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
Love to the Lost AND A HAND HELD FORTH To the Helpless to lead out of the Dark Wherein is plainly held out divers perticular things as they are learned of Christ and are most needfull to be known in all who professe godliness Set forth chiefly for the directing the Simple into the living way of Truth as it is in Christ Jesus the Righteous that therein they may come to the life and power of that which the World hath in words which being received satisfies the weary Soul and makes the Creature well-pleasing to his Maker Wherein also there is some Reproofs to the Dark World By one that seeks the redemption of Sions Seed and a Lover of the Creation of God who is called JAMES NAYLOR London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the west end of Pauls 1650. Let him that reads understand FRiends The things following which I have declared of are not things of Man nor by Man did I receive them but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is contrary to the Wisdom and Will of Man Nor to the wisdome and will of Man do I commend them to be received for the natural mans wisdome receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God therefore would devour that which is born thereof so to that wisdom I appear not being a leight thing to me to be judged thereof But if any one know the gift of God and a measure of that Spirit which openeth the bosome of the Father and reveales his secrets unto Babes The least measure of that if not clouded with the Imaginations will savour these things and to such they may be profitable So to the light of Christ that which changeth not in every one I appear to be judged and discerned which is one in the Male and in the Female for therein alone both these things and all other that proceeds from that root makes for gathering Creatures together into that One Name and Seed wherein all the Nations of the earth are blessed As therewith they are gathered into the one Word of Faith and Power of Life to believe and speak the same things in the godly Conversation which leadeth to the end of all Rents Schisms Heresies and Errours Sects and Divisions into that one Name to be baptized where the fulness of God is Blessed for ever So whoever thou art that shall read these particulars following or any thereof and shall find any thing which for the present thou canst not receive be not hasty in judging that which yet thou know'st not nor kick not against that which comes contrary to thy will lest thou put far from thee in thy will that which therewith thou canst not call again and the day of thy visitation pass over unawares and in the evil day thou be made to cry out How have I hated Instruction and resisted the day of Healing And this know that no Prophecie of old ever came by the will of man nor by the will of man could be received but by those that stood in their own wills was ever resisted And so must it be in these things unless with the eye that never changeth thou read'st them which if thou know'st such a thing in thee and stand single therein in the meek Spirit not lifted up above thy measure thou wilt come to feel how that of God in thee answers to the things of God as face answers face and find them to agree with the life of the Scriptures though for the present some things appear darkly for to that Seed which is not of this world which savours spiritually and judgeth not according to outward appearance is my service And to that of God in every Conscience am I manifest if therein I be received however a good savour am I unto the Lord in them that are saved and in them that perish at that day when it shall appear that I have not handled the Word of God deceitfully Though with the Swine who feeds on the Husk this may be trampled on and I sought to be rent if to such it come to whom I send it not A Table of the several Particulars following Concerning the Fall of Man Pag. I. Concerning Light and Life p. 1. Concerning Righteousnesse p. 3. Concerning the Word p. 8. Concerning Worship p. 8. Concerning Errour Heresie c. p. 11. Concerning Faith p. 13. Concerning Hope p. 15. Concerning Love p. 17. Concerning Judgment p. 19. Concerning Perfection p. 21. Concerning Government or Magistracy p. 24. Concerning Obedience p. 27. Concerning good Works p. 29. Concerning Election and Reprobation p. 32. Concerning the New Birth p. 34. Concerning the Baptism of Christ from that the World so calls p. 37. Concerning the Lords Supper p. 43. Concerning Redemption p 47. Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification p. 50. Concerning the Law p. 52. Concerning Christ Jesus p. 56. Concerning the Ministry of Christ p. 59. Concerning Free-Will p. 62. Concerning the Fall of Man IN the beginning God made all things good so did he Man whom then he made in his own Image and placed in him his own Wisdome and Power whereby he was compleatly furnished with Dominion Power and Authority over the Works of Gods hands knowing the nature and use of each Creature by what God had placed in him of Himself who in that state was the Son of God whose seed was in himself God also made the Tree of Life in the mid'st of the Garden and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and both of these was good in their place but the Tree of Knowledge not good for food Therefore did he that made it forewarn of it as the thing wherein death was placed as in the other Tree was Life And herein was the Blessing and the Curse placed the Life and the Death the Obedience and the Disobedience Election and Reprobation And this was good for man in their place whilst man stood in his place guided by that which placed him in the good and fore-warned him of the knowledge and gave him power against it whilst he stood in that Wil which had set all these things in their place which Will was free for God and from sinne and the will of God and the will of Man was one and so at unity with all the Creation But when man looked out into the other where he ruled who abids not in the Truth wherein the disobedience was received in of that which was contrary to the will of God to feed upon then he joyned to that which was contrary wherein the weakenesse was and the death darknesse and blindnesse as to the things of God and that which freely he had received of God And grew subtil within himself and wise to do evil so that he had lost the will that was free to wait upon God in his wisdome and counsel freely to be cared for by him and so from the uprightnesse and innocency and pure wisdome and spiritual power which God had placed in his heart he
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
Perfection GOd is perfect and so is all his works and all his gifts and who ever receives his gifts receives that which is perfect And by receiving and joyning to that which is perfect is the creature made perfect And no farther then the creature is in this perfection can any be united to God nor appeare in his sight nor be blessed but is gone out into the curse from what was in the beginning and so is in the fall unredeemed and hath no more of Christ then what he hath of perfection for perfection is of Christ and imperfection is of the Devill and these are two contraryes and comes from contrary grounds and brings forth contrary fruits for he that is of God is of perfection and believes perfection but who is of the Serpent cannot own it nor beleive it being blinded by the God of this world So God sent his son into the world to preach perfection even the perfection of the Father that all who will believe may inherit it and all that believed him believed perfection And when he had left a perfect example in all things he ascended and gave gifts to men several sorts of gifts all for the perfecting the Saints that all might come up to one faith to a perfect man to the measure and stature and fulness of Christ that so he may be an everlasting redeemer perfecting the work of God in every generation of them that believe in his work and follow him And this all his ministers improved to the same end and preached and prayed that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus from whom they had received the gift and all that believed them believed perfection and pressed after it as the end of their faith knowing nothing lese then perfection could give them rest and redemption Now since the mistery of iniquity entred there is another ministry gone out into the world who hath taken up an imitation instead of gift have begotten an other kind of faith in the world wholly reprobate as to perfection preaching against it with all the power that may be holding it for blasphemy and calling it a doctrine of Devills and the like And these would be called the ministers of Christ that so they may not misse of their end for did they come in his name whose work they uphold he knows they might run in vain Thus they deceive all who receive them by their words but who mindes the end of their work may easily see as much difference as is betwixt Christ and Belial the work of Christ is and ever was to renew man again to his perfect estate but the work of Antichrist is to withstand it and each hath his ministers sutable to their ends intended Christs end is to perfect the devils is to keep unperfect And each ministers have their faith hope and other gifts sutable one pure the other polluted and according to each faith so it is to all that believe them follow them for the faith of Christ is a shield gives victory over uncleanness sin and evill but the devills faith lets in and believes it must be so for had not the devil first brought man to beleive him rather then God he could not have polluted what God had perfected And the same way he takes to keep up his work by which at first he wrought it So none can come to know a new creature but who can believe perfection nor can any come to God nor Christ nor Gods righteousness but who comes to perfection For all who are in the unperfect righteousness are in your own righteousness for the lest measure of Gods righteousness is perfect and all are in perfection who become servants to it and thereby become free from sin So by your unbeliefe you destroy your souls who are in your own works which makes nothing perfect so measureing your selves with your selves cuts you off from Christ as measureing your faith by your own ability so standing in that covenant which makes nothing perfect but the coming in of a better hope doth and this all know whose faith stands in what God is and not what we can do in everlasting righteousness not in what we have to work the one being righteousness by faith revealed a gift put into the believer the other an Imitation of the same in works but not the power and such are you who read a verse and see therein what the Saints did and then set your selves to do the like but know not that righteousnes revealed in you in the faith which they had which was wrought in them by the Lord before they brought it to light and so did not work but beleived on him who worketh the will and the deed of his own good pleasure who alone is well pleased with his own work and with all who are servants to his work to bring it to light to his praise whose work-manship such are And they who are found herein have his witness in the light to prove their workes that they are wrought in God and not of self self-will nor for self-ends nor in self-time nor in self-power and all that know this perfect will and acceptable worke of God knows it begotten and brought forth in self deniall in all things and not of us but of him that is perfect and so makes our way perfect And this is the covenant that makes perfect all that comes thereto and self being denied in the work boasting is excluded by the law of faith which receives the free and perfect gift And for this cause the first covenant was found faulty and disanulled because it made not the commers thereto perfect as pertaining to the conscience nor did exclude boasting no more doth your imitations from the letter for the light in your consciences witness your imperfection therein and your works is condemned before they be wrought and your ministers tells you your righteousness is not perfect yet they call for righteousness and yet say your best is but as filthy raggs and they call for prayer and yet tell you that you must be wicked while you live and that the prayers of the wicked are abomination to the Lord. So the abominable sacrifice is preached and performed and perfection denied by all those priests and people who have not received the gift for perfecting And of this sort are they who have their preaching to study and to seek at other mens mouthes or from the Letter but have it not from the mouth of the Lord freely given the perfect gift for perfecting the Saints so what they get that they sell for none can give freely but who so receives nor can any perfect others who have not the perfect gift themselves So you that talk of perfection you must first know a free gift from above Perfection is not from below where you have your carnal imaginations and reason and wisdom and prudence gotten by your learning and studies whereof you boast and wherein you exalt
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
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
in bondage Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification THe wisdom of men in the Fall finding these several words in Scripture hath in their imaginations run them into divisions and separated that which is in one and cannot be devided in the possession for it is one that worketh all these where he is present according to the measure received And this is the just one who by faith lives in the Creature and the Creature in him and so becomes the justifier and sanctifier of all that believe and the mortifier of that nature which is out of the faith and one of these is not alone without the rest For that which sanctifies that mortifies and the same justifies and all that know what it is to have these in the life knows this I know there are a people who have a desire to Heaven more then to holynesse and they lest they should spoyle their Carnal delights have in their brain-imag'nation conceipted a Justification without santification or mortification wresting those Scriptures which condemns the works of the law and therewith they would exclude the righteousnesse of faith also And because the Scripture saith God justifies the ungodly through faith therefore they conclude themselves justified in their ungodlinesse by a fancy which they call faith but are without faith in Christ For that faith which laies not hold upon Gods righteousnesse is not the faith of Christ but a dead thing for so far as any hath the faith of Christ so far it reveals Gods righteousnesse without the law from faith to faith by which righteousnesse of God the just lives and the unjust dies and so justified as they are sanctified and mortified and no further even as the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleive without respect of persons No righteousnesse no faith in Christ but where Gods righteousnesse is unto all and upon all there the belief is witnessed and the faith is shewed by the works which cannot be shewed without the works for that faith that hath not works is dead being alone as the body without the Spirit so is your faith without workes and so is your justification without holinesse and mortification of life And you will find in the end that he that justifies the wicked in you is the same that condemneth the just and they are both abomination to the Lord And this is your state who plead for sin and live in pleasure and wantonly on the earth you slay the just and holy one and save the unjust alive and so know not him that is just who justifies mortifies sanctifies and redeemes who of God is made so to us that in all things we are and have we may glory in him And although the Scriptures mention these three yet not to devide them so as to make people believe they may have one and not all but as to shew the severall effects of that one work of mans redemption all wrought by one thing in the creature For the blood of Christ it washes away the filth and so puts off the old man and mortifies the deeds of that body and so sanctifies and justifies The Spirit it mortifies and sanctifies and justifies now though the Saints named both these it was not to devide them but being one they might declare it by either for none could have the one without the other and all that have them are thereby mortified sanctified and justified yet none of these without the creature being works of faith and not of selfe for by the law of faith is selfe-sanctification self-mortification and self-justification excluded though they who had received the Spirit were called to all these by faith in his blood yet it is the work of God wrought by Christ in the believer and in the light are they called to behold the work of God herein and joyne to it in the faith and obedience thereto being the work of God which he will work in all that beleive in the light that they may receive his Son in whom the promise is and the power to mortification sanctification and justification as by faith he is received from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised againe for our justification but such who would share in his Justification but not have fellowship in his sufferings and obedience are such as are justified in conceipt but sin raignes and the unjust lives and acts in them and this is selfe that justifies selfe but is not just before God the just being dead in trespasses and sins but God justifies the living and not the dead Therefore the Saints suffered the losse of all things counting them as doung that they might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death These through death came to the power and fellowship of his resurrection whereby they are justified being raised with him to newnesse of life by faith receiving the gift of Gods righteousnesse and becoming servants thereto and thereby became free from sin and this is true justification where there is no condemnation where the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the creature walks no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for the condemnation is to him that walks after the flesh but he Gal. 5. 16. that walks in the Spirit is justified for he that walks in the Spirit shal not Rom. 8 3 4 fulfill the lusts of the flesh and there is mortification to that nature that breaks the law and the just is seen who fulfils the law in such as walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit So not the hearers of the law are just Rom. 2 13. before God but the doers of the law shall be justified In the first mans state the law is broken and there mortification and sanctification is denyed and there the man would be justified from the guilt of sin but not from the love and power of sin but would have his carnall delights in the world and Heaven also but this is vaine hope and will perish But in the second mans state the law is fulfilled through mortification sanctification Justification of the Spirit And no man can be justified where the just lives not for that by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified Concerning the Law IN this thing are many people confounded yea all who know not the ministration of the Spirit for such going into the Scriptures and finding the ministration of the Letter and the ministration of the Spirit and themselves being under neither of these but in Notion as they have received it in their imaginations and not from the Mouth of the Lord some say they are under the Law and that it continues still others say but some part of it which is Morall others say nay but it