or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you But these your Merchants have no Scripture for their Merchandize which they sell to you enslaved Captives for so many Hundreds in the Year and is paid in the Nation or elsewhere For these Observations they tell you you must observe or else you cannot come to the Kingdom of Heaven though they are contrary to the Scripture as they are practised by them there is no Scripture that witnesseth their call to the Ministry by humane Wisdom Not many great not many Noble not many Wise after the Flesh. There is no Scripture that any that Jesus Christ sent forth made a Bargain with the People for so much a Year as these do that profess themselves to be sent of Christ. This is the call of the Ministers of Christ Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ neither of Man nor by Man but by the Revelation of Iesus Christ. I send you forth saith Jesus Christ as Lambs among Wolves into what Town or City ye enter enquire who is Worthy and if they receive you there abide eating such things as is set before you the Labourer is Worthy of his Meat freely ye have received freely Minister Those whom Jesus Christ commits the Word of eternal Life unto and calls them forth to declare it unto others the love of Jesus Christ which is sealed up to their Souls through his own Blood constrains them to give up themselves to death in witnessing forth the eternal Life they enjoy in Christ as it was it is the Love of Christ constraineth me to Preach the Gospel saith Paul But these your Merchants are they which have forsaken the right Way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the Son of Bezor who loved the Wages of unrighteousness And as there is no Scripture for their call to the Ministry by their humane learning nor making Bargains with the People for so much in the Year so there is no Scripture for these Observations they call the Ordinances of God as they are practised by them There is no Scripture that Christ or any that he sent forth did take a Child and sprinkled Water on its face and said in so doing they Baptized it into the Church of Christ. Suffer little Children to come unto me saith Christ and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God for whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child shall not enter therein he sets the Child as a type and a figure to shew forth to every one that they must become as a little Child depending upon the Will of God before they enter into the Kingdom of God he took them up in his Armes and put his hands on them and blessed them but that he sprinkled Water on their Faces and said He Baptized them into this Church thâ—â—e is no such Scripture Another Observation your Teachers tell you you must observe is hearing these studied Sermons in taking a part of Scripture and adding to it their wisdom calls it the Word of God which is contrary to the Scripture but they say They have Christ for an Example There was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and when he had opened the Book he found where it was written The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to Preach the Gospel unto the Poor he hath sent me to heal the Broken-hearted to Preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering the sight of the Blind and to set at liberty them that are Braised to Preach the acceptable year of the Lord And he closed the Book and sat down and he began to say unto them This day is the Scripture fulfilled in your Ears and all bear him witness and wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his Mouth he was the substance of the Prophecy which was then fulfilled in him This is no ground for any to take the Saints words and add to it their wisdom and call that the Word of God. The Prophet that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream he that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Is not my Word like a Fire and like a Hammer saith the Lord that breaks the Rocks in pieces All to whom the Word of the Lord is committed can witness it to be as a Fire within them and as a Hammer that breaketh the Rocks in Pieces subjecting all in the Heart under the power of it self so it alone rules and guides him that he is what he speaks that if he had never seen any thing that the Saints have declared without him he had known what is manifest in him and he to whom the Word is thus made manifest is a true Minister of Christ who is called to speak the Word faithfully But these that call themselves your Teachers and make Bargains with you for so much in the Year they never witnessed the Word of the Lord in them as a Fire and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rocks in pieces so they never had any thing to have spoken of the Lord but as they have stoln it from the Testimony of the Saints so they speak a divination of their own Brain a Riddle to their own Hearts and whilst they speak to others themselves are Cast-aways And the Lord testifies against them Behold I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that steals my Word every one from his Neighbour Behold I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that use their Tongues and say He saith Behold I am against them that Prophecy false Dreams saith the Lord and to tell them and causes my People to err by their Lies and by their Lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit the People at all saith the Lord And this fruit is made manifest of the Ministry that hath been in England Another Observation your Teachers tells you to observe which is contrary to Scripture as it is practised by them in singing of Davids Psalms in Metre taking Davids words who was a Man after Gods own Heart and putting words into the Mouths of poor Ignorant People to sing that which they never knew and so causes them to Blaspheme the Name of God saying Let us sing to the Praise and Glory of God as O Lord I am not puft in mind I have no scornful eye I do not exercise my self in things that be too high for me When they never knew any change wrought in their minds and so causeth the people to Lye. And causing them to sing Davids Prayers as O Lord Rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure for thine Arrows stick fast in me and thy Hand presseth me sore for my Iniquities are gone over my Head as an heavy Burthen they are too heavy for me to bear my Wounds stink
therein and if any Man take away from the words of the Prophesie of this Book God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the things which are written in this Book and this is your reward you add your Wisdom to the Prophesie of this Book and the Plagues written in this Book will be added to you and you take away from the words of the Prophesie of this Book in drawing the people from the anointing within them which the Father hath sent to be their Teacher according to the Prophesie of this Book to seek for the Kingdom of Heaven in carnal Observations you have set up contrary to the Prophesie of this Book and in the estate you here stand your names are taken out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the things which are written in this Book Repent ye Reprobates who reject the Counsel of Christ in you and give over deceiving the people and mind the Light in you that discovereth to you the evil of your Hearts and give up to be guided by it least you perish in your gain sayings Kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel which is the Light in you least you perish in the way for if his anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him W. D. Dear Friends ANd Children of the living God mind your watch every one in particular and dwell in that which is of God which is the Light that searches the Hearts and discovers the Seed of the Serpent and its ground and being and ministers to the Seed of the Woman which Seed is Christ who is the Fountain and Treasure House where you shall receive of his Fulness Wisdom and Power to stand against the Serpent in all his appearances so will his Head be bruised and the eternal pure Eye will be opened in you to know what is to be blest and what is to be accurst therefore every one in your measures stand faithful in the Counsel of God which is the Light the eternel Witness of his Spirit which witnesseth against all deceit in its ground where it appears I charge you all in the presence of the living God that you consult not with Flesh and Blood nor look not down at the Corruption as to discouâ—age you and cause you to distrust in the Mercies of the living God thou that dost thy Condemnation slumbers not for the Wrath of God abideth on the All dwell in that which is pure stand out of your own wills and thoughts but keep in that which is of God that witnesses against all deceit in its appearances and all hold fast your confidence which is the measure of Faith which is the Witness of the eternal Spirit so will all deceit be kept under and the Serpents head will be bruised and the pure holy Seed of God the righteous Babe who works no Iniquity and in whose Mouth is found no guile will be set at liberty raised up to reâ—gn King over all the Earth and to do the Will of God so shall your Souls enter within this holy City and you shall have right to the Tree of Life feeding on the Feast of fat things the eternal Riches of the free Mercies of God in the free Covenant of Life in the Lord Jesus and there you shall rest with the Lord forever where nothing shall enter that works Abomination or makes a Lie but that which is written in the Lambs Book of Life and this is the rest that 's prepared for the people of God where the workers of Iniquity shall never come All dear Friends joyn with the Seed of God that works no Iniquity and take heed of lending your Ears to the Counsel of the Serpent that would draw your minds to look out at Experiences which you have partaked of in the Dispensation of the Power of God in rendering Plagues upon the works of Iniquity wherein thou comest to witness in the Name of Christ Miracles wrought in thee and Devils cast out wherein thou wast in Bondage by their power and thou who comest to witness the Lord ministring to his tender Seed in opening to thy Soul the riches of his Love laid up in Christ Jesus and so comest to Prophesie in the Name of Christ but not abiding in the Counsel of the living God who would destroy the works of Iniquity and would cast out the works of Darkness and would lead through Prophesies and Openings to the Inheritance in Christ which will never fade away but in departing from the Counsel of the Lord you are bewitched with the Serpent that tells you you are some body now that hath tasted of the Power of God and secret pride gets in and others out of the Prophesies and Openings of what they see and do not wait 〈◊〉 they come to the Possession and there gâ—â—s in secret Pride and so becomes a wandering Staâ— flown up into the Air and the worker of Iniquity yet stands notwithstanding all your experiences that you can witness Devils cast out in measure in the Name of Christ and that you have prophesied in the Name he will say unto you I know you not ye workers of Iniquity to that in thy Conscience I speak lend thine Ear unto it it will rip thee up and search thy Heart and pass true Judgment upon the Head of the Wicked and will eternally witness me notwithstanding aâ—l thy experiences Therefore all dear Freinds all take heed that none of you come short of your rest but dwell in the pure Power of the living God which judgeth the Wicked and casteth out Devils dwelling in it it will dispossess the powers of Darkness and as â—e in his tender Love appeareth to the mind and lets you see into the Inheritance laid up in Christ dwelling in the Power you will be kept in the pure fear not to avish your selves out to speak of that you possess not but to wait low in his Will where you will be kept in a true sence of your conditions how the Seed is oppressed by the worker of Iniquity and so will be kept by the Power of the living God waiting on him in the Faith until you overcome by the Blood of the Lamb aâ—d the word of his Testimony then will the worker of Iniquity be destroyed and cast out and the Power and holy Seed of God raised up which can work no Iniquity but stand perfect in the Will of God and there you enter into the Rest prepared for you in Christ Jesus where nothing shall enter that works Iniquity and I shall be with you forever in the Lord And the Lord God Almighty be with you his dear â—abes and Children bless guide and keep you all by his eternal pure power clear and holy that you may be a peculiar People and holy Priesthood to give up your Souls and Bodies a living Sacrifice unto the Lord God Almighty that he may order you and guide you
hath caused many a sorrowful Heart and given cause to the Enemies of God to rejoyce which hath been a greater Exercise and Trouble to me then all the sharp Persecutions and Imprisonments I have endured for the Word of God and Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ c. Therefore in the Bowels of the Love of God I beseech and entreat you all who have been or is concerned in what is before written let the Love of God so abound that in it all labour for Peace and Unity in Christ the Prince of Peace who in love laid down his Life for us when we were Enemies and called many of his Children in our Age to give up their Lives in the heaâ— of the Day Weeks Months and 〈◊〉 to gather Enemies unto the knowledge of 〈…〉 with God therefore wait for the heavenly Wâ—sdâ—m to bear one with another that if any who are Conscientious to God and Blameless in their Conversations having a concern upon their Spirit to declare in publick Assemblys the Truth to edifie the People I beseech you in the love of God that not any through disaffection shew at least any publick opposition but rather speak to the Party in private if there be any occasion for him to be spoken to so will the Enemy be prevented of casting a stumbling block in the way of tender spirited People that comes in love to be Comforted in the Meeting and in so doing it will cause Love and Unity to abound amongst Friends that in the Love of God all may be restored that hath been scattered and brought again into Unity to meet all together in the Everlasting Truth to feel the Healer of Breaches to reign who is the restorer of the Desolate exalted in his Kingdom in all your Hearts to offeâ— up a Peace-offering in passing by all Offences that have caused Dis-union and to bind you all up in the Unity of the Spirit and Bond of Everlasting Peace to meet all together who profess Gods Blessed Truth to Praise his Holy Name all as one and one as all while we are here in these mortal Bodies and forever when time here shall be no more even so be it with you all saith my Soul in the Name of the Lord to whom is my Prayers that all may be accomplished as above written until it be so with you I shall remain your exercised Brother in the Kingdom of Patience and Tribulation of our Lord Jesus Christ. William Dewsbury My dear Friends through the sharp Persecutions that was passed through in the heat of the day and many long Imprisonments being nineteen Years a Prisoner in this Town of Warwick and four of them being kept close Prisoner it hath pleased God to suffer my Health to be Impaired that many times I am forc'd to rest two or three times in going to the Meeting in the Town not being of ability of Body to travel as in Years past I do in the Love of God visit you with this Epistle desiring it may be carefully read in the Fear of the Lord in the Assemblies of his People that Peace and Eternal Vnity may be amongst you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Given forth in the movings of the Peaceable Spirit and Word of Reconciliation in the Lord Iesus Christ to whom is my Prayers that all Convinced may wait to be made of the number of the Slain of the Lord and conformable to Christ in his Death that they may witness his quickening Power to raise them up in the Resurrection of Life to enter into the Gates of Sion to dwell in the City of new Jerusalem where Peace is within her Gates and Quietness amongst all that have their Habitation therein having Salvâ—tion for Walls and Bulwarks and are the blessed of the Lord preserved by him to the Honour of his Name forever Amen W. D. Warwick the 4th of the 10th Month 1686. These following Epistles were found in Manuscript without Dates To all you proud Priests that dare to add your Wisdom to the Testimony of Jesus KNow this as from him that he is come to lay open your Deceits and the Conjuring deceiving Inventions of your own Brains which you sell for so much in the Year to maintain you in Pride and Lust for to eat of the Fat and be cloathed with the finest of the Wool and so deceive the simple and lead them on in Blindness and Darkness in making people believe the Inventions of their own Brains to be the Word of the most high God as in taking part of the Testimony of the word Jesus and add to it the Inventions of their own Wisdoms branching it into Doctrines Reasons Uses Helps and Motives according as their fancies guides them and then takes the pure Testimony of Jesus to prove the truth of this their Conjuring deceiving Inventions though the Scripture tells you that no Prophesie is of any private Interpretation for the Prophesie came not by the will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and saith Iohn in the Revelations I saw in the right Hand of him that sat upon the Throne a Book written within and on the back side sealed with seven Seals And I saw a strong Angel Proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the Book and loose the Seals thereof and no Man in Heaven or in Earth or under the Earth was able to open the Book or look thereon now when Iohn saw that the mystery of Salvation was hid from all Creatures he wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book neither to look thereon And one of the Elders said to Iohn weep not behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah of the Root of David hath prevailed to open the Book and loose the Seals thereof and hath revealed his mind to his Servants that obey his Counsel to him be all Glory and Honour and Power for evermore Oh cease thou vain Man from adding thy Wisdom in opening the Seals in telling poor ignorant people what means the Scriptures by thy studied Sermons and Expositions which is the Invention of thy own Brains and putting words into the Mouths of poor ignorant people to sing Praises to the most high God for there is none can sing but the ransomed of the Lord and they return to Sion with joy and singing and everlasting joy is upon their Heads And the Apostle saith If any be Afflicted let him Pray if any be merry let him sing Oh therefore come down you vain proud Men that call your Traditions the Worship of God and causes the people to err by your Lies and by your Lightness And I sent them not neither commanded them therefore they do not profit this People at all saith the Lord Hear what the Lord saith unto you I testifie to every Man that hears the words of the Prophesie of this Book if any Man add unto these things God shall add to him the Plagues that are written
his Counsel the Light that comes from Christ in it to wait on him to open the Seals of the Book and make known the mystery of eternal life to the Soul the Scripture testifieth is in Christ the Truth of it to know as it is in Jesus The Word of the Lord to all in England whom the Lord hath betrusted with Power from the highest to the lowest to see the peace be kept and to judg the Cause of the People with righteous Judgments With a Lamentation over all in England who oppose Christ in his spiritual appearance and so slight the day of your Visitation to your own Destruction From the common Goal in Northampton the 25 th day of the 4 th Moneth 1655. Oh People in England AM I become your Enemy because I tell you the truth and deal plainly with you in declaring the minde of the Lord unto you which in the eternal riches of his Love he hath made known unto me by the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ for which Word and Testimony I suffer outward Bonds and Persecutions as my Lord and Master did who was called a Blasphemer Belzebub the Prince of Devils by the high Priests who cried to the unjust Magistrates to deliver him up into their hands that their Persecuting Murthering spirits that thirsted after his Blood might be satisfied which the unjust men in Authority to do them a pleasure in satisfying their wills abused their power and delivered him up and though they proved not any thing against him they put him to Death calling him a Blasphemer and he sealed his Testimony with his Blood And all my holy Brethren Prophets and Apostles were called Blasphemers Hereticks Seducers and Deluders by the false Prophets High-Priests and Pharisees then who professed the Name of God in words but denied him in their practices and Persecuted his Children who were guided by his Word under the names formerly written as I and my Brethren are now Persecuted by the same Generation which profess God and Christ in words but denying him in their practices living in Pride and Pleasures Envy and Murder every way Persecuting and seeking to destroy the Bodies of the Saints of the most high God where the righteous Seed is raised up which witnesseth against their unrighteous practices and discovers them in their secret hypocrisie which is hid under their voluntary humility which causeth them to appear what they are and manifests what was hid in their Hearts under their fair coverings of outward Forms and Profession of Religion which they now manifest forth by their Fruit whose Children they are in obedience to their father the Devil who was a Persecuter and a Murtherer from the Beginning whose works they now do that profess Christ in words but denies to be guided by his Spirit for his Spirit is no Persecuter and so are they made manifest in what they do to all that have Eyes to see that they are strangers to Christ while they continue in Cain's nature persecuting the righteous Seed without a cause as he did and doth in this Nation both in the North of it and in other Prisons in several places of it there hath been cast into them the Saints and Children of the most high God for obeying his Will in witnessing forth his eternal Word that he hath made manifest in them And no breach of any National Law proved against them but a Popish Law made in Queen Maries Raign which some hath suffered under and many other of the Saints and Children of the most high God they have Persecuted and cast into Prisons and not the breach of any National Law proved against them but in the pride and envy of their Hearts do they Persecute the Innocent to satisfie their own wills as I am a witness against them who have Persecuted me and cast me into Prison under the name of a Seducer as they say for the Seducing of the People of this Nation and for suspition of Blasphemy and breaking of the publick Peace in dispersing Principles â—ontrary to the truth of the Gospel and Peace of the Nation and not any Accuser appeared to my face to prove what they charge against me as is formerly written either by the Law of God or the Law of the Nation but the Serpent in whom he rules hath manifest his enmity against me whom the Lord hath redeemed from the Earth and sent to Preach the everlasting Gospel to those that dwell upon the Earth and to witness against the wickedness of the dark World that the deeds thereof are evil for which Testimony the World that hates the Light that comes from Christ whom they ever Persecuted to fulfil the measure of their fathers Iniquities hath me and my Brethren Persecuted under the names as formerly written charging me with making Tumults and breaking the publick Peace for walking in obedience to the Spirit of Christ which guided all â—e sent to preach his Gospel to run to and fro as I have done in thee oh England that knowledge may be increased as is recorded in the Scripture of Truth Dan. 12.4 And is according to the commands of Christ Go your ways behold I send you forth as Lambs among Wolves carry neither Purse nor Scrip nor Shoes and salute no man by the way and into what City ye enter and they receive you eat such things as is set before you Luke 10. vers 3 4 8. But beware of men for they will deliver you up to their Counsel and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and you shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my Names sake but he that endures unto the end shall be saved Mat. 10. vers 17 18 22. According as it is written the wicked World that always did as they now do persecute the Messengers of Jesus Christ who to them were and are sent to witness against them in their Markets and Meeting-places that their deeds are evil which the Children of this Generation that are strangers to the leadings of the Spirit of Truth calls them that are guided by the Spirit to walk according to the Scripture makers of Tumults movers of Sedition breakers of the publick Peace as the unrighteous Generation did who Persecuted Christ and his Apostles whose practice was to declare the minde of God in their Synagogues and Markets as the Ministers of Christ do now And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing and asking them Questions Luke 2.46 When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and as he was declaring the Word of eternal life to the People all they in the Synagogue when they heard these things he spake were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him to the brow of the Hill whereon the City was built that they might cast him down headlong but he passed through the
the names of Blasphemers Deceivers Seducers and Disturbers of the Peace so make Lies their refuge as that Persecuting spirit ever did in all Ages To stop the lying Mouth and for the Simple sake that desire in the truth of their Hearts to know the leadings of the Spirit of Truth in the way to know the only true God I here publickly declare to the Inhabitants of England and to all that dwell upon the Earth what I was in the fallen estate and how the Lord raised me up by the arm of his mighty Power and carried me on through the great work of regeneration that all may know the Truth I am sent to bear Testimony to the Consciences of those that dwell upon the Earth is not any Seducing nor contrary to the Truth of the Gospel but is according to the Truth as it is in Jesus He that hath an Eye to see let him see and an Eâ—re to hear let him hear The first Birth I Was conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity and in that state lived and delighted in pride and pleasures lightness and vanity as all do in that nature untill I was about eight Years of Age though before that time when I did live in vanity the Light in my Conscience did witness against me and caused some trouble in me but I departed from the Light and so followed the counsel of my own Heart that lead me into vanity to live without the fear of God And about the time when I was eight Years of Age of my natural birth the Word of the Lord came unto me I created thee for my glory an account thou must give to me for all thy words and actions done in the Body which word enlightned my Heart and opened the Book of Conscience in me where all was written I had done in the Body ever since I had any remembrance and when I had read my condition how I had lived without God who created me for his glory the Word of the Lord then came unto me Shall the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith or shall the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it as if the Staff should shake it self against him that lifteth it up or as if the Staff should lift up it self as if it were no Wood and by the Power of the Word of the Lord that spoke in me my understanding was enlightned and my Conscience bore witness that it was my condition I had lifted up my self against the living God in living without his fear who created me to live in obedience to him but I had lived in disobedience to him untill that day so deep sorrow seized upon me and I knew not what to do that I might get acquaintance with the God of my Life who created me for his own praise and glory then I ceased from my vain conversation which I had lived in and began to read the Scriptures and Books and mourn and pray to a God I knew not where he was but expected him without looking up towards the Firmament where my carnal imaginations told me he was and as I had heard those the World calls Ministers whom I went to hear whose words did witness with my carnal imagination of God they said he was above the Skies calling it Heaven but I felt the hand of the Lord within me executing justice upon the wicked in me and what way ever I turned to seek him in observations thither the flaming Sword turned which was placed against me to keep the way of the Tree Life and execute the righteous justice of God upon me So I stood before the Throne of the Lamb reading in my mournful estate the sentence of condemnation that passed upon me from the glory of his presence and in this condemned estate I continued and through the ignorance where God was what his Worship was I strove to satisfie his justice in outward observations imitating what the Saints did sometimes in Fasting and Praying which was the practice of Cornelius and others of the Saints of the most high God as I found recorded in the Scripture of Truth But notwithstanding all my strict walking in observations in which I was seeking the Kingdom of God I found him not but the flaming Sword cut me down so my sorrow increased for I found none in my condition that I could declare it to Then it pleased the Lord to order my Friends in the flesh to put me to keep the Sheep where I was retired from company so my minde was kept in my mournfull estate where my great ease was in mourning to a God I knew not nor none could tell me where I should get acquaintance with him in the place where I was in the outward being in a Town called Allathorp nigh Pocklington in Yorkshire but hearing of a people about Leeds that walked more strictly in profession of the name of God then any did where I was I had no rest in my spirit till my Parents in the flesh sent me thither to be an Apprentice not regarding what Calling so I might be amongst those that feared the living God that I might be acquainted with the God of my life who had created me for himself and the desires the Lord raised up in me were answered when I was thirteen years old of my naturall birth I was bound an Apprentice to a Cloath-maker in a Town called Holdbeck near Leeds and as I hard so it was there was much speaking of God which they called preaching and professing him in words from the letter of the Scripture what the Saints had spoken forth so intimating the Saints practice in their carnall wisdom seeking the Kingdom of God in outward observations as I had done before I came there but when I met with none that could tell me what God had done for their souls in redeeming them from the body of sin which I groaned under and separated me from the presence of God though I walked strictly with them in their outward observations running to hear one man after another which they called Ministers yet I found no rest nor peace to my weary soul but the flaming sword the righteous Law of God cryed in me for a perfect fulfilling of the Law of God and did meet with me where-ever I was that I could finde no peace in that worship of God the world hath set up as in receiving the bread and wine which they told me was the seals of the Covenant which was long ere I durst receive it because I saw not my selfe prepared for the evil of my heart stood before me and when I was to receive it I sought the Lord to keep me by his Power that I might receive it worthily and when I did receive it my desire was the Lord would seal up his love to my Soul but I found nothing sealed up to my soul with it Then much
Anointed and lay your Plots in the deep and fetch your counsel out of the bottomless Pit that you may ensnare the righteous Seed whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who in love to your Souls do you warn as you will eternally answer before the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to give over Plotting against the Righteous and inventing evil devices against the Innocent for in the eternal Light you are seen and in your secret works of darkness you are discovered and all you that will not take warning now when the Lord calls you to turn to his Light but his Counsel rejects and continue in the evil of your doings To you this is the Word of the Lord All your Plots and Counsels shall not prosper against the Righteous for he that sits in Heaven doth laugh the Lord shall have you in derision for not any Plot shall prevail against Israel nor unrighteous Counsel stand before Zions King who will break you with the rod of Iron and dash you in pieces like a Potters Vessel that plots against him to oppose him in his appearance In the Hearts of his Saints for in what you do to the least of those you do it to me saith Christ and better a Milstone were hanged about your Neck and you cast into the bottom of the Sea than to offend the least of those that believe in my Name From the Spirit of the Lord that will not always strive with Man you are once more warned now while you have time prize it and turn to the Light of Christ in your Consciences which lets you see the secret evil of your Hearts and wait in the Light for the Power of Christ to destroy the plotting wicked inventing minde and to guide you in the strait and narrow way of self-denial and the daily Cross in perfect obedience to the Law of God least you perish in your disobedience for the Lord God of Israel is arising in mighty Power to plead the Cause of his persecuted oppressed People and to scatter all their Enemies that plot against them as Dust before the Wind for they that plot against the People of God and for them digs a Pit shall fall into it themselves for not any Weapon formed against them shall prosper for all shall know the mighty God is with Israel his People and that the King of eternal glory dwells in Mount-Sion who is the strength of his people and of his Dominion there shall be no end and in that day all both high and low rich and poor that slight the comfort of the Lord and continue in enmity against him and his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints then will you know what hath been and is declared to you from the righteous Seed is to you the Word of the Lord God He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear Witnessed by the righteous Seed whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who are in the common Goal in Northampton for the Truths sake REad with understanding in the fear of the Lord this is the Word of the Lord to you Dear Friends Servants and Children of the most high God whom he hath called out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel to wait for his Power you to guide in all your thoughts words and works in his pure fear in obedience to his Will I charge you in the presence of God be valiant for your freedom in your dwelling in the Power of God that he may be your Arm against the fiery Darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his Wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to devour you every way seeking to get into you your minds from the pure to draw into the vibsile things your affections there to captivate your wills to satisfie in created and perishing objects as in the knowledge of the Truth in the fleshly wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Husk the Form and Image of what you have enjoyed or of what you see in the Light and Vision and doth not enjoy it in the Possession but spake in the airy drunken spirit Words without knowledge with them sits decked a painted Beast above the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin that appears in the ouâ—ward formality in the sight of Men with a Lamp like the wise Virgin but not dwelling in the Power of God wants the Oyle of joy and gladness in the power of his love which the wise Virgins have in their Lamps that dwell in the pure Light and Power of God which keeps all the affections in order to the Spirit of Truth and bridles the Tongue not to utter words before the Lord but in the silence on him to wait till his Spirit move his mind to declare from the living Power what the Soul possesses and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgin who is the Bride the Lambs Wife I charge and command you all in the presence of the living God who make mention of his Name examine your Hearts search them and try your ways with the Light that comes from Christ which will discover all your conditions in the Book of Concience there you will see how you stand in the presence of God wherein the state of the foolish Virgin in the airy Spirit feeding upon words spoken in the Light and Viâ—ion there boasting in pride of what thou possessest not and through the subtilty of the Devil is turned from the pure Power to flee the Cross and so make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience or whether you be in the state of the wise Virgin that in the pure Light waits and dwells in the Power which chastiseth that which would your Garments defile keep daily in the Cross and then the Soul is kept pure and clean to follow the Lamb with boldness whithersoever he goes and enters with him into the rest prepared for the People of God where thou the foolish Virgin shalt not come until thou from thy folly and fleshly wisdom return to the pure Light with it to judge and in it to wait for his Power Christ Jesus the Fountain of wisdom thee to guide in faithful obedience to the Father of Light. All dear Children of the Lord be valiant bold and faithful that in the pure Light Power and Life of God you may all stand in the day of tryal which the Lord will bring upon you all that make mention of his Name for power shall be given to the Beast his Horn to exalt even to the host of Heaven for the cleansing of the Sanctuary that all painted Beasts that are enemies to the Cross that hath defiled the Sanctuary of the living God in coming before him amongst his Saints and Children for from among them shall they come trembling before the power of the Beast when he utters his voice for all to come to his Image him to worship then shall all you Children of the most high God whom
nor suffer them that are entering in to enter in and here you shut all from the Kingdom of Heaven which is within them in drawing them from the Light in their Consciences which would lead them unto the Word of Faith which is in their Hearts the anointing of the Father wherein they need not to teach one another but as the Anointing teaches which is in Truth and is no Lye which all the Children of the Lord are witnesses of in their measures who walk in the Light and see your deceits how you Murder and Destroy Souls for Money to maintain you in Pride and Pleasure though the Light in your Consciences cry against you for your practices but you hate it and will not obey it but to it I speak which will witness me eternally when the Book of Conscience is opened to your Condemnation who shut all people out of the Kingdom of God which is within them in turning them aside from the Light in their Consciences which the Lord hath given unto every one a measure to guide them into the Kingdom And then you make a prey of them in telling them they must wait for the Kingdom of God in Observations which you call Ordinances which you have set up in your imaginations of the Saints Conditions which is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth Some of you say Lo here is Christ in the Presbiterian practice and saith another Lo he is here in the Independent practice and the Anabaptist saith Lo he is here and others that walk in outward Observations say Lo he is here according as Christ fore-told that such would come that would say Lo here is Christ Lo there is Christ as it is fulfilled in you who draw people to seek the Kingdom of God in outward Obsevations but saith Christ Believe them not for the Kingdom of God comes not with Observations for as the Lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall the coming of the Son of Man be And this I witness but you turn them from the Light in the Conscience which would lead them into the Kingdom to look forth at the glorious Image you have set up in outward Observations and they must pay you so much a Year for it as will maintain you in Pride and Pleasure to be Masters among the Sons of Men and so you Worship the works of your own Hands offering up Sacrifice to an unknown God whom you ignorantly Worship having no Scripture for many things you do There is no Scripture for your Call into the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ by human Wisdom nor for your making Bargains with the People for so much a Year There is no Scripture for your sprinkling Water on the Face of a Child calling it Baptism There is no Scripture for your stealing the Saints Words in taking a part of Scripture and adding to it your wisdom tearing it in sunder in Doctrines Reasons Uses Helps Motives according unto the fancies of your Brains There is no Scripture for your particular Houses that you have to creep into where none must come but your selves and whom you please to declare your Sermon as you call it which is a divination of your own Hearts one day after another one year after another There is no Scripture for your putting Davids words into the Mouths of poor ignorant People to sing praises unto the Lord as O Lord I am not puffed in mind I have no scornful eye I water my Couch with my tears all the night make I my Bed to swim all my Bones do tremble When they cannot witness these Conditions and so cause them to Blaspheme the Name of God and when the Light in their Consciences cries against them for Lying in the presence of God and Blaspheming his great and glorious Name You tell them it is the Light of a natural Conscience and so murders their Souls in shutting them out of the Kingdom of God as the Scribes and Pharisees and all the false Prophets did that denied Christ to be the Light who enlightens every one that comes into the World And here you are found to be among the false Prophets Scribes and Pharisees walking in their ways and every Tree is known by its Fruits which all the Prophets walked in the Light and Christ that was the Light cryed Wo against and you are all turned out of the way in rejecting the corner-Stone Christ which enlightens the Conscience of every one to guide them unto him as the false Builders did and go in the way of Cain to Murther and greedily run after the error of Balaam who loved the Wages of unrighteousness So as a Troop of Robbers wait for a Man so do you company of Priests Murder in the way by consent as the Priests did when the Lord sent Hosea the true Prophet to cry against them for you commit Lewdness in turning every one from the Light in their Consciences which the Lord hath given unto every one a measure according unto their ability to guide them up into the Kingdom of God and you turn them aside to seek the Kingdom in Observations hearkening unto the dark inventions of your Brains in adding your Wisdom unto the Testimony of Christ and this is your Portion the Plagues written in the Book will be added upon you Here I have cleared my Conscience dealing plainly with you declaring unto you where you are as the Lord hath made known unto me that you may be without excuse in the mighty day of the Lord which will speedily come upon you wherein you shall give account for the Blood of Souls that have been shut out of the Kingdom and destroyed by you To the Light in every one of your Consciences I speak which shall eternally witness me when the Book of Conscience is opened Repent Repent and give over deceiving the People and destroying their Souls and haste haste to meet the Lord in returning within to be guided by his Counsel the Light in your Consciences which you have rejected least ye perish in your gain-saying Kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel the Light in your Conscience that lets you see the evil of your doings least you perish in the way for if his anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him To all you who have set up a finer Image in Gospel Ordinances as you call them under the Forms of Independent and Anabaptist and say you are the Saints whom the Lord hath chosen and have only right to the best of the Creatures to Eat of the Fat and be Clothed with the finest of the Wool and make merry with the Creatures and live in pleasure and when the Light in your Conscience cries against you to Vse your Liberty but not as an occasion to the Flesh to make no provision for the Flesh to satisfie it and
is in them that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 who is the brightness of the Fathers glory Heb. 1.3 7. The seventh false Accusation thou saist we say that he that trusts in Christ that dyed at Ierusalem for Salvation shall be deceived Reply This Charge is false as the other in the presence of God we witness against thee no other Christ we bear Testimony of to be the Salvation of lost Man and Woman but that Christ according to Scripture Testimony who was born of the Virgin and made a good Confession before Pilate and suffered at Ierusalem and rose again the third day and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God and this Christ we witness the true Light Who lighteth every one that comes into the World and saith I stand at the Door and knock who opens I will come into him and Sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 and we witness him faithful And as many as receives him to them he gives power to become the Sons of God and this is the condemnation of all because they believe not in him Iohn 12. 8. The eight false Accusation thou saist we reproach Christs Institutions and holy Ordinances with the odium of Mens Traditions outward Observations inconsistant with Gods Kingdom and compares them to Nebuchadnezar's great Idol c. Reply Thy Charge is false Christs Institutions and holy Ordinances we own in the Dispensation of time they were to be continued and what is now in this Dispensation of time known in the administration of his Spirit we own but who upholds any Idolatry in observing any thing by Tradition and not guided by the Spirit of Christ and so walk contrary to the perfect Law of God in the Conscience and though their words be never so glorious in outward appearance in crying the Ordinances of Christ while they deny to be guided by Christ they are no Ordinances of Christ but an Image set up in the proud exalted nature which Nebuchadnezar set up his Image in which with the Power of God shall be thrown down and thou with the rest of the Idol Worshippers shall be broken to pieces and Lies shall not save thee for the Lord will exalt his Name and his Children that observe his holy Ordinances shall raign in his spiritual Power that preserves them therein to observe the movings of his Spirit which doth lead to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth according to Scripture Testimony Iohn 4.23 24. And when thou Iohn Timson hast presented thy false Accusations and Lies to the Reader in the Preface of thy Book that they might receive the Falshoods and Lies that are written therein and these Lies and Slanders which are here laid before thee and witnessed against in the answer thereto returned will sufficiently prove to thy face and be manifest to that of God in every ones Conscience that thou hast spoken unadvisedly with thy Lips when thou saist thou Lies not and all these Lies found in thy Mouth given forth publickely for all to read and thou declares to the Reader that the Lord knows what diligence and tenderness of Bowels thou hast had to prepare it for them c. Reply Blush for shame O vain Man to appeal to the Lords knowledge of thy diligence and tenderness of Bowels to prepare so many Lies and Falshoods for People to read thou shalt certainly know that the Lord takes notice of thee and he will lay thee open and make thee manifest and Lies shall not cover thee nor be thy refuge Isa. 28.17 when our God will clear his Truth and thy Tongue and all others that rise up against him shall fall in Judgement the day shall declare it Further thou goes on saying as for those persons that have answered me who have charged me with bringing sorth many Lies and Slanders and have made a noise thereof as if I was some carnal lying wretch that matters not what I write Reply To that of God in every ones Conscience I appeal that Lies proceed from a carnal wretched Heart and the Lord is making thee manifest who would make Lies thy refuge which with the Light thou art seen and thy Lies turned upon thee that in the Light thou mayst be read what thou art and in the Light our Books are known and no such thing is in our Books as thou falsly charges us with and would make People believe is written therein in giving the sence of our words in thy dark mind and for the Simples sake an answer is returned to clear the Truth of God in what he hath given out by his Spirit both in word and writing and whether thou wilt receive it yea or nay thou shalt know and all others that Christ is the Authority of the Scripture and when he spoke them forth he spake as one having Authority and not as a Scribe and who in his Light walk cannot be perswaded to turn from him by any Lies and Reproaches thou canst cast upon them who saist we are wholly turned from the Truth which against thee witness it is not so let God be Judge and in his day make manifest what we are in whose Will we rest as moved of him to witness against the Falshoods thou hast further charged upon us in what followeth Thou hast not done justly nor honestly in that thou hast not Printed the Questions as given forth by thee and Answers as returned by us and in an answer to what is of thee required to prove the Charge thou chargest us withal in thy Reply to the Answer to the first Question and the false Accusations Lies and Slanders is not proved in all thou hast writ The one Baptism we own Eph. 4.5 and the Watch in the Church we own in the Spirit of life which in order doth keep in obedience to the pure God who is the God of order and not of confusion but keeps his Children in himself purely to live according to what is profest Further thou goest on and queries what proof would we have is it not our own prophane Language both in Papers and Conference it is no news to hear most of their Way dispute against water Baptism the Lords Supper a setled fixed Ministry over particular Churches and queries further what Quakers administer water Baptism the Lords Supper and constantly watches over a particular Flock or else for shame thou saist we must own the Charge and confess our Sin in telling the World these are thy lying Slanders Reply Prophane Language we deny and Shadows and Figures we witness done away the Substance being come water Baptism was in its time a Figure of the Substance as Iohn witnesses to whom that Dispensation was committed Mat. 3.11 I indeed Baptize with Water unto Repentance but he that comes after me is mightier then I whose Shooes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire And Iohn's Baptism we deny to be in force he did decrease and Christ
will declare the Lord will gather his People together according as it s declared Revelations 5.9 And the Lye and false Accusâ—tion will still rest on thee for charging William Deusbery as before written and the impudent Lyar he will not be found when the Lord will separate between the precious and the vile then shall it be known who walk in outward Forms and deny Christ the Light and those that live in the Light Life and Power of Christ them to lead in the daily cross which keeps them in a pure Life and holy Conversation and thy false Accusations doth not us pinch neither do we any thing to evade but witness the Truth against thy false Accusations and in patience do finish our Testimony in sufferings and all with us that in the Light walk are in the Ordinances of the Gospel Church and witness the everlasting Gospel where all types shadows and figures are done away which thou so much cryes up and the Lord will throw thee and all down and a day of tribulation shall come upon thee and thou shalt not escape except thou repent And whereas thou revilest us for saying that the Spirit is the only rule of Faith and Life Ioh. 16.13 which thou sayst that promise was made directly to the twelve Reply Who art thou that limits the holy One the promise of his Spiriâ— is to all who wait on him in the manifestation of his Spirit according to the Testimony of Scripture 1 Cor. 2.7 8 9. the manifestation of his Spirit is given to every one to profit withal for to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the Gifts of Healing by the same Spirit c. And for thy unsavory words which in reproach calls us proud Worms that vilifie and diminish from the Scripture c. Reply Pride is thy own we do not vilifie nor diminish the Scriptues we witness them a true Testimony of Christ the Life and who in his Light walk know the Truth of the Scriptures as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.201 And whereas thou saist in confession to what was declared to thee that Abel Enoch and Noah had Faith before the Scriptures were written to which thou quotes Heb. 1.1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son and thou saist before there was any thing commited to writing the Lord did more visibly reveal his Will by Voice Visions Angels c. But since he hath committed his whole Will unto writing by the Prophets and Apostles these former manners are ceased and thou saist to look for the same discoveries still by Voice Vision or Inspiration is madness we run into Reply Thou vain Man who dare to say the Lord hath ceased making himself known to his People by Voice Vision or Inspiration holy men of God did speak and do speak as Inspired by the Spirit of God and moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 And the Lord hath promised in the latter days I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh Ioel 2.28 29. Acts 2.17 18. Ier. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.9 10 11. Isa. 54. â—3 All the Children of the Lord who are led by his Spirit doth witness these Scriptures fulfilled and knoweth the Lord is faithful according to his promise who will recompence into thy Bosom thy just reward for speaking evil of his Truth and whil'st thou deniest the manifestation of his Spirit which the Lord manifests to his People as is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth thy pride and confusion thou hast made manifest and neither knowst Moses Ministry nor the Apostles which thou in a busie mind speaks of in thy dark understanding which leads thee to fill thy Book with false Accusations as in thy 10th Page where thou saist we do not make any clear difference between the outward Declaration and the Word of Faith. Reply For the Simples sake as we have declared the Truth we do declare it which is witnessed with all the Children of Light the Word of Faith is in the Heart and in the Mouth and who are guided by it their Hearts are kept pure Faith purifies the Heart Acts 15.9 whether they have the outward Declaration yea or nay and they that have the outward Declaration and though they read it if they mind not the Word which is Life and Light which gave forth the Scriptures they do not live according to the Scripture for they are without Faith who are not guided by the Word Faith comes not by a bare reading the outward Declaration Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 given to his Children who diligently hearken to his Word which is Life and the Life is the Light of Men. And for thy charging us with contradictions confused Nonsence bitter Censures and Shuffles and how notorious false it is wherein we say that not any do know the Scriptures by the outward Declaration Reply To the Light of Christ in all Consciences we appeal let the Righteous judge a natural Man knows not the things that are of God though he read the outward Declaration for they are spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 2 14. and none is found worthy to open the Seals of the Book but the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda c. Rev 5.3.5 and then thou deniest Gods speaking to his People by Voice Vision or Inspiration and saist they run into madness that expect any such thing here thou art found in the Contradictions confused Nonsence bitter Censures and Shuffles and notorious Falshoods which thou hast fasly charged us withal and it is turned upon thy own Head and proved out of thy own Mouth that while thou art making a shew in words to maintain the Scripture Authority thou deniest both the Dispensation of the Spirit of God in Christ the Light and the Scriptures which bare Testimony of him as is manifest in the Reply to what thou hast writ in the Sixth and Eighth pages And whereas thou in the Eleventh Page callst us deceivers and saith to those thou callst thy Friends we have them abused by the deceit and cheats of our own Hearts c. Reply Deceit and Cheats thou art proved to be in and what thou endeavors to do in the deceit of thy Heart against the Truth thou wilt see thy hope fail thee and not a Blessing but a Curse upon thy endeavors which to thy Face is proved in what is before written to be contrary to the Dispensation of the Spirit and Scripture for which the terror of the Lord shall take hold on thee for thy uttering words without knowledg and speaking evil of the things thou knowest not as in the Twelth Page And whereas thou appeal'st to them thou callst thy Friends how their Hearts have been heated and warmed by Power of the Word and Sacraments c. Which is now
in contempt and reproach by those that seduce you Which thou chargest upon us and â—aist thou hast clearly discovered our Slanders Shifts and Shuffles and our reproaching the Ordinances and Institutions of our Lord as Heathenish by comparing them to that great Image of that Heathen King Dan. 3.3 And how we deny the Scripture to be a perfect Rule of knowing God believing in him and living unto him and reproach thee to be a lying Slanderer for charging us with that which is an apparent Truth as thou saist thou hast proved by our lying Papers and that we have reproached thee falsly and the Lies are returned upon our own Heads whilst thou saist we witness our selves Perfect and without Sin and have entred the new Ierusalem into which none shall enter that make a Lie c. Reply Them thou callst thy Friends who are in the Light with all the Children of the Light do witness that their Hearts were never warmed in Sacraments no such words is found in Scripture and thou that art pleading for the Authority of Scripture is with the Light of Christ in all his Saints denied and thy Sacraments which is not found in Scripture and in the Light thou art clearly seen the Slanders Shifts and Shufflels are thy own as is manifest in the Answer to the same Reproach and Accusations in the Second and Third Pages of thy Book and what we witness is according to Scripture which we own and in many things thou hast writ as before is manifest by thy own words the Scripture thon deniest so on whose Head the falshood remains to the Children of Light is made manifest and the day will further declare it wherein Christ our King shall be exalted over all in whom our perfection and cleansing from Sin is and leads us into new Ierusalem into which nothing enteâ—s that works Abomination or makes a Lie but who enter therein are led by the Spirit of Christ in whose Mouth is found no guile he that hath an Ear to hear let him hâ—ar And whereas thou saist to some of them thou callst thy Friends some of you have heard William Deusbery say of himself that he was as Perfect as that Christ that died at Ierusalem this is witnessed by one of Credit and Fidelity amongst your selves I forbear his name In Deusbery's new Brith he thus witnesseth of himself Reply Thy Spirit in the Light is seen who hast published what thou hast received from a nameless Author and thy Accusation is false which thou hast published to the World there were never any heard William Deusbery say of himself that he was as Perfect as that Christ that died at Ierusalem and that thou callst his new Birth will be a witness against thee there is no such word exprest by him as thou saist this nameless Author hath related of him In the presence of God he called William Deusbery doth witness that self is imperfect and self Righteousness as a filthy Ragg and a menstruous Cloath c. Isa 64.6 And he doth witness Christ Iesus the true Light which lighteth every own that comes into the World Iohn 1.9 which discovers the imperfection and filthiness of self with all its righteousness and his Perfection is in Christ the Light which he doth witness the same Christ and no other but he which suffered at Ierusalem who is the brightness of his Fathers glory c. Heb. 1.3 13.8 Which he thou falsly accusest as before written which all the Children of Light do witness the Righteousness of God in Christ the Light 2 Cor. 5.21 which for the Simples sake the Truth is witnessed forth in the presence of God which the Lord will clear from the Lies and Slanders cast upon it and he shall be known what he is whom you call a proud polluted Worm that dare exalt himself to a Perfection equal with God which are thy own words and what thou hast gathered up from others who falsly accuse as thou dost which words was not spoken by him thou callst a proud polluted Worm who can bear thy Revilings but for the Truths sake that the Simple do not stumble at the Way of Truth doth witness against thy false Accusations and Revilings which thou hast filled thy Book withal As in the 14th and 15th Pages Speaking to them thou callst Friends whom thou saist is seduced and thou declares that those whom thou chargest with seducing them doth reach them to cease from all Religious Duties of commanded Worship without scruple or check of Conscience before they can enjoy God or be taught immediatly what to do first put out the true Light and Power of Conscience to do his Office by despising the means of enlightning and convincing it to act in the Soul and then resolves to follow the immediate Commands of Conscience without questioning the Author of those Laws at all Reply Thy Accusation is false we do not teach any to ceafe from all religious duties of commanded worship neither put out the true Light we teach all to be obdient to the commands of God who saith this is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased hear him Mat. 17.5 And we bear Testimony of him that he is the true Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World Ioh. 1.9 and convinces the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment Ioh. 16.8 and he alone commands in the Conscience for God and is the Author of the prefect Law handed in the hand of a Mediator to whom we exhort all to be subject and in whom all the Children of Light walk Col. 2.6 And for thy expressing a depth of deceit and delusion which thou chargest upon us which is found in thy self who hath made Lyes thy refuge to slander the Innocent which is further manifest in thy 16th Page Thou fayst we take no notice of Scripture authority as if they were altogether out of date which false Accusation is witnessed against in what is returned in answer to the preface of thy Book And in the 17th and 18th Pages thou chargest us with impudent fore-heads to make a shew of one thing and intend another purposely minded to deceive and yet they tell us often that as they write so they mean and speak the Truth in plainness most horrible hypocrisie and deceit which nothing but a lying and a knavish Head dare go about to excuse c. And all those unsavory words as before written wherein thou sayest we have discovered to purpose the deceit of our answer in saying the Revelations of Christ are according to Scripture and where the new Covenant is witnest the Law is written in the Heart and the Witness and Testimony of Jesus within bearing witness with our Spirits that we are Sons of God. Reply Doing any thing of purpose to deceive through Hypocrisie or Knavish Heads we deny and in the presence of God we speak the Truth in plaâ—â—ness and do witness there is no deceit in saying the Revelations of Christ are according to Scripture
without Christ to do any thing acceptable to God c. Which thou goest about to prove the contrary and saist there is the Light and use of reason and understanding faculties though corrupted And further thou says This Light of corrupt reason as before exprest presents to the conscience good and evil c. Reply In the Light thou art seen to be in the corrupt Fountain from whence all these corrupt words hath come which thou hast Printed in thy Book and thy words are not true Corrupt reason of Man doth not present to the Conscience things good and evil a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit Mat. 7.18 There is nothing makes manifest Darkness but Light Ephes. 5.15 which all men in the Fall is gone from out of the way and there is none that doth good no not one Rom. 3.9 10 11. c. And the natural Man receives not the things that are of God nor can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 12.14 And all the Righteousness of Man in this state is as a filthy Rag and a menstruous Cloath Isa. 64.6 And this is the state of Man in corrupt Nature And the Light that convinces Man of this dark and corrupt Estate he is in is the Light of Christ that convinces the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment Iohn 16.8 So we that were sometimes Darkness are now Light in the Lord Ephes. 5.8 And who walk in the Light there is no occasion of stumbling â— Iohn 2.10 And whereas thou saist Thou knowst we Lie as thou hast made it manifest Reply It is not so thou hast not yet made manifest and Lie that we have spoken by any truth thou hast declared And thou goest on as in thy 89th Page thou saist The rational Soul of Man corrupted is called the Candle of the Lord which we invent to be Christ which is false we deny that the corrupt Soul of Man is the Candle of the Lord or Christ. And further thou saist It was thy intended work to go thorow all the Answers to the ten Questions but for want of thy Paper which thou saist we detained from thee contrary to our Promise In which thou saist not true for the promise was to thee thou should have a Copy of thy Paper which thou sent to us when it was ready for thee which was not then written neither was any time set down of thy having it and as way was made a Copy according to our promise came to thy Hands And in the close of thy Book thou goest on aâ— thou begun saying we deny Scripture as to the 〈…〉 were intended and reproach the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus which the Scriptures Teach under the 〈◊〉 of Heatheâ—ish Worships c. which is 〈◊〉 to in the Truth declared a witness to stand against all the Reproaches that thou hast cast upon the Truth of the living God and the God thou art pleading for cannot crown thee with honour in the day wherein the living God will exalt his Son and clear the Innocency of his People then shall the God whose worship thou art defending be confounded and Confusion and Shame shall stop thy Mouth and if this come not to pass as declared then say the Lord hath not spoken by me And in that thou call'st thy Postscript in the end of thy Book the things therein thou falsely accusest us with and calls them the Rocks which we are to manifest how we shall escape which is clearly made manifest in what is written in answer to thy Book Only this where thou saist we make no difference between the visible professing Church and the Pagan World all may be saved alike if they will c. Reply They that make a visible Profession of Christ and deny to walk in the Light of his Spirit are of the World that lies in Wickedness 1 Iohn 5.19 Mat. 7.21 as well as them thou call'st the Pagan World and not any can be saved by what they do in their own wills all that is done in that nature is abomination to God as is plain in to Answer what thou hast writ in Pag. 70. It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that shews mercy Rom. 9.16 which he makes manifest in the riches of his Grace in Christ the Light who leads all that obey him in the strait way of self-denial and the daily Cross in obedience to the Will of God which is our sanctification And he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are one Heb. 2.4 1 Thes. 4.31 He that can receive it let him For the Truths sake that the Simple be not turned out of the way by the false Accusations Reproaches and Aspertions thou hast cast upon it what is before written in Answer to thee the Truth doth clear and the Answer to thy ten Questions which thou chargest to be deceitful that they may witness for themselves against what thou hast cast upon them that all that desire to know the Truth may them read The Questions and Answers are as followeth 1. Qu. Whether the writings of the Scriptures are a Declaration of the holy Will and Mind of God that necessarily oblige the Servants of God that profess him to believe and observe whatever is revealed therein to be believed and done and whether the Scripture alone be a perfect Rule of Faith and Life unto all of years amongst us yea or nay Ans. The Scriptures is a true Declaration of the things believed amongst the Saints and a true Testimony of Jesus Christ but not any do them know neither can believe what is written therein only by the outward Declaration and Testimony of Scripture but by the Word of Faiâ—h which is in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the Word of Faith which we Preach Rom. 10.7 8. 2. Qu. Whether any other Revelations and Observations not to be found in the Scripture be binding to the Consciences of those Persons that have the benefit of the Scripture or whether such Revelation or Dictates within a Mans Heart and Soul be as binding to the Conscience and to be urged to a Mans self or others as the Scriptures are Ans. The Revelations of Jesus Christ is according to Scripture which Revelation binds up the Testimony and Seals the Law in the Hearts of his Disciples and what Dictates is in the Conscience or Heart of Man contrary to the Law and Testimony is not to be regarded but disowned and judged with the Light which comes from Christ the Saints Life who guides them in a pure Life and holy Conversation according to Scripture Isa. 8.20 3. Qu. Whether any thing besides the Scripture is constituted of the blessed God to reveal Christ as Redeemer and Saviour to the Spirit of miserable lost Man to bring Man unto happiness or whether corrupt Man without the knowledge of Scripture may ordinarily attain unto Salvation yea or nay Ans. No Man can come to the Son any other way but whom the
shall reign with him who suffer with him and they that are dead with him shall live with him it is the dead that hears the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live arise thou that sleepest in the dust of the Earth securely in thy earthly serpentine Wisdom thy mind feeding upon the dust of the Earth created objects which will perish arise stand up to Judgment that Christ may give thee Life this is required of thee O Man to do justly love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God examine thy Heart and deal justly with thy own Soul There is a Light in thy Conscience which Light is of Christ minding it it will let thee see the mystery of Iniquity that lodgeth in thy Heart which is deceitful and desperately wicked and this Light in thy Conscience which discovers unto thee the evil of thy Heart is of the eternal Word of God and was from the beginning according as it is written in the outward Testimony of the Truth In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word is God and the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Every one arise out of your earthly wiâ—dom and mind the Light in thy Conscience and wait on the Power of the Lord in it and it will bring thee to Judgment before the Throne of the Lamb where the righteous Law will be opened in thy heart that will cry through thy earthly heart for Righteousness and Judgment and the Book will be opened in thee where thou shalt see all written that thou hast done in the Body and shall give an account for every idle word and receive thy reward for what thou hast done and thy reward is Wrath and Condemnation which will pass upon thee from the Presence of the Lamb for thy disobedience and breaking of the righteous Law which must be fulfilled and what way soever thou turnest to get Life in outward Forms and Observations the flaming Sword which is the righteous Law that goes out of the Mouth of the Lamb it will turn every way and meet thee and cut thee down and cast thee into Hell where there is Weeping and Wailing for want of the presence of God and thou canst do nothing to pacifie the Wrath of God which is gone out against thee Now wouldst thou hide thy self as Adam did when he appears in thy Heart thy Fig-leafed Garment of Prayers Tears Forms outward Observations according unto thy comprehension of the Letter will not cover thy Nakedness it served to cover the Nakedness from the sight of Men but now when the Lord appears in thy Heart thou canst not stand before him now comes Cain in thee to be driven from the Face of God to be a Fugative and a Vagabond in the Earth notwithstanding all his Sacrifice and Esau in thee Repâ—obated never to have the Blessing though he seek it with Tears and the bond Woman and her Son cast out and the first Adam now slain with the sharp Sword that goeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb and art made to give up thy Soul to God whose it is to do with thee what he will if he destroy thee forever he may and if he save thee from eternal Death it is his free Love now art thou Baptized with Christ into his Sufferings and Death where thou liest sealed down under the eternal Judgment of God and there perisheth for ever for any power or help thou hast in thy self and this is the Administration of Moses where thou liest condemned for ever under the righteous Law without any help or hope until the Administration of the Prophets that prophesie of a Christ that hath satisfied the righteous Law of God for thee who art lost and condemned under the power of the Law of Moses and now there is a secret hope raised up in thy Soul and thou lookest up from under the condemning power of Moses for a Saviour and the Prophets are until Iohn and of all that were born of Women there was not one greater than Iohn for he is a burning and shining Light that lets thee see the filthiness of thy Heart and the Law shines in its purity to condemn the earthly Man in thee but he streghthens the hope in thee that was raised up by the Prophets to see the beauty and excellency of Jesus Christ which ravishes thy lost condemned Soul that thou art willing to sell all for him the Scripture now being fulfilled in thee who witness this From the days of Iohn even until now the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force now is every Mountain and Hill laid low in thee and crooked ways made strait and the rough way in thee made smooth and thou waitst in the Wilderness and lost condition of thy self for the Salvation of God to be manifest to thee in Jesus Christ and in the appointed time of the Father the Son of Man comes to thy Soul as a Thief in the Night as the lightning from the East to the West so is his appearance in thee and causes thy dead Soul to hear his Voice which witnesses to it eternal Life freely through his own Blood and thy Soul hears his Voice and by the Word of his Power is made to live and art sealed up by the holy Spirit of Promise the Spirit of God bearing witness with thy Spirit that thou art his Child now comest thou to witness the second Adam to be a quickning Spirit and Isaac the promised Seed to be heir for ever and that the wages of sin is death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life and that by Grace thou art saved through Faith in the Lord Jesus not of works least any should boast and he that hath hope in him purifies himself as he is pure and the Love of Christ constrains thee now who can witness this work of Regeneration manifest in thee to follow him whithersoever he goes no more to obey him for Life as thou didst when thou wast without seeking him in Forms and Observations but now the Love and Life thou enjoyest in Christ Jesus constrainâ— thee to deny thy self and take up thy cross daily and follow him Now art thou come into the beginning to live in the Lord guided by the powerful word of Faith the Light that shines in thy Heart which is the Light of the City New Ierusalem to which thou art come to Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth and all that are come to walk in the Light of the City New Ierusalem are the true Israel of God that are taught of God to whom the New and everlasting Covenant is made
according to the promise of the Lord This is the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more and in this City there is no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it which are borrowed Lights outward Dispensations and teachings of men for the Glory of the Lord God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light of it and the Kings of the Earth bring their Glory and honour unto it and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they which are written in the Lambs Book of Life and the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there for the Lord God giveth them Light and they shall reign for ever and ever Halelujah to the Highest To all revolted Souls who have departed from the Counsel of the Lord and are made drunk with the Wine of the wrath of the Fornication of the Whore bewitched with the Mother of Withcraft to return into Spiritual Sodom and Egypt where our Lord is Crucified WHoever thou art in whom the righteous Law of God Jesus Christ the Light in thee hath cryed through thy earthly Heart for righteousness and judgment and there thou didst stand arraigned before the Throne of the Lamb where the Book was opened in thee and written therein all the deeds thou hast done in the body and the sentance of wrath and judgement passed out of the Mouth of the Lamb on thee for every idle word and all that thou hast done and in this thy condemned Estate thou runnedst too and fro to hide thee from the wrath of the Lamb in reforming thy ways and strictly observing what thou wast convinced of to be the Will of God but what way soever thou turnedst in thy Obedience towards God to get Life thither the flaming Sword turned that proceeded out of the Mouth of the Lamb and cut thee down and cast thee into a Hell whoâ—e thou layest weeping and wailing under the wrath of God sealed down under his eternal judgment for evermore for any help or power thou hadst in thy selâ— until Jesus Christ manifested eternal Love and Mercy freely to thy poor lost condemned Soul and raised thee up to a lively hope and sealed thee up in the Covenant of Life with his own Blood Now after the witnesses hath sealed up their Testimony the Beast which is thy will that ascends out of the bottomless pit of thy deceived Heart which is deceitful and desperately wicked hath made War against the Witnesses and slain them and they lie dead in the spiritual City of Sodom and Egypt where our Lord is Crucified and thou art made Drunk with the Wine of the Wrath of the Fornication of the Whore and bewitched with her Witch-Crafts who now tells thee whom he loves he loves to the end and to the Pure all things are pure thou art no more under the Law but under Grace and all things are alike that when thou disobeyest the pure Law which once had power over thee and it witnesseth against thee secretly crying in thy Heart use thy liberty but nor as an occasion to the Flesh thou regardest not the Counsel of the Lord but hearkens to the Mother of Harlots in thee and causes thee to wrest the Scriptures to thine own Destruction and tells thee the Law hath no power over thee thou art under Grace it is but the Law in thy members that Wars against the Law in thy mind the acting of the humanity which acts in its place that the Grace of God may appear more gloriously God sees no Sin in thee for it is no more thou but Sin that dwells in thee and the former misery thou wast in under the Wrath of God for the disobeying of the righteous Law thou now treadest under thy Feet and lies slain in spiritual Sodom and Egypt in thy Heart yet not put in Grave but lies in thy sight and lets thee see the evil of thy doings and vexes and torments thy earthly and carnal Heart in the midd'st of all thy Joy but the Whore in thee tells thee that the former trouble thou wast in it was through ignorance of God but now thou art grown up to a higher stature in Christ to see nothing but love in whatsoever thou doest and now thou knowest nothing but to eat and to drink and be merry for the Children of the Bride Chamber cannot mourn while the Bridegroom is with theus time was thou didst mourn but it was when the Bridegroom was not with thee but now the Winter is past and Summer come and singing of Birds is heard in thy Land and now wash thy face and anoint thy Head with Oyle that thou appear no more before Men as thou didst when thou wast a Pharisee now to be a friend to Publicans and Sinners and become all to all that thou mayest win some and whatever thou dost it is God that acts thee for thou art not stronger then he to resist him and if he would have it other ways how couldst thou hinder it so it is as it must be and it cannot be otherwise thus the subtle Serpent winds into the mind of Man and causes him to wrest the Scriptures to his own destruction to draw back into perdition Wo wo unto thee thou back-slider in Heart who chargest God who is purity it self to be the Author of Sin and the actor of thee in all thy filthy and unrighteous walking and hast turned the Grace of God into Wantonness and takest liberty to Sin because Graâ—e abounds and makest the coming of Christ who came to fulfil the Law to destroy it through the evil of thy Heart that when the righteous Law cries in thee for purity and condemns thee for thy unrighteous walking then thou pretendst to fly to the free Grace in Christ to save thee from the power of the Law but thou shalt find the Law hath power over the fleshly Man as long as he lives and the fleshly Man that now guides thee is under the Law until it be destroyed through Faith in Christ Jesus For he came not to destroy the Law but to fufil it and the Saints witness it though thou wrest the words of Paul when he declared his condition before he came to
own Devices to their everlasting shame and contempt to the Glory of his Name who alone is worthy God over all blessed forever W. D. This is the Word of the Lord to you DEar Friends Servants and Children of the most High God whom he hath called out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel to wait his Power to guide in all your thoughts words and works in his pure Fear in Obedience to his will. I you charge in the Presence of God be valiant for your Freedom in your dwelling in the Power of God he you to Arm against the firy darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to devour you every way seeking to get into you your minds from the pure to draw into the visible things your affections there to captivate your wills to satisfie in created and perishing Objects or in the Knowledge of the Truth in the fleshly wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Husk the Form and Image of what you have enjoyed or of what you see in the Sight and Vision and doth it not injoy in the Possession but speaks in the airy drunken Spirit words without knowledg with which you sit deckt a painted Beast above the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin that appears in outward formality in the sight of Men with a Lamp like unto the wise Virgin but not dwelling in the pure Power of God wants the Oyl of Joy and Gladness in the Power of his Love which the wise Virgin hath in her Lamp that dwells in the pure Light and Power of God which keeps all the affections in order to the Spirit of Truth and bridles the Tongue not to utter words before the Lord but in true silence on him to wait till his Spirit move his mind to declare from his living Power what the Soul possesseth and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgin who is the Bride the Lambs Wife I you all charge and command in the Presence of the living God who make mention of his Name examine your Hearts search them and try your ways with the Light that from Christ comes with it all read your conditions in the Book of Conscience there will you see how you stand in the Presence of God whether in the state of the foolish Virgin that in the airy Spirit feeds on words speaking in the Vision and Sight there boasting in pride of what thou possessest not and through the subtilty of the Devil is turned from the pure Power to fly the Cross so makes shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience or you be in the state of the wise Virgins that in this pure Light waits dwells in the Power which chastiseth that which would your Garments defile daily in the Cross and there your Souls are kept pure and chaste to follow the Lamb with boldness wheresoever he goes and enter with him into the rest prepared for the people of God where thou the foolish Virgin shall not come until thou from thy foolish wisdom return to the pure Light thy self with it to judge and in it wait for the Power of Christ the Fountain of Wisdom thee to guide in faithful Obedience to the Father of Light. All dear Children of the Lord be Valiant Bold and Faithful that in the pure Light Power and Life of God you may all stand in this day of tryal which the Lord will bring upon you all that make mention of his Name for power shall be given to the Beast his Horn to exalt even to the Host of Heaven for the cleansing of the Sanctuary that all painted Beasts that are Enemies to the Cross that hath defiled the Sanctuary of the Living God in coming before him amongst his Saints and Children they shall come trembling before the power of the Beast when he utters his voice all to command his Image to worship then shall all you Children of the most High God whom he hath called and chosen to be faithful to him in his eternal Power rejoyce who will you all keep in that day in rest and peace in the Ancient of days who shall sit to judge the Beast and the Whore their Kingdom to break down and destroy in his Eternal Judgment for evermore and will rule over them by the Arm of his Power and of his Dominion there shall be no end for to him alone it belongs forever Amen Meet often together in the Fear of the Lord his Power to manifest in you to his Praise who is worthy forever Amen I charge you and command you all in the Presence of God who make mention of his Name that you speak not at any time rashly in your wills one to another or to any without as to exhort them when you are guilty of the self-same thing in the exalted Spirit out of the Cross be silent thou Fool and first judge thy self with the Light and in the Power dwell to cast the moat out of thy own Eye and that thy own House be kept in order then wilt thou see clearly how to take the beam out of thy Brothers Eye and to exhort others how to walk in order to the Spirit of Truth and in the pure single Eye aâ—l you that Fear the Lord watch over one another in tender love bear one anothers Burdens exhort one another to the building up in the most holy faith God Almighty be with you â—all his faithful Servants and Children and in his eternal Power keep you in himself that in him you may grow up in his pure nature to bear his Name in righteousness that his Image be written in your Foreheads that all that see you may know you to be the righteous Seed the Lord hath blessed and his eternal pure Power preserve and keep you bind you up in the unity of the Spirit and bond of Peace where I am with you in the Eternal Unity in the unchangable Love and Life W. D. Dear Friends ANd Friends of God whose minds are truned to the Light with which Christ Jesus hath inlightned you in his Light all wait and with boldness in him in whom your life is hide look up to him in his Light believing in his Name which is his Power to guide you with boldness in every thought word and work in faithful Obedience to the Light that in it you may shine forth in the brightness of the glory of his Power to be manifest to the Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of men that you are the Children of the Day which are come out of the Night in the Light up to Christ to judge the World in his power guiding you in a pure Life and holy Conversation that men may see your good works and glorifie your heavenly Father who hath raised you up by the Arm of his mighty Power in his Light to be Lights to the Children of the World that sit in darkness to