Jeroboam, you may read, stood by his separate altar, 1 Kings xii. ver. 1. And when he heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, he put forth his hand, saying, Lay hold on him. But his hand which he put forth against him dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him, ver. 4.

O Friends, consider how hath dryness and withering come upon many a great and stout one in this day, who have lifted up themselves against the Lord; and have sought by the devices of their own hearts, to establish them. selves in their own way, against the way of the Lord; so that the hand they have put forth in that work, they could not pull in again. Now mind, I pray you, Friends, and observe the way of the working of this spirit in that day. Here was the enmity, the rough nature of Cain and Esau, the spirit of persecution got up first in Jeroboam to dismay the man of God; Lay hold of him, says he; but when he saw that would not do, then the subtle serpent, the crafty fox, the fair speeches, the smooth words, the seeming friendship and show of kindness to betray him. Come home with me, says he to the man of God, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward, ver. 7. O Friends, stand in the fear and counsel of the Lord, and in the dominion of his power, over this wicked spirit in all its twistings and twinings. Let neither the frowns nor the fawnings, the threats nor the flatteries, the hard speeches nor the oily words, the pharisaical friendship,

the dissembling love, the seeming kindness, the familiar carriage, the free entertainment, the fine bit, the offer of advantages, &c. have any influence upon you to draw you in the least measure, to join or touch with God's enemy; with him that sets up a separate altar, a separate meeting, in opposition to, and to draw or keep from the right way of the Lord. Mind well the answer which the man of God gave to Jeroboam's tempting invitation; If, said he, thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee; neither will I eat bread, nor drink water in this place, ver. 8. This was where the separate altar was set up. And he gives a forcible reason for it; For so it was charged me by the word of the Lord,

ver. 9.'

Here now you see both the charge of the Lord, and the good resolution of the man of God; I will not go in with thee, who hast revolted from God, neither will I eat or drink in this place, where an ensign of separation and opposition to the way of God is set up. Consider this well, I warn you all, in whom there is yet any true breathings after the living God, who retain any tenderness, and in whom there is any simplicity left, consider this well, when thy pretended friend or friends, in a great deal of seeming love and kindness, shall invite thee to partake with them at their separate altar, to sit down with them in their separate meeting. Thou canst not be a man of God, and go in with them, or eat or drink in that place. Thou

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canst not sit down there to wait for the bread of life, or the water of life to be given thee there; no, the word of the Lord, if thou givest heed unto it, will charge thee otherwise. Therefore to that pure living word let every mind be turned, and thereto kept, in a diligent waiting to receive wisdom, strength and power from the Lord therein, that none may be be trayed by the subtilty of the enemy, with whatsoever fair pretences he may come. remember how the man of God, that was enticed by another to eat and drink outwardly at Bethel, the place where the separate altar was set up, lost his outward life t'refor, ver. 18, and 24. And if thou shalt présume to go in, to eat or to drink spiritually, that is to join in worship with the sons of Nebat at this day, in the separate meetings which any of them have set up in opposition to the assemblies of God's people, and to the blessed way and work of the Lord, how knowest thou, but thou mayest for ever lose thy spiritual life, and never know a day of quickening more.

Therefore, all Friends, watch against every temptation thereunto, as you love your lives, as you regard the good and eternal welfare of your souls, and let not the name, nor person of any man have power over you, to draw you aside, neither let numbers sway with you; in which, I know these adversaries of truth do not a little boast, though blessed be God, with little reason. But remember that Jeroboam of old, had ten tribes out of twelve, to cry up his

separate altar, notwithstanding which, he is branded to posterity in the holy record, with this brand, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, 2 Kings xiv. 24. Therefore let

not any follow a multitude todo evil, Exod. xxiii. 2. But all follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all men, 1 Thess. v. 15. For, Friends, you know whither the broad way leads, and what it is the wide gate opens into, which the many go in at; but keep ye to the strait gate, and walk ye on in the narrow way, for in it is safety, and at the end of it everlasting happiness.

But, Friends, because of the straitness of this gate, and the narrowness of this way, some that have attempted to walk in it, are grown weary of it, and have sought out ano, ther way, a way which (Jeroboam like) they have devised of their own hearts; wherein they may have more room, more scope, more company, ease in the flesh, liberty to the flesh, and all without control. And this I am satis

fied, hath not been the least motive to the separation in this day, as it was the greatest in days past; though some that have been drawn into it, may not perhaps see the ground upon which it was undertaken. But the Lord hath opened an eye in many, which sees the rise and ground, entrance and end of this libertine spirit, and its work. And this eye will the Lord daily open more and more, in all that diligently and in sincerity wait upon him. Therefore, all Friends every where, who have

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not yet a clear sight, and a thorough understanding of the nature and work, design and drift of this dividing spirit, wait, I beseech you, in simplicity of heart, and lowliness of mind, upon the Lord, and keep to the mea sure of the grace you have received from him and suffer not your minds to be swayed or biassed by any personal kindness, natural affection, relation, kindred or acquaintance; but stand single and open to the Lord, not joining to, nor any way countenancing that which the testimony of truth, in the arisings of the heavenly life, and breakings forth of the Divine power through any, goes forth against. So will your present standing be safe, and you be preserved out of the snares of this insinuating and treacherous spirit. And the Lord in his appointed time, as ye abide with him, will open your understandings further, and give you a clearer sight of that, which at present you do not fully see; and thereby bring you to that certainty and assurance, which (blessed be his name) he hath brought many unto.

And you, my dear Friends, whose spirits the Lord hath stirred up, and whose hearts he hath engaged in an holy zeal, to stand up for his blessed name and truth, and to bear ai faithful testimony against this wicked rending spirit, go on in the strength and power of the Lord, in the might of the God of Jacob; for you are assuredly on the Lord's side, and the Lord Jehovah, the strength of Israel, is on: your side. Therefore, Friends, be encour