not prove the Lord to be so partial in his Love towards his Creatures as to choose some but leave the greatest part of Mankind in the fallen state without affording them any Benefit by Christ or a Measure of his Grace and Spirit for want of which and being so past by of God as somehave asserted they become under a necessity of sinning a necessity of dying Oh harsh Doctrine and so I must confess I often thought it whilst I was industromsly striving to work my self into a Belief of it but now from a certain experimental Knowledge and in full assurance of Faith can I testifie for God He is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that seareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him For though all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God wherefore he hath concluded all under Sin 't is that he might have Mercy upon all not willing that any should perish in Sin but that all might come to Repentance Moreover than this the Scriptures do abundantly speak forth the extent and Benefit of Christ's Death for all Mankind upon condition of Faith and Repentance joyned with new and continued Obedience which are the Gospel Terms on which he is offered to them For Christ Jesus gave himself a Ransom for all he tasted Death for every Man so saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5. Hebr. 2. 9. So that it is a certain Truth all that are or shall be saved are elected only in Christ Jesus that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life There is no Prae-exception or absolute Fore-appointment as partially designed in relation to Persons but upon Man's Disobedience Wherefore it shall not be said The Fathers have eaten sour Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but he that eateth the sour Grapes his Teeth shall be set on edge for all Souls are the Lord's as the Soul of the Father so also the Soul of the Son is his aud he hath said The Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 2 4. Yet hath the Lord no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his way and live Wherefore he hath given the Beloved of his Soul out of his Bosom to come into the World to same men from their Sins that they might be made accepted in him Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life read Rom. 5. 18. which makes it clear to me the Lord will not condemn any for Adam's Sin who have not demerited his Wrath by Actual Trausgression CHAP. V. Concerning the Sacraments AS touching the Institution of the Sacraments so called by which is meant Water-Baptism and the outward Supper here also is another great Charge brought in against the Quakers unto which I cannot but be very tender in the Answer for I must confess I my self did once think them very chargeable in this Matter Now that Baptism even the Outward and Tipical Baptism was an Ordinance that is so say a Thing ordained by one that hath power to Ordain as Iohn Baptist had Command from God to Baptize this I do believe and own But then the Lord himself hath ordained a higher Baptism whereby he saveth which surely is not the outward no that 's not of Efficacy to obtain or effect such an End which is Salvation as that I think our Enemies themselves will grant and then why are they so angry with us that we do not own it in their Outward Form But the One Baptism necessary to Salvation I do believe is Inward and Spiritual being that of the holy Ghost fore-told by Iohn the Baptist Mat. 3. 11. I indeed Baptize you with Water unto Repentance saith he but he that cometh after me is Mightier then I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire This is the Baptism which Christ commanded his Disciples that they should wait for and therefore I call it an Ordinace because ordained by Christ as you may read Acts 1. 45. And being assembled together with them he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me for John truly baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost not many days hence The same did Peter Witness Acts 11. 15 16. And as I began to speak saith he the holy Ghost fell on them as on us in the beginning then remembred I the word of the Lord how he said John indeed baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost Now if any shall Oppose these Scriptures to prove outward and Water Baptism now in force Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water of the Spirie he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead Something I shall write by way of Answer to them these being the chief Texts that ever I heard brought to prove the same As to the first I say that must needs mean the Baptism of which I am now speaking viz. Spiritual Baptism for Christ's bidding of them go denotes their being impowred from him to Baptize in or rather Into his own and his Father's Name which is the true Spiritual Baptism besides here is no Water made mention of whence we may infer the Apostles Ministry was to be the Laver in which they were to be baptized See here their Mission Christ bids them go Teach Baptizing Baptizing is in the Present Tence whilst they were Teaching and as it was then so it is now the Spiritual and Inward Baptism goes along with the preaching of the Word of Life To the second Scripture I Answer If our Opponents will have that mean Material Water may not we then as well conclude that Iohn Baptist meant Christ would Baptize them with Material fire but if we understand the Power of the holy Ghost to burn up the Stubble that naturally grows in us by the latter then must we also understand the same Power to cleanse us from our natural Filth by the former But I know it will be expected I should prove this by Scripture for which see Tit. 3. 5. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done faith the Apostle but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renexing of the holy Ghost Here is the Washing of Regeneration to parallel being born again of Water and the renewing of the holy Ghost to answer being born again of the Spirit for the Washing of Regeneration or Renewing of the holy Ghost and being born again of Water or being born again of the Spirit are Terms Synonimous or Expressions to the same purpose all pointing at that One Baptism of the Spirit so
in Chap. 3. Vers. 17. of this Epistle the Apostle gives Caution to whom he wrote saying Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these Things beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness For 't is threatned by the Lord That when the Righteous man turneth away from his Righteousness and commits Iniquities and dyeth in them Mark here is included a Total Fall for his Iniquity that he hath done he shall Dye Ezek. 18. 26. and 33. 13. Wherefore we are exhorted to continue in the Grace of God and to keep our selves in the Love of God because of the danger that there is of falling from this Grace for 't is those that endure to the End that shall be saved these are Christ's own words in Mat. 16. 26. Mark 13. 13. 'T is to those that are faithful unto Death to whom is promised a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Such as are implanted into Christ and abide in him they shall inherit the Kingdom For if a man abide not in me saith Christ he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered John 15. 6. And in vers 10. he tells them If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandments and abide in his Love Thereby signifying that if we keep not his Commandments neither shall we abide in his Love so then if we abide not in that which keeps us in the Love of God we cannot abide in God for God is Love 1 John 4. 16. See Reader here is a whole Cloud of Witnesses bearing Testimony that'tis Possible if there be not a diligent watching for People to fail of or rather fall from that measure of the true Grace of God which was once given to them Therefore what the Quakers hold in this Point is no New Doctrine For if this could not possibly be how could any do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace or Resist the holy Ghost Yet do this People believe A Christian may come to such a growth and standing in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus from which he cannot fall away according to that Promise in Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down from Heaven from my God and will write upon him my New Name And they also believe That such a one may come to be assured that he is in such a state even as the Apostle was who said for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. CHAP. IX Concerning Perfection VVHich Doctrine though it be firmly founded in Scripture yet is it rejected and set at naught because 't is believed by the Quakers notwithstanding which they freely confess that a perfect Principle they plead for and press the necessity and benefit of man's believing and conformity to it Therefore I ask their Adversaries Is it any Crime to be Perfect To which if they shall answer as in effect they have said This is to be accounted Vile To such my Reply is I hope that the Lord will inable his People to become and be contented to be counted more Vile For to this Abraham was commanded by God under the Old Testament as 't is written Gen. 17. 1. The Lord appeared unto Abraham saying I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And to this we are commanded by Christ under the New whose words are thus Recorded Mat. 5. 48. Be ye therefore Perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Nor is it only commanded but also promised see Rom. 6. 14. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you And in 22. 23. verses there we find it experienced for the Apostle speaks of such as were made free from Sin and become Servants to God and had their Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life For the wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord And in Rom. 8. 2. there Paul speaks his own experience For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death saith he And therefore he exhorts the Corinthians Having these Promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. And in 1 Cor. 2. 6. 'T is said the Apostle spake Wisdom among them that were Perfect and in 2 Cor. 12. 9. the Apostle wishes their Perfection and thus he concludes his Epistle to them in the 11th verse of the same Chapter Finally Brethren farewell be perfect c. And this was it the Apostle Iames desired viz. that those to whom he wrote might be perfect and intire lacking nothing Iames 1. 5. For it was the end of the Apostles Ministry that they might present every man Perfect in Christ Jesus labouring servently in Prayer for them that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And in behalf of the Thessalonians Paul prayeth That the very God of Peace would sanctifie them wholly that their whole Spirit Soul and Body might be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Thessal 5. 23. And we find the Apostle Peter making the same Supplication even that the God of all Grace would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5.10 This being the very end for which God appointed Teachers in his Church as 't is written Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. 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 Vnity 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. Yea this seems to be the end of Christs giving himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame see Ephes. 5. 26 27. Therefore those that deny Perfection to be attainable by the Lords People do in effect deny Christ the one Offering For by one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified as faith the Apostle Heb. 10. 14. Wherefore saith Iohn Whoso is Born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 John
things were written afore time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope as 't is recorded Rom. 15. 4. So that it appears the Scriptures are owned of them and are believed by them and are practiced amongst them but they dare not ascribe them that Glory which is due to God nor exalt them above his Son Christ Jesus nor prefer them in his Spirit 's stead neither yet is it any Derogation from the Scriptures to exalt Christ and his Spirit more than they for Scriptures themselves exalt Christ and the Spirit above themselves so that it is not in any slight or disrespect they have to those holy Writings wherefore they do not call them the Word and the Rule of Faith and Life but as they have declared 'T is from that reverend regard they owe and ought to bear to Christ Jesus the great and eminent Word of God to whose Spirit all Scripture Directions in Matters of Salvation refer us as to an Infallible Rule and Guide They direct us thereunto that we may not live in them but in him who is the Author and Dispenser of them Thus though the Scriptures are granted to be a Righteous Rule and of Divine Dispensation for the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost even as the Apostle testified 2 Pet. 1. 21. and my Soul praises the Lord that he hath preserved the Records of so many Prophecies and Testimonies of his primitive Servants through so many Contingencies unto this present Age yet can I not think that the God of infinite Wisdom and Grace whose Mercy is over all his Works would leave Mankind in so great a Concern whereon their Eternal Salvation is depending to such a Rule alone for Guidance therein as is subject to concealing Mis-translation Mis-interpretation False Application as we find the Scriptures have been by Corrupters of them Muchless can I believe that he would suffer the greatest part of the World to live without them as they do were there no other means appointed for their Salvation Yea moreover I am very sensible that where the Scriptures are many occurrances may fall out in the course of our Lives about which the Scripture gives no particular Advice and yet it is necessary we should have a Guide near in all our Affairs But I well know many Cases there are where Scripture is altogether silent in the matter Admit then here that the Creature in such a streight not knowing what to do betake it self to inquire of the Lord by Prayer alas what will that avail unless it receive an Answer which is already granted not to be found in Scripture neither can it now he had by the meer Literal Priesthood nor by their pretended Vrim and Thummim and say they who cry up solely Scripture to be the Rule of Faith and Life Neither must we expect Answer by Dream nor yet by Vision no nor by Revelation nor Inspiration for these say they are craft many Ages past Whom I ask What way then can the Creature come by Advice which till they can resolve me in I shall still retain my Opinion viz. That that inward Oracle which is a Measure of God's Spirit whereby we obtain access to him with Answer and Direction from him in all our Concerns about which we inquire of him undeniably is of greater Authority both to beget living Faith and order us therein and a more perfect Rule to guide our Lives than the outward Writings of the Scriptures which in many things leave us without either Counsel or Instruction And here I shall leave this Point which is in answer to an Accusation which is That we deny the Scriptures a thing often charged upon but never proved against the People called Quakers CHAP. II. Concerning the Humanity of Christ c. A Second Charge which I have heard brought in against the Quakers is That they deny the Humanity of Christ Iesus and the Obedience that he yielded in the dayes of his Flesh by his Sufferings Death Buriel Resurrection from the Dead together with all the benefits that thereby accrue unto Believers as also Iustification by Faith and the imputed Righteousness of Christ. Now that this hath been as falsly charged upon them as the former I shall undertake to prove by Scripture But first let me mind the Reader this I have observed viz. That there are many that have born false Witness against them yet they do not seem to accord in their Witness For first comes out a learned Doctor and he declares publickly though somewhat ambiguously that this People deny that Christ which dyed at Ierusalem to be God equal with the Father But when this was refuted so as not to be believed then comes out another and he would give the World to know as if they only deny the Son of God to have assumed Humane or man's Nature Thus their accusers contradict one another for both seem to grant we own a Christ which well they may do since they differ in Principles amongst themselves how ever they agree thus far like Herod and Pilate to unite against Jesus so have they against his Followers but I need not enlarge upon particulars since rather then they will want a Host to go out against the Quakers look but into the Muster and thou mayst see One and Twenty Divines as they give themselves the Stile enter the Lift together of whom I shall say no more here lest it should be taken for a Digression from the Answer 1 st Therefore to clear Truth from Slander both on the one hand and the other I do in the first place affirm and that upon certain Grounds viz. That all who may be rightly denominated Quakers such as Tremble at the Word of God they are of the Faith of one Substance which the ancient Christians so earnestly contented for and suffered such hard things in maintaining to wit that Christ the blessed Son of God as to his Divinity was of the same Eternal substance with the Father as may be read at large in George Bishop's Looking glass for the Times pag. 85 86. 2 dly I affirm they faithfully own the Scriptures And therefore what Iohn the Divine saw in his Revelations concerning him as 't is Recorded chap. 13.8 That he to wit Christ was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World And what the Apostle said of him Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the Form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God Likewise Iohn the Evangelist in his first chapter 1.2 3. saith concerning Christ In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made for by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and
faithfully believed and experimentally witnessed by the Quakers who are said to deny Baptism to be an Ordinance But how is it they deny it let their Cause be examined or there can no true Judgment be given whether they ought to be acquitted or condemned Infant-Baptism or Sprinkling of Infants this they do utterly deny as a thing by men imposed never by God or Christ instituted neither is there ony Scripture-Precept or President for it Indeed how should there since it was not taken up nor invocated for about 200 Years after Christ dyed and then it was first brought in by one Fidus a Roman-Priest in the Year 248. which was assented to by Cyprian Bishop of Carthage and first preach't up by Agustine then decreed by the Melivitan Council last of all ratified and confirmed by Pope Innocent the third which was not done till the Year 402. Yet we grant the Baptism of those that were adult or come to Age and had Faith to Entitle them unto it this was the Baptism of Iohn who was a fore-runner of Jesus Christ but this was not permanent and continuing but to pass away that Christ's might take place for he must increase but I must decrease saith Iohn himself John 3. 30. For Iohn's Baptism was but a Figure of Christ's Baptism but that he should be made manifest to Israel therefore am I come Baptizing with Water saith Iohn Chap. 1. 31. However where any now have believed it simply their Duty to be baptized as thinking it either for the Furtherance of the Gospel or Tryal of their Faith the Quakers are tender of judging them in that Case but if they stick in the Shadow and reject the higher Ministration then they are more Reproveable But there is a third Scripture I am yet to speak to and that has reference to Noah's Ark which was a Figure I have heard some of your selves say of our Ark Christ The like figure whereunto saith the Text even Baptism doth now save us it must be a baptizing into Christ then for the Apostle saith 'T is not the putting away the filth of the flesh so then 't is not Water Baptism for that can but purifie the outward man that that is External cannot cleanse the Spirit that is Internal and give the answer of a good Conscience towards God as it followeth in the next words wherefore saith Beza a Man whose Memory ye pretend to honour The Baptism which answered to Noah's Ark was not Material Water but the Power of Christ within which preserves us cleansed and enables us to call on God with a good Conscience But then the last clause of the Verse ought to be considered which having Co-herence with the foregoing words saith by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lo here is the true Baptism indeed the which I am now pleading for and of which the Apostle speaks Col. 2. 12. Buried with him in Baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And now Reader since there is but One Lord One Faith One Baptism as saith the Apostle Ephes. 4. 5. whether this Baptism be the Sprinkling of Infants or outward Washing of grown Persons or the inward Cleansing by the holy Ghost I 'll leave the Witness of God in thy own conscience of judge and then to determin whether the Quakers are not greatly wronged in being charg'd with denying Baptism Now I come to speak concerning the Sacrament so called of the Lord's Supper In answer to which in the first place I must needs say I find not the Word Sacrament in all the Scripture but if by Sacrament ye mean a Sign then can it not be of necessity to continue longer then till the thing signified is come and clearly discovered so that granting it to be a Practice enioyned it was to last but its Day and Time that was till Christ who i the Bread of God that cometh down from Heaven which Bread is his Flesh that he gave for the Life of the World should come according to his own Intention see Ioh. 6. 33 35. Indeed the whole Chapter speaks of Christ's being the true Bread wherewith the Saints are nourished and that he would come again after his Departure see his Promise to his Disciples Iohn 14. 18. I will not leave you Comfortless I will come to you and that he meant an inward coming see Vers. 20. of the same Chapter At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in Me and I in You saith Christ. And therefore saith the Apostle I speak as to Wise men judge ye what I say the Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ c. for we being many are One Bread and One Body for we all are Partakers of that One Bread I Cor. 10. 15 16 17 And indeed I do believe that herein is the Communion of Saints namely in eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Jesus Christ not Carnally as the Iews thought when they murmered at him saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat John 6. 52. But spiritually wherein conflicts the true Brotherhood and Fellowship of that Church which is in God as with one another so with the Father and the Son by the holy Spirit at the Spiritual Table of the Lord. Now if any in proof of the outward Supper shall produce that saying in Matthew 26. 26 27 28. And as they were eating Iesus took Bread blessed it and brake it and gave to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body and he took the Cup and gave Thanks and gave it to them and said Drink ye all of it for this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins I Answer That that Figuratively pointed to the true Bread I think is very clear so likewise that the Wine there figured out that Spiritual Wine which was to come from him will not be hard to make appear For in the very next Verse faith Christ I will not drink of this Fruit of the Vine untill that Day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom And that he did not mean they should stay for this Wine till they came to Heaven as some understand by the Word Kingdom see what himself saith in Matthew 16. 28. Luke 17. 20 21. Verily I say unto you there be some standing here that shall not taste of Death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with
let them read Rom. 8. 11. and they will find the Apostle speaking expresly If the Spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore as I said before 't is no Arrogancy for the People of God to own that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in them for 't is not the Light of Nature nor the Dictates of a Natural Conscience but a Spiritual Divine Principle by which Men and Women are raised from the Death of Sin to serve God in Newness of Life and Obedience of Conversation No Reader let me tell thee Nothing Natural will or can reach so far Nature cannot change Nature it must be a higher Power that can cause to put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to Deceitful Lusts by renewing the Spirit of the Mind so as to cause us to put on the New Man Christ Jesus which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness and so Old Things are made to pass away behold all things are become New Lo here is a New Creature as there is a putting off the Old Man with his Deeds there is a passing away of the first Heavens and the first Earth and then behold New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness as there is a coming to this Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which Law is inward written in the Heart and Engraven on the Inward Parts there is a setting Free from the Law of Sin and Death And so we come to know a Blotting out of the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances which was against us and contrary to us our Lord having taken them and nailed them to his Cross. And thus He that believeth in the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God unto Salvation hath a Witness in himself the Spirit it self beareth them Witness that they are the Children of God according to that in 1 Iohn 5.10 Rom. 8.16 And as they continue in the Faith they come to be sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise and to set to their Seals that God is True For Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it he hath promised to redeem us from all Iniquity wherefore let us hope in his Word and not grieve his holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the Day of our compleat Redemption according to the Apostle's Advice Ephes. 4. 30. O! let us take heed that we do not vex and quench the Spirit of Christ within us that so we be not of those complained of by Nehemiah To whom the Lord gave his good Spirit but they rebelled against it And what then so he became their Enemy and fought against them These were such of whom Iob speaks Chap. 24. 13. saying They are of those that rebel against the Light the Light and Spirit here spoken of being one in Being and not divided but distinguished only in degrees of Discoveries for this Spirit is a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ which openeth and enlighteneth the Eye of the Vnderstanding and giveth to know what is the Hope of the Calling of Christ Iesus and what is the Riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints according to the Apostle's Prayer to God for the Ephesians Chap. 1. 17 18. And this was it that Christ promised when he was about to leave his Disciples as to his Personal presence amongst them at which their Hearts began to be sorrowful he therefore tells them to comfort them he that dwelleth with you shall be in you John 14. 17. Thereby he meant himself who then was present with but passing from them in the Flesh would come again unto them and abide forever with them in the Spirit For the Lord is that Spirit saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 17. Wherefore he bids them Examine themselves whether they be in the Faith Prove your own selves saith he know you not your own selves how that Christ is in you Except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. And hereby know we that we are not in a Reprobate state because we witness the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us For this Principle of which I write 't is the Unction which we have received from the holy One whereby we know all things that is this doth instruct us in all things that are necessary to be known by us For 't is that spiritual anointing that the Apostle Iohn speaks of which those who have received it and in whom it abides need not that any man teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them all things and is Truth and is no Lye even as it hath taught them they should abide in him 1 John 2. 14. that is in Christ Jesus from whom this anointing doth come Now whoso is taught by this Anointing the same is taught by God as it is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me saith Christ Iohn 6.45 For this was the Promise of the Father even the new Covenant which he made with the House of Israel After those Dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their Minds and write them in their Hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Ier. 31. 33 34. This being the Tennure of the New Covenant That all the Children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord and in Righteousness shall they be established Isa. 54. 13 14. Which implies that God will teach them so effectually by his Free Spirit that they shall not stand in need of any other Prophet But here I must obviate an Objection before I can proceed Possibly some may ask me Why then do those People that thou art now gone amongst keep up their Publick Meetings to Preach and to Teach People the Way of Salvation What need is there of their Teaching if every one hath a Teacher in them able to Instruct them in the Way to the Kingdom To whom I Answer First Though I did say as much as that every one hath a Divine Teacher in them yet I did not say that every one knows this Teacher in them For this hath been the Misery of many Ages of the World People have gone out after the many Lo here 's and Lo there 's to find Christ without them in the mean time neglecting his Appearance within them even as was foretold by Christ himself when he was on Earth in the days of his Flesh In the Last Dayes saith he they shall say Lo here is Christ and Lo he is there but go ye not out after
brought forth and comes to have the Government in the Soul it must shall and will Reign over Death Darkness Sin and Corruption and all the Powers of Hell and the Devil I would have none think strange of what I have writ concerning this Thing though I know 't is a Mystery to the Natural Understanding of the wifest of the Children of Men and therefore since Paul was called a Babler for preaching such strange Doctrine to the Stoick Phylosophers Acts 17. 8. I can expect no better from some but to be counted a Non-sensical Scribler for writing of the same but this I am content to bear knowing in my self I had no Previous Intentions to amuse my Reader but having undertaken to describe in measure the extent of this powerful Principle of God placed in the Consciences of his Creatures following the Foot steps thereof for my Guide in this Matter Before I can attain to the End of my Journey I am necessarily brought hither and as I stand here I see by the Light of this Spiritual Pillar of Fire that though the Sea with the Waves thereof Roar yet is there a Way for the ransomed of the Lord to pass over and this Way is Christ the Light the Lamb the Grace the Gift of God given by the Father to bring out of the Fall which all Mankind are in by Nature that whosoever believeth in him layeth hold on him and continueth to be led by him should be brought into Fellowship with himself and abide therein forever and this same is he who leads in the midst of the Paths of Judgment and through the many Exercises that I have been writing of before he brings to the Banks of Salvation puts Songs of Deliverance into our Mouthes whereby we can sing of the Mercies of the Lord And thus having brought out of spiritual AEgypt's Land and caused to drink deep of the River of Judgment he then brings to Shiloh's Brook and giveth to drink of the Waters of Refreshment So 't is the same Hand that wounded which healeth and that Arm which broke us doth now bind us up the same Power which killed reviveth and he who once caused grief now giveth Songs in the Night And appointeth to Zion's Mourners Beauty for Ashes the Oyl of joy for Mourning and a Garment of Praises for the Spirit of Heaviness and who will in due time bring all his true spiritual Israel out of the Waste Howling Wilderness into a Land of Everlasting Rest. Thus it appears that the Light of Jesus in the Conscience is no Natural Insufficient Thing as some have sought to render it being something of God placed in every Man to witness against all sin convincing and reproving for that which is Evil contrary-wise prompting exciting and inclining to that which is good so that as many as yield to the Motives of it it is sufficient not only to condemn and to destroy but also to justifie and save being a measure of the Living Omnipotent Power of that One Law-giver who is able to save as well as to destroy see Iames 4. 12. which Power is Christ as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling Block and unto the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that are Called both Jews and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God who as he was once manifest in the Flesh so now is he manifest in Spirit to be that Covenant of Light which the Father promised by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isa. 42. 6. And this Light Power and Arm is in measure extended and reached forth at one time or other unto all people for the gathering unto him in whom the Election stands that so as many as obey his Call in yielding themselves to be gathered by this gathering Arm may make their Election and consequently their Salvation sure in him For this is he who would have gathered Ierusalem and saved her from that Ruin and Destruction which afterwards came upon her because she knew not the time of her Visitation 'T is the very same Jesus and no other whom we believe in for our Saviour who by his spiritual Appearance in the Hearts of the Children of men gives Light gives Life gives Power and Victory over sin to as many as follow the Leadings and Guidance of this Immaculate Lamb for 't is given to the Lamb and his Followers to overcome and who so overcometh shall sit down with the Lamb on his Throne and live and reign with him for evermore Rev. 3. 21. 12 11. Even the same which was with his Church in the Wilderness being that Spiritual Rock that followed them of which they drank by the way and were refreshed in him who is the Rock of Ages the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last the Antient of Dayes whose Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed whose goings forth have been from of Old from Everlasting For he is the blessed and only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath Immortallity and Eternal Life to whom be Glory and Honour Dominion and Power henceforth and forever Here now ye have a Description and that in Scripture Dialect concerning the Principle of our Faith something I have writ as to the Nature of it which though at first it causeth grief and brings in sorrow upon the Soul yet doth this sorrow work Repentance never to be repented of after which cometh reviving so that it was truly said Though Weeping may endure for a Night yet Ioy cometh in the Morning for they that sow in Tears shall reap in Ioy he that goeth forth Weeping bearing precious Seed shall doubtless come again Rejoycing bringing his Sheaves with him And such shall surely say In the Lord have we Righteousness and strength for in the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be justified and shall Glory in him not in Wisdom Wealth nor Strength but in this that they know him to be the Lord who exerciseth Loving-kindness Iudgment and Righteousness in the Earth as saith the Prophets Isa. 45.24,25 Ier. 9.23,24 And this is he whom we acknowledge to be our Iudge and Law-giver yea he is our King and he will save us for to this end hath he appeared by his Light in our Hearts and for this end doth he appear in the Hearts of all men that as many as bow down to the measure of his Appearance in them may thereby see and be enabled to forsake their Wayes and Doings which have not been good whereby they may be saved from sin and by the same saving Power and Spirit in their Hearts come to be led into the Way of all Truth which Way of Truth is Christ our Mediator and Intercessor with the Father through whom man comes to be accepted of God as he cometh into him in whom alone the Father
is well-pleased for 't is no other Jesus concerning whom I write but the same that was born of the Virgin even the Lord 's Christ who hath made himself known unto his Servants by such Peculiar Names as suited the particular Circumstances of their Souls and according to their several Experiences of him so they reported concerning him Isaiah describes him to be as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land a Refuge from the Heat a Covert from Rain and from Storms Chap. 4. Vers. 6. and chap. 32. 2 Again he spake of his being to his People as a place of broad Rivers and Streams Chap. 33. 21 David calls him The Shepherd of Israel which leadeth Joseph like a Flock Psal. 80. 1. He also calls him The Watchman of Israel who neither slumbereth nor sleeps Psal. 121 4. Paul speak of his being our High-Priest yea a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedeck Heb. 5. 6. And likewise calls him the Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which God hath pitched Chap. 8. 2. Iohn the Evangelist calls him The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 9. The other Iohn or Iohn the Divine saith This is he which was and is and is to come Rev. 1. 8. And now since he is come to a Remnant and they have believed in his Light as manifest in them they are not ashamed to confess that in the mind which gives a discovery of Sin to be the Power of God the Appearance of Jesus and that Light of the Lamb which the Nations of them that are saved must and shall walk forever in according to Rev. 21. 23 24 Neither is this any new Doctrine Opinion or Principle other then that which Abel Seth Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac and Iacob with all the holy Patriarches of Old were led and guided by in things relating both to Faith Life and Worship For what else could be a Rule unto them in matters of Salvation but this divine Principle when as they had no written Laws nor Ordinances amongst them which Principle is Christ the Light and Leader of his People in all Ages of the World who is one in all never was divided though variously described being the same who by his Light sheweth unto the Wicked and condemns them for the Vanity of their Thoughts who also by the same Spirit comforts and consolates his Peoples Hearts that so as many as whose minds are turned to this Light of Jesus and stayed in it though it be but small in its first appearance yet shall they see a growth and increase of it Thus Reader have I according to the Gift communicated to me from the Dispensation of the Most-high described what the Principle of Truth is which is perfect in it self and tends to the Perfecting of those that are gathered into it And now my former Familiars Neighbours Acquaintance and Kindred in the Flesh and all others to whom this may come hereby I invite you all to turn in hither even into the secret of your own Souls to that which there reproves you for your Sins witnessing for God against all Unrighteousness of men both in Thought Word and Action striving in their Hearts to turn them from the Evil of their Wayes and from the Vanity of their Conversations to walk in the newness of Life that so they may be redeemed and restored out of their fallen state of Degeneration into the Image of God again which hath been lost through Transgression O turn in turn in I say before it be too late lest you at last cry with them spoken of in Ieremiah 8. 20. The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved Work while it is Day while the Candle of the Lord shineth in your Tabernacle be you workers together with God for the Night cometh wherein no man can Work and who can tell how soon the Sun of Righteousness may go down upon you and the Light thereof obscure it self from you Therefore hear Instruction and be wise while the good Spirit of the Lord is nigh to teach you seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near and refuse not to hearken to his heavenly Oracle in your Consciences whereby under this his spiritual Dispensation he is pleased to speak unto the Children of men lest he say by you as he said by some of Old who regarded not his Counsel They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.25.28 For that in the Conscience which checks for Sin and excites to Holiness is the Voice of the son of God by whom in these last dayes the Father speaketh unto us Oh be ye perswaded to hearken diligently unto him Hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you saith the Lord even the sure Mercies of David Isa. 55. 3. And then you will come to know that Faith which Jesus is the Author of which stands in the Power of God even in that Power which inables to resist Temptations and overcome Sin and to get Victory over the World and the Spirit of it so will you witness a dying unto Sin and a living unto Righteousness to the praise of his Grace who is calling of you out of Darkness into Light that you may be Holy in all manner of Conversation So now since God's saving Arm is made bare for the gathering many People to himself before your Eyes Beware therefore left that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets Behold you Despisers and Wonder and Perish for I work a Work in your dayes which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Read Acts 13. 40 41. But Friends my Hearts desire and Prayer to God for you is that you might be saved And therefore have I in the tender Bowels of his Love which he hath shed abroad in my Heart by Jesus Christ sent this Invitation unto you that ye all may make ready and come to the Supper of the great God who hath spread his Table and prepared a Banquet for you whereof whosoever will may eat and drink abundantly as long as the time of Visitation is extended unto you For this I write in the Openings of Life and from the motion of the good Spirit of my God do I declare unto ye viz. That none of ye were absolutely excluded from Eternity well knowing that a measure of his Grace hath been freely tendred to every one of you because his Love extendeth Universally and he is crying Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters of Life And he that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Isa. 55. 1. Here is free Grace indeed free Love indeed O do you but yield your selves the Subjects of his Love and he will set your Souls
first Divine Nature and Seed in which he stood before Transgression here was his Fall and Degeneration and so he came by that unexpressible Loss of the Favour of God and Freedom of Will that now the Lord being angry with him he had no Power to do any thing to appease him the Garment of Innocency being lost their Fig-leaf Aprons could not hide their shameful Nakedness from the Lord which he seeing and taking notice of compassionately made them Coats of Skin for their clothing and then he drove them out of the Garden of Eden So here man was put out of the Paradise of God for eating of the forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and Cherubims placed at the East End of the Garden with a Flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life as may be read in the third Chapter of Genesis at large Thus man being drove from the Presence of the Lord Death came over his Soul though he lived outwardly yet did he dye as to that Inward Principle of Divine Life and Virtue which once he enjoyed and so the Threatning was fulfilled which the Lord had said In the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely Dye Here Man and Woman having transgressed the Royal Law of God by breaking of his holy Commandment in eating of the Tree whereof he commanded them saying Ye shall not eat thereof by this they came to be separated from him So it was Sin that made the Separation and it is Sin which makes the Separation For Man and Woman in their primitive state wherein they were created were good as the rest of the Creatures of God for 't is written God saw every thing which he had made and behold it was very good and God blessed Man and Woman and they were in Favour with him till they became subject to Vanity by reason of that false Hope which the Serpent suggested to them they hoped to have been a Gods to know Good and Evil but by going out of God's Counsel they became corrupted by the Evil one and being joyn'd to the Serpentine Seed they were alienated from God so that had not the Lord out of his unmeasurable Loving-kindness and Compassion opened a Way to restore them they must have perished in this Deplorable Condition And this Way of Restoration was by Christ the Light the Seed and Saviour for he of whom God said unto the Serpent I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel He it was who was to be the Saviour of the World So that now considering the Sons and Daughters of Adam as they are found in the Fall and Degeneration having all sinned and come short of the Glory of God herein I say hath his universal Love and free Grace appeared to wit in giving of his Son to be a Saviour unto them as saith the Apostle Iohn In this was manifest the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him 1 Epist. 4. 9. And that he was sent to the whole World see what Iohn the Evangelist faith Chap. 4. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Mark that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life To which the Apostle testifies 1 Iohn 2. 2. saying He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World This was the free Gift of the Father that the Son of his Bosome should take Flesh upon him come into the World and lay down his Life for poor Sinners for he came from God and went to God again So that though he laid down his Life of himself having Power and being willing so to suffer according as 't is written Iohn 10. 18. Yet himself also said That his Body was prepared of his Father Heb. 10. 15. In which Body he did the will of him that sent him Lo I come to do thy Will O God saith he for a Body hast thou prepared me Who now that rightly considers this Dispensation of favour but must needs cry out Oh the Height and Depth and Breadth and Length of the Love of God and of Jesus Christ our Saviour who took not on him the Nature of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham and was made in every thing like unto us only without Sin that he might restore Fallen Man Which thing I know will readily be granted but 't is the extent thereof that some would have limitted affirming That Christ dyed for a certain definite number and not for the whole Lump of Mankind one as well as another Nay they speak as if none had any benefit by no nor so much as the Revelation of Christ this Gift of God whom to know is Eternal Life but those who have the outward Letter of the Scripture Yet do I believe and so do Thousand more whom the Lord hath called viz. That the Father of Lights and God of the Spirits of all Flesh hath given a measure of his own Divine Light and Spirit unto all the Children of men to manifest and reveal the Appearance of his Son in them who is that same Saviour which shed his Blood for us that he might wash us and cleanse us from our Sins and was offered upon the Cross not only as a Propitiatory Sacrifice to make Reconciliation for the Transgressors but that by his once offering up of himself he might bring in everlasting Righteousness and Perfect forever them that are Sanctified and a measure I say of this his Power which is Light God hath placed in every persons Heart in order to their Sanctification as they shall be subject to this his appearance in them True indeed all are not Sanctified and made Perfect by him although this was the end of his coming that he might finish Transgression and make an end of Sin and this was the will of the Father in sending him to wit our thorow Sanctification but this is not because all have not a knowledge and manifestation of his Light or Spiritual appearance of him in themselves but because all do not believe in and obey this his Appearance Now that People may attain to what Knowledge may be had of God by the inward manifestation of the Light of his Son which is a measure of his Spirit in their Hearts this is clearly proved by the Apostle Rom. 1. 19. That which may be known of God saith he is manifest is men for God hath shewed it into them For the Lord of the whole Earth who is the Preserver of men he is impartial in his Love to all Mankind not only to them in Christendom so called who have the Scriptures amongst them but his Love is extended unto all People in one Land as well as in another for his Spirit is not
inseparable from the Scriptures as some suppose Yet would I not be thought to undervalue the Scriptures any whit for I have very Venerable thoughts of them and a Reverential esteem for them as being Holy Writings But I dare not confine all means for mans Salvation in them because the Lord hath not confined himself to them but hath left himself a Witness in every Conscience which Witness is a spiritual manifestation of his Son the Saviour of the World And this the Scriptures plentifully declare of which sometimes they call the Word the Law the Grace the Spirit of God at other times they call it the Light of Iesus the New Covenant a Light to lighten the Gentiles a Rod a Staff a Shepherds Crook the Word nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth the Sure Word of Prophecy the manifestation of the Spirit a Shield a Buckler a strong Tower the Armour of Righteousness All which are one in Nature though diversly exprest according to its distinct Operations in the Soul as the Creature standeth in need sometimes to lighten its Darkness at other times to lead it in the way of Holiness one while it Instructs another while it Corrects sometimes it Counsels other times it Consolates and as its Counsel is heeded and the Soul guided by it it preserves and defends in all exigencies and straights But I pass over its special use intending to shew that in another place only here may be seen the great condescention and matchless love of him who gives unto all Life and Breath and Being in that he hath sent the Holy Ghost down from Heaven with the Revelation of his Son Jesus Christ in the Hearts of the Children of men that whosoever adhereth to the Spirit of his Son within them may thereby know him not only as a Saviour and Redeemer but also to be their Saviour and Redeemer and that not only from the Punishment but from the Power and Dominion of Sin by setting of them free from the Bondage of Corruption and bringing them into the glorious Liberty of his own Children But as for such who will not believe in this Principle of God but instead of owning it as his Power unto Salvation say it is A Satanical suggestion and instead of owning it to be of the Divine Nature of God or Christ they call it the Dim Light of created Nature putting Bitter for Sweet and Sweet for Bitter counting Darkness Light and Light Darkness such may continue in their Bondage and Vassallage under the Prince and Power of Darkness in the blindness of their Minds hardness of their Hearts and deadness of their Spirits notwithstanding Freedom and Liberty Life and Immortallity is brought to Light through the Gospel which it hath pleased the Father should be Preached to every Creature by his Son Sions Deliverer who is his own Messenger see Rom. 11. 26. Mal. 3. 2. For this Principle of Light of which I now write 't is something of the Nature and Being of God himself who as he is a Spirit so he is Light as you may read concerning him Iohn 4. 24. 1 Iohn 1. 5. and therefore 't is by his Light with which we are inlightned It proceedeth from him he being the Ocean wherein the fulness thereof is contained 't is from him through his Son Christ Jesus that we come to be inlighted by the same so 't is in his Light that we see Light even as the Natural Sun causeth its Beams to extend to the Ends of the Earth so this Eternal Son of Righteousnes who is the Ocean and Fountain of Divine Spiritual Light causeth more or less of the streams thereof to descend into all immortal Souls upon it Thus having shew'd the Nature and Quality Original and Fountain of this blessed Principle I come further to shew its Use and Extent that so I may not only tell my Reader What it is and Whence it comes but according to my Promise write something of What it doth and Whereto it leads § IV. In the first place It daily Reproves for Sin even in all men and excites to Holiness during the Time of their Visitation though 't is possible for men to sin themselves into such a state by drinking in Iniquity as the Ox drinketh Water when through custom in sinning their Consciences become seared as with an Hot-Iron that this Principle of God may cease striving with them and so these may not know when they do Evil yet there is a Time in which this Principle of God doth stand as a faithful Witness against all Unrighteousness and Ungodliness in the Hearts of Men and Women and Leads Draws Moves and Enclines their Minds to Righteousness seeking to Leaven them as they yield thereunto into the Nature of it self whereby an inward thorow and real Redemption may be wrought in the Hearts of all Men of what Kindred Nation or People soever notwithstanding any outward Benefit or Priviledge they may Providentially be deprived of yet is the Lord so Gracious as to dispense such a measure of his Grace Power and Spirit unto all the Children of Men to convince them of sin to Reprove them for it and to lead them out of it that as they give up to the Operation thereof in themselves it will thorowly sanctifie and make them clean and so prepare them and make them meet for his heavenly Kingdom yea though they never had the Scriptures amongst them nor never heard Christ outwardly named to them the Name of Christ being often put for the Power of Christ within as in Mark. 16. 17. In My Name shall they cast out Devils saith Christ of his Disciples So in Acts 4. 7. The High Priests and Rulers asked Peter and Iohn By what Power or by what Name they had made the Impotent Man whole For that Name of Christ which heals and saves is his Power that maketh Free from Sin Now whoso knoweth this Name of Jesus to be given unto them and effectually to have wrought in them they can truly witness him to be the Arm of God's Salvation However we do say that the Scriptures in which we have a Declaration of what Christ hath done and suffered for us those do much Facilitate Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus and therefore they ought thankfully to be received by us and born Witness to when-ever the Lord shall require us so as that we may not be ashamed to own not afraid to confess him to be our Saviour who they make mention of to have been put to Death in the Flesh above Sixteen Hundred Sixty Years past by the Hands of Sinners For we do not believe that this Light Grace and Power of God which is sufficient both to sanctifie and save and able to give an Inheritance among them that are sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Jesus where Christ is not outwardly named I say We do not believe that this is given to any without Christ but we do believe it to be the Purchase and Benefit of