THE PUBLIQUE WORSHIP OR The Worship of God Baptisme and Sacrament so called according to Gods appointment or as hereafter appeareth And concerning coming to the Church according to Scripture And also a Prophesie of Christ in fulfilling and how it is against the Law of the Land to banish Christians for the Service and Worship of God Together with an Epistle to Friends Written in the Year 1664. by R. F. Printed in the Year 1664. CONCERNING The Worship of GOD Baptism and Sacrament So called And coming to Church as hereafter followeth AS there is one onely true God who is a Spirit so there is one worship of God under the new covenant and gospel dispensation John 4.23.24 which is the worship of God alone and is to be performed in spirit and in truth according to the mind of the Lord who is to be worshipped and as there is one body Eph. 4.3.4 and one spirit so are the true spiritual believers and worshippers of God the Father in spirit truth which is the true publick worship of God called in one hope of their calling Colos 1.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27 and they are to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace or in Christ Jesus who is the covenant of peace and the hope of glory wherunto they are called even into him who is the hope of their calling to whom God doth make known what is the riches of the glory of the great mistery of Godliness which is Christ in them the hope of glory And as there is one spirituall Lord and one spirituall Faith so there is one spirituall Baptisme Eph. 4.5 6 7. amongst them that are the caled of God the Father of them all who is above all through all and in them all who giveth grace to every one of them according to the measure of the gift of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 12.12.13 for as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ for by one spirit we are all baptized into one body and have been all made to drink into one spirit so that as the Saints true spiritual believers are baptized by one spirit into Christ Jesus John 6.32.48.49.50.51 they also do unite and meer spiritually in him even to eate and drink spiritually together in a sweet spiritual communion and he is bread and wine our souls nourishment and feeding to them who are to live in him and feed spiritually upon him for he is the bread of life come down from Heaven for Immortall souls to eate of and live for ever this is the bread that cometh down from heaven which a man may eate of and not dye eternally Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life John 6.27 Which the Son shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed for the bread of God is he which came down from heaven and giveth life unto the world And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst John 6. 35 who then would not but come unto Christ that their fouls might eate and drink spiritually in him and be satisfied with his vertue and sweetnesse that they might live for ever and not dye eternally and as many as are baptized into Christ doe put on Christ and they are all one in him and such are Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and are heires according to the promise Gal. 3.26.27.28.39 And for as much as to be a Christian and member of the Church of Christ according to the constitutions and Cannons of the Church of England is to be Baptized and to be Baptized is to enter into a Covenant with God by promise and vow made unto God before many witnesses to be perfect and free from sin First In forsaking the Devil and all his works Secondly In keeping Gods Holy will and Commandements and walking in the same for term of life and also to be regenerate and born again Seeing then that it is so ought not the Priests to perform to the People what they have promised to them and ought not they to perform unto God what they promise and vow unto him and if the Priests cannot regenerate any they cannot baptize any and untill they can regenerate them ought they not to excuse the People for not bringing their Children unto them and if they be not regenerated they are not baptized according to the Constitutions and Cannons as aforesaid and if they do not forsake the Divell and all his works and keep Gods holy will and Commandements and walk in the same all the dayes of their lives arid be not regenerated how then are they Church members if they be not such how are they the Children of God and inheritours of the Kingdome of Heaven confider well of it Concerning the Sacrament as now it is by many so called And concerning the Passover there was and is a Spirituall Feast to be kept amongst the Saints and true Christians for Christ is their Passover who is sacrifized for them 1 Cor. 5.7.8 Purge out therefore the old Leaven that ye may be a new lump ye are vnleavened for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us therefore let us keep the Feast not with old Leaven neither with the Leaven of mallice and wickednesse but with the Unleavened bread of Sincerity and Truth 1 Cor. 5. So that as Christ is the Saints Passeover and is Sacrificed for them they are to keep a spiritual feast that is to say the Feast of Un-leavened bread the bread they are to keep this feast with is the Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth and Christ who is the Saints Passeover is the Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth or the bread of life come down from Heaven for them to keep the Feast with and as he is the bread which the Saints are to break or administer and feed spiritually upon so he is the wine or water of life to refresh souls spiritually withall for he is the spirituall Vine and as wine is the vertue of the Vine so the vertue of Christ who is the true spiritual Vine is as spiritual wine to the souls of the Saints for their refreshment and great consolation and if to receive Christ Jesus be to receive the signification and substance of the word Sacrament and so in effect to receive the Sacrament then we have receive and do receive Christ Jesus therefore we have and do in effect receive the Sacrament because we receive the signification thereof as aforesaid Concerning coming to the Church And concerning the Church it consists of Regenerate ones who live up to a righteousnesse of Faith towards God and a righteousnesse of life both towards God and man First In forsaking the Divel and all his works and Secondly In
keeping Gods holy will and conmandements and walking in the same all the daies of their lives being such as are governed and are sanctified by the spirit of God and are of the houshold and family of God and this is according to the constitutions and Cannons of the Church of England then to meet together in point of Religion and worship of God with them that live up to a righteousnesse of Faith towards God and a righteousnesse of life both towards God and man who are regenerated or born again and are of the houshold and family of God who are also sanctified arid governed by the spirit of God is to come to the Church though they cannot meet in point of Religion and worship with them that are not such as aforesaid and with such as abovesaid we meet with all in point of Religion and Worship of God therefore we come to the Church and worship of God as aforesaid And acording to the Scriptures the Church is in God the Father of out Lord Jesus Christ but Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting places are not in God how then are they Churches and why are people presented and punished for not coming to Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting-places seeing they are not Churches according to the Scriptures for Paul and Silvanius and Timothyus write to the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ but in writing to the Church in God they did not write to Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting-places therefore people may be in the Church and come to the Church according to the Scriptures though they come not to the Parish-meeting-places 1 Thessalonians 1. and 2. Thessa 1. Again Christ is declared in Scripture to be the head of his body the Church so that the Church is the body of Christ according to the Scripture Eph. 1.22.23 Eph. 2.19.20.21.22 but Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting-places are not the body of Christ how then can they be said to be Churches whereby it is evident that people may be members of the Church of Christ and come to the Church according to the Scripture though they come not to the Parish-meeting-places 5. Ephe. 23.24.25.26.27.32 And as concerning the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.15.16.17.18.19.20 the Saints body under the new covenant and Gospell dispensation are said to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost for God to dwell in through the spirit and the Saints are said to be as a spiritual building fitly framed in Christ Jesus and do grow together in him to an holy Temple in the Lord 2 Cor. 6.16 in whom they are also builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit and this is according to the Scriptures 2. Ephe. 19 20 21 22. so that to meet with the Saints of God is to come to the Temple of God according to Scripture And concerning the house of God according to the Scripture and under the new Covenant and Gospel dispensation the Holy Brethren who are partakers of the heavenly calling who hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end are declared to be the house of God and Moses verily was faithfull under the Law in all his house as a servant for a Testimony of those things which was to be spoken after but Christ as a Son over his own house under the Gospel whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end according to that of the Apostle to the Hebrews Heb. 3. And as concerning the meetings of the people of God called Quakers in meeting together with them that are born of God and are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God in point of Religion and Worship of God according to Gods appointment or agreable to Gods holy Will and Commandements ought they not to be owned allowed of countenanced and tollerated by the Episcopal and Protestant Priests Rulers and People because they have covenanted with God and caused others to covenant with him by promise and vow made unto God before many witnesses to keep Gods holy will and Commandements and walk in the same all the daies of their lives And therefore for us and others to live up to a righteousnesse of life towards God and man and in meeting together according to Gods appointment and walking answerable to Gods holy will and Commandements and continuing therein is according to the fundementalls of the Episcopal and Protestant Religion And for so doing we ought not to be fined presented or punished either by Eclesiasticall sensure or Temporal punishment but rather to be freed and clearly acquitted therefrom to all intents constructions and purposes whatsoever if they regard their promise and vow made unto God as aforesaid A Prophesie of Christ which was Prophecied above sixteen hundred years since hath been and is now in fulfilling c. GOd is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4.23 24. And because God is a spirit he will have his people to be spiritually minded that they may mind the things of the spirit Rom. 8.5 6. Seeing that God is a spirit and requireth his people to worship him in spirit why should they be compelled from the worship of God in spirit or punished and persecuted if they do not forsake the way and worship of God to follow the Ceremonies and Inventions of Men what cause is there for it but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled is this come to passe For Christ Jesus hath said to the Disciples and true Believers in him they shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me John 16.2 3. It is evident that by the Scriptures or prophecy of Christ First that the Disciples of Christ and true believers in him shall be excommunicated or put out of the synagogues Secondly that the believers in Christ and worshippers of God the Father in spirit and truth shall be in great danger of their lives for saith Christ in his prophecie John 16.2 They shall excommunicate you or put you out of the synagogues and that part of the prophecie of Christ is fulfilled and now in fulfilling Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God service and is not that part of Christs prophecie also near at hand to be fulfilled Two things are very observable from hence First That the Saints and Believers in Christ shall be excommunicated or put out of the sinagogues by Enemies or Strangers to Christ Secondly That after excommunication or being put out of the sinagogues by such they shall be in great danger of their Lives If it be asked who they are that shall deal thus hardly and cruelly with the Saints and Believers in Christ as First to excommunicate
which is a trying age in which we are born and brought forth for the Lord to be honored and glorified by us that you may keep in pure innocency and uprightness of heart to appear amongst men for the Lord to bear your testimony in love and faithfulness for God even in the life and power by which you are brought forth and borne up into the Spirit of the Lamb to bear witnesse for him unto his own and against that which is not his generation and Birth or off-spring and that you may appear for God you are to appear in the spiritual life and power of God to go out unto and meet with that which is of God and is desiring after him to be with him and to live upon him live you therefore in the life and power by which you are the Lords that you may reach forth from him unto his own begetting that by and with the same power which ministers and gives in of the heavenly treasure and vertue unto your souls for their refreshing and consolation you may reach forth of that treasure and vertue after a spiritual manner unto the begettings and gatherings of God in others For you know that spirit and life in the out-goings from God as from a Fountain sends forth streams of refreshings by reaching forth conveying and carrying along with them in a spirituall dispensation divine power life vertue and heavenly sweetnesse to the taste and feeling of the sences of the Immortal babes for their refreshment and great consolation to the rejoycing raising reviving and gladding their spirits So with the same vertue and heavenly power by which you are refreshed you may be a refreshing and by the same power and spiritual consolation by which you are and often have been inwardly raised revived strengthned and comforted in heart and soul you may be as strength to the weak and for the raising up of that which lies low and for the reviving and comforting of it that so you may go out in the springings up outgoings of life after a spiritual way manner attended with heavenly matter for the refreshing and comforting of that which the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven into your hearts goes out unto for the Refreshing and strengthing of So dear babes and Lambs dwell in the green pasture of life that you may sit down together in a heavenly communion with God in the Covenant of Grace and in all your meetings together as the worshippers of God the Father of spirits you will meet with God in a sweet heavenly communion at the Table of the Lord where his heavenly Body is discerned weh is full of light life glory power and vertue that you may see him showing unto your spirits the glorious light of his heavenly countenance for the rejoycing and gladding your hearts and souls and spirits which is and will be more unto you then all outward riches And minde your continuation and abiding with God even in the principles of God which are heavenly principles full of heavenly light of life power wisdome counsel discerning understanding and utterance for the reaching forth from him of his own light life power wisdome counsel vertue and hidden treasure in his own principles to his own begetings for the planting and watering of them in order to the giveings forth of God unto them an encrease in the increasings of God that grace and peace may be ministred unto you and from the out-goings of the Spirit and life in you to Gods begettings may be abundantly multiplyed through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Dear Frinds know that it is given unto you to know the things conserning the mistery and Kingdome of God but to others in Parables And so it is given to you and all true spiritual believers on Christ in the spirit not onely to believe but also to suffer for his sake And as believing is a gift given from God in the Spirit soalso is suffering for his name sake a gift it s given unto you to suffer Therefore mind the end and intent of God in the gift so will you not be weary of sufferings neither will any forsake the truth of God that are truly begotten into it who are born of it and do contiune and abide therein with God in the spirit If any depart from God for fear of sufferings and fall into love with the spirit way of the world to obtain the favour of the world and to avoid persecution it is either such as have not received the gift from God to fit and furnish them for a suffering condition for Christ and the Gospel or else it is such as denies both the gift and the giver Yet notwithstanding truth is truth still and will stand in the midst of all storms do you therefore continue and abide in the truth in the Life Love and Power thereof So will you continue and abide with the Lord and be sitted and furnished with gifts and graces and Gospel abillitics that you may stand and not start aside when you are tryed Oh feel the power and vertue of the Lord enter into and remain with your spirits to work down burn up and purge out the self-will and the old reasoning fleshly part that the enemy of your souls may be withstood and kept back or crusht down in all his insinuations twistings twineings and subtle devices or cunning misterious appearances and risings that your souls may be kept in the life and power of the spirit of God which treads down Satans devices and knows how to withstand him in all his out-goings And as the risings of divine life and springings up of the heavenly power is felt working in you to put down Satans risings and to cross the out-goings of the enemy within you and cause him to disappear there Then Angels will minister unto you or the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven as a ministering spirit sent from God into your harts will open refresh and fill you with the joy and peace of the Kingdome of heaven Therefore mind the unwearied life of the spirit of Christ in you which is not wearied out with temptations and tryals but knows how to succour your souls in the hour of temptation and to bring forth an inward deliverance for you that you may be freed from the power of the enemie and be at liberty and freedome in spirit to serve and worship the Lord according to his own mind in the way of our God So will you not be weary of sufferings but overcome that which would be weary of a suffering condition and know the Lord to fill you with joy and gladnesse of heart in a prison and to be with you in a suffering condition whose life is known to be an unwearied life and to stand in the end of all sufferings and fill with divine joy and gladnesse of heart all dear friends live in Love with God and one with another and keep your meetings in the name and power of God in which you are gathered that in your meetings you may meet with God in spirit for your refreshment And take heed of giving way to the seducing spirit that would either be perswading to go back again into that way of Worship which God hath called you from or to be out of love and in dislike to that way and Worship which God hath made known himself unto you in for neither of these perswasions cometh of him that hath called you out of the way and Worship of the spirit of the world and into the way and Worship of the spirit of God Therefore as you have begun in the Spirit of God go not from it to enter again into the Spirit of the world for any by end If you love God above all you will love to walk with him and to worship him as God according to his own mind in spirit and in truth which is the publick worship of God And therefore hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering waver not in your minds least you wander from God in your hearts and be terrified or afrighted at sufferings For many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers out of them all Have you had more troubles then deliverances or have you not had as many deliverances as you have had troubles why then should any be dismayed who have been and still are acquainted with the way and means both of the coming and working of the Spirit and power of our God For blessed and happie arc they that have the Lord for their God and you have the Lord in communion of spirit and in covenant with you who are called and chosen of God Therefore you are blessed of God be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Let the Lord be your strength that you may be kept by his power to his praise and that you may alwayes be found in that of himself wherein you and your services have been and still are accepted of him is the desire of him who desires your spiritual welfare and everlasting happiness whose love is reached forth unto you in a pure remembrance in that spirit wherein we have had many refreshings from God and signal testimonics of his love and Antient acquaintance with God and one with another in the Covenant of light and life and peace Farewell R. F. The End