taken on by tradition from men for in vaine do all worship whose feare and service towards God is taught by the precepts of men for all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord And they are the Sons of God who are led by the Spirit of God and such harken to the Lord and know his voyce and what they see and heare that they doe and doe not offer the sacrifice of fools But do not you ofter the sacrifice of fooles who have been worshiping all your time and yet have his worship to learne and are but still asking If this be the right worship and have it yet to dispute if not confident in a false way which is much worse and such are you who are fighting and contending for such a manner of worship as Christ never ordained nor his own ever practised as you may see if you compare your nationall worship with the Saints practice which is changed in every particular and that by men and councels under pretence of decency or conformity or somthing that stands in mens will which God never commanded But you may long worship here and call it Gods worship ere he own it by answering you yet was Nebuchad nezzer never more zealous for his Image then you are for this if you had but his power yea them who have found the everlasting way of Christ and an answer from God in it such would you force to bow to your imaginations where you know not God nor his presence with you therein nor can you euer find God in that way which is not his own nor is that his own which generations of men and councels have altered and added to and changed from time to time as may most sute their customes and Countryes so that each Nation hath its different manner of worship but all out of the counsel of God agreed on by Councels of men And all you who are gone out in any thing from Christ the true paterne and example you are gone into the imaginations of men and so are become servants of men and not of God herein For God is pure and so is his way and worship and without his command cannot be changed in the least jot but by him is denyed and is become will-worship and not Gods worship For it is not the name that makes it Gods worship for all pretend to worship God but it is the nature of it which must be in Spirit and will of God contrary to the will of all men and their wisdome wherein men in all ages have performed the idolatrous worship and set up likenesses instead of true worship though being heart-blind did not know it but ever looked upon all to be out of the way but themselves And this is your work who at this day set up an imitation from the letter of what other men have done but have not received your command and power in Spirit from the Lord and to you it will be said Who hath required these things at your hands for all the Saints have their commands in Spirit but yours is in letter and so of another Ministration for the litterall Ministration is don away in the spirituall and all that knows the command in Spirit knows it is life eternall and gives life to fulfill the command and so the worship is spiritual and the heart and the mind and soul is united in it and so being in one there is no idolatry nor likenesses but in one is the command and power life and will and way and worship but all you who have taken on the Saints practice to performe the like but not called commanded and furnished in Spirit you want power and life and so even in the time of your worship your hearts are going out after carnall things and there is the spirituall idolatry for what ever your minds are in that is your God you worship and the pure God ownes no such for its truth in the inward parts he seeks for wherein none of you can worship who knowes not the living word in your hearts to keepe them up to God in your worship and that worship which is not in the will of God is the worshipping of Devills Concerning Error Heresie c. IT is not Error to forsake the opinions of any man whatsoever nor to with draw from the Church of Rome as they call it nor from any who have reformed some things since the time of popery but yet are not come to the true foundation of the Apostles though they call themselves Nationall Churches or Gathered Churches whatsoever But the Error is to erre from the Spirit of God and its teachings and that Church which by its teaching alone is gathered into God out of all the wayes worships sects and opinions of the world Convocations and Councels that are not in God And the Church so gathered into God is the pillar and ground of truth where the Spirit alone is teacher and all that are gone out from this church and Teaching are in the Error where all the Sects and Opinions and false wayes and worships are and their teachers who have erred from the Spirit of Christ and the Saints teacher and theâ—r practice and are gone after their pride covetuouâ—ness and filthy lucre here lyes the Worlds Teachers thoâ—gh they do not know from whence thâ—y are Erred because they never yet came in the right way nay who never yet came so far as Balaam who had the word of the Lord from his ownmouth knew it yet hâ—s heart erred after gifts and honour So these preâ—ch against Balaam but cannot see themselves in the same Error ever since they were promoted to honour and gifts and Maisterships and great Livings by the pope who received his power from the Beast and gave of it to all his Adherents to cause all that dwell on the earth to worship them but such whose names are written in the book of life who have suffered to this day and do suffer because they cannot bow to that power nor worship it nor according to its likness and under pretence of Herefie and Eerror do these alwayes suffer by such who are Erred and with the Spirit of Error do Judge which Spirit hath shed all the innocent blood since Abel to this day though the Error was ever in the persecuter So that there is no Error but who goes from the spirit of Christ and his teachings and all who are gone from that are into Error what ever they pretend And that which leads from that Spirit is the mother of Confusion and vain Janglings and Contention disputeing about the things of God but are gone out into the world where all the deceived ones are AntiChrists and seducing Spirits which deceives the nations with inchantments and witcheries which none can see till to the light of Christ and his Spirit they return which only leads out of all Errors as it is beleived and followed For no Spirit can lead out of Errors but
him who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire whose Flesh is the Life of Men and his Light is as a Law that goeth forth whereby man is led to his food and the sons of men sees out of darknesse and this is he who cannot be limitted nor his person restrained in one place who filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence and appeareth at his pleasure to his own though the wise of the world knows him not and therefore limit him above the stars who dwelleth in the bodies of his Saints but as for the Reprobates they know him not so who have put the good day farre from them and hate reproof that they may spend their days in folly and feed themselves with the wind and fill their hearts with carnal delights When the hearts of the Children of Light are established with grace yet these will be disputing about the body of Christ but the body of sinne rules in them whereby they are darkened and become Heart-blind past Ephe. 4. 18 19. feeling the measure of God whose hearts are over-charged with surfeiting and cares of the world and their minds corrupted with Earthly things To such I say Cease your imaginations as to find out what Christ is in that state for he alone reveals himself in Spirit to such as wait in the Light and love that which is pure to such his appearance is as the Sun whose Rising is not by the Will of Man but for his appearing all the World must wait to be refreshed with the Beams of his Glory and to all who are yet in the night shall he appear if you look towards the place of his Rising which is not Lo here Lo there but within you in your Luke 17. 21. hearts and all who are come to the sure Word of Prophesie as to a Light that shines in a dark place to which you do well to take heed til the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts you shall see the Sun arise where the day-starr appeares in your hearts if in the light you wait that shines in the darknesse and you shall feel the vertue and life of him and receive thereof to live in the same with him and you shall see him as he is and know him to be the Sun of Righteousnesse whose arising is with healing in his wings and whose breaking forth is upon all his enemies which over the seed hath raigned whose spirituall weapons are mighty through God to the palling down strongs holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself and having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled And thus the Saints know the Son with his Light his power and dominion over all things in Heaven and in Earth who rules in righteousnesse in the hearts of his people trampling down Satan under their feet which Son of God Hypocrites call Lord Lord but the Devill they serves and obey and though such have got the words of Lord and Christ and Jesus yet they know not his light his power his kingdom and dominion over sin and the Devill in them to set them free therefrom by his Light and life Nor his blood to wash them from their pollutions and to present them without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And so you have made the name of Christ a reproach among the Nations who call him a redeemer but lives in your sins So as such as professe not the syllables of Christ and Jesus even from a principle of God within them many of them become your Judges as to moderation faithfullnesse and honesty Nay it is manifest amongst you that the name of Jesus which gives the Saints victory over sin you know not Who have it in words and therewith make a cover for your sin your pride Lust and excesse What covetousnesse and all manner of unrighteousnesse is covered over which a profession of the Name of Christ which redeems from those things all that knows him For none knowes Jesus further then they know a Saviour from sin And not a cover for sin and live in it for the promise of the Father is He shall save his people from their sins And the Children of the promise knowes this to be so without a cover or meaning to live in sin And none knowes Christ but who knowes the anointing and such need no man to teach them but as the Anointing teacheth them all things that is true if they abide therein and there is noe lye in it But who sayes they know Christ and are redeemed and commits sin not keeping his commands is a lyer And so abides not in the truth and anointing And so is of the Devil and not of Christ for he that abides in Christ sins not For the Name of Jesus Christ is power over all sin as it is known and the creature baptized into it by faith So all that know Christ know the seed the promise the word of Life the covenant the Heritage the righteousnesse the Kingdom the power the glory which is not of this world and the Father of all which you that commits sin have not seen Neither can any say that Jesus is Lord but by the Spirit so you whose knowledge is without Another Lord ruleth within Concerning the Ministry of Christ THe Ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the World and contrary to the world contrary to their own wills and the wills of all flesh for such have the Word who are begotten of the word and such are begotten contrary to the will of man and through such came the Scriptures which came not by the will of man but by the Spirit and so are of no private interpretation nor are his ministers of any private Call but of himself who hath all creatures in his hand to chuse whom he will to go on his message nor would he ever send by whom the Kings of the earth did chuse nor the powers thereof but such as they called and set up without his Immediate call was ever the great enemies to such as he sent and this is evident in all the Scriptures and in all histories since that when ever the mystery of iniquity had spread over and darknesse had passed over his seed and his people had broken his covenant and lost his word then he in love to his people sent out some Immediately who had his word in them to bear witnesse to the Lord against all their blackslidings and self wayes and formall worships and to such the worlds ministers or rather masters was ever enemies and sought to stirr up the powers of men against them to devour them alwayes under the name of Blasphemers and hereticks destroyers of worship and peace-breakers and enemies to authority when they are but sent of God to testifie against their false worships and to break the peace of the
he should find some in sinne and save them and others in sinne and condemn them But who knows Christ and hopes in him hopes in righteousnesse and therein to stand in the day of Judgment and therein to live in this evil world above it and all the unrighteousnesse of it And the end of the lively hope is no lesse then Gods righteousnesse to attain and live in as it is received and onely 1 Pet. 3. 14 15. such can give a Reason of the Hope that is in them Who sanctifie the Lord God in their hearts and have a good conscience and suffer for well-doing 1 Thes 5. 8. 16. which unreasonable men who live in the unreasonable nature cannot do whose Hope is not an Helmet of Salvation against Sinne yet would have it for Salvation against Hell And this is the unreasonable Hope in unreasonable men for which they can give no reason but in their own Wills and Imaginations for is there any reason why you should hope to be saved by Christ who will be the Devils servants to yield your members servants to and delight in his wickednesse while you live and yet be saved by Christs righteousnesse when you die This is a Hope that serves you to talk on to feed your selves in your vanities but will be in the end like the giving up of the Ghost But who is begotten into the lively Hope are begotten into an Inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled whereunto they are kept by the power in Hope through Faith unto Salvation from sinne the thing that he that 's begotten of God longs and hopes for which Hope shall not faile Concerning Love THe love of God is but one and in One nor can any receive it but who receives that one the Son of God and this cannot stand with Self or any changable thing for God is that love and none can dwell in it but as he dwels in God so it 's pure and perfect As the Creature comes to live in God as he is into his Image and likenesse so with the pure Light his love is seen and shed abroad in the heart whereby the power of Faith worketh to the overcoming all that is contrary to God so the love of God abounds and who dwels in it worketh none ill but the Work of Love fulfills the Law of God which is upon all that 's gone out from him into the world self-ends which hath received-in the love of carnal things and so are gone into the enmity against God setting the Affection on changable things for whosoever will be a friend to the worlds is the enemy of God for the Worlds love arises from the Spirit of the World but the love of God is a fruit of Gods Spirit and none hath the love of God but who hath that Spirit from which it springs which is Eternal Unchangeable and above all Carnal things nor can Time or Carnal things quench it for it endures for ever and herein it differs from all the worlds love nor can any one have this love but in the Fountain of love even the manifestation of Gods love shed in the heart wherewith he first loved the Creature and this being known and seen in the Light from thence is the Spring of Love which runs out to the whole Creation of God and for the same end for as the love is one so the End is but one Now God so loved the World that he gave his Son into the World a Light to condemn sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of God might be fulfilled in the Creature in walking after the Spirit and denying the Works of the flesh and this is the love of God to sinners to condemn sinne and take it away in the Light and life of Christ and to all that love with this love this is the end of it But with this love is all your love condemned whose love stands in Fashions and Customes Feastings and Ryotings Sports and vain Pleasures or any thing in the flesh that 's in the Fall and in flattering one another in your evil wayes or in respect of persons or any other thing that hath an end for the love of God is without end in love to the Soul and Body as God hath made it but in hatred to all that is come in since which hath defiled it So that this love of God consists of Reproofs Judgment and Condemnation against all that defiles the Creation and against the Creature who yields to that pollution and this is pure love to the Soul that deals faithfully therewith in declaring its condition and that was the Mat. 23. great love Christ shewed the Jews when he told them they were Hypocrites blind guids Lyars and said Wo unto you ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell And many such plain true Act. 13. 10 words he spoke in love to them And that was the love of God in Paul which said to Elimas O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou Child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to pervent the right wayes of the Lord For all the love that can be shewed to any Creature is to deal faithfully and truly with them as they are seen in the Light and he who doth not so loves neither God nor them as will be found in the day of Judgment and so are out of Gods love and have imagined a love which is of another nature and with this love such as are out of the love of God flatter one another in your evil wayes and changable opinions which love is grounded in carnal things and stands in your own Wills And therewith when you will you love and when you will you hate but neither knows love nor hatred as it is in God Eccles 1. 9 6. whose love and hatred stands in changeable things so your love and hatred perisheth which stands not in God But who knows the love of God tramples upon all your love and hatred and sees an end thereof And such sees your blindnesse who say you would have all wone by love but know not whereof you affirm whose wayes is not Gods ways nor your Isa 2. 27. thoughts his For saith he I will redeem Zion with Judgment and with Isa 4. 4. the Spirit of Judgment and burning will I wash away the filth thereof But You who are in your filth would have all flattered therein So that love is seen to be filthy which spares filthinesse which defiles the Temple of God but that is pure which purges away the filth and condemns the Unclean and all that loves it For the love of the Devil may be wone with serving of him and flattering him in his wayes in them in whom he is But what is it worth So may one have the love of all the World and their friendship but woe unto that friendship which is got by sparing Gods enemies that is enmity against God
Therefore faith Jam. 4. 4. God let love be without dissimulation abhor that which is evill cleave to Rom. 12. 9. that which is good and that love is it which covers sinne which condemns sin unto death and covers it with righteousnesse Otherwise saith the Scriptures he that covereth sinne shal not prosper And saith James Prov. 28. 13. Jam. 5. 20. He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a Prov. 29. 5. soul and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And saith Solomon Open rebuke is better thâ—â—â—â—â—â—t love such wounds are precious to them that know what love is but he that spares mens wickednesse hates Gods righteousnesse And so with the Light is seen Gods love and the Devils love and each loves his own works and so do their Children in whom they raign For who ever loves the one hates the other and he that serves the one hates the other and so the Servant pleads for his Master whom he loves Concerning Judgment TRue Judgment as it is known to men is a gift from the Spirit of God set in the heart of every one who dwells in the Light of Christ which Judgmennt passeth upon all that 's in the Creature contrary to the life of God and so as it is received springs up with Light and Salvation to the redeeming of the heart from all uncleannesse condemning all which is contrary to purity that God may be seen in his dwelling place with his righteousnesse and so he is said to redeem Zion with Judgment and her Isa 1. 27 Converts with Righteousnesse and to purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of burning And if there be a dwelling in the Light this Judgment ceases not till the Isa 4. 4. Throne of Christ be established in the heart in peace for this is his Judgment and is upon all that stands up against his Kingdom and this Isa 9. 7. is the cause why the enemies of righteousnesse love it not but have turned it into gall and wormwood which the righteous delights in and loves who are redeemed and saved therewith and knows it to be the the Promise first to be received For saith the Lord I will make Judgment Isa 51. 4 to rest for a light of the people which being received his righteousnesse is neer to be revealed Therefore his Judgment must passe before upon all that 's Unrighteous and none can have his righteousnesse but who receives his Judgment Hos 6. 5. Therefore saith the Lord I have hewed them by the Prophets I have slain them by the words of my mouth and my Judgments are as a Light that Dan. 7. 2 goeth forth And for this end is Judgment given to the Saints of the most High And saith the Lord righteous men shall judge them after the manner of Adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed blood because they are Adulteresses and blood is in their hands thus will I cause loudness to cease out of the Laud. Therefore is Ezekiel so often commanded to judge them and cause them to know their abominations And Jeremy was full of the fury of the Lord and he was weary with hold 〈◊〉 in And Micah was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sinne And so in all Ier. 6. 11. Ages he placed his Judgments in his servants who were to judge the Heathen and such as knew not God therewith and so many as did believe Mic. 3. 8. it and receive it did repent and found mercy and the rest were hardened And this judgment is eternal and shall stand in Heaven as it is passed upon earth And this was committed to the Apostles as a Doctrine and Heb. 6. 2. whom they bound were bound and who by it they loosed were loosed therefore did all the Saints love judgment for it is the ministration of Christ ministred out upon all that 's against Christ and that which is against Christ is against the Soul so this judgment must begin at the 1 Pet. 4. 17 house of God but where the Devil keeps the house he rejects it and saith Solomon the ungodly scorneth Judgment and evill men understand it not So saith he there i that 's destroyed for want of Judgment and Prov. 19. 28. he that hath not Judgment is blind and sees not that his Enemy raigns which must raign till Judgment be brought into victory and set in the Prov. 28. earth but when Judgment is laid to the Line and Righteousnesse to the Prov. 13. 25. Plummet then the Covenant with Hell and Death must be disanulled so all that are in this Covenant loves not that which breaks it Isa 28. 17 18. And this is your Case who hates reproof who when you are told of your evil hearts where sinne lives and your cursed crooked natures you say Who made thee a Judge And many say You could like what we say but that we judge people so you are they that hate Judgment and would not have the Ministry of Christ to go on for who hath the Spirit of Christ hath the Spirit of Judgment and who serves that Spirit must sâ—ffer it to speak and judge in them and all that oppose it shall be condemned by it Therefore saith David the tongue of the Righteous talketh judgment the Law of God is in his heart his steps shall not slide but the wicked Psal 137. 30 31 32. seekech to slay him So for uttering the Judgments of God against the Wicked have the just ever suffered and for the same do you now hate them and condemn them and you are in the same nature and covenant that your Fore-fathers was in who shed the innocent bloud and you would have joyned with them had you lived with them what ever your deceipt may say to the contrary And you are found in the same Opposition to the utmost power you have against the Spirit of Judgment now as they was then and the cause is the same now as it was then both they and you living in that which is for Judgment Fire and Condemnation therefore you cannot receive their Testimony who have that evil judged and condemned which you love and live in and for this cause Cain slew his Brother and so do all his generation and with that which you hate shall you be condemned and shall not be able to stand in judgment which is the Saints delight in which they are united to God as he hath said I â—os 2. 19. will betroth ye unto me for ever in righteousness and in judgment which righteousnes and Judgment must condemn the wicked So who hath Christ hath him in Judgment and righteousness and loves him his Judgment and righteousness but who is married unto the world cannot love that which is his Condemnation for so doing Concerning
they come to receive in their hearts onely such come into the good work and will of God For without the Word was nothing made nor without it can any be redeemed For it is the Word of the Lord heard and received that quickens the Dead and raises to Life that which is dead in the trespasses and sins and the Spiritual man being quickned the power of the Word brings forth in him the work of Gods righteousnesse which was from everlasting which in the measure thereof confirms the Creature unto God in righteousnesse who lost the Image in unrighteousnesse and so is the Creature renewed in the Spirit of the mind and inward parts to receive wisdom and power in the hidden man how to escape the evil and resist it and to bring to light what God begets in the heart and so the new Creature is seen created in Christ Jesus unto good works to walk therein as was fore-ordained And as the Believer is found diligent in the light waiting and in the Spirit obedient to this work in this work he comes still more to learn Gods Power and Teaching and Christs obedience and Gods wisdome and care over him in leading into the sufferings and tribulations tryals and temptations and the Faith and Fellowship with Christ therein in which if the creature stand not a hair can fall but he is sure to come out more pure then gold and so in all this work he grows in the knowledge of Christ and his Sonship toward the measure and stature and fulnesse of the perfect man into the likenesse of God And thus the Saints were made conformable to God by his mighty working whereby he wrought powerfully in them after his good pleasure contrary to their fleshly pleasures And what is thus wrought is good because it comes from the Fountain of all good and this is not a new work but the everlasting good work of God manifest to the Creature and through the Creature to the World by which God is glorified who is the Father and Author and Finisher thereof in every one that believes And this is no self-work nor can it be wrought in any but where self is denyed and a Crosse to self taken up so boasting is excluded the Creature having nothing but what he hath received neither by his own Will nor Deed but by believing in the Light and in obedience of Faith And with this Faith and Work are all the world judged who are in their own works and all that are without works whose Faith is dead and to every good work reprobate And whose works are their own their prayers are abomination where the Works come not from this one everlasting Work and Workings For though there be many Works as to the Creatures obedience and measures yet they all compleat but this one work of the Creatures Redemption and Gods praise therein the beginning and end of all And of this work of God is all the world ignorant who are preaching pressing and acting their good works as they call them but all their works do not manifest a Power that brings them out of sinne and the worlds Conformity and service thereof in his ways and worship but every good work of God in his Saints who become obedient to his working as they subject to bring forth the good work and will of God every work begets the Creature nearer to God and into his likenesse and nature and this is the reward of good works to every one who are exercised therein that thereby they are wrought out of the worlds likenesse and conformity and so out of their friendship till all manner of evil they suffer for the name of God that is in them and the nature of his works which is abomination to the Worlds works and the world to them And so their name being cast out as evil among men they are received into the love of the Father of the Work for which they are hated of the world and so the reproach of the world becomes great riches to all who love God and are obedient to his work which none who stands in their own wills can inherit And so self-works and Gods works are manifest in the light The one is that which men see or hear or imagine and so set themselves to imitate the same in their own Wills and Ways which they have conceived in their fallen wisdome and earthly minds not in Spirit new born but in the old letter or tradition from men But Gods works are those which are from everlasting before the Will of Man or the Worlds Customs and therefore must conform to neither but every one who into this Work will come must deny the world and their own Wills and all that is in them must bow and conform to the motion of the Spirit and to its Workings which is seen to such as in the Light dwels and in its way and time must bring forth the fruits of the Spirit in due season not the works of the flesh nor to the flesh but the working of the Spirit to God in the sight of God and the praise of such is not of the world who bring not forth to the World but of God who bring forth to God and the World praises it own Concerning Election and Reprobation THis is that which is Sealed from all the world nor can any know it nor receive it who is in the reprobate state though many be disputing about it in the dark which none know but the children of light So as one who have obtained favour to have this mystery revealed I shall according to permission write a few words as is received in Jesus yet can be received by no mans wisdom nor any who are born after the flesh but who knows what it is to walk in the Spirit shall witness me herein And I deny all of that Spirit who would foolishly Charge God to have concluded the condemnation of some persons before they come into the world and though they seek after God yet they cannot be sayed because God hath purposed the contrary And on the contrary some are concluded to salvation though they live and dye in their sins And this is the Spirit of the world which knowes not the secrets of God revealed in Spirit and therefore judges from the letter from the figures and shadows but knows not the uprightness that lyes in the mystery but being without so he imagins But none knows the purpose of God but who comes to the beginning for in the beginning was the Election and reprobation established by an eternal decree unalterable in the two seeds that after the flesh and that after the Spirit and he that can Judge of these two he knows the two vessels ordained to honour and dishonour and as every one is found in these so is Gods purpose touching them Now in the fall all are in the dishonour and so children of wrath under the curse and â—heirs thereof and so without God or the promise
is plain 1 Cor. 10 therefore they were to keep their Consciences pure from things offered to Idols for they could not partake of the Table of the Lord and eat that which was sacrificed to Devils though in some Cases they might go to a Feast among Unbelievers yet whether they eat or drank they were to do it to the Lord as at his Table and not as at the Table of Gentiles whose feasting is in the Lust and so their meat they sacrifice to Devils and eat not to God and so do all who eat to the lust To keep from which there is no other thing can but to eat in remembrance of Christs death till he come who when he is come he takes the ordering and government of the Creature himself upon his shoulders and so ever keeps them out of the lust in all they do and so is the Creation restored and reconciled to God in Christ Jesus at his appearing till which time the Apostles exhorted to these things and warned of the contrary as Jude who saw some crept in among the Church who did turn the grace of God into lasciviousnesse walking after their own hearts lusts whereby they defile the flesh living in sensuality not having the Spirit to order them they fed themselves without fear and these were spots in their Feasts who being once inlightened and again giving way to the lusts and excesse they became twice dead plucked up by the roots yet had they great swelling words And of such like are many Examples at this day who have had something quickned in them to hope for the appearance of the Lord but fulnesse and excesse having overtaken them for want of eating alwayes in fear and in remembrance of his coming they are become dead again to any hope of his appearance at the present and have put his coming afar off into 1 Cor. 4. 5 6. another world yet are contending about the Shadows or Figures of his coming as they have imagined concerning them But are become reprobate Pil. 4. 5. in the Faith as to his appearance and plucked up by the roots And to avoid this it was the Lord Jesus commanded his Disciples in eating and drinking to shew forth his death till he came and they knowing this from the Lord gave it in example and warning to those who were convinced that in all fear and moderation they might wait for his appearance who at his coming would bring to light the hidden things and manifest the counsels of the heart and all its deceipts and become the Worker in them and then they should have praise of God and these things were transferred to the Apostles in a figure So they exhorted the Believers to whom the Lord was at hand to let their moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand which they knew All who get up into the liberty of the flesh rioting and excesse will put afar off as it is at this day with many who are in Observations outward who have a day to go into the Idols Temple and there to eat Bread and drink Wine in a Self-solemnity once a moneth or three times a year or as they imagine some affirming the Body and Blood of Christ to be in the Creature after Consecration as they call it some saying Nay but it is Spiritual after Consecration Others saying It is still carnall and not changed because of words and one imagines the body of Christ reall in it another not reall but by Faith as they say But in this they all agree that they return back into the pleasures of the flesh and fashions of the world there to eat and drink the rest of Gods Creatures to spend on their lusts and it must needs be so with such as do not discern his body in their eatings who is the body of all Creatures and filleth all things in Heaven and in Earth which they who stick in Observations never knew and with such he is alwayes to come or past But the carnall eye which stickes in the Visibles can never see him present to order the Creation out of the Lust and therefore it is that all the Creatures of God are turned to feed the Lust in that state as is seen in all the Worlds Profession and therefore accursed the more riches the more pride the more fullnesse the more lust in that state where Christ is not discerned present And so their eating is not the Supper of the Lord nor doth he sup with them in the Newbut in the lustfull Spirit become the table of the Devill where the Creatures are Sacrificed to his use so he keeps them in observation of a day from the letter which they think is worship but he bears rule in their whole lives by his Spirit and so much of the Creation as is in their hands is used at his will Aud hence is all lasciviousnesse wantonnesse strife fighting Suites and Violence Sports and Vanities too many here to mention all with the Creation is spent upon given not to that end for which they shall account who are in that state when shall be required his Corn and his Wine his Wooll and his Flax which he hath made for his use and to be ordered by his Son who is the fullnesse and vertue of every Creature which all know who come to his Supper where the Father and the Son are come in and Supp with the Creature which all the imitaters and observers of times are ignorant of whose contention is about out-sides And for the sake of such who are lost in this thing and troubled in minde concerning it what I have received of the Lord that I shall declare unto you which all shall witnesse to who come to pertake thereof as the truth is in Christ Jesus If you intend to supp with the Lord or shew the Lords death till he come let your Eating and Drinking so oft as you do it be in remembrance of him and in his feare that at death you may witnesse to the lust and excesse which is that which slew him since the Foundation of the World And is the great enemy of his appearance and that by which he lies slain in the great City which is called Sodom Egypt For all you that live in pleasure on the Earth and are wanton you that nourish your hearts as in the day of slaughter you have condemned and killed the Just and he doth not resist you and you must know a death to this before you can Supp with the Lord or he with you But if you eat in remembrance of him and so come to dye to that which slue him then do you shew the Lords death till he come and when he comes he shall not find you eating and drinking with the drunken nor beating your fellow-servants And this is known from the Lord in the Eternall to be the true end of the Supper of the Lord instituted and appointed that in the rememberance of his death they might
be kept from all excesse that at his coming they be found fit to receive him which they who feed without fear do deny and crucifie afresh to themselves And therefore in another place speaking of his coming he warnes them to take heed least at any time in eating their hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon them unawares and so become a snare unto them for so it is to all who are in that State when he should appeare unto them and they cannot receive the day of his visitation whose hearts are gone out into these carnall things And this he knew that till That man be born which lives not by bread alone That man that lives upon the Creatures is so one drawn into them and so to forgett his coming who is the maker thereof who is the Sanctifier thereof at his coming and so orders the outward food as unto God and not to carnall things the minde growes thereby and so to the pure all things are pure but where the pure is not all things are defiled when they are not Sanctified by the word and prayer And therefore are to be received in fear and remembring therein his death till He come who is the word and prayer which at his coming restores all things to God which till then are Subject to be used to the lust which was the thing Christ in tender love to his disciples at his departure warned them on knowing that their nature would draw to the earth-ward not yet being changed nor having Christ born in them to keep them and for all this his warning and leaving this as a signe how soone were they returned into the carnalls and to their fishings and the like having forgott the promise of his coming till he renewed the rememberance of it making himself known in breaking of bread again after his Resurrection and so charging them to wait for his coming at Jerusalem the promise of the Father of which he had told them before his death which they were to shew so often as they broke bread till he came and after he was come to the Apostles they continued it for their sakes who were weak in the faith to whom he was not yet appeared And so those did break bread from house to house and eate with Singlenesse of Heart to Christ and not to the lust which was another thing then the Worlds Observation of Bread and Wine or Wafers in the Idols temple where the Lords death is not shewed till he come where some are hungry and some are drunken where the Covetous the proud the liers swearers whoremongers fighters sewers scorners and all evil workers meet to eate bread and wine so often a yeare and returne into the lust again This is not to Eate the Lords Body nor at his table but the table of Devils And this you shall all know that you that do this for an hour or a day and then feed without fear not shewing the Lords death in all other your eating so oft as you eate and drink till he come you are they who Eate Judgment to your selves herein And all your will-worship will not be found at that day to be an Ordinance of Christ as you have limitted it nor can you know his coming to your Savlation And of this Sort are you who now say The Lord delayeth his coming and have put it into another generation if not till dooms-day as you call it and so have setled your selves in your worldly pleasures and high Notions with the drunken Spirit eating and drinking and beating your fellow-servants mocking whipping and imprisoning them at your will and pleasure having forgott his coming which if you did remember to shew forth his death so often as you eat and drink till he come you should not have been found in blindnesse and opposition to his coming as to your selves nor persecuting him now which is come in others nor should your table have been made a snare unto you that that day should overtake you unawares as it is seen at this day upon whom the Words of Christ are to be fulfilled Concerning Redemption THis is that which many boast on and glory in who never knew what it is to be redeemed further than in words and imagination thereof nay there are few who are come so far as to know what it is that wants redemption and that the promise is to wherein onely it is seene and received for there is a seed to which the promise of redemption is but thou who takes delight in sin and pleads for it art not he Thou that can take pleasure in the flesh and fashion thy selfe thereto art of another seed who art at liberty in the world to conforme thy selfe thereto in thy own will and way and time who hast power in thy hand to do what thou list and when thou list and as thou list Thou needs no redemption who art at liberty nor physitian who art not sick and so a talk of redemption little changes thy condition in that State who art of this world and obtaines that thou loves and therein takes pleasure building a feate and blessing thy selfe therein laying up thy treasure here below he that redeemes Israels seede is no glad tydings to thee who speaks woe to all in that state But if thou find somthing in thee that in all these worldly delights cryes Vanity and Emptynesse and can find no satisfaction therein nor can conforme to this world nor take pleasure in wickednesse that cannot plead for sin but cryes woe to thee because of thy wickednesse and mornes because of the abominations of thy times wherein thou hast followed the worlds customes and foolish fashions if thou find that in thee that cannot take delight in decking the outside with pride nor feeding without feare that cannot feed upon the visibles nor shorship the creature nor bow to any but God alone but condemns thee if thou so do If thou find that which breaths in thee towards God for life and strength against all these vanities and all other evills That which would follow God out of all the world if it had power I say if such a seed thou find in thee though it be the least of all seeds in thee yet that is the seed of the Kingdom to which the promise is and no further then that principle is raised to raigne in thee above all that is contrary to it no further art thou redeemed by Christ Jesus for that 's the plant of Gods renowne the Lilly among the thornes which with the Cares of this world and the deceiptfullnesse of riches and pleasures is choaked that it cannot bring forth to God who hath placed it in thee for himselfe that therein he might teach thee to profit and from thence thou might receive wisdom and strength yea all that is needfull for thee in thy measure to which thou art called And this lying under thy lusts and pleasures is
wicked one who keeps his house in peace till a stronger then he comes And this you shall find recorded through all the Scriptures And all histories of persecution in all ages and at this day and you shall never find that ever any of these could joyn in with the worlds worships but cryed them down their priests their prophets their dayes their times their places their whole worship who was gone out into the world from the Word and spirit for which they was ever envied of them who was therein and such as they had deceived thereby for the world ever loves its own but he that is of God testifies against the world and the deeds thereof that they are evil therefore hated thereby for the truths sake And as the ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the world and the things thereof so they are not carfull for the things of the world but he who is their master is their maintainer whom they preach and so they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel so never any of his sought to the people for meanes nor bear rule by it nor sought for their gain from their quarter nor taught for the fleece preached for hire nor prophesied for money for peices of bread nor handfulls of Corn none of Christ ministers ever lived in parson ages nor lived upon tythes nor ever went to law with their flock for carnall things they were never called masters of their hearers but servants they were never approved by men to whom they was to preach but was sent of God to preach to such as sought him not nor them neither and amongst such they in all things approving themselves to be ministers of God that the ministry be not blamed In much patience in affliction in necessities in distresses in Stripes in prisonments in tumults in labors in watchings in fastings by purenesse by knowledge by longsuffering by kindnesse by the holy Ghost by love unfained by the word of truth by the power of God by the armor of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown yet well known as dying yet live chastned sorrowfull poor having nothing wandering up and down having no certain dwelling place and in this state their reward was that they might keep the Gospel without Charge and yet they was ever hated by such as was approved of men who stirred up such as they preached to for their hire to persecute them that preached freely yet must they not cease but preach freely even against their own wills to such as are so far from hiring them as they would rather devour them then heare them yet will hire and heare them of their own choosings And this must be that the grace of God may apeare to be free and He be found of them that sought him not And this was ever his way who will be taught by none nor shall any chuse for him by whom he shall send nor shall any whom he sends ever want nor take care for ought afore-hand that they may follow their maister and be as their Lord who shall feed many but seek to none for food but what God gives for it is not like that they should feed others with everlasting food who dare not trust God for carnall food for God will not have such as are of his family to take care for food or Raiment nor wherewith to feed others for who hath the word in them in which all fullnesse is need not study what to say nor have a divination to make what to preach like them who have not the word in them but what they steal from another or fetch out of the bottomlesse pit by divination and witchcraft who can have their word in their own times and wills against whom they will and to flatter whom they will who cry peace to such as put into their mouthes else they prepare warr against them who minde earthly things whose God is their belly who talke against pride and live in it against covetousnesse and live in it who preach against sin but cannot cease from sin and such as they are such is their hearers who in words confesse Christ but in works deny him And these are they who for their pride pleasures and carnall ends have changed all the Lords worship from what it was both in matter manner meanes and maintenance and so have scattered the Lords people into sects and opinions Forms Customes and Traditions in every Nation as may best sute their wicked wills for which they pretend decency order and necessity so that not one is found in the way of God nor forme of true worship such as the Scriptures will own without wresting And now the Lord is appeared in the true way as Christ left it with his disciples to gather his own from off all these mountaines where they are scattered all the Idol shepards are gathering against him to battel of all sorts not willing to heare of the living way which is but one in which there is no Rent Sect Error and opinion but Christ in all nay one can scarcely grieve a Town-Teacher worse then to tell him of the Apostles way of preaching their call their spirit their wandrings their wages their word and way of walking in this world and amongst their hearers as is declared in Scripture without a meaning or liberty to change it according to the times Nay though all their parish be beleivers as they call them yet can they not beleive they shall get their wages from them without a law to compell them so that though they have begott a larger faith in their hearers then the Apostles ever taught to wit that though they commit sin while they live yet they may be saved and set free when they dye yet have not they so much faith themselves as to beleive they will pay them their wages without it be forced from them that which none of Christs Ministers ever did either in Law or Gospel so we may not say that these are Ministers of Christ or like them if we will speak truth and take Christs Rule to judge by who saith By their fruits you shall know them Nor should I have spoken thus much of them in this place did they but call themselves the ministers of men made so by them and so upholden and maintained but such as call themselves ministers of Christ and walk so far unlike him and his in all things I say to such as are found in these things Your wayes testifie to your face and before all men that you are no more like the ministers of Christ then they that walked in your steps before you so Search the scriptures and search your hearts with the light of Christ and know your portion and count me not your enemy for telling you the truth how ever I have cleared my conscience in love to your soules though such as are deceived through
blind zeal and enviy cannot receive it Concerning Free Will. THere is no Will free for God but that which is free from sinne which Will Man lost in the Fall when he let in the Will of the Devil and entred into it wherein Man became in bondage And all that man in that state knows of the free Will is that which moves in him against the Will of the flesh and of the Devil which is seen in the Light of Christ And this is the Will of God whereby he willeth not the death of the sinner And this Will of God is manifest according to the Spirit which is free always moving contrary to the Will of the flesh which is in bondage to the Devil And this Will that is free onely those who abide in the light do feel the moving of it present in the Spirit And as the Spiritual man is quickned by the Word of God and that man born which is not of the flesh nor of the will of it so is that Will seen again in man which is free wherein the Creature is made free from the Will of the flesh which is bondage So the Spiritual man hath the Spiritual Will which is free and that is from above And the Carnal man which is from below his Will keeps in bondage who is contrary to God in all things So the first born hath not the Free-Will for who is born after the flesh thereof is kept in bondage but who is begotten again of the Word from above is free born when he is born who is born of the Spirit for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty but where the Spirit of the World is there is bondage for as is the Man so is his Will So with the light of Christ which shows you the thoughts of the heart if you it diligently mind you may see the two motions of the two Wills each contrary to other the one after the flesh the other after the spirit So whether of these Wills thou art servant to that thou may be said to have and to the other thou art an enemy for no man hath Free-Will further then he is joyned to it though he that is in his own Will may feel the Will of God contrary to him and that Will he is in yet can he not come to it untill he own that which leads him to take up the Cross to his first Will and in the Cross to his own Will is he born who hath the Will of God wherein God worketh to Will and to do of his good pleasure in the Male and in the Female even the plant of God who hath the will of God the mind of God the heart of God as in measure he is formed it the Creature So man hath not free will further then he is free-bor from above of the Seed that sinneth not and the growth in that Seed is mans freedom but while this lies under the Earthly Will and Self thereby it is denied though the Free-will may often move in the Creature to Holiness and be felt in the light of Christ as a Tender of healing yea and would lead to holiness healing were it minded obeyed for that will which is of God onely leads to God by which Will we are sanctified and saved but you that stand in the Will of the flesh resists and so you will not come to me that you may have life for the Will of God which is life is free and freely tendered in Christ Jesus to every Creature and in the light which reproves the evil deeds it is seen but they that resist free grace resist free will for that 's free grace which shews a man his sin and reproves for it which would lead to God and to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and so to live godlily righteously and soberly in this evill world And that 's free Will which wills not that thou should commit sin which Will is that thou should not die So mans destruction is of himself and self-will by which he resists the Will of God but Salvation is of the Will of God which is free and in the measure of God is this freedom found and enjoyed so that in Christ I have free will but in the flesh is bondage therefore the flesh must be denied by all that will own freedom in will or deed for none hath free Will but who in the light of Christ hath learned to deny their own Wills and such knows that in the first man is neither will nor deed that is free from sin nor for God and his Work or Worship for God hath concluded the whole man under sin that the gift of grace might appear to be free that all might glory in the Lord and the whole treasure be found in him to whom every tongue shall confess when the glory of man shall come to an end to his praise who is blessed for evermore FINIS
he do any thing but what he see the Father do in that worke he was found doing the same as he was taught of the Father in his obedience to him not what the Scribes and Pharisees did though they sat in Moses seat nor what the world approved but what was contrary to all the world and contrary to his own will onely submitting to the moving of the Spirit of the Father that dwelt in him by which alone he was to be guided and furnished to every good work And all that believe in him and follow his light he leads into the same knowledge and obedience out of all carnall knowledge power and obedience and by faith the creature is made partaker of this obedience and the power thereof from faith to faith And all that have learned him as he is so are they in this present world both in law and life and power and Spirit and in all this in the measure as he is learned and as any comes to the unity of the faith in him to his measure stature and fulnesse so the obedience is but one the power one the way one and the Son one and the Father one And this is not any thing from without but in Spirit it is learned and obtained and the mystery of it is hid from all who are without and the ministration of it is spirituall within whereby that obedience is known which is to the truth through the Spirit which is in life and not in imitation in the will of God and not in self will which obedience stands not in any thing seen from man or by man done thereby to imitate or doe the like for that is two obediences but it stands in Christ Jesus and in his one obedience to the Father seene in the light and in the faith received whereby the believer is made one in it and it in him that as the same Father calls for the same obedience in Spirit so in the same Spirit doth the believer offer up himself and all he hath in the same power and obedience in Christ Jesus And so as the creature by faith partakes of that one obedience in the second Adam he is made righteous and no further even as all are made sinners as they partake of the disobedience of the first Adam and no further And who knows to partake of this obedience knows the eternal Spirit in which all the Children of God have been taught and enabled to this one obedience in their several measures ever since the world was which is not works by them done but the everlasting righteousnesse of God obeyed in that Spirit according to the motions thereof seene in the light of Christ which none knows who are heart-blind and who minds the motions of the flesh and obeys them their minds being gone out to carnall pleasures the Call to this obedience is not by them heard neverthelesse the same carnall Spirit that leads out into the world teaches to make an imitation of this obedience and so deceives the simplicity by setting up a likenesse without life and so glories in appearance but not in heart And the witnesse of God in the heart or Conscience of such testifying to the face of truth that their obedience is not perfect nor accepted they conclude that there can be no perfect obedience attained in this world they not knowing the mighty powerful working of God in Spirit which worketh in them perfectly who believe and walk in the light whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into his obedience and his obedience into them in their measure till they become of one heart one mind one soul one spirit one flesh and bone and blood and one obedience and one life that it is no more we that lives but Christ that lives in us and the life that we now live is by Faith in the Son of God and though the fulnesse of this obedience is not attained at once yet the least measure of it is perfect and accepted and so accepted in him in whom it is wrought as the obedience of a Child is as pure clear and willing as the strong mans even so is the new Birth in Christ Jesus according to what God requires thereof who never requires but what he gives and never gives but what is perfect and what he perfectly accepts which gifts are all in his Son and in him the least is accepted and every one that therein exercise themselves without mixture Concerning good Works AS there is but one good so there is but one Worker of good in Heaven and in Earth who by the Word of his Power made all good in the beginning and in this good Work and Will was Man wrought in the Will of God in his Image and goodnesse he stood but falling from this stedfastnesse that was in God and be taking him unto self thereby to become wise he became subtill and proud in himself seeking to be as God was cast out from God his Power Love and goodnesse and being fallen into the dark Imaginary of his own heart and finding himself under the Curse whereof the Light of Christ in the Conscience is a Witnesse he hath set himself to make a likenesse of God Christ and Gods Worship and good Works Faith Hope Patience Love c. but being under the powers of darknesse neither knows God nor his Work but is deceived by the Prince of Darknesse and so doth please himself with an Imitation of God and his Work but without power and so as he imagines is doing good but the testimony of God in his heart bears witnesse against him that his Work is not perfect nor accepted He also imagines that he is redeemed but is still under the commanding power of Satan led Captive at his will who that he may the more strongly blind him he leads him sometimes into a seeming worship that so he may not so much suspect his way nor be too much troubled at his other unrighteous practices so that the worst of men in this state have a worship and each sort thinks they are right though there be but one way and they all without it and each in their thoughts are not so bad as others but have their severall good works though there be but one good work and they all out of it in their own works And it is no small work to undeceive the least of these who are thus conceited though men of greater wits and parts as they call them which is but a higher deceipt may lead them from one deceipt to another yet all the worlds wisdome cannot bring them into the good work nor the way wherein it is wrought Onely such who mind the light of Christ in their dark hearts which manifests to them their Evill deeds and reproves them for them and can believe it to be the light of Christ and thereto take heed to follow it out of the world and carnall mindednesse and in that light wait till the Living-Word