of what thou comprehendest to be Truth from the Letter of the Scripture under what form name or title soever thou be thou art a dead man and a dead woman and the wrath of God abides on thee though thou see it not Rom. 7.9 there Paul witnesseth saying I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed Friends every one in particular deal justly with your hearts see what you can witness of your death with Christ by the powerfull Word of Truth which enlightens the Conscience and condems sin in the flesh for every one would ascend with Christ to be partakers of the Life and Glory with him but he becomes a stumbling-stone to be baptized with him into his Sufferings and Death to descend with him into Hell and this thou must witness before ever thou come to sit with him in heavenly places for it is they and they alone that shall reign with him who suffer with him and they that are dead with him shall live with him It is the dead that hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Arise thou that sleepest in the dust of the Earth securely in thy serpentine wisdom thy mind feeding upon the dust of the Earth created objects which will perish Arise stand up to Judgment that Christ may give thee Life This is required of thee O man To do Justly love Mercy and to walk Humbly with thy God Examine thy heart and deal justly with thy own Soul There is a Light in thy Conscience which Light is of Christ minding it will let thee see the Mystery of Iniquity that lodgeth in thy heart which is deceitfull and desperately wicked and this Light in thy Conscience which discovers unto thee the evil of thy heart is of the eternal Word of God and was from the beginning according as it is written in the outward Testimony of the Truth In thâ— beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word is God and the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men And the Light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not Every one arise out of your earthly wisdom and mind the Light in thy Conscience and wait on the Power of the Lord in it and it will bring thee to judgment before the Throne of the Lamb where the righteous Law will be opened in thy heart that will cry through thy earthly heart for Righteousness and Judgment and the Book will be opened in thee where thou shalt see all written that thou hast done in the body and shalt give an account for every idle word and receive thy reward for what thou hast done and thy reward is Wrath and Condemnation which will pass upon thee from the presence of the Lamb for thy disobedience and breaking of the righteous Law which must be fulfilled and what way soever thou turnest to get life in outward forms and observations the flaming Sword which is the righteous Law that goes out of the mouth of the Lamb 't will turn every way and meet thee and cut thee down and cast thee into Hell where there is weeping and wailing for want of the presence of God and thou canst do nothing to pacify the Wrath of God which is gone out against thee Now wouldst thou hide thy self as Adam did when he appears in thy heart thy fig-leav'd garment of prayers tears forms outward observations according to thy comprehension of the Letter will not cover thy nakedness it served to cover thy nakedness from the sight of men but now when the Lord appears in thy heart thou canst not stand before him Now comes Cain in thee to be driven from the face of God to be a Fugitive and a Vagabond in the Earth notwithstanding all his Sacrifices and Esau in thee reprobated never to have the blessing though he seek it with tears and the Bond-woman and her son cast out and the first Adam now slain with the sharp Sword that goeth out of the mouth of the Lamb and art made to give up thy soul to God whose it is to do with thee what he will if he destroy thee for ever he may and if he save thee from eternal death it is his free Love Now art thou baptized with Christ into his Sufferings and Death where thou liest sealed down under the Eternal Judgment of God and there perishest for ever for any power or help thou hast in thy self and this is the Administration of Moses where thou liest condemned for ever under the righteous Law without any help or hope until the Administration of the Prophets that prophesie of a Christ that hath satisfied the righteous Law of God for thee who art lost and condemned under the power of the Law of Moses And now there is a secret hope raised up in thy soul and thou lookest up from under the condemning power of Moses for a Saviour And the Prophets are until John and of all that were born of women there was not one greater then John for he is a burning and shining Light that lets thee see the filthiness of thy heart and the Law shines in its purity to condemn the earthly man in thee but he strengthens the hope in thee that was raised up by the Prophets to see the beauty and excellency of Jesus Christ which ravisheth thy lost condemned soul that thou art willing to sell all for him the Scripture now being fulfilled in thee who witnesseth this from the dayes of John even until now The Kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent take it by force now is every Mountain and Hill laid low in thee and crooked wayes made straight and the rough way in thee made smooth and thou waitest in the Wilderness and lost condition of thy self for the Salvation of God to be manifest to thee in Jesus Christ and in the appointed time of the Father the Son of man comes to thy soul as a thief in the night as the Lightning from the East to the West so is his appearance in thee and causeth thy dead soul to hear his voice which witnesseth to it eternal Life freely through his own blood and thy soul hears his voice and by the word of his Power is made to live and is sealed up by the holy Spirit of Promise the Spirit of God bearing witness with thy spirit that thou art his child Now comest thou to witness the second Adam to be a quickening Spirit and Isaac the promised Seed to be Heir for ever And that the wages of Sin is death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life And that by Grace thou art saved through Faith in the Lord Jesus not of works lest any should boast and he that hath Hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure and the love of Christ
after and he that gets the most is highest exalted so every one is exalted above another and there is nothing but Tyranny Cruelty and Oppression among you you sons and daughters of Babylon And in her was found the blood of the Prophets and of the Sains and all that were slain upon the Earth The Merchants of Babylon are your Teachers who draw you from your Guide which is the pure Light of Christ in you to seek the Kingdom of God in observations without you contrary to the mind of Christ The Kingdom of God comes not with observations neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you But these your Merchants have no Scripture for their Merchandize which they sell to you enslaved Captives for so many hundreds in the year and is paid in the Nation or elsewhere for these observations they tell you you must observe or else you cannot come to the Kingdom of Heaven though they are contrary to the Scripture as are practised by them there is no Scripture that witnesseth their call to the Ministry by humane wisdom Not many great not many noble not many wise after the flesh There is no Scripture which testifies of any that Jesus Christ sent forth that made a Bargain with the People for so much a year as these do that profess themselves to be sent of Christ This is the call of the Ministers of Christ Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ neither of man nor by man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ I send you forth saith Jesus Christ as Lambs among Wolves Into what Town or City ye enter enquire who is worthy and if they receive you there abide eating such things as is set before you the Labourer is worthy of his meat freely ye have received freely minister Those whom Jesus Christ commits the Word of Eternal life unto and calls them forth to declare it unto others the Love of Jesus Christ which is sealed up to their souls through his own blood constrains them to give up themselves to death in witnessing forth the Eternal Life they enjoy in Christ as it was it is The Love of Christ constraineth me to preach the Gospel saith Paul But these your Merchants are they which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousness And as there is no Scripture for their call to the Ministry by their human learning nor making bargains with the people for so much in the year so there is no Scripture for these observations they call the Ordinances of God as they are practised by them There is no Scripture that Christ or any that he sent forth did take a Child and sprinkle water on its face and said in so doing they baptized it into the Church of Christ Suffer little Children to come unto me saith Christ and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God for whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child shall not enter therein He sets the Child as a type and a figure to shew forth to every one that they must become as a little Child depending upon the Will of God before they enter into the Kingdom of God He took them up in his arms and put his hands on them and blessed them but that he sprinkled water on their faces and said He baptized them into his Church there is no such Scripture Another observation your Teachers tell you you must observe is hearing these Studied Sermons in taking a part of Scripture and adding to it their wisdom calls it The Word of God which is contrary to the Scripture but they say They have Christ for an example There was delivered to him the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and when he had opened the Book he found where it was written The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel unto the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of the sight of the blind and to set at liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable year of the Lord And he closed the Book and sate down and he began to say unto them This day is the Scripture fulfilled in your ears And all bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth He was the substance of the Prophesie which was then fulfilled in him This is no ground for any to take the Saints words and to add to it their wisdom and call that the Word of God The Prophet that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream He that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Is not my word like a fire and like a hammer saith the Lord that breaks the Rocks in pieces All to whom the Word of the Lord is committed can witness it to be as a fire within them and as a hammer that breaketh the rocks in pieces subjecting all in the heart under the power of it self so it alone rules and guides him that he is what he speaks that if he had never seen any thing that the Saints have declared without him he had known what is manifest in him and he to whom the Word is thus made manifest is a true Minister of Christ who is called to speak the Word faithfully But these that call themselves your Teachers and make bargains with you for so much by the year they never witnessed the word of the Lord in them as a fire and like a hammer that breaketh the Rocks in pieces so they never had any thing to have spoken of the Lord but as they have stoln it from the testimony of the Saints So they speak a divination of their own brain a riddle to their own hearts and whilst they speak to others themselves are cast-aways And the Lord testifies against them Behold I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that steal my Word every one from his Neighbour 〈…〉 Behold I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that use their tongue and say He saith Behold I am against them that prophesie false Dreams saith the Lord and to tell them and cause my People to err by their Lyes and by their lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit the People at all saith the Lord And this fruit is made manifest of the Ministry that hath been in England Another Observation your Teachers bid you observe which is contrary to Scripture as it is practised by them in singing of David's Psalms in Meeter taking David's words who was a man after Gods own heart and putting words into the mouthes of poor ignorant People to sing that which they never knew and so causeth them to blaspheme the Name of God saying Let us sing to the Praise and Glory of
hiâ— Enemies and that he was buried and rosâ— again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascendeâ— on high and exalted at the right hand oâ— the Father for evermore and that he iâ— glorified with the same Glory that he haâ— before the World was and that even thâ— same that came down from Heaven is ascendeâ— up to Heaven and the same that descended iâ— he that ascended And we believe Even he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to judge the whole World with Righteousness and all People with Equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall arise to Condemnation or Justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the world was and that is the knowledge unto Eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive and he subdues Death and destroys him that hath â—he power of it and restoreth from Death â—o Life and quickneth by his Spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifieth and such â—re taught of him but he condemns all â—hat believes not and continue in unbelief â—nd are not taught of him And this we â—aithfully believe And we believe That unto all People â—pon the face of the whole Earth is a time â—nd day of Visitation given that they may â—eturn and be saved by Jesus Christ who is given of the Father to call the worst oâ— men to repentance and the most ungodâ—â— of Sinners are convinced by him of theâ— ungodly deeds that they might believe anâ— be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the Love oâ— God manifested to all mankind and thâ—â— none are shut out by him before they were boâ—â— into the World but unto all men is a Visitâ—tion given and they that perish it is becauâ—â— they do not believe in Christ and Destructâ—on is of a mans self but Salvation is of Goâ— through believing in his Son who takâ—â—… away Sin and reneweth into his own Imagâ— that they may become Heirs with him And we believe That there is a Crowâ— of Eternal Glory and an Inheritance 〈◊〉 Eternal Life to be injoyed for evermore bâ— all that believe and are chosen of God And that there is an Everlasting Miseâ—â— and Destruction to be possessed by all thâ—â— believe not but continues in the state 〈◊〉 Reprobation and are not changed from tâ— Wayes of Sin and Death but walk after tâ—â— ways of their own hearts lusts fulfillinâ— the will of the Flesh in the evil of thâ— world and follows not Christ the Lighâ— of the world that they may be saved anâ— we believe upon all such the wrath of God abideth and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe that it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death to Life and who is redeemed out of the World and all its wayes such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they onely have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleansed from all unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their Sins are remitted For his Blood cleanseth them from all Vnrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned the World withal And we believe that the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of Sins and may be perfectly freed from the body of Sin and Death and in Christ may be perfect and without Sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Jesus Christ And we believe every Saint that is called of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtaiâ— it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walâ— not after the Flesh but after the Spirit anâ— are in Covenant with God and their Sinâ— are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit Sin being born oâ— the Seed of God And we believe the Gospel of Christ 〈◊〉 the Power of God unto Salvation and that iâ— ought to be preached freely unto all Peoplâ— and Christ to be held forth to all Mankinâ— by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is receiveâ— by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and all theâ— that receive it are lawfully called to thâ— Ministry and they may preach the Gospâ—â— of Christ freely as they have received 〈◊〉 freely and this Ministry is not of Maâ— but of God and is made powerfull to thâ— converting of Sinners and to the bringinâ— of People to God and to the knowledgâ— of his Wayes And we do not believâ— that any man is a Minister of Christ witâ—out the Gift of the Holy Ghost or that thâ— Gospel can be received by natural learninâ— or education And we believe such as preach for hire and hath hire for Preaching are not the lawfully called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are proud and high-minded and covetous men who do not profit the People at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calleth by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governours we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governours in every Nation City Country or Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge Righteously Equally and Justly and will give true and sound Judgement unto all men without bribery or respect of persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a praise unto all that do well and a terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continually exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being thâ— Foundation thereof that Gods Witness iâ— every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all People beforâ— Transgression be charged or punished iâ— any man And we believe That every Transgreâ—sion ought to be punished according to itâ— nature and that the punishment exceeâ— not the greatness of the Transgression neâ—ther ought any Transgressor to escape uâ—punished neither ought any upon falâ—â— suspition or jealousies be caused to suffeâ— without the Testimony of true men or thâ— Confession of the Party And we believe That the Executors oâ— the Law ought to be Just men and not gâ—ven to Pride Drunkenness or any otheâ— Evil whatsoever And we believe
endeavours to blind the mind not the brain-knowledge but the hearty-feeling sence within in the mind lest the Light within should so shine as God should heal them and all the buslings of Satan with his gifts are but to blind the mind within lest God should heal the soul that complains to him from the true sight and sence of his Misery as in himself By this Grace and Gift within we believe That to Vs though in the world there be Lords many and Gods many there is but ONE GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ witnessed within man only by the Spirit of Truth that manifests both the Father and the Son and yet these three are one and agree in one and he that honours the Father honours the Son that proceeds from him and he that denies the Spirit denies both the Father and the Son and is Anti-Christ but he that believes in the Spirit and is led by it is the Son of God Rom. 8.14 As many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God We believe The Scriptures bare witness unto and testifie of Christ but they say The Witness of God is greater than them The Spirit it self bearing witness with our spirits that we are the Sons of God for it is not the Scriptures without the Spirit nor the Spirit contrary to the Scriptures but the Spirits discovering the Will of God in the heart or opening of the Scriptures in its own time and way and not in or by the will of man but as it self pleaseth who searcheth all even the deep things of God and manifests them unto the Soul which giveth the perfect sound and saving knowledge for said Christ The Spirit shall take of mine and shew them unto you And as holy men gave forth the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.21 so holy men and they only come truly to understand them and not proud and ungodly men because their hearts and lives do not answer the hearts and lives of those that gave them forth aâ— face answereth face in a Glass And this we believe to be the reason why so long preaching by men of corrupt minds who have and do handle the words deceitfully for selfish ends and filthy lucre sake hath brought forth so little fruit and been to so little purpose except to their Purses and Bellies for had they believed and thereforâ— spoken and stood in Gods Counsel they shoulâ— have profited their Hearers Jer. 23.21 22 23 to the end Through this Gift we believe Thaâ— Christ Iesus the Son of God was manifest in the flesh in the fulness of time And this we know by the same Spirit by which our Fathers believed he should come and Abraham saw his day by the same we do believe he is come and do see his day as also by the Prophets and Apostles Writing which twofold Cord is not easily broken We believe also according to the Scriptures of Truth That this same Jesus hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every name that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that there is not another name whereby man can be saved than this Name of Jesus Christ nor is Remission of Sins to be preached by any other name But as we do not believe that the outward Letters and Syllables are that Name that is to be bowed to by the outward knee no more than the Letters or Syllables in the words God or Spirit seeing the Scripture saith Vnto God who is a Spirit every knee shall bow Isa 45.23 but the Name which saves is the Power and Arm of God that brings Salvation from Sin and makes every Soul that names it to depart from Iniquity This is that Name which was preached and which is preached through Faith in which Name Remission of Sin is obtained Therefore was the outward word Jesus given him as his outward name Thou shalt call his Name JESVS for he shall save his People from their Sins Mark for he shall save c. So that which saves is the Name which is to be believed in which is that Arm of God that brings Salvation when no eye pitties neither is there any to help the Power of God that then saves is that Grace that comes from the fulness of Christ the Saviour And without this virtue Christ and Jesus are but empty names 1 Cor. 12.3 No man can say that Jesus is the LORD but by the holy Ghost We believe also That this Jesus died for or because of Sin and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him as well as to manifest to all the world that he was the Son of God and that he thereby spoiled Principalities and Powers and triumphed over them openly and led Captivity captive in his own person yet we believe and know by his Grace in our hearts that as his Name Jesus without Vertue and Power is but an empty word so his Dying without man's Conformity to his Death or being planted into the likeness thereof or being crucified with Christ as saith the Scripture Rom. 6.2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 2.20 will not profit man as to the Salvation of his Soul no more than the naming of his outward name Jesus doth at this day make people to depart from Iniquity For we believe and are sure that man must dye inwardly as well as Christ died outwardly and must be put to death in his flesh as Christ was in his for he that is in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 neither cease from sin but he that is dead is freed from sin Rom. 6.7 And yet mans dying unto Sin and the Root and Principle of it in himself is so far from making void Christ's Death in his own person that it establlsheth it to all those ends and purposes for which it was intended of the Father As the Cures which the Physitian doth manifest and establish his skill and ability so doth mans dying unto Sin and Self and living unto God manifest and establish the Vertue and Power of Christ's Death for as man manifests his being risen with Christ by his seeking the things that are above Col. 3.1 2. so doth he manifest his knowledge of the Death of Christ by his being crucified with Christ and bearing about in his body the dyings of the Lord Jesus for as it is not an outward belief gathered from the Letter that will change the heart and life though the Judgment and Opinion it may so it is not a belief from the History or Letter only that can give man a saving-knowledge of the Death of Christ but he must have the same Glory and Power of the Father in measure working in him there to beget Faith in his heart that he may believe unto Salvation from his own filthiness and righteousness as well as confess with his mouth Rom. 10. and must have that Spirit in him quickning his mortal body as well as to believe that it was in Christ and raised
foolishness whose beauty and excellency is hid from its eye But this is because the wisdom of man is out of its place not subjected to the Wisdom of God but exalted above it therefore as a curse unto it is it suffered to lift up it self in its conceitfulness against and so to persecute the pure Wisdom of God and the birth thereof that it might fall and be broken and snared and taken and its day deservedly come to an end and be shut up in the shadows and chambers of eternal darkness But what ear of Man can hear this Surely none that is whole in the line of Man's wisdom reason and understanding but that alone which is bruised broken and in some measure dashed to pieces by the inroads of a diviner Life and Nature This in the Leading of that Life which hath broken it and in the shinings of the Light eternal upon it and into it may be enabled to take up the Cross to the natural part and to die that Death with Christ which preserves from the second Death with the misery thereof Happy is he who knows and hearkens to the Perswasions of Gods Spirit who is born of God and taught to wait upon him and worship him in Spirit who receives his Religion from the Light of Faith into the renewed Nature and Mind and not from the Reason of Man into the natural understanding which is easily corrupted and cannot be kept pure but alone by the indwelling of the Principle of Eternal Life in it For though such may suffer very deeply in this World from the men of this World as the Subjects and Servants to the Principle of Life have done in all Ages and Generations yet their Principle will bear them out in which God will appear to strengthen and refresh their spirits and carry them up above all their Sufferings in the Patience Meekness and Faith of the Lamb And keeping to their Principle they cannot be overcome but must either live or die Conquerors according to the will and good pleasure of Him who ordereth and disposeth of all things well and bringeth good out of every evil in despite of all the Powers of Darkness And he that overcometh whether by life or death in the Lamb's Spirit shall wear the Lamb's Crown and sit down in that perfect Rest in the Kingdom of the Father which will give the hearts of all his Children full Satisfaction In which assured hope Life stirring in our bosoms and quickning our hearts with Love unto our God and Zeal for his Truth we can freely give up all that is near and dear unto uâ— in this World and lay down our heads iâ— inward Peace in the midst of the greatesâ— outward Persecution and Trouble Eveâ— so O Lord thy Will be done concerning theâ— Generation of thy People whom thou hast begotten to thy Self and brought forth by thy mighty Power to testifie to thy Truth in thiâ— present day Dispose of them as it pleaseth Thee and let not their Faith in thee nor thy Faithfulness to them fail but let them be 〈◊〉 Praise to thy Name throughout all Generations and tendered by Thee as the First-fruits of thine Appearance in the Glorious Light of the Everlasting Day after this great long thick and dark Night of Apostacy from the Life and Spirit of the Apostles which hath so long eclipsed and covered the brightness of thy Beauty from the sight of the Earth Isaac Pennington A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we believe who are called Quakers ALSO What Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny Concerning God Christ and the Spirit thus we believe FIrst That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things That Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things remain unto this day by his Power and whatsoever hâ— willeth in Heaven and Earth he brings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God onely is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipped by all Creatures and no other thing besides him in Heaven and Earth and we believe that his Worship and Obedience and Fear and Love is to be given in Spirit even in what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his people unto And we believe his True Worship required and accepted of him is not by the tradition of men in outward observances or set dayes or places but he is worshippeâ— only in Spirit and Truth without respect oâ— times places or things and that none caâ— worship him in Righteousness but his Children who are born of his Spirit and are leâ— and guided thereby And we believe That this God hath given his Son Christ Jesus into the World a free Gift unto the whole World and thaâ— every man that cometh into the World iâ— lighted by him that every man may believâ— and be saved And we believe That he is given intâ— the World and no Nation Country oâ— People excepted but to all mankind he is given of God and hath enlightened them And every man through the world that beâ—ieveth in and receiveth Christ who is â—he Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal Salvation And eveâ—y one that believeth not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting misery And we believe That Salvation Justification and Sanctification is onely in Him wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but Him alone by which Salvation is and we beâ—ieve all that receive him and believe â—n him are reconciled to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things and do receive the forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all unrighteousness and from the body of Sin and Death and have the witness of the Spirit â—n them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong to their peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwell in the Saints and by it they have fellowship one with another and thâ— Father Son and Spirit are one And thiâ— we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe That he is one with the Father and waâ— with the Father before the World was and what the Father worketh is by the Son for he is the Arm of Gods Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without beginning or end And we believe That all the Prophetâ— gave Testimony of him and that he waâ— made manifest in Judea and Jerusalem anâ— did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Jews and was crucified by
Perfection and so denies the Ministers work neither do minister freely but seek for gain from â—heir Quarters and will not preach without a price who are not sanctified by the Word of God but plead for a continuance in Sin while people walk upon the Earth Such as minister from the Letter and not from the Spirit who cannot preach except they have time to study and so by their industry provide themselves and â—re not provided of the Lord such a Ministry is of Works and not the Free Gift from God such cannot profit people but â—ead them captive in an empty and dead Form alwayes learning but never able to come to the true knowledge of God such calâ—ed Ministers we do deny and turn from them and testifie against them as the hoâ—y men of God formerly did read Isaiah 56.10 11. Jer. 5.30 31. Mic. 3.11 1 Cor. 1.19 20 26 27 28 29. and chap 2.10 11. Jer. 23.22 30 31 32 Isaiah 56.10 11. Phil. 3.18 19. Jude 11. John 8.24 1 John 3.8 Jer. 23.15 16 17. 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Ezek. 34. Hosea 6.9 Matth. 23. 1 Tim. 5.6 10 11. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2. 2. Such Magistrates who rule for God who be men of Truth fearing God and hating Covetousness who execute true Justice and Judgment in the Earth without partiality not respecting the persons of the Rich nor despising the persons of thâ— Poor but in Truth and Equity giving to every one his due and portion according to the Law of Equity who neither sees nor receive honour from men but see the honour that comes from God onely who are a terror to Evil-doers but a praiâ— to them that do well such Magistrates wâ— own and in the Lord honour Exod. 18.21 Deut. 16.18 19 20. John 5.41 4â— Rom. 13.3 4. But such Magistrates who be proud anâ— lofty who rule not for God but for themselves who love the praise of men anâ— judge for gifts and rewards and love money which is the root of all evil who respect the rich in their gay cloathing abovâ— the poor in vile rayment who seek anâ— receive honour of men and if they 〈◊〉 not honoured with that which they see for turns Judgment backward that Equiâ— cannot enter such as be wrathfull and malicious cannot rule for God such are eâ—couragers of Vice and Wickedness anâ— turn their Sword backward against the Uâ— right and Innocent who reprove sin iâ— the gate such Magistrates we do deny and testifie against for when the Wicked bear rule the Righteous mourn and the Evil-doers rejoyce over them and mock and reproach them Isa 2.11 12 c. Isa 1. â—1 23. John 6.43 Mic. 3.11 Jam. 2.1 2 3 4 9. John 5.44 Isa 59.13 14 15. â—sa 29.21 Prov. 29.2 Such as live in Pride and Pleasures and â—ollow ungodly Lusts and wicked practiâ—es deny God though in words they may â—rofess him even so all such as do evil who follows Drunkenness Oaths Games â—ain Sports and Pleasures and such like â—ngodly actions do deny disgrace and â—reatly dishonour both Ministers and Maâ—istrates though in words they may own â—hem and bow the Hat and Knee and give â—ttering Titles unto them Tit. 1.16 Pasm 15. Hosea 4. James 1.25 Job 32.1 22. To walk Soberly Righteously and doâ—g Justly according as the Grace of God which brings Salvation doth teach an diâ—ect is a sweet savour to the Lord and true owning and in the Lord honouring â—ue Ministers and Magistrates Micah 6. 8. Tit. 2.11 12. Psal 51.17 Isa 57.15 Rom 13.3 But to walk loosly and prophanely doing wicked and unjust actions turning thâ— Grace of God into wantonness Sucâ— are an ill savour to God and denies anâ— dishonours True Ministers and Magistrateâ— James 3.14 15 16. Jude 4. Isa 59.2 3 c. True Honour doth not consist in bowing the Hat and Knee and such like thing for that is the honour below which meâ— seek and receive one of another whicâ— is in the unbelief but in the obediencâ— of the Magistrates just Commands whâ— are a Terror to wickedness but a Praise 〈◊〉 them that do well For the Law wâ— not made for the Righteous who feâ— God and live uprightly but for thâ— Lawless who are out of Gods Fear whâ— live wickedly casting the Law of God behind their backs John 5.44 Romans 1â— 3 4. 1 Tim. 1.8 9 10. Psalm 50 1â— 17. So this may certifie all whom this mâ— come unto that we do not deny Ministerâ— nor Magistrates who are made and ordained by God but honour them in thâ— Lord let our Lives and Conversations and That of God in all your Consciences judge for if all were brought into our Life the Magistrate should live at peace and so as the eyes of your understandings come to be opened with true Light you will see that those who live Soberly and Righteously do own and honour Ministers and Magisrates though they cannot for conscience sake respect their persons nor give them flattering Titles as your Highness your Lordship your Worship and such like for such belong to God For Christ Jesus said I receive not honour from man and saith he How can you believe that receive honour one of another and seeks not the honour that comes from God only Gal. 1.11 12. Rom. 13.1 Deut. 16.18 19. John 1.9 Jam. 2.1 2 3 4 9. John 5.44 Read with understanding prove all things hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 A. Parker To all that want Peace with God Tâ— the Sheep every where not broughâ— home To the thirty breathing Souâ— and to the Seed though in Captivity among and in the midst of 〈◊〉 Professors Greetings of Love Mercy and Peace from God the Father 〈◊〉 the Living VVHere the Bowels are not shut up nor the Heart darkened anâ— where that doth not bear rule which stoppeth the ear and closeth the eye anâ— where prejudice and Rebellion againâ— the Light with the wisdom of the flesâ— through that knowledge which puffeth uâ— hath not wholly eaten up devoured gâ— over and wholly overcome that Tendâ— Principle which once moved in thâ— heart towards that Beeing of the Livinâ— Substance there may my words taâ— entrance and unto such who feel thâ— which breaths to God and who are wiâ—ling to be satisfied concerning the Livinâ— Truth of his Son and who would receive the Truth if they knew it and do yet more desire after the Power of God then all the temporal things that are seen and who are yet come no further than the reading of the Law the Priests Tythes and that Religion that makes nothing perfect and who are come no further then the outward Baptism or Shadow or Figure or such things which are to be left behind Hebr. 6. or who are come no further than the Supper or the Death and so not yet saved by his Life nor drunk of that which saveth and is to cleanse from all that which separateth from God after whom and the incomes of his Love immortal whosoever
now before they had received the Spirit of Truth in themselves by and with that to be led into all Truth but might receive the power of truth in themselves from the Life thereof to convert others into the same therefore said he further after he was risen again But tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high Mark 24.4 so that though they had seen his body before and had now seen him after his Resurrection yet that and all the rest was not enough without the Power and the Spirit which was to come which they were to wait for And so now men should tarry wait and stand still to see the Salvation of God and until they receive the Spirit for it is the Spirit not the body which searcheth all things and sheweth plainly of the Father And by this before written in short I have a little endeavoured to shew unto the meek and single-hearted that Moses when he was upon Earth directed unto Christ As in these words The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Deut. 18.15 And Christ when he was upon Earth directed unto the Spirit which was to come in like words saying These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the Comforter which is the holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things John 14.25 26. And then what if I did write after the manner of men and say If Moses were now upon the Earth and Christ in his own body upon the Earth and Moses with all his Priests Tythâ—s and Offerings and Religion which discovers Sin but makes nothing perfect which Paul profitted much in If he I say should command and exhort all people under his Ministry to go to Christ and hear him And if Christ were now upon Earth and notwithstanding his outward Miracles Circumcision Baptism Supper and Death yet he should command and exhort all that come through the Law or Ministration of Moses unto him to look and tarry and wait for another Comforter that they might receive the Spirit in them and say unto them that that should teach them all things and lead them into all Truth Then whether or no people were to continue following Mose's Priests with their Tythes and long Prayers and still be seeking the Law at their mouth or to come to Christ to seek the Gospel for Moses himself did not say that they should seek the Gospel at the Priests mouth And then when did the Priests ever preach the Gospel And then whether those obey not Moses who leave the Priests and come to Christ the Light and whether such when they are come to Christ should alwayes be looking and following after his Body Miracles Baptism or Supper without them or tarry and wait to receive the Spirit within them And then which of these now should all people that profess Christ be led by in these dayes either Moses or the Person of Christ or the Spirit of Truth And whether such as have received and are truly indeed led by this Spirit of Truth and know that to be their Teacher and follow it and are ruled governed and guided by it according to the Command of Moses and Christ do not hereby obey the command of Moses and Christ and fulfil their Doctrine And whether any other People or Professors whatsoever do obey the Command of Moses and Christ but only such And whether this be not a thing of great concernment to be known and learned by all who profess Christianity But why then do People follow these Priests of England any longer which are contrary to Moses and also to Christ who have no Store-houses but suffer the poor to want within and without and the Widow and the Stranger ready to perish and moreover devour and can never have enough of the Spoil of other mens goods And why do others dispute about and talk of the Body so much which they never saw nor knew And is it not better be silent and know God who dwells in his People and the Spirit of Truth which he requires in the inward parts and to feel after God even the Life in themselves because the Apostle said they were saved by his Life being before reconciled by his Death Rom. 5.10 and until the Life came there were many things which they were not saved from by his Body for the Body was before the Death and the Death which reconciles was passed through before the Life was received again to save and justifie And why then are People so much busied about that which was before the Reconciliation and so therein much short of the Life and for outward Bread Wine and Water Are not these things which are seen And are not the things that are seen Temporal But Christ the true Prophet being come of whom Moses did write who is the end of the Law and so the end of that Ministry whereby that is done away for the weakness and unprofitablenesâ— thereof and Christ coming after John oâ— whom John bare witness that he was before and greater and came after him and Christ also having finished that which he himself came to do and likewisâ— so largely and often Exhorted to waiâ— for another Comforter even the Spirit oâ— Truth Then what Ministration is it that now standeth and remaineth which is accordinâ— both to Moses Christ and the holy Scriptures and what Ministration is to be expected or waited for but the Ministratioâ— of the Spirit And whether all they be noâ— compassed about with a cloud of Error whâ— are upholding that Ministry of the Law or a worse which Christ is the end of and the Apostles said was done away and likewise such as are upholding and keeping up that which Christ said he had finished And whether the upholding of such thingâ— now be not quite opposite both to Moses Christ and Scriptures And being that Moses nor indeed hiâ— true Ministers of the Law are not upâ—â— Earth neither that Body of Christ which by the Professors was murthered at Jerusalem visibly to be seen upon Earth then what was it those have to follow who have not received the Spirit to be led by and if they will say they have the Writings of Moses and the Word of Christ I say if that be all then they that forsook and denied Christ had more than them for they had the words from his own mouth which were Spirit and Life and yet they understood not and then what do those understand who have not so much as they had therefore after he had suffered and rose again he opened their understandings And so what is all their Religion worth who are not come to the Spirit And whether Moses Ministration being ended by Christ and Christ also having finished his work are not all people in the first place now to wait for the Spirit and
the Man and placed at the East of the Garden of Eden Cherubims and a flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life Every Man and Woman behold and see how you are fallen from the estate and condition you are created in yoâ— were created in the Image of God to delight alone in him but you are fallen in obeying the counsel of the Serpent and are driven out of the Presence of God into the Earth and there your minds are feeding upon the dust of the Earth created objects which will perish some delight in Father and Mother some in Wife and Children some in House and Lands some in Money and Gold some in Meats and Drinks some in Raiment what they shall put on some in Lusts and Pleasures in Wantonness in vain idle Communication foolish Jesting and Laughter which is madness and folly and some in Honour and Preferment in this World wherein their hearts are lifted up in Pride and Exaltation above others whom they have Power over not considering how you are driven out from the Presence of the Lord wherein you were placed in the beginning and some there are that feed upon the Letter of the Scripture which is death comprehending God and Christ in their wisdom from what the Saints of the most high God have spoken forth from the Life they enjoyed in Christ Jesus which was in them the hope of their glory and man in his serpentine wisdom steals the Saints words into his understanding and never knew the Life and Power thereof in himself and so speaks a divination of his own brain a riddle to his own heart and while he speaks to others himself iâ— a cast-away Every man and woman in particular deal justly with your hearts and see where your hearts are and what they delight in for in some of these created objects you delight in and feed upon if you cannot witness your change by the Eternal and Powerfull Word of Truth for into the Earth you are driven from the presence of God and these are the fruits which spring out of the Earth which are in your hearts Self-love Pride Covetousness Anger Revenge Hastiness Frowardness Backbiting Hard-heartedness Cruelty and Oppression Lust and Uncleanness Drunkenness Impaciency and Unbelief and you are fenced out from coming to the Tree of Life with Cherubims and the flaming Sword which turns every way to keep the Tree of Life So every one see what you can witness of your return agaiâ— unto God from whence you are seperated by the disobedience and evil of your hearts and see what is the ground of the hope oâ— your callings and by what power you are acted in your obedience unto God whether by the power of the first Adam or by the power of the second for if thou upon the convincement of the evil of thy wayes dost not wait in the Light which is in thy conscience that convinceth thee of the evil of thy doings for Power from the Lord to guide thee forth of the evil which the Light discovers which would guide thee into the Kingdom of God but thou runnest out into the wisdom of the first Adam to seek the Kingdom of God in outward forms and observations according as thou comprehendest of the Saints practices and thou imitatest their practices in thy wisdom and though thou walk never so strictly in these outward forms thou art alive in the first Adam sewing fig-leaves together to cover thy nakedness a peice of new cloth in an old garment thou art putting new wine into old bottles and art building up a Tower to get up to God in thy Heathenish and Babylonish wisdom and confusion will come upon thee In the day when the Lord comes to â—ook for fruit thou wilt be found a fruitâ—ess Tree that cumbers the ground Cain with his offering up Sacrifice unto God in thy first nature Esau seeking the birâ—h-right with tears who shall never find it and all the fruit that is raised in thee is from Hagar the Bond-woman and thou hast thy end for thy self in all that thou dost which is thy hire which thou expectest in the end life for thy labour and obedience and thou regardest not the glory of the Lord and his fear is not bâ—fore thine eyes Therefore every man and woman deal justly with your own hearts under what name or title soever thou art whether thou be a Teacher of others or a Professor of what thou comprehendest to be truth from the Testimony the Saints gave forth from the Life and Power of Christ that was in them and thou expectest Life in thy outward Forms and Observations and mindest not to be guided by the Light which is of Christ in thy own Conscience which Light guided the Saints that gave forth the Scriptures and while thou disobeyest that Light profess what thou wilt thou art in the fall first Adam is yet alive in thee Cain is not yet banished nor Esau reprobated nor the bond-woman and her son cast out which are all figures and types of the first nature which is yet alive in thee and thy will is thy guide and thy heart is in the Earth notwithstanding all thy profession and thou art a painted beast made drunk with the wine of the wrath of the Whore which is thy wisdom which comprehends that which thou never didst know manifest in it self and sits deckt a well-favoured Harlot above the Cross of Christ thou wilt be found a Thief and a Robber who comes not in by the door Jesus Christ but climes up some other way and thus far went the Scribes and Pharisees and the young man who had kept the Commandments from his youth but when he should have sold all for Christ he went away sorrowful And thus far went Paul when he persecuted Jesus Christ according to the Law he walked blameless and all thy strict walking to get life in observations according to the Letter is striving again to get to the Tree of Life by thy own power who are fenced out with Cherubims and a flaming Sword which turns every way to keep the Tree of Life And if thou never sawest thy self fenced out from the presence of God notwithstanding all thy righteousness in observations thou art not come so near God as to see the flaming Sword which is placed to meet thee in every way thou turnest to get life in thy own power and to cut thee down and kill thee that Christ may be thy life thou art alive in the first Adam and art in the death for Death reigns over all from Adam to Moses and Moses is until the Prophets and the Prophets till John and John until Christ and if thou canst not witness that thou art come to Moses profess what thou wilt thou hast not set thy face towards God nor one step in the strait and narrow way to Eternal Life but art going the broad way to destruction whatever thou be whether a Teacher of others or a Professor
and takest liberty to sin because Grace abounds and makest the coming of Christ who came to fulfil the Law to destroy it through the evil of thy heart that when the righteous Law cryes in thee for purity and condemns thee for thy unrighteous walking then thou fliest to the Free Grace in Christ to save thee from the power of the Law but thou shalt find the Law hath power over the fleshly man as long as he lives and the fleshly man that now guides thee is under the Law until it be destroyed through Faith in Jesus Christ For he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and the Saints witness it though thou wrest the words of Paul when he declared his condition before he came to the fulness of stature in Christ to thy own destruction I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members but he gave not up himself to be a servant of sin as thou dost it was his burthen that made him to cry Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death and he waited in the Faith until he was freed Rom. 8 2. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flâ—sh but after the Spirit He witnessed Christ came in him to fulfil the Law and so do all the Saints now according to their growth some witness the Law fulfilled in them and others are waiting in the Faith patiently following the Lord daily through the Cross until the Law be fulfilled But thou art departed from the Counsel of the Lord thy God and causest his Name to be evil spoken of and hast made the hearts of his People sad as they did that the Apostle speaks of For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are enemies to the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things These Scriptures are fulfilled in thee which the Apostle mentions And while they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought into bondage For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the latter end of them is worse with them than the beginning For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them But it happened unto them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his own vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire And thou mayst read what will be manifest to thee from the Lord. For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for sin but a fearfull looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the adversaries He that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy how much sorer punishment supposest thou shalt thou be thought worthy of who hast trodden under foot the Son of God and hast counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith thou wast sanctified an unholy thing and hast done despight to the Spirit of Grace and we know him that hath said Vengeance belongeth unto Me I will recompence saith the Lord It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the Living God Remember from whence thou art fallen Repent and do thy first work in minding that Light of Jesus Christ in thee before whom thou once stoodest condemned for that thou now livest in Prize the time and give up to be guided by the Counsel of the Lord in thee the Light of thy Conscience that discovers every vain thought wait on the power that is present with the Light and it will dash Babylons children against the stones which is sin in its conception so will thy carnal mind be brought to the Cross daily and thy heart will be purged with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of Burning Kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel the Light in thee lest thou perish in the way for if his Anger be kindled a little blessed are they that trust in him The Discovery of Mystery Babylon To all enslaved Captives in Babylon's Kingdom who are made drunk with the wine of the Wrath of her Fornications and bewitched through the multitude of her Inchantments FRiends Babylon is within you the Mother of Harlots is within you and she bewitcheth you through the abundance of her Sorceries and the Beast is within you that ariseth out of the bottomless Pit of the deceived heart which is deceitfull and desperately wicked and the Beast which all the world wanders after is your wills that makes war against the Lamb of God in you which is the Light that makes manifest the evil of your hearts and your wisdom is the great Whore that sits upon the Beast that ariseth out of the bottomless Pit of the deceitfull heart and she finds out many deceitfull inventions to preserve the beastly will alive having a golden Cup in her hand full of the Abominations of the Earth and this Golden Cup is your outward professions glorious comprehensions and conceivements of God and Christ imtiating what the Saints did impower according as they were moved by the operation of the Spirit of the Most High God and you imitate the Saints practice by your wisdom There is nothing but confusion in the Kingdom of Babylon So come you to be divided into so many particular Forms as Presbyterians Independants Anabaptists and divers others that are in outward worships painted over with glorious words and yet you whose wills guide you are painted Beasts bewitched with the Mother of Harlots notwithstanding all your outward professions and glorious observations they are but the golden Cup and within you are full of the Abominations of the Earth as Self-Love Covetousness Lust Vncleanness Frowardness Backbiting Slandering Hard-heartedness Cruelty and Oppression grinding the faces of the Poor Impatiency and Vnbelief and the fear of the Lord is not before your eyes and thus you lie enslaved Captives in the Kingdom of Babylon refreshing your hearts in the Creature enjoyments which will perish some in Father and Mother some in Wife and Children some in House and Land some in Gold and Silver some in Self wisdom delighting in themselves some in Honour and Preferment in this World and when there is enjoyment of these visible creatures then there is content and when they are taken away there is trouble the mind alwayes plodding contriving and acting every way to get of the creatures what the heart lusteth
earthly and carnal heart of man that he might read his condition within Therefore despise not the day of small things but mind the Counsel of the Lord Jesus the little Light that shines in thy dark heart look upon the figures the parables The little Leaven which is hid in three measures of meal it changeth the whole lump into the nature of it self So the little Light that shine in thy dark heart is the powerfull Word of Faith which was in the beginning by which all things were created and without him was nothing made this Word is Life and the Life is the Light of men and Light shines in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not This Light is the Word of Faith the Apostle exhorted to take heed unto Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend up to Heaven to fetch Christ down or down into the deep to fetch him up the Word is nigh thee in thy heart and n thy mouth and this is the Word of Faith which we preach the Vnction of the holy One given of the Father whereby we need not to teach one another but as the Anointing teacheth us which is Truth and no lye which is the sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed as unto a Light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your hearts All People return within give up your selves freely to be guided by that Light that discovers to you the evil of your hearts and none be discouraged because you see an evil heart but prize the Love of God that discovers it to you and whatever the Light makes manifest to you to be evil Wait on the Lord for Power and he will give thee power to obey and in being faithfull in a little more will be communicated from the Lord so will the Righteous Law be set up in your hearts that will cry through your earthly and carnal hearts for Righteousness and Judgment and so will bring you to an account for every idle word and all deeds done in the body Look up unto the Lord against whom you have sinned and he will arm you with power to what he layes upon you with patience to undergo his Will until all the Powers of the Earth in you be famished and slain under his righteous Judgments then will Judgment be brought forth into Victory that you can no longer live without the loving kindness of your Father in Christ Jesus Now is the Parable fulfilled the little grain of Mustard-Seed grown up above all herbs and the little Leaven hath leavened the whole Lump and the Prodigal starved for ever if his Father receive him not freely into his house Thou that canst witness this condition stand still in the Will of God he will raise up his Seed in thee to trust in his Name and to delight in the Eternal Covenant of Love and Life he hath made with thy soul in the Lord Jesus Christ and will guide thee by the Word of his Power in a way thou knowest not forth of Babylon where thou wast an enslaved Captive under the power of the filthy Beast which is thy will and the Whore the Mother of Witchcrafts which is thy wisdom which enthralled thee under the powers of Darkness to satisfie the Lust of thine own heart which led thee to destruction up to Sion to live by Faith in the Lord Jesus which will purifie thy heart and set thy soul free from under the powers of Darkness into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God where thou shalt sing the Songs of Sion Hallelujahs and Praises for evermore unto the Lord God that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever W. D. To all enslaved hard-hearted and unbelieving Jews in this Nation and elsewhere who are made drunk with the wisdom of the Whore and bewitched through the abundance of her Sorceries to put the Day of the Lord afar off looking for Christs coming in the Spirit as the hard-hearted unbelieving Jews in the Letter did for his coming in the Flesh according to the Promise but they limitted the Holy-One according to their carnal wisdom expected his coming in great pomp and glory and when he came in that poor despised way contrary to their expectations they stumbled at him and would not own him to be their Saviour but rose up against him and put him to death Mat. 27.1 to vers 50. BEhold you hard hearted and unbelieving Jews do you not look for Christ coming in the Spirit according to his Promise as they did for his coming in the flesh but you limit the Holy One as they did expecting Christ to come in power and glory according to your own fancies and so put the day of the Lord afar off you in rejecting and despising the Counsel of Jesus Christ the pure Light in your Consciences which lets you see every evil thought word and action and cries behind you This is the Way walk in it but you disobey the Light and hearken to the counsel of your hearts as the Jews in the Letter did who put Christ to death and so you slay the Witnesses in Spiritual Sodom and Egypt in your hearts where our Lord is crucified in not regarding the Counsel of Christ which is that Light that shines in your dark hearts which knocks at the door according to his Word 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 Oh thou enslaved Soul under the power of Babylon in thee Come forth mind the Light in thee which is the sure Word of Prophecy whereunto you do well to take heed as unto a Light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts stand not out against this secret Counsel of Christ in you lest you perish in your gain sayings for if his Anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him All give up give up freely to be guided by the Counsel of the Lord the Light in you believing in his Power that is present with the Light he will lead you daily through the Cross in the streight way of his Sufferings and death where the old man will be put off with his deeds and so you shall have right to the Tree of Life and shall enter with him through the Gates into the City New Jerusalem where you shall have communion with the Father and the Son and an Inheritance with those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus and shall reign as Kings upon the Earth to the praise and glory of the riches of the Grace of our heavenly Father to whom alone be all Power Dominion Honour and Glory for ever and ever W. D. A Word from the Lord to all that are waiting on the Lord in Sion and to those that are weeping and are seeking the Lord their God asking the way to Sion with their