and the Life But now here is one thing to be considered that I would have all People well to mind that is Christ being the Way the Truth and the Life to know what Way he is and how he is the Truth and the Life Now to confess to this is one thing and to come to be a Witness of it is another thing for mind Christ his mind in this thing is that he is man and womans Way to Heaven and the Truth that they must come to and be guided by and the Life that they must live in which is by Faith in the Son of God Now here lieth the matter to be considered whether or no thou art come to that state and condition that is to come to know Christ to be thy Way and whether thou art come to know the Truth as it is in Jesus and to live that Life which pleases God yea or nay which Life is in Christ Jesus this every one is to consider for till People come to be Witnesses of this in themselves 't is not a confessing to it or talking of it will do or stand them in any stead in the Day of Account when God comes to reckon with them For this the holy men of God did witness and said The Life which we now live is by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 And John said that came to witness the work of God begun and carrying on in himself on this manner That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life this declare we unto you 1 John 1.1 And further the Apostle saith Christ wrought all their Works in them and for them which work was to root out Sin Now this they came to know and witness in themselves and not by report and hear-say of others this state the People of God came to in all Ages and Generations in a measure while they were here in this Life and did not think to have the work of Redemption done for them when they were dead as some now adayes think to have thinking to serve the Devil while they are here and that God will save them when they can sin no longer but mark this such as People sow such shall they reap and they that sow Sin and Wickedness must of the same Wages reap Corruption which Wages the Scripture saith is Death saying The Wages of Sin is Death and that to them for evermore but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Rom. 6.23 For this is a strange thing that a man should be a Servant to one man many Years and at last come to another for Wages for the same time this is Confusion and Madness and with this Cheat a great part of the World is cheated by both Priests and Professors in telling People that they cannot live without Sin and so they serve the Devil all their days and that God would accept with the reward of Peace of them when they can serve him no longer For inasmuch as they tell People they cannot leave off Sinning but must sin as long as they live it is the same thing as if they tell People they must serve the Devil all their dayes for there is no sin committed or brought forth in any but it is of the Devil 's begetting and bringing forth in People for he is the Father of all Sin in all people wheresoever or in whomsoever it is brought forth and therefore this unavoidably must follow that they that live and dye in Sin must live and dye Servants to the Devil if so every man must expect his Wages according to his Works Therefore I would have none deceive themselves for if the Devil must be served all your dayes him you must go to at last unavoidably whether you will believe it or no. And further take notice of this Christ is not the Way of the Wicked nor of Sinners neither are Sinners or they that plead for Sin come to the Truth nor to know it nor to live the Life of it which Life is out of Sin and not in Sin for that is a Life of the Devil for he is the Founder of all Sin and the Wages of Sin is Death and Damnation to all that live and dye in Sin These things are worthy to be considered before it be too late which will be when God's Spirit hath done striving with thee for without coming to know the Devil's Works destroyed in thee or that work begun by the Lord till thou comest to know this thou shalt never know the Truth making Free from Sin and that which makes Free from sin is Christ and till People come to know this Freedom from Sin begun they can never know Righteousness and without Righteousness none shall see God and without coming to see God none can go to Heaven till they come to be Freed from Sin none can be fitted for Heaven And the Scripture saith The Truth makes Free and the Truth is Christ Jesus and if this be to make Free it is to make Free from something and if it be not from Sin what is it that People must be Freed from I would know I do believe it is from Sin for I never heard of any thing that any was in Bondage to but Sin that hindereth People of Salvation and therefore Christ the Truth is come to make an end of it that Righteousness may reign in the room of Sin and these two things were never known to dwell together but one must be known to be pulling down before the other can be set up therefore it was said Light hath no fellowship with Darkness nor a Believer with an Infidel Here Christ is meant the Light and the Devil the Power of Darkness and these two War one against the other in People striving which shall rule and bear sway in Peoples Minds Hearts and Affections one of these two Spirits striveth to lead into all manner of Sin and Evil and the other striveth to lead into all manner of Righteousness and true Holiness both in things Spiritual and Temporal And here I will make a difference betwixt the manner of their working and striving in People and that in all People at one time or another and that all may be sensible of it if they will but if they will not in the day when God's good Spirit striveth with them they shall be brought one day to a Remembrance of it when they shall be unwilling and before they are aware when nothing but Death and Sorrow shall meet together and none to help them will be found Now to the matter and manner of these two Spirits striving the bad Spirit he in all People strives to keep their Minds altogether in Carnal and in Earthly things which is Death to the Soul The Scripture saith To be Carnally-minded is Death but to be Spiritually-minded is Life and Peace and this I do believe is
Law of God that is written in the Heart and if so then whether the Lords Power Law and Spirit be not the same as it was and whether the Lords Love be not as it was and whether he hath not the same Power to help man as he had I hope all this will be granted and that it was only and alone by the Power and Spirit of God they came to be Righteous and to witness an Overcoming of Sin and by no Self righteousness nor by any other Power and that the Lord's Law Power and Spirit is the same as it was and his Love the same as it was and that God has the same Power to help men as he had And if this be granted that it is so then it seems the Fault is not in God that it is not now as it was in the Apostles dayes and if the Fault be not in God then it is in Man But 't is my Belief and Experienced Knowledge that there be some that are come to witness the same Power over Sin as the Apostles witnessed in their day and I believe that it is with Men and Women that are faithful to God as it was in the Apostles dayes as concerning having Power over Sin and to come to a Perfect State in Christ Jesus But to them that are wallowing in Sin as a Sow in the Mire and to them that are pleading for Sin for term of Life although they may be got under a high Notion of Religion and out of the open Prophaneness of the gross Abominations which are practised in the World yet notwithstanding this while they plead for Sin and live in Sin herein they are striving to uphold the Devil's Kingdom and live in that which Pleaseth the Devil and Displeaseth God for Sin is of the Devil's Kingdom and they that plead for it to wit for Sin are pleading for the Devil's Kingdom and with such I must needs confess it was never with them as with the Apostles in their day and them that followed Christ in the Apostles dayes nor in our dayes and such there were in the Apostles dayes that would not believe and follow Christ and they knew no Power over Sin because they came not to him that gives Power and so came not to be Sons of God because they did not receive him that was come to give Power to become the Sons of God as the Scripture saith which we that are in Scorn called Quakers do believe to be a true Declaration of those things that ought to be believed and have a reverent Esteem of them and they say Christ came to his own but his own received him not but as many as did receive him unto them he gave Power to become the Sons of God John 1.10 11 12. Receiving of him is to yield to the Motions of his good Spirit in them and these be they which come to know that God is not changed nor his Power lessened nor his Love abated but he is the same to Mankind to day as yesterday and forever and as there were some in the Apostles times that would not believe the Doctrine of Christ nor the Apostles so now in our dayes there are many Professors and Prophane that will not believe Christ nor his Doctrine because his Doctrine is against Sin but they cannot abide it and are crying out No Perfection Here neither will they believe that Christ is able to do the Work that the Father sent him to do for he came to put an End to Sin to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness This is that which they cannot believe and especially they that are got under a Colour of Religion as the Scribes and Pharisees were they ever were the worst against Christ and the Apostles and so they are now adayes For all Religions and Worships are False and Vain except that which Christ set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago which is in the Spirit and Truth which is the Light of Christ Jesus and the Power of God to Salvation made known to Mankind in the Heart and Conscience as the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest within for God hath shewed it to man that Sin by this may be made known and Righteousness made known the Way of Life and the Way of Death made known that lost Man may not be to seek concerning Salvation this hath the Lord done in Mercy for us that none may miss of that Kingdom which is not of this World and if any miss that it is because of Sin and this must be known to be taken away in this Life if it could have been done away after this Life then Christ needed not have come and suffered for Sin as he did nor the Apostles and Ministers of Christ have prest People so much to Perfection as they did and to make their Calling and Election sure in this Life But this is certain If ever people come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom they must come to have Assurance of it before they go hence else they will miss of their Expectation of having a Rest with God when this Life will End And to know Assurance is to know Sin destroyed and Righteousness set up in the Heart Some may be ready to say How is this possible to be seeing our Mortal Bodies are frail and full of Infirmities and Weakness doth attend us and when we have done all we are Unprofitable Servants It is true all the Service that Man can do it is unprofitable in the sight of God if God lead not unto it all Worship Service and Duty that is done set up and offered to the Lord it being done in Man's Will this is all unprofitable and unaccepted of God it being Man's Will and not the Will of God for while People live in Sin and plead for it and while the Old Nature is standing their Preaching Praying Baptizing and Breaking of Bread Singing and Family Duties it is all vain if Christ move not to it and lead into it the Scripture saith The Prayers of the Wicked are Abomination to the Lord and if their best Service be Abomination to the Lord needs must the rest for all Sin is Abomination at the best and therefore while people live in Sin and plead for the continuation of it they must needs be Wicked and herein I say all is unprofitable as people live in this Condition But there is a State and Condition which is profitable perfect and that Job came to and many more of the People of God in all Ages Generations that knew the Spirit of God to lead and guide them into all Truth this is that Spirit which a Manifestation of is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and they that came to be led by that Spirit their Prayers avail much and their Works are the Works of Righteousness and this is that which God doth accept of and I hope there is none that will dare to
put in by the spirit of the Devil and whatsoever is put into any Man or Woman's Mind that is good right and just is done by the Spirit of the Lord for take notice of this all peoples Minds and Affections are swayed by one or the other of these two Spirits one turning into Wickedness the other into Righteousness this is true whether thou wilt believe it or no thou shalt be made to know it when it will be too late if thou art not aware A few words in answer to the fore-mentioned Reasonings and Objections against the Truth and Spiritual Worship As to the Strait Gate and Narrow Way it is strait to the Wicked it is pleasant to the Righteous and as to the many Wayes there are not many Wayes to Heaven but to Heaven there is but one Way and that is to come to answer God's Spirit in thee and to worship God in Spirit and in Truth And as to the being hated of all people this is no new thing for Christ and all the holy Men of God were ever Hated as thou mayst read in the Scriptures and Moses said He did esteem of the Repreaches that be under-went for Christ's sake to be greater Riches to him than all the Treasures in Egypt and though they were hated of Men yet they were beloved of God and all this while it is well enough And as to the Danger of Losing any thing for Christ's sake this was counted by the Righteous all Joy that they were not counted only worthy to Rain with Christ but also to Suffer with him and the Lord hath promised That whatsoever any Suffer for him they shall have Recompensed in this Life a hundred fold and in the World to come Life Everlasting without End And the Scripture saith They that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecutions And Christ told his Disciples The Servant was not greater than his Master if they persecuted him it was certain they would perseoute them And as to the Displeasing of Men it is impossible that people can please God and Ungodly Men and Peter and John bad people judge whether they had best Please God or Man And as concerning a Livelihood believe the Scripture First seek God's Kingdom and the Righteousness thereof and all other things shall be added to thee Matth. 6.33 And as for our Religion which is in Spirit and in Truth to be a New Upstart Religion this is a downright Slander for it was set up by Christ above sixteen hundred years ago and there is no other Way to Heaven but this though some there be that do profess it that do not walk in it this doth not alter the Case or make the thing not to be the same as it is professed for Judas did not alter the Case in that matter neither do any Traitors to the Truth now adayes And as to the False Religion it is true it hath been long standing the more is the Pity yet that doth not make because False Religions have been long standing that therefore it must ever remain this will not hold It is true ever since Wickedness hath been covered under a Cloak of Religion this hath been standing And as to the Church which some say cannot Err I answer that there is no Church or People but do Err except them that are led and guided by the Spirit of God and such are the only true Church and they that are led by this are led by that Spirit that never did nor can Err and till people come to this all go astray let them profess what they will And as to our Fore-Fathers how it was with them that I will leave to the Lord I will not judge of them that I never knew but this I do believe of them That some of them were Faithful to what they knew and that is it the Lord requires and doth accept of and as to them they are gone and I do believe some of them dyed in the true Faith which we do believe in and I do believe they are at Rest with the Lord and were of our Mind and Belief though not called by this new Nick-Name which the Devil in our Age hath invented for his Servants to put upon us as in all Ages the Devil had New Nick-Names for to disguise and deride Christ and his Followers and so he hath now And for your Ministers to know the Way there are none that know the Truth nor no true Ministers but them that come to be endewed with Power from on High which is known by Revelation and Inspiration which your Priests and Professors do deny therefore they cannot know the Truth while they are denying that which bringeth to the Knowledge of the Truth for the Scripture saith and I do believe they are true and they say though there is a Spirit in Man yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives an Understanding And as concerning Great Learning this is good in its place as men come to the true Understanding of it given to them by the Spirit of God for the Scripture is as a Mystery hid from the Wisdom of this World and it was never known that Outward Learning or Education of Men nor Great Learning did ever bring any man to the Knowledge of the Truth nor never was able to unsold the Mystery of Godliness to any man as for Instance there was Paul he was a great Learned Man and had great Parts and Education and counted himself beyond many of the Jews yet for all this he was ignorant of the true Knowledge of God till he came to it by the Revelation of the Son of God for that was and now is the thing alone that brought People to the Knowledge of that which is hid from the Wisdom of this World And as concerning Tradesmen and Plowmen knowing the Way read the Scriptures and there thou wilt find in all Ages it was such chiefly that came to the true Knowledge of the right Way of God for there were Peter and John that were Unlearned Men and many more beside them which were able Ministers of the Lord and where are there any great Learned Men now adayes that can compare with them but there are many now adayes that are come to the Knowledge of the Truth as they came to it by the Learning which they have learned of the Lord so do they preach whether they have outward Learning or not this makes not much matter in the things of God though Learning be very good in its place to them that make good use of it but if you observe the greatest Learned Men are commonly most ignorant of Christ's Kingdom therefore that is not the thing that makes people Righteous nor is it enough barely reading the Prophets Words and Works and Christ's Words and what he did and the Apostles Conditions how it was with them it is not enough to read these things unless people come to live the same Life that they did but it must be done by the Power of God and this is the Reason that there are so many ever reading and hearing and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth thinking by running into outward things they shall do well and never come to Christ that they may know Life Eternal which is to know God as the Scripture saith whom to know is Life Eternal A Day and a Time hath God given to all people that if they will in that Day and Time they may come to know God and by him to be cleansed of Sin which is the Cause of Death to their Souls And in this Day Christ would gather all People to himself as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings but if people will not come to him in that Day and Time when he calleth to them they shall never know Freedom from the Bondage of Hell and Death A Lamentation may be taken up concerning all such that sin out their Day and the Night comes on them at unawares and there be none to help as Christ took up concerning Jerusalem when their Day was over he went and beheld it with much Sorrow and wept over it with much Pity saying on this wise O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent to thee how often would I have gathered thee even as a Hen would have gathered her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not and further said he O that thou hadst known in this thy Day the things belonging to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes So it is with all people that sin out their Day as they did for the Lord striveth with all People as well as he strove with them to bring them to the Knowledge of the Things that belong to their Peace but still here they lie in Ignorance not yielding to the Motions of the Spirit of Christ although there be things laid up in store for them which do belong to their Peace yet in this Condition they are never worthy to know it because they believe not and they that are not faithful in a little never come to know much Thus will it be with all those that sin out their Day and will not answer God in the Time when he striveth with them So 't is good for all people to consider these things before it be too late that they may get Assurance of that which will stand by them and make choice of that which Mary did that Good Part which shall never be taken from them and herein people will come to finish their course with Joy and lay down their Heads in Peace when Dayes and Time shall be no more Thus far have I cleared my Conscience of that which lay upon me from the Lord to write in Love to all who desire to be in Favour with God that they may have Assurance of Acceptance with him for their Souls when their Bodies must be laid in their Graves So I rest with Love and Good Will towards all People desiring the Good and Prosperity of all in that Way which leadeth to that Kingdom which is not of this World who am known to many to be of that Mind and of that Desire by the Name of John Songhurst West Chiltington in Sussex in the 2d Moneth 1680. THE END
Sheep hear my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger they will not hear John 10.27 these were good Sheep Now to come to hear Christ's Voice is to obey his Spirit that striveth in the Heart to reclaim the Wicked and the Willing and Obedient shall dwell in the Land in the Kingdom of God and shall eat of the Good of the Land the Bread of Life and their Souls shall partake of the Honey and the Milk that floweth therein Isaeah 1.19 Some may say If I had been in the dayes of his Flesh I would have heard him and have come to him but he is asoended up on high and sitteth at the Right Hand of God and how can I hear him now Well it is true he is ascended into Heaven and is with the Father But mark this he is not confined to one place but as thou mayst read in the Scriptures Rom. 9.5 He is God over all blessed forever and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is every where and there is a measure or manifestation of his Light and good Spirit given to thee 1 Cor. 12.7 and to every man and woman upon the Earth that thou and they may profit by it upon the count of Salvation and the knowledge of this is made known in thee or that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 The Word is near even in the Heart and in the Mouth c. there thou mayst hear it and as thou obeyest the Voice of it it will give thee Power to do that which it doth require of thee and by doing this it is that thou mayst hear his Voice by keeping to that of God in thee and thy mind exercised in it Here the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is known as well as in days past and in Generations gone So let none deceive themselves for the Spirit of Christ is near to all whether they will hear him or not and true it is that they must one day give an account to him whether they will or no therfore let none deceive you with lying Vanities or unprofitable Words for this is he that searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and sheweth unto man what his Thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name and he is not far from any Acts 17.27 28. so that no man need say Who shall ascend to fetch Christ or who shall descend to fetch Christ up or who shall go beyond the Sea For saith the Apostle The Word of Faith which we Preach is nigh but how nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.6 7 8. and that Christ was that Word of Faith which they preacht and so we say that People may hear it and do it And Christ said to John as may be read in the third Chapter of the Revelations Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 It is at the Door of the Heart the Lord knocketh and they that hear obey the Spirit of Jesus that there knocketh such come to be born of the Spirit and by this come to sup with the Lord which is not an outward Supper but an inward enjoyment of spiritual Food the Bread of Life that which came down from Heaven which Christ said He that eateth thereof should never dye should live forever John 6.33 34 35 50 52 53 63. and that Bread that a man eating of it never dyes Christ said was the true Bread that his Father gave from Heaven then the Priests did not give it And when the People murmured because Christ said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you did not Christ for their further satisfaction make them this Answer The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life it is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profitteth nothing Now they that can believe Christ let them who said The Flesh profitteth nothing but the quickening Spirit and Power of God that raiseth the Soul from Death to Life And this is that we labour to bring People to that all might come to know that they have a part in him who said I am the Resurrection and the Life John 5.25 and so to feed at the Table of the Lord that they may never hunger more And for this we have been and yet are hated of the World both of Professors and Prophane but more especially of some angry and envious Professors and no marvel for none hated Christ and the Apostles more than they that made Profession of Religion in those dayes who were themselves out of the Life of Righteousness and in Hatred Strife and Envy as too many Professors are now adayes who stick in the outward Observations and Ceremonies one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is and all in their own Inventions or in the Inventions of their Fore-Fathers or at least in the Imitation of Elementary Things often Persecuting and Destroying one another about Opinions And these are they that are led by a false spirit for all people are led by the true or false Spirit for there is but two the Good and the Bad which all People upon the Earth are led by that is the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Devil and to which of these a man gives his Mind to serve his Servant he is and his Conversation is managed by that Spirit and it may be that both lead to profess Religion for even the Devil in some sense is not against Peoples making a Profession of Religion but he makes them so blindly Zealous that they shall Hate Persecuto or Murder those that will not believe what they believe and worship as they worship and be of their Religion The Devil cares not how much People talk of God and Christ and Religion provided they do not deny him to lead them and so become New Creatures For they that are not led by the Spirit of Christ are none of his Rom. 8.9 And to be led by the Spirit of Christ is to become a New Creature for all have been in the old Nature Children of Wrath as the Apostle said Ephes 2.3 we as well as others till we come to put off the Old Man with his Deeds and to put on the New Man which is created after the Image of him that created him in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes 4.24 the image of Christ who said Behold I make all things New And herein cometh the New Birth to be known by which People come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom which none ever come to but they that are born again which is to live a Life answerable to the Truth and to put off the old Man's Deeds is to put off Sin for all Sin and Wickedness is of the Devil the old Man and this is the old Nature by
which People are Children of Wrath and it is the old Leaven the Apostle commanded to be purged out that in the room thereof Righteousness may dwell which is of the New Nature and they that come to this in all things become New Men and have New Thoughts New Words and New Works being begotten and born again by the Spirit of God all things become New and all Old Things be done away to wit Swearing Cursing Lying Quarreling Fighting Stealing Whoreing Drunkenness Pride Envy Murther Cozening Cheating Covetousness and Idolatry Dissimulation and Hypocrisie all that is Old and all False Religions must be roled together as a Scrole John 4. and a New Worship must be known even in Spirit and Truth And this was that which John was shewed in the time of his Banishment by him that said to him Behold I create all things New Mark the end of the Old John said He saw a New Heaven and a New Earth in which dwelt Righteousness and there was no Sea but the Old Heaven was roled together as a Scrole with a great Noise and the Earth was burnt up with every green Tree and every Island and every Bonds-man and every Free-man fled away and the Elements were melted with fervent Heat But these things are a Mystery hid from the Wisdom of this World for the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are hid in Christ Jesus who only and alone opens and reveals the Mysteries and secrets of God's Kingdom and also of the Devil's Kingdom and without this Revelation of Jesus none can know the Right way from the Wrong nor the True Worship from the False because it is spiritually discerned They therefore that are not led and guided by the Spirit of God cannot know these things for the true Knowledge the right Understanding of it is foolishness to them therefore they are putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and calling Good Evil and Evil Good and the Wrong Way the Right and the Right Way the Wrong And in this Blindfold Condition are all the Worshippers in the World that are not led by the Spirit of God to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth for there is no Worship accepted of God but that which People are led into by the Spirit of God and for want of keeping to the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth which in the Heart and Conscience Reproves for Sin and Justifies men in doing of Good People run into all manner of Errors as well in Judgment Discipline and Worship as in the other things for though there be a Spirit in man Yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives a man Understanding how to Worship God and of the Way to Heaven and what to believe and what not to believe and what to do and what to leave undone and what will please God and what will not please him But that there is such an immediate Inspiration whereby God doth teach and reveal his Mind to his Children in this Age is opposed vilified and denyed by the Generality and no marvel for needs must it be so while they are beside the Truth and will not come to the Spirit of Truth to be led by it but oppose it that should lead into all Truth and give a man to understand that which no man can un derstand by the Wisdom of this World 1 Cor. 1.12 ch 2.14 for the Scripture saith The World by Wisdom knew not God but as People come to be made wise by God so they come to have an Experience of these fore mentioned things to know the old Heaven to be dissolved and the Elements melted with fervent heat this is not an outward thing but an inward Work of God and it was never done by any Power but the Power of God And blessed be the Name of the Lord he hath begun this Work in many which is to the Salvation of them that are faithful and use victoriously the spiritual Weapons of their Warfare in Righteousness against Sin and Wickedness in the Heart and as they of old said so can many say now adayes The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual and mighty through God for the pulling down the Strong Holds of Satan in man Principalities and Powers of Darkness and for the bringing into the Obedience to Christ our Evil Thoughts 2 Cor. 10.4 that in the room of Sin Everlasting Righteousness may reign then that Peace will be known which passeth all Understandings of this World And as People give way to the Spirit of God it wars against the Devil and against his strong Holds which is Sin in the Heart for that is the chiefest Place in Man the Heart therefore God expecteth the Heart And the Wise Man said My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 So when Christ cometh to rule in the Heart then all things become new the Old Nature by him cometh to be purged out and a New Nature cometh to be known which is of the Nature of Christ and here Man comes to be born again by putting off the Old World's Worships Delights and Pleasures which are the old Heaven and Earth in the Heart for Heaven is as False Worship so Pleasures Delights c. for whatsoever a man sets his Heart Mind and Affections upon more than upon Christ that he makes his Heaven and his God too some made their Bellies their God and some make Covetousness their Heaven and some make Pride their Heaven whose chiefest Delight is to deck their Bodies up in foolish Toyes and cannot tell what New Thing many times to invent to put on or spend their Money upon Little do such remember what the Prophet cryed Isa 40.6 All Flesh is but as Grass and the Beauty of it but as the Flower of the Field the Grass withereth and the Flower fadeth away in like manner doth the Bodies of Men and Women with the Beauty thereof but the Word of the Lord endureth for evermore but this holy Word is little minded little loved or regarded by many although it strive with People in them to save them from the Wrath to come and will be with them forever a Joy to those that are faithful to it and a torment to the Wicked But the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of many and they are willing to be blinded by him alwayes delighting themselves in the things of this Life till Death seizeth upon them and then their Delights here become their Burden then they begin to cry out Lord Lord but what doth the Scripture say of such Matt. 7.21 22. mark Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter the Kingdom of God but he that doth the will of God and the Will of God is that people should cease to do Evil and learn to do well Isa 1.16 17. and cleanse their Hands and their Hearts by putting away the Evil of their Doings whilst they are on this side the Grave For the Scripture saith There is
False Worships which are but Elementary to be melted with fervent heat the Zeal of God is kindled against them and the old Earth by this cometh to be burnt up then cometh the New Earth which John saw wherein dwelleth Righteousness and in such there is known no more Sea for all people being from the Spirit of Truth are in their Minds as unstable as the Waters of the Sea tossed to and fro with every Wind of Doctrine and with every Tempest of the Enemy before they come to be setled by the Power of God but this stability being once known then people come to know a Stay to their Minds and come as the Scripture saith Isa 26.3 Phil. 4.7 to be kept in perfect Peace and to know that Peace which passeth the Understanding of this World which the Wisdom of this World comprehendeth not for they whose Minds are thus preserved the Wicked One toucheth them not 1 John 5.18 although he may come with many Snares and Temptations to insnare and draw aside yet while people are kept by the Spirit of God they are delivered from them all for it is no Sin to be tempted but to enter into the Temptation that is sin then People come to break their Peace with God when the Devil tempts them to do any Wickedness and they give way to it this is making shipwrack of Faith and a Good Conscience as by sad Experience some have done see the 1st Epistle to Timothy the 1st Chapter and the 19th Verse But the way to prevent this is to give way to Christ that he may bear Rule in thy Heart and Mind and that he may order thy Affections and Conversation and bear sway in thee then thou wilt come to know m that said John 14.17 He that is with you shall be in you And they that he spoke to knew his words fulfilled and so spoke by experience that which they were Eye-witnesses of and said that he wrought all their Works in them and for them And I hope there is none that are so mis-led in their Understandings as to say that Work was Sin but altogether to work out Sin for that is the Work which Christ came to do To put an end to Sin in People Dan. 9.24 and to finish Transgression in People and in the room of Sin to bring in Everlasting Righteousness in People for Sin is in People for there is none in the Beasts of the Field but in mankind for the Beasts of the Field keep their places as God created them and do no way displease God but mankind knows not his Owner as the poor Ox and Ass doth as the Prophet said The Ox knows his Owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but the People know not the Lord Isa 1.3 In the old Nature no Man nor Woman ever knew God but as they came to be changed and Born again and so to put on the New Man Christ Jesus the Old man being put off with his Deeds which is Sin then Christ is known as he said Lo said he 2 Cor. ch 6. ver 16. I will dwell in man and walk in man I will be their God and they shall be my People To know this is Eternal Life but God dwelleth not in Sinners but in them that are pure in Heart for 't is the pure in Heart that see God and so come to be acquainted with God here all People that are acquainted with God by this acquaintance come to know how it s with them as to their inward condition and how it stands with their inward man in the sight of God and by the guiding of Gods Spirit all things in man and woman are kept in good order and by this come to have Power over Sin and in such there is no need to cry out for want of Power for God gives Power to them that come to him by Jesus Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth in his Hand and God's love is Universal to all People and desires not the Destruction of any but rather they would turn from their Wickedness and live Here you may see according to the Scripture of Truth that it is Sin and Wickedness that is the cause of Death to the Soul for you may read in the holy Scriptures that God hath promised that whosoever will turn from their Wickedness and from their Abominations which they had committed and come to him In quity shall not be their Ruin such shall not Perish but have Life Everlasting these are terms of Salvation that God hath promised the Kingdom of Heaven upon that People may lay down their Heads in Peace when they are to go hence never to be seen more in this World And man must know Wickedness done away in this Life For as the Tree falleth to the North or to the South so it lieth and as Death leaveth People so Judgment will find them and there is no Repentance in the Grave nor calling the time once spent back again nor no Remission of Sin after this Life For no unclean thing shall enter the Kingdom of God And all Sin is Unclean in the sight of God and this is that which Christ is come to destroy that People may be Heirs to a Kingdom which is not of this World And this Paul witnessed when he said He had fought a good Fight he had finished his Course and had kept the Faith and henceforth there was laid up for him a Crown of Glory and not for him only but for all them that feared God and loved his Appearance 2 Tim. 7.8 And this appearance was and is against Sin in the Heart and Paul's fighting was against Sin and Wickedness with Spiritual Weapons which was the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which was not with Carnal weapons but Spiritual and mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong Holds of Sin and this was not known only by Paul and of the Apostles but by the Righteous in all Ages and Righteous Abel and Enoch and all the Righteous all along to this day they that were made Righteous it was by that Power by which the Apostles witnessed Righteousness which was the Power and Spirit of God and this is near to all that all may be led by it But some have said that It is not now as it was in the Apostles dayes Why is it not now as it was in the Apostles dayes what is changed that it is not now as it was then O say they we cannot do as they did and have Power as they had to live and to stand against Sin and to come to that Perfect State as they did To which I Query thus What was it that made them Righteous or gave them Power over Sin and Death And by what did they War against Sin was it not God that gave them Power over Sin and delivered them from the Evil of this World and what was it by which they did this if not by the Spiritual
say That the works of Christ are not perfect they that know Christ to work all their Works in them and for them which Works are perfect and profitable in all they that are pure in Heart and by this Sin cometh to be destroyed and by the Power of God Perfection is known and not by any thing of man's Righteousness Service or Invention which is but Outward Lip Service which Christ complained against concerning them that honoured him with their Mouthes but their Hearts were far from him it is now just so with most sorts of People Priests Professors and Prophane that are come no further than the Scribes and Pharisees were and the Jews and High Priests in Christ's dayes when he in the Body of Flesh walked upon the Earth they then were much opposing Christ and the Apostles Doctrine because they preach't up another Doctrine contrary to the Traditions who were busie about Outward Duties and Services Praying Preaching and Singing and Eating Drinking Washing and making a great flourish with Outward Worship and boasting about Religion which was but in Ceremonies Types Figures and Shadows altogether in Outward things as people are now adayes that are not come to the Spiritual Worship which is in Christ Jesus these were in Ages past and are in this our Age all crying out against that inward Principle which Christ and the Apostles exhorted People to as you may read in the Scriptures of Truth how Christ said He was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1.9 This Light shineth in the Heart and Conscience there to shew a man his Thoughts and to set his Inward Condition in view before him because nothing else can do it and this was that Light that shone in Paul when he said O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 It was the Light of Christ that shewed him his wretched state and not only so but gave him Power over it and he being faithful to it through great Self-denyal he taking up the Cross to his own Will whereby he was crucified to the World and the World to him was made able to travail through great Tribulations Exercises and Persecutions both by Professors and Prophane and by his own Country Men and all this Hatred and Malice was raised up in them by the Devil against Paul because he was turned to the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus in himself and led a new Life and worshipped God in another manner than he did before to wit in the Spirit and in the Truth he being come to that which was out of their sight to things that Christ had revealed to him and by this he preached and turned People from Darkness to the Light of Christ in themselves and from Satan's Power to the Power of God for this thing was Paul enviously persecuted and cryed-out against and accounted Mad and ceased not their Pursuit till they had murdered him at Rome and for this very thing do Professors Priests Magistrates and many others hate us now adayes for turning of People from Darkness to Light from Satan's Power to the Power of the living God many have been the Inventions Consultations Contrivances against us both by Parliaments Councils Magistrates Bishops Priests Professors and Prophane that if the Lord had not stood by us we had been destroyed long ago but the Righteous God that pleads the innocent Cause of his Children hath so kept us and preserved us by his Living Power that our Adversaries had never ought to prove against us but only the Law of our God and this honest Daniel was accused for but consider what became of his Accusers and the Accusers of the Righteous in all Ages and then read within what will become of the Persecutors of God's People in this Age and for the future and who ever prospered that fought against God for the Hand of God is too strong for the whole World and it was ever turned upon them that used Violence and Misery must be their Portion if they Repent not Therefore 't is good for all people to look home and to consider how it is with them as to their inward Condition for it I am Wrong thou shalt not give an Account for me nor I for thee but every one for themselves therefore it is good for every one to walk in the Light while the Light shineth before Darkness come upon thee and there be no more Light and thou left without Remedy for Salvation for it is the Light that bringeth Salvation as you may read in the Scriptures what the Holy Men say 2 Cor. 4.6 That God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ that is in the Appearance of Jesus Christ Christ is the Light and the Light is Christ Within the Hope of Glory and this they spoke who were Witnesses of his inward Appearance of his revealing himself in their Hearts and Inward Parts And further the Scripture saith That this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men loved Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are Evil John 3.19 This is Salvation to them that are saved and Damnation to them that are damned to wit the Light for you may see that they that hated the Light were condemned by it and it was and is hated by all that love and plead for Sin which is Evil for while people live in Darkness which is Evil they see not the Evil Effect that Darkness will produce to them that love it nor the Misery that doth attend them and therefore they hate the Light for the Light makes Sin appear exceeding sinful and dreadful to behold and they that are not willing to leave their Sins get up into Disregard and Hatred against the Light that sheweth them it and sheweth to them their States this is that which troubleth people in their Minds and disquietteth them in their inward Parts for following their Lusts and Pleasures and therefore hated by them for this is oftentimes troubling of them for creeping under false Colours of Religions and false Security and lets them have no true Peace under any invented Religion that is not set up by God and Christ and also troubleth the common Priests for making a Trade of the Scriptures and Merchandize of the people who with their Lyes make People believe all is well with them when it is no such thing and so cheat People both of their Souls and Money and all this they do for Money but People are not willing to believe this because it is an easie Road and pleasing to the Old Nature and old course of Life and here they can live and please the basest of men and do according to the Traditions and Doctrines of man although it be never so contrary to God and here the Blind lead the
Blind and think all is well till Death comes and then they come to see all is in vain their spending of their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfies not the immortal Soul and then begins to say O that I had another day I would not do as I have done and the Reason of this is because they have been seeking the Living among the Dead and Life where no Life is for there is no Life among the Priests in their dead Professions which will satisfie any man's hungering immortal Soul for that which satisfies peoples immortal Souls Priests and Professors are crying out against because it troubles them in their Sin and False Worships and for making a Trade of the Scriptures and Merchandize of the People and for this they are crying out against it almost in every Pulpit and almost in every Professors Meeting crying and railing against the Light of Christ Grace and Truth in the inward parts one calling it A Diabolical Light others calling it A Natural Light and The Check of a Natural Conscience and some in their Ignorance are so impudent as in plain English to call the Light of Christ A Devilish Light and some call it The Quakers Light and An Insufficient Light with many other Reproachful and Villifying Terms against Christ and the Light not only in their Pulpits but also in their Lives and Practices at other times for they find that when people once come to walk in the Light of Christ and to be led by the Spirit of God they will have no more of their blind Teaching then down goes their Trade and their great Gain of Merchandize with all their Gifts and Rewards and Babylon with all her Bravery and the old Whore which sate upon the Waters and made many People drunk with the Cup of her Fornication When once People come to be led by the Spirit of Jesus which is revealed in mankind to wit the Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth and guideth into all Righteousness Then down falleth all Babylons Merchants Kingdom of Hell and altogether and then cometh Christs Kingdom to be set up and known which is hid from the Wisdom of this World But some may say Revelation and Inspiration is now ceased and how shall People come to that State thou speakest of now adayes I Answer If Revelation be ceased then Salvation and the Knowledge of God is ceased and if this be true then what have Priests to Preach now adayes for Christ said No man knows the Father but the Son and him to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 and that none came to him but by the Father whom Christ the Son revealeth And Paul also said That when it pleased God to reveal his Son in him he consulted not with Flesh and Blood but with the Son whom the Father revealed So here its plain to the Eye that seeth which God opened that Revelation is not ceased but the Son revealeth the Father and the Father reveals the Son in People as witnessed by the Apostle Paul to show to People their inward conditions how it stands with them in the sight of God and this Paul did not see nor find out with all his Learning nor with his great Zeal or great Religion till Christ the Light was revealed in him neither shall any man upon the Earth come to know how it is with him as to his inward condition till he come to know Christ revealed in him and to Inspire him by his holy Spirit as I have hinted before that although there be a Spirit in man yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives a man an Understanding and if it be as some say that Inspiration is ceased then all true Understanding concerning Salvation and Spiritual matters is lost then what need any go after the Priests or any other Professors if there be no Knowledge of God or Christ to be attained to Away with all their blind and false Juggles which they bewitch People with that they might not obey the Truth it is all Lyes Delusions Revelation or Inspiration is not ceased Paul was since Christ and he witnessed Revelation and Inspiration and many more since him and I believe Christ and Paul spoke true and that the Scripture is true and all that is against it is Deceit and the Scripture holds forth Revelation and Inspiration is not ceased although in the time of the Law the Priests Lips were appointed to preserve the Peoples Knowledge and the people were appointed to seek the Law at their Mouthes Yet now it is not so but every one that lacks Knowledge is to ask of God who gives Liberally and upbraideth not such as ask in Faith But say some You Quakers do not Baptize your Children nor receive the Sacrament as we do I Answer If thou meanest Sprinkling of Infants I do not believe that was used by any of the People of God in many Ages since Christ and the Apostles dayes and therefore I do not know why any should use it seeing there is not any President in all the Scripture that it was ever used by any of the Primitive Christians neither in all the Scripture do I find any command of God for it and therefore why should we use it besides I look upon the thing as it is now practised to be a great offence to God in the Actors of it and for this Reason which I shall render for when the Priests and People meet together to Christen or Baptize a Child as they so call it most commonly the Parents of the Child must get some other Persons as they can to stand for the Child and there they must Promise and Vow three things in the Child's Name first That it shall forsake the Devil and all his Works Pomps and Vanities of this wicked world all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly That the Child shall believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith Thirdly That it shall keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the dayes of its Life This is Confusion and contrary to their Faith and Principle for they do not believe that any such thing can be or such a state attained to Now to enjoyn People to promise that the Child shall do that which they themselves do believe is Unpossible is Folly and Madness Coufusion and a Snare to them to whom they make so to imagine For if one should ask the Priest or any of them if they could live such a Life as they Promise and Vow the Child shall do they will say No it cannot be And are crying out in almost every Pulpit and almost in every Professors Meeting against such a Perfect Life as they promise and vow the Child shall live and saying No Perfection here For to forsake the Devil all his Works to keep Gods holy Will and Commandments is Perfection Now consider the Distraction Confusion Madness and Blindness of this