a Form yet there may be a Form without the Power this Spirit of Formality captivated some in former Ages and led them to deny the Power from such they were to turn away then and so art thou now for if this Spirit of Formality prevails though a Form of Godliness be â—etained as a Form of sound Words Plainness and Decency in Apparrel Superfluity of Meats and Drinks laid aside Respecting Mens Persons and Worshipping them with Cap and Knee avoided Truth and Light within profest in Words Meetings and Assembling often frequented the Sound of Truth as a lovely Song c. Yet if thy Heart be gone astray if thou feelst not Life to lead thee if thou takest not up the Daily Cross to thy Will Thoughts Affections Lusts and Passions and by the same mortifie them thou mayst be a meer Formalist and thy observing and abiding in thy Form may become as abominable in the Sight of the Lord now as it was of old among his once Peculiar People the Jews when he sent his Prophet Isaiah to cry against them though they kept and observed the Multitude of Offerings and Sacrifices Feasts Fasts New-Moons and Sabbath Dayes Solemn Meetings and Assemblings before the Lord c. which was the very Form of Worship he once commanded but the Spirit of Dead Formality being got into their Hearts corrupted them So that he that killed an Ox was as he that slew a Man he that sacrificed a Lamb as he that cut off a Dog's Neck he that offered Oblations as if he offered Swiâ—â—s Blood he that burnt Incense as if he blessed an Idol the Reason of all this was not because these Things were evil in themselves but because the Call of the Lord was not answered and because when he spake they did not hear but did Evil before his Eyes and chose that in which he delighted not yet observed and performed the outward Part of Worship and sate before the Lord as his People and loved and delighted to hear the Word of the Lord by the Mouth of his Prophet but not to do them Read Isaiah 66.3 and Ezekiel 33.30 31 32. Now dear Friend let this sore Evil never some near thy Dwelling in thy holy Form of Godliness which thou hast been lead unto by the Power keep in the Sence and Feeling of the same in thy Form of sound Words keep in the Fear of God and Tenderness of Conscience wherein thou wert at first constrained to speak them even in the Cross to self which took great Offence thereat yet in Tenderness Love and Fear to God against thy Will and the Pride and haughty Spirit of this World wert thou moved to speak them likewise thy holy Form in not Respecting Mens Persons or having them in Admiration because of Advantage nor honouring them in bowing with Cap Knee nor giving flattering Titles to Men this the Spirit of the Lord led to in the Beginning keep in the same and his Presence and Power will uphold thee in the same and also lead thee to honour all Men in the Lord and to be subject to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake and truly to honour thy Parents and rise up before thy Elders and give them double Honour and to be curteous and kindly affectionate unto all this will the Spirit of the Lord lead thee to being the Nature of Christianity as thou walkest and abidest therein thou wilt be like thy Heavenly Father And thy Holy Form of Plainness of Apparel and thy Avoiding of Superfluity in Meats and Drinks c. keep thou with that Holy Spirit that led thee thereto and let not the Sense thereof depart from thee so shalt thou feel the Power thereof accompanying of thee and working in thee to remove that Root and Ground from whence all Superfluity of Naughtiness did arise and wholely mortifie that Spirit that delighted in these things And in thy Holy Form and Manner of Meeting together alwayes have thy Mind exercised in that Love and Life Virtue and Power of the Lord by which he touched thy Heart and met with thee therein in the beginning so shalt thou enjoy more and more of his Presence and encrease in Wisdom Life and Strength and all the Virtues of the Holy Spirit And though thou hast received an Unction from the Holy One which is able to teach thee all things necessary or needful to thy Salvation yet this will not lead thee to forsake the assembling of thy self with the Lord's People according to their wonted Manner nor to forsake the Flocks of the Companions nor the Foot-steps thereof but to travail on in the same till thou comest to know where they lie down at Noon solacing themselves in the green Pastures of Life and there to lie down with them where none can make thee afraid and where no Destroyer is where the Spirit of dead Formality hath no place Here thy Form of Godliness will be accompanied with Power and this Evil will never overtake thee as it hath some in our Age who are convinced by the Truth and love the Sound thereof yet come to our Meetings and frequent our Assemblies formally and customarily even as the Unbelievers and ignorant People go to hear the Common Service or Studied Sermons but receive not the Ingrafted Word which is able to save their Souls So though they hear many Heavenly Testimonies and Exhortations they receive and obey them not neither do they grow and encrease in their Inward Man from one Degree of Grace Knowledge and Virtue unto another This Spirit of dead Formality hath also assumed the Form of Sound Words and Plainness of Apparel c. and under this Form and Disguize hath brought forth and effected much Evil deceived many and laid a stumbling before others and brought an Evil Report upon the Truth and those that live in it And this Evil Spirit of Deceit Hypocrisie and Formality hath wrought more Mischief against the Truth and the Holy Profession of it manifest within even under this Form then all open Opposition and Persecution could ever effect This is now and hath been in former Ages the Way and Work of the Spirit of Deceit when he cannot prevail by direct Opposition and Perfecttion then will he get the Words and Profession of Truth and appear and work under the Form thereof and by the Evil Fruits he brings forth under this Disguize he occasions many who are waiting for the Consolation of Israel and strictly observing the Conversation of the Children thereof to lose their Expectation and to sit down and conclude These People are but as others and their Way is but as other Wayes and they fail in their Profession of Holiness c. as others do we see Evil amongst them as amongst others even under their very Form c. This hath occasioned many to take up their Rest in a Latitudinarian Spirit or to be ready to say All Men are Lyars and Religion a Cheat and some to run into Atheism it self But double Wo and Misery will be the Portion of those Persons who entertain and joyn with this Spirit of Deceit and Hypocrisie and thereby occasion many to stumble go backwards and fall and speak Evil of the Way of Truth which is Peaceable Peasant and Pure not only in it self but also to all those that love it and obey it and become Children of it But as for those that once knew the Way of the Lord and afterwards gave way to the Spirit of Evil Deceit Hypocrisie and Formality or that took up the Form of Godliness to deceive as in former Ages so now such are more Abominable in the Sight of the Lord and more to be testified against then the very Heathen or prophane Unbelievers False Brethren are most Perilous and Hypocrites most Odious in the Sight of God and all good Men and the Guilt of Souls lies at their Door because of their Ungodly Practices and Evil Doings under the Form Shew and Profession of Godliness such like Unsavory Salt are good for nothing but to be trod under Foot of Men judged and condemned by God's Witness within themselves and without by others and the Knawing Worm takes hold of them and the Unquenchable Fire is kindled in their Bowels and an Earnest of Eternal Vengeance they receive as a Just Recompence of Reward and like faln Angels are reserved in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day For my Faith and Belief is That if all that ever took up the Form and Profession of the Truth Light Grace and Spiritual Manifestation thereof within had stood firm in the same and watcht against ruled over and kept out the Spirit of Enmity Vngodliness Deceit and dead Formality and by the Heavenly Gift and Power with which they were endued had judged the Serpent in all his Appearances Formings and Transformings and walked Vprightly in the same the Eye of the Nations had been towards us and Yea and Nay had been of great Authority in this Nation of England before this day and Truth in the Inward Parts the Law of the Spirit the Rule of Life and Manners Within honourable and of high Esteem in the Hearts and Minds of Thousands more then now it is Offences have come and may come but Wo to them by whom they come So my tender Friend who hast not had thy spiritual Senses throughly exercised nor art not yet acquainted with all the Wiles and Devices of the Enemy for whose sake I chiefly write this Epistle this One Thing I would have thee settle in thy Mind At the Gate of dead Formality and under the Form of Godliness the Destroying Spirit of Apostacy entred in the Primitive Times and soon ecclipsed the Light of the Glorious Gospel and the Old Adversary effected that by turning Professor of Christianity which he could not bring to pass by Bloody Persecutions and open Opposition and fully understand that the Spirit of Satan working under the Form of Godliness is that which hath been is and will be the greatest Waster and Destroyer and Opposer of the Power thereof Therefore watch thou against him in this Appearance not only in others but in thy self so wilt thou frustrate his Design and be able to keep thy self as some of Old did that the Evil One touch thee not W. S. THE END
precious Blood and so he not only reads hears and professes the Benefits and Priviledges which the primitive Christians partook of and enjoyed by believing in receiving of Christ but experimentally partaketh of and possesseth and enjoyeth the same Rom. 8 16. And the Spirit of God beareth Witness with his Spirit that he is a Child of God and a Joynt Heir with Christ Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh and that he hath the Mind of Christ and that Christ lives in him and is greater in him then he that is in the World And as the old Adversary the Devil is strong and powerful to tempt and ready on the one Hand and on the other to draw and allure into Evil so he knoweth his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as near and as ready and more powerful to deliver save and preserve him from falling into Evil and Temptation and he is not only enabled to resist the Divel but to make him flee also Thus in Truth can the True Christian call Christ the Captain of his Salvation who being armed with his Power fights as he did followeth him sits down in Heavenly Places with him triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave So the True Christian proveth himself so by denying himself and taking up his Cross daily and following of Christ and that he believeth in him because he enjoyeth Everlasting Life and abides not in Death and Darkness but hath overcome the Wicked one and that he is his Lord because he doth the thing he saith or commandeth and that he loveth him because he keepeth his Commandments and hath received Power to become the Son of God and further hath a Name better then the Name of Sons and Daughters The Titular Christian saith he believeth in one Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier by his precious Blood c. and professeth him as King Priest and Prophet and in all his Attributes and Offices But how doth he demonstrate and shew forth his Belief and Profession How is he his Lord Doth he do the Thing he saith How is he his Saviour Is he saved by him from the committing of Sin and redeemed from a vain Conversation How doth he believe in him as Christ or the Anointing Is he taught by him How is he his King Priest and Prophet Doth he rule in his Heart as King Are all his Services Sacrifices and Offerings offer'd up by and through his Hand as Priest Doth he hear him in all Things as the Prophet whom God hath raised like unto Moses No the Titular Christian hath no Knowledge of him after this Manner neither doth he believe 't is attainable on this side the Grave nor possible to obey him as Lord nor to be saved by him from Sin as Jesus nor taught by him as Christ or the Anointing nor that he can be washed cleansed and sanctified by his precious Blood from the Stains Spots and Defilements of the World Flesh and the Devil while he bears about this Body of Clay he contents himself with a corrupt traditional Faith which hath sprung up in the dark Night of Apostacy which is certainly a very venemous pernicious Weed of the Devil's Kingdom which hath poysoned and destroyed the Souls of many and is now grown to such Maturity and cloathed with such Beauty to the Eye of the Titular Christian that he calls it the Christian Faith though thereby he is taught to believe that 't is not possible to cease from Sin nor to have his Heart purified nor to overcome the Devil and gain Victory over the World and further that notwithstanding he committeth Sin daily and liveth in the Act of it Term of Life in this World he is hereby taught to believe that Christ will save him from the Guilt and Punishment of it in the World to come It may be said of this Titular Christian's Faith as it was once said of Saul and David Looseness and A theism hath slain its Thousands but this its Ten Thousands So although he hears and reads what Christ did in and for those that belived in him and of the powerful Virtue and Operation of that Ancient Christian Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and born witness to by the Holy Scriptures yet he neither hopes believes nor expects to witness the same wrought in him and for him they bear witness of some in whom Christ wrought (a) In whom Christ works all the Devil works nothing all their Works and that through him they were able to do all Things And many glorious Things were spoaken of and were enjoyed by the true Believers in Christ while upon Earth But the Titular Christian puts off all till he is dead and pleads for the Continuation of the Devil and his Works Term of Life and saith the Devil works strongly in him and prevails over him and causeth him to sin in his Holy Duties and that he is so captivated by him that he cannot live one Day nor Hour without Sin so notwithstanding his Profession of Christ he knows him not greater in him then he that is in the World so the strong Man keeps House and it s furnished with his Goods and though he cryes Lord Lord he is a Worker of Iniquity and is bound in Chains of Darkness and his Feet stick fast in the Mire and in the Clay even while he talks of Lord and Saviour he is led Captive at the Devils Will and is a Stranger to that Power which is able to resist him and make him flee and to that Faith which gives Victory So he cannot in Truth call Christ the Captain of his Salvation nor approve himself one of his Souldiers who is armed with the same Power with it fights against the same Enemy and gains the Victory and followeth him who rides on Conquering and to Conquer so never comes to sit down with him in his Father's Kingdom triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave but remains under the Power thereof through the Fear of which he is all his Life Time subject to Bondage 2 Heb. 15. let his Profession of Liberty and Redemption by Christ be what it will his fair Talk will avail him nothing though he saith he believeth in Christ and loveth him yet if he keepeth not his Commandments he is a Lyar and deceiveth himself and hath not Eternal Life abiding in him Profession and Name of Christ without Possession and Nature is of no worth III. The true Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Spirit THE True Christian believeth in the Holy Spirit being one of the Three which bears Record in Heaven which Three are one and he sheweth forth his Faith by his Obedience thereto he hath received the Spirit of Adoption whereby he can call God Father not as the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites did but in Truth and Righteousness and he witnesseth
long as he liveth unto Christ which was before the Law and before there was any Occasion for the Law who alone is able to Justifie the Righteous and condemn the Wicked whose Wayes are all Equal Just and Righteous never condemning the Just nor justifying the Wicked and it may be truly said of this Titular Christian as Christ said to the Covetous Pharisees who derided him ☞ Ye are they which JVSTIFIE YOVR SELVES before Men but God knoweth your Hearts Luke 16.15 for that which is highly esteem'd amongst Men is Abomination in the Sight of God And now the same Spirit that then derided Christ and set him at Naught and that then ruled in the Hearts of Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites and Impenitent hard-hearted Jews in this Part of the World called Christendom ☞ is now turned Professor of him in Words and teaches him in whom it rules to talk of Salvation and Justification by him though at the same Time that Spirit lives and rules in his Heart to which God looks and which he knoweth that denyeth ☞ despiseth betrayeth and crucifieth him even while he pretends to worship him as the Jews did who smâ—te him on the Head Mark 15.19 and spit upon him and mocked him and at the same Time bow'd their Knees and worshipped him and as Judas did who said Hail Master and Kissed him Mat. 26.49 and at the same Time betrayed him the Nominal or Titular Christian is guilty of the same Thing he living in that and daily committing that which ever was the Cause and Occasion of all his Sufferings viz. Sin Therefore is he many Times convicted ☞ reproved judged and condemned in his Heart by God's Spirit that searcheth it even while his Tongue talks of Justification Now to this Spirit of God which searcheth his Heart and tryeth his Reins and the innermost Parts of the Belly is this Titular Christian counsel'd to take heed and to hear its Judgment concerning him and with his whole Heart receive the same and by it judge all the Flatteries vain Conceits Notions Imaginations and Dreams by which he hath been led and deceived through the Subtilty of that grand Enemy the Devil and Satan who will suffer his Servants Children Slaves ☞ to turn Professors of Christianity be Christians in Name and to talk of the Gospel while he keeps Possession of the Heart Let the Titular Christian confider these Things before it be too late IX The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper THE True Christian believes and lives under the two great Ordinances of Christ Baptism and the Supper of the Lord in the Mystery and he can give an experimental Account how he come to live in the Enjoyment of these Ordinances even how he passed through the Work of Regeneration Mortification and self Denyal Sanctification and Justification before he come to be a true Subject and Partaker of these Ordinances he can tell how the Old Man with his Deeds were put off and the New Man put on Gal. 3.27 for he that is baptized into Christ hath put on Christ ☞ not only professed him while the Old Man was alive but baptized with the same Baptism he was baptized with in a Measure even with the Holy Ghost and Fire which is inward and spiritual and washeth cleanseth and purifieth inwardly and Spiritually which all the outside Washing and Baptisms were but a Type of and by this Baptism the True Christian is not only washed and made clean but kept and preserved by the same clean and pure prepared and made fit to put on the Wedding-Garment and to sit at the Table of the Lord and partake of the Feast of Fat Things and drink of the Wine that he hath prepared which is the Blood of the New Testament which is Drink indeed and he eats the Flesh of the Son of Man John 6 5â— which is Meat indeed and this is the Supper of the Lord and he eats and drinks worthily discerning the Lord's Body having heard his Voice and opened the Door at which he once stood knocking and he is now come in unto him according to his faithful Promise Rev. 3.20 and suppeth with him and he with him here is the Fruit of the Vine drank new in the Kingdom of God Mark 14.25 Luke 14.15 and here is the blessed Man that eateth Bread in the Kingdom of God and sitteth down therein being cloathed with his Wedding-Garment of fine Linnen and adorned as a Bride for her Husband and enjoying the efficacious Vertue of him which is Everlasting Life and Salvation hungring and thirsting no more after the forbidden Fruit nor after the Wine of Sodom because he hath the same Mind which was in Christ Jesus who never hunger'd nor thirsted after those Things ☞ though tempted yet never transgressed but overcame the Devil in all his Temptations This is the State and Glory of the True Christian this Honour have all the Saints who come to be established in the Mind of Christ and this Honour they had in former Ages born witness of and testifyed in the Holy Scriptures and is in Store and laid up for all that love his Appearance and come unto God by him The Titular Christian he saith he owns Christ's Ordinances and professeth himself a Subject of the Baptism of Christ and a Guess at the Lord's Table but his Profession must be examined tryed and searched for as in other Things so in this he must not be so because he professeth it this were to judge according to Appearance and so not Righteous Judgment his Account that he gives to prove that he is so is as followeth First as to Baptism he hath received the Administration of it by Water after one Fashion or other either when he was a Child he had Water sprinkled upon his Face by the Hand of a sinful Priest or plunged all over it may be accompanied with other Ceremonies as Spittle Cream Salt Oyl and the Sign of the Cross c. or otherwise when he grew up to Years of Discretion able to receive the Traditions of his Fore Fathers and to read the Holy Scriptures therein he finds that divers were baptiz'd in Water after they did believe in John's Ministry who was the peculiar Minister of it was a burning and a shining Light in his Day as the Voice of one crying in the Wilderness Prepare the Way of the Lord and that Jesus himself was baptized therewith and that many others were baptized not only by John but also by the Disciples and Apostles of Jesus Now this Reader it may be in the Tenderness and Simplicity of his Spirit the Vail being over his Heart when he reads is ready to conclude Surely this is an Ordinance of Christ this is Christ's Baptism if I will be his Disciple I must be a Subject of it if I would be counted a Believer I must also be baptized with Water or else I
cannot be saved and so this Reader his Eye being abroad and being ignorant of that Head in which the Wise Man's Eye stands and not discerning the Times and Seasons and the divers Dispensations of God towards Mankind since the Fall ☞ nor perceiving the End of them layes hold of the Shadow and Figure instead of the Substance and gets Possession of the Shell instead of the Kernel his Body washed though not with the pure Water of the Word his Outside baptized with outward Water and then accounts himself a Subject and Partaker of Christ's Ordinance But herein the Titular Christian of all Sorts is deceived for notwithstanding his Teachers tell him that he entered within the Pale of the Church ☞ and was made a Member of Christ when he was sprinkled with Water in his Infancy and the other when of Understanding to imitate others I say herein he deceiveth himself and is deceived because he still remains ignorant of the One Baptism which washeth and cleanseth the Inside purifieth the Heart and sprinkles the Conscience from dead Works of which all the Outside Sprinklings ☞ Washings and Baptisms that ever were apointed of God or practis'd of holy Men were but a Figure or Type And the True Christian sticks not nor remains in any of them but it 's a great Mystery to tell the Titular Christian of being baptized with this one Baptism which is the Baptism of Christ under the Term of Holy Ghost and Fire though he may read that Christ foretold that even those that were Partakers of John's Baptism which was the greatest of outward Baptisms should be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire And John said I indeed baptize with Water Mat. 3.11 12. unto Repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier then I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with Fire whose Fan is in his Hand and will make clean his Floor and gather his Wheat into his Garner and burn up the Chaff with Vnquencheable Fire This the True Christian witnessed fulfilled in the Primitive Times and now is Partaker of the same being baptized into Christ Gal. 3.27 Col. 2.12 hath put him on being baptized into his Death is buried with him in Baptism ☞ and this Baptism being one brings all that are Partakers of it The Ground of Vnity of what Nation or Country soever Bond or Free into one Body into Oneness of Heart and Mind and Spirit as Paul testified to the Corinthians For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Grecians 1 Cor. 12.13 whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit this blessed Oneness and Unity is the Fruit and Effect of the one true Baptism of Christ Jesus These Things the Titular Christian can read of in the Holy Scriptures which the True Christians were Witnesses of But till the Vail of the Covering be rent and taken away from off his Heart and he truly turned unto the Lord and becomes sensible of the Operation of his Spirit as a Fanner as a Purger as a Gatherer of the Wheat in the Garner and as a Fire to burn up the Chaff till this he knows working in his own Heart ☞ he remains in Death and Darkness and only talks of Heavenly Things and lives in the Earthly and boasts of Christ's Ordinance of Baptism but is a Stranger to it and sticks in the Outside and Shadow and abides in the outward Court which is trodden under Foot of the Gentiles and cryes up the Temple of the Lord and his Ordinances but dwells not therein nor is not a living Witness or Member thereof And concerning the Lord's Supper the Titular Christian professeth himself a Guess prepared to sit at the Table and to eat of the Dainties that he hath prepared but the Master of the Feast hath appeared and taken notice of his Guess and hath given an Eye also to his Children to see beyond the outside Appearance and Profession and the Day of Tryal and Manifestation is come and the Titular Christian must be examin'd whether he sits at the Table of the Lord and eats of his Flesh and drinks of his Blood or on the contrary whether he only professeth it ☞ and crowdeth himself in unprepared without his Wedding-Garment and catcheth at a Shadow and feedeth upon Husks and is as one that dreameth he eateth but when he awakes is hungery therefore how doth he demonstrate that he is a Partaker of this Supper why he hath received by Tradition or findeth it written in the holy Scriptures That the same Night that Christ was betrayed he took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to his Disciples and said take eat this is my Body which is given for you do this in Remembrance of me and also the Cup saying This Cup is that Now Testament in my Blood which is shed for you this do as often as ye drink in remembrance of me and Paul saith So often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup you shew forth the Lord's Death till he come This was only to and amongst the Disciples and weak Believers and was in it self but a Representation and Figure of that which is Meat indeed and Drink indeed which Paul principally aim'd at which at Christ's second Appearance without Sin unto Salvation his Saints and Disciples were Partakers of But the Titular Christian before he hath approved himself a Disciple of Jesus and before he hath followed him one Step in the Work of Regeneration ☞ begins to imitate what he finds was practised by Christ and his Disciples though not in the same Spirit nor to the same End one Sort gets Bread and Wine and consecrates it as he saith by a sinful Hand and polluted Lips and then imagins it immediately Transubstantiated or changed into the Real Flesh and Blood of Christ this is a great and strong Delusion indeed be being led by such a gross implicite Faith as to believe so palpable and witless a Lye contrary to his outward Senses which are able to try outward Things for the very Bread and Wine so consecrated remains of the very same Quality Nature and Form as before and as subject to Decay Mould and Corrupt and be eaten by Vermin as any other Bread and Wine of the same kind Another Sort not quite so much besotted in this thing blesseth Bread and Wine after his manner and looks upon it as Bread and Wine after his Blessing is bestowed upon it eating and drinking of it some after one Fashion and some after another calling it A Blessed Sacrament one will eat it before Dinner another after Supper one Standing another Kneeling another Sitting c. and do not look upon it as Real Fesh and Blood but a Representation Type or Figure or something which ought to be partaken of in Remembrance of Christ till he comes But in all
Day and his Wrath Enmity and Work is the same in the Hearts and Hands of all Mankind in whom this Seed of the old Serpent hath taken Root and grows up Psal 37.28 Isa 14.20 this is the Seed of the Wicked that shall be cut off and of Evil Doers that shall never be renowned ☞ and all that are joyned to it and become Children of it are Reprobate to every good Word and Work and go upon their Bellies and Dust is their Meat and they dwell upon the Earth where the Wo is and where the Devil is come down among them and they walk upon that Ground that is Cursed and inhabit the dark Corners thereof and they hate the Light and are Reprobate from the Prefence of God and from the Glory of his Power Children of Disobedience and Wrath in whom the old Serpent rules and holds them in sore Captivity and as in this State of Reprobation they abide they are Children of the Devil and his Lust they do Marks â—f Reprobation his Servants and Slaves they are and cannot cease from Sin nor enjoy the many glorious Promises made to the Seed of the Woman nor know the Serpents Head in them bruised by it nor the great red Dragon chained being Reprobate from that Faith which gives Victory over him But out of this Estate of Reprobation and deep Pit of Misery wherein a great Part of Mankind is held A Possibility that the Reprobate may become Elect. the Testimony of the True Christian is that God hath appointed a Means of Deliverance Salvation and Redemption ☞ there is a Possibility of being born again of the other Seed the incorruptible Seed wherein the Election stands Children of Disobedience and Wrath may become Children of God and partake of his Grace and Mercy and witness Redemption from the Earth and the Cursed Ground with its cursed Fruit burned up by the Spirit of Judgment and Burning and the Seed of the Serpent may be rooted out of the Heart of Man though it hath grown there long and filled it with its Fruit and the good Seed of the Kingdom may spring and grow there and every Thorn Bryar Thistle and Plant which hindereth its Growth may be pulled up which the Heavenly Father hath not planted and they that have born the Earthly Image may bear the Heavenly and those that have yielded their Members Servants to Unrighteousness may yield them Servants to Righteousness and those that are foolish may become Wise those that are disobedient and deceived may become obedient and undeceived those that serve divers Lusts and Pleasures Tit. 3.3 4. and live in Malice and Envy hateful and hating one another may come to witness Victory over ☞ and Redemption from all these Things and this True Christian's Testimony is plentifully born witness to in the Holy Scriptures as Paul wrote to Titus saying We our selves were sometimes foolish diso edient deceived serving divers Lusts and Pleasures living in Malice and Envy hateful and hating one another these were all the Fruit and Effect of the Evil Seed these were all Fruits of the Ground that is Cursed and in this Estate they were reprobate concerning the Faith and Children of Wrath as well as others But saith he After the Kindness and Love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour c. So in the Kindness Love and free Mercy of God by the washing of Regeneration or New Birth they become transplanted out of the Old into the New out of the Seed of the Serpent into the Seed of the Woman out of the Reprobate State into the Chosen and Elected State taken out of the Wild Olive and planted or grafted into the True Vine that brings forth Fruit which glads the Heart of God and Man and he is ready to do the same in this Age for all that love his Appearance ☞ and hearken to his Voice and obey it and shut their Ears against the Voice of the Serpent which is possible to be done they shall enjoy God's Salvation and partake of his Love and Kindness which the Saints enjoyed in former Ages and do in this Age and is freely tendered to all for their Everlasting Good For God hath not as some Titular Christians affirm predestinated or fore-ordain'd the greatest Part of Mankind or any Part to Everlasting Perdition nor made any fixed Decree that so many and no more shall be saved and all the rest damned and that this Decree was established before Mankind was brought forth without having Respect to either Good or Evil that they should do This is a Doctrine that 's accursed and contrary to the Gospel or glad-Tidings of Peace and Reconciliation ☞ and Inconsistent with all the Dispensations of God's Love towards lost Man ever since he obeyed the Voice of the Serpent and his Seed grew up in him and ever since the Devil got his Seat and Dominion in Man all which have been in order to break his Power and to dispossess him cast him forth and spoil his Goods and to sweep and garnish the House and furnish it again with Heavenly Goods as it was before the Devil and his Goods entered and as it was before the Evil Seed was sown in Man's Heart and before he entered into Temptation or eat of the forbidden Fruit this hath been the End of the Lord in all his Promises Appearances and Dispensations before the Law and under the Law and in the Dayes of the Evangelical Prophets who saw and prophesied of glorious Things which God would bring to pass for the Universal Good of Mankind for Isaiah saw that Day in which the Lord with his sore great and strong Sword should punish Leviathan the piercing Serpent even Leviathan that crooked Serpent and slay the Dragon that is in the Sea †In Scripture Phrase People are compared to the Sea and he saw that the Abundance of the Sea should be converted and the Forces of the Gentiles should come unto him Isa 27.1.60.5 whom God hath appointed to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth and he spake of a Time wherein the Lord would gather all Nations and Tongues to come and see his Glory which he had given for a Light to the Gentiles and for the Glory of his People Israel to finish Transgression and make an End of Sin and bring in Everlasting Righteousness to destroy the Devil and his Works to repair the Breach and restore Paths to dwell in even Paths of Holiness wherein the wayfaring man though a Fool cannot err ☞ this is the End or Substance of all the Dispensations of God and many have been and are living Witnesses of the same and no Man is exempted by any Decree of God from the Enjoyment of these
and beguiled Eve in Paradice Gen. 3. Job 1. Rev. 12.4 And on a Day when the Sons of God appear'd before the Lord Satan came also among them and accused Job And John in his Day saw the great red Dragon appear in Heaven ☞ waiting to devour the Man-Child he that reads let him understand This made Paul fear the Serpent might beguile them he wrote to 1 Cor. 11.3 as he beguiled Eve through his Subtilty tempt allure them out of Innocency out of a Virgin sinless and harmless Estate after they were in it * It 's possible to be tempted and allured out of Innocency and to loose a good Estate this he once did and may do again if he be not watched against and resisted in the Power of the second Adam which enables to endure Temptation and so to receive the Blessing and after Tryal to enjoy the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1.12 XIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning a Holy Life THE True Christian believeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life and to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of the World which lyes in Wickedness and to keep God's holy Will and Commandments Jer. 31.33 and they are not grievous unto him for he loves the Law of God in his Heart and sees it written there with his own Finger enjoying that precious Promise I will write my Law in their Hearts Isa 51.7 and put my Fear into their inward Parts and he can say as David once did Oh how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. how sweet are thy Words unto my Tast yea sweeter then the Hony to my Mouth thy Law is my Delight the Law of thy Mouth is better to me then Thousands of Gold and Silver The True Christian being in this Estate and persevering in this Love of God and his Law it becomes his Meat and Drink to do the Will of his Heavenly Father And so by walking in this Law and meditating in it and by feeding on this Word which is sweeter then Hony he becomes so united with it and so natural a Subject and Child of it that he comes to be able to say ☞ as some of old did We can do nothing against the Truth this is the true forsaking the Devil and all his Works c. and the keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments And as the True Christian grows up in this he doth alwayes that which pleaseth him like unto his elder Brother the Captain of his Salvation who is gone before being Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh sitting in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of their Heavenly Father even the same Glory which was before the World began before the Devil and his Works entered before his Holy Will and Commandments were broaken or before the forbidden Fruit was eaten Those that have their Eyes anointed with Eye-Salve and are cloathed with fine Linnen and have their Garments washed in the Blood of the Lamb and follow him whethersoever he goeth and have no Guile in their Mouthes but stand before the Throne of God without Spot or Wrinckle those are they that are redeem'd from the Earth and have their Conversation in Heaven and enjoy those Things and give the Glory to him who is God blessed forever The Titular Christian he saith and professeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments but never cometh to witness that Estate it 's very grievous to him to make streight Steps to his Feet he enjoys not that precious Promise the Law writ in his Heart and the Fear which keeps the Heart clean in the inward Parts neither is the Law of God his Meditation all the Day nor his Delight therein neither are his Words to him sweeter then Hony or better then Thousands of Gold and Silver he cannot say that he doth nothing against the Truth nor that he doth alwayes that which pleaseth God nor that he follows Christ the Captain of Salvation neither is he a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones nor sits in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of God c. though he will sometimes talk of these Things as they are written in the Holy Scriptures but in his Heart he is a Stranger to them and God's Holy Witness in his own Conscience makes him confess that his Heart is desperately wicked and that his Thoughts and Meditations are defiled and full of Sin and that his best Performances or Doings are accompanied with Sin and Corruption and that in all he doth he doth something against the Truth ☞ And further he is so far from living a Holy Life and forsaking the Devil and all his Works and keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments that he is begotten into such a Belief and Perswasion that it is not possible to do it while he breathes in the Air of this World but must alwayes be sinning and doing that which he ought not to do and leaving undone that which he ought to do alwayes confessing alwayes sinning and never forsaking so alwayes reaping the Wages of Sin which is Death and so alwayes wanting the Mercy and Forgiveness which he that forsakes the DEVIL and all his WORKS partaketh of So in short this is one of the last Lessons the Devil can teach his Children viz. to †Those that preach this Belief and Perswasion in the world aredirect Ministers of Satan perswade them and make them believe that they cannot cease from Sin but must be Committers of it and Servants to it and that they cannot forsake him and all his Works nor keep God's Holy Will and Commandments so long as they live in these Houses of Clay such Titular Christians as these he hath them in Chains and Fetters strong enough nothing less then the Mighty Arm and Power of God is able to break them and to release those poor Captives and to redeem them out of this deep Pit of Misery wherein is no Water wherein their Souls or inward Man lyes as among the Pots soiled with the Smoak and Soot of the Bottomless Pit Oh God hasten and bring Deliverance to these poor Bend-slaves of Sin and Satan is the Cry of the Souls of the Righteous who have the Mind of their Heavenly Father who desires not the Death of him that dyes but that they should come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved and be Partakers with them of the exceeding Riches and Glory that is laid up for all that love his Appearance ☞ and is ready to be reveal'd to all that truly wait for it XIV The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning the Motion or Moving of the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the
it again nor knew not a Stay to his Mind nor a Bridle to his Tongue nor Strength to endure Temptations nor Patience to have its perfect Work neither was he endued with Wisdom and Discerning to discover the divers Wiles and Devices of that Old Serpent that betrayed in Paradice being not humbled and brought down to the true Foundation though the Seed of the Kingdom was sown and received with much Joy but springing up in great Haste for want of Depth of Earth proved like Corn upon the House-top or in Stony Ground soon withered again So let none be lifted up above Measure because of Revelations Heavenly Sights and Visions let none rest in Zeal and Affections let none deck themselves with God's Jewels and play the Harlot with them nor lay up Manna for to morrow but wait upon him from whence the Daily Bread comes and abide low in the Root ☞ from whence all Heavenly Blessings Gifts and Graces spring so a growing up in him which was from Everlasting before Evil sprung up before the Vail was spread over when all was good yea very Good will be witnessed This is the converted Estate which those that are come unto it not only stand themselves but are able to streng then their Brethren who are begotten by the same Father and born of the same Mother And this Counsel Christ gave unto Peter that Zealous Affectionate Disciple after he had had Heavenly Sights and Revelations When thou art Converted Strengthen thy Brethren Let this be minded by all to whom the Lord hath appeared and given Discoveries of himself lest they take up their Rest by the way and like Peter and John at the Sight of the Transfiguration of Christ say Master it is Good for us to be here let us build Three Tabernacles one for Thee one for Moses one for Elias This they spoak in Ignorance while the Cloud over shadowed them while they saw his Payment shining exceeding white as Snow but did not see him not hear him as the Beloved Son of God nor understand the Vision Mark 9 therefore the Voice out of the Cloud saith to them This is my Beloved Son hear him c. Heights may separate as well as Depths therefore what Christ saith to one he saith to all Watch and Pray lâ—st ye enter into Temptation In hearing and obeying the Beloved Son there 's Peace Blessings and Safety but in hearing and obeying the Serpent Tribulation Anguish and Sorrow and great Danger which all that wait watch in that True Light The Light that shines in the heart is the safe Dwelling place of its Children where with they are enlightend enjoy the one and escape the other XVI The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Gospel or Glad Tidings of Salvation THE True Christian believes the Gospel or Glad Tidings of Life Liberty and Salvation and at the hearing the Joyful Sound thereof he is glad and he rejoyceth to see the Angel fly through the midst of Heaven having the Everlasting Gospel to preach again to them that dwell on the Earth Rev. 14.6 and to every Nation Kindred Tongue and People saying with a loud Voice Fear God and give Glory to him for the Hour of his Judgments is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth the Sea and Fountains of Water And the True Christian hath not only heard but obeyed this Gospel and he knoweth Life and Immortality brought to Light through this Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 and the Light of this Glorious Gospel shines in his Heart and he hath repented or turned to the Light thereof received and believed this Gospel Gal. 3.8 which is the Power of God unto Salvation which Gospel was preached unto Abraham and was and is now preached in every Creature under Heaven Col. 1.23 of this Gospel Paul was a Minister And the True Christian is come to the Mystery of the Fellowship of the Gospel That which judgeth the Secrets of Mens Hearts is the Gospel which stands not in Word but Power and is not of Man nor by Man but of God and this Gospel judgeth the Secrets of all Men and he is come to the Knowledge of the Mystery of the Gospel and through it hath received Life Liberty and Salvation and his Feet are shod with the Preparation of the GOSPEL of Peace and his Conversation is as becomes the Gospel and he adorns the Gospel of his Lord and Saviour and in this abiding he enjoyes the Priviledges of the Gospel and inherits the precious Promises made of old and enjoyes that which was prophecied of by that Evangelical or Gospel Prophet Isaiah when he saw and spoak of the Universal Love of God to be enjoyed in the Gospel Dayes in making a Feast unto all People In this Mountain shall the Lord of Host make unto all People a Feast of fat Things Isa 25.6 7 8 9. a Feast of Wine on the Lees of fat Thingsfull of Marrow of Wine on the Lees well refined and he will destroy in this Mountain the Face of the Covering that is cast over the Face of all People and the Vail that is spread over all Nations he will swallow up Death in Victory the Lord will wipe away Tears from all Faces and the Rebuke of his People will he take away from off all the Earth the Lord God hath spoken it And it shall be said in that Day Do this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him and we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation c. A Blessed Sight and Heavenly Prophecy which the True Christian is come and coming to the full Enjoyment and Fulfilling of Glory to God forever And the Anti-type of the Year of Jubile is now enjoyed and the Sabbath of Rest is entered into and the holy Mountain in which is no Destroyer is now dwelled in and the Light of God's Countenance is lifted up which makes the True Christian's Heart more glad then the Joy that comes with the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl many Prophets and Righteous Men saw that afar of which he now possesseth so that he can truly say Gospel-Times are Glorious Times the Priviledges of the Gospel are Glorious Priviledges ☞ Christ reigning and ruling in his Heart leading Captivity Captive and giving Victory over Death Hell and the Grave wiping away all Tears and taking away the Reproach being Sin which is a Reproach to any People and giving Power to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and no war with Spiritual Wickednesses in high Places and to bring down every High Thought and Imagination into the Obedience of Christ this Honour have all the Saints who receive the Gospel of Peace and Salvation and arive at the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Gospel and talks of Life Liberty and Salvation by it
he saith he hath heard the Sound of the Gospel and that he obeyes the Gospel but how doth he shew forth the Truth hereof let him examine himself doth he know the Light of the glorious Gospel to shine in his Heart whereby the Mystery of it is revealed unto him Hath he repented or turned to the Light and believed the Gospel Doth he know it to be the Power of God unto Salvation And is he saved by it as Abraham was when preached unto him and as the Primitive Christians were when they received it Doth he know Life Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel Hath he obeyed the Gospel And is his Feet shod with the Preparation of it And doth be adorn the Gospel with a Holy Life and Conversation No the Titular Christian knows no such Gospel nor the Light of it to shine in his Heart nor the Mystery of it to be revealed in him for he hates the Light and denyes Revelation and saith it is ceased and that there is no Revelation to be expected in these Dayes nor no Possibility to live a holy Life as becometh the Gospel nor no inheriting the precious Promises nor enjoying the glorious Things prophesied of while on this side the Grave nor no having the Vail taken off the Heart nor Tears wiped away nor the Cause of them removed nor Death swallowed up in Victory while he remains in the Body nor that the Anti-Type of the Year of Jubilee which is perfect Liberty and Redemption can be witnessed and enjoyed by believing in the Gospel nor that the Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established upon the Top of all Mountains or that any can dwell in that where no Destroyer is nor that the Sabbath or Rest wherein he shall not speak his own Words nor think his own Thoughts nor bear any Burden can be entered into or dwelled in while on this Side the Grave ☞ The Titular Christian hath no Faith in any of these Things therefore his Faith is feigned and the Object of it is Imaginary and is indeed that which may be called another Gospel which he that bringeth is accursed and is not of God but of Man And the Titular Christian can be a professor of this Gospel and a Hearer of this Gospel and yet never hear the Voice of the Son of God nor never come to be quickned unto Life nor never receive Remission of Sin nor Inheritance among them that are sanctified nor never come to enjoy the Priviledges of the Gospel signified and shewed forth by divers Types Figures and Shadows under the Law and seen and prophecied of by the holy Prophets yet can talk of all these Things even while in Death will talk of the Fame of Wisdom and the glorious Things her Children formerly enjoyed while he himself is poor blind and miserable and wants the Possession and Experimental Enjoyment thereof And indeed the Mystery of Iniquity hath so far prevailed and the Darkness is grown so thick by Reason of the Smoak that ascend out of the Bottomless Pit in this Night o◠Apostacy which hath spread over this Part o◠the World called Christendom since the Apostles Dayes that the Titular Christian which hates the Light and dwells in this Darkness is grown so great a Friend to the Devil that old Serpent ☞ that he will not endure the preaching any other Gospel then such an one which will admit of living under the Bondage Service and Slavery of the Devil Term of Life this is he that cannot endure sound Doctrine Now the joyful Sound of this Gospel which whole Christendom rings of is No perfect Victory over Sin no Overcoming the Devil no withstanding him in all his Temptations no abstaining from every Appearance of Evil The Message and Sound of the Ministers of Darkness who preach another Gospel no perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God no ceasing from committing of Sin no dispossessing the strong Man and spoiling all his Goods no sweeping the House and garnishing it with Heavenly Goods no pulling down the strong Holds of Sin and Satan no bringing every Thought and Imagination into the Obedience of Christ no putting off the old Man with his Deeds nor putting on the new nor bearing the Heavenly Image nor any such Regeneration or new Birth to be known which committeth not Sin no repairing the Breach which our first Parents made no finding again that which is lost no Restoration into Innocency and a sinless State again while Men dwell in these Earthly To bernacles none of these Things can be effected saith the Sound of this Gospel or the Preachers of it in all Sects Oh! how greatly is it to be lamented not only to see and behold the Garden and Vineyard of the Lord become so great a Wilderness and so overgrow with Bryars and Thorns Thistles and noysome Weeds where many venemous and hurtful Things are nourished but also to see those who count themselves Labourers in the Vineyard and Dressers of the Garden sit down and conclude that it can never be dressed nor the Vineyard purged from all that doth offend the tender Grapes and that the wild Bore and the little Foxes can never be driven out nor those Plants which the Heavenly Father never planted be pulled up nor that this Wilderness can ever become a fruitful Field nor like Eden again and that there are so many Believers of this sorrowful Tidings and miserable Messengers and Ministers of Satan The Sorrow and Misery of Mankind is much encreas'd and continu'd by this Vnbelief and Sound of bad Tidings or another Gospel which they that have brought are accursed Evil Unbelieving Spies who discourage and perswade the People they can never inherit the good Land nor overcome their Enemies Oh thou God of Heaven appear more and more and disperse and remove this Unbelief and gross Darkness and stop the ascending of this Smoak which ariseth out of the Bottomless Pit and darkens the Air and gather thy scattered People from under those Idol Shepherds and false Vine Dressers blind Guides and miserable Comforters thou hast gathered a Remnant from under them and made their Folly manifest and to them their Gospel is accursed do so for Thousands and Ten Thousands which yet know thee not is the Breathing of the Soul of the Righteous and remove this Monstrous Faith out of the Hearts of all Men which holds up the Devil's Kingdom there TERM OF LIFE And let thy POWER be known and Magnified over all who art God Blessed forever XVII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Grace and Living under it and Growing up in it from one Degree unto another and of the Possibility of Falling Away from it THE Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Grace is the free Gift of God for the Salvation of all and hath appeared unto all men but all men did not nor do receive it so know not the Teachings and Virtue of it nor its Sufficiency
to know him that is true and is in him that is true And that he hath the Witness of God's Spirit bearing Witness with his Spirit that he is a Child of God and a Possessor of these Things which Things no Impostor Deceiver nor Titular Christian can have and possess while so I say when these Things are told and born Witness of in the Ears of the Titular Christian he slights and disregards and will not believe the same but counts it Delusion and Fanatick Dreams and Fancies arising from spiritual Pride High-mindedness and vain Conceit and so despiseth his Testimony the Works that bear Witness thereof even as the Jews did of old judge condemn Christ and his mighty Works as wrought by the Power of the Devil so doth the Titular Christian in this Age Judge Censure Arraign and Condemn Christ and his Mighty Works in this Day of his Power and spiritual Appearance in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men wherein he hath wrought as mighty Works and done as great Miracles as in any Age since the Fall of Man and many are now living Monuments of the same blessed is the Eye that seeth them and is fixed upon the Author thereof to whom be Glory and Praise throughout all Generations forever XIX The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Doctrine of Perfection IN the Holy Scriptures are divers Precepts and Commands and Exhortations not only to Holiness 2 Cor. 7 1. but to the Perfecting of Holiness in the Fear of God Phil. 3.14 and to the pressing forwards until it be attained unto and afull Growth be witnessed to the Stature of a Perfect Man in Christ Jesus Presented to God without Blemish Col. 1.28 Spot or Wrinkle or any such Thing And it 's said of Noah Gen. 6.9 that he was a Just and Perfect Man in his Gâ—neration and that he walked with God And God said unto Abraham Walk before me Gen. 17.1 and be thou Perfect And that Job was a Perfect and Just Man Job 1.8 And in David's Time he bids Mark the Perfect Man Psal 37.37 and behâ—ld the Vpright the End of such is Peace And Christ exhorted his Disciples to be Perfect as theirl eavenly Father was â—erfect Mat. 5 48. And the Labour and Travail of the Apostles was that People might be Perfect and Entire ☞ Jaâ— 1.4 wanting nothing and that they might be presented Perfect Heb. 13.21 and be made Perfect in every good Work And he wished the Perfection of those he wrote to 2 Cor. 13.9 â— Cor. 2.6 And he spoak Wisdom among them that were Perfect So the Holy Scriptures contain not only Precepts and Exhortations to Holiness and Perfection but they also give Testimony that several did obey them and attain thereunto in Ages past And the Faith and Testimony of the True Christian in this Age is That Holiness and Perfection are attainable now as in Dayes of old and that the divers Precepts and Exhortations in the Scriptures thereunto may be obeyed and the State truly enjoyed even while People dwell in these Earthly Tabernacles 2 Cor. 4.7 they may enjoy the Heavenly Treasure in their Earthen Vessels 1 Thes 4.4 which may be possessed with Sanctification and Honour Now this is one of the sound Doctrines which the Titular Christian cannot endure comprehend nor understand therefore cryes out against it and sayes No Perfection here no perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God no coming to the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 11.2 no growing up to the Stature of the Fulness of Christ no perfect Man in Christ nor no being presented to God as a Chast Virgin Holy Col. 1.22 28. Jude 24. and Vnblamable Faultless without Spot or Wrinkle In Sum no being now as the Fathers of old and the Christians in the primitive Times were No Possibility of perfect Obedience to the divers Precepts Exhortations and Commands of the Spirit of God throughout the Holy Scriptures this is the Language of the Titular Christian so that herein he commits these two great Evils ☞ First Notwithstanding his pretended Honour to the Scriptures and Holy Men he gives them all the Lye Secondly He with the sloathful Servant calls God a hard Master in requiring that which nont are able to perform But the Testimony Faith and Experience of the True Christian is quite the contrary he having passed through the Work of Regeneration and experienced the divers Workings and Operations of the Spirit of God in his Heart in this small Treatiâ—e before hinted at leading him from one Degree of Grace unto another from one Degree of Faith and Knowledge unto another until he is fully saved by the Grace hath gained Perfect Victory by the Faith from over that which made him Imperfect Sinful and Defiled and until the Knowledge of the Lord so abounds in him that it covers the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea and until he comes to the Sabbath of Rest the Anti-Type of the outward Sabbath wherein he speaks not his own Words nor thinks his own Thoughts nor doth his own Will nor Works but witnesseth a Denyal of them all and a putting off the old Man with his Deeds and keeping the Body under and a Bridle upon the Tongue Nature Will Thoughts and Desires which received the Temptation in the Beginning alwayes keeping them to the Cross ☞ though a Rent wing Restoration be attain'd unto and the State of Innocency known and lived in even as in the Beginning before the Fall yet the Will Thoughts and Desires must be watched ruled over and subjected to the Will and Command of God in Truth and Reality even as Christ hath lest an Ensample whose Will and Desires were as good pure and perfect as Adam's were before he fell and as any can attain to in this Age yet said he when he prayed to his Father Not my will but thâ—ne whose Will he came to do Now in this Heavenly Self Denyal and true Resignation stands the Perfection and Safety of the True Christian all which is wrought and effected by the Power and Spiritual Appearance of the second Adam in him and for him who of himself can do nothing And in this is his Happiness and Perfection that he is come to cease from his own Thoughts Words and Works his own Way and Will and his own Wisdom and Knowledge also for in these Things began his Misery ☞ and while they lived in him and ruled over him he continued in the Misery notwithstanding his divers Devices and Inventions and Strivings to get out of it Death Misery and Sorrow accompanied him and clave close unto him and he could never be rid thereof till he come through the Work of Regeneration through true Self Denyal and Resignation to that Estate which Paul was in when he said I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that
and to know of himself but Death Misery and Ignorance followed and Shame Fear and Guilt appeared and many Inventions and Contrivances how to cover the Nakedness and Shame and excuse the Guilt was invented This was the Work of Transgressing Man in the Beginning and is the same at this day among all the Children of Men of what Nation Name or Sect soever who abide in the transgressing State of the First Adam Now the State of Perfection that the Children of the Second Adam do attain unto while in the Body is a True Self-denyal and Resignation into the Will of God throughout all Tryals ☞ and over all Temptations he is a Perfect Man in Christ who is not only Restored and Redeemed by him into a State of Innocency Harmlesness and Uprightness but also in this State is resigned and given up in his Mind Will Thoughts and Desires into the Will of God as clearly knowing it so that his Mind being the Mind of Christ ☞ is eying his Heavenly Father and his Mind is stay'd upon him where the perfect Peace is And his Will Thoughts and Desires though Harmless as Christ's were yet subject to his Father truly saying as Christ did Not my will but thine In this State of true Resignation unto and Unity with the Father's Will stands the True Christian's Safety and Perfection and that which preserveth him in the same is the Power of God that throughly debaseth Self subjecteth Man's Will and saves to the uttermost through Faith in it And in this State of Perfection as he lives and remains he is cloathed with the Spirit of Glory and Humilâ—ty the greater his Attainments are and the higher the Heavenly Place is he fits in the lower is his Mind and the lesser he is in his own Eyes the greater he is in the Kingdom of God the more he is replenisht with true Love Goodness Humility here the greatest is the Servant a Helper of others the highest the lowest here the Servant is as his Lord and the Lord as him that serveth And among these True Christians there is no Strife nor Dispute ☞ who shall be Greatest though they are Elders and have Crowns upon their Heads yet they throw them down at the Feet of him that sits upon the Throne and give Glory to him forever Rev. 4.10 11. XX. A Few Words by Way of Advice Counsel and Exhortation to such as are newly turned in their Minds from Darkness within to Light within from the Power of Satan within to the Power of God within whereby the Work of Regeneration is begun within that such may not miscarry in the same nor sit down by the Way short of the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus is what follows written seriously to be Read Weighed and Considered TEnder Friend who art turned to this Light and Power and art a Believer in it and desirest to hear and obey the Word in thy Mouth and in thy Heart to this Light thou dost well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place and as a Voice that calleth unto thee saying Come up hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's Wife In Order thereto thou must understand and regard the End of the precious Appearance of the Light within though it be and appear unto thee but as Light that breaketh forth before the Day dawn within or before the Day-star arise in thy Heart yet the End of its Appearance and Shining in thee is that thou shouldst fix the Eye of Faith upon it and keep thy Mind towards it till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise within and this is the Star of the Messias and the Angel of the Lord that will lead thee to the Inn where the Virgin is delivered of a Son and where the Babe of Glory lyes swadled in a Manger unregarded by all the Guests thereof and thou following this Star and finding him wilt not spare thy Cold Incense and Mirth but offer up thy precious Things unto him as the Wise Men did And when the Light within the Day-star within hath led thee thus far thou must not think within thy self that thou hast now attained to the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus because thy Eye seeth the Salvation which God hath prepared before the Face of all People think not with thy self that thou presently possessest and enjoyest the same because of the Joy Delight and Pleasure that accompanies the Sight thereof yet take thou heed of sitting down in the Appearance of Light and Heavenly Discoveries and in the bare Sight and Knowledge of the Man-Child that 's born but wait thou and walk in the same Light within which will discover unto thee that Spirit that secks its Life within thy self even after it is born ☞ under the Pretence of worshipping of it as Herod did and in it thou wilt receive Wisdom and Counsel to cherish and preserve it till the Death of its Enemies as Jâ—seph did in the Light thou mayst come to read and understand those Things which are written for thy Learning Now whatsoever makes manifest is Light Darkness and the Works of it is and hath been wrought within the Light that expels the Darkness and the Power that destroyes the Works of it is also to be known within None walk in the Light further then they bring their Thoughts Words and Works to the Light to be proved and tryed whether they proceed from or are wrought in God or no Joh. 3.21 thou must believe continue walking in the Light that thou mayest become a Child of it and abide with the Power that thou mayest know witness the Work of it within thy self proceeding in Order from the first Day to the seventh or Sabbath of Rest And thou mayst understand that thou dost not become a Child of Light so soon as thou seest the Shining of it and begins to believe and walk in it thou must not only have Faith but thou must add unto thy Faith Patience c. for thou hast as much need as some of old had which Paul wrote to when he said You had need have Patience that after you have done the Will of God you may wait to receive the Promise and it was after they believed that the Primitive Christians were sealed with the Spirit of Promise the End of Faith is not soon attained unto ☞ he that believes must not make hast neither must he will nor run but in Patience wait in the Faith without Doubt and Wavering till he receives the End of it as some of old did viz. the Salvation of their Souls And so thou wilt know as in the Light thou waitest Salvation come nearer and nearer one Day then another unto thee and wilt witness to the Truth of what the Apostle wrote when he said Now is Salvation nearer then when you first believed Now tender Friend I have this principally to advise thee of that