oppose him and you are against the end of his coming and being manifested in flesh for he came to take awaysin and so he is called the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world for for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil and to dispossesse and cast out the strong man and so to purifie the heart and purge the conscience from dead works and make it a fit Temple for himself to dwell in and he hath promised to dwell in his people and where he dwells purity dwells and sin cannot dwell with him for it defiles and pollutes his Temple and if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are speaking to the Saints Now this I say That all sin defiles as Envy Wrath Malice Pride Lust Covetousnesse and the like if these evils lodge in your hearts it is evident and plainly manifest that the Devil the strong man lodgeth and is axalted above all that is called God in your hearts and keeps possession there for all these evils and abominations that are acted and done in the world the Devil is the Author and Father of them who hath begotten them into his Image and likenesse to do his will and works which are works of darknesse and so all you that live in sin as pride hatred variance debate drunkennesse swearing lying false accusing cozening and cheating in your buyings and sellings using false weights and measures and saying and unsaying boasting of your Wares to be so and so when many times you know to the contrary and so lie one to another to get dishonest gain and make a prey of the simple who have not so much of the subtle Serpents wisdom as your selves All these are the works of the Devil and as long as you live in these practises the Devil leads you and so you become his Servants for his Servants you are to whom you yeild your selves servants to obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse for the wages of sin is death and all who go in their sin satisfying and fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh and going from God in the broad way that leads to destruction But the Serpent is grown very subtle and the better to hide and cover himself he brings Scripture to uphold his Kingdom all that he can gather up as he conceives makes for his purpose that he brings and his Servants make use of to oppose the pure Doctrine of the Son of God and his faithful and true Ministers who are sent of God to open the blind eyes to turn them from darkness unto Light and from Satant power unto God and to present them perfect in Christ Jesus But saith the Serpent and the Ministers of Antichrist It is not possible that ever any one should be free from sin while they live did not David sin and Peter sin and did not Paul cry out of a body of sin and are you better then the Apostles Thus the carnal professors of our time plead for their Kingdom being blinded by the God of the World that the Light of the Glorious Gospel of JESUS CHRIST which makes free from sin this they know not Now all people consider and see what you do uphold and what you do plead for will this Plea stand at the great and dreadful Day when the Lord calls you to an Account to say that others were sinners bring that as a cloak to cover you No this will not cover you in that dreadful Day of Account for though David did sin yet he repented and had no peace till the Lord had pardoned his sin He wept until his eyes grew dim and his flesh did fail of fatness he watered his Couch with his tears Is it so with you Are you brought down as David was and though David left these things upon Record it was not to encourage others to go on in sin but that all might take example not to do the like lest the terror and wrath of God come upon them for their rebellion against so good a God but you stiâ—l go on in your vile courses and instead of being humbled by the example of others that have sinned you bring it to uphold you in your sins and so goes on daily treasuring up to your selves wrath against the day of Wrath which none of them did that you bring the failings of where did David sin again or Peâ—er or Paul but were made instrumental to turn many from their sins So you being ignorant of the conditions of the Saints mentioned in Scripture brings one condition to oppose another for there was a time when they were dead in sins and trespasses and were aliens and strangers from the Covenant of Promise and there was a time when they were dead unto sin and alive unto God being reconciled unto God havnig put off the body of the sin of the flesh and had put on Christ and were alive in him and created in him unto good Works and by the Son of God the Covenant of the Father they were made free from sin and had passed from death unto life and Christ lived in them who had given them the Victory over their sin and defaced and blotted out the image of the devil and renewed his own Image in them and though Paul do speak of a warfare that was in his growth and through patient waiting in the Crosse of Christ he witnessed a victory and praised God who had given him the Victory so he speaks of several times and conditions as a time without the Law I was alive without the Law once and he speaks of a time under the Law and a time of being made free from the Law which things you must all know and witnesse manifested and fulfilled in you if ever you know the truth in its purity for through the same door that all the holy men of God did passe must you passe or else you cannot come to the same rest And this door and this way is straight you cannot enter in with your old Garments you must be stripped of all end become as a little child or else you cannot enter you must know the work of God within you and the operation of his Power and his Righteous Law set up within you to kill sin in its rise and conception in your hearts then will you know the war between the Beast and the Lamb and the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh that ye cannot do the things that ye would and this was Pauâ—s time of crying out for saith he When we were in the flesh the motions of sin that were by the Law did work in our â—eâ—bers to bring forth fruit unto death but now we are delivered from the Law that being dead unto which we were hold that we should serve in newness of the Spirit and not in
the oldness of the Letter for I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died When Paul came to know the Law of the new Covenant written in his heart he then saw the body of sin and the Law in his Members warring against the Law of his minde which led him into captivity into the Law of sin and death and made him wretched but the Law was good as the Apostle confesses It is holy just and good the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin for the good I would do I do not and the evil I would not do that do I Now all the carnal Professors would own Paul here and bring these words to hide and cover them in their sins and so are at ease in their sins alive without the Law but Paul had not peace in this condition but groaned and travelled under the burden of sin but through Christ he thanked God who had given him the Victory and even at that time when he writ that Epistle to the Roman he was made free from sin though he declares of such a condition speaking to them that know the Law for to them that were under the Law he became as under the Law For when we were in the flâ—sh the motions of sin that were by the Law did work in our member c but now we are delivered now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit for the Law of the Spirit of 〈◊〉 in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death mark it well hath mad me free not will or shall but he was then made free for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and by a Sacrifice for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnest of the Law might be fulfilled in us mind you here The righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit So here you may see he speaks of a time without the Law and a time under the Law where the Law was fulfilled in him and so passing through the Law he became dead unto the Law as he declares in another place For I through the Law am dead unto the Law that I might live unto God I am crucified with Christ yet nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Come now and try your selves all you formal and carnal Professors can you own Paul in this condition are you crucified with Christ or are you alive in your sins are you crucified to the world and the world unto you Answer Paul was so But are not you wallowing in your sins living in the pleasures of the world and no separation made from the world but even with all your strength griping after the world loving it and seeking the honor and glory of the world which Paul was crucified unto though once he cried out of the body of sin and so patiently waiting in the crosse of Christ he witnessed a Victory And so as the eyes of your understandings comes to be opened these things will be clear and you will see the times that Paul declareth and is left upon Record in the Scriptures of Truth a time without the Law and a time under the Law and a time when he witnessed Christ Jesus the end of the Law and whereas he saith in one place I am carnal he saith in another place I am crucified and this is plain to those who have experience of the workings of God for that I which was carnal by the Law which was Spiritual was crucified and then no more I but 〈…〉 And this was the mysterie that Paul preached which was hid from Ages and generations but now is made manifest in his Saints which Mystery is Christ in you the hope of glory whom we preach teaching and exhorting every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Now this I say where Christ is manifested sin and iniquity is done away and the body of sin destroyed and dead for if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin and if any be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are passed away and behold all things are become new and if all things are become new then where is there room for sin for that is of the old things which passeth away and doth defile and enters not into the Kingdom of God which stands in righteousnesse and this is your cry VVhere were there any that was without sin I Answer They that were in Christ and did abide in him were without sin and werenew creatures and if you say that none were or are in Christ then I shall bring the Scripture-Testimony against you where they bear Testimony of the Son For we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding to him that is true and we are in him mark well they were in him that is true even in his Son Christ Jesus and here the Scripture declares that some were in Christ and if any be in Christ he is a new creature and they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts and if the affections and lusts be crucified then where is the sin or the cause of sin for lust is the ground of all sin for as the Apostle saith There is no man tempted of God but every man when he is tempted he is drawn away of his lust for the lust goes forth and sin is conceived in the heart and after it is cenceived it brings forth sin and sin being finished brings forth death So the rise of sin is from the lust which is conceived in the deceitful and deceived heart but where the life and power of Christ is manifested and the devils works destroyed and the creature redeemed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God and is become Christs bought and redeemed by him and hath crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts then where is sin you so much plead for which is a plant of your Father the Devil whose children and servants ye are as long as you are doing his work and pleading to uphold that which Christ comes to destroy but surely you are deceived by him for none such Plants shall grow in my Fathers Garden but they must all be plucked up and cast into the fire And again the Enemies of pure Truth who are bent and set to oppose Christ they bring another place of Scripture and thinks they are strongly fenced here where it is said If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us This place is strongly pleaded by all sorts of people and Professors who are not in the pure life of Christ but praised for
Dwell low in the pure fear of the Lord for there is safety that keeps the heart clean and so the pure wisdom from above is received into the pure heart and bring all your deeds to the Light that so they may be proved and tried whether or no they be wrought in God Weigh your words and your Actions in the ballance of equity and be upright and just in all your dealings amongst men in your buyings and sellings and whatsoever things you take in hand let the Light of Jesus be your guide that so your consciences may be exercised towards God and man that you may be kept blamelesse and harmlesse as children of God amongst this wicked and untoward Generation of men who daily watch with an evil eye for your halting thereby to take occasion to blaspheme God and his pure Truth which ye in a measure are growing up in and in a good measure redeemed from the vile and filthie conversation of the world Dear Friends keep nothing back but freely give up into the Will of God that which is for the Sword to the Sword and that which is for the Famine to the Famine and what is for the Fire to the Fire that you may be thorowly cleansed and purified and tried as Gold and Silver is tried Whatsoever the Light of Christ doth discover unto you to be evil and an enemy to your souls cast it off hide not the enemies of your peace in your own bosoms for whatsoever you keep back will be as thorns in your sides and as pricks in your eyes Therefore cast off every weight and burden that you may run with cheerfulnesse the Race set before you that through the trials and tribulations you may come and so enjoy the promised Land for through many tribulations and fiery trials doth the children of God passe for the children of Israel after they were come forth of Egypt had many Enemies to war withall before they came to the promised Land and many fainted in the way and through unbelief fell in the Wildernesse which things are written and left upon Record that those that should come after might take warning and not give way to the Tempter least they fall as they did and so come short of the eternal rest Therefore every one of you take warning and take heed least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God but abide in the measure of God which is pure and perfect though but as a grain of Mustard-Seed yet wait and you will finde the growth of it When trials come be content murmure not but endure with patience the chastning of the Lord for every child whom he loves he rebukes and chastens for he that is not corrected and chastised of the Lord is a Bastard and no Son And now is the time come that Judgement is begun at the house of God and if it first begin at us what will become of the wicked and them that obey not the Gospel of God Surely wo will be their portion and condemnation and misery will be the end of ungodly men but blessed are they that suffer tribulation and persecution for righteousnesse sake they shall inherit the Kingdom of Glory he that overcomes and endures to the end shall be crowned with Victorie and shall eat of the hidden Manna and have right unto the Tree of Life and shall have Vnion and Fellowship with the Father and the Son and reign with the Lord God and the Lamb in the holy City for ever and ever Therefore though you now be afflicted be not cast down through unbelief though you now weep and mourn and be reproached and reyiled yet your sorrow shall be turned into joy it is but for a little moment of time until the night and the stormy day be over and then will come a calm though sorrow and trouble may endure for a night yet joy will come in the morning when the Day-star doth arise and the glorious day of the Lord doth dawn in your hearts then shall darknesse be expelled and sorrow and sighing flie away and the presence of the Lord in the Light shall be seen in whose presence there is gladnesse and great joy and you all his faithful ones who have passed through many tribulations and have not loved your lives unto death shall worship him in his holy Temple and thereshall be no need of light of Sun Moon or Candle but the glory of the Lord shall fill the Temple and shall be a Light continually for all his dear children to walk in So all my dearlie beloved ones who are in the time of trouble and trial with you I do partake and bear part of your burthen as being a Member of the same body and if one Member suffer all the Members suffers with it and though you come to such a condition trouble within and trouble without on every side Enemies yet do not distrust God neither look back into the world of darknesse again there is no help for you there but as the Children of Israel in former time were incompassed about Pharoah behinde and the Red Sea before and on either side Mountains they were even ready to faint and murmure but Moses the Servant of the Lord who was chosen to be their Leader out of Egypt he exhorted them to stand still and see the salvation of God they were not to stand still in Egypt but being come forth of Egypt the Lord shewed his wonderful hand in preservin g of them So I say unto you dear friends who are come forth of the Egyptian darknesse and are delivered from those grosse evils that the world lives in and have a light born up in your understandings to lead you but yet do finde many enemies warring against you even they of your own house so that you know not what to do nor which way to go to finde peace I say unto you will nothing neither do you run before your guide but stand still in the Light that discovers your Enemies and there wait in the will of God and you will see salvation from the Lord by his living Power binding and chaining and subduing the strong Enemies which wars against your souls and so a secret hope will be begotten in you by the powerful Word of the Lord which is night in your hearts which doth purifie your hearts and that which formerlie you committed imposlible by Faith in the Light which comes from the Son of God you see to be possible and the Lords perfect work being begun in you you have a strong hope and knows assuredlie that he who hath begun a good work in you he will perfect it to his own glorie And he that hath this hope purifies himself even as Christ is pure And here is the patience and the Faith of Saints which though never so little if it be but as a grain of Mustard Seed it removes the strong and high Mountains of Sin and gives victorie over the the
is making a separation between the precious and the vile gathering the Wheat into the Garner and will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire The day is at hand it hasteth greatly a day of blacknesse and darknesse a day of weeping and bitter lamentation to all the Adversaries of God a day that shall burn like an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as Stubble and shall be consumed root and branch Look upon the Stubble all you that live in your sins there is your Figure Look upon an Oven when it burns there you may read your figure the wicked shall be as stuble and shall be consumed in the day of the Lords fierce indignation which is kindled alreadie and none shall be able to quench it The sharp two edged Sword of the Almighty is drawn forth it is furbushed ready for the slaughter and wo to the wicked and ungodly who cast the Law of God behinde their backs and turns his Grace into wantonnesse it will go ill with them and they cannot hide themselves from the Wrath of the Lamb. Drunkard thou canst not hide thy self the Lord will finde thee out and give thee thy portion in the Lake Swearers Lyers Scoffers and Scorners you cannot hide your selves you are the Ungodly that turns the Grace of God into wantonnesse and into condemnation you must come who hate the Light that shews you sin and your evil deeds and loves the darknesse better then the Light the Light is your condemnation And all you that live in pride and vain glory sporting your selves in the day time nourishing your hearts as in a day of Slaughter the Devil is your Father who hath begotten you into his image and likenesse ye murder and kill the Just and crucifie Christ afresh and wo is your portion wo to the Crown of Pride for the Devil is the King of Pride And all you covetous cruel oppressors who are heaping together the earthly treasures who grinde the faces of the poor weep and howle for the misery that shall come upon you your riches are corrupted your Gold and Silver is cankered the rust of them shall be a witness against you Wo to you that live in envy and wrath you are of Cains Generation and nature who murdered his Brother and all your Prayers and Sacrifices are abomination and stinks in the nostrils of God And all you that reviâ—e scoff and scorn backbite slander and falsly accuse the innocent and harmlesse Lambs of Christ tearing and rending hailing them out of your Synagogues and so to Prison you manifest your selves to be the wolves that devour and make a prey of the Lambs you are the fruitlesse Trees that cumber the ground and must be hewn down and cast into the fire The glory of the Lord is shining and the day of the Lord is dawned and the day-star is risen in the hearts of the Lords people and you are discovered and made manifest and seen to be the wolves and the Scripture is fulfilled upon you which Christ spoke forth Behold I send you forth as Lambs in the midst of wolves is not this so now See what hailing and imprisoning and cruel usage is in this Nation of England of a poor despised harmless people hailing them to Courts Sessions for no other cause but for declaring of the truth witnessing against the deceit in Professors Magistrates Priests and people and for this are the innocent hated and reviled and suffer bonds and imprisonment and some have been given up to death and all this endured with patience not seeking for revenge but do follow our Lord and Master Christ wâ—o endured the contradiction of sinners and we finde his words to be trne where he saith Ye shall be hated of all mâ—n for my names sake but rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great shall be your reward for if ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth the world hate you but wo to the world and all wicked malicious persecuting spirits better a Milstone had been hanged abouâ— their necks and they cast into the midst of the Sea then to offend one of the little ones of Christ Haste repent and amerd least sudden destruction come upon you The wages of Sin is death but the gift of God is life and peace ALl you that live in sin and wickedness as Envy Wrath Malice Pride Lust covetousness Drunkenness Swearing Lying Slandering Backbiting false Accusing Scoffing and Scorning Revilings Reproachings Mocking and Jeering Oppression Cruelty Tyranny Murders Theft Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witcheraft Variance Emulation Seditions Heresies Anger Perverseness Frowardness Impatience and Unbelief Cozening and Cheating and defrauding one another in buying and selling using false weights and measures inventers of evil things plotting mischief upon your beds Covenant-breakers without natural affection implacable unmercisul living in vain sports and Pleasures spending the good creatures of God and devouring the Creation upon your lusts sporting your selves in the day time foolish-jesting idle and filthy communication and laughter which is madness These and such like are works of the flesh and they that act such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God for which things sake comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience and the curse of God remains upon such who live in the flesh fulfilling the lusts and desires of it such cannot stand before the righteous God neither can they enter into his righteous Kingdome but must be cast into utter darknesse which is the portion of all the wicked for to the wicked there is no peace but wo and terror shall pursue them upon the wicked God will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible Tempest this shall be the portion of their cup from the just God who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity Therefore all you workers of iniquity fear and tremble before the Lord and deceive not your selves with a vain hope search these Scriptures and see your portion 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Col. 3.5 6. Ps 9.17 Ps 11.6 Mat. 7.23 and 25.30 41. Rom. 1,29 30 31 32. Rev. 21.8 and 22.15 read these Scriptures with seriousness and then with the light of Christ in your consciences try and examine your selves whether you be acting and living in these sins above-mentioned or any of them and if upon search you be found guilty then what will you plead or answer the Lord or what promise is there due unto you as long as you live in sin truly none but all the curses plagues and woes that are mentioned in the Scriptures is your due and portion for your sin and disobedience and all your applying of the Promises and saying Christ dyed for you and say you believe in Christ yet all this will not avail nor speak peace to your souls as long as you live in sin but the witness of God in your own consciences