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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59955	The true Christian's faith and experience briefly declared, concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, the Gospel, and the doctrines thereof also, the titular Christian's faith and profession try'd, examin'd, and judg'd : written for the confirmation, and consolation of the one, and for the information in order to the restoration and salvation of the other : also, a few words to such who are newly turned in their minds to the light within, & are believers in it / by William Shewen.	Shewen, William, 1631?-1695.	1675 (1675)	Wing S3424; ESTC R24530	87,397	208

long as he liveth unto Christ which was before the Law and before there was any Occasion for the Law who alone is able to Justifie the Righteous and condemn the Wicked whose Wayes are all Equal Just and Righteous never condemning the Just nor justifying the Wicked and it may be truly said of this Titular Christian as Christ said to the Covetous Pharisees who derided him ☞ Ye are they which JVSTIFIE YOVR SELVES before Men but God knoweth your Hearts Luke 16.15 for that which is highly esteem'd amongst Men is Abomination in the Sight of God And now the same Spirit that then derided Christ and set him at Naught and that then ruled in the Hearts of Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites and Impenitent hard-hearted Jews in this Part of the World called Christendom ☞ is now turned Professor of him in Words and teaches him in whom it rules to talk of Salvation and Justification by him though at the same Time that Spirit lives and rules in his Heart to which God looks and which he knoweth that denyeth ☞ despiseth betrayeth and crucifieth him even while he pretends to worship him as the Jews did who sm●te him on the Head Mark 15.19 and spit upon him and mocked him and at the same Time bow'd their Knees and worshipped him and as Judas did who said Hail Master and Kissed him Mat. 26.49 and at the same Time betrayed him the Nominal or Titular Christian is guilty of the same Thing he living in that and daily committing that which ever was the Cause and Occasion of all his Sufferings viz. Sin Therefore is he many Times convicted ☞ reproved judged and condemned in his Heart by God's Spirit that searcheth it even while his Tongue talks of Justification Now to this Spirit of God which searcheth his Heart and tryeth his Reins and the innermost Parts of the Belly is this Titular Christian counsel'd to take heed and to hear its Judgment concerning him and with his whole Heart receive the same and by it judge all the Flatteries vain Conceits Notions Imaginations and Dreams by which he hath been led and deceived through the Subtilty of that grand Enemy the Devil and Satan who will suffer his Servants Children Slaves ☞ to turn Professors of Christianity be Christians in Name and to talk of the Gospel while he keeps Possession of the Heart Let the Titular Christian confider these Things before it be too late IX The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper THE True Christian believes and lives under the two great Ordinances of Christ Baptism and the Supper of the Lord in the Mystery and he can give an experimental Account how he come to live in the Enjoyment of these Ordinances even how he passed through the Work of Regeneration Mortification and self Denyal Sanctification and Justification before he come to be a true Subject and Partaker of these Ordinances he can tell how the Old Man with his Deeds were put off and the New Man put on Gal. 3.27 for he that is baptized into Christ hath put on Christ ☞ not only professed him while the Old Man was alive but baptized with the same Baptism he was baptized with in a Measure even with the Holy Ghost and Fire which is inward and spiritual and washeth cleanseth and purifieth inwardly and Spiritually which all the outside Washing and Baptisms were but a Type of and by this Baptism the True Christian is not only washed and made clean but kept and preserved by the same clean and pure prepared and made fit to put on the Wedding-Garment and to sit at the Table of the Lord and partake of the Feast of Fat Things and drink of the Wine that he hath prepared which is the Blood of the New Testament which is Drink indeed and he eats the Flesh of the Son of Man John 6 5● which is Meat indeed and this is the Supper of the Lord and he eats and drinks worthily discerning the Lord's Body having heard his Voice and opened the Door at which he once stood knocking and he is now come in unto him according to his faithful Promise Rev. 3.20 and suppeth with him and he with him here is the Fruit of the Vine drank new in the Kingdom of God Mark 14.25 Luke 14.15 and here is the blessed Man that eateth Bread in the Kingdom of God and sitteth down therein being cloathed with his Wedding-Garment of fine Linnen and adorned as a Bride for her Husband and enjoying the efficacious Vertue of him which is Everlasting Life and Salvation hungring and thirsting no more after the forbidden Fruit nor after the Wine of Sodom because he hath the same Mind which was in Christ Jesus who never hunger'd nor thirsted after those Things ☞ though tempted yet never transgressed but overcame the Devil in all his Temptations This is the State and Glory of the True Christian this Honour have all the Saints who come to be established in the Mind of Christ and this Honour they had in former Ages born witness of and testifyed in the Holy Scriptures and is in Store and laid up for all that love his Appearance and come unto God by him The Titular Christian he saith he owns Christ's Ordinances and professeth himself a Subject of the Baptism of Christ and a Guess at the Lord's Table but his Profession must be examined tryed and searched for as in other Things so in this he must not be so because he professeth it this were to judge according to Appearance and so not Righteous Judgment his Account that he gives to prove that he is so is as followeth First as to Baptism he hath received the Administration of it by Water after one Fashion or other either when he was a Child he had Water sprinkled upon his Face by the Hand of a sinful Priest or plunged all over it may be accompanied with other Ceremonies as Spittle Cream Salt Oyl and the Sign of the Cross c. or otherwise when he grew up to Years of Discretion able to receive the Traditions of his Fore Fathers and to read the Holy Scriptures therein he finds that divers were baptiz'd in Water after they did believe in John's Ministry who was the peculiar Minister of it was a burning and a shining Light in his Day as the Voice of one crying in the Wilderness Prepare the Way of the Lord and that Jesus himself was baptized therewith and that many others were baptized not only by John but also by the Disciples and Apostles of Jesus Now this Reader it may be in the Tenderness and Simplicity of his Spirit the Vail being over his Heart when he reads is ready to conclude Surely this is an Ordinance of Christ this is Christ's Baptism if I will be his Disciple I must be a Subject of it if I would be counted a Believer I must also be baptized with Water or else I

precious Blood and so he not only reads hears and professes the Benefits and Priviledges which the primitive Christians partook of and enjoyed by believing in receiving of Christ but experimentally partaketh of and possesseth and enjoyeth the same Rom. 8 16. And the Spirit of God beareth Witness with his Spirit that he is a Child of God and a Joynt Heir with Christ Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh and that he hath the Mind of Christ and that Christ lives in him and is greater in him then he that is in the World And as the old Adversary the Devil is strong and powerful to tempt and ready on the one Hand and on the other to draw and allure into Evil so he knoweth his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as near and as ready and more powerful to deliver save and preserve him from falling into Evil and Temptation and he is not only enabled to resist the Divel but to make him flee also Thus in Truth can the True Christian call Christ the Captain of his Salvation who being armed with his Power fights as he did followeth him sits down in Heavenly Places with him triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave So the True Christian proveth himself so by denying himself and taking up his Cross daily and following of Christ and that he believeth in him because he enjoyeth Everlasting Life and abides not in Death and Darkness but hath overcome the Wicked one and that he is his Lord because he doth the thing he saith or commandeth and that he loveth him because he keepeth his Commandments and hath received Power to become the Son of God and further hath a Name better then the Name of Sons and Daughters The Titular Christian saith he believeth in one Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier by his precious Blood c. and professeth him as King Priest and Prophet and in all his Attributes and Offices But how doth he demonstrate and shew forth his Belief and Profession How is he his Lord Doth he do the Thing he saith How is he his Saviour Is he saved by him from the committing of Sin and redeemed from a vain Conversation How doth he believe in him as Christ or the Anointing Is he taught by him How is he his King Priest and Prophet Doth he rule in his Heart as King Are all his Services Sacrifices and Offerings offer'd up by and through his Hand as Priest Doth he hear him in all Things as the Prophet whom God hath raised like unto Moses No the Titular Christian hath no Knowledge of him after this Manner neither doth he believe 't is attainable on this side the Grave nor possible to obey him as Lord nor to be saved by him from Sin as Jesus nor taught by him as Christ or the Anointing nor that he can be washed cleansed and sanctified by his precious Blood from the Stains Spots and Defilements of the World Flesh and the Devil while he bears about this Body of Clay he contents himself with a corrupt traditional Faith which hath sprung up in the dark Night of Apostacy which is certainly a very venemous pernicious Weed of the Devil's Kingdom which hath poysoned and destroyed the Souls of many and is now grown to such Maturity and cloathed with such Beauty to the Eye of the Titular Christian that he calls it the Christian Faith though thereby he is taught to believe that 't is not possible to cease from Sin nor to have his Heart purified nor to overcome the Devil and gain Victory over the World and further that notwithstanding he committeth Sin daily and liveth in the Act of it Term of Life in this World he is hereby taught to believe that Christ will save him from the Guilt and Punishment of it in the World to come It may be said of this Titular Christian's Faith as it was once said of Saul and David Looseness and A theism hath slain its Thousands but this its Ten Thousands So although he hears and reads what Christ did in and for those that belived in him and of the powerful Virtue and Operation of that Ancient Christian Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and born witness to by the Holy Scriptures yet he neither hopes believes nor expects to witness the same wrought in him and for him they bear witness of some in whom Christ wrought (a) In whom Christ works all the Devil works nothing all their Works and that through him they were able to do all Things And many glorious Things were spoaken of and were enjoyed by the true Believers in Christ while upon Earth But the Titular Christian puts off all till he is dead and pleads for the Continuation of the Devil and his Works Term of Life and saith the Devil works strongly in him and prevails over him and causeth him to sin in his Holy Duties and that he is so captivated by him that he cannot live one Day nor Hour without Sin so notwithstanding his Profession of Christ he knows him not greater in him then he that is in the World so the strong Man keeps House and it s furnished with his Goods and though he cryes Lord Lord he is a Worker of Iniquity and is bound in Chains of Darkness and his Feet stick fast in the Mire and in the Clay even while he talks of Lord and Saviour he is led Captive at the Devils Will and is a Stranger to that Power which is able to resist him and make him flee and to that Faith which gives Victory So he cannot in Truth call Christ the Captain of his Salvation nor approve himself one of his Souldiers who is armed with the same Power with it fights against the same Enemy and gains the Victory and followeth him who rides on Conquering and to Conquer so never comes to sit down with him in his Father's Kingdom triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave but remains under the Power thereof through the Fear of which he is all his Life Time subject to Bondage 2 Heb. 15. let his Profession of Liberty and Redemption by Christ be what it will his fair Talk will avail him nothing though he saith he believeth in Christ and loveth him yet if he keepeth not his Commandments he is a Lyar and deceiveth himself and hath not Eternal Life abiding in him Profession and Name of Christ without Possession and Nature is of no worth III. The true Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Spirit THE True Christian believeth in the Holy Spirit being one of the Three which bears Record in Heaven which Three are one and he sheweth forth his Faith by his Obedience thereto he hath received the Spirit of Adoption whereby he can call God Father not as the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites did but in Truth and Righteousness and he witnesseth

among them that are sanctified Acts 20.32 Eph. 5.27 who are Members of that Glorious Church which is without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish The Titular Christian he also talks of and professeth the Doctrine of Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin and Corruption But his Talk is not true and his Profession is feigned because he is not a Witness of the Work thereof in himself He hath read in the Holy Scriptures That no Vnclean Thing can enter the Kingdom and that without Holiness no man can see the Lord and that the Lord will be sanctified of all that draw near unto him Therefore he hath devised a Profession of Sanctification which may be only talke● of but never possessed and wrought in him on this side the Crave And to this End he hath made up a Faith of his own and is wholy ignorant of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints or holy People by which their Hearts were purified And by Vertue of this Feigned Faith perswades himself that the Sanctification and Holiness of Christ without him shall be reckoned and imputed unto him ☞ while he remains unsanctified and unholy and that the Cleanness Innocency and Spotlesness of Christ shall be accounted unto him notwithstanding he remains foul guilty and full of Spots and Defilements and that God looks upon him not as he is in himself but as he is in Christ Jesus his Saviour when indeed he is not in him nor saved by him from that which defiles him for if any man be in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 he is a New Creature old things are past away and all things are become New By this the Titular Christian may try himself if he be not really changed the old Creature and old Things past away he is not in Christ and God cannot nor doth not look upon him where he is not ☞ therefore let him not further deceive himself for God's Witness in his own Conscience seeth and judgeth him where he is out of Christ unsanctified in the old Nature and old things and God from whence it comes is greater and seeth and judgeth him also And this Titular Christian is so far from living and enjoying a sanctified State really indeed and in truth as the True Christian did and doth that he never comes to enjoy so much Clearness and Freedom from Sin as the Jews did who lived but in the Types Figures and Shadows of Good Things to come for they once a year while they kept the Law were quitted and eased of all their Sins and Transgressions and a full Attonement was made once a year for all Sins past c. which is more then all the Nominal Christians upon the Face of the Earth really enjoy notwithstanding their Boast of living in Gospel Times and in the Dayes of the New Covenant and of Salvation by Christ Jesus Their Boast is vain the Gospel which is the Power of God to Salvation working and operating in their Inward Man to save not only from the Guilt but from the Act of Sin and to cleanse from all Iniquity they are wholely ignorant of and Strangers to and the New Covenant the Law in the Heart which makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit that sanctifieth from it reigns not in their Mortal Bodies but the contrary viz. Sin and the Law of it and by the Spirit of Truth are convinced of it and by God's Vicegerent the Light in their Consciences they stand arraigned and convicted before the Judgment-Seat of God let their Profession be never so high And the Titular Christian is not a living Witness of the One Everlasting Offering which perfecteth forever those that are sanctified nor of the Oneness and Unity which is between him that sanctifieth and those that are sanctified nor of the abiding with him that sanctifieth so as to sin no more neither is he drawn near unto God with a true Heart sprinkled from an Evil Conscience nor is his Body washed with pure Water he hath no full Assurance of Faith in these things but rather concludes them unattainable on this side the Grave and so is held captive in the Chains of Sin and Satan and entangled with the Yoak of Bondage and in this State inherits Misery and Darkness and is a Member of that Church which is full of Spots and Wrinkles Sores and Corruptions Diseased from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot of this Church Christ is not the Head Let the Titular Christian imagine what he will he must depart among the Goates because he is a Worker of Iniquity VIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Justification THE True Christian believeth the Doctrine of Justification and that it immediately succeeds the Work of Sanctification Being justified by Faith even that Faith which is the Gift of God he witnesseth Peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Heb. 10.38 Heb. 12.23 And the Just lives by Faith And he is come to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect c. even now in this Age as the True Christian did in former Ages testified of in the holy Scriptures Now to be Justified is to be made Just by Vertue of that Faith which gives Victory over the Unjust and by that Blood which cleanseth and saveth from Wrath to come And this Justification comes not by the Works of the Law Gal. 2.16 For by that shall no Flesh be Justified nor by self-Works nor self-Righteousness but by the free Gift of God which leads through the Law and fulfils it and destroys self-Works and self-Righteousness establishes good Works and brings in Everlasting Righteousness which exceeds the Righteousness of Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites and herein the True Christian stands Justified in the Sight of God who worketh all his Works in him and for him ☞ and to will and to do of his own good Pleasure Phil. 2.13 Rom. 8.33 And none can lay any Thing to the Charge of this Elect whom God justifieth The Titular Christian he professeth the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ Jesus But it 's no more then a bare Profession and his Faith is not the Faith of God's Elect neither is he led into Peace with God by it nor receives Power by it to gain Victory over the Unjust Nature and Spirit that lives in him but imagins an imputative Justification and applies the Justness Righteousness and Holiness of Christ wrought without him above 1600 Years ago unto himself while he is Unjust Unholy and Unrighteous But this avails not the Titular Christian at all herein also he dec●ives himself being not experimentally acquainted with the Blood of Christ which justifieth washeth and cleanseth and saveth from Wrath to come and from that which is the Cause of it viz. Sin And so he knows not a leading through the Law which was added because of Transgression and hath Power over the Transgressor as

enter into the Temptation No man was ever condemned because tempted or because Evil Motions Temptations did arise in him and present themselves if he entered not into them nor gave no place to them nor joyned with them in his Mind nor suffered his Members to obey them but kept in the Light Grace and Spirit of God by which he resisted them and the Author of them and made him flee This is the Blessed Man that endureth Temptations So though Temptations are Evil and Sinful in themselves and did at some times attend the Righteous in all Ages and do at this day yet if they give no place nor Consent to them ☞ nor obey them but by the Light and Spirit of God judge them and walk in the Light which discovers them and the Evil Tendency of them and are preserved from joyning to them they are no Sinners because tempted as for instance to speak but to a low State if any are troubled with unclean and vain Thoughts and tempted with Dark Unlawful Imaginations which in themselves are Evil and * These will lodge in that Flesh in which dwells no good thing till it and its Habitation be Mortified and removed which is to be known even while the Earthen Vessel remaineth that holds the Heavenly Treasure Sinful yet if they by the Light and Spirit of God judge them and give no Place or Obedience to them but wait to see the ground thereof remov'd they do that which is right in the Sight of the Lord and are no Sinners so if tempted to use any Member of the Body to speak or do any Evil as the Tongue to lye flatter or dissemble or speak perverse things or the Hand to do Violence to any man or the Feet to run to do Mischief ☞ if these Members are not yielded up to serve and obey these Temptations those so tempted are no Transgressors but are Witnesses of that Prayer and the Effect of it which Christ taught his Disciples Lead us not or let us not be led into Temptation but deliver us from Evil. Christ Jesus was attended with divers great Temptations and the Old Serpent that deceived the first Adam was very bold with him and carried him from * Let him that readeth understand Place to Place from the Wilderness to the holy City from thence to the Pinacle of the Temple and then to an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them with a Promise He would give them all to him if he would fall down and worship him But he standing in the Power of his Father gave no place to him but rebuked him and resisted him in all his Temptations and overcame him Now it s said While the Time of Temptation lasted he eat nothing and when they were ended Luke 4. Mat. 4. he afterwards hungred and when the Devil departed Angels ministred unto him this is the Glory of the Second Adam that never fell though tempted to fall eat no forbidden Fruit though tempted to ea● neither did he hunger in the time of Temptation after it nor gave no place to the Lyes of the Old Serpent that allured and deceived the First Adam thereby and subjected him under Hope of enjoying a better Estate then that wherein God had placed him and so fell into the Depth of Misery first by letting out a Desire after the Pleasantness of the Forbidden Fruit and Hungering after it in the Time of Temptation and then putting forth the Hand and joyning to it obeyes and eats and fulfils the Lusts of the Serpent And thus and in this manner Temptation prevails over all the Sons of the First Adam who bear the Earthly Image and are not born again of the promised Seed that breaks the Head of the Serpent and redeems from under his Power and brings to grow up in the Second Adam who could not be prevail'd upon with his Lyes and Subtilty And this Second Adam Christ Jesus is the Captain of the True Christian's Salvation who is gone before leaving him an Ensample to follow his Steps And he hath endued him with Heavenly Power and armed him with Spiritual Armour and furnished him with Strength so to do So the True Christian is compared to a good Souldier that follows his Captain ☞ and fights with him and doth not desert him and leave him to fight by himself but makes Good Use of the Power Armour of Light and Sword of the Spirit that 's given him to war withal and to overcome his Enemy withal and he keeps on his Breast-Plate of Righteousness and the Helmet of Salvation which are able to quench all the Fiery Darts of the Devil and so follows his Captain not only Conquering but also to Conquer for when he hath overcome him not only in the Field but hath also pursued him to his † The Devil 's Strong Holds are built in the Wills Thoughts and Imaginations of Men. Strong Holds and beaten him out there and pulled them down and cast down Imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the Knowledge of God in which he built them When this is effected by virtue of the Weapons which are Mighty and by the Power of him which enables the True Christian to do all things he still keeps on his Watch-Tower which is the Light of Christ wherewith he is enlightened that he may not be surprized with another Part of his Forces and as he keepeth watching there in vain are all his Stratagems Wiles and subtil Devices in vain are all his Snares Ambushments laid in vain are all his Temptations and Allurements as the True Christian keeps in that and dwells in that in which the Devil hath no Part nor Fellowship in ☞ viz. the Light whereby he is discovered and all his Baits and Snares seen and avoided It is in the Darkness and over all that dwell in it that he prevalls his Power stands there and is exercised over all that walk in it he need not go about with Wiles and Devices to deceive such who already dwell and are Subjects in his Kingdom nor he need not go about like a roaring Lyon seeking to devour them being already under his Dominion and obedient Children Vasals and Slaves to him ☞ he need not use Subtilty to tempt such but Power to command and they obey But it s against the Children of Light that are turned from the Darkness and from under his Power that he improves all his cunning Subtilty and Devices and it s against them he rageth if by any Means he can beguile them as he beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11.3 and corrupt their Minds from the Simplicity that is in Christ even after they are presented as a chast Virgin to Christ and are come to a dwelling Place in Paradice and to appear before God in Heaven he will not cease to tempt and accuse there as he hath done he is still ready to do he tempted

and beguiled Eve in Paradice Gen. 3. Job 1. Rev. 12.4 And on a Day when the Sons of God appear'd before the Lord Satan came also among them and accused Job And John in his Day saw the great red Dragon appear in Heaven ☞ waiting to devour the Man-Child he that reads let him understand This made Paul fear the Serpent might beguile them he wrote to 1 Cor. 11.3 as he beguiled Eve through his Subtilty tempt allure them out of Innocency out of a Virgin sinless and harmless Estate after they were in it * It 's possible to be tempted and allured out of Innocency and to loose a good Estate this he once did and may do again if he be not watched against and resisted in the Power of the second Adam which enables to endure Temptation and so to receive the Blessing and after Tryal to enjoy the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1.12 XIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning a Holy Life THE True Christian believeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life and to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of the World which lyes in Wickedness and to keep God's holy Will and Commandments Jer. 31.33 and they are not grievous unto him for he loves the Law of God in his Heart and sees it written there with his own Finger enjoying that precious Promise I will write my Law in their Hearts Isa 51.7 and put my Fear into their inward Parts and he can say as David once did Oh how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. how sweet are thy Words unto my Tast yea sweeter then the Hony to my Mouth thy Law is my Delight the Law of thy Mouth is better to me then Thousands of Gold and Silver The True Christian being in this Estate and persevering in this Love of God and his Law it becomes his Meat and Drink to do the Will of his Heavenly Father And so by walking in this Law and meditating in it and by feeding on this Word which is sweeter then Hony he becomes so united with it and so natural a Subject and Child of it that he comes to be able to say ☞ as some of old did We can do nothing against the Truth this is the true forsaking the Devil and all his Works c. and the keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments And as the True Christian grows up in this he doth alwayes that which pleaseth him like unto his elder Brother the Captain of his Salvation who is gone before being Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh sitting in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of their Heavenly Father even the same Glory which was before the World began before the Devil and his Works entered before his Holy Will and Commandments were broaken or before the forbidden Fruit was eaten Those that have their Eyes anointed with Eye-Salve and are cloathed with fine Linnen and have their Garments washed in the Blood of the Lamb and follow him whethersoever he goeth and have no Guile in their Mouthes but stand before the Throne of God without Spot or Wrinckle those are they that are redeem'd from the Earth and have their Conversation in Heaven and enjoy those Things and give the Glory to him who is God blessed forever The Titular Christian he saith and professeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments but never cometh to witness that Estate it 's very grievous to him to make streight Steps to his Feet he enjoys not that precious Promise the Law writ in his Heart and the Fear which keeps the Heart clean in the inward Parts neither is the Law of God his Meditation all the Day nor his Delight therein neither are his Words to him sweeter then Hony or better then Thousands of Gold and Silver he cannot say that he doth nothing against the Truth nor that he doth alwayes that which pleaseth God nor that he follows Christ the Captain of Salvation neither is he a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones nor sits in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of God c. though he will sometimes talk of these Things as they are written in the Holy Scriptures but in his Heart he is a Stranger to them and God's Holy Witness in his own Conscience makes him confess that his Heart is desperately wicked and that his Thoughts and Meditations are defiled and full of Sin and that his best Performances or Doings are accompanied with Sin and Corruption and that in all he doth he doth something against the Truth ☞ And further he is so far from living a Holy Life and forsaking the Devil and all his Works and keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments that he is begotten into such a Belief and Perswasion that it is not possible to do it while he breathes in the Air of this World but must alwayes be sinning and doing that which he ought not to do and leaving undone that which he ought to do alwayes confessing alwayes sinning and never forsaking so alwayes reaping the Wages of Sin which is Death and so alwayes wanting the Mercy and Forgiveness which he that forsakes the DEVIL and all his WORKS partaketh of So in short this is one of the last Lessons the Devil can teach his Children viz. to † Those that preach this Belief and Perswasion in the world aredirect Ministers of Satan perswade them and make them believe that they cannot cease from Sin but must be Committers of it and Servants to it and that they cannot forsake him and all his Works nor keep God's Holy Will and Commandments so long as they live in these Houses of Clay such Titular Christians as these he hath them in Chains and Fetters strong enough nothing less then the Mighty Arm and Power of God is able to break them and to release those poor Captives and to redeem them out of this deep Pit of Misery wherein is no Water wherein their Souls or inward Man lyes as among the Pots soiled with the Smoak and Soot of the Bottomless Pit Oh God hasten and bring Deliverance to these poor Bend-slaves of Sin and Satan is the Cry of the Souls of the Righteous who have the Mind of their Heavenly Father who desires not the Death of him that dyes but that they should come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved and be Partakers with them of the exceeding Riches and Glory that is laid up for all that love his Appearance ☞ and is ready to be reveal'd to all that truly wait for it XIV The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning the Motion or Moving of the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the

it again nor knew not a Stay to his Mind nor a Bridle to his Tongue nor Strength to endure Temptations nor Patience to have its perfect Work neither was he endued with Wisdom and Discerning to discover the divers Wiles and Devices of that Old Serpent that betrayed in Paradice being not humbled and brought down to the true Foundation though the Seed of the Kingdom was sown and received with much Joy but springing up in great Haste for want of Depth of Earth proved like Corn upon the House-top or in Stony Ground soon withered again So let none be lifted up above Measure because of Revelations Heavenly Sights and Visions let none rest in Zeal and Affections let none deck themselves with God's Jewels and play the Harlot with them nor lay up Manna for to morrow but wait upon him from whence the Daily Bread comes and abide low in the Root ☞ from whence all Heavenly Blessings Gifts and Graces spring so a growing up in him which was from Everlasting before Evil sprung up before the Vail was spread over when all was good yea very Good will be witnessed This is the converted Estate which those that are come unto it not only stand themselves but are able to streng then their Brethren who are begotten by the same Father and born of the same Mother And this Counsel Christ gave unto Peter that Zealous Affectionate Disciple after he had had Heavenly Sights and Revelations When thou art Converted Strengthen thy Brethren Let this be minded by all to whom the Lord hath appeared and given Discoveries of himself lest they take up their Rest by the way and like Peter and John at the Sight of the Transfiguration of Christ say Master it is Good for us to be here let us build Three Tabernacles one for Thee one for Moses one for Elias This they spoak in Ignorance while the Cloud over shadowed them while they saw his Payment shining exceeding white as Snow but did not see him not hear him as the Beloved Son of God nor understand the Vision Mark 9 therefore the Voice out of the Cloud saith to them This is my Beloved Son hear him c. Heights may separate as well as Depths therefore what Christ saith to one he saith to all Watch and Pray l●st ye enter into Temptation In hearing and obeying the Beloved Son there 's Peace Blessings and Safety but in hearing and obeying the Serpent Tribulation Anguish and Sorrow and great Danger which all that wait watch in that True Light The Light that shines in the heart is the safe Dwelling place of its Children where with they are enlightend enjoy the one and escape the other XVI The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Gospel or Glad Tidings of Salvation THE True Christian believes the Gospel or Glad Tidings of Life Liberty and Salvation and at the hearing the Joyful Sound thereof he is glad and he rejoyceth to see the Angel fly through the midst of Heaven having the Everlasting Gospel to preach again to them that dwell on the Earth Rev. 14.6 and to every Nation Kindred Tongue and People saying with a loud Voice Fear God and give Glory to him for the Hour of his Judgments is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth the Sea and Fountains of Water And the True Christian hath not only heard but obeyed this Gospel and he knoweth Life and Immortality brought to Light through this Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 and the Light of this Glorious Gospel shines in his Heart and he hath repented or turned to the Light thereof received and believed this Gospel Gal. 3.8 which is the Power of God unto Salvation which Gospel was preached unto Abraham and was and is now preached in every Creature under Heaven Col. 1.23 of this Gospel Paul was a Minister And the True Christian is come to the Mystery of the Fellowship of the Gospel That which judgeth the Secrets of Mens Hearts is the Gospel which stands not in Word but Power and is not of Man nor by Man but of God and this Gospel judgeth the Secrets of all Men and he is come to the Knowledge of the Mystery of the Gospel and through it hath received Life Liberty and Salvation and his Feet are shod with the Preparation of the GOSPEL of Peace and his Conversation is as becomes the Gospel and he adorns the Gospel of his Lord and Saviour and in this abiding he enjoyes the Priviledges of the Gospel and inherits the precious Promises made of old and enjoyes that which was prophecied of by that Evangelical or Gospel Prophet Isaiah when he saw and spoak of the Universal Love of God to be enjoyed in the Gospel Dayes in making a Feast unto all People In this Mountain shall the Lord of Host make unto all People a Feast of fat Things Isa 25.6 7 8 9. a Feast of Wine on the Lees of fat Thingsfull of Marrow of Wine on the Lees well refined and he will destroy in this Mountain the Face of the Covering that is cast over the Face of all People and the Vail that is spread over all Nations he will swallow up Death in Victory the Lord will wipe away Tears from all Faces and the Rebuke of his People will he take away from off all the Earth the Lord God hath spoken it And it shall be said in that Day Do this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him and we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation c. A Blessed Sight and Heavenly Prophecy which the True Christian is come and coming to the full Enjoyment and Fulfilling of Glory to God forever And the Anti-type of the Year of Jubile is now enjoyed and the Sabbath of Rest is entered into and the holy Mountain in which is no Destroyer is now dwelled in and the Light of God's Countenance is lifted up which makes the True Christian's Heart more glad then the Joy that comes with the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl many Prophets and Righteous Men saw that afar of which he now possesseth so that he can truly say Gospel-Times are Glorious Times the Priviledges of the Gospel are Glorious Priviledges ☞ Christ reigning and ruling in his Heart leading Captivity Captive and giving Victory over Death Hell and the Grave wiping away all Tears and taking away the Reproach being Sin which is a Reproach to any People and giving Power to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and no war with Spiritual Wickednesses in high Places and to bring down every High Thought and Imagination into the Obedience of Christ this Honour have all the Saints who receive the Gospel of Peace and Salvation and arive at the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Gospel and talks of Life Liberty and Salvation by it