this thy day the things which belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Luke 19. 41 42. Be it known to you my Friends and Aquaintance to whom I write Man cannot be his own Saviour if he will not be saved in the day of the Lords Power he must Perish forever And this is the day of the Lords making hare his saving Arm and revealing his Power even that time wherein he lets in Light into the Soul which not only discovers to man his Sin that leads down to the Chambers of Death but also shews him the way of Holiness which leads to everlasting Life But if men pass this time over without any regard to the Loving-kindness of the Lord extended to them in this Matter 't is just with him to turn their Light into Darkness in them and then as Christ said to some of old If the Light that is in you be Darkness how great is that Darkness Mat. 6.23 mistake me not 'T is not to be understood as if the Son of Righteousness which is the Fountain of Light could in it self possibly become Darkness but as to those that have fast closed their Eyes or lost the true Sight lest they should see by its Illumination in their inward Man when once their Day is over they may be as dark as if there were no Sun in their Horrizon and so they put Darkness for Light Hence it is that we see so many that have been in some Measure inlightned by this inward Divine Principle to see much of the Vanity of their former Practices and so have for a time forsaken many of the same but afterwards having gone out from this Principle by which they were in some measure saved from Polution and Sin they have again been intangled and insnared by the Pleasures Profits Honours of this present World and so the latter End hath been worse with them than the Beginning and so these having left their Habitation like Satan who abode not in the Truth envy and accuse the Faithful Servants of the Lord which keep their dwelling in him and like the Spies of old bring up an Evil Report upon the good Land frighting others with the Giant-like Difficulties that lie in the way to be surmounted thereby insinuating as if Israel's God were not able sufficiently to strengthen them against those spiritual Anakims great and tall that must be incountered with before the Inheritance comes to be divided These are such whom the Apostle Iude in the 12th and 13th Verses of his Epistle calls Clouds without Water carried about of Winds Trees whose Fruit withereth twice dead plucked up by the Roots raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own Shame wandring Stars to whom at least they have cause to fear the Blackness of Darkness is reserved forever unless they can speedily find a place for Repentance before the Decree bring forth before the Day pass as the Chaff before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon them before the Day of the Lord's Anger come upon them and with this I 'll pass them being moved to write not much to those who have forsaken but to those who have not been acquainted with the Truth To whom I further say Although there is a Time wherein the Lord waits to be gracious in which time he often expresses his Willingness to save men from their Sins and to gather them to himself as Christ said to Ierusalem O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that were sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would not Mat. 23. 37. Again the Lord complains All the Day long have I stretched forth my Hands to a Disobedient and Gain-saying People Rom. 10. 21. And thus the Lord expresses his Kindness towards all men in stretching forth his Arm to save them even as a man stretches forth his Arms to swim by sending his Son unto them to knock at the Door of their Hearts to see if they will open to him that he and his Father may come in and take up their abode with them but if men will not accept of Salvation while the Lord extends his Arm to save them If they will not take hold of his strength while they may make Peace with him If they refuse to answer his gracious Call and to entertain his Son whom he hath sent but keep him out till his Head be wet with the Dew and his Locks with Drops of the Night If People will make their Necks as an Iron Sinnew and will not yield them to the Yoke of Christ being Stiff-necked and Vncircumcised in Heart and Ears always resisting the holy Ghost and doing despight unto the Spirit of Grace setting at naught all the Counsel of God rejecting it within against themselves and will have none of his Reproof and continue thus to slight him till their Time and Season be over giving the Lord cause to complain of them that he hath stretched forth his hand but no man regarded it Will it not be just for him then to Laugh at their Calamity and Mock when Fear cometh upon them And most certain it is that those who despise the Reproofs of Wisdom and hate the Knowledge of the Holy Distress and Anguish will come upon them but whoso hearkneth thereunto shall dwell in a safe Habitation For Wisdom is a Defence Christ the Wisdom of God is a strong Rock and a sure Foundation he is that Foundation which God hath laid in Sion even the Foundation-Stone that Tryed Stone the Corner Stone Elect Precious who though he be to many a Stone of Stumbling and Rock of Offence yet as many as believe in him shall never be ashamed Read hear now what this Principle is in which the Lord hath given a Remnant to believe 'T is the Grace of God 'T is the Light of Jesus 'T is a Manifestation of the Spirit 'T is the Glad Tidings of Salvavation 'T is the Word of Reconciliation 'T is the Law written in the Heart 'T is the Word of Faith 'T is the Seed of the Kingdom 'T is that Stone which hath been rejected by many a foolish Builder but now it is become the Head of Sion's Corner These are all significant Expressions of that excellent Principle which I have undertaken to treat on But if any shall say They are Expressions of so different a Nature that they know not how to reconcile them and make them one together To such I Answer They might as well confess they cannot understand how the Lamb of God can be the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah nor how the Shepherd of Israel can be the Bishop of his Peoples Souls there seeming such a difference in these latter as in any of the former yet do they all speak of but one thing although it be exprest by divers Names For it will admit of a manifold Description though as I
said before 't is still but one thing if rightly understood in its true Notion And thus I chose to express it because thus I have found it viz. A Principle of Divine Light and Life in Christ Jesus placed in the Conscience which discovers both Sin and Duty to us and not only so but it Reproves the one and Enables to perform the other and this I know that a measure of the same is placed in the Consciences of all Mankind by which they might see the right Way were but their Minds turned thereunto Therefore let none slight or undervalue this Light of Jesus manifest in their Consciences by calling it as some have done A Natural Created Insufficient Light which will lead men down to utter Darkness Though sometimes again these very Persons will confess That the Light of Nature as they call it ought to be followed as far as it will lead for say they though the obeying its Dictates will never bring men to Heaven yet the disobeying them will certainly sink them down to Hell Hereby rendring the Lord cruel to his Creatures as if he required them to follow a Guide that would certainly lead them amiss or leave them short of the place of Rest and then would punish them for being Mis-led or for sitting down when they had no Guide to shew them the Way to walk in and that from a purpose in himself to leave the greatest part of Mankind without any other Guide to direct them in Matters of Salvation but that that is Insufficient that it must be a Miracle if it shew them the Way to Heaven according to their common Answer when asked how those must be saved who have not the Scriptures amongst them which these account the only Rule to Guide men Why we leave them to the Mercy of God say they the Lord may in an extraordinary manner bring some to Heaven if he have any Elect amongst them but whether any of them shall be saved or not 't is hard for us to determine Thus they darken Counsel by uttering words without Knowledge They say The Grace of God is Free and yet they make it a Monopoly so it shall not be Free to all nor must all be sharers in it neither will they allow the Lord himself to dispense it nor yet to inspire his Servants to go forth and preach it But arrogate to themselves a kind of Sacerdotal Right to be Dispencers of the Grace of God and Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of some outward Qualifications acchieved by them as External Parts or Humane Learning although they never were called of God to the Work of the Ministry nor never had the Word of Reconciliation committed to them yet would they have People come to enquire of them the Way to the Kingdom though they are so narrow-spirited as to shut out the greatest number of Mankind by absolute Predestination not sticking to affirm that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never was intended nor can be useful to their Justification but must and will be effectual for their Condemnation So being void of Universal Love themselves they fondly imagine the Lord to be like themselves Hence concluding there is no Salvation to be had without the explified Knowledge of Christs coming in the Flesh and of the Scriptures both which we know whole Kingdoms and Empires in the World are unavoidably ignorant of aud yet few or none of these will Jeopardize their Lives to preach amongst such notwithstandings this was the Apostle Paul's Practice to preach Christ where he had not before been named for said he if I build upon another Man's Foundation I make my Glorying void But blessed be the Lord he hath caused many Witnesses to rise up amongst us who have given Testimony to the Truth as it is in Jesus and have taught others both in our own Country and in Nations abroad to take heed to that sure Word of Prophecy nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the true Grace of God that is sufficient for us not only as some say to leave men without Excuse and so to aggravate their Condemnation but as 't is received and obeyed it will lead out of Sin into Holiness and in the end crown with Salvation And thus I am brought to the next thing promised which was to shew whence this Principle of Grace proceedeth I have according to my Measure shewn What it is now I come to shew From whence it comes to which I say § III. It comes from God through Christ as saith the Apostle God that commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Iesus Christ 2 Corinth 4. 6. 'T is God's Gift unto us and therefore well may we return Thanks unto him for his unspeakable Gifts God is the Author of it who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all for he covereth himself with Light as with a Garment and dwelleth in that Light which is inaccessible which no mortal Eye can approach unto he is the Father of Lights and therefore hath he given a Measure of his own Divine Light to all Mankind to reveal himself unto them that so they may know substantially What he is and not worship him as the Vnknown God and this knowledge of himself the Father is pleased to dispense to Men in and through the Son of his Love Christ Jesus our Lord who is come a Light into the World as himself testified Iohn 12. 46. I am come a Light into the World saith Christ that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness And therefore I believe and am well assured this is the one Faith whereinto many thousands by the Lord have been gathered viz. That the God of all Grace hath sent his Son into the World a free Gift unto the World and hath given a Measure of his Light and Spirit to manifest and reveal him unto all men Thus hath his universal Love and free Grace appeared For though God made Man pure and innocent yet Satan and disobedient Man hath marred that Creation In the Beginning God created Man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him as we read Gen. 1. 27. But Man soon defaced and stained this glorious Stamp and by yielding to the Tempter went out from his first Nature and so his Beauty was turned into Deformity I mean that Beauty of his inward Man wherein the Image of God stood in which he had Communion and Fellowship with his Maker through Disobedience this was lost and so man came to be without God in the World being alienated from that divine Life Light Love Grace Goodness Wisdom Power Holiness Virtue Purity Innocency wherewith the Lord invested him at the first in perfect Beauty but man going out from that
Wherefore I say the first Mistake is Gross for any thing of Force which is that that some conclude to be the cause of my coming amongst the People called Quakers that I do declare I never felt nay I now find it to be Diametrically opposite to that Foundation Principle upon which their Religion is built which Principle is Christ the Prince of Peace who utterly disallows of all Coersive Compulsion Force Constraint or Violence to be used in Matters of Religion and teaches such who learn of him in Meekness to Instruct those that are Ignorant of the Way of Truth and then patiently to wait till he inclines their Hearts to walk in it so that having their Dependance upon and Expectation from the Lord alone they dare not attempt the Propagation of the Gospel of his dear Son by the strength and in the skill and time of man without being guided directed and subjected by him in whom is all their Help found This as to the first Mistake But the second Mistake amounts to thus much viz. That what could not be wrought upon me by Constraint and Force was othewise attempted to be brought to pass to wit by subtil Insinuations and fair Promises by which it hath been said this People use to tamper with those whom they Design to make their Proselites In Answer whereunto I shall make this Reply This mistake is Obvious For Promises of outward advantage and Worldly good availeth nothing that can stand the Soul instead Therefore it were altogether imprudent as well as utterly unlawful to propose any thing of such a kind upon this occasion neither indeed was it outward advancement that I sought after although this is a reproach I have been made to bear the Lord is my Witness herein who subjected me unto himself and made me willing to be at his disposing and to have my Lot cast by him The truth is Corn nor Wine nor Oyll did not esteem nor yet length of dayes to enjoy them for in my solitudes the whole World seemed to me as a very little thing my Soul desiring nothing but a part in Gods Kingdom which made me earnestly intreat him that he would lead me in the Way Everlasting wherefore this was my frequent Supplication unto him viz. O! thou incomprehensible Majesty who hast established thy Throne in the high and holy Heavens yet dost thou graciously condescend to look down upon the Inhabitants of the Earth wilt thou now be pleased to suffer Dust and Ashes to plead with thee and to admit Mortal Flesh to make request unto thee Then this is it O Lord that I would most earnestly implore of thee even that thou wouldst cast up cast up a Way for me and remove all Lets and Stumbling-blocks from me and mark out a plain Path before me in which I may walk straight forward towards thy Heavenly Country and that amidst the various Forms there are for Worshipping of thee my Soul may certainly know how to serve thee aright and wherewith to bring an acceptable Sacrifice unto thee So that this being the Prayer which the Lord often put into my Heart as I then took it to Pray unto him when my Soul was seeking the way to his Kingdom promises of outward promotion had they been proposed could not have given me satisfaction And as for that which hath been termed The Quakers subtil Insinuation I think it must needs intend their sincere and upright Conversation For as to my own particular I do declare There was no way by which they did insinuate into me but by being found real in what they appeared to be the Heart-searching God having then put my Soul upon search to find out a People with whom I might joyn as with a Communion of Saints I looked here and there into many Assemblies but alas still I saw their Conversations so much contradicting their Professions that I could heartily joyn with none of them And then as to their Principles some indeed I did believe when I heard them declared but other some Gods witness in my Conscience did so testifie against that them I could not receive And thus finding no People with whom I could joyn in every thing I concluded my self to be single in the matter of Religion which made me many a time extend my Voice to the Lord in these Words Oh! my God upon whom I have been cast from my Infancy up How long shall my Faith stand alone upon the Earth In Answer whereunto I must acknowledge the Lord was graciously pleased even at those very times to signifie unto my Spirit That he had many Thousands though I knew them not who were sincere and upright before him unto whom he had regard as to his own Children But still I over looked this People of whom I am writing as if it had been altogether unlikely I should find what I sought for amongst them although Natural Affect on had laid a Bond upon me to judge charitably concerning them howbeit at length there was a Way made whereby I was brought to search here also notwithstanding the many false Aspersions which my Ears were fill'd with concerning them For I could not tell but little David the beloved of the Lord might lie hid amongst the Stuff whom God hath anointed to Reign in Self-seeking Souls stead wherefore I then was willing to look amongst â—is People to wit the Quakers and to turn up the foul covering which others had cast upon them under which I soon saw a glorious one lie hid the Form of whose Countenance was like the Son of God And now having not only sought but sound the Lord and his People in the Earth in their behalf do I here set my Probatim Est I have proved them in the thing which they profess They profess themselves the Disciples and Followers of Jesus Christ from whom they derive their Name Christian which Name though it were given the Disciples in scorn at first in Antioch yet did they and so do these esteem it as an honourable Epitaph And therefore have they laboured to answer their Christian calling with such a Meek Patient Holy Harmless Humble Trembling Self-denying Conversation as may be most conformable to the Pattern of Christ Jesus the High-Priest of their Profession So that now I say upon my search amongst them I have found those who are guided by the Principle of Truth in themselves by which they were called for 't is such only whose cause I am Vindicating very careful to walk worthy of their High and Holy Calling like as they have been called by this inward Principle to be Saints so by it have they led a Saint-like Life that thereby they might reach to the same Principle in the Consciences of others And by this their innocent Life I needs must acknowledge I felt my own Conscience powerfully reached for some time before my Judgment was fully satisfied But having those words of our Saviour imprinted upon my mind Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do
in Chap. 3. Vers. 17. of this Epistle the Apostle gives Caution to whom he wrote saying Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these Things beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness For 't is threatned by the Lord That when the Righteous man turneth away from his Righteousness and commits Iniquities and dyeth in them Mark here is included a Total Fall for his Iniquity that he hath done he shall Dye Ezek. 18. 26. and 33. 13. Wherefore we are exhorted to continue in the Grace of God and to keep our selves in the Love of God because of the danger that there is of falling from this Grace for 't is those that endure to the End that shall be saved these are Christ's own words in Mat. 16. 26. Mark 13. 13. 'T is to those that are faithful unto Death to whom is promised a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Such as are implanted into Christ and abide in him they shall inherit the Kingdom For if a man abide not in me saith Christ he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered John 15. 6. And in vers 10. he tells them If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandments and abide in his Love Thereby signifying that if we keep not his Commandments neither shall we abide in his Love so then if we abide not in that which keeps us in the Love of God we cannot abide in God for God is Love 1 John 4. 16. See Reader here is a whole Cloud of Witnesses bearing Testimony that'tis Possible if there be not a diligent watching for People to fail of or rather fall from that measure of the true Grace of God which was once given to them Therefore what the Quakers hold in this Point is no New Doctrine For if this could not possibly be how could any do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace or Resist the holy Ghost Yet do this People believe A Christian may come to such a growth and standing in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus from which he cannot fall away according to that Promise in Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down from Heaven from my God and will write upon him my New Name And they also believe That such a one may come to be assured that he is in such a state even as the Apostle was who said for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. CHAP. IX Concerning Perfection VVHich Doctrine though it be firmly founded in Scripture yet is it rejected and set at naught because 't is believed by the Quakers notwithstanding which they freely confess that a perfect Principle they plead for and press the necessity and benefit of man's believing and conformity to it Therefore I ask their Adversaries Is it any Crime to be Perfect To which if they shall answer as in effect they have said This is to be accounted Vile To such my Reply is I hope that the Lord will inable his People to become and be contented to be counted more Vile For to this Abraham was commanded by God under the Old Testament as 't is written Gen. 17. 1. The Lord appeared unto Abraham saying I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And to this we are commanded by Christ under the New whose words are thus Recorded Mat. 5. 48. Be ye therefore Perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Nor is it only commanded but also promised see Rom. 6. 14. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you And in 22. 23. verses there we find it experienced for the Apostle speaks of such as were made free from Sin and become Servants to God and had their Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life For the wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord And in Rom. 8. 2. there Paul speaks his own experience For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death saith he And therefore he exhorts the Corinthians Having these Promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. And in 1 Cor. 2. 6. 'T is said the Apostle spake Wisdom among them that were Perfect and in 2 Cor. 12. 9. the Apostle wishes their Perfection and thus he concludes his Epistle to them in the 11th verse of the same Chapter Finally Brethren farewell be perfect c. And this was it the Apostle Iames desired viz. that those to whom he wrote might be perfect and intire lacking nothing Iames 1. 5. For it was the end of the Apostles Ministry that they might present every man Perfect in Christ Jesus labouring servently in Prayer for them that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And in behalf of the Thessalonians Paul prayeth That the very God of Peace would sanctifie them wholly that their whole Spirit Soul and Body might be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Thessal 5. 23. And we find the Apostle Peter making the same Supplication even that the God of all Grace would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5.10 This being the very end for which God appointed Teachers in his Church as 't is written Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Yea this seems to be the end of Christs giving himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame see Ephes. 5. 26 27. Therefore those that deny Perfection to be attainable by the Lords People do in effect deny Christ the one Offering For by one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified as faith the Apostle Heb. 10. 14. Wherefore saith Iohn Whoso is Born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 John
Truth 's Vindication OR A Gentle Stroke to wipe off the Foul Aspersions False Accusations and Misrepresentations cast upon the People of God called QUAKERS Both with respect to their Principle and their way of Proselyting People over to them Prov. 4. 18 19. The Path of the Iust is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day The Way of the Wicked is as Darkness they know not at what they stumble Isa. 51.7 41. 14. Hearken unto me ye that know Righteousness the People in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the Reproach of Men neither be ye afraid of their Revilings Fear not thou Worm Jacob and ye Men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel Also An EPISTLE to such of the Friends of Christ that have lately been convinced of the TRUTH as it is in JESUS Hosea 6. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning and he will come unto us as the Rain as the latter and former Rain unto the Earth Job 8. 7. Though thy Beginning was small yet thy Latter-end shall greatly increase Printed in the Year 1679. AN EPISTLE TO You Five in particular viz. A.W. E.T. M.I. B.P. E.F. unto whom this is more especially intended to be delivered FRIENDS NOT in Affectation to be Popular for that I do not desire but in Obedience to Christ Iesus my Lord and Master have I pen'd this matter that so the Innocency of his Truth and People may more conspicuously appear Neither have I fondly desired to get my Name in Print for 't is not Inky Character can make a Saint such must be sanctified and cleansed in Body Soul and Spirit through which they come to be prepared God's Kingdom to inherit Wherefore I write unto you my Friends That you may not content your selves barely in an outward Separation whilst not wholely separated from that within which is the Cause of Transgression to wit that Adulterate Spirit of the Man of Sin that 's got not only into the Pontificial Chair at Rome whence so many corrupt Customs both in Worship and Practice are come abroad into the World but doth also sit upon the Throne in the Hearts of many People even in this our Native Land And this Spirit hath led Man into many False Wayes and Forms in his fallen Condition whereby he hath strayed from the Right Way of Restoration which Way being made known to a Remnant whose Minds are turned to Christ's Light within God's saving Power these cannot but call to their Friends and Acquaintance to turn in hither and therefore have I been made to send this Friendly Invitation abroad into the World That People may be invited to that Feast of Fat Things which the Lord hath prepared for them that turn in unto him But more especially doth it lie upon me for you Five to whom I write this Epistle Dedicatory to let you know his Oxen and his Fatlings are ready only come away do not tarry For I well know this is the time of the Lord's Love towards you because of the sounding of his Bowels which I have heard within me I know they are not restrained from you because of the constraint that he hath laid upon me which hath been so powerful that my Heart hath been pained in me and my Soul hath been distressed for you and often have I been bowed down in Spirit yea till I could hardly stand upon my Feet until the Lord who bowed me down raised me up and set before me a Door of Hope whereat his Prisoner in you may be brought forth which is that for which God's Seed in me hath travailed through many Tribulations and now having delivered me from that cruel Bondage of Corruption which once I groaned under this makes me restless in my Spirit that others may believe in that inward Power that 's able to rescue from the Eury of their Soul's Oppressor Yet I write not this by way of Complaint as though I thought it a Weariness to serve the Lord in answering his Requirings no that I cannot think for I must acknowledge so gracious is he in his Condescension that he hath made this my Exercise become also my Divertion yea though I was his Prisoner by Indisposition of Body occasion'd through the Pressure of my Mind whilst the Weight of this Matter lay upon me yet I wished for no Walks of Pleasure nor was I weary of my Pain the Reward given into my Bosome in returns of Peace and sweet Security that my Soul enjoys amidst the disturbing Fears and Perplexities that are abroad is sufficient Recompence for all these light Afflictions What the subject Matter hereof is read and you will find wherein I have first endeavoured to remove the Stumbling-blocks from before you and then to cast up the Way of Truth for you and that by Scripture Road as you may read in those cited Texts which here have been brought unto my Hands without the Help of Humane Concordance Read in Charity what I have written in Humility knowing you are my Elders in years I would address my self unto you in all Christian Manners but I dare not Flatter you nor can I complementally crave Excuses of you accept it therefore from me who can truly say For some time I have not been my own the Lord having made me your Servant in this thing but now the Truth hath in measure set me free which also made me willing to serve you as it gave me Ability that God might have the Glory and you the Profit of these my Spiritual Labours Who am Your Faithful Friend Elizabeth Bathurst AN INTRODUCTION By way of PREFACE TO THE Ensuing Treatise MY former Friends and Acquaintance for whose sakes this is written it is to rectifie your Mistakes about and to inform you in that which some stick not to call A New Religion But though the old Enemy of all Righteousness has found this new opprobrious Term to asperse and undermine the Truth with blessed be the Captain of our Salvation he hath defeated him of his Design and out of the Mouthes of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained Praise to his own Name For let me tell you my Friends True Religion is of great Antiquity 't is as old as Abel who by Faith offered up a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained Witness That he was Righteous God testifying of his Gift and by it he being dead yet speaketh as you may read Hebr. 11. 4. And now I appeal to you What Faith was this by which Abel pleased God Was it not a living Faith which God had wrought in him and not a dead Faith received by Tradition of Man's teaching yet such was the Nature and kind of it that he did not only believe in the true God his Creator but also in Jesus Christ his Redeemer although he was not come in the Flesh then yet
assured of it not only from their own Witness of themselves but from the Witness of God in my own Breast They do believe all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets so that those which do so clamorously charge them cannot prove the things whereof they so much accuse them But then it hath been replyed viz. They own the Scriptures indeed but 't is in their own Way they believe them as they do a moral History just barely giving credit to them owning that they are Truth but they do not believe they are the Word of God and the Rule of Faith and Life As to this I Answer They do believe the Scriptures so far as Scripture itself requires Faith in it self that is that they are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus being given by Inspiration of God according to that of the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. And they do also believe That this same Jesus here spoken of who is said to be the Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. the same and not another did Inspire his Prophets and Apostles in writing of the Scriptures But still he is the Word as well as the Wisdom of the Father and I ask Where do the Scriptures themselves declare any other Where do they say that they are the Word of God or the Rule of Faith and Life Though I have heard it said that The Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel c. often call their Prophecys by the Name of the Word of the Lord which say some is all one if we say the Word of God Now such I would advise to take a second view of the Text and then they may find that the Prophets did not call their Prophecies and Writings The Word of the Lord for they were the Lord's Words he being The Word of the Lord who revealed their Prophecyes unto them as for instance Ezek. 29. 1. says the Prophet there In the tenth year in the tenth moneth in the twelfth day of the moneth came the Word of the Lord unto me saying c. So then it was the Word of the Lord that came and said unto him the Prophecy was that which he said So in Ieremiah Chap. 7. v. 1 c. old Translation 't is said The Words that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying Stand in the Gate of the Lord's House and proclaim there this Word and say Hear the Word of the Lord all ye of Judah Mark The Prophet was to make Proclamation of the Word of the Lord that the Men of Iudah might hear what he said as it followeth Thus saith the Lord Amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place c. And this was he as I said before who is the Messenger of the Covenant appointed by the Father to reveal his Secrets unto his Servants the Prophets who came to Ieremiah with this Prophecy so that it was not what he said but he himself whose Name is called The Word of God Revelat. 19. 13. And this is that Word which came unto Abraham in a Vision Gen. 15. 1. saying Fear not Abraham I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great Reward Unto whom in the very next verse Abraham gives the Titles of Lord and God which proves the Word to be Eternal and Divine but so are not the Scriptures Eternal for we know they had their Beginning in time and though they are Words and Declarations of divine Things yet must we distinguish between the Declaration and that which is Declared of so as not to call them both by one Name Those written words for Scripture signifies a Writing they are Publications in Testimony of that Creating Word of Power by which the Worlds were framed see Heb. 11. 3. yet they do not declare that the World was made by them but by that Eternal Word which was in the beginning as it s recorded Iohn 1. 1. the same is that which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1. 23. which Word is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do even as 't is written Hebr. 4.11 13. This is that Word to whom the Scriptures direct us as a Light unto our feet and a Lanthorn unto our Paths to guide our feet into the Way of Peace the very entrance of which giveth Light yea it giveth Vnderstanding to the Simple So that the Scriptures themselves say not of themselves that they are the Word of God but that they bear witness of him And this is he who said to those great Scripturians namely the Iews of old who so greatly exalted the Scriptures but had not the Living Word abiding in them Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me saith Christ but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 38 39 40. So here it may be seen there is good Reason to distinguish between the Written Words the Writing or Letter and the Living Word which is a Quickening Spirit But now as to the other part of the Change which is That this People of whom I am now writing do not own the Scriptures to be the Rule of Faith and Life In their behalf I Answer They do own the Scriptures to be a Rule as they direct unto him to wit Christ who is the Object of our Faith and Lord of Light and Life They do also believe that the Scriptures are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be throughly furnished unto every good Work as saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. But yet still it is in Christ Jesus whom his People do believe and he is the Rule by which they live according to the Example of the Apostle who saith The Life that I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2 20. He must needs be his Peoples Rule for he is the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by him John 14.6 And 't is his Spirit that leads into all Truth Joh. 16. 13. even that Spirit which searcheth all things yea the deep things of God as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 10. which Spirit teacheth them of all things and bringeth all things to their Remembrance according to Christ's Promise Iohn 4. 26. Therefore the Spirit of Christ is the Rule of his Peoples Faith and the Guide of their Life yet doth not this detract from the Scriptures nor the Estemation of this People called Quakers concerning them for I know they do believe that whatsoever
Latitude of that Sin-pleasing Principle to which it is stretched as if men might be imputatively Holy though not inwardly Holy and imputatively Righteous though not really Righteous therefore they are clamoured upon as if they denyed the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness when it is only to those who are not made Righteous by it to walk as he walked For the Scripture doth not say that he that saith he is Righteous by the imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous 1 John 3. 7. What then shall we Sin and yet think to be saved by the imputed Righteousness of Christ because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid that we should Sin in this state of Grace saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 15. Indeed the whole Chapter speaks the same sence viz. that it is not our Imputation or reckoning of Christ's Righteousness to our selves will justifie us but he imparting and imputing it to us and this shall suffice in Answer to the second general Charge against this People in every particular of which may be seen what gross abuses have been cast upon them whereby the envious and ill-affected have sought to cover their Principles with their own perversions and so to make Truth it self become rejected But I shall in the next place speak to those I take to be more moderate and such whom I have sometime found my self much swayed by But since I find it was more by Education and Tradition then any certain evidence I could have of the Truth of that Religion I find my self oblieged to detect those Errors in publick which I have heard divers of them cast upon the People called Quakers in private charitably judging they speak not so much against them out of ill will as ignorance of and unacquaintance with their blameless Principle though this is bad enough for People to speak Evil of things they know not and for such as are divided amongst themselves to joyn together against others as some have confessed to me that though they differ in many particulars yet they all agree in this to set their Seal against the Quakers but who they were I have and shall at present conceal desiring not to expose them but to inform them that so setting before them their Errors and Mistakes some of them at least may see and Repent them wherein they have spoken and done amiss CHAP. III. Touching the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of the Saints AS concerning the Resurrection of the Body of our blessed Lord Jesus and also the Bodies of Believers this I have been born down in that the Quakers do not own In answer to which though I had something to Reply in their behalf at that season yet I must confess the respect I had to my Friend who affirmed the same made me a little incline to that Perswasion of them But now being better acquainted with their Principle I must needs add that this report is an utter Falshood for they do believe as 't is recorded in the Scriptures that Christ Jesus who descended into the lower parts of the Earth the same ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and sits now at the Right-Hand of God in his glorious Body and therefore shall the low estates and humbled Body of Believers be made like unto his glorious Body through the working of his mighty Power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and then shall this Corruptible put on Incorruption and this Mortallity put on Immortallity and Death it self shall be swallowed up of Victory So here likewise it may be noted how their Adversaries have been disappointed For first it was the design of some to have made Saduces of them by giving out that they deny the Resurrection as it was said of them Acts 23.8 For the Saduces say There is no Resurrection neither Angel nor Spirit Thus some have sought to render these as if at Death they believed Soul and Body were both to be annihilated But when this would not take then they reported that the Body only was that which the Quakers held should never rise again Here Reader thou mayst see how they have been slandered both wayes for they do believe the Resurrection of the Just and of the Unjust the one to Salvation and the other to Condemnation according to the Judgment of the great Day And then shall every Seed have its own Body as saith the Scriptures Acts 24. 15. Iohn 5.29 1 Cor. 15. 38. But because they dare not be so foolishly inquisitive as to ask nor so arrogant in their Minds as to dertermine with that Bodies they shall rise therefore do some say They deny the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of all that are or shall be dead But this is most falsly charged upon them for they do believe the Resurrection of the Dead for if the Dead rise not they are of all men most miserable What can be a Ballance of an Equal Poix with the Tryals Exercises Afflictions and Persecutions that are their Lot and Portion in this Life short of an Eternal Inheritance and a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Therefore they also believe that every man shall be raised in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming yea they do believe that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and that God giveth a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body there is a Natural Body and a Spiritual there are Bodies Terrestrial and Bodies Coelestial wherein they agree with the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 23 43 44. which I think is sufficient to give all sober Inquirers full satisfaction herein For as to my own particular I freely do confess it suffices me that God will give unto my Spirit such a Body as it pleases him CHAP. IV. Concerning Original Sin AS to Original Sin in which the Quakers are judged to be of so Dangerous an Opinion without shewing to me what that Opinion was I Answer Though the word Original be not sound in Scripture yet if any mean hereby the inward Corruption and Seed of Sin which Satan hath sown in us and wherewith we are defiled in our first and fallen Nature I am sure this will not be denyed by any true Quaker for they know and believe that in the first Adam all are Sinners but in the second Adam which is the Lord from Heaven we are made Righteous for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive as 't is written 1 Cor. 15. 22. But though it be granted that by one Man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all Men for that All have sinned even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression who is the Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5. 12. 14. yet this doth
not prove the Lord to be so partial in his Love towards his Creatures as to choose some but leave the greatest part of Mankind in the fallen state without affording them any Benefit by Christ or a Measure of his Grace and Spirit for want of which and being so past by of God as somehave asserted they become under a necessity of sinning a necessity of dying Oh harsh Doctrine and so I must confess I often thought it whilst I was industromsly striving to work my self into a Belief of it but now from a certain experimental Knowledge and in full assurance of Faith can I testifie for God He is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that seareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him For though all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God wherefore he hath concluded all under Sin 't is that he might have Mercy upon all not willing that any should perish in Sin but that all might come to Repentance Moreover than this the Scriptures do abundantly speak forth the extent and Benefit of Christ's Death for all Mankind upon condition of Faith and Repentance joyned with new and continued Obedience which are the Gospel Terms on which he is offered to them For Christ Jesus gave himself a Ransom for all he tasted Death for every Man so saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5. Hebr. 2. 9. So that it is a certain Truth all that are or shall be saved are elected only in Christ Jesus that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life There is no Prae-exception or absolute Fore-appointment as partially designed in relation to Persons but upon Man's Disobedience Wherefore it shall not be said The Fathers have eaten sour Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but he that eateth the sour Grapes his Teeth shall be set on edge for all Souls are the Lord's as the Soul of the Father so also the Soul of the Son is his aud he hath said The Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 2 4. Yet hath the Lord no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his way and live Wherefore he hath given the Beloved of his Soul out of his Bosom to come into the World to same men from their Sins that they might be made accepted in him Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life read Rom. 5. 18. which makes it clear to me the Lord will not condemn any for Adam's Sin who have not demerited his Wrath by Actual Trausgression CHAP. V. Concerning the Sacraments AS touching the Institution of the Sacraments so called by which is meant Water-Baptism and the outward Supper here also is another great Charge brought in against the Quakers unto which I cannot but be very tender in the Answer for I must confess I my self did once think them very chargeable in this Matter Now that Baptism even the Outward and Tipical Baptism was an Ordinance that is so say a Thing ordained by one that hath power to Ordain as Iohn Baptist had Command from God to Baptize this I do believe and own But then the Lord himself hath ordained a higher Baptism whereby he saveth which surely is not the outward no that 's not of Efficacy to obtain or effect such an End which is Salvation as that I think our Enemies themselves will grant and then why are they so angry with us that we do not own it in their Outward Form But the One Baptism necessary to Salvation I do believe is Inward and Spiritual being that of the holy Ghost fore-told by Iohn the Baptist Mat. 3. 11. I indeed Baptize you with Water unto Repentance saith he but he that cometh after me is Mightier then I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire This is the Baptism which Christ commanded his Disciples that they should wait for and therefore I call it an Ordinace because ordained by Christ as you may read Acts 1. 45. And being assembled together with them he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me for John truly baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost not many days hence The same did Peter Witness Acts 11. 15 16. And as I began to speak saith he the holy Ghost fell on them as on us in the beginning then remembred I the word of the Lord how he said John indeed baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost Now if any shall Oppose these Scriptures to prove outward and Water Baptism now in force Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water of the Spirie he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead Something I shall write by way of Answer to them these being the chief Texts that ever I heard brought to prove the same As to the first I say that must needs mean the Baptism of which I am now speaking viz. Spiritual Baptism for Christ's bidding of them go denotes their being impowred from him to Baptize in or rather Into his own and his Father's Name which is the true Spiritual Baptism besides here is no Water made mention of whence we may infer the Apostles Ministry was to be the Laver in which they were to be baptized See here their Mission Christ bids them go Teach Baptizing Baptizing is in the Present Tence whilst they were Teaching and as it was then so it is now the Spiritual and Inward Baptism goes along with the preaching of the Word of Life To the second Scripture I Answer If our Opponents will have that mean Material Water may not we then as well conclude that Iohn Baptist meant Christ would Baptize them with Material fire but if we understand the Power of the holy Ghost to burn up the Stubble that naturally grows in us by the latter then must we also understand the same Power to cleanse us from our natural Filth by the former But I know it will be expected I should prove this by Scripture for which see Tit. 3. 5. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done faith the Apostle but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renexing of the holy Ghost Here is the Washing of Regeneration to parallel being born again of Water and the renewing of the holy Ghost to answer being born again of the Spirit for
the Washing of Regeneration or Renewing of the holy Ghost and being born again of Water or being born again of the Spirit are Terms Synonimous or Expressions to the same purpose all pointing at that One Baptism of the Spirit so faithfully believed and experimentally witnessed by the Quakers who are said to deny Baptism to be an Ordinance But how is it they deny it let their Cause be examined or there can no true Judgment be given whether they ought to be acquitted or condemned Infant-Baptism or Sprinkling of Infants this they do utterly deny as a thing by men imposed never by God or Christ instituted neither is there ony Scripture-Precept or President for it Indeed how should there since it was not taken up nor invocated for about 200 Years after Christ dyed and then it was first brought in by one Fidus a Roman-Priest in the Year 248. which was assented to by Cyprian Bishop of Carthage and first preach't up by Agustine then decreed by the Melivitan Council last of all ratified and confirmed by Pope Innocent the third which was not done till the Year 402. Yet we grant the Baptism of those that were adult or come to Age and had Faith to Entitle them unto it this was the Baptism of Iohn who was a fore-runner of Jesus Christ but this was not permanent and continuing but to pass away that Christ's might take place for he must increase but I must decrease saith Iohn himself John 3. 30. For Iohn's Baptism was but a Figure of Christ's Baptism but that he should be made manifest to Israel therefore am I come Baptizing with Water saith Iohn Chap. 1. 31. However where any now have believed it simply their Duty to be baptized as thinking it either for the Furtherance of the Gospel or Tryal of their Faith the Quakers are tender of judging them in that Case but if they stick in the Shadow and reject the higher Ministration then they are more Reproveable But there is a third Scripture I am yet to speak to and that has reference to Noah's Ark which was a Figure I have heard some of your selves say of our Ark Christ The like figure whereunto saith the Text even Baptism doth now save us it must be a baptizing into Christ then for the Apostle saith 'T is not the putting away the filth of the flesh so then 't is not Water Baptism for that can but purifie the outward man that that is External cannot cleanse the Spirit that is Internal and give the answer of a good Conscience towards God as it followeth in the next words wherefore saith Beza a Man whose Memory ye pretend to honour The Baptism which answered to Noah's Ark was not Material Water but the Power of Christ within which preserves us cleansed and enables us to call on God with a good Conscience But then the last clause of the Verse ought to be considered which having Co-herence with the foregoing words saith by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lo here is the true Baptism indeed the which I am now pleading for and of which the Apostle speaks Col. 2. 12. Buried with him in Baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And now Reader since there is but One Lord One Faith One Baptism as saith the Apostle Ephes. 4. 5. whether this Baptism be the Sprinkling of Infants or outward Washing of grown Persons or the inward Cleansing by the holy Ghost I 'll leave the Witness of God in thy own conscience of judge and then to determin whether the Quakers are not greatly wronged in being charg'd with denying Baptism Now I come to speak concerning the Sacrament so called of the Lord's Supper In answer to which in the first place I must needs say I find not the Word Sacrament in all the Scripture but if by Sacrament ye mean a Sign then can it not be of necessity to continue longer then till the thing signified is come and clearly discovered so that granting it to be a Practice enioyned it was to last but its Day and Time that was till Christ who i the Bread of God that cometh down from Heaven which Bread is his Flesh that he gave for the Life of the World should come according to his own Intention see Ioh. 6. 33 35. Indeed the whole Chapter speaks of Christ's being the true Bread wherewith the Saints are nourished and that he would come again after his Departure see his Promise to his Disciples Iohn 14. 18. I will not leave you Comfortless I will come to you and that he meant an inward coming see Vers. 20. of the same Chapter At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in Me and I in You saith Christ. And therefore saith the Apostle I speak as to Wise men judge ye what I say the Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ c. for we being many are One Bread and One Body for we all are Partakers of that One Bread I Cor. 10. 15 16 17 And indeed I do believe that herein is the Communion of Saints namely in eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Jesus Christ not Carnally as the Iews thought when they murmered at him saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat John 6. 52. But spiritually wherein conflicts the true Brotherhood and Fellowship of that Church which is in God as with one another so with the Father and the Son by the holy Spirit at the Spiritual Table of the Lord. Now if any in proof of the outward Supper shall produce that saying in Matthew 26. 26 27 28. And as they were eating Iesus took Bread blessed it and brake it and gave to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body and he took the Cup and gave Thanks and gave it to them and said Drink ye all of it for this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins I Answer That that Figuratively pointed to the true Bread I think is very clear so likewise that the Wine there figured out that Spiritual Wine which was to come from him will not be hard to make appear For in the very next Verse faith Christ I will not drink of this Fruit of the Vine untill that Day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom And that he did not mean they should stay for this Wine till they came to Heaven as some understand by the Word Kingdom see what himself saith in Matthew 16. 28. Luke 17. 20 21. Verily I say unto you there be some standing here that shall not taste of Death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with
to inform them in the Principle of True Religion for the Principle of Truth is but One I shall therefore according to the Manifestation of the Spirit given unto me endeavour to signifie What this Principle is From whom it comes and Whereto it leads PART II. Concerning the Principle of Truth What it is From Whom it comes and Whereto it leads § I. IT is a Principle of Divine Light and Life of Christ Jesus placed in the Conscience which opens the Understanding enlightens the Eye of the Mind discovers Sin to the Soul reproves for it and makes it appear exceeding sinful quickens such as accept and believe in it though they were dead in Trespasses and Sins makes them alive to God ang bringeth up into Conformity to the Image of his Son Christ Jesus that he may be the First-born among many Brethren That this Description accords with Apostolical Doctrine see Ephes. 5. 23. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Therefore saith Christ Iohn 3. 20 21. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved But he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Ephes. 2. 4 5 6. But God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in Sins hath quickened us together with Christ c. Rom. 8.29 For whom he did fore-know he also did praedestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the First-born among many Brethren Thus is general have I briefly described the Christian-Principle but that I may make it further intelligible unto you I feel it upon me to write more particularly that so when you shall read it by a familiar Demonstration you may the sooner be prevail'd upon to yield to its Operation § II. In the first place This Principle of which I am now writing 't is the Grace of God that brings Salvation and hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this Present World as saith the Apostle Tit. 2. 11 12. Even that Word of his Grace which is able to build us up and to give us an Inheritance among all those that are Sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Iesus see Acts 2. 8. By which Grace we are Called Iustified and Saved That is If we believe in the same if we receive it and continue therein grounded and settled and be not moved away from the Hope of our Calling nor from the Hope of the Gospel which we have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven according as it is written Col. 1. 23. But if we turn this Grace into Wantonness and so receive it in vain then indeed it will not save us However this Grace of God in it self is able and sufficient to save all to whom it appears and all that believe in it and are led by it are preserved because it was by this Grace of God that his Son Christ Jesus should taste Death for every man For there is no difference between the Iew and Greek but the same Lord over all is Rich unto all that call upon him For the Lord is Gracious and full of Compassion slow to Anger and of great Kindness The Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are over all his Works as you may read Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 10. 12. Psal. 145. 8. 9. All which are clear proofs that the Grace of God is both Free and Universal which Grace of God is else where called the Light of Jesus he being that Gift of Grace given by God to enlighten the Children of Men as 't is written of him Joh. 1. 9. He is that true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World And this is he whom the Father promised by the Mouth of his Prophet saying I will give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles Isa. 42. 6. The same is again spoken of Chap. 49. 6. It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the Preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a Covenant to the Gentiles that thou may'st be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And the Prophet Isaiah speaking to the Church Chap. 60. 20. saith thus The Lord shall be thine Everlasting Light To which the Prophet David brings in his Experience The Lord is my Light and my Salvation saith he Psal. 27. 1. This is indeed the mighty Saviour he upon whom the Father hath laid help and who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him whose appearance is Light whereby he Discovers and Reproves Sin in men see therefore that none reject him For this is he who hath the Key of David that openeth the Understandings of his People by which they understand the Scciptures when they read them This is he who hath discovered himself to be God manifest in the Flesh and also doth manifest himself in our Mortal Flesh in which we dwell This is he who when he was on Earth yielded both Active and Passive Obedience to his heavenly Father in Life Doctrine and Death which I firmly do believe was a Sacrifice acceptable unto God for the Sins of Men by believing in whom and yielding Obedience to him Pardon and Remission of Sins comes to be known and so the Creature finds Acceptance with the Father through the Son This is he who justifies by Faith in his own Name This is he which imputes his own Righteousness to the Children of men without whose applicatory act and gift of Grace in imputing his own Righteousness unto us all creaturely actings are but in vain This is he that hath laid down his Life for us and took it upon again for saith he I have Power so to do John 10. 18. And by the same Power that raised his own Body out of the Grave doth and will he raise up the Souls and Bodies of Believers to glorifie his great Name For this is he that Acquits his People of all Sin old as well as new taking away and cleansing them from the Sins of their first and fallen Natures as well as pardoning upon Repentance those Sins which some have at unawares or through weakness fallen into after they have received the Knowledge of the Truth For he who is called the Light of the World Iohn 8. 12. Iohn 1. 9. the same is called the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World vers 29. And therefore was his Name called Jesus a Saviour for it was said he should save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. This is he who baptizeth his People with the Water of Life and Regeneration and sealeth up his
them nor follow them behold I have told you before Mat. 24. 25. Luke 17. 28. And now since we upon whom the Ends of the World are come have seen it so come to pass that People are gone from this Gift of God in themselves to the many outward Observations of Dayes Times and Superstitious Customs thinking to find Christ in them whilst they shut their Eyes against his Light which shineth in their Consciences to guide their Feet in the Path of Peace Is it not high time for his faithful Watchmen who see the danger of such a state to Cry aloud unto the People that they may take Warning before it be too late and therefore do they lift up their Voice like a Trumpet to sound a Retreat to the Inhabitants of the Earth who are without the Spiritual City of Resuge that they may return in time and lay hold of the Horns of the heavenly Altar and get into the Habitation or Tower of safety before the Enemy of their Souls take the strong hold of their Hearts and sortifie himself against them and keep them without the Gates till the Avenger of Blood who once would have had Mercy on them pursue and overtake them and so they be destroyed Therefore right-glad are the Hearts of many that ever they heard this joyful Sound RETIRE TO THE INWARD GRACE thereby signifying to them where Help is to be had who were seeking Salvation from the Hills and from the Mountains yet laboured but in vain but in returning and in Rest they have found themselves saved according to the Word of the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah 30. 15. Secondly Although I did say That all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord yet I did not say that all are his Children for 't is they and they only who are led by the Spirit of God that are Sons of God For though the Lord hath given his Spirit yea his Son to be a Leader and a Commander to the People yet many there are who do not follow his Guidance saying in their Hearts what the jews spake with their Mouthes We will not have this Man to reign over us Now is there not need that some should seek to convince such of the Evil of their Ways and the Error of their Doings who instead of walking in the Straight and Norrow Way of Righteousness which leads to Everlasting Life are going on in the Broad Way of Sin and Wickedness which leads down to the Chambers of Death that so they may be perswaded to leave off the Weapons of their Rebellion where-with they fight against God and wound their own Souls and submit themselves unto his Ambassador of Peace the Spirit of his Son in their Consciences that true Balm of Giliead with which they may be healed Thirdly That I may be rightly understood let me acquaint my Reader neither do I assert that those who are set out as Travellers in Sions Road are at once so perfectly instructed in all the Paths thereof that they need not to inquire of those that are gone before which is the way thither whose experiences may be to them of use for escaping the Snares which the subtil Fowler layeth to catch Souls in both on the Right hand and on the Left that so they may walk right forward with their Faces Sion-ward untill they shall come to sit down in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lastly Nor is it altogether useless for those that are established in the Truth to hear the things thereof declared notwithstanding they knew the same before yet may it be to the stirring up of their pure minde by way of remembrance of the dealing of the Lord with themselves in dayes that are past and for the comforting and refreshing of their Spirits to feel how the Work of the Lord prospers in others of his People and for the clearing and making glad their Hearts to hear how Truth prevails and gets Ground in the Earth This therefore is the end of all Declarations amongst us viz. that the ignorant may be Instructed that Gain-sayers may be Convinced that the Weak may be Confirmed and that the Strong may be Consolated Therefore do our Ministers labour in the Word and Doctrine to Convert Sinners to Christ Jesus the Gift of God and to build up Saints in their most holy Faith and to Edifie one another in Love Thus much in Answer to the Objection so I return to the point in Hand which is further to demonstrate as the Lord shall inable me what this Principle is that is Preacht up amongst us 'T is that divine Principle of Life which brings the Glad-Tidings of Salvation near unto all by which they may be put into a capacity of receiving the Grace of God in the Gifts thereof which he hath purposed in the appearance of the Son of his Love to bestow upon as many as shall believe This being the Everlasting Gospel that Paul gloried in I am not ashamed of the Gospel saith he for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. Yea it is that Word of Reconciliation which God hath committed to such as himself hath called to make them Ambassadors for his Son Christ Jesus by the Ministry of which they turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified through Faith that is in Christ Jesus see Acts 26. 18. Thus these profit their Hearers and so do not only Pray but also prevail with Sinners to turn unto the Lord that he may be a Father to them and they his Sons and Daughters And this Word that reconcileth is not afar off 't is not in Heaven that any should say Who shall go up for us and bring it down to us that we may hear it and do it neither is it beyond the Sea that any should say Who shall go over the Sea for us and fetch it to us thence but the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou may'st hear it and do it as was testified by Moses a Man of God Deut. 30. 12 13. and also by Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ Rom. 10. 6 7 8. This now is the Word of Faith which is again preach't by those whom the World in scorn call Quakers And though such preaching be accounted foolish by the learned Rabbies of our Age yet let them know 't is by the Foolishness of Preaching that God is pleased to save them that believe as 't is written 1 Cor. 1.21 So notwithstanding these use not enticing words which Man's Wisdom teacheth yet do they preach in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit and in a way of Power whereby they are known to be of God as were the Apostles see 1 Cor. 2. 1 4. And the Tendency of their Ministry is to direct people to the Teaching of Christ
the one Prophet promised to Israel Deut 18. 18. which Promise the Apostle repeateth Acts 3. 22. saying And it shall come to pass that every Soul that will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed from amongst the people Vers. 23. Thus do they commend themselves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God by turning them to the Light of Jesus the Power of God manifest within which as 't is yielded to and obeyed maketh free from Sin which still is that one thing that I am writing concerning viz. A Principle of Divine Light and Life in Christ Jesus according to the Apostle's record Iohn 1. 4. In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men And this Light I say however it may be called 't is the shining of the Son of Righteousness in men's Consciences 'T is not Conscience which some have described to be a reflect Act of the mind whereby men view their past Actions the which accuses them for what they have done ill and approveth of what they have done well Though this be more then some there are will allow in this matter yet is this too short to express its noble Nature For this Principle doth as well shew men the Sin of their future Evil Purposes and Intentions as set before them the Iniquity of their former Actions Therefore I say 't is not Conscience for that is but a created Faculty But that of God placed in the Conscience hath its being from all Eternity For he that shewth unto man his Thoughts is the same that Formed the Mountains Created the Winds whose Name is the Lord of Hosts as saith the Prophet Amos Chap. 4. 13. And this is he who is without beginning of Dayes or end of Life The Alpha and the Omega the First and the Last the beginning of the Creation of God the Image of the Invisible God the first Born of every Creature the faithful Witness and the first begotten of the Dead and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth This is he who is the Resurrection and the Life in all that do believe in his Light as 't is Recorded concerning him Heb. 7. 3. Rev. 1. 11. Col. 1. 15. Rev. 1. 5. Iohn 11. 25. Therefore whilst ye have the Light believe in the Light saith Christ that ye may become Children of the Light John 12. 36. And this Light is elsewhere called the Seed even that Incorruptible Seed by which we are begotten to God and Born again by his Eternal Word which liveth and abideth forever see 1 Pet. 1. 23. This is the promised Seed yea that Seed of the Woman spoken of Gen. 3. 15. where the Lord said to the Serpent I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel This is the Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven for Heaven's Kingdom is within as Christ said Luke 17. 20. Wherefore this Seed is sown in the Hearts of the Children of men as was set forth by the Parable of the sower Mat. 13. and the beginning He spake many things to them in Parables Behold a sower went forth to Sow and when he sowed some Seed fell by the Way-side c. some fell among Stoney places c. and some fell among Thorns Verse 18 19. Hear ye therefore the Parable of the Sower saith Christ When any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked One and catcheth away that which was sown in his Heart This is he that received Seed by the Way-side c. And in the 31 32. Verses Christ saith The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Grain of Mustard-Seed which a man took and sowed in his Field which indeed is the least of all Seeds but when 't is grown 't is the greatest among Herbs c. 'T is truly so indeed The Seed or Grace of God is small in its first appearance even as the Morning Light but as it is given heed to and obeyed it will encrease in Brightness till it shine in the Soul like the Sun in the Firmament at its Noon-day height But if People will despise the Day of small things and will not believe in this low Appearance of the Light of Jesus in their Hearts which though it discover to them their Sins and reproves for them yet because its Reproofs are soft and mild and its Voice small and still they out-clamour the sound thereof in their Consciences whereby they reject the Son of God in Spirit as the Iews did in Flesh because he came to them in so mean a manner they would not have him to be their Saviour Will it not be just for Christ to say to these as he did to them Iohn 8 24. If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your Sins and then whither I go ye cannot come For the Lord hath said his Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6. 3. He is a gracious and long-suffering God but though he be Forbearing yet he will not alwayes bear though his Spirit doth strive with some for a long season yet if they continue to resist the same the time will come when it will cease striving with them and then Wo will be unto them but right blessed are they that are prevailed upon by the strivings of the good Spirit of the Lord in the Day of their Visitation to know and mind the things that concern their everlasting Peace before they are hid from their Eyes But if People will shut their Eyes against the Light how just is it for the Lord to withdraw its shinings from them and to cause Darkness to overtake them Wherefore hear ye and give Ear be not Proud for the Lord hath spoken give Glory to the Lord before he cause Darkness and before your Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains and while you look for Light he turn it into the shadow of Death and make it gross Darkness according to the advise of the Prophet Ieremiah Chap. 13. 15 16. For though a measure of this Divine Light is or hath been in every Man in order to save them yet it will not alwayes abide with them I mean as to its saving Efficacy it will continue no longer then during the Day of their Visitation Therefore saith Christ Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you John 12. 35. Again he limitteth a certain Day saying in David to Day after so long a time as it is said to Day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 4.7 True indeed there is a Day wherein People may know the things that concern their Souls everlasting Peace But if they Sin out this Day afterwards those things will be hid from their Eyes as Christ said when he came near the City Ierusalem he beheld it and wept over it saying If thou hadst known at least in
first Divine Nature and Seed in which he stood before Transgression here was his Fall and Degeneration and so he came by that unexpressible Loss of the Favour of God and Freedom of Will that now the Lord being angry with him he had no Power to do any thing to appease him the Garment of Innocency being lost their Fig-leaf Aprons could not hide their shameful Nakedness from the Lord which he seeing and taking notice of compassionately made them Coats of Skin for their clothing and then he drove them out of the Garden of Eden So here man was put out of the Paradise of God for eating of the forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and Cherubims placed at the East End of the Garden with a Flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life as may be read in the third Chapter of Genesis at large Thus man being drove from the Presence of the Lord Death came over his Soul though he lived outwardly yet did he dye as to that Inward Principle of Divine Life and Virtue which once he enjoyed and so the Threatning was fulfilled which the Lord had said In the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely Dye Here Man and Woman having transgressed the Royal Law of God by breaking of his holy Commandment in eating of the Tree whereof he commanded them saying Ye shall not eat thereof by this they came to be separated from him So it was Sin that made the Separation and it is Sin which makes the Separation For Man and Woman in their primitive state wherein they were created were good as the rest of the Creatures of God for 't is written God saw every thing which he had made and behold it was very good and God blessed Man and Woman and they were in Favour with him till they became subject to Vanity by reason of that false Hope which the Serpent suggested to them they hoped to have been a Gods to know Good and Evil but by going out of God's Counsel they became corrupted by the Evil one and being joyn'd to the Serpentine Seed they were alienated from God so that had not the Lord out of his unmeasurable Loving-kindness and Compassion opened a Way to restore them they must have perished in this Deplorable Condition And this Way of Restoration was by Christ the Light the Seed and Saviour for he of whom God said unto the Serpent I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel He it was who was to be the Saviour of the World So that now considering the Sons and Daughters of Adam as they are found in the Fall and Degeneration having all sinned and come short of the Glory of God herein I say hath his universal Love and free Grace appeared to wit in giving of his Son to be a Saviour unto them as saith the Apostle Iohn In this was manifest the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him 1 Epist. 4. 9. And that he was sent to the whole World see what Iohn the Evangelist faith Chap. 4. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Mark that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life To which the Apostle testifies 1 Iohn 2. 2. saying He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World This was the free Gift of the Father that the Son of his Bosome should take Flesh upon him come into the World and lay down his Life for poor Sinners for he came from God and went to God again So that though he laid down his Life of himself having Power and being willing so to suffer according as 't is written Iohn 10. 18. Yet himself also said That his Body was prepared of his Father Heb. 10. 15. In which Body he did the will of him that sent him Lo I come to do thy Will O God saith he for a Body hast thou prepared me Who now that rightly considers this Dispensation of favour but must needs cry out Oh the Height and Depth and Breadth and Length of the Love of God and of Jesus Christ our Saviour who took not on him the Nature of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham and was made in every thing like unto us only without Sin that he might restore Fallen Man Which thing I know will readily be granted but 't is the extent thereof that some would have limitted affirming That Christ dyed for a certain definite number and not for the whole Lump of Mankind one as well as another Nay they speak as if none had any benefit by no nor so much as the Revelation of Christ this Gift of God whom to know is Eternal Life but those who have the outward Letter of the Scripture Yet do I believe and so do Thousand more whom the Lord hath called viz. That the Father of Lights and God of the Spirits of all Flesh hath given a measure of his own Divine Light and Spirit unto all the Children of men to manifest and reveal the Appearance of his Son in them who is that same Saviour which shed his Blood for us that he might wash us and cleanse us from our Sins and was offered upon the Cross not only as a Propitiatory Sacrifice to make Reconciliation for the Transgressors but that by his once offering up of himself he might bring in everlasting Righteousness and Perfect forever them that are Sanctified and a measure I say of this his Power which is Light God hath placed in every persons Heart in order to their Sanctification as they shall be subject to this his appearance in them True indeed all are not Sanctified and made Perfect by him although this was the end of his coming that he might finish Transgression and make an end of Sin and this was the will of the Father in sending him to wit our thorow Sanctification but this is not because all have not a knowledge and manifestation of his Light or Spiritual appearance of him in themselves but because all do not believe in and obey this his Appearance Now that People may attain to what Knowledge may be had of God by the inward manifestation of the Light of his Son which is a measure of his Spirit in their Hearts this is clearly proved by the Apostle Rom. 1. 19. That which may be known of God saith he is manifest is men for God hath shewed it into them For the Lord of the whole Earth who is the Preserver of men he is impartial in his Love to all Mankind not only to them in Christendom so called who have the Scriptures amongst them but his Love is extended unto all People in one Land as well as in another for his Spirit is not
inseparable from the Scriptures as some suppose Yet would I not be thought to undervalue the Scriptures any whit for I have very Venerable thoughts of them and a Reverential esteem for them as being Holy Writings But I dare not confine all means for mans Salvation in them because the Lord hath not confined himself to them but hath left himself a Witness in every Conscience which Witness is a spiritual manifestation of his Son the Saviour of the World And this the Scriptures plentifully declare of which sometimes they call the Word the Law the Grace the Spirit of God at other times they call it the Light of Iesus the New Covenant a Light to lighten the Gentiles a Rod a Staff a Shepherds Crook the Word nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth the Sure Word of Prophecy the manifestation of the Spirit a Shield a Buckler a strong Tower the Armour of Righteousness All which are one in Nature though diversly exprest according to its distinct Operations in the Soul as the Creature standeth in need sometimes to lighten its Darkness at other times to lead it in the way of Holiness one while it Instructs another while it Corrects sometimes it Counsels other times it Consolates and as its Counsel is heeded and the Soul guided by it it preserves and defends in all exigencies and straights But I pass over its special use intending to shew that in another place only here may be seen the great condescention and matchless love of him who gives unto all Life and Breath and Being in that he hath sent the Holy Ghost down from Heaven with the Revelation of his Son Jesus Christ in the Hearts of the Children of men that whosoever adhereth to the Spirit of his Son within them may thereby know him not only as a Saviour and Redeemer but also to be their Saviour and Redeemer and that not only from the Punishment but from the Power and Dominion of Sin by setting of them free from the Bondage of Corruption and bringing them into the glorious Liberty of his own Children But as for such who will not believe in this Principle of God but instead of owning it as his Power unto Salvation say it is A Satanical suggestion and instead of owning it to be of the Divine Nature of God or Christ they call it the Dim Light of created Nature putting Bitter for Sweet and Sweet for Bitter counting Darkness Light and Light Darkness such may continue in their Bondage and Vassallage under the Prince and Power of Darkness in the blindness of their Minds hardness of their Hearts and deadness of their Spirits notwithstanding Freedom and Liberty Life and Immortallity is brought to Light through the Gospel which it hath pleased the Father should be Preached to every Creature by his Son Sions Deliverer who is his own Messenger see Rom. 11. 26. Mal. 3. 2. For this Principle of Light of which I now write 't is something of the Nature and Being of God himself who as he is a Spirit so he is Light as you may read concerning him Iohn 4. 24. 1 Iohn 1. 5. and therefore 't is by his Light with which we are inlightned It proceedeth from him he being the Ocean wherein the fulness thereof is contained 't is from him through his Son Christ Jesus that we come to be inlighted by the same so 't is in his Light that we see Light even as the Natural Sun causeth its Beams to extend to the Ends of the Earth so this Eternal Son of Righteousnes who is the Ocean and Fountain of Divine Spiritual Light causeth more or less of the streams thereof to descend into all immortal Souls upon it Thus having shew'd the Nature and Quality Original and Fountain of this blessed Principle I come further to shew its Use and Extent that so I may not only tell my Reader What it is and Whence it comes but according to my Promise write something of What it doth and Whereto it leads § IV. In the first place It daily Reproves for Sin even in all men and excites to Holiness during the Time of their Visitation though 't is possible for men to sin themselves into such a state by drinking in Iniquity as the Ox drinketh Water when through custom in sinning their Consciences become seared as with an Hot-Iron that this Principle of God may cease striving with them and so these may not know when they do Evil yet there is a Time in which this Principle of God doth stand as a faithful Witness against all Unrighteousness and Ungodliness in the Hearts of Men and Women and Leads Draws Moves and Enclines their Minds to Righteousness seeking to Leaven them as they yield thereunto into the Nature of it self whereby an inward thorow and real Redemption may be wrought in the Hearts of all Men of what Kindred Nation or People soever notwithstanding any outward Benefit or Priviledge they may Providentially be deprived of yet is the Lord so Gracious as to dispense such a measure of his Grace Power and Spirit unto all the Children of Men to convince them of sin to Reprove them for it and to lead them out of it that as they give up to the Operation thereof in themselves it will thorowly sanctifie and make them clean and so prepare them and make them meet for his heavenly Kingdom yea though they never had the Scriptures amongst them nor never heard Christ outwardly named to them the Name of Christ being often put for the Power of Christ within as in Mark. 16. 17. In My Name shall they cast out Devils saith Christ of his Disciples So in Acts 4. 7. The High Priests and Rulers asked Peter and Iohn By what Power or by what Name they had made the Impotent Man whole For that Name of Christ which heals and saves is his Power that maketh Free from Sin Now whoso knoweth this Name of Jesus to be given unto them and effectually to have wrought in them they can truly witness him to be the Arm of God's Salvation However we do say that the Scriptures in which we have a Declaration of what Christ hath done and suffered for us those do much Facilitate Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus and therefore they ought thankfully to be received by us and born Witness to when-ever the Lord shall require us so as that we may not be ashamed to own not afraid to confess him to be our Saviour who they make mention of to have been put to Death in the Flesh above Sixteen Hundred Sixty Years past by the Hands of Sinners For we do not believe that this Light Grace and Power of God which is sufficient both to sanctifie and save and able to give an Inheritance among them that are sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Jesus where Christ is not outwardly named I say We do not believe that this is given to any without Christ but we do believe it to be the Purchase and Benefit of
Wonder since the Wicked have not spared to fling the same Reflection upon their Lord and Master Christ Jesus himself when he was on Earth was sensured to work his Miracles by Magick Art for when he cast out a Devil out of one possest some said He did it by Belzebub their Prince And now these having received Power from Christ by their Ministry to effect the like in another kind because the Effect thereof hath brought some into Fear and Trembling therefore they are judged to deal with Familiar Spirits and to work by Conjuration But how unjust this judgment is and how groundless the Surmise I shall not need to answer let the Reader but search the Scriptures and they will give it in on this peoples side Psalm 2. 10 11. the Prophet David instructs Kings and Iudges of the Earth to serve the Lord with Fear and Rejoyce with Trembling Philip. 2. 12. the Apostle exhorts them to work out their own Salvation with the like frame Nor was this only their Advice but also the Saints Practice For Moses confesseth himself a QVAKER Hebrews 12. 21. Habakkuk likewise acknowledges that at the Voice of God his Belley did Tremble and his Lips did Quiver Hab. 3. 16. Neither was this their Case alone for we find the Prophet Ezra meeting with a whole Assembly of them Ezra 9. 4. saith he Then were asssembled unto me every one that Trembled at the Words of the God of Israel And the Prophet Isaiah points at such as the Lord 's Peculiar People Chap. 66. 5. Hear the Word of the Lord saith he ye that Tremble at his Word your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Name sake said Let the Lord be Glorifyed but he shall appear to your Ioy and they shall be ashamed And in the second Verse of the same Chapter the Lord expresly promises But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and Trembleth at my Word And in Ier. 5. 21. the Lord calleth by the Prophet saying Hear now this O foolish People and without Understanding which have Eyes and see not which have Ears and hear not Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not Tremble at my Presence and so he goeth on expostulating the Matter with them till at last he threatneth to visit them and be avenged on their Nation Vers. â—9 And sure something of this King Darius was afraid of when he made a Decree That all under his Dominion should Fear and Tremble before the God of Daniel Dan. 6. 26. Certainly Quakers had a better esteem with him then they have with this Generation the Name being given them in Derision and Scorn notwithstanding the Posture is that in which the Servants of the Lord backward from Moses through the Prophets and Apostles Days till this very time have been found Thus it appears by Scripture that Christians were exercised in Fear and Trembling together with Humility Patience and Self denyal and that not from the Procurement of any Evil Art but by the Living Sence of the Dealings of the Lord For proof of which see what God himself speaketh of his Church by his Prophet Ieremiah Chap. 33. 9. And it shall be to me a Name of Ioy a Praise and an Honour before all the Nations of the Earth which shall hear all the good that I do unto them and they shall Fear and Tremble for all the Goodness and for all the Prosperity that I procure unto it Thus 't is manifest how the matter hath been Mis-represented to wit that the Quakers are Inchanters but this being mostly the charge of the Rash and Inconsiderate I shall say no more to take it off but only add the words of Christ Mat. 10 24,25 The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord 't is enough that the Disciple be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord if they have called the Master of the House Belzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshould But there are others in many things more Sober and Juditious who yet have not been sparing in their Censures Some of whom have given out That 't is through Craft and Cunning Collusion by which these People the Quakers gain over Proselites to their Religion They are Wise they are Subtil say they they have reaching Brains and so they can but Propagate their own Party they will be at any Pains In Answer to whom my Reply is What Crastiness they mean I must confess I cannot tell but what Craft I have ever found amongst them is no other than that of which the Apostle writes to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 16. Nevertheless being Crafty saith he I caught you with Guile Which holy Craft and godly Guile hath appeared in them as they have been careful to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards all Men taking the Apostle's Advice Iames 3. 13. Who is a Wise Man and endewed with Knowledge amongst you saith he let him shew out of a good Conversation his Works with Meekness of Wisdom So likewise have they been careful to observe Christ's Counsel Luke 10. 3. who there saith Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves And thus sanctifying the Lord God in their Hearts having a good Conscience whilst falsly accused it hath pleased the Lord many times to plead their Righteous Cause even in their very Adversaries Breasts whereby he hath made their own words to become their Burden and that that they have intended to fix upon his People by which to render them Guilty of Deceit and Fraud hath returned back upon their own Heads whilst Integrity and Innocency hath been the others Armour of Defence untill such time that God hath wrought their more Full Deliverance But I must bring the matter a little nearer that so I may write of that which relateth to my own Particular This having occasioned some to wonder viz. That I should be Decoy'd as they call it after this Manner for so some have bespoke me by shewing a seeming pity towards my Person whilst they have manifested Enmity against my Principle and therefore that they might not bear too hard upon me they have laid the heaviest Load upon those about me as if for fear of one and to please another I had hereby prudently provided to serve my Superiours Humor And so from them my Friends have born the greatest blame whilest I in part have been excused considering the many Tryals Temptations and Snares whereunto they reckon I have been expos'd which Consideration of theirs hath procured me some Allowance from such as are any whit Tender-hearted amongst my former Acquaintance therefore I hope they will not blame me if I make use of this Allowance as well to shew them their Mistakes herein as to take off the Unjust Aspersions that have been cast upon my Friends
his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Then immediately I consulted not with Flesh and Blood but was made willing to give up to the obedience of his will revealed in my Conscience and so I came to receive the Faith of that Principle which the Quakers do profess and by it am I joyned to them not only in Head but in Heart so that this Faith by which I am united to them is more then a meer Natural credential that stands in the bare assent to the Truth of a proposition as propounded by man for it is founded and grounded upon Christ Jesus who was the Author and I trust will be the Finisher of the same But there hath arisen another Wonder and that is That not my self only but also my Brother and Sister should together and that so quickly too become Converts to the Truth at this say some we cannot but greatly admire To which though it might suffice for answer to let them know the Lords Works are all Works of Wonder and therefore may very well be admired by Beholders yet I must needs say there is little reason why such should wonder that true Conversion should at once pass upon three who talk so much of expecting a Nation to be born in a Day sure if their Faith can conclude the certainty of the latter they need not be so incredible concerning the Truth of the former No doubt therefore but it was prejudice enough against the Truth that caused some to say It must needs be Hypocrisie which brought us all at once into the Profession of it But the Truth is such neither know how we came by it nor can they tell what Progress we have made in it how far any of us do witness a real Change my Soul is made to rejoyce herein and for this I bow my Knee to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ That he would prosper and carry on this his own Work more and more in every one of our Hearts yet dare we not be found false Witnesses for God in speaking of things beyond our measure or boasting of that which we have not attained for though it may be granted we did feel an inward and effectual Call much about a time to come out of spiritual AEgypt's Land yet must we travel through the spiritual Wilderness before we arrive at the heavenly Canaan therefore I would have none Mistake so as to think that Conversion is wrought in an instant for it is a Gradual Work carried on by degrees in the Soul which is not presently Compleat and Perfect although the very first Motion towards it proceeds from a Principle which is Perfect in it self and which will in time Perfect the Soul as it follows the Leadings thereof But if any shall sit down by the way on this side the Mountain of true Holiness notwithstanding they began in the Spirit yet if they end in the Flesh how far soever they have travelled on in their Journey still may their Carcasses fall in the Wilderness Howbeit I write this not to Discourage any but to Provoke to Diligence as well my self as others that after we have set out towards the Promised Land and had a sight of it none of us may grow weary nor faint in our Minds and so fall short of the Everlasting Rest for 't is not a bare Convincement of the Truth in our Understandings which may produce a Change in the Judgment Opinion and Profession that will serve our turn without a Change of the Old Nature without there be a Change wrought in the inward as well as the outward man whereby the Heart may be throughly sanctified and made clean else there can be no real Conversion yet may we say since we have felt the beginnings of this Work in our Hearts we have been made as Signs and Wonders in the Earth whilst we have been Weaning from the Worlds Breasts we have been made a Mock to the scoffing Ishmaels of our Age But be it so we are not much concerned having an Eye to the Hope set before us we do not only despise the Worlds Flatteries but also contemn its Scorns even as those Worthies of Old who after they were Illuminated indured a great Fight of Afflictions partly in being made a Gazing-stock both by Reproaches and Afflictions and partly by being Companions with them that were so used yea though they had Tryals of cruel Mockings yet they esteemed the Reproach of Christ greater Riches then the Treasures of AEgypt For they had an Eye to the Recompence of the Reward and patiently they indured this with much more as seeing him who is Invisible which you may read in the Tenth of Hebrews more at large Wherefore we think it not strange concerning the fiery Tryals that are to try us as though some strange thing happened unto us when the Wicked Reproach us and speak all manner of Evil against us falsly for Christ's sake in this we account our selves happy yea we secretly rejoyce that he hath accounted us worthy to suffer Shame for his Name himself having said to our Comfort Blessed are ye when Men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their Company and shall Reproach you and cast out your Names as Evil for the Son of man's sake Rejoyce ye in that day saith he and leap for Ioy for behold your Reward is great in Heaven for in like manner did their Fathers to the Prophets Luke â— 22 23. So 't is no wonder that the World hate us for we know they have hated all the Righteous Generations that went before us they were defamed and made as the filth of the World yea they were accounted the off-scouring of all things by the Wicked of that Generation and so are their Off-spring esteemed with such a sort of People even at this present time For the Seed of the Righteous have alwayes been despised in the Eyes and reproached in the Mouthes of the Proud Ungodly World howbeit they have learned to put their trust in him who hath promised to keep them in a Pavillion from the Pride of man and to hide them from the Strife of Tongues yet some there are that say Their Tongues are their own who is Lord over them And such I may say have sorely railed on me both in Word and Writing wherein were Queries which I think not worthy to receive an Answer because they came from a Nameless Author Therefore I 'll leave them with their remote Questions winding up all in this Conclusion Let none no longer inquire at a distance after the Quakers and their Principle as Nathaniel did concerning Christ Iohn 1. 46. saying Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth But let them remember the answer of Philip who bid him Come and see so shall they meet with satisfaction in that inward Principle of divine Light and the Professors of it which hath made many