life togather us unto God in the unity of the light and fellowship of the Gospel to the bringing forth of all vertue in Brotherly kindneâ—â— and unfeigned love so 〈◊〉 the same he passed out of thiâ— City but a few days before he laid down the body in perfect peace returning to the Father who sent him and in whose will he brought forth unto God and his works follow him This and several others that he penned have formerly been printed and some have given praise unto God for the benefit received thereby And now out of a sincere desire that God over all may be glorified from whom every good and perfect gift cometh and the souls that are yet afar off from the life of righteousness may be brought nigh is this again published And in the â—â—eling of the everlasting spirit the justifier of all that believe therein is it sent abroad by her that is a traveller for the breaking of the head of wickedness and the opening of the eyes of the ignorant and that the simple may not stumble at the Authors name but read this or any other of his Writings in Gods fear that thou may receive counsel instruction wisdom and comfort thereby as many who believe have done I have here set down his own words as they were written by him and sent unto the Parliament Concerning Christ Jesus that you may not be harmed or hindred by false reports but receive the truth in the love of it in which it is sent to you in the good will of God from her that is made willing to be a servant for Christs sake R. T. This following Testimony was written by his own hand and delivered to the then Parliament who persecuted him as a Blasphemer in the time of his imprisonment in Bridewel CHrist Jesus the Immanuel of whose sufferings the Scriptutes declares him alone I confess before men for whose fake I have denied what ever was dear to me in this world that I might win him and be found in him and not in my self whose life â—nd vertue I find daily manifest in my mortal body which is my eternal joy and hope of glory whom alone I seek to serve in spirit soul and body night and day according to the measure of grace working in me that in â—â—e he may be glorified whether by life or death and for his sake I suffer all things that he alone may have the glory of my change whose work alone it is in me Even to that eternal Spirit be glory and to the Lamb for ever But to ascribe this Name power and vertue to James Nailor or to that which had a beginning and must return to dust or for that to be exalted or worshiped to me is great Idolatry and with the Spirit of Christ Jesus in me it is condemned which Spirit leads to lowliness meekness and long-suffering So having an opportunity given with readiness I am willing in the fear of God the Father in honour to Christ Jesus and to take off all offences from every simple heart this to declare to all the world as the truth of Christ is in me without guile or deceit daily finding it to be my work to seek peace in truth with all men in that Spirit James Nailor The Heads of the particulars contained in this ensuing Treatise I. What the Possession of the living faith is pag. 1. II. Who they be that are under the Law and who they be that have made void the Law against themselves and who they be that are under grace p. 24. III. Of the way of life from the knowledge that devoures the life p. 26. IV. An opening of light to all sorts of Rulers and people that wait for the Kingdom of God p. 27. V. A Candle lighted to give the sight of the good old way of God at his coming from the wayes that now ensnares the simple p. 42. VI. The Living God glorified in his Temples the true worshippers that worship him in Spirit and in Truth p. 50. VII To the Ranters p. 57. VIII Deceipt discovered by its fruits p. 59. IX A Message from the Spirit of Truth unto the Holy seed p. 69. What the Profession of the Living Faith is c. FOrasmuch as a right Faith is the onely ground of mans Eternal happiness and the only thing which gains the Creature an entrance towards his Creator and without which it is impossible to please God though much hath been said of it already yet I having found by learning the true and living faith which hath the living power different from that faith which is dead and without that power And seeing that so many at this day are at ease in a dead faith and their souls in the grave In tender love thereto I am stirred up to declare something of the faith of Christ which I have found onely effectual to Salvation and Reconciliation with God And somewhat the rather in regard the Enemy hath spread so many false reports of me touching my faith in Christ Jesus which here I shall declare in plainness for the satisfying of simple minds who desire to know Truth rather then to Reproach it and for those who seek occasion I chuse rather to bear their reproach that are in that Nature then contend therewith for my work is not with Flesh and Bloud nor is it in my Spirit to strive with any about words that stir up strivings and contention and edefie not but with God I strive daily and to that of God in all I seek to be manifest which resists not evil but seek to overcome it with good waiting for the Kingdom of God in all and the Souls Redemption out of death and the Seed out of bondage and where that is not effected in measure I look not to be owned nor my witness received though it be not of my self but Christ Jesus in me And first a Faith or belief I have found in the World of which I shall say little in this place having found indeed little in it to the Salvation of Life It s a literal Faith grounded upon the History of the Scripture touching God and Christ and what Christ did in that Temple which the Jewes destroyed at Jerusalem c. But doth not know him in Spirit nor believe him as his Name is EMANUEL to all Generations and so doth not necessarily work the believer into a conformity to that head in his then walking by his coming again in the same Spirit and Power working in them the same Will Mind and Affections and Obedience to the Father in their measure which was in him the Example Author Worker and Finisher of the True and Living Faith And of this Faith being somewhat dressed by the several Opinions of men are all the unclean Spirits living in whatsoever abomination is to be mentioned in the world all Sects and Opinions or whatever may be found in all Colours in these Northern Parts of the World with this Faith they are covered and this
is their strength and here they take comfort to themselves against all Reproof witâ— in or from without though living openly in the greatest Whoredomes against the Spirit of Holiness Carnal or Spiritual that can be mentioned even at a distance from Christ in his whole life yet they believe Christ came to save sinners of which they are chief and they that are whole need not the Physician c. And so the greater their wickedness is the nearer to Christ they believe And by this Faith he that came to save People from sin and to lead out of sin both by Example and Spirit is made a cover for all filthiness of flesh and Spirit and to strengthen the heart of wickedness against the life of holiness some in one sin some in another but with this Faith do all sorts strengthen themselves and hardens their hearts against the light of Christ and that Spirit which reproves the World of sin and convinceth of it and would lead out of it and hence it is that the witness of God that is holy in all is trampled under foot in all and little regarded in any but by this Faith believed on in none to be the way to the Father though the world have no light but it nor is there a Promise of Life in any other And this to me appears to be that Faith of the Devil or dead Faith the Apostle speaks on James 2. Though more hardned in it against Gods fear for the Devils when they believe tremble at it So this Faith I leave being judged already by its fruits with the light of Christ in every honest heart that loves holiness And of that Faith I shall speak something in which I have found a measure of the Life of Christ made manifest in my mortal Body in which life alone is the True and Eternal union and atonement with the Holy God into whom no unclean thing can enter And this is not a notion of what was done in another generation past or to come hundreds or thousands of years distance but that which leads to the beginning of the work of a new Creature at this day and a new birth spiritually begotten and born and brought to light without which none can see the Kingdom of God nor enter therein And this Faith doth not work by the comprehensions of brain-knowledge that because I could here conceive or declare of Christ Jesus from the beginning to the age thereof in words or thoughts that therefore I have learned him or know him as I ought to do or am grown up in him to a perfect man and so to deceive others by declaring and boasting of what God hath not wrought in me as a man may easily do and deceive his own soul and bewitch others also by leading them out of their measures of Gods present work in them But of the living Father wâ—h now worketh powerfully in spirit by love thereto the mystery wherof is holden forth in a pure conscience working out the old leven purifying the heart making all things new judging and killing and crucifying with Christ in spirit the works of the flesh and casting out every thing in me that is not of God and renewing in me the things of God in their order by his mighty working in me in which the soul is raised out of the grave and the dead restored to life actually and not in conceit Of the Grounds and Workings of this Living Faith I shall speak something And though the foundation of this Faith or beginning of it was that I did really believe in that which Christ did and suffered at Jerusalem and that there in that vessel he bare the sins of the World and satisfied the wrath of God for sins past and overcame death hell and the grave and made way for the Seed to arise in all through the whole World who would believe in his light which then shined through him to all men wherein he might be seen to be the Way the Truth and the Life apparent openly triumphing over all that had passed above the Seed And much more might be said of him there finished all which I did believe according to â—cripture which was an opening of me to receive him from Heaven in the same spirit and power without which I could not have received the gift of that holy Spirit God having so purposed from the beginning that the Covenant of Eternall Life and power should be received no other way but by faith in him who in the fulness of â—ime was there manifest in flesh for the taking away sins past and making a way for the Resurrection of life over all to save from sins for time to come The effect of which Faith when in the 〈…〉 ight I first received it did turn my mind out of all my sins past and took my mind out of them and turned me towards God and holiness of life I then believed to attain in that faith and receive power therein to grow up in him to his fulness and stature which then I see no less faith could save me then the perfect Faith of the Son of God which before I had not received but then received with such gladness of heart that it set my face and delights out of all sin towards the perfection of Christ in which I then believed which was the Joy then set before me yet was not the work done and finished in me already though I having received the Faith and Hope of the Son of God and was turned from all my former sin and my own righteousness so that if I had departed this Body I had died in no less Faith then the Holy Faith of Christ Jesus and so being turned to his Spirit out of the works of the Flesh I was turned from my sin and so from condemnation yet was there a great work to do in me before I could witness freedom from the body of death and the root and ground of evil removed and the seed raised to reign and the soul brought into the holy City the resurrection of the dead and fellowship in the Father and the Son c. And that glorious liberty of the new Creature and all things to be of God in me as the Scriptures do witness so this faith did not work me into a conceit of my self glorying in knowledge and so to become a Teacher of others what I had conceived below the life but it led me down into the obedience of the Spirit of Light to wait therein for the Resurrection of Life and I came to see in that Light that the motions of sin did still work from the old ground and root and that must be removed by the power of Christ working in spirit and my obedience and watchfulâ—ess therein was required and that without obedience to this faith I could not come to perfect victory over the enmity nor the glorious liberty of the Sons of God for though this faith had turned my heart towards Christ
and given me hope to attain him yet I had not thâ—n learned him nor was he yet formed in me so was I led in the Light of Christ to see what I had of this treasure in the earthen vessel which I found to be in me very little and that Seed the least of all Seeds so I became little in that eye which told me the truth though I had been high in my own thoughts formerly And so to the Word of the beginning of Christ I was led or the first Principle of the Doctrine of Christ that with that which teacheth Christ I might learn Christ in every measure of him as I grew therein so was I brought to know him that was made under the Law and to the foundation of repentance from dead works and to doctrines of Baptisms and to Eternal Judgement then came I in Truth and Life to see what they were doing whom the Apostles exhorted to work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling after they had fully believed what Christ had done for them at Jerusalem in that Vessel and many other Scriptures did he open to me as I learned him which before to me was a Mystery while I learned them in meanings without the Life of Christ which then was opened by the Revelation of Jesus Christ as they came to be fulfilled in me being led by the same Spirit in that work of Faith then came I to see that I through the Law must be redeemed from the Law and that my redemption from it must not be by making it void but by fulfilling of it and till then it had power over me and sin took occasion by it to strengthen it self in me but as I came to grow in the Spirit and Power of Christ I was in him brought through it it in him fulfilled and I dead to it as it came to be fulfilled and the words of Christ I found true I came not to break the Law but to fulfil it and it is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away then one jot of the Law to pasâ— away till it be fulfilled and I needed not a meaning to that Scripture but a fulfilling thereof in Christ Jesus and the Schoolmaster that brings to Christ I learned and Christ formed the heir under tutors before I knew the liberty of the Son of God or perfect freedom and then I saw the Scriptures could not be broken nor wrested but it must be learned in the life of it to Salvation which the unlearned wrest to their own destruction by meanings without life and that it was of no private interpretation but this one Spirit must open it all in the fulfilling thereof and this Faith in Christ Jesus onely was able to make wise unto Salvation of Eternall Life And then came I clearly to see Christ Jesus set before me in all things that I was to go through in that faith which I had first received and that the attaining of him was the hope of glory and no hope without him and this hope was as an Anchor in all hardships and temptations which was not a few I was led through but all was counted little while I stood in this Faith for the hope that was in me to win Christ and I clearly saw that notwithstanding my first faith in what he had done at Jerusalem yet if I did not continue therein to follow the same spirit in obedience thereto believing therein in all its leadings hoping to attain to Christ Jesus the end of that Faith in daily growing towards his Stature and fulness but had turned aside or set down short of the leadings of that Spirit in the way I had made void my hope of Glory the work of my redemption and that which Christ did at Jeruâ—alem as to me and had denyed my first Faith and could not have been saved from wrath to come That being the end of that Faith committed to me that therein I might faithfully without doubting follow him in Spirit through all Tryals and Temptations of which way he was a perfect example in his walking in that Flesh at Jerusalem that through the Scriptures I might have hope seeing he went the same way before me there in which he now leads and thaâ— therein I might see him to be the same to all generations as he was there and in his Saints that followed him And as they exhorted one another to look unto him in their Travel who was the Authour and Finisher of their Faith and to consider him as an example who endured such contradictions of sinners against himself least they should be weary of suffering and faint in their mindes and â—o their Faith and Hope was strengthened So also I looking to the same in him and also in them after him my Faith and Patience might be doubled and my obedience made without doubting and my hope firme unto the end which end was the winning Christ in me the Hope of Glory the great Mystery of Faith which is hid from all till the Revelation of Christ Jesus and so when the Saints and Apostles had Christ revealed in them they were able Ministers of him and had the mystery opened and preached it without doubt that mystery of godlinesse which was great yet hid from the world but to them without all controversie God manifest in flesh not God flesh but manifest in flesh which mystery of Faith they held in a pure conscience and so I knew my Faith to be the same Faith once delivered to the Saints and the good fight of that faith I came to know and that Faith which overcomes the world which hath the promise and inheritance of Eternal Life which all that go back from denyes the Faith of Christ and sets up a Faith without Christ which is not the faith of Christ and so in the learning of Christ I came to see the faith of Christ from faith to faith and the faith of Devils the living working faith and the dead faith without works and I finde that Christ never believed that he could never be perfect nor overcome the Devil nor overcome sin it was never the Faith of Christ to make void the Law of his Father unfulfilled in him it was never his faith to revenge evil but to overcome it with good it was never his faith to respect persons or that he could commit sin and not be the servant of sin it was never his faith to sue contend or fight or persecute any to judge for rewards or Preach for hire or any way to serve the Mammon of this world it was not his Faith to observe his own will his own times or the worlds customes but to observe his Father in all things and onely what he received from him that he did and could do nothing of himself he never believed them to be children of God who said and did not And much such like things as these were never by him believed but is the worlds faith to uphold them in sin
and lusts who are enemies to the faith of Christ which presents perfect to God by working out such evils All which I came to see not by man but in the revelation of Christ as in his Faith I learned him growing into his Faith into him and his life therein made manifest in my body So I see what is his in truth as the truth is in Jesus and what is the worlds and but called his to oppose him And I see that which loves the things of this world to be none of his love nor that his joy that takes pleasure in visible things nor that his liberty which is in the works of the flesh nor that his peace that is in sin nor that his patience that seeks its own revenge nor that his glory that 's in pride nor that his worship which stands in carnal things nor that his honour that 's sought of men nor that his knowledge that 's after the flesh nor that his fear that is taught by his precepts of men these are in the world and not in him but have onely got the name to be his but are enemies to his life and were never begat of his Father nor learned in the Son all which and much like stuff I came to see the deceit of by that truth and simplicity I found in Christ contrary to the will of man And so in the life of Christ I have learned to know the growth of the Faith of Christ and the riches of it and the end of it which is Christ Jesus in all its working and I also know the worlds faith its uncleanness whose end is not to attain the holiness of Christ in life but would live in the worlds delights and have Christ for a cover and be saved by the righteousness of another which they have no minde to walk in themselves and so that faith works not by love which loves not the life of Christ but are enemies to his Crosse minding earthly things and this is the earthly faith but the living Faith works by love to holiness of life and therefore purifies the heart and the mystery of it stands in a pure conscience within themselves that have it and not in telling and comprehending what was in another for the Devils believes the holinesse that was in Christ and can preach it but cannot inherit it because they love not to live the life of it and by this I know them both for ever and all that prove them in the life of Christ shall witnesse with me the end of the one is the life of Christ in which himself walked and the same obedience of the same Spirit to the same Father by the same power according to the proportion of Faith received from God which Faith is from above and so layes hold on heavenly things for its strength and so brings forth heavenly fruits The other professeth and promiseth great things but ends in the world and mindes earthly things and doth not purifie the heart nor believes ever to attain the life of Christ his stature or fulness but counts it an error in such as presse after such attainments and so the end of the conversation of one is Christ Jesus to hold forth in Life and Power the same yesterday and to day and for ever The end of the other is a liberty to sin here while they can take any pleasure in it and sanctification and salvation when they are dead and according to the end of each faith so it works for its impossible for him that cannot believe holiness to work holiness but according to each mans faith so must he inherit in this world and that which is to come And in the workings and attainments of this living powerful faith I have found several measures according to my growth therein from the Word of the beginning of Christ or the first Principle of Christ and the fulness age and stature of Christ as betwixt a Babe a man grown in strength much working in spirit I found betwixt faith received of Christ Jesus and Christ learned in me for though I received the faith of his fulness in what he was at Jerusalem in his flesh there at once yet had not I so learned him in Spirit life in my mortal flesh nor put him on at once but in the light of Faith I saw I was so to run as to win him before I could put him on wherein I came to see and know my self begotten again in him by faith towards God who is the way to God in which way I came to see the begotten of the Father manifeâ—â— in measure in me in the pure image of a Holy Child separate from the fleshly sinful seed or Christ formed in me as the Scriptures witness and when I did behold his pure image and his pure mind and nature so far contrary to my own yet then was not he in his Kingdom nor all things put under his feet nor could I say that Jesus was then Lord in me but by the Spirits working by this Faith I had received and in hope thereof was I made to endure the loss of all things and to deny all things that ever this holy Spirit did War against in me which might any way oppresse this holy plant or hinder its growth owning his judgment in the light upon what ever was in my heart or affections but him alone though never so much gain in my account in the world which judgment being owned consented to against my self and all my self lovers therein was I parted from them in judgment and so then was they subdued by the powerful workings of that Spirit and put under his feet and I set free from them to arise with him above them being brought from under them and this was not done all at once but in order as he appeared in the light to manifest every particular evil And as that Faith I had received wrought by love to him a consent in my spirit to his just judgement upon them and I made willing to give them up to the fire and to come out of them and joyn to him in the execution least he should consume me with them as it must have been had I stayed in them and here I found the benefit of the light which goes before his face to prepare his way and the salvation of Faith which saved me through hope of him that I was not destroyed in my sins which Faith and hope gave me an entrance within the vail or a hiding place in him while the indignation was over which was to pass upon the man of sin And so a voice was heard in the wilderness calling out of sin into a way I knew not but as the light of his Covenant led me in the spirit of Elias turning my heart towards him that he might not smite the earth with a curse at his coming in which wâ—y ere I came into the Kingdom of Christ my pure rest I met with many hardships
and great travels and many temptations and tryals within and without but the greatest enemies was yet within me which would upon every hardship be tempring with unbelief to destroy this Faith and hope which was all that I had set before me to encourage me to endure such hardships and to follow the light in a way I had not known and to walk in the Cloudâ— to meet the Lord and to leave my former knowledge and wisdom and glory and riches to go in a way I had not wâ—llâ—ed and to abide such assaults on every hand every foot the world which I was called out of ready to overtake me and compasse me about and to turn me back again into what I had seen and enjoyed behind me ever seeking to perswade me that I should never attain to him that was set before me in the Faith and hope Then come I clearly to see that though I had received the Faith of Christ as a shield in this War by which I was saved that the wrath of God took me not away in these temptings and murmurings and reasonings and doubting which did arise in the fleshly part yet the purchased possession was not yet redeemed for me to enjoy at present though I had heard and believed the Gospel of salvation and was sealed with the holy Spirit of promise till I came to be boilded up with Christ for an habitation of God through the Spirit And I found by daily experience that my salvation was not compleat so long as my soul was subjected under any earthly lust or passion nor the War over but as by the mighty working of God in me by that Spirit this came to be subdued under the feet of Christ and the Soul set above it with him to reign in the heavenly place so was my Salvation nearer then when I believed for the Soul is not safe while sin lives or the flesh lusts for that wars against the Soul and every sin wounds it and this shall all know who are not past feeling what ever their Faith be touching Christ Jesus or what was wrought in another whilst sin defiles the Soul it is not safe nor the honest heart hath peace and rest for the rest and peace is placed in the Holy City where comes no unclean thing into which the Soul enters not till that all righteouâ—ness be fulfilled upon earth the Soul singled from all corruption and have put on immortality death swallowed up in victory when the sting is taken away which is sin the strength of sin which is the Law which is not taken away but where it is fulfilled there onely grace reigns through righteousness and this I found to be truth as the truth is found in Jesus as I came to learn him and put him on by Faith which I had believed and I see the folly of such as would make void the Law by talking of Faith and Grace wherein sin is yet standing and the Soul taken captive therewith which I had often sought peace therein to my self but could not inherit liberty to my Soul any other way but as it came to be purified in obedience through the Spirit And this work was not wrought in me by the knowledge of Christ after the flesh but as I came to learn him in Spirit for spiritual wickedness had taken my Soul captive and by the Spirit it must be sanctified and set free And I came to see that if I had been in his company here on earth as long as his Disciples were in the flesh and seen as much as they did and heard from his own mouth I should have been short of this work as they were in whom the Child was unborn when he went away in the flesh and they knew not what Spirits they were of untill he came again to them in Spirit and was revealed in them then could they preach the Resurrection of the dead and the Souls Redemption and desired to know him no more after the flesh when once they had received him in Spirit but Preached Christ within the Hope of Glory who till then looked for an outward kingdom and glory untill they had received his promise He that dwelleth with you shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you the world seeth mâ— no more but ye see me and because I live ye shall live also at that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and yâ—u in me and I in you And this was his promise whom they received whom the world seeth no more whose expectations are carnal neither can any see the Kingdom of Heaven but who are born of this Spirit and Heirs of this Life and he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life but the wrath of God abides upon him whatever he may say he believes and none hath the Son but as they receive this Spirit and are led by this Spirit and born thereof And this I found also that this Son of God doth not appear in any within or without but as he conforms them to his own Image which he hath alwayes born in this world as saith the Scripture when he shall appear we shall be like him who shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body from glory to glory by the same Spirit And herein we have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this present world and this is not obtained with thoughts of believing without but by a lively working Power which works out the earthly image and nature and conforms to the heavenly in that spiritual birth which is not of flesh and blood nor could flesh and blood ever discern it in whom it was but ever hared it in whom it hath appeared in all Ages Which is of a shining nature where it is begotten of the Father and cannot be hid where it is formed but by his fruits gives light to the world contrary to the worlds wayes showing of his coming to Judgment against the deeds of darkness And this heavenly begetting of the Father is to be holden forth in that clear â—mage of the Father according to every several measure as he grows therein without mixture that all may see that he is not of this world who also takes them out of this world as he grows in any or they in him forth of the world they must go bearing his reproach that the Scriptures may be fulfilled they are not of this world even as I am not of this world and this is the worlds light and condemnation even his coming And so I find that Faith which joyns to the world where it is and doth not overcome the world is not the faith of Christ nor layes hold on the power of Christ though Faith may believe the History of the Scriptures concerning Christ which faith sets not up the Kingdom of God in the heart and casts out the world there
is the estate of many at this day though some there be whose Consciences are feared and feel not this witness living in them though their damnation slumbereth not though they have lost their Calling and Election also And this have I learned in Christ that there is a great difference both in effect and nature betwixt that Faith which is the gift of God and that faith which men make to themselves for that which is the gift of God is of his own nature clean pure and perfect are all his gifts and so it works naturally the work and will of God in all who receive it freely and mix nothing with it to darken it or stop his working and by this Faith I am saved from sin and condemnation and begotten to the Father thereof in Christ Jesus which faith is not of my self but is the gift of God to perfect holiness in the sight of God and whatever is done in this faith is not sin and whatsoever is against this Faith or not of this Faith is sin and brings Condemnation and this Faith approves not of it and if I act nothing doubtingly nor against this holy Faith in this Faith I am justified in my own heart and my own Conscience kept clean and I approved in Gods sight and I have boldness through the obedience of Faith in the day of Judgement that it is not my own work but the righteousness of Faith which is in Christ Jesus and this effect hath saving working Faith and this is its Nature and Grace But another Faith I have found which is not so in nature or effect being not freely received from above but is feigned and hath its ground here below and its ends also The earthly man in his wisdom from the letter or reason or comprehensions sets up an Opinion or Image in his minde touching God or Christ or Religion Worship Doctrine or Manners or any other thing and then looking upon the likeness of it in the reasoning part gathers strength to believe it must needs be so and so forms a faith in himself And though this faith be not perfect when he hath formed it and made it with all his strength but many things in Scriptures and the practise of the Saints but especially that of God in his own Conscience will not sure with it yet the strong man being above in the strength of his Comprehension forceth a Faith against all these and causes all to bow under it so this Faith brings not forth the Birth of Christ nor his pure Image and Life neither in Matter or Worship nor Manners but what he may imitate Christ and the Saints in worship and keep the world and escape the Cross and save his life and credit and glory there that he will conform to and glory in and for the rest he believes it concerns not him now in all things at this day so to walk as they did And as this Faith is not perfect in Worship so in Practise also for that evil he is not addicted to he condemns in all but that which is in his own heart and eye and brings him profit and pleasure that he will cover and believes it may stand with true belief at this day though formerly it could not And this is the Faith made after man and not after God and so serves in respect of Persons Times and Things but bows not all these for ever to worship in Spirit nor brings them under the foot of Jesus that Spirit but being earthly by nature hath earthly effects and God doth not own that with his Power nor goes forth with that which man makes but with his own Gift which is good and perfect in every measure thereof And this also I have learned in Christ Jesus and declare to all that seek Faith in him That I never received any measure of this Faith of Christ in vain but whatever I acted or suffered therein from the least measure till this day in it I prevailed against what ever the light of the Spirit led me out therein and a shield I have found it and a growth in it towards Christ Jesus in every work of it wherein I have stood single to the end however tempted or tryed before the end appeared yet in the end of that Faith I was ever a Conqueror through the Spirit and whoever proves it to the end in singlenesse of heart shall be witness with me herein with a Cloud of witnesses that have gone before who by this holy Faith have prevailed over the powers of sin and entred into the holy Rest who have not sought their own Kingdom but the Kingdom of Christ And only this pure Faith which works towards the appearance of Christ in all actions and sufferings is that which orders all things in their place and time and fits all Relations for his appearance therein to glorifie God for God is not glorified in any thing upon Earth but in which the Son appears who is the expresse Image and Glory of God and in whom alone he Reveals himself and the glory of his Judgements and Mercy the Grace and Truth of God is in his face in whom ever he appears And so every measure of the heavenly Faith works towards the heavenly appearance and the earthly faith to the earthly appearance And so Faith in God is that which works effectually by love to the Image and Life of God in this world which is seen onely in his spiritual begettings which being believed in and set above shines forth in every measure shewing the vertue and glory of the Spirit of God but the famed earthly faith admits of some earthly thing in the heart for its end in love to which it works disobedience to the Spirit and so comes short of the glory of God for it cannot hold forth the fruits of the Spirit to glorifie God with an earthly lover in the heart nor can one faith serve God and Mammon so he that loves the things of this world is Gods enemy whose faith withstands the appearance of Christ in his actions or sufferings and so withstands the glory of God which therein should be manifest to all men and this is that faith which ever of old hath put him afar off yet gets the form and words to withstand the life and vertue And of this sort they are of whom the Apostle speaks having a form of godliness but deny the power of godliness who ever was the greatest enemies to the coming of Christ being not of the Faith of Christ nor of the Spirit of Christ but being from below withstands his coming from above to be brought forth in his vertue or worshipped in his Spirit this is Antichrist And this spirit and this faith it is that wrests the Scriptures to seduce from Christ and destroy the way of his coming and to that end what Christ really Commands to be brought forth of his life and vertue in real appearance this spirit serves himself with a meaning instead of
that faith saves not the soul from the pollution of the world through lust and so is but a conceit of salvation and not the power of salvation as saith the Scriptures Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even your faith and the faith which works not thus is like a body without a spirit which is dead but the living faith that stands in Christ Jesus that spirit purifies the heart and conscience and makes toward God in Christ the example in all good things overcoming whatever would lett the appearance of Christ in his temple or hinder the bringing forth his vertues which is believed to be in him to the utmost of whatever he hath received of the Father for such believers who believes not in a lye but in the truth and power of God as it is in Christ Jesus and hath been declared in Scriptures not for a discourse but for an inheritance of life of whose fulness we all â—eceive according to our Faith till his coming and we be compleat in him and he in us and so not come short of the glory of God the end of our Faith and Conversation that to the world he may be manifest in life and power to be the same that ever he hath been though he have appeared in several forms in the flesh yet one in Spirit to make a compleat body And therefore we finde those who were of this Faith witnessed Christ present which the worlds faith could never receive under any form or profession but counted it blasphemy and that spirit the spirit of the Devil And so Isaiah witnessed this Childe born to them that so believed in his time who was the mighty God the everlasting Father c. Whose Name they knew to be Immanuel and this was before he appeared in that Temple at Jerusalem and Ezekiel was called the Son of man before that time also and Paul said he was revealed in him and spoke in him and wrought in him and in his flesh that which was behinde of the afflictions of Christ was to be filled up for the bodies sake which is the Church and to whom he forgive any thing in his time he forgive it in the person of Christ and many more might be noted who confessed the same Christ in them present both before and after his time at Jâ—â—â—salem which testimony could never be received by the wisdom of the world in his Temples before nor then nor since to this day for the god of this world being king in the heart and having blinded the eye of the minde that should see his spiritual glory through the light of the Gospel he perswades the world that he is either past or to come but never present and as many as are brought to confess him before men finde it so at this day who are hated of all men for his Names sake that the Scriptures may be fulfilled and his testimony finished And this faith which confesseth him present is that which the world cannot bear nor receive who will preach him themselves at a distance what he was and will be but this faith cannot reach his coming at present in any measure to grow to his appearance now nor will this faith ever give an entrance into his kingdom upon earth nor the holy rest nor is this the Faith of Christ that puts him thus afar off which fills with all the fulness of God And by what I have learned this is clear to me for ever without any more Controversie That the faith that admits of sin is not Christs Frith nor hath any share or possession in him that faith which is not holy came not from God and so cannot build up to God that is not saving Faith that doth not save from sins but is deceiving faith which deceives the Soul and suffers lust to defile it and destroy it and so brings it under condemnation by believing lyes and so letting in sin upon the Soul by consent perswading that it cannot be otherwise and so gives the Devil victory and the world victory and the flesh victory and sin victory over the Soul which should give the Soul victory over all And what greater deceit can there be to the Soul then this is And therefore for ever that which I have seen and learned do I declare openly that this is the deceiving faith and indeed rather unbelief then the Faith of Christ which makes way for the god of this world to reign and act in things contrary to the life of Christ in the Creature and the life of the Soul and that faith which gives way to the least sin is not the Faith of Christ whose work and coming is to destroy the works of the Devil and redeem the Soul from sin and the least measure of that Faith that stands in his life overcomes the world and sin in that measure and he that commits sin goes out of that Faith and acts against it and a lying faith I have found that to be which perswades the soul of freedome from condemnation but gives it not freedom from sin which is the cause of Condemnation and all shall witness this with me now or hereafter that where sin hath power here death hath power and the Grave and Hell and Condemnation hath power also for these are the wages of sin then shall yon say you were deceived who believed the contrary And may not such truly be said to be past feeling indeed who can commit sinne and feel no Condemnation for it already And this is the effect of their false Faith to harden themselves against the faithful witness of God in their own Conscience and the seared Conscience hath made shipwrack of the Faith of Christ and the doctrine of devils preaches the faith of devils to give way to the works of the Devil which all sin is from the least to the greatest and he that pleads for it is a Father to it and he that commits it a servant and may look for the wages thereof if he repent not notwithstanding he believe the contrary And many may feel this truth at this day who have a long time believed with this faith deceiving their own souls day uâ—ter day believing they shall not be condemned when they are condemned already iâ— their own hearts and feel the weight of sinne daily pressing their Souls and burthening the pure Conscience and the fear of death and sinne keeps their Souls still in bondage and lies upon them all their lives and yet they will force themselves to believe contrary to Holy Faith and a good Conscience that they are saved and redeemed and thus make shipwrack of saving Faith and a good Conscience by believing a lye contrary to their own daily feeling no other thing to encourage them therein but this perswasion which suits well with such as take pleasure in unrighteousnesse which perswasion comes not of God but condemned by that of God in themselves and this
faith on tho earth Who they be that are under the Law and who they be that have made void the Laâ— against themselves and who they be that are under Grace GRace reigns throvgh righteousness and the Law through Transgression and he that sayes he is from under the Law and the transgressor alive he makes void the Law against himself but is under it in the account of God For the Seed or Image of God being fallen the transgressor is above to whom there is no Grace nor-Life promised who hath no true obedience but for self-ends upon this is the Law added till the promised Seed arise And a School master the Law is till it bring to Christ who of the woman is made under the Law who takes upon him the Seed after the flesh the Soul to redeem from under the Transgressor that the natural Plant of God may grow so who can witness the Teachings and Chastizings of the Law to bring him so low till he come under the Seed so as the seed be set above the head of the Transgressor and have bruised it and have taken away the strength of sin there the strength of the Law is taken away also And as the Soul is raised up through the Law the Law being fulfilled by the seed through the Spirit so it arises above the Law into the Kingdom of Grace which reigns through Righteousness and not by making void the Law for the Grace is to the Seed and the Law to the Transgressour and as these reign in the Creature so is he under the law or under Grace for the Law hath power over the man of sin as long as he lives then is the Seed of the Promise in bondage but he being dead by which the seed is held captive the seed rises under Grace which as it rifes through the law fulfils it and being fulfilled it loses its strength as sin dies and so hath no more power the Law being the strength of sin till it be fulfilled by the seed through the Spirit so he that is dead to sin is free from sin and under Grace And he that casts off the Law while he is alive that sins makes void the Law against himself So he that 's under Grace is dead to sin and dead to the Law which is the strength of sin and sin hath no more dominion over the soul the power of it being subdued which was the Law unfulfilled but where the Law is made void the strength of sin yet remains and the Law will overtake them in the end And he that learns this in the Death and Resurrection and eternal life shall in this work learn what the Transgression is and how the law is added upon him and how it is the strength of sin in him but not in the seed and what it is that makes the entrance through the Law and how Grace comes to abound where sin hath abounded and to reign through Righteousness unto eternal life So where the Transgressor is slain there the Law is at an end and fulfilled and the natural Plant of God brings forth against which there is no law but the law is against the man of sin and the man of sin against the law as long as he lives and power it will have over him and one jot of it will not pass away till it be fulfilled And he that would cast off the Law and make it void is far from Grace but in him that fulfils the Law doth Grace and Truth abound Of the Way of Life from the Knowledge that devours the Life WOuldest thou know the way of Life from that Knowledge which devours the life then be no longer as the wild Asses Colt but take up the yoak of the Son in whom thou sayest thou believest that the life of Faith thou may feel and know for only in the obedience is the life made sure to thee of what thou believest and thereby is faith and knowledge made perfect But untill thou attain power for obedience of Faith thou art dead and knows but words in which thy Faith stands without life which accomplishes nothing but will arise to condemn thee when thy time is out Therefore in all thy seeking mind that which worketh in a lowly mind calling thee into the Obedience of what is there made manifest in the begettings of the Father and not in the conceivings of the Brain but in the Son For in the Brain-knowledge the Boaster Rules who glories in the wisdom of words but not in the words of life but in the Obedience of the Son is the Father known and glorified in such as walk in the Spirit and not in the mind whose praise is of God and their lives hid with him from all knowledge but what is Revealed in the Obedience of the Son So from man you may learn the knowledge of words but the knowledge of life is only begotten of God so he that hath the Son hath life not of the disobedient Nature for the only begotten of God is Conformable to him that begetteth him in all things through Obedience So feeling thy measure of the begettings of God in it be obedient and seek not to be above it in any thing lest the enemy thereby get power in thee to puffe up thy mind in thy Knowledge above thy life which devours the life Therefore as thou feels Faith Love Meeknesse Gentlenesse Patience or any Godlinesse move in the Spirit therein become obedient with all diligence and thereby shalt thou know the power thereof against all the contrary motions in thy flesh so shalt thou learn the salvation of Grace unto life eternal which thou canst never attain by talking or any other way but in the Obedience thereof so shalt thou not receive the grace of God in vain nor words without the working power of life whereby the living knowledge of the Mystery of godliness will daily increase For by Obedience of the Spirit is the soul purified from its darkness and pollution and made fit for the further manifestation of the hidden Mystery and the receiving the fulness thereof and walking therein And so by the holy Ghost thou shalt be able toconfess Jesus Lord over all powers in heaven and in earth the opener of all secrets and only revealer of the Father who begetteth by whom thou becomes wise in thy knowledge unto salvation not unto vain babling whose words shall rise and Condemn them who glory therein But thou if in Spirit thou hearken diligently and obey shalt know that he who sometimes spoke by the Prophets doth now speak by his Son the everlasting power of godliness only begotten of the Father and in all things like unto him in whom he is made manifest And the Prophets have Prophesied of glory to come but the Son declares the Father in the present life according to the measure of him formed and as he arises in fulness he opens the heavens and gives the inheritance thereinto An opening of Light to all sorts of Rulers
the outward appearance as man looks but by the heart by the direction of the Spirit he was the Shepherd of Israel and his seed of the same Election hath the everlasting Kingdom of promise to all generations Elisha a Plowman yet by that Spirit was he the Chariots of Israel and horsmen thereof Deborah a woman yet a Judge deliverer to Israel And too long would it be to instance in all ages how he hath set up his throne and saved his people in this Election not of wisdom riches or worldly glory but the poor of this world rich in faith heirs of the Kingdom of promise which you say you look for but cannot see nor receive while you chuse after the flesh as the world hath ever done who still have bent all their wisdom and Religion to keep the Heir out of his Kingdom whom they have been looking for after the flesh but not believing in the light to give them a sight through the vail to him that is born of the â—pirit have resisted the Holy One and chosen the murtherer as did your Fathers so do you alwayes resist the Holy Ghost and as it was so it is that which is born of the flesh is flesh chuses after the flesh and worships after the flesh for it can see no further it cannot see the Kingdom of God and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and chuses after the spirit and worships in spirit and these are contrary Kingdoms and he that 's born after the flesh persecutes him that 's born after the spirit ever did and ever will do for the Scripture cannot be broken which hath so said and is now fulfilled And now you that are called Christians you read and Preach of this King Christ Jesus and his Kingdom what a One he ever hath been in his appearance upon Earth by whom he hath been received and by whom rejected and after what manner he hath ever suffered and by what power he hath reigned in all ages and this you will confesse in words but will you now receive him to reign in you Or can you own his appearance where it is set up in others and not be offended therewith is that eye open that knows him or can you delight in him who was never like the world in his walkings was not he ever poor as to this world and therefore rejected of the rich and learned lowly and rejected of Princes and them that was high was not his work ever to change shadows and forms and Religious traditions set up in mens minds above the life of Truth and leadings of the spirit and to set up spiritual worship and obedience in its place And therefore by the builders ever rejected and condemned and his new work was ever foolishness to the wise wherefore he bare the reproach thereof with patience was he not ever meek and innocent and harmless in his conversation towards all men as a Lamb indeed separate from sinners in life yet seeking them to save out of sin with the daily giving up his life c So he was and so he hath ever appeared on earth now can you receive him King as he was you that wait for him Or do you think he is changed Is he now become proud and lofty in flesh after the world cruel coverous and hard-hearted subtle and crafty to deceive the simple strong and violent to trample on the helpless doth the glory of his Scepter now stand in meats and drinks and fine apparel or great earthly possessions doth he now come to take up his abode and delight in these things who ever hath come to take the minds of his people out of these things up into the heavenly treasure doth he now delight in earthly glory strife and exaltation Is the weapons of his warfare now become carnal wherewith he over comes his enemies doth he now come with haling and beating whips and prisons and cruel tortures to take the Kingdom of peace who hath suffered such things formerly from the world himself will he now turn oppressor of that which is tender in Conscience and grind the face of the poor or pervert the Judgment of the needy Should he now be seen in works of this nature were this to appear the second time without sin unto salvation as he is promised Sure the vail is thick over that heart who sees not that this is not his Kingdom Power nor Glory nor his image who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Yet is this nature above in many and chosen to Rule over many who say they wait for his Kingdom that eye being darkned with the love of the world which should give the true sight of his coming the carnal mind thinks God to be like himself But did you but honestly look into your own hearts with that eye which puts a difference between things that differ in your selves to know each motion of each Spirit and each power and the end and nature of its working the earthly and the heavenly you would soon be able to Judge of these two which so far differ in their fruits and are so contrary in all things and to own the right heir in his Kingdom But while you suffer the god of this world to keep his Throne in your hearts by letting him captivate your minds and affections into earthly delighrs it is not like he will suffer you to chuse aright nor receive another to reign in you or over you the eye of the mind being blinded therewith the light of the Gospel cannot shine into the heart by which you should chuse and which gives the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus nor that treasure be seen or received in the earthen vessel as King either in your selves or others but the wise in heart knows what they wait for and when they see him they rejoyce with the joy of his Kingdom which consists not in carnal things nor comes with outward observations but whose coming is within and whose Kingdom consists in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost blessed be our King for ever and blessed are they who put not his Kingdom afar off .. And therefore you Rulers and People of all sorts high and low this word is to you and this day is to you the day of the Lord arise and receive your King into his Kingdom that he may receive you and establish you therein the Lord it at hand he is near to all that call up on him in truth and righteonsness To you Princes Judges Justices Mayors and Constables all sorts of Rulers who are in the place to Govern the Lord is at hand he is near you all the Kingdom of God is within you the Principle of God is within you with which if you mind it he will break the yoak of the oppressor within you and without you by the sword of Justice that 's his Kingdom upon earth put it not afar off let it arise
hath many of the Lords servants for thee whom thou hast cast in holes and prisons for their obedience to God and testimony of their conscience towards God in them whose patient sufferings and unparaleld cruelties are no more valued with thee then if they were dogs and this hath gone throughout thee from the least to the greatest till there be very few left which are not wholly hardned so that to hear of these evil dealings exercised upon the innocent doth no more enter your hearts then the rain enters a rock wherefore our souls are troubled for you and our hopes concerning your healing grows daily less and our sufferings in the Lord Jesus daily greater hasting to the full and what will you do in the end thereof Or whom shall we take to witness for you or may you be compared with any that ever hardned themselves in these wayes and escaped destruction that our hopes might revive and our prayers not cease did ever any thus deny the life of what you Preach in words your selves and which some of you have measure felt and suffered for and have been answered in by the Lord and your eyes have seen the vengeance of the Almighty and how dreadful it hath been both upon Kings Priests and Rulers for resisting Ah how much better had it been for you never to have known these things which you have seen read and Preached then now that they should be fulfilled upon you to the uttermost how well had it been for you had you been as those you call heathen rather then to Profess Christ and thus act against him at his coming even in the same way your selves Preach him Alas alas what hath the innocent done why he thus is used among you doth he cry against sin against pride against false worships against corrupt Rulers corrupt Teachers corrupt Lawyers c. And with much meekness bears his witness against these evils in you for a testimony of light to your words whom he hath lifted up in wrath and zeal and judgement against the same things in the persons of others and will not this arise against you of which you are witnesses all in one generation But sayst thou he breaks the peace and breaks our Law and is unmannerly c. But was he not ever so accounted and is he not now in the same way he ever walked what could that peace do for you could you keep it whole which is broken by reproving sin and deceit Is there any peace to the wicked from God and will he keep that Law which will not give him liberty to Reign in his Temples and to lead his people by his Spirit or will you plead that Law against him in judgement when he comes to deal with you who should know his Law written in your hearts to limit you and not your Laws to limit him not your manners must not bind the conscience where he is known to be King and this you know is truth and have pleaded it against others and now cannot own it will not the Laws of Christ and the manners of Christ of which you read in Scripture agree with your Government and peace who calls for his Kingdom to come amongst you and profess to rule according to Scriptures how will this stand at that day when you must not be your own Judges nor by your own Laws And why is he counted your enemy seeing his appearance now is in love to give you light out of this for your Eternal salvation against which he will certainly come in Judgement to condemnation Have you not heard of the love of the Father to the world who sends his Son to lay down his Life therein for a light to the world that whosoever believeth therein might not be condemned can you read and confess this life laid down in the Prophets in Câ—râ—st in the Apostles in the Martyrs and in all in whom this righteâ—uâ— blood hath been shed from Abel to your time and can you not say they were blind Priest and People who could not see this innocent suffer in his seveâ—al appearances And what will you say of your selves seeing the same testimony is before your eyes but not received was ever his sufferings so increased in so little a time and for such little foolish things as your selves calls them which though they seem little yet much innocent blood hath been shed and this life is laid down daily in many And why should you count that so little which your brethren count dearer then their precious life Is there any thing makes it so but the tenderness of the one and hardness of the other But say you they are guilty of their own blood to suffer for such foolish things but who is their executioners do not you suffer fools daily they shall witness against you that there is something in it more then folly have you not read that God chuseth the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and base despised things to bring to nought things that are and weak things to confound the mighty and can you read and Preach this and not see it fulfilled nor understand without a meaning then take heed how you call that foolish which God hath chosen to lay down his life in for a witness against the murtherer in the wise men of the world will you call that foolishness whereby the mysteries of God comes to be manifest that which he hath chosen to declare himself in openly in his Temples and his worship his service and his suffering long in meekness and the Devil in his Temples with his servants his pride his rashâ—ess and cruelty and to lay each open to the simplest heart by their fruits which have been long covered withwords but now every one that knows a Wolfe from a Lamb may see and cannot be deceived will you call this little which discovers so great a depth of deceit so closely hid and opens the painted Sepulchres and searches the heart of the deceitful laying it open to your selves and others which else you could not have known nor believed if you were told it could many of you have believed the Prince of pride had ruled in you till you see him act you in cruelty on your Brethren because they cannot worship you or could you have believed that the murtherer had been there till you proceed to cast into prisons your brethren and keep them there till death for these little things And these things some suffer under you for a witness and the rest are spared though that spirit would have none to live that the Scriptures may be fulfilled Satan shall cast some of you into prison c. And are not these things manifestly laid open to your selves and all that are not willingly blind and also the contrary Spirit of Christ Jesus where these things are patiently endured And will you call this foolishness which thus leaves all the world without excuse and prepares all for righteous Judgement many