people and by them being deceived in some particular things naming onely three things the first whereof is That godliness being a Mystery that it did consist of something within and not of something without and that the Saints were to expect life and salvation from a Christ within and not from a Christ without I answer Godliness is a mystery the Image of God which is Godliness is a mystery hidden from the eye of I. Turner and from all vulterous eyes and this mystery is within in life and power consisting of the new man Christ Jesus who is the Image of God made manifest within the Saints in whose Image man is like God godly and this mystery is not in outward things in word or declaration or outward practice though where this mystery is made manifest godly practises will flow from it to without but yet the power life and mystery of godliness is within and cannot be seen with the carnal eye not comprehended with the carnal mind And here I charge I. Turner in the presence of God that she knowes not the mystery of Godliness who blasphemously calls this a corrupt Principle and here it is made manifest that she is in Babylon yet and is deceived and bewitched by the Devill I bear witness to the truth and to this particular and against her who denyes it And the Saints have Life and Salvation from Christ made manifest within which is the same Christ which suffered without and this I affirm that till Christ be revealed within there is no Salvation nor Life partaked of The Scripture saith they were Reprobates in whom Christ was not And the Apostle said Christ in you the hope of glory and Christ lived in him which was his â—ife and Salvation Where Christ is not made manifest within the Serpent is Head and the Devil is King in the heart and this I witness and do declare it as in the presence of God that till Christ was made manifest within me I was not saved nor had no life as to God though I was high in Profession and Knowledge outwardly And here again I. Turner hath shewed forth her blindness and sottishness to all and may stop her mouth for shame and confess that she is a bondslave in Babylon who calls this a corrupt Principle which is the Way Power and Life of Religion and Salvation which is Christ Jesus within made manifest in the Saints which takes away Sin and destroys the Works of the Devil and she and all others who walks and lives in the flesh following the lusts and desires of it living to their own wills in the broad-way and talks of Salvation by any thing without will be deceived for nothing will present to God but the Righteousness of Jesus Christ revealed which takes away sin and sets free from it And now for the second Principle That Saints were not to do duties by or from a commmand without but from a command within and that the Word command in Scripture was not a command to them till they had a Word within them I answer That is no command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the command which was to another not having the command to themselves I challenge to find an example for it they obeyed every one their own command one was sent to Baptism and to Preach the Gospel another was sent not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel And thou I. Turner or any other who goes to duty as you call it by imitation from the Letter without which was commands to others in your own wills and time your sacrifice is not accepted but is abomination to the Lord for you go without the moving of the Spirit in your own wills and strength which God hates and which his wrath is upon And I charge her here as in the presence of the Lord that she knows not what a command from God in Spirit is but is ignorant and not a daughter of Sion and let her mouth be stopped and let shame strike her in the Face who professes her self to know the Lord and let all be ashamed of her who professes themselves members joyned with her in Church she hath made manifest the ignorance of them all Now for the third particular That as to the time of doing duties they were to wait for the moving of the spirit to carry them forth to it and this they called Wayting for a power and till they had such a power they were to do nothing but sit still and wait and this not onely in private duties but in Church also not owning any Ministery by way of gifts of Office but to come together and there sit still and wait till they had a power and then to speak whether man or woman I answer who dare call this a Principle of deceit none but who are led by deceit and such is I. Turner who puts light for darkeness and darkeness for light all duties as she calls them whatsoever if the moving of the Spirit do not carry forth to act them then the movings of the corrupt will and vain mind carries forth and who act from such Principles are accursed from God And I. Turner and all who denies to wait for the movings of the power of the Spirit to carry forth but goes before the moving of it all their Prayers Preachings Ordinances and Churches I do deny and declare against by the Eternal Spirit of God that they are odious and abomination in the eye of the Lord and is no duty which he accepts whether they be done in private or in the Church And that Ministery which is not carried forth by the moving of the Spirit of God but of man and in the will of man which Ministry is hated of God and she which denies waiting upon God till power be given in from God to act and speak for God hath denied the way of God and the practice of the Saints in former Generations and wo is unto her who makes the simple believe this to be deceit Whereas she saith in these particulars which carried such a face or shew of spirituality she was corruped but did never fully own them in judgement nor practice I answer O blind deceived spirit which calls these but a shew or face of spirituality she calls the substance a shew and the shew or likeness a substance And wo unto her which calls good evil and evil good these particulars by the eternal spirit I own and walk in but that spirit of deceit and Antichrist in her hath denied them and calls them deceiveable and saith by them she was corrupted let her be ashamed and all of her Faction it was the Principle which led her from these things by which she was corrupted and which hindered her to own them and practice them and which now makes her declare against them which Principle is the spirit of the false Prophet which now rules
Life and Power that gave them forth So thou art to be condemned with the Light and with the Life which gave forth the Scripture Let all people read Deut. Chap. 18. from verse 9. to 15. there the Priests and the Levites which were ordained of God were to have no Inheritance among the people but the Lord was their Inheritance and they were to have it of that which was offered up to the Lord and this was a figure of the everlasting Priest-hood which ministreth out of the everlasting Treasure and the Lord God commanded Israel not to do as they did when they came into the Land nor to go after their abominations as you may see but gave Israel their Land to possess that did hearken unto such as the Lord had not sent which was Abomination to him and the Lord said to Israel Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God and in the 15th verse The Lord thy God will raise unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken And so to the end of the Chapter he that hath an eye may see and the Lord is the same that he was and he will not suffer the abominations that are committed in this Land but is discovering the abomination of it A horrible and a filthy thing is committed which Ieremiah cryed against Coveteous Men preach Drunkards preach Swearers preach Lyars preach Strikers preach and Proud Men preach Oh wonderful where are your eyes Try your Priests by the Scriptures see if they be not found in the same Generation that all the false Prophets and the Deceivers were in which the true Prophets of God cryed against and discovered and in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees that Christ cryed wo against and see if they be not the Antichrists and the Deceivers which are entred into the World which Iohn speaketh of which cannot confess Christ come in the flesh but transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ so hath not God neither knoweth him but preacheth for sin and against Perfection and denyeth the Light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the World so keeps people in blindness and ignorance and out of the Knowledge of God and never any that follow them shall ever come to the Knowledg of the true and living God therefore all people see where you are and mind the Light in your Consciences which is pure and which testifieth against sin and it will let you see all your Blind-Guides which deceive you to be in sin and ignorant of God for they deny that which should make him manifest therefore beware what you hold up and give over going after them to that in your Consciences I speak which shall witness me eternally to speak the Truth if you obey it and shall condemn you eternally if you disobey it These Blinde-Guides that are in this Land deny the Prophet which Moses wrote of which is the substance of the Priest-hood which was before and here they are found in the same Generation in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft which the Lord commanded should be put out of the Land where the Children of Israel went to possess Answers to several other subtil Queries put forth by one John Reeve who lives in the City of London who callst himself the Messenger and Witness unto the true God but is found a Lyar and a Perverter of the right Way of God A Certain Writing is come to my hand called An Epistle from the Mighty JEHOVAH or Jesus the only LORD and God of the Eâ—ect Israelites from one whose name is subscribed Iohn Reeve Pilgrim who calls himself the last Messenger and Witness unto the true God unto which for the sake of the Simple I am moved by the Spirit of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to write something in answer that so his folly may be made manifest and his ignorance and blasphemy laid open unto the simple-hearted who have been long deceived by such through their false Voice lo here and lo there Friend to thee who hast subscribed this Writing who calls thy self the last Messenger and Witness unto the true God I Answer the Lord of Hosts and God of the Elect Israelites doth not accept thy Testimony and Witness for thy spirit is made manifest not to be the Spirit which came from God and which dwelleth with God which beareth true Witness unto God but the spirit which is driven out from the Presence of God into the Creation and into the visible World and that is the lying spirit and bears not true witness unto the true God but is a spirit which bears witness to the imaginations of thy own heart which looks upon and declares the living God as if he was carnal and a Creature-like Substance and here the Scripture is fulfilled upon thee thou thinkest he is altogether such a one as thy self and for the true God thou art no Messenger nor hast received any Message from him for thy spirit is known and he never delivered his Message unto it in any Generation but kept his Secret sealed up from it And Friend here I charge thee in the Presence of the true spiritual God that thou belyst the Lord of Hosts who sayest thy Epistle is from him thou uses thy tongue and sayest The Lord saith when saith the Lord I have not spoken unto thee And of that Generation thou art which Ieremiah cryed against and therefore let all flesh be silent before the Lord and call not thy own imaginations his Word but thou who hast a Dream tell thy Dream for a Dream and he that hath the Word of the Lord let him speak it faithfully and though thou callest thy self the last Messenger or Witness unto the true God yet I say unto thee verily the Lord hath a Witness which was before thee which hath been slain in the Streets of the great City which the Lord will bring forth after thee which will bear true witness of the true God and against thee and thou who hast been alive shall be judged by him who hath lain slain and he will eternally condemn thy Testimony and Message Friend in the Light of Christ which hath lightened every one that cometh into the World thou art comprehended and seen thy beginning thy time and thy end and with it thy Testimony and Message is denyed for thy Testimony is such that if thou swearst the Lord lives thou swearest falsly and further thou sayst By inspiration of the holy Spirit thou wast moved to present this Epistle I answer the language of the holy Spirit is like it self Pure and Spiritual but thy language is carnal and sensual and so is thy spirit the Saints which spake by the inspiration and moving of the Spirit cursed not that which God had blessed as thou dost neither did they say the Elect were defiled as thou doest neither did they speak of God as a carnal Substance as thou dost but said that God
Treasure and we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels even the knowledge of those things which are Eternal which is not our own but the Lords to give forth according to his movings and of those things have we Handled Tasted and Felt. CHAP. XVIII Concerning what VVorks are accepted of God and what VVorks are not accepted brought forth by the Creature WHatsoever work man is moved and led unto by the Spirit of God and guided and ruled in the practice of to speak or act whatsoever by the same Spirit which moveth and leadeth into all the works of righteousness and not into any evil this is acceptable in the sight of the Lord and these works are well pleasing to him where the Lord goes before and is the leader in all things and this man and his works who is led with the Spirit of the Father is justified and accepted of God and not for the Creatures sake who respects not the person of any but for his own Name sake because they are wrought in him through faith and is moved unto and guided in by his own Spirit and they arise from Gods Righteousness revealed in the Creature and not from the righteousness of the Creature for man being changed and replanted into the Living Vine and the Root being good every work which springeth forth from it is good also and accepted of God because the Root is so But whatsoever works are brought forth by any Creature though the same in appearance which are accepted of God from another yet not being moved unto nor guided in by the Spirit of the Father but brought forth in the will and wisdom of the Creature which is from below and acted in imitation from the Saints words these works are not accepted and well pleasing unto God but is offence unto him and sin against him even the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto him and if a man come before the Lord with thousands of Rams and ten thousand of Rivers of Oyl and if he give the fruit of his Body for the sin of the Soul and cover the Alter with tears and is not led with a measure of Gods Spirit none of all these works are accepted nor his Preaching Praying Baptism nor Breaking of Bread nor any other Observances towards God whatsoever are not good in his sight but evil and to be contemned and the Root from whence they spring because man is in the Enmity against him and not changed out of the old Root nor in that state is not led with the holy Spirit of the Father and the Root being Bad the Branches are evil and none are accepted of God in any thing which they perform towards him but such as are in Christ Jesus the second Adam and such are new Creatures so that it is not for the Creatures sake that any work is accepted of or offence against God but only for his Name sake and because of being guided or not of being guided with the Measure of Gods Pure Spirit Therefore is man and his works good and accepted or evil and not regarded but condemned of God CHAP. XIX Concerning mans state in the first Adam before Conversion and his state after Conversion and what Conversion is MAns state in the first Adam in transgression is a state of perfect enmity against God and Death rigns in every man and he is possessed with Blindness and Ignorance and unbelief and is wholly imperfect to receive the things of Gods Kingdom or to act any thing for God acceptable to him man in that state is wholly Dead to God and insensible of the Presence and Power and Life of his Creator for he is drove from God and is not led by him he hath no power to perform any good in the sight of God but is possessed with evil and led into all evil continually he is free from righteousness and free to all evil being the servant of the Devil and subject to him and overcome of him every moment and is led by him to transgress against the Lord his heart is unclean and out of it proceeds continually uncleanness in all manner of words thoughts and actions which flow out of the corrupt Fountain which grieve and vex the Lord and his Spirit who is dishonoured daily by man through his abuse of Gods Creatures who is a Devourer and Destroyer of them and not a Preserver as he ought to be who abuseth them upon his Lust and not to the Glory of the Lord he loves the Creature and worships the Creature and is gone a whoring after the Creature and hath forgotten God that made him and all things and hath lost his own dominion wherein he was set in his Creation and his state in his Transgression is cursed of God and without the Peace of God it being in the enmity against him and in all things he is wholly unprofitable to his Maker and onely profitable to himself and to the Devil and this in short is the state of every man in Transgression before Conversion but his state after Conversion is a State more blessed for man is changed and renewed and translated by the Power of the Lord through the working of the eternal Spirit Through Conversion his Mind is changed and his heart is renewed the old is done away and a new Heart is given and all things are become new even every Word and Works and every Intent and Purpose of his Mind is converted into another end and guided by another Spirit than before his Conversion and man is again returned to God into the Sense and Feeling of his Maker and into Covenant with him where he is blessed and all things to him for the Reconciliation is made with God and the evil is judged and condemened and Sin is taken away and blotted out and not remembred For man is become Servant unto God and onely serves him in all things and not himself or any other Creature in any thing for he hath received Power to become Son to God and hath received Power over the Devil and his Temptations and Death is destroyed and the effects of it are ceased and the Sting of it is taken away and Life and Immortallity is brought to Light and man is made capable to act in all things for the Glory of his Maker and God hath made Christ Wisdom to him to rule him and guide him in all things and Righteousness to cover him Justification to him to clear him in his Sight and the new Man is brought forth and the creating in Christ Jesus unto good Works is known and the Birth which is Heir of Gods Kingdom is witnessed and unto this man is the Lord become an everlasting Light and a sure hiding Place for he is not the Servant of Sin but of Righteousness nor an offence to God in any of his Works but for his Names sake is well pleased with him he is his Teacher in all the ways of Peace he is his Helmet and his Shield and his
upon whom the Wrath of God abideth and are subject to the Curse every moment and this is the state of all Mankind And the Light in every one shall answer this Measure and witness you and your Word to be the Word of the Lord which Light if they love it will bring every one to know the Power of the Creator to reconcile them and to bring them into Fellowship with him and to receive his Blessings and his Inheritance being changed by the Power of God into his Image But if they hate the Light and deny the Power of God and his Covenant and will not have Christ who hath lighted them to teach them and to rule them but do continue Enemies in their Minds to the Lord and will not receive your Message then they perish forever and you are clear seal your Testimony against them and the Lord shall be justified when he arises to Condemnation against them all who cannot own this Message and receive you in the Name of the Lord. Be bold and valiant and spare not to shew all people this Message and to Declare unto them in the Name of the Lord by whom you are sent And I warn you all Let the Fear and the Judgments of the Lord be in your Hearts and stand wholly in his Will and be obedient to the moving of his Power in all things that you may be armed against all the Swelling and Roaring of the Proud Waves of the Sea which will beat against you put on the whole Armour of God that you may withstand all the powers of Darkness and may overcome all the Temptations of the Devil Look beyond your life and your liberty and beyond all things of this World and the Life of God know and feel in you to give you Dominion over all and with his Word and Power to reach to his Witness in all that you may leave a Testimony behind you for him Thick Darkness you will find covering all people their Ears deaf and their Eyes blind and the Ground wholly barren and untilled you will find overgrown with Cursed Fruit and wild Branches which must be cut up and cast into the Fire and aboundance of Idolatry and vain Superstitions and great Hardness of Heart you will meet with and find all People in the Degeneration ignorant of God and without him in the World and abounding in all Unrighteousness and Unbelief worshipping their Idol godds which will grieve your spirits but be you Patient and Long-suffering and be not offended at any of these things but Plow in Hope and Sow in Hope and Thresh upon the Mountains and beat them to dust ye Children of Sion and bring all people to know the Fear and Judgments of the Lord in them You are sent forth to beget People unto him and to turn them to his Knowledge to till the Ground to pluck up the wild Branches which cumber the Ground and the tender Grape must be spared Therefore let the Word of the Lord dwell in you and divide the Word aright and cry not Peace to the Wicked neither cry Judgment to such as are of a Broken Heart feed the Hungry with Bread and feed the Fat with Judgment Be ye good Stewards of the Lord's Treasure cover the Naked but make bare the Harlot and discover her Abominable Whoredoms let all the World know how they have committed Whoredom with the great Whore who hath sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples And proclaim unto all Nations That the Lord God is risen for the Deliverance of his Chosen and he will make War in Righteousness against all his Enemies and they must lick the Dust of his Feet and bow under his Scepter And openly declare unto all the World That God is setting up an Everlasting Kingdom and the Dominion thereof shall reach over all the Earth and the Kings of the Earth must bring in their Glory to it In the Name and Power of the Lord God go ye into all the World with this Message and Testimony which shall be answer'd to be the Message of the Everlasting God with the Light which he lightened every man withal that you may bring Glory and Honour and Dominion unto him who hath called you to bear witness of his Name in all the World This I was moved of the Lord to give forth unto all that are moved to go into other Nations by a Companion unto all that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes E. B. A General Epistle to the SAINTS To the Seed of God Elected and Chosen of him before the World began and now called by his Word and Power into the Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness to be Heirs of the Inheritance of Eternal Life that never fades away DEarly beloved Friends who are called and sanctified through the Grace of God that hath appeared unto you and in you be mindful of your Calling and make your Election sure that you may feel it the Seed of God and the Heir of Life born and brought forth in every one of you that the Promise may be fulfilled in you and you may sit down in the Kingdom feeling the immortal Crown of Life as the Reward of all your Sufferings and Tryals and Patience for the Inheritance of an endless Life is the Portion of the Righteous who have followed the Lamb through his Sufferings and laid down their Crowns at his Feet and now his Feet are treading down and will tread down all mortal Crowns and stain the glory of all Flesh and bring it into contempt and set up his Kingdom to have Dominion over all And so Friends you in whose hearts the Day-Star hath appeared of Light and Life feel the growth of the good Seed in your selves which must rise in you all over the contrary part and over that nature which is related to the Kingdoms of this World that must be kept down in you all and all must be subject to the Lambs Power and to his Dominion every Work Word and Motion must be brought in subjection unto him that he who is Light and Life and Righteousness and Truth and all Vertue and Goodness may alone reign in you and over yâ—â—avâ— and the contrary may be kept in the subjection and the Body of Siâ—â—â— and Death may be wholly put off and Immortallity brought forth in you all by the Gospel which hath been sounded forth amongst you in Power and Life and not in the words of man's wisdom and this Gospel which we have received and you have heard hath wrought its effect wherefore the Lord sent it and many are turned from darkness to Light and from Satan's power to God and the Lord hath gathered his Jewels and is gathering of them and he hath planted his Inheritance with a pleasant Plant of Righteousness and Renown and his Arm hath wrought great deliverances in the Earth and hath raised up the Poor and exalted the Meek and Lowly and he hath brought down the Mighty from his Seat and these things hath
by another spirit then once the Christians were and that you follow another Teacher then once they did your Practices do make it manifest which are contrary and not according to what the Practice of the Christians once were Is not my Judgment just upon you Have you not lost that and are departed from it which gave the Name of Christian and so have the Name without the thing a Profession of Christianity but no true Title therein but having lost that which gave the true Title to the Name So that this is your state and this is your Condition generally ye Christians through the World A Name you have of Christianity but to the True Life thereof in every Particular are you dead And now all ye Christians upon Earth Behold behold how you are fallen and degenerated in all these things and many more which might be named I Faln I say from the true Christian Life and Practice wherein the Christians once were shewing fully to all the World that the Spirit of Christ doth not now guide you Christians but another Spirit which brings forth through you other Works and Fruits and of another nature then what the Christians once brought forth and being compared with them you are no whit equal in the very way and means whereby you are made Christians you differ from them and in all your practices and in life and conversation you are contrary to them And in respect of your Worship and Ministry in every part thereof are you altogether contrary unto what the Christians once were yea in your very Apparel you shew a Degeneration from the true Life and Practice in Christianity for the Apostle exhorted the Christians to adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety not with brodered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array 1 Tim. 2. 9. And the Christians were there exorted That â—â—eir Adorning should not be the outward plaiting of the Hair or of wearing Gold or putting 〈◊〉 of Apparel But now amongst ye Christians is a practice found quite contrary What Vanity and Excess is in your Apparel striving to excel one another in Pride and Vain-Glory in your Gold and Silver and costly Array spending the Creation of God to satisfie your lustful Minds shewing another spirit then was amongst the Christians of old whose words and Name ye pâ—â—fess but are degenerated from the Life in things of greater and less moment Alas alas Oh wo is me for you How is my spirit often oppressed in the remembrance of your woful Fall What shall I say unto you but this You are revolted and gone away backward from the Way of Life and you have altogether forgotten God and are degenerated from Christ the living Vine and the Anger of the Lord is now greatly kindled against you to consume you and to confound you because you are revolted and turned aside from the pure and perfect Way of God which once was manifest amongst Christians And your Back-sliding and Apostacy is truly compared to that of the Iews who did retain the Name of the People of God after they were turned aside from his Commandments even as you do retain the Name of Christians though you are departed from Christ For the Iews had seen and known much of the Power and Presence and Hand of the Lord in many great Victories and Deliverances and the Lord had chosen them above any other People at that day to place his Name with them and amongst them and yet after all that they forgot his wondrous Works and rebell'd against him and became a Stiff-necked and Hard-hearted people much more then any other besides them and they would not be instructed nor reclaimed by the Voice of the Prophets but smote them and slew them and when Christ their Saviour came they would not receive him nor walk in his Wayes but crucified him saying They would not have tâ—… Man to reign over them And to this in every particular are the Christians now found equal and agreeing with Back-sliding Israel for much of the Hand and Power of the Lord were the Christians made Partakers of and the Lord wrought great Deliverances for them when they were few in number and under heavy Yoaks and Bondage through Persecution and cruel Dealing yet then the Lord was with them and increased them greatly in number and gave them Victory in a great measure over all their Enemies but now are they revolted even as the Iews and have forgotten God and greatly rebelled against him and have turned his Love to their Lusts abusing his Loving-kindness and are become a stiff-necked and hard-hearted people as ever were the Iews and now you will not be instructed nor reclaimed from the Error of your wayes but abound in all manner of Unrighteousness and will not hearken to the Voice of the Lord nor return to him but are a gainsaying people and will not return unto him from whom you are fallen but hate the Light which Christ has lightened you withal neither will have Christ to reign over you but crucifie the Life as the Iews did And as the Sacrifices and Oblations the Sabboth-keeping of the Iews and all the Works of Righteousness were an Abomination to the Lord after they were departed from him even the very practice of those things which God had once commanded them to perform became a Burden to the Lord and his Soul could not away with them even their New Moons and Sabboths his Soul hated Isa. 1. and all their Sacrifices were as if they cut off a Dogs Neck and their Oblations as if they offer'd Swine's-blood and their burning Incense as if they blessed an Idol Isa. 66. I say The very Practice of the Iews after they were revolted and become disobedient Children in those very things which God had commanded them to do and practice and which once the Lord accepted the doing of by his People yet after they were turned aside from the leading of his Spirit the practice of the very same Works were hateful in the sight of the Lord when they performed Works of Righteousness to him and yet their Hearts went after their Covetousness and their practizing of that which God had once commanded to be done their doing of it was Idolatry and was a Burden to the Lord's Soul and their Righteousness and all their Practices therein were as filthy Rags even loathsom in his Presence when their Fear towards him was taught them by the precepts of men and they had lost that pure Fear which 〈◊〉 was taught them of God but they were gone from his Fear which should have kept their Hearts clean and their Hears were defiled and poluted and therefore not any of their Performances to him could be accepted but were altogether become an Abomination And even thus is it at this day as concerning the Sacrifices and Performances of Christians being as I have said and made manifest departed from the Lord and from the Spirt of Christ All their Prayings and Preachings and
Singings their Baptisms and Breaking of Bread and even all that which you perform as unto God as the Worship of him is not accepted but Abomination unto him and his Soul is burdened with all these things you not being led with the Spirit of Christ And even your practizing of these things which the Saints and Christians once practiced and were accepted of the Lord in so doing while they were led by the Spirit of Christ I say The very practice of those things now by the Christians being degenerated is become Idolatry and Abomination to the Lord. And this I declare in the Fear and Presence of the Lord Even all your Praying and Preachings and Profession all your Sabboth-keeping and Set-dayes of Humiliation and even all your Practices of Religion which you do and perform are Idolatry and a Burden to the Lord's Soul in the state that now you stand not being led by the Spirit of Christ but being from it departed and your works not brought forth by it but by another spirit And now saith the Lord unto you Christians who are degenerated from the Spirit of Christ To what purpose is your Preaching Praying and Singing They are a Vexation and Burden to the Righteous Soul and the Lord hath no delight therein away with it away with it Your Profession and Practices stincks in the Nostrils of the Lord All your Baptisms and your Sacraments which ye perform in a vain Tradition and not by the Spirit of the Lord they are hateful in his sight away with them away with them they shall crumble to the dust and immediate Desolation in one day the Lord will break them down and never build them up again Your Preaching by a Glass for so much a Sermon or so much a Year what you have gathered out of Books and studied for from other mens words town with it down with it it is 〈◊〉 Abomination to the Lord. And your Ministry which is made and sent forth at Schools and 〈◊〉 natural Learning through the attainment of such Arts and Sciences and being approved of such and such men and sent forth to such and such a Parâ—… 〈◊〉 have so much Money by the Year for preaching what hath been studied foâ—… and not by the Gift of the Holy Ghost away with this Ministry away with it it s a mocking of God and a deceiving of Souls the Lord will confound it and bring it to Destruction And your singing of the Saints words in Rhyme and Meeter and their Conditions which your selves never knew this is Abomination to the Lord and a Practice which his Soul hater away with it the Lord is risen to confound it Away with all your Worship which is not in the Spirit nor in the Truth but in vain Traditions of 〈◊〉 practiced by you in a vain Form and not the Power of God The Lord will being it down to the ground restore and establish his own Worship which 〈◊〉 in Spirit and in Truth and he will give and hath given his Ministry again by the Gift of the Holy Ghost which hath been lost for many Ages while this Night of Apostacy hath over-spread the World and the Lord shall 〈◊〉 longer be worshipped in vain Traditions of men but his people shall be reâ—â—red and renewed to worship him in Spirit and Truth and the Christianâ—ife â—ife shall again be brought forth and the Spirit of Christ shall be the Leader and Teacher of his People And now the Day of the Lord's Visitation is again revived for togather his People and to restore them again to his perfect Way and Worship Therefore hearken and behold ye Christians this is the Testimony of the Lord â—…erning you You have been fallen and degenerated from the Life of Righteousness and from the true Way and Worship of the true God and you have long been slumbring and sleeping in this long Night of Darkness which overshadow'd you and darkned that glorious Appearance of the 〈◊〉 of God which once shined upon the Christians and in Blindness and Dâ—… have 〈◊〉 walked for many Ages and your Worship hath been subscribed To the Unknown God and wofully have you been wallowing in unclean Paths and you have erred you have erred from the Life of Christ and from his Spirit and you are gone from your Husband and follow'd other Lovers and you have been â—…ed in Iniquity and altogether poluted by Transgtession and the state in which you now stand is a state seperated from God a state of great Ignoraâ—… and Darkness and a state of hainous Rebellion against God whose Soul and Spirit is greatly oppressed and grieved because of your Degeneration who 〈◊〉 become more ignorant of God then the Ox is of his Owner oâ— the Ass of his Master's Crib and even the very same Vision is seen concerning you as the Prophet saw concerning Israel Therefore hear oh Heavens and give ear oh Earth for the Lord doth speak unto you Christians I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebell'd against me and the Ox knows his Owner and the Ass his Master's Crib but the Christians do not know the People do not consider Ah! sinful Nation a people laden with Iniquity a seed of Evil-doers Children that are corrupted that have forsaken the right Way and provoke the Living God to Anger and ye are gone away backward the whole Head is sick the whole Heart is faint and from the sole of the Foot even unto the Head there is no Soundness but your Conditions are Wounds and Bruises and â—…fying Sores you are not closed neither bound up neither mollified with Oyâ—…ent and your Country is desolate and your Cities are burnt as with Fire your Land Strangers devour it in your presence and it is desolate and overthrown by Strangers and but that the Lord of Hosts has left us a soul Remnant even a Seed ye Christians would have been as Sodom if any man hath an Ear to hear let him hear This Vision is as true unto you Christians throughout all the World as ever it was unto the seed of the Iews This is your state and this is your condition and thus ye stand in the sight of the Lord though in your beginning in the beginning of Christianity I mean the Lord brought up the Christians and nourished them by his Living Word and with his Word he cherished them and they grew unto a goodly state and were â—…pleat in Christ Col. 2. 10. And they were come to the 〈◊〉 of â—…st Men made perfect and unto Mount Sion the 〈◊〉 of the Living God the Hâ—…ly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the First-Born which are written in Heaven and to God the Iudge of all Hebrews 12 22 23 24. TO this state were the Christians nourished and brought up in the dayes when they were first brought forth when they were begotten and born again of the immortal Word that abides forever and they were sanctified and purified and
is insufficient to maintain his own Cause and to uphold the Rights and Priviledges of his own Kingdom Do you think that he hath need of you or a Multitude of wild and heady Men and Youth to fight in his Cause to uphold his Gospel and Ministry and Ministers Alas no you are deceived in this matter for his own Arm shall do all this and he will do it without you and not be beholding to you in this matter His Gospel nor the Priviledges of it shall not fall the true Ministry the Preaching and Dispensing of God's Word and Ordinances shall not perish though you be silent for the Lord by his own Power will maintain and carry on these things and all others belonging to his Kingdom without the help of Mortal Men or without the help of the Arm of Flesh so that you may put up your Swords and be still in this matter and leave it to God who is sufficient for these things without a multitude of men or without the Arm of Flesh For I must tell you that the faithful Teachers of God's Word and the faithful Ministry desire not your help to prosecute their Cause and the Cause of the Gospel but they trust to the Lord to be maintained countenanced and encouraged by him alone who is sufficient in that cause though its true the false Ministers and the antichristian Teachers through all Christendom for many Generations they have sought unto the Arm of flesh to set them up to maintain and defend them and their Gospel and false Church thus it is through the Popes Dominion and among some Protestants also they cry unto the Magistrates unto the Kings and Parliaments for the making cruel Laws to defend them and to the rude world they cry Help us and save us and defend us by fighting with Carnal Weapons for Heresies and Errors and such like and they stand in their Ministry in their Call to it and Maintenance of it and defence in it by the Arm of flesh and their Church is upheld thereby also but this is but Antichrists way and these are Antichrists Ministers and his false Church hereby is defended in the World and this shews that the Weapon of the Spirit of God is wanted by them which the Apostles had and it s very doubtful O ye Apprentices of London that your Ministers have prayed you and preached you into such a work as that you should stand up to maintain them and fight for them and their church against such that do oppose them but I must tell you if their Defence be not in another hand then in yours they are like to come to perpetual ruin and their Gospel and their Teaching and their Sacraments their Church cannot stand if they have not the Lord's Help more then yours And as for the Universities which you contend for alas many of you are ignorant concerning them and what Abomination is committed among them oh if you knew but the Prophaneness and Ungodliness and Ill-education that is among them it would turn your zeal for them backwards and it s not from humane Studies that the faithful Ministers of Christ come but who are so indeed are made so by the Gift of God's Eternal Spirit both in this Age and in Ages past So that O ye Apprentices Be still be still and do not ruin your selves and your City by Rage and Fury and Disorders upon such a Proceeding for your ground of Quarrel is not perfectly good nor your Endeavour in the Cause aforesaid well accepted with the Lord. But if your Quarrel be upon the account or about the matter of Church and Ministry leave that to the Lord and to your Ministers that they may defend themselves their Church and Ordinances and Worship by the Spirit of God if they have it for that is the Weapon of Ministry Church and Gospel-Warfare and not Carnal Weapons nor the multitude of an Host of Men Let your Ministers come forth in the best authority of spirit that they have and plead the cause of their Worship and Gospel and Ministry like Christians and not like Iews and Heathens for they use Carnal Weapons killing and murdering about Church and Religion that is the Papists Practice and not the Practice of the Saints So that ye Apprentices seeing you state your Quarrel against the Army upon the account of Church and Ministry my Advice is to you Proceed no further upon that ground but give your Trust to the Lord for the maintaining of all things related to his own Kingdom But the Cry is Those Sectaries those Sectaries away with them Your Trouble seems to be concerning them lest they prevail but wherefore are you troubled in this matter like as if you knew not that what the Lord purposeth must come to pass who are of God will stand this you need not doubt and who are not will come to nought and its vain for Mortal Man to oppose the Lord's Purpose but this was the Cry in dayes past How did the Bishops and Prelates in their dayes cry against the Non-conformists as Hereticks and such like even as the Ministers now cry against Sectaries But consider how did the Bishops proceed but in being the chief Cause themselves of raising War against the then Non-conformists thinking thereby to have smitten them all but you know it proved otherwise and as they thought to do unto others so was it done unto them which thing may be an Example to you For as they thought to have destroyed the then called Puritans in like manner were themselves destroyed and this may possibly fall upon you Therefore consider for I tell you as an equal man between you and them that there is more Sincerity towards God and Fear of his Name in some of them called Sectarians then there is amongst you and your Ministers though I do not here justifie the Sectarians so called in all things neither do I in every thing condemn your Ministers but this I say and do know If that you and your Ministers raise a War against those called Sectarians the effect thereof will prove your own Sorrow and their Advantage So this is my Advice to you rest and be still and that will prove your own Peace and Happiness Therefore take heed and beware lest ye oppose and gain-say the Work and Power of God which his purpose is to bring to pass in this his Day who is setting up his Kingdom in the midst of Tribulations that comes upon men The second Particular humbly desired by you is The Freedom and Priviledges of Parliaments as being the Great Charter of the People which you account very dear unto you and by which you hope to see you say a Settlement in Church and State and you humbly conceive that to be the probable means to establish the true Protestant Religion reform the Laws secure the Liberties promote Learning c. Answ. Now Friends do but truly consider and with a humble Mind what the Work of the Lord hath
Form and in Forms of Righteousness without the Power and in Immitations without Life and perfect Knowledge so that all the Practices of Religion we beheld without Power and Life though some had a sincerity in them and a zeal and a desire towards the Lord yet all people erred in Judgment and none were guided in Judgment by the Eternal Spirit and because of the error in Judgment that made their zeal blind and their performances of Righteousness not accepted though acted in some sincerity and zeal because they were not guided in Practice and led in Judgment by the Spirit of the Lord which only leads into all Truth and none are in the Truth but who are led thereby so that we behold all Profession but as Coverings with Figg-leaves while the nature of Transgression stood uncondemned and not crucified and then we saw not only the Performance and Practice in Church state and in religious Orders were corrupted but also Government and Magistracy and all things in civil state were not aright in the sight of the Lord nor as the Lord required neither as he had ordained in the beginning for Government we know as ordained of God is to punish and limit and terrifie all Evil-Doers and to preserve and defend all that do well and that mens Consciences are to be left free and to be ruled by the Lord alone and guided by his Spirit and that outward Power and civil Magistrates and Laws so called ought not to be Lord or Ruler in mens Consciences nor over them but we beheld how Unrighteousness and Iniquity and Sin and Wickedness was strengthened and encouraged in the Government and by such as were in Authority and how the Fear of God and the exercise of a good Conscience was abused so that it was turned backward from what it ought to be them that did well were punished and limitted as Trausgressors and the Evil-Doers were set free and not made afraid so that we could truly cry Truth was faln in the Street and Justice and true Judgment turned backward and Equity had no place to enter and the Innocent were devoured through want of true and just Judgment and the Needy were spoiled and made a prey and thus it was framed for no sooner had we opened our Mouthes but the Magistrates began to put us in Prison and execute great injustice upon us and became Oppressors of the Innocent and laid grievous unjust burdens upon us grievous to be born and true justice and judgment was neglected and wrong judgement brought forth and good Government abused and men in Authority not ruled by the Lord neither ruling for the Lord among men and thus it came to pass upon us through the corruption and Degeneration in Goverment and Magistrates which we saw to be as it was fulfilled by them to wit not as the Lord required nor as he in the beginning ordained it but quite the contrary and this we saw in the beginning when the Spirit of the Lord was poured down upon us and power from on high was revealed to declare against all the Abominations of the Earth and to make War against all Corruption in all Orders and Places and Men. Then being prepared of the Lord and having received Power from on high we went forth as commanded of the Lord leaving all Relations and all things of the World behind us that we might fufill the work of the Lord into which he called us and with Flesh and Blood nor any Creature we consulted not nor took counsel of men but of the Lord alone who lifted up our heads above the World and all fears and doubtings and was with us in Power and Domininion over all that which opposed us which was great and mighty and gave us power over it all and to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and this is the Saints honour and the Word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare and caused the Deaf to hear the Blind to see and the heart that was hardned to be awakened and the Dread of the Lord went before us and behind us and teror took hold upon our Enemies And first of all our Mouthes were opened and our spirit filled with indignation against the Priests and Teachers and with them and against them first we began to war as being the Causers of the people to err and the Blind-leaders that carried the Blind into the Ditch and against them as the Fountain of all wickedness abounding in the Nations and as being the issue of Prophaness for from them hath Prophaness gone forth in all Nations and against them we cryed aloud as being redeemed from their Mouthes who had made a prey upon us as they do upon all that follow their ways and in Steeple-houses we did visit them often and in Markets and other Places as the Lord moved and made way for us shewing unto all them and all their people that they were not Lawful Ministers of Christ sent of him but were Deceivers and Antichrists and such whom the Lord never sent and we spared not publikely and at all seasons to utter forth the Judgments of the Lord against them and their wayes and against their Churches and Worships and Practices as not being of God nor commanded by him by which they deceived the World and this was our first work which we entred upon to thresh down the Deceivers and lay them open that all people might see their shame and come to turn from them and receive the Knowledg of the Truth that they might be saved and this we did with no small Opposition nor danger yea oftentimes we were in danger of our lives through bearing abusing Punishing Haling casting over Walls striking with Staves and Cudgels and Knocking down to the Ground besides Reproaching Scorning Revilings and Houtings at and Scoffings and Slanderings and all abuses that could be thought or acted by evil hands and Tongues and often carried before Magistrates with grievous Threats and sometimes put in the Stocks and Whipped and often Imprisoned and many hard Dealings against us the worst of Tongues or hands could execute sparing Life of this all the North-countries may witness and all these things are sustained and suffered from people and Rulers because of our faithfulness to the Lord and for declaring against the false Deceivers for nothing save onely the Hand of the Lord and his Power could have preserved us and carryed us through all this neither for any reward outward whatsoever or advantage to our selves would we have exposed our selves to that sufferings and violence and dangers which befell us daily but the Lord was our exceeding great reward through all these things and kept us in the Hollow of his Hand and under the Shadow of his Wings and gave us Dominion in Spirit over all our Enemies and subdued them before us and though Rulers and People were combined against us and executed their injustice and violence upon us yet the Lord made us to Prosper and
his being removed was in Judgment from the Lord against his Persecutors who desired and sought his Destruction and what they have done against him hath greatly added to the fulfilling of their Iniquities That the Blood of the Righteous which cries for Vengeance may be avenged to the utmost upon them who would not suffer the Righteous to have a Beeing amongst men nor lay to heart their being taken away from the Evil to come And they who in a byast or prejudiced spirit of Enmity are listed up because of his Decease they were not worthy of him nor of his Testimony and they have cause to Mourn and Lament amongst those that have pierced the Just and slighted and despised the Messengers of Truth and Righteousneds whom God hath therein Honoured and God will debase such and their vainglory unto the Dust and exalt the Testimony and Life of his faithful Witnesses over all their Heads But we who have been well acquainted with the deep suffering of the Righteous Seed and with the worth of true Unity in the weighty Body and Spirit of Christ and therein do behold the Glory and Compleatness of the City of our God which is at Peace within it self cannot but prize the Ministers of Righteousness and every Member of the same Body and oh how blessed and precious is the Memorial of the Righteous in our eyes and how deeply is my Soul affected with that comfortable Communion and those many and living Refreshments that we have enjoyed one with another even with him and others who have finished their Course Well however in this I am satisfied That though we be left in Travel and our Dayes have been Dayes of Affliction and Suffering for Christ and the Gospel's sake as in the World yet in him whom the Prince of this World hath nothing in we have Peace being come into Communion with the Spirits of Just Men who are the Family of God written in Heaven and called by one Name both in Heaven and Earth and the God of Life is their Portion and his Glory is the Rereward of his Called and Chosen and Faithful Ones who have dealt their Bread to the Hungry and brought the Poor to their House even to the Habitation of the Righteous where the Living Bread is received and the Heavenly Mansions lived in and enjoyed by all who abide in the Truth and retain their first Love and Habitation therein in which True Fellowship is enjoyed and the Prosperity of the Elect Seed known Blessed be the Name of our God forever and ever London the 12th day of the 1st Moneth 1663. George Whitehead JOSIAH COALE HIS TESTIMONY Concerning The Servant of the Lord and Minister of Jesus Christ Edward Burroughs FRiends a necessity is upon me and I am even constrained and pressed in my spirit to bring in and give my Testimony concerning my beloved Brother before mentioned that it may remain and stand upon record for Ages and Generations to come And this first I say and declare unto all people unto whom this shall come That he was a man endued with the Almighty Power of God which lived and reigned in him and the Treasury of pure divine heavenly Wisdom was opened in him c. and understanding in the things that relate unto God's Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness and in the things that concern the Everlasting peace and well-being of all mankind was plentifully manifested unto him by the good Spirit of God which I may say he had received in a plentifull Measure And this many can testifie unto and his own Writings which remain upon record will in a large Measure manifest the truth thereof And this Spirit dwelt plentifully in him so that thereby he was able to instruct many in the Way of Life Peace and true Holiness and if any were afflicted in spirit or mind by reason of the Wiles of the Enemy of their Souls or if they met with any difficulty in their journey as they passed from Death to Life he was a man able through the large experience that he had of the dealings of the Lord and also of the Wiles of Satan having followed the Lamb in the Regeneration to administer a word in season to their refreshment and comfort and for their establishment in the most precious holy Faith and this I know the Witness of God in thousands must and shall testifie unto who are the Seal of his Ministry And moreover he was a man that was able through the Wisdom and blessed Gift of God that was in him to convince and stop the mouths of all Gain-sayers of the Truth which he with us professed and lived in And it is well known to many that he was never backward but alwayes ready and willing to appear in a way of publick conference as in vindication of and against any that should oppose the blessed Truth of God which he held and professed and also to manifest the Grounds and Reasons wherefore we deny and dissent from the National Priests of the World and their traditional Ways of Worship and the hypocritical Professors thereof who have not the Life and Substance of what they profess in words And these things it is well known unto many he was oft exercised in and he did not go about in Corners nor creep into dark Places hiddenly nor secretly but preached the Truth of God and Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ boldly and openly even upon the House-top and his valour for God's Truth on Earth was well known unto many and his voice was as the found or ratling of the Charriots of God's Host upon the tops of the Mountains and was oft uttered sorth in the Name of the Lord even like Thunder and the Voice of the Son of God was uttered forth through him by which the Dead was raised the Witnesses are now alive let them bring in their Testimony that the truth hereof may be confirmed His Doctrine dropped as the Oyl of joy upon the spirits of the Mourners in Sion His life extended it self as a sweet Stream into the hearts of the Children of Light that thirsted after Righteousness He was one of the Cloud of Witnesses that dropped down the Dew upon the tender Plants of God He pleaded the Cause of the innocent suffering Seed and earnestly contended with the Powers of the Earth of all sorts in the behalf and for the freedom of the suffering people of God He fore-prophesied unto them that were in Authority in the dayes past of their destruction and of their overthrow because of their deceitfulness to God and their false and cruel treacherous and merciless dealings towards his people who had made many fair Promises both to God and Man in the time of their adversity That they would grant free Liberty of Conscience in things relating to the Worship of God and that Oppression should be removed and the like but in the time of their prosperity when they were waxen fat and grown great and lived at ease and in Pleasures
out of the Life of them thinking thou dost God service in speaking evil of his people and thy Rules by which thou walkst is proved by thy works and words to be imperfect and erroneous and thy darkness is of Satan and not the Light of Christ. Thy sixth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light that it destroys the institutions of Christ therefore is the light of Satan c. Answ. Hast thou no foundation but a Lye to place thy Argument upon surely thy time is neer an end because thou hast no refuge but a lye to fly unto Thy major Proposition is not altogether sound for that light was the Light of God and of Christ which commanded circumcision and the seventh day to be kept a Sabbath and the Worship in the Temple which was instituted by God c. And that was the Light of God and of Christ also which led the Disciples from these things to deny them and bear witness against them and yet no offence in God nor no contradiction in the Light of Christ but this to thy dark mind is a mystery sealed and I leave it as a Parable to thee Then for the proof of thy minor Proposition thou instancest That we deâ—â— Baptism and breaking of Bread yet darest thou not contend for sprinkling of Infants that imagination of man and no institution of Christ. But makest use of the Baptist herein unto whom I perceive thou art an Enemy what poor shifts art thou fain to run unto now when thou art likely to be discovered and rambles up and down wresting our words to blind the eyes of the simple for you that live in your filthiness yet professing the Supper of the Lord it is made manifest you eat and drink your own damnation and discerns not the Lords Body and while you are of the World and not come to Repentance you have nothing to do to speak of the Institutions of Christ which was to his Church to be practised therein only and not among the Children of this World so thy darkness is of Satan and not of Christ and thy Conclusion it is to thy self Thy seventh Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. Which denies agreâ— Work of Christ in the hearts of them who believe in him therefore it is the Light of Satan c. Answ. What hast thou nothing but a Lye in thy mouth to ground thy Discourse upon and to draw thy Conclusion from we deny not the work of Christ in the hearts of them who believe the proof of this minor position makes it not at all evident when thou hast wrested our words as much as thou canst much less if the simplicity of our words were used so it being a Lye in the ground I need noâ— much pluck down the building for it fals of it self as being not so firm as upon the Sand for we hereunto exhort that every one may know and witness the work of Christ in the heart to change and translate and to give power over the World But among thy many blind Arguments thou sayest Thou deniest that the Righteousness of Christ whereby a Believer is justified doth dwell in him c. The Scripture saith Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates and where Christ is there is his Righteousness for they are not divided and the Word of Faith which is the Righteousness of Christ is in the heart as Paul saith but I have cause to think thou art not much ashamed of being proved a Lyar because thy impudency hath overcome simplicity and honesty for when thou hast committed abomination thou canst not blush nor be ashamed but thy shame will the Upright see Thy eighth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men â—o omit their duty to God therefore it is the light of Satan c. Answ. Thou Enemy of God when wilt thou cease thy Lyes and to pervert the right way of God we teach no man to omit his duty neither doth thy witness of thy minor Proposition stand any whit for thy purpose we are our selves daily exercised in Prayer unto God and omits it not as thou falsly accusest but to bear Testimony against the Sacrifice of the Wicked prayer self-righteousness c. that it is abomination and not accepted of the Father this is no whit to the purpose of teaching men to omit their duty as thou falsly accuseth us and thy multitude of vain Arguments are to no purpose herein and thou shews a vain wontoâ— spirit at I. Ns words whose Exhortation is to wait for the Spirit which we testifie no man can be heard or accepted of God in what he doth without it and this is the Duty of the Children of God to wait upon the Father to be led by his Spirit and he who is without the Spirit hath not received Christ Jesus and though thou scornst at this yet of it we are not ashamed and thy false conclusion is like thy foundation both to be condemned with the Lyar. Thy ninth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men to say they have no sin therefore the light of Satan c. Answ. In the proof of thy major Proposition thou sayest The Light of Christ doth teach that all his People are freed from the dominion of sin and Christ Jesus no where saith That any are free from the dominion of sin who are not free from the committing of sin but the contrary he saith He that commits sin is the Servant of sin and such a one is under the dominion of it where he is Servant sin is Lord so he who is redeemed from the Dominion and committing of sin and cleansed from all unrighteousness by Christ Jesus through his Blood if he saith he hath no sin he is no Lyar but if before confession and forsaking of sin he saith he hath no sin he deceives himself according as the Scripture witnesseth unto both these conditions 1 Iohn 1. 8 9. Again He that is born of God sins not as the same Apostle saith and if he that sins not saith he hath no sin he is no Lyar but his Light is the Light of Christ and not of Satan And thy blindness is seen in that thou sayest in effect as though some may be free from the dominion of sin and yet not free from the committing of sin if thy Light teacheth thee thus it is contrary to the Light of Christ which gave forth the Scripture our Light teacheth from the committing of all sin and gives dominion over all unrighteousness and of this Light we are not ashamed This is the strength of thy Argument which is answered so much of the rest I pass by only may mind thee of thy confusion Thou sayest Where sâ—n hath no dominion that man is perfect c. And thou allowest that the Light of Christ teacheth men that they are freed from the dominion of sin and it is proved that none are free from the dominion of sin but who are saved
coming to take an account Your sins cry for vengeance against you and though your hands and tongues have been strengthened to speak and act ungodliness by the evil example of your Rulers yet your own iniquity shall you bear in the day of the Lord and though your Rulers and Judges have been strengthened in their unjustness and mercilesness by the false lying Teachers and Diviners of false visions which have seen vanity yet their own iniquity shall they bear and every man shall die for his own sin Wo unto your Teachers they have eaten up the sin of Rulers and people and covered iniquity and transgression by flattering and lying words they have daubed with untempered morter and healed up the wound deceitfully and cryed peace peace to the wicked that have walked in the imaginations of their own hearts when unto such the Lord never spake peace And now whereas the Rulers and people have stretched forth their hands to vex the Lords people have through unjust judgment and grievous oppressions and unmercifull dealings troden the Innocent under foot and made them a prey to their mouth and divers ways have persecuted in cruel manner the Followers of the Lamb yet also have the wise men of this World even the Priests and Teachers who have led the people and have caused them to err and have set themselves as in battel array against the Lord and his way and people How have you hardened your hearts and made your fore-head as brass against the Word of the Lord and you have been as the fountain of all this wickedness acted against the Just and strengtheners of the hands of ungodly men the Heads and Rulers you have strengthened in their cruelty of false judgments by your arguments of strife in subtilty you have been as nursers of all this Persecution and Wickedness and have interceded for oppression to cause the Just to groan whom the Lord hath raised to testifie against you the Judges they have given regard unto you and the people they have taken you for examples who have been cursed presidents to the Rulers and people who have followed your cruel steps of malice and envy and from the head to the tail they have drunk in your poysonous Doctrines and made themselves drunk therewith and out of reason in their furious zeal of madness and all have taken council together to slay the harmless from off the face of the Earth some by false judgment and oppression and others by cruel abusings as beatings and stonings unheard of or unequalized in Generations of late O ye Priests and Teachers and Wise-men and Scribes how many of you in this Nation joyned hand in hand to betray the Innocent by your false Doctrines and lying Divinations and have filled and sought to do so the mind of the people with slanders and false reproaches lying imaginations and many conceptions and jealousies against the people of God many of you have made it your study-work to bring forth evil by cunning Arguments to suggest into the hearts of people that they might not enter the Kingdom and even so have you been shutters of the Kingdom of Heaven against men and would not enter your selves nor suffer others that would Wo unto you you have taken away the Key of Knowledge and lost it and multitudes of false Aspersions and lying Assertions have you brought forth without fear by wicked consequence and lying productions that you might take away the key of knowledge thereby and hide it from men and lay stumbling-blocks of Iniquity before the people to stop the way of the Upright and you have travelled to seek occasions of evil against the Just and watched for the halting of the Innocent that you might glory and rejoyce in their fall and without any occasion by words or actious you have taken offence and made offences by evil surmisings to blind the eyes of people that your Idolatry might not be discovered nor the Way of Righteousness shine forth O be ashamed and repent for to account must you Come and the sin of Rulers and people whom you have blindy led will be charged against you who have given them wicked examples of cruelty in your Pulpits you have spent time in Railing and Slandering and Lying to infuse evil into the minds of men against the Truth and many books have you given forth and sent abroad from your lying Pens outof your vain studies of false prophesie and mens hearts have been filled with your damnable Doctrines of Devils wherewith the Simple have been poysoned and the Innocent betrayed even great numbers of Books and lying Scroules have gone through the Nation from some of you filled with false Divination and intents of evil against the Way of the Lord and his people and worse than Balaam and far exceeding him have you been you have sought eâ—chantments to curse the people whom God hath blessed altogether and some of you have done it to your evil reward of your evil work and you have not known that there is no divination against the holy Seed Oâ— what will become of you when the Lord is arisen to plead with you 〈◊〉 these things the cruelty and oppression of the Rulers shall be added 〈◊〉 your account and the sin of the people which you have swallowed down it shall be laid to your charge for you have strengthened the hands of Evil-doers so that none could turn from his evil way but have by yâ—… been hardened therein and from you prophaness have gone forth to the ends of the Earth Woe woe is approaching what account will yoâ— render in the day of the Lord you will all be speechless in that day whâ—… the swift Witness doth arise therefore to all you I am moved to write who have set your selves to gain-say the Truth and to write against the people of the Lord whom you call Quakers who walk in the Truth and have received the Truth from the Lord whom you have reproached and slandered in secret and also in open print in the face of the World and have laid many cruel and false Charges and Accusations against them and to all that hath or ever shall hereafter bend your tongues and pens to utter wickedness and falshood by writing or otherwise Repent and cease your wickedness for the wrath of the Lord is kindled against you and take this for an answer in full to all your Books and false reproaches we are of God and he that is of God heareth us and the whole World lies in wickedness and we have the Testimony that we please God and he is our God and we are his People and he hath Chosen us and we have Chosen him and the Name of the Lord is our strength and his Covenant of Life is with us and among us hath he fullfilled his promise and his Spirit is poured forth and sons and daughters do Prophesie and one King reigns upon mount Sion and the night to us is far spent and the day is
no end and people shall be brought into that and they shall go forth no more for who come to this Time is no longer and the Kingdom and Government is delivered to the Father and he is become all in all And all that ever come to know these things must first come to the Light of the Lamb in them with which every man is lightned that cometh into the World And all that ever know these things must first be brought to the Principle of God in them which they have transgressed against And all that own the Light of Christ and walk in it shall come to know these things which to know and be in them is eternal Life Therefore all ye Christians come to the Light which Christ hath lightned you withal and that will let you see the Government of Satan and of sin and death which has been ruling in you and the Light will teach you to war against it till it be subdued the Light will discover unto you that nature in which the kingdom of Satan bears rule it will let you see the Devil who is the Prince of darkness who is the Adversary of God who is out of the Truth and he has drawn all people out of the Truth but if you love the Light of Christ in you it will teach you to war against him and against all that that is out of the Truth for all that is of Satans Kingdom that is out of the Truth and must be destroy'd by the coming of the Kingdom of Christ whose coming is in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal who comes to destroy the Devil and his kingdom and all his works So to the Light must all minds be turned which will reveal the kingdom of the Man of Sin and consume it The Appearance of Christ is Light and Christ is the Light of Israel which is as a Fire to consume all fruitless Trees which cumber the ground which the Lord will consume by the brightness of his coming And now is the Man of Sin reveal'd even in the hearts of Christians so call'd and he hath long shew'd himself to be God but now the Lord will bring him down For Antichrist has rul'd for many Ages and the Lord of Life has been crucified in spiritual Sodom but Sodom shall be consumed by Fire and the Lord will avenge himself of all his Enemies and all People and Nations shal know that there is a God who executes Justice and true Judgment who is a God near at hand to reward his People with Everlasting Life and to give unto his Enemies Judgment and Condemnation Written by a Friend to the Creation a Servant of the Lord E. B. A DECLARATION To all the WORLD Of our Faith And what we believe who are called QUAKERS And this is written that all People upon Earth may know by whom and how we are saved and hope for Eternal Life and what we believe concerning God Christ and the Spirit and of the things that are Eternal appertaining to all Mankind to know and believe Concerning God Christ and the Spirit thus we believe FIRST That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth and he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things that Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things â—…in unto this day by his Power and whatsoever he willeth in Heaven and Earth he â—â—ings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God only is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipned by all Creatures and no other thing besides 〈◊〉 in Heaven and Earth Aâ—… we believe That his Worship and Obedience and Fear and Love is to be given in Spirit even in what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his People unto And we believe His true Worship required and accepted of him 〈◊〉 not by the Tradition of men in outward Observances or Set-dayes oâ— Places but he is worshipped only in Spirit â—…d Trâ—th without respect of Time â—…ces or things and that none can worship â—â—m in Righteousness but his â—…n who are born of his Spirit and are led and guided thereby And we believe That this God hath given his Son Christ Jâ—… 〈◊〉 â—â—e World a free Gift unto the whole World and that every 〈◊〉 that coâ—…eth into the World is lighted by him that every man miâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayed And we believe That he is given into the World and no Nation 〈◊〉 or Pâ—ople excepted but unto all Mankind is he given of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them and every man through the World that believeth in him and receiveth Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal ' Salvation and every one that believeth not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting Misery And we believe That Salvation Iustification and Sanctification are only in him and wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but hâ—m alone by which Salvation is And we believe All that receive him and believe in him are reconâ—…d to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things anâ— do receive the Forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all Unrighteousness and from the Body of Sin and Death and have the Witness of the Spirit in them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong unto their Peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to Mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwells in the Saints and by it have they Fellowship one with mother and the Father Son and Spirit are one And this we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe That he is one with the Father and was with him before the World was and what the Father worketh 〈◊〉 is by the Son for he is the Arm of God's Salvâ—…ion and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without Beginning or End And we believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony of him and that he was made manifest in Iudea and Ierusalem and did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Iews and was crucified by his Enemies and that he was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascended on High and exalted at the Right-hand of the Father for evermore and that he is glorified with the same Glory that the had before the World was and that even the same that came down froâ—… Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe Even that he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come
of Calvin or Form of Prayer as these have now the Common-Prayer and both the one and the other have cast off the POPES Form and brought in their own get into a Form of words a Forâ— of worship without either Life or Power The PAPISTS in some things that they begin to do will say In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And the Protestants or them who call themselves of the reformed Church that are come off from the Papists some of them when they go about to do a thing will say Our help is in the Name of the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Here both the one and the other have a Form of words but out of the Name the one as well as the other out of the Life out of the Power and Authority of our Lord Iesus Christ. Therefore what they do how can it be done in his Name which themselves are out of Though they may be in the words and do a thing in the words But that is not a doing it in the Name for to do things in so many words in their own Time and Will that which themselves have brought in is one thing But to do it in the Name Power and Authority of the Lord Iesus Christ is another for words is not the Name nor the Power and the Kingdom stands in the Power not in words Therefore all people see what you do that it be done in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ the true Light of the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World in his Light in his Power then that will bring you to cease from your own words and following your own ways doing it in his Power in his Strength out of your own words your own ways and your own wills in his Name For what hath form or words either one or the other hitherto produced or brought forth without Life or Power Hath your long Profession and Forms of the words brought any of you yet into the possession of the things Or will it ever do If not What serves it to Who hath required it to have it done And is it not his right alone who is to be worshipped to direct himself how he will be worshipped Or is not all other service and worship in the will And so Will-worship that is not of his own direction or appointment And the Scripture saith John chapter 4. as you may read God is a Spirit and he will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth Mark that He who is a Spirit will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth that which the Devil abode not in for into a Form of words Drunkards Swearers Lyars Prophane Persons unrighteous which are shut out of the Kingdom may get into words in such a worship out of the Spirit but that is not the worship which God requires And is it not equal that he alone direct how he will be worshipped that is to be worshipped And thou art so to perform thy service towards him that of him it may be accepted and so it is rightly done when done as he hath appointed it as he hath directed And Obedience is more than Sacrifice whom thou art to obey if thou wilt do him service who is worshipped or served in the Spirit and in the Truth whose Will then comes to be done and not thine who will be so worshipped and so served But otherwise is it not thine own will and not his that is done Therefore whosoever will come to worship the KING the LORD of HOSTS must come to worship him in his own way not in their ways to bow down to his Light to bow down to the measure of his Spirit in them for the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal Otherwise will not People Teachers and Professors be always in the profitless condition Ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth E. B. TO THE BELOVED and CHOSEN of GOD in the Seed Elected Particularly in LONDON And elsewhere who have seen the day of Christ and received the Message of Peace and Reconciliation in these last Dayes of his Glorious Appearance THe dear salutation of my life salutes you all in the most pure and dearest love with which I am beloved of the Father and with which also at this present my Heart is filled and issueth forth towards you and the whole Body of the elected Ones and the remembrance of you in the Lord is very precious unto me as I see and behold and have fellowship with you in the Immortal Life which the Father hath begotten in you and in me and in which my knowledge is of you and my unity with you and therein only is the remembrance of my dearest love unto you and in which I hope I am also known and remembred of you even in the spiritual Relation and Heirship of Immortality being fellow Citizens of the heavenly Ierusalem and Children of her conception and bringing forth Now my dearest Friends seeing you have believed in the Light and Life of men even in him that was and is and is to come and have also tasted of that all Fulness that is in him you have a Witness in your selves even of the Spirit of the Father which is greater then all and you need no other Testimony but that of the Spirit That the Lord is good and full of Grace Truth Mercy Peace and Joy even the Fountain and Treasure of all Vertue and Blessedness in this present time and hereafter I say If you have tasted and felt of Immortal Life and if the Fountain hath been opened in you and you have seen his Glory and received of his Treasure then the Evidence dwells in you of eternal blessedness and no man needs to teach you of these things nor to say unto you know the Lord if you dwell in him and go no more forth yet bear with me a little that I may speak and be refreshed not to diminish from what Testimony you have in you but the rather to add towards it for my witness is not another but the same which ye enjoy which is faithful and true and this I say Oh how great how mighty and powerful is the Lord our God everlasting and infinite he is that eternal Spirit that filleth all the Creator and beeing of all things that are the life and vertue in all and the invisible Substance greater then all he is in himself the immeâ—â—rable and infinite Fulness the Fountain of Life of Mercy and Righteousness and Peace and of all Vertue and of every good Thing who can declare his beginning or end he is without Time Place or thing yet gives beeing to all and is present in all yet not known saving of himself and by his own Spirit yet he effecteth all things and worketh whatsoever he will who can utter his wonderous Works Who can number his Mercies Who can account his Infiniteness who can