away the curse and removed the cursed ground upon which fallen man stood and hath borne away the sin of the world and was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God through in and by him who hath opened the understanding whereby the unsearchable riches of unspeakable love comes to be made manifest even unto us who were going astray and were children of wrath as well as others and aliens and strangers to the covenant of Grace and long were without God and in the World tossed to and fro with every winde of doctrin after the cunning craftinesse of man whereby we were long deceived even by such who still bewitch the minds of the simple out of which wicthcraft I can say the Lord hath delivered and obedience to the truth that makes free is yeilding and love mercy and judgement is come and brought forth and victory is witnessed the Messenger of the everlasting covenant is come even he that we long waited for and we doe not look for any other but he that is the same yesterday to day and for ever who was to come and is come he that readeth let him understand who is without beginning of time or end of daies who is made under the Law and became as a servant being obedient to the death through which the life is risen up into the understanding and hath borne away that which the Law hath power over and hath brought in that by which the Law is fulfilled and so he that is the end of the Law for righteousnesse is felt and received who taketh away the sin and reconcileth the world up unto the Father where the sin is taken away by him who though he was made sin yet knew not sin who appeares now the second time without sin to the saving of that which was lost which is now brought againe and plentious redemption is known for the desire of all Nations is come and the second house is filled with glory the wine-presse is full the Fat 's overflow for the winter is past and the Summer is come and the Lillies appeare in the field where the Pearl was hid the fig-tree puts forth her buds and the vine yeelds her increase the olive doth blossom and the apple-tree in the midst of the wood doth flourish and the good ground yeilds her increase is fruitfull in its season to the good husbandman and there is seed to the sower and bread to be eater the Barns are filled with abundance and the store-houses with plenty and treasure is laid up for many yeares in the heavenly places which are purified with the living sacrifices so that the earthen vessells are fitted to keep the heavenly Manna that shall dure throughout many generations and so against the famine comes upon the earth and all them that feed at Jesabels Table oyl is laid up in safty the finest of the flower in a place where it is sure where it will last and never faile untill the Heathen are scorched with heat and they that have forsaken the Lord are become as a parched Heath and all the gods of the heathen famished and the tongue of the Aegyptian Sea dryed up and all the false prophets overturned who belong to Jezable whose body the dogs must tear though she yet sits as a Queen in opposition to the true prophet Christ the light and untill them who are drunk with the wine of the fornication of the Whore and are the merchants of Mystery Babylon the great the mother of all the painted Harlots be all condemned in one day with an utter overthrow the seate of the Whore removed all them that commit fornication with her made as the valley of Hamon Gog and as the dung upon the face of the Earth and all the brats of the whore dashed against the stones untill then I say shall that in store remain and a hiding place be found for the prophet of the Lord who is also hid near thee in thy own Land though thou art seeking him afar off Wherefore hear O ye kindreds of the earth for as the dwe spread upon the mountaines so doth the streames of my beloved arise overspreading the earth with the comlinesse of his love and filling it with the beauty of his Grace the banner of his love is spreading forth as a curtain and under the shadow of his wings is a certaine hiding-place both from the storme and from the heat and though the Sea rages and all kindreds and tongues swell up in wrath pride and arrogancy yet he is come known witnessed and received who commands both the winds and the Sea who is the former of all things by whom they all were made and at his command all are subdued and the lightenings of his light enlightens the whole world Psal 97. â— the glory of his power is spreading over the nations the excellency of his beauty is reaching to his lambes and because of his comelinesse the virgines love him and to him the daughters of Jerusalem bring their gifts and before him the princes of the people lay down their crowns and because of him the wildernesse doth rejoyce and the desolate is made glad for the fruitfull Land was become a barren wildernesse and the barren wildernesse is turned into a fruitfull field now the plant sprung out of a dry ground and the seed is born of the baren womb and there is a way made in the Wildernesse and streames are given in the desart and the eare of the deaf is opened the lame doth walk and the Leaper is clensed the stammering tongue speaks plainly the Gospell is received and the everlasting power is come even the Immanuel God with us and in us and we confesse Christ come in the flesh and doe not look for an other but do know that this is the great Prophet who is come into the World that is set in the heart Eccles 3. 11. which is in the midst out of which Moses saith the Lord would raise up a Prophet Leut. 18. 15. the which prophet being come which all are to hear he saith I am come a light into the world Ioh 8. 12. Ioh 12 35 36 and 46. The world being set in the heart there is the light of him who saith I am the light and he that is the light is the true Prophet and the true prophet is in the midst who is the light whose day Abrabam saw unto whom the Gospell was preached which Gospell is Gods power whereby Ahraham rejoyced because he came to see the day of him who is the light of the world unto whom all the prophets gave Testimony Isaiah who witnessed the Son borne and the child given Isa 9. 6. by whose stripes he came to be healed he preached the light and said the light was come and the Gentiles should come to his light and Kings to the brightnesse of his rising and he also preached the light to be everlasting Isa 60. â— 2 3
The true and everlasting RULE From GOD discovered AND That which proveth all things published from the spirit of truth to the which Rule the Scriptures also beareth testimony that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what Rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore With an addition to the former wherein is also shewed what that is in man which is not to be his Guid nor Rule Also a Testimony of the true Prophet who was to come and is come and there was not another his work witnessed and truth declared from a feeling sence and experience according to Scripture Wherein is also shewed that the Prophets of God and Ministers of Christ did preach the light and so those who preach the Light now do therein preach the same doctrine as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles did With an Invitation from the Spirit of Christ The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Deut. 18. 15. By a servant of the Lord a sufferer for his truth in the house of correction at Winchester in Hampshire called Humphrey Smith LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. The true and everlasting RVLE received from God discovered c. that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what Rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore THE Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life man became a living soul So man was formed of that which was earthly and into that which was earthly that which was living was breathed and that which is living comes from God which is to keep and lead men unto God but man going from that which is living into that which is earthly is thereby led from God and being led from that which is living he is also pleading for another thing then that which is the life to be his Rule and Guide and so comes not to be guided by that which is manifest of God in him Gen. 2. 7. Rom. 1. 19. Now the letter without is not living but the breath of life within is the which living breath man not knowing goeth forth from it to be guided by the letter which killeth 2 Cor. 3. 6. But the holy men of God who walked with God and were obedient to his will and spake forth and writ scriptures from that which was holy in them and were perfect in their generation they were such who came to be guided by that which was living in them and from that men in the dayes of old called upon the Name of the Lord Gen. 6. 28. and they had not a scripture without them to guide them thereunto And Enoch walked with God and so he walked with that which is living and not with that which is earthly neither had he a Scripture without him to be his Rule and so he walking with him who is the life came to be translated that he should not see death Gen. 5. 24 Heb. 11. 5. And Noah who was perfect in his generation found grace in the sight of the Lord consider this he found that by which man comes to be saved for by grace man is saved which grace to all men hath appeared and so Noah found that which bringeth salvation which is the Grace of God in the heart thereby hee came to do Gods will and not by any thing that was earthly nor from a scripture without Geâ— 6 8 â— Eph. 2. 5. 8. Col. 3. 15 16. And Noah who found that by which man is saved him God blessed and his Seed and said the fear of you and the dread of you shal be upon every beast of the field and they were to multiply and bring forth abundantly from the living that was within the earth for by that comes the increase of God and with them God established his Covenant so Gods Covenant came to be established with him who found that in the heart by which man is saved Gen. 9. 1 2. 7 8 9. And the Lord who is the one spirit was Abrahams Leader from his Kindred and Fathers house and so Abraham heard that which was living obeyed that which was spiritual who had not a scripture to be his Rule and unto him the Lord appeared and blessed and in the time of grievous Famines he and his Seed was fed Gen. 1â— 1 2. and 7 1 9 1â— and he that is led by the spirit comes thereby to receive feedings when the Famine comes upon them who are led by another thing and Abraham who followed the Lord was called the Friend of God and he through believing became the Father of many Nations and he saw the day of Christ the light and obeyed the Word which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Peâ— 1. 23. and being led by that which is living from his Fathers House and out of his Countrey so by that which is living was he preserved and him God loved and to him afterward the Word of the Lord did come saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And Abraham answered the Lord and the seed which God blessed came forth of his Loins who was led by the spirit Gen. 15. 1. Heb. 11. 8 9. And on the contrary Nimrod who began to be a mighty one in the earth he went hunting before the Lord who is the one spirit and now there is that first which is earthly and much earthly wisdom whereby man goeth hunting before the spirit comes the which should not be but man should stand stil and not hunt and see the salvation of God and so receive the spirit to lead or go before him and not to run or hunt before the spirit but let it lead man as it is written As many as are led by the spirit of God are the Sons of God â—om 8. 14. but Nimrod hunted before God who is a spirit he was one of the seed of Ham who was the Father of â—anaâ—r whom Noah cursed And the beginning of this mâ—ghty hunters Kingdom was Babel where the Lord whom he hunted before followed after and confounded the language of all the that belonged to this mighty Hunter who was a mighty one in the earth and out of this land of Babel went forth them that built many cities afterwards there was a people whose gods were according to the number of their cities and so see what followeth when man is not led by the spirit of God as Noah was and so preserved but hunts mightily before him being mighty in that which is earthly first he is mighty in the earth then a mighty Hunter then builds a mighty Tower whereby he that is earthly would climb up to heaven this a figure then God confounded the Language and afterwards those that were in
1. 12. And now the zealous professing Iewes Scribes and Pharisees have the Scriptures but they deny him that is the light and so they are blind and all those must needs be blind who hate the light and deny it and so the Iewes had the Oracles of God without them and the Law without them and Christ the Son of God without them and among them preaching to them and yet they were deaf and blind and of the Devil for they did his works And moreover the disciples of Christ might read the scriptures without them and they had him in whom was the fulness of God among them with them or without them and yet in many things they understood not Joh. 12. 16. but were often asking questions as in Matth. 23. 10 36. Mat. 16. 22. Matth. 17. 10. 13. 19. Matth. 18. 1. 21. Matth. 19. 10 Matth. 24. 3. Iohn 13. 7. and sometime they knew not what spirit they were of Luke 9. 55. and though he had been a long time with them yet it was hard for them to know him Ioh. 1â— 5 6 7 8 9. and though he had been so long time with them consider he was with them for with may be one thing and in an other untill he had finished the work without them which the Father gave him to do Ioh. 17. 4. Consider the outward work of Christ without or among the Disciples may be finished and he was at the passover with them and at the supper with them and gave his life for them and they saw his body broken and his blood shed without them and yet notwithstanding all this afterwards he that is the light upbraided them of unbelief and hardnesse of heart Mark 16. 14. Who for a long time had the fulnesse of God amongst and with them who being with them said He that is with you shall be in you John 14. 17. and so they were to wait to receive him within and that within was to abide forever but that without departed away but that within was and is to lead into all truth and be with his to the end of the world for that which is in man is alwaies with him but that which is with man and not in him may not be alwaies with him And now the light is in man and so he that is with his to the end of the world is the light of the World Who is the Resurrection and the life who was dead and is alive and I say he liveth for evermore Who hath finished his worke in the outward things to wit Circumcision Baptisme the supper and death on the Crosse without the gate and is now revealed within and worketh all our works in us and ever liveth to make intercession for us Isa 26 12. Heb. 7. 25. in whose hearts he is now crying Abba Father and he that hath the Son hath also the Father To whom be eternall dominion glory honour and humble obedience for evermore And so Christ Jesus being also guided by that of God or rather the Fulnesse of God in him whereby he finished his Work and departed away from among them and bid them wait for that which should abide with them for ever said These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the comforter whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things John 14. 16. 25. 26. and that which teacheth all things was to be revealed within untill that was come and revealed in them they did not know all things so that that which teacheth all things and sheweth plainly of the Father and abideth for ever is to be received within and they in obedience to his command did wait and their waiting was not in vaine for when the time was fully come they did receive the promise of the Father which they had waited for and so were filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 2. 1 2 3 4. as Joshua was full of the spirit and in Christ was the fulnesse of God and Stephen was a man full of the holy Ghost and the desires of such was That others might be filled with all the fulnesse of God Eph 3. 19. it 's not filled with the scriptures and so they being filled with that which was holy were by that led into the way of holinesse and with that which was holy in them were they to build up one an other Jude 20. and then they spake the word of God with boldnesse and after the Son of God was revealed in Paul three years after he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter Gal. 1. 16 17 18. and fourteen years after he went up again to Jerusalem by revelation Gal. â— 1 â— and so he did not say he went by the scriptures or any comand without him but by revelation and a Revelation is within and that all the Ministers and Disciples of Christ did come to be led and guided by his Spirit that was in them might easily be proved by many undeniable truths of plain Scripture whereby it might more largely appeare that they were all led guided and directed by the one spirit in them though the gifts leadings and operations of that one spirit in them was various as might be read 1 Cor. 12. And now most people will grant this before written to be true That all the people of God formerly were led by the spirit that was in them but that men should now in these days be led by the spirit of Christ in them is by many denied the which thing chiefly is that which I would a little search into or rather open to thee from that which hath searched me Psal 139. 23. and that according to the scriptures of truth if that will be by thee regarded that so it might appear unto all that are not wilfully rebellious against the light of Christ in their own consciences and also deniers of plain scriptures by the which I am ready to prove That the people of the Lord and Ministes of Christ were not onely led by the spirit of God themselves but also in their words and Writings did direct others thereunto saying Walke in the spirit be ye filled with the spirit and worship God in the spirit Gal. 5. 16. Eph. 5. 18. Phil. 3. 3. Joh. 4. 24. But say the people Though they did walke and direct others to walke by the spirit yet are not we now to walke by the Scriptures and is not the scriptures now to be our Rule and are we not to be led by that To which I answer That God changeth not and where doth the Scriptures say That the Scripture is to be a Rule to walke or to be led by and the Ministers of Christ did not say As every man hath received tâ—e sâ—â—iâ—â—ures so walke But as every man hath received Christ and he is the light so walk Col. 2. 6. Consider there is first something to be received and then there is to be a walking in the power and strength of that received
and the onely Son of God to whom be eternall glory from his own seed in his servant who is one of the least among many brethren being a prisoner at Winchester for the truth of Christ by the will of men unto whom I am known by the Name of Humphry Smith An Invitation from the Spirit of Christ COME unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden come unto me and find rest I even I am he who comforteth Sion I am he who preacheth liberty to the captives Oh come unto me stay not I am the way the truth and the life I am he and there is none other I came out from the Father into the world that it might be reconciled up unto God through me I am the good shepherd that am now come to gather the outcasts of Israel and to bring home unto God the lost sheep that the dispersed of Judah might now return and the seed of Abraham may be brought in to me in whom the redemption is even plentious redemption for all that will hear and turne in hither Oh all ye scattered of the flock my voice is to you that have not found rest to your soules now hearken diligently to heare my voice and feel my words of life for now the time is come that the seed that hath long lain in the death shall heare my voice and they that heare shall live and rise out of the death and I will give them life Oh! come unto me my own my beloved before the foundation of the world come and stay not I have long waited for you my locks are wet with the drops of the night and you have even wearied me with waiting for you long have I knocked at the door of your hearts calling to repentance and no man regarded nor the slothfull would not arise that I might come in and take up my abode with and in my own and refresh them with waters of life but now am I come who am the bridegroom and the bishop of the soul with my alluring termes Come Oh my friends â— hearken my beloved let me not be denyed open the door of thy hard heart and let me not stand waiting any longer behold I have honour for all them that follow me crowns of life for all wil receive me come unto me my lambs I have prepared my supper I have made in this Mountain a feast of wines of the Lees of fat things full of marrow all things are now ready Come in unto me I am the bread of life I am the hidden Manna I come to save mens lives Come all ye that are weary with the burthen of your sins I am the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world I come to take away the sins of the world I am the root of Jesse and the off-spring of David I am he that opens and none can shut and shuts and no man opens I have power to forgive sins on earth Come cease from the evill of your doings learn of me to do well then we will reason together though thy sins have been as scarlet they shall then be as white as Snow for I come to finish transgression and make an end of sin and bring in the everlasting righteousnesse of God Therefore hear oh ye scatered of the flock that are yet in the miery clay covered over with the thick clouds of your sins oh remain not in filth nor continue no longer with the flesh-pots in the house of bondage for I am come to condemn sin in the flesh destroy the works of the Devill that you may find redemption in me and be washed from your filthinesse and cleansed from your sin Wherefore hear all ye that are far from righteousness behold I have gifts for the rebellious my hand is streched forth oh ye simple ones come unto me and learn pure wisdom ye fools be of an understanding heart O why will ye dye oh ye house of Israel have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye turn you turn you now I do cal oh ye hard-harted where fore do you hide your selves from me dig deep to hide your councels from me why do you run alwais astray Oh what shall I do unto you that I have not don yet do you stil go on in the evil of your wais when wil you once return Oh Jerus I wilt thou not be made clean When shal it once be Oh! I have seen your abominations am wearied with your fins yet you have not regarded oh now it is high time to consider thy ways return from the evill of thy doings lest thou be shut out for ever And all ye my dear ones that have long waited for me behold I come quickly and my reward is with me saith Christ the Son of God and I will open to you the hidden Treasures of my father and make known his will to you and I will remove off the burden and circumcise your hearts behold I come saith Christ and I will open the prison-door raise the prisoner out of the pit and bring deliverance to the captive and refresh the plant of my Fathers planting and nourish the tender grape which the subtilty hath hurt and I will bind up the broken and restore unto the mourners the years of joy and comfort and I will be unto you a sure foundation and a present help in time of need and I will bring back the scattered and they shall now return and fear the Lord God of their Fathers in my mountain of holiness and they shall walk in the way of peace and in the pathes of righteousness where the unclean shall not passe over nor the wild beasts of the field shall not come but the ransomed of my Father saith Christ the Son of God Therefore hear all ye my brethren and consider all yee my friends for I am come who am the sure foundation the corner-stone the Light the true light of the world and the life of man and the everlasting covenant of the father and power of God and the wisdome of the Father by me Kings reigne and the princes of Israel shall now rule in equity for behold I am come even he that you have long waited for and there is not another come learn of me I am meek I am lowly I am the light low in the heart I am the living Minister saith Christ the Son of the Fathers love and the light of the World I change not but remain a Priest for ever a living Minister a Minister of life within the vail ministring life unto the spirit in prison H S. The two striving within THat which went forth from the life of God professed the name of God to cover it selfe with that without the life the which profession through the secret subtilty did more and more increase which led further off from the sense of the feeling of the life of God and when it s stirred to judge that which
Jer. 18. 12. Fourthly I do not bid any man follow the spirit of the world for we who have believed and obeyed him who said I am the light and follow me for we have not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given unto us of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. and so that spirit of the world which in words seemeth to professe God but in works deny him having a large cloak of religion but continue in sin and unrighteousnesse making long prayers like the Pharisees having sin lye at their door like Cair talking much of God and Christ and the scriptures and yet have mens persons in admiration because of advantage whose faith is vaine having a forme of Godlinesse but denying that power which saveth from sin and so deny Christ yet intruding into those things he hath not seen being vainely puft up with the fleshly mind that spirit in man which so guideth him I deny for ever And that man may the better understand what that is which he is to love and wait to receive by it after received to be his rule guide and leader and leading him in the narrow good old way of life unity peace and love which all the holy men of God walked in which is a pure way of holinesse then not of hypocricy and sin where the ransomed of the Lord doth walk and where the waifairing men though fools shall not ere therefore I declare that man is to be silent and quiet and wait to receive the spirit of meekenesse patience gentilnesse and long suffering and so come to know somthing borne of the water and of that spirit which truly calls God Father and in which no evill standeth and out of which doth not arise any perversnesse impatience distrust envy nor prejudice towards the person of any man but is pure lamb like harmlesse undefiled and thinketh no evil the which being received obeyed and abode in it guideth unto keepeth man in perfect peace out of the reach of the devouring nature of the wild beastâ— of the field so that unity peace passing understanding eternall felicity joy in the holy Ghost and love unchangable is injoyed for ever and there is no boasting nor exaiting above or beyond the measure received from God And they that have received this measure and dwell in the spirit of the Lamb which cometh from God who is love it thinketh no evill neither is it easily provoked and this is that which was in Esaiah and so ruled him and in him Ruled over all his natural passion that he could give his back to the smiters and his cheek to them that plucked off the hare and hid not his face from shame and spitting and this is that which comes from the God of love which can bear all things hope all things endure all things And that man may come to receive this spirit and have it alwaies in him to the end of the world ruling him in the feare of God and leading him to the eternall dominion of the God of order and that man may know the true and infalable thing which is most assuredly given into man to lead him to the injoyment of the God of the spirits of all flesh Therefore let all people in what formes or state soever have their minds turned to that in them which lets them see their sins and every evill thought and evill motions of the enemy in the darke minde before it be brought forth into the act of sin by word or action that in them which lets them see this which is evill before it be acted as they love it believe in it and obey it it will keep them from the acting of that which they are tempted to and that in them which letteth them see the evill and that they should not sin is the onely thing which God hath plased in man to keep him from acting the evill and from sin and by it may all mankind receive power to withstand sin and stay the first appearance of that which is evill and the nature and property of it being loved is to destroy sin where it is and to keep out of it and kill that from whence the motions to sin would arise this is that which led me out of sin when no other waies helps or meanes could be found and that which sheweth man his sin and leadeth out of sin and gives power over it is a certain rule to follow and walke by for it doth never lead into sin and that which letteth see the motions of sin and leadeth out of all sin is absolutely that which commeth from him in which there is no sin and certainly as true as the Lord God liveth this is that which leadeth up even to the Lord God of life and this is his free love who gave his son to them that asked not for him and his Son is the light which is the gift of the Fathers Love given to the Rebellious that he might be manifest to them that asked no for him and that he might be found of them who sought him not that he might dwell in them who did rebell and gather them nere who were afar off this is Gods eternall love and the gift of his grace unto all mankind who willeth not that they should dye in their sins and these are the true and faithfull sayings of God and that which will stand for ever and in the presence of the Lord God of life and of his holy Angels I doe declare that this is that which God hath placed in man to rule him in his feare that by it he may come to rest eternall and in the face of men and devils who oppose the truth of God I doe affirme that there is no other Rule waies meanes or name by which man shall ever come to walke with God but by that which is manifest of God in him even the light of Christ Jesus the Son of the living God according to the Scriptures But we boast not of things without our measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us A measure to reach even unto you who have not known the Rule according to 2 Cor. 10. 13. The true Prophet who was to come is come and there is not an other his worke witnessed truth declared from a feeling sence and experience according to Scripture THe true Prophet is come of whom Moses the servant of the Lord did write who is raised up in the midst and hath rent the vaile and from under death is risen in his unlimited power Dominion and authority even him that death nor the grave can not hold who through death hath conquered death for ever and though death had power over him before the way into the holyest of all was made manifest yet death now hath no more dominion over him but he is risen through death who was made a curse and hath borne