THE Blessed Works OF THE Light of God's Holy and BLESSED SPIRIT Exalted above the Works of Darkness With some Informations how to escape out of Sin and Iniquity and a clear Way discovered into the Truth With a short Testimony of the Cry of Babylons's Merchants by reason of the Day that is coming upon them Stephen Smith 2 Peter 3.12 13. Looking for and hasting unto the Coming of the Day of God wherein the Heavens being on Fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat nevertheless according to his Promise we look for new Heavens and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness Printed in the Year 1673. THE Blessed Works OF THE Light of God's Holy and BLESSED SPIRIT Exalted above the Works of Darkness COme sit down together in a deep Silence out of all Fleshly Wisdom forgiving all Trespasses that he that sits upon his Throne who said behold I make all things new that he may forgive all your Trespasses and then wait for Acception into God's Pure Holy Covenant his Holy Law in the Mind that it may be writ in the Heart and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest for I will be merciful to their Unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more a blessed day magnified be the Lord whose Works praise him forever and not good Words out of wicked Workers Mouthes so these mighty Works of the mighty God the which he is working and bringing to pass through his mighty Power are appointed that Mankind should live in the Enjoyment of them to the Praise and Honour of his Maker forever And that it may be distinguished between Evil Workers who have got the good Words and the good Works from whence all true and good and gratious Words came observe In one of the Collects appointed in the Book of Common Prayer it is thus written Almighty and Everlasting God which of thy tender Love towards Man hath sent our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our Flesh and to suffer Death upon the Cross that all Man-kind should follow the Example of his great Humility mercifully grant that we both follow the Example of his Patience and be made Partakers of his Resurrection c. Now mind To pray for this that is common and used in the old World of Transgression where Iniquity and Sin is which separates from God and are out of his Blessed Works But to be in the Humility and Patience this is God's Work where his Will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven So that if People would but so far condiscend to the Will of God as to sit down in Coolness in a true Silence of all the Works of the fleshly Wisdom would they not agree with us who are in Scorn called Quakers in Judgment at least though it may be not in Practice viz. That Words without Effects are as Dreams and Chaff to the Wheat the Substance So he that hath a Dream let him tell his Dream but he that hath God's Word let him speak it What is the Chaff to the Wheat Is not my Word like a Fire saith the Lord and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces Jer. 23. I am against the Prophet saith the Lord that steals my Word from his Neighbour who use their Tongues say he saith and prophesie false Dreams and tell them and cause people to Err by their Lyes and Lightness And so now in Coolness when the Works of the Enemy are down viz. Prejudice and Passion c. then by a little Work of God in its least Appearance by which Mankind is made sensible they may see by this small Distinction what it is that we who are in Scorn called Quakers stand for and against And when the Eye of your Understanding is opened to behold his Glorious Works whom you have pierced then will you love us whom so many have hated because of our Testimony of God's Works Do but see how you first hated the Light of God in your selves before that great Darkness came over you to hate us who are called Quakers because we are bowed unto Christ's Spirit the true Christians Spirit and therein have in some measure partaken of his Cup out of which some indeed have drunk very deep even to the following of his great Humility and Patience even to Death as in New-England Sufferings may be seen by those cruel imaginary Christians whose wicked Hands have been deep in the shedding of Innocent Blood And though through Ignorance the Sufferings of God's People hath been much in Old England yet they have not been in that desperate kind as there where out of doubt they are more drunk with the Whore's Cup of Sorceries Witchcraft then those of that kind are here in old England whose spirit is felt but that their Wings are cut so cannot fly at that rate which otherwise they would be at for now their Hands are tied how wonderfully do their Tongues go by which its plain they have no Bridle but are set on Fire of Hell Wondering Despising and Fretting against the Work of the Lord in this the Day of his Power though Thousands are raised by it to declare and publish the same in Words in Life and Conversation c. And now you Vain and Empty Professors and Notionists who are saying in your Dark and Imaginary Conceivings of things That if you had been in the Scribes and Pharisees dayes those learned Rabbies you would not have done so wickedly as to Crucifie the Just and call for his Blood to be upon your Heads But come hearken in the Cool Did not those Scribes and Pharisees say the like of their Fathers who Stoned and Killed the Prophets whom God sent in Love to them And were not they in a worse Practice though they spoak otherwayes And was not the Cause of their Blindness from resisting God's Works in his Spirit by which means they had no Revelation there of the things of God notwithstanding they had the Scriptures without which testified of him yet they being so Wicked to put out the Candle that should have lighted them in it they saw not the Substance spoken of in the Scriptures were more darkned judging by that Law that Christ was a Devil and a Deceiver and so ought to dye without any regard to his Innocent Holy Life and his great Humility and Patience But though they crucified him yet they could not so bury him but that he rise again and appeared in divers manners and after he was risen opened the Scriptures to his Followers who loved Him Therefore Professors of Works without who are not Possessors of God's Blessed Holy Works within What though you do say If you had been in your Fathers the Scribes and Pharisees dayes you would not have done as they did But come be patient a little the Works of Truth have a good Tendency though
they be bitter to the Guilty for the Present come I say look where you are by the Light you may see you must see by it at last it were better for you if you would let your Eye be opened now and see that offensive Eye pulled out which hath been offended at God's Works all this while So do not harden your Hearts in this Day of God's Power being manifest lest you be cut off from his Rest forever Come therefore you that are judging others that did wickedly in their Generation by resisting God's holy Spirit so had none of the Works of its Revelation come see now what Latitude your Works are under If you be in the same Liberty in the Flesh as they were in it s no matter what you say Come now to the Tryal What Experience have you of the Operation of God's Spirit How much of the Mind and Will of God hath it revealed to you Can you say Thus saith the Lord by the certain Knowledge of the Revelation of God's holy Spirit Or have you only talkt of it as the Jews did who said We have God for our Father when they were doing the Devil's Works Come do not stop your Ears Have you heard the Voice of God or seen his Shape or are you ignorant of it as they were who accused Christ as if he was bearing False Witness Nay come further Have you not said That Revelations are ceased and thereby shut up the Way to the Kingdom of God and from the Knowledge of his Righteousness by your wicked Works in going about to establish your own Righteousness and Works therein for term of life Come you that have set up the Law and Covenant without above the Law and Covenant within are not these your own Works and have not they made you as blind as your Fathers the Scribes and Pharisees that you can neither see nor hear but in your blind Zeal are persecuting Christ's near Relations who follow him in their Generation even by the Drawings of his Father's Spirit unto his Humility and Patience who is the Way in whom God's Will was done And did not Christ give Testimony of his Relations his Mother his Brothers and Sisters who did his Father's Will And is not this to be done on Earth And is it not the Will of God that we should speak the Truth at all times and that we should be led and guided by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth is there any Sin in the Guide And is not this Christ of God the same Auointing or Teacher as he was in the beginning of the World Was not he before Abraham was And is not he the same yesterday to day and forever as he was in the beginning who was David's Lord and the Holy Men's Lord in all Ages And is not he the Covenant by which all must come unto God Was he not given for a Covenant and a Light to enlighten people and to be their Salvation to lead and command his People And must not his Sheep hear his Voice And is not he the same that he was in the beginning And is not this the Precious and Tryed Stone which the wise Builders building without are confounded and stumble at even the highest Notionists in the fleshly Wisdom in their highest Conceivings about the Holy Men's Words Come examine your selves and see whether Christ be not in you except you be Reprobates You Unbelievers how hath the Godd of the World led you about and blinded you that you cannot see the Light of this Glorious Gospel Come see the Cause Have you not been making Provision for the Flesh in the first place and answering the Lusts thereof after the Glory of the old World of Sin and Iniquity Hath not Respect of Persons been in your Eye and Filthy Lucre and Praise of Men and Greeting in Market-Places Have you not preacht and prayed in your own Wills and run for Gifts and Rewards in your own Wills And is not all this Honour to be had below And have you not sought it before the Honour of God's Work in your Hearts And is not this the Cause of your Ignorance of God's Kingdom and his Righteousness Christ and his Relations his Mother Sisters and Brethren who are sanctified and blest by the Will of God where it is done in Truth and Righteousness and where that is done do not such only confirm in Truth and Reallity all God's blessed and holy Works without in all Generations So do not envy and hate the People called Quakers for maintaining the Works of God's holy Spirit within them for there are many of them have been as high Talkers of the Works of God in holy Men without as you are but found not such Salvation as to venture Souls and Bodies and Estates till we came to cease from our own Labours in our own Willings and Runnings and so our Hearts were bowed unto God's holy Will in the deep Silence of all Fleshly Reasonings and Consultations So by the Works of God's holy and blessed Spirit the Way of God came to be made manifest in us the which is a Pure Holy Undefiled Way Christ the same yesterday to day and forever as he was in the beginning without Guile without Sin no Iniquity is in him he that is the Hope of Glory the great Mystery made manifest in us Gentiles who in former times when without the Knowledge of him in the World had Lords many and Masters many and feigned Faiths and Beliefs concerning him many and divers But when we were given up clearly to seek the Kingdom of God without any reserve of making Provision for the Flesh then the New Jerusalem God's Building came down from above the Mother of all the Faithful wherein no Evil can be conceived whose Children in her are made free from the Law of Sin and Death and this blessed City hath no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof This blessed Habitation is prepared for God's People who love the Light of his Appearance and delight to do his Will So away with all False Accusations from all you False Accusers of the People called Quakers who say We expect to be Saved by a Righteousness of our own and by Works of our own If it were so as you falsely and vainly do say then might we not keep in the Broad Way with you Hypocrites who are gotten above the daily Cross and so led about by the Thief above the Door where you Foxes who are cunning in Hunting about after others Works have Holes enough to creep and cring into to keep you in the Glory of the World of Sin and Iniquity where you have had a long Trade in your Imaginations conceiving God's Works in his blessed Instruments without you whose Lines you have long made your boast of so your Lyes are upon your own Heads For this I testifie and the Testimony is the same
concerning the Gift of God which is Life Eternal you being really out of it in your own imaginary Parts Gifts in comprehending the VVorks done without you and so not sensible of any Real Perfect Pure VVork of God's Holy Spirit in you the which is the Cause you are so Dark and wickedly Blinded to plead for Sin the which is accompanied with the VVages of Death the Cause of Death being Sin the which remaining the Effects cannot cease even Death and Corruption from that venemous Sting over all Flesh that is corrupted with it So for Shame leave your false Accusations against an Innocent People called by the Name of Quakers for testifying of the VVorks of God's holy Spirit the which are perfect in every Degree and therefore there is not the least Sin nor Evil in them So all you who say You are not without Sin in your Best Duties I say They are all VVorks of your own which blind and hide God's Works from you And as you may read of the Works of God's Spirit in Mordecai how they could not bow to the Pride and Arrogance of Haman and also the Works of God's Spirit in Daniel how they could not bow to them that would have restrained and limited them and also the Works of God's Spirit in Shadrach Meshach and Abednego how they could not bow to the Golden Image set up by Nebuchadnezer though Laws under Penalties of Death in a Cruel Manner was before them and also the Works of God's Holy Spirit in the primitive Christians through the Strength of which they under-went hard and grievous things under the spirit of Antichrist which got up in a Form of the good Words in the Pleasures and Vanities of the Works of the fleshly Wisdom the which have been kept up by the same Wisdom by an Arm of Flesh under which the Innocent People who are true Witnesses of the Works of God's Spirit have suffered very deeply in this Age the which cannot be hid though the Cause for which they have thus suffered is so far hid that it cannot be believed though they have been wonderfully declared of But it is Mordecai Daniel Shadrach Meshach and Abednego's God which we who are in Scorn called Quakers do worship in and by the Effects and blessed Operation of his own blessed Spirit wherein stands our Confidence and not in Flesh and our Faith Belief and Hope is in him that he will turn the Hearts of many of our Enemies unto us though many will perish in their Gain-saying So over all the VVorks and Powers of Darkness is our Faith and Belief that the Holy Righteous VVorks of God's blessed Spirit shall be exalted and the God of Truth in and through his blessed VVorks in preparing and fitting the Hearts of people the Knowledge of him shall encrease till it spread over all And for this Purpose hath God raised many contrary to the VVisdom of the VVorld in whom he hath made known his Righteous Works who have Unity and Fellowship therein who are true Labourers therein purely out of Love to God and his blessed VVorks in Good-will and true Love to all men that all may taste of the Goodness of God the Experience of which will bring Mankind to be of one Mind and Heart and therein to agree to Praise and Magnifie God who shows Man his Thoughts to whom belongs Honour and Glory forever And now all you Leaders of the People in all Forms and Fashions who are denying the Works of the Divine Power of God in its blessed Operation and powerful Working in setting free them who are heavy laden and weary through the Enemies works of Sin and Iniquity the which you say cannot be Overcome therefore you are Denyers of the Sufficiency of God's Works and his Kingdom wherein dwells Righteousness Peace and Joy in and through the Effectual Workings of God's Holy Spirit the which though you say in words Thy Kingdom come thy Will be done c. But being Sayers and not Doers you are so darkened that with all your own Wills and Mights you are strengthening the Old Kingdom of Transgression where Sin and Iniquity aboundeth the Devil's works Was it not by reason of Transgression that the first Law the first Covenant was added which was written in Tables of Stone And was not this in Force till the Manifestation of the Seed of Life and Power the Coming of the Messiah to finish Transgression and to put an End to Sin and so bring in everlasting Righteousness God's Kingdom Now all you blind Leaders of the Blind is not here God's Second Covenant writ in the Heart into which all must come that come unto God where his Light is to shine who is the True Light that enlightens every Man that comes into the World And if this Righteous Law be taken heed unto will it not judge Lust when it rises in the Heart And will it not judge Anger when it rises in the heart and will it not judge every Desire of Breaking Promise when it arises in the Heart And will it not judge every Hasty and Froward Action and Lightness when they appear in the Heart And is not all that proceeds from this Righteous Law and Covenant of God in the Heart Pure Truth Yea and Nay And what is more then Plain Truth Yea and Nay is it not judged by this pure Law in the Heart And are not all forbidden to Swear by this one Law-giver who is able to Save or to Destroy And must not his Righteous Law and Decree take place though many Laws through Darkness and Ignorance may be made against it And must not all that come to Sion the City of the Living God be Redeemed through these Righteous Judgments And are not the great Mercies of God witnessed in and through these Righteous Judgments And all that will not come under this Righteous Law and Government where Mercy and Peace kisses and Truth and Righteousness is set over all is it not just that they be left to Judgment without Mercy So is not Destruction from Self-willing and Running of people out of the Counsel and Knowledge of the Will and Mind of the Living God And is not the Salvation of every Soul in and through the Righteous Decrees and Just and Holy Laws of God which is Light in every Conscience And must not all that come to Salvation come first to the Way and Means that God hath ordained And is not the Second Coming of Christ in the Light of his Holy Spirit the Way by which all must come unto God the which is without Sin without Spot without Guile And must not all that come unto God come unto him in this one Blessed Savoury Offering And is not this Christ of God the same yesterday to day and forever as he was before Abraham was and so the same in the beginning of all things And must not all that come to God come out of Transgression the Cause why Mankind was drove from the Presence of God
Holy Men without us would have given us a Right to his Holiness though the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh the Pride of Life and Friendship of the World had never been wholely subdued in us but in such a part as might he consistent with our Gain and Profit in the World But Alas Alas Our Coverings be too narrow they will no longer hide us God's Righteous Works are abroad in the Earth who is inspiring his People with True Light of Vnderstanding and Mordecai sits in the Gate and will not bow to Wickedness Haman Alas Alas We have twined and twisted about through many Crafts and Inventions some of our best Arts-Men having called the Light a Devil some others a Natural Light and others a Bewildering Light and likewise many False Accusations have we raised with Evil Reports Scornings and Reproachings of the People called Quakers for Confessing to the Works of the Light of God's Holy Spirit yet all our Shifts do not at all help us but those Works prosper and they are generally a Faithful People to their Testimony Alas Alas Who would have thought our Mother had been such a Harlot What delicate Inchantments and Sorceries hath she used and trained us up in that we have been thus deceived and thereby have been Instruments of deceiving the whole Nations Alas Alas We can flee into no Corner nor Hole but we are found out and pursued Alas Alas can't all the Wisdom of the VVorld and Arts therein help to hide our Sins and Iniquities from the Light of the Lamb Is every Creature so clearly manifest in his Sight that made all things good in the beginning And is he now as work again And must all yield to his VVorks or be accounted his Enemies and be cast out of his Presence who is Lord of all whose is the Earth and the Fulness thereof Alas Alas VVords of Repentance of Sin will not serve now there must be a true Repentance and Forsaking Sin and Evil or else we perish forever Even so it must be done to you Workers of Iniquity who have been and are as Props and Pillars strengthening the Old World of Transgression in Sin and Iniquity the Devil's works and therein withstood the Sufficiency of God's Love manifested to the World in his Son to destroy the Devil's works which works of Transgression the old subtil Serpent the Deceiver of the Nations in and through his Instruments is striving and labouring to maintain under several and very large and specious Pretences of crying out Lord Lord But come Workers of Iniquity these Good Words will not give you Admittance into the Kingdom of God it s not they that say Lord Lord shall enter therein but they that do the Will of God And was not his Will manifested to the World in his Son that they that believed and followed him in doing his Father's Will might not Perish but have everlasting Life And do not many of you confess to this in words who say in your set Prayers That we may follow the Example of Christ's great Humiliation and Patience that we may attain to his Resurrection c. VVhat brave VVords have you VVorkers of Iniquity got in your Old Bottle that can hold none of the New VVine And so in your corrupt VVills what will the using good VVords do you good but thereby add to your Condemnation who by Good VVords and corrupt and Bad Actions are withstanding and have withstood the Good-will Pleasure and Love of God in his Son to the VVorld So your works of Darkness and Falshood are clearly manifested and you can't hide them from the Light But the Light of the Effectual and Powerful VVorks of God's holy Spirit wherein his VVill is manifest is rising more and more to a more perfect Day of his VVill being done upon Earth to the Praise and Honour of his blessed and holy Name whose VVorks are Pure Holy Just and Perfect in every degree thereof and tend to the true Reformation Peace Prosperity and Establishment of all Mankind in God's Love and Mercy therein forever So worshipped be God that made Heaven and Earth and the Fountains of VVaters and all things therein who fills the hearts of the Upright with Joy and Gladness through the Shinings forth of the Light of his Countenance who sits upon his Throne and saith Behold I make all things New Amen AND now unto such who are in Doubt Whether God's Holy Spirit doth so effectually work now adayes as in the Primitive Times Unto you I say What Flesh could ever have indured such grievous and continued Punishments in Tryals of divers sorts by Imprisouments and Banishments and Hangings and Killings as in New-England and Imprisonments to Death and Spoiling of Goods in Old England and Cruel Mockings and Scoffings and Bloodshed by Unmerciful Men Indeed some in a Voluntary Humility have somewhat appeared in Sufferings but being in their own Willillings and Runnings and VVorks therein how have they been overcome their Strength being an Arm of Flesh as well as others and so Fleshly VVorks have been overcome by Fleshly VVorks But it s not so with them who are in Scorn and Derision called Quakers because they have bowed to God's VVay the which is quite different to Man's wayes was that Name given but in God's VVay hath his Arm been revealed and its Strength made manifest in our VVeakness So that to the Praise of him that lives forever the Operation of his Blessed Spirit is felt as in the Primitive Dayes and the Glory and Comfort of it hath ministred Strength and Refreshment in the time of Tryals though this Way of God's Proceeding hath been hid from the vulterous evil Eye So to the Praise and Glory of God is Confession made through the Operation of his holy Spirit through which Thousands have been preserved and kept from bowing to the seed of Cain Haman and the Beast which hath made the World as a Wilderness where wild Fruits and wild Actions spring So we can truly say to the Praise of God Let not the Wise Men in the Wisdom of this World glory in their Wisdom nor the Strong Men in their Strength nor the Mighty Men in their Might but let all wait in that pure Measure of the Light of God's Spirit in their Consciences that by it they may draw near unto God that they may know his Blessed Works of Mercy and Love and Judgment in the Earth wherein that true Glory and Honour of God is ANd further Concerning Ministry this I say As the Blessed Works of the Light of God's holy Spirit has place in Hearts and so opens Understandings a Discovery will be made from thence of the False Corrupt and Wicked Ministers who open their Mouthes for Gifts and Rewards from whose Works in fair and deceitful Speeches Prophaneness is gone out into the World where the Revelations of God's holy Spirit is denyed and set at nought they telling People Revelations are ceased they are not to be known now adayes