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
Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him who is over all God blessed forever Amen Col. 1. 16. Rom. 9. 5. These together with the Testimonies Jesus gave of himself Iohn 8. 38. Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am John 10. 30. I and my Father are one John 15. 5. there he Prayes And now Oh Father glorifie thou me with thine own self and with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was In like manner he speaks of his own Eternity Proverbs 8. chap. from the 23d to the end to which agrees that application given to him of wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isa. 9. 6. These things I say the Quakers believing according as they are written and having an experience of in themselves by the effectual working of the mighty Power of Christ Jesus in their Hearts are sufficient proofs to them of his Divine substance and also to make them see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ as 't is written Ephes. 3. 9. Wherefore they know the Son to be one and equal in Power with the Father Now if any shall object that Scripture where Christ saith My Father is greater then I. Answ. That must needs be understood only as he assumed the Nature of Man not at all relating to the fulness of the God-head that dwelleth Bodily in him as 't is written Col. 2. 9. So likewise the Author to the Hebrews describes him chap. 1. 2 3. verses To be the brightness of the Fathers Glory and the express Image or Character of his Substance for so the Word Person ought to be rendered by whom also he made the Worlds And therefore I believe and so do they in whose behalf I write that Jesus Christ is very God 3 dly I affirm they do believe that this Jesus or this God was manifest in the Flesh as saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 16. And Iohn the Evangelist Chap. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth And Paul to the Hebrews chap. 2. 16. speaking of Christ saith For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham 4 thly Therefore in the fourth place I affirm The Quakers do faithfully own this Jesus to be the Mediator according to the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Iesus who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time 5 thly I affirm they own his obedience also for I know they do believe that Christ Jesus in the dayes of his Flesh was obedient to God as becometh a Son unto a Father in all things For he came not to do his own Will but the Will of him that sent him wherefore we find him Praying to his Father Nor my Will but thine be done Yea moreover 't is written of him Hebrews 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered For he was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastizments of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed as saith the Prophet Isaiah chap. 53. 3 5. Therefore these do confess to his Sufferings according to the Scriptures for Christ also hath once suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust that he might bring us to God being put to Death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit see 1 Pet. 3. 18. Likewise they own his Death as an acceptable and most satisfactory Sacrifice to God for the Sins of all and is of blessed advantage to all that shall receive Faith in his Blood which agrees to Rom. 3.25 Ephes. 5.2 Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God And he hath given himself for us an offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Also they believe that as Christ dyed for our Sins so he was buried likewise and rose again according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Again vers 20 21. 't is said But now is Christ risen from the Dead and become the first Fruits of them that Sleep For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead So in Acts 17. 31. The Apostle mentions this as the assurance which God gave to men of his judging the World at the great Day by his Son Christ Jesus namely his having raised him from the Dead Now 6 thly and Lastly I affirm They do believe that from Christ Jesus these and such like Benefits extend to true Believers First Election in him according as God hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love as 't is recorded in Ephes. 1. 4. Mark 'T is in him we are elected not in our selves as though personally some were chosen and others past by but in the Seed Christ the Elect of God the Object of the Father's Love all who are gathered into him are made a chosen Generation an Elect People by the Lord. 2. Vocation this also they own to be a Benefit bestowed on them by the Father in the Son for that they who were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others have been called of God in Christ with an High and Holy Calling to obtain Mercy from him even to become Saints that so they should shew forth the Vertues of him who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light 3. Reconciliation to God as saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself So Coll. 1.20,21,22 it s said And having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and you who were sometimes alienated and Enemies in your Minds by wicked Works yet now hath he reconciled in the Body of his Flesh through Death to present you holy unblameable unreprovable in his Sight 4. Sanctification and Iustification I put both these together because though I do grant they may be distinguished yet I cannot see how they can be divided being so near of kin that if one languish t'other cannot but greatly mourn besides the Apostle is my President in coupling of them
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
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
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
he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of First Fruits of his Creatures James 1. 18. But since there is a Willing Faculty placed in Man and this Will being corrupted is naturally froward and averse to any thing spiritually Good whereby Man chooseth that wherein the Lord delighteth not and will not hearken to his Counsel nor turn at the Reproofs of Instrustion which are the Way of Life but obstinately pursues the sinful Desires and Lust of the Flesh to his Soul's Ruin and so his Destruction is of himself and God clear of his Blood by the free Tenders of his Grace and strivings of his Spirit within him If this be granted then it will follow if ever Man be saved this stubborn Will most be bowed and subjected and brought into Obedience to the Lord Jesus for 't is the Willing and Obedient to whom the Promise is made Ier. 1. 19. So that Man must come to be freely willing to serve the Lord and to take up the Cross and bear the Yoak of his Son Christ Jesus not only of Necessity but of a Ready Mind And thus now to have the Will sanctified and brought into the pure Obedience of him that sanctifieth it which is an Effect of the free Grace of God here comes the true Freedom of Will to be known even to be made free from Sin being delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God which agrees to that of the Apostle Romans 8. 21. And here as the Truth maketh free man comes to be free indeed and to receive Ability to attend upon the Lord without Distraction and to do his Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven according to that Prayer which our Blessed Saviour taught his Disciples as we read in the sixth Chapter of Matthew After this manner pray ye saith Christ Our Father which art in Heaven hollowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven c. And yet how many are there that will plead for this Plat-form of Prayer who never expect to receive an Answer For say they The Will of God cannot be done perfectly here I grant where the Kingdom of God is not come there his Will can never perfectly be done but where the Kingdom of God is known and witnessed to be within that gives Power and Ability and makes willing to yield Obedience unto his Requirings of us so that here every one according to their several Measures may perfectly perform the Will of their Heavenly Father Yet is here a vast difference between the Natural Freedom of Man's Will which some plead for and the Gracious Freedom thereof maintained by the Quakers for that is quite another thing to what hath been slanderously reported of them CHAP. VII Concerning Inherent Righteousness AS touching Inherent Righteousnes as a Righteousness of Self is intended a thing wherein this People have been falsly as well as foully aspersed it having been given out concerning them viz. That hereby they expect to merit Heaven Now seeing the Truth struck at with such a Soul-mrudering Weapon as this makes me like Cresus his dumb Son to speak What! can their Adversaries wrongfully reproach them with nothing less then laying waste the very Foundation of the Christian Faith which stands in submitting to the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and not in establishing any Righteousness of our own as inherent in us and of our selves But be it known to the World though it hath been reported that the Quakers hold this dangerous Tenet yet the report will not hold true when it comes to be examined For although I have heard others often charge it upon them yet I never could find the person that durst say this was their own Confession viz That upon the account of Inherent or Self-Righteousness they expect Salvation but if we will take the Confessions of those that are so forward to make Confessions for others we may then believe the Quakers are as bad as they are pleased to render them to us but we must not take things upon trust but hear both parties if we will be ingenuous no Reader they have no such expectation far are such thoughts from them For though they do reckon a man must be made inwardly Righteous by the power of Christ that is meet for the Kingdom of Heaven I think this amounts to no more then what I have heard asserted by a Teacher of your own viz. That God freely bestows his Grace upon Men and Women and afterwards rewards his own Grace in his own Children which Words plainly imply the Grace of God to be free to all and to be tendered within which whoso accepts thereof to be led by the same do thereby receive the Spirit of Adoption and so come to obtain the reward of Children which is a part in their Fathers Kingdom and this indeed is according to the Quakers Principle for they know right-well Gods Grace is Universal a proser whereof he maketh unto all by which they might be made a Righteous people and in it come to enjoy Salvation Therefore they believe that inward Righteousness is wrought by Virtue of the Grace of God and is a necessary qualification to fit man for Glory which makes them choose with the Apostle rather then talk of the Righteousness of Faith to shew forth their Faith by their Works yet do they not expect to be saved neither for their Faith alone nor by their Works but by Christ who worketh true Faith For 't is not Works of Righteousness as done by them not only as Inherent in them by which they expect to be accepted of God and justified before him but by and through Christ Jesus the Author and Worker of those acts in them and for them whereby they know that they are in him and he in them and they hold him as their Head into whom all things are gathered together in one even in him How comes it about then it may be asked that this report has spread so far concerning them Why truly Reader if I may give in my Answer it must be this he who was an Enemy to all Righteousness ever since the beginning seeing the Faithful among this People not only Nominally but really Righteous throughout their Conversation he hath been so inraged against them that he hath not spared any pains to put on his Instruments to Reproach and Vilifie them Therefore have they been masked with the most affrighting Vizards of Self-Righteousness and Self-Sufficiency to bring about their own Salvation that if possible he might fright People from having any converse amongst them but notwithstanding the Wrath of the Adversary their Innocency will appear with its open Face for the time is now a hasting wherein it will be seen who are but Nominally and who are really Righteous Bear with me my Friends to whom I dedicate this little Tract For though I rank'd this point amongst the
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
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
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
set upon a Hill for people to behold this shall they confess Verily God is in us when their Hearts shall fail them for very Fear of what Men are about to bring to pass But would the Inhabitants of this Island bow to the Scepter of the Son of God in their Hearts they should not need to be afraid of any Tripple Leagues or Conclave Consultations to do them hurt for yet would God arise and break such Assosiations and take such wicked Wits in their own Crastiness so that their Hands should not find their Enterprizes so should ENGLAND become the Renown of Kingdoms and a Mart of Nations maugre the strength of Hellish Combinations Therefore let them that read me mark what I say for the Lord of Hosts hath determined That the Haughtiness of Man shall be humbled and the Loftiness of Man shall be laid low that himself alone may be exalted in this Day And mens Idols he will utterly abolish yea he will famish the Gods of the Earth that people may worship him in his own holy Place as say the Prophets Isa. 2. 17 18. Zeph. 2. 11. Again he saith I am the Lord that is my Name and my Glory will I not give to another neither my Praise to Graven Images Isa. 42. 8. Wherefore such who will not turn from their Idols to serve the living God so as to break off their Sins by a real Reformation he will be terrible unto them and will certainly visit them with Ruin and Destruction But you who know the Lord and are turned in to him do you put your Trust in him who is Prince of the Kings of the Earth unto whom all Power doth belong and through God you shall do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down all your Enemies Friends I mean chiefly as to the inward yet am I to exhort you as to the outward this day That you be in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which will be to them an evident Token of Perdition but to you of Salvation from the Almighty for the Shields of the Earth are his therefore trust you in him whose Name is The Lord of Hosts yea The Lord Iehovah in whom is Everlasting Strength who is a Strong Hold in the Day of Trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him so shall Fear be far from you and as for Terror it shall not come near you You Meek and Harmless Ones you shall increase your Joy in the Lord and shall inherit the Earth and delight your selves in the abundance of Peace for the Righteous God will establish the Just when Bloody and Deceitful Men shall not live out half their dayes You shall triumph in Christ Jesus who will make manifest the Savour of his Wisdom by you in every place so that though you may suffer yet shall you not dispair for in due time the Lord will be your Deliverer Wherefore list up the Eyes of your Minds this day and look for the Son of Man's appearing who hath determin'd to destroy the Man of Sin by the Spirit of his Mouth and by the Brightness of his Coming And now it rises in me to write a word to comfort you your Friends of the Bridegroom that mourn for his With drawing and eat your Bread with Quaking and drink your Water with Trembling as those who find no Comfort till you do injoy him Wait without Weariness and you shall behold his Countenance and hear his pleasant Voice which will revive your Spirits but still be you mindful when you hear things unutterable that you keep low and humble so shall you be kept from the Snares of the Devil And Friends Let no Outward Things over-set your Minds but sit loose in Heart from all that here you have that nothing may be preferred like the Favour of the Lord. And you of Tender Years who are void of Worldly Cares be you aware of Pleasures Pride and Worldly Honours for these may be your Snares I am sensible many are the Temptations to allure you unto Vanity but as you eye the Lord they shall not overcome you he will fight your Battels for you and lift up a Standard in you against your Souls Enemies and Satan and his Host shall fall like Lightning before you Therefore stand you still and wait for God's arising so shall all his Enemies be scattered before him And he will surely rise against our spiritual Adversaries and bring them down in us that they may not insult over us For the Lord takes notice of the Kindness of our Youth and is well pleased to have our first ripe Fruits Holiness unto him wherefore he assures us that as we continue in the well-doing we shall alwayes inherit his Blessing Therefore you Weak and Feeble Ones put your Trust in him For he giveth Power to the Faint and in them that have no Might he encreaseth Strength This our Spiritual Shepherd hath a tender regard to the hindmost of his Flock He gathereth his Lambs with his Arms and carrieth them in his Bosome and gently leadeth those that are young And thus as we follow the Son of God our Leader Christ Jesus our Captain and Commander so shall we become as a well-disciplined Army marching on in Order every one keeping our Ranks and making War in Righteousness with the Prince and Powers of Darkness the Weapons of our Warfare not being Carnal but Spititual mighty through God to the pulling down the strong Holds of Sin and Satan and casting the Dragon the Beast and the False Prophet together with the spiritual Locust into the Bottomless Pit where they shall sink into the Lake of his Divine Wrath so as never to rise more to cover the Earth For Friends we are this day as an Ensign among the People exposed unto many Spectators and the Lord's Presence is amongst us magnified be his Name because his Glory rests upon us And as we wait on him he will appear more and more in our Meetings and crown our Assemblies and make our Ancients Honourable and our Young Men like Eldaed and Medad and our Damsels like the Daughters of Philip Yea though we have not all the Gift of Prophecying vocally bestowed on us yet by our upright Carriage we shall every one become Preachers of Righteousness amongst our Neighbours whereby we shall reach to the Witness that lieth slain in their Consciences and shall cause it to arise and stand upon its Feet and Prophesie in their Streets so shall we raise up that in themselves that will judge them for their Sins though the Love of God hath taught us to be kindly affectionated towards all and to be pitiful notwithstanding we are griev'd to behold the sad woful state of the Wicked World yet can we prane the Lord in Spirit that he hath turned us from Darkness unto Light and from Satan unto himself and hath made us turn our back upon the Glory of the Earth before this Day of Snaking came upon it when