the oldness of the Letter for I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died When Paul came to know the Law of the new Covenant written in his heart he then saw the body of sin and the Law in his Members warring against the Law of his minde which led him into captivity into the Law of sin and death and made him wretched but the Law was good as the Apostle confesses It is holy just and good the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin for the good I would do I do not and the evil I would not do that do I Now all the carnal Professors would own Paul here and bring these words to hide and cover them in their sins and so are at ease in their sins alive without the Law but Paul had not peace in this condition but groaned and travelled under the burden of sin but through Christ he thanked God who had given him the Victory and even at that time when he writ that Epistle to the Roman he was made free from sin though he declares of such a condition speaking to them that know the Law for to them that were under the Law he became as under the Law For when we were in the flâ—sh the motions of sin that were by the Law did work in our member c but now we are delivered now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit for the Law of the Spirit of 〈◊〉 in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death mark it well hath mad me free not will or shall but he was then made free for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and by a Sacrifice for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnest of the Law might be fulfilled in us mind you here The righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit So here you may see he speaks of a time without the Law and a time under the Law where the Law was fulfilled in him and so passing through the Law he became dead unto the Law as he declares in another place For I through the Law am dead unto the Law that I might live unto God I am crucified with Christ yet nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Come now and try your selves all you formal and carnal Professors can you own Paul in this condition are you crucified with Christ or are you alive in your sins are you crucified to the world and the world unto you Answer Paul was so But are not you wallowing in your sins living in the pleasures of the world and no separation made from the world but even with all your strength griping after the world loving it and seeking the honor and glory of the world which Paul was crucified unto though once he cried out of the body of sin and so patiently waiting in the crosse of Christ he witnessed a Victory And so as the eyes of your understandings comes to be opened these things will be clear and you will see the times that Paul declareth and is left upon Record in the Scriptures of Truth a time without the Law and a time under the Law and a time when he witnessed Christ Jesus the end of the Law and whereas he saith in one place I am carnal he saith in another place I am crucified and this is plain to those who have experience of the workings of God for that I which was carnal by the Law which was Spiritual was crucified and then no more I but 〈…〉 And this was the mysterie that Paul preached which was hid from Ages and generations but now is made manifest in his Saints which Mystery is Christ in you the hope of glory whom we preach teaching and exhorting every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Now this I say where Christ is manifested sin and iniquity is done away and the body of sin destroyed and dead for if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin and if any be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are passed away and behold all things are become new and if all things are become new then where is there room for sin for that is of the old things which passeth away and doth defile and enters not into the Kingdom of God which stands in righteousnesse and this is your cry VVhere were there any that was without sin I Answer They that were in Christ and did abide in him were without sin and werenew creatures and if you say that none were or are in Christ then I shall bring the Scripture-Testimony against you where they bear Testimony of the Son For we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding to him that is true and we are in him mark well they were in him that is true even in his Son Christ Jesus and here the Scripture declares that some were in Christ and if any be in Christ he is a new creature and they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts and if the affections and lusts be crucified then where is the sin or the cause of sin for lust is the ground of all sin for as the Apostle saith There is no man tempted of God but every man when he is tempted he is drawn away of his lust for the lust goes forth and sin is conceived in the heart and after it is cenceived it brings forth sin and sin being finished brings forth death So the rise of sin is from the lust which is conceived in the deceitful and deceived heart but where the life and power of Christ is manifested and the devils works destroyed and the creature redeemed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God and is become Christs bought and redeemed by him and hath crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts then where is sin you so much plead for which is a plant of your Father the Devil whose children and servants ye are as long as you are doing his work and pleading to uphold that which Christ comes to destroy but surely you are deceived by him for none such Plants shall grow in my Fathers Garden but they must all be plucked up and cast into the fire And again the Enemies of pure Truth who are bent and set to oppose Christ they bring another place of Scripture and thinks they are strongly fenced here where it is said If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us This place is strongly pleaded by all sorts of people and Professors who are not in the pure life of Christ but praised for
will testifie against you and be your condemnation and your faith is vain who are yet in your sins Therefore repent and turn from your wickedness cease to do evil and learn to do well draw near unto God and he will draw near unto you put away lying and swearing and all prophaneness let no corrupt speeches proceed out of your mouthes and hearken to the voice of Christ that your souls may live spend not your money for that which is not bread nor your labor for that which doth not satisfie But hearken with diligence to hear the voice of the beloved Son of God who saith Learn of me I am meek and lowly in Spirit and you shall finde rest to your souls and that is it in you all which reproves for sin and checks you when you do amiss when no mortal eye sees you minde this well and wait to be guided by it and it will lead you out of sin and evil up to God the Father to have Unity with him and with his Son and so to bring forth fruits of the Spirit love joy peace gentleness meekness soberness brotherly kindness forbearing and forgiving one another And this will be a present guid unto you if you love it and bring your deeds to it to be tryed by it at all times and in all companies to lead you to God if sinners entice you consent not to them but fear the Lord and stand in awe and sin not But if you hate this Light and live in your sins and your old vain ungodly conversation this Light will be your condemnation Now while you have time prize it and work while it is day lest the dreadful night of darkness come upon you when none can work Awake awake and arise from the dead prepare your selves and make ready for the Kingdom of God is at hand Come out of Babylon partake not of her sins lest ye partake of her plagues and wait upon the Lord that you may eat of the Bread of Life which satisfies the Soul ALl you that are breathing after God who are Hungring and Thirsting after righteousness which have long been wandring upon the mountains as sheep without a shepherd who have long been seeking after God but have not sound him and have many years been hearers and learners and have spent much money and labor and much precious time but have sound no satisfaction nor refreshment to your hungry thirsting souls but still there is a cry within for want of a Savior something in your consciences cries and is not satisfied notwithstanding your many years professing and talking of God and Christ and your running after this man and that man to hear Sermons as they are called yet still you are in your sins and your own old vain ungodly conversation and crooked and perverse rebellious and disobedient nature upon which the wrath of God abides and so there is no true peace joy nor rest to your souls I say unto all such simple hearts who have been tossed to and fro many years with the windy doctrines of men but have not found peace return home to your Fathers house seed no longer amongst the swine upon the husks you cannot fill your belly there but come into my Fathers house for there is bread enough Seek not the living among the dead but awake awake all you that sleep and arise from the dead that Christ may give you light turn your mindes inward and seek the last groat in your own house for the Lord is near yea doubtless Friends the Lord is very nigh for in him we live and move and have our being For it is he that gives to all life and breath and all things and out of his love to fallen man-kinde hath given his onely begotten Son for a Covenant of Light into the World who doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World that all men through him might believe There is that light in every one of your consciences which if you love it will teach you continually and lead you out of sin and unrighteousness into purity and holiness to worship the living God in spirit and in truth and so to be taught of him in spirit according to his promise I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and my sons and my daughters shall Prophesie and I will make a new Covenant with them I will write my law in their hearts and put my spirit into their into their inward parts and they shall no more teach every one his Neighbor and Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest and I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember â—o more and this is the Lord fulfilling in our day praises to his Name for evermore he is gathering his scattered sheep together where they have been scat cred abroad in this cloudy dark day and is bringing them into the Fold and there shall be one Sheepsold and one Shepheard this is the promise of the Father which he is now bringing to pass establishing his own Kingdom in Righteousness and uniting and joyning his people together that they may all be of one heart and mind that they may with one voice and one consent glorifie and praise him in the Covenant of his Son which he is now leading his people into where no sin enters but is all shut out of the Kingdom and Covenant of the righteous God Therefore all people every where prize this precious time which the Lord doth give unto you and trifle it not away in vanity and vain delights but hearken to that which is pure which convinces and reproves for sin in your consciences and makes manifest the evil of your hearts that is The pure light of Christ which did never consent unto sin but stood against you witnessing for God against sin though never so secretly committed This is the eye which a long time hath been vailed and blinded by the God of the World but now is the Lord unvailing and uncovering and stripping of all the stollen garments which the Serpent hath painted and decked himself withal and the Devil can no longer hide himself but by the light of Jesus Christ shining in the conscience he is found out in all his Wiles and Temptations whereby he goes about to ensnare and deceive the innocent For as long as the Devil can keep people from owning this light he can lodge in the heart and work his works in the heart but when ever they come to own and walk in the light he cannot work but by the light his works is seen and by the power and life of Christ within the Devils works are destroyed and the heart purifyed and the conscience purged from dead works and so the body is made a Temple of God which Temple is holy and if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy Therefore all people who love your souls come out of your sins which doth defile you and separate you from God and breaks your peace with God and love and walk in the light of Christ and bring your deeds to it For every one that doth truth he loves the light and bringeth his deeds to the light that they may be proved and tryed whether or no they be wrought in God and in the light you will have union and fellowship one with another and the Blood of Christ will cleanse you from all sin walking in the light for this light is pure and but one and leads to purity and oneness out of all Divisions Strife and Contention and from all the changeable Priests and changeable Doctrines and changeable Worships and changeable Laws that stands in the will of Man in the fallen Wisdom and will lead you unto Jesus Christ the unchangeable Priest the alone Teacher of his People who teacheth all his freely by his free spirit and leads them out of Death and dead Works into the pure way and path of life that they may bring forth fruit unto God and blessed are all they that fear the Lord and walk in his way But the wicked must be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God therefore let every one that nameth the Name of JESUS CHRIST depart from iniquity From a lover of your Souls but a witness against all Sin A. P. THE END
Wrath Malice Pride Lust and Covetousnesse Murders Theft evil surmisings these and such like are works of the Devil Plants of his planting and these do defile a man and separates him from his Maker And as the Devils work is within in the heart and pollutes the heart so must the work of Christ be witnessed in the heart for the purifying and cleansing and destroying of the Devils works and so to make the body a fit Temple for himself to dwell in And this is the work of the Lord and it is marvellous in our eyes he is gathering his people into union and fellowship with himself breaking the bond of iniquity and letting the oppressed go free purifying and purging them with the Spirit of Judgment and of burning trying them as gold and silver is tryed that so his people may be a holy and a peculiar people a people in whom he will be glorified by a pure and a godly conversation who shall bring forth much fruit to his glory who hath redeemed them from the earth and from their vain and ungodly conversation We who were gone astray and wandring as Sheep without a Shepherd and were by nature the children of Wrath even as well as others hath the Lord wonderfully wrought his own work in us and called us out of death and darknesse into righteousnesse and peace to bring forth fruits of the Spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse meeknesse temperance sobernesse and vertue and hath shed abroad his love in our hearts and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation to Minister unto others who sit in the shadow of death that you all may turn and repent and come into the way of life that your souls may live in which way the ungodly cannotwalk though it be a plain way that fools shal not enter therein yet the unclean cannot passe over it and this is the new and living way that leads to life eternal even Jesus Christ the onely begotten of the Father who is given of the Father freely for a Covenant of Light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of his people who is the alone way unto the Father as it is testified of him I am the Way the Truth aâ—d the Life and there is no man can come to the Father but by me I am the door and he that enters not in by the door is a thief and a Robber Now people every where who professe your selves to be Christians and Christ to be your way see if your lives be answerable to your profession for this I do declare from the Lord that no ungodly one can walk in this way Come and let us reason together you will all confesse with me that Christ is pure holy and righteous and he is the way to the Father and no other way then what way are the ungodly in who live in pride and covetousnesse envy wrath and malice you that live in the lusts of the flesh and the pleasures and hope of the world are you in Christ the way surely no you do but deceive your selves to think that you are in the way to salvation when you are going on the broad way to condemnation for Christ speaks of another way which all who live in sin are walking in They enter not in by the door but are climbing up another way building up Babel a Tower to reach up to heaven but the foundation is sandy and will not stand who are sayers and not doers and are in their sins alive in their old cross and perverse nature and so are one of Christ the way for if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away and behold all thingt are become new Minde this well all things are become new it is not reforming of some things and departing with some of your sins but all the old lusts must be denied all your old wayes and your old vain heathenish customs the old man must be wholly put off and the new man Christ Jesus put on Therefore cease from the evil of your wayes and put away lying and speak truth one to another and leave off your prophane Swearing and let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more is evil and out of the Doctrine of Christ and lay aside all Envie and Malice and all vain and needlesse Discourse which tends not to the Glory of God nor to edification of one another and let your words be few and in the fear of the Lord and put off all your Pride and lay down your Crowns at the feet of Jesus and learn humility and the fear of the Lord that your feet may be guided out of the pathes of death and from all unrighteousnesse and disobedience where the Curse of God is that you may walk in the way of the Lord and in his pure fear to stand in awe of him that so your hearts may be purified and your consciences purged from dead works to serve the Lord in the new life with a pure and a perfect heart that into his Covenant of life and peace where the blessing is you may all be led and eat the Bread of Life at the Table of the Lord that your souls may live and praise the Lord for evermore Written in love to all Souls that out of sin they may come and worship God in Spirit By a Servant of Chrict Alex. Parker To all the Beloved Ones who are of the Royal Seed whose faces be turned tovvards Sion Greeting DEarly beloved Friends you whom the Lord hath Visited in his Love and hath called you out of darknesse and your former vain Conversation into his marvelous Light and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God when many thousands are left in blindnesse and hardnesse of heart ful of envie and rage shut up in darknesse being alienated from the life of God and strangers from the Covenant of Promise Oh prize his love unto you a Remnant of despised ones yet beloved of God who hath called you with an holy Calling and separated you from the world of ungodly men that you may be a holy and a peculiar people without spot or wrinckle that you may be presented pure and perfect unto God Now my dear friends be valiant for your Freedom and stand in that Liberty wherein Christ hath set you free and be not again entangled with the yoke of bondage and the weak and beggarly Elements of the world give not away your strength unto the Harlot though Sinners entice you consent not to them but stand in the counsel of God and keep your habitations dwelling in that which is pure which ye have received from God waiting in patience for power from the Lord to give you a full deliverance over the world and the pollutions and lusts of it that over it you may raign and all its fading Treasures laying up to your selves Treasures which never sades away durable riches where the Rust and Moth cannot come
A CALL OUT OF EGYPT Where Death and darkness is INTO THE Glorious Light and Liberty of the Sons OF GOD Where Life and Peace is The Lord fulfilling his PROMISES Declared by his Holy PROPHETS and APOSTLES In these later Days LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black Spread Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1656. A CALL OUT OF EGYPT Where Death and darkness is into the glorious Light and Liberty of the Sons of God where life and peace is c. GIve eare O ye heavens and I will speak and hear O earth the words of my mouth I will declare unto you the wonders of God I will publish the name of the Lord and the mighty operation of his power he is the Rock and the sure Foundation his work is perfect all his ways are judgment and righteousness he is a God of Truth and without iniquity just and righteous is he and all his wayes are just and equal he is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity his way is pure and his Worship is likewise pure and spiritual and he sits in his Throne of Righteousness Justice and Judgment and the wicked cannot stand before him they are and shall be like the chaffe which the winde driveth away and cannot stand in the Judgement nor the Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous Holy and Righteous is the Lord God of Hosts and delights in purity Holinesse becomes his house for ever The Temple of God is holy where he dwells and inhabits and where he is worshipped and he dwells not in Temples made with hands as it is written in the Prophets The heaven is my Throne and the earth is my Footstool where is the house that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest for all those things hath mine hand made and all those things have been saith the Lord But to this man will I look even to him that is of a meek and a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my word This is God the living God which the Prophets and Apostles and all the Holy Men did bear witness unto and declared of even what they had seen and heard and tasted of the Word of Life which was in the beginning with God and the Word was God and shall endure for ever The same God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath given for a Covenant of Light to lead his people out of death and darkness into righteousness and peace to have fellowship with the Son and to be Heirs Joint-Heirs with the Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the world all that is therein the Sun the Moon the Stars and the Fowls of the air the Earth and all the Beasts of the Field and the creeping things upon the Earth the Sea and all that is therein who being the brightness of his Glory and the expresse Image of his substance upholding all things by the Word of his Power which power is now manifested which makes the earth to shake and the Inhabitants thereof to tremble at the wonderful work of our God which is began in this Nation of England The dreadful God of Host is risen in his majesty great power is bringing to passe his strange work which makes the heathen rage bite and gnaw their tongues and stand astonished at the strange work of the Lord Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your daies which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you and this is fulfilled upon this Generation who will not believe the work of the Lord though it be declared unto them but do set themselves in opposition against the work of God both Rulers and Magistrates Priests and People all join themselves together in battel against the Lamb but they shall not prevail all is vain the Lamb shall get the Victory and hath gotten the victory our eyes have seen and beheld it praises to his Name for evermore who hath fulfilled and is daily fulfilling his promise more and more gathering his scattered sheep together where they have been scattered abroad in this cloudy dark day many yeers the Lords people have been made a prey upon but the true shepherd Christ Jesus is risen is bringing deliverance to his people gathering them from the mouths of the false Shepherds and bringing them into the fold of rest and peace where they shall eat and be satisfied with living Refreshments in the bosome of the Fathers love and there shall be one sheepfold and one Shepherd Praises to the Lord the day is come the happy day the day of glad tydings which we long looked and waited for the day of our God which is a day of glad tydings to weary and imprisoned Souls and a day of vengeance and recompence of the Adversaries of God as it is declared in the Prophets The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath annoynted me to preach good tydings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the CAPTIVES and the opening of the PRISON to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable YEER of the LORD and the DAY of VENGEANCE of our God to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in ZION to give unto them Beauty for Ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heavinesse that they might bee called Trees of Righteousness the Planting of the LORD And this is the Lord fulfilling in our days he is planting a garden of pleasant Plants and watering and dressing them that they may be fruitful and is plucking up all the wild and fruitlesse plants and casting them into the fire of his wrath there to be burned that so his people may bee a holy and a peculiar people that he may bee glorified for hee is come who is pure to look for FRUITS and all fruitlesse TREES must bee cut downe and cast into the fire For the LORD hath looked downe from Heaven and behold the Land is corrupted The Garden of the Lord is overspread with weeds briars thorns doth the earth bring forth and the faithfull City is become an harlot as faith the Prophet It was full of judgment righteousness lodged in it but now murderers thy silver is become dross thy wine mixt with water thy Princes are rebellious and companions of thieves every one loveth gifts and followeth after rewards See if it be not so now They judge not the fatherless neither doth the Cause of the Widdow come before them therefore saith the Lord the God of hosts the mighty One of Israel Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine ehimies and I will turn my hand upon thee and purely purge away thy dross and take away
oppose him and you are against the end of his coming and being manifested in flesh for he came to take awaysin and so he is called the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world for for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil and to dispossesse and cast out the strong man and so to purifie the heart and purge the conscience from dead works and make it a fit Temple for himself to dwell in and he hath promised to dwell in his people and where he dwells purity dwells and sin cannot dwell with him for it defiles and pollutes his Temple and if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are speaking to the Saints Now this I say That all sin defiles as Envy Wrath Malice Pride Lust Covetousnesse and the like if these evils lodge in your hearts it is evident and plainly manifest that the Devil the strong man lodgeth and is axalted above all that is called God in your hearts and keeps possession there for all these evils and abominations that are acted and done in the world the Devil is the Author and Father of them who hath begotten them into his Image and likenesse to do his will and works which are works of darknesse and so all you that live in sin as pride hatred variance debate drunkennesse swearing lying false accusing cozening and cheating in your buyings and sellings using false weights and measures and saying and unsaying boasting of your Wares to be so and so when many times you know to the contrary and so lie one to another to get dishonest gain and make a prey of the simple who have not so much of the subtle Serpents wisdom as your selves All these are the works of the Devil and as long as you live in these practises the Devil leads you and so you become his Servants for his Servants you are to whom you yeild your selves servants to obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse for the wages of sin is death and all who go in their sin satisfying and fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh and going from God in the broad way that leads to destruction But the Serpent is grown very subtle and the better to hide and cover himself he brings Scripture to uphold his Kingdom all that he can gather up as he conceives makes for his purpose that he brings and his Servants make use of to oppose the pure Doctrine of the Son of God and his faithful and true Ministers who are sent of God to open the blind eyes to turn them from darkness unto Light and from Satant power unto God and to present them perfect in Christ Jesus But saith the Serpent and the Ministers of Antichrist It is not possible that ever any one should be free from sin while they live did not David sin and Peter sin and did not Paul cry out of a body of sin and are you better then the Apostles Thus the carnal professors of our time plead for their Kingdom being blinded by the God of the World that the Light of the Glorious Gospel of JESUS CHRIST which makes free from sin this they know not Now all people consider and see what you do uphold and what you do plead for will this Plea stand at the great and dreadful Day when the Lord calls you to an Account to say that others were sinners bring that as a cloak to cover you No this will not cover you in that dreadful Day of Account for though David did sin yet he repented and had no peace till the Lord had pardoned his sin He wept until his eyes grew dim and his flesh did fail of fatness he watered his Couch with his tears Is it so with you Are you brought down as David was and though David left these things upon Record it was not to encourage others to go on in sin but that all might take example not to do the like lest the terror and wrath of God come upon them for their rebellion against so good a God but you stiâ—l go on in your vile courses and instead of being humbled by the example of others that have sinned you bring it to uphold you in your sins and so goes on daily treasuring up to your selves wrath against the day of Wrath which none of them did that you bring the failings of where did David sin again or Peâ—er or Paul but were made instrumental to turn many from their sins So you being ignorant of the conditions of the Saints mentioned in Scripture brings one condition to oppose another for there was a time when they were dead in sins and trespasses and were aliens and strangers from the Covenant of Promise and there was a time when they were dead unto sin and alive unto God being reconciled unto God havnig put off the body of the sin of the flesh and had put on Christ and were alive in him and created in him unto good Works and by the Son of God the Covenant of the Father they were made free from sin and had passed from death unto life and Christ lived in them who had given them the Victory over their sin and defaced and blotted out the image of the devil and renewed his own Image in them and though Paul do speak of a warfare that was in his growth and through patient waiting in the Crosse of Christ he witnessed a victory and praised God who had given him the Victory so he speaks of several times and conditions as a time without the Law I was alive without the Law once and he speaks of a time under the Law and a time of being made free from the Law which things you must all know and witnesse manifested and fulfilled in you if ever you know the truth in its purity for through the same door that all the holy men of God did passe must you passe or else you cannot come to the same rest And this door and this way is straight you cannot enter in with your old Garments you must be stripped of all end become as a little child or else you cannot enter you must know the work of God within you and the operation of his Power and his Righteous Law set up within you to kill sin in its rise and conception in your hearts then will you know the war between the Beast and the Lamb and the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh that ye cannot do the things that ye would and this was Pauâ—s time of crying out for saith he When we were in the flesh the motions of sin that were by the Law did work in our â—eâ—bers to bring forth fruit unto death but now we are delivered from the Law that being dead unto which we were hold that we should serve in newness of the Spirit and not in
world and the lusts of it and so purifies the heart And this is the true and the living Faith which the Saints of God were in who were of one heart and one soul and it is the same now as it was then and all who are in this Faith by it their hearts are purified and so are led into purity and one-ness of minde and heart to serve and worship one living and true God in one living and pure way which is in spirit and in truth where there is no rent nor division but pure love and union written in one anothers hearts with the Spirit of the living God So in the light which from the Lord Jesus Christ doth come who is the true Light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world which Light is but one in all though thousand times ten thousands this Light is pure and but one and all who love it and believe in it are led into onenesse and Unity of Spirit In it every one wait and walk that you may he led out of death and darknesse and all the untoward wayes of the world into the pure way of Righteousnesse and Peace to follow Christ in the narrow Path which whosoever follows shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the Light of Life And dwell in love and union watching over one another with a pure 〈…〉 and be tender over one another as Members all of one 〈◊〉 and if any be overtaken with a fault you that are spiritual restore such a one in the Spirit of meeknesse that shame and condemnation may come upon the transgressor and the innocent may be set free and let not the cursed thing lodge among you but be ye holy in all manner of conversation because the Lord our God is holy and no unclean thing can dwell with him nor enter into his righteous Kingdom Therefore be ye separate from the ungodly world and touch no unclean thing and the Lord will receive you and will be to you as a Father and you shall be his Sons and Daughters Cast away all filthinesse from amongst you and let no prejudice lodge nor rest within any of you but forgive one another as God in Christ hath forgiven you for if you do not forgive men their trespasses no more will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do you likewise unto them for this is the Doctrine of Christ and it is not the sayer but he that both his Will shall know his Doctrine So the Lord in pure Wisdom keep you and preserve you out of all strife and contention that a daylie growth there may be amongst you that you all may be established in the living truth no more to be tossed to and fro with mens Doctrines which be changeable but all wait upon God in the Light which never changes that you may be all taught of God and every particular may feed upon your own food and have sufficient bread in your own houses to feed upon that there be not a beggar in Israel nor no Vagabond but that all of you may have a habitation in God and grow up in him that the Springs of life may be opened and your souls may be fullie refreshed with the bread of life in my Fathers house And all my beloved Friends keep your habitations and stand upon your Watch that you may hear the voice of your beloved when he calls and be obedient to his voice and do his will and after you have done his will take heed of exaltation but wait in patience that you may receive the Promise for the same that is unwilling to obey the will of God when the will of God is obeyed will get up into presumption and that which doth presume in the time of trial will despair Therefore every one be watchful and keep the door of the house of the Lord that the Enemie enter not to defile and pollute his holie Temple Turn not to the right hand nor to the left but keep in the even and plain way When joy and refreshment comes take heed of exaltation And again when trouble and crosses and afflictions comes do not fall into desparation but wait at Wisdoms Gate that you may be seasoned with Grace having salt in your selves to savor withal that you be not drawn away with the errors of the wicked but that all of you may be daylie refreshed and grow up in strength until you come to a perfect man in Christ Jesus the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and establish you in the Truth Written in love to your souls by way of remembrance to stir up your pure mindes by your dear Brother who is a laborer in the Lords vineyard ALEX. PAREER For Friends in the Truth to be read at their meettings when they are met together in the fear of the Lord. Corrnwaâ—l 31. day of the 5th Month 1656. The Night is far spent and the Day is at hand awake arise from the dead that Christ may give you Light Cease from all the blinde Guides they deceive you try them and by their fruits ye shall know them BEware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing but inwardlie they are ravening Wolves ye shall know them by their fruits Mat. 7.15 to the 21. c. Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles even so everie good Tree bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit Everie Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them Now all people everie where who have long been led by blind guides and have been deceived by the false Prophets who have got the Sheeps clothing and decked and painted themselves with the Saints words but where is the fruit that is brought forth it is their fruits that makes them manifest the Lord looks for fruit but here is nothing but leafs here is fine Trees with flourishing leafs but no fruit appears much talk and profession of God and of Christ there hath been in this Nation of England fair outsides glorious words but the life is wanting there is no fruits but all manner of unrighteousnesse doth abound in the Nation Doth not pride abound and covetousnesse drunkennesse swearing lying and all manner of unrighteousnesse the Land is full of fruitlesse Trees the boughs even sway and are readie to break down they are so full of the evil fruit pride is come to such a height that thepeople do scarce know how to walk nor what to put on it would even grieve a sober Spirit to see the vanitie of the times both men and women painting themselves in their gorgeous attire fashioning themselves according to the custom and course of this wicked vain world the inventing mind which is estranged from God
is making a separation between the precious and the vile gathering the Wheat into the Garner and will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire The day is at hand it hasteth greatly a day of blacknesse and darknesse a day of weeping and bitter lamentation to all the Adversaries of God a day that shall burn like an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as Stubble and shall be consumed root and branch Look upon the Stubble all you that live in your sins there is your Figure Look upon an Oven when it burns there you may read your figure the wicked shall be as stuble and shall be consumed in the day of the Lords fierce indignation which is kindled alreadie and none shall be able to quench it The sharp two edged Sword of the Almighty is drawn forth it is furbushed ready for the slaughter and wo to the wicked and ungodly who cast the Law of God behinde their backs and turns his Grace into wantonnesse it will go ill with them and they cannot hide themselves from the Wrath of the Lamb. Drunkard thou canst not hide thy self the Lord will finde thee out and give thee thy portion in the Lake Swearers Lyers Scoffers and Scorners you cannot hide your selves you are the Ungodly that turns the Grace of God into wantonnesse and into condemnation you must come who hate the Light that shews you sin and your evil deeds and loves the darknesse better then the Light the Light is your condemnation And all you that live in pride and vain glory sporting your selves in the day time nourishing your hearts as in a day of Slaughter the Devil is your Father who hath begotten you into his image and likenesse ye murder and kill the Just and crucifie Christ afresh and wo is your portion wo to the Crown of Pride for the Devil is the King of Pride And all you covetous cruel oppressors who are heaping together the earthly treasures who grinde the faces of the poor weep and howle for the misery that shall come upon you your riches are corrupted your Gold and Silver is cankered the rust of them shall be a witness against you Wo to you that live in envy and wrath you are of Cains Generation and nature who murdered his Brother and all your Prayers and Sacrifices are abomination and stinks in the nostrils of God And all you that reviâ—e scoff and scorn backbite slander and falsly accuse the innocent and harmlesse Lambs of Christ tearing and rending hailing them out of your Synagogues and so to Prison you manifest your selves to be the wolves that devour and make a prey of the Lambs you are the fruitlesse Trees that cumber the ground and must be hewn down and cast into the fire The glory of the Lord is shining and the day of the Lord is dawned and the day-star is risen in the hearts of the Lords people and you are discovered and made manifest and seen to be the wolves and the Scripture is fulfilled upon you which Christ spoke forth Behold I send you forth as Lambs in the midst of wolves is not this so now See what hailing and imprisoning and cruel usage is in this Nation of England of a poor despised harmless people hailing them to Courts Sessions for no other cause but for declaring of the truth witnessing against the deceit in Professors Magistrates Priests and people and for this are the innocent hated and reviled and suffer bonds and imprisonment and some have been given up to death and all this endured with patience not seeking for revenge but do follow our Lord and Master Christ wâ—o endured the contradiction of sinners and we finde his words to be trne where he saith Ye shall be hated of all mâ—n for my names sake but rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great shall be your reward for if ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth the world hate you but wo to the world and all wicked malicious persecuting spirits better a Milstone had been hanged abouâ— their necks and they cast into the midst of the Sea then to offend one of the little ones of Christ Haste repent and amerd least sudden destruction come upon you The wages of Sin is death but the gift of God is life and peace ALl you that live in sin and wickedness as Envy Wrath Malice Pride Lust covetousness Drunkenness Swearing Lying Slandering Backbiting false Accusing Scoffing and Scorning Revilings Reproachings Mocking and Jeering Oppression Cruelty Tyranny Murders Theft Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witcheraft Variance Emulation Seditions Heresies Anger Perverseness Frowardness Impatience and Unbelief Cozening and Cheating and defrauding one another in buying and selling using false weights and measures inventers of evil things plotting mischief upon your beds Covenant-breakers without natural affection implacable unmercisul living in vain sports and Pleasures spending the good creatures of God and devouring the Creation upon your lusts sporting your selves in the day time foolish-jesting idle and filthy communication and laughter which is madness These and such like are works of the flesh and they that act such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God for which things sake comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience and the curse of God remains upon such who live in the flesh fulfilling the lusts and desires of it such cannot stand before the righteous God neither can they enter into his righteous Kingdome but must be cast into utter darknesse which is the portion of all the wicked for to the wicked there is no peace but wo and terror shall pursue them upon the wicked God will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible Tempest this shall be the portion of their cup from the just God who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity Therefore all you workers of iniquity fear and tremble before the Lord and deceive not your selves with a vain hope search these Scriptures and see your portion 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Col. 3.5 6. Ps 9.17 Ps 11.6 Mat. 7.23 and 25.30 41. Rom. 1,29 30 31 32. Rev. 21.8 and 22.15 read these Scriptures with seriousness and then with the light of Christ in your consciences try and examine your selves whether you be acting and living in these sins above-mentioned or any of them and if upon search you be found guilty then what will you plead or answer the Lord or what promise is there due unto you as long as you live in sin truly none but all the curses plagues and woes that are mentioned in the Scriptures is your due and portion for your sin and disobedience and all your applying of the Promises and saying Christ dyed for you and say you believe in Christ yet all this will not avail nor speak peace to your souls as long as you live in sin but the witness of God in your own consciences