is the Devil as Christ said these are the REPROBATES this Birth of the Serpents Seed is the Prophane Esau which God Hates this Birth is Cursed in its first Conception in its Youth and in its Old Age. Jesus said unto the Rebellious Jews The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruit thereof see Mat. 21. 45. And to such Unbelieving Rebellious ones he said Ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and ye your selves thrust out see Luke 13. 28. Again Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in see Matth. 23. â—3 read the Chapter through See Luke 11. 52. Take notice of this all ye Loose and Prophane Livers who call your selves Christians your Un-God-like and Un-Christ-like Conversations bring a Scandal and Reproach upon the Name of Christianity you cause the honourable Name of Christ and Christianity to be Blasphemed against by Jews Turks and Indian Heathens O that the deep Sence of this your great Sin might fall upon you and that your Hearts might be truly broke in the Sence thereof O that you would yet Unfeignedly seek Repentance before the Door of Mercy be forever shut against you there is yet Mercy with God for multitudes therefore his holy Will is that they should seek after him Unfeignedly Repent and Turn unto him from all their Abominations but those who will not but go on stubbornly in Rebellion against him he will cut down suddainly in his Righteous Judgments SWIFTLY even as a Mower cuts down Grass therefore Fear Tremble and Bow before him all ye Workers of Iniquity And more particularly consider of these things O all ye several sorts of TEACHERS whose EVIL WORK it hath been and is to draw out and keep out Peoples Minds from the Spirit of God and Christ by which alone their Hearts are SEARCHED and their EVIL Thoughts Words and Actions shewed unto them this is the swift Witness by which the Living God doth Reprove them and Condemn them for the same This is the Faithfull and True Witness which neither BRIBES nor FLATTERY nor THREATNINGS can Corrupt Destroy nor Stop ITS inward Convictions Rebukes or Reproofs from those who Rebel against it and as it is faithfull in witnessing against all the Rebellious so is it faithfull in bearing witness to and with the Spirits of all the Obedient that they are the Children of God And of this the holy Apostles were Living True Witnesses who said Whatsoever is Reproved is made manifest by the Light and also said The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God And also said He that believeth in the Son of God hath a witness within himself and hath set to his seal that God is True As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are Sons of God and if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his as saith the holy Apostle Those who believe not in the Spirit of God and Christ they are not governed by it they are NOT the real Possessors and Enjoyers of it and such have it not to save and deliver them out of sin because they believe not in it yet this Spirit of Truth doth convince the whole World which lieth in Wickedness of their sins and doth in secret condemn them for the same every one in the Day of Gods Visitation unto them So the Spirit of Truth which is the Saints Comforter which leads them into all Truth the same is the Reprover Condemner Judger and Tormentor of the Unbelieving Wicked Rebellious World see John 16. 8 9 10 11 12 13. Ephes 5. 13. Jer. 17. 10. Psal 7. 9. Mal. 3. 5. 1 John 5. 10. Isa 55. 4. John 3. 33. Rom. 8. 14 16. Psal 50. 21 22. Amos 4. 13. John 1. 9. and 8. 12. and 3. 19 20. Acts 13. 47. and 26. 17 18. 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. The Apostle saith What man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth NO man but the Spirit of God the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God see 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. This was and is the KEY of all heavenly saving knowledge by this is mans Heart opened to understand and know those things which belongs to his Immortal Souls Rest and Peace and he that believeth therein is enabled thereby to do those things which are well-pleasing to the Lord God and keep out of those things which are displeasing to him And of this the holy Apostle was a Living true Witness who prayed for the Believers saying I pray God strengthen you by his Spirit in the INNER MAN see Ephes 3. 16. Col. 1. 11. Christ said unto the Rebellious Jews who made their boast of the Law yet wrested the Sayings thereof and brake it Wo unto ye Lawyers for ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge ye entered NOT in your selves and them that were entering in ye hindered see Luke 11. 52. Nehemiah said Lord thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them c. Nevertheless they were Disobedient and Rebelled against thee and cast thy Law behind their Backs and SLEW thy Prophets which testified against them to turn them unto thee see Nehem. 9. 20. 26. Remember this all YE that hate and Persecute those who Worship God who is a Spirit in the Spirit and in the Truth and Repent and cease from your Ungodly Works if you will not God will cut you off and vex you in his sore displeasure in rewarding you justly according to the Wickedness of your doings We to the Rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of me and that cover with a Covering but NOT OF MY SPIRIT that they may add Sin unto Sin see Isa 30. 1. This Spirit was and is the Covering UNDER which man and woman is blessed is in safety out of the reach of that evil hurtful Spirit which worketh in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience who also goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour as saith the Apostle whom the true Believers did and do resist in the living Faith and by the virtue of the good Spirit of God with which they were ARE covered and in it had have Victory over him such did do experience to their great Comfort the saying of the holy man fulfilled who said Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the WORLD see 1 John 4. 4. O that the Haters of and Mockers at this holy pure Spirit would seriously consider what they are doing O that they would consider their latter end and the account that they must give to God for these things O that it were in their Hearts unfeignedly to
in his own Spirit and Power feed the Flock of God and Christ Secondly That they did and do take the over-sight of the Flock not by Constraint but willingly God makes them willing by his heavenly power they are NOT made willing by Gold or Silver Corn or Cattel or any earthly thing neither do they AFFECT Titles of Eldership in Pride or Vain Glory but the False Teachers and Elders are made willing to Preach for Gold and Slver Corn and Cattel and Earthly things how such affect Titles Earthly things more then the true Elders WORK is known to God and it is discerned by many in this Morning of his heavenly Day which is dawned in this our Age glory to the Lord God for the same Such who feed with the Fat and cloath with the Wooll and make a PREY upon the People are in Balaams Way and Error who covet the Wages of Unrighteousness yea many in Cains way in Envy Persecuting about these things some even to Death and for these things they strive one against another the strife is who shall have the fattest Benefice The TRUE Elders and Ministers did not nor do not take the oversight of the flock of God for FILTHY LUCRE but of a ready mind which God begetteth in them by his good Spirit FILTHY Lucre is Earthly gain ILL GOTTEN Christ Jesus commanded his Disciples whom he made Elders to watch over his Church saying Freely ye have received freely give Those who esteem themselves Christs Ministers yet take the over-sight of their Flocks and watch over them and teach them for Gold Silver Corn Hay c. this their Gain is ungodly it is Ill gotten because in the getting of it they break Christs Command whose Servants they pretend to be and in so doing they greatly dishonour him Yet still the Ministers of Christ have power to eat such as is set before them freely but not to force or compel by Persecution those who did or do receive Spiritual things from them the Spirit of God makes such willing there is no use for outward Force and Persecution in this concern so then to be sure they had not power by outward Force to compel those who did not believe nor receive their Testimony or to pay them for preaching though the true Apostles and Elders had power to eat c. and where they did sow Spiritual things to reap Carnal yet they laboured with their own hands that they might make the Gospel without charge so far were they from desiring or receiving any outward thing for preaching from Unbelievers that they laboured with their own hands that they might not be chargeable to the Believers No the Ministers and Elders who were and are made by Christ were and are men of nobbler Spirits then to do so The true Elders and Ministers were not nor are not Lords over God's Heritage but were and are good Ensamples and true Servants to the Flock And their Exhortation was and is to walk as they had and have them for Ensamples Glory to the Lord for the same The faithful Elder and Apostle Paul by the holy Ghost exhorted Timothy saying Be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Neglect not the Gift that is in thee c. take heed unto thy self and unto the Doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee see 1 Tim. 4. 12. to the end Again Chap. 5. 22. Lay Hand suddenly on NO man neither be partaker of other mens Sins KEEP thy self PURE c. They are blessed who follow the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles and the Elders made by him who abide in his Doctrine and in the Faith which he is the Author and Finisher of and in the love which reacheth to all People both Friends and Enemies which Love thinketh no Evil neither doth any Wrong or Evil which Love is stronger than Death it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly This Love is the fulfilling of the holy Law of God as saith the holy Apostle All who keep therein are PLEASANT to the Lord and honoured by him with a truly tendred Heart and lowly mind and with the pure Patience in and through all Tribulation Trials and Affliction which cometh upon them for Christ's sake in which they possess their Souls in peace and quietness being kept by the mighty Power of God through the precious Faith and Love which is shed abroad in them BY and in Christ Jesus He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked see 1 John 2. 6. Concerning Original Sin IN page 10. J. B. takes upon him to say something concerning Original Sin he saith to his Neighbour I understand by you that its contrary to the Doctrine you teach c. Answ The Original or first cause of Sin is the Devil who abode not in the Truth as Christ said The Apostle saith He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might Destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. Jesus said Whosoever committeth sin is the Servant of sin Joh. 8. 34. J. B. saith to his Neighbour in the aforesaid page You told me you questioned not at all but all those Infants that dyed without actual Sin were received into Heaven having nothing to be laid to their Condemnation Answ J. B's Neighbour hath spoken very Soberly and Charitably and Scripturally and Soundly in this matter though J. B. doth ignorantly Cavil against him for it the Dark Rebellious Apostized Jews were like unto this J. B. they said The Fathers have eaten sowr Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are s t on edge c. These Dark sayings displeased the Lord and he Rebuked them for them by the Mouth of his Servant Ezekiel saying The Soul that sinneth it shall dye the Son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall the Father bear the Iniquity of the Son see Ezek. 18. 2 20. read the Chapter through Moreover the Lord said by the Mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah They shall say no more the Fathers have eat a sowr Grape and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but every one shall dye for his own Iniquity every man that eateth the sowr Grape his Teeth shall be set on edge Jer. 31. 29 30. Thus it plainly appears that little Infants who never acted or committed Sin must not be cast into Hell for their Fathers Sins but dying without actual Sin must inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus called a little Child unto him and set it in the midst of them and said Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 2 3. Mark 10. 15. Luke 18. 17. Jesus said Suffer little Children and forbid them
not to come to me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19. 14. Concerning doing Good J. B. thou art a great Enemy to the Command of Christ who saith Be ye Perfect c. pag. 26. Thou bringest those words in Psal 14. which say There is none that do Good no not one Answ Those words were spoken of Mankind in the Fall to a Generation of Evil doers In the same Psalm God said Have all the Workers of Iniquity no Knowledge who eat up my People as they eat Bread and call not upon the Lord And in the next Verse he saith God is in the Generations of the Just and Righteous Here thou mayst see that there was a Just and Righteous Generation and those were Hated and Persecuted by the Workers of Iniquity for the Good that appeared in them which though the Lord was the Principal Worker of yet they as Instruments in his hand were acted in what was Righteous and Good Mat. 12. 34 35. And Christ saith The GOOD MAN out of the GOOD Treasure of his Heart bringeth forth GOOD things and the Evil Man out of the Evil Treasure of his Heart bringeth forth Evil Things By this thy Ungodly Plea against Christ's Command thou declarest thy self to be one of the Evil Men who brings out of thy Evil Treasures thy Evil Words against the plain Command of Christ and of God who said Be Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy and against the Doctrine of the holy Man who saith Cleanse your Hands ye Sinners Purifie your Hearts you Double-minded c. And again Let the Wicked for sake his Way and the Vnrighteousman his Thoughts let him Turn unto God and he will have Mercy on him c. Again Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord and Holiness becomes the Lords House forever And the Apostle said unto the Saints The House or Temple of God is Holy which House or Temple ye are And the Apostle Paul said to Christian Romans I am perswaded of you that ye are FULL the of all GOODNESS c. Rom. 15. 14. And again to the Hebrews Chap. 13. 16. the Author saith To do GOOD and to Communicate forget not for with such Sacrifice God is well-pleased Again Gal. 6. 10. Paul Exhorted the Saints To do GOOD unto all men especially to the Houshould of Faith And again to the Thessalonians Ever follow that which is GOOD And again Hold fast that which is GOOD 1 Thess 5. 15 21. Again Paul to Timothy the first Epistle Chap. 6. Vers 18. Charge them that are Rich in this World that they be not High-minded that they do GOOD and be Rich in GOOD WORKS c. Thus it appears from the Testimony of the holy men of God that the People of God both under the Law and Gospel were commanded to do that which was GOOD and by his power they were enabled to do GOOD So this is written in Love to J. B. as a just Rebuke for his Contempt of Christ's Command and encouraging People to continue in that which is Evil. Concerning the Righteousness of God and also of Man's own Righteousness J. B. as a Plea for Evil doing saith All our Righteousness are as filthy Rags and saith the Church confesseth so Isa 64. 6. Answ In this Chapter the Prophet Representeth and Lamenteth the Sinfull Apostatized State of the Jews saying Our Iniquities have carried us away like the Wind all our Righteousness is as filthy Rags In the same Chapter he also saith to the Lord Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness those that remember thee in thy Way Here again thou mayst see that there were two Generations one remembring God in his Way and working Righteousness therein and the other in their Iniquities which carried them away as the Wind. J. B. Though all the Righteousness of the Jews in their Apostacy were and are as filthy Rags yet the Righteousness of the true Christians the Church in God made of Living Stones chosen and precious are not as filthy Rags It were horrible Blasphemy to say so for Christ is the Righteousness of the true Christians as saith the holy Apostle But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption see 1 Cor. 1. 30. J. B. Take notice of this Christ was and is in the true Christians made of God unto them Wisdom which Wisdom did and doth lead them out of sin which the Wisdom of the Serpent hath led into so Christ the Power and Wisdom of God who leads them out of Unrighteousness which is Sin he did and doth become THEIR Righteousness who Redeemeth and Sanctifieth them And this is the Righteousness which we the People of God called Quakers own stand and Plead for and NO OTHER This is the Righteousness which the Apostle Paul desired to be found in and not in his own Righteousness which was of the Law which he did sometime hold up in opposition to Christ the Substance as may be seen at large in his Epistle to the Philippians Chap. 3. The same Apostle said of the Jews in their Apostacy thus For they being Ignorant of God's Righteousness and going about to Establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes Rom. 10. 3 4. Christ offered up himself through the Eternal Spirit as a Lamb without Spot and Blemish who by offering up himself once for all put an End to the Jews Offerings of Lambs the Blood of Bulls and Goats and all the rest of their Carnal Shadowy Ordinances which could not take away Sin nor make the Comers thereunto Perfect as appertaining to the Conscience But the Unbelieving Jews continued their Sacrifices in opposition to Christ the Substance who had ended them and so they sought to be justified by the Shadowy Works of the Law which Christ had ended and though it was a Righteous thing in the sight of God that the Iews should observe and practice those Outward Shadowy Works of the Law which he had commanded until Christ had ended them yet when Christ had ended those Works by his one offering they still continued in them this was an Unrighteous thing in Gods sight therefore he rejected them yet they looked upon and judged what they did to be Righteous and this the Apostle esteems their own Righteousness so they did not submit to the Righteousness of God WHICH IS CHRIST but stumbled at the stumbling Stone as it s written And TOO like these are many of the Professors of our Times who hold up those JEWISH Shadows which never were a Command to us Gentiles in Opposition to Christ Jesus who saith I am the Light of the World and he that follows me shall not walk in Darkness but have the Light of Life and saith Believe in the Light that you may be the Children of the Light Now as