up in the Blood-thirsty Spirit And for that called the Lord's Day or Sabbath Day People do noâ— understand what they say for the Sabbath is the seventh-Seventh-Day and the observing of that is ended in Christ and that called the Lord's Day is the first Day of the Week And the name Sunday is from the Heathens who celebrated that day unto the Sun and so called it Sunday But Child every Day is the Lord's Day and thou art to observe them all unto him and walk in his fear and in his dread every Day and Hour and who come to Christ and believe in Christ come over the observation of Dayes into the one Day of the Lord which is as a thousand years and so walk with the Lord in his Day and observe it to his Glory and Praise C. I now feel my understanding pretty well informed and opened but will the Light of Christ in my own Conscience let me see all these things and teach me to understand them in Truth F. Yes Child it will if thou enclinest to its Teachings and stand'st single to obey it will give thee a perfect understanding of God his Way and truth and will let thee see all the Customs and Fashions and Traditions of the World to be vain for condemnation And now my Child receive Instruction and be wise and let not the Counsel of thy Father depart from thee but treasure it up in thy Heart that thou mayest lay up for thy selfe a good foundation and know the hand of the Lord to build thee up And now I Exhort thee Child to mind the fear of the Lord that thou mayest know the beginning of Wisdom and therein be made wise unto Salvation and let not thy mind in any wise go after vanity keep thy eyes from beholding vanity and as thou mindest the Light of Christ thou wilt see it and be kept from it And now unto all Sorts and Sects of People a few Words I write Vnto the Aged THou that hast past over many years and hast spent thy time in vanity now wait to redeem it thou drawest nigh thy end and the time that is past thou canst not call again thou must lay down thy earthly body and how soon thou knowest not the World must pass away and thou must leave it if thou hast gathered great Riches thou must not abide with them What profit will there be in all these things when thou must go hence and be no more seen And what will all thy professed Religion do for thee in that day It will all forsake thee Therefore whilst thou hast yet a day turn and obey the Lord and his living Voice in thy conscience that thou maist be gathered unto God and know his salvation before the day pass over Vnto the Young Men. THou that art in the strength of thy Youth spend it not in vain nor satisfie thy hearts lusts which many times provoke thee to do evil thy dayes will end and an account thou must give unto God therefore in time consider before the evil day come upon thee for thou knowst not how soon the Lord may call for thee and require an account of thee Therefore stand in aw and sin not but walk in the fear of the Lord that it may go well with thee in the latter day Vnto little Children THou that art yet in thy young Years and art but like a plant springing up into strength thou knowest not the day of thy cutting down therefore whilst thy time is mind the Lord that made thee and gives life and breath unto thee and walk in fear before him so will he teach thee the way wherein thou art to walk and he will order thy conversation a right and shew thee his salvation and thou wilt be kept from the evil of the dayes that yet thou hast to pass through and wilt know the power of God to pluck up the root of evil whilst thou art yet tender and before it be too much grown in strength and thou wilt come to be grounded and rooted in the love of God and in that spring up like a pleasant plant so will thy dayes which yet thou hast to pass through in this world be joyful to thee and in the end everlasting peace will be thy portion Therefore Little Children keep out of vanity Lye not Swear not Envy not be sober be gentle be peaceable be tender love one another be not proud in any wise put not on costly Apparrel take no thought after that be not curious in your Meats and Drinks but having Food and Rayment be therewith content Let not your Apparrel be more than what is needful for your bodies nor your Food more then what is convenient for your refreshment so will the Lord adorn you with the beauty of holiness and feed you with that meat that doth not perish A few words concerning true Discerning and Judgment NOw is Salvation come from the most High and the God of Israel is over all he is confounding the Wise men in their Wisdom and destroying the strong men in their strength he is breaking the Idols of silver and the Idols of gold and every carved work he is throwing down and his eye beholds the way of every man and he sees their work of what sort it is he is the searcher of the heart and he passeth by and beholds the intents thereof hidden things he brings to light and by the gift of his own Spirit he shews to every man his thoughts this is his perfect gift to every man a manifestation thereof all men have that they thereby might profit and though a measure of this Spirit hath a being in All and makes its self manifest in all and is the true light that doth enlighten all that come into the World yet all do not receive it nor come to be guided by it so walk in the flesh and cannot please God neither can perceive the things of God and what is performed by such as a Service or Worship to God he doth not require it at their hands and though they make many prayers he will not hear for they have no Union with his Spirit and this tryes all people and their works in a true Discerning and gives true Judgment upon all according to their doings and who have not this Spirit of Christ they are none of his but all that receive it and have Union with it they walk not in the flesh but in the Spirit in which they see the Shapes and Forms of every Image and Likeness and the ground from whence they do arise and no false birth can have a hiding-place but from the least to the greatest they are discovered and the fairest covering that any have cloathed themselves withal is seen through and all the formed likenesses which appear this day amongst the sons of men in what they do profess of God they are all seen to be of the flesh and their Root and principle is of that part and nature that is
Language unto a single Person F. Why Child a single Person being One and no more the true Language is Thou unto him or her and hath been the Language spoken by all that have been guided by the Spirit of God without respect of Persons And we do not read of another that was spoken by the Holy men of God unto any person whether a King or any in Authority under him for the Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth and Thou to One is the Language of Truth without respect and the Spirit of Truth teaches to speak it and not another C. But how is it then that People use the word You to one another when they speak One to One F. Because in that thing they do not mind the Spirit of God and its Teachings and so the false spirit acting brings forth a false Word For You to One is an Apostate Language and through the vâ—in custom of it is become seated in the Pride of Heart and when the true Language is spoken the pride cannot bear it but it is the true Language Child and was so in the beginning before the fall and God is turning it again unto his People in this day of Restauration C. And must I use the Word Thou to all sorts of People F. Yes When thou hast occasion to speak to One And do not respect the Person of any Man or Woman for it is as true to the Rich as to the Poor and the Spirit of Truth will teach thee to speak it if thou mindest and obeyest it and if thou dost not it will reprove thee C. But is it not a thing that will become me to use good Manners And People do not take the word Thou to be good Manners when I speak to my Betters and they will not have their Children taught to speak that Language because they say it is unmannerly F. It is the evil words Child that corrupts good manners whether it be in a Child or Elder People but true words is mannerly and is spoken in the manner of Truth which is good manners And thou must not mind what others say or how they will have their Children Taught but mind thou the Lord and his Teachings and he will teach thee to speak good words and true words which is good manners and it is the evil words that crrupts it And People that know not the Teachings of God nor the Truth of God they know not the manner of it and so are seeking how to honour one another and to speak to one another and after what manner to do it which is not in the manner of Truth but in the false spirit which corrupts their words and actions and so corrupts good manners C. And how must I do concerning Oaths seeing that Swearing in many things is required as sometimes to give Testimony to what I know and sometimes to Testifie my Submission unto a Ruler and also in other things F. Whatever men require of thee Child thou must mind what the Lord requires of thee and if men require that of thee which the Lord forbids thee thou must obey God And Christ Jesus hath forbidden all Oathes and it is not lawful to Swear upon any account though men may require it because Christ hath commanded not to Swear at all and if thou lovest him thou wilt keep his Commandments and not Transgress against him because men require thee to do otherwise but do thou mind the Spirit of Truth and it will teach thee to speak truth in what thou art called unto and thy Yea in the Truth will bind thee to perform faithfully what thou Testifieth or Engageth to And so in all things thou art called unto speak the truth from thy Heart as in the sight of God and let thy Yea be Yea and let there be no more in any wise for what is more comes of evil C. But there is much said concerning the Lawfulness of an Oath in such needful matters as to end Striffe or Engage to a Ruler with other things and there are many Scriptures brought for it F. They that bring Scriptures to plead for Swearing in this day they do not understand the Scriptures for He who is Lord of all saith Swear not at all neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other thing but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay for what is more comes of Evil And thou art to obey Jesus Christ whose Doctrin is true and who ends the Dispensation of Oaths where strife was and in that Dispensation when they did Swear and were not to forswear themselves it was not an Oath formed in words and then imposed by the laying a hand upon the Bible and kising it but was solemnly spoken from their own mouths and what proceeded out of their mouths that they were to perform unto the Lord And this was the Oath commanded in that Dispensation as thou mayest read Num. 30. If a man vow a Vow unto the Lord or Swear an Oath to bind his Soul with a Bond he shall not break his word he shal do according to al that proceedeth out of his mouth now Mark Child This was the thing the Lord Commanded in that Dispensation and it was no more but the word that was to proceed out of their own mouths and were not to break because it was the Soul's bond therefore they were to do according to all that proceeded out of their mouths so that it was to proceed out of their own mouths and not to be imposed in formed words which binds not the Soul And there is no Scripture that mentions any other way of Swearing in that Dispensation but now Christ Jesus who Ends all the Changeable things He saith Swear not at all but let your Yea be Yea And it is without Exception or putting any difference betwixt vain Oaths and solemne Oaths He saith Not at all nor by any thing For what is more than Yea and Nay comes of Evil Therefore Child obey thou Christ's Doctrine what ever men may Require of thee and if thy Yea will not be taken to the Truth of thy word let nothing else be done by thee lest thou fall'st into Condemnation C. Father Inform me concerning the Observation of Dayes as those called Holy-dayes and that called Sunday which some call sabbath-Sabbath-day and some the lord's-Lord's-day and whether the Lord require that I should observe them F. If thou Observest a day Child Observe it to the Lord but he requires not the Observing of particular Dayes for the Seventh Day was Holy in which he Rested from all his Work and that was the Jews Sabbath and they observed it to the Lord as he Commanded but Christ Jesus hath fulfilled it and ended it And those called Holy Dayes are set up in the Apostasie in which the Saints have been Killed and Martyred upon which Dayes the Apostates Rejoyced and Feasted and they are called Feastifal Dayes and thou art to abominate the observing of them because they were set
A New PRIMMER Wherein is demonstrated The New and Living Way Held forth by way of Question and Answer as from a Child's Enquiry after Truth to be informed by the Father Here being divers particulars Answer'd and plainly opened that may be profitable both in this present Age and Ages to come Published for the benefit of all sorts of people and may be very serviceable for every Family and of great use for young Children to learn in so soon as they can understand their Language that they in the fear of God may be instructed and remember their Creator in the dayes of their Youth Other Foundations can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. Behold I write unto you both Old and Young that you may know the Truth and that the Truth may make you free For which I Travel enduring Affliction for the Truths sake WILLIAM SMITH Printed in the Year 1665. There is also Printed a New Catechism Wherein many Truths are plainly opened by way of Question and Answer which may be a help and furtherance unto all tender hearted people who are breathing after the Lord and waits for Redemption and Salvation by Jesus Christ. ALSO Something concerning the Foundation and Principle of the poor afflicted people of God called Quakers and of their Faith and Love towards God and their good Will unto Men being also plainly demonstrated by way of Question and Answer Given forth in the labour of Love and put to View for the Service of this present Generation and also Generations to come William Smith The Primer or Catechism may be had either Bound together or a part TO THE READER Reader When the foundation is sure there is more encouragement to begin to build and to begin well and persevere in well-doing is the way to come into peace Therefore it is needfull that thou be plainly instructed in the first Principle of the pure Religion that thou therein mayest begin in the spiritual travel and continue faithful to the end whereby everlasting rest thou wilt come to inherit And for the same service is this little Book given forth and the Title of it bears A New Primmer because the Testimony therein is unto Jesus Christ who is the first Principle of the pure Religion and the new and living way unto the Father and makes all new in his life and power as he is believed in and received Therefore whether thou be Old or Young that reads this Book keep in the fear of God that thou mayest feel Gods Witness in thy own Conscience opening thy understanding and making manifest unto thee the plain and simple Truth of God which in this Book is moderately enquired after and plainly answered and though in many answers there be but few words spoken yet if thou readst it with a single Eye thou wilt meet with full satisfaction in it as to the thing that is enquired therefore keep simply and read without prejudice and truth will open to thy understanding and thouwilt come to know Christ Iesus who was and is and is to come the first and last the beginning and ending in whom is life and the life is the light of men And little Children when you come to learn reading in this book be not light in your minds but mind the fear of God and as you read wait to understand what you read that you out of sin and evil may be kept that whilest you are yet young you may remember your Creator and walk as obedient Children unto him and do those things that are well pleasing in his sight that in him you may grow and encrease in vertue and godliness and so honour the Lord in your youth not knowing whether or no you shall come to see old age My desire is to do you any good and my love is both to old and young Wocester County-Goal the second Month 1661. W. S. A NEW PRIMMER The Child's Question FAther I have a great desire to know God that made me and to be acquainted with his Way and Truth that I might walk therein The Fathers Answer That is a good desire Child and thou art worthy to be informed because thou enquirest so innocently and wouldest know the thing that is good therefore my Childe be still and diligent and I shall inform thee and plainly shew thee how thou mayest come to know God his Way and Truth Chi. I would be so informed Father Father Why Child thou must wait to know something of God in thee which in thy own Conscience he maketh manifest and by minding and obeying of that thou therein wilt come to know God his Way and Truth C. But is there something of God in my own Conscience that will give me the knowledge of him F. Yes And there is not any thing else that can do it C. What is it Father let me know it that I may not neglect it but give diligence to it that I may know God F. It is the Light of Christ with which thou art enlightened and it iâ— made manifest in thy Conscience anâ— doth there let thee see whether thou art a follower of the thing that iâ— good or the thing that is evil C. But is it the Light of Christ withâ—in me F. Yes Child it is within thee and there thou art to wait for it C. From whence doth it come F. From God the Father of Lights C. And doth God freely give it unto me F. Yes It is his good and perfect Gift unto thee that thou therein mightest profit C. How may I know that it is the Light of Christ and that it comes from God is given freely of God unto me F. Because it is pure and joyns to no evil but in thy own Conscience testifies against it and reproves thee for it whereby thou mayst certainly know that it is the pure Light of Christ and comes from the pure God and that he gives it freely unto thee to convince thee of sin and save thee from it C. But is that the Light of Christ that lets me see my sin and in my Conscience reproves me for it F. Yes Child that is the Light of Christ. C. But our Ministers do not so teach us F. That is because they are not the Ministers of Christ neither can teach his Way in Truth C. But how shall I know that they are not Christs Ministers for I would not hear or believe any that are not his F. Thou mayest know them Child by their fruits C. Why In what do they differ from Christs Ministers F. They differ both in Doctrine and Practice C. How do they differ in Doctrine F. Why their Doctrine is Traditional and they Teach for Doctrine the Traditions of men and so speak things they know not for filthy lucre-sake building upon other Mens Labours and running into other mens lines for their Matter which is not after Christ neither do his Ministers so C. How do they differ in Practice F. In many Things C. I
thy self to God C. But I desire to enquire somewhat after this thing that I may receive Information concerning it seeing there are so many professions and all seem to differ and yet but one true Way that so I may chuse the true and deny the false F. Why child for thy satisfaction I shall a little open it unto thee whereby thou mayest see into the ground of all Professions and how they all come to differ for Peoplâ— wanting the Life and Power of Chriâ—â— in themselves they are betrayed intâ— the words which from the Life anâ— Power were given forth and theâ— not understanding the Scriptures they are they put to their meaningâ— and when in their meanings theâ— cannot agree then arises the diffeâ—ence and one cryes Lo here anâ— another cryes Lo there according to their own meanings and conclusions and so being from the Spirit of God in themselves from which the Holy Men of God gave forth the Scriptures they do not understand the Scripture nor the Power of God And this is the reason child why there are so many Professions and shews of Religion C. Then is it not very dangerus to put Meanings to the Scriptures and from thence to draw conclusions concerning Religion when there is not a measure of the same Spirit felt from which the Scriptures were given forth F. It is very dangerous child and it is the way of the old Serpent and such a Profession never makes a Christian nor brings forth a pure Religion but forms up a shew of Godliness out of the Power C. But amongst these several Professions there is something seemingly good in their Practice for they profess a Worship to God and they have Praying and Preaching and Singing and they use those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine F. Child this observe That which seems to be and is not the thing it seems it deceives the beholder And there may be something seeming good in all the Professions and yet not be so as it seems and in the Darkness it is not to be discerned The Pharises had long Prayers and that was seemingly good yet Christ called them Hypocrites So to judge according to the Appearance is very dangerous for therein are many deceived taking â— thing to be that which it is not C. But is not the Worship of God good thing F. Yes the Worship of God is a good thing but if there be no more but a shew of Worship it is not the Worship of God nor is not so good as it seemes to be but is a Will-worship and not the Worship in the Spirit which is the true Worship of God C. Is not that a true Worship where there is Praying and Preaching and Singing with such like good things F. That is a true Worship where there is Praying and Preaching and Singing in the Spirit but there may be such things done and not in the Spirit but in mens own will and that Worship is vain C. Then inform me Father of the true Worship F. Why child I shall shew thee when the mind is joyned to the Spirit of God and is acted by it and subjected to it then is the Lord God truly worshipped and that is the worship in the Spirit C. And how is that Worship performed And what is the practice in it F. It is performed according to the good pleasure of the Spirit that blows where it listeth and the Practice is as the Spirit moves If the Spirit gives words to declare they are declared faithfully If it move unto Prayer it is performed in it And so the things practised in the true worship are performed in the Spirit 's power and according to its own pleasure C. Do not all people that Professe a Worship unto God perform their Service in the Spirit F. Nay child for they that are in the flesh cannot perform a spiritual service C. How do they then Preach and Pray with other things they practise in their Worship F. They do it in their own Wills and in the strength of the earthly wisdom and not in the Spirit C. And do those called Ministers perform their service in their own wills and Wisdom F. Yes child they do it in their own wills and wisdom and in their own time C. But how shall I know that they do so F. By their Limitation in binding up their Worship unto a Time Place and Person but the Spirit of God is not limited C. Why is not their Time and Place and Persons right seeing their Time is upon that Day called Sunday and their Place that which is called a Church and the Persons such as are counted Ministers of Christ F. Nay the Lord God of Power is not limitted to any of them And as for their Sunday the Heathen named it and the Pope named their Church and their Schools and Colledges made their Ministers C. But do they not preach sound Doctrine F. Nay their Doctrine is after the Tradition of men and not after Christ and they get their Doctrine by their Arts and Languages that they have learned at Schools and Colledges and then read it or speak it forth in their own wills that are corrupted and there is no soundness in it C. But if it be so there are many deceived for they are looked upon to be able Ministers F. Yea many are deceived who walk not in the light that discernes them but who walk in the Light sees them and their Wolfish nature under their Sheeps cloathing And now is the Lord making them manifest that they may not deceive any longer for they have kept People alwayes learning and are unprofitable Talkers Teaching for filthy Lucre and not of a ready mind C. But is not their praying a service that is accepted of God F. Nay for they pray not with the Spirit nor with the Understanding And some of them cannot pray at all but as they have prayers made by others and have them set in a book to read as in the book of Common-Prayer or else get words into their memory or comprehend them into the Notion and then speak them forth as in a way of prayer when the Spirit is not felt so that neither their Preaching nor Praying is accepted of God C. And is not their singing an acceptable service for they that can sing praises are in a good condition F. Who are come into that state where a Psalm is given in the Spirit they are in a good condition and can sing Praises and make Melody in their Hearts unto the Lord and they rightly understand what they sing and they sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding But none can sing after this manner but who are Redeemed from the Earth But they have David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold and given them forth as they were David's condition and the Drunkard and Swearer and Lyaâ— sing together who know nothing of David's condition and so they sing Lyes in Hypocrisie which is noâ— a
earthly from which no good thing can arise and it brings forth a birth in its own likeness and of its own nature which by the Spirit is truly discerned and every work of the flesh is manifest to the Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things truly judges all things for the Spirit is truth And though this may seem in many of your eyes to be rash judgment and you may call it so yet it will stand a witness against all that are satisfying the flesh For there is not any thing so hardly received as that testimony that strikes at the life of another and that which deals plainly and simply with all and desires the good of all that meets with the least entertainment in the hearts of people but that which flatters and cryes peace when the bonds of Iniquity stand that is a pleasing thing unto the minds of all who walk in the flesh and that which coms to rip them up and discover their nakedness to their shame that they kick against and will not own nor receive it for truth for there is not any people would come to shame for what they do and that which opens secrets and brings any thing to light by which shame may come upon them they turn against that and reject it though the thing be really true which is witnessed against and so there is no work of the flesh that would come under the spirits Judgment though it be truly discerned and judged as it is and the Discerning and Judgment stand in the truth but those concerned in it will not own it but cry out Who made you a Judge And why are you so rash to judge as if all were to be condemned but your selves How do you know the hearts of people And why may not others be as right as you for what you know So every Form and Likeness would save its own Life by putting off the Judgment as if none could Discern it and no false birth that would have its Nakedness to appear lest it should come to shame thereby And thus People harden themselves against the Spirit 's Testimony which in it self is the searcher and tryer of Hearts and Reins and none can hide their Councel from it Mark Is not this the Judge that stands at the door and knocks Doth not he discern when Evil rises in your Hearts And doth he not there Reprove you What is it that you can hide that he finds not out What can you do in your secret Chambers that he doth not know And what Thought can you think amongst all your Thoughts that he doth not discern And doth he not judge you in your own Consciences if you have Thought any Evil or uttered vain Words or done any thing wickedly Will you deny this to be a true Discerner and a Righteous Judge Be sober and there is a Witness which you may feel in your selves to answer to the truth declared and all that have received the Spirit and are born of the Spirit they have an Understanding given them by which they are able to Discern the flesh all the works of it and give true Judgment upon it without respect of Persons not judging according to the flesh but according to the Spirit and sees to the Root and principle from which all things spring up and grow and they do not judge according to the outward appearance but judge Righteous judgement for such as Discern no further than what outwardly appears and then judge according to that Others from the same ground may draw as true a Judgment against them And here people are not to Judge lest they be Judged which is a place much alleadged against true Judgment but whoso Judges one of another it is not in the Spirit of Truth which doth Discern through all Appearances but it is in the flesh which cannot perceive beyond what doth appear And so all the false Births give Judgement one against another and cannot bear the Judgement of one another then they are provoked and angry one with another and run into confusion and Distraction Warring and Fighting and Destroying one another about their formed Religion none being come to the Spirit that gives a Discerning through what appears and gives true Judgment in the ground but all born of the Spirit have true Union with it and the flesh and the deeds of it are subdued under it and they are no more in the flesh but in the Spirit and have received Christ Jesus the Lord and walk in him and are Spiritual and the Spiritual man judgeth all things and he himself is judged of no man And whether you can receive it or no you are all truly tryed and judged not in the flesh but in the Spirit and your ROOT and FOVNDATION is seen and Discerned and is not found to be that which was in the beginning but that which the Subtility generated since the beginning and so doth he rule over you and blind your minds that you cannot see nor discern further than what appears and the Mystery of the Kingdom is hid from your eyes and you run into the Words with your carnal Minds and earthly Wisdom and from what is Written draw something to your selves and form up a Likeness in your conceivings and bring that forth in the strength of your own Wills and this is your Foundation and the first principle of your Religion and so the HARLOT hath brought forth many children which in her Womb have all been conceived and yet are not formed one like another but all differ in their Shape and Likeness and then strive one with another and yet are all children of one House and all of one Kingdom but no Love nor Unity found amongst them but Envie Hatred and Malice and all one against another and divided into Heads and Parties which is an evident Testimony of the Ruine Fall of your House and Kingdom For A House divided against it self cannot stand Therefore come out of it lest it fall upon you and utterly destroy you and all come to that where Peace and Safety is for God hath prepared a sure Refuge and Resting place for all that will come And he hath gathered many into Unity and perfect Peace therein and they rest in his Love and are preserved in his Power and he alone is their Strength and sure Defence so hath the Lord made his power known in this his Day and hath gathered a Remnant to that which was in the beginning which was the Saints Life and from which the Scriptures were declared and of which they all testified that is now made manifest which the false Apostles ravened from and many Sons and Daughters are come to glory in it and this is the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth that cuts down Transgression and Reigns over the Head of the Transgressor and doth discover clearly all the deeds of Darkness which are come up since the Dayes of the Apostles and are practised by such as are
thee and griefe and sorrow and mourning to come upon thee 8 When thou feels that thy mind is disposed towards God in the light of his life then do thou stand still and be watchful that the light may keep thee in a true sence of thy own poverty and the riches of Gods mercy and so preserve thee in a single dependency upon God alone and then he will appear for thy help when thou hast need and will succour thee in thy travail and strengthen thee according to what he requires of thee and every step thou setteth forward in obedience to his movings thou wilt feel his hand to lift thee up and his arme to draw thee on and what hast thou to do for thy self but to wait upon God to renew thy strength in thy travail that thou maist follow him in his own way and not depart from his counsel and if thou abide in the drawings of the life he will not leave thee behinde him but will enlarge thy heart to run the way of his commandments so thou that art travelling in the way of life keep thy mind in the cool and meek spirit of God for in that is life and there thou wilt discern when any passion riseth or any extream worketh and when the life moves by operation and raises thee up in the power of it self and makes thee fresh and living with its own virtue then yield thy self to be disposed by it so will no false height ensnare thee nor any accusation entangle thee but the life will preserve thee in it self and lead thee in the feeling of the love in which is the true temperance that gives dominion over all inordinate affection and here thou wilt come to understand that it is God alone that worketh all thy works for thee and so thou wilt be brought to cease from all thy own labour and to wait upon God in a single dependency to feel his movings drawings and leadings whereby thy way will be peace and thy path pleasantness and the Lord thy God will give thee the Refreshing mercy in his own love by which thou wilt be comforted in thy travel and be made strong to persevere unto the end and then what thou hast seen afar off thou wilt come to inherit and what thou hast breathed after thou wilt come to enjoy and so thou wilt know that the life which quickned thee the same will satisfie thee in the lot of thy inheritance for mercy and peace is unto thee who art subjected to the wil of God and thus doth God alone bring to pass the councel of his heart for his seed sake therefore let all flesh be silent and keep in silence for time is with the Lord and his own time is the best time who in time begins his work in time prospers it and in time perfects it and so in time quickning in time nourishing and in time bringing forth the birth of his life and this can no man do for himself with all his own labor therefore feel thou the Lord who art quickned by him and cast all thy care upon him for he careth for thee and in humility he will exalt thee in wants he will supply thee in poverty he will enrich thee in nothingness he will fill thee in distress he will comfort thee and in his love and life he will give thee all things freely and so in innocency simplicity and uprightness in the seed of God thou wilt walk with God in the Paradice of his pleasure Now learn a parable the vine is a tender plant and all extreams are contrary to its nature therefore in winter it neither blossoms nor bears fruit but the seed of its nature retires into its root and there preserves it self in the extreamity of cold and violent storm but when the temperate Spring comes the seed assendeth and fills every branch with its virtue whereby the branches shoots and spreads abroad and the grapes they multiply grow in clusters and this comes to pass in the Spring time when the Sons temperate heat breaks forth and the Clouds moderate dew and showers descend even so is all born of God So thou that art tender in the life wait for thy growth in the same and when the life moveth by its own power do not quench it by reasoning for though it work in its power and may dispose thee by its power yet is the moderation temperance and pure wisdom in it and all extreams of passion are subdued by it and so thou sitting in the life thou sits over all deadness and also over all unruliness and in the pure temperance of the life thou feelst Gods presence his vertue and goodness by which thou art made fresh and green and fruitful and in that state the Lord hath pleasure in thee so it is a weighty matter to understand the true place of temperance for it lyes beyond the comprehension of the deepest reason in the fall and through Faith is found in the life which reason cannot compass for where it will it bloweth and when it will it worketh and by its working enliveneth and so by its motion disposeth the mind in the pure temperance of its own nature and property in which there is no contrariety by any composition therfore the motion of the life cannot be truly called a passion or an extream though it may dispose the mind contrary or beyond what the wisdom below can fathom or comprehend So every Babe of life hold fast that which in the life thou hast received what thou mayest further see in the Prophesie unto which thou art not yet attained wait in patience and let patience have its perfect work in thee and the life will draw thee and bring thee into its selfe in its own time and what thou hast not yet seen be not inquisitive to know but live by Faith in the measure of the life which thou hast received and unto which thou art attained and let not thy reason search into the secrets of God and being stedfast in the Faith unto God and holding fast that which thou hast received in the life and in the drawings of the life keep thy way that which thou hast not yet received God will give thee in his time and what thou hast not yet seen God will reveal it unto thee and so by the life thou wilt be preserved in the feeling of the life that is present with thee and in the vertue of it thou wilt grow from one degree to another and so in due time come to be perfect and intire therein and in thy place where thou art travelling in a measure of the life thou wilt feel perfect union with God and with all the Lambs and babes born of God in what degree soever they stand in the life and thou wilt also feel union with every motion of the life whether in babes strong men or ancients and the life will conform thee unto what is practised by its own motion and