nor allowes of Oh Consider the sayings of Christ Strait is the Gate and Narrow is the Way that Leads to life c. and broad is the Gate and wide is the Way that Leadeth unto destruction and many there be that go in thereat but Labour ye To Enter in at the strait gate Many Ancient Faithful friends who have kept their habitations in the Light and their first Love therein to God the fountain of it and one to another have not forgotten what Exercisâ— was gone through Twenty Years ago and upward through the unsound Notions Doctrinâ— and Practices of some who not only professed the Light within but Largly talked and Preached in Commendation of it when they were out of it and in their works Enemies to it Oh how were some at unawars beguiled through their fair words fine speeches in their feigned Commendation of and in words Magnifying the Light within they told us in those dayes They were come to a greater Dispensation and Glory then we were in and they told us that we were in the form without the power and told us God would break our form and scatter us but they proved false Prophets for God hath broken them and scattered them but â—reserved and kept his People who have been kept by his Mighty power through Faith in the true form of Godliness while divers of them with their high and vain pretentions have not only been estranged from the Life and Power of Godlyness but also from the very form thereof turning into the Liberty and Lusts of the flesh and so became Enemies to the Cross of Christ whose minds went downward into the Earth and Earthly things from the Heavenly the Latter-end of such we have seen to be worse than their beginning though many that were so subtâ—ly prevailed upon and hurt in those days came through the tender Mercy of God to see the snare in which they were taken and came out of it and as it was then so will it be with respect to divers who through â—uâ—tâ—lty and at unawars for want of watchfulness in the Holy fear of God have been of late years and yet are ensnared and entangled as others were before them tho some whom Satan hath made use of to ensnare them may not return to the Lord by Repentance but be cut off in his displeasure And oh my friends and all you that profess the Light within to be your Teacher Consider doth not some at this time who profess the same Light within to be their Teacher pay Tithes to a Priest or â—riests go to a Pâ—â—â—â—â— to be married or be married by him use the unchristian Customs and fashons of the People of the Nation in their unsound speech and vain Complyments and some in their superfluous and needâ—â—s â—apparâ—â— and some in swearing and some in seeking to and complying with and trusting in the Arm of flesh for their security and do not these Cry we must be left to â—ur Liberty in these things We must havâ— Liberty of Concience and have Not some of them presumptuously said that the spirit or Light of God might allow them to do so and to cover and justifie themselves in this unchristian Liberty have not some of them sought to strain and wrest the afore cited sayings of the Apostles Concerning eating of Herbs Meats and the Observation of days and other parts of the Scripture of Truth Would not some straâ—â— and â—orest these Scriptures in our time to cover themselves in the aforesaid unchristian practices let Gods faithful witness in their own hearts speak in this Matter and let the words that have falen from the Mouthes of some of the professors of the Light within made publick of late Witness against them in this matter The Lord God said by the mouth of his Prophet Wo to the Rebellious Children that take Councell but not of me and that Cover with a Covering but not of my spirit that they may add sin unto sin Isa 30. 1. My tender desires are for all that profess the Light Spirit of God withtin that they may walk in it be covered by it that the woes of God they may Escape but the unruly loose and disorderly professors of it will not Ecape the woes and wrath of God if they do not unfeignedly Repent and amend their doings and Cease from their unchristian deeds which they have done and words which they have spoken against the Lord God Christ and his tender faithful servants who have Anciently and to this day do labour in the Word and Doctrine of the Gospel in turning many from darkness to Light from the power of Satan unto God and for their Preservation Confirmation and Establishment therein Something concerning Christian Order or Order in the Church of Christ THe Apostle writes thus God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints Again he exhorts or commands saying Let all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 33 40. The Apostle James writes thus Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom But if ye have bitter Endyings and Strife in your Hearts glory not and lie not against the Truth This wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensual Devilish for where Envy and Strife is there is Confusion and every evil work but the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of Mercy and of good Fruits without partiality and without hypocrisie and the fruit of Righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace James 3. 13. to the end Again Paul saith Be ye followers of me even as I am of Christ Now I praise you Brethren that ye remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you c. and the rest will I set in order when I come 1 Cor. 11. 1 2 3 4. And again writing to Titus he saith For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Titus 1. 5. read it through Again the Apostle writing to the Church at Corinth saith Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye 1 Cor. 16. 1. Observe here that all things were not set in order at once by the Apostles amongst the Believers and Professors of Christ but as the work of Faith Repentance and Regeneration was wrought in order by degrees even so good outward Order and Government they grew into gradually or by degrees so hath it been and is in our day with those who to the light of Christ are turned who therein wait and more and more follow on to know the Lord such do not build again the things which the Truth in them hath destroyed They
and Spirit in his People is one in its kind or Nature with himself he being the Fountain of it and it of himself it cannot contradict him or itself in the several Measures Manifestations Dispensations of it in those who receive it believe and obey it For if it should or could do so then God by it would be rendered the Author of Confusion and not of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints which to believe or suppose is very highly blasphemous against him and directly contrary to the holy Apostles Doctrine who saith God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints The same Apostle saith The Fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness Righteousness und Truth proving what is acceptable unto the Lâ—rd And he exhorted the Saints saying Have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them To those who walked in the Spirit and Light of God he said Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us To these also he said Ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Lighi in the Lord walk as Children of the Light See Eph. 5. Again he saith The Fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy and Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law and they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain Glory provoking one another envying one another Again he saith The Works of the Flesh are manifest which are Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Darâ—ance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in times past that they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. Again the holy Apostle John in the Holy Ghost saith He that saith he is in the Light and hates his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is none occasion of Stumbling in him But he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his Brother also See 1 John 4. My dear Friends Observe That where the Fruits of the Spirit and Light of God and Christ are wanting in those who profess the same to be their Teacher Ruler and Orderer and contrariwise the Fruits or Works of the Flesh do appear this is a plain proof that their saying they are taught lâ—d and governed by the Spirit and Light of God and Christ is very notoriously false yea blasphemous against God Christ and his Divine Light and Spirit For when Christ told his Disciples that false Prophets Anti-Christs Deceivers c. should come saying Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves he said Ye shall know them by their Fruits Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Even so every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Wherefore by their Fruits ye shall know them Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven See Math. 7. 15. and 24. Again he saith Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. See Matth. 24. 11 12 13 24. see Mark 13. 22. he repeating the same words of Christ and there he saith Take heed I have told you before Observe Christ's Promise to the faithful chosen Elect notwithstanding all the deceiveableness of unrighteousness which then did now doth or hereafter may work in the Instruments of Satan by feigned Words or fair or flattering Speeches false signs or lying wonders whereby he lieth in wait to betray and deceive by which he hath prevailed upon some unstable unwatchful unfaithful and therefore unskilful Souls who are not acquainted with the depths of Satan speaking in his Agents yet can he not in his Agents deceive the Elect the chosen of God Observe all that are convinced of the truth and come to some degree of Obedience to it are not come to the settled State of Election although they are come to a sight and feeling of the Spirit of Christ in whom the Election stands in which State it is impossible to be deceived Let not the weakest amongst the Believers in and Obeyers of the Light of Christ Within be discouraged at these sayings for as they keep to the Light God the Fountain of it will keep them from falling God set Adam in a State of Innocency in which it was possible for him to stand yet it was not impossible for him to fall for we both read and believe he did fall he could not stand in his own strength but in the strength of the Lord his Maker through want of his diligent attendance and waiting upon God his Maker for preservation he fell under the power of the Deceiver But Christ who never fell spake of a State brings those who continue diligent watchful into it which is beyond that as his forecited words do plainly imply The Apostles writ unto the Believers in the Light of Christ thus viz. Wherefore Brethren give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 10. Read the Chapter through c. Again he saith Beware lest ye being led away with the Errour of the wicked fall from your own Stedfastness But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Christ to him be Glory now and for ever Amen Chap. 3. 17 18. Again Juâ—e writes thus Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 24 25. read the Epistle throughout Observe further that the Settled State of Election where deceit cannot enter is not a State above or beyond Watchfulness and the holy Fear of God the Son of God himself in the daies of his Flesh watched and
and Light and therein waits upon him in it he will not be Limited by thee but will rebuke and Judge thee for thy presumptuous attempt behold the beautiful Creation the works of God in Heaven and Earth and the Order thereof and these will Teach thee better it is true what the Apostle hath writ The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them for the Invisible things of the Creation are clearly soon by the things that are made even his Eternal power and Godhead so that they are with out excuse Rom. 1. 18 19 20 see the 21 22 23 24 25 26 to the end of the Chapter Observe here Gods Creation Heaven and Earth and the things therein are as a book wherein man and woman may read the wonderful works of God and the Glorious Order and Beauty of them all People being enlightened by Christ the divine word by whom God the Father made them all they believing in the Light of him in it they may see his wonderful power and wisdom in the bringing forth upholding and beautiful Order thereof God having enlightened all by his Word and Spirit which are one Calls all the Ends of the Earth to Look unto him he saith Look unto me O all ye ends of the Earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is None Else â— Mighty God and a Saviour they who believe in his Light and therein wait they come therein to see and have Unity with his glorious works in Heaven and in Earth and in their own Hearts and Souls and therein come to be made sensible of his bounty and kindness unto mankind in the Creating of them and setting them in their Beautiful Order and upholding them in the same and in the deep sence of these things Mans Heart becomes tender broken and humble within him and in this tender subjected humble frame of heart and mind he returns the Praise Honour Glory Dominion and Thanks unto him the great God and Creator of all things who is worthy of Glory Honour Obedience and Praise over all Heaven and Earth now and forever more Amen Something more particularly concerning the Order of Christ in his Church THE Apostle writing to the Church at Corinth writes thus viz. ye are the body of Christ and Members in particular and God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers c. Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers c. see 1 Cor. 12. 27 28 29. Again he writes to the Church at Ephesus thus viz. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the Measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Ephess 4. 10 11 12. Observe here the Apostle shews the order particularly of the several gifts of God to the several Members of his Church which he gave them by the one Spirit in which gifts the several Members were appointed to serve him and eâ—ch other and as they all kept in their proper Gifts they did therein serve him and each other and the weakest Members of the Church also for whose service they received their Gifts The weak had and have the most need of the help and service of these gifts and as they all kept in the Exercise of their several gifts in the motion leading and guidance of Gods holy Spirit the root and fountain of them all they had all Unity therein one with another although their gifts did differ both in the manner of their working and in the measure or greatness of them so that there was an Harmony and Unity amongst them though they were many Members yet were but one body all in Subjection unto Christ the one head Secondly Observe the Apostles question are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers c. He doth not say they are the contrary is manifest neither are all the Members in the Church of Christ in this Age called appointed or ordained In their presant State to be Prophets Apostles or Teachers for these are peculiar or proper gifts given by the Lord God as and when he pleaseth according to the Counsel of his own will Thirdly Observe that by what I have said in this matter I only intend all the Members of the Church of Christ in their present State are not sent forth publickly with a message of Salvation to Preach to the Nations nor to Prophesie or Preach publickly in words the Doctrine of the Truth or Gospel of Christ nor are they all appointed of God to Prophesie and foretel things to come nor are they all made Teachers in a publick Ministry in Doctrine or Exhortation for these are peculiar or proper gifts given according to the Heavenly will and Counsell of God in his own time and season as I said before Fourthly Observe that though all the Members of the Body of Christ have not all or some of the aforesaid places in the body yet evâ—ry Member hath a place in the body and it is a precious and blessed thing for every Member to know its place and keep in it in its proper service whereto it s called of God but when any Member goes out of the Counsel of God and looks at anothers gift and goes out of his own proper place from his gift and service in the body striving in a wrong mind or zeal after others gifts Immitating them in words voice or sound or other visible or â—udabâ—e Motion or Action of the Creature or through a zeal without knowledge or by any other means whatsoever then such a Member hurts it self and grieves or offends the other more discerning Members of the body who sees and feels the out-going of the said Member Fifthly Observe it is the place and duty of the discerning Members of the body who see such out-goings tenderly in the Love and wisdom of God to speak to such in order to bring them to a sence of their out-going and to restore them into their place again if possible and to watch over them in Love for their preservation in it Sixthly Observe it is the duty of such who have been mistaken and gone out of their place as aforesaid to hear and receive Counsell of those who freely tender it to them in the Love of God several such in our day have had Counsell so given to them who have received it in the same Love which have tended greatly to their profit even to their settlement and Establishment with God and Unity with his People praised be the Lord God for the same Seventhly Observe that some who have had a place in the Church of
received of us Again the Apostle saith Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether By Word or our Epistles 2 Thess 2. 15. See 2 Thess 3. 4 5. Again he writes to Timothy thus These things Command and teach let no Man dispise thy Youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity See 1 Tim. 4. 11 12. read the Chapter through Again hear what the Apostle Peter saith unto the Saints in Light viz. This Second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of Remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the Last days Scoffers walking after their own Lusts c. Again Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Errour of the Wicked fall from your own Stedfastness but grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To Him be Glory both now and forever Amen 2 Peter 3. 1 2 3 and 17 18. Reader who ever thou art this I say to thee in the Presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all Hearts before whom all things are naked and bare who judgeth righteously That I do Not bring the Commands Ordinances or Doctrines given and spoken by the Apostles of Christ with Any Design to wrong strein or wrest them or any of them to exâ—lt any Friend Brother or Brethren Sister or Sisters above or out of their Place in which Christ the one Head hath set them in his Body his Church or in anywise to exalt them or any oâ—e of them as Lords over Gods Peoples Faith which our Lord Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of by which Faith they live to God and please Him But my design therein is to Exalt Christ the Head â—n them All and over them All who is One in the Male and Female He hath given us a Command to Learn of Him saying Lâ—â—â—n of me I am meek and Low in heaâ—t and ye sâ—â—ll find rest to your Souls â—f him we have learned Humility tâ—ue 〈◊〉 of Mind in this we have found abundance oâ— Peace Joy Comfort and Rest to our Sâ—â—ls This to us is of much more value thâ—n all the Riches and Glory of this World â—ere is the Pleasant and comfortable Dwelling Place here we desire to dwell forever The Humble God doth teach he guides the Meek in Judgment and cloaths them with Salvation Eternal â—lory be given to Him for the same My Design in bringing these things to thy View is to shew that the Apostles who preach't the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as it 's written did in the Movings and Authority of the same give forth those Commands Ordinances and Doctrines unto the Believers in the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light by which Light they saw and understood the Truth Soundness and Serviceableness of them and by the same were they led Not to Oppose them and speak Evil of them but to Obey and practise them Now those that profess to be governed by the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light within if they possess what they profess therein they will see that the same Holy Ghost is In some measure given to some in our Day and that by it Some are made Able Ministers and thereby have been Moved to give out Soâ—â— Commands Not in their own Name but in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ the chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls and such Professors of the Light who Poâ—â—ess what they Profess and dilligently attend upon God in the same they will herein See and thereby be Led to Obey and practise those things Not as the Precepts Traditions or Doctrines of Men But as the Commands Precepts and Doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gives and speaks by the Mouths of his Servants which answers that Light of Christ in the Consciences of his People And such who reject them they therein reject God and Christ These things so Commanded are Not contrary to the Commands of Christ and his Apostles recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but Agreeable to them in the fulfilling the precious Promises of God spoken by the Mouths of his Holy Prophets who said I will pour forth my Spirit upon all Flesh c. For Christ said to his Disciples When they shall lead you and deliver you up take no thought before hand what you shall speak neither do you premeditate but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour that speak ye For it is Not you that speak but the Holy Ghost Mark 31. 11. In the Apostles and Primitive Christians observe the Holy Ghost that spake to the Magistrates and Rulers that persecuted them the same spake in them to the Church of Christ and gave forth Commands Precepts Ordinances c. And the Believers unto whom they wrote having a measure of the same Holy Ghost were thereby given to understand the same and thereby led to the Obedience thereof Again the Apostle Paul said unto the Saints You know how we Exhorted and Comforted and Charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that you would walk worthy Of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory for this Cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it Not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2. 11 12 13. Observe here the Apostle commends the Saints for receiving the Word or Testimony of God by him and others not as the Word of Man or Men but as it was indeed the Word and Testimony of the Lord which wrought Effectually in them as he saith And as â—t was then so is it now God having given by his Servants his Word his Commands and Doctrines he hath by his powerful enlightning Spirit of Life opened many to receive the same Not as the Word Doctrines Precepts Decrees Edicts or Orders of One Man Many Men or Any Men but as the Word Commands and Precepts and Doctrines of the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ Glory yea glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for the same The Objection that some make concerning the practice of some things in the Church of Christ at this day is because they were not practised when we were first turned to the Light and came into the belief and profession of it This Objection is fully answered before in this Epistle where the divers growths and statures of Gods people are written of But the great Objection that is used by some at this day is That they An Objection answered
their kind and every thing that Creepeth upon the Earth after his kind and God saw that it was good and God said let us make Man in our own Image after our Likeness and let them have Dominion over the Fish of the Sea and over the Foul of the Air and over the Cattle and over all the Earth and over every Creeping thing that Creepeth upon the Earth so God Created Man in his own Image in the Image of God Created he him Male and Female Created he them and God blessed them and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth and subdue it and have Dominion over the Fish of the Sea and over the Foul of the Air and over every Living thing that moveth upon the Earth and God said behold I have Given you every Herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the Earth and every Tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yeilding seed to you it shall be for ever and to every beast of the Earth and to every Foul of the Air and to every thing that Creepeth upon the Earth wherein there is life I have given every green herb for meat and it was so and God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good the Evening and the Morning were the Sixth day Thus the Heaven and the Earth were finished and all the host of them and on the Seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the Seventh day from all his work which he had made c. These are the generations of the Heavens and of the Earth when they were Created Read the whole first Chapter of Genesis and the beginning of the second c. Observe here the Beautiful and Lowly order of the work of the great God of Order in bringing forth his Beautiâ—ul Creation of Heaven and Earth and all things in them behold he did not make Heaven and Earth and all things that are in them at once or in one day you may here Read what he made the First day and what he made the Second day and what he made the Third day and what he made the Fourth day and what he made the Fifth day and what he made the Sixth day and that he finished and ended his work on the Seventh day Reader here thou mayest see how the works of God were Carried on by degrees to their Compleatness Likewise thou mayest observe the Ignorance of some in our day who say Things among us who profess to be Taught and led by the Light of Christ within are not as they were in the beginning when we were first turned to the Light but here is new Order or Orders set up amongst us several Meetings and Practices which we are afraid will bring in Apostacy Such Ignorant Dark talk as this have I heard from some who account themselves Children of Light Ancient in Truth Grown Wise c. Observe from what God has spoken by the Mouth of Moses as aforesaid that from the First day to the Seventh day in which God ended his work he brought forth New things every day This glorious work he Carried on by degrees till he had Compleated it according to the Counsell of his own will Again observe Man who was at the first made in the likeness of his Maker holy Just and good being seduced deceived by the Serpent who abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth he is become a degenerate plant of a strange Vine unto God by taking eating and doing that which the great God from the first hath forbidden he died the Death according to the word of the Lord and in this degenerate fallen State is dead in trespasses and sins his Spirit mind will and affections dead from God from Purity from Holyness Righteousness and Innocency in this State of Death he doth not Rightly seek after the Living God in this State he is not rightly affected towards him he doth not behold his goodness his glory and Mighty power he doth not Reverence and fear him as he ought neither doth he hunger and thirst after him and his Righteousness Purity Justice Love c. but on the Contrary his dead mind will and affections all dead from God are Imployed and Eâ—ercâ—sed by Satan in that which is Evil and that continually as the Lord hath spoken by the mouth of Moses viz. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only Evil continually and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the Earth and it grieved him c. Genesis 6. 5 6. Observe the great and merciful Creator and God of the whole Earth hath promised the Redemption of his Creature Man yea both the Male and Female out of the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God this he hath spoken by the mouths of his Servants as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth when God gave his just and righteous Sentence of Judgment upon the Serpent for his Cursed work of deceiving the Man and the Woman he said unto the Serpent Because thou hast done this thou art Cursed above all Cattle and above every Beast of the Field upon thy Belly shalt thou go and Dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy Life and I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed and it shall bruise thy Head c. Genesis 3. 14 15. The Apostle writing concerning this Seed saith Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made he saith not and to Seeds as of many but as of one and to thy Seed which is Christ Gala. 3. 16. This Seed Christ was Glorified with the Father before the World began as he said Glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory that I had with thee before the World began Joh. 17. he is that Eternal Divine Word by whom all things were made who lighteth every that cometh into the World who in the days of his Flesh commanded man saying Believe in the Light walk in the Light c. The Apostle writing of him to the Saints said He was Ordained from of old but manifest for you in the last time c. made of the Seed of David and Abraham according to the Flesh â—ut declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Resurrection from the Dead he was made in due time of a Woman under the Law to Redeem them that were under the Law he went up and down doing good healing all manner of Diseases Maladies and Sicknesses yea he raised the Dead unto life after which he offered up himself through the Eternal Spirit as a Lamb without spot and blemish an acceptable Sacrifice to God for the remission of the sins of the Transgressors who believe in him and come to the obedience of the Faith he rose from
the Dead the Third Day and appeared to his Disciples and gave them many things in Charge particularly to feed his Lambs and Sheep and to love one another and love Enemies c. after which he ascended according to the Scriptures and is on the right-hand of the Majesty on High from whence be shall proceed to Judg the World in righteousness the man Christ Iesus this is he who was with the Church in the Wilderness the spiritual Rock for saith the Apostle He was with the Church in the Wilderness for saith he They all eat the same spiritual meat they all drink the same spiritual drink they eat and drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ this is hâ— of whom John in the Revelations testifies saying He rides upon a White Horse his Vesture is dipt in blood his Name is called the Word of God and the Armies which are in Heaven follow him This is he that was dead and is alive and lives for evermore who hath the Keys of Hell and of Death who slays the Dragon that plays in the Sea who destroys Death and him that hath the Power of Death which is the Devil this is he who is the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the Living this is he who said He that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live and said he that liveth and believeth shall never dye Martha believest thou this this is he of whom the Apostle writ to the Saints saying Ye that some time were dead in trespasses and sins hath he quickened by Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves for it is the gift of God Again this is he of whom the Apostle writ saying We have all been gone astray as Sheep without a Shepherd but now we are returned to the Captain of our Salvation and Bishop of our Souls this is he of whom t is written That there is no Name given under Heaven by which man can be saved but by the name of Jesus Christ it is also written of him That there is not Salvation in any other he himself hath said I am the way to the Father no man can come to the Father but by me I am the Way the Truth and the Life I am the Door he that enters in by me the Door shall go in and find Pasture I am the good Shepherd I lay down my Life for my Sheep all that came before me they are Thieves and Robbers The Apostle saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. they who Preach the Words of God spoken by his Spirit in and by his Son or in by his Prophets or Apostles without the Spirit of God and Christ they steal the Lord is against them see Jer. 23. Ezekel 13 1. to the end 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 3. Observe This is he by whom God brings forth his New Creation in man who was fallen dead in Trespasses and Sins the Apostle saith If any man be in Christ he is a New Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become New and all things are of God and he writ to the Saints saying We are Gods workmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God before Ordained that we should walk in them Observe This is he that burns up the old Heavens and the old Earth which Satan hath filled with Sin and Wickedness this is he that Baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire who burns up all the false Joy false Pleasure which is as a false Heaven for as the Kingdom of God the true Heaven consists in true Joy and Peace so Satan transforms himself in his dark Kingdom in fallen man which he has filled with sin and gives him for a short time a false Joy and Peace in Evil doing this is that Joy that must be turned into Sorrow this is that Peace which is not the Peace of God therefore God will destroy it Heaven and Earth and all things were good in the beginning and man was good yea very good his Spirit Soul and Body but being fallen from God degenerated into a Plant of a strange Vine his Heart Mind Spirit Will and Affections all Corrupted Poisoned Slain Dead from God he is now become as the corrupt Earth which brings forth Bryers and Thorns whose end is to be burned Mankind in the fall is accounted by the Prophet as a Forest or Wilderness overgrown with Bryers and Thorns and he Prophesies of the day of the Lord that shall come upon this Wilderness Bryers and Thorns Sin and Wickedness and shall burn them up And again the Prophet of the Lord saith The day of the Lord shall come which shall burn as an Oven and the Proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and it shall burn them up and leave them neither Root nor Branch All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Sin brought Death and Separation from God God saith by the Prophet Your Sins separate betwixt you and your God your sins with-hold good things from you wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes and then draw near and let us reason together though your sins were as Crimson I will make them as Snow though they were as blood I will make them as Wool I will carry them into a Land of forgetfulness and Will remove them as far from you as the East is from the West Again God commands by the Apostle saying Cleanse your hands you sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded be afflicted and mourn let your laughter be turned into heaviness and your joy into mourning humble your selves under the mighty hand of God and he shall exalt you in due time And the Apostle saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ shall give thee Light Ephes 5. 14. Observe That all the fallen dead sons and daughters of Adam who come to be made alive to God to become a generation to him to bring forth fruit to his Glory they must come to be Awakened by the Spirit and Voice of God sounding an alarum in their own Hearts and Souls to have their ears opened to his voice the eyes of their unberstandings opened to see him a God nigh at hand they must know the Revelation of the Righteous Judgments of God upon the head of the Serpent in their own Hearts Minds Wills and Affections and through his Righteous Judgments to know the old man with his deeds which are Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts of the flesh put off and so to know the fulfilling of the Apostles words who said They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts He that is in Christ is a New Creature Again observe this work of Redemption of the Creature out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the
Christ through want of watchfulness in the holy fear of God have been drawn out of it by the subtill Adversary of their Souls and when some of the Members of the body who kept their habitation in the Light in which they have a right sence sight savour and discerning of Spirits words and Actions have spoken to them in the Wisdom and Love of God in Order to have Restored them into their places that they might therein have been preserved in Unity with God and his People they have not received in Love that which in Love was spoken to them for the good End aforesaid but on the Contrary have rejected the same and have let up prejudice hard thoughts and evil will against their friends who sought their good and so these evils given way to by them have eaten out the Love gantiness tenderness Meakness and patience that once in some Measure appeared in them and a raging scornful bitter reviling Spirit hath entered some as also from the same root faigned Humiliy faigned words and flattery hath appeared in some these latter mentioned fruits proceeding from the Evil root is more Dangerous to deceive than the former therefore all you who Love your own Souls be warned to fly from the Spirit of dissimulation and flattery as also from the rude railing boysterous quarelsome perverse Crooked self-revengful and scornful Stubborne selfwillful and self-Exalting Spirit Eightly Observe that the same God who by his Spirit and in his own Order set some in the Church First Apostles Secondly Prophets Thirdly Teachers c. by the same Spirit he gives proper or peculiar gifts to some that are not Apostles Prophets or publick Teachers according to the aforesaid difinition of them viz. he sets some in the Church helpers in Government which last mentioned Members are of great service in their places in the body of Christ they being kept by him in true Humility O friends all keep low in your Minds let nothing be done amongst you in highmindedness or vain glory for that God Accepts not but the Meek he Guides in Judgment but the Proud are an abomination to him This is the Testamony of the Lord Jesus Christ to you viz. The more Persons grow in Christ the Root Foundation and Head of his Church the more Meek Humble and Patient they grow Ninthly Observe that though all the Members of the body have not all or any of the before mentioned services in the body yet have they all a place in the Body as I said before and they are blessed who know their place and keep in it though it be the place of one of the least of the Members of the Body for that is to be desired which the good man made choyce of in his days who said I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness for the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give grace no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psalm 84. 10 11. Tenthly Observe that as every Member hath a place in the Body so it hath a service therein though not the place of an Apostle or Propher or helper in Government yet all they who are properly and truly of the body do Preach witness and testitie of God and Christ his Kingdom and Glory and against the Kingdom of Satan Sin Wickedness and the vain Glory and Lusts that are in the World In their Christian Lives and Conversations and every Nember that abides in its place and service in the fear of the Lord and true Humility hath Peace and Comfort with the Lord and Unity with all their fellow-Members who keep in their places and services and all who keep their places and services as aforesaid therein are in a preparedness for whatsoever the Lord God pleaseth to call them further unto and when any is called to further or other service than what God hath already called them unto their Peace with God and Unity with his People will be continued in their obedience to God that calls them Again the Apostle writeth thus of Christ viz. he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ that we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and Carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning Craftyness whereby they lye in waite to deceive but speaking the Truth in Love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fiâ—â—ly Joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplieth according to the Effectual working in the measure of every part maketh Increase of the body unto the Edifying of it self in Love Ephess 4. 10 11. to the 17. First Observe that the gifts of the Apostles Prophets Teachers Evangelists c. were not given only to convince People of the Truth and way of Righteousness but also to build them up in it gradually from strength to strength to a Râ—pe Age in Christ Secondly Observe that those who were turned to the Light and Spirit of Truth by those whom God sent to turn them to it could not in the Light and Spirit gainsay or oppose them who therein Laboured in their writing and speaking to them to build them up in it from strength to strength for the Light is not Contradictory to it self in the Preacher or the Nearer or in any of the Children of it for that which the Light or Spirit of Truth speaks or dictates to write in one of its Children it doth nor reject oppose or gainsay in any other of its Children for if it could do so then should it be the Author of Confusion amongst â—'s Children which is most false and blasphemous to say for God by this Spirit and Light is not the Author of Confusion but of good profitable and Comfortable order and peace in all the Churches of the Saints The Apostle in this divine Light saw and by Experience knew that which he writ concerning it viz. God is Light in him is no Darkness at all if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we lie and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son Cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 5 6 7. Thirdly Observe that they who profess the Light of Christ within whether they be old or young professors of it that gainsay oppose reject slight and
fleshly Liberty and unchristian Loosness in which they are but therein do oppose War against the children of the Light because they will not joyn and walk and have Unity with them in their dark Words Works But in the Councel of God Witness against the same 8. Observe If these blind Self-conceited ones do not take Christ's Councel viz. Anoynt their Eyes with Eye-Salve that they may see and repent then their Latter End will be Miserable much worse than their Beginning was Oh that such might yet seek and find a Place of Repentance This would be matter of great rejoycing to the Children of Light who are calluminated reviled opposed and greatly abused by them Again the Apostle Peter writ to the Saints in Light viz. Giving all Diligence Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness brotherly Kindness Charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barrennor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these Things is blind and cannot see far off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old Sins Wherefore the rather Brethren give All diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if you do these things ye shall never fall c. 2. Pet. 1. 5. to the 11. Read the Chapter through 1. Observe All you that profess the Light of Christ within what things you are to be found in Which will render you that you are not barren nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2. Observe That he that professes to be plentiful in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And is not found in the Possession and Practice of those before-mentioned Christian fruits he is blind as the Apostle saith and too like the self-conceited blind Laodiceans 3. Observe That there are some at this day who do profess themselves to be followers of the Light of Christ within Who do lack these before-mentioned good Things and so according to the Apostles saying These are blind and the blind cannot see till their Eyes be opened So they cannot see their Duty nor the Duty of the Children of Light till their Eyes be open'd Such of them who Have not yet sinned out the Day of Gods Uisitation to them I Exhort and warn to retire out of the Self-conceit and vain Imaginations to the pure Divine Light of Christ within and thereunto diligently attend that thereby the Eyes of their Understandings may be anointed and opened that therein they may see their Duty and by vertue of the same be led into it and kept in it and also may see the Duty of the Children of Light and have Unity with them therein Again Hear what the Apostle Paul saith concerning Blindness viz. But if our Gospel be hid It is hid in them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them for we Preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake for God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ but we have this Treasure in the Earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4. 3. to 8. 1. Observe That it is the God of the World who blinds the Minds of People designing thereby to hinder them of the Benefit of the Light that so they might be kept blind and in Blindness Conceit themselves to be wise and knowing in the Things of God and Gospel of his Kingdom and in their Blindness to oppose and contend against those whom God hath made Wise unto Salvation in opposing their Christian Counsel Advice and Conversation 2. Observe That the Apostles of Christ did not Preach Themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and Themselves their Servants for Jesus sake and so doth the faithful Ministers of Christ in this day praisEd be the Lord for the same and the Excellency of the Power by which they are enabled to serve God and each other is of God and not of Themselves Therefore the Glory belongs to him forever Again Hear what the Apostle Paul saith concerning the darkened and blinded viz. For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven Against all Ungodlyness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness because that which may be known of God Is Manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were they thankful but became vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Heart was darkned professing themselves to be Wise they became Fools Rom. 1. 18 19 to 23. 1. Observe That the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodlyness and Unrighteousness of Men for holding the Truth in Unrighteousness That is holding a Profession of it Without Subjection and Obedience to it because they do not obey the Truth in forsaking that which it shews them to be evil chusing doing that which it shews them to be good 2. Observe That when they through their Negligence and Slothfulness continued and multiplied Disobedience and Rebellion are come to be darkned and made Spiritually blind so that they neither see know or desire to Know their Duty or to do it yet this their Darkness and Blindness doth not render them Excusable or uncondemnable either in the sight of God or his Faithful People but on the contrary Inexcusable and condemnable in the sight of God and also in the sight of his Faithful People .. 3. Observe The cause why they became so darkned and blinded was that when they knew God they glorified Him not as God neither were thankful therefore they became Vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Hearts were darkned professing themselvee to be Wise they became Fools 4. Observe What it is to Glorifie God as God when Man knows Him for there are several Degrees of the Knowledge of God all proceeding from one Cause and are of one kind though Not all of One Quantity or Largeness Certain it is that to Glorifie God as God is not only to believe that He is a Mighty Powerful Just and Holy God but also to Reverence fear and stand in awe of Him and to obey Him according to that Knowledge received of him His Blessing is upon will continue and increase upon all those who do so Glorifie Him for He hath promised who cannot lie That he that is Faithful in a little shall be made Ruler over much and shall enter into the Joy of his Lord. Again The same Apostle writ to the believing Gentiles at
Ephesus viz. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the Vanity of their Minds having the Understanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the Blindness of their Heart who being past feeling have given themselves over to Lasciviousness to work all Uncleanness with greediness Ephes 4. 17 18 19. Observe here the woful and miserable Effects of Disobedience to God what Darkness Spiritual Blindness Benummedness and Insensibility it brings them into who are given up thereto alienating them from the Life Power and Spirit of God yet this Blindness and Insensibility Doth not render them excusable in the Sight of the Lord God who hath sent his Son a true Light who lights every Man that comes into the World who therefore saith Look unto Me all O ye Ends of the Earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is none else a mighty God and a Saviour Isa 45. 22. And again The Apostle in his Light Spirit and Power saw and therefore said God's Will is that all Men should know the Truth and he Saved 1 Tim. 2. 4. They therefore who believe in the Divine Light of Christ and walk in and obey the same are therein saved preserved and justified but they that know this Light profess and talk of it but do not obey and walk in it they are justly by the Lord God condemned and their Disobedience justly Witnessed against by his Faithful People who walk in his Light and bring forth the pure peaceable Fruits of it and if such disobedient unfaithful Professors of the Light do not unfeignedly repent of their Evil Sayings and Doings against God and his People and walk in Obedience to the Light they make Profession of then will the Wrath of God fall heavy upon them in the End Again Hear what the Apostle Peter saith to the Faithful Children of Light viz. But ye are a chosen Generation an holy Nation a peculiar People that ye should shew forth the Praise of him that hath called you Out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light Dearly Beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims Abstain from Fleshly Lust which War against the Soul having your Conversations Honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as Evil Doers they may By your Good Works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9 to the 13. Observe This Doctrine of the Apostle is according to the Command of Christ to his Disciples He said Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and Glorify your Father which is in Heaven Math. 5. 16. Again Christ saith The Light of the Body is the Eye If therefore thine Eye be single thy whole Body shall be full of Light but if thine Eye be Evil thy whole Body shall be full of Darkness If therefore the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness See Math. 6. 22 23. Again Christ saith Out of the Heart proceedeth an Evil Eye Mark 7. 22. Luke 11. 34. 1. Observe That the Children of Light are a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People called out of Darkness into Gods marvellous Light They walking therein are as Lights in the World their Light so shines before Men in the good Works or good Conversation in Christ this brings Glory to God the Father which is in Heaven they neither Need nor Do plead Ignorance of their duty to God or Man or of the Commands of Christ For they do both know obey and do their Duty to God and Man praised be the Lord God for the same 2. Observe That Christ saith The Light of the Body is the Eye wherefore if thine Eye be single thy whole Body is full of Light but when thine Eye is Evil thy whole body also is full of darkness Here are ' two Eyes spoken of the good one and the evil one he that hath the good Eye open in him with it Christ saith If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the Ditch Mat. 15. 14. sees right sees good things and is affected therewith embraceth and holdeth fast the same he sees his duty to God and Man and by Gods help doth the same and therein is blessed but he that hath the Evil Eye open in him which Eye proceeds out of the Heart as Christ saith with this his Evil Eye he seeketh and watcheth for Evil and therewith sees Evil things and hath pleasure in them and therefore embraces them practiseth them pleads for them and holds them fast This is the Man whose Good Eye is blinded and his evil one open therefore he calls Good Evil and Evil Good Here Darkness and its fruits are put for Light and its fruits and Light and its fruits are put for Darkness and its fruits The Person that doth this hath changed the Truth of God for a Lie Oh this is a miserable State which some fell into in Ages past and some are fallen into in our Age Out of which God Almighty preserve all who to his Light are turned who believe in and love the same And the Lord be merciful unto all who though they be Darkned and Intangled in the Snares of their Souls Enemy through want of Watchfulness in the pure Light of Christ and holy fear of God yet have not sinned out the day of his tender Visitation to them Oh that they may seek and find a place of unfeigned Repentance and so return unto the Lord God before the Harvest or Gathering or Restoring time to them be ended Concerning the Honour which God gives unto his People c. THe fear of the Lord is the Instruction of Wisdom and before Honour is Humility Proverbs 15. 33. And Christ saith If any man honour me him will my Father honour John 12. 26. And the Apostle Peter Exhorted the Saints saying Honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God c. 1. Pet. 2. 17. The Apostle Paul Exhorted the believing Romans to be kindly Affectionated one towards another with brotherly Love in Honour preferring one another Rom. 12. 10. Again he writ to them viz. But Glory Honour and Peace to every man that worketh good c. Rom. 2. 10. Again hear what the Lord saith by the mouth of Samuel the Prophet viz. Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteem'd 1 Sam. 2. 30. And again Paul writing to Timothy saith Let the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim 5. 17. Observe All the Children of God who are taught by his gracious Spirit of Life Light Love and Peace who walk therein they Glorifie and Honour him with their Spirits and Bodies which are his and with his good Creatures which he hath made them Stewards over which is their reasonable Service and
Gideon and of Baruck and of Sampson of Jephtha and of David also and of Samuel and of the Prophets c. see Heb. 10. 38 39. Read the 11 Chapter through Habbakkuk 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Again the Apostle Peter writ to the Saints concerning Faith vâ—z Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation see 1 Pet. 1. 5. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering Heb. 10. 23. Now the Apostle James who writ of this Faith writ also of the works and fruits of it which the rest also did hear what he saith in this matter viz. What doth it prâ—fit my Brethren though a Man say he hath Faith can Faith save him If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of dayly Food and one of you say unto them Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not thâ—se things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Even so Faith if it hath not works is dead being alone yea a man may say Thou hast Faith and I have works shew me thy Faith without thy works and I will shew thee my Fath by my works Thou believest there is one God c. But wilt thou know oh vain man that Faith without works is dead Was not Abraham our Father justified by Works seest thou how Faith wrought with his Works and by works was Faith made perfect and the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and was imputed to him for Righteousness and he was called the friend of God ye see then how that by works a Man is justified and not by Faith only for as the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also James 2. 14 to the end Again the Apostle John writ to the Children of Light concerning this Faith viz. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith 1 John 5. 4. Again Peter Exhorts those who were come to some degree of this Faith saying Give all diligence add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg and to Knowledg Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that laâ—keth these things is blind c. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if you do these things you shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 4 11. Again the Apostle Paul writing to the believing Thessalonians said unto them We are bound to thank God always for you Brethren as it is meet because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth 2 Thess 1. 3. Again Paul writ to the Galatians viz. Knowing that a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified but if while we seek to be justified by Christ we our selves are found sinners is Christ therefore the Minister of sin God forbid for if I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a Transgressor for I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the â—on of God c. Gal. 2. 16 17 18 19 20. Again he writ thus to the believing Ephesians viz. We are Gods â—â—â—kmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained we should walk in them Ephesians 2. 10. The same Apostle writing to the believing Philipians writ thus viz. For it is God which worketh in you â—â—th to will and to do of his own good pleasure do all things without murmuring and disputing that you may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World Philip. 2. 13 14 15. Again he writ to the Ephesians thus viz. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be Glory in the Church throughout all Ages world without end Amen Eph. 3. 20 21. Again the Author to the Hebrews writing to them saith viz. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. O all you who profess your selves to be Christians and to be led and guided by the Spirit and Light of Christ within seriously consider of the faithful sayings of these faithful Apostles and Servants of Christ concerning Faith in God and Christ and the Gospel and Christian works which God in Christ works in all those who comes to the Baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and Fire which burns up the works of Satan to with Sin who destroys the old man with his deeds which are corrupt and which renews and restores man again into the likness or image of God who created him All who come to drink into the one Spirit and be Baptized by it into the one Body come thereby to be made of one Heart and Soul and to Worship and Serve God with one consent these have not Faith without Works which is dead but they have the living Faith which God hath wrought in them which by the Apostle is called the Faith of the Operation or Work of God and with this living Faith they have the living Works and Fruits which Faith and Works prove them to be the generation and living off-spring of God Further observe How sweetly all the before-mentioned Apostles in their sayings are in Harmony and Unity concerning this living Faith and its living Works or Fruits Again observe Where many Professors of Faith and Christianity have been grosly mistaken concerning Faith and Works The Apostle Paul in some of his Epistles writing much against the upholding of the shadowy works of the Law after Christ had ended them by his one offering many Professors of Christianity of latter times have been willing to exclude all works as with respect to Salvation or Acceptance with God under the Gospel dispensation though the holy Apostle Exhorted the Believers in Christ to work out their
Salvation with fear and trembling saying It is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure Now the Words which I have here brought out of Paul's Epistles with much more of the like nature that may be found in them which for brevity I here omit doth and will plainly shew that he did never intend in his writing against the shadowy works of the Law to exclude deny or make void the substantial good and living Works of God in Christ in his People under the Gospel dispensation so that he was of the same mind concerning Faith and Works with James Peter and John so here are four faithful and honourable Witnesses linked together in Testimony to the living Faith which God works in his People and the living Works and Fruits which accompany it Glory to the Lord God for the same and those Four faithful Witnesses to the living Faith its Fruits and Works as aforesaid are also faithful Witnesses against the dead Faith and dead Works of the Professors of Christianity in our Age who notwithstanding their high Notions and talk of Faith Election Redemption Salvation c. are yet dead in their Trespasses and in their Sins The Apostle John writ to the Saints saying This is the Victory over the World even your Faith And Christ saith If you have Faith as a grain of Mustard Seed if you shall say unto this Mountain be thou removed and to this Hill be thou cast into the Sea they shall obey you But they that are yet dead in their Trespasses and Sins pleading they must continue therein all their days upon Earth Their dead Faith hath not given them Victory over the World neither can it for as they are taught by the Serpent to believe that they must live in sin all their days according to this ungodly belief they submit themselves to him and he leads them into sin and they multiply their sin daily as they say and such are not in the strait and narrow way they talk of but in the broad way that leads to destruction Oh! that they would turn in their minds to the Light of Christ Jesus and believe in it and diligently seek a place of Repentance that they might find it and so return to God from Satan and their Sins which while they abide in subjection to holds them in a Separation from God from peace and rest with him and from Unity with his chosen whatsoever they do or may imagine or say to the contrary they will find this true at last Again these in their dead Faith and works of Sin have not known Gods wondrous and miraculous works yet wrought in them to throw down the Hills and Mountains of Sin and Wickedness which the Devil who abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth hath raised up in them to wit Pride self-Exaltation vain freshly earthly Glory c. for as the Apostle saith All that 's in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of this World and this World passeth away and the Lusts thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever except a man be regenerate and born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God and the blind who doth never see it is never like to inherit it Now all you who do not only profess Christ as the before-mentioned Professors do but also profess his Spirit and Light within to be your Teacher which they do not who profess according to John Baptists Testimony and the Testimony of Daniel the Prophet that Christ the Lamb of God is the sent One of the Father and is come to take away the sins of the World to put an end to sin to finish transgression to bring in everlasting Righteousness all be retired in the spirit of your Minds to the Divine Light of Christ Jesus wherewith you are lighted and therein wait to receive and keep a right sense of your Conditions see how you have taken up your Cross and how you bear it and what the fruits and effects of your bearing of it are see that the hills and mountains of sin be overturned in you and the rough places made smooth in you and the Valley exalted in you for who have not known these wonderful works of God wrought in them they are yet short of the possession or sitting down in the Inheritance of the Kingdom of God and of his Christ which consists or stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost for through the Righteous and Fiery Judgments of God inwardly must sinful Man come before he can draw neer to God see his Kingdom or have a place in it this fiery Baptism they must come through wherewith Christ Jesus the power and wisdom of God Baptizeth all who believe in him and in his Divine Light patiently and constantly wait to be made new Creatures by him It is true what the Apostle hath writ If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are done away and all things are become new and all things are of God for as he also saith They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts Again observe That if any person professing to be led and guided by the Divine Light of Christ within and that he or she believes the before-mentioned Testimonies concerning Christ viz. That he is come to put an end to sin and bring in everlasting Righteousness to enable his People to perfect Holiness in his Fear according to what God hath promised and his Servants have writ and spoken if such person or persons so professing continue in a loose and sinful Conversation whether they be called Quakers or by what other name soever their Sin is not less but much more grievous to Almighty God than the sins of the before-mentioned who have not yet come to be opened so far as to understand what the Light of Christ within is Therefore do not make profession to be taught and guided by it but those loose and sinful Professors of the Light of Christ within if they did ever really come to the Light they make profession of and in any measure obey it then were their hearts opened thereby to understand and know sin and the displeasure of God against it more than the before-mentioned and so the Judgment of God will fall more heavy on them if they repent not and come not to walk orderly as becomes the Gospel than upon others who have not known so much as they have known and therefore are not guilty of the sin of Rebellion so much as they are for Rebellion is as the sin of Witcheraft as 't is written And he that knows his Masters will and doth it not he shall be beaten with many stripes as 't is also written Again observe such loose Professors of the Light of Christ within may boast and talk of their Faith in God