is there of Scriptures Ministers Teachers and the like Though the Spirit or Anointing be sufficiently able both to teach and reveal yet by reason of the darkness of mens minds John 14.26 and understandings being alienated from the life of God Eph. 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them it was necessary to have the witness and directions both of the Scriptures Jer. 1.5 and Gods chosen Vessels some of which were sanctified in the womb for that purpose as Jeremiah to direct them to the knowledge of that Holy Spirit Isa 49.1.5 which shall lead them into all Truth And because the Spirit of Truth is the same in all and answers through every Vessel as face answers face in a glass 2 Pet. 1.12 therefore the Saints of old were not negligent to put us always in remembrance of these things though we know them and are established in this present Truth 12. What is the Office of the Spirit of Truth The Office of the Spirit of Truth is to Reprove to Teach and to Sanctifie Rom. 15.16 It Reproves of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment It teaches us the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ It Sanctifies in body soul and Spirit through Faith in his holy name 13. How does it Reprove It Reproves by witnessing in our Consciences against all our evil ways in thought word Ro. 1.32 Eph. 5.5 and deed testifying against and condemning the same showing that all such as do those things are worthy of death and can have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God 14. How does it teach It teaches us by the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to deny our selves and take up the daily Cross that as he dyed and offered one Sacrifice once for all for sin even the sins of the whole world so we also every one in particular should dayly dye to sin that through a mortification of the deeds of the the flesh we might come to witness a holy life in all righteousness in Spirit a new Birth a new man a new life in which Christ only rules and dwells all which is only to be known through the sanctification of the whole intire being 15. How does this Spirit Sanctifie It Sanctifies through Faith in the name of the dear Son of God which faith brings forth a lively hope by which the heart is purified as God is pure and if this Purification be not witnessed the faith is very much to be questioned for the true faith being grounded upon Knowledge and that Knowledge upon the Revelations of the holy spirit must needs have a purging force for who is he that shall really believe from a present Knowledge of the same the wrath of God to be revealed against the man of sin and all manner of unrighteousness of men and shall come to know the terrors of the Lord who is able to cast into Eternal Flames and yet shall persist on in their Wickedness what Vigor what force has the true Faith in it what a strong cord is that which holds the Anchor of hope no less than the possession of an Eternal Inheritance an Everlasting life in an Immense Ocean of Joy and unspeakable satisfaction in the Lord in the presence and communion of his Saints and holy Angels 16. How does this Faith Operate in the Soul There are several ministrations and dispensations and yet by the same Spirit the ministration of Condemnation which is a gloriouswork is first to be known Mount Sina is the way that tends to Mount Sion there is a Wilderness between AEgypt Canaan the Thunders the Jugments the Terrors are first to be past through before the feet of that Messenger which brings the Message of the glad tydings of Peace can be known there is nothing but the death of the first life can satisfie the wrath Isa 52. 7. and that Life that Spirit that Power is that which makes the Attonement and makes the Soul lay hold thereof thus the new Birth comes to be known the holy Life to be witnessed and that to appear which can behold the Mercy-Seat with open face Till then the Cherubims which are in number two according to the two dispensations of the Law and Gospel which are beaten out of the Mercy Seat and Figure out the Condemnation of the said dispensations Rev. 11.5.6 do like the two Witnesses out of whose mouth Fire proceedeth and who have power to smite the Earth with Plagues still remain 17. This Christian Pattern seems to be very hard how far must we go before we can enter into the good Land The work of Condemnation is first to be gone through before an enterance into the good Land can be administred mean season with Moses as a Servant upon Mount Nebo mayest thou have a sight thereof behold the excellency and the goodness thereof have great knowledge and openings of the Divine Life and infinitely desire it yet have no admittance till the vail of flesh is put off till the low carnal mind which is for death is dead and buryed till nothing but the pure part remains till even the Perfection of Holyness comes to be known 18. How Is perfection to be expected in this Life Yes And if our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ speak truth without any difficulty Mat. 11.30 Take my yoak upon you for my yoak is easie and my burthen light the which is confirmed by the mouth of the beloved Desciple who saith his Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 and what are his Commandments Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect love one another which Love saith the Apostle Paul is the bond of perfection to which he often exhorts the Saints But let us a little consider this Perfection more narrowly In what do we offend daily doubtless you will answer in thought or word or deed he then that offends not in one of these three is a Perfect man but saist thou how can this be I answer thee The God whom we worship and adore is an Almighty God and through his Almighty Power is not only able to keep us from falling Jud. 24. but also faultless and shall we mistrust his Power shall we doubt his Almightiness No No. How shall we do then I 'le tell thee thou must watch the Command is given to all I say saith the Lord watch Thou saist thou canst not how then that is true of thy self thou canst not the Psalmist saith Except the Lord keep the City the Watchmen watch in vain Thou hast many enemies to contend withal thou art but newly got out of Aegypt how shalt thou venture to engage them the answer is short and ready stand still wait and thou shalt see the Salvation of God since thou canst do nothing that is good go not backward rather stand still that good Spirit that has brought thee one step onward of the way if but barely out of Aegypt he
undone state 'T is true as God begins to work the Evil one works also the slavery of Israel seems to be heavier till God by a powerful Hand and a strong Arm binds the power of the Adversary till he brings the soul from under his dominion And this is understood first in the discovery of sin Secondly in the Reproofs for it and then in the drawings of Gods Spirit wherein if man although he can act nothing that is good yet if he can but stand still and only look on he may be caught before he is a ware as a firebrand out of the fire and the soul seeing its misery will then begin to groan under the bondage of its corruptions at the gronings of which the compassions of God will be stretched forth and his bowels of loving kindnesses will be extended and his Arm will be made bare to work a deliverance out of Aegypt from under the domination of the power of sin Thus will the Soul be brought into a wilderness and into a Warfare where as God of old accompanied his people in a Pillar of Cloud by day and of Fire by night so also now will he accompany them by his Holy and Saving Spirit by which he will give them the knowledge of his Law as afore time at Mount Sina wherein the Condemnation Wrath and Terrors of God against the whole man of sin comes to be known and under the banner of which man must walk till he comes to possess the blessed Inheritance as once the Apostle Paul said the Law is our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Thus we at length following the Lord which draws us come neer to the good Land come to view and see it to behold the excelency and goodness of it and also to tast of the fruits thereof and now and not till now he sets before us life and death and the will now comes into a certain equal capacity of chosing of either the excellency of what we hope for is set before our eyes God puts us into the capacity of chosing either good or evil before he sets the choice before us and gives us the priviledge of embracing of that which the freedome of our wills inclines us to wherein if we choose death our blood is upon our own heads and the Lord our God is clear And what now could the Lord do more for us he would but we will not he did not say to us when we were in Aegypt dead in trespasses and sins this day have I set before you life and death chose you whether but he first quickned us when we knew him not and brought us into the capacity of chosing and then set life and death before us from whence forward if we dye our destruction is of our selves 23. What is not God Almighty is not he stronger than we cannot he which brings to the borders and sight of the good Land bring into it Yes he can and will bring all that chose the good into the possession thereof but he brings not man thereinto against his will for he gives him the freedome of his choice he that would enjoy life and be everlastingly happy must love and follow the Lord God with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might and with all his strength 24. Wherefore is it then that some chose death and perish The Answer is because of an evil heart of Unbelief the way is strait and narrow difficult to flesh and blood there are many thorns to be trampled upon and many crosses to be borne and much to be denyed that is very dear to the flesh and although the land seems to be a good and pleasant Land and infinitely to be desired yet the difficulty of attaining of it the hardships which are to be met with in the way to it and the hopelessness of entering therein seem as so many Hydra's to deter the soul and to stave it off from so much as hoping much less striving after its everlasting happiness and this is the sad condition of all those who consult with flesh and blood and have taken up a liking to and a pleasure in the sading delights and glorys of this world who think that the ways of sin are casie and the paths thereof broad and so take up through the reception of the evil report of the good Land a resolution to return back again like the Dog to the Vomit and the Sow which was washed to the wallowing in the Mire the end of whom is fearful and miserable 25. There are many ways in the World every one says they are in the right now since there can be but one right way how shall he which never knew the true escape the false He that would find the true and escape the false must come to know that which neither can deceive nor be deceived which is the holy Spirit of Truth which as is already said is that which reproves the world of sin and by the same to know the Son the belief in whom is eternal life this Faith if true is that which overcomes the world and through Christ our Lord gives us the Victory and makes us partakers of that new which is the true and living way which Jesus the Author of a better Testament than the Old has consecrated with his blood and he which comes into this Faith comes into the true way which is not in names and terms and distinguishing Titles nor in Sects nor in Opinions or any reproachful Epithite but consists in holyness and the fear of the Lord in standing and abiding in the holy life and councel of God and till people come into this they are all out of the way We desire you not to be Quakers but to come to know and believe in this and to walk as Christ our Lord and Master walked before us and then you need not doubt but to be Christians which is indeed what we are and what we indeed desire all to be 26. Tell me plainly what mean you by Jesus Christ We mean what the Scriptures mean Col. 1.16.22 him that is before all things him by whom the world was created even all things which are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible Eph. 3.19 whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers even him which in the fulness of time was manifest in flesh born of a Virgin Heb. 1.10 who having made peace through the blood of the Cross do's reconcile all things unto God whether things in Earth Act. 2.36 or things in Heaven and in the body of his flesh through death to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight if we continue in the Faith grounded and setled Col. 1.22.23 and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which we have heard 2 Thes 2.16 and was preached to every creature under heaven This is he whom we mean this is he in whom we believe
Shame but that which causes Repentance grieving that we should so long as we have done put off the day There is only required for the condemnation of us the Judgment of our Adversaries their bare affirmation of the matter wherewith we are charged is enough to pronounce us guilty and to expose us to the publick hatred of the misguided World 7. Now to let the World know our Principles we shall do our endeavour to express our Faith in a larger Character than that in which we have but now declared it Not but that which William Pen has said is the substance of all that can be spoken But because all are not of equal Capacities and that the aforesaid word Doctrine is by Adversaries abused and we thereby rendred to hold such things as are repugnant to the Holy Scriptures we shall here do our endeavour to rend the Vail and dispel these Clouds which either has or may yet blind the mind and understanding of the Intellectual part of Man We believe that there is One only Heb. 11.6 Great Almighty Eternal and holy God Eph. 4.5.6 the Maker Creator and upholder of all things Nehem. 9.20 who has given a measure of his Spirit or Grace unto all Men by which they might come to know him the true God Gen. 1.1 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 1.9 Through this Grace we believe that Jesus Christ our Lord Tit. 2.11 was in the fulness of time manifest in flesh 1. Cor. 12.7 being Conceived of the Holy Ghost Born of a Virgin Mat 1.20 and made in all things like unto us 1. Tim. 6.13 sin only excepted That he witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate Act. 2.23.32 was condemned suffered the death of the Cross Heb. 10.12 was Buried and rose again the third day Ascended Heb. 8.1 and in his own glorious and Heavenly Body Eph. 1 2â— sits at the right hand of the Heavenly Majesty Phil. 7.9 And that this same Jesus God hath highly exalted and given him a Name above every Name Joh. 3.16 that whosoever believes in him Act. 4.12 should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16 and that there is no other Name under Heaven given among Men Joh. 11.26 whereby we must be saved We believe in the Holy Ghost Joh. 14.17.26 which is the Spirit of truth the Vnction or Anointing from the Holy One that he proceedeth from the Father Joh. 16.13.15 and will shew us things to come 1. Joh. 2.20.27 and that he beareth witness of the Son and will dwell both with us and in us and that he shall teach us all things and abide with us for ever Eph. 28. Through the teachings and demonstrations of this Holy Spirit we believe 1. Joh. 5.4 that as through faith in Christ we shall be saved so that by the vertue of that faith we shall overcome the World Tit. 2.12.14 and bring forth the blessed fruits of Repentance in an boly Life Eph. 1.7 We also believe that Sanctification is by the blood of Jesus Heb. 9.14 and that so far as we are sanctified so far we are justified and so far made the Righteousness of God in him Phil. 3.9.10 And we believe that the Righteousness of Christ is no otherwise imputed unto us but as we are true Believers and in conformity to his death and sufferings Heb 2.9 And that although Christ our Lord made his Soul an Offering for sin tasted death for every Man and is a propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1. Joh. 2.2 yet none receives the peculiar benefit thereof unless through faith in his name power 2. Thes 2.12 or spirit denying themselves and taking up the daily Cross Col. 3.5 they dye unto sin and live unto righteousness and so through a mortification of the deeds of the flesh come to witness a new Birth Tit. 3.5 and Regeneration in Spirit Joh. 4.23 We believe that the Worship of God is a Spiritual Worship Joh. 3.3.5 and that they that Worship him Rom. 6.4 must Worship in Spirit and Col. 2.11.12.14 truth and that we are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands Eph. 1.12 in putting off the Body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ Rom. 2.26.29 and in like manner Buried with him in Baptisin if we be also risen with him Philip. 3.3 through the faith of the opperation of God who hath raised him from the dead Eph. 2.15 And that he has blotted out the Handwriting of Ordinances which was against us which was contrary unto us and took it out of the way nayling it unto his Cross Col. 3.17 We believe that Prayer and Thanksgivings are incumbent duties 1 Thes 5.17.18 and holy Ordinances of Gods spiritual Worship to all the Worshipers in Gods holy Temple Prov. 2â— â— 27 but being performed and not in the sence and power of the holy Spirit and in the fear and dread of Gods great and glorious name Psa 50.16 they are not only sin but an abomination to the Lord. Isa 66.3 And we believe that the holy Scriptures are the Jer. 6.20 Declarations Amos. 5.22 Writings and Testimonies not only of holy Men but of the Spirit of Truth it self and that they ought to be read believed and practised 2. Tim. 3.15 being profitable for Doctrine reproof correction and instruction in righteousness that the Man of God might have comfort through the same be made perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works and through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord are able Joh. 5.28.29 to make wise unto salvation Lastly We believe the Resurection of the Dead both of the just 1. Cor. 15.16.17 and unjust the one to salvation to an Inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled which fadeth not away 1. Pet. 1.4 reserved in Heaven where our vile or low Bodies shall be changed Phil. 3.21 and fashioned like unto his glorious Body 2. Pet. 3.7 according to the working of his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself the other to Condemnation and wrath Eph. 1.19 according to the Judgement of the great day 8. Having thus in few words given an account of our Faith without any Equivocation Mental Reservation or secret Evasion we must tell the Adversary in the words of our Lord that Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Our good Confession then being fully agreeable with the tenour and sense of the holy Scriptures is not only an Evidence to our Salvation but also a matter of Justification thereby demonstrating that it is as well the intent and belief of our hearts as the expressions of our mouths And we think the Dilemma is
Cant. 5.16 this is our Beloved and this is our Friend O Daughters of Jerusalem 27. What mean you concerning the Seed and how many Seeds are there The Seed to whom the Promise is made is Christ Gal. 3.16 the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head Isa 62.2 But there is an off-spring of God even the workmanship of his hands Deut. 28.2 which that Seed comes to redeem Isa 61.8.9 the lost Souls of poor fallen man which when that Redemption comes to be known is also called by its name that Redeems it for that was the Promise of God Eph. 3.15 and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name even by the name of thy God Isa 65.9.15 which Moses said all the people of the earth shall see and this is that Seed with whom God makes an everlasting Covenant even the Seed which God hath blessed the Seed which God brings forth out of Jacob and out of Judah the Elect chosen people which shall inherit his holy Mountain 28. Is Immediate Inspiratition Revelation ceased or no No Eph. 1.17 It is that which Paul prayed for that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory might give unto the Saints the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation It is the Inspiration of the Almighty which gives us an understanding Job 32.8 who revealeth to us deep and secret things Dan. 2.21 And that Spirit in all Ages saith Solomon entering into holy Souls Wisd 7.27 makes them friends of God and Prophets Isa 29.11 And without this Inspiration the Scriptures and things of God cannot be known or understood 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. for no man knows the things of God but the Spirit of God and he to whom the Spirit reveals them till when the Scriptures are but a Sealed Book Eph. 1.13 4.30 which neither the Unlearned nor Learned can read till the opening of the Seal which is the Spirit of Truth by which we also are Sealed to the day of Redemption 29. What is it to believe in the name of Christ and what is the effects of that Faith To believe in the name is to live Hab. 2.4 to live the life of Righteousness and Holyness Heb. 10.38 without which none can ever see the Lord now the true Faith is known by the effects thereof Rom. 1.17 for that gives victory over the world 1 John 5.4.5 3.3 and brings forth a lively hope which purifies the heart as God is pure 30. To whom is the Righteousness of Christ imputed Only to them which believe Act. 13.39 who walk not after the flesh Rom. 3.22.25 4.22.23.24 but after the Spirit who bear in their bodies dayly the dyings of the Lord Jesus Heb. 10.29 But he that walks after the Flesh fulfilling the Lusts of the same tramples underfoot the blood of the Covenant as an unworthy thing and makes the death of Christ to himself of none effect 31. What mean you by Sanctification and of Justification and how are they distinguished Sanctification is by the Spirit of God 1 Thes 2.13 and blood of Jesus our Lord and it is a making holy as it is written Rom. 15.16 thou shalt be an holy people to the Lord thy God Heb. 10.29 and he that is Sanctified comes to be justified for they are Concomitants in the work of Regeneration for the unsanctified or wicked man I will not justifie saith God Ex. 19.6 1 Pet. 2.9 Ex. 23.7 and they are chiefly distinguished in name as the cause and effect that Gods faithfulness might appear who will not acquit the guilty person 33. But Wherefore doth Paul say who Justifieth the ungodly The Speech is Tropical by a Metonymia of the subject Rom. 4.5 in which place the word ungodly is put for a Believer as the following words inculcate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imputatur fidei ejus ad justitiam his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness So that he is called ungodly only in respect to what he once was before he believed and not what he is by Faith 34. Can the Creature be perfectly Sanctified seeing John saith 1 Joh. 1.8 If we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us It is falsely Translated for the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Subjunctive Mood governed by the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si and the Preterimperfecttense of the same Mood ar appears by the ninth verse where he saith If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and how can that be if at the same time we cannot say we haue no sin the version should be thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Si dixerimus quod peccatum non haberemus nos ipsos seducimus If we say we have had no sin we deceive our selves and it is so rendred by Beza non est nobis peccatum to which Tremelius agrees nos peccatum non habere and I think out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established 35. What think you of Good Works They are the fruits of the Spirit the effects of the true faith and although that man is not saved by Works but by Faith yet he cannot be saved without them Jam. 2.22 for it is as impossible that the true Faith should be where the effects of it are not as that God should deny himself 36. What hold you of Prayer and Thanksgiving They are only to be done by that Soul which comes to dwell in the Life of Jesus 1 Thes 1.1 and 5.17 18. Jam. 1.5 6 7. and to dye dayly to Sin for to such God opens himself and then they see and know what they want and what to ask for and asking in Faith are fully assured that they shall receive the same at the hand of the Lord The Prayers and Praises then are presented to God from the Soul by the Holy Spirit which makes them a Sacrifice of sweet Savour in his Nostrils and then the Creature comes to seee that the Sacrifices of the wicked are not only sin but an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 21.28 And thus receiving an answer from God the Soul returns him a sacrifice of thanksgiving which is acceptable in his sight It is dreadful to appear before God with poluted hands and a wicked heart 37. How are the holy Scriptures to be understood By the Spirit only that gave them forth to which they are a Testimony and stand as a witness against all the wickedness and evil ways of men and all unrighteousness 2 Pet. 1.20 2 Tim. 3.16 and every evil work which is acted against God and the appearance of his holy Spirit 38. Tell me what you think of the death of Christ It was the means by which God was pleased to redeem
Lost man upon him God layed the iniquity of us all and since that sin could not be purged but by blood therefore his blood upon whom the Iniquity was laid 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 1.19 was only thought meet to be the offering of the attonement who having a feeling of our Infirmities now ever liveth to make intercession for us Heb. 7.25 39. What hold you of the Resurrection If the dead rise not our Faith is vain and we are of all men most miserable But there is a Resurrection both of just and unjust the one to Salvation who shall shine as the Stars in the Firmament 1 Cor. 15.14 Rev 20.12 John 5.29 the other to Condemnation and wrath But if any man ask with what bodies the dead shall arise with the Apostle we answer The body that is sown is not the body that shall be but God giveth it a body according to his own pleasure to every Seed it s own body suppose it be grain as Wheat or the like the grain that is sown is not that which arises but a new body yet it is its own according to the kind it is sown Wheat it is raised Wheat again not Barly Pease or the like so we in the Resurrection shall exist in our own form not that of Beasts Fish or Foul we only change an Earthly Tabernacle for a Heavenly a Carnal for a Spiritual a corruptible for an Incorruptible and a Mortal for an Immortal and so the Body is sown in Corruption and raised in Incorruption it is sown in Dishonor it is raised in Glory it is sown in Weakness it is raised in Power it is sown a Natural body it is raised a Spiritual 1 Cor. 15.53 but if any object that this Mortal must put on Immortality to that we answer it is spoken by a Synechdoche of the part wherein the Immortal part is included and so the Soul being invested with mortality is said to bear that denomination which when the Earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved shall be invested in a Building of God a house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 2. for which cause saith the Apostle Paul We sigh desiring to be cloathed with our house which is from Heaven But though it does not yet fully appear what we shall be yet without any farther curiosity we are satisfied that when he shall appear we shall be like him and that we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Who shall chang our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working of his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3.21 and with whom we shall obtain an Inheritance Immortal and Undefiled which fadeth not away reserved in Heaven even for as many as are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation prepared to be shewed in the latter times 1 Pet. 1.4 40. What say you to the last Judgment and the Everlasting Life We say that all must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every man may receive according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil 2 Cor. 5.10 11 15 16. Rev. 20.12 13. and therefore knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade men in which we are made manifest unto God and to mens Consciences that they henceforth live not unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again that walking in newness of life they may become Heirs of God and Co-heirs with Christ of an Eternal Kingdome in which there is the fulness of Peace and Joy for ever more The words of Dr. Moor in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may serve for a Conclusion to this Book The drift of this whole Book is to stir men up to take into their thoughts these two main points the hearty good will of God to mankind even in the life of this world made of the Commixture of Light and Darkness that he will through his power rescue those Souls that are faithful in this their Tryal and prefer the Light before the Dark that he will I say deliver them from the power of Living Death and Hell by that strong arm of their Salvation Jesus Christ the Living God Enthron'd in the Heart of Man to whom all the Genij of the Vniverse be they never so goodly and glorious shall serve they and all their Curious Devises and Inventions shall be a Spoil and Prey and a Possession to him that is most just and shall govern the Nations in Righteousness and Equity And that besides this Happiness on Earth every Holy Soul hereafter shall enjoy a never fading felicity in the invisible and eternal Heaven the Intellectual world which if it be not true I must needs confess it seems almost indifferent whether any Creature be or no. For what is it to have lived suppose seventy years wherein we have been dead or worse above two third parts of them Sleep Youth Age and Diseases with a number of poor and contemptible Imployments swallow up at least so great a portion that as good if not better is he that never was than he is that hath but such a glance or glimpse of passing life to mock him There are continually on Earth such numbers of men alive that if they lived well it would be an Heaven or Paradise but yet a scant one to every particular man whose days are as nothing So that the work of God seems not considerable in the making of this world if Humane Souls be exstinguished when they go out of it There is nothing considerable in the Creation if the Rational Creature be Mortal What design therefore can there be in God in the making of this World that will prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy of so excellent a goodness and wisdom but the tryal of the immortal Spirit of Man It seems the deepest reach of his Counsel in the Creation and the life of this world but a prelude to one of longer durance and larger Circumference hereafter And truly it is nothing else but the heavy load of this body that keeps down our minds from the reaching of these so high hopes from a certain sense and feeling of that clear and undisturbed state of Immortality Charity and Humility will certainly make us meet Eternal Mansions for the ever-living Deity But without these Mans Soul after this life becomes but a Den of Devils a Dungeon of dark and restless Phantasms being incorporate into the ever gnawing and corroding Spirit of Hell Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the Only Wise God our Saviour be Dominion Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen SALMON THE END Courteous Reader BEcause of the great Abuse that J. Ives has Publickly Proclaimed in Defamation of W. Salmon I have Inserted as a Post-script the very Discourse of S. Newton and Tho. Plant that thee mayst see how grossly they have Abused S. Newton on the one side and the unjust Contumelies cast on the Conversation of the Other The Substance of what Discourse happened between Tho. Plant and S. Newton at the Change HE asked me whether we owned William Salmon to be a profest Quaker my answer was I did not know him but if he was a Quaker I did not question but that I should know him but did believe he was no Quaker but I said we took it kindly from him or any other that would appear to plead our Innocent Cause against the Wrongs they did us his answer was we had good reason so to do he also said that they intended to write against him as a Quaker but now they would not And farther I said at parting that he might take for granted that he was no Quaker Samuel Newton THE END