all you that are thus touched inwardly and tendred in any measure in the Bowed-dowaness of your Souls seeking the Lord that you may be saved oh go not forth after your Imaginations to seek him in the Desert nor after such as say Lo here or Le there Go ye not after them nor follow them Mat. 24.23 but wait having your Minds retired in the Manifestation of his heavenly Light within you and then ye will come to a true and certain Knowledge of him and so you will see how the Wise have Erred how they are gone back into the old By-Pathes that they were in that could not speak a Word in Season to the Soul that is weary but shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men and hindred such as were entring Mat. 23.13 therefore WO was cryed against them which WO stands over the Heads of all that are in the Rebellion against the Spirit of God to this day And is it not even so Do not our Wise Men and Professors shut the Kingdom against men Do not they preach against the Entrance into Life Eternal saying Revelation is ceased and this sad Doctrine hath filled the Land with Uncertainties and many Thousands are like to perish and dye in their Sins through Unbelief John 8.21 24. Now all you that are out of the Light of Life in the World of Death and Darkness and are perswaded though you dye in your Sins and Vncleanness yet you shall be saved not being freed by Christ Jesus from the Act of Sin here in this Life Troly this is a false Faith and Hope that will come to an End for Sin ever was and is the Cause of man's Separation from God Isa 51.1 2. and God sent his Son to destroy Sin in the Flesh and to be a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2.2 And though People have forsaken the Lord God of Power and Life yet he hath again visited with his Ancient Mercies the Sons of men to the End they might not perish and his Ancient Arm is revealed that gathers to himself and though the Night hath been long and tedious wherein the Enemy of the Soul hath possessed the Place and Seat in the Temple 2 Thes 2.4 yet now the Lord calls for Repentance and for all to come unto him out of their Sins and from under Satan's Power and whosoever comes unto him he will in no wayes cast out John 6.37 but in this Day who refuseth to hearken to his Heavenly Voice and come not unto him they will unavoidably perish for evermore and their Blood shall be upon their own Heads for there is no way to God's Kingdom but as Redemption is witnessed by Christ Jesus out of the lost State and so being restored to God by Christ Jesus you come into the Way of Life where Peace with God is known and this hath been the Happiness of People in all Ages and Generations as they have come up into Obedience out of the Transgression and so have had Fellowship together in the Light of Righteousness and so Truth and Righteousness was their Way and Christ the Rock was their Foundation which Foundation God hath laid 1 Cor. 3.11 and so they found Favour with the Lord and ended their Days in Peace but on the other Hand this hath been the sad unhappy State of Mankind when they turned from God and Righteousness and Holiness into Disobedience and so became wicked workers filthy and corrupted with Sin and Uncleanness and so the Devil through Deceit hath undone many to their Utter Ruin and their Eternal Sorrow and sometimes perswading the Creature one Way and sometimes another sometimes in profession of Religion without the Life of Holiness which is an Abomination to the Lord for unto the Wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy Mouth Psal 50.16 And so let all repent and turn to the Lord that you may be saved for the Truth is revealed that hath a long time been hid with the Lord even the same unchangeable immortal Seed CHRIST that bruiseth the Serpent's Head and though many are so vailled with Darkness as to deny his working Inwardly and limit the holy one yet he is come contrary to their Expectations and therefore they receive him not So the Way of God is not to be known in man's Way nor yet in man's Time nor in man's Will but as man obeyes God and is subject to him so he comes to know his Way And so all People consider these things whilest you have time and be warned to come out of Ignorance and become sensible that you may understand for God never forsakes any People without a just Cause therefore lay it to Heart and ponder this in your secret Meditations and as your wise men tell you Revelation is ceast let them tell you when where to whom and for what cause did God ever cast off any People when they were obedient to him Nay he never forsakes People till they forsake him therefore the Cause is in man and God is clear So the Lord in his Mercy in these latter Days hath opened his Truth and hath brought us into the Way of Life wherein we see how the Apostacy came in and in all Ages and under every Dispensation the Cause was in men because they rebelled and turned from God but now there are many so bewildred in their Minds having lost the good old Way are perswaded the Cause is in God and that he will not work by his Spirit now as he did in Days past and so being deceived do not truly endeavour to come out of Sin all their Life time but imagine that God will accept of them in their Sins and yet are perswaded that they shall inherit Heaven when this Life shall be at an End Ephes 5.5 whereas the Apostle said The Heaven and the Earth that now is are kept in store reserved unto Fire against this Day of Judgment and Perdition of VNGODLY MEN 2 Pet. 3.7 so you may read your Portion here if you turn not to God that you may be cleanled where all your false Joyes and Pleasures will come to an End Amos 8.10 and everlasting Sorrow will overtake you And farther as you deny the Working of the Spirit and rebel against it you are one with the old Backsliders even from the Beginning for that was the chief Cause that God brought Destruction upon the old World because they rebelled against his holy Spirit for after they departed from the Lord yet his good Spirit did strive with them till at length the Lord was grieved and said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man c. Gen. 6.3 so the Day of their Visitation passed away and they were overthrown with the Flood Gen. 7.23 so you may read and apply this to your selves for you dare not say but the Lord by his Spirit hath doth strive with you as in the dayes of Noah who is
out of my Sins and from the Wayes and Worships of the VVorld who are not in the Spirit and in the Truth and therefore will come to an End and the true VVorship which is in the Spirit and in the Truth will be established for God who is strong in Judgment will raise up his own Tabernacle Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and the Time is come wherein the Lord will work and wo unto such as endeavour to hinder his VVork which is a righteous VVork and will stand when the Pleasure of Sin shall end with Everlasting Punishment for it is Righteousness that will remain when God shall judge the VVorld and search out every secret VVork that hath been wrought in Darkness yea when Inquisition shall be made for the Thoughts of the Vngodly And so all that read understand and turn unto the Lord for he is certainly risen in great Power yea he hath taken unto him his great Power and is come to reign 1 Cor. 15.25 for he hath seen the great Backslidings of the Sons of Men and the Darkness that hath vailed the Creation and the Death that hath reigned over Mankind and he is come to take away the Vail that the Enemy of Mankind hath spread over the Nations and to destroy the Face of the Covering cast over all People that Death may be swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15.54 55 And the Holy Pure God whole Dominion is an Ancient Dominion and his Heavenly Glorious Kingdom is from Everlasting to Everlasting before the Devil and Death's Kingdom Rule and Government was he hath beheld the Sad Estate of the Sons of Men hath sent forth a Saviour who is mighty the same that in Dayes past was mighty in word and Deed before God and all the People Luke 24.19 and the same Saviour even Jesus which is Christ the Lord hath redeemed and saved a People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 who is able to bring forth all the distressed amongst the People whose inward Cry is to the unknown God as mine was who hath delivered my Soul from Death who is my Shepherd Bishop and Teacher in whom dwelleth all Fullness who laid down his Life for his Sheep whose precious Blood hath redeemed us whom my Soul hath Cause to extol and praise Night and Day who is my Strength and Defence against all the Assaults of my Soul's Enemy to whom saith my Soul be Glory Everlasting and Praises for ever rendered who is over all Blessed forever Amen After this Work was begun in my Soul and my Understanding opened to see the sad and woful State of Mankind being fallen into the State of the first Adam in the Separation from God and Christ Jesus my Heart was filled with Sorrow and a Zeal for the Name of the Lord God did livingly spring in my Heart and a Necessity was laid upon me to warn my Neighbours to turn unto the Lord and the Lord shewed me the sad and woful State of many whose Iniquities are even come to the full and I warned them in the Name of the Lord in their publick Assembliâ—s to turn from the Evil of their wayes and now it lives in my Heart afresh to warn them by writing also in the Holy Fear and Awe of the God of Heaven and Earth in the deep Consideration of their sad Estate And now my Neighbours this is unto you in Bowels of tender Love whose oâ—l desireth your Everlasting Good that you may consider your Wayes and turn unto the Lord for he is merciful slow to anger and of great Kindness that Inwardly you may be sensible of the Power of Jesus Christ whose Heavenly Light shews you your Sins for great are your Abominations which grieves the Lord God and the abounding thereof from Day to Day How doth Drunkenness abound amongst you and Pride and Vain Glory and Swearing and Lying from Day to Day abound within the Borders of the Place of my Nativity for whose Sakes my Heart hath often been bowed down before the Lord that the Dayes of Sin and Iniquity may come to an End Now Friends and Neighbours there is no Way for you to escape the Indigration of the Lord but by Repentance and therefore repent speedily and forsake your Sins in this Day wherein the Lord hath visited you with his Day Spring from on high and that is the true Light that sheweth unto you your Thoughts and reproves you in Secret for Lying Swearing and Drunkenness and all manner of Uncleanness and that is the Day Spring from on high revealed from God to lead out of Sin and to save from Transgression and this is the Grace of God which the Apostle spake of which hath appeared unto all men which is the true Teacher and Leader out of Sin Tit. 2.11 into Holines and this will search your Hearts as you wait for it for how have you been saying from Time to Time At what Time soever a Sinner doth repent him from the Bottom of his Heart God will blot out all his Transgressions out of his Remembrance and do not many take Liberty to sin because of this but as the Promise of Forgiveness upon Repentance Ezek. 18.21 22. commends the Mercy of God that none might despair yet the Lord will surely plead with all that are presumptuous and Continuers in Sin read your Portion Ezek. 18.20 therefore all both old and young remember Repentance from the Bottom of the Heart for that you must all come to witness if you be made clean so that God may receive you And indeed that is a Thing of great Concernment but that is the Thing most wanting amongst men for there are Professions enough but I see but few that are come to the Cleansing of the inside or inward Washing but as the Pharisees who made clean the outside of the Cup or Platter but the inside was unclean Luke 11.39 So there are many outside Professors of God and Christ that â—râ— confessing their Sins and Repentance as they say from the Bottom of the Heart but the Cause remains the Bottom is still corrupt and therefore that you may come to the Bottom that is the Desire of my Soul and the End of writing unto you for you can never come to the Bottom till you come to the Spirit of Truth the Heavenly Light that lets you see the Bottom of your Hearts and searcheth out the most hidden Things for the Heart of Man is deceitful and none can search it but the Lord Jer. 17.10 and the Lord knows it and tries the Heart aâ—d searcheth the innermost Parts And this is the Substance that is come that searcheth the Heart and declares unto man his Thoughts Ames 4.13 and as you obey him who is near you even the Spirit of Truth â—o you will come to witness the Work you are a talking of a Death to Sin and a New Birth unto Righteousness for Christ Jesus is manifest to take away Sin renew Man and Woman again to God And such as come to witness Repentance from
A TESTIMONY Unto the TRUTH AND A Warning unto the World IN GENERAL But more particularly to the Inhabitants of Enoder parish in Cornwall By one whom God hath called out to bear witness of the Truth as it is in Jesus called by the Name of RICHARD SAMBLE Printed in the Year 1676. TO THE READER READER THou art desired to be considerate when thou readest this following Book and to be very ponderous in thy Mind as touching the things therein contained that thy Understanding may be opened by the invisible God who giveth unto us Life Breath and Being and also that thou wouldst lay to Heart this very Thing How that Almighty God hath risen in many Ages of the World in his Judgments and Fury to stain the Glory of all Flesh and to set up Righteousness in the Earth and hath caused his Truth to spring and flourish amongst his People under every Dispensation until they departed from the Lord and served other Gods and followed their own Inventions and then Darkness came over them and so their Hearts were hardened from his Fear Prov. 1.29 30. And this thou art also to consider That Sin hath been the very Cause of Man's Destruction from Generation to Generation and therefore if thou dye in thy Sins thou art like to have no part amongst the Living in the Kingdom of Christ but the same will be thy Portion that hath been the portion of the Wicked in all Ages which is perpetual Sorrow Distress and Anguish for evermore And this consider also That whatever thou dost profess or what Shew of Religion soever thou mayest make whilst thy sins remain I am to tell thee and that in the Name of Christ Jesus Thou art not accepted of God but all thy Prayers are an Abomination to the Lord Ezek. 8.17 18. Isa 1.15 because thou art in the Transgression in that which the pure God of Glory hateth and upon which he will pour out his Fury and Indignation for evermore and if thou art one that lives in Pleasure thy daily Satisfaction is in following these Evil Devices that are very common amongst men in this Generation to wit Drunkenness Swearing Lying or other Prophane Practices and that which is called Pastime or sporting thy self amongst such as count it Pleasure to Riot in the day time Jam. 5.5 6. know this that all these things will be a Hindrance to thy eternal Well-fare for such as do such things cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 20 21. And also thou art to consider That there hath been a Night of gross Darkness over the Hearts of the Children of men since the Apostles dayes and that Saving Grace which was common in that Generation people have lost in the Night and are become dry and barren as a Desert or Wilderness as relating to Matters of Spiritual Concerns wherein consists the Stability of their Souls Peace with God And this also I am to tell thee That God who is unchangeable and immortal hath revealed his blessed Truth again and the Gospel of his blessed Kingdom is now preached to the Nations and if ever thou comest to God's Kingdom thou must come to know him that is the Everlasting Teacher to wit Christ Jesus and him to know in thy own Particular who is the Man of God's Right Hand a quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.45 and so thou wilt come out of thy lost Condition wherein thou art in the Fall in the first Man Adam into the Life of Holiness and Righteousness into the Restoration by Christ Jesus the second Adam the Heavenly Man And this know also That thou canst not come to him by any other way but as thou comest into Self denyal and believest in thy Heart the Record that God hath given of his Son which is the true Light that shines within thee and lets thee see thy Sins And farther That as sin hath been the very Cause of Man's Separation from the Lord yet when thou shalt return again and come to know a Godly Sorrow in the Secret of thy Heart and when thou shalt feel in thy self a Tenderness and a Broken-heartedness before the invisible God who sees in secret Mat. 6.6 he will grant thee Repentance unto Life and he will return unto thee in his Everlasting Mercies and blot out thy sins out of his Remembrance And this also I am to tell thee in the Fear of God and in his Name That as the Lord hath appeared in dayes past and in Generations that are gone in his Indignation and hath smitten many Nations and Peoples in his Wrath sometimes overturning the World by Water and sometimes destroying Cities and Peoples by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Luke 17.29 Gen. 19.24 25. and again by Plagues Pestilence and at certain Seasons the Lord God because of the Abominations of the Children of Men hath visited them in his Wrath and hot Displeasure and greatly afflicted them and the End of the Lord hath been that such as remain upon the Earth might fear before him and dread his great Name who is Mighty and none can escape him And people in these last dayes and times have greatly grieved the Lord and therefore except they Repent his Fury will he pour forth upon them until that which is in his Heart be accomplished and they shall not escape his heavy Hand And so Reader whoever thou art that reads these following Lines the Desire of my Soul is that thou mayest be impartial concerning me and conclude in thy Mind that it s written in tender Love to thy Soul and so thou wilt see my honest Intent who am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness desiring thy Eternal Well-fare when this Time and Day of thine is at an End I rest Thy Friend and Well-Wisher RICHARD SAMBLE A TESTIMONY UNTO THE TRUTH c. IN the deep Consideration of the States and Conditions of the Sons and Daughters of men in the Fall and seeing how the World lies in the Extremity of Wickedness being overcome by the Old Serpent called the Devil and Satan who hath tyed and bound them with his Chains of Sin who is the Author of all Sin I am drawn in Spirit to warn them to Repentance and to declare to the World the Way that the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath ordained which is Christ Jesus who is Everlasting and was with the Father before the World began John 17.5 who is the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 by whom my Soul hath been redeemed and who raised me up out of Sin and therefore having obtained Mercy through the Love of God in Christ Jesus whom he hath sent a Light into the World and I having known in measure the Judgments of the Lord and the Terrors of the Almighty because of my Transgressions therefore cannot but perswade men to turn from Ungodliness even all people that lie in Wickedness knowing assuredly that all People shall be called to an Account before the Tribunal Seat of Christ
have the Spirit they are the Children of God but if any man have not the â—pirit of Christ he is none of is Rom. 8.9 and these that are obedient to the Spirit of Christ within them they are a Living People and are spiritually minded waiting for the Promise of God to be sealed up in Covenant with the Lord Ephes 2.22 And so they come to be a Habitation for God through the Spirit that first cleanseth and prepareth the Heart for God and so it comes to be sanctified through the Spirit by believing in the Truth 2 Thes 2.13 And all other People that are gathered outwardly without the Spirit and Life and Power of God that destroyes the Devill and his Works are dead to God and are yet in the Grave of Transgression and are in danger of falling into the deep pit of Misery where their Worm dieth not neither is their Fire quenched Isa 66.24 and such are Hypocrites deceiving themselves and others and painted with an outside having the Sheeps clothing but Inwardly are ravening Wolves And such as have not the Spirit for their Guide run when God sends them not and prophesie when the Lord speaks not to them Jer. 29.8 9. as they in old Time that rebelled against the Spirit and cast the Word of God behind their Backs Isa 5.24 and such are blind Watchmen who are in the dark Profession over whom the Sun is gone down Mic. 3.6 and Darkness is to them who have not a Vision Michah 3.5 6 7. but deny any such Thing as Vision and Revelation and so are Night-Workers not knowing whether their Work will stand in God's Day or not and such were the blind Watchmen in the Dayes of old when God did arise and by his Word and Power in the Hearts of a People moved the Inner man and raised Desires after himself but the Watchmen of the Night said the Church they found me and wounded me Cant. 5.7 and here is the Time of trying the false Prophets then sayes the travailing Soul I am troubled inwardly and cannot be satisfied with all my outside Profession nothing will satisfie me till I come to enjoy the Beloved of my Soul who is heavenly and was sent to save me from my Sins Watchman canst thou tell me where I may find him But saith the blind Watchman Revelation is ceast no inward immediate Working of the Spirit now And here many have been and are wounded to this Day and this is a certain Testimony whereby you may know the true Prophet from the false for the true Prophet comes in the Name of the Lord standing in God's Counsel turning People to God saying Turn from Transgression and obey Christ Jesus the true Light that you may be made free and saith the true Messenger wait for the Son from Heaven 1 Thes 1.9 10. And so many have obeyed this Glorious Gospel the Light whereof shines inwardly and the Beloved is found that we sought for amongst the blind Watchmen where we found him not but it was but a little whilâ— I was gone from the Night Watchmen and I found him whom my Soul loveth Cant. 3.4 This also consider the false Prophet he comes with a Lye preaching no Freedom from Sin no Revelation the Light within not the Way not directing to the Heavenly Witness which is able to save Eternally from Death and Misery but daubs up with untempered Morter Ezek. 13.10 11. and sows Pillows under the Arm holes of People crying Peace Peace when there is none healing the wound deceitfully Jer. 6.14 And so are Pastors that destroy and scatter the Sheep of God's Pasture Jer. 23.1 but God will require his Flock at their Hands Ezek. 34.10 and We will be unto them forever who are found in the Way of the old rebellious amongst the Jews and profest Christians who transgress against the God of Jacob whose Portion was with the Unbelievers and Hypocrites where is Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth And in the Rise of the false Church who went a whoring from Jesus Christ it was signified by the Spirit concerning her Punishment I will cast her into a Bed of Torment and they that commit Adultery with her into great Tribulation Rev. 2.22 And so all People consider these Things and come to the Revelation of the Son of God which gives Life and Dominion over Hell and Death Isa 25.8 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 which is the Good Old Way the Path of the Righteous and Obedient Children of the Light of Jesus Christ and so all will know the Lord and be saved for without this Man is beneath the Beast of the Field for when he was made Ruler over the Creation he knew Dominion and Power and Wisdom from on high and was in the Image of God over the Creation of Beasts Fowls Fishes and the Earth Gen. 1.26 but when he transgrest against God he lost his Righteous Life and Innocent Dominion and fell under the Creation and so the Ox knows his Owner and the Ass his Master's Crib but Israel knows not his God Isa 1.3 Jer. 8.7 now until this lost Estate be restored to man again and the Cause removed which is Sin Man remains in the Loss without God in the World and there is no Way to come to that State again but by Christ Jesus who is the Door the true Entrance who saith No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 and this is the standing Rule which is unchangeable and is from Everlasting to Eve lasting though it 's vilified and lightly esteemed of amongst many yet unto us he is the chiefest of Ten Thousands Cant. 5.10 who hath redeemed us unto God out of our Sins and washed us from our Filthiness in his own Blood to him be Glory forevermore Rev. 1.5 And this is the sure Rock upon which God is building his Spiritual House his Church against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Mat. 16.18 And all that think of an Inheritance in Heaven though they dye in their Sins are in a great Mistake for no unclean thing shall enter Ephes 5.3 4 5 6. And if any think of being cleansed after this Life and so made fit hereafter this also will fail and come to an End for after Death there is no Redemption mortifie therefore your members whilest you are upon the Earth Col. 3.5 for consider the Rich Man who dyed and lift up his Eyes in Hell Luke 16.23 and cryed for Help from poor Lazarus ver 24. but all was in vain there was no Remedy nor Redemption for him who had spent his Days in Pleasure and Vanâ—ty upon the Earth not so much as a little Water to cool his Tongue when he was tormented in the Flame And also you may read concerning his five Brethren that he had left behind in his Father's House who were in the same Danger to be tormented with him and therefore desired they might be warned
and the Promise of Life was unto his Seed wherein all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed and the Promise of God unto Abraham was That his Seed should inherit the Land wherein he was a Stranger so God blessed Abraham and multiplied his Seed as the Stars of Heaven and they encreased unto a multitude in the Land of Egypt and the Egyptians intreated them evilly and afflicted them Foâ—â— Hundred Years Gen. 15.13 and afterwards God remembred his Covenant made with Abraham and raised up a Prophet to wit Moses who was faithful in all God's House and by mighty Signs and Yokens of his Judgments upon Egypt God brought them forth by a mighty Hand and an out stretched Arm and preserved them by the Way from the Expectation of their Enemies and kept them in the Red Sea from being overtaken with the Egyptians and God did this for them to the end they might be unto him a Chosen People to set forth his Praises to the Ends of the Earth But soon after this great Deliverance when they came into the Wilderness the Devil by his Subtilty turned their Hearts from the Lord and so Iniquity was found within their Camp and Murmurings amongst the People and so God was displeased and cut down their chosen men who lusted by the way and raised up another Generation amongst them and they enter'd the Land and God gave them his Law and his Statutes that they might be a People known to the Lord in obeying him forever but soon after they came into that Inheritance the Devil wrought again to turn their Hearts from the Lord and they followed the Wayes of the Heathen whom God cast out before them and then the Lord was grieved with them and gave them into the Hands of their Enemies who ruled over them until they should remember the Lord against whom they had sinned and when they remembred the Lord he sent Deliverance unto them which brought them again to their Land And so all may read who have Vnderstanding what the Cause is this day why people do not injoy the Blessings of God unto their Souls it s certainly because they are in the Transgression But God will remember such though they may be in spiritual Captivity that desire after him and forsake their Sins which is the Cause of their Souls Captivity for when the Heart shall return unto the Lord he will take away the Vails and give an Vnderstanding of the thing that 's Heavenly So Israel dealt treachtrously with the Lord from time to time but the Lord often times when they cryed unto him raised up faithful Messengers which declared unto them the Way of the Lord and David whom God chose with whom he confirmed his Premise before made unto Abraham and said David shall not want a Man to sit upon his Throne forever but this People to 〈◊〉 Israel were Corrupters and followed their own Inventions and rebelled against the Spirit of God and slew the Prophets of the Lord which he sent unto them And so the Time came when God according to his Promise sent his Son the Seed wherein the Blessing consists in which all the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed which is to gather into one all things in Christ whether in Heaven or in Earth Ephes 1.10 But the Jews though they were the Seed of Abraham outwardly yet did not know this spiritual Seed Christ but rose against him and put him to Death hâ—â—beit God raised him from the Dead by his Glorious Power and received him again into his ancient Glory that he had with him before the World began but God turned his Hand against these professing Persecutors and the Time came over them that Distress and Sorrow compassed them in and Affliction and Tribulations from day to day attended them because of that bloody Action in Consenting to the Death of Jesus and so God's Fury was poured forth upon them from time to time until they were disinherited and driven out of their Possession which if they had received him and believed that it was he Eternal Life and Glory would have been their Reward for evermore And about this time God who is rich in Grace after Christ Jesus the Son of his Love was raised up from the Dead began to appear in him and to work by him inwardly in many and raised up many to bear witness of God that he had raised up his Son from the Dead whom he furnished with the Gift of Life Power and Wisdom to declare unto the Sons of Men That Jesus was the Christ and this was the Gospel which before was preached unto Abraham unto whose Seed the Promise was forever which Seed is Christ and many Thousands by this glorious Gospel were gathered to God and a glorious Way they were brought into and also into the injoyment of the sure Mercies of David Isa 55.3 never to be forsaken nor yet to want a Man to execute Judgment in their Behalf in Truth and Righteousness But here comes the Misery again the Devil who was ever an Enemy to God's Heritage under every Dispensation he begins to work again and to seduce the Minds of such as profess Christ Jesus and then Wickedness again began to spring and as Wickedness abounded so people were darkened in their Vnderstanding and as the Wicked One prevailed so people were corrupted and this was the beginning of falling away again from God after the Appearance of Jesus Christ And now as the Jews and all Apostates in days past have rebelled against God so have these called Christians rebelled against Christ and so Darkness and Ignorance came over those called Christians also and the Devil hath ruled and hath had Dominion and then God who first appeared to them in his Son Christ Jesus when they thus rebelled and grieved him he with drew his Presence from them and so they have been a wandring People from Generation to Generation but God who is Everlasting though Man hath changed in his Mind yet God is the same and changeth not and that Blessed Truth and Everlasting Gospel which is not another in these last dayes hath God revealed again and it s now profest injoyed and preacht by the despised People called Quakers whom God hath gathered by the Right Hand of his Righteousness to bear forth a Testimony for his Name in this Generation whom God will support uphold and strengthen against all Oppositions that his ancient Truth may be proclaimed to the Ends of the Earth that so such as are afar off may be brought nigh to God the Devil shall be defeated whose Power of darkness hath reigned and Christ Jesus shall reign whose Right it is and he shall bring us into the Possession of the spiritual Canaan that Land of Eternal Rest which remains for the People of God and he will chain the Devil that has deceived the Nations cast him into the Bottomless Pit and his holy People shall possess and inherit forever the blessed Kingdom and the Wicked and Abominable and Murderers and Adulterers and all Lyars shall have their Part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev 21.8 R. S. THE END