not of this World even as our Lord and Masters was not of this World for we seek another Kingdome Eternal in the Heavens whose Maker Builder and Upholder is God 1 Thess 1.1 And all that we desire from you who are in Authority that you would let the Spirit of God and the Scriptures be your rule in all your actings if we digress from the same upon an equal tryal then let the Transgressors suffer according to Law For the Law was added because of Transgression is not to be laid upon a righteous Man but unto the Lawless and Disobedient to the Ungodly and Sinners c. as in the 1 Tim. 1.9 10. And the Law of God is Just Holy and Good as was in the beginning which is to fear and serve God above all things and to walk humbly before him to deal Justly and to love Mercy to do to others as we would be done unto And here is the Law the Prophets and the Gospel of Jesus answered which was in the beginning and which will never come to an end And whosoever goes from this Law of the Spirit goes out of the order and rule of the Scriptures Neither is our warfare and Weapons Carnal or destructive to the Bodies of any but Spiritual and Mighty to the pulling down the Man of Sin the grand Enemy of the Soul for we desire not to contend with Flesh and Blood but for the Faith which once was and now is delivered to the Saints This is our Warfare and therefore ye ought in right reason and by the rule of the Scriptures to let us live peaceably by you and not to turn your Swords against us for the Magistrates Sword was and ought to be for the Punishment of Evil-doers and for the praise or them that do well and in so doing then you are in the place of true Justice and so in the order and rule of the Spirit of God and the Scriptures which all People upon the face of the whole Earth is out of which does that to others which they would not have others do unto them for whatsoever ye would that Men should do unto you do you so unto them this is the order and rule of the Spirit of God and the Scriptures and when these things come to be minded and practised and then will Persecution about Religion cease and come to an end and all Persecuting Laws will be laid aside and Righteousness will run down the Streets like a mighty stream and the knowledge of God will cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Seas this is that the Righteous pray for wait for and live in hopes in Gods time to see the same fulfilled And now a little to examin comparativly of the dwellings of Gods Enemies in former Ages and in this our Age against the Lords People and Servants whereby the moderate Reader may come to have an insight and understanding by this present Relation Was it not the High Priest the Chief Priest and the Captain of the Temple with his Officers that rose up against the Apostles and Imprisoned them saying Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this Name viz. Christ read Act. 5.17 and take counsel at the good Man Gamaliel therein mentioned then it may tend to your good And may it not truly be said that the Chief Priest and Rulers and the baser sort of Men were the greatest Persecutors in the days of Christ and his Apostles let the Scriptures and Gods faithful Witness in all sober Men answer And was it not the Chief Priest and Rulers that set Saul forward in his Persecution till the Lord struck him down that he fell to the Earth and after his Conversion when he came to preach Christ Jesus then the learned Jews took counsel to kill him but the Lord so ordered it that they were disappointed thereof and he delivered Paul Act. 9. And how did the Persecuting Jews when they saw Paul in the Temple stir up all the People and laid hands on him crying out Men of Israel Help c. Act. 21.27 c. And is not this Persecuting Spirit at work in this our Age Yes for it is one and the same through all Generations For as it was then so it is now he that is born after the Flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit these are the two Births as in the first of Joh. 12 13 14. verses And in Acts 23. when Paul began to plead his own cause you may read how the High Priest Annanias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the Face and have not many Faithful Friends had the like usage from the Priests in this Age. In which Chap. you may read how the Jews had banded together and bound themselves under a Curse saying They would neither Eat nor Drink till they had killed Paul But you may read how the Lord prevented these Bloody Persecutors and delivered him And in Act. 24. you may read how that Ananias the High Priest descended with the Elders and others who informed the Governour against Paul How they had found him a pestilent Fellow a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World Read the Chap. throughout there you have his Examination before the Chief Captain Lysias how he was sent to Foelix the Governour who for doing the Jews a pleasure left Paul bound And in Chap. 25. you may read how the High Priest and the Chief of the Jews informed Festus against Paul and how they laid in wait to kill him but there was so much Nobility and Charity in Festus upon Pauls Examination that he would not grant what they desired read the Chapter throughout And in Act. Chap. 26. you may read his Confession and the relation or manner of his Conversion before King Agrippa and as he spoke for himself Festus said with a loud Voice Paul thou art beside thy self much Learning doth make thee Mad. But he said I am not Mad most Noble Festus but speak for the word of Truth and Soberness c. And King Agrippa said Thou hast almost perswaded me to be a Christian read the Chapter throughout Now observe did not some of those whom you Christians call Heathens shew more Christian-like usage in that Age then many of the Rulers in England has done in this Age yet would have the name of Christian Magistrates But the true real Christians are followers of Christ in the Regeneration not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit For the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 And it is not the Name that maketh a Christian but the Nature not the 1st Nature for that is Earthly Sensual Devilish but the 2d Nature the new Nature regenerated born again for Christ Jesus said Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom if God that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Sprit
An Exhortation to all People Moderate Reader be serious and mind these following things and then I believe thou wilt Judge charitably of them THe true Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the pillar ground of Truth 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 1 Tim. 3.15 Howbeit the most high dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Act. 7.48 The Saints Bodies they are the temple of God and God dwells and walks in his own Temple 1 Cor. 3.16 and 6.19 2 Cor. 6.16 And what house will ye build unto me saith the Lord is not Heaven my Throne and Earth my Footstool Act. 7 4â— 50 51. And the true everlasting High Priest rules in us Christ Jesus the Saints Teacher who was not made after the Law of a Carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life and so remains a Priest forever Heb. 7.24 c. And Christ said Come unto me and learn of me Mat. 11.28 29 30. The true Baptism is inward by the Spirit for as many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gall. 3.27 28 29. And there is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is alive all through all and in you all Ephes 4.4 5 6. And by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one Body 1 Cor. 12.13 And the true Communion is inward in the Spirit and Jesus said unto them I am the Bread of Life and except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you Joh. 6. from 48. to 59. And the true worship of Christ is in the Spirit within his People for he said they that will worship God must worship him in Spirit and Truth read his Conference with the Woman of Samaria Joh. Chap. 4. and Rom. Chap. 8. Now upon the whole matter I do say and affirm that Christ is within his People and that he was and is the Saints Teacher and as he is the true Teacher so he will continue to be the last and whosoever set up Hireling Teachers and follow them and neglect Christs teachings in their own Bosoms such Teachers are the False Teachers which Jude the Servant of the Lord in his general Epistle testified against And such are they now of the same Nature and Generation with the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ Jesus pronounced so many Woes against as in Mat. 23. let that be minded for they are seen with the Light of Jesus which manifests all things of what sort it is And let the Hireling Priests of these times Professors or Prophane such as have charged us who in scorn are called Quakers to be Denyers of the Scriptures let sober People judge whether they or we be the denyers of the Scriptures in Life Practice and Conversation let them be denied turned from provided the Scriptures without wresting may be judge therein for to the Spirit of God and them we shall appeal that what we hold profess and practice they shall justify us therein rightly understood spiritually and lay aside your outward Laws and carnal Weapons and let Gods Divine Royal Law and Spiritual Weapons decide this great Controversie in these things that concern Eternal Salvation and Damnation For all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord and in Righteousness are they established as in Isa 54.13 14. Jer. 31.33 34. thus it is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every Man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me saith Christ Joh. 6.45 And the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men and this Grace of God teacheth the Saints to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lust and to live soberly and righteously in this present Evil World And all who turn from this Grace they turn into Wantonness and so deny the Lord that bought them And as the Apostle writ in his Epistle to the Romans Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it to them Rom. 1.19 so that it is clear and evident by the Sâ—riptures of Truth that the true Teacher Christ is within People and cannot be removed into a Corner nor does no more And this is the Judgment and Doctrine of all Christs Faithful Ministers who are called chosen and sent of him as the Apostles and Disciples were And therefore the Lords chosen People can say away with all covetous Hireling Teachers for they are useless and let them learn to labour with their hands as the Apostles did and as the true Ministers of Christ now do and so let the Gospel of Christ Jesus be free and not chargeable to any people Some things offered to the Consideration of all you who are call'd Magistrates and Rulers over the People and to all your under Officers and your Hireling Teachers of all sorts who pretend the Scripture to be your Rule who with your outward Laws do Force and Compel many such as absent from you in your Worship to joyn with you therein which thing never was the practice of the Lord's People in any Age recorded in the Scriptures of Truth and so out of the Order and Rule of the Scriptures ANd your Church as you call it was it not the Papists Old Masse-house and by them builded when they were in Power Is it not so filled and the Assembly therein with People that live in Pride Pleasures Persecution Drunkenness Lying and Swearing and such like Sins and that you still say you are Miserable Sinners erring and going astray like lost Sheep and doing that you should not do and leaving that undone which you should do is not this your weekly Confession and daily Practice let God's true Witness in all sober People answer and if so then for my part I dare not joyn with you therein nor be a Member of that Church whatever I suffer be it And I am apt to believe that you may make Hypocrites to come joyn with you by your forceing Laws but take heed they be not such as if they had opportunity and power would turn against you and destroy has there not been some appearances thereof both in former and latter Years But those whom the Lord hath redeemed and brought into his Spiritual Worship â—â—not bow to any Likeness Image or outward Form of Worship where the Power and Presence of God is wanting for it was the Apostles Exhortation to turn away from such as had a Form of Godliness but denied the Power thereof Neither can the Redeemed of the Lord conform to your way of Worship for the same Apostle saith to those he writ to But be not ye conformed to the World but transformed by the renewing of your Mind c. as in Rom. 12.2 Neither can we fashion our selves according to the course of this World which passeth away 1 Cor. 7.31 And our Kingdom is
â— Spirit marvel not that I said unto you ye must be born again c. Joh. 3.3 to 8. This persecuting Spirit was always blind it was blind in the great professing Jews who pretended a Law whereby to put Christ to Death in that time it was blind in the great professing Presbyterians who pretended a Law against us to persecute us thereby but the Lord had no hand in those Laws further then permission and it is well if the Rulers in this Age proceed not to Blood against a Harmless and Innocent People for Professing Christ Jesus and Worshipping him in the way of his Spirit who was sent from the Bosome of his Father Not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luk. 9.56 And doth not Englands Rulers pretend a Law now and is it not contrary to Christs Law not only for spoyling of Goods but also casting into Prison by which many have suffered to Death which comes near to Blood and is not this a mark of Satan the Destroyer Rev. 2.10 for Christ Jesus nor his Servants never cast any into Prison Let the Spirit and Scriptures of Truth be judge in those things for to them I shall appeal and methinks these times answer much and â—â— parallel with the Apostles times in matter of Persecution and it is the desire of my heart if it were the will of God that the Understandings of Englands Rulers might come to be opened with Divine Wisdom that thereby they might come to see and discern betwixt those that serve God acceptably and those that serve him not and so put a difference betwixt the Precious and the Vile for is not Antichrists Kingdom of Sin and Unrighteousness grown to a great height and doth not Wickedness abound and is not Christs Kingdom of Righteousness too too little regarded so that he that departs from Evil is become a Prey and this the Loâ—d sees and in his own time will put an end to Sin and finish Transgression and bring in Everlasting Righteousness and this will be the joy of the Upright in Heart whose Confidence is in the Lord alone And I say again the true Worship of Christ is Spiritual which he set up above 1600 Years since and never changed it read John 4. from 20 to 25. And where two or three many or few meet together and worship together in the Spiritual Worship there is Christ in the midst of them and no other Worship will the Righteous God accept of but that which is performed in Spirit and Truth all other Worships in his sight will be found Idolatry For God that made the World and all things therein dwells not in Temples made with Hands read Act 7.48 49 50. And Christ said I in you and you in me so the Spirit of God is not to be limitted to time or place and to day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts c. This is not to hear the voice of a Mortal Man but the voice of the Immortal God within all are to hear this is the true Everlasting Prophet which Moses the Man of God spoke of and he that will not hear this Prophet Christ Jesus and receive his Teaching shall be cut off c. the Apostle saith because they do not receive him and his Spiritual Teachings But to as many as receive him to them â— power to become the Sons of God born again of the Immortal word of Life â— lives and abides forever but this was a mystery to old Nichodemus In his â— and it is a mystery to all Natural Carnal Wisdom at this time For the Nâ— Man by all his Wisdom receives not the things of the Spirit of God neither â— because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.11 14. Here is living wordâ— a dying Man yea dead as to the World and the Vanities and Rudiments â— of yet living unto God by Jesus Christ who is my Life and the length oâ— Dayes who am a lover of the Souls of all People one who is and has â— Traveller towards the Heavenly and Spiritual Canaan who by Christ Jeâ— redeemed and brought out of the Broad way which leads to Destruction â— the narrow way which leads to Life and out of the Worlds Customes â— passess away into the Saints practice which will never decay and from â— the Covetous Hiâ—elings and Worlds Teachers to the teachings of Christ Jeâ— in Spirit and Truth and for these Mercys my Soul shall Bless and Praise the Loâ— and that for evermore Writ in the 8th month in the Year of Christ 1684. And in the 80th Year of my Age T. Atkinson POSTSCRIPT EDward Wilson who art a Justice of Peace within Westmorland neither thee â— formers as thou stiles them have proved Friends Meetings whom thee in scoâ—â— â—kers to be Seditious Conventicles or any way tending to the breach of the Peace of â— But on the contrary they are quiet and peaceable and tend to Peace in the God of Peace â— they meet to serve and worship him in Spirit and Truth as he requires of them Read Joâ— 21 22 23 24. So that all that thou and thy Informers has done against a harmless People â— the Envy of your Hearts against the Lord his Truth and People in spoyling their goods â— into Prison Is it not a Work of Satan the Devil Rev. 2. and 10. Who is the Aâ— Destroyer Rev. 4.11 There read your selves and consider if you are not comprehendâ—â—â— Light of Jesus And therefore now a warning to you from the Lord of Life and Glory who will reâ—â—cording to your deeds Cease from your unrighteous and unchristian like Actions 〈◊〉 â—pentance before the Door of Mercy be shut against you for an Account you must give to 〈◊〉 â—ous Judge of Heaven and Earth These are true and living Words from a dying Maâ— to the World and the vanities thereof But living unto God by Jesus Christ who is my 〈◊〉 length of my Dayes Tho. Atkinson THE END