THE Doctrine of Perfection VINDICATED By way of Answer to some objecting Reasons frequently used by them that plead for Sin in this life And that Freedom from Sin is to be attained in this life or never plainly shewed herein and how they that deny it are one with the false Prophets and Antichristian Seducers spoken of in the Scriptures With some Wholsome EXHORTATION given forth as the Spirit gave utterance tending to provoke all that make a profession of God to press on after the same Shewing plainly how it is agreeable with what is signified in the Scripture and the Light within both of which bears witness for the said Doctrine and against all Sin Something likewayes expressed concerning BREAD and WINE Also some wholsome DIRECTIONS to stir up young People to seek after their Creator in the dayes of their youth Written by one who breathes to God for the Redemption of the Seed that lies yet in the house of bondage bound by the Cords of Iniquity J. Whitehouse LONDON Printed for R. Wilson 1663. TO THE READERS FRIENDS THe eternal invisible Fountain of Wisdom Life Love and everlasting Mercy who is the Creator and Upholder of all things by the Word of his powerful Spirit who is God over all blessed for ever who when I was young and tender in years did beget a sincere desire in my soul which hath caused me even to this day secretly to seek after the knowledge of and acquaintance with him that I might know his Will and receive Power from him to do the same 's the which desires he in his endless Love to my poor breathing soul which hath no true peace nor satisfaction but in doing his Will and enjoying his Presence which is of more value to me than any outward thing yea than Life it self in this world hath far more abundantly satisfied than many now can or than I my self once could believe when I was in the darkness which comprehends not the Light of his Son which shines in the hearts of the sons and daughters of men letting them see the evil of their wayes which I testifie as one who hath made proof of the same is sufficient to give them the knowledge of God and to lead them into all Truth if they would but give up to follow the leadings of it by the leadings of which in my seeking estate have I been drawn from one sort of People to another still to associate my self with those who did most sincerely press on after God in a holy life being willing to run with the formost that I might obtain with them the prize which is to say in this life only a perfect freedom from all sin even to put off the old man with all his deeds which is sin and a putting on the new which is created after God in perfect and true Holiness which the Lord God hath given me by his Spirit to believe and see a possibility of attaining to in which only stands the certain assurance of the full Prize and the eternal Weight and Crown of Glory which in the Life to come is to be fully enjoyed the which this first is but as an Earnest of without which the true certainty of the second cannot be obtained And since I have received this Faith power thereby hath been given me far more than before when I rejected the Light of his Son by which only I witness it is received And now this Faith which is from above even the perfect gift of God I find to be the chiefest thing for the effecting and compleating of an holy life in man through the power of God in them which believe being received into the heart of obtaining a perfect life becomes as a root therein which is pure that causeth the branches to be holy and keeps the creature circumspect and sincere to God still minding what a holy Calling and Mark is set before it and so the Faith being sound and clean the fruits thereof are Holiness which becomes the House of the Lord God And verily whosoever comes to sup with him without this comely pure covering of Holiness they shall in no wayes enter with the Lamb into the Marriage-Chamber but be shut out the which I see this day to the burthening of my soul and grief of my spirit is abundantly wanting amongst most People professing God and Christ for they having not this purifying Faith count it Blasphemy and Error and so rest and believe in the contrary which is to say they must live in sin whilst in this life being taught so by their blind guides who could not themselves cease therefrom and so Prophaneness is gone forth from the Priests over all the Land as in the ancient dayes which giveth way to much loosness and sin the which if any in the Spirit of meekness and fear of God reprove them for then presently they flee to the Scripture and with the same spirit that leads them to sin rake together all the Saints failings to plead for sin term of life the which those things were never written for so that in stead of resisting the Devil in the pure Faith which stands in the Power of God rather gives place to him and pleads for their so doing so that the Devil hath not his Kingdom by force onely but by consent they having granted him a place in them while they have a place in this life which grieves the Spirit of God their Creator who alone should have the Rule and Government of their bodies souls and spirits which are his in the sense of which I am moved to write these following lines by way of Answer to some Questions or objecting Reasons which are frequently used by them that plead for sin and against the Doctrine of Perfection that if possible it may be a help to stir them up to the Witness of God in them that their Understandings by it may be opened who are not wilfully blind but rather through ignorance stand against the thing being beguiled by the subtilty of the Serpent as Eve in her innocency was who told her though she did eat of the forbidden fruit she should not surely dye and that is his lying voice at this day whether in Teachers or others that tells people though they live in some sin they shall be saved from the condemning power thereof So I shall proceed in order as before-mentioned as the Lord shall assist me by his Spirit with what else may be given me in thereby even as the Spirit shall give to express in what signification God shall please for the good of all that desire after him to whom this may come the which I commit to the Light in all Consciences to answer to the truth hereof desiring all that know me in the outward not to slight it because of the meanness of the outward vessel that wrote it but with care to weigh it over that God's Witness in you may answer for God hath made the poor in this world rich in
unto the day of God And having felt his Love by kissing of his Rod I will make mention of his Name and tell of his Salvation For he hath shewed me the same which saves out of Transgression Therefore with joy unto the Lord with th'Spirit I will sing Who hath broken the snare and cord of Death which was a sting And hath quickened by his Power a life in me to live Which when it feels his pleasent showers doth Praises to him give I when I feel the pure Fountain in me to ope and spring Which issues from Sions Mountain the Life of her sweet King Then is my sp'rit orecome ev'n with the issues of that Life Which cometh from the glorious Sun who leadeth out of strife Into the perfect pure Love which never thinketh ill Where nothing at all doth him move to any but pure good-will O in this Life that 's free from strife my soul hath its delight For O it is my married Wife to whom my very life In that same holy Marriage which is both clean and pure Which neither Death nor Hell can break but ever will endure Is even wedded yet not by any Imagination But by the Spirit undefil'd which saves out of transgression Yet in much fear unto the Lord I cry O without thy Presence what am I If thou forsake me I shall surely fall For of my self I have no strength at all O therefore by thy Power me deliver And save to glorifie thy Name for ever Yet now come hearken unto me all that desire to know And my Beloved long to see the way to you I le show It is by walking in the Light which doth convince of sin Which is committed in the night by all that walk therein Therefore out of the Darkness come and hearken to the Light Even the Glory of the Son and it will free you quite So my dear Beloved you will then come to see By whom my soul is moved who 's so dear to me O then you 'l come to see his shape and hear his glorious Voice The which will make the Seed to leap and your souls to rejoyce Therefore come now follow the Light and do not from it turn So shall you have a pure sight and myst'ries deep shall learn Even that great and glorious Work of happy Restoration The which is wrought by him that makes the blessed new creation Who sitting on the Throne alone shines like a precious stone Who doth enlighten every one that in the world doth come Therefore let all that fear the Lord now hearken to his Voice And obey it that better is than any Sacrifice Wherefore now come and look within and there encline your ear For 't is the Spirit of the Lord which only speaketh there For though mans heart's deceitful and imaginations nought Yet God's Spirit it is which shews him ev'ry idle thought Therefore within let every one unto the Light return And hearken to its Voice that 's pure and then you 'l come to learn What that is call'd that doth redeem and save the soul from sin And then you 'l come to know the Law that written is within Even by the finger and direction of the living God In all the hearts of them who understand and kiss his Rod Which smiteth and chastiseth them when ere they go astray That it might turn them that are out into the good old Way Wherein they will find peace that 's pure unto their souls and then Shall rest with God which will endure for evermore Amen And so the Lord God of eternal Holiness having lighted a Candle in my heart and given me a measure of his good Spirit by which he hath preached Righteousness thorow me if I had never opened my mouth nor set pen to paper I say I am not now to put it under a bushel and hide it but to set it up that it may give light unto all neither must I hide my Talent in the earth lest it be taken from me and given to another who will improve it better but my chiefest care must be to stand in all things approved to God in faithfulness and when he draws me or calls me forth if I leave the old man to mend his Net himself as Peter and John did let none that knows me marvel at it for I must go about my Father's business who hath redeemed my mind out of the love of earthly things and worldly delights that I should set my whole delight in him who hath also brought me to see of the travel of my soul and to be satisfied concerning the knowledge of his Truth so that I look not for another Truth Way Leader nor Guide to lead me up to a higher glory in this Truth which is yet to be attained for the revealing of which am I waiting in the Light not expecting any thing any other way but only a growing from strength to strength and a pressing on from glory to glory even as God in his Son Christ the Light shall make known himself unto me but I expect not another Saviour than Him the Light for by Him the Lepers are cleansed the blind made to see and the lame man to leap like an Hart the dumb to speak and to the poor is the Gospel preached by Him whom he filleth with good things but the rich and the full he sends empty away all which whosoever receives and follows the Lamb the Light the Way the Truth and the Life shall come to witness and reade with a clear understanding what I have written but from those that rebel against the Light these things are sealed by the hand of the Wisdom of God I. W. Some wholesom DIRECTIONS to stir up young People to seek after their Creator in the dayes of their youth ANd now O all you Young men and Maids with all that are of a capacity to understand my words who are young and tender in years for my bowels yearn towards you therefore come hearken to my voice and be attentive to the words of my mouth and I will instruct you in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom Now this is the Counsel of God unto you which he hath put into my heart to write that you all hearken to that which shews you the evil of the world and the vanity of your own wayes which condemns you for every evil word and action for that I testifie unto you all is the Spirit of God which he hath given you to profit withall which as you receive it will open your understandings and if you join therewith it will give you dominion over sin and cleanse you from iniquity O therefore come down to it and put your necks under the yoke and let that which crosseth the vain mind be your delight and still join with that in you which breatheth after God so shall you come to an acquaintance with him for to that doth he make known himself and to them and none but them
marvellous things Therfore trim your Lamps that you may be ready against the Bridegroom cometh who vvill come and vvill not long tarry but hasteneth and the time draweth nigh vvherein ye that are vvaiting for his appearance shall be promoted higher than Kings or Princes of this World and shall triumph with the Lamb upon the holy Mountain of God vvhere no venemous beast shall come So let none run with the world into the evil thereof although they that do so are even set up and he that departs from iniquity is for them a prey but yet it is not as the Wicked thinks it is for the Lord beholds all their doings he winketh not as in the night of ignorance neither will he long forbear nor suffer them to proceed much longer for his purpose is to destroy the Devil and all his works with all the workers of iniquity And behold he is now like a man who hath laid his bait and set his snare and hideth himself in a secret place who will arise when they think not of him and his hand shall not spare neither his eye-lids pitty but will be avenged of all his Enemies and then they that feared him and thought upon his Name shall be honourable in the eyes of many people and many shall be joyned unto them and to the Lord in that day and the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Oh the sense of this God's glorious Day wherein the Lamb the Scepter over all must sway it transports my soul into a heavenly joy and sets my spirit above the vvorld full high Wherefore I say unto you all that love and fear the Lord Rejoyce and be glad and in the strength of his powerful Spirit tread upon all the vanities of the World and cast its glory behind you and lift up your heads in the Faith and Power of God which will give you Victory over the World and the Devil the god of it and cast away all the weights and burdens with all the incumbrances thereof wherein sin is apt to beset you that you may have liberty with joy to run the Race which is set before you that so the glorious Crown of Immortality you may obtain and with the Lamb upon his Throne may reign which is promised to him that overcometh even as he overcame who was in all things tempted as we are yet without sin So to that which is able to deliver you out of temptation as it did him I leave you all to wit the Life that was in him which is the Light of men in which the Prince of this World hath no part which as every one comes to be stayed in they are hid with God in Christ the Light from the temptations of the Serpent who can enter no where but in the earthly carnal mind which is his throne whereon he sits deceiving the Nations but the day of his downfall is at hand and therefore let the Hosts of Heaven rejoyce and sing for over him shall reign our King and upon the Throne on high shall sit and the Devil with all his works shall be cast into the pit Wherefore trumph ye Sons of Sion and be glad ye Daughters of Jerusalem for he that makes the New-Creation is already come who was the first and will be the last to whom be honour glory and dominion now and for evermore Delivered from my hand the third of the first Month called March 1663. J. W. THE END
Faith and in times past and doubtless now also hath raised as it were things that are not to bring to nought those things which are contrary to him that he may have the Glory to Himself alone But however it may be received or rejected I shall rest in patience being content in that I feel am Acceptance with God in this my Obedience to him which is a sufficient Reward unto me who am known to the World by the name of John Whithouse The Doctrine of Perfection vindicated c. The Worlds Question VVHether is Perfection or freedom from all sin Quest to be attained in this life or no Yea Answ or else to no purpose was Christ made manifest in the flesh as may hereafter appear for in the lowest distance or alienation in the fall from God we are but the servants of sin and if by him we are not set free from the service thereof then what are we saved from or what are we the better by him for without him we are but so and if he leave us where he finds us which is to say in sin what then is he a Saviour from or how doth he effect that which is said of him For Sin and Imperfection is of the Devil 1 John 3.8 for the destroying of which he the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of all that believe in his Light and Son of the world was manifested and if this work be not effected by him then may we say he is insufficient and comes short of the end for which he was given for a Light to the Gentiles Isa 42.6 7. and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth who is the second Covenant which is not sound faulty as was the first which made nothing perfect Therefore was it taken away that the second Heb. 7.19 which is the better hope by which we draw nearer to God might be established so then shall I conclude with the world that the first made none of the comers thereto perfect nor the second neither God forbid For they who do believe and receive him who is the new and second Covenant Christ Jesus the true Light who enlightneth every man that cometh into the world to them as the Scripture saith he gives power to become the sons of God who are not born of flesh and blood neither of the will of man Joh. 1.12 13. but of God and who is so born sinneth not because God's Seed Christ Jesus abideth in him 1 John 3.9 Mal. 1.21 who is a Saviour thar saves his People from their sin and not in it they who know this know the Scripture to be true because it is fulfilled in them and can truly call Christ Lord because they do his Will and not their own but are dead thereto and are only alive to God bringing forth fruits of Righteousness the end of which is Life and Peace Rom. 8.3 13. All which is fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh but through the Spirit of Life in Christ which makes free from sin and death and doth mortifie the deeds of the same These are they who through the washing of Regeneration in the work of mortification come to know and witness a cleansing from all sin and to have their Robes made white in the blood of the Lamb Heb. 9.26 who was made manifest to put away and make an end of all sin and to perfect for ever those that through the Spirit are thus sanctified Yea Object but saith the world Our Teachers * Rich. Baxter for one who are learned and wise tell us this Doctrine of Perfection is a dangerous tenent and the Doctrine of the Devil and not of Christ nor his Apostles but is a blasphemous Principle contrary to the Scriptures Now to this Answ I say You are not to believe all that your Teachers tell you but come down to the Light of Christ and hear these things tryed by it and the Scriptures also and hold fast that which is good Now this is the Record that God gave of his Son by his Servant Moses who prophesied saying Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he saith And it shall come to pass That whosoever will not hear and obey him shall be cut off from the Land of the Living And in like manner Mal. 3.3 to Him gave all the Prophets witness saying He shall come as a Refiners fire and as Fullers sope and shall thorowly purge the sons of Levi that they might offer an Offering to the Lord in Righteousness Mat. 3.12 Also John Baptist bare witness of him saying His Fan is in his hand and he will thorowly purge his Floor Mark that not in part he doth not say but thorowly And now he the Eternal and Everlasting true Light the chief and High-Priest over the Houshold of God the pure Purger Perfecter Cleanser and Fulfiller of all the Law and the Prophets Behold this is his Doctrine preached by him in the dayes of his flesh Be ye perfect Matth. 9.48 as your heavenly Father is perfect And now behold he is arisen in many sons and daughters by his quickening Spirit which hath raised them out of Sin and Death and through them is he preaching by Life and Doctrine the same as he lived in who is the same yesterday to day and for ever who is the perfect Pattern and finished his course in Perfection leaving it an Example for all that believe in him to follow So this is none of the Devil's Doctrine neither his Command but the Doctrine and Command of the Son of God who is not a hard nor an unjust master requiring that of his servants which he gives them not power to do but it is the slothful servant that makes not use of his talent but buries it in the Earth and then complains for want of power but they who receive the gift of God God giveth them power to do whatsoever he commandeth whose Commandments 1 Joh. 2 3.1.7 to them that follow him in faithfulness were not greivous but joyful who were washed and cleansed but not by themselves but by walking in the Light as God was in the Light so came they to witness the Blood of his Son to cleanse them not from some sin but all and so were made Ministers not of the Letter which killeth but of the Spirit which giveth Life and quickeneth unto Perfection and laboured to bring men thereto that they might present every man perfect in Christ in whom there is no sin for he was not sent to be a cloak to cover sin under his righteous garment but to destroy it and take it away slaying the carnal or fleshly mind which warreth against the soul working sin in the members upon the Cross which is spiritual or all spirit which Cross worketh inwardly bringing into subjection every vain thought and imagination
say unto you Come up higher out of these things and you shall see greater than these as saith the Spirit Oh then rest not in the lesser lest by so doing you miss of the greater for the Glory of all Glories is appearing and that which you think to be the greatest light unto you shall become but meer darkness in comparison of the marvelous Light that shall yet appear in the day that is already dawned Oh therefore prepare prepare to meet the Bridegroom for the Marriage of the Lamb draws nigh yet none but those who have on the pure Wedding-Garment shall enter with him into the Bride-Chamber neither taste of the Supper of the Lamb. Having had some experience of the Loving-kindness of God and of his dealings with me from my Childhood to this day it is moved in my soul to give forth a Testimony of the same for the good of all who in the dayes of their youth seek and desire after him IN the dayes of my Childhood I was brought up with my Parents after the manner as other Children were but not in much strictness or restraint from evil vanities that Children are prone to by them they being after the manner of other worldly people given to the fashions and vanities thereof and such like things themselves but had my liberty in many things even as I would but yet notwithstanding God in his endless love to my soul shewed me the evil of my wayes words and actions and begot a desire in me after himself and opened my understanding and shewed me much of the vanity and ignorance of the Teachers and Professors of the world insomuch that I was fully satisfied that the Teachers of the world were not the Ministers of Christ and that they did people little good which caused me that I never followed them so as to expect benefit from them and I marvelled that those who could reade the Scriptures and seemed to be wise would ever follow them Such things as these were stirring and working in me from eight or nine years of age until eleven or twelve about which time the People called Baptists appeared in this my native place and Country which is Tipton in Staffordshire whose Doctrine and outward Form which I only look'd at I found to be more in imitation according to the Scriptures than the other Teachers and therefore did I go amongst them and owned them more than any and after some years time my understanding was very much opened so that I became wiser than all my acquainted Play-fellows in Religious matters and could not freely act such things as others did though I was many times overcome with them but the Lord followed me with his Witness so that I had no peace in any evil words or actions insomuch that many times in the very acting of vain foolish things something would smite me into heaviness and grief though I was never given to that which the world calls gross sin but only childish vanities as playing with lads foolish jesting and idle talk singing of songs and such like things as other untoward lads are given to which scarce any one would reprove me for for the best sort of people about me were guilty of many such things who seemed to be wise men yet notwithstanding I could have no peace in them though something would tell me I was young and need not matter such things so early but might let them alone til I was a man and then I should have more knowledge in godly matters and it would be well enough to grow civil and circumspect then yet for all this I could not get over the Witness of God but it shewed me that this was the Serpent's voice that would draw me from remembring my Creator in the dayes of my youth And so in the exercise of these things my soul was often revived with true desires after God who I little thought was so nigh me as he was and many times I made Vows in spirit that if he would pass by my sins past I would never do as I had before But alas in my own power I could not perform them and I was ignorant of the Power and Spirit of God and though we in these dayes had nothing but he Scriptures to help our minds in such things for the Teachers concluded that all Revelations and imediate Teachings by the Spirit of God as in the dayes of old were ceased the which made me many times sorrowfull saying Oh that I had been alive in those dayes when the Lord taught his People by his Spirit And when my spirit was exercised in such things I was many times drawn to go into some secret place to be alone and there could I freely make my moan to God according to the meaning of my mind with strong desires and tears sometimes praying in words as God gave me utterance which I knew he would not despise but was more accepted with him than all the fine words or forms of mens inventions and this I can truely say I never in all my dayes prayed in hypocrisie to be seen of men neither ever did learn any form of prayer to rest in it for I knew that was deceit but from the smcerity of my heart I ever did it and in these things I many times felt even a sweet communion with God and many times in my waiting upon God and pondring of things concerning him some things would open in me signifying that a glorious day was nigh at hand which I should live to see and that I should bear a Testimony for God therein but when I went to reason in my self how it should be fulfilled I being unlearned neither should be brought up to learning outwardly but little my Parents being but mean in the outward then I darkned my self by these reasonings and could not see how it should be but when I remembred that all things were possible with God then was I made to see that those reasonings came from flesh and blood and were to be denied but many times the enemy of my soul overcame me and brought me to much vanity which I knew to be evil yet though I knew it and had a desire against it yet was I carried away into it then when I retired in my mind to God something would tell me that I had sinned against my own knowledge and God would not accept me and so would have cast me into dispair as if I should never be forgiven Then this thing would be brought into my remembrance by the Spirit 〈◊〉 God That his Blessing was to those that hungred and thirsted after Righteousness and they should be satisfied which greatly revived my soul for I could truly say notwithstanding all my sins that I was one of those hungerers and for all the doubting desperations that the Devil could cast into me yet I felt something in me that as it were could rely upon God as being of his nature and still cryed after him in which I felt some