undone state 'T is true as God begins to work the Evil one works also the slavery of Israel seems to be heavier till God by a powerful Hand and a strong Arm binds the power of the Adversary till he brings the soul from under his dominion And this is understood first in the discovery of sin Secondly in the Reproofs for it and then in the drawings of Gods Spirit wherein if man although he can act nothing that is good yet if he can but stand still and only look on he may be caught before he is a ware as a firebrand out of the fire and the soul seeing its misery will then begin to groan under the bondage of its corruptions at the gronings of which the compassions of God will be stretched forth and his bowels of loving kindnesses will be extended and his Arm will be made bare to work a deliverance out of Aegypt from under the domination of the power of sin Thus will the Soul be brought into a wilderness and into a Warfare where as God of old accompanied his people in a Pillar of Cloud by day and of Fire by night so also now will he accompany them by his Holy and Saving Spirit by which he will give them the knowledge of his Law as afore time at Mount Sina wherein the Condemnation Wrath and Terrors of God against the whole man of sin comes to be known and under the banner of which man must walk till he comes to possess the blessed Inheritance as once the Apostle Paul said the Law is our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Thus we at length following the Lord which draws us come neer to the good Land come to view and see it to behold the excelency and goodness of it and also to tast of the fruits thereof and now and not till now he sets before us life and death and the will now comes into a certain equal capacity of chosing of either the excellency of what we hope for is set before our eyes God puts us into the capacity of chosing either good or evil before he sets the choice before us and gives us the priviledge of embracing of that which the freedome of our wills inclines us to wherein if we choose death our blood is upon our own heads and the Lord our God is clear And what now could the Lord do more for us he would but we will not he did not say to us when we were in Aegypt dead in trespasses and sins this day have I set before you life and death chose you whether but he first quickned us when we knew him not and brought us into the capacity of chosing and then set life and death before us from whence forward if we dye our destruction is of our selves 23. What is not God Almighty is not he stronger than we cannot he which brings to the borders and sight of the good Land bring into it Yes he can and will bring all that chose the good into the possession thereof but he brings not man thereinto against his will for he gives him the freedome of his choice he that would enjoy life and be everlastingly happy must love and follow the Lord God with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might and with all his strength 24. Wherefore is it then that some chose death and perish The Answer is because of an evil heart of Unbelief the way is strait and narrow difficult to flesh and blood there are many thorns to be trampled upon and many crosses to be borne and much to be denyed that is very dear to the flesh and although the land seems to be a good and pleasant Land and infinitely to be desired yet the difficulty of attaining of it the hardships which are to be met with in the way to it and the hopelessness of entering therein seem as so many Hydra's to deter the soul and to stave it off from so much as hoping much less striving after its everlasting happiness and this is the sad condition of all those who consult with flesh and blood and have taken up a liking to and a pleasure in the sading delights and glorys of this world who think that the ways of sin are casie and the paths thereof broad and so take up through the reception of the evil report of the good Land a resolution to return back again like the Dog to the Vomit and the Sow which was washed to the wallowing in the Mire the end of whom is fearful and miserable 25. There are many ways in the World every one says they are in the right now since there can be but one right way how shall he which never knew the true escape the false He that would find the true and escape the false must come to know that which neither can deceive nor be deceived which is the holy Spirit of Truth which as is already said is that which reproves the world of sin and by the same to know the Son the belief in whom is eternal life this Faith if true is that which overcomes the world and through Christ our Lord gives us the Victory and makes us partakers of that new which is the true and living way which Jesus the Author of a better Testament than the Old has consecrated with his blood and he which comes into this Faith comes into the true way which is not in names and terms and distinguishing Titles nor in Sects nor in Opinions or any reproachful Epithite but consists in holyness and the fear of the Lord in standing and abiding in the holy life and councel of God and till people come into this they are all out of the way We desire you not to be Quakers but to come to know and believe in this and to walk as Christ our Lord and Master walked before us and then you need not doubt but to be Christians which is indeed what we are and what we indeed desire all to be 26. Tell me plainly what mean you by Jesus Christ We mean what the Scriptures mean Col. 1.16.22 him that is before all things him by whom the world was created even all things which are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible Eph. 3.19 whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers even him which in the fulness of time was manifest in flesh born of a Virgin Heb. 1.10 who having made peace through the blood of the Cross do's reconcile all things unto God whether things in Earth Act. 2.36 or things in Heaven and in the body of his flesh through death to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight if we continue in the Faith grounded and setled Col. 1.22.23 and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which we have heard 2 Thes 2.16 and was preached to every creature under heaven This is he whom we mean this is he in whom we believe
is there of Scriptures Ministers Teachers and the like Though the Spirit or Anointing be sufficiently able both to teach and reveal yet by reason of the darkness of mens minds John 14.26 and understandings being alienated from the life of God Eph. 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them it was necessary to have the witness and directions both of the Scriptures Jer. 1.5 and Gods chosen Vessels some of which were sanctified in the womb for that purpose as Jeremiah to direct them to the knowledge of that Holy Spirit Isa 49.1.5 which shall lead them into all Truth And because the Spirit of Truth is the same in all and answers through every Vessel as face answers face in a glass 2 Pet. 1.12 therefore the Saints of old were not negligent to put us always in remembrance of these things though we know them and are established in this present Truth 12. What is the Office of the Spirit of Truth The Office of the Spirit of Truth is to Reprove to Teach and to Sanctifie Rom. 15.16 It Reproves of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment It teaches us the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ It Sanctifies in body soul and Spirit through Faith in his holy name 13. How does it Reprove It Reproves by witnessing in our Consciences against all our evil ways in thought word Ro. 1.32 Eph. 5.5 and deed testifying against and condemning the same showing that all such as do those things are worthy of death and can have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God 14. How does it teach It teaches us by the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to deny our selves and take up the daily Cross that as he dyed and offered one Sacrifice once for all for sin even the sins of the whole world so we also every one in particular should dayly dye to sin that through a mortification of the deeds of the the flesh we might come to witness a holy life in all righteousness in Spirit a new Birth a new man a new life in which Christ only rules and dwells all which is only to be known through the sanctification of the whole intire being 15. How does this Spirit Sanctifie It Sanctifies through Faith in the name of the dear Son of God which faith brings forth a lively hope by which the heart is purified as God is pure and if this Purification be not witnessed the faith is very much to be questioned for the true faith being grounded upon Knowledge and that Knowledge upon the Revelations of the holy spirit must needs have a purging force for who is he that shall really believe from a present Knowledge of the same the wrath of God to be revealed against the man of sin and all manner of unrighteousness of men and shall come to know the terrors of the Lord who is able to cast into Eternal Flames and yet shall persist on in their Wickedness what Vigor what force has the true Faith in it what a strong cord is that which holds the Anchor of hope no less than the possession of an Eternal Inheritance an Everlasting life in an Immense Ocean of Joy and unspeakable satisfaction in the Lord in the presence and communion of his Saints and holy Angels 16. How does this Faith Operate in the Soul There are several ministrations and dispensations and yet by the same Spirit the ministration of Condemnation which is a gloriouswork is first to be known Mount Sina is the way that tends to Mount Sion there is a Wilderness between AEgypt Canaan the Thunders the Jugments the Terrors are first to be past through before the feet of that Messenger which brings the Message of the glad tydings of Peace can be known there is nothing but the death of the first life can satisfie the wrath Isa 52. 7. and that Life that Spirit that Power is that which makes the Attonement and makes the Soul lay hold thereof thus the new Birth comes to be known the holy Life to be witnessed and that to appear which can behold the Mercy-Seat with open face Till then the Cherubims which are in number two according to the two dispensations of the Law and Gospel which are beaten out of the Mercy Seat and Figure out the Condemnation of the said dispensations Rev. 11.5.6 do like the two Witnesses out of whose mouth Fire proceedeth and who have power to smite the Earth with Plagues still remain 17. This Christian Pattern seems to be very hard how far must we go before we can enter into the good Land The work of Condemnation is first to be gone through before an enterance into the good Land can be administred mean season with Moses as a Servant upon Mount Nebo mayest thou have a sight thereof behold the excellency and the goodness thereof have great knowledge and openings of the Divine Life and infinitely desire it yet have no admittance till the vail of flesh is put off till the low carnal mind which is for death is dead and buryed till nothing but the pure part remains till even the Perfection of Holyness comes to be known 18. How Is perfection to be expected in this Life Yes And if our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ speak truth without any difficulty Mat. 11.30 Take my yoak upon you for my yoak is easie and my burthen light the which is confirmed by the mouth of the beloved Desciple who saith his Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 and what are his Commandments Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect love one another which Love saith the Apostle Paul is the bond of perfection to which he often exhorts the Saints But let us a little consider this Perfection more narrowly In what do we offend daily doubtless you will answer in thought or word or deed he then that offends not in one of these three is a Perfect man but saist thou how can this be I answer thee The God whom we worship and adore is an Almighty God and through his Almighty Power is not only able to keep us from falling Jud. 24. but also faultless and shall we mistrust his Power shall we doubt his Almightiness No No. How shall we do then I 'le tell thee thou must watch the Command is given to all I say saith the Lord watch Thou saist thou canst not how then that is true of thy self thou canst not the Psalmist saith Except the Lord keep the City the Watchmen watch in vain Thou hast many enemies to contend withal thou art but newly got out of Aegypt how shalt thou venture to engage them the answer is short and ready stand still wait and thou shalt see the Salvation of God since thou canst do nothing that is good go not backward rather stand still that good Spirit that has brought thee one step onward of the way if but barely out of Aegypt he
be witnesses thereunto A Religion repleat with so much purity as ours is has somthing very excellent and Divine which you know not of and your Ignorance takes away your desire of knowing lest by the prevalency of the Justice of our Cause you should be witnesses against your selves Of how much Folly would you judge that Man guilty who never Read any part of the Law should yet assume to teach a Councel the knowledge thereof or he who understanding nothing of Physick should not only pretend to Instruct an old Learned and experienced Physitian but also presume to correct his Method and way of Practise And yet certainly the Folly and Ignorance of our Adversaries far surpasseth this in that they are so far from desiring to know the truth that they hate and malign all such as but offer although in kindness to inform them thereof such is the power and force of blind Zeal that it makes all its prostitutes chuse rather to be the Vassals of wilful Ignorance than to relinquish the greatest of absurdities although in exchange for that whose own worth might be a sufficient recompense for the greatest of deserts 3. We expected that the Adversary should have proved his Assertions in publick but that his prudence or want of abilities has made him decline for it is a thing not only improbable but also impossible for him to perform as in the Sequel hereof we hope we shall both plainly and truly make appear There is no doubt but whosoever shall be saved must necessarily be a Christian since the Scripture saith there is no other name under Heaven by which we can hope for Salvation the which is confirmed in a certain place by the Testimony of that Great and Eminent Apostle Paul where he saith that If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the mouth Confession is made unto Salvation Since therefore we have witnessed to the whole World a good Confession and believe in our hearts what our tongues have spoken we have not only hope but also know if the Credit of so great an Apostle may be prevalent that we are become heirs of Salvation and if heirs of Salvation then Christians since there is no Salvation by any other Name under Heaven If the Adversary Objects we believe not in our hearts it remains on his part to prove his Assertion which we know he cannot if he undertake that work he must take upon him the Prerogative of God Almighty For he that declares to man what his thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name 4. That so good a Confession has been witnessed unto by us has been daily apparent ever since we have been a People called by the Lord and that both by word of mouth Writing as many thousand Witnesses living can abundantly testifie and we are faithfully perswaded that this is so apparent that our very Adversaries themselves believe nothing less in their own Consciences though since Malice and Envy has taken place in their hearts they have had boldness and impudence enough not only to belch out such Poyson and Malignity and in so large a measure that the Mists thereof seem like the Foggs out of the Bottomless Pit to darken the Air but also with such Ardency and Violence that they have even stupified their own Souls So that what they reported although at first they really knew them to be egregious Lyes yet the continuance in and accustomed use of so ill a medium has not only blinded their Knowledge obsuscated their Reason but also so benummed their Senses that they themselves begin now to think those things to be true than the which at the first they really knew there was no greater falshoods could be declared by any Mortal 5. If in order we pass over the several Testimonies of many of the Lords Servants as what John Crook has said in a Book called Truths Principles the Testimony of George Whitehead in his Divinity of Christ Confessed of Isaac Pennington in his Scattered Sheep p. 8. and in his Question to the Professors of Christianity p. 31. Of George Fox in his Declaration to the Jews Of George Fox the younger in the Collection p. 208. Of John Whitehead in his small Treatise p. 7. besides a Cloud of other Testimonies the which time would sail us here to ennumerate whose Declarations and Confessions have been so large and ample that we think they exceed the power of Words to make a more full Profession yet we think it necessary to bring in the Words of William Pen whose Confession of Faith the Adversary calls although in Scripture Language a meer Equivocation an old Art of Deceivers and so much the more especially since his Integrity and Uprightness has been so infinitely wronged by the blackness and malice of the Enemies of Truth Hear his own Expressions in the last page of his Sandy Foundation shaken And lastly as concerning Christ Although the Slander is not new yet nevertheless false for I declare on the behalf of that despised People vulgarly called Quakers the Grace of which we testifie hath never taught us to acknowledge another God than he that 's the Father of all things who fills Heaven and Earth neither to confess another Lord Jesus Christ than he that appeared so many hundred years ago made of a Virgin like unto us in all things sin excepted or any other Doctrine than was by him declared and practised therefore let every mouth be stopt for ever opening more in Blasphemy against Gods junocent heritage who in Principle Life and Death bear an unanimous Testimony for the only true God true Christ and Heavenly Doctrine 6. These things are here reminded for the sakes of such honest and simple Souls who in the integrity of their hearts desire to know the Truth as for our own particulars we could have willingly and patiently born through the strength of Christ which assists us not only all this but whatsoever the fury and rage of the evil ones should be permitted to inflict upon us It is that Christian Charity which is in our Souls towards all mankind which engages us to appear in the behalf of the Truth this day and to bear a witness to that which shall out-live all salshoods and lyes and tryumph over the strongest Power of Hell and Death We are not ashamed to be discovered what we are 't is that we seek after that we may be apparent to the whole world We esteem it our glory to bear the Reproach of our Master and account nothing dishonourable which we undergoe for his sake The Adversary accuses us of evil whose necessary appendices are both Fear and Shame but it is such an Evil as wants the proper Indications of Guilt For we have no other Fear upon us but that which keeps us from offending our God nor any other