action before life thereby to attain life and so we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them and this is ordained of God to be the fruit of our life and faith and in these good works we walk to his glory and depends upon him alone for the renewing of our strength to continue in them unto the end Q. But how do you manifest your good works which you say are ordained of God for you to walk in A. By our faith we manifest them and the manifestation doth clearly demonstrate the nature and root to be of God in which they are created and the nature and root in which they are created being of God they must needs be good and so they are good works as being of God and of God ordained that we should walk in them and that of God in every conscience bears witness to the same so that we know all our works to be wrought by him in us and for us and we do walk in them who are born of him and he alone hath the glory though the natural man perceiveth not from whence they are nor whither they goe Q. And is it your faith and love towards God that makes you such a willing people to serve God and to do his will A. Yes it is so for the day of his power hath overcome us and therein he hath begotten us unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and in him our faith and love is encreased and strengthened to run without weariness for in his life we have motion and action whereby we are willingly disposed to serve him and to do his will Q. But how do you know all these things you act and do are the commands of God and according to his will A. By the word of his power in us through which we are made sensible of all his commands unto us for as we are born of him so we know his voice and by his word we are instructed in his commands and thereby put upon motion to act and do them and in our duty he gives us his peace by which we know that all those things which we act and do are his commands unto us and according to his will Q. But are you so constrained through your faith and love towards God as to answer him in all things that he commands you A. Yes for if we should say we love him and do not keep his commands we should be lyars but we do so love him and our faith is so stedfast in him as that we are thereby constrained to keep his commands in all things for it is natural unto his own birth to delight to do his will and to do whatsoever he commandeth and hereby we know that his love is perfected in us and our faith and love is single unto him and as his good will is manifested unto ns even so is our hearts disposed in good will towards all men Q. What good will have you to such as you judge and condemn because they are not like-minded with you A. Much every way for that which we judge and condemn in any is only that spirit which wrongs them by which our good will is manifested unto that which suffers wrong and this is our judgment according to truth and knowing that the judgment of the Lord is according to truth and having felt it so in our selves through the condemnation of sin in the flesh we judg sin in the flesh in whomsoever it reigns that sin in the flesh may be condemned and they in the spirit may be justified and herein we manifest the universal love of God to be shed abroad in our hearts in which our good will extendeth unto all men Q. And is that the love with which you love your enemies A. Yes for as God had pity upon us in the day of our alienation from him and followed us with many tender visitations and also many righteous judgments even so we know that he would not have a sinner to perish and in this love we labour for the good of all people and it is the greatest manifestation of love to an enemy when his destruction is not sought but rather a condescending to recover him out of the state of his enmity into a state of reconciliation and peace and we know that there is none that are enemies unto us but they are enemies unto God and crucifies his life in themselves and therefore our love is in pity towards them though they be enemies unto us knowing that they cannot have peace with God whilst in that state they remain Q. And are you so disposed towards your enemies as that you cannot seek rerevenge when they do you wrong A. Yes that is the disposition of our nature not to seek revenge though we do suffer wrong for the revenging nature is in the fall in which people are enemies unto God and one to another but it is not so with us whom God hath redeemed for though we may have many enemies yet we are not enemies unto any though in the power of God by which we are redeemed we do bear testimony against the evil and the sin and that spirit in us doth not seek after revenge but in all long-suffering and patience we bear the enmity of our enemies and waits to see their conversion out of the enmity whereby our good will is manifested in love to their souls Q. But are you not the cause of the sufferings that comes upon you as being contrary minded unto all other people and so are enemies to your selves A. Nay the cause of our sufferings are not from our selves but from that spirit which cannot bear our testimony which God hath given us which testimony being contrary unto the actings and workings of the spirit of darkness it provokes the minds of such in whom it ruleth to enmity against us and that is the ground why sufferings comes upon us and we are clear for being enemies unto our selves in it as having our faith and love towards God in those things for which we suffer Q. But why can you not be conformable unto those things which other people observe and practice outwardly and yet keep your Faith and love towards God inwardly and so have your Faith to your selves A. Because we dare not deny or own that outwardly which God doth manifest to us inwardly either to be truth or out of the truth for so we should deny our Faith and love towards him every way and it is not possible that any should keep Faith and love to God inwardly and conforme to any practice outwardly which is contrary to their inward principle for as the body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without works is dead also and they that have Faith to themselves in the power of God they also have Faith in him to serve him in works of truth and righteousness and so we shew
are possible and we also believe that whosoever are born of God doth not commit sin but is perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect whose children they are and we believe that such a state is attainable in this life whilest in the body Q. But is it so with you at all times as that sin hath no power over you A. There is a state whilest the birth is in travaile as that temptations may at sometimes prevaile for in that state the birth is not come into full strength through the growth of Faith and so may sin through weakness but where it is so there is a cry goes unto God to be delivered and though there may be such an over comming in weakness as that sin may have some power yet that which cryes to God in the sence of sin it hath an advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation by whom the attonement is made and through whom the sin is pardoned and remitted and so the birth grows stronger in the Faith and goes on from one degree to another until it be made perfect in Christ Jesus Q. But doe you believe that such of you as are grown into such strength as to have victory over the world the flesh and the devil are not lyable to temptations and that the motions of the flesh doe not sometimes move and stir in you to commit sin A. Yes we finde that daily but we conquer over them through him that loves us so that when temptations are proffered we resist them in the power of Christ and when the motions of the flesh doe move or stir unto sin we subdue them and keep them under and by our Faith in Christ we have victory over them and though such temptations and motions may be stirring as alive in themselves yet unto us they are all dead and we are dead unto them and though they may tempt us yet they prevaile not for by Christ we are preserved in the hour of temptation and the wicked one toucheth us not and thus we are kept by the mighty power of God through Faith unto Salvation and knows Christ in us to reigne over sin which sometimes hath reigned over us and in the dominion of his life we are conquerors in victory and so our perfection is in Christ in whom there is no sin and we know that he is the finisher of sin and the bringer in of everlasting righteousness unto us and in his righteousness and holy life we live to the glory of the Father Q. But if all these things be done for you by Christ within you then what doe you believe concerning that great worke which by the death of Christ was accomplished on the Cross in time past according to the Scriptures or doth not this your Faith concerning such things done for you by Christ in you make voide his death upon the Cross and the benefits which is to be received thereby A. Wee believe that all things which are spoken by the holy Prophets and Apostles concerning Christ are true according to the Scriptures we believe that all the dispensations of God which are manifested by the Scriptures are altogether true and that they were all fulfilled according to the determinate will and councell of God so that our Faith concerning Christ in us and the work which he there worketh for us doth not at all make voide any of the dispensations of God which in times past was revealed unto his holy Prophets and Apostles and by them testified in the Scriptures so that the work which the Father then gave unto the Son to doe we believe that he fulfilled and finished according to the Fathers will and that all things partaining to life and salvation was fully and perfectly in him and that he humbled himselfe to the death of the Cross and from death did rise againe and we believe that he is the resurrection and the life and gives eternal life to all that believe in him but that any doe believe in him as he is Christ who are dispisers of his light and life in them that is not our Faith for as we know him in us and so have our Faith in him we likewise know the dispensation of God in times past and the end of their manifestation and the time of their finishing and the Scriptures are fulfilled in us who live in the Faith of Christ and walkes in his Spirit and we also know and believe that he is the same Christ in us which in dispensations past did humble himselfe to the Cross and doth perfect his work in us according to the determinate councell and will of the Father so that our Faith concerning Christ in us doth not at all make voide what he hath done or wrought in times past but doth fully perfectly establish it as a true dispensation by our Faith in Christ we know in a good understanding the things that are past present and to come and that Christ is yesterday to day and the same for ever and of his life nature and being there is neither variableness nor changing but an enduring substance of immortality who is glorified with the Father in the same glory that he had with him before the world began who through every dispensation hath manifested his glory and in this dispensation of his light and life he is come unto us and we know him to be the first and the last the beginning and the ending for him hath God the Father sealed and in him our Faith stands stedfast A. And have you such faith in God and love unto him as that you have respect unto all his commands and to answer him in all things according to his will A. Yes our faith is such in him and our love unto him as that we have respect unto all his commands for as he hath loved us and given Christ for us even so is our love begotten unto him and in his love unto us which is the ground of our love unto him we in the same are made willing to run the way of all his commands according to his will and they are not grievous unto us Q. But whether do you not depend upon the things you do for life and salvation Nay we do not so for we have life before we have motion to act or do any thing that is pleasing unto God and in the life we have salvation and so life and salvation is freely given us of God and by his grace we are saved through our faith which we have in him and that puts us upon motion and action to do his will in all things and yet not to depend upon what we do for life but to answer his will in all faithfulness because he hath given us life and so we do not act or do any thing for life but do all things which he commands us from the motion of his life and this is life before action which moves us to action and not
A. Yes it doth so for Christ is the author of it whereby we are assured of his love towards us and in the Faith that we have in him we are sure that he is Christ the son of the living God and by this Faith wee live in the assurance of eternal life Q. But how may your Faith be knowne unto others to be true Faith A. By the fruits and effects that is manifest from it through which it may be known unto others to be true Faith Q. What are those fruits and effects by which your Faith may so be known A. Love Mercy Meekness Gentleness Peace Long-suffering Patience Righteousness and Holiness of life which is the fruit of our Faith by which others may know that it is true Faith Q. But how doe you believe unto salvation A. By the Faith that we have in Christ Jesus our foundation and principle through which we know that he is salvation unto us and doe believe that there is not another name given under heaven by which any can be saved but the name of Jesus Q. But is there no true Faith but what stands in a principle within A. There is but one true Faith and that stands in a principle within which is Christ and the mystery of it is held in a pure conscience and this is a living Faith in a living principle and all other Faiths are dead Q. And can none have true Faith unto Salvation and life eternal but such as are of your opinion A. Wee are not in any opinion but in the principle of life by which we are saved and receives life and in this state wee stand not in any opinion but in a feeling of life and Salvation for all opinions are in notions and apprehensions in which none feeles the life and Salvation in Christ but what they apprehend in the natural part unto that they give up their own beliefe and so erres from the life in themselves and neither beleives unto Salvation nor receives life eternal Q. But do you judge all to be in the unbeliefe that are not just as you are in all things A. Nay wee doe not so for we believe that in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him and wee also believe that none can fear God and work righteousness to be accepted of him but as they are in some measure guided by the principle of his light in their conscience and have some Faith in it towards God and we believe that many in some small measure doe thus fear God and work righteousness though they doe not understand the principle by which they are drawn to doe it and such we doe not â—udge to be in the unbeliefe but have unity with them in that measure of Faith in which they simply breath after God and according to their understanding walkes in his fear and serves him in righteousness and though such be not just as we are in all things yet being in any measure guided by our principle to fear God and work righteousness wee truly love them and have tenderness towards them that in the principle they may grow in Faith and be as we are in all things Q. And doe you simply act from your Faith in single love to God A. Yes wee doe so for we know that our Faith proceeds from his love unto us and that is the overcomming power by which we are constrained to love him for he hath begotten us and quickened us in his life in which our Faith is kept fresh and living unto him and by the same we act in simplicity and fervent love towards him Q. What is your Faith concerning Christ in you as a mediator A. Wee believe that Christ in us doth offer up himselfe a living sacrifice unto God for us by which the wrath and justice of God is appeased towards us and that through the offering end sacrifice of Christ for us the hand writing of ordinances which stood against us is blotted out and a mediation wrought between God and us and so we know the consideration of Christ unto us and his mediation with the Father for us and this is he in whom our Faith standeth as the one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Q. What is your Faith concerning Christ in you as an intercessor A. Wee believe that Christ in us doth interceed the Father in our behalfe and by him we doe appeale to God in all our distresses and we believe that all our breathings toward God have access unto him through the intercession of Christ for us for as he knows what we want so he also knows the Fathers will and according to our want and the Fathers will he makes intercession through whose intercession all our breathings are accepted of God and not onely so but we have also boldness to draw nigh unto God and by Christ our intercessour we have access to the throne of grace and findes grace to helpe us in the time of our need so that we are relieved in our distressess and afflictions through Christ that loves us who by his mediation and intercession prevails with the Father for us Q. What is your Faith concerning reconciliation whith God by Christ in you A. Wee believe through the offering and sacrifice of Christ for us that God is satisfied concerning our sins which in our alienation was committed against him by us for as then Christ bare our sins for us so now by the offering up himselfe unto God on our behalfe our sins are blotted out and done away and we through him are reconciled unto God and having reconciled us he is eased of the sins which he bare for us in our alienated state and so he hath slaine the emnity which was the wall of partition between God and us whereby we that sometimes were strangers unto God and enemies in our own mindes by wicked works are now reconciled unto him in Christ so that we are no more forreigners and strangers in the emnity but through the reconciling power of Christ in us we are brought nigh unto God and in his Covenant of life and peace we know his pardoning mercy in the remission of our sins Q. But doe you now believe that you are now come to such a state as to be free from sin A. Wee believe that Jesus Christ the righteous doth make us free from sin for in him there is no sin and we being made free by him we are free indeed so that we now live by the Faith that is in him and by our Faith in him we have obtained victory over the world the flesh and the devil and in the victory we are freed and walkes with Christ in the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Q. But doe you believe that you are so freed from sin as not to commit sin whilest you remaine in the body or that there can be such a perfect state attained in this life A. Wee believe that with God all things
we in it and so be put out of all doubts and questions in the reasonings concerning us and receive satisfaction in all things that pertaine unto us in life and godliness in which our Religion is pure holy and undefiled and was before unholiness or unrighteousness was and will remaine in iâ—s purity vvhen years shall pass avvay and be no more and this is the meaning of our doctrin to bring people to the everlasting word of God in themselves that they may come into rest and peace in the pure Religion where God is known in his loves grace and riches of mercy Q. If your Faith give you such assurance of your principle and Religion to be true and right then why cannot you defend it by force and so free your selves from that outward bondage which you suffer for your Religion A. Our Faith doth give us such an assurance but yet we cannot strive with our opposers and oppressours nor any way by force of carnal weapons seek to defend it for we know that it is sufficient to defend it self also to defend us that live in it and our weapons are Spiritual and not carnal we fight the good fight of Faith in the power of the Prince of peace and so we war against sin but followes peace with all men and can be ready in every office of love to doe good to our greatest enemies and herein we have been sufficiently proved to be a peacable people under every power by which we have or doe suffer and we have never resisted nor sought revenge upon any but in all things commits our cause unto God in whose sight we stand approved and he knows that as we are in words or appearance even so we are the same in heart and unto his judgement and tryall we appeale in our innocency and the principle of his life in every one doth bear witness for us and all that hearken unto it will receive a true evidence in themselves concerning our innocent and peaceable life Q. And doe you refer your tryal in all things to your own principle in others which you say is Christ the light and life and witness of God A. Yes We doe so for as we know that all judgement in heaven and earth is committed unto Christ so we know that there is not another that can truly try or judge of us besides him and therefore we have boldness to refer our tryal in all things unto him alone as knowing that his tryal and judgement is according to truth in every man and as our Faith is in him and our love unto him so we know that he will not condemne the works of his own hands but justifie the fruit of his own life power and virtue and his tryal and judgement will clearly evidence for us that we are his and not our own Confession It may now be perceived that you do not hold or maintain the things that you do to be from your selves or in your own wills but from Christ the foundation and principle A. Yes it is plainly so for of our selves we can do nothing but through Christ in whom vve have our strength vve are able to do all things so that our sufficiency is in him alone and by his power in us all our good works are wrought for us and unto him they all return that he in all things may have the preheminence and the glory for ever Resolved It being so there is no good ground why you should be called in question or any way suffer for your Faith and Religion seeing that what you do is from the power of Christ and his works are not to be denyed by any nor you to suffer in any case for the faith you have in him and the love you have to him and seeing that you deny your selves in what you do which many hitherto have thought you did not and that you are willing to be tryed and Judged according to the Judgment of truth in Christ you ought not in any wise to suffer by any other Tryal or Judgment whatsoever and all sober moderate people may be well satisfied with this Demonstration that your principle is of God and that your faith and love is unto God and your good will unto all men and none need not any farther stand in doubt of the truth of it but may be fully perswaded that you have Salvation and Eternal life by Jesus Christ which may overcome all that are yet contrary minded unto you to joyne with your principle that they may be of your Faith and Religion who are a people that loves God so singly and lives amongst men so peaceably which indeed doth clearly manifest your principle and Religion to be of God W. S. THE END A manifestation of Prayer in Formality and Prayer in the Spirit of God IT hath been a common Observation through Ages and Generations to perform something as a duty unto God by way of Prayer this common observation hath descended from one generation to another ever since the Apostacy entred in a customary and formal way still observing the practice in words and continuing the same as a duty unto God in the same manner and form not at all regarding or considering the present want or necessity of the present Age or Generation nor the present states and conditions of particular people but praying in the same Words and in the same Form from time to time and from generation to generation and so it flows as a natural stream in a common and customary practice from one generation to another and hence it is that people continue asking but do not receive because they ask amiss not feeling the Spirit that makes intercession And so the Pharisees made long prayers but received the greater damnation because they prayed not in the Spirit but in the customary formality which by the Spirit was condemned And it is very sad that people should all their life-time be complaining and asking and never come to receive satisfaction And this is the common way of Prayer in this present generation who have many prayers in formed words and with their mouths do often repeat them and in the formality make a practice of them and so at set-times and in set-prayers spend away their dayes but feel not the Lord nor his goodness And this common way of Prayer now used in the common Worship never brings people to obtain but keeps them alwayes asking where in answer to the Commandments they pray no this wise Lord have mercy upon us and encline our hearts to keep this Law and write all these thy Laws in our hearts we beseech thee Now if they would encline their hearts to the Spirit of God in themselves and obey it then the Spirit would encline their hearts to keep God's Law and the Spirit would write his Law in their hearts and put it into their inward parts and it would keep them that they should not depart from it and there they would feel