your selves above your brethren for that came in by the devil and perfection is hid from it and all that live therein nither can it be bought or sold nor procured with all the industry of man Only such obtain it who wait in the light till they receive the free gift of rigteousness and be indued with power from above Not they who heare a thing in the notion and then declare it nor who see a work done and go do the like for none was more like to have been able ministers then the Apostles in this who had seen the mighty works of Christ and heard him and his doctrine but these were not fit for perfecting the Saints till they had received the same Spirit from above Therefore was they commanded to wait at Jerusalem till therewith they was indued and then they was made able ministers not of the letter but of the spirit and their testament in the spirit not old in the letter for that of the letter kills but the Spirit perfects And so all that ever beare the testament in spirit preach and beleive perfection but that testimony of the letter being without cannot perfect the comers thereto for the light faith hope love patience c. are gifts Spiritually given for perfecting and cannot be had any other way but in spirit freely given and freely received which gifts you know not nor the effect of them who are in the literal ministration but in your vain imaginations and comprehensions are Judging you know not what And limitting the spirituall covenant of God to the literall and because you who are in the letter searching with your witt can find no perfection therefore you will judge the spirituall covenant also That so the devill may for ever keep people from the coming in of the better hope for if the first covenant made nothing perfect nor the second neither what hope is there for people seeing no imperfection can enter into the kingdom of heaven Concerning Government or Magistracy THere is no just government but what is of God and in whomsoever he having called them placeth his power and authority which is just and righteous received in the light and from the anointing of Jesus and the subjection to his spiritual power in the soul whom the Father hath appointed King and Governour of all things in heaven and in earth And none can deserve the name of Christian governors but who by him are governed and do receive his authority with subjection thereunto in Spirit Therefore saith the Apostle Let every soul be subject to the higher power And he that will rule for God must first see that his own soul be subject to the higher power must know one higher then hee and so himselfe coming under that power then with that power authority upon him he goes forth to rule with God for God and having set up his Kingdom in his heart he goes to make way that his Kingdom may be set up in others that all may bow to his authority wherewith he is anointed from above and to which he is become subject for conscience sake And so his government being according to that in every conscience every one that minds that in the conscience shall witnesse him and his government to be of God and so he that resists shall receive to himselfe damnation witnessed by that in the conscience and all who own not that in the conscience which is pure to obey the Lord therein the sword of the Lord in the hand of his Minister shall be upon such and that of God to which he is subject even the anointing he hath received shall instruct him in the Spirit of meekenesse wisdome and judgment to find out the transgressor and lay the sword upon him and such shall not beare the sword in vaine but a terror to the evil doer shall be without respect to the persons of men or any other thing but onely to the law of God which is one with that in the conscience So is Christ honoured as Lawgiver and Judge and King and with this honour he honoureth such Rulers in the consciences of all his people and before all the world and though the world knows not the authority of such nor from whom they have it yet all that feare God doe and are made to confesse them before God and man and so Isay was made to confesse to Cyrus whom others counted a Heathen for it is the authority in the person that is honourable where ever it is placed so Moses was dreadfull in this authority though otherwise but a shepheard and the meekest man in the world and Samuel a poore man yet this authority made the Elders of Bethlem to tremble at his coming when they heard thereof Nay it is too much to instance in particulars for all that ever honoured God in this he honoured them whose names are a blessing to this day and their memoriall shall not rott for when such raignes the people rejoyce that delights in righteousnesse the just are bold and righteousnesse flourishes in the open streets and wickednesse is ashamed and is hid and the innocent clap their hands for joy that the Lord raignes and their governors are of themselves When Christ rules all in all then he makes his Officers peace and his exactors righteousnesse But if it be said Must not men own wicked Majestrates I say they are to be owned and obeyed in all things as they are appointed by God for God limits them and hath set bounds to them though they know it not and so far as they command the will of God they are to be obeyed for conscience sake but when they are contrary to God and command that which God forbids and forbid what he commands then God is to be obeyed and man denyed for Consciencesake for none can be obeyed for conscience sake who commands that which is contrary to that of God in the conscience though many do deny the Lord and conforme to such yet who are guided by the Spirit of God which keeps the conscience cleane never could but in all ages have suffered violence from such to keepe their consciences void of offence for so it must be when rulers themselves deny obedience to God in Spirit then all who walk after the Spirit must needs suffer by them And here is the ground of all persecution that ever was when governors are out of the feare of God and stand in their owne wills and walke after the flesh then that seed rules which persecutes him that is borne after the Spirit and so the enmity getting up snares are laid for the innocent to make him an offender for a word who is none indeed And from this ground have the Lambes beene devoured always as evill doers but ever innocent yet never wanting accusations as Heretickes Ring-leaders of Sects and Seditions Blasphemers and the like that so the Devill may the more blind the world least they should see his envie and their innocency
without action no more Jeames 2. 18. can faith in Christ without righteousnesse these are inseparable Rom. 10 6. 10. therefore it s called the righteousnesse of faith where the heart believes unto righteousnesse there the mouth confesseth to salvation without hypocrisie of selfe righteousnesse And so Gods righteousnesse is received in the heart by faith and by obedience thereto brought forth into the world a witnesse against all the unrighteousnesse of the world and so the righteousnesse of God is preached through faith in all whose faith stands in Christ Jesus but that is a dead faith which brings not forth the life of Christ into the 1 Tim. 6. 10. 21. world and that 's the reprobate faith which is to the good worke reprobate and he that errs from the righteousnesse errs from the faith also which is held in a pure conscience and he that makes shipwrack of a good conscience and puts that away makes shipwrack of faith also And in the eternall light is all your faith seene and judged to be without Christ and without foundation who are out of the light and out of the life And your Faith is seen to be the same with the Scribes and Pharisees who believed the Scriptures and thought to find life therein but did not believe in the Light and so would not come to Christ that they might have life So all your Faith which is out of the Light which from the Letter you have formed is a Faith set up in your own Wills and not that which is given of God For that Faith that is the gift of God believes in the Light and follows it and so leads to the Life and this Faith that stands in the Light and Life is the living Faith and never without Works which Works are Love Meeknesse Patience Mortification Sanctification Justification c. the Works of God in Christ Jesus in which Gods Workmanship is seen in the new Creation received in the Faith and in the obedience to which the Soul is purified and Victory witnessed over the World Sinne and Death But you who believe not in the Light are Enemies to this Faith and yet you get the Words of the Scripture given forth from the Light and so your Faith stands in the Wisdome of words into which you have been searching with your wisdome but not in the power of God and his Work so you are they who say and do not whose practice could never suit your Profession Concerning Hope HOpe is a gift of God and is pure and stands in that which is pure shewing that purity of God and his righteousness Rom. 4. 8. in Christ Jesus the beholding whereof stayes the soul Rom. 5. 4 5 from Joyning to the wicked one when he tempteth because 2 Joh. 3. 2 3 he sees in the light a better worke to serve so that untill the time of that work being manifest the hope is as an Anchor to stay from following the unclean one and so keeps out of the sin and so makes not ashamed even in the time of want it hopes against 2 Tim. 1. 1â— hope When that life of Christ is not yet seen in its full power yet it is evidenced in the hope which is wrought in the patience experience 1 Pet. 1. 1â— 12 1â— whereby the love appeares and the faith workes whereby Gods righteousnes is revealed and the Son is seen who is the redeemer and he that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure And this is that hope that enters within the vail into the holy place where the life and immortality is brought to light which the mortall eye nor carnall senses cannot approach to and this is the living hope which hopes to the end That Christ and his righteousness may be revealed to take away sin and save from it and out of it and in hope of this the Children and babes of Christ wait in the obedience of the Spirit not fashioning themselves after the lusts of ignorance but as he who hath called to that hope is holy so in his holiness is their conversation who are in his hope But the Devill hath begotten an other hope as like this as may be in his servants who beleive him and are acted by his Spirit which stands in an other ground and brings forth an other fruit And that is That though they be servants to sin for that must be Concluded in all his Covenants and graces yet there is hopes of salvation and such hopes as may not be Judged false nor questioned although the witness of God in the conscience doth testifie to the contrary yet it must not be heeded lest they be deluded So that where he is become teacher â— Cor. 1. 12 a tender conscience to is be resisted as the greatest Error and foolery in the world and that To wait for the testimony or witness within is to deny Christ at Jerusalem and the greatest blasphemy that can be spoken of and to wait for that mystery that hath been hid from ages to wit Christ Col. 2. 17. within the hope of glory is to deny the person of Christ and his blood and sufferings And many such imaginations hath he begott in peoples brains to scare them from â—â—inding the light of Christ within that so he may Ephe. 4. 18. 19. keep the heart in darkness and his seat there undiscovered So he sets them to look for the kingdom of Christ without them and a spirit without and a light without and a word without and righteousness without and in that to hope while he dwells in the heart and there in darkness Luke 17. 21. upholds his kingdom of sin and seat of unrighteousness all their life and feeds them with a hope after they be dead by a profession without power Gal. 4. 6. and life and spirit and truth in them to order them and their Conversation 2 Cor. 4. 6 a right towards God and man in their generation Psal 119. 11. and this is the hope of the hypocrite that must perish in the end and come short of salvation whose hope is not in God nor gives being Rom. 10. 8 in his righteousness but he hath a hope and lives in the world without 2 Cor. 5. 21. God and his hope And this is not the hope of Christ which lives in sin and hopes for salvation but this is his hope that hopes to freedom Rom. 1. 17. and perfection which never comes short of its end in all that Iob 17. 8. wait in it and this hope only is it that maketh not ashamed But you Ephe. 7. 17. may be ashamed of your hope who are found in your sins and Hab. 7. 19. encouraging your selves therein that you shall not dye That 's the Devils hope which hopes not freedome from sinne as much as freedome from Hell And with this hope would he make God a Lyar and partial like himself that
but could not obtain it And in this state came Nicodemus to Christ but could not enter into the Kingdom in that state nor knew the new Birth though he loved Christ and believed him to be sent of God And this is that state David speaks of when he saith If I regard iniquity God will not hear my prayer And in this state you all are who are worshipping in your carnal minds and sensual wisdome in the flesh But that which is born of the Heavenly is Heavenly Spiritual Eternal and incorruptible which is the state of the New man which of God is begotten of the Divine Nature and as is his Nature so is his Works and so his delights are Spiritual as he is Spiritual for as is the Man so are his Works and as is the Tree so is his Fruit and so he that is born of this Seed is born of God and he that is born of God sins not in whom that Seed remains And all who remain in this Seed and it in them this hath the Promise and Power that puts off the Old Man with his Deeds Lusts and Affections and so the body of sinne being put off through the body of Christ the Redemption is witnessed and as the Creature passeth from the Old to the New so they passe from the Death to the Life for the life is in the new and so the victory is received in the new over sinne the grave and hell which the Worlds Birth talkes of in their fallen Nature but cannot receive the Power and Victory whereby to enter into that Kingdome nor see the glory of it and so takes up their rest and delights in visible things and so encumbers themselves with that the end whereof is destruction which those who are born of the spirit tread upon and cannot set their mindes upon nor bow unto nor be conformable to such vanities And so those who are of the heavenly cannot have communion with the earthly they being contrary minded in all things So that which is wisdom to the one is foolishnesse to the other and ever was So the Spirituall seed could never worship the heathen Gods nor can it bow to their imaginations for that seed which is of God leads the heart upto God and that which is of the earth to earthly things and so those that are the children of God are lead by his spirit of which they are born and the children of this world by the Spirit of this world are Captivated into the worlds wayes and fashions and love of it wherein is the Serpents seate and kingdom in which he rules and wherein his power is seen in all who are disobedient to the light of Christ the new man so being given up because of the blindnesse of their hearts to his power which is alwayes in the dark in such he brings forth his enmity against the babes of God born after the Spirit children of the light of the immortal seed who bear the image of the invisible God and have the Spirituall worship into which they are led and guided with the eternal spirit of which they are born which can no longer stay in any form of worship then God stayes therein but by his Spirit is led to follow him into whatever he goes and out of what ever he departs which those who are born after the flesh and see but the out-side and form and there abides when God is departed such are the seat of Satan become where he sitts and persecutes such as follow the Spirits teaching into its several ministrations And therein hath the serpent beguiled the creature by getting into somewhat of the form once used with the Saints whilst God dwelt therein and to that adds inventions of his own called Decency and Order and the like and with this hath deceived the creatures so as to serve his ends to shed the blood of their bretheren under a pretence of error and blasphemy and denying Ordinances and worships and as being leaders of dangerous Sects and Heresies denying government turning the world upside down and the like So that the childreu of light have been ever numbred amongst transgressors but were never so further then to transgresse the wills of men to observe the will of God yet none of these did ever suffer as well-doers in the worlds accompt but as not worthy to live in the world being born of a principle above the world which the natural man knows not So he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the spirit as it is at this day thinking they do God service because they know not the Father nor the Son but live in darknesse nor owning that whereof the children of light is born so becomes their enemies And this is your state who resist that measure of light that shines in your dark hearts that shews your evil deeds So being against the light of the Spirit you are enimies to all who of that Spirit are born And so farr as you see the ground root of your disobedience to the light in your selves that reproves of sin so farr you may see the ground of your emnity and no farther And untill you joyn to that light you cannot be one with that seed but hate it for that which is born of the will of the flesh is emnity to that which is born of the will of God and that which is born of God is emnity with the world and conformity to it And with the light are you Judged to be of the flesh who love the things of the flesh and minde them and who conform to this world are of it what ever you professe to the contrary the light will find you out which light leads above all these things up to the Father of light which light is one with all who are born of the Spirit but a witnesse against you who are born of the flesh So they that are in the flesh cannot please God that in your conscience is witness the light which is condemnation But who is born of the Spirit with such he is well pleased the testimony of their conscience bearing them witnesse in the sight of God that they are his Children and born of him and their envy and reproch and suffering from the world for testifing against the deeds thereof are as a cloud of witnesses that they are not of it for it loves its own and so the enmity is seene put betweene the seeds that of the Serpent seeks a word or a forme without whereby to murther and destroy the creature that God hath made under a pretence of serving God but the seed of God strikes at the head of that enmity and roote of sin but saves the work of God alive Concerning the Baptism of Christ from that the world so calls IN the world there be many forts and forms of Baptismes but in Christ there is but one and that is that of the Spirit and this is the Baptisme of Christ and all
that are baptised with it are baptised into his death buried with him unto the world its wayes and worships loves and freindships and to all that in them is which would conforme or bow thereto and through this death is the seed of God raised up out of the grave quickned by the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead And all that are Baptised with this Spirit and the old Man dead and buried they are raised a spiritual seed unto God holy and zealous of good works being begotten againe of another nature from above which is but one and all as they are baptized herein grow into one in God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and so the Saints were all baptised by one Spirit into one body out of that nature in which all differences are Sects and opinions and so come to put on Christ which is but one for as many as are baptised unto Christ have put on Christ and his mind and affection and such know a further prize then contentions about Elements of the world or washings without neither do they stand laying againe such foundations as stands in times and seasons and customs and persons as all the world is contending about who are in the many Baptismes and many fashions some contending for sprinkling Infants â—ome for dipping them some for sprinkling them over againe and some for dipping them over againe when they are growne to such a confusion in outward words and many other outward Ceremonies they keepe themselves disputing and jangling about from the letter in an imitation of Johas Ministry calling it the Baptisme of Christ but out of the Spirit and power of Christ or John either yea so farre from the power as not come to the forme of either And this effect this hath taken in all who are gone out into the world in these imitations and imaginations that so many Baptismes so many Religions and Sects and every Sect Master and his followers set themselves against all other in the way they have conceived to be right and to that way must all bow or else no agreement though never so neare in other things nay so zealous they are for their Likenesse that if any come not into it though the Spirit of God be in them and they themselves confesse it yet he must not speake in that creature in their Churches without bowing to their formes of water which are all different one from another though the Spirit of God be but one and cannot be limitted to any visible forme or rudiment And thus the form is set above the power and not the true form neither but as men have conceived from the letter by the Counsels of their own braine some in the Popish Councels some since but none from the Mouth of the Lord and therefore they are scattered in their imaginations and baptismes But who are baptised with the baptisme of the Spirit are baptized into one body But all that are without who are the nearest are in the error not knowing the Scripture nor power of God herein For all who have not their law guide and rule in Spirit are in that generation who have erred and lost the Saints guide and such are scattered with what they from the letter imagine into divisions And this was that which Paul saw getting in amongst the Churches in 1 Cor. 14. 17. his time setting up sects and the persons by whom they were baptised puft up for them and against the other Apostles some of Paul some of Peter c. Which Paul seeing thanks God he had baptized no more of them and plainly saies Christ sent him not to baptize but to Which clearly shows it was not laid on the Apostles as of necessity but as they found it of service or disservice preach the Gospel though he could use it untill he saw them make an Idoll of it thereby to make devisions and parties and to puffe up one above another as it is now used at this day yea farre more for it is now made the key to let in and shut out of that they call a Church yea further some say none can be saved without it but all that have it are belâ—evers and shall be saved and so set it in the place of Christ But others are more moderate who finding it practised in the Letter they say it is an ordinance and they who practise it not deny an ordinance of Christ To such I say all that is in the letter is not ordained there to be taken up by all that read it for the Saints had their call to their particular Ministrations in Spirit and not in Letter for else they had not witnessed differences of administrations but the same Lord But by the Spirit they were led from carnall administrations and through them not sticking in the Letter What letter had Paul to deny Circumcision which the letter said should be as a signe for ever Or by what letter did he deny Baptisme Did he deny an Ordinance of Christ in either of these divers more rudiments which were commands in the letter which he preached practise in Spirit putting an end to the shadow of things to come and leading to the body as is plaine Col. 2. Further I say if it were so that all that was done in the letter was to be taken up then the forme thereof must not be changed if the letter be the rule But not any that I know at this day that are in the forme as the Saints did it for none practised this but who was called out to teach all Nations So you that have your certaine dwelling places and live in your worldly estates and fashions are out of this Call Neither did they take such into the outward washing who had beene there before but baptised such into the name of Christ Jesus with the Spirit that they might receive the holy Ghost But if you say they had it not in right forme and manner nor by persons rightly called and qualified c I say Nor can they have that from you who are not called out of the world but live in its friendship professions fashions and customs in which the Saints never lived after they were called to teach and baptize So you do but add another false forme to that they had before but still out of the power nor any change of faith or qualification onely in that thing of Water over againe differing in some circumstances as you have conceived from the letter but still with the rest of professions in Covetousnesse Pride and Contention vaine words and heathenish customes and manners of the Nations in which you live you that can live in Suites and revenge you that sweare at mens wills and so deny the commands of Christ and his Apostles whosaies Above all things sweare not at all you that can uphold the high places of Popery which yet remaine in the land and such a worship therein as Christ never commanded with tythes and
offerings and all the rest of Popish inventions whereby Christ is denyed comne in the flesh the everlasting Preist and somthing set up instead of his way like unto the Jewish Preisthood which is not it neither but an imagined thing from men of corrupt minds c You who can do these things and much more of that Nature rather then you will suffer the losse of all things you are farre unlike those you would imitate or those they baptised And were baptisme in your manner as great a crosse to you now as it was in the time of the persecuting Jews or as these other weightier things are now we should find few to contend for it as for the other things For did you know the right ends of that ministration of water you would know that it was a forerunner of Christs Kingdom and a witnesse to all men that the Jews Ceremonies and Heathenish prayers and worships wherein they was growne into divisions was to have an end and the spirituall ministration and baptisme was to be set up in the downfall of Carnall Ordinances and Elements of all which they were to repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand even within all that would beleive it who did deny all the Jews worships circumcisions and ordinances without in the letter and preached them and practised them in Spirit but your baptisms which comes not to an end of tythes and offerings and Jewish Ceremonies and Gentiles also that baptisme we deny for herein was the crosse of Christ and the Power of God manifest for they suffered for this all the envy that Jews and professors could do unto them who upheld the same in the letter but denied the power and Spirit which could they but have bowed to their ceremonies outward the crosse of Christ had ceased and then the power of Christ had ceased also and the same is now seene of you at this day and the same crosse For could but those whom Christ hath called out now bow to your severall forms of baptismes and worships of you that be zealous for them and bow to mens wills and worship the persons of such as are zealous for their Pride and wilfulnesse we should not suffer by you but the offence of the crosse would cease as it is ceased to all who preach Baptismes Carnall Ordinances respect of persons conformity to mens wills and the worlds customes and manners who preach up pride swearing and imperfection and sin for terme of life c. I say to you who can conforme to the wayes of men and please them the Crosse of Christ is ceased and so the power also and therefore are you ever preaching against the worlds wayes and wickednesse but never able to lead out of them like those who minded earthly things who were enemies to the Crosse of Christ ever learning and teaching but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth that makes free to those the Crosse and sufferings is ceased and they and the Powers of the Earth are one against such as take up the Crosse to follow Christ in the way of the Spirit and such being without in the letter are become spiritually blind and so cannot see that the appearance of Christ was ever crosse to all who was got into the rudiments pleading for out-sides but had lost the power wherein this generation exceeds having lost both power and forme also And to you I say of all sorts of baptismes as the Apostle said of circumcision We are the baptisme who worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh though we might have confidence in the outward washing being that we have had it from such as gathered it from the letter and yours is no more But this we have learned that it is not baptisme which is outward in the flesh but that is Baptism which is in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God whereby we are baptised by one Spirit into one body and as many as are baptised into Christ are baptised into his death and have put him on and are become new creatures and this is that which availeth to save us not the washing the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus And this baptisme we witnesse that whosoever is therewith baptised shall be saved but for other baptismes which men are contending about from the letter we see the end thereof and what they bring forth But if any should come in the power and Spirit of Johns baptism or if any had a Call from God thereto such we judge not nor gainsay but that any hath power from the letter to take up and impose it upon others yea though it was the true form that I deny or that they who are not sent to baptize that the leaving the outward water and going on to the Spiritual Baptism is a sleighting or contemning of an Ordinance of God that I deny also for this might as well have been charged against Paul who denyed it in his time and preached Baptisme in Spirit in its stead the same thing for which we are accused to deny an Ordinance of Christ whom he hath not sent to dip or sprinkle in water but to preach the Gospel of Light and Life and the Spiritual Baptism of Christ Jesus to the bringing all that receive our testimony into one body by one Spirit not making divisions about carnal things for to us the day is come and the shadows fly away And your Baptisme we judge and the end of it which hath not led you out of Tythes and Offerings Swearing Suing and Contention out of the Worlds Worships Manners and respects of Persons and to suffer the losse of all to witnesse Christ That Baptisme we see to be out of the Faith of Christ Jesus and not worth contending about for he that is in the world without it is as good as he that is in the world with it if not much better for that Baptisme which preaches not repentance to all the ways of faln-man and manners there set up is none of Johns and that which walks in the flesh is none of Christs So with the Light of Christ if you it mind you will see your selves out of the true Baptism both as to Matter Manner and the End who are crying up Ordinances in the World which leads not out of the world and when the world comes to Judgment that Baptism will not save you from the worlds portion But this I say to those who would knew the truth herein as we have received we do not despise any Ordinance of God which he hath called any of his people to in any Generation nor dare we take a Tradition upon us which God hath not required at our hands lest we keep people in that which God is departed out of and it be said to us who hath required it at your hands But God hath
And all his works are by the law condemned untill the Resurrection of the seed and the Image of God be witnessed and all things subdued to him who is the end of the Law by whom the fruits of the Spirit are brought forth against which there is no Law And so by his resurrection and the vetrue thereof that which is of God in the Conscience is answered And so the creature saved from the condemnation of the Law of God which respects no mans person But hath respect to his own seed where it is raised but condemns all where it lyes in death and where death raigns So the Law that layes hold upon all trangressors we witnesse to endure spirituall just and good Given forth against the first Man and his works good or bad as people calls them yea though he set himself to do the workes of the Law never so zealously yet a witnesse of condemnation the pure Law of God is against him in his conscience untill the promised seed be born which is not of the will of the first Man nor after the flesh but after the spirit after the will of God one with the Law and by his grace who shews the merry and glad tydings Now Israel after the flesh who received the law in the literall Ministration and the carnall ordinances of them was Christ to be born who was made of a woman under the law to redeeme them that was under the law if they did beleive Even so now Israel fater the Spirit who receive the law in the Spirituall ministration written in the heart such shall witnesse the Child Born of the Royall seed heir of the promise even of Gods righteousnesse for the fulfilling of the pure Law of God for that end given forth Whereof there are many witnesses at this day who have patiently waited in what God hath written in their hearts seen with the light of Christ Who have therein received the faith of the Gospel and the end of that faith even Gods righteousnesse revealed from faith to faith whereby the pure law of God is fulfilled in many and fulfilling in others who abide in their measures of faith which God hath dealt to them walking in the Light not after the flesh but after the Spirit And so by the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus see themselves set free from the law of sin and death And so witnesse the Gospel which you cannot do who cast the law of God and his Light behind your backs and in your vain minde say you are not under it in the day of tryal you will be found under the Condemnation thereof And that in every conscience shall witnesse thereto at that day Concerning Christ Jesus THis is He whom the world much talk of but few there be that know him though it be He by whom all things were made who is the Life of all Creatures the Beginning of all Creatures who was before all Creatures without Beginning of Dayes or End of Life a Priest for ever and a King of whose Dominion there is no end By him Kings reign and Dominions are cast down though they know him not where Self is standing who is hidden from the worlds wisdome and the depth of Prudence cannot find him out yet doth he reveal himself to such as walk in his light which is contrary to all the dark paths of the world nor can the will of man walk therein but who deny themselves that they may learn the way of the Lord to such he freely reveals his way for their return that he may bring them down from the seat of exaltation and make known to them their beginning and from whence they are digged that they may see him that bears up the pillars of the earth hath laid the foundation thereof who hath set the world in their hearts who stood not in his counsell so that they cannot find out the beginning nor the end of the work of God yet will vain man in that state be imagining touching him and from whence he had his beginning who is the Eternal Word before all time glorified in the Heavens with the Father who in time was manifest which Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the death that he might become a living Example to all Generations which no Creature could be the whole Creation being in the Fall and having finished the Work of Redemption given him of the Father to do and for which he was begotten he ascended far above all Heavens to prepare a place for all that follow him by Faith in his Light and that from thence all such as wait for him may see his appearance as a Saviour and onely such know him for their Redeemer who know him for their Judge and Law-giver who love him and keep his Commands to such he comes and the Father also and make their abode with him And this is He who is the Light of the world and lighteth every man that comes into the world who stands at the door and knocks and if any hear his voyce and open he will come in and sup with him and such know him and he knows them who hear his voyce by which they are quickned out of the trespasses and sins and the Seed of God raised out of death but where Death reigns Christ is rejected and the wisdome by which he should be known is foolishnesse So if you desire to know him who is not of this world but who is before the world was a Witnesse against all the worlds wayes and wickednesse then mind that light in you which thus witnesseth for as Christ is so is his light that leads to him for that which bears testimony against the world is not of the world even as he is not of the world and so leads out of the world to him who is not known in the world for the world by wisdome knows him not And as thou follows the light out of the world thou wilt come to see the seed which by the worlds wisdome and glory is crucified to which Seed are all the Promises and wherein is all the knowledge of God and Christ and as that Seed is raised therein is the Father revealed and his Power and God-head in his Son Jesus Christ which in him dwels and without him is not revealed but being known is Life Eternal and Eternal Power and Eternal Glory and Riches made manifest in the Light for as you know this Seed raised by the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the death so shall you see him to whom all power and judgment is committed in Heaven and Earth and for whom and by whom all things were made in Heaven and Earth of whom it is said When he bringeth his onely begotten Son into the world Let all the Angels worship
him who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire whose Flesh is the Life of Men and his Light is as a Law that goeth forth whereby man is led to his food and the sons of men sees out of darknesse and this is he who cannot be limitted nor his person restrained in one place who filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence and appeareth at his pleasure to his own though the wise of the world knows him not and therefore limit him above the stars who dwelleth in the bodies of his Saints but as for the Reprobates they know him not so who have put the good day farre from them and hate reproof that they may spend their days in folly and feed themselves with the wind and fill their hearts with carnal delights When the hearts of the Children of Light are established with grace yet these will be disputing about the body of Christ but the body of sinne rules in them whereby they are darkened and become Heart-blind past Ephe. 4. 18 19. feeling the measure of God whose hearts are over-charged with surfeiting and cares of the world and their minds corrupted with Earthly things To such I say Cease your imaginations as to find out what Christ is in that state for he alone reveals himself in Spirit to such as wait in the Light and love that which is pure to such his appearance is as the Sun whose Rising is not by the Will of Man but for his appearing all the World must wait to be refreshed with the Beams of his Glory and to all who are yet in the night shall he appear if you look towards the place of his Rising which is not Lo here Lo there but within you in your Luke 17. 21. hearts and all who are come to the sure Word of Prophesie as to a Light that shines in a dark place to which you do well to take heed til the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts you shall see the Sun arise where the day-starr appeares in your hearts if in the light you wait that shines in the darknesse and you shall feel the vertue and life of him and receive thereof to live in the same with him and you shall see him as he is and know him to be the Sun of Righteousnesse whose arising is with healing in his wings and whose breaking forth is upon all his enemies which over the seed hath raigned whose spirituall weapons are mighty through God to the palling down strongs holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself and having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled And thus the Saints know the Son with his Light his power and dominion over all things in Heaven and in Earth who rules in righteousnesse in the hearts of his people trampling down Satan under their feet which Son of God Hypocrites call Lord Lord but the Devill they serves and obey and though such have got the words of Lord and Christ and Jesus yet they know not his light his power his kingdom and dominion over sin and the Devill in them to set them free therefrom by his Light and life Nor his blood to wash them from their pollutions and to present them without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And so you have made the name of Christ a reproach among the Nations who call him a redeemer but lives in your sins So as such as professe not the syllables of Christ and Jesus even from a principle of God within them many of them become your Judges as to moderation faithfullnesse and honesty Nay it is manifest amongst you that the name of Jesus which gives the Saints victory over sin you know not Who have it in words and therewith make a cover for your sin your pride Lust and excesse What covetousnesse and all manner of unrighteousnesse is covered over which a profession of the Name of Christ which redeems from those things all that knows him For none knowes Jesus further then they know a Saviour from sin And not a cover for sin and live in it for the promise of the Father is He shall save his people from their sins And the Children of the promise knowes this to be so without a cover or meaning to live in sin And none knowes Christ but who knowes the anointing and such need no man to teach them but as the Anointing teacheth them all things that is true if they abide therein and there is noe lye in it But who sayes they know Christ and are redeemed and commits sin not keeping his commands is a lyer And so abides not in the truth and anointing And so is of the Devil and not of Christ for he that abides in Christ sins not For the Name of Jesus Christ is power over all sin as it is known and the creature baptized into it by faith So all that know Christ know the seed the promise the word of Life the covenant the Heritage the righteousnesse the Kingdom the power the glory which is not of this world and the Father of all which you that commits sin have not seen Neither can any say that Jesus is Lord but by the Spirit so you whose knowledge is without Another Lord ruleth within Concerning the Ministry of Christ THe Ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the World and contrary to the world contrary to their own wills and the wills of all flesh for such have the Word who are begotten of the word and such are begotten contrary to the will of man and through such came the Scriptures which came not by the will of man but by the Spirit and so are of no private interpretation nor are his ministers of any private Call but of himself who hath all creatures in his hand to chuse whom he will to go on his message nor would he ever send by whom the Kings of the earth did chuse nor the powers thereof but such as they called and set up without his Immediate call was ever the great enemies to such as he sent and this is evident in all the Scriptures and in all histories since that when ever the mystery of iniquity had spread over and darknesse had passed over his seed and his people had broken his covenant and lost his word then he in love to his people sent out some Immediately who had his word in them to bear witnesse to the Lord against all their blackslidings and self wayes and formall worships and to such the worlds ministers or rather masters was ever enemies and sought to stirr up the powers of men against them to devour them alwayes under the name of Blasphemers and hereticks destroyers of worship and peace-breakers and enemies to authority when they are but sent of God to testifie against their false worships and to break the peace of the