the Minister said God was to be found and all to obtain Peace with my Maker but it as it were fled from me and was not to be found amongst them and and then this cry was great in me O that I knew the Truth Oh that I knew the True and Living Way to the Kingdom of God! O that I could feel that Testimony of Spirit which they so much spoke of bearing witness with my Spirit that I was in the Sonship though I felt and knew I was in the way according to their Judgment and had the signal tokens of a Christian as they produced from that spiritual progress and operation the Saints and Servants of God went through in Ages past which was as Way-marks set up by Patriarchs the Prophets and Children of Israel in their Travel to Canaan and by the Apostles and Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ in their Spiritual Travel to the Heavenly Canaan through the Regeneration and New Birth But being as I said before often deeply humbled before the Lord and tendred and broken in my Spirit distressed in my Soul afflicted in my Body day and night panting and breathing after the Lord as the Hart panteth after the water Brooks being many times deprived of my natural rest and sustenance mine eyes preventing the night Watches as David said watering my Bed with my Tears being almost overwhelmed in the Floods multitudes of Afflictions compassing me about Wars and Commotions on every side Famine and Pestilence and Earthquakes fearful Sights and great Signs appearing from Heaven these were the beginning of Sorrows and Days of great Tribulation then did the sign of the coming of the Son of Man appear in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory whose appearance was as the Lightning that appeared from the East and shined unto the West by which it pleased the Father to manifest the way of Life and to reveal his Son in me and by his Light that gives the Knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 He was pleased to give me a glimpse of that heavenly Land and of the Way to the Kingdom of God which I saw to be in and through the Light of Christ Jesus which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World as it was then Preached and testified by the Servants of the Lord a measure of which I felt in my self which told me all that ever I did secretly condemning every work in me with every word and action that was against or contrary to the mind and will of the Father and also justifying every good word and work that was according to his Will Thus the Lord having opened my understanding and given me in measure a feeling of himself I was forced to conclude as the woman of Samaria did that this was the Christ this was the Way this was the Truth as by daily experience I found by the operation of the Light in my own heart compared with the Testimony that the Saints and Servants of God had given in Ages past and thus in the mouths of two or three Witnesses this Testimony was established and confirmed in me but how to receive and give obedience I knew not the Enemy often raising Doubts and Fears in me often disswading me from embracing the Light with much questioning whether it were the Truth yea or nay Then as soon as the Seed the Man-child appeared the Dragon appeared also ready to Devour the Man-child then the Read-Sea was as it were before and Pharoh and his Host behind and fear fell on every side then appeared Father against Son and Son against Father one Nation against another and still the greatest Enemies were in mine own House and then was I in great distress then was the Dayes of great Tribulation perceiving the Way strait and narrow being to forsake Father or Mother House or Lands Friends and Relations and all old acquaintances and cast down all Crowns Dignities Wisdom Riches or what other Enjoyments whatsoever and deny my self and become a Fool and a Reproach a Scorn a By-word and a Hissing to the Men of the World and take up the Cross daily and follow the Lord through great Tribulation through the Red-Sea through the Wilderness yea even through Death it self then was I ready to faint and to say with them This was a hard saying who can bear it then the Dragon cast out Floods after the Manchild but God prepared a place in the Wilderness and the Child was preserved then was the warfare great between the Flesh and the Spirit the Law in my Members waring against the Law in my Mind doing that which I allowed not and leaving undone that which I allowed with my mind I served the Law of God but with my Flesh the Law of Sin the Spirit indeed was willing to Drink that bitter Cup but the Flesh was weak then when I would have done good Evil being present prevented me then I became as one destitude of all succour comfort and support not knowing whither to fly or how to escape from the dreadfull wrath of God that was then impending over me if I disobeyed then was I forced in the fulness of time not only to stand still and see the Salvation of God but also to resign my self into his Blessed Will and sweetly to Drink that bitter Cup that was given me to Dâ—iâ—k allowing that the Will of the Lord and not my will should be done being willing to undergo any thing so the Lord be glorified and my Soul might rest in Peace being that for which I had long travelled in spirit having been often as it were at the Pâ—ts brink and as it were at the mouth of the Furnace having Drunk deep of the Cup of Judgment and of Indignation and of the Wrath of the Lord for Sin and for Iniquity often travelling as with my Hands upon my loyns pained and crying outin my Soul as a Woman in Travel that longeth for the appointed hour of her Deliverance often in that state blessing the Lord for the Ministration of condemnation which at that Day was glorious to me often doubting and fearing in my self least the Lord should cease striving with me and have left me and given me up to a reprobate Mind and to heardness of Heart being often ready to Dispair of obtaining the promised Land that was before me considering the many lets impediments obstructions hazards dangers which like Mountains of opposition appeared as high as the top of Carmel And thus being assaulted by the Enemy reasoning in my self I was at a point what to do to turn back to Egypt the Land of Darkness or House of Bondage again I durst not knowing the Light in me the Piller of fire that appeared for my Guide and Leadâ—r led me Canaan ward and knowing the Terrors and Judgments of the Lord that had not only passed upon me but was still impending over me for sin disobedience because I offered not up freely nor sacrificed
the Sign must I not be cast out of your Church and into Prison 21. What is his Body of Christ and what is the Blood whether is his Body Spiritual or Carnal or how is the Lords Body to be discerned 22. Whether is the Body one or how many Bodies hath He or how do they Eat and Drink his Blood that Eternal Life abideth in 23. How did they eat the same Spiritual Meat and Drink the same Spiritual Drink which were Baptized under Moses for they drank of that Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ 24. What is the difference between the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils and the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils 25. Whether are they worthy Receivers purified from their Sins and sanctified through His Blood seeing His Body was broken and His Blood shed for the remission of sins 26. Whether they that are yet in their Sins do not eat and drink their own condemdemnation not discerning the Lords Body 27. Who is the Head of your Church and Body or who is King Priest and Prophet whether Christ King Pope or Bishop or how many Heads is there 12 Month 1667. Send thy Answer to me at my Prison-house in Carlile T. C. Another sent after about the 4th Month 1667. L. W. I Having all along a desire to be edified in the True Way and Worship of the Living God and an inclination from my childhood to follow after that which is good righteous and unreprovable in the sight of the Lord and to keep my Conscience undefiled and my judgment clear and uncorrupted as the Lord God of Heaven knows from whom nothing can be hid and seeing the ground of the Controversie between thee and me is matters of Faith or Worship and so matters of Conscience to me and such as I cannot easily renounce nor dare not turn from unless my judgment were otherwise perswaded I therefore sent some Propositions to thee to that effect an answer whereof I expected from thee before this time which thing I thought but requisite and very consistant with thy Office and Profession being that which the Ministers of Christ was always ready to do being willing to render a reason of their Faith and Hope to any that should demand it and also to exhort inform and instruct in the Doctrine and Principles of Truth with all meekness gentleness and long-suffering which thing if thou refuse to do let me know upon what grounds for I have not straitned thee for time but thou mightest have done it with deliberation so I desire a sober answer of thee of all and every particular propounded or else a reason why thou wilt not and it may suffice for the present T. C. Now having as briefly as possible given a True and Impartial Relation of all the differences states and proceedings on both sides that is of most importance and concernment and the ground and cause of all as things hath passed and been carried on between us plainly and honestly so far as I know and do remember I shall leave all both his and mine causes and proceedings with all that hath been done to the witness of God in all Hearts and Consciences that gives a true sense and understanding of the nature and property of every word and work and accordingly let the sober moderate and unbyassed Reader or Hearer judge of us and between us and especially such as have known us both after the flesh and the Lives and Conversations of us both among them ziz the Parishioners of Addingam and others in the Towns and Parishes adjacent amongst whom we have lived and with whom we have had to do many of them being privy to the most part of those things and so may the better bear witness to the Truth or Falshood of them being as I have said elsewhere willing to recommend my self to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God and as I own and acknowledge the Light for my Leader Guide and Salvation so I am willing that all my deeds should be brought to the Light and that which I do or have done that is not justifiable in the Light let it be condemned by Light and I ashamed and this is to do as I would be done unto also these my Papers that I have sent to him they are now made publick and so are no longer his and mine only but other Mens to judge and consider of In my first I desire as I would often have willingly embraced that he or any other of his Function and Profession would give me or us a sober moderate visit or meeting at their own time and place allowing us person for person that there we might dispute the differences in Religion between them and us in a sober moderate spirit which to us is of great price and if in the Spirit of meekness he or they could convince us that we are schismatical and erroneous c. as they have frequently affirmed and preached behind our backs whether in denying of Tythes or in any other thing whatsoever I can say it for my self and believe it for many others that if in our Consciences we were convinced thereof we would reform our Judgments and pay Tythes and submit in any other thing whatsoever as really and conscientiously as any People in the Nation without either suing at Courts spoyling of goods excommunications cominations imprisonments or the execution of any Law whatsoever and if this be not very equal and reasonable let all sober People judge and whether it be not the part and place of Men professing that Function and to be Ministers of Christ and Overseers in the Church that Spiritual Men might War and overcome with Spiritual Weapons and by the Armor of Light and the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit of Christ Jesus that as the said L. W. hath oft Preached it may be known to whom the Lord hath given the Urim and the Thummim but these they use but in words only but instead of dealing so with us they 'l turn us over to a Consistory Spirituâ—l or Ecclesiastical Court so called which as I may truly say is as Carnal and Earthly a corrupt Court at this day as any in the World I know of and to the Secular Powers and Civil Magistrate c. and when we are brought before them and answers to what is Charged against us pleading matters of Conscience the Doctrine of Christ or His Apostles or the priviledge of the Church in a Gospel Dispensation then they cry hold your peace we have no thing to do with that Dispute it with your Ministers you shall not Preach here c. And all we can get of their Ministers is Rogue and Rascal Erroneous and Schismatical Fellow or Audacious Saucy youth I 'll humble you we 'll take a Course with such Refractary Fanatick as you are ere long c. So having the Sword by their thigh and the Law by their side thus are we preyed upon by
they will be as a broken Reed but all keep low and mind the narrow Way that leadeth unto Life the self denying way 't is but a few that find it yea peradventure but a few of that few that professes to walk in it The broad way the way of the World lies very near on every hand it is soon stepped into if once ones Eye be turned aside then it appears delightfull and hath a show of Beauty in it but it leads to the chambers of Death And my Friends those things I laid before you in my former Epistle I hope I need not here reiterate or make repetition of but as I was enjoyned by the Lord to deliver them unto you so I would have all Male and Female to ponder them in your Hearts that all may be clear and I clear of all And Friends keep your Hearts clear of the spirit of this World of all the Ways Fashions Pleasures and Alurements thereof shake your selves from them live loose to them for things may be Lawful to them and by their Law that may not be Lawful to us by our Law The Law of the spirit here is our rule so take heed of measuring by their Rule for our Rule being spiritual exceeds all their carnal Rules and our Righteousness must exceed theirs also so all minding the Rule and minding the Line none needs go out of their Way for it exceeds all the Lines and Rules of Mans making so come to the just measure the measure of Truth for unjust measures are abomination in the sight of God And all shake your selves from all the Whorish Babilonish brats from all her Customs from all her Ways and Worships partake not of them come away come away hasten hasten out from among them bid adieu to all her Glories and escape for your lives as Lot did out of Sodom before Gods destroying Angel go forth for his Wrath is kindling and his Fury is coming up into his Face and who shall stand before him Oh therefore come come away linger not hasten hasten to little Zoar the City of our Refuge which God hath appointed for us come give up give up all in pure obedience follow the Lamb even the Lamb of God that takes away the sin and finisheth Transgression and breaks the bonds of Death oh give up leave all and come away and wait to feel the Blood of sprinkling the Blood of the Lamb to sprinkle the posts of your Doors that the destroying Angel may not enter but may pass over you as he passed over his Israel of old for I know it from the Lord and can declare it unto you that God hath a Remnant at this Day as he had in that that are in Covenant with him And those are they that hath obeyed Truth in their inward parts and hath kept their Garments unspotted of the World and hath walked with God in the simplicity of their Hearts they are his he hath Chosen them out of the World he hath called them by his Name and espoused them to himself and whosever toucheth them touches the apple of his Eye God will take care of them and will be their munitioned Rock he will pass by them and spare them as a Man spareth his onely Son that serveth him oh therefore retire retire to the Lowly Meek and self-denying Spirit of Jesus live in the possession of it so shall you be Heirs of Life and Glory in and through Christ Jesus and Citizens of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem whose Walls is salvation and Gateâ— praise and though fear may surprize the hypocrite and astonishment cease upon the Disobedient and Rebellious yet you shall â—â—and as Mount Zion that cannot be moved the Lord God Almighty will strengthen your stakes so that not a stake of Jerusalem can be removed nor a Cord of Zion ever â—e broken the Mouth of the Lord hath said it Oh therefore all sink down sink down to the pure Principle of God in the inward Man the just Mans path the shining Light of Jesus Christ oh let that Guide all and Order all and then may we say with David thy Word o Lord is a Light unto my feet and a Lanthorn unto my paths indeed and so in the Light feel the Love the first Love renewed and strengthened again oh strengthen strengthen that little that yet remains that it may grow warmer and warmer and not colder and colder for where iniquity abounds there Love grows cold and undoubtedly in such the Life declines therefore feel universal Love to grow to fill to run through all for Love worketh no ill to his Neighbour it is the fulfilling of the Law as faith the Apostle so if any one Male or Female have declined have walked disorderly have turned aside from the holy Commandment from the Footsteps of the flock of God from the holy Order of the holy Life and Gospel of Jesus Christ it stops the Currant of Love both in themselves and others oh let such return return repent and amend and bow to the Righteous Judgment of him to whom all Judgment is committed and at the Footstool of Jesus truly humbled in true Tenderness and Contrition of Spirit wait to feel the Currant and Streams of Love from God the Father to flow in and heal again and to restore again that so the heavenly sap vertue and universal love may be felt to spring run and ascend again through every member or branch that love and good will in all may grow and increase and the contrary nature may decline and that root in which enmity self-love pride and contention stands may be daily subdued and slain that all may bow to the Cross and be subject to the Power the heavenly Power of God oh feel it feel it in your Souls to live oh let none resist it in themselves nor in others for whoever resists the Power resists the Ordinance of God so prise it prise it my dear Friends retain the sense and savour of it in your selves let not that be lost in any high nor low rich or poor old nor young there is a living Beauty and Comliness in it still it is beyond all professions or prescribed Forms or imitations of Mans making there can no form nor likness be made of it so the nature and work of the Power being possessed and lived in it will preserve all in Love Unity and Peace and Heavenly fellowship and spiritual oneness out of all jars strifes discords or divisions And the God of Peace and Love will be with us and delight to do us good and will undoubtedly cherish and maintain his own heavenly Birth and righteous Seed which by the over shadowings of his heavenly eternal Power he hath begotten and raised in all his regenerated ones So to the pure gift of God I Recommend you all my dear Friends Brethren and Sisters that in it we may all hold the mistery of Faith in a pure Conscience even that Faith that gives Victory and Dominion over the
Countenance said O is it so that I who have written so much can scarce now write my Name well it must be so and the Will of the Lord be done I am content and thus was his precious time spent in giving and resigning himself up unto the Will of the Lord saying come Lord Jesus receive my Spirit And so about the sixth hour at Night as he was in a slumber fell into a Fit or Trance Jonathan Nicholson his Brother in Law being with him in Bed heard him say as he fell into a fit Farewell Farewel Farewell three times as if he had been waiting for the time of his change but in about half an hour he again revived and came to his perfect senses as before Three of his Children being brought to him he called to them by their Names saying dear Babes I am glad to see you expressing it with much joy and gladness advising them to live in the fear of God and to be good Children and to keep amongst Friends and said I have not much Gold and Silver to leave you but I hope the blessing of the Lord will attend you and so Kissing and Embracing them he took leave of them his dear Wife coming to him weeping he said to her Weep not thy care and tenderness hath been much over me and often seemed to lament and pitty his dear Wife that had been a true Help-meet unto him from the time of their first coming together unto that day in his Exercises and Weakness which were not a few And so after he had taken his leave of those about him he fell into another fit and in less then half an hour was taken away with little or no pain being the 18th Day of the aforesaid ninth Month 1684. This is to be noted that he often in his Life time when in great pain and affliction by reason of the Distemper of his Body did desire the Lord to mitigate his pain upon his Death-bed and not take him away in those Tortering fits which the Lord in great Mercy did Answer for he did say that he was not Sick and felt little pain but a great weakness and decay of outward strength yet still was well Preserved in a sweet Frame of Spirit to the great Satisfaction and Comfort of those that were with him at his last End Thus they are blessed that Die in the Lord from henceforth they rest from their Labours and their Works follow them where the voice of the oppressor is no more heard the Wicked cease from Troubling and the weary are at Rest George Rooke The TESTIMONY OF ANTHONY SHARP DEar Thomas Carleton was a True and Sound Meek and Faithful Friend that Loved the Blessed Truth and Faithful Brethren and was so much in the self denial and a Lover of the Brethren that he Preferr'd them before himself And having the marks of a True Desciple was a good Example and left a good Savour behind him and I am satisfied he is at Rest Anthony Sharp The Captives COMPLAINT OR THE Prisoners PLEA Against the Burthensom and Contentious Title of TYTHES With a True Relation of the Prisoners Spiritual Progress and Travel towards the New and Heavenly Jerusalem Together with the sad and grievous Sufferings he sustained by a Persecuting and Covetous High Priest in Cumberland for his Gospel Testimony against Tythes Here is also laid down several Grounds and Reasons against the Propriety Payment of Tythes in this Evangelical Day and Dispensation As also several Papers and Queries sent to the Priest which to this Day remains Unanswered All which is now referred to the view judgment and understanding of every Conscientious impartial Reader of what Profession soever wherein the Prisoner doth recommend himself his Sufferings and the empty groundless Cause thereof to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God as was the Practice of the Apostles and Saints of old in the primitive Times 2 Cor. 4.2 Re-printed in the Year 1604 The Captives Complaint or the Prisoners Plea c. FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the incomprehensible wise God who made Heaven and Earth and all that is therein to create Man and set him apart for his own Service Worship and Glory as the most competent Creature whereby to advance his glorious dreadful Name over all his Creatures upon the Earth over whom He gave Man dominion and for the better Ruling and Governing His Creatures and Worshipping and Glorifying Himself the Author and Creator of all He hath indued Man with Reason and Understanding and infused into him a Principle of his own Life and stamped or set His own Image in him thereby to beautifie His creature Man giving him dominion power and liberty over all that He had made both the Fruits of the Earth and every Creature moving thereon the Fishes of the Sea and the Fowls of the Air and every Creature moving therein save only of the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil he was not to Eat Now the Serpent being more subtil then all the Beasts of the field did insinuate it self into the affections of the Woman and having got room in the weaker Vessel did induce both the Man and the Woman through feigned smooth words and not by direct opposition mark that into disobedience to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth whose Image they then lost by the Serpents Transformation who raised the discontented aspiring self-seeking Principle that desired to be equal with God which they soon received and obeyed thereby losing the happy blessed and good estate in which he was placed and thereby fell into the knowledg of Evil and naked miserable estate with God being Transformed into the image of the Serpent was captivated in the Curse and so came to be driven out of the Garden of Eden in which he was placed and to be fenced out from the Tree of Life and from the Presence of the Lord in that State for ever And because the Serpent had done this the Lord cursed it above all Cattel and every Beast of the Field and put enmity between its seed and the Seed of the Woman saying The Womans Seed shall break its Head and it should Bruise his Heel so the Enmity being placed between the Seeds the warfare was begun which ever since hath continued through the Generations of Mankind and hence the striving between the Twins in the Womb comes to be known and the Elected and Reprobated Seed is known and the Seed of the Bond woman and the Seed of the Free-woman is known and the Fleshly Birth persecuting that which is born of the Spirit is known and the Promise of the Lord to the Seed of the Woman is known and fulfilled in those that witness the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven to be come and the Seed of the Covenant is known to such in which all the Nations of the Earth is blessed and blessed and happy are they that are apprehended and overcomes in this Seed for they shall again come to eat of the
same God to day and can save so take heed betime least the judgments of God fall heavy upon thee and labour not to incur the wrath and displeasure of the Almighty upon thy Soul for thy deceit violence spoyling and persecuting is and will be a token of perdition when my innocent suffering is and will be a token of Salvation and that in Christ Jesus So be warned I advise thee once more and repent and amend speedily lest the plagues and arrows of the Almighty fall heavy upon thee for this I am bold to tell thee in the Name of the Lord that the Lords wrath is kindled against such which will not cease nor quench till the workers of Iniquity be cut off that have added affliction to the afflicted and usurpingly exercised lordship over the Heritage of God for your treachery deceit and folly hath and is appearing to all Men and Gods controversie against you is begun for your end is destruction whose God is your gain and your belly whose mind is on earthly things yea the Stone of your Wall and the Beam of your Timber the very materials of Babel's Building shall cry out against the Builders and the Stone you have rejected is become Head viz. Christ Jesus the Light and if thy patience can read it and apply it so do if not how willt thou bear and answer the Lord when these things fall upon thee Carlile the 13th of the 3d Month 1665. From a Sufferer for Truth and Righteousness Tho. Carleton These Queries following I propounded to him occasioned by some Discourse between us about their Sacrament and Conformity which he seemed to charge upon me as the sole cause of my imprisonment having the like confounded Architectors of Babel either lost the original cause else finding the weakness and inconsideratness of it was ashamed and so let it fall For I said to him that I never thought Nonconformity to their Church and Sacrament had been the cause but rather Tythes as my Mittimus signified he answered no no it was it and nothing but it meaning Nonconformity L. West PErceiving thou blamest me for want of Conformity to the Church Ordinances and Sacraments as if that were the sole cause of my imprisonment and thou pretending to be a Minister in the Church and to the Church give me a full and positive answer to these following Queries according to Scripture sound Doctrine and the spirit of Truth that so my judgment may be rightly informed and if I have been erroneous and schismatical I am willing to reform when I am thereof convinced 1. What is the qualification of a Minister of Christ what is his Gifts and Endowments and how and from whom are they obtained 2. How is a Minister of Christ to be called sent what is their Ordination or whether thy Call Ordination or Ministry be from him to whom wast thou sent and to what end or whether there be not some that run unsent and never profit the People according to Jer. 23.32 3. What dost thou Minister from in thy self or what dost thou Minister to in the People or wherein doth thy gift and ministration conâ—â—â—t 4. What is the Gifts and Parts of a Minister of Christ what is the gifts and parts of a Minister of Antichrist or how do they differ one from another 5. Whether is a Minister to be Servant to and in the Church or to exercise lordship over the Church and Heritage c. as the manner of the Gentiles is 6. Whether is covetousness pride wrath malice envy swearing lying drunkenness fornication oppression robbery theft idle and corrupt communication and such like of the Spirit of Christ or Antichrist 7. Whether they that do such things do believe in God and have Faith in Jesus Christ or can be either a Minister or Member in his Church and Body having not obtained Remission Redemption and Salvation from those things 8. What is the Church of Christ or how many Churches is there whereof doth it consit whereon doth it stand where and by whom is the Foundation thereof laid and how is it preserved Holy and without Spot or whether is it subject to corruption and change yea or nay 9. What are the Ordinances of the Church what are the Precepts Rules and Canons therein to be observed and to whom doth the Rule and Government thereof belong 10. Whether doth these Ordinances of the Church belong unto all Men or whether is all Men under the Rule and Government thereof or what is the qualification of those that have a right therein and the priviledge of those that are Governed thereby 11. How many Ordinances are in the Church when and by whom are they instituted to what end and for what time 12. What is Baptism who is the Baptiser with what and to what are Men Babtized 13. How many Baptisms are there and how do they differ one from another 14. How are they Baptized that are Baptized into the death of Christ and are Buried with him in Baptism or how is the Baptizing with Fire and the Holy Ghost 15. Whether doth dipping and sprinkling in water England's present Church Form in Baptism make one a Member of Christ or whether is any unclean thing a Member of Christ yea or nay 16. Whether they that were Baptized and ingrafted as a Member in the Church if they perform what was therein promised viz forsake the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the flesh and believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same whether they must not be excomunicated and cast out of your Church and into Prison and suffer loss both in body and estate yea or nay according to John 16.2 17. What was those Ordinances and Traditions that Paul forbad the Collossians to touch taste or handle which though commanded by Men was to perish with using which Ordinances Christ blotted out and nailed to his Cross as being against such as he had quickned and raised by his Spirit 18. What was those Meats and Drinks those Holy-dayes New-moons and Sabboth-dayes which was but shadows of good things to come or is not the Churches yet under those Ordinances Traditions and Shadows and knows not the Light of the glorious Gospel revealed which Christ commanded to believe in 19. What was the Philosophy Traditions and Rudiments of the World which had like to have spoiled some and which those that were dead with Christ were not to be subject to but if Pope and Turk should have power to set up their Traditions Rudiments would you not be subject and Preach them up for Doctrine 20. What is the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which thou would have me receive how is it distributed and received or what is the qualifications of the worthy Receivers and if I Eat and Drink the thing signified viz. the Body and Blood Spiritually and so difist from
pour you out a Blessing c. But your words have been stout against me saith the Lord ye have said It is in vain to serve God and what profit is there in keeping his Commandments and in walking humbly before him And therefore ye count the proud happy and sets up them that work wickedness and those that tempt God are delivered Now the next place which some account as formidable as all the rest is Luke 11.42 Christs own words saying Wo unto you Pharisees ye Tythe Mint and Rue and all manner of Herbs and neglect and pass over Judgment and the love of God these things ye ought to have done and not to have left the other undone These are the main grounds being under the Law of the first Covenant upon which the Ordinations Titles Claims and Propriety of Tythes do or ever did arise or spring and upon which all the Disputes Acts Decrees Laws and Tryals at Law Differences and Sufferings of what kind soever do originally arise and descend by which the reader may observe the rise and institution of Tythes and the end thereof and the observation of them from Moses or the Levitical Law downwards till Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to all them that believe Rom. 10.4 I shall now proceed to give my Reasons whereupon I deny the Payment of Tythes First The Reader may take notice of the Institution of Tythes and by whom Here is Moses the Servant and Prophet of the Lord who was faithfull in all his House and was a Witness through Faith of those things which should afterward come to pass Hebr. 3.3 4. this was he whom the Lord chused and sent into Egyt for a Prophet Prince and Deliverer to the Children of Israel Exod. 3.10 Acts 7.34 35. and having brought them to Mount Sinai the Lord spake unto Moses saying Tell the Children of Israel You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on Eagles Wings and brought you to me Now if you will hear my Voice indeed and keep my Covenant then ye shall be my chief Treasure above all People though all the Earth be mine and ye shall be to me a Kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation Then Moses proposed to them what the Lord had said to him and the People answered unanimously All that the Lord hath Commanded we will do and Moses reported their words unto the Lord Exod. 19.3 4. c. So the Lord calling Moses and Aaron only up into the Mount said I am the Lord thy God that have brought thee out of Egypt c. Thou shalt have no other Gods besides me and he delivered to them his Precepts and his Law by the dispensation of Angels Exod. 20. c. Also he commanded them not to make unto themselves gods of silver or gold verse 23. Then he commanded Moses to make an Altar of Earth or Stone whereon to offer the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings c. And see saith he that a Tool be not lifted up upon it verse 24.25 Then he delivered to him the Temporal or Civil Laws Exod. chap. 21 22 23. c. So Moses wrote all the Laws and erected them an Altar under the Mount and Twelve pillars according to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and sent of the Children of Israel who offered Burnt-offerings Beaves and Peace-offerings c. and with half of the Blood he sprinkled the Altar and the rest he put in Basins And he read the Laws and all the words of the Lord to the People who said All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient So Moses sprinkled all the People with the Blood and said Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you touching all these things Chap. 24. Then the Lord called Moses up into the Mount saying I will give thee Tables of Stone and a Law and Commandments which I have written that thou mayst Teach them to the People And Moses took his Minister Joshua and went up and Moses was in the Mount forty Days and forty Nights and God spake unto Moses to speak unto the Children of Israel that they should offer unto the Lord an offering of Gold Silver Brass Purple Scarlet and fine Linnen Oyl and Spices and precious Stones c. And that they should make the Lord a Sanctuary that he might dwell amongst them and that it should be according to the express Pattern shewed to him and also that he should make an Ark in which the Testimonies of the Covenant should be placed describing the fashion of the Tabernacle and the Order Place and Fashion of all the appurtenances thereunto belonging every thing was to be made placed and erected according to the express Patern shâ—wn to him in the Mount chapters 25 26. Mark what I say Moses having read the Law and the Book of the Covenant in the audience of the People they said All that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient chap. 24.7 8. Then he took the Blood of the Covenant having with the one half sprinkled the Altar with the other half he sprinkled the People and the Covenant was confirmed for almost all things were by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of Blood is no Remission Hebr. 9.22 mark here is the establishment of the first Covenant which stood in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal Ordinances which was imposed untill the time of Reformation Hebr. 9.9 10. mark here again which was but a Figure for the time then present and could never make the Comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come mark by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle that is not made with hands nor not of this building I say also Christ Jesus being come who was the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to all that believe and the Substance of all Shadows Antitypes and Figures he hath brought in a more excellent Ministry being a Mediator of a better Covenant established upon better Promises wherefore coming into the World he saith Sacrifices Offerings and Burnt-Offerings for sin thou wouldest not which are offered by the Law but a Body thou hast prepared as it is written Lo I come to do thy Will O God by the which Will we are sanctified saith the Apostle mark He taketh away the first that he might establish the Second Now if the First Covenant had been faultless there should no place have been for the Second but finding fault with them under the First Covenant and why because it was not possible that the blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sins for in those Sacrifices there was yea and is a remembrance of sins every year so that the Commers thereunto is not made perfect so finding fault with them he saith Behold the days come that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah not
they 'l menace and thunder out their Comminations and Excomunications and some they 'l cast in Prison it may be till Death and yet cloke themselves over with the name of Gospel Ministers and plead innocency and say its the Law that requires it and binds Men to be subject to Ecclesiastical Canons and Censures now wherein doth their innocency appear unless in putting a white Coat above a black one a Popish dress and if the Figure be true they are but outside Pharisees appearing white and clean without and that in Apparel only Yea I may say they are as wise expert Marriners in that Babilonish Wisdom as ever Trafficked or Sailed upon the Waters of the Great Whore they can Sail with any Wind that blows within the Circuit of Babylons Coasts but that Prophesie comes to be fulfilled upon them Evil Men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived c. But blessed be the Lord the Day is dawned that declares them and the Light that makes them manifest with their all Abominations and the Son is appeared that will disperse them as the Morning mist so that their skirts shall be uncovered and their nakedness shall be laid open and their visage shall be no more Vailed for the Judgment of the Great Whore is come and coming wherein all her Merchants shall weep and mourn because no Man buyeth their Merchandice any more So this Mite of my Testimony I have cast in being but a Mite indeed in comparison of the many weighty praise-worthy works given forth by many of the dear and faithful Servants of God upon this very Subject in this very Age from the breakings forth of the Glorious Light in them revealed and made known And for the clearing my Conscience in the sight of the Lord I refer this to publick view and give this Testimony to my Countrymen and Acquaintance or any others that yet see not the difference between us and the Priests in this very point and partly for satisfying or silencing of others especially the People of the Independants or Congregational Church at Melmerby so called who though as I have said before they once made the non payment of Tythes an Article of their Judgment yet have of late since I became a sufferer for them whisperingly or clandestinely condemned me in secret more then many if not all others that have less profession and seem more profane rendring me foolâ—sh and unwise to suffer so much and so long for such a trivial external tempory matter as they call it but to me it was and is no smâ—ll matter being to the Contrary perswaded in my Conscience and knowing by good experience and assured Testimonies that I must stand or fall by obedience or disobedience to the manifestation of the Lords precious Gift and Light in my own Soul and Conscience I therefore value not the Judgment of any Man or People being from the Light the Line of True Judgment and Rule of Life to me and to be accounted a Fool is no new nor strange thing for a Fool I am to their Wisdom as was the good and precious Servants of God in Ages past For the Wisdom of God is foolishness with Men and casting things upon me behind my back becomes them not it were more Christianly for them to Admonish or Instruct me face to face and to give me their Advice and Reasons in matters of this nature which if I found to be more weighty sound and agreeable to the Witness of God in my Conscience I should be very ready willing and glad to receive them and be informed by them I am neither so far remote nor so much a stranger to them though my Principle may but this way they chuse not but makes War and fights as Men that beat the Air hiddenly or a far off slighting and contemning my Principle and me for its sake above most of People as though I had been Poysonous and Infectious where I came prohibiting some of their Society and Members so called to have any Fellowship or Converse with me or to receive either Books or Papers from me or come where I was and one of their leading Teachers G. Nicholson by Name denied to make good their own Principles and Tenents held forth in their own Defence against us and also to make good several contumelious aspertions cast upon us in my Hearing by him and others and also denied to give an account of his Faith and Hope in Christ Jâ—sus saying It was in vain c. with several such like matters which I shall now omit and yet these People will be Slighting and Villifying us in secret indeed we have much more cause to have disesteemed them and their Principles having more knowledge of both them and it when we were amongst them then ever they had of us or ours and in villifying our Principles they speak evil of things they understand not being a Treasure whose worth and value they never knew the mystery whereof is hid and sealed from that state and nature they live in we have known theirs but they never knew ours yea for my own part I can truly say in the Light and Presence of the Lord that I had more love and affection in my Heart for those people then any other Profession that was from the Light yea many a time I could have mourned in secret and been willing to have undergone great hardship that they might have been won and gained to the Lord yea I could as it were have plucked them out of the fire many a time other times my spirit hath been weighed and burthened yea filled with indignation against some of them that were Elders Teachers and Leaders that caused the rest to Err who like the Pharisees of old have Shut the Kingdom of God as it were but I am sure they have drawn backward and hindred the work of the Lord both in themselves and others for they would neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would but have made War against the Light in themselves and others and I testifie they are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise Christ Jesus the Light the New and Living Way who is the Light of the World John 8.12 Who is in the World and the World knows him not and lighteth every Man that comes into the World John 1.4 5 6 7 8 9 unto whom John came to bear Witness and yet how few will believe how few doth receive John's Testimony though he was sent from God to bear Witness of the Light and all hold John as a Prophet also how few do receive Christs own Exhortation who said While you have the Light believe in the Light that you may be Children of the Light John 12.36 no marvel if they receive not ours may it not well be said unto them Behold ye Dispisers and wonder I will work a Work in your day which though a Man declare it unto you yet will you in no wise believe Acts 13.41 mark ye Despisers
that Despise the Light accounting it as a thing of nought calling it Natural or Diabolical or an unholy thing esteeming it too mean a Meat for your stuffed up Stomachs and cannot yet be digested by you what better Testimony would you have Would you have one arise from the Dead here 's John a Man sent from God and here 's Christ Jesus which rose from the Dead which Death could not bold also we have the Testimony of the Spirit of Truth and having received this Testimony we have the Witness in our selves and can set to our Seals that God is True John 3.35 and that there is no other way to the Father but by Christ Jesus the Light which is the Life and Blood of the Everlasting Covenant though many set it at nought and will not stoop to so small a thing yet all the Powers of Darkness cannot comprehend it it will break thorow them all to your condemnation that are disobedient and for proof thereof I appeal to every of your Consciences in the sight of God and let the Light therein which abideth in you which is Truth and no Lye John 2.27 let it declare for me whether any of you can hide you from it If you take the Wings of the Morning as David said and fly into the uttermost parts of the Earth it will find you out do what you will it will declare the nature of your deeds when you do evil at home or abroad never so secretly when no man sees it will condemn you and when you do well it will justifie and you will feel peace and joy in that Work it will tell you all that ever you did as the Woman of Samaria said Is not this the Christ come and see then they came and saw and believed also not because of her words but by what they heard from him themselves saying they knew indeed that this is the very Christ John 4.42 So be intreated as a Man would intreat his Friend whom he loveth to come with the Samaritans and see wether it be not so as we have said she was but one and that a Woman yet they came forth with her to see if it was he and it was he and they believed but we are many Witnesses and Testifie what we have heard and seen and handled of him So once more I say be intreated to come and see not to come forth after us and follow us as he said Luke 17.21 23. but to turn in your minds I mean to the Light of Christ Jesus in your own Hearts for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and there hearken to him that is the Light of the World mark the World is set in Mans Heart Eccles 3.11 and when you have heard and obeyed for that is believing indeed I question not but you will be ready to say with the Samaritans That ye know that he is indeed the very Christ So put not off by delays but while the Lord calls do you answer and while he seeks be you gathered Prov. 1.24.26 yea while the Light and Love of God is with you believe in it receive it and walk in it for Darkness comes when no Man shall walk or work John 22 35 36. And the Light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire shall be quenched Job 18.5 6. Then shall his Wrath and Fury increase which will torment the Conscience for ever where they shall feel the Worm that dies not and the Fire that never goes out then Sorrow Mourning and bitter Lamentation shall fall upon them then may they cry to the Mountains fall on us and to the Hills to cover us even they I mean that slighteth their day of Visitation and hate to be reformed For behold the Days come that shall burn as an Oven wherein all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble the Day that cometh shall burn them up and shall leave them neither Root nor Branch but to them that fear my Name saith the Lord shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings and they shall go forth and grow as Calves in the stall and they shall tread down the Wicked yea the Wicked shall be as Ashes under the soles of their feet in that Day when I shall do this saith the Lord he that can believe it let him This is my Testimony given forth in the same Love wherewith the Lord my God hath loved me not desiring to Eat my Morsel alone nor yet to conceal the loving kindness of the Lord which is held forth freely unto all of which I am made a partaker according to the measure of that Grace and Love received in Christ Jesus who would not that any should perish but that all Men might come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved who was the First-fruits of Righteousness leaving us an Example to follow his steps So desiring that all might come to partake of the same Grace with us and walk in the same Light with us where there is no occasion of Stumbling and come to drink of the same Living Water with us which whosoever drinketh thereof shall never thirst again but is satisfied for ever this none knows save they that drink thereof and they are but a few Having for the Reasons aforesaid committed this to publick view it s now other Mens as well as mine to judge of and no doubt may be by some opposed as well as by others approved I therefore desire the discreet Reader having soberly and piously pondred this short Treatise in the fear of the Lord not rashly to asperse either me or it behind my back thereby to make my Principle or Testimony odious in the Eyes of such as are weak and unstable in Judgment but rather having any thing to object against the Truth of any particular herein to make known their Objections to me either by word or writing and I shall be very willing to be Christianly informed or else to give a Christian information and sober Reply for their satisfaction and for the clearing and vindicating of every particular herein according to that Talent of knowledge that is given me to improve and this I hope will be easily granted by such as is willing to do unto me as they would have me or others to do unto them which is according to both Law and Prophets Given forth about the 6th Month 1667. Tho. Carleton THE END To the CALLED OF GOD And true Professors of the LIGHT SPIRIT of Jesus Christ in these Northern Nations To the Called of GOD c. OH my well-beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters in that Spiritual Heavenly Relation that stands in the power of an endless Life do I tenderly Greet you all and in the sensible Feeling thereof do I at this time with much tenderness and fear communicate these following Exhortations unto you Upon the Second day of the Tenth Month at Even after I was returned from waiting upon and serving
Stubbornness all Ambition all self Exaltation and Worldly glory let that spirit and nature bow down at the Footstool of the Lamb and come bending unto him as Joseph's Brethren to Joseph Oh how then would his Bowels break and weep over its neck as Joseph over his Brethren and the Father over his prodigal oh how willing is he to receive such and love them freely therefore all keep near the Lord and wait to feel universal Love in the universal Spirit of Jesus that it may fill all possess all and mutually flow through all that your first love may be strengthened even the love of your espousals whereby you were first espoused to God and united one unto another this will renew you again oh the comliness and the beauty of this first love how precious and sweet it was many of us may yet remember how it drew our Souls to God and one unto another oh what a Heavenly harmony what a Heavenly oneness this love this first love did beget how it wrought all into concord and unity as one Body one Heart and one Spirit to hold the same Testimony and speak the same Thing in the one pure Language out of the many Languages and out of all Division the root and spring of it oh the amiableness of that first love the love that thinks no evil how precious and sweet a thing it is to behold and to see Brethren dwell together in it it truly preaches for God and is one infallible signe of a Disciple of Jesus Christ as by himself lay'd down by this shall all Men know that you are my Disciples because ye love one another for love is of God So if any have turned aside if any one be hurt if any one be wounded here is their balm retire to their Primitive purity to their first Zeal to their first fervent desire to their first love and tenderness that which is stronger then Death which many waters cannot quench nor floods wash away Oh that all would be stirred up to wait upon the Lord to feel the renewings of it that in tenderness of Spirit we may serve one another and provoke one another to love and good works and in that dwell together and watch against Division and the author and maintainers of it and the God of Peace and Love will be with us and he will delight to dwell amongst us and he will cause his that abide in his Love to revive as the Corn and to blossom as the Rose and their comliness will appear again as the morning Sun upon the Mountains so every particular retire retire to your first Love to your first Integrity to your first Zeal for God let not that be lost as the Church of Ephesus did least the Lord the Just and Righteous God remove the Candlestick out of its place so all do your first Works and keep your first Testimonies unviolated in Doctrine Life and Practice for this Preaches much for God And truly Friends this is a searching Day though a Day of outward ease yet a Day of inward trouble to many a sifting trying Day the Day of Satans transformings who goes subtilly about to deceive and with his Tail would sweep down a third part of the Stars and cause them to fall to the Earth therefore my dear Friends keep low and humble before the Lord within the Sanctuary of God and lay timely hold upon the hornes of the Altar thereof for the Day of sifting is begun and the Day of winnowing is at hand wherein our God will sift the Nations and winnow the People he will fan them yea he will fan them and thorowly purge them he will take away the chaff from the wheat and purge away the dross from the silver in his refining Fire and who shall stand when he appears who shall dwell with devouring Fire or who shall dwell with everlasting Burnings only he that walketh Righteously and speaketh Uprightly who abhoreth the gain of oppression and shutteth his eyes from seeing Evil. And truly Friends our God is come and comming to execute Justice and Judgment in the Earth I have seen it yea in the Light of Jesus I have beheld the Lord for several years past how he hath been searching out the Sins of the Daughter of his People and bringing to Light the hidden things of dishonesty yea how hath the Lord sought out the hidden things of Esau so there is nothing covered but he can reveal it nor nothing hid that he doth not know his Eye sees all and his Ear hears all his Justice he will Execute upon the head of the Transgressor and he will wound the hairy scalp of the Head of the Evil doer whether professor or prophane let none think to escape Wealth nor Wisdom he will not regard neither Mountains nor Hills can preserve or cover any of the Workers of In quity in this searching Day the Righteous God of Heaven will not be bribed he will not be mocked nor dissembled with though prophane Men Johanan like may dissemble with one another and may for a time appear like Pharisees Tombs with a fair smooth polished Face in the sight of Men and may subtilly cover their Sin and keep their deeds of deceipt and darkness hid from the Eye of Man for a time and like a painted Harlot wipe their mouth as though they had done no Evil flattering themselves with their own crafty Wit making lyes and falshood their refuge yet the Just and Righteous God who judges Righteously he will find out such he will discover their skirts and uncover all their nakedness to their shame and utter confusion Therefore all take heed of maintaining any thing hiddenly in the dread of the Lord God I warn you but mind the Light of Jesus and the leadings of it in your own Hearts and live in that walk with God in that as Enoch did of old and then you need not fear the Tryal of the Day though your Deeds be revealed upon the House top your nakedness will not become your shame you will need no deceitfull coverings nor aprons of Fig-leaves so to the Witness all retire it will dissemble with none it will truly discover your present estate and condition before God and the nature and propertie of every thing you undertake I know the experience of it not a foot can turn aside out of the narrow way of Life but being waited in it will certainly discover the worth and preciousness of it let no one ever despise Oh my dear Friends embrace it take heed of riding over or trampling on its reproofs or of thinking to smother and quench it in your selves no no its mouth can never be stoped nor its judgment ever perverted it will be as Ten thousand Witnesses it will one Day be too hard for all that now rejects it And will put the World the Flesh and the Devil to silence So let none be puffed up with any thing trust not to Egypts help nor to the Worlds wisdom for
World and all that nature that in it we may live and by it all may be preserved unto the end That so the Lord God Almighty his Living Holy Name and Eternal Truth may be Feared Served Honoured and Obeyed over all by and through all for He alone is worthy yea Everlasting worthy God blessed for ever and evermore Saith the Soul and Spirit of him who is the Lords and yours in the Unity of the Gospel of Christ Jesus T. C. A General EPISTLE CONTAINING Wholsom Admonition and Advice to Friends in IRELAND and else-where By Thomas Carleton DEar and well beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters who are in some Measure gathered by the Arm of God's Power and have known the blessed Appearance of Life and Salvation to you is the Salutation of my unfeigned Love and in the Fellowship of God's Everlasting Light do I tenderly greet you all and for the clearing of my Spirit of that which for some time hath been upon me do I communicate these Lines in the true Simplicity of my Heart dearly desiring all that love the Lord Jesus Christ To keep low and near the Lord and wait to feel God's living Power in your Hearts unto which we were turned or exhorted from the Beginning for in the Light of the Lord I see there is a Necessity for it For unless the Sense of God's living Power be felt Profession is vain and Meetings are not made profitable for the Mysteries of Life and Salvation and of true Christianity consist not only in any Profession Name or Notion of this or that Principle Article or Creed formed or received in the Minds of Men or Women but in a living Enjoyment and Possession of the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of the living saving Faith So my dear Friends all wait to feel the Operation of that Power in every Heart and Soul to subdue all to God and to work all into submission and real obedience to the heavenly Will and Mind of Christ Jesus who is come a Light into the World that all men through him might believe hear is the unchangeable standing Rule which every one is to measure themselves by and he or she that is measured or squared by this are as polished Stones for God's spiritual House and he or she that is not squared by this are not fit to be Members of God's Building so all having the Measuring line in your hearts let Judgment be laid to it and so try all things words works behaviours and the Intent of all and from what ground and spirit it doth proceed and this unchangeable everlasting Rule all keep to it and Build by it so shall you be justified with it in the Day of Tryal so all things done by this unchangeable unerring Rule the Law of the Spirit of Life this keeps clean and pure and sets free of all Mud and Confusion Sin and Iniquity and things that bring death and darkness over the Soul and understanding and so cloud the Testimony So let every man and woman by this standing Rule examine themselves and so let them eat speak or act as the Lord shall perswade them and wherein any one doubteth and is not clear in what he or she undertaketh let such forbare and wait in quietness till the Lord clear their way So all take heed and keep to the Rule for in the Lord's Light we see Light and have Clearness and Freedom and Peace but going from the Light without Rule without Guide the Vail comes over Darkness gathers in Confusion and Trouble then Peace comes to be lost So you that have known in any measure the work of Regeneration and of the New Birth through the working of God's Spirit and power in your Hearts by which some unclean spirits have been cast out keep to the Power still and beware of letting in the unclean spirit again for if you do the latter-end will be worse then the beginning And lean not to the World's Wisdom beware of that spirit I advise all for by that wisdom God is not known and if once the Sense and enjoyment of God be lost then man and woman is in a woful state without God in the World so keep out of the world's spirit I intreat you all and live as Fools to it and all its wayes fashions customs for in the light of the Lord I see a great Snare there at this day and too many that make Profession of Truth are like to be split upon that Rock So dear Friends live loose to the world and all the glories of it and seek to be wise in that which is not of this world that you may be loved of God and so dwell in that which can bear the revilings and reproaches of this world and the contradiction of sinners as our Lord Jesus Christ hath left us an Example So beware of looking back to Egypt's Glory again to see any heauty or comliness in that dark Land for from the Lord I see a Temptation attending God's spiritual Israel in this day as surely as ever it attended Israel after the Flesh and many are too prone to desire the pleasures of Egypt again though the best of them be bondage as many to their Sorrow have found yea too many there be that cannot bear tryals and reproaches and the way of the Cross and self-denyal but think it long and wearisom and hard as they did in the dayes of old and so are too ready to murmur and repine and lust in their hearts after this World 's glory again and joyn to its fashions and customs again and so set up Idols again as they did whose Carcases fell in tho wilderness with whom the Lord was displeased So beware of letting in that spirit of destrust unbelief and rebellion against God and his pure Witness in your Consciences and beware of building that which was once destroyed or licking up that which was once vomited or entertaining of that which was once cast out or owning that which was once denyed either in words in works in behaviour in apparel in doctrine or faith hath Truth in you condemned for all idle vain prophane wicked unfound and unfavoury words and brought you into a Form of needful true and sound words keep to it still hath Truth condemned all idle proud prophane wicked and ungodly Actions and all empty airy foolish wanton lustful proud self-willed and Men-pleasing behaviours and brought you into moderation gravity plainness reallity and Truth in Life and Conversation keep to it still hath Truth condemned for decking and adorning the Body with vain superfluous proud needless worldly eye-taking Toyes in Apparel and led you into plain profitable decent needful things keep to it still and fashion not your selves like unto the World nor learn any of their manners nor of the breeding of that Egyptian-Spirit which keeps the Seed in bondage and oppressed the just in the particular and in the general so from the Lord I advise you all and
warn you all that are Parents to watch over your Children and bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and beware you breed them not up in the World's manners nor customs nor in pride lightness and vanity nor in things that puff up and lead away their minds from under the Cross of Christ Jesus but rather breed them up in Humility Lowliness and Self-denial and in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom and gate of Virtue and so endeavour to train them up in the right Way to Life and lay a good Foundation in them while they are young and then both you and they may expect a blessing from the Lord which is better then all So away with all Manners and Breeding and Education that is out of the Fear of God for you your selves know the first Nature in it self is too inclinable to be taken with the Manners and Customs of the Egyptian-Spirit and to take pleasure and conceit it self and be puffed up with and in those things that lead from God without nursing and encouraging thereunto so keep all Low in Meekness and Self-denial that God's Fear may be timely planted in their Hearts and the Principles of Life and Peace they may be instructed in as you your selves have learned them of the Lord that so the loving-kindness and gentle dealings of God towards us we may tell of them to our Children and they to another Generation so all learning the way of the Cross and Self-denyal that Will that is carnal and earthly will be mortified and slain and the Spirit of the World and the Customs thereof will be Crucified to you all and you all unto it and then how can they that are Crucified to the World live any longer therein and so Spiritual Men and Spiritual Women Sons and Daughters of the incorruptible Seed begotten again by the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus and so dead to the World's Spirit Ways Customs Manners Traditions Ordinances and Worships all in the Fall and Degeneration from God and every one Living up to this being guided by God's Wisdom keep their Testimony clear and unviolated in the sight of God and Men. So stand true Witnesses for God and be Faithful or full of Faith in the Lord believe in Him love Him above all and trust Him with all Wife and Children Estate and Life and take heed of giving Offence or of causing Truth to suffer in its Esteem for God hath glorified it and will glorifie it and Wo from the Lord is to them that cause Truth to be Evil spoken off that brings a blot upon their Testimony and so marreth the Visage and Countenance of Truth in the particular or in the general And dear Friends stand living Witnesser for God's Truth and be not cowardly but valiant as Soldiers of Christ Jesus and stand up against all the Works and Workers of Iniquity against all Hirelings and false Shepherds against the grand Oppression of Tythes with the abolished Ceremonies and Ordinances of the first Covenant and Jews outwardly which Antichrist and the Deceivers that are gone into the World having lost the Power would innovate and set up again among the Gentiles and Jews inward contrary to the Institution of God and stand up against all Swearing and that which leads to Swearing and against Lying or Stealing and against Fighting or Killing since our Kingdom is not of this World and against Fornication Adultery Whoredom Lasciviousness Luxury and all manner of Uncleanness the sins of this World which are so vile they are scarce fit to be spoken of or named amongst the Saints so as becomes Warriours for God and the everlasting Gospel of Christ Jesus stand clear of them all and against them all and then there will be no need of shifts and excuses and crooked Reasons in the fallen wisdom to hide or cover any one with And my dear Friends let your Yea be Yea and your Nay be Nay and keep to the form of sound words in all your Communications Bargains and Dealings one with another and also with them that are without that so you may honour the Lord and honour his Truth and convince all with whom you have to do that Truth and Righteousness lives in you and you live in it this is the glory of all Profession And be not forward and rash in Words and Promises for some there are yea too many that make Profession of Truth and true Religion and yet know not a bridle for the Tongue and the Apostle said such Mens Religion was vain yea and too many there are that are hasty to promise and flow to perform and then shuffle to excuse themselves as Eve did where no Excuse can properly bear in the Truth so beware of it I desire you all for this was one express Token the Apostle laid down of the falling away therefore be slow to promise but careful quick and forward to perform when promised and that keeps Truth clear and answers the Expectations of all and Preaches to all with whom we have to do and hereby the Saints reached God's Witness in one another in the beginning so keep to it still and every one speak the Truth from his Heart without Dissimulation and learn not the slighty words and cunning evasions of the deceitful Spirits of this World which darken knowledge thereby to drive Bargains to accomplish self-ends and covetous designs for such things though never so fairly glossed are inconsistent with the innocency and naked simplicity of our Gospel neither is Truth honoured by such deceitful coverings so all Friends keep clear of such things and be plain-hearted with all Men for no coverings will hide or avail in this bright lightsome Day but that of God's Eternal Spirit which will stand over all and Darkness cannot comprehend it but going from the Light and Spirit of God into the fallen deceitful wisdom then the World comprehends and sounds and bottoms all such and so Truth suffers in the particular and in the general so the Law of the Spirit of Life which we profess is beyond all Laws and a Rule beyond all Rules and reaches further to the ordering and guiding of all those that are resolved and given up to it in Obedience then all Laws Precepts Canons or Injuctions that are outward whatsoever so the Righteosness that is God's which Christ Jesus is the Author of is beyond all and exceeds all the Righteousness of other Professions Scribes or Pharisees whereby its plain every Righteosness doth not enter nor is accepted of God but only that which exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ works in all his by the Operation of his eternal Spirit So my dear Friends wait to feel it and the effectual Works of it brought forth in you all which to feel is more then words that your Faith may stand in it and in a living Enjoyment of it for that Man or Woman that doth not feel it and the efficacy and vertue of
it they bring from a strange Vine which Christ Jesus will not own and all take heed and keep low in God's Fear And you my Friends that are Rich in this World or have much of the Creation of God do you watch and take heed for there is a Snare and that none of the least which attends that state also and if the Lord hath encreased your store set not your Hearts upon them nor trust to them for he that trusteth to his Riches shall fall for as one said They are not for ever but sometime make themselves Wings and fly away so be not lifted up with them but eye the Lord and possess as though you possessed not and labour to be Rich towards God and Rich in good Works and remember poor afflicted Joseph and be ready to do good and to communicate as said the Apostle and keep your Hearts single and loose to those things and so in God's Wisdom you will see your Way and Service and the End and Use of all And all you Young Men and Women that are single and unmarryed you have an Oportunity to serve the Lord do you keep low and beware of being entangled or brought in Bondage by youthful Lusts for thereby many have lost a good condition with God and brought themselves to Sorrow and Wo both in this Life and that which is to come And above all take heed of joyning Affinity with strange Nations and such as know not God nor obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for this was forbidden Israel after the flesh Deut. 7.3.4 and for their Disobedience herein God's anger was kindled against them and they were carryed away captive many years which made Ezra the Servant of the Lord rent his Garments and pluck his Hair off his Head and Beard and mourn before the Lord till he and the Elders of Israel resolved to put away their Strange Wives Ez 9 10. chap. And Esau by marrying the Daughters of Heth so grieved his Father and Mother that Rebecca complained she was weary of her Life Gen. 27.46 And Paul advised not to be unequally yoked together Believers with Unbelievers knowing there could be no Union between Light and Darkness nor the Temple of God and Idols c. so keep your Hearts single to God and wait in God's Wisdom to overcome the Wicked One in your own particulars and seek to be marryed to the Lord first and joyned to the Lord by his eternal Spirit which brings into Unity and keeps Chastity in Mind and Spirit unto him and observe the Advice of the Apostle who said The Unmarried cared for the things of the Lord how he or she might please the Lord but the married for the things of this World how he or she might please Wife or Husband So all be watchful and mind your Places and Callings in Christ Jesus but if any one in the Fear and Wisdom of God do see it their way to marry let such seek God's Counsel and be not hasty but wait in it that he or she may enjoy a Wife or a Husband in the Peace and Love of God and to be joyned one by his eternal Spirit and then Meet helps and a Blessing one to another and then the Marriage is honourable and the Bed undefiled so all keep clean and live up to God in all things in all States and Conditions in your Places and Callings whereunto God hath called you that the Lord may take pleasure to do you good and to multiply his Blessings upon you that the Issues of Life and Peace may abound and run through all and rest upon all your Hearts and Souls as the dew of Hermon And the God of Peace and Love preserve us all in his Peace and Love and carry us through all by the Arm of his Eternal Power and guide us all in his heavenly Wisdom to the Praise Glory and Renown of his Everlasting Name who is God alone blessed forever and for evermore Written the 13th of the 7th Month 1676. Your Friend Brother in the Obedience of Truth Tho. Carleton FINIS