our day hath brought mighty things to pass which many will not believe though it hath been often declared It hath wrought the same Works now as it did in the Apostles days in teaching to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and also to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Tit. 2.12 And there be many Witnesses that have been raised from the Dead or out of the Spiritual Death who do declare of it who were once dead in Trespasses and Sins But the Goodness of the Lord hath led them to Repentance and raised them to Life Now the Reason why many will not believe is because they love their Evil Deeds Therefore they hate the Light and will not bring their Deeds to it lest by it they should be Reproved For this is the Condemnation That Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light and such have ignorantly called the Light Darkness But they that love the Light and know what it is they do bring their Deeds to it that they may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3.19 20 21. For the Light makes all things manifest yea the hidden things of Esau are made manifest by the Light My Advice and Counsel to thee is in the Fear of the Lord Bring thy Deeds to the Light if ever thou intendest or desirest to be Everlastingly Happy Let not the Enemy of thy Soul deceive thee any longer For it is better to Suffer Affliction with the People of God than to injoy the Pleasures of Sin which are but for a season though they be never so much applauded by the Sons and Daughters of Men. Such as Men sow they must reap They that sow to the Flesh must of the Flesh reap Corruption and they that sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. Consider well those words ye Proud and Haughty Ones and be no longer joyned to the Spirit of this World For the Lord God hath a Controversie against it And he hath determined the Downfal of the Man of Sin which many have witnessed already fulfilled in themselves And the Lord is now fitting and preparing them for himself For it is not the Devil 's right to rule in Man But it is the Lord 's right alone to rule there and he will have no Sharers with him in his Government Let none put the Day of the Lord afar off for this is the Day of the Lord And unless thou knowest him to rule in thee now who alone can destroy the Devil and his Works thy believing he shall rule hereafter if Satan continues to rule in thee here will stand thee in little stead fot that Belief will not purifie thy Heart and it is only the pure in Heart that can see God Mat. 5.8 Heb. 12.14 For Christ Jesus was made manifest for this very End that he might destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3.8 And although the Men of this World have set themselves in Opposition against this Truth of the Lord and have pleaded for the Continuance of Sin and therein for the Devil's Power yet we know in whom we have believed and in the Light of the Lord they are seen and their Fruits have made manifest whose Servants they are For his Servants they are to whom they obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6.16 And tho' many of them have promised or others have promised for them to forsake the Devil and all his Works and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments all the days of their lives yet they are ready to cry out Blasphemy when they are told Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin tho' they are the plain words of Scripture 1 John 3.9 So Zealous are they for their Master's interest Reader if thou art one who hath been taught for Doctrine Mens Precepts as too many now are let me perswade thee to come to the Witness of God in thee and try which is the best Teacher For that Inward Teacher teacheth safe and sure neither can it be removed into a Corner And if thou turn'st to the right hand or to the left thou shalt hear a Word behind thee from this Inward Teacher saying This is the Way walk in it Isa 30.21 This is the plain Man's Path wherein though a Fool in the Worlds esteem he shall not err Isa 35.8 What tho' the Lord leads his People in a way contrary to the Wisdom of the World which makes them the Scorn and Derision of the World Be not discouraged for how can it be otherwise it being the same way which the holy Men of God walked in in Ages past But our Rejoycing is this The Testimony of a good Conscience And we do know as God's faithful Servants did of old The Reproaches for Christ are greater Riches than any there are in Egypt's Land which is a Place of Darkness But we have known the Lord to Redeem us out of that Bondage and deep Captivity and now we can sing Praises and Thanksgivings unto our God who is over all both in Heaven and in Earth blessed for ever and for evermore Friendly Reader I have here out of Love and Good Will to thee and to all Mankind declared unto thee the Goodness of the Lord unto my poor Soul that thou mayst be incouraged to walk in the Light of the Lord which he hath made manifest in this our day For it concerns thee most to know the Lord's Work in thy day that thou mayst have a sense of the Operation of the Power of God on thy Heart before thou goest hence O let not the Enemy of thy Soul prevail with thee to plead for the continuance of Sin term of Life Did Men but know how they do thereby advance the Kingdom of the Enemy of their Souls they never more would open their Mouths on Sins behalf unless they are like those of old who said We have made a Covenant with Death and with Hell are we at an Agreement Isa 28.15 For they who deny Perfection or Freedom from Sin deny the very End and Purpose for which Christ came and was manifested in the Flesh which was to destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3.8 which all who profess Christianity do agree is Sin And his Name was therefore called Jesus because He should save his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 Not In their Sins mark that thou Unbelieving Professor Why should this be thought Impossible seeing All things are possible with God Mat. 19.26 It was the Command of the Lord to Abraham Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 17.1 And to incourage him thereunto he brings it in with these words I am the Almighty God The holy Apostle said Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.16 And I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 And As many as are led by the Spirit of God
they are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 Such cannot plead for Sin because they have Fellowship one with another in the Light and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth them from all Sin 1 John 1.7 From whence then dost thou think the Impossibilities do arise for some have ignorantly said It is Impostble ever to be Perfect or Free from Sin on this side the Grave If thou canst not tell as some Tender-hearted Ones could not I will tell thee It is from the Man of Sin who rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience From him proceeds these Thoughts of Impossibilities and not from the Lord. And now let the Witness of God in thee judge between the Precious and the Vile between those who serve the Lord and them who serve him not For a Separation there must be the Lord will no longer be mocked with an Hypocritical Pretence of Zeal for him while the Devil hath the Heart They that pretend the Scripture is their only Rule why will they not come to it and walk according to it that we might see their Fruits to be agreeable thereunto They have made use of the Scriptures to plead for Sin term of Life and have raked up the Failings of the holy Men of God recorded in them thereby incouraging others to Sin which never was the End they were written for But they were given that Men might come to be Perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 3.17 And it was the Labour of the Apostles to present every Man Perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1.28 The Holy Scriptures were not written for Men to make a Trade of as in Buying and Selling the Words of the Holy Men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and as the Spirit gave them Utterance No but that Men might come to the same Word in themselves which they testifie of And if thou Reader comest to that thou wilt come to know the Word of God which lives and abides for ever And then the Scriptures will be indeed precious to thee as thou comest to see the fulfilling of them in thy self and so thou wilt have Unity with that Spirit which gave them forth And the right End for which they were written thou wilt see which they are ignorant of who go from the true Light the Holy Witness in themselves The want of keeping to that makes them run into so many Heads and Heaps of Confusion as they are one calling This the Way another saying That is the Way So that Mankind is out of Order by refusing to be led by the Spirit of Christ Jesus which would bring all things into Order again And was it not so in the Apostles days Did not Demetrius and the Multitude make an Uproar though the most part knew not wherefore they came together But they all agreed to cry up Great is Diana of the Ephesians For by this Craft said Demetrius we have our Wealth And is it not the same in effect now tho' they have got more Plausible Words to cover themselves withal that they might not be discovered Do not both Priests and People cry out now Great is the Devil's Power Great is the Strength of Sin So great that it is Impossible to be set free from Sin on this side the Grave And hath not the World admired the Whore because she hath had a golden Cup in her hand by which she hath deceived and doth deceive the Nations O that Men would be so wise for themselves as to come to that which would open an Eye in them to see the Enemy of their Souls and would help them to work against him before the Night comes wherein none can work For it is the Light that makes things manifest and by that Light thou mayst see the Mystery of Iniquity still working under the pretence of Zeal for the Worship and Ordinances of God as Men call them but they will not come to Christ whom God hath Ordained to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of his People Israel Luke 2.32 But as Backsliding Israel made to themselves a Golden Calf in old time So these will needs have something that may appear glorious to their fleshly Eye which many in their Imaginations have made and set up and so are worshipping the Works of their own Inventions as they of old did the Works of their own Hands For whatsoever Man forms and sets up between Christ and his Soul is an Idol and must be broken down before Redemption can be truly witnessed But are there not many now a-days who persuade themselves they are Redeemed by Christ from their Sins whilst they live in their Sins O! what an unheard of Redemption was this in the Apostles days He said When ye were the Servants of Sin ye were free from Righteousness Rom. 6.20 And What Fruit said he had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed ver 21 That was not the Redemption which Christ Jesus came to purchase for his People But to purifie to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works and to redeem them from all Iniquity Tit. 2.14 That they might serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of their lives Luke 1.75 This was the End or Effect of the Redeeming Power of the Lord in Ages past And I give my Testimony for God it is the same now in this Age and works the same Effect even to redeem from all Sin Let the Enemy and his Instruments be never so much inraged at us for bearing Testimony to the Truth we matter not for we are Witnesses for God against them all and have boldness in the Strength of the Lord to Publish to the World the Greatness of the Power of our God and of his Christ who hath determined that Sin and Iniquity shall have an end and Everlasting Righteousness shall be brought in Dan. 9.24 Which is believed and waited for by the Upright in Heart who have turned their Faces Zion-ward And we know the Lord hath many more whom he will gather from off the barren Mountains into the same Faith with us to declare of his Noble Acts in this his mighty Day wherein he is shaking not only the Earth but the Heavens also that That only which cannot be shaken may remain Heb. 12.26 27. which will stand in stead when time shall be no more And friendly Reader If thou desirest to die the Death of the Righteous and to have thy latter End to be like his which most Men do thou must live the Life of the Righteous For there is not another way that is certain What though Men have cut out Ways to themselves and have made large and plesant Paths to walk in and say Come walk in our Way or be of our Society for it is the Way of the Lord. Before thou venturest into it ask them this Question Have you found out a Way to overcome Sin If they answer No that cannot be expected on
this side the Grave Then I testifie It is not the Way of the Lord neither art thou to walk in it But thou art to walk in the Light of the Lamb which all the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in Rev. 21.24 Light is sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the Upright in Heart Psalm 97.11 And the Lord will keep him in perfect Peace whose Mind is stay'd upon him Which words are often spoken by the Hireling Priests but the thing can never be experimentally Witnessed by thee till thou comest to give up thy self wholly to be led by the Lord Which if thou do then will the Lord take delight in thee to do thee good and hard things shall be made easie to thee And as thou abidest in the Faith thou wilt see over all the Ways of the World and the Foundations whereon they stand and thou wilt see cause for ever to Praise the Lord for that he hath redeemed thee out of those Paths that lead to the Chambers of Death and hath built thee upon the sure Foundation which cannot be shaken the Rock of Ages and of many Generations Jesus Christ the chief Corner-Stone Had I the Tongue of Men and Angels I could not demonstrate unto thee in words the Peace and Happiness that is injoyed in walking in the Way of the Lord For in his Presence there is fulness of Joy and at his right hand are Pleasures for evermore Isa 16.11 O Come away come away for the Lord's sake and thy poor Soul's sake and partake not with the Wicked in their Sins lest thou receive of their Plagues Rev. 18.4 Let not a little momentary Pleasures beguile thee into Eternal Misery The Lord having redeemed me out of the hands of my Soul's Enemy I am moved with the Bowels of Pity and Compassion to beseech thee to come and be reconciled to the Lord For I testifie he is more willing to receive thee than thou art to come Why then wilt thou not come that thou mayst be Everlastingly Happy For the Door of Mercy is set open so that all that will come may come freely without Money or without Price Isa 55.1 Therefore why will ye die O ye foolish People and unwise Seeing the Way is open and the Path so plain that the Wayfaring Man though a Fool cannot err therein Isa 35.8 What could the Lord have done more for Man than he hath done having sent his Only Begotten Son a Light into the World that the World through him might believe and so be saved John 3 For the Light shines in Darkness though the Darkness doth not comprehend it John 1.5 It was that Light that gave Paul and Others the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 And it is the same Light that brings to the Knowledge of God now and not Another though the Enemy hath taught Men to give many bad Names to it that Men might not believe in it But they who do believe in it know it to be the true Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 And that In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men ver 4. And that the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all Sin 1 John 1.7 That he might present his Church a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 Which of all those called Churches in the World whether Publick or Private is the Spotless Church Are there not Spots of Pride Envy Malice Dissimulation c. upon them Bow therefore ye tall Cedars and ye sturdy Oaks who have lifted up your selves in your vain Imaginations above the low meek and gentle Witness of the Lord in you And know that for all this God will bring you to Judgment tho' ye have covered your selves with a Profession in drawing nigh to the Lord with your Mouths and with your Lips as some of old did Isa 29.13 when your Hearts have been after your other Lovers and have made a Profession of God in Words when in Works ye have denied him Do ye think Words will stand you instead at the Day of Judgment Though ye could say We have Prayed in thy Name and Preached in thy Name and in thy Name have done many wonderful things Yet hear your Sentence if ye continue to work Iniquity Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity Mat. 7.23 What we may some perhaps say we who have driven a Trade with the Scriptures and have formed to our selves a Way of Worship and Religious Exercises and have spent much time in the performance thereof Ah! But what will ye answer when it shall be asked of you as it was of some of old Isa 1.12 Who hath required this at your hands It is this the Lord requires of thee O Man To do Justly and to love Mercy and to walk Humbly with thy God Micah 6.8 And if thou answer his requirings therein then shall thy Peace be as a River Isa 48.18 And thou shalt know the flowings of that River the Streams whereof make glad the City of our God Psalm 46.4 Now it is my desire that thou should'st be a Fellow-Citizen with us For in the Father's House are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you said Christ to his Disciples John 14.2 But said he I go to prepare a place for you that where I am ye may be also verse 3. O that Men would be so wise as to come to the serious Consideration of these things before the Day of their Visitation be over For whoever thou art this know for certain Thou hast a Talent given thee by the Lord and so art left for ever without Excuse Therefore see that thou makest good use of it and that thou improvest it to the Lord's use and to the Good of thy Immortal Soul Then wilt thou answer the End for which the Lord created thee and wilt bring unto the Lord the Glory due unto him Which that thou may'st is the desire of him who is Reader Thy Friend in the Truth of God R. B. Written the 13th Day of the 1st Month 1670. THE END