souls then will they confess That it had been well if they had loved the light and walked in it which they have so long hated and despised with those that walk in it and all those which have exercised their strength to shut others out of the Kingdom of God by their Preaching Printing and false Accusations they shall know that while they serve sin they are free from righteousness and do keep others from it But the time is coming that their mouths must be stopped and the Lord wil cause his everlasting righteousness to spread abroad as broad Rivers and streams unquenchable and nothing shall hinder it and this is the day in which the Lord will try those that dwel upon earth as he hath tried many and measured them with a true line and hath found them deceitful although they have made profession of his name and of his words for a cloak for their iniquity But now the light is come into the world and there remains no more cloak for their sins nor hiding place for their iniquity An Epistle concerning the sufferings of friends shewing the Priests wickedness and persecutions GOD hath a great work to do in this generation to pul down the abominations which hath long reigned and many are straightned till it be accomplished and onely such must be exercised in this work who are called chosen and faithful and many have been called but have not been faithful but have destroyed in their works that which they seemed to have established by words and was not faithful to witness the fate of their words by their works so that by a true search we have fouâ—d the words of righteousness in many but we have found the works of righteousness but in few and though God hath shined into the hearts of many by his light yet there are but few children of it in comparison of the disobedient The eye of God hath looked into the world and he sees men differ more in words then in life and conversation and some in words do witnesse for God but in their works deny him As for example How many of late years had a zeal stirred up in them by the spirit of the Lord against the abominations of the Priests and the oppression of the tithes preaching both down even as that which denied Christ to be come in the flesh So that if words had been that which would have finished the work the Land had been cleansed before this time of that abomination but the Lord hath brought a tryal upon such spirits whether they will own their testimony through the spoiling of their Goods and imprisonment of their bodys and therefore hath God suffered an earthly power a Law to try them and now they do rather deny their Testimony then suffer by that Law which gives the Priests tithes as for Witnesses most of the baptized people in England have betrayed their testimony and profession in that thing And how are you worthy to be called Saints which bear such a testimony can this equally be compared with the testimony of the Saints of old Did they cry down false worships and false teachers in words and did they uphold them by giving them wages Have you not herein sinned against light Did you not once see that they were never sent of God And will you now uphold them because you cannot suffer for your testimony Is not your paying them wages giving them tithes a greater witness for them then your preaching them down in words is against them and may they not herein rejoyce over you Christ is not herein your example which for this end was born and for this end came into the world to bear witness to the truth and did finish the work which the Father had given him to do and was made perfect through sufferings but such never need suffer who preach down deceit in words and hold it up in workes And the Apostles is not your example for they were in workes that which they declared in words therefore hath God cast you by as not fit to be Labourers in his Vineyard But a people is the Lord raising up whom he is giving his holy spirit unto whose witness to him must stand as well in works as in words who love the truth more then their lives or liberties goods or estates and are valiant for it upon the earth which cannot be subject to the powers of darkness nor the Rulers of the darkness of this world but believeth that whatsoever they deny for Christ in this life they shall receive a hundred fold and in the world to come life everlasting And these are they whom the Father will exercise with his holy spirit in the gathering his seed from the ends of the earth and for the turning of many to righteousness and such shall shine as the stars in the firmament of Heaven when as the false and deceitfull witnesses shall be turned into darknesse because their testimony is not able to endure the tryal for the Lords house must be built with tried stones that the winds of persecutions cannot blow it down and upon such will his light arise who when they are tried are found faithfull and who are counted worthy to bear a testimony in this work though it be through sufferings in this day when the powers of the Earth have set themselves to wear out the Saints of the most High God by changing times and Laws whereby to restrain the liberty of the Lords people whose worship stands in the spirit and in the truth Times they have changed by a Law in making the first day of the week to be their Sabbath but that day is more prophaned then any of the seven And Laws they have changed to get a grouâ—â— to stop the word of the Lord from having free course and 〈◊〉 utterance among â—he people These seek to scatter the power of the holy people and to 〈◊〉 the truth to the ground by their acts of cruelty and deâ—rees 〈◊〉 unrighteousness and by a tolerating cruelty and or pression â—mong a company of Priests which are worse then those in Hosea'â— dayes who then were As a Troop of Robbers that wait for a man eveâ— so the company of Priests murther in the way by consent Hos. 6.9 and saith the Prophet I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel but now we may say We have seen a more horrible thing in the Land of England even a company of Priests taking mens horses from their work their Corn off their field driving away their Oxen and Kine out of their Pasture taking their wool out of their Barns taking away their Brasse and Pewter out of their Houses taking away their Bedding off their Beds even off their childrens Beds Such a horrible thing was never seen in Israel for the Priests Robbery was not so great then as now for they did never so spoile mens goods nor destroy mens Estates nor imprison mens bodies as now in England the Priests have
had some office in a Regiment and did sometime preach among his sincere and sober Companions that loved him wel according to his knowledg and judgment at that day and he obtained a good Report amongst such as were lovers of Religion And when it pleased the Lord God everlasting to raise us up to be a People in the North parts and through great Tribulations and extream distresses within and without which we passed through were we raised up of the Lord to be a holy and chosen People This same Person was one among the first of us whose heart the Lord touched with the sence of his Power and Kingdom and amongst us he had the mighty operation of the Power of God experienced in his heart Great afflictions and tribulations for many weeks was he exercised in through the dispensation of the Grace and Spirit of Christ Jesus he was in that state and while therein exercised for many dayes a wonder to all that beheld him as one passing out of the body as one under the deep sence of the hand of the Lord under the operation of his Power thus it was with many of us and particularly with him Till such time as the same Power that killed made alive as wounded also â—eâ—led as brought down also raised up and then being raised up in the holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ he was made a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel to preach Repentance Conversion Salvation and Remission of sins and accordingly went forth in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus the Saviour of mâ—n kind and was a Minister of the glad Tydings of Salvatiâ—n in many parts of this Land and elsewhere to the conversion of many Souls to God for his Ministry was made effectual by the Almighty Power of the Lord to turn many from darknesse to light from the power Satan to God and there are thousands who can in the Spirit of the Lord bear Testimony to the power and verity of his Ministry in many Countreys where he travelled for he laboured much in divers places and was very diligent and faithful in the work of the Lord and suffered imprisonment divers times and was hardly dealt withal and persecuted in Chester Cambridge and in Norwich prisons and other places and he was found faithful in all his Tryals among his Brethren and alwayes ready to do his service in what he was called unto with a willing mind being truly in body soul and spirit given up to the service of the Gospel of Christ Jesus a dispensation of which was committed unto him that he might serve the Lord in his Generation and though he how hath finished his Testimony in this World yet the remembrance of him lives with us in the Spirit of Jesus and he is accounted among the faithful Sufferers a Martyr for the witnesse of the Truth which ever liveth And for the space of nine years he laboured and travelled in the work of the Gospel aforesaid in most of the Counties of this Nation and was well known for his faithfulness among the Churches of Christ He was but little in stature in his outward man and of weak Constitution of body and was slow of speech and often more ready to hear then to speak he made little appearance in the manhood of Excellency or Authority but was contemptible among men yet he was very wise and knew his season when to speak and when to be silent and when he spoke it was with much discretion and deliberation in weaknesse of word many times yet reached perfectly the matter intended by him and his speech was with Graâ—e and in the fear of God and had Authority in the Spirits of men and was of savour and sound judgement though in weaknesse of the manhood expressed for he answered not mens Wisdom in excellent stile of words but the witnesse of God in sincerity of speech he was a Person of sound judgement in divine Mysteries and of good experience in the operations of the power of God and knew the passing through divers conditions of the inward man and was able to speak to many estates of man passing under the dispensations of the Grace of God he could well inform the mind of a person in an afflicted and tossed state of terrour and judgement and his Ministry was often savoury and seasonable and felt in the pure life though his words were plain and homely and no beauty in them to mans Wisdom and God made him and his service a blessing to many who shall speak for him in their own Consciences He was of a loving genâ—le and good disposition and acceptable was his Company to them that knew him and were like-minded a good Companion in all Conditions not soon moved into passion of either grief in Adversity or of joy in Prosperity nor had he a Spirit taking offence upon light occasions against any but watched for Good over all and not for Evil He was a man of peace and loved it and walked peaceably among his brethren in honest kind familiarity And I am perswaded in my Soul according to the experience I had of him for many years he abhorred dissention and strife among Friends and was never the real occasion intendedly by himself of any difference and dissention among brethren and what further is Truth of him I leave it to the just God whose testimony is true and never fails Among many others that were taken from Meetings and sent to Newgate according as ye have â—eard This same Person of whom I am now treating was in like manner rudely and violently taken on the 22 th day of the 4 th Month last out of a Meeting in the Bull at Aldersgate and carried before Richard Brown who used violence to him with his own hands in pulling his Hat down upon his head so that he brought his head near the ground and then he Commirted him to Newgate where he remained till the Sessions and was then indicted among the rest for being at an unlawful Meeting c. as it is said and he being throng'd up in Prison among the rest of us it pleased the Lord to visite him with sickness of body and in 10. dayes space always growing weaker and weaker in that time he deceased and laid down his body in peace About two days before his departure some of his dearest Friends went to visite him and sate by him a space and spoke somwhat to him and asked him if any thing was upon his Spirit he might now speak it to his Friends His answer was That there was no need to dispute matters for he knew the ground of his Salvation and was satisfied for ever in his peace with the Lord God and we know said he one another wel and what each of us can say about those things and spoke no further And the 17 th day of the 6th Month he departed this life and was gathered up to his Fathers the Generation of the just and though he be gone in that
not the Apostle Paul sufficient Grace when the Lord said My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 And had not the Corinthians sufficiency of Grace 2 Cor. 3.5 whose sufficiency was in God and from God to them made manifest and had not they sufficiency in all things 2 Cor. 9.8 And was Paul with those Corinthians at the last breath when those things were spoken but thy thoughts have deceived thee in thinking such a thing to be past controversie for thou must be both controverted and contradicted while thou thus in thy extreams and floods of fury sets thy self against the Truth as it is made manifest in us and also in the Scriptures Again thou saist Thou thinks it is time for men that have any sence of the common interest of Christianity Reformation to lay by these contentions that hav brought you so low almost made you a prey to the common Romish Adversaries saying the Lord grant it be not too late Ans. Art thou now sensible of the emptiness in and the disadvantage which thou gets by thy contention and thou may well see it if thou be but sober how the Romish adversaries may have advantage against thee condemning that in them which thou allowest in thy self and thou mayest have a ground of jealousie in thee that it is too late But as for an interest in Christianity and Reforâ—ation thou art far from it who art striving to keep people from the Light by which people should be reformed and by which they should be led into the life of Christianity And although thou confessest that you are brought low by contention and by too eager disputation yet again thou exalts thy self and thy Brethren as if you were above Christ or his Apostles in the Work of the Ministry for thou saist How few did Christ convert that spake as never man spake And how many places did the Apostles preach in where they converted not one for a hundred that some of you see converted in one Parish And thus thou defames Christ and the Apostles Doctrine to set up thy own buâ— if thou do not as well deny the Scriptures as Christ and the Apostles Minstry thou mayest read how that three thousâ—nd were converted at one Sermon and If thou truly consider and try thy own Work thou wilt see that all the Sermons which ever thou hast preached hath not converted one in thy Parish into the State of a new creature where all old things are done away and all things are become new and so thy boasting thereby may be ended Again thou saist That you do not fear that quaking should become the Nations Religion we know those squibs will soon be out Ans. If it were but a squib that would so soon be out what need you make so much a do about it and bring forth so many floods and draw dry so many wells to quench it And what is the cause of such jealousies in your hearts as sometime to fear that it 's too late to strive against it And why are you so afraid that it should have its liberty in the Nation if you think it will be so sooâ— out but it is your constant practice to speak one thing and to think another for this which you say is but a squib will be as an eveâ—lasting burning that none shall be able to quench it and it is the powerful appearance of the Lord from Heaven and who may abide the day of his coming or who may stand when he appears Not those who have contemned his Light and reproached the children of it not those who preach for filthy lucre who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies who make merchandize of souls for dishonest gain but he that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he that despiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil such a one loveth the appearance of him who is come a Light into the World and loveth the children that walk in his Light for he that loveth him that doth beget loveth also those that are begotten of him who walk in his Light but the Wicked shall become silent in darkness and many who have used their tongues and said Come Lord Jesus come quickly shall not be able to stand when he appears nor to abide the day of his coming which to them that hate him is destruction but to them that love him is everlasting salvation And this is the day of his appearance in which blessed are they that are not offended in him Truth and Innocency Clearing its self and its Children Being declared in a few words which in this day of striving and of the Lords power is brought forth in many agaâ—nst the deceveable ways of the Unrighteous which abound and is as Mountains in every Region Countrey and County But the Lord is now risen to make them plain that People may see that they are but earth and may feed upon the top of them Also in this Treatise is a Mountain of confusion lyes and slanders proceeding from one Jonathan Clapâ—am a Priest made manifest which swelled as though it had been no Earth against the Lords Mountain and against the way of his Holiness which now the holy Seed which the Lord hath blessed with spiritual blessings tread upon as upon the Mire in the low Valleys which is dryed up and with it they are not defiled for the feet of them that bring glad tydings of the Gospel of peace tread upon the top of those Mountains for Mountains were never seen till the Light appeared which is now brought forth making all things manifest Given forth from the light of Truth which answereth the Truth in every man and continues the offence of the Cross to the deceit in every man R. H. To the Reader In the night all the beasts of the field raven and now many of them are come out of their Dens into which they must be driven again for the Lord is now coming and his Power with him and his day is appearing to deliver his prisoner which hath long been in the Pit covered with darkness and now all the Powers of Hell and Death gather themselves together that they may be broken to pieces against the Heir of Gods Inheritance which is not possible should be kept always under the power of death as surely as they rise up against the Lord so surely shall they be broken to pieces for the arm power of the Lord is with us no inchantment formed against us can prosper for the Lord hath stretched forth his and touched our lips and put his words into our Mouths and in this day hath made us a defenced City and an Iron Pillar and a Brazen Wall against the whole Land even all both Priests and People who deny the Light of the Lord to be the way of life and not only against those gross Priests of the
converted and that the ground thereof is the same wherewith Paul was converted is as evident as the rest to them that are in the Light and out of the imaginations and your envy to him since he owned the truth is no small Testimony of it and so all things testifying together the Tree will be known by its fruits to them that are not blind 10. Whethee God did not convey this new Light or Dispensation to Sauls understanding through his sences in that it is said he heard and saw as a sure ground to build his faith upon And also whether he did not give him Power and Authority by signs and wonders to convey to the understanding of those to whom he was sent to convert a sure ground of faith also Ans. Here thou hast manifested that thou art blind and in confusion for the ground of faith is but one in Paul and those that were converted and this ground of faith is not of man nor conveyed from one man to another but it is the gift of God and Christ is the Author of it In thy Query thou art speaking of the Light in which he heard and saw being the ground of Pauls Faith and the signs and wonders wrought by Paul being a sure ground to convey faith to the people If thou were not blind thou wouldest see that in Paul and the people the ground of Faith is but one and they that believed because of the Miracles their Faith as thine doth stand in that which is changeable and is not from the true ground but those whom Paul preached unto he told them that the Word of Faith was within them The Word which he preached and the Light was in them and so he was to turn them to the Light and to the Word which was within them And whereas thou asks Whether it was not conveyed through the senses to the understanding First learn to know where it is and what it doth enlighten in thee and then thou wilt know what is conveyed through for as yet in thee thy senses are ignorant of it though it shine in darkness 11. Whether if John Lilburn have received the same ground of faith so conveyed to his understanding immediately from God as Saul had or by some other whom God hath endued with Power and Authority to convey a ground of Faith as Paul did then far be it from me for blaming of J. Lilburn for being a Quaker Otherwise whether if he have not received the ground of faith aforesaid whether it be not easie to discern that John Lilburn's Resurrection is but a meer imagination or Quaking Delusion Ans. Faith is the gift of God and not the gift of Paul and herein thou art blind And Christ saith Believe in the Light while ye have the Light but he did not bid them believe in that which was of man nor conveyed by men to one another Yet thou confessest that it was conveyed to Paul immediately from God Therefore seeing thou makest a difference shew who did ever receive Faith or the ground of it and not from God and what was the ground of Abraham's Faith and Enoch's before the Scripture-Letter was written But the ground of Lilburn's Faith is immediately from God as Paul's was and therefore thou mayest cease blaming of him for his being turned to the Faith 12. Whether it be not easie to find out whether the Quakers doctrine be a dispensation of God or a dispensation of man's will Whether if it be of God he will not take the same care for the divulging of it as he did of his former dispensation that is by such evidences as no false Minister could procure as when he commanded his Apostles to preach to the world and to baptize them that believed and to teach them to observe all things c. Ans. Although our Doctrine be of God yet to thee and all in that nature it is not easie to know nor find to be so for none knows our Doctrine whether it be of God but he that doth the Will of our Father and walks in his obedience and it is manifest that thou yet hatest the way whereby our doctrine is known for thou having not the Spirit of Truth how art thou like to know that doctrine which is of God from imaginations that which thou tryes withall being thy imaginary faculty but that the Lord takes the same care for his Ministers now as ever he did is manifest even by such evidences as no false Minister can produce for never any of the false Ministers which the Lord did not send did turn any from their iniquity nor from darkness to the light nor from the power of Satan unto God which now many do witness from the Ministry which God hath now raised up in this age which is the torment oâ— the false Prophet for if it had not been evidenced in power and by the Spirit of the Lord to be contrary to the false doctrine especially in turning people from the wickedness whicâ— your doctrine keeps them in then it might have found favouâ— amongst you and would not so much have been despised but to us it is an evident token of salvation and that from God though 〈◊〉 of perdition The Rebukes of a Reviler fallen upon his own head In an Answer to a Book put forth by one John Stetham called a Minister at Terliâ—g in Essex WHereas the Ancient of days hath appeared and the Lord God of Israel and of his holy Seed for ever hath in these our days being his appointed time stretched forth his hand to gather in his Remnant which hath been scattered and starved upon the barren Mountains and he hath made known his Aâ—m and Power in raising up his righteous Branch and is bringing out of captivity his own chosen that his own name may be exalted for evermore and his marvelous light hath he caused to shine forth unto many that have set in darkness and he hath cryed Behold me behold me unto a people that hath not been called by his name yea from this time it shall be said What hath God wrought And who is like unto them that are saved by the Lord a happy people And blessed are they whom he hath chosen for his own Inheritance they dwell in their Tents and none can make them afraid for there is no Inchantment against Israel nor no divination against the Seed of Jacob he that curses them it shall return upon his own head and he that defies them shall surely be confounded in a day for God hath spoken and it shall surely come to pass he hath said and it shall not be revoked They that wait upon him shall never be ashamed but his presence shall go before them and his righteousness shall be their reward Therefore O ye Mountains and Hills wherefore are ye gathered together ye high and lofty Oaks and rebellious children to what purpose have ye set your selves as in Array for Battel against the Lord and against his Annointed in
put them to an end and not destroy them nor contradict them in the sight of his Father though to their corrupt judgement and Christ tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God who had old lying hearts and were sinful wretches even such as John Stelham hath confessed himself to be and therefore his words and judgement and theirs is like to be all of one nature judging Truth to be Error and the Way of God to be Heresie and Blasphemy this the Pharisees did of old and even thus doth John Stelham and his companions do at this day But why should any be troubled hereat seeing herein Christs words are fullfilled upon us who said They shall speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my Names sakâ— And so hath this man done with his light scornful spirit and fulfilled Christs words who because he hath not known the Father nor the Son hath spoken evil falsly against them that follow Christ And this were sufficient answer to his whole Book Yet let us see what follows and let the Reader try with all moderation that he may be edified and may know the true Spirit from the false and the doctrine of the Gospel from lying visions and may cleave to the Truth and escape the error And let none believe hastily things uttered without knowledge out of J.S. deceitful heart FOrasmuch as many of the Servants of the Lord have been moved of the Lord to set forth in order several Declarations of those things which the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in their hearts hath given them the knowledge of and for this end are they published that others also may know the certainty and truth of those things which are believed known and enjoyed amongst us not that they can be known by reading the Letter in which they are declared but through their diligence and obedience to the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them though not for it which is the same Light which shined in our hearts and gave us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by which Light of the glorious Gospel who are faithful in it to the Lord their understandings come to be opened that they stumble not at those things which are testified in the Truth neither at that which is declared in other Scriptures but it being that in this our day it hath pleased the Father to bring forth in life and power that mercy and truth which the Scripture speaks of by which iniquity is purged out and as it is become a savour of life unto life in those that receive and believe in it so it is also become a savour of death unto that death which remains in both Priests and people in this age who hate the Light who can scarce hear it named or that people should be turned unto it as the Apostle did turn them from darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remâ—ssion of their sins and be partakers of the inheritance amongst them that are sanctified but when they hear that preached or printed which they may do and out of which they cannot receive the remission of their sins then envy riseth up in them a perverse mind and ungodly speeches and false accusations saying that we speak of a natural Light and of a natural Conscience when as we speak of the true Light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World and in which Christ's Doctrine stood who said to the people and to the Pharisees again and again I am the Light of the world as John 8.12 John 12.46 but now because the Light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we declare it freely as we have received it therefore is floods of ungodliness risen up against us But it is impossible that the Seed which the Lord is manifesting his Light and Power to bring forth should be kept alwayes under the power of death which Seed is now terrible in the Lord's Power and will yet be more terrible as his power encreaseth which is now going forth as an Army with banners for the torment of the wicked is already begun because the righteousness of God is now spreading over the Nations and neither the Rulers of the darkness of this World nor all the Printings and Preachings of those who be out of the life of God can hinder that which the Lord hath begun and is carrying on by his own power though the Nations are angry because that by the Light of his glorious Gospel shining forth his wrath is revealed upon them for their ungodly deeds that the Scripture which cannot be broken may be fulfilled and therefore it were better for them there may be hope then to rise up against that which is more unchangeable than the Heavens and the Earth And therefore in vain have the Enemies of God and people in all professions joined themselves together against the Light of Truth and the Way of the Lord which many in our dayes have fallen upon but are broken to pieces and it hath fallen upon many and grinded them to powder and nothing shall escape for the day of the Lord is come and it is very nigh to you that hate it a day of darkness and of gloominess of clouds and of thick darkness and now the seed of God is as the morning spread upon the Mountains a great people and a strong there hath not been ever the like neither shall there be any more after it even to the years of many generations a fire goeth before them and behind them a flame burneth the Land is as the Garden of Eden before them and behind them a desolate Wilderness and nothing shall escape them the appearance of them is as the appearance of horses and as horse-men so shall they run c. the Earth shall quake before them the Heavens shall tremble the Sun and Moon shall be dark and the Stars shall withdraw their shining and the Lord shall utâ—er his voice before his Army as he now doth for his Camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his Word for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it And now according as the Prophet Joel prophesied is it come and coming to pass Joel 2.2 3 4 10 11. against which Seed men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the things of God are risen up who in their first appearance in their Writings profess themselves to be that which they are not seeming right unto many through their feigned words and fair speeches deceiving the hearts of the simple for whom Christ dyed but afterwards in the same Writings to those that see they manifest themselves what they are and being so considered as they are seen and known cannot deceive and therefore to all people who desire to be edified and satisfied in the ground and truth
holy 1 Pet. 1.16 And this is not a doctrine of Devils but of Christ the Son of God and Paul preached Wisdom among those that were perfect 1 Cor. 2 6. and David preached the Doctrine of perfection in this life saying Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Psal. 37.37 Now David did not bid them mark such a man as there was not So the Doctrine of perfection is that Doctrine which both the Prophets Christ and Apostles preached and so not the Doctrine of Devils if we preach the same but all those that preach up sin and that men must live in it and that they cannot be free from it while upon earth these are Messengers of Satan and preach the Doctrine of Devils and people need not that doctrine for they are willing enough to live in sin without having it preached up and being strengthened in it and that makes them so willing to pay the Priests such Wages for calling the proud happy and those that work wickedness Saints and justified persons for without such Wages not a priest in England would preach peace to them in their sins but they would all be silent for if people come once to know Christ their Teacher and he in them the hope of glory who saves his people from their sins then no man wil buy their merchandize any more but wil come all to hear and learn of the Father and come to witness his Covenant and his Teachings and shall not need that one teach another saying Know the Lord for all shall know him from the least to the greatest Heb. 8.11 And this shall all come to witness that come to be translated into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God and then shall they come to witness his Words who is the Lord from Heaven who saith Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect and be ye holy for I am holy And this is the voice from Heaven The real Cause of the Nations Bondage and Slavery here demonstrated and the way of their freedom from their sore and hard Bondage asserted Presented unto the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England who have a Power and Opportunity put into their hands to do good and to fulfil the expected ends of many if they improve it From one that hath seen the corruption which bondageth the whole Creation and that waits for the redemption of the creature from under it R. H. I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Isa. 1.26 Not before When this is fulfilled in England it shall be truly called a free Nation or Commonwealth Not before THere hath been a time when the prudent hath kept silence but now Wisdom hath opened her mouth and will be justified of all her children for the Lord is reviving the spirit that hath been imprisoned and taking the yoke from off the Disciples necks and is going on in the Name of his Power to make his creature a free creature and his people a free people and the Nation that serves him and obeys his Law a free Nation and the thunderings of his power is gone forth and his Light is risen to discover and destroy that which hath deceived the Nations and to give a discerning unto all of their freedom from their bondage and in what it stands and that is to be cast out which gendereth to the bondage of the Soul Spirit or Conscience in any exercise of Worship or obedience unto God which springs from the measure of his own life which must not be hindered or quenched by any Law Power or pretence whatsoever Therefore from the free Spirit of Life and Liberty in Christ Jesus this is proclaimâ—â— to the whole Nation and the Nations round about to take off their bondage and to take away their reproach which hath lain upon them for want of the life of Christ which is now risen to do its own work and perfect its own praise and to deliver its own Seed wheresoever it hath been in captivity the power of life must deliver it from all that which causeth shame and reproach which is the iniquity and transgression of the Life of Christ which is the original cause of bondage to every Nation which the Lord hath promised to take away in one day Zac. 3 9. And his Work and Power shall be known by its fruit which is to take away theâ—r sin Isa. 27.9 One great yoke of bondage which is upon the Subjectâ— and Seed of God in this Nation and others is that Ministry which is not free neither wil minister without money and the people are not free to hear them yet a yoke of bondage is laid upon them to pay them and this iniquity is established by a Law So here is neither free preaching nor free hearing unto which the free Spirit raised up in this Nation declareth thus That every one that will minister must do it freely and as of the ability which God giveth him and as the Oracle of God and that no profession of people may maintain anothers Minister but that there may be a free preaching and a free hearing among all people that so it may be a free Nation and they that will have Teachers according to their own lusts and judgements they to maintain them and that there may never any such iniquity be established by a Law as for one sort of people to maintain anothers Minister for this hath caused heart-burnings envy and strife insomuch that little Justice could be done for the Nation by reason of the cry of complainers and oppressors as at every Parliament every high Court every Assizes and Sessions and petty Courts there hath some pretended Minister or other been presenting Addresses Petitions or Complaints and so have stopt the just and lawful proceedings of the affairs of the Nation which interruption may easily be prevented and the Courts of Justice freed from such brawling and unreasonable complaints which hath been more interruption to Justice than any thing in the Nation besides and hath more hindered the peoples deliverance from being a free people and a free Nation than any thing in the Nation besides So let every form and profession of Religion maintain their own Minister and maintain their poor which are crying at their Meeting-house doors and in the Streets in the Name of their God for some relief that so there may not be a beggar in England for herein the Christians in name are become even a reproach among the Heathens to see their own flesh stand naked and uncovered in the streets and Steeple-house doors and at their doors and they turn their ears from the poor and forget God and loses the bowels of compassion and are not merciful as the Father which is in Heaven is merciâ—ul and so walks not according to the Scriptures but is a disgrace to Religion
so the Nation may enjoy that Liberty and Feedom which they have long waited for and suffer none to act that persecution in your names which hath already covered the Nation with blackness and darknesse and hath brought Gods curse upon their proceedings One thing is upon me to acquaint you with which many of you it may be doth not know which is this One of the little horns which pushed and persecuted the Lambs of Christ is springing up again and begins to be as fierce as ever For yesterday in the Exchequor at Westminster Judge Parker and Judge Wilde would not receive a true answer from an honest man who is well known for his uprightnesse against a false Bill exhibited against him by a Priest unlesse he would give it in upon Oath and therefore because he could not swear for Conscience sake but did testifie the Truth from his heart he was committed Prisoner to the Fleet and several others True and Just men and Friends to the Common-wealth was denied the Law and their answers rejected because they could not swear but in whose names and by whose authority they act those things is not yet declared to the Nation If those Judges act those things in the name and by the authority of the Army or their late chosen Counsel let it be openly manifest and if not but they did it in their own names let the Nation know it For this is worse then the last Parliament who did set many free who where so imprisoned and did give Commissions and receive Testimony without swearing Judge Parker seems to have forgotten that knowledge and fidelity which he had of that people when he went his last circuit in the North and his so favouring the Priests now shews that he hath forgotten since he confest that he was Sermon-sick at Carlisle this last Summer when he wished that a Quaker had been there and saw that they had reason to declare against them c. But to us it is no strange thing to see men so apt to change and to betray their own knowledge for filthy lucre sake while the corruption of the Laws through bribery and deceit is upheld which once the Souldiers had a clear sigâ—t oâ— and a determination to pull down and now it is the only day of their tryal to provâ— themselves and it is doing of that which you have accused the Parliament for not doing that must make you manifest for people will no longer believe words for your selves know that the good people of the Nation have made daily complaints and Petitions the Officers Souldiers also against that general oppression of Tithes the Parliament hath only given them thanks for their good expressions and good affections but done nothing until their thanks did even become loathsom to the people Is it not a grievous thing and intolerable to be born that innocent and faithful men who see and deny the Priests deceit should be forced whether by Law or Violence to give them the tenth part of all their labours and increase and they with that money to buy horse and arms to raise a Rebellion to murther and destroy those men who deny to give them that which your Law hath caused to be taken from them and so both the Law and Priesthood is joyned together in oppression of the people And the Nation is very sensible that all this while they have but been deceived by promises and fair pretences Therefore be diligent to improve the light of your day before the Sun set upon you and you be shut up in darkness and the power to do good be taken from you A member of his Army who makes War with the sword of his mouth Richard Hubberthorn London the 24. of the 8. mo 1659. An Answer to the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacie from the People called Quakers A Copy of which was given to the KING by them upon the 4. day of the 5. Moneth 1660. AS it was the Disciples Religion Principle and Practice to obey Christs command as in Mat. 5.34 But I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is Gods Throne nor by the Earth for it is his foot-stool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by thy head for thou canst not make one hair white or black but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil and this being the Apostles Religion and practice rhey preached thiâ— doctrine unto others as it is written James 5.12 But above all things my brethren swear not neither by heaven neither by the earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest you fall into condemnation so this is our doctrine principle and practice that we cannot swear at all by any oath lest we fall into condemnation and so sin against Christ and if we do suffer or be persecuted and imprisoned because we cannot swear then it is for our Religion and exercise of our Consciences and obedâ—ence of truth unto our God in which suffering we shall rather die then sin against him And whereas it is required of us to testifie our obedience as Subjects unto Charles the second as our lawful King and own his Supremacie and Government in all just and lawful commands whereupon an oath of Allegiance and Supremacie is tendred As it is our principle and hath ever been our practice to be obedient Subjects under every Power ordained of God and to every ordinance of man set up by him for the Lords sake whether unto King as Supream or unto Governours or any set up in authority by him who are for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2.13 14. and unto such we do freely promise obedience unto all just and lawful commands And we do own and believe that it is not without but according to the purpose of the Lord that he hath this day and power given him as King head and chief Magistrate over this Nation that while he hath this day and power he may rule for God in civil and outward affairs and matters relating to the outward man and estate in which all his just and lawful commands we can willingly be subject unto not for wrath but even for conscience sake and all commands which are otherwise whether from him or any other we shall willingly and patiently suffer under them what men shall be permitted to impose upon us and thus we do accept and own the King and his Government as he and it is according to God and answerable unto him we are willingly obedient and in Conscience bound to accept it and shall yield subjection thereunto but if otherwise contrary to God he rule in tyranny oppression injustice or the like that we must bear witness against by the spirit of truth but not by outward opposition as rebellion by insurrections plots or
and whether was Matthias one of the eleven seeing he was not then chosen when Christ did arise from the dead But there needs not much be said to thee only to let thee see thy ovvn folly lest thou should say thou art wise To the eighth thou seemest to affirm that the Scriptures are to be taken as they speak and not otherwise a Mysterie Ans. Then why dost thou and the Priests give meanings to the Scriptures and do not let people take them as they speak but makes them such a Mysterie without your meanings and so plain with them but this is thy practice and doctrine to condemn thy self in the thing that thou allowest and builds again that which thou hast destroyed and so makes thy self a transgressor Lastly In thy conclusion thou falsly chargest me That I do not believe that any of these things mentioned in these Scriptures be really done Which is not my Faith for I do believe that those things mentioned were really done and fulfilled as the Scripture speaks but it is no new thing vvith thee to accuse falsly and to make lyes thy refuge but vvhat in all those things thou hast done against me I do forgive thee and do vvarn thee for the time to come that thou go not on to commit the unpardonable sin against God and his Spirit never to be forgiven Again in thy last paper thou declarest thy ignorance of the two Seeds and askest what be those two seeds Answ. These two the Scripture speaks of the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent 2 Who did or doth sow them seeds Answ. God doth sow the one and the wicked one the other 3 Where be they sown Answ. In man 4 When be they sown Answ. When man had a being and a body to receive them 5 What be the bodies they shall rise with Answ. Their own bodies according to their own natures the one pure and the other defiled 6 Whether be these two seeds and two bodies in all the world or two seeds in every man and the two bodies to or in every man Ans. The seeds are but two in the whole world having each seed its own body and in every one until the one be cast out 7 When shall those seeds arise or be raised whether after the bodily death or after the spiritual death Ans. Every one in its own order after the death of that which is born of the flesh and also after the death of the spiritual wickedness which is yet alive in all hirelings and deceivers such as thou art where the seed of God is yet in its grave 8 What are the graves these are in and out of which they shall arise These of which the Scripture speaks which when thou comest to understand it thou wilt understand both the seeds and graves of which we speak Christ the seed made his grave in the wicked and in the rich in his death and out of that grave shall rise with his body into everlasting life if thou canst receive it thou maist be satisfied And as to the 9. Query Why I say that the one shall rise unto everlasting life and the other unto condemnation Ans. Because it is so therefore I say so and if thou say to the contrary make it manifest but in this as in other things thy folly and ignorance is manifest to ask why I speak the truth which thou thy self darest not deny to be truth R. H. A short Relation of the twelve changes of Government that hath been in England within these 8 years under all of which we have suffered Persecution SInce by the Lord we were called chosen and separated to be his people and had unto us committed the word of Reconciliation and since his eternal power broke forth and was manifest amongst us hath he done great things in the Earth for he hath prepared his way and made it plain before the face of all people by the appearance and testimony of his eternal light in their hearts which hath not onely there shined but is broken forth into a life of Righteousness in many whom the Lord hath accounted worthy to be his servants in his Work to raise up a seed unto Jacob and to gather the dispersed of Israel and Judah both Jews and Gentiles into the Covenant of Light and Life with the Father from whence they are erred by transgression and for the accomplishing of this work and service hath the Lord furnished us with spiritual Weapons to war even against spiritual wickedness in high places 2 Cor. 10.4.5 and against the Rulers of the darkness of this World Ephâ—s 6.12 which hath appeared under many Forms and Governments since the breakings forth of truth in this Nation Yea many Heads or Governments hath been raised up and cast down again by one Hand and Power and have all from the Lord through his Servants had a word of Wisdom and Counsel administred unto them what they should do that they might be established which if they did not the Lord would break them to pieces which word of the Lord was fulfilled upon them all And every divers Head had a Horn in it to push at the Lambs of Christ withal and at every appearance of his Spirit and Power in his people but for his Elect sake was their days shortned and his breakings and destruction came upon them according to his word spoken to them by his servants at divers times And it is to be observed as the Lords doing and ordering by his mighty power that within this eight years siâ—ce we have been persecuted and cruelly used for the Name and Testimony of Jesus and the Answer of a pure Conscience there hath been twelve Changes of Government in this Nation which have all of them more or less been guilty of our Sufferings either in acting against us or in suffering others to act cruelly and not endeavouring to restrain them when they had power in their hands to do it and the sufferings laid before them who suffered for righteousness sake so that they could not plead ignorance but was left without excuse which now in the day of their misery and tribulation some of them do consider it when their time is no more I. As first in the time of the long Parliament in the Year One thousand six hundred fifty two although many pretended some prayed and some fought for Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion yet at that time were we imprisoned beat and persecuted for obeying and worshipping our God in Spirit and Truth according to his teaching and at that time the Priests rage begun to burn like fire and they run one unto another and kindled the wrath in one another against the Truth even to petition against the spreading of it and those that walked in it as a dangerous thing and they generally with one consent called the Truth Heresie Delusion and Blasphemy and those that ministred it abroad they called Ring-leaders of Sects as in the Apostles days
there was the like example But these was warned in their day not to persecute the innocent nor to uphold those that preached for filthy lucre who served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies But they hearkned not to the Counsel of the Lord but shut their ears against his Instructions therefore was their day taken from them and their Power given to another that they also might be tryed 2 In the year 1653 a Council of State was called by O C. but they did nothing to take off the weight of oppression in the Nation neither in Spiritual nor Civil things for Pride and the deceitfulnesse of Riches entred into their hearts that they did not regard nor set themselves wholly to do that which the Lord did require them although they were warned of God in their time yet the Yoke of the oppressor was not taken away but under it the Nation groaned and they wrought no deliverance in the earth III. Then the Little Parliament sat in the same year and there was a plant of Righteousnesse tending towards some equity and freedom springing up in them but the strength of deceipt and subtilty in others did quench it before it brought forth any thing to perfection and in that time the Priests fierce persecuting Zeal was so inflamed that many Petitions from several parts of the Nation was presented against the Quakers to the Parliament and their continual clamor Petitions and Addresses and they being not regarded and harkned unto was one cause of the continuance of the Nations bondage and oppression and God never prospered such as received them into their Councils or gave heed to their reports but a Curse and Destruction alwaies followed them in their undertakeings whose ear was open unto such things And in the time of his Power and Government was persecution continued about Religion though much was pretended to the contrary they also were warned and wisely counselled in their day and so was left without excuse IV. Again in the same year was O C. made Protector who had his day and power in his hand to have done good and to have done that which he and others pretended but he joyning with the covetous Priests and their Interests to make his arm strong thereby betrayed the Lord and his People into the hands of sinners And instead of removing Persecution he caused new Acts to be made to Persecute by and so brought a Curse upon himselfe and Family and Tribulation upon those that trusted in him And the Lord did often visit him with reproofs and instructions untill he hardened his heart agâ—inst all reproof and then was he given up of the Lord and of his People to his appointed end as an Example to all Hypocrites and Treacherous ones V. Again his second Parliament was called and fat in the year 1654. In their daies was not the Land eased not freed from its bondage and when they had let in the Priests Spirits and was incensed against the Truth and intending to make Laws to Persecute then were they broken and their power taken from them who in their day was warned but did not the thing which the Lord required of them VI. Oliver's 3d. Parliament which consisted of two Houses sat in the year 1657. they more than any of the rest did draw back into that which they had declared against and they let in the Priests Persecuting Spirit and made Laws for Persecution and many were Imprisoned in the time of their Government because for Conscience sake they could not pay Tithes to the Hireling Priests and because they could not Swear contrary to Christs command Mat. 5. And they had many warnings and admonitions from the Lord which they rejected and so the Lord rejected them as from doing his work VII Then Richard Cromwell in the year 1658. was made Protector whom the Priests flockt to as their Rock of defence that he as their Joshua might lead them into their promised Land which was but a Benefice of Tithes or Augmentation their prayed for Inheritance and they told him that the Gospel was bound up in him and so did cleave unto him by Flatteries as they did unto all the rest before him for their own ends but the suffering seed of God which could not Flatter him was not set free who freely declared unto him the word of the Lord and instructions from the Almighty before his day was over VIII And again his Parliament sate in the year One thousand six hundred fifty nine they continued and did not free the Sufferers and imprisoned ones who suffered onely for the worship of their God and for the exercise of a good Conscience but they went on swiftly in the way of their destruction to impose Worships upon people and to decree unrighteous Decrees and upon that Rock of Religion they were broken as others had been before them though they were exhorted to righteousness and told of the evill that did come upon them IX The ninth Government was again the Long-Parliament who came in with great pretences and resolutions and protestations to make this Nation a Free-Common-wealth not onely in Name but in Nature And they begun well and to call the prisoners up to London who suffered for Conscience sake and freed some of them and many of them intended to take away that great Oppression of Tithes whereby much deceit and many dâ—ceivers are held up in the Nation and then the Priests rage was kindled against them and they cursed them in their pulpits and preached up War against them and themselves get Horses Pistols and Swords to fight for their Tithes and Maintenance and when they were routed then they again petitioned the Parliament some begging pardon and some pleading not-Guilty and the Parliament was so blind that upon their Dissimulation they let in the Priests again and begun to gratifie the Priests and establish Tithes and then the wrath of God broke forth against them and their Destruction was prophesied of and told them that it should shortly come upon them as it came to pass because they would not receive the Lords Counsel in their day X. Then the Army and Committee of Safety so called had the Power and Government in their hands which they did not improve as they might have done for the liberty of the Subjects neither did they receive that counsel from the Lord which would have opened their understandings how to have ruled for him but with corrupt reasonings among themselves perverted one another and confounded their own work reasoning out the good and honest intentions of some that was amongst them until they all became as a heap of Confusion and their work broken to pieces A just reward of their own devices and following the counsels of their own hearts neglecting the Advice of that Spirit of righteousness which should have led and also established them in the work of the Lord in the Nation so as unworthy and disobedient were they cast out XI Then again the Long-Parliament
had another day of Tryal given them into their hands but a mad zeal and fury attended them against the honest and upright-hearted people and the Fury of the Oppressour was highly exalted amongst them burning like fire in which they could not contain themselves nor possess their own Spirits in quietness in which fury was folly the effects of which did betray and destroy both themselves and others They being diverted from their first intentions and desire after righteousness a just recompence of reward for their disobedience came upon them according to many true Testimonies from the Lords servants unto them which if in time their ears had been open to the Lords instructions and their hearts inclined to righteousness that swift and sudden desâ—ruction had not so soon come upon them but they being blinded with fury in their anger would neither hear nor see that which was the effect of their own work nor the Lords hand of Justice near come upon them as now they may consider it XII The Secluded Members then came in as a rod of Gods anger and of Justice or a prey upon them and it was manifest to the seeing Eye that God had turned his hand against all those which haâ— abused his Power and neglected his work who had sought and set up themselves insâ—ead of the Lord and his righteousness and now when the Lords hand is justly stretched forth to wound those that by him would not be healed who shall forbid it until the cause be removed and they purged through judgment and suffering And now unto you the present power King and Parliament be not high-minded but fear be not lifted up as though by your Arm Power and Policie you had got a Victory For it is Righteousness yet which the Lord doth require and if by his immediate power without your Sword he have cut off all those that you might be grafted in Consider therefore Gods end in so doing for it is by that immediate power of God which hath broken them that you must stand if you do stand for God is the same and will be to you as he hath been to others as you answer or not answer his requirings For it is not Persons that God accepts but he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him therefore as you look to be established by the Lord do righteousness equity and justice to every man without respect of persons and according to the equal and Royal Law of God walk doing unto others as yee would that others should do unto you Take heed of imposing any thing relating to the matter of Worship upon the Consciences leâ—â— you kindle Gods wrath against you as others have done which will not easily be quenched for upon this Rock have many been broken and others wounded so that they could not again be healed And two things we would mind you of especially First That you are not come in by your own Sword or Power but by a remarkable hand of God in such a way as neither your selves nor any other could have expected Secondly Consider what a flood of unrighteousness licentiousness and flâ—shly liberty hath of a sudden overspread the Nation upon your comming in which although it received some little seasonable curb by a Proclamation from King Charles till which scarce a man scaring God and that could not joyn with them in their rioting and drunken healths could pass the Streets in most places of the Nation yet the body of that iniquity still stands in many places as in May-games Fiddlings Dancings Stage-Plays and divers other ungodly vain Sports by which Gods righteous Soul is still grieved the Spirits of all people that truly fear God sadned the weight of that wickedness which already lay upon the Nations mightily encreased quite contrary to what such a work as your coming in after such a manner required All which speaks dreadful things against these Nations in the sight of many who are most acquainted with Gods fear and have that Eye in them which foresees evil to come in whose hearts and mouths it is now to warn you in love to your own Souls who are in power to scatter such Wickedness and the Nations peace and wel-being that the Wrath that is already threatned might be prevented from coming in your day And we desire that you may take more notice of the Lords warnings to you then others have done that have gone before you that Gods hand and power be not turned against you as it was against them R. H. An Epistle to Friends OH my dear and truly beloved Friends by the holy Spirit of my Father is my heart freely opened and enlarged unto you even in the love which is as a Fountain of Life which plentifully flows forth in the virtue of the Father in the hearts of the beloved children of God which many Waters cannot quench amongst such who have known the Lord in the outgoings of his Power to be as the Morning to your souls the virtue of whose Grace and Love hath been as a dew remaining upon your branches and whose Doctrine hath even dropped as the rain upon your tender-Plants that you thereby might be refreshed and nourished up unto eternal life the Lord God hath honored you with his presence and hath often fed you with his living appearances and manifestations and you have known what it is to drink of the pure Waters of Life even from that living Fountain which doth always flow in the Spirit by which there is pure and spiritual refreshment ministred unto the soul and the Waters of Strife have ye refused which doth corrupt those that drink them and so as it hath been so let it always continue that you may be kept clean by the Word which you have heard from the beginning and by which you have been gathered out of the World by the Word of his Power and fed together as sheep of his pasture and lambs of his Fold So let not the feeling-sence of the loving-kindness of the Lord be forgotten neither let the purity of your first love decrease but let the dear love of the Father in the freeness of liffe flow forth plentifully one towards another which is the bond of perfection among the children of Light by which you will come to be established in the free Spirit of the Lord in the unity of Life and in the fellowship of the Gospel not being subject to change or be moved from that Word and Spirit by which you have been taught and led in the vvay of Life and by which you have known the mind of Christ and by his gift of Righteousness vvhich you have received are you able to try every spirit as you abide in it whether it be of God both as to Doctrines without and as to motions vvithin So therefore let nothing move you nor unsettle your minds from that measure of Life which in all things is a perfect Instructor which will keep you in a pure Dominion over
and the praying with the Spirit is witnessed among the Saints Qu. 8. Shew me by the Scripture when the Apostles went into the World and gave the people of the World David's Psalms to be sung in meeter the things that you practise answer them by the Scriptures or the Apostles practise without consequence or imagination And in thy answer to this Query thou perverts the Scripture as in the Acts as Paul and Silas sung Psalms in the prison with them of the World they did not go into the World to give them a psalm to sing men that were not come to repentance for saith David The dead cannot praise God there I charge thee to be a lyar that puttest no difference betwixt the Saints singing with grace and understanding and the World which have gotten the form where thou art The Apostle did not speak to such as were in thy condition to be filled with the spâ—rit who were not come to repentance but he spoke to them who were turned from the World and such sung praises to God But for such as thee to go and give to the World Davids psalms in a meeter and say O Lord I am not puft iâ— mind I have no scornful eye O you prophane ones and scornful ones how can you sing this but lye who have scornful eyes to sing all your bones quake and you tremble and you water your bed with your tears and you lie roaring all the night and day when as you scorn Quakers and hate them and speak all manner of evil of them how can you speak this but lye But Davids condition and the Saints is witnessed among them whom the World scornfully call Quakers which power makes all to tremble though you scorn it a while and have gotten the outside the Letter David's condition in a form of words scorning his life and the power of God where it is made manifest Take warning all you scoffers and scorners what came to be the end of all your Fathers that passed before you but destruction You lofty ones fear tremble before the mighty God for all your songs must be turned into howling but singing with the spirit we own the grace which hath appeared to all men teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts And here I charge thee again to be blind that puts no difference betwixt the worlds singing and the Saints Qu. 9. Whether a man shall overcome the body of sin while hâ— is upon the Earth yea or no Pr. And in thy answer to this ninth Query thou sayest It is not possible to subdue the body of sin altogether while we are in this world and thy comparison is A tree while there is life in it will bring forth fruit Rep. Here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be the corrupt tree for by thy fruit thou art known for a good Tree cannot bring forth evil fruit and here thou art proved to be thaâ— corrupt tree who confesseth you do not attain to the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles did as thou speakest in thy Book whose harvest is ripe and now is reaping down Pr. And whereas thou sayest they shall not overcome the body of sin while in this world Rep. And here I charge thee again for say the Saints As he is so are we in this present world and thou sayest not there is the lying spirit and the Apostles said they had put off the body of sin and thou sayest it is not possible and there thy spirit is found contrary to the Scripture and the Apostle saith in Rom. 6. they were made free from sin and thou sayest not it cannot be possible and here thy spirit is tryed Let all the children of the light judge thee and that thou speakest to be contrary to the Apostles words in the Romans and all you that cannot witness these things that the body of sin is not put off wait upon God through Christ for it Qu. 10. Whether the curse be not upon him that preacheth another Gospel then Christ and the Apostles preached yea or no Pr. And in thy answer to this Query thou speakest of receiving the Gospel from Christ and the Apostles Rep. In this I charge thee to be a lyar as I said to thee before who deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven how canst thou be a Preacher of the gospel and deny revelatioâ— What a grosâ— darkness are people in that believe thee For under the curse and wo thou art that the Scripture speaks of and he that hath received the end of his prophesie is made from the curse but this is without thy understanding and knowledge Thou confessest in thy answer to the first query you preach the same gospel but do not attain the same knowledge and understanding Let all people see who are in the Light if it be not the same knowledge and understanding it is not the same Gospel but another and there the curse is upon thee Qu. 11. Whether any natural man can preach the Gospel yea or no Pr. In thy answer to this eleventh query thou speakest of understanding and of studying and of the Gospel and of a natural man and sayest he cannot preach the Gospel and thou saist Your understanding knowledg is not the same as the Apostles was Rep. Here let all who are in the Light see if it be not natural then and if thou be not him that studies a divination of thy own brain and instead of the blessing the curse of God comes upon it for how many are there that were Priests as you are that now cry against you which are come out of your generation and see the curse of God upon all your practises Pr. And thou sayest The flesh which is quickened with the Spirit of Life brings forth some kind of fleshly fruit or other Rep. Here thou hast shewed thy self to be death indeed doth the spirit cause fruits of the flesh Or are the fruits of the spirit the fruits of the flesh O thou lyar and high blasphemer which thou sayest is clear from manifold texts of Scripture all the Scriptures will witness thee to be a lyar and these Scriptutes thou bringest to maintain the spirit of life to bring forth some kind of fleshly fruits and the fruits of the spirit to be the fruits of the flesh Here all who are in the spirit will judge thee to be a blasphemer of the holy Spirit of God for the Spirit brings forth no fruits of the flesh Pr. And thou sayest in thy answer to the first query you do not go to Oxford and Cambridge to learn the Gospel you preach but to learn the knowledge of Tongues and Languages Arts and Sciences Rep. O for shame stop thy mouth here thou hast shamed thy self and all your schools with an external means to open the Gospel People are blind indeed that do follow thee but thy bottle is open and what is within pours out and the Fountain runs and thy
their sins though J.S. say that not one man in the world knows God to be God till he finds him in the Scripture But I say unto him as Christ said unto the Pharises Who had neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape had not his word abiding in them nor did not believe in the Light and that he was the Light vvhich did enlighten every man that cometh into the World search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Eternal life and they are they which testifie of me saith Christ the Life but those thought that they had the life in the Scriptures deceived them for they vvanted the Life when they thought they had it And so I. S. thoughts that he hath the Spirit by the Letter deceâ—ves him for vvhen he finds the Spirit and Eternal Life then his old lying heart in which is no truth but the root of error will be taken away and so the Light vvhich cometh from Christ the Life in vvhich the Spirit is received condemneth all such thoughts for they proceed out of that heart which is not upright before the Lord neither is it set to seek the Lord in that way in vvhich he and his Spirit is found Again I. S. talking of the Scriptures intrudes into things which he hath not seen comparing it with that which he hath seen and so in what he saith he is blind saying The Scripture is a more standing Rule than Visions To which I ansvver The night is upon him that he hath no vision and therefore doth not know vvhat a Vision is a rule unto nor the continuance of it as those in Israel which said that every vision faileth and so vvould not have them a standing Rule and that Reproach of the Visions of God were so common that it vvas become a proverb amongst them but the Prophet vvho vvas in the Light and had the vision of the Lord had the Word of the Lord he was to reprove that proverb and to tell them that they should no more use it as a proverb in Israel and said The dayes are at hand and the effect of every vision and so with the Light who be in it do now reprove all such proverbs and preachings against the visions of God for from the visions was the Scriptures spoken forth and that which they had seen they declared so that which gives forth words is greater than the words and without vision the people perish and they may perish while they have the Letter but they cannot perish while they have the vision and although there be vain visions they do not make the true of none effect And although there be Sorceries and Enchantment that doth not make the true resurrection of the dead of none effect but the blind must stumble at the things they do not see Again J.S. sâ—ith That the Authority of the Scriptures is owned ed among the Jews to this day Ans. No Christ is not owned amongst them who is the Authority and Power unto which the Scriptures give testimony that he is so neither are they yet converted as thou thy self confessest and they who be in the unconverted estate do not own the Authority of the Scriptures though such may talk of them as thou dost speaking that of them which they never spoke of themselves Again I.S. saith in the 17. page As deep things as the Spirit hath revealed they are all in the Scripture Ans. Nay There were things revealed which were unutterable and many things which were revealed and also written which are not in the Scripture as the Book of Nathan the Prophet and the Prophesie of Ahijah the Shilomite and the Visions of Iddo the Seer which was against Jeroboam the son of Nebat 2 Chron. 9.29 And the Book of Shemath the Prophet 2 Chron. 1.2 15. And the Book of Jehu 2 Chron 20.34 and the Book of Gad the Seer 1 Chron. 29.29 and the Book of Jaser 2 Sam. 1.18 and the Prophesie of Enoch who prophesied of the coming of Christ in his Saints to execute Judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly of their ungodly deeds hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him as Jude beareth witness And he also saw and prophesied of Israel according to the flesh that they should do wickedly and slâ—y him vvho was the light of the world And much more which is not written in the Bible And that which is manifest unto Paul which he wrote to the Corinthians in an Epistle not to company with fornicators that whole Epistle is not in the Bible 1 Cor. 5â—9 And likewise that which was revealed unto Paul in the dispensation of the grace of God given unto him how that by revelation God made known unto him the mystry which he wrote unto the Ephesians in a few words whereby they when they read they might understand his knowledg in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it was revealed unto his holy Angels and Prophets by the Spirit which Epistle in which that mystry was written is not in the Bible Ephesians 3.3 And the Epistle which Paul wrote to the Laodiceans which he charged the Colossians to read amongst them and that theirs should be read in the Church of the Laodiceans wherein his thanks prayers to God was for their stedfastnesse in the truth wherein he made manifest the unprofitable talkers who went about to draw them from the truth of the Gospel and from their diligence in good works of eternall life as many vain and unprofitable talkers are in the world now doing the same work And whereas J. S. saith That the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians was read as the Word of the Lord in the Church of the Laodiceans Why doth he not bear witnesse that Paul's Epistle to the Laodiceans was read as the word of the Lord amongst the Colossians Collossians 4.16 And if he read in his Church the Epistle to the Collossians as the Word of the Lord why doth not he read to his people that which was written to the Laodiceans they both being given forth from one Spirit So let him consider of those things above mentioned and try whether his words will stand unreproveable 67. page saying God might have revealed more than is in the Scripture but he pleased not so to doe In that page mentioning Samuel Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles saying All that they have spoken is written both according tâ— what was written before and for substance the same Answ. What I have spoken and shall here speak may sufficiently make manifest that his words proceed from the old lying heart in which dwells no truth for I have shewed out of the Prophets and out of the Apostles many things which was both revealed and declared which is not in the Bible written And likewise I shall shew farther of the things concerning Christ testified by John and we know that
offence now to preach the word of Faith to be as a little light or to preach the annointing to be as a little light in those in whom the light is little doth this also offend you What then if we should say That Christ is the light of life the son of righteousness the glory and express figure of the Fathers substance in some and but as a little light or day-star in others or in others as a light before the day-star arise in their hearts Is not the light great in some little in others And is not Christ the same May that only be called Christ which takes away the sins And may not that also be called Christ which pierceth through the soul revealeth the thoughts of many hearts Luke 2.35 May he only be called Christ unto whom the Father hath given the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession who reigneth and hath all his enemies under his feets is not he the same as he is descended into the lower parts of the earth which took upon him the form of a servant So therefore that none may err in their judgments concerning the testimony which is given of Christ of his light his light is more or less according to his manifestation in every one there being given to every one a manifestation of the spirit to profit withal every one is to be turned to the measure of their manifestation to know witness Christ in it though in many it be but as a little light yet they are to be turned unto it while it is so which as it doth encrease is enlarged it may be called or declared under another name than little as the Kingdom of Heaven is not alwayes like unto a grain of mustard-seed nor as a little leaven but comes to rule in the children of men And whereas the Accuser replieth against the light and against Christ to be the word of Faith saying Christ is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 but not the Word of Faith and yet saith in page 45. That Christ 〈◊〉 the Author and finisher of Faith Answ. If Christ be the Word of God and faith come by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God then how is it that he is not the word of Faith being that word by which Faith comes when it is heard and he being the Author of it may he not then as well be called the Word of it as the Author of it seeing he is the Word by which it comes but that all may understand what this word of faith was which the Apostle preached This was Christ Rom. 10. and they preached no other Word to be the Word of faith but Christ That whosoever believed on him should not be ashamed So that if the ignorance of Christ and of the Apostles words were blotted out of the hearts of our Accusers they would be silent and the daily reproach would cease And whereas it is affirmed by us That the Light or a measure of Christ within is a sure word of prophesie or a more sure word of prophesie as Peter saith 2 Pet. 1 19. And whereas many are offended at this and labours to make people believe that this is the Writings of the Prophets which is the more sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of because he saith Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation for the prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c. Answ. Now I shall make it appear that it was not the Writings of the Prophets which was that more sure Word as first concerning that here is one thing held out to be a sure Word and another thing held out to be more sure as unto thoâ—e to whom it was spoken And as concerning the first That whâ—ch is held out to be a sure Word is that which came from the Father the voice which came from the excellent Glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and this voice which came from heaven the Disciples hâ—ard when they were with him in the holy Mount This was a sure Word when it was spoken and when it was written it was a sure testimony as sure as any of the Prophets Writings for the Prophets did see that he was to come and he that was to come was the well beloved Son of the Father and they wrote this down and it was a sure testimony of Christ and Peter and the rest saw that he was come and did hear the voice from the excellent glory proclaiming him 〈◊〉 be the Son of God and when they had seen it they wrote it down and this was a sure testimony yea a surer then the Prophets and that which the Apostles were eye-witnesses of and did write down for truth was as much to be taken heed unto as that which the Prophets declared and this will all men of understanding judge that the Apostle Peter did not direct the people to the Prophets words to take heed to them because they were more sure then his own and more to be believed But although the Apostles words and writings were confirmed with more power and witness of the Spirit then the Prophets and both true yet the Apostles Ministry unto those which did not see those things which the Prophets saw much less those things the Apostles saw no not so far as the dawning of the day nor to the day-â—â—ar risen in their hearts therefore Peter dividing the Word of God aright saith unto them We have a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 It was more sure for them to take heed unto that which was as a light shining in a dark place till the day-star did arise and the day dawn in their hearts then the declaration from others without them declared in words and writings as thus for example by experience to suâ—h I shall direct my speech who cannot witness the day dawned nor the day-star risen in their hearts nor hath heard the voice from the excellent Glory to such I say That which I have seen and heard the visions power and glory wherein I am an eye-witness of his glory and of his appearance this I may declare and write unto you and you may believe it But to such I say It is more sure for them to take heed to the light that shines in the dark place till they come to witness in themselves the day dawned and day-star risen and the Son of God made manifest in them then to take heed to the words which I have declared though it be a true testimony for the Apostle did not write to himself nor say that it was more sure unto him but unto
them unto whom he wrote his Epistle for unto him no Word of prophesie was more sure then that which he had seen and heard when he was with Christ in the holy Mount So this may inform your understandings who may have more desire to know the truth then to oppose it and may put to silence the vain disputings by men of corrupt minds who are destitute of the truth always corrupting the words of truth to oppose the life of it as many such there are in these days which the Lord hath and will rebuke sharply that they may be ashamed but all vvho are led and guided by the light of Christ shall knovv the anointing in them and the vvord of faith yea the Son of God He that can receive it vvithout offence let him 5. Object But he that hath opposed us saith in pag. 25. of his Book in the second part That the dawning of the day is rather an evening then a morning Answ. Novv let all vvhich have but knovvn a day and a night in the Creation judge whether the evening or the morning be the dawning of the day or whether the day-star be a fore-runner of the day or of the night then it will not be incredible which I have said before that he calls darkness light and light darknest but in such things our opposers will not receive a good report from those which can give true judgment and to such it is left to judge of those things Obj. Again he saith in page 35. That the spirit of truth was not a Comforter to the Apostles nor a reprover to the world before Christ was ascended and yet himself to contradict himself saith that he was in them before and dwelt in them the same spirit but not in the same measure Ans. Here is Babylon at the height fit to be pul'd down but needs little answering seeing that it answereth it self and for such reasons as these he might well conceal his name And if he could have put this off by hiding his Name for an Hosanna to the Son of Daiud or A Testimony to the Lords Christ then he might well have baosted have gloryed in his shame as if there had been no spirit of discerning in those he calls Quakers nor others but the eye of truth is not yet so blind but we know an evening from a morning a night from a day and a lye from truth and we know also that the disciples had a measure of the spirit of truth while he was with them upon earth and this spirit did both comfort them and did carry them on in obedience to his will and in the power of this spirit went forth into the world and reproved the world of sin because they did not believe in Christ and the devils was subject unto them by the spirit of truth that was in them before Christ ascended and to this there is a Cloud of witnesses So that this from him filling his Book with such things as these is as if a man should fill a Barn with Chaff instead of Corn and deceive others with selling it for Corn. Another contradiction of the same nature is this That the manifestation of the spirit is given to no man for himself buâ— to every man to profit withal to edifie and build up and do service in the body as an hand foot or eye or some other member of the body c. and to contradict this in the next words he saith Not that the spirit or the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man i e. to every individual person forasmuch as some men are sensual having not the spirit therefore no manefestation thereof pag 17. Ans. This is like the former and so to be cast out with it for his distinction of words between every man and every individual person will not cover him for where the Scripture saith every man without distinction that is every individual man and women And the Apostle saith But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withall he doth not say not to every individuall person And this also I say and affirm That to every man is given a manifestation of the spirit to profiâ— withal and he that profits with it by it shall be justified and he that doth not profit with it by it shal be condemned because he is an unprofitable servant this truth shal stand when all confusion shal have an end yet some are sensual having not the spirit Obj. Again in despising the testimony from the mâ—asure of the gift of the spirit of God when they have spoken according to the measure and could not boast themselves above their measure but in their measure witnessing the work of God as it was fulfilled in them such he scornfully reproacheth saying What means those cracks and crannes in their knowedge knowing but in part there is no pieces nor parts nor measures nor degrees in absolute perfection whosoever saith he knoweth perfectly he knows not how perfect his knowledge is and the first of those is called a vain man boasting of that which is not and of a false gift and is like clouds and wind without rain Ans. Herein is Pauls Doctrine as well as ours declared against to be but as cracks and crâ—nnes and a vain boasting of a false gift for Paul saith We dare not make our selves of the number or compare our selves with some that commend themselves but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves are not wise But we will not boast of things without our measure but according to the Measure of the Rule which God hath distributed unto us a measure to teach even unto you for we stretch not our selves beyond our measure not boasting of things without our measure that is of other mens labours Now this measure of which he thus spoke was in Christ so in perfection and there is parts and degrees in Christ and so in absolute perfection so far as every man is in the measure of the gift of God so far he is in Christ so far his knowledge is perfect and abiding in this he abideth in that which is perfect and as he gloriâ—yes in this he glorys in a true gift and none shall make this glorying void Obj. And whereas John Jackson saith of those that say they have but attained in measure he calleth that the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the Oxen which declares plainly that they are not at home they are not in the City but have certain miles to travel before they arrive Answ. This is a false interpretation as I shall leave it unto all of understanding to judge for the bleating of the Sheep and the lowing of the Oxen dâ—d signifie Sauls disobâ—dience unto the commandment of God for which the Lord did reject him But when Paul said he knew in part and prophesied in part and would not boast above his measure this did not signâ—fie his disobedience
to the Lord but contrariwise his obedience and that he waâ— in Christ Jesus so this was not as the bleating of the Sheep or the lowing of the Oxen neither did it shew that they were not in the City for Paul testifieth of the holy brethren which he was a Minister unto That they were come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born whâ—ch are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling Now let him that hath thus accused shew how many miles these had to travel before they came to the City and whether there was any parts measures or degrees in these or whether there was absolute perfection without any measure of degrees of it and whether Paul was not come so far as these unto whom he preached wisdom even among those that were perfect and might he not in that estate say that he would not stretch himself beyond his measure But this I say none are true witnesses of perfection but those who know their measure and abide in it and likewise those that call the witnessing of the truth in a measure of the Spirit the bleating of the Sheep or the lowing of the Oxen such never knew perfection neither yet presseth after it but would keep all others from it by despiteful terms against the measure of the spirit which leadeth unto it But the day is come and the light is risen which hath found out and discovered all the cunning craftiness of men in whâ—ch they go about to deceive the hearts of the simple and beguile unstable souls but the elect seed is risen which iâ— is impossible to deceive for it is not the Scripture words which men may take and speak in the hypocrisie which can darken our knowledge nor any way hinder the testimony of truth in those which have received it in the power of God only with such things the blind may lead the blind and with such things they may strive to keep others out of the kingdom which have not tasted of the good word of God neither are brought to know a measure of God in themselves whereunto to be obedient but I see the Lord is opening a way for such to come out of the pits which they have been led into in opening their eys and letting them see that their Watchmen are blind and that understanding is departed from them even from their Leaders and the counsels of God is depâ—rted even from the ancient and the people are even like to perish for want of vision because they have not seen for themselves but their Teachers have seen for them vain visions and lying divinations and prophesied lyes causing the ignorant to believe them but the Lords hand is stretched out against such and is stretched out to gather his own seed from such to bring them into the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom and into the knowledge of the holy whithis understanding Prov. 9.10 which understanâ—ing is a Well sprinâ— of life Another seeming strength risen up against us is the conceit of the discovery of a Schism in the body as if the Band or Girdle which bound up the body were broken and as if there were now a character brought forth amongst us shewing a variety of persons doctrines and practises and as if the testimony of our being of the body of Christ from the unity in the body were ceased and as if the Heads were divided and as for proof instances G.F. to J.N. J.N. to G.F. J.B. to J.N. and as if it were not person but party which some wonder at admiring and waiting to see the Lords counsel and pleasure in it Answ. All those that wait to see the Lords counsel and pleasure and his wisdom in this thing shall see it and be satisfied and it vvill for the time to come be more for the confounding of those that vvatch for iniquity then any vvay for confirming them in iniquity and by that vvhich God hath done and is doing shall the Girdle and Band of our love be made stronger and in this shall the sight of our enemies fail and become blindness for their thoughts is not as Gods thoughts in these things neither their eye as his eye for he saw a better thing for us in these things then they have imagined for that vvhich they thought vvrought for evil hath wrought together for good unto those that stand in Gods counsel who alwayes waits to see those works which stands in his wisdomâ— contrary to mans reason for that which they thought did break that hath bound and that which they thought did separate that hath united together so that there is not a difference nor dividing of Heads not in persons nor in parties nor in doctrines not in practices but the same unity in the body in the faith in the seed in the covenant in one heart and one soul one way and worship of God in the Spirit is now as much or more then ever before witnessed so that God hath cut off occasion from those that seek occasion hath taken away the corner-stone that the wicked thought to build upon and hereby hath God tryed and discovered and brought to light that which lay in the bottom of the deepest pits for God hath brought in this his day many things forth to try prove those who said they were his people and those that a few dayes since seemed to be like Lambs do now manifest themselves to be in the nature of Lyons and ravening Wolves and those that pre-end to wait for the coming of Christ in power and had the Name of Seekers they are now found to reject his coming and to be such as watch for iniquity in those among whom Christ is come now they are turned backward and now drink up that which they had vomiâ—ed up for now if they could but finde any iniquity among such as God hath made known the glory of his power among or if they can but suppose or imagine any such thing from false conceptions conclusions this would be a sufficient ground to them to print a Book upon and publish it abroad and but that the Lord hath been on our sides well may we say when all sorts of men and religions hath risen up against us by their violence had we been consumed for the powers of darkness and all the divers worships of the Beast are now more joyned together then ever and the deepest subtilty of the Serpent is now at work in his members to devise wayes and change the Laws and times whereby the spirit might be quenched which God hath raised up in his children whereby a mighty cry is gone forth through the Nations against the Mystery of iniquity where it worketh both in
the root and the branches of it and now is the burden of the Beasts of the South felt as truly as in the Prophets dayes Isa. 30.6 from whence cometh the young and old Lyon the Viper and fiery flying Serpent and now doth the mighty and terrible cry of the spirit of the Lord go forth to the men of this generation as it went forth before time to the Egyptians concernig this which the Lord hath wrought your strength is to stand still and if this counsel of the Lord be by you received you shall know more of the ways and workings of the Lord with his children and that all things which the Lord hath done is for the furtherance of the Gospel and that those which are approved may be made manifest what a strong ground of occasion would the envious one have thought he had if he had come among the babes in Christ who were met together at Corinth hearing Paul say that there was divisions among them said that there must be heresies among them that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.19 and this was no character that God had broken them without hands nor that he had made their profession of unity of no force but through this manifestation he did work schism out of the body that so there should be no Schism Rent Heresie nor any such thing in the body and this thing was not that the enemies of God might glory against the truth and if any labour to seek occasion against the holy Brethren and say they are divided into Heads because two eminent men of them withstood one another as concerning eating with the Gentiles viz. Paul and Peter to such I say he that gathered at first into unity is the healer and Repaired of such breaches and they may profess and witness as much unity after this as ever before And these three which the envious one hath mentioned to be at difference in Doctrine and practice viz. G.F. J.N. J.B. the unity in the life and power of God in them and in their Doctrine and practice shall stand for a witness and for a condemnation against all the accusers and now seeing that their occasion is taken away their accusations may cease and if such Prophets be deceived then let them consider who hath deceived them I the Lord hath deceived that Prophet Therefore what would such a Prophet think of the Apostles words when he saith There must come a falling away first that the man of sin may be revealed Would he or could he judge this a charecter that the day of Christ were at hand or that through such things the power of it should be made more manifest or that those among whom these things were wrought should be thereby the more united To believe this will bring men even to their wits end it being so contrary to their thoughts and conceivings and this may well confound their vvisdome and turn them backvvard and bring them to question truth of all that vvhich ever they have vvritten spoken or acted against those vvhom the Lord hath manifested his povver and vvork among contrary to their judgement and discerning for the vvays and vvorkings of the Lord is deep and his secrets are vvith those that fear him and not vvith those that despise his appearance and speak evill of that they knovv not and the Lord vvill yet vvork greater things in the earth that such may be confounded And what wil such say if the words of Daniel the Prophet be fulfilled in these dayes saying And some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge and to make them white even to the time of the end c. Dan. 11.35 Doth not God hereby try men and try their spirits and try their discernings should any in such cases judge before the time the Lord will mâ—ke it manifest for this cause wil God bring such into judgement Therefore I say unto you that your strength is to sit still and let the Lord alone and let his people alone and let him work his own work in his own way and presume not to be his counseller for who hath known the mind of the Lord let such as have dwell in it and preserve knowledge so shall they always abide in strength and power Union with the Lord and one with one another men shall yet know for all that hath been that we are his Disciples because we love one another and none shall make our glorying and rejoycing in the unity of the spirit and in the love of God void but it shall abound more and more to torment the spirit of enmity which would break it or accuse us for professing of it but over that spirit we are in the Lord But what if some should rise up evâ—n froâ— among our selves speaking perverse things and draw Disciples after them and go out from us as they did from among the Apostles that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us Ought this to be laid to our charge Or ought the way of God to be accused because of such things to be Heresie or Schism If this seem to you an evident token of perdition and of error yet to us of our Salvation and that of God And we are assured that we are of God having the witness in our selves yet not bearing witness of our selves for there is one that beareth witness of us even the Father which is in Heaven and his witness is true being unto us a seal of assurance Therefore from henceforth this is a Warning to small and great that they no further proceed in that which is both unnecessary and unseasonable For this I say unto all such that it is unnecessary and unseasonable to seek to perswade us that the truth is error or that the light which every man is enlightned withal is the spirit of every man for that is not according to the record which God hath given of his son nor which the Son hath given of the light but blessed be that day and blâ—ssed for ever be that poâ—er in which a seed is brought forth unto which the Father hath given a true testimony in which they shall never be confounded which abide faithful for great is the mysterie of godliness God manifest in the flesh and against this manifestation is the power of darkness risen up and all the messengers and ministers of Satan under all forms and professions hath joyned themselves together to make their arm strong against the Son of righteousness his righteous life and righteous wayes which now he is bringing forth among his children but out of the mouth of Babes hath God ordained strength against which all the powers of darkness cannot prevail and unto which strength all our enemies must bend and bow and come for salvation For that which now the leaders of the people have set themselves against when they have finished their course and the anguish comes over their
all feignedness and formality even to dwell in the substance which is the holy life of the Son of God where the true love the heavenly voice and pure joy is felt and known as in the beginning always remembring how the Gospel in power came unto you and how in fear and much trembling it was both preached unto you and received by you with the many blessed effects of its operation vvorking your conversation out of the earthly nature from the earthly body into the heavenly body in which you are able to take up his Cross if it be daily to follow him in the regeneration and newness of life even from the true knowledge of him in whom ye have believed and by whose povver you stand For when we consider the infinite deepness and largeness of that love with which we have been cloathed and have even covered others withal and likewise the many experiences of the Father's dealings with us in working all our Works both in us and for us this cannot but deeply engage our hearts unto him how that ever since we have known him to be our Leader he hath always gone before us preparing our vvay that we might serve him he hath for his seeds sake even reproved Kings and hath quenched the violence of fire that was kindled in many hearts against us he hath by his Wisdom put to silence the ignorance of foolish men that he may clear us from all their reproach He hath not only kept us alive in our suffering under the Wrath of our Enemies but in the power of his spirit made us to reign over them and not only over our outward and open enemies but also over the secret smitings of the wicked one which would privily slay the righteous He hath had a tender regard to his innocent ones to keep them out of the snares of the betrayers and to keep them in the unity of his power and love in the which I speak unto you that know these things whose ears the Lord hath so opened that you can try Words and whose eyes also he hath unclosed that you can see that which causeth divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and avoid it for hitherto even until this day have you learned by good experience and some through sufferings that whatsoever hath risen up to oppose the Lord in his Way to quench the strength of his Love or to break the unity of his people whether it hath been by spirit or letter under never so innocent pretences the Lord hath brought it down and confounded it and made it to be as dust under the feet of his Saints so that we may together say to the praise of our God that we knovv the depths of Satan and are not ignorant of his devices Therefore in the sence of this experience put on strenth O ye Arm of the Lord by vvhich he will do great things and through whom he will make his power known to the Nations in setting up his Kingdom and Government and his Peace of which there shall be no end Let nothing hinder the setting up of his Scepter of Truth and Righteousness amongst you and let the Life of Jesus in his Love and Power reign over all the earthly spirits and over the spirit of Jealousie which is strong as death and cruel as the grave which being not received it can hurt nothing but its own habitation in which it lodgeth So keep your selves pure in the love of God and be not partakers of other mens sins walking worthy of the holy and blessed calling in which the Lord hath given you an inheritance among the living And dwel in the spirit of meekness in which the Wisdom and Power of God you will feel to the refreshing of your souls for as you therein abide you are our joy in the Lord and a strength unto us in his Work Another Epistle to Friends IN the life of the Son of God dwell that in it you may be made manifest unto all answering the just and reproving the unjust for he is come to rule who must put down all rule and all authority under his feet and in him is the living dominion felt and the faith in the power which overcomes the edge of the sword and subdues Nations in which is the dread of the Almighty to bring under the stout-hearted even by the power of the holy seed which is spreading abroad in the earth for the finishing the Fathers work in the earâ—h which all are witnesses of who do abide and walk in his light where you may all enjoy your peace with the Lord and be kept in his power over the power and spirit of the world in the everlasting covenant of light and life where you may all feel the growth of the seed in you into the Fathers gift which is the life immortal so dearly beloved and truly begotten in my Fathers love dwell in that which gives you a sight knowledge and feeâ—ing of him who hath begotten you into a measure of his life light power and image and hereby will you all be united into one serving one another in love for God is love and we are his off spring and to the world is he manifest through us as being his natural branches and the breaking forth of his light and power and is as set upon a hill unto which all eys look and from which the sincere and tender take their example so dear hearts in the path of the Just walk which is a shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day so as children of it all walk that you to others may be examples and leaders out of darkness and out of the ways of death into the Kingdom of the Father which stands in the Light righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost in which the power and presence of my heavenly Father preserve you and keep you in his living Dominion Reasons why no Imposition ought to be upon mens Consciences by any but the Lord. 1. BEcause no man can perswade the conscience of another either what God is or how to worship him but onely the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man 2 Because to impose any thing upon another mans conscience either to do or practice is not to do unto another as he would have another do unto him and therefore is contrary to Christs doctrine 3 Because all obedience or service that is thereby obtained is for fear of wrath and not from love nor for conscience sake and will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4 Because thereby no man can make an Hypocrite a Believer but it is possible that thereby he may make many Hypocrites 5 Because that in all forced impositions upon mens consciences there is of the wrath of man exercised which workâ— not the righteousness of God but rather begets enmity one towards another 6 Because that men are not made thereby loving Subjects but forced Slaves 7 Because that by the force of imposing any thing upon men many are thereby hardned in their hearts and resolved to resist when as by love and leaving them free they mâ—ght easily be perswaded of that which otherwise thâ—y will not be THE END Acts 33. Rom. 4.11 John 5.3 Jer. 1.5 6. Luk. 1.66.08 1 Kin. 8.46 John 14.4 Prov. 20.9 John 18.10 Eccles. 7.23