repentance beyond the Grave such as man sows he shall reap If ye live after the Flesh then shall ye die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Flesh then shall ye live for Christ came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance and he is come in the Spirit we are Witnesses of his Glory who is not come to send peace on the Earth but a Sword to cut down all that which is contrary unto him whose Word is as a Fire and as a Hammer who is stronger that is in us then he that is in the World who taketh the strong man armed and dispossesseth him of all and overturns the Earth and the Foundation thereof and destroys the old Earth and the old Heavens where Antichrist the God of this World hath taken up the heart with other Lovers but blessed be the Name of the Lord our God who hath given the Son of his Love into our hearts and hath changed our hearts and minds and hath set our affections on things above and hath taken away the stony unbelieving heart and â—ath given us a new heart and hath renewed a right spirit in us by which we witness his Promise fulfilled who said he would create a new earth and new Heavens wherein dwells Righteousness Christ the Righteousness of God who came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Antichrist he persecutes in pretence of the true Christ and puts to death O subtil Serpent Christ's Kingdom is not of this World therefore his Servants will not fight Antichrist self-exalâ—ed man whose Kingdom is of this World he fights and kills about Religion lest his Kingdom should go down for if the true Christ whose free Grace Truth and Righteousness which cannot be bought with money or purchased with any carnal earthly object I say if the Grace of God Christ Jesus the Son of his Love who is the true Oyl if this take place in the heart and therewith the Lamp be trimed ye will be wise Virgins and need not go buy of Babylons Merchants or that any man should teach you but as that same Anointing abideth in you it will teach you all things which is Truth and no Lye then will Antichrist's Kingdom go down which he was afraid of before he had crucified Christ when exalted in the Scribes and Pharisees being got up into the heart of man yea in the Temple of God and would be exalted above all that is called God when many believed Christ and followed after him then Antichrist sâ—ood up in his Members and said If we let him thus alone all men will believe on him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and Nation John 11.48 therefore they arose and crucified him but he is risen again and is come in the Spirit and hath made many Witnesses of his Resurrection through Faith in his Name whose Name be blessed and praised and magnified for evermore Now every one prize the day of your visitation not knowing how soon your Soulâ— may be required of you O have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons in an outward Profession and in formality of any carnal Ordinance as in remembrance of Christ to shew forth his death until he comeâ— for he is come in the Spirit and is worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth and this is the Ordinance of God Christ Jesus who is the Righteousness of God in whom is the spiritual Baptism for there is but one Faith one Lord one Baptism So every one keep unto that Faith which works by Love in the heart through the Spirit by which you will come to know the deeds of the Flesh to be mortified and your hearts to be cleansed purified and sanctified and so come to know the redemption of your immortal Souls and this is the true Faith and the true Baptism which washeth and purifieth the heart in the water of Regeneration through the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus by which we are come to know the new birth born again of that which is immortal which cannot feed upon any thing that dies of it self but of that which is living pure clean and uncorruptible even of the Bread of Life which comes down from Heaven from the Father of all our mercies who hath broken of his own body and hath given us to eat of his Flesh and to drink of his Blood in which is Life indeed Life Eternal but this is a great Mystery to the carnal mind in which is death Therefore return in the eye of your understandings unto that which is pure and holy of God for as the Apostle said What is to be known of God is made manifest in us and God hath shewed it unto us who is a Spirit and to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace The Superscription and Copy of the Letter to the Bishop This for the hands of John Hackitt who is called Bishop of Liechfield and Coventry for him to read over that he may try all things and hold fast that which is good Friend I Being câ—st into Prison by thy servants at thy command for obeying the Word of God and keeping of his Commandments in obeying the Truth as it is in Jesus Christ our Lord whose Name be praised and honoured over all for evermore whose Love and Mercy through the riches of his Grace which hath appeared unto all men hath appeared unto us as the Apostle said Teaching us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Godly and Righteously and Holy in this present evil â—orld and the arm of the Lord is not shortened who is the same yesterday to day and for ever who is the Salvation of his people unto as many as believe in him Now it is not such that sayes with their lips and opens their mouths and cryes Lord Lord that shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and also talk of God and Christ Faith and Righteoâ—sness and of being Believers and yet live in their sins that can enter into God's Kingdom for his Kingdom stands not or consists in Meats or in Drinks or in divers Washings but in Righteousness and true Holiness without which there is none can see God but sin is an unrighteous work by which the Enemy got into man through tempâ—ation and a lye and all unrighteousness is sin and that must never enter into God's Kingdom nor any while they are servants thereunto for no man can be a servant unto two maâ—ters God and Mamon Christ and Belial but his servant thou art unto whom thou yieldest thy members servant unto mark wheâ—her of sin unto Death or unto Righteous in which is Life eternal Now in the beginning when God made man and set him and placed him in Paradice he created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female and God blessed them and said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and gave him Dominion over all
see Verse 11. Luke 20.46 47. Beware of the Scribes which desire to walk in long Robes and love greetings in the Markets and the highest Seats in the Sinagogues and the chief Rooms at Feasts which devour Widows Houses and for a shew make long prayers the same shall receive greater damnation 2 Pet. 2.14 15. Having eyes full of adultery and thaâ— cannot cease from â—in beguiling unstable Souls an heart they have exercisâ—d with covetous practices cursed children who have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bezor who loved the wages of unrighteousness Jude verse 11. Wo unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Corah read to the end but must this trade alwayes hold in Babylon See Rev. 18.11 And the Merchants of the Earth shall weep and morn over her for no man buyeth her Merchandize any more verse 14. And the Fruits that thy Soul lusted after are departed from thee and all things that were dainty and goodly as the Wheat-Sheaf and tythe Calves and Lambs and Pigs and Ducks and Geese and Chickens and Eggs as also Glebe-Lands Midsummer-dues Easter-reckonings Garden and Smoke pence and such like are departed from thee and thou shalt find them no more at all Verse 15 and 16. The Merchants of these things which were made rich shall weep and waâ—l saying Alas alas that great City that was clothed in fine Linnen and great Sleev'd Surplices and Purple and Scarlet and decked with Gold and Precious Stones and Pearls â— Verse 17. For in one hour so great riches is come to nought And every ship-master and all the company of Balaam's tribe in Ships and Sailers like poor Journey-men Priests and as many as â—rade by Sea stood afar off Verse 19. and they cast dust upon their heads c. Do not they already begin â—o throw dust and bring dirt upon their own heads that sees their City and Building is going down and cryes against the Spoylers of Babylon and say You had been better to have lain drunk under a hedg that while oh you had better have been committing Adultry with a lewd woman that while oh rather then go from this City to Quakers Meetings go to a Bawdy-house and rather then drink in the doctrine of Perfection from the Quakers drink a cup of Poyson surely as Iude saith Verse 13. These are raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame There is many places more that might be collected for you but let me see these fairly from you interpreted and as I like your work you may have more hereafter and forget not to answer my two Queries which are to you as followeth Query I. What one particular Practice in matter of divine Worship of God either of Christ Iesus or any of his holy Prophets or Apostles do you walk in in truth and in reallity as they did according to the testimony left unto us in the holy Scriptures from the beginning to the end Do not starâ—e at the Query but answer it fairly seeing you say the Scripture is your Rule Query II. What one particular practice is there mentioned in all the holy Scripture by Christ himself his Prophets or Apostles whereby we might know a false Prophet false Priests or false Apostles and Deceivers which were in time pastâ— or were to come in the latter times but you are really walking in it and manifest by it according to the testimonies left upon record by the holy men of God through ages as the Scriptures witness from the beginning to the end And if you do not answer to clear your selves these Queries shall stand upon your heads to your shame C. H. Here is also annexed a seasonable Exhortation for the Inhabitants of Polesworth and neighbouring Towns thereabouts Also a Coppy of a Letter formerly sent to the persecuting Bishop from Warwick Goal where I am a Prisoner for the Word of God in standing a faithful Witness unto him in his Truth and Righteousness against such as hold the Truth in unrighteousness The first of the 6th Moneth 1669. William Harris the younger HE that readeth let him understand read in the fear of the Lord in whom is true wisdom and then thou wilt not read to fill the outward ear but turn in to the Witness of God in thy Conscience and keep the eye of thy mind single to that which is pure of God by which thou mayst come to a right understanding for what is to be known of God is made manifest in us and God hath shewed it unto us who hath given Christ Jesus the Son of his love a Light into the World the world is placed in mans heart now as every one turns in the eye of their understanding unto Christ the Son of God's Love who is Love Truth Righteousness Light Life Wisdom and is our all and in all So look not without at outward observations for the Kingdom of Heaven as the professing Jews did for the Kingdom of Heaven is within therefore was that Parable of the woman that had lost a Groat and she looked without and could not find it but when she turned home she lighted her Candel and swept her own house and there she found it So every one that hungreth and thirsteth after Righteousness and desires their souls eternal Peace and Salvation return home and look not without but turn in to the Witness of God Christ the true Light and in the love of God Christ the Light Spirit of Truth light thy Candle and sweep thy own house of all that which is earthly and corrupt so wilt thou come to find the Pearl which is of great price which a Merchant-man had hid in his field and he digged deep and found it and when he had found it he went and sold all to purchase it but the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be purchased with Silver or Gold or any corruptible thing therefore read in the Spirit the mysteries of God's Kingdom There was a rich man came to Christ and spake of many things he had done and kept from a youth and said What lack I yet Christ said unto him Go sell all that thou hast and give unto the poor but he went away very sorrowful for he had great Possessions Now if any have possessed their minds with the love of this World and with the earthly delights that are therein if they will not lose their life in those things they cannot live to God for people cannot be heirs of two Kingdoms they must forsake all for Christ in whom is the Blessing Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven and whosoever will not forsake all for Christ is not worthy of him Blessed is every one that believes in God and in Jesus Christ his only Son in whom is the Election in the acknowledging of the Truth which is according unto godliness unto the
Gen. 1. And the Lord God took the man and put him into the â—ardenâ— tâ— dress it and to keep it and the Lord commanded the man 〈◊〉 Of every Tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat but of 〈◊〉 Tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of iâ— for in the day thou eats thereof thou shalt surely dye Now the Serpeâ—t was more subtil then any Beast of the field and he said unto the woman ye shall not surely dye but we see the Serpent was a Lyar from his beginning who got in through a temptation and a Lye by which sin entred through â—ransgression for which the Law was added and for his wicked work was accursed from God and man for his disobedience was cast out from God so by the disobedience of one many were made Sinners and by the obedience of one many were made Righteousâ— which was and is through Faith 〈◊〉 Christ For the Iust lives by Faith and without Faith it is imposâ—â—ble to please God but â—here was and is the Faith of Devils that works not in the love but in the emniâ—y and so brings forth of the sower Grapâ— which is sin and unrighteousness and through disobedience sin entred by which man is led captive at the Enemieâ— will into the corrupt nature into ungodliness and unrighteousness which is the corrupt ground from whence proceeds all evil in which â—ate there is none doth good no not one and in which 〈◊〉 all have sinned and come short of the Glory of the living God in whom is Salvationâ— and Eternal Life through Christ Jesus who is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith which we have received from God Almighty from whence every good and perfect gift comesâ— And that Faith which comes from God alone it works by love in the heart and this is the Love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not burdensom For all that are born of God overcometh this World 1 Iohn 5.4 But the Priest told me that thou saidst to him thou strangest at me that I opposed thee in that particâ—lar above all the rest for thou well remembredst what thou wert speaking of thou werâ— come to thy last point and to conclude that all were miserable â—inners and thou saidst all the World would conâ—ess that they were Sinners now as 〈◊〉 is written 1 â—ohn 5.19 We know that we are of God and thiâ— whole World lyeth iâ— wickedness and the World loves its own in which is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life which is not of the Fatherâ— but of this World And when the Phâ—riâ—ees heâ—rd that Jesus had put the Sadduces to silence one of them which was an expounder of the Law asked him a Question saying Master which is the greatest Commandment in the Law Jesus said unto him Thou shalâ— love the Lord thy God with all thy heart wiâ—h all thy soul and with all thy mind and the second is like â—nto this Thou shalâ— love thy Neighâ—our as thy self Matthew 22. Now to the witness of God in thy Conscience do I speak which if thou turn in to it it will tell thee whether thou art faithful herein and whether thou doest act herein according to Christ's Doctrine and the Scriptures which was given forth from the Spirit of Truth freely and not to be made a trade of for money neither can the gift of God be purchased with money if so then would Simon Magâ—â— have purchased the Kingdom of Heaven with money and the rich of this World but Christ's Kingdom stands not in corruptable things but in that which is uncorruptable and is Pure Holy Râ—ghteous and Eternal of God therefore said Christ unto them in the dayes of old Except a man â—e regenerated and born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Read the Scriptures as Christ said for they are them which do tesâ—ifie of me but you will not come unto me that you might have Life Now many have a life in the eaâ—thly part serving their own hearts lust but whosâ—ever will follow Christ let him forsake himself and take up his cross and follow him and whosoever will not take up his cross and deny himself daily is not worthy of him And whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lay down his life for my Name sake and the Gospel the same shall find it For what shall it profit a man though â—e should win the World if â—e lose his soul or what exchange shâ—lâ— a man give for his soul And whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and my Words amongst this adulterous and sinful Generation of him shall the Son of â—an be ashamed also when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels Mark 8. And he that fulfils the lust of the flesh he shall dye but if thou through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the flesh then shalt thou liveâ— so now doest thou know the new birth arâ— thou regenerated and born again not of flesh and of blood but of the Water and of the Spirit the Water washeth and the Spiriâ— purifieth the heart through Faith in Christ by which we come to witness Mortification Redemption Sanctification and newness of â—ife by the Power of God revealed in Christ whose Blood was shed for his people now that none make his Blood his Covenant his Commandments of none effect by their Traditions For the Blood of Christ cleâ—seth from all â—â—n and it is only the sins of people that makes the separation between God and man mark Your sins â—ath separated between me and you saith the Lord God and as it is written He heareth not sinners neither doth he acâ—ept of the Prayers or Teachings or any Sacrifices of sinners while they remain in their sins but he that comes to believe in God and in Jesus Christ and repents and forsakes shall find Mercy but he that hideth his sins shall not prosper so that it is good for all to confess and to forsake and not alwayes to be making a confession of miserable sinners year by year and so all a mans life time this is but the sacrifices of the wicked which is abomination in the sight of the pure God therefore confess and forsake and return to the Lord while thou hast time that if thou hast not sinned ouâ— the day of thy visitation thou mayest find Mercy with the Lord for there is no repentance beyond the Grave For as the Tree falleth so it lieth and as death leaves so Iudgment finds and if any dies in their sins which is the transgression of the Royal Law of God for which the Law was added now when God shall come at the last day to call all to Judgment for their deeds done in their Bodies whether good or evil if thou hast done well thou shalt be accepted if noâ— sin lies at the door then he that hath done well and wrought out his
Salvation with fear and trembling and hath known the Living Faith that works by love to have purified his heart from dead works to serve the Living God in newness of Life and therein hath stood a living Witness for God and hath abode faithfull to the end to such it will be said Come ye blessed of â—y Heavenly Father enter into the jâ—y of â—he Lord but unto such as have been unfaithfull and have not known the bridle to the Tongue nor have not through the Spirit mortified the deeds of the Flesh and so never come to witness Redemption by Christ Jesus but hath hid their Talent in their earthly hearts such may cry Lord Lord and bring their Talent or Giâ—t and give it to the Lord as the unprofitable Servant did as is mentioned in the Parable but mark the answer though they cried Lord Lord and brought him his own righteousness which they had hid in their earthly hearts but never joyned their hearts which the Lord required the heart above all things but it is a manifest token that such served themselves and not the Lord who never improved his Talent mark what was the Sentence of such Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity into everlasting punishment prepared for the Devil and his Angels Thus in true love unto thy Soul in the fear of the Lord I warn thee before Night comes when no man can work and also I would have thee consider of thy late proceedings against me who am an innocent man first I not knowing of thy being at Polesworth until I saw thee in the Synagogue unto which place I was sent by the Spirit of the Living God to warn all people to repent of their sins and to return unto the Lord and saying God accepted not the Sacrifices of Sinners neither is he worshipped in Temples made with hands but according to the Scriptures of Truth declared how that he is a Spirit and is worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth and therefore I warned all to repent and to forsake their sins and to return to the Lord for there is mercy with him and this was but according to the Spirit of Truth and the Apostles Doctrine That if any thing was revealed unto him which stands by let the first hold his peace but herein thou manifested thy self not to be in the Apostles Doctrine who called for Officers to hale me out of the Synagogue but of those which cannot abide sound Doctrine also thou art one of those which Christ foretold of saying They shall hale you out of their Synagogues and they shall excommunicate you examine thy self whether thou hast not been acting in this work of late contrary to the Doctrine of Christ who when he taught his Disciples to pray said Pray on thâ—s wise Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and forgive us our debts or trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us but herein thou hast manifested thy self not to keep Christs Commanâ—s now if the Lord shou'd forgive thee according to thy works who hath cast a man in Prison for speaking the Truth and hath done thee no wrong or oweth thee any thing or any man but love And again when Peter said unto Christ How oft shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him unto seven times Iesus said â—nto him I say not to thee unto seven times but unto seventy seven times Matth. 18.22 and so read on to the end of the Chapter of the Parable of the Debtor of that hard-hearted man that would not forgive his Brother that had trespassed against him mark the severity of the Lordâ— So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do unto you except ye fromâ— your hearts forgive each one to his Brother their trespasses Verse the last But I have not sinned or trespassed against thee yet thou hast cast me into Prison only for keeping Christ's Commands therefore greater will be thy condemnation except thou repent and return to the Lord before it be too late when there is no place of repentance to be found And whereas it is reported we deny the Scriptures and are unlearned and unmannerly because we speak the Truth as thee or thou thy or thine to a single person read from Genesis to the Revâ—lation and see where it is you or your to a single person but they are unlearned that have not learned Christ and follows not his Doctrine but Teacheth for Doctrine the commandments of men Mark 7.7 and such are unmannerly that speak not Truth but â—uns on according to their own hearts lust not knowing a bridle to their tongue and are from the pure fear of the Lord in their hearts which keeps clean but runs on in the broad way into evil communication that is it which corrupts good manners And much more might be spoken according to the Scripâ—ures of Truth which we own and practice according to the Spirit of Truth from whence they werâ— given â—orth and therefore I desire that all people may read them profess them and possess them that they may live the life of them for which end they were given forth fâ—â—ely and not to be made a trade of Again read the Scriptures and see who it was all along that perâ—ecuted about Religion Pharaoh the hard-hearted one Ishmaâ—l a Mocker Cain a Man-slayer the envious one Herod the Adulterer that cut off Iohn Baptists head and slew the innocent Children aiming at Christ whom the Scribes and Pharisees Elders â—nd the high and chief Priest fulfilled with many that followed after him to wit Christ Again read the Scriptures and see where the Prophets Christ or his Apostles or aâ—y of the holy men of God persecuted about Religion but Christ said When ye are persecuted in one City flee to another or when they were â—ocked reproached reviled and shaâ—efully intreated or buffetted and smitten on the â—ne Cheek turn the â—ther also read Iames 2.20 27. So Christ's Commands are contrary to thine which is to do good against evil and not to render evil for evil but bless and curse not and pray for them that dispitefully use you for God is Love Therefore examine thy self and see whether of these footstepâ— thou treadest in who sent thy Servants with a Writ of Excommunication who came unto me to the Plough and violently haled me away and one of them came with a Lye in his Moâ—th saying He was come to cite me again to the Court but it was to take me to Prison unto which I never resisted but went freely to sufâ—er for the Name of Christ for he hath not only called a people to believe in his Name but also to suffer read the Epistle of Iude. And so Christ's Prophesie is fulfilled in this day who said They shall Excommunicate you and cast you out of their Synagogues yea if they kill you they shall think thâ—y do God Service And the other as I was going with them about â— Lands-length from the Teem pulled out â— Pistol threatning if I offered to resist them to slay me Read Tâ—â—â—â— 1.7 to thâ— last Verse And so the Teem was conâ—trained as I heard since to return with the Seed home again Are these the Fruits of Christ who said his Kingdom was not of this World therefore his Servants would not fight And art thou a Bishop like unto Timothy that was blameless O consider of these things before it be too late and lay them truly to heart for the good of thy Soul and do not dispise me because of my Youth but forsake that persecuting spirit of Saul that thou may'st become a preaching Paul But if thou perish I am clear of thy Blood W. H. Warwick the 3 d Moneth 1669. THE END 1 Tim. 5.20 Them that sin to rebuke openly that the rest may also fear Rom. 12.14 Bless them that pâ—rsecute you bless I say and curse nâ—t