is the Rule of a Christian not an outward literal Command as the Jews had To exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees is to be clean within as in outward Acts. Jews and Turks better than Christians who transgress Christ's Law when they will not Moses's nor Mahomets The clean Soul of a Christian is the House of God and so the House of Prayer whose Body is his Temple Disciples did greater Miracles than Jesus when Christ was risen in them Every Man living in the state of Grace is a perpetual Miracle so our Water is turned into Wine Christ's Father and Mother are not Carnal but Spiritual Adam's Sin nor our natural Infirmities not imputed to us neither are our actual and malicious Sins our Infirmities Vertue conduces infinitely to the length and content of our Lives and Vice the contrary 'T is a vast Sum that will pay the Debt of Intemperance and Lust Though most deny Scripture to be an Allegory yet all Men in most things use it so and it is then rightly used when by Inspiration we see the Heavenly through the Earthly and the Spiritual through the Carnal I also lately read a worthy Treatise writ by Mr. Edw. Fowler of North-hill in Bedfordshire printed Anno 1671 holding forth the Principles of certain Moderate Divines of the Church of England in which they declare That the design of Christianity is to work real inward Righteousness and that love to God and Goodness is the highest Principle and that true Righteousness is the New Creature in us And that John the Baptist Christ's Forerunner's Work was to preach Repentance and to cleanse and purify the Heart and Soul Mal. 3.1 3 4. Acts 10.35 Dan. 9.24 that Christ may enter in and bring forth everlasting Righteousness I have likewise read a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London by Mr. John Sharp upon 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable c. wherein he most excellently sets forth the happiness and profitableness of a vertuous Religious Life even in the straitest Paths of Repentance and putting off the Old Man with his Deeds of Darkness and afterwards to put on the New Man begot by the Word and Spirit of Grace in the Heart God's Covenant of Light to all the World read Deut. 30.6 11 to 15. with Rom. 10.6 8. Jer. 31.31 32 33. with Heb. 8.8 Isa 42.6 49.6 Luke 2.30 31 32. John 1.4 9. 3.16 Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 the which teacheth and enableth every one that will receive him to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly and religiously in this present World Which certainly as saith the Preacher is the most profitable happy and blessed Life both for Soul and Body imaginable Likewise I have read a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London by Mr. Joseph Glanvil upon 1 Pet. 1.2 See that ye love one another Wherein are delivered most excellent Truths both Catholick and Apostolick his desire is to unite all Perswasions into this Principle of Love in which Work my Soul hath long travelled In which Discourse he also saith Love is extensive to all Mankind and the more General the more Christian and like God To love for Opinion sake that is self-Love but to love the Principle and Image of God as Christ loves the Poor the Blind and Ignorant though his Enemies is God-like Also that Love is the Image of God pourtray'd and lively drawn on the Regenerate Soul Love is the Bond of Christian Union and when that breaks all goes into Confusion both in Church and State Christ Reigns when all unite in the Principle of Love and a holy Life which will be the fall of Antichrist Vertue and Goodness is to be owned in all Parties and Opinions and if they were practised it would reconcile all Men to each other True Religion is not to fill Heads with Notions and Opinions but to sow in the Mind the Seed of Vertue to direct to govern Passions and to destroy Self-will Christian Love is necessary but agreement in Opinions is neither necessary nor possible In eager and passionate Disputes Charity is always lost and Truth seldom or never found To give evil Names to Dissenters is Persecution Likewise I have read a Discourse concerning the Knowledg of Jesus Christ and of our Union and Communion with him made by Mr. William Sherlock who wrote an Answer to some new opinionated Doctors as he calls them which teach That by being acquainted with the Person of Christ and rouling themselves on him and believing the History of his Life Death and Resurrection that this Faith alone is imputed for Righteousness to them without having any thing that is good wrought in them by Christ or they doing any thing that is good and righteous in themselves That we are saved by Grace though we be disobedient to the Spirit of Grace God's Talent given to every one to profit withal Also they teach That God hath elected some to Salvation and others to Reprobation without regard had to Man's Obedience or Disobedience to the Gospel of Christ Jesus which Gospel is Christ the Word in the Heart as saith Rom. 10.6 7 8. To which and much more of this nature Mr. Sherlock maketh answer That the Person of Christ will never save those whom his Gospel the Word in the Heart and their own Consciences condemn who walk contrary to his Grace the Spirit of Light That Christ's Kingdom is erected by conquering Mens Minds by his Spirit to the Obedience of God such he pardons their sins and raiseth them unto an immortal Life For this end God sent his Son the Word in the beginning into the World to destroy the Works of the Devil to regenerate and redeem Man to the Obedience of Christ the Word And that nothing avails with God but the New Creature which is Christ in the Saints that came to be our Example and Guide to Heaven as well as our Mediator and Advocate and therefore we must imitate his Life if we would enjoy the benefit of his Death and Intercession God in the first Creation designed all Men for happiness and certainly in the second Creation he would have all Men saved and come to the Knowledg of Christ the Truth the Word in the Heart by yielding Obedience to Christ his Gospel and Spirit of Grace That nothing can be the happiness of a reasonable Creature but conformity to the Divine Nature That the great Mystery of the Recovery of Mankind out of the Fall consists only in repairing the Divine Image As in the first Creation we were made after God's Image so in the second we are renewed in the Spirit of our Minds after his Image which by Disobedience we lost and is recovered no other way than by obedience True expressions of Love to Christ is Obedience to his Laws writ in the Heart And that the Soul and Mind of a good Man or regenerate Man is the Palace or Temple of God That
of Christ in the Sanctified which Sanctified are the only true Church of Christ You also say The only difference between the Old and New Testament is that in the Old lies hid the New by an Allegory Which is a Truth to him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit in the Letter saith Allelujah On Rom. 4.8 you say The words Imputed or Reputed do not diminish the Truth of Justice and that Justice is not reputed to them that are not made Just and Righteous Which is also a most real Truth On Gen. 22.1 you say There is as much difference betwixt Christ's Divinity and his Humanity as was between Isaac and the Ram and as is 'twixt Elesh and Spirit for what is born of Flesh is Flesh c. The Book Ecclesiasticus you say teacheth to contemn this present evil World and that things Earthly and Sensual are insufficient to give Peace and Rest to our Souls and that true Felicity consisteth not in Natural Knowledg gotten by Wit and Natural Industry nor in Riches Honour Pleasures nor in Authority or Dominion nor in any thing that is Sensual or Carnal but only in the Eternal and Internal fruition of God in our Souls which is procured by Free Grace which enables us to decline Vices and to pursue the ways of Vertue which lead to Beatitude all which are Truths most clear and excellent Allelujah Before Leviticus in which Book saith St. Jerome all Sacrifices Aaron 's Vestments and the whole Levitical Order almost every Syllable breaths forth Heavenly Sacraments I say even as the whole Creation doth breath forth God's Omnipotence his Grace and loving Kindness to Mankind Allelujah Zach. 1.3 When the Scripture saith Convert c. we are admonished that we have Free-Will and when we answer Convert us O Lord to thee and we shall be converted we confess that God's Grace preventeth or enableth us and when he commandeth any good of us it is either to humble or enable us in the performance as James 1.17 Heb. 13.21 which Doctrine is true for we have no other free-will to good but what God giveth us in by and through his Holy Spirit of Grace which appears to and in every Man Allelujah On Gal. 6.16 you say The New Creature is the true Faith and Work of Grace in the Hearts of the Faithful and is the Faith first delivered to and in the Saints A Speech most true Allelujah 1 Cor. 12.3 you say No Man can say Jesus is our Lord but by his Spirit within us which enableth us to be obedient to his Commands and to do the Will of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven for by Christ strengthening us we can do all things pleasing to God our Heavenly Father Allelujah On Heb. 12.28 you say Grace is the only means enabling us to serve and please God Tit. 2.11 And that Man 's free-Will is begot and worketh freely by free-Grace Also you say Free-Will is in Man for that no Sin can be committed without consent of free-Will nor can any Work merit or please God but what is wrought in Man by the free Grace of God's Holy Spirit Thus by Grace we are saved not of our selves it is the free Gift of God to every one Allelujah You say Elias is alive and shall be a fore-runner of Christ's second coming I say Elias in Spirit is alive and now preacheth Repentance and forgiveness of Sins to all that amend their Lives according to God's Holy Word written in every Man's Heart the Volumn of God's Book wherein his Will is known that it may be done here on Earth as in Heaven Allelujah You say also That Enoch is yet alive and shall preach in Antichrist's time with Elias This is also a Truth if you speak this of the Spirit of God that was in Enoch for as Elias's Spirit in John the Baptist's Time preached Repentance and forgiveness of Sins to all that truly repented and forsook their Sins preparing the way for Christ to be begot and born in us So did that Spirit of Elias preach Repentance to the Disobedient in the days of Noah As in this day the same Spirit of Elias preacheth Repentance to all that are dead in Trespasses and Sins Even so likewise Enoch the seventh from Adam in Spirit is alive who shall and now doth as you say preach in Antichrist's time for Christ the Word incarnate the Resurrection and the Life is now preaching in the Sanctified the Resurrection from the Dead to and in all that have bin crucified with Christ and are risen with him from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness Allelujah Which Word Incarnate or Word in the Heart is God's Preacher to all the World and is the Gospel of Christ preached for the Obedience of Faith to and in all Nations and all Religions whatsoever so that all Men may believe and by obeying may be saved Amen Allelujah As it is written Deut. 30.11 to the 15. with Rom. 10.6 to the 9th Rom. 1.5 2 Cor. 10.5 Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 1.22 Gen. 22.18 Deut. 13.4 Dan. 7.27 Isa 1.19 Job 36.11 12. You say Christ in Soul descended into Hell to deliver all just Men Which is a Truth if you mean Christ in Spirit as he is the Light of the World descends into every Man's unclean heart to cleanse and purifie it and so leads Captivity captive bringing the Souls of the Faithful once dead in Trespasses and Sins out of Death out of the Grave out of Hell into Abraham's Bosom where they sit and sing Allelujah You say Sin is always the cause of Reprobation Which is also a Truth most clear for it is our Sins that separate us from God and with-hold good things from us And in our Obedience or disobedience to the Word of God in our Hearts stands Life and Death Election and Reprobation for according to their Works shall every one receive whether they do good or evil Allelujah On Col. 3.9 you say The New Man is an inherent quality of Justice and Righteousness in our Souls and not only an Imputation of Christ's Righteousness but a Work of God's free Grace enabling the Faculties of our Souls to work freely the thing that is good and righteous A Truth most clear and excellent Allelujah 2 Cor. 1.5 you say All the Saints Sufferings and Afflictions are Christ's Sufferings by reason of the Conjunction and Vnion that is betwixt Christ the Head and the Sanctified his Members Allelujah You say Adam was created in Grace and Innocency which he lost only by Disobedience yet by Repentance is saved And thus it is with all the Sons of Adam He that sins against the Light of Christ in his Conscience eats the forbidden Fruit and so sins after the similitude of Adam 's Transgression and is not saved out of Transgression but by Repentance and laying hold of God's Spirit of Grace which obeying brings through the flaming Sword or Sword of the Spirit that turns every way to cut down Sin
persecuted the True Church and Members of Christ according to those Laws made by Man many a thousand even to death And this came to pass that the Prophecy of Daniel might be fulfilled who saw the Beast the Roman Monarch should have power to scatter to destroy and to make desolate the Holy City and Holy People for a time times and half a time which time is One thousand two hundred and sixty days and taking a Year for a day is One thousand two hundred and sixty Years He that is wise and standeth in his Lot as Daniel did in the measure of God's Holy Spirit the Lot of God's Heritage knoweth the meaning of the Spirit in those deep mysterious and hidden Things of God in which Spirit it is seen that the time times and half a time is accomplished that the Church of Christ is to stay in the Wilderness who is coming out of her Wilderness condition out of her mourning Sackcloth as a Woman cloathed with the Sun of Righteousness and a Crown of Stars upon her Head the Faithful Chosen and truly Sanctified and having the Moon all inferior and borrowed Lights under her Feet where the Citizens of Sion the New Jerusalem have no need of a Candle or any teaching of Man for the Lord God by his Inspiration is their Light and they need no other Light but as the Unction the anointing teacheth them and is the true Inward and Infallible Teaching in which Light of the Lord God the Nations that are saved walk Allelujah Thus you see when how and by whom the Apostacy from the true Faith and Church of Christ came in and wherein it still standeth even in savouring as Peter did the things of Man more than the things of God the inspiration of his blessed holy Spirit Allelujah And this Apostacy appeared in the Apostles days whereof Peter was the Ring-leader as may be seen Gal. 2.11 when Peter dissembled and forsook Christ his Spirit the Rock the True Church and Faith the Corner-Stone the sure Foundation of the True Church throughout all Generations God's Covenant of Light to all the World and his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth his Talent and Measure of his Holy Spirit of Grace given to every one to profit with in the which disobeying stands our Condemnation and in obeying of it standeth our eternal Salvation our Peace and Rest with God Allelujah Thus by Peter's bad Example the Church of Christ had like to have bin lost in the Apostacy had not St. Paul that great Apostle of the Gentiles stood in the Gap in withstanding Peter so boldly to his very Face for this his dissimulation which did not only draw away the Jews but Barnabas was also carried away by their dissimulation by their compelling the Gentiles to live as did the Jews they brought a great Schism into the Church and had like even at that time to have carried the whole Church into the Apostacy had not St. Paul withstood them Which Apostacy afterwards came in by observing the Old Law and other Heathenish Customs prescribed by Man rather than the Commands of God For did not the Apostacy come in by observing of Days Months Times and Years by observing Holy Days New-Moons and Sabbath-Days or Sundays so called from the Heathens read Gal. 4.10 Col. 2.8 16 17. Luke 17.20 What ado was there about the keeping of Easter-day of outward Circumcision Baptism and Supper all which were but Figures of the Inward What Quarreling and Disputes were there even in the Apostle's days about these Matters and soon afterwards between the Arrians and those of one Substance concerning the Nature and Being of Christ one Bishop thrusting out another and killing one another about these outward Things of Man's setting up such things wherein the Kingdom of God is not found nor the Church of Christ edified but much Blood spilt and Humility Love and Charity lost in these bitter Disputes and Contests and all about such beggarly Rudiments as these which no ways did benefit the Church but destroy it in so much that those called Christians were worse than the Heathens in Conversation and more like their Father the Devil than the Children of God or Brethren of Christ Jesus Allelujah And as the Apostacy increased and waxed strong by savouring the things of Man more than the things of God then came in the Abomination which made desolate the Observation of Christmass-day Whitsunday c. and other Saints days both Feasting and Fasting-days keeping of Lent prescribing what Meats should be eaten and what not About this time came in also Altars made with mens hands and brought into the Church to worship God withal which in the Old Law was but a shadow of Christ in the Saints the New Law which Altar and Tabernacle God pitched in Man and is God's Workmanship and not the Work of Man's hand And did not the Apostacy bring in the Seven Sacraments viz. John's Baptism which stood in the outward Element of Water in the place of Christ's Baptism which consisteth in the operation of the Holy Ghost in the Saints the which cleanseth from Sin and begets the New Man Christ in them their Hope and Glory Allelujah Did not also the Sacrament of the Altar come in with the Apostacy consisting of carnal Bread and Wine which are but Creatures turned you say by the Priest's Consecration into the Real Body and Blood of Christ whereas the Real Body of Christ is not Carnal nor Elementary but the true Blood that came from Heaven the Blood and Spirit of Christ the Vine and is the true Wine that chears the heart of God and Man Read Judges 9.13 Matth. 26.29 John 6 51 63. which Bread and Wine whosoever eateth and drinketh shall live for ever as it is written Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door of the Heart I will saith Christ come in to him and Sup with him and he with me Which Supper is not an outward carnal eating and drinking as the false Church supposeth but is a Spiritual eating and drinking to receive Christ into our Hearts and feed on him there which nourisheth the Soul up into Eternal Life Allelujah Read John 6.27 33 48 51 57 63. Rev. 3.20 The other Five Sacraments as Confirmation Penance Orders Marriage Extream Vnction are these think you or the two former more a Sacrament Similitude or Representation of Christ than the meanest Animal that God hath made And where doth the Scripture call these or any one of them a Sacrament Is not Christ the Beginning and End of all God's Works figured out by a Lion a Lamb yea by every thing that hath Life Is he not the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the Valleys yea by things that have no Life For is not Christ the Door and Way to God And may not we as well bow down and worship God in these things as in any of these Seven Sacraments And to fall down and
worship by a Picture the Image or Likeness of God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost whether thus bowing or worshiping God through the Work of Man's hands be not the highest kind of Idolatry and contrary to God's Commandment in the Old Law and much more contrary to the New which is to worship God in the Spirit of Truth only Allelujah I pray was it not after the Apostacy came in that Men built Churches calling them the House of God the Church and Temple of God and worshipping God in these Temples made with hands after the Old Law and in such outward Observations as Man invented prescribed and imposed in which God is not found nor is an outward thing made by Man the place of his Habitation read Acts 7.48 But it fareth with false Christians in the Apostacy as it did with false Jews in the Prophet Hosea's Time read Hos 8.14 when Israel had forgotten his Maker they built Temples thinking to please God in so doing as Christians do But God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands the true Temple wherein God is pleased to dwell is the sanctified Heart as you may read John 17.21 Isa 66.2 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 21.3 1 John 4.13 And as your Translation hath it John 1.14 The Word was made Flesh and dwelt in us Such are the only true Church of God in whom Christ dwelleth bodily who hath now as ever he had a Spiritual Body and makes the Saints by a new Birth even in this World such as he is in Heaven read 1 John 4.17 Allelujah And when came in Prayers in an unknown Tongue I confess a Zeal there may be in such Service but without knowledg of what men want or ask or feeling of God's Presence or Faith in what they ask nor can there be a hope of Return or Answer from God so that such Prayers are altogether vain and fruitless no better than what the Heathens make that know not God being prescribed as yours are by their Priests and Teachers A Worship invented by Man wanting the assistance of God's Spirit can never find acceptance with God for unless our Prayers proceed from a true repentant Heart from a new Heart and a right Spirit which God giveth every Man to profit with that truly desires to forsake Sin and to have Sin pardoned all other Prayers prevail nothing with God though never so many out of custom or never so good words prescribed by Man proceeding from an unregenerate Heart not born again of the Spirt of Love to Truth and Righteousness as Lord have Mercy upon us or Christ have Mercy upon us or never so many Pater Nosters or Ave Maries c. I say all such Prayers not proceeding from the Spirit are accounted by God vain Repetitions which he abhors and he accepts no other Prayers but what proceeds from his own Spirit of Grace such he accepts knowing the meaning of the Spirit though uttered by a Sigh or a Groan Allelujah And when came in Holy Water hallowing material Churches Baptizing of Bells with many other such-like Jewish and Heathenish Observations came not these in with the Apostacy for in the beginning when God's Holy Spirit was the Teacher Leader and Sanctifier of the Faithful it was not so And had not you these from the Jews or from the Heathens for among true Christians the Worship stood not in such outward beggarly Rudiments but in the Spirit of Truth the Law in the Heart the New Covenant which circumciseth and purifieth the Heart Allelujah Read John 4.21 23 24. And did not the Name of Most Holy Father the Pope Christ's Vicar Peter's Successor Vniversal Bishop and Peter's Person the Rook whereon you say Christ's Church is built came not these in with the Apostacy And did not the Apostacy create Lord-Bishops Priests and Deacons made by a carnal Ordinance of Man and not by the Holy Ghost as all the Ministers of Christ ever were And when came in forbidding to Marry and shutting up in Monasteries and Nunneries that they should not Marry And were it not better to marry and live chast with a Wife than to burn in Lust as I have bin credibly informed by some Merchants that lived in Portugal who had such devout Nuns to be their Mistresses as acted those abominable things both by way of writing and sending Signs and Tokens of their burning Lusts to their Lovers as is not fit to be once named among Christians And have you not read in Histories how that the Pope's Legat sent into England against married Priests was himself taken in Bed with a Harlot And is it not better and a less sin to marry than to live in Whoredom which destroys both Body and Soul as it is written Prov. 23.27 Ephes 5.5 Heb. 13.4 Rev. 21.8 22.15 Also that abundance of Sculls and Bones of new-born Children have bin found in the Motes and Ditches belonging to Nunneries when cleansed And is it not therefore as St. Paul saith the Doctrine of Devils that preacheth Marriage which is an Ordinance of God and one of your Sacraments to be sinful and are not such Doctors and Teachers think you guilty of the Abominations committed in those Nunneries and polluting of their Neighbour's Marriage-Bed by Monks and Friars c. And when came in the Infallibility of the Pope came it not in with the Apostacy And why may not the Pope be as fallible and fall as Peter did by savouring the Things of Man more than the Revelations of God And I have read in Histories that there have bin many wicked Popes and sometimes no Pope in Rome at all and at other times three Anti-Popes one against the other endeavouring to murther and destroy each other And did not St. Cyprian and Pope Stephen excommunicate each other And I pray was not the Church of Rome without a Head when there was no Pope as oft it hapned in several Intervals as in Anno 1243. Anno 1272. and Anno 1316. And a Church without a Head cannot be Christ's Church nor can any Man save the New Man that is born of the Spirit be Head of Christ's Church whose Members are made of Living Stones Elect and Pretious And how can that Body live and subsist that is without a Head And if the Church of Rome have a wicked Pope as oft it hapned for their Head that cannot be Christ's Church for the Head of Christ's Church and his Members the New Man in the Saints are all Pure Holy and Righteous even as God the Father is Pure Holy and Righteous and such a Head and Members as are not Holy and Pure is the False Church the Body of Antichrist the Synagogue of Satan and Children of their Father the Devil whose Works they do who is their Head and governs them And when came in Man's making of Saints visiting and worshipping their Tombs their Reliques and Shrines such as Thomas of Becket Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who was a great Champion for the Clergie the
outward Observations consist the many Antichrists St. John saw who said You have heard that Antichrist should come and now are there many Antichrists Even all Man's Prescriptions and Impositions not being the Spirit 's teachings are Antichrists the many false Spirits which do not feed but devour the Flock of Christ by bringing in the Old Law and other beggarly Rudiments and Inventions of Man's Wisdom which is the Whore and false Prophet which serves to no other end than to raze out the Revelation of God in the Consciences of Men to crucifie the Lord of Life the Spirit of Christ in resisting his Spirit of Grace and speaking evil of the Spirit which is the highest Blasphemy not to be forgiven in this World nor in the World to come Allelujah Thus the Universal Church of Rome may know by examining themselves whether they are in the Apostacy in the fall with Peter or whether they are in the Restoration with Peter when the Church of Rome was so renowned and guided by the Spirit and Revelation of God Or whether led by Traditions Prescriptions and Impositions of Man and as the Universal Church of Rome may know whether they are built on Christ the Rock Peter's Faith that never failed or on Peter's Person that so easily fell against which the Gates of Hell prevailed even so may every individual Person in the Church of Rome know whether they be in the true Faith of Christ or in the false Faith for the true Faith worketh by Love purifieth the Heart and destroys the Works of the Devil in Men it worketh Miracles it removeth Mountains of Sin crucifieth the Flesh with its Deeds and raiseth the Soul dead in Trespasses and Sins out of the Grave enabling the Soul to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Thus wonderfully doth Faith in Christ the Gift of God work in every one that truly believes Read Acts 15.9 Mat. 17.20 Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.9 Heb. 12.2 Mark 16.17 1 John 3.8 Allelujah By this time your selves may answer Dr. Bayley's Challenge who saith The Church of Rome was once an excellent flourishing Mother-Church This Church saith he could not cease to be such but she must fall either by Apostacy Heresy or Schism To which I answer Christ's Church in Jerusalem and in Antioch were Mother-Churches before Rome and in Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippe Colosse Thessalonica and the Church among the Hebrews were all flourishing Christian Churches but now not visible as to Man's Eye And how was Rome the Mother-Church whilst the Popes kept their Residence in Avignon for seventy Years together Nevertheless God knoweth who are his amongst them all for as St. Peter saith Acts 10.34 All of every Nation Sect and People those that fear God and work Righteousness are accepted with him whether Jews or Gentiles Barbarians or Scythians they are all one in Christ the Truth they that walk in the Truth walk in Christ Jesus and such the Truth makes freely accepted with God Allelujah Though I take not upon me to know Whether the present Church of Rome are Members of Christ's Body whereof himself the Spirit of the Father is only Head or the Synagogue of Satan the Children of the Devil their Father in whom he rules and guides who do his Work Yet this I declare That every one in themselves may perfectly know whether they belong to the True or False Church to God or the Devil If you do but examine your selves Whether Christ the Word in the Heart the Revelation of God by the Spirit of Truth the Light of Christ his Spirit of Grace be Head in you leading you into Truth and Righteousness bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit which Fruits are evident read Gal. 5.22 Ephes 5.9 Or whether the Spirit of Satan be Head leading into Lying Swearing Whoredom Fornication Adultery Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Hatred Variance Wrath Strife Pride Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers Drunkenness Revilings and such like Now your own selves every one in particular know these things to be Fruits of the Flesh proceeding from Man in the Fall unregenerate and are Earthly Sensual and Devilish And know ye not to whom you yield your selves Servants to obey his Servants ye are whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience to Righteousness also that the Wages of Sin is the death of the Soul and he that soweth to the Flesh shall reap Corruption for if ye live after the Flesh your Souls shall die but if through the Spirit you mortify the Deeds of the Flesh you shall live Finally my Brethren whether the Spirit of God that revealed to Peter the Things of God be Head in you or the Spirit of Satan which Ied Peter into the Fall into the Schism into Heresy into the Apostacy be Head which Spirit is the Spirit of Antichrist the which exalts many Inventions his Prescriptions and Traditions above the Inspiration and Revelation of God So try your selves examine your selves Know you not your own selves that unless Christ the Spirit of the Father be in you you are Reprobates as concerning the true Faith and cannot think a good Thought much less work a good Work and that it is he by his Spirit of Grace which is given to every one to profit withal that works all good in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure as it is written Phil. 2.13 Isa 26.12 Rom. 8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 12.7 2 Cor. 10 11. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Gal. 5.16.22 13.5 And whether the Court of Rome hath not used as much worldly Policy to obtain Soveraignty and Dominion in the Earth as any Earthly Prince whatsoever he that will resolve this Question let him read the History of the Council of Trent and other French Histories written by Members of the Gallical Church And whether with their good Words and fair Speeches they have not got into the Hearts and Consciences of simple People perswading them to believe the Pope to be Head of the Church and Vicar of Christ And when the Net hath thus catched and brought into this Faith is it not easy to make Merchandice of such Souls and also to command their Bodies and Purses who believe Peter's Key can open and shut Heaven when and to whomsoever Peter's Vicar and Successor pleaseth And what hath thus bin got by Peter's Net hath it not bin kept and added to by Man's Carnal Weapons which are not the Weapons of Christ nor of his Apostles nor Followers read 2 Cor. 10.4 John 18.36 as by woful experience many Emperors Kings and Princes in Europe have found to their great loss both of Blood and Treasure in pursuing and subduing the Waldenses and Albigenses Excommunicated An. 1250 and in acting against John Husse Jerome of Prague John Wickliff and Sir John Oldcastle as also against the Protestants in Germany Holland and Flanders with those Massacred at Paris by the then called Holy League and since by the inhumane Massacre in Ireland 1640 even against all those that have adventured
second and third Rule of Perfection and his Idiot with others of the like Divine Nature all tending to a Holy Life by virtue of Christ's Holy Spirit in us the only way to Life and Salvation Allelujah I have also read many Divine Works writ by H. N. Jacob Behm John Saltmarsh Dr. Everard William Sedgwick William Erbery Dr. Gill Dr. Taylor with others that were inspired of God and spake of the second Coming of Chrit in the Sanctified and of that blessed Day which should attend his Appearance Allelujah I have also read with much delight two Books writ by J. N. called Love to the Lost and A Salutation to the Seed of God in all Also one small Book writ by John Perrot entituled An Epistle for the most pure Amity and Vnity in the Spirit and Life of God to all sincere-hearted Souls I have likewise lately read some Prophecies and Predictions of that Holy Learned Man James Vsher Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh who through Inspiration of God's Spirit spake of many things which long after came to pass that which is to me most remarkable in that Sheet of Paper is that he being intreated to write in brief of Justification and Sanctification desired he might be excused notwithstanding the Person soliciting through importunity obtained a promise A while after his Promise being claimed he replied He had not writ yet could not charge himself with breach of Promise for said he I did begin to write but when I came to write of Sanctification that is of the New Creature which God formeth by his Spirit in every Soul which he doth truly regenerate I found so little wrought of it in my self that I could speak of it only as a Parrot by rote without knowledg and understanding and therefore durst not proceed any further upon it Adding I must tell you we do not well understand what Sanctification and the New Birth is It is no less than for a Man to be brought to an entire Resignation of his own Will to the Will of God and to live in the offering up of his Soul continually in the flames of Love as a holy burnt Offering to Christ And how little says he are many of those that profess Christianity experimentally acquainted with this Work of Regeneration in their Souls Moreover he desires his Friend to look he be not found a Worshipper in the outward Court which outward Court says he is the formal Christian whose Religion lies in performing the out-side Duties of Christianity without having an inward Life and Power of Faith and Love uniting them to Christ and these God will leave to be trodden down and swept away by the Gentiles the Prophane that call themselves Christians but are the Synagogue of Satan The Worshippers within the Temple and before the Altar are those that do worship God in Spirit and in Truth whose Souls are made his Temples and he is honoured and adored in the most inward Thoughts of their Hearts and they Sacrifice their Lusts and vile Affections yea and their own Wills to him and these God will hide in the hollow of his Hand and under the shadow of his Wings and shall be preserved as a Seed to partake of that Glory which shall immediately follow I have also lately read two Treatises writ by Sir Henry Vane First An Epistle General to the Mystical Body of Christ on Earth the Church Vniversal in Babylon The second The Face of the Times Wherein he well discovers the Rise Progress and Issue of the Enmity and Contest between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent He saith That till the Seventh Trump sound 1666 the Woman's Seed must suffer afterwards the Seed of the Woman being risen with Christ must reign with him and then the Head of the Serpent should be bruised He speaketh most excellently of the first and second Covenant and of a single and double Portion of the Spirit of Regeneration and Restoration into the first Estate in Paradise which may fall also of the New Creation or Second Birth the Seed of God in Man which endures and never will nor ever can fall Hallelujah He saith The Quakers Principle is To restore out of the Fall into the first State who though they are Angels yet may fall He shews how Angels fell who through pride oppose all higher Lights than themselves and that such fallen Angels become the greatest Enemies to the Birth of Christ in the Saints which Spirit is the great Antichrist the Old Serpent the Devil that is to be cast into the Bottomless-Pit with all his Angels who outwardly appear as Angels of Light but inwardly they devour the Innocent This I have seen to be a Truth in the bitter contests betwixt G. F. and his Angels and the self-denying humble meek Spirit that was in J. N. and J. P. and those that suffered with them for bearing their Testimony to Christ in the Saints which is the last the most glorious and highest Dispensation as saith Sir H. V. now at the very Doors a Truth which many can Witness He further saith The Lamb will overcome by Sufferings and that the first sign of Christ's second Coming is distress of Nations that the Potsherds of the Earth dashing one against the other wil lmake way for Christ's Reign in which War none but Hypocrites and Apostates which make the outward Court will suffer whilst God's People will be preserved in Peace and Safety Sir H. V. also saith The Holy City and Temple measured are Saints in Power That the Woman clothed with the Sun is Christ's dead Body raised Vrim and Thummim he saith are the two great Lights Righteousness and Truth when they meet in our Hearts It is he saith a fickle and foolish Religion that depends on the Magistrates Power either to set up or pull down That Believers Rewards in Sufferings is inward Peace and Joy in a serene quiet Mind He was also in his day a great Prophet he saith Israel's Captivity is near an end at which time the Sons of God shall be made manifest so soon as that is come there will need little other help than the Grave it self to cast them forth as the Womb doth the Fruit then shall you know the Lord is God when he hath opened and brought you up out of your Graves such will the Lord own visibly for his People by putting his wonderful Spirit in them and then will God's Indignation be poured out upon his Enemies That the Nation that hath kept the Seed of God in Bondage himself God will judg more signally than he did Pharaoh and the Egyptians in this day shall the Tabernacle of God in Men be visible He also saith Doubtless great and precious Promises are to be accomplished in and upon Believers here on Earth to the making of Christ admired in them That this dark Night and black Shade that God hath drawn over his work in the midst of us may be the Ground Colour to some beautiful Piece