the end and numbred thy work into a total sum which is a secret smiting and obscure shooting against the Manifestation or Belief of Christ within which there can be no Salvation without as I have proved and in words only I find thee exalting Christ without and worshipping the name of Mary like the Pope I have good ground so to judge And whereas thou callest the Doctrine of Christ within false Opinions and takeâ—â— in hand to discover it as in Page 203. I say to all honest men who have but any knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture thou art hereby sufficiently discovered who callst the chief thing which is the chief unto Salvation and without which can be none false Opinions God shall judge thee thou wicked heart and much more I need not say but shall leave this to the view of any that are honest to judge so have gone through thy Book and passed by many things only I have spoken to that in which thou hast treated any thing upon us and the Truth I have cleared from many Lyes and Slanders and thy Vail of false Reproaches is rent and our Innocency doth partly appear and thy vail of Hypocrisie is a little removed and thy deceitfull heart weighed and seen And as for the rest of thy Book whicg I have not medled with thus much I say of it I suppose you will confess it was all given forth by one spirit and it is proved some of it is given forth by a lying spirit then let the Reader judge what the rest of it can be though the words be true yet is thy spirit false and at the best what thou hast said is but bearing false witness as to thy self of a true thing I own the words and I deny the voice and here I deal plainly with thee Thou then askst a Question Doth not the Scripture speak of Christ within unto which I further add answer it as thou canst Doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates And is not this thus much all are reprobate but they in whom Christ is within Answer iâ— plainness and darken not knowledge by words without wisdom And towards the end I find thee making up the sum of thy wickedness with this numbring the Quakers with Ranters Sin Death and the Devil I will not bring a railing Accusation against thee but the Lord rebuke thee thou unclean spirit who hast falsly accused the Innocent to clear thy self from guilt but at thy door guilt lodges and I leave it with thee clear thy self if thou art able And thy wicked Reproaches we patiently bear till the Lord appear for us and we are not greater then our Lord who was said to have a Devil by thy Generation and their measure of wickedness thou fulfils and art one of the Dragons Army against the Lamb and his Followers and thy Weapons are Slanders and thy Refuge is Lyes and thy work is confused and hath hardly gained a name in Babylons Record and by us so much of it at least as is against us is cast by as our spoiled prey and trampled upon in all thy reproachfull speeches who art unclean and of more price to us is thy hatred and envy then thy love can be except the gâ—und were better in which you stand Now a few words I may write in Answer to the Queries in the end of thy Book which thou directst thus Some Questions to the Quakers or a few Queries to those possessed with a Spirit of delusion in this Generation Question 1. If sayst thou that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him why say the Scriptures That some are sensual having not the Spirit aâ—â— Christ saith The World cannot receive it John 14. Answ. Some men are sensual and have not the Spirit because they received it not some cannot receive it because they believe not in him from whence it comes yet is the measure of the Spirit given unto every man to profit withal as the Scripture saith And it is given to within him to reprove him of sin but few do receive it and when thou canst learn to distinguish between a thing being given and a receiving of such a thing then thou mayst be answered in thy self It is one thing in God to give the Spirit and another thing in the Creature to receive it He gives it to many that receive it not to follow it and to be guided by it thus far I answer and let them that are led with a spirit of Delusion answer thee further Qu. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from under the Law is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If it be redeemed by something that worketh in them then why did the man Christ Iesus hang upon the Cross in Mount Calvery without the Gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his People and why do the Scriptures say That through this man is preached unto us forgiveness of sins c. Answ. The Church of God is redeemed by Christ Jesus which is revealed within all that believe and Christ Jesus wrought in them mightily and it was he that wrought in them to will and to do this is plain according to Scripture And the man Christ Jesus was hanged upon the Cross on Mount Calvery because they wickedly judged him to be a Blasphemer and through their envy persecuted him to death because he bore witness against them and as in their account he died and hanged upon the Cross for an Evil-doer and this is one ground at least why he hanged upon the Cross and the Scriptures say That through this man is preached the forgiveness of sins because there is no other that can forgive sin nor the blood of any other thing that can take away sin but the Blood of God as it is written And thus far I answer If thou wilt have more seek it from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion Qu. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you risen within you ascended within you Answ. There is no Scriptures that mention any one of our particular names and thy Query is raised from thy mis-understanding of us so I judge but Christ is within us that we dare not deny and he is the Lamb that was slain in the streets of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt mind spiritually and he is now risen and ascended this we know through Faith in his Name And I leave thee to receive a fuller Answer from them that are led with a spirit of Delusion if they will give it thee Qu. 4. Is that very man that was crucified on Mount Calvery between two Thieves whose Name is Iesus the Son of Mary is he the very Christ of God ye or nay Answ. Yea he is the very Christ of God which was before the World was by whom the World was made who was made
God did then for God and his Spirit is the same as ever was and what he once â—aâ—ed he hates forever and no other Christ do we â—â—clare forth which we witness to be made manifest within but that Christ which dyed at Ierusalem which suffered by the chief Priests and Elders of the People he was and is the true Christ which said He was the Light of the World And was the Light which had enlightened every man that comes into the World and which said Except a man would deny the World and take up his daily cross and follow him he could not he his Disciple And which cryed wo against them which were called of men Masters and that had the chief Places in the Assemblies and that stood praying in the Synagogues c. and they who denyed him to be the Light of the World and which tooâ— not up the Cross and which were called of men Masters and had the chiefest Places in the Assemblies and stood praying in the Synagogues and went in long Robes these were Antichrists and â—ere acted by a contrary spirit then the true Christ. And here again I charge all the Teachers and People in the presence of the Lord God who deny Christ to be the Light in every one which reproves for sin and who are called of men Masters and stand praying in the 〈◊〉 and go in long â—obes and who uphold such things and who take not up the daily Cross of Christ but live at liberty in their wills and desires that they are Antichrists and that their spirit is not the Spirit of the true Christ which dyed at Ierusalem but the spirit of a false christ and so they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us and the same Christ do we witness which the Saints of old witnessed whose blood cleansed them from all sin and in whose Power they had power over sin death and hell And here again I charge the Teachers and People who say That the Saints must not be cleansed from sin nor cease to commit sin while they are on the Earth That the Christ which they profess is not the Christ which dyed at Jerusalem but a spirit contrary and not the Christ which the Saints witnessed and all the People are blind which cannot see these things Did the true Christ once say He was the Light of the World of every man that comes into the World And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and Prâ—…ssors now which say Every man hath not the Light of Christ in him Was that the true Christ which said Except you take up my Cross daily you cannot be my Disciples And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People that hath its liberty and live in Pride in Lust and Vanity and their own Wills was that the true Christ which cryed wo against them that were called of men Masters and that had the chief Places in the Assemblies and stood praying in the Synagogues c And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People which act and uphold those things Was 〈◊〉 the true Christ which the Saints witnessed by whose Blood they 〈◊〉 cleâ—sed from sin and had power over sin and is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People which saith The Saints must not be cleâ—sed from si◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to câ—…t sin while they are 〈◊〉 Earth Oh blind and ignorant People who cannot discern between the 〈◊〉 Christ and Antichrist which is contrary to Christ and which leads now to act and speak contrary to what the true Christ once acted and spoke and no other Gospeâ— do we preach but that which the Apostles preached which they received not froâ— nor by man but by the revelation of Iesus Christ which was contrary to man and which suffered by man for the preaching of it who preached to the Spiâ—… in Prison to redeem the captives and by which the fleshly man was judged in the 〈◊〉 that man might live according to God in Spirit and this Gospl we witness to have received not from man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is contrary to man for which we are persecuted and suffer by man neither do wâ— speak to the wisdom and reason but we preach to the Spirits in Prison that the fleshly man may be judged in the flesh that man may live according to God 〈◊〉 the Spirit this will many witness with us that by the preaching of our Gospeâ— liberty is brought to the captives and the fleshly man is judgest and the Spirit which was in Prison is set free And here again I charge the Teachers of this Generation That their gospel which they preach is not the Gospel which the Saints preached but another gospel and they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us for they have received their gospel from man and by man from the Printers aâ—â— Stationers and are made Minister of it by the will of man at Schools and â—niversities and their preaching is in the will of man a limited time and place neither do they suffer by man but are set up with man and feed the wisdom 〈◊〉 reason of man and the fleshly man is not judged nor the captives redeemed 〈◊〉 their gospel which they preach here they are accursed which preach anotâ—… gospel as saith the Scripture And ye are a blind and ignorant People which cannot see these things Did they that preached the true Gospel receive it contrary to the will of man and can it now be received by the will of man Did they which preached it suffer for it by man and can they now who preach it beâ—… up by man who live in the same persecuting nature Did the true Gospel oâ—… judge the fleshly man and lead to live according to God in the Spirit and doâ—… it now give liberty to the fleshly man to live after the flesh in the lust of it 〈◊〉 the Teachers and Professor of this Generation do who profess the Gospel 〈◊〉 are discovered not to be come to the Law And the Scripture we own to be 〈◊〉 true Declaration of the Life which they lived in which spoke them â—orth and 〈◊〉 the same Spirit from which they were spoken which we have received do we 〈◊〉 to our seals that they are â—rue and the Scripture is ours who walk in the Life 〈◊〉 it proud men spoke it not forth nor they that sought for their gain from theâ—â— quarter nor they that preached for hire nor they that were called 〈◊〉 men master but persecuted them that spoke it forth and denyed it when it was spoken And here again I charge it upon the Teachers and Professors of this Generation that they deny the Scripture and are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us for they say None must be perfect upon the Earth when as 〈◊〉 Scripture declares of such as were perfect upon Earth And they say None 〈◊〉 be free from sin when as the Scripture declares of such as were
bare confession and profession of the Name of Christ in words and professing of a bare belief in the Scriptures by this way and means were you made and received you the name of Christians without any real change from darkness to Light and from Satan to God as I have said Now here appears to be a woful degeneration in the very entrance of the thing and this is not agreeable but rather contrary unto that way of Christianity wherein the Christians in their beginning were so made and called for then none were Christians or so called but who through the preaching of the Gospel were first converted changed and renewed as I have said but now in these Nations all are called Christians that are spinkled upon their faces with Water by a Teacher when they are Infants or that do but profess Christ in words though they are not guided particularly by his Spirit neither have received Christ to dwell in them and to be King over them and here again appears a wofull Apostacy for none in the beginning of Christianity in the World were made Christians or so called but who received Christ and in whom he dwelt and was in them as you may read 2 Corinth 13. 5. and who were Followers of him and had his Spirit in them the Comforter to teach them and to lead them into all Truth but now thousands upon thousands who have the name of Christians have not received Christ to dwell in them nor to rule them neither is he manifest in them by his Spirit to teach them and they are not led into all truth but live in deceit and unrighteousness and are not Followers of Christ but follows their own hearts desirâ— and their own hearts Lusts and are condemned in their own Consciences and have not received the Comforter the Holy Spirit to be their Guide and Leader out of all Unrighteousness and here appears a woful Degeneration And that you Christians through all the World are revolted and gone backward from Christianity as it was in its Original a Lamentation may be taken up because of this woful Fall into which you Christians are fallen Consider of your own state and return and repent Again The Christians were begotten of God and born of him 1 Joh. 5. 18. And they were born of the Word of God and of the incorruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. And they were created in Christ Iesus unto good Works Eph. 2. 10. And they were New Creatures and old things were done away 2 Cor. 5. 17. They had put off the Body of Sin and Death Col. 1. 18. And were the Servants of Righteousness and free from Sin Rom. 6. 22. as you may read But now also Woful are you Christians degenerated from this for Thousands upon Thousands of you are not born nor begotten of God though you have the Name of Christians neither are you born of the Word of God which lives forever nor of the incorruptible Seed neither are created again nor become new Creatures nor have put off the Body of Sin and Death neither are the Servants of Righteousness nor free from sin But on the contrary Are the Servants of Sin and free from Righteousness and are in the corruptible state and are old Creatures and are not washed nor purified as the Saints were as you may read 1 Cor. 6. 11. and here is a woful Degeneration of the Christians now from what the Christians were in the beginning The Christians then were New Creature and put off the Body of sin and were washed and sanctified But the Christians now are not so but the contrary to wit Unwashed and Unsanctified remaining in the Pollutions of the World and are of the birth which is born of the Flesh and are in the old nature serving sin and the lusts of their own Hearts and thus are you fallen from that which the true Christians possessed for being compar'd to them you are not agreeable but rather contrary to them in all these things and the Lord is now come to search you and to try you and to all People shall you be discover'd for the Lord is now risen to bring all to Tryal and to Judgment And again Herein will the Apostacy of the Christians appear in respect of Unity and Fellowship for the Christians in their Beginning while yet the Life of God was not darkened amongst them They were of one Heart and one Mind and one Soul as you may read Acts 4. 32. And the Lord promised That he would give unto his People one Heart and one Way And Ezek. 11. 19. the Lord promised To give his People one Heart and a new Spirit Which Promise the Christians received and they that believed were of one Heart and there was no lack amongst them but some sold their Possessions and distributed to them that had need and they were Members of Christ and he was Head amongst them and over them And they were Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bones Eph. 5. 23 30. And all the Christians were of one Faith Eph. 4. 5. and had Unity and Fellowship in the Life which was made manifest in them for they had tasted and handled and seen and heard the Word of Life and they had Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. But all ye Chirstians upon Earth how are you degenerated and how great is your Fall in this For you are not of one Heart and Mind nor in Unity and Fellowship one with another but are of divers Sorts and Sects and are run into many Opinions and Divisions and are of many Wayes and Minds and Hearts Divers sorts there are of Papists and divers sorts of Protestants so called which are all divided in Opinions and striving and contending about Faith and Religion and the Worship of God and are opposing one another and putting one another to Death because of a difference in those things How great is the difference through many Nations amongst Christians about those things which sheweth that the Christians are wofully fallen in respect of Unity and it is manifest such Christians have not received the Promise of God as the Apostles had for now the Christians can suffer one another to lack and to perish and die and starve for hunger and want Behold in all this all ye Christians generally how you are fallen then in the beginning of Christianity no lack nor want was amongst them they that had much sold it and gave to them that had none but now thousands are oppressed through Want while others have too much some are feeding and clothing excessively with their multitude of Dishes and changes of Raiment while others have scarce whereon to seed or to cover their Nakedness and this manifesteth that you are not Members of the Body of Christ neither is he Head in you nor amongst you but you are Members of an Harlot and joyn'd to a Harlot and one with a Harlot for you profess many Faiths some say They believe Christ is
again to judge the whole World wiâ—â— Righteousness and all people with Equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall arise to Condemnation 〈◊〉 Iustification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the World was and that is the Knowledge unto eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive and he subdues Death and destroyes him that hath the power of it and restoreth from Death to Life and quickeneth by his spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifieth and such are taught of him but he condemns all that believe not but continue in unbelief and are not taught or him And this we faithfully believe And we believe That unto all people upon the face of the whole Earth is a Time and Day of Visitation given that they may return and be saved by Christ Jesus who is givn of the Father to call the worst of men to Repentance and the most ungodly of Sinners are convinced by him of their ungodly deeds that they might believe and be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the Love of God manifested to all Mankind and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are shut out by him before they were born into the World but unto all men is a Vâ—…ation given and they that do perish it is because they do not believe in Christ and destruction is of a mans self but Salvation is of God through believing in his Son who takes away sin and reneweth into his own Image that they may become Heirs with him And we believe that there is a Crown of Eternal Glory and an Inheritance of Eternal Life to be injoyed for evermore by all that believe and are chosen of God and that there is an everlasting Misery and Destruction to be possessed by all that believe not but continue in the state of Reprobation and are not changed from the wayes of Sin and Death but walk after the wayes of their own Hearts Lusts fulfilling the will of the Flesh in the Evil of this World and follow not Christ the Light of the World that they may be saved And we believe upon all such the Wrath of God abideth and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe That it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death to Life and who is redeemed out of the World and all its wayes such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they only have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleansed from all Unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their sins are remitted For his Blood cleanseth from all Unrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Christ Jesus hath lightened the World withal And we believe That the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of sins and may be perfectly freed from the Body of sin and death and in Christ may be perfect and without sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Christ Jesus And we believe Every Saint that is called of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtain it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit and are in Covenant with God and their Sins are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit Sin being born of the Seed of God And we believe The Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation and that it ought to be preached freely unto all people and Christ to be held forth unto all Mankind by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is received by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and all they that receive it are lawfully call'd to the Ministry and they may preach the Gospel of Christ freely as they have receiv'd it freely And this Ministry is not of Man but of God and is made powerful to the converting of Sinners and to the bringing of people to God and to the Knowledge of his Wayes And we do not believe That any man is a Minister of Christ without the Gift of the Holy Ghost or that the Gospel can be receiv'd by natural Learning or Education And we believe Such as preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching are not the lawful called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are Proud and High-minded and Covetous Men who do not profit the people at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calleth by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that his Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governour we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governours in every Nation City Country and Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge righteously equally and justly and will give true and sound Judgment unto all men without Bribery or Respect of Persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a Praise unto all that do well and a Terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continnally exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being the Foundation thereof that God's Witness in every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all people before Trangression be charged or punished in any man And we believe that every Transgression ought to be punished according to its nature and that the Punishment exceed not the greatness of the Transgression neither ought any Transgressor to â—…ape unpunished neither ought any upon false Suspition or Iealousies to be caused to suffer without the Testimony of true men or the Confession of the Party And we believe that the Executors of the Law ought to be Just Men and not given to Pride Drunkenness or any other Evil whatsoever and ought to be chosen every year or otherwise by the Consent of the people and that no man be stopped of his free choyce except justly taxed And we believe that all Governours and Rulers ought to be accountable to the people and to the next proceeding Rulers for all their Actions which may be enquir'd into upon occasion and that the chiefest of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be Transgressors as well as the poorest of the People And thâ—â— true Judgment and Justice will be
innocent Life in which they have begun and let them never forget the Mercies of the Lord and what he hath brought to pass who hath manifested great things and will do more and more to the confounding of all his Enemies and to the praise of his elect People And all ye Saints upon the Earth have ye the Lord in respect continually and turn you not unto Idols but let the Lord be your joy for evermore E. B. TO THE RULERS And to such as are in AUTHORITY A True and Faithful TESTIMONY Concerning RELIGION And the Establishment thereof and how it may be Established in PERSONS and NATIONS THere hath been a great cry of late years among the Priests and many others for the settlement of Religion and this they have sought after from the Powers of the Earth and the cry hath been to Parliaments and Rulers by the Priests and Professors for many years settle us Religion settle us Religion Now to this I answer all this cry and this desire hath been by these Priests and Professors to have Parliaments to make Laws to establish one Sect and throw down and limit all others that is the chief thing that hath been eyed in the request and not simply to have true Religion established if we come to shew what true Religion is in it self But people of divers Sects have been requiring and desiring every one to have their own Sect established and set up and all others thrown down and not to have a place nor to be tollerated so that their cry hath not risen from the Ground of true love to true Religion but their desires have chiefly risen and sprung from self love to their own Sect and from Malice and Envy against others that were not of their Way and this hath been the end of their craving the settlement of Religion and not simply for true Religions sake Now Religion in itself is this The fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets loving God with all their hearts and the Neighbour as self and doing to all men as they would have men to do to them and not otherwise doing or speaking towards any then they would that others should speak of or do to them and a walking towards God in all things as they have received of his Grace answering to the Lord in all things as his Spirit leads them and moves them this is true Religion towards God and towards man and to have the Conscience alwayes kept void of offence and that no offence lie upon it in the sight of God nor in the sight of Man and this is true Religion in it self in short declared to wit The leading of the Spirit of God into all Truth to do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things and this Religion is accepted in the sight of God and to be kept unspotted in the World from all its Pollutions But now tell me can this Religion be setled or any Nation or People or any Person in it by any external Power or outward Authority of men or can the Laws of Kings or Parliaments settle such Religion or make people truly religious or establish a Nation or People in this Religion I say no nor any thing saving the Teachings and Leadings of the holy Spirit of God being received from the Father it s that onely that makes men religious and settles a People and Nation therein Oh ye Fools and blind Priests and Professors that are doting on setling Religion among unconverted people by outward Laws and earthly Powers of men I say no this must not be for the Laws of men can but settle a Sect or some Sects and limit other Sects but true Religion can never be setled by that meanes for before any be setled in Religion they must first be changed and created a new in Christ Jesus and born again of the Seed Incorruptible and they must first be changed from Death to Life and from Satan's Power to God this must first be Witnessed before a Man or a Nation can be religious and setled in true Religion he must put off the body of Sin and be circumcised in heart and he must have a new Nature planted in him and he planted into Christ a New and Living Vine before he can love God with all his heart and his Neighbour as himself and before he can have his Conscience kept void of offence and be without stain towards God and towards man and it is onely the Word of God and his Power in the heart that works this it is onely the operation of God's Spirit in and upon a Creature that works him unto this it is not the Laws made by man that doth it nor external Powers of the Earth that can work it and therefore true Religion cannot be setled thereby nor a Nation or a People in it but onely that which changes him and makes him religious that is it onely that must settle Religion and Nations and Peoples therein and as every one is turned to that of God in him and thereby to feel the Power and Word and Spirit that doth change him and renew him as I have said by this means cometh a Man and Nations to be religious and to be setled therein and by no other way nor means and this is done through the preaching of the everlasting Gospel and through the Ministry of Christ which turneth the Mindes of People from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power to God whereby they are changed and made religious and also setled therein and established thereby and it is not by outward Laws and Powers as I have said But what are Peoples and the Nations yet to settle in Religion And is Religion unsetled yet that you are craving Laws made by men to settle Religion What have you preached for this many years What have your preaching been all in vain And have you done no good this many years by your preaching that Religion is yet to settle Oh! blind and ignorant Men this is a shame unto you how many thousands of thousand Pounds have the Priests had out of this Nation for teaching Religion and preaching to People and yet the Nation remains unsettled in Religion and they are begging to the Powers of the Earth to constrain and compel a settlement of Religion and this shames them and shews that they are they that Paul speaks of and that the people of this Nation are them that are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth though you have been long learning you are unsetled and are not come to the knowledge of the Truth but had these Priests been such that were sent of the Lord through their Ministry would the Nations long since have been setled in Religion for they have been Teachers long enough and put the Nation to charge great enough thâ—â— people might have known ere this day the holy Anointing to dwell in them and to teach them and to settle them in Religion but it is manifest
been servant to another Power and led captive by another Power than the Power that made him and another Government hath been established over him and another Law hath exercised him than the Government and Law of the Creator to wit the Power and Government and Law of Death have had the Rule Government and Exercise of Man and of the old Creation and hereby all things have been diverted from their proper and perfect place and service to which they were ordained in the beginning by reason of Transgression and the reigning of Death and Man hath been held in Captivity and in sore bondage and subject to all misery and distress deprived of unity with his Maker and deprived of the comfortable use and benefit of the Creation so that of all Creatures he hath been the most miserable being held in Bondage and Captivity under the power of Death which hath ruled and reigned over him and in him being always subject to Death and subject to the Curse and Anger of the LORD and subject to doubtings and fears and subject to continual misery and sorrow and all this is because Death hath reigned and had dominion even that which at first in the beginning of Transgression betrayed him of the Life and Fellowship with God that got possession it self to reign and to have the Power which ever since hath reigned and alwayes doth till the appearance of the Life again which doth appear in the Creature for this end to overcome and subdue Death and destroy his works that it self may reign and free the Creation from its degeneration and corruption and free Mankind from his bondage and captivity and from his misery and all his trouble which is come upon him by reason of Death And this came to pass in the New Creation when Life is born again to rule and reign again and to swallow up Death and to subdue it wholly and its Kingdom and Government And then Man again is become a Son of GOD an Heir of Salvation and no more Death reigns in him nor hath Power over him when he is restored out of Transgression then as Death hath reigned and had power in Transgression Life shall so reign in and over the Creature in the New Creation when that is brought forth as Death hath reigned in the Old Creation in Transgression and Disobedience And Life will arise to reign and rule over all and in all though it be through great opposition the Body of Death shall be put off and the Government of Death shall be subdued and all the Works Fruits and Effects of Death shall be destroyed and done away and its place shall no more be found so as to bring forth Fruit for its sting shall be taken away and shall no more wound nor pierce nor hurt the Creature For the sting of Death is Sin and that hath wounded and hurt the Creature and when this comes to pass then there is glory and rejoycing over all for Life hath swallowed up Death and overcome it and the cause of Sorrow is removed and taken away and the Kingdom of Life is established in the Creature and is set upon the top of Death's Kingdom and keeps it under and if there be but a Motion of Death that would spring up or appear in the Creature Life judgeth it down and condemns it And this Kingdâ—â— is Righteousness Ioy and Peace full of Iustice Righteousness and Equity and there is nothing in it that doth defile or destroy or bring Sorrow or Misery but Life rules over all that and subdues the Cause thereof and removes every thing that would imbondage or captivate the Creature in Evil. And this Kingdom is not of this World but from Heaven and Heavenly and the Birth Immortal is Heir thereof which receives the Crown and the Kingdom of Eternal Life Now the Kingdom of Death is of this World which is defiled and degenerated Gain was a Subject of this kingdom and Esau that was a Reprobate and Iudas that betrayed the Life and all the Ungodly and Generation of the Wicked since the beginning they were all of the kingdom of Death and the kingdom of Death ruled in them and brought forth its works through them and its exercise in their hearts and in their lives and through its power they opposed and gainsay'd the Life and they fought against the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness and such were the Pharisees who put Christ to death who is the Life Death raigned over all these and they were of the stock of Death and they were of this World and had their Conversation below in the earthly things and knew not the Life nor its Government but were Strangers to it and Enemies to it as all are at this day who are Transgressors against the Life and all such are subject to the Curse to Sorrow and Misery and the Anger of the Lord but who come to feel the Life and the Obedience to it again Death is destroyed through Death for through the death of Death Death comes to be destroyed and no other way which the Life works and the Life works through Death and overcomes it and swallows it up and this is the second Creation and the new Creation where Life raigns over all and doth possess the Creature as it did before transgression The Life is the Light and the Life is the Law and Life lives moves and acts the Creature and Christ who is the Life becomes all in all and Blessed are they who wait for this and do witness it to such am I known in these things where the kingdom of Death is overcome and swallowed up of Life CHAP. II. A Testimony concerning the Mystery of God and Godliness and concerning the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity THere are two great Mysteries in their invisible Beeing and in manifestation to us in the world that is to say The Mystery of God and Godliness and The Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity These are two great Mysteries which do discover and act themselves forth in and among and through the Children of men in this Creation and these two Mysteries are contrary one to the other in Beeing in Nature in Works in Fruits and effects and they are in strife one against the other the one continually opposing the other and striving for the Creature Mankind to be the Instrument to display themselves through in visible Appearance for the Creature Man and Woman is a Vessel wherein these Mysteries are contained and whereby these Mysteries do shew themselves forth in the world and all the Sons of Adam upon the Face of the Earth are possessed with and of one of these that is to say The Mystory of God or the Mystery of the Devil do manifest themselves forth through every Man and Woman and through all the Sons of Adam upon the Face of the Earth the Works Fruits and Effects of one of these are brought forth And as for the Mystery of God it is Infinite and Eternal in Beeing and
could not be believed if it were spoken of the several and particular Operations and Manifestations of the everlasting Spirit that was given us and revealed in us but this is the sum Life and Immortality was brought to light Power from on High and Wisdom was made manifest the Day everlasting appeared unto us and the joyful Sun of Righteousness did arise and shine forth unto us and in us and the holy Anointing the everlasting Comforter we received and the Babe of Glory was born and the Heir of the Promise brought forth to Reign over the Earth and over Hell and Death whereby we entered into everlasting Union and Fellowship and Covenant with the Lord God whose Mercies are sure and infinite and his Promise never fails and much might be spoken but this is the sum we were raised from Death to Life and are changed from Satans power to God and gathered from all the dumb Shepherds and off all the barren Mountains into the Fold of eternal Peace and Rest and mighty and wonderful things hath the Lord wrought for us and by us by his own out-stretched Arm. And thus we became Followers of the Lamb whithersoever he goes and he hath called us to make war in righteousness for his Name sake against Hell and Death and all the Powers of Darkness and against the Beast and false Prophet which have deceived the Nations and we are of the Royal Seed Elect Chosen and Faithful and we war in Truth and just Judgment not with Weapons that are carnal but by the Sword that goes out of his Mouth which shall slay the Wicked and cut them to pieces and after this manner was our Birth and bringing forth and thus hath the Lord chosen us and made us an Army dreadful and terrible before whom the Wicked do fear and tremble and our Standard is Truth Justice Righteousness Equity and all that comes unto us must cleave thereunto and fight under that Banner without fear and without doubting and they shall never be ashamed nor put to flight neither shall ever they be conquer'd by Hell or Death or by the Powers of Darkness but the Lord shall be their Armour Weapon and Defence for evermore and they that follow the Lamb shall overcome and get the Victory over the Beast and over the Dragon and over the Gates of Hell for the Lord is with us and who shall be able to make us afraid Then having thus armed us with Power Strength and Wisdom and Dominion according to his Mind and we having learned of him and being taught of him in all things and he having chosen us into his Work and put his Sword into our hands and given us perfect Commission to go forth in his Name and Authority having the Word from his Mouth what to cut down and what to preserve and having the everlasting Gospel to preach to the Inhabitants of the Earth and being commanded in spirit to leave all and follow him and go forth in his Work yea an absolute necessity was laid upon us and wo unto us if we preacht not the Gospel for when we looked abroad and beheld the World behold it was altogether Darkness and even as a Wilderness and desolate and barren of good Fruit and Death reigned over men and no good Fruit was brought forth to God but Leaves we beheld upon every Soul and all men and people were made drunk with the Wine of Whoredoms and the Whores Cup they had drunk and was committing Fornication with the great Whore and she reigned over the Kings and peoples of the Earth and the Antichrist was set up in the Temple of God ruling over all and having brought Nations under his Power and set up his Government over all for many Ages even since the days of the Apostles and true Churches hath he reign'd while the Woman hath been fled into the Wilderness and the Man-Child caught up to God Christ said Antichrist should come and put on the Sheeps cloathing and be inwardly a ravening Woolf and Iohn saw that Antichrist was come in his dayes and he went forth then from the true Church and went into the World and deceived the World and ever since his Kingdom hath reigned over Nations for then he begun to exalt himself and it is sixteen hundred years since all which time Antichrist that hath had the Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly a Ravener and hath ruled and reigned and this we saw and perceived in the very time of our birth and bringing forth and we behold Nations as a Wilderness untilled and mens Hearts as the fallow Ground unbroken up and not plowed nor sown with the good Seed of Gods Kingdom so that we saw all states and orders of men corrupted and degenerated from what they ought to be and from what God had once ordained them As for the Ministry first we looking upon it with a single eye in the Light of the Spirit of God which had Anointed us we behold it clearly which formerly we had been stumbling at and much doubting of that it was not the perfect Ministry of Christ for many years before not to be of Christ nor sent of him nor having the Commission power Authority of Christ as his Ministry had in the days of the true Churches but in all things as in Call practice maintenance and in every thing else in fruits and effects we found it disagree and be wholly contrary to the true Ministry of Christ in the days of the Apostles and likewise we truely beheld it to be in Call practice and Maintenance and all things the very same in fruits and effects with the false Ministry and false Prophets and false Apostles and Deceivers of old and this I do testifie and am able to prove in the Spirit and Authority of the Lord that the publick Ministry as now it stands generally is wholy degenerated from what the true Ministry of Christ once was and differs and is contrary in all things to what Christ's Ministers were and agreeth and is equal in all things with what the false Prophets and Deceivers were thoughout all Ages and this I charge upon it in the face and view of all men to whom this may come for this we saw concerning it in the beginning and our first assurance And as for other Places and Orders of men and Callings we saw them also corrupted and degenerated and evil and iniquity abounding among all sorts of people and blindness and darkness covered the face of the Earth and of the World and all people were in their Transgressions and making void the Law of God and that it was time for the Lord to work and to arise to ease himself of his Adversaries and as for all Churches so called and Professions and Gatherings of people we beheld you as all in the Apostacy and degeneration from the true Church not being gathered by the Spirit of the Lord nor anointed thereby as the true Members of Christ ever were but to be in a
Counties at divers Meetings and divers particular Friends he took his leave of them saying to very many That he did not know he should see their Faces any more exhorting them all to faithfulness and stedfastness in that wherein they had found rest for their Souls And said to some I am going up to the City of London again to lay down my LIFE for the GOSPEL and suffer amongst Friends in that Place as having some sence of his Suffering before And a little after his return to the City at a publick Meeting which the People of the Lord have kept these many Years to hear and speak of the things of God to Edification at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate by certain Souldiers under the Command of Richard Brown then General of the City of London he was violently plucked down and haled away in a barbarous manner and carried to the Guard and so committed to Newgate not for Evil-Doing but for testifying unto the Name of the Lord Jesus and for the Worship of God as though this were become a great Crime worthy of Bonds and at last Death He was had to the Sessions in the Old-Baily and his Accusers were Witnesses against him and them that had abused him violently their Testimony was received as good Proof against him And at last after two or three Sessions he was fined by the Court One Hundred Marks which at last was reduced to Twenty Marks and to lie in Prison while payment where he continued a pretty long season about Eight Moneths with Six or Seven Score Prisoners besides upon the same Account many being shut up among the Fellons in nasty Places and for want of Prison-room the Natures of many were suffocated and corrupted till at last many grew Weak Sickened and Dyed At last this same Young Man grew Weak and though a special Order from the King was sent to the then Sheriffs of London for the Release of him and the rest that were left in Prison yet such was the Emnity of some of the Rulers of the City that they did what in them lay to obstruct the Execution of the Order that he should not be released And so Weakness grew upon him daily though in much Patience he was carried through all In the time of his Weakness he was very fervent in Prayer and that often both Day and Night unto the Lord as concerning himself and also his People and at several times he spoke several precious words from the sensible feeling of God's Spirit in his Heart and said I have had the Testimony of the Lord's Love unto me from my Youth and my Heart hath been given up to do thy Will And he said I have preached the Gospel freely in this City and have often given up my Life for the Gospel's sake and now Lord rip open my Heart and see if it he not right before thee Another time he said when he had a little ease There is no Iniquity lies at my Door but the Presence of the Lord is with me and his Life I feel justifie me Another day afterwards he said Thou hast loved me when I was in the Womb and I have loved thee from my Cradle and from my Youth unto this day and have served thee faithfully in my Generation And he spoke to Friends that were about him To live in Love and Peace and love one another And at another time he said The Lord taketh the Righteous from the Evil to come And he prayed for his Enemies and for his Persecutors and said Lord forgive Richard Brown he may be forgiven And though the Distemper and the Disease was violently upon him yet he was preserved sensible And in the morning before he departed this life being sensible of his deaâ—h he said Now my Soul and Spirit is centred into its own Beeing with God and this form of person must return from whence it was taken And after a little season he gave up the Ghost and died a Prisoâ—er and shall be recorded and is in the Lambs Book of Life as a Martyr for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus for which onely he suffered and gave up his life whose death was pretious in the Eyes of the Lord. But now he ever liveth with God and his Work follow him and his Labours shall testifie of him in Generations to come and thousands beside my self can bear witness his Life and Death was to the praise honour and glory of the Grace of God unto whom be the glory of all his Works for ever Amen ANd oh thou City of London who hast been a professing City of the Name of God and Christianity so many years must it be said of thee as Christ said of Jerusalem that a Prophet cannot perish out of thee Oh how many Warnings hast thou had and how dost thou remain in obdurateness and impenitency Oh thou art not worthy of those Heavenly Tydings of Salvation which hath been proclaimed in the midst of thee these many years by this faithful Messenger of God deceased with many more who is taken away in judgment unto thee because many of thy Inhabitants despised and set at nought that in which the blessedness of all Nations consisteth Oh how is thy Gold become dim and how is thy glory stained How is thy Countenance marred How is all thy Profession became dead and like a withered Tree without Sap The Symptomes of death are upon thee Your Sun is set your Glory is passed away Night is coming and Darkness is surrounding you and you shall have enough of Darkness and your Paths and Ways shall be filled with it because you have hated the Light and would not have him who is the Light of the World to rule in your hearts but have chused Darkness rather then Light because your Deeds are evil and in the end thou shalt be made to see you have chosen lying Vanities and have taken Pleasure in the Flesh and have forsaken your own Mercies Repent repent if any can find a place while it is called to Day lest you be shut up in everlasting Darkness and Truth be hid from your Eyes for ever â—ake warning cease from Persecution and afflicting the Lord's People who desire to live quietly and peaceably and to worship God in Truth and Righteousness with a pure heart It is too too much that you have done already the suffering and death of many Innocent Righteous Men who have suffered these Winters past will lie as a load upon your City in Summers to come Remember what God did to Amaleck the first of the Nations and to Moab when Israel would have passed to their own Land and Countrey that God had promised them and have eaten their own Bread and Drank their Water and have passed on peaceably but they rose up and fell upon the Poor and upon the Hindmost and Weak God was Glad to Force his Way though it proved the ruin of Amaleck and the Misery of Moab We would glad walk on
respect of Gods Decree and Efficacy of his Death from the foundation of the world really and indeed suffer death or dissolution of Soul and Body as upon the Cross at Ierusalem more or oftner than once Answ. Here in this query thou Diviner art found adding to the Scripture thy divinations of thy own brain whereupon the plagues of God is to be added unto thee and poured upon thee for as thou sayst the Man Christ Jesus the Lamb of God slain in respect of Gods Decree and Efficacy of his Death from the Foundation of the World Oh thou Lyar let all people see where there is such a Scripture that speaks as thou speakst here but in the Light of Christ thou art seen and in the life comprehended and art for condemnation The man Christ Jesus we own and witness and the Lambs Book of Life which was slain from the Foundation of the world we witness the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world this we witness according to the Scripture praises praises eternal praises be to the Lord God for ever and thee to be the Beast that makes war with the Lamb we witness and thou Antichrist which looks at Christs death at Ierusalem alone and cannot confess him no otherwise but without thee here thou art but equal with the Pope of Rome for he confesseth Christ dyed at Ierusalem as well as thou so let all thy Congregation see what they hold up that follows thee 3. Quer. Whether did the man Christ ever really and indeed suffer in his own person for that end and after that manner which he did once upon the Cross at Ierusalem before the time or since the time Answ. Here thou full of all subtilty hast made manifest thy Poison and enmity but with the Light of Christ thou art seen and known and with it condemned for ever Christ Jesus in his own Person doth and ever did suffer by thee and such as thou art and by thy Generation he did suffer at Ierusalem and doth suffer where he is made manifest by you after the same manner and thou Blind-Pharisee and Blasphemer wouldst thou have Christ to have more ends in suffering then one 4 Quer. Whether was not that death which the man Christ suffered once and but once upon the Cross at Ierusalem so satisfactory for all the sins of the Elect as that the Iustice of God did not doth not since require any suffering or working upon that account either from Sinner or from Saint Answ. Here thou Jesuite art pleading again for a Christ far off thee according as thy Father doth at Rome That Christ that dyed at Ierusalem did not satisfie for thee who art an enemy to him and doth not abide in his Doctrine but acts contrary to his Commands and art under the wo which he cryed against them that were in the same steps where thou art and from that wo thou shalt never flee The death of the man Christ Jesus which suffered at Ierusalem we own and witness the same Christ that suffered at Ierusalem we witness made manifest and the one God and the one Mediator we witness and know betwixt God and man the Man Christ Jesus according to the Scripture And here thou Lyar art made manifest to all thy Congregation to be a Lyar who said amongst them that we denyed that Christ that died at Ierusalem so let them all be Witnesses of thy Lyes and let thy mouth be stopt thou Lyar who art for the Lake and whereas thou queries whether the justice of God be not satisfied for the sins of the Elect here let shame strike thee in the face that ever thou shouldst take upon thee to speak to any people and knowst not the Scripture where dost thou read in all the Scripture that God doth require satisfaction for the sins of the Elect or laid any thing to their charge let all people try thee here by the Scripture and see whether thou be not a blind ignorant Sot who doth not know what the Justice of God requires neither from Sinner nor from Saint Isa. 42. 1. Isa. 65. 9. 22. Luk. 18. 7. Rom. 8. 33. 5 Quer. Whether you are reconciled to God by any other obedience than that particular obedience which Christ performed in his own Person and is mentioned in the Scripture or by any other suffering or death than that which Christ once suffered upon the Cross at Ierusalem Answ. Silence flesh wouldst thou who art an Enemy to God and a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the Air rules know how we are reconciled to God and by what obedience first own the Light in thy Conscience which condemns thee and be obedient to that and then thou shalt know by what obedience it is that we are reconciled to God for yet thou knowst no obedience nor the Death which Christ suffered upon the Cross thou dost not know but art an Enemy to the Cross of Christ and in the mystery of iniquity and in the dark power and man of sin what hast thou to do to talk of obedience who art reconciled to thy lust and sin reigns in thee and thou art blind in the broad way that leads to death as thy fruits makes it manifest who lives in strife and envy 6 Quer. Whether did not the Man Christ suffer as a publick Person in the Elects stead or in their behalf and for that end that none who believed in him might dye eternally Answ. There thou Blind-Guide makest many replys but still one and the same thing but thou makest it manifest that thou dost not know the man Christ at all nor his sufferings for that death reigns in thee yet that hath passed over all men that askes this query for a publick Person Christ is not to thee but a mystery which thou knowest nothing of and for the redeeming of the Elect from under such mouths as thine did and doth Christ suffer and those that are brought to believe deny such dumb Idol Shepherds as thee who as yet doth not believe and therefore shalt dye eternally except they repent 7 Quer. Whether the sufferings of Christ now in his Saints be all the satisfaction that is made to or which the justice of God looks for for sins past present and to come Answ. There thou Blasphemer askest thou knowest not what is not Christ the same now as ever and is not the sufferings of Christ satisfactory where ever What wilt thou have to satisfie if the sufferings of Christ do not satisfie let all people take notice what a Blasphemer thou art or what they can learn of such a one as thee who knowst neither the justice of God nor the sufferings of Christ in his Saints 8 Quer. Whether was not that Body of Iesus which consisted of Flesh Blood and Bone and which was offered upon the Cross at Ierusalem the one and onely sacrifice for sin God accepted and to which alone exclusively the Saints before under the Law and the Saints
is neither hast cleaved to it and so art raâ—ed out from the Life and from the Foundation and the Apostle who had his Commission not from man nor by man he exhorted those he preached and wrote to to take heed to the sure Word of Prophesie as unto a Light that shined in a dark place and to wait in it till the Day did dawn and the Day Star did arise and for distinguishing of that in the Conscience what it is he that is not separate from the darkness knows not how to do it But this I say unto thee as we declare unto all the Light which shines into the Conscience is the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withal and it is spiritual like himself and eternal and it leads out of sin and declares against all iniquity and he that comes to own it and to be guided by it it leads out of sin to know the Cross of Christ which is a Mystery to thee and it leads to the eternal Word which was in the beginning before sin was and it will judge all thy imaginations and vain conceivings and it leads to the Inheritance incorruptible out of corruptible if thou hast an ear to hear thou mayst hear it is that which will let thee see thy vain frothy imaginations which thou hast of God and will condemn all thy vain imaginations and hating it it will be thy condemnation and there is the issue of it and all such as steals other mens words and the true Prophets words and never knew the life that was in them all such we deny and shut them up within utter darkness where they and thou art and for the glorious things that thou and thy Partner speaks of which call your selves the two last Witnesses it is manifest that your mysteries are as in thy Book and thy queries where thou putst Elect and Reprobate together and as for tryall of spirits we give liberty and exhort all that may to try and we direct them to that to try by which is infallible and eternall whereby they may see and comprehend thee and all who have not the Spirit But that they should try who have nothing to try with let all such be silent for ever for none understands the Spirit but the Spirit with which we see thee and all who stands in their imaginations are ignorant of it therefore stop thy mouth in the dust and be silent 9 Quer. Do not they that speak to a people that declares against all appearances which are contrary to his way discover himself unto a true discerning Spirit not to be of the Lord unless they can demonstrate a spiritual Commission that he hath received from Heaven by voyce of words through the glorious mouth of the Lord so that no mortal man can disprove him though few for want of understanding receive him Ans. The Way that leads to the Father is but one which is Christ and he that declares from him made manifest in him declares against all Sects and Opinions that which thou calls appearances and the Way is one and the Truth one where there is no rent nor division and he that dwels in the life hath discerning and he that witnesses the annointing discerns he is able to judge and discern and in that thou art seen who wouldst sit on the throne but thou must come down and lick the dust dust is the Serpents meat and they who had their Commission from God and have their Commission from God now they were made manifest to every mans Conscience in the sight of God and this we witness this the Scripture witnesseth and he that believes hath the witness in himself and the father bears witness and they witness the voice of the Lord which is spiritual speaking to them and they declare from that which is spiritual to the Consciences of Gainsayers and this is witnessed but thy voice of words is carnal and is denyed and who art thou made manifest unto that which is mortal cannot discern and disprove thee but that which is immortal can and they who are guided by the immortal denies thee and will receive none of thy Testimony because it is not the same which the holy men of God witnessed and doth now witness which voice shakes the Wilderness and rents the Rocks and makes the Earth to reel to and fro but to thee this is a mystery and sealed 10. Again he that speaketh of an invisible spiritual God or Christ living in the Consciences or Spirits of men thou sayst He questions the truth of all the Scripture records concerning the Life Death and Resurrection and Ascension of the blessed Body of Christ into the Throne of his Immortal Glory And doth he not question Whether the Consciences of the Saints being sprinkled with the Blood of Iesus which dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem are purified from the pollutions of the Flesh and Spirit doth he not question the Resurrection of the Souls and Bodies out of the Earth at the last Day Answ. Here again thou hast made thy shame and ignorance manifest and knows not so much as the Letter of the Scripture Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ not by the will of man and a Minister of the Everlasting God he witnessed the Son of God revealed in him and he said Know ye not that Christ is in you or else you are Reprobates And Christ is not divided And he that is joyned to the Lord is onâ— Spirit And I and my Father are one And where Christ dwells the Father dwells And if thou hast an ear to hear thou mayst â—ear and if the same Spirit be not in you that raised Christ from the dead you are none of his and he that declared these things spake of a spiritual Christ and an invisible God and who shall ascend up to Heaven the word is nigh in thy mouth and in thy heart and this is the same Christ that suffered without the Gate at Ierusalem and no other which Paul travelled till he was born in them if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear and the Apostle did not question the Scripture records for they spoke it and recorded it and they witnessed the Life of Christ and his Death and Resurrection and Ascension and they witnessed him ascended above Thrones and Dominions and to sit at the right-hand of the Father and we witness the same Christ made manifest in us and his Resurrection not because Paul said so but we have seen it and are Witnesses of it the same that ever was the same that did Ascend the same did ascend this is a riddle unto thee and seven seals is upon it and thou that queriest shall never see them opened and they who had Christ in them and the Father and the Son supping with them they had their Consciences sprinkled and none else for his blood thou knowst not and so I say unto thee thou art not sprinkled nor thy Conscience purified from dead works and they who know
Christ in them and no more after the flesh come to know his Resurrection he is the resurrection he is the first and the last who knows him risen and have seen him witness the first day and the last what speaks thou of a last day that never came to the beginning and so thy soul lies in death and in chains and in utter darkness and therefore lay thy hand upon thy mouth and see where thou art and the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures thou canst not witness 11 Quer. If after death there is no bodily Resurrection for the Spirits of men to possess an immortal Glory to eternity or to suffer an eternal Devil-like shame according to their deeds whether good or evil Is it not one of the vainest things in the World to discourse of God and Righteousness unless it be for earthly Gain amongst men Answ. There is a Resurrection both of the just and of the unjust the just into everlasting life and the unjust into everlasting shame and contempt and every one shall receive according to his works whether they be good or evil but this is a mystery hid for none knowes it but through death but what knowest thou who art yet alive in sin what shall be in the resurrection which is after death which whoever comes to know the resurrection knowes the end of all things therefore it is not taking their words nor thy own imaginations that is Faith nor if thou know Christ no nearer than Ierusalem nor no nearer than above the stars thou knowst not where but through thy dark imaginations this is not to know Christ risen from the dead see therefore what hast thou seen in thy self But thou art dead while thou livest in that nature and at the resurrection contempt and shame will be thy portion and turn in â—hy minde to that which shews thee sin and witness the body and sin destroyed within and then and not till then shalt thou know how it is in the resurrection 12 Quer. Thou raises a question from Pauls words to the Athenians and didst before condemn them that stole other mens words and here thou hast stolen a Query and thou askestwhat think you did that spiritual Creator dwell and sive in the Athenians Consciences or did his glorious person visibly appear in the highest heavens Answ. The Athenians to whom Paul spoke worshipped the work of their own hands as this Generation doth their own imaginations and that God whom ignorantly they worshipped at a distance which God lived in Paul's Conscience Paul declared unto them and they looked as thou dost carnally thinking God to be carnal and at a distance but he said he was not at a distance from every one of them for in him they lived moved and had their being and this was the God which Paul preached of which Creator we witness lives in the high and holy place and with him also that is of a humble and a contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word 13 Quer. And thou sayest what think you can there be any living Spirit without a body or person to display its life in or from and must not the Creator of necessity be a glorious personal substance and thou sayest doth not these men that worship an infinite Spirit without any bodily form living in mens Consciences glory only in a god of â—â—eir own imaginations instead of honouring the onely Lord of all life the man Iesus yesterday today and for ever Answ. That which is not possible with men is possible with God which God is a Spirit as Jesus Christ saith and a spirit hath not flesh and bone nor a created body but displays it self as it pleases contrary to thy will and the will of all men and thou who wouldst by thy reason tye the Creator with a necessity to a personal Beeing art void of the knowledge of God and led by thy corrupt reason which shall never know God and all those who worships God in Spirit worships an infinite Spirit which Spirit inhabiteth eternity and lives in the Consciences of the Saints and this is not to glory in an imagination but a witnessing of the same eternal Truth which the Saints witnessed which spake forth the Scripture for they witnessed Christ to dwell in them and the same God they worshipped whose temple they were and not another and the same we witness and this to the honour of the Man Jesus who was yesterday today and for ever 14 Quer. The eternal Spirit Creator and alone everlasting Father which dwells essentially in the glorified Body as our Lord Iesâ—â— his eternall Son and virtually reigns in all the Saints Elect men and Angels be Record between me and you world without end whether this Epistle shall not be sent to you and all the chosen that shall peruse it principally for the establishing of your tender spirits upon that eternal spiritual Rock Iesus Christ God and Man in one distinct body or person glorified and onely honoured with all spiritual praises from Elect men and Angels when this World is consumed into ashes and all time or times is swallowed up into eternity or eternities Ans The Eternal Spirit which is the Everlasting Father which thou sayst is essencially in the Son thy word essencially I deny and thy voice yet Christ and the Father is one and the same Spirit that dwells in the Son dwels in the Father which is one I and my Father is one the same dwells in the Saints thy word virtual I deny the same that dwells in the Father and in the Son the same dwells in the Saints not distinct nor divided For he that hath seen the Father hath seen the Son and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and Christ is not divided I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and he that is joyned to Christ is one spirit and not distinct nor separate if thou have an ear thou mayst hear and that eternal Spirit which is the Father and the Son which dwels in the Saints is Judge of thee and by that Spirit I judge thee that this Epistle came not from him to none of the chosen for they who are chosen deny thy voice and what dost thou speak of Elect and Angels with whom God dwells when in thy fourth query thou saidst they were defiled and the holy Ghost saith He dwells with no uncleanness and so speaks confusion and Babylons language which is the land of thy nativity from whence all these things have been spoken by thee and all that shall ever be established with thy declaring or thy Epistles shall be thrown down for the Rock shall beat thy Image to pieces and therefore leave off thy speaking of him and of thy distinct body and of his glory for when he shall appear in his glory instead of thy praises thou shalt bowl and lament and wish the mountains to cover thee and he who is out of time shall consume thee to ashes who
strayed and into by-Paths of Whoredoms have you been instructed and the door of the true Shepherds Fold hath been shut against you and the Key of true knowledge hath been hid out of your sight and obscurity and darkness hath been cast before you and the Way of the Lord hath been undiscovered to your understandings and into secret and subtil Idolatry and Witchcraft have you been nurtured and your wounds have been healed falsely and will break out into more incurable dangers O how have you been driven away into strange Pastures and into barren Heaths and Desarts scattered lo here and lo there by the voyces of Strangers now when the Lord is come to search you instead of Lambs you are found in the nature of Wolves and Dogs and Lions biting and devouring and scorning and reproaching the Children of the true Seed and instead of Children of Light and Truth are you found strong men of Darkness and Error How is your nature changed since the first creation in the Innocent Image of God strayed have you been and not one brought home by your Shepherds into the Fold of Truth you have been a prey to the Devourers and meat for the wilde Beasts of the desolate Forrests and a strange Language have you learned of the Egyptians Character and your delight have been therein even you have loved to have these things so and like Shepherds like Sheep Strayers and strayed Devourers and being devoured What account will you give in the Day of the Lord For your sins are written with a Pen of Iron sealed in your foreheads children of the womb of wickedness A gross sum of abomination is put upon your account even Lovers of Darkness and Haters of the Light How many times have you been called by the true Shepherds Voice and you neglect and will not be gathered How many good instructions have you heard And what profit have you received Much Teaching and many Sermons have you heard and yet to this day the Way of Truth have you not learned but are groping in the dark in blindness and ignorance and you Blind have been led by the Blind and the mouth of the Ditch is opened to swallow you up together and you have refused Knowledge and cannot endure to be reproved you love to stray rather then to be gathered and you delight in leanness and poverty upon the barren Mountaines rather then to be fed in the fat Pastures of true Food Shall not the Lords Soul be avenged upon you Ye Shepherds and Flocks ye Teachers and People your debt is summed into a large sum of grievous abomination the Indictment of Vengeance is read and sealing against you proved to be just in the Register of Heaven everlasting Prison in the pit of Darkness and everlasting Banishment from the Presence of the Lord is signing against you in the eternal Law and righteous Decree the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ which shines in all your Consciences will arise to be the evidence of this just proceeding God is grieved with you you spiritual Idolaters Repent repent ye Idol Shepherds and deceitful Teachers and ye scattered Flocks and deceitful People This is the day of your visitation and a warning in your ears the Sword of the Lord is drawn against you the Whirle-wind of his Wrath is gone forth your builded wall shall fall and the pillars of your Habitation shall be shaken God will gather his Flock out of your mouths and feed them in his own Fold and your nakedness shall appear and your deceits shall be laid open and your secret whoredoms shall be discovered your beginning was in Darkness and your time is out of the Light and your end will be in destruction now you have all time prize it From him who is a Lover of all your souls but a Witness against all your deceit Edw. Burrough Written in Corke City in Ireland as moved of the Lord concerning the Shepherds and Flock the Teachers and People in that Nation An Invitation to all the poor desolate Souldiers to repent and make their peace with the Lord and their Duty shewed them what the Lord requires of them TO all you poor desolate Souldiers of the lowest rank who are scattered up and down in this desolate Land of Ireland and live a careless and a desolate life without the Fear of the Lord in Lying in Swearing in Drunkenness in Whoredom in Oppression and in the Wickedness of the World and are past feeling and sensless of the Opperation and Power of God careless of your eternal happiness The dreadful Day of the Lord God is coming in Power the Lord is risen and the Wrath of the Lord is gone forth with the strength of indignation and fury will you be besieged and fearfulness shall surprize you Repent of your transgressions and fear and tremble before the Presence of the Living God who is Commander in chief over Heaven and Earth prize your souls this is the day of your visitation and make your Peace with the Lord The righteous Judge the Lord seeth you in your darkness and searcheth you in your desolate obscurity and his soul is pressed under your iniquities and he hath not disrespected any of your persons or desolate places but God is Light and hath lightened every one of you with the true Light of Life Eternal if you love it and be guided by it or of death everlasting if you hate it and disobey it and walk contrary to it that is the Light which convinceth you of Sin of Lying and Swearing and Cursed-speakings and Drunkenness which are the fruits of the cursed Tree which cumbereth the Ground of the Lord which the Axe is now laid to the root of to cut it down and cast it into everlasting burning and while you act against this Light in your Consciences you crucifie the Life of Christ Jesus and are Enemies unto him and Servants of the Devil and love your evil deeds and Upholders of the Devils conquest which is the dominion of sin This Light reproves you in secret of violence and false accusing and all unjust words and actions which are contrary to God 〈◊〉 turn your minds to the Light which will lead you to repentance from dead works out of the broad way of destruction which many are in as Christ Jesus saith and it will teach you in your places to serve the Living God and to do violence to no man but to be Terrors and Reprovers and Correctors of all violence and of such who live in it And it will teach you not to strengthen the hands of Evil-doers but to lay your Swords in justice upon every one thâ— doth evil And it will teach you not to make War but to preserve peace in the Earth and this is your Place and Duty required of you from the Lord Goâ— Commander in chief unto whom you must all give an account and receive 〈◊〉 just Reward according to your deeds everlasting punishment to him that doâ—… evil but if you
loathsom and haiâ—ous is your filthiness in preaching for hire and for gifts and rewards and in making a prey upon the People through divining for money even feeding your selves with the fat and killing them that are fed and have wofully wasted the heritage and scattered the flock upon the barren mountains where yoâ— treacherously have devoured them and made merchandise of their Souls and have cried Peace peace unto the wicked one of you building a Wall and another daubing it with untempered Morter you have not stood in my Counsel but have erred from my Way and have not known my Judgments but through covetousness have dealt most wickedly and profaness is gone forth from you into all corners of the Earth so that none could turn from his evil way nor learn the Way of Righteousness and Salvation How shall it be declared and laid open Your transgressions have much more abounded then in former Generations ye have shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men to the destruction of Thousands and ten Thousands who have perished under your Ministry whom you have caused to err and led them out of the Way and the blind Hypocrites have led the Blind till ye both fell into the ditch of perdition It was your Generation of the same seed that put the Apostles to death and now you make merchandize of their words and exceed in hypocisie and double-heartedness and have turned everyway according to the changing of the power of the Beast Some of you were Teachers for the King and Bishops and were ordained by their Law and your prayers have been to your Idol-god for all sorts from whom you could receive a Reward or be advantaged and you are now divided in many Sects and Judgments and false Opinions and have divided the People into divers ways of Idol-worship throwing down one part of the Image and setting up exalting another and your Offerings and Oblations and Prayers and Praises hath been a burthen and weariness to my Soul saith the Lord and you now are at war in your minds one with another divers in your Language though but one Original which is the womb of Witchcraft and your Kingdom is Darkness and a heap of Confusion under the dominion of Death reigning but you are at concord in War against me and against my Servants whom I have chosen from among you to bear witness against you and you are the most of all guilty of that great Persecution and unjust Suffering and Imprisonment through Tyranny laid upon them for you stir up and interceed the power of the Beast thereunto upon which you sit till you both be cast into the Lake You are risen in all your power to manage War against my Kingdom which is appearing to make yours a Desolation for ever The Beast is risen in defence of you already and you pray to your dead gods and preach to your ignorant People against my Heritage deceiving Thousands whose blood of you will be required who are ever learning of you but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth by you being kept in infidelity and blindness under you whose blood you are absolutly guilty of your rebellion is the crime of Witchcraft who cannot cease to do evil for you have bound your selves in the Covenant with Hell and are at Agreement with Death while you are upon Earth and would bind the People with you in the same Faith or rather Unbelief that none can be perfectly saved from sin while they live upon Earth But you are the filthy Dreamers who do defile the flesh and when you awake you will be found empty of all Righteousness your Cup is full of Fornication and of the Wine of Whoredom and Idolatry my patience will be turned into fury against you and my Cup of Indignation is the assured Portion of your â—ot and blood shall you have to drink as your Gift and Reward from me and your present pleasure shall be turned into howling everlasting and your songs shall be changed into Wo was the day My Plagues shall remain with you upon Earth and follow you to the Lake and your staff and strength in which you trust even the power of the Beast shall be broken with you and be buried in the Grave of everlasting contempt to rise in reproach unto my Heritage for ever and my Fire of Indignation is already kindling upon you which will burn forevermore and not be quenched To all you called Papists to your whole Body and Head at Rome the Word of the Lord reacheth THus assuredly saith the Lord My Controversie is against you and my Vengeance and Wrath and Fury shall for ever World without end be upon you though you pardon one another yet will I not pardon any one of you for your grievous Adulteries and Abominations have surpassed all other Generations in the womb of Whoredoms your Children are conceived begotten by the seed of Adulteries in the very strength of the man of sin and at the Breasts of murther and cruelty you are nourished in sucking hainous and cruel Tyranny you are seated upon the highest Mountain of Oppression and Idolatry Peter was not your Predecessor but the Devil himself you succeed in blood and envy and cruelty and he is your rock with whom you shall fall in everlasting perdition being upon him builded in your whole body and he is the Father of your faith received from him by succession traditionally And your Religion is of Cain's antiquity who was the Antient in your Profession of offering Sacrifice and killing the Just your Sword hath been made fat in the blood of the Innocent you have sought to slay even the very likeness of Righteousness and have stood armed with cruelty against the Upright waiting for the blood of the Guiltless to asswage your thirst And your seat at Rome which once had the Faith of Jesus Christ in purity where Members of his Body inhabited you have turned into the habitation of Devils and it is become the open Mother of profest Whoredoms which brings forth cursed Children of Witchcraft and is the abiding place of members of an abominable Harlot and the Profession of Jesus have you turned into cruelty against Jesus and into the murther of him Some of you are made a curse already and with Vengeance and Indignation shall the rest be pursued till your Body be rooted from off the Earth you have been strong in your Seat of Darkness upon your seven Mountains of perfect abomination and none were able to encounter you in your strength of Infidelity but it shall be turned into weakness and your whoredoms shall appear and your present honour shall be turned into contempt everlasting for whilst you say You have wrought to merit Life eternal your unbelief will bring death everlasting and your Works merit my Fire of eternal Judgment and Condemnation and while you have said You eat and drink the Flesh and Blood really you have crucified his Life totally and your consecrating of
Darkness rules in you all and the Law of sin and death and transgression are you all subject to and led captive in your minds affections and desires at the will of the power that leads into transgression called the Devil and in that state you are all strangers to God and are without him in the World and ignorant of the knowledge of his Wayes and are in the perishing state for want of Knowledge and subject to the curse of the power which you transgress and are Heirs of his Wrath having no part of the Inheritance of Blessing for a vail of Darkness through sin hath overspread you all and covered you all from the sight and hearing and feeling of the Creator and of the mystery of his Glory and Wisdom and every one in particular and none excepted of all the Children of Adam upon the face of the whole Earth but all have sinned and transgressed and death reigns over all and blindness of heart hath possessed all and all have fallen short of the glory of the Creator and all men are concluded by his Spirit to be under sin and Children of Wrath and Heirs of Corruption and in disobedience and rebellion to the Life that gives all men a Being The whole World and all People in it without exception of Tribes Generations or Nations this is the state and condition of all the Sons of men all flesh hath corrupted his way upon the Earth in his sight that made it and the wickedness of man is great in the Earth and the imaginations and thoughts of every mans heart are evil continually and grieve the Creator for the whole Earth is filled with violence through mans transgression And now not any Stock or People have priviledge one above another to Redemption and Salvation and to the Kingdom of Peace and Glory but Iew and Gentile Wise and Foolish Noble and Ignoble Male and Female all People without exception are in transgression and by the line and measure of true Judgment are shut out from the Knowledge of Life and Salvation and of the Inheritance of the Father in that state of enmity wherein every man in the World is fallen into and by one the Offence came and so death upon all men which reigneth in the hearts of all and opposeth the Life of the Creator and everyone is imperfect in the sight of the Lord blind deaf dumb lame and without the sence of the Power of him that made him and brought him forth his Eye sees not for it is covered with a vail of darkness neither doth the Ear hear for it is stopped nor the Tongue speak nor the Understanding perceive any thing of the Secrets of the Lord but all are separated and divided from the Tree of Life and are cast out from his Presence by whom the World was made into blindness of heart and to the loathing of your selves and are more ignorant of your Maker then the Ox is of his Owner or the Asse of his Masters Crib for you know not him that gives you life and all good things and that upholds you by the Word of his Power And this is his Word unto you all You are all under the power of Satan and subject to his will acting in iniquity and in evil bringing forth the fruits of death from that ground in which you now stand which is cursed and your Maker hath no pleasure in it for your fruits grieve his Spirit that made you and vex his Soul that brought you forth for man is degenerated into the plant of a strange Vine and brings forth wild Grapes and cursed Fruit which are of a bitter taste unto the Lord's Soul who planted all things for himself who is the good Husbandman but the whole Earth is corrupted and all Mankind in it and man is not now acted nor led nor ruled in his heart by the Power that made him which gives him all good things but the power of Satan the Serpent the old Dragon which deceived from the beginning who is in the enmity against the Life of the Creator he acts man and rules man to the abuse of all Creatures and to his own destruction and every particular man is liable to the wrath and to the curse and to everlasting wo and misery and torment from his Maker in that state of disobedience whereinto all mankind is fallen not one upon the face of the Earth excepted from transgression and so from misery nor none priviledged one above another unto happiness but as I have said Male and Female who were made in the Image of their Maker in the first Creation but now every man in the whole World is in the enmity against the Life of the Power that made him and is a Child of wrath and shut up in blindness and unbelief under the Devils power which power abode not in the Truth but is out of the Truth and all mankind is left in this condition without Help or Helper or Deliverance or Means or Way of Salvation from himself or any other Creature upon the face of the whole Earth but is a Sheep without a Shepherd straying and wandring in the thoughts of his own heart after vanity and that wherein there is no profit to the Lord nor to his own Soul but death and sorrow in all his wayes having forsaken the Fountain of living Waters and gone a whoring after other Lovers and defiled himself and so brought destruction upon himself by his own doings who abounds in all Evil Lying Theft Murder Envy Strife stealing and Whoredom and such like which are the fruits of the Ground that is cursed for mans sake But now unto all People the Sons and Daughters of Adam the first man that ever was made Though you be thus fallen into misery by transgression and helpless from your selves or from any other Creature yet hath the living God the Power which made you and which you have transgressed against ordained and prepared a Way to be restored and healed and to be brought to the injoyment and feeling of the Creator from the disobedience and from the curse and misery unto the blessing and happiness and unto all mankind in particular is prepared a Way out of Death unto Life out of the loss which every man hath received in Transgression to Salvation and Redemption and Deliverance out of the captivity and bondage which all are fallen into into liberty and freedom to serve his Maker and to glorifie him for he hath not been served nor glorified but grieved and vexed by all men on the Earth and so he hath brought misery and the curse upon all by forsaking them and leaving them under the Power which made them not to be led and guided by it in rebellion unto destruction And now this same Power by which man was made is mans Restorer and Deliverer and Redeemer and Saviour though he hath transgressed against it for when there was none to help noâ— to save of any creature upon the face of the
enmity and all mans works are brought forth in that nature which is evil and out of that ground which is cursed his good works are not accepted and his evil deeds are condemned all which springs forth of one root of bitterness and enmity which is in the displeasure of the Creator Oh Earth be awakened and all ye Sons and Daughters of Adam call to mind your state and condition and repent and return before Destruction when no time of repentance can be found Hearken to Instruction and let your Ears be open to hear here you may all hear and understand the Way to Restoration to be restored and recovered out of this condition and out of this enmity and from under this curse of misery and destruction for a Way hath God prepared unto all mankind and is making it manifest unto the whole Earth that the Sons and Daughters of Adam may again know their Maker and have fellowship with him and this Way is but one which is ordained for all People upon the face of the Earth of what Tribe or Nation soever And all that come to the knowledge of the Creator must walk in this Way which is called Christ Jesus who is the Son of the Creator the second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Power and Wisdom of the Creator and by him all things were made and without him was not any thing formed that was brought forth he is the Restorer the Redeemer and the Deliverer for he cannot be overcome of the evil but overcometh and treadeth down all the Powers of Darkness and Death and the Devil which rise against him in all the World and the Creator hath so loved mankind though he hath transgressed against him and grieved him yet he hath given his Son into the World into all Nations without respect of Persons or People to be the Saviour of all that believe in him and receive him that they may come out of Death and Darkness from under the Devils power and may be translated and changed and renewed out of sin and death and ignorance and rebellion and out of the Kingdom of the Devil into Truth and Righteousness and into the Kingdom of God And this Restorer and Saviour the Power and Wisdom of the Creator hath lightened all mankind every one that cometh into the World is lightened by him that every one may follow him and be guided by his Power and Wisdom and every one that doth receive him sin and iniquity and transgression is condemned and the seed of the enmity is cast out by his Power which is revealed against all unrighteousness and he subdues it and works it forth of the hearts of all men and so reconciles man again to his Maker to have fellowship with him And this Restorer the second Adam comes to be revealed within every man who executes true Judgment upon the Transgressor and bindeth under the rebellious nature and death and condemnation passes upon the seed of enmity and all its fruits upon the Devil and all his works upon him that is born of the flesh and all his wayes his joy is turned into mourning his pleasures into sorrow his glory and rejoycing into sadness of heart and the life which he hath lived comes to be crucified and the wayes which he hath walked in comes to be hedged up and no more followed and his strength is turned into weakeness and all his wayes and pleasures fade and perish and the Birth which is Immortal comes to be brought forth which is not of this World but Heir of the Creators Inheritance who hath no glorying under the Sun nor no pleasure in the glory of this World which passeth away but lives unto God in all things and brings forth fruit unto the Father and is replanted into the living Vine and is leavened into a new lump and placed in the Garden of God all the old Garments are put off and old things are passed away the Devil is cast out the blind Eye is opened and the Vail is taken away which hath been spread over all and the deaf Ear is unstopped and man is again returned unto his Maker and hears and sees and understands the things which are eternal which belong to his peace the Fear of God is set up in his heart and Gods Secrets are revealed unto him he is become the Glory of his Maker to praise him to glorifie him and to magnifie him for evermore being restored again unto God's Image and guided with his Power and Wisdom and hath received dominion and authority from his Maker to reign and rule over all Creatures and to be exercised in all things to his Glory by whom they were made he is not in bondage to any Creature but in liberty over it and the Creatures are become his Servants and he servant to his Maker and the Earth yeilds its encrease unto man the Curse is removed and the Blessing restored in the Covenant of Peace and Righteousness where all Creatures come to be injoyed the covenant of Death and Hell being broken and disanulled where the curse stood and standeth in all the World where the restorer of the second Adam is not received who moveth by the measure of his Power against the evil in the hearts of all men and he knocketh at the door of the heart that he may be received and come in and dwell with the Children of men whose delight is with the Sons of men and every one that openeth to him and hearkeneth to his Cry who calls by the Light and moveth by his Power by him they receive Life and Peace and Fulness from the Father and are raised from Death to Life and redeemed from under the power of Satan to the Power of the Creator all evil in the ground and in the fruits judgment goes upon it all and condemnation And thus mankind comes to be restored again to God his Maker to be the Children of God and Heirs of his Inheritance and is no more of this World but redeemed by Jesus Christ out of Kindreds Tongues and People out of respect of Time Place Creatures or Things and sees through all Creatures to be before the World was beyond all the glory of this World to the Glory of the Lord and here is the praising and singing and rejoycing the living and walking in that Life which cannot change and in the World of which there is no end and here a greater Glory is known then the first mans glory a greater State then that which was overcome of the Devil a greater Dominion then that which was lost this Dominion never can have an end Death is swollowed up of Life all sorrow and anguish is swollowed up of rejoycing all tears are wiped here and there is no more sorrow the quickning Spirit is felt and witnessed which hath quickened again to God God's Tabernacle is with men and his Dwelling-place with the Children of men and that is felt and seen and tasted which was before the World was before
departed from the Faith after the Apostles time which they 〈◊〉 would come and these do seduce and their Doctrines are of the Devil who denies the Truth which the Scripture bears witness of and say Sprinkling Infants 〈◊〉 water when they are two or three dayes old is Baptism into the Faith of Christ this is the Doctrine of the Devil and Lyes they speak in great numbers and in hypocrisie and write them forth to the World in great hypocrisie with feignedness and pretence of holiness and its plain many of their Consciences are seared How do many of them cause the poor people to suffer grievous imprisonment and spoiling of their Goods to the ruin of Families almost for their maintenance as Tythes and such like which if their Consciences were not seared they could not do also some of them cried to the rude wicked People in their Idol-temples Fight Lads for the Gospel and many who have born witness to the Truth and against their deceits have been beat and abused and knocked down as for dead in their presence and their consciences are absolute seared else they would tremble at these things Also the Apostle Peter he saw false Prophets would come in 2 Pet. 2. And false Teachers who would bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and many should follow their pernicious wayes and through covetousness with feigned words they would make Merchandize of people and they would walk after the Flesh in the lust of Uncleanness and despise Government and be presumptuous and self-willed and not afraid to speak evil of Dignities and they would speak evil of things they understand not and their hearts are exercised with coveteous practises and were cursed Children and they sport themselves with their own deceivings and these had forsaken the right Way and are gone astray following the way of Balaaâ— who loved the Wages of Unrighteousness and these are Clouds that are carried with a Tempest and they speak great swelling words of vanity and while they promise to others liberty themselves are the Servants of corruption and such were Scoffers and Mockers which would come after the Apostles dayes and they would walk after their own lusts And now according to this Prophesie of Peter who saw false Teachers coming in he gave these Characters of them whereby it doth plainly appear that this Generation of Teachers are they and of that Stock which then came in for these bring forth the very same fruits which they did which he spoke of and we know them by their fruits as Christ hath said for these have filled the World with damnable Heresies as holding forth That sprinkling Infants with Water is Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that a Steeple-House is the Church and that singing Davids Experiences in the World among wicked People in Rime and Meeter is singing to the Praise of God and these are damnable Heresies even to the denying the Lord that bought them for they deny the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ given to every man to be the only Teacher and the only Guide of man and they that do deny the Light of Christ with which every man that comes into the World is lighted to be sufficient to lead to Christ and to the Kingdom of God as these Teachers in this Age do they deny the Lord that bought them and many even whole Nations all the World as Iohn saw in the Revelations have followed their pernicious wayes and run after their Idolatry and pernicious wayes of Superstitions and they do make Merchandise of souls through covetousness with their feigned words for where they can make their Bargain to have the most money there they will preach and no where else and if any will give them more the next year they will sell that People and go to another for very covetousness by feigned words and they do walk after the flesh in the lust of Pride and Covetousness which is uncleanness of the flesh and they despise the Saints Government and Order for they will not suffer the Saints to prophesie one by one in their Assemblies according to the Saints Government but do despise that and persecute it by the government of the Beast unto whose government they are subject and not to the Government of Christ and the Saints and thus they are presumptious and self-willed presuming to afflict and cause the Children of God to be cast into Prison and suffering them to be beat and abused by their Flock out of their wicked self-wills and they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities and do speak evil of the Wayes of God and of his Truth which they understand not and their hearts are exercised with covetous practises and are cursed Children for they make poor People that have but ten Eggs give them One and that hardly can get any Fewel for the Fire pay them a Fenny for the smoak with many such other exceeding covetous practises as suing men two hundred miles to answer for three Shilling claimed by them for Tythes And these sport themselves in their vanity in their own deceiving and wheâ— they have oppressed People for their Wages and make People pay them for whoâ— they do no work and force Wages from them that never hired them which arâ— unheard of coveteous practises they sport themselves in their pride and lustfâ—lness and they are out of the right Way and gone astray from the Wayes of God which are holy and are in the way of Balaam who went after unrighteous Wages who sought for enchantment against Israel as these do and these loâ—â— unrighteous wages by taking maintenance from People by force unto whom is nothing owing by them and these are carried with a Tempest of every Wiâ—d according as the Powers of the Earth blow these are carried sometimes under such a Government and sometimes against it and so are Clouds carried aboâ—t and are unsettled on the foundation and they speak great words of Christ God and the Scriptures which are but words stolen by them because they are not spoken by the spirit of God but by a lying spirit and they promise to others liberty that they shall receive the Kingdom of God after death and that Christ hath taken away their sins with such like Promises of liberty but themselves are the Servants of corruption living in Pride and Hatred and Coveteousness and these serve sin and are Servants of corruption and they are Scoffers and Mockers and Walkers after their own lusts as it is evident in all mens sight so that according to the Judgmenâ— of Truth we judge these Teachers of this Generation 〈◊〉 be of the same root which then sprang forth for these bring forth the same fruiâ—s as they in that time did and in the Apostacy they have over-spread the whole World And also the Apostle Iude gave a Description of them according as Peter had done he saw certain men creeping in who turned the Grace of God in to Wantonnes and they were
Ministers of Christ said Chrisâ—… was the Foundation but these say the Scripture is the Foundation and herein they are contrary and shew by their doctrine another spirit then was in the Apostles 7. Again the Ministers of Christ said they spake wisdom among them that were perfect and said As many of us as are perfect be thus minded and said that the end of their Ministry was to present every man perfect in Christ. But the Teachers of this Age deny Perfection and say None must be perfect in this life and if any preach up Perfection that it is to be attained they say it is Error and damnable Doctrine Nay they say none shall ever be free from sin or ever have victory over their sin nor overcome the body of sin while they be upon Earth But the Ministers of Christ witnessed they were more then Conquerers and that they had put off the body of Death and were free from sin and were the Servants of Righteousness And herein also they differ and are not of one spirit and we know that the Ministers of Christ were guided by the Spirit of God which held forth these Doctrines â—nd we know the Teachers of this Age that their spirit must needs be of the Devil because it holds forth and practiseth what the Ministers of Christ did not but the contrary 8. Again the Ministers of Christ were persecuted and suffered cruel and grievous things for Righteousness sake as you may read in the Acts and did not render evil for evil to any man for they suffered patiently But the Teachers of this Age are not persecuted but are Persecutors and cause Men to be put into PRISONS â—nd to be Banished out of Towns and Sue People at Law and seeks occasion against the People of God and herein they disagree and are not of the same spirit as they were which were Ministers of Christ but shew a spirit contrary 9. Again the Ministers and Apostles of Christ were not chargeable to any but made the Gospel without charge and free and laboured with their own hands and did not live â—dlely but were often in cold hunger and nakedness and perils and tryals But the Teachers of this Age live in Pride and Covetousness and Fulness and do not work with their own hands but makes the Gospel of Christ chargeable for many Hundred Thousand Pounds in a Year doe but maintain them which they have â—ut of poor mens labours and so these differ and disagree from the Ministers of Christ and shew they are not of that Spirit that they were guided by but are guided by a contrary spirit because they are contrary in their Call and in their Doctrine and Practice and Maintenance 10. Again the Ministers of Christ preached by the Spirit according as the Spirit gave them Utterance and sometimes continued preaching till midnight But the Teachers of this Age are limited by a Glass and Preach by a GLASS and when their Hour is out their time of preaching is ended and that which they have studied for before-hand that they preach and not that which they have received immediatly from the spirit of God And herein do they disagree and in many things more which after may be declared 11. Again the Ministers of Christ said Ye may all prophesie one by one that all â—ight be edified and as every one had received the gift of Christ so they might Minister to â—…hers and desired that all the Lords People were Prophets and Sons and Daughters â—…d prophesie But the Teachers of this Age will not suffer all to prophesie one by â—ne neither will allow any to preach as they have received from Christ without such Qualifications and learned Arts and Ordinations of men and â—hey will not allow a Woman to prophesie or speak among them and all might speak â—he Word of the Lord faithfully that had it and all might Minister as they had received it â—his was order in the Apostles dayes among them but this is now counted confusion â—…y the Teachers of this Age and if any speak to them or any among them maâ—y such are made to suffer cruelty or imprisonment or such like by their means â—nd herein they disagree and shew that they are guided by another spirit then â—…e Ministers of Christ were guided by and so are not his Ministers but Deâ—…ivers 12. Again the Ministers of Christ declared what they had heard and seen and â—…lt and tasted of the Word of Life and none of them did boast in another mans line but â—hat they all had received of the Lord that they declared and not their own inâ—entions and commended themselves to every mans Conscience in the Sight of God and they did not provide themselves Studies full of Books to gather out of in a Weeks time what to preach on the first Dayes as the Teachers of this Age do who by vaiâ—… study and humane learning frame up and notes it in a Book an hour or two hours discourse to the People And herein they disagree and shew that they are guided by a spirit contrary to the Ministers of Christ. 13. Again the Apostles and Ministers of Christ were called from their Herâ—… and from Nets from their Receipt of Custom and from their Callings and by receiving 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost were made Ministers of Christ and did not seek Peoples Money to themselâ—… but sought the People to God and went through cruel Sufferings and Persecutions many tiâ—… that they might hold forth the Way of Life and Truth to all People But the Teachers 〈◊〉 this Age they are trained up from their Child-hood in Arts and Sciences risiâ—… by degrees from one vanity to an other till at last they arive to the Function of 〈◊〉 Minister of Christ as they call it and few or none of them have been called from theiâ—… ordinary Calling to preach the Gospel for such a one is hardly allowed of to preâ—… among People and they seek Peoples Money to themselves and the Peoplâ—… to God And herein they disagree and shew another spirit then was in the Apostles 14. Again the Ministers of Christ were led and guided by the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 did not fulfil their own wills nor the wills of men and they brought People 〈◊〉 the feeling of the Spirit of Christ in them to teach them and after they had begâ—… People to God they said they needed no man to teach them but as the anointing 〈◊〉 them taught them But the Teachers of this Age follows their own spirits and 〈◊〉 subject to the wills of men if men admit them to teach they do but if mâ—â—â—…ny them then they do not preach but the Apostles did not thus for when 〈◊〉 forbad them to teach they did not cease to preach but went on boldly declaring the NAMâ—… of the Lord. And these Teachers do not bring People to know the Spirit of Câ—… in them neither can any through their preaching receive the Anointing
feeding his lust in pride and voluptuousness with that which should keep him from hunger and nakedness and so pleasing the lust in all things more than satisfying pure nature and this ought not to be for it is out of the Covenant of God in which all Creatures were made and in which they stand except the Creature man who is degenerated out of Gods Covenant and subverts all things to his own end and not unto the glory of God while he continues in that state unreconciled to God but man being restored and redeemed and renewed again into covenant with God through the condemning of the evil then all Creatures to him are restored and made blessed the curse being removed out of his own heart the Creatures are no longer cursed to him but good and decent and enjoyed and received in the Covenant of God in the life and vertue by which they were created and by the wisdom which they were made man comes to order them and exercise himself in them and no more are they spent upon the lust nor on the vain minde nor ruled over in oppression but all that is condemned and all Creatures are seen to be the Lords and the Whole Earth is his and the fulness thereof and the abuse of all Creatures is ceased and they are enjoyed in their pure vertue to feed and to cloath the Creature and not to be destroyed upon the lust but for the healths-sake are they used to the glory of of the Creator and unto the end wherefore he Created them and are pure as they were in the beginning and the blessing is felt which is more than all creatures CHAP. XVI Concerning the new Covenant and how man comes to the Knowledge of God this Testimony I give THE Covenant of God is Unity betwixt God and man and a binding each to other to serve each other the one is bound to obey and submit and worship and the other to blesse and keep and lead and perserve this Covenant is established with his own Seed for ever and there is no Teacher but God all is taught of him from the least to the greatest who are in this Covenant his just Law is written in their heart to condemn all transgression and his pure Spirit is put into the inward parts to be the rule and guide of life in all things and none need to say know the Lord but all knows him in the Spirit and worships him and obeys him and follows him in Spirit and in Truth and such are come into Peace and Reconciliation with God and the Covenant with Hell and Death is broken and in this Covenant there is no Priest nor Offering but Christ Jesus the high â—…iest of God the one Offering for sin he takes away sin and makes intercession and in it is no Temple but our bodies are the Temple of God and he dwells in us and walks in us and there is no circumcision but the circumcision of the heart which is the putting away of all the uncleanness of the flesh nor in it there is no means of salvation but Christ the onely way the Truth and Life and none comes to the Father but by him he Declares of the Father and there is no Light but the Light of the Lamb all that are Saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb and there shall be no need of any other light no need of the Light of the Sun nor of the Moon nor of Candle but the Lord is unto them an everlasting Light and God alone is their Glory and this Covenant is for ever and cannot alter nor change but is sure unto the Seed of his own Inheritance but he that is born of the Flesh hath no part in it who is shut out from the Knowledge of God who is not known to the wisdom of this World which is Foolishness with God and the Knowledge of God is received no other way but onely by the revelation of Jesus Christ and by the Working of the Spirit of the Father in the heart he opens the blinde Eye and unstops the deaf Ear and changeth the heart and causeth it to understand and he removes that which hath stood in the way betwixt God and the Creature which hath caused ignorance in the Creature that the Lord could not be seen nor perceived Christ Jesus the second Adam Lighteth every man and at Mankind that cometh into the World with the true Light but some hates the Light and they will not come to the Light least their Deeds should be reproved and their Deeds are evil and they are in a condemned State and such cannot receive Christ nor the Knowledge of God but such who love the Light with which Christ hath enlightned them they bring all their Deeds to the Light and walk in the Light and their Deeds are wrought in God never to be condemned And such as loves the Light receives Christ and the Knowledge of God which is eternal Life and none comes to the Knowledge of God and of Christ any other way but through the Light of Christ and by the Operation of the Spirit of God and evil is condemned out of the Heart and the Heart is made clean by the Word of God and the Knowledge of God is received into the clean Heart and not into the impure for without Holiness none shall see God nor ever come to the Knowledge of him neither can the Knowledge of God be received by the Traditions of men or any outward Observance in the will of man but only by the Teachings of the eternal Spirit is the living God known in the Creature CHAP. XVII Concerning Faith this Testimony I give unto the VVorld FAith is the Gift of God and by it Christ is received and enjoyed it is the Substance of things hoped for and the very Evidence of things not seen gives the Creature to believe God in all what he hath promised all that which is acted and spoken in it is well pleasing unto God and that which is done without is sin it is the strengh of the Creature to act for God in all things It is that whereby the World is overcome and all the Powers of Hell and death it is the Armour against the Devil and the defence of all the Children of God by it they overcome all their Enemies and through it they reign over all the World it carries through all Sufferings and Tribulations with Joy and Patience Faith is an Act of God in the Creature through it Peace and Righteousness and the Crown of Life is received from God by Faith all things are received that are received of God by any of his Children He that hath Faith sees and feels the Lords Presence at all times and through Faith we do and suffer gladly for the name of Christ in all things and this is thus far our Testimony given by the Spirit of the Father of those things of which we have received the knowledge from God who hath given us his
all works for it is the ground from whence all works do spring and the end unto which they are brought forth that makes all mens works good or evil to be justified or to be condemned and where the Measure of the Spirit and Power of God is the Ground of and Leader in a work that work as I have said is done in the Fear of the Lord and in uprightness of heart and in love and tenderness and meekness and patience without seeking or exalting self but the Glory of the Lord is only sought by that man in all such his works But on the contrary where an evil heart and mind brings forth works to an evil end and to the wrong of others such works are maliciously and wilfully and enviously and peevishly done in forwardness and headiness and not in the Fear of God nor in uprightness of heart but with a double mind and in secret or without the Counsel of God seeking himself in his works and not the Lord and such works are wicked and wrought by wicked men who transgresseth both the Law of God and of men and must receive according to their deeds and the Law that is equal must pass upon them which the Light of Christ in their own Consciences may answer to when they are condemned for their ungodly works against which Light they act and that is the reason and cause wherefore their works are evil and to be condemned by the Law for who acteth according to the Light of Christ and is led thereby fulfilleth the Law or it is fulfilled in him and his works are wrought in God and are the testimony unto men that he is of a good conscience and for a good Conscience sake his works are done and such men and works are not to be condemned but justified And this is for Instruction to all them that bear Rule who are Magistrates and Governours and Judges of the people that they may now be wife and learn wisdom how to judge righteously and justly among people that they may fulfil the Will of God in what he hath called them unto even that they may cherish and defend and strengthen such as do well and all whose pure Consciences are purely exercised may live in peace and rest under such a Government and all Evil-Doers may be bound limitted and judged and may stand in awe and be afraid and thus Justice and true Judgment would be advanced and Equity would run down as a mighty Stream and the Nation would be blessed and yeild content and satisfaction to her Inhabitants and hereby might the Rulers and Judges gain unto themselves a good report and an honour and renown would the Lord crown them withal in Generations to come Wherefore all ye Rulers and ye that are set to judge the people be now awakened to just Judgment and to a sound discerning and put on the spirit of true Judgment even the Spirit of the Lord that you may receive it to be taught in all things how to walk with God that you may answer his call and the End of your Authority in judging justly all sorts of men rendring to every man according to his Deeds even Condemnation and Judgment to Evil-Doers and a Praise and Defence to all that do well And this is written in love to you all shewing you how to put a difference betwixt the Precious and the Vile between the Just and Unjust that you may be the more happy if this you observe not leaving your names a Reproach and a Scorn to after Ages which is the effect which doth follow all such as pervert Justice and turns true Judgment backward with Misery and Destruction upon themselves and Posterity for evermore A True and Faithful Exposition of some part of the Laws of ENGLAND ALL ye Magistrates Justices of the Peace Mayors and all other Ministers of the Law and all ye to whomsoever the Law is committed I warn you all to take heed to your selves that ye fulfil the Will of the Lord in judging Righteously and executing true Justice and Judgment and let not Envy nor false Suspitions nor Jealousies have any place in you but with a single Eye try all things and with an upright Heart judge for God and not for man and beware of causing the Innocent to suffer whose Consciences are exercised towards God though they be contrary to the World in their Wayes and Judgments for if you cause such to suffer you do not execute true Judgment but subvert the Law and the Lord will require that Suffering of his People at your hands Now consider The Law was not made for a Righteous Man but for Transgressors such whose Consciences are not exercisd towards God and such your Sword is to be laid upon to be a Terror to them and not to the Innocent for they should have Praise that do well And you must take heed lest you abuse your Power to another End then wherefore God hath ordained it for the Law was added because of Transgression to slay the Transgressor and that is the End of the Law Now you must take heed of causing any to suffer upon bare Suspition or Evil Jealousies when as no Transgression is truly charged nor justly proved against them before you And you are not to be both Accusers and Judges of any one in any Cause You have a late Act for the taking up and punishing of idle lâ—â—se and dissolute Persons such as are Vagrants and wandering Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars Now this Law is good if it be duly and justly executed upon such as are truly guilty herein and it is right that sturdy Beggars and Rogues and idle and disorderly Persons should be taken up from wandering and set on work in some good Imployment in the Creation which may maintain themselves and prevent them from worse things But now you must take heed of judging any to be such who are not really so for many of the Servants of the Lord now as it was in Generations past are moved to leave their own Country and Dwellings and Relations and go abroad in the Nations to preach the Gospel of Christ and to bear witness of his Name in the World to the turning of People from the wayes of Sin and Death to the Way of Righteousness and Truth and it may be such cannot give you an Account or sufficient Cause of their travelling abroad so as to satisfie you For that is lawful in the sight of God which you may not judge to be so for God's Wayes are not man's wayes neither are his Thoughts as man's thoughts Therefore I say unto you If you cause any such of the Servants of the Lord to suffer by that Law you abuse your power and subvert the Law for such are not Vagabonds nor idle dissolute Persons nor Rogues nor sturdy Beggars no more than Christ was who had no where to lay his head and the Prophets and Apostles were some of which had no certain dwelling place but left
all are not to be condemned that cannot swear or take an Oath for many of the Servants of the Lord who are Followers of Christ cannot swear for Conscience sake because Christ hath commanded Not to Swear at all though such do deny the Pope and all his Authority and Doctrines and whatsoever else is signified in that Oath who cannot justly be suspected to be any way adherent to the Pope in Doctrines or Practices except through wicked Envy you seek occasion against them thereby and you abuse your Power and subvert the Law if you judge such to be Popish Recusants because they will not Swear because they cannot for Conscience sake but walk in Christ's Doctrine who commanded not to Swear and follow the Apostle's Example who said Above all things my Brethren Swear not at all And such cannot justly be suspected or judged for Popish Recusants who are Followers of Christ and keep his Commands Therefore you must be considerate and search deep into those things that are thus weighty lest you cause the Guiltless to suffer and thereby vex the Lord against your selves And you must make a special difference betwixt such as will not Swear because they are guilty and such as cannot Swear for Conscience sake though they are not guilty but clear and free in the sight of the Lord of such things as may be falsly suspected and charged against them by envious men which may watch for Evil and give Information against the People of God unto you But let your Eye be single in all these things that you may save your selves from Wrath and Condemnation which will be a Reward of all such who subvert good Laws to a wrong End and seek to cover themselves in their Persecution of the Innocent by making the Law a Cloak but such Coverings will not hide in the Day of the Lord. And my Friends In the Execution of these and other Laws let the Fear of God guide you and true Judgment and sound Discerning that you may try into the Nature and Ground of every thing and may not judge only by outward Appearance but judge Righteous Judgment And this is a great Transgression in the Sight of the LORD at this Day even the false Execution of Good LAWS and the subversion of them to wrong Ends and Uses by some wicked men who are in Authority to whom the Law is committed And this we know by Experience Be the Law never so just and good yet if the Executioners of the Law be unjust and unrighteous true Justice and Judgment is turn'd backward and for want thereof the Harmless and Innocent daily suffer which kindleth and encreaseth the fierce Anger of the Lord against these Nations And likewise All you that are in Power and Authority you ought not to command any thing of any man which the Law gives you no power to Command for doing so you make your selves Transgressors as for instance You have no Power by any Law to command men to put off their Hats when they come before you neither by any Law can you justly punish them if they do it not neither can you justly punish such by any Law who deny to Swear because for Conscience sake they cannot But what hath been inflicted upon some in such cases hath been by Will and Malice and not by any Law and the Lord doth account such things against the Wicked who cause such Sufferings And of these things I have given you Warning and it is in perfect Love unto you all as to inform you truly lest you cause the Innocent to suffer I am a real Friend to the Common-wealth and a Lover of Iustice and true Iudgment and fully affected towards Iust Government and wish well to Magistrates E. B. The 9th Moneth 1657. AN EPISTLE To go abroad Among Friends IN WESTMORLAND and CUMBERLAND And elswhere among the Flock of God FRiends my love and life which is not of this World but which is in the living God doth reach unto and salute all you that are in the Light of Life and in the Truth it self which changeth not which endureth for ever which we receive of God the everlasting Father through the Gospel which came unto us in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power to the changing of us from Death which reigned over us to Life in which we have power over Death and to the turning of us from the power of Satan wherein we were held unto the power of the living God wherein we became fruitful and a good savour unto him through Nations Dearly Beloved in the same Truth be faithful unto death in that which cannot sin nor be overcome of the Tempter which Satan hath nothing in wherein only our fellowship and union standeth one with another as we abide in the living Vine Christ Jesus the Light of the World in which you have believed unto Eternal Life and have entered into the Rest which is prepared as you continue therein you cannot be moved or shaken but are as Mount-Sion established in the Power and Life and Wisdom of the Everlasting God which condemns Darkness and all its works and gives dominion and rule over all the powers of Death and Hell which worketh in the Children of Disobedience who know not God nor receive the Truth much more in them who turns from the Light and Knowledge of the Truth into the Liberty of the Flesh to serve sin having made shipwrack of Fear and of Faith and a good Conscience who shall bear their own shame and condemnation in the Sight of God man and shall have no part with us in the Inheritance of Peace and Righteousness but the later end of such is worse then the beginning Wherefore you that are in the Covenant of Peace where sin is not remembred nor committed nor the unclean thing touched dwell and abide in the Life of God and in his Strength which reigns over all the World with its temptations and over all false Brethren and over all deceitful Workers whose Eye becometh darkned and heart hardned through the deceitfulness of sin turning the Grace of God into wantonness and giving liberty to the unclean thing which is accursed and joyned to the Harlot and become one Flesh but in the Counsel of the Lord God walk before him and keep your selves pure and undefiled and partake not of the deeds of the Wicked neither give place to the Devil to be perverted by him from the Truth of the living God which is Truth in it self for ever though the Backsliders despise the Way of it and every one abide in your own and know a measure of the Strength of Christ Jesus in you to defend you from the Enemy who seeks to beguile and to devour and to divert from the perfect Way of Life and Peace and dwell in your own measure of the Grace of God which is perfect which is sufficient to teach and lead and preserve in all the Wayes of God which the Unclean cannot walk
the Lord God may dwell amongst you and may never have cause to with-hold his presence from you which is Life and Peace and Rest for ever And believe not every spirit but dwell in that which discerns spirits and if any say Lo here or lo there is Christ go not after them without you for you have not been so taught but know the Christ of God the Lamb of God within you and follow him and obey his voice and be established all of you on this sure Foundation whom God hath laid and no man can lay any other and if you build thereupon and thereby you sâ—…ll never suffer loss but your Work shall abide the Fire and in the Fathers House your Bread you shall receive and never shall hunger noâ— Thirst but the Life will be refreshed and increased daily and you Lamps will alwayes shine and you shall never be darkned not stâ—…ble for that which stumbles is out of the Truth and the ground stands to receive the seed of Satan who is a Devourer of the Simplicity and the Betrayer from the Truth Therefore I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God that you hold fast the Faith and Hope which you have received through the Gospel that you may never be moved 〈◊〉 the Grace of God and from the Love that hath abounded in you â—…t may be found watching in the Door with your Light shining when the Bridegroom cometh and behold he cometh quickly and his Rewâ—…d is with him blessed are they that tarry for him This is the Testimony of my Love unto all the Seed of God who am as a Deceiver and yet true and as not known yet well known unto the â—…d E. 〈◊〉 To such as have Backslided from the Truth WHEN the Life in you all doth arise it shall witness me and answer the Word of the Lord unto Life or unto Death Friends all you to whom the Word of the Lord came and â—…n whom the Way of Truth was made manifest hear and consider How â—…t hath the Love of the Father been unto you How many and infinite have been his Mercies from day to day often visiting you with his Power and with his Presence yea when you sate in Darkness and in the shadow of Death his marvellous Light appear'd unto you and when you were held captive in the covenant of Sin and Death he stretched forth his Hand to redeem â—… he loved you while you knew him not and he brought Deliverance out of a â—…nge Land where you were strayed among Devourers and scatter'd and gâ—â—e aâ—â—ray as Sheep without a Shepherd yea when you were dead in Transgression he said unto you Live and he also bound you up when no eye pitty'd you even then when you were Enemies to him walking in the Vaâ—â—tâ—en of your own hearts and knew not him who lives forever who had been sougâ—â— by you but not found in that very day he sent to visit you with his Eâ—… Gospel of Peace and Truth to gather you unto himself I am a 〈◊〉 and he caus'd his powerful Voice to be heard and his Name to be 〈◊〉 among you and his Truth was declared in the Demonstration of the â—…rit and the Power of the Lord was made manifest in you to the bringing of you from Darkness to Light and from Death which had reign'd over you 〈◊〉 know a Measure of the Life of God Yea the Way of Life Eternal was set 〈◊〉 you that you might not perish but live and his Witness in you all 〈◊〉 iâ— but one the Word of the Lord reacheth unto you by the Mouthes of 〈◊〉 â—…ts to the revealing of Sin and judging it by his Righteous Law 〈◊〉 in your hearts causing his Terror to be known among you and his â—udgments reached your hearts and in that day beautiful was his Presence 〈◊〉 you and precious was his Truth among you in your first Love and his Liâ—â—t and Power and the Knowledge of his Ways were pleasant to you and the Sâ—…l of the Kingdom of God which you receiv'd with Joy grew up in you and â—…per'd at that day and the Lord loved you his Presence was with you â—…g his own Children whom he begat by his Everlasting Word that you 〈◊〉 be a Praise unto him forever And when the fear of the Lord and his Jâ—â—gâ—â—nts were placed among you and your Hearts were broken and while you were of a hungering Soul and thirsty after the Lord then was it well with you and the Day of Peace dawn'd unto you and the Word of the Lord was â—weâ—t unto you and he was gladly receiv'd that came in the Name of the Lord. Bâ—t O how have some of you lost your first Love and are again darkened and ready to faint and to turn aside for a thing of nought And how do such grieve the Spirit of the Lord and vex his Righteous Soul and are become a Sâ—â—deâ— to him in dishonouring his Name the envious man having entered â—nd sown his Seed in some of you and brought forth Strife and Divisions and Disorders among you which are not of the Father nor of the Truth and Prejudice and Evil-Surmisings and secret Jealousies one against another is risen in you all which is to be condemned with the Light for the Fire I judge it all under my Feet in the Power of the Lord God and am in that which reigns over it all and through these things Unity is decay'd and Love is waxed cold and there is fainting in the way and the Zeal for the Name of the Lord perisheth which ought to be among you and Rendings and Tearings Biting and Devouring one another and striving for Mastery there is which ought not to be which the Wrath of God is against all this is out of the Light out of the Wisdom and Counsel of God My Spirit is vexed and my Heart is troubled within me because of these things not for my self but for you and for the Glory of the Lord over whom I am jealous with a Godly Jealousie that you may not perish nor his Glory be dispised among the Heathen What mean you thus to deal against the Lord in dishonouring his Name in the sight of the Enemy even to the wounding of your own souls and to the piercing of the hearts of the Faithful who have watched over you and been Messengers of Glad-tidings unto you from the Lord Every one of you in particular be awakened and stirr'd up and fear before the Lord and come to the Light which the Son of God has lighted you withal and search your own hearts and try your selves that the ground of these things may be seen and condemn'd and remov'd and Love may yet spring amongst you to the Lord and one to another O Friends Consider It was one Father that begat you into the Truth which is but one by one Word of Life which is not divided and you were begotten unto him and not unto your selves And Christ Jesus which is
was a God and they feared him and served him and worshipped him and his Name was precious amongst them who were his chosen People and with whom he dwelt and his Power and Presence was amongst his People that did walk with him under what Name soever they went in the World But the first time that ever the People of the Lord were called Christians or known by that Name from other people it was at Antioch in the time of the Apostles who were Followers of Christ as you may read Acts 11. 26. And the Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch and before that time the People of the Lord were never called Christians and this Name was given to them by the Heathen because they were for Christ and of his part and did follow him and preach him to be follow'd and in all things exalted his Name and did and suffer'd all things for the Name of Christ therefore were they named Christians and that Name was true unto them for they had upon them the express Image and Character of Christ and follow'd his Spirit and preached him unto all people for Life and Salvation and that all people might come to Christ and become Followers of him and therefore they were rightly named Christians to be known by that Name from all other people upon Earth who were not Followers of Christ who could not rightly be call'd Christians because they were not of his part and from thence forth unto this day all people whatsoever that believed in Christ and became Followers of him and that professed him were called Christians from that Original and Foundation of the Name which then was laid Also you may read Acts 26. 28. And Agrippa said unto Paul Almost thou persâ—adest me to be a Christian Here again Paul followed Christ and preached him and was on his part altogether and highly extolled his Name therefore King Agrippa called him Christian and was almost perswaded to be a Christian to wit A Man for Christ to take part with him and to be on his side and the Name interpreted this is the signification and all that have this Character do truly deserve the Name of Christians for they are anointed People and this was the beginning of the Christian Name And before that time as I have said were the People of God never called Christians in any Generation and ever since that time through all Ages all that professed Christ and believ'd in him throughout the whole World were called by the Name of Christians and the Name and Religion of Christians were honourable and greatly beloved of God for that People was the peculiar People a chosen Generation as you may read 1 Pet. 2. 19. and whilst the Life of Christ was manifest and the Spirit of Christ did lead them and teach them in all their Wayes and Practices of Religion And whilst I say they retained the Power and Life of that of which they had the Name the Power and Presence of the Lord was amongst them and above all the people of the Earth were they blessed and more then all people upon the Earth besides had they the Countenance of God shining amongst them and upon them and pure unity with God and one with another had they in his â—ife whereby they were made a terror and a fear to all Nations while they stood in the Counsel of God and were Christians in life and power and practice as well as in name and the Lord greatly encreased them in number for as you may read through the Acts of the Apostles through all the World many believed in Christ and became Followers of him and received the Knowledge of him and became anointed People and received the name of Christians sometimes Thousands at one Sermon were converted to the Faith of Christ and became subject to his Spirit and had his Mark upon them and all such were called Christians and the Apostles went through many Nations and of the Iews and Greeks and of the Heathen and all other people some of each were converted from that way in which they had walked to follow Christ and they became Christians and here was the encrease of Christianity and through many parts of the World they planted Churches and Assemblies of Christians And as I said while they stood in the Counsel of God the Name and Religion was of him greatly beloved But now the Christians are Apostatized and degenerated from the Spirit of Christ and from that which gave them the true Name of Christians and the name is retained only and the Life and Power lost and now many have a name to live but are dead and that is departed from which gave the true interest and title in the Name Hear this all ye Christians That Life Light and Power of God which was amongst the Apostles and Christians once you are departed from and have lost the sence and knowledge of and have the Name and not the thing which was the Reason and Ground of the Name Wherefore all ye through the World that are called Christians look back to your Original look unto the Apostles who were the first that were called Christians from whom you had the Name and see how you are degenerated and fallen from the Life that they were in and though you retain the Name of Christians yet you are not Followers of Christ nor taâ—ght by his Spirit and none in the dayes of the Apostles were truly counted or called Christians but who follow'd the Spirit of Christ and were first converted to him and changed by his Power from Sin to Righteousness and from Death to Life and such as were so were truly called Christians But now all such as are called by that Name and are not followers of the Spirit of Christ nor converted to him neither changed by his Power from Death to Life and from Sin to Righteousness such are in the Degeneration from the Life of Christianity and have a Name without the Life and Power thereof And now it remains to be shewed how and when the Degeneration came upon the Christians and wherein they are apostatized and degenerated from that â—ife and Spirit and Practice which was amongst the Apostles that were first called Christians The Spirit of the Lord spoke through the Apostles and foretold of a falling away from the Truth and from the true Christian-life and Paul said Acts 20. 29 30. said he Grievous Wolves shall arise and enter in who would not spare the Flock and from among themselves should men arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them And he also said 1 Tim. 4. 1. That some should depart from the Faith and give heed to seducing spirits And he also said That it should come to pass the people should become wicked departing from the Truth having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof and such were led away with divers Lusts and men of corrupt Minds and reprobate concerning the Faith And the Apostle Peter also foretold That
force for the Day of the Lord hath now appeared and the Light is sprung forth which hath made all things manifest and now the difference is known between the worship of the Beast and the worship of the true God And concerning the state of Christianity to come this I know and believe a glorious Restoration thereof shall appear throughout the whole Christendom and Christianity shall again be restored to its former purity and Christians shall and may receive the same Spirit from which the Christians have been degenerated and the same Life the same Power and the same Worship and Unity shall be revived amongst Christians in the Restoration even the same that was in the beginning before the Apostacy and the Glory of God shall again appear among his people and they shall again worship him in Spirit and in Truth only as they did before the Apostacy and all this traditional worship and false imitations which hath been set up since the Apostles dayes shall be overthrown and confounded the Lord is risen and will dash down and overthrow all this Idolatry now practized amongst Christians And a great shaking and confounding shall suddenly come among Christians for the Lord will break down that which hath been builded because it is polluted and he will pluck up that which hath been planted because it is defiled and a mighty work will the Lord work in the Earth the Kingdoms of this World will he change into the Kingdoms of Christ and Christ shall reign in and among his People and his Spirit shall be the Teacher and Leader of his People and all false Teachers will the Lord confound and consume all these Hirelings who go for Gifts and Rewards and all this manner of Preaching and Teaching which are come up since the Apostles dayes all this Preaching which they study for and by a Glass and for so much Money a year all this shall be tumbled down into the Pit God's Vengeance shall come upon it all and the Anointing shall be received and it shall dwell in People as it did in the Apostles and the people shall need no other Teacher but as that Anointing teacheth all things and for this Spirit and Anointing all that fear God may wait to receive it in this present Age which Spirit brings into the same Unity and Life into the same Worship and Fellowship that was amongst Christians in the beginning before the Apostacy and this State may Christians be restored to and for this State all that fear God and love him are to wait for this shall come to pass in the World And as concerning the Ministry I know and do believe it may be and is received again as the Apostles and Christian Ministers first received it to wit by the eternal Spirit and Gift thereof through the Revelation of Christ Jesus in them and such may and do preach the Gospel freely as they do receive is freely and without natural Learning and Languages For by that can none be made Ministers of Christ nor by any thing without the Gift of the holy Spirit and Christ's Ministry shall again be received thereby this I believe and all this Ministry made and sent forth by natural Learning and without the Gift of the holy Spirit the Lord will confound it in this Age for this is come up since the Apostles dayes to make Ministers by natural Learning and it stands in the Apostacy from the Life and Spirit of Christ and its call and work and maintenance savours not of the Kingdom of Christ and the Lord will bring it down and the Gift of his Ministry will he restore by his Spirit and this is and shall come to pass and it may be waited for in this present Age and the Lord will restore his Ministry as in the beginning and his work shall be glorious for many there are is and shall be converted to God and brought out of the degeneration and to that shall people come which all Christendom hath been apostatized from and shall receive the same Spirit and the same Anointing which was amongst the Christian Churches and life and immortality shall again be brought to light through the Gospel which hath been hid for Ages while darkness hath been over the minds of people And I say and testifie before all the World That Christianity shall be restored to its former state Life shall spring forth and Truth shall be encreased and Faith shall wax strong even the same Faith that the Apostles had which gave them Victory over all the World which shall again give People the same Victory and this shall be known in the Earth For the Marriage of the Lamb shall come and all his People shall be joyn'd unto him and there shall be one Way and one Worship and one Teacher and every one shall sit under Christ's Vine and none shall make afraid Yea and more then a Vine shall he be known and more then a Door and more then a Shepherd shall he be known to be to his People and greater then a Rock shall he be witnessed to be and more then a Teacher in the Wilderness If any man have an Ear to hear let him 〈◊〉 more and greater is he becoming to his People then is lawful yet to utter Eye hath not seen nor it hath not entred into the Heart of man but it is revealed to us by his Spirit The joyful Day is approaching the Lamb's Wife is making her self ready the Wedding Garment is putting on and all that which is polluted is to be done away And Blessed is he that cometh to the Marriage of the Lamb that he may become one Spirit with the Creatâ—r Here is Glory and Rejoycing forever when this is known That the Wife hath not power over her own Body but the Husband nor hath the Husband power over his own Body but the Wife Where this is known Death is swallowed up of Life and Sin is overcome of Righteousness and the Inheritance of Life Eternal comes to be possessed and Death and Hell is cast into the Lake and he which hath deceived can deceive no more And blessed is the Eye that sees this and the Heart that understandeth Wherefore all ye Christians upon Earth Awake awake and put away your Whoredoms cast off your Idolatries and strip you and make you clean of all your Adulteries drink no longer of the Cup of Fornication nor eat no longer of the Abominable Flesh nor wear no longer your Garments of Unrighteousness but strip ye strip ye make ye bare all your old Garments must be put off before you can appear before the Lord. A great Work will the Lord work amongst you he will shake and overthrow all your Altars Images and Idols which you have set up and worshipped The Lord hath uttered his Voice the Beast that hath many Heads and many Horns shall tremble and one Head and one Horn only shall be exalted and the Government shall be set up of whose encrease there shall be
Heart and tries the Reins who is a God Great and Mâ—…ty and giveth unto all Creatures Life and Breath and he will change at 〈◊〉 〈…〉 all the Children of Men and bring them to an Account before his 〈…〉 Seat wherefore let all Flesh tremble before him and let all the earth 〈…〉 〈…〉 his Presence who changeth and subdueth and over-turneth at his Pâ—… and brings men to destruction who have rebell'd against him â—…fore thou Pope chief Bishop at Rome this is unto thee from the Mouth of â—… Come down come down lay down thy Crown subject thy self 〈…〉 before the Lord God of Vengeance lest 〈…〉 come upon thee and crush â—… and thou shalt know that this hath the Lord spoken in the day â—…ry flaming Sword which is already drawn enters into thy Bosom 〈…〉 thy Honour and Renown Behold I have heard the Voice of Houlâ—…er Lamentation I have heard the Voice of War and not of Peace I 〈…〉 I have seen the Strong become Weak and the Mighty become Miserabâ—â—â—…ud and Honourable brought into Contempt yea I have seen her thâ—… a Queen and has said She never shall see Sorrow I have seen the losâ—â—…n and Widdowhood come upon her even in one day I have seen her Bâ—…â—…ed into Bitterness I have seen her Honour brought into Contempt I 〈…〉 Whore that has made all Nations drunk with her Fornications tâ—… the Golden Cup in her hand I have seen the Cup of Indignation pâ—… her to drink I have seen her cast upon the Bed of never-ceasing â—… I have seen the City that was full of people that was the Glory of I â—… that made all Nation rich with her Traffick and Merchandize I 〈…〉 that City laid desolate and dis-inhabited and made the Sorrow of the 〈…〉 Earth and I have seen the smoak of her burning ascend forever and this is 〈◊〉 must shortly come to pass and if thou hast an Ear to hear thou mayst 〈…〉 and these things are true and faithful and they shall not fail but the Wâ—… shall know the Majesty Dread and Terror the Vengeance and Indigâ—… of the Almighty This is assented unto by many and written and subscribed by one that hath a Nâ—… not seen nor known of the World but known among Men by the name of Edward Burroughs Return your Answer to me or any of the People called Quakers for me in London from whence this is sent being written the 24th of the 8th Mon. 1658. A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY Concerning the True Worship OF GOD VVhat it is in it self and who are the True WORSHIPPERS In Opposition to all the False Worship in this Nation which is Idolatry which is discover'd in its Foundation and in its Manifestation not to be ever commanded of God or practized by his Apostles and Saints but it is declar'd to consist chiefly of such things and practices as had their first Beginning and Ordination in the Church of Rome whereby the Hypocrisie of this Generation doth appear in denying and crying against the Papists Idolatries and yet are found in the practice of the same thing in their Church Ministry and Worship which were first instituted by the Pope's Authority FOrasmuch as there is in the World a great Controversie among people concerning the Worship of God one crying This is the right Worship another That is the right Worship And people in these Nations are divided about the Worship of God and divers one from another in their Performances and Practices of Worship one sort worshipping after this manner another after that and there is great strife through the whole Nation about this matter and a great dis-satisfaction among people which is the right Worship and who are the right Worshippers and Thousands are desiring after the right Worship of God and to become Worshippers of him as he requires Therefore now it is upon me to shew unto all the World what the true Worship of God is in it self and who are his true Worshippers First The Worship of God in it self is this It is a walking with God and a living with him in Converse and Fellowship in Spirit and Truth for he is only worshipped therein and to do the Truth and speak the Truth This is the True Worship of God where the Mind is guided with the Spirit of Truth and the Presence of the Lord felt at all times and his Fear in the Hearts of people and his Councel stood in and his Covenant felt which unites to the Lord in Spirit this is the True Worship of God and it is without respect of times or things And now none upon Earth can thus worship God but who are changed and renewed in heart and mind and born of the Spirit and led thereby where the Body of Sin and Death is put off such as are redeemed out of the World and out of all its wayes and nature such only can worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and such is the Father seeking to worship him now in this present Age And there is never a one upon Earth that can worship God as he requireth who remain unchanged and are in the Transgression unrenewed and unconverted such cannot worship the True and Living God but that which they perform and practice as the Pretence of his Worship is Idolatry and Abomination and the Lord hath not required it at their hands for none can walk with God nor have unity with him but who are renewed and changed nor none can do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things but such who are led by the Spirit of Truth and such are in the Covenant of God and true Worshippers of him and all that is contrary is not the Worship of God but Idolatry as I have said And now as concerning this Worship practiced in England in these Steeple-Houses Churches so called it is not the Worship of the Living God but Superstition and Idolatry for people have not learned it by the Teachings of the Spirit neither doth the Spirit lead them therein but it standeth in Form without Power and in the Inventions and Traditions of the Fathers and there is not in it the manifest Presence of God neither do you Worshippers meet with the Lord nor enjoy his pure Life and Presence in your Practices and the substance of your Worship as it is now practized is made up of Inventions some part of your own and some part brought along from the church of Rome And is it not great Hypocrisie in you to profess a denyal of the Church of Rome and yet be found practizing some of the same things as your Worship which the Church of Rome first instituted and practized as her Worship Shall we instance unto you some particular things Was it not by the Authority of the Church of Rome that these Houses in which you worship which you call Churches were first set up and made Worshipping-places for them And is it not a little while since that the Mass and old Popish stuff was therein
and are in Christ for who do commit Sin are Unholy and so reputed of God and Sin is neckoned to them and this all will find in the Day of the Lord when 〈◊〉 cometh to judge righteously and to give every man according to his Works and nor according to what he may make a shew of and profess in words thouâ—â— all you false Daubers with Untempored Morter heal up the Hurt of the Daughter of Siâ—n deceitfully and cry Peace Peace by a false applying the Proâ—…ses and Words of Christ when God speaks no Peace and even you and you false daubeâ— Wall will the Whirlewind of the Lord beat down and destroy utterly And this I assert contrary to thy false Doctrine and Principles Tâ—… none are justified but who have Christ in them and really partake of Holiness and â—…sness and are really cleansed from all Sin and are born of the Spirit of God 〈…〉 〈◊〉 of the Prâ—… of Eternal Life 〈…〉 thou sayst Iustiâ—… 〈◊〉 not of any Dâ—gree 〈◊〉 if a Person 〈…〉 from any onâ— Sin he is justifieth from all Sin 〈◊〉 well from Siâ—â— to be committed 〈…〉 are already coâ—…ed and who is 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 Person is not unjustified upon 〈…〉 c. Answ. Grace and Faith and Truth and Christ himself admitteth of Deâ—… which are one and there are several Measures of Life of 〈…〉 and Faith of Sanctification and of Justification also for 〈◊〉 as every man hath received Christ so hath he received Sanctification â—… and no otherwise for Christ is made Wisdom and Sanctiâ—â—cation and Salvation and every one feels his Sanctification and his Justificaâ—… 〈◊〉 to the Measure of the Gift of Christ so that there are seveâ—… of Justification And also a man may be justified from one sin â—… and not from all sin for according to every man's Sanctificatiâ—… Witness of his Justification to him and no more and if thou 〈…〉 â—â—ing by Experience thou knowest this And no man is justified 〈…〉 which he is to commit for that saith gives Licence to sin if any 〈…〉 sin shall believe that that sin is long since forgiven and he is justiâ—… 〈◊〉 and if he shall believe that he is justified though he commits sin 〈◊〉 â—…fore he commits his sin this will be a cause to run into sin and is a 〈…〉 by thee unto all Unrighteousness Why if people can believe they 〈…〉 from the Sins which they have yet to commit what should restrain 〈…〉 running with pleasure into all Unrighteousness And if new Sins 〈…〉 committed do not make Persons unjustified then may the Sinners reâ—… their Sins and take their pleasure in Ungodliness This Doctrine of 〈◊〉 is pleasant to the Wicked and it is the Way and Principle of Liberty in â—… rather then the Principles to lead from sin and so thou hast shewed 〈◊〉 Work thou arâ— doing by strengthning the Wicked in his Way so that he cannot turn from sin rather then drawing him from sin and this is the 〈…〉 work And thou sayst Such as are justified are regenerated and sanctified and a little 〈◊〉 thou sayst To be justified is not to be cleansed nor is it to partake of real Rightâ—… and Persons are justified from Sins which they have to commit Answ. These are Contradictions and proceed out of Darkness and not 〈…〉 Light and thy Folly and Ignorance may be read by all men For who are Regenerated and Sanctified are also cleansed and partake of real â—…ness And thou further sayst That Sanctification is a real Change from sin to the parity of 〈◊〉 â—…ge of God Answ. And I say None are Sanctified but they are Justified so none are 〈◊〉 but who are changed into the Image of God this the Truth saith and wherein thou hast said contrary thou hast spoken contrary to the Truth and the Truth will judge thee 〈◊〉 Thou sayst Sanctification is not perfect in this life and the New Man â—… or Law of the Mind is that Grace or imperfect Sanctification c. Answ. Then Christ is not perfect in this life for he is made of God unto us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. â—0 But we say Christ is perfect and therefore Sanctification is perfect and the New Man is the Image of God and is created in Râ—…sness and in true Holiness But thou sayst The New Man 〈◊〉 imperfect 〈…〉 of thy Principles when they are compared with the Scriptures and see the 〈◊〉 and Wickedness of them And the Spirit and Law in the mind â—s the Spirit of God and the Law of God in which the Apostles served God and 〈◊〉 all the Saints but thou sayst The Spirit and Law in the Mind is imperfect 〈◊〉 this is Error in the highest degree to say â—…gniâ—… That the New Man 〈◊〉 Image of God thaâ— is in Righteousness and true Holiness and the Spirit of God and the Law of God is imperfect Sanctification and Grace is the Salvation and is God's Sufficiency and that thou sayst is imperfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus thy Principles of thy Religion which thou walkest in thy self 〈…〉 wouldst teach to others are Abominable corrupted Principles of Eâ—… contrary to the Spirit of Truth and to the Scriptures also And 〈…〉 that thy Name is concealed for thy work deserves noâ— a good Mans 〈…〉 it Much more might be said to lay open further thy â—olly but this is suâ—… men of Understanding and contrary to thee I do aâ—â—ert That the New 〈…〉 Image of God the Spirit and Lâ—…f God in the Mind is perfâ—… Peace 〈…〉 Sanctification and thou hast said the contrary and now whether thy 〈…〉 ples of Religion or mine be the most true and whether false let all 〈…〉 judge with the Light in their Consciences And thou sayst The old Man the Flesh the Body of Sin the Body of 〈…〉 the Sin that remains in sanctified Persons Answ. Who are sanctified are freed from thâ— Body of Sin and Dâ—… have put it off and the Law of the Spirit of Life hath fâ—eed 〈◊〉 from 〈…〉 and from the old Man for if the old Man the Flesh the Body of 〈…〉 Death be in the sanctified Persons then there are none sâ—â—ctiâ—â—ed at 〈…〉 what are they sanctified freed and cleansed from if the old Man 〈…〉 the Body of Sin and Death be yet remaining in them Thou spâ—… unlearned man and one that knows not the sanctified state but art 〈…〉 thy mind and Judgment and in thy words also for we have put 〈…〉 Man and are crucified to the Flesh and made free from the Body of 〈…〉 Death and this is our Sanctification and who are remaining 〈…〉 things are not sanctified but are in the Degeneration and hav◠〈…〉 yet in the Kingdom of God nor in Christ Jesus but are withâ—… the World And thousayst The Sanctification of the First Day hath put an end to 〈…〉 fication of the Seventh c. Answ. Here again thou hast uttered that which thou knowest not 〈…〉 dayes are alike unto God and one sanctified as much as another and 〈…〉 of dayes with
nought and let it be left off to cry out Deceivers and Heresie c. and causing any to suffer upon suspition thereupon but bring all things to light and true Judgment that what is proved to be the Truth may be owned and not persecuted any more for we are willing to be made manifest to all men and if any thing be objected against us which may not be sufficiently answered and resolved to sober men then our Enemies are more free and hath whereof to glory in against us but and if all occasion of stumbling be removed by Answers according to the Scriptures and our Principles Practices and Doctrines thereby vindicated then let all the Teachers and all our Adversaries shut their Mouthes from biting at us and railing against us and accusing of us to thee and let thy Ear be shut from believing Lyes against the Innocent and let none suffer in thy Dominion under the cruelty of men upon such a ground And hereof I shall be glad to receive an answer and to joyn issue in this Cause and in the mean time and alwayes am a Lover of thy Soul but a witness against all Oppression E. B. This was delivered to his hands at Hampton Court in the 4th Moneth 1658. For the Protector Friends Know that there is a God that doth whatsoever he will all power is in his hand and he bringeth to pass the Counsel of his own heart and he rules in the kingdoms of men and bringeth down and setteth up he killeth and maketh alive and he changeth times and seasons and Governments and bringeth to nought the counsels of men for all power in Earth and in Heaven is in him and all his doings are right and his wayes are equal and thou and all Mankind are as Clay in the hand of the Potter he can honour and exalt as he pleaseth and he can mar and break to pieces and dishonour whensoever he will wherefore be humble and low in heart before him for he is the highest power that subdueth all things under his feet if he wound who can heal and if he kill there is none can make alive and know thou it is the Lord God Almighty that doth this in whose hands are the Issues of life and death and he it is who can break thee down and build thee up who can wound thee and restore thee and bring thee to destruction and say unto thee return and to know him that doth this belongs to thy eternal peace Wherefore hearken thou to the Word of the Lord that thy soul may come out of death and live and fear the Lord God before whom thy heart is naked and bare who can mould thee and change thee and fulfill his pleasure upon thee even according to his own will and who shall say what doth he and now come to consideration and let thy heart be more upright before him and chuse his way and counsel that he may bless thee and seek his face to behold his countenance that thy soul may be satisfied by his Word and the Milk of the Word may nourish thee unto life Immortal and mind his pure presence which is life even God with thee Christ the Emmanuel to dwell with and walk in thee which is the promise of the Father and first come to the Principle of God and feel the Word of God in thy heart that will beat down the nature into which Temptations enter and the Word will bring thee to war against and overcome all thy Enemies which would defile thee or betray thee and it will bring thee to know a Birth Immortal born in thee and a Crown Immortal received from God that dies not nor fades not away and then he that rules over Heaven and Earth will be thy Shepherd to feed thee and thy Teacher to guide thee and thy Counsellor to direct thee in all things and thy immortal Soul will be satisfied with the Bread that cometh down from Heaven which the Father giveth and the Covenant of God and the Mercies of David that are sure will be revealed and his Promise fulfilled in thee and Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel which is the Power of God which destroyes and puts off and confounds the first man and his knowledge and wisdom and his sin and righteousness all which is in Transgression against the Life of God and the Gospel the Power of God being received it will raise up the Seed of God in thee and bring thee to know the second Adam the Image of the Father which the Devil hath nothing in but he overcomes the Devil who hath been the Lamb Slain by Transgression since the Foundation of the World and he it is that comes out of death that must take away thy sin and destroy it and cover thy nakedness and create thee anew and give thee acceptance in the Father whereby thy soul in him may be refreshed and a habitation in him thou mayst have when this World is no more and for this thou oughtest to wait above all things And Friend thou hast need of the Wisdom of God which is from Heaven to guide thee in all thy affairs that by it thou may be preserved from the will of thine Enemies and from all that hate thee that their Eye may be blinded that watch for Evil and their Wisdom and Policy confounded and brought to nought that hatch Mischief against thee So feel a Measure of the Wisdom of God in thee to guide thee in Dread and Authority and thy Enemies will be afraid for to walk in the Fear of the Lord and in his Wisdom and Authority in Justice Truth and Righteousness that will make thee a greater Terror unto thy Enemies then all Worldly Policy and Craft the Nations will over-reach thee if thy strength be there and if Judgment Justice and Righteousness be neglected by thee how should the Lord Honour thee and Defend thee Nay he will bring Dishonour and give thee into the Will of thy Enemies For want of Truth and just Judgment causeth the Land to Mourn and her People to sit as a Widdow comfortless wherefore love Judgment Truth and Righteousness and walk therein and thou wilt leave a Praise behind thee and a Witness to other Ages that thou hast served the Lord in thy Generation and then thy Memorial shall never dye nor thy Name come into Reproach among the Heathen Wherefore let all Oppression be removed and let the Just go free and let Judgment and Righteousness run down and be thou a Praise and a Blessing to all that do Well and a Terror and a Dread to all the contrary Arise and stand up for the Lord and he will give thee Strength and Victory and will make thy Horn as Iron and thy Hoof as Brass to push down and tread under the high places of Idolatry in all the apostatized Churches both Papist and others out of the Life of the Apostles and as thou comest into the Life the Apostles were in
moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to be written for thy Instruction from Him THere is a Great and Mighty and Innumerable People come and coming up out of Egypts Land travelling towards the Land of Rest promised of the Lord 〈◊〉 them to be obtained and enjoyed by them and they do and have sojouâ—ned Strangers in these Nations over whom thou are called to Rule and appointed â—â—ief Governour this seven years and greatly are and have they been afflicted and oppressed and even trodden down through unjust Judgment and unrighâ—… Dealing by the Rulers and Inhabitants of the Land and all the dayes of thy Father the late Protector they were held in great Captivity and Bondage and unrighteous men made them a Prey and laid heavy Yoaks of cruel Sâ—â—â—â—rings upon them and daily increased their Task and something thy Father did for them in their Journey of great Distress yet but a little of what the Lord required of him and what the Lord looked for that he might have done for Pâ—â—er was in his hands given him of the Lord but he was not fully obediâ—â—â— and therefore was the Lord's Hand stretched out somewhat against him 〈◊〉 his Family and he was smitten of the Lord and suddenly taken away in Judgment for he hearkened not to the Counsel of the Lord concerning that People neither did fully relieve them from Oppression but slighted many Warâ—â—â—â—â— from the Lord and the Day of his Visitation passed over and Death took 〈◊〉 away in Disobedience while this People were yet under great Oppressions for he left above a hundred of them in Prisons unjustly suffering for right eousness sake and not for Evil-doing and in this he fulfilled not the Will of God but left his Name and Glory somewhat stained because of these things and though the Lord chose him and shewed Love unto him gave him Power over his Enemies and made him an Instrument in his Hand to break down great Oppressions yet he was not obedient to the end to do my Will saith the Lord but left something â—â—â—one which he was truly called unto Now this innumerable People that is come and coming up as aforesaid are them called Quakers and this Egypts Land is that great Darkness Ignorance and Wickedness and false Wayes and worships in the Apostacy and fleshly bondage to sin and death which all the World and Kindreds and Multitudes that are unconverted to God live and walk in and that Land of Rest promised to which they travel is the peaceable and quiet dwelling with the Lord free from the heavy oppression of Sin and Iniquity and cruelties of men and free in the exercise of their pure Consciences by the Spirit of the Lord as it shall move and lead them into all Truth and their sojourning as Strangers is their denying and despising the World and all its glories and walking in the daily Cross of Christ whereby they are crucified to the love and respect and renown and honours of the world and are come â—â—t of Kindreds Tongues and People counting the reproach for Christ great Riches not respecting men but the Lord altogether in all things and also their suffering unrighteously false imprisonment and spoiling of their goods for Righteousness sake this is their sojourning as Strangers And that something that thy Father did for them is he released many of them divers times out of Prifons where they were unjustly cast and he signified sometimes his displeasure against them that made them suffer and shewed love to them in hearing their Innocent Cause with some respect thereunto and that which he did not which he might have done is He took not away Tythes that Cause of great Oppression to many nor the Unrighteous Laws wholy as he ought to have done and as the Lord required of him And know thou from the Lord That this same People are the People of the Lord and beloved of him and as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye and his Presence is with them and he leads them as a Flock by his Spirit into all Truth and who shall Bless them shall be Blessed but he that acts against them shall not prosper but be smitten of the Lord for their Cause will the Lord plead in his Judgments and avenge them of their Enemies and the Dread of the Lord God shall fall heavy upon the heads of their Persecutors and though they are hated of all men and under great Afflictions yet are they a Just People and Innocent seeking the Good of all men and are Peaceable towards all and receiving all manner of Wrongs and Evil and Speakings against them by Ungodly Men but they render to no man Evil for Evil but bless them that curse and do good to their Enemies and bear all things from all men in Long-suffering and Patience for they are learned in the Practices in doing and suffering of the Holy Apostles and Prophets and are of the Seed of Abraham who was the Friend of God and they were thy Father's Friends and are not Enemies to thee nor to righteous Government but wish well unto thee in the Lord and that thou mayst not be destroyed in Wickedness but be established in Righteousness and Peace in thy Government to rule in God's Authority over all Wicked Men that may seek thy hurt And we desire for thee that the Lord may give thee Wisdom and a perfect Understanding and the Spirit of just and sound Judgment to judge Righteously in all things and to settle the Government in true Judgment that the Principle of God in every man may answer to it in defending preserving and protecting all that walk in Truth Righteousness being a Terror to all Evil-doer for for that end is Rule and Government ordained of God amongst men to be a Praise to all that do Well and a Terror to all that do Evil. And now the Lord having suffered it to be brought to pass that thou art set up in thy Father's stead to be chief Ruler amongst men this the Lord God Almighty requires of thee as thou hopest to prosper and be blessed in this Life and to enjoy Life Eternal when this World is passed away and this is the Word of the Lord God unto thee Be Humble Meek and Lowly in Heart and exalt not thy own Horn nor seek not this World's Honour but seek the Lord with thy whole Heart and let Justice and true Judgment and Righteous Government which is according to the Law of God be set up and exalted in the Nations and come to know in thy self the Dominion and Authority of the Lord God over Sin and Transgression and to keep down and condemn all that which is contrary to God in thy own Heart and that will make thee a Dread and a Terror to Men and Nations and then the Lord will be thy Crown and his People will rejoyce in thee and lift up their Hearts to God for thee If thou throwest down and abolishest all Unrighteous
behold his Invisibility Who can reach his endless Beeing He filleth Heaven and Earth and of his Fulness every Creature in Heaven and Earth receiveth and by him doth subsist though it is only given unto Man-kinde to behold and perceive of him it is only his Gift unto his Saints that fear him to understand of his Wayes and in us he hath opened of his Fulness and Treasure even in our Hearts and the divine Mystery of this Infinite God is revealed and discovered in the Hearts of the Sons of Men whom he hath chosen and he hath given us to enjoy and possess in us a Measure of that fulness that is in himself even a Measure of the same Love and â—ife of the same Mercy and Power and of the same divine Nature and a Measure of the same heavenly quality and property which is in him in all fulness dwelleth in us his Saints by measure even in all that are born of him in whom the Immortal Birth is brought forth which is of his own nature and is Immortal Spiritual Holy Meek Merciful even as the Father for the quality of him that hath begotten is in us that are begotten of him we bear his Image and are of the Father Partakers of his Substance Immortal and Infinite and are one with him in Nature and Fellowship and perfect through him that dwells in us and hath changed us into his likeness these things ye know if ye be born from above and if the Immortal Birth live in you and you be constant in the Faith then are you Heirs through it of the everlasting Inheritance of eternal Life and already have received the Earnest and Assurance thereof and all are yours because you are Christ's and he is God's and you have the Father and the Son And this Life and Immortality is brought forth in us and Infiniteness it self dwells with us and eternity possesseth us and Fulness it self is shed abroad â—n our Hearts and we have the Treasure of Life of Wisdom of Knowledge and of divine Fulness in our Tabernacles of Clay which also are sanctified by his Word and Power to be fit Habitations for the eternal God to dwell in And oh what love is this with which we are beloved by him Oh what Mercy is this of which we partake from him Who are become the Sons of God and Children of the most High in whose earthen Vessels dwells Immortallity and Life and Infinite Substance being gathered into his Shepherds Fold of defence where we have Immortal Food and are established on the holy Mountain where nothing can destroy and are at rest and peace and under the shadow of the Rock of Ages that Hell nor Death nor wrath of Man can terrifie Oh what Eye hath seen this what Ear hath heard it and what Heart hath perceived it and not admired the loving-kindness of the Lord who among you are Witnesses of this that sayes not great and Infinite is the Lord and Immeasurable in Mercy and Truth and Righteousness Oh Friends if you know these things and if ye receive daily of this Fulness and if the Measure of that Immortal Life be risen in you and hath raised up you with it self into its own fulness which once was descended out of its own fulness of eternal Rest and Strength and was manifest in its Measure in poverty and weakness in your Hearts in the feeling of Afflictions and Wrath because of Sin but it descended to suffer all and to bear Transgression that you might be raised with it into its Life and Glory and Fulness and if this be finished and effected in you Oh then how shall you not live to his Glory and Praise in your Generation and in Love and Peace and Unity with himsel and one with another and magnifie him in Soul and Spirit that hath called you and chosen you and now works all your works in you and for you and you live by him because he lives in you But though it is thus that some are entred into the Rest and have received of his fulness and have the Testimony of Life and Assurance in the Father and are risen with Christ yet are you and we and all the Children of the Father so set and placed in this Creation as that there is an Enemy to be ruled over and also a service to be fulfilled by us for the Lord that hath chosen us and therefore watchfulness and faithfulness is required from us and unto this I cannot but exhort you all even to walk in the Fear of the Lord in watchfulness and faithfulness in Humility and Meekness in Truth and Justice and in every good thing and that you fulfill the Will of the Lord in all things whatsoever the Motions of his own Life draws you unto that every Member of his Infinite Body which is highly exalted at his right Hand may be preserved in dominion over Sin and Death and also may shew forth the Honour and Glory and Praise of him who is the Head even Christ whose vertue hath an ointed every Member and is shed abroad through the whole Body I say Friends of every Member is required the duty and service thereunto partaining according as it is placed of him that the Treasure of Life may shew forth its vertue in one manner or another through you all in all well-doing to the glory of him who is God above all and that in the sight of your Enemies whom you know watches for evil and would rejoyce in any occasion against you that they might speak evil of the Lord because of you you may walk without offence in the answer of a good Conscience and if you walk as such as are the Lord's you will cut off all occasions from them that seek it and they will be confounded and you preserved in the blessedness and peace everlasting and you will grow in Immortallity and into the knowledge and fulness thereof more and more till you know the Father even as you are known of him And be not unmindful of the Word of the Lord which begat you which first entred into your Hearts and wrought mightily in you to the wounding and destroying of Death and Enmity and remember the Travel of the dayes past and the Indignation which once you felt because of Sin through the Word of God and the Word endures for ever of which you are begotten and if any appearance of Iniquity or motion thereunto arise in you into desire to be fulfilled the Word will quench it and give you dominion over Sin and Death and save you from the effects thereof for the Word changes not but is the same alwayes but if man change and pervert his Way into Iniquity it reproves and corrects and so delivers him for this Word keeps clean the Heart and it sanctifies and also keeps in subjection the mortal man with all his thoughts desires and actions and destroyes the Man of Sin the sinful Man by whom the whole Creation hath been corrupted and
perverted into evel in its practise of degenerate man and if you forget the Word then Iniquity prevails again and the love of this World and its vanities and the Riches and Pleasures of the mortal man steals away the Heart and they possess the Habitation of God unrighteously and all things are become sinful and the Body of Death comes over the pure Life and Peace with God in the Conscience is lost and that because the Word of God is forgotten which once begat unto God and where the unclean spirit enters again the latter end of such is worse then the beginning more finful against God and more hated of him and therefore let none follow the way of such for it leads to Death and Darkness and Misery will be the end of it But Friends mind him and feel his Power who is the Preserver of Men in Peace and Righteousness and let not up that part in you into liberty into which Satan enters and sows his seed of degeneration but live in the Cross of Christ and in the meek and lowly Spirit tha◠you may not do your own wills but the Will of the Father and may fear him and his Goodness and that subjecteth the ground of Temptations that Sin cannot prevail so shall your Peace be everlasting and your Life as a River of pleasure and Joy and Gladness shall be your daily Portion and the Lord shall never forsake you but be unto you a Tower of Strength and Habitation of Peace and a Crown of Victory and Reward in this present time and for ever And if ye abide in Christ the Vine into which you are planted by Regeneration then will your Fruit be of the Vine and acceptable unto the Father who is the good Husbandman and through his Vertue you will grow into Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where all guilt of sin is taken away and the burden of Iniquity and body of Death clean removed away from you for that is Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where Sin and Transgression is done away and Power received over it both in Motion and Action and the Guilt of it and the Conscience sprinkled with the Immortal Blood of the Lamb and no stain nor guilt remaining but Peace altogether by the holy Spirit in the Conscience and this is perfection which was not attained to by outward things in the first Covenant but is witnessed in the second which the Lord hath made with us and confirmed unto us where Sin and Iniquity is blotted out and Innocency and Immortallity lives and raigns and such stand before the Throne of God without fault before him and no guile in their Mouthes and these sing the Song of the Lamb and of the Redeemed where all sorrow is fled away if so be that the burden and guilt of all Transgresion be removed then there is no cause of sorrow and blessed are they that dwell here and that are entred into the everlasting Rest even into God for he is the Rest of the Immortal Soul and the Life of it and if ye know these things ye have satisfaction and comfort which none know but they that have it it s the portion of the Redeemed whose Father Master Ruler Judge and King is the Lord God and the Lamb and we are Subjects of that Kingdom and free born of that City the heavenly Ierusalem and we are made free through the price of Immortal Blood and then how can any of you that are such serve this World and the Vanities of it by any immoderate care or desire or exercise in earthly things for this is the bondage of Egypt but the Children are free from it and are not entangled concerning the things of this World but they are subjected under and the Inheritance of a better Portion is their Crown and Substance and Esau's portion is the Earth he that hath no assurance in God wherefore live above this World in the Seed of God and be without immoderate care in every thing as to earthly matters not taking thought what shall come or be to morrow neither cumbring your selves about uncertain riches but leave the issue of all things to the Lord in whose hands are Blessings and the Curse to give or take away according to his pleasure and be not Servants unto but Rulers over all affections in earthly things for spiritual Blessings are the Crown and the Earth is the foot-stool of the Lord's Redeemed And as for the dayes and seasons in which we now are let none be troubled as though it were not well or could be better for all things are well that are come to pass because the Will of the Lord hath effected them either as the Cause or as the Means and it is good for us that these things are so for the prosperity of our Kingdom is going on through all the Hammer is beating upon the Rocks that will beat them to pieces and the Axe is hewing down the Cedars and the little Stone prevails against the many-headed Beast and the Image of Idolatry is weakening and the holy Seed grows in strength and vertue and the Purpose of the Lord can none prevent But the light of the Son must be as the light of seven days amangst us and the Day-Spring from on high hath already visited us and we have seen of his Glory wherefore let all the Upright have Patience and Long-suffering till the Measure of Iniquity in our Adversaries be filled which is hastening to be accomplished and Transgression grows full and Sinners grow ripe for Vengeance and we must pass over their Mountain of Darkness and in the mean time the Lord hides us under his shadow even 〈◊〉 Transgression be finished and covers us from the storm and blinds the enemy and turns his rage backward and we are not destroyed but our life is renewed and righteousness mercy and love are a defence about us and how great is the kindness of the Lord herein mine eye hath seen it and my heart meditateth thereon the power and wisdom and love of the Lord herein are very great and who can find out the depth thereof or declare his immeasurable power and wisdom And thus the salutation of my life unto all the faithful is expressed and I am well in him who is my fulness and desire no more concerning you then your faithfulness in the cause of God for without controversie the cause of God is with us and on our part and as you are faithful therein that is my reward concerning you and the addition to my joy and in the Heavenly Spirit of the Lord God Almighty are you committed unto him who is able to keep you even to the end and in the end to glorifie you in eternal life in rest and peace for ever and this is the portion of the faithful and my desires on your behalf and my salutation of you hoping that you have not so learned Christ as to deny him because of the love or terror of this World
and Over-reaching your Neighbours your Riches so gotten shall never prosper noâ— be blessed to you but shall be a Curse to you and your Children And your Covetousness will God plague Ye that have gotten Goodt and not by Right shall leave them in the midst of your dayes Wo unto you Carnal Minds all the Treasures of them are corruptible your Lands Gold and Silver are fading Treasures The Day of the Lord's Judgments are at hand upon you and the Rod of his Wrath will smite you and ye shall have Poverty and want instead of Fulness and Excess and ye shall have Leanness and Barrenness and God will plead with you in the way you have sinned against him The Time of your Visitation draws near Wo unto you Merchants Traders Buyers and Sellers that have been Double-Dealers and Double-Tongued and dealt deceitfully in your Commodities with your Neighbours Wo unto ye that have got Gain by Double-dealing and by feigned and flattering Speeches have beguiled one another and sought to out-reach in your Bargaining every man his Brother these things have ye done O ye Covetous Men ye have even robbed the Poor by your Craft and Guileful-dealing by your smooth and flattering Tongues and if any amongst you could not use Fraud and Dissemble such have been your Prey and Scorn and it s your Use to discommend a Commodity when you buy it and to praise it when you sell it and ye make a fair out-side to please the Eye and ye use multitude of words and fair speeches and decâ—ive the Simplâ— and get Gain by Oppression Craft and Deceit Wo unto you Repent of this your sin Cleause your Hearts you Sinners and purifie your Hearts you Double-minded I charge you by the Lord Give over your Double-dealing and deceitful Merchandize cease to Lye and Defraud cease your Flattery and Feigned words and speak the Truth every one to his Neighbour and come out of your Iniquities use not a bad Conscience any longer for its a fearful Abomination against the Lord But mind the Light of Christ in you which will convince you in your Consciences of your noughty and sinful wayes and that Light will exercise your Consciences to do the Truth and speak the Truth to your Neighbours in all things and this is Blessed and the Gain that is thereby gotten is not a Curse for ye ought in all your wayes to reverence the Lord and respect him that he should lead you and guide you in your exercise of all Earthly things For the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and it ought to be exercised to his Glory and there is suffient in this Creation for all People and therefore covet not Earthly things one from another neither oppress nor over-reach one another about them neither treasure up Earthly things while the Poor want for if ye do you hide your selves from your own Flesh laying Field to Field till there is no Place for the Poor and Wo unto such the Day of the Lord will be upon you But learn the Wisdom of God how to be ordered and how to order all things of this Creation and be in Unity and good Agreement amongst your selves and do not fall out nor strive nor contend nor envy one another about Earthly things but if ye have much or if ye have little be contented with what you have and do not grind the Hearts and Consciences one of another to get Earthly things for they will fade and perish away and seek not after that which perisheth but after that which is unto Eternal Life For the Day of the Lord is at hand and his Judgments upon all Oppressors Double-dealers and False-hearted Flatterers that are Covetous of Earthly things Wo unto all ye Drunkards and Swearers Whoremongers and Prophane Persons the Judgments of the Lord are upon you unawares ye that destroy the Creation upon your Lusts that are rnn into the Excess of Wine and Beer and that covet it excessively and that drink till ye inflame your selves and spend your time in it ye are like the Beasts of the Field and like the Swine that wallow in Filthinefs ye pervert the right use and End of the good Creatures of God and spend them upon your Lusts and have not regard unto the Living God and one sin even begets another Drunkenness begets Swearing and prophane Words and Whoredom and beastly Affections and thus ye add sin to sin and heap up one sin upon another conâ—â—ary to the Light in your own Consciences and thus ye serve 〈◊〉 â—…il and Satan committing Iniquity with both hands as it were by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and swearing and taking the Name of the Lord in Vain and 〈◊〉 Spâ—â—â—â—es and falling out one with another and your Minds are eâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 the Lord and 〈◊〉 abuse your selves and your 〈◊〉 Bodies which were made fâ—â— the service of God and not 〈◊〉 whorâ—… 〈◊〉 and ye slay your own soulâ— by your own Iniquities and mames provoke the Lord to destroy both Soul and Body Wo unto you 〈◊〉 â—lagues of God are your Portion and Misery your â—nd here and hereafter 〈◊〉 of your Iniquities and turn from them left the Lord find you in 〈◊〉 Iniquities when he comes to Judgâ—ment 〈◊〉 if you continue in them 〈◊〉 can never be pardoned but you siâ— unto death and the Lord will come â—pon you suddenly for ye that followed Drunkenness and Propâ—â—â—ess you live contrary to the Light in your own Consciences and you sin against your knowledge against that Knowledge that God hath given you and this is your greatest sin even because ye do the things which ye know ye shoulâ— not do 〈◊〉 the Light in your Consciences doth sheâ— you that these things are evil before you do them but ye doing the things contrary to the Light in your 〈◊〉 Consciences this makes your Crime 〈◊〉 and your sin uâ—pardonable 〈◊〉 â—e continue in sin and prophaness contrary to the Reproof of God's Spiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 your own â—nsciences Wherefore ye prophane Persons cease to do evil â—est the Lord's Judgements come upon yâ—â— suddenly to your Dâ—struction and the Lord smite you and you never be healed Wo unto all ye â—â—ypoâ—riâ—iâ—â—l and deceitful Profâ—ssors of Religion that hold the Truth in Unrighteousness thâ—â— have a talk and a shew of Religion and that have the Name of Church-members and of Worshippers of God but are 〈◊〉 in Sins and Trespasses ye that are Christians by Name but want the Nâ—â—ure who are Wolves in Sheep's cloathing that have Christ's words the Prophets and Apostâ—â—s words but want their Spirit and Life Wo unto you the Dâ—â— of the Lord is at hand upon you ye Hypocrites ye that serve God with your Liâ—â— and with your â—outhes profess much love whenas your Hearts are full of â—â—â—y Covetousâ—â—â—â— and Earthly-mindedness ye are the Apostate Christians thâ—â— have taken the Form of Godliness upon you but want the Power ye preach and pray and hear sermons and keep Sabbath Dayes and perform Duties 〈◊〉 ye
in your own Consciences you are in a condemned condition and you cannot be justified of the Lord while you are accused by the Light within you of such and such sins and that you are guilty of them and sorsake them not for the God of Heaven condemneth and justifieth men according to the Witness of the Light in their own Consciences for it is Gods Evidence to bear witness for God and to accuse or excuse every man in his sight and according to its evidence God justifieth or condemneth all the Children of men III. Again Whosoever will be saved must be born again of the seed of God and must be changed and renewed in Mind and Heart and Spirit and old things must pass away and all things must be made new and a new Nature must live in you and the Image of God must be brought forth which is in Righteousness and true Holiness which is like unto God and this is the new Creation which every one must witness to be wrought in them that ever â—â—â—â—ers into Gods Kingdom For saith Christ Except a man be born again he canâ—â—â— enter into the Kingdom of God for it is not a profession of Religion made with the Lips nor the practises of Duties and Ordinances taken on and performed in the old nature and a holding of truth in unrighteousness this is not the way of Salvation but it is the regenerating and making like unto God being his Image of Justice Truth and Righteousness it is this in which men may be saved everlastingly IV. Again Whosoever will be saved must receive the Spirit of God and it must dwell in them even the Spirit of the Father and they must be taught by it and led into all Truth to do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things even the spirit of Truth must be received to teach and to lead in all the wayes of God it alone must teach and all the Hireling-Teachers of the World must be turned away from by whom peoples souls have been deceived all such as have run and God never sent them that have cryed up Tâ—â—ching and Ministry and through whom people have not received the Spirit of thâ— Father all such Teachers must be denyed their Church and Ministry and the Spirit of the Father must only teach and lead and you must walk in the Spirit and not after the Flesh for if you walk after the Flesh in the wayes and works of it you are in the state of Condemnation and not of Salvation and the Spirit of God doth not teach you but you are out of the New Covenant of God in which Covenant all are taught of the Lord and in Righteousness are they established the Spirit of God is put within them and the Law of God is written in their hearts and they need no man to teach them but as the Spirit teacheth and this is the New Covenant of Peace with God into which all must come to witness this or else they cannot be saved V. Again all that will be saved must be sanctified cleansed and purified from all Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Word of God whereby every Heart must be made clean and every Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lamb and the body of sin and death must be put off and the bondage of Corruption must be broken and Iniquity must be forsaken and turned from and siâ— must be judged in the Flesh and Purity Holiness and Righteousness must live and reign in all that will be saved and Sin and Transgression and the guilt of it must be removed and you must shew forth the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness and must be pure as he is pure in kind and quality and you must walk in Holiness and Righteousness being freed from Corruption and from the Wayes of Sin and Death being sanctified in Body Mind and Spirit by the Word of the Lord and Sin must be blotted out and Transgression must be covered and Iniquity must be remembred no more and in all things you must cease to do evil and learn to do well if ever you will be saved VI. Again whosoever will be saved must witness Christ revealed in yoâ— â—â—d â—e must live in you and you must be Followers of him wheresoever he goâ—s â—â—d your Bodies must be the Temples of the Living God and God must walk 〈◊〉 you and dwell in you according to his Promise and he must be your King your Judge and Law-giver your Teacher Father and Master and he must be 〈◊〉 in all unto you even God the Father who is blessed for ever you must â—â—ow him near you and feel his Presence in you to be your Joy Life and â—eace and you must have fellowship with him in spirit and must worship him 〈◊〉 Spirit and by the Spirit without respect of Dayes Times or Places every one that will be saved must come into this and witness it for this is the way of the Salvation of God VII Again whosoever will be saved must live in the Power of Godlinâ—ss and must deny all Forms of Religion without the Power all Profession of Scriptures Ordinances Church-member-ship Praying and Preaching which is not in the Power of God and by his Spirit must be denyed and that part that holds it that holds the Form of Godliness without the Power must be crucified and every one must come into the Power of the Spirit of God and must witness that to work in them to will and to do and no more professing the Things of God but as they are witnessed by the work of his Spirit in their hearts you must not hold Truth any longer in unrighteousness nor make a profession of it in your your unrighteous minds no more talking of Justification and Redemption nor of any of the matters of Gods Kingdom but according as they are witnessed by the working of the Spirit of God in the heart and every one must feel in himself the evidence and Testimony of the Spirit of God to witness the Truth in his heart or Conscience of what he professeth with his mouth VIII Again Whosoever will be saved must witness the Scriptures of Truth fulfilled in themselves the things that they have read of without them must be wrought within them wrought in their hearts by the same Spirit as gâ—ve forth the Scriptures they must pass through the same conditions as the holy men of God did and the same truth that the Scriptures declare of must be revealed in the heart by the same Spiâ—it that gave forth the Scriptures and none must profess more than they do enjoy from God and all flesh must be silent from speaking of the things of Gods Kingdom which they have not seen handled rasted and felt by the working of the Spirit of God in their Consciences and this is to witness the Scriptures fulfilled when you have experience of the same conditions and of the same operations and manifestations which the Servants of the Lord passed through
am confident That the King hath better Experience of us than to believe these our Malicious Accusars And I do appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such Presentation 2. I do testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say we do believe and make prefession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all people to believe and not seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel and this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life we say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the Belief and Practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith And if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denyal of which they here accuse us they would not have cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceeded from another spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are well known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any Malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in Meekness and Humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the KING is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this Effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge who have thought it not enough to Whip most cruelly Banish cut Ears and put to Death the Innocent but must still accuse them â—alsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no Evil whenas the God or Heaven is Witness to whom we can appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Laws and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the Living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for Evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane Cruelties seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to smite and wound and reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have Martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain we were at last constrained for our own safety say they to pass a Sentence of Banishment against them upon Pain of Death such was their Dangerous Impetuous and Desperate Turbulency to Religion and to the State Civil and Ecclesiâ—stical as that 〈◊〉 unwilling soever could it have been avoided the Magistrate at least in Conscience both to God and man judged himself called for the Defence of all to keep the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them this could do no harm say they to them that would be warned thereby their willing rushing themselves thereupon was their own act and we with all humility conceive a Crime bringing their Blood upon their own Heads By way of Answer to this let it be considered 1. What Means was for a long time used before they put them to Death is shameful to mention Was it not by the means of Cruel Whippings Banishment Imprisonment Cutting off Ears and taking their Goods by Violence It s true by this Means the Petitioners dealt with the Quakers and never by any Christian like Means for the very first of our Friends that ever came among them they made them Prisoners ere they came on shore and inhumanely dealt with them and Banished them and this was the first and fairest Means that ever was used by them which are not Gospel-Means nor the Way by which the Church of New-England ought to have proceeded Had our Friends been in Error and such as they say of them it had been their Duty to have gained them by Love by Mercy and by Long-suffering these are the Weapons of the Spirit of God which ought to be us'd towards them that are in Error in order to the converting of them from the Error but contrary to this the Magistrates and Church-Members of New-England took Cain's Weapons and dealt Cruelly and not like Christians nor like sober Men towards the Innocent but their thus proceeding was in vain as themselves acknowledge for notwithstanding the Gospel of Christ grew and encreased and many were converted to the Faith of Christ Jesus throughout New-England 2. Let it be considered what their dangerous and desperate Turbulency was to States Civil and Ecclesiastical Did ever these poor People whom they condemned and put to shameful death lift up a Hand against them or appear in any Turbulent Gesture towards them Were they ever found with any Carnal Weapon about them or What was their Crime saving that they warned Sinners to Repent and the Ungodly to turn from his way We appeal to the God of Heaven on their behalf whom they have Martyred for the Name of Christ That they had no other Offence to charge upon them saving their Conversations Doctrines and Practices as Saints of the Most High God and this is witness'd by many of their Neighbours though themselves have hardened their Hearts against the Reproof of God's Witness And we certainly believe it was their Malice and Envy that constrained them to pass Sentence of Death upon them and not the Equity of either just Law of God or man for they deserved not the merit of Death such was the Innocency of their Cause And they are no more safe by the taking away the Lives of our
it self forth in a higher appearance and fairer shew than ever it did before for this Mystery hath sate in the Temple of God and shewed it self to be God and been worshipped above all that is called God this Mystery of Iniquity the Man of Sin which hath put on the Sheep's-Clothing and shews it self as the Sheep of Christ and as Christians and Churches all which hath been for many Ages the Manifestation of this Mystery while that the Mystery of the Devil hath not been destroyed but now is the Lord arisen who will discover and destroy this Mystery and save the Creature and in the destruction of this Mystery is the other Mystery revealed to wit The Mystery of God and of Christ and that is the Mystery of Christ that destroyes the Mystery of Antichrist and of the Devil And now the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty are coming into this Mystery of God Eternal who is blessed for ever and all that is coming to be overthrown which doth oppose it and gainsay it and there is nothing that can destroy or discover this Mystery but the appearance of Christ the Son of God for it is he that doth discover and destroy the Mystery of Iniquity by the Spirit of his Mouth and by the Brightness of his Coming and this are people coming to The Man of Sin is to be thrown down and the Man of Righteousness the Manof God is revealed and Sons and Daughters shall shew him forth in the World and the Mystery of God shall shew it self forth over the World and in Nations and blessed are all they that come to the opening of this Mystery of God which is the Mystery of Life and Eternal Salvation CHAP. III. A Testimony Concerning true Liberty of Conscience what it is in itself and how it is obtained and what the true Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience THis is my Testimony as I have received from the Lord true Liberty of Conscience is Liberty and Freedom of the Conscience from the Bondage of Sin and all Transgression past and present and from whatsoever hath been or is a Burden or Oppression upon the Conscience whether inward or outward the Conscience I say is at Liberty when it is freed from the Burden of the Guilt of Sin past and from the present Temptation unto Sin And till this is witnessed there is no true Liberty of Conscience for every thing whatsoever which is Sin and Transgression against God in Works or Words brought forth by the Creature is Bondage and a Burden and oppresseth the pure Conscience and therefore perfect Freedom from all Sin and Transgression is Where the Body of Sin and Death is put off and where the Evil is crucified and the guilt of it taken away and where the Conscience is truly exercised by the Spirit of Christ which leadeth into all Truth and preserveth from all Evil then is the Conscience at Liberty and this is true Liberty of Conscience when this is brought forth in the Creature For where Sin is brought forth and Transgression lived in there the Conscience is bound and the Cord of Iniquity imbondageth the Conscience and it hath not its Liberty in the Service of God nor from the Service of the Devil because the Spirit of God doth not exercise it but the spirit of Unrighteousness leadeth the Mind into the Lusts of this World into Lying Swearing Pride Drunkenness Hypocrisie and Idolatry and the guilt of these things burdeneth and presseth down and is a Bondage upon the Conscience And where the Conscience is bound by Unrighteousness within and by the spirit of the World which leadeth contrary to the Lord there is no Power of Man without can set that Conscience free or give Liberty to it because the Cord of Iniquity hath bound it within and the Burden of guilt is upon it and Conscience lies under Bondage unexercised with the Spirit of God which is free and setteth free the Conscience in the practice of all Good and from the Power and Captivity of all Evil. Therefore before true Liberty of Conscience be witnessed or any have true Liberty in Conscience Iniquity must be purged out and Sin crucified and the Body of Death put off and guilt washed away and the Annointing received that leadeth into all Truth and the Blood of Christ the Seed felt that sprinkleeth the Conscience from all Sin and Works of the Flesh and washeth away all that which staineth and defileth the Conscience and then the pure Conscience hath its true Liberty from the Bondage of all Evil and from the guilt thereof and in the Exercise of all good and this is true Liberty of Conscience and thus it is attained and by no other Way nor Means than by the Sword of the Spirit of God which cutteth down the contrary And where Conscience is thus freed within by the Power of the Lord and delivered from the bondage of Evil and from the burden of all guilt and exercised in all good by the Spirit of God Then nothing without nor any Power of Man which may work against such by Persecution and act in opposition to such whose Consciences are thus freed can imbondage the Conscience to God-wards or bring it under a burden to God-wards I say for it is not altogether Bondage of Conscience or the Burden or Oppression upon his Conscience that is set free as aforesaid though he is outwardly persecuted by men for that doth but hinder the Exercise of his Conscience to Manwards but not to God-wards for there his Conscience is free in Joy and Peace though by reason of Persecution he cannot have the Exercise of it to men I say Though such be put in Prison Banished or whatsoever Suffering be laid upon them by any Men or Laws without yet their pure Conscience is Free and at Liberty in it self to God-wards through all this and over it all for the Lord hath set them free from all that Bondage and Guilt of Iniquity which hath been a Bondage upon their Consciences within And whether they do Suffer or have Freedom or Captivity in their Persons from men yet is their pure Conscience at Liberty to God-wards and in perfect freedom in it self and to themselves though for the Name of Christ and his Truth they be persecuted and all Evil done against them by evil men and the exercise of their pure Consciences prevented as to Man-wards For that which defiles the Conscience doth bring it under Bondage but that which keeps it pure and free from pollution that keeps it in Liberty and in perfect freedom to God over all Persecution and Evil Men and Unjust Laws which would exercise dominion in and over the Consciences of the Saints and bring them into Captivity as sometimes their Persons are by Evil Laws and Persecutors But who stand in the Power of the Lord and in the exercise of the Spirit of God which freeth the Conscience in their own particulars as I have said doth not come
Separation from GOD being in the State of Enmity against Him till the Lord Jesus Christ the good Shepherd of ISRAEL found you out in the Estate of Darkness and brought you Home from your strayed Condition even unto the Sense and Feeling of his Power and Spirit in you which called you out of the Wayes of Sin and Death and also changed you and regenerated you into the Inheritance of a better Kingdom and Glory than that which is of this World And ye now know Christ Jesus to be your Shepherd his Spirit to teach you his Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification to dwell in you being Partakers of the same through the Eternal LIGHT which once shined in Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it but now it is risen in much Glory and Power and Death and darkness is swallowed up of Life and Light and the Fruits thereof subdued These things are True and Faithful unto many let all such Rejoyce and be Glad in the Lord who have thus seen his Day and tasted of his Power and are Witnesses That the Kingdom is come which never fadeth away 2. Consider what the Tender Dealings of God towards you and his Gentle Leadings have been since he hath called you out of your formeâ— strayed Estate Hath not his Light shined upon your Tabernacles with much Clearness perswading your Hearts fully of his WAY and TRUTH Have not your Hearts often been Refreshed and Souls truly Comforted by the Refreshing Presence of the Lord Hath not the Way of Life been made so clear unto you and the way of your Peace so perfectly discovered that no Occasion hath been left of Unbelief or Stumbling unto the Upright in Heart Surely the Lord hath not been wanting to you in any of these things but he hath so reached Home by his Word and Spirit to your Hearts and Consciences with such full Convictions and perswasions in the Wayes of Salvation that no sincere Heart can doubt or waver concerning the Things pertaining to his Soul's Peace and Comfort 〈◊〉 For so Large and Evident hath God's Testimony been unto you even since he first called you by his Grace that no Man having Sense and Experience thereof but must bear witness That the Lord hath been Good Long Suffering full of Mercy and Righteousness towards all that feareth him I am perswaded ye know these things and that the Taste and Vertue of the Lord's Mercies and Power remaineth stedfest in your Remembrance and Enjoyment even his Mercies and Loving-kindness that have been made manifest to you since ye have known the Lord who hath â—â—d you by the Hand as a Father doth his Children and carried you in his Arms of Preservation and born you on his shoulders in all your Afflictions insomuch that through his Power and Wisdom only we are yet alive and the Adversary hath not prevailed against us though his Attempts have often been great to Destroy us 3. Consider what iâ— now your present state and standing How is it with your inward Man In what Life and Strength and Dominion is he Is he â—â—â—ong over all the Corruptible or is he Weak under Corruption Is he in â—â—e growth of a Perfect Man of the Stature of Christ Jesus Is he so begotten and born in you that Life hath swallowed up Death Hath he Victory over the Grave And doth he Raign in you even the New Man the Spiritual Man the Immortal Man Christ iâ— you Is he come in Power and Dominion to dwell with you Deâ—rly â—â—loved mind each particuâ—… in what state you are and what is your present standing to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye had Faith in God and Love to God and Boldness for God And are ye firâ—ly continued therein Or Is any such Weakened and Decreased in these things Is your Love grown cold and your Zeal lost and your Confidence decayed If it be thus with any their present state is not â—â—ght before the Lord but they must Repent and return to their first Love and return again to the Witness of the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 in them that their Strength may be renewed for they only that dwell with the Lord in Faithfulness and abide in Covenant with him 〈◊〉 see his Glory and be fed daily with the Bread that comes down from Heaven and refreâ—… with the Fountain of endless Mercies if so be ye be perfect with the Lord after your inward Man Strong and Lively and Zealous Faithful and constant having a clean Heart and a pure Conscience guiltless and undefiled before God this is to be perfect with the Lord and if ye are thus blessed are you if ye be encreased daily in the Love and Life of the Father if your inward Man grow in the Wisdom and Power and Knowledge of the Creator if ye receive the assurance of Eternal Life in your selves if this be your present State Oh happy People Who is like unto you because ye are saved of the Lord 4. What is the present work of God in your own hearts Ye must alwayes feel the Word of God abiding in you even the Word in the heart hear that Word and do it alwayes and your souls shall live by the Word of God that Word beats down whatsoever tempts and draws from God which would defile you and load your Consciences and vex the Spirit for if any obey the Temptations they become darkned unbelief enters and the fruits of it grows and then there is a falling from the Lord and a departing from his way of Salvation therefore mind the Power and Spirit of Christ in you and be constant and faithful therein that you may be Preserved unto the finishing of the WORK of the Lord in you that at last ye may sit down in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus in places of Peace and Comfort and Assurance for ever where the Lord is enjoyed all in all which you must wait for to be accomplished in you according to the promise and you must witâ—â—â—s the work of Christ in you he must work in you by his Spirit Regeneration Reconâ—…on Sanctification Justification and all good things 〈◊〉 it is not sufficient to profess that Christ in his Person hath 〈◊〉 the works of God but every one in particular must witness at thâ—â— day the work of the Spirit of Christ in his own heart even the Work of Reconciliation and Salvation that ye may in each mans particular receive the Knowledge and Experience of the Lords Work of his Love and Life and Salvation and Redemption in particular for though never so large Testimonies in general should be given to you or received by you concerning Christ Jesus and his Salvation yet the particular feeling of 〈◊〉 Love and Power of the Lord God in your own hearts must you staâ—â— by in the Day oâ— Tryal for that alone can uphold in the Day of Trouâ—… even the Testimony of the Spirit of Christ unto Salvation felt in each particular heart And seeing the Lord hath brought you to the knowledge
of his People he is at a distance from the Lord God and the Spirit which should comfort him doth daily vex and judge him and the people among whom he should be saved he is separated from and cast out to Satan is now among the Sons of Belial the Children of Wickedness and Ignorance that must be condemned And this man is now rejected of the Saints that once was embraced of them and thus he is punished for it is the greatest Punishment and Vexation for a man that hath once tasted of God's Love Mercy Peace and Blessings amongst God's People and to be forsaken of God and without his Love in his Anger in his Judgment and in the Curse amongst the Wicked without Peace and Blessings amongst the Saints this is Punishment indeed from which the Lord deliver all his People that fear him Yet notwithstanding this kind and manner of Punishment pertains to Hereticks as such most properly and not to be destroyed in Person or Estate by outward Penalties this I onely mean and intend where the Error of a man and his Heresie in his Mind and Judgment doth only extend to the hurt of his own Soul and against God and not to the harm of his Neigbours Person or Estate in that Case he ought only to suffer as before-mentioned To be delivered up to Satan and to be rejected c. But if his Error and Heresie do extend further then onely against God and his own Soul even to the wronging injuring and defrauding of his neighbours person and estate and outward wrongs or evils or violence or visible mischiefs be committed as Murders or other the like visible crimes against men to the injuring of others then I forbid not outward external punishments to be corporally inflicted upon the person and estate of such a man but it ought to be done and that by Laws of men provided for the same end even such a mans Error in such his wrong dealing may justly and lawfully be punished with death banishment or penalties according to the desert of the crime if his sin and error be against men let men deal with him and punish him accordingly If his offence and error be onely against God and his own soul let God deal with him and punish him by his wrath in his Conscience which one day will be executed upon all that err from the Truth and tribulation and anguish shall be upon his soul that doth evil as it is written But it is utterly unlawful and sin against God for men to kill burn or banish men for the error of their minds and judgments in Spiritual matters while they do walk justly and truly as men in the things pertaining to men and are not injurious to the Persons or Estates of any by reason of such their Error but they only sin and err against God and their own Souls to the hurt thereof and not man by any outward Punishments or Violence executed upon their Persons but God and his People in the way and manner of the Spirit of Christ as afore declared ought for such their Errors and Heresies to deal with them and proceed towards them in respect of Punishment for the same Lastly These things are but said in general concerning Error and Heresie how they are to be judged and Punished and by whom and to manifest that there is Error and Heresie Hereticks and Erroneous Persons in the World for as I have said before it was not now my work to ennumerate the particular parts of Errors and Heresies that are held in Principle Doctrine and Practice in the World at this day they are so many and large but yet more particularly thus I would in brief define Hereticks and Heresie That man whatsoever he be is in Error in all parts of his Principles and practises held and maintained by him in point of Religion and Worship of God especially that is not Perswaded of the Truth and verity of his Way by the holy Spirit of God and led guided and taught in the performance and practice thereof by the same Spirit of Jesus if the holy Spirit of God dwell not in him and doth not preswade the heart in the belief of the Truth and teach and lead the man in the practice of it such a man even that man Errs and is in Error in all what he is and what he doth in point of Religion and Duty to God-wards and that because the Spirit of Truth and Righteousness is not the only Leader and Teacher in the things professed and practised but either Traditions Example of others or Custom of Places and Times or something else besides the Spirit of God which only perswades into the belief of Truth and teaches into the performance of the same and thus is distinguished and known A man that is Erroneous in his Faith and Practice not taught and perswaded by the Spirit of Christ in what he is and in what he doth he is in Error and in a degree of Heresie erring in Mind and Judgment and Conscience in Principle and practice and subject to err in all things Now as for the Case of Error and Heresie as the matter hath stood in distinguishing of Hereticks and Heresies in judging of the same and in proceeding with Hereticks in the manner aforesaid for many Generations in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes all this hath been wrong and not in the Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus but Men Cases and Proceedings all have been perverted from Truth in that matter because the spirit of darkness and ignorance hath ruled and not the Spirit of God in the Hearts of men and the spirit that is not of the Father which Spirit of the Father is only pure perfect and infallible because it is of God and can truly judge and determine in these Cases has been Lord and Judge in this matter and men out of their Envy and Hatred one towards another have judg'd one another to be erronious and Hereticks and proceeded against them thereupon and such as have differ'd in Iudgment or Opinion one Sect and Sort from another and would not conform to one another in their Wayes Practices and Religion it hath been common for all different sorts of men to cry out one upon another and against each other Heresie Heresie Hereticks Erronious Persons and the like and proceeded against one another men against men differing from them and sect against sect contrary to it self and especially that sect or sort of People that hath had the Government of Nations and Countries in their Power could and hath easily proceeded against all others dissenting upon the account of Error to the destroying of many absolutely through envy hatred and prejudice and not upon the Truth Soundness and Verity of Judgment in that matter and this hath been common for many Ages Sometimes according to the occasion offered Papists have destroyed Protestants and sometimes Protestants have destroyed the Papists on this account of Heresie and Error All which
restored again to serve and worship and glorifie the living God who made Heaven and Earth and all things therein THis is chiefly to go abroad into the dark parts of the World among those called Heathens most especially but its service reacheth to all men and people upon the face of the Earth And out of love unto the Creation and to all People in the World was it written and is it brought forth in publick that all that have ears to hear may hear and it is to be translated into several Languages by any who are moved of the Lord thereunto for of a truth the Lord is risen among us and God hath given the Word from his Mouth and many are they that publish it abroad through the World TO all the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the whole World this is the Word of the Lord God the Power that made you and that made Heaven and Earth and all things therein your State and Condition consider How that you are all drove from God your Maker and from the knowledge of him and of his Wayes which are Life and Peace and are in Darkness Blindness and Ignorance separated from that Power that made you and in the enmity against it and are Enemies to it in all your wayes and words where the sorrow anguish wo and trouble is But the second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Power by whom all things were made who is called Christ Jesus hath lightened every one of you with the true Light which shines in your hearts in darkness to give you the understanding of the knowledge of him that made you and of his Salvation and Redemption and of eternal Life if you love the Light with which you are all lightened And first The Light measureth every mans state in true Judgment and with it you may all see your selves in the state wherein you now stand which is a state separated from God and the state wherein man was created which was blessed Therefore search and consider your State and Condition in him that is the Light of the World of the dust of the Ground were you made and into man was breathed the Breath of Life from the living Power which formed all things and man was made a living Soul and brought forth into the World in the Image and Likeness of the Power that made him every one in particular that be come into the World for Male and Female in the Image of the Creator created he them without sin or evil And man was a noble Plant wholly a right Seed planted with the choicest Vine and placed in Paradise the Garden of the Creator and there was set to bring forth Fruit and to glorifie and honour him by whom man and all Creatures were made for man was made perfect and upright set in the Counsel of his Maker without sin or spot or evil in his sight and was the glory of the Creator and was made for his glory and Power and Wisdom was given unto man to rule and govern in Dominion in Righteousness and in Wisdom over all living Creatures and was Lord over all things and had rule and authority over all the Creation and was Steward over all things which the Creator had made who made all things for man and made them subject unto him to be ordered and governed by him and used to his Glory by whom they were made and in that day when man was in the Counsel of him that made him and was subject to his Will he was blessed above all Creatures and unto him were 〈◊〉 Creatures blessed and not any thing was evil that was made but good in hiâ— Sight that made it and good unto man that was to use it he being brought forâ—â— in the Image of the Creator and had a measure of his Wisdom and his Poweâ— to teach him and to lead him in the exercise of all Creatures and was in perfeâ—â— freedom over all things to rule in the Wisdom of God And this was the staâ—… of man before transgession which state was blessed and not subject to the cuâ—… of misery or sorrow nor trouble nor torment but man disobeyed the Power that made him and went from its Counsel and contrary to its Will and grievâ—… it and vexed it till it became his Enemy to fight against him and to curse him for he had transgressed against it by feeding on that part which he should not with the knowledg of things and so became wise and lost Uprightness and touched that which the Power that made him had forbidden and so his mind and heart adulterated from the Creator into the visible glories pleasures and things which were less then himself and so he became unprofitable to his Maker by transgressing against him and only profitable to himself to feed and nourish and delight and please himself in the outward Creation and forgot the Power that made him and thus being with his mind turned into the Earth there the evil entred and the Devil overcame him with his temptation and the power of the earthly darkness gained dominion over him to sway his affections desires and lusts into vanities of the Earth and he lost his dominion over the Creatures and they gained dominion over him to serve and worship them and to please himself with them who became captive with his mind to be ruled by them in vanity and in evil And thus man became unprofitable to his Maker and unfruitful in the Garden and kept it not undefiled and being turned from the Covenant wherein he was set into his own willing and desiring in the outward Creation the evil defiled him and he became evil and a fruitless Tree that cumbred the Ground and an enmity was placed in him by disobedience and all things became evil to him and the door of all misery and sorrow was opened and let in the curse upon him inwardly and outwardly for he became dead in transgression to the Life and Power and Wisdom of the Creator and every moment was subject to die in this World also And through transgression of the Power that made him he was cast out of the Creator's Garden and out of his Love to labour under the curse in unprofitable Ground and also out of his own dignity and honour and dominion was he cast and became Heir of death and Child of wrath and an Enemy in his mind unto the Creator and an enmity was placed in him against the Power that made him and rebellion in his mind from which all the works of unrighteousness proceed and innocency was lost and man became hurtful to himself and to all Creatures and grieved continually the Power that made him and was drove from the presence and feeling of his Creator into insensableness And in this state unto this day are all ye the Sons and Daughters of the first Adam in the enmity against the Power that made you every moment transgressing it and death reigns over you all and the power of
Singings their Baptisms and Breaking of Bread and even all that which you perform as unto God as the Worship of him is not accepted but Abomination unto him and his Soul is burdened with all these things you not being led with the Spirit of Christ And even your practizing of these things which the Saints and Christians once practiced and were accepted of the Lord in so doing while they were led by the Spirit of Christ I say The very practice of those things now by the Christians being degenerated is become Idolatry and Abomination to the Lord. And this I declare in the Fear and Presence of the Lord Even all your Praying and Preachings and Profession all your Sabboth-keeping and Set-dayes of Humiliation and even all your Practices of Religion which you do and perform are Idolatry and a Burden to the Lord's Soul in the state that now you stand not being led by the Spirit of Christ but being from it departed and your works not brought forth by it but by another spirit And now saith the Lord unto you Christians who are degenerated from the Spirit of Christ To what purpose is your Preaching Praying and Singing They are a Vexation and Burden to the Righteous Soul and the Lord hath no delight therein away with it away with it Your Profession and Practices stincks in the Nostrils of the Lord All your Baptisms and your Sacraments which ye perform in a vain Tradition and not by the Spirit of the Lord they are hateful in his sight away with them away with them they shall crumble to the dust and immediate Desolation in one day the Lord will break them down and never build them up again Your Preaching by a Glass for so much a Sermon or so much a Year what you have gathered out of Books and studied for from other mens words town with it down with it it is 〈◊〉 Abomination to the Lord. And your Ministry which is made and sent forth at Schools and 〈◊〉 natural Learning through the attainment of such Arts and Sciences and being approved of such and such men and sent forth to such and such a Parâ—… 〈◊〉 have so much Money by the Year for preaching what hath been studied foâ—… and not by the Gift of the Holy Ghost away with this Ministry away with it it s a mocking of God and a deceiving of Souls the Lord will confound it and bring it to Destruction And your singing of the Saints words in Rhyme and Meeter and their Conditions which your selves never knew this is Abomination to the Lord and a Practice which his Soul hater away with it the Lord is risen to confound it Away with all your Worship which is not in the Spirit nor in the Truth but in vain Traditions of 〈◊〉 practiced by you in a vain Form and not the Power of God The Lord will being it down to the ground restore and establish his own Worship which 〈◊〉 in Spirit and in Truth and he will give and hath given his Ministry again by the Gift of the Holy Ghost which hath been lost for many Ages while this Night of Apostacy hath over-spread the World and the Lord shall 〈◊〉 longer be worshipped in vain Traditions of men but his people shall be reâ—â—red and renewed to worship him in Spirit and Truth and the Christianâ—ife â—ife shall again be brought forth and the Spirit of Christ shall be the Leader and Teacher of his People And now the Day of the Lord's Visitation is again revived for togather his People and to restore them again to his perfect Way and Worship Therefore hearken and behold ye Christians this is the Testimony of the Lord â—…erning you You have been fallen and degenerated from the Life of Righteousness and from the true Way and Worship of the true God and you have long been slumbring and sleeping in this long Night of Darkness which overshadow'd you and darkned that glorious Appearance of the 〈◊〉 of God which once shined upon the Christians and in Blindness and Dâ—… have 〈◊〉 walked for many Ages and your Worship hath been subscribed To the Unknown God and wofully have you been wallowing in unclean Paths and you have erred you have erred from the Life of Christ and from his Spirit and you are gone from your Husband and follow'd other Lovers and you have been â—…ed in Iniquity and altogether poluted by Transgtession and the state in which you now stand is a state seperated from God a state of great Ignoraâ—… and Darkness and a state of hainous Rebellion against God whose Soul and Spirit is greatly oppressed and grieved because of your Degeneration who 〈◊〉 become more ignorant of God then the Ox is of his Owner oâ— the Ass of his Master's Crib and even the very same Vision is seen concerning you as the Prophet saw concerning Israel Therefore hear oh Heavens and give ear oh Earth for the Lord doth speak unto you Christians I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebell'd against me and the Ox knows his Owner and the Ass his Master's Crib but the Christians do not know the People do not consider Ah! sinful Nation a people laden with Iniquity a seed of Evil-doers Children that are corrupted that have forsaken the right Way and provoke the Living God to Anger and ye are gone away backward the whole Head is sick the whole Heart is faint and from the sole of the Foot even unto the Head there is no Soundness but your Conditions are Wounds and Bruises and â—…fying Sores you are not closed neither bound up neither mollified with Oyâ—…ent and your Country is desolate and your Cities are burnt as with Fire your Land Strangers devour it in your presence and it is desolate and overthrown by Strangers and but that the Lord of Hosts has left us a soul Remnant even a Seed ye Christians would have been as Sodom if any man hath an Ear to hear let him hear This Vision is as true unto you Christians throughout all the World as ever it was unto the seed of the Iews This is your state and this is your condition and thus ye stand in the sight of the Lord though in your beginning in the beginning of Christianity I mean the Lord brought up the Christians and nourished them by his Living Word and with his Word he cherished them and they grew unto a goodly state and were â—…pleat in Christ Col. 2. 10. And they were come to the 〈◊〉 of â—…st Men made perfect and unto Mount Sion the 〈◊〉 of the Living God the Hâ—…ly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the First-Born which are written in Heaven and to God the Iudge of all Hebrews 12 22 23 24. TO this state were the Christians nourished and brought up in the dayes when they were first brought forth when they were begotten and born again of the immortal Word that abides forever and they were sanctified and purified and
made clean unto this were they nourished and brought up out of Darkness and from under the shaddow of Death But notwithstanding this the Christians now have rebell'd against the Lord and do rebel against him And though the Lord hath been unto them as an Owner to the Ox and as a Crib to the Ass even as thus hath the Lord been unto the Christians yet they know it not neither do the Christians consider but are indeed grown sinful and laden with Iniquity and the feed of Evil-doers brings sorth its fruit through Christians being become children that are Corrupters having forsaken the Lord and his Way which was made mantfest in the dayes of the Apostles and the Lord is greatly provoked for the Christians are gone backward from what they were in their beginning as I have fully made manifest And this Vision of the Lord is unto you all ye Christians even as a 〈◊〉 that is of the most precious Seed and the most noble Vine that is planted in a good Sâ—…â—…at is digged and dressed and grown to a goodly stature and bringing â—…th some acceptable Fruit unto the good Husbandman for a season yet this Tree becomes blasted by an unwholesome Air and becomes degenerate from its vertue and property and nature and becomes a wild Vine and a Plaâ—… of great Disgrace ceasing to bring forth any good Fruit and becomes fruitful iâ— all evil and the Labour of the good Husbandman is lost for while he looâ— for good Fruit nothing appears but Fruit of an evil Taste which is altogether loathsome unto the good Husbandman This Parable is unto you Christians and this is your state and your condition Therefore behold What shall the Lord do unto this Tree Shall he nor cut it down to the ground and call it into the purging Fire Shall he not lay his Ax to the Root and cause all its Branches utterly to wither and cause it to cease in beeing even as it hath ceased in bringing forth Fruit Shall not the goâ—… Husbandman destroy this 〈◊〉 with all its corrupt fruit And shall not his own Hand accomplish the Purpose of his own Heart This Tree shall be Fuel for this Fire of his Anger he will pluck it up and not plant it again because it is degenerated Give ear all ye Christians to the Testimony which is concerning you You are fallen you are fallen and being compared to what the Christians were you are in 〈◊〉 equal but are diverted in all your Practices from that Spirit which led the Apostles 〈◊〉 Christian Churches and your works shew another Spirit then the Spirit of Iesus Wherefore great is your Fall and to be lamented and though you have the name of Christians yet you want the Life An Objection But whereas it may be objected by some and said Seeing the State of Christianity is thus descovered what it was in its beginning and purity and what it now is in its degeneration and seeing the present State of Christians is thus condemned what do I believe concerning the state of Christianity to come What shall succeed this present Degeneration And may it be expected that ever Christianity shall be restor'd to that state of Purity as it was in its beginning And whether may people expect to come into the same Life again and to know the same power and Worship and Unity which was amongst the Apostles and first Christian Churches And whether do I judge that ever the Ministry can again be receiv'd by the Gift of the holy Spirit only without natural Learning and Languages And whether the same Spirit is to be waited for and receiv'd And whether the same Anointing can be known in this Age or any Age to come as it was in and among the Apostles and Christians before the Apostacy and Degeneration Answ. To all this I answer and do say That the present state of Christianity is woful and to be condemned of the Lord as being degenerated from his Life Power and Spirit whereby all hearts are darkened and all minds estranged from the Covenant of Life and Peace and from the sence and feeling of the Life of God and now in all the Wayes and Worships and Practices of Christians they are fallen and degenerated from that Life in which the Christians once were and the Beast hath raigned over all for many Ages and because of his Power and Greatness and Dominion who hath been able to make war with him he hath killed the Saints and hath subjected all Nations under his power and every Nation hath received the Mark of the Beast and born his Image for Generations and all Flesh hath stagger'd and hath been made drunk with the cup of Fornication that hath been in the hand of the Whore who hath sate upon this Beast who hath caused both small and great to worship him and all that would not he hath had power to kill them And this Government hath ruled over the whole Christendom and the Worship practiced hath been but the Worship of the Beast while people have been err'd from the Spirit of Christ and not guided by it only And people have been compelled to Worship by Laws of Men they have been compelled to sprinkle their Infant and they have been compelled to go to Steeple-houses and compelled to keep a Sabboth and compelled to hire Priests and to pay them Wages against their wills And all this compelling by an outward Power hath not been the Worship of God but savour'd altogether of the Worship of the Beast for you may read Rev. 13. 12 15 16 17. how the Beast caused all both Small and Great to worship him and all that would not worship him by his power he hath had power to kill them And all compelling and causing to worship by an outward Power is the worship of the Beast for Christ nor his Apostles never caused any to worship God by an outward power For while Christianity kept its Purity and Authority they begot People to God and to worship him by the Word of God and by the power of the Spirit and they did not bring any into their Sect nor to worship with them by an outward Law and Authority for that is in the Government of the Beast it was he that first caused both small and great to conform to his worship and it is his power that upholds it and maintains it unto this day But now the Seed of God is arising which is able to make war with the Beast and his Kingdom and his Worship shall be thrown down to the ground and all this causing and compelling to Worship causing to keep a Day and causing to hire Teachers to maintain them and this causing to go to Steeple-houses and to maintain them and all this causing to pay Tythes it shall fall to the ground and be beat down by the Seed of God which is arising and they shall be no more found among true Christians nor the Beast shall not be worshipped nor his Authority any more of
and I have not spared my own Life to serve you but have given out plentifully of the Lord's Treasure that you might be made rich and I have given out from my Life of the Lord's Substance that you might be fed and nourished and I have kept nothing back of the whole Counsel of God which was needful for you to know and for all this the Lord is unto me at this day a sufficient Reward and of you I desire nothing to my self but do sincerely desire of the Father for you all That Love and Faith and Purity and all the Works of the Spirit may plentifully abound in you all that 〈◊〉 Father may be glorified through your bringing forth much Fruit. Wherefore my dear and beloved Friends Look unto the Lord who hath begotten you to himself let his Fear be before your Eyes and his Judgments in your Hearts Oh! keep near the Lord at all times for it s he that preserves his People it s he that leads them and goes before them it s he that feeds them and refreshes them at all times for its be alone and there is not another that gives you Peace and Strength Wisdom and Knowledge and all good things he is â—ot streightened to any of his that sincerely wait upon him he is the Portion of his People and the Inhaeritance of their Souls and he causeth all them 〈◊〉 trust in him to lie down in Safety and none can make them afraid Therefore oh my Friends I say again and again Love the Lord and his Way and be Faithful in the Truth unto the End love not your Life nor â—â—y other thing for his Service sake but give up all things of this World that you may receive all in the Lord be watchful against all your Enemies that you be not overcome of the Devil but resist him in all his Apâ—… that you may not be defiled nor lose your Peace with the Lord 〈◊〉 is to me and I hope to you of greater price then all other things whatsoever and this I have said among you in Faithfulness and at this present do charge yoâ— all To dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to â—ear one with another and to walk in Wisdom one towards another and to be Examples of Righteousness one before another that it may be known that God is amongst you of a Truth and he is my Witness nothing without me can more add to my Joy then to know of your Welfare in the Lord and of your Stedfastness in the Faith of Christ Jesus and for this my Heart wisheth as much as for any other thing besides And though I be outwardly separated from you according to my Father's Will who gave his Enemies power over my outward man to cast it into Bonds for a moment yet am I present in Spirit amongst you and my Love and Life salutes you all in the Fear of the Lord and though the outward man may suffer yet am I in perfect freedom and in perfect Peace and in every respect perfectly well in the Lord who is my Strength my Armour and my Crown and in his Authority I yet once more beseech you all even for the Lord's sake That ye take heed to the true Light Christ Jesus who lighteth every one of you which Light leads to Christ who saveth and redeemeth from Sin and Death and from all the Wayes and Works thereof and this ye know who are God's Witnesses of his Love and tender Mercies and of the Faithfulness of his Servant Moreover my dear Friends All disorderly Spirits who are out of the pure Fear and Wisdom of God my Life doth judge and with the Power such I do deny who are not Simply in the Power of God and them that seek themselves in any thing amongst you my God shall judge and who are rash in Judgment and forward to utter words and bring forth Fruit and not in due season such are a Burden to the Lord's Soul Therefore take heed I charge you all to the guiding and moving of the pure Spirit of God alone for that will stand and its Fruits will never wither and whatsoever is otherwise brought forth among you the Lord will confound and it shall not profit the people This is to be read amongst you in the Fear of the Lord. E. B. To Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. TO the Seed of God and to all that are begotten of him by the Immortal Word in Barbadoes Virginia New-England and that wayes even to all that have felt and tasted of the Word of Life Grace Mercy and Truth be multiplyed amongst you Dear Friends dwell in the Truth and walk in it that ye may be a sweet Savour unto God and may have Unity with him and one with another in his Life and Spirit and wait that you may have Victory over the World and the Spirit of it in you which hath captivated your minds in the Luâ—ts of this Creation and which hath led you in By-pathes of Iniquity while you were Strangers unto God and without his Knowledge But now having received Grace and Mercy from God and his Word hath entred into your hearts whereby you are begotten into the Hope of Eternal Life and are changed now the Lord requires of you to be Faithful in his Work and Valiant for his Truth that you may obtain the Promise and be made free from Sin and become the Servants of Righteousness and feel the Word and Power of God in your Hearts which will crucifie you daily to the World and make you alive unto God that he may live in you and walk in you and work all your Works for you and this is the Everlasting Covenant where God works in the Creature both to will and to do and man lives not but Christ lives in him and speaks in him and this you must wait for to be Witnesses of in your own Consciences For what is the Profession of God with the Lips and the Profession of the Scriptures while men do not walk by the Spirit aâ— gave forth the Scriptures and enjoy God in their Hearts so you must all wait to be Possessors of the Substance Christ the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending him must you feel in you to destroy the Devil and his works and to change you into the divine Nature which is like unto God and this is Salvation God with us destroying the Enmity and reconciling man unto himself by overcoming Sin and Transgression and your hearts must be cleansed by the Word of God and that which is contrary purged out and this is the New Covenant where the Heart is circumcised and the Body of sin put off and the Creature freed from the burden of Iniquity and then there is clearness and freeness where sin is remitted and washed away and no burden lying upon the Conscience but the Heir of God born the Redeemer which maketh free from the Devil and Sin and they are the Sons of
God who are thus made free whose Sins are remitted and Iniquity covered and the Life rules and reigns and hath overcome Death and Death is swallowed up of Life and this is the Promise of God which must be fulfilled in you that ye may possess the Treasure of God in your Hearts and be Feeling-Witnesses of Immortality your Hands must handle the Word and you must taste and feel and see the Word of Life within you and you must find the Pearl and your own Lamps must have Oyl in them for people have long been running without after men Lo here and Loe there and have been applying the Promises in the wrong nature but now people must turn to the Light of Christ within them for Christ is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and this Light must men follow and then they shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life and men must walk in the Light and then the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and men must believe in the Light and then they shall be the Children of the Light and then Light shall shine out of Darkness and the Light that shines in their hearts shall give them the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So Friends love the Light and walk in the Light for it is the Light within that lets men see whether their Deeds are wrought in God or contrary to him the Light within will let you see of what nature your Works are whether of the corrupt nature or of the Divine Nature for all mens Works are of the one of these and all the Works that spring from the corrupt nature are but Abomination unto God though they appear never so Righteous and that Righteousness which is of Man cannot be justified before the Lord but man must be a Partaker of God's Righteousness of an uncreated Righteousness and that will cover all his Infirmities and in that only can man be presented Righteous unto God So Friends Wait to be Witnesses of this Righteousness that you may be cloathed with it and may be stripped off all your own which is but as filthy Rags and will not hide mans Nakedness but his Righteousness and his Sin must be condemned together and God must be known to work to will and to do in the Creature and this is God's Righteousness for which you must all wait that you may be Heirs of it and Possessors of it unto your Eternal Peace and live in the Fear of the Lord and be not immoderate nor excessive in any thing nor let your hearts be drawn away with the Creatures for then you commit Idolatry and are overcome of this World and you want the Authority of God and are in Bondage unto the Creatures and they defile you and burden you in that state while your Minds are captivated with them So Friends Mind God's Wisdom amongst you that it may lead you in all things and live in Love and Unity one with another and let no Strife be amongst you nor Contention for that will destroy you and eat out true Love and your Hearts will be hardened but bear one with another and be in Patience and Long-suffering one towards another and then the Presence of the Lord will fill your Hearts with Satisfaction and you will be comforted in God and one in another if Love and Unity be amongst you in the Spirit And meet together in the Name and Fear of the Lord and mind the Lord's Presence amongst you mind not words but mind the Presence of the Lord and feel his Power in your hearts and the words that come from the Power will refresh the Seed of God but if any speak words out of the Power the Seed of God will be burdened and will judge such words So every one feed upon the Bread of Life that comes from God and feel the Water of Life springing up in your Hearts that you may grow unto God as Plants of Righteousness and may make your Calling and Election sure So dwell in the Light and take up the daily Cross of Christ and walk not in the Flesh but in the Spirit and so shall the Blessings of the Lord be upon you My dear Love even the same Love wherewith I am loved of my Father doth salute you all and the Seed of God in you that I know and to that am I known who am a Brother and Companion unto all the Faithfull and Upright Edw. Burroughs Let this be coppied over and sent abroad and read in all your Meetings Good Counsel AND ADVICE Rejected by Disobedient Men And the Days of Cromwell's Visitation passed over And also Of Richard Cromwell his Son late Protectors of these Nations And the many Precious Warnings neglected by them and set 〈◊〉 nought which from time to time were given unto them as declared in these following Letters whereby all may see the Kindness of the Lord towards them by his Faithful Invitations to them and their own Apostacy and Carelesness who rejected Warning till the Time and Day of their Visitation is shut up with the Vail of Darkness and Reproach which lies over them and their precious Day of Love is spent and cannot be re-called To the READER FRiend Out of the same Love from whence these were written do I put them to publick view and it was not without much Doubtings and Questioning in my own spirit 〈◊〉 at last having found perfect Freedom and Strength from the Lord knâ—… that I am 〈◊〉 and frâ—â— altogether of other Ends saving then for the Honoâ—â— of the Truth and that all may see that the Dâ—â—nfalls of these â—en were not before sufficient Warnings which makes the Lord free 〈◊〉 his Servant free from what is coâ—â— to pass upon them and even their Fall lies upon their own heads that dispised the Lords Warnings and would none of his Counsel but suffered the Innocent to be oppressed under their Power and relieved not the Heritage of the Lord from her Cruel Enemies though they had Power to do it but 〈◊〉 their own glory and how to be established in greatness in the Earth till that â—he Lord 〈◊〉 cast them â—ut and made them as a Reproach And these things that have come to pass 〈◊〉 them may be as Warnings to all other Rulers that do succeed them and they may 〈◊〉 that the Lord is 〈◊〉 and his Iudgments Righteous and whosoever shall follow their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be Oppressâ—â—s of the Lord's Heritage as they were the Lord shall extend his Iudgments 〈◊〉 them also and their Destruction shall come even like as upon thâ—se before them Therefore let all the Earth be warned I am a Lover of Sion For the hands of the Protector FRIEND MAny Wâ—rnings hast thou had from the Mouth of the Lord his Love hath been towards thee and the glorious Day of his Visitation hath shined over thy head wherein he hath called unto thee to hear