God That by him all that believe are justified from all things by the Law of the spirit according to the Conscience from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses without or the work of the Law written within according to the flesh by the eternal spirit in the blood of Jesus were sins washed away in the person of Christ before either faith or work by faith the same is brought to light in the Conscience by the works of faith is manifest in the body as I am in the flesh I labour between light and darkness flesh and spirit in fightings in work as I am in Christ I am entered into rest and victory and know no more work but Christ to be all that faith that cannot see justification in Christ till full mortification in the flesh will be found to be that fleshly Reason that cannot enter within the vail that is beyond the Law sense and reason Let these things be weighed that the purging away sin by a measure of God or light within is a baptism devised by reason and may wash away the filth of the flesh before men and hath a glory in appearance but the answer of a good Conscience in the death and resurrection of the man Jesus will be found to be the Baptism that saves before God and brings forth the true glory within That this people seeking after righteousness by perfect obedience to the light within and the Jews seeking it by obedience to the Law of Moses without are both in one spirit and under one law of work and differ no more but in the Copies of the Law those say the Law in the Conscience is holy just and pure and by obedience thereunto the unholiness and sin is taken away these say the Law upon Tables of stone is holy just and spiritual and by obedience to it they think to attain righteousness let both these know that neither the letter of the Law without nor the light of the Law within how holy and pure soever but Christ Jesus crucified as the end of both and faith in him is that which shall preserve men blameless and without spot before him at his coming all other coverings whither by Law letter or light within if without that in him shall be too short in that day Concerning Hope He saith to hope that that of God in every man or a Christ may be revealed to take away sin to give freedome from sin in this life is the pure the reasonable hope that makes not ashamed that to hope salvation while the witnese in the Conscience condemns of sin is the Divels hope and the unreasonable hope that they who have this hope look only for spirit light word and righteousness without and deny the witness within and Christ within the hope of glory To believe Christ hath already once in the end of the world appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself whereby we are saved through faith according to the inward man Heb. 9.26 1 John 3.5 and to look and long for him to appear again without sin unto salvation and redemption of the body or outward man this is the lively hope that makes not ashamed that gives perfection and strength in him while yet poor and wanting in our selves That to rest in hope that I am saved already from sin and wrath in Christ the Head through his blood and spirit whiles conscience condemns of sin in my flesh this is the hope against hope the hope of grace and faith against the hope of Law and conscience or sense and feeling this is the hope unreasonable indeed according to the Law and natural light but most true and reasonable according to an higher Law and reason in God that is the Word made flesh and made sin for us this hope in many is no more but an imagination or idle notion living in the pleasures of sin in such it was begotten by the letter or Reason or at the best by a vanishing flash of Light but where it is begotten by the inhabiting and abiding spirit there it is a hope beholding the glory of the Lord and changing the creature into the same image in the Lord the hope that sees the love of the father shed forth upon us in the blood of attonement and all sins and evils finished therein is the hope that gives rest to the afflicted wearied and not comforted and lifts up the head above the floods of all waters that can come against them He that truly looks unto the righteousness and grace in the person of the Mediator doth also wait in hope for the righteousness light and spirit of the Mediator to be revealed within him therfore his words are a slander to know Christ only as without to know him only as within are both a like Error to conclude they that are Christs are saved already but it is by hope not in clear and full enjoyment the hope is laid up in him but not seen to sense and feeling what a man sees or enjoys why doth he yet hope for it Concerning Love His Doctrine is that Gods love to the world in sending his Son is this that God had given a light in every man to condemn sin in the flesh and take it away through walking after the spirit and denying the works of the flesh that God's love in the creature doth likewise condemn all sin in others not flattering or sparing any and then covers them with righteousness Was this Gods great and abounding love in sending his Son is it no more but God giving a light in all men condemning of sin and taking it away in them or was it not rather herein that when the Law was weak the flesh weak while we were yet sinners and in our blood while there was no man no Intercessor that even then God sent his Son a propitiation for sins who came down unto us not in the nature of Angels but in our flesh and therein through death quenched in the still deep waters of his meekness and love the anger enmity sin and death with all things that might separate us from the love of God which of these was the great love let the Scriptures spirit and spiritual man be judge or is this God's love in men to condemn curse and judge others as not justified and saved in Christ whilest they feel sin in the flesh to take away my liberty joy and peace which I have in Christ witnessed by the spirit to faith until the same be witnessed in my flesh to sense is this divine love to trouble them that have believed in Jesus the afflicted and wounded and weary by calling them unto the ministration of Moses the fire and the sword the suffering the indignation for sin and unto perfect obedience all this as the way to redemption and righteousness by Christ is this the love that is of God the grace the meekness of the Gospel or rather is it not the love of the false
again is to bring Christ down from above and up again from the dead to raise up Moses out of his Sepulcher which no man knows to this day with his ministration of death and to make the bloud of Christ a common thing or as the bloud of another Man consider this and fear ye people of whom I speak To conclude this first principle with one other note the Person of Christ and Redemption in him is vailed and denied by two sorts of men legal Teachers of the Gospel and mystical Teachers of the Law they differ herein the first set forth Christ in words of mans wisdom conditions of law and as onely in the flesh without not discerning him spiritually the other speak of him in more spiritual words and deep speculations but onely as redeeming within us in spirit not discerning nor beleiving the Glory of that Redemption without us in his Person they agree in this by both Christ is known onely after the flesh by the one onely as in the form of a Man or Person without by the other as a Redeemer onely within that is as not having finished already Redemption on earth nor as being Head over all things in the Father wherefore to know Christ as having aleady redeemed by his bloud without and as the incomprehensible fulness of Spirit and life above all through all and within all his people this is the true the safe the blessed knowledge of Christ and by this the first of their Principles above named is weighed and reproved of errour How Faith is the evidence of things not seen COncerning Faith it is the evidence of things not seen heavenly things were in God from everlasting by way of purpose yet unseen unsearchable by any eye in fulness of time they were manifested in the Person of Christ as by him perfected and wrought at once yet seen and discerned onely by faith according to the measures of Grace they are shed forth by the Spirit from him upon all the members and manifest to our sense all things of the first Creation were made by Christ all things pertaining to the second are ceased in him thus Redemption is first entire in him afterwards in measures revealed in his a work once perfected for ever in him not to be done by peices in us and so it is in being and finished already but hid with Christ in God Now upon these heavenly things there is a vail whereby they are hid the law in the conscience Reason and sense in the flesh and there is an evidence whereby they are seen that is Faith unto such as are under this vail nothing is seen nor heard but the Commandments to work and the sentences of death where work is not the Law in the letter and deeds in the flesh as the face of the covering spread upon the heart that Christ cannot be seen the highest divinity of men in this state is this Perfection by obedience to the letter without or at the best to the Spirit within Christ as a Law-giver in their Conscience and a worker of it in their Persons not as a Saviour having once fulfilled it for them in himself what of God is felt and wrought in themselves that they beleive and by that Rule they judge while the unspeakable righteousness operation and life hid in Christ and with him reserved in God with the faith liberty joy and peace thereof is hid from their eyes such is the vail and the people thereof But where Faith is come the vail is done away the earthly man with his deeds and death his hopes and fears and all things belonging to him are seen to be abolished and overcome by the everlasting righteousness and Spirit of Life that is in Christ even as the night is overcome by the day and this is to be understood to be true in him a Covenant in him ordered in all things and sure to us not alwayes perceived in feeling to our earthly members yet seen and fulfilled in the inward man through faith It is said 2 Corinth 5.7 We walk by faith not by sight Faith and sight are to be understood either as they are perfecting each other or as by men divided and made contrary one to the other sight of God has a glory and sweetness faith in him though not so seen has a certainty and evidence faith beholds things as true in Christ though hid to sense and feeling sight knows them onely as shining or flaming forth upon the heart visions and revelations bring joy and comfort but they are things that go and come and the breathings of the Spirit may blow when they list but when these streams are withheld and as passed away yet he ever lives and we also in him God spake in times past with the Fathers and Prophets by visions to sense he speaks in these last times in his Son to faith visions by figure as those were they were but given at times and passed away the face of Jesus Christ beheld by faith is the constant and standing vision now under the Gospel spiritual influences and actings do yeild some reflection and vision of God but as a Man sees his face in a troubled water broken and changeable but the face of Christ as the Christal and still waters presents God alwayes in his clear and blessed Image as full of Grace and Truth they who put spiritual workings for the Grace that is in Christ and a sense of the spirit for faith in him they do under a pretence of Spirit destroy Christ Jesus they take away that Gospel which presents us in him before any work done our perfection our Sabbath our Rest and leads us to work again for perfection by obedience to the Light within that is by the Law Concerning Faith and Sight FAith and sight the Gospel-Christian is for both in their season and place all other Religions have divided them and erred as it is very observable that sight being alone that is sight of the Godhead without faith in Christ has been is the foundation of all false fancied and Idolatrous worships that are named fight of the deity by the things that are made is the highest Religion of Philosophers and Pagans sight of God by the Golden Calfe by the Idols of gld and silver was the idolatry of Israel in the wilderness and Canaan Conceiving the things of the Spirit of God by the sight and judgement of natural Reason is the foundation of Arminians a Sect of Morality and of Socinians a Sect of subtilty a Kingdom with observation and fair shews in the flesh to the sight without was the Religion of Pharisees and legal Gospellers some are of a weaker spirit their Religion is about things of sight touch not taste not some are of stronger heads such are for divinations of the brain things seen to Reason babes in Christ are for enlightnings and tasts and gifts things of sight to the inward sense and they that would seem to be the highest are
let him and them consider if it be not so and fear Concerning good Works His account is that by obedience to the light which reproves of sin following it out of the world and bringing forth the fruits of it the creature comes into the good work or obedience of Christ and so is by Christ redeemed that by being diligent in this light waiting and obedient therein the believer is led into the obedience sufferings tribulations and temptations of Christ that all the works and measures performed by the creature in obedience to this light do all compleat but this one work of the creatures redemption Where faith and unity with the head is lost no marvel if all the thoughts of that man run into confusion that the obedience or righteousness in Christ for justification and good works in us are one thing his own words at large may manifest if this short account of them may not and thereupon what foundation they build I need say no more only for the weaks sake I shal speak a word Christ was in the beginning with God that good Word whereby all things were made the same word in fulness of time became flesh in him that was the holy and just One who in his own person eternally vanquished all the evils of the world and to the utmost fulfilled the holy and perfect work of God for an everlasting and only righteousness upon all that believe of the greatness whereof might I speak it is higher then the Heavens deeper then the Sea and the utmost bounds and ends thereof can no more be known then can the heights and depths of him be known that is the holy one of Israel And this is the one obedience one righteousness one good work in one person one in spirit one in operation never to be renewed more in any other the same being not of a private nature nor for a private spirit but one for all he that hath made of one blood all Nations of men hath by one blood created anew out of all Nations a people for himself and if the natural heavens over us were spread forth at once in length and breadth large enough to comprehend preserve and nourish all Nations and all things therein how much more shall that One righteousness of Christ which is one with himself be as spiritual heavens large enough to take in to cover and preserve the second creation without any other to be added thereto how low and narrow yea how unbelieving and unworthy are their thoughts and esteem of the person and righteousness of Christ that think otherwise I leave to be weighed Through faith I come to read this most good and glorious work of God and therein to understand how that this world and my old man or flesh with all the evils of both by the operation of the blessed Divinity in his body were abolished in himselfe through death whilst yet darkness pollutions and fightings and thereby heaviness for a season is felt in my flesh wherein I also reckon my self to be as truly crucified and buried with him through the operation of the Godhead in the man Jesus for me as if the same had been done in me and this is the mystery of faith and the praise thereof is great but not before men who esteem of nothing but of what appears or is seen felt or handled and hence I think it necessary to give this warning that all approaches unto or converses with the majesty and glory of God by any redemption or operation of whatsoever spirit or light within and all mysteries of light and perfection so reputed whatsoever where that blessed and eternal redemption in the person of Christ for us is excluded I say through faith that all such are no other but some of the brighter sparks of Satans fires kindled on purpose to lead the creature to God by such a door as wherein he will be unto it a consuming fire can two walk together except they be agreed that man knows neither what God is nor himself that thinks to attain or to have attained the glorious presence of God by spirit within him who is not first reconciled through the propitiation of grace in the blood of Jesus If any man ask as they often do how can Redemption be where it is not witnessed where conscience chargeth of sin my answer is who shall lay any thing to my charge it is Christ that died my witnesses are the spirit water and blood the spirit of Revelation shining in my heart and the power of his death and redemption in part manifest in my body whilst heart and flesh that is reason and sense and law witness against me yet Christ and grace is greater then all let him alone speak let these be silent But if they ask to believe redemption whilst sin in me is not this the unreasonable hope No the father laid our sins upon Christ to take them away whilst we were yet enemies that he might commend his great love to us this was reasonable with God the Son rent our sins from off him in his own body on the tree because he could not be held of them this was reasonable with Christ the spirit bears witness that all things are finished sin death and the flesh in the body of Christ unto him that works not but believes on him that justifies the ungodly this witness is reasonable through faith I receive Christ into my self and am received into him and through this oneness am made righteousness life and light in the Lord whilst yet I am in many darknesses and deaths as to sense and feeling and this is reason as in the mind of God and according to the mystery of Christ that doctrine or spirit how mysterious soever in words or shâ—w that teacheth redemption to be by the operation of the spirit within us and not by that alone operation of God in the man Christ Jesus is indeed the excellency and height of man's reason and thoughts but a fearful contradiction to that higher reason or rather that blessed mystery of grace that appeared in Christ Whereas he saith that all the works and measures performed by the creature in obedience to the light within do all compleat the one work of the creatures redemption to this I shall only say how is the day of free grace set upon us and how are the thick clouds of Legality and misterious reason spread over us if this may be received for truth and let me only remember you of the words of Luther a man wiser and mightier in Christ then I which follows It was indeed a great glory that Abraham received circumcision at the commandment of God that he was endued with excellent vertues that he obeyed God in all things but all this availeth nothing to righteousness before God the excellent deeds and vertues of Abraham were not the cause that he was counted righteous before God so the following of the example of doth not make us righteous before
God for to that there is a more excellent price required which is neither the righteousness of man nor yet of the Law here we must have Christ how not by works but by faith therefore as there is a great difference between Christ blessing or redeeming and Christ working or giving example wherefore we must seperate the believing and the working Abraham as far asunder as there is distance betwixt heaven and earth Abraham believing in Christ is altogether a divine person the child of God inheritour of the world conqueror of sin death the world and the Divel therefore he cannot be praised and magnified enough let us not suffer this faithful Abraham to lye hid in his grave as he is hid from the Jews but let us highly extol and magnify him and let us fill both heaven and earth with his name so that in respect of the faithful Abraham we see nothing at all in the working Abraham for when we speak of this faithful Abraham we are in heaven but afterwards doing those things which the working Abraham did which were carnal and earthly and not divine and heavenly but as they were given unto him of God we are among men in earth the believing Abraham filleth both heaven and earth so every Christian through his faith filleth both heaven and earth so that besides it he ought to behold nothing Thus far his words Good works or the works of God in us are in comparison of the righteousness in Christ but carnal like as Abraham's good works a thing worthy of note are but accounted flesh in comparison of the righteousness of Christ Rom. 4.1 2. Concerning Election and Reprobation He saith that the light in every man which reproves of sin is Christ and is the election elect seed the mercy of God placed in all men that this light being believed and followed till by it a man be changed and purged from the oldness and lusts of flesh to the newness of the spirit then he comes to the election or to be selected Truth saith that in every man which reproves of sin is not Christ but the Law by the Law is the knowledge of sin that Christ the Elect and beloved of God is he in whom the purposes promises counsels and all the works of God were laid up and known unto God from before the world began Christ was from the beginning the common seed or Father in whose loines God in his foreknowledge beheld and in his love choose a seed or ofspring whom he would beget of his own will by his spirit God that separated the Jews from all other Nations only because he loved them that said of the children of Isaac being not yet born Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated that called them his beloved which were not beloved that separated Paul a persecuter from his mothers womb that hath mercy on whom he will have mercy the same God hath foreknown and chosen and loved a people in Christ the beloved who though for the present as concerning the Gospel they be enemies through wicked works yet as touching the election they are beloved for Christ's sake you have not chosen me but I have chosen you If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me Christ drawed up all his own in his body into himself in love this love shed forth into our hearts draws us up in love into him again thus we love him because he loved us first the father gave a people to the Son from everlasting and saw and loved them in him before the world was the Son came forth to manifest and make way for this love through his righteousness down unto men the spirit reveals that love and by Christ leads us unto the father thus redemption and sanctification are both fruits of that love and election that was given us in Christ before the world began by receiving Christ the Image of the father I come indeed to know his love and election but he both loved elected and redeemed me in Christ the head before I was Wherefore they that deny election and redemption until the creatures obedience to the light within do measure the thoughts and waies of the unsearchable goodness of God with the low and narrow thoughts and waies of man being zealous indeed for the righteousness of God according to the Law but darkning and denying the glorious righteousnes of God as in Christ Jesus Concerning the New birth He saith that by abiding in the seed or light within every man thereby the old man is put off with his deeds that they who are guided by this light called by him the eternal spirit do follow God as he goes out of one form into another all others stay therein after God is gone as seeing but the outside or form only that they who joyned to the light within that reproves of sin to be led by it are and ever were hated and persecuted of all others His silence throughout of that more excellent and truly misterious way of crucifying the body of sin in the person of Christ whose body and blood is by him made as no more but figuers of the body and blood within that is the light within all men this doth sufficiently manifest his mind and principle and the end whether it leads unto mount Sinai to press through unto God by an attonement and mediation to be made in our bodies that is obedience to the light within The new creature is not a Jew one seeking righteousness by the Law either in the letter or conscience nor a Gentile one thinking to know comprehend and worship God by the light or wiâ—edom of the natural man but a man in Christ dead buried and risen with him into heavenly places above the world sin and death by faith alone without work that is before these things be manifest or wrought in his members also he is one in whom Christ dwels by faith so made partaker of the divine Nature that spirit which the world sees not hath not nor by any light they have can find it out the world's light is a candle from the Lord saying do this and live the spirit of the new creature is the Lord himself saying I have done it only believe and live According to the mysterie of faith the new man is in heart and spirit gone out of all the world and is in heaven perfectly justified redeemed and saved but in a way above sense and feelings yet seen by faith according to present manifestation he hath the spirit of Christ whereby he sees knows and enjoys in part those perfect things in Christ till they be fully revealed if any man boasts of the first that he is redeemed by Christ and hath not the other that he lives in some measure after the spirit that man's boasting is in vain likewise if any man glories of the spirit that he walks in the spirit in mortifyings of the flesh neglect of the body reproaches necessities
for all to be known and beleived as done onely within thus nothing is less learned and understood by the most of Religions and Opinions that are than faith in Christ and the life of faith sense or reason or fancy or mystical legalitie all which in the account of the Spirit are but sight and appearance having left no more room for true Gospel faith than onely in that Church of the faithful that holds the Head even him that is far above all things and they in him by faith And hence it is that where sight or sense as to spiritual things is by any spirit or doctrine made a principle and rule of judgement these and such like conclusions follow do this and live if thou sinnest after faith thou art under the law so much obedience so far justified while flesh lusteth within thee no freedom from sin to be perfectly justified by Christ and reconciled to God is not till fully mortified and obedient to Christ within thee all which are sentences of the Law not of Grace denying Christ overwhelming the afflicted in sorrow without hope and turning the feet of the lame out of the way of such doctrines beware On the other hand where faith or things not seen or things in Christ are made the rule or principle of Judgement these sayings are blessed and true I am black but comely as dying and behold we live when I am weak then am I strong Enoch Noah and Abraham dyed in the faith yet received not the promises onely saw them afar off all things are put in subjection under Christ though we see not all things yet put under him The sum of all is measure not things by sight but faith the door of faith is open when that of sense may be shut rejoyce alwayes in the Lord though thou mayest not alwayes see him sight as alone is the foundation of idolatry if thou beest led by that thou fallest back into the Law though in a mystery of deceit if thou walkest by faith thou shalt be led on to sight not that of reason or dry speculation but of spiritual sweet and gracious mainfestation of Christ as in person a Saviour for thee and as in Spirit revealing himself in thee and hereby their second principle above named of justification and redemption to be the light within as obeyed within may appear to be a mystery of iniquity to my understanding affirming in effect that Christ is divided Paul and every Christian crucified and made an offering for himself and thereby justified reconciled and accepted and if it be so let this people consider and fear but if not so let plainness of speech be used and not a vail Concerning the Spirit and Scriptures as together making up a perfect witness or rule of faith COncerning the Scriptures passing by all other distinctions they are first the Law of Commandments ordained by Angels a ministration of the letter answering to that of God in every man the law in the conscience this within and that without being one in substance a light and a law of things to be done for righteousness and life thus all Nations have received a law having a law in themselves though suppressed and vailed thus all have a law though dimmed and darkened pointing to the righteousness of the law or first Adam but not attaining thereunto and herein all Nations are one whether Jews Turks or Pagans their Light one Law one Religion one all following one righteousness that is of the Law onely in difference of notion and form and manner of worship all equally concluded under the law of sin and all equally ignorant of the second Adam and righteousness by him thus if Scriptures were not by that Candle in man God might be known and the law and righteousness yet but as in a ministration of death the righteousness of God and the law of the Spirit and God manifest in flesh being a mystery hid from the natural man declared onely by the Gospel and discerned by the Spirit 2. The word of the Gospel or Reconciliation being the joyful tidings of an heavenly Person and an heavenly gift both equally wonderful God manifest in flesh and our righteousness in him in whom old things or things belonging to the first Adam whether the Law of God or deeds of the flesh are passed away having in him received their period or perfection and all things though not yet to us fully seen in him become new Thus the Gospel being a mystery of things hid in Christ is neither written not to be seen in the heart of man and being a mystery of things of the new Creature and of another world cannot be known by the wisdom of this world that is by the wisdom spirit and light of the natural Man as he that gave a law to all the world has set in every man a light to know that law so the ministration of Grace being a far other thing and exceeding it in glory cannot be known but by a far other Light than that in every man and exceeding it in glory that is the Spirit of grace Wherefore the bringing the Gospel to Light is after this manner it first lay hid in God unknown to Angels or men as the deeps that are beneath afterward was declared and administred by the Word made flesh in the Person of Christ as the spring head bring forth the deeps beneath thereby him revealed through the sending of the Spirit to them that were with him and to this day by the same spirit to them that beleive through their word and hence these things follow That the knowledge of God according to the law all Nations may have by his enlightening within them the mystery of God in Christ not so the first being engraven in the spirit of man this having not so much as entered into the heart of man and being onely revealed by another Light far exceeding in glory even that Spirit which the world never saw nor can receive That the Scriptures as joyned in one are the onely sufficient warranted and standing evidence of Christ to men the Scriptures as the Image of him without and the Spirit as the light shining upon them bring forth the true and living image of him into the heart if Grace have appeared to any where Scriptures are not the Spirit is free to blow where he lists but this spirit or grace the light in the natural man knows nothing of That the Spirit and Scriptures together as they are a full witness to Christ and Truth so they are as the standing Oracle or constant Vision unto which all ought to come for the knowledge of Truth the perfect Judge for ending all difference about spiritual matters and the perfect Rule for tryal of all spirits and wayes of Religion the Scriptures as the lanthorn and the Spirit as the candle therein they as the Commandment of Christ to his Church and the Spirit as the Judge giving the true understanding thereof and bringing forth the
hid from such eyes or principles of flesh that Religion that saith sin is not done away for us in the Head because felt in part in our earthly members whatsoever honour it may take to it self as above others yet is but built upon the same principles with all the false Religions of the world to wit sense reason and unbeleiving conscience that is to say the Law thus Christ's first coming was to take away sin As Christ first appeared bearing and taking away sin so he shall appear the second time without sin that is not as at first condemning bearing and taking away sin for thâ—s he did once when he offered up himself as he first came cloathing himself upon with our sin so he shall come again cloathing us upon with his everlasting righteousness once he came in Grace taking upon himself the sin the sentence that was upon us then he shall come in more grace as having taken away sin both from off us and himself his first coming united him to our flesh and us unto him all his were gathered together in him in one body on the Cross his second coming shall unite us together with him in one glory and spirit and shall gather all Saints into one in himself as it is said The Lord my God shall come and all his Saints with thee we who beleive are entered into Rest we have Redemption perfection and life already but hid in him we wait for the same at his second coming not to be done over again but to be revealed in us those that shall trouble them who have beleived in Jesus by charging them of sin and calling to a Redemption as a thing yet to be done or that shall declare him coming again to charge or accuse his people of sin to set up in them a cross of attonement and redemption from sin such do make void his first coming in flesh which was to beat away sin such are not the Angel that shall publish his second appearance which is without sin unto salvation Jesus Christ in Person as raised up above all Principalities and Powers is the Head of his Church all that are Christ's whether those that are fallen asleep or that yet remain alive are in a mystery raised up already in him as in union with their Head they are so but they appear not so as all that were Christ's were raised up together with him when he was raised up so they shall all come together with him when he shall appear again the dead out of the graves and the living changed and all this by vertue of union the members with the Head as Christ is not Head in Spirit alone but as the whole Person so his second appearance will not be in Spirit alone but also in Person and as we are his members not as to the Spirit alone but also as to the body spiritual so our gathering together unto the coming of the Lord will not be in Spirit onely but also in the spiritual body thus the coming of the Lord in his heavenly Person and our meeting of him in our heavenly tabernacle or incorruptible state will be together the union of Head and Members and the evidence of Scriptures agreeing thereto perswading me so Let this union be kept clear as to our understanding and entire from first to last so shall the disputes of many and the diversities of their faith about the coming of the Lord be cleared and ended and the professions of this people will appear to be not according to Truth who some of them say to us the Day is come and the shadows are fled away that Day being as the Lightening that shall shine from East to West that is not coming to some first but to all that are Christs together bringing forth Redemption not of the Spiritt alone but also of the body bringing forth our Lord Jesus not onely in Spirit but also in Person and with him all that are his at coming Wherefore our union in Christ the Head and his union with us the members are Truths of a distinct nature and consideration according to the first we are in him compleat already according to the other we know him in part and grow up in measures to be in him compleat is a state more inward mor hid seen onely to faith to have him in us encreasing and in part is a thing more in sight and seen to sense and feeling learn and beleive your selves perfect in him and wait and groan for the manifestation thereof in your members let no man spoil you of your reward in the first if you would not fail and come short of the last live by faith alwayes in him though the clear and comfortable sense of him live not alwayes in you thus much of Christ his first and second Comings Anti-christ's last coming what and how COncerning Anti-christ in his last coming it may be said a conjunction of carnal things with spiritual Law and Reason with Christ was the Egg of Anti christianisme wherein that Kingdom began and whereby it has been nourished and continued unto this day Circumcision and Philosophy under the Pagan power Ceremony and works under the Papal subtil speculations in the dayes of the School-men and fair shews in the flesh in these our times all these in their several seasons having been coupled and mingled with the things of Christ and standing where they should not have made Anti-christ appear as a mystery worshipped and wondered as the true Christ In times of light or of the Apostles and first Churches he came forth in a ministry of light and righteousness of works that he might dishonour and diminish the righteousness of Christ in after ages as spiritual lights and truths decreased and declined into more carnality and darkness he likewise took up and worked by more carnal principles in later times as truth has begun to shine forth again he also has transformed himself into an Angel of light again Thus the way and method of Antichrist in general has been by a similitude of truth to deface the Truth or by lesser truths to oppose the greater by pâ—inciples of reason to oppose the things of faith by the letter to oppose the Spirit or by the Spirit as working all in us to oppose Christ as having wrought all for us in himself That Anti-christ in his last coming will observe the same method as before to wit a counterfeit of truth seems to be expressed by the Lord himself in his speech to his Disciples concerning Antichrist's and his own last coming Math. 24.5 26 27. Many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ some shall say he is in the desert some in the secret chambers but my coming shall be as lightening shining from East to West The last Truths or Truths last to be revealed before the coming of the Lord will be such as relate to his coming spiritual whispers and voices from Christ to the Virgins behold I come quickly and a
without work is denied there is neither light purity nor power though a shew of all speech or words and outward appearance was one thing and power another with him that said I will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but their power Opposition and persecution that is raised against this people what to be thought of it HAving given this general view of this people and their way I shall conclude with a word concerning the opposition and persecution that is every where practised against them and my sense thereupon The opposition made against that or any way that pretends to be of God may be said to proceed either from ignorance or enmity or truth As to the first they that have not the Spirit of light in themselves oppose the same and the very appearance of the same in others the Religion and faith of the greatest part of the Nation is no more but traditions of others or inventions of their own reason the teachings of God through the Son and Spirit being things they know nothing of and therefore the more lively inward and spiritual manifestations of Truth they oppose being in darkness themselves they know not the light nor the workings of it in others and therefore think no man sees more than themselves and so measure all things by themselves by this sort of men is this way every where spoken against because under shews of light and spirit it testifies against them as in darkness and the flesh as to this I testifie against the Nation as fighters against God while they ignorantly oppose any spirit or way whether it be of God or do but appear to be oâ—… Christ and the light of him is an offence to this world therefore is his way such an offence because having some resemblance of him though to me no more what is done against them though it be not done against him yet is done as against him and the Nations sin is not the less Others have had a taft of Light and Truth and begun in the Spirit but are returned back to the flesh and are sit down at ease in their forms and interests and having lost their simplicity savour and love to the interests of Light and Truth the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ further measures and manifestations of Christ and Light and of obedience thereto are as much an offence to them as the least measures thereof are to the other stinted forms of words and worship were the interest of the Bishops stinted measures of light and profession are the interest of these those were at warr with every thing that was beside their form because against their interest these are at warr with what is beside their measure because against their interest while the tyranny of Princes and idolatry of Religions was heavy upon them that Righteousness and Light was sweet that redeemed and led them out Liberty and pleasures in the flesh having since flattered them into the policies principles and customes of the world they take up the same weapons against encreases of light and reformation in others which their oppressors took up against the beginnings of it in themselves by this sort are this people and others opposed and persecured because pretending to higher measures of light and righteousness than they can bear unto such I say it is a shame and sadness in such a day as this that for meer differences and offences about spiritual things where no more occasion is given men should be delivered up unto bonds prisons and unreasonable men let them live under you in peace who break not your peace let the true Jesus and the true Gospel-spirit shine forth more in our hearts and wayes and there will not need the arm of flesh either against the Whore or the Beast spiritual or outward enemies Truth as it is in Jesus is the onely principle whereby to oppose errour unto which Truth I do here bear witness and have so far herein appeared against this people as they have to me appeared against the truth in Christ disputes and strifes among brethren divided in the letter where the spirit is one I avoid and forbear Enmity and opposition against spiritual enlightenings in others has been the sin of many in this Nation if I had been left to my own heart I should have been as they but a searching for more light and a readiness to receive it has been my frame having through grace learned that one beam of true Gospel-light is more worth than the reading of many books more mighty than all the Kingdoms of the world with all their policy force and greatness The difference between me and this people is as I judge no other but what is between them and Christ not about words or postures or glits or operations but about the bloud the attonement the person of Jesus Christ if after divers conferences readings and hearings their words and writings I could have found the difference no more than in gifts and measures of light and knowledge if I could have found them holding the Head the Person of the Mediatour and compleatness in him by faith I should have been silent and studied unity with them God indeed is Love but Christ coming forth as righteousness and peace was the manifestation of this Love in him is our victory liberty and songs this Truth sense feels not reason cannot reach law vails it flesh and bloud resist it spiritual wickednesses in all false Religions fight against it if our faith and sight hereof be taken from us we are delivered up to the power of some of these earthly dark and worldly principles as this truth is darkened or denyed by this people I have appeared for it it has been my light herein by which I have written as it is opened or shut upon my heart I did herein go or stand still if it had pleased the Lord to have encreased my light and faith herein I might have written with more evidence and power that little strength that has been lent I have not denied not knowing what use it may be of An account of the Faith of this people in the severall parts and principles thereof being made publique by a chiefe Leader of that way J. Naylor in his Book called Love to the Lost I shall gather up every principle by it self into a short and just summe and therewith the principles of truth according to the Prophets and Apostles whereby we may come to an understanding both of their faith and the truth and to a right judgement of their agreement or difference therewith in doing of which I trust the Lord of light and truth shall so command me that I shall present this faith to others as their own writings present it to me and also set out the faith of Christ no otherwise then as it is in him Concerning the fall of man THe summe of things spoken by him is that Gods own wisdom and power or Spirit was placed in man whereby
of fear zeal and activity for God in the Contemplations of him as a pure and holy God but 't is a far other principle that is Christ crucified for us and the faith of him that leads unto that spirit of peace power and joy in the beholding of God as our father in him so then that spirit that shews the commandment and leads to the services thereof to be redeemed thereby is a spirit which all men may attain unto but that spirit that reveals the things freely given of God without Law or service is that spirit that is not given unto all nor eye nor ear nor heart of man can see or find this out he only descends and blows where he lifts neither being received can he be retained any longer then he pleaseth no more then we can restrain the breath in our nostrils that spirit exerciseth the servants thereof with labour and hard bondage and then kills them as preferring the commandment of the Old before the blood of the New and everlasting Testament this makes his Children free and saves for ever as rejoycing in the Head and having no confidence in the flesh or the works done therein That the pattern of true worship is Jesus Christ as the Oracle speaking from Heaven and the Gospel as the Preacher on earth the one being the substance of Heavenly things themselves the other but the Copy that doctrine or spirit whatsoever it may seem that calls you to the light in every man and to that alone as the only pattern of faith and worship doth but build up a worship upon the same foundations with the worships of the world that is righteousness by the Law and serves to no other end then to blot out the true attonement the blood and water that fountain of healing in the Person of Christ with the very name and remembrance thereof to bring forth instead thereof another attonement to be made in our persons which in true sense is no other but the righteousness of the Law Concerning Error Heresie c. He saith that the light within every man is that Spirit of truth which judgeth all deceit but can be deceived by none that to divide or go out from this Spirit or light is errour and the mother of all false worship and Religions It has been before proved that the light within all men is the candle of the Lord in every naturall man revealing the law and the offences against that law but the Spirit that reveales the gift of grace by one man Jesus Christ the naturall man neither knows nor can receive There are three that bear record in heaven and they are one there are three that bear witness on earth and they agree in one God sending forth his Son in our flesh for a propitiation for sins this is the witness of the Father as the fountain of grace and truth Christ comming forth as the Image and brightnesse of the Father purging away our sins by himself and returning to God this is the witness of the Son as the fulness of grace and truth the spirit of Christ coming into our hearts revealing the righteousness of Christ and the life of Christ in us this is the witness of the Spirit Now among these witnesses there is such an Unity that he that denies one denies all the witnesses are one and their testimony one yet each in their order the Father spoke and appeared and bowed himself to sinners but so as in the Mediator the man Christ the Son redeemed sinners but so as he did in his own body not in ours the spirit comes unto such but so as he leads them into the Light and fulness of Christ not the light in every man to divide from any of these or to set one against another is Error Jews and Turks believe in God but not as in the Son they divide from the Son and so have not the Father the litteral and carnal Professors after a sort believe in God as in the Mediator but deny his spirit in their hearts these divide from the spirit and so have neither the Son nor the Father this people believe in God as by the Light within men redeeming from sin but not as in the Man Jesus having done it already and so deny the witness of the Son and have neither Son nor Father Christ is the band of unity between God and men in him Mercy and Truth righteousness and peace do kiss each other in him God and sinners are met together reconciled and at unity in him God comes down to sinners by him we come unto God in him the blessed Divinity and the seed of Abraham that is the humane nature are in covenant in union the Covenant the union was made by the Cross by blood by the body of Christ this was the Sons witnesse take heed he that divides you from the Son and this his witnesse sets you at such a difference with the Majesty of God as no light nor spirit within you can attone or make up thus Error is not to divide from the Light within all men but from Christ the Head the fulness of all Truth in whom we only see and have the Father and Spirit and without whom all Religions are fleshly or mystical Idolatries Concerning Faith He saies the measure or light of God in every man is Gods righteousness perfection that turning into this righteousness and adiding therein is the receiving of the righteousness of Christ by faith that by waiting in the light within through faith and obedience thereto righteousness is wrought in and unrighteousness wrought out and so the creature is made free from sin not a word of the Faith in the person of Christ or the operation of God in him for us The scope of their Doctrine herein and in all the height and depth of it seems plainly this that a measure of the eternal Divinity is in every man by turning whereinto out of all sayings writings persons operations Scriptures or Christ without the same doth through obedience thereto destroy and purge away sins out of us and so redeems and reconciles unto God The precious faith saies that the eternal word manifest in flesh being the substantial fulness of the Divine life and righteousness and having thereby vanquished in his flesh and buried in his grave our sins and death with all powers visible or invisible that were against us this is he who is the pure perfect and acceptable righteousness of God That to look away from all the voices and condemnations of the Law without or conscience within from all things in our flesh and heart whither good or evil unto the person of Jesus Christ himself and to believe him to be our righteousness salvation and liberty as in the hidden mysterie of faith which to our sense or earthly members we are in infirmities buffetings and bondage this is to receive the righteousness of Christ by faith the faith of things not seen to sense and reason yet hid in
Noah and the rest who were Preachers of righteousness and perfection or wherein is his Gospel above the Law which is a rule of perfection or what were his sufferings more then those of Paul who was in deaths often let the spiritual judge which is the Doctrine of Perfection Perfection is either that in the head hid for us there until he shall appear or a measure and earnest thereof manifest in our bodies according to the first a believer overcomes possesseth all things is dead raised up and received by Christ into the glory of God Rom. 15.7 according to the other a believer knows but in part sees enjoyes and prophesies but in part and so is in imperfection wherefore let the Children in Christ know that they are saved and perfected in the Lord for ever whilest yet their seeings prayings and actings in the Lord are but in part and let this people know if they look away from that one offering in the head and be not first perfected therein that all other perfection by the light within and utmost obedience will not stand them in stead in the last day Concerning Obedience The sum of things spoken by him is that to be guided in obedience to the spirit or light within us as Christ was by the spirit of the father in him this is the righteousness of Christ and thus by the obedience of one are many made righteous that the father calls for the same obedience of the believer as of Christ and the believer offers up himself in the same obedience Christ did and so is the obedience of Christ and a believer one that the creature is not made perfectly righteous by the obedience of Christ till he comes to the same perfection of obedience that Christ did and so he is made righteous no further then he obeys If nothing should be said the swelling pride of this spirit in lifting up it self in an equal sufficiency with the person of Christ to drink the same cup and offer up the same obedience for the purging away sin may hereby appear yet I may not be silent in the cause of my Lord although I am the least in my fathers house Although this Doctrine may have a glory with the sublime wits of speculative Pagans who know not or deign not to know any other way of approaching the Divine Glory then the way Christ did that is without a Mediator yet unto the true Christian who through many tribulations hath seen an end of all perfection whither fleshly lusts works of the Law or heights of Philosophy it is known to be but a depth of Satan but who art thou Oh man that utterest these great words hast thou all the fulness of the God-head in thy self in the measure the man Jesus had hast thou all those treasures of Light wisedom and Power in the same fulness that he had that thou canst follow him into the perfection and glory of God by the same way of obedience he did art thou able to bear the sins of many to sustain the sentence and terrible Majesty of the Law in thy body to encounter with all the Angels and powers of darkness to lay down thy life for many and take it up again was not this and much more the obedience of Christ was not he made perfect by these sufferings and doest thou think to come to perfection or the glory of God by doing the like or not rather by believing he hath done all this for thee Wherefore let it be known that the spirit hath testified in Scriptures of two things in the obedience of Christ a Mystery to be believed and an Example to be followed Christ as Mediator being the only person in whom all things pertaining to God and men the repairing of the breach and the making up of a blessed union between them were to be transacted received into himself and therein slew our old man the enmity and all the evils of the world and being in the glory of the second Adam put an end in himself to the glory of the first and in the place of all this brought forth in himself everlasting righteousness liberty and peace into and upon all them that believe whereupon a believer may say as I am in the first Adam where the Law reason and sense bear rule so I am in a Tabernacle of flesh an house of darkness so I often neither feel nor know nor behold any redemption liberty or peace but as I am in the second Adam I neither know law reason nor sense flesh world nor work but Christ to be all in all this is the mystery to be believed a mystery hid from the spirit of this world or the purest and clearest principle in the heart of the natural man if this mystery of Christ in his death were known to any as it is in him Christ would appear to that man as a fulness of light and glory in through and over all things or were a believer known to himself or the world as he is known in Christ to Christ he would not be able to bear the world nor the world him therefore blind or worse are those reproaches that are cast upon this mystery of the death of Christ and redemption by it as a knowing of Christ without at Jerusalem or after the flesh nothing brings forth Christ more as a spirit of wisedom power and holiness within me unto good works then when I behold him as made righteousness and sanctification to me without work whosoever takes away the last doth also take away the first and at best hath no more but a divised likeness or imagined shadow thereof As Christ suffered for us in the flesh that the father in him as his head and life might be revealed and glorified in him so in the same spirit and mind ought the believer to suffer in the flesh that Christ in him as this head and life might be glorified and manifest in him thus is Christ's obedience an example to be followed our dyings and perfectings in the body by obedience when proceeding from our first being dead and perfected in the head by faith so they are the precious savours and fruits of Christ and grace but if dyings and obedience in us be made the way unto perfection and justification in Christ then they are no other but works of the Law disguised with names of Christ and spirit as this people stand divided from the first so am I divided from them and so doth this testimony go forth against them There are diversities of operations but the same spirit his Doctrine saith that we are perfectly justified by Christ's obedience when we perform obedience in the same measure he did if so then the obedience of the man Jesus and ours are no more one then the obedience of Paul and ours that is one in spirit but two in operation thus by his Doctrine we are justified as much by the obedience of Paul as of the man Christ as to the operation
Christ in flesh and there in put an end both to the Law and the flesh thus we are delivered from the Law by the body of Christ and are joyned to one husband not to the Law and Christ but to Christ alone according to the inward man we dwell in the curtains of Solomon in the liberty and rest of Christ as in him while according to the flesh we are in the tents of Kedar tempted and dark and weak as in our selves thus in the dead body of Christ I am dead and buried unto the Law sin death and the whole world and raised in Christ and this is my redemption which neither the principles of reason nor morality nor Law nor light of conscience can discern and teach but the alone light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shining into the heart Wherefore there is a redemption that is according to reason and a redemption that is in a mystery to return to that light and purity by obedience from which we are fallen by disobedience this is redemption according to reason the Law the light within and the judgement of this people herein is no mystery for the wise men of the heathen wrote of it and pressed after it all Nations imagine such a redemption but that the fall should be amended and the creature restored not into the state of the first Adam but a greater and better the righteousnesse of God and all this without any vertue or work or service on our parts but by the alone operation of the blessed God-head in the man Jesus this is that mystery hid in God whereof the highest speculations the clearest light of that candle in the naturall man is utterly ignorant and unlearned otherwise it were not a mystery if any light whatsoever set up in man by his first creation could have found it out wherefore to live to the Law that thou mayst live to God is the redemption that reason and this people teach I through the Law am dead to the Law that I may live unto God is the Redemption that brings glory the other will end in death Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification He affirms that to walk in the spirit and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh or Christ fulfilling the Law in us or the spirit mortifying and sanctifying and so fulfilling the Law in us this is justification sanctification and mortification and these are one and so a man is justified as he is sanctified and mortified and no further Will you adventure your souls upon such a justification as this therein to appeare before God if it be not too late to tell you know that justification is a free gift already prepared and wrought for sinners in the person of him who is greater then Angels or men who being the fulnesse of all divine vertue and perfection did thereby as by an overflowing flood upon his Cross beare away our sinnes and death all the evils of this world and buried them in his grave for ever Angels though great and mighty in power could not save the Law being greater then they could not give life Christ came forth mightier then all gathered together in himself the enmity death and Law and all things that were against us nailed them to his Cross and took all out of the way gloriously in himself and so was that saying fulfilled his voice then shoak the earth He that believes this truly according to his faith so is it done unto him the Christian as believing is a man in Heaven in Christ sit down in rest liberty and perfection in Christ as working righteousness he is on earth groaning after rest liberty and perfection But can there be Rest and liberty where there is a groaning for it yea oh man as well as Paul could be present in spirit where he was absent in body whilst at home in the body we are absent from the Lord yet by faith we are present in the Lord things of nature are taken in by reason or sense reason hath knowledge and communion with things before the sense feeles or tastes them so the things of the spirit are taken in by faith or spiritual sense through faith the believer hath communion with spiritual things before they be in their power and fulnesse attained by sense and feeling the mystery of grace in Christ is not limited yet love of God and righteousnesse of Christ are not more or lesse for the Believer because the manifestations thereof in him are so the vail is rent sin finished all old things are passed away but by faith I understand it to be so as in Christ my head and therein am justified the manifestation thereof in my self I wait for and therein is my sanctification as in my members take away that justification in Christ for you and all sanctifications by obedience to the light within will profit you nothing Concerning the Law The things of note said by him are Law is the ministration of the letter without the Gospel or ministration of the spirit is the same Law but written in the heart of all men they that believe Christ fulfilled the Law for us in his own person and what we do he makes it accepted with the father as though we did performe all that is required none such know his commands in spirit that righteousnesse by faith is when the Law is performed in us by workes in spirit righteousnesse by workes is when the Law is done by us without life and spirit that the offering and blood without could make nothing perfect that within being more pure and perfect and that the Law in the conscience is answered by the resurrection of Christ within Are the Law and Gospel the same aske the wounded spirit beset with the terrours of the Law of God who lie under the sharpest sense of the Law and can give the best account thereof whither redemption was finished in One the person of Christ alone or yet to be done in many the persons of all the redeemed let the Scripture with the spirit be your light and rule until the day declare The holy just and perfect will of God revealed to the world first by that in the conscience after upon Tables of stone reproving for sin and requiring righteousness by obedience whether to the Letter without or Light within this is the ministration of death mighty to kill because it was the working Covenant weak to give life because it was not the Mediatour Christ the fulness of all heavenly things came forth in flesh and being in lengths and breadths sufficient for that purpose did in himself fulfill what the Law required and sustaine all the Law had to charge upon us and so in himself put an end to the Law for all that should believe that which requires works to be wrought in us as the way to attaine righteousness whether it be Letter without or Light within it is the Law and herein do all the false and fleshly Religions of the world agree
he had power to be the Sonne of God and Ruler over all the creatures this was the state of the first man that mans departing out of Gods own wisdom and power or spirit put into him and joyning to another the disobedience entred in Gods own wisdom and spirit remaining yet in him but as a Captive this was his fall that by looking and turning not to any thing without but to that of God lying under and covered within him the same makes attonement in him and reconciles unto God through his yielding up himselfe thereunto which is the blood of the Crosse this is his Redemption The account of truth is that the first man Adam was made a living soul 1 Cor. 15. had a beam of light power glory of God as to that appearance of him to the first creation yet still but a living soul not a quickning spirit as to his outward part earthly not heavenly created of earth and feeding upon things created as to his inward naturall not spirituall that is having in him the perfection and beauty of a created wisdom and power not the eternall wisdom and power a candle of light not the Sunne or fountain of light it self by that in him he saw the Godhead as Light righteousness and power but as giving a law and a sentence of death thus God appeared and appeares to the first creation he saw him not as his light righteousness and power by himself fulfilling the law and abolishing death this appearance as then lay hid in God reserved to be brought forth in the second creation thus was man in his first estate That by one mans disobedience many were made sinners Adam was so one that he was many in one as the root before the branches is one yet many as a root departing from the commandement and therein from God he disobeyed and died yet not as alone but we all in his loynes the root being unholy so were the branches all flesh was defiled in him that was the father of all flesh his sinne and death like a flood having overflown himself and all the earth with a curse This was his fall and all ours in him That by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Christ was One as to person yet many in One in a mysterie so his obedience was not the righteousnesse of one but of all in him not by looking back and returning to the first Adam made a living soule or the glory of the Godhead shining forth upon him but by looking out of every thing in man to the second Adam made a quickning spirit and the grace of God shining forth in him through the blood of his crosse we are redeemed and that not unto the righteousness of the first but of the second Adam thus Christ crucified was that wisdom hid in God before the world unto our glory not known by the naturall or first man neither before nor after his fall if there be that in the naturall man which being turned into and followed can redeem and make atonement for him as this man sayes then the blood of Christ is of no more effect but do this and live Concerning Light and Life He saith that the light shining in every man is Christ the true light and life of men That the going out of this Light is the cause of all false Religions Sects and errors that redemption out of all these out of sinne and death is by the Light within all men as minded and obeyed that a righteousnesse done as far as India and preached as far as Corinth where the same is not done in us is the profession of Pharisees hypocrites Faith saies that God manifest in the flesh and his glory shining forth in the man Jesus vanquishing and doing away the ministration of the law sin and death for us by his own righteousness and life as excelling in glory this is the Christ and light of men the word made flesh as the Mediatour having purged away our sins by himself so he is light unto us the same word as the spirit of revelation in us so he is light within us so he is not light in every man That where faith in the blood of the Mediator is not there is darkness the mother of Errors and all false Religions every of which are more or less bottomed upon the Law in the Conscience that is the light within righteousness by obedience or work being the Root of all they only differ in the Rule some are for Moses others for the Alchoran others for Holy Church these for the Light within That the righteousness done in India and Preached at Corinth is the light that scatters the Redemption that leads out of all erring Religions from sin and death and that the Righteousness as far as India a term of dishonour by them put upon it is to the true spiritual believer not confined in the Land of India but according to the Divine Person in whom it is is extended unto and upon all that believe as a garment spread upon them for the covering of sins a fountain of life within them for the washing away sin Concerning Righteousness The sum of their faith is that the imputed righteousness that justifies is the Light within or that of God in every man which is the free gift that Saints are justified with this righteousness by obedience to it so much we work or obey so much justified and no further That the righteousness that is made a covering for sin is an invention of men and will not stand in the last day Nothing said of Christ manifest in flesh or his crucified body and righteousness that way The Gospel-faith said that the Righteousness that justifies is Christ not as God alone nor as Man alone but as God-man in one who being made sin for us did most graciously and gloriously upon the Cross abolish and overwhelm sin condemnation and the Curse laid upon his flesh by that Omnipotent righteousness life and blessing that was in his God head That not by the works of God in us but by the work of God in Christ with the brightness of his glory purging away our sin in himself are we justified without works only through faith Redemption is a work wholly and entirely in the Person of Christ as Head revealed and given unto us through faith and confessed and manifested by works by once offering of his body he hath perfected for ever all that are his he that truly believes this is perfectly purged and there is no more Conscience of sin though yet the feeling of sin by this faith is the creature made perfect in righteousness at once as in Christ by the Light within he is not made perfect till obedience be perfected judge whither Doctrine leads to perfection That the righteousness of Christ as a covering upon sin presenting the believer in him as righteous to God while ungodly and in sins as to his own sense is a mystery of God that
never entered into the heart or invention of man but that righteousness that covers us no further then our works is the invention of man's reason the very life and soul of all false Religions the first is Jerusalem above bringing forth her children unto liberty joy and rest as compleat in the Lord the last is Jerusalem beneath bringing forth to bondage and hanging down the Head labouring for a perfection in the flesh not discerning that already in the Lord. Was the woman that touched but the hem of Christ's garment made as whole as they whom he touched with his hand were the Disciples that sat at Jesus his feet made clean every whit as he that leaned in his bosome or was as the Child while under Tutors and Governours yet heir of all things and is it not so now doth God measure out his love and everlasting righteousness by inches and ells according to our obedience as men in a bargain what grace or glory is in such a faith where such a Gospel is received judge what is their spirit unmerciful censorious Let these people know that the righteousness as in the Lord though now least in fight shall be a shadow a Cover a Cloud upon Saints under which they shall be safe where righteousness as only within or the Light within where the blood is not though now having a glory with Religious Reason and unstable souls shall be condemned as found wanting let Saints stand fast in their Liberty in Christ while infirmity is in themselves yet let them look for the Revelation of it in themselves if it may be to swallow up all infirmity let such as boast of their Liberty in the Lord and desire not to be gathered into it in their members know they have neither liberty in him nor in themselves Concerning the Word They say That the Light within all men is the word of God sufficient in it self without any other word for Counsel and strength that this word or light in all men is that of which the Scriptures were given to declare and can be understood only by it That this Light or word be obeyed washeth cleanseth and conformeth man to God and this is the Reconciliation The inference If the light within every man be the word the Gospel then all Ages have had all Nations have had the Gospel in equality of Light and fulness if they would obey it then Moses Prophets and Christ were all but as one in Authority and Ministery equal and one that is testifying and pointing to the light within men not to the son of David the Mediator him that came as none before him nor after shall by Spirit Water and Blood Truth saies that the light within every man is the remaining sparkle of that Law or light that God set up in greater glory in the first or natural man and serves in all Nations as the Candle of the Lord representing God only as under a vail that is according to the Law and by things that are made That Christ come in the flesh in himself fulfilled the voices of the Law and Prophets and put an end to their Ministery as being the Minister by whom God would speak in the last times this is the Word the Oracles Figure and Tables with all the divers manners of God's speaking under the Law being all to serve but for a season and to be silent when he came who was the Living Word Christ is the Word according to a twofold Ministery as without us in flesh dying for our sins and rising for our justification so he was the Minister or Living Word of reconciliation as within his in spirit so he is the inward Word or Spirit of Revelation these two Ministries are not one without the other both are needful for us yet each in their order Christ's Ministry in flesh must first make way for his Ministry in Spirit till the Word of reconciliation had finished his work of redeeming us to God by his blood the spirit of revelation could not come as it is said the Spirit was not given because that Jesus was not glorified if no redemption by his blood in that Ministry without then no Revelation of the Spirit of grace within this people believe not the first therefore they have not the last but I entreat them to hear that the blood the Cross the grace the crucified body of the man Christ was and is to the true believer as the loud voice of God speaking reconciliation and redemption to be already finished in himself not to be done in us as it is written when he had said it is finished he gave up the ghost by that Ministry without in flesh he brought us unto God by that Ministry of his spirit he reveals God in us this Christ is the Word as in both these Mysteries and one is not without the other but the Light within every man knows him in neither therefore together with the Law with which it is one ought to give place Concerning Worship He affirms that the spirit of life from God wherein is the mind will and love of God the Name power and wisedom of Christ wherewith alone God can be acceptably worshipped is in every man that the way whereby the movings of this spirit of life and leadings may be seen and attained is the Light within every man and waiting therein that the light or spirit within every man is the pattern of true worship they who abide and serve God therein deny all the worship and Religions of the world and are well pleasing to the Father they who go out of this light into the letter or any thing without go into the dead works and worships darkness and Idolatry The word of faith saies that the law without or spirit in every man that saies do this and live are the vail and do keep them that are under it in the first Tabernable that is washings righteousness redemption by obedience in us that Christ's dead body was the rending of the vail or first Tabernacle and the way into the holiest through which we draw nigh unto God by the faith alone of Christ crucified for us without works to abide in any law or light whatsoever either from within or without and to be exercised therein as to be redeemed or perfected thereby this is to worship God according to the Law and as in the flesh but to worship God as already redeemed from the Law flesh and sin as already freed and set up through faith in the life spirit and righteousness of Christ this is to worship the father as in spirit and â—…h Thâ—… the way to attain to this spirit of Christ is not by the 〈◊〉 of the Law or waiting in the light within every man which is all one but by the hearing of faith or Christ revealed in the soul as the end of all Laws curses and evils and the fulness of all good things unto us that principle placed in all men may lead unto a spirit