to Christ Nay do they not rather keep them from him teaching them to kneel down and ask Blessing of them called their Godfathers and Godmothers and teaching them to say that by or in Baptism in their Infancy they are made Members of Christ and Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and so do they not train them up after the Traditions of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ And do not many called Christians and Protestants in their Profession of Religion compel their Children to these things in their Childhood Is it not Blasphemy and Idolatry thus to teach and practise and whether such things be bringing Children to Christ or keeping them from him and from his Light and Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit wherewith every one ought to profit let the honest single hearted judge And concerning the Saying of Christ that Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein 1 Pet. 1.23 That is no proof of the need of Water for true Christians are Children of the Light and are born of the Incorruptible Word of God which liveth John 3.5 and abideth for ever and such though they be Men in outward Stature yet are as little Children being little and low in their own esteem For Christ said Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And this some alledge for proof of their Infants Baptism though neither Infant nor outward Water be mentioned for a Man is not an Infant and here Christ speaketh of the Spiritual Water which washeth the inside unto Regeneration or the New Birth Zech. 13. which springeth out of the Fountain opened to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for Sin and for Uncleanness which also purgeth from Idolatry and false Prophecy Isa 55.1 as was prophesied And to these Waters every one that thirsteth may come and buy without Money and without Price So they need not give Money to be sprinkled And Christ saith John 7.37 38. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and he that believeth on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water And saith he I will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely Rev. 21.6 Joh. 4.14 and he that drinketh of the Water that I shall give him it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Eternal Life So it is this Spiritual Water that inwardly washeth and regenerateth unto Eternal Life without the washing whereof none can enter into the Kingdom of God and they that are born of this Water and of the Spirit they are Children of the Light and of the Kingdom of God and they are truly as little Children in the receiving of his Kingdom though they be outwardly Men of Stature And the Apostle John writing to the Christians calleth them Little Children saying If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light 1 Joh. 1.7 we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Here is a cleansing beyond the Priest's sprinkling of Infants and saith he 1 Joh. 2.1 My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And again The Darkness is past and the true Light now shineth he that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light 1 John 2.8 9 10 11 12. and there is none occasion of stumbling in him but he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes I write unto you little Children because your Sins are forgiven you for his Names sake And again he writeth 1 John 2.18 20 28. Little Children it is the last Time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists But saith he ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things those were intelligent little Children Again he saith Now little Children abide in him And again Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness 1 John 3.7 8 9 10 18. is righteous even as he is righteous he that commiteth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother And again My little Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And again Ye are of God little Children and â—â—ve overcome and saith he Hereby know we that we are in him and he in us 1 John 4.4 12. 1 John 5.21 because he hath given us of his Spirit And again Little Children keep your selves from Idols So it appeareth that the Children of the Light the Children of God who had received and believed in the Word of Faith in the Heart which the Apostles preached the Word of the Kingdom of God and were born of it they were frequently called little Children therefore that saying to wit Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein maketh nothing for the Doctrine of the Priests Infant Baptism neither is it any warrant for the same And let every one that readeth this take diligent notice of what is here before quoted which the Apostle John wrote to them which he called little Children and seriously examine themselves whether they be such little Children and whether their Teachers teach such or the same Doctrine either to Children or others and if they perceive any difference it is good for them weightily to consider it For the single Eye can see plainly that it is because People have neglected the Substance that they have idolized the Shadow and being by their subtil Enemy deceived and drawn from obedience to the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and Consciences they are become dark and vain in their Imaginations and walk in Darkness and know not whither they go or else they could not surely for shame talk of Godfathers and Godmothers and of Men making Infants Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and yet profess the Scriptures to be their Rule which mention no such thing And whereas some may say That outward Water Baptism is a Sacrament wherein there is an outward visible Sign of an inward Spiritual Grace and if it do Children no good say they
true Christian state is atta ned unto and so true Christians are Children of God Tit. 3.5 6 7. Eph. 4.5 who is Light and Heirs of his Kingdom and these have experience of the one Baptism of Christ by his Spirit even the washing of Regeneration or of the New Birth and are sensible of the renewings of his Spirit also But it is a very poor Evidence concerning so great a matter as Eternal Happiness or true Christianity is only to be told to a Man or Woman or to see it written in a Book that when he was an Infant or a Child of a few days old he was baptized and made a Christian whenas he knoweth nothing of certainty that he is so but rather hath an Evidence in his own Heart plainly and truly witnessing that he is in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity and is not led and guided by the Spirit of Christ as true Christians are and so if he weightily examine himself he may find his estate to be otherwise then some would perswade him to believe of it and see it to be very Miserable John bare Testimony of Christ saying There cometh one after me which is preferred before me for he was before me and I knew him not but that he should be made manifest to Israel John 1.30 31 32 33. John 3.30 therefore am I come baptizing with Water And saith he The same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost or Spirit and said he he must increase but I must decrease So it is plain that the reason why John Baptized with Water was that Christ and his Spiritual Baptism which only can render Men true Christians should be made manifest to Israel but there can be no such Reason given for Infants Baptism for Christ and Baptism hath been long talked of by Sprinklers of Infants and still both Hearers and Preachers strangers to Christ and his Baptism how then should they make him or his Baptism manifest or known to little Infants And Christ said Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 but they who believe in the Light the incorruptible Word of God in their Hearts Look in the Margined Bibles and so become Children of the Light and of God being Born again or from above as the Word implieth they in the Light see and discern the Kingdom of God within them Rom. 14.17 which consisteth in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit or Ghost which are inwardly to be known And this Sign of Baptism wherewith now adays they sign Infants and reckon it a Badge of Christianity they call a Sacrament and some say there are Seven Sacraments and others say but two to be used in the Church of Christ though in all the Holy Scriptures they find no mention of the Word Sacrament and they say It was commanded by Christ because he said to his Disciples Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in or when truly translated into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit or Ghost Observe here he first bad them to teach them so they should let Teaching be before Baptizing But how can they teach Infants And he commanded this to his Disciples who were learners of him and Witnesses of his Resurrection but they are not such who act contrary to his Commands And he bad them to Baptize into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Now this Name of God is called the Word Light Love and Holy Spirit which is placed in his Spiritual Temple where God dwelleth of which Deut. 12.5 1 Kings 8.29 2 Chron. 7.12 2 Cor. 3.16 the Temple that Solomon built was a Type or Figure in which he said he would place his Name which outward Temple was destroyed but true Christians are the holy Spiritual Temple of God and it was prophesied the Glory of the second Temple should exceed that of the first Hag. 2.4 7 8. But they who pretend to baptize Infants with Water Rev 19 13. they do not believe in the Name of God which is his Word and Light in the Heart and so they are not like to baptize either Infants or others in it or into it being out of it themselves And in the Command of Christ there is no mention at all of Water for the Disciples to baptize withal they being to preach Repentance and Remission of Sins in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 49. And behold said he I send the Promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem until ye be endued with Power from on High And so they tarried at Jerusalem until they were endued with Power from on High and then they declared what the Promise of the Father was that Christ had sent upon them even that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour of my Spirit upon all Flesh Acts 2.16 17 18. and your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie and your Young Men shall see Visions and your Old Men shall dream Dreams and on my Servants and on my Handmaidens I will pour out in these days of my Spirit and they shall prophesie So the Disciples of Christ preached other Doctrine then the Sprinklers of Infants and the pretending Baptizers of this Age preach for they cannot endure to hear of the Spirit of God being poured out upon all Flesh but they mock at the Movings of the Spirit of God in his Servants and Handmaidens as if there were no such thing now which sheweth that they are not endued with Power from on High and so they are short of John the Baptist who was sent of God John 1.6 7. and said A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven John 3.27 And so they having no Authority from God but only from Men take upon them to sprinkle Infants after the Ordinances of Men and call it Baptism having a ridiculous Custom of using Godfathers and Godmothers as they call them and another of signing Infants in the Forehead with the Sign of the Cross some using Oyl Spittle Salt and other silly Ceremonies having nothing at all in the Holy Scriptures to warrant such things being invented in the Apostasy in the deceitful Wisdom of the Antichristian Spirit that hath prevailed and drawn from the Simplicity of true Christianity into the love of outward Signs which are Antichristian Another Argument for their Custom of Sprinkling Infants is the Words that Christ spake saying Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for such is the Kingdom of God Mark 10.14,15 and whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein Now they who sprinkle Infants bring them to Water which Christ commanded not but do they bring them
it will teach also to take up thy daily Cross to thy own Lusts and to follow Christ in the Regeneration or New Birth Luk. 9.23 John 8.12 Rev. 14.4 and so thou mayest come inwardly to know the true Spiritual Baptism of Christ with his Spiritual Fire and Fan and Water to burn up Sin root and branch in thee and to blow away all Lightness and Vanity and to wash thee inwardly from sin which hath defiled thee and so thou mayst know a walking as a Child of the Light in newness of Life and enjoy the Salvation of God For it is plaâ—n that true Christians are truly baptized with the inward and spiritual Baptism of Christ and are Children of God who is Light through believing in the Light of Christ in their Hearts Tâ—ess 5 John 12.35 36 46. and the Spirit of God beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and Heirs of God Rom. 8.16 17. and Joint Heirs with Christ and they are led of his Spirit and walk in his Light Rom. 8.14 1 Cor. 12.13 Luk. 12.32 and they are also members of Chrst being baptized by his one Spirit into his one Body and they are also Inheritours of the Kingdom of Heaven by the obedience of Faith in the Word of his Kingdom in their Hearts And I know by certain experience that though I was in my Childhood and Youth told by my Parents and others that I was baptized in my Infancy and that such were my Godfathers and such a one was my Godmother of whom I was taught Idolatrously to ask Blessing and also was taught according to their Catechism that in that Baptism I was made a Member of Christ and a Child of God and an Inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven and I was so trained up in my Youth by my Parents yet in a somewhat moderate manner and being held in this implicite Faith by yielding to the power of Darkness I was prevailed upon to stand as a Godfather as they term it to three Children which were sprinkled with Water Yet ever when I took a serious view of my own condition by the Light of Christ Jesus in my own Heart though I knew not then what it was I plainly saw that I was not in such a condition as I heard the Preachers Preach of and I my self could read of that the Children of God were inâ— for the Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ instead of bearing witness with my Spirit that I was a Child of God it bore witness in my Heart and Conscience against my Sins and reproved me for them and so witnessed with my Spirit and Conscience that I was not a Child of God though no Man was my Accuser And so it shewed me how unclean I was as the Preachers used to confess in their Prayers even full of Bruises and Wounds and putrifying Sores inwardly as from the Crown of the Head to the Soles of my Feet and therefore unlike a Child of God or a Member of Christ and unfit to be an Inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven which no unclean thing can enter And blessed be the Day wherein I first received the reproof of the Light in the Love of it for there had been a time wherein I had slighted its Reproofs and when it troubled me in my Heart and Conscience for my Sins then I sometimes gat amongst such as are called merry Company to put the trouble away but well was it for me that the reproof pursued me until I inwardly received it in its love and then in some little time I saw Sin to be exceeding sinful yea and loathsom too and I became weary of it and could no longer delight in folly and vanity where Sin ever dweleth no more then a man can delight to see others to laugh at him for his being outwardly full of grievous Wounds and Bruises and putrifying loathsom Sores as I was inwardly And so my greatest need and desire was to be inwardly healed for I saw I was unlike to heal others or to assist to make them Children of God being in that forlorn condition for I saw my self to be in extream need of an able Physician and therefore I consulted them that had been my Teachers who pretended to be Divines and spiritual Physicians having great need of such a one and they told me that my distemper could not be cured on this side the Grave and said it was not to be expected that any Soul of Man can be cleansed from Sin and from the contagion of it and have the grievous Wourds and Bruises and loathsome Sores that Sin hath made all over it to be cured till its Body dye And when I had considered their dismal Opinion for they could not tell me where my Soul could certainly be cleansed or cured after the death of my Body but judged it could not be before then I preceived they were all like Job's Visitants when he was afflicted outwardly as I was inwardly to whom he said Job 1â— 4 15 16 ye are all Physicians of no value and speaking of God he said though he slay me yet will I trust in him and he also shall be my Salvation for an Hypocrite shall not come before him and so Job had a confidence and faith in God that he would save him and whatever became of aim he would curst in God And I then had a little Grain of the Faith in which Job was that God would cleanse me and heal me if I continued Faithful unto him and would be my Salvation and therefore though my said Teachers and pretending Physicians offered me then not questioning their Pay if I would Buy more of their Physick and Salve yet I durst Buy no more of them but refused both their Physick and Merchandize knowing it to be certainly of a pernicious quality and that it would but cast me into a Spiritual Lethargy and so stupifie my Senses that I should not be sensible of my dangerous condition for while I bought of it before-time I knew it was apt to make me so but though I left Trading with them then which is now some Years since and had paid formerly as freely and duly as other their Customers and owed them nothing and since that time never bought nor offered to Buy any more such Physick c. yet Men have Yearly made spoil of my Goods pretending they want Pay of me for their Physick which I would not have taken upon their Gift for I have met with a far better Physician who can Cure all manner of Diseases and therefore I wtll deal with them and their Physick no more and this is a Physician of Value who can and is willing to Cure all manner of inward Diseases of the Souls of those who with all their Hearts commit themselves to him and his Heavenly Orderings and neither requireth nor plundereth for Tythes nor other Wages for his Excellent Cure when fully performed But these Men that
only by his Light in his Faithful People revealeth the Man of Sin but also with the Spirit of his Mouth will consume and with the Brightness of his Coming will destroy the Man of Sin and his Works these having tasted and experienced something of the Goodness of God to their Souls not only of the Revelation but also of the Destruction of the Man of Sin and his Works in themselves and also having sweet and satisfactory Comfort and Consolation in their Hearts in the Love of God given unto them these cannot with the Times turn as Hypocrites do from one Profession of Religion to another for these are fully satisfied concerning the Way of God which is straight and narrow and not like the Ways of the Man of Sin the Devil the Serpent which are crooked like himself and broad and wide and can hold of all sorts of Professors and too many go in thereat But these being Children of the God of Truth who is Light they love to walk in their Fathers way which is the true Light and so they cannot neither dare they go out of it into the Ways of the Man of Sin and so serve him again in the least for they have had too much of his Tyrannical Servitude before and though his Children love his Ways wherein they have their pain bringing Pleasures yet the Children of God love them not but in the fear of God hate them all and love the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts the Way of God their Father And so it is in vain for Men to offer to force them out of God's Way into their ways for they dare not for fear of offending their Heavenly Father comply in the least to Worship God after any other Way or Manner but as he manifesteth himself in the Light of his Spirit of Truth in their Hearts and Consciences in which only with acceptance he is to be worshipped Neither can they again embrace or come into the Bondage of Corruptible Elements Ceremonies or Traditions of Men Gal. 4.9 Rom. 8.14 to 22. for which there is no warrant from God their Father lest they forfeit their glorious liberty of the Children of God Gal. 5.1 Tim. 2.12 Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 4.12 to 19. Col. 1.23 to 28. whose Spirit beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ And they know that if they suffer with him they shall also be glorified together and they account that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in them And such can truly rejoice that unto them it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake and this was the state of the Primitive Christians And as there is a great difference between the outward husk sign or shew of Religion of the Followers of the Man of Sin who are his Children and the pure spiritual undefiled Worship and Religion of the Followers of Christ who are Children of God so there is as great a difference between the Nature of the true Christians and false and between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil and also between the Persecutor for Religion and the Persecuted for true Religion and so doubtless as great a difference will and must be between their Rewards And so every one Male or Female Rich or Poor High or Low as they tender the Eternal Salvation of their precious Souls are to examine themselves in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus which is the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts whether they Worship God in his Light John 4.20 to 25. Mat. 15.7 8 9. Isa 29.13 14. Acts 17 22 to 31. Col. 2.6 to 23. Mat. 15.2 to 15. and Spirit and Truth in which only his pure spiritual undefiled Worship is acceptably performed Or whether their Worship â—e formal and taught and prescribed by the Traditions Precepts and Commandments of Men and so but a sign or shew of Religion being Will-worship and Voluntary Humility which Christ and his Apostles warned People to beware of For all such Worshippers worship God in vain or worship they know not what and the Reward of Hypocrisie shall be their Portion for they be Blind leading of the Blind and if the Blind lead the Blind both shall fall into the Ditch And likewise it concerneth all truly to examine themselves inwardly in the Light of Christ whether they be Baptized truly with the one Baptism of Christ by his spiritual Water and the Fire and Fan of his Spirit with which he will and is able thorowly to purge his Floor Mat. 3.11.12 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.22 23. even the Hearts Souls and Consciences of true Believers and that only maketh fit to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven And so whether they be Children of the Light and of God who is Light and Born again of the Water and of the Spirit whose witness agreeth in one witnessing with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Born of his Incorruptible Word which liveth and abideth for ever Or whether they have only been Baptized or Sprinkled with Water by a Man and because thereof are taught to believe that then they were made Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven And if they have no better Assurance than such Baptizing or Sprinkling with outward Water then the Light and Spirit of Christ will bear witness in their Hearts that they are not Children of Light nor of God and then whose Children are they And likewise all may examine themselves in and by the true Light in their Hearts whether they be in the true Religion or not That is Whether or no they be true Christians John 6.45 who are all taught of God by the Light Grace and Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Or they be but Pretenders to Christianity having a Profession or Form of Godliness but denying the Life and Power thereof resisting and rebelling against the strivings and movings and teachings of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and embracing and complying with the temptations motions and teachings of the Spirit of Antichrist and the Power of Darkness which is the Devil And such can profess that they know God Tit. 1.15 16. but in Works they deny him which is abominable And every one that doth Truth John 3.18.19 20 21. cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God but every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered and so loving Darkness rather than the Light that is the Condemnation And it is certain that all who love not the Light of Christ Jesus in themselves and believe not in the sufficiency of it are deceived by the deceivableness of
the spirit And John the Apostle of Christ often exhorteth him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit saith Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. and 3.6 13 22. And by the preaching of the true Ministers of Christ many came to receive the Teachings of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost which is the same and were led by it Rom. 8.16 Isa 54.13 14. Jer. 31.32.33 John 6.45 Heb. 8.10.11 and so became Children of God And it was truly said among them the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God and so they were all taught of God as it was Prophesied of them They were taught of God by his Grace Light Spirit or Word being one and the same though called by several other Names and Appellations besides what is before here written according to the most suitable Expressions whereby to shew the Operations and Effects of it to the Understandings and Capacities of all The Apostle John likewise calleth it the Unction Joh. 2.20.27 or Anointing writing thus Ye have an Unction from the Holy One and ye know all things and again the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him This and much more to the same purpose was the Doctrine of the true Christian Ministers as the Scriptures of Truth more at large declare and the true Ministers of Christ preach the same in our Age and Generation And as the true Ministers of Christ in his Authority preached his Divine Word Light Grace and Spirit so by the same they preached up the Liberty of his Gospel and true Christian Dispensation and preached down the use of the Ceremonies of the Jewish Law though formerly commanded of God and given by Moses his Servant which was then to cease being abolished by the Death of Christ they being in their time for Shadows and Types of good things to come by Christ but he the Substance being come having as they truly preached nailed them to his Cross and taken them out of the way they were not then to be used by them who had received the free and glorious liberty of his substantial Everlasting Gospel in the inward Spiritual Dispensation of his Word Light Grace and Spirit in their Hearts and Souls whereby they knew the glorious Liberty of the free-born Children of God they were not then to be subject to Ordinances neither burthened with Traditions nor to observe Days and Times as may at large be read in the holy Scriptures particularly in these places Gal. 4.9 10. Gal. 5.2 to 8. Eph. 2.13 to 17. Col. 2.14 to 23. Rom. 7.6 Heb. 7.11 12. But the deceitful Antichristian Ministers could not bring any into the True Faith which is in the Name Light Grace and Spirit of Christ for they were out of it themselves and were not faithful but disobedient to the Light and hated it and would not bring their own Deeds thereto lest they should be reproved thereby For though they might talk and preach of the Name Word Grace Light or Spirit of Christ and speak there of great swelling words to allure and draw others after them yet all that was but in disobedience to Christ and in deceit and therefore they could not by such Preaching bring any into the true Faith of Christ who is the Truth nor bring any to believe in his Light and Grace which they hated and did despite unto And the true Ministers preached that true Christians had put off the old Man with his deeds Col. 3.9 10 11 and had put on the new Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor free but Christ is all and in all and they preached up a Spiritual Circumcision saying That he is not a Jew which is one outwardly Rom. 2.28 29. neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God And again saying to some Ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ being buried with him in Baptism Col. 2.11 12. to â—â—c end wherein you are also risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God And it is plain that the Apostle here meant no outward Ordinance of Circumcision nor of Baptism for he writes after in the same Chapter thus If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or burdened with Traditions as some Translate it touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh concerning which things he warned them lest any Man should beguile them or spoil them through Philosophy or vain Deceit after the Tradition of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Read the Second Chapter to the Colossians And the same Apostle said Phil. 3.3 We are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh which sheweth plainly that they were Jews inwardly and of the inward Circumcision as all true Christians are And this agreeth with the Doctrine of Christ himself who said to the Samaritan Ye Worship ye know not what we know what we Worship for Salvation is of the Jews John 4.22 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seekethsâ—â—â—h to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth So the Worship of the true Christians was in Spirit and in the Truth and in the obedience of the Spirit of Truth and not in outward Ordinances Observations of Times Will-worship nor in Acts of voluntary Humility and accordingly in the demonstration of the Spirit the true Christian Ministers preached and not in the words that Man's Wisdom teacheth but which the same Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost teacheth which preaching is foolishness to the natural Man 1 Cor. 2.13 14. for he receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that yields obedience to the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every Man to profit withal he cometh to discern his own Estate and
of Christ beareth witness with true Christians â—om 8.16 1 John â— 10 that they are the Children of God and consequently their Spirits bear witness of the same with the Spirit of Christ and he that is of God hath the witness in himself But he that is not sensible of the Spirit of Christ thus to witness in him that he is a Child of God hath not he the Manifestation or Testimony of the Spirit though possibly he may not believe what it is that in his Heart and Conscience testifies that he is of his Father the Devil Surely these things are of great importance and are worthy to be seriously and weightily considered of by all People who desire the Salvation of their precious Souls and they who have truly believed in the Light of Christ and yielded obedience thereunto have therein and thereby seen and weightily considered these things and have learned and are learning to avoid the Snares of the Devil's deceit of Unrighteousness wherewith he beguiles many to the Loss of their Souls Happiness Eternally although such when so beguiled may profess Christianity and look upon themselves to be Christians But the Light of Christ in true Christians sheweth and discovereth to them the Deceit of their Spiritual Enemy in all his Appearances both in their own particulars and in others his deceived deceitful Members and Ministers who in his Service may profess Christianity For true Christians are the Sheep of Christ which hear and know his Voice and follow him John 10.3 to 14. and a Stranger they will not follow for they know not the Voice of Strangers but Christ is the good Shepherd who giveth his Life for the Sheep and said he I know them and am known of mine whereby it is evident that true Christians have a true discerning of the Voice of Christ which is the Light or Manifestation of his Spirit in them from the Voice of a Stranger which saith he they will flee from whether in themselves or from others And such may rightly be called Strangers who disobey the Light Voice and Spirit of Christ Eph. 4.18 19 20 21. Eph. 2.12 Isa 42.6 Isa 49.6 which if they obeyed it would lead them in the Way of Life which through disobedience they err from and lose and so become alienated from the Life of God and Righteousness and true Christianity and such are Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and Strangers to the Covenant of Promise which is Christ the true Light and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth And to such Christ is a Stranger though they may profess great things in his Name and in the Sentence of true Judgment he will say unto them they not being termed his Sheep but Goats I was a Stranger Mat. 25.33.43 46. and ye took me not in and then when such cannot be received of Christ they shall begin to say We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he will say I tell you I know you not whence you are Luke 13.26 depart from me all ye Workers of Iniquity and these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment And those that say Lord Lord but do not the Will of God but disobey his Voice Light Grace and Spirit whereby he would teach and lead them to Eternal Rest and Happiness when they shall say to Christ Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works then for all their large Profession he will profess unto them saying I never knew you Mat. 7.21 22 23. depart from me ye that work Iniquity And among all sorts of People called Christians there will at last appear to be but two to wit true and false or Sheep and Goats and it is very like that the Sheep know themselves from Goats and if the Goats be not very senceless they may possibly by the Light discern that they are none of the Sheep And all that by true Examination of themselves in the Light of Christ do perceive that they are not of his Sheep who know him and his Voice in them they must upon necessity of Salvation yield up their whole Hearts to seek the Lord if they expect Mercy from him who is a God of Mercy to all that truly fear him and also hearken to the Voice Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Souls and Consciences to which as they are faithful and wait diligently and seriously always in his fear which will keep their Hearts clean and upright to him they in due time may come truly to know not only a following of the Lamb which is likewise the great Shepherd of the Sheep but also a being created anew into the Lamb-like Nature and so a being made new Creatures even Lambs or Sheep of the one Fold of Eternal Rest whereof Christ Jesus the Lamb without blemish is the true Shepherd who leads and brings thither his Sheep John 10.16 Them said he I must bring and they shall hear my Voice and there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd So then true Christians which are the Sheep of Christ they hear the Voice of Christ they walk in his Light they are taught by his Grace and they are led by the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts Souls and Consciences which Voice Light Grace and Manifestation is one And the true Christians did not only know them who were gone out from them to be Antichrists but they also knew that then amongst them there was false Brethren Gal. 2.4 2 Cor. 11.26 Jude 4. who came in amongst them privily to spy out their true Christian Liberty whom the true Christians then knew to be perilous And the true Ministers of Christ in and by his Light and Spirit saw and prophesied of an Apostacy or falling away from the Truth and that among Christians because they would not receive the love of the Truth which in the inward parts God loveth that they might be saved therefore said the Apostle Paul God shall send them strong Delusions 2 Thes 2.11 12. that they should believe a Lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness And likewise the same Apostle Paul prophesied of the Man of Sin being revealed the Son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God And be said to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2.1 to 13. Ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time for the mystery of Iniquity doth already work only he who now leâ—teth will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his
what and the Worship of God is in Fear and Trembling before him and at his Word in the Heart and such are accepted of God and shall be accepted with him and with such he will dwell as the Scriptures largely testifie read John 4.20 to 25. Mich. 6.8 Isa 66.2 5. Ezra 9.4 and 10.3 Jer. 5.21 22. and 33.9 Psal 2.11 Dan. 6.26 And so I durst not but deny all Worships prescribed by the Wisdom of Men and set-up by Men which were not in the Spirit and Truth of God neither durst I embrace the Pleasures or Preferments of the World for I was sensible both of their danger and Vanity and that the Words of Christ were true who said If any man will come after me Luke 9.23 24 25. Luke 14.27 let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me and whosoever doth not bear his Cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple for whosoever will save his Life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his Life for my sake the same shall save it for what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole World and lose himself or be cast away And now I am not of their Perswasion who believe that there is no Salvation nor Freedom from Sin on this side the Grave and that the Souls of true Christians cannot be cleansed from Sin while their Bodies live in this World for that is contrary to the Truth and to the Testimony of the Holy Scriptures and where Sin hath a place in the Heart or Soul of any there the Man of Sin hath a place whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 9. And so much of the Worship of them in whom the Man of Sin ruleth by his Power consisteth in Ceremonies and Signs for he will allow them all Signs of that which is good so that they may be content without the Substance yea even the very Name at least in Profession or Pretence of Christians though he have quite bereaved them of the Nature of true Christians and allow them outward Signs of Baptism also at least whilst uncapable Infants which they may afterwards be told of and taught to believe that they were thereby made Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 8.10 11. although they know nothing experimentally of the one Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Spirit or Ghost and with Fire nor believe in the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in which all true Christians believe who are really Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 13.19 being led and taught by his Light and Spirit and obeying the Word of the Kingdom which is one with the Light and is sown in the Hearts of all Men. And Christ said to the unbelieving Pharisees that The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation or outward Shew neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for saith he behold Luke 17.21 the Kingdom of God is within you And why may it not as well be said now to be within those who are ignorantly seeking it without them For their Teachers teach them to believe that they were made Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven when they were Infants by their outward Baptism and yet they have it to seek and know not where it is to be found but seek it as they are taught and expect it to come with their Observations outward Shews and Signs without them and Pray at least in Words to God saying Thy Kingdom come and yet believe not in the Word of his Kingdom which is sown in their Hearts which is the Light Grace and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which reproveth them for Sin in their Hearts and Consciences And so whilst they disobey the Word of the Kingdom the Light in themselves they are making themselves Strangers to God and his Kingdom through disobedience and so are unlike to be Inheritors of it though they make never so large a Profession of seeking it in their Observations outward Shews and Signs for there it is not to be found much less inherited And John the Baptist who baptized with Water to Repentance we read not that he baptized Infants for what should Infants repent of but he Preached saying Repene ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand So it seemeth the Kingdom of Heaven was near then and to some who came to his Baptism he said O Generation of Vipees who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance or as some translate answerable to amendment of Life for said he the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree Mat. 3. therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fare But do not Infants sprinkled with Water or Baptized as they call it afterward bring forth Fruits rather to be repented of than meet for Repentance So it seemeth they that came to John's Baptism which was with Water to Repentance if they brought not forth Fruits meet for Repentance they were little or no better being to be hewn down and cast into the Fire And where can any read that John's Baptism being outward could make any true Christians Was it not before Christ that John came Baptizing with Water and before there were any called Christians for we read not of that Name given till after the Ascension of Christ and if John's Baptism could not make Christians how should Sprinkling of Infants now or the outward Baptism of any others either It is not like that they that now take upon them to baptize either Infants or others for Money for which none can buy the Gift of God should exceed John who was sent of God Acts 8.20 and did it freely without Money And John was sent to bear witness of the Light that all Men through him might believe that was the true Light John 1.8 9 10. which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World though the World knew it not But the Baptizers Dippers and Sprinklers in our days are far from bearing witness to the true Light for they cry out against it and give it many ridiculous Names John 3.20 and Titles and this is according to the Words of Christ that Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light And what a strange thing doth it seem that any should believe which some suppose that Sprinkling an Infant with a little Water some after one manner and some after another should make it a true Christian For true Christians are Members of Christ and Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven but no Man can make them so for it is only by believing in the Light of Christ and obeying it that a
their Hearts sprinckled from an evil Conscience and may know a drawing near unto God with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith and so they may witness in themselves a Cleansing and Salvation from Sin by the Blood of Christ Jesus and his inward Spiritual Baptism or washing And this advice was given by the Prophet in days ago who said O Jerusalem wash thy Heart from Wickedness that thou mayst be saved how long shall vain Thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4.14 read Isaiah 1.16 to 21. And let none despise the day of small things the small appearance of the Light in themselves Luk. 13 1â— though it be unto them but as little as a grain of Mustardseed but rather like the man that was born Blind who could not see the Light which shone round about him whose Eyes Christ opened which John â— 1 and 2 to 9. when he had anointed with the Clay made with his own Spittle he bad him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam which by interpretation signifieth sent and he went and â—aâ—hed and came seeing and so let all receive the anointing of Christ Spiritually and wash in that which is sent of God into their Hearts that so the Eyes of their Minds and Understandings may be opened and God will open their Hearts like Lidia's formerly to attend to and understand the things of God which concern their pretious and perpetual Peace And such may truly say who have the Eyes of their Minds so opened as the man who had his outward Eyes opened who said One thing I know that whereas I was Blind John 9 2â— noâ— I see and such have great cause to rejoyce whose Eyes the Lord hath opened to see his Light and his Salvation inwardly for as it is a grievous and dangerous thing for a Man that should walk to be outwardly Blind so it is far more dangerous for a man who ought to walk in the Spiritual Way of God to be spiritually and inwardly Blind and so is it so much the more joyful to receive spiritual Sight inwardly And though men be never so wise and know never so much understand all Languages and in their Memories can retain all the Scriptures and can comprehend things wonderfully in their Understandings yet if their Minds be not turned inward to the true Light of Christ in their own Hearts which lighteth every man that cometh into the World so as to believe in the Sufficiency of it they are in Spiritual Blindness for God hath made Foolish the Wisdom of this World and hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to consâ—â—â—d the things that are mighty and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things that are not to bring to nought things that are That no Flesh should glory in his Presence 1 Cor. 1.20 27 28 29. For it is very plain that Men of the greatest Wit Learning Arts and Parts often are like the Rebellions that were formerly who refused the Waters of Shiloah or Siloam which signifieth by interpretation sent or sending by washing wherein the Man received his Sight which Waters go softly and they rejoyced in Rezin which signifieth a Post-Messenger and in Pckah the Son of Remalia which signifieth the Openings of one cast away from the Lord therefore the Lord would bring upon them the Waters of the River strong and many even the King of Assyria that should overflow and go over them Isa 8.6 7 8. Even so all those be they never so wise or learned that refuse the Light of Christ and are disobedient and unfaithful to it and will not by it be restrained from their evil ways though it reprove them in their Hearts nor will not be washed from their Filthiness by that which God hath sent for that end and purpose but rejoyce in Postmessengers and in the Openings of such as are as cast away from the Lord by reason of disobedience who for their own Carnal ends will use all their endeavours to retain them in their Ways Ordinances Ceremonies and Preachings certainly the Lord will bring upon such the Waters of Confusion strong and many which shall overflow them more and more until they be overwhelmed And so in the pure Love of God that thinketh no Evil is this written that all who come to hear or read the same may be warned to examine themselves in the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts and Consciences whether they be truly the Children of God yea or nay and whether or no the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ bear witness with their Spirits that they are Children of God and Members of Christ by being truly baptized by his Spirit with his inward Spiritual Baptism into his One Body for he or she that doth not in some measure witness this inwardly is yet short of the state of a true Christian and consequently is no true Child of God nor Member of Christ nor yet in a state of Salvation by Christ and so never the better for being sprinkled dipped or washed with outward Water as in the sight of God For Christ said Not every one that saith unto me Mat. 7.21 Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven And the Will of God is not that any should perish John 3.16 Luk. 2.30 31 32. John 1.9 but that all might come to Repentance and enjoy his Eternal Salvation which he hath prepared before the face of all People a true Light that lighteth every man and he commandeth all to hear his beloved Son who saith Believe in the Light Luke 17.21 Mat. 13.1 to 23. that ye may be the Children of the Light which is the Word of the Kingdom of God which is within and is sown in the Hearts of all yea even those that are compared to the Ground by the Way-side who though they hear it yet understand it not but the wicked One cometh and catcheth away that which was sown in their Hearts And so whoever thou art that readest this beware lest this be thy condition for then Wo and Misery must be thy portion for ever but thy fading and deluding Pleasures will soon be past And therefore if there be any tender Desires in thy Heart after God and after the enjoyment of his Heavenly Kingdom oh then first seek his Kingdom and the Righteousness of it and that thou mayest find it hearken to the Word of his Kingdom which is the Light that reproveth for Sin in thy own Heart and Conscience and obey thou the Reproofs of its Instruction Prov. 6.23 Prov. 10.17 for that is the Way of Life and walk thou therein and so as thou continuest faithful in the obedience of it it will teach thee to deny thy self of Sin more and more which all that teach for Money cannot do and
Church the Whore that is adulterated from God And if any that readeth this by the Light of Christ in their Consciences see their sinful Condition and that they are in any part of Babylon or its Suburbs let them hearken to the Voice of his Light and Grace in their Hearts and Consciences which saith Come out of Babylon my People that ye be not Partakers of her Sins and that ye receive not of their Plagues and as they truly and inwardly are retired to the Light they will see the Wounds and Bruises and Sores which Sin hath made in their Souls and they dare not let them be slightly healed by the Fair Speeches and Perswasions of Men neither can all that Babylon's Merchants say satisfie that any such Salve as they have to sell can make their Souls sound But as they freely give up with all their Hearts to seek him who is the desire of all Nations and the Beloved of the Souls of the Righteous who Cureth all manner of Diseases he will give Eye-salve that they may more and more see and he will wash and bind up their Wounds and pour in Oyl as he seeth meet in his own time And as the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt by his Servant Moses so will he lead them out of Spiritual Babylon by the Hand and Power of his Son Ghrist Jesus the Spiritual Prophet whom Moses Prophesied of Acts 3.22 that God would raise up in the midst of his People like unto me said he him shall ye hear in all things and every Soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed and so as the Israelites were led through the Red Sea which the Lord divided for them to pass thorow Exod. 14. so the Lord will make way through Difficulties and Exercises for all them to pass thorow who are freely willing to be led by the Light and hearken to the Voice of Christ in their Hearts and as the Enemies of the Israelites pursued them even into the divided Sea and made them afraid even so their spiritual Enemies may pursue them in their Exercises but as they abide still and quiet in their Minds and trust in the Lord they shall see the salvation of God and their Enemies that they then see they shall never see them again for as the Egyptians were overthrown in their pursuit of Israel in the Red Sea so the Lord will overwhelm and destroy the spiritual Enemies of such as truly Follow and Believe in him And so as the Israelites were Baptized unto Moses in the Cloud 1 Cor. 10.2 and in the Sea so they must be Baptized into Christ Jesus in bitter Tryals and Exercises and as Moses and the Children of Israel Exod. 15. â— sung of the salvation of God when they had passed thorow the Sea and saw their Enemies destroyed even so they will have great cause to rejoice whose spiritual Enemies God hath destroyed and they may sing of God's salvation And as Israel was led through the Wilderness Hos 2.14 so will the Lord allure his People as into the Wilderness spiritually and there he will speak to their Hearts and as they are faithful and obedient to follow him in the Wilderness without murmuring they will come to know a passing thorow the spiritual Jordan Jesh 3.17 or River of Judgment as on dry Ground into the Promised Land And so they may know an entring into the Rest of God Heb. 4.9 or the true spiritual keeping of the Christian Sabbath which remaineth to the People of God Isa 58.13 Joh. 6.28 29. Phil. 2.13 in which they â—â—e not to do their own Ways nor find theâ—â—â—â—wn pleasure nor speak their own words and so they may know a working of the Works of God and know God to work in them both to will and to do of his own good pleasure and know a ceasing from their own Works as God did from his And such as these it is who know aright the true inward and spiritual Baptism of Christ with his Holy Spirit and Fire who know him to be unto them inwardly like a Refiners Fire and as Fullers Soap Mal. 3.2 Zech. 13.9 Mal. 3.17 18. who refineth them as Silver is refined and tryeth them as Gold is tryed and the Lord maketh them his Jewels and these can discern between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not And these are such as were sometimes Darkness whilst the Power of Darkness prevailed in them over them but now they are light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 9 10.11 John 12.36 1 Thes 5.5 and they walk as Children of the light and have no fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness but rather reprove them these according to Christ's Command having believed in the light are become Children of the light and they walking in the light 1 John 1. as God is in the light have Unity and Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin And so in the light Knowledge is given to them of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God Col. 2.2 Mat. 13.28 they being also Children of it and though they know nothing of divers Languages yet in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ they can try the Spirits whether they are of God and hereby know they the Spirit of God 1 John 4.1 2 3. and every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is not of God and this is the Spirit of Antichrist Mat. 4.25 1 John 4.1 2 3. Now mark All Antichrists as Men say that Christ is Christ as Christ foretold that they should but their Spirits deny him to be come in the Flesh to wit denying the end of his coming in the Flesh And so they who being under the Dominion of the Man of Sin teach that there is no freedom from sin at tainable on this side the Grave they say that Christ is Christ and in words own that he came in the Flesh as the Holy Scriptures declare But doth not their Spirit deny the very end of his coming in the Flesh Dan. 9.24 which is to finish Transgression and to make an end of sins and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness and to sanctifie and cleanse true Believers who are his Church Eph. 5.26 27. that he may present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing And likewise many of them that Fight and Kill one another and the Servants of Christ also about Religion such say that Christ is Christ and in words own his coming in the Flesh but doth not their Spirit deny the very end of his coming which was not to destroy Mens Lives but to save them Luke 9.56 And he said My Kingdom is not of this World else would my Servants Fight and said All that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword
Ministers of Christ whose Travail and Preaching often is and hath been in the hazard of their Lives and outward Estates And they that receive believe in walk in and continue in the New Covenant of the Everlasting Gospel of God which is the Light Grace Law and Spirit of God in their Hearts there is no need for them to be subject to Ordinances of Men nor to be burdened writh ther Traditions 2 Cor. 3. nor to be in Bondage to weak and beggarly Elements in their true Worship of God John 4.24 Col. 2.20 Rom. 8.21 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.9 which is in his Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and such are all led and taught by the Spirit of God and stand fast in the glorious Liberty of the Children of God wherewith Christ hath made them free from the Yoak of Bondage to outward Elements Ordinances and Traditions of Men. And the Children of God who stand in their Liberty are the Babes unto whom the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed which are hid from the Wise and Prudent of the World Mac. 11.25 and these Babes have believed the Record of the Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these Three are One and this is the Record that God hath given unto them Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son and these Babes believe on the Son of God 1 John 5.1 2 to 12. and have in themselves the Record or Witness being One in signification and this is the Witness of God which is greater than the Witness of Men which Witness the Spirit beareth because the Spirit is Truth and so there are Three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree in One witnessing with the Spirits of these Babes who are true Christians that they are the Children of God And these are not dead Witnesses as outward Water is dead but are living Witnesses John 6.63 1 Cor. 15.45 for the living Spirit beareth Witness 2 Cor. 3.6 Tit. 3.5 Jer. 4.14 John 4.10 Isa 4.4 1 John 1.7 which Spirit quickeneth and giveth Life and the living Water beareth Witness which Water washeth the Heart from filth and wickedness which Water Christ giveth to them that are athirst and ask and the Blood which is not dead for the Blood is the Life Dent. 12.23 beareth Witness which Blood cleanseth them that walk in the Light as God is in the Light from all sin And so these Three the Spirit and the Water and the Blood agree in One witnessing or bearing Witness in the Earth to wit the Hearts of true Christians of and unto the inward Baptism of Christ And these Babes being Born not of Corruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. Heb. 4.12 Eph. 6.17 Eph. 6.25 but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword 1 Pet. 2.2 which is the Sword of the Spirit of God by which the true inward Circumcision is made and the true inward Baptism of Christ in the Heart wrought These as now Born Babes desiring the sincere Milk of this Living Word how should their tender Heavenly Father who knoweth all their Needs and Necessities but afford them Nourishment by the same that they may grow thereby And though these Babes at the first be but as unskilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.12 13.14 Col. 2.19 and use as it were Milk and not strong Meat yet as they truly hunger after the Divine Milk of this Word they come to be satisfied therewith and nourished thereby and so they grow and increase with the increase of God till they come to have their senses truly exercised by reason of use to discern both good and evil and then the Apostle calleth them perfect or of full Age as some Translate to whom strong Meat belongeth and so then they know an eating of the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World And Christ said If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and saith he The Bread that I will give is my Flesh John 6.32 33 to 63. which I will give for the Life of the World and he said to the Jews Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last Day for my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him as the Living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me This is the Bread that came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are dead he that eateth this Bread shall live for ever and to them that murmured at these sayings Christ said Doth this offend you What and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And so it is plain Mat. 4.4 that true Christians live by the words that Christ speaketh in their Hearts and Souls and Consciences by his Light and Grace the answering of which in faithful Obedience is as Meat and Drink to their Souls and they know the Law of the Mouth of God to be better unto them John 14.10 Psal 119.72 Mal. 2.7 than Thousands of Gold and Silver And as in Times past under the Law the Priests Lips were to keep Knowledge Col. 2.3 and the People were to seek the Law at his Mouth so the Lips of Christ who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck they keep Knowledge and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and all true Christians inwardly seek the Law at his Mouth and their Souls live by the words that proceed out of it Psal 26.8.9 1 Tim. 6.16 Isa 60.19 and these are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's House who dwelleth in the Light and these drink of the River of his Pleasures for with him is the Fountain of Life and in his Light they see Light and the Lord will be unto them an Everlasting Light and their God their Glory But they that believe not in the Light of Christ in their Hearts but rebel against it and kick against the Pricks and Reproofs of it how should such be satisfied with the fatness of God's House Or how should such know an eating of the Bread that Christ giveth which is his Flesh and Blood and a dwelling in Christ and Christ in them Or how should such know the words that Christ speaketh unto them by his Light Grace and
Abomination unto him and therefore as Cain was with his Brother Abel so they are wroth with those whose Offerings and Worships finds respect with God being in the Spirit of God which they are erred from as also was Cain And so these also run greedily after the Errour of Balaam for a Reward and tho' they Preach Peace to them that buy of them yet they prepare War against such as put not into their Mouths these are such as Judge for Reward Teach for Hire and Divine for Money and yet seem to lean upon the Lord Miâ—â—h 3. and say Is not the Lord amongst us no evil shall come upon us But when such as these cry unto the Lord he will not hear them but he the Light whom they have rejected will hide his Face from them and then surely Night will be unto them that they shall not have a Vision for so it was Prophesied of such deceitful Prophets no marvel then if they say Vision is ceased and Revelation ceased for it was said The sun shall go down over them and the day shall be dark over them that they shall not Divine the seers shall be ashamed and the diviners confounded yea they shall all cover their lips for there is no answer of God So here is the Work and Wages of false Prophets described And now is at hand the great and notable Day of the Lord wherein he will try and weigh all People in the just Ballance of his Sanctuary and it will come as a Thief in the Night in an unexpected and terrible time and manner upon all the Children of Disobedience in whose Hearts the Prince of the Power of the Air worketh and ruleth and they being Airy and Light and Wanton which are compared to Chaff will be found too light in the tryal and upon them will the unquenchable Fire take hold Mat. 3.12 and in that day their Leaders and Teachers of whom it is said Mic. 7.4 The best of them is as a Briar and the most upright is sharper than a Thorn-hedge Eccles 7.6 who are thus compared to Briars and Thorns whose end is to be burned their end must be like the end of the laughter of a Fool which is compared to the crackling of Thorns under a Pot and all their Wit and Learning Arts and Parts can then yield them small satisfaction So there is a great difference between these false Teachers and their Rewards and the Ministers of Christ and their Rewards for the Apostle Peter said 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 5.2 3 4. 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 reçady mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being ensamples to the flock and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away So the Reward of the Ministers of Christ who are faithful Stewards of his manifold Grace and diligently improve the Talent which he hath given them shall be a Crown of never-fading Glory And they that are faithful to God tho' it be but as in a little may be made Stewards or Rulers over more but they who are unfaithful whether in much or little that is committed to them and sin against the Light and Grace of Christ in their Hearts and continue in so doing how can such expect any other from the Hand of the Lord Mat. 25.14 to 31. but the unprofitable Servant's Reward which is to be cast into outer Darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth And certainly the Lord God of Heaven and Earth will render to every Man and Woman according to their Works and will bring all People upon the Face of the whole Earth to an account not how strictly they have obeyed the Orders Laws and Injunctions about Religion made by Popes Cardinals Bishops or Priests of any sort who say Lo here or lo there in this Way or in that Form is the true Religion but he will have an account how every one hath improved and profi ed with the Talent which he hath given them to profit withal which is the Manifestation of his Holy Spirit the true Light inwardly enlightening every Man and the Word of his Kingdom in their Hearts the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the Grace of God that brings Salvation and hath appeared to all Men and this Word Grace and Light inwardly reproveth for Sin in the Hearts and Consciences of People and woe to them that turn not at its Reproof But all that in the love of it receive it and believe in it and give up their Hearts and Minds freely to learn of it will become sensible of the powerful Work of it more and more in their Hearts for it teacheth all that believe in it and carefully take heed to it to deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to deny all other teachings of Men who are not taught by it but turn from it into wantonness or worldly-mindedness and it teacheth to deny paying any thing to any Man for his Teachings whereby he may deceive People for the Teachings of Christ are free and all Christ's Ministers have freely received and they freely give and Covet no Man's Silver Acts 20.32 33 34. nor Gold nor Apparel nor other of his worldly things but are content with such things as they have and Godliness with Contentment is to them great Gain And so the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation is the Teacher of all true Christians and teacheth them to live soberly Tit. 2.11 to 15. righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for them that he might redeem them from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works who have profited with the Talents that God hath bestowed upon them and must enter into the Joy of their Lord having hearkened diligently to the Reproof of Instruction in their own Hearts which is the Way of Life and love to walk therein even in the Just Man's Path Prov. 4.18 which is as a shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day of Redemption and Salvation from all Iniquity 1 Cor. 6.2 Eph. 4.30 and these glorifie God in their Bodies and in their Spirits which are his to whom belongs the Honour and the Glory and the Praise for ever and for evermore Amen The END