The afflicted and retired mans meditations, concerning the excellency of the spirit With a discovery of the twofold-mind; the danger of the one, the comfort and safety of the other. First, here is observed, what it is for to be carnally minded. Secondly, means to suppress a carnal frame of spirit. Thirdly, the dreadful state of a carnal minded man. Fourthly, how the spirit is a Christians help. Fifthly, means to obtain the spirit. Sixthly, the characters of a spiritualized Christian. Seventhly, the glorious priviledges of a spiritual minded man. And a few meditations by way of observation: with a dialogue between Christ and a sinner; Christ and a Christian; Christ and the afflicted person: as also, a word to the remnant of the womans seed: with a loud call to all saints, to love one another upon the account of son-ship, and not onely upon the account of fellowship. Written by Samuel Bradley, who hath love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, who prayes for Zions unity.

To all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and who desire to be Faithful followers of the Lamb; Grace, Mercy, and true Peace be multiplyed.

Dearly beloved in the Lord,

AMong many of the Providential appearances of the Lord to me, I judge this to be none of the least, that I should speak by Epistle in Print, which was the least of my thoughts. Surely Saints, the Lord is about to speak, when he opens the mouths of Babes and Sucklings, Psalm. 8.2. And seeing God hath put this opportunity into my Hand, I shall endeavour to deal Faithfully between God, and you, and my own soul: And so I shall crave your patience, to consider three or four things which the Lord hath put into my Heart, to commend to your consideration. Me-thinks I hear the Lords people speaking in the Language of them in Isa. 21.11. Watch∣men, What of the Night? Give me leave to whisper a∣mong you, O ye Saints, among the loud cry of your Watch∣men, that the Lord speaks at this Day, four-fold, (that is to say) four things God speaks to be our work at this Day.

First, The Voice of God at this day bespeaks you, Oh ye Saints, to Act Faith, 2 Chron. 20.20. And hear O ye Saints, pray as the Disciples, Luke 17.5. Lord increase our Faith, for if we believe, all things shall be possible, Mark 9.23. Hard things shall be made easie, Heb. 11.

from the 33. to the 38. Yea, the crooked wayes shall be made streight, rough wayes smooth; and whilest we are going in this Wilderness, to comfort us, Faith will give us a view of the Good Land, Heb. 11.1. Yea, it will lead us up to the top of Mount Nebo; yea, let me say as David, Psal. 145.11, 12. Consider, Faith is that which Honours God, that God hath engaged himself to honour them who honour him, 1 Sam. 2.30. Faith will tell us, He will never leave us nor forsake us; Faith will prevent despair in our Souls, Psalm. 27.13. We should faint, if we did not believe to see the goodness of the Lord, in the Land of the Living; Faith will teach us, that all things shall work for good, Rom. 8.28. Faith will help us to know that our Redeemer lives, John 19.25. and to say with Thomas, My Lord and my God, John 20.28. What should I say more? it is pretious, 2 Pet. 1. yea, it is very necessary, Heb. 11.6.

Secondly, The Voice of God speaks us to be patient; and therefore O ye Saints beg patience, let it have its per∣fect work in your Souls, James 1.4. Patience will gain thee a look from God, when frowardnesse will make him stand a-loofe off; it is that will make a long way short, James 5.7, 8. The Spirit of patience is opposite to a mur∣muring frame of Spirit. (Mark) Israel got nothing by a murmuring Spirit, Psal. 106.23, 29. Patience will pre∣vent from tempting God, and limitting of God; it will help thee to submit to the Lord, and it will teach thee to know that the Lord is just in afflicting, Mich. 7.9. Remem∣ber the Counsel of your Lord, Luke 21.19. In your pati∣ence possess ye your Souls.

Thirdly, The Voice of God speaks us to love. And O ye Saints, How ought you to love one another? Oh! that this Grace of love might abound in your Souls: John saith, Love is of God, 1 John 4.8. Yea, he that loves not his Brother, hath not the love of God in him. Consider O ye Saints, it become the Servant to be obedient to his Master; hark Christians, it is the command of your Lord, to love one another, John 15.12. Would you be accounted the Friends of Christ? then love one another: Saints, there lies the greatest engagement in the World upon you to love.

1. The Father hath loved you, he chose you out of love, Ephes. 1.5. Hos. 14.4. John 3.16.

2. The Son hath loved you: Oh! height of love; Christ's love to us, was self-abasing love, Phil. 2.7. compared with Prov. 8. from 22. to 31. it was wrath-appeasing love, Ephes. 2.14. it was a Justice-satisfying Love, Mat. 27.46. It was bleeding Love, Luke 22.44. Heb. 9.12. It was dying Love, Rom. 5.6, 8.

3. The Spirit Loves you, 1 Cor. 3.16.

What shall I say more, they all wrought equally in the Work of our Redemption and Salvation, and this was Love again. Oh ye Saints! consider, The World hates you, John 15.18, 19, 20. Oh! therefore love one another; it is enough Saints, the Lord whips you, but that is love too, Heb. 12.6. But consider, the Enemy hates, there∣fore do you love; let not Saints he smiting one another, that is the work of the unprofitable Servant: Oh! let not Saints come under this reproof, to afflict the afflicted, Zach. 1.15. Sion is now in the Furnace, and Saints, it is the great design of God to burn up this dross, the want of love, Zeph. 3.8, 9. What shall I say more? O love the Lord all ye his Saints, and ye who love the Lord love one another.

Fourthly, The Voice of God at this day, speaks Saints to be Humble. Dost thou hope to be exalted Saint? then be Humble, Psal. 113.7, 8. Numb. 12.3. Wouldst thou have the Commendation of God? then lie low, humility will help thee to say, less then the least of all Saints, Ephes. 3.8. Would you O ye Saints be taught of God? be Humble; Would you have God to dwell with you? be Humble; he takes care to revive the Humble. I shall have done, onely beg∣ing, that God would imprint that word upon all our Souls, Phil. 2.3, 4. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of Mind, let each esteem others better then themselves.

A Word to the Faithful Unbyassed Reader, as to the ensuing Treatise.

Friend, Thou wilt find those things contained in this Treatise, very soundly and sollidly handled; thou wilt find but little of the inticing words of mans Wisdom, but doubtless thou mayest find much of the Teachings of God in plainness of Speech. As to the Author of it, I have this to say, That he hath been in the Furnace, wherein I hope, he hath lost much dross, and so is become a Vessel more fit for his Ma∣sters use. Reader, What thou readest, weigh in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, and thou wilt find, God speaks much by it. If thou gettest nothing, blame thine own heart, for the Heart of man is deceitful; If thou art a gainer, give God the Glory, and let the Author have thy Prayers. The Trea∣tise discovers the Carnal Mind, what it is, and to what it leads; If thy Heart be Carnal, tremble, and be timely warned; if by it thou findest thy self in a Spiritual Frame,

beg of the Lord to keep thee so. To conclude, be like the No∣ble Bereans, which were more Noble than they of Thessalo∣nica; why? because they searcht the Scriptures, to see if those things which were spoken by Paul, were so. Now the God of Grace, fill you with streams from that full Fountain the Lord Jesus Christ.

So prayes he who is the least of all Saints, begging as he stands in need of a great part of your Prayers, Benjamin Minzes.

The 16th. day of the 11th. Moneth, 1662.