them from a civil Commerce and makes them uncapable of a civil Society and a Correspondency amongst Mankind And that spirit that hath led them to make Religion VVorships and VVayes and to fall out when they have done that Spirit hath destroyed the civil Society the civil Commerce amongst Mankind almost over all the whole VVorld that when they come into civil things a civil Commerce that tends to a civil Society in Natural things they fall out about the several natural VVorships Religions and VVayes which they have made by which a peevish and perverse spirit arises in a blind Zeal for the VVorks of their own Hands so as that they forget their Natural Affections and fall upon destroying one another about Religions and so break all civil Society and Commerce amongst men which if there were but Natural Affections it would carry them above that peevish and perverse spirit that draws them after their own Handy-works whereas I say if Natural Affections were but set over that it would keep and preserve the Bond of a civil Commerce and civil Society with Mankind over the whole Universe O! How short is all Mankind both Christians Jews Turks and all the rest of that Royal Law which is To do to all Men as they would have them do unto them If this Royal Law were duely kept the true weight would be set up amongst all Mankind in the whole world and the true Measure to measure every man and to weigh every man and to weigh himself and to measure himself and to measure others and to do nothing to any Man or Woman but as they would have them do to them This would keep up a Society in the whole World that so Men might Trade Commerce and hold Correspondence one with another amongst all the Nations of men And this is the Royal Law in which all Mankind have their Liberty For all to do to others as they would have others do unto them And here is Religion which is above all religions that they have made with their hands and this will keep down that perverse spirit in all Mankind in the whole world if they keep and obey the Royal Law which is To do to all Men as they would have them do to them then all Mankind would have their Liberty in this and in this no man will over-reach couzen defraud nor oppress in any Bargain and Merchandize whatsoever for if he would not that they should do so to him then surely he will not do so to them So here then is Justice set up and the Line of Righteousness and the Plummet and every Nation Country and Island might serve one another in this Royal and Just Law doing unto them as they would have others do to them in all things that are civil that one Neighbour-country hath not or another Country is destitute of to serve one another with those things that are civil and natural and outward For the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof who gives the increase And all Nations of men are to use and order and dispose of these earthly things and the Fulness of the Earth where the Lord hath given the Increase with his Royal Law one Nation to another one Country to another which Royal Law is to do to another as they would have them do to them and so one Country to another one Nation to another Nation to be exercised by this Royal Law of God which is above all other Laws of mens making which is I say To do to others as they would have others do unto them And in this Equity Truth Justice and Honesty is set up by this Royal Law of God amongst all the Countries Tongues and People and Nations of men in the whole World and preserving civil Society and right Manners for if no man would have any corrupt Communication spoken unto him then he must give none to any other or if a man would not have another to oppress or exact on him he not doing so to any other thereby the Royal Law in so doing is kept or if he would not have any man to abuse kill or wound him he not doing so to another here the Royal Law is kept And thus one Neighbour-town serves another with such things that that Town has not and the other serves them likewise with such things that they want and one Country serves another with the things that another hath not and that serves the other again with the things that they have not So one Nation serves another with the things that they have not and they serve them again with the things that they have not and so all Nations to serve one another with the things that the Lord hath given them For the Earth in the first place is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and he gives the increase and hath distributed these things unto the Nations of Men whom he hath made of one Blood and Mould to dwell upon the Face of the Earth So that these Towns Countries and Nations by this Royal Law of Liberty by and with which Law they have Liberty to serve one another in Equity Truth and Justice they may have and preserve a true Commerce a true Correspondency a true Society in all Towns Countries and Nations in the whole Universe of Mankind one with another whereby and in which they will honour the Lord and be preserved in all Towns Countries and Nations I say as men by this Royal Law and will have their Liberty in and by this Royal Law Object But if you object and say That all men in all Towns Countries and Nations have nothing of God in them to answer this Royal Law of God and to keep it and consequently to preserve this Society amongst all Countries Towns and Nations Answ They have something of God in them to answer that Royal Law of God For God who gave forth that Royal Law he is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh by which Spirit they may answer his Law and God will judge the World in Righteousness according to the Secrets of every ones Heart by the heavenly Man Christ Jesus Rom. 2.16 1 Cor. 14.24 25. Whereby is signified that there is something that is secret of him in them God saith the Apostle shall judge in that day the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel which Gospel is the Power of God Now if God judgeth the world of Men according to the Gospel that is according to the invisible Power of God it denotes that there is something invisible of God in man else how can the invisible God judge the World in Righteousness according to his invisible Power which is the Gospel which this invisible Power in man doth answer the Royal Law of God And as Christ saith Mat 13.19 c. The Word is sown upon all Grounds and his Word is the Seed of God which is Divine and Invisible to wit The Stony High-way Thorny and the Good Ground so
that no man is exempted but all are left without Excuse And as he saith speaking of the Tallents Mat. 25.15 c. That to every man is given a Measure according to his Ability yea to the very sloathful Servant that hid it So now if every man hath a Measure according to his Ability it is but just for him to give an Account thereof according to his Measure that answers the Lord who hath given him his Measure according to his Ability therein is his Judgment Just and God is Righteous in his Judgments who rewards every man according to his Works and his Words for which he must give account and according to his Doings Mat. 12.36 So then it may clearly be seen here that there is something of God in man to answer his Royal Laws to keep a Society in it And as the Apostle saith Rom. 1.19 20. concerning the Heathen Gentiles That that which might be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And further saith he For the invisible things from the Creation of the World are clearly seen c. that is to say His Eternal-Power and Godhead are seen forasmuch as they are understood by the works of the Creation of the World so that they are left without Excuse because when they knew God they glorified him not as God Now mark Here you see 't is plain that here was something of God in the Heathens by which they knew God which God hath manifested to them by which they might answer the Royal Law of God But when they went from this of God in them and glorified him not as God then they set up their own Worships and Wayes and lost the course of Nature and did things against Nature so here they forsook the Lord and his Wayes and Religion and then persecuted others that would not follow them and their Wayes and Worships and so break the Royal Society which is in the Royal Law going from that of God in them which should answer it and then you may see downwards in the same Chapter what they worshipped and what they followed and how they brought the Wrath of God upon them and how they held the Truth in Unrighteousness which was filled with all manner of evil which men though they knew that the Judgment of God was upon such as commit such things yet they did not regard God but were without natural Affections So here when they erred from that of God in them they lost Natural Affections Affections of Nature to them that were of the same Blood and Mould and also going from that of God in them they went from the Royal Law of God which should have kept them in Natural Affections and in a Royal Society by the Royal Law and so thereby Indignation and Wrath and Anguish came upon every soul of them that do Evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentiles signifying thereby that there is something in the Gentiles as well as in the Jews to which if they act contrary they go from the Royal Law and so bring the Judgments of God upon them who Rewards every one according to his Works For the Jews that had the Law the outward written Law and the Gentiles that had not the outward written Law do by Nature the things contained in the written Law which shows the deeds of the Law written in their hearts so according to this the Lord shall judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus according to the Gospel Now the Gentiles having the Law written in their Hearts and do the deeds of the Law the Jews having the outward written Law and not doing the things contained in the written Law the Gentiles were Judges over them that is The Gentiles were set over them Now here its plain that there was something in the Gentiles as also in the Jews to answer the Royal Law of God which should bring them to do if they would but obey it to all men as they would have them do unto them and to keep both the Natural Affections and Royal Society For now If they that are called Christians who have a written Gospel and are Transgressors of it as the Jews that had a written Law and were not the Keepers and the Doers of it whereby the Gentiles judged them that did not the things contained in the Law having the Law written in their hearts and were the Doers of it So likewise now in our Agâ—â— as is said before All Christians that have a written Gospel and do not the things contained in it these whom they call Heathens or Indians or Turks that do the things contained in the Gospel viz. The obeying of the Power and Spirit which led them to do unto all men as they would have them do unto them these are Judges of the Christians so called who say They have the Gospel and yet do it not and do to others those things that they would not have others do unto them these I say are Breakers of the Royal Law Christians in the first place are judged before the Heathen and as the Jews first and then the Gentiles so the Christians first and then the Heathen And so God is a Respecter of no mans Person who judges the World in Righteousness but is a Rewarder according to every ones Works who walk not according to his Royal Law of Liberty And so its clear that there is something of God in all Jews and Gentiles Christians and Heathens to bring them to answer that Royal Law and to follow it and not their own Imaginations through which they may come to natural Affections and do unto all men as thou wouldst have them do unto thee So God I say is no Respecter of Persons who judges the World in Righteousness For the Apostle saith If the Vncircumcision which by Nature keep the Law judge the Jews which being under the Letter of Circumcision and do transgress the Law So I say They that be under the Profession of the Letter of Christianity and do transgress the Letter of Christianity he that hath not the Letter as Christian hath and yet by Nature doth keep in the Law of Christianity judgeth the Christians and that that is set up in them And therefore as the Apostle saith He is not a Jew that is one outward neither is he a Christian that is one outward in Profession without Possession but he is a Jew that is one inward in the Spirit and not in the Letter and so he is a Christian that is one inward and not in the Letter a Letter Professor but one who is in the Heart and in the Spirit of Christ Jesus though the outward Letter Professor of Jew and Christian hath something of God in him which should lead him to obey that which he doth profess and to possess that which he doth profess for that hath the Praise of God and not of men And in Rom. 3.9 saith the Apostle Paul What better are the Jews then
Royal Law to do unto others as they would have others do unto them but none can fulfill this Royal Law of God that fulfills the Lust of the Flesh and walks according to that Will which makes them Children of Wrath by Nature so then all people must come to that which they have disobeyed and still do disobey then they will walk according to the Will of God and the Royal Law of God and not according to the Prince of the Power of the Air for all they that disobey and walk according to the Prince and Power of the Air have not affections to Nature but they walk according to that Prince and Power of the Air who destroyeth Nature in themselves and then the Nature of others without them and these have not affections to Nature Natural Affections in themselves nor to them without and are out of the Royal Law of God viz. to do unto others as they would have others do unto them now the Religions Worships and Wayes of such are no Religions Wayes nor Worships of God who do disobey the Spirit of God in their own selves and such do not come to this Noble Royal Law and Royal Society in it wherein all men might commune commerce and hold correspondency with all Man-kind and one with another We read in Neh. 9.20 how the Lord gave the Children of Israel his good Spirit to instruct them but in the 28th verse 't is recorded how that they were disobedient and rebelled against the Spirit of the Lord and cast the Law behind their backs and slew the Prophets of the Lord which testified against them c. Now mark after they had rebelled against the Spirit of God and disobeyed the Lord they cast the Law of God behind their backs and slew the Lord's Prophets that testified against them and came to turn them to God again Now but consider whether or no this hath not been your Work in Christendom nay you have been more dark then these Jews and worse for you that be the Teachers in Christendom say that every Man and Woman hath not the Spirit of God to rebel against and God hath not given to every Man and Woman his Spirit and therefore you preach up Rebellion who are found all in the Disobedience and Rebellion to the Spirit of God in your selves that he hath given to instruct you and likewise also you rebel against the Spirit of God that he hath given to others instruct them with so by that you not only cast away the Royal Law of God behind your backs your selves but are also a means to bring others to disobedience to do the same and this Royal Law being cast behind your backs both of Christian and of Jew you are out of the Royal Society and concord in which you might commerce together among your selves and not only so but with all Nations that obey the same Principle of God in them But all you Christians Jews Turks and Heathens that disobey the good Spirit which God hath given you to instruct you you do cast the Royal Law behind your Backs and then you follow all your Wayes Religions and Worships and then are peevish about them and for them persecute others with a disobedient spirit that will not conform to them and to you and destroy people as the Jews did that would not conform So in that as I said before you destroy God's Creatures which he hath created and the Works of his Hands and so in that is manifested that you have no natural Affections nor no Love to God nor his Royal Law being disobedient to the Spirit of God which would lead you to his Law To do unto all as c. In this you might keep a Correspondency viz. In this Royal Law one with another I say above all your Religions Wayes and Worships And if you all lived in this Royal Law both Jews Turks Heathens and Christians so called your Religions Wayes and Worships would all fall to the Ground For in this Royal Law all Men and Women would have Liberty in a common Society and common Commerce and in the Worship of God and might receive a Religion pure from above for Religions Wayes and Worships are below of mens making which are Works of their own hands about which they do persecute their Fellow-creatures and their Brethren And also Such as grieve the Spirit quench and vex the Spirit of God signifying that they have a Measure of it else how could they quench vex and grieve it so quenching grieving and vexing that which would lead them unto the Royal Law To do unto others as they c. And that spirit that quencheth and vexeth the Spirit of God in them will never lead them to the Royal Law of God but lead them to do such things as they would not that others should do unto them but they would judge it hard measure if others should do unto them as they do unto others And so all they let them be Christians Jews Turks or Heathens who quench vex and grieve the Spirit of God and set up Religions of their own and are peevish about them to force and draw others to them those have neither Affections to Nature nor Natural Affections but are in that spirit that destroys Nature and the Affections to it and such do to others as they would not have them do unto them and come not up to that Royal Law To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them And also you may read of some That turned the Grace of God unto Wantonness and walked despightfully against the Spirit of Grace and hating the Light as you may see John 3.19 20. Jude 4. and in other places Now their hating the Light signifieth that they had it for Christ saith They would not come to the Light lest their deeds should be reproved that is by the Light and therefore it was their Condemnation So all Religions Wayes and Worships whatever men make that hate the Light they are made in Darkness both they and those are condemned as in John 3. So every man that comes into the World being inlightened by Christ the Heavenly Man in whom was Life and this Life was the Light of Men so every man that cometh into the World being turned to this Light they are turned to Christ they are turned to this Royal Law To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them for there 's the Liberty Now this shews that every Man and Woman that comes into the World is inlightened with the divine Light of the Heavenly Man Christ Jesus which while they hate it they break the Society with their Fellow-creatures who are of God's Creation as also the civil Commerce and Correspondence one with another And none that hate the Light have Affections to God to Christ Affections to his Royal Law or Affections to a general Communion or Affections to Nature it self or his Creation for they that hate the Light are under the
of Truth whom Christ came to destroy VVe have likewise another Expression of the Apostle Paul to the business in hand in 1 Tim. 4.9 10. This is saith he a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation for therefore we both labour and suffer Reproach because we trust in the Living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe these things command and teach Mark now that whosoever doth teach the contrary he is a false Teacher and his Doctrine is false for this is a great word He was the Saviour of all men especially them that believe and they that taught this did suffer Reproach and were rebuk't by them that opposed this Doctrine as they that preach this Doctrine now are reproacht and suffer by the Opposers of it now and those that are the Opposers of it now are those that keep people from their Salvation yea from God and from Christ And such are they that are Makers of Sects and then destroy one another about them who have no Natural Affections and do not to others as they would have others do unto them And Christ Jesus saith He came to call sinners to Repentance that were in the old Adam that they might change from the old earthly Adam and turn to Christ the second Adam the Heavenly Man Now they that stopt their Ears and clos'd their Eyes then they were the greatest Professors upon the Earth and so they are now and the Highest Priests For by it is signified that there is something in them that they should see withal and hear withal and such as did so had no Affections to Nature nor to the Royal Law of God nor to Christ neither then nor now to do to others as they would have others do unto them And Christ Jesus saith Mark 13.37 What I say unto you I say unto all Watch Intimating as if there was something of God in them by which they must watch against something that was not of God in them but of the Devil the Tempter who is out of the Truth and tempts men that they should not walk in the Way of Truth so they that were tempted and obeyed him went from their watch and those stop their Ears and close their Eyes from the Spirit of God in them As also those whom Christ calls Ravening Wolves inwardly who come to be like a Thistle and Thorny-Tree that did deceive men when they went out to gather Figs or Grapes from them they could meet with nothing but Thorns and Thistles And as such then so now are the greatest Professors in the World but inwardly ravening Wolves who were ravened from the Life and the Wolves and Thistles and Bryars will hurt and destroy Nature And so it is the spirit of the Devil that makes them Wolves and it is the Spirit of God that makes them Lambs and therefore these Wolves Thistles and Bryars are such as have not the least Practice of the Royal Law of God among them in doing unto all as they would have all men do unto them But yet this denotes that there was something in these Wolves that they were ravened from that would have kept them and led them to the Royal Law of God namely as I said To do unto all as they would have all do unto them For they would not have Thorns and Thistles to prick and tear them like a Woolf in pieces and therefore if they will be obedient unto that which they are ravened from and come to it again it will lead them To do unto others c. Not to thistle prick and worry others for they would not be so done to themselves so that this brings to the Royal Society in the Royal Law of God where all Mankind might keep a Concord And saith the Lord in Exod. 23.4 5. If thou meetest with thine Enemies Ox or his Ass going astray thou shalt surely bring it back again to him If thou seest the Ass of him that hates thee lying under his Burden and shalt forbear to help him thou shalt surely help with him Mark the Law and Command of God this was an Enemies Ass and an Enemies Ox much more the Beast of a Friend and those Jews that were called the Children of God but how short are Christians of this very thing in that many of them will and do put the Cattel of them that are call'd Christians astray turn them out of way on purpose But here are three things First Here is that that will overcome the Enemy 2d Here is that that will preserve the Creation of God 3d. That here they should do to others as they would have others do unto them for the Law of God which was the same to the Jews is also the same unto the Gentiles that were among them so one Law was to those that were within and to those that were without for this Law of God which was and is called the Royal Law to wit to do to all men as they c. that is to do that which is Righteous Just Holy and Good unto all Men as they would have all Men do Righteously Justly Holily and do that onely which is good c. and now in so doing this will keep up a Just Holy Righteous and a good Society amongst Man-kinde and this was the Law that was added because of Transgression the Transgression of the Command of God by which Man lost the Image of God he lost Righteousness and Holiness and that Power that gave him Dominion Gal 3.19 therefore the Law was added upon man when he had lost Righteousness and the Image of God and the Power of God within him therefore the Just Holy Good and Righteous Law of the higher Power I say was added because of Transgression upon Man and Woman which Just Righteous Good and Holy Law answers the Good the Just the Righteous and the Holy Principle of God in every man that they have transgrest So now if they come to that again which they have transgrest and to obey the Good Just Righteous and Holy Law of Liberty they come to the Holy Society and Holy Communion and Concord and so this Just Good Holy and Righteous Law is over all Transgressors whether they be Christians Turks Jews or Heathens It answers I say the Good and Righteous Principle in them that they have transgrest now would they but minde that good Principle in them that brings them to the Good and Righteous Law it will bring them to do to all men as they would c. Now this Law commands to entertain Strangers for saith the Lord You were Strangers in Egypt and there you were entertained and therefore do unto others as you would be done to by them relieve the Fatherless for your Children may be Fatherless and would you not have them reliev'd relieve the Widdows for your Wives may be Widdows and would you not have them to be relieved in case of necessity So do unto all as you would have them do unto you
and enlightens every man I say that they might see the Salvation the Grace Truth that comes by Christ which brings their Salvation And such as have a Profession of the Letter Jew Christian and others that are not in the Spirit of God who gave them forth but in another dark spirit do not see the Spirit that is given to every one to profit withal and so they cannot bring people into that by which they might profit come to the Royal Law To do unto all as they would have all do unto them so to a Royal Society where they might all honour God and keep Communion among themselves Now every Man and Woman in the whole World must first be turn'd to the Spirit of God in themselves that has reproved them which they have grieved quencht and vext and must turn to the Light that they have hated turn to the Grace that appear'd to them which they have turned unto Wantonness and walkt despightfully against to this they must all turn to before they come to the Royal Law that brings them To do to all as they c. and so to keep the Loyal Law and holy and just Society in the Royal Holy and just Law So it is that because both Jews and Christians have had the Letter of the Scripture they have bin envious against others and call them Heathens and because they have the Letter therefore they thought None but they had the Spirit and that the Heathen had it not But you may see in the Scriptures before mentioned whom they call Heathen whether they have the Spirit of God or no read I say but the Scriptures before mentioned and convince your selves and let such stop their own mouthes and say with the Apostle That there is no difference between Jew and Gentile who hath the Letter and he that hath not so there is no difference between Jew and Christian that have the Letter and Gentile now that hath not the Letter who are without him to wit the Spirit of God that gave it forth for that makes the difference and is the Leader into all Truth and to the Royal Law both Jew Christian and Gentile who obey it and so to do unto all men as they c. and so in the holy just and righteous Royal Law to keep a just a righteous and a good Society that 's Royal and have the dominion over all other societies in the whole Vniverse out of this Law and these will come to nothing which are of mens making though they may hold them up for a time before the National Law but they will come to an end if they be not in the Royal Law of Liberty where in every man must do unto others as he would they should do to him Jam. 3. Where you may see how the nature of Beasts and of Birds and of Serpents and of things in the Sea are tamed by the nature of man but the Tongue of man can no man tame it is such an unruly Member full of deadly Porson therewith we bless God the Father and therewith curse we men who are made after the Similitude and Image of God Now consider all Christians and others who profess Scripture and all others who have not the Scripture call'd Heathens yea consider this I say all mankind upon the face of the Earth by whom things in the Sea and in the Earth are tamed and now seeing that your Tongues are untamed that unruly Member in your selves that is full of deadly Poyson with which you bless God the Father and with it you curse man who is made after the Image of God O do not you all in this bring a curse upon your selves who were made in the same Image and Similitude and can you curse another and not curse your selves Now what is it that must tame this unruly Member in your selves that 's full of deadly Poyson and bring it under a Power to tame it Is it not the Spirit of God in the Jew in the Christian and in the Gentile or Heathen by which you may have power over your Tongues by Obedience to the Power of God And therefore the Spirit and Power of God hath a Bridle upon your Tongues to hold them fast from Cursing and all manner of Evil-speaking whereof you must give an Account And so that Power and Spirit of God in you all both Heathen Jew and Christian that tames the Tongue and bridles the Tongne which brings you to the Royal Law To speak and to do to all men as you would have them speak and to do to you so that your words may be few and gratious and vertuous that so the words of Life may be in your Tongues which hammers down the Evil and cuts and burns it out of the Tongue and comes to be a Bridle and a Bit unto it that as was said before You may speak and do unto all as you would have them speak and do unto you For mark With your Tongues you curse men which are made after the Image and Similitude of God and with the same Tongue you bless God the Father Now in this that you curse men who are made after the Image and Similitude of God do you not curse the Maker then do not you curse God do not you curse his Image and Similitude when you curse Men who are made in the similitude of God And so is that Blessing accepted think you of God the Father in that you bless him and yet curse that which he hath made in his own Likeness after his own Image Now consider this Whether this be not the wisdom from below in you that is Devilish Earthly and sensual and so would you not have others to curse you Would you not be ready to say if they should do it They have curst that that God hath made and curst his Image And would not you say to them Though they bless God the Father it is not accepted when as they curse you And therefore if you fulfil the Royal Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Jam. 2. And so he that doth fulfil the Royal Law wil not hate his Neighbour for he would not have his Neighbour hate him neither will he curse his Neighbour nor speak Evil of him for he would not have his Neighbour do so to him and therefore so speak and so do For Love does not Steal does not commit Adultery Love does not Covet Love does not bear False Witness and Love seeks not her own Love does not Kill and so the Law is fulfilled in one word viz. Thou must love thy Neighbour as thy self and God above all who is over all blessed forever Now this keeps a Royal Society in the Royal Law of Liberty Christ persecutes no man for not receiving his Doctrine nor yet the Apostles and both Christ and his Apostles gave forth their Doctrine freely to his People and the World Though Christ was as good as called
Mat. 12.24 A Devil and a Mad-Man a Blasphemer a Deceiver a Maker of Tumults yet he did not exercise any Power or any outward Authority over them though he had all Power both in Heaven and in Earth given unto him so as to imprison any or persecute or banish them neither did any of those that follow'd him who did convert people unto God Isa 12.5 Sing unto the Lord for he hath done excellent things this is known in all the Earth So then you may see that there is something of God in people that brings them to know those excellent things that the Lord has and doth work in the Earth which if people would but mind seriously it would lead them to do his Law viz. To do unto all c. Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar off Can any hide himself in secret places that I cannot see him saith the Lord Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord So the Lord God is the Lord the Creator of all things in the Heavens Earth and in the Sea so then he is Lord of all and they are all his and hath created them to his glory But man that grieved his Spirit and transgressed it and his Royal Law cast away he jars with the Creation of God And oft-times you may see throughout the Scriptures how the Lord and his Prophets did declare against them that did cast his Royal Law behind their backs So now if you say This was in reference to the Jews may it not be verified of you called Christians and others for Do you do unto all men as you would have all men do unto you Do you keep this Law of Liberty in which the right Natural Affections are 'T is said The Jews did cast the Righteous Law behind their backs which Law was Just Holy and Good and do not you called Christians who profess the Gospel and others do the same who may be ready to find Fault with the Jews for doing it So both you and them have cast the Law of God behind your backs which I say is holy just good and righteous so as you do not to others as you would they should do to you you have broken the Royal Society you have thrown away Natural Affections you do that that is unjust to people you do that that is not good to them nor righteteous and would you have all people do unrighteously and unjustly and that that is not good nor holy to you For casting away the Righteous Good and the Just Law behind their backs you cast away that whereby you should do that which is Just Righteous and Holy to others And so all your Societies that are not upheld by this Just Righteous and Holy Law of God are upheld by that which is not Just nor Righteous nor Holy nor Good so that people do that to others that they would not have them do unto them Mark the End of all that Hab. 3.3 The Glory of the Lord covered the Heavens and the Earth was full of his Praise c. Zach. 14.9 And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that Day shall there be one Lord and his Name shall be one And Gen. 9.1 2 c. where we read how the Lord God blessed Noah and his Sons saying unto them Bring ye forth Fruit and multiply and replenish the Earth and the Fear of you and the Dread of you shall be upon every Beast of the Earth and upon every Foul of the Air and upon all that moveth upon the Earth and upon all the Fish of the Sea into your hands are they delivered every thing that moveth it self every thing that liveth c. Mark here God who is the Creator of all and the God of the whole Earth which is full of his Praise and created all things to his Glory and Man in his Image and set him above all the Works of his Hands and gave him his Law by which he was not to oppress any Creature that he had created nor to spend them on his Lust to the dishonour of God and gave him his Spirit by which he should know his Law and know him the Law-giver For that which might be known of God was manifest in them and God hath shewed it unto them And so with this of God in Mankind he might know his Royal Law which is just righteous holy and good and within the limits of this that all Mankind do keep a Royal Society a just good and holy Royal Society and do unto all men as they would have them do unto them in all things for this Royal Law teaches so to do in which is the Liberty All people in the whole World consider Do not all your Religions Wayes and Worships lie in external and outward things that you have made and yet many of you Christians and others will find Fault with others that is such that worship the works of their own hands And are not all Religions that are made and Worships by men which are the works of their own hands in the whole World And do not every Sect in their Way Religion and Worship do unto another Sect and Religion as they would not have them do unto them And so is not all the Conversion of people as you call it one Sect beget people from another Sect and it is but a Sect when all is done and yet not come to the Royal Law of Liberty nor yet the Gospel For let the eye go over the whole World and see how one Sect strives and and makes it their Business to pluck from another Sect and the more People they get the more Wages Tythes and Augmentations they get So this is not getting people to God but to themselves this is not preaching Christ nor God but themselves And now all people but consider Has not the Conversion been by outward Powers by Queens Powers or Kingly Powers by States Powers or by an Emperor's Power for many Hundreds of Years For before the Pope got up did not the Arian Heresie when he got up I say that is got the power in his hands made most turn Arians by his Sword insomuch that it became a Proverb Totus mundus Arianus And then when the other Power got over Arian then they turn'd from him And further When the Pope got up did not he by his Inquisition and outward Sword by his Prisons and Goales convert people unto his Sect and Faction and this hath been the Conversion all along And then when the Turk got up did not he by his outward Power convert people to him yea many that were Christians were turned by his outward Sword and Power And did not the King of Spain convert abundance of Indians by his External Power and outward Sword when he put so many to several sorts of cruel Deaths as their own Historians relate Now this Conversion was not of God nor of the Spirit of God nor of
Righteousness there is Peace one with another and with Christ who is our Righteousness And so give over Envying Hatred and Persecution and Imprisoning Murdering and Killing one another about these outward things which the Kingdom of God stands not in for it stands in Righteousness Faith and in Love and Joy in the Holy Ghost And come all of you to the Light of Christ that you have hated and to the Spirit of God in you that you have vexed grieved and quenched and the Grace of God that you have walkt despightfully against and turn'd unto Wantonness that by it you may come to see your Salvation and cease from Evil and learn to do well from the Evil I say that you have done in times past and do not do so any more for the time to come but as God has given his Spirit to profit withal obey it that so you may profiâ— in Truth and Righteousness and the Love of God that edifieth the Body and which Love fulfils the Law the Royal Law which is To do unto all as you would have all do unto you then you will come to a holy Society a good righteous and just Society and then you will have your equal weight and measure to weigh and measure withal for such as transgress the Royal Law of God did and do unto others as they would not have others do unto them and upon such the Royal Law of God takes hold and judges them yea upon all Jews Christians Turks and Heathens it doth not take notice of their Profession nor respect them for their Profession but it respects them if they love their Neighbours as themselves and do unto all men as they would have all men do unto them then it shews that they have a Profession of Righteousness that is good that which is just and holy which is the Law of Liberty which gives another Liberty if he would have Liberty himself in this Royal Law which is answered by the Spirit in every man and the Royal Law answereth it And this Royal Law takes hold upon all Men and Women in the whole Earth let their Profession be what it will be if they grieve the Spirit of God it judges all that walk not according to the Spirit of God in them that brings them to the Royal Law in which they have Liberty and then they come to confess the one Legistator or Law-Giver one Lord Jesus Christ by whom is all and one Lord who is over all So then let this be read seriously with the Spirit of God in every Male and Female that they may answer the Royal Law of God in which they may all have Liberty Unity Commerce Fellowship and a Society a holy a just a righteous one in which all do to others as they would have them do to them and they come to love their Neighbours as themselves And in this all Nations of men may keep a Society a Unity a Trade a Traffick and a Communion and Commerce and hold a Correspondency one with another and this will preserve him in a natural Affection And as they all keep in this Royal Law that answers the Spirit of God in them all and his Light and Grace in which they will have a Unity and by it to be kept above all the Religions and Worships they have made with that peevish spirit that hath led to disobey the Spirit of God from which they have not natural Affections who cannot do to others as they would have others do to them that cannot bring you to the Royal Law of God This Royal Law will slay that peevish spirit in you all and that being slain and fallen then falls all Religions that you have set up together in the whole World And the Spirit of the Lord turns you to the Royal Law whereof God is the Donor and judges them that transgress it And so in this Royal Law you keep dominion and you keep your Love to your Neighbours as to your selves and the Royal Law keeps you in that Spirit To do unto all as you would have all do unto you If any man Jam. 1.23 heareth the Word and declareth not the same by his Works he is like unto a man beholding his natural Face in a Glass for as soon as he looks on himself he goes his way and forgets immediately what fashion he was of But who so looks into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein if he be not a forgetful Hearer but a Doer of the Work this man shall be blest in his Deed. Now consider this all ye that profess God and Christ you Christians Jews and others for is not this your Condition Have you lookt into the perfect Law of Liberty and if so With what have you lookt into it Is it not by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ which when you have lookt into by the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus and not done the same you may read your selves as in a Glass that you look into and after forget what manner of men you are And so are not all that look into this perfect Law of Liberty whether they be Jew Christian or Heathen who look into this perfect Law of Liberty and doth it not are like unto the natural Man or Woman that look into a Glass and after that forget what manner of Men and Women they are of and so they that look into the perfect Law of Liberty and do it not are not blest nor happy in their Deeds though they may be Hearers of this perfect Law of Liberty and yet not Doers they are like I say unto the Natural Man and Woman that looks as saith the Apostle into the Glass and after know not what manner of Men or Women they are though they see themselves when they look into the Glass But they that look into the perfect Law of Liberty and do the same do not forget what manner of men they are but see what manner of men they are and what manner of men they have been And so by the perfect Law of Liberty looking into it and doing it they mend so that they who have been without Natural Affections it brings them to Natural Affections who have not loved their Nighbours as themselves it brings them to love them as themselves who have not done to all men as they would have all men do to them this perfect Law of Liberty looking into it and doing of it will bring them to do unto all as they would have all do unto them So look upon all Christendom and all that profess God and Christ in the whole World and those also that do not who do grieve and quench and vex the Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walk despightfully against the Spirit of Grace though these have the Word of God sown upon all their Grounds and if they hear it and declare it not in their Works Lives and Conversations they are like a natural man beholding his
Face in a Glass and forgetting what manner of man he was Then they as was said before that do look into the Law of Liberty and do the Law of Liberty do know what manner of men they are and have been and what manner of Works and what manner of Conversations they have been of And so as the Word is sown upon all Grounds for all to hear it to wit the Stony Ground the High-way Ground the Thorny Ground and the Good Heart and though all these hear the Word and do it not they are all deceivers of their own Souls though they may cry out against Deceivers without them All Sects and People in Christendom among Jews Turks Heathens and Christians upon whose Ground the Word of the Lord is fown if it be the High-way or the Stony or Thorny or Good Ground now they all hearing of this Word and not doing it though they may cry out against Deceivers without them yet they are all Deceivers of their own Souls themselves For who so hear the Word hears that that puts a difference between the Precious and the Vile Words and Thoughts Deeds and Actions And 't is this Word that must Sanctifie and Reconcile them to God and hammers and cuts and hews down that that hath made a Separation between them and God And so they that will not hear nor regard God's Law which is Royal and Perfect called The Law of Liberty wherein the Royal Society is preserved and the Royal Communion and the Royal Commerce and Natural Affections and love their Neighbours as themselves and do unto all others as they would have them do unto them And this Royal Law is from God and reacheth over all Transgressors and answers that which hath transgrest in all Mankind which man must come to if he comes to this Law and comes to acknowledge There is one Law-giver Now there is something of God in the Heathens Turks and Gentiles that when you called Christians do them any Injury they are sensible of the Evil and may say unto you You would not be dealt so with your selves And the Heathen Turks and Indians if they do at any time that which is bad to one another there is that in them tells them They should not have done so and so which manifests something of the Royal Law in them which if seriously and diligently minded would bring them To do that unto others as they would have them do unto them And so all you called Christians or that go under that Name Do you begin first to do unto others as you would have others do unto you and so do you all unto the Heathen Turks Jews and Indians as you would have them do unto you seeing there is something of God in all that answers in measure his Royal Law viz. To do unto all as you would have them do unto you Now all Mankind that is all Men and Women upon the Face of the Earth being made of one Blood and Mould being the Sons of Adam by nature and all Children of God by Creation and the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof which he hath given unto Men and Women who dwell upon the Face of his Earth and so all being the Lord's Workmanship and Creating he is the Law-Giver which is to do unto all as they would have all do unto them and God who hath given them this just good and holy Law to all Mankind hath placed something in Man and Woman to answer this Law which if they obey then they come to do the Royal Law of God all confess the one Law-giver who is the Lord and to love God all Nations of men come to confess That the Lord is the Law-giver which Law is To do unto all as they would have all do unto them for if they do not they disobey the Principle of God in them in the first place and then transgress his Law and lose the true Weight and Measure whereby they come short of their Duty In not doing unto others as they would have others do to them Now all Magistrates and Princes in the whole World amongst men should see to it that this Law be carefully and diligently observed and kept namely To do unto others as they would have others do unto them then a royal just good and holy Society with all mankind among the several Nations in the world might be preserved and this would keep people out of the many other Incumbrances of National Laws whereof few know the end of no not themselves For this Royal Law respects no mans Person and is free and is to be obeyed and doth freely and keeps freely and in obeying and doing of it God is honoured in every heart the Just and Holy God by his just and holy Principle in man and woman which brings them to do his just and holy Law and by this out of every mouth from the Principle of God within will the Lord be confest to be the Law-giver one Law-giver and one Law To do unto all as they would have all do unto them Now weigh the thing seriously That should all or did all obey this Royal Law it would be a special means to prevent a great deal of Violence Corruptions and Cruelties now exercised amongst the Children of men as also that that breeds these Corruptions and Cruelties it will put a check and stop to them by obeying I say of it And should all people in the Universe obey the royal Law of God according to the Principle of God in them they being encourag'd all to this and taught all by this it will bring them off of those Debaucheries Adulteries Fornications Thefts Murders c. which so rage in the whole World for the Royal Law of God nor yet the Principle of God within admits of no such thing And also this Royal Law of God according to the Principle of God in every man will bring all people in all their Merchandize in buying selling and in their Husbandry Trading and Shop-keeping To do unto all as they would have all do unto them now in so doing they honour the Lord in their Lives and Conversations in fulfilling I say this his Royal Law But now as long as the Priests or Teachers who are like the Framers of Religions for the diversity and several sorts of people in the World do speak against this Principle of God in every man and say That every man hath not a Principle of God in him to bring him to do his Royal Law they teach thereby the people as well as themselves to transgress this Royal Law To do unto others that they would not have others do to them as hath been sufficiently made manifest And therefore those Teachers who do frame Religions for people in all Nations under the whole Heaven for they have their Religions and their Priests as well as Christians who frame Religions as the Christians Priests do for their people yet these Teachers say That every man had
the Gentiles spoken of before they are in no wise better for we have proved already that both Jew and Gentile were all under sin So now What difference is there between the Professor of God and of the Scriptures and them that did not profess So what difference is there between Christians that do profess and those that do not profess seeing all are concluded under Sin out of the Life so as to Jew and Gentile there is no difference out of Christ unconverted But now Jew and Gentile in Christ converted Sythian and Barbarian are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.28 Now though there be no difference between Jew and Gentile being concluded under Sin in an unconverted Estate nor no difference between Christian and Heathen concluded under Sin unconverted yet nevertheless there is something of God in them which they do disobey both in Jew and Gentile Christian and Heathen which brings the Wrath of God upon them for their Disobedience which if they did obey that of God in them both Jew and Gentile Christian and Heathen it would bring them to the Royal Law of God and to the Royal Society and to the Natural Affections and to keep their Word and to do to all men as they would have them do to them For certainly they would have no man break their Word with them and therefore they must break their Word with no man That is a just Law Do unto all men as c. Hear the words of Christ to his Disciples who is the Second Adam the Heavenly man Joh. 16.8 9 10 c. I tell you of a truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I go I will send him unto you And this Comforter is the Spirit of Truth the Holy Ghost and this Holy Ghost will lead the Disciples into all Truth and shew them things to come And he shall take of mine saith he and give it unto you Now mark in the first place He shall lead them into all Truth namely his Disciples the Learners of Christ Jesus 2dly The same Comforter which is the Spirit of Truth shall reprove the World of sin which they live in and of the righteousness they live in which is the Righteousness of Christ Jesus and shall reprove the World of their judgment for all the world have a judgment which is not the Judgment of God which they judge one another about and by which they set up their Religions and Wayes of Worship by which they judge others that will not conform to them and judge the Prophets of the Lord and spiritual Men to be Mad-men and Fools and Christ the Son and Light of God to be a Blasphemer a Devil and the Apostles as Babblers Turbulent Fellows c. Now what spirit were they in that had this judgment and with what spirit did they judge who are reproved by the Spirit namely the Comforter the Holy Ghost So all the World that comes from sin their judgment their righteousness they must turn at the Reproof of this Spirit the Holy Ghost which leads the Saints into all Truth And by this Heavenly Mans Doctrine Christ Jesus you may see here is something of God in every man which would lead them to the Royal Law of God and to do it and act by it and to lead them to Affections that are above and to have Natural Affections Affections of Nature and to receive the Royal Society in the Royal Law and not to destroy Men and Women who are part of the Creation of God and of his VVorkmanship for they that do destroy them about Religion and VVayes and VVorships that they have made themselves and set up but not by the Command of God they destroy part of God's Creation and God's Creatures and the Workmanship of his Hands though they do profess God yet they destroy Man who is made in the similitude of God and in so doing they would destroy God if they could For as it is said he that hates his Brother is a Man-slayer and so no Man-slayer having not eternal Life abiding in him he cannot set up Religions Wayes nor Worships by which God is honoured And these Men-slayers break the Concord the Society the Commerce and are Judges and Breakers of the Royal Law and Destroyers of the Creation of God and Workmanship of his Hands and Destroyers of Natural Affections which he hath made for his Praise and his Honour and Glory Neither have they the Mind of Christ nor of God guiding of them who would not have all men to be saved God would have all the Workmanship of his hands and Creation and Works to be saved which is man and woman Christ indeed came to destroy the Devil and his works who made man and woman imperfect who were God's works so the promise of God was to mankind but not unto the Devil and that his head should be bruised his power broken and his Law of Sin and Death and Members should be disannulled and Christ's Power and his Law of Life Faith and Love should be set up amongst God's Creatures which are his Creation and so Christ came to save Mens lives and not to destroy them Object Now if any should object and say Who are our Brethren Answ First all Nations of Men God hath made of one Mould to dwell upon the sace of the Earth Acts 17. so I say all are Children of God by creation and there is a Brother-hood which by the Royal Law is preserved according to the Principle of God in every Man by which they should do unto all their Brethren as they would have them do unto them 2d They are Sons of God by adoption all being born again of the Immortal Seed of the Word of God that lives abides and endures forever and being led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God Rom. 8. Also it may be seen and taken notice of what the Apostle lays down in Ephes 2.2 wherein he speaks to them who were once Heathens but then converted That in times past they walkt according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience in the Lust of the Flesh fulfilling the desires of the Flesh and of the Minde and were by Nature the Children of Wrath as well as others Now mark these Heathens before conversion there was something in them that did disobey and therein did not fulfill the Will of God but fulfilled the will of the Flesh and walked according to the lust of the same which brought them by that nature to be Children of Wrath Now had they obeyed that which they did disobey they had not walkt according to the Power of the Prince of the Air but walkt according to the Prince of the Power of Life Christ Jesus and so by that which they do disobey they would have come to have known the
not something of God in him nor of his Spirit And so these Teachers in the whole world do bring their people to those Religions that they have made and do get the Magistrates Power and Sword to hold then up and allow them a Maintenance for their Preaching of it to them And so hereby is begotten a great deal of Peevishness Fury and Rage one against another and one Religion maker against another Religion-maker as may easily be seen over all the world the National Religions differing one from another and yet the people are bound to observe all that which their Priests have framed whereas if all men and women came to the Principle of God in themselves by which they might come to the Royal Law of God namely In doing to others as c. then all these peevish religions and the Makers and Upholders of them would quickly fall wherein they did unto others as they would not have others do unto them And this would be Religion to do the Law of God which is To love thy Neighbour as thy self and God above all then thou wouldst be ready to entertain Strangers For if thou shouldst be a Stranger thou wouldst think it hard shouldst thou not be entertain'd and reliev'd the Sick and the Widdow and Fatherless the same compassion as thou wouldst have done to thy self being in the like condition capacity necessity And this Principle of God within in keeping the Royal Law keeps up the mind to God who is the Law-giver who is blessed forever from whom they receive their Religion And this Royal Law of God being kept by all the Sons and Daughters of men in the whole World which is according to the Principle of God in them all and one with it this preserves natural Affections and so Nature in its course where Nature may not be destroyed for where Nature is destroyed it is but by the Transgressor of the Royal Law whereas this Royal Law being duely kept it preserves I say the Creation of God part of which are men women in order government themselves and to walk and to do to all as they c. And out of this Royal Law of God all the Disorder is and all the Ill-government in the whole Creation by disobeying and transgressing I say this Royal Law of God yea and all the unequal measuring Weights and false Judgments that are among them that do transgress and disobey this Royal Law which is To do to all c. yea and all the Ill-neighbourhood in the whole World is amongst them who disobey this Royal Law of God and quench the Spirit of the Lord in themselves which would lead them to obey it And all the good Neighbourhood in the whole Universe is by obeying the Principle of God in them to do the Royal Law of God whereby they love God above all and their Neighbour as themselves And in Ezek. 5. where the Lord said That the Jews had despised his Judgments and his Laws more then the Gentiles and had broken his Commandments more then the Nations Now mark May not this be apply'd unto Christians who have broken and despised the Law of Life the Law of Love and the Law of Faith and the Commands of Christ who saith Love one another and love Enemies Have not I say Christians broken this more then the Gentile Nations and Heathens yea we can say we have found it so for they are more ready to entertain Strangers then Christians who have cast away that Command nay many of them are more Christian in their Dealings then such as are called Christians which signifies that there is something of God in these Heathens and Nations that brings them to a sensibility of the Law of God which is To do unto all c. Psal 117. Where David saith Praise the Lord all ye Heathen Which imports as much that there is something of God in the very Heathen else it would be a vain word to bid them praise the Lord. And again saith the Psalmist there following Praise the Lord all ye Nations c. He doth not say one Nation but all Nations must do it Now mark This likewise imports thâ—â— there is something of God in them all whereby they may praise him agreeable to that of the Apostle who saith That which is to be known of God is manifest in them This he speaks to the Romans who were sometime Heathen So if the Priests Doctrine be received who say There is not something of God in all Nations of men and in the Heathen then by their Doctrine I say David's words are needless who exhorts all Nations and Heathens to praise the Lord But David full well knew what he spoke who saw Christ but the Priests see not themselves and so are Judges in their evil Thoughts of the Scripture and holy Mens words whose judgment is judged by the holy men's words Psal 100. Be joyful in the Lord all ye Lands and serve the Lord with Gladness and come before his Presence with a Song be ye sure that the Lord is God he it is that made us not we our selves Now mark this general Doctrine of David's who would have all the Lands to be joyful in the Lord c. Here David made no Sect as if some people only were to serve him and as if some people only were to praise him no saith he All Nations and all Heathen are to praise the Lord And now if they all serve the Lord and praise him then they all obey his Law his Royal Law which is To do to all as they would have all do to them Isa 51. The Islands of the Gentiles shall hope in me and put their trust in my Arm. Here you see is a Promise made unto the Heathen that they should trust in the Arm of the Lord and hope in God which clearly implies that there is something of God in them And in Rom. 15. where the Apostle writes to those that were sometime Heathens how that the Offering of the Gentile should be accepted of God now this was a spiritual Sacrifice and how the Lord would be praised among the Gentiles and he should be lauded among all the Nations and praise him saith he among all the Nations And again the Prophet Isaiah saith There shall be a Root of Jesse he shall arise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust So that 't is undoubtedly clear here that there is something of God in all the Gentiles in all the Nations and People which would praise the Lord and by that of God in them they come to know the Root of Jesse viz. Christ Jesus to reign over them who is the Light and enlighteneth them they see him by which Light Christ hath enlightened them withal all such trust in Christ who reigns over them and rules over them and so they come to do his Law and Commandments his Royal Law of Love of Life and of Faith by which they come to do unto all as they would have all do unto them and to love their Neighbours as themselves George Fox THE END