Devil and Anti-christ rules there teacheth there thou art a poor Captive and Bondslave thereof profess what thou wilt and if the Power of God thou knowest not working within thy self and operating in thy Heart not only to shake pull down and remove that which can be shaken and removed but also to bring in that which cannot be shaken nor removed viz. Everlasting Righteousness I say if this thou knowest not the Power of the Enemy of God and thy Soul worketh in thee and prevaileth over thee by working in thy Imaginations Will and Affections Mind and Members that which is Evil either in self-Sinning or self Righteousness which are both Abomination to the Lord So if thou knowest not the Word of God within thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart with the Virtues and Properties thereof as a Hammer as a Fire quick and powerful sharper then a two-edged Sword and hearest and obeyest the Voice thereof I say if this Word thou knowest not within thou art not made clean nor sanctified by it but those Things stand in thee against which it is as a Hammer Fire Sword sharp and powerful and the Word and Commands of the old Serpent that Betrayer sounds loâ—d in thy Ears and pierceth deep into thy Heart and thou art carryed away with the Wind thereof and enterest into his Temptations daily and knowest not Power against them so thou canst not say as David once did Psal 119.11 I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against thee neither hast thou received with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save but art of those whom Christ spoak to Ye have not his Word speaking of his Father abiding in yoâ— John 5.38 And if thou knowest not the Law of the Spirit of Life within thee written in thy Inward Parts thou art a Stranger to the New-Covenant Jer. 31.33 the Law of Sin Death hath Power over thee the Law that is in thy Members leads thee Captive thereto and the Carnal Mind which is Enmity against God and cannot be subject to his Law reigns in thee though thou professest the Law of God with thy Tongue thou dost not love it nor delight in it in thy Hearr neither is it better in thy Esteem then Thousands of Gold and Silver So in short If thou art not Partaker Possessor of the Heavenly Treasures in thy Earthen Vessel thou art fraighted with Earthly Treasures Vanities if thou knowest not thy Body the Temple of the Living God and thy Heart his Throne then is it as a Cage for Unclean Birds and as a Habitation for Wild Beasts and as a Nest for Venemous Creeping Things and the Prince of Darkness sits upon the Throne of thy Heart and rules there let thy Opinion and Talk of Religion be what it will Now be thou warned and advised to watch against that Spirit in thy self which moveth thee to sleight deride and mock at the Appearance and Manifestation of the Light Crace Spirit Power Word and Law of God within And learn to cease also from those Teachers without which have caused thee to err who hate the Light within and despise the Shining of it and give it despicable Names as Ignis Fatuus 〈◊〉 certain or Falce Fire Natural Light and the Checks and Reproofs of it but the Checks of a Natural Conscience and despise the Grace that appears to all men and call it Common and not Saving Crace and sleight and reject the Power and Spirit of God within which moves and works against all Evil and to all Good not allowing it to be the principal Rule and Guide of a Christian and also endeavour to demolish race out the Word and Law of God within under Pretence of directing thee to a more sure Word and Law without viz. the Holy Scriptures which contain divers Words Precepts and Commandments c. spoaken by holy men to whom the Word of the Lord came which was before the Words were and by this Word and Spirit that came to them and was in them were they moved to speak them and that is greater then the Words and till thou knowest a Measure of the same Word and Spirit within thy self thou canst neither truly understand nor obey the Words and holy Precepts and Exhortations that proceeded from it that indeed being the Original Cause Root and Ground from whence all the Good Words and Good Works that ever sprang up in the Heart of Mankind proceeded Such Teachers have ran â—ut God hath not sent them so People are not profitted but spoiled by them they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men they neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and under the Name of Ministers of Christ are direct Ministers of Antichrist from such turn thou away learn of the Grace of God which Teacheth to deny Ungodliness c. and love the Light and bring thy Deeds to it John 3.21 and walk in it so shalt thou become a Child of it and have Right to inherit the precious Promises and possess and enjoy the Glorious Priviledges which thou hast hitherto only profess'd heard and read of in the holy Scriptures so wilt thou come to inherit Substance and soon be wiser then thy former Teachers and of a Titular Christian thou wilt become a Christian indeed an Israelite indeed a Jew inward indeed whose Praise is of God and not of Men. W. S. THE True Christian's FAITH AND EXPERIENCE DECLARED Concerning God Christ the Spirit c. First Concerning God THE True Christian believes there is One God who is a Spirit pure in Essence God is infinite and incomprehensible in himself and all the Words of Men and Angels cannot define him as he is being in all through all and above all And the various Names given him throughout the holy Scriptures were according to the Manifestation or Appearance and Operation of his Spirit in their Hearts that wrote them and according to the State it found them in when it appeared to them hence he was call'd a Consuming Fire Our God is a Consuming Fire and his Word as a Hammer and as a Fire and a Jealous and Angry God who as a Devouring Fire goes through the Bryars and Thorns and consumes them and the Day of his Appearance among these Bryars and Thorns Thiâ—les and Stubble is compared to the burning of Fire in an Oven in which the Wicked cannot dwell And others could call him by quite contrary Names even according to the Operation of his Spirit in them by the same could say that God is Love and his Word was as Milk and sweeter then Hony or the Hony-Comb and that the Light of his Countenance was better then the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl and that he was a Shield and a Shaddow of a Rock in a Weary Land his Name as a strong Tower and safe-dwelling-Place and as precious Oyntment pour'd forth and his Face or Presence
Old Serpent in the Hearts of Men. THe True Christian is endued with a Heavenly Spirit of Discerning by which he seeth to the Beginning before Sin enter'd the World and by it perceiveth how it entered and how it hath grown and encreased and filled the Earth with Violence and how that Old Serpent which at first was fain to use great Subtilty and Lyes and make great Promises before he could prevail against Eve is now grown so Power ful a Prince in his Kingdom of Darkness in the Hearts of the Children of Men in whom he rules that he no sooner moves in their Hearts ☞ but they follow him no sooner commands but they obey he needs not use his Subtilty and Cunning to betray allure and perswade nor make great Promises before he can win to his Obedience many being grown such Natural Children of him and such born Slaves in his Kingdom that now in these dayes his Commands are sufficient to Thousands and Ten Thousands and his very Motions to Evil have gain'd such a Powerful Name in the World even among the Titular Christians that they count them too Mighty to be withstood too Powerful to vanquish too Strong to war with overcome and conquer in all his Motions Commands and Temptations while on this side the Grave hereby People are become Home-bred Slaves and have sold themselves for nought having let in that accursed Faith that hath sprung up in the Apostacy from the True Faith that they can never resist all the Motions of the Devil nor disobey all his Commands ☞ nor be delivered from all his Temptations till the Death of their Natural Bodies which is then too late for As the Tree falls so it lies c. Now the Titular Christian will readily acknowledge and confess that the Motions of the Devil are strong powerful and present with him and in him and that thereby he is stirred up to Evil But he doth not believe that the Spirit of God is so nigh him and present with him moving in him against the Motions of the Evil One nor that there is sufficient Power from God given to him to preserve him from obeying the Motions and Temptations of the World Flesh and the Devil and to move him to that which is Good and enable him to do it Also he hath no Faith in this Gift of God but rather counts it Delusion and the Property of a Phanatick to profess the Knowledge of the Spirit of God moving in them to speak and write good Words and do good Works this Professors and Prophane Learned and Unlearned make a Mock at concluding this Operation of the Spirit is not in use nor to be known in these dayes nor to be expected in these latter Ages of the World as if God had left the World of Mankind to be guided wholely by the Motions of the Devil as if there was no Law or Power in the Mind able and sufficient to war against the Law and Power that is in the Members and overcome it Thus to believe is the Faith of Devils and not the Faith of God's Elect For the True Christian in this Age as in former Ages is a living Witness of the Moving of the Spirit of God to every good Word and Work as the Holy Men and Christians in former Ages did who speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and as they were led and guided by the Spirit as is testified in the Holy Scriptures though made a Mock of in this Day And this Spirit of God accompanied the Righteous in all Ages and always moved led and guided them into the Way of Peace and as they obeyed it and abode with it Acts 7.9 they were preserved by it therein though in the midst of their Enemies This preserved Joseph when the Patriarchs moved with Envy sold him into Aegypt and out of the Temptations he met with there and the same Spirit of Envy that moved the Patriarchs to sell Joseph moved Cain to kill Abel and moved Esau to hate his Brother and the Israelites to envy Moses and Aaron and the Jews to persecute the Prophets Christ and the Apostles And the Unbelieving Vagabond Jews were moved by this Spirit of Envy Acts 17.5 to make a Tumult against Paul and Silas and to assault the House of Jason and to draw him and the Brethren to the Rulers with false Accusations the Spirit of Envy is the same at this Day and his Motions are the same and all that obey them are found in the same Work And the Motions of the Holy Spirit are also the same and all that obey them bring forth the Fruits thereof and they are both manifested by their Fruits the one moves to Good the other to Evil the one to Love and Good-will the other to Envy and Hatred ☞ the one to Patience and Long-suffering the other to Anger Rage and Persecution the one moves to Meekness Gentleness Lowly-mindedness the other to Hardness Roughness Exaltedness and High-mindedness So by the Fruits and Effects are the Motions of the Spirit of God known and distinguished from the Motions of the Devil the Prince in Darkness And whosoever do or shall profess to speak or write Words or do Works Many whom the old Serpent could not move nor draw into Carnal Wickednesses have been captivated with Spiritual Wiskednesses in High Places and have been deceived so far as to call High Thoughts and Imaginations Motions of the Spirit of God and these have been exalted above all that is called God being joyned to the Son of Perdition who usurps the Throne of God and hath been and is worshipped as God or do Works in and by the Motion of the Spirit of God if they tend not to Good if they are not accompanied with the Fruits of the same if they will not endure the Tryal of the Spirit of God in others and abide by the Testimony thereof and also agree with the Testimonies of the Holy Men of old left upon Record in the holy Scriptures For the Spirit of the Prophets was subject to the Prophets and The Christians were of One Mind I say except this their Motion is to be judged by the Spirit of God and them also that obey it as a Delusion of an Exalted Spirit and as a High Imagination which must be brought down and whoever glories therein or boasts thereof will fade and wither as a Flower and fall and corrupt as Untimely Fruit the Mouth of the Lord hath spoaken it XV. The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning Revelation THE Cry in the World is even among many called Christians No Revelation in these dayes Revelation is ceased No Spiritual Vision to be known now No Sight of God now as Abraham Moses and the Prophets and Primitive Christians had c. Now the Faith Experience and Testimony of the True Christian is that Where there is no Vision Prov. 29.18 no Heavenly Sight that 's the Perishing State Where there
precious Blood and so he not only reads hears and professes the Benefits and Priviledges which the primitive Christians partook of and enjoyed by believing in receiving of Christ but experimentally partaketh of and possesseth and enjoyeth the same Rom. 8 16. And the Spirit of God beareth Witness with his Spirit that he is a Child of God and a Joynt Heir with Christ Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh and that he hath the Mind of Christ and that Christ lives in him and is greater in him then he that is in the World And as the old Adversary the Devil is strong and powerful to tempt and ready on the one Hand and on the other to draw and allure into Evil so he knoweth his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as near and as ready and more powerful to deliver save and preserve him from falling into Evil and Temptation and he is not only enabled to resist the Divel but to make him flee also Thus in Truth can the True Christian call Christ the Captain of his Salvation who being armed with his Power fights as he did followeth him sits down in Heavenly Places with him triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave So the True Christian proveth himself so by denying himself and taking up his Cross daily and following of Christ and that he believeth in him because he enjoyeth Everlasting Life and abides not in Death and Darkness but hath overcome the Wicked one and that he is his Lord because he doth the thing he saith or commandeth and that he loveth him because he keepeth his Commandments and hath received Power to become the Son of God and further hath a Name better then the Name of Sons and Daughters The Titular Christian saith he believeth in one Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier by his precious Blood c. and professeth him as King Priest and Prophet and in all his Attributes and Offices But how doth he demonstrate and shew forth his Belief and Profession How is he his Lord Doth he do the Thing he saith How is he his Saviour Is he saved by him from the committing of Sin and redeemed from a vain Conversation How doth he believe in him as Christ or the Anointing Is he taught by him How is he his King Priest and Prophet Doth he rule in his Heart as King Are all his Services Sacrifices and Offerings offer'd up by and through his Hand as Priest Doth he hear him in all Things as the Prophet whom God hath raised like unto Moses No the Titular Christian hath no Knowledge of him after this Manner neither doth he believe 't is attainable on this side the Grave nor possible to obey him as Lord nor to be saved by him from Sin as Jesus nor taught by him as Christ or the Anointing nor that he can be washed cleansed and sanctified by his precious Blood from the Stains Spots and Defilements of the World Flesh and the Devil while he bears about this Body of Clay he contents himself with a corrupt traditional Faith which hath sprung up in the dark Night of Apostacy which is certainly a very venemous pernicious Weed of the Devil's Kingdom which hath poysoned and destroyed the Souls of many and is now grown to such Maturity and cloathed with such Beauty to the Eye of the Titular Christian that he calls it the Christian Faith though thereby he is taught to believe that 't is not possible to cease from Sin nor to have his Heart purified nor to overcome the Devil and gain Victory over the World and further that notwithstanding he committeth Sin daily and liveth in the Act of it Term of Life in this World he is hereby taught to believe that Christ will save him from the Guilt and Punishment of it in the World to come It may be said of this Titular Christian's Faith as it was once said of Saul and David Looseness and A theism hath slain its Thousands but this its Ten Thousands So although he hears and reads what Christ did in and for those that belived in him and of the powerful Virtue and Operation of that Ancient Christian Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and born witness to by the Holy Scriptures yet he neither hopes believes nor expects to witness the same wrought in him and for him they bear witness of some in whom Christ wrought (a) In whom Christ works all the Devil works nothing all their Works and that through him they were able to do all Things And many glorious Things were spoaken of and were enjoyed by the true Believers in Christ while upon Earth But the Titular Christian puts off all till he is dead and pleads for the Continuation of the Devil and his Works Term of Life and saith the Devil works strongly in him and prevails over him and causeth him to sin in his Holy Duties and that he is so captivated by him that he cannot live one Day nor Hour without Sin so notwithstanding his Profession of Christ he knows him not greater in him then he that is in the World so the strong Man keeps House and it s furnished with his Goods and though he cryes Lord Lord he is a Worker of Iniquity and is bound in Chains of Darkness and his Feet stick fast in the Mire and in the Clay even while he talks of Lord and Saviour he is led Captive at the Devils Will and is a Stranger to that Power which is able to resist him and make him flee and to that Faith which gives Victory So he cannot in Truth call Christ the Captain of his Salvation nor approve himself one of his Souldiers who is armed with the same Power with it fights against the same Enemy and gains the Victory and followeth him who rides on Conquering and to Conquer so never comes to sit down with him in his Father's Kingdom triumphing over Sin Death Hell and the Grave but remains under the Power thereof through the Fear of which he is all his Life Time subject to Bondage 2 Heb. 15. let his Profession of Liberty and Redemption by Christ be what it will his fair Talk will avail him nothing though he saith he believeth in Christ and loveth him yet if he keepeth not his Commandments he is a Lyar and deceiveth himself and hath not Eternal Life abiding in him Profession and Name of Christ without Possession and Nature is of no worth III. The true Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Spirit THE True Christian believeth in the Holy Spirit being one of the Three which bears Record in Heaven which Three are one and he sheweth forth his Faith by his Obedience thereto he hath received the Spirit of Adoption whereby he can call God Father not as the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites did but in Truth and Righteousness and he witnesseth
a being led by the Spirit in the Way of Holiness and so cannot fulfil the Lust of the Flesh but by the same doth mortifie them and gain Victory over them and is sanctified and cleansed from them and is taught by the Spirit the true Knowledge of God how to worship him aright in Spirit Truth and so prayes in the Spirit and with the Understanding and sings in the Spirit and praiseth God in the Spirit and the Law of the Spirit is in his Heart and this Law of the Spirit of Life makes him free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit of God which raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in him and quickneth his Mortal Body And this True Christian is the Spiritual Man which discerneth all Things but is not discerned by another out of the same Spirit which searcheth all Things yea the deep Things of God and he is led by the Spirit from under the Law and through the Law to him which was before the Law and so is under Grace and brings forth the Fruits thereof which is Love Peace Joy Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against this Christian there is no Law The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Holy Spirit c. But how doth he demonstrate his Faith and Belief he is ready to make a Mock of receiving the Spirit and being led by the Spirit mov'd taught by the Spirit this seems strange Doctrine to him that he should know his Lusts mortified by the Spirit and that he should walk in the Spirit and be sanctified by the Spirit from all Sin and Uncleaness and that he should attend the Motion and Guidance of the Spirit and in all his Conversation to do nothing but what will stand justified by this Holy Spirit and that he should pray in the Spirit and sing with the Spirit and worship in the Spirit c. These are new Doctrines to the Titular Christian he knows not what to make of them except it be to brand them with despicable Names And the Law of the Spirit of Life which should free him from the Law of Sin and Death he is a Stranger to and wholy ignorant of the Indwelling of that Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead to quicken his mortal Body this he counts Fanatick Doctrine c. And instead of being a spiritual Man which discerneth all Things he is Carnal and seeth not far off the Vail being over his Heart cannot see nor regard the Glory of God when it appeareth in the Inward Temple but opposeth slighteth the Appearance of that Holy Spirit which searcheth his Heart and all Things and so is not led by it from under the Law which Law was added because of Transgression and this Titular Christian which liveth in the Nature and Act of Transgression and that knows not the Cursed Ground removed which bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns from whence all Evil Thoughts Words and Works proceed and is a Stranger to the Mortification of them by the Spirit he is under the Law and liable to the Punishment thereof and not under Grace let him profess what he will if he brings not forth the Fruit of the Spirit in his Life and Conversation he clearly sheweth he doth not believe in it nor walk in it neither hath received it nor come to any true Knowledge of it by its Work and Operation in his Heart he only talks of it with his Tongue as some Book or Body hath told him this is the Property and State of a Titular Christian IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Scriptures THE True Christian truly honoureth the Holy Scriptures in their Places and believeth and receiveth their Testimony and is a living Witness of the Truth thereof and he domonstrateth it as followeth By believing receiving and obeying him viz. Christ Jesus of whom they testifie whereby he receives Power to order his Conversation according to them and the True Christian believeth that they were spoaken and written by the Motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God in Holy Men Prophets and Apostles and that it is his Duty to Wait upon God to receive the Spirit of Grace and Glory and the Gifts thereof of whom they testifie that thereby be may be enabled to read them with Understanding and to receive the Comfort of them and to be made wise through Faith in Christ unto Salvation by them And this Christian knows rightwell That all the Vniversity or Acad miâ—al Learning in the World is not able to give the true Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit in the holy Scriptures they are as a seal'd Book to all the Wit Reason Comprehension and Acquired Parts of all Mankind in the Fall Learned and Unlearned And until man comes to receive regard and improve the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal as the Scriptures witness he is wholy ignorant and a Stranger to the Key of true Knowledge and the Treasures of Life and Wisdom are hid from him and secured as with seven Seals and the Cherubimâ— with a Flaming Sword that turns every Way and guards the Tree of Life with the Fruits thereof from the faln Wisdom of Man And this the True Christian knows by Experience having tryed what the Wisdom of this World in all its Perfection can do and hath seen it confounded and brought to nought in himself being discovered to be no part of the Key of true everlasting Knowledge but rather that which hides it makes the Vail the thicker and shuts the Door of the Kingdom the faster and those that abound in it neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and this the Holy Scriptures testifie The Titular Christian he saith He honoureth the Scriptures and believeth the Testimony of them c. But how doth he demonstrate his Honour to them and Belief of them Doth he order his Conversation according to them They exhort To abstain from every Appearance of Evil and from every fleshly Lust which wars against the Soul and to put on the whole Armour of God and thereby resist the Devil and make him flee The Titular Christian doth not obey this Exhortation neither doth he believe that it 's possible that any should obey it on this side the Grave So while he pretends to honour them he gives them the Lye for what 's more ridiculous and unreasonablethen to profess a Belief that the Spirit of God in Holy Men hath left Holy Precepts and Exhortations upon Record in the Scriptures which are unpossible to be obeyed Yet this is the Language of the Titular Christian who honoureth them with his Lips and cryes them up with his Tongue but in Works denyes them Sometimes he will give them more Titles of Honour then to them is due as when he calls them The Word of God The Touch-stone and Tryer of all Spirits The Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice so in his
among them that are sanctified Acts 20.32 Eph. 5.27 who are Members of that Glorious Church which is without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish The Titular Christian he also talks of and professeth the Doctrine of Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin and Corruption But his Talk is not true and his Profession is feigned because he is not a Witness of the Work thereof in himself He hath read in the Holy Scriptures That no Vnclean Thing can enter the Kingdom and that without Holiness no man can see the Lord and that the Lord will be sanctified of all that draw near unto him Therefore he hath devised a Profession of Sanctification which may be only talkeâ— of but never possessed and wrought in him on this side the Crave And to this End he hath made up a Faith of his own and is wholy ignorant of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints or holy People by which their Hearts were purified And by Vertue of this Feigned Faith perswades himself that the Sanctification and Holiness of Christ without him shall be reckoned and imputed unto him ☞ while he remains unsanctified and unholy and that the Cleanness Innocency and Spotlesness of Christ shall be accounted unto him notwithstanding he remains foul guilty and full of Spots and Defilements and that God looks upon him not as he is in himself but as he is in Christ Jesus his Saviour when indeed he is not in him nor saved by him from that which defiles him for if any man be in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 he is a New Creature old things are past away and all things are become New By this the Titular Christian may try himself if he be not really changed the old Creature and old Things past away he is not in Christ and God cannot nor doth not look upon him where he is not ☞ therefore let him not further deceive himself for God's Witness in his own Conscience seeth and judgeth him where he is out of Christ unsanctified in the old Nature and old things and God from whence it comes is greater and seeth and judgeth him also And this Titular Christian is so far from living and enjoying a sanctified State really indeed and in truth as the True Christian did and doth that he never comes to enjoy so much Clearness and Freedom from Sin as the Jews did who lived but in the Types Figures and Shadows of Good Things to come for they once a year while they kept the Law were quitted and eased of all their Sins and Transgressions and a full Attonement was made once a year for all Sins past c. which is more then all the Nominal Christians upon the Face of the Earth really enjoy notwithstanding their Boast of living in Gospel Times and in the Dayes of the New Covenant and of Salvation by Christ Jesus Their Boast is vain the Gospel which is the Power of God to Salvation working and operating in their Inward Man to save not only from the Guilt but from the Act of Sin and to cleanse from all Iniquity they are wholely ignorant of and Strangers to and the New Covenant the Law in the Heart which makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit that sanctifieth from it reigns not in their Mortal Bodies but the contrary viz. Sin and the Law of it and by the Spirit of Truth are convinced of it and by God's Vicegerent the Light in their Consciences they stand arraigned and convicted before the Judgment-Seat of God let their Profession be never so high And the Titular Christian is not a living Witness of the One Everlasting Offering which perfecteth forever those that are sanctified nor of the Oneness and Unity which is between him that sanctifieth and those that are sanctified nor of the abiding with him that sanctifieth so as to sin no more neither is he drawn near unto God with a true Heart sprinkled from an Evil Conscience nor is his Body washed with pure Water he hath no full Assurance of Faith in these things but rather concludes them unattainable on this side the Grave and so is held captive in the Chains of Sin and Satan and entangled with the Yoak of Bondage and in this State inherits Misery and Darkness and is a Member of that Church which is full of Spots and Wrinkles Sores and Corruptions Diseased from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot of this Church Christ is not the Head Let the Titular Christian imagine what he will he must depart among the Goates because he is a Worker of Iniquity VIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Justification THE True Christian believeth the Doctrine of Justification and that it immediately succeeds the Work of Sanctification Being justified by Faith even that Faith which is the Gift of God he witnesseth Peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Heb. 10.38 Heb. 12.23 And the Just lives by Faith And he is come to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect c. even now in this Age as the True Christian did in former Ages testified of in the holy Scriptures Now to be Justified is to be made Just by Vertue of that Faith which gives Victory over the Unjust and by that Blood which cleanseth and saveth from Wrath to come And this Justification comes not by the Works of the Law Gal. 2.16 For by that shall no Flesh be Justified nor by self-Works nor self-Righteousness but by the free Gift of God which leads through the Law and fulfils it and destroys self-Works and self-Righteousness establishes good Works and brings in Everlasting Righteousness which exceeds the Righteousness of Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites and herein the True Christian stands Justified in the Sight of God who worketh all his Works in him and for him ☞ and to will and to do of his own good Pleasure Phil. 2.13 Rom. 8.33 And none can lay any Thing to the Charge of this Elect whom God justifieth The Titular Christian he professeth the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ Jesus But it 's no more then a bare Profession and his Faith is not the Faith of God's Elect neither is he led into Peace with God by it nor receives Power by it to gain Victory over the Unjust Nature and Spirit that lives in him but imagins an imputative Justification and applies the Justness Righteousness and Holiness of Christ wrought without him above 1600 Years ago unto himself while he is Unjust Unholy and Unrighteous But this avails not the Titular Christian at all herein also he decâ—ives himself being not experimentally acquainted with the Blood of Christ which justifieth washeth and cleanseth and saveth from Wrath to come and from that which is the Cause of it viz. Sin And so he knows not a leading through the Law which was added because of Transgression and hath Power over the Transgressor as
and Power to save being known to none but such as do receive it And all that do receive this Grace Tit. 2,11 are taught by it to deny Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Thus it taught the True Christian in former Ages and teacheth the same now and all that are so taught by it ☞ are not under the Law but under Grace for Grace doth not destroy the Law but fulfils it and leads those that are under it to the Enjoyment of the Substance of those Heavenly Things it shaddowed forth and which the Prophets prophesied of And further it teacheth more Spiritual and Evangelical Lessons then Moses did by whom the Law came And the True Christian not only receives this Grace but grows in it from one Degree unto another and witnesseth a being saved by it and a being justified by it having Experience of its Sufficiency when the Enemy doth assault and Tryals and Temptations attend even as Paul 2 Cor. 12.19 the aged when in Danger and besought the Lord the Answer was My Grace is sufficient for thee The Christians are Witnesses this Day of the same And Paul could say ☞ By the Grace of God I am what I am That was an High and Heavenly State to be no otherwise then Grace made him Self Sin and Satan is here excluded and all Boasting and Glorying in the Flesh is laid aside and the free Gift and Grace of God exalted over all This is a standing by Grace and a living under it being sav'd by it from transgressing the Law Rom. 5.20 21. which is Holy Just and Good Here Grace reigneth through Righteousness unto Eternal Life even where Sin reigned once unto Death and abounded here Grace is known to abound much more ☞ This was not only professed and talked of by the True Christians in former Ages nor is not now in this Age but really selt known and witnessed in them by the effectual Work and Operation of it they did not nor do profess a living under Grace while they do and commit that which the Law is over and which the Law was added because of viz. ☞ Sin He that is alive to Sin the Law hath Power over him and he is indeed under the Law notwithstanding he may profess a being under Grace and living in Gospel-Times Rom. 7. Read and Vnderstand for Paul's Parallel holds good A Woman is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as he liveth but when Dead she is loosed from the Law of her Husband So the Law hath Dominion over a Man so long as he liveth in that Life and Nature which transgresseth it let him profess what he will And none are fitted and prepared to be married to another even to him who is raised from the Dead till they are become Dead unto the Law and so delivered from it that being Dead wherein or whereby they were held viz. Sin For saith he When we were in the Flesh the Motions of Sin which were by the Law did work in our Members to bring forth Fruit unto Death but now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held that we should serve in Newness of Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter Here the True Christian knows the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled in him who walketh not after the Flesh nor the Motions of it but after the Spirit and the Motions thereof so that his Words are seasoned with Grace and walks to the Praise and Glory of his Grace And as he here abides he witnesseth a being delivered from under the Law and knows the Occasion of it taken away and so truly lives under Grace and grows in it and in the Knowledge of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be Glory both now and forever But now notwithstanding the Cry of the Tuular Christian is No Falling from Grace totally c. yet there is a Possibility that after People have received the Grace of God and known the Virtue and Operation of it also that they may Fall from it again and of Children of Grace become Children of Wrath they may turn the Grace of God into Wantonness or rather turn from it after they have received it into Wantonness they may use their Liberty which by Grace they are come unto as an Occasion to the Flesh and so not stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ had made them free And they may fall from Stedfastness after by Grace they have attained unto it And after People have clean escaped from them which live in Error and from the Pollutions of the World they may Err again and be polluted again and turn like the Dog to his Vomit again and like the Sow that was washed to the Wallowing in the Mire again ☞ and an Evil Heart of Unbelief and Disobedience in departing from the Living God after they have known him may get in again and People may crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open Shame and trample the Blood of the Covenant with which once their Hearts were sprinkled under Foot again and do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace and grieve the holy Spirit of God and finally they may make Shipwrack of Faith a Good Conscience c. These things may all be done or else in vain are the divers Exhortations recorded in the Holy Scriptures to the primitive Christians To Stand fast Abide and Continue to the End that they might not be Entangled again Deceived nor fall into Temptations again And in vain was all the Labour Travail Care and Exercise of the Apostles Teachers and Elders among the Churches after they were gathered out of the World and had received the manifold Graces of God to confirm them and establish them in the same if there had been no Danger of their Falling from it again and corrupting themselves again This Titular Christian's Opinion of no total Falling from Grace is contrary to the Current of the whole Scriptures and of the True Christan's Experience And Paul's Testimony is That such that so fall away who were once enlightened and tasted of the Heavenly Gift and Powers of the World to come Hebr. 6.4 10.26 if such sin wilfully after they have received the Knowledge of the Truth that it is unpossible to renew them again to Repentance and that there remains no more Sacrifice for Sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and Fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries who incur a sorer Punishment then those that despised Moses's Law who dyed without Mercy under Two or Three Witnesses There is a sorer Punishment then Outward Death which the Outward Law inflicted upon the Transgressors of it and those that have known the Law of him that is greater then Moses which is the Law of the Spirit of Life and have been Subjects of it and fallen and apostatized from it again
shall partake of this sorer Punishment And as none knoweth the Joy and Consolation of those that have the Law of the Spirit of Life and obey it and abide in it or the White Stone wherein the New Name is written which none knoweth but he that hath it so none knoweth the sorer Punishment the Fiery Indignation kindled by the Breath of the Lord Apostates Punishment is from God and not Men. Vengeance is the Lord's And it s a fearful thing to fall into his hand by sinning against Light and Knowledge c. nor feels the biting of the Worm which never dyes which attends the Transgressors and wilful Sinners against this Law of the Spirit of Life but he that hath it and receives it as a Just Recompence of Reward of his Disobedience Rebellion and Apostacy And the Fitular Christian who talks of living under Grace and not under the Law and of being married to Christ c. before he hath known the Law as a School-Master to bring him to Christ before he is become dead to that which the Law hath Power over before he comes to know the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled in him by the Spirit of Grace and Righteousness which exceeds the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees before he knows Grace to reign through Righteousness unto Eternal Life even where Sin hath reigned unto Death before he is taught by Grace to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly and before he ceaseth from Sin and before he knoweth the Body of it destroyed and become dead and Deliverance from the Dead Body I say before this his Talk and Profession of living under Grace is â—ain he remaining alive in that for which the Law was added viz. Sin For the main Reason to prove a Person under Grace which Paul mentioneth is For Sin shall not have Dominion over you for or because you are â—ot under the Law but under Grace He that â—ommitteth Sin is the Servant of it and Sin â—ath Dominion over him let the Titular Chritian profess what he will XVIII The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning Outward and Inward Miracles ALL Miracles and Wonders that were outwardly wrought by the Power of God before the Law under the Law since the Law by the Hand of Mâ—ses and Aaron the Prophets Christ and his Apostles were in themselves Signs generally shewed before Unbelieving Hard-hearted Adulterous Untoward Generations and we read not of very many in the holy Scriptures that were converted by the Working of Outward Miracles Pharaoh and the Egyptians were hardened the Israel tes themselves after they had seen and partook of wonderful Deliverances and Mighty Miracles wrought before their Face as the going through the Sea on Dry Land and their Enemies dâ—stroyed in the same the Pillar of Cloudâ—y Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night the Manna and Quales from Heaven the Watter out of a Rock and also drunâ— of the Spiritual Rock which followed them yet an Unbelieving Ignorant Disobedient Rebellious Murmuring Heart got up in them so that they discerned not the Power by which they were wrought nor the End wherefore being ignorant of both neither did they truly regard the Instruments by whom they were wrought their Wills and Lusts remained strong their Hearts foul and gross their Ears dull of Hearing and their Eyes so weak and their Understandings so darkened that they could not look upon nor behold the Glory of that Ministration though it was but of Angels nor abide and endure the Voice of God in giving forth the Law for the Condemnation of the Transgressor which was Glorious in its time so that they could not behold the Glory of Moses's Face without Fear Exod. 34.30 19.22 nor so much as touch the Mount on which God appeared yea the Priests unless Sanctified or made Holy were not to come nigh the Lord This was the State of the Israelites notwithstanding they were Eye-witnesses of the Mighty Wonders and Miracles visibly wrought before their Natural Senses yet through Unbelief Disobedience Murmuring and Rebellion they perished and their Carcases fell in the Wilderness and entred not into the Promised Land Let the Reader consider those things And when Christ Jesus the Great Prophet came of whom Moses prophesied and wrought divers Visible Miracles before the Hard-hearted Jews who professed themselves the Disciples of Moses I do not find nor read that many of those that saw them wrought with their Natural Eyes and that drank of that Mâ—raculous Wine made of Water and that eat of the Five Loaves and Two Fâ—shes that fâ—d Five Thousand and Twelve Baskets of Fragments to spare ☞ were converted nor so much as became his Disciples or Foâ—â—owers except for Loaves or some Selfish Ends and some among whom he wrought mighty Miracles desired him to depart their Coasts And from the Chief Priests and Leaders he met with this Judgment That he was a Deceiver a Samaritan and had a Devil and cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils so that his Raising the Dead Healing the Sick Possessed and Diseased though Mighty Works in themselves and wrought by the Power of his Father in him yet they were not such great Works â—oâ— the Effects of such great Extent but that those that did believe in him should do greater or he in his Spiritual Appearance in them would do greater John 14.12 13. according to his Saying Verely verely I say unto you He that believeth in me the Works that I do he shall do also and greater then these shall he do because I go to my Father and whatsoever ye ask in my Name that will I do This Saying and Promise was and is fulfilled fulfilling and to be fulfilled And every True Christian is a Witness of the Power that is received by believing in Christ and knoweth and experienceth greater Works and Miracles wrought by the Power and Spiritual Appearance of Christ within then all the Outward Miracles he wrought before the Carnal Eyes of Carnal Professors and Unbelievers in the dayes of his * We read of more Converted at One Sermon of Peter then by all Outward Miracles Flesh But this the Titular Christian cannot receive knowing nothing thereof In order therefore to convince him of the Truth of the same the True Christian speaks further as follows First He saith That once he was Dead in Trespasses and Sins and so Dead that though he was loaded therewith yet he felt not the Weight and Burthen thereof and not only so but he had all the Properties of a dead Man spiritually his Eye was so blind that he could not see the exceeding Sinfulness of Sin his Ear was so deaf that he could not hear the Voice of God though he often called him out of it his Feet were so lame that he could not walk one Step in the Way of God and he was so bowed down that he could not stand upright and his Bloody
John saw in his Divine and Heavenly Revelation and thou abiding in the Light and walking in the Spirit wilt not only see but enjoy the same Read Rev. 21 22. and the Lord give thee Understanding more and more and encrease thy Joy in believing and strengthen thy Faith and Hope that they may be as a Trusty Shield of Defence and as an Anchor sure and stedfast to preserve thee from all Assaults and from splitting upon a Rock or Sands till thou arrivest at the Haven of Eternal Rest and lie down in the Valley where thy Bread yea thy Daily Bread fresh fresh from the Table of the Lord will be sure and thy Water fail not where none can make thee afraid where no Enemy can prevail where no Danger of making Shipwrack of Faith and a Good Conscience is where no Destroyer is where all Tears and the Cause of them are wiped away where Faith and Hope hath an End and where the Heavenly City is whose Gates stand alwayes open and yet no unclean thing can enter As thou perseverest in the Light and obeyest and followest him that hath called thee out of Egypt and translated thee from the gross Darkness thereof thou wilt thereby be led to inherit and possess these things for It is he that endureth to the End that shall be saved Now tender Friend As thou walkest in thy Way the Light within the Spirit and Grace of God within which teacheth not only to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts but also to live Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this present World thou art safe But I do advise thee notwithstanding to take great heed and watch diligently against the Enemy of thy Happiness in all his Appearances and especially when he appears under the Form of Truth it self with the Words of it in his Mouth and with the very likeness of it for I have seen him there he has beguiled and betrayed many thereby in this Age even since we were a People and he effected it by drawing the Mind from being staid upon God waiting low in his Light to wonder after and desire something else which he made appear lovly to behold the attaining of which he perswaded them would better their Condition and encrease their Glory so in hope many after they have been presented as a chaste Virgin to Christ have again been subjected unto Vanity in this Age as Mankind was in the Beginning and have lost a present good Estate by believing the Lyes of the Serpent who told them They should enjoy a better some he hath drawn out on this wise and by other of his Wiles to that Degree of Apostacy and Degeneration that they are become like Trees twice dead and plucked up by the Roots never like to grow in the Garden of God again whose Way and End is Vtter Darkness out of which there is no Redempiâ—on Now his other Wayes and Means whereby he lies in wait to deceive are more open and manifest but his Working under the Form of Truth more secret and mysterious and more likely to prevail upon the Mind of â—e Simple unless a diligent Watch be kept then when he appears as he is By this Means I have known him not only get into the Temple of God sit there but to be worshipped as God and exalted above all that is called God or that is worshipped besides him Now â—e never got into the Temple not sate there 〈◊〉 was worshipped under the Name of a Dâ—vil Satan or Prince of Darkness now 〈◊〉 in any Age but mysteriously wrought himself in under a Disguize cloathing himself like an Angel of Light that desired and endeavoured the Good of Mankind by this Means he came and comes to be obeyed and worshipped not as he is but as he appears to be Now this Temple where he sits and where he is Worshipped is the Heart and Mind of Mankind in the Degenerate Stite And that which doth reveal him with his Mystery of Iniquity is the Light and Spâ—rit of God in which thou hast believed working and Operating in the same place and consuming him with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroying him with the Brightness of his Coming But this thou knowest not effected so soon as thou believest 't is a Work wrought by Degrees thy Safety and Duty is To wait with Patience for the Coming of the Lord in that Light and Grace which fits and prepares his Way and teacheth thee how to joyn with him when he appears and to help the Lord against the Mighty and to meet him in the Way of his Judgments by which Sion is redeemed And so as thou here waitest thou wilt discern him when he appears from all the Appearances of thy Enemy and be made willing in this Day of his Power to yield up thy Heart Mind and Strength unto him and to serve him love fear and obey him this is required on thy Part so wilt thou know him to appear unto thee as a Morning without Clouds and in his Light thou wilt see more Light and know it shine more and more unto a Perfect Day till by the Brigâ—tness thereof the whole Mystery of Iniquity be discovered and the Man of Sin destroyed and thy Temple cleansed from all that doth Defile and the Mystery of Godliness display'd therein and Truth and Righteousness sit upon the Throne and reign where Sin and Unrighteousness did reign even in thy Heart and Mind Will and Conscience then will thy Earth rejoyce and thy Heavens rain down â—atness and Everlasting Peace will be in thy Dwellings The which that thou mayest attain unto hold fast that thou hast let none take thy Crown whereunto thou hast attained therein walk pressing forwards to the End of thy Race where the Crown of Life is laid up and take heed of thy own Thoughts and Imaginations Conceivings and Consultations and of that Will that works not the Righteousness of God these of thy own House will prove thy greatest Enemies if thou walkst not in the Light which discovers them and takes up the Cross that crucifieth them and is able to bring every high Thought and Imagination into the Obedience of Christ while this is bringing to pass abide in the Patience bearing the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God and keep thy Eye fixed on the same and look not downward to the Earth nor at the Smoak that ascends out of the bottomless Pit and darkens the Air nor at the Dragon that makes War in Heaven but joyn thou with Michael the Prince and follow the Lamb which rides on conquering and to conquer so shalt thou overcome and sit down with him on his Throne as he sate down with his Father on his Throne and know thy Enemies made thy Foot-stool And that thou mayst not fail hereof Watch also against the dead Spirit of Formality see that thy Form of Godliness is accompanied and seasoned with Life Virtue and Power for though Godliness is not manifested without
a Form yet there may be a Form without the Power this Spirit of Formality captivated some in former Ages and led them to deny the Power from such they were to turn away then and so art thou now for if this Spirit of Formality prevails though a Form of Godliness be â—etained as a Form of sound Words Plainness and Decency in Apparrel Superfluity of Meats and Drinks laid aside Respecting Mens Persons and Worshipping them with Cap and Knee avoided Truth and Light within profest in Words Meetings and Assembling often frequented the Sound of Truth as a lovely Song c. Yet if thy Heart be gone astray if thou feelst not Life to lead thee if thou takest not up the Daily Cross to thy Will Thoughts Affections Lusts and Passions and by the same mortifie them thou mayst be a meer Formalist and thy observing and abiding in thy Form may become as abominable in the Sight of the Lord now as it was of old among his once Peculiar People the Jews when he sent his Prophet Isaiah to cry against them though they kept and observed the Multitude of Offerings and Sacrifices Feasts Fasts New-Moons and Sabbath Dayes Solemn Meetings and Assemblings before the Lord c. which was the very Form of Worship he once commanded but the Spirit of Dead Formality being got into their Hearts corrupted them So that he that killed an Ox was as he that slew a Man he that sacrificed a Lamb as he that cut off a Dog's Neck he that offered Oblations as if he offered Swiâ—â—s Blood he that burnt Incense as if he blessed an Idol the Reason of all this was not because these Things were evil in themselves but because the Call of the Lord was not answered and because when he spake they did not hear but did Evil before his Eyes and chose that in which he delighted not yet observed and performed the outward Part of Worship and sate before the Lord as his People and loved and delighted to hear the Word of the Lord by the Mouth of his Prophet but not to do them Read Isaiah 66.3 and Ezekiel 33.30 31 32. Now dear Friend let this sore Evil never some near thy Dwelling in thy holy Form of Godliness which thou hast been lead unto by the Power keep in the Sence and Feeling of the same in thy Form of sound Words keep in the Fear of God and Tenderness of Conscience wherein thou wert at first constrained to speak them even in the Cross to self which took great Offence thereat yet in Tenderness Love and Fear to God against thy Will and the Pride and haughty Spirit of this World wert thou moved to speak them likewise thy holy Form in not Respecting Mens Persons or having them in Admiration because of Advantage nor honouring them in bowing with Cap Knee nor giving flattering Titles to Men this the Spirit of the Lord led to in the Beginning keep in the same and his Presence and Power will uphold thee in the same and also lead thee to honour all Men in the Lord and to be subject to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake and truly to honour thy Parents and rise up before thy Elders and give them double Honour and to be curteous and kindly affectionate unto all this will the Spirit of the Lord lead thee to being the Nature of Christianity as thou walkest and abidest therein thou wilt be like thy Heavenly Father And thy Holy Form of Plainness of Apparel and thy Avoiding of Superfluity in Meats and Drinks c. keep thou with that Holy Spirit that led thee thereto and let not the Sense thereof depart from thee so shalt thou feel the Power thereof accompanying of thee and working in thee to remove that Root and Ground from whence all Superfluity of Naughtiness did arise and wholely mortifie that Spirit that delighted in these things And in thy Holy Form and Manner of Meeting together alwayes have thy Mind exercised in that Love and Life Virtue and Power of the Lord by which he touched thy Heart and met with thee therein in the beginning so shalt thou enjoy more and more of his Presence and encrease in Wisdom Life and Strength and all the Virtues of the Holy Spirit And though thou hast received an Unction from the Holy One which is able to teach thee all things necessary or needful to thy Salvation yet this will not lead thee to forsake the assembling of thy self with the Lord's People according to their wonted Manner nor to forsake the Flocks of the Companions nor the Foot-steps thereof but to travail on in the same till thou comest to know where they lie down at Noon solacing themselves in the green Pastures of Life and there to lie down with them where none can make thee afraid and where no Destroyer is where the Spirit of dead Formality hath no place Here thy Form of Godliness will be accompanied with Power and this Evil will never overtake thee as it hath some in our Age who are convinced by the Truth and love the Sound thereof yet come to our Meetings and frequent our Assemblies formally and customarily even as the Unbelievers and ignorant People go to hear the Common Service or Studied Sermons but receive not the Ingrafted Word which is able to save their Souls So though they hear many Heavenly Testimonies and Exhortations they receive and obey them not neither do they grow and encrease in their Inward Man from one Degree of Grace Knowledge and Virtue unto another This Spirit of dead Formality hath also assumed the Form of Sound Words and Plainness of Apparel c. and under this Form and Disguize hath brought forth and effected much Evil deceived many and laid a stumbling before others and brought an Evil Report upon the Truth and those that live in it And this Evil Spirit of Deceit Hypocrisie and Formality hath wrought more Mischief against the Truth and the Holy Profession of it manifest within even under this Form then all open Opposition and Persecution could ever effect This is now and hath been in former Ages the Way and Work of the Spirit of Deceit when he cannot prevail by direct Opposition and Perfecttion then will he get the Words and Profession of Truth and appear and work under the Form thereof and by the Evil Fruits he brings forth under this Disguize he occasions many who are waiting for the Consolation of Israel and strictly observing the Conversation of the Children thereof to lose their Expectation and to sit down and conclude These People are but as others and their Way is but as other Wayes and they fail in their Profession of Holiness c. as others do we see Evil amongst them as amongst others even under their very Form c. This hath occasioned many to take up their Rest in a Latitudinarian Spirit or to be ready to say All Men are Lyars and Religion a Cheat and some to run into Atheism it self But double Wo and Misery will be the Portion of those Persons who entertain and joyn with this Spirit of Deceit and Hypocrisie and thereby occasion many to stumble go backwards and fall and speak Evil of the Way of Truth which is Peaceable Peasant and Pure not only in it self but also to all those that love it and obey it and become Children of it But as for those that once knew the Way of the Lord and afterwards gave way to the Spirit of Evil Deceit Hypocrisie and Formality or that took up the Form of Godliness to deceive as in former Ages so now such are more Abominable in the Sight of the Lord and more to be testified against then the very Heathen or prophane Unbelievers False Brethren are most Perilous and Hypocrites most Odious in the Sight of God and all good Men and the Guilt of Souls lies at their Door because of their Ungodly Practices and Evil Doings under the Form Shew and Profession of Godliness such like Unsavory Salt are good for nothing but to be trod under Foot of Men judged and condemned by God's Witness within themselves and without by others and the Knawing Worm takes hold of them and the Unquenchable Fire is kindled in their Bowels and an Earnest of Eternal Vengeance they receive as a Just Recompence of Reward and like faln Angels are reserved in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day For my Faith and Belief is That if all that ever took up the Form and Profession of the Truth Light Grace and Spiritual Manifestation thereof within had stood firm in the same and watcht against ruled over and kept out the Spirit of Enmity Vngodliness Deceit and dead Formality and by the Heavenly Gift and Power with which they were endued had judged the Serpent in all his Appearances Formings and Transformings and walked Vprightly in the same the Eye of the Nations had been towards us and Yea and Nay had been of great Authority in this Nation of England before this day and Truth in the Inward Parts the Law of the Spirit the Rule of Life and Manners Within honourable and of high Esteem in the Hearts and Minds of Thousands more then now it is Offences have come and may come but Wo to them by whom they come So my tender Friend who hast not had thy spiritual Senses throughly exercised nor art not yet acquainted with all the Wiles and Devices of the Enemy for whose sake I chiefly write this Epistle this One Thing I would have thee settle in thy Mind At the Gate of dead Formality and under the Form of Godliness the Destroying Spirit of Apostacy entred in the Primitive Times and soon ecclipsed the Light of the Glorious Gospel and the Old Adversary effected that by turning Professor of Christianity which he could not bring to pass by Bloody Persecutions and open Opposition and fully understand that the Spirit of Satan working under the Form of Godliness is that which hath been is and will be the greatest Waster and Destroyer and Opposer of the Power thereof Therefore watch thou against him in this Appearance not only in others but in thy self so wilt thou frustrate his Design and be able to keep thy self as some of Old did that the Evil One touch thee not W. S. THE END