Faith and in times past and doubtless now also hath raised as it were things that are not to bring to nought those things which are contrary to him that he may have the Glory to Himself alone But however it may be received or rejected I shall rest in patience being content in that I feel am Acceptance with God in this my Obedience to him which is a sufficient Reward unto me who am known to the World by the name of John Whithouse The Doctrine of Perfection vindicated c. The Worlds Question VVHether is Perfection or freedom from all sin Quest to be attained in this life or no Yea Answ or else to no purpose was Christ made manifest in the flesh as may hereafter appear for in the lowest distance or alienation in the fall from God we are but the servants of sin and if by him we are not set free from the service thereof then what are we saved from or what are we the better by him for without him we are but so and if he leave us where he finds us which is to say in sin what then is he a Saviour from or how doth he effect that which is said of him For Sin and Imperfection is of the Devil 1 John 3.8 for the destroying of which he the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of all that believe in his Light and Son of the world was manifested and if this work be not effected by him then may we say he is insufficient and comes short of the end for which he was given for a Light to the Gentiles Isa 42.6 7. and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth who is the second Covenant which is not sound faulty as was the first which made nothing perfect Therefore was it taken away that the second Heb. 7.19 which is the better hope by which we draw nearer to God might be established so then shall I conclude with the world that the first made none of the comers thereto perfect nor the second neither God forbid For they who do believe and receive him who is the new and second Covenant Christ Jesus the true Light who enlightneth every man that cometh into the world to them as the Scripture saith he gives power to become the sons of God who are not born of flesh and blood neither of the will of man Joh. 1.12 13. but of God and who is so born sinneth not because God's Seed Christ Jesus abideth in him 1 John 3.9 Mal. 1.21 who is a Saviour thar saves his People from their sin and not in it they who know this know the Scripture to be true because it is fulfilled in them and can truly call Christ Lord because they do his Will and not their own but are dead thereto and are only alive to God bringing forth fruits of Righteousness the end of which is Life and Peace Rom. 8.3 13. All which is fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh but through the Spirit of Life in Christ which makes free from sin and death and doth mortifie the deeds of the same These are they who through the washing of Regeneration in the work of mortification come to know and witness a cleansing from all sin and to have their Robes made white in the blood of the Lamb Heb. 9.26 who was made manifest to put away and make an end of all sin and to perfect for ever those that through the Spirit are thus sanctified Yea Object but saith the world Our Teachers * Rich. Baxter for one who are learned and wise tell us this Doctrine of Perfection is a dangerous tenent and the Doctrine of the Devil and not of Christ nor his Apostles but is a blasphemous Principle contrary to the Scriptures Now to this Answ I say You are not to believe all that your Teachers tell you but come down to the Light of Christ and hear these things tryed by it and the Scriptures also and hold fast that which is good Now this is the Record that God gave of his Son by his Servant Moses who prophesied saying Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he saith And it shall come to pass That whosoever will not hear and obey him shall be cut off from the Land of the Living And in like manner Mal. 3.3 to Him gave all the Prophets witness saying He shall come as a Refiners fire and as Fullers sope and shall thorowly purge the sons of Levi that they might offer an Offering to the Lord in Righteousness Mat. 3.12 Also John Baptist bare witness of him saying His Fan is in his hand and he will thorowly purge his Floor Mark that not in part he doth not say but thorowly And now he the Eternal and Everlasting true Light the chief and High-Priest over the Houshold of God the pure Purger Perfecter Cleanser and Fulfiller of all the Law and the Prophets Behold this is his Doctrine preached by him in the dayes of his flesh Be ye perfect Matth. 9.48 as your heavenly Father is perfect And now behold he is arisen in many sons and daughters by his quickening Spirit which hath raised them out of Sin and Death and through them is he preaching by Life and Doctrine the same as he lived in who is the same yesterday to day and for ever who is the perfect Pattern and finished his course in Perfection leaving it an Example for all that believe in him to follow So this is none of the Devil's Doctrine neither his Command but the Doctrine and Command of the Son of God who is not a hard nor an unjust master requiring that of his servants which he gives them not power to do but it is the slothful servant that makes not use of his talent but buries it in the Earth and then complains for want of power but they who receive the gift of God God giveth them power to do whatsoever he commandeth whose Commandments 1 Joh. 2 3.1.7 to them that follow him in faithfulness were not greivous but joyful who were washed and cleansed but not by themselves but by walking in the Light as God was in the Light so came they to witness the Blood of his Son to cleanse them not from some sin but all and so were made Ministers not of the Letter which killeth but of the Spirit which giveth Life and quickeneth unto Perfection and laboured to bring men thereto that they might present every man perfect in Christ in whom there is no sin for he was not sent to be a cloak to cover sin under his righteous garment but to destroy it and take it away slaying the carnal or fleshly mind which warreth against the soul working sin in the members upon the Cross which is spiritual or all spirit which Cross worketh inwardly bringing into subjection every vain thought and imagination
taking every motion of evil in the conception and so destroyes it there before it be acted or consented to which every one that receives him in his Light which maketh all things manifest shall come to witness even a dying with him to the flesh from whence comes sin and then quickning by the Spirit with Christ unto Righteousness This is the first Resurrection to arise out of Sin into Perfection with Christ the which except a man be made a partaker of in this life the second death will have power over him So by all this it appears that Christ is the Minister of Perfection who preached it more clear and exacter than it was in the Law Matth. 5.28 who said if a man lust to do any thing he is guilty as if he did it which the Law without was too weak to find out and so became a strengthner of the Law which requireth Perfection and also for the effecting of this he gave gifts to his Apostles and Ministers some he made Prophets some Teachers and Evangelists others Pastors and the like for the finishing of the work which he had begun which was to perfect all the Members of his Body the Church that they might all come to the measure and stature and fulness of him who was perfect and is the perfecter of all that believe in him who is the Light that shines in darkness and these Apostles brought some Rom. 6.18 by turning them from darkness to this Light to witness freedom from sin and had their fruits unto holiness and the end everlasting life and also those who had not attained to this estate 1 Pet. 1.15 they did not tell them they never should in this life but exhorted them to go on to Perfection giving them many Commands to that end warning and teaching every man in all wisdom that they might present themselves perfect in Christ in whom there is no sin nor sinners for they that are in him are new created in Righteousness and true Holiness which is without sin and all things in them are of God being all made new by the Son of God who sits upon the Throne as a Refiners fire which consumes all the dross and takes away the tin and then sin must needs be done away for that 's of the Devil Now for this end did Paul strive and labour mightily Heb. 13.21 Jam. 1.4 both praying and desiring God to make them perfect in every good work And likewise James in the tryal of their Faith exhorted them to keep in the patience and let it have its perfect work that they might be perfect and entire wanting nothing Peter also in his exhortation wherein he stirs them up by way of remembrance to go on unto the end and not faint by the way neither to live in the fashions of the world nor lusts of the flesh but commands them to be holy in all manner of conversation as he that hath called them is holy 1 Pet. 1.16 The reason why saith he because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy Mark that He doth not say this Command is taken away neither too hard to be fulfilled To the same effect John the blessed Disciple to the little Children warned them not to deceive themselves by saying they had no sin before they were cleansed therefrom but that they should confess it to God then he would forgive it them and not only so 1 John 1.7 8 9. but if they walked in the Light as he is in the Light then their fellowship should be with him and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son should cleanse them from ALL Sin 1 Joh. 3.8 9 10. He then exhorts them not to be deceived by any man telling them he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as Christ is righteous and that he that hath the living true Faith in him purifies himself even as he is pure saying he that commits sin is of the Devil for he sinned from the beginning but he that is born of God sinneth not neither indeed can he because God's Seed remains in him which is Christ the Light which saves from sin And then he gives a mark to know the Children of God from the children of the Devil saying Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God but of the Devil as his words before signifie and also if a man sayes he knows Christ Mat. 5. last and keeps not his Commandments one of which is to be perfect he is a lyar and the truth is not in him for he that saith he abideth in him ought himself so to walk even as he walked For he that sinneth and abideth not in his Doctrine 2 Joh. 9. hath not God but denies and is denied of both the Father and the Son let him say and profess what he will Also the Spirit speaking to one of the Churches found fault because their works were not perfect before God Rev. 3.4 who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity bidding them therefore to repent and be watchful because there was something wanting Wherefore the Spirit cryeth this day through me Awake awake ye sluggards arise arise ye careless ones who are at ease in sin and have taken up your rest in iniquity for the Son of Righteousness is risen and the Day of Holiness is dawned therefore God requireth all men to repentance and to bring forth fruits meet thereto for the night of ignorance whereat he winked is past and he is arisen in his mighty Power who will no longer be silent but will cry like a travelling woman who will not cease till the Birth is brought forth which is to establish Judgement and Righteousness in the Earth that he alone over all may be exalted therefore will he search the whole Earth with his pure candle of Light and will make the sinners in Sion afraid and fearfulness shall surprize the hypocrites and none shall abide before him who is a consuming fire nor dwell with everlasting burnings but he that walketh in Righteousness and speaketh uprightly Psa 15.1 2 3. and despiseth the gain of oppression and holdeth his hands from bribes his eyes from seeing of evil and his ears from hearing of blood it is he that shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the Name of the Lord which is the Refuge of the Righteous his eyes shall see the King of Sion in his beauty and therefore let all people fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come wherein he will be avenged upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth who are made drunk with the Wine of Fornication in Babylon the Mystory of Iniquity which the Lord God in his Almightiness is arisen to destroy and therefore if any man follow the Beast which is that unclean nature which polluteth man or receives and keeps his Mark which is Sin the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured forth without
Christ So it 's certain we must be of the one for we cannot be of both And now also who is it that be ever learning and never comes to know the Truth but those that never knew a freedom from sin neither do believe they ever shall in this life for Christ said if you continue in my Doctrine then shall you know the Truth Joh. 8.31 32 33 34. and the Truth shall make you free But the Jews replied saying We were never in bondage to any man But said Christ He that commits sin is the servant of sin So it appears that they who are overcome with sin and led away with divers lusts are not come to know Christ the Truth who sets free from sin and they are the creepers into houses who lead silly people in blindness laden with sin and tells them they can never be eased of the burden thereof in this life yet promises them liberty and freedom in the life to come whilst they are the servants of corruption in this life Are not these the filthy dreamers that defile the flesh who are sensual and devilish Jude 10 11. knowing nothing but what they know naturally in which they corrupt themselves which is to say in their outward learning which though it be Hebrew Greek and Latine yet it is all but natural even as English is which a child may learn of its parents so likewise all other tongues are learned of men but the true knowledge of God is onely learned in and by the Spirit Are not these also those who with fair words and smooth speeches deceive the hearts of the simple by their great swelling words of vanity which they invent to please such who have itching ears that cannot away with sound Doctrine but love to be daubed up slightly who cannot endure to hear of coming out of sin in this life and yet would have Heaven in that which is to come I say such Teachers as these are of Antichrist whom Jude saith were clouds without water Jude 12. which is to have a shew of Godliness but have not his Life abiding in them but their hearts are exercised with covetous practices and for self-ends admire some mens persons for their own advantage who themselves could not cease from sin these are the murmurers and complainers Phil. 3.19 who walk after their own ungodly lusts minding earthly things whose god is their belly This was the fruit of the spirit of Antichrist that the Apostles said should come and was come in their dayes by which we know that those who bring forth such fruits are of the same spirit in these our dayes the consideration of which I shall leave to the Witness of God in all people that they thereby might come to see whether those that deny the Doctrine of Perfection and plead for sin term of life do not in all or many of these things agree with the Antichrists and false Prophets that are mentioned in Scriptures and so the conclusion unavoidably will be this They are not of God but of the world which lieth in wickedness and therefore the world heareth and followeth them Yea Object but saith the world though we do not believe we can be perfectly freed from all sin in this life yet we do not believe that we must or may live in sin wilfully neither do our Teachers tell us we shall be saved if we do but they tell us we must strive against it what we can and then we shall be accepted through Christ for he hath tasted death for us and so hath made a way for all that can believe he died for their sin and rose again for their Justification to be accepted through his Righteousness which shall be imputed for ours and though we live in some sin which is condemned by the Law yet hath he by his Death delivered us from the condemning power of sin and the Law the force of which he hath taken away for we are not under the Law but under Grace To this I answer Answ Although they teach you to abstain from wilful sinning yet in teaching that you can never be free from all causeth many to give up to temptations and to give place to the Devil and then if the Witness of God reprove them for so doing they flie back in their minds from it and strengthen themselves in their unclean faith against it and so reject the Light and Power of God which is it onely that saves from sin and so though you strive against it what you can in this state all your striving is in vain being onely in your own wills and altogether of your selves having rejected through disobedience the Power of God which in his mercy is freely offered unto all in the Light of his Son to redeem them from that wherein they are held in bondage which is sin I say denying it and counting it an uncertain and insufficient thing you are never able to overcome the Enemy in your own striving for if you could then you had no need of a Saviour to destroy the works of the Devil for you which is sin and to save you therefrom which was and is the end of his coming in the flesh even in the hearts of all people to condemn sin there and also for this end he died to the flesh once and was made an Offering to put an end to all the Types Rom. 3.25 Sacrifices and Shadows of the first Law and Priesthood and so took away all the hand writing of Ordinances making an Atonement for sins past that forgiveness might be preached to and in all that receive him and walk in his Light which was not to be found in nor by the outward Law for it being once transgressed there remains nothing but condemnation So mercy and forgiveness came by Jesus the Saviour and not by the Law without whom none could be saved because all had and have transgressed and come short of fulfilling the Law therefore all your striving whilst you reject Christ the Light which makes sin manifest in whom the Law of the Spirit of Life is witnessed which sets free the soul through the administring of death unto and condemning that in man which warreth against it by bringing it into captivity unto sin through which comes death I say though you may strive with all your might which indeed is but weakness you will never get dominion over sin because you in denying the Light miss of the Power which only redeems out of the bondage thereof which Power doth accompany that which reproves for and condemns sin in the flesh to which except you become subjects unto neither freedom from sin nor the righteousness of the Law which is Perfection you will never come to witness and so though you believe he died for your sin yet unless you come to know him to arise in you to destroy it and take it away inwardly and thereby to fulfil the Law of Righteousness in you and so to mortifie the
for ever except you turn at my reproof that I may pour out my self upon you to cleanse you from all pollutions of flesh and spirit and so bring you into a godly life in perfectness and true holiness before you go hence and be no more seen for as Death leaves you so will Judgment find you Isa 38.18 for in the grave there is no cleansing So whilst you have time take this for a warning for you will find no mercy with God after death if you reject me the Light whom my Father hath in his mercy sent into the dark world that all that receive me should be led out of sin and darkness into the Light of Everlasting Life If any ask for a proof of these words let them turn within and search the Book of Conscience and look truly therein and there they shall find it We hope we shall finde mercy hereafter World for God is a merciful God The mercy of God is not as many think it is Answ nor to be found where many hope for it which is to say in the life to come after death of the outward man but it is to be found in this life whilst thou hast a being in this earthly tabernacle or else all thy hope in thy dead mind will be in vain for except thou know a cleansing by the Light which is the mercy of God from sin when you shall come to receive a just recompence of reward for all your deeds done in the body Rev. 20 13. then shall your dead minds be awakened and the mercy which you have dreamed of therein be turned into fear wrath and anger wherein the Lord will reveal himself to take Vengeance upon all that knew him not to live in them and they to live in him whose Life raiseth out of Death and all dead works Revel 20.6 into the Life of Righteousness which is free from sin which is the first Resurrection of which whosoever partakes not the second Death will have power over Therefore more plainly to all understandings this I say is the mercy of the compassion at God to all mankind who have lost their spiritual life through falling into sin by which came death over all insomuch that man became more sensless than the Ox Isa 1.3 which knew his owner or the Ass which knew his Master's crib I say his mercy is to offer him Life freely in the Light of his Son which he had fully lost and of himself could in no wayes gain it again John 1.3 therefore God so loved the world that he sent his Son a Light into it in whom was and is Life whose Life is the Light of men shining in dark hearts to which they in taking heed and obeying it in its movings leadings and workings will thereby be led out of sin which it bears Testimony against to take up a Cross to the carnal mind and lusts of the flesh which in them is all enmity against God on which Cross the evil seed will be crucified and the enmity slain and so comes of twain one new man to be made in whom the Image and Life of God is restored again by the second Adam in whom all are made alive 1 Cor. 15.22 who receives him who is the quickening Spirit from that death which entred them by the first Adam who was an earthly man and so all that receive Christ the Light receive the Mercy of God and come to know the Seed of the Kingdom which is like a little leaven which as it comes to have its way to work and operate in the heart it makes all things new by working out the evil seed and killing the old man with his deeds and so makes a new lump Joh. 3.3 5. this is the work of Restoration in the washing of Regeneration through which the new birth is brought forth of which except a man be born he must not inherit the Kingdom of God So this is the Mercy of God Joh. 15.24 to give every one a measure of the Light of his Son to work this Work in and for them which they of themselves could not work which must be wrought in this life or never But yet I feel there are some in the world who are ready to say thus Oh this perfect life that we could attain it Object Oh how willing could we be to be rid of all sin if it be possible for we feel something in us crying as it were for deliverance which is grieved and burthened with the heavy load of sin and indeed notwithstanding all our Observations wherein we have been seeking life and peace yet are we unsatisfied and which way to be we know not Well my Friends Answ in the remembrance of you is my soul refreshed and what if I say I have been striving all this while that I might make a way to come plainly to your understandings to speak a little in the Bowels of Love that these good desires in you may be strengthened and the eye of your understandings opened to see the good day that is broken forth unto many who sate in darkness and under the shadow of death hoping for life and breathing for power to come up out of the pit where there is no water where their tongues clave to the roof of their mouthes in which their hearts were ready to faint and were almost giving up to conclude that there we must remain notwithstanding something breathed to come forth but being in bondage in the Prison-house the keeper thereof said its impossible and while we hearkened unto him we saw no hope of attaining our desires but turning away from him and standing a little still we heard a Voice that spake unto us comfortably Joh. 13. and with it was a Light that shone out of darkness by the which we saw marvellous things wherein our souls were greatly revived and as we hearkned diligently and gave up to the call of the same it brought us by a way that we thought not of out of the depth of the dungeon of death where we were held in bondage and slavery by the King of the bottomless pit who seemed so strong as if he could never be overcome but he that spake unto us in the Light Matth. 12.29 hath proved too strong for him for he hath broken the bars of brass by the might of his power and unlocked the doors of steel and by the Sword of his Spirit hath he cut our bands assunder even the chains wherewith we were held And therefore I as one that have been in the deep even in bondage under the prince of that world which lies in wickedness do hold forth and testifie unto you that a stronger than he is come Matth. 12.29 who is able to bind the strong-man and spoil all his goods and behold he is nigh unto you who breathes from deliverance from sin for it is he that hath begotten that desire in you and not only so but
deeds of the flesh which breaks the Law by his powerful Spirit that you may follow it and your fruits may be unto Righteousness and you dead to the fruits of the flesh which is sin all your belief will avail you no more than the Jews unbelief did them which rather added to their condemnation than otherwise Therefore all come down to that of God made manifest in you and receive it with a willing mind and then you will feel it giving you that power which by all your own willing and striving out of it you could never obtain even to become the Sons of God and to know his Seed brought forth in dominion in you to abide and then you will come to know what that state was in which they were that could not sin 1 John 3.9 because they were born of God and his Seed remains in them by which they were kept so that the wicked one toucheth them not because greater was he that was in them than he that was in the world So unless you feel this wrought in you by him all your talk of him and his Righteousness will do you no good for as long as you commit sin the filth will follow it and the condemning of that which condemns sin in the flesh will follow you to the end of your race by which a fire will be kindled where the worm will never die neither goes it out and the Law against sin you will find to have its full force then because you rejected the Light through disobedience which would have destroyed for you that which transgressed the Law in you and as you had yeelded in obedience to it it would have fulfilled the Law in you by bringing forth fruits of holiness which the Law requireth and all your thoughts of being from under the Law will prove vain for it is said to be a Schoolmaster to bring unto Christ the Light and Lamb of God who takes away sin the which Gal. 3.24 except you are brought to and by him cleansed you will find the Law to stand in full force over you you being out of him who ends that which transgresseth it Jam. 2.10 even by slaying it upon the Cross which is the Power of God which over-comes or rather comes over and so brings under the power of the Devil which keeps man in bondage in sin so when you come to know this you will cease remembring his death at Jerusalem and will come to see how he hath been crucified in you and what it is that hath crucified him Rom. 6.10 and not onely so but will know a dying with him to the flesh and the fruits thereof and then shall you be quickened with him in the Spirit of Life in which you will live unto God which you will truly know when he comes to arise from the dead in you and to lead that captive which hath held him in captivity and oppressed him as a cart with sheaves who while you go astray bears the iniquity of you all and is crucified in that place which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt reade within and feel what I say then will you come to mourn over him whom you have pierced Rev. 1.7 And this verily I say unto you except you know his Crucifixion and Resurrection nearer you than Jerusalem even in you and arising with him out of the grave of sin and death and a living to God in the Spirit of Holiness which sets free from sin all your talking of his dying for your sin and arising for your justification while you have lived in sinning against his Light in your Consciences will never profit you any thing Ephes 5.14 Therefore arise thou that sleepest in sin and stand up to Judgment and hearken to that which calls out of sin which is the Spirit of Truth and it will give thee life if through death thou wilt follow it for no other way is there to come to life but thorow death to that which leads thee from God Gal. 3.19 therefore take up the Cross and kiss the Rod and it will whip thee out of sin and a new work in thee will begin Those that know this death are not under the Law but under Grace for the Law was added because of transgression in which if a man live and it live in him then is he under the Law for it takes hold on a man so long as he lives in sin which is the transgression thereof Tit. 2.11 but he that is dead to sin is not under it but is come to the Grace of God which leads him out of sin and teacheth him to live godly and righteously in this present evil world so then by Grace sin is done away and the Law fulfilled which requires a holy life which is brought forth in and through all that receive the Power of God which in Christ the Light is offered freely to all that he might be all in all both to will and to do that which man of himself could in no wayes do he having lost his first estate in which he had power over all things being fain into the bondage of the Devil and captivated by him at his will therefore God in his endless Love to lost man Rom. 8.3 4. sent his Son a Light into the world who for sin condemneth sin in the flesh which the Law without was too weak to do that the Righteousness of it might be fulfilled in all that obey and follow him Now such can truly witness he comes not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it in and for them which Law requires Perfection and Holiness without which a man shall never see God But saith the World Object Yea perfect in part so are accepted aâ— wholly perfect through Christ Nay Answ not in part say I but wholly even entire wanting nothing for the Law requires not a part but the whole and it is not a Perfection inferiour to what the Law requires but even the same if not a better that we are to be brought to by the power of the Lamb of God who takes away the imperfection of all that walk in his Light or else it cannot be said he fulfills it but leaves it unfulfilled and hath made a way by which man shal escape the condemnation of it though he live in transgression thereof which was not the end of his coming in the flesh that man should be accepted perfect because he lived in perfection but that the same perfect innocent harmless life might be brought forth by the operation of his Life which is the Light of men in our mortal bodies herein lies the acceptance if he come thus to live in us to make our sinful bodies conformable to that Body of his 2 Cor. 5.17 which was the perfect pattern then are we in him according as it is said He that is in Christ is a non creature old things are passed away and all is become new and all things
acceptance with God and of his mercy to my soul and I saw it was the evil one which led me into sin that would have me to believe I should not be accepted with God because of my transgressions which I had not gotten power over for to will it was then present with me but how to perform I had not found for though the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ the Light was nigh unto me which now I know makes me free from the Law of sin and death yet I knew it not then but now I know that the Lord was then at work in me begetting desires in my heart after him that so I might be made willing to receive the manifestation of his Son in me with joy which when he had prepared my soul he then revealed in me by which my heart was made glad and even overcome with the love of God and his great Mercies towards me But yet to go back a little while I was ignorant of the glorious Manifestation of God and went to the Baptists Meetings until there was some of the People called Quakers came into this Country who preached up the Light within and the like by whom some of the Baptists were convinced and then the rest of them who were Speakers made it their great business to preach down and against the Light within and so I was thereby hindred with evil Reports of them which then were many very much cast against that People though I had never heard them at all but as concerning those who preached so much against that inward Light wo and alas for them for they are greatly fallen into the Darkness and are become even as sottish as other people and have lost their Zeal which they had for that which they then thought to be Truth for whose sakes I have many times been grieved for I can testifie that there was a good desire once in them which drawed them in some measure as I may say towards Canaan but alas the way proved strait and the mind being alive which lusted after the flesh-pots they are again turned into the darkness of Egypt And notwithstanding all that these men could say for their own way or against others yer I saw plainly neither they nor I were as we should be but I was still unsatisfied because I had a Law in my members that warred against the Law of my mind which led me captive into sin which I could not overcome neither could I believe I ever should though I had a desire against it And so after all these things it was ordered that I must go down to Bristol upon some outward occasion about which time I was seventeen or eighteen years old and it happened that I was to stay there some time in which I did abide at a place where there was a Woman who owned the People called Quakers and she shewed me some of their Books and though I could reade but badly yet I perceived that they were not such a People as I thought they had and so my mind was turned out of enmity against them into love insomuch that I had a desire to hear them so I went to their Meetings several times but could hear no words but in beholding of them I was convinced that they were a People to whom God had manifested more than any People that ever I had seen but how I knew not but at last on a First-day I was much moved in my spirit above other times to go to their Meeting and unknown to me before I came there was a man whose name in the flesh is John Story in whom God had raised his Witness and opened his Understanding to bear a Testimony for him who when I heard speak the Spirit of Life opened my understanding to receive his words which were made serviceable to me at that time for the informing of my mind in the true Way of God which I had been long seeking after the which I gladly received and willingly turned from the Darkness joyning to the Light which I found to be as a man that told me all that ever I had done and not onely so but condemned all sin in me shewing what was good and what was evil condemning me for joyning with the evil And so the ministration of Condemnation I came to witness which was very glorious in its time wherein the just Judgements of the Lord took hold of that which drew me into sin in which Judgments the true Seed greatly rejoyced because its Redemption drew nigh and the Lord was arisen to plead with its Enemy by Fire and Sword which had held it in bondage which I was daily led to take up a Cross to by which the carnal mind which warreth against the spiritual was crucified in me daily and I daily died to the world and the vanities thereof and so my mind came to be redeemed unto God who with the finger of his Spirit wrote his Law in my heart which as I became obedient to it made me free from the Law of sin and gave me victory over it daily so was that in me quickned which delighted only to do the Will of God and to walk in his Way which I testifie is a pleasant path and very delightsom surpassing all the delights and vanities of the world which satisfies not the soul but burdens the pure Seed of God which I witness is set free through Judgements and that there is no way to Life but through Death for fallen man no way to true Joy but through Trouble no way to Canaan but through the Red Sea and the Wilderness no way to enter the Kingdom but through many Tribulations So the Lord by the Spirit of burning hath made that in me which was as a fruitful field to become as a Forest and that which was as a Forest to be as a fruitful field Yea the Lord hath made the parched to be as a pool and the dry-land springs of water and hath visited poor Lazarus with mercy and love but the rich Glutton hath he fed with Judgement and Esau the wild hunter the first birth hath he brought down to serve Jacob the younger who hath obtained the Blessing and hard-hearted Pharoah hath he plagued but Israel the Seed hath he blessed whom he hath led by the pillar of fire which was a light unto him by which he walked out of the darkness of Egypt from under the bondage of Pharoah whom he hath destroyed in the bottom of the Sea Therefore doth the Seed rejoyce and sing with high praises to its King who by the power of his strong hand hath broken the snare and band and set its feet at liberty that it might walk in the way to Canaan the blessed Land in this God's glorious day wherein the Sun is risen in glory bright which hath expell'd the darkness of the cloudy night and hath melted the frost and snow away which covered the tender plant in the gloomy day Wherefore now being come
unto the day of God And having felt his Love by kissing of his Rod I will make mention of his Name and tell of his Salvation For he hath shewed me the same which saves out of Transgression Therefore with joy unto the Lord with th'Spirit I will sing Who hath broken the snare and cord of Death which was a sting And hath quickened by his Power a life in me to live Which when it feels his pleasent showers doth Praises to him give I when I feel the pure Fountain in me to ope and spring Which issues from Sions Mountain the Life of her sweet King Then is my sp'rit orecome ev'n with the issues of that Life Which cometh from the glorious Sun who leadeth out of strife Into the perfect pure Love which never thinketh ill Where nothing at all doth him move to any but pure good-will O in this Life that 's free from strife my soul hath its delight For O it is my married Wife to whom my very life In that same holy Marriage which is both clean and pure Which neither Death nor Hell can break but ever will endure Is even wedded yet not by any Imagination But by the Spirit undefil'd which saves out of transgression Yet in much fear unto the Lord I cry O without thy Presence what am I If thou forsake me I shall surely fall For of my self I have no strength at all O therefore by thy Power me deliver And save to glorifie thy Name for ever Yet now come hearken unto me all that desire to know And my Beloved long to see the way to you I le show It is by walking in the Light which doth convince of sin Which is committed in the night by all that walk therein Therefore out of the Darkness come and hearken to the Light Even the Glory of the Son and it will free you quite So my dear Beloved you will then come to see By whom my soul is moved who 's so dear to me O then you 'l come to see his shape and hear his glorious Voice The which will make the Seed to leap and your souls to rejoyce Therefore come now follow the Light and do not from it turn So shall you have a pure sight and myst'ries deep shall learn Even that great and glorious Work of happy Restoration The which is wrought by him that makes the blessed new creation Who sitting on the Throne alone shines like a precious stone Who doth enlighten every one that in the world doth come Therefore let all that fear the Lord now hearken to his Voice And obey it that better is than any Sacrifice Wherefore now come and look within and there encline your ear For 't is the Spirit of the Lord which only speaketh there For though mans heart's deceitful and imaginations nought Yet God's Spirit it is which shews him ev'ry idle thought Therefore within let every one unto the Light return And hearken to its Voice that 's pure and then you 'l come to learn What that is call'd that doth redeem and save the soul from sin And then you 'l come to know the Law that written is within Even by the finger and direction of the living God In all the hearts of them who understand and kiss his Rod Which smiteth and chastiseth them when ere they go astray That it might turn them that are out into the good old Way Wherein they will find peace that 's pure unto their souls and then Shall rest with God which will endure for evermore Amen And so the Lord God of eternal Holiness having lighted a Candle in my heart and given me a measure of his good Spirit by which he hath preached Righteousness thorow me if I had never opened my mouth nor set pen to paper I say I am not now to put it under a bushel and hide it but to set it up that it may give light unto all neither must I hide my Talent in the earth lest it be taken from me and given to another who will improve it better but my chiefest care must be to stand in all things approved to God in faithfulness and when he draws me or calls me forth if I leave the old man to mend his Net himself as Peter and John did let none that knows me marvel at it for I must go about my Father's business who hath redeemed my mind out of the love of earthly things and worldly delights that I should set my whole delight in him who hath also brought me to see of the travel of my soul and to be satisfied concerning the knowledge of his Truth so that I look not for another Truth Way Leader nor Guide to lead me up to a higher glory in this Truth which is yet to be attained for the revealing of which am I waiting in the Light not expecting any thing any other way but only a growing from strength to strength and a pressing on from glory to glory even as God in his Son Christ the Light shall make known himself unto me but I expect not another Saviour than Him the Light for by Him the Lepers are cleansed the blind made to see and the lame man to leap like an Hart the dumb to speak and to the poor is the Gospel preached by Him whom he filleth with good things but the rich and the full he sends empty away all which whosoever receives and follows the Lamb the Light the Way the Truth and the Life shall come to witness and reade with a clear understanding what I have written but from those that rebel against the Light these things are sealed by the hand of the Wisdom of God I. W. Some wholesom DIRECTIONS to stir up young People to seek after their Creator in the dayes of their youth ANd now O all you Young men and Maids with all that are of a capacity to understand my words who are young and tender in years for my bowels yearn towards you therefore come hearken to my voice and be attentive to the words of my mouth and I will instruct you in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom Now this is the Counsel of God unto you which he hath put into my heart to write that you all hearken to that which shews you the evil of the world and the vanity of your own wayes which condemns you for every evil word and action for that I testifie unto you all is the Spirit of God which he hath given you to profit withall which as you receive it will open your understandings and if you join therewith it will give you dominion over sin and cleanse you from iniquity O therefore come down to it and put your necks under the yoke and let that which crosseth the vain mind be your delight and still join with that in you which breatheth after God so shall you come to an acquaintance with him for to that doth he make known himself and to them and none but them