and Ruin of Israel of old Neh. 9.20 That God had given unto them his good Spirit to instruct them but they rebelled against it till their Day was over and then came in a Flood of Misery upon them and then all the World could not help them but his Wrath broke out upon them as it is written Their Carcases fell in the Wilderness yea Twenty Three Thousand in one day and were destreyed of Serpents and of the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10.8 9 10 11 12. and this happened to them because they rebelled against God's good Spirit that he gave to instruct them resisting it till their Day was over and that the Lord ceased striving with them and swore in his Wrath They should not enter into his Rest a dismal Conclusion These things did not only happen to them in that time but to all those in all Ages that rebelled against God's Spirit till he ceased striving with them they ever came to Misery which never will have an End Rebellion said one of old is as the Sin of Witchcraft 1 Sam. 15.23 and the Law would not suffer a Witch to live and as in the time of the Law God allowed not Witches their natural Lives neither will God give Eternal Life to those Souls that go on in Rebellion against the Reproofs of his good Spirit now but sin out the Day of their Visitation even the Day of his Long suffering and Forbearance to them who hath said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man Gen. 6.3 It was the Saying of a good Man in dayes past speaking to People in their Youth one that was acquainted with the Dealings of the Lord with Mankind Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth before the Evil Day come Eccles 12.1 that is the Evil Day when God's Spirit hath done striving with Man which will come upon all People that do not turn at the Reproofs of God's Spirit in their Hearts in that time when he offereth Merey to them But in all Ages God raised up faithful men that were faithful to the Spirit of God in themselves to bear a Testimony against Sin and to warn People of the Evil of their Doings as well as by the strivings of his good Spirit in them because he would leave them without Excuse that hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord but set at nought all his Counsel and would not turn from their Evil Wayes at the Reproof of his good Spirit in them And these good Men the Prophets they spake what God spake to them or in them by his Spirit and not a Premeditated Matter as the Priests do now adayes of all sorts that are not led by the Spirit of Christ In dayes past God spake to the People by the Prophets and they were moved to speak as he pleased sometimes little and sometimes much as he pleased and what hep eased and in this manner God speaks by his Prophers in this our Age and these be the true Ministers and none else nor none else ever were nor can any inform men and set them in the Way to Heaven if they are not themselves led instructed 1 Cor. 1. Chap. 2.10 1 John 1.1 2. taught and guided by the Spirit of God themselves such can instruct others as God doth them and such can speak their Experience to the People of the Teachings Leadings and inward Guidings of God's Spirit and how the Soul comes to be reacht converted and brought into Union Communion and Fellowship and to converse with God as they are moved by the Holy Ghost and as the Spirit gives them utterance and these be the true Ministers of Christ and these preach without Study or Natural Art or Invention of Man and they that take upon them to be Teachers of others and are not come to be taught led and guided themselves by the Spirit of Truth that leads mark into all Truth that so by this they may turn people as Prophets and Apostles did of old to the Leadings and Guidings of God's Spirit in themselves are False Prophets and Deceivers for that which may be known of God is manifest and to be manifested in man for there God shews it to man as it is written God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1.19 And all that take upon them to be Teachers and would seem to be something and know not these things are Deceivers and will cheat people of their Souls and have done many Thousands already Jerem. 14.14.23.28 29 30 31 32 36. And this I speak that all may take Warning and be awakened to seek after God and come out from the False Prophets and Deceivers that are in the World and in wardly to wait upon God to receive from him the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of himself in your inward parts and this is the saving Knowledge as it is writterr This is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 But now to return to the thing before in hand which was to take a View of the Misery Destruction and Ruin of those that in their Day did not turn from the Evil of their Doings at the Reprooss of God's Spirit in their own Hearts and inward parts but provoked God from day to day then God raised up his Servants the Prophets and sent them to warn Evil-doers as a Sign to them that the Long-suffering of God was drawing to an End and that his Spirit should cease striving with them and that swift Destruction should come upon them except a speedy Repentance and Amendment of Life as namely Noah that just Man who walked with God and was perfect in his Generation him did God raise up to be a Witness against that Generation a Minister a Preacher of Righteousness to whom God revealed his Mind concerning that Generation saying My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man that will take no Warning and God said to Noah Make an Ark for the End of all Flesh is come before me and behold I even I said God bring a Flood of Water to destroy all Flesh wherein is the Breath of Life but I will establish my Covenant with thee for thee have I seen Righteous before me in this Generation And I suppose much need not be spoken now to convince people that God did destroy the old World in the execution of his Wrath and that because they sinned out the Day of their Visitation and did not Return at God's holy and just Reproofs while his Spirit strived with them Again the Inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah with their Cities and Substance for their Sins were brought into Ashes who as the Figure of Eternal Vengeance hath God made to be an Example to all that afterward should live Ungodly here Also there was the Overthrow of Pharaoh and his Host who in the Pride of his Heart said Who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice I know not the Lord neither will
Moses set up was good till it was Idolized and in the time of the Law there were many things used as Sacrifice and Burnt Offerings Sin Offerings and Peace Offerings the Blood of Bulls and Goats the Ashes of a Heifer with many outward things but as to the Sprinkling of Children we never read of which made not the comers thereunto Perfect as to the cleansing of the Conscience for that was a Work alwayes done by the Spirit and Power of God though it pleased God to condescend to mans low and weak Capacity in these outward things till the fulness of time was come in which he would send Christ the Substance of all those Types and Figures and Shadowy outward things and the Substance being come to wit the Messiah Christ Jesus the Shadows end in him and the Righteousness thereof comes to be fulfilled in them that believe and obey the Truth to wit the followers of Christ Jesus and John he spoke concerning his Commission or Ministration that he was to Decrease but Christ was to Increase For if you observe John was sent a fore-runner of Christ to prepare the Way of the Lord and make his Pathes straight and to Baptize in Water them that did believe the Testimony of John concerning Christ and this was in order to a further Work which Christ would come to do as John said which was to Baptize with Fire and with the holy Ghost So them that are come to be baptized with the holy Ghost and with Fire they are come to the Substance Christ Jesus and to them the Shadows are ended And as for the Word Sacrament there is no such Word in the Scriptures that I know but as concerning Christ breaking of Bread with his Disciples that was not spoken of as in relation for all men to use it but to his Disciples alone for he thus spoke and said unto them As often as ye do this do it in remembrance of me and in so doing said he to them not to the World you shew the Lord's Death till he come For he had promised to them He that was with them should be in them So they were to stay at Jerusalem till they were indued with Power from on High which was to know his Second Coming spiritually without Sin unto Salvation which accordingly he performed to them and then there was no need for to do any thing without to bring them to Remembrance of Christ the Hope of Glory within them he was then come to guide their Minds and Hearts into all Truth So when his Disciples were endewed with Power from on High then in Authority they went into all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost He doth not say with Outward Water but into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost And the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower and the Righteous flee to it and are saved from the Devouring Adversary we have cause to praise the Lord for this for this is known in our dayes as it was in dayes past But now for People to run into the Imitation of these things and not by Motion from the Lord because it hath been used in times past by the People of God I say for others to run into it that never came to witness a being in that state which the People of God were in this is that Worship which is built upon the Sand which when the Storms come and the Winds of Persecution blow then that Building falls and great is the Fall of it and this Righteousness Christ is come to judge as well as Sin So whatsoever is set up although it may be seemingly Righteous in the Eyes of People which they have been seeking to themselves it must all down as well as their Sins for it is all alike in the sight of God for People have been seeking out easie Wayes to serve God in for this worshipping of God in Spirit and Truth they do not like the Gate that leadeth to it is so strait that they must so much deny themselves that they cannot get in at it with their Body of Sin and this is such a Cross to their own Wills that they that delight in the Pleasures of Sin cannot abide to think on it but get up what they can against it and would fain have an easier Way than Christ and reckon him an hard Master because he would have them leave the Pleasures of Sin that they may be saved in the Day of Account which will suddenly come upon all the World to give an Account of their Deeds done in the Body whether they are Good or Evil. Therefore 't is good for all People to see that their Deeds are Good before it be too late and lay aside that which hindereth that they may enter in at the strait Gate before it be shut never more to be opened for it is God that openeth and it is him that shutteth and if he shut again all the World shall never open more and though they may then seek they cannot find and many times when it pleases God to open the blind Eye so that they come to see they see there is so much to deny and to do away that they are willing to be blind again and so begin to hate that which shewed it them and even them also that are obedient to it for the sake of him who in Good Will would save them from Hell There are many things that hinder People from entring in at the strait Gate for strait is the Gate narrow is the Way which leads unto eternal Life few there be that find it because they are seeking the Wrong Way most People are seeking every one his own Way and the Way of the Lord is neglected for in that Way they cannot walk in their old course of Life for I will render many Instances why many are striving and cannot enter in at the strait Gate This is strait to the Carnal Man but to the Spiritual Man it is easie or it is made easie to them by the Spirit of God but to the Sinner 't is hard the Drunkard because of his Drunkenness cannot enter into the Kingdom of God the Swearer because of his Swearing the Lyar because of his Lying the Covetous Man because of his Covetousness the Cozening Deceitful Envious and Malicious-minded Men cannot enter because of these things the Proud and Lofty or them that spend their time in Playing Sporting in Vanity and Jesting cannot enter these and all such things have and do hinder from coming into the Kingdom of Heaven the Whoremonger Thief and Murderer the Hypocrite or Blasphemer cannot enter and they that be got under a Cover of Religion which is not true but false cannot enter though it make a great shew it being not right this hindreth many from coming to God and is one of the greatest Snares the Devil hath to deceive with among men and doth in this kind deceive Millions of People
no Unclean Thing shall enter the Kingdom of God and all Sin and Wickedness is unclean in the Sight of God and this was that which John saw was done away which he called the Old Heaven and the Old Earth and said He saw a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness which was a real Change in Man and Woman out of Sin and Wickedness into Righteousness and so Christ comes to rule where the Devil ruled and this is being born again and without coming to this none can come to be saved nor go to Heaven Therefore 't is good for all to consider this while there is time to do it before the Night come wherein no man can work for God for there are many things that hinder man from being born again as I was about to say concerning them that make Visible Things their Heaven and their God as some make Covetousness and Pride their Heaven and their God and othersome Drunkenness Swearing and Lying their Delight so it is their Heaven and their God some in Envy Malice Hatred and Strife Backbiting and Revenge others delight in Quarrelling Fighting and Murdering about Religion others in Hunting Hawking and Horse-Racing in Cards and Dice in Foolish Jesting spending their precious time in Idle Stories which corrupt Youth and are a Shame to Old Age. These things and many more while people live in them they are not born again nor led by the Spirit of God for all these things are brought forth in people by the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit which ruleth in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience ' Ephes 2.2 But the worst is that all these things ' or most of them are brought forth by such and in such as do pretend to worship and Religion but all such Worshippers are out of the Fear of God God made Man Upright but he falling from that Upright State he came to invent many Wayes to find out that again which he by Disobedience had lost but none could find it till they came to be led to it by the Spirit of God the Spirit of Truth which leadeth and guideth into all Truth and none come to be led by the Spirit of Truth till they deny themselves and take up a Cross to their own Wills a Cross to their old Heaven and to their old Earth which they have lived and delighted in not a Cross of Wood or Stone and such outward things as the Papists set up but to the Perverse Nature and the Selfish Will that the Will of God may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven in thy Earthen Vessel but while the old Heaven and the old Earth and the old Beggarly Elements are standing these things cannot be till all that cometh to be done away by the Spirit and Power of God for by him all things are to be made new in Man and Woman For when thy Delight cometh to be set on the Law of the Lord and thy Mind to be set on God and Godliness above all other things and to make it thy chiefest Joy to serve and worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and to seek after a Righteous Life here thou wilt come to know that New Heaven which John spoke of in the Revelations wherein dwelleth Righteousness so new Pleasures and Joyes for while the Old Nature in thee bears rule the old Pleasures of Sin yet stand in thy Mind and Heart in that dwelleth Unrighteousness and that must be destroyed and when these things by Christ come to be destroyed then thou wilt come to know Sanctification and to be redeemed from Sin by the Spirit of God and to be sanctified as the Scripture saith throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and so come to know all things to become new to be changed by the Lord and this is the New Birth which is begotten and brought forth by God which is not of this World but cometh to be changed by the little Leaven which was hid in the three Measures of Meal Matth. 13.33 and blessed be the Name of the Lord this little Leaven hath in many brought the three Measures into one Lump and hath changed Body Soul and Spirit into its own Nature and in such all things are become new for the Kingdom of Heaven and the Spirit of it is compared to a little Leaven that was hid in three Measures of Meal for the Spirit of God seemeth to most people to be of little and of low Esteem in their Eyes and the Appearance of his Spirit in them against Sin is more hated than any man's and he is as the Prophet said Amos 2.13 prest down as a Cart that is laden with Sheaves It is Sin and Wickedness that the Spirit of God is pressed down with in the Hearts and Consciences of People but Wo be to them one day if by Faith and Repentance they remove not these Weights and Burdens from the Lord's Spirit this is that which will sink them down to the Pit of Hell where there is never any more coming out it s without End 't is Torment forever Therefore it is good for all People to be faithful to the Spirit of Christ it is no less than the Power of God to Salvation in them that are faithful to it and by this People come to escape the Damnation of Hell and by no other means can ever any escape but as they come to know Christ's Spirit to rule in the Heart and Mind over all Impurity for he is come to bear sway in the Heart and therefore Wisdom saith My Son give me thy Heart and if he rule in the Heart then that which abounds out of the Heart will be from the Good Motions of Christ's Spirit and as the Holy Man of God said in dayes past Acts 17.28 In Him we live and in Him we move and have our being this will also be witnessed by them in this day that know Christ to rule in them for such come to live in him and to move by him and in him to have their being he that came to this state said Gal. 2.20 The Life that I now live is by the Faith of the Son of God This was a Life out of Sin in the New Birth being chosen out of this World and come to walk in a new and living Way which leadeth to the Rest which never will have End Christ is the Leader of such and they are no more their own but his as he is their Leader so he is their Father Master and Keeper when Temptation comes he is a strong Tower he is also in the Righteous as a Refiner's Fire and as a Fuller with Soap and as a Purifier of Silver he makes them more pure than Gold than the Golden Wedge of Ofer he is in all those that are led by him as a Consuming Fire against Sin and all Deceit and therefore it is said Who can dwell with Everlasting Burnings Isa 33.14 for by that Heat cometh all the
for here he makes them believe All is well and so being under a Profession they are willing to believe it but he cannot so easily perswade them that are in open Prophaneness that it is well with them for they have no such Cover for their Sins and therefore Christ said Publicans and Harlots should enter the Kingdom before such Matth. 21.31 And for them that profess the Truth and do not walk in it they shall never enter the Kingdom of God All these fore mentioned things and many more that might be mentioned do hinder many from entering in at the Strait Gate these be the Weights and Burdens which were and are to be laid aside which do easily beset People and it is not applying of Promises as they call it will do it in that Way which Carnal-minded Men do apply them for there is no Promise of coming to the Kingdom of God which Kingdom is not of this World but upon such terms of being born again and so becoming new Creatures and then such come to know the In-side cleansed of Sin by him that hath regenerated them which is the Lord from Heaven the Second Adam the Quickening Spirit for 't is not making clean the Out-side will do and still the In-side to be full of Sin and here many People have been cheated of their Souls in believing of them that have smoothed them up in Sin for when it hath pleased the Lord many times to awaken people out of Sin that have been asleep in Sin and when they are a little awakened and by that Light which then shineth in them come to see Sin appear as it is exceeding sinful and he that shews unto man his Thoughts he it is that sets all in order before them and so people come to see that it is not as it should be with them as concerning their Peace with God and then not knowing what it is that sheweth them how it is with them and that God is so near them neither do they know that that which sheweth them their Sin is able to deliver out of it and to give them Power over it because it is so slighted by their Teachers therefore they sleight it also and under this Trouble of Mind many a poor Creature is under great Distress seeing his Sin is remaining and that the Wages thereof is Death finding no Helper on Earth but wandering in dry places seeking Rest but finding none because they are still reasoning with Flesh and Blood not joyning to that which sheweth them their Sin here they are at a Loss concerning Salvation and in this State and Condition many are going from one Profession to another there inquiring of one Teacher or another What they must do to be eased of their Troubled Mind and come to some Satisfaction concerning their poor Souls then these blind Teachers begin to turn them to Wrong Wayes herein cometh Destruction upon many a poor Soul being led by the blind Leaders of the Blind into many Crooked and By Wayes which lead to Destruction and here one he bids them apply the Promises another he cryes out Go into the Water another turning them to the Bread and Wine and another to worship Images which can neither hear speak or see So here they are turning People to Outward Things when the chief cause lies within and cannot be purged out by these outward things but only by the Power of God Man may make clean the Out-side but the In side must be cleansed by God and if the In-side be clean then the Out-side also will be clean the Out-side may be clean and painted and the In-side full of Rottenness and in this State and Condition the Dawbers with Untempered Morter dawb over peoples Wounds but could never cure them I am not speaking against those Outward Means which the Lord calleth any into but for People to run into any thing which they are not called to though it may be in Pretence of Service and Worship to God this never did not will ease any of their Burden of Sin which they groan under but it is Christ alone that must do it it must be upon his own Terms and not as Man would have it but there are many Lo Heres turning people to Outward Things and not to Christ's Appearance within one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is in this or the other Outward Observation But what said Christ of such that spoke after this manner Go not after them said he that shall say Lo here is Christ or Lo there he is go not forth believe them not for that which may be known of God is near which is called the Word which is in the Heart and in the Mouth and this is that which shews unto Man his Sin and also able to take it away for he is come to put an End to Sin and to finish Transgression so to bring in Everlasting Righteousness this is the Work which he came to do which all the blind Guides can never do and this is he which bringeth that Peace and Wisdom which passeth all Understandings of Men. And further Christ said to the Jews The Kingdom of Heaven is within you But observe instead of turning People to this inward Principle which Christ told People of the Blind Guides are altogether turning People unto outward things and so here setting them to make clean the Out-side of the Cup and Platter and People are cheated of their Souls for one is crying The Mass-Book is the Way to come to Heaven and Praying to dead Saints and Worshipping of Images others crying Dipping and Bread and Wine is the Way and another crying The Church-Faith is the Way another steps up and saith His Directory is the Way and there is another saying The Common Prayer-Book is the Way so here are many Wayes set up by the Invention of Man in the fallen state so leading many Thousands of poor People into these outward things and not keeping to that or being turned to that which searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and for want of this come to lose their Souls Rest and Happiness with God for 't is not the making clean the Out-side will do but them that are cleansed within these are them which God delights in it is the Pure in Heart that see God here every one cometh to know how it is with them for God is with the Pure in Heart and by him people come to know the Way which leadeth to Everlasting Life and this is he that we say is the Way to come to that Kingdom which is not of this World where no Mortal Man ever came to and the Scripture directeth people to him and bears Testimony of him which we whom the World in Scorn calls Quakers do faithfully believe is true and though we have been belyed and falsly accused in that matter we desire the Lord may forgive them that have been guilty of that thing in saying we Deny the Scriptures for there are no
Destruction and a Sink of Iniquity and destroyes many a poor Soul All these things that I have mentioned and many more which might be mentioned are the Wayes and Inventions which the Devil hath invented and set up in and among People and this is his manner of working by his Spirit in People and yet pleads Scripture for what he doth that thereby he might colour over his Deceit And this hath been his manner in all Ages to deceive the Nations of the World but Wo be to them that hearken to him this is the Strangers Voice which Christ said his Sheep would not hearken to saying My Sheep here my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger will they not hear Here it it doth appear there were two Voices to be heard here was the Voice of Christ and the Strangers Voice which was the Voice of the Devil These two Voices now adayes are heard and are obeyed by all People either the one or the other for none can serve two Masters or obey two Voices therefore People cannot serve God and Mamon And the manner of these two Spirits uttering their Voices is in an Invisible and Spiritual manner And as I have before opened the Mysteries of Iniquity the manner of the Working of the Spirit of the Enemy so now I am come to relate how and in what manner doth the Spirit of the Lord differ in the manner of working from the Spirit of the Devil in all People at one time or another this is known striving in them though they will not obey it that is of this manner it doth begin to work to knock at the Door of Peoples Hearts or secretly reprove for Sin trouble People for doing that which they ought not to do and condemns them when they do amiss this is calledin the Scriptures the Reproofs of Instruction and the Way of Life and I do believe it is so although many Professors will not believe it and if it be the Way of Life I do believe it is able to Redeem from that it calls out of which is Sin and Wickedness and as People hearken to it it opens their Understandings and sheweth them how it is with them and not only so but bringeth into a New Life and Conversation and keeps Peoples Minds alwayes in that which is Good and out of that which is Bad and this is as Spiritual Food for the Soul and then People come to know that Bread which comes down from Heaven and to drink of that Water that never faileth and brings that Peace upon People which none can know but them that do enjoy it This doth the Light or Spirit of God do in the Righteous and much more which might be mentioned This is he that the Scripture calls The Searcher of Hearts and a Tryer of Reins he is a Justifier of the Righteous and a Condemner of the Wicked and to him must all give an Account one day After this manner doth the Spirit of the Lord differ from the Spirit of the Devil in operating and working in People and one of these leads to Heaven and the other to Hell Here is one thing more which comes in my Mind concerning the working of these two Spirits the Spirit of the Lord many times by often following and pursuing of People with his Righteous Judgments till he brings to a Consideration of their Latter End and then many times in that Condition people come to seek after the right Way and then the Lord openeth the Mysteries of his Kingdom to them and then they begin to fee the Right Way from the Wrong the Narrow Way from the Wide and begin to see the Gate to be strait and the Way to be narrow then many begin to consult with the Reasoning Part in Man which is the Work of the Enemy for he makes it his Business at all times to work out all that is good his manner is when any come to be convinced of the Right Way then to set them into questioning How they shall enter in at this strait Gate and to walk in that narrow Way and so come to seek after some easier Way and the Devil he sets all manner of Dangers before people and begins to tell them That the way is too hard for them to walk in and tells them There be many easier and better Wayes wherein they may walk and do well and tells them That is the Worst Way of all any thing but that for he knows well enough there is no other Way to Heaven and saith the Enemy If thou ownest this Worship in Spirit thou wilt be hated of all people and in Danger of losing all and of having the Displeasure of this or the other Relation Neighbour or Acquaintance and saith he This is a new Upstart Religion hath been but lately standing and saith he our Religion hath been long standing and our Mother-Church cannot Err and saith he our Fore-Fathers were in the Right and our Ministers who have great Learning must be in the Right or else who can be Right and how can Tradesmen Plowmen and such come to know the Way to Heaven These things and many more the Devil puts into peoples Minds to set them against that which would save their Souls that when God hath called people by his Spirit to walk in the Narrow Way which leadeth to Everlasting Life then the Devil he musters up all these fore-mentioned things and many more which might be mentioned and layes before people as Snares and by this many times turns people some one way and some another any way so that they might not come to walk in the Narrow Way and to worship God in Spirit and Truth some he turneth into Fears how they shall live some into the Mire and Dirt of Sin and Wickedness again some under False Colours of Religions some into Carelesness some into Dispair and tells them Their Day is over others he tells There is time enough yet to Repent and so lulls people asleep in Sin till there is no more time others he upbraids with the Unfaithfulness of some who profess the Truth but Wo be to them that hearken to him in any kind mark this Thou shalt answer for what thou dost and so shall others for themselves and further Whatsoever others do that will be no Excuse for thee in the Day of Account Therefore have a care of believing the lying Serpent which with his Lyes and Deceit goeth about to deceive the Nations and most people are deceived by him and because people are hearkening to him more than to the Lord this is the Reason so few are chosen of the Number that are called for many are Called but few are Chosen I would not have people think it strange as concerning this manner of Reasoning that is put into people by the Devil I would have none should think hard of this for I will tell thee plainly that whatsoever is put into any Man or Woman's Mind that is not right true or good is
put in by the spirit of the Devil and whatsoever is put into any Man or Woman's Mind that is good right and just is done by the Spirit of the Lord for take notice of this all peoples Minds and Affections are swayed by one or the other of these two Spirits one turning into Wickedness the other into Righteousness this is true whether thou wilt believe it or no thou shalt be made to know it when it will be too late if thou art not aware A few words in answer to the fore-mentioned Reasonings and Objections against the Truth and Spiritual Worship As to the Strait Gate and Narrow Way it is strait to the Wicked it is pleasant to the Righteous and as to the many Wayes there are not many Wayes to Heaven but to Heaven there is but one Way and that is to come to answer God's Spirit in thee and to worship God in Spirit and in Truth And as to the being hated of all people this is no new thing for Christ and all the holy Men of God were ever Hated as thou mayst read in the Scriptures and Moses said He did esteem of the Repreaches that be under-went for Christ's sake to be greater Riches to him than all the Treasures in Egypt and though they were hated of Men yet they were beloved of God and all this while it is well enough And as to the Danger of Losing any thing for Christ's sake this was counted by the Righteous all Joy that they were not counted only worthy to Rain with Christ but also to Suffer with him and the Lord hath promised That whatsoever any Suffer for him they shall have Recompensed in this Life a hundred fold and in the World to come Life Everlasting without End And the Scripture saith They that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecutions And Christ told his Disciples The Servant was not greater than his Master if they persecuted him it was certain they would perseoute them And as to the Displeasing of Men it is impossible that people can please God and Ungodly Men and Peter and John bad people judge whether they had best Please God or Man And as concerning a Livelihood believe the Scripture First seek God's Kingdom and the Righteousness thereof and all other things shall be added to thee Matth. 6.33 And as for our Religion which is in Spirit and in Truth to be a New Upstart Religion this is a downright Slander for it was set up by Christ above sixteen hundred years ago and there is no other Way to Heaven but this though some there be that do profess it that do not walk in it this doth not alter the Case or make the thing not to be the same as it is professed for Judas did not alter the Case in that matter neither do any Traitors to the Truth now adayes And as to the False Religion it is true it hath been long standing the more is the Pity yet that doth not make because False Religions have been long standing that therefore it must ever remain this will not hold It is true ever since Wickedness hath been covered under a Cloak of Religion this hath been standing And as to the Church which some say cannot Err I answer that there is no Church or People but do Err except them that are led and guided by the Spirit of God and such are the only true Church and they that are led by this are led by that Spirit that never did nor can Err and till people come to this all go astray let them profess what they will And as to our Fore-Fathers how it was with them that I will leave to the Lord I will not judge of them that I never knew but this I do believe of them That some of them were Faithful to what they knew and that is it the Lord requires and doth accept of and as to them they are gone and I do believe some of them dyed in the true Faith which we do believe in and I do believe they are at Rest with the Lord and were of our Mind and Belief though not called by this new Nick-Name which the Devil in our Age hath invented for his Servants to put upon us as in all Ages the Devil had New Nick-Names for to disguise and deride Christ and his Followers and so he hath now And for your Ministers to know the Way there are none that know the Truth nor no true Ministers but them that come to be endewed with Power from on High which is known by Revelation and Inspiration which your Priests and Professors do deny therefore they cannot know the Truth while they are denying that which bringeth to the Knowledge of the Truth for the Scripture saith and I do believe they are true and they say though there is a Spirit in Man yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives an Understanding And as concerning Great Learning this is good in its place as men come to the true Understanding of it given to them by the Spirit of God for the Scripture is as a Mystery hid from the Wisdom of this World and it was never known that Outward Learning or Education of Men nor Great Learning did ever bring any man to the Knowledge of the Truth nor never was able to unsold the Mystery of Godliness to any man as for Instance there was Paul he was a great Learned Man and had great Parts and Education and counted himself beyond many of the Jews yet for all this he was ignorant of the true Knowledge of God till he came to it by the Revelation of the Son of God for that was and now is the thing alone that brought People to the Knowledge of that which is hid from the Wisdom of this World And as concerning Tradesmen and Plowmen knowing the Way read the Scriptures and there thou wilt find in all Ages it was such chiefly that came to the true Knowledge of the right Way of God for there were Peter and John that were Unlearned Men and many more beside them which were able Ministers of the Lord and where are there any great Learned Men now adayes that can compare with them but there are many now adayes that are come to the Knowledge of the Truth as they came to it by the Learning which they have learned of the Lord so do they preach whether they have outward Learning or not this makes not much matter in the things of God though Learning be very good in its place to them that make good use of it but if you observe the greatest Learned Men are commonly most ignorant of Christ's Kingdom therefore that is not the thing that makes people Righteous nor is it enough barely reading the Prophets Words and Works and Christ's Words and what he did and the Apostles Conditions how it was with them it is not enough to read these things unless people come to live the same Life that they did but it must be done by the Power of God and this is the Reason that there are so many ever reading and hearing and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth thinking by running into outward things they shall do well and never come to Christ that they may know Life Eternal which is to know God as the Scripture saith whom to know is Life Eternal A Day and a Time hath God given to all people that if they will in that Day and Time they may come to know God and by him to be cleansed of Sin which is the Cause of Death to their Souls And in this Day Christ would gather all People to himself as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings but if people will not come to him in that Day and Time when he calleth to them they shall never know Freedom from the Bondage of Hell and Death A Lamentation may be taken up concerning all such that sin out their Day and the Night comes on them at unawares and there be none to help as Christ took up concerning Jerusalem when their Day was over he went and beheld it with much Sorrow and wept over it with much Pity saying on this wise O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent to thee how often would I have gathered thee even as a Hen would have gathered her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not and further said he O that thou hadst known in this thy Day the things belonging to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes So it is with all people that sin out their Day as they did for the Lord striveth with all People as well as he strove with them to bring them to the Knowledge of the Things that belong to their Peace but still here they lie in Ignorance not yielding to the Motions of the Spirit of Christ although there be things laid up in store for them which do belong to their Peace yet in this Condition they are never worthy to know it because they believe not and they that are not faithful in a little never come to know much Thus will it be with all those that sin out their Day and will not answer God in the Time when he striveth with them So 't is good for all people to consider these things before it be too late that they may get Assurance of that which will stand by them and make choice of that which Mary did that Good Part which shall never be taken from them and herein people will come to finish their course with Joy and lay down their Heads in Peace when Dayes and Time shall be no more Thus far have I cleared my Conscience of that which lay upon me from the Lord to write in Love to all who desire to be in Favour with God that they may have Assurance of Acceptance with him for their Souls when their Bodies must be laid in their Graves So I rest with Love and Good Will towards all People desiring the Good and Prosperity of all in that Way which leadeth to that Kingdom which is not of this World who am known to many to be of that Mind and of that Desire by the Name of John Songhurst West Chiltington in Sussex in the 2d Moneth 1680. THE END
Sheep hear my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger they will not hear John 10.27 these were good Sheep Now to come to hear Christ's Voice is to obey his Spirit that striveth in the Heart to reclaim the Wicked and the Willing and Obedient shall dwell in the Land in the Kingdom of God and shall eat of the Good of the Land the Bread of Life and their Souls shall partake of the Honey and the Milk that floweth therein Isaeah 1.19 Some may say If I had been in the dayes of his Flesh I would have heard him and have come to him but he is asoended up on high and sitteth at the Right Hand of God and how can I hear him now Well it is true he is ascended into Heaven and is with the Father But mark this he is not confined to one place but as thou mayst read in the Scriptures Rom. 9.5 He is God over all blessed forever and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is every where and there is a measure or manifestation of his Light and good Spirit given to thee 1 Cor. 12.7 and to every man and woman upon the Earth that thou and they may profit by it upon the count of Salvation and the knowledge of this is made known in thee or that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 The Word is near even in the Heart and in the Mouth c. there thou mayst hear it and as thou obeyest the Voice of it it will give thee Power to do that which it doth require of thee and by doing this it is that thou mayst hear his Voice by keeping to that of God in thee and thy mind exercised in it Here the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is known as well as in days past and in Generations gone So let none deceive themselves for the Spirit of Christ is near to all whether they will hear him or not and true it is that they must one day give an account to him whether they will or no therfore let none deceive you with lying Vanities or unprofitable Words for this is he that searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and sheweth unto man what his Thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name and he is not far from any Acts 17.27 28. so that no man need say Who shall ascend to fetch Christ or who shall descend to fetch Christ up or who shall go beyond the Sea For saith the Apostle The Word of Faith which we Preach is nigh but how nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.6 7 8. and that Christ was that Word of Faith which they preacht and so we say that People may hear it and do it And Christ said to John as may be read in the third Chapter of the Revelations Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 It is at the Door of the Heart the Lord knocketh and they that hear obey the Spirit of Jesus that there knocketh such come to be born of the Spirit and by this come to sup with the Lord which is not an outward Supper but an inward enjoyment of spiritual Food the Bread of Life that which came down from Heaven which Christ said He that eateth thereof should never dye should live forever John 6.33 34 35 50 52 53 63. and that Bread that a man eating of it never dyes Christ said was the true Bread that his Father gave from Heaven then the Priests did not give it And when the People murmured because Christ said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you did not Christ for their further satisfaction make them this Answer The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life it is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profitteth nothing Now they that can believe Christ let them who said The Flesh profitteth nothing but the quickening Spirit and Power of God that raiseth the Soul from Death to Life And this is that we labour to bring People to that all might come to know that they have a part in him who said I am the Resurrection and the Life John 5.25 and so to feed at the Table of the Lord that they may never hunger more And for this we have been and yet are hated of the World both of Professors and Prophane but more especially of some angry and envious Professors and no marvel for none hated Christ and the Apostles more than they that made Profession of Religion in those dayes who were themselves out of the Life of Righteousness and in Hatred Strife and Envy as too many Professors are now adayes who stick in the outward Observations and Ceremonies one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is and all in their own Inventions or in the Inventions of their Fore-Fathers or at least in the Imitation of Elementary Things often Persecuting and Destroying one another about Opinions And these are they that are led by a false spirit for all people are led by the true or false Spirit for there is but two the Good and the Bad which all People upon the Earth are led by that is the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Devil and to which of these a man gives his Mind to serve his Servant he is and his Conversation is managed by that Spirit and it may be that both lead to profess Religion for even the Devil in some sense is not against Peoples making a Profession of Religion but he makes them so blindly Zealous that they shall Hate Persecuto or Murder those that will not believe what they believe and worship as they worship and be of their Religion The Devil cares not how much People talk of God and Christ and Religion provided they do not deny him to lead them and so become New Creatures For they that are not led by the Spirit of Christ are none of his Rom. 8.9 And to be led by the Spirit of Christ is to become a New Creature for all have been in the old Nature Children of Wrath as the Apostle said Ephes 2.3 we as well as others till we come to put off the Old Man with his Deeds and to put on the New Man which is created after the Image of him that created him in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes 4.24 the image of Christ who said Behold I make all things New And herein cometh the New Birth to be known by which People come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom which none ever come to but they that are born again which is to live a Life answerable to the Truth and to put off the old Man's Deeds is to put off Sin for all Sin and Wickedness is of the Devil the old Man and this is the old Nature by
People this is one of the chief Articles of the Church to Promise and Vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and live so all its Life long this is the first thing they injoyn a Member of their Church in the receiving a Member into their Church as part of their form of Worship and in their Pulpits Preach against it that is against the principal part of their Articles of belief in Baptism inasmuch as they say there is no Perfection here O the Darkness gross Darkness that is over this people the blindness and ignorance they are in concerning their Salvation it is hard to express how they are misled the blind Leaders of the Blind till many a thousand fall into the Ditch But blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath drawn me and many more out of it and hath set our Feet upon a Rock as David said Out of the Miery Clay For all these Performances and their best Duties are but as Mire and Clay in the sight of God and we that were in it as well as others hath the Lord raised up to bear a Living Testimony against this Idolatrous Worship and false Imaginations that others may come to see where they are and come out from amongst them before they fall together into the Pit of Hell where there is never coming out more For the Priests and all other Sect-Masters are blind Leaders of the Blind for do but consider the manner of their proceeding in this matter of Sprinkling of Children and what it doth produce the Priest he sprinkleth Water in the Face of the Child and saith I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost And that they reckon maketh a Christian of the Child to wit a Child of God a Member of Christ and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of God an absolute Delusion and then there they must have some other People good or bad to stand bound for the Child and these they call God-Fathers and God-Mothers as if the God of Heaven and Earth had Fathers and Mothers made of wicked Men and Women for do but mind these people take the Work of God upon them inasmuch as they take upon them to Promise and Vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works which is to live without Sin and no less then all the dayes of his Life which is a thing all the World can never do for inasmuch as they promise that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works this doth include all Sin whatsoever for there is no Sin nor never was but is of the Devils work and herein they take that upon them which none can do but God and Christ and therefore Christ is come to destroy Sin to put an End to Sin to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness for all man's Righteousness is but as filthy Rags and when he hath done all that he can while he is in the old Nature it is all unprofitable And further consider both Priests and People how the Priests Err in compelling people to do that in this case which they are ignorant of and cannot give Answer for what they do and here the Blind are Leaders of the Blind For neither Priests nor People know in this matter what they do for if they did some of them would not do it for when some in obedience to the Lord have asked them why they did do these things which there is no Scripture for they could not well tell what to say some have said The Law of the Nation is for it Others in a blind manner will say That if they should not do it their Children would be Damned because they think that maketh them Christians when few of them know what a Christian is for a Christian is one that walketh like Christ or as Christ would have him and so to be United to Christ Some will Answer and say That it was used in our Fore-Fathers dayes and therefore we will use it It was said In the time of Ignorance the Lord winked but now he hath removed the Clouds of Ignorance and made these things known and hath cleared up the understandings of a Remnant more in this Age than in some Ages past and hath manifested the emptiness barrenness unfruitfulness and unprofitableness of the Traditions of the Ignorant and is calling to Repentance and the People of this Age have as much need of Repenting of this thing of Sprinkling as any one thing for in the manner as it is now used and hath been for some time past it is very wicked and abominable in the sight of God and why may not people as well plead for their Fore-Fathers Drunkenness Swearing Lying and Whoreing as for this For note this one thing when they go to make a Christian as they suppose do but mark them in the Action when they are met together they behave themselves more like People of making Heathens than Christians for it is common for them they take occasion at such times to Feast Play Dance Revel and be drunk at the time when they practise such things And this is their manner of making Christians who make use of those opportunities of their so meeting to commit such Abominations but I would leave to the serious consideration of any sober People whether these Actions and Practices be the way to make Christians O! the horrid Abominations and Pollutions that People do commit in this and almost in all their Duties when they meet together as they say to worship God! the Lord is weary of bearing with it and his Indignation is against them that run into any thing and call it Service and Duty to God when God hath not commanded it nor required it nor his Spirit led them to do it These things are an Abomination to the Lord and Christ is come to judge the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment for people that are got into any Judgment or Righteousness as to Religion and Worship which they are not led and guided into by the Spirit of God although it were a likeness of the true Worship which the People of God in Ages past did do in obedience to the Spirit of God and where things that were accepted of God being done and acted by the holy men of God as they were moved by his holy Spirit were well-pleasing to God in their Day and Time they being but Shadows and Figures of the Substance Christ Jesus which is come and hath put an end to them outward things now is calling of People to worship in the Spirit and in the Truth for Christ said Such the Father seeketh to worship him So now though People may run into these things which were good in their Time and Day as Circumcision was in its day so were other things in their day and time as John's Baptism breaking of Bread and many other things before as the Passover the Brazen Serpent which
true I have found it so by good Experience And this is the Devils end to keep Peoples Minds upon Earthly things that they may never mind Heavenly things but to spend away their precious time in this world till there be no more time that thereby they may lose the Treasure in Heaven that is laid up in Heaven for all those that will come to God upon his Terms which Terms are for People to Repent deny themselves to take up a Cross to their own Wills to love and fear God and to worship him in Spirit and Truth and I am sure that none can do this without the Spirit if it must be as the Scripture saith in the Spirit and in the Truth and I believe the Scripture is true and that Christ spoke true when he spoke these words and all priests and Professors are in Error and Blindness that deny these things but all them that love the Appearance of the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is the chief Terms of Salvation come to know Benefit thereby the manner of his appearing is in Peoples Minds against Sin and they that love that which the Spirit of God appeareth against and judgeth in their Minds they are yet hating of God let them profess what they will it is in vain but they that love those things which the Spirit of God in themselves appeareth for these be they that love his Appearance But in all Ages they that had got on a Covering which was not of God's Spirit these were ever the work for all Religions are false except that in Spirit and Truth and all these false Colours of Religion were ever invented by the Devil and this is one way that he in all Generations did work when he could no longer keep People in open Prophaneness then he invents new wayes for them to walk in and he will plead Scripture for it too and speak much of the holy men of God's Works too That in Ages past they were commanded to do which were good in their Day and Time to them that were obedient to it which were to last till Christ the Substance came or till the time of Reformation being but Shadows and Figures of the Substance which blessed be the Lord he is come and hath put an end to these things and hath set up a Worship in Spirit and Truth But the Spirit of the Devil he is alwayes a keeping busied about outward things and Lip-service that he may keep the Heart upon some visible thing and off from the inward and spiritual Worship and this is one way that he worketh in the Mystery of Iniquity alwayes when he can keep People no longer in open Prophaneness then to turn them into outward Duties as he calls them when God required no such thing at their Hands for it is first the Heart the Lord requireth saying My Son Prov. 23.26 give me thy Heart that is to set their Hearts on the Lord and to be led by his good Spirit in them then Family-Duties and other Duties are by God accepted they being done by the Guidance of Gods good Spirit for thou mayst read in the Scriptures of Truth which we own and have more esteem of them than any other Book in the World and they speak after this manner saying The Prayers of the Wicked are Abomination to the Lord but the Prayers of the Righteous avail much But the Manner of the Spirit of the Devil is to keep People from being Righteous that their Prayers may not be accepted and keeping in outward things that they may never know the inward Work of God which is to work out Sin and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness But he is keeping of them ever hearing and ever learning that they may never be able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth for he knows while they are hear kening to the Teaching of the blind Guides they can never come to the Knowledge of the Truth for the Devil knows till People come to be led and guided by the Spirit of Truth it is impossible that they can ever come to the Knowledge of the Truth here he keeps People seeking of the Living amongst the Dead and Life where no Life is And this is the manner of the working of the Enemy And this is the greatest Cheat that the Devil hath to cheat People of their Souls to turn People into one Outside Painted Religion or another and then perswade them all is well and most of them are willing to believe him it being in the Delightsome Tract of the World only differing in some Geremonies but the Religion in Spirit and Truth Light and Grace this the Professors cannot abide because it calls into a Narrow Way and to enter in at a strait Gate For the Enemy had rather or as lieve People got into some Tract or Form of Religion as not for then he can perswade them it is well with them and perswades them that they need not seek after any thing else and all this he doth that he may keep them from the true Worship in Spirit and Truth But those that are in open Prophaneness he cannot blind after this Manner for they know whosoever is Right they are Wrong and have no Cover for what they do therefore Christ said Publicans and Harlots should enter the Kingdom of Heaven before such as Profess Service to God and serve him not acceptably for no Service is acceptable but that in Spirit and Truth We unto them that are Covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord. And many more Wayes the Devil hath to keep People from answering the Requirings of God's Spirit but no Snare like to a False Cover of Religion Many there be that he hath other Baits for that matter nothing of any Religion some he keeps all their dayes their Minds and Hearts in Covetousness some in Pride some in Drunkenness some in Cozening and Cheating and many more Baits and Snares he hath to betray People of their Happiness with the Lord some the Devil perswades they shall never give an Account to God for what they do and so live like Ranters all their dayes And he tells them There is neither God nor Devil Hell nor Heaven and many are willing to believe it But have a care of this Perswasion for thou shalt know these things to be Lyes one day to the Sorrow of thy Soul when it will be too late for thee to consider if thou dost not Repent in time Others the Devil perswadeth that God hath created some to Salvation others to Damnation which is as great an Untruth as the other and a great many are willing to believe it supposing they are of those that are ordain'd to Salvation some others there be of that mind that are perswaded that if it be so they are of that Number which are born to Damnation and upon this Perswasion many grow Careless in their Conversations and run into all manner of Evil. This Perswasion is a just Road to