the Captives that are in Satans Bands That they may all upon these fore-mention'd Terms come to Enjoy Peace with God again and a Crown of Everlasting Life to their Souls when Dayes in this Life will have an End 2 Cor. 5.7 when all Crowns of Glory here below will fade away and never be enjoyed more Oh! then Happy will they be that have got an Habitation in God and an Inheritance that will never decay And God also by his holy Spirit makes Proclamation on the other hand That they that will not turn to him and lead a New Life but still Rebel against the Manifestations of his Light and the Strivings of his good Spirit in their own Hearts and Consciences till he leaveth striving with them and their Day of Visitation be over That unto all such and upon all such shall pass the Sentence of Mat. 7.23 ch 25.40.41 Go you Cursed Depart from me I know you not And thus the Wicked and all the Workers of Iniquity will be turned into Hell and all that forget God where they must inherit Everlasting Punishment And here is the Reprobation Damnation that God decreed in the Beginning not that God would not have saved them But it is happened to them as to Jerusalem of old Luke 13.34 God hath striven to gather them and they would not be gathered and so God's Unalterable Decree in Justice is fulfilled upon them And this concerneth all people upon the face of the Earth that desire Peace with God in this Life and a Dwelling with him for their Souls when this Life will have an End I say It concerns them to search and try how it is with them and how they stand in Relation to the Spirit of God in themselves and to consider by what they are led for all are led by the good Spirit or the bad and the good Spirit leads Peoples Mind Heaven-wards to mind heavenly things and the bad Spirit leads Peoples Minds Hell-wards to mind Ungodliness and Carnal Earthly things and if not resisted strived against and turned from it will lead into the Bottomless Pit out of which there is no Redemption And no man in his own Will or Strength can stand against that Soul-betraying Spirit which hath taken hold of all Mankind so that without the help of God's Spirit all are undone being no way able to Help themselves but blessed be the Lord he hath taken care of man and hath sent his good Spirit to that end to help us against the Spirit of Unrighteousness Now here all People by this good Spirit of God may come to have their Understandings opened and to see how it is with them as upon the account of their Salvation and how they stand in acceptance with God Now Mark here lies the thing if thou art led by the Spirit of God then thou art at Peace with the Spirit of God in thy self Rom. 8.16 but if the Spirit of God be yet a Reprover and Condemner in thy Heart and Conscience John 16.7 8. John 3.3 20 21 22. and check and trouble thee there then thy Peace and thy Salvation is not wrought with God but thou standest far rejected in the sight of God who is the Searcher of all Hearts and the Discerner of all Thoughts although thou mayst profess much of Religion and mayst run into many Inventions and Forms thinking to please God and to find Peace for thy Soul and thou mayst Pray Preach Read and Sing and be an Observer of outward Ordinances and Family-Duties too as they are called and yet be an Enemy to God and to thy own Soul if thou refusest to be led by the Spirit of God out of the Evil Wayes of the World from a vain Conversation Prov. 15.8 28.9 For the Prayers of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord. For so far came Saul when he was an Enemy to God and his People and to his own Soul he made a great flourish about Religion and was much in the outward Observations Acts 9. chap. 22. he said of himself that he was blameless as concerning the outward Law Rom. 7. and doubtless he had great Learning and was very zealous for Religion far beyond Thousands now adayes of those that are called Christians yet all this while he was an Enemy to the Spirit of God in his own Heart and in his blind Zeal kickt against the prickings of Gods Spirit in himself as many high Professors do now adayes and are rebelling against the strivings of Gods Spirit in their own Consciences while full of outward Duties that make a fair shew in the Flesh But it is hard for People to kick against the Pricks for consider that if ever man come into the Way of God again it must be by being instructed by the Spirit of God Prov. 6.23 For the Reproofs of instruction are the Way of Life and God hath given his good Spirit to that end viz. to instruct People in the way of Everlasting Life And this is he that was in that Body of Flesh that suffered at Jerusalem by the murdering Jews who was the only begotten of the Father John 1.12 13 14. Chap. 3.16 full of Grace and Truth that whosoever would believe on him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life He that said Before Abraham was I am this is that second Adam John 8.59 that quickning Spirit who is that Saviour and God manifested in Flesh Rom. 9.5 1 Cor. 15. 1 John 2.5 who is come to Redeem people out of Sin and from a Vain Conversation that he might be the Saviour of their Soul Tit. 2.13 14. by inwardly washing and cleansing them from their Sin by his own Blood and not to save People in Sin but from it and this is that Rock that followed Israel of Old of which they drank Which Rock 1 Cor. 10.4 says Paul was Christ Jesus So here is the means of Salvation and that of Gods preparing for poor lost mans recovery to bring him back to be an Inheritor in that Kingdom that stands in Righteousness and Peace and Joy forever and the way to it is to come to be instructed by this holy Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth and the Reproofs of this instructing Spirit is the way to Life as the Scriptures of Truth say and bear Testimony Now that that Reproveth people for sinning is that which leadeth them that adhere to it out of Sin and Instructs and teaches people the Way to this Kingdom of God and till People come to own the Instructions Teachings and Leadings of this good Spirit of God that leads into all Truth and teaches all Truth and no Lye is in it they shall never know the way to the Kingdom of Heaven nor have the Peace of it never any did But by rejecting the strivings of Gods Spirit and striving against the prickings of it in the Conscience comes Misery upon all People This was the Overthrow
Sheep hear my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger they will not hear John 10.27 these were good Sheep Now to come to hear Christ's Voice is to obey his Spirit that striveth in the Heart to reclaim the Wicked and the Willing and Obedient shall dwell in the Land in the Kingdom of God and shall eat of the Good of the Land the Bread of Life and their Souls shall partake of the Honey and the Milk that floweth therein Isaeah 1.19 Some may say If I had been in the dayes of his Flesh I would have heard him and have come to him but he is asoended up on high and sitteth at the Right Hand of God and how can I hear him now Well it is true he is ascended into Heaven and is with the Father But mark this he is not confined to one place but as thou mayst read in the Scriptures Rom. 9.5 He is God over all blessed forever and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is every where and there is a measure or manifestation of his Light and good Spirit given to thee 1 Cor. 12.7 and to every man and woman upon the Earth that thou and they may profit by it upon the count of Salvation and the knowledge of this is made known in thee or that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 The Word is near even in the Heart and in the Mouth c. there thou mayst hear it and as thou obeyest the Voice of it it will give thee Power to do that which it doth require of thee and by doing this it is that thou mayst hear his Voice by keeping to that of God in thee and thy mind exercised in it Here the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is known as well as in days past and in Generations gone So let none deceive themselves for the Spirit of Christ is near to all whether they will hear him or not and true it is that they must one day give an account to him whether they will or no therfore let none deceive you with lying Vanities or unprofitable Words for this is he that searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and sheweth unto man what his Thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name and he is not far from any Acts 17.27 28. so that no man need say Who shall ascend to fetch Christ or who shall descend to fetch Christ up or who shall go beyond the Sea For saith the Apostle The Word of Faith which we Preach is nigh but how nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.6 7 8. and that Christ was that Word of Faith which they preacht and so we say that People may hear it and do it And Christ said to John as may be read in the third Chapter of the Revelations Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 It is at the Door of the Heart the Lord knocketh and they that hear obey the Spirit of Jesus that there knocketh such come to be born of the Spirit and by this come to sup with the Lord which is not an outward Supper but an inward enjoyment of spiritual Food the Bread of Life that which came down from Heaven which Christ said He that eateth thereof should never dye should live forever John 6.33 34 35 50 52 53 63. and that Bread that a man eating of it never dyes Christ said was the true Bread that his Father gave from Heaven then the Priests did not give it And when the People murmured because Christ said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you did not Christ for their further satisfaction make them this Answer The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life it is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profitteth nothing Now they that can believe Christ let them who said The Flesh profitteth nothing but the quickening Spirit and Power of God that raiseth the Soul from Death to Life And this is that we labour to bring People to that all might come to know that they have a part in him who said I am the Resurrection and the Life John 5.25 and so to feed at the Table of the Lord that they may never hunger more And for this we have been and yet are hated of the World both of Professors and Prophane but more especially of some angry and envious Professors and no marvel for none hated Christ and the Apostles more than they that made Profession of Religion in those dayes who were themselves out of the Life of Righteousness and in Hatred Strife and Envy as too many Professors are now adayes who stick in the outward Observations and Ceremonies one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is and all in their own Inventions or in the Inventions of their Fore-Fathers or at least in the Imitation of Elementary Things often Persecuting and Destroying one another about Opinions And these are they that are led by a false spirit for all people are led by the true or false Spirit for there is but two the Good and the Bad which all People upon the Earth are led by that is the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Devil and to which of these a man gives his Mind to serve his Servant he is and his Conversation is managed by that Spirit and it may be that both lead to profess Religion for even the Devil in some sense is not against Peoples making a Profession of Religion but he makes them so blindly Zealous that they shall Hate Persecuto or Murder those that will not believe what they believe and worship as they worship and be of their Religion The Devil cares not how much People talk of God and Christ and Religion provided they do not deny him to lead them and so become New Creatures For they that are not led by the Spirit of Christ are none of his Rom. 8.9 And to be led by the Spirit of Christ is to become a New Creature for all have been in the old Nature Children of Wrath as the Apostle said Ephes 2.3 we as well as others till we come to put off the Old Man with his Deeds and to put on the New Man which is created after the Image of him that created him in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes 4.24 the image of Christ who said Behold I make all things New And herein cometh the New Birth to be known by which People come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom which none ever come to but they that are born again which is to live a Life answerable to the Truth and to put off the old Man's Deeds is to put off Sin for all Sin and Wickedness is of the Devil the old Man and this is the old Nature by
Destruction and a Sink of Iniquity and destroyes many a poor Soul All these things that I have mentioned and many more which might be mentioned are the Wayes and Inventions which the Devil hath invented and set up in and among People and this is his manner of working by his Spirit in People and yet pleads Scripture for what he doth that thereby he might colour over his Deceit And this hath been his manner in all Ages to deceive the Nations of the World but Wo be to them that hearken to him this is the Strangers Voice which Christ said his Sheep would not hearken to saying My Sheep here my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger will they not hear Here it it doth appear there were two Voices to be heard here was the Voice of Christ and the Strangers Voice which was the Voice of the Devil These two Voices now adayes are heard and are obeyed by all People either the one or the other for none can serve two Masters or obey two Voices therefore People cannot serve God and Mamon And the manner of these two Spirits uttering their Voices is in an Invisible and Spiritual manner And as I have before opened the Mysteries of Iniquity the manner of the Working of the Spirit of the Enemy so now I am come to relate how and in what manner doth the Spirit of the Lord differ in the manner of working from the Spirit of the Devil in all People at one time or another this is known striving in them though they will not obey it that is of this manner it doth begin to work to knock at the Door of Peoples Hearts or secretly reprove for Sin trouble People for doing that which they ought not to do and condemns them when they do amiss this is calledin the Scriptures the Reproofs of Instruction and the Way of Life and I do believe it is so although many Professors will not believe it and if it be the Way of Life I do believe it is able to Redeem from that it calls out of which is Sin and Wickedness and as People hearken to it it opens their Understandings and sheweth them how it is with them and not only so but bringeth into a New Life and Conversation and keeps Peoples Minds alwayes in that which is Good and out of that which is Bad and this is as Spiritual Food for the Soul and then People come to know that Bread which comes down from Heaven and to drink of that Water that never faileth and brings that Peace upon People which none can know but them that do enjoy it This doth the Light or Spirit of God do in the Righteous and much more which might be mentioned This is he that the Scripture calls The Searcher of Hearts and a Tryer of Reins he is a Justifier of the Righteous and a Condemner of the Wicked and to him must all give an Account one day After this manner doth the Spirit of the Lord differ from the Spirit of the Devil in operating and working in People and one of these leads to Heaven and the other to Hell Here is one thing more which comes in my Mind concerning the working of these two Spirits the Spirit of the Lord many times by often following and pursuing of People with his Righteous Judgments till he brings to a Consideration of their Latter End and then many times in that Condition people come to seek after the right Way and then the Lord openeth the Mysteries of his Kingdom to them and then they begin to fee the Right Way from the Wrong the Narrow Way from the Wide and begin to see the Gate to be strait and the Way to be narrow then many begin to consult with the Reasoning Part in Man which is the Work of the Enemy for he makes it his Business at all times to work out all that is good his manner is when any come to be convinced of the Right Way then to set them into questioning How they shall enter in at this strait Gate and to walk in that narrow Way and so come to seek after some easier Way and the Devil he sets all manner of Dangers before people and begins to tell them That the way is too hard for them to walk in and tells them There be many easier and better Wayes wherein they may walk and do well and tells them That is the Worst Way of all any thing but that for he knows well enough there is no other Way to Heaven and saith the Enemy If thou ownest this Worship in Spirit thou wilt be hated of all people and in Danger of losing all and of having the Displeasure of this or the other Relation Neighbour or Acquaintance and saith he This is a new Upstart Religion hath been but lately standing and saith he our Religion hath been long standing and our Mother-Church cannot Err and saith he our Fore-Fathers were in the Right and our Ministers who have great Learning must be in the Right or else who can be Right and how can Tradesmen Plowmen and such come to know the Way to Heaven These things and many more the Devil puts into peoples Minds to set them against that which would save their Souls that when God hath called people by his Spirit to walk in the Narrow Way which leadeth to Everlasting Life then the Devil he musters up all these fore-mentioned things and many more which might be mentioned and layes before people as Snares and by this many times turns people some one way and some another any way so that they might not come to walk in the Narrow Way and to worship God in Spirit and Truth some he turneth into Fears how they shall live some into the Mire and Dirt of Sin and Wickedness again some under False Colours of Religions some into Carelesness some into Dispair and tells them Their Day is over others he tells There is time enough yet to Repent and so lulls people asleep in Sin till there is no more time others he upbraids with the Unfaithfulness of some who profess the Truth but Wo be to them that hearken to him in any kind mark this Thou shalt answer for what thou dost and so shall others for themselves and further Whatsoever others do that will be no Excuse for thee in the Day of Account Therefore have a care of believing the lying Serpent which with his Lyes and Deceit goeth about to deceive the Nations and most people are deceived by him and because people are hearkening to him more than to the Lord this is the Reason so few are chosen of the Number that are called for many are Called but few are Chosen I would not have people think it strange as concerning this manner of Reasoning that is put into people by the Devil I would have none should think hard of this for I will tell thee plainly that whatsoever is put into any Man or Woman's Mind that is not right true or good is