that no man is exempted but all are left without Excuse And as he saith speaking of the Tallents Mat. 25.15 c. That to every man is given a Measure according to his Ability yea to the very sloathful Servant that hid it So now if every man hath a Measure according to his Ability it is but just for him to give an Account thereof according to his Measure that answers the Lord who hath given him his Measure according to his Ability therein is his Judgment Just and God is Righteous in his Judgments who rewards every man according to his Works and his Words for which he must give account and according to his Doings Mat. 12.36 So then it may clearly be seen here that there is something of God in man to answer his Royal Laws to keep a Society in it And as the Apostle saith Rom. 1.19 20. concerning the Heathen Gentiles That that which might be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And further saith he For the invisible things from the Creation of the World are clearly seen c. that is to say His Eternal-Power and Godhead are seen forasmuch as they are understood by the works of the Creation of the World so that they are left without Excuse because when they knew God they glorified him not as God Now mark Here you see 't is plain that here was something of God in the Heathens by which they knew God which God hath manifested to them by which they might answer the Royal Law of God But when they went from this of God in them and glorified him not as God then they set up their own Worships and Wayes and lost the course of Nature and did things against Nature so here they forsook the Lord and his Wayes and Religion and then persecuted others that would not follow them and their Wayes and Worships and so break the Royal Society which is in the Royal Law going from that of God in them which should answer it and then you may see downwards in the same Chapter what they worshipped and what they followed and how they brought the Wrath of God upon them and how they held the Truth in Unrighteousness which was filled with all manner of evil which men though they knew that the Judgment of God was upon such as commit such things yet they did not regard God but were without natural Affections So here when they erred from that of God in them they lost Natural Affections Affections of Nature to them that were of the same Blood and Mould and also going from that of God in them they went from the Royal Law of God which should have kept them in Natural Affections and in a Royal Society by the Royal Law and so thereby Indignation and Wrath and Anguish came upon every soul of them that do Evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentiles signifying thereby that there is something in the Gentiles as well as in the Jews to which if they act contrary they go from the Royal Law and so bring the Judgments of God upon them who Rewards every one according to his Works For the Jews that had the Law the outward written Law and the Gentiles that had not the outward written Law do by Nature the things contained in the written Law which shows the deeds of the Law written in their hearts so according to this the Lord shall judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus according to the Gospel Now the Gentiles having the Law written in their Hearts and do the deeds of the Law the Jews having the outward written Law and not doing the things contained in the written Law the Gentiles were Judges over them that is The Gentiles were set over them Now here its plain that there was something in the Gentiles as also in the Jews to answer the Royal Law of God which should bring them to do if they would but obey it to all men as they would have them do unto them and to keep both the Natural Affections and Royal Society For now If they that are called Christians who have a written Gospel and are Transgressors of it as the Jews that had a written Law and were not the Keepers and the Doers of it whereby the Gentiles judged them that did not the things contained in the Law having the Law written in their hearts and were the Doers of it So likewise now in our Agâ—â— as is said before All Christians that have a written Gospel and do not the things contained in it these whom they call Heathens or Indians or Turks that do the things contained in the Gospel viz. The obeying of the Power and Spirit which led them to do unto all men as they would have them do unto them these are Judges of the Christians so called who say They have the Gospel and yet do it not and do to others those things that they would not have others do unto them these I say are Breakers of the Royal Law Christians in the first place are judged before the Heathen and as the Jews first and then the Gentiles so the Christians first and then the Heathen And so God is a Respecter of no mans Person who judges the World in Righteousness but is a Rewarder according to every ones Works who walk not according to his Royal Law of Liberty And so its clear that there is something of God in all Jews and Gentiles Christians and Heathens to bring them to answer that Royal Law and to follow it and not their own Imaginations through which they may come to natural Affections and do unto all men as thou wouldst have them do unto thee So God I say is no Respecter of Persons who judges the World in Righteousness For the Apostle saith If the Vncircumcision which by Nature keep the Law judge the Jews which being under the Letter of Circumcision and do transgress the Law So I say They that be under the Profession of the Letter of Christianity and do transgress the Letter of Christianity he that hath not the Letter as Christian hath and yet by Nature doth keep in the Law of Christianity judgeth the Christians and that that is set up in them And therefore as the Apostle saith He is not a Jew that is one outward neither is he a Christian that is one outward in Profession without Possession but he is a Jew that is one inward in the Spirit and not in the Letter and so he is a Christian that is one inward and not in the Letter a Letter Professor but one who is in the Heart and in the Spirit of Christ Jesus though the outward Letter Professor of Jew and Christian hath something of God in him which should lead him to obey that which he doth profess and to possess that which he doth profess for that hath the Praise of God and not of men And in Rom. 3.9 saith the Apostle Paul What better are the Jews then
THE Royal Law of GOD REVIVED Wherein You may see That all Nations of Men may keep in it a Royal Society and by obeying the Principlâ— of God in them which brings Men to do the Royaâ— Law and to do unto all men as they would have alâ— men to do unto them which Royal Law of God answers that of God in every Man and Woman in thâ— whole World which they transgressing are judged by the Royal Law of God in doing that unto others as they would not have others do unto them and they to be without natural Affections which Royal Law brings all men to have Natural Affections and to do unto all men as they would have them to do unto them G. Fâ—â— Jam. 2.8 If ye fulfil the Royal Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self ye do well â—â—t 7.12 Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so to them Printed in the Year 1671 2 Who they are that break this Royal Law of God Them that Quench Vex and grieve the good Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walk despightfully against the Spirit of Grace and make Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience And also They are them that keep the Royal Law of God that walk in the Spirit of God and in Faith and a good Conscience and love the Light Christ who inlightens every man that comes into the World The Royal Law of God Revived c. ALL People upon the Face of the whole Earth both High and Low Rich and Poor know that as the Apostle Paul saith Acts 15.26 God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the Face of the Earth So all Men and Women are of God's making his Workmanship and the Works of his Hands and Creation and he it is that gives Life and Breath unto all And hath determined the Times before appointed and the Bounds of their Habitations saith he And saith Moses Deut. 32.8 The Most High divided to the Nations their Inheritance when he separated the Sons of Adam c. And the Psalmist acknowledgeth Psa 24.1 The Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof the World and they that dwell therein which he hath distributed unto the Sons of Men. And the Lord is called The God of the Spirits of all Flesh Num. 27.16 And so saith likewise the Apostle Eph. 4.6 One God and Father of all who is above all through all and in you all Now seeing the Lord hath made all Nations of Men and Women upon the Earth of one Blood and Mould to dwell upon the Face of the Earth and that the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and he gives the encrease and hath distributed unto the Sons and Daughters of Adam What then is the matter that makes a Discord amongst all the Sons and Daughters of men but the Devil the Cause of all Discord who is out of Truth and so leads them out of Unity with God and with one another so that they cannot Commerce Trade and hold a Correspondence a Concord in Civil things of the Creation of the Earth seeing the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof that all Nations of Men cannot hold a Commerce Unity and Concord I say in these outward things though they cannot agree in and about Matters of Religion and Worship and abouâ— their Teachings and Wayes What is the matter now that they do not agree seeing there is no Discord nor Disagreement in the Way of the Lord which is Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man who is the Way to God the Father Neither is there any Disagreement in the Fellowship of the Spirit nor in the Worship nor in the Spirit nor in the Truth And therefore are not all the Disagreements and Discords throughout all the World about Religions Worships and Doctrines about I say such as men have made which are called National Worships National Wayes and National Religions that are all the Works of Mens hands And there are such a Multitude of them in all the Nations of the World which hinders them from Civil Commerce Civil Society of Natural Affections that ought to be amongst Mankind For where these Natural Affections or Affections of Nature are not they will destroy one another about their Religions Worships and Ways and certainly such doings are not of God nor of Christ who said to his Disciples when they would have had Fire to come down from Heaven to consume them that would not receive him That they did not know what spirit they were of Therefore do all people that Persecute others for not receiving their Doctrines their Worships their Wayes and Religions yea persecuting for not receiving of Christ they know not what Spirit they are of Now mark the tender Nature of Christ Who saith he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Therefore they that would have mens lives taken away for Religion or not receiving of Christ They have not the Affections of Nature 2d They do not know what spirit they are of themselves 3d They have not the Mind of Christ 4th No man will trust his Body Soul or Spirit in the hands of such that do not know what spirit they are of themselves Have any of all these that make Religions VVayes and Worships and Doctrines of their own any Affections to Nature who will destroy people because they will not conform to that Religion VVay and VVorship that they have set up As now look over all the whole VVorld and all the Religions therein and see and consider Who they are that have destroyed burnt and put to death such as would not conform to the Religion and VVay and VVorship that they have made And have not these first been Truce-Breaâ—â—â—â—â— to and with God and then with Man and fallen from that Religion that is from above and from his Religion his VVorship and Truth his VVay Christ Jesus and then the Devil entred them who hath led them to destroy one another about their Religions VVayes and their VVorships which they have set up and were not set up by the Lord but forbidden by Christ and saith the Apostle He is not worshipped with the Worships of Mens Hands Acts 17.24 who is Lord over all and would have all Repent and feel after him and so to Repent as to change from their Worships and the Works of their own hands the Religions the Worships and Wayes that they have made and come to God by Christ Jesus who is the VVay to God and so through him receive that Religion that is from above and so to worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth And is there any Religion to be owned or any VVorship from such which are without Natural Affections And is it not the Devil that makes Religions VVayes and VVorships and leads them to be so peevish about them and in a blind Zeal to contend so earnestly for them which brings
and enlightens every man I say that they might see the Salvation the Grace Truth that comes by Christ which brings their Salvation And such as have a Profession of the Letter Jew Christian and others that are not in the Spirit of God who gave them forth but in another dark spirit do not see the Spirit that is given to every one to profit withal and so they cannot bring people into that by which they might profit come to the Royal Law To do unto all as they would have all do unto them so to a Royal Society where they might all honour God and keep Communion among themselves Now every Man and Woman in the whole World must first be turn'd to the Spirit of God in themselves that has reproved them which they have grieved quencht and vext and must turn to the Light that they have hated turn to the Grace that appear'd to them which they have turned unto Wantonness and walkt despightfully against to this they must all turn to before they come to the Royal Law that brings them To do to all as they c. and so to keep the Loyal Law and holy and just Society in the Royal Holy and just Law So it is that because both Jews and Christians have had the Letter of the Scripture they have bin envious against others and call them Heathens and because they have the Letter therefore they thought None but they had the Spirit and that the Heathen had it not But you may see in the Scriptures before mentioned whom they call Heathen whether they have the Spirit of God or no read I say but the Scriptures before mentioned and convince your selves and let such stop their own mouthes and say with the Apostle That there is no difference between Jew and Gentile who hath the Letter and he that hath not so there is no difference between Jew and Christian that have the Letter and Gentile now that hath not the Letter who are without him to wit the Spirit of God that gave it forth for that makes the difference and is the Leader into all Truth and to the Royal Law both Jew Christian and Gentile who obey it and so to do unto all men as they c. and so in the holy just and righteous Royal Law to keep a just a righteous and a good Society that 's Royal and have the dominion over all other societies in the whole Vniverse out of this Law and these will come to nothing which are of mens making though they may hold them up for a time before the National Law but they will come to an end if they be not in the Royal Law of Liberty where in every man must do unto others as he would they should do to him Jam. 3. Where you may see how the nature of Beasts and of Birds and of Serpents and of things in the Sea are tamed by the nature of man but the Tongue of man can no man tame it is such an unruly Member full of deadly Porson therewith we bless God the Father and therewith curse we men who are made after the Similitude and Image of God Now consider all Christians and others who profess Scripture and all others who have not the Scripture call'd Heathens yea consider this I say all mankind upon the face of the Earth by whom things in the Sea and in the Earth are tamed and now seeing that your Tongues are untamed that unruly Member in your selves that is full of deadly Poyson with which you bless God the Father and with it you curse man who is made after the Image of God O do not you all in this bring a curse upon your selves who were made in the same Image and Similitude and can you curse another and not curse your selves Now what is it that must tame this unruly Member in your selves that 's full of deadly Poyson and bring it under a Power to tame it Is it not the Spirit of God in the Jew in the Christian and in the Gentile or Heathen by which you may have power over your Tongues by Obedience to the Power of God And therefore the Spirit and Power of God hath a Bridle upon your Tongues to hold them fast from Cursing and all manner of Evil-speaking whereof you must give an Account And so that Power and Spirit of God in you all both Heathen Jew and Christian that tames the Tongue and bridles the Tongne which brings you to the Royal Law To speak and to do to all men as you would have them speak and to do to you so that your words may be few and gratious and vertuous that so the words of Life may be in your Tongues which hammers down the Evil and cuts and burns it out of the Tongue and comes to be a Bridle and a Bit unto it that as was said before You may speak and do unto all as you would have them speak and do unto you For mark With your Tongues you curse men which are made after the Image and Similitude of God and with the same Tongue you bless God the Father Now in this that you curse men who are made after the Image and Similitude of God do you not curse the Maker then do not you curse God do not you curse his Image and Similitude when you curse Men who are made in the similitude of God And so is that Blessing accepted think you of God the Father in that you bless him and yet curse that which he hath made in his own Likeness after his own Image Now consider this Whether this be not the wisdom from below in you that is Devilish Earthly and sensual and so would you not have others to curse you Would you not be ready to say if they should do it They have curst that that God hath made and curst his Image And would not you say to them Though they bless God the Father it is not accepted when as they curse you And therefore if you fulfil the Royal Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Jam. 2. And so he that doth fulfil the Royal Law wil not hate his Neighbour for he would not have his Neighbour hate him neither will he curse his Neighbour nor speak Evil of him for he would not have his Neighbour do so to him and therefore so speak and so do For Love does not Steal does not commit Adultery Love does not Covet Love does not bear False Witness and Love seeks not her own Love does not Kill and so the Law is fulfilled in one word viz. Thou must love thy Neighbour as thy self and God above all who is over all blessed forever Now this keeps a Royal Society in the Royal Law of Liberty Christ persecutes no man for not receiving his Doctrine nor yet the Apostles and both Christ and his Apostles gave forth their Doctrine freely to his People and the World Though Christ was as good as called
the Word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit but by the outward Power and Sword And how have many people been converted in Germany think you Were not many their Converts by the Magistrates Sword and did they not turn as the Magistrates did and as the Pope and as the King of Spain and King of France Was not there once a King of France a Protestant and did not he turn and how many did turn with him And how many were converted by Henry the eighth from the Pope by his regal Sword and Power yea how many Priests and People And so likewise how many turned Protestants in his Son Edward the sixth Reign which was not long And then how many turn'd Papists again in his Sister Queen Mary's Reign immediately after his decease for did she not by her Power convert both Priests and People to the Pope And shortly after How many did Queen Elizabeth convert from Popery to Protestancy both of Priests and People Thousands of Thousands So were not all these converted by the Laws and outward Powers all along since that Conversion has been lost by the Power and Spirit of God that the Apostles were in in their Day by which I say they did convert people to God and not by the Magistrates Sword nor by humane coercive Laws contrary to a mans Conscience And how did the Presbyterians convert to their Directory from the Common-Prayer by vertue of their outward Power and Sword when they had in this last Age got it into their hands And how many did the Independants convert to their Church-Faith from the Presbyterians and from others when he had got the Sword and Power into his hands And now how many have the Common-Prayer-men got back again by their Power outward Sword when they had got it into their hands both from the Presbyterians Directory and Independant Church-Faith c. to the Common-Prayer again So that much of the Conversion since the Apostles days or about this Thousand Years have been by outward Law and coercive Power by Prisons Inquisitions Gallows Fire and Faggot c. and by this means they have forced men to their Religions that they have made contrary to their Consciences and have done to others as they would not have others do the same thing to them And so the Priests turn'd with the Magistrates and preacht stifly against that that they preacht up not long before and preacht up that now that once they preacht against this has been clearly seen And so as one Power has got up by the Sword and the Law they have put down other Religions that were set up by Law and the Sword and if others should get over them then they would put down their Religions and set up again Religions and Worships of their own And so men make Religions and then set them up and then again others in power put them down and men open mens Mouthes and others stop their Mouthes that formerly had preacht and so men are put up and pluckt down so as every man is uncertain in his Religion and Worship and knows not what may be set up in a year or what Religion or Worship he may be forced to conform to or suffer in not doing of it So happy are they that are in the Religion that cometh down from above and in the Worship that Christ Jesus set up above One Thousand Six Hundred Years since that Heavenly Man that changeth not who is yesterday to day and forever the Alpha and Omega Now if all the people in the World who are in so many Religions Wayes and Worships would come to the Principle of God in them by which they may come to the Royal Law and to do unto all men as you would have all men do unto you you would come to the Royal Society and the Fellowship in the Royal Law which is far above all the Fellowships and Societies in all the Religions Wayes and Worships that they have made and set up where they do not do to others as they would have others do to them For when one Religion is put down and another set up that which is put down is oft times called Heresie And again when at any time that Religion is put down and the other set up again then that iâ— accounted Heresie which accounted the other so before so thaâ— one putting down another in case they do not joyn they arâ— called Hereticks and Schismaticks And so all Christendom are or have been Schismaticks or Hereticks one time or other buâ— this has not been Life Therefore it is our desire that men may all come to the Light and Grace of the Spirit of God that is given whereby they may come to this his Royal Law and Royaâ— Society and Natural Affections for the others have been with out Natural Affections who have persecuted imprisoned and puâ— to death people for not conforming to the Wayes Religions anâ— Worships which they have made and set up with their hands and such I say have not had Natural Affections all being madâ— of one Mould and of one Blood upon the Face of the whole Earth and that by one God who is in all through all and above alâ— who hath given you his Royal Law but that you cast it behinâ— your backs Jew like and yet made a Profession of Christ his Prophets and Apostles words but that Profession is no Profession that Religion and Worship is worth nothing in that they cast the Royal Law of God behind their backs which teacheth you To love your Neighbours at your selves and to do to all men as you would have them do to you And now all you Christians so called in Christendom and else-where Do not your Religions Worships and Fellowships stand in outward things yea in such things as the Kingdom of God stands not in For as the Kingdom of Heaven stands not in Meats nor Drinks nor Images nor outward Crosses nor Beads nor Bells nor Candles nor your Masses you make nor your Holy-days which you make holy and call them holy nor in your Steeple-Houses and old Mass-Houses called by you Churches and Temples Neither does the Kingdom of God stand in your Pictures nor Relicks of c. nor Tippits nor Hoods nor Sursingle nor White Coat nor Black Coat nor Altars nor Organs nor Surplices Lawn-Sleeves Coapes Corner-Caps nor doth it stand in your Sacraments of Bread and Wine which some take standing some kneeling some litting some say it is Christ's real Body and Blood no more then it stands in outward Jewish Offerings and so do persecute one another about these things which be meerly outward the Inventions of your own Brain and Hands since you have apostatized and ravened from the Spirit since the Apostles dayes And thus you follow your own Traditions and compel others to follow them and so neglect the Commands of God and of Christ Jesus who said Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and then in the
them from a civil Commerce and makes them uncapable of a civil Society and a Correspondency amongst Mankind And that spirit that hath led them to make Religion VVorships and VVayes and to fall out when they have done that Spirit hath destroyed the civil Society the civil Commerce amongst Mankind almost over all the whole VVorld that when they come into civil things a civil Commerce that tends to a civil Society in Natural things they fall out about the several natural VVorships Religions and VVayes which they have made by which a peevish and perverse spirit arises in a blind Zeal for the VVorks of their own Hands so as that they forget their Natural Affections and fall upon destroying one another about Religions and so break all civil Society and Commerce amongst men which if there were but Natural Affections it would carry them above that peevish and perverse spirit that draws them after their own Handy-works whereas I say if Natural Affections were but set over that it would keep and preserve the Bond of a civil Commerce and civil Society with Mankind over the whole Universe O! How short is all Mankind both Christians Jews Turks and all the rest of that Royal Law which is To do to all Men as they would have them do unto them If this Royal Law were duely kept the true weight would be set up amongst all Mankind in the whole world and the true Measure to measure every man and to weigh every man and to weigh himself and to measure himself and to measure others and to do nothing to any Man or Woman but as they would have them do to them This would keep up a Society in the whole World that so Men might Trade Commerce and hold Correspondence one with another amongst all the Nations of men And this is the Royal Law in which all Mankind have their Liberty For all to do to others as they would have others do unto them And here is Religion which is above all religions that they have made with their hands and this will keep down that perverse spirit in all Mankind in the whole world if they keep and obey the Royal Law which is To do to all Men as they would have them do to them then all Mankind would have their Liberty in this and in this no man will over-reach couzen defraud nor oppress in any Bargain and Merchandize whatsoever for if he would not that they should do so to him then surely he will not do so to them So here then is Justice set up and the Line of Righteousness and the Plummet and every Nation Country and Island might serve one another in this Royal and Just Law doing unto them as they would have others do to them in all things that are civil that one Neighbour-country hath not or another Country is destitute of to serve one another with those things that are civil and natural and outward For the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof who gives the increase And all Nations of men are to use and order and dispose of these earthly things and the Fulness of the Earth where the Lord hath given the Increase with his Royal Law one Nation to another one Country to another which Royal Law is to do to another as they would have them do to them and so one Country to another one Nation to another Nation to be exercised by this Royal Law of God which is above all other Laws of mens making which is I say To do to others as they would have others do unto them And in this Equity Truth Justice and Honesty is set up by this Royal Law of God amongst all the Countries Tongues and People and Nations of men in the whole World and preserving civil Society and right Manners for if no man would have any corrupt Communication spoken unto him then he must give none to any other or if a man would not have another to oppress or exact on him he not doing so to any other thereby the Royal Law in so doing is kept or if he would not have any man to abuse kill or wound him he not doing so to another here the Royal Law is kept And thus one Neighbour-town serves another with such things that that Town has not and the other serves them likewise with such things that they want and one Country serves another with the things that another hath not and that serves the other again with the things that they have not So one Nation serves another with the things that they have not and they serve them again with the things that they have not and so all Nations to serve one another with the things that the Lord hath given them For the Earth in the first place is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and he gives the increase and hath distributed these things unto the Nations of Men whom he hath made of one Blood and Mould to dwell upon the Face of the Earth So that these Towns Countries and Nations by this Royal Law of Liberty by and with which Law they have Liberty to serve one another in Equity Truth and Justice they may have and preserve a true Commerce a true Correspondency a true Society in all Towns Countries and Nations in the whole Universe of Mankind one with another whereby and in which they will honour the Lord and be preserved in all Towns Countries and Nations I say as men by this Royal Law and will have their Liberty in and by this Royal Law Object But if you object and say That all men in all Towns Countries and Nations have nothing of God in them to answer this Royal Law of God and to keep it and consequently to preserve this Society amongst all Countries Towns and Nations Answ They have something of God in them to answer that Royal Law of God For God who gave forth that Royal Law he is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh by which Spirit they may answer his Law and God will judge the World in Righteousness according to the Secrets of every ones Heart by the heavenly Man Christ Jesus Rom. 2.16 1 Cor. 14.24 25. Whereby is signified that there is something that is secret of him in them God saith the Apostle shall judge in that day the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel which Gospel is the Power of God Now if God judgeth the world of Men according to the Gospel that is according to the invisible Power of God it denotes that there is something invisible of God in man else how can the invisible God judge the World in Righteousness according to his invisible Power which is the Gospel which this invisible Power in man doth answer the Royal Law of God And as Christ saith Mat 13.19 c. The Word is sown upon all Grounds and his Word is the Seed of God which is Divine and Invisible to wit The Stony High-way Thorny and the Good Ground so
the Gentiles spoken of before they are in no wise better for we have proved already that both Jew and Gentile were all under sin So now What difference is there between the Professor of God and of the Scriptures and them that did not profess So what difference is there between Christians that do profess and those that do not profess seeing all are concluded under Sin out of the Life so as to Jew and Gentile there is no difference out of Christ unconverted But now Jew and Gentile in Christ converted Sythian and Barbarian are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.28 Now though there be no difference between Jew and Gentile being concluded under Sin in an unconverted Estate nor no difference between Christian and Heathen concluded under Sin unconverted yet nevertheless there is something of God in them which they do disobey both in Jew and Gentile Christian and Heathen which brings the Wrath of God upon them for their Disobedience which if they did obey that of God in them both Jew and Gentile Christian and Heathen it would bring them to the Royal Law of God and to the Royal Society and to the Natural Affections and to keep their Word and to do to all men as they would have them do to them For certainly they would have no man break their Word with them and therefore they must break their Word with no man That is a just Law Do unto all men as c. Hear the words of Christ to his Disciples who is the Second Adam the Heavenly man Joh. 16.8 9 10 c. I tell you of a truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I go I will send him unto you And this Comforter is the Spirit of Truth the Holy Ghost and this Holy Ghost will lead the Disciples into all Truth and shew them things to come And he shall take of mine saith he and give it unto you Now mark in the first place He shall lead them into all Truth namely his Disciples the Learners of Christ Jesus 2dly The same Comforter which is the Spirit of Truth shall reprove the World of sin which they live in and of the righteousness they live in which is the Righteousness of Christ Jesus and shall reprove the World of their judgment for all the world have a judgment which is not the Judgment of God which they judge one another about and by which they set up their Religions and Wayes of Worship by which they judge others that will not conform to them and judge the Prophets of the Lord and spiritual Men to be Mad-men and Fools and Christ the Son and Light of God to be a Blasphemer a Devil and the Apostles as Babblers Turbulent Fellows c. Now what spirit were they in that had this judgment and with what spirit did they judge who are reproved by the Spirit namely the Comforter the Holy Ghost So all the World that comes from sin their judgment their righteousness they must turn at the Reproof of this Spirit the Holy Ghost which leads the Saints into all Truth And by this Heavenly Mans Doctrine Christ Jesus you may see here is something of God in every man which would lead them to the Royal Law of God and to do it and act by it and to lead them to Affections that are above and to have Natural Affections Affections of Nature and to receive the Royal Society in the Royal Law and not to destroy Men and Women who are part of the Creation of God and of his VVorkmanship for they that do destroy them about Religion and VVayes and VVorships that they have made themselves and set up but not by the Command of God they destroy part of God's Creation and God's Creatures and the Workmanship of his Hands though they do profess God yet they destroy Man who is made in the similitude of God and in so doing they would destroy God if they could For as it is said he that hates his Brother is a Man-slayer and so no Man-slayer having not eternal Life abiding in him he cannot set up Religions Wayes nor Worships by which God is honoured And these Men-slayers break the Concord the Society the Commerce and are Judges and Breakers of the Royal Law and Destroyers of the Creation of God and Workmanship of his Hands and Destroyers of Natural Affections which he hath made for his Praise and his Honour and Glory Neither have they the Mind of Christ nor of God guiding of them who would not have all men to be saved God would have all the Workmanship of his hands and Creation and Works to be saved which is man and woman Christ indeed came to destroy the Devil and his works who made man and woman imperfect who were God's works so the promise of God was to mankind but not unto the Devil and that his head should be bruised his power broken and his Law of Sin and Death and Members should be disannulled and Christ's Power and his Law of Life Faith and Love should be set up amongst God's Creatures which are his Creation and so Christ came to save Mens lives and not to destroy them Object Now if any should object and say Who are our Brethren Answ First all Nations of Men God hath made of one Mould to dwell upon the sace of the Earth Acts 17. so I say all are Children of God by creation and there is a Brother-hood which by the Royal Law is preserved according to the Principle of God in every Man by which they should do unto all their Brethren as they would have them do unto them 2d They are Sons of God by adoption all being born again of the Immortal Seed of the Word of God that lives abides and endures forever and being led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God Rom. 8. Also it may be seen and taken notice of what the Apostle lays down in Ephes 2.2 wherein he speaks to them who were once Heathens but then converted That in times past they walkt according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience in the Lust of the Flesh fulfilling the desires of the Flesh and of the Minde and were by Nature the Children of Wrath as well as others Now mark these Heathens before conversion there was something in them that did disobey and therein did not fulfill the Will of God but fulfilled the will of the Flesh and walked according to the lust of the same which brought them by that nature to be Children of Wrath Now had they obeyed that which they did disobey they had not walkt according to the Power of the Prince of the Air but walkt according to the Prince of the Power of Life Christ Jesus and so by that which they do disobey they would have come to have known the
Royal Law to do unto others as they would have others do unto them but none can fulfill this Royal Law of God that fulfills the Lust of the Flesh and walks according to that Will which makes them Children of Wrath by Nature so then all people must come to that which they have disobeyed and still do disobey then they will walk according to the Will of God and the Royal Law of God and not according to the Prince of the Power of the Air for all they that disobey and walk according to the Prince and Power of the Air have not affections to Nature but they walk according to that Prince and Power of the Air who destroyeth Nature in themselves and then the Nature of others without them and these have not affections to Nature Natural Affections in themselves nor to them without and are out of the Royal Law of God viz. to do unto others as they would have others do unto them now the Religions Worships and Wayes of such are no Religions Wayes nor Worships of God who do disobey the Spirit of God in their own selves and such do not come to this Noble Royal Law and Royal Society in it wherein all men might commune commerce and hold correspondency with all Man-kind and one with another We read in Neh. 9.20 how the Lord gave the Children of Israel his good Spirit to instruct them but in the 28th verse 't is recorded how that they were disobedient and rebelled against the Spirit of the Lord and cast the Law behind their backs and slew the Prophets of the Lord which testified against them c. Now mark after they had rebelled against the Spirit of God and disobeyed the Lord they cast the Law of God behind their backs and slew the Lord's Prophets that testified against them and came to turn them to God again Now but consider whether or no this hath not been your Work in Christendom nay you have been more dark then these Jews and worse for you that be the Teachers in Christendom say that every Man and Woman hath not the Spirit of God to rebel against and God hath not given to every Man and Woman his Spirit and therefore you preach up Rebellion who are found all in the Disobedience and Rebellion to the Spirit of God in your selves that he hath given to instruct you and likewise also you rebel against the Spirit of God that he hath given to others instruct them with so by that you not only cast away the Royal Law of God behind your backs your selves but are also a means to bring others to disobedience to do the same and this Royal Law being cast behind your backs both of Christian and of Jew you are out of the Royal Society and concord in which you might commerce together among your selves and not only so but with all Nations that obey the same Principle of God in them But all you Christians Jews Turks and Heathens that disobey the good Spirit which God hath given you to instruct you you do cast the Royal Law behind your Backs and then you follow all your Wayes Religions and Worships and then are peevish about them and for them persecute others with a disobedient spirit that will not conform to them and to you and destroy people as the Jews did that would not conform So in that as I said before you destroy God's Creatures which he hath created and the Works of his Hands and so in that is manifested that you have no natural Affections nor no Love to God nor his Royal Law being disobedient to the Spirit of God which would lead you to his Law To do unto all as c. In this you might keep a Correspondency viz. In this Royal Law one with another I say above all your Religions Wayes and Worships And if you all lived in this Royal Law both Jews Turks Heathens and Christians so called your Religions Wayes and Worships would all fall to the Ground For in this Royal Law all Men and Women would have Liberty in a common Society and common Commerce and in the Worship of God and might receive a Religion pure from above for Religions Wayes and Worships are below of mens making which are Works of their own hands about which they do persecute their Fellow-creatures and their Brethren And also Such as grieve the Spirit quench and vex the Spirit of God signifying that they have a Measure of it else how could they quench vex and grieve it so quenching grieving and vexing that which would lead them unto the Royal Law To do unto others as they c. And that spirit that quencheth and vexeth the Spirit of God in them will never lead them to the Royal Law of God but lead them to do such things as they would not that others should do unto them but they would judge it hard measure if others should do unto them as they do unto others And so all they let them be Christians Jews Turks or Heathens who quench vex and grieve the Spirit of God and set up Religions of their own and are peevish about them to force and draw others to them those have neither Affections to Nature nor Natural Affections but are in that spirit that destroys Nature and the Affections to it and such do to others as they would not have them do unto them and come not up to that Royal Law To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them And also you may read of some That turned the Grace of God unto Wantonness and walked despightfully against the Spirit of Grace and hating the Light as you may see John 3.19 20. Jude 4. and in other places Now their hating the Light signifieth that they had it for Christ saith They would not come to the Light lest their deeds should be reproved that is by the Light and therefore it was their Condemnation So all Religions Wayes and Worships whatever men make that hate the Light they are made in Darkness both they and those are condemned as in John 3. So every man that comes into the World being inlightened by Christ the Heavenly Man in whom was Life and this Life was the Light of Men so every man that cometh into the World being turned to this Light they are turned to Christ they are turned to this Royal Law To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them for there 's the Liberty Now this shews that every Man and Woman that comes into the World is inlightened with the divine Light of the Heavenly Man Christ Jesus which while they hate it they break the Society with their Fellow-creatures who are of God's Creation as also the civil Commerce and Correspondence one with another And none that hate the Light have Affections to God to Christ Affections to his Royal Law or Affections to a general Communion or Affections to Nature it self or his Creation for they that hate the Light are under the
of Truth whom Christ came to destroy VVe have likewise another Expression of the Apostle Paul to the business in hand in 1 Tim. 4.9 10. This is saith he a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation for therefore we both labour and suffer Reproach because we trust in the Living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe these things command and teach Mark now that whosoever doth teach the contrary he is a false Teacher and his Doctrine is false for this is a great word He was the Saviour of all men especially them that believe and they that taught this did suffer Reproach and were rebuk't by them that opposed this Doctrine as they that preach this Doctrine now are reproacht and suffer by the Opposers of it now and those that are the Opposers of it now are those that keep people from their Salvation yea from God and from Christ And such are they that are Makers of Sects and then destroy one another about them who have no Natural Affections and do not to others as they would have others do unto them And Christ Jesus saith He came to call sinners to Repentance that were in the old Adam that they might change from the old earthly Adam and turn to Christ the second Adam the Heavenly Man Now they that stopt their Ears and clos'd their Eyes then they were the greatest Professors upon the Earth and so they are now and the Highest Priests For by it is signified that there is something in them that they should see withal and hear withal and such as did so had no Affections to Nature nor to the Royal Law of God nor to Christ neither then nor now to do to others as they would have others do unto them And Christ Jesus saith Mark 13.37 What I say unto you I say unto all Watch Intimating as if there was something of God in them by which they must watch against something that was not of God in them but of the Devil the Tempter who is out of the Truth and tempts men that they should not walk in the Way of Truth so they that were tempted and obeyed him went from their watch and those stop their Ears and close their Eyes from the Spirit of God in them As also those whom Christ calls Ravening Wolves inwardly who come to be like a Thistle and Thorny-Tree that did deceive men when they went out to gather Figs or Grapes from them they could meet with nothing but Thorns and Thistles And as such then so now are the greatest Professors in the World but inwardly ravening Wolves who were ravened from the Life and the Wolves and Thistles and Bryars will hurt and destroy Nature And so it is the spirit of the Devil that makes them Wolves and it is the Spirit of God that makes them Lambs and therefore these Wolves Thistles and Bryars are such as have not the least Practice of the Royal Law of God among them in doing unto all as they would have all men do unto them But yet this denotes that there was something in these Wolves that they were ravened from that would have kept them and led them to the Royal Law of God namely as I said To do unto all as they would have all do unto them For they would not have Thorns and Thistles to prick and tear them like a Woolf in pieces and therefore if they will be obedient unto that which they are ravened from and come to it again it will lead them To do unto others c. Not to thistle prick and worry others for they would not be so done to themselves so that this brings to the Royal Society in the Royal Law of God where all Mankind might keep a Concord And saith the Lord in Exod. 23.4 5. If thou meetest with thine Enemies Ox or his Ass going astray thou shalt surely bring it back again to him If thou seest the Ass of him that hates thee lying under his Burden and shalt forbear to help him thou shalt surely help with him Mark the Law and Command of God this was an Enemies Ass and an Enemies Ox much more the Beast of a Friend and those Jews that were called the Children of God but how short are Christians of this very thing in that many of them will and do put the Cattel of them that are call'd Christians astray turn them out of way on purpose But here are three things First Here is that that will overcome the Enemy 2d Here is that that will preserve the Creation of God 3d. That here they should do to others as they would have others do unto them for the Law of God which was the same to the Jews is also the same unto the Gentiles that were among them so one Law was to those that were within and to those that were without for this Law of God which was and is called the Royal Law to wit to do to all men as they c. that is to do that which is Righteous Just Holy and Good unto all Men as they would have all Men do Righteously Justly Holily and do that onely which is good c. and now in so doing this will keep up a Just Holy Righteous and a good Society amongst Man-kinde and this was the Law that was added because of Transgression the Transgression of the Command of God by which Man lost the Image of God he lost Righteousness and Holiness and that Power that gave him Dominion Gal 3.19 therefore the Law was added upon man when he had lost Righteousness and the Image of God and the Power of God within him therefore the Just Holy Good and Righteous Law of the higher Power I say was added because of Transgression upon Man and Woman which Just Righteous Good and Holy Law answers the Good the Just the Righteous and the Holy Principle of God in every man that they have transgrest So now if they come to that again which they have transgrest and to obey the Good Just Righteous and Holy Law of Liberty they come to the Holy Society and Holy Communion and Concord and so this Just Good Holy and Righteous Law is over all Transgressors whether they be Christians Turks Jews or Heathens It answers I say the Good and Righteous Principle in them that they have transgrest now would they but minde that good Principle in them that brings them to the Good and Righteous Law it will bring them to do to all men as they would c. Now this Law commands to entertain Strangers for saith the Lord You were Strangers in Egypt and there you were entertained and therefore do unto others as you would be done to by them relieve the Fatherless for your Children may be Fatherless and would you not have them reliev'd relieve the Widdows for your Wives may be Widdows and would you not have them to be relieved in case of necessity So do unto all as you would have them do unto you
and all men for they are the Workmanship of God God's Creatures and their Fellow-creatures made of the same Flesh and Mould to dwell upon the Face of the Earth and they that be out of this whatever Worship Profession or Religion they are of its worth nothing And saith the Apostle further in 2 Cor. 10.12 For we dare not make our selves of the number or compare our selves with some that commend themselves but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves amongst themselves are not wise But we will not boast of things without our Measure but according to the Measure of the Rule which God hath distributed to us a measure even to reach unto you Now this Rule this Measure was the Spirit of God by which they reacht unto the Corinthians by which they were one anothers Epistle to one anothers Hearts and known and read of all men Now they that measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves among themselves which was not Wisdom they were without this Rule and this Spirit and Measure As now look over all Christendom and you shall find them without this Measure and this Rule who say The Letter is the Rule and are broken into so many Sects one against another measuring themselves and comparing themselves with themselves which are not wise for none are made wise but by the Spirit of God which is indeed the Rule and the Measure and that is it which brings To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them to that Royal Law and Royal Liberty and Royal Society and they that do so do shew their Loyalty and Obedience unto God and his Law So all people in the whole World of what Sect or Worship or Religion soever they must come to their measure of the Spirit of God and so to the Rule and lay away their own Rule that they rule things by and rule their religions by and their worships by and righteousness by that they have made and lay aside their Measure by which they have measured their religions and worships and their Righteousness and have measured others Now if People would not come according to their Measure and their Rule they have been ready to destroy God's Creatures who are made after the similitude of God and to curse them and to damn them This is the Practice of such that measure with their own Measure and that walk according to their own Rule who have not Natural Affections that do come to the Royal Law and Liberty Therefore all I say must lay aside their own measure and rule and come to the Spirit of God and so to the Rule which is the Spirit of God by which they may come to the Royal Law of God and so to the Royal Society and so to the Natural Affections to the Divine and Natural Affections And that of the Apostle in 1 Cor. 13. is very remarkable where the Apostle speaks of Love which ought to be amongst all Christians who profess the Name of Christ which Love if a man hath not he is nothing nay his Religion and Worship is nothing yea if he hath Faith it is nothing if he hath not Love if he saith he hath Knowledge and knows Secrets if he saith he hath Prophesie if he speaks with Tongues and hath not Love all is nothing and so his Profession is nothing So all ye Schollars all ye Sects in the whole Christendom if you have not this Love if out of it all that you have is nothing if you feed the poor and give your Body to be burnt and will burn others all this will profit you nothing if I say you have not Love Love to one onother Love to God Love to Christ Love to Enemies Natural Affection through which you will not destroy Nature you will not destroy God's Creatures God's Creation Man and Woman whom God hath made after his own Similitude Ye profess ye love God and yet hate your Brethren for ye are all Brethren in Adam you are all Lyars for how can you love God whom you see not and hate your Brother whom you do see daily Now this Love it suffers long and is curteous and kind and envieth not God's Creatures God's Creation Man and Woman who are I say made after the Similitude of God It doth not behave it self unseemly whereas they that are out of this Love behave themselves unseemly and are not curteous and kind which are the works of the Flesh Now Love seeks not her own nor is she easily provoked thinketh no Evil Now they that be out of this Love are easily provokt think Evil and do it seek their own Welfare and not the Welfare of another their own Good and not the Good of another Love bears all things believes all things hopes all things Whereas they that are out of Love cannot believe all things nor hope all things nor cannot endure all things full of Unbelief and Impatience now this is that that hath been wanting in Christendom and who be out of this Love though they may profess Christ and the Prophets and Apostles words yet all their Profession is nothing and such as be in this Love have Natural Affections and do not despise the Royal Law of God nor his Creatures viz. To do to all as we would have all do to us And none come to receive this Love but those alone who come to the Principle of God in themselves in their Measure And also for further Proof you may see in the Scriptures of Truth how those whom you stile Heathens many of them that speak good of God and of his Kingdom which they could not do without the Spirit of God as what Abimilech spoke to Abraham and the King of the Philistines to Isaac Pharaoh to Joseph as also Potiphar his first Master and the very Goaler was sensible of God's being with Joseph in Prison and blessing him so likewise Cyrus and King Darius spake good of God and Nebuchadnezar in his Dream saw Christ and his Kingdom Cornelius we read in the Acts prayed to God though a Heathen and the Queen of the South acknowledged the Lord likewise Rahab the Harlot who entertained the Spies King Hyram the Marriners with whom Jonah was embarqued not forgetting the King of Nineveth all which with a Cloud of other Witnesses which for brevity we pass over denote that there is something of God in all people whereas Christian Professors and Jews fondly imagine That none have the Spirit of God but them and so these others Scriptures judge them and these are those that make themselves a Sect and are the blind Guides who do not see the Seed sown upon all Grounds and how the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all men nor the Light by which Christ enlightens every man that comes into the World So these blind guides lead into the Ditch a corrupting place and see not Christ who tasted Death for every man and shed his Blood for all
Mat. 12.24 A Devil and a Mad-Man a Blasphemer a Deceiver a Maker of Tumults yet he did not exercise any Power or any outward Authority over them though he had all Power both in Heaven and in Earth given unto him so as to imprison any or persecute or banish them neither did any of those that follow'd him who did convert people unto God Isa 12.5 Sing unto the Lord for he hath done excellent things this is known in all the Earth So then you may see that there is something of God in people that brings them to know those excellent things that the Lord has and doth work in the Earth which if people would but mind seriously it would lead them to do his Law viz. To do unto all c. Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar off Can any hide himself in secret places that I cannot see him saith the Lord Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord So the Lord God is the Lord the Creator of all things in the Heavens Earth and in the Sea so then he is Lord of all and they are all his and hath created them to his glory But man that grieved his Spirit and transgressed it and his Royal Law cast away he jars with the Creation of God And oft-times you may see throughout the Scriptures how the Lord and his Prophets did declare against them that did cast his Royal Law behind their backs So now if you say This was in reference to the Jews may it not be verified of you called Christians and others for Do you do unto all men as you would have all men do unto you Do you keep this Law of Liberty in which the right Natural Affections are 'T is said The Jews did cast the Righteous Law behind their backs which Law was Just Holy and Good and do not you called Christians who profess the Gospel and others do the same who may be ready to find Fault with the Jews for doing it So both you and them have cast the Law of God behind your backs which I say is holy just good and righteous so as you do not to others as you would they should do to you you have broken the Royal Society you have thrown away Natural Affections you do that that is unjust to people you do that that is not good to them nor righteteous and would you have all people do unrighteously and unjustly and that that is not good nor holy to you For casting away the Righteous Good and the Just Law behind their backs you cast away that whereby you should do that which is Just Righteous and Holy to others And so all your Societies that are not upheld by this Just Righteous and Holy Law of God are upheld by that which is not Just nor Righteous nor Holy nor Good so that people do that to others that they would not have them do unto them Mark the End of all that Hab. 3.3 The Glory of the Lord covered the Heavens and the Earth was full of his Praise c. Zach. 14.9 And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that Day shall there be one Lord and his Name shall be one And Gen. 9.1 2 c. where we read how the Lord God blessed Noah and his Sons saying unto them Bring ye forth Fruit and multiply and replenish the Earth and the Fear of you and the Dread of you shall be upon every Beast of the Earth and upon every Foul of the Air and upon all that moveth upon the Earth and upon all the Fish of the Sea into your hands are they delivered every thing that moveth it self every thing that liveth c. Mark here God who is the Creator of all and the God of the whole Earth which is full of his Praise and created all things to his Glory and Man in his Image and set him above all the Works of his Hands and gave him his Law by which he was not to oppress any Creature that he had created nor to spend them on his Lust to the dishonour of God and gave him his Spirit by which he should know his Law and know him the Law-giver For that which might be known of God was manifest in them and God hath shewed it unto them And so with this of God in Mankind he might know his Royal Law which is just righteous holy and good and within the limits of this that all Mankind do keep a Royal Society a just good and holy Royal Society and do unto all men as they would have them do unto them in all things for this Royal Law teaches so to do in which is the Liberty All people in the whole World consider Do not all your Religions Wayes and Worships lie in external and outward things that you have made and yet many of you Christians and others will find Fault with others that is such that worship the works of their own hands And are not all Religions that are made and Worships by men which are the works of their own hands in the whole World And do not every Sect in their Way Religion and Worship do unto another Sect and Religion as they would not have them do unto them And so is not all the Conversion of people as you call it one Sect beget people from another Sect and it is but a Sect when all is done and yet not come to the Royal Law of Liberty nor yet the Gospel For let the eye go over the whole World and see how one Sect strives and and makes it their Business to pluck from another Sect and the more People they get the more Wages Tythes and Augmentations they get So this is not getting people to God but to themselves this is not preaching Christ nor God but themselves And now all people but consider Has not the Conversion been by outward Powers by Queens Powers or Kingly Powers by States Powers or by an Emperor's Power for many Hundreds of Years For before the Pope got up did not the Arian Heresie when he got up I say that is got the power in his hands made most turn Arians by his Sword insomuch that it became a Proverb Totus mundus Arianus And then when the other Power got over Arian then they turn'd from him And further When the Pope got up did not he by his Inquisition and outward Sword by his Prisons and Goales convert people unto his Sect and Faction and this hath been the Conversion all along And then when the Turk got up did not he by his outward Power convert people to him yea many that were Christians were turned by his outward Sword and Power And did not the King of Spain convert abundance of Indians by his External Power and outward Sword when he put so many to several sorts of cruel Deaths as their own Historians relate Now this Conversion was not of God nor of the Spirit of God nor of
Righteousness there is Peace one with another and with Christ who is our Righteousness And so give over Envying Hatred and Persecution and Imprisoning Murdering and Killing one another about these outward things which the Kingdom of God stands not in for it stands in Righteousness Faith and in Love and Joy in the Holy Ghost And come all of you to the Light of Christ that you have hated and to the Spirit of God in you that you have vexed grieved and quenched and the Grace of God that you have walkt despightfully against and turn'd unto Wantonness that by it you may come to see your Salvation and cease from Evil and learn to do well from the Evil I say that you have done in times past and do not do so any more for the time to come but as God has given his Spirit to profit withal obey it that so you may profiâ— in Truth and Righteousness and the Love of God that edifieth the Body and which Love fulfils the Law the Royal Law which is To do unto all as you would have all do unto you then you will come to a holy Society a good righteous and just Society and then you will have your equal weight and measure to weigh and measure withal for such as transgress the Royal Law of God did and do unto others as they would not have others do unto them and upon such the Royal Law of God takes hold and judges them yea upon all Jews Christians Turks and Heathens it doth not take notice of their Profession nor respect them for their Profession but it respects them if they love their Neighbours as themselves and do unto all men as they would have all men do unto them then it shews that they have a Profession of Righteousness that is good that which is just and holy which is the Law of Liberty which gives another Liberty if he would have Liberty himself in this Royal Law which is answered by the Spirit in every man and the Royal Law answereth it And this Royal Law takes hold upon all Men and Women in the whole Earth let their Profession be what it will be if they grieve the Spirit of God it judges all that walk not according to the Spirit of God in them that brings them to the Royal Law in which they have Liberty and then they come to confess the one Legistator or Law-Giver one Lord Jesus Christ by whom is all and one Lord who is over all So then let this be read seriously with the Spirit of God in every Male and Female that they may answer the Royal Law of God in which they may all have Liberty Unity Commerce Fellowship and a Society a holy a just a righteous one in which all do to others as they would have them do to them and they come to love their Neighbours as themselves And in this all Nations of men may keep a Society a Unity a Trade a Traffick and a Communion and Commerce and hold a Correspondency one with another and this will preserve him in a natural Affection And as they all keep in this Royal Law that answers the Spirit of God in them all and his Light and Grace in which they will have a Unity and by it to be kept above all the Religions and Worships they have made with that peevish spirit that hath led to disobey the Spirit of God from which they have not natural Affections who cannot do to others as they would have others do to them that cannot bring you to the Royal Law of God This Royal Law will slay that peevish spirit in you all and that being slain and fallen then falls all Religions that you have set up together in the whole World And the Spirit of the Lord turns you to the Royal Law whereof God is the Donor and judges them that transgress it And so in this Royal Law you keep dominion and you keep your Love to your Neighbours as to your selves and the Royal Law keeps you in that Spirit To do unto all as you would have all do unto you If any man Jam. 1.23 heareth the Word and declareth not the same by his Works he is like unto a man beholding his natural Face in a Glass for as soon as he looks on himself he goes his way and forgets immediately what fashion he was of But who so looks into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein if he be not a forgetful Hearer but a Doer of the Work this man shall be blest in his Deed. Now consider this all ye that profess God and Christ you Christians Jews and others for is not this your Condition Have you lookt into the perfect Law of Liberty and if so With what have you lookt into it Is it not by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ which when you have lookt into by the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus and not done the same you may read your selves as in a Glass that you look into and after forget what manner of men you are And so are not all that look into this perfect Law of Liberty whether they be Jew Christian or Heathen who look into this perfect Law of Liberty and doth it not are like unto the natural Man or Woman that look into a Glass and after that forget what manner of Men and Women they are of and so they that look into the perfect Law of Liberty and do it not are not blest nor happy in their Deeds though they may be Hearers of this perfect Law of Liberty and yet not Doers they are like I say unto the Natural Man and Woman that looks as saith the Apostle into the Glass and after know not what manner of Men or Women they are though they see themselves when they look into the Glass But they that look into the perfect Law of Liberty and do the same do not forget what manner of men they are but see what manner of men they are and what manner of men they have been And so by the perfect Law of Liberty looking into it and doing it they mend so that they who have been without Natural Affections it brings them to Natural Affections who have not loved their Nighbours as themselves it brings them to love them as themselves who have not done to all men as they would have all men do to them this perfect Law of Liberty looking into it and doing of it will bring them to do unto all as they would have all do unto them So look upon all Christendom and all that profess God and Christ in the whole World and those also that do not who do grieve and quench and vex the Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walk despightfully against the Spirit of Grace though these have the Word of God sown upon all their Grounds and if they hear it and declare it not in their Works Lives and Conversations they are like a natural man beholding his
not something of God in him nor of his Spirit And so these Teachers in the whole world do bring their people to those Religions that they have made and do get the Magistrates Power and Sword to hold then up and allow them a Maintenance for their Preaching of it to them And so hereby is begotten a great deal of Peevishness Fury and Rage one against another and one Religion maker against another Religion-maker as may easily be seen over all the world the National Religions differing one from another and yet the people are bound to observe all that which their Priests have framed whereas if all men and women came to the Principle of God in themselves by which they might come to the Royal Law of God namely In doing to others as c. then all these peevish religions and the Makers and Upholders of them would quickly fall wherein they did unto others as they would not have others do unto them And this would be Religion to do the Law of God which is To love thy Neighbour as thy self and God above all then thou wouldst be ready to entertain Strangers For if thou shouldst be a Stranger thou wouldst think it hard shouldst thou not be entertain'd and reliev'd the Sick and the Widdow and Fatherless the same compassion as thou wouldst have done to thy self being in the like condition capacity necessity And this Principle of God within in keeping the Royal Law keeps up the mind to God who is the Law-giver who is blessed forever from whom they receive their Religion And this Royal Law of God being kept by all the Sons and Daughters of men in the whole World which is according to the Principle of God in them all and one with it this preserves natural Affections and so Nature in its course where Nature may not be destroyed for where Nature is destroyed it is but by the Transgressor of the Royal Law whereas this Royal Law being duely kept it preserves I say the Creation of God part of which are men women in order government themselves and to walk and to do to all as they c. And out of this Royal Law of God all the Disorder is and all the Ill-government in the whole Creation by disobeying and transgressing I say this Royal Law of God yea and all the unequal measuring Weights and false Judgments that are among them that do transgress and disobey this Royal Law which is To do to all c. yea and all the Ill-neighbourhood in the whole World is amongst them who disobey this Royal Law of God and quench the Spirit of the Lord in themselves which would lead them to obey it And all the good Neighbourhood in the whole Universe is by obeying the Principle of God in them to do the Royal Law of God whereby they love God above all and their Neighbour as themselves And in Ezek. 5. where the Lord said That the Jews had despised his Judgments and his Laws more then the Gentiles and had broken his Commandments more then the Nations Now mark May not this be apply'd unto Christians who have broken and despised the Law of Life the Law of Love and the Law of Faith and the Commands of Christ who saith Love one another and love Enemies Have not I say Christians broken this more then the Gentile Nations and Heathens yea we can say we have found it so for they are more ready to entertain Strangers then Christians who have cast away that Command nay many of them are more Christian in their Dealings then such as are called Christians which signifies that there is something of God in these Heathens and Nations that brings them to a sensibility of the Law of God which is To do unto all c. Psal 117. Where David saith Praise the Lord all ye Heathen Which imports as much that there is something of God in the very Heathen else it would be a vain word to bid them praise the Lord. And again saith the Psalmist there following Praise the Lord all ye Nations c. He doth not say one Nation but all Nations must do it Now mark This likewise imports thâ—â— there is something of God in them all whereby they may praise him agreeable to that of the Apostle who saith That which is to be known of God is manifest in them This he speaks to the Romans who were sometime Heathen So if the Priests Doctrine be received who say There is not something of God in all Nations of men and in the Heathen then by their Doctrine I say David's words are needless who exhorts all Nations and Heathens to praise the Lord But David full well knew what he spoke who saw Christ but the Priests see not themselves and so are Judges in their evil Thoughts of the Scripture and holy Mens words whose judgment is judged by the holy men's words Psal 100. Be joyful in the Lord all ye Lands and serve the Lord with Gladness and come before his Presence with a Song be ye sure that the Lord is God he it is that made us not we our selves Now mark this general Doctrine of David's who would have all the Lands to be joyful in the Lord c. Here David made no Sect as if some people only were to serve him and as if some people only were to praise him no saith he All Nations and all Heathen are to praise the Lord And now if they all serve the Lord and praise him then they all obey his Law his Royal Law which is To do to all as they would have all do to them Isa 51. The Islands of the Gentiles shall hope in me and put their trust in my Arm. Here you see is a Promise made unto the Heathen that they should trust in the Arm of the Lord and hope in God which clearly implies that there is something of God in them And in Rom. 15. where the Apostle writes to those that were sometime Heathens how that the Offering of the Gentile should be accepted of God now this was a spiritual Sacrifice and how the Lord would be praised among the Gentiles and he should be lauded among all the Nations and praise him saith he among all the Nations And again the Prophet Isaiah saith There shall be a Root of Jesse he shall arise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust So that 't is undoubtedly clear here that there is something of God in all the Gentiles in all the Nations and People which would praise the Lord and by that of God in them they come to know the Root of Jesse viz. Christ Jesus to reign over them who is the Light and enlighteneth them they see him by which Light Christ hath enlightened them withal all such trust in Christ who reigns over them and rules over them and so they come to do his Law and Commandments his Royal Law of Love of Life and of Faith by which they come to do unto all as they would have all do unto them and to love their Neighbours as themselves George Fox THE END