, and it is called the gates of Hell, and of death, which are the many tribulations, through which the Christians must enter into the Kingdom of God, Act. 14.22. with Rev. 7.14. and they are the di∣verse torments, Heb. 11.25, 36.37. and whatsoe∣ver authority the Divill and his seed in mortall

bodis have from the power of death to sever the mind and spirit of the Christian from Christ, Heb. 2.14. with Mat. 16.18. through this gate Jesus Christ the head is entered into the Kingdom of Heaven, and from death is living in immortality, Luke 24.26. Rev. 1.18 Christ therefore being in the state or immortall glory, knocketh on the far∣ther side of the gate, calleth to his spouse that are in suffering estate of mortall shame to come a∣way to him from mortality, to immortality.

On this hither side of the gate, the spouse or Church, which are every suffering Christian in the truth, do knock when they sigh in their ••••ibulations, being oppressed and grieved; desiring that mortality may be swallowed up of life, and wish∣ing hart••ly, that they might be out of mortall bo∣dies, & be present with the Lord, which is best of all, 2 Cor. 42.4.6.8. Phil. 1.23. And thus we may understand how earnestly Christ the hus∣band knocks at one side, calling the Christian his wife, and we may consider how lovingly the wife also knocks at the other side, beseeching him to draw her, and indue her with power to put off the mortall cloathing, whereby she is yet holden in this world from him, that so she may over∣come all the power, principalities, and authori∣ties which do keepe them from the full enjoying of love, not that Christ can come to his spouse againe into a mortall and cursed estate; but that she having the earnest of his spirit, may follow

him through the straightest gates to his glory, in an immortall and blessed estate: And as many as are thus gathered unto Christ from mortality, are the Church of the first borne, written in the Heavens, and their spirits are perfected; all which at the time of the judgement of Christ, shall re∣ceive that Kingdom of God, which cannot be moved, Heb. 12.22. to 28.

4. It grieves me to heare such as think them∣selves to be spirituall and Christians, to boast in a carnall & mortall Bondage, after the worldly ele∣ments of the heathen; whereby they are inforced to eat swines flesh, as a thing necessary to eternall salvation, and to justifie themselves in defiance of God, his holy spirit and word; whereas in Christ the lawfull meates which were sanctified to an holy Use for sacrifice, profited not to purge the Conscience from sin, nor to justifie before the holy God of Israell, Heb. 9.8. &c. These therefore are much deceived, and blinded in mor∣tality, and reprobate to every good work, as Tit. 1.15.16. untill they are by the light of the word, enlightened to immortality, and by the grace of God the saviour which hath appeared unto all men, are by chastisement taught what to deny, how to live, and for what to waite, Tit. 2.7. to 14.

5. From the fulfilling of this word, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, Mat. 12.7. Hos. 6.7. is shewed what the Lord rejecteth, and what he

now requireth in Christ. If any man bring to God an offering, or be envious against a brother, or neighbour, for Gods sake, as he thinketh; first he rejecteth the offering, for that it is the gain of oppression; as if God should say, I gave thee life, and commanded thee not to defraud or oppresse; therefore I will not ••obery for an offering, if the goods be lawfully gotten; yet God rejecteth him, saying, I commanded thee to be mercifull, and to love thy neighbour, and the stranger as thy selfe, which thou hast not done: this Offering, and more then this, is by my will due to the poore, and so none of thine: therefore I will not have neglect of the poore, or transgression for an Offer∣ing. If the Offering be lawfull, and free from sin, against the poore; yet the Lord saith, I will not now have thee to offer thy goods in sacrifice, but that with them, thou extend mercy to all that are in want of thy mercy. If a man do thus serve God in his goods, yet offend in his person, in being hard hearted to his brethren, that confesse and de∣sire forgivnesse of the trespasse against him, if he yet bind and will not loose the sin, the Lord will say unto him, except you forgive men their offences, Mar: 11.25.26. neither will the heavenly Father heare thee, to forgive thy sins, Mat. 6.14.15. All which sheweth that it is in vaine, or a procuring of judgement for any man to go to the Lord, by faith in Christ, and

his heart not perfect in mercy and love to his brother, that he seeth with his eyes, 1 Iohn 4.20.