kingdom of God against themselves and others labouring to keep all people from the light in the darkness as is made manifest in this Generation How many have set themselves to preach and print against the light which Christ the way to the Father hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withal But now hath God the Father raised up his own seed according to his promise out of the North to spoyl Babylon Jer. 51. 48. I have raised up one from the North saith the Lord and he shall come from the rising of the Sun shall he call upon my name and he shall come upon Princes as upon Morter and as the potter treadeth clay Isa. 41. 25. The promised seed of the Lord is come forth and is spreading over the Nations as the morning over the mountains and blessed are they that receive their testimony for from the wrath of the Almighty shall they be delivered their bread shall not fail them and their waters shall be sure and their fountain shall never be empty but plentious Redemption shall they daily witness and waters of life shall their thirst be satisfied with and all the noise of the Bruits shall not hurt them for the Lord is with them therefore can they not be afraid nor dismaid at that which cometh to pass upon the earth now because light is risen therefore is the evil eyes offended and have now turned their testimonies against the light to make people believe that it doth the same works that darkness sin and Satan doth which is to drive the soul from God and keep it in the Fall and that it is not able to shew the good or the evil of an action to approve nor disapprove which is true of the darkness but not of the light For there is nothing that doth make manifest those things which are reproveable but the light neither is there any thing which doth bring man from that estate where he is driven from God and lead him out of the Fall but the light and so it is time to come out from among all such for all people that desire to know Gods ways lest they be partakers of their plagues and there be none to deliver for many are hardening their hearts in this day of Gods tender love and mercy and so evil do they requite the Lord that instead of turning at his reproofs that they may find mercy they are in their wisdom devising evil words and reproachful terms against the light by which the Lord doth reprove man for his iniquity and are exercising all their abilities to make the light even as darkness and would exclude the power of God from it When as there is no man that doth receive power nor wisdom from God but in the light which Christ haâ—h enlightened him withal therefore is Christ now preached as he declared himself to be the light of the world Ioh 8. and as his messenger declared him to have enlightened every man that cometh into the world and this light is now preached and witnessed to be sufficient to lead unto God all that obey it and to let them see that their works are wrought in God Joh. 3. and is sufficient to be the condemnation of all the world that haâ—â— it according to Joh. â— 19. And for our thus bearing witness of the sufficiency of the light many are â—isen up against us even slâ—nderous tongues such as the poyson of Asps is under but the Lord hath delivered us from them and will manifest his strength unto us in bearing testimony to his light and the power of it against all the powers of darkness and overcome them For God hath given his power to his own seed the Children of light and those that rise up against them it is but that they may be broken to pieces For whosoever falleth on â—his stone they shall be broken to pieces and on whomsoever it falls it will grind them to pouder Object But some men say That the light is not sufficient to lead unto God those that obey and follow it And for a proof saith That Paul did not disobey but follow the light which was in him And yet saith That he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly which if he had disobeyed the light he had sinned against knowledge so the light in him was either not sufficient to discover to him the error of his way or at least it did suspend its act of enlightening him in the knowledge thereof it check'd him not it convinc'd him not c. Answ. To say that Paul did not disobey but follow the light within him that is false For he followed his zeal in madness and persâ—cuâ—ing the Saints and followed his thoughts which were falsâ— thinking that he did God service and thinking that he ought to do that which is contraâ—y to the light and so kick'd against the pricks instead of following thâ—t which did prick him and as for him in that condition and the rest which persecuted Steven to death though they did it ignorantly yet it was not because they were not enlightened nor because the light was not sufficient to have given them the knowledge of him whom they did persecute but because they did resist that which was sufficient to have given them the knowledge As Steven a man â—ull of the holy Ghost did bear witness saying unto Saul and the rest Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears ye do alwayes resist the holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just One of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels and have not kept it When they heard these things they were cut to the heart So here is little ground in those for any to say they follow the light within them and to say that they was not enlightened which had received the Law which is light by the disposition of Angels and did not keep it Here they disobeyed that which they had received which was the light and did alwayes resist the Holy Ghost which was able to have led them from theâ—r disobedience and stiffneckedness and if they did persecute to death for lack of knowledge and so did it ignorantly it was because they rejected knowledge and forgot the law of their God which they had received as the Priests did in Hosea 4 6. and because they did forget the Lord as those did in Jer. 18. so it was not because they were never convinc'd nor never reproved but because they would have none of his reproofs for they would not walk in his wayes neither were obedient to his law But I say Did not Israel know To Israel he saith All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people Rom. 10. 21. Therefore let no more such clamorous speeches come forth as to
the blind and with such things they may strive to keepe others out of the kingdom which have not tasted of the good word of God neither are brought to know a measure of God in themselves whereunto to be obedient but I see the Lord is opening a way for such to come out of the pits which they have been led into in opening their eyes and letting them see that their Watchmen is blind and that understanding is departed from them even from their Leaders and the counsels of God is departed even from the ancient and the people is even like to perish for want of vision because they have not seen for themselves but their Teachers have seen for them vain visions and lying divinations and prophesied lyes causing the ignorant to believe them but the Lords hand is stretched out against such and is stretched out to gather his own Seed from such to bring them into the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom and into the knowledge of the holy which is understanding Prov. 9. 10. which understanding is a Well-spring of life Another seeming strength risen up against us is the conceit of the discovery of a schism in the body as if the Band or Girdle which bound up the body were broken and as if there were now a character brought forth amongst us shewing a variety of persons doctrines and practices and as if the testimony of our being of the body of Christ from the unity in the body were ceased and as if the Heads were divided and aâ— for proof instances G. F. to I. N. I N. to G. F. I. B. to I. N. and as if it were not person but party which some wonder at admiring and waiting to see the Lords counsel and pleasure in it Ans. All those that wait to see the Lords counsel and pleasure and his wisdom in this thing shall see it and be satisfied and it will for the time to come be more for the confounding of those that watch for iniquity then any way for confirming them in iniquity and by that which God hath done and is doing shall the Girdle and Band of our love be made stronger and in this shall the sight of our enemies fail and become blindnesse for their thoughts is not as Gods thoughts in these things neither their eye as his eye for he saw a better thing for us in these things then they have imagined for that which they thought wrought for evil hath wrought together for good unto those that stand in Gods counsel who always waits to see those works which stands in his wisdom contrary to mans reason for that which they thought did break that hath bound and that which they thought did separate that hath united together so that there is not a difference nor dividing of Heads not in persons nor in parties nor in doctrines nor in practices but the same unity in the body in the faith in the seed in the covenant in one heart and one soul one way and worship of God in the spirit is now as much or more then ever before witnessed so that God hath cut off occasion from those that seek occasion and hath taken away the corner-stone that the wicked thought to build upon and hereby hath God tryed and discovered and brought to light that which lay in the bottom of the deepest pits for God hath brought in this his day many things forth to try and prove those who said they were his people and those that a few dayes since seemed to be like Lambs do now manifest themselves to be in the nature of Lyons and ravening Wolves and those that pretend to wait for the coming of Christ in power and had the Name of Seekers they are now found to reject his coming and to be such as watch for iniquity in those among whom Christ is come and now they are turned backward and now drink up that which they had vomited up for now if they could but finde any iniquity among such as God hath made known the glory of his power among or if they can but suppose or imagine any such thing from false conceptions and conclusions this would be a sufficient ground to them to print a Book upon and publish it abroad and but that the Lord hath been on our sides well may we say when all sorts of men and religions hath risen up against us by their violence had we been consumed for the powers of darknesse and all the divers worships of the Beast are now more joyned together then ever and the deepest subtilty of the Serpent is now at work in his members to devise wayes and change the Laws and times whereby the spirit might be quenched which God hath raised up in his children whereby a mighty cry is gone forth through the Nations against the mystery of iniquity where it worketh both in the root and the branches of it and now is the burden of the Beasts of the South felt as truly as in the Prophets dayes Isa. 30. 6. from whence cometh the young and old Lyon the Viper and fiery flying Serpent and now doth the mighty and terrible cry of the spirit of the Lord go forth to the men of this generation as it went forth before time to the Aegyptians concerning this which the Lord hath wrought your strength is to stand still and if this counsel of the Lord be by you received you shall know more of the wayes and workings of the Lord with his children and that all things which the Lord hath done is for the furtherance of the Gospel and that those which are approved may be made manifest what a strong ground of occasion would the envious one have thought he had if he had come among the babes in Christ who were met together at Corinth hearing Paul say that there was divisions among them and said that there must be heresies among them that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 18. 19. and this was no character that God had broken them without hands noâ— that he had made their profession of unity of no force but through this manifestation he did work schism out of the body that so there should be no Schism Rent Heresie nor any such thing in the body and this thing was not that the enemies of God might glory against the truth and if any labour to seek occasion against the holy Brethren and say they are divided into Heads because two eminent men of them withstood one another as concerning eating with the Gentiles viz. Paul and Peter to such I say he that gathered at first into unity is the Healer and Repairer of such breaches and they may professe and witnesse as much unity after this as ever before And thâ—se three which the envious one hath mentioned to be at difference in Doctrine and practice viz. G. F. J N. and J. B. the unity in the life and power of God in them and in their Doctrine and
practice shall stand for a witnesse and for a condemnation against all the accusers and now seeing that their occasion is taken away their accusations may cease and if such Propheâ—s be deceived then let them consider who hath deceived them I the Lord hath deceived that Prophet Therefore what would such a Prophet think of the Apostles words when he saith There must come a falling away first that the man of sin may be revealed Would he or could he judge this a â—haracter that the day of of Christ were at hand or that through such things the power of it should be made more manifest or that those among whom these things were wrought should be thereby the more united To believe this will bring men even to their wiâ—s end it being so contrary to their thoughts and conceivings and this may wâ—ll conâ—ound their wisdome and turn them backward and bring them to question the truth of all that which ever they have written spoken oâ— acted against thâ—se whom the Lord hath manifested his power and work among contrary to their judgement and discerning for the wayes and workings of the Lord is deep and his secrets are with those that fear him and not with those that despise his appearance and speak evil of that they know not and the Lord will yet work greater things in the earth that such may be confounded And what wil such say if the words of Daniel the Prophet be fulfilled in these dayes saying And some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge and to make them white â—ven to the time of the â—nd c. Dan. 11. â—5 Doth not God heâ—eby try men and try their spirits and try their discernings should any in such cases judge before the time the Lord make it manifest for this cause will God bring such into judgement Therefore I say unto you that your strength is to sit still and let the Lord alone and let his people alone and let him work his own work in his own way and presume not to be his counseller for who have known the mind of the Lord let such as have dwell in it and preserve knowledge so shall they alwayes abide in strength and power and Union with the Lord and one with another and men shall yet know for all that hath been that we are his Disciples because we love one another and none shall make our glorying and rejoycing in the unity of the spirit and in the love of God void but it shall abound more and more to torment the spirit of enmity which would break it or accuse us for professing of it but over that spirit we are in the Lord But what if some should rise up even from among our selves speaking perverse things and draw Disciples after them and go out from us as they did from among the Apostles that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us Ought this to be laid to our charge Or ought the way of God to be accused because of such things to be Heresie or Schisme If this seem to you an evident token of perdition and of error yet to us of Salvation and that of God And we are assured that we are of God having the witness in our selves yet not bearing witness of our selves for there is one that beareth witness of us even the Father which is in Heaven and his witness is true being unto us a seal of assurance Therefore from henceforth this is a Warning to small and great that they no further proceed in that which is both unnecessary and unseasonable For this I say unto all such that it is unnecessary and unseasonable to seek to perswade us that the truth is error or that the light which every man is enlightned withal is the spirit of every man for that is not according to the record which God hath given of his son nor which the son hath given of the light but blessed be that day and blessed for ever be that power in which a seed is brought forth unto which the Father haâ—â— given â—â—â—uâ— testimony in which they shall never be confounded which abide faithful for great is the mystery of godliness God manifest in the flesh and against this manifestation is the power of darkness risen up and all the messengers and ministers of Satan under all Forms and professions hath joyned themselves together to make their arm strong against the Son of righteousness his righteous life and righteous wayes which now he is bringing forth among his children but out of the mouth of Babes hath God ordained strength against which all the powers of darkness cannot prevail and unto which strength all our enemies must bend and bow and come for salvation For that which now the leaders of the people have set themselves against when they have finished their course and the anguish comes over their souls then will they confess That it had been well if they had loved the light and walked in it which they have so long hated and dispised with those that walk in it and all those which have exercised their strength to shut others out of the kingdom of God by their Preaching Printing and false Accusations they shall know that while they serve sin they are free from righteousness and do keep others from it But the time is coming that their mouths must be stopped and the Lord wâ—ll cause his everlasting righteousness to spread abroad as broad Rivers and streams unquenchable and nothing shall hinder it and this is the day in which the Lord will try those that dwell upon the earth as he hath tryed many and measured them by a true Line and hath found them deceitful although they have made profession of his name and of his words for a cloak for their iniquity But now the light is come into the world and there remainâ— no more cloak for their sins nor hiding place for their iniquitie The End
occasion against us by searching our Books and as he saith hath found some contradictions in them which may appeare to be so to his dark mind yet in the sight of the spirit of the Lord that is truth which he sees to be no other then error However this is sent forth for the true information of peoples minds that they may know that truth is bold and confident and that it is Armor which defendeth from all enemies and giveth strength to answer the craftinesse of men And this same Iohn Iackson hath shewed himself now to be one with the common Priests of the world for as they have done so hath he opposed the way and people of God and with the very same Arguments shewing that he is of the very same spirit with them his discourse and arguments being of the same nature as theirs are yea he hath shewed himself to be of the very same spirit with all the open prophane wretches which doth revile and scorn and abuse in every town and countrey the Lords people and as they do so so hath he written with subtil Arguments to the very same end as they reproach and scorn to wit in a derision and despising the way and servants of the Lord so that his self-separation is now seen what it is to be a very cheat and hypocrisie who while he professeth a separation from the world doth practice the very same wickednesse and is not changed from them in nature though he be in appearance But what a poor work hath he brought forth in two years time which he saith his work hath been as Embres raked up in ashes yet a work that gains no praise of God nor very little of the praise of any man It seems he hath hatched mischief upon his bed and brought it forth in the morning Who would have thought but a wise man in that time would have brought forth a larger peece and more to purpose I am sure he might have made better use of his time in another exercise then to have writ against the servants of the Lord It had been more honest for him to have set his Pen to Paper and studyed to have given his testimony against the pride and drunkennesse and oppression and whoredoms and wickednesse in this great City I say it had been more honest and liker a Saint to have sought the reforming of prophanenesse and wickednesse that greatly abounds in this City then to have studyed two years to bring forth his invented stuffe against a harmlesse and innocent people which he nor any can justly charge with evil but as he hath digged deep by his imaginations in recollecting a seeming-contradiction out of our writings which is no contradiction no more then Christs words are who saith Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no life in you and yet in the same discourse saith The flesh profits nothing and for Isaiah to go with the word of the Lord to Hezekiah to tell him he should dye and not live yet in the same instant of time told him he should live and not dye Would not Iohn Iackson have counted these contradictions But what he hath done in this in sending forth a Book against the Quakers he hath been so far from beating down sin drunkards and rude scorners and abusive men that he hath fully strengthened their hands and the wickedst people in this Nation are very glad of his work He hath given them matter to oppose truth withall but his reward and theirs shall be both with one hand and he shall drink his portion in the same Lake with such whose hands he hath strengthened and let him know and themall God hath established us upon a sure Mountain which the Gates of Hell and Death cannot prevail against So his work iâ— counted of us and cast by as our spoyled prey of Babylons treasure only this is sent abroad after it in the pursute of it which is not done with multitudes of words of mans wisdom but in the plain nakednesse of innocent truth which is more strength then all his Arguments of guile whereby he would deceive the people but he can deceive none but such as are deceived already for all that are in the light and in the truth sees beyond all that he can say and are established where his word can never reach them to take away their peace or disquiet them for as I said we are established upon a sure foundation and are tryed and proved and cannot be blown away with any windy Doctrines of men which begets into stâ—ffe and not into true sincerity of heart but wo unto that man that works offence and doth cast stumbling-blocks in the way of the simple And though the Lords people be a suffering people yet wo unto them that causeth them to suffer And though he and some others in their spirits were elevated thinking thereby to trample upon the innocent by that occasion happening concerning I. N. which was not suffered of the Lord to be as an occasion to destroy his people but as an occasion to try them and to prove them and thereby are they tryed and proved and the more setled rather then confounded and Iohn Iackson and such like may glory in such things for a moment because the appearance of it seems evil yet the Lord will make their glorying void for the Lord hath wayes enough to preserve his people and this we have found in many needful times and as concerning this thing which was looked upon as a breach among us by many yet it 's over and truth stands a top of it the beauty of truth appears through it all and truth is more lovely when it is proved and purged What if the Lord suffer his to be lead and tempted for a season let not the wicked boast of this for though the righteous fall he shall rise again but the wicked fall into mischief But yet we learn something by this what a great use the devil hath made hereof and how many Books and lying Scribbles hath been sent forth about it concerning us which are all counted by us no better then the worst corrupted treasure that ever grew in Babylon and the best of it is but baubles to please vain minds for men of sound understandings can take no pleasure therein And we see how by all means the Devil and his people seeks occasion against the wayes and people of God how glad are the wicked when they get an occasion against the Lords people and how do they glory in it and boast in it for a time thinking that their hands are strengthened in a greater boldnesse to do mischief And Iohn Iackson is one of those that takes pleasure in these things and he hath managed his businesse with a great deal of craft but there is none that will praise him for it except such whose wicked hands he strengthens such as he must have stumblings after the way of the Lord hath
he may say that it is both unnecessary and unseasonable either to conceive or bring forth any such thing against the seed which the Lord hath blessed for there was never any as yet which did strive against the Lord or his annoynted ones which did prosper neither shall to the ends of the earth So the burden of this man is searched Judged and found not to be the burthen of the word of the Lord though he thought it to be so when in him he felt the fire of enmity boyling and bubling up within him as in his Epistle But we have found it to be such a burthen as the false Prophets in Jerusalem did see for the people which was false burthens and causes of banishment Lam. 2. 14. But if the fire of the Lord had been kindled in him it would have consumed this birth in the womb before ever it had been brought forth But the hour is comeing and now is in which the Lord is fulfilling his promise according to the Scriptures which saith that he will make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in peices though all the people upon the earth be gathered together against it Zac. 12. 3. And as this was spoken so it is fulfilled and fulfilling that the testimony of God may be sealed up among his children For now is the light risen with which the Lord Christ is gathering into the new Jerusalem the City of the living God and now hath many burthened themselves with it And so burthened that they cannot tel how to unburthen themselves of it but to ease themselves of that burthen which is ready to presse them down they break forth into revileing termes and unâ—avory speeches and false assertions against the light and those that walk in it and will deny both the light and children of light to be spiritual Some calling it natural light some calling it natural conscience some created light some the light of reason and understanding some old creation light some a dim light some the spirit of man and so burthen themselves with it when they have both spoken and printed such things to ease them of their burthen their burthen grows again and so they do not cease to vex and grieve the holy spirit of God from day to day and when they have burthened themselves with the enmity against the light and the works of righteousnesse proceeding forth from it to the father then they cry the burthen of the Lord the fire of the Lord within them But saith the Lord to such I will destroy that man and his house and the burthen of the Lord shall ye mention no more for every mans word shall be his burthen for ye have perverted the words of the living God of the Lord of Hosts our God Ier. 23. 36. Therefâ—re is the measureing line gone forth to measure the false burthens whereby they pervert the words of the living God with their own words and Imaginations and unto those which ever were reproachers of the way and people of God the Lord saith I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten Ier. 13. 40. So this is written that no man should any more burthen themselves with the burthensome stone wereby they will be broken to peices if they fall upon it But that every one may come to it that with it they may see their false burthens and the sin which doth so easiely beset them and may cease grieving of the spirit of the Lord while his spirit striveth with them may come to know every man his own word which will become his burthen when it returns again unto him But the word of the Lord goeth forth returns not empty neither doth it burthen him which it goes forth from when it returns again unto him Although the true burthen of the word of the Lord be known in many before it go forth from them Therefore then seeing that it is an untimely birth and not that which is born of the sprit which is come forth from him to whom I now am to speak Now least others being in the same blindnesse with him think as he doth that it is a true voice or Hosana to the Son of David or a true testimony to the Lords Christ I shall weigh his testimony seeing that the true Voice is gone forth both in the dayes of his flesh and since in which dayes he was truly declared to be the light of the world and the true light which lightneth every one that cometh into the world Ioh. 1. 9. Ioh. 8. Now seeing that this Author hath set up another thing to be the light which hath enlightned every man then Christ viz. the spirit of man I shall try this testimony according to the Scriptures whether it be a testimony of the Lords Christ or a testimony against him in these things following which are the Heads of his Doctrine concâ—rning the Light Concerning the LIGHT what it is It is the spirit of every man which is in him and without which he cannot â—e a man and is the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20. 27. This spirit of a man is the Reason of a man or the Vnderstanding of a man What this Light doth it gives him to know his Creator and the end of his creation viz. who made him and why he was made also how he should answer the end of him that made him and that God set up this Light in man to see by both whom he is to serve and how he is to serve him together with the reason thereof Because God made him And with this Light God hath sâ—â— up a Law which Law is called Light Prov. 6. 23. whereby the will and mind of his Creator is made known unto him and he sufficiently qualified to see it understand it c. p. 7. It searcheth the inward parts of the Belly At first it moved upward and it could look God in the face and serve him But now since the fall the Thief is got into this Candle and hath dim'd the light and covered the aspiring ascendanâ— quality and now it burnâ— downward and discovers the things beneath pag. 6. That it is all eye it sees all that is done but doth nothing it neither likes nor dislikes approves nor disproves but as it is in conjunction with a Law pag. 10. That it is the property of Light to make manifest Eph. 5. 13. Pag. 29. That it is not in the power of the Light as it is in every man so much as to call any thing that is done either good or â—vil pag. 32. That the Light did drive Adam from the voice and presence of God so far is the Light from leading up to God that iâ— drives â—â—e soul from God and keeps him in the fall pag. 53. That it doth not lead into all truth such as love it and obey it pag. 54. Not doth it reveal
line of thy knowledge and understanding for thou thy self confessest that unto those first beleevers Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Daniel and the rest there was communicated unto them a Spirit of Faith and a Light sutable and proportionable whereby they were enabled to behold Christ who was the object of their Faith Then if it did arise from the Spirit of Faith within them and the light of Christ who was the Author of their faith it did not arise from the Declaration of God in the promise without so that the mystery of faith which is held in a pure conscience is yet to be learned which was witnessed amongst the Saints So when thou writes again of the Law of Works or the law of Faith or the discovery which the Lord maketh to his creature under the diversities of these administrations keep back to the measure of the gift of God and then will thy testimony be no larger than thy knowledge which is a guilt hath spread over many in these dayes But this I say Blessed is the man which doth not condemne himself in the thing which he alloweth and which doth not destroy himself with the breath of his own mouth But there is a Generation which their own breath as fire shall devour them Again concerning the Light which every man is enlightned withal which is thy stumbling block and rock of offence as it is unto all the rest whose deeds are evil Thou saieth God hath not annointed it to that work nor laid the weight of eternal Salvation upon the shoulders thereof it being too weak for that service Answ. Him hath God annointed who is the Light of the world and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world and there is no work of eternal Salvation wrought but in the light which every man is enlightened withal and this light is of him and from him which bears the sins in his own body and is not too weak for that service which the Father hath given him to do and this light is Christ and whereas some say Hath every man Christ every man hath Christ to save or to condemne him Christ is as truly the condemnation of those whose deeds are evil as he is the Saviour of them that believe and as those that believe in the light are already saved by Christ so also those that believe not in his light which he hath enlightened them withal are already condemned and so Christ is near unto every one to answer every mans work according to the nature of it whether he serve sin unto death or be found in the obedience of truth unto eternal life for now is the day appeared to try every mans work of what sort it is and now is many offended because the light is broken forth and their eye is evil because the Lords is good But wo unto the world because of offences if any have the spirit of a King let them search out the cause of the offence which is now broken forth amongst the children of men that the enmity which is in all sorts of people of all professions should rise up together and become a body the wicked joyning hand in hand preaching and printing and crying for unity which they are making up of enmity that they may be strong against that which the Lord hath now brought forth in his light and power to be witnesses unto him in every place wheresoever he doth call them witnessing forth his mercy and truth by which iniquity is purged out and preaching the Gospel freely to every creature whereby they may come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved But in the world it is so come to passe in these dayes that he that can but give reviling terms and hard speeches against the light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall calling it natural or insufficient and if they do but revile those which they call Quakers and put this in the beginning of his Book then it passeth with toleration and have as good approbation from the world as any of the Priests have for their Ministry but if any man begin to speak of the light within and the annointing within and the word of faith in the heart and of the mystery of faith in a pure conscience and of the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience and of believing in the light as Christ said such a one speaking of these things and not directing his speech in open reproach against them called Quakers the peoples hearts will be filled with jealousie lest he be one So that even the light is become a reproach unto them and their dirision daily but the Lords hand is turned against all such and he is turning the wise men backward and making their wisdom become foolishness For once there was a seeking after light in many that it might rise and open the things of God unto them and reveal the mysteries of his life whereby their souls might be satisfied and now when it is risen in many and hath brought forth its powerful effects now the man of sin hath his time and doth prevail in many to make them believe that it is not the light which is able to save the souls of them which believe in it and doth beget a spirit of jealousie in them which is stronger than death and begetteth a fear in them which worketh torment and many now doth fear and are jealous that that light is not the Christ which hath enlightened them and every one which cometh into the world and this is the work of Satan in the hearts of the disobedient which as every one comes to obey his light and to answer his perfect love to them which is manifest in the light that fear will be cast out and life will be given to that witness of God which once did breath after his life without which the soul cannot rest nor be satisfied and this shall many come to witness as the man of sin comes to be revealed which letteth and will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall they see at what they have stumbled and by what they have been overcome and then they will know that it had been good for them if they had walked iâ— the light of the Lord insteed of setting themselves against it and as the light it self by such before mentioned is denyed so the testimony which the children of light give of it is also despised and contended against as if it were not to be owned for a Doctrine of truth which doctrine of truth hath been laid often before people and is yet once more that they may consider prove and try and so believe and so be able to give a testimony from the witness of God in themselves First We say that Christ is the light of the world according to his own words Ioh. 8. 12. And again we say That he hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world
or before they be counted worthy to cry Hosanna to the son of David or to bear a testimony to the Lords Christ For he will have none such to be his witnesses as deny his light which he hath enlightened every man withal For the true witnesses bear this testimony of Christ That he is the true light and is the light of the world which hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world that every man through him might belâ—eve and every one in whom this witnesse is found true is justified of God Another Accusation is against Richard Farnsworth for saying That Christ did break the Passeover with his Disciples and herein he is Charged to want Light or that the light in him was not sufficient in him to open this and that he did not discern between the Passeover and the Supper of the Lord And likewise is Accused for calling that a Shadow which the Scripture saith was but to shew the Lords death till he came Answ. To call the Supper the Passeover doth not demonstrate that he wants light neither that the light is insufficient for the Disciples called it the Passeover which they prepared for him and Christ called it the Passeover which he eat with his Disciples Mark 14. 12. 14. Matth. 26. 20 21 22. and that which they eat he broke but it doth not say That he broke his bones nor eat his bones yet he eat the Passeover with his Disciples And whereas he is accused for calling that a shadow and many now in imitation take bread and wine and call that the Lords Supper opposing those that are come to the substance and witness the substance eating that which is meat indeed and drinking that which is drink indeed But this man which doth oppose Richard Farnsworth and others in these things he haâ—h the least reason to mention this Supper or the breaking of Bread of any for others do call their breaking of bread and drinking of wine the Lords Supper because they practise it But this man doth neither practise that as the Lords Supper nor witness the substance so that this is the greatest hypocrisie To contend about that or to accuse others in denying of that which he himself denyes the practise of So that this accusers doctrine and accusations wants both light and reason Another Accusation is against these two Writers Richard Farnsworth and Francis Howgill as if they should be in an unreconciled Difference because the one hath affirmed That the light of Christ is sufficient to open all the Scriptures And the other saith Thou that tells of opening Chapters or Verses by meanings thou never heard a word of Christ Answ. These are not Differences for the light of Christ and mans meanings are contrary So for the one to say the light doth open and the other to say mans meanings doth not open this is not contrary So the confusion is turned again to the Accuser and doth not belong to these two Writers So the ignorance of this Accuser is to be taken notice of which would make people believe things that is not For if he write his Book for those that can neither read see nor hear his labour is in vain and if he write it to those that can read see hear and understand they will account it foolishness especially in this day when the light of life is broken forth among the children of men to give them an understanding according to truth for in this day he that keepeth silence is reputed wise and better is he that keepeth silence than he that speaks unless the spirit of the Lord give him utterance Another Accusation is against W. D. he speaking so such a one as is guided by the Lamb c. saying The light in thy Conscience the righteous law cryes through thy earthly heart and brings it into judgement c. And then speaking of the parable of the little leaven hid in three measures of meâ—l that it changeth the whole lump into the nature of it self so the little light that shines in thy dark heart is the powerful Word of Faith and that the light is the sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts And for these things he is Accused Answ. Those that are guided by the Lamb do witness that the â—ight the righteous law cryes through the earthly heart and brings it into judgement and will not accuse one for saying so and as for speaking of the little light as Christ spoke of the little leaven Was it no offence in the dayes of the son of man to preach that the kingdom of heaven was like unto a grain of mustard seed or like unto a little leaven And is it an offence now â—o preach the word of Faith to be as a little light or to preach the annointing to be as a little light in those in whom the light is little doth this also offend you What then if we should say That Christ is the light of life the son of righteousness and the glory and express figure of the Fathers substance in some and but as a little light oâ— day-star in others or in others as a light before the day-star arise in their hearts Is not the light great in some and little in others And is not Christ the same May that only be called Christ which takes away the sins And may not that also be called Christ which pierceth through the soul and revealeth the thoughts of many hearts Luke 2. 35. May he only be called Christ unto whom the Father hath given the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession who reigneth and hath all his enemies under his feet and is not he the same as he is descended into the lower parts of the earth and which took upon him the form of a servant So therefore that none may err in their judgments concerning the testimony which is given of Christ and of his light his light is more or less according to his manifestation in every one there being given to every one a manifestation of the spirit to profit withal and every one is to be turned to the measure of their manifestation to know and witness Christ in it though in many it be but as a little light yet they are to be turned unto it while it is so which as it doth encrease and is enlarged it may be called or declared under another name than little as the kingdom of Heaven is not alwayes like unto a grain of mustard-seed nor as a little leaven but comes to rule in the children of men And whereas the Accuser replieth against the light and against Christ to be the word of Faith saying Christ is called the Word of God Rev. 19. 13. but not the Word of Faith and yet saith in page 45. That Christ is the Author and finisher of Faith Answ. If Christ be the Word of God and faith
come by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God then how is it that he is not the word of Faith being that word by which Faith comes when it is heard and he being the Author of it May he not then as well be called the Word of it as the Author of it seeing he is the Word by which it comes but that all may understand what this word of faith was which the Apostle preached This was Christ Rom. 10. and they preached no other Word to be the Word of faith but Christ That whosoever believed on him should not be ashamed So that if the ignorance of Christ and of the Apostles words were blotted out of the hearts of our Accusers they would be silent and the daylie reproach would cease And whereas it is affirmed by us That the Light or a measure of Christ within is a sure Word of Prophesie or a more sure Word of Prophesie as Peter saith 2 Peâ—. 1. 19. And whereas many are offended at this and labours to make people believe that this is the Writings of the Prophets which is the more sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of because he saith Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by she Holy Ghost c. Ans. Now I shall make it appear that it was not the Writings of the Prophets which was that more sure Word as first concerning that here is one thing held out to be a sure Word and another thing held out to be more sure as unto those to whom it was spoken And as concerning the first That which is held out to be a sure Word is that which â—ame from the Father the voice which camâ— from the excellent Glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am wâ—ll pleased and this voice which came from Heaven the Disciples heard when they were with him in the holy Mount This was a sure Word when it was spoken and when it was written it was a sure Testimony as sure as any of the Prophets Writings for the Prophets did see that he was to come and that he that was to come was the well-bâ—loved Son of the Father and they wrote this down and it was a sure testimony of Christ and Peter and the rest saw that he was come and did hear the voice from the excellent Glory proclaiming him to be the Son of God and when they had seen it they wrote it down and this was as sure a testimony yea a surer then the Prophets and that which the Apostles were eye-witnesses of and did write down for truth was as much â—â— be taken heed unto as that which the Prophets declared and this will all men of understanding judge that the Apostle Peter did not direct the people to the Prophets words to take heed to them because they were more sure thâ—n his own and more to be believed But although the Apostles words and writings was confirmed with more power and witnesse of the Spirit then the Prophets and both true yet the Apostles Ministry unto those which did not see those things which the Prophets saw muchlesse those things the Apostles saw no not so far as the dawning of the day nor to the day-star risen in their hearts therefore Peter dividing the word of God aright saith unto them We have a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arisâ— in your hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. It was more sure for them to â—ake heed unto that which was as a light shining in a dark place till the day-star did arise and the day dawn in their hearts then the declarations from others without them declaâ—rd in words writings as thus for example by experience to such I shall direct my speech who cannoâ— witnesse the day dawned nor the day-star risen in their hearts nor hath heard the voice from the excellent Glory to such I say That which I have seen and heard the visions power and glory wherein I am an eye witnesse of his glory and of his appearance this I may declare and write unto you and you may believe it But to such I say It is more sure for them to take heed to the light that shines in the dark place till they come to witnesse in â—hemselves the day dawned and day-star risen and the Son of God made manifest in them then to take heed to the words which I have declared though it be a true testimony for the Apostle did not write to himself nor say that it was more sure unto him buâ— unto them unto whom he wrote his Epistle for unto him no Word of Prophesie was more sure then that which he had seen and heard when he was with Christ in the holy Mount So this may inform your understandings who have more desirâ— to know the truth then to oppose it and may put to silence the vain disputings by men of corrupt minds who are destitute of the truth alwayes corrupting the words of truth to oppose the life of it as many such there are in these dayes which the Lord hath and will rebuke sharply that they may be ashamâ—d but all who are led and guided by the light of Christ shall know the annointing in them and the word of faith yea the Son of God He that can receive it without offencâ— let him 5. Obj. But he that hath opposed us saith in pag. 25. of his Book in the second part That the dawning of the day is rather an evening then a morning Ans. Now let all which have but known a day and a night in the Creation judge whether the evening or the morning be the dawnings of the day or whether the day-star be a fore-runner of the day or of the night then it will not be incredible which I have said before that he calls darknesse light and light darknesse but in such things our opposers will not receive a good report from those which can give true judgement and to such it is left to judge of those things Obj. Again he saith in pag. 35. That the spirit of truth was not a Comforter to the Apostles nor a reprover to the world before Christ was ascended and yet himself to contradict himself saith that he was in them before and dwelt in them the same spirit but not the same measure Ans. Here is Babylon at the height fit to be pul'd down but needs little answering seeing that iâ— answereth it self and for such reasons as these he might well conceal his name And if he could have put this off by hiding his Name for an Hosanna to the Son of David or A Testimony to the Lords Christ then he might well have boasted and have gloryed in his shame as if there had been