by poor Lazarus lest said he they also come to this Place of Torment Luke 16.28 So all you that are lofty and wanton upon the Earth consider your latter End who spend your precions Time to the Flesh in the Lust of Uncleanness and nourish your Hearts as in a Day of Slaughter James 5.5 O remember the Day wherein the Holy Pure God will plead with you for all your Abominations and for your Secret Sins that you have committed against the God of Heaven and how you make merry over the VVitness that brings Condemnation upon you because of your Sins and even torments the VVorker of Iniquity in secret this is the Faithful and True VVitness even Jesus the True Messenger who brings Gâ—adtidings to the imprisoned Soul that 's like to perish in Iniquity and this is he that was crucified in the Flesh but quickned again in the Spirit by which Spirit he preached to the Spirits in prison 1 Pet. 3.18 19. And it may be thus men may rebel agaiâ—st him and not turn at his Reproofs but spiritually may crucifie him to themselves as some did in Days past Heb. 6.6 Rev. 11.8 but it would have been much better that they had never had a Being for when God shall call them to an Account for the Deeds done in the Body then shall they cry to the Mountains fall upon us and to the Hills cover or hide us from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.15 16 17. for the Hour of his Judgment is come and who shall be able to stand Therefore return unto him betimes before it be too late that you may be reconciled to the Father and so the Lord will return unto you in his Love and in his Tender Mercy will he visit you as you yield unto him in your Hearts for such as obey him this Day do certainly injoy his Peace and in his Name is their Safety which is his Power by which their Souls are kept from the spiritual Enemy and therefore O Land of my Nativity hear the Word of the Lord God of Heaven which VVord is near unto all the Inhabitants thereof from one End unto another that the Land may be cleansed and enjoy hâ—r Sabbaths lest Afflictions and great â—orrow come in like a flood upon the inhabitants from the Great God whose Righteous Soul is grieved because of the Abominations that are within thy Borders who by his searching living Power that is Eternal over all Death and Hell is searching from one End to the other to bring Mankind into his Light and Life to worship him in his Spirit and Truth who is the blessed Creator of all the Beginning and the End to whom be Glory forever Amen THE Righteous God whose Power is great and who is wonderful in Counsel and excellent in working Isaiah 28.29 hath in these last Days appeared invisibly in the inward Parts of Mankind to place his Name and his pure Fear in the Hearts of his People according to his ancient Promise Heb. 10.16 Jer. 31.33 and to write his Law in the Hearts of his Children who are truly turned unto him and amongst the many Witnesses the Lord who is rich in his Love unto Mankind not willing that any should perish he visited me who was a Wanderer in Desolation from Year to Year seeking the Way of the Redeemed of the Lord and a Cry in secret was begotten in my Heart after God who in his own time did hear and Answer my Earnest Desire and I well remember the Days of my tender Years when I was very young there was an Innocent Breathing within me after the Thing that is Good and I saw Sin in its Conception but knew not that which gave me the Knowledge of it and Swearing I saw to be a great Evil in them that were addicted thereunto and unto the Nineth and Tenth Year of my Age I was in a good Measure restrained from Evil according to the Knowledge I then had but afterwards when Years did encrease I well remember my great Loss for evil Desires did spring up within me and by the subtil one I was betrayed and led into divers Pleasures and Vanities of this Wicked World and into many Evils which did displease the Lord and so the Tender Desires which were after Righteousness were slain and then great Darkness and Sorrow did overtake me and so into a spiritual Captivity from the Light that did shine within me in my tender Years and so for many Years walkt in the Crooked By-paths of Darkness and Ignorance in Disobedience without the Knowledge of the true God in which time I was a Servant to the Wicked One and so are all that obey him be they high or low rich or poor and after some Years I began to consider my Condition and something within me bringing to Remembrance what I had done and laying before me the Danger that attends the wicked and in this time a Travail was begotten within me to seek the Lord and repent of my Sins and from Day to Day under the Indignation of the Lord which was revealed against me because of Sin and here was a Travail through much Fear and Doubtfulness what would become of my Soul if God should cut off my Life and indeed I could read Adam's Condition when he was afraid of the Lord and hid himself because he was naked and in the first Adam I then was and so lost in the Fall and as God behold me in that woful State Heb. 2.15 subject to Bondage for Fear of Death at last he opened unto my Soul the way of Life howbeit Sorrow overtook me and much Bowed-downness did compass me about and then the Enemy of my Soul woâ—â—d have taken away my Life but the secret invisible Arm of God's Power did uphold me though I knew it not so I say God is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 1.10 And as Tenderness was begotten in my Heart so my Sins became a Burden too heavy for me to bear And this Testimony I give in the Name of the Lord that whosoever feels the Weight of their Sins it 's by the working of God's Heavenly Power begetting Tenderness in their Hearts though they know it not And so none can come to God but by this Way as our Lord said None can come unto me except the Father that has sent me draw him John 6.44 And so my Heart was bowed before the Lord and an Inward Desire begotten that none could satisfie but him alone And I saw the Ways of Man in his corrupt Nature were not those which lead to God's Kingdom and from Professor to Prophane all were gone astray then my Cry was the more earnest to the unknown God and none amongst my Worldly Relations and Neighbours could tell me the Way of my Soul 's Beloved till at last the Power of the Lord opened my Understanding and as I retired my mind inwardly in
out of my Sins and from the Wayes and Worships of the VVorld who are not in the Spirit and in the Truth and therefore will come to an End and the true VVorship which is in the Spirit and in the Truth will be established for God who is strong in Judgment will raise up his own Tabernacle Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and the Time is come wherein the Lord will work and wo unto such as endeavour to hinder his VVork which is a righteous VVork and will stand when the Pleasure of Sin shall end with Everlasting Punishment for it is Righteousness that will remain when God shall judge the VVorld and search out every secret VVork that hath been wrought in Darkness yea when Inquisition shall be made for the Thoughts of the Vngodly And so all that read understand and turn unto the Lord for he is certainly risen in great Power yea he hath taken unto him his great Power and is come to reign 1 Cor. 15.25 for he hath seen the great Backslidings of the Sons of Men and the Darkness that hath vailed the Creation and the Death that hath reigned over Mankind and he is come to take away the Vail that the Enemy of Mankind hath spread over the Nations and to destroy the Face of the Covering cast over all People that Death may be swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15.54 55 And the Holy Pure God whole Dominion is an Ancient Dominion and his Heavenly Glorious Kingdom is from Everlasting to Everlasting before the Devil and Death's Kingdom Rule and Government was he hath beheld the Sad Estate of the Sons of Men hath sent forth a Saviour who is mighty the same that in Dayes past was mighty in word and Deed before God and all the People Luke 24.19 and the same Saviour even Jesus which is Christ the Lord hath redeemed and saved a People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 who is able to bring forth all the distressed amongst the People whose inward Cry is to the unknown God as mine was who hath delivered my Soul from Death who is my Shepherd Bishop and Teacher in whom dwelleth all Fullness who laid down his Life for his Sheep whose precious Blood hath redeemed us whom my Soul hath Cause to extol and praise Night and Day who is my Strength and Defence against all the Assaults of my Soul's Enemy to whom saith my Soul be Glory Everlasting and Praises for ever rendered who is over all Blessed forever Amen After this Work was begun in my Soul and my Understanding opened to see the sad and woful State of Mankind being fallen into the State of the first Adam in the Separation from God and Christ Jesus my Heart was filled with Sorrow and a Zeal for the Name of the Lord God did livingly spring in my Heart and a Necessity was laid upon me to warn my Neighbours to turn unto the Lord and the Lord shewed me the sad and woful State of many whose Iniquities are even come to the full and I warned them in the Name of the Lord in their publick Assembliâ—s to turn from the Evil of their wayes and now it lives in my Heart afresh to warn them by writing also in the Holy Fear and Awe of the God of Heaven and Earth in the deep Consideration of their sad Estate And now my Neighbours this is unto you in Bowels of tender Love whose oâ—l desireth your Everlasting Good that you may consider your Wayes and turn unto the Lord for he is merciful slow to anger and of great Kindness that Inwardly you may be sensible of the Power of Jesus Christ whose Heavenly Light shews you your Sins for great are your Abominations which grieves the Lord God and the abounding thereof from Day to Day How doth Drunkenness abound amongst you and Pride and Vain Glory and Swearing and Lying from Day to Day abound within the Borders of the Place of my Nativity for whose Sakes my Heart hath often been bowed down before the Lord that the Dayes of Sin and Iniquity may come to an End Now Friends and Neighbours there is no Way for you to escape the Indigration of the Lord but by Repentance and therefore repent speedily and forsake your Sins in this Day wherein the Lord hath visited you with his Day Spring from on high and that is the true Light that sheweth unto you your Thoughts and reproves you in Secret for Lying Swearing and Drunkenness and all manner of Uncleanness and that is the Day Spring from on high revealed from God to lead out of Sin and to save from Transgression and this is the Grace of God which the Apostle spake of which hath appeared unto all men which is the true Teacher and Leader out of Sin Tit. 2.11 into Holines and this will search your Hearts as you wait for it for how have you been saying from Time to Time At what Time soever a Sinner doth repent him from the Bottom of his Heart God will blot out all his Transgressions out of his Remembrance and do not many take Liberty to sin because of this but as the Promise of Forgiveness upon Repentance Ezek. 18.21 22. commends the Mercy of God that none might despair yet the Lord will surely plead with all that are presumptuous and Continuers in Sin read your Portion Ezek. 18.20 therefore all both old and young remember Repentance from the Bottom of the Heart for that you must all come to witness if you be made clean so that God may receive you And indeed that is a Thing of great Concernment but that is the Thing most wanting amongst men for there are Professions enough but I see but few that are come to the Cleansing of the inside or inward Washing but as the Pharisees who made clean the outside of the Cup or Platter but the inside was unclean Luke 11.39 So there are many outside Professors of God and Christ that â—râ— confessing their Sins and Repentance as they say from the Bottom of the Heart but the Cause remains the Bottom is still corrupt and therefore that you may come to the Bottom that is the Desire of my Soul and the End of writing unto you for you can never come to the Bottom till you come to the Spirit of Truth the Heavenly Light that lets you see the Bottom of your Hearts and searcheth out the most hidden Things for the Heart of Man is deceitful and none can search it but the Lord Jer. 17.10 and the Lord knows it and tries the Heart aâ—d searcheth the innermost Parts And this is the Substance that is come that searcheth the Heart and declares unto man his Thoughts Ames 4.13 and as you obey him who is near you even the Spirit of Truth â—o you will come to witness the Work you are a talking of a Death to Sin and a New Birth unto Righteousness for Christ Jesus is manifest to take away Sin renew Man and Woman again to God And such as come to witness Repentance from
the Bottom of the Heart are the only People of God who are come to the Foundation and Rock which is laid in the Bottom of the Heart that is cleansed for such as are cleansed to build upon So this is the Truth and is no Lye and is a sure Teacher which is in Heaven and not only so but in the Earth also by his Spirit and Power redeeming and bringing up out of Captivity his Heritage that mourned unto him Jer. 12.11 being in Desolation and all false Coverings that serve for a Cloak for your Sins as a bare Confession and yet remain the same as before will be too narrow to hide you from the Wrath of God which is like to break forth upon you except you repent And therefore my Country-men and Neighbours I cannot but deal plainly with you to declare in Plainness the Thing that is upon me from the Lord for I truly desire your Everlasting Good And now you that are young and think you have much Time to spâ—nd take heed to your selves and remember the Lord before whom you must appear that it may be well with you for the Lord visited me amongst you in the Dayes of my Youth not that I was better then others but God who is rich in Mercy heard the inward Cry of my Soul and granted me Repentance unto Life Rom. 10.12 and that which I was saved by that declare I unto you to be the only and alone Saviour and there is not another that can save from Sin but Jesus Christ John 4.29 42. neither is there any Way to come to God but by him John 14.6 and there is no way to come to him but as you turn to his Light in your Consciences that lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1.9 So all repent and live for Wo will overtake all the wicked and great Distress will come upon them from the Lord for the Day is dawned wherein he hath begun his Work which he will carry on by his mighty Power and it is in vain for any to gainsay the Lord and all false Professions the Lord will bring down and set up his Ancient standing Rule over all yea the Standard of his Power over the Devil and all God's Enemies for the Year of his Redeemed is come and the Day of Vengeance is in his Heart Isa 63.4 who hath suffered and hath been slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 by the Wicked amongst Men and in many Ages and Generations he appeared spiritually and by his mighty Power began to reform the Nations but People dealt deceitfully with him and cast his Word behind their back Neh. 9.26 and in this dark Night of Apostacy he hath greatly suffered with his Heritage which hath been in the Wildernss and in the Streets of that great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where the Witnesses have prophesied in Sack cloth and Ashes Rev. 11.3 but now the appointed Time is come wherein the Lord hath prevailed over him that hath darkned and desolated the People and hath taken to him his great Power and is conquering Psal 146.10 and in this his Day he will cut his Work short in Righteousness for a short Work will the Lord make in the Earth Rom. 9.28 and all Foundations of every Profession are clearly seen in the Light of the Lamb. all whose Vine is the Vine of Sodom and Grapes Grapes of Gomorrah will be shaken as a Fig Tree that casteth her untimely Figs when she is shaken with a mighty Wind Rev. 6.13 yea the Harvest of the Earth will be reaped and cast into the Wine press of the Wrath of God Rev. 14.19 And he that People sin against whose Way you err and stray from and whom you pierce by Reason of your wicked Works I say The Lamb that was slain who liveth and was dead who hath all Power given unto him in Heaven and in Earth Rev. 1.18 he treadeth the Wine press of the Wrath and Fierceness of the Almighty God whom all Rebellious Christians have forsaken therefore will he bring Judgment into Victory that Righteousness may run down as a mighty Stream and happy and blessed will all such be that return unto him in their Hearts who is come near to execute true Justice and Judgment in the Earth who is the Covenant of the People the Gentiles Light and Israel's Glory I say such will see his Goodness and they only will be received into the Father's Kingdom being freed from the great Punishment due because of Sin And so my Country men Repentance unto Life yea a Forsaking of your Sins that will cause the Lord to turn from his Fierce Anger that â—s like to break forth like Fire against you and nothing else will make up the Breach and therefore O my Native Place I cannot but lament thee because I see the great Abominations that are committed within thee and not in thee only but in the Places adjacent but chiefly I am concerned for you who are my Acquaintances that if by any means I might provoke you to fear the Lord and consider your latter End for in the Way you are in which is sinful you will never find peace with the Lord for the End is Sorrow and the Reward is Death Rom. 6.23 but if you forsake the Evil and love Righteousness you will come into Life and live forever with the Lord and that is the Travail Iâ—fâ—el within me concerning you that you may walk in the Light and come to a Holy Righteous Conversation that you may have Fellowship with us 1 John 1.3 and have Right to call God your Father that you may be begotten of him and so love one another with a true Love in Righteousness and so come to know the Spirit of adoption which is the Spirit of his Son who breaks down the middle Wall Ephes 2.14 and blots out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that is contrary to us and takes it out of the Way nailling it to his Cross Col. 2.14 and so you will come into Covenant with God in the Light of Jesus which Light leads to God's Kingdom and conducts out of all the barren Wildernesses Desolations of the first Adam into a sure Way and Place of Defence in the second Adam where is Safety and a Place of Rest as he said Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and you shall find Rest to your Souls Mat. 11.26 and so you will know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free John 8.32 and you will come to the general Assembly and Church of the first born written in Heaven Heb. 12.32 and to have Right to the precious Promises of God and to the Tree of Life but while you continue in Rebellion against God you have no Part nor Lot or Inheritance amongst the Living for Sin is the Hindrance of the Promises and Blessings of God unto the Soul whatever you may promise your selves and think to inherit if you dye in
Sin nay for man comes short of all spiritual Blessings notwithstanding all his Wisdom Parts and Abilities for God hath placed Cherubims and a Flaming-Sword which turns every Way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life Gen. 3.24 and here man is defeated notwithstanding all his fair outward Shew or Pretence of Religion for without Obedience to Christ he is undone and lost though he may retain the Name Christian and as some in Dayes past who had a Name to live and were dead Rev. 3.1 and stood as though they were Rich and had need of nothing but knew not that they were Poor Blind Wretched Naked and Miserable and so were without the City New Jerusalem without a Part or Inheritance in the Kingdom of God though they had a Name yet were dead to God in the Profession only without the Life and so were threatned as said the Spirit I will kill her Children with Death and all the Churches shall know that I am the Lord that searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins and give to every one according as his Work shall be Rev. 2.23 3.17 And so dear People come into the Light of Christ that is within you before your Glass be run that you may find a Place of Repentance lest the Dayes come over you when Repentance shall be hid from your Eyes Hosea 13.14 and so with Esau seek the Blessing when it is too late and a Place of Repentance with Tears and could not find it therefore while it is called to day if you will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 3.7 8. but draw near unto the Lord and he will draw nigh unto you and gather you unto himself and you shall no more wander without the Knowledge of him but the gathering Arm of God's Power will keep you from the Enemy of your Immortal Souls who is a Thief and a Lyar from the Beginning and a Murderer who abode not in the Truth John 8.44 and so you will be with the Redeemed of the Lord whose Hearts are in Covenant with him who are come to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaks better Things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 and so you will know a sure Teacher even Jesus Christ who is a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek whose Ministration is Life who hath the Words of Eternal Life John 6.48 And this Teacher cannot be removed into a Corner Isa 30.20 who is the tender gathering Shepherd and careful over-seeing Bishop 1 Pet. 2.25 which leads by the Springs of Living Water and guides to the Fountain of Life Rev. 7.17 and here you will find Power and Wisdom Strength and all things needful for God hath laid Help on one that is mighty which is the mighty Redeemer and Reconciler of Man to God and this is that secret Joy that springeth up in my Soul from day to day feeling the holy Power of the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World who hath delivered my Soul and now he doth minister Joy and Comfort to my inner Man in the Sense whereof my Soul saith Come all ye scattered ones who are yet wandring as Sheep having no Shepheâ—d come to the Fold of Rest Oh! let your Hearts be bowed down and tendred before the Lord who is risen in this the Day of his Power and hath made a little Remnant willing to follow him whose Eye is render and seeth every secret thing and beholdeth the Breathings of the Souls of the Children of Men who have Desires after him and all you that mourn in secret cleave unto him who hath toucht your hearts and go not forth but be retired in your Minds and he will make way for you through all and so Fear not them that can kill the Body but fear him that hath Power to cast both Body and Soul into Hell Luke 12.5 and so such as will obtain Life let them take up the Cross and despise the Shame Hebr. 12.2 and turn your Backs upon all the World's Pleasures Delights and follow Christ in the Regeneration and be of Moses 's Mind who esteemed it greater Riches to suffer Persecution with the People of God then to injoy the Pleasure of Sin for a season Hebr. 11.24 25. for the Wo reacheth forever to Man and Woman in the Transgression if they Repent not and that State is attended with the Wrath of God and the Lord's Displeasure which is a sufficient Discouragement And so read these Lines in Coolness of spirit and in a ponderous weighty sense of your present Conditions then you will receive Benefit thereby and the End will be answered for which this is written so being clear in my Conscience in that I have done as I was drawn in Spirit by the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to declare unto the World in general and to some more particularly that which was opened to my Understanding to warn People concerned herein to turn unto the Lord I shall leave the Issue of all unto him who knoweth all Hearts and return into my Rest in that Measure of Grace given me of God where with my Brethren and Sisters who are redeemed out of the Sins of the World I shall give Glory to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for evermore Rev. 5.13 which was and is and is to come who is our God our King and Law-giver before whom all must appear who is God over all blessed forever Amen Richard Samble POSTSCRIPT GOD who is Everlasting in his Being and Mighty over all in his Power rewarding such as obey him with Life eternal Joy Peace and everlasting Comfort and also rewarding the Wicked with Punishment and Sorrow for evermore When first he created Man and Woman he created them in his own Image in Righteousness and true Holiness but soon after the Creation the Devil prevailed over them and corrupted their Hearts and so they lost the pure Presence of the Lord and then as the World came to be peopled so did Wickedness abound in the Earth although the Lord did strive with them by his Spirit that they might return and live but they continued in the Rebellion against the Lord and then the Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man c. Gen. 6.3 and so God brought the Flood upon them and their Blood was upon their own Heads And after the Flood though great was the Deliverance of Noah and his Family in that great Deluge wherein many Thousands were overthrown yet one of the Sons of Noah became a Wicked Man and the Curse came over him Gen. 9.25 and as the World became peopled again so did Wickedness encrease and people grew up in Ignorance without the Knowledge of the true God in Rebellion against the Lord and then God appeared unto Abraham and commanded him to forsake his Father's House and his Kindred Gen. 12.1 and Abraham believed and obeyed God and was faithful in all things before him with whom the Lord made a Covenant