God for to that there is a more excellent price required which is neither the righteousness of man nor yet of the Law here we must have Christ how not by works but by faith therefore as there is a great difference between Christ blessing or redeeming and Christ working or giving example wherefore we must seperate the believing and the working Abraham as far asunder as there is distance betwixt heaven and earth Abraham believing in Christ is altogether a divine person the child of God inheritour of the world conqueror of sin death the world and the Divel therefore he cannot be praised and magnified enough let us not suffer this faithful Abraham to lye hid in his grave as he is hid from the Jews but let us highly extol and magnify him and let us fill both heaven and earth with his name so that in respect of the faithful Abraham we see nothing at all in the working Abraham for when we speak of this faithful Abraham we are in heaven but afterwards doing those things which the working Abraham did which were carnal and earthly and not divine and heavenly but as they were given unto him of God we are among men in earth the believing Abraham filleth both heaven and earth so every Christian through his faith filleth both heaven and earth so that besides it he ought to behold nothing Thus far his words Good works or the works of God in us are in comparison of the righteousness in Christ but carnal like as Abraham's good works a thing worthy of note are but accounted flesh in comparison of the righteousness of Christ Rom. 4.1 2. Concerning Election and Reprobation He saith that the light in every man which reproves of sin is Christ and is the election elect seed the mercy of God placed in all men that this light being believed and followed till by it a man be changed and purged from the oldness and lusts of flesh to the newness of the spirit then he comes to the election or to be selected Truth saith that in every man which reproves of sin is not Christ but the Law by the Law is the knowledge of sin that Christ the Elect and beloved of God is he in whom the purposes promises counsels and all the works of God were laid up and known unto God from before the world began Christ was from the beginning the common seed or Father in whose loines God in his foreknowledge beheld and in his love choose a seed or ofspring whom he would beget of his own will by his spirit God that separated the Jews from all other Nations only because he loved them that said of the children of Isaac being not yet born Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated that called them his beloved which were not beloved that separated Paul a persecuter from his mothers womb that hath mercy on whom he will have mercy the same God hath foreknown and chosen and loved a people in Christ the beloved who though for the present as concerning the Gospel they be enemies through wicked works yet as touching the election they are beloved for Christ's sake you have not chosen me but I have chosen you If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me Christ drawed up all his own in his body into himself in love this love shed forth into our hearts draws us up in love into him again thus we love him because he loved us first the father gave a people to the Son from everlasting and saw and loved them in him before the world was the Son came forth to manifest and make way for this love through his righteousness down unto men the spirit reveals that love and by Christ leads us unto the father thus redemption and sanctification are both fruits of that love and election that was given us in Christ before the world began by receiving Christ the Image of the father I come indeed to know his love and election but he both loved elected and redeemed me in Christ the head before I was Wherefore they that deny election and redemption until the creatures obedience to the light within do measure the thoughts and waies of the unsearchable goodness of God with the low and narrow thoughts and waies of man being zealous indeed for the righteousness of God according to the Law but darkning and denying the glorious righteousnes of God as in Christ Jesus Concerning the New birth He saith that by abiding in the seed or light within every man thereby the old man is put off with his deeds that they who are guided by this light called by him the eternal spirit do follow God as he goes out of one form into another all others stay therein after God is gone as seeing but the outside or form only that they who joyned to the light within that reproves of sin to be led by it are and ever were hated and persecuted of all others His silence throughout of that more excellent and truly misterious way of crucifying the body of sin in the person of Christ whose body and blood is by him made as no more but figuers of the body and blood within that is the light within all men this doth sufficiently manifest his mind and principle and the end whether it leads unto mount Sinai to press through unto God by an attonement and mediation to be made in our bodies that is obedience to the light within The new creature is not a Jew one seeking righteousness by the Law either in the letter or conscience nor a Gentile one thinking to know comprehend and worship God by the light or wiâ—edom of the natural man but a man in Christ dead buried and risen with him into heavenly places above the world sin and death by faith alone without work that is before these things be manifest or wrought in his members also he is one in whom Christ dwels by faith so made partaker of the divine Nature that spirit which the world sees not hath not nor by any light they have can find it out the world's light is a candle from the Lord saying do this and live the spirit of the new creature is the Lord himself saying I have done it only believe and live According to the mysterie of faith the new man is in heart and spirit gone out of all the world and is in heaven perfectly justified redeemed and saved but in a way above sense and feelings yet seen by faith according to present manifestation he hath the spirit of Christ whereby he sees knows and enjoys in part those perfect things in Christ till they be fully revealed if any man boasts of the first that he is redeemed by Christ and hath not the other that he lives in some measure after the spirit that man's boasting is in vain likewise if any man glories of the spirit that he walks in the spirit in mortifyings of the flesh neglect of the body reproaches necessities
in them when he gave them this commandement nor was Christ yet appeared to those believers among whom the Apostles continued it That to eat of his body is to discern his body to be the body of all creatures and to fill all htings How is the Gospel-mystery become a doctrine of bare morality with this people to see God in all things to discern him as the body and vertue of every creature and to use all things in moderation what is this more then the purer principles and practises of Pagan divinity is this all the effect all the end of the blood of Christ He that appointed this Supper said drink ye all of it for this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Christ as he gave his flesh for the life of the world that is as he abolished death and brought forth life to light therein for us so he is the true spiritual passeover which was sacrificed for us so his death is a mystery whosoever can look therein may see the first Adam with all his deeds the world with all its works all old things done away therein traditions of men and rudiments of the world shews of wisedom wil-worship and humility were tares the Lord foresaw would spring up in the Churches from the root of reason and the Law that they might avoid the same he ordained the Supper for a rudiment to all that should have need thereof to be as a figure of his death and therein of the crucifying of flesh with all the glory and workes thereof Wherefore eating the flesh of Christ is to be esteemed neither as any naturall thing as the Jews did nor as any moral thing as this deluded people doe but a divine and heavenly mysterie that is to believe and rejoyce in Christ crucified as made the remission of sinnes the destruction of death the grace and the end of this world and all evils therein unto us likewise the discerning the Lord's body therein is not a bare speculation of Christ or the divinity as filling all things for the natural man by that of God in him may know so much to discerne together with his dead body our sins our old man the Law and all perfection whither by nature morality or the Law to be already dead buried and abolished in his grave and our selves raised up into the life liberty and righteousness of Christ in him this is the use of eating the Lord's body if any be become so vain in imagination as to think it is no more then the exercise of temperance and moderation to be performed by us let us know that it is the blood of the New Testament for remission of sins That Christ comming in the creature governing it himselfe so reconciles it to God is true indeed according to reason the Law and this people but in the person of Christ through death did God reconcile the World to himself Christ revealed in a man is not that he may reconcile but being reconciled that he may bring him to himself But canst thou poore sorry sinfull man beare in thy body the justice of the Law the punishment of thy sinnes the shedding of thy blood and raise up thy self again and through thy obedience come forth out of all thy sins before the majesty of God in that perfect and spotless righteousness that he shall see no sin in thee and if thou sayest Christ in thee can do all this I answer if thou believest not God hath already reconciled thee to himselfe by the death of his Sonne that spirit that thou thinkest doth reconcile in thee will be found most wicked and provoking delusion except Christ died in vain That Christ's Disciples were not changed nor he born in them when he appointed this Supper and that Christ had not appeared to the Believers with whom the Apostles continued it are both contrary to truth they were clean every whit through the word he had spoken or as in him and their bodies the Temple of the holy Ghost though they were as yet carnall and ignorant of the more spirituall truths so the Church of Christ is pure and beautifull as in him whilst fleshly and weake in many things as in themselves rejoyce in Christ as your liberty in whom you are made free let him dwell in you crucifying your flesh and manifesting his life wait for his great and last appearance to reign over all of which day it shall not need to be said lo here lo there but as lightning from East to West it shall beare witness of it self in and over the whole creation Concerning Redemption He saith that redemption is not of sinners that take delight in sin but of the light within that is it which wants redemption and of thâ—… it is said he took not on him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham That this light or seed as it is raised to reign in us above all so it is redeemed and so is the creature made free from the law of sin and no redemption while this is in prison and not brought above all our lusts How hath the blackness and darknesse of mount Sinai covered the heart of this man how are the abounding riches of grace the fulnesse of the Mediator and the power of his Crosse resolved at once into the light or Law written in the heart of every man but the spirit of faith saith otherwise Man formed to be a living Image of the glory of God but fallen short of his glory separate from the life of God in spirit soul and body fallen into darknesse death and the curse this was it that wanted redemption that was redeemed in Christ scarcely for a righteous man would one die yet paradventure for a good man some would dare to die Rom. 5. to give ones life to save a righteous man the heart and love of man may be enlarged to that but herein divine love appeared beyond all number measure or the heart of man in that whilst yet sinners we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son and raised up together into heavenly places before we either knew desired or sought after the same but is the light or seed or Christ under the Law sin or curse or needs he to be redeemed or saved from these the children are pertakers of flesh and blood therefore Christ pertook of flesh and bringing his divine nature thereinto he crucified and abolished our sins and death out of it and so presented us to God a sanctified cleansed and perfected people in himself before we did obey or believe or were therefore let us say with joy in the Lord we have righteousness and strength in the Lord are we justified and do glory To what he saith as the light within is raised and reigns so is both it and the creature redeemed and no more the Law of commandments hath dominion over the flesh as long as it lives a greater Law came forth
you than a lofty imagination of Reason onely enlivened with an active spirit of bondage That not the Light within every man but the word of the Apostles and Prophets and the spirit of Revelation shining according to their Testimony is that which leads to the Lord Jesus the incomprehensible divinity cannot be seen nor approached unto but in the Mediatour the Man Christ so Christ is the image of the invisible God the unsearchable Mystery of Christ is brought to light by the Gospel and to be learned by the Spirit so the Scriptures are the Image of Christ he that shall seek for God out of the Humanity of Christ he shall loose both God and himself so he that to find out Christ shall go to the Light within every man and not to the Testimony of them who spake of him what they had seen and heard he may come to behold him as the Law-giver and Judge but as a Justifier and Saviour he cannot know him The Light within all men may find out the God-head but the Mystery of Grace and Love cannot be known but by that Spirit that blowes where and when he lists Would the light within have shewed you the Attonement Redemption the bloud and sacrifice or have put these words in your mouth Concerning the Ministry of Christ HE saies the Ministers of Christ have the Word in them and so declare it to others that they Preach not for hire or gain that they are persecuted of the world He saies rightly that is a Ministry of Christ but Ministers of Righteousness are of Satan or of Christ zealously to affect to compass Sea and Land to make fair shewes in the flesh to be as touching the Law blameless to preach freely suffer labour stripes imprisonments Satans Ministers may be herein transformed as the Ministers of Christ wherefore Ministryes are to be judged by their Spirit and Spirits by Doctrines If an Angel from Heaven if any Persons coming forth in the wisdome holiness power and glory of an Angel shall not confess that Christ was made Sin and a Curse and the end of both through his death unto us let them be accursed their Doctrine takes away the blessing of Abraham which is in Christ and brings men again under the Curse of the Law which by Christ is abolished to all that truly believe I am jealous that the Teachers of the People for the greatest part are carnal formal and but in the Letter and walking as men yet the Lord has his chosen ones among them I am as jealous that the Teachers of this People are the Ministers of that darkness and wroth by which God will punish this faithless perverse and back-sliding Generation Let thy Spirit of Grace be poured forth upon thy Sons and Daughters and the Spirit of errour and uncleanness shall be revealed and cast out Concerning Free-Will HE saies the Light within men which reproves the evil deeds is that Will of God by which we are sanctified and saved that in every man which shewes him his sin and reproves for it is Free-Grace This Light in every man is the Free-will which is free to God and free from sin If the first be so then is the death of Christ of no effect wherein the whole blessed Will of God was done by which Will we are sanctified through his Body how is Christ crucified become foolishness to you who whilst to your selves and others you have a shew of humility are vainly puft up with your fleshly mind not holding the Head If the second be so then the Law and Free-grace are the same if the Light God has put into all men accusing of sin be the gift of Grace the gift of heavenly Righteousness by Christ wherein is the end of the Law and Sin heeded not that we are delivered from that Law in the Letter or Conscience that reveales sin and wrath and while enemies in our minds were reconciled to God by the death of another this is Grace that we are saved in him raised up into heaven in him whilst compassed about with a body of death in our selves this is a mystery to all the Children of Reason the Law and the Letter the darkness that is upon it is that which keeps the Saints in weakness and unstability the world in blindness and Idolatry and Anti-christ with all his righteousness wisdome and works after the Law Reason and Flesh in his power and greatness If the third be so then there is that in the natural man whereby he is able to know and receave the things of the Spirit there is a candle in all men upon which some beames of the God-head do descend and may be known thereby also the righteousness and transgressions of the Law but the deep things of God his Grace in Christ sparkling in old time now in one promise now in another figured by the Law and foretold by the Prophets whereof the righteousness of the Jewes the Philosophy of the Greeks knew nothing this cannot be discerned by the clearest Light in the natural man Thus the Mystery of the second Adam and the restoring of all things in him is levelled and brought down by the Divinity of these People to be no other thing than that Light of the Law and Reason which all Nations have and so whilst they are condemning all other Religions may be concluded in one common Faith and Principle with all those Religions whom they condemne herein onely excelling them that those are Iniquity more manifested these are Iniquity in a Mystery When they shall cease to make the death of Christ and the whole Mystery of Grace in him of none effect I shall cease any longer to account them so The End A TABLE of the several particulars spoken to in this Book 1. COncerning the Righteousness of the Letter of Angels and of God 2. What is Idolatry God may be known three manner of waies 3. Who hold not the Head and how Christ is Head 4. Three chiefest Principles of this People called Quakers examined and weighed 5. How Faith is the Evidence of things not seen 6. Concerning Faith and Sight 7. Concerning the Spirit and Scriptures as together making up a perfect witness or rule of Faith 8. The Light in all men what it is and of what use 9. Two things charged upon us by this People first that we deny the Light within and set it against Christ secondly that we believe in a Christ without these weighed and resolved 10. What is the inward Life and who is the retired Christian 11. A two fold departure from the Faith in the last daies what they are 12. The Christ that dyed at Jerusalem how farre acknowledged and how far denied by this People to be thâ— Redeemer 13. Whether this People build up a Righteousness of the Law 14. Christ first and last Coming what and a Question answered 15. Anti christs last Coming what and how 16. The Authors Testimony concerning the first and last Appearances of Christ 17. Light Purity and Power of this People examined what it is 18. Opposition and persecution that is raised against this People what to be thought of it At Page 47. begins the Review of there Principles as laid down by J. Naylor in his Book called Love to the Lost under these several Heads 1. Concerning the fall of Man 2. Light and Life 3. Righteousness 4. The Word 5 Worship 6. Error and Heresie c. 7. Faith 8 Hope 9. Judgement 10. Perfection 11. Obedience 12. Good Works 13. Election and Reprobation 14 New Birth 15. Baptisme of Christ and that the world so calls 16 the Lords Supper 17. Redemption 18. Justification 19. Sanctification and Mortification 20. The Law 21. Christ Jesus 22. The Ministers of Christ 23. Free-Will
A TESTIMONY TO THE TRUE JESUS And the Faith of him Wherein the Way of the People called QUAKERS is in Meekness and righteousness summed and weighed First in a General Examen of their spirit and chief Principles after in a particular reveiw of the same as it is distinctly set forth in a book of theirs called Love to the Lost Wherein are many things useful for the discerning of Spirits in this hour of darkness and temptation By T. HIGGENSON LONDON Printed for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles near the West end of Pauls 1656. A Testimony to the True JESUS and the Faith of Him COncerning the People called Quakers and that way a sum of their faith profession is come forth signed by James Naylor who seems to be cheif whereby having obtained through Grace a more perfect understanding of them then I had before his Trumpet giving a more certain sound than others had done and having observed that Spirit to shew it self therein with more nakedness and less covering at least to me than at other times I shall in righteousness and love to them and others present a veiw thereof according to the same form and visage it there presents it self under The ground of my appearing herein is not any interest I have in Court or Clergy from both whom I stand at a distance so farre as they appear at a distance from Christ and his work not any zeal I have to any form or way of worship cryed down by this people my heart is knit to all the Lords people from the Priest to the darkest forms though I am not joyned to them outwardly in the letter nor that I am ignorant or a stranger to spiritual mysteries or inward truths at least in part touching which I may say that my thoughts and zeal for Christ within have abounded so above the thoughts I had of his bloud without that I account it infinite mercy I am not at this day in unity with that Spirit that makes the death of Christ of none effect instead of this my appearing against it but my ground is this that I might bear some testimony to the blessed Mystery of Christ crucified and against this or any people so farre as they appear against it and that according to my measure I might set forth and justifie the harmony that is between the perfect Redemption in Christ for 〈◊〉 and the Revelation of him in us which two have been 〈◊〉 the Mystery of Iniquity divided and set up one against the other the first against the last by men zealous for the dead faith of Christ without against his Spirit and the last against the first by men pretending to the Mystery of Christ in them against the Redemption in Christ for them The Law was given by Moses in darkness blackness and tempests and with loud noises but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ in a still and meek way no cry nor voyce to be heard in the streets like as it was then so will it be now if the loud noises of the Commandment and Condemnation by Moses be brought in again the still voyce of Reconciliation and Peace by Christ may not be heard as to many The Law was given by him that spake on Earth commanding things to be done by men in the flesh the Gospel by him that spake from Heaven revealing our Righteousness already wrought in the Lord himself as many as are not ignorant of Sathans devices doe know how easily having begun in the Spirit we return back to the bondage of the first but how hardly we stand fast in the Loyalty of the second if such a spirit or faith shall cover this Land that saith we are not perfected for ever in Christ the Head before any good be done in us what remaines then but that sacrifices for sin be offered again though not in the Temple at Jerusalem yet in the Temples of our bodies and so build up again the old worldly Sanctuary onely changing the manner and form of administration Concerning the Righteousness of the Letter of Angels and of God VVHat may be useful for us to know as to the general Consideration of this and many other Spirits the things following may in part acquaint you in whose hearts the faith and love of Truth does yet remain There is a Righteousness according to the Letter consisting of bodily exercises in the earthly members after the outward Commandement which is but the purifying of the flesh Hebr. 9.13 herein stood the Religion of the carnal Jews under the first Testament this became a covering upon their eyes a vail upon their hearts that they could not see nor receive him who was the righteousness of God There is a Righteousness of Angels or a worshipping of Angels Col. 2. which is the Spirit of Man retired into things within passing beyond the things of the letter or of the body into speculations of the Godhead understanding of Mysteries to a certain perfection of knowledge and holiness all which is but the Glory of Man herein stands the Religion of the Anti-christian Gentiles now under the new Testament this was the sum of all the divinity the School-Doctors did know or deliver this Angelical Perfection falsly so called laid the foundation of the Eremites living by roots in the wilderness of Anchorites shutting up themselves from Communion with men of Monasteries and holy Houses for mortifying the flesh and perfecting in holiness these things while they bear a shew of wisdom in humility and neglecting the body have been in every age and still are set at enmity against him who is the Righteousness of God in the several approachings and manifestations of himself so what Sathan cannot do in a weaker way by the Righteousness of the letter he will endeavour to effect by a Ministery of Light and Righteousnes that appearing as in the glory and purity of an Angel of God he may darken or diminish the righteousness and glory of the Son of God There is the Righteousness of God Jesus Christ who by that fulness of Spirit and Life dwelling in him did at once and for ever not in ours but his own body triumph over and put an end to the Law Sin and Death on his Cross and rising from the Grave raised up and set up together with himself his Church in the heavenly Righteousness in him this Righteousness is as farre above either of the former as Christ is exalted above all Principality and Power therefore can they not add nor extend any righteousness to this no more than the Glory of Man or Angels can add glory 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ This Righteousness is the Word made flesh not the Wâ—… alone nor the flesh alone but the Union of these God and the â—…n Christ in One and the operation proceeding from this Union wrought and remaining in the Person of Jesus Christ this Righteousness being broad and perfect according to the Person in whom it is extends it self unto all and upon all
Mystery and Majesty that lies hid therein Either of these if set up asunder without the other brings forth a twofold errour both perillous and hurtful 1. Imposing the letter of Scripture without the light of the Spirit whether by Churches or Councils may be an opposing the Scriptures against the Spirit and sets up another dominion over the conscience which is subject to Christ alone 2. Imposing any thing for vision or Spirit without liberty of appeal or reference to Scripture whether by an Angel from heaven or an Apostle is a shaking mens minds from off the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone and a carrying them away as by a blast of wind unto another Jesus another Spirit of whom God never spake he that imposeth any thing upon conscience for Spirit without testimony of Scripture is as he that imposeth for Scripture without testimony of the Spirit both equally seeking to bear dominion over our faith the second errour if either is worse than the first the generations that are past who lived more in the letter suffered much by the first these last times which profess more of the Spirit may suffer an hour of sore temptation by the last The conclusion is A call to any light or voyce or word within as the way to Christ from the Spirit and Scriptures unto spirits in distemper who take apparitions of the night for dawnings of day the sparklings of fancy for the true beams of faith unto such thâ—s may seem a ministry of light but he that through Grace has still the faith of Jesus knows it to be a foundation of Sathan laid in the deep in order to a design of blotting out the Gospel and therein the face of the Mediator the Church in him their liberty their joyes and songs in Christ and hereby their third principle aforesaid affirming the Light in the Conscience the way or guide to Christ whereto onely to attend appears to be a darksome fleshly and most legal Principle a very grave wherein Christ Redemption Attonement our Victory and Triumph and Sabbath in him lies buried despised and forgotten for ever thus according to my measure their main Principles are weighed let the spiritual judge The Light in all men what it is and of what use THere is one thing more which I may not pass as being the soul and life of all their principles that the light which is in every man is Christ the Redeemer the Spirit a twofold errour may be discerned herein by the things following Christ as in the beginning the Word was he by whom all things pertaining to the first Creation or natural man were made and do consist and so he was and is the fountain of being and life to every Creature in him we live and breath Christ as the Word by whom all things were made is the splendour and image of the invisible God to the first Creation as brightness to the Son so Christ to the Father is a face of light sending forth his lightenings upon every Creature as a Rule or Law to every motion and operation and as thus he hath lighted up a candle in the natural mans heart and also presents some beams of the Godhead and therein of justice equity soberness c to be discerned by his candle and observed as his law thus all natural principles moral vertues and just laws of Nations are beams from Christ as he is the Word and Light of God to the natural man not as he is a Redeemer The highest office and use of this Light within or of the natural man is this to receive from God the manifestation of the invisible things of him that is the divine power and Godhead and to return to God obedience thereto just and perfect as God is just and perfect that is to know him as God and glorifie him as God thus the fullest account of the light within every man according to the Spirit and Scriptures is this as in it self it is the work of the Law written in their hearts as to its object it is the candle of the Lord in the Spirit of man beholding God according to some speculations of the divinity knowing nothing of the precious Gospel Mystery God manifest in flesh and as to its exercise it is a doing by nature the things contained in the law hence as the sum of things spoken these conclusions follow That the Light within for matter and substance is the fame with the law of Moses that was written upon tables of stone this upon tables of flesh in the conscience both were given for transgression not for righteousness neither of them could reveal or give life both Jews and Gentiles being all under sin From both these Laws whether in tables of stone or tables of conscience Christ came to justifie and deliver bringing forth in himself instead of both a more excellent and perfect law as far as the Sun of Righteousness himself excels that which is but a beam or letter of righteousness onely according to J. Naylor and the people of that way Christ came to redeem Israel in the flesh from the Law and every letter without but to establish in force that within in the conscience by obedience unto which men come to be redeemed this is the first errour the Light within or work of the Law in the heart from the terrour and condemnation whereof the blessed Lord Jesus came to deliver is called and worshipped by them as the Redeemer and Spirit Secondly while they affirm the light within or in every man is the Redeemer they know Christ onely as a Law-giver and worker not as a Justifier and Saviour naturally according to the Godhead as judging and purging away sins within them not Evangelically according to that blessed union or marriage with the humanity as having already therein purged away all sins by himself Christ is formed in the minds and described in the writings of men under a twofold image or resemblance one according to Gospel mystery by the Spirit of God the other according to natural Reason by the spirit of this world Christ beheld as having our sinful flesh condemnation and death as a garment upon him and as having rent and torn the same from off him again by the power of the Spirit of life in him and having so taken them all away as if they had never been this is a true resemblance of him thus is he seen in his proper colours thus Christ is no Moses no Exactor no giver of Laws but a most sweet Saviour and giver of Grace thus is he nothing else but infinite Mercy and Goodness freely given and freely giving to us all things in himself Christ according to this form shining in thy faith shall put to flight Armies of thy temptations shall try the Spirits shall preserve thee from being spoiled by any false doctrines either of subtil philosophy or specious Legality if this image of him thou sufferest to be
call of the Virgins one to another saying let us go trim our lamps and go forth to meet him this will be the work of the Spirit and Saints at that time Anti-christ will come forth in the same form and language as suiting with that season speaking words not of mean and low strain but of high and spiritual things I am Christ or he is come his doctrine will be of things of note and wonder deceiving and drawing many behold he is in the desart among us the lovely despised afflicted and cast out not among the wise mighty and noble behold he is in the secret chambers not in the multitude the assemblies the common wayes of Religion but among us a people separate and gathered and called out of the world into the more inward and spiritual way moreover he will come forth with power all men all things of the earth the faith religion souls and bodies of them which professed the Truth but were not of the Truth shall be given into his hand and be at his devotion the true Christ with his Church shall be as poor weak and inconsiderable in comparison of him lastly he will come with signes the world looks for a sign and he will come with signs of light zeal and holiness signs tokens and wonders to sight sense and judgement of all that are not in Christ such as if they were the very truths workings and comings of the Son of Man himself onely the Elect such as chose not God but were chosen of him such as have not their life in gifts and workings in the spiritual vigour and activity exercised in themselves but in the root of all this that is hid with Christ in God who have their redemption their life their religion in something that is perfect without and beyond all work in themselves that is in Christ himself these are those Elect that have that in them which shall keep them that they cannot be deceived he that in that day shall have a name written in Heaven that is a life compleat in Christ shall be greater than he that shall say Lord in thy Name have we cast out Devils that is we have prophesied and gone forth in the gifts activity and power of thy Spirit Wherefore it may be concluded concerning this people and all other whatsoever spirit or doctrine in them or any other shall teach the coming of Christ to make redemption or reconciliation in us as having not fulfilled the same for us already in himself I testifie against it as no other but the old Law-working Spirit under a new name and form and therein the power of Anti-christ coming forth in one of his highest and last counterfeits of truth thereby to pervert the faith and draw away the eyes and expectations of men from the true Saviour and his true appearance which also draws near An account of the hope that is in me concerning the first and last appearances of Christ COncerning both whose appearances that which is past and that which is to come I shall give a short account of that faith wherein I stand from which I trust neither Word nor Spirit shall ever remove me That Jesus Christ first manifest in flesh came forth not onely as an example of Perfection as some say nor onely as a type or figure without of things to be fulfilled in us nor onely as a Law-giver as others but that in his own body on the tree through union with the eternal Spirit he bore away and abolished our sin and death and fulfilled the Law and Prophets wherein God so rested and therewith was so well pleased that he signified the same by causing the blackness darkness thunderings and lightenings of Sinai in the midst whereof he dwelt before to pass away and the vail of partition between him and us to rent asunder besides which redemption there is none other either before or after by Angels without or by Spirit within that is or shall be wrought as to the thing but onely as to the manifestation thereof That not by following his example or by any work but by faith I come to know and partake of this Redemption which was in being before in him but with other the heavenly things hid in God and in time manifested to my faith and feeling so that I began not to be redeemed or loved when I first beleived but I began by faith to behold and enjoy that love and redemption which was prepared and entire for me in him before I had done either good or evil sin and death being finished and my old man crucified before in him as to God with whom all things are present by faith I come to know it and do reckon with him I am as truly crucified buried and raised up according to the comprehensiveness of his death and crucified Person much more than if the same had been acted in and upon my own Person That while according to my inward man or in a mystery I am in heavenly places above Law sin and death yet for the exercise and tryal of faith according to sight or my earthly man I often walk in the valley of the shadow of death in the feeling of infirmities buffetings and fightings in the flesh thus I am at once both weak and strong on earth and in heaven a sinner and righteous thus I know my redemption and victory as in him compleat while I feel the same redemption and victory as in me but in part and encreasing if my redemption were not more than what I feel the Gospel were not a mystery nor faith would be any more than sight nor grace have any glory That I look for Jesus Christ to come in me more in Spirit manifesting his death his cross and life in me not thereby to make attonement for sin but to gather me up through daily dyings and quickenings into the full sight union and profession of that redemption and grace and glory already given me freely in him also I look for the appearance of the Lord Jesus as God and man who shall enlighten the Saints with his brightness and shall cover the earth with his righteousness before whom all that which is against him shall be consumed by him and that which is of him shall yeild up it self to be perfected in him as the lesser in the greater this is my Testimony and my hope Light Purity and Power of this people examined what it is AFter all that hath been said some may retain this perswasion of this people that they are a people of light purity and power above all others As to their Light I would say That there is a Ministry that knows Christ onely as in an History and teach him so that presseth onely the outward letter according to principles of Law and natural Reason but know not the mystery and Spirit therein what they can comprehend by the letter and reason that they teach and what is more they do judge errour heresie and to
never entered into the heart or invention of man but that righteousness that covers us no further then our works is the invention of man's reason the very life and soul of all false Religions the first is Jerusalem above bringing forth her children unto liberty joy and rest as compleat in the Lord the last is Jerusalem beneath bringing forth to bondage and hanging down the Head labouring for a perfection in the flesh not discerning that already in the Lord. Was the woman that touched but the hem of Christ's garment made as whole as they whom he touched with his hand were the Disciples that sat at Jesus his feet made clean every whit as he that leaned in his bosome or was as the Child while under Tutors and Governours yet heir of all things and is it not so now doth God measure out his love and everlasting righteousness by inches and ells according to our obedience as men in a bargain what grace or glory is in such a faith where such a Gospel is received judge what is their spirit unmerciful censorious Let these people know that the righteousness as in the Lord though now least in fight shall be a shadow a Cover a Cloud upon Saints under which they shall be safe where righteousness as only within or the Light within where the blood is not though now having a glory with Religious Reason and unstable souls shall be condemned as found wanting let Saints stand fast in their Liberty in Christ while infirmity is in themselves yet let them look for the Revelation of it in themselves if it may be to swallow up all infirmity let such as boast of their Liberty in the Lord and desire not to be gathered into it in their members know they have neither liberty in him nor in themselves Concerning the Word They say That the Light within all men is the word of God sufficient in it self without any other word for Counsel and strength that this word or light in all men is that of which the Scriptures were given to declare and can be understood only by it That this Light or word be obeyed washeth cleanseth and conformeth man to God and this is the Reconciliation The inference If the light within every man be the word the Gospel then all Ages have had all Nations have had the Gospel in equality of Light and fulness if they would obey it then Moses Prophets and Christ were all but as one in Authority and Ministery equal and one that is testifying and pointing to the light within men not to the son of David the Mediator him that came as none before him nor after shall by Spirit Water and Blood Truth saies that the light within every man is the remaining sparkle of that Law or light that God set up in greater glory in the first or natural man and serves in all Nations as the Candle of the Lord representing God only as under a vail that is according to the Law and by things that are made That Christ come in the flesh in himself fulfilled the voices of the Law and Prophets and put an end to their Ministery as being the Minister by whom God would speak in the last times this is the Word the Oracles Figure and Tables with all the divers manners of God's speaking under the Law being all to serve but for a season and to be silent when he came who was the Living Word Christ is the Word according to a twofold Ministery as without us in flesh dying for our sins and rising for our justification so he was the Minister or Living Word of reconciliation as within his in spirit so he is the inward Word or Spirit of Revelation these two Ministries are not one without the other both are needful for us yet each in their order Christ's Ministry in flesh must first make way for his Ministry in Spirit till the Word of reconciliation had finished his work of redeeming us to God by his blood the spirit of revelation could not come as it is said the Spirit was not given because that Jesus was not glorified if no redemption by his blood in that Ministry without then no Revelation of the Spirit of grace within this people believe not the first therefore they have not the last but I entreat them to hear that the blood the Cross the grace the crucified body of the man Christ was and is to the true believer as the loud voice of God speaking reconciliation and redemption to be already finished in himself not to be done in us as it is written when he had said it is finished he gave up the ghost by that Ministry without in flesh he brought us unto God by that Ministry of his spirit he reveals God in us this Christ is the Word as in both these Mysteries and one is not without the other but the Light within every man knows him in neither therefore together with the Law with which it is one ought to give place Concerning Worship He affirms that the spirit of life from God wherein is the mind will and love of God the Name power and wisedom of Christ wherewith alone God can be acceptably worshipped is in every man that the way whereby the movings of this spirit of life and leadings may be seen and attained is the Light within every man and waiting therein that the light or spirit within every man is the pattern of true worship they who abide and serve God therein deny all the worship and Religions of the world and are well pleasing to the Father they who go out of this light into the letter or any thing without go into the dead works and worships darkness and Idolatry The word of faith saies that the law without or spirit in every man that saies do this and live are the vail and do keep them that are under it in the first Tabernable that is washings righteousness redemption by obedience in us that Christ's dead body was the rending of the vail or first Tabernacle and the way into the holiest through which we draw nigh unto God by the faith alone of Christ crucified for us without works to abide in any law or light whatsoever either from within or without and to be exercised therein as to be redeemed or perfected thereby this is to worship God according to the Law and as in the flesh but to worship God as already redeemed from the Law flesh and sin as already freed and set up through faith in the life spirit and righteousness of Christ this is to worship the father as in spirit and â—…h Thâ—… the way to attain to this spirit of Christ is not by the 〈◊〉 of the Law or waiting in the light within every man which is all one but by the hearing of faith or Christ revealed in the soul as the end of all Laws curses and evils and the fulness of all good things unto us that principle placed in all men may lead unto a spirit
in one the Pagan seeks perfection by his Law natural Reason and Vertue the Turk by his Alchoran the Jew by Moses the Monke by the Rule of his Order the Spiritual Papist by mortification of the Spirit and this People by perfect obedience to the Light within that is the Law in this all are one all seeking righteousness by work in the flesh in obedience to Tradition or Letter or Spirit The Law is a great light manifesting all flesh and the deeds thereof a great Lord ruling over all flesh as long as it lives Christ came forth greater than the Law crucified the flesh and the body of death in himself and thereby put an end to the dominion of the Law unto all that believe thus in his Crosse I am dead to all things and they to me Whereas he saith they know not his Commands in Spirit who say Christ fulfilled the Law for us in his own person or that he makes what we do accepted with the Father I ask of him and of all in his perswasion Can yee pass through the depths of Sin Death and the Curse that he passed through yee neither know the Law nor what spirit yee are of Can yee bring forth the works of obedience an incorruptible righteousness in your corruptible bodies answering to that pure Law and most pure God before whom Moses did fear and quake and Abraham by works could not glory and no flesh can be justified were not all we like sheep gone astray and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed where this is truly and purely believed Revelations of Christ are most desirable and glorious where this is excluded all pretended approaches to God Revelations of God or perfections of obedience will be but as hotter fires to consume first your faith and interest in Christ and after your precious souls with all your labour and pains and works To what he saies the bloud within makes perfect that without could not let it be said the bloud of the Man Christ through the eternal Spirit working therein became the death of the first Adam with all his deeds and all the evils that came in by him so with him am I already dead and freed from sin as in him the Head as this my death and freedome in him does reveale it self in me so I dye daily as in my earthly members If by the bloud within be intended this that as the bloud of Bulls and Goats was a figure of the bloud of Christ so his bloud was but a figure of bloud or Spirit within us then know assuredly that as the bloud offered in the first Tabernacle was offered without the Holiest though within the Tabernacle so the bloud within all purifyings by the light within will be found to be but the bloud without that is offered without the veyle without the Holiest though within your Persons But is not the Spirit sufficient in power to redeem from sin by his work within us let this be said as of use in most things that have been spoken the power of the Spirit is unsearchable and unlimited but the mystery of his Will is declared in Christ that not by Spirit alone but by Spirit and Bloud and that in one man he has redeemed and purged all the evils that came by the offence of one of old God filled Heaven and Earth yet he would be known and sought only in Jerusalem nothing could comprehend the God head yet the fulness of it dwelt in Christ bodily so the Spirit dwells in all his people yet through the bloud of the Man Christ alone did God chuse to go forth in his power to the abolishing of our death and manifesting eternal freedome for us so when it is said yee are justified redeemed and saved by God by Grace by the name of Christ by the Spirit of our God we are to understand that the Name and Grace and Spirit of God went forth against our sins and death in the bloud of Jesus and thereby did them away forever which by faith we behold and as we behold we are changed into the same Image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Wherefore the proper use of the Law is first to bridle civil transgressions and then to reveale and encrease spiritual transgressions the Law is a Light which revealeth not the Grace of God not righteousness and life but sin and death wrath and judgement and as in Mount Sinai the thundring lightning the thick and dark cloud the hill smoaking and flaming and all that terrible shew did not rejoice nor quicken the children of Israel but terrified and astonished them and shewed how unable they were with all their purity and holiness to abide the Majesty of God so the Law in its true use doth nothing else but reveale sin work wrath and bring into desperation and here it hath an end and ought to go no further the use of the Gospel is to reveale the end of the Law of sin and wrath in the death of Christ and the righteousness peace and love of God brought forth for us in him I shall adde an observation of Luther of this difference between the Law and Gospel there is nothing to be found in the Books of Monks Cannonists and School men no nor in the Books of the ancient Writers there was a wonderful silence many years as touching this difference in all Schools and Churches and this brought mens consciences into great danger for unlâ—ss the Gospel be plainly discerned from the Law tru-doctrine cannot be kept sound and uncorrupt but if this difference be well known it is an easie matter to discern faith from works Christ from Moses and all politick works for all things without Christ are the Ministry of death for the punishing of the wicked Concerning Christ Jesus HIs Faith is that Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death that he might become a living example to all Generations that the Light within every man unâ—ted and followed will lead unto Christ and will reveale the power and God-head and so the Light within is the sure word of Prophesie The word of Faith saies that Christ being the brightness of the invisible God came forth in flesh and being the eternal word wisdome and power of God and so having obtained a name and supremacy above all other Lords he put an end to the Law Sin and Death and the dominion thereof over us in his Crosse that he might bring forth Grace Righteousness and Life for us in himself that so we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear and is this no more than a living example to you and if so can ye after his example break through the gates of sin wrath and the grave and make your access unto God through all as he did is so great a mystery of Faith as this become no more with