Destruction and as the Ground that bringeth forth Bryers and Thorns which is nigh unto Cursing whose End is to be burned for his Servants you are to whom you yield your selves to obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6.16 for it s not sufficient to say with your Mouthes and your Lips We believe in God and Christ Jesus while ye abide in the Transgression and your Hearts far from him and that he dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem and ye still live in the Nature of the Wicked One this is the same as they in old time who retained a Form of Godliness and denyed the Power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 who were False Apostles Deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and it s no Marvel said the Apostle for Satan himself is transformed into an Argel of Light and it 's no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness whose End shall be according to their Works 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. And this was the great Deceit that entered into the Church and began in the Days of the Apostles when that false Spirit of Antichrist seduced those that were called Christians I say such as were deceitful Professors of Christ Jesus in that Day who turned aside after filthy Lucre into Balaam's VVay and so loved this present VVorld 2 Pet. 2.15 and these denyed the Immediate working of the Spirit of Christ and so became Enemies to God and unto the Cross of Christ whose God is their Belly whose Glory is their Shame who mind earthly things said the Apostle Phil. 3.19 and said Jude Beloved you have heard before of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ how that there should Mockers come in the last time walking after their own ungodly Lusts these be they said he who separate themselves Jude 18 19. sensual not having the Spirit and these were they that denyed the only Lord God and our Lord jesus Christ savingly under the Dispensation of the Gospel who rebelled against the Spirit and Power of God in their Hearts and these were corrupted deceitful treacherous Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasure more then Lovers of God 2 Tim. 3.3 4. And thus the Devil by his Insinnuations brought in the Apostacy and led People into the Rebellion against the Light and Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ and so People have been bewildred and greatly desolated since the Days of the Holy Apostles Rev. 12.6 and VVanderers from Hill to Mountain even from one dry Profession to another in the Darkness of Transgression and so Ignorance hath abounded in the Kingdoms of men and the general Doctrine hath Been denying the work of the Spirit of Christ within and the Light not to be the Way and so People are bâ—inded from time to time and following the Spirit Power of Darkness who leads from God and Christ Jesus who is Light and Life to the Souls that obey him into Death and Sorrow under the We and Indignation of Almighty God Now consider ye that are denying the Working of the Spirit of God within you and say Revelation is ceast Oh that you would diligently weigh this thing in the just Ballance in your own Hearts Is not this the denying of Christ for God looks to the Heart 1 Sam. 16.17 and not to the outward Appearance and all that deny the Spirit of Christ within they have broken Covenant with God and are in Danger of Eternal Death and so go a whoring after other Gods and other Lovers as the old apostate Jews who turned aside into by Paths and crooked Ways from the Way of Life whose Services Sacrifices and offerings New moons and Sabbaths were all an Abomination to the Lord Isa 1.13 And so you that deny the work of the Spirit in your Hearts your Service Worships and Ordinances are not acceptable to the Lord because Sin remains the Sting of Death yet untaken away you remaining in the Guilt dead in Trespasses and Sins and so the Spirit of the VVicked One keeps the House hath the Possession in the Heart who hath no right to reign in the Hearts of the Children of Men therefore as the wicked Spirit hath reigned which hath led you into Darkness and possessed you with a Perswasion that Revelation is ceast now examine and try your selves that he may be cast out and your Hearts cleansed and your Souls redeemed that Christ may reign whose right it is and so you will come to know the VVorking of God's Holy Spirit the true Power Christ Jesus who is come to destroy Sin in the Flesh Rom. 8.3 to the 11th and as you yield your selves unto him inwardly so the Change of the Mind you will come to witness and your Affections Desires and Inclinations will be redeemed out of the Earthly corruptible things and Vanities of the VVorld into a Heavenly-mindedness and so you will have Treasure in Heaven with the Lord being delivered from the Power of Death and Darkness which rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience and so you will be true VVitnesses for God that he hath raised up his Son from the dead who is become a quickning Spirit who works in the Hearts of all that obey him and these are the true Christians this Day who are redeemed by Christ Jesus to God out of the Fall out of the Death that came by Sin into the Life that came by Christ Jesus who sinned not and so you will know in your selves the Truth and the VVay which is Holy and no Defilement at all in it which is the Light and Life of Men Christ Jesus John 1.4 for assuredly the Day is dawned wherein God hath opened the VVay of Truth which is not another but the same as in old time which is the VVay of Holiness Isa 2.3 35.8 And though this seems to be a strange thing to preach Christ Jesus in Spirit this Day who is the Light of the VVorld as God hath sent him forth to enlighten every man that cometh into the VVorld John 1.4 9. yet we know to our Souls Comfort and Satisfaction that he is come whose Power and Dominion shall sway and bear Rule in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men until he hath utterly wasted that wicked Nature in Man that rebels against him and will not that he should reign Luke 19.27 And though People have rebelled against him in this Night of Darkness and the Clouds thereof have shaddowed vailed and darkned the Understandings of the Sons of Men yet that shall not make void the Ancient Promise of God who said that the Knowledge of his Glory should fill the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11.9 Hab. 2.14 neither shall it frustrate the Intention of the Lord whole Determination hath been and is to make an End of Sin and bring in Everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 though the Enemy of the Souls of Men hath brought in a great and deep Mystery
all you that are thus touched inwardly and tendred in any measure in the Bowed-dowaness of your Souls seeking the Lord that you may be saved oh go not forth after your Imaginations to seek him in the Desert nor after such as say Lo here or Le there Go ye not after them nor follow them Mat. 24.23 but wait having your Minds retired in the Manifestation of his heavenly Light within you and then ye will come to a true and certain Knowledge of him and so you will see how the Wise have Erred how they are gone back into the old By-Pathes that they were in that could not speak a Word in Season to the Soul that is weary but shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men and hindred such as were entring Mat. 23.13 therefore WO was cryed against them which WO stands over the Heads of all that are in the Rebellion against the Spirit of God to this day And is it not even so Do not our Wise Men and Professors shut the Kingdom against men Do not they preach against the Entrance into Life Eternal saying Revelation is ceased and this sad Doctrine hath filled the Land with Uncertainties and many Thousands are like to perish and dye in their Sins through Unbelief John 8.21 24. Now all you that are out of the Light of Life in the World of Death and Darkness and are perswaded though you dye in your Sins and Vncleanness yet you shall be saved not being freed by Christ Jesus from the Act of Sin here in this Life Troly this is a false Faith and Hope that will come to an End for Sin ever was and is the Cause of man's Separation from God Isa 51.1 2. and God sent his Son to destroy Sin in the Flesh and to be a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2.2 And though People have forsaken the Lord God of Power and Life yet he hath again visited with his Ancient Mercies the Sons of men to the End they might not perish and his Ancient Arm is revealed that gathers to himself and though the Night hath been long and tedious wherein the Enemy of the Soul hath possessed the Place and Seat in the Temple 2 Thes 2.4 yet now the Lord calls for Repentance and for all to come unto him out of their Sins and from under Satan's Power and whosoever comes unto him he will in no wayes cast out John 6.37 but in this Day who refuseth to hearken to his Heavenly Voice and come not unto him they will unavoidably perish for evermore and their Blood shall be upon their own Heads for there is no way to God's Kingdom but as Redemption is witnessed by Christ Jesus out of the lost State and so being restored to God by Christ Jesus you come into the Way of Life where Peace with God is known and this hath been the Happiness of People in all Ages and Generations as they have come up into Obedience out of the Transgression and so have had Fellowship together in the Light of Righteousness and so Truth and Righteousness was their Way and Christ the Rock was their Foundation which Foundation God hath laid 1 Cor. 3.11 and so they found Favour with the Lord and ended their Days in Peace but on the other Hand this hath been the sad unhappy State of Mankind when they turned from God and Righteousness and Holiness into Disobedience and so became wicked workers filthy and corrupted with Sin and Uncleanness and so the Devil through Deceit hath undone many to their Utter Ruin and their Eternal Sorrow and sometimes perswading the Creature one Way and sometimes another sometimes in profession of Religion without the Life of Holiness which is an Abomination to the Lord for unto the Wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy Mouth Psal 50.16 And so let all repent and turn to the Lord that you may be saved for the Truth is revealed that hath a long time been hid with the Lord even the same unchangeable immortal Seed CHRIST that bruiseth the Serpent's Head and though many are so vailled with Darkness as to deny his working Inwardly and limit the holy one yet he is come contrary to their Expectations and therefore they receive him not So the Way of God is not to be known in man's Way nor yet in man's Time nor in man's Will but as man obeyes God and is subject to him so he comes to know his Way And so all People consider these things whilest you have time and be warned to come out of Ignorance and become sensible that you may understand for God never forsakes any People without a just Cause therefore lay it to Heart and ponder this in your secret Meditations and as your wise men tell you Revelation is ceast let them tell you when where to whom and for what cause did God ever cast off any People when they were obedient to him Nay he never forsakes People till they forsake him therefore the Cause is in man and God is clear So the Lord in his Mercy in these latter Days hath opened his Truth and hath brought us into the Way of Life wherein we see how the Apostacy came in and in all Ages and under every Dispensation the Cause was in men because they rebelled and turned from God but now there are many so bewildred in their Minds having lost the good old Way are perswaded the Cause is in God and that he will not work by his Spirit now as he did in Days past and so being deceived do not truly endeavour to come out of Sin all their Life time but imagine that God will accept of them in their Sins and yet are perswaded that they shall inherit Heaven when this Life shall be at an End Ephes 5.5 whereas the Apostle said The Heaven and the Earth that now is are kept in store reserved unto Fire against this Day of Judgment and Perdition of VNGODLY MEN 2 Pet. 3.7 so you may read your Portion here if you turn not to God that you may be cleanled where all your false Joyes and Pleasures will come to an End Amos 8.10 and everlasting Sorrow will overtake you And farther as you deny the Working of the Spirit and rebel against it you are one with the old Backsliders even from the Beginning for that was the chief Cause that God brought Destruction upon the old World because they rebelled against his holy Spirit for after they departed from the Lord yet his good Spirit did strive with them till at length the Lord was grieved and said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man c. Gen. 6.3 so the Day of their Visitation passed away and they were overthrown with the Flood Gen. 7.23 so you may read and apply this to your selves for you dare not say but the Lord by his Spirit hath doth strive with you as in the dayes of Noah who is
have the Spirit they are the Children of God but if any man have not the â—pirit of Christ he is none of is Rom. 8.9 and these that are obedient to the Spirit of Christ within them they are a Living People and are spiritually minded waiting for the Promise of God to be sealed up in Covenant with the Lord Ephes 2.22 And so they come to be a Habitation for God through the Spirit that first cleanseth and prepareth the Heart for God and so it comes to be sanctified through the Spirit by believing in the Truth 2 Thes 2.13 And all other People that are gathered outwardly without the Spirit and Life and Power of God that destroyes the Devill and his Works are dead to God and are yet in the Grave of Transgression and are in danger of falling into the deep pit of Misery where their Worm dieth not neither is their Fire quenched Isa 66.24 and such are Hypocrites deceiving themselves and others and painted with an outside having the Sheeps clothing but Inwardly are ravening Wolves And such as have not the Spirit for their Guide run when God sends them not and prophesie when the Lord speaks not to them Jer. 29.8 9. as they in old Time that rebelled against the Spirit and cast the Word of God behind their Backs Isa 5.24 and such are blind Watchmen who are in the dark Profession over whom the Sun is gone down Mic. 3.6 and Darkness is to them who have not a Vision Michah 3.5 6 7. but deny any such Thing as Vision and Revelation and so are Night-Workers not knowing whether their Work will stand in God's Day or not and such were the blind Watchmen in the Dayes of old when God did arise and by his Word and Power in the Hearts of a People moved the Inner man and raised Desires after himself but the Watchmen of the Night said the Church they found me and wounded me Cant. 5.7 and here is the Time of trying the false Prophets then sayes the travailing Soul I am troubled inwardly and cannot be satisfied with all my outside Profession nothing will satisfie me till I come to enjoy the Beloved of my Soul who is heavenly and was sent to save me from my Sins Watchman canst thou tell me where I may find him But saith the blind Watchman Revelation is ceast no inward immediate Working of the Spirit now And here many have been and are wounded to this Day and this is a certain Testimony whereby you may know the true Prophet from the false for the true Prophet comes in the Name of the Lord standing in God's Counsel turning People to God saying Turn from Transgression and obey Christ Jesus the true Light that you may be made free and saith the true Messenger wait for the Son from Heaven 1 Thes 1.9 10. And so many have obeyed this Glorious Gospel the Light whereof shines inwardly and the Beloved is found that we sought for amongst the blind Watchmen where we found him not but it was but a little whilâ— I was gone from the Night Watchmen and I found him whom my Soul loveth Cant. 3.4 This also consider the false Prophet he comes with a Lye preaching no Freedom from Sin no Revelation the Light within not the Way not directing to the Heavenly Witness which is able to save Eternally from Death and Misery but daubs up with untempered Morter Ezek. 13.10 11. and sows Pillows under the Arm holes of People crying Peace Peace when there is none healing the wound deceitfully Jer. 6.14 And so are Pastors that destroy and scatter the Sheep of God's Pasture Jer. 23.1 but God will require his Flock at their Hands Ezek. 34.10 and We will be unto them forever who are found in the Way of the old rebellious amongst the Jews and profest Christians who transgress against the God of Jacob whose Portion was with the Unbelievers and Hypocrites where is Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth And in the Rise of the false Church who went a whoring from Jesus Christ it was signified by the Spirit concerning her Punishment I will cast her into a Bed of Torment and they that commit Adultery with her into great Tribulation Rev. 2.22 And so all People consider these Things and come to the Revelation of the Son of God which gives Life and Dominion over Hell and Death Isa 25.8 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 which is the Good Old Way the Path of the Righteous and Obedient Children of the Light of Jesus Christ and so all will know the Lord and be saved for without this Man is beneath the Beast of the Field for when he was made Ruler over the Creation he knew Dominion and Power and Wisdom from on high and was in the Image of God over the Creation of Beasts Fowls Fishes and the Earth Gen. 1.26 but when he transgrest against God he lost his Righteous Life and Innocent Dominion and fell under the Creation and so the Ox knows his Owner and the Ass his Master's Crib but Israel knows not his God Isa 1.3 Jer. 8.7 now until this lost Estate be restored to man again and the Cause removed which is Sin Man remains in the Loss without God in the World and there is no Way to come to that State again but by Christ Jesus who is the Door the true Entrance who saith No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 and this is the standing Rule which is unchangeable and is from Everlasting to Eve lasting though it 's vilified and lightly esteemed of amongst many yet unto us he is the chiefest of Ten Thousands Cant. 5.10 who hath redeemed us unto God out of our Sins and washed us from our Filthiness in his own Blood to him be Glory forevermore Rev. 1.5 And this is the sure Rock upon which God is building his Spiritual House his Church against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Mat. 16.18 And all that think of an Inheritance in Heaven though they dye in their Sins are in a great Mistake for no unclean thing shall enter Ephes 5.3 4 5 6. And if any think of being cleansed after this Life and so made fit hereafter this also will fail and come to an End for after Death there is no Redemption mortifie therefore your members whilest you are upon the Earth Col. 3.5 for consider the Rich Man who dyed and lift up his Eyes in Hell Luke 16.23 and cryed for Help from poor Lazarus ver 24. but all was in vain there was no Remedy nor Redemption for him who had spent his Days in Pleasure and Vanâ—ty upon the Earth not so much as a little Water to cool his Tongue when he was tormented in the Flame And also you may read concerning his five Brethren that he had left behind in his Father's House who were in the same Danger to be tormented with him and therefore desired they might be warned