and dare call God Father such are truly blessed and happy that can alway continually and ever-more pray God's Will be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven Allelujah O God make clean our Hearts within us and take not thy Holy Spirit from us And such only are true Christians that have God's Holy Spirit to wash and cleanse and to guide into Truth and Righteousness those that have gone astray YOu that are born of the Spirit Nune Dimittis and so have Christ Jesus in you may sing the Song of Old Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy Word Christ the Word in the Heart who speaketh Peace to all the sanctified People of God for mine eyes the Eye of the Spirit have seen thy Salvation Allelujah I have also perused the second Collect for Peace the third Collect for Grace the Prayer for the King and Royal Family the Prayer for the Clergie the Absolution Magnificat Deus Misereatur Cantate Domino Second Collect for Evening-Prayer the Litany the Collects for the second and third Sunday in Advent for the Nativity for St. Stephen 's St. John 's and Innocents days for the Circumcision for the first fifth and sixth Sunday after Epiphany for the first and second Sunday in Lent for the Sunday before Easter for Good Friday for Easter Even for Easter day for the third and fifth Sunday after for Ascension day for Whitfunday for the 7 9 11 16 17 18 19th Sundays after Trinity for Simon and Jude Philip and Jacob and All-Saints days In which foregoing Prayers Collects c. I take to be words of Truth and Soberness and do recommend them to all those that can pray them with a sincere Heart in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of Truth Allelujah Yet as I am a Priest of God by having Christ Jesus in me my Priest my Prophet my King I have somewhat to say and declare to the Heads and Governors of the Church of England That none amongst them presume to call or own themselves Ministers of Christ and his Gospel for not every one that crieth Lord Lord is a true Servant or Minister of Christ or fit to Teach Preach or Pray in his Name unless they first be called of God and baptized into the same Name and assisted by his Holy Spirit as Aaron was else none are fit Ministers of Christ read Exod. 4.30 6.13 26. 7.1 6. 28.30 Heb. 5.4 And that the Spirit of Christ be their Induction and Commission what to Preach and what to Pray Let such as are not regenerate and born anew take heed how they meddle with the Things of God that they touch not Holy Things with unclean and unsanctified Hearts and with polluted Hands and Lips lest they be smitten of God as Vzza was and lest a sorer Judgment attend them under the Gospel who run and are not sent than did those under the Law Thus declaring I have peace with God and am clear from the Blood of all Men that perish under such Teachers and Ministers as have not the Spirit of Christ to teach them and have no other Commission than from Man such cause the People to err and go astray and never can profit the Souls of their Hearers but like blind Guides they lead the Blind till both fall into Perdition I have observed in reading of our last English Translation of the Bible that many material Things might be amended and that it is better rendred out of the Vulgar Latin and Greek than we have it in English For which see some places in my Epistle to the Romanists And also Rom. 8.29 the Latin and Greek saith That he might be the first born in many Brethren The English The first born amongst many Brethren Which seems to deny Christ to be in the Saints Mat. 28.19 the Greek saith Baptising them into the Name The English Baptising them in the Name Which Name of God is a strong Tower whosoever is baptized thereinto puts on the Lord Jesus Christ a Saviour from Sin and Evil. Allelujah 2 Cor. 5.19 the Latin and Greek saith Hath put in us the Word of Reconciliation The English Hath committed to us the Word of Reconciliation This I conceive is for the setting up of Man to be the Preacher and not Christ the Word in the Heart Rom. 1.19 English Latin and Greek well translate all speaking one and the same thing viz. That which is to be known of God is manifest or made known in Man even his eternal Power and Godhead in the Heathen 2 Tim. 3.16 the Latin and old English Bible saith All Scripture inspired of God or given by inspiration is profitable c. The English saith All Scripture is given by inspiration c. The which seems not to be a Truth without a Comment for there is much written that is not inspired of God even in the Bible it self In the last Edition are said to be amended from the former many thousand words And how many Copies or rather Autographs of the New Testament are now in the Library at Oxford and all differing one from the other St. Hierom saith That in his time the Original Copies let the Learned pardon the Expression of the Hebrew and Greek were much corrupted by Jews and Hereticks therefore he chose the Vulgar Latin after he had purged it from Faults committed by Writers c. laying aside all other Latin Editions which St. Hierom saith were in his time almost innumerable Thus by reason of so many false Copies false Writers false Translators and false Interpreters arise so many different Sects and Opinions in Christendom every Master of a Sect taking his Rule from Scripture and his own private interpretation thereupon So that if you make the Letter of the Scripture the only Rule it must needs be crooked and uncertain But God be praised and ever magnified that hath not left Man without a Witness of himself in every one a Rule most true and certain Christ the Word in the Heart which shines in the dark Heart of every Man and is a sure Word of Prophecy even Truth in the Inward Parts to which we do well to take heed as to a Light that shines in a dark place till the Shadows flee away and the Day-star arise in our Hearts then shall we see that it is not any Scripture without us but the inspiration of the Almighty only that giveth to Man an understanding in the things of God what is Truth and what is Error as it is written Job 32.8 Joh. 1.4 2 Pet. 1.19 compared with Isa 55.4 54.13 1 John 5.10 2.27 So that if you have Christ the Word in you you need no other Teacher but as that Anointed one teacheth who is the Truth in every one both Male and Female Jew and Gentile they are all one in Christ Jesus the Truth Such as have not Christ Jesus God's true and faithful Witness in them are Reprobates and can
never divide the Word of Truth aright nor know Truth from Error neither have they a Will or Affection to follow the one or eschew the other for Man of himself not having Christ in him can neither think nor do any thing to please God 2 Cor. 2.17 The old Translation saith We do not sell the Word for Mony The last Translation saith We are not as many which corrupt the Word of God But such as sell for Mony making Merchandize of the Word and Prayer corrupt the Word and Prayer and are Simon Magus his Ministers and none of Christ's Ministers For as they receive freely so they give freely Allelujah In one place of the Common Prayer you say There is no health in us In another you pray quite contrary That God will not take his Holy Spirit from us also that God would cleanse the Thoughts of our Hearts by the Inspiration of his Holy Spirit And you acknowledg That all the ends of the Earth have seen the Salvation of God Also that God hath openly shewed his Righteousness in the sight of all the Heathen And is not this what the Scriptures say John 1.9 That Christ the true Light enlightneth every one that cometh into the World And 1 Cor. 12.7 that a manifestation of the Spirit is given as a Talent to every one to profit with that thereby every one may work out his own Salvation if he will And Tit. 2.11 that the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to and in all Men that none may truly say there is no health in us for there is that Spirit of Grace in every one which is the saving Health of all that obey it and the Condemnation of all that disobey despise reject and hate it read John 3.19 c. So let all Men honour this Spirit of Light the Son as they do honour the Father of Lights Allelujah Our Father I observe you oft repeat Our Father which art in Heaven c. Which Prayer is good for a Disciple of Christ to pray one that is born of the Spirit such have right to call God their Father and such God owns for his Children but those that are unregenerate who serve the World the Flesh and the Devil whose Works they will do for such to call the Holy God Father is not this Blasphemy and a breach of the first Commandment to take the Name of God in vain And for any to teach this Prayer to unsanctified and unholy Men Is not this an Abomination that maketh desolate As I am a Priest to God I do declare That all Services Sacrifices Prayers and Acts of Religion offered up to God in any kind of Devotion whatsoever in an unclean unsanctified unregenerate Heart are an abomination to him but if any Man be a worshipper of God according to his Will writ in our Hearts him he heareth read Isa 66.3 Prov. 15.8 28.9 Psal 66.18 with John 9.31 Luke 16.15 Rev. 21.17 Seeing God doth not hear Sinners but only heareth his Son his Spirit the Word in the Heart go to him and in his Son's Name ask of the Father what ye want who heareth him and giveth liberally and upbraideth no Man ask of him to create in you a clean Heart and a right Spirit to be put within you who giveth his Holy Spirit to them that in sincerity ask it then shall ye have a Heart according to God's own Heart which will do all his Will here on Earth as it is done in Heaven This right Spirit God's Son within us worketh Miracles in the Saints as in the Son it raiseth our Souls out of the Grave of Trespasses and Sins to live in his Presence in Peace Joy and Tranquillity all the days of our Lives Amen Allelujah Athanasius his Creed Athanasius his Creed is also of great Authority in our Church which imposeth a necessity of believing the same on no less tearms than our Eternal Salvation yet I judg that there are amongst many useful Truths some things asserted in that Creed which are neither needful to Salvation nor can be made good by the Scriptures of Truth nor yet by Reason Humane or Divine First he saith There is one Person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost and that the belief hereof as he expresseth it is absolutely necessary to Salvation 'T is true the Eternal God who filleth Heaven and Earth with his Presence as he is pleased to hold forth himself in the various manifestations of his absolute Greatness Wisdom and Love to the World so he is thereby known to us under several Names and Appellations as most proper to those manifestations of himself for what is the Father but God the Eternal Creator of all things who forms the Light and creates the Darkness and of nothing hath made all things to appear in their order out of the first Chaos and Darkness of Confusion And what is the Son but the same Eternal God manifest in Flesh the Word in the beginning with God and was and is God the Way the Truth the Life the Covenant of God's Salvation to the World This Son as I conceive is no distinguished Person from the Father but is in Deed and in Truth the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace the Word by which the Worlds were made humbling himself into humane Nature to seek out lost Man and to gather him into a nearer acquaintance with his God And what is the Holy Ghost but the same Eternal Spirit Witnessing Quickning Renewing Sanctifying Purifying Cleansing and Comforting the Hearts of the Faithful where God is pleased to pitch his Tent and Tabernacle These are the Three that bear witness in Heaven and these Three are one not divided by personal distinction but one Individual and Eternal God in variety of manifestation Then he saith In this Trinity none is afore nor after another and none is greater nor less than another Yet in contradiction he saith the Son is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten Certainly he that begets must be before and greater than he that is begotten For my part I am more charitable than to believe all Men damned that never heard of Athanasius his Creed and am well satisfied that whosoever believes in Christ that was that is and is to come God's Everlasting Covenant of Light and Grace to Jew and Gentile and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth shall be saved even all of every Nation that feareth God and worketh Righteousness Allelujah Infant Baptism Concerning Infant Baptism with Water I may not say it is an Ordinance of Christ nor dare I call it Christ's Baptism neither do I think there is that virtue in it as is said That it ingrafts into Christ's Church makes a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven And whether those God-Fathers and God-Mothers that undertake promise and vow on behalf of the Child That when of Age he shall forsake the Devil
acknowledg Can you yet be so vainly confident as to perswade your selves that nothing of this Evil shall come near your Borders whilst the Arrows of God's Judgments fly so thick in the World and stick so deep in the Hearts and sides of all both Civil and Religious Interests Are you and your Imposing Tribe the only Men that must escape when the whole World is to be set on Fire yea the very Heavens of Professors are to be burnt up and nothing to be left alive in us but what can lie down in those Flames Is there nothing think ye in or amongst your People that is for Judgment Or is this a time for you to build and raise a Name to your selves when God is destroying to contend for outward Rule and Dominion over others when God is pleading his own Royal Prerogative to sit in judgment over the Consciences of your Brethren when the Judg stands at the Door Or are ye so regardless of the prints and footsteps of the Almighty in his present Providences that ye say in your Hearts with that Evil Servant The Lord delays his coming and fall to smiting your fellow Servants with the Tongue and Fist of Wickedness wounding and reproaching them with your bitter and severe Censures thinking with the evil Husbandman therewith to kill and slay the Heir the Seed of God in Man that must rule and reign Surely my Friends the tempestuous Storms of Wrath and Indignation that you see falling upon the World do earnestly call for a more mild and sober Spirit amongst you than this Let therefore your Moderation be known to all Men the Lord is at hand If you would be a blessing to the World in your Generation learn first to judg and condemn your selves Cast off your Judging Censuring and Imposing Spirit and give the Witness of God in every one its just Right its due Scope and Latitude and usurp not Authority over it Take not upon you to be Lords over God's Heritage let the Bowels of your Love and Tenderness be drawn out and extended towards the measure of God in all Men of every Religion in forbearance and forgiveness to the whole World follow Peace in the Spirit of Love with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see God Give Christ his Prerogative in Spirituals He must and will have it Give Caesar his due in Temporals who may of undoubted right challeng it Thus if you can commend your selves to God and the World ye shall be the Joy of this Generation all good Men will be drawn out in an earnest imitation of your Purity while the violent and wicked shall stand mute and be struck dumb at your modest Patience and Meekness you shall never want either inward Peace or outward Freedom but ye shall enter into Peace and Rest in your Beds each one walking in his Uprightness This my dear Friends is the Testimony in which I long to meet you and which will justly provoke the hearty embraces of Your true Friend in Love to serve you R. R. To the Birth of God in all the Sanctified the Church of the First-Born whose Names are written in Heaven who are born again not of the Will of the Flesh but of God's Holy Spirit You to whom is given the White Stone and the New Name that none knows but he that hath it who as living Stones are laid in the Walls not of the Jerusalem that now is and is in bondage with her Children but of the New Jerusalem that is Above in the Heart and Throne of God which is Free and is the Mother of us all To you however you are divided or where-ever ye are lodg'd and held in the Clifts of the Rocks in Dens and Caves of the Earth or secret places of the Stars under all your divided Tribes ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah Dear Brethren BEing moved in my Spirit in the Year 1666 to salute the Seed of God the Seed of the Promise in all Men and in particular the Seven Churches of Christendom namely the Roman the Episcopal Protestant the Presbyterian the Independent the Baptist the Quaker and the Church of the First-Born to each of them I gave Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of their People as a sign of my dear Love to the Seed of God in all which I saw lay crucified dead and buried in some and in others risen and reigning into Life that is Eternal That which principally moved me to this general Salutation was the sad and serious apprehension of the Straits and Limits by which I saw the Seed of God held in Bondage and these several sorts of Professors to value themselves and also condemn one another in reference to those Modes and Methods of Worship and Obedience in which they are divided and distinguished My Salutation intended a cheek to this unkind severity amongst them and according to the inward Testimony from God upon my Spirit if possible to let them understand that our gracious God is no respecter of Persons Sects or Opinions but of every Nation those that fear God and work Righteousness are accepted of him and that all those that walk in the Light of the Lord wherewith he hath enlightned them are saved Allelujah In the Heavenly Revelation of this Blessed Vision wherein I felt and found my self in a through Reconcilement to all Sorts and Sects of Men I have begun and now finished my Epistles to these Seven States of Christians which I recommend to the Children of Light to read and to consider what the Spirit saith to the Churches And because in the Travels of this Testimony upon the Soul I have met with several Celestial Pilgrims journying towards Sion with their Faces thitherward by whose sprinklings in many of their Books and Papers I have bin often refreshed and comforted I cannot but commend both their Names and Labours to the sober Enquirers after Truth as well knowing that though these Witnesses are dead and gone yet their Spirits and Testimony remain and still speak to us At this time I read many Books writ by the Divine Spirit in which I took great delight some few whereof I find freedom to expatiate on First Cebes the Theban Philosopher his Table writ in Greek since translated into English who lived Anno Mundi 3553 which Table was hung up in the Temple of Saturn This Table consisted of three Parks or Inclosures at the Gate of the first stood the shape of an Old Man called Life's Genius afterwards True Instruction which I understand by interpretation to represent the Light and Grace of God which appeareth to and in every one This Light or Life's Genius taught and instructed all how they should lead their Lives according to those Rules he directed both to avoid temptations to Vice and to imbrace all those Divine Vertues that lead to Beatitude I have read the Imitation of Christ writ by Thomas of Kempis Also Cardinal Cusanus his first
they account not themselves responsible for every particular Passage or Notion of the Author's especially as it may be distorted either by weak or malevolent Spirits but judg that they have sufficiently discharged their Duty by communicating his own Thoughts according to his desire to the World J. W. Our Saviour saith In his Father's House there are many Mansions and in the Christian State there be three Degrees Incipientis Preficientis and Perfecti each State may find what is sutable to them to that joy Capiat qui Capere potest Per R. B. Ph. An Abstract of a Letter and Directions of Robert Rich to Mr. John Raynes for the distributing of his Benevolence to the Seven Churches in London Mr. John Raynes THese may inform you That in the month of December 1666 by the way of Ireland we received the sad and deplorable Intelligence of London's Destruction by Fire wherewith the Beauty and Glory of that City is like Sodom turned into Ashes which when I had understood and throughly pondred I did impart my thoughts to your Brother Mr. Fr. Raynes to this effect viz. That this Calamity would be so universal and extensive that multitudes must of necessity be cast upon great extremities of Want and Misery and that now was a fit opportunity for all to hold out a hand of Charity towards their distressed Brethren To which purpose I had You upon my Heart to write unto you when our Fleet went which hath bin detained until now to dispose of the 210 l. in your hand Now Sir as touching your proceedings in this Business of my Request that these Seven Churches with all others might more fully discern the mind of my Lord in this figure of Love and Amity to them I think it meet to let you know that I have something already written to each of those Seven Congregations which in the fulness of time may be presented to their view Holding forth the Everlasting Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Christ in us the Saving Health and universal free Grace of God ready to be revealed to all Nations Sects and People Together with a Declaration or Testimonial of that dear Love and Vnity which my Soul hath to all that fear God and work Righteousness and not only to such but likewise to the Rebellious Disobedient and worst of Sinners Also something I have to offer concerning the New Creation God's Workmanship in Christ Jesus that which mine Eyes have seen and Hands have handled of the Word of Life of things that now are and must shortly come to pass when the Son in Man the New Birth shall more abundantly be revealed which as yet is a great Mystery to many and hath bin long hid from Ages and Generations of formal Professors of Godliness that have wanted the Power of Love or Christ Jesus that Spirit working all their Works in them and for them but is now making Himself manifest in all that are born again of his Spirit and baptized with that Water of Life which regenerateth and keepeth clean the heart That Chast Virgin that only bringeth forth the Man-Child and Second Adam who is Heir of all Things and the Saviour of All that believe and follow Him Who enlightens every one with the knowledg of Good that cometh into the World This is He that was and now is and is yet to come to all succeeding Generations of whom all the Prophets from Moses until John bare Record Allelujah Whose Day Abraham saw and rejoiced as do all that have Christ the Unction in them who only and alone openeth Mysteries and doth teach to sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Allelujah Whose Star of old led as his Spirit doth now lead all the wise in Heart both to find and also to worship him acceptably according to his Law Mind and Will written therein even Him that is the Rock of Ages whose Body and Blood our Fathers did in the Wilderness as at Jerusalem taste of and which we their Children that are Heirs of the same promised Spirit do now eat and drink the Bread from Heaven which is not carnal but nourisheth the Soul into a Life and Kingdom that fadeth not away but endureth for ever Allelujah And now having in part acquainted you with the reason of my intended Proceedings my next care is what I can to lessen your trouble to which end I think it the best way to propound three of each sort of People chief amongst them as Overseers of the rest Men of good Report into whose hands the 30 l. may be delivered as a sign of my Love and by them be distributed amongst those of their way who are in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity A Note or List of Direction to Mr. John Raynes after what manner to dispose of the 210 l. in his hands I. THirty pounds to the Professors of the Roman Catholick Religion Enquire I pray on the Exchange for Mr. Daniel Arthur or Mr. Thomas Wise Merchants they can inform you who are the chief Confessors and Teachers in Queen Katharines or in the Queen Mother's Chappel and give the Mony to three of the chief of them as a sign of my dear Love intreating them to bestow the said Mony on those that are in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity amongst them II. Thirty pounds to the Episcopal Protestants Give to Dr. Thomas Pierce Dr. Pearson Dr. Peter Gunning Dr. Robert Pory Dr. Britten Dr. Dukeson of St. Clements Danes to any three of them or any other three you judg more convenient as a sign of my dear love entreating them c. III. Thirty pounds to the Presbyterian Professors Give to Doctor Spurstow Dr. Manton Mr. Richard Baxter Mr. Thomas Case Mr. Samuel Clark or any three of them or to any three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign of my dear love c. IV. Thirty pounds to the Professors of Independency Give to Dr. Owen Dr. Dell Mr. John Goodwin Dr. Thomas Goodwin Mr. Thomas Brooks Mr. Feak to any three of them or to any other three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign c. V. Thirty pounds to the People called Anabaptists Give to Mr. Thomas Lamb Mr. John Rogers Mr. John Cooper Mr. Kiffen Mr. Vavasor Powel to any three of them or to any three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign c. VI. Thirty pounds to the People called Quakers Give to Amos Stoddard Simon Dring John Bolton Samuel Newton Gerand Roberts Henry Clark to any three of them or to any other three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign c. VII Thirty pounds to the Church of the First Born who worship God in Spirit and have their Conversations in Heaven Give to Mr. Robert Bacon Mr. VVilliam Rawlinson and to Mr. Blackborow My request to them is That they would receive this 30 l. of you and therewith provide a Dinner or Supper which I chiefly do for the
the Kingdom of Heaven Which Holy Spirit wrought so mightily as to beget the New Man Christ Jesus in me by whom I had peace with God and good will to all his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved me to send Thirty Pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of the Roman-Catholick Church as a sign of my Love and good Will to them which I understood you received in the same Spirit of loving-kindness I sent it Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for Thirty pieces of Silver but from one that witnesseth the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead whom by my sins I had formerly crucified and put to open shame but having repented and amended my former bad Life by help of his Holy Spirit of Grace Christ in me I came to see that those of all Religions that feared God and acted righteously towards Men were accepted of him and dearly beloved by me in which Spirit of Love the Ground and Pillar of Truth the End of the Law and Bond of Perfection I found freedom in my self to look into all sorts of Religions and knowing the Rock Christ Jesus on whom all the Holy Men of God are built and having a discerning by God's Grace between the Precious and the Vile between him that serveth God in the Spirit of Truth and him that only pretendeth to serve him but with a false Spirit in which Spirit of God I saw the difference between the true Church of God and that which is the false Church In this Understanding I did read many Books written and allowed by the Roman Church viz. The Bible translated out of the Vulgar Latin by St. Jerom the Old Testament Printed in two Tomes by the English-College at Doway and the New Testament printed at Rhemes and have weighed and considered the Reasons St. Jerome gives for translating it out of the Vulgar Latin rather than out of the Hebrew and Greek which were much corrupted as he saith by Jews and Hereticks c. And having purged the Latin Version from Faults committed by Writers c. laying aside all other Latin Editions which St. Jerome saith were in his time almost innumerable which Translation out of Vulgar Latin though in many things defective yet in some I find better to agree with the Truth than that translated into English out of the Hebrew and Greek As for Instance The Vulgar Latin translates Isa 12.3 You shall draw Water in joy out of the Saviour's Fountains The other You shall draw Waters out of the Wells of Salvation Psal 38.6 the Vulgar Latin saith Doubtless all things are Vanity The other Psal 39.5 saith Verily every Man at his best estate is altogether vanity which seems not to be true for the Regenerate Man which is born of the Spirit and hath Christ the New Man in him is not altogether Vanity for Christ is the Eternal and only begotten Son of God full of Grace and full of Truth Allelujah John 1.14 the Vulgar Latin saith The Word was made Flesh and dwelt IN us The other The Word was made Flesh and dwelt AMONGST us Which Translation I apprehend was to gratify those that deny Christ come in the Flesh of the Sanctified and so exalt the Flesh of Jesus equal to or above the Spirit which dwelleth in all true Believers Allelujah 1 Pet. 1.13 the Vulgar saith Trust perfectly in the Grace which is offered you in the Revelation of Jesus Christ The other Hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ This I also apprehend was to gratify those that say Revelation is ceased and also deny Revelation to continue in the Church of Christ to the end of the World which is contrary to Scripture and the Saints experience Read Mat. 11.27 Gal. 1.16 1 Cor. 2.10 Mat. 28.10 Romans 16.26 the Vulgar Latin saith To the obedience of Faith in all Gentiles The other saith Made known to all Nations This I suppose is also to gratify those that deny Christ the true Light that enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World whom to obey is Eternal Life and Salvation both to Jew and Gentile Allelujah Heb. 1.1 The Latin saith God spake to the Fathers in the Prophets and last of all spake to us IN his Son The other saith God spoke to the Fathers by the Prophets and hath in the last days spoken to us BY his Son Which Translation is to set up Man the Letter to be our Teacher and to lay aside Christ the Word in the Heart the Saints only Teacher Heb. 12.15 The Latin saith Lest any Man be wanting to the Grace of God The other Lest any Man fail of the Grace of God Which seems to deny that the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation and hath appeared to and in every Man to be sufficient to Salvation And in the Margent the Latin saith on that Text If we be not good there is no lack on God's part who offereth his Grace freely to all the defect is in our selves that answer not God's calling by his Grace Which I take to be sound Orthodox Doctrine Jude 14. The Vulgar Latin hath it Our Lord is come in his holy Thousands that numberless number which no Man can number The other saith The Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints Which doubtless is to countenance a carnal personal appearance of Christ at his second coming who as he went a Cloud received him out of their sight even so in the like manner shall he return in a Cloud of Witnesses in his holy Thousands Allelujah Zach. 5.10 The Vulgar Latin hath it And I said to the Angel that spake in me The other I spake to the Angel that talked with me Which later Translation most assuredly was to gratify them that deny Christ God's Angel to come in the Flesh of the Sanctified Allelujah 1 Pet. 1.3 4. The Latin hath it Who according to his great Mercy hath regenerated us into an Inheritance that cannot fade conserved in the Heavens in you The other saith Reserved in the Heavens for you This likewise I apprehend is to gratify that Spirit which denies Christ to be in the Saints and Heaven to be there where Christ is which Spirit I take to be the Spirit of Antichrist I have likewise read and considered the Arguments Annotations Tables and other helps for the better understanding of the Text which I find in Divine things both useful and profitable As for Example Annotation before the Psalms saith That the whole Sacred Bible is a sealed Book and not rightly understood till the Seals be opened by the Key of God's Spirit And you say on Gal. 4.24 The Scriptures besides the literal Sense have a more deep spiritual and allegorical Sense not to be understood but by the same Spirit that writ them And you also say That there is no way to know Canonical Scriptures but by the Church Which is a Truth if you mean the Spirit
can hold forth the blessing of Peace and Establishment to the World and I am perswaded God hath fitted you for such a Work as this therefore I beseech you suffer a word of Exhortation Be faithful to the Testimony of the Lord with which he hath inspired you stand forth in the Name and Power of that Spirit which dwells in you lay by all carnal Ends and self Interests and come forth in the nakedness and simplicity of the Love of God in which you will breath out the blessing of Peace amongst us O let not Sion be built up any longer with Blood nor her Mourners wander about in the Defarts to seek for shelter and safety let the searchings of your Hearts and the yearnings of your Bowels be for the Breaches and Divisions that are among the People of God 'T is You that the great expectation of many of the Lord's People in this Nation is now towards Our Wounds Breaches in the Circumstantials of Religion are too wide and extensive for a formal outward and literal Ministry to heal and cement We have languished in Divisions too long already under these Physicians 't is only a Spirit-Ministry with evidence demonstration and power that proceeds from an innate Principle of the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts that can compose all our Differences satisfy all Parties and Interests and settle us upon a sure Foundation of Peace Rest and Happiness If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies fulfil ye the Joy of the People of God in these Nations that ye come forth with the like Mind and Spirit in your Ministry amongst us and in the Power of the same Love preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace I know there is wisdom and largeness enough in the Love of God to accomplish these noble Ends and the witness of this upon your Hearts must necessarily strengthen your Faith in this Ministry for certainly that Love so ample that can redeem the World when and where 't is witnessed by the Spirit will appear large enough to cover all our Infirmities abate all our Contentions and quiet all the Clamours that abound among us If thus you can appear and stand forth this day as indeed Priests unto God and true Ministers of Christ Jesus you shall worthily be called The Healers of our Breaches and the Restorers of our Paths to dwell and walk in with love and pleasantness one towards another In which Spirit of Universal Love and good Will I Rest a Friend to you and the Souls of all whilst I am and when I am no more R. R. To all Teachers Preachers and Dispensers of the Word and Sacraments under the Dispensations of those called Presbyterians Independents and Anabaptists ROBERT RICH a Servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God which Gospel was promised and preached by the Holy Men of God ever since the Foundation of the World was Laid as in the Scriptures of Truth you may read Gen. 3.8 15. 12.1 3. with Gal. 3.8 Deut. 30.11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 10.6 8. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Heb. 8.8 to the end Isa 52.7 with Rom. 10.15 Isa 61.1 with Luke 4.18 9.6 Mark 16.15 2 Cor. 4.4 6. 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.12 25. In the power and strength of which Gospel the Word in the Heart or Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts doth R. R. send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah TO you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit who have Christ Jesus the New Man in you and are Members of his Body Spiritual through Sanctification of the Holy Spirit of Grace you in him and he in you made perfect in one to you Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven which Spirit of Light begat Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good-will towards his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved me in the Year 1666 to send to the People called Presbyterians Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst their Poor that were in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity The like Sum I also sent to them called Independents As likewise to those called Anabaptists to be distributed to the Poor that were amongst them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for Thirty pieces of Silver but from one that witnessed the Resurrection from the Dead one who had long crucified the Lord of Life in my Self and by many and often Transgressions had slain the Witness of God his Holy Spirit of Grace and Light which oft cried in me Why wilt thou die Return to me the Light and Life of the Soul and thou shalt live At length I hearkened to the Voice of the Son of God in me in obedience to which Voice my Soul came to live in whose Life I have Rest Peace and Joy in the Lord my Saviour Allelujah Thus by the Incarnation or indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace and Revelation of Christ in me I came to see what Peter saw Acts 10.34 35. Matth. 16.17 That of all Nations and Religions those that feared God and acted righteously towards Man are accepted with him Also by the same Revelation of God's Spirit I understood the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath sent and given his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light to be the Life of the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith every one is enlightned both Jew and Gentile that cometh into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him who is the Way the Truth the Life and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah As you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 30.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 c. with Rom. 10.6 8. Heb. 8.8 to the end John 1.4 9. 8.12 12.46 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word incarnate in the Heart moved on the Face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which Tabernacle God pitched in me in whose Light I saw Light which gave me freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions which Light opened my Understanding so as to know Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Presbyterians Independents
and highest Profession we were but as sounding Brass and as a tinkling Cymbal c. Holiness and Love to God are but two Names for one Thing Love to God and to Man are like Soul and Body that are separated no way but by death Sin is hardly known in its secret Root till Men have tasted the bitterness of the Fruit. In a word I have long seen that envious Wisdom what-ever it pretends is not from Above but is earthly sensual and devilish and that where envy and strife is upon a Religious Account there is Confusion and every evil Work That which killeth Love killeth all Grace and Holiness and killeth Souls that which quencheth Love quencheth the Spirit a thousand-fold more than the restraining of our Gifts of Utterance doth That which banisheth Love banisheth God that which is against Love is against the Design of Christ in our Redemption and therefore may well be called Antichristian the White Devil is a Love-killer as well as the Black he is as mortal an Enemy to Love who backbiteth another and saith he is prophane or he is an empty Formalist or he is a Lukewarm temporizing complying Man-pleaser as he that saith he is a peevish factious Hypocrite Believe it it is Apostacy to fall from Love your Souls die when Love dieth To preach without Love to any that differ from your Sect O what a loathsome Sacrifice is it to the Lord of Love When the Papists had murdered so many hundred thousands of the Albigenses and Waldenses who would have thought but that they had done their Work When the French Massacre had murdered thirty or forty thousand and dispatcht the Leaders of the Protestant Party who would have thought that they had but strengthened them When the Duke d' Alva had done so much to drown the Belgick Protestants in Blood he little thought he was but fortifying them Queen Mary's Bishops little thought that their English Bonefires were but to light Men to see the mischief and badness of their Cause and like firing of a Beacon to call the Land to take them for the Enemies of Mankind When the Irish had murdered two hundred thousand they little thought that they had but excited the Survivery to a terrible Revenge I will come no nearer but you may easily do it your selves If we bite and devour one another we shall be destroyed one of another c. These and the like faithful and true Sayings the Book is full of which are well worth the reading with due Consideration had thereon And as Mr. Baxter intimates That he which suffers for his Religion sheweth he hath the better Religion than those that cause Sufferings And our patient Martyrdom and Suffering by them may tend at last to open their Eyes and turn their Hearts and save their Souls for the Blood of Martyrs hath ever bin the Seed of the Church which Seed hath ever encreased the number of the Sufferers Many other good Instructions and Directions both to Ministers and People hath he in this Book set forth for uniting in Love and Amity different Perswasions into one Principle of Love well worth the taking notice of And now my dear Brethren as I am a Priest unto God by having Christ Jesus the Eternal Spirit of Truth in me I am thereby enabled to hold forth an Exhortation to all of you which in the Bowels of the extensive Love of God towards you I earnestly pray you may receive I know there is amongst you a Worthy Righteous and Sober People who I can bear you record have a Zeal of God according to the several Administrations of your outward Forms and Worships whereby you are distinguished Nevertheless I have a few things against you namely That you have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ amongst you with respect of particular Persons outward Forms and carnal Observations Hence arise all those Strifes and Contentions those bitter Revilings and evil Censures that have abounded amongst you both towards each other in your divided Forms and also toward all others that are not concerned with you as under your distinct Attainments But I testify and declare to you and to the whole World That if any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature and as many as walk according to this Rule of the New Creature Peace be upon them as upon the Israel of God and in every Nation Sect Form and Opinion He that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him 'T is neither here nor there in this nor that neither in the Mountains of Form and Worship that you have raised to your selves nor at Jerusalem that God will be now worshipped but every where in Spirit and in Truth is the Worship that he accepts Give therefore the Spirit of God his due Scope and Latitude to blow where when and how it listeth in every Man 'T is the great Controversy that God hath with the World at this day That he alone may reign in the Consciences of Men by the just Measure of his own Light in every one And till this Royal Prerogative be setled upon Him there will never be Peace on the Earth but Men shall rend tear and devour one another and those that lead into Captivity must themselves go into Captivity herein will the Patience Love and Charity of the Saints be exercised and encreased Allelujah Wherefore let your Moderation be known to all Men the Lord is at hand Be not O be not found smiting your fellow Servants in the day of his Appearance The Spirit of God which hath sealed you to the day of Redemption is a tender Spirit O do not grieve it in your selves nor endeavour to quench it in others If thus you can come forth amongst Men you shall be a blessing in your Generation a Light to them that sit in darkness and a Refreshment to the Mourners of Zion who languish in the Breaches and Divisions that have bin made upon her Inhabitants In which Universal Spirit of Love to Truth and Righteousness I Rest a Friend to you and the Souls of all Men in any Sect or Opinion of Religion whatsoever whilst I am and when I am no more Robert Rich. An Epistle for the most pure Amity and Unity in the Spirit of Life and Love of God in all sincere-hearted Souls amongst the People called QUAKERS And as to them so unto all or any other Sort or Sect of People that own and follow the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith every one is enlightned ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah IN the Year 1666 feeling the Babe of Grace the Word in the Heart to wax strong in the Love of God shed abroad in my Heart I sent to the Poor of your People Thirty pounds which after some of your Leaders had received to wit John Bolton Gerad Roberts and Amos Stoddard and given under their hands accordingly 't was denied to be received and about a Year after returned to me again with many
Regularities of the most magnified Authors and reverend Fathers are capable to accomplish this Reconciling Work Nay the Sacred Oracle of the Scripture it self is so far short of obtaining this blessed End that all different Parties do endeavour with the greatest industry imaginable by warping and winding the Text not only to suit it to the occasion of their present Differences but also thereby to justify their mad blind and uncharitable Zeal towards each other What Remedy then is left us in this Distress Is there no Balm in Gilead Yes certainly for although the extent of our Wounds and Breaches are too wide and great for the most ample Wisdom and Righteousness of Man to heal and cement there is yet largeness enough in the eternal and universal Love of God to accomplish this great Work and to make his Jerusalem a Praise upon the Earth And 't is my dear Brethren by the ample and large manifestations of this Universal Love shed abroad in your Hearts that this great Design of God must be accomplished and oh how the Consideration of this Glorious Work in and by you to be brought forth doth draw out my Spirit towards you Awake awake then put on thy strength O Sion put on thy beautiful Garments O Jerusalem thou Holy City stand forth thou Virgin Daughter clothed with the strength of the Divine Majesty and proclaim the Glory of your Principles by the beauty of your Practices to the World There is Majesty enough in that Love which fills and feeds your Souls to confound the Cruelty of all your Opposers to shame and astonish the World into silence and stilness and of this let us be confident that how-ever the over-flowing Tides of common Calamities blown up by the raging breath of formal and carnal Interests may swell as a Flood upon the World yet no Weapon that is form'd against Love to Truth and Righteousness shall prosper the Heathen may rage and the People may imagine a vain Thing The Kings of the Earth may Plot Conspire and take Counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed yet the Lord hath set his King upon his Holy Hill of Zion and he shall and doth Rule and Reign in the midst of his Enemies Let it therefore appear to the World whose Subjects ye are whose Banner ye are under and what Motto it bears which is Glory to God in the Highest on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men. O how beautiful will those feet be upon the Mountains which are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace How beautiful are thy Feet with Shooes O Princes Daughter Cant. 7.1 How amiable and pleasant will your Lives and Testimonies be among Men when you come forth in the largeness of that Love Meekness and Humility in Forbearance and Forgiveness which are the proper Ornaments and most natural Instances of a true Gospel-Profession In the Name of God arise then and shew your selves in his strength to be that in Power and Life which the World are only in Pretence and Notion let it be known by the lively and active demonstrations of the Spirit of God in you That greater is He that is in you than he that is in the World Your Principles I am sure are more noble extensive and generous do but draw them forth and shew them to open view and you will be a Blessing in your Generation The several Tribes and Languages shall fasten on your Skirts and say We will go along with you for the Lord is amongst you Nay even the Kings of the Nations shall shut their Mouths at this appearance of God in you Isa 52.14 15. For that which had not bin told them they shall see and that which they had not heard they shall consider As Pharach said of Joseph Where is there a Man in whom the Spirit of God is Gen. 41.38 c. Finally my Brethren Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might put on the whole Armour of God for your Work and your Warfare requires it and ye know that nothing below that can enable you to finish this your Testimony Ye wrestle not against Flesh and Blood neither are the Weapons of your Warfare Carnal but mighty through God to subdue every high Thought and vain Imagination All those Principalities and Powers and those spiritual Wickednesses in high Places which have captivated the Royal Seed of the Promise and exalted themselves against the free Breathings of the Spirit These my dear Friends are the powerful Enemies over which ye must be more than Conquerors through him that loves you and when in the strength of this Love you have subdued the World calm'd and quieted that wild and furious Spirit of Wrath that is let loose among Men and prepared the way for the Kingdom of God and of his Christ to be establish'd in us and amongst us what remains but that in a holy denial of your Selves and Services your Gifts and Graces your Love and Enlargements your Faith and Patience your Sufferings and Perseverances you offer up the Son of the Promise and cast down these your Crowns at the feet of Him that sits upon the Throne joining in Consort with the Celestial Quire of Saints and Angels in the Sacred Hymns of Divine Praises and Allelujahs Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power to the Lord our God Rev. 19.1 to 10. Not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be the glory of all thy wondrous Works Sing Zion shout O ye Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem Judges 5.1 to 14. Awake Deborah awake awake sing to the Lord Arise Barak take the Harps of God in your hands ye Heavenly Victors and in your most strenuous Notes sing aloud with Moses and the Lamb upon your Chrystal fiery Floods Rev. 15.2 3 4. Great and marvellous are thy Works Lord God Almighty Just and true are thy Ways thou King of Saints who will not fear thee O God and glorify thy Name for thou only art Holy all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy Judgments are made manifest And again Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth and is manifest to be All in All all Vnity in all Variety Thus to ascribe to God All in all and to the Creature-Nothing is the top-Stone of God's Building to which we cry Grace Grace Allelujah For His is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Allelujah THE END