likewise are his People and Paradise and that the Beast spoken of in the Revelations which the whole World both great and small do at this day worship in their hearts as likewise the Tree of knowledge of good and Evil is within men for the whole exterior World or whatsoever either is or is done outwardly are but only an accident and figure signifying the Truth of the thing and the internal nature and therefore there is nothing true of whatsoever is seen with the Eyes of man for the figure and fashion of this World must pass away and perish as being nothing else but a certain imaginary World and the figure that is true right eternal and subsisting of it self consequently all things which in the Bible weâ—e done externally and signifyingly must again be done and again be brought to tâ— pass after their manner and all the History of the Bible and all Moses and the Prophets for the whole Scriptures to this day stand in force and are continually accomplished and fulfilled internally and spiritually for all things are by Christ translated into the Truth therefore it must needs be that all the Prophesies which God sâ—ake from the beginning of the World by the mouth of his holy Ones must still be called back reiterated or done over again therefore that shadow or that Tree was and is nothing else in the Truth but the â—ature will knowledge and life of Adam of this he should not have eaten this he should not have ascribed or arrogaâ—ed to himself but should a been-free and freely subject to God and not to have known any thing but what God knew in him nor to have done any thing but what God did in him nor to have spoken any thing but what God spake in him c. And upon this account every man is as much forbidden this Tree as Adam was to the end that God without any impediment might have exercised his Almighty Kingdom Will Nature Power in him but himself should have been utterly void of all knowledge will or nature and not to have arrogated any of these as proper to himself this pleaseth God this was that which he commanded and what he would have had done to this interpretation agreeth true Divinity that this Tree in the substance thereof is nothing else but mans own Will Knowledge of which alone in all the earthly Paradise of this wide World of mens hearts they ought not to eaâ— but to account it forbidden except they will eat of Death and Distruction for as soon as Adam fell by eating of this Tree the Tree was immediately planted in his mind and afterwards derived into all the branches and fruit thereof so that as the same Word precept and forbidding was commanded to all so is the same Fall all men which are in Adam have novv eaten of Death and received from the Serpent this undigested Pâ—yson so that it is easily perceived hovv man is his ovvn greatest Enemy and vvhat he ought to think of himself of his ovvn Will Understanding Wisdom and Knovvledge seeing it is the Counsel Seed Wisdom Knowledge and Head of the Serpent vvhich must by Christ be bruised in the Children of men for it must needs be that as in the old Testament was signified by Circumcision that in the new one by Baptism which is that of the Spirit through Regeneration and being new born of the incorruptible Seed of the Kingdom of God therefore he that will be made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven must part with and put off all things by nature and Inheritance by Adam even as he would do the Devil and Death it self viz. his own Will Prudence Wisdom and Righteousness where-with as fig-leaves their Adam doth vainly seek to 〈◊〉 himself for that is Sin and the 〈◊〉 of Death namely to eat of this True to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉 his own Wisdom Prudence 〈…〉 but alas who knowâ— this 〈…〉 who is it that is displeased with his own 〈◊〉 Understanding occâ—â—isdom when will men forsake them where are the men that do not delight themselves in their own will and recreate their minds svveetly and contentedly therein reposing upon their own knowledge understanding and the â—ike The Tree is fair to be looked upon and sweet to be tasted and therefore do the Sons of Men so greedily swallow and devour Death as Adam did land this is the misery that men know it not neither think they of it but judge it to be good and think assuredly that this is the Tree of Life even to follow their own Wills and their own Conceits and Opinion of good which indeed is false to know much to discern many sciences and so to grow great in their own Thoughts assume to become Gods and in the mean time they are not aware that this is Adams fall his biting of the Apple yea his bitter Death it self yet are continually speaking â—f the miserableâ— state of Man by Adams fall but not take notice the same is done in themselves and many are they that talk of his eating and pretend to detest it and him for it yet themselves eat of it even as he hath done which doth manifest the miserable state of men who prepare a Rod for themselves by giving sentence against their own life by condemning their first Father Adam and perceive not themselves fast in the same Trap. Here then consider diligently what mans Will Knowledge and Understanding is where with they think they may come into the presence of God whereas indeed it is nothing but the bitterness of Death and the fruit of the forbidden Tree how few is there among men that perceive this or will learn to put off deny fear mortifie or kill his own Will and Wisdom nay rather do they not hold it fast extol and value it as pure Gold whenas indeed it is eternal Death and truly in this Misery the whole World lieth sick and few is the number of them blessed Ones who are delivered from themselves and their own wills power and wisdom but are a small remnant and few in number as one of a City and two of a Tribe that find this strait gate and enter in at it CHAP. II. Concerning the Tree of Life what it is and why Adam was shut out forbiaden and with-holden from it and not suffered to eat thereof I Can also allow that there is the Tree of Life likewise in Paradise as we find recorded in the holy Scripture whose fruit might have been so seasoned and endued by God and how it had that nature that he who should eat of it should live forever and never dye and when Adam had eaten of the forbidden Tree and had fallen as God foretold into Death it might not now be that he should be permitted to eat of the Tree of Life otherwise he might have lived forever and the Word of God if thou eat thereof thou shalt dye the Death had been false Moreover God who is meer Love and cannot forever be angry
did will provide that Man in his misery and in enmity to God might not forever lead a wretched and calamitous Life for which cause he drove him out of Paradise from the Tree of Life into his House of Penance as if it were the World and shewed him a way whereby he might agâ—in come out of Death into Paradise to the Tree of â—ternal Life but in the mean time he fenced the Tree of Life with a flying Cherub and glittering Sword lest Adam in his banishment would eat Life for it seemed better to God that Man should dye and so by Death put off this miserable Life and change it to be translated to a better for he knew that Life after this Death cold calamâ—y and banishment would be so much the more wellcome and he the more dear unto God after Victory therefore God who cannot hate the Sons of men ever deals mercifully with them howsoever he handleth them if they would take it in good part and not suspect him to be their Enemy for such indeed is the nature and suspicion of mans heart Now may it not thus be that for a greater Evidence or Testimony that the same thing did likewise happen in the Tree Paradise i. e. Adams heart as there is the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil which is the Seed Speech Council Knowledge Wisdom and Will of the Serpent so there is also the Tree of Life the Seed Speech and Counsel of God or of the Woman and as God and the Devil are even so are these two Seeds or two Trees so contrary the one to the other that one brings Life the other Death and therefore it is impossible that whoso eats of the one should at the same time eat of the other or come unto it as being seperated by a flying Chrub and aâ— glittering Sword Thus do I and also other faithful Writers interpret whinged Sin and obstinate Disobedience which is else-where called in Scripture a seperation or waâ— of partition for whoso eats of the Tree of Knowledge oâ— good and evil that is he that greedily swallows down and devoureth humane and diabolical Wisdom he is already seperated from the Tree of Life that is from the Wisdom Speech and Knowledge of God and neither of these Wisdoms Speeches Wills or Knowledges can endure the other neither can the one come from the other so great is the Gulf between them being as far divided asunder as Heaven and Hell He that eats of the Tree of Life that is of the Word of God he is born of God and cannot dye nor sin for his Fruit doth eat the Eater and translate him into his own Nature that is into Life as elsewhere the Scripture speaketh of eating Christs flâ—sh for indeed it is the same thing to eat Christ and to drink his Blood to live in his Word to believe to know God and the like as likewise it is all one to believe in Adam to live in Adam to dye to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil to obey the Seed and Word of the Serpent and to become Gods therefore he that eats of the deadly Tree and cleaves to the Word and Wisdom of the Serpent being born of Satan and afflicted he lives in flesh and blood and therefore cannot do well or please God as contrary wise the other cannot sin do evil or displease God Therefore he that will have the one must needs part with the other they must of necessity go out of the Wisdom of Adam and the Serpent and from the forbidden Tree that so the Wisdom of the Tree of Life may enter to abide in them Adam and the Wisdom of the flesh must dye in them that Christ may live in them and the Spirit may have the government the Life of the one is the Death of the other and the weakness of one is the strength of the other for no man can serve two Masters and in vain shall men strive to reconcile God and Adam or Christ and the Serpent Light and Darkness the Old Man and the New God and Beliel or the Temple of God and the Temple of Idols CHAP. III. Concerning the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil planted in the heart of Adam that is the Seed Speech and Spirit of the Serpent and that great Idol Anti christ Sin Death and the Devil and the Beast spoken of in Daniel and the Revelations which is the greatest and most ordinary worshipping of Angels WHat is it that men think is the Beast of which Daniel writeth that resisteth and blasphemeth the the most High and killeth the Saints is it not that old Serpent that overthrew Adam and Eve And what is the Tree of knowledge of good and evil what is the shameless King and Anti-Christ of which Daniel writ and Paul to the Thessalonians And what is that many headed Beast which the whole World adoreth which is spoken of in the Revelations And what is Sin what is Death what is the Devil himself but every mans own Will Wisdom Reason Religion Righteousness Skill Delight for which cause Paul calleth it Death itself Enmity against God and Folly before him and the Apostle James calls it Earthly humane Devilish Wisdom because these three are one and the same and that is devilish which is meerly humane and contrary wise Man the Devil Adam and the Serpent are the same and do agree for the Serpent did so instill this Wisdom and feinged goodness into the nature of Adam that the Serpents seed and word was in Adam made a corporal man so that now the same thing may be said of them both and as they are that are born of God and in whom the Word of God is made man or flesh are called Gods and one Spirit with God so all men being sprung of flesh and blood before they be planted into Christ and are born of the Spirit they are justly called Devils and the Devils Children and Off-spring of the Devil whose work they do therefore that which is only humane is evil and that which is devilish is humane And again what is the fall of Adam but the wisdom of the Flesh and the fruit of the forbidden Tree What is that old Dragon that came out of Hell and drew down from Heaven with his Tail a great part of the Stars of Heaven but only the Wisdom of this Tree which extolls it self against God and places his seat with the higest And what else are the Thoughts of the Flesh What is sin what is Arrogance but the Fruits and Wisdom of this Tree And what are the Decrees of Men and the bent of their Reason against God their devices and light Books but the cunning of the Devil from this Tree eaten What is all the Worship of Idols the false Religion of all the wicked Jews Turks Gentiles Mamalucks and all false Christians And what are all the Leagues Conventicles Ceremonies and Covenants but the Apples of this Tree eaten which counterfeiting the Tree
for he came not to dest oy mens Lives and Estates but his coming was for this end To save that which he had made alive by calling Sinners to Repentance which by Obedience through Faith found Mercy and entered into that Hope by which the Righteous have been preserved in all Ages Heb. 11.2 to 40. for it is the Just that live by Faith â—ab 2.4 and therein is the Righteousness of â—od revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written The Just shall live by Faith Rom. 1.17 which proves That the Righteous by Faith in Christ are the Just that live by Faith having yeilded their Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which gave them the Hope of Christ through his Death and rising again to Life by whose Spirit of Grace Life and Light they come to receive an assurance bâ— Faith of that blessed Hope in Christ for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls for through Faith by Grace are the Righteous saved for it is the gift of God Ephes 2 8. and the gift of God is Life Eternal unto them that are not found cloathed with any thing of their own Righteousness but altogether cloathed with that Righteousness which is by Faith in Christ which is the Righteousness of God Ephes 3.9 which 〈◊〉 works bâ— love and is that Faith which â—orâ—s into thâ—Vâ—ity of the one Spirit and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Ephes 4.13 in which state the Righteous 〈…〉 â—â—â—tified bâ— Faith and have peace with God through the Lord Jesus â—hrist Rom 5 1. and by him have the â—aith 〈◊〉 access by Faith into the Grace wherein they stand and rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God and not only so but they glory in Tribulation also knowing that Tribulation works Patience and Patience works Experience and Experience works Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shâ—d abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto them Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Which things are by the Spirit of God in his faithful Servants Messengers of Truth left upon holy Record that People may learn to keep low in their Minds from the love of all Vanity and things of a perishing nature that so they may come to give wholly up in their Minds to retain God in their Thoughts by which through Faith and Obedience they may not fall short in the Hope of Gods heavenly Riches which are treasured up in Jesus Christ for all them that by Faith and Obedience live up to his Spirit of Grace Life and Light whereby the faithful have been made partakers of Gods durable Riches which is that Crown of Righteousness laid up in store for all them that by true Faith live in Obedience to the appearance of Christ in their Hearts such so living and so dying shall in no way fall short in the true Hope of Jesus Christ Concerning Perfection and that Warfare which the faithfull are to pass through before they come to witness free and full Redemption from Sin in this Life according as will appear by what follows GOD is perfect just and holy in all his Works and gifts towards all the Sons and Daughters of Men for every good and perfect gift cometh from the Fathêr of all Grace Life and Light with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of Turning Jam. 1.17 but in Man the heart above all things is deceitful and desperately VVicked who can know it save the Lord that made Man in his own Image after his own Likeness made he him and gave him Dominion over the things of the Earth Jer. 17. â— Gen. 1 26. commanding him that he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil for in that day wherein he did eat thereof he should surely dye gen 2.17 Which Command through Disobedience Man broke by which he brought the Sons and Daughters of Men into a state of Lust which through the Temptations of the Enemy to his own feed in the Heart draws the natural Mind to lust after that evil which bringeth sin and sin bringeth Death oveâ— the Soul for the VVages of sin is Death but the gift oâ— God â—s eternal Lâ—â—e unto them who do not remain in that first staâ—e of Dâ—generation sinning against the gift of God for as the Children of men selâ— short of the glory of God through the I all of the first Man Earthly so the Children from Adam 〈◊〉 Faith and Obedience to the gift of â—od shall be saved through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of Life the second Adam â—om Heaven spiritual who requires perfect Obedience of all men to his holy Commands that their Souls through Faith in him may be saved for only they are saved which perfectly believe in him that he is able and willing to give them Power that are willing to keep his Commands â—or which end of Mans Salvation he hath commanded People to be â—â—â—â—ect even as God is Perfect Mat. 5.48 which Command by Jesus Christ seems too straight for many to receive into their Belief of ever attaining such a state in this Life that they either distrust in the Power of God â—y Jesus Christ or otherwise they are not willing to part with all their sins to gain Christ for Sin makes a partition Wall between God and mans Soul that it cannot come to receive the incomes of Gods divine Love by Jesus Christ for all Sin is of Unrighteousness and all Unrighteousness is of the Devil which is the Father of all Sin whose work of Darkness hath no relation to the Kingdom of Heaven neither can any enter Gods holy place before they are free from Sin but he that serves the Lord and keeps all the Commandments of God doth witness a perfect state in this Life Mat. 19.20 21. 5.48 and the holy Scripture is full and clear that such as feared God and wrought Righteousness were perfect Men for Noah which walked with God was a perfect Man and God commanded Abraham to be perfect Gen. 17.1 Also Job was a perfect Mâ—n being upright and one that feaâ—ed God and eschewed evil Job 1.1 cap. â— 2 3. in which Tryal of Job's Faith he saidâ— That God would not cast away a perfect Man Jâ—b 8.20 which manifests that such have been perfect men in this Life otherways the Spirit of the Lord would not have suffered an account of the same to have been recorded in the 〈◊〉 Scriptures of Truth Also David was a man after Gods own heart except in the matter of Vriah of which he repented which could not have been had not David been a perfect Man for he that is not perfect in the Work of the Lord to keep his Commands he is not a Man after the Nature of Christ who perfectly performed the Work of God for the Redemption of Men in whom the work of God is to be perfected by Jesus Christ who came to
Which â—â—th manifeâ—â— that the Prophet fore-saw Christ to come the Covenant or Light and Promise of God to the Gâ—â—â—ike of which Steek we are who have received a measure of Gods Spirit which is of the divine Light and Nature of Christ the true Sâ—ed of his Kingdom which by measure hath been sown in the Hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Adâ—â— To open their blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoner out of the Prison House Iâ—a 42.6 7. which is that which the Prophet declared of Christ the Foundation of Life in whose Light the faithful see Light Psal 36 9. Here David saw God in Christ who was to 〈◊〉 and in that day was a Rule to light Dâ—vid in his 〈◊〉 goings and Incomings by which he received the heavenly â—â—ehes or Gods Love to the saving â—f his Soul which is the Portion of all the faithful who receive Christ in the love of his Light which is no less than Life Eternal to all them that believe in his Name for his Name is Light and this Light hath been preached to every Creature under the Heavens Col. 1.23 which is that Light which John was sent to preach Christ the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and this Light opened their Understandings to know the Scriptures Luke 24 15 to 29. for Obeâ—â—ence to the Light of Christ brings into the Knowledge of 〈◊〉 by which there comes to be a right understanding of what iâ— contained in the holy Scriptures for by the Spirit of God in Christ were the holy men of God enlightned and gave forth the holy Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost Now mind That of this Light hath every man received a â—â—â—sure in his heart it being the Seed of the Kingdom and â—â—â—â—geth forth Fruit in good Ground Mat. 13.4 5 6 7 8. 〈◊〉 not in all other Grounds which signifie dark unclean stoney and hard Hearts in which the Seed hath been sown but only thrives and brings forth Fruit acceptable to God in the good Ground that is the honest faithful Heart which yeilds Obedience unto that which the gist of Gods divine Light requires it being the Lords Talent Mat. 25. wherein we find Christ did declare concerning the Work of his Kingdont by the Parable of the ten Virgins and sloathful Servant both having received the Seed of the Kingdom the Lords Talent which is a Gift of his divine Light Spirit of Truth which had they been faithful thereunto Salvation had not been wanting for when men receive of the Lords heavenly Gift of divine Light be it more or less yet through faithful Obedience it is sufficient for their Salvation for whether more or less yet the Lord requires his own with profit and where much is given much also is required but he that is not faithâ—ul in that which is little shall neuer be made Ruler of that which is greater but that which he haâ—h poâ—â—mprâ—â—ved shall be taken away and given to him that hath improved the Gift of God for the Honâ—nur of his holy Nameâ—â— and comfort of mans own Soul Mat. 25 28 29. which is maâ—â—er of great concern for all to be wâ—le an diligent in the Work of the Lord for the diligent gain Heavenâ— Riches when the sloathful are sent empâ—y away which will be the Portion of all the 〈◊〉 that are found living in a careless state spending their time in that which brings dishonour to the Name of the Lord and sorrow to the Soul oâ—hâ—m that so liveth for the Light of the Wicked shall bâ— put out and the Sparks of his Fire shall not shâ—ne and the Light shall be Darbness in his Tabernacle and hâ—â— Candle shall be put out with him Job 18.5 6. but in the faithful shall the Light shine which begets the heart and mind into good Works that glorifie God their Father which is in Heaven Now the Light of Gods Spirit in the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ is that Light â—hich the Lords People called Quakers profess to be the Rule of their Life whose Life is the light of men John 1.4 and this light hath been a Rule to the faithful in all Ages Psal 27 1. The Lord is my Light and Salvation and he shall bring forth thy Rightâ—oushesâ—â—â— the light and thy Judgments as the noon day In this the Righteous rejoyce and give Thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness Here Light is sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the Vpright in Heart Psal 97.11 12. And again he speaketh of Christ to be the Light For with thee is the Fountain of Life in thâ—â—ight shall we see Light Psal 36.9 O send out thy Light and 〈◊〉 Truth let them bring me unto thy holy Hill and thy Tabernacle Psal 43.3 And the Spirit in the Bropher saith Arise shine for thy Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Isa 60.1 And the Gentile shall come to thy Light and the Kings to the Brightness of thy Râ—sing vers 3. And many more instances from the holy Prophets Writings may be produced to that effect but these are sufficient to prove Christ the Everlasting Foundation of Lâ—fe and Light in whom the faithful of God in all Ages have built their Faith in the Light of God in Christ which gave them â—ull assurance in the same Faith That God in his due time would enlarge his Covenant of Light to all Natâ—ons by sending hâ—â— Son Jesus Christ who hath appeared in the likenâ—ss of sinful flesh to take away sin in the flâ—sh by pâ—â—forming the Will of God the Father to fullâ—r Death in a Body of Fâ—â—sh for the Redemption of all men and this is Jesus which shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1.21 By which it is evident That the Work oâ— God by Jesus Christ is to save People from their sins Then what is the state of such man who profess themselves to be the Ministers of Christ and teach People of an imperfect state never to be free from sin in this Life concerning which at presenâ—â— shall omit leaving it in order for another Head in which God willing I shall clear by sufficient Testimony of holy Sempture Proof and at present proceed in Vindâ—cation of the Light against the Lyes by which evil minded men reproaâ—â— the People of God and dishonour his holy Truth in which the saithful live each according to his measuâ—e of Light and 〈◊〉 Spirit of Grace Light Life by Jeâ—ds Christ which leadeth them to acknowledge God the Father Word and Spirit Christ the Word Life and Light and the holy Ghost which 〈◊〉 the Soirit of God the Father 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Son and Lord of Life and Light which was conceived by the holy Ghost and brought forth by the Virgin Mary betrayed by Judis suffered under Pontius Pilate rose again the third day aseen led into Heaven where now he sits in all Righteousness and Holiness with God
time the Word was made Fesh and dâ—elt among the Son Daughters of Men and they beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Joh. 1.14 and this is Christ unto whom all things of the Father are delivered both in â—eaven and Earth and no man knows him but the Father neither knoweth anâ— man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 By which it is evident that all Revelation is not ceased Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest vers 28. Here Christ hath promised Rest unto all that will come unto him But how shall they come unto him by Faith in Obedience to that measure of his divine Light of his Spirit of Grace which he hath placed in their Hearts it being the Lords Talent given to Man for this end that he should improve it to the Honour and Glory of God and Salvation of his own Immortal Soul by Jesus Christ the Evidence of whose Spirit giveth Life to the Soul of that Man whose cleart Mind and Spirit is faithful to his Gift for the Scriptures restâ—le That Christ affordeth unto all them that by true Faith come unto him Search the Scriptures for in them â—e think to have Eternal Life and they are they that testifie of me and ye will not come to me that you may have Life Job 5.39 40. Here it is evident from Christs own words That to search the holy Scriptures without the true saving knowledge of God in Christ and of his Spirit which moved in the holy Men of God and gave them Utterance to declare his Will and Mind according as contained in the holy Scripture without which in some measure Men cannot profit or benefit towards Salvation by Jesus Christ by their reading the holy Scriptures for they that will not come to the inward Evidence of Gods Gift of his Spirit and Grace they have not the Love of God in them Joh. 5.42 For Jesus Christ the Promise of God and Seed of the Kingdom him hath God given to be an Everlasting Covenant of Grace Light and Life to them that fear and tremble at the Power of his Word and stedfastly remain in the belief of his holy Name which is no less than to give up in their whole desire of Heart and Mind to serve him the Lord of Life in Truth and Righteousness with uprightness of Heart Mind Soul and Spirit for unto him it doth belong and unto such belongeth the Promise of God by the suffering of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ which doth extend Salvation to their Souls for God in tender Love Mercy towards all men falling short of his Glory by the fall of the first Adam doth tender the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus by the call of his good Spirit of Grace Life and Light which remains not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit which hath no relation to the saving of that Soul which remains in sin term of Life having received the inward Evidence of the Spirit which condemns for every thought word and action which is not agreeable with the Spirit of Truth of which every man hath received a measure in his own heart to justifie or condemn even as his Works appear before the Lord so shall be his Reward if of Faith and Obedience then Life and Peace will follow but if it be of Sin and Unbelief then Death Hell and Destruction will be the Portion of him or her which dyes in such a state for the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life so they that dye in sin are free from Righteousness having no part lot nor share in the Promise of God and Hope of Jesus Christ for their Hope shall be cut as the Spiders Web which shall perish for evermore for Christ came not to save People in their sin but to save and redeem from sin and Transgression His Name shall be called Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 for they that dye in their sins cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ said If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins and where I go ye cannot come which relates to a state of Perfection in this Life upon which Head I shall God willing treat more at large in a distinct Chapter by which the Understandings of them that desire after Truth may receive the benefit of my small measure relating to the same for man living in sin becomes destitute of any benefit by Christ for the Salvation of his Soul for he that commits sin it is of the Devil and he knows not God the Father but he that is faithful to the Gift of God in his heart learns to fear the Lord and to work his Righteousness which is the fullfilling of what God requires in obedience to the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ who spiritually moves in the hearts of all whose day of Visitation is not over for Christ ruleth over all and will in no way fall short of his Honour either by the Salvation of the one or Condemnation of the other for Christ by the measure of his Spirit is in all except Reprobates 〈◊〉 and therefore it is matter of great concern for People to examin their own hearts whether by true Faith Christ abides in them for the Body of Man where Christ by the gift of his divine Light and Spirit liveth is the Temple of the holy Ghost and if any Man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy Then he that is not in obedience to the gift of God which he hath received is a Pollutor of the Temple and is without true Faith in Christ Prove your own selves know you not that if Christ be not in you you are Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 Now they whose Minds are wrought towards the Lord their Affections are set on heavenly things above to seek God in Christ and in them Christ by the measure of his divine Light Grace and Spirit liveth Gal. 2.20 Now Christ being in his People the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness Rom 8.10 for there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision Barbarian Sithian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all and many more Scripture Prooffs might be produced to the same effect That Christ lives and moves by the Gift of his divine Light and Spirit of Grace and Truth in the hearts of his People and that their Bodies are the Temple of God for Christ by the gift of his Spirit Life and Light to dwell in which if People both Young and Old would forsake their Vanity and apply their Minds to seek the Lord in his own way of Truth and Righteousness according to the Gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit as by Record for their help
Gods â—race through the effectual Working of the holy Ghost by which they came to understand the Will and Mind of God the Father in the Death and Resurrection of his Son the Lord Jesus which was expedient that he should depart that 〈…〉 forter might come Joh 15.26 which Promise was fulfilled by the voilding up that Body of Flesh which was born of a Woman and betrayed by Judas condemned by Pilate delive 〈◊〉 unto 〈…〉 set him at naught and crucified the Lord of Life upon their Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem which Body was buried and rose again the third Day being the first Day of the Week which Christians attend for the Worship of God having the holy Apostles for an Example to follow them as they were Followers of Christ who met together on the first day of the Week to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth which is in the Power of his Spirit by the effectual working of his Gift through his Death and Resurrection which appeared unto the Saints who received of his Fullness Grace for Grace which made them able Ministers of the New Covenant of Life Light in Christ Jesus which then ascended into Heaven with God the Father and with him is in a glorified Body which Flesh and Blood cannot reveal being glorified with that Glory which he had with the Father before the World began which is the Christ that the holy men prophecyed should come for a Light to the Gentiles and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 49.6 Acts 13.47 who accordingly is come and hath done the will of God the Father in that Body as aforesaid and by him through his Death Resurrection Ascention have all the Sons and Daughters of Men received a Gift of his heavenly divine Light as a Talent Taleâ—ts for them to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling at his Work which is able to makeâ— thorow seperation betwixt the precious and the vile that is between the begettings of his own divine Life and that Seed which brings forth the Life of the Stranger which is the Devil and Enemy of mans Soul whom the faithful will not follow but are willing to submit under the Cross of Christ whose Yoke is easie and his burden light not desiring the Death of any one Sinner but that all might turn at his Reproofs and live the Life of the Son of God who hath suffered Death been buried and is risen again and ascended into the Heavens where he maketh Intercession with God the Father for the Redemption and Salvation of all them that are willing by true Faith to receive the tenders of his free Grace which by the Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit of Truth is largely manifested unto the Sons and Daughters of men for his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit in his People that is Christ in them the Hope of Glory by which not any will be left without excuse in the great Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the Ungodly of them which have not improved their Tâ—lents to the Honour of his Name and profit of their Immortal Souls in which Day with the Righteous it shall gowell but with the Wicked who have slighted the Day of the Lords Visitation through their idle careless loose and vain living in Disobedience to that which the Lord by the gift of his divine Light and Word of his Spirit requires of them for which cause sorrow and anguish shall overtake them in that Day in which they shall forever be shut out from having any lot part or share among the faithful in the Kingdom of Heaven through the Death and Resurrection of the Son of God who laid down his Life for the Sins of the whole World but as many shall be saved as truely believe in his Name for as by one Mans Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of the Man Christ Jesus many shall be made Righteous Rom. 5.19 for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth so that not any 〈…〉 to say whâ— shall descend to bring up Christ again from the 〈…〉 who shall ascend to bring down Christ from Heaven for the 〈◊〉 nigh even in the Mouth and in the Heart that is the Word of Faith Rom. 10 〈…〉 by which Word of Faith we 〈◊〉 that Christ whâ—â—â— outwardly descâ—â—d 〈…〉 ascended and by 〈◊〉 Power of divine Light quickening word of his Spirâ—â— he is the Author Finisher of every good Work of Faith in the hearts of his People for he is the Word of Life unto the 〈◊〉 by true Faith believe in him as he outwardly suffered and in the gist of his Spirit which is the inward Word of 〈…〉 them tâ— whom Christ giveth the Shield of Faith and Hope the Hâ—â— not of their Salvation by which Word Simâ—n Peter came to know the Lord of Life to be the Christ the Son of the living God which Flesh Blood did not reveal Mat. 16 14 15 16. but was revealed by God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ whose meer Bâ—dâ—y Presence did not give Peter the knowledge of the Church buils on that that Rock whose Foundation was so sure that â—he Gates of Hell could never prevail against â—â—s Members which by the most sare Word of Prophecy are ingrafted in the Man Christ in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth for evermore for he is the well-beloved of the Fathers own begetting and hath done the Work of God in that Body of Flesh which suffered on the Cross without the City Gates of Jerusalem and was buried and rose again the third Day and appeared to the Saints and gave Gifts unto them and ascended into Heaven of which things the Father Word and Spirit beareth witness and these three are one God and that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say That Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost and as there is but One God One Lord Jesus Christ One Father One Son and One holy Ghost One Word and One Spirit all which are One God who hath given Diversittes of Gifts but the same Spirit and Differences of Advanistrations but the same Lord and Diversities of Operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all for a manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.3 4 5 6 7. for as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptized into one Body whether they be Jewâ— or Gentiles Bond or Free they have been made to drink into one Spirit for the Body is not one Member but many and are ingrafted by the Power of Gods Spirit the most sure Word of Prophecy into the stock which is Christ the true Vine with which every true Branch
the Messenger of Satan to buffet least he should be exalted above measure And whereas he said O wretehed Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death Rom. 7.24 All which doth not incinde him to be a Transgressor of Gods holy Law as every man that remains in sin is which cannot in truth and righteousness say as the holy Apostle did I thank God throvgh Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of sin vers 25. Now by the Law of Sin the ignorant do conclude the holy Apostle was not free from sin in this Life which he clears in Rom 8.1 2 3 4 5 6. There a therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Lâ—â— of Sin and Death for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the Likeness of sinful Flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Rightenâ—sness of the Law might be fullâ—illed in them who walk not after Flesh but after the Spirit For they that be after the Flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that be after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal mind is at Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. By which it is manifest that the holy Apostle did not all his days continue in a Body of sin but in his Warâ—are was pressing forward towards the Mark of the Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before Phil. 3.13 That the Man of God might be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 4.17 in which state of pressing forward to Perfection Patience hath her perâ—ect work that they might be perâ—ect wanting nothing James 1 17. Which state the holy Scriptures bear Record Paul in the end of his Warfare did attain which is a state free from sin in this Life according as by the Spirit of God he himself testified That he had ought a good fight wherein he had finished his Course and â—ept the Faith or whom there was laid up a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous â—udge would give him at the last Day and not to him only but to all them that love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.7 8. And these things were done before his Departure from the Body as appears by his Epistle to Titus and to Philemon and also to the Hebrews so that the Lords People well know by the Spirit of God agreeing with the holy Scriptures as also by their daily progâ—ess in the Way of the Lord all agreeing with the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit that by true Faith and Obedience thereunto they shall receive a daily supply of his Power which will give sufficient strength against the Devil and all his Temptations by which he that hath set his hand to the Plow and doth not look back shall come to witness a thorow cleansing from sin in this Life which they that witness not in this Life shall not witness a cleansing in the Kigndom of Heaven for no imperfect thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven neither is there any Repenting in the Grave for as Death leaves so Judgment finds Concerning the true Worship of God in Spirit EVen at this day as in days past among the Peopâ—â— of the World there are many Wayes of Worship but with the People of the Lord his way of Worship is but one in which they worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth for God is a Spirit and they which are true Worshippers of him they worship in the Spirit and in the Truth Then how can any be true Worshippers of God which abide not in his Truth for Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and they that are not in â—hrist are out of his Truth and so not in the true Worship of God so as they are not in Christ theâ— are not in the 〈◊〉 but out of that spiritual Life in which the true Worship of God remaineth Now this we know that all men are in the worship of some one thing or another all pretending that their Worship is the right and true way of Worship Then seeing that all are Worshippers How is the true Worshipper known from the false Even as the Tree is known by its Fruit so are Worshippers known one from the other for the good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but the evil Tree bringeth forth corrupt Fruit for men do not expect to gather Grapes of Thornes nor Figs of Thistles neither can any man be a true Worshipper of God in Spirit that doth not bring forth Fruits of the Spirit which are Love Joy Peace Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law Gal. 5.22 23. for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Christ such are the true Worshippers of God in Spirit and Truth but such Worshippers that draw in sin as an Ox draweth in Water their best Performances in Worship are sin unto which the Lord hath no regard for we know that God heareth not sinners but if any man be a true Worshipper of God and he doth his will him he heareth John â— 31 Now to think that God will accept any mans Work wherein sin remaineth that man deceiveth himself for all Works wherein sin remaineth it is not of the Spirit of God but of the Devil for he is a sinner from the beginning and the Truth abideth not in him for in the time of the Law the Peoples Offerings before the â—ord were to be perfect without blemish Lev. 22.21 and their weight and measure were to be perfect before the God or their Salvation Deut. 25.15 Which did signifie spiritual Obedience to â—hrist the Lamb of God without blemish spot or wrinkle who requires in this Gospel Day under the Light of his â—ovenant of Grace Light and Life unto which not any thing of mans imperfect Gift and Offerings can find place to enter into Covenant with the Lord of Life for the Salvation of their immortal Souls for as God hath perfected his work of Grace in Jesus Christ for the Salvation of Peoples Souls so most their work be also perfect by the Power of God in and through Christ for the Salvation of them that are saved in and through him the Lord of Life of whose Spirit there is a gift given to the Sons and Daughters of men which is for
pray for but the Unrighteous pray for the deliverance from sin which living in a state of Unbelief that God will never in this Life wholly free them from Sin which Unbelief stops the current of Life and hinders the Work of God by Christ whose Work by Faith in him is to destroy Sin and put an end to Transgression that is in them which believe in the gift of his Grace by which men are saved for its the Gift of God which comes by Jesus Christ and through Faith in him is Life Everlasting that is to them who through Faith have their whole dependance on him but where men remain in a state of dayly sining against the manifestation of his spirit which all have received to profit with all it keeps them short of Gods Grace by Jesus Christ for the Prayers of the Wicked are sin because they remain in sin which causeth their Prayars to be sin in the sight of God for the Prayers of the wicked are an Abomination before the Lord and the Sacrifice of the wicked are an Abomination to him but the Prayers of the Vpright is his delight Psal 119.7 Prov. 15.2 so it is the Prayers of the Upright in heart which the Lord accepts and delights in for unto them is the promise of God by Christ who renews the Faith of his People by the power of his spirit which begets the inward man into a lively hope of that assurance which by true Faith the soul receives by true Prayer unto the Lord through which Prayer by Grace every Dispensation of Gods gifts come to be sanctified through the Power of his own spirit for every Dispensation is from God and only sanctified to the Righteous which receive of the Lords free benefits and rich Mercies of his Love in the outward Dispensation which through Prayer and Thanks-giveing are sanctified to them which live in Uprightness of heart and mind towards God which the Unrighteous also pretend but it is with unclean Hearts for which cause the Lord will not accept their Prayers for the Lord only dwells with the pure in heart whose minds are wrought into a true and living sence of Gods heavenly riches in Jesus Christ which is the inheritance of his faithfull People which pray unto him by the power of his own spirit which doth condemn the Prayers of all unrighteous men who pray in their own time and in their own wills But some may then query Whether the Unrighteous are not commanded to pray Ans The hearts of the righteous desire the return of the Wicked that they may forsake the evil of their way and serve the Lord in Truth and Righteousness and that the Wicked are to pray which will not discharge any part of their Disobedience to God until they come to forsake their Unrighteous way of sinning against the gift of his Grace and divine Light of his Spirit which remains their Condemnation for sin Joh. 3.19 20 21. By which it is evident that the Prayer of a wicked man availeth not before the Lord that is while he remaineth in the known Life of Sin which he prays against but let the wicked forsake their way and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and unto our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55 7. So that where men live in known sins against God and in a belief of its being impossible to be free from sin in this Life the Prayer of such doth not proceed from the Spirit of God who hath Commanded his People not to touch taste nor handle with any unclean thing but to follow the leadings of Gods holy Spirit as the Apostles have done for Example and to mark them which walk otherwayes So every man and every woman is to seek God for themselves for he hath promised to be found of them that seek him in uprightness of heart and I do not read that any of the Lords servants in dayes past were ever lead by the spirit of God to pray either privatly among People in unbelief of ever attaining that which ths Apostles prayed for which is that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus then where in remains the profit of any true Beleivers Prayer in publick though in his own family which through their unbelief in the power of God that they shall never be free from sin in this Life by which they are not as yet of the true Houshold of Faith at times and seasons as the spirit of God moves in the heart of every such master of family he doth pray for the return of them and all other People which remain in the same state of Unbelief which until they repent and forsake their prayers will not be accepted of God CHAP. IX Concerning the Lords Supper which People call the Sacrament AS to the word Sacrament I find it not contained in the holy Scriptures of Truth but as to the Lords Supper according to Christs OWN words Luke 22.1.20 when he took Bread and gave Thanks and broke it and gave it to his Disciples saying This is my Body which is given you This do in Remembrance of me likewise also thê up after Supper saying This is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you The fore-going words some have Wrested by which they have gathered in their Comprehension some-what of a Meritorious Work which they hold most necessary to Salvation â—rom which grounds they have set up a Form each for themselves according to the Apprehension of the natural Mind being altogêther destitute of experience of the Power of the Blood of Christ the end of whose Death was not to destroy mens Lives and Estaâ—es about his Body and Blood for his Coming was to heal the Sick to bind up the Broken and to make alive but where the Nature of Christ is wanting they are not come to the true saving Knowledge of God by the Body and Blood of Christ through whose Death and Resurrection there is no hope of Salvation to them that by his Blood are not cleansed from all sin in this Life for where sin remains it Rules the Heart and darkens the Understanding by which the Power of God is not received which gives the true knowledge of the Nature of the body and Blood of Jesus Christ which proves their Form dead and they to remain in a dead Form having a zeal for God without his saving Knowledge by Jesus Christ about whose Body and Blood many thousands of Peoples Lives have been destroyed which makes manifest that such are not in the true form of Godliness for neither Christ nor his Apostles have enjoyned any to particular time or place but in remembrance of his Death as is furder manifested by the Apostles saying 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26 27. That Christ took the Cup when he had supped saying This is the New-Testament in my Blood this do ye as often as you drink it in remembrance of me So
an assurance of Salvation in which state mâ—n may know hâ—w the dead are raised and with what Bodies they shall appear for it is certain that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead bâ—th of the Just and Unjust for all shall appear before the Lord the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth before whom the heavenly spirited and the earthly spirited shall appear to give an account of all their Deeds done in the Body of this Life which then will be time sufficient for the unrighteous to know with what Bodies they shall appear in the mean time the Apostles words are very suitable unto all such whose state of Disobedience is far from the saving knowledge of God by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and though not simply fools yet through 〈…〉 Disobedience and Unbelief 〈…〉 as the 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 the husband man â—o 〈…〉 of the Râ—â—rrection Thou soul that which thou so rest is not qâ—â—e 〈…〉 it dye and 〈◊〉 which thou so rest thou so well noâ— that 〈◊〉 that shall be bath reâ—â—rain it â—ay chance of Whâ—at 〈…〉 othâ—r Grain and withall coâ—â—ledes that God 〈…〉 as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body 1 Cor. 15.35 36 37 38. by which the unrighteous may know with what Bodies they shall come forth for he that so with to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soâ—eth to the Spirit shall of the spirit reap Lifâ— Everlasting Gal 6.5 for the time is at hand that he that is Vnjust let him be Vnjust still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is Righteous let him be Righteous â—â—ll and he that is Holy let him be Holy stiâ—â— fâ—r behold the Lord will quickly come and his Reward will 〈◊〉 with him to give every man according as his works shall be Rev 22.11 12. which doth manifest that according as men have sown so shall they reap for every seed shall have his own Body whether of Works of Faith and Obedience to Salvation or Works of Unbelief and Disobedience to Damnation Then seeing these things are plain as by holy Record which agrees with the inward Word of Gods Spirit and the gift of his divine Light which came by Jesus Christ and through Faith in Obedience to him through whom Salvation comes which work is most necessary for People to be concerned in for as the Soul is the most Noble part of Man so ought every man principally to be concerned about his Soul and the well air thereof yet because the Body is a part of the Man and that Christ is the Saviour doth of Soul and Body of every sincere Believer in him therefore every Man may and ought to be concerned about the whole Man both â—oul and Body and the Faith and Hope of the Resurrection of the Body as the â—pirit of God worketh that Faith and â—ope in us it is of great use to sanctifie us and prepare us for the Resurrection to come for Paul doth not call them Fools simply for enquiring concerning the manner of the Resurrection but for their Ignorance and Unbelief that some did not believe the Resurrection which they that do not believe it they remain in gross Ignorance and Unbelief and such are directed to the Husband-man to learn the manner of the Resurrection by using the Example of the â—orn And it is a great Error for any to hold That the Saints now living in the mortal Body have attained the Resurrection of the Body or that they attain it immediately after Death for it is most evident from the holy Scriptures that the Resurrection of the Dead is reserved to the last coming of Christ to judge the quick and the dead and the dâ—â—d in Christ shall rise first so where there is the true knowledge to God in Christ of the Souls well-being it mâ—â—t necessarily follow that the spiritual Understanding wâ— be the more capable to know in what state the Body wâ—â—appâ—aâ— which shall never enter Gods Kingdom with natural Flesh â—lood aâ—d Bones for though it be sown a natural Body it is raised a spiritual Body as it is written The first â—â—aâ— a living Soul the last â—â—dam was mad a quickâ—ning Spirit so that which was first was not spiritual but natural and afterwards that which is spiritual Sâ— then it must be 〈…〉 minded only that have the true knowledge of these things for the natural minded man is a fool aâ— to the true Knowledge of God because he remains in Dâ—â—obedience to the gift of his Grace but is bewitched that he should not obey the Truth made manifest by Jesus Christ Gal. 3.1 through which unfaithfulness the mind of his Understanding is Darkness as to the things of God which chiefly concern his Soul and such live without God in the World not knowing that there is a God by his saving Grace according as by their Works is manifest which includes them to be one with the fool which saith in his heart there is no God neither indeed is there any Salvation of God to the rebellious Children of Disobedience who pretend they know God but in Works deny him Therefore it is most necessary for all such to bend in their Minds and by true Repentance seek the Lord whiâ—e he is to be found for he is only found of them that truly seek him in true Humility of Spirit and not oâ— them that remain in a state of serving the Lust of their corrupted Desires and yet remain talking about the fashion of the Body and in what likeness they shall appear before they witness any thing for the Souls wellfair as they â—â—ght to do for Christ is rîsen otherwise all preaching is in vain and Faith also is in vain or if the deaâ— rise not thâ—n is not Christ raised and if Christ 〈…〉 raised Faith is in vain and all men are yet in their sins Buâ— the Lord hath given a true knowledge of himself to the Righteous who witness Christ to be raised from the dead and is become the first Fruits of them that slept and by true Faith they witness his Resurrection by what they feel of his heavenly divine Nature that he is raised from the dead for since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15.21 22. So as People come to witness a dying state from sin they shall also witness a living â—ate to God through whose Spirit of Grace they shall partake of his heavenly Riches through Faith in Jesus Christ but as to these spiritual things there is no profit by them to any who come not into Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which comes by Jesus Christ whom no man knoweth but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Mat. 11 2â— Joh. 6.44 Then as the Scriptures are left for
mens learning no man can learn to know God aright without the gift of his Grace and divine Light of his Spirit by Jesus Christ for the Letter kâ—â—eth but the Spirit giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 for as the Spirit of God is the Ministration of Condemnation to the Disobedient so also do they read their Condemnation in the Scriptures of Truth but to the faithful who live in Obedience to the Spirit of Truth to them the Spirit of God by Jesus Christ is the Ministration of Life and Salvation and through Faith in Christ Jesus the Scriptures do minister the knowledge of Life for through Faith in Christ they are able to make wise to Salvation Then whatever men may gather in the outward Comprehension from the holy Scriptures concerning the great Work of God by the Death and Resurrection of his Son the Lord of Life which will not profit them that remain in a state of daily sinning against the gift of his divine Light which is their Condemnation for evil Deeds Joh 3.19 20 21. in which state they remain dead as to God having no benefit by the Resurrection in the Life to come â—or God is not a God of that which is dâ—ad but a God of thê Living Mat. 22 23 So that God is a â—od of the living who have been buried with the first Man in sin but through the Resurrection of the second Man the Lord from Heaven have they received the earnest of Life Everlasting 1 Cor. 15.48 49 50. having obtained the Promise of God through the Resurrection oâ— Jesus Christ which the 〈…〉 the benefit 〈◊〉 Christ concâ—ied and 〈…〉 â—he is â—hat which People ought to witness through the in â—ard Word of his traching which teaches the true knowledge of God according as is recorded in the holy 〈…〉 That â—â—s sâ—hcient to Salvâ—tion to know God and Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord which was made of the Sâ—ed of David accordâ—nâ— to the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 to be the Sâ—â— of God with 〈◊〉 according to the Spirit of Hoâ—â—ness by the Resâ—rrection of thâ— death Rom 1 4. which the Righteous witness through 〈◊〉 the Law of sin by the Body of Christ that they should b◠〈◊〉 to another even to him who is raseaâ— from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God Râ—m â— 4 for they 〈◊〉 have been planted together in the likeness of his Death 〈…〉 also in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom. 6.5 So that the châ—efest desire of true Believeâ—â— is to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the Power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his Death Phil. 3 10. for they that shall be accounted worthy to obtain the Kingdom of God and the Resurrection from the Dead neither marry nor give in Marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equal unto Angels and are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20.34 35 36. but they whose hearts and minds are joyned to the perishing things of this â—ife they are not married to Christ and so have no hope to be the Children of the Resurrection but only Children of the World which love gain delights and pleasures in which there is no profit for a man to gain and lose his soul for he that loveth any thing more than Christ is not worthy of the rich benefits which the faithful receive through his Death Resurrection Therefore it concerns all that they may so live as to dye from sin and be mâ—me alive with Christ that they may be partakers of his heavenly Riches in the Kingdom of God where Flesh and Blood cannot inherit 1 Cor. 15.50 CHAP. XV. Concerning the Ministers of Christ and the Ministers of Antichrist Also of Humane Learning and the Vsâ—â—f it and how it came in practise among them called the Reformed Churches of this latter Age. And concerning Gospel-Maintenance and in what manner and to whom it belongeth JEsus Christ the Son of God and Everlasting Covenant of Grace Life and Light he is Minister of all Truth and Righteousness which hath appeared for Salvation of men for which end in dayes past he chose unto himself Twelve Disciples which were men that believed in him and not being brought up in that manner as the many Teachers are in this day who serve a time in Schools of Learning by which they gather outward knowledge in Hâ—brew Greek and Latine Phrases also Arts in other things which the holy men of God did never practise for the twelve Disciples of Christs chusing were not fitted after any such manner to preach the Gospel for they were illiterate and Trades-men c. and lived not by hire for preaching but laboured with their hands for their outward subsistance such were they whom the Lord did call to preach the Gospel which did minister the glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation unto the Nations among whom the Word of God was divided 〈◊〉 and every one their portion according to their 〈◊〉 for they had not their Wisdom from below is the many Teachers now have notwithstanding the Lands Servants wanted not Wisdom from above when gave them utterance of words whereby they were enabâ—â—d â—o divide the Word aright in declaring and demâ—ustraâ—ing the Will and Mind of God at which time some of the learned Jews and wife Rabbies opposed them setting them at naught others resisted them notwithstanding they did not 〈◊〉 to be approved in that Wisdom that Man toucheth which is never able to prepare and sit for 〈…〉 work and service of the Gospel as is further manifested by the saying of him who was brought up in great outward Learning at the feet of Gamaltel Acts 22. in which state he was not capable by all his outward Learning to know Christ whom he persecuted in his Servants and Messengers of his Truth thinking that he did good service for God when he was destroying his People even as hath been in many places many of the learned Hebrew Greek and Latine Men have destroyed the Lives and Estates of many People because they could not conform to their Anti-Christian Faith which the Devil would have had set up in the Disciples of Christ who came not to destroy mens lives but to save and make alive which work is of a contrary Nature to that Wisdom which is from below for the true Wisdom of God openeth the Understanding in the things of God which the learned by all their outward wisdom can never do for they remain in the Wisdom of Darkness as to the things of Gods Kingdom which Paul in all his outward Learning was a stranger unto but by that Wisdâ—m which is from above he came to receive that spiritual sight which gave him the true saving knowledge of God by Jesus Christ whose Minister he became being then a Witners unto all men of both what he had seen and heard Act. 22.13 14 15. Which doth manifest that his 〈◊〉 to the work of the â—oâ—pel was of God which Work he attended according
good or evil the Lord shews it unto them in their own heart and conscience by the Revelation of his spirit which Justifies the thoughts and intents of the Righteous but condemns the thoughts and intents of the Wicked Now the holy Scripture is short in giving men the knowledge of their thoughts and intents without the searchings of the Spirit of God for the Lord searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reigns and decleares unto Man what is his Thoughts Amos 4.13 Also the Prophet hath said by the Spirit of Truth That they shall all be taught of God which is according to Christs saying John 6 45. Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to meâ— neither hath Eye seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath Prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God for what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit oâ— God and to whom the Spirit reveals them for true believers in this day as well as in dayes past have not received the Spirit of the World but the spirit which is of God that they might know the things that are freely given to them of God 1 Cor. 2 9 10 11 12 By which it is manifest that divine Revelation by the inspiration of Gods holy Spirit is of absolute necessity for Salvation in and thorough Faith by Jesus Christ whom no man can know but by the revealed gift of his Spirit which through Faith begets the inward man into the saving knowledge of God and of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ through which every true Believer in him comes to receive of the like benefit with the Saints in their day to see with their spiritual Eyes and to hear with their spiritual Ears and with their spiritual hands they come to handle the Word oâ— Life 1 John 1.1 Then if all divine Revelation and Inspiration of Gods Spirit to his Children be ceased must not all spiritual seeing and spiritual hearing be ceased also which by their Doctrines doth seem to me as if they conclude Christ also to be ceased for if the Inspiration of Gods holy Spirit of Revelation be ceased then how shall God and Christ be heard and seen spiritually as believers in dayes past did spiritually hear and see him Also if God hath committed his whole Will and Mind to Writing then by what means are these saved which have not received the knowledge of the Letter of the holy scripture Will they conclude they all perish for want of the Letter when the Mind and Will of God is that a Remnant of all Nations of them that fear him and work Righteousness shall be saved And though the holy Scriptures do give Infallible Marks of such an estate yet there is no scripture can infallibly assure any man that he hath these marks but it must be the spirit of God that gives every true believer such an assurance for the spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.6 So it is the Spirit of God by which that assurance is revealed to beleivers or more properly in believers by which they come to witness that they have the Son and he that hath the Son of God hath Life 1 Joh 5.12 Now the holy Scriptures hold forth that he that hath the Son of God hath Life but give no assurnce of Life but the Spirit of God doth reveal an assurance which proves that all divine Revelation is not ceased CHAP. XVII Concerning the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Anti-Christ THe whole state of mans Life is governed in Thoughts Words and Actions by the Power of the Spirit which hath the Commanding part in man who is either governed by the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of Antichrist which is the Devil for there are but two Spirits which rule the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ which rules in the Righteous whose Thoughts Words and Actions are governed by the Power of Gods Spirit which brings the Thoughts of the Faithful to be subject in Obedience to the Power of his own Spirit in and through Faith by Jesus Christ Now the Spirit of the Devil is that Anti-Christ which Gods Power permits to rule in the Children of Disobedience whose Thoughts Words and Actions are governed by the Spirit of the Devil so that men are Servants unto that Power which they obey for the Thoughts of mans Mind are in a continual motion and where God is not retained in the Thoughts they cannot be of any service to him for the Souls benefit but are in servitude to him unto whom they yeild their Obedience which Work altogether tends for Distruction of the soul therefore People ought to be diligent with that gift of divine Light which God hath given to find out the hidden things of Darkness in the heart of man who by Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace may come to understand the Lords Will to be done in their Thoughts Words and Actions which work will bring honour to the Name of the Lord and Peace to their own Souls for he that brings his Deeds to the Light they are made manifest by the Light whether they are wrought in God through faith and Obedience to the gift of his Grace for the promise of God by Christ is to the obedient part for his Children are made a free and Willing People to serve him with uprightness of Heart Mind Thoughts Word and Actions for the carnal Thoughts of man brings Death over the soul but the spiritual Thoughts of man bring Life for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace with God in Christ Sâ— as there is but two Spirits which bare rule the one or the other hath the Commanding part in the heart and mind of man for the Mind cannot serve two Masters that is no man can serve God and Mammon for while the Mind is in obedience to the Spirit of Life it overcomes the Spirit of Death but while it remains in obedience to the Spirit of Anti-Christ it becomes dead remains with Death which state hath no relation to the things of Christs Kingdom for God is not a God oâ— that which is dead in sin and Treâ—pass against the heavenly divine gift of his Spirit of Grace Life and Light which come by Jesus Christ whole Spirit is not of this World neither are they of this World whose Minds are begotten of God thorough him to live in Obedience to his holy Truth but the Spirit of Anti-Christ is of this World and rules the Thoughts Words and Actions of them who are the Children of this World which by subjecting to his Power they believe that in the best of men sin remaineth all the
Judgment and receive Gifts then they are out of Gods way and rule not for his Honour but for their own Honour and self-ends among men for a Gift blindeth the Eyes of the Wise and causeth them to pervert the words of the Righteous Dan. 6.19 Now that Honour which is of Hand Hat and Knee to each other it is not of God for the Honour of God dwelleth in the heart of every faithful man which is faithful to what the Lord hath â—â—mmitted to his charge for it is the Lord that searcheth the heart and tryeth the reigns of the heart and declareth unto man what is his thoughts which no man can know by the Hat Hand and Knee of another for which Honour they have no express command from God nor example from his Servants in dayes past who in their day did render Tribute Custom Fear and Honour in its right place which at all times doth not belong to one and the same Person but as he appears for Gods cause is there Honour due to him as in the case of Paul before Festus and Agrippa the one appearing in the truth of Pauls cause and the other by Paul almost perswaded to be a Christian which Noble Principle in them was worthy of Honour from Paul Act. 26.2.28 31. 32 and divers other instances do the holy Scriptures afford of that noble Spirit appearing in man of outward Power whom they of this Generation esteem as Heathens but be what they will or whatsoever they were the Lord and his People well know that them so esteemed their works towards the Lords People in their day do condemn the works of many men towards the People of God in this day which do give Honour unto them unto whom it doth belong and not to honour them which honour not the Lord for they whose works bring no honour to the Name of the Lord they are not to be honoured by his People for Old Age to many is lengthened out by many dayes that the condemnation of him that fears not God and works not his righteousness may be the greater for though the Wicked may live to a hundred years so living and so dying they are accursed 〈◊〉 but the Hoary Head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousness Prov. 16.31 By which we see and know that God hath no respect for them that live not in the way of his Truth for Old Age is as a Judgment to some which desire to dye because of outward Troubles in Body and Horror of Conscience for their evil Deeds but Death as an addition to Gods Judgments from such flyeth away others again for their unrighte ous living in sin and Rebellion against God are by his Just Judgments cut off in the midst of their days And as to such Rulers that trouble the People of God from day to day and from time to time they may read their Portion Luke 16.19 to 24. but the People of the Lord cannot be brought into bondage by the Power of unrighteous Laws made by wicked men to ensnare and hinder the faithful of their Obedience to God who doth abhor the dark Works of unrighteous Rulers whose wicked Works against the Lords People are done in pretence of some service for God when that they are altogether for the service of Anti-Christ and the promoting of the Devils Kingdom which the Lords People by the Power of God are kept and preserved from touching tasting or handling with any unclean thing well knowing that the Wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is Life Everlasting so then Death remains in the unrighteous Powers of Wicked and Ungodly Men who Balaam like love the Wages of Unrighteousness which the dumb Ass declared against when he forbid the madness of the wicked Prophet who had forsaken the right Way of the Lord to obey the dark Power of an Earthly Ruler So the portion of Balaam will be the Inheritance of them that do not obey the Power of God by Jesus Christ whose Power is the higher Power unto which every soul is to be subject for his Power is ordained of God and there is no other Power but the Power of God which is by Jesus Christ whom all men are commanded to obey for by and through his Power are the faithfull supported in all their Sufferrings for his Truth which is the Condemnation of all unrighteous Judges CHAP. XXI Concerning Oathes which includes all Swearing IN the first â—ovenant the Lords People were commanded to Swear by the Name of God in which time of the Law Oathes were observed in that Covenant which was faulty for if that Covenant had been faultless then should no place been sought for the second Heb. 8.7 Now that Ordinance did not maâ—e perfect as pertaining to the Conscience by which there came to be an end to that Covenant and a better Hâ—pe was brought in which stood upon better Promises for that Covenant and the Ordinances thereof were only to continue till the time of Reformation which stood only in Meats and Drinks and divers Washings and carnal Ordinances imposed on them until the time of Reformation Heb. 9.10 Now Christ the everlasting Covenant of God to his People fullfilled all Righteousness under the Law by which the Covenant of Grace took place in which the Oath ended for Christ is the Oath of God and the end of all Oathes Strife and Contention Mat. 5.33 to 37. It was said of old Time Thou shalt not Forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oathes but I say unto you Svvear not at all Plain Doctrine easie to be understood commanded by Christ Not at all to swear or not to Swear at all there is not a plainer and more strict Command contained in the holy Scriptures of Truth than for people Not to Swear at all which doth exclude from all manner of Oathes otherwise Christ would not have mentioned Oathes which were observed in the first Covenant of Works under the Law in which time they were not to forswear themselves but to perform their Oathes unto the Lord which were to be conscientiously performed according to Truth in what they were engaged or had engaged themselves in Gods Name to do Now Christ the Oath of God is come and in him is fullfilled the Righteousness of the Law for he is the end of all Oathes Strife and Contention and the holy Apostles followed Christs Doctrine and exhorted People to follow them as for Ensample they were Followers of Christ whose Command they obeyed and directed People to perform the same and that was Above all things not to Swear at all but to let their Yea be Yea and their Nay Nay lest they fall into Condemnation Mat. 5.33 34 35 36 37. James 5.12 Now the Apostles exhorting the Brethren to observe and keep close to the Truth of God according to the Doctrine of Christ which was Not to Swear at all which doth manifest by his calling them Brethren that they
evil one time and another time move them to do it for the Spirit of God by Jesus Christ moves his People in the way of holiness in which holy Way of Righteousness they have born their faithful Testimonies for Gods holy Truth against Fighting to defend their Faith by or with the carnal Sword or to take up any such like evil Practice again for Gods way of bringing his People nearer to him is by Jesus Christ whose Kingdom he will more and more exalt in the hearts of the saithful and not with the using of any carnal Weapon but by the Power of his own Spirit Ezek. 4.6 in which state they desire the wellfare of all men both Soul and Body and not as many do to kill the Body and say they desire the wellfare of their Souls whose Bodies they have destroyed for the Spirit of God meaneth not any such thing as to destroy mens Bodies with the carnal Sword and say they desire the wellfare of their souls for according to Christs Dostrine he that destroyes the Body of his Enemy cannot love the Soul of his Enemy for Christ came to save both Soul and Body and through the Power of God in him are many redeemed which by nature were Enemies â—nto him then what more can be said are not men by rature Enemies to one another then come to the Law and the â—rophets and do even as ye would be done unto for if you will be beloved of God in Christ you must love both Soul and Body of your Enemies even as Christ hath done unto them which have been Enemies unto him for Love covers a multitude of faults and Love leads them that are faithfull to God to keep the sayings of Christ who hath commanded to pray for Enemies and to do good unto all men by which they may be the Children of their Father which is in heaven in which state the Kingdom of this World may become the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ that the Prophets saying may be fulfilled that Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2.4 Mich 4.3 untill which time the saying of Christ is fulfilled upon them that take the Sword which must perish with the Sword then happy are they that are yet living in the Body and have known the end of all War Strife and Contention for unto their Number Will be the gathering of them that shall not lift up the Sword one against the other neither learn war any more of which Number are the despised of this day who strive to maintain Peace by denying all Wars and Fightings with the carnal Sword or of the like Nature CHAP. XXIII Concerning Conscience which justifies the Ways of the Righteous and condemneth the unrighteous Works of the Wicked MAny People talk of Conscience among vvhom some there are vvhose Hearts are so hardned that their Consciences are seared as vvith a hot Iron such are in the depth of Iniquity against God and his Christ and many are they that have so little regarded Conscience that they have sinned out the Day of Gods Grace and many more are travailing in the broad Way of Destruction and fevv there be that knovv vvhat Conscience is or the Nature of a good Conscience tovvards God and all men for the Righteousness of God is held in a pure Conscience by vvhich the fruits of their righteous Works are manifest in the sight of God and in the sight of men but the Righteousness of the World is Unrighteousness vvith God for their Righteousness is held in a corrupt Conscience of their own Unrighteousness vvhich is to themselves for Destruction but vvhere there is any thing of Life in heart mind and spirit as to the things of God vvhich concern the Wellfair of the Soul there is Conscience at vvork either excusing or accusing according as their vvords thoughts actions are before the Lord vvhich searcheth the heart and giveth to every man according to the Fruits of his ovvn Works vvhether of Faith and Obedience or of Unbelief and â—isobedience vvhich the Witness of God vvith every and â—isobedience vvhich either justifie or condemn for all men shall be tryed by their Deeds done in the Body and accordingly they shall receive from the Lord the righteous Judge of Heaven Earth vvho vvill call all to an Account in the great Day of his Coming to judge the Quick and the Dead then happy vvill it be vvith them vvho have made good Conscience in all things of this Life towards God and all men for the Day is coming in which Fear and Dread shall come upon all the Ungodly vvho have not made Conscience of Obedience to the Name of the Lord Jesus vvho is largely manifested and many have and do believe and confess and shevv their Deeds as many have already â—one vvho have brought out their Books of curious Arts â—nd burnt them in the presence of men the loss of which to â—hem vvas gain though the price thereof amounted to fifty thousand pieces of Silver Acts 19.17 18 19. and such vvere they that by believing made good Conscience before God in the sight of men vvhich if all vvould live up in obedience to the Witness of God they vvould come to the improvement of the like Conscience before God CHAP. XXIV Concerning the free Love of God in and by the Lord Jesus Christ THe Love of God by the gift of his Spirit of Light Life and Grace is free for all men by Jesus Christ for God so loved the World that he sent his only beloved Son the Lord Jesus to suffer Death for all men that abosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3.15 16. Then they that believe in Christ are them that abide in the love of God which leads to keep all his Commandments which he hath by the Son of his Love the Lord of Life commanded all men to keep for the great Love of God was manifest that Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour that by the Grace of God should taste Death for every man Heb. 2.9 by which every man that heareth his Word and believeth on God hath Life and shall not come into Condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life John 5.24 For the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Vers 25. which is according to the Apostles saying that when he was dead in Tâ—espasses and Sins against God the Voice of the Son of God appeared unto him who became willing to give up in true love to serve the Lord with uprightness in heart and mind by which thorough the Love oâ— God in Christ he came through Faith and Obedience to receive that Crown of Righteousness which was not only in store for him but for all them that love the appearance of the Lord Jâ—sus in their
which Doctrine ought not to find itching Ears among any the Children of them who have persecuted the Lords Servants to Death at Boston but as the Lords Seâ—vants and Messengers of his Truth have born the merciless Rod of that persecuting Generation so ought every man concerned either actually or by consent to bear the Charity of the Lords People which is great Charity indeed to inform them of their unrighteous ways against the Lord and his People The fore-going Letter some of them called Railing but the Day will come in which they shall know and that from the just God of Heaven and Earth that it is no railing to infoâ—m People of the Truth which in the time of my Letter was both lawful and expedient for me so to do neither are they to have forgiveness of God further than they turn and repent neither are the Lords People to forgive that on Earth which is not forgiven in Heaven but to pray that his Will may be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven CHAP. XXVIII Concerning the Covering and Vncovering of the Head in Honour to Man or Men. WHere there is liberty by the Law of God for one man to remain with his Head covered before another it can be no transgression of any Righteous Law among men and as to Customs of that nature it is better to obey God than Manâ— for all things which a man is perswaded of God in his own heart to be comely decent and of good report that men ought in obedience to God to follow but that which hath no Scripture Example from any command of Christ nor Practice of any of his Apostles for one man to stand bear-headed in honour to another is that which cannot proceed from the Life and Power of God because it is not found in the holy Scriptures to be commanded of God neither in practice by any of Christs Disciples nor his holy Apostles bâ—t only a beaâ— Cuâ—tom got up among some of the Nations which indeâ—d by many of them are so accustomed to the Hat Hand and Knee by or with which they bestow so much Honour one towards the other that by that practice with other of their Works among men they have not due regard to the Works of Righteousness and Holiness for the honour oâ— God before whom in the time of praying prophecying the Head is to be uncovered for the Head of every man is Christ and the Head of Christ is God which proves a dishonour to the Name of the Lord to honour men whose hearts they know not as to God but honour them in the saâ—â—e form as they do the Lord when their Prayers are made to him who is the searcher of all hearts and giver to every man according to the fruits of his doings which to the faithful will be a Crown of Righteousness to the hoary Head but to the Sinner though a hundred yeaâ—s old he is accursed which also doth of Hat-Honour by which men honour that which is accursed of God CHAP. XXIX Concerning the great Judgments of God upon the Inhabitants of New-England by Witch-craft WItch-craft is altogether wrought through the Spirit and Power of the Devil which rules in the Children of Disobedience who ramain in the Works of the flesh with which Witch-craft is included Gal. 3. and 5 20 for which cause the just Judgments of God are the Reward of all Wicked and â—â—godly men but to all that repent their Sins and Blasphemies wherewithsoever they shall blaspheme shall be forgiven but he that blasphemeth against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven in this World nor the world to come Joh. 5.6 17. Mat. 21.10 Now as to divers Authors their apprehensions are various in differing one from the other about Witches and Witch-craft which to prevent error that Truth and Righteousness may take place I have taken in hand to set forth in order a Declaration which is according to the holy scriptures which do hold forth the nature and cause of People having familarity with the Devil who is the Father of all Unrighteouâ—ness through which Unrighteousness he begets the heart and mind to serve him in which state more or less are most men through which Life of Disobedience the Understanding of man is darkened that it cannot see what is for God according to his will neither do they comprehend divers works which are against him which is also as a Judgment from God for Disobedience which indeed is of the nature of Rebellion which is as the sin of Witch craft then where men are in the like state they are blind as to the knowledge or God concerning such whom he commanded to be destroyed in the time of the Law Deut. 〈…〉 11.12 Exod. 22 18. for they that are not come to 〈◊〉 Law and the Prophets do not know the will and Mind of God relating to the new Law of Light Life and Grace by Jesus Christ for they that serve sin are servants to sin and of him they are whose works they do Rom. 6.16 Iohn 8.44 Mat. â— 24 Luke 6.13 Then in what state are they that are alwayes confessing but never forsaking for if through Obedience they did forsake sin then there would be no such need of confessing that which they have forsaken because where men forsake their sins and live in all good order of Gods holy Truth as they are commandâ—d to do then the Lord will remember their Transgressions no more Isa 45 7. and 44.25 for where men keep Judgment and do Righteousness at all times they are not in a state of alwayes confessing and of not forsaking Psal 106.3 for where men confess and not forsake their works manifest a dead Faith James 2.26 in which state of â—â—obedience they draw near with their Lip and Moâ—th to honour the Lord when it is manifest by Works that the heart is far from him and their fear is taught by the precepts of men therefore doth the Lord do amarvelous work and a wonder for the Wisdom of then Wise Men shall perish and the Vnderstanding of their Prudent men shall be hâ—d Isa 29.13 Mat. 15.8 Mark 7.6 which scriptures are fulfilled as a Judgment of God for innocent Blood shed in New-England whose Priests and Rulers with the consenting Inhabitants have been bewitched that that should not obey the Truth of God made manifest by Jesus Christ whose Servants they have put to Death at Boston for which cause as a Judgment they are deliverd up through Unbelief to hardness of heart to commit other sins which with the sin of Blood hath furder stored up the Lords Wrath to add to their Troubles through the increase of his Judgments against them for rebelling against his holy Truth for which cause as Judgment increaseth against sin so sin in New-England increaseth against Judgment until the Light of sin at this time is of that hight and nature that there is no less of the Priests and their Church Members with others of their hearers then five
in Christ Jesus â—s to the faithful and through him are they kept in perfect peace out of which state the World remains unstable having the mind tossed to and fro in the busâ—â—gs and clamourous Noises about the Devil and Witch craft which â—â—man need to fear as he keeps faithful upon his watch 〈◊〉 Obedrence to Gods holy Truth made manifest by Jesus Christ for while Israel kept faithful the Devil could not get entrance for it is said Surely there is no Inchantment against Jacob nor Divination against Israel Nâ—mb 23.23 Which doth certainly prove that if there were not first a falling from Obedience to the Command of the Lord that â—e would not depart from them for God hath commanded all men to watch and pray that they may witness deliverance in the hour of Temptation and if this Command had been kept by the afflicted Evidences they could not have been possessed or bewitched by the Devil nor any of his Instruments for the cause of their being possessed or bewitched hath been through a Life of Disobedience to God who as a Judgment for not obeying his Truth hath suffered further affliction to come upon them which is also as a warning to all others that they may live as they ought to Gods Truth which the Devils Power cannot touch for though the Devils Power was permitted to touch the outward Man of Job for a tryal of his inward Faith but not to touch the inward Man for whatsoever the Lord may suffer the Devil for the outward tryal 〈◊〉 his Peoples inward Faith yet he never suffers the Devils Power to lauch in such a manner as in these bewitched or possessed Evidences which is almost beyond the crediâ— of man to receive what manner of strange actions they had which I do believe the true Prophets of God were never acted by any such Spirit which gives them as they say the true knowledge who are Witches and who are not thâ— divers of the Persons they never knew nor never heard of theâ— Names before the Spectre or Devil turned informer maâ— their Names known to them and where they live and theâ— have presumed to affirm That P. F. a Merchant of Salem murthered J. R's Son of Salem by drowning him at thâ— Island of Barbadoes with many more things of thâ— like nature which are too tedious to relate of the afflicted Evidences and I desire of God to be preserve from such a Spirit of Sights And yet some who Names I shall not here mention have said That the afflicted bewitched or possessed Evidences are the true Marty of Jesus Christ and that they are killed all the Day long aâ— as his Sheep accounted for the Slaughter From which Belâ— the Lord deliver me for the chosen of God which wâ— read of Psal 4â— 22 Rom. 8.35 36 37 38 39. we not sighted by any such Spirit as these are sighted with 〈◊〉 they were Christs Sheep and knew his Voice who 〈◊〉 he true Shepherd of Israel which neither slumbereth 〈◊〉 sleepeth but watcheth over his Flock by day and by â—â—ght and his Voice they know but the Voice of a â—â—ranger they will not follow John 10.5 For they follow 〈◊〉 Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World Joh. â— 29 for by his Blood are the Righteous made clean from 〈◊〉 corrupt part which is the cause in them who are affected and tormented even as we see these Evidences be â—hose whooping and hollowing with all their other â—â—tick Actions is far from singing the new Song as they â—â—d who were redeemed not by the power of Man but â—y the Power of God Rev. 5 9 10 11 12. for by the â—ower of God without the help of Man were they made â—â—re than Conquerors through him that loved them Rom. 〈◊〉 37. So that the Love of God savingly is to them that â—ar and obey and not to the disobedient state through â—hich Unbelief and hardness of heart brings People â—â—o trouble of Spirit and it may be that some of â—â—ese People called Witches have been in trouble which â—ith other Circumstances may have occasioned them to â—â—clare that against themselves which it may be they â—e not giulty of for to them that are in trouble of â—nd by reason of unfaithfull living to God the Devil â—ay be permitted to work the frame of their Spirits into â—â—th Delusions that thereby the whole natural sences the understanding may be drawn to believe a thing â—hich is but only in shew and not in substance as for â—an to believe that the Devil hath avisible Book of natu 〈◊〉 Paper and with the natural Blood of mens natural Boâ—â— they subscribe to this natural Book and that the Devil taketh their natural Bodies of natural men and women and baptizeth them with natural Water and that he setteth them upon a natural pole and carrieth them for above the highest Trees to a natural House where the Priests and the Devil give them natural Bread and natural Wine which they say they eat and drink and he promises them to pull down the Kingdom of Christ and himself to sit upon the Throne of Christ with much more of the like nature which some of there called Witches have confessed but most of them that have so confessed I think are at liberty and those that have not confessed put to Death for what they have confessed of the like nature most of them 〈◊〉 not all have denyed again which as to their deny at I do believe would not have been of much benefit had not the Devil been so hasty to inform against such whom some may think impossible to be Witches but as to that God and their own Consciences know best but the faithful may Judge according to mens fruit even as the Apostle did when he said O foolish Galations who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose Eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucifiâ—â— among you Gal. 3.1 So that Witch-craft is maintained through the Devils Power in divers manners which to be sure one part of Witch-craft properly belongeth to them that bewitch People that they should not obey the Truth of Gods holy commands by Jesus Christ for which cause of Disobedience as before related is it thaâ— some as a Judgment upon them are given up through unbelief to hardness of heart in which state some livâ— in such horror of Conscience that their Lives are of sucâ— burden that they willfully murder themselves otheâ— in the same state are as willing to dye as the otheâ— but desiring to dye and not being permitted to destroy themselves because Death as an addition to Judgment sleeâ—h away Rev. â— 6 then in that state of horror may they not accuse themselves of such sins which they have not commited for this very end to be destroyed by others for a wounded Spirit who can bare Prov. 14 1â— and how common is it in Barbadoes for black People to destroy themselves meerly upon a false
follow that they are false Worshippers then why they put to Death according to that Command in the Law and their Substance taken away to defray publick Charge contrary to the express Command of God in the time of the Law Exod. 22 18. Deut. 28.16 13 1â— 1â— But when men come â—o burn their Books of curious Arts then the oldness of the Law will dye and newness in Spirit will appear through the growth of Gods Word which in that day shall prevail Acts 19.17 18 19 20. until which time let Christs saying to the Rebellious Jews be sufficient that is when they brought the Woman taken in the act oâ— Adultry saying Moses in the Law commanded that such should bâ— stoned to Death Christ bids Let him that is without sin cast the first stone but no man among them being without sin the woman escaped even so may Witches not guilty of Murder escape in this day for he that â—s wholly clear of every degree of Witch-craft may cast a stone at Witches that is when as evidently proved as the Womans act was in Adultry John 8.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. for where the nature of Witchtraft remaineth it evidently appears by Peoples Threats one to the other and their living in Malice Hatred and Envy one against the other watching and waiting for the opportunity of advantage one against the other and if no advantage present of damnifying one the other yet the sin of Witch-craft in one degree is as deeply rooted in them as the sin of Adultry is rooted in him that looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultry with her already in his heart Mat. 5 28. for the intent of Wickedness is of greater abomination in the sight of God than the act of sin is in the sight of sinful men Of which number I am now concerned to give an account of New England's first Inhabitants and of them which yet remain without Power but in the very nature of their fore Fathers justifying the Laws by which the Lords Servants were persecuted to Death at Boston for which Judgment after Judgment hath fallen upon this place even since and the Lords just Judgments were to bring them to a sight of that sin of Blood but instead of reâ—enting their hearts have waxed harder and harder against the Truth of God delivered by his Servants in that day in which Day of Gods Truth to them their requital was by destroying the Lives of the Lords People with whole innocent Blood New-England remains defiled for the very first stept of the first Inhabitants towards this land in may be questioned whether or not they fled beyond the command of the Lord for finding the Bishops Yoke uneasie under which if they had remained faithful the Yoke of the Lord would have been easie and his Burden light but instead of manifesting the Lords cause in the other City they fled this Land which fleeing was it not beyond what the Lord hath commanded when persecuted in one City to flee to the other that each place or each People may hear the Truth which all that are called of God are to deliver according to their measure which if any say that it was sufficient warrant from God for them to flee the Land and as Paul did preach the Gospel where Christ was not named then why followed they not Paul as for example he followed Christ who came not to destroy mens lives but to save and 〈…〉 by turning People from Darkness to Light and 〈…〉 Power of Satan to the Power of God but how 〈◊〉 they turned the Native Indians where Christ 〈…〉 named did they not in their first settlement 〈◊〉 them in to the Grave where there is no Repentance a strang turning in feed by a People that pretended so much to Gods Truth as they did and not come so far as the Law and the Prophets but to do unto the poor Natives otherwayes then they themselves would be done unto well might such a work not be expected to promote a People for the Service of God Honour of his Name who hath well rewarded the Inhabitants of New-England for their unrighteous dealings towards the Native Indians whom now the Lord hath suffered to reward the Inhabitants with a double measure of Blood by Fire and Sword which had they followed the command of the Lord to have prayed for their Enemies and done to others even as themselves would have been done unto the â—nhabitants might have been free from these great and terrible Judgments of God which for sin and evil is their Reward in this Day So its evident that through their unfaithfulness to God in their first settlement of this Land and since hath been the leading cause of their being further left to do these unrighteous things which have increased the Lords Wrath against them and their following Generation who remain guilty for not repenting of sin and evil against God for whose Truth they ought to have born a faithful Testimony in their publick â—ssemblies against all the unrighteous Ways of their fore-Fatcers which have been against the Lord and his People of which I may relate something that others thereby may receive warning not to follow Unrighteousness but to remain faithful to their measure lest the Lord deliver them up through Unbelief to hardness of heart and they do as New-England's Priests and Rulers have done which hath caused the hand of the Lord to be against them and all that actually or by silence have consented to their unrighteous ways which have been maintained by the Sword of the Magistrate which the Priests in the day of their Power whitted sharp through their false pernicious Doctrines which did encourage the Rulers of that day to deshoy all the Lords Servants that were found within their Government under the Name Quaker to whom they allotted the Valley of Achor for a door of Hope Josh 7 24.25 perverting the Truth of God through their preaching up things in the Law which Christians are not to do in the time of the Gospel Deut. 13. 1 King 1.10 2.24 Luke 9.54 which notwithstanding they would preach and pray That all were accursed that did their Work negligently against the Quakers whose living among the People the Priests did impute to be the cause of Gods Judgments which they said was the Peoples just Reward for suffering any one Quaker to live among them whereupon the Rulers with the silent consent of the greatest part of the Inhabitants did make sharp and bloody Laws against the Quakers whereby they were long imprisoned under many Hardships as in respect of the hard cold Clymate without fire and for days together without food having their Friends denyed of visiting them in any kind but as the Lord was daily with them their strength in love did increase towards him who did uphold and support them in their great Sufferings which were of that Nature that one would even wonder that a People of so much preaching and praying
which Law several honest rich Merchants in Boston received vvhich Law vvell pleased the Priests not knovving hovv little time they had to ride the Rulers at their pleasure but soon after this King Charles the second vvith his Council oâ— Parliament called them to an account and found thaâ— they had forfeited their Charter and which was condemned and for their misdemeanour towards him and his Subjects justly taken away And in that Day their pretended Holyness was such that none but them of their own Profession were admitted to bear Office or fight against their Enemies but now they will accept the Mahoque Indians or Pyrats or them highly accused of Witch-craft to be their chief Commanders and instead of differing Apparel all that can get it may wear wâ—at they please most striving who shall come nearest the newest French fashion and instead of Womens Vails in their Worship strive who can spy out the newest fashioned Apparel and the richest and highest Top-knoâ—s c. and too much let their minds out to discourse of these things till their next Worship day I write not these things to reflect upon the People of New-England but that they may repent of their evils which provoke the Lords Judgments against a People that profess him in words but deny him in Works for which cause it was that divers of the former Priests and Rulers were suddainly removed by the just hand of the Lord which reached them by suddain Death according as I have read in a printed Paper given to King Charles the second and to his Council that upon the day of putting to Death them four Persons called Quakers many people to see them put to death run over the Draw-bridge in Boston which broke down and several people hurt but only one Woman big with Child killed and that was her who had said That rather than those four Quakers should not be put to Death for want of some one to hang them that her Husband should perform the Work The next in order was their Major General whose Horse threw him in all his Pomp at the head of the Train-bands and he dyed immediately in the same place The third was the Captain of their Castle who was suddainly killed with Thunder at which time the blades of his Souldiers Swords melted in their sheathes by their sides yet all preserved alive The fourth and fifth were their two Captains which drove those innocent persons to their bloody Altar the one was deprived of his natural Reason and for filthiness degraded of his Church Brethren and became eaten of Lice and a reproach to them that met him The other was given up to strong Drink and suddainly dyed The sixth of their Rulers was one Webb who was accused of Uncleanness with his near Kins-woman he was strangely drowned when all others in the same Boat were out of danger The seventh was their Jaylor a devout Member of their Church who departed this Life in great horror of Conscience confessing it was for his great Cruelty to the poor Quakers The eight is said to have rotted alive and was he that condemned the innocent to dye The nineth bled to Death not known to have any Wound The tenth was one Vnderwood a rich Baker which wasted his Estate and became a Servant in Virginia And another which I well knew did the like The twelfth a great â—ersecutor was a rich Collonol he ended miserably being killed by the Indians in his own House in a taunting way of reproach And at the same time his Riches consumed by fire and his Daughter taken Captive The thirteenth was John Norton their high Priest in Boston who preached in the fore-part of the day and in the latter part of the day it s said he confessed the hand of God was upon him and â—o dyed And as the Word of the Lord was by the Mouth of his Servants to John Indicot Governour even so is it for his fair Dwellings in Boston are become a Barn and Stable for Cows and Horses and one can hardly find where his fair Dâ— in Salem stood And of all his other great Estate in Lands and Livings it s well known that on four pence a day for labour many honest men in Old England have and do live far more better than any of his Posterity upon the aforesaid great Estate and yet I know not any of them extravagant but things do not prosper with them Some Deep and Mysterious Matters for all to Consider BRIEFLY RELATING How Man came to fall his state in the Fall and Way of Restoration to God again CHAP. I. Concerning the wonderful and mysterious Trees in the Garden of Eden unknown ever since Man was driven out of Paradise until admitted to return again viz. the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil and the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God NOw some will have the Tree of Kowledge of good and evil to be a natural Tree planted by God in Paradise with whom I will not much contend but of such a nature it was that whosoever did eat thereof should have their Eyes opened against themselves and so to be as Gods to know both good and evil then might it be that God would admonish Adam both inwardly and outwardly of what he did inwardly and in his heart either forbid or teach him that he would 〈…〉 for the greater Evidence set before his Eyes but â—â—â—al this may be granted that what was outwardly done the same happened inwardly in the heart of Adam that he was there temped by the Seed of the Serpent viz. to make some account and reckoning of his own Wisdom Will and Nature and not submit himself unto God as void of all name knowledge or work but to be something of himself and there are two causes for it first because the promise is that the Seed of the Woman shall bruise thâ— head of the Serpent Now I do not read of any natuâ—aâ— oâ— living Serpent whose head was so bruised by the Seed of the Woman therefore it may besaid as the spiritual Seed of the Woman or Christ was in the heart of Adam so likewise was the serpents Seed for man was made good and not of the substance of God therefore is it that man turns himself always from God and inclineth to his own vanity for what is the Devil Sin Death and Hell but nothing even as many of the antient Fathers have writ especially Thaulerus that God never created them for they are a Non-entity a not being which is contrary and perfectly opposit to Entity and being and this might be the Devil that dwelt in Adam which seduced him as also in Lucifer The other cause is this that the Scriptures likewise witness that the City of God and the heavenly Jerusalam and the Kingdom of God is a Paradise within his People and furder that God and his Almighty Word is their Paradise the Tree of Life the Temple where they dwell walk sacrifice and pray as
while time is the spirit of God keeps striving to live to his Word to do his will that is to yeild their obedience to the Word of his Spirit that the Will of God may be done in their earthly Tabernacle agreeble to the desire of his Will which is in Heaven this is the way of them that to God abide faithful to keep the path of him that is Just in which their is neither variation nor shadow of turning buâ— keeping the way of Life which leadeth to enter thâ— strait Gate that is to that man that doth nothing know-nothing and willeth nothing of himself but bears and suffers and sees God making holy day in him this man keeps the Sabbath holy being void of all skill and will is subject only to God in him to do out will know both how what when and why he pleaseth God Now the whole World lieth in this Death and Sin for that it doth nothing else but kiss its own hand and Sacrifice to its own Net that is adore the purpose counsel invention and wisdom of it self and to this purpose are all things drawn and bent even the holy Scriptures and words of God namely to be consonant to the Reason of men and not to cross their own wisdom course and way but all these things must be overthrown unlearned again if they will see God therefore doth the Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures so vehemently urge the Children of Men to become Children and Fools and to vomit up again all the art and knowledge of this forbidden Tree to be purged by the strength of the Tree of Life consequently let men in this state look and observe in themselves narrowly what they do either in their worship to God or serving their Neighbour and they shall find that all this is true in their own brest that themselves is the mark they aim at in all they do J. E. T. M. CHAP. V. Concernining the Sin of Covetousness THe nature of which Lust or Devil lusteth to covet after that Which God hath expresly forbidden namely the Tree of Knowledg of good and evil which causeth men to become as Gods whose Eyes are opened against themselves to perceive the Tree good for Food and pleasent to the eyes and a Tree to make one wise therefore do they covet after the fruit of the Tree and greedily eat of it not considering how they eat Death and dye to God as Adam did even so is it with every man that is not planted into the Tree of Life and new born of Christ regenerated and brought forth by the immortal Seed the Word of God the Spirit of Truth and Seed of his Kingdom but on the contrary covet after the perishing things of this World thereby to enrich themselves there-with contrary to what God hath commanded first to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof unto which is the promise of adding all other things for as the Promise was on condition to Adam To do and live so hath it been the same to all men in every age and is the same in this day therefore let none deceive themselves for the doers of the Law were only them that kept the Word of the Lord who accounted them worthy of receiving Life to live with God forever for to the Disobedient who are only hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word there is no true peace neither in this Life nor in the Life to come for there is no peace to the Wicked saith my God so that the doers of the Law were they and only them that kept the Commandments of God and by faith in him were the works of the Law imputed to them for Righteousness So not in this Gospel Day Christ is given for a Light to lighâ—â—n the Gentiles and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth that whosoever will believe in him might not perish but have the Light of Life Therefore as Christ hath dyed for the sins of the whole World that every man in the World may be left without excuse God hath given unto them a gift of divine Light which is to them a Talent and Seed of the Tree of Life as is else-where called the â—ord of Faith being a manifestation of the Spirît given to every man to profit withal which as they hear to obey and do it they also profit by it to perform the Commandments of God and of this nature is their strength in the Tree of Life renewed which causeth the Seed to grow and makes rich the berren land through purging out the old Leaven that the new Lump may take place which bringeth forth holy Fruit abundantly to God so that the Children of her that was barren now bringeth forth and become many and thus do the faithful grow who covet after the better part namely to fear God and work Righteousness to 〈◊〉 Justly love Mercy and walk humbly doing no other thing to any then as themselves would be done unto This is the Law and the Prophets and also what God hath commanded for all men to do in this day that they may come to pertake of his Promise to grow in the Tree of Life from Grace to Grace until by Grace the work of God in them is wholly perfected but these things are to a Coveteous man even as the wise Charmeer is to the deaf Adder for having ears to hear they hear not to receive the Truth in the love of it because the love of Money is their pride in which they delight to become wise rich and what not in the perishing things of this life Here coveâ—ous men grow from one covetous desire to another until through pride and covetousness they come to â—all as Angels have done and yet may remain as many covetous Usurers do who have cloathed themselves with the Prophets and Apostles words that thereby they may appear in the sight of mâ—n to be knowing prudent and wise and accounted men of good Reason yea and withal religious and righteous whenas indeed it is but their own work and the Righteousness thereof which is as filththy Rags and fig-leave Garments of Unrightecusness where-with they vainly seek to hide themselves from the presence of God whose all seeing eye beholdeth the wayes of every covetous mans setting up for himself to walk in for which cause God that searcheth the heart and knoweth the intents of the mind and checks reproves and condemns for every vain thought evil intent and idle word and Unrighteous work for which cause often times covetous and proud unrighteous men and woman fall into such condemnation by the Power of God that they even despair of Mercy yea the horror of their condemnation is such that Preist nor Levit nor the dark Watch-men of the night can afford no help to the wound of a troubled Conscience in which state of a wounded Spirit who can bear which for remedy the physitian of no value is set to work who in his own will