Latitude of that Sin-pleasing Principle to which it is stretched as if men might be imputatively Holy though not inwardly Holy and imputatively Righteous though not really Righteous therefore they are clamoured upon as if they denyed the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness when it is only to those who are not made Righteous by it to walk as he walked For the Scripture doth not say that he that saith he is Righteous by the imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous 1 John 3. 7. What then shall we Sin and yet think to be saved by the imputed Righteousness of Christ because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid that we should Sin in this state of Grace saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 15. Indeed the whole Chapter speaks the same sence viz. that it is not our Imputation or reckoning of Christ's Righteousness to our selves will justifie us but he imparting and imputing it to us and this shall suffice in Answer to the second general Charge against this People in every particular of which may be seen what gross abuses have been cast upon them whereby the envious and ill-affected have sought to cover their Principles with their own perversions and so to make Truth it self become rejected But I shall in the next place speak to those I take to be more moderate and such whom I have sometime found my self much swayed by But since I find it was more by Education and Tradition then any certain evidence I could have of the Truth of that Religion I find my self oblieged to detect those Errors in publick which I have heard divers of them cast upon the People called Quakers in private charitably judging they speak not so much against them out of ill will as ignorance of and unacquaintance with their blameless Principle though this is bad enough for People to speak Evil of things they know not and for such as are divided amongst themselves to joyn together against others as some have confessed to me that though they differ in many particulars yet they all agree in this to set their Seal against the Quakers but who they were I have and shall at present conceal desiring not to expose them but to inform them that so setting before them their Errors and Mistakes some of them at least may see and Repent them wherein they have spoken and done amiss CHAP. III. Touching the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of the Saints AS concerning the Resurrection of the Body of our blessed Lord Jesus and also the Bodies of Believers this I have been born down in that the Quakers do not own In answer to which though I had something to Reply in their behalf at that season yet I must confess the respect I had to my Friend who affirmed the same made me a little incline to that Perswasion of them But now being better acquainted with their Principle I must needs add that this report is an utter Falshood for they do believe as 't is recorded in the Scriptures that Christ Jesus who descended into the lower parts of the Earth the same ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and sits now at the Right-Hand of God in his glorious Body and therefore shall the low estates and humbled Body of Believers be made like unto his glorious Body through the working of his mighty Power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and then shall this Corruptible put on Incorruption and this Mortallity put on Immortallity and Death it self shall be swallowed up of Victory So here likewise it may be noted how their Adversaries have been disappointed For first it was the design of some to have made Saduces of them by giving out that they deny the Resurrection as it was said of them Acts 23.8 For the Saduces say There is no Resurrection neither Angel nor Spirit Thus some have sought to render these as if at Death they believed Soul and Body were both to be annihilated But when this would not take then they reported that the Body only was that which the Quakers held should never rise again Here Reader thou mayst see how they have been slandered both wayes for they do believe the Resurrection of the Just and of the Unjust the one to Salvation and the other to Condemnation according to the Judgment of the great Day And then shall every Seed have its own Body as saith the Scriptures Acts 24. 15. Iohn 5.29 1 Cor. 15. 38. But because they dare not be so foolishly inquisitive as to ask nor so arrogant in their Minds as to dertermine with that Bodies they shall rise therefore do some say They deny the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of all that are or shall be dead But this is most falsly charged upon them for they do believe the Resurrection of the Dead for if the Dead rise not they are of all men most miserable What can be a Ballance of an Equal Poix with the Tryals Exercises Afflictions and Persecutions that are their Lot and Portion in this Life short of an Eternal Inheritance and a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Therefore they also believe that every man shall be raised in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming yea they do believe that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and that God giveth a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body there is a Natural Body and a Spiritual there are Bodies Terrestrial and Bodies Coelestial wherein they agree with the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 23 43 44. which I think is sufficient to give all sober Inquirers full satisfaction herein For as to my own particular I freely do confess it suffices me that God will give unto my Spirit such a Body as it pleases him CHAP. IV. Concerning Original Sin AS to Original Sin in which the Quakers are judged to be of so Dangerous an Opinion without shewing to me what that Opinion was I Answer Though the word Original be not sound in Scripture yet if any mean hereby the inward Corruption and Seed of Sin which Satan hath sown in us and wherewith we are defiled in our first and fallen Nature I am sure this will not be denyed by any true Quaker for they know and believe that in the first Adam all are Sinners but in the second Adam which is the Lord from Heaven we are made Righteous for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive as 't is written 1 Cor. 15. 22. But though it be granted that by one Man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all Men for that All have sinned even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression who is the Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5. 12. 14. yet this doth
Truth 's Vindication OR A Gentle Stroke to wipe off the Foul Aspersions False Accusations and Misrepresentations cast upon the People of God called QUAKERS Both with respect to their Principle and their way of Proselyting People over to them Prov. 4. 18 19. The Path of the Iust is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day The Way of the Wicked is as Darkness they know not at what they stumble Isa. 51.7 41. 14. Hearken unto me ye that know Righteousness the People in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the Reproach of Men neither be ye afraid of their Revilings Fear not thou Worm Jacob and ye Men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel Also An EPISTLE to such of the Friends of Christ that have lately been convinced of the TRUTH as it is in JESUS Hosea 6. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning and he will come unto us as the Rain as the latter and former Rain unto the Earth Job 8. 7. Though thy Beginning was small yet thy Latter-end shall greatly increase Printed in the Year 1679. AN EPISTLE TO You Five in particular viz. A.W. E.T. M.I. B.P. E.F. unto whom this is more especially intended to be delivered FRIENDS NOT in Affectation to be Popular for that I do not desire but in Obedience to Christ Iesus my Lord and Master have I pen'd this matter that so the Innocency of his Truth and People may more conspicuously appear Neither have I fondly desired to get my Name in Print for 't is not Inky Character can make a Saint such must be sanctified and cleansed in Body Soul and Spirit through which they come to be prepared God's Kingdom to inherit Wherefore I write unto you my Friends That you may not content your selves barely in an outward Separation whilst not wholely separated from that within which is the Cause of Transgression to wit that Adulterate Spirit of the Man of Sin that 's got not only into the Pontificial Chair at Rome whence so many corrupt Customs both in Worship and Practice are come abroad into the World but doth also sit upon the Throne in the Hearts of many People even in this our Native Land And this Spirit hath led Man into many False Wayes and Forms in his fallen Condition whereby he hath strayed from the Right Way of Restoration which Way being made known to a Remnant whose Minds are turned to Christ's Light within God's saving Power these cannot but call to their Friends and Acquaintance to turn in hither and therefore have I been made to send this Friendly Invitation abroad into the World That People may be invited to that Feast of Fat Things which the Lord hath prepared for them that turn in unto him But more especially doth it lie upon me for you Five to whom I write this Epistle Dedicatory to let you know his Oxen and his Fatlings are ready only come away do not tarry For I well know this is the time of the Lord's Love towards you because of the sounding of his Bowels which I have heard within me I know they are not restrained from you because of the constraint that he hath laid upon me which hath been so powerful that my Heart hath been pained in me and my Soul hath been distressed for you and often have I been bowed down in Spirit yea till I could hardly stand upon my Feet until the Lord who bowed me down raised me up and set before me a Door of Hope whereat his Prisoner in you may be brought forth which is that for which God's Seed in me hath travailed through many Tribulations and now having delivered me from that cruel Bondage of Corruption which once I groaned under this makes me restless in my Spirit that others may believe in that inward Power that 's able to rescue from the Eury of their Soul's Oppressor Yet I write not this by way of Complaint as though I thought it a Weariness to serve the Lord in answering his Requirings no that I cannot think for I must acknowledge so gracious is he in his Condescension that he hath made this my Exercise become also my Divertion yea though I was his Prisoner by Indisposition of Body occasion'd through the Pressure of my Mind whilst the Weight of this Matter lay upon me yet I wished for no Walks of Pleasure nor was I weary of my Pain the Reward given into my Bosome in returns of Peace and sweet Security that my Soul enjoys amidst the disturbing Fears and Perplexities that are abroad is sufficient Recompence for all these light Afflictions What the subject Matter hereof is read and you will find wherein I have first endeavoured to remove the Stumbling-blocks from before you and then to cast up the Way of Truth for you and that by Scripture Road as you may read in those cited Texts which here have been brought unto my Hands without the Help of Humane Concordance Read in Charity what I have written in Humility knowing you are my Elders in years I would address my self unto you in all Christian Manners but I dare not Flatter you nor can I complementally crave Excuses of you accept it therefore from me who can truly say For some time I have not been my own the Lord having made me your Servant in this thing but now the Truth hath in measure set me free which also made me willing to serve you as it gave me Ability that God might have the Glory and you the Profit of these my Spiritual Labours Who am Your Faithful Friend Elizabeth Bathurst AN INTRODUCTION By way of PREFACE TO THE Ensuing Treatise MY former Friends and Acquaintance for whose sakes this is written it is to rectifie your Mistakes about and to inform you in that which some stick not to call A New Religion But though the old Enemy of all Righteousness has found this new opprobrious Term to asperse and undermine the Truth with blessed be the Captain of our Salvation he hath defeated him of his Design and out of the Mouthes of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained Praise to his own Name For let me tell you my Friends True Religion is of great Antiquity 't is as old as Abel who by Faith offered up a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained Witness That he was Righteous God testifying of his Gift and by it he being dead yet speaketh as you may read Hebr. 11. 4. And now I appeal to you What Faith was this by which Abel pleased God Was it not a living Faith which God had wrought in him and not a dead Faith received by Tradition of Man's teaching yet such was the Nature and kind of it that he did not only believe in the true God his Creator but also in Jesus Christ his Redeemer although he was not come in the Flesh then yet
Observation neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you And that there this Wine was drunk by the Disciples see Acts 2. from the first Verse to the 18th When the Holy Ghost fell upon the Apostles how full of the new Wine of the Kingdom they were to the astonishment of Beholders and certainly this Wine of the Spirit or Wine of the Kingdom which is all one for Christ's Kingdom is a Spiritual Kingdom must come from him for he is the true Vine as he calls himself Iohn 15 1. So that the Text alledged doth not at all prove outward and Elementary Bread and Wine to be of use after Christ's second and spiritual coming for this he fulfilled before his Death and the Holy Ghost was not given till after he was glorified as was glorified as you may read Iohn 7 39. But possibly some may object It was practised by the Church of Corinth after Christ was inwardly come after the Holy Ghost was given to them as may be argued from 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Where the Apostle repeating Christ's words in Matthew adds This do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me To whom I answer in the behalf of the People whom I have undertaken to speak for if any break outward Bread and drink outward Wine with a sincere Intention as believing it their duty that they may the more be put in remembrance of the Body and Blood of Christ by the Remembrancer the Spirit of Truth which is appointed by the Father to lead the Saints into all Truth they judge them not but rather hope that such will come further out of the Shadow to the Substance But to do it meerly by Imitation or Tradition as most do is not to offer a Sacrifice to God in Righteousness however the outward Supper cannot be the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ which the Apostle speaks of in 1 Cor. 10. 15. and so on This can be but a Sign to put us in Remembrance thereof and therefore though it was commanded to and practiced by the Church of Corinth yet that doth not perpetuate its continuance For so was washing anothers Feet abstaining from things strangled and Blood annointing the Sick with Oyl laid upon the Saints of old which ye yourselves judge not needful to be practised now But if any shall say The Apostle relaxt some of these by saying in I Cor. 10. 25. Whatever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no Questions for Conscience sake Then it must be granted that there is no necessity for the Continuance of the other for the same Apostle saith The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Ioy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Let no man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of a Holy Day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath Day saith he wherefore if ye be dead with Christ Iesus why as though living in the World are ye subject Ordinances touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the Commandements and Doctrines of Men Coll. 2. 16 20 21 22. So here is as much said for the abolishing of this latter as to any necessity as can be alledged for the former therefore those that can dispence with the one have small reason to plead for the other And yet I testifie the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ the Quakers do own as that which every one must come to know and witness or they have no Life in them Now I appeal to the Reader How then can it be said that they deny the true Institution of the Lord's Supper Yet am I loath to leave the thing here being willing to hope I write to some who are Conscientiously scrupulous in this Matter who 't is like are ready to say as I my self in Heart have often said viz. To lay aside this Administration were at once to cast off and count useless what so many Martyrs in the Marian dayes so zealously contended for yea resisted unto Blood in striving to maeintain And having this Opinion I confess I was much swayed thereby as thinking it had been meerly for the outward Administration that they suffered Martyrdom but having since more seriously considered the Matter I can truly say I have received this from the Lord for Answer viz. It was not to maintain those outward Signs of Bread and Wine but to bear Testimony against the Falshood and Foppery of Transubstantiation that the Worthies of those dayes stood so stoutly against it that they counted not their Lives dear unto themselves that they might finish the Testimony they had received from the Divine Spirit which indeed History is clear in to them that read with Understanding For the Question put to them was not Why do you break Bread and drink Wine in your Sacrament without Consecration But What say you to the Sacrament of the Altar after the Bread and Wine is Consecrated is the Real Presence of Christ there I or no This was the Interrogatory they were to answer and bravely indeed did Tindal Philpot and others maintain their Negation to this Quest on which those that are acquainted with Martyrology cannot but have a Knowledge of Therefore the laying aside these outward Signs to be used by way of Remembrance when the Spirit it self is their Remembrancer This is not to put a slight upon the Sufferings of those Martyrs who then were breaking through a Cloud of Apostacy and Error the bright side of which blessed be our God hath since more fully appeared To conclude this Point If any shall be offended at what I have written to vindicate the laying aside of this outward Sign where the thing signified is inwardly come if they will dwell upon the Figure of the Death of Christ without and care not to come to know and witness his Resurrection and Life in themselves I 'll leave them where they are giving them to understand I have not attempted a formal Confutation of Error but a Vindication of the Truth CHAP. VI. Touching Free Will ALthough I have heard say That the Quakers are Free-willers yet this doth not prove them to be so no more than Peoples saying so is proof that they deny the Scriptures But since some are so willing to receive Reports against them something I shall say as to this Particular in behalf of them and that is this They are not of those that flightly say Man may be saved if he will for they know right well 'T is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but in God that sheweth Mercy for we are not able of our selves as of our selves so much as to think a good Thought but all our sufficiency is of God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure And therefore say we with the Apostle Of his own Will beg at
in Chap. 3. Vers. 17. of this Epistle the Apostle gives Caution to whom he wrote saying Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these Things beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness For 't is threatned by the Lord That when the Righteous man turneth away from his Righteousness and commits Iniquities and dyeth in them Mark here is included a Total Fall for his Iniquity that he hath done he shall Dye Ezek. 18. 26. and 33. 13. Wherefore we are exhorted to continue in the Grace of God and to keep our selves in the Love of God because of the danger that there is of falling from this Grace for 't is those that endure to the End that shall be saved these are Christ's own words in Mat. 16. 26. Mark 13. 13. 'T is to those that are faithful unto Death to whom is promised a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Such as are implanted into Christ and abide in him they shall inherit the Kingdom For if a man abide not in me saith Christ he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered John 15. 6. And in vers 10. he tells them If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandments and abide in his Love Thereby signifying that if we keep not his Commandments neither shall we abide in his Love so then if we abide not in that which keeps us in the Love of God we cannot abide in God for God is Love 1 John 4. 16. See Reader here is a whole Cloud of Witnesses bearing Testimony that'tis Possible if there be not a diligent watching for People to fail of or rather fall from that measure of the true Grace of God which was once given to them Therefore what the Quakers hold in this Point is no New Doctrine For if this could not possibly be how could any do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace or Resist the holy Ghost Yet do this People believe A Christian may come to such a growth and standing in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus from which he cannot fall away according to that Promise in Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down from Heaven from my God and will write upon him my New Name And they also believe That such a one may come to be assured that he is in such a state even as the Apostle was who said for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. CHAP. IX Concerning Perfection VVHich Doctrine though it be firmly founded in Scripture yet is it rejected and set at naught because 't is believed by the Quakers notwithstanding which they freely confess that a perfect Principle they plead for and press the necessity and benefit of man's believing and conformity to it Therefore I ask their Adversaries Is it any Crime to be Perfect To which if they shall answer as in effect they have said This is to be accounted Vile To such my Reply is I hope that the Lord will inable his People to become and be contented to be counted more Vile For to this Abraham was commanded by God under the Old Testament as 't is written Gen. 17. 1. The Lord appeared unto Abraham saying I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And to this we are commanded by Christ under the New whose words are thus Recorded Mat. 5. 48. Be ye therefore Perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Nor is it only commanded but also promised see Rom. 6. 14. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you And in 22. 23. verses there we find it experienced for the Apostle speaks of such as were made free from Sin and become Servants to God and had their Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life For the wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord And in Rom. 8. 2. there Paul speaks his own experience For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death saith he And therefore he exhorts the Corinthians Having these Promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. And in 1 Cor. 2. 6. 'T is said the Apostle spake Wisdom among them that were Perfect and in 2 Cor. 12. 9. the Apostle wishes their Perfection and thus he concludes his Epistle to them in the 11th verse of the same Chapter Finally Brethren farewell be perfect c. And this was it the Apostle Iames desired viz. that those to whom he wrote might be perfect and intire lacking nothing Iames 1. 5. For it was the end of the Apostles Ministry that they might present every man Perfect in Christ Jesus labouring servently in Prayer for them that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And in behalf of the Thessalonians Paul prayeth That the very God of Peace would sanctifie them wholly that their whole Spirit Soul and Body might be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Thessal 5. 23. And we find the Apostle Peter making the same Supplication even that the God of all Grace would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5.10 This being the very end for which God appointed Teachers in his Church as 't is written Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Yea this seems to be the end of Christs giving himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame see Ephes. 5. 26 27. Therefore those that deny Perfection to be attainable by the Lords People do in effect deny Christ the one Offering For by one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified as faith the Apostle Heb. 10. 14. Wherefore saith Iohn Whoso is Born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 John
love to their Souls by giving them his Flesh to eat which is the true Bread that cometh down from Heaven This is he that gives true freedom of will to his People whereby they can cheerfully serve him and keep the Word of his patience though in much Affliction and he hath promised to keep such in the hour of Temptation Rev. 3. 10. This is the Lord our Righteousness and he of whom our Righteousness is as saith the Prophet which while we abide in him we have a sure standing But if any go out from him who is a God at hand and whose Salvation is near to be reveald in all that wait for him then 't is no wonder if they fail of the Riches of that Grace which is treasured up in him This is he whose Works and Wayes are all Perfect and in him we are made compleat that is as we are guided by his Spirit which he gives to lead the Saints into all Truth according to his promise Iohn 16. 13 14. Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will lead you into all Truth for he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you saith Christ and this his Spirit by which his People are led is an Infallible Spirit Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ which is Infallible he is none of his saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 9. And now if any man have and profess to be led by this Spirit of Christ he is made a Scoff even by the very Professors of this Age. Thus I have again touch'd upon the former Particulars wherein I undertook to Vindicate Truth and its Followers in all which Christ the Light and Life of Men is all in all unto his People For Christianity doth not consist in the belief of so many Doctrines Articles and Principles as some suppose but in conformity unto that one Eternal Principle to wit the Light of Christ manifest in the Conscience and yet leads into a heavenly Order both in Doctrine Principle and Conversation according to the diversity of its Gifts whereby man comes not to be at liberty in his own Will but bound again to God which is the true signification of the word Religion And this Light of the unerring Spirit by which the Lord leads his People in the Way Everlasting it shineth within mark It shineth in the Darkness though the Darkness comprehend it not as saith the Apostle Iohn 1. 5. It shines in the dark Heart of man though man in his dark state cannot discern what it is yet is this that sure Word of Prophecy whereunto we do well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place untill the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in our Hearts according to that 2 Pet. 1. â—9 which is as much as if the Apostle had said This is commendable that you give diligent heed to the least measure of this Light or Grace of God which he hath dispenced to you till he shall see fit to bestow a greater measure upon you For 't is still but one thing that I am describing although rendred by divers Names inasmuch as the sure Word of Prophecy and the Day-Star here spoken of differ only in Degrees not in Nature and Kind both which Expressions denote to us that one gift of Light and Grace through Christ Jesus freely bestowed on all men and according to the improvement that they make of their Measures so an increase thereof is administred to them It was by this Light that Iob walked through Darkness Iob 29. 8. And it is by this Light that we come to see our Darkness but 't is not that we should abide in Darkness but walk through it and come out of it by following the Light of Christ that in his Light we may see more Light and so come to receive the Light of Life as 't is written Iohn 8. 12. Then spake Iesus unto them saying I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of life And praised be the Lord there is a Remnant who have experienced it and can say with the Apostle this thing is true in them viz. The Darkness is past and the true Light now shineth 1 John 2. 8. Which Light is a Light of the Spirit of the Lord dwelling in his People and therefore whatever the World may think concerning them 't is no presumption in them to own they are made Possessors of the same For saith the Apostle to the Corinthians Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you For ye are the Temples of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them 1 Cor. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Now since God himself is said in Scripture to dwell and walk in his People why should it be thought Arrogant for them to say Christ in them is the hope of their Glory according to that of the Apostle Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles Christ in you the hope of Glory And let me tell you this was the Judgment of Dr. Langly which I my self heard from him in a Sermon preach't upon that Text viz. That the great Gospel Treasure is the Lord Iesus Christ and the glory of that Treasure is Christ in us This was his Observation and this I think is Confession clear enough to the Truth of our Assertion viz. That in being guided by the Light which is the Spirit of Christ within us hereby a sure Hope of Eternal Glory is given to us However we do not conclude Christ in our selves only but we say a measure of his Light in order to shew the way of Life every man is or hath been enlightned with Nor yet do we include him in the fleshly Temples of Men and Womens Hearts so as to exclude him from being any where else but as we know his Presence fills Heaven and Earth so we believe that notwithstanding his appearance in our Hearts he is continually at the Right Hand of God at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High ever Living to make Intercession for us and by his Spirit we feel the Signification thereof within us For this Grace of God which is the Light of Jesus 't is a measure of the Divine Spirit and a Manifestation of it is given to every man to profit withal see 1 Cor. 12.7 Yea this Universal Principle which I am describing it is a Measure of the quickening Spirit even of that Spirit which raised up Jesus from the Dead by the Indwelling of which in us we come to be renewed in the Spirit of our Minds and to have our Mortal Bodies quickned so as to capacitate us to serve the Lord with our Spirits and with our Bodies which are his Now if any shall think I have raised this Principle too high
let them read Rom. 8. 11. and they will find the Apostle speaking expresly If the Spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore as I said before 't is no Arrogancy for the People of God to own that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in them for 't is not the Light of Nature nor the Dictates of a Natural Conscience but a Spiritual Divine Principle by which Men and Women are raised from the Death of Sin to serve God in Newness of Life and Obedience of Conversation No Reader let me tell thee Nothing Natural will or can reach so far Nature cannot change Nature it must be a higher Power that can cause to put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to Deceitful Lusts by renewing the Spirit of the Mind so as to cause us to put on the New Man Christ Jesus which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness and so Old Things are made to pass away behold all things are become New Lo here is a New Creature as there is a putting off the Old Man with his Deeds there is a passing away of the first Heavens and the first Earth and then behold New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness as there is a coming to this Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which Law is inward written in the Heart and Engraven on the Inward Parts there is a setting Free from the Law of Sin and Death And so we come to know a Blotting out of the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances which was against us and contrary to us our Lord having taken them and nailed them to his Cross. And thus He that believeth in the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God unto Salvation hath a Witness in himself the Spirit it self beareth them Witness that they are the Children of God according to that in 1 Iohn 5.10 Rom. 8.16 And as they continue in the Faith they come to be sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise and to set to their Seals that God is True For Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it he hath promised to redeem us from all Iniquity wherefore let us hope in his Word and not grieve his holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the Day of our compleat Redemption according to the Apostle's Advice Ephes. 4. 30. O! let us take heed that we do not vex and quench the Spirit of Christ within us that so we be not of those complained of by Nehemiah To whom the Lord gave his good Spirit but they rebelled against it And what then so he became their Enemy and fought against them These were such of whom Iob speaks Chap. 24. 13. saying They are of those that rebel against the Light the Light and Spirit here spoken of being one in Being and not divided but distinguished only in degrees of Discoveries for this Spirit is a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ which openeth and enlighteneth the Eye of the Vnderstanding and giveth to know what is the Hope of the Calling of Christ Iesus and what is the Riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints according to the Apostle's Prayer to God for the Ephesians Chap. 1. 17 18. And this was it that Christ promised when he was about to leave his Disciples as to his Personal presence amongst them at which their Hearts began to be sorrowful he therefore tells them to comfort them he that dwelleth with you shall be in you John 14. 17. Thereby he meant himself who then was present with but passing from them in the Flesh would come again unto them and abide forever with them in the Spirit For the Lord is that Spirit saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 17. Wherefore he bids them Examine themselves whether they be in the Faith Prove your own selves saith he know you not your own selves how that Christ is in you Except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. And hereby know we that we are not in a Reprobate state because we witness the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us For this Principle of which I write 't is the Unction which we have received from the holy One whereby we know all things that is this doth instruct us in all things that are necessary to be known by us For 't is that spiritual anointing that the Apostle Iohn speaks of which those who have received it and in whom it abides need not that any man teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them all things and is Truth and is no Lye even as it hath taught them they should abide in him 1 John 2. 14. that is in Christ Jesus from whom this anointing doth come Now whoso is taught by this Anointing the same is taught by God as it is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me saith Christ Iohn 6.45 For this was the Promise of the Father even the new Covenant which he made with the House of Israel After those Dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their Minds and write them in their Hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Ier. 31. 33 34. This being the Tennure of the New Covenant That all the Children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord and in Righteousness shall they be established Isa. 54. 13 14. Which implies that God will teach them so effectually by his Free Spirit that they shall not stand in need of any other Prophet But here I must obviate an Objection before I can proceed Possibly some may ask me Why then do those People that thou art now gone amongst keep up their Publick Meetings to Preach and to Teach People the Way of Salvation What need is there of their Teaching if every one hath a Teacher in them able to Instruct them in the Way to the Kingdom To whom I Answer First Though I did say as much as that every one hath a Divine Teacher in them yet I did not say that every one knows this Teacher in them For this hath been the Misery of many Ages of the World People have gone out after the many Lo here 's and Lo there 's to find Christ without them in the mean time neglecting his Appearance within them even as was foretold by Christ himself when he was on Earth in the days of his Flesh In the Last Dayes saith he they shall say Lo here is Christ and Lo he is there but go ye not out after
inseparable from the Scriptures as some suppose Yet would I not be thought to undervalue the Scriptures any whit for I have very Venerable thoughts of them and a Reverential esteem for them as being Holy Writings But I dare not confine all means for mans Salvation in them because the Lord hath not confined himself to them but hath left himself a Witness in every Conscience which Witness is a spiritual manifestation of his Son the Saviour of the World And this the Scriptures plentifully declare of which sometimes they call the Word the Law the Grace the Spirit of God at other times they call it the Light of Iesus the New Covenant a Light to lighten the Gentiles a Rod a Staff a Shepherds Crook the Word nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth the Sure Word of Prophecy the manifestation of the Spirit a Shield a Buckler a strong Tower the Armour of Righteousness All which are one in Nature though diversly exprest according to its distinct Operations in the Soul as the Creature standeth in need sometimes to lighten its Darkness at other times to lead it in the way of Holiness one while it Instructs another while it Corrects sometimes it Counsels other times it Consolates and as its Counsel is heeded and the Soul guided by it it preserves and defends in all exigencies and straights But I pass over its special use intending to shew that in another place only here may be seen the great condescention and matchless love of him who gives unto all Life and Breath and Being in that he hath sent the Holy Ghost down from Heaven with the Revelation of his Son Jesus Christ in the Hearts of the Children of men that whosoever adhereth to the Spirit of his Son within them may thereby know him not only as a Saviour and Redeemer but also to be their Saviour and Redeemer and that not only from the Punishment but from the Power and Dominion of Sin by setting of them free from the Bondage of Corruption and bringing them into the glorious Liberty of his own Children But as for such who will not believe in this Principle of God but instead of owning it as his Power unto Salvation say it is A Satanical suggestion and instead of owning it to be of the Divine Nature of God or Christ they call it the Dim Light of created Nature putting Bitter for Sweet and Sweet for Bitter counting Darkness Light and Light Darkness such may continue in their Bondage and Vassallage under the Prince and Power of Darkness in the blindness of their Minds hardness of their Hearts and deadness of their Spirits notwithstanding Freedom and Liberty Life and Immortallity is brought to Light through the Gospel which it hath pleased the Father should be Preached to every Creature by his Son Sions Deliverer who is his own Messenger see Rom. 11. 26. Mal. 3. 2. For this Principle of Light of which I now write 't is something of the Nature and Being of God himself who as he is a Spirit so he is Light as you may read concerning him Iohn 4. 24. 1 Iohn 1. 5. and therefore 't is by his Light with which we are inlightned It proceedeth from him he being the Ocean wherein the fulness thereof is contained 't is from him through his Son Christ Jesus that we come to be inlighted by the same so 't is in his Light that we see Light even as the Natural Sun causeth its Beams to extend to the Ends of the Earth so this Eternal Son of Righteousnes who is the Ocean and Fountain of Divine Spiritual Light causeth more or less of the streams thereof to descend into all immortal Souls upon it Thus having shew'd the Nature and Quality Original and Fountain of this blessed Principle I come further to shew its Use and Extent that so I may not only tell my Reader What it is and Whence it comes but according to my Promise write something of What it doth and Whereto it leads § IV. In the first place It daily Reproves for Sin even in all men and excites to Holiness during the Time of their Visitation though 't is possible for men to sin themselves into such a state by drinking in Iniquity as the Ox drinketh Water when through custom in sinning their Consciences become seared as with an Hot-Iron that this Principle of God may cease striving with them and so these may not know when they do Evil yet there is a Time in which this Principle of God doth stand as a faithful Witness against all Unrighteousness and Ungodliness in the Hearts of Men and Women and Leads Draws Moves and Enclines their Minds to Righteousness seeking to Leaven them as they yield thereunto into the Nature of it self whereby an inward thorow and real Redemption may be wrought in the Hearts of all Men of what Kindred Nation or People soever notwithstanding any outward Benefit or Priviledge they may Providentially be deprived of yet is the Lord so Gracious as to dispense such a measure of his Grace Power and Spirit unto all the Children of Men to convince them of sin to Reprove them for it and to lead them out of it that as they give up to the Operation thereof in themselves it will thorowly sanctifie and make them clean and so prepare them and make them meet for his heavenly Kingdom yea though they never had the Scriptures amongst them nor never heard Christ outwardly named to them the Name of Christ being often put for the Power of Christ within as in Mark. 16. 17. In My Name shall they cast out Devils saith Christ of his Disciples So in Acts 4. 7. The High Priests and Rulers asked Peter and Iohn By what Power or by what Name they had made the Impotent Man whole For that Name of Christ which heals and saves is his Power that maketh Free from Sin Now whoso knoweth this Name of Jesus to be given unto them and effectually to have wrought in them they can truly witness him to be the Arm of God's Salvation However we do say that the Scriptures in which we have a Declaration of what Christ hath done and suffered for us those do much Facilitate Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus and therefore they ought thankfully to be received by us and born Witness to when-ever the Lord shall require us so as that we may not be ashamed to own not afraid to confess him to be our Saviour who they make mention of to have been put to Death in the Flesh above Sixteen Hundred Sixty Years past by the Hands of Sinners For we do not believe that this Light Grace and Power of God which is sufficient both to sanctifie and save and able to give an Inheritance among them that are sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Jesus where Christ is not outwardly named I say We do not believe that this is given to any without Christ but we do believe it to be the Purchase and Benefit of
his Death who tasted Death for every man And so we do freely confess all that is derived to us to be in and by Christ Jesus as Mediator unto whom we ascribe all acknowledging him to be our Head in whom all Fulness dwells So that this Light with which all men are in some measure enlightned of God 't is no other but a measure of that Divine Fulness that dwelt in the Son of his Love when he was hear on Earth and now dwelleth in him since he is ascended up to Heaven where he was before whence he descends the streams thereof into the Hearts of all the Children of Men in order to bring them out of the Fall in the First Adam and to redeem them up unto himself the Second Adam that as they have born the Image of the Earthly so they may bear the Image of the Heavenly be restor'd unto that Grace and Favour of God again which by Transgression they are fallen from But First Let me tell thee whoever thou art that reads me This effectual Operation of the Spirit or Principle of God within is not nor cannot be known without a being centred down into the same For this I speak from good Experience the Spirit 's first work is to convince of sin before it effect a Restoration and this it doth even in all though all do not regard it it doth first shew them what is Evil and then it Reproves them when they do Evil which Reproofs if they be despised cause the fierce Anger of the Lord to be kindled and such as despise Wisdoms Reproofs which are the Way of Life while they are so doing they are treasuring up to themselves Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God And as ever they would come to know Remission of their Sins and enjoy Peace with the Lord who is hereby justly encensed against them they must submit to bear his Indignation against them that so they may be redeemed through Judgment and brought to unfeigned Repentance and then and not till then shall they know a blotting out of their Transgressions according as 't is written Acts 3. 19. But I say before Remission of Sins comes to be known there must be a centring down into the Manifestation of the Spirit of God within which will bring down every exalted Imagination and every high Thing and lay it Low even to the Ground that so every Thought may be brought into subjection to Jesus Christ And here comes the Terrors of the Lord to be known which causeth Fear and Trembling now doth the Soul exceedingly Fear and Quake under the Sense of the just Wrath of the Almighty who is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity and whose Jealousie burns like Fire and will so do till it have consumed the Stubble that it meets with in the Heart of the Sinner For he that long offered himself as a Guide is now become a judge in the Conscience of this Creature and his just Judgment against all Unrighteousness must be accomplished True indeed the Opperation of the Word of his Power by which he judgeth is diversly felt and experienced In some 't is as a Hammer to break the Rocks is sunder In others 't is as a Fire to melt down the Dross and separate it from the Silver In all 't is as a Sword to divide Sin and their Souls assunder yea it divideth between the Soul and that sinful Spirit which hath got into it and defiled it Thus the Lord deals with his Creatures as the matter doth require he considers their Nature and Temper and layes no more upon them then he gives them strength to bare For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but Duft therefore he doth not retain his Anger forever left our Spirits should fail before him and the Souls which he hath made us However all that have sinned must know a Time of Sorrow yea even such who have not so rebelliously despised his Counsel and slighted his Reproofs and cast his Law behind their Backs as some there are which have yet inasmuch as they have at any time not hearkned unto his holy Spirit within them his Judgments will overtake them and in Righteousness will he plead with them and then I know former things will come into their Minds This I write as one having witnessed the Spirit to be given for a Remembrancer which was faithfully promised by the Lord Jesus Iohn 14. 26. even that Spirit of Truth which he told his Disciples it should bring all things to their Remembrance and so indeed it doth call back things that are past and set them in order before us judging condemning of us for what we have done amiss And now a Remnant having heard that in our Hearts that hath told us all things that ever we did we know this to be the Voice of Christ yea the spiritual appearance of the Christ of God For this was he who saw us under the Figg-tree when we had nothing but Leaves to cover us although we saw him not yet did he send and call us to himself that he might cover us with his own Spirit which when we came to be covered with we then saw who it was that cast the skirt of his Love over us and said unto us when we were poluted in our Blood Live And then was the time of his Love even when he stood at the Door of our Hearts and knockt that he might be entertained by us yea and sometimes in the silence of the Night hath he broken in upon us I know it in my own particular when no Creature hath been near this Invisible Oracle hath secretly communed with me reproving of me wherein I had done amiss and shewing me what was right in his sight And at other times in Company thus would the Lord cause his Voice to sound in my Heart THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE ARE VAIN by which I was brought off from many of those Vanities which before I had spent Time in and that by the Witness of God in my own Conscience which testified against the same although then I did not understand what it was that did so restrain from sin but now I know it was the Lord that girded me though I knew him not For I well remember when I have been using the common Language of our Country especially if after the now most usual strain this Testimony from God would arise in my Heart against it viz. I will return unto my People a pure Language Whereby I was reproved in my self for using Flattering Speech though such as was and is accounted of by many to be but Civil Language or expressions of common Civility to Persons according to their Quality in which I had such as Care to keep within the Bounds of Verity that I dare assert I did stere as near the compass of Truth-speaking as the Nature of such Speech would couch But since it hath pleased the
Lord by the inshining of his heavenly Light in my Conscience to let me see clearly into the Falshood and Folly of this corrupted courtesie I do not only Conscientiously but Voluntarily decline the using such Flattering Speech notwithstanding I know 't is to expose my self to be censur'd by some as a Person Unaccomplished Unmannerly and Ill Bred. Praised be his Powerful Name who hath made me willingly Renounce both giving and receiving that Honour that cometh from Man that so I might partake of that Honour which proceedeth from himself alone For this is the Honour which all the Faithful in Heart chiefly esteem it being the Unbelieving who seek the Praise of and Honour from men Which made Christ say to some of Old How can ye believe who receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only John 5. 44. Yet notwithstanding this Christ did then require his Disciples to render Honour to whom Honour and Fear to whom Fear which Requiring of his all his true Followers in their Respective places are at this Time careful to answer how uncivil soever accounted by the World yet have they learnt Gospel-Manners which is to give the Right Hand of Fellowship to whom it doth belong in Honour Preferring one another each Esteeming other better then themselves And now I say it was by this Principle of Divine Eight which God hath placed in my Heart by which he pleaded with me in days past even when I knew him not that is I knew not that it was the immediate Act of his own Power and Spirit though I felt such a Force in it that as I did in the least yield thereunto I must confess I was overcome by it but still it was as I was subject and obedient to his Power for I cannot say The Lord wrought in an irresistable manner although I know and do declare it was he who did subject me and made me willing in the Day of his Power and thus being prepared by him then did he send his Spirit to convince me both of Righteousness and of Judgment as well as Sin yea to convince me of that Righteousness and Religious Way of Worship which I formerly walked in whereby he let me see it was but a humane Righteousness and an invented traditional Worship set up by the Will and performed in the Spirit of Man and derived to me by outward Instruction and Education so that I had a Form which the Power did not attend for want of having regard to the Movings and Guidance of God's own Spirit in which alone he delights to be worshipped and therefore is he striving by this his Spirit in the Hearts of the Children of Men to bring them out of all Forms of humane establishing that they may worship him in Spirit and in Truth and serve him in the Gospel of his Son that so they may be accepted through him yet I do acknowledge that while I saw no farther and did sincerely serve the Lord in the Way which I walked in before hoping it might be right because reform'd in many things to what some other Wayes of Worship are the Lord was graciously pleased often to administer some Comfort and refreshment to my Soul through the Ministration I then sate under And in like manner I do believe his Dealings are with all the Upright-hearted who are seeking after him in the divers Wayes of Worfhip which if they continue seeking him in the Integrity of their Spirits I doubt not but he will seek them out for his Seed's sake and in due time bring them to the Mountain of his Holiness where his dwelling is For this was Christ's Promise Iohn â—0 16. Other Sheep have I which are not of this Fold them also saith he will I bring and there shall be one Sheepfold and one Shepherd over them And when Christ comes to fold them upon his holy Mountain which Mountain is within then will they walk in the Foot-steps of the Flocks of his Companions and know a lying down where he makes his flocks to rest at noon but first they must come to know a passing through Judgment and their Works must be burnt and they suffer Loss because the Lord of Hosts hath said Zion shall be redeemed with Iudgment and her Converts with Righteousness Isa. 1. 27. And Christ said I lead in the Way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Iudgment Prov. 8. 28. And the Spirit of Christ was promised to convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Iohn 16. 8. by which the Spirit and Prince of this World should be judged and he cast out of his Throne in the Hearts of the Children of Men whereby every one who comes to experience God's Righteous Judgments in themselves to be brought forth unto Victory such may also witness an Overcoming of the Prince Power of Darkness through the spiritual Strength of this Son of Righteousness howbeit while these two Spirits are striving together the Soul cannot but be sensible of an Hour of sorrow I surely know that Day is a Day of Mourning of Weeping and of Lamentation when Zion fits solitary with her Tears upon her Cheeks clad in Sack-cloth covered with Ashes in a spiritual sense fearing and quaking exceedingly before the Lord and trembling in her self because of his fierce Wrath and just Indignation that burns as a Fiery Oven against Sin Oh! then 't is a Time of Heaviness and of great Sadness with the Soul sleep departing from the Eyes and slumber from the Eye-lids because of Grief in the Night-season it being truly the Time of Iacob's Trouble even the time when the Seed of Iacob is travelling to bring forth and therefore doth that Dragon the Devil as in the General so in the Particular seek to destroy this Birth he is not willing this holy Off-spring should be born and therefore doth he raise Wars without and Fears within stirring up the Wicked to revile and smite with the Tongue and causing cutting Calumnies and sharp Censures to come from more Sober hands hereby intending to encrease the Commotions which are within by threatning the Soul with this that now it must expect to be reproached with the Reproaches of men Thus the Evil One in this time of sore Conflict seeks to aggravate the Soul's Grief and what he cannot do by storm he will attempt by Terror secretly striving to make the Soul impatient under its Exercise thereby to drive it into Dispair But though it be a Day of Tryal in which every ones Work must be tryed as by Fire and of sore Exercise with the Creature yet is there a secret Hope lieth hid under all this which is as an Anchor to the Soul sure and stedfast founded upon that Rock which endures forever and this bears it up above those Floods of Persecution which the Dragon spues out of his Mouth to drown that heavenly Birth that the Power of God is bringing forth within which when it is