can truly call him according to the Prophecies of Old the Lord our Righteousness Rom. 8.4 9 10 14. and this is to be fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh Gal. 5.25 1 John 1.7 but after the Spirit and in the Light and Manifestation thereof And they that truly examine themselves and prove themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.3 Gal. 2.20 Col. 1 2â— they may know how that Jesus Christ the Lord their Righteousness is in them except they be Reprobates thus the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 13. who through weakness in the Faith sought a Proof of Christ speaking in him which speaking of Christ he affirmeth was to themwards not weak but was mighty in them By which it is evident that where the Man of Sin hath prevailed by his deceitful power in and upon any when such come by the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in themselves to be convinced of their Sins and made willing to resist the wicked One in the Faith of Christ the Power of God yet it seemeth not easie at the first for such to believe in the mighty Speakings of Christ the Power of God in themselves nor to believe in Christ's Ability to save and cleanse them from all Sin and that he is able with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume and destroy the Man of Sin and his Works in them For while People yield their Members Servants to Sin and profess Christianity the Man of Sin in themselves and by his Instruments outwardly is ready to perswade them either that a Priest can forgive them or pronounce Forgiveness to them for their Sins as not only the Popish Priests but others as for instance the Author of the Book called The Practice of Piety teach and that so they may be absolved from their Sins or else he would perswade them as he doth too many That they must have the Righteousness of Christ only imputed to them wholly without them to justifie them though they be not inwardly sanctified by the Word of his Power in their Hearts and though they be continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed against his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Consciences and that they must believe that they must only be saved by the Meriâ—s of Christ's Death and Sufferings which he suffered for them now above Sixteâ—n Hundred Years since without the Gates of Jerusalem to satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins but they must not expect to be free from Sin but to be continually sinning while they live in this World So the Man of Sin the Devil will suffer his Servants to make as large a shew of Christianity as they can so that they will continue in Sin that is in Service and Slavery to him and his Power but he willeth not to have them believe that they must be saved from their Sins by the precious Blood of Christ which he hath shed for them Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.12 13 14. Eph. â—2 5 nor that they must be saved from their Sins and redeemed from all Iniquity by the Grace of God in their own Hearts Heb. 2.9 by which all true Christians were and are saved and by which Christ tasted Death for every Man and the Man of Sin would have People to believe Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.18 22. Heb 8.10 that while they are in this World they cannot be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus as true Christians witnessed that they were and that Law was in their Hearts Thus the Prince or Ruler of Darkness keeps many in subjection to his dark Power and Spirit so that they consider not that they who live in Sin Heb. 6.6 and in disobedience to the Light of Christ's Spirit in themselves crucifie Christ afresh and put him to open shame whereas the Apostle said Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Gal. 5.24 they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts And the Apostle John writes He that saith he abideth in Christ as true Christians do ought himself also to walk even as be walked 1 Joh. 2.6 1 John 4.13 And said he Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him 1 John 3 5 6 7. little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous And the Apostle Paul saith The Church is subject to Christ in every thing but they that live in Sin are not so and that he gave himself for it Eph. 5.24 25 26 27. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word which is nigh that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And again he writes The Weapons of our Warsare are not Carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. casting down Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ And now let all that profess Christianity examine and prove themselves whether or no they be thus subjected to Christ for though he be the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Heb. 2.9 Job 10.14 15. Nah. 1.3 Rom. 2.6 to 10. Rev. 22.12 John 1.4 and though by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man yet he will not acquit the Wicked but as he is a righteous Judge he will render to every Man according to his Deeds and how shall those escape that neglect his great Salvation and rebel against his Light which is his Life which they crucifie and oppress in themselves by Sin in their Affections and Lusts They are not like to escape the Righteous Judgments of God who disobey the Light of his Spirit in their Hearts and obey the Man of Sin the Devil who tempts them so to do and so they yielding to his Temptations are taken captive by his power which cometh through disobedience to God to be exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped and so he swayes and rules them being his Subjects by his dark power who ought as true Christians are to be subject to the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in their Hearts And so according to the perswasion of him whose power prevails over them many believe Gen. 17.1 Mat. 5.48 1 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 3 4 5 6. and plead that none though assisted by the Grace and Power of God can keep the Commandments of God nor be freed from Sin
270 to the end Antichrist Unvailed c. THE large Love of God in his Son Christ Jesus being freely tendered unto all Mankind it hath been and is the endeavour of the Devil the great Enemy of Man's Happiness by his Subtilty and Devilish Wisdom and oft by insinuating into them hopes of better Attainments to draw out the Minds of Mankind from the pure Obedience to what God hath made known in them and unto them of his Will and Mind and their Duty towards him and so by affecting their Minds with outward things to bring them into disobedience to the Will of God thereby to make them unworthy of the Goodness of God to their Souls and of his Bounteous Love in which he gives to every Man and Woman a measure of his Divine Light in their Hearts and Souls which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 12 7â— which is given to every man to profit withal which Christ said should comfort and lead them that follow it into all truth or into truth in every thing but should reprove the World of sin and of righteousness and of judgment John 16.8 13. Now the God of Mercy in the tender Bowels of his Love having for the Redemption of fallen Mankind sent his Son into the World in the Body that was prepared him who came a Light into the World which is the true Light that enlightens every Man and Woman that cometh into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not perish John 1.9 but have everlasting life Joh. 3.15 16 Man's grand Enemy at that time endeavoured as much as in him lay to keep Peoples Minds in a Love of the Ceremonies and Ordinances given to their Forefathers and in an outward shew and form of Worship in which they that were erred from and rebelled against God's good Spirit Neh. 9.20 which he had given them to instruct them Isa 1.13 were not accepted of him thereby to keep People from coming to the light or manifestation of the Spirit whereby they might have come to have believed in him the Messiah or Christ Prophesied of by the Prophets who spake by his Spirit whose Writings they had and believed them to be true according to which they expected him about that time Yet by erring from and rebelling against his Light and Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences many of the Jews who esteemed themselves the peculiar People of God were so darkned that they did not believe in him but they that walked in Obedience to the Light of his Spirit they believed in him and they received him as the only Messiah the Christ the Son of the Living God as Simeon did who took him up in his Arms and said Lord Luke 2.2 â— to 35. now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel The great Enemy of Mankind had then so far prevailed upon the Learned Rabbies and Doctors among the Jews that though they had the Scriptures which testified of him in their own Language yet being erred from the light of his Spirit in themselves they were so far from receiving Christ and believing in him that they agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ he should be put out of the Synagogue John 9.22 And although he did many Miracles among them yet they believed not but contended with him maliciously and falsly accused him and said He cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils and said that he brake the Sabbath with much more of the like kind of words as may be read in the Scriptures of Truth and at length were so desperately hardned in their wickedness that seeking opportunity to kill him when the Chief Priests had hired the false pretender Judas to betray him and deliver him unto them they put him to the Death of the Cross yet some of them said they found no fault in him And yet still his Love was towards them even upon the Cross and he prayed for them saying Father forgive them Luke 23.34 for they know not what they do So the Devil their great Enemy by his deceit had drawn them so far into darkness and from the light of Christ in themselves that they knew not what they did And indeed it may well be supposed that they knew not what they did when in the Service of the Enemy of their Souls they Crucified and put to Death him that came to save them from their Sins from Wrath and from the Devil their Enemy And so now all that oppose and contend against the Light which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in the Heart or envy them that profess it and walk according to it or any other People whosoever upon the account of Religion are certainly deceived by their great Enemy Satan whose Service they are in being erred from the Light and Spirit of Christ which teacheth them who walk in it good will towards all Men and love to their Neighbours though Enemies But when the Chief Priests and Pharisees and People of the Jews had with a general consent Crucified the Lord of Glory after they had mocked him and scourged him yet they and their Enemy whom they served missed of their expectation and desire for they were still in fear lest he should rise again as he had told before and therefore they watched him sealing the stone Mat. 27.62 to 66. Mat. 28.2 to 2. and making as they thought the Sepulchre sure but in the Lord 's appointed time there was a great Earthquake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sate upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men but the Angel said to the Women who were Friends of Jesus Fear not ye for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified he is not here he is risen So the Grave could not contain him Death had not dominion over him Hâ—b 2. â—â— but through death he destroyed and will destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil So the Devil and his deceived Servants had not their desire nor the power to destroy Christ but they came to destruction themselves And so now all that err from and disobey the Light and Spirit of Christ and follow the leadings and movings of their deceitful Enemy the Prince of Darkness if he shall prevail in them so far as to cause them to kill the Bodies of the People of God who walk in his Light and answer the manifestation of his Spirit of Love and in it are kept in true good will towards all Men because of their Religion on purpose thereby to root out and destroy
if not for Deliverance for he saith presently after The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death So it is plain that he was delivered and set free from the Law of Sin and Death unto which he had been in Captivity while he was carnal sold under Sin and therefore the aforesaid Words of Paul with which some plead against the possibility of freedom from Sin cannot properly be rendred to describe his present condition at the writing thereof And it may at large be read in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul as also of the other Apostles that Freedom from sin Eph. 2.4 to 11. Rom. 6.22 1 Cor. 15.56 57. and the servitude thereof may be and was attained by true Christians while in this World And those that from the aforesaid Words of Paul do plead for continuance in sin during Life 1 Cor. 15.32 33 34. Isa 22.12 13 14. Isa 56.10 11 12. Wisd 2.5 6 7. they may as sensibly plead that he in a commanding manner spake to the Corinthians saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye which in Scripture is recommended as a Motto of Epicures and Libertines though he writes next after saying Be not deceived Evil Communications corrupt good Manners awake to Righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame But the Apostle Peter as it were to put the matter concerning the understanding of Paul's Words out of all question 2 Pet. 3.14 15 16. writes thus Be diligent that ye may be found of him without Spot and Blameless and account that the Long suffering of our Lord is Salvation even as our beloved Brother Paul also according to the Wisdom given unto him hath written unto you as also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction By which Words it is plain that some things written by Paul and here spoken of by Peter were things concerning Spotlesness and Blamelesness which things are not consistent with Sin and concerning which things Paul wrote in all his Epistles And it was such who obeyed not the Light and Grace of Christ which is the Word of Faith Tit. 2.11 12. Rom. 10.8 2 Cor. 10.4 5. 1 John 2.13 14. 1 John 5.4 nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart which the Apostles preached who were not diligent to be found spotless and blameless and it was such as those that wrested Paul's Words to their own destruction for such being in Sin and out of the living Faith whereby true Christians overcome they feeling themselves under the power of the Man of Sin in themselves he easily perswades them that there is no overcoming sin or attaining freedom from sin or spotlesness and blamelesness on this side the Grave and there he would have all Mankind And so such Rom. 6.18 22. quite contrary to the Doctrine of Paul and of the other Apostles wrest the Words of Paul to their own destruction Rom. 8.2 〈◊〉 Cor. 15.57 1 Tim. 6.12 14. 2 Tim. 4.7 Heb. 11.6 and plead for Sin with the Words that he wrote concerning his Warfare in the Faith against Sin though presently after he declares himself to be in another condition but they being out of that Faith without which it is impossible to please God they do not undertake the Warfare aright and therefore are not like to witness the Victory as Paul did And now let all those that plead for Sin for term of Life beware lest they be of those Unlearned and Unstable who wrest the Words of Paul to their own Destruction for though they may have learned many Languages and all the Learning that can be gotten for Money at Schools and Colleges yet if they be not learned in the Mystery of the Faith of Christ which is in his Light and Word of Faith nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart they will be found to be of the unlearned that the Apostle Peter here speaketh of Acts 1.13 for concerning humane Learring Peter himself was called unlearned and ignorant And let all consider whether are most likely to wrest the Apostles to their own destruction they who are truly diligent to be found spotless and blameless who take his Words as well as the words of the other Apostles against Sin in so strict a sence that according thereunto and for f ar of offending God they dare not allow themselves in any Sin lest it be to their destruction Job 28.28 Psal 111.10 Prov. 1.2 to 7. Prov. 9.10 Prov. 8.13 Prov. 14 26 27. Prov. 13.14 Prov. 16.6 or those that take liberty in Sin and chuse not the Fear of the Lord which is Wisdom whereby they might better understand the Words of the Wise and their dark Sayings which Fear is not only to hate Evil but to depart from Evil and from Sin the snare of Death and so they make use of the Apostle's Words to plead for the continuance of Sin reckoning that the Apostle when he wrote Letters on Truth 's account and reproved Sin with severity in others was himself continually sinning And so such who reject the Fear of God and his Counsel in their Hearts they are perswaded by the spirit of the Man of Sin in themselves that though they may strive and talk against sin yet while they are in this World they must continue in sin yea even in their best Performances and then what are their worst And so they do not believe that while they live God Feb. 12.29 who is a consuming Fire is able in them with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume the Man of Sin or the Body of Sin and Death whose coming is after the working of Satan Mat. 3.11 12. Luke 3.16 17. with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders and so for all their using signs of Baptism that is a sign that they are not baptized througly with the Baptism of Christ who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit and with Fire whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floor and gather his Wheat into the Garner but he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire Mark his Floor which is the Heart of Man he will throughly purge gather his Wheat and burn up the Chaff that which proceeds from the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience And what Mat. 15.18 19 20. must Sin remain in the Heart when it is throughly purged or if Sin be not in the Heart where is 〈◊〉 And let all consider that to whom they yield themselves servants to obey Rom 6.16 17. his servants they are to whom they obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness as
Waters are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues so Tongues or Languages is one part of her Seat And this Woman is the great Whore with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and this Woman is that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth and she is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird for all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication and the Merchants of the Earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her Delicacies But how much this False Church this City Babylon hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow must be given her for she saith in her Heart I sit a Queen and am no Widow and shall see no Sorrow therefore shall her Plagues come in one day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall utterly be burned with Fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her and the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the Smoke of her Burning standing afar off for fear of her Torment shall say Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one Hour is thy Judgment come And the Merchants of the Earth shall weep and mourn over her for no Man buyeth their Merchandize any more a great number of Priests and covetous Preachers will be at a great loss then and that Day is now drawing near for fear of her Torment weeping and wailing and saying Alas alas that great City that was cloathed in fine Linnen and Purple and Scarlet and decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls for in one hour so great Riches is come to nought But Heaven and the holy Apostles and Prophets shall then rejoyce over her when God hath avenged them on her Rev. 18. for by her Sorceries were all Nations deceived and in her is and will be found the Blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth And if this false whorish Church had not had a large and splendid Profession of Christianity and Religion she could not possibly have magnified her self so much nor by her Sorceries could she so have deceived all Nations and if it had not been a Golden Cup that she handed forth to the Nations being full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication probably she cōuld not have allured the Inhabitants of the Earth so freely and generally to have drunk of it as they have done with which they have been made drunk brutish and ravenous so that as Wolves they have preyed upon the Sheep of Christ true Christians who loved their Enemies and Persecutors and in killing of them they thought they did God good Service as Christ foretold being drunk with the Wine of the Whore's Fornication Joh. 16.2 And so they were far from the Nature of Christ and from his Teachings who came not to destroy mens Lives but to save them and taught and by his Spirit teacheth all his Disciples to love their Enemies but they are far from loving their Enemies who kill or persecute their Friends for witnessing to the Truth though it reprove them for Sin for Sin may cause them to be destroyed but it will never do any of them any Good thus all Persecutors are acted by the Murthering Spirit of the Man of Sin and drunk with the Wine of the Whores Cup. And so as Cain who was the first Persecutor about Religion had a Mark set upon him lest any finding him should kill him so all Persecutors about Religion have a mark set upon them for their Persecuting is an infallible Mark or Token whereby all may know that their Religion is vain and that they are no true Christians but false Pretenders to Christianity For the Apostle Paul said All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.12 shall suffe Persecution and so they are no persecutors but persecuted and can Pray for such as persecute them And when Paul was called Saul he was a Persecutor and consenting to the Death of Stephen who prayed for his Persecutors and Murtherers Rom. 8.10 but when he believed in the Light the Word of Faith in the Heart and ceased to kick against the Pricks of it and obeyed the Teachings of it then of a Persecutor he became a Preacher of the Cross of Christ which he bare through much Persecution even unto Death 2 Cor. 4.17 and could say This light Affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory and said he I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time Rom. 8.18 are not worthy to be compared to the Glory that shall be revealed in us So he changed for a better condition And so all Professors of Christianity of what sort soever that are Persecutors are within the compass of the false Church Mystery Babylon in whom is found the Blood of all the Righteous that are slain upon the Earth And though such differ among themselves one Preaching this and another that different Doctrine and often go to Wars and kill one another about their pretended Religions and Doctrines and Tenets and which of them can get the upperhand prey upon vex and trouble the others yet none of them all can endure to be persecuted themselves but when they are under they creep into Corners and hide or run or seek to save themselves by joining with the Worship of their Persecutors in Hypocrisie and being at difference thus among themselves like Herod and Pilate yet they can all agree to set at naught and mock and persecute Christ in his Members But true Christians Children of the Light are Children of God and God is their Friend and therefore they fear not what Man can do unto them for they know that God their Father will preserve his faithful Children and they are Members of Christ the Truth and the Truth is precious in their Eye and their Faith in it is worth contending for and worth suffering for and for it they can suffer what God their Father seeth meet and Man can inflict no more and so true Christians are freely given up to suffer Persecution for Christ the Lord their Righteousness knowing it will be to the glory of God if he so please and also having an Eye to the Recompence of Reward And now is fulfilled that which was prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah saying In the Day when the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious Isa 4.1 2. and the Fruit of the Earth excellent and comely for all them that are escaped of Israel then seven Women shall take hold of one man saying We will eat our own Bread and wear our own Apparel only let
like two or three Berries on the top of a Tree And many were put to Death for their Testimonies about several things and particularly about the Popish Tenet of Transubstantiation before-mentioned for denying that the substance of Bread and Wine by the words of the Priest is Transubstantiated or changed into the very substance of that same Eoâ—y Flesh and Blood of Christ which was Born of the Virgin Mary and Crucified by the Jews and for saying That the Bread was but a signification and not the Body that Christ suffered in and that the words of Christ whilst in the Body in which he suffered which Body was not the Bread that he gave his Disciples to eat before it was Crucified spoken concerning the Bread to wit this is my Body c. were spoken siguratively and in the same sense that Christ called himself a Vine and a Door c. And for this matter the Papists Burned the Bodies of many Innocent Christians and yet they call'd themselves Christians but were far from the nature of true Christians who cannot render evil for evil and so are far from putting any to Death or Persecuting about Religion And yet this is undeniable that it was a Thousand Years after Christ before their Tenet of Transubstantiation crept in and was generally received by or in their Greek and Latine Churches witness Elfricus his Homily that was Antiently before his time received by the then Papists which the said Elfricus an Archbishop of Canterbury Translated out of the Latine into the Saxon Language which Homily was clear against Transubstantion saying That the Bread or Eucharist is not the Body that Christ suffered in which the said Elfricus and one Wulfstius then Bishop of Sherburn and one Wulfstane Archbishop of York who all had their Calling and Succession in the Roman or Popish Church commanded the Priests to read publickly on Easter Day so called to the common People for their better Preparation or Instruction in the Sacrament as they called it See the Epistle of Elfricus in Worcester Library compared with a Book in the Saxon Tongue at Excester Thus the Man of Sin the Power of Darkness hath drawn his Followers from one degree of Darkness to another for since then in Queen Mary's Days the Papists Burned Hundreds of Men and Women for confessing their Faith that the Bread or Eacharist as they call it is not the Body that Christ suffered in And so they might have Burned many more but the Lord disappointed them and so all Persecutors about Religion must meet with disappointments and God will be the great Reward of the Righteous For they that hearken unto the Voice or Light of Christ who is the Sun of Righteousness Prov. 9.10 which shineth in their Hearts and reproveth for Sin it will teach them the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom Rev. 21.24 and as they faithfully obey this Light wherein they that are saved must walk they shall know the Beams of the Sun of Righteousness to be displayed more and more upon them and shall know that the Reproofs of its Instruction is the Way of Life Prov. 6 2â— Prov. 4.8 Isa 35.8 1 John 1.7 and that the Light is the Path of the Just and shineth more and more unto the perfect Day and as they walk in that Way which is the Way of Holiness wherein the Wayfaring Men though Fools shall not err they will know a cleansing from Sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ and so a Fellowship with true Christians who walk in the same Way Jer. 6.16 which as it is a good Old Way so also it is the New and Living Way which Christ hath Consecrated for the Faithful thorow the Vail Heb. 10.20 that is to say his Flesh and such fearing the Name of the Lord they will meet with Refreshment in the Way whereby they will grow as Calves of the Stall Mal 4.2 Mat. â— 5 and they truly hungring and thirsting after Righteousness will come to be satisfied and the Sun of Righteousness will arise unto them more and more with Healing in his Wings that can heal all their Distractions and resolve all their Doubts and hard Questions And the Day is coming and now is broken forth Cant. 2.17 that the Shadows must flee away and the Everlasting Gospel must be Preached again unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People and immediately the Voice of the Angel will follow saying Babylon is fallen Rev. 14 6 7 8.9 10. Rev. 17.4 is fallen that great City because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication which she handed forth to them in a Golden Cup and the Voice of the other Angel followeth saying If any Man Worship the Beast and his Image and receive his Mark in his Forehead or in his Hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb in whose Light they that are saved must walk Therefore let all mark this who receive the Mark of the Cross in their Foreheads or offer their Infants to it or who receive the Eucharist as the Merchants call it or their Bread and Wine in their Right Hands for the Beast would cause all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive his Mark in their Right Hand or in their Forehead and would have no Man to buy nor sell save he that hath his Mark so he Excommunicates out of Church and Market as they say those that will not pay for his marking and if the King of the Country give him Power he throweth them into Prison upon his Excommunication as many in England have experience Now the Mark of the Beast which is the Man of Sin is his Signs for the Apostle Paul said His Coming is with Signs 2 Thes 2.9 and therefore it is good for all to beware that they neither receive nor buy his Signs Rev. 13.15 which is his Mark of those that would compel or cause them to buy their Water-Baptism or their Bread and Wine and tell them that they are outward visible Signs of inward and spiritual Graces for he that receiveth his Mark that is his Signs the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God Acts 17.30 for though the Times of Ignorance God hath winked at yet now in the Dispensation of his Everlasting Gospel which is now preached again in this the Day of his Power he commandeth all Men every where to Repent and to Fear God Rev. 14.7 and give Glory to him for the Hour of his Judgment is come and to Worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters And in this the Hour of his Righteous
Ceremonies and Traditions look upon these Two Ceremonies which they call Sacraments to wit outward Baptism and eating Bread and drinking Wine which they call the Lord's Supper to be now practiced and of necessity to be used because of a Command of Christ or his Apostles therefore what is here before-written though much might be added is that all concerned may see and examine and know that without the substance in some measure enjoyed the Types and Ceremonies never profited at all and that by believing in and obeying and walking according to the Teachings of the Grace or Light of Christ in their own Hearts and Consciences they may in the Fellowship and Unity of all the Children of God John 6.51 to 58. Luke 22.15 to 31. Luke 17.20 21. enjoy true satisfaction by the Bread of Life which Christ freely giveth to all true Christians which Bread is his Flesh and likewise may drink freely of the Wine of the Kingdom of God which Christ termed as the Blood of the Grape which is his Blood which he giveth to true Christians to drink at his Table in his Kingdom which is within And so in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ they may know and enjoy the liberty of true Christianity from the Bondage of and unto any sort of weak and beggarly Ements Types Signs Ceremonies Ordinances and Traditions of Men which after Mens Doctrines and Commandments are all to perish with the using and into the use of which the Man of Sin is apt to lead People and the Devil himself may creep into the use of them And the Man of Sin likewise alloweth or rather teacheth to his Followers in whom he ruleth by his Power in a Profession of Christianity to use more Signs than those of Baptism and of Bread and Wine for which there is no ground at all from Christ or his Apostles nor is there any mention of any Command for such things in the Scriptures of Truth all which are too many to be mentioned here but some of them may be noted As the white Linnen or Surplice which their Priest or Minister must wear when he readeth Prayers c. which is reckoned to be a Sign of or else taken for the true fine Linnen Rev. 19.7 8. clean and white which is the Righteousness of the Saints which is given to the Lamb's Wife the Church and Spouse of Christ to be arrayed with Jer. 23.6 Jer. 33.15 16 Mâ—â— 4.2 3. Now the Righteousness of the Saints is Christ of whom it was Prophesied that he should be called The Lord our Righteousness and he is called the Branch of Righteousness and the Sun of Righteousness and in him is the true light that enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World and unto them that fear the Name of the Lord Luke 1.78 79. Zech. 3.8 will he arise with healing in his Wings and they shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the Stall and shall tread down the wicked that shall be as Ashes under the Soles of their Feet And this Sun of Righteousnes which is Christ arrayeth those that believe in 2 Cor. 4.6 and love and obey and walk in his light which shineth in their Hearts with his glorious Beams and puts on them the white Robe of Righteousness for these walk in the light of the Lamb that takes away the Unrighteousness Rev. 7.13 14. Rev. 12.11 Rev. 14.4 5. and they follow him though it be thorow great Tribulation whithersoever he goeth or leadeth and these are they that overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony who love not their Lives unto Death and coming out of great Tribulation wash their Robes and make them white in the Blood of the Lamb. But the Priest's Surplice is not washed after that manner but rather in the spoil of other Peoples Goods gotten by Deceit or Violence and when it is washed and made as white as he can get it made yet the Leprofie of Gehazi 2 King â— 27 which cleaveth to his Seed for ever which was and is as white as Snow is as plain to be seen upon the Priest's Mind by the single Eye as his white Surplice is to be seen upon his Back by the natural Eye for all that covet Gifts or Rewards for Preaching or the like are of the Seed of Gehazi and much more Persecutors for Wages for their Preaching are plain to be seen so to be being worse than Gehazi And another Sign which the Man of Sin teacheth and alloweth to his Followers is the Sign of the Cross of Christ as they call it which they make of Gold Silver Wood or Stone c. which in the Wisdom of the Man of Sin is highly exalted in the Popes Territories but the Exalters of this Sign of the Cross refuse to take up the daily Cross of Christ who is the Power and Wisdom of God and the preaching of the Cross of Christ is to them that perish foolishness but to them that are saved it is the Power of God whereby the World is Crucified to them and they unto the World and the Apostles preaching of the Cross of Christ 1 Cor. 1.17 to 30. was a stumbling-block to them that required a Sign and so it is now and it was foolishness to them that sought after Wisdom and so it is now Luke 9.23 and Christ saith If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Now this true self-denial and taking up daily of the Cross of Christ that Crucifieth to the World and Crucifieth the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts thereof it is not so light a matter as is the taking up of a little Golden or Silver or Wooden Cross and the carrying of it which pleaseth the Carnal Mind that is Enmity against God and would have the Mind satisfied with the Sign Eph. 2.16 though it be far from the Substance Rom. 8.6 7. for the Cross of Christ Crucifyeth the Carnal Mind and Slayeth the Enmity in those that daily bear it and all that know the state of true Christianity they inwardly know a daily taking up and bearing of the Spiritual Cross of Christ Gal. 5.24 which in them Crucifieth the Carnal Mind and the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts and thereby their Souls come to witness liberty in the Service of Christ and to answer his Requirings by his light in their Hearts and such need not to make or carry outward Crosses to put them in mind of the Crucifixion of Christ For the Admirers and Carriers of outward Crosses pretend that they are helpful to put them in Mind that Christ was Crucified for them when as they may carry as many of them as they can bear on their Backs and yet be Crucifying Christ inwardly and so there is a great difference between the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God without the taking up and bearing of
to wit If we have said us not to have Sin the Latin words being thus si dixerimus nos peccatum non habere which are according to the signification of the Greek words in which the Apostle wrote which are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which implieth the time past and that there had been a time wherein they could not have truly said that they had no Sin See Beza's Latin Testament and Pasor's Lexicon But that all are to continue in Sin while in this World the Words of the said Apostle here are very plain to the contrary to wit If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins 1 John 1.7 and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness And again If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another 1 John 2.1 to 10. and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And again My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And speaking of Christ he saith He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the truth is not in him And again saith he Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure And again Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let no man deceive you it seemeth there were pleader for Sin then he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God in this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil By all which and many other Scripture sayings it is evident that the Faith of those who believe that they cannot be free from sinning but must carry a Body of Sin and a Body of Death while they are in this World is quite contrary to the Faith and Testimony of true Christians For the Faith of true Christians is in Christ the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.2 and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2.5 2 Cor. 13.3.4 5. 1 John 4.4 Phil. 2.13 Rom. 6.18 22. Jude 24. and that he is greater that is in them than the Prince of the power of the Air he that is in the World and that he must rule in them whose right it is who worketh in them both to will and to do and their Faith is that he is more able to cleanse and keep them free from Sin as true Christians were and are than the Devil is to lead them to Sin the Wages whereof is Death which the Servants thereof must have And so though those whose Faith is dead being servants of Sin may profess Christ who is a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Ephes 2.1 2 to 7. and quickned and quickneth them that truly believe in him who were dead in Trespasse and Sins yet in that dead Faith they cannot enjoy the benefit which true Christians did Rom. 8.1 2. and do enjoy which is to be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus for according to their Faith so it is unto them For as the People of Christ's own Country were offended at him for his Wisdom and his mighty Works and being astonished said Mark 6.1 to 7. Mat. 13.54 to 58. Whence hath this Man this Wisdom and these mighty Works Is not this the Carpenter's Son is not kis Mother called Mary and his Brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas and his Sisters are they not all with us whence then hath this Man all these things And he did not many mighty Works there because of their unbelief So they that are offended at the Light of Christ in his Spiritual Appearance in their Hearts that shews them their Sins and reproveth them in their Souls and Consciences for all their Offences against it insomuch that they are sometimes astonished thereby yet say they Is not this the Check of a Natural Conscience Is not this a Natural Light that we are born and bred up with are not our Vnderstandings and Knowledge in Arts and Sciences Brethren and Sisters to it whence hath it these things And there cannot in such be mighty Works done because of their Unbelief But true Christians who have believed in the Light Rom. 8.11 Ephes 2. Rom. 6.1 2 to the end Gal. 2.20 1 Pet. 4.6 Phil. 2.13 the Manifestation of the quickning Spirit of Christ in their Hearts and Souls they have as they have been faithful in the obecience of it known by the effectual working of it in themselves a being raised from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness and that where Sin hath abounded Grace doth much more abound and so to the Praise and Glory of God they live by Faith in the quickning Spirit of Christ in them But they that believe that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death with them while they live in this World and that the Devil's power and spirit must prevail in them so long as they live how can the Faith of such or their Works either honour God or Christ or his Power And they that deny Freedom from Sin being attainable while in this Life 1 Joh. 3.8 Jer. 23.6 Chap. 33.16 Dan. 9.24 deny the very end and purpose of Christ's coming which is to destroy the Works of the Devil and to put an end to Sin and to finish Transgression Rom. 8.3 4. and bring in Everlasting Righteousness and therefore it was prophesied that he should be called Mat. 21.1 The Lord our Righteousness and likewise it was said Thou shalt call his Name Jesus which is Saviour for he shall save his People from their Sins But are such his People or how doth he save them from their Sins who sin while they live in this World And likewise they that deny that Perfection to true Christians who are Saints is attainable while they live Eph. 4.11 to 17. they deny the very end of the true Christian Ministry which is for the perfecting of the Saints but they that are imperfect till they dye how doth the Work of the Ministry perfect them Eccles 11.3 or doth the Death of the Body perfect them for as the Tree falleth so shall it lie And if any believe that the Power of God if faithfully obeyed is able to make them free from Sin and so perfect one minute of an hour before Death why may they not as well believe that the same Power is able to make them so Heb. 13.8 Psal 111.3 10. two Minutes or two
Hours or two Months or two Years before Death for that Power is the same for ever and the Righteousness and Praise thereof endureth for ever And they that think themselves to be true Christians and Members of Christ and yet believe that they and every other Member of his Body while in this World must be as the pleaders for Sin commonly confess themselves full of Bruises and Wounds and putrifying Sores which daily and continually renewed Sin makes in them from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot 1 Cor. 6.15 16. Chap. 12.12 to 27. Eph. 4.15 16. Chap. 5.26 27. 1 John 4.17 such surely suppose that Christ hath a very corrupt putrid imperfect Body which is his Church contrary to what the Apostle Paul speaks of it being holy and without blemish spot or wrinkle or any such thing and contrary to what the Apostle John wrote saying Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this World speaking of God which he truly could not have said if they had not been free from Sin but full of Bruises Wounds and putrifying Sores which Sin makes in the Soul but contrary to that he saith plainly This is the Love of God 1 John 5.3 that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous And although there be some three places in the Scriptures which are translated as if they implied that all men sin to wit Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not And 1 Kings 8.46 and 2 Chron. 6.36 If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not Yet in all the said places the Latin Translations as Iunius Tremellius and Vatablus render it instead of that sinneth not that may not sin or cannot sin it being the very same Word that is used in Psalm 119.11 to wit I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I may not sin against thee And any sensible one may see that it is imperfect Sence to say If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not for if all Men sin continually there would be no occasion here to say if they sin but it is good sence to say if they sin against thee for there is no Man that may not sin or that cannot sin which only implieth a possibility and not a continuation of Sin as likewise the next Verse but one after the last mentioned places doth where it is said If they turn unto thee that is to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul which Words plainly intimate a possibility to leave Sin for such a turning is certainly no Sin But there is no Man but he may sin if he be not continually watchful in the Light against the Man of Sin the Devil who is continually endeavouring to tempt Mankind to sin but as Man waits in the true Light of Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Jam. 4.7 which is the Word of Faith and the Word of God's Power in his Heart and Soul as he is truly faithful in the obedience of it and walketh in it he cometh to feel Power in the Faith of it to resist the Devil in all his Temptations and the Devil will flee from such a one and hath not power to take him captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 as he hath over his own whom he perswades that it is impossible for them to recover themselves from under his sinful power Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 while they live in this World and so they confess that their best Daties are intermix'd with Sin and so they are for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and it is plain that such are not turned to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul whatsoever they profess For the Holy Scriptures say plainly That as many as received Christ and believed on his Name John 1.1 to 14. Rev. 19.13 Rom. 10.8 1 John 3.1 to the end which is called the Word of God which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God and such do not commit Sin But admit that the common English Translation of the aforesaid Words of Solomon were true Heb. 7.19 Heb. 9.9 Heb. 10.1 to 24. yet that was under the time of the Law which could not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and that which was not attainable under that Law may by the Grace of God be attained in a Gospel state Rom. 8.1 to 5. And although the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans saith The Good that I would I do not but the Evil that I would not Rom. 7.9 to 25. that I do Yet it is plain by what he wrote before and after that in the same Epistle that he wrote not of his own then present condition but of himself as well as others passing thro' that Condition for in that continued kind of Speech he likewise there saith I am carnal sold under Sin but a little before he had told them Rom. 8.7 the Carnal Mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be And saith he The Natural or Carnal Man cannot receive the Things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 for they are fool shness unto him neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned And in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans aforesaid he expresseth himself to be able to impart unto them Spiritual Gifts Rom. 1.11 which a Carnal Man could not do By which it is plain that when he wrote that Epistle he was not Carnal sold under Sin neither a Servant of Sin and therefore he was in another condition than he had been in of which he wrote the said objectible Words And that which renders it more plain is that in the same Epistle before the said Words Rom. 6.16 to 24. he gave testimony of the Romans to whom he wrote that they were made free from Sin and become Servants of Righteousness and Servants to God But they that are carnal sold under Sin are not so for how can they be free from Sin who remain carnal sold under Sin And the Apostle immediately after that kind of Speech which intimated his former condition declared plainly that he had when he wrote that Epistle attained to a better state for in the conclusion of that kind of speech he writes thus I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my Members O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Now for what doth he give thanks