are possible and we also believe that whosoever are born of God doth not commit sin but is perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect whose children they are and we believe that such a state is attainable in this life whilest in the body Q. But is it so with you at all times as that sin hath no power over you A. There is a state whilest the birth is in travaile as that temptations may at sometimes prevaile for in that state the birth is not come into full strength through the growth of Faith and so may sin through weakness but where it is so there is a cry goes unto God to be delivered and though there may be such an over comming in weakness as that sin may have some power yet that which cryes to God in the sence of sin it hath an advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation by whom the attonement is made and through whom the sin is pardoned and remitted and so the birth grows stronger in the Faith and goes on from one degree to another until it be made perfect in Christ Jesus Q. But doe you believe that such of you as are grown into such strength as to have victory over the world the flesh and the devil are not lyable to temptations and that the motions of the flesh doe not sometimes move and stir in you to commit sin A. Yes we finde that daily but we conquer over them through him that loves us so that when temptations are proffered we resist them in the power of Christ and when the motions of the flesh doe move or stir unto sin we subdue them and keep them under and by our Faith in Christ we have victory over them and though such temptations and motions may be stirring as alive in themselves yet unto us they are all dead and we are dead unto them and though they may tempt us yet they prevaile not for by Christ we are preserved in the hour of temptation and the wicked one toucheth us not and thus we are kept by the mighty power of God through Faith unto Salvation and knows Christ in us to reigne over sin which sometimes hath reigned over us and in the dominion of his life we are conquerors in victory and so our perfection is in Christ in whom there is no sin and we know that he is the finisher of sin and the bringer in of everlasting righteousness unto us and in his righteousness and holy life we live to the glory of the Father Q. But if all these things be done for you by Christ within you then what doe you believe concerning that great worke which by the death of Christ was accomplished on the Cross in time past according to the Scriptures or doth not this your Faith concerning such things done for you by Christ in you make voide his death upon the Cross and the benefits which is to be received thereby A. Wee believe that all things which are spoken by the holy Prophets and Apostles concerning Christ are true according to the Scriptures we believe that all the dispensations of God which are manifested by the Scriptures are altogether true and that they were all fulfilled according to the determinate will and councell of God so that our Faith concerning Christ in us and the work which he there worketh for us doth not at all make voide any of the dispensations of God which in times past was revealed unto his holy Prophets and Apostles and by them testified in the Scriptures so that the work which the Father then gave unto the Son to doe we believe that he fulfilled and finished according to the Fathers will and that all things partaining to life and salvation was fully and perfectly in him and that he humbled himselfe to the death of the Cross and from death did rise againe and we believe that he is the resurrection and the life and gives eternal life to all that believe in him but that any doe believe in him as he is Christ who are dispisers of his light and life in them that is not our Faith for as we know him in us and so have our Faith in him we likewise know the dispensation of God in times past and the end of their manifestation and the time of their finishing and the Scriptures are fulfilled in us who live in the Faith of Christ and walkes in his Spirit and we also know and believe that he is the same Christ in us which in dispensations past did humble himselfe to the Cross and doth perfect his work in us according to the determinate councell and will of the Father so that our Faith concerning Christ in us doth not at all make voide what he hath done or wrought in times past but doth fully perfectly establish it as a true dispensation by our Faith in Christ we know in a good understanding the things that are past present and to come and that Christ is yesterday to day and the same for ever and of his life nature and being there is neither variableness nor changing but an enduring substance of immortality who is glorified with the Father in the same glory that he had with him before the world began who through every dispensation hath manifested his glory and in this dispensation of his light and life he is come unto us and we know him to be the first and the last the beginning and the ending for him hath God the Father sealed and in him our Faith stands stedfast A. And have you such faith in God and love unto him as that you have respect unto all his commands and to answer him in all things according to his will A. Yes our faith is such in him and our love unto him as that we have respect unto all his commands for as he hath loved us and given Christ for us even so is our love begotten unto him and in his love unto us which is the ground of our love unto him we in the same are made willing to run the way of all his commands according to his will and they are not grievous unto us Q. But whether do you not depend upon the things you do for life and salvation Nay we do not so for we have life before we have motion to act or do any thing that is pleasing unto God and in the life we have salvation and so life and salvation is freely given us of God and by his grace we are saved through our faith which we have in him and that puts us upon motion and action to do his will in all things and yet not to depend upon what we do for life but to answer his will in all faithfulness because he hath given us life and so we do not act or do any thing for life but do all things which he commands us from the motion of his life and this is life before action which moves us to action and not
A New Catechism Wherein many Truths are plainly opened by way of Question and Answer which may be a help and furtherance unto all tender hearted people who are breathing after the Lord and waits for Redemption and Salvation by Jesus Christ. ALSO Something concerning the Foundation and Principle of the poor afflicted people of God called Quakers and of their Faith and Love towards God and their good VVill unto Men being also plainly demonstrated by way of Question and Answer Given forth in the labour of Love and put to View for the Service of this present Generation and also Generations to come William Smith Printed in the Year 1665. There is also Re-printed a PRIMMER Wherein is demonstrated The New and Living Way Held forth by way of Question and Answer as from a Child's Enquiry after Truth to be informed by the Father Here being divers particulars Answer'd and plainly opened that may be profitable both in this present Age and Ages to come Published for the benefit of all sorts of people and-may be very serviceable for every Family and of great use for young Children to learn in so soon as they can understand their Language that they in the fear of God may be instructed and remember their Creator in the dayes of their Youth Other Foundations can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ Behold I write unto you both Old and Young that you may know the Truth and that the Truth may make you free For which I Travel enduring Affliction for the Truths sake WILLIAM SMITH The Primer or Catechism may be had either Bound together or a part An Epistle to the Reader Reader THou art to understand that the natural man can neither see nor receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are Spiritually discerned and it is the Spiritual minde that is onely in a capacity to receive and understand those things which by the Spirit is declared and made manifest for the Spirit is the key by which Divine truths are opened and by the intelligence of it they also come to be understood and the testimony which hath been published and held forth unto the precious truth of God in these latter dayes hath been abundantly spread abroad by the Spirits Power and demonstration through the faithfull and chosen witnessess of the New birth unto whom the Lord God everlasting hath revealed his secrets and open the mysteries of glorious kingdome and hath given unto them the tongue of the learned and the power and wisdome of his heavenly life whereby they are able to divide the word aright and to dispence the Gospel of everlasting peace and they have faithfully served the Lord in their generation and have not been negligent to run the way of his commandements but early and late have laboured in their holy calling whereunto the Lord hath called them in the work of the Gospel and their testimony doth stand for God this day and is become a sweet Savour in the hearts of many and that glorious truth which so plentifully hath been poured forth by the holy Spirit of God and so wonderfully is spread abroad through the testimony of his faithfull Servants it doth stand and remaine as a sure record which cannot be raced out though it might be sufficient to clear the Lords faithfull servants on their own behalf as also to leave all people without excuse who hitherto have shut their hearts against it yet such is Gods tender love that he continues his favours and goodness and in the openings of himselfe in the riches of his mercy he fills his children and servants with an overflowing cup of his precious virtue which yet doth constraine them to make known the true and perfect way of peace and to proclaime the word of eternal life unto the Sons and Daughters of men and though many have walked unworthily and have requited the Lord unkindly yet doth his compassion move to his own begotten that sits in desolate and sollitary places as a babe without comfort and in the vertue of his own life he keeps his testimony fresh upon the hearts of his messengers and they run in his power and are not weary and walkes in his love and are not faint but continues in their race of well doing though many faces have ever been set against them therefore whosoever thou art that reads in this booke consider the end of its manifestation for it is not published to be onely seen and read but to manifest the truth as it is in Jesus which thou art to weigh and ponder in the fear of God for the matter in this booke doth lye out of sight to the carnal eye and the matter cannot be understood by reading the words onely but by taking heed to the measure of Gods Spirit in thee for if thou doe not read with the Spirit of God in thee thou cannot understand the matter in the words though thou may read them over and over for whosoever would come to the true knowledge of God they must come to the measure of his Spirit themselves or otherwise they may read but reap no profit and so the Scriptures have been read and heard but the Spirit not being minded in those that read and hear there is not an understanding of the matter of which the words testifie and so the the book is sealed though the words be read and heard marke that for there is not another way to come to the true knowledge of God but through death to that part which would comprehend him and though a faithfull testimony may be published by words and writings yet cannot any thereby come to the knowledg of God for God is not so to be comprehended therefore it concernes every one that comes into the world to minde the light of Christ with which they are enlightened to wait in it for the Revelation of God for there is none knowes the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveales him and whosoever would compass the knowledge of God in any other way or by any other thing they can never come to a true knowledge of him for where the will and desire is let at liberty to the comprehending of God and Christ there the minde overruns the true light in which the secrets of God are opened and revealed and though words and writings may in themselves be true yet none can profit by them but as they joyn to that of God in themselves for the secrets of God cannot be any otherwise known or attained but as there is a patient waiting in that which openeth by it to be gathered into the nature of that which is opened and whosoever increass knowledg by any other way it is the vaile which spreads over their hearts and blinds their mindes for beholding the appearance of God in his light and life and though such as so gather knowledge may seem wise in what they knâ—w and in their knowledge satisfie themselves and esteeme
it is but the dispensation of it as it is the Law is not for the Law makes nothing perfect and there can be no true rest and peace but in that which is perfect and makes perfect Q. What then doth the administration of the Law serve unto if it make nothing perfect A. It serves as a Schoolemaster to bring unto Christ Q. How is it as a Schoolemaster in its administration A. In correcting and judging the transgressour and instructing and teaching in righteousness for the Law was added because of transgression Q. Is not Christ manifest through the dispensations of the Law and and the Prophets A. According to that dispensation unto which they serve he is so but it is but darkly as in a glass Q. How must the Law and the Prophets be passed thorow to come unto Christ who fulfills them A. By observing the Statutes and Ordinances that is therein contained whereby there is a going forward to the more full enjoyment of the perfection of Christ who fulfills the Law and the Prophets in the more glorious appearance of his own fulness and perfect life Q. Is the administration of the Law in force in this present age A. Yes it is in force to take hold upon all transgressours and it is Ministred in justice against the transgressour which erres from the Statutes and Ordinances that is therein contained Q. But are not people in this age under a Gospel administration and are they to be brought back again under the Law A. They that have not passed thorough the administration of the Law in themselves they are not under a Gospel administration and therefore they cannot be brought back again because they never went forward but they are to be brought into that which hitherto they have not known nor understood for a Gospel administration barely professed will not doe people any good and so it is that many in this age looks over the Law as an administration below their profession and that the Law was a more proper administration in ages past and more particularly to the Jews not understanding that it hath its proper administration in man whilest sin and transgression remaines in him and so it is in as full force in this age upon all transgressours as ever it hath been in ages past for whosoever in this age that doth offend in one point of it they will be found guilty of all and the judgement will take hold to the correcting of the guilty for God will by no means clear the guilty Q. And is the throne of judgement set up under the Law to judge and condemne the transgressors of the Law A. Yes it is so that every man might fear the Lord God who gives forth his Law in man to be kept and not to be broken Q. But is it possible that man can keep the Law in all things and not offend in any thing or that he can performe the requirings of God in that dispensation as it is a Covenant of works A. If there was not a possibility on mans part to keep it then it would seem hard that the Lord should command it and require it and for not keeping it to judge and condemne for it and there was some in ages past that walked before the Lord with perfect hearts and that under the administration of the Law but the shortness of observing or mans part is the weakness and unprofit ableness of the flesh so that he many times cannot doe the things that he would and therein the first Covenant is found faulty not in it selfe but in the sinfull flesh and if it had not been so concerning the observing of the first Covenant there could not be place for the second and therefore the works of the first Covenant doth not obtaine life and salvation but the free grace in the second Covenant that all people might dye to themselves according to the flesh and live unto God according to the spirit that so life and salvation may not be of works but by Grace in the rich mercy of God through Jesus Christ who in his full and glorious appearance in man is the end of the Law for righteousness and brings life and immortality to light by the Cospel and then there is no more servitude or bondage under the Law because of the weakness of the flesh but redemption wrought by the power of Christ from under it into a more perfect state of freedome and liberty in his own life Q What is signified by the Prophesies A. The nearer approaching or drawing nigh of Christ in his own fulness and and perfect life that whereas he hath been seen but darkly as in a glass under the Law he may be seen with open face in the compleat beauty of his own glory in the Cospel Q Of what service are the Scriptures as they are given forth and recorded without A. Much every way unto those that have received the same Spirit from which they were givenforth for unto such they are profitable and makes wise unto salvation and are unto them of service for instruction edification and comfort the same Spirit in them receiving the Testimony of the Spirit as it is declared in the Scripture and there is an agreement and union in the Spirit within and also in the words without and so there is instruction edification and comfort by the Scriptures unto all that are in the same Spirit as gave them forth Q. But are they of no further service then onely a Testimony of those things which was present in that time A. So much of them as was given forth by the holy men of God through the inspiration of the Almighty they testifie of Christ who was and is and is to come and that is onely their service in their place that through the Testimony therein declared unto Christ all people might come unto him and have life Q. By what doth Christ manifest his life so as that it may be known to be his life A. By his light he manifests it and as the light is received by which it is manifest so is life received in it Q. Is the light and the life distinct Principles A. Nay the light is Christ and the life is Christ and they are not distinct Principles but he is known to be light in manifesting and life in quickening Q. What is the administration of Christ in the appearance of his own fulness and perfect life A. An administration of love grace and mercy Q. And doth he appear to salvation in that administration of his love grace and mercy A. To as many as receives him in that appearance he becomes their salvation but such as reject him he is their condemnation Q. Is not that administration universal to salvation A. The manifestation of it is universal unto all but unbelievers have no part in it as an administration to salvation Q. What is his administration in that appearance of love grace and mercy unto such as reject him A. An administration