or very God and Eternal Life What are all notions about God and about his Son Christ Jesus to this inward sense and experience of them God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2. Cor. 4.6 O how precious is it to be able to witness this in measure to experience God shining upon my tabernacle as Job speaks Job 29.2 3 and by his Light my walking through darkness It is true Christ was the Light he had the fulness of Light and the Apostles a very great proportion but blessed be the Lord I have received some and am changed by it and become light in the Lord and walk with God and dwell with God in the light even as he is Light and dwels and walks in the Light Is not this a blessed testimony and is not he blessed who can set his seal to it Which veil is done away in Christ 1 Cor. 3.14 It was promised of old that in the mountain where God would make the Feast of fat things he would destroy swallow up or do away the veil or that which veils the Life and Glory of the Lord from man and hinders it from being revealed in him Isa 25.6.7 Now in Christ there is no veil In his Light Life Spirit and Power there is no veil Where they are inwardly manifested and received the veil is done away and the glory of the mystery revealed and beheld If ye continue in my Word then are ye my disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free Joh. 8.31 32. What is this word which the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are to continue in Is it any less than Spirit and life And wh t is it to be a disciple indeed but to learn the Law of Life at his mouth and to continue therein And what is the truth which makes free Is it not the living truth the word which lives and abides for ever the powerful truth the operative truth This cuts between a man and his lovers this divides between Soul and Spirit Joints and marrow and makes the Soul free from that evil Spirit which had embondaged it It Sanctifieth it cleanseth it reneweth it quickneth it giveth strength it maketh free from the Souls enemies from the bondage of sin and corruption and brings into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And they that are made free from sin by that which is contrary to â—n and which subdues overcomes and destroys sin they doubtless are free indeed O precious is it to experience this even the truth that is free from sin and makes free from sin all that truly know it and are joyned to it and live and abide in it For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 What 's the Law What 's the ministration of the Law Is it not the ministration of the letter of that which is holy and righteous by an outward or litteral Command What 's Grace Is it not the inward teacher which inwardly instructeth to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godlily c. Is it not the ministration of the Spirit and Power Is it not the ministration of the new Covenant where the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is written in the heart and the commandement of Life made easy by the power of the Lord Jesus who manifests himself within to makâ— willing unto and to strengthen to obedience Now they that are under this Grace under this Spirit under this Power doth it not break the power and dominion of sin in them and set them free therefrom Can sin break in upon those who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty Indeed a man may be under a literal dispensation of holy Commands against sin and yet be under the power of Sin but he that is gathered under the wing of Christ under the Grace and Spirit of the Gospel turned from Satans power to God's Power and within the Wall and Bulwark thereof he witnesseth this true Sin hath not Dominion Sin cannot have Dominion Sin shall not have Dominion over you no device of the enemy shall be able to hurt or destroy on Gods holy Mountain for his Light shines there to dispel the darkness and his power is revealed there to scatter and dash in pieces the strength of the enemy whenever it appears Vpon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 O the Lord God by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel in the day thereof is bringing many Sons to Glory into Great Inward Spiritual Glory yea into exceeding Glory For the ministration of the Spirit exceeds in glory And as God hath ordained this glorious ministration for his Sons and daughters under the New Covenant so by the Spirit and Power of the New Covenant when it breaks forth he is daily working translating and changing them out of the earthly nature and image into his own divine nature into his own heavenly Glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And blessed be the Lord the defence of his power is spread over the glory of his holy Mountain so that nothing can make a prey of or devour the birth of life or deprive of the inheritance of Life there The Lord doth not only give a blessed lot and lines in pleasant places but he maintains the lot of his Children so that they can dwell in their Fathers House and feed on the Heavenly Food and rich dainties of the Kingdom in the majesty of the name of the Lord their God which is such a dread unto the enemies and such a defence about them as none can make afraid but they are kept in perfect Peace in perfect rest in pure Love out of which Life springs and flows continually And in that day thou shalt say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and Song he also is become my Salvation Therefore with Joy shall ye draw water out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.1 2 3. O precious to witness the inward Spiritual day of redemption and deliverance wherein praises from a living sense naturally spring up to the Lord To witness the reproofs at an end the anger indignation trouble and sorrow at an end and the comforter come ministring Peace Joy and Comfort to the Soul Ah when the Lord is felt the Salvation his pesence his Power his Life his Vertue the Salvation when Faith springs towards him and the fear of the enemy or concerning the enemy is banished when he is experienced to be the Soul 's daily strength against him yea and doth so deliver that instead of the former fear because of the fury and oppression of the
living God his words which are spirit and Life nourish up the living birth unto life everlasting How comes man to live at first but by hearing the voice of him that giveth life And how comes man to live afterwards and to increase in life but by hearing the same voice still Encline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live c. Isa 55.3 This I have always experienced to give me Life to nourish up and strengthen me in Life even fresh Life communicated from the living Fountain and so my life is not in my self not in any thing I can comprehend concerning Christ but in being joyned to him in being ingraffed into him the holy root into him the true Olive-tree into his Spirit and so by the sap that springs up into me from him my life is maintained and increased in me daily Glory to his name for ever III. Concerning God's Power Concerning God's Power this I have experienced that that is it which doth the Work in the Soul It begets to God it brings out of the land of darkness it leads through all the entanglements and preserves in the midst of them all It breaks down the old building of sin and iniquity both inwardly and outwardly both in heart and also in life and conversation and raiseth the new and holy building It makes willing it makes obedient it gives to believe it gives to suffer O blessed be the Lord for the day of his Power which is inwardly broken forth O what would the poor child do the poor Lambs in the midst of Wolves inwardly and outwardly were it not for the Father's hand the Father's arm the Father's Power which is still with them and compasseth them about O blessed are they that know the ministration of life inwardly the Power of Life inwardly For in Life in the Seed of Life is the Holy Power which is manifest appears and works as it gains ground on the Creature to put forth and exercise in it the virtue and strength which it daily receiveth from its Father IV. Concerning Temptation Concerning Temptations this I have experienced that the strength and hurt of them as to the Soul lies in the souls looking at them For the strength of God is revealed in his Children against the tempter which being patiently waited for and trusted in will never fail them The least babe the Lord would not have let in Temptation and Sin but watch to that and keep joyned to that which will preserve out of the Temptation and out of the Sin God is faithful who hath care of all his and whose Promise is to all his and as he would have none sin so none that diligently wait shall want his Power to stand by them to preserve out of sin Look unto me and be saved all the ends of the Earth It 's universally true Look unto me trust in me look not at your selves trust not in your selves look not at the enemy fear not the enemy I will save you from every snare every Temptation as your eye is steadfast upon me What if the enemy come in like a floud if the Spirit of the Lord lift up a standard against him can he prevail what though he cast fiery darts What though he be set round about Will not the shield of Faith quench them all Will not the whole Armour of God defend and keep safe from them all If the enemy be resisted lawfully that is in true Faith in that Power which is engaged for the Soul against him Doth not the Power of the Lord arise and scatter him and strengthen and establish the Soul in the Grace and in the Truth O the holy mistery of the heavenly Warfare and of the working of the pure Power against the enemy which overcomes all his impurities and keeps clean from them Look not at the enemy let not in the reasonings of the Mind keep in thy patience keep in the pure fear in the holy living sense be only what thou art in the seed in the new birth in the Life which God hath begotten in thee then art thou safe then art thou in the name of the Lord which is the strong Tower The enemy indeed may make a noise about thee with his lusts with his temptations with his flouds with his storms with his fiery darts but he cannot enter thy habitatation The Spirit of darkness the Prince of darkness is shut out of the Land and Light of the Living Abide thou there dwell in the Light and walk in the Light as God is in the Light and he shall never have power over thee V. Concerning Prayer I have experienced Prayer to be the breathing of that birth which God begets to the Father of Life which begat it who by his Spirit makes known to it its Condition and wants and gives a suitable sense of heart and cries to it For as it is not in man to beget himself to God no more can he pray to God in his own will or time but as God pours out the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication upon him and by his Spirit teacheth and helpeth him to pray as he ought Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father I have had a sense of the natural man and of the spiritual man and of the Cryes and Prayers of each and this I have been taught and learned of God that the Gospel-Prayer is the Prayer of that birth which is begotten by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel and which prays in the Spirit and in the springings of the holy Life and Power whereby it rightly wrestles and prevails with God obtaining the Mercies and Blessings which it wrestles with him for For to this Child there is access to God in the Faith through that holy Spirit of Life which makes way for it to obtain Grace and Mercy in the time of need And through this Spirit it prays to God and prevails with him on the behalf of others also For the Prayers of the righteous avail much as it is written VI. Concerning Justification and Sanctification some things which it hath pleased the Lord in his tender Mercy to give me to experience First That it is the same Christ the same Spirit the same Life the same Wisdom the same Power the same Goodness Love and Mercy the same Water the same Blood which both justifies and sanctifies Secondly That Justification and Sanctification go hand in hand together There is none Justified but he that is in measure Sanctified and there is none Sanctified but he that is in measure Justified For God Justifieth by a rule by the new Covenant and according to the Law thereof And men receive and partake of Justification according as they are brought into and keep within the compass of that rule For God acted of old toward and Justified the children of the old Covenant according to the Law thereof and the Children of the new Covenant are Justified
Is the Wall of partition broken down in thee is there of twain made one new man Dost thou feel that which is contrary to Christ subdued in thee by his power and his holy nature Life and Spirit reigning over it Canst thou read that Scripture sensibly and experimentially If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Ah how miserably do men talk of Christ the Power of God and miss of the effect and work of his Power in them Faith is a powerful thing it gives victory true Faith gives victory it scatters that which stands between and gives real access to God and lets in his pure fresh living Vertue upon the heart Love is a powerful thing it constrains to Obedience and the heart that is circumcised to love the Lord God O how doth Life flow from him into it O away with empty notions and come to the ministration of the Spirit where the Knowledg is living the Faith victorious the Love pure and undefiled the Worship truly spiritual even flowing from and comprehended in the Life and Vertue of the Spirit O that all that truly breath after the Lord might be gathered hither found here and dwell here Amen A POST-SCRIPT To the Experiences PErsons that have had some true touches of Life and true breathings after the Lord yet not having their eye fixed rightly upon him nor discerning from whence those come may easily lose the true sense of Life and another birth of another nature spring up in them instead thereof This was it we generally wanted in the day of our former profession even the discerning of that and fixing upon that which begat Life in us through want whereof many of the most tender-hearted came to a loss whom the Lord at length shewed mercy to manifesting to them the Light of their eyes and the stay of their Souls Now to all that have been gathered hither by the Lord Life hath been renewed and their former experiences of the Lord and his goodness to them in the Lord Jesus Christ restored again with advantage And here they sensibly see and daily experience that nothing is of their own works but all of Grace and Mercy in and through Christ in whom they are created unto good works which God before ordained that we should walk in them And here the glory is revealed the glory of Life the glory oâ— Peace with the Lord the glory of R ghteousness in and through his Son he glory oâ— Victory over the Sâ—â—â— enemies and of leading captivity cap◠〈◊〉 treading upon the Necks of Kings even of mighty lusts which mightily revailed over and oppressed the Soul before the Capâ—ain of our Salvation appeared in the power and authority of his own Spirit But blessed be the Lord there is not only this Glory revealed but there is a defence over the Glory For there is that revealed which is able to defend it and doth defend it in the hearts of many and in the living assemblies which have been gathered by God's Holy Power which holy Power which gathered daily quickens and overshadows and is a rock unto and will be so for ever even to all that abide with him in his Holy Covenant but out of the limits of that into which God gathers and wherein and whereby he preserves there is no defence to any The cursed thing the unclean thing the earthly Spirit the earthly Mind and Wisdom the Lord hath excluded and it is to be excluded out of his camp for evermore that the inward Israel may be kept holy to the Lord and may serve and worship the Lord in the beauty of the inward holiness as the outward Israel was outwardly to be and to do in that outward ministration of the shadows of the Gospel-state Some Scriptures very sweet and necessary to be experienced in the Gospel-State This is Life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Joh. 17.3 There is a knowledg of God and Christ which is Life eternal and there is a knowledg of them or at least that which man call so which is not Life eternal The knowledg which is Life Eternal is that knowledg which God gives to his own birth even the spiritual knowledg which God gives to those which are born of the Spirit which is the knowledg of the mystery of God and of Christ in the mistery inwardly appearing and working in the heart against the mystery of Sin and death O precious is the birth to which God gives this this knowledg and precious is the knowledg which he giveth to it The knowledg or that which Men call knowledg which is not life eternal is that knowledg which man can get and comprehend from without of himself without the enlightnings and quicknings of God's Holy Spirit and Power inwardly felt and operating in the heart No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is precious to witness that confessing and acknowledging Jesus to be the Lord which is by the Holy Ghost For only they that are governed by the Holy Ghost can so confess him The Devil did confess Jesus to be the holy one the Son of the living God c. and many now confess Jesus to be Lord in the same Spirit being alienated from the Life of God and having no true sense or understanding of that But there is a confession which cannot arise but from God's Spirit and from the knowledg sense and understanding which he gives blessed are they that experience that It is written in the prophets and they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Joh. 6.45 Ah blessed is he that can in time understanding say The Lord hath made good this Prâ—â—se to me He is become my Teacher I have heard his voice as truly and certainly inwardly in my heart as ever I heard the voice of Satan here He hath revealed his Son his pure holy living Child Jesus in me He hath drawn me to his Son he hath taught me to come to his Son and indeed so soon as ever I heard and learned of the Father I could not but come to the Son and receive the Son and and give up my self to him and he hath received me and daily preserveth me from death and the sting and power thereof and giveth unto me Eternal L fe He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son hath not Life 1 Joh. 5.12 Ah this is abundantly experienced blessed be the name of the Lord Many who had not life while they had not the Son but mourned and lamented deeply after him the Spirit of the Lord being grieved in them and his life not possessed by them the Father revealing his Son in them and giving him to them and they enjoying and possessing him feel that they are daily in the enjoyment and possession of pure and
enemy the Soul can now sing because of that strength and heavenly authority which the Lord putteth forth and exerciseth in the heare against him When the Well of Life the Well of Salvation the Saviours Well is kept open and the Philistins the uncircumcised Spirit Power and nature cast out that they can stop it no more but the soul can draw the water of Life out of the Well and Fountain of Life with Joy Ah then the Gospel-dispensation is indeed known and the blessed estate thereof witnessed and experienced I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the Fire that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayst see Rev. 3.18 What is the Gold tryed in the fire which man is to buy of Christ that he may be made rich therewith What is the white raiment which the soul is to be clothed with without which it is naked in God's sight and in the sight of the truly discerning and there is a time when the shame of its nakedness will appear more generally as it doth already to the eye of the spiritual man who Judgeth all things What is the eye-salve wherewith the eye is to be anointed or it cannot see Is it not precious to purchase this Gold and Raiment of Christ and to have this eye-salve to anoint the eye with and to keep it open that it may daily see its way and walk in the Light of the Lord Certainly this is all inward and Spiritual as a remnant witness it this day Glory to the Lord God But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 Joh. 2.27 The outward anointing was a shadow of the inward and had a glory in it under the dispensation of the Law and the inward anointing in the Gospel-dispensation is Spiritual and Divine and exceeding glorious Christ the anointed one anoints all his No being a Son without being begotten by the Spirit and Power of the Father and no abiding a Son but by the Virtue and Power of the same Spirit remaining in and with the Soul so that every Son receives of the anointing of the Father Christ received the Spirit the fulness that he might give to them a proportion Now to experience this anointing and to experience it abiding and teaching all things and to know this voice the voice of the Sheepherd the voice of the anointing which the Sheep still finds to be true and no lye and to abide in the Vine in the Life in the Spirit in the Power as this Spirit or Anointing teacheth Oh here 's the sweet state the clear state the blessed state Here the Promises and Blessings are Yea and Amen in Christ and the Soul can say He is Faithful and Just who hath Promised who hath opened the treasures of Life to his Family to his House to his Children to his Servants and blesseth them with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land Mercy and Truth are met Righteousness and Peace have kissed Truth shall spring out of the earth and Righteousness shall look down from heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yield her increase Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps Psal 85.9 to the end Is it not precious to witness that fear of God in the heart to which Salvation is nigh and the Land wherein Glory dwells Where Mercy and Truth meet Righteousness and Peace kiss Where Truth springs out of the Earth and Righteousness looks down from Heaven Where God gives that which is good and the Land of the Living yields the increase of Life to him Where righteousness goes before him and he sets his in the way of his steps Where the Lamb goes before and the way is not known but as the Lamb goes before and leads into it Where God is the Sheepherd and the Soul doth not want because he maketh it to lie down in pastures of tender grass and leadeth by the waters of quietness where it drinks of the brook in the way and in the paths of righteousness for his names sake see Psal 23. Is there not a Kingdom of darkness a Land of iniquity inwardly and do not they they that dwell here and sit there dwell in darkness and sit in the region and shadow of death And is there not a travel out of this Land into the holy Land the Land of Light the Land of the Living and a translation out of this Kingdom into the Kingdom of the dear Son And is not God the Sheepherd there Christ the Bishop of the Soul there and doth not he oversee and take care of souls there leading them into fresh pastures and by the soft flowing waters Is not Salvation nigh there yea round about that Land doth not Mercy and Truth meet there Righteousness and Peace kiss there yea doth not the glory of the most high dwell in and overshadow that Land Is not the eye of the Lord upon it for good from one end of the year to the other doth not he watch over it night and day that none hurt it and water it in the proper seasons O who can utter the Goodness and Glory of the Lord which is revealed and shines here Rev. 3.20 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 will sup with him and he with me Here are several things which in their order and seasons the living come to a certain and sensible experience of As first Christs standing at the door and knocking What is the door at which he stands and how doth he knock How doth the contrary Spirit knock how doth his Spirit knock Secondly What is his Voice and how is his Voice heard To hear Wisdoms cry within in the inward streets his call at the door at which he would enter Must not the true ear in some measure be opened first Can any one hear without an ear Thirdly What it is to open the door there is a door-keepers state to be witnessed and the right door-keeper knows how to open and how to shut the door and is exercised in opening and shutting the door The King of glory is to be opened to and let in but no wolf no stranger no strange Spirit is to be hearkned or opened to Fourthly What Christ's coming in is at the door opened to him When he knocks would he not come in Would he stand alwayes at the door knocking Nay nay when the door is opened at which he knocks he who is the
have the witness in themselves the living testimony which none can put out or take away from them He hath opened mine eyes he hath opened my heart he hath raised me out of the grave he hath given me eternal Life He hath changed me inwardly created me inwardly by the working of his mighty power and I daily live am preserved and grow by the same power I feel his Life his vertue his power his presence day by day He is with me he lives in me and I live not of my self but by feeling him to live in me finding life spring up from him into me and through me and therein lies all my ability and strength for evermore A few words in the Bowels of tender Love and Good Will to my Native Country It is written When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the World shall learn Righteousness O that this might be verified concerning thee O England even that thou mightest learn Righteousness and that the dayes of thy unrighteousness might come to an end Have not God's judgments been upon thee Yea are not God's Judgments still upon thee And can any thing divert them from coming more upon thee but thy speedy returning unto the Lord in breaking off thy sins by unfeigned Repentance O that thou mightest be sensible of the hand of the Lord and mightest hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it The Lord hath power over all Nations and can break them in peices as a Potters Vessel They are but as the drop of a Bucket as the small dust of the Ballance they are before him as nothing and are counted to him less than nothing and vanity Read Isa 24. See how God will plead with Nations and consider whether he be not dealing thus with thee O hath not that been found in thee and is not that found in thee which provoketh the Lord exceedingly O that the weighty sense of thy sins were upon thee and that thou mightest truly repent and turn from them that thou mightest reap the benefit of God's Judgments and learn Righteousness and his Indignation might be removed from thee and his tender Bowels of compassion move towards thee But perhaps some may say What is the Righteousness we should learn Answ O learn to know God that is a righteous thing Learn to fear God Learn to worship him aright How is that Why in his own Spirit and Truth in which he seeks to be worshiped Learn Humility towards God learn Justice and Mercy towards Men. Learn to love thy Enemies If ye will be Christians that is the Law of Christ But that which is called the Christian world many of them have not yet learned so much as to love their Friends but hate and persecute such as fear the Lord and seek their good and stand in the gap to keep back the Wrath of the Lord from breaking in upon them and are wrestling mightily with him with strong cries that he would stay the sharpness thereof that it might not break forth to their destruction Learn to do to others as ye would be done to Do not do to any because of their Religion and tender Consciences towards the Lord what ye would not have done to your selves because of your Religion How long will it be ere ye learn this how many Judgments and Distresses shall come upon you before ye bow in Spirit under the mighty hand of God and yield your selves in submission to him to learn things of him Quest But how shall we learn Righteousness Answ Retire inwardly to that and harken inwardly to that which gives the sence of Judgments and learn of that and that will wean you inwardly from all your unrighteousness and teach you Righteousness There is that inwardly in the unregenerate which hardens and misleads there is also that inwardly which tenders melts teacheth and leadeth aright as it is believed in and obeyed O that men knew the difference between these two and how to turn from the one to the other For out of the heart proceeds all that is evil and vain and out of the heart are the issues of Life also The well or puddle of the muddy Waters of the Waters of Egypt of the Wine of Sodom and Waters of Babylon is there and the Well and Cistern of the pure Waters is there also O my native Country that thou mightest be the first Nation in this age of the World that might pass through the judgments of God and be cleansed thereby and be happy O that thy Rulers and Governors were weaned from the spirit and wisdom of this World and might receive of God's holy Spirit and Wisdom and Judge and Govern themselves and the people thereby When the Jew outward was chosen to be the people of God did not he pour out of his Spirit to govern them by Were the Judges Kings and Leaders thereof only anointed with outward Oyl were they not also anointed with God's Spirit And can any Christian Magistrate govern aright any Christian Nation without the assistance and guidance of the same Spirit And O that all the people were anointed also that they might be inwardly Kings and Priests to the Lord and the Kingdom of Christ might be inwardly set up in all their hearts and every man might reign in and through him over the enemies of his own soul O that the Power and Glory of the Lord might cover thy Governors and Inhabitants O England O the prayers that have been long put up in bowels of tenderness for thee O the besome of the Lord the besome of his Righteous Judgments that it might sweep the hearts of men inwardly that this Nation might be prepared for the Glory of the Lord for the Glory which he reveals in his Heavenly birth to break forth outwardly to the admiration and magnifying of the work of his Power in the eyes of all beholders Amen Amen THE END A Brief TABLE of the CONTENTS 1. COncerning understanding the Scriptures Page 11 2. Concerning the illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit Page 12 3. Concerning the Spirit of God and the Scriptures Page 13 4. Concerning the perfect and converting Law of God Page 14 5. Concerning David's Longings Page 15 6. Concerning the Spiritual Sun Page 16 7. Concerning the Words being a fire and hammer Page 17 8. Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Page 18 9. Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Page 19 10. Concerning the Gospel-Ministers and Ministry Page 20 11. Concerning trying of Spirits c. Page 22 12. Concerning things necessary to Salvation Page 23 13. Concerning the True Gospel-Church Page 24 14. Concerning the way to Salvation Page 25 15. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Page 26 16. Concerning Regeneration Page 27 17. Concerning true Holiness ibid. 18. Concerning Christs works Page 28 19. Concerning the Yoke or Cross of Christ Page 29 20. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure ibid 21. Concerning Prayer Page 31 22. Concerning Repentance Page 32 23. Concerning Faith Page 33 24. Concerning Obedience Page 34 25. Concerning Justification Page 35 26. Concerning good Works Page 37 27. Concerning Love Page 38 28. Concerning Meekness and Patience Page 39 29. Concerning the knowledg of the new Covenant Page 40 30. Concerning the Fear of the new Covenant Page 42 31. Concerning Hope Page 43 32. Concerning Peace Page 44 33 Concerning Joy Page 45 34. Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility Page 46 The Conclusion Page 49 EXPERIENCES 1. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 57 2. Concerning the Souls food Page 58 3. Concerning Gods power Page 59 4. Concerning Temptations Page 60 5. Concerning Prayer Page 62 6. Concerning Justification and Sanctification Page 63 7. Concerning Faith Page 67 8. Concerning Obedience Page 71 9. Concerning the Cross of Christ Page 74 10. Concerning the Mystery Page 77 11. Right judging experienced Page 80 12. About knowing God's Spirit Page 84 13. Queries concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 85 14. Postcript to the experiences Page 91 Some Scriptures very sweet c. Page 93 A few words Concerning the true Christ Page 111 A few words to my native Country Page 115 ERRATA THe Stops have been much misplaced and many left out which the Reader is desired by his careful observation of the matter to supply the defect herein Some Errors which alter or may hinder the understanding of the sense are here taken notice of PAg. 6. lin 6. read those l. 14. r. grow P. 16. l. 3. f. they r. thy P. 22. l. 8. r. and the life P. 24. l. 20. r. meet together P. 27. l. 3. Blot out the first the. P. 54. l. 21. r. and experience P. 55. l. 16. r. to cure every Sickness P. 57. l. 17. r. Warring against them P. 61. l. 16. r. in the patience P. 64. l. 13. blot out the word for P. 68. l. 14. r. from P. 73. l. 8. Lord and Master P. 74. l 7. r. producing l. 17. r. hath this power P. 83. l. 12. r. bring Through the misunderstanding of the Printer the Titles over the pages belonging to that part of the Book called Experiences were omitted and the Title belonging to the following part put in heir stead which the Reader is desired thus to amend Experiences pag. 57 to p. 63. Concerning Justification and Sanctification p. 63 to 67. Experiences concerning Faith p. 67 to 71. Experiences concerning Obedience p. 71 to 74. The Cross of Christ experienced p. 74 to 77. The Mystery experienced p. 77 to 80. Right Judging experienced p. 80 to 84. How to know God's Spirit p. 84. Experimental Queries p. 85 to 90. How to know the Seed A serious Examination A Postscript to the Experiences p. 91 to 93.
Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me and take not they holy spirit from me c. saith he Psal 51.10 11. after his fall shewing what he had been acquainted with before and what he now God having touched his spirit afresh began to long after again And saith he in another place O send out thy Light and thy Truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy Hill and to thy Tabernacles Psa 43.3 O the sweetness of Light within Truth within O the precious leadings and drawings thereof which where once felt upon a fresh and tender remembrance thereof cannot but be longed after again VI. Concerning the Sun or Fountain of Spiritual Light Quest Whether the holy Scriptures or written Testimonies be the Sun or Fountain and the Light within but a ray or stream from them as is affirmed by my Antagonist Answ It is just quite contrary for the holy Men spake the holy words from the inward Light and quickning Life of Gods Spirit within them so that that was the Fountain in them and is so still With thee is the Fountain of Life And he that believeth as the Scriptures have said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he of the Spirit Joh. 7.39 that 's the Fountain The water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life Joh. 4.14 Who esteems honours the Scriptures aright He that believes their Testimony comes to Christ and makes his Spirit Light and Life all or he that sets the Scriptures in the stead of that Word of Life which they came from testifie of and point men to as the fountain and foundation of Life and Salvation to all mankind VII Concerning the Words being a Fire and a Hammer to burn up the Chaff and break the Rocks in pieces Quest Is the Word which is a fire and hammer the Testimonies and Declarations of the holy Scriptures without or the Word nigh in the mouth and heart Answ That which I have felt hammering inwardly that which I have felt burning inwardly unquenchably as the mind has been kept to it has been the Word of Life it self from which the good words and holy testimonies proceed That which does the work in the inward Jew is the inward Ministration of the inward Covenant the appearance of God there He is the consuming Fire he is the Spirit of Judgment and Burning who by his holy flamings inwardly burns up the filth of the daughter of Sion A man may be exercised in the letter all his dayes and yet witness nothing of this inwardly in Truth and Righteousness but he whom the Spirit of Judgment and Burning inwardly comes nigh and whose flesh is kept in that holy furnace it will be consumed there day by day until it be quite wasted and destroyed and so he come to be judged according to the flesh and to live to God in the Spirit VIII Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Quest How doth God write his Law in the heart Answ By his Spirit and Power working there whereby he both creates a new Heart and writes the new Law even the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus in the new Heart The Isles shall wait for his Law Whose Law The Law of the Messiah the Law of Grace which gives dominion the Law of the Anointing the Law of the New-Birth the Law of the Holy Seed His Seed remaineth in him 1 Joh. 3.9 In that Seed is the new Nature and the new Law both What is the Law of Sin what is the Law of Death how is it written in the Heart How doth the enemy write it there but by his corrupt spirit and nature And doth not God by his holy Spirit and Nature write the new Law the Law of Life in the hearts of those that are renewed and made tender to the impressions of his holy quickning Power every motion and drawing whereof is a Law to them who are born of the Spirit and taught of God to eye and walk after the quickning Spirit IX Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Quest What is it which the mind is to be turned to to enlighten it and to work the darkness and corruption out of it Answ It is no less than the Light of God's Spirit nothing else can do it The day-spring must arise from on high in the heart or there will be night for ever there All notions or apprehensions concerning the Light will not do it it is the shining of the Light alone inwardly which is able to expel the darkness there It was not for nothing that Christ came a Light to enlighten men and directed men to follow him the Light that they might not abide in Darkness and that he sent his Apostles with this message that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all and so gave his Apostles wisdom authority and power to turn men from the darkness to the light And if the darkness was within which they were to be turned from surely the light must shine within to discover the darkness and to that light must they be turned And in this light the holy Spirit is received and dwells there but out of this light and the limits thereof in every heart dwells the unclean and dark spirit and hath power and rule there for nothing but the light and strength of Gods Spirit is able to break his Kingdom and dominion inwardly in the heart X Concerning the Ministers and Ministry of the Gospel Quest Who are the ministers and what is the ministry of the Gospel Answer They are the ministers of the Gospel who have received that spirit and power wherein the ministry of the Gospel stands For Christ came in the spirit and power of the Father and he sends his Apostles and Ministers in the same spirit and power that they might be able to beget and reach to that birth which is to be begotten and ministred to It is one thing to be a Minister of the Law and to minister Letter and another thing to be a Minister of the Gospel and to minister Spirit The Apostles were able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and so are all in a degree who succeed them in any measure or proportion of their Ministry For the Ministry of the Gospel is in the Light Spirit and Power of the most High to turn peoples minds to a proportion of the same Light Spirit and Power in themselves and so to come to the manifestation and quickning of the same Life in themselves that so they may walk in the same Light For the Life is the Light and he can never have Light or see Light who comes not first to feel some vertue from the quickning Power O how precious is this ministry blessed be the Lord for his renewing of it in these our days And this ministry is not to
be confined to an outward order of men as the ministry of the law was but whoever hath received the gift so he is to minister as the Lord guides leads and orders him in the use of that gift which he hath bestowed upon him for that end And what if he be an herdsman a fisherman a Tent-maker or the like yet if God hath poured out his spirit upon him and openeth his mouth he hath not only liberty but more even authority from the Lord God almighty to speak in his name either for turning men unto Christ the light and life of men or for building men up in their holy faith in him whose spirit and power was and is the resurrection of the life for evermore XI Concerning trying of Spirits and searching the Heart Quest What is it which searcheth the heart and infallibly tries Spirits Answ Gods Spirit Gods word nigh in the heart and mouth separateth and giveth true discerning and judgment there to all whose ears are circumcised and inclined to it Gods Spirit is the spirit of judgment and where he is given the spirit of judgment is given and he judgeth in his children by the quickning life and sense he bestoweth on them which distinguisheth between life and death between truth and deceit yea between the same words when they come from the dead spirit and when they are spoken in his living power Christ gives his spirit to his sheep which gives them to know his voice to know when life speaks and when words are living and food for the living and in what mouth they are dead and cannot yield living nourishment XII Concerning things necessary to Salvation Quest Whether all things necessary to Salvation be contained in the Scriptures Answ The Scriptures give testimony concerning the one thing necessary to salvation but the thing it self Christ himself the seed it self is not contained in the Scriptures but revealed in the shinings of the true light and so received or rejected inwardly in the heart Behold I stand at the door and knock Blessed are they that hear his voice and believe him knocking and open to him and receive him who gives eternal life and power to become Sons of God to as many as receive him and believe in and give up to the inward revealings of his redeeming arm and power therein To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed They in and to whom this arm is revealed Christ is revealed and they in whom and to whom Christ is revealed know the one thing necessary even him who is life eternal in whom all other necessary things are wrapped up and by whom they are conveyed to the soul according to its need by him who is faithful in all his house and takes care of every sheep which the Father committeth to him XIII Concerning the true Gospel-Church or Society Quest What is the true Gospel-Church or society Answ A company of true believers in the spirit and power of the Lord Jesus Christ A company of true Jews inward Jews Jews in Spirit of the true circumcision whom the Father hath sought out and made true inward worshippers Such as are gathered to the name and gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through him A company of living stones who have received life from him the foundation-stone and met together to wait upon and worship the Father in the life and Spirit which they have received from him This is the holy Church or living assembly of the New-Testament blessed are they that are of it For about this Church is the wall of Salvation and they that are added by Gods spirit and power to this Church and abide in it shall certainly be saved XIV Concerning the way to Salvation Quest Which is the certain and infallible way to Salvation Answ It is a new and living way it is such a way as none but the living can walk in It is an holy way which none but the cleansed the ransomed the redeemed of the Lord can set one step in The way the life and the truth are all one blessed are they that find it and walk in it In plain and express terms It is the Lord Jesus the light of the Lord Jesus the life of the Lord Jesus the Spirit of the Lord Jesus the Truth as it is in him his wisdom his power he himself the covenant or holy limit between God and the Soul He that comes into him comes into the way he that abides in him abides in the way he that walks in him walks in the way He that comes to his light his life his Spirit his truth in the inward parts comes to him he that abides therein abides in him he that walks therein walks in him and he that walks out of the light and leadings of his Spirit let him walk in what form he will yet he walks not in him the way XV. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Quest How doth Christ save the Soul Answ By visiting inwardly knocking inwardly appearing inwardly causing the light of life to shine inwardly and so enlightning and quickning inwardly breaking the strength of the enemy inwardly and bringing out of the region and shadow of darkness inwardly into the region and path of light By the light and power of his spirit he begets a child of light which child of light he brings out of Egypt the dark land out of Sodom the filthy unclean Land out of Babylon the Land and City of confusion where the Spirit of the living God and the holy order of life and his precious government in the heart is not so much as known and brings him into the light where He his Father dwels And this child of light is not of the nature of darkness but light in the Lord and walks in the light as he is in the light and by the further shining and working of the light and life in him he preserves and saves him daily more and more XVI Concerning Regeneration or the New birth Quest What is the Regeneration or the new birth Answ It is an inward change by the spirit and power of the living God into his own nature It is a being begotten of his Spirit born of his Spirit begotten into and born of the very nature of his Spirit That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3. It is not every change of mind which is the right change but only that which God by the very same power wherewith he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the Grave makes in the hearts of those whom he visits who are sensible of receive and are subject to his inward Life Light and Power XVII Concerning true Holiness Quest What is true Holiness Answ That holy nature and those holy actions which arise from the holy root all else are but imitations of holiness not the true holiness The tree must be made good first and then the fruit will be good also There are many likenesses of
the endless Life but he that would truly live must live in the spirit it self and he that would rightly walk on in his way must walk in that Spirit wherein he received life and wherein he that abideth lives before the Lord. Fifthly This I have also observed that all notional Faith wherein is not the living vertue as concerning Christ his sufferings death resurrection ascention intercession and concerning Justification by him c. the enemy will let the Soul alone with and let him enjoy peace in but his war is desperately against the true Faith against Faith in the true power against Faith in the light of Life O how many sore and sharp assaults doth he make against the Faith which receives its vertue from God and causeth the Soul to live to God! And how sore is it with the soul when Faith is weak and the enemy comes on against it with the strength of his assaults and temptations Lord encrease our Faith said the sensible disciples Sixtly It is a precious thing to feel Faith quickened by God and helped by God against the enemy For then the enemy cannot prevail against the Soul but the Soul through the vertue and power of life prevails over the enemy in the Faith And this is the great work of a Christian not only to wrestle and fight but to learn so to wrestle and so to fight as to overcome Seventhly That in the pure fear not that which is taught by the precepts of Men but which God puts into the heart Faith hath its strength and exerciseth its strength O who knows the preciousness of this Fear The power of Faith the power of Life the power of Salvation and everlasting preservation is revealed in it Therefore saith the Lord when he speaketh of providing for his Children in the new Covenant that they shall abide with him for ever and not depart any more from him as the Children of the old Covenant did I will put my Fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me And when the Angel preached the Everlasting Gospel how did he preach it Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come c. Rev. 14. When the pure Fear is felt when that which is contrary to God is judged then the Gospel is known and the work thereof experienced in the heart And how easy is it when the pure fear is felt to distrust and deny ones self and trust in thâ— Lord O how weak are the reasonings and imaginations then and how strong is the poweâ— which scatters them and lifts up the head oveâ— them Now it concerns every one deeply to consder of what nature his Faith is and what vertuâ— is in it and what it can do in and through the Power of the Lord for him how it fetcheth in the true living nourishment every day how it delivers the Soul and gives it victory over that which Faith was appointed to deliver from For he who through the Faith overcometh that which is contrary to God shall inherit and he that fights the good fight of Faith shall overcome but he that overcomes not his enemies which stand in his way shall be sure to be hindred by them from attaining to his journeys end VIII Concerning Obedience some Experiences also First True Obedience Gospel-Obedience flows from life flows from the living faith If I could obey in all things that God requires of me yet that would not satisfy me unless I felt my Obedience flow from the birth of his Life in me My Father doth all in me saith Christ this was Christs comfort And to feel Christ do all in the Soul is the comfort of every one that truly believes in him Secondly True Obedience Gospel Obedience is natural to the birth which is born of God It is unnatural to the flesh to mans Wisdom to deny himself and take up the cross but it is natural to the birth which is born of God's Spirit That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and it is natural to it to be conversant in and exercised about that which is Spiritual Thirdly That honouring and pleasing and answering the will of the Lord is the proper aim of the truly Obedient O how do they delight to do the will of God I have Meat saith Christ that ye know not of To do the will was his Meat and drink and it is Meat and Drink to all that are of his nature and Spirit If I should never have any other reward but the pleasure of Obedience yet I could not but say and testify that in answering the Law of the pure Life in keeping the holy statutes and commandments of Gods Spirit there is great reward But yet there is a crown also and a reaping after this Life of every thing that is sown to the Spirt and the crown is weighty and everlastingly glorious Fourthly Gospel Obedience is exceeding necessaâ—y in and to the Gospel-state Mark The Lamb is the leader and can any be saved by him but they that follow him When Christ calls out of the World must not the Soul come to him who is the Sheepherd And must not the Sheep daily learn to know his voice and follow him even till they come to be acquainted with every moving drawing and leading of his Spirit and so come to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes Mark what a weight Christ layeth upon doing If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Why then the disciples cannot come to happiness but in the doing in the obeying of the will of Christ his Lord and Maker And he that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him to a wise man that built his house upon a rock But the believer without doing the will is the foolish builder whose building will not stand Again saith Christ As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Father's Commandements and abide in his love The disciples whom he most dearly loved must keep his commandments if they will continue in his Love And his Apostles taught the same even the working out of the Salvation and the purifying of the heart through the Obedience of the truth For Mark There is a Covenant of Life a way of Life and how can Life be reaped how can the work of Life go on but in Subjection and Obedience thereto O blessed is he who meets with the power of Life which enables to obey and who is Obedient and subject to that power For he that truly believes in Christ is turned by him to his Light and to the power of his Father and the Peace Growth Joy Blessedness c is witnessed in subjection thereto VIII Concerning the Cross of Christ This I have experienced concerning the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ that it is an inward and spiritual thing produceing inward and
spiritual effects in the Mind and that this is it even that which slays the enmity in the mind and crucifies to the World and the affections thereof God forbid said the Apostle that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World Now mark That which is contrary to the World and crucifies to the World that is the Cross The Cross hath its power and nothing else and so there is nothing else to glory in The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Mind here is the Cross The Spirit which is contrary to the flesh which mortifies the flesh through the Obedience whereof the flesh is crucified If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Whatsoever is of and in the Spirit it is contrary to the flesh The light of the Spirit is contrary to the darkness of the flesh The holiness of the Spirit is contrary to the unholiness of the corrupt heart The Life of the Spirit is contrary to the Life or rather death that is in sin The power of the Spirit is contrary to the power that is in Satan and his Kingdom The Wisdom of God is contrary and a foolish thing to the Wisdom of man Yea the new Creature which springs from God's Holy Spirit is contrary and death to the old Now he that comes hither out of his own Wisdom out of his own will out of his own thoughts out of his own reasonings and comes to a discerning of God's Spirit and to the feeling of his begetting of life in his heart and his stirrings and movings in the life which he hath begotten and waits here and receives counsel here he is taught to deny himself and to joyn to and take up that by which Christ daily crosseth and subdueth in him that which is contrary to God And here is the fight of Faith and the good travel under the Cross whereby the holy journey is gone and the enemies which rise up to oppose in the way vanquished and overcome For here is the power revealed the preserving power the leading power the conquering power of him who rideth on conquering and to conquer his spiritual enemies in the hearts of his Children who know his voice and are subiect to him who daily denying themselves and taking up his Cross follow him Wo is to them that are at ease in Sion under any thing that is contrary to God but blessings are upon them whose dwelling is under the Cross and who know no ease but what it allows It will make Truth Life Holiness Righteousness Faith Obedience Meekness Patience Love Separation from Sin Communion with the Lord and all the fruits of the Spirit as natural to them in the renewed state as ever sin was in the corrupt state And in that state they shall be able to say with Paul who once complained of his captivity and that he did what he hated yet after he had known the power of the Cross and was crucified with Christ he could then do nothing against the truth but for the truth Yea then being a conquerer having overcome the enemies which stood in his way he could do all things through Christ that strengthened him The cause of so many complaints and bowings down the head going mourning because of the prevailings of the enemy through temptations sin and corruption is because the Cross of Christ which is the power of God which is his Ordinance against the strength of the enemy is either not known or not taken up And this is the reason that many that make a fair shew for a while yet afterwards come to nothing but are like untimely figs or like corn upon the House-tops which hastily springeth up but soon withereth because they either rightly never learn or keep not to the Cross For that alone hath power from God to bring down and keep down that which is contrary to him So that from under the Cross of Christ there is no witnessing Salvation or preservation from the Lord but out of the limits of the Cross the enemy hath power to recover and bring back under his dominion again And whosoever in his travels leaves the Cross behind him does draw back unto perdition and not travel on in the living faith and newness of Obedience towards the Salvation of the Soul X Concerning the Mystery of Life and the Mystery of the fellowship which is therein God is hid from Man as he lies in his sinful and fallen estate and no Man can find or know him but as he pleaseth to reveal himself by his own blessed Spirit And Christ being God's image there is no knowing or confessing him or right calling him Lord but in and by the same Spirit 1. Cor. 12 3. When he appeared in the days of his flesh flesh and bloud could not reveal him but only the Father And he is the same to day as he was yesterday He is not to be known now but in the same Spirit in his own Grace and Truth in a measure of his own Life The dead cannot know him they only know him who are his Sheep who are quickned and made alive by him And this Life is a Mystery none can understand it but they that partake of it Can a man that is naturally dead know what the Life of nature means No more can a man that is spiritually dead know what the Life of the Spirit means The natural Man may get the words that came from Life and cry up them and speak great words of the same of Wisdom and of her Children but the thing it self is hid from them all O it is a strait gate at which the birth enters at which none else can enter The wise and prudent knowers and searchers after the flesh and of the Scriptures as they can put meanings upon them and comprehend them are shut out in every age but ther 's a babe born of naked Truth born of the pure simplicity admitted by God while men disdain and despise it And the fellowship of the Saints is in the Life and in the Light which is this Mystery The fellowship is not outward but inward All they that meet together in the outward place are not in the fellowship or worship but only they they meet together in the inward Life and Spirit They that worship the Father must worship him in Spirit and Truth Look ther 's the worship there are the worshippers They that are in the Spirit in the Truth They that meet in the Spirit in the Truth they meet together in the one spiritual place as I may call it And so we own no man after the flesh no man according to the appearance but in the righteous judgment of the Spirit those only who are of the Spirit Indeed we are tender where there is the least beginning of the work of God in any