all such he honours with the honour that is from above which comes from himself and all these do honour each other and prefer each other according to the Order of the Work of God amongst them in their several Gifts and Services in the Body of Christ his Church All keeping to and walking in the Divine Light of Christ all will be kept in Humility and in Unity yea cloathed with it according to the Apostles Exhortation and according to the Command and Example of Christ the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls who said Learn of me I am meek and lowly in Heart and ye shall find rest to your Souls A Remnant hath learned Humility of him in this Age and he hath given us rest to our Souls which to us far excels all the Riches and Glory of this World Praises to the Lord God and the Lamb for the same Blessed are all they that walk in his Light they find the fruit of it in them to be unfeigned Love to Friends and also to Enemies and Meekness Patience Gentleness Justice Equity and Righteousness towards all Men and a good Understanding and holy right Zeal for the honour of the Lord and the good of his People who walks here will not be puffed up with self conceit or self wilfulness or be filled with Wrath Malice Strife nor strive to Honour or Exalt themselves as Lords over Gods People such are not Lords over that Faith which God hath wrought in his People but in the Love of God Meekness and Humility of Christ Jesus these build up one another in their most Holy Faith and are Fellow helpers of one anothers Joy in the Lord as the Apostle hath writ and Exhorted And as the Primitive true Christians practised Concerning Rule and Government in the Church of Christ CHrist Jesus after he arose from the Dead spake unto his Disciples saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them into the Name for so the Greek renders it of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have comanded you and lo I am with you always c. Matt. 28. 18 19 20. First Observe Christ who was always spiritually present with those whom he sent to preach the Gospel gave them many things in Charge to teach the People to observe those who believed received and obeyed the Gospel preach'd by the Apostles did obey the Commands and Doctrines of Christ given by or through the Apostles who were his Embassadors those who did continue stedfast unto the end were by degrees Taught and inabled by the powerful Spirit and Light of Christ in the Apostles and in their own hearts to observe do all things that Christ commanded them 2. Observe Christ in and by the Apostles did command and teach those who believed and received the Gospel and walked in the Light of it and those who did believe and obey those Commands and Doctrines were not therein subject or obedient to the Traditions Doctrines or Commandments of men who were without the Spiritual Presence and Authority of Christ But they were obedient unto the Commandements and Doctrines of Christ delivered in and by the Faithful Apostles those holy Men of God 3. Observe Here is Order and Rule in the Work of God they that are Novices or young Scholars in the Faith and Doctrine of Christianity are Learners others Elders or Teachers these are to be Taught and watch'd over by those to whom God hath given an oversight of them in his power and wisdom for the Salvation Preservation and everlasting good of their Souls these Stewards of God who labour for and watch over Souls for the good end aforesaid God requires them to be faithful in this great Charge which he hath laid upon them for they must give an account to him of their stewardship and blessed are all those who have believed the Gospel who obey and walk in the Light of the same receiving and obeying the Commands Doctrines and Precepts of the Lord Jesus Christ given unto them by his Light and Spirit in his Stewards and Embassadors which they see and receive in the same Light Spirit of Christ in their own Hearts and Souls An account will be given of them with joy unto Christ the chief Shepherd and great Overseer of Souls 4. Observe They who after they have believed in the Spirit and Light of God and Christ within and have partaken of the vertue and power thereof fall away when Temptations and Tryals come upon them for Christ and the Gospel's sake these become like the stony ground which Christ speaks of in the Parables of the Kingdom that young and tender Blade which appeared in them being withered an account cannot be given of these with joy but with sorrow though they who have laboured faithfully with them for their good are clear of their Fall and Misery 5. Observe Those who have come to a farther growth and knowledg of the Truth than those last mentioned who have come not only to know the Truth but also further to obey it and suffer for it yet they after they have thus done and suffered have fallen away from their first love and obedience to the Cross of Christ by rejecting and slighting the Counsel of God by his Light and Spirit in their own hearts and in the hearts and mouths of his Servants and these having cast off the Yoke of Christ are become as Sons of Belial without Yoke gone into the World into the Cumbersom Cares of it and the Deceitfulness of the Riches Lusts and Glory of it such has made ill use of the grace or favour of God given unto them such in their works whatever their Words be deny the only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ such are the despisers of the Government of Christ in his Church who though they retain yet something of the Christian form of Godliness yet are out of the life and power thereof and Enemies to it as by their Evil Works and Words do and will appear The Stewards and Embassadors of Christ cannot give a joyous account of these though having faithfully laboured with them for their preservation and well being are therefore cleer of their blood or of being in any wise guilty of their Fall and Ruin Observe further what the Apostle saith concerning Rule and Government in the Church of Christ he writing to the believing Hebrews writes thus Remember them which have the Rule over you who hath spoken unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation obey them that hath the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Salute all them that have the Rule over you and all the Saints they of Italy salute you
have done before them until God cut them off in his Anger as he hath done such like already My dear Friends you who have anciently been turned to the Divine Light of Christ who have and do walk in it you know what I have here briefly touched at is true and you in this divine Light may see the Old Enemy of our Peace pure Christian Fellowship Unity at work against the same under a Profession of the Light to darken and draw persons from it into the works of Darkness And thus as in the Apostles days he hath and doth transform himself as like an Angel of Light as he can how should he appear like an Angel of Light if he should in words deny the Light of Christ Within Man and Woman The Apostle writing of false Apostles saith thus viz. For such False Apostles are deceitful Workers and fashion themselves like unto the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an Angel of Light Therefore is it no great thing though his Ministers fashion themselves as though they were the Ministers of Righteousness whose end shall be according to their Deeds Thus 't is rendered in 2 Cor. 10. Old Translation Printed in 1566. O consider of it all such whom it concerns And how should the False Apostles in the True Apostles days have transformed themselves like unto them if they should have in Words denied the Light of Christ Within though in Works they did Seeing Christ's Command was and is to believe in the Light and walk in at that Men and Women might then may now and hereafter be Children of the Light as the faithful Followers of the Light then were and now are The great Message and Work of John Baptist and the Apostles Paul John Peter and the rest was to bear witness of the Light and to turn People to it that they might all believe in it and obey and walk therein that they might be saved Now for Satan to send his Apostles or Preachers amoâ—gst us to seek to deceive us if they should come blaspheming against the Light of Christ Within mocking and scoffing at it as many dark Preachers and Professors of this Age do who have been bred up in Darkness and Ignorance from their Youth who yet never understood what the Light of Christ Within is he were not like to prevail upon those who have been turned to it and have had their Hearts tendered and in some measure opened by it But if he come under a Profession of it and his Ministers confessing it and in words owning of it professing to be taught and led by it in their talking of it and in the rest of their Conversation especially if they do keep out of the common gross Debaucheries that are in the World then they are like to prevail upon such who do not faithfully watch in the Light which maketh all things manifest as they are Christ hath commanded us to Watch and pray lest we fall into the Temptation of the Devil He said to his Disciples What I say unto one I say unto all watch The holy Prophet said I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak Peace to his People and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly O blessed are all they who so do they are the Children of the Wisdom that comes down from above their Eye being kept single to God they are kept by his mighty Power through Faith so that they shall not stumble nor walk in the crooked ways of Satan which leads to the Chambers of Death even to take hold on Hell My Friends you who are anciently convinced of the blessed Truth as 't is in Christ Jesus our Lord and have kept your Habitations therein some of you may remember what great Evils some run into when they made a Profession of the Light of Christ Within and when they had so done and were reproved for it and admonished to repent and reform they would tell us We must leave them to their own Measures of the Light of Christ and what they did they were justified therein by it And such would say The Light Within is sufficient to teach us will not you leave us to it And when some had acted things which were evil and scandalous they would say That they were justified by the Light in them They would have persuaded us that the Light of Christ Within did lead them into those evil and confused disorderly Practices which they run into But the Lord Jesus Christ by his Light shewed us plainly that those things which they said the Light Within taught them led them into and justified them in were the Works and Fruits of Darkness proceeding through them from Satan who had betrayed and deceived them as he did Eve And as we then withstood those who blasphemed against the Divine Light of Christ Within by seeking to father their Works of Darkness upon it by rendering it the Author thereof so in the Light of Christ we do withstand those vain Talkers of the Light at this time whose Walking and Works are in Darkness and in the Light of Christ we testifie to the sufficiency of it against all Priests and Professors whatsoever who blaspheme against it calling it a Natural Insufficient Light c. Take notice Oh my Friends That Satan the Prince of Darkness and his dark wicked prophane Generation or Offspring long have and at this day do profess the great true and living God Christ Jesus whom he hath sent in Words but in Works they do deny both the Father and the Son And although Satan the Prince of Darkness may in some of his confused dark Instruments confess to and profess the Light of Christ Within yet he is still Satan the Adversary the Prince of Darkness and his Professing and Talking of the Light is only with design the more readily to prevail upon and destroy those who through Love to the Light delight to hear it spoken of and commended And Satan and his dark Instruments have done more harm to some such in their false feigned Profession Commendation of the Light than ever they did or could do by their direct opposition to it and blasphemous words against it My dear Friends Consider what our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles have testified concerning the only true God and left the same upon Record in the Scriptures of Truth Christs Testimony is That God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth The Apostle John's Testimony is That God is Light and in him there is no darkness at all If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another c. Observe that this living true God who is a Spirit and Light is one God his Light
and Spirit in his People is one in its kind or Nature with himself he being the Fountain of it and it of himself it cannot contradict him or itself in the several Measures Manifestations Dispensations of it in those who receive it believe and obey it For if it should or could do so then God by it would be rendered the Author of Confusion and not of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints which to believe or suppose is very highly blasphemous against him and directly contrary to the holy Apostles Doctrine who saith God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints The same Apostle saith The Fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness Righteousness und Truth proving what is acceptable unto the Lâ—rd And he exhorted the Saints saying Have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them To those who walked in the Spirit and Light of God he said Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us To these also he said Ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Lighi in the Lord walk as Children of the Light See Eph. 5. Again he saith The Fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy and Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law and they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain Glory provoking one another envying one another Again he saith The Works of the Flesh are manifest which are Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Darâ—ance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in times past that they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. Again the holy Apostle John in the Holy Ghost saith He that saith he is in the Light and hates his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is none occasion of Stumbling in him But he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his Brother also See 1 John 4. My dear Friends Observe That where the Fruits of the Spirit and Light of God and Christ are wanting in those who profess the same to be their Teacher Ruler and Orderer and contrariwise the Fruits or Works of the Flesh do appear this is a plain proof that their saying they are taught lâ—d and governed by the Spirit and Light of God and Christ is very notoriously false yea blasphemous against God Christ and his Divine Light and Spirit For when Christ told his Disciples that false Prophets Anti-Christs Deceivers c. should come saying Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves he said Ye shall know them by their Fruits Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Even so every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Wherefore by their Fruits ye shall know them Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven See Math. 7. 15. and 24. Again he saith Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. See Matth. 24. 11 12 13 24. see Mark 13. 22. he repeating the same words of Christ and there he saith Take heed I have told you before Observe Christ's Promise to the faithful chosen Elect notwithstanding all the deceiveableness of unrighteousness which then did now doth or hereafter may work in the Instruments of Satan by feigned Words or fair or flattering Speeches false signs or lying wonders whereby he lieth in wait to betray and deceive by which he hath prevailed upon some unstable unwatchful unfaithful and therefore unskilful Souls who are not acquainted with the depths of Satan speaking in his Agents yet can he not in his Agents deceive the Elect the chosen of God Observe all that are convinced of the truth and come to some degree of Obedience to it are not come to the settled State of Election although they are come to a sight and feeling of the Spirit of Christ in whom the Election stands in which State it is impossible to be deceived Let not the weakest amongst the Believers in and Obeyers of the Light of Christ Within be discouraged at these sayings for as they keep to the Light God the Fountain of it will keep them from falling God set Adam in a State of Innocency in which it was possible for him to stand yet it was not impossible for him to fall for we both read and believe he did fall he could not stand in his own strength but in the strength of the Lord his Maker through want of his diligent attendance and waiting upon God his Maker for preservation he fell under the power of the Deceiver But Christ who never fell spake of a State brings those who continue diligent watchful into it which is beyond that as his forecited words do plainly imply The Apostles writ unto the Believers in the Light of Christ thus viz. Wherefore Brethren give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 10. Read the Chapter through c. Again he saith Beware lest ye being led away with the Errour of the wicked fall from your own Stedfastness But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Christ to him be Glory now and for ever Amen Chap. 3. 17 18. Again Juâ—e writes thus Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 24 25. read the Epistle throughout Observe further that the Settled State of Election where deceit cannot enter is not a State above or beyond Watchfulness and the holy Fear of God the Son of God himself in the daies of his Flesh watched and
prayed and was heard in that he feared as the Author to the Hebrews writes Heb. 5. 7. but in this State of Watchfulness and the holy Fear of God they continually abiding stedfast in to such it is become Natural to dwell and abide there being rooted and settled in the Godly or Divine Nature of which they are made partakers as the Apostle writ see 1 Pet. 1. 4. See how Fulks renders this place in his Confutation of the Popish Translation at Rhâ—mes he renders the words Divine Nature Godly Nature Eternal Glory to him for the preservation of his People who daily wait upon him he gives them Wisdom Strength and Preservation he who keeps them never â—luâ—bâ—rs nor sleeps holy and mighâ—y is his Wisdom and Strength by which he redeems preserves and upâ—â—â—â— his People in doing that which is well pleasing in his sight Blessed are all those who diligently wait to be made partakers of the same they shall be upheld thereby through all Temptations Trials and the Buffetings and Winnowings of Satan out of his snares and over him in Christ the Elect Seed which bruiseth his Head and over all his several sorts of Agents for as the Apostle saith Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World by whom we overcome the World O my dear Friends All diligently wait on God in the Divine Light and Spirit of his Son that you may grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more and more that you may be all firmly rooted and grounded in him as Trees or Branches of Righteousness the planting of the Lord God that you may bring forth much Fruit to the Praise and Glory of his name Christ the living true Vine said unto his Disciples of old I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman every Branch that beareth not fruit in me he taketh away and every Branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Abide in me and I in you As the branch cannot bring forth of itself except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered Joh. 15. 1 2 4 5. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and abide in his love This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you See John 15. 5 c. O my Friends These are the sweet and comfortable Sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ our Prince of Life Love and Peace Let them be duly weighed faithfully regarded and followed by you all who profess to be his Disciples that is Learners of him for as he saith Without him we can do nothing except we be joined to his gracious Spirit of Light Life and Peace we cannot please God but being joined to it it worketh in us to will and to do that which is well pleasing in the sight of the Lord God So we become his workmanship in Christ created in him unto those good Works which God hath ordained we should walk in that our Light may shine before men that they may behold our good Conversation in Christ constantly coupled with that godly fear wherein there is not only a hating of but also a coming out of and preservation from Pride Arrogancy and every evil way O my Friends This is that which is to be desired sought of God and diligently waited for this is the durable Riches that far excels all that can be mentioned besides it this is the Treasure that is to be laid up in Heaven according to Christs Command where neither Moth can corrupt nor Thief break through and steal Blessed are all they who diligently wait for the Increase and Security of this Treasure they shall never be forsaken of the Lord he whose the Earth is and the fulness of it who feeds the Ravens cloaths the Grass and takes care for Sparrows will take care and provide for them So all wait that your Faith and Confidence may be preserved confirmed and increased to his eternal honour and your enduring Peace and Comfort even so be it Amen Concerning good Conscience MY dear Friends something lies upon me to write to you in the tender Bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of our Christian Peace Fellowship and Unity The matter before me is this I find that there are some persons professing Truth amongst us who not being faithful to the gracious Spirit and Light of our Lord Jesus Christ which they make profession of that are offended with the Method Manner and Form in which Friends Care of Gods Glory and the good one of another is manifest these persons talk much of Liberty of Conscience To which I say Liberty of Conscience rightly understood hath ever since we were a People been and still is owned amongst us but for any who profess to be followers of the Light Members of the Church which is in God to plead Liberty of Conscience for themselves without putting a difference betwixt good Conscience and evil this is an Unsound and Unchristian Plea for the Apostles of Christ distinguisheth betwixt good and evil Conscience yea shews that they are separated and divided the one from the other for they proceed from contrary Causes The Apostle said My Conscience beareth me witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9. 1. And again I have lived in all good Conscience unto this day For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World and more abundantly to you-wards See 2 Cor. 1. 12. He who had believed and received the Holy Ghost was made of a good Understanding by it his Will and Affections also being purified from Corruption thereby so that he did not only understand what was right and wrong but he also willed and took pleasure to act and do that which was and is well pleasing in the sight of the Lord And this he was enabled to do by the Power of the Holy Ghost or Spirit of Truth which according to the Promise of Christ leads his faithful Subjects by Degrees from Glory to Glory from one degree of Grace to another into all Truth And so are the faithful followers of Christ Jesus led in this our day Paul writing to Timothy saith Now the end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned from which some having swerved have turned aside
unto vain jangling 1 Tim. 1. 5 6. Again ver 18 19. he chargeth Timothy to hold Faith and a good Conscience which sâ—me having put away concerning Faith have made shipwrack Again Chap. 3. ver 9. The Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience The Apostle Peter writes to the Believers thus viz. Having a good Conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of Evil-doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good Conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 3. 16. Concerning evil Conscience THE Apostle writes thus Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to the seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron 1 Tim. 4. 1 2. Now the Prince that begets and upholds this evil Conscience hardened and seared is the Devil who abode not in the truth in whom there is no truth he is that Prince of the power of the Air who works in the hearts of the Children of Disobedience as the Apostle saith This is he who leads into the fleshly Liberty from the Cross of Christ into the fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul and drowns such men in predition who become Enemies to the Cross of Christ This Liberty is not to be given way unto nor to be pleaded for by any true Christian this is not the Liberty of the Sons of God which he hath promised to restore them into who believe in Jesus Christ and take up their daily Cross and follow him giving and taking Liberty to this evil Conscience brings into corruptible Bondage yea it vassalizeth the Creature Soul and Body to Satan and if this Liberty be continued in it brings everlasting destruction both upon Man and Woman Paul writ to Titus saying Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their Mind and Consciences defiled they profess that they know God but in Works they deny him See Tit. 1. 15 16. Again the Apostle writing to the Hebrews saith Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised and let us consider one another to provoke unto Love and to good Works not forsaking the Assembling our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another c. See Heb. 10. 22 23 24 25. Oh my dear Friends All tenderly consider that the great work of God in and through Christ is to put away this evil Conscience and to work in man a good one yea to redeem out of all corrupt sinful fleshly Liberty which Liberty embondageth the Creature under Satans power as I said before Now Christ the patient and innocent Lamb of God was sent by the Father to take away the Sins of the World which John Baptist in his Eternal Light saw and testified of and in the same Divine Spirit and Light of Christ Daniel the Prophet saw and testified of saying He shall finish Sin and Transgression and shall bring in everlasting Righteousness Blessed are all they who in Faith and Patience wait to see this great Work carried on and finished in the appointed season of the Father O my Friends Seriously consider how enclinabâ—e apt and prone Men and Women are after they are come to some degree of the knowledge of God and of Christ and of the daily Cross to hearken to the Serpents voice who deceived Eve who leads into this ungodly Liberty who by his Transformations hath deceived some in our Age after they knew God and Christ as aforesaid and he has promised them Liberty and great things as he did Eve and has brought them into misery as he did her and through this his accursed work a Root of Bitterness is sprung up in some which is in danger to defile many which God through his tender Mercy put a stop unto confound and drive backward This is the earnest desire of my Soul The Apostle Peter writes against the fleshly Libertines with which the Church was exercised in his day which became matter of much Travel and Grief to the faithful Apostles of them he thus writes viz. These are Wells without Water Clouds that are carried with a Tempest to whom the mist of Darkness is reserved for ever for when they speak great swelling words of vanity they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in errour While they promise them Liberty they themselves are the servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought into Bondage c. See 2 Pet. 2. 16. to the end Dear Friends Something more is upon me to write concerning Conscience The Apostle writing to the Church at Corinth speaketh of the Idolatry of the Gentiles viz. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the World for though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be gods many and lords many But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge for some with Conscience of the Idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an Idol and their Consciences being weak are defiled But meat commendeth us not to God for neither if we eat are we the better neither if we eat not are we the worse But take heed lest by any means this Liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak for if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the Idols Temple shall not the Conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to Idols c. Read 1 Cor. 8. 4. to the end of the chap. Observe here that some with Conscience of the Idol did eat things sacrificed unto it and their Consciences therein and thereby were defiled The Christians who knew there was no other God but one were warned by the Apostle that they should not sit in the Idols Temple at Meat with those who eat their meat unto the Idol lest their so doing should embolden those ignorant Idolaters to persist in their Ignorance and Idolatry for though some might say they did not eat it to the Idol as the Idolaters did but for strength and sustenance to the outward man yet this would not answer the Counsel of the Lord in the Apostle nor the Light of Christ in their own Souls but they were to abstain from eating with them at such Sacrifices thereby to prevent emboldening them therein And in chap. 10. ver 20. take his Testimony against this sort of Idolatry in these
that is faithful in a little I will make him Ruler over much The Path of the Just is as the shining light which shines more and more unto the perfect day as 't is written And again The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven days c. Now if those weak ones with whom the Primitive Christians bore in these things should have called them Aâ—â—states and Innovaâ—ors and have called their Epistles rotten Orders Mâ—ns Prescriptions and Edicts and have judged them in their Christian freedom because they did not continue with them in Bondage in Eating Herbs Observation of Days Years and Times and should have cryed up their Jewish bondage to have been Christian Liberty and themselves to be strong Christians and the others to be weak or darkned and Apostatized Would the Apostles and Primitive Christians have owned them as Brethren in Vnity and have had Fellowship with them in their so doing Yea or Nay Let Gods faithful Witness in all that know it answer this Question Oh! my Friends I am grieved in Spirit because of the hardness wilfulness and self-conceitedness of some whose work at this day is to unsettle the minds of Gods people by drawing them from their diligent attendance unto the Spirit Light and Voice of God in their own hearts and souls and in the mouths of his faithful Servants which Spirit Light and Voice in their hearts and in the mouths of his Servants is not contradictory to it self in the one or the other after them into ungodly jealousies evil surmises thoughts and imaginations words and actions by which evil work several persons whom the Lord in mercy had gathered near to himself have been drawn out from the simplicity which is in Christ into prejudice evil jealousies and also into some practices which are inconsistent with the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus divers of whom the Lord hath in mercy given the sense thereof and through his righteous Judgments upon the evil hath restored them into Unity with himself and with his tender people who in his tender bowels have travelled for their restauration who now greatly rejoyce in their return Glory yea Glory to his Eternal Name for the same and that for evermore 'T is my Faith that God will disintangle some who are yet held by the aforesaid Snares for whose return my Soul travels in Prayers and Supplications to God Faithful is that saying of the Apostle Rom. 14. 22. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing which he alloweth Again he saith Now I beseech you Brethren by our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no division among you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment For it hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren by them which are of the House of Cloe that there are Contentions among you Now this I say that every one of you saith that I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided Was Paul Crucified for you Or were you Baptized in the name of Paul Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of God For it is written I wâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—he wisdom of the wise c. We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling Block and unto the Greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God c. 1 Cor. 1. 10 to 19. Oh! my dear Friends and all you who profess the Divine Light of Christ to be your Teacher seriously consider of these things My earnest desire for you all is that you may all diligently wait in the Light of Christ therein to receive a right understanding thereof for if you therein diligently wait you will see that it was not the Apostles desire or pleasure that they should contend or be in strife for Apollo or Cephas or Him or for them one against another but that they should all exalt and magnifie Christ who died for them and rose again to govern and lead them in righteousness and to uphold and justifie them in the same And also consider that he Preached not the Gospel with the wisdom of words or the words which mans wisdom teacheth lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect but he Preached the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven in the words which it taught him that their Faith who heard him might not stand in the wisdom of those words which mans wisdom teacheth but in the power of God for as he saith in 1 Cor. 4. 19 20. I will come to you shortly if the Lord will and will know not the â—peeâ—h or words of them which are puffed up but the Power for the Kingdom of God is not in 〈◊〉 but in poâ—â—r neither doth it stand in meats or drinks but in righteousness and peace and â—â—y in the Holy Ghost into which Kingdom God hath gathered and is gathering them that have or yet do or hereafter may in sincerity Hunger and Thurst after it Again consider the Apostle took great Care in his Preaching that the Cross of Christ might Not be made of none Effect that those who were come to bear it might Not be weary of it and Cast it off because of the offence taken by the wicked at them for their Obedience thereunto nor for any other cause for it is true as he writ the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us it is the power of God and as it was then so it is now he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit and they that live godlike on in the likeness of God in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Again Consider oh my friends and all you who profess the Light of Christ within to be your Teacher Ruler and Guide what is the cause that some professing the Light within make such a Noyse against that wholsome Method or Order which the God of Order hath brought forth amongst us in taking Care of his Glory and the good one of another that the professors of the Gospel and its Light may walk Orderly in the Light as becomes the same that their Light might so shine before men that they might see their good works and glorifie their Father which is in Heaven according to Christs Command Is it not obvious and plain that their Noise and Clamour is because they seek a Liberty which Christ and the bearing of the Cross Admits not
do not pay Tythes maâ—ry by a â—â—â—est or turn back into the sinful customs and vain glory of the world but they stand in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free and hold fast the Truth which is their Crown that no man take it from them or them from it Now all you that are young in Truth and all others whom it concerns take notice that those whom God first turned from darkness to light in this our Age who became lovers and followers of it they thereby were led in the very morning or Infancy of their knowledge of the Light and the teachings of it to deny being Married by a Hriest and to deny paying of Tythes and to deny Swâ—aring to deny Envyings and Strife Wars and Fighting which are the fruits of the Flesh proceeding from the Lusts thereof and to deny the vain customs sinful Luâ—â—s and glory of the world to continue in the denyal of these is well pleasing to God And as it was with the faithful in the beginning or breaking out of the Gospel day amongst us so it is with the faithful now as with respect to their testimony in the denial of these things and God hath given great Increaâ—â— of his spiritual Treasures Riches and Blessings to those that have continued faithful since that time so that they are now nearer to the Lord than they were in the morning of the day and Infancy of their knowledge of him Glory to his Name for the same And thus it was with the Primitive Believers and Walkers in the Light as the Scriptures of Truth declare Now to such as say Things amongst us who profess the Light of Christ to be our Teacher are not as they were in the beginning I say â—ay as with respect to aâ—â— Persons professing the Light as aforesaid they are not nor yet with respect to divers things practised by the professors of the Light for the Faithful have grown from one degree of Grace to another and so from the practice of some good thingâ— to the practice of more good things having walked in the Light they have held what they had and gained more according to Christs promise who said He that is faithful in a little I will make him Ruler over much And there is to be a growing from strength to strength and from Glory to Glory from one degree of Grace to another till there be an appearing in Sion in perfect beauty till there be a coming to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ to a perfect man in Christ Jesus This is accordiog to the Apostles Doctrine Who thus goes on gradually towards perfection are no Aâ—â—sâ—ates Backsliders or Drawers back to perdition but pressers forward for the complete Redemption of their Souls So these are in a better condition than they were in the beginning of their profession of the Spirit Truth and Light of Christ within As he saith â—very Scribe that is taught or instructed unto the Kingdom of God is like unto a Man that is an Housholder which bringeth out of his Treasure things new and old All that come to this State walking in the light as aforesaid they increase in good Order in the Power of God And again Christ saith Take heed what you hear c. And he said Whereunto shall we liken the Kingdom of God Or with what comparison shall we compare it It is like a Grain of Mustard-seed which when it is sown in the Earth is less than all the seeds that be in the Earth but when it is sown it groweth up and becometh greater than all Herbs and shooteth out great Branches see Mark 4. v. 24. to 32. Oserve here the Parables that Christ spoke concerning the Kingdom of God and the Increase of it Now as the Grain of Mustardseed is small but being sown in the Earth groweth gradually and in due season brings forth great increase of its own Nature and Kind even so the Heavenly spark or seed of life being believed in by man it takes root in his heart and grows gradually and in the Appointed season of the Father brings forth fruit first a little and afterwards more for Christ the living Vine said In this is my Father gloryfied that you bring forth much fruit I am the true vine my father is the husbandman Every branch that bringeth not forth fruit in me he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth that it may bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. And again he said So is the Kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed into the ground and the seed should spring and grow up c. for the earth bringeth forth fruit of her self first the blade then the ear then the full corn in the ear Mark 4. v. 26. to 32. Again the Prophet Isaiah Prophesying of Christs Government and Kingdom writes thus For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given the Government shall be on his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to Order it and to Establish it with Judgment and with Iustice from henceforth even for ever The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this see Isa 9. 6 7. Observe here the Parable of the Grain of Wheat cast into the Earth it first springs to the Blade secondly to the Ear thirdly to the full or ripe Corn in the Ear. Now it may be truly said that when the Grain of Wheat is sprung up to the Ear it is not as it was in the beginning of its growth into the Blade as with respect to the stature and growth of it for the second is greater than the first Again it may be said when it is grown to full ripe Corn in the Ear it is not as it was in the beginning of its growth into the Blade nor as it was when it was grown to the Ear but not ripe full or perfect Corn for the third degree of its growth was greater than the first or second though they proceeded of one seed and were of one kind and all good and beautiful in the order of their growth Now this Grain of Wheat and the fruit and product of it in the several degrees of the growth thereof to its perfection being made by Christ a Parable of the Heavenly Seed of God in the Hearts of his People and of the several degrees of its work and appearance in them and of thâ—ir several degrees of growth in it from their Infancy therein to their compleatness or ripe Age in Christ All you that profess to be the Generation or Off-spring of this Heavenly Seed Try and prove your selves in this matter be retired in the Spirit of your minds and with the Light you make profession of take a view of your States and Conditions and see whether your
the Dead the Third Day and appeared to his Disciples and gave them many things in Charge particularly to feed his Lambs and Sheep and to love one another and love Enemies c. after which he ascended according to the Scriptures and is on the right-hand of the Majesty on High from whence be shall proceed to Judg the World in righteousness the man Christ Iesus this is he who was with the Church in the Wilderness the spiritual Rock for saith the Apostle He was with the Church in the Wilderness for saith he They all eat the same spiritual meat they all drink the same spiritual drink they eat and drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ this is hâ— of whom John in the Revelations testifies saying He rides upon a White Horse his Vesture is dipt in blood his Name is called the Word of God and the Armies which are in Heaven follow him This is he that was dead and is alive and lives for evermore who hath the Keys of Hell and of Death who slays the Dragon that plays in the Sea who destroys Death and him that hath the Power of Death which is the Devil this is he who is the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the Living this is he who said He that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live and said he that liveth and believeth shall never dye Martha believest thou this this is he of whom the Apostle writ to the Saints saying Ye that some time were dead in trespasses and sins hath he quickened by Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves for it is the gift of God Again this is he of whom the Apostle writ saying We have all been gone astray as Sheep without a Shepherd but now we are returned to the Captain of our Salvation and Bishop of our Souls this is he of whom t is written That there is no Name given under Heaven by which man can be saved but by the name of Jesus Christ it is also written of him That there is not Salvation in any other he himself hath said I am the way to the Father no man can come to the Father but by me I am the Way the Truth and the Life I am the Door he that enters in by me the Door shall go in and find Pasture I am the good Shepherd I lay down my Life for my Sheep all that came before me they are Thieves and Robbers The Apostle saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. they who Preach the Words of God spoken by his Spirit in and by his Son or in by his Prophets or Apostles without the Spirit of God and Christ they steal the Lord is against them see Jer. 23. Ezekel 13 1. to the end 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 3. Observe This is he by whom God brings forth his New Creation in man who was fallen dead in Trespasses and Sins the Apostle saith If any man be in Christ he is a New Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become New and all things are of God and he writ to the Saints saying We are Gods workmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God before Ordained that we should walk in them Observe This is he that burns up the old Heavens and the old Earth which Satan hath filled with Sin and Wickedness this is he that Baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire who burns up all the false Joy false Pleasure which is as a false Heaven for as the Kingdom of God the true Heaven consists in true Joy and Peace so Satan transforms himself in his dark Kingdom in fallen man which he has filled with sin and gives him for a short time a false Joy and Peace in Evil doing this is that Joy that must be turned into Sorrow this is that Peace which is not the Peace of God therefore God will destroy it Heaven and Earth and all things were good in the beginning and man was good yea very good his Spirit Soul and Body but being fallen from God degenerated into a Plant of a strange Vine his Heart Mind Spirit Will and Affections all Corrupted Poisoned Slain Dead from God he is now become as the corrupt Earth which brings forth Bryers and Thorns whose end is to be burned Mankind in the fall is accounted by the Prophet as a Forest or Wilderness overgrown with Bryers and Thorns and he Prophesies of the day of the Lord that shall come upon this Wilderness Bryers and Thorns Sin and Wickedness and shall burn them up And again the Prophet of the Lord saith The day of the Lord shall come which shall burn as an Oven and the Proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and it shall burn them up and leave them neither Root nor Branch All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Sin brought Death and Separation from God God saith by the Prophet Your Sins separate betwixt you and your God your sins with-hold good things from you wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes and then draw near and let us reason together though your sins were as Crimson I will make them as Snow though they were as blood I will make them as Wool I will carry them into a Land of forgetfulness and Will remove them as far from you as the East is from the West Again God commands by the Apostle saying Cleanse your hands you sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded be afflicted and mourn let your laughter be turned into heaviness and your joy into mourning humble your selves under the mighty hand of God and he shall exalt you in due time And the Apostle saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ shall give thee Light Ephes 5. 14. Observe That all the fallen dead sons and daughters of Adam who come to be made alive to God to become a generation to him to bring forth fruit to his Glory they must come to be Awakened by the Spirit and Voice of God sounding an alarum in their own Hearts and Souls to have their ears opened to his voice the eyes of their unberstandings opened to see him a God nigh at hand they must know the Revelation of the Righteous Judgments of God upon the head of the Serpent in their own Hearts Minds Wills and Affections and through his Righteous Judgments to know the old man with his deeds which are Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts of the flesh put off and so to know the fulfilling of the Apostles words who said They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts He that is in Christ is a New Creature Again observe this work of Redemption of the Creature out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the
sons and daughters of God is a work that is carried on by Degrees as Christ hath shewed and set it forth in many Parables shewing the smalness of its beginning as to the sence and apprehension of the Creature in whom it is begun The Kingdom of God in the unregenerate is Compared to a grain of Wheat cast into the Earth which first suffers or dyes but in its suffering or dying brings forth the fruit of its own kind first the blade then the ear then the full or â—ipe Corn in the Ear It is also Compared to a grain of Musâ—ard Seed cast into the Earth which being small yet in the Appointed season of him that gives the increase brings forth fruit plentifully Again it is Compared to Leaven put in three measures of Meal till the whole was Levened Again it is Compared to a Net cast into the Sea which gather good and bad to the shore and gathers the good into Vessels but casts the bad away Observe still here is a glorious Order in the work of mans Regeneration and Restoration to God Man who is turned from Darkness to Light from Sathans power to God with the Light he is come to see his sin Now he is to wait to know God who is a Consuming fire to sin and wickedness to appear in him to burn up and Consume his Sins to Slay that Dragon or Serpent in him who has led him into Sin and hath kept him in it and caused him to take pleasure in the same Now he is to wait to know the Mighty Liveing Dreadful God to appear in him as a refiners fire and as Fullers soap Now he is patiently to bear the Indignation of the Lord because he hath sinned untill he hath Mercy on him for he will not Contend forever with the Repenting believing Penitent ones because he delights in Mercy Now he that thus believes waits and submits to the Chastising hand of the Lord doth not always Continue under his rebukes Chastisement or Judgment in the midest of Judgment he remembers Mercy to such under Judgment he supports the Spirits of these Contrite ones he strengthens them in this Winter season and he Leads them through it as a man of God hath written Behold the Winter is over and gone the time of Rejoycing is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land Thus they that have set their faces Sion-wards and are travelling with their faces thither-wards go on and grow from glory to glory from strength to strength from one degree in the grace of Christ Jesus unto another untill they appear in Sion in perfect beauty so these are not like a Dwarff that doth not grow for a Dwarff was by the Law of God forbiden to be a Priest and so was a Lepor but such who believe wait and grow as aforesaid are not as the Dwarff or Lepor and Diseased who are all Corrupt from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot and who hath no Health in them as they say but these are come to Christ the Physician of Value yea the saving Health of all Nations as it s written of him though these can do nothing of themselves yet they can do all things through Christ that strengthens them which the Apostle knew and writ of These have put on the Lord Jesus Christ These make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the Lust thereof these are strengthened by Christ who is Gods glorious power and wisdom in their Inward man as it s written these grow strong in the Lord by degrees these put on the whole Armor of God by which they are defended from all the fiery Darts of the Devil these are made Conquerors in Christ who Destroys the Devil and his works in them To these is given the Spirit of Praise instead of that of heaviness these are returned to Sion with songs of diliverance and Everlasting joy amongst these God reigns in and through them he shines to enlighten the dark World which lyes in wickedness Thus it s written Out of Sion the perfection of beauty God hath shined Again the Apostle writing of the Beautiful Order of the work of God in Heaven Earth saith There is one Glory of the Sun and another Glory of the Moon and another Glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another Star in Glory so also is the Resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. Observe here what the Apostle hath written concerning the Different Order of the Sun Moon and Stars in Heaven saith so is the Resurrection of the dead shewing that the several States and Conditions of those whom Christ hath Quickened or raised in some degree from death to life do also differ in their several degrees of growth in Life Stature and Strength and accordingly do differ in their gifts and places and glory and beauty in the Resurrection from Death to Life Christ said to them whom he had Quickened I am come that you might have life and that you may have it more abundantly Againe The Psalmist who was Anointed by God and his appointment both Prophet and King writ thus Praise ye the Lord Praise the Lord from the Heavens Praise him in the heights Praise ye him all ye his Angels Praise ye him all ye his hosts Praise ye him Sun and Moon Praise ye him all ye Stars of Light Praise him ye Heavens of Heavens and ye Waters that be above the Heavens Let them praise the Name of Lord for he commanded and they were Created he hath also Established them forever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass Praise the Lord from the Earth ye Dragons and all deeps Fire and Haile Snow and Vapour Stormy Wind fulfilling his word Mountains and all Hills fruitfull trees and all Cedars Beasts and all Cattle Creeping things and flying Fouls Kings of the Earth and all People Princes and all Judges of the Earth both young Men and Maidens old Men and Children let them Praise the Name of the Lord for his name alone is Excellent his Glory is above the Earth and Heaven c. Pâ—al 148. read it through Here again Observe the great God of Order who in the beginning Created all things in Order and placed them in their Order in Heaven and Earth all which was very good he calls of them in Order by the mouth of his Prophet to praise Magnifie and Glorifie him for whose glory and honour they all were Created good in the beginning Oh vain Man who under the Dark power of Satan has been bred up in thy Transgression as a Wild Asses Colt or as a Wild Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke or thou that hast known the yoke of Christ and cast it off wouldest thou in thy folly limit the Holy one of Israel in the beginning Carrying on and Compleating of his Creating anew in Christ Jesus the fallen degenerated and dead Sons and Daughters of Adam who have believed in his divine Spirit
and Light and therein waits upon him in it he will not be Limited by thee but will rebuke and Judge thee for thy presumptuous attempt behold the beautiful Creation the works of God in Heaven and Earth and the Order thereof and these will Teach thee better it is true what the Apostle hath writ The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them for the Invisible things of the Creation are clearly soon by the things that are made even his Eternal power and Godhead so that they are with out excuse Rom. 1. 18 19 20 see the 21 22 23 24 25 26 to the end of the Chapter Observe here Gods Creation Heaven and Earth and the things therein are as a book wherein man and woman may read the wonderful works of God and the Glorious Order and Beauty of them all People being enlightened by Christ the divine word by whom God the Father made them all they believing in the Light of him in it they may see his wonderful power and wisdom in the bringing forth upholding and beautiful Order thereof God having enlightened all by his Word and Spirit which are one Calls all the Ends of the Earth to Look unto him he saith Look unto me O all ye ends of the Earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is None Else â— Mighty God and a Saviour they who believe in his Light and therein wait they come therein to see and have Unity with his glorious works in Heaven and in Earth and in their own Hearts and Souls and therein come to be made sensible of his bounty and kindness unto mankind in the Creating of them and setting them in their Beautiful Order and upholding them in the same and in the deep sence of these things Mans Heart becomes tender broken and humble within him and in this tender subjected humble frame of heart and mind he returns the Praise Honour Glory Dominion and Thanks unto him the great God and Creator of all things who is worthy of Glory Honour Obedience and Praise over all Heaven and Earth now and forever more Amen Something more particularly concerning the Order of Christ in his Church THE Apostle writing to the Church at Corinth writes thus viz. ye are the body of Christ and Members in particular and God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers c. Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers c. see 1 Cor. 12. 27 28 29. Again he writes to the Church at Ephesus thus viz. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the Measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Ephess 4. 10 11 12. Observe here the Apostle shews the order particularly of the several gifts of God to the several Members of his Church which he gave them by the one Spirit in which gifts the several Members were appointed to serve him and eâ—ch other and as they all kept in their proper Gifts they did therein serve him and each other and the weakest Members of the Church also for whose service they received their Gifts The weak had and have the most need of the help and service of these gifts and as they all kept in the Exercise of their several gifts in the motion leading and guidance of Gods holy Spirit the root and fountain of them all they had all Unity therein one with another although their gifts did differ both in the manner of their working and in the measure or greatness of them so that there was an Harmony and Unity amongst them though they were many Members yet were but one body all in Subjection unto Christ the one head Secondly Observe the Apostles question are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers c. He doth not say they are the contrary is manifest neither are all the Members in the Church of Christ in this Age called appointed or ordained In their presant State to be Prophets Apostles or Teachers for these are peculiar or proper gifts given by the Lord God as and when he pleaseth according to the Counsel of his own will Thirdly Observe that by what I have said in this matter I only intend all the Members of the Church of Christ in their present State are not sent forth publickly with a message of Salvation to Preach to the Nations nor to Prophesie or Preach publickly in words the Doctrine of the Truth or Gospel of Christ nor are they all appointed of God to Prophesie and foretel things to come nor are they all made Teachers in a publick Ministry in Doctrine or Exhortation for these are peculiar or proper gifts given according to the Heavenly will and Counsell of God in his own time and season as I said before Fourthly Observe that though all the Members of the Body of Christ have not all or some of the aforesaid places in the body yet evâ—ry Member hath a place in the body and it is a precious and blessed thing for every Member to know its place and keep in it in its proper service whereto it s called of God but when any Member goes out of the Counsel of God and looks at anothers gift and goes out of his own proper place from his gift and service in the body striving in a wrong mind or zeal after others gifts Immitating them in words voice or sound or other visible or â—udabâ—e Motion or Action of the Creature or through a zeal without knowledge or by any other means whatsoever then such a Member hurts it self and grieves or offends the other more discerning Members of the body who sees and feels the out-going of the said Member Fifthly Observe it is the place and duty of the discerning Members of the body who see such out-goings tenderly in the Love and wisdom of God to speak to such in order to bring them to a sence of their out-going and to restore them into their place again if possible and to watch over them in Love for their preservation in it Sixthly Observe it is the duty of such who have been mistaken and gone out of their place as aforesaid to hear and receive Counsell of those who freely tender it to them in the Love of God several such in our day have had Counsell so given to them who have received it in the same Love which have tended greatly to their profit even to their settlement and Establishment with God and Unity with his People praised be the Lord God for the same Seventhly Observe that some who have had a place in the Church of
contemn that which the Light or Spirit of Truth hath spoken and dictated to write in its servants and Children for the Profit Edification Confirmation Establishment comfort of the Body which Thousands being Children of the Light have gladly received and finds the great comfort and profit of These are not the Lights Children these do not walk in it though they talk of it and though some of them may be full of self-confidence that they walk in it and that they are discerning Persons Wise Strong c. yet this is their great mistake herein they shew their spiritual darkness blindness nakedness miserableness Laodician like Fourthly Again Observe That the Apostles who had turned the people to the Light and Spirit of Truth within who were thereby gathered into Congregations or Churches did afterward write the several Epistles to the several Churches and therein gave to them Commands Doctrines Instructions Exhortations Admonitions and sometimes sharp Reproofs and Rebukes as the Lord by his Light and Spirit moved in them according to the several States and Conditions of those they writ to the Apostle Exhorts Timothy viz. them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5. 20. Again Reprove Rebuke Exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. Again he writ to Titus viz. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority let no man dispise thee Titus 2. 15. And again Wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the Faith it is rendered out of the Greek in the Margent Cutingly touching to the quick Titus 1. 13. Here take notice that Reproofs and Rebukes are commanded of the Lord and profitable in their season though it sometimes comes to pass that those who are seasonably reprooved and rebuked do not seasonably and rightly receive the same but turns against it in Self-justification and into Enmity against those who in the Councel of God give it unto them for their good in some such is that Proverb verified Reprove a fool and he will hate thee but a wise man and he will love thee Fifthly Observe Timothy and Titus were Overseers made so by the Holy Ghost Spirit and Light therein to watch over the Saints for their good to Minister to them from time to time whether by Word or Epistle what was needful and profitable for them we do not read in the Scripture of Truth nor believe that these two Overseers did reject Paul's Epistles written to them or call them Man's Edicts Man's Decrees Prescriptions or put any such contemptable names upon them but on the contrary we believe they received them in Love and obeyed the good Counsel Charge and Exhortations therein given them we do not read nor believe that these two Ministers of Christ did plead their Place and Office in the Body and Church of Christ to Exclude and Reject Paul's Epistles to them which he gave forth in the Light and motion of the Holy Ghost we do not read nor believe that they said to Paul we deny thy Forms Dâ—deâ—s Prescriptions c. we are Ministers of the Gospel as well as thee thy Epistles are of no use or service to us why dost thou seek to impose them upon us the Holy Ghost and Light within by which we are made Overseers is sufficient for us away with thy Orders The Apostle Paul writ thus to Timothy viz. These things write I unto thee being to come to thee shortly but if I carry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 14 15. Behold here Paul in this Epistle Instructs Timothy who was an Overseer in the Church how to behave himself in it we do not read nor believe that this Overseer in the Church did Reject Paul's Instruction herein or that he pleaded the Sufficiency of the Light within in opposition to Paul's Advice and Instruction but we do believe that he saw in the Light the Instruction given to be good and profitable for him and therefore gladly received the same Now if these Overseers in the Holy Ghost could see a Service to them in Paul's Epistles which certainly they did then there certainly was a Service in his other Epistles to the Novices Paul who in the Light and Holy Ghost taught the Elders by his Epistles to them he also taught the Younger by his other Epistles though both of them knew and obeyed the Light within in it they saw the good use profit and comfort of them and therefore did not contend against them but chearfully received them and obeyed the Councel of the Lord therein given or young Schollars weak in the Faith feeble minded c. Upon all which Observe That neither these strong men Overseers in the Churches nor the younger who walked in the Light of Christ did plead their being taught by the Light of Christ or Holy Ghost within in opposition to their being Taught Exhorted and Instructed by the Instrumental helps of those Epistles which Paul and other of the Apostles writ to them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost I do Advise and Exhort those professors of the Light within who are offended at some profitable and wholsome Epistles given forth by some of the most ancient and faithful of the Children of Light in this Age concerning good Order and Government in the Church of Christ to read the two Epistles to Timothy and that to Titus and Peter's Exhortations to the Elders or Overseers to fâ—ed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers which take as followeth viz. The Elders which are among you I Exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away likewise ye Younger subm't your selves unto the Elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be cloathed with Humility for God resisteth the Proud and giveth grace to the Humble humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may Exalt you in due time casting all your care upon him for he careth for you Be sober be 〈…〉 or watchful because your Adversary the Devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the Faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the World But the God of all Grace who hath called us into his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stabtish strengthen settle you To him be Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Pet.
received of us Again the Apostle saith Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether By Word or our Epistles 2 Thess 2. 15. See 2 Thess 3. 4 5. Again he writes to Timothy thus These things Command and teach let no Man dispise thy Youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity See 1 Tim. 4. 11 12. read the Chapter through Again hear what the Apostle Peter saith unto the Saints in Light viz. This Second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of Remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the Last days Scoffers walking after their own Lusts c. Again Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Errour of the Wicked fall from your own Stedfastness but grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To Him be Glory both now and forever Amen 2 Peter 3. 1 2 3 and 17 18. Reader who ever thou art this I say to thee in the Presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all Hearts before whom all things are naked and bare who judgeth righteously That I do Not bring the Commands Ordinances or Doctrines given and spoken by the Apostles of Christ with Any Design to wrong strein or wrest them or any of them to exâ—lt any Friend Brother or Brethren Sister or Sisters above or out of their Place in which Christ the one Head hath set them in his Body his Church or in anywise to exalt them or any oâ—e of them as Lords over Gods Peoples Faith which our Lord Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of by which Faith they live to God and please Him But my design therein is to Exalt Christ the Head â—n them All and over them All who is One in the Male and Female He hath given us a Command to Learn of Him saying Lâ—â—â—n of me I am meek and Low in heaâ—t and ye sâ—â—ll find rest to your Souls â—f him we have learned Humility tâ—ue 〈◊〉 of Mind in this we have found abundance oâ— Peace Joy Comfort and Rest to our Sâ—â—ls This to us is of much more value thâ—n all the Riches and Glory of this World â—ere is the Pleasant and comfortable Dwelling Place here we desire to dwell forever The Humble God doth teach he guides the Meek in Judgment and cloaths them with Salvation Eternal â—lory be given to Him for the same My Design in bringing these things to thy View is to shew that the Apostles who preach't the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as it 's written did in the Movings and Authority of the same give forth those Commands Ordinances and Doctrines unto the Believers in the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light by which Light they saw and understood the Truth Soundness and Serviceableness of them and by the same were they led Not to Oppose them and speak Evil of them but to Obey and practise them Now those that profess to be governed by the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light within if they possess what they profess therein they will see that the same Holy Ghost is In some measure given to some in our Day and that by it Some are made Able Ministers and thereby have been Moved to give out Soâ—â— Commands Not in their own Name but in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ the chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls and such Professors of the Light who Poâ—â—ess what they Profess and dilligently attend upon God in the same they will herein See and thereby be Led to Obey and practise those things Not as the Precepts Traditions or Doctrines of Men But as the Commands Precepts and Doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gives and speaks by the Mouths of his Servants which answers that Light of Christ in the Consciences of his People And such who reject them they therein reject God and Christ These things so Commanded are Not contrary to the Commands of Christ and his Apostles recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but Agreeable to them in the fulfilling the precious Promises of God spoken by the Mouths of his Holy Prophets who said I will pour forth my Spirit upon all Flesh c. For Christ said to his Disciples When they shall lead you and deliver you up take no thought before hand what you shall speak neither do you premeditate but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour that speak ye For it is Not you that speak but the Holy Ghost Mark 31. 11. In the Apostles and Primitive Christians observe the Holy Ghost that spake to the Magistrates and Rulers that persecuted them the same spake in them to the Church of Christ and gave forth Commands Precepts Ordinances c. And the Believers unto whom they wrote having a measure of the same Holy Ghost were thereby given to understand the same and thereby led to the Obedience thereof Again the Apostle Paul said unto the Saints You know how we Exhorted and Comforted and Charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that you would walk worthy Of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory for this Cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it Not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2. 11 12 13. Observe here the Apostle commends the Saints for receiving the Word or Testimony of God by him and others not as the Word of Man or Men but as it was indeed the Word and Testimony of the Lord which wrought Effectually in them as he saith And as â—t was then so is it now God having given by his Servants his Word his Commands and Doctrines he hath by his powerful enlightning Spirit of Life opened many to receive the same Not as the Word Doctrines Precepts Decrees Edicts or Orders of One Man Many Men or Any Men but as the Word Commands and Precepts and Doctrines of the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ Glory yea glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for the same The Objection that some make concerning the practice of some things in the Church of Christ at this day is because they were not practised when we were first turned to the Light and came into the belief and profession of it This Objection is fully answered before in this Epistle where the divers growths and statures of Gods people are written of But the great Objection that is used by some at this day is That they An Objection answered
in their own eyes Isai 5. 20 21. Christ said If the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness See Mat. 6. 22 23. See Luke 11. 34 35 36. See Joh. 12. 35. Observe it is No Proof that these good things are not their duty because they do not see them to be so for it is undeniable that it is the duty of all Men Women to believe in the one Eternal God but some were of old and now are so blinded by the God of this world their minds so darkned and they so hardened in the practice and love of sin that they did not nor do see or believe that there is a God as it 's written The Fool hath said in his heart there is no God And again Christ said to the great professing Jews High Priests Scribes Pharisees Hypocrites who were as the whited Walls Graves and painted Sepulchres but within were full of rottenness hypocrisie and deceit Ye neither know Me nor my Father ye neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God Again it is the duty of every man and woman to believe in the true Light of Christ that lighteneth every man that cometh into the World but it 's known by lamentable Experience that even many of the Professors of Christianity are far from believing in it who on the contrary are Blaspheming against it Mocking and Scoffing at it persecuting and oppressing the Children of it and opposing the Testimony of it Now if these do say We do Not see or believe it to be our Duty to believe in and obey the Light it doth Not therefore follow that it is not their Duty and if they say We see believe it is our Duty to speak and write against the Light and to punish you who profess and obey it Their so saying will Not prove that these their Evil Works are their Duty to God and Christ no not at all but the Contrary But to come closer to the Professors of the Light within hear what Christ and the Prophet saith viz. This Peoples Heart is waxed gross and their Ears are dull of hearing and their Eyes they have closed lest at any Time they should see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and should understand with their Heart and should be converted and I should heal them See Math. 13. 14 15. Acts 28. 26 27. The Author to the Hebrews writ thus concerning Christ viz. And he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him called of God an high Priest after the Order of Melchisedeck of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered seeing Ye are Dull of hearing or as it is rendered in the Margin out of the Greek Hath no Experience for when for the Time ye ought to be Teachers Ye have Need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Word or Oracles of God See Heb. 5. 9 10 11 12. Again Christ speaking a Parable concerning the Kingdom of God saith For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath and cast ye the unprofitable Servant into utter darkness c. See Math. 25. 29 30. Observe the sloathful Servant who had not improved his Lords Talent was and is to be cast into utter darkness his Talent being taken from him Such an one in Darkness may talk of Light as Job saith Death and Destruction saith We have heard of the fame of Wisdom such an one may talk of the Light who in his dark Works Denies it and opposeth it and contends against the Children of it in their pure Obedience to it and Such an one may say to the Children of the Light I do not see that to be my Duty which you practise I say how should he see who is shut up in utter darkness whose wilful disobedience has brought him to be like the deaf Adder which stoppeth his Ears which will not hear as it 's written Again Jesus said unto them Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth while ye have the Light believe in the Light that you may be the Children of Light John 12. 35 36. Observe They who believe in the Light as Christ commands and obey it in its first and smallest Manifestations they in that Light Cannot oppose what the Light brings forth In others for though Some who are turned to the Light and have believed in it and in some measure obeyed it Do not see so Much or so Far into the things of God as some others who are more grown and Established and have received a greater Measure of Divine Wisdom yet Cannot these Weak or Young ones by the motion or teaching of the Light contradict oppose or contend against what the same Light brings forth in others of the Children of it foâ— if this Could be then God whose gift to Man and Woman the Light is would thereby be the Author of Confusion and not of Peace in the Churches of the Saints as is observed before in this Epistle but God Is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints as the Apostle hath writ which is observed before It is true as the Prophet writ O Lord in thy Light we shall see more Light c. The Path of the Just is as the shining Light which shines more more unto the perfect day It is certainly true that we find it harder in this Age to perswade some people to keep and walk in the Light than it was to turn them to it and some like Balaam having been opened by it to see the blessed end of the Righteous do still retain a Profession of it though they rebel against it and desire to die the death of the Righteous as Balaam did but refuseth to live that Self-denying Christian life which leads to that good End Christ saith Loe I come and my reward is with me to give unto every one according as his works shall be And the Apostle saith Such as every one sows such shall he reap he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the spirit mortifie the deeds of the body or flesh then shall ye live The Apostle Paul writ thus to the Children of the Light Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample See
Philip. 3. 15 16 17. Observe here It was the Apostles belief that if any among the Believers in the Light were of another mind than he was in any thing that he in the Light practised God would reveal the same unto them also they abiding stedfast with the Light to which they were turn'd and as he believed so do we believe in this matter 'T is possible that some persons who are turned to the Light of Christ within who have believed and in some measure obeyed the same who in many things have Unity with the most antient grown and establish'd of the Children of the Light yet in some things may not be so opened and clear in their Understandings as to see them and joyn in Faith in the practice of them We believe and therefore say That if such abide in the Light faithful to what they know God will reveal these things unto them And we believe and therefore say They keeping in the Light it will keep them from contending against or opposing others in the practice of that which God has revealed to them and required of them What is not of Faith is sin as saith the Apostle Such therefore that are weak in the Faith we ought not to reject but to receive though not to doubtful Disputations but to hear their infirmities or weaknesses to be good Examples to them and to make intercession to God for them and to hold forth Truth to them in sound Doctrine that they may be strengthened with his glorious power in their Inward man and that he may increase their Faith and more and more fill them with that Wisdom and Knowledge which is pure and peaceable from above But observe where persons have been long convinced and are become Teachers of others and by their so doing would be look'd upon to be Elders wise and strong shall under the profession of the Light oppose and teach others to oppose the faithful Followers of Christ in things which they practise in the Faith of Christ accompanied with his Power and a good Understanding This Case is greatly differing from the before-mentioned For these will not grant that their refusing the practice of some things and the opposing the Practisers thereof proceeds from weakness or short-sightedness through their Infancy in the knowledge of the Truth Much less that it proceeds from Apostacy and Rebellion the latter of which is true upon some in our Age but these give out reviling Speeches against the Faithful calling them Apostates and many other evil names which I here omit to mention having no pleasure to repeat them Observe we are of the Apostles Faith and Judgment who writ thus to the Church at Galatia Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ See Gal. 6. 1 2. read the Chapter through Christ our Souls Bishop hath taught us how to seek to restore those that commit Offences against him and his People and several hath been so sought and recovered out of the Snare in which they were taken and others so sought have not been gained but have persisted in their evil doing until God has ceased any longer to strive with them through his Servants and then his Servants have witnessed against them and declared their disunion with them according to Christs command and some such being declared against as aforesaid have appeared in great wrath against us like the raging Waves of the Sea foming out their own shame but we pity them and should greatly rejoyce on their behalf if they could yet find a place of repentance and return for 't is true which Christ saith Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. Again it is true which the Apostle James writ Brethren if any of you do erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Again to them that say they do not see as aforesaid hear what Christ saith by his Angel to the Church in Laodicea viz. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I counsel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white rayment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see as many as I love I rebuke chasten Be zealous therefore and repent behold I stand at the door and knock If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me c. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 3. 14. to the end 1. Observe this Church or Congregation was gathered into the Profession of Christ and his Light within 2. Observe how greatly they were mistaken concerning their own state and condition a most gross and lamentable Errour were they in as the before-cited words of Christ do plainly shew They were puffed up with Self-conceit that they wanted nothing when in reality and truth they Wanted all things that should have rendered them to be that which they professed to be Namely such who were Compleat in Christ Jesus the Head of His Church who is the fulness who Cloaths his Members with the Robes of his own Righteousness and fills them with the bright Beams of his Divine Light so that they see clearly and he fills their Hearts with the Riches of his Grace in the abundance of which their Hearts and Souls pour forth Praises and Thanksgiving to the Lord God and the Lamb who is Worthy for evermore 3. Observe Though their State was so miserable yet in his tender Mercy he calls them to Repentance Oh consider this thou Back-slider whoever thou art and let the sence thereof seize upon thee and break thy Heart Repent and Turn to the Lord with whom is forgiveness 4. Observe How Christ charges this Congregation to be blind and being blind they could not see their State as it was but in their blind Self-conceit said It was What it was not 5. Observe That these blind Self-conceited ones while they remained such could not see that to be their Duty which the Children of Light saw to be theirs 6. Observe That we do not here read that these blind self-conceited Laodiceans did so oppose the Children of Light in their Faithful Obedience to it as some do oppose in our day we do not read they called them Apostates 7. Observe That some blind Self-conceited ones in our Age have appeared worse than they who are not contented with that ungodly
Ephesus viz. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the Vanity of their Minds having the Understanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the Blindness of their Heart who being past feeling have given themselves over to Lasciviousness to work all Uncleanness with greediness Ephes 4. 17 18 19. Observe here the woful and miserable Effects of Disobedience to God what Darkness Spiritual Blindness Benummedness and Insensibility it brings them into who are given up thereto alienating them from the Life Power and Spirit of God yet this Blindness and Insensibility Doth not render them excusable in the Sight of the Lord God who hath sent his Son a true Light who lights every Man that comes into the World who therefore saith Look unto Me all O ye Ends of the Earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is none else a mighty God and a Saviour Isa 45. 22. And again The Apostle in his Light Spirit and Power saw and therefore said God's Will is that all Men should know the Truth and he Saved 1 Tim. 2. 4. They therefore who believe in the Divine Light of Christ and walk in and obey the same are therein saved preserved and justified but they that know this Light profess and talk of it but do not obey and walk in it they are justly by the Lord God condemned and their Disobedience justly Witnessed against by his Faithful People who walk in his Light and bring forth the pure peaceable Fruits of it and if such disobedient unfaithful Professors of the Light do not unfeignedly repent of their Evil Sayings and Doings against God and his People and walk in Obedience to the Light they make Profession of then will the Wrath of God fall heavy upon them in the End Again Hear what the Apostle Peter saith to the Faithful Children of Light viz. But ye are a chosen Generation an holy Nation a peculiar People that ye should shew forth the Praise of him that hath called you Out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light Dearly Beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims Abstain from Fleshly Lust which War against the Soul having your Conversations Honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as Evil Doers they may By your Good Works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9 to the 13. Observe This Doctrine of the Apostle is according to the Command of Christ to his Disciples He said Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and Glorify your Father which is in Heaven Math. 5. 16. Again Christ saith The Light of the Body is the Eye If therefore thine Eye be single thy whole Body shall be full of Light but if thine Eye be Evil thy whole Body shall be full of Darkness If therefore the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness See Math. 6. 22 23. Again Christ saith Out of the Heart proceedeth an Evil Eye Mark 7. 22. Luke 11. 34. 1. Observe That the Children of Light are a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People called out of Darkness into Gods marvellous Light They walking therein are as Lights in the World their Light so shines before Men in the good Works or good Conversation in Christ this brings Glory to God the Father which is in Heaven they neither Need nor Do plead Ignorance of their duty to God or Man or of the Commands of Christ For they do both know obey and do their Duty to God and Man praised be the Lord God for the same 2. Observe That Christ saith The Light of the Body is the Eye wherefore if thine Eye be single thy whole Body is full of Light but when thine Eye is Evil thy whole body also is full of darkness Here are ' two Eyes spoken of the good one and the evil one he that hath the good Eye open in him with it Christ saith If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the Ditch Mat. 15. 14. sees right sees good things and is affected therewith embraceth and holdeth fast the same he sees his duty to God and Man and by Gods help doth the same and therein is blessed but he that hath the Evil Eye open in him which Eye proceeds out of the Heart as Christ saith with this his Evil Eye he seeketh and watcheth for Evil and therewith sees Evil things and hath pleasure in them and therefore embraces them practiseth them pleads for them and holds them fast This is the Man whose Good Eye is blinded and his evil one open therefore he calls Good Evil and Evil Good Here Darkness and its fruits are put for Light and its fruits and Light and its fruits are put for Darkness and its fruits The Person that doth this hath changed the Truth of God for a Lie Oh this is a miserable State which some fell into in Ages past and some are fallen into in our Age Out of which God Almighty preserve all who to his Light are turned who believe in and love the same And the Lord be merciful unto all who though they be Darkned and Intangled in the Snares of their Souls Enemy through want of Watchfulness in the pure Light of Christ and holy fear of God yet have not sinned out the day of his tender Visitation to them Oh that they may seek and find a place of unfeigned Repentance and so return unto the Lord God before the Harvest or Gathering or Restoring time to them be ended Concerning the Honour which God gives unto his People c. THe fear of the Lord is the Instruction of Wisdom and before Honour is Humility Proverbs 15. 33. And Christ saith If any man honour me him will my Father honour John 12. 26. And the Apostle Peter Exhorted the Saints saying Honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God c. 1. Pet. 2. 17. The Apostle Paul Exhorted the believing Romans to be kindly Affectionated one towards another with brotherly Love in Honour preferring one another Rom. 12. 10. Again he writ to them viz. But Glory Honour and Peace to every man that worketh good c. Rom. 2. 10. Again hear what the Lord saith by the mouth of Samuel the Prophet viz. Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteem'd 1 Sam. 2. 30. And again Paul writing to Timothy saith Let the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim 5. 17. Observe All the Children of God who are taught by his gracious Spirit of Life Light Love and Peace who walk therein they Glorifie and Honour him with their Spirits and Bodies which are his and with his good Creatures which he hath made them Stewards over which is their reasonable Service and
and Christ and the Divine Light within of living without Sin of Perfection or of perfecting Holiness in Gods Fear yet being out of the Light and Life of Christ in Death and Darkness and the Works and Fruits thereof It is but Death and Darkness in them which talks of Light and Life and Faith Holiness Perfection c. Their talk of these good things with their Mouths is an Abomination to God Almighty while their hearts are far away from him while they are not in the Love and Obedience to God and Christ and his Divine Light they make profession of such profession without Subjection and Obedience God doth reject it is loathsome to him neither can his tender people whom he hath sanctified by his Spirit of Judgment and Burning have unity with these dead talkers nor their dead words and works for Light hath no communion with Darkness though Darkness talk of Light Something concerning Self Separation JVDE the Servant of Christ writ concerning the Self-Separated ones thus viz. they are the RAging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame to whom is reserved the mist of Darkness for ever and Enoch also the seventh from Adam prophesied of those saying Behold the Lord câ—meth in Ten thousands of his Saints mark so it is rendred from the Greek and is so in some English Translations to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodlily they have spoken against him c. these be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the Love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life and of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear hating even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 13 and 19 to the end see also 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2 Pet 3. 3. Oh my dear Friends seriously consider that as in the Primitive Gospel days there were such Self-separated ones makers of Sects or Parties which caused great grief and deep Exercise to the Faithful in Christ Jesus some such like have been in our Age and some such like yet are who having been convinced of the Truth have come amongst us under the Christian Profession of the Spirit and Light of Christ within who for some time did in some measure follow and obey the Teachings of it but have since turned from it yet keep in a Profession of it these are they who separate themselves without it in opposition to it and the Children of it blessed be God that their number is but small but alas they are too many for we have received the mind of God and Christ and his Apostles whose will was and is that all Men might know the Truth and not only know it but obey it that so they might be saved but alas a few restless spirited Instruments of Satan who under the pretence of the Spirit and Light of Christ make War against the God of Peace against Christ the Prince of Peace and against the Subjects of his Peaceable Kingdom these are in danger to deceive others and bring them to be restless like themselves the Lord in Mercy stop these evil Works and Workers Oh that there might be a place of Repentance yet found by them Oh that they could yet see from whence they are fallen and Repent and come into that simplicity and loving and peaceable frame of mind into which the Truth had once in some measure drawn them Oh! this would be matter of great joy to those whom they in their darkness account their Enemies as some â—loting dark Notionists did the faithful Apostle Paul for his faithful and stedfast Testimony against their Looseness Confusion and Disorder It is my stedfast belief in God that he will not long suffer this Evil Work to go on to the grief of his People and the indangering the loss of Souls but he will plead with these Evil Workers these Serpentine wise and self-conceited he will stop and drive them backward and woe will be to them if they cannot find a place of Repentance which will be hard for some of them to find they have so highly magnified themselves against God his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven but as Jude the Servant of Christ well observed in his Epistle that there was a difference to be put betwixt them who were so gone out into disorder loosness or confusion in his time some no doubt of those were unwarily through the subtilty of Satans Agents drawn from the simplicity honest mindedness and good intention which the Spirit of Truth had wrought in them into ungodly Jealousies and a wrong liberty from their obedience to the Cross of Christ Jude saw there was a Compassion to such and therefore wisely in the Wisdom of God put the Churches in mind of it and we are sensible such there hath been in our day who hath been betrayed and prevailed upon by Satan and his Agents as aforesaid these have been sought in the Love of God and Bowels of Jesus Christ their Advocate with the Father travelling for them in his Faithful ones who hath kept their Habitation in God and we have seen the travels and desires of our Souls answered in their returning into Unity with God and his People through their unfeigned Repentance and Condemnation upon the Spirit of Darkness which led them from God and upon the evil Words and Works it led them into and we believe that there are divers that yet remain in the same Snare for whose return to God we travelin Spir it and Hope that we shall see the Fruit of the Travel of our Souls in the Love and Power of God for their good and shall have cause to rejoyce and praise God for the same Wherefore oh my dear and well beloved Friends who are exercised by these sorts of Evil Agents and their Evil Works under a spacious profession of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and the Teachings of it All keep in the love of God and in the patience of Jesus Christ let Patience have its perfect work in those your deep Tribulations and sorrowful Exercises fret not because of evil Men nor their evil Works for behold the Judg of Heaven and Earth he sees them and you he will not suffer you to be tryed by them above what he will give you Ability to travel through without hurt and fear without loss or disadvantage to your Eternal Estates if you diligently wait upon him and move speak and act in his Council It is true which was anciently written