who believe in and faithfully follow him the Lamb of God he taketh away their Sins he being made Perfect is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto ALL them that OBEY him Heb. 5. 9. Daniel the Prophet who prophesied of the coming of the Messiah which is Christ Jesus and of his Sufferings he declared the End or Effects thereof Namely To make an END of SIN to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness see Dan. 9. 24. to the end Jesus Christ said To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth every one that is of the Truth heareth MY VOICE John 18. 37. And Jesus said I came to call sinners to Repentance He that COVERETH his Sins shall NOT prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have Mercy Prov. 28. 13. These are faithful Sayings of God spoken through his Son and his Prophets and Apostles here is a Cloud of witnesses who in a sweet Unity and Harmony and Clearness speaks forth the Universal Love of God to Mankind in Christ Jesus in sending him to make an end of Sin the Devils Work The Wages of Sin is Death as saith the Apostle which NOT being Repented of and forsaken brings into the Pit of endless Torment a BARE confessing of Sin without repenting and forsaking will NOT bring Men Women to lay down their Heads in PEACE with God Therefore Wo unto those who go on in their sins unto the end of their Dayes upon Earth Raking up and down in the Scriptures of Truth to gather up the Failings MISCARRIAGES of some among God's People who for want of diligent Watchfulness were overcome by their Souls Enemy but Unfeignedly Repented and Ceased from the Evil did learn to do well and so were forgiven as in the cases of David and Peter w hose Miscarriages at a time or some few times is now made as TEXTS on them to preach up IMPERFECTION and SIN for Term of Life Wo to those sort of Preachers if they do not Repent of this Unchristian and Ungodly Preaching and cease there from they will not only Destroy themselves but also those who give up themselves to believe and love their sinful Doctrine who by this Wicked preaching do take courage and GREAT boldness to continue in sin and to love it and to commit it with greediness yea to drink it up abundantly even as an Ox drinks up Water and to pull it and draw it upon them as with Cords and Cart tropes as it s written This sort of Teachers God is against his Soul is grieved by them from day to day Oh! that they would consider it and lay it to Heart and Repent before it be too late The Woes were of Old and now are unto all those Preachers and Hearers who are covered and NOT with the holy pure Spirit of the Lord God in which spirit God is worshipped as Christ saith Wo to the Rebellious Children who take Counsel but not of me saith the Lord God who cover with a Covering but NOT of my SPIRIT that they may ADD Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. Wo unto them that call Evil Good and Good Evil c. Wo unto them who justifie the Wicked FOR a Reward c. Therefore as the Fire devoureth the Stubble and the Flame consumeth the Chaff so their ROOT shall be Rottenness and their BLOSSOM shall go up as Dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the Word of the holy One of Israel Wo to them that are Wise in their own eyes c. Isa 5. 18 to the 25th read the Chapter through Wo to the Wicked it shall be Ill with him for the Reward of his Hands shall be given him What mean ye that ye beat my People c. and grind the Faces of the Poor saith the Lord God of Hosts Moreover the Lord saith Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty and walk with stretched-out Necks and wanton EYES c. Therefore the Lord will Smite with a SCAB the Crown or Top of the Heed of the Daughter of Zion Jerusalem is Ruined and Judah is Fallen because their TONGUE and their Doings are against the Lord to provoke the Eyes of his Glory They declare their Sin as Sodom Wo unto their SOULS for they have Rewarded EVIL unto THEMSELVES Isa 3. 8 to the 18th read the Chapter through In this Chapter the Proud and Wonton Women of our Age may read their pattern and see whose Ungodly Example they follow and also they may see what Ruin Destruction and Misery they brought upon themselves as the just Reward of their Ungodly Lives and seeing God did thus punish the Proud and Wanton Women under the Profession of the Law certainly he will not justifie such Persons or Practices under the Profession of Christ and his Gospel for though the Law could not make the Comers thereunto Perfect as pertaining unto the Conscience yet then God did not leave himself without a Witness in them he gave them his good Spirit to instruct them as Nehemiah saith but they rebelled against it but Christ and his Gospel can make them that come to him Perfect even as pertaining to the Conscience and that which makes the Conscience good and brings it into a perfect cleanness the same keeps Man and Woman clean in their Conversations outwardly and such who do believe in and obey Christ Jesus he teaches them to be truly Meek and Lowly and Humble according to the blessed Command and Example which he gave in the Dayes of his flesh who said Learn of me I am Meek and LOWLY in Heart and ye shall find REST TO YOUR SOULS The Apostle Peter in the holy Ghost exhorted the Women to be subject unto their own Husbands And said whose Adorning let it not be the outward Adorning of Plating the Hair NOR of WEARING of GOLD c. But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is NOT Corruptible the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which IS in the sight of God of great PRICE For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God Adorned themselves c. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. Again the Apostle Paul saith I will in like manner also that Women Adorn themselves in MODEST Apparel with SHAMEFACEDNESS and SOBRIETY NOT w th Broidred HAIR or GOLD or PEARLS or Costly Aray But which becometh Women professing Godliness with GOOD WORKS 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. So all Women both Old and Young ought to obey the Command of Christ who commands to be Meek and Lowly and ought to follow the good Example of these holy Christian-Women who were cloathed and beautified with a Meek and Humble Quiet Spirit and with good Works as the holy Apostle Exhorts Depart from Evil and do good and dwell or live for evermore I have seen the Wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay-Tree
for there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for All Mark that for All 1 Tim. 3. 4 5 6. In the Prophecy of Obediah there is much said concerning Esau and his Generation of the just Judgments of God against them for their Wickedness Verse 6. its said thus How are the things of Esau searched out how are his hidden things sought up Verse 9 10. God threatned to cut off every one of the Mount of Esau for said God For thy Violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off forever Vers 18. And the House of Jacob shall be a Fire and the House of Joseph a Flame and the House of Esau for Stubble c. Reader here observe God by his holy Prophet shews the Cause why his hatred was kindled against Esau and his Generation House Family or Off-spring and why he would cut off or destroy them even because of their Wickedness and Rebellion The Apostle Paul saith The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteonsness because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them and because when they knew God they glorified him not as God and even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge God gave them up to a Reprobate Mind c. Rom. 1. 18 19 21 28. And again he speaks against those who did not know the Long-suffering and Goodness of God to lead them to Repentance and he saith God will render to every man according to their deeds and he also saith There is no respect of Persons with God c. Rom. 2. 4 6 11. And the same Paul puts the Question saying What if God willing to shew his Wrath and to make his power known endured with much Long-suffering on the Vessel of Wrath fitted to Destruction Rom. 9. 22. Thus it appears that God waited long upon the Evil-doers to lead them to Repentance But when they knew God they did not Glorifie him as God neither did they like to retain God in their Knowledge and after God had suffered and waited long to lead them to Repentance and they did not turn at his Call and Reproof then he gave them up to a Reprobate Mind They had a time in which they might have been made of an Heavenly Spiritual Mind in which they might have had Life and Peace The Prophet Jeremiah saith of the Apostatized Jews who were the Children of Jacob according to the Flesh Reprobate Silver shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6. 30. Reader the People of God called Quakers do own Election and Reprobation but do utterly deny That God hath ordained that some men should be Wicked or that he WITH-HOLDS his Light Grace or Spirit from them and so puts them UPON A FORCE to be Wicked for want of the gift of his Spirit Grace and Light and afterwards casts them into Hell for not obeying him when they had no power offered or given to them by him to enable them to obey No God's Way is Equal as his Servants of old have testified Where he gives much he requires of man accordingly and where he gives less he requires accordingly and he that is faithfull in a little he will make Ruler over much The Apostle Peter said The Saints were Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience c. 1 Pet. 1. 2. And we do deny that any Man or Woman is Elect of God that is Chosen of God without the Sanctification of or by the Spirit of Truth and Obedience unto it The Apostle Paul saith unto the Saints at Rome Those whom God did fore-know them he did predestinate that is fore-ordain to be conformed to the Image of his Son that is to the Likeness of his Son Rom. 8. 29. But it is certain that none can be made Conformable to the Likeness of his Son without he be Sanctified by the Spirit of Truth and none can be so Sanctified by the Spirit of Truth but those who believein and obey the same Spirit for that is it which Christ promised should lead the Saints into all Truth The Apostle Paul writ to the Church of Christ at Ephesus saying Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in heavenly Places in Christ according as he hath chosen us that is Elected us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy without blame before him in Love c. Ephes 1. 3 4. We do believe that God doth fore-know those who become his while they are ignorant of him And we do believe that he hath chosen them in his Son before the Foundation of the World Christ the Son of God is the Light of the World he lighteth every one that cometh into World for one the same Cause Purpose or End even that all might believe in him obey him through Faith and Obedience might be Chosen or Elect in him and so have Eternal Life in him He that believes in the Son of God hath Everlasting Life he that doth not believe in the Son of God shall not see Life John 38. Again the first Epistle of John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life and such are not Elect in him but are under condemnation because of their Unbelief which Unbelief the Devil not God iâ— the Author of Reader thus we own Election and Reprobation as did the holy Men of old but we deny that those who continue in sin and plead for it term of Life are in that state chosen of God we do deny an UNCONDITIONAL Election Reprobation as held forth by many of the Professors in our time for the condition of Election is Faith in God and Christ and Obedience unto the Spirit of Truth which is given to lead the Saints into all Truth and to conviuce the World of sin And the condition of Reprobation and Damnation is Unbelief in God and Christ and Disobedience unto and Rebellion against the Spirit of Truth The Apostle Paul saith to the Saints at Rome If ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 13 14. And further the same Apostle saith His Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16. So here the holy Apostle declares the GOSPEL conditions of Election and Reprobation or chusing to Eternal Life and casting off unto Eternal Damnation Christ is the Elect the Chosen of God Behold saith God my Servant
ELECTION AND REPROBATION Scripturally and Experimentally Witnessed unto c. Wherein the Love of God in Christ is Freely and Clearly held forth to all Mankind Given forth in tender Love for a general Good but more particularly for the Comfort of all who in Sincerity seek after the pure God with Desires to walk in his Holy Undefiled Way Also Divers other weighty things needful to be duely considered and rightly understood witnessed unto as aforesaid By one who travails in Spirit for the gathering of the scattered Nations who are like troubled Waters out of their Sins home unto God by Christ Jesus the good Shepherd William Gibson Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else a mighty God a Saviour c. Isa 45. 22. God's Will is that all men might be saved Christ gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance but after the hardness and Impenitency of thy Heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the Day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgments of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 4 5 6. Printed in the Year 1678. An Epistle to the Reader Reader REmember the Command and Example of Christ Jesus and obey and follow the same who said Learn of me I am Meek and Lowly and ye shall find Rest to your Souls if thou takest his counsel and followst his example then thou wilt read in meekness and lowliness of Mind and if thou so read I question not but what I have writ in this following Testimony will meet with an answer in thy Conscience and some benefit may come to thee thereby and if so it come to pass it will be matter of true rejoycing to me for I do take great pleasure in the Well-being of the Sons and Daughters of men every way both in Soul and Body It is certain that the Holy Glorious Lord God of Heaven Earth doth give Life and a Being upon Earth unto all mankind for one and the same purpose even that all should serve him with their Souls and with their Bodies which are his it is equitable in God to require this service therefore saith the holy Apostle This is your reasonable service at this the Law of God directly pointed given by Moses unto the Family of Abraham after through sin man-kind was fallen from God saying Hear O Israel Thou shalt have no other Gods but me thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind this is the first and greatest Commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Christ Jesus in the days of his Flesh did not only ratifie and confirm this and commend the same to his Disciples and to the Multitude but also opened or expounded the latter yea enlarged the same unto his Disciples saying Love your Enemies do good to those who do despightfully use you and persecute you Christ said to the Jews Think ye I came to destroy the Law I tell ye nay I came not to destroy but to fulfill those who did believe in him and receive him he did endue with power to love God with all their Heart Soul and Mind and their Neighbours as themselves yea to love and pray for their Enemies and it s written as many as receiv'd him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God and those Believers in him who received him into their hearts by Faith were not born of flesh nor of blood nor of the will of man but of God these were born of the Spirit and led by it and they are the Children of God who are led by the Spirit of God as the Apostle saith Christ Jesus through the Grace Favour and tender Mercy of God the Father tasted death for Every man as saith the holy Apostle and Christ saith I am the Light of the World mark that he is not only the Life and Light of his Disciples whom he hath gathered out of the World who are not of the world as he saith and therefore the world doth hate them but he is also the Light of the World which lieth in wickedness and by his light shining in their dark hearts he lets them see their sins and reproves them thereby and calls of them thereby to Repent Christ saith Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light and will not bring their deeds unto it but every one that doth Truth bringeth his deeds unto the Light that they may be made man fest that they are wrought in God who is LIHGT as saith the holy Apostle John and he saith Christ is the propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD mark that he is the common and universal Saviour who died for all lighteth all and is the propitiation or Intercessor provided for all but none can have the benefit of his Death or Life or his Light or of his Mediatorship unto their Eternal Salvation without Faith in him Abraham saw his day and believed in him and was glad and the Fathers under the Law and before the Law believed God and his Promises which are all yea and amen in him the Gentiles who had not the Law in the outward Letter did the things contained in the Law shewing the deeds of the Law written in their hearts as saith the Apostle by vertue of his enlightning enlivening presence they were naturalliz'd or made naturally to do the things contained in the Law and so were made partakers of that nature which is Divine of which nature the true Believers were and are made partakers as the holy Apostle saith here take notice that nature or the nature of man considered as he is in the fall from God man in and by this nature fallen corrupted and degenerated into a plant of a strange Vine unto God in this estate in this nature he cannot do the things contained in the Law of God but contrariwise as the Apostle saith the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him therefore those who without the Law in the outward Letter do the things contained in it these deeds are done by the verture of the heavenly and divine nature or spirit of the Lamb of God who as John Baptist saith cometh to take away the sins of the World Mark the sins of the World So it is certainly true which Christ Jesus saith without me ye can do nothing and this of old was and now is as true in and among the Gentiles as among the Jews there is not Salvation in any other there is no name given under Heaven by which any can be saved but by him whom the Father hath given to be
their Lamps went out which shews they were once in and they could not enter with the Bride-groom for the Door was shut So will it be with the hardned Apostates who tasted of the heavenly Gift and have been made pertakers of the Power of the World to come who turned from the heavenly Gift delivered to them who made Shipwrack of that Faith which God gave them and put away a good Conscience which they once had who have trampled the Blood of the Covenant under Foot whereby they were sanctified who are grown past feeling whose Conscience is seared with a hot Iron such having sinned out the day of Gods tender Visitation unto them they are as Trees twice dead plucked up by the Roots whose end is to be burned Wells without Water Clouds without Rain carried about of Tempests wandring Stars for whom is reserved the mist or blackness of Darkness forever Enoch the seventh from Adam Prophesied of these c. the Apostle Peter and Paul and Jude write of these in their several Epistles as may be read at large Though these like Balaam the Enemy of God and of his People should desire to dye the death of the Righteous and have their latter end like his which is to enter into the Kingdom of God and sit down in Peace and Rest in it yet can they not enter therein seeing they have refused rejected done despite unto and what they can trampled upon that blessed Gift which God hath given to lead thereinto Again the Disciples of Jesus said unto him Declare unto us the Parable of the Tares of the Field he answered and said unto them He that soweth the good Seed is the Son of man the Field is the World the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares are the Children of the Wicked the Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the end of the World the Reapers are the Angels Again Christ spake a Parable and said Behold a Sower went forth to Sow and when he sowed some Seeds fell by the High-way side and the Fowls came and devoured them up some fell upon Stony places where they had not much Earth and forth-with they sprang up but because they had not deepness of Earth when the Sun was up they were scorched and because they had not Root they withered away and some fell among Thorns and they sprung up and choaked them but others fell in good Ground and brought forth Fruit some an hundred Fold some sixty Fold some thirty Fold And Jesus said Hear ye therefore the Parable of the Sower when any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his Heart this is he which received Seed by the way side but he that received the Seed into Stony places the same is he that heareth the Word and anon with Joy receiveth it yet hath he not Root in himself but dureth for a while for when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended he also that received Seed among the Thorns is he that heareth the Word and the cares of this World and the deceitfulness of Riches choak the Word and he becometh Vnfruitful But he that received the Seed into the good Ground is he that in an honest and good Heart having heard the Word keeps it and brings forth Fruit with patience see Matth. 1. Luke 8. 15. Again The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net that was cast into the Sea which when it was full they drew to Shore and gathered the good into Vessels but cast the bad away so shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come forth and sever the Wicked from among the Just and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth Again Jesus spake a Parable and said A certain man made a great Supper c. and sent his Servant at Supper-time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready and they all with one consent began to make excuse the first said unto him I have bought a piece of Ground I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused and another said I have bought five Yoke of Oxen I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused and another said I have married a Wife and therefore I cannot come c. And he said that none of those which were bidden shall taste of my Supper see Luke 14. 16. to the 24. verse And Jesus said Whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple Again Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple verse 27. 33. Note Reader the Seed that is sown in ALL these several sorts of Ground is of ONE and the SAME Nature to wit good as it is written The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend up to Heaven that is to fetch Christ from above or who shall descend into the deep to bring Christ up again from the Dead or who shall go beyond the Sea to fetch the Word unto us that we may hear it and do it but what saith it The word is NIGH THEE even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth that thou mayst do it see Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 10. 6 7 8. This good Seed is sown on all these several sorts of Grounds for ONE and the same cause or end even that it might take deep Root in all and bring forth Fruit in all and the Lord God in mercy to all Men and Women doth put them in a condition give them a time in which it is possible for this Word the good Seed to take deep Root in their Hearts and to bring forth Fruit INALL some thirty some sixty some an hundred Fold He can as he hath promised take away the Stony Heart and renew a right Spirit and Mind God makes none of these Grounds evil or bad but the Devil doth it but God can change them from evil or bad into the good he can cut them out of the wild Olive and plant them in Christ the true Vine But it is not wholly impossible that men and women through their Self-willfulness Sloathfulness Negligence Presumption and Carelesness may turn away their Hearts and Minds from the Voice of the living powerful Word of God and so give up their Hearts Minds and Ears to the Devil who led Adam and Eve into Sin against God they were placed in the Paradise of God in the likeness of God which is Holiness and Purity it was possible that they might have stood in that glorious state wherein God set them but it was NOT impossible that they could fall from that state God cannot fall or change in God and Christ ONLY is infallibility that which is
nor the operation of his Hands he shall destroy them c. see Psal 28. 45. Note Reader those who have not regarded the operation or work of God these in all Ages have been a Faithless or Unbelieving Generation and such in their Self-will have perished and the Judgments of God have been and are just upon them But those in all Ages who have regarded and loved the operation or work of God he hath begotten Faith in them through his operation and all such who have continued stedfast they have been accepted of him and blessed by him The Apostle Paul said unto the Saints Ye are buried with Christ in Baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the Faith of the operation of God who raised him from the Dead see Col. 2. 12. The Author to the Hebrews by the holy Ghost said By Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come see Heb. 11. 20. By this it appeareth that God did not hate Esau in the Womb before he was Born for if he had then hated him or before he had done Evil how could Isaac have blessed him in that Faith which God gave him For it was impossible for Isaac in that Faith which is the gift of God to oppose God's purpose concerning Esau For though in the words that Isaac uttered in the blessing of Jucob and Esau he tells Esau that he shall serve his Brother yet he doth not tell Esau he was ordained to be damned before he was Born nor yet that God hated him in the Womb. I would have all those consider of these things who have so hard wrong thoughts of God as to believe that he hated Esau in his Mothers Womb or ordained him to be eternally damned before he was Born The Apostle Paul in the holy Ghost saith We must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. Again he saith For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one dyed for all then were all dead and that he dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again wherefore henceforth know we no man after the Flesh yea though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new and all things are of God c. see vers 14 15 16 17 18. Note Reader first that under the Gospel Dispensation every one must receive a reward according to their Deeds whether they be good or bad as the Apostle in the holy Ghost here and else-where saith and as Christ saith as I have shewed before Secondly note that the Apostles did truly judge that Christ dyed for all and that those that live might not live unto themselves but unto Christ that dyed for them and rose again see 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Wherefore henceforth know we NO man after the Flesh yea though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him NO MORE therefore if any man be IN Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold ALL things are become new and all things are of God c. Again Chap. 7. the Apostle saith Having these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from ALL filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit PERFECTING Holiness IN the fear of God Note Reader here the Apostle Paul doth not only speak his own Belief and Sense concerning the Death of Christ but also the belief and sence of the rest of the holy Apostles in this weighty matter it appears by his fore-going words that their belief judgment and spiritual sence was that Christ dyed for all and that all were dead as he saith Here the Apostle Paul shews plainly that it was his and his Brethrens belief first that Christ dyed for all secondly that the end of his offering up himself and his dying for all was that all might live through him thirdly that they should NOT henceforth live unto themselves in Sin and Wickedness but unto him that dyed for them and rose again that as he was raised from the Dead by the Power Glory of the Father so they might walk in newness of Life in Righteousness Holiness and Purity see Rom. 6. 4 5. For this was is the true Christians mark by this the Christians of Old knew one another to be the REAL Members of the Church or Body of Christ and by this mark do the true Christians know one another NOW and not by the Profession of God Christ in words ONLY After our Lord Jesus Christ was put to Death according to the Flesh and risen again and ascended the true Christians KNOWLEDGE of him was not after the Flesh but in or after the Spirit though they had once known him after the Flesh yet from THIS knowledge of him they ceased Therefore saith he henceforth know we him no more Their knowledge of him from THENCEFORTH being in the Spirit who by his spiritual BAPTISM with the holy Ghost and FIRE purged their Consciences from dead works to serve the living God in newness and holiness of Life these were of Old such now are the living Branches in Christ the living Vine they are NEW Creatures in him created in him and through him unto good Works which God before ordained that we should walk in them the OLD sinful Works Lusts of the Flesh are put off past away all things are become new are of God as he saith this is the Birth that is born of God this is the Jacob that supplants overcomes the Prophane Birth of the Flesh this is the Birth that wrestleth with God like a Prince for the Blessing and obtains it this is the Birth that is Elect of God These spiritually born Children are the Generation of the Just these are the Righteous Nation which keepeth the Truth these are they who are washed from all Filthiness of the Flesh Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God as the Apostle exhorted But those who do profess God Christ in Words but DENY both God and Christ in WORKS calling upon God with their Mouthes and Lips but their Hearts are afar off continuing in their sins and growing up in them more and more taking pleasure in them and pleading a necessity to continue in them all the dayes they live upon Earth or until they go to the Grave these as Christ said of such are of their Father the Devil and the Lusts of their Father they will do he was a Lyar and a Murtherer c. these that repent not that forsake not their sins but grow up in them as afore-said these are the TARES see Mat. 13. 39 40. he that sows them
saith Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness And further saith Gal. 6. 7. If you live after the Flesh you shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live he that sows to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Now who reads what is here written with a spiritual Understanding may see that John's Saying if we say we have no sin c. doth not prove that he was THEN AN ACTUAL SINNER though it doth shew that the little Children who stood in some relation to him as aforesaid had not yet over grown all sin as we have EXPERIENCE in this Day of Gods mighty Power wherein he is making his People WILLING and also ABLE to forsake Sin and the Devil who is the author of it and we do say there is a TIME which is given by the Lord God to Mankind to see their sins and a time to be made truly Sorrowful for them and UNFEIGNEDLY TO REPENT and to be forgiven in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who tasted Death for EVERY MAN and a TIME to grow up IN Christ into Dominion over Sin and the Devil who is the Author of it so that we say this Work is wrought GRADUALLY in men women people are not so soon converted washed and cleansed from all their sins as they come to the sight of them but there is a STRONG Spiritual Combat or Warfare to be known after man is convinced of his sin before he be WHOLLY dead to it and redeemed from it and the Devil who is the Author of it and all who believe in the Spiritual and Divine Light of Christ which sheweth them their sins and PATIENTLY wait THEREIN they will see this Work wrought in order to their Salvation though they first sow in Tears they shall certainly afterwards reap in Joy and though their Temptations Troubles and Sorrows may be many God will certainly deliver them out of them all J. B. As for thy interpretation of John's Words that is He that is born of God doth not commit Sin It is Unscriptural Unreasonable and Ungodly it is not the holy Scriptures nor the Greek Copies which thou callest the Original that is thy Rule for this thy Ungodly Writing and Perverting of John's Words but thy own Wicked Dark and Sinfull Imaginations I desire thou may find a place of Repentance and so forgiveness at Gods hand and cease from such Ungodly Work as this for if thou do not God will reward thee according to thy Ungodly Deeds and the Cup which thou must drink as the reward of thy Work will be Bitter John saith In this is the Children of God made manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God But thou arguest That the born of God do commit sin which is Blasphemy but seeing this is thy Ungodly Opinion that the born of God doth commit sin I say the born of the Devil doth no more but commit sin so here thou put'st not a right difference betwixt the Righteous and the Wicked and so thou art not God's Minister or Mouth to the People but in these thy Ungodly Interpretations of the holy Scriptures thou art the Minister and Mouth of the Father of Lyes who hath led people into sin who tellest them they must never come out of it on this side the Grave Thus thou and many others have made agreement with Death and a Covenant with Hell for Term of Life and if you do not know this Covenant broken by Christ Jesus and by him be led out of sin your Reward will be Miserable in the World to come but we greatly desire your Unseigned Repentance and Salvation What a Wild Distracted Interpreter of the holy Scriptures is this J. B If he go on to interpret the rest of the Commands of God and Christ as he hath done these Commands to be Perfect Holy c. what Mad Work will he make it appears it is not the Scriptures of Truth nor the Spirit of God that must be his Rule but rather the Temptations of the Wicked One which hath large room in his Unbelieving Heart as this Ungodly Plea doth largely manifest Gods Command is Thou shalt do no Murder Now according to J. B's Wild Interpretation of the before-mentioned Commands he may say Those who are born of God may or must Murder But they may not Murther with that allowance that some other Murderers do or they must not do so much Murder as some others do Again God saith Thou shalt not Steal But J. B. may say by his Mad Rule of arguing they may or must Steal but they who are born of God may not or must not Steal with that allowance that others who are not born of God do or they must not stteal so much as such do And after this his Ungodly way of arguing he may deal thus with the rest of the Commands of God and Christ J. B. to strengthen thy Plea for the Devil and Sin which is his Work thou mentionest Paul's Words who said That which I would not do that do I. Answ Paul and all the Saints who did and do wait diligently upon God did and do grow from one degree of Grace unto another and Paul did grow up in Christ unto a better and stronger State He said I am Crucified with Christ c. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God And he said I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me And he said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith c. And he said The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath set me Free from the Law of Sin and Death Thus it doth appear that he did out-grow those Weaknesses which he doth mention in the 7th Chapter to â—he Romans see Chap. 8. J. B. saith David brake the sixth and seventh Commandment Answ I say David repented bore the Righteous Judgments of God for so doing and did so no more and was forgiven he did not say that he must continue breaking the commands of God all his dayes as many of the Priests and Professors of England and other Nations do he prayed to God to cleanse him from his secret Sins and from Blood guiltiness and God heard his Prayer and did so and it is written that David turned not aside from any thing that God commanded him all the dayes of his Life save only in the matter of Vriah the Hittite 1 Kings 15. 5. David is said to be a man after God's own Heart 1 Sam. 13. 14. So he was before he committed that great Sin in the case of Vriah and his
bruise Satan under their FEET And the Apostle said I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH it is by the Faith of the Son of God Mark this Life was not a Life in Sin for Faith in the Son of God gives Victory over Sin and the Devil that is the author of it Rom. 6. 2 7. and the same Apostle saith How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein and he said He that is dead is freed from Sin And he also speaks in one of his Epistles of dying daily and in the aforesaid Chapter sayes I am dead with Christ c. So he knew a time of diyng unto Sin after his understanding was opened to see the sinfulness of it so dying gradually to it he came to be dead to it and so he said as before I live yet not I but Christ lives in me The Apostle Peter said to the Jews Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Mark J. B. thus God sent his Son to bless People in turning them from their Iniquities all Iniquity is Sin all Sin is of the Devil so THEY who are turned from Sin which is the Devil's work are under the Blessing but they that continue in Sin to the end of their dayes who Repent not who forsake not they are under the Curse Christ saith Whosoever committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin John 8. 34. And the Apostle exhorted saying Resist the Devil and he will flee from you James 4. 7. The Apostle John wrote to the Young-men saying Ye are strong the word of God abides in you ye have overcome the wicked One. Now mark J. B. these Young men were strong the Word or Seed of God did abide in them and by his virtue and strength they had overcome the wicked One as he saith and he wrote unto the Fathers saying You have known him that is from the beginning He doth charge NEITHER of these with the act of Sin or committing of Sin at that TIME though they had all sinned for saith he If we say we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his Word is not in us But these had CEASED from Sin according to the command of the Lord who said Cleanse your Hands ye Sinners and purifie your Hearts ye double-minded c. But to the Little Children he said I write unto you Little Children because your Sins are forgiven you for his Name-sake but also said Little Children these things I write unto you that ye Sin not Shewing hereby that though then all Sin was not vanquish't or overcome in them yet they were to wait to grow up into Christ and in him to Reign over it as the Fathers and Young-men did J. B. here take notice John writes to three states the weakest of which he named his little Children who though they had a love to him and the Testimony born by him yet were they not established in Christ over all Sin and the Devil the author of it as the Aged and strong in Christ were And as for John's saying If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves I say and affirm that his so saying doth no more prove him an actual sinner at that TIME then the Apostle James his saying With the Tongue we curse men proves James a Curser of men at that time which is just no proof at all For Iames writes to the twelve Tribes scattered many of whom were wicked and unruly Tongued and Cursers as he said and he being a natural Jew who sprung from the Loins of Abraham as did all the Jews in that sence he called them Brethren but he was then no Curser but abode in the Doctrine of his Master who said Bless them that Curse you And Iames said That mans Religion is Vain that hath not a Bridle to his Tongue And if James had been a Curser at that time his own Religion had been VAIN and he himself condemned by Christ by the Apostle Paul also for a Hypocrite for judging that in them which HE ACTED HIMSELF but he was a holy Man of God and lived in the Possession of the Good he exhorted them unto and out of the bad he reproved them for So John in the same way and manner speaking in condescention he allowing those his little Children to have some relation to him he being a faithful Labourer and traveller for their conversion saith with respect to them If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves c. John saith that which we have heard and seen declare we unto you that you also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship IS with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This then is the Message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we Lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1. J. B. Here take notice John had fellowship with the Father and Son and he wrote to the little Children and others That they might have fellowship with him c. which none can have when and while they are committing sin which is the Devils work but may when they have repented and forsaken it Christ said to his Disciples Ye CANNOT serve God and Mammon ye must forsake the one cleave unto the other This Mammon signifies Earthly Riches and if man cannot serve God and them at one and the same time that is set them up as Idols in his Heart then to be SURE Man cannot serve God and the Devil both at one time for Light has no Communion with Darkness nor Christ with Belial nor the Temple of God with Idols Now the words of the Apostle John are as follow He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might Destroy the Works of the Devil These words we truly own as we do the other which are He that is born of God doth not commit sin That is we do as absolutely believe that he that committeth sin is of the Devil when and while he committeth sin which is the Service of the Devil as we believe he that is born of God doth not commit sin In the same Chapter the same John saith Let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous And further saith In this the Children of God are manifest and the CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL whosoever doth NOT Righteousness is NOT of God c. 1 John 3. 7 8 9 10. The Apostle Paul