power of God The goodness and mercies of God both in the holy Testimonies as recorded in the Scriptures of Truth and otherwayes manifested should lead unto true repentance of every evil way and work whereby God's righteous Spirit is grieved and quenched Assuredly the more God's holy and righteous Spirit doth strive many wayes with a people or Nation and they go on not regarding the operation of the hand of the Lord therein but do continue to grieve and quench the blessed motions thereof it will be more tolerable in the day of Judgment unto that People or Nation which profess less but do more So it 's not a bare Profession and Confession what people do that is acceptable but it 's in doing the Will of God through the movings of his holy Spirit in every Nation they that fear God and work righteousness are accepted and for that end that people might fear God and work righteousness his universal Love in his universal Spirit and power doth inlighten all mankind whereby they may see the evil and the good and to them that receive him in his tenders of love he gives them power to eschew the evil and to love the good of what Nation Language or Country they be of In the time I lived among the Turks it appeared to me that they had more Charity and true Love one unto another then may be found amongst many who are called Christians who live in Error out of God's way Surely such Christians are driven farther from true Love one to another and Mercy and Patience and Self-denyal then the very Turks They may be ashamed when they look back into those malicious works manifested upon an Innocent People in this Nation I suppose they are not to be parallel'd amongst the very Turks And for Christendom so called in general who are apostatized from the Truth how many Religions and high Professions there are made of God and Christ but how little of the blessed example and humiliation of Christ is followed Let the wise in heart take but a view of the greatest part of Christendom so called this day and see what works of Envy Malice and Hatred Evil Fruit is shewn forth where they seek the ruin and destruction one of another such wilde Fruit doth not proceed from Christ the Vine no no such Fruit proceeds from a corrupt root which Ax of the Lord must be laid to and it must be cut down the word of the Lord must come over it which must be felt a Hammer to beat down corruption and a Fire to consume it this Cross that Christians must take up if they arrive at that blessed Haven of rest which the Lord of Heaven and Earth has appointed for them that love him thus Christians bowing under the Cross the power of God and Crucifying their corrupt Wills and Affections and Lusts with that exalted proud arrogant spirit that carryes people above the Fear of God and the blessed example and humiliation of Christ Christians so called coming under this Cross then will you be a good example to all Turks and Infidels in the World and your good Conversations and true Love one unto another will convince the Turk that the Lord is with you of a Truth there being no other way to true happiness and peace with the Living God but by Christ the Way the Truth the Life which people being converted to and living in therein shewing forth the great Love of God to the World in his Son this will preach forth the righteousness of God unto them who are strangers thereunto and the people thus gathered to the Lord the Lord will be with them and plead their Cause whilst you observe that great and chief Commandment in loving God above all and your Neighbours as your selves in doing this you will please God and reach to the witness in them that do not know God But if you continue meer Talkers and high Professors of what you should do and leave that undone which should be done therein you will be a bad example and an ill savour to other Nations and a stink which the Lord of Heaven and Earth will never be pleased with though you may cry Lord Lord in your deep Distress he will not hear if you regard Iniquity the Prayers of the wicked are abomination to the Lord I speak the Truth in the love of God unto you in dealing plainly according to his blessed Will You that say you are Christians examine your selves will the name Christian avail you if you be out of the Christian-Life and Nature What will it avail you to retain a Name of being Christ's Followers and if you be found in the way of the Scribes and Pharisees by whom he was Crucified What will it avail you to talk of the Truth in the inward parts that which is lovely in the sight of the Lord if you be found in a Spirit of Deceit and Falshood in the Friendship of the World resisting the Just and he doth you no harm What will it avail you to cry Lord Lord and not wait to know his Will and do it What is it the near for you to talk of God's great Love to the World in the Son of his Love who invited all to him who was and is meek and lowly where the Rest and Peace is in the joy of the Lord to Immortal Souls if you be found in froward peevish exalted imaginary proud ambitious spirits What will it avail you to read and talk of the holy mens Lives and blessed Practices if you be found in the Life and Practice of Cain Nabal and Hamman The Followers of Christ Jesus the Heavenly man they were and are to deny themselves and take up a dayly Cross to Cain 's Nature to Nabal 's Nature to Haman 's Nature The blessed and effectual Cross that slayes the Enmity and makes a reconciliation by the blessed Cross the Power of the Lord and Saviour Christians being plung'd dipped baptized and brought under Christ the power and wisdom of God And in the blessed Gospel-order established and therein shining forth to the Praise and Honour of God this will preach and reach to the Turks and Infidels in the World and overcome them and make them confess That Christ Jesus is a blessed Leader and all that follow him are blessed and happy forever and that there is no other way to true Peace and Happiness but by following Christ's blessed example and great humiliation by all that ever come to attain to his Resurrection he must lead them in the way So away with all your Wooden Brazen Iron Golden Crosses with all your Trumpery thereunto belonging The very Turk sees over it with all Images and Religions which are turned into Trades and Merchandize whereby spiritual wickedness and the Mystery of Iniquity is upholden away with it all it stinks Now the great Mystery Christ in us the Hope of Glory is opened a blessed Fountain to wash in which makes clean the inside and fits and
is and may be received through Faith and Comfort of the holy Scriptures by them who do truly take heed to the manifestation of God's holy Spirit in them which convinceth the World of sin and therefore universal and take that for a rule and guide to walk by out of darkness and to guide and lead into all Truth Oh it 's the carnal mind which is enmity against God Rom. 8.7 for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be It 's that mind that would make void this love of God in the manifestation of his Spirit to every man to profit with as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Therefore it is of necessity for all to take heed to the Revelation and Manifestation of Gods holy Spirit in them if ever they come to a true knowledge of the love and mercy of God testified unto in old time And therefore it 's good for all to consider what state they are in whether in a natural or spiritual whether in a capacity to receive an understanding in the things of God testified of in the Scriptures or whether in a natural estate wresting them to their own destructions In that state what false conceptions about the things of God are brought forth the which genders to bondage and corruption And in this Worldly wisdom what diversity of Inventions do people get make and find out to keep them from the Cross which Christ exhorted his followers to take up dayly and follow him Though this may be accounted as foolishness to them that perish yet as said the Apostle But unto us that are saved it 's the power of God It was not the intent in the moving of God's holy Spirit in holy men in giving forth those blessed Testimonies of God's righteousness and love therein unto the world that people in their carnal minds and natural estates should cover their unrighteousness therein and deck and trim themselves therewith for some selfish advantage the which are very presumptuous sins that have gotten dominion in the hearts of those who do account themselves Leaders of the people And indeed if the people did not love to have it so they would bow to the manifestation of God's love and mercy in them But being contrary minded then to yeild to the good will and pleasure of God in the moving of his good Spirit how greatly do they provoke the Lord of Heaven and Earth in grieving and vexing of his holy Spirit as said the Prophet Isaiah in another Case 63.10 But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them In that state it 's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living I do therefore beseech all to be considerate in this weighty concern wherein the Souls Immortal are so deeply concerned and let not the day of God's Visitation in and by the striving of his good Spirit pass over your heads least you be left mourning and grieving without God in the World and so without any certain hope of all the Saints and Sanctified in the Truth And through the blessed operation and revelation of the holy Spirit of Truth he is now the hope of all them who are real denyers of that which hath a tendency of grieving and quenching his holy Spirit and in this is Christs Doctrine obeyed in denying that which is contrary to the will of God whose blessed will is the satisfaction of all and for that end hath he given of his good Spirit unto all the which ought to be taken unto by all The gain-saying of the striving thereof was the cause of the Worlds overthrow of old in that they grieved his good Spirit and therein provoked the Lord of Glory till in his hot displeasure he said his Spirit should not alwayes strive with them And the cause of the Scribes and Pharisees Crucifying the Lord of Glory by their wicked hands was by their doing despite unto Gods holy Spirit they being stiff Necked did resist the moving and striving of Gods holy Spirit as their Fathers did before them which brought those sad and miserable Calamities which may be read of upon them And that which was the cause of Ignorance in Dayes Ages and Generations past is now the cause of great ignorance in which the people living in error know not the Scriptures nor the power of God and for want of the knowledge thereof people do perish Thus plain and evident it is to all who have the Eyes of their understandings opened that they who are true owners of the Scriptures their sense and knowledge thereof comes by the moving of the Spirit of Christ who lighteth every man that comes into the world unto which the true Gospel Ministers turned people even from darkness that was in them unto the Light that was in them which Light that shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not In this principle of the Light of Gods holy Spirit which makes manifest the Deeds of Darkness must all believe and obey that come to find Life and Peace And read John 1.1 what is there said concerning the word of God by which all things were made the which the Devil is out of though he may get the words and talk and preach of the word But being out of the word of God he cannot preach that He that can receive it let him for in him the word by which all things were made is Life and the Life is the Light of men And for the inshining and breathing forth of this Light out of Darkness must all wait in the Self-denyal of all dark works taking up the Cross dayly thereunto that Life and Immortality may be brought to Light through the Gospel And if this be hid It is hid to them that are lost In whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them that believe not 2 Cor. 3.3 4. least the light of his glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine upon them And whilst this love of God testified unto through the Scriptures remains hid what true benefit can such be supposed to have of the Scriptures though they may be never such high Talkers and Professors thereof Oh that people would consider what they are doing that they may not labour and travail all their days in vain and lye down in sorrow at last Come be sober be wise you Professors of the Scriptures and remember that it is witten For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 that every one may receive the things done in the body whether they be good or bad What then will a bare Profession of holy mens words and works wrought without you avail you if you be found in uncleanness in unsavoury words and works
avail them any thing who call upon Christ yet persecute so near Relations as his Brethren And since those that visited them not in their necessities received such condemnation what will become of you And you Generation of wicked Doers who have been the cause of the Imprisoning so many of Christs Relations where several hundreds have laid down their lives for their faithful Testimony against you because of your Adultery from the Lord and his Worship which is to be performed in Spirit and Truth and have set up worships according to your own hearts Lust and because of the Lords Patience and Long-suffering and great Mercy how do you harden your hearts against Reproofs and for good return evil and so go on scoffing and mocking well though the Lord hath exercised a great deal of patience it 's my belief it will not last long but he will execute Righteous Judgment and plead the cause of the Innocent who hath committed all to him with Praises and Glory from his own works for ever Stephen Smith The 21th day of the 11th Month 1667. A PROCLAMATION By way of EXHORTATION Unto all the Inhabitants of England Concerning Fasting and Prayer And that they may come to a certain Discerning and Knowledge of the Will of God therein who is King of the whole EARTH First by way of Preparation unto a True FAST COme all you who expect to be Heard and Accepted of the Living God Fasting and Prayer in the Spirit of Holiness is required as Necessary thereunto but the want of a certain Knowledge Discerning how and in what manner the same ought to be Performed therefore it is that people are rejected being all Vain Service and Lost Labour where no Reward is received or when they ask amiss what answer shall such have judge ye And therefore be Admonished I beseech you to mind that which gives you a Discerning and certain Knowledge in this weighty Work You may read what the Lord said by his Servant Isaiah chap. 8. concerning Fasting and what Christ Jesus said Mat. 6. but how long may people read these Sayings as well as others and yet have no certain knowledge of the Will of God therein I speak of such who are out of the way of a True Understanding which all are who are in a bare Confession with their Mouths that God ought to be feared but the Heart that not being right in his sight Infidelity that taking place there from whence a Conclusion is drawn That Sin which is Evil can't be parted with this is a great Evil indeed set up in the Heart by the spirit of Antichrist where a Form of Words and large Confessions concerning God and Christ are made but the Blessed and Effectual Workings of God's Spirit in Flesh for the Destroying of Sin that being denyed the Enemy's works which is Sin and Evil they continue in the Heart contrary to the Blessed Will of God by which means the Nobility of Man's Understanding that is Clouded and Darken'd through Error and Falshood by which means the Minds of Mankind are exercised in a Brutish Understanding concerning Spiritual Matters imagining a Performing of Service to God by confessing That he ought to be feared and yet live out of what they confess in a Talk that all good Success and Blessing comes from him c. So then let such be judged by their own words who confess he ought to be feared and yet live in Sin and Evil under a strange Delusion That those Works can never be so destroyed as to know Dominion and Freedom from them on this side the laying down the Body or at least till about that time of separation from all outward visible things So here Sin the Continuance of that hath been pleaded for by them who would be called Christians and would be accounted such who fear God and that they are in his Service though never expect to be free from sin What Service is that in Evil And what Reward shall Evil Works have Is not sin an Evil work of the Evil One And must not the Works of the Evil One if continued in have a Bad Reward Oh that people would Fear God in Deed and in Truth for they that fear him will do no Evil So the way of a Right Understanding that leads quite contrary to Sin and Evil So its strong Delusion indeed to expect a Right Understanding in an Evil Way and Presumption indeed it is to hope for Good out of Evil. Oh be Awakened to Righteousness in which there 's no sin and then will the Eye of the Understanding be opened to see the Man of sin who hath exalted himself above that of God in Man under Confessions and Professions of the Name of God and Christ whilst that signified by the Name which is Power manifested in Flesh for the revealing the Man of sin and destroying his works that hath been denyed by the Exaltation of the Man of sin in man by whom Mankind hath been exalted above the Pure Principle of God in man even above the Light of that Blessed and Unerring Spirit of Christ by which that which is reproveable is made manifest But through Unbelief of God's Love therein Mankind in a great part being held under strong Delusions of Satan their minds being exercised in a Brutish Understanding some have called that Blessed Principle of God in man a Devilish Light and others a Bewildering Light or a Natural Light so that all that is of God in man that hath been denyed whose Work do you think this is But if it were so as the Wicked One in the wicked hath concluded may it not be said now as it was in the dayes of old after God had created Mankind upon the Earth and they had corrupted their Wayes which displeased God who in his Displeasure said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive c. Then was not Destruction nigh but in that there was a time in which God's Holy Spirit did strive with flesh it plainly appears the good will of God was therein to have had it otherwise but Mankind resisting his Way of bringing it to pass the Way of Salvation that was removed and a Way of Destruction let in so the Way of Salvation then that was by the moving and working of God's Good Spirit the which had place in Noah who was a perfect man in his day who being moved in a True Fear of God had a Right Understanding in which he was a Preacher according to the Will of God So that Blessed Spirit of God by which Noah had regard and was acted by though it was rejected by Mankind in their corrupt Wayes yet it was not Devilish nor Natural as Mankind in their Brutish Understanding in great measure have concluded but the least measure of that pure Principle of God in Mankind of his Blessed Spirit is Unerring the which in measure in all Ages in God's Time and Season did strive in Mankind and for the good of Mankind that through it they might
and let that which is wrong be rejected and that which is right received and in that which is Right will be â—â—â—n what Fast is Pleasing and Acceptable in God's sight and that Prayer which will be Effectual and Prevalent for the good of the Soul in a Right Understanding will be seen So now begin a Fast come pitty the Oppressed let the Prisoner go free have Compassion on the Poor break off Imquities by a True Repentance in turning from Evil the Cause of Anguish and Trouble upon the Soul that the Soul may be set at Liberty to praise the Lord and so let hard hearts be melted and broken down and the seat of Unbelief by reason of which the Love of God in the Light of his Son 〈◊〉 rejected and by that means pâ—â—â— souls are kept in Bondage conâ—â—â—â—â—â—o the Will of God let that seat 〈◊〉 Unbelief be thrown down for God 〈◊〉 greatly displeased at the Presumption of Mankind who have exalted themselves in their own wills where Self exerciseth Will-worship in a feigned Humility whereby the Cross is counted Foolishness So Christ's Exhortation To take up the Cross daily and deny Self God's Love therein that is slighted the Cross that being without Fasting that being without Prayers that being without all being done without a Right Understanding for want of which Ptetended Fasting is vain Prayer is vain and the Conversation of Mankind is vain and unprofitable where the will of man is set in Opposition against the Will of God in his Heavenly Guift even the Light of his Unerring Spirit by which the World is reproved of Evil and this is and will be the World's Condemnation their sleighting the many Visitations of God's Love in that he doth manifest unto them what is reprovable in his sight but they being unmindful of God's Love therein by which means their Souls are in great Bondage under Sin and Corruption subjected there under a vain Hope by the Subtilty of the Serpent That though they live unseparated from Sin yet they shall obtain Justification through Christ and see a good End or good brought forth through Sin be never finished this kind of Perswasion is through strong Delusions of Satan whose workings are in a deep Mystery of Iniquity in pretended Godliness but his End therein is to make void that Blessed coming of Lord and Saviour to finish Sin and to put an End to Unrighteousness and thereby to make way for the bringing in Everlasting Righteousness that souls in that Blessed Principle of God may rest in Peace Now where this is not known be Awakened I beseech you unto Righteousness which is God's and no otherwayes man's but as he becomes stript of his own Eyes and so comes before the Lord with a Broken and Contrite Spirit and Heart humbled at his sight who seacheth it by his Light and shews to man in the Cool of the Day what beastly Imaginations are lodging therein to the end that man might lye down at the Feet of his Appearance in a True Fast in abstaining from Evil and Praying in the Spirit that by the Exercise of God's Love in his striving therewith Evil may be overcome and so the soul set at liberty from Evil the cause of Trouble and Anguish which is upon every soul that 's in Evil. So let every one that names the Name of the Lord depart from Evil. Come Curser and Swearer be perswaded to be awakened and see what a sad Condition thy soul is in but if thou wilt not but hardenest thy heart what will the taking the Name of the Lord into thy Mouth avail thee Or Unclean Person who art defiled and endeavouring to defile others remember That none in Vnclaanness can enter into Heaven so except thou leavest thy Evil therein thy Expectations of God's Kingdom will fail thee Come Idolaters who are making Gods of Gold and Silver and Wood and Stone and so are bowing down to the works of your own hands that is a great Abomination and Evil greatly to be lamented who are so far blinded from the Appearance of the Light of God's Spirit in your own Hearts which being taken heed unto and obeyed brings to the Knowledge of God but that Love of God being rejected what strangers are you to God and the Saints of Life and so are become Beastly and Bruitish in your Understandings your Bands of Corruption through sin and iniquity being made strong and so under strong delusions are bowing to Pictures to put you in mind of God and the Saints though they cannot hear nor see nor smell what savour think you to get out of them Stocks and Stones Be Awakened I beseech you to Consideration and know that it 's some measure of that Grace and Truth which Jesus of Nazareth was filled with by Vertue of that all the Saints savour to God and one unto another which Grace hath appeared unto all but the Saints or Believers were and are taught by it so that which convinces of Evil is to them that believe in it and obey it an Instructer in the way of Life So leave your Folly in Bowing and Cringing to the East and to you know not what and answer the Love of God in his Principle of Light in you which makes manifest that which is Evil and then will the Eye of your Understaning be opened to the beholding of him who fills Heaven and Earth with his Presence so that no Darkness can cover man from him who is God of the North South East and West who will spoil your glorying who are boasting your selves of the Antiquity of your Religion who first went from the Cross which is the Power of God and so got up in a form of words and then set the Cross upon the House of Stone c. Alas your Religion is seen through and all who hang upon your Skirts they must have a share of the shame which is coming upon that Adulterated whorish Spirit which hath led the minds of the people out from a sense of the Royal Law of God within man so that the stream of God's Love therein to Mankind that hath been stopt and in the Night of Apostacy the stream of Malice and Envy and Hatred that hath run in your Streets where the Innocent Bloodshed lyes at your doors So it 's time you were awakened to a true Repentance that you may come to the knowledge of Salvation through the Remission of your sins for it 's the saving of your souls I seek and not the destruction of your bodies so Truth is my weapon which I desire may reach to that of God which is Truth in you that so the pure Language which is Truth may be restored in all and the Royal Law of Love therein may shew it self which gives an Understanding To love God above all and our Neighbours as our selves and to do to all men as we would they should do unto us Come all you who conceive mischief on your Beds in your hearts and cannot rest
it may come in his sight who sees all things I am cleared that herein I wish the good of all Stephen Smith The 10th of the 8th Month 1670 SOME REASONS AGAINST Paying Tythes AND Upholding that Ministry that doth Receive the same Written in Love to the Truth and for the sake thereof and in Love to my Neighbours Stephen Smith I. CHrist Jesus he is Lord of Heaven and Earth and hath power over all flesh by whom the World was made who is Heir of all things and hath right of government in the Hearts and Consciences of all people and over all the Kingdoms of men the right of ordaining and appointing Ministers being in him and also in giving forth his Righteous Law and Commands in their Hearts where he ought to reign where his Ministers so ordained of him are to wait with their Minds staid in his Light to receive of him freely a supply of wisdom and power and to communicate from the same freely and to be contented with what provision the Lord is pleased to make for them and by him there being a change of the Priesthood under that Covenant given unto Moses and the people of Israel there is made of necessity a change also of the Law and forasmuch as the Priests in this Age who are not ordained of Christ do uphold that which the Lord hath changed therefore we do deny them and that which they claim for their Maintenance II. These Priests being not ordained of Christ nor appointed to that Office by him they therefore do usurp that Authority the which doth of Right belong to Christ Jesus the which are presumptious sins and therefore we do deny them III. These Priests having denyed the Revelation of Christ's Spirit now adayes and set up the Letter and Law without above the Spirit and Law within by which its plain and evident that they are Strangers to the great Love of God in his New Covenant and being void of the knowledge of the gift of God to the World they have nothing but Imaginations and Inventions of their own Brain-study and out of others Works and Labours therefore we do deny them IV. They not being ordained of Christ they bring forth no pleasant Fruit as is evident but being ordained of man being man-made Ministers they are men-pleasers so no Servants of Christ Jesus but of their own Bellies and for the sake thereof they are abominable greedy of filthy Lucre and therefore we do deny them V. They being out of the way of the Lord and strangers thereunto therefore they can be no guides therein having set up Imaginations and Devices in their own Hearts they follow them in defrauding people therefore we deny them VI. Forasmuch as Christ hath said John 10. All that ever came before me are Thieves and Robbers or as it may be rendred All that go before him Now mind before Abraham was he was and before the Prophets were he was so the true Prophets they did not go before him they waited for the Signification of Christ's Spirit which was in them the which was their Foundation and this was the Apostles Foundation and the Believers in the Primitive time were built upon the same but the Thieves and Robbers were the false Prophets and Priests that came before him who steal the true Prophets words and use them in their Divination for Money and Rewards and Preaching for Hire the which were wicked practices testified against and cryed out against by the true Prophets among which wicked practices we finding the man-made Ministers in this Age and Generation who go before Christ and being of that number Christ Jesus spoke against therefore we deny them VII All take notice that the Testimony against Priests that preach for Hire is no new thing of twenty or thirty years standing as some do vainly imagine those abominable practices were testified against by the true Prophets read Micah 3. Isaiah 66. Jer. 5. Ezek. 13. Hosea 6. and read Christ's Testimony against Hirelings John 10. and mind all the holy men of God were and are of the same mind And for Priests and People now adayes to pretend to Cospel-order and Gospel-dayes and to live in the same and if not worse practices then the false Prophets Priests Teachers and People who were before the more powerful manifestation of Christ to flesh the everlasting Gospel who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe this is a very great shame even to the name of Christianity and the false Teachers the Priests being the Leaders into these Abominations therefore we do deny them VIII Paul an Apostle of Jesus he did exhort the then Believers to follow him as he was a follower of Christ who ever was and is a blessed Leader out of Transgression out of sin and therefore out of Strife and Contention he taught and teaches to love enemies for this Cause was and is the love of God in his Son manifest in flesh even to condemn sin in the flesh and to destroy the Devil's works of Malice Envy Lust Pride Excess Covetousness Lying Guile Hypocrisie Deceit Fraud Vain Worships Vain Services Persecution and all other Abominations that may be mentioned the true and faithful witness even the Light of his holy Spirit in mankind never did nor will assent unto to any thing that is evil And forasmuch as the Priests are led by another Spirit and acted by another Spirit as by their Fruits and Practices they are manifested even to be led by the spirit of Cain he being the first Persecutor about Religion and the Priests being in the same steps of Persecution they may say if they speak truly Beloved be you followers of us as we are followers of our fore-Fathers Cain the false Prophets and Teachers in Ages past they bringing forth the same Fruits therefore of necessity they must spring from the same corrupt ground and root and therefore let all the wise in heart judge whether we have not good cause to deny them IX It hath been so from the beginning that he that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now and when we turned our backs upon ungodliness and waited in the grace of God that we might live godly and righteously in this present evil World we did believe we might suffer by unreasonable reasonable ungodly men who live exalted above the Grace of God of which number the Priests are chief and therefore we deny them X. And whereas Christ Jesus who is Lord of the Sabbath did above sixteen hundred years ago set up the everlasting Worship in the Spirit and Truth and directed all to take that for their Leader into all Truth and the Truth and blessed effects whereof being witnessed to the praise of God this day as it was in the Primitive time And whereas the man-made Ministers of this Age and Generation who are not ordained nor sent of Christ Jesus do teach for Doctrine the Commands of men
to lead into Christianity wherein the Author of the Book hath sufficiently manifested his folly in undertaking to detect that for Error which is a fundamental Truth Indeed he hath made a bold attempt in his dark comprehension in going about to limit the leading of the Light of Christ Jesus which shews plainly that he is not acquainted with the way thereof and in adventuring to speak and to affirm things so confidently that he hath no knowledge of this bespeaks him to be a rash inconsiderate man But least we should know him like a Coward he hath concealed his Name And in our reasonable and faithful confidence in Christ the Way Truth and Life we cannot give such dark ignorant works better entertainment then they deserve and by giving of them their due entertainment according to Truth we have cause to believe the endeavors of such dark immaginary Spirits will grow weaker and weaker and the turning of things upside down as the Author of that Book and his Generation hath done will prove a miserable hard travel and labour that will end in great sorrow and trouble But to come to the business in as brief manner as may be that I may not be tedious to the unprejudiced Reader This short answer is recommended shewing the drift of that dark Spirit by answering only some particulars Such manner of work as this having been often answered by many worthy Servants of the Lord the which are faithful witnesses against all such dark works By the way let it be remembred 1. That we truly own the holy Scriptures and all true and effectual outward Teaching in their place as proceeding from the holy Spirit 2. That by the assistance of the same Spirit only the Scriptures c. are truly to be understood and be made profitable 3. This Spirit works immediatly in the understanding where ever outward means becomes effectul 4. Divine Light and Inspiration being all sufficient to teach immediatly it is not to be limited to outward means First to prove the sufficiency of the Light of Christ Jesus to lead into true Christianity either without outward teaching or by it The Lord God of Heaven and Earth be his glorious and powerful outgoings in the Light being not to be limited take two or three instances out of the Prophets concerning this blessed leader the Light of Christ within Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart and said David rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness The which many thousands do this day by the springing up of this ever blessed Light within even where outward Teaching is not and by the effectual working in its powerful operation in springing up out of darkness many who had the name of that they were not were both convinced and converted and led into true Christianity And Isaiah prophesying the coming of Christs kingdom saith Isa 2.5 O house of Jacob come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord and in the 55 chap. 4 v. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people And of this Covenant this light promised to inlighten the Gentiles John the greatest Prophet that was born of a woman God sent to be a witness that all through him might believe and this Testimony of the true light that lighteneth every man that comes into the World he had from God who sent him and not man's Teaching And Paul saith Gal. 1.12 speaking of the Gospel For I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ So here men were made Christians by Christ the Light of the World without outward Teaching and this overthrows the affirmation of the Author of that Book who saith That men do not become Christians by following the Light within without outward Teaching But the Author may know that these men true Christians and men But I do affirm that there was never a true Christian made by mens Teaching without the leading and guiding of the Light of Christs Spirit within and that is by the leading of Christ within that people are made true Christians and the gainsaying of the Truth is the cause there are so many false Christians now adays by reason of such natural men as the Author of that Book manifests himself to be being ignorant of the Light not knowing the way thereof neither doth he know the fundamental principle of the people called Quakers the which is a manifest token of the gross darkness that he is under in that he presumes to call that error which he is a stranger to But neither he nor any else hath yet proved our opposing the leading and guiding of the Light of Christ within to its leadings and guidings in Teaching without But we do oppose its blessed Leading within and Teaching without to such dark unchristian-like Spirits that doth not know the way thereof who in such like dark works in a high degree of pride and arrogancy are going about to limit and set bounds to the works of the Lord God Almighty So that which he calls a fundamental Error is a fundamental Truth that it is possible with God this day and time as well as in days past to lead by the Son of his love into true Christianity with or without outward Teaching of which Truth the Lord God hath raised abundance of living witnesses this day and by his arm and power he is raising up more dayly who are built upon the same foundation that the Prophets Apostles and the Primitive Christians were built upon against which work and foundation the gates of Hell cannot prevail This Covenant this Light this Witness this blessed Leader Gods love Gods gift to the people all mind that it did not only inspire immediatly the Apostles but also the people by which Inspiration people come to understand when they have done evil even when none without can accuse them by this love wicked people are made sensible of their wickedness though indeed as it is written the Candle of the wicked is often put out yet many times they are overcome with the Light and Love of God therein that thereby they forsake their evil and turn from their wickedness and by yielding their members servants unto this righteous appearance of the grace of God and by obeying the infallible teaching thereof many have been converted into the true Christians faith and by the Truth sanctified and then justified through their obedience to the Heavenly gift of God are made true and living Christians abiding the Baptism of Christ who Baptizeth with Fire and the Holy Ghost and therein are confirmed and settled under the shadow of his wing whose fruit is very precious and pleasant And it is by this Light that the voice of the true Shepherd comes to be known from the false Shepherd thus by grubbing up the root of the tree the branches must needs
by you there are these sayings In page 252 thus His pure Spirit is put into the inward parts to be the rule and guide of life in all things And again Only by the teaching of the eternal Spirit is the living God known in the Creature Again page 408. It is promised saith he that the Spirit shall lead into all Truth and such do own the Scriptures but not as their Teacher for the anointing dwells in them and they need no man to teach them but as that anointing teacheth all things for all the Children of God are taught of God and need not any other Teacher nor need to say one to another know the Lord and all such own the Scriptures to be the Testimony of that which they believe and have received And again in page 834. The only perfect rule of Conscience in the exercise to God is the Spirit of Christ and not any other thing And because something besides the Spirit of God exercises the Conscience therefore it is that there are so many wayes and Sects of Religion and kinds of Worship in Christendom and among Christians while the Spirit of Christ only is not the rule of Judgment and exercise of Conscience to God and man Again page 861. The judgment in that matter Heresie must be just equal holy and only by the Spirit of Christ which is infallible and gives infallibility of Judgement and discerning into all cases and things Mr. Pen spends the fourth Chapter of his late Book Intituled Reason against Railing to prove that the Light within and not the Scriptures is the rule of Faith and practice In page 47. he saith We dare boldly affirm in the name of the Lord that the great reason of our belief concerning them the Scriptures is not any outward thing but inward Testimony recorded and Heavenly Amen that we have received from the holy Light within us to the Truth and faithfulness of those sayings Again p. 48. Wherefore the Scriptures are so far from being the great rule of faith and practice that the Light of Christ within us is both our warrant and rule for faith and obedience to them Again page 114. Let it be remembred saith he that Christ promised to send the spirit of Truth to lead into all Truth as much as to say none are led into the Truth nor in the Truth but by the holy Spirit of Truth or that their practice is a lye or they are led into a lye who are not led by the Spirit of Truth that alone leads into all the ways of Truth where by Truth is not meant the meer Letter of the Scripture which notwithstanding is true But the living powerful Truth Christ the Way the Truth and the Life of which the Scripture is but a record or declaration And page 115. Many may run into the practice of several outward things mentioned in the Scriptures to have been the practice of Saints in former Ages and yet not be led into the Truth for all that is but Will-worship imitation and unwarrantable Now let all the wise in heart who do retain so much of sense of the Spirit of Truths leading and operation thereof in them as that thereby they are in some degree in a capacity to judge of spiritual matters and that have a desire that God may not take away his holy Spirit from them I say let all such in the coole of the day when all self Interest is laid aside judge whether these men Edward Burroughs and William Pen and all them who are of the same Faith and Judgment with them do deserve such strange contradicton as the Author of that Book hath raised and made against them To be sure their method as he calls it is clearly agreeing with Christ and his Apostles Christ Jesus the Light of the World the Way Truth and Life did direct his followers to take heed to the Spirit of Truth that reproveth the World of sin c. and he counselled them to take that for their guide into all Truth And ought not all Christians to be followers of Christ their Lord and Master and how is it possible that any should follow Christ except they be led by the Spirit of Truth in themselves And he that steals away their minds from that guide he is a Thief and as Christ said The Thief comes to steal to Murder and to destroy but I am come that you may have Life and that you may have it more abundantly And the Apostle Paul is very open and plain in his Testimony concerning this matter in these words The things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God by this the deep things of God are searched out And are there not many deep things of God contained in Scriptures The which is not possible to be understood and searcht out by any other Spirit but only and alone by the Spirit of Truth therefore this must needs be a sufficient teacher of mankind without the Scripture as it was to Abel Enoch and to Abraham and the holy men of God long before there was any of the old or new Testament written And it was the great love of God in the moving of his holy Spirit in those faithful Servants by whom those weighty things as are recorded in the Scriptures of Truth were given forth And it is the great love of God in the moving of his holy Spirit in its leadings and teaching of his people through which the many Types Figures Prophesies and many hard sayings comes to be understood and a clear distinguishing comes to be known between the Jew outward and the Jew inward between the Law outward and the Law of the Spirit of Truth inward and between the shadow of good things and the good things themselves and also between the Spirit and the Letter the Power and the Form c. And for want of fearing God and taking heed to the motions of his blessed Spirit of Truth that is the cause there are so many heaps of Opinions about the Scripture therefore it is that all learned men in the Spirit of Truth do so highly esteem the teachings thereof as absolutely necessary to life and peace And all whose minds are converted by the Spirit of Truth and are spiritually exercised therein and feeling the life and peace that flows from it unto their Souls this confirms them settles them and makes them unmoveable and unchangeable in their Faith in the power of the Lord who hath been thus merciful in opening this fountain of life and love where a washing and cleansing comes to be witnessed and entrance ministered into the kingdom of God and of this day that is breaking forth and shining clearer and clearer Edward Burroughs that man of God was a faithful Instrument in the hand of the Lord and his works do demonstrate the same to thrash and cut down hypocrisie and gainsayers of the Truth and faithfulness of God unto mankind And in the succession of this blessed work and service in
outward written Law since they must be judged without any such Law for transgressing of what Law must they be judged it cannot be denyed but that God hath given them a Law to walk by and that it is for the transgression thereof that they come under condemnation and must be judged Before this question be answered in Truth that Gospel must be known that is preached in every creature which is under Heaven Page 37. The Author saith we that have the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles brought down to us in the Scriptures may according to Scripture Dialect be said to have Christ and his Apostles as truly as it was said of the Jews in our Saviours days on Earth that they had Moses and the Prophets for it was by having in the Scriptures what they said and did that they were said to have them and by hearing and believing the Scriptures of the New Testament we may as well be said to hear and believe Christ and his Apostles c. Answer That ever such a stranger to Christianity should be so impudent as to say I will shew you the method and way of God that doth not know himself one step therein as appears by his dark arguing The Jews had the writing of Moses and the Prophets and no question but they did believe them to be so but what did they profit by them when out of that Faith and Spirit through which they are profitable they did testifie of Christ and were a witness to the righteousness of God as saith the Apostle when by them they judged Christ ought to die Christ did send the hard-hearted Jews who went about to kill him to Moses and the Prophets saying Joh. 5.39 40. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye may have life And mind what the Apostle saith Rom. 3.12 But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets which righteousness the said Jews did not know though they had heard what Moses and the Prophets said of it But mind the cause of their not hearing so as to understand Neh. 9.20 Thougavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them but the cause of their blindness was even their rebellion against Gods Spirit And Stephen said to the Jews Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye So it 's very clear though the Jews had Moses and the Prophets writings yet by not taking heed to the Instruction of Gods Spirit in them they were without the knowledge of them and thus it is with the generality of those called Christians they have some of the writhings which gives a relation of Gods great love to the World in his heavenly and powerful gift of his holy Spirit manifest in the flesh to bruise the Serpents head and to destroy the Devils works But by disesteeming the blessed appearance of the Light of the Spirit of Christ in man as the Author of that Book doth in calling it a natural Light being thus in unblief their foolish hearts are darkned So though they have the New Testament as it is called by many that do not know the Law and the Testimony though they have some part of what was writ concerning Christ the Way Truth and Life of Christianity Yet by their quenching and grieving the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit in them they are as clearly void of the knowledge of the end and tendency of Gods great love in and by the motion of his holy Spirit that gave forth those writings with the several blessed Testimonies therein even as the hard-hearted Jews were of the Law and the Prophets when they were in the gainsaying and rebellion against Gods holy Spirit But such kind of smooth teaching as the Author of that Book who is unlearned in the blessed Teaching of the Spirit of Truth is very pleasant to unlearned people in the things of God but the Scripture is fulfilled in many of them Acts 13.41 Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you So it 's very clear and that in a true sense that people may have the writings and not have Christ nor his Apostles neither be in their Doctrine but in lieu thereof they may have the Spirit of Antichrist and Doctrine of Antichrist and the ravening Woolves nature though they may have the Sheeps clothing First The Scriptures we must needs highly own in that they refer us to and exalt Christ and his immediate teaching of his Divine Light and Spirit within as being subservient thereto where they are received therein But since a great part of the work of the Author of that Book is to maintain the Scriptures being a rule of Faith and Practice and to gainsay the sufficiency of the Spirits teaching without the Scriptures or its immediate teaching now adays without some outward teaching I do ask whether the Authority be in the Spirit that spoke the words or in the words when spoken or written if none can deny but the Authority both was and is in the Spirit And Isaiah by the same Authority of Gods blessed Spirit he can work a saving change in people either with or without what is written therefore it is a high degree of presumption in going about to limit the blessed holy Spirit of God as the Author of that Book doth But what Authority or effect had the true Prophets words in the false Prophets mouths this sad effect they stole away the hearts of people from the living fountain and put them upon a vain labour in making broken Cisterns that could hold no water And what Authority profit or advantage have the true Ministers and Apostles of Christs words now in the false Teachers mouths with their meaning upon them Even this sad and lamentable effect they thereby steal away the hearts of people from the sense of the immediate motion of Gods holy Spirit in them and to gainsay its powerful teachings and the universal love of God in the moving of his universal holy Spirit through all the World in its convincing and reproving the World of sin c. And then to set them upon vain and unprofitable service First having turned their hearts and minds out of the way that the holy Spirit of Truth leads in and then set them upon a vain labour and travail in seeking but never finding till at length they conclude with the Devils Doctrine that there is no way out of a body of sin and death on this side the grave And such flattering and deceitful Teachers are in a high esteem and account among a flattering deceitful people So all may mind that we do not oppose the in ward Teaching of the Spirit of Truth
have been Preserved out of Corrupt Wayes and Works which Corrupt Wayes and Works was and is the Cause of all Heavy and Grievous Judgments in Ages past and to come upon Mankind So its plain and evident how Gracious Merciful and Long-suffering God hath been throughout all Ages through some measure of the shining of the Light of his Unerring Spirit notwithstanding the Great and Grievous Provocations of Mankind in their Corrupt Wayes by which their Understandings were and are darkened that they could not come to a clear Discerning what manner of Love of God that was unto them as it is written How often is the Candle of the Wicked put out Job 21. So its plain that was and is the Love of God in the Light of his Unerring Spirit by which the Wicked were shewn their Wickedness in all Ages and the putting that Love from them was and is the Cause that the Wicked perish in their Wickedness through the Hardness of their Hearts and Unbelief of the Love of God in his Blessed Principle of Light which shines sometimes even unto the Wicked though they cry Depart I desire not the Knowledge of thy Wayes And though this Wickedness of the Wicked under many fair pretences of Confessions and Professions of God have labour'd to put away the way of the Lord and through many Devices hath the Wicked One in his Agents in their Wickedness set up many Corrupt Wayes yet the Way of the Lord remains Pure forever and can never be Corrupted but it remains a True Witness against all Evil and Corrupt Wayes whatsoever And this Perfect Way of God was the Way of the Upright in Heart in all Ages by which they were led out of Evil though under more Servitude before the fulness of time when it pleased God so to cause his Light to shine forth in Flesh in an absolute perfect Dominion over all the Lusts of the Flesh where Satan could get no Enterance though Forty Dayes Christ Jesus was Tempted by him so herein was the Son who is the Heir of all manifested So all the true Prophets in all Ages they had their Testimony from a measure of the Light of that Spirit and there their Testimony ended who were Faithful and the Law written in Tables of Stone that was by the Light of that Blessed Spirit by which all might see and learn to come to Christ in whom the Law is fulfilled So here is the Prophet whom Moses spoke of that God would raise up whom all is to hear and every Soul that will not hear that Prophet Destruction attend it So let none say in their Hearts Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring this Prophet Christ from above or Who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead For the Word is nigh even in the Heart and Mouth which Word of Faith the Ministers which were True did Preach and them which are True do Preach and herein is the Labour of them whose Abiding is in the Word that others may be turned to the Word in the Heart and Mouth that by it they may be reconciled unto God And this Blessed Word was in the beginning before words were All things being made by him in whom is Life and the Life was and is the Light of Men who believe therein And though the World did not nor doth not know the Love of God herein yet he was and is in the World and though his Appearance was and is rejected by most yet some did and do receive him who felt and feel his Power to overcome the Lusts of the Flesh which is Sin and Evil which Unspeakable Love of God shed abroad in the Hearts of the Primitive Christians by this Free Gift of his Holy Spirit which made them who received the same who were truly sensible of God's Love therein undergo great and grievous things some things of which may be read in the Scriptures of Truth So their Fasting and Prayers being performed by the Movings and Guidings of that Blessed Principle of God how were such preserved by the Power of God in the Peace of God wherein their Souls rested in God So the Blessed Name of the Lord was unto them a strong Tower which was the same to the Righteous in all Ages but never was a more clearer Discerning thereof then in this Age there being a Cloud of Witnesses of the Everlasting Love of the Everlasting God herein and so they are Blessed who live up to that Blessed Principle of God in them and continue Faithful to the End in the Testimony thereof O the Remembrance of them will be had in great Esteem in Ages and Generations to come So now that which is Chiefest of all and of greatest Value let that be first minded that all things may be done according to the Will of God in order to which a Right Understanding is necessary the which is better then Gold and Silver for the Wicked may possess Gold and Silver and things visible to their Hurt where a Right Understanding is wanting for if Knowledge and Understanding be wanting people perish Therefore be advised to wait in the Way of Understanding the Fear of the Lord God who made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all things else according to his good Pleasure here is the beginning of Knowledge and to attain to a Right Understanding for in the Fear of the Lord there 's no Evil in that Way So away with Invention and Imaginations of Fearing God whilst Conclusions are made That Sin can't be parted with all Wayes made up by men in Sin are from a Corrupt Understanding So come to the Fear of God and he will teach us his Wayes and all that come there come out of Evil for there 's no Evil in God's Wayes so that they that are in God's Way are out of Evil by which it plainly appears that all Wayes where Conclusions are made That Sin is in them or that they can't live out of Sin or that they know not a Way out of Sin all such where such Conclusions are made are out of a Right Understanding and their Wayes are Destructive and their Works in them Wayes are Destructive so that all who endeavour to save their Lives there do want a Right Understanding for Transgression which is Sin is the Cause of Death so all that are raised from Death are raised from Sin the Cause of it so then all that keep their Lives there shall lose Life and all that lose their lives there shall find Life So Blessed are they who serve the Living God they do as they should do so that 's no Evil but Good so let none think in their Perverse Wayes that they shall be fed with Knowledge and Understanding there No no they will Starve and Perish there for want of Understanding so let all deal clearly with themselves in coolness and stillness in the silence of fleshly wisdom in a true Examination concerning the wayes they live in