follows as the Faith and Experience of a True Christian which iâ— written in True Love and Good-Wiâ—â— to all that have the Vail over their Hearts and the Scales before their Eyes when they are reading the holy Scriptures and professing God Christ Christianity and the Doctrines thereof which are but briefly hinted at or spoaken to in few words in what follows And whether thou art a bare Professor or a real Possessor thou mayest reap Profit hereby if the one thou art in vited to inherit Substance if the other thou art exhorted and Warned to beware lest thou lose thy Inheritance again So to the Light Grace and holy Spirit of God in thee 〈◊〉 thou Professor Prophane or Believerâ— I do commend thee with it to read and with it to judge by it to be taught gâ—â—ded into a good Understanding and into the true Knowledge of the two great Mysteries of Godliness and Iniquity And that thou mayest truly understand and receive the one and discover and avoid the other is the Desire of him who is a Lover of the Christian-Religion and of all that walk therein and hath Good-will to all men William Shewen Reader THese Scriptures following having a good Esteem in my Mind as Sayings worthy greatly to be noted and weightily considered I have committed them to the Press wishing thou mayest enjoy the End wherefore And this I will assure thee If thou canst understand believe and receive these Divine and Heavenly Sayings Precepts Exhortations Promises and Testimonies in these and other Scriptures mentioned in this brief Declaration of a True Christian's Faith c. thou wilt not stumble at nor reject his Testimony c. but imbrace and have Unity therewith But if thou understandest not nor believest the one neither wilt thou the other for the True Christian bears Testimony to the holy Scriptures and the Scriptures to him and the Titular Christian's Testimony is against them and they are against him because he doth not obey them nor live the Life they call for Eccl. 12.1 2. Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth while the Evil Dayes come not nor the Years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no Pleasure in them while the Sun or the Light or the Moon or the Stars be not darkened nor the Clouds return after the Rain Dearly Beloved Believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God for many False Prophets are gone out into this World 1 John 4. 1 c. Little Children You are of God and have overcome them for greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World Vers 4. Whosoever transgressâ—th and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God He that continueth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 John 9th vers If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your House neither bid him God speed Vers 10. To be Carnally-minded is Death but to be Spiritually-minded is Life Peace because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be So then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God But ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of God he is none of his And if Christ be in you the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.6 7 8 9 10 11. Vnto the Pure all things are pure but unto them that are Defiled and Vnbelieving is nething pure but even their Minds and Consciences are defiled They profess that they know God but by Works they deny him and are abominable and to every good Work Reprobate Tit. 1.15 16. If ye abide in me and my Words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you John 15.7 And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free Whosoever committeth sin is the Servant of sin John 8.32 34. Verely verely I say unto you If a man keep my Saying he shall never see Death Vers 51. Father I will That they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World That the Love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them John 17.24 26. The Disciple is not above his Master but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master Luke 6.40 But love ye your Enemies and do good and lend hoping for nothing again and your Reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the Highest for he is Kind to the Vnthankful and to the Evil Be ye therefore Merciful as your Father also is Merciful Luke 6.35 36. Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you And ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye And even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 John 2.27 Read the 8th Chapter to the Romans and the Lord give thee Understanding Rom. 10.8 The Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith he knoweth him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him But whosoever keepeth his Word in him verely is the Love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him He that saith He abideth in Him â—ught himself also so to walk even as he walked 1 John 2.3 4 5 6. read to the end of the Chapter Little Children Let no man deceive you He that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this Purpose was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loves not his Brother We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren He that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death 1 John Chap. 3. Vers 2. to the 10th and 14th No man hath seen God at any time If we love one another
Devil and Anti-christ rules there teacheth there thou art a poor Captive and Bondslave thereof profess what thou wilt and if the Power of God thou knowest not working within thy self and operating in thy Heart not only to shake pull down and remove that which can be shaken and removed but also to bring in that which cannot be shaken nor removed viz. Everlasting Righteousness I say if this thou knowest not the Power of the Enemy of God and thy Soul worketh in thee and prevaileth over thee by working in thy Imaginations Will and Affections Mind and Members that which is Evil either in self-Sinning or self Righteousness which are both Abomination to the Lord So if thou knowest not the Word of God within thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart with the Virtues and Properties thereof as a Hammer as a Fire quick and powerful sharper then a two-edged Sword and hearest and obeyest the Voice thereof I say if this Word thou knowest not within thou art not made clean nor sanctified by it but those Things stand in thee against which it is as a Hammer Fire Sword sharp and powerful and the Word and Commands of the old Serpent that Betrayer sounds loâ—d in thy Ears and pierceth deep into thy Heart and thou art carryed away with the Wind thereof and enterest into his Temptations daily and knowest not Power against them so thou canst not say as David once did Psal 119.11 I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against thee neither hast thou received with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save but art of those whom Christ spoak to Ye have not his Word speaking of his Father abiding in yoâ— John 5.38 And if thou knowest not the Law of the Spirit of Life within thee written in thy Inward Parts thou art a Stranger to the New-Covenant Jer. 31.33 the Law of Sin Death hath Power over thee the Law that is in thy Members leads thee Captive thereto and the Carnal Mind which is Enmity against God and cannot be subject to his Law reigns in thee though thou professest the Law of God with thy Tongue thou dost not love it nor delight in it in thy Hearr neither is it better in thy Esteem then Thousands of Gold and Silver So in short If thou art not Partaker Possessor of the Heavenly Treasures in thy Earthen Vessel thou art fraighted with Earthly Treasures Vanities if thou knowest not thy Body the Temple of the Living God and thy Heart his Throne then is it as a Cage for Unclean Birds and as a Habitation for Wild Beasts and as a Nest for Venemous Creeping Things and the Prince of Darkness sits upon the Throne of thy Heart and rules there let thy Opinion and Talk of Religion be what it will Now be thou warned and advised to watch against that Spirit in thy self which moveth thee to sleight deride and mock at the Appearance and Manifestation of the Light Crace Spirit Power Word and Law of God within And learn to cease also from those Teachers without which have caused thee to err who hate the Light within and despise the Shining of it and give it despicable Names as Ignis Fatuus 〈◊〉 certain or Falce Fire Natural Light and the Checks and Reproofs of it but the Checks of a Natural Conscience and despise the Grace that appears to all men and call it Common and not Saving Crace and sleight and reject the Power and Spirit of God within which moves and works against all Evil and to all Good not allowing it to be the principal Rule and Guide of a Christian and also endeavour to demolish race out the Word and Law of God within under Pretence of directing thee to a more sure Word and Law without viz. the Holy Scriptures which contain divers Words Precepts and Commandments c. spoaken by holy men to whom the Word of the Lord came which was before the Words were and by this Word and Spirit that came to them and was in them were they moved to speak them and that is greater then the Words and till thou knowest a Measure of the same Word and Spirit within thy self thou canst neither truly understand nor obey the Words and holy Precepts and Exhortations that proceeded from it that indeed being the Original Cause Root and Ground from whence all the Good Words and Good Works that ever sprang up in the Heart of Mankind proceeded Such Teachers have ran â—ut God hath not sent them so People are not profitted but spoiled by them they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men they neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and under the Name of Ministers of Christ are direct Ministers of Antichrist from such turn thou away learn of the Grace of God which Teacheth to deny Ungodliness c. and love the Light and bring thy Deeds to it John 3.21 and walk in it so shalt thou become a Child of it and have Right to inherit the precious Promises and possess and enjoy the Glorious Priviledges which thou hast hitherto only profess'd heard and read of in the holy Scriptures so wilt thou come to inherit Substance and soon be wiser then thy former Teachers and of a Titular Christian thou wilt become a Christian indeed an Israelite indeed a Jew inward indeed whose Praise is of God and not of Men. W. S. THE True Christian's FAITH AND EXPERIENCE DECLARED Concerning God Christ the Spirit c. First Concerning God THE True Christian believes there is One God who is a Spirit pure in Essence God is infinite and incomprehensible in himself and all the Words of Men and Angels cannot define him as he is being in all through all and above all And the various Names given him throughout the holy Scriptures were according to the Manifestation or Appearance and Operation of his Spirit in their Hearts that wrote them and according to the State it found them in when it appeared to them hence he was call'd a Consuming Fire Our God is a Consuming Fire and his Word as a Hammer and as a Fire and a Jealous and Angry God who as a Devouring Fire goes through the Bryars and Thorns and consumes them and the Day of his Appearance among these Bryars and Thorns Thiâ—les and Stubble is compared to the burning of Fire in an Oven in which the Wicked cannot dwell And others could call him by quite contrary Names even according to the Operation of his Spirit in them by the same could say that God is Love and his Word was as Milk and sweeter then Hony or the Hony-Comb and that the Light of his Countenance was better then the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl and that he was a Shield and a Shaddow of a Rock in a Weary Land his Name as a strong Tower and safe-dwelling-Place and as precious Oyntment pour'd forth and his Face or Presence
a being led by the Spirit in the Way of Holiness and so cannot fulfil the Lust of the Flesh but by the same doth mortifie them and gain Victory over them and is sanctified and cleansed from them and is taught by the Spirit the true Knowledge of God how to worship him aright in Spirit Truth and so prayes in the Spirit and with the Understanding and sings in the Spirit and praiseth God in the Spirit and the Law of the Spirit is in his Heart and this Law of the Spirit of Life makes him free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit of God which raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in him and quickneth his Mortal Body And this True Christian is the Spiritual Man which discerneth all Things but is not discerned by another out of the same Spirit which searcheth all Things yea the deep Things of God and he is led by the Spirit from under the Law and through the Law to him which was before the Law and so is under Grace and brings forth the Fruits thereof which is Love Peace Joy Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against this Christian there is no Law The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Holy Spirit c. But how doth he demonstrate his Faith and Belief he is ready to make a Mock of receiving the Spirit and being led by the Spirit mov'd taught by the Spirit this seems strange Doctrine to him that he should know his Lusts mortified by the Spirit and that he should walk in the Spirit and be sanctified by the Spirit from all Sin and Uncleaness and that he should attend the Motion and Guidance of the Spirit and in all his Conversation to do nothing but what will stand justified by this Holy Spirit and that he should pray in the Spirit and sing with the Spirit and worship in the Spirit c. These are new Doctrines to the Titular Christian he knows not what to make of them except it be to brand them with despicable Names And the Law of the Spirit of Life which should free him from the Law of Sin and Death he is a Stranger to and wholy ignorant of the Indwelling of that Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead to quicken his mortal Body this he counts Fanatick Doctrine c. And instead of being a spiritual Man which discerneth all Things he is Carnal and seeth not far off the Vail being over his Heart cannot see nor regard the Glory of God when it appeareth in the Inward Temple but opposeth slighteth the Appearance of that Holy Spirit which searcheth his Heart and all Things and so is not led by it from under the Law which Law was added because of Transgression and this Titular Christian which liveth in the Nature and Act of Transgression and that knows not the Cursed Ground removed which bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns from whence all Evil Thoughts Words and Works proceed and is a Stranger to the Mortification of them by the Spirit he is under the Law and liable to the Punishment thereof and not under Grace let him profess what he will if he brings not forth the Fruit of the Spirit in his Life and Conversation he clearly sheweth he doth not believe in it nor walk in it neither hath received it nor come to any true Knowledge of it by its Work and Operation in his Heart he only talks of it with his Tongue as some Book or Body hath told him this is the Property and State of a Titular Christian IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Scriptures THE True Christian truly honoureth the Holy Scriptures in their Places and believeth and receiveth their Testimony and is a living Witness of the Truth thereof and he domonstrateth it as followeth By believing receiving and obeying him viz. Christ Jesus of whom they testifie whereby he receives Power to order his Conversation according to them and the True Christian believeth that they were spoaken and written by the Motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God in Holy Men Prophets and Apostles and that it is his Duty to Wait upon God to receive the Spirit of Grace and Glory and the Gifts thereof of whom they testifie that thereby be may be enabled to read them with Understanding and to receive the Comfort of them and to be made wise through Faith in Christ unto Salvation by them And this Christian knows rightwell That all the Vniversity or Acad miâ—al Learning in the World is not able to give the true Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit in the holy Scriptures they are as a seal'd Book to all the Wit Reason Comprehension and Acquired Parts of all Mankind in the Fall Learned and Unlearned And until man comes to receive regard and improve the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal as the Scriptures witness he is wholy ignorant and a Stranger to the Key of true Knowledge and the Treasures of Life and Wisdom are hid from him and secured as with seven Seals and the Cherubimâ— with a Flaming Sword that turns every Way and guards the Tree of Life with the Fruits thereof from the faln Wisdom of Man And this the True Christian knows by Experience having tryed what the Wisdom of this World in all its Perfection can do and hath seen it confounded and brought to nought in himself being discovered to be no part of the Key of true everlasting Knowledge but rather that which hides it makes the Vail the thicker and shuts the Door of the Kingdom the faster and those that abound in it neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and this the Holy Scriptures testifie The Titular Christian he saith He honoureth the Scriptures and believeth the Testimony of them c. But how doth he demonstrate his Honour to them and Belief of them Doth he order his Conversation according to them They exhort To abstain from every Appearance of Evil and from every fleshly Lust which wars against the Soul and to put on the whole Armour of God and thereby resist the Devil and make him flee The Titular Christian doth not obey this Exhortation neither doth he believe that it 's possible that any should obey it on this side the Grave So while he pretends to honour them he gives them the Lye for what 's more ridiculous and unreasonablethen to profess a Belief that the Spirit of God in Holy Men hath left Holy Precepts and Exhortations upon Record in the Scriptures which are unpossible to be obeyed Yet this is the Language of the Titular Christian who honoureth them with his Lips and cryes them up with his Tongue but in Works denyes them Sometimes he will give them more Titles of Honour then to them is due as when he calls them The Word of God The Touch-stone and Tryer of all Spirits The Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice so in his
shall partake of this sorer Punishment And as none knoweth the Joy and Consolation of those that have the Law of the Spirit of Life and obey it and abide in it or the White Stone wherein the New Name is written which none knoweth but he that hath it so none knoweth the sorer Punishment the Fiery Indignation kindled by the Breath of the Lord Apostates Punishment is from God and not Men. Vengeance is the Lord's And it s a fearful thing to fall into his hand by sinning against Light and Knowledge c. nor feels the biting of the Worm which never dyes which attends the Transgressors and wilful Sinners against this Law of the Spirit of Life but he that hath it and receives it as a Just Recompence of Reward of his Disobedience Rebellion and Apostacy And the Fitular Christian who talks of living under Grace and not under the Law and of being married to Christ c. before he hath known the Law as a School-Master to bring him to Christ before he is become dead to that which the Law hath Power over before he comes to know the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled in him by the Spirit of Grace and Righteousness which exceeds the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees before he knows Grace to reign through Righteousness unto Eternal Life even where Sin hath reigned unto Death before he is taught by Grace to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly and before he ceaseth from Sin and before he knoweth the Body of it destroyed and become dead and Deliverance from the Dead Body I say before this his Talk and Profession of living under Grace is â—ain he remaining alive in that for which the Law was added viz. Sin For the main Reason to prove a Person under Grace which Paul mentioneth is For Sin shall not have Dominion over you for or because you are â—ot under the Law but under Grace He that â—ommitteth Sin is the Servant of it and Sin â—ath Dominion over him let the Titular Chritian profess what he will XVIII The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning Outward and Inward Miracles ALL Miracles and Wonders that were outwardly wrought by the Power of God before the Law under the Law since the Law by the Hand of Mâ—ses and Aaron the Prophets Christ and his Apostles were in themselves Signs generally shewed before Unbelieving Hard-hearted Adulterous Untoward Generations and we read not of very many in the holy Scriptures that were converted by the Working of Outward Miracles Pharaoh and the Egyptians were hardened the Israel tes themselves after they had seen and partook of wonderful Deliverances and Mighty Miracles wrought before their Face as the going through the Sea on Dry Land and their Enemies dâ—stroyed in the same the Pillar of Cloudâ—y Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night the Manna and Quales from Heaven the Watter out of a Rock and also drunâ— of the Spiritual Rock which followed them yet an Unbelieving Ignorant Disobedient Rebellious Murmuring Heart got up in them so that they discerned not the Power by which they were wrought nor the End wherefore being ignorant of both neither did they truly regard the Instruments by whom they were wrought their Wills and Lusts remained strong their Hearts foul and gross their Ears dull of Hearing and their Eyes so weak and their Understandings so darkened that they could not look upon nor behold the Glory of that Ministration though it was but of Angels nor abide and endure the Voice of God in giving forth the Law for the Condemnation of the Transgressor which was Glorious in its time so that they could not behold the Glory of Moses's Face without Fear Exod. 34.30 19.22 nor so much as touch the Mount on which God appeared yea the Priests unless Sanctified or made Holy were not to come nigh the Lord This was the State of the Israelites notwithstanding they were Eye-witnesses of the Mighty Wonders and Miracles visibly wrought before their Natural Senses yet through Unbelief Disobedience Murmuring and Rebellion they perished and their Carcases fell in the Wilderness and entred not into the Promised Land Let the Reader consider those things And when Christ Jesus the Great Prophet came of whom Moses prophesied and wrought divers Visible Miracles before the Hard-hearted Jews who professed themselves the Disciples of Moses I do not find nor read that many of those that saw them wrought with their Natural Eyes and that drank of that Mâ—raculous Wine made of Water and that eat of the Five Loaves and Two Fâ—shes that fâ—d Five Thousand and Twelve Baskets of Fragments to spare ☞ were converted nor so much as became his Disciples or Foâ—â—owers except for Loaves or some Selfish Ends and some among whom he wrought mighty Miracles desired him to depart their Coasts And from the Chief Priests and Leaders he met with this Judgment That he was a Deceiver a Samaritan and had a Devil and cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils so that his Raising the Dead Healing the Sick Possessed and Diseased though Mighty Works in themselves and wrought by the Power of his Father in him yet they were not such great Works â—oâ— the Effects of such great Extent but that those that did believe in him should do greater or he in his Spiritual Appearance in them would do greater John 14.12 13. according to his Saying Verely verely I say unto you He that believeth in me the Works that I do he shall do also and greater then these shall he do because I go to my Father and whatsoever ye ask in my Name that will I do This Saying and Promise was and is fulfilled fulfilling and to be fulfilled And every True Christian is a Witness of the Power that is received by believing in Christ and knoweth and experienceth greater Works and Miracles wrought by the Power and Spiritual Appearance of Christ within then all the Outward Miracles he wrought before the Carnal Eyes of Carnal Professors and Unbelievers in the dayes of his * We read of more Converted at One Sermon of Peter then by all Outward Miracles Flesh But this the Titular Christian cannot receive knowing nothing thereof In order therefore to convince him of the Truth of the same the True Christian speaks further as follows First He saith That once he was Dead in Trespasses and Sins and so Dead that though he was loaded therewith yet he felt not the Weight and Burthen thereof and not only so but he had all the Properties of a dead Man spiritually his Eye was so blind that he could not see the exceeding Sinfulness of Sin his Ear was so deaf that he could not hear the Voice of God though he often called him out of it his Feet were so lame that he could not walk one Step in the Way of God and he was so bowed down that he could not stand upright and his Bloody
I now live I live by the Faith of the Son of God this is the Perfection the True Christian arrives at ☞ even to know Christ live in him and Self and Sin dead then this Life of Righteousness reigns where once Sin and Death reigned and this Life cureth all Diseases and makes a Man grow to Perfection makes the Mind sound and the Understanding A perfect Sign where Life reigns the Heart clean and honest purgeth the Conscience from all dead Works and brings into the Service of the living God and makes free and redeems from the contrary viz. the Service of Sin and Satan and this is a perfect State and hath been is and may be attained unto according to the Holy Scriptures and the Testimony of the True Christian And some Titular Christians do pray for promise and profess as much 〈◊〉 Words The Titular Christian prayeth for and professeth Perfection but doth not believe it 's possible to attain till after the Death of the Body So his Prayer is vain his Belief a strong Delusion when they pray for a clean Heart and the renewing of a right Spirit to live a holy Life and to be cleansed from all Sin and when they promise one for another to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments this is Perfection and he that doth receive a clean Heart and a right Spirit and doth those Things is a perfect Man Now he that professeth and witnesseth these Things before spoaken of and hath travailed through the Work of the New Creation he can speak of Perfection in Truth and Righteousness he can say all the Works of God are perfect good yea very good being a living Witness of the same and that the Works of Man in the Fall and Degeneration and of the old Serpent whom he obeyes are all imperfect and bad yea very bad therefore let all that talk of Perfection with their Tongues and profess it with their Lips see that they are in that Faith which is the Gift of God and works by Love ☞ and doth wonderful Things though it be but as a Grain of Mustard Seed it removes Mountains and the Effect of it doth away all Imperfection and makes whole every whit the Eye being fixed upon the Author thereof it brings the Mighty from its Seat and exalteth that of low Degree it brings to the true Poverty which makes many rich and inherits all Things to the Sorrowing wherein is Rejoycing alwayes to the having nothing and yet poffessing all Things to the Weakness wherein is Strength to the Loss wherein is Gain to the Death wherein is Life Everlasting this State Paul was in when he spoak after this Manner When I am Weak then am I strong when dead then alive as sorrowing yet alwayes rejoycing 2 Cor. 6.10 as poor yet making many rich as having nothing yet possessing all Things these Things are as Riddles and Mysteries to the Carnal Mind and are hidden from the Wise and Prudent but revealed to the Babes who suck at the Breasts of Consolation and are weaned from the Breasts of this World in all its Perfection Glory and Beauty visible and invisible and are become Children of that Faith without which 't is impossible to please God Therefore if any will be perfect and have Treasure in Heaven ☞ they must become as new born Babes feeding on the Milk of the Word and know a growing up in and by the Vertue of the same to the State of a perfect Man out of all Self-Will Thoughts and Imaginations self-Wisdom Riches and Knowledge for in the State of Innocency before the Fall Man was not rich wise nor strong of himself his own Will Thoughts and Desires ☞ though in themselves and in their Places harmless did not rule over him neither did he feed upon the Tree of Knowledge which was and is good in its Place though not for Food but he ruled over them all while he stood in the Image of his Maker and obeyed his Command he had Power over all the Beasts of the Field and Fish of the Sea and the Earth was subdued by him and he had Dominion over it standing in the Life Power Riches and Wisdom of his God and out of his own here though he had nothing yet he possessed all subdued all and had Dominion over all though he fed not upon the Tree of Knowledge yet was he full of Knowledge and Wisdom to discern the Nature of all Things and to give them Names accordingly though he had no Will nor Defire ☞ but what was to be subject to the Will of God nor no Power or Strength given him of God to act contrary to his Command yet he had great Power Liberty and Freedom given him of God over all the Works of his Hands And every Herb bearing Seed which was upon all the Earth and every Tree in which was the Fruit of a Tree bearing Seed for Meat only the Tree of Knowledge which grew not at one Corner but in the midst of the Garden even where the Tree of Life it self grew he was not to eat of he that reads let him understand for I testifie that Moses ☞ or the Author of Genesis was endued with the same Divine Heavenly Sight and Wisdom when he wrot these Things as John was when he wrot his Book of Revelations and a Measure of the same must give the Understanding of them Now Mankind had nothing to do but to dress and keep the Garden which God 's own Hand had planted and this he was to do in the Will Wisdom and Power of God by which he became a Living Soul cloathed with the Image of God without any other Covering but his Spirit this was his Glory and Perfection And in this stood his Joy and Felicity Power and Dominion within and without in this stands the True Christian 's now But when he suffered his Will and Desire and the Eye of his Mind by the Temptation to be drawn and alured forth and gave way to the springing up of a Desire ☞ to know and be wise for himself to be something of himself this let the Temptation over him being deceived disobeyed his God even under a Hope of gaining by it and bettering his State The Life and Image of God which Adam lost was inward and spiritual he dyed not immediately as to his outward Form or bodily Existence but lived many years believing the Serpent who said You shall be as Gods you shall not dye Thus Death entred upon him thus the Image of God in him became vail'd and his Beauty Glory and Perfection defaced his own Will and Desires no sooner gave way to but Temptationt entred no sooner his own Eye opened but his Imperfection appeared and his Nakedness was seen ☞ no sooner he began to live of himself and to will
God dwelleth in us and his Love is perfected in us Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And we have seen and doe testifie That the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 John 4.12 read to the end of the Chapter I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the Fire that thou mayest be Rich and White Rayment that thou mayst be cloathed and that the Shame of thy Nakedness do not appear and anoint thy Eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayst see As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be Zealous therefore and Repent Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am sate down with my Father in his Throne He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches Rev. 3.18 19 20 21 22. To him that Overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a White Stone and in the Stone a New Name written which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it Rev. 2.17 He that believes hath the Witness in himself He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son But the Fearful and Vnbelieving and the Abominable and Murderer and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their Part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone which is the Second Death Rev. 21.7 8. Thus I have here transcribed and set before thee these Scriptures before being very Divine and Heavenly Sayings greatly worthy of thy reading over and over again and in that Light and Grace which shines and appears in thy Heart and is able to remove the Covering and take away the Vail from off the same I desire thee to weigh and consider them and measure and try thy self thereby Had I not the Remembrance still upon my Mind how I often read those Scriptures and many the like while my Understanding was clouded and the Vail over my Heart and did not understand what I read nor receive the Comfort of them nor witness the Truth thereof in my self I say were it not for this Remembrance and the Knowledge of the true Light that now shineth out of Darkness I should admire and wonder how the Titular Christian who readeth and professeth the holy plain Testimonies Precepts Exhortations and Glorious Promises recorded in the Holy Scriptures and lived in and born witness to by divers true Christians now in this Age should oppose and gain-say the fame and understand nothing thereof Though he professeth them to be 〈◊〉 he is so far from being ruled by 〈◊〉 Ruâ—â— that he hates and persecutes those that are and that have received the good things they testifie of And were it not that the holy Scriptures had a great Esteem in the Affections of the People of those Nations called Christendom and that they did bear so plain Evidence to the Truth of the Doctrines taught and Heavenly Estates now professed and enjoyed by the True Christian he would be more hated persecuted and cryed out against then he is So for this Reason and divers more he hath great Cause to praise God that the Scriptures have been preserved and the holy divine Sayings and Testimonies of the Righteous delivered down to this Age so clear true and plain as they are for he alone enjoyes the Benefit Priviledge and Comfort of them by the Virtue and Operation of the Light Love and Spirit of God which they testifie of working in his Inward Man And except this be known the Scriptures and all Heavenly things are as a sealed Book to thee let thy Natural Parts Wisdom and Acquired Attainments be never so great Therefore thy Duty is above all things To hearken to and obey the Voice of God and regard the Inspiration of the Almighty which gives Understanding that thou mayest learn his Heavenly Precepts and understand his Divine Mysteries and enjoy his Glorious Promises and be made wise unto Salvation and so inherit Everlasting Life Peace and Glory and know an Entrance ministred into the Joy of the Lord. And at least an Earnest of all these things thou art to know revealed felt and enjoy within thy self before thou go hence and be no more among men Therefore put not the Day of the Lorâ— afar off nor say in thy Heart The Lorâ— delayes his Coming for he waits to shew himself gracious unto thee and is come nigh unto Judgment and standeth even at thâ— Door Read Proverbs 8. and appeareth at the Gate Entrance of thy Hearth and his Appearance thou may 〈◊〉 infallibly know from all other Appearances because it judgeth every Appearance of Evilâ— and not only so but if thou openest thâ— Gate and entertainest him in thy Heart hâ— will furnish thee with Power and Strength against it and fill thy Temple with his Heavenly Treasures of Wisdom and Glory Sâ— shalt thou not only read and hear of Gooâ— Things but understand possess and enjoy them and be able to obey this Exhortatioâ—â— Abstain from every Appearance of Evil. And this Saying once spoaken to Cain the First-born after Transgression universally concerns thee and all Mankind and is sounded daily in their Ears If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted But if thou dost Evil Sin lies at thy Door Gen. 4.3 And Tribulation and Anguish attends every Soul of Man that doth Evil let him profess what he will Rom. 2.9 Something by Way of Caution and Warning to the Titular Christian to whose Hand this following Treatise may come I Have some Sence upon my Mind that thou wilt upon thy reading thereof be ready to censure and judge those Things thou understandest not nor hast had any Experience of and also to deride and mock at the frequent Testimonies and Exhortations to the Light within Grace within Spirit within Power of God within Word of God within Law within c. Consider what thou dost and against what and whom thou openest thy Mouth and dread the living God whom in Words only thou professest to be a Spirit Infinite Omnipresent and Almighty which Spirit searcheth thy Heart and judgeth thy Wayes though thou at present be Ignorant and Unbelieving concerning him and his being so near thee and also consider within thy self how that if thou knowest not Light shining within and a walking in it thou art no Child of it but Darkness abounds in thee and thou knowest not whither thou goest nor at what thou stumblest if Grace thou knowest not to rule and reign within thee Sin ruleth and Death the Wages thereof is present with thee if the Spirit of God thou knowest not teaching and ruling in thy Heart and sitting upon the Throne thereof the Spirit of Satan
precious Blood and so he not only reads hears and professes the Benefits and Priviledges which the primitive Christians partook of and enjoyed by believing in receiving of Christ but experimentally partaketh of and possesseth and enjoyeth the same Rom. 8 16. And the Spirit of God beareth Witness with his Spirit that he is a Child of God and a Joynt Heir with Christ Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh and that he hath the Mind of Christ and that Christ lives in him and is greater in him then he that is in the World And as the old Adversary the Devil is strong and powerful to tempt and ready on the one Hand and on the other to draw and allure into Evil so he knoweth his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as near and as ready and more powerful to deliver save and preserve him from falling into Evil and Temptation and he is not only enabled to resist the Divel but to make him flee also Thus in Truth can the True Christian call Christ the Captain of his Salvation who being armed with his Power fights as he did followeth him sits down in Heavenly Places with him triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave So the True Christian proveth himself so by denying himself and taking up his Cross daily and following of Christ and that he believeth in him because he enjoyeth Everlasting Life and abides not in Death and Darkness but hath overcome the Wicked one and that he is his Lord because he doth the thing he saith or commandeth and that he loveth him because he keepeth his Commandments and hath received Power to become the Son of God and further hath a Name better then the Name of Sons and Daughters The Titular Christian saith he believeth in one Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier by his precious Blood c. and professeth him as King Priest and Prophet and in all his Attributes and Offices But how doth he demonstrate and shew forth his Belief and Profession How is he his Lord Doth he do the Thing he saith How is he his Saviour Is he saved by him from the committing of Sin and redeemed from a vain Conversation How doth he believe in him as Christ or the Anointing Is he taught by him How is he his King Priest and Prophet Doth he rule in his Heart as King Are all his Services Sacrifices and Offerings offer'd up by and through his Hand as Priest Doth he hear him in all Things as the Prophet whom God hath raised like unto Moses No the Titular Christian hath no Knowledge of him after this Manner neither doth he believe 't is attainable on this side the Grave nor possible to obey him as Lord nor to be saved by him from Sin as Jesus nor taught by him as Christ or the Anointing nor that he can be washed cleansed and sanctified by his precious Blood from the Stains Spots and Defilements of the World Flesh and the Devil while he bears about this Body of Clay he contents himself with a corrupt traditional Faith which hath sprung up in the dark Night of Apostacy which is certainly a very venemous pernicious Weed of the Devil's Kingdom which hath poysoned and destroyed the Souls of many and is now grown to such Maturity and cloathed with such Beauty to the Eye of the Titular Christian that he calls it the Christian Faith though thereby he is taught to believe that 't is not possible to cease from Sin nor to have his Heart purified nor to overcome the Devil and gain Victory over the World and further that notwithstanding he committeth Sin daily and liveth in the Act of it Term of Life in this World he is hereby taught to believe that Christ will save him from the Guilt and Punishment of it in the World to come It may be said of this Titular Christian's Faith as it was once said of Saul and David Looseness and A theism hath slain its Thousands but this its Ten Thousands So although he hears and reads what Christ did in and for those that belived in him and of the powerful Virtue and Operation of that Ancient Christian Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and born witness to by the Holy Scriptures yet he neither hopes believes nor expects to witness the same wrought in him and for him they bear witness of some in whom Christ wrought (a) In whom Christ works all the Devil works nothing all their Works and that through him they were able to do all Things And many glorious Things were spoaken of and were enjoyed by the true Believers in Christ while upon Earth But the Titular Christian puts off all till he is dead and pleads for the Continuation of the Devil and his Works Term of Life and saith the Devil works strongly in him and prevails over him and causeth him to sin in his Holy Duties and that he is so captivated by him that he cannot live one Day nor Hour without Sin so notwithstanding his Profession of Christ he knows him not greater in him then he that is in the World so the strong Man keeps House and it s furnished with his Goods and though he cryes Lord Lord he is a Worker of Iniquity and is bound in Chains of Darkness and his Feet stick fast in the Mire and in the Clay even while he talks of Lord and Saviour he is led Captive at the Devils Will and is a Stranger to that Power which is able to resist him and make him flee and to that Faith which gives Victory So he cannot in Truth call Christ the Captain of his Salvation nor approve himself one of his Souldiers who is armed with the same Power with it fights against the same Enemy and gains the Victory and followeth him who rides on Conquering and to Conquer so never comes to sit down with him in his Father's Kingdom triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave but remains under the Power thereof through the Fear of which he is all his Life Time subject to Bondage 2 Heb. 15. let his Profession of Liberty and Redemption by Christ be what it will his fair Talk will avail him nothing though he saith he believeth in Christ and loveth him yet if he keepeth not his Commandments he is a Lyar and deceiveth himself and hath not Eternal Life abiding in him Profession and Name of Christ without Possession and Nature is of no worth III. The true Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Spirit THE True Christian believeth in the Holy Spirit being one of the Three which bears Record in Heaven which Three are one and he sheweth forth his Faith by his Obedience thereto he hath received the Spirit of Adoption whereby he can call God Father not as the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites did but in Truth and Righteousness and he witnesseth
cannot be saved and so this Reader his Eye being abroad and being ignorant of that Head in which the Wise Man's Eye stands and not discerning the Times and Seasons and the divers Dispensations of God towards Mankind since the Fall ☞ nor perceiving the End of them layes hold of the Shadow and Figure instead of the Substance and gets Possession of the Shell instead of the Kernel his Body washed though not with the pure Water of the Word his Outside baptized with outward Water and then accounts himself a Subject and Partaker of Christ's Ordinance But herein the Titular Christian of all Sorts is deceived for notwithstanding his Teachers tell him that he entered within the Pale of the Church ☞ and was made a Member of Christ when he was sprinkled with Water in his Infancy and the other when of Understanding to imitate others I say herein he deceiveth himself and is deceived because he still remains ignorant of the One Baptism which washeth and cleanseth the Inside purifieth the Heart and sprinkles the Conscience from dead Works of which all the Outside Sprinklings ☞ Washings and Baptisms that ever were apointed of God or practis'd of holy Men were but a Figure or Type And the True Christian sticks not nor remains in any of them but it 's a great Mystery to tell the Titular Christian of being baptized with this one Baptism which is the Baptism of Christ under the Term of Holy Ghost and Fire though he may read that Christ foretold that even those that were Partakers of John's Baptism which was the greatest of outward Baptisms should be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire And John said I indeed baptize with Water Mat. 3.11 12. unto Repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier then I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with Fire whose Fan is in his Hand and will make clean his Floor and gather his Wheat into his Garner and burn up the Chaff with Vnquencheable Fire This the True Christian witnessed fulfilled in the Primitive Times and now is Partaker of the same being baptized into Christ Gal. 3.27 Col. 2.12 hath put him on being baptized into his Death is buried with him in Baptism ☞ and this Baptism being one brings all that are Partakers of it The Ground of Vnity of what Nation or Country soever Bond or Free into one Body into Oneness of Heart and Mind and Spirit as Paul testified to the Corinthians For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Grecians 1 Cor. 12.13 whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit this blessed Oneness and Unity is the Fruit and Effect of the one true Baptism of Christ Jesus These Things the Titular Christian can read of in the Holy Scriptures which the True Christians were Witnesses of But till the Vail of the Covering be rent and taken away from off his Heart and he truly turned unto the Lord and becomes sensible of the Operation of his Spirit as a Fanner as a Purger as a Gatherer of the Wheat in the Garner and as a Fire to burn up the Chaff till this he knows working in his own Heart ☞ he remains in Death and Darkness and only talks of Heavenly Things and lives in the Earthly and boasts of Christ's Ordinance of Baptism but is a Stranger to it and sticks in the Outside and Shadow and abides in the outward Court which is trodden under Foot of the Gentiles and cryes up the Temple of the Lord and his Ordinances but dwells not therein nor is not a living Witness or Member thereof And concerning the Lord's Supper the Titular Christian professeth himself a Guess prepared to sit at the Table and to eat of the Dainties that he hath prepared but the Master of the Feast hath appeared and taken notice of his Guess and hath given an Eye also to his Children to see beyond the outside Appearance and Profession and the Day of Tryal and Manifestation is come and the Titular Christian must be examin'd whether he sits at the Table of the Lord and eats of his Flesh and drinks of his Blood or on the contrary whether he only professeth it ☞ and crowdeth himself in unprepared without his Wedding-Garment and catcheth at a Shadow and feedeth upon Husks and is as one that dreameth he eateth but when he awakes is hungery therefore how doth he demonstrate that he is a Partaker of this Supper why he hath received by Tradition or findeth it written in the holy Scriptures That the same Night that Christ was betrayed he took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to his Disciples and said take eat this is my Body which is given for you do this in Remembrance of me and also the Cup saying This Cup is that Now Testament in my Blood which is shed for you this do as often as ye drink in remembrance of me and Paul saith So often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup you shew forth the Lord's Death till he come This was only to and amongst the Disciples and weak Believers and was in it self but a Representation and Figure of that which is Meat indeed and Drink indeed which Paul principally aim'd at which at Christ's second Appearance without Sin unto Salvation his Saints and Disciples were Partakers of But the Titular Christian before he hath approved himself a Disciple of Jesus and before he hath followed him one Step in the Work of Regeneration ☞ begins to imitate what he finds was practised by Christ and his Disciples though not in the same Spirit nor to the same End one Sort gets Bread and Wine and consecrates it as he saith by a sinful Hand and polluted Lips and then imagins it immediately Transubstantiated or changed into the Real Flesh and Blood of Christ this is a great and strong Delusion indeed be being led by such a gross implicite Faith as to believe so palpable and witless a Lye contrary to his outward Senses which are able to try outward Things for the very Bread and Wine so consecrated remains of the very same Quality Nature and Form as before and as subject to Decay Mould and Corrupt and be eaten by Vermin as any other Bread and Wine of the same kind Another Sort not quite so much besotted in this thing blesseth Bread and Wine after his manner and looks upon it as Bread and Wine after his Blessing is bestowed upon it eating and drinking of it some after one Fashion and some after another calling it A Blessed Sacrament one will eat it before Dinner another after Supper one Standing another Kneeling another Sitting c. and do not look upon it as Real Fesh and Blood but a Representation Type or Figure or something which ought to be partaken of in Remembrance of Christ till he comes But in all
and beguiled Eve in Paradice Gen. 3. Job 1. Rev. 12.4 And on a Day when the Sons of God appear'd before the Lord Satan came also among them and accused Job And John in his Day saw the great red Dragon appear in Heaven ☞ waiting to devour the Man-Child he that reads let him understand This made Paul fear the Serpent might beguile them he wrote to 1 Cor. 11.3 as he beguiled Eve through his Subtilty tempt allure them out of Innocency out of a Virgin sinless and harmless Estate after they were in it * It 's possible to be tempted and allured out of Innocency and to loose a good Estate this he once did and may do again if he be not watched against and resisted in the Power of the second Adam which enables to endure Temptation and so to receive the Blessing and after Tryal to enjoy the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1.12 XIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning a Holy Life THE True Christian believeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life and to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of the World which lyes in Wickedness and to keep God's holy Will and Commandments Jer. 31.33 and they are not grievous unto him for he loves the Law of God in his Heart and sees it written there with his own Finger enjoying that precious Promise I will write my Law in their Hearts Isa 51.7 and put my Fear into their inward Parts and he can say as David once did Oh how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. how sweet are thy Words unto my Tast yea sweeter then the Hony to my Mouth thy Law is my Delight the Law of thy Mouth is better to me then Thousands of Gold and Silver The True Christian being in this Estate and persevering in this Love of God and his Law it becomes his Meat and Drink to do the Will of his Heavenly Father And so by walking in this Law and meditating in it and by feeding on this Word which is sweeter then Hony he becomes so united with it and so natural a Subject and Child of it that he comes to be able to say ☞ as some of old did We can do nothing against the Truth this is the true forsaking the Devil and all his Works c. and the keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments And as the True Christian grows up in this he doth alwayes that which pleaseth him like unto his elder Brother the Captain of his Salvation who is gone before being Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh sitting in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of their Heavenly Father even the same Glory which was before the World began before the Devil and his Works entered before his Holy Will and Commandments were broaken or before the forbidden Fruit was eaten Those that have their Eyes anointed with Eye-Salve and are cloathed with fine Linnen and have their Garments washed in the Blood of the Lamb and follow him whethersoever he goeth and have no Guile in their Mouthes but stand before the Throne of God without Spot or Wrinckle those are they that are redeem'd from the Earth and have their Conversation in Heaven and enjoy those Things and give the Glory to him who is God blessed forever The Titular Christian he saith and professeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments but never cometh to witness that Estate it 's very grievous to him to make streight Steps to his Feet he enjoys not that precious Promise the Law writ in his Heart and the Fear which keeps the Heart clean in the inward Parts neither is the Law of God his Meditation all the Day nor his Delight therein neither are his Words to him sweeter then Hony or better then Thousands of Gold and Silver he cannot say that he doth nothing against the Truth nor that he doth alwayes that which pleaseth God nor that he follows Christ the Captain of Salvation neither is he a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones nor sits in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of God c. though he will sometimes talk of these Things as they are written in the Holy Scriptures but in his Heart he is a Stranger to them and God's Holy Witness in his own Conscience makes him confess that his Heart is desperately wicked and that his Thoughts and Meditations are defiled and full of Sin and that his best Performances or Doings are accompanied with Sin and Corruption and that in all he doth he doth something against the Truth ☞ And further he is so far from living a Holy Life and forsaking the Devil and all his Works and keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments that he is begotten into such a Belief and Perswasion that it is not possible to do it while he breathes in the Air of this World but must alwayes be sinning and doing that which he ought not to do and leaving undone that which he ought to do alwayes confessing alwayes sinning and never forsaking so alwayes reaping the Wages of Sin which is Death and so alwayes wanting the Mercy and Forgiveness which he that forsakes the DEVIL and all his WORKS partaketh of So in short this is one of the last Lessons the Devil can teach his Children viz. to †Those that preach this Belief and Perswasion in the world aredirect Ministers of Satan perswade them and make them believe that they cannot cease from Sin but must be Committers of it and Servants to it and that they cannot forsake him and all his Works nor keep God's Holy Will and Commandments so long as they live in these Houses of Clay such Titular Christians as these he hath them in Chains and Fetters strong enough nothing less then the Mighty Arm and Power of God is able to break them and to release those poor Captives and to redeem them out of this deep Pit of Misery wherein is no Water wherein their Souls or inward Man lyes as among the Pots soiled with the Smoak and Soot of the Bottomless Pit Oh God hasten and bring Deliverance to these poor Bend-slaves of Sin and Satan is the Cry of the Souls of the Righteous who have the Mind of their Heavenly Father who desires not the Death of him that dyes but that they should come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved and be Partakers with them of the exceeding Riches and Glory that is laid up for all that love his Appearance ☞ and is ready to be reveal'd to all that truly wait for it XIV The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning the Motion or Moving of the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the
and to know of himself but Death Misery and Ignorance followed and Shame Fear and Guilt appeared and many Inventions and Contrivances how to cover the Nakedness and Shame and excuse the Guilt was invented This was the Work of Transgressing Man in the Beginning and is the same at this day among all the Children of Men of what Nation Name or Sect soever who abide in the transgressing State of the First Adam Now the State of Perfection that the Children of the Second Adam do attain unto while in the Body is a True Self-denyal and Resignation into the Will of God throughout all Tryals ☞ and over all Temptations he is a Perfect Man in Christ who is not only Restored and Redeemed by him into a State of Innocency Harmlesness and Uprightness but also in this State is resigned and given up in his Mind Will Thoughts and Desires into the Will of God as clearly knowing it so that his Mind being the Mind of Christ ☞ is eying his Heavenly Father and his Mind is stay'd upon him where the perfect Peace is And his Will Thoughts and Desires though Harmless as Christ's were yet subject to his Father truly saying as Christ did Not my will but thine In this State of true Resignation unto and Unity with the Father's Will stands the True Christian's Safety and Perfection and that which preserveth him in the same is the Power of God that throughly debaseth Self subjecteth Man's Will and saves to the uttermost through Faith in it And in this State of Perfection as he lives and remains he is cloathed with the Spirit of Glory and Humilâ—ty the greater his Attainments are and the higher the Heavenly Place is he fits in the lower is his Mind and the lesser he is in his own Eyes the greater he is in the Kingdom of God the more he is replenisht with true Love Goodness Humility here the greatest is the Servant a Helper of others the highest the lowest here the Servant is as his Lord and the Lord as him that serveth And among these True Christians there is no Strife nor Dispute ☞ who shall be Greatest though they are Elders and have Crowns upon their Heads yet they throw them down at the Feet of him that sits upon the Throne and give Glory to him forever Rev. 4.10 11. XX. A Few Words by Way of Advice Counsel and Exhortation to such as are newly turned in their Minds from Darkness within to Light within from the Power of Satan within to the Power of God within whereby the Work of Regeneration is begun within that such may not miscarry in the same nor sit down by the Way short of the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus is what follows written seriously to be Read Weighed and Considered TEnder Friend who art turned to this Light and Power and art a Believer in it and desirest to hear and obey the Word in thy Mouth and in thy Heart to this Light thou dost well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place and as a Voice that calleth unto thee saying Come up hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's Wife In Order thereto thou must understand and regard the End of the precious Appearance of the Light within though it be and appear unto thee but as Light that breaketh forth before the Day dawn within or before the Day-star arise in thy Heart yet the End of its Appearance and Shining in thee is that thou shouldst fix the Eye of Faith upon it and keep thy Mind towards it till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise within and this is the Star of the Messias and the Angel of the Lord that will lead thee to the Inn where the Virgin is delivered of a Son and where the Babe of Glory lyes swadled in a Manger unregarded by all the Guests thereof and thou following this Star and finding him wilt not spare thy Cold Incense and Mirth but offer up thy precious Things unto him as the Wise Men did And when the Light within the Day-star within hath led thee thus far thou must not think within thy self that thou hast now attained to the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus because thy Eye seeth the Salvation which God hath prepared before the Face of all People think not with thy self that thou presently possessest and enjoyest the same because of the Joy Delight and Pleasure that accompanies the Sight thereof yet take thou heed of sitting down in the Appearance of Light and Heavenly Discoveries and in the bare Sight and Knowledge of the Man-Child that 's born but wait thou and walk in the same Light within which will discover unto thee that Spirit that secks its Life within thy self even after it is born ☞ under the Pretence of worshipping of it as Herod did and in it thou wilt receive Wisdom and Counsel to cherish and preserve it till the Death of its Enemies as Jâ—seph did in the Light thou mayst come to read and understand those Things which are written for thy Learning Now whatsoever makes manifest is Light Darkness and the Works of it is and hath been wrought within the Light that expels the Darkness and the Power that destroyes the Works of it is also to be known within None walk in the Light further then they bring their Thoughts Words and Works to the Light to be proved and tryed whether they proceed from or are wrought in God or no Joh. 3.21 thou must believe continue walking in the Light that thou mayest become a Child of it and abide with the Power that thou mayest know witness the Work of it within thy self proceeding in Order from the first Day to the seventh or Sabbath of Rest And thou mayst understand that thou dost not become a Child of Light so soon as thou seest the Shining of it and begins to believe and walk in it thou must not only have Faith but thou must add unto thy Faith Patience c. for thou hast as much need as some of old had which Paul wrote to when he said You had need have Patience that after you have done the Will of God you may wait to receive the Promise and it was after they believed that the Primitive Christians were sealed with the Spirit of Promise the End of Faith is not soon attained unto ☞ he that believes must not make hast neither must he will nor run but in Patience wait in the Faith without Doubt and Wavering till he receives the End of it as some of old did viz. the Salvation of their Souls And so thou wilt know as in the Light thou waitest Salvation come nearer and nearer one Day then another unto thee and wilt witness to the Truth of what the Apostle wrote when he said Now is Salvation nearer then when you first believed Now tender Friend I have this principally to advise thee of that
the Wiles and Devices of the Enemy are many and mysterious and the Murtherer ariseth with the Light and 't is against thee who art come to believe in the Light he rageth within and without and about thee he goeth as a roaring Lyon seeking to devour and as a subtil Fox to get into the Vineverd again and spoil the tender Grapes therefore I counsel thee to wait low in thy Mind in that Heavenly Principle of Light to which thou hast been turned and in which thou hast believed in this the Devil hath no Part abiding here thou art as one armed in a strong Tower of Defence keep thou thy self that he may never prevail against thee by Allurements Baits Shares and Enticements and he can never force thee nor by all his Strength compel thee to yield unto him and obey him But know this he will suit and sort his Temptations according to thy Temperament State and Condition seeing thou hast turned thy Back upon that wherein his Kingdom stands and where his Works and Will is done and set thy Face Sionward and walks in the Light within that leadeth thereto he knoweth 't is in vain for him to appear unto thee now as a Devil therefore will he transform himself like unto an Angel of Light and propose and promise as great Things to thee as he did to Eve in Paradice if he can but get thee out of thy Way the Light within which makes him manifest in all his Shapes and Transformings he will prevail against thee and cause thee to err and deceive thee under the Hope of enjoying a greater Liberty and a higher Glory thus he hath beguiled some in this Age for when and where the Woman appeareth cloathed with the Sun ☞ and the Moon under her Feet and a Crown of twelve Stars upon her Head being with Child crying travailing in Birth pained to be delivered then and there also the great red Dragon with his seven Heads ten Horns and seven Crowns upon his Heads appeareth also and with his Tail draws Stars from Heaven and casts them to the Earth and also stands ready before the Woman to devour her Child as soon as 't is born Read Rev. 12.1 2 3 4. and the Lord give thee Understanding So tender Friend If thou desirest to travail on with Safety in the Way and Path of Christianity from its Birth to the Cross and from the Cross to the Crown thou must walk in the Light and daily learn of the Grace of God within and keep on thy Armour the Light within whereby thou hast conquered many Enemies within and overcome divers Temptations within and hast known it as an Ax laid to the Root of the Evil Tree within abide thou in it and keep thy Eye fixed upon him that heweth therewith that thou mayest know its Work throughly effected viz. the very Root of the Evil Tree cut up not only its Branches lopt off and the Root struck at but Root and Branch destroyed and the Heavenly Plant to grow and encrease into a Tree of Righteousness instead thereof within thy self that thou mayest fit under its Shadow with Safety and eat of the Fruit thereof with Delight Now though thou art a Believer in the Light and a Learner of the Grace and art travailing right on in the same towards a full Enjoyment thereof know this That thou wilt meet with many Tryals Exercises and Temptations in the Way some to turn thee out of it and others to cause thee to sit down short and take up a Rest by the way and glory in thy former Experiences Openings Sights and Revelations and Power over Devils which thou hast been endued withal so if the old Serpent cannot prevail in the one he may in the other envying thy Happiness he will try all Means against thee to beguile thee as he did Eve tempt and alure thee out of a Heavenly Estate he will hardly beset thee within and without and when thou appearest before God hewill appear also with Lyes and Accusations against thee Now keep thou in the Light wherewith thou art enlightened and in which thou hast believed and lean thou upon and trust in the Grace of God which is sufficient and present with thee and ready and able to save and deliver thee when his Alurements and Buffetings attend thee And this Light within in which thou hast believed as thou walkest in it will shew thee the Nature and Tendency of the Bait though covered with Golden Pretences and the very Hook that 's covered therewith So as thou waitest and abidest in this Light in vain is the Snare laid in thy Sight in vain are all his subtil Devices gainst thee and in vain are all his variable Appearances in order to deceive and destroy thee whether he appears as a subtil Serpent or as a Satan to accuse as he did Job before God or as a Dragon or Roaring Lyon to devour or as an Antichrist or on the contrary whether he appear as an Angel of Light with two Horns like a Lamb and in Sheep's Cloathing and further In our Age as in Ages past the Devil hath confessed to the Appearance of Christ and preacht the Words of Truth but in O position to the Power though he appears in and assumeth the Form of Godliness and preaches and confesses Christ in his Spiritual Appearance within in words and talks of and professeth the Light within and the Motion of the Spirit and a Learning of the Spirit and a Ceasing from Man and a Learning of the Anointing Light and Grace within and get into the Throne and Temple of God and sit there as God I say In vain are all his variable Appearances Wiles and Works Formings and Transformings as thy Eye is kept single thy whole Body will be full of Light and thou wilt be able to say as some of old did We are not ignorant of his Devices And thou wilt try and discern Spirits and that Ear will be open that tryes Words as the Mouth tastes Meat and judgeth the divers Sounds and Voices and seeth to the In side Root Ground and Foundation of things that do appear and gives them Names according to their Nature and judgeth Righteously concerning them and not according to Appearance only whether within thy self or without As in this Wisdom and Discerning thou abidest thou wilt travail safely on from Faith to Faith from Knowledge to Knowledge from one Degree of Grace and Glory unto another till thou comest to be fully gathered from the East West North and South and sittest down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God and also knowest the Son surrender the Kingdom to the Father and God become all in all then shalt thou know as thou art known and see as thou art seen and Death shall be swallowed up in Victory Mortality of Immortality and there shall be no more Sea Death nor Sorrow Crying nor Pain former things being past away and all things made new this Estate
to know him that is true and is in him that is true And that he hath the Witness of God's Spirit bearing Witness with his Spirit that he is a Child of God and a Possessor of these Things which Things no Impostor Deceiver nor Titular Christian can have and possess while so I say when these Things are told and born Witness of in the Ears of the Titular Christian he slights and disregards and will not believe the same but counts it Delusion and Fanatick Dreams and Fancies arising from spiritual Pride High-mindedness and vain Conceit and so despiseth his Testimony the Works that bear Witness thereof even as the Jews did of old judge condemn Christ and his mighty Works as wrought by the Power of the Devil so doth the Titular Christian in this Age Judge Censure Arraign and Condemn Christ and his Mighty Works in this Day of his Power and spiritual Appearance in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men wherein he hath wrought as mighty Works and done as great Miracles as in any Age since the Fall of Man and many are now living Monuments of the same blessed is the Eye that seeth them and is fixed upon the Author thereof to whom be Glory and Praise throughout all Generations forever XIX The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Doctrine of Perfection IN the Holy Scriptures are divers Precepts and Commands and Exhortations not only to Holiness 2 Cor. 7 1. but to the Perfecting of Holiness in the Fear of God Phil. 3.14 and to the pressing forwards until it be attained unto and afull Growth be witnessed to the Stature of a Perfect Man in Christ Jesus Presented to God without Blemish Col. 1.28 Spot or Wrinkle or any such Thing And it 's said of Noah Gen. 6.9 that he was a Just and Perfect Man in his Gâ—neration and that he walked with God And God said unto Abraham Walk before me Gen. 17.1 and be thou Perfect And that Job was a Perfect and Just Man Job 1.8 And in David's Time he bids Mark the Perfect Man Psal 37.37 and behâ—ld the Vpright the End of such is Peace And Christ exhorted his Disciples to be Perfect as theirl eavenly Father was â—erfect Mat. 5 48. And the Labour and Travail of the Apostles was that People might be Perfect and Entire ☞ Jaâ— 1.4 wanting nothing and that they might be presented Perfect Heb. 13.21 and be made Perfect in every good Work And he wished the Perfection of those he wrote to 2 Cor. 13.9 â— Cor. 2.6 And he spoak Wisdom among them that were Perfect So the Holy Scriptures contain not only Precepts and Exhortations to Holiness and Perfection but they also give Testimony that several did obey them and attain thereunto in Ages past And the Faith and Testimony of the True Christian in this Age is That Holiness and Perfection are attainable now as in Dayes of old and that the divers Precepts and Exhortations in the Scriptures thereunto may be obeyed and the State truly enjoyed even while People dwell in these Earthly Tabernacles 2 Cor. 4.7 they may enjoy the Heavenly Treasure in their Earthen Vessels 1 Thes 4.4 which may be possessed with Sanctification and Honour Now this is one of the sound Doctrines which the Titular Christian cannot endure comprehend nor understand therefore cryes out against it and sayes No Perfection here no perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God no coming to the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 11.2 no growing up to the Stature of the Fulness of Christ no perfect Man in Christ nor no being presented to God as a Chast Virgin Holy Col. 1.22 28. Jude 24. and Vnblamable Faultless without Spot or Wrinkle In Sum no being now as the Fathers of old and the Christians in the primitive Times were No Possibility of perfect Obedience to the divers Precepts Exhortations and Commands of the Spirit of God throughout the Holy Scriptures this is the Language of the Titular Christian so that herein he commits these two great Evils ☞ First Notwithstanding his pretended Honour to the Scriptures and Holy Men he gives them all the Lye Secondly He with the sloathful Servant calls God a hard Master in requiring that which nont are able to perform But the Testimony Faith and Experience of the True Christian is quite the contrary he having passed through the Work of Regeneration and experienced the divers Workings and Operations of the Spirit of God in his Heart in this small Treatiâ—e before hinted at leading him from one Degree of Grace unto another from one Degree of Faith and Knowledge unto another until he is fully saved by the Grace hath gained Perfect Victory by the Faith from over that which made him Imperfect Sinful and Defiled and until the Knowledge of the Lord so abounds in him that it covers the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea and until he comes to the Sabbath of Rest the Anti-Type of the outward Sabbath wherein he speaks not his own Words nor thinks his own Thoughts nor doth his own Will nor Works but witnesseth a Denyal of them all and a putting off the old Man with his Deeds and keeping the Body under and a Bridle upon the Tongue Nature Will Thoughts and Desires which received the Temptation in the Beginning alwayes keeping them to the Cross ☞ though a Rent wing Restoration be attain'd unto and the State of Innocency known and lived in even as in the Beginning before the Fall yet the Will Thoughts and Desires must be watched ruled over and subjected to the Will and Command of God in Truth and Reality even as Christ hath lest an Ensample whose Will and Desires were as good pure and perfect as Adam's were before he fell and as any can attain to in this Age yet said he when he prayed to his Father Not my will but thâ—ne whose Will he came to do Now in this Heavenly Self Denyal and true Resignation stands the Perfection and Safety of the True Christian all which is wrought and effected by the Power and Spiritual Appearance of the second Adam in him and for him who of himself can do nothing And in this is his Happiness and Perfection that he is come to cease from his own Thoughts Words and Works his own Way and Will and his own Wisdom and Knowledge also for in these Things began his Misery ☞ and while they lived in him and ruled over him he continued in the Misery notwithstanding his divers Devices and Inventions and Strivings to get out of it Death Misery and Sorrow accompanied him and clave close unto him and he could never be rid thereof till he come through the Work of Regeneration through true Self Denyal and Resignation to that Estate which Paul was in when he said I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that