there to give an Account for the Deeds done in the Body 2 Cor. 5.10 and such as have done well shall receive a Crown of Life and Peace with God forever and they that have done Evil shall go into Everlasting Punishment Mat. 25.46 And therefore as you have been Transgressors against God and Strangers to the Life of Holiness it is upon my Spirit from the Lord God to warn you speedily to turn every one from the Evil of your Wayes that out of Darkness you all may come and out of Ignorance and Blindness unto Christ Jesus the true Way that you may have Life who said I am come that you may have Life and that you may have it more abundantly John 10.10 And therefore turn unto him in your Hearts whose Spiritual Appearance is inwardly whom God hath sent a Light into the World John 1.9 Now that all may come unto him and believe in your Hearts the Lord Jesus and be saved for people have been in a great Mistake concerning the Faith that saves and overcomes the World for the true Faith is the Gift of God Ephes 2.8 arising from the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.8 which Faith Christ is the Author of and the Finisher also Heb. 12.2 and without this Faith you cannot please God Hebr. 11.6 And so all People read your States and Condition in the Light of Christ within you which shews unto you what you are and declares unto you your Thoughts this is the Record which God hath given of his Son in the Earth which is Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son John 5.11 this reproves you in secret for sin this is the Holy Spirit of Promise that was to come whom the Prophets prophesied of in the dayes of old whom God hath given for a Leader and a Commander of the People Isa 55.4 the Gentiles Light and Israel's Glory Luke 2.32 and unto him you must turn who stands at the Door of your Hearts and knocks Revel 3.20 who is come to destroy Sin in the Flesh whose living Power was felt in the Hearts of many Thousands in dayes past after his Resurrection in the dayes of the Apostles when he returned to his Glory that he had with the Father before the World was who descended first into the lowest parts of the Earth and ascended up far above all Heavens Ephes 4.9 10. that he might fill all things whose Glory fills Heaven and Earth neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open to the Eye of him with whom we have to do Hebr. 4.13 who dyed for our Sins and rose again for our Redemption and Justification Rom. 4.25 who appeared first to Mary Magdalen and made her a Preacher of his Resurrection Mat. 28.10 Mark 16.9 and then to his Disciples before he ascended into Heavenly Glory And when he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive und gave Gifts unto Men Ephes 4.8 And though he appeared to his Disciples as they sate at Meat yet he bad them wait for the Gift of the Spirit when he asecended unto the Father Luke 4.49 And so they were made Witnesses of his Resurrection that he rose out of the Grave and not only so but that he was in Heavenly Glory who came again as he had foretold his Disciples who said Ye have heard how I said I go away and come again unto you c. John 14.28 And as the Apostle said he was offered up once for all and to every one that looks for him will he appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation and by his spiritual Appearance were many Thousands gathered and many were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 And this Spirit of Grace taught them to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly and righteously in this present World Tit. 2.12 And this Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men Tit. 2.11 even to Jew and Gentile the Grace of God the pure Spirit of Christ the Light of the Gentiles unto which Light the Apostles were sent to turn the Heathen that had no wrâ—tten Law in those Days and from the Power of Satan unto God Acts 28.8 Thus the Lord stretched forth his Everlasting Arm of Strength and Power in those Days that People might be gathered unto him and raised up by Christ Jesus out of Death and spiritual Bondage and those Preachers of the Glorious Gospel of God's Kingdom travailed chearfully in the Lord's Work and preached freely as they had received freely Mat. 10.8 declaring both to Jew and Gentile that God hath raised his Son from the dead Acts 2.24 25. and that the Day of Joy and Glad tidings was come wherein Deliverance from the wicked one was to be known and Redemption from dead Works to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 who waited for the Son from Heaven mark that you that are Preachers in this Nation The Apostles did not come to People with Enticing Words of Man's Wisdom but directed them to the Light that was revealed from Heaven to wit the Son of God the Light of the World Thes 1.10 1 Cor. 2.4 John 1.9 and if you turn not People to the Son of God the Light of the World to wait for him inwardly then ye are blinded and are in Darkness and preach another Gospel then Christ jesus whom the Apostles did preach Gal. 1.8 for Christ Jesussaid Seek not the Kingdom in Observations for behold the Kingdom of Heaven is within you Luke 17.21 And Paul to the Romans saith That which may be known of God is manifested in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1.19 And the true Gospel is the Power of God wherein the Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1.16 17. and the Light of this Glorious Gospel shines within and if this glorious Gospel be hid it is to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not 2 Cor. 4.3 4. And you that have not this Gospel take heed how you preach lest you be found false Witnesses runnning before the true Guide Christ Jesus and professing God and Christ and yet dead in Sin all such Preachers and Hearers that are not come to the Gospel within to the Word of Eternal Life in their Hearts 1 John 5.12 are out of the Truth in the Fall and so abiding in Death for he that hath not the Son who is the Truth hath not Life for this living Word within was the Foundation of the Holy Prophets and Apostles by which they were made alive and this did divide between the good bad which Word is quick and powerful and searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins Heb. 4.12 Rev. 2.23 And it is the same to this Day as ever it was yea it lives and abides for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 And the
Form of Godliness in the outside Profession of Christ hath been setting up Faiths and Forms of Worship from the true Faith and true Worship of God which is in the Spirit John 4.23 and out of the Power and Life in the dark out of the Light wherein the Fellowship of the Saints stood in the dayes of old 1 Joh. 1.7 And this Faith that 's of man's making and setting forth works not by Love neither brings people into Unity and a holy Fellowship one with another but people are brought under by Constraint and by outward Force and such as are in their Way zealous for their Worship run into Persecution and so the Ground is not good the Heart is not changed but the old Man of Sin remains and this is far from the true Faith that works by Love and many times people whose Hearts God hath touched are compelled to go to such Worships against that which hath in some measure given them to see the Insufficiency of those Worships and Faiths that stand not in God's Power And so people you that are in any measure made tender in your Consciences and are breathing inwardly for Deliverance that you may witness Redemption to your Souls and know not the true Way and are many times afflicted inwardly and accept not Faith to believe in yout Hearts on the Lord Jesus Wait you in the Sense of that which begets the Breathings and pens your Hearts for the Desire to spring forth that desires after the Lord and that will let you see the Way more and more yea the invisible Way of God Christ Jesus who is the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 and then you will have Faith to believe that God will bring you forth out of the False Wayes of this World into Peace with himself and into Covenant with him and so your Hearts will be changed and you will come to witness inwardly the Law of the Spirit of Life written in your Hearts and so then you will have no need to wander abroad to seek Christ Jesus in the dark wayes of this World but you will all know the VVay of his Appearance in your selves and so you will be his People and he will be your God Hebr. 8.10 And this is the same Truth that was in the dayes of the Apostles Christ the true Foundation that upheld all the true Christians in the former dayes who were the true Church in Covenant with God joyned unto the Lord and so were Heirs of God's Kingdom yea joynt Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Ephes 2.20 and this was a true Church that was in God and in Christ Jesus 1 Thes 1.1 not an outside Profession only but an inward Possession a people that were risen with Christ seeking the things that are above where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God Colloss 3.1 So they had Heavenly Riches and Treasure laid up in Heaven that faileth not And this true Church was the House of God not an Outward House builded with men's Hands but a Spiritual House a People made alive to God by Christ Jesus and so they were the Workmanship of God Ephes 2.10 1 Pet. 2.5 But since the Apostacy came in and people having gone a whoring from the Lord they have not known this Mystery but have been building High Places and calling them Churches and God's House contrary to the Scriptures and so People have lost the true Sense and saving Knowledge of Christ Jesus though they have the Letter of the â—criptures which tells us plainly that the Bodies of the true Christians are God's Temples and his House 1 Cor. 6.15 19. And his Church is of his building and of his raising up who is the sure VVorkman even Jesus Christ that makes alive and brings up Mankind unto God out of the Fall and of this Church he was and is the Head who is worthy of more Honour then the House which is his Church the Ground and Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 So Christ Jesus was in his House in his Church over which he ruled and was the Head and he is in his Church to this day and is the true Head the true Guide and Leader of his People that are quickned by him and brought forth to Praise him with one â—ongue and one Morth even as one Body And so all people come to know Christ in you as they that we read of in the Scriptures Coll 26.27 for this is a Time wherein he is to be sound if you seek to him berimes and not sleight the Day of your Visitation for the Visitation of the Almighty is come and he hath caused the Day pring from on Pigh to visit us Luke 1.78 79. in which the Lord will bring to pass that which hath been of old in his Determination viz to set up Righteousness in the Earth and this Day shall never have an End it the lasting Dispensation that shall never more be vailed Prov. 14.6 and blessed are all that come to the Knowledge of it and in the first Breakin gs forth of it in the dayes of the Apostles many Thousands were gathered to God and that which was the Cause of its being vailed from man's Understanding was because of the Unfaithfulness of such as did profess the Truth whose Candlestick at last was removed out of its place Rev. 2.5 and Darkness came over them who retained a Form of Godliness and lost the Power thereof and these were the first that rebelled against the Spirit of Christ in the dayes of the Apostles Acts 7.51 and so the Devil got the Possession of their Hearts and sate in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God 2 Thess 2.4 Therefore oh ye professing Christians search your selves let not the Devil rule in your Hearts for all Unrighteousness is begotten in the Heart by the Devil who is the Author of all Sin in the Heart before it be committed but turn to the Light of Christ within that convinceth your Consciences and shews you the Begettings of that false spirit and so you will know Deliverance from the subtil Serpent the Enemy of all Mankind for it is high time to look about you and consider whose Servants you are and to whom you yield your selves Servants to obey and whose Work you are doing whether ye are obeying Christ Jesus in the Spirit of Truth that leads out of the World's Wayes Fashions and Customs into all Truth John 14 16 17 20 and Righteousnes that ye may know ye are his Sheep for My Sheep saith he hear my Voice John 10.11 14. and I lead them out and they follow me and ill give unto them Eternal Life John 10.28 Or whether you are obeying the Devil which is the Spirit of Error which leads your Minds into the Wickedness which is in the World out from God and Christ Jesus the true Light into Darkness and Death and so you are under the Bondage of Corruption polluted with all manner of Uncleanness and so in the Way to Everlasting
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
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
by poor Lazarus lest said he they also come to this Place of Torment Luke 16.28 So all you that are lofty and wanton upon the Earth consider your latter End who spend your precions Time to the Flesh in the Lust of Uncleanness and nourish your Hearts as in a Day of Slaughter James 5.5 O remember the Day wherein the Holy Pure God will plead with you for all your Abominations and for your Secret Sins that you have committed against the God of Heaven and how you make merry over the VVitness that brings Condemnation upon you because of your Sins and even torments the VVorker of Iniquity in secret this is the Faithful and True VVitness even Jesus the True Messenger who brings Gâ—adtidings to the imprisoned Soul that 's like to perish in Iniquity and this is he that was crucified in the Flesh but quickned again in the Spirit by which Spirit he preached to the Spirits in prison 1 Pet. 3.18 19. And it may be thus men may rebel agaiâ—st him and not turn at his Reproofs but spiritually may crucifie him to themselves as some did in Days past Heb. 6.6 Rev. 11.8 but it would have been much better that they had never had a Being for when God shall call them to an Account for the Deeds done in the Body then shall they cry to the Mountains fall upon us and to the Hills cover or hide us from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.15 16 17. for the Hour of his Judgment is come and who shall be able to stand Therefore return unto him betimes before it be too late that you may be reconciled to the Father and so the Lord will return unto you in his Love and in his Tender Mercy will he visit you as you yield unto him in your Hearts for such as obey him this Day do certainly injoy his Peace and in his Name is their Safety which is his Power by which their Souls are kept from the spiritual Enemy and therefore O Land of my Nativity hear the Word of the Lord God of Heaven which VVord is near unto all the Inhabitants thereof from one End unto another that the Land may be cleansed and enjoy hâ—r Sabbaths lest Afflictions and great â—orrow come in like a flood upon the inhabitants from the Great God whose Righteous Soul is grieved because of the Abominations that are within thy Borders who by his searching living Power that is Eternal over all Death and Hell is searching from one End to the other to bring Mankind into his Light and Life to worship him in his Spirit and Truth who is the blessed Creator of all the Beginning and the End to whom be Glory forever Amen THE Righteous God whose Power is great and who is wonderful in Counsel and excellent in working Isaiah 28.29 hath in these last Days appeared invisibly in the inward Parts of Mankind to place his Name and his pure Fear in the Hearts of his People according to his ancient Promise Heb. 10.16 Jer. 31.33 and to write his Law in the Hearts of his Children who are truly turned unto him and amongst the many Witnesses the Lord who is rich in his Love unto Mankind not willing that any should perish he visited me who was a Wanderer in Desolation from Year to Year seeking the Way of the Redeemed of the Lord and a Cry in secret was begotten in my Heart after God who in his own time did hear and Answer my Earnest Desire and I well remember the Days of my tender Years when I was very young there was an Innocent Breathing within me after the Thing that is Good and I saw Sin in its Conception but knew not that which gave me the Knowledge of it and Swearing I saw to be a great Evil in them that were addicted thereunto and unto the Nineth and Tenth Year of my Age I was in a good Measure restrained from Evil according to the Knowledge I then had but afterwards when Years did encrease I well remember my great Loss for evil Desires did spring up within me and by the subtil one I was betrayed and led into divers Pleasures and Vanities of this Wicked World and into many Evils which did displease the Lord and so the Tender Desires which were after Righteousness were slain and then great Darkness and Sorrow did overtake me and so into a spiritual Captivity from the Light that did shine within me in my tender Years and so for many Years walkt in the Crooked By-paths of Darkness and Ignorance in Disobedience without the Knowledge of the true God in which time I was a Servant to the Wicked One and so are all that obey him be they high or low rich or poor and after some Years I began to consider my Condition and something within me bringing to Remembrance what I had done and laying before me the Danger that attends the wicked and in this time a Travail was begotten within me to seek the Lord and repent of my Sins and from Day to Day under the Indignation of the Lord which was revealed against me because of Sin and here was a Travail through much Fear and Doubtfulness what would become of my Soul if God should cut off my Life and indeed I could read Adam's Condition when he was afraid of the Lord and hid himself because he was naked and in the first Adam I then was and so lost in the Fall and as God behold me in that woful State Heb. 2.15 subject to Bondage for Fear of Death at last he opened unto my Soul the way of Life howbeit Sorrow overtook me and much Bowed-downness did compass me about and then the Enemy of my Soul woâ—â—d have taken away my Life but the secret invisible Arm of God's Power did uphold me though I knew it not so I say God is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 1.10 And as Tenderness was begotten in my Heart so my Sins became a Burden too heavy for me to bear And this Testimony I give in the Name of the Lord that whosoever feels the Weight of their Sins it 's by the working of God's Heavenly Power begetting Tenderness in their Hearts though they know it not And so none can come to God but by this Way as our Lord said None can come unto me except the Father that has sent me draw him John 6.44 And so my Heart was bowed before the Lord and an Inward Desire begotten that none could satisfie but him alone And I saw the Ways of Man in his corrupt Nature were not those which lead to God's Kingdom and from Professor to Prophane all were gone astray then my Cry was the more earnest to the unknown God and none amongst my Worldly Relations and Neighbours could tell me the Way of my Soul 's Beloved till at last the Power of the Lord opened my Understanding and as I retired my mind inwardly in
out of my Sins and from the Wayes and Worships of the VVorld who are not in the Spirit and in the Truth and therefore will come to an End and the true VVorship which is in the Spirit and in the Truth will be established for God who is strong in Judgment will raise up his own Tabernacle Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and the Time is come wherein the Lord will work and wo unto such as endeavour to hinder his VVork which is a righteous VVork and will stand when the Pleasure of Sin shall end with Everlasting Punishment for it is Righteousness that will remain when God shall judge the VVorld and search out every secret VVork that hath been wrought in Darkness yea when Inquisition shall be made for the Thoughts of the Vngodly And so all that read understand and turn unto the Lord for he is certainly risen in great Power yea he hath taken unto him his great Power and is come to reign 1 Cor. 15.25 for he hath seen the great Backslidings of the Sons of Men and the Darkness that hath vailed the Creation and the Death that hath reigned over Mankind and he is come to take away the Vail that the Enemy of Mankind hath spread over the Nations and to destroy the Face of the Covering cast over all People that Death may be swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15.54 55 And the Holy Pure God whole Dominion is an Ancient Dominion and his Heavenly Glorious Kingdom is from Everlasting to Everlasting before the Devil and Death's Kingdom Rule and Government was he hath beheld the Sad Estate of the Sons of Men hath sent forth a Saviour who is mighty the same that in Dayes past was mighty in word and Deed before God and all the People Luke 24.19 and the same Saviour even Jesus which is Christ the Lord hath redeemed and saved a People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 who is able to bring forth all the distressed amongst the People whose inward Cry is to the unknown God as mine was who hath delivered my Soul from Death who is my Shepherd Bishop and Teacher in whom dwelleth all Fullness who laid down his Life for his Sheep whose precious Blood hath redeemed us whom my Soul hath Cause to extol and praise Night and Day who is my Strength and Defence against all the Assaults of my Soul's Enemy to whom saith my Soul be Glory Everlasting and Praises for ever rendered who is over all Blessed forever Amen After this Work was begun in my Soul and my Understanding opened to see the sad and woful State of Mankind being fallen into the State of the first Adam in the Separation from God and Christ Jesus my Heart was filled with Sorrow and a Zeal for the Name of the Lord God did livingly spring in my Heart and a Necessity was laid upon me to warn my Neighbours to turn unto the Lord and the Lord shewed me the sad and woful State of many whose Iniquities are even come to the full and I warned them in the Name of the Lord in their publick Assembliâ—s to turn from the Evil of their wayes and now it lives in my Heart afresh to warn them by writing also in the Holy Fear and Awe of the God of Heaven and Earth in the deep Consideration of their sad Estate And now my Neighbours this is unto you in Bowels of tender Love whose oâ—l desireth your Everlasting Good that you may consider your Wayes and turn unto the Lord for he is merciful slow to anger and of great Kindness that Inwardly you may be sensible of the Power of Jesus Christ whose Heavenly Light shews you your Sins for great are your Abominations which grieves the Lord God and the abounding thereof from Day to Day How doth Drunkenness abound amongst you and Pride and Vain Glory and Swearing and Lying from Day to Day abound within the Borders of the Place of my Nativity for whose Sakes my Heart hath often been bowed down before the Lord that the Dayes of Sin and Iniquity may come to an End Now Friends and Neighbours there is no Way for you to escape the Indigration of the Lord but by Repentance and therefore repent speedily and forsake your Sins in this Day wherein the Lord hath visited you with his Day Spring from on high and that is the true Light that sheweth unto you your Thoughts and reproves you in Secret for Lying Swearing and Drunkenness and all manner of Uncleanness and that is the Day Spring from on high revealed from God to lead out of Sin and to save from Transgression and this is the Grace of God which the Apostle spake of which hath appeared unto all men which is the true Teacher and Leader out of Sin Tit. 2.11 into Holines and this will search your Hearts as you wait for it for how have you been saying from Time to Time At what Time soever a Sinner doth repent him from the Bottom of his Heart God will blot out all his Transgressions out of his Remembrance and do not many take Liberty to sin because of this but as the Promise of Forgiveness upon Repentance Ezek. 18.21 22. commends the Mercy of God that none might despair yet the Lord will surely plead with all that are presumptuous and Continuers in Sin read your Portion Ezek. 18.20 therefore all both old and young remember Repentance from the Bottom of the Heart for that you must all come to witness if you be made clean so that God may receive you And indeed that is a Thing of great Concernment but that is the Thing most wanting amongst men for there are Professions enough but I see but few that are come to the Cleansing of the inside or inward Washing but as the Pharisees who made clean the outside of the Cup or Platter but the inside was unclean Luke 11.39 So there are many outside Professors of God and Christ that â—râ— confessing their Sins and Repentance as they say from the Bottom of the Heart but the Cause remains the Bottom is still corrupt and therefore that you may come to the Bottom that is the Desire of my Soul and the End of writing unto you for you can never come to the Bottom till you come to the Spirit of Truth the Heavenly Light that lets you see the Bottom of your Hearts and searcheth out the most hidden Things for the Heart of Man is deceitful and none can search it but the Lord Jer. 17.10 and the Lord knows it and tries the Heart aâ—d searcheth the innermost Parts And this is the Substance that is come that searcheth the Heart and declares unto man his Thoughts Ames 4.13 and as you obey him who is near you even the Spirit of Truth â—o you will come to witness the Work you are a talking of a Death to Sin and a New Birth unto Righteousness for Christ Jesus is manifest to take away Sin renew Man and Woman again to God And such as come to witness Repentance from