prayed and was heard in that he feared as the Author to the Hebrews writes Heb. 5. 7. but in this State of Watchfulness and the holy Fear of God they continually abiding stedfast in to such it is become Natural to dwell and abide there being rooted and settled in the Godly or Divine Nature of which they are made partakers as the Apostle writ see 1 Pet. 1. 4. See how Fulks renders this place in his Confutation of the Popish Translation at Rhâ—mes he renders the words Divine Nature Godly Nature Eternal Glory to him for the preservation of his People who daily wait upon him he gives them Wisdom Strength and Preservation he who keeps them never â—luâ—bâ—rs nor sleeps holy and mighâ—y is his Wisdom and Strength by which he redeems preserves and upâ—â—â—â— his People in doing that which is well pleasing in his sight Blessed are all those who diligently wait to be made partakers of the same they shall be upheld thereby through all Temptations Trials and the Buffetings and Winnowings of Satan out of his snares and over him in Christ the Elect Seed which bruiseth his Head and over all his several sorts of Agents for as the Apostle saith Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World by whom we overcome the World O my dear Friends All diligently wait on God in the Divine Light and Spirit of his Son that you may grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more and more that you may be all firmly rooted and grounded in him as Trees or Branches of Righteousness the planting of the Lord God that you may bring forth much Fruit to the Praise and Glory of his name Christ the living true Vine said unto his Disciples of old I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman every Branch that beareth not fruit in me he taketh away and every Branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Abide in me and I in you As the branch cannot bring forth of itself except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered Joh. 15. 1 2 4 5. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and abide in his love This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you See John 15. 5 c. O my Friends These are the sweet and comfortable Sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ our Prince of Life Love and Peace Let them be duly weighed faithfully regarded and followed by you all who profess to be his Disciples that is Learners of him for as he saith Without him we can do nothing except we be joined to his gracious Spirit of Light Life and Peace we cannot please God but being joined to it it worketh in us to will and to do that which is well pleasing in the sight of the Lord God So we become his workmanship in Christ created in him unto those good Works which God hath ordained we should walk in that our Light may shine before men that they may behold our good Conversation in Christ constantly coupled with that godly fear wherein there is not only a hating of but also a coming out of and preservation from Pride Arrogancy and every evil way O my Friends This is that which is to be desired sought of God and diligently waited for this is the durable Riches that far excels all that can be mentioned besides it this is the Treasure that is to be laid up in Heaven according to Christs Command where neither Moth can corrupt nor Thief break through and steal Blessed are all they who diligently wait for the Increase and Security of this Treasure they shall never be forsaken of the Lord he whose the Earth is and the fulness of it who feeds the Ravens cloaths the Grass and takes care for Sparrows will take care and provide for them So all wait that your Faith and Confidence may be preserved confirmed and increased to his eternal honour and your enduring Peace and Comfort even so be it Amen Concerning good Conscience MY dear Friends something lies upon me to write to you in the tender Bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of our Christian Peace Fellowship and Unity The matter before me is this I find that there are some persons professing Truth amongst us who not being faithful to the gracious Spirit and Light of our Lord Jesus Christ which they make profession of that are offended with the Method Manner and Form in which Friends Care of Gods Glory and the good one of another is manifest these persons talk much of Liberty of Conscience To which I say Liberty of Conscience rightly understood hath ever since we were a People been and still is owned amongst us but for any who profess to be followers of the Light Members of the Church which is in God to plead Liberty of Conscience for themselves without putting a difference betwixt good Conscience and evil this is an Unsound and Unchristian Plea for the Apostles of Christ distinguisheth betwixt good and evil Conscience yea shews that they are separated and divided the one from the other for they proceed from contrary Causes The Apostle said My Conscience beareth me witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9. 1. And again I have lived in all good Conscience unto this day For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World and more abundantly to you-wards See 2 Cor. 1. 12. He who had believed and received the Holy Ghost was made of a good Understanding by it his Will and Affections also being purified from Corruption thereby so that he did not only understand what was right and wrong but he also willed and took pleasure to act and do that which was and is well pleasing in the sight of the Lord And this he was enabled to do by the Power of the Holy Ghost or Spirit of Truth which according to the Promise of Christ leads his faithful Subjects by Degrees from Glory to Glory from one degree of Grace to another into all Truth And so are the faithful followers of Christ Jesus led in this our day Paul writing to Timothy saith Now the end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned from which some having swerved have turned aside
Ephesus viz. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the Vanity of their Minds having the Understanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the Blindness of their Heart who being past feeling have given themselves over to Lasciviousness to work all Uncleanness with greediness Ephes 4. 17 18 19. Observe here the woful and miserable Effects of Disobedience to God what Darkness Spiritual Blindness Benummedness and Insensibility it brings them into who are given up thereto alienating them from the Life Power and Spirit of God yet this Blindness and Insensibility Doth not render them excusable in the Sight of the Lord God who hath sent his Son a true Light who lights every Man that comes into the World who therefore saith Look unto Me all O ye Ends of the Earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is none else a mighty God and a Saviour Isa 45. 22. And again The Apostle in his Light Spirit and Power saw and therefore said God's Will is that all Men should know the Truth and he Saved 1 Tim. 2. 4. They therefore who believe in the Divine Light of Christ and walk in and obey the same are therein saved preserved and justified but they that know this Light profess and talk of it but do not obey and walk in it they are justly by the Lord God condemned and their Disobedience justly Witnessed against by his Faithful People who walk in his Light and bring forth the pure peaceable Fruits of it and if such disobedient unfaithful Professors of the Light do not unfeignedly repent of their Evil Sayings and Doings against God and his People and walk in Obedience to the Light they make Profession of then will the Wrath of God fall heavy upon them in the End Again Hear what the Apostle Peter saith to the Faithful Children of Light viz. But ye are a chosen Generation an holy Nation a peculiar People that ye should shew forth the Praise of him that hath called you Out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light Dearly Beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims Abstain from Fleshly Lust which War against the Soul having your Conversations Honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as Evil Doers they may By your Good Works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9 to the 13. Observe This Doctrine of the Apostle is according to the Command of Christ to his Disciples He said Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and Glorify your Father which is in Heaven Math. 5. 16. Again Christ saith The Light of the Body is the Eye If therefore thine Eye be single thy whole Body shall be full of Light but if thine Eye be Evil thy whole Body shall be full of Darkness If therefore the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness See Math. 6. 22 23. Again Christ saith Out of the Heart proceedeth an Evil Eye Mark 7. 22. Luke 11. 34. 1. Observe That the Children of Light are a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People called out of Darkness into Gods marvellous Light They walking therein are as Lights in the World their Light so shines before Men in the good Works or good Conversation in Christ this brings Glory to God the Father which is in Heaven they neither Need nor Do plead Ignorance of their duty to God or Man or of the Commands of Christ For they do both know obey and do their Duty to God and Man praised be the Lord God for the same 2. Observe That Christ saith The Light of the Body is the Eye wherefore if thine Eye be single thy whole Body is full of Light but when thine Eye is Evil thy whole body also is full of darkness Here are ' two Eyes spoken of the good one and the evil one he that hath the good Eye open in him with it Christ saith If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the Ditch Mat. 15. 14. sees right sees good things and is affected therewith embraceth and holdeth fast the same he sees his duty to God and Man and by Gods help doth the same and therein is blessed but he that hath the Evil Eye open in him which Eye proceeds out of the Heart as Christ saith with this his Evil Eye he seeketh and watcheth for Evil and therewith sees Evil things and hath pleasure in them and therefore embraces them practiseth them pleads for them and holds them fast This is the Man whose Good Eye is blinded and his evil one open therefore he calls Good Evil and Evil Good Here Darkness and its fruits are put for Light and its fruits and Light and its fruits are put for Darkness and its fruits The Person that doth this hath changed the Truth of God for a Lie Oh this is a miserable State which some fell into in Ages past and some are fallen into in our Age Out of which God Almighty preserve all who to his Light are turned who believe in and love the same And the Lord be merciful unto all who though they be Darkned and Intangled in the Snares of their Souls Enemy through want of Watchfulness in the pure Light of Christ and holy fear of God yet have not sinned out the day of his tender Visitation to them Oh that they may seek and find a place of unfeigned Repentance and so return unto the Lord God before the Harvest or Gathering or Restoring time to them be ended Concerning the Honour which God gives unto his People c. THe fear of the Lord is the Instruction of Wisdom and before Honour is Humility Proverbs 15. 33. And Christ saith If any man honour me him will my Father honour John 12. 26. And the Apostle Peter Exhorted the Saints saying Honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God c. 1. Pet. 2. 17. The Apostle Paul Exhorted the believing Romans to be kindly Affectionated one towards another with brotherly Love in Honour preferring one another Rom. 12. 10. Again he writ to them viz. But Glory Honour and Peace to every man that worketh good c. Rom. 2. 10. Again hear what the Lord saith by the mouth of Samuel the Prophet viz. Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteem'd 1 Sam. 2. 30. And again Paul writing to Timothy saith Let the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim 5. 17. Observe All the Children of God who are taught by his gracious Spirit of Life Light Love and Peace who walk therein they Glorifie and Honour him with their Spirits and Bodies which are his and with his good Creatures which he hath made them Stewards over which is their reasonable Service and
and Spirit in his People is one in its kind or Nature with himself he being the Fountain of it and it of himself it cannot contradict him or itself in the several Measures Manifestations Dispensations of it in those who receive it believe and obey it For if it should or could do so then God by it would be rendered the Author of Confusion and not of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints which to believe or suppose is very highly blasphemous against him and directly contrary to the holy Apostles Doctrine who saith God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints The same Apostle saith The Fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness Righteousness und Truth proving what is acceptable unto the Lâ—rd And he exhorted the Saints saying Have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them To those who walked in the Spirit and Light of God he said Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us To these also he said Ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Lighi in the Lord walk as Children of the Light See Eph. 5. Again he saith The Fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy and Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law and they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain Glory provoking one another envying one another Again he saith The Works of the Flesh are manifest which are Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Darâ—ance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in times past that they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. Again the holy Apostle John in the Holy Ghost saith He that saith he is in the Light and hates his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is none occasion of Stumbling in him But he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his Brother also See 1 John 4. My dear Friends Observe That where the Fruits of the Spirit and Light of God and Christ are wanting in those who profess the same to be their Teacher Ruler and Orderer and contrariwise the Fruits or Works of the Flesh do appear this is a plain proof that their saying they are taught lâ—d and governed by the Spirit and Light of God and Christ is very notoriously false yea blasphemous against God Christ and his Divine Light and Spirit For when Christ told his Disciples that false Prophets Anti-Christs Deceivers c. should come saying Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves he said Ye shall know them by their Fruits Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Even so every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Wherefore by their Fruits ye shall know them Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven See Math. 7. 15. and 24. Again he saith Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. See Matth. 24. 11 12 13 24. see Mark 13. 22. he repeating the same words of Christ and there he saith Take heed I have told you before Observe Christ's Promise to the faithful chosen Elect notwithstanding all the deceiveableness of unrighteousness which then did now doth or hereafter may work in the Instruments of Satan by feigned Words or fair or flattering Speeches false signs or lying wonders whereby he lieth in wait to betray and deceive by which he hath prevailed upon some unstable unwatchful unfaithful and therefore unskilful Souls who are not acquainted with the depths of Satan speaking in his Agents yet can he not in his Agents deceive the Elect the chosen of God Observe all that are convinced of the truth and come to some degree of Obedience to it are not come to the settled State of Election although they are come to a sight and feeling of the Spirit of Christ in whom the Election stands in which State it is impossible to be deceived Let not the weakest amongst the Believers in and Obeyers of the Light of Christ Within be discouraged at these sayings for as they keep to the Light God the Fountain of it will keep them from falling God set Adam in a State of Innocency in which it was possible for him to stand yet it was not impossible for him to fall for we both read and believe he did fall he could not stand in his own strength but in the strength of the Lord his Maker through want of his diligent attendance and waiting upon God his Maker for preservation he fell under the power of the Deceiver But Christ who never fell spake of a State brings those who continue diligent watchful into it which is beyond that as his forecited words do plainly imply The Apostles writ unto the Believers in the Light of Christ thus viz. Wherefore Brethren give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 10. Read the Chapter through c. Again he saith Beware lest ye being led away with the Errour of the wicked fall from your own Stedfastness But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Christ to him be Glory now and for ever Amen Chap. 3. 17 18. Again Juâ—e writes thus Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 24 25. read the Epistle throughout Observe further that the Settled State of Election where deceit cannot enter is not a State above or beyond Watchfulness and the holy Fear of God the Son of God himself in the daies of his Flesh watched and
do not see those things required of them or believe them to be their duty and because they do not see the practice of those things to be their duty or required of them therefore they oppose Friends in the practice of them What these things are these Opposers know and the Faithful who are opposed by them therein know them also They are not things which are evil or scandalous or of evil same or report amongst serious sober persons we are not afraid to bring them to the Light they are practised by many thousands in Unity to their comfort and tends to preserve both young and old sweet and orderly in their Marriages and in the rest of their Conversations and is for the Relief of the Poor Widows and Fatherless Children Some have done hurt in their selfish and wilful striving against these things and when they have done the hurt they would lay the blame upon the things which they strive against and the Instruments who have and do incourage those things And thus they judge unrighteously the Innocent and justifying themselves who are guilty Again the Apostle exhorted saying Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report If there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise think on these things These things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Philip. 4. 8 9. Observe that Meeting together in the Love Fear of Almighty God to take care of his glory in providing for the Poor Widows and Fatherless Children and others who have need of help assistance among us in their bodily Weakness Temptations Trials and Exercises is good is honest is Just is lovely is of good report and is worthy of praise These things are done in our Meetings both by Male and Female Such Meetings have the vertuous Presence of the Lord God them Such Meetings God doth gather own uphold and justifie by his powerful presence in the midst of them Again In those Meetings care is taken that such who profess the truth as it is in Christ Jesus and walk amongst us do proceed in their Marriages sweetly in good order according to the example of holy men and women of God in former time and in our days those proceedings are briefly though plainly touched at in the Scriptures of Truth Again In those Meetings care is taken that those whose proceedings in relation to Marriage are not as they ought to be that such be admonished that they may come into a right sense of the dishonour they bring to God thereby that they may repent and condemn the same and give glory to God therein that they may obtain forgiveness at his hand and that his People whom they have grieved by their unfaithfulness therein may be comforted in seeing this good Work of God wrought in them Again In these Meetings care is taken that those who profess the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus and walk amongst us do in their Conversations walk orderly as becomes the Gospel that no Professor thereof wrong another or any other person whomsoever in any matter or thing whatsoever This is endeavoured by the faithful Children of God Children of Light both Male and Female in their particular and distinct and also in their more general Meeting as much as in them lieth And where any professing the Truth amongst us do or have done the contrary care hath been and is to labour with them in the love of God and Meekness and Patience which Christ Jesus the meek and lowly Lamb of God hath taught us to bring them into a right sense of the dishonour they have brought to God by their evil doings and that they might repent of and sensually judge themselves for the same that so through unfeigned Repentance and forsaking the same they might obtain Forgiveness of their sins at the hand of God for the Lord God who is merciful delighteth not in the destruction of the sinner but rather that he should repent and turn from the evil of his ways and live and so come into unity with his tender People Again In these Meetings the faithful in Christ Jesus do watch one over another in Love to be helpful one to another in their Temptations Tryals and Afflictions labouring to build up each other in the holy Faith which works by Love as the Apostle saith herein they manifest their love one to another according to Christs command Their love is without dissimulation by which they are known to be the Disciples of Christ in fulfilling the Royal Law of Love in his Divine Light according the Scriptures of Truth Again in those Meetings care is taken that the Professors of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Teachings of his Divine Light within do walk in the Light which they make profession of that according to Christs command their Light may so shine before men that they may see their good works in Christ Jesus and glorifie our Father which is in Heaven that as the Salt of the Earth we may always keep that heavenly â—avour which God in Christ hath given us and that we may grow in it more and more that therein we may be a good savour both in them that are saved and in them that perish even as the Apostle exhorted All the before mentioned things are true honest just good virtuous lovely and of good report worthy of praise Hereby God is honoured and his children profited benefited comforted edified and built up in unfeigned Love Peace and sweet Unity to his praise and glory who is over all Heaven and Earth worthy of Honour Glory Dominion and Praise now and for ever more Amen Observe that which opposeth condemneth and â—â—orneth the faithful in Christ Jesus in these their services and labour of love is neither true just honest lovely virtuous â—or oâ— good report neither is it worthy of praise but the contrary Therefore all you who profess to be led and guided by the Light of Christ within you in the Light of Christ Jesus I tell you that his Light in you will not lead any of you to oppose any of the good things before mentioned And where any person professing to be led by the Light of Christ within do oppose any of the before-mentioned Meetings or the aforesaid good services in them it is Darkness and not the Light of Christ which so leads and perswades them He that was a Liar from the beginning hath deceived such Oh that they might see his Snare and come out of it this is our tender desire for them for their eternal good The Lord God who is Light in whom there is no Darkness at all said by the mouth of his holy Prophet Wo unto them that call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness Wo unto them that are wise