THE MARKS OF THE True Church THE Virgin Spouse of Christ that brings forth by a Holy Seed the Birth that pleaseth GOD. And the MARKS of the False Church or Whore that brings forth by an Evil Seed the Cursed Birth that never could please God Signified by a Voice from the Word of Life or a Certain Sound of the Trumpet that hath awakened Thousands that were asleep in the Night of thick Darkness and Apostacy who are come to the Judgment of the Truth that redeems out of BABYLON and brings to SION By which all are Summoned that are yet afar off to appear before and stand to the Judgment of the Ingrafted Word in their Hearts that by it they may know What they are joyned to By Morgan Watkins What know ye not that he which is joyned to an Harlot is one Body for two saith he shall be one Flesh But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.16 17. Printed in the Year 1675. The MARKS of the TRVE CHVRCH the Virgin and Spouse of Christ that brings forth by a Holy Seed the Birth that pleaseth God I. THey are such who are turned from Darkness unto Christ the true Light that shines in their Hearts who believe and walk in it and are turned from the Power of Satan unto the Power of God that they receive in Christ the Light to become his Sons having Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of Sin and Sanctification in and by that Life that is the Light of Men and made Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light II. Such who have received the Word in a Measure that spake in the Prophets by which they prophesied and was their Foundation which the Apostles were Ministers and Preachers of and was their Foundation which they turned the People to and they that believed it was their Foundation and they that believe and have received the Truth now it is their Foundation and the Rock in all Ages For other Foundation can no Man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 God's Foundation that he hath laid for the Salvation of every Man which is the Word grafted in them that is able to save the Souls of all that receive it Jam. 1.21 But they that reject it perish and are but the Chaff that the Wind blows to and fro III. Such who are in the Unity of the Spirit of Truth and the Righteousness which is of Faith that saith The Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith that Faith comes by the Hearing of and the Word which the Apostles preached Rom. 10.6 8. IV. Unfeigned Love to God and to the Brethren By this shall all Men know saith Christ that ye are my Disciples if ye have Love one to another John 13 35. V. Such who are born again of Incorruptible Seed by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1.23 And are renewed in the Spirit of their Minds being by one Spirit all baptized into one Body and have been all made to drink into one Spirit by which they are quickned into one Life which is the Flesh and Blood of Christ that comes down from Heaven the Children's Bread as Christ saith He that eateth me even he shall live by me John 6.57 And this is the Life that brings forth Fruit of Righteousness and Birth of God that overcomes the World and is made manifest to that of God in every Man's Conscience VI. Such who make a good Confession by giving up themselves to suffer for the Righteousness sake of the Kingdom of God and do not deny him before Men by a subjecting to their Wills against the Requirings of the Spirit of God but are made willing to drink of the Cup and be baptized with the Baptism their Lord and Master was baptized with patiently taking up his Cross contentedly bearing his Reproach and continuing faithful to the Death VII Humility and self Denyal hating Covetousness Pricle and the Pomp vain Glory and Honour of this World having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ without Respect of Persons Not having Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage but doing Good unto all especially to the Houshould of Faith Visiting the Sick and Imprisoned for Righteousness sake the Fatherless and Widdows in their Affliction keeping themselves unsported from the World Jam. 1.27 VIII Such who are Witnesses of the Spirit 's Confession that Christ is come in the Flesh and hath condemned Sin in it in the Hour of his Judgment that the Body of Sin might be destroyed by him that is come and received To take away the Sin and bring in the perfect Righteousness that being crucified with him and so suffering with him in the Flesh dying with him that is by the Strength of his Power that overcomes Sin and Death we come to be raised up with him by the Power that raised him up and so come to live to God by him and in him and no more to the Lusts of the Flesh but to the Obedience of the Spirit and Power that gives us Victory over Death and raiseth the Soul to Life by the quickning Spirit that gives us a Will Desire Hunger Power and Strength to live to the Good Will and Pleasure of our unutterable good and gracious God of whose Mercy and Goodness some feel more then Tongue of Man can declare and God is Witness such would that all Men might feel the same and God is hastening his Work that Thousands of Thousands may feel it and sing of it in the Glory of his Presence for evermore Amen IX Such who in their Measures witness the Reign of Sin and Death put down in them with all its great Power and Authority by which it reigned from Adam until Moses and doth still in all that have not received the free Gift of Righteousness in which is God's Power revealed and such are pleading for the Reign and Law of Sin and for the Body of Sin to live in them till they dye because they are under its Reign But as I have said The Members of the True Church witness him come whose Right it is to reign in them who having received him the Gift of God hath and is putting down all Authority and all Rule that is not of God nor ought to reign and rule in Man so casts out the Strong Man and spoils all his Goods And these know him in them mark that greater then he that is in the World who hath cast out the Prince of the World and reigns over Death and Hell And these are not looking for the Kingdom of Heaven to come with Outward Observations as the Hypocrites did of old and still do who look for the Reign of a Person without them and know not that Hell and Death reigns in them which some of late did know to their Sorrow that others might be warned who see not him that is invisible to the Carnal Eye
that is come and coming in the Ten Thousands of his Saints to judge the World and all the fallen â—ngels X. Such who are gathered by the Spirit of the Lord out of all Gatherings in the Fall that stand in the Will and Wisdom of Man and these follow Christ the Shepherd and Bishop of their Souls and abide in his Doctrine and Spiritual Worship and cannot hearken to a Stranger who is made a Minister or a Bishop in the Will of Man and not made by the Holy Ghost an Overseer of the Soul but are climbed up another Way and not come in through Christ the Door by the Gift of his Spirit but in the Wisdom of Man and of the Birth of the Flesh that persecutes the Sheep for the Fleece therefore the Sheep cannot hear them for he that gives the Soul Eternal Life the Soul ought to hear and be subject to and to all that come in his Name that is his Power who feeds the Sheep Lambs with the Bread of Life that is Meat indeed and Drink indeed where the Word of Life ministers through the Vessel the Sheep that are gathered by the Spirit do know the Voice of the Spirit which is the Voice of Christ that the Stranger knows not but the Sheep and their Souls are greatly refreshed by that Ministry of Life and so is the Body of Christ edified but where the Gift of Life is not received nothing but Death can preach and that burdens and hurts and defiles the Soul if it be touched or fed upon therefore in a Figure he that touched the Dead was to be unclean by the Jews Law so by the Law of the Spirit of Life dead Works that are Works of Darkness the Living are to have no Fellowship with but rather reprove them So this is the Infallible Truth that the Children of Truth and Sheep of Christ will hear and obey none but the Voice of the Spirit of Christ the Truth the Light and the Life which every Member of his Body hath a Measure of in himself which is the Anointing that leads guides and teacheth all his to profit in the Movings and Requirings of which all may prophesie one by one that all may be edified and the whole Body built up together in Love a Habitation for the Lord to dwell in to walk in work in and speak in and these have received Eternal Life dwelling in it shall never perish XI Such who have put off the Old Man with his vain Conversation and have in their Measure Crucified the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit which is become their Leader as ever it was their Fathers Children in which they find Power to do the Will of God in Earth as in Heaven Being created again after the New Man in Righteousness and True Holiness and being become New Creatures are in Covenant with God Old Things are past and passing away and becoming and become New a clean Heart and a right Spirit possesseth the Body which loves the Lord wholy and his Neighbour and Brother as himself true Judgment and Justice sits in his Gate and Goodness Mercy and Love within his House his Law is come forth of Sion and the Word of his God from Jerusalem in the Doctrine of which he abides and Statutes and Ordinances keeps who swears not at all nor lyes for that is against the Truth and under Condemnation who is come to the End of Wars and Fightings and doth to all as he would be done unto that ends Swearing Lying Fighting and Lusting after Evil Things loves Enemies serves Friends respects not Persons but gives to all their Due To Caesar the Things that are his and to God the things that are his labours in Love for the Good of all and doth Good to all denyes to hold up the Types and Shadows under the changeable Priesthood which are fulfilled in the unchangeable that pointed at Christ and his good Things who ends the Old Things the Old Priesthood and the Law that upheld it and Christ the Everlasting Priest being come the Substance of them all cannot deny him before Men by holding up the Old Things that he hath abolished by his Coming which if now upheld were to deny Christ come in the Flesh the High-Priest of our Profession Heb. 3.1 Now if we profess him to be our High Priest and hold up another Priesthood by paying of Tythes and other Things abrogated and denyed by the Holy Brethren of the Heavenly Calling in the Apostles Dayes I say then though we do profess him in Words to be come yet we should deny him in Works and so do all that hold up the Ceremonies now the Substance is come who is a merciful and faithful High Priest in Things appertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People Heb. 2.17 And those that hold up or establish another Righteousness fall short of the Righteousness of Christ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Profession Heb. 4.14 Which Profession stands in Christ the better Hope by the which we draw nigh to God whose Kingdom is not of this VVorld therefore saith the King Put up the Sword and know that Nature that could kill with the Sword Outward to be slain with the Sword Inward for saith Christ My Kingdom is not of this World if my Kingdom were of this World then would my Servants fight John 18.36 Then all you that fight consider whose Servants you are seeing Christ's Servants cannot so all these Things forbidden are not to be used by the Children of God's Kingdom and Inheritors of the New Covenant in which the New Man enjoyes all the Promises of God that are Yea and Amen to him forever XII As to the Ministry they are such that the Lord of the Harvest fitteth by his Spirit and sends into the Harvest being called and chosen to be faithful Labourers in God's Harvest and are content with his Wages and refuse Anti christ's having freely received do freely give according to their Master's Command who warch for the Souls Good and not for the Fleece having Food and Raiment are contented and are to be ready to do the Masters Will in all Things and go whither the Spirit requires them and to preach the Word of Truth he gives them not consulting with Flesh and Blood but with Christ revealed in them who teacheth them to profit the People and to divide the Word aright with Boldness not fearing Man nor the Power of Darkness but to shew the People their Sin that they that are yet in it may come to repent and amend their Lives by turning from Darkness to the Light and from the Power of Satan unto God by receiving the Troth in which is found Power to do it and then they do the Things they ought ought to do and leave undone the Things they ought not to do
from the Spirit of Truth who are all false from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same for being out of the Spirit out of the Truth for the Spirit is Truth X. Such whose Principle and Belief is That the Ministerial Offices in the Church of Christ are intailed to a Succession of Persons chosen in the Will of Man as if Man were to send forth Labourers into the Lord's Vineyard and the Lord engaged to accept their Choice of such saith the Lord I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran Jer. 23.21 It is the Lord of the Harvest as I have said that is to send forth Labourers into his Harvest and Man to accept the Lord's Choice because they come in his Name and the Apostles prayed and said Thou Lord which knowest the Hearts of all Men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen So the Chosen of God will receive none but the Lord's Choice XI Such who have a Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof ever learning of the Hireling that will ever be paid for Teaching but never able to bring them to the Knowledge of the Truth because he himself is astray from that which gives the Infallible Knowledge of it XII Such who persecute and destroy Mens Lives for their Religion thus did Cain who was of that Wicked One and all that do so are of him still for he that doth not Righteousness but hateth his Brother is manifest to be a Child of the Devil 1 John 3.10 And it was ever from the Beginning the Unrighteous persecuted the Righteous and to be persecuted for Righteousness sake was ever an Infallible Mark of God's Children and to persecute for Righteousness sake was ever an Infallible Mark of the Children of the Wicked One Let none mistake me I do not say that all that are persecuted are the Children of God for Men have suffered and may be persecuted and not for the Righteousness sake of God's Kingdom but for their own Righteousness sake who in their blind Zeal and Self-Will are labouring to set up their Idol or false Way in Opposition to others and others in the same opposing them and here is one in the Beastly Nature and Will pushing at another in the same and they that can get most Power and Strength in the Earth they tear and devour the others And if a Man give his Body to be burnt and all his Goods to the Poor and yet may not be accepted of God for the Life of all true Religion is Love for God is Love and where that is wanting Though a Man may speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels 't is all but as sounding Brass or a tinckling Cymbal for indeed pure Religion springs from the Nature Vertue and Operation of the pure Spirit of God brought forth in that Man that hath received it and denyes his own Will that the Will of the Divine Nature may be done which is come to be done in Earth as it is in Heaven and that is the Kingdom that all Men are required to seek which whosoever receives not as a little Child can by no Means enter into it And blessed are all those that having received it do suffer for its Righteousness sake And it was ever and still is the greatest Blindness and Ignorance among the Sons of Men to believe or think that pure Religion is to be forced into by Persecution for this I declare They that are of that Judgment never knew what pure Religion was but those that will have People to come to pure Religion must let the Light and Glory of their Religion shine forth before Men that God's Works in them may be seen to others that is to do Good before all and to all even as the Son of God did upon Earth in his own Body and now doth the same by his Spirit in the Bodies of those that receive him He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 Joh. 2.6 For all such that think they ought to compel People to their Religion because they think it is true must also judge that their Spirit is Infallible for if it may fail then it ought not to be a Rule to the Souls of ohers nor a Judge of another Man's Faith or Religion nor of the Things of God but the Truth is where any Force or Compulsion is put upon the Consciences of Men that is an Infallible Sign of a Fallible and Anti-christian Spirit for the Infallible Spirit of God in the Holy Men left no such Rule nor Example but commanded the contrary saying Let every Man be fully perswaded or fully assured in his own Mind Rom. 14.5 Again saith So then every one of us shall give an Account of himself to God Ver. 12. For in this Case saith Paul Hast thou Faith have it to thy self Then what hath any Man to do to Lord it over another Man's Faith seeing he that doubteth is damned that is condemned in himself because not done in Faith it is Sin And now you blind Hypocrites that would compel all to fall down to your Idol or Image of Heavenly Things can you give Men Faith to believe your Image hath Life if not do not you compel Men to sin against their Consciences seeing what is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 And the Devil is the Author of all Sin and all Persecutors for Righteousness sake are his Subjects in whom the Man of Sin is unrevealed who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God mark that 's he that would rule over Men's Consciences sitteth in tqe Temple of God shewing himself that he is God that is by taking that Power to himself that God never gave to any Man that is to force or compel People to any Worship that is not of Faith that is Sin and God that made Heaven and Earth is not the Author of Sin but it is the Man of Sin whom the Lord of Life is Consuming with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroying with the Brightness of his Coming 2 Thes 2.3 8. Objection But some may say Did not Christ in the Parable say Compel them to come in Answer Blessed be the Lord many do witness that Compulsion which is not Outward Force that are come into his House and that is by the Power of his Love wherein he invites the Poor who receive the Gospel that hath constrained us to deny our selves and take up his Daily Cross and follow him for the Truth is to be received in the Love of it and then it overcomes the Enmity of the Fleshly Will and covers with the Spirit and Life the Wedding-Garment that the Heavenly Guests at God's Feast have put on that no Persecutor ever knew on himself nor can be put it upon another So they that compel and they that are thus compelled are both without a Wedding-Garment and not meet for the Marriage Feast And
this the Pillar and Ground of the Truth Do these hold the Mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience Or rather doth not the Mystery of Iniquity hold them in a defiled One But if they will hear the Priest and pay him as I have said let them believe or hold what they will all is received of the Church Oh! what a foul House is here for those you would force to dwell in who are called out to touch no Unclean Thing What a Body have you prepared for that glorious Head to be joyned to that is separate from Sinners and made higher then the Heavens Was not here sufficient Cause for the People spiritually gathered to come out from among you Do you put a Difference between the Precious and the Vile Yes you do for the Precious you curse out and deliver to Satan though some of them were never of you nor owned you And you have heaped up such a Company of your spiritual Children to reform your Church who are so Zealous for God Mammon that for Non-Payment of a Groat or two they cast out a Man and deliver him to Satan so it seems a Groat or two by them is more prized then the Soul of a Man 〈◊〉 yea or his Body Life and Family that they can deliver them to Prisons to the ruining of Families but as to their delivering to Satan it is past their Spiritual Skill in Reality who are erred and strayed from the Power of God which is the Way of God and that Power gives them Victory over Satan that are turned to it and so their Satan is some Goaler a Member of their own Body it is like they may be conscious to themselves that they have not spiritual Power to bind and loose the Souls of Men and therefore they will be sure to bind the Body in some nasty Hole or Prison but if Money come then Soul and Body and all shall be loosed and blest into their Church again though he be of the worser Sort to Men. These Practices savour more of a Synagogue of Satan then a Church of God for the Church of God that abides in the Doctrine of Christ and is a sweet Savour to God and all Just Men that live by Faith but these are a Stink in his Nostrils and an Ill Savour to all sober minded Men and one of the greatest Grievances in the Nation that is to say the Spiritual Courts so called that are yet of the World and cannot overcome the Flesh nor the Devil these pretend to cast People out of that which they were ever in themselves to wit the Church of God And some being cast out of their Church once and delivered to Satan as they pretend which in Truth is but the delivering of the Body to the Envy and Cruelty of that persecuting oppressing Spirit that dwells in their Adversaries and these that could never come to them to be restored yet have cast them out the second Time and some the third for not coming to their Church which was contrary to their own Law Was ever such Non-sensical Work acted by Men pretending to reform the Church Is not Hoseah's Prophecy fulfilled upon them as it was upon Israel when they went a whoring from their God and loved 〈◊〉 Reward The Dayes of Visitation are come the Dayes of Recompence are come Israel shall know it the Prophet is a Fool the Spiritual Man is mad for the Multitude of thine Iniquity and the great Hatred Hosea 9.7 What Prophets were they that were Fools in Hoseah's Dayes those that prophecied and the Lord never sent them who had not received the Word of the Lord but told the People their Dream for a Reward upon every Corn flâ—or but the true Prophets that had received the Word spake it or preached it freely as the Lord said He that hath my Word let him speak my Word freely what is the Châ—ff to the Wheat The Word is the Wheat the Chaff is what he preacheth that hath not received the Word that is but the Divination of his own Brainâ— and these were the Fools that had not received the Word of Wisdom from above that is fiâ—st pure the peaceable but the foolish Prophets that prophesied for a Reward he that resnsed to put into their Mouthes they prepared War against them Were these foolish and false in the Dayes of the Children of Israel and can those that walk in their Steps be true in this Age Nay for the Testimony of the Spirit of God was against such in all Ages and so it is against them in this Age Were they fasse then that preached or propliesied and had not received the Word so they are now Were they false then that prophesied for a Reward in every Corn-floor and are they not so now that preach for a Reward in every Corn-field Was the false Prophet then as the Snare of a Fowler in all his Wayes and Haâ—râ—ed against the House of his God and is he not so now All that have escaped the Snare know the Lord hath delivered them out of the Mouthes of the false Shepherds according to his Premise and hath exalted the Mountain of his House above their Mountains and above all Hills and thither he hath gathered and is gathering his People in this Nation and will gather them in all Nations into this House of the Lord where there is Bread enough and the false Prophets and foolish blind Priests in this Age are in Hatred against this House of the Lord of Hosts and against the Gatherings of his People in it and the Flewings together of the Nations unto it according to the Word of the Lord but the Work of the Lord doth prosper and will prosper and all Opposers of it except they repent will perish for the false Shepherds shall howl and their Pastere shall be spoiled For you have despised and rejected the Counsel of the great Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul and are Opposers of the Work of his Spirit in his People who have received the Truth the Spirit of Christ And if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his as the Apostle saith and those that walk in the Obedience of the Measure of his Spirit you have hated and persecuted and some of you being fill'd with Envy against them have turned informers like Judas that informed against Christ for Money after he had betrayed the Truth in himself the Devil entered and fitted him with Envy to come against Christ and his Disciples where they were assembled to betray them into the Hands of their Enemies and hath not Envy filled some of your Hearts and so fitted you to inform against the Assemblies gathered in the Name and Spirit of Christ as some of you have done and have sworn against them and one confest before the Magistrate that he did not know that ever he had seen some of their Faces before and yet some time before had sworn they were at the Meeting but all must be
construed for the Purpose that is to spoil the Goods of those that cannot forsake the assembling of themselves together in the true Worship of God And some of you have procured Warrants to spoil the Goods of your Neighbours and some have spoiled them over and over and prosecuted those that would not spoil them Is this the Way to teach the People to Love their Neighbours as themselves and to do to all People as they would be done unto this is the Way indeed to manifest what Spirit you are of and so People may read your Father's Name in your Forehead 's whose Works do you do what Spirit leads you whether the Spirit of Cain that wicked One or the Spirit of Abel the Righteous One by your Fruits you are known Doth the Work of this Spirit confess that Christ is come in your Flesh that Righteous One or Anti-christ that Wicked One whom Christ is Consuming with Breath of his Mouth and the Brightness of his â—oming Was it ever known that a Minister of Christ was an Informer against Christian Meetings no it never was nor ever will be for such are not in the Doctrine of Christ but in the Practice of those the Scripture calls Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing but in this Work of Informing the Wolf only appears that comes to devour so that Spirit that preacheth for Hire is the same that spoils Men's Goods for Hire and he that takes Wages of Unrighteousness doth the Work of Unrighteousness Did not those that devoured Wiâ—dows Houses do the Work of Unrighteousness though for a Pretence made long Prayers and those were Enemies to Christ then and can they be Friends now no such are an ill Savour to God and a Stink in his Nostrils what have such to do to take his Name into their Mouthes who hate to be reformed by his Spirit and persecute those that are How many Souls are you guilty of the Blood of And how many Bodies have you cast into Prison till Death How many Widdows and Fatherless Children have you made in this Nation because they could not put into your Mouthes knowing what Spirit you were of and that the Lord never sent you as by your Fruits you have manifested to the View of the Nation and Thousands see you and will buy your Merchandize no more and if you cannot compel them by your Law then you make Merchandize and Spoil of their Goods But Wo is unto you that ever you were born because of the terrible Day that is coming upon you which you can no wayes escape but by coming out of her in whom is found all the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs and all that have been slain for the Testimony of Jesus upon the Earth For now the Everlasting Gospel is preaching that shall be preached to all Nations Tongues and Languages for the gathering of the Gentiles to their Light and Israel to the Hope of their Glory For to him shall the Gathering of the People be and the Gentiles shall walk in thy Light and Kings in the Brightness of thy Rising then thou shall see and shine thy Heart shall be astonished and enlarged because the Multitude of the Sea shall be converted unto thee and the Riches of the Gentiles shall come unto thee Isa 60.3.5 For the Lord shall be thy Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Ver. 19. Thy People also shall be all Righteous they shall possess the Land forever the Graft of my planting shall be the Work of mine Hands that I may be glorified a little One shall become a Thousand and a small One as a strong Nation I the Lord will hasten it in due Time And this is that Jerusalem prophesied of that should be a Burthensom Stone unto all Nations which is become a burthensome Stone in this Nation but all that burthen themselves with it shall be broken in Pieces by it and how many have been broken in Pieces by it that opposed it in this Nation and all that yet shall oppose it in this or any other Nation shall be broken in Pieces and confounded by it except they repent and be gathered into it for God is making his little One to become a Thousand and his small One a strong Nation and these are his holy Nation and peculiar People and spiritual Priesthood that are gathered out of the Flesh where none can please God into the Spirit of his Son where all walking do please him and these cannot please Men for the Gift that God hath given that Man is to receive if he please God the VVisdom of the Flesh did alwayes reject in all Ages and so it doth in this and it was a stumbling Stone and a Rock of Offence to the VVise and Prudent of this World among the Jews in that Age disallowed of Men but chosen of God elect and precious to those that believe both Jews and Gentiles in all Ages a tryed Corner-Stone the Power of God to all those that receive it who through Obedience of it become the Sons and Daughters of God And now I warn all in this Nation that profess Christianity to consider your Wayes whether you are entered in at the straight Gate and whether you walk in the narrow VVay that only leads to Life for out of it there is no Salvation And God is risen to overturn every false VVay in this the Day of his Power in which the VVay of the VVicked shall be turned upside down but the VVay of the Lord shall be exalted which as the Apostle saith Is the New and Living Way the New Covenant of Light to the Gentiles that is Israel's Hope of Glory which is Christ the Spirit of Truth and VVord of Life in Man that whosoever receives and walks in is of God and come out of the VVorld but he that receives it not is not past from Darkness but is under the Power of it in the VVorld that lyeth in VVickedness where God is not pleased but as many as have received the VVord in their Hearts and in it believe are grafted by Faith into Christ the Root the Vine and Power of Life the incorruptible Seed the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever and because he liveth all in him are made alive to God again and these walk in him that is his Spirit that God the Father hath given to lead them into all Truth and out of him none can please God nor walk in his Truth and these be his Disciples in this Age that have received him the VVord and for the Obedience of him the World hates them as it doth him and now persecutes him in his Members as he said they would and we witness his Word fulfilled in us but in his Spirit we have Victory over the World and their Spirit because he that we have received the Word the Spirit of Truth in us is greater then he that is in in the World and that Spirit that is in the World is now making â—ar against the Spirit which
we have received and is in us that are not of the World And here is the Lamb's War against the Beast and the false Prophet And as sure as John saw the Beast and the false Prophet overcome taken alive and cast into the Lake of Fire so sure shall we overcome in his Spirit that hath overcome in his own Body the World the Flesh and the Devil and now is revealed in us to overcome for us in whom we have good Comfort and in the Faith see that Spirit that makes War against us in Priests and Professors and all persecuting Rulers and Magistrates shall be overcome and all that come not out of that Spirit but continue in it in the Hatred and War to the End will be cast into the Lake of Fire as John saw in the Revelation of the Spirit of Truth that cannotlye Therefore I warn you all to hear the Voice of the Spirit of Truth that calls to you from Heaven to come out of her in whom all the Blood is found that is that Spirit that persecuted the Church of God in all Ages the Spirit of the World that rules in the Children of Disobedience that is he that is in the World and the World are in it that is all that have not received the Spirit of Christ are they that are none of his but they that have received his Spirit are they that the World hates as he said it should be for as he is not of the World so all in him that is his Spirit are not of the World And now let all consider what Spirit they are joyned to For they that are joyned to the Lord are one Spirit but they that are joyned to the Harlot the False Spirit or False Prophet are one Body whatever they do profess for a Religion it matters not for Hypocrites in all Ages were such that said and did not and so they are now that call themselves Christians and are not in Christ's Spirit for as saith the Apostle If any Man say he is in him he ought himself to walk even as he walked and he that is not in Christ's Spirit is no Christian but professing Christ's Life and living after the Flesh is in Hypocrifie and the Life of Christ in his People judgeth that and condemns that Religion and declares that Life to be Antichristian and but the Birth of the Flesh that persecutes him that is born of the Spirit and though that Birth by its great Profession may have a Name to live and be persecuted for its Name yet having not the Nature of Christ to be its Life cannot hold out to the Death but must give Way and flee before their Enemies into Holes and Corners because they are not come to the Power of God in themselves that is he that is greater then he that is in the World And therefore all you great Professors that are against the Light of Christ in you in which Power is received to become the Sons of God and over come the World you are overcome by him that is in the VVorld and he makes you leave your great licensed Meeting houses to the Bats and the Owls that love the Light Natural no more then you do the Spiritual as of late in many Places you have done and so your Gatherings in the Imaginations of your own Brains come to be scattered according to the Imaginations of your Enemies who have not therein imagined a vain or ineffectual Thing against you but they see they have against those that the Lord gathered out of Darkness into his marvelous Light But if you were not blind you might see that you are not gathered in the Name that is the Power of God the Rock that God built his Church upon in all Ages that the Gates of Hell might not prevail against them Cannot you see what Power it is that scatters you what Spirit and Power is it that leads the Informers which for the most Part are the wickedest of Men Is it not he that led Judas the Informer whem the Rulers paid and the Devil set at Work and you in your Anti-christian Prudence flee before for Christian Prudence leads to do that which is given of Christ to do for as it is given to believe so also to suffer for his sake in whom we have believed But where the Gift of God is not received there true Faith is not witnessed but Flesh and Blood is consulted withal that never led to do the Will of God but he that suffered himself and in it did the Will of God is the Leader of all his that suffer for Righteousness sake for they that will not suffer with him cannes reign with him over that Spirit that makes War against him which is to be conquered by Suffering for that Spirit that leads to decline a publick Testimony and to flee from Suffering Persecution for Righteousness sake is one with that Spirit which persecutes for that Spirit that leads to persecute the Children of Truth can never lead to suffer for the Truth for it is out of it So that it is clear that Spirit that leads to run from Persecution when they have Power will lead them to persecute as in New-England doth appear by such who could not suffer for their Religion but joyned to the Power of Darkness and persecuted to Death the Children of Light that could so they have conquered that Spirit and their Life doth tread that Religion under Foot for it s but Cain 's Sacrifice without Faith that worketh by Love which the Spirit of the Lord loathes being in that Spirit that slew his Brother in which they preached that shall be ashamed of their Gospel not being the Power of God to Salvation for if it were they that hear and they that preach it would not flee before the Power of Satan but where he that saves the Soul is not received he that kills the Body will be feared and so the Counsel of Christ being rejected his Commandment comes to be transgressed and thus the Wind that purifies and winnows the Wheat blows the Chaff unto the Dunghil So they that cannot stand in Time of Tryal declare themselves to be but Chaff that the Wind blows too and fro for if the Waity Life dwell not within such Mens Religion is but a foolish Thing for he that saith VVithout me you can do nothing is he that is come that all might have Life and Power to do the Will of God and he that hath received him hath Life and Power to do the Will of God and so becomes a Child of God but he that hath him not hath not Life nor Power to do the Truth and that Mans Religion is vain So it is clear that all those that deny Christ the Light to be come in Spirit within are Anti-christian as well as they that denyed him come in the Flesh and such are not of God Given forth in the Love of him who would have all Men to be saved and to come unto the Knowledge of the Truth This 3d of the 2d Moneth 1675. M. W. The Prophecy of John Hus Prophesying of the Reformation of the CHVRCH THE Church he saith cannot be reduced to her former Dignity and reformed before all Things first be made new the Truth whereof appeareth by the Temple of Solomon as well the Clerks and Priests as also the People and Laity or else except all such as now be addicted to Avarice from the least to the most be first converted and renewed as well the People as the Clerks and Priests Things cannot be reformed Albeit as my Mind now giveth me I believe rather the first that is that then shall rise a New People formed after the New Man which is created after God of the which People New Clerks and Priests shall come forth and be taken who all shall hate Covetousness and Glory of this Life labouring to an Heavenly Conversation notwithstanding all these Things shall be done and wrought in Continuance and Order of Time dispenced of God for the same Purpose and this God doth and will do of his own Goodness and Mercy for the Riches of his Patience and Sufferance giving Time and Space of Repentance to them that have long lain in their Sins to amend and flee from the Face of the Lord's Fury until at length all shall suffer together and until both the Carnal People and Priests and Clerks in Process and Order of Time shall fall away and be consumed as is the Cloth consumed and eaten of the Moth. THE END