Transcriber's Note: "[_sic. _]" has been inserted wherever there was anapparent typo or non-standard grammatical construction in the original. 

A SERMON

PREACHED AT

THE QUAKER'S MEETING HOUSE, IN GRACECHURCH-STREET, LONDON, EIGHTH MONTH 12TH, 1694. 

BY WILLIAM PENN. 

SALVATION FROM SIN BY CHRIST ALONE. 

LONDON:R. H. MOORE, 162, FLEET-STREET;AND BANCKS AND CO. , EXCHANGE-STREET, MANCHESTER. 1836. 

BANCKS AND CO. , PRINTERS, MANCHESTER. 

The perusal of the first numbers of a series of tracts, containingextracts from the writings of "early Friends, " and published for theavowed purpose of lowering the estimation in which those writings areheld by the Society, and even of proving "that many of them wouldreflect discredit upon a private library, and ought truly to beaccounted dangerous books, " has given rise to the presentre-publication. As an humble, but sincere admirer of those principles ofGospel Truth, which the early Friends sought to promulgate, as well bytheir writings as by eminently devoted lives, and a constant and oftproved willingness to suffer for Christ's sake, I must protest (whetherto any purpose or not) against the illiberal, and unjust mode of conductresorted to by the publishers of the "Extracts, " in selecting short andpartial sentences, and thus, as I conceive, grossly misrepresenting someof the views of those Worthies long since removed from the world onwhich they walked as strangers and as pilgrims, and long since, I doubtnot, permitted, through the mercy of their God and Saviour, to enterinto that "better country, " where they are no more exposed to the trialsof time, no more exposed to the scoffs and persecutions of men, and nomore affected by the calumnies of "false Brethren. "

Whilst, however, expressing a sincere and affectionate regard for thememories of those who have preceded me in religious professions, I wouldadd that I consider them worthy to be followed only as they followedChrist, and that if I go forth by the footsteps of this flock of mySaviour's companions, it is that I may feed beside that good Shepherd'stents, where, I believe, they found plentiful pasture. 

I would most explicitly state, the present publication is no party act, or an act originating in party feeling, for though I must take aheartfelt interest in the present proceedings in our Society, yet Ideeply feel that, even if I see, or think I see, the Ark of the Covenantof our God unsteadily placed as upon a new cart, there is a danger ofputting forth, like Uzza of old, uncalled and unprepared hands for itssupport. 

To the serious attention of all honest hearted enquirers after truth doI commend this little Pamphlet, believing that the principles set forthin the annexed Sermon, are the principles uniformly avowed and supportedby the "early Friends, " and that (however their views and writings maybe distorted and belied) the whole Gospel of a crucified and risenSaviour, in all its freeness, and in all its fullness, was what theysought to publish, and by their lives to adorn. 

C. GILPIN. 

_Manchester, 4th Month, 1836. _

SERMON. 

The great and blessed God that made heaven and earth, the seas and thegreat fountains of the deep, and rivers of water, the Almighty JEHOVAH, who is from everlasting to everlasting. He also made man and woman; andhis design was to make them eternally happy and blessed. And thereforehe made man in his own image; "in the image of God created he him, maleand female created he them:" He made them after his own likeness holy, wise, merciful, just, patient, and humble, endued them with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. But man and woman through theirtransgressions lost this image of God, and with it lost their happinessand true blessedness, that God made them in a capacity to enjoy. 

Now in this state of MISERY into which we are fallen, we are come shortof the glory of God; and it is out of this wretched woful state we mustbe brought, else we shall never see the face of God with comfort. Thisis an eternal truth of God, and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Johniii. 16. That "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begottenSon, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but haveeverlasting life. " God so loved the world, he gave his Son to be a lightunto the world, that all might see their way back to God again: For sinhath darkened the understanding, and clouded the mind of man and woman, and alienated them from the life of God, and their hearts are hardenedthrough the deceitfulness of sin. But now is the acceptable time, now isthe day of salvation, the day of God's grace and favourable visitation, wherein he visits men and women, illuminates their minds and spiritswith a light from heaven, that they might see the deplorable state andcondition wherein they are, and what they are doing: It is in thislight, that they have a day of grace vouchsafed to them, that it may bewell with them, both here and for ever. They that receive this light, and come out of that which they are called from, which is sin, they maycome to enjoy peace with God. It was sin that first separated betweenGod and man; and it is sin now that hinders man from acquaintance withthe Lord, who brings peace unto him: It is by this light, that we are toacquaint ourselves with God, that we may be at peace. Thus saith theLord by the prophet, "It is sin has separated between me and you:" Sinhath made a partition wall between God and us, and God hath sent his Soninto the world to break down this partition wall that sin hath made;that so fallen man might return to God, and come into Paradise again, out of which sin hath cast him. 

Now, none can bring us back to God, and into favour and communion withhim, but our Lord Jesus Christ: He is the light and leader of hispeople. There is no name under heaven by which we can be saved, but thename of JESUS: It is he that saves his people from their sins; and it isin him alone that we are blessed: "Blessed is he whose transgression isforgiven, and whose sin is covered:" And for the sake of Christ alone itis, that the Lord imputeth not iniquity to us. Now pray "Examineyourselves, whether you be in the faith, " 2 Cor. Xiii. 5. "Prove yourown selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates. "Examine yourselves, whether you have chosen the Lord for your God, andChrist for your Redeemer? And whether you have forsaken your sins, andreturned from your evil ways, and answered the visitation of the love ofGod in your souls? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who came toseek and to save them that were lost? He is the Physician of value, thatwas wounded to heal our wounds: "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and had the chastisement of our peace uponhim; that by his stripes we might be healed:" It is he alone that coulddo this. Who is sufficient for these things? The Lord found out one thatis sufficient; he hath "laid help upon one that is mighty, " that is"able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him. " God hathgiven him the Spirit without measure, and filled him with grace andtruth, that of his fullness we might all receive, and grace for grace:He is mighty to save the sons and daughters of men, and to give thempower to become the children of God. 

This was testified of old, John i. 12. "But as many as received him, tothem gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believeon his name. " Men want power over their sins: When sin appears to beexceeding sinful, they would overcome it, and be rid of it, when it istroublesome: And when they are under a deep conviction of the evil ofit, and see the woful and miserable state that sin hath brought mankindinto how they have lost the image of God and the favour of God; theythen desire to be restored, and brought back again into their primitivestate. You that know the truth of God, see how the work goes on in yourhearts, see how the image of God is carrying on upon you. Consider, thatthe Lord is a holy God, of purer eyes than to behold iniquity withapprobation: "There is no peace to the wicked, " that walk in the broadway, and grieve the Holy Spirit, and do not answer his divine call. There is a two-fold call concerning man, a call to repentance, and acall to judgment. The call to repentance is in this day of God'svisitation; they that receive it now, that are so wise, as to answerGod's call, and believe in the Son of God, and in his inward appearance, that obey his voice, when they hear his call, saying, Come away, comeout of thy sins, come out of the wickedness, filthiness, and pollutionof the world; come into the divine nature of the Son of God; come intohis life: Into what life? Into the spiritual life, the divine life? Thouhast been dead to God and alive to the world: Now that thou mayst[_sic. _] be dead to sin, and alive to God, come unto him that hath allpower in heaven and in earth committed to him. O come unto Christ, thedear and blessed Son of God, in this day of grace and salvation, andreceive power to overcome thy sins! Then thou wilt be a conqueror, andovercome the Devil. 

We are of ourselves altogether insufficient for these things, we areweak and impotent; and our Saviour hath told us, "Without me ye can donothing:" We are justified freely by God's grace, through the redemptionthat is in Jesus Christ; not justified by our own works. How great acontradiction is it to charge them with the contrary, that say, Theycannot preach nor pray, but as the Spirit of God moveth them. Blessed beGod that hath made us sensible of our own weakness, emptiness, andpoverty. Our help hath been in the name of the Lord, who made heaven andearth, who hath given his Son to be an helper, and an all-sufficientSaviour to us; with him he hath given sufficient power and strength, whereby we are enabled to overcome the Devil, the enemy of our souls: Sothat we may be enabled to stand against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness, and conquer all the powers, of darkness, and fight the good fight of faith, and finish our course with joy, andkeep the faith: seeing there is laid up for us a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give us at that day; "and notonly to us, (saith the Apostle, ) but unto all them that love hisappearing. " We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with thefeeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as weare, yet without sin: Christ, our Redeemer, was tempted, that he mightsuccour those that are tempted. When the Devil tempted our Saviour inthe wilderness, and could not prevail, he went away and left him: Theprince of this world found nothing in him, upon which he could fastenhis temptation. Christ will enable those that believe in him to overcomethe Devil, and to be more than conquerors, through him that loved them:He came into the world to purge and purify his people, and to be theauthor of eternal salvation to all them that believe in him, and obeyhim. But it is said, "He did not many mighty works" among some to whomhe preached the everlasting Gospel, because of their unbelief: Many willnot believe in the inward and spiritual appearance of Jesus Christ theSon of God, who is the light of the world; they will neither believe inthe light, nor walk in the light, which will enable them to conquer theevil one, who is the prince of darkness: It is only through ChristJesus, the great captain of our salvation, that we are victorious. 

Therefore, my friends, open your hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, receive this blessed gift of God which he offers to you: And can Godgive you a greater gift than the Son of his Love? And will not yougladly receive him, and that great salvation which he hath purchased foryou with his own blood! But, say some people, we have received Christ, and believe in him, and believe the divine authority of the HolyScriptures. But let me ask you, Who keeps house all this while? Whathave you done for Christ? Christ hath died for you; but hast thou livedto him? And hast thou died to the world, and died to thy sins and lusts?Consider with yourselves, It is both your great duty and interest to dieto sin, and live to Christ that died for you. And we must stand atChrist's tribunal, and give an account to him, of whatsoever we havedone, whether good or bad; and he will judge us at the great day of hisappearing. Blessed are you, that receive the blessed Son of God, thatnow stands in Spirit at the door, and knocks: Open your heart, and makeroom for him, and let not the world keep him out, and he will come in, and sup with you, and you with him: And he will do that for you, whichyou cannot do for yourselves. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh isweak:" He will give thee power over sin, and over the world, and overthe Devil: Whenever he shall assault thee with his temptations, say, "Get thee behind me Satan, thou savourest not the things that be ofGod. " When people come to be spiritually minded they will taste andsavour the things that are spiritual and heavenly: if they be not thingsof God, do not touch with them, have nothing to do with them; but walkin the Spirit, and savour the things of the Spirit. And hearken to thecounsel of Christ, who speaks to you in the name of Wisdom; "O ye simpleones understand wisdom, and ye fools be of an understanding heart; hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shallbe right things: Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily atmy gates, waiting at the posts of my doors: For whoso findeth me findethlife. " Hearken to the blessed counsel of Christ, hear his voice and obeyit: They that do his will, shall know his doctrine: "The secret of theLord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant. "

They that have the saving knowledge of God, and Christ Jesus, which islife eternal, they will walk in a correspondent and suitable manner tothat knowledge, and be holy in all manner of conversation: They will notbe only nominal Christians, but true Christians, Israelites indeed inwhom there is no guile; They will receive Christ Jesus who is God'sgift, and knows [_sic. _] the operation of his power in theirsouls. These persons are fit to live and prepared to die; when Christ, who is their life, shall appear, they shall appear with him in glory. When the sound of the last trumpet shall be heard at the end of theworld, Time shall be no more; Come away! that day shall not be terribleto them that have put off the old man, and put on the new man; and havebegun to live a new life, and to have new affections, new thoughts andresolutions, and have laid up their treasure in heaven, where theirhearts are also: They have that peace, which the world cannot give, andwhich death cannot take away. Blessed are they that take sanctuary inthe name of Jesus, as in a strong tower; they shall get power over theirsins, and over the vanity of their minds, that die to sin and live toGod, and feel the constraining power and efficacy of the love of Christ, "who hath loved them, and washed them from their sins, in his own blood, and made them kings and priests to God. "

My friends, hear the voice of Wisdom, who hath said, "Whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord: but he that sinnethagainst me, wrongeth his own soul. " Be you early seekers: seek thekingdom of God in the first place. The Lord calls from heaven; "My son, give me thine heart:" Let thy answer be, Lord, take my heart, purify andcleanse it; break it, and make it new, make it fit for thy acceptance, that I may find favour in thy sight. "Without me (saith our Saviour) yecan do nothing:" Therefore desire him to do it for thee, and to work inthee both to will and to do of his own good pleasure. How dreadful is itto appear at the bar of God's justice as miserable sinners! Those thathave not Christ, the great Mediator, to plead for them, are miserableindeed: Therefore lay hold on Christ now; believe in him, lay hold onhis power and Spirit in this day of your visitation. If thou art underthe power of sin and Satan, thou mayst [_sic. _] receive power fromChrist, to overcome all the power of darkness: If the strong man armedhath got possession of thy heart, Christ will lay siege to it; and ifthou be willing to open the door, Christ will come in and cast out thestrong man, and spoil him of all his goods. He will cast out the grandenemy of thy soul, and take possession for himself; that thou mayest bedelivered from the power of Satan, and from the bondage of corruption, and brought into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God: And if the Sonof God make thee free, thou shalt be free indeed. For this end Christcame into the world, "for this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil:" And he will not lose thedesign of his coming, but will "finish transgression, and make an end ofsin, and bring in everlasting righteousness. "

Let us all come to Christ, and let none deceive themselves, and live intheir sins, and yet think to come to heaven: "Be not deceived, (saiththe Apostle, ) God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shallhe also reap: He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reapcorruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reapeverlasting life. " Labour for a sure grounded hope, a just hope in themercy of God for pardon and salvation; then you must know a work ofChrist upon you, and the power of the Spirit of Christ within you, subduing your will to a holy subjection to the Divine will; that you maysay with the Apostle; "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in theflesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gavehimself for me. " Then the call to judgment will be joyful to you; foryou shall then be justified and acquitted before the whole world, atthat great and general judgment, and have an abundant entrance into theeverlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and it shallbe well with you for ever. Now, "say to the righteous, it shall be wellwith him;" not that it doth so appear at present; for through manytribulations we must expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven; Andmany are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver themout of them all. So that "if in this life only (saith the apostle) wehave hope, we are of all men most miserable". Yet "say to the righteous, it shall be well with him;" Whatsoever their trials, troubles, andtribulations are, the Lord will deliver them in the best time; they haveheaven in their eye and they look to the recompense of reward. Now whathast thou in thine eye? Is it the high calling in Christ? Is this themark thou aimest at, and which thou hast in view? Is this the port andhaven, that thou art sailing to, "looking unto Jesus, the author andfinisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him, enduredthe cross, despising the shame?" Heb. Xii 2. The apostle, after he hadbeen speaking of the suffering and martyrdom of those great saints, ofwhom the world was not worthy; Heb. Xi. How that "through faith theysubdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopt themouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of thesword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, andturned to flight the armies of the Aliens; of women, that received theirdead to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting ofdeliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. " Then hecomes to speak of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and bids us"Look unto him. " Heb. Xii. 1, 2, 3. Wherefore, "seeing we are compassedabout with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patiencethe race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author andfinisher of our faith: Who for the joy that was set before him, enduredthe cross and despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand ofthe throne of God: For consider him that endured such contradiction ofsinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. "Blessed are they that can endure all these things, shame, reproach, contumely, and disdain, persecutions and afflictions that attend thetestimony of Jesus! Blessed are they that can endure the cross, anddespise the shame! It is an internal cross, which thou must endure forChrist, or thy own heart will reprove thee, check thee and condemn theefor it: But if thou comest to know a being crucified with Christ, thoushalt reign with him, and be raised up to eternal glory with him. Unlessthou knowest a dying to the world, and a being crucified with Christ, thou canst not have a well grounded hope of everlasting happiness. 

Therefore now, friends, examine yourselves about your title to heaven. It is the wisdom and practice of the world, to examine their titles andsettlements, and to see, they be sure, and firm, and stable beforehand:So we should make sure for heaven and eternal glory, and of "an housenot made with hands, eternal in the heavens, " before this earthlytabernacle be dissolved; then for us to live will be Christ, and to diewill be eternal gain. Blessed are they that bear record of the Word ofGod, and of the testimony of Jesus, that bear his name, and testify andjoin with him against the spirit of the world, and the prince of thepower of the air. It is within that thou must join with Christ'sappearance, that so thou mayest be christianized, and thy mind madetruly christian: Thou must be purified in thy spirit, and baptized withthe Holy Ghost, and with fire, and know the powerful operation of theLord: They that have not experience of the new birth, they cannot enterinto the kingdom of God. 

O my friends, set before you the example of Christ, who was holy, harmless, and undefiled; his life was glorious in holiness: And as itbecomes you, so it highly concerns you, to be holy in all manner ofconversation. For if you imitate not the life of Christ, you cannot besaved by his death: He came into the world, to redeem you from alliniquity, and to save you from sin and hell; Labour to answer thedignity of your high and holy calling, with a conversation becoming thegospel of Christ: For you are called to glory and virtue. Whatsoevertroubles, temptations and tribulations may attend you in your pilgrimagehere below, if you be faithful and sincere, you will have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. In all your labours and travels on thisearth, you may look up with joy for you have a serene heaven over yourheads; let Christ be precious to you; open the door of your hearts tohim, who is the King of glory: He is oppressed in the hearts of theunclean, but he is exalted and lifted up in the hearts of the faithful:Blessed are they that set him upon his throne in their hearts! O learnof Christ to be meek and lowly: Your humility will exalt Him, and willalso exalt you at the last: "Be faithful to the death and you shallreceive a crown of life:" Those that have eternal life in their eye, anddepend upon Christ alone for salvation, they have laid a surefoundation. All other foundations will come to nothing; they are foundedin time, and in time they will come to moulder away: But that city thatGod is the builder and maker of, that Abraham had in his eye, will neverdecay, nor moulder away: Let us have this always in our eye, thatnothing may intercept our view. "We have here (saith the Apostle) nocontinuing city; we seek one that is to come. " In this world we are assheep among wolves: "Fear not, little flock, (saith our Saviour, ) it isyour Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom. " If we be the sheepof Christ, we shall follow him: "For his sheep follow him, and know hisvoice, and a stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they know not the voice of a stranger. " "My sheep (saith Christ)hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto themeternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck themout of my hands. " Here is encouragement for us to labour abundantly inthe work of the Lord; "for our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. "Let us, with Moses, "choose rather to suffer affliction with the peopleof God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" and "esteemthe reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; andhave respect to the recompense of reward. "

Friends, I beseech you, in the fear of God, "look up unto Jesus, theGREAT MEDIATOR of the new covenant, the author and finisher of yourfaith; that by patient continuance in well doing, you may seek forglory, honour, immortality, and eternal life:" Which you shall obtain, if you persevere to the end: "For he that endureth unto the end shall besaved. "

"Be not weary of well doing; for in due time you shall reap if you faintnot. " He that hath appeared, as a God of salvation, and a mightypreserver of his people in all ages of the world, and hath been so bothto the primitive christians, and to all our christian friends, that aregone before us to an eternal rest, if you faint not, but follow them, who through faith and patience do inherit the promises, you shall laydown your heads in peace in him, when you come to die; And when timeshall be no more, you shall be for ever with the Lord. 

To God be praise, honour, and glory, who hath stretched forth his mightyarm to save: Who is the arm of the Lord but Christ Jesus, the redeemerof souls? When we had undone ourselves, and lost ourselves, in wanderingand departing from the Lord, the true and living God, into darkness andthe shadow of death, He stretched forth his almighty arm, to gather us, and to bring us into the paradise of God again, when we were driven outby our own sin, from the face and presence of the Lord. Christ Jesus, the great and good shepherd of his sheep, came to seek and to save themthat were lost: The lost sheep that have wandered from him, he will takethem on his shoulder, and bring them to his fold: and he will make themlie down in green pastures, and lead them by the still waters, andsatisfy them with the rivers of pleasure that are at God's right handfor evermore. He hath promised, "That he will feed his flock like ashepherd, and gather his lambs with his arm, and carry them in hisbosom:" I hope CHRIST JESUS, the GREAT SHEPHERD, will find some herethis day, that have gone astray, and gather them with his divine arm, and keep them by his mighty power, through faith unto salvation. To himbe all praise, honour, glory, dominion, and thanksgiving: For He aloneis worthy, who is GOD over all, blessed for ever and ever. --_Amen. _

BANCKS AND CO. , PRINTERS, MANCHESTER.