deeds of the flesh which breaks the Law by his powerful Spirit that you may follow it and your fruits may be unto Righteousness and you dead to the fruits of the flesh which is sin all your belief will avail you no more than the Jews unbelief did them which rather added to their condemnation than otherwise Therefore all come down to that of God made manifest in you and receive it with a willing mind and then you will feel it giving you that power which by all your own willing and striving out of it you could never obtain even to become the Sons of God and to know his Seed brought forth in dominion in you to abide and then you will come to know what that state was in which they were that could not sin 1 John 3.9 because they were born of God and his Seed remains in them by which they were kept so that the wicked one toucheth them not because greater was he that was in them than he that was in the world So unless you feel this wrought in you by him all your talk of him and his Righteousness will do you no good for as long as you commit sin the filth will follow it and the condemning of that which condemns sin in the flesh will follow you to the end of your race by which a fire will be kindled where the worm will never die neither goes it out and the Law against sin you will find to have its full force then because you rejected the Light through disobedience which would have destroyed for you that which transgressed the Law in you and as you had yeelded in obedience to it it would have fulfilled the Law in you by bringing forth fruits of holiness which the Law requireth and all your thoughts of being from under the Law will prove vain for it is said to be a Schoolmaster to bring unto Christ the Light and Lamb of God who takes away sin the which Gal. 3.24 except you are brought to and by him cleansed you will find the Law to stand in full force over you you being out of him who ends that which transgresseth it Jam. 2.10 even by slaying it upon the Cross which is the Power of God which over-comes or rather comes over and so brings under the power of the Devil which keeps man in bondage in sin so when you come to know this you will cease remembring his death at Jerusalem and will come to see how he hath been crucified in you and what it is that hath crucified him Rom. 6.10 and not onely so but will know a dying with him to the flesh and the fruits thereof and then shall you be quickened with him in the Spirit of Life in which you will live unto God which you will truly know when he comes to arise from the dead in you and to lead that captive which hath held him in captivity and oppressed him as a cart with sheaves who while you go astray bears the iniquity of you all and is crucified in that place which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt reade within and feel what I say then will you come to mourn over him whom you have pierced Rev. 1.7 And this verily I say unto you except you know his Crucifixion and Resurrection nearer you than Jerusalem even in you and arising with him out of the grave of sin and death and a living to God in the Spirit of Holiness which sets free from sin all your talking of his dying for your sin and arising for your justification while you have lived in sinning against his Light in your Consciences will never profit you any thing Ephes 5.14 Therefore arise thou that sleepest in sin and stand up to Judgment and hearken to that which calls out of sin which is the Spirit of Truth and it will give thee life if through death thou wilt follow it for no other way is there to come to life but thorow death to that which leads thee from God Gal. 3.19 therefore take up the Cross and kiss the Rod and it will whip thee out of sin and a new work in thee will begin Those that know this death are not under the Law but under Grace for the Law was added because of transgression in which if a man live and it live in him then is he under the Law for it takes hold on a man so long as he lives in sin which is the transgression thereof Tit. 2.11 but he that is dead to sin is not under it but is come to the Grace of God which leads him out of sin and teacheth him to live godly and righteously in this present evil world so then by Grace sin is done away and the Law fulfilled which requires a holy life which is brought forth in and through all that receive the Power of God which in Christ the Light is offered freely to all that he might be all in all both to will and to do that which man of himself could in no wayes do he having lost his first estate in which he had power over all things being fain into the bondage of the Devil and captivated by him at his will therefore God in his endless Love to lost man Rom. 8.3 4. sent his Son a Light into the world who for sin condemneth sin in the flesh which the Law without was too weak to do that the Righteousness of it might be fulfilled in all that obey and follow him Now such can truly witness he comes not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it in and for them which Law requires Perfection and Holiness without which a man shall never see God But saith the World Object Yea perfect in part so are accepted aâ— wholly perfect through Christ Nay Answ not in part say I but wholly even entire wanting nothing for the Law requires not a part but the whole and it is not a Perfection inferiour to what the Law requires but even the same if not a better that we are to be brought to by the power of the Lamb of God who takes away the imperfection of all that walk in his Light or else it cannot be said he fulfills it but leaves it unfulfilled and hath made a way by which man shal escape the condemnation of it though he live in transgression thereof which was not the end of his coming in the flesh that man should be accepted perfect because he lived in perfection but that the same perfect innocent harmless life might be brought forth by the operation of his Life which is the Light of men in our mortal bodies herein lies the acceptance if he come thus to live in us to make our sinful bodies conformable to that Body of his 2 Cor. 5.17 which was the perfect pattern then are we in him according as it is said He that is in Christ is a non creature old things are passed away and all is become new and all things
for ever except you turn at my reproof that I may pour out my self upon you to cleanse you from all pollutions of flesh and spirit and so bring you into a godly life in perfectness and true holiness before you go hence and be no more seen for as Death leaves you so will Judgment find you Isa 38.18 for in the grave there is no cleansing So whilst you have time take this for a warning for you will find no mercy with God after death if you reject me the Light whom my Father hath in his mercy sent into the dark world that all that receive me should be led out of sin and darkness into the Light of Everlasting Life If any ask for a proof of these words let them turn within and search the Book of Conscience and look truly therein and there they shall find it We hope we shall finde mercy hereafter World for God is a merciful God The mercy of God is not as many think it is Answ nor to be found where many hope for it which is to say in the life to come after death of the outward man but it is to be found in this life whilst thou hast a being in this earthly tabernacle or else all thy hope in thy dead mind will be in vain for except thou know a cleansing by the Light which is the mercy of God from sin when you shall come to receive a just recompence of reward for all your deeds done in the body Rev. 20 13. then shall your dead minds be awakened and the mercy which you have dreamed of therein be turned into fear wrath and anger wherein the Lord will reveal himself to take Vengeance upon all that knew him not to live in them and they to live in him whose Life raiseth out of Death and all dead works Revel 20.6 into the Life of Righteousness which is free from sin which is the first Resurrection of which whosoever partakes not the second Death will have power over Therefore more plainly to all understandings this I say is the mercy of the compassion at God to all mankind who have lost their spiritual life through falling into sin by which came death over all insomuch that man became more sensless than the Ox Isa 1.3 which knew his owner or the Ass which knew his Master's crib I say his mercy is to offer him Life freely in the Light of his Son which he had fully lost and of himself could in no wayes gain it again John 1.3 therefore God so loved the world that he sent his Son a Light into it in whom was and is Life whose Life is the Light of men shining in dark hearts to which they in taking heed and obeying it in its movings leadings and workings will thereby be led out of sin which it bears Testimony against to take up a Cross to the carnal mind and lusts of the flesh which in them is all enmity against God on which Cross the evil seed will be crucified and the enmity slain and so comes of twain one new man to be made in whom the Image and Life of God is restored again by the second Adam in whom all are made alive 1 Cor. 15.22 who receives him who is the quickening Spirit from that death which entred them by the first Adam who was an earthly man and so all that receive Christ the Light receive the Mercy of God and come to know the Seed of the Kingdom which is like a little leaven which as it comes to have its way to work and operate in the heart it makes all things new by working out the evil seed and killing the old man with his deeds and so makes a new lump Joh. 3.3 5. this is the work of Restoration in the washing of Regeneration through which the new birth is brought forth of which except a man be born he must not inherit the Kingdom of God So this is the Mercy of God Joh. 15.24 to give every one a measure of the Light of his Son to work this Work in and for them which they of themselves could not work which must be wrought in this life or never But yet I feel there are some in the world who are ready to say thus Oh this perfect life that we could attain it Object Oh how willing could we be to be rid of all sin if it be possible for we feel something in us crying as it were for deliverance which is grieved and burthened with the heavy load of sin and indeed notwithstanding all our Observations wherein we have been seeking life and peace yet are we unsatisfied and which way to be we know not Well my Friends Answ in the remembrance of you is my soul refreshed and what if I say I have been striving all this while that I might make a way to come plainly to your understandings to speak a little in the Bowels of Love that these good desires in you may be strengthened and the eye of your understandings opened to see the good day that is broken forth unto many who sate in darkness and under the shadow of death hoping for life and breathing for power to come up out of the pit where there is no water where their tongues clave to the roof of their mouthes in which their hearts were ready to faint and were almost giving up to conclude that there we must remain notwithstanding something breathed to come forth but being in bondage in the Prison-house the keeper thereof said its impossible and while we hearkened unto him we saw no hope of attaining our desires but turning away from him and standing a little still we heard a Voice that spake unto us comfortably Joh. 13. and with it was a Light that shone out of darkness by the which we saw marvellous things wherein our souls were greatly revived and as we hearkned diligently and gave up to the call of the same it brought us by a way that we thought not of out of the depth of the dungeon of death where we were held in bondage and slavery by the King of the bottomless pit who seemed so strong as if he could never be overcome but he that spake unto us in the Light Matth. 12.29 hath proved too strong for him for he hath broken the bars of brass by the might of his power and unlocked the doors of steel and by the Sword of his Spirit hath he cut our bands assunder even the chains wherewith we were held And therefore I as one that have been in the deep even in bondage under the prince of that world which lies in wickedness do hold forth and testifie unto you that a stronger than he is come Matth. 12.29 who is able to bind the strong-man and spoil all his goods and behold he is nigh unto you who breathes from deliverance from sin for it is he that hath begotten that desire in you and not only so but
satisfie your thirsty souls but to the Fountain of living Waters all come and drink freely then shall you never thirst again then shall you know what it is to drink new Wine with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven and to sup with him then will you never go more to seek him in the dead letter and other dead creatures but will come to know him and his Life made manifest in you this is the sum and substance of all even to know the Bread of Life in your own houses and your own Fig-tree that you may sit under it where none can make you afraid then will you know the Mystery of Godliness which is very great even God manifest in the flesh But now I feel some weak understandings will be ready to say You seem here to deny the Ordinances of the Lord's Supper Object which we believe are to stand for ever and other outward means and speak as if we must come to live above Ordinances To which I have these words to signifie Although Christ took the Cup saying This is my Blood Answ and likewise the Bread saying This is my Body this do in remembrance of me c. I say this being all the Command you have for it is not sufficient to prove it to remain an Ordinance for ever for he did not say 1 Cor. 11.26 you shall alwayes do this but Do this which signifieth only at that time to keep them in remembrance of him till he came to them again And if after he was come they did use it because of the weakness of some yet that is not sufficient for you to rely upon and so to rest only in the shadows denying the substance as ye do which is to say the Power of God which sets free from sin in this life which indeed is the sum of all John 6.33 35 48 50 51 53 54 55 56. even the Life and Blood of the Lamb of God except which a man partakes of he hath no life in him to which I testifie a man may attain to and not use those things and then what need is there of them the substance being enjoyed And now to speak more plainer to the matter this I say Even as Paul by the Spirit of God cryed down that which God himself commanded Gal. 6.15 which is to say Circumcision saying it availed nothing but only the new creature which was not wrought in any measure by that outward act but by the Circumcision of the heart in and by the Spirit which was the substance of that outward type for the attaining of which he did not preach the outward Gal. 5.6 to be used for the means to bring to the inward but saw plainly that the use of the outward drawed their minds therein to rest Rom. 2.29 Gal. 5.2 short of the thing it self therefore he said If they were circumcised Christ the true Circumcision should profit them nothing And had he any proof for this but onely the Spirit in himself and therefore by the Spirit in the Fear and Authority of God this I say unto you all Bread and Wine Joh. 6.53 54 55. or no Bread and Wine availeth nothing but onely the Body and Blood of the Lamb which is spiritual or all spirit is the main thing even the very substance it self which only is felt and enjoyed by staying the mind inwardly in the Light and Spirit of God and not by eating and drinking in the remembrance thereof and never coming to witness the thing remembred which if you say Yea we do by Faith I tell ye Nay not by the true Faith while you witness not freedom from all sin in this life 1 Joh. 3.3 5.18 neither believe you shall do for they who had the living Faith it purifies them even as Christ was pure who came not to this pure cleansing by such outward things and means as you plead for but they said it was by walking in the Light 1 John 1.7 as God was in the Light that they had their fellowship with him and the Blood of his Son to cleanse them from all sin Jam. 2.20 so there your Faith without these fruits is but a dead faith And now let me appeal to the Witness of God in those who have done it in the most sincerest abundance to God and in so doing it have felt something as ye have thought of the Love of God Yet I say it hath been because your minds were at such times in consideration of the weight of the matter circumspectly stayed upon God in the Spirit and not because you ate the Bread and Wine So then cease making an Idol of it as thinking you cannot enjoy God without it or that the dead creature conveyes any thing of him into you and come down into the Spirit and in it dwell continually which is that that only can and doth do it and so when you come truly in this condition and in it do abide Joh. 14.23 which is to say not only to sup with Christ sometimes but alwayes in the Spirit to make your abode with him and he with you you will then say with me that all these outward things are nothing but the Spirit is all in this matter which whosoever denies Col. 2.21 22. resisteth the everlasting Ordinance of God wherefore touch not taste not handle not any thing that perisheth with the using after the doctrine and commandments of men nor make to your selves the likeness of any earthly thing of the invisible Body and Blood of the heavenly Son of God for if ye do may I not say Oh! miserable is your condition and little are your hearts affected with him who cannot keep in the living remembrance of him without eating and drinking in remembrance of his Death Wherefore O come down to that which crosseth the carnal mind to take up the Cross that it may be crucified thereon then shall you know a dying with him and be made partakers of his Resurrection wherein the sting of Death and the victory of the Grave will be remembred no more And yet further May I not say unto you that the Papists whom you condemn as Idolaters may plead for their using of Images in like manner as you do for your Bread and Wine for they say they worship them not as gods but look upon them in their worshipping of God that so thereby their minds may be fervently fixed upon him having conceived in their hearts that they cannot be so fervent with him without them as with them But Object you say they are deceived for they may draw nearer to God without them Even so say I Answ But mind a little how you in condemning them herein condemn your selves also who have conceived in your selves that you cannot so well keep in the remembrance of Christ and have such communion with the invisible God without the exercise of some visible outward things in the likeness of him as with them Wherefore I
unto the day of God And having felt his Love by kissing of his Rod I will make mention of his Name and tell of his Salvation For he hath shewed me the same which saves out of Transgression Therefore with joy unto the Lord with th'Spirit I will sing Who hath broken the snare and cord of Death which was a sting And hath quickened by his Power a life in me to live Which when it feels his pleasent showers doth Praises to him give I when I feel the pure Fountain in me to ope and spring Which issues from Sions Mountain the Life of her sweet King Then is my sp'rit orecome ev'n with the issues of that Life Which cometh from the glorious Sun who leadeth out of strife Into the perfect pure Love which never thinketh ill Where nothing at all doth him move to any but pure good-will O in this Life that 's free from strife my soul hath its delight For O it is my married Wife to whom my very life In that same holy Marriage which is both clean and pure Which neither Death nor Hell can break but ever will endure Is even wedded yet not by any Imagination But by the Spirit undefil'd which saves out of transgression Yet in much fear unto the Lord I cry O without thy Presence what am I If thou forsake me I shall surely fall For of my self I have no strength at all O therefore by thy Power me deliver And save to glorifie thy Name for ever Yet now come hearken unto me all that desire to know And my Beloved long to see the way to you I le show It is by walking in the Light which doth convince of sin Which is committed in the night by all that walk therein Therefore out of the Darkness come and hearken to the Light Even the Glory of the Son and it will free you quite So my dear Beloved you will then come to see By whom my soul is moved who 's so dear to me O then you 'l come to see his shape and hear his glorious Voice The which will make the Seed to leap and your souls to rejoyce Therefore come now follow the Light and do not from it turn So shall you have a pure sight and myst'ries deep shall learn Even that great and glorious Work of happy Restoration The which is wrought by him that makes the blessed new creation Who sitting on the Throne alone shines like a precious stone Who doth enlighten every one that in the world doth come Therefore let all that fear the Lord now hearken to his Voice And obey it that better is than any Sacrifice Wherefore now come and look within and there encline your ear For 't is the Spirit of the Lord which only speaketh there For though mans heart's deceitful and imaginations nought Yet God's Spirit it is which shews him ev'ry idle thought Therefore within let every one unto the Light return And hearken to its Voice that 's pure and then you 'l come to learn What that is call'd that doth redeem and save the soul from sin And then you 'l come to know the Law that written is within Even by the finger and direction of the living God In all the hearts of them who understand and kiss his Rod Which smiteth and chastiseth them when ere they go astray That it might turn them that are out into the good old Way Wherein they will find peace that 's pure unto their souls and then Shall rest with God which will endure for evermore Amen And so the Lord God of eternal Holiness having lighted a Candle in my heart and given me a measure of his good Spirit by which he hath preached Righteousness thorow me if I had never opened my mouth nor set pen to paper I say I am not now to put it under a bushel and hide it but to set it up that it may give light unto all neither must I hide my Talent in the earth lest it be taken from me and given to another who will improve it better but my chiefest care must be to stand in all things approved to God in faithfulness and when he draws me or calls me forth if I leave the old man to mend his Net himself as Peter and John did let none that knows me marvel at it for I must go about my Father's business who hath redeemed my mind out of the love of earthly things and worldly delights that I should set my whole delight in him who hath also brought me to see of the travel of my soul and to be satisfied concerning the knowledge of his Truth so that I look not for another Truth Way Leader nor Guide to lead me up to a higher glory in this Truth which is yet to be attained for the revealing of which am I waiting in the Light not expecting any thing any other way but only a growing from strength to strength and a pressing on from glory to glory even as God in his Son Christ the Light shall make known himself unto me but I expect not another Saviour than Him the Light for by Him the Lepers are cleansed the blind made to see and the lame man to leap like an Hart the dumb to speak and to the poor is the Gospel preached by Him whom he filleth with good things but the rich and the full he sends empty away all which whosoever receives and follows the Lamb the Light the Way the Truth and the Life shall come to witness and reade with a clear understanding what I have written but from those that rebel against the Light these things are sealed by the hand of the Wisdom of God I. W. Some wholesom DIRECTIONS to stir up young People to seek after their Creator in the dayes of their youth ANd now O all you Young men and Maids with all that are of a capacity to understand my words who are young and tender in years for my bowels yearn towards you therefore come hearken to my voice and be attentive to the words of my mouth and I will instruct you in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom Now this is the Counsel of God unto you which he hath put into my heart to write that you all hearken to that which shews you the evil of the world and the vanity of your own wayes which condemns you for every evil word and action for that I testifie unto you all is the Spirit of God which he hath given you to profit withall which as you receive it will open your understandings and if you join therewith it will give you dominion over sin and cleanse you from iniquity O therefore come down to it and put your necks under the yoke and let that which crosseth the vain mind be your delight and still join with that in you which breatheth after God so shall you come to an acquaintance with him for to that doth he make known himself and to them and none but them