of his Love immortal whosoever truely desireth and is willing to receive the Power of his Life and come into Covenant with the Lord Such may lend me an ear a little and you are them who may receive some benefit hereby for behold I write in plainness of the things of God my heart being enlarged with abundance of his Peace in which ther 's good-will towards men that you might come to draw near to the Witness the Testimony whereof is within the Vail which Vail is over the heart 2 Cor. 3. 15. and is not done away but as you come to be in him who is given for a Witness Isaiah 55. 4. by believing in the Light John 12. 36. and so to have the Witness in you 1 John 5. 10 and you to be in it and that you may come to participate of God's indwellings and feel the Oyl which will last forever threrefore I proceed thus How can I but look back a little with an eye of pitty over those who yet are where once I was when the Darkness was over the Earth and the cloud of Errorscompassed me as well as others surely I cannot now be unmindful of them that are yet lost as not to have compassion upon the Out-Casts of Israel or to conceal from them these things of so great concernment but rather as the Lord of my Life hath opened to me I will reach forth my hand towards the weak and utter my voice to the Prisoner of hope and shew unto the Meek in the Earth how the invisible God hath led his Seed and is leading his Remnant through and out of the variety of things unto the One thing it self from whence the various Things Gifts and Ministrations do come Now that which is chiefly in my heart to writ for the Seeds sake is First Something Concerning the Ministration of Moses when he was upon the Earth Secondly Concerning the Ministration of Christ whilst he was upon Earth Thirdly and chiefly Concerning the Ministration of the Spirit First Concerning Moses's Ministration when he was upon Earth which was to last till Shilo same or until the time of Reformation As concerning Moses's Ministration to wit the Law Condemnation or Death with the Priests Offering and worldly Sanctuary and an outward Tabernacle and daily Offerings for Sin and Store-houses for the Levites Strangers Fatherless Widdows having the Ark of the Testimony within the Vail and the Mercy Seat cóvered and the Golden Pot and the People to seek the Law at the Priests mouth whereby their knowledge is preserved and many profit much thereby and come day by day and year by year unto that which they esteem a place of Holy Worship and Ordinances of God And notwithstanding the Priests of Moses'â—… Law were made by the Law of God yet that Pâ—…iesthood changeth and the Law changeth and the very glory of all this passeth away for this did once seem glorious unto me and many more which only disâ—…overed sin though it made nothing perfect and with much delight was the reading of the Law and the Prophets hearkened unto and the daily Confession of Sin but the Vail is over the heart whilst Moses is Preached and Sacrifices Morning and Evening with the long Prayers which the Comers thereunto were not at all thereby made perfect as pertaining to the Conscience though it had a Shadow of good things to come yet the glory thereof comes to be done away Then how much more will the very glory of the most glorious appearance of that Ministry perish and be done away which cometh short of this and hath not so much as the image of this which was a Shadow O weak beggarly things that are found among those Priest now and their Followers who come short of Moses's Ministry for he directed them to Christ the Substance so his Ministration come to be done away as Christ comes to be received for Moses did not seek to uphold his Priests or Law or Tythes or any thing else when Christ should come who is the end of the Law but did write of him and notwithstanding his Ministry Priests he said He that would not hearken unto him should be cut off and said The Lord will raise up mark the Words raise up The Lord shall raise up a Prophet and when the Prophet was come he said I am the Light and I am meek and low in heart and this is to be raised up which is meek for to them that sate in Darkness Light hath sprung up And the Soul that hearkneth not to the Prophet which springs up shall be cut off for Truth springeth up out of the Earth and Christ is the Truth and he said I am the Light which is the Horn of Salvation that God raised up to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles and is the Salvation of Israel and so the soul is to hearken to that which God raised up and that it is which condemns Sin under it who is like unto Moses whose Ministry discovers Sin and so Moses directed unto Christ who puts away the Sin Paul said of the glory of Moses's Ministration that it was no glory in respect of the glory of the Ministration of the Spirit and the gloriouâ—… Ministry of the Spirit was received after he who had a body prepared had suffered the crucifying of his body and the Prophets searched diligently to see the glory that was to be after the Sufferings of Christ 1 Pâ—…t 1. 10 11. But the thing intended that Moses when he was upon the Earth directed unto Christ and gave commandment that they should hearken unto him who said I am the Light and this is one Tittle of the Law that the Light be hearkened unto who is the end of the Law and the Substance and he that offendeth herein is guilty of all and this is that in which all the large Ministrations of Moses are included that Christ the Light the true Prophet be hearkened unto and obeyed that by hearing and obeying his voice or the word in the heart they might come from under the Law and the Priests and that which waxeth old unto the Life and Obedience of him who abideth a Priest forever even the Lord of that glory which lasteth for evermore Secondly Concerning CHRIST and his Ministration when he was upon Earth and his Work which he finished And when he cometh which Moses commandeth to hearken unto even Christ the true Prophet the Light of the World the Living Minister the end of the Law who had a body prepared to do the Will of the Father which was in him the Man CHRIST JESUS he saith Follow me and he took up his Cross and passed through the Death and the Vail and so being made perfect through Sufferings attained that glory which he had with the Father before he had a body which body was prepared to do the Father's Will whose Will was that all men should be saved therefore Christ tasted death for every man and
believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony of him and that he was made manifest in Judea and Jerusalem and did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Jews and was crucified by his Enemies and that he was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascended on high exalted at the right hand of the Father for evâ—… and that he is gloâ—…ified with the same gloâ—…y that he had before the world was and that even the same that came down from Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe Even he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to judge the whole world with righteousness and all people with equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the day of Judgment when all shall arise to condemnation or justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the World was and that is the knowledge unto Eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive he subdues death destroys him that hath the power of it restoreth from Death to Life and quickeneth by his Spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifiâ—…th and such are taught of him but he condemns all that believe not and continue in unbelief and are not taught of him And this we faithfully believe And we believe That unto all People upon the face of the whole Earth is a time and day of Visitation given that they may return and be saved by Jesus Christ who is given of the Father to call the worst of men to repentance and the most ungodly of sinners are convinced by him of their ungodly deeds that they may believe and be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the love of God manifested to all mankind and that none wert shut out by him before they were born into the world but unto all men is a visitation given and they that perish it is because they do not believe in Christ and Destruction is of a mans self but Salvation is of God through believing in his Son who takes away sin and reneweth into his ownImage that they may become Heirs with him And we believe That there is a Crown of eternal Glory and an Inheritance of eternal Life to be enjoy'd for evermore by all that believe are chosen of God and that there is an everlasting Misery and Destruction to be possessed by all that believe not but continue in the state of Reprobation and are not changed from the ways of sin and death but walk after the ways of their own hearts lusts fulfilling the will of the flesh in the evil of this world and follow not Christ the Light of the world that they may be saved and we believe upon all such the Wrath of God abides and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe That it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death unto Life and who is redeemed out of the world and all its ways such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they only have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleans'd from all unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their sins are remitted for his Blood cleanseth them from all Unrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned the World withal And we believe That the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of Sins and may be perfectly freed from the body of sin death and in Christ may be perfect and without Sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Jesus Christ And we believe Every Saint that is call'd of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtain it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit and are in Covenant with God and their Sins are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit sin being born of the Seed of God And we believe the Goâ—…pel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation and that it ought to be preached freely unto all People Christ to be held forth to all Mankind by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is receiv'd by the gift of the holy Ghost and all they that receive it are lawfully called to the Ministry and they may preach the Gospel of Christ freely as they have received it freely and this Ministry is not of man but of God and is made powerful to the converting of sinners and to the bringing of People to God and to the knowledge of his ways And we do not believe that any man is a Minister of Christ without the gift of the holy Ghost or that the Gospel can be received by natural Larning or Education And we believe such as preach for hire and have hire for preaching are not the lawfully called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are proud and high-minded and covetous men who do not profit the people at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calls by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governors we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governors in every Nation City Country or Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge Righteously Equally and Justly and will give true and sound Judgment unto all men without bribery or respect of Persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a Praise unto all that do well a terror to all evil doers having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continually exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being the Foundation thereof that Gods witness in every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all People before Transgression be charged or punished in any man And we believe That every Transgression ought to be punished according to its nature that the punishment exceed not the greatness of the Transgression neither ought Transgressors to escape unpunished neither ought any upon false suspicion or jealousies be caused to suffer without the Testiâ—…ony of true men or the
preach without a price who are not sanctified by the Word of God but plead for a continuance in sin while people walk upon the Earth Such as Minister from the Letter and not from the Spirit who cannot Preach except they have time to study and so by their industry povide themselves and are not provided of the Lord such a Mninistry is of works and not the Free Gift from God such cannot profit people but lead them captive in an empty and dead Form always hearing but never able to come to the true knowledge of God such called Ministers we do deny turn from them and testifie against them as the holy men of God fromerly did read Isa. 56. 10 11. Jer. 5. 31. Mic. 3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 19 20 26 27 28 29. chap. 21. 11. Jer. 23. 15 61 17 22 30 31 32. Isa. 50. 10 11. Phil. 3. 18 19. Jude 11. John 8. 24. 1 Joh. 3. 8. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Ezek. 34 Hos. 6. 9. Mat. 23. 1 Tim. 5. 6 10 11. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pâ—…t 2. 2. Such Magistrates who rule for God who be men of Truth fearing God and bating covetoâ—…sness who execute true Justice and Judgment in the Earth without partiality not respecting the persons of the Rich nor despising the persons of the poor but in Tuth and Equity giving to every one his due and portion according to the Law of Equity who neither seek nor receive honour from men but seek the honour that comes from God only who are a terror to evil dâ—…ers but a praise to them that do well such Magistrates we own and in the Lord honour Exod. 18. 21. Deâ—…t 16. 18 19 20. Joh 5. 41 44. Rom. 13. 3 4. But such Magistrates who be proud and lofty who rule not for God but for themselves who love the praise of men and judge for Gifts and rewards and love money which is the root of all evil who respect the rich in their gay cloathing above the poor in vile raiment who seek and receive honour of men and if they be not honor'd with that which they seek for turn judgment backwards that Equity cannot enter such as be wrathful and malicious cannot rule for God such are encouragers of vice wickedness and turn their sword backward againsâ—… the Upright and Innocent who reprove sin in the gate such magistrates we do deny and testifie against for when the wicked bear rule the Righteous mourn and the Evil-doers rejoyce over them and mock and reproach them Isa. 1. 21 23. chap. 2. 11 12. John 6. 43. Mic. 3. 11. Jam. 2. 1 2 3 4 9. John 5. 44. Isa. 59. 13 14 15. Isa. 29. 21. Prov. 29. 2. Such as live in pride and pleasures and follow ungodly Lust and wicked practices deny God though in words they may profess him even so all such as do evil who follow Drunkenness Oathes Games vain Sports and Pleasures and such like ungodly actions do deny disgrace and greatly dishonour both Ministers and Magistrates though in words they may own them and bow the Hat and Knee and give flattering Titles unto them Tit. 1. 16. Psalm 15. Hosea 4. James 1. 25. Job 32. 21 22. To walk Soberly Righteously and doing Justly according as the Grace of God which brings Salvation doth teach and direct is a sweet savour to the Lord and a true owning and in thâ—… Lord honoring true Ministers and Magistates Micha 6. 8. Tit. 2. 11 12. Psal. 15. 17. Isa. 〈◊〉 15. Rom. 13. 3. But to walk loosly and prophanely doing wieked and unjust actions turning the Grace of God into Wantonness such are an ill savour to God and deny and dishonour true Ministers and Magistrates James 3. 14 15 16. Jude 4. Isa. 59. 2 3 c. True Honour doth not consist in bowing the Hat and Knee and such like things for that is the honour below which men seek and receive one of another which is in the unbelief but in the obedience of the Magistrates just Commands who are a Terror to wickedness but a praise to them that do well For the Law was not made for the Righteous who fear God and live uprightly but for the Lawless who are out of Gods Fear who live wickedly casting the Law of God behind their backs John 5. 44. Romans 13. 3 4. 1 Tiâ—… 1. 8 9 10. Psalm 50. 16 17. So this may certifie all whom this may come unto that we do not deny Ministers nor Magistrates who are made and ordained by God but honour them in the Lord let our Lives and Coversations and that of God in all your Consciences judge for if all were brought into our life the Magistrate should live at peace and so as the eyes of your understandings come to be opned with true Light you will see that those who live soberly and righteously do own and honour Ministers and Magistrates though they cannot for Conscince sake respect their persons nor give them flattering Titles as your Highness your Lordship your Worship and such like for such belong to God For Christ Jesus said I receive not honour from man and saith he How can you believe that receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that comes from God onlyâ—… Gal. 1. 11 12. Rom. 13. 1. Dut. 16. 18 19. John 1. 9. Jam. 2. 1 2 3 4 9. John 5. 44. Read with understanding prove all things hold fast that which is good 1 Thes. 5. 21. A. Parker To all that want Peace with God To the Sheep every where not brought home To the thirsty breathing Soul and to the Seed though in Caâ—…tivity among and in the midst of all Professorsâ—… Greetings of Love Mercy and Peace from God the Father of the Living WHere the Bowels are not shut up nor the Heart darkened and where that doth not bear rule which stoppeth the ear end closeth the eye and where Prejudice and Rebellion against the Light with the wisdom of the flesh through that knowledge which pusseth up hath not wholly caten up devoured got over and wholly overcome that tender Principle which once moved in the heart towards that Being of the living Substance there may my words take enterance and unto such who feel that which breathes to God and who are willing to be satisfied concerning the Living Truth of his Son and who would receive the Truth if they knew it and do yet more desire after the Power of God then all the temporal things that are seen and who are yet come no further than the reading of the Law the Priests Tythe's and that Religion that makes nothing perfect and who are come no further then the outward Baptisâ—… or Shadow or Figure or such things which are to be left behind Heâ—… 6. or who are come no further then the Supper or the Death and so not yet saved by his Life nor drunk of that which saveth is to cleanse from all that which separateth from God after whom and the incomes
broad way to destruction whatever thou be whether a Teacher of others or a Professor of what thou comprehendest to be Truth from the Letter of the Scripture under what Form Name or Title soever thou be thou art a dead Man and a dead Woman and the wrath of God abides on thee though thou see it not Rom. 7. 9. there Paul witnesseth I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came Sin revived and I dyed Friends every one in particular deal justly with your hearts see what you can witness of your death with Christ by the powerful Word of Truth which enlightens the Conscience and condemns Sin in the flesh for every one would ascend with Christ to be partakers of the Life and Glory with him but he becomes a stumbling stone to be Baptized with him unto his Sufferings and Death to descend with him into Hell this thou must witness before ever thou comest to sit with him in heavenly places for it is they and they alone that shall reign with him who suffer with him and they that are dead shall live with him It is the dead that hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Arise thou that sleepest in the dust of the Earth securely in thy serpentine wisdome thy Mind feeding upon the dust of the Earth created objects which will perish Arise stand up to Judgment that Christ may give thee Life This is required of thee O man To do Justly love Mercy and to walk Humbly with thy God Examine thy heart and deal justly with thy own Soul There is a Light in thy Conscience which Light is of Christ minding it it will let thee see the Mystery of Iniquity that lodgeth in thy heart which is deceitful and desperately wicked and this Light in thy Conscience which discovers unto thee the evil of thine heart is of the Eternal Word of God and was from the beginning according as it is written in the outward Testimony of the Truth In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word is God and the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the Lifo was the Light of men And the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not Every one arise out of your earthly wisdom and mind the Light in thy Conscience and wait on the Power of the Lord in it and it will bring thee to Judgment before the Throne of the Lamb where the righâ—…teous Law will be opened in thy heart that will cry through thy earthly heart for Righteousness and Judgment and the Book will be opened in thee where thou shalt see all written that thou hast done in the body and shalt give an account for every idle word and receive thy reward for what thou hast done and thy reward is wrath and Condemnation which will pass upon thee from the presence of the Lamb for thy disob dience and breaking of the righteous Law that goes out of the mouth of the Lamb 't will turn every way and meet thee cut thee down and cast thee into Hell where there is weeping and wailing for want of the presence of God and thou canst do nothing to pacific the Wrath of God which is gone out against thee Now wouldâ—…t thou hide thy self as Adam did when he appears in thy heart thy fig-leav'd garment of prayers tears form outward observations according to thy comprehension of the Letter will not cover thy nakedness it served to cover thy nakedness from the sight of men but now when the Lord appears in thy heart thou canst not stand before him Now comes Cain in thee to be driven from the Face of God to be a fugitive and a Vagabond in the Earth not withstanding all his Sacrifices and Esau in thee reprobated never to have the blessing though he seek it with tears and the Bond woman and herâ—…son cast out and the first Adam now slain with the sharp Sword that goeth out of the mouth of the Lamb and art made to give up thy soul to God whose it is to do with thee what he will if he destroy thee forever he may and if he save thee from Eternal Death it is his free Love Now art thou Baptized with Christ into his Sufferings and Death where thou liest sealed down under the Eternal Judgment of God and there perishest forever for any Power or help thou hast in thy self and this is the Administration of Moses where thou liest condemned forever under the righteous Law without any help or hope until the Administration of the Prophets that prophesie of a Christ that hath satisfied the righteous Law of God for thee who art lost and condemned under the Power of the Law of Moses And now there is a secret hope raised up in thy Soul and thou lookest up from under the condemning Power of Moses for a Saviour And the prophets are until John and of all that were horn of Women there was not one greater then John for he is a burning and shining Light that lets thee fee the filthiness of thy heart and the Law shines in its purity to condemn the Earthly man in thee bu the strengthens the hope in thee that was raised up by the Prophets to see the beauty and excellency of Jesus Christ which ravished thy lost condemned Soul that thou art willing to sell all for him the Scripture now being fulfilled in thee who witnesseth this from the days of John even until now The Kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent take it by force now is every Mountain and Hill laid low in thee and crooked wayes made straight and the rough way in thee made smooth and thou waitest in the Wilderness and lost condition of thy self for the Salvation of God to be manifest to thee in Jesus Christ and in the appointed time of the Father the Son of Man comes to thy soul as a thief in the night as the lightening from the East to the West so is his appearance in thee and causeth thy â—…ead soul to hear his voice which witnesseth to it eternal life freely through his own Blood and thy soul hears his voice and by the Word of his Power is made to live and is sealed up by the Holy Spirit of promise the Spirit of God bearing witness with thy spirit that thou art his child Now comest thou to witness the second Adam to be a quickening Spirit and Isaac the promised Seed to be Heir forever And that the wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life And that by Grace thou are saved through Faith in the Lord Jesus not of works left any should boast and he that hath Hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure and the Love of Christ constrains thee now who canâ—…t witness this work of Regeneration manifest in
abounds and makest the coming of Christ who came to fulfill the Law to destroy it through the evil of thy heart that when the righteous Law cryes in thee for Purity and condemns thee for thy unrighteous walking then thou fleest to the free Grace in Christ to save thee from the power of the Law but thou shalt find the Law hath Power over the fleshly man as long as he lives and the fleshly man that now guides thee is under the Law until it be destroyed through Faith in Jesu Christ For he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and the Saints witness it though thou wrest the words of Paul when he declared his condition before he came to the fulness of stature in Christ to thy own destruction I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind bringing me into captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my members but he gave not up himself to be a Servant of â—…in as thou dost it was his Burthen that made him to cry O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Death And he waited in the Faith until he was freed Rom. 8. 2. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit He witnessed Christ come in him to fulfill the Law and so do all the Saints now according to their growth Some witness the Law fulfilled in them and others are waiting in the Faith patiently following the Lord daily through the Cross until the Law be fulfilled But thou art departed from the Counsel of the Lord thy God and causest his Name to be evil spoken of and hast made the Hearts of his people sad as they did that the Apostle speaks of For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ whose End is Destruction whose God is their Belly whose Glory is their Shame who mind Earthly things These Scriptures are fulfilled in thee which the Apostle mentions And while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought into Bondage For if after they have escaped the Polution of the World through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the later End of them is worse with them than the Beginning For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them But it happened unto â—…hem according to the true Proverb the Dog is turned to his own vomit again the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire And thou mayest read what will be manifest to thee from the Lord For if we sin wilfully after we have received the Knowledge of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a fearful looking for of Judgment and fâ—…erce Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries He that despised Moses Law dyed without Mercy how much sorer Punishment supposest thou shalt thou be thought worthy of who hast troden under foot the Son of God and hast counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith thou wast Sanctified an unholy thing and hast done despight to the Spirit of Grace and we know him that hath said vengeance belongetâ—… unto me I will recoâ—…pence saith the Lord It is a feareful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God Remember from whence thou art fallen Repent and do thy first work in minding that Light of Jesus Christ in thee before whom thou once stoodst condemned for that thou now livest in Prize the time and give up to be guided by the Counsel of the Lord in thee the Light of thy Conscience that discovers every vain thought wait on the Power that is present with the Light and it will dash Babylons childern against the Stones which is Sin in its conception so will thy carnal mind be brought to the Cross daily and thy heart will be purged with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of Burning Kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel the Light in thee lest thou perish in the way for if his Anger be kindled a little blessed are they that trust in him The Discovery of Mystery Babylon To all enslaved Captives in Babylons's Kingdom who are made drunk with the Wine of â—…he Wâ—…ath of her Fornications and bewitched through the multitude of her Inchantments FRiends Babylon is within you the Mother of Harlots is within you and she bewitcheth you through the abundance of her Sorceries and the Beast is within you that ariseth out of the bottomless Pit of the deceived heart which is deceitful and desperately wicked and the Beast which all the World wonders after is your wills that make war against the Lamb of God in you which is the Light that makes manifest the evil of your hearts and your wisdom is the great Whore that sits upon the Beast that ariseth out of the bottomless Pit of the deceitful heart and she finds out many deceitful inventions to preserve the beastly will alive having a golden Cup in her hand full of the abominations of the Earth and this Golden Cup is your outward professions glorious comprehensions and conceivements of God and Christ imitating what the Saints did in power according as they were moved by the operation of the Spirit of the Most High God and you imitate the Saints practice by your wisdom There is nothing but confusion in the Kingdom of Babylon So come you to be divided into so many particular Forms as Presbyterians Imdependants Anabaptists and divers others that are in outward worships painted over with glorious words and yet you whose wills guide you are painted Beasts bewitched with the Mother of Harlots notwithstanding all your outward professions and glorious observations they are but the golden Cup and within you are full of the Abominations of the Earth as Self-Love Covetousness â—…usts Uncleanness Frowardness Backbiting Slandering Hard-heartedness Cruelty and Oppression Grinding the Faces of the Poor Impatiency and Unbelief and the fear of the Lord is not before your eyes and thus you lie enslaved Captives in the Kingdom of Babylon refreshing your hearts in the Creature enjoyments which will perish some in Father and Mother some in Wife and Children some in House and Land some in Gold and Silver some in the Self Wisdom delighting in themselves some in Honour and Preferment in this World and when there is enjoyment of these visible creatures then there is content and when they are taken away there is trouble the mind alwayes Plotting Contriving and Acting every way to get of the creatures what the heart lusteth after and he that gets the
the World by the things of the World endeavours to blind the mind not the Brain-Knowledge but the Heart Fâ—…eling Sence within in the mind lest the Light within should so shine as God should heal them all the Buslings of Satan with his Gifts are but to blind the Mind within lest God should heal the Soul that complains to him from the true Sight and Sence of his Misery as in himself By this Grace and Gift within we believe That to Us though in the World there be Lords many Gods many there is but ONE GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ witnessed within man only by the Spirit of Truth that manifests both the Father and the Son and yet these Three are One and agree in One and he that honours the Father honours the Son that proceeds from him and he that denies the Spirit denies both the Father and the Son and is Antichrist but he that believes in the Spirit and is led by it is the Son of God Rom. 8. 14. As many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God We believe The Scriptures bear witness unto and testifie of Christ but they say The Witness of God is greater then them The Spirit it self bearing witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God For it is not the Scriptures without the Spirit nor the Spirit contrary to the Scriptures but the Spirit 's discovering the Will of God in the Heart oâ—… opening of the Scrlpâ—…ures in its own Time and Way and not in or by the Will of Man but as it self pleaseth who searcheth all even the deep things of God and manifests them unto the Soul which gives the Perfect Sound and Saving Knowledge for said Christ The Spirit shall take of mine shew them unto you And as Holy Men gave forth the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1. 21. so Holy Men and they only come truly to understand them and not proud and ungodly men because their Hearts and Lives do not answer the Hearts Lives of those that gave them forth as Face answers Face in a Glass And this we believe to be the Reason why so long Preaching by men of corrupt Minds who have and do handle the Word deceitfully for Selfish Ends and filthy Lucre sake hath brought forth so little Fruit and been to so little Purpose except to their Purses and Bellies for had they believed and therefore spoaken and stood in God's Counsel they should have profited their Hearers Jer. 23. 21 22 23 to the end Through this Gift we believe That Christ Jesus the Son of God was manifest in the Flesh in the Fulness of time And this we know by the same Spirit by which our Fathers believed he should come and Abraham saw his Day by the same we do believe he is come and do see his Day as also by the Prophet and Apostles Writing which two-fold Cord is not easily broken We believe also according to the Scriptures of Truth That this same Jesus hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every Name that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that there is not another Name whereby any can be saved than this Name of Jesus Christ nor is Remission of Sins to be preached by any other Name But as we do not believe that the outward Letters and Syllables are that Name that is to be bowed to by the outward Knee no more then the Letters or Syllables in the words God or Spirit seeing the Scripture faith Unto God who is a Spirit every Knee shall bow Isa. 45. 93. But the Name which saves is the Power and Arm of God that brings Salvation from Sin and makes every Soul that names it to depart from Iniquity This is that Name which was preached and which is preached through Faith in which Name Remission of Sin is obtained Therefore was the outward word Jesus given him as his outward Name Thou shalt call his Name JESUS for he shall save his People from their Sins mark for he shall save c. So that which saves is the Name which is to be believed in which is that Arm of God that brings Salvation when no Eye pities neither is there any Help the Power of God that then saves is that Grace that comes from the Fulness of Christ the Saviour And without this Virtue Christ and Jesus are but empty Names 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the LORD but by the Holy Ghost We believe also That this Jesus dyed for or because of Sin and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him as well as to manifest to all the World that he was the Son of God and that he thereby spoiled Principalities and Power and triumphed over them openly and led Captivity captive in his own Person yet we believe and know by his Grace in our Hearts that as his Name Jesus without Virtue and Power is but an empty Word so his Dying without man's Conformity to his Death or being planted into the Likeness thereof or being crucified with Christ as saith the Scripture Rom. 6. 2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 2. 20. will not profit man as to the Salvation of his Soul no more then the naming of his outward Name Jesus doth at this day make People to depart from Iniquity For we believe and are â—…ure that man must dye inwardly as well as Christ dy'd outwardly and must be put to Death in his Flesh as Christ was in his for he that is in the Flesh cannot please God Rom. 8. 8. Neither ceaese froâ—… Sin but he that is dead is freed from Sin Rom. 6. 7. And yet man 's dying unto Sin and the Root and Principle of it in himself is so far from making void Christ's Death in his own Person that it establisheth it to all those Ends and Purposes for which it was intended of the Father As the Cures which the Physitian doth manifest and establish his Skill and Ability so doth man's dying unto Sin and Self and living unto God manifest and establish the Virtue and Power of Christ's Death for as man manifests his being risen with Christ by his seeking the things that are above Col. 3. 1 2. so doth he manifest his Knowledge of the Death of Christ by his being crucified with Christ and bearing about in his Body the Dying of the Lord Jesus For as it is not an outward Belief gather'd from the Letter that will change the Heart and Life though the Judgment and Opinion it may so it is not a Belief from the History or Letter only that can give man a saving Knowledge of the Death of Christ but he must have the same Glory and Power of the Father in measure working in him there to beget Faith in his Heart thaâ—… he may believe unto Salvation from his own Filthiness and Righteousâ—…ess as well as confess with his Mouth Rom. 10. and must have that
Confession of the Party And we believe That the Executors of the Law ought to be just men and not given to Pride Drunkenness or any other Evil And thus true Judgment and Justice will be brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace that all Evil-doers may stand in a we and be afraid of God and Just men and the Execution of good Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is the Spirit the of Lord that makes men truly Religious and no man ought to be compelled to or from any exercise or practise in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to reprove false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exâ—…rtation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought not to be counted a breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punished by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe that the outward Laws Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Laws of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe That Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit must only lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors that Subjects ought to obey them in the Lord that have rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which is according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require Subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him in such cases all People are free and ought to obey God rather than man And we believe that herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is good and out of all that which is evil Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a State of Election and a State of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Mankind are in one of these states All that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of death and darkness being Children of Wrath and Disoebdience in the Alienation and Separation from God in the Transgression unreconciled to God the Enmity ruling in the heart being in the fall and not restored to God again but ignorant of his Power and Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal And in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all Evil bringing forth all his Works out of that ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adam and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and shall never enherit eternal Life but go into Perdition yet have all such a day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprobation but hating Knowledge and despâ—…fing the Love of God they continue in the state Reprobate and the Wrath of God abides upon them but they that are chosen of God are delivered from Wâ—… for they believe in the Light and become Children of the Light and are renewed in mind and heart and receive the love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adam are chosen in him to bring forth fruit uâ—…to the Father and all their fruâ—…t â—…pringeth from that ground which is blessed for they are led by the Spirit of the Father and such are in the state of Election who are made Heirs with Christ of the Everlasting Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe that Mercy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad into the World that all People may understand what we believe and what we have received of God And they that believe this and walk therein by the Spirit of the Father shall be saved but they that believe not but are disobedient to the Truth shall be condemned because they do not believe Much more might be written but in short this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the knowledge of these things from God A Friend unto all People Edward Burroughs To all that say we whom the World do in scorn call Quakers do deny Ministers and Magistrates These things I write unto you to give you in short an understanding what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny 1. SUch Ministers as are made by God who are sanctified by his Word and Power who have freely received perfect Gifts from God and so by the Spirit and Power of God are sent forth into the World to turn the People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God who freely Minister unto others without coveting any mans Gold or Silver or Apparel not seeking theirs but them Warning every man and teaching every man in all Wisdom that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Such as minister from the Spirit and have the Word of God abiding in them who are never unprovided but at all times and seasons and in all places do speak and declare the Truth as they are moved and instructed and as the Spirit of Truth doth give them utterance such Ministers we own and have in great esteem for their works sake Gal. 1. 1 12. Joh. 15. 3. Ephes. 4. 7 8 11 12 13. Acts 26. 15 16 17 18. Mat. 10 8. Acts 20. 33. 2 Cor. 12. 14. Col. 1. 27 28 29. 2 Corinth 3. 6. John 15. 3 4 5 6 7. John 4. 10 14. and 7. 38 39. 2 Tim. 4. 2 3. Acts 2. 4. But such as are brought up at Schools Colledges so made Ministers by the will of man who have not freely receiv'd perfect gifts from God for perfecting of the Saints but deny Perfection and so deny the Ministers work neither do ministr freely but seek for gain from their Quarters and will not