and the voice of a Stranger And by the Spirit of the living God are we gathered up together up to God to worship him in Spirit and in Truth and are of one Heart and of one Mind and of one Soul and have all one Teachers and peak all one thing And we being all taught of the Lord are far from Oppression though we be Oppressed and for the Truths sake was I moved of the Lord to lay this before thee that our Conditions may be known that the Truth may not suffer under the reproach of the Heathen who live after the Flesh and Persecute them who live after the Spirit A word more to clear thy mistake when we spoke unto thee that the Lord would make thee an Instrument in his Hand to establish the Gospel wherein thou apprehendest us that should be established by an outward Law that was not our desire nor we spoke no such thing but we witness the coming of Christ in his Kingdom is not by Might nor Power nor Pomp nor Glory from without nor by any Law which is in the will of Man but our desires were that there should be no Law upon Religion for it needs no Law to defend it for pure Religion and undefiled is this to loose the bands of Wickedness and set the Oppressed free and take off every Yoke And where pure Religion is exercised this is the Fruits and if thou be guided by the pure Light of God shining in thy Conscience and the righteous Law set up in thy Heart and the Spirit of God thy Teacher then there need none â—â— desire thee to take away those Laws that ensnare tender Consciences and so they who pretend Conscience and are not guided by the pure Law of God will be seen by those who dwell in the Spirit to have erroneous Consciences and so this Law will take hold of them and the righteous Law is upon the Transgressor and limits the carnal Mind and fleshly Will but doth not limit the Spirit but is at Unity with it And therefore Friend to thy Conscience I speak and witness this to be true in the Presence of God that as thou art guided by this pure Light in thy Conscience and this Law of the Spirit set up in thy Heart thou canst not deny us for we are none of those which dispise Government and defile the Flesh who pull down others to set up themselves but all unfruitful works of darkness we deny and seek to advance the Government of Jesus Christ alone and love all and have unity with all who are here and honour all Men in the Lord and have fellowship with those whose Conversation is as becomes the Gospel of Christ and they who Rule and Live here cannot suffer any outward Law to take hold on us who stand in obedience to the Commands of Christ for there is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord sets free and commands obedience take heed how thou suffer any Law to limit that Spirit for they who are brought into the obedience of the Spirit are dear unto him as the Apple of his Eye and his care is over them and the Lord will free them from their Oppressors And thus were we pressed in Spirit to lay before thee our conditions and the conditions of our Brethren who are gathered into the eternal Unity where there is no Rent nor Schism that thou might not be ignorant of those things and to shew thee that our desire is not for any outward thing or self-advancing for all self we deny for we came contrary to our own will and we declare this unto thee contrary to our own will and if thou stand not in thy own will thou wilt hear us and own us in advancing the Lord Jesus Christ upon the holy-Hill of Sion that the Law might go out of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem and this we wait to see accomplished and his promise fulfilled in those who govern the Nations that the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ And thus we have laid our selves naked before thee in the Presence of God and cleared our Consciences to thee and leave it to that which is pure in thy Conscience to judge Take heed for he that is in high Places is subject to many Temptations This I was moved of the Lord to Write unto thee who is a Servant of the Lord and a lover of thy Soul called John Camm For E. V. and the rest of the Flock of God in and about Banbury DEarly beloved Friends and Brethren in the eternal everlasting Covenant of Love and Life doth my Soul dearly salute you all who in your Measures keep in the same Love and Life and grows up in your stature which is well pleasing to God Oh my dear Hearts in the Life and Power of God which casts down Sin and slayes the enmity and gives you Victory and Dominion over the World which keeps you and preserves in the hour of Temptation which shall come upon all men upon the Earth to try them but you abiding in the pure Eternal living Measure of God dwelling in his Life and Power which is your Rock and hiding place shall be kept out of the same which the Enemy hath laid to take your Souls and here is your safe dwelling place so the Lord God of Power in his Life and Power keep you all in your dwelling place which is the Lord that with the Measure of him you may be guided which leads up into the Land of Righteousness into the Holy City where the uncircumcised and the careless and disobedient cannot come so with Bowels of dear and tender love unto you all who are Children of my Father and kept in his work I bid you farewel in the Lord and in him I am your dear brother for evermore John Camm My Wife and little Thomas dearly salutes you who are faithful in your places farewel As for my outward health it is much like as it was I grow weaker in the outward man but in the Lord is my strength and my support continually Glory and pure Praises be unto him for evermore Amen J. C. John Camm's Letter the 5th day of the 11th Month 1654. to Friends DEarly beloved in our Head and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ our dear love in him Salutes you all yea truly the same love runs out unto you all who wait upon the Lord and abide in your Measures that we are loved with all of our Father and we are your Epistles written in your Hearts not with Pen and Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God and then you who are guided by the Light which comes from Christ Jesus may read us daily and truly you are dear and precious unto us as you abide and dwell in your Measures yea truly ye are our very Lines and the Seal of
him that stanas by let the first hold his peace And if Paul were here again to go up and down the Synagogues and dispute with them to bring them off the figures shadows to bring them up to the substance Queen Mary's Act would take hold of him and he was made manifest to the Consciences of all and here thy Act is contrary to that in the Conscience which would limit the Spirit of the Lord. And thy Act as Queen Mary's would take hold upon Amos and the rest of the Prophets and Christ who was supposed to be the Carpenter's Son who went up and down in the Synagogues and was hated of the Priests and when he spoke in the Synagogues they were full of fury and there again thy Law is contrary to that of God in the Conscience and except thou dost repent God will remove thy Kingdom and if thy Laws were upon them that act contrary to that in the Conscience Fighters Envious Quarrellers Drunkards Murderers and all Unrighteous such Laws we own this is wholsome and good but that which would limit the holy One and the Just we cannot own Secondly There is another Law which is acted contrary to that in the Conscience to put men to death for Cattel or Money when they were according to the Law of God to make restitution if not they were to be sold for their Theft and there they had space to repent for that in the Conscience will let them see what they have done Thirdly And another thing is acted in the Nation contrary to the Light of Christ in the Conscience men that cannot Swear but abide in the Doctrine of Christ who saith Swear not at all for what is more then Yea and Nay is evil And the Apostle said My Brethren Swear not at all lest you fall into Condemnation And some that cannot Swear such are Fined and Prisoned and many suffer now because they cannot Swear and so you would bring them into condemnation and into the evil contrary to the Doctrine of Christ Fourthly another Law is acted contrary to that of God in the Conscience that men are forced to pay Priests Tythes and so deny Christ come in the Flesh and if they will not pay Priests Tythes they sue them at the Law or Imprison them and that Law requires treble damages and this Law is Oppression contrary to that of God in the Conscience neither is there honesty in it I charge it upon you for Moses which had the Law and gave it forth to the Priests and People and the Priests that should receive Tythes they were to have a Store-House to put it in and it was to be filled with Tythes but it is not so with you and all the Strangers and the Widows and the Fatherless were to come to be filled within the Priests Gates and this the Priest was to Minister out of the Store-House a Figure of the Everlasting Priest who ministers out of the Everlasting Treasury The Apostle who preached him said the Presthood that received Tythes was changed and the Law was changed also yet you have a law that if any one do not pay the Priests Tythes he must pay treble damages or lye in Goal as many lye in Goal now because they cannot deny Christ come in the Flesh pay the Priests Tythes but they witness him and deny the changeable Priesthood which you give Tythes to but no Store-House who deny Christ come in the Flesh though you talk of him in words but no Store-House to Fill all the Widows the Fatherless and Strangers in England that there might be no beggar in England as there was no beggar to be in Israel but be sed within the Priests Gates which receive Tythes but by this Law by which your Priests receive Tythes you help the Priests to make many Beggars which is contrary to the Scriptures and that of God in the Conscience both and by that Law many Righteous ones suffer all who own Christ in Life suffer by your Law and are opprest and all your Laws acted contrary to that of God in the Conscience that of God in the Conscience will testifie and witness against you and your Laws and witness the Law of God which is according to that in the Conscience which is perfect and endures for ever You that Swear deny the Lord Jesus Christ that bought you and his Doctrine and you that compel men to give Tythes and you that take them are men that deny the Lord Jesus Christ come in the Flesh the substance you that sue men at the Law deny the Lord Jesus Christ for he saith In all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay be nay And if you had a Law given forth to keep peace upon them that act contrary to the Light of Christ in their Conscience and put in just mens Hands to be executed but such are turned forth that art faithful that are just and so here you encourage Evil doers Fighters Quarrellers and Drunkards that they that Fear the Lord can scarce pass to that in all your Consciences I speak that with it you may see your selves and what is acted in the Nation There is another thing in the Nation acted by them in authority which is contrary to that of God in the Conscience with such many have been Fined and Imprisoned because they could not respect Persons for if they did they were convinced by that in the Conscience to be Transgressors of the Righteous Law of God and their Judges Justices and Mayors would force them to Sin against and contrary to that of God in the Conscience in bowing to them with that and respect the Persons which that in the Conscience which is according to the Righteous Law of God saith Thou shalt not bow down to any nor Worship any but God and he that respects Persons and would have others to respect Persons is convinced by that in the Conscience to be a Transgressor of the Righteous Law of God to that of God in all your Consciences I speak which lets you see you should not do so and yet you do so and would have others to do so and them that do not ye Persecute Prison or Fine with great Sums of Money to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences I speak which shall condemn all you that act contrary to it and witness me eternally to that in the conscience I speak which respects to mans person He that receives the Law from God dwells in the Light of God and he doth not respect any mans person nor the Law which is received from God and he that doth respect persons this Law goes upon him and that in his Conscience which is according to the Law of God doth convince him to be a Transgressor of this Law. And whereas the Priests should have Store-houses that the Fatherless Children and Widows might thither come and be refreshed that there might be no Beggar in England as there was to be no Beggar
towards God and let you see that God is near and present who is terrible and dreadful to the wicked in him the Righteous rejoyce and are glad so wait all for Counsel from God and God Almighty direct your minds for all your Laws which have been made and acted in that nature from the Light and contrary to it and the Law of God which is according to the Light of Christ in your Consciences all those Laws that have been acted from it and contrary to the Light of Christ have been made with the murderous nature with the Light which Christ hath enlightned every one that comes into the World withal with this Light they are all to be condemned and with the perfect Law of God to be judged which is according to the Light of Christ in the Conscience which Light of Christ owns the Law of God and which Law of God owns the Light of Christ in every mans Conscience and the Light of Christ in every mans Conscience which is perfect witnesseth the Law of God to be perfect and witnesseth against all Laws which is contrary to the Light of Christ in every mans Conscience and which is contrary to the Law of God which is according to that in the Conscience So to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences I do speak that you with it may wait upon God to receive your Law from God which is perfect and endures for ever else your Laws which you make in your own wills which is not perfect and doth not endure for ever which the Law of God doth and that in the Conscience So with the Light of Christ all such Laws Law-givers and Law-makers are to be condemned with the Light of Christ which doth endure for ever and the Law of God which is perfect and doth endure for ever all such are judged with it which are contrary to it So this is the Word of God to you and Warning to you all They that be in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ do not respect Persons they that be out of the Faith of our Lord Jesus do respect Persons though they may profess him and then the Life makes the difference as it is manifest now in England who be in the Faith who be out of the Faith and they that be in the perfect Law of God according to the Light of Christ in the Conscience do not respect Persons for he that doth respect Persons is convinced by the Light of Christ in the Conscience to be a Trasgressor of the Law of God so that they that do respect Persons do walk contrary to that in the Conscience and the Law of God and are convinced by the Light of Christ in the Conscience and to be Transgressors and this is for all the Powers on Earth take Warning that with the Light of Christ you may see what you act and what you acted from contrary to this Light you are to be condemned by it all ye that â—espect Persons walk contrary to the Law of God and to the Faith There is the difference the one lives in the Light of Christ which witnesseth the Law of God which is perfect and the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ which none of these that do live here do respect Persons now all those that do profess the Law of God and Faith and respect Persons are out of it and here it is the Life that makes the difference and in it is the Unity J. C. TO the Heads and General of this Land to stand in the Counsel of God that you may be directed by his Wisdom which orders all things for by it all things were made and if you make a Law with your own wills over that in the Consciences of men that God will throw down you and your Laws For that which exerciseth the Conscience is the pure Light of God which leads up to God out of all Filthiness and Uncleanness and Corruption which the Law of God takes hold upon he or them that act contrary to a pure Conscience let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God for Conscience sake now if a Law be made over the Conscience that is pure that Law is against God and many for keeping their Conscience clean did suffer death as God hath given to every one a Light and a measure to profit withall mind every one that which is of God in you to teach you to walk to God before him and as it teacheth you and enlightens your understandings it will teach how to direct others and so to judge of things eternal so far as that is born up in your understandings which is eternal and as every one hath a measure so every one to improve his Talent and not limit God to learned men as hath long been which have learned but their naturall Languages so their original grounds are external their Word and Light is external and their Preaching and Gift is external and they go to you Magistrates who have an external Law to uphold them in their external Ministry for your Law doth alter and change which is external now that which is external with it to judge things eternal that cannot be but to limit God for he that hath the first gift of God hath that which is perfect and that which is perfect is eternal and such have a descerning to know the gift of God from the gift of man and who are sent to Preach the Everlasting Gospel hath that which is eternal that which is everlasting hath no end and he that judgeth of these things is eternal that can discern the everlasting Gospel from words and the promise was that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head now thou that canst witness the head of the Serpent bruised in thee and the Seed of the Woman Head in thee which is Christ witnesseth the Promises of God fulfilled in thee which is the glad Tidings to the Soul and the Soul come out of death and here is Christ Jesus revealed within and this Ministry is not of man nor by man but by the Will of God which the Will of man knows not For the natural man knows not the things of God Now every man in his first birth and state may see himself but natural and not able to judge of the things of God which are eternal but the Spiritual man judgeth all things yea the deep things of God but this is the Second birth the new man therefore all Friends take heed of judging with evil thoughts that mind that respects Persons judgeth with evil thoughts and it is the carnal part within who is not of the Faith but who is of the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ is without respect of Persons and therefore as God hath given you a measure of a Light within let that guide your minds and keep you in the Fear of the Lord and if you
his Power will descend wonderfully in an increasing manner and his Glory will shine his River of Life flow yea rhe Spring of the great deep will be broken up and the Windows of Heaven will be opened that you may be abundantly filled with Joy and Thanksgivings holy Renown and Songs of deliverance with spiritual high Praises ascending his Throne which will be as sweet Incense and a Sacrifice acceptable to our God. And here you shall spend the residue of your days in Dominion over both the Snares of the Enemy attending Prosperity and Liberty Adversity and Persecution seeing over all things that have their rise in Mortality and Time feeling Mortality swallowed up of Life immortal and so gathered to the general Assembly to the Church of the first born to the Spirits of just Men made perfect yea to the first and last God the Judge of all to whom be immortal high Praises and holy Renown for ever and for evermore But if the wonderful Blessings tender Mercies and following loving Kindnesses that the Lord God Almighty every way extends unto us in this Age be not duely reverently and obediently taken notice of but instead thereof any shall forsake and be unmindful of the Lords tender Mercies and thereby imbrace lying Vanities going out of the spiritual Diligence into a spiritual Idleness through which a spiritual Slumber overtakes and the Lamp thereby be inwardly neglected the spiritual Watch and Cross slighted and not duely regarded but the Earth and earthly things take up the exercise of the Mind and Affections Then I say instead of injoying what is above expressed Tribulation and Anguish will seize upon all such and the dreadful Judgement of the eternal God that lives for ever and ever will overtake all such unfaithfulness A dreadful Cup ye shall drink of from the Hand of God and distress from the rebukes of the Lord shall distress you and you shall be numbred amongst the people of his Indignation in his dreadful approaching day of signal pleadings with all Flesh that have corrupted its way before him and therefore hear fear and dread the holy Name of the Lord and whilest it s called to day bow before him and speedily return unto him least your day pass over and ye sleep the Sleep of eternal Death and Destruction and be separated for ever from his refreshing Presence in which is Life and from the glory of his divine Power Therefore all dear Friends every where retire inwardly see feel and understand the Counsel of the Lord which unto you springs all retire inward that are not there in great humility before the Lord that you may feel the blessed Work of God blessedly begun perfecting your inward man growing in the Root of Life and as you have professed the Knowledge of a spiritual Oracle before the Nations you may approve your selves in the sight of God following its Instructions in all things and go not without it lean upon the Lord and cry to him to gu de you with his Eye and lead you by his Arm and so guide you in the way everlasting and this is his promise whilest you keep with him he will be with you never leaving nor forsaking you if you do not leave and forsake him his Presence and glorious Arm of Salvation shall surround you to the renown of his Name and consolation of his People Amen Amen C. Marshall The Several BOOKS EPISTLES Written By those Two Faithful Servants of the LORD John Camm and John Audland John Camm to O. Cromwell ON the last day of the first Moneth called March about two of the Clock in the Morning I was moved of the Lord to write these ensuing Lines and to lay before thee the cause of our coming hither to London Friend we came not to thee to Petition any thing from thee in the outward but in the tender Bowels of Love to exhort thee to mind thy own condition how thou standest in relation to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is Powerful and Pure and Holy who will not acquit the Wicked but will wound the hairy scalp of him who goes on in iniquity before whose Presence all stands naked and bare who knows and sees all the secrets of thy Heart thy out-goings and in-comings to whom thou must give account of all things done in the Body whether they be good or evil Therefore in love to thy Soul were we moved to come to exhort thee to stand in the fear of the Lord and in his Counsel and to mind the Light in thy Conscience which is puâ—e and oâ— God to guide thee in the great Affairs of the Nations for to keep in his fear is safe for dreadful and terrible will the day of the Lord be to all who are found out of his fear and acting in their own wills and bounding and limiting the Spirit of the Lord and walking contrary to the pure Law of God the Light in their Consciences And we knowing the Terrors of the Lord were moved to exhort thee in love to thy Soul for the righteous Seeds sake which lies in bondage every where under the oppressing nature that thou might'st be an Instrument in the Lords Hand to take off Oppression from of the necks of the â—eople and to remove their Yoke which hath been promised long and now the power is in thy Hand and thou must give an account to the Lord how thou hast Ruled for him for the mighty day of the Lord is come and is coming wherein all Faces shall gather blackness it is a day of Darkness of bitter Lamentation and Woe at whose Presence the Mountains shall melt and the Hills shall tumble down before him and all the tall Cedars shall bow and the strong Okes shall be broken down and the Roofs rent and the Earth shall remove out of its place it s a day wherein the Lord will plead with all Flesh with his Sword and with Fire In which day the Lofty shall be brought down and the Lord alone exalted which day we witness fulfilled in us in measure Praises Praises to the Lord God for evermore And therefore Friend we having this Testimony made manifest in us by the eternal Spirit of God we declare this unto thee that thou mayest not be found acting against the Truth for they who are guided by the Spirit of God will do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth By which Spirit we are gathered out of the World up to God and have escaped the Polutions of the World and by it we are brought in obedience to the pure Law of God which is written in our Hearts and his Spirit within us is our Teacher and so we deny all the teachings of Men who have not this Law and Spirit to guide them and for so doing we suffer by them who are not guided by that Spirit For my Sheep know my Voice saith Christ and they follow me and will not follow a Stranger and we know the voice of Christ
you in the Blood of his Son and made you a kind of first Fruits unto God to walk up to the Praise and Glory of his Name who hath called you where your strength and rest is forever And therefore all dear Brethern and Sisters in the Eternal Covenant of Life stand fast unmoveable unshaken in the Rock of Ages which never changes but abides for evermore there is your Shield and there is your Refuge there is your Castle where the Enemy cannot storm you nor the wild Beasts devour you in the living Measure of the living God where the living is refreshed with the fresh Streams which flows out from the Eternal Fountain of Love which refresheth the City of God which City you are as you abide in your Measures for you are the Temples of the Holy Ghost but if any Man defile his Temple him will God destroy for no unclean thing can dwell with him And therefore I exhort you all that you be faithful to the Measure of Light which is pure it being the guide of your minds will lead you out of all impurity and uncleanness for he that is the Light is the Messenger of the Covenant and by his Light shining in you he is come into his Temple to sit as a Refiner and as a Fuller to purifie the Sons of Levi. Now the Light which comes from Christ Jesus being the guide of all your minds leads you up into Unity with him from whence the Light comes and there we are one for evermore and cannot be separated Now the Light shining in the Conscience it maks manifest all the dark ways and rips up Man and discovers all deceit and judges it so that which lies betwixt the Light which shines in the Conscience and the Soul comes to be judged and cast out and so the dead comes to hear the Voice and the Graves comes to be opened and the quickning Spirit to be witnessed and the Light and the Soul comes to be joyned and here the Lord comes to be praised by the living for its the living that praises him for the dead and they that go down into the Pit cannot praise him and all they who are in death who knows not Redemption by the Light to them this is a Mystery and the sealed Book that neither the Learned nor unlearned can read in the disobedient and dark nature which is shut out from God forever but to you who follow the Lamb in the Regeneration through the Tribulation this to you is unsealed and you are made witnesses of the Sufferings and Death and Resurrection of Christ in you which is the hope of your Glory and to you it is given to know the Mysteries but to others it is a Parable and must not be revealed to them for blessed be the Name of the Lord it cannot be known but in the pure Life as it s lived in and here the wisdom of the wise is confounded and the Counsel of the Prudent is brought to nought by the Eternal Counsel and Wisdom of our God Glory to his Name for evermore And now my dear Brethren and Sisters as one with you in the Eternal Covenant of Life according to the Measure of Grace received from God I write unto you as a Brother and a Servant of the living God having received the like precious faith with you I say I write unto you to stir up your pure minds or to put you in remembrance of the Grace of God to you as one who desires the good of your Souls as my own and the recovery of the Image of God and am a Sufferer with you for the Seeds sake but waits in Patience until the day of deliverance of it from the bondage of Captivity which the Lord is bringing to pass in this his day of Power and now Death and Hell must give up their Dead for Death is now come to be swallowed up of Victory and all who abide faithful to the end shall witness the Sting of Death taken away the which in measure I witness and now wait ready to be offered up being in weakness of the outward Body but in much peace and quiet in the inward praised be the Lord forever and not knowing that I shall ever see your Faces any more in the outward but steadfastly believes to meet you and to be joyned to you in the Unity of the Body whereof Christ Jesus is our Head where the Bond of peace and love is kept and where all Sorrows and Troubles is done away and for this cause was I moved to write unto you these few Lines as an Epistle to be read and witnessed in the Hearts where you may read me continually in the Measure of God which is but one in which we own know and read one another where the World knows us not And now to the Lord God and to the Word of his Grace I commit you which is able to keep you and preserve you pure and spotless and undefiled and will present you blameless unto the Lord if you abide in it and will give you an inheritance amongst them that are Sanctified and therefore be faithful unto the end for he that endures unto the end shall be saved but he that turns back my Soul taketh no pleasure in him saith the Lord and therefore bold and valient be for the Truth upon Earth following the Captain of our Salvation Christ Jesus the high Priest of our Profession who endured the Cross and despised the shame and sate down at the right Hand of God the Father forever and hath led Captivity Captive and hath given to us the Comforter the Spirit of Truth which the World cannot receive but leads us into all Truth who are giuded by it and is the Worlds condemnation This lay upon me to write unto you being weak upon my Bed in Compassion and love to all your Souls who desires the Growth of every Plant of my Heavenly Fathers planting that they may bring forth Fruit to the Glory of his Grace for herein is he glorified that ye bring forth much Fruit So in the Eternal unchangable ever living and never failing Love of God in that I bid you all farewel And in that am I knit and united unto you and death cannot be able to separate us for in that Love there is Union for evermore and so I subscribe yours in that and known to the World by the Name John Camm This was given forth at Bristol when he lay in great weakness upon his Bed on the Year 1665. John Audlands and John Cam's Letters To all dear Friends who love the Light in about Bristol Dear Friends YOu whose minds are turned towards God by the pure Light of God to wait upon the Lord in his Fear Grace Mercy and Peace from God be multiplyed in you and amongst you that you may grow and abound in the pure Life of God growing up every one of you in particular in your own measure having your minds stayed upon the Lord to
Eternal Strength and Power of the Lord and in his Light to keep that you may see the Tempter and his Temptations and so you may escape them So that the mighty Power of the Eternal only Wise God keep and preserve you all and give you Dominion of and over all the Beasts of the Field and Fowls of the Air that you may reign above the World and tread upon it to his own everlasting Praise and Glory Amen Farewel Dear Hearts our Life is with you and as you grow into the Life you are near and dear unto us for the Life is but one so we cease to writ but still we are with you our Dear Ones our Love is great unto you you may read it in the Light and feel it in the Life Farewel yours in the unchangeable Love. Salute us to all our Friends John Camm John Audland FRiends of God and Brethren a Warning to you all from the Lord God and Jesus Christ that all what you speak it may be plain in plainness of speech according to that of God in you the Light Christ that all your words be words of Life to the Life and death to the death where it reigns above the Light and that all the words which are spoken may be in plainness of speech and with the Light and in it that the Light of Christ in all Consciences which he hath inlightned every one withal may witness the Words to be Words of Life so that dwelling in the Light to that which shall condemn all the World you may be made manifest the Light in all Consciences which shall be their Condemnation you that dwell in the Light walk in the Light as Children of the Light use plainness of Speech and plain Words single Words in the single Life pure Words from the pure Life seasoned Words seasoned with Grace and Savoury seasoned with the Grace of God which tâ—acheth to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts who live in Ungodliness and worldly Lusts turn this Grace of God into Wantonness which are light and vain whose Words are not savoury and seasoned with Grace whose Words edifie not upon whom God will render Vengence in Flames of Fire which shall be separated from his Presence and his Angels Therefore Friends plainness of Speech all dwell in which dwelling in the Light it will bring you into Plainness and few Words to live in the Life that gave forth the Scriptures and to grow up in the Life which gave forth the Scriptures before the Scriptures were given forth and in it you will see their Conditions that dwelt in the Life and gave forth the Scriptures and with this Light you will see their conditions which was testified who was out of the Life with them who was out of the Life with them who dwelt in the Light and with it all comes to be seen and read and understood which was given forth with the Life and from the Life and all come to be known in plainness and with Plainness it is spoken forth again which came not by the will of man for no Prophesie of the Scriptures came by the will of man all the Prophesies of it were out of the will of man and they witnessed and Prophesied of Christ who was born not by the will man which was supposed to be the Son of Joseph which was the Son of God and all the Apostles were made Ministers by the Will of God and not by man nor of man but by the Will of God and so then they witnessed Christ who were not born by the will of man which were made Ministers not by the will of man and they witnessed that no Prophesie of the Scripture in old time came by the will of man neither was it of any private Interpretation but holy men of God did speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost the Holy moved which is but one and all who be in their own will and have the Scriptures and make a Profession of it which came not by the will of man are in the Blasphemy and Persumption the Unpardonable Sin and with the Light of Christ which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World with that Light shall they be condemned that hate it and live in your own wills and so the Unity is in that which condemns the World and all that live in their own wills which come not by the will of man for they who live in their own wills and make a Profession of the Scriptures there are the Sects and Opinions and there is no Unity and they have not Unity among the Sects but only in nature a Oneness but in their meaning they have not Unity in their meaning in the Letter yet one in Nature that which comes not by the will of man but is contrary to his will and contrary to all the World and overturns them which is according to that of God in all Consciences in that we have Unity which shall Testifie against every mans Face when he acts contrary to it and with it he shall be judged and condemned in his own Knowledge and Understanding And you all walking in the Light it will bring you all to Plainness and Pureness and Singleness of Speech which will make the deceit to tumble and the mystery of iniquity to shake which lodgeth in the Temple of God and sits there where it ought not and is exalted above that which is called God now with the Brightness of his coming he is discovered and with the Breath of his Mouth he is consumed so dwelling all in the eternal Power of God and the pure Light of God that you may be a terror to all Evil-doers and to all Ungodliness and to all who act in unrighteousness and live in Uncleanness and so you will come to use plain Words and plainness of Speech to them all no Flattering shall dwell no Inchanter no Witch shall live no Hypocrisie shall stand before the Judgment of God but shall be as the Chaff and shall be driven to and fro that the Scriptures may be fulfilled upon them and all that are out of the plainness with the Light that Christ hath enlightned them withal with that eternal Light shall they be condemned and confounded in time for this Light is out of time though it be as in time which lets Men and Women see all their actings done in time and hating this Light is their condemnation and all loving this Light and walking in it you come to walk in that which is the World's Condemnation and shall condemn the World from God from Christ and all who are of God To you all this is the Word of God which is against all mens wills that in that which is contrary to the wills you may all wait and walk for that will lead you from all your thoughts and desires and with it you shall have them all judged there wait and you will witness the Birth born not by the will of man and this is
in Israel but the Priests and their Agents in taking treble damages by vertue of your Law have made both Widows and Fatherless to beg by reason of their cruel Oppression for they took of one Widow in lieu of her Tythes 11 s. 4 d. when all her whole Estate after her Debts were paid would not yield to so much and so left Widow and Fatherless both to beg or starve and this is their charity to the poor and many more in Westmoreland Lancashire and Cumberland who stand in obedience to the righteous Law made manifest and witness the substance and deny Types and so cannot put into the Priests Mouthes they make them pay some double damages and some treble damages to the making many poor for they that depart from Iniquity are a prey to this Generation for the Law that is made by the will of man is made a snare and a trap to take hold of them who stand in obedience to the righteous Law of God which is according to that of God in the Conscience and this other is contrary to the Law of God in the Conscience And this was I moved to write to the Heads and Rulers of the Natitions who sit in Counsel together to exhort and charge them to stand in the Counsel of God and to mind the righteous Law of God which is according to that in the Conscience that this Law of yours may be put in Execution to be executed by righteous men who respect no mans person and then it will take hold upon the Transgressors and they who live up in obedience to this Law of God which is pure which endures forever will own and witness you and your Law if you be obedient to this Law of God which is pure and according to that of God in every mans Conscience for this Law is not made for the Righteous but for the Transgressor and if these be owned by you in your lives you will put it in execution and it will take hold upon all Lyars Swearers Drunkards Whore-mongers Dissemblers Cheaers Hypocrites and Persecutors of those who obey this Righteous Law of God and it will take hold upon all Fighters Quarrellers and vain-Contenders and upon all false Teachers who pretend themselves Ministers of Christ but abide not in the Doctrine of Christ which respect mens Persons but are Antichrists and deny the Scriptures in their lives but take them to trade withal and so deceive the people telling them they are gifted sell them the Letter and so kill them for the Letter killeth and so devour Souls for dishonest gain the Lord hath a Controversie with them hold them not up For if you partake with them in their Sin you will partake with them in their Plagues for their Fruits make them manifest for if any in obedience to this Righteous Law put not into their Mouthes they prepare War against them and sue them at Law or Agents for them and take treble damages as many can witness in these four Northern Countries and so they oppress the righteous and none resist them and now it is come to you who are over the Nations and it stands at your door and if you suffer those things to be and count it just I will visit you for these things saith the Lord For I bear testimony against them and my witness is true that they are cruel oppressors greedy devourers Caterpillars who have done no good at all but kept the People in blindness and ignorance making them light and vain strenghning their hands in iniquity and shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men that if any would return from their evil ways they would pull them back all the Scriptures witnes against them if you will own Scriptures and that in your Consciences witnesseth against them for you had experience of them and if you hold up that which is contrary to your Conscience God is greater and wil condemn you and cut you down were not your Promises and Covenants to take oppression from off the People of God have you forgotten the days of your calamity and hardship when you vowed unto the Lord and prayed unto him and he hath preserved you and were not all your pretences to take off Oppression and now the Power is in your hand and the Lord hath left you without excuse for now you have time to pay your Vows unto the Lord and to take off oppression and to take away all those Laws which are contrary to the Law of God which is pure and if ye will not own the Lord in his own work he will do it another way and you shall be cast by as not worthy with the rest that were cast out before you who were not worthy and therefore if you will own the righteous Law of God which is pure he will own you and preserve you but if you uphold those Laws which are according to the will of man and contrary to the will of God you shall be as dust before the Wind the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And thus I have cleared my conscience unto you and that of God in your consciences shall eternally witness me to be a Lover of your Souls and of the righteous Seed of God a well-wisher of the peace of Sion called by the World. J. C. I Will arise now saith the Lord and Thresh and Scatter and beat to pieces now will I arise saith the Lord and all bonds must be broken asunder which are made with the earthly will and all Churches gathered with the earthly will with the Letter who have not the Life will be scattered and broken asunder that the pure it self may arise which suffers those by bonds which the carnal mind makes Laws Acts but now will I raise saith the Lord who is the King the Law-giver and all who have not received the Law from him but make Laws with their inventions must fall and all their counsel come to nothing in the end though they may stand and have their time a while and therefore to that in every one of your Consciences I speak which is the Light of Christ in it wait to guide your minds to God and it is but one and it will call you out of your reasonings and turn your minds towards God and deny all that which doth protect and preserve that which is not of God and condemn it and where God is made manifest to reign for that doth protect the just and is a terrour to the unjust in your selves and without so wait all in your measure on the Light of God within to guide your minds to God that ye may grow as plants to receive the living Water to nourish you to eternal Life to that which is pure in every one of you do I speak which shall witness me and condemn all you that hate it which if you take heed to it it will call your minds out of the World to forsake the lusts and pleasures of it and turn your minds
for their way of Worship it being ancient and they which differed from them their way was but new in appearnce I say the Jews might plead for their Way far more groundedly than many now especially people who neither Live in their Way of Worship according to the Jews under the Law no not yet according to the Saints in the Primitive times And those that profess themselves Christians and yet persecute the Innocent they are far more guilty than the Jews were inasmuch as they both profess more Light and also walk so quite contrary to their own Profession yea and to the example of Christ whom they profess and the true Christians who said Love your Enemies pray for them that persecute you not persecute them that pray for you Neither had the Saints such Weapons to bring people into their Church as is now used but spiritual Ones mighty through God and went forth in his Power this brought People to be of one Heart and one way and to serve the Lord with one mind which force with carnal Weapons will never accomplish to bring people to be of one way Obj. And as it s said But some will yeild and then we will rejoyce in that Ans 'T is answered That 's a bad Work to force People and compel them to deny that which God hath made manifest to them to be Truth and the greater is their Sin that so do 'T is said that Saul compelled some to blaspheme against the Name of Jesus when he raged so against them but he afterwards confessed it as a great Sin And though some did so or do so yet that is no confirmation to the Persecutors that they are in the Way of God no nor yet a true Testimony against the persecuted that they are not in the Way of God neither doth it truly convert men at all Indeed force and compulsion may make some men conform to that outwardly which otherwise they would not do but that is nothing of weight their Hearts are never the better but are rather worse and more Hypocrites than before for force doth but make Hypocrites at the most for it is God alone by his Powerful Word of Life operating in the Hearts of People that changeth them and reneweth them in the Spirit of their minds and brings them into the true Service and Worship even to draw near him with their Hearts and to Worship him in Spirit and Truth and it 's out of man's power and that which God doth not require of men at this day to force by penalties and carnal Weapons to this or that Worship and is absolutely against the Practice of the Saints and the Spirit of Jesus as also against Christ's Royal Law which is Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do ye unto them Now let every man make it his own case He saith his way is the way of God and anothers is not Well then would he be forced to leave his own way and to go to the other which he is not satisfied of to be occording to the mind of God especially when nothing is offered to convince his Conscience or perswade his mind and understanding but Force and Compulsion Surely no man would be so dealt with in his own case Obj. But if it be said We have Power and a Law and we are wise and learned men and we would not be forceed from our Religion but we would force people to ours Ans This hath no weight in it at all for you ought to put your selves in the same capacities as them you deal with are and to consider your selves in their condition they are as strongly it may be more perswaded in their Consciences by the Spirit of God that their Way is right than you are of yours Well then weighing these things would you be forced Would you have others to deal so with you if you were in their condition and they in yours Let God's Witness answer in all Consciences and see if these ways of forcing in matters of Conscience to God wards be not quite contrary to the practice of the Saints and to the Royal Law of Christ Obj. Besides though it be said But we judge we are in the right and our way is the true way Ans It 's answered You may be mistaken many hath that have had thoughts their way was right and while you have not the infallible Witness of God's Spirit with you to testifie to your way peradventure you may err as the former Forcers have done and then you cause people to Sin if you could force them to Blaspheme and to deny as Saul did for if he that turneth a Sinner from the error of his way who hath erred from the Truth doth save a Soul and hide a multitude of Sins then they that force people from the Way of God and cause them to err doth bring Souls into death and so bring Innocent Blood upon themselves yea the Blood of Souls which will be a great weight in the Day of God's account Obj. But if it be further said How then How must we do there is so many ways that People might be brought to one way to serve God Ans Do what God requireth of you and no more and then we shall never suffer by you nor under you Do justly love mercy and walk humbly with your God this is better than the fâ—t of Rams 't is better than all the outward Sounds and Ceremonies and bodily exercise while the heart is far from the Lord And if you judge you are in the right and your way is right come forth then with spiritual Weapons mighty ones in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and let us see you shine forth in his Image let this be your covering your white Robes even the Righteousness of Christ which is the Righteousness of the Saints and let us see your meekness patience gentleness and good example your readiness by word and deed to convince Gain-sayers in the Power and Gospel of Christ your love to Enemies your selfdenial your subjection to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Oh this would reach our hearts then God's Witness would answer to you and this would answer the good part in all and this is the way to bring people to be of one mind in the Truth this is God's way this is the way the Saints walked in this is the way we love and desire and this also would be of good report amongst all good people but the contrary force and compulsion with a hasty froward proud envious Spirit with Staff and Club and carnal Weapons and Stocks and Prisoning of People against whom there is no occasion but concerning the Law of their God and matters which are really of Conscience to God-wards We say this will never be justified by the Lord nor effect the end neither nor be of good report amongst sober People nor answer the good part in people And moreover the Lord God of Life will turn
us that the Way in which we walk is according to his Mind and Will and we look not for direction in our Religion by Mans wisdom or will how we shall serve and worship God for we know its God alone by his Spirit that leads people in the Exercise of the true Religion as it is written I the Lord teacheth thee to profit and leadeth thee in the way in which thou shouldest go and lo we are content with our Religion which the Lord hath led us into and in the exercise of it we have Gods Blessing filling our Hearts with Love and Joy Peace and Satisfaction in which our Souls are comforted and we look not for another Religion contrary to that which we are in but our hearts are fixed waiting upon the Lord and we received it from the Lord and not upon any such terms as to continue in it till Man made a Law against it or speak against it and no longer but even as the Way of Truth was made manifest to us so to press on in it unto the end And we see the Ways and Religions of Men to be so changable sometimes one way and sometimes another that it appears to us as if Men received their Religion but till Orders of another sort of Men to the contrary And we see many people so ready to part with their Religion and take up another that gives us just ground to believe they found not the Presence of God with them in their Way and Exercise And so it s but loose with them and they can leave it upon occasion rather than suffer the loss of any thing for it and this makes us prize that which God hath made manifest to us the more because we receive Refreshment from the Lord in the Exercise of our Religion besides if we had been void of the true Religion till this day we should have been as unstable as others tossed about with winds of Doctrine and have known no true Rest to our Souls but it is well known that we were of the same mind that we are now in the time of the former powers and we received not our Religion from them neither but from the Lord our God neither was our Religion or we in the Exercise of it confirmed by any Law or Decree of theirs but on the contrary did suffer much hardship under them and by them whom they cherished at that time in the Religion which they allowed and they then said Theirs was the right Way and they Stockt and Prisoned many who were contrary to them And now others say they are in Way and useth force and such like to them that differ from them One said the Law is on our side and we are in the right the others say The Law is on our side and we are in the right and you must conform or suffer deeply We say None of these things can perswade our Consciences but come forth in the Power of the Lord as good Examples with spiritual Weapons if you will perswade us for we cannot with a safe Conscience leave our Religion which the Lord hath led us into by his own Power upon these things but must rather give up to suffer in the Will of the Lord for we know plainly it is God alone by his Power that doth bring people into the true Worship And this is according to the Scriptures of Truth and also to the Service which is now allowed for 't is said in the Collect for that which is called the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity Almighty and most merciful God of whose only Gift it cometh that thy faithful ful People do unto thee true and laudable Service Now then if it come only by the Gift of God that the faithful do true Service unto God then they that would force people from serving God according to his Gift given them would force them from the true and laudable Service of God and do make them act contrary to the Gift of God and unavoidably lead and force people from the true Worship of God into hypocrisie and a false feigned lifeless and heartless Worship in which the Lord takes no pleasure And so this being truly considered we can put it to the Consciences of all that fear the Lord to judge whether he can with a safe Conscience leave our Religion which God hath led us into and and the exercise of it according to the Gift of God by which only true Service is done to God in which also we find acceptance with God through Jesus Christ and go to a Religion in the will of Man contrary to the Gift of God by Force and Compulsion where we could not act affectionately with our Hearts nor yet find the Blessing and Presence of God with us acting contrary to the Gift of God Truly it is in our Hearts and Consciences as the Truth of the Lord that we may not falsly do it But if any should object and say Your Religion is but new or of a late standing Ours is a Hundred Years old or thereabouts since Popery was brought from having the upper-hand in this Nation for they forced but they were out of the way but ours is a Reformed Church 'T is answered That though the Name or Denomination by which we are distinguished from other people be but of late Years which was cast upon us by some that mocked us because of the Power of the Lord which caused many to quake and tremble yet the Life in which we live and the Truth which we profess is ancient and the Practice in which we are exercised in the Worship of God is according to the Truth and Practice of the Saints of old And so it might be said of the Saints and of Paul when he was converted and turned from the Jews Worship that it was a new Religion but it was the mighty Power of God that changed them though many in that day opposed them And so we say Force now with Prisons and carnal Weapons is of the same nature as it was formerly in the Papists and others for they said they had a Law and they were the true Church and they forced about Religion and killed many and now here is but the same Argument The Law saith so and so Therefore we see the same Nature forcing now as formerly as it 's said He that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now And for being of a Hundred Years standing this adds no strength to it at all for the Jews Religion was far more ancient and yet being in the Persecuting nature and resisting the Holy One and the Just though they professed God with their Mouth yet that would not cover them nor will it cover people now to profess God with their Mouth while they are found in the Nature Steps and Practice of them who Persecuted the Saints and Servants of God in Ages past And for that which is said That we are but of late
Heir of another World and Heir of the certain Riches which is manifest to that of God in all Consciences so to you all to use plain words and plainness of Speech so to you all this is a Warning from the Lord who are in the Light and love the Light which Christ hath enlightned you withall which is contrary to your wills and to all mens wills that with it you may use plainness of Speech to all to be made manifest to that which they hate which is their condemnation and shall condemn the World from God from Christ and all who are of God To you all this the Word of God which is against all mens wills that in that which is contrary to your wills you may all wait and walk for that will lead you from all your thoughts and desires And you all in the Light which Christ hath enlightned you withal abide so in him you will abide in Christ who is the Vine and every one will come to witness the Branch abiding in the Vine and sitting under the Vine So to you all this is the Word of the Lord which is not no go among the World which hate the Light but to Friends that you may come to use plainness of Speech this was I moved of the Lord to send out amongst you as a Message to all Plants of the Lord if you spake any thing contrary to the Light which Christ hath enlightned you withal with the Light you are to be condemned and if you do not speak when you are moved and live in the Light and walk in the Light with the Light you are to be condemned and if you do speak Experiences and not dwell in the Light but in Hypocrisie and Presumption and Envy without the Fear of God thou art to be thrown down and with the Light condemned from God and woe upon thy Head from God and Christ proceedeth thou Hypocrite art to be thrust out with the Light and judged with the Light and all who are in the Life and with the Life Therefore in the Light dwell and walk every one in particular then you will all have Unity one with another and grow up to be Trees of Righteousness the Planting of the Lord. We are not of many Religions which is no true Religion but of one Religion which is the true Religion which hath not been by us taken on by Imitation but gathered into it by the Eternal Spirit and it planted in us by the same Spirit And we are not known nor can be by any thing but by that which we live in which was in the beginning which is not subject unto time but which comprehends all time and that which hath its rize in Time. So if any would us know and our Principles they must come to live in the same for none knows us but who are with us in the Unity in that which was before Time which neither had Beginning nor shall have End in that we comprehend all Sects and Opinions and see their Rice and Foundation And from the Life which was before they were we declare against them all for by it out of them all we are come into that which was before their Foundation and by it we judge their Foundation and their Actions acted by the Principles which with God hath not unity which the Principle of God hath victory dominion over So he that would us know and our Religion must come out of many things into one to abide in it and walk in it only and as he knows God he will know us who are of him and as the man of Sin is cast out in him which makes a separation so will he have Unity and Fellowship with God and with us in that unto which the will of man is contrary and doth oppose which Will must be cast out for it cannot inherit or enter but keeps in the Enmity against the Seed of God which is opposed where the Head of the Serpent is not bruised but where the Serpents Head is bruised by the Seed of the Woman the Enmity is slain and the Seed raised and the Seed is the Head and the Head is exalted and he that witnesseth this hath Unity with us and in it we rejoyce together and our Joy no man can take from us for he reigns which hath overcome the world and gives the Victory over the World by which Spirit we bear witness against the World that the Deeds thereof are Evil Therefore are we hated and reproached by the World but this is our Riches John Audland John Camm Some Particulars concerning the Law sent to Oliver Cromwell Who is Chief Ruler in these Nations according to man And to the Counsellors who sit in Counsel with him wherein is plainly laid down the difference betwixt the righteous Law of God and those Laws which are made and acted in the will of man and how they who make act those Laws which are according to the will of man and contrary to the Law of God are found opposing the righteous Law of God and so are Transgressors of that Law which is according to that in the Conscience With a Word of Discovery of the cruel Oppression of the Priests who call themselves Ministers of Christ and the Gospel which gives freedom but they are found to be Opposers out of the Life that gave forth the Scriptures so with it judged which is according to the Law of God which gives freedom to the Righteous Seed but have cleared themselves from Christ who disobey his Doctrine and sue men at the Law and take treble damages contrary to the Scriptures With a Word of Exhortation to the Rulers and Magistrates to own the Righteous Law of God which will cut down Sin and cleanse the Land of Evil-doers and discover the Deceivers of the People FRiend thou sayest That in thy Conscience tells thee that there is no Law that is extant bywhich the People of God are kept in bondage To thee I did alledge the Act of Mary which I say is contrary to that in the Conscience which is of God for her Law did cause the Righteous to suffer which guarded the Jesuits which guard the Priests now which thou with it wouldst limit the holy One and cast the Saints into Holes and Prisons and Dungeons and countest it just and some are beat and stockt and cruelly persecuted and then after sent to Prison see if thy Law here do keep peace or break it give liberty to all the Peace-breakers and Fighters and Strikers for them to beat to stock and after send them to prison and there the Wicked the Fighters and Strikers rejoyce over them and they can scarce walk in the Streets and this Law thou countest just which prisons the Righteous and encourages the Evil-doers which is contrary to the Law of God which is according to that in the Conscience and which is contrary to Paul the Minister of Christ who said If any thing be revealed to