can truly call him according to the Prophecies of Old the Lord our Righteousness Rom. 8.4 9 10 14. and this is to be fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh Gal. 5.25 1 John 1.7 but after the Spirit and in the Light and Manifestation thereof And they that truly examine themselves and prove themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.3 Gal. 2.20 Col. 1 2â— they may know how that Jesus Christ the Lord their Righteousness is in them except they be Reprobates thus the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 13. who through weakness in the Faith sought a Proof of Christ speaking in him which speaking of Christ he affirmeth was to themwards not weak but was mighty in them By which it is evident that where the Man of Sin hath prevailed by his deceitful power in and upon any when such come by the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in themselves to be convinced of their Sins and made willing to resist the wicked One in the Faith of Christ the Power of God yet it seemeth not easie at the first for such to believe in the mighty Speakings of Christ the Power of God in themselves nor to believe in Christ's Ability to save and cleanse them from all Sin and that he is able with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume and destroy the Man of Sin and his Works in them For while People yield their Members Servants to Sin and profess Christianity the Man of Sin in themselves and by his Instruments outwardly is ready to perswade them either that a Priest can forgive them or pronounce Forgiveness to them for their Sins as not only the Popish Priests but others as for instance the Author of the Book called The Practice of Piety teach and that so they may be absolved from their Sins or else he would perswade them as he doth too many That they must have the Righteousness of Christ only imputed to them wholly without them to justifie them though they be not inwardly sanctified by the Word of his Power in their Hearts and though they be continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed against his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Consciences and that they must believe that they must only be saved by the Meriâ—s of Christ's Death and Sufferings which he suffered for them now above Sixteâ—n Hundred Years since without the Gates of Jerusalem to satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins but they must not expect to be free from Sin but to be continually sinning while they live in this World So the Man of Sin the Devil will suffer his Servants to make as large a shew of Christianity as they can so that they will continue in Sin that is in Service and Slavery to him and his Power but he willeth not to have them believe that they must be saved from their Sins by the precious Blood of Christ which he hath shed for them Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.12 13 14. Eph. â—2 5 nor that they must be saved from their Sins and redeemed from all Iniquity by the Grace of God in their own Hearts Heb. 2.9 by which all true Christians were and are saved and by which Christ tasted Death for every Man and the Man of Sin would have People to believe Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.18 22. Heb 8.10 that while they are in this World they cannot be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus as true Christians witnessed that they were and that Law was in their Hearts Thus the Prince or Ruler of Darkness keeps many in subjection to his dark Power and Spirit so that they consider not that they who live in Sin Heb. 6.6 and in disobedience to the Light of Christ's Spirit in themselves crucifie Christ afresh and put him to open shame whereas the Apostle said Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Gal. 5.24 they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts And the Apostle John writes He that saith he abideth in Christ as true Christians do ought himself also to walk even as be walked 1 Joh. 2.6 1 John 4.13 And said he Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him 1 John 3 5 6 7. little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous And the Apostle Paul saith The Church is subject to Christ in every thing but they that live in Sin are not so and that he gave himself for it Eph. 5.24 25 26 27. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word which is nigh that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And again he writes The Weapons of our Warsare are not Carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. casting down Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ And now let all that profess Christianity examine and prove themselves whether or no they be thus subjected to Christ for though he be the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Heb. 2.9 Job 10.14 15. Nah. 1.3 Rom. 2.6 to 10. Rev. 22.12 John 1.4 and though by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man yet he will not acquit the Wicked but as he is a righteous Judge he will render to every Man according to his Deeds and how shall those escape that neglect his great Salvation and rebel against his Light which is his Life which they crucifie and oppress in themselves by Sin in their Affections and Lusts They are not like to escape the Righteous Judgments of God who disobey the Light of his Spirit in their Hearts and obey the Man of Sin the Devil who tempts them so to do and so they yielding to his Temptations are taken captive by his power which cometh through disobedience to God to be exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped and so he swayes and rules them being his Subjects by his dark power who ought as true Christians are to be subject to the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in their Hearts And so according to the perswasion of him whose power prevails over them many believe Gen. 17.1 Mat. 5.48 1 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 3 4 5 6. and plead that none though assisted by the Grace and Power of God can keep the Commandments of God nor be freed from Sin
〈…〉 By the FINGER of Gods Power AND His Visage Discovered by the Light of CHRIST JESUS and his Ministers Members Workes 〈◊〉 Lying Wonders Manifested by the Spirit of God a Manifestation whereof is given to every Man and Woman to profit withal With Friendly and Serious Invitations Exhortations and Warnings to all Professors of Christianity to beware that Antichristian Spirit that leadeth to Destruction and those Teachers who are Influenced by it Written in the Love of God by a Prisoner at Lancaster Castle for the Testimony of Truth and one of the People called in Scorn Quakers HENRY MOLLINEVX And Jesus answered and said unto them Take heed that no man deceive you for many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many and because Iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold Mat. 24.4 5 10 11. As ye have beard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists 1 John 2.18 LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sâ—â—â—â— near the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court in 〈◊〉 street 1695. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Friendly Reader IT hath been a weighty Concern upon me for several Years to give forth in Writing a Testimony against the Spirit of Antichrist as I have through the Love and Mercy of God been made sensible thereof by the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ Jesus the Son of the Living God and so having cleared and eased my Mind and Conscience of what hath lain upon me I commit to thee the following Treatise desiring that the fear and dread of the Lord God may constantly have a place in thy Heart in the Reading of it as it had in mine in the Writing of it and that will preserve thee Meek and Low in Heart in an aptness to Learn of Christ the Son of God's Love that many Professors of Christianity are but ignorantly talking of and so thou wilt not be apt to take offence nor stumble at the Truth as thou art made sensible of it in thy Heart but wilt be willing for thine own Eternal Good truly to examine thy self before the Lord in Secret how thou standest in thy Spiritual State and Condition before his All-seeing Eye for there was never more need for People to be truly concerned for the Salvation of their Precious Souls than there is now but they who walk not in the fear of the Lord slight it And if thou Reason saying Ah! But I am Unlearned and how should I understand or know the Truth For there are many great Scholars and Men Learned in Latin Greek and Hebrew and yet one sort of them preacheth one Doctrine and others other Doctrines and therefore how should I know which is the Truth I answer that thou mayest be as capable to know the Truth as if thou understood Latin and Greek and Hebrew for the Manifestation of the Spirit of Truth in thy own Heart that reproveth for Sin is sufficient to teach thee to know the Truth if thou believest in it and be truly willing to obey it and in disobedience to it none can know the Truth to their Comfort though they may perfectly understand Latin Greek and Hebrew the understanding whereof in its place may be good and serviceable Yet thou knowest not how soon thou must give an Account to the God of Truth how thou hast profited with the Manifestation of his Spirit of Truth which is given to thee to profit withal As for the Times and Manner of the Inventions setting up and establishing of the Popish Mass Ceremonies Tythes and other Trumpery I refer thee to a Book put forth by Francis Howgill in Two Parts the first Intituled The Glory of the True Church discovered and the latter Part The Rock of Ages exalted above Rome 's imagined Rock And also to a little Book called Popery Arraigned set forth by G. F. and E. H. it not being my present Concern so much to shew the Times and Persons and Manner how by whom and when the Popish Inventions came up in the Apostacy that being upon Record and sufficiently done before as to shew how much they are contrary to the Scriptures of Truth and to the Spirit of Truth by which those Scriptures were given forth and how many professing Christianity and Reformation from Popery are yet found in them and in an Antichristian Spirit and how they may know the evil thereof and come out of them that they may enjoy the pure Life of Christianity which is more than Profession thereof Herein several Popish Inventions and Practices are very little or none Treated of yet comprehended being contrary to the Scriptures of Truth and the Witness of God in every Heart in them who truly take heed to it will Testifie against them such as their Worshipping of Images and Pictures and Relicks and Bones of the Dead and praying to the Dead and for the Dead and counting their Prayers by Beads as if they thought like the Heathens of which Chirst spake that they should be heard for their much speaking or babling with their Mattens and Letanies and their Idle Complements and giving of Flattering Titles c. and also their being divided into many distinct and different Orders and Sorts of Monks Friars and Jesuits and yet they plead or cry up Unity and also their Orders for Barbarian Praying wilfully in an Unknown Tongue and their not permitting to the People the Scriptures of Truth in their own Language which were publick amongst the Primitive Christians who searched them daily and found great Comfort by them and the Apostles and Holy Men of God wrote in a Known Tongue or Mother Tongue to whom they wrote that all might understand them and be edified by them in the Spirit of Christ by which only the Scriptures of Truth may be truly understood And so I commit thee to the Word of God's Grace which is the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in thine own Heart by which only thou mayest be made sensible to understand aright the Things that Concern thy Everlasting Peace and Happiness who am a Well-wisher to all Mankind H. M. THE CONTENTS COncerning the Prevailings of Antichrist and his being manifested in the Primitive Times of Christianity and the Prophesies of him from Page 1 to 32. Concerning the Power of Antichrist and also concerning Freedom from Sin and concerning the Popes and Babylon from Page 32 to 105. Concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper and also concerning the Signs of Antichrist and Fighting and Persecution and Tythes and the Spirit that denieth Christ come in the Flesh from Page 105 to 233. Concerning Reformation from Popery and Constancy and Inconstancy to Professions from Page 233 to 251. Concerning the Wonders of Antichrist and concerning them that say lo here and lo there from Page 251 to 258. Concerning the Rock on which the Church of Christ is Built and the Popes pretended Headship and Infallibility and Popish Persecutions from Page 258 to 270. Concerning the Popes pretended Stewardship from Page
270 to the end Antichrist Unvailed c. THE large Love of God in his Son Christ Jesus being freely tendered unto all Mankind it hath been and is the endeavour of the Devil the great Enemy of Man's Happiness by his Subtilty and Devilish Wisdom and oft by insinuating into them hopes of better Attainments to draw out the Minds of Mankind from the pure Obedience to what God hath made known in them and unto them of his Will and Mind and their Duty towards him and so by affecting their Minds with outward things to bring them into disobedience to the Will of God thereby to make them unworthy of the Goodness of God to their Souls and of his Bounteous Love in which he gives to every Man and Woman a measure of his Divine Light in their Hearts and Souls which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 12 7â— which is given to every man to profit withal which Christ said should comfort and lead them that follow it into all truth or into truth in every thing but should reprove the World of sin and of righteousness and of judgment John 16.8 13. Now the God of Mercy in the tender Bowels of his Love having for the Redemption of fallen Mankind sent his Son into the World in the Body that was prepared him who came a Light into the World which is the true Light that enlightens every Man and Woman that cometh into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not perish John 1.9 but have everlasting life Joh. 3.15 16 Man's grand Enemy at that time endeavoured as much as in him lay to keep Peoples Minds in a Love of the Ceremonies and Ordinances given to their Forefathers and in an outward shew and form of Worship in which they that were erred from and rebelled against God's good Spirit Neh. 9.20 which he had given them to instruct them Isa 1.13 were not accepted of him thereby to keep People from coming to the light or manifestation of the Spirit whereby they might have come to have believed in him the Messiah or Christ Prophesied of by the Prophets who spake by his Spirit whose Writings they had and believed them to be true according to which they expected him about that time Yet by erring from and rebelling against his Light and Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences many of the Jews who esteemed themselves the peculiar People of God were so darkned that they did not believe in him but they that walked in Obedience to the Light of his Spirit they believed in him and they received him as the only Messiah the Christ the Son of the Living God as Simeon did who took him up in his Arms and said Lord Luke 2.2 â— to 35. now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel The great Enemy of Mankind had then so far prevailed upon the Learned Rabbies and Doctors among the Jews that though they had the Scriptures which testified of him in their own Language yet being erred from the light of his Spirit in themselves they were so far from receiving Christ and believing in him that they agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ he should be put out of the Synagogue John 9.22 And although he did many Miracles among them yet they believed not but contended with him maliciously and falsly accused him and said He cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils and said that he brake the Sabbath with much more of the like kind of words as may be read in the Scriptures of Truth and at length were so desperately hardned in their wickedness that seeking opportunity to kill him when the Chief Priests had hired the false pretender Judas to betray him and deliver him unto them they put him to the Death of the Cross yet some of them said they found no fault in him And yet still his Love was towards them even upon the Cross and he prayed for them saying Father forgive them Luke 23.34 for they know not what they do So the Devil their great Enemy by his deceit had drawn them so far into darkness and from the light of Christ in themselves that they knew not what they did And indeed it may well be supposed that they knew not what they did when in the Service of the Enemy of their Souls they Crucified and put to Death him that came to save them from their Sins from Wrath and from the Devil their Enemy And so now all that oppose and contend against the Light which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in the Heart or envy them that profess it and walk according to it or any other People whosoever upon the account of Religion are certainly deceived by their great Enemy Satan whose Service they are in being erred from the Light and Spirit of Christ which teacheth them who walk in it good will towards all Men and love to their Neighbours though Enemies But when the Chief Priests and Pharisees and People of the Jews had with a general consent Crucified the Lord of Glory after they had mocked him and scourged him yet they and their Enemy whom they served missed of their expectation and desire for they were still in fear lest he should rise again as he had told before and therefore they watched him sealing the stone Mat. 27.62 to 66. Mat. 28.2 to 2. and making as they thought the Sepulchre sure but in the Lord 's appointed time there was a great Earthquake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sate upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men but the Angel said to the Women who were Friends of Jesus Fear not ye for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified he is not here he is risen So the Grave could not contain him Death had not dominion over him Hâ—b 2. â—â— but through death he destroyed and will destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil So the Devil and his deceived Servants had not their desire nor the power to destroy Christ but they came to destruction themselves And so now all that err from and disobey the Light and Spirit of Christ and follow the leadings and movings of their deceitful Enemy the Prince of Darkness if he shall prevail in them so far as to cause them to kill the Bodies of the People of God who walk in his Light and answer the manifestation of his Spirit of Love and in it are kept in true good will towards all Men because of their Religion on purpose thereby to root out and destroy
them who are in judgment contrary to themselves yet they must never have their desire but as they destroy their Fellow-Creatures their Friends so Eternal Destruction will be to themselves and the Light and Spirit of God will be their Condemnation for ever But blessed and happy are all they and shall be for evermore who suffer for the Testimony of a good Conscience and are faithful unto Death for God will give them a Crown of Eternal Life and such in the midst of Persecution or at the laying down of their Lives for their Testimony in obedience to the Light and according to the Example of Christ the Captain of their Salvation can pray for their Persecutors who being blinded by their deceitful Leader the Devil know not what they do but think they do God service but Eternal Torment shall seize upon the Murtherers fear shall surprize them and truth will rise up in Judgment against them over all Deceit over all Error and over the Devil and all his deceived Followers and God will be magnified over all who is worthy for evermore Amen And after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ when his Apostles who according to his command waited at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high were commissionated to Preach in his Name and Power his Everlasting Gospel then the great Deceiver and Enemy of Man's Felicity was very busie in his deceived Servants and Instruments to hinder the propagation and publication of it stirring them up by his Murthering Persecuting Spirit to Murder and Persecute the Ministers and Apostles of Christ as may at large be read in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles But Christ the power of God by the living operation of his Light which he sent his Ministers to turn People unto from Darkness and by the word of his Grace which is one with the Light working effectually in the Hearts of many to the convincement of them of their evil deeds thereby-bringing them to true Repentance and to the acknowledgment of the truth and not only so but also teaching them to live godlily and righteously and soberly thereby as well in Life and Conversation as in Words to Preach and Propagate the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God So that the number of Christians encreased much and that in several Nations to the glory of God and the great comfort and cause of rejoicing of many Souls who had received the Light of Christ and believed in it and walked in it wherein they had true Unity and Fellowship one with another and knew by the Blood of Christ Jesus 1 John 1.7 a cleansing from all sin which their Soul's Enemy had wrought in them and in the Name and Power of Christ knew and witnessed a triumphing in his Eternal Life over the power of Death which is the Devil 2 Cor. 2.14 Col. 2.13 to 17. Heb. 2.14 who had formerly captivated them and held them as in Chains of Darkness which they knew and witnessed to be broken and dissolved by the Light and Power of Christ and so could say The Darkness is past 1 John 2.8 and the true Light now shineth So the great Deceiver the Devil was frustrated of his Will for the Gospel was Preached and the Name of Christ gloriously magnified in his People over the Earth all the Endeavours of the Devil and his deceived ones not being able to suppress it But although many received the Gospel of Christ in uprightness of Heart and believed in his Light unto which his Ministers were sent to turn their Minds from darkness and in faithful obedience from their very Hearts gave up their All to the service of God in his Light the manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts and Souls and Consciences out of which Light and Spirit no service was ever acceptable to the Lord and so became Children of the Light of God who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and in his Light and Spirit enjoyed precious Unity and Fellowship one with another and knew Satan the Devil the Old Serpent who by his subtilty had formerly deceived them to be by the power of God as bruised under their Feet no more able to prevail upon them by his subtil deceit but in the Light Spirit and Power of God they could keep their standing over him and all his deceivable Device of Unrighteousness and in Christ the Lord their Righteousness had Peace and Joy in his Holy Spirit and so rejoiced together in their Heavenly Places in Christ and glorified God over all in their day and time and though many came to these and the like Attainments as the Scriptures of Truth at large declare Yet the subtil Deceiver the Devil who was a Lyar and a Murtherer from the beginning by his deceitful Devices and dark Power prevailed upon many that were convinced of the true Light that enlightens every Man that cometh into the World and that believed concerning Christ that he laid down his Life for Mankind and rose again from the Dead and ascended up on high and so they could make a Profession of Christianity having a Notional Knowledge of Christ and of things relating to Eternity and it was by drawing their Minds from the Light of Christ in themselves that the deceitful Enemy prevailed to keep them only in a Profession of Christianity and in a Form of Godliness but out of the obedience of the Light and Spirit of Christ and so out of the Truth though professing it And so being out of the Truth and out of the Obedience of the Light which is the manifestation of the Spirit of God they were not though they might profess to be Children of the Light nor Children of God for it is they that are led by the Spirit of God that are Children of God and all the Children of God are taught of God by his Spirit and consequently they were out of the glorious Liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.14 Isa 54.13 John 6.45 Heb. 8.11 1 John 2.27 and of the Gospel of Christ the beguiling Serpent keeping their Minds fast in the love of outward things and so they would still keep up the Ordinances Col. 2.14 Gal. 4.9 10. Ceremonies and Customs of their Forefathers though contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and were in Bondage to weak and beggarly Elements and observed Days and Months and Times and Years And so they were held in Bondage to Corruption and Corruptible Things and tho' they then professed Christianity and desired no doubt to be called Christians yet their Enemy beguiling them and keeping them by his deceit in disobedience to the Light of Christ in themselves they acted and lived contrary to true Christianity And though they appeared as for Christ they were really against him and his Truth and being themselves deceived they endeavoured to deceive others being Enemies to the Cross of Christ to which he
had nailed the Hand-writing of Ordinances Phil. 3.18 Col. 2.14 blotting it out and taking it out of the way where the Redeemed were to walk And as the Ministers of Christ declared among the true Christians that the Spirit of Antichrist should come so the Apostle John in his time restified 1 John 4.3 that it was then already in the World And although it appeared in them upon whom it prevailed as for Christ or on his behalf yet it was and still is really against him and the Truth of his Gospel being the same deceitful Spirit that draws into and endeavours to keep the Minds of Mankind in the love of outward things and in a kind of satisfaction in outward Performances old Ceremonies uncertain Traditions and beggarly Elements and so keeps out of the obedience of the Light and Spirit of God and out of the Service of God which they profess but it keeps in the Service of him who is their Enemy the Devil who hath deceived them who is to be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone to be tormented Day and Night for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 So when Man 's grand Enemy could not hinder the glad-tydings of the Gospel of God's Salvation from being Preached thorough the Nations of the World then by his Spirit of Antichrist he laboured with all his subtil Devices to keep them who were convinced of the Light of the Gospel of Christ only in a Profession of Christianity without the Life and Power of Godliness that so though they profest Christ in words Titus 1.16 yet in works they might deny him And at that time he thus prevailed upon many with his deceit and made them deceitful like himself 2 Tim. 3.5 Philip. 1.15 Titus 1.11 having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof and so some preached Christ even of Eavy Strife and Contention and others being Men of corrupt Minds supposing Gain to be Godliness and having Hearts exercised with covetous Practices taught for filthy Lucreâ—s sake things that they ought not And many having itching Ears followed such Teachers and their pernicious ways erring from the way of Truth the Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in themselves to which if they had been faithful and obedient it would have manifested inwardly unto them the subtil Devices Snares and Stratagems wherewith the Devil their Enemy had beguiled them and whereby he acted them in his Service to deceive others and to draw them away from the true Faith of Christ being themselves reprobate concerning the Faith resisting the Truth as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8 But their Folly was manifested by the Light and Spirit of Christ and they that walked in the Light saw their Folly And the Apostle called such Antichrists saying Little Children it is the last time And as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists 1 John 2.18 19. whereby we know that it is the last time They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Thus it is manifest that when the Enemy of Man's Happiness the Devil could not keep People from believing in Christ because the Testimony of the Light of Christ in their Hearts and Consciences confirmed and was at one with the Doctrine and Preaching of his Ministers yet those that he could with his deceit prevail upon by his Unclean Envious 2 Tim. 3.13 Antichristian Spirit to keep them in disobedience to the Light them he made Antichrists evil Men and Seducers waxing worse and worse deceiving and being by him deceived And yet the Devil could allow such to make a Profession of the Knowledge of God and of Christ and to speak great swelling words 1 Pet. 2 1â— 19. to allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were clean escaped from them that live in Errour and to promise Liberty to others while they themselves were the Servants of Corruption And so though such could style themselves Ministers of Christ and of his Gospel and could use the words of the Scriptures and of the true Ministers of Christ and of his Prophets who spake by his Holy Spirit as they were moved thereby and could make a large flourishing shew by their Preaching in their enticing words of humane Wisdom which is earthly sensual and devilish and in their large comprehending Wit Jam. 3 1â— which they had as natural Men thereby to draw many after them yet all that was in the Airy Lustful Wanton Spirit that proceeds from the Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 who works and rules in the Hearts of all the Children of Disobedience And therefore it was not like that they should bring any into Obedience they themselves being in Disobedience to the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in themselves which teacheth them that believe in it and obey it to live soberly godly and righteously and reproveth for lightness and vanity and lustfulness and wantonness and all the hidden works of darkness and dishonesty and unrighteousness and ungodliness all which the Prince of the Power of the Air teacheth and worketh and leadeth into by his dark Power and deceitful Antichristian Spirit And it is not like that his Servants and Followers should bring any out of those things for he leads them into them and so do his Ministers too let them profess what they will or can And none can come out of them but by taking diligent heed to the Light of Christ in themselves which is the Grace of God which brings Salvation and hath appeared to all Men. And so Antichristian Ministers keep poor People from the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves although many by it see them to be wrong that they may be ever learning of them but never thereby be able to come to the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus and such can never bring any to the knowledge of the Truth for they are out of it themselves and all are such who Preach for Hire and for their own Carnal Ends or for Strife or Envy and filthy Lucre's sake through Covetousness with feigned words making Merchandise of People for such run and God never sent them therefore they shall not profit the people at all Jer. 23.21 32. But they who obey the Light of Christ in their Hearts by it see their deceit who would keep People from it for the Apostles were sent to turn their Minds to it and the Eye of the Lord is upon the ways of all and he will render unto all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings who sees and knows and searches the Hearts and tryeth the Reins of all And though those Antichristian Ministers could not only talk and preach of Holiness and
Righteousness and Redemption and Justification by Christ Jesus but also though they might perswade exhort and advise People thereunto as they without Commission from Christ took upon them yet they were unlike to bring any to the enjoyment of those good things which they exhorted and advised to being out of them themselves and being in unrighteousness and disobedience themselves they could not bring others unto those good things which they wanted themselves But the true Christian Ministers who lived in and preached in obedience to the Light and Spirit of Christ and directed and turned peoples Minds to the true Light the Manifestation of the Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences by taking heed thereunto and giving up freely with their Hearts to the obedience of it thereby many came to see not only the Snares and subtil Devices of the Devil but also to know power to avoid them and also to know Redemption Holiness Righteousness Justification and Salvation by Christ whose Light and Spirit in their Hearts they obeyed and lived in and walked in according to the advice and exhortation of the true Ministers of Christ But how could the Antichristian Ministers direct or turn Peoples Minds to the Light which they doing evil hated John 3 2â— For every are that doth evil hateth the Light and bringeth not his deeds to the Light lest thereby they should be reproved And how should such bring any out of Sin and Unrighteousness by their Preaching who hate the Light which leads out of Sin and Unrighteousness them that believe in it and obey it But they that are unfaithful and disobedient to it them it reproveth and condemneth in their Hearts and such hate it and love rather to bear the words of Men though false Teachers than to hear the voice of the Light the word of God's Grace in their Hearts that reproveth them for Sin and is the true Teacher that leadeth to Salvation from Sin and from the Devil the Author of Sin the deceitful Enemy of Mankind So the deceitful Antichristian Ministers hating the Light of Christ were unlike to speak well of it and more unlike to possess others with the love of it or to turn their Minds to it for they loved Darkness rather than the Light and endeavoured to keep their Followers in Darkness lest they should turn from them But the true Christian Ministers they loved the Light believed in it walked in it and in the love and authority of it they preached it and said 1 John 1.5 6 7. That the preaching of the Light was the Message which they had heard of God and declared unto People and they turned the Minds of many to it who in the love of it received it believed in it became Children of it walked in it had Fellowship one with another in it and knew a cleansing from all Sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ the Author of their Faith in it Mark the difference between the true Ministers of Christ and the Antichristian Ministers and all that desire the Salvation of their Souls ought to beware what they hear and whom they follow And the difference between the Ministers of Christ and the Ministers of Antichrist is yet more fully declared of by the Scriptures of Truth for the true Christian Ministers preached that all should believe in the Name of Christ Jesus Rev. 19.13 Heb. 4.12 whose Name is called the Word of God which Word they said was quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the Joints and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Hearts And they preached that this Word ought to be believed in which was nigh even in the mouth Rom. 10.8 1 Pet. 1.23 and in the heart being the word of Faith which they preached By which Word which liveth and abideth for ever the true Christians were Born again and so were the Children of God and Heirs of Eternal Life through Christ Jesus who is called the Word John 1.1 2 4 9.12 13. which was in the beginning with God and was and is God in whom was Life and the Life was the Light of Men that was the true Light which enlighteneth every Man and Woman that cometh into the World And they preached that as many as received him and believed in his Name to them he gave power to become the Sons of God which were Born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh John 12.36 John 1.5 Rev. 21.24 nor of the will of Man but of God and so they were Children of the Light by believing in it and Children of God who is Light in which Light the Nations of them which are saved must walk And the true Christian Ministers preached that this Light 1 Cor. 12.7 Jam. 1.21 or Word or Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every Man to profit withal was the engraffed Word which is able to save the Soul and they called it the Word of God's Grace which brings Salvation and which is able to build up Isa 20.32 and to give an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified Tit. 2.11.12 and they said that this Grace of God hath appeared to all Men teaching them who obeyed it to live godly righteously and soberly and to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and thus all the true Christians as Christ said were to be taught of God John 6.45 Rom. 5.21 Rom. 8.2 and so Sin should not have dominion over them they being not under the Law but under Grace And they said as Sin had reigned unto Death so Grace might reign through Righteousness to Eternal Life And so the true Christians could say the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made them free from the Law of Sin and Death Jer. 31.32 33 which Law according to the Promise of God in his Covenant of Light and Grace was put into their Minds and written in their Hearts so that they should not need to teach every Man his Neighbour and his Brother saying Know the Lord Heb. 8.10.11 for all should know him from the least even to the greatest And they preached that what was spoken of by the Prophet Joel Joel 2.28 Acts 2.16.17 Rom. 8.14 Rom. 8.9 Cor. 3.16.17 Gal. 5.5 25. was fulfilled which God said That he would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and they said As many as are led of the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God And if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.1 he is none of his and so consequently is no true Christian for the Spirit of God dwelleth in true Christians who through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith And as they lived in the Spirit so they exhorted to walk in the Spirit saying There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after
of Christ beareth witness with true Christians â—om 8.16 1 John â— 10 that they are the Children of God and consequently their Spirits bear witness of the same with the Spirit of Christ and he that is of God hath the witness in himself But he that is not sensible of the Spirit of Christ thus to witness in him that he is a Child of God hath not he the Manifestation or Testimony of the Spirit though possibly he may not believe what it is that in his Heart and Conscience testifies that he is of his Father the Devil Surely these things are of great importance and are worthy to be seriously and weightily considered of by all People who desire the Salvation of their precious Souls and they who have truly believed in the Light of Christ and yielded obedience thereunto have therein and thereby seen and weightily considered these things and have learned and are learning to avoid the Snares of the Devil's deceit of Unrighteousness wherewith he beguiles many to the Loss of their Souls Happiness Eternally although such when so beguiled may profess Christianity and look upon themselves to be Christians But the Light of Christ in true Christians sheweth and discovereth to them the Deceit of their Spiritual Enemy in all his Appearances both in their own particulars and in others his deceived deceitful Members and Ministers who in his Service may profess Christianity For true Christians are the Sheep of Christ which hear and know his Voice and follow him John 10.3 to 14. and a Stranger they will not follow for they know not the Voice of Strangers but Christ is the good Shepherd who giveth his Life for the Sheep and said he I know them and am known of mine whereby it is evident that true Christians have a true discerning of the Voice of Christ which is the Light or Manifestation of his Spirit in them from the Voice of a Stranger which saith he they will flee from whether in themselves or from others And such may rightly be called Strangers who disobey the Light Voice and Spirit of Christ Eph. 4.18 19 20 21. Eph. 2.12 Isa 42.6 Isa 49.6 which if they obeyed it would lead them in the Way of Life which through disobedience they err from and lose and so become alienated from the Life of God and Righteousness and true Christianity and such are Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and Strangers to the Covenant of Promise which is Christ the true Light and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth And to such Christ is a Stranger though they may profess great things in his Name and in the Sentence of true Judgment he will say unto them they not being termed his Sheep but Goats I was a Stranger Mat. 25.33.43 46. and ye took me not in and then when such cannot be received of Christ they shall begin to say We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he will say I tell you I know you not whence you are Luke 13.26 depart from me all ye Workers of Iniquity and these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment And those that say Lord Lord but do not the Will of God but disobey his Voice Light Grace and Spirit whereby he would teach and lead them to Eternal Rest and Happiness when they shall say to Christ Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works then for all their large Profession he will profess unto them saying I never knew you Mat. 7.21 22 23. depart from me ye that work Iniquity And among all sorts of People called Christians there will at last appear to be but two to wit true and false or Sheep and Goats and it is very like that the Sheep know themselves from Goats and if the Goats be not very senceless they may possibly by the Light discern that they are none of the Sheep And all that by true Examination of themselves in the Light of Christ do perceive that they are not of his Sheep who know him and his Voice in them they must upon necessity of Salvation yield up their whole Hearts to seek the Lord if they expect Mercy from him who is a God of Mercy to all that truly fear him and also hearken to the Voice Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Souls and Consciences to which as they are faithful and wait diligently and seriously always in his fear which will keep their Hearts clean and upright to him they in due time may come truly to know not only a following of the Lamb which is likewise the great Shepherd of the Sheep but also a being created anew into the Lamb-like Nature and so a being made new Creatures even Lambs or Sheep of the one Fold of Eternal Rest whereof Christ Jesus the Lamb without blemish is the true Shepherd who leads and brings thither his Sheep John 10.16 Them said he I must bring and they shall hear my Voice and there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd So then true Christians which are the Sheep of Christ they hear the Voice of Christ they walk in his Light they are taught by his Grace and they are led by the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts Souls and Consciences which Voice Light Grace and Manifestation is one And the true Christians did not only know them who were gone out from them to be Antichrists but they also knew that then amongst them there was false Brethren Gal. 2.4 2 Cor. 11.26 Jude 4. who came in amongst them privily to spy out their true Christian Liberty whom the true Christians then knew to be perilous And the true Ministers of Christ in and by his Light and Spirit saw and prophesied of an Apostacy or falling away from the Truth and that among Christians because they would not receive the love of the Truth which in the inward parts God loveth that they might be saved therefore said the Apostle Paul God shall send them strong Delusions 2 Thes 2.11 12. that they should believe a Lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness And likewise the same Apostle Paul prophesied of the Man of Sin being revealed the Son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God And be said to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2.1 to 13. Ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time for the mystery of Iniquity doth already work only he who now leâ—teth will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his
to wit If we have said us not to have Sin the Latin words being thus si dixerimus nos peccatum non habere which are according to the signification of the Greek words in which the Apostle wrote which are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which implieth the time past and that there had been a time wherein they could not have truly said that they had no Sin See Beza's Latin Testament and Pasor's Lexicon But that all are to continue in Sin while in this World the Words of the said Apostle here are very plain to the contrary to wit If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins 1 John 1.7 and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness And again If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another 1 John 2.1 to 10. and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And again My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And speaking of Christ he saith He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the truth is not in him And again saith he Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure And again Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let no man deceive you it seemeth there were pleader for Sin then he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God in this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil By all which and many other Scripture sayings it is evident that the Faith of those who believe that they cannot be free from sinning but must carry a Body of Sin and a Body of Death while they are in this World is quite contrary to the Faith and Testimony of true Christians For the Faith of true Christians is in Christ the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.2 and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2.5 2 Cor. 13.3.4 5. 1 John 4.4 Phil. 2.13 Rom. 6.18 22. Jude 24. and that he is greater that is in them than the Prince of the power of the Air he that is in the World and that he must rule in them whose right it is who worketh in them both to will and to do and their Faith is that he is more able to cleanse and keep them free from Sin as true Christians were and are than the Devil is to lead them to Sin the Wages whereof is Death which the Servants thereof must have And so though those whose Faith is dead being servants of Sin may profess Christ who is a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Ephes 2.1 2 to 7. and quickned and quickneth them that truly believe in him who were dead in Trespasse and Sins yet in that dead Faith they cannot enjoy the benefit which true Christians did Rom. 8.1 2. and do enjoy which is to be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus for according to their Faith so it is unto them For as the People of Christ's own Country were offended at him for his Wisdom and his mighty Works and being astonished said Mark 6.1 to 7. Mat. 13.54 to 58. Whence hath this Man this Wisdom and these mighty Works Is not this the Carpenter's Son is not kis Mother called Mary and his Brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas and his Sisters are they not all with us whence then hath this Man all these things And he did not many mighty Works there because of their unbelief So they that are offended at the Light of Christ in his Spiritual Appearance in their Hearts that shews them their Sins and reproveth them in their Souls and Consciences for all their Offences against it insomuch that they are sometimes astonished thereby yet say they Is not this the Check of a Natural Conscience Is not this a Natural Light that we are born and bred up with are not our Vnderstandings and Knowledge in Arts and Sciences Brethren and Sisters to it whence hath it these things And there cannot in such be mighty Works done because of their Unbelief But true Christians who have believed in the Light Rom. 8.11 Ephes 2. Rom. 6.1 2 to the end Gal. 2.20 1 Pet. 4.6 Phil. 2.13 the Manifestation of the quickning Spirit of Christ in their Hearts and Souls they have as they have been faithful in the obecience of it known by the effectual working of it in themselves a being raised from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness and that where Sin hath abounded Grace doth much more abound and so to the Praise and Glory of God they live by Faith in the quickning Spirit of Christ in them But they that believe that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death with them while they live in this World and that the Devil's power and spirit must prevail in them so long as they live how can the Faith of such or their Works either honour God or Christ or his Power And they that deny Freedom from Sin being attainable while in this Life 1 Joh. 3.8 Jer. 23.6 Chap. 33.16 Dan. 9.24 deny the very end and purpose of Christ's coming which is to destroy the Works of the Devil and to put an end to Sin and to finish Transgression Rom. 8.3 4. and bring in Everlasting Righteousness and therefore it was prophesied that he should be called Mat. 21.1 The Lord our Righteousness and likewise it was said Thou shalt call his Name Jesus which is Saviour for he shall save his People from their Sins But are such his People or how doth he save them from their Sins who sin while they live in this World And likewise they that deny that Perfection to true Christians who are Saints is attainable while they live Eph. 4.11 to 17. they deny the very end of the true Christian Ministry which is for the perfecting of the Saints but they that are imperfect till they dye how doth the Work of the Ministry perfect them Eccles 11.3 or doth the Death of the Body perfect them for as the Tree falleth so shall it lie And if any believe that the Power of God if faithfully obeyed is able to make them free from Sin and so perfect one minute of an hour before Death why may they not as well believe that the same Power is able to make them so Heb. 13.8 Psal 111.3 10. two Minutes or two
if not for Deliverance for he saith presently after The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death So it is plain that he was delivered and set free from the Law of Sin and Death unto which he had been in Captivity while he was carnal sold under Sin and therefore the aforesaid Words of Paul with which some plead against the possibility of freedom from Sin cannot properly be rendred to describe his present condition at the writing thereof And it may at large be read in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul as also of the other Apostles that Freedom from sin Eph. 2.4 to 11. Rom. 6.22 1 Cor. 15.56 57. and the servitude thereof may be and was attained by true Christians while in this World And those that from the aforesaid Words of Paul do plead for continuance in sin during Life 1 Cor. 15.32 33 34. Isa 22.12 13 14. Isa 56.10 11 12. Wisd 2.5 6 7. they may as sensibly plead that he in a commanding manner spake to the Corinthians saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye which in Scripture is recommended as a Motto of Epicures and Libertines though he writes next after saying Be not deceived Evil Communications corrupt good Manners awake to Righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame But the Apostle Peter as it were to put the matter concerning the understanding of Paul's Words out of all question 2 Pet. 3.14 15 16. writes thus Be diligent that ye may be found of him without Spot and Blameless and account that the Long suffering of our Lord is Salvation even as our beloved Brother Paul also according to the Wisdom given unto him hath written unto you as also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction By which Words it is plain that some things written by Paul and here spoken of by Peter were things concerning Spotlesness and Blamelesness which things are not consistent with Sin and concerning which things Paul wrote in all his Epistles And it was such who obeyed not the Light and Grace of Christ which is the Word of Faith Tit. 2.11 12. Rom. 10.8 2 Cor. 10.4 5. 1 John 2.13 14. 1 John 5.4 nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart which the Apostles preached who were not diligent to be found spotless and blameless and it was such as those that wrested Paul's Words to their own destruction for such being in Sin and out of the living Faith whereby true Christians overcome they feeling themselves under the power of the Man of Sin in themselves he easily perswades them that there is no overcoming sin or attaining freedom from sin or spotlesness and blamelesness on this side the Grave and there he would have all Mankind And so such Rom. 6.18 22. quite contrary to the Doctrine of Paul and of the other Apostles wrest the Words of Paul to their own destruction Rom. 8.2 〈◊〉 Cor. 15.57 1 Tim. 6.12 14. 2 Tim. 4.7 Heb. 11.6 and plead for Sin with the Words that he wrote concerning his Warfare in the Faith against Sin though presently after he declares himself to be in another condition but they being out of that Faith without which it is impossible to please God they do not undertake the Warfare aright and therefore are not like to witness the Victory as Paul did And now let all those that plead for Sin for term of Life beware lest they be of those Unlearned and Unstable who wrest the Words of Paul to their own Destruction for though they may have learned many Languages and all the Learning that can be gotten for Money at Schools and Colleges yet if they be not learned in the Mystery of the Faith of Christ which is in his Light and Word of Faith nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart they will be found to be of the unlearned that the Apostle Peter here speaketh of Acts 1.13 for concerning humane Learring Peter himself was called unlearned and ignorant And let all consider whether are most likely to wrest the Apostles to their own destruction they who are truly diligent to be found spotless and blameless who take his Words as well as the words of the other Apostles against Sin in so strict a sence that according thereunto and for f ar of offending God they dare not allow themselves in any Sin lest it be to their destruction Job 28.28 Psal 111.10 Prov. 1.2 to 7. Prov. 9.10 Prov. 8.13 Prov. 14 26 27. Prov. 13.14 Prov. 16.6 or those that take liberty in Sin and chuse not the Fear of the Lord which is Wisdom whereby they might better understand the Words of the Wise and their dark Sayings which Fear is not only to hate Evil but to depart from Evil and from Sin the snare of Death and so they make use of the Apostle's Words to plead for the continuance of Sin reckoning that the Apostle when he wrote Letters on Truth 's account and reproved Sin with severity in others was himself continually sinning And so such who reject the Fear of God and his Counsel in their Hearts they are perswaded by the spirit of the Man of Sin in themselves that though they may strive and talk against sin yet while they are in this World they must continue in sin yea even in their best Performances and then what are their worst And so they do not believe that while they live God Feb. 12.29 who is a consuming Fire is able in them with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume the Man of Sin or the Body of Sin and Death whose coming is after the working of Satan Mat. 3.11 12. Luke 3.16 17. with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders and so for all their using signs of Baptism that is a sign that they are not baptized througly with the Baptism of Christ who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit and with Fire whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floor and gather his Wheat into the Garner but he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire Mark his Floor which is the Heart of Man he will throughly purge gather his Wheat and burn up the Chaff that which proceeds from the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience And what Mat. 15.18 19 20. must Sin remain in the Heart when it is throughly purged or if Sin be not in the Heart where is 〈◊〉 And let all consider that to whom they yield themselves servants to obey Rom 6.16 17. his servants they are to whom they obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness as
what and the Worship of God is in Fear and Trembling before him and at his Word in the Heart and such are accepted of God and shall be accepted with him and with such he will dwell as the Scriptures largely testifie read John 4.20 to 25. Mich. 6.8 Isa 66.2 5. Ezra 9.4 and 10.3 Jer. 5.21 22. and 33.9 Psal 2.11 Dan. 6.26 And so I durst not but deny all Worships prescribed by the Wisdom of Men and set-up by Men which were not in the Spirit and Truth of God neither durst I embrace the Pleasures or Preferments of the World for I was sensible both of their danger and Vanity and that the Words of Christ were true who said If any man will come after me Luke 9.23 24 25. Luke 14.27 let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me and whosoever doth not bear his Cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple for whosoever will save his Life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his Life for my sake the same shall save it for what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole World and lose himself or be cast away And now I am not of their Perswasion who believe that there is no Salvation nor Freedom from Sin on this side the Grave and that the Souls of true Christians cannot be cleansed from Sin while their Bodies live in this World for that is contrary to the Truth and to the Testimony of the Holy Scriptures and where Sin hath a place in the Heart or Soul of any there the Man of Sin hath a place whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 9. And so much of the Worship of them in whom the Man of Sin ruleth by his Power consisteth in Ceremonies and Signs for he will allow them all Signs of that which is good so that they may be content without the Substance yea even the very Name at least in Profession or Pretence of Christians though he have quite bereaved them of the Nature of true Christians and allow them outward Signs of Baptism also at least whilst uncapable Infants which they may afterwards be told of and taught to believe that they were thereby made Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 8.10 11. although they know nothing experimentally of the one Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Spirit or Ghost and with Fire nor believe in the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in which all true Christians believe who are really Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 13.19 being led and taught by his Light and Spirit and obeying the Word of the Kingdom which is one with the Light and is sown in the Hearts of all Men. And Christ said to the unbelieving Pharisees that The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation or outward Shew neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for saith he behold Luke 17.21 the Kingdom of God is within you And why may it not as well be said now to be within those who are ignorantly seeking it without them For their Teachers teach them to believe that they were made Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven when they were Infants by their outward Baptism and yet they have it to seek and know not where it is to be found but seek it as they are taught and expect it to come with their Observations outward Shews and Signs without them and Pray at least in Words to God saying Thy Kingdom come and yet believe not in the Word of his Kingdom which is sown in their Hearts which is the Light Grace and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which reproveth them for Sin in their Hearts and Consciences And so whilst they disobey the Word of the Kingdom the Light in themselves they are making themselves Strangers to God and his Kingdom through disobedience and so are unlike to be Inheritors of it though they make never so large a Profession of seeking it in their Observations outward Shews and Signs for there it is not to be found much less inherited And John the Baptist who baptized with Water to Repentance we read not that he baptized Infants for what should Infants repent of but he Preached saying Repene ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand So it seemeth the Kingdom of Heaven was near then and to some who came to his Baptism he said O Generation of Vipees who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance or as some translate answerable to amendment of Life for said he the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree Mat. 3. therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fare But do not Infants sprinkled with Water or Baptized as they call it afterward bring forth Fruits rather to be repented of than meet for Repentance So it seemeth they that came to John's Baptism which was with Water to Repentance if they brought not forth Fruits meet for Repentance they were little or no better being to be hewn down and cast into the Fire And where can any read that John's Baptism being outward could make any true Christians Was it not before Christ that John came Baptizing with Water and before there were any called Christians for we read not of that Name given till after the Ascension of Christ and if John's Baptism could not make Christians how should Sprinkling of Infants now or the outward Baptism of any others either It is not like that they that now take upon them to baptize either Infants or others for Money for which none can buy the Gift of God should exceed John who was sent of God Acts 8.20 and did it freely without Money And John was sent to bear witness of the Light that all Men through him might believe that was the true Light John 1.8 9 10. which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World though the World knew it not But the Baptizers Dippers and Sprinklers in our days are far from bearing witness to the true Light for they cry out against it and give it many ridiculous Names John 3.20 and Titles and this is according to the Words of Christ that Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light And what a strange thing doth it seem that any should believe which some suppose that Sprinkling an Infant with a little Water some after one manner and some after another should make it a true Christian For true Christians are Members of Christ and Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven but no Man can make them so for it is only by believing in the Light of Christ and obeying it that a
true Christian state is atta ned unto and so true Christians are Children of God Tit. 3.5 6 7. Eph. 4.5 who is Light and Heirs of his Kingdom and these have experience of the one Baptism of Christ by his Spirit even the washing of Regeneration or of the New Birth and are sensible of the renewings of his Spirit also But it is a very poor Evidence concerning so great a matter as Eternal Happiness or true Christianity is only to be told to a Man or Woman or to see it written in a Book that when he was an Infant or a Child of a few days old he was baptized and made a Christian whenas he knoweth nothing of certainty that he is so but rather hath an Evidence in his own Heart plainly and truly witnessing that he is in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity and is not led and guided by the Spirit of Christ as true Christians are and so if he weightily examine himself he may find his estate to be otherwise then some would perswade him to believe of it and see it to be very Miserable John bare Testimony of Christ saying There cometh one after me which is preferred before me for he was before me and I knew him not but that he should be made manifest to Israel John 1.30 31 32 33. John 3.30 therefore am I come baptizing with Water And saith he The same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost or Spirit and said he he must increase but I must decrease So it is plain that the reason why John Baptized with Water was that Christ and his Spiritual Baptism which only can render Men true Christians should be made manifest to Israel but there can be no such Reason given for Infants Baptism for Christ and Baptism hath been long talked of by Sprinklers of Infants and still both Hearers and Preachers strangers to Christ and his Baptism how then should they make him or his Baptism manifest or known to little Infants And Christ said Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 but they who believe in the Light the incorruptible Word of God in their Hearts Look in the Margined Bibles and so become Children of the Light and of God being Born again or from above as the Word implieth they in the Light see and discern the Kingdom of God within them Rom. 14.17 which consisteth in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit or Ghost which are inwardly to be known And this Sign of Baptism wherewith now adays they sign Infants and reckon it a Badge of Christianity they call a Sacrament and some say there are Seven Sacraments and others say but two to be used in the Church of Christ though in all the Holy Scriptures they find no mention of the Word Sacrament and they say It was commanded by Christ because he said to his Disciples Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in or when truly translated into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit or Ghost Observe here he first bad them to teach them so they should let Teaching be before Baptizing But how can they teach Infants And he commanded this to his Disciples who were learners of him and Witnesses of his Resurrection but they are not such who act contrary to his Commands And he bad them to Baptize into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Now this Name of God is called the Word Light Love and Holy Spirit which is placed in his Spiritual Temple where God dwelleth of which Deut. 12.5 1 Kings 8.29 2 Chron. 7.12 2 Cor. 3.16 the Temple that Solomon built was a Type or Figure in which he said he would place his Name which outward Temple was destroyed but true Christians are the holy Spiritual Temple of God and it was prophesied the Glory of the second Temple should exceed that of the first Hag. 2.4 7 8. But they who pretend to baptize Infants with Water Rev 19 13. they do not believe in the Name of God which is his Word and Light in the Heart and so they are not like to baptize either Infants or others in it or into it being out of it themselves And in the Command of Christ there is no mention at all of Water for the Disciples to baptize withal they being to preach Repentance and Remission of Sins in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 49. And behold said he I send the Promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem until ye be endued with Power from on High And so they tarried at Jerusalem until they were endued with Power from on High and then they declared what the Promise of the Father was that Christ had sent upon them even that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour of my Spirit upon all Flesh Acts 2.16 17 18. and your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie and your Young Men shall see Visions and your Old Men shall dream Dreams and on my Servants and on my Handmaidens I will pour out in these days of my Spirit and they shall prophesie So the Disciples of Christ preached other Doctrine then the Sprinklers of Infants and the pretending Baptizers of this Age preach for they cannot endure to hear of the Spirit of God being poured out upon all Flesh but they mock at the Movings of the Spirit of God in his Servants and Handmaidens as if there were no such thing now which sheweth that they are not endued with Power from on High and so they are short of John the Baptist who was sent of God John 1.6 7. and said A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven John 3.27 And so they having no Authority from God but only from Men take upon them to sprinkle Infants after the Ordinances of Men and call it Baptism having a ridiculous Custom of using Godfathers and Godmothers as they call them and another of signing Infants in the Forehead with the Sign of the Cross some using Oyl Spittle Salt and other silly Ceremonies having nothing at all in the Holy Scriptures to warrant such things being invented in the Apostasy in the deceitful Wisdom of the Antichristian Spirit that hath prevailed and drawn from the Simplicity of true Christianity into the love of outward Signs which are Antichristian Another Argument for their Custom of Sprinkling Infants is the Words that Christ spake saying Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for such is the Kingdom of God Mark 10.14,15 and whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein Now they who sprinkle Infants bring them to Water which Christ commanded not but do they bring them
to Christ Nay do they not rather keep them from him teaching them to kneel down and ask Blessing of them called their Godfathers and Godmothers and teaching them to say that by or in Baptism in their Infancy they are made Members of Christ and Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and so do they not train them up after the Traditions of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ And do not many called Christians and Protestants in their Profession of Religion compel their Children to these things in their Childhood Is it not Blasphemy and Idolatry thus to teach and practise and whether such things be bringing Children to Christ or keeping them from him and from his Light and Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit wherewith every one ought to profit let the honest single hearted judge And concerning the Saying of Christ that Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein 1 Pet. 1.23 That is no proof of the need of Water for true Christians are Children of the Light and are born of the Incorruptible Word of God which liveth John 3.5 and abideth for ever and such though they be Men in outward Stature yet are as little Children being little and low in their own esteem For Christ said Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And this some alledge for proof of their Infants Baptism though neither Infant nor outward Water be mentioned for a Man is not an Infant and here Christ speaketh of the Spiritual Water which washeth the inside unto Regeneration or the New Birth Zech. 13. which springeth out of the Fountain opened to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for Sin and for Uncleanness which also purgeth from Idolatry and false Prophecy Isa 55.1 as was prophesied And to these Waters every one that thirsteth may come and buy without Money and without Price So they need not give Money to be sprinkled And Christ saith John 7.37 38. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and he that believeth on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water And saith he I will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely Rev. 21.6 Joh. 4.14 and he that drinketh of the Water that I shall give him it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Eternal Life So it is this Spiritual Water that inwardly washeth and regenerateth unto Eternal Life without the washing whereof none can enter into the Kingdom of God and they that are born of this Water and of the Spirit they are Children of the Light and of the Kingdom of God and they are truly as little Children in the receiving of his Kingdom though they be outwardly Men of Stature And the Apostle John writing to the Christians calleth them Little Children saying If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light 1 Joh. 1.7 we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Here is a cleansing beyond the Priest's sprinkling of Infants and saith he 1 Joh. 2.1 My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And again The Darkness is past and the true Light now shineth he that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light 1 John 2.8 9 10 11 12. and there is none occasion of stumbling in him but he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes I write unto you little Children because your Sins are forgiven you for his Names sake And again he writeth 1 John 2.18 20 28. Little Children it is the last Time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists But saith he ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things those were intelligent little Children Again he saith Now little Children abide in him And again Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness 1 John 3.7 8 9 10 18. is righteous even as he is righteous he that commiteth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother And again My little Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And again Ye are of God little Children and â—â—ve overcome and saith he Hereby know we that we are in him and he in us 1 John 4.4 12. 1 John 5.21 because he hath given us of his Spirit And again Little Children keep your selves from Idols So it appeareth that the Children of the Light the Children of God who had received and believed in the Word of Faith in the Heart which the Apostles preached the Word of the Kingdom of God and were born of it they were frequently called little Children therefore that saying to wit Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein maketh nothing for the Doctrine of the Priests Infant Baptism neither is it any warrant for the same And let every one that readeth this take diligent notice of what is here before quoted which the Apostle John wrote to them which he called little Children and seriously examine themselves whether they be such little Children and whether their Teachers teach such or the same Doctrine either to Children or others and if they perceive any difference it is good for them weightily to consider it For the single Eye can see plainly that it is because People have neglected the Substance that they have idolized the Shadow and being by their subtil Enemy deceived and drawn from obedience to the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and Consciences they are become dark and vain in their Imaginations and walk in Darkness and know not whither they go or else they could not surely for shame talk of Godfathers and Godmothers and of Men making Infants Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and yet profess the Scriptures to be their Rule which mention no such thing And whereas some may say That outward Water Baptism is a Sacrament wherein there is an outward visible Sign of an inward Spiritual Grace and if it do Children no good say they
it can do them no hurt It is granted that whilst they are not capable of understanding it can neither do them hurt nor good but when they come to be taught a Lye that is to believe that by Baptism in their Infancy they were made Christians and Members of Christ that doth them much hurt as I have in my own particular experienced for because of such teachings when I was young I was ready to conclude my self to be a Christian and a Child of God whenas the Grace of God in my own Heart which they told me my Baptism was a sign of testified plainly to me that it was not so with me and that my condition was very dangerous and yet I then should have thought my self highly affronted if any Man had told me so And so I know by experience that my being taught to believe and depend upon the outward visible Sign made me to neglect the Teachings of the inward spiritual Grace of God in my own Heart and Conscience and made me more secure and careless of my Duty towards God in not answering the requirings and teachings of his Grace in order that I might be prepared to render an account to God of his Talent which he had given me and so I saw perfectly before I left them that my Teachers had deceived me as it was formerly the Leaders of the People caused them to err Isa 5.16 and they that were led of them were destroyed 〈◊〉 is recorded that Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France in the Year 1500 ordained that Infants Baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved as a Command from the Scriptures and yet many that profess Reformation from Popery and profess the Scriptures to be their Rule are contending for it and practising it to get Money by having no warrant from God nor the Scriptures of Truth for it nor any Example but Popish Tradition and such are certainly Deceivers and deceived But some may think that outward Water Baptism is a Seal of Christianity and therefore to be used because in some Cases and to some People it was used by the Apostles among the Primitive Chrisitans as they can read As to its being a Seal of Christianity if it were a Seal to one it is likewise so to others that have it and so a Seal to them all but no outward Sign is needful to be a Seal to true Christianity for it is Inward and Spiritual and therefore cannot be known by any outward Seal neither doth it admit of the impression of any such outward Seal for true Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 and so they need no outward Seal for if an outward seal would do many would get that upon their own terms and so many get outward Baptism for Money which pleaseth the Priests well though it profiteth nothing to the buyer of it But it is the true inward Spiritual Baptism of Christ that is the true Seal wherewith all true Christians are sealed to the Day of Redemption by the Spirit of God And although it is said that Abraham received the Sign of Circumcision Rom. 4.11 to 17. a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised yet it was that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised whereby it is plain that true Christians who are of the Faith of Abraham who saw the Day of Christ may truly be called Children of Abraham though they have not the Sign nor Seal of Circumcision outwardly but they who were naturally the Children of Abraham and were not in the Faith of Abraham Mat. 3.9 that would not avail them And although Circumcision of Infants was commanded by the Law of Moses which Law of Ceremonies and Types was abolished by the offering up of Christ the Substance the Antitype who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 read the 8th 9th and 10th Chapters of the Hebrews yet concerning Circumcision which was a cutting off the Foreskin of the Flesh and typified the Substantial Spiritual Circumcision by Christ Rom. 2.29 and the cutting off the foreskin of the Heart which thing true Christians witness Paul the Apostle of Christ said 1 Cor. 7.1 Circumcision is nothing nor Vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping the Commandments of God and also in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision Gal. 5.6 Gal. 6.15 but Faith which worketh by Love or a New Creature And so though some alledge that outward Water Baptism was instituted in the stead of outward Circumcision yet there is no proof for it neither doth the Apostle mention any such thing but saith that Faith that worketh by Love and the keeping of the Commandments of God and being a New Creature availeth but not Circumsion Also to the Collosians he writeth thus to wit In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptism wherein also you are risen with him through the Faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the Dead And he saith to them of Christ's Blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross and saith he to them Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments * See Margined Bibles or Elements of the world why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or as some translate burdened with Traditions touch not taste not handle not which are all to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Col. 2.11 12 14 20 21 22. Thus it is very plain that the Apostle here writeth of the Spiritual Circumsion of Christ and of his Spiritual Baptism through the Faith of the operation or working of God and was far from preaching up such outward Ordinances declaring that they were against them and contrary to them who were true Christians and he bad them not to touch taste nor handle such things saying they were all to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men And so now the Commanders and Teachers of their Ordinance of Water-Baptism as also of their other Ordinances and Traditions some of them command and teach it after one way and others after other ways and yet all profess the Scriptures to be their Rule and therefore some of them are erred from the direction of their Rule yea are they not all erred from their professed Rule for the Scriptures plainly testifie against such Ordinances and Traditions as being contrary to true Christians But these Baptizers for Money are so far erred from the Light and Grace of Christ in themselves which the Scriptures
liberty did such things in compliance with them that were weak in the Faith in order to bring them out of their many Ceremonies rather than keep them in them yet he could not do so for fear of Perseeution he would not be compelled to such things neither do them for the gain of Money nor the like for writing to the Galatians he saith As many as desire to make a Fair shew in the Flesh they constrain you to be circumcised Gal. 6.12 Gal. 5.11 only lest they should suffer Persecution for the Cross of Christ and saith he I Brethren if I yet preach Circumcision why do I yet suffer Persecution then is the offence of the Cross ceased So it seemeth that some professing Christianity who were not obedient to the Light of Christ in their own Hearts which teacheth to bear his Cross patiently preached up Circumcision lest they should have suffered Persecution and yet such desired to make a fair shew in the Flesh but the true Ministers of Christ did not so for notwithstanding the Threats of Men and the consequence of Persecution in the Faith of the Power of God and in the love and obedience of the Light of Christ in their Hearts they preached Liberty from all such burdensome things and in his Name and Authority preached his Cross Boldly and declared that such as preached otherwise were false and anrichristian And do not many desiring to make a fair Shew of Christianity in the Flesh now preach up Water-Baptism and that of Infants with other such Ceremonies for fear of Persecution or for Money and their own carnal ends not having any authority from Christ or his Apostles for such things Therefore let all beware of such false Prophets and Deceivers as Christ himself forewarned of saying Many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many and said he If any man say unto you Mat. 7 1â— to 21. Mat. 24.23 2. Luke 2 8. Lo here is Christ or there believe it not for said he there shall arise false Christs and false Propâ—eâ—s and shall shew great Signs and Wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elâ—ct And so now there are many come as in the Name of Christ and they all say that he is Christ as he foretold so they profess him in Words and so deceive many saying also Lo here is Christ in this Profession Ceremony or Sign and Lo there is Christ in that Observation Ordinance or Tradition but they that believe in his true Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts which he said should reprove the World of Sin John 15 8. c. they do not believe them and though they shew great Signs as of Baptism and the like yet the Children of Light see them and by their Signs and by their Fruits know them to be the Deceivers that Christ foretold of Mat. 7.16 and though they shew great Wonders and the World wonder after them yet true Christians cannot be deceived by them knowing them to be influenced by the Power of the Man of Sin in their Hearts whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders And now it is good for all to beware that they truly examine themselves in the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts whether they be really the Children of God yea or nay Rom. 8.16 1 John 5.10 and they may certainly know for he that is of God hath the Witness in himself God giveth to his Children to Know that he is their Father and that they are his Children but the Man of Sin he would not that his Children should know who is their Father for he being deceitful perswadeth them as far as he can that they are the Children of God but the Manifestation of the Spirit of God the Light during the Day of their Visitation in their Hearts reproveth them of their Sins and often sheweth and testifyeth in them unto them the Contrary to wit that they are not Children of God And so let all inwardly examine themselves truly Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.6 whether or no they be Members of Christ being baptized by his One Spirit into his One Body for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and it is his quickning Spirit that giveth Life to all his Members and maketh them sensible in what state and condition they are And so let none be satisfied with being told that in their Infancy or any time else in their Baptism with outward Water they were made Members of Christ and Children of God c. For that will not stand them in any stead when they must give an account to God of their improvement of the Talent which he hath given them to profit withal and let none presâ—me to teach Children or others that they were in outward Baptism made Members of Christ or Children of God lest the Blood of such be required at their Teachers Hand and so both the Teacher and the taught perish For John the Baptist speaking of Christ John 3.30 said He must increase but I must decrease intimating that his Baptism was to give place to the Spiritual Baptism of Christ with his Spirit and Fire and John said His fan is in his Hand and he will thor wly purge his Floor and gather the Wheat into his Garner but he will burn the Chaff with unquenchable Fire and this all ought to take notice of for this Baptism of Christ is of absolute necessity to Salvation of which that all might come to be partakers the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ hath appeared in the Hearts of all and is given to every man to profit withal John 1.8 Luk. 3.6 to which John who was sent to beare witness of the true Light bare Testimony saying All flesh shall see the Salvation of God and also Simeon saying as to the Lord Mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the Face of all People Luk 2.30 31 32. a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy People Israel And seeing that the Salvation of God prepared before the face of all People is Christ Oh! Let all who would enjoy the Salvation of God come to this Light which reproveth for all Sin in every Heart and Conscience that by believing therein and bringing there Deeds to it into true Examination they may through the judgment thereof know the true Spiritual Baptism of Christ in their Hearts Souls and Consciences where they may come to know him to be in them unto them as a Refiners Fire and as Fullers Soape that will purge away all the Dross and wash away every Spot and Stain as they abide faithful and continue freely given up withal their Hearts to abide the burnign of this Fire and the scowring with this Soape and so they may know the washing with pure Water and come to have
Christ nor his Apostles But if they that Teach such things as these for Doctrines to get Money by had not a shew of Christianity and a shew of believing in Christ and in the Scriptures of Truth they walking contrary could not prevail upon many who Believe the Truth of the Holy Scriptures and the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles Recorded therein to embrace their Doctrines and receive them for Teachers nor to pay for their Teachings who through Covetousness with feigned words 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Pet. 2.2.3 make Merchandise of such as follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the Way of Truth which the Scriptures declare of even the Light the sure Word of Prophecy in the Heart is evil spoken of For if the False Church called Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth had not been Arrayed in Purple and Scarlet Colour and decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls then probably the Kings of the Earth would not have been so apt to commit Fornication with her Rev. 17.1 2 to 6. And so if those that Preach up this or that Ordinance or Tradition to get Money withal contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles did not deck themselves and their Doctrines with the precious words of Christ and his Apostles making them to serve to their Purposes as far as they can with all the feigned words and fair speeches that they can study out or invent their Trade would soon fail and their Merchandize be rejected as it is by the Children of the Light who plainly see their deceit let their shews be as fair as they can Now if it be any thing whereby God is really honoured or the Name of Christ exalted or People bettered or edified in Christ the Truth there is no reason why any such thing should be wanting amongst Christians but such Ceremonies Types Signs and Shadows which the Holy Scriptures declare of which were in their Time and Season appointed of God to be as Figures Types or Shadows to them who were as under the Cloud to typifie or shew forth Christ to come and to be as Shadows of good things to come Col. 2. â—â— and to be as Explanations of the Great Mystery of Godliness which by the prevailing Power of Darkness was hid from Ages and Generations which is made manifest to his Saints who have believed in Col. 1.26 27. and walk in his Light which is Christ in them the hope of Glory So now Christ the Antitype the End of all Figures Types and Shadows being come and also inwardly revealed and made manifest why then should not all those outward Ceremonies Types Figures Signs and Shadows cease seeing there is no Warrant nor Command of God nor Christ nor of his Holy Apostles left upon Record in the Scriptures of Truth for the continuance of them For that which was a Figure for the time then present in which were offered both Gifts Heb. 7.18 19 Heb. 9.9 10. Eph. 2.15.16 and Sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the Conscience which stood only in Meats and Drinks and divers Washings imposed on them to wit the Jews until the time of Reformation that Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances was disanulled or made void for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof by Christ who came to fulfil abolish disanul and make void the same And the Apostle saith If that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them the Lord said Behold the Days come Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. Heb. 8.7 8 9 10 11. when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the Day that I took them by the Hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord But this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those Days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their Mind and write them in their Hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest and I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more So here is a clear Testimony to God's Law in the Mind and in the Heart Prov. 6.23 which is the Light that reproveth for sin and the Reproof of its Instruction is the Way of Life and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus setteth them who walk in the Light the Way of Life free from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 But it doth not so set them free from the Law of sin and death who love not the inward Law and Light of Life but are in Bondage to outward Ordinances John 8.12 Joh. 12.35 36. Gal. 4.9 and weak and beggarly Elements which the Apostles of Christ reproved And said the Apostle Paul in that he saith a New Covenant he hath made the first old now said he that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to Vanish away and so he testified in his Day that the outward Covenant or Law of Ceremonies or of Commandments contained in Ordinances was old and ready to vanish away and it was his Exercise and Travail to bring those that in any measure believed in Christ out of those Ceremonies Ordinances and weak and beggarly Elements into the Obedience of the Inward Law of God put into their Mind and written in their Hearts that therein they might walk as Children of the Light which now the Preachers up of Ordinances and Elements hate and speak evil of and cannot endure to hear of Read the Epistles of Paul to the Hebrews Galatians Colossiani and Ephesians And so there is a great difference between the Ministers of Christ whose Labour and Travail was and is to turn People from Darkness to Light that they may believe in it become Children of it and walk in it and come out of the use of outward Ordinances and Elements into the true Worship of God in his Spirit and Light And the Ministers of the Man of Sin whose labour is to keep People from believing in the Light and in the sufficiency of it and so to keep them in Darkness where sin and the Works of darkness are done which are inwardly reproved by the Light and so to keep People in the use of such outward Signs Ceremonies Ordinances and Elements in their Vain and Ignorant Worship which are Taught variously according to the Traditions and Doctrines of Men and that for their Gain of Tythes Money and outward Preferment far different from the expectation of the
Ministers of Christ whose Travail and Preaching often is and hath been in the hazard of their Lives and outward Estates And they that receive believe in walk in and continue in the New Covenant of the Everlasting Gospel of God which is the Light Grace Law and Spirit of God in their Hearts there is no need for them to be subject to Ordinances of Men nor to be burdened writh ther Traditions 2 Cor. 3. nor to be in Bondage to weak and beggarly Elements in their true Worship of God John 4.24 Col. 2.20 Rom. 8.21 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.9 which is in his Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and such are all led and taught by the Spirit of God and stand fast in the glorious Liberty of the Children of God wherewith Christ hath made them free from the Yoak of Bondage to outward Elements Ordinances and Traditions of Men. And the Children of God who stand in their Liberty are the Babes unto whom the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed which are hid from the Wise and Prudent of the World Mac. 11.25 and these Babes have believed the Record of the Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these Three are One and this is the Record that God hath given unto them Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son and these Babes believe on the Son of God 1 John 5.1 2 to 12. and have in themselves the Record or Witness being One in signification and this is the Witness of God which is greater than the Witness of Men which Witness the Spirit beareth because the Spirit is Truth and so there are Three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree in One witnessing with the Spirits of these Babes who are true Christians that they are the Children of God And these are not dead Witnesses as outward Water is dead but are living Witnesses John 6.63 1 Cor. 15.45 for the living Spirit beareth Witness 2 Cor. 3.6 Tit. 3.5 Jer. 4.14 John 4.10 Isa 4.4 1 John 1.7 which Spirit quickeneth and giveth Life and the living Water beareth Witness which Water washeth the Heart from filth and wickedness which Water Christ giveth to them that are athirst and ask and the Blood which is not dead for the Blood is the Life Dent. 12.23 beareth Witness which Blood cleanseth them that walk in the Light as God is in the Light from all sin And so these Three the Spirit and the Water and the Blood agree in One witnessing or bearing Witness in the Earth to wit the Hearts of true Christians of and unto the inward Baptism of Christ And these Babes being Born not of Corruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. Heb. 4.12 Eph. 6.17 Eph. 6.25 but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword 1 Pet. 2.2 which is the Sword of the Spirit of God by which the true inward Circumcision is made and the true inward Baptism of Christ in the Heart wrought These as now Born Babes desiring the sincere Milk of this Living Word how should their tender Heavenly Father who knoweth all their Needs and Necessities but afford them Nourishment by the same that they may grow thereby And though these Babes at the first be but as unskilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.12 13.14 Col. 2.19 and use as it were Milk and not strong Meat yet as they truly hunger after the Divine Milk of this Word they come to be satisfied therewith and nourished thereby and so they grow and increase with the increase of God till they come to have their senses truly exercised by reason of use to discern both good and evil and then the Apostle calleth them perfect or of full Age as some Translate to whom strong Meat belongeth and so then they know an eating of the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World And Christ said If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and saith he The Bread that I will give is my Flesh John 6.32 33 to 63. which I will give for the Life of the World and he said to the Jews Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last Day for my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him as the Living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me This is the Bread that came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are dead he that eateth this Bread shall live for ever and to them that murmured at these sayings Christ said Doth this offend you What and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And so it is plain Mat. 4.4 that true Christians live by the words that Christ speaketh in their Hearts and Souls and Consciences by his Light and Grace the answering of which in faithful Obedience is as Meat and Drink to their Souls and they know the Law of the Mouth of God to be better unto them John 14.10 Psal 119.72 Mal. 2.7 than Thousands of Gold and Silver And as in Times past under the Law the Priests Lips were to keep Knowledge Col. 2.3 and the People were to seek the Law at his Mouth so the Lips of Christ who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck they keep Knowledge and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and all true Christians inwardly seek the Law at his Mouth and their Souls live by the words that proceed out of it Psal 26.8.9 1 Tim. 6.16 Isa 60.19 and these are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's House who dwelleth in the Light and these drink of the River of his Pleasures for with him is the Fountain of Life and in his Light they see Light and the Lord will be unto them an Everlasting Light and their God their Glory But they that believe not in the Light of Christ in their Hearts but rebel against it and kick against the Pricks and Reproofs of it how should such be satisfied with the fatness of God's House Or how should such know an eating of the Bread that Christ giveth which is his Flesh and Blood and a dwelling in Christ and Christ in them Or how should such know the words that Christ speaketh unto them by his Light Grace and
Spirit in their Hearts to be Spirit and Life unto their Souls And if they know not neither witness these things in some measure in themselves how then can they know themselves to be true Christians For true Christians know that they are of God and the whole World lyeth in wickedness and can truly say 1 John 5.18 19 20. We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an Understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and Eternal Life Also to them who believed in the Light John 8.12 and learned to deny themselves and follow him that they might enjoy the Light of Life Christ said I am the true Vine my Father is the Husbandman ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit John 15. for without me ye can do nothing if ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much Fruit so shall ye be my Disciples as the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my love this is my Commandment that ye love one another even as I have loved you If the World hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you if ye were of the World the World would love his own but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you And as Christ said I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman he also said Every Branch IN ME that beareth not Fruit he taketh away and every Branch that beareth Fruit John 15. he purgeth it that it may bring forth more Fruit Now said he to his are ye clean through the Word that I have spoken unto you abide in me and I in you as the Branch cannot bear Fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me for without me ye can do nothing If a Man abide not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered And so they that are true Christians and Children of God and Members of Christ being Taught by his Light and Grace in their Hearts in which they have believed they are Branches of Christ the true Vine and they partake of the Nourishment that through the true Vine is extended unto them the Branches as they abide in the Vine but they that abide not in him the Vine are cast forth as Branches and are withered which answereth to the other saying of Christ to wit Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood John 6.53 ye have no Life in you For this answereth to the eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Christ And as the Branches in the Vine live by Nourishment of the Life of the Vine in whom they abide so they that eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ saith he they dwell in me and I in them 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 4.16 Eph. 5.29 30. and he that eate home shall live by me saith Christ And so the Branches of the Vine feed upon and drink or suck in of the Sap or Life of the Vine and live by it as also the Members of the Body do by the Nourishment of the Body And also Christ said I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep And said he I know my Sheep and am known of mine for saith he they know my Voice and they sollow me John 10. and I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand but he said to the Jews who believed not in the Light as he commanded but were Taught by the Doctrines and Traditions of Men ye believe not because ye are not of my Sheep as I said unto you my Sheep hear my Voice So Christ is the good Shepherd who feedeth his Sheep with his own Life as well as the true Vine whereof his Sheep are the Branches John 6.48 to 58. and partake of the very Life and Nature of him the Vine who is the Bread of Life of which if any Man eat he shall live for ever and dwell in Christ and Christ in him and so they are as the Vine and the Branches dwelling in each other and such Branches bear Fruit to the Glory of the Vine in which they dwell which Fruit and Branches are precious in the Eye of God the Husbandman to whom Glory belongs and is ascribed for ever And these Branches are the Sheep of Christ their good Shepherd and they hear and diligently hearken unto the Voice or Light or Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts and the words thereof unto them spoken they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE and so they know his quickening Spirit to minister Life to their Souls in which they live and grow and bring forth excellent Isa 4.2 3 4. and comely Fruit whereby God their Heavenly Father is glorified And because many believe not the words of Christ concerning the eating of the Bread of Life and the eating of his Flesh and drinking of his Blood but murmured and went back and walked no more with him therefore he said to the Twelve Disciples Will ye also go away John 6.66 to 70. And one answered saying Lord to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of Eternal Life and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the Living God So they were satisfied and knew him by the words of Eternal Life which he spake unto them And so he will satisfie all who truly hunger and thirst after him by the words of his Spirit if they believe in the Light and obey it But those that are in Unbelief and Disobedience to the Light in their own Hearts they have no such satisfaction for the Light which inwardly reproveth them for sin and disobedience is the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ by which he speaketh unto his Sheep who know his Voice and satisfieth them with the words of Eternal Life and with the Bread of Life and Water of Life unto which Isa 55.1 â—er 22.17 by his Light or spiritual Voice he inviteth all that thirst to come and take and drink freely without Money and without Price But they that Rebel against the Light Prov. 6.23 and will not hearken to its Reprof they err from the Way of Life and Understanding Prov. 21.16 though never so worldly-wise and they remain among the Congregation of the Dead and cannot in that state know a feeding upon the Bread of Life nor a drinking of the Water of Life which Christ giveth to the Faithful
for they abide not in Christ the true Vine but are cast forth as Branches and withered and it will not profit them at all to have a Name to live and be dead And this eating of spiritual Meat 1 Con. 0.1 2 3 4. and drinking of spiritual Drink was witnessed by the Fathers in Israel who were all under the Cloud and all passed through the Sea and were all Baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea for said the Apostle they all drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them or went with them and that Rock was Christ and these were directed by Moses to the word very nigh in the Mouth Dent. 30.11 12 13 14. and in the Heart and he told them of the Prophet that God would raise up unto them in the midst of them that was to be heard in all things which the Martyr Steven said was Christ who was with the Church in the Wilderness whom said he our Fathers would not obey Acts 7 37 to 51. but thrust him from them and in their Hearts turned back again into Egypt And he said to the Jews The stiff necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your Forefathers did so do ye And so they that believe in and faithfully obey the Light of Christ which is the Manifestation of his Holy Spirit and the Word of his Grace in their Hearts which is nigh to reprove for sin they become Children of the Light and with his inward Baptism by his own Spirit they are all Baptized into one Body whereof Christ is the Head and so they are Members of Christ whether they be Jews or Gentiles 1 Cor. 12.11 12 to 21. whether they be Bond or Free being all made to drink into his one Spirit for as the Apostle Paul saith The Body is not one Member but many for as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many Eph. 4.5 are one Body so also is Christ And saith he If they were all one Member where were the Body but now are they many Members yet but one Body And these all eat the same spiritual Meat and drink the same spiritual Drink even of the spiritual Rock Christ Jesus of which the Fathers who were under the Cloud of old drank and of which all the Servants Children and People of God and Disciples and Members of Christ in all Ages have drunk Even as all the Members of the Body receive Nourishment from or of the Body and as all the Branches or Members of the Vine receive Nourishment of the Vine in which they dwell But they that believe not in but Rebel against the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts they resist his Holy Spirit and will not by it be Baptized into his one Body and so they are not Members of Christ nor Branches of him the true Vine nor they do not receive Nourishment from him as his Members and Branches do neither do they know an eating of his Flesh or drinking of his Blood to have Eternal Life thereby though they may talk much of it for the power of Death and Darkness even the Man of Sin prevaileth over such and they are subject to his unclean dark unholy Spirit and so are Servants to him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and lying Wonders And so he prevailing upon them to yield to his Temptations and to obey his Power and so to disobey the Light of Christ in their Hearts which reproveth them for sin so that they can have no true spiritual satisfaction then he perswadeth them to endeavour for satisfaction in the use of outward Signs as well of Baptism before treated of as also of eating and drinking the Lord's Supper to wit cating his Flesh and drinking his Blood and so they use Bread and Wine as signs thereof but it is but after the Doctrines and Commandments of Men some after one manner and others after another manner for the Spirit of the Man of Sin doth not Baptize its Followers all into one Body as the Spirit of Christ doth his Followers to whom he giveth one Heart Jer. 31.39 and one Way but it makes them of many different Hearts and Ways and filleth all its Followers with Confusion and Disorder inwardly and outwardly For some believe that the visible Bread and Wine at or by the words of their Priest are Converted or Transubstantiated into the very Body and Blood of Christ and so they think they eat the Body of Christ with their outward Mouths though under the form of outward Bread and that they drink his Blood under the form of outward Wine See Councel of Trent Sess 13. C. 1. Others hold that the Body of Christ is in or with or about the Bread and Wine others only use it in remembrance of Christ's Death c. affirming That the Body of Christ is not there Corporally or Substantially but yet that it is Really and Sacramentally received by the Faithful in the use of outward Bread and Wine In Contention about these Opinions especially about that first mentioned much Innocent Blood hath been shed which is a plain Argument and Evidence that such Blood-shedders are not such as feed spiritually upon the Flesh and Blood of Christ Jesus Mat. 26 5â— whose coming is not to destory Mens Lives but to save them But it is also very plain that such who kill and destroy one another or the Servants of Christ about their Religions and Opinions John 16.2 are such as Rebel against the Light or Manifestation of Christ's Spirit in their Hearts being gradually drawn to that high degree of Rebellion Luke 23.34 by their being prevailed upon by the deceitful Power of the Man of Sin even the Power of Death and Darkness in themselves which maketh them so dark and sensless in spiritual things Acts 3.17 that they know not what they do no more than the Jews did when they Crucified Christ who came to save them but they think they do God good service 1 Cor. 2.7.8 9 10. as Christ foretold of them when they kill his Servants and Children in whom in and by his own meek innocent Spirit he appeareth testifying against all ungodliness and wickedness And so they become as Mystery Babylon their Mother drunken with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus whose Plagues shall come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine instead of eating as they say the Flesh and drinking the Blood of Christ Jesus and having Eternal Life thereby And as concerning the said Opinions themselves it is needless to make particular Refutations of them if any think themselves to be clear from shedding Innocent Blood concerning their manner of Doctrine and using of their Bread and Wine and that they have killed none about that matter particularly though they have warred with and probably killed some
14. and take which Water whosoever drinketh shall never thirst their Souls will not want Refreshment from any outward Bread John 7.37 38. Wine or Water but saith Christ the Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into Eternal Life Now observe it was Christ's Disciples who had learned of him to deny themselves and to take up their Cross to their own wills daily and who had left all to follow him with whom he desired to eat and did eat the Passeover and whom he so instructed by the Bread and Wine which shewed forth his Death But there was a great difference between these his Disciples and the Priests of those Times 1 Cor. 5.7 who were very strict in keeping the Passeover which Typified Christ the true Passeover and caused him to be Crucified and so all that will not be instructed by the Light of Christ in their own Hearts nor learn of him that they may truly be his Disciples nor will not deny themselves nor take up their Cross nor follow Christ spiritually such may be strict in their outward Performances wherein they know not what they do Crucifying Christ afresh in their Affections and in their Lusts but God is displeased with all such their Performances And they who disobey the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and Consciences are all ignorant of the true spiritual Food which Christ daily ministreth to the Souls of the Children of the Light and such depend upon the Shadow or Ceremony not enjoying the Substance and as such as they did by Christ formerly so now they number among Transgressors the Children of God who feed upon the Bread of Life the Flesh and Blood of Christ and know the end of the things concerning him Now People may eat Bread and drink Wine in remembrance of Christ and of his Death also and yet not spiritually eat the Flesh nor drink the Blood of Christ for they are two different things and the Apostle Paul reproving the Corinthians for some abuses about their eating and drinking in their Assemblies and of themselves mentioneth the words of Christ to wit this do in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11.20 to 28. and concerning the Cup he renders the Command thus to wit this do as oft as ye do it in remembrance of me and saith Paul As often as ye shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's Death till he come wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink the Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Where it is to be observed that the Corinthians being newly Convinced and in a weak estate of Faith of which mention is often made in this first Epistle of Paul to them and being in the use of this Ceremony of eating and drinking in their Assemblies they performed it as a Religious Act and so it is to all those that use it as a Religious Act for as much as therein their end is to remember the Lord's Body that was Crucified for them and his Blood that was shed for them and to shew the Lord's Death But to remember the Lord and his Body and Blood and to shew forth his Death is not the same as to partake of the Flesh and Blood of Christ for the Lord and his Death may be remembred by those who do not truly partake of his Flesh and Blood And the words of the Command mentioned by Paul are also to be considered to wit This do as oft as ye do it in remembrance of me which Command doth not imply that they were always to continue in that Ceremony of outward eating and drinking in their Assemblies in remembrance of Christ the continuance of it was not so positively commanded Gen. 17.9 to 14. as the continuance of Circumcision was and also of keeping the Passeover for Circumcision was commanded of God Exod. 12.14 to be in their Flesh for an Everlasting Covenant and the Passeover was commanded of God Phil. 3.2 3. Rom. 2.28 1 Cor. 5.7 Gal. 4.10.11 to be kept a Feast by an Ordinance for ever and yet the true Apostle of Christ under the Gospel Dispensation laboured to bring People out of the outward use of them to witness them inwardly in themselves but that saying in the said Command about the Cup to wit As oft as ye do it implieth that they were not enjoined how oft they should do it nor how long they should continue in that practice and so though the Corinthians Rom. 14. or others were then in such a practice it is not binding upon others to use it no more than was observations of Days or making a difference between Meats And those that do truly partake of the Flesh and Blood of Christ as he himself saith they dwell in him as the Branches do in the Vine and he dwelleth in them John 6.56 John 15.5 as the Life of the Vine extendeth thorow all its living Branches and therefore such cannot but remember him as naturally as a Man remembereth his natural Food when hungry or thirsty and so they need no Ceremonies to put them in remembrance of him or of his Death who always bear about in the Body the dying of the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 4.10 that the Life also of Jesus may be made manifest in their Body And so such truly know Christ to be come the Abolisher of Ceremonies and outward Typical Ordinances And so it is good for every one to be a Disciple of Christ which none can be but who learneth of him by his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts which reproveth for sin before they presume to eat Bread and drink Wine thereby to shew forth his Death lest they eat and drink their own Damnation not discerning the Lord's Body And if any believe it is their Duty so to take or use Bread and Wine and make it a matter of Conscience to forbear yet if they do not so prepare and examine themselves as is required of all that appear before the All-seeing Eye of God to perform every Religious Act whatsoever then surely they do it unworthily and instead of feeding upon the precious Flesh and Blood of Christ or of truly remembring him or shewing forth his Death they make themselves guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and so they unworthily eating and drinking the Cup of the Lord as it is to them they eat and drink Damnation to themselves And though such pretend to be sorry for their sins whereby Christ is as in them Crucified and seem to be thankful for what Christ hath done for them who laid down his Life for them yet they are in the same Spirit in which formerly were the Jews Scribes and Pharisees who garnished the Sepulchres of the Prophets and said If we had lived in the Days of our Fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the Blood of the
only by his Light in his Faithful People revealeth the Man of Sin but also with the Spirit of his Mouth will consume and with the Brightness of his Coming will destroy the Man of Sin and his Works these having tasted and experienced something of the Goodness of God to their Souls not only of the Revelation but also of the Destruction of the Man of Sin and his Works in themselves and also having sweet and satisfactory Comfort and Consolation in their Hearts in the Love of God given unto them these cannot with the Times turn as Hypocrites do from one Profession of Religion to another for these are fully satisfied concerning the Way of God which is straight and narrow and not like the Ways of the Man of Sin the Devil the Serpent which are crooked like himself and broad and wide and can hold of all sorts of Professors and too many go in thereat But these being Children of the God of Truth who is Light they love to walk in their Fathers way which is the true Light and so they cannot neither dare they go out of it into the Ways of the Man of Sin and so serve him again in the least for they have had too much of his Tyrannical Servitude before and though his Children love his Ways wherein they have their pain bringing Pleasures yet the Children of God love them not but in the fear of God hate them all and love the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts the Way of God their Father And so it is in vain for Men to offer to force them out of God's Way into their ways for they dare not for fear of offending their Heavenly Father comply in the least to Worship God after any other Way or Manner but as he manifesteth himself in the Light of his Spirit of Truth in their Hearts and Consciences in which only with acceptance he is to be worshipped Neither can they again embrace or come into the Bondage of Corruptible Elements Ceremonies or Traditions of Men Gal. 4.9 Rom. 8.14 to 22. for which there is no warrant from God their Father lest they forfeit their glorious liberty of the Children of God Gal. 5.1 Tim. 2.12 Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 4.12 to 19. Col. 1.23 to 28. whose Spirit beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ And they know that if they suffer with him they shall also be glorified together and they account that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in them And such can truly rejoice that unto them it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake and this was the state of the Primitive Christians And as there is a great difference between the outward husk sign or shew of Religion of the Followers of the Man of Sin who are his Children and the pure spiritual undefiled Worship and Religion of the Followers of Christ who are Children of God so there is as great a difference between the Nature of the true Christians and false and between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil and also between the Persecutor for Religion and the Persecuted for true Religion and so doubtless as great a difference will and must be between their Rewards And so every one Male or Female Rich or Poor High or Low as they tender the Eternal Salvation of their precious Souls are to examine themselves in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus which is the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts whether they Worship God in his Light John 4.20 to 25. Mat. 15.7 8 9. Isa 29.13 14. Acts 17 22 to 31. Col. 2.6 to 23. Mat. 15.2 to 15. and Spirit and Truth in which only his pure spiritual undefiled Worship is acceptably performed Or whether their Worship â—e formal and taught and prescribed by the Traditions Precepts and Commandments of Men and so but a sign or shew of Religion being Will-worship and Voluntary Humility which Christ and his Apostles warned People to beware of For all such Worshippers worship God in vain or worship they know not what and the Reward of Hypocrisie shall be their Portion for they be Blind leading of the Blind and if the Blind lead the Blind both shall fall into the Ditch And likewise it concerneth all truly to examine themselves inwardly in the Light of Christ whether they be Baptized truly with the one Baptism of Christ by his spiritual Water and the Fire and Fan of his Spirit with which he will and is able thorowly to purge his Floor Mat. 3.11.12 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.22 23. even the Hearts Souls and Consciences of true Believers and that only maketh fit to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven And so whether they be Children of the Light and of God who is Light and Born again of the Water and of the Spirit whose witness agreeth in one witnessing with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Born of his Incorruptible Word which liveth and abideth for ever Or whether they have only been Baptized or Sprinkled with Water by a Man and because thereof are taught to believe that then they were made Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven And if they have no better Assurance than such Baptizing or Sprinkling with outward Water then the Light and Spirit of Christ will bear witness in their Hearts that they are not Children of Light nor of God and then whose Children are they And likewise all may examine themselves in and by the true Light in their Hearts whether they be in the true Religion or not That is Whether or no they be true Christians John 6.45 who are all taught of God by the Light Grace and Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Or they be but Pretenders to Christianity having a Profession or Form of Godliness but denying the Life and Power thereof resisting and rebelling against the strivings and movings and teachings of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and embracing and complying with the temptations motions and teachings of the Spirit of Antichrist and the Power of Darkness which is the Devil And such can profess that they know God Tit. 1.15 16. but in Works they deny him which is abominable And every one that doth Truth John 3.18.19 20 21. cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God but every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered and so loving Darkness rather than the Light that is the Condemnation And it is certain that all who love not the Light of Christ Jesus in themselves and believe not in the sufficiency of it are deceived by the deceivableness of
they that believed not in the Light Luke 8.37 the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts they did not believe his Miracles nor in him for his Works sake But they who believed in the Light the Name of Christ in their Hearts they believed both him and his Works who said He that believeth on me John 14.12 or in me the works that I do he shall do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father And likewise he said The hour is coming John 5.25 and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live And so such as have been dead in Trespasses and Sins against God and his Light when their Minds have been truly turned to the true Light of Christ Col. 3.1 2. to 17. which is the Voice of the Son of God and reproveth for Sin in the Heart as they have believed in it and taken diligent heed to the reproofs of its Instruction which is the Way of Life Prov. 6.23 they have known a being made alive to God and a being dead unto Sin in which formerly they lived And so many have been and are made living Witnesses of the wonderful Operation of the quickening and healing Power and Spirit of Christ in their Hearts Souls and Consciences and have certainly and sensibly known and do know Luke 7.22 that the Blind have been restored to sight the Lame have been made sound the Lepers have been cleansed the Deaf have heard and the Dead are raised up and live to the Praise and Glory of God in that which is out of the sight and reach of the World Col. 3.3 that lyeth in wickedness for their Life is hid with Christ in God who hath raised from Death and with the daily Bread of Eternal Life preserveth their depending Souls alive in his Love and this is far more satisfaction than the seeing hearing of or doing of any outward Miracles that can be done by Man to know the Lord's wonderful doings in themselves Psal 118.22 to 28. and that the Stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone of the corner the true Light which Babel's Builders have refused the Lord hath made to become such a Day that those which he hath quickned can with trembling in his presence rejoice and be glad in it These are Built upon the sure Foundation the tryed Stone the precious Corner Stone that God hath laid in Sion for a Foundation Isa 28.16 1 Cor. 10.3 Deut. 32.4 according to his Promise of old this Foundation is the Rock of Ages and the Spiritual Rock of Spiritual Israel which is the Satisfactory Nourishment of all that are true Israelices indeed The Pope of Rome is not this Rock nor a Succession of their Popes nor the Apostle Peter is not this Rock though the word Peter signifieth a Stone or a Rock but the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God is this Heavenly Rock against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail For when Jesus Christ asked his Disciples saying Mat. 16.15 16 17 18. Whom say ye that I am Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God Jesus answered and said Blessed art thou Simon the Son of Jonas for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven and I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it By which words it is plain that Peter was not the Rock upon which Christ would Build his Church neither was Flesh and Blood that Rock but the Revelation of his Father which is in Heaven and that is by the Son for Christ had told them before saying Mat. 11.27 No man knoweth the Son buy the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son Luke 10.22 and he so whomsoever the Son will reveal him And not only did the Apostle Paul testifie That another foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 10.4 1 Cor. 3.11 Eph. 2.20 the Rock and Corner Stone but also the Apostle Peter himself testified that Christ was as a Living Stone disallowed indeed of Men but chosen of God and precious and the Chief Corner Stone laid in Sion Isa 28.16 according to Isaiah's Prophecy and that he was a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence to them which stumble at the Word which is nigh in the mouth and in the heart being disobedient And also he said 1 Pet. 2.1 to 10. That true Believers coming unto this Rock as unto a Living Stone are also as lively Stones Built up a Spiritual House then out of the sight of the Carnal-minded an Holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ the Popes Mass is no such Spiritual Sacrifice and that they are a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation then no * Witness Pageon of Popes and the Papists Order to allow Whore-houses proclaimed and published Jan. 24th 1509. Whore-houses allowed amongst them as have been at Rome a Peculiar People to shew forth the Praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light of which Light he wrote thus speaking of the Voice which came to Christ from the Excellent Glory he said We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed 2 Pet. 1.10 to 20. as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts And so according to the Testimony of Christ and of his Apostles Peter and Paul Christ is the Rock upon which his Church is Built against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail and not Peter for did not the Gates of Hell prevail against Peter In so much that we read in the very same Chapter some Verses after mention is made of Christ's Building his Church upon the Rock Mat. 16.23 that in answer to other words of Peter Christ said to him Get thee behind me Satan thou art an Offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God and was not he prevailed against by the Gates of Hell Mark 14.66 10 72. Luke 22.54 to 62. John 18.25 26 27. after that even so far as to deny his Lord and Master and to Curse and Swear And did not Peter err and so was not Infallible Though the Popes that pretend to be Peter's Successors reckon themselves Infallible and that they cannot err And so it plainly appeareth that Peter was not that Rock upon which Christ Buildeth his Church and that the Popes who call themselves Peter's Successors Bellar. de Poot lib. â— Câ—â— 1. Ibid. lib. 4. C. 6. Bellar. Conâ—ov Tom. 2 the Head of the Church and the Vicars of