Father of all Pride and Self-exaltation you bear the Image of the Serpent you speckled ones who have Painted your selves in the various Colours to make your selves seem Glorious in the Eyes of others that they may Bow to and Worship you Woe unto thou that hast set thy self in the Seat of God thou art Weighed and found Wanting thy Pride is for the Fire and thy Honour for the Dust for now isthe Lord coming to Enquire after his Wool and Flax which he gave to Cloath the Naked of all sorts with which thou hast Decked the Serpent and spent it upon thy Lusts thereby to set thy self in the Seat of the Almighty Woe Woe Woe unto thee thou that art exalted as high as Heaven yea as into God's Throne but thou shalt be cast down to Hell the Lamb is Risen to Rule the Nations Woe unto the Covetous Cruel Oppressors who Live upon Dust you Grind the Face of the Poor and Oppress them that are Fallen your Measures you have filled and you have heaped up abundance against this Day of Wrath. The Fire of the Almighty is kindled and it shall never be Quenched till it hath Devoured and Burnt up you and your Heaps and made you a Curse to the Generations that shall come after Woe unto the Evious Serpents that seek to Devour the Innocent that make a Prey upon them that depart from Iniquity you are the. Head of the Serpent that must fulfil what is spoken of you and you now shew the Enmity that God hath put between the two Seeds now thy Rage is come the Seed is come whose Heel thou art Bruising who shall Bruise thy Head thy Time is as short as thy Rage is great Rejoyce all you that Suffer it that the Scriptures may be fulfilled Woe unto you Scorners you Sons of Hagar you Sons of Bondage to the Works of the Devil Scorning Backsliding False Accusing Slandering and Evil Speaking you are brought forth by the Egyptian Woman and are in Egyptian Darkness and you cannot see that you are in the Works of the Devil and by him you are put on to Act against Christ in his Saints But now is the Son of the Free-Woman brought forth to whom the Heritage belongs and you shall be cast out among the Heathen and Ungodly and Judgment is coming upon you in which you shall not be able to Stand. Woe unto you Swearers and Lyars under whose Tongues lies the Poyson of Apses which you vent out as you are moved by your Father the Devil against the Holy and Dreadful Name of the Almighty the Land is filled with this Generation and hath long Mourned because of you Who can pass in Streets or Markets that Fear the Lord and their Hearts not be Broken to hear it Do not all places abound with Vain Oaths and Lying Idle Words Never was Nation like to this in these things so that any who will not use these Idle Words and Oaths is known in the Streets as they pass and not esteemed worthy to Live in the Nation and thus not only with all the Common sort but also with many that are in place of Authority to Punish such things and yet those are not afraid to call themselves Christians Shall not the Lord be Avenged on such a People as this Woe unto you that Live upon Deceit in your Weights and Measures by your Slighty Words arising from the Serpents Wisdom which makes a Prey on the Simple and when you have got great Estates you say God hath given you them you are set up above them who are made Poor by you now is the Lord come to search you out and you shall Restore for your Theft Four-fold Woe unto you that have had Power in your Hands to restrain these things but instead of using the Sword to scatter the Works of Iniquity have turned the Edge of it against such as the Lord hath called out of these things and sent them to call others out least they partake of the Plagues that are to come upon those who are found in them Woe Woe unto you Blind Guides who have called your selves Christ's Seeds-men and now that the Lord of the Harvest is come to look for Fruits here is no better Fruit to Reap but such as these and that among such as you call Saints and the Churches of Christ And now that the Heir is Appearing you are stirring up the Powers of the Earth how to Destroy him lest you be called to Account for your great Care to feed your own Bodies and heap up Carnal things and the little Care for the Souls of Christ's Flock Now shall you not Escape your Day is near at hand Who could have Believed that England would have brought forth no better Fruits than these now after such Deliverance as no Nation else can Witness Oh! tell it not among the Heathen least you strengthen the Hands of the Enemy and occasion the Wicked to Blaspheme the Name of the God of Hosts who is reported to be amongst us and Subdued all our Enemies and hath Delivered us thus far Awake Awake all sorts of People can you say you have not had Power in your Hands against these Abominations But now that you have not proved Faithful in your Promises to the Lord in the Day of your Fears therefore is the Lord coming to call to Account all sorts of Dissemblers and Oppressors and by his own Right Hand to get himself the Victory And now Woe unto you that have known to do Well and had it in your Power but have not done it Woe unto you that have taken Counsel at your own Wisdom and Multitudes and not at the Spirit of the Lord and have Strengthned your selves by your Riches Woe unto you Fruitless Trees you have long been Digged and Pruned but no Fruits brought forth you have long cumbred the Ground Woe unto you that are at ease in Sion Howl Woe and Misery Tremble ye Women that are at Ease Strip you make you Bare put off your Pride and put on Ashes turn your Musick into Wailing your Feasts into Fasting and Bitter Lamentation and meet the Lord if there may be Hope for your Souls in the Day of his Fierce Wrath that is coming upon the Earth While you have time improve it J. N. THE END Printed in the Year 1654. TWO EPISTLES OF JAMES NAYLOR's An Epistle to several Friends about Wakefield JAMES a Prisoner of Jesus Christ unto all that love the Appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ every where Grace and Peace be multiplied from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ My dear Hearts you whom the Lord hath manifested so much Love unto as to call you out of Sin and Death and the World all the Delights and Pleasures of the World which Fades away up to himself where is Joy unspeakable Pleasures and Riches that endure for Evermore Dear Friends Watch and be Sober that you may hear the voice of your Beloved when he calleth and let not the
to deceive that all may be warned by what I have learned in Sufferings and they that will not may be left without excuse JAMES NAYLOR Written in Bridewell about the Beginning of 1658. FINIS LONDON Printed in the Year 1659. TRUTH Cleared from Scandals Being James Naylor's Answer and Declaration Touching some things Charged upon him in the Lancashire PETITION HAVING heard of divers Untruths cast upon me by some of the Priests in their High Places though I stand only to the Lord in respect of my self yet least any that love the Truth should be led to speak Evil of the things they know not I shall lay open the Truth as it is in me Revealed touching those things Jude 10. Re. 19. 13 1 Joh. 1. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 1. 25. John 1. 14. Eph. 5. 30. 1. 21 22. Joh. 8. 12. 2 Thes 2. 8 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. whereof I have been Falsly Accused 1. Concerning Jesus Christ who is the Eternal Word of God by whom all things were made and are upholden which was before all Time but manifested in Time for the Recovery of Lost Man which Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst the Saints who is the same Yesterday and to Day and for Ever who did and doth dwell in the Saints who Suffered and Rose again and Ascended into Heaven and is set at the Right Hand of God to whom all Power is given in Heaven and in Earth who filleth all Places is the Light of the World but known to none but those who Receive and Follow him and those he leads up to God out of all the Ways Works and Worships of the World by his pure Light in them whereby he Reveals the Man of Sin and by his Power casts him out and so prepares the Bodies of the Saints a fir Temple for the pure God to dwell in with whom dwells no Unclean thing and thus he Reconciles God and Man and the Image of God 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. which in Purity and Holiness is renewed and the Image of Satan which is all Sin and Uncleanness is defaced and none Col. 3. 10. can Witness Redemption further than Christ is thus Revealed in them to set them Free from Sin Which Christ I Witness John 8. 34 36. to be Revealed in me in Measure Gal. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Col. 1. 27. 2. Concerning the Scriptures That they are a true Declaration 1 John 1. 3 5. 2 Pet. 1. 21 22. Deut. 4. 2. Rev. 22. 18. Tim. 3. 16 17. of that Word which was in them that gave or spake them forth and are of no Private Interpretation but were given forth to be Read and Fulfilled in the Saints as they were given forth by the Holy Ghost without adding or diminishing and was not given forth for Men to make a Trade upon to get Mony by but as they are they are Profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished unto every good Work But they who tread in the Letter and are Ignorant of the Mystery deny all Perfection and none can rightly 1 Cor. 2. 14 15. Joh. 3. 11. Acts 1. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 2. Col. 2. 12. Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 6. 3. Mat. 26. 26 28. John 6. 51 53 54 55 56. 1 Cor. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Col. 2. 10. Acts 4. 32. 1 Cor. 11. 27 28 29 Joh. 5. 20. understand the Scriptures but they who Read them with the same Spirit that gave them forth For the Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are Spiritually discerned 3. Concerning Baptism the true Baptism is that of the Spirit with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Baptized by one Spirit into one Body not the washing away of the Filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ without which no other Baptism can Save us they being but Figures or Shadows but this Baptism of Christ is the Substance whereby we are Baptized into his Death and those who are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ 4. Concerning the Lord's Supper the true Supper of the Lord is the Spiritual Eating and Drinking of the Flesh and Blood of Christ Spiritually which the Spiritual Man only Eateth and is thereby nourished up unto Eternal Life without which Eating there can be no Life in the Creature profess what you will and all who Eat of this Bread and Drink of this Cup have real Communion with Christ the Head and also one with another as Members and are all of one Heart and one Mind a Compleat Body in Christ Now the World who take only the Outward Signs and are not brought into a discerning of the Lords Body Eat and Drink Damnation to themselves and so become guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ and calls this a Communion but Lives in Envy Strife and Debate Fighting and going to Law one with another for Earthly things 5. Concerning the Resurrection That all shall arise to give 1 Cor. 15. 38. an Account and receive at the Last Day according to their Works done in the Flesh whether Good or Evil these Bodies that are Dust shall turn to Dust but God shall give a Body as pleaseth him that which is sown in Corruption shall be raised 1 Cor. 15. 42 43 44 46 50 51. in Incorruption it is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body and as we have born the Image of the Earthly so we shall bear the Image of the Heavenly But Flesh and Blood Rev. 20. 6. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 20. cannot Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven neither doth Corruption Inherit Incorruption for we shall all be changed But they who cannot witness the first Resurrection within themselves know nothing of the second but by hear-say And therefore say 1 Cor. 15. 47. Col. 1. 15. some of your Teachers that Christ is in Heaven with a Carnal Body now that Christ who is the first Fruits should be there with a Carnal Body and the Saints with a Spiritual Body is not proportionable 6. Concerning Magistracy That it is an Ordinance of God Ordained for the Punishment of Evil doers and an Encouragement Rom. 13. 3. to them that do Well Where Justice and Righteousness is the Head and Ruleth without Partiality that Land is kept in Peace and those who Judge for the Lord I Honour as my Jude 16. own Life not with a Flattering Honour of putting off the Hat and bowing of the Knee which is the Honour of the World having Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage for Self-ends but from my Heart for Conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. as to the Power which is of God and not to Mens Persons For the Scripture saith He that Respects Persons commits Sin and is Convinced of the Law as are Transgressors And
an Enemy to him tho' the Creature may not know it but may think it is doing God service it being got above the suffering Seed in themselves would scatter and devour it in others And this Spirit the Lord hath shewed me and its end and hath redeemed me from it by the Spirit of the Lamb and I shall never join as Head or Tail therewith but shall earnestly pray to the Father that a deep Search of Truth may seriously pass through the Hearts and Reins of all Contenders that all that are guilty herein may speedily come to Repentance left they be hardned therein and there come a time when they would give whatever is dear to them for one Hour's Society with the People of God and cannot obtain it then with lamentable Wo shall the Wrath of that be known that is now trampled on without the true Fear of God or Life of his Love And having at length received this Favour of the Lord I have taken this time in the tender Bowels of Love as one wounded therewith to warn you hereof Beseeching you all for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake that you all search low for the Bowels of him who loved you and suffered for you when you were his Enemies and put them on towards all Men but especially towards one another who have been called by one Spirit into one Truth that so the holy Spirit be no more grieved nor Satan get any more advantage whose Work is to sow Dissention even among Brethren And the Lord God of Love give us all to see that whatever our Gifts or Powers be yet if we have not the Life and Power of Love it avails not with God though Men may esteem of us never so high For only he that dwells in Love knows God and lives in him the rest knows not what Spirit they are of And this I feelingly declare from that dear Love of God in me begotten to all his People whereby I am so far from taking delight in troubling the People of God that their growth in Peace and Truth upon the Foundation laid already was never so much desired and my Love to them is daily increased beyond what I can here express yet the Lord knows it and whence it is whether it be receiv'd by Men or no yet the Seed snall feel it in God's time to which it is and in whose Peace only I have Peace and I hope in the Power of that Love God will so strengthen me that nothing of Shame Loss or Reproach shall ever be too hard to take up for the advancement thereof as God shall shew and lead me therein without whom I dare do nothing lest I deny his Work or confound it with my own And concerning you the tender Plants of my Father who have suffered through me or with me in what the Lord hath done with me in this time of great Tryal and Temptation the Almighty God of Love who hath numbred every Sigh and put every Tear in his Bottle Reward it a Thousand-fold into your Bosoms in the Day of your need when you shall come to be tryed and tempted and in the mean time fulfil your Joy with his Love which you seek after The Lord knows it was never in my Heart to cause you to mourn whose Sufferings is my greatest Sorrow that ever yet came upon me for you are innocent herein But the Envious One hath taken his advantage which the Lord will turn to his disadvantage and utter ruine in many Souls and in this believing is all my rest in my great trouble of heart concerning you or my self and in Patience I wait to see it when the Man of Sin hath had his time to be revealed For I have seen the good Hand of God all along working in it whose End is good to all that love him else had I been destroy'd e're this such hath been the Violence of the Enemy of my Soul But he hath numbred my Hairs and not left me in the Fire or Water when none else was with me thou wert my Comforter O that I may never hide thy Praise by covering my Sin or Shame God forbid By a way unexpected did the Lord open a way to declare these Words all other means of writing being taken from me Blessed be He on whom I wait further to see his Will that I may do or suffer it The Presence and Peace of the Almighty comfort his People whom I salute in the Bowels of Love James Naylor I beseech you all that can to receive it even as you would be received of the Lord and for the rest the Lord give me Patience to suffer till the Lord make up the Breach A Testimony to Christ Jesus delivered to the Parliament who Persecuted him as a Blasphemer written in the time of his Imprisonment in Bridewell CHrist Jesus the Immanuel of whose Sufferings the Scriptures declare him alone I confess before Men for whose sake I have denied whatever was dear to me in this World that I might win him and be found in him and not in my self whose Life and Virtue I find daily manifest in my mortal Body which is my Eternal Joy and Hope of Glory whom alone I seek to serve in Spirit Soul and Body Night and Day according to the measure of Grace working in me that in me he may be glorified whether by Life or Death and for his sake I suffer all things that he alone may have the Glory of my Change whose Work alone it is in me Even to that Eternal Spirit be Glory and to the Lamb for ever But to ascribe this Name Power and Virtue to James Naylor or to that which had a beginning and must return to Dust or for that to be exalted or worshipped to me is great Idolatry and with the Spirit of Christ Jesus in me it is condemned which Spirit leads to Lowliness Meekness and Long-suffering So having an opportunity given with readiness I am willing in the Fear of God the Father in Honour to Christ Jesus and to take off all Offences from every simple Heart this to declare to all the World as the Truth of Christ is in me without Guile or Deceit daily finding it to be my Work to seek Peace in Truth with all Men in that Spirit James Naylor J. N's ANSWER to the FANATICK HISTORY In Relation to himself AS for thy Charge against J. N. through the Everlasting Mercy of my God I have yet a Being amongst the Living and breathe to answer for my self though against the Intents of many Bloody Cruel Spirits who pursued my Soul unto Death as much as in them lay in that Day of my Calamity when my Adversary was above and wherein I was made as a Sign to a Backsliding Generation who then would not see nor hear what now is coming upon them but rejoiced against this piece of Dust and had little pity towards him that was fallen into their Hands wherein God was just in giving me up for my