time the Word was made Fesh and dâ—elt among the Son Daughters of Men and they beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Joh. 1.14 and this is Christ unto whom all things of the Father are delivered both in â—eaven and Earth and no man knows him but the Father neither knoweth anâ— man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 By which it is evident that all Revelation is not ceased Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest vers 28. Here Christ hath promised Rest unto all that will come unto him But how shall they come unto him by Faith in Obedience to that measure of his divine Light of his Spirit of Grace which he hath placed in their Hearts it being the Lords Talent given to Man for this end that he should improve it to the Honour and Glory of God and Salvation of his own Immortal Soul by Jesus Christ the Evidence of whose Spirit giveth Life to the Soul of that Man whose cleart Mind and Spirit is faithful to his Gift for the Scriptures restâ—le That Christ affordeth unto all them that by true Faith come unto him Search the Scriptures for in them â—e think to have Eternal Life and they are they that testifie of me and ye will not come to me that you may have Life Job 5.39 40. Here it is evident from Christs own words That to search the holy Scriptures without the true saving knowledge of God in Christ and of his Spirit which moved in the holy Men of God and gave them Utterance to declare his Will and Mind according as contained in the holy Scripture without which in some measure Men cannot profit or benefit towards Salvation by Jesus Christ by their reading the holy Scriptures for they that will not come to the inward Evidence of Gods Gift of his Spirit and Grace they have not the Love of God in them Joh. 5.42 For Jesus Christ the Promise of God and Seed of the Kingdom him hath God given to be an Everlasting Covenant of Grace Light and Life to them that fear and tremble at the Power of his Word and stedfastly remain in the belief of his holy Name which is no less than to give up in their whole desire of Heart and Mind to serve him the Lord of Life in Truth and Righteousness with uprightness of Heart Mind Soul and Spirit for unto him it doth belong and unto such belongeth the Promise of God by the suffering of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ which doth extend Salvation to their Souls for God in tender Love Mercy towards all men falling short of his Glory by the fall of the first Adam doth tender the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus by the call of his good Spirit of Grace Life and Light which remains not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit which hath no relation to the saving of that Soul which remains in sin term of Life having received the inward Evidence of the Spirit which condemns for every thought word and action which is not agreeable with the Spirit of Truth of which every man hath received a measure in his own heart to justifie or condemn even as his Works appear before the Lord so shall be his Reward if of Faith and Obedience then Life and Peace will follow but if it be of Sin and Unbelief then Death Hell and Destruction will be the Portion of him or her which dyes in such a state for the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life so they that dye in sin are free from Righteousness having no part lot nor share in the Promise of God and Hope of Jesus Christ for their Hope shall be cut as the Spiders Web which shall perish for evermore for Christ came not to save People in their sin but to save and redeem from sin and Transgression His Name shall be called Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 for they that dye in their sins cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ said If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins and where I go ye cannot come which relates to a state of Perfection in this Life upon which Head I shall God willing treat more at large in a distinct Chapter by which the Understandings of them that desire after Truth may receive the benefit of my small measure relating to the same for man living in sin becomes destitute of any benefit by Christ for the Salvation of his Soul for he that commits sin it is of the Devil and he knows not God the Father but he that is faithful to the Gift of God in his heart learns to fear the Lord and to work his Righteousness which is the fullfilling of what God requires in obedience to the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ who spiritually moves in the hearts of all whose day of Visitation is not over for Christ ruleth over all and will in no way fall short of his Honour either by the Salvation of the one or Condemnation of the other for Christ by the measure of his Spirit is in all except Reprobates 〈◊〉 and therefore it is matter of great concern for People to examin their own hearts whether by true Faith Christ abides in them for the Body of Man where Christ by the gift of his divine Light and Spirit liveth is the Temple of the holy Ghost and if any Man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy Then he that is not in obedience to the gift of God which he hath received is a Pollutor of the Temple and is without true Faith in Christ Prove your own selves know you not that if Christ be not in you you are Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 Now they whose Minds are wrought towards the Lord their Affections are set on heavenly things above to seek God in Christ and in them Christ by the measure of his divine Light Grace and Spirit liveth Gal. 2.20 Now Christ being in his People the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness Rom 8.10 for there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision Barbarian Sithian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all and many more Scripture Prooffs might be produced to the same effect That Christ lives and moves by the Gift of his divine Light and Spirit of Grace and Truth in the hearts of his People and that their Bodies are the Temple of God for Christ by the gift of his Spirit Life and Light to dwell in which if People both Young and Old would forsake their Vanity and apply their Minds to seek the Lord in his own way of Truth and Righteousness according to the Gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit as by Record for their help
in learning the holy Scriptures in which they have the Doctrine Principles and Practice of the holy Men of God for their Example to follow them even as they have been Followers of Christ then they would come into that state in which they would witness the Power of God by Jesus Christ to crucifie every unruly Affection which doth lust after sin and evil and leads the Mind from serving God into the excess of spending the Creation to perform their hearts Lusts by which they dishonour the Name of the Lord and increase Trouble and Sorrow to the destroying of their Souls which is the end of them that remain in an unrighteous Life for whatsoever People may say in respect that their Tongues are their own anâ— that their Thoughts are free to think what they please and that there is a time to be Merry and to Sing and Dance and Recreate themselves with much more of the like Expressions yet for all these things there is a time wherein all men must appear before the Lord of Life to render a just Account of every Thought Intent and Action of all the Deeds done in the Body in which Day it shall go well with the Righteous but the Ungodly and Prophane shall be turned into Hell with him unto whom their Obedience hath been for all that have forgot to retain God in all their Thoughts so living and dying God will also forget Mercy towards them for his Regard is only to his own Seed and to Men as they are joyned to it which hath been sown in all sorts of Ground which is in the heart of every Man and Woman for them to yeild their whole Obedience thereunto for whatsoever ye do whether ye eat or whether ye drink let all be done to the Praise and Honour of God who gives Life Health and Strength for that end for whatsoever is in Peoples talk more than of Yea and Nay it is for Condemnation which is great matter of weight for People well to consider what will become of their Souls who live in the daily Practice of Words Actions wherein the Lord never savingly appears but as he doth permit their Souls Enemy to rule their Thoughts Intents Words and Actions so of his free Love in Mercy to their Souls the Lord doth manifest to them the evil of their way which is by the gift of his divine Light in their own hearts and by his Spirit in the Instruments of his Truth which have been sent and are yet sending to warn the Wicked to turn from their unrighteous Wayes which if they would but give up their minds to come under the Cross of Christ which is that Cross for them to bear which remains in Opposition to their corrupted Desires then they would become able by the Power of God in Christ to witness his Yoke to be easie and his Burden to be light for what he hath said unto one be hath a so said unto all that is Watch and Pray lest ye eater into Temptation for he that remains faithful in his Watch by the Light of the Lord perceiveth the Devil's Temptation in his first Allurement which by true Prayer in faithfulness to his Watch the Power of God in him doth appear to the resisting of his Souls Enemy and causeth him to slee so that in them in whom the Mind is stable in seeking after the Lord for the Knowledge of his Truth in Jesus Christ their Understanding will open more and more towards him by which the reading of the holy Scriptures will also be of great benefit to the Understanding which will also refresh the inward Man so that as all are diligently to mind the Gift of Gods Grace which they have received as a Seed of the Kingdom through which by Obedience it will grow and bring forth Fruit acceptable to God who requites his own with increase for the Honour of his Same and profit of Peoples Souls that by Obedience to his holy Seed they may remain in Covenant with God and be made Partakers of his Kingdom in and through the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ Further concerning the Man Christ which was conceived by the holy Ghost born and brought forth of the Virgin Mary and suffered Death for the Redemption of all men and as many shall be saved as believe in his Name GOd so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3.16 Which doth manifest that God sent his only Son born of a Woman to suffer Death in a Body of Flesh for the Redemption of Peoples Souls in which Body of Flesh did remain the Fullness of the Spirit towards the Salvation of all mens Souls yet they only shall be saved which believe in his Name for his Name is called Jesus because he was sent of God to save his People from their sins Mat. 1.21 Luke 1.31 which is according to the Prophet Isaiah cap. 7.14 15. A bruised Reed shall he not breaâ— nor smoking Flax shall he â—ot quench till he send forth Judgment unto Victory and in his Name shall the Gentiles trust Mat. 12.15 to v. 21. He came to his own and 〈…〉 received him not but as many as received him to them he gaâ—e Power to become the Sons of God which were born not of Blood nor of the will of Flesh nor of the will of Man but of God Joh. 1 11 12 13. Which doth manifest that where men only believe in the outward Righteousness of the Man Christ who as he was in the Body of Flesh was God and Man without the believing in the Gift of his Spirit which iâ— the inward Word of Life and leads the heart and mind of every sincere Christian into a sanctified state of true Obedience to the Gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit of Grace without which they cannot come to live in that true Faith which justifies the Souls of the Righteous in the sight of God the Father in which state of true Obedience the evidence of his Spirit doth bear witness with their Spirit That the Declaration of his Truth recorded in the holy Scriptures hath proceeded from the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus who in that Body of Flesh was both God and Man according as it is written for Peoples learning That the Word was made Flesh and dwelt on Earth among the Sons and Daughters of Men and many that believed his Name believed his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Joh. 1.14 They outwardly believed as Man with a visible Eye but as to his invisible Glory of Holiness they believed him the Lord of Life as he was God and Man with an invisible Eve which by the Gist of his Spirit enlightened them to know him to be the Lord of Life whom to know by true Faith is Life Eternal which was made known unto them by the gift of
Gods â—race through the effectual Working of the holy Ghost by which they came to understand the Will and Mind of God the Father in the Death and Resurrection of his Son the Lord Jesus which was expedient that he should depart that 〈…〉 forter might come Joh 15.26 which Promise was fulfilled by the voilding up that Body of Flesh which was born of a Woman and betrayed by Judas condemned by Pilate delive 〈◊〉 unto 〈…〉 set him at naught and crucified the Lord of Life upon their Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem which Body was buried and rose again the third Day being the first Day of the Week which Christians attend for the Worship of God having the holy Apostles for an Example to follow them as they were Followers of Christ who met together on the first day of the Week to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth which is in the Power of his Spirit by the effectual working of his Gift through his Death and Resurrection which appeared unto the Saints who received of his Fullness Grace for Grace which made them able Ministers of the New Covenant of Life Light in Christ Jesus which then ascended into Heaven with God the Father and with him is in a glorified Body which Flesh and Blood cannot reveal being glorified with that Glory which he had with the Father before the World began which is the Christ that the holy men prophecyed should come for a Light to the Gentiles and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 49.6 Acts 13.47 who accordingly is come and hath done the will of God the Father in that Body as aforesaid and by him through his Death Resurrection Ascention have all the Sons and Daughters of Men received a Gift of his heavenly divine Light as a Talent Taleâ—ts for them to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling at his Work which is able to makeâ— thorow seperation betwixt the precious and the vile that is between the begettings of his own divine Life and that Seed which brings forth the Life of the Stranger which is the Devil and Enemy of mans Soul whom the faithful will not follow but are willing to submit under the Cross of Christ whose Yoke is easie and his burden light not desiring the Death of any one Sinner but that all might turn at his Reproofs and live the Life of the Son of God who hath suffered Death been buried and is risen again and ascended into the Heavens where he maketh Intercession with God the Father for the Redemption and Salvation of all them that are willing by true Faith to receive the tenders of his free Grace which by the Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit of Truth is largely manifested unto the Sons and Daughters of men for his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit in his People that is Christ in them the Hope of Glory by which not any will be left without excuse in the great Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the Ungodly of them which have not improved their Tâ—lents to the Honour of his Name and profit of their Immortal Souls in which Day with the Righteous it shall gowell but with the Wicked who have slighted the Day of the Lords Visitation through their idle careless loose and vain living in Disobedience to that which the Lord by the gift of his divine Light and Word of his Spirit requires of them for which cause sorrow and anguish shall overtake them in that Day in which they shall forever be shut out from having any lot part or share among the faithful in the Kingdom of Heaven through the Death and Resurrection of the Son of God who laid down his Life for the Sins of the whole World but as many shall be saved as truely believe in his Name for as by one Mans Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of the Man Christ Jesus many shall be made Righteous Rom. 5.19 for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth so that not any 〈…〉 to say whâ— shall descend to bring up Christ again from the 〈…〉 who shall ascend to bring down Christ from Heaven for the 〈◊〉 nigh even in the Mouth and in the Heart that is the Word of Faith Rom. 10 〈…〉 by which Word of Faith we 〈◊〉 that Christ whâ—â—â— outwardly descâ—â—d 〈…〉 ascended and by 〈◊〉 Power of divine Light quickening word of his Spirâ—â— he is the Author Finisher of every good Work of Faith in the hearts of his People for he is the Word of Life unto the 〈◊〉 by true Faith believe in him as he outwardly suffered and in the gist of his Spirit which is the inward Word of 〈…〉 them tâ— whom Christ giveth the Shield of Faith and Hope the Hâ—â— not of their Salvation by which Word Simâ—n Peter came to know the Lord of Life to be the Christ the Son of the living God which Flesh Blood did not reveal Mat. 16 14 15 16. but was revealed by God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ whose meer Bâ—dâ—y Presence did not give Peter the knowledge of the Church buils on that that Rock whose Foundation was so sure that â—he Gates of Hell could never prevail against â—â—s Members which by the most sare Word of Prophecy are ingrafted in the Man Christ in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth for evermore for he is the well-beloved of the Fathers own begetting and hath done the Work of God in that Body of Flesh which suffered on the Cross without the City Gates of Jerusalem and was buried and rose again the third Day and appeared to the Saints and gave Gifts unto them and ascended into Heaven of which things the Father Word and Spirit beareth witness and these three are one God and that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say That Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost and as there is but One God One Lord Jesus Christ One Father One Son and One holy Ghost One Word and One Spirit all which are One God who hath given Diversittes of Gifts but the same Spirit and Differences of Advanistrations but the same Lord and Diversities of Operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all for a manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.3 4 5 6 7. for as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptized into one Body whether they be Jewâ— or Gentiles Bond or Free they have been made to drink into one Spirit for the Body is not one Member but many and are ingrafted by the Power of Gods Spirit the most sure Word of Prophecy into the stock which is Christ the true Vine with which every true Branch
that is a Member of his Body doth of his divine Nature partake by which it doth bud spring and bring forth Fruit abundantly to the Praise and Honour of Gods holy Name but every Branch that bringeth not forth Fruit unto God by true Faith in Christ the Father taketh away for it s by Disobedience the Lord cuts it off and appoints it its Portion in Hell which is the Portion of all them that let the Day of Gods Grace and Visitation of his Spirit to pass over but every Branch that beareth Fruit in Christ the true Vine the Father purgeth it of its first nature the old heaven of Degeneration and by the Power of his Word Grace and Spirit leavens the heart mind and spirit into the new lump and nature of his heavenly Kingdom in Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of his own Work in them that truely believe which by Faith in Christ bring forth Fruits of Righteousness and Holiness which are the Works of true Faith without which Faith is even dead as the Body is without the Spirit for by the Gift of Gods good Spirit of Grace is the Faith of every true Believer wrought into a lively hope in which stands an assurance of that Crown of Righteousness which 〈…〉 store for all true Believers that fear the Lord and keep his Commandments such are they that live in the true fear of the Lord which is the beginning of Wisdom and leads the Mind out of visible delights and to follow Christ with an easie Yoke and light burden to do his Will which is that strait and even narrow Way which leadeth unto the Kingdom in which no unclean thing can enter neither is there any cleansing but what is here on Earth for as Death leaves so Juâ—gment finds and there is no Repentance in the Grave Which things in the true Love of God to Peoples Souls I do exhort them to weigh and consider that they may turn in their minds from all vain Delights and obey the Voice of the Son of God in their own hearts that by the Gift of his Spirit they may come to be turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of their Souls Enemy to serve the Lord in true Holyness of heart mind and spirit for there is no other Name given under Heaven for men to be saved but as they come to believe in Christ as he did outwardly suffer and also believe in the Gift oâ— his Spirit and inward Word of Life unto all them that are in true Obedience to the gift of his divine Light which hath been the Path of the Just in all Ages and yet appears in the heart of every man and Woman with whom the Day of Gods Grace is not over for his Love remains stedfast to all that which is of his own Nature which is of a contrary Nature to that permitted Power unto which too many yeild their obedience by which the desire of their Minds is drawn from obedience to the gift of Gods divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit in which state they serve the the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life and as men void of all spiritual sense and reason as to the things of God their Thoughts Words and Actions are here and there in the love of those things which Work the Lords Soul abhors and such appear as Trees without Fruit as to God for their Fruit is of a strange Plant and unregenerate Vine for which cause the Spirit of the Lord in his Servants is the same as it was in his Servants of Old who are called of God to bear their faithful Testimony against all Unrighteousness of men who as evil corrupt Trees bring forth evil corrupt Fruit for which cause evil minded men are at Enmity with the Lord and his People whose Fruit is of his own Spirit which is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Genâ—leness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Christ whom now as in days past the wise builders set at naught wherefore he hath said The things of the Kingdom are hid from the wise and prudent of this World and revealed unto Babes even so hath it pleased God for the wise and prudent of this World pretend to build upon him at whom they stumble and is become the Head of the Corner and will so remain to the breaking down all that which is contrary to his holy blessed Truth so that no building shall stand but that which is built by the Power of his own Spirit in them whom the Wisdom of this World doth despise even as the Wise did despise in that Day when they set their Learning in Hâ—brew Greek and Latine over the Head of Jesus Joh. 19 20 even so is it with the Wise of this World in this Day whose Learning is set above the gift of God which came by Jesus Christ whose People begot by him in the true Faith and Oneness of Spirit do well know that there is No other Name under Heaven given among men whereby to be saved but by that Name Jesus of Nazareth that Christ by which is the Righteousness of his People for he unto them is made of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and that in this World as well as in the World to come and not simply so accounted as some judge and then made unto us of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption hereafter in the World to come but realty made to us here and that perfectly too so far as he is perfectly hoped in 1 Pet. 1.13 for Salvation that is Salvation from God by Christ through the Faith of his outward Sufferings and by obedience to the gift of his Spirit in the heart which is the inward Word oâ— Life to them that hear and obey by which they may be turned from Darkness to Light and from the Fower of Satan to the Power of God by which they may witnesâ—â—he Evidence of Gods spirit That they have the Pardon of sin and forgiveness of that which is past being washed with the Blood of Sprinkling which cleanseth the Heart and purgâ—th the Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God in uprightness of Soul Body and Mind and without witnessing of this VVork perfected through Faith in Jesus Christ the Soul can never be clean to enter his Rest with him in the Kingdom of Heaven which was prepared before the Foundation of the Earth was laid for a People that should serve the Lord in uprightness of Soul Mind and Spirit being throughly cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ whose Death Resurrection and Ascention will not avail any Man or VVoman whose Mind remains in the love of any one thing more than to love him and serve him with uprightness of Heart Mind for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace and whereby every
Man and Woman may know how it stands between God their own Souls which is good for all to mind and make their Peace vvith the Lord vvhile he hath given them space and time for that end that their Souls may not faint in the great Day of his Coming to call every Man and Woman to an account for their Deeds done in the Body CHAP. IV. Concerning the Scriptures which are the Writings of the holy Men of God wherein is contained that Jesus Christ is the Everlasting Word of God by whom is the Salvation of all Men that are saved by his Power which leads them to believe in his Name THe Holy Scriptures contained in the Old and Nevv Testament signifie Writings in vvhich VVritings are contained the VVords of God as they vvere received by the living VVord of God as may be read in the Prophets VVritings The Word of the Lord came unto them this vvas not the Letter of the Scripture that came unto them but it vvas the living VVord of God vvhich in Scripture is most properly and frequently called The Word of God In the beginning was the VVord and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh 1.1 2 3 And the VVord was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Now consider what grounds People have to call the Scripture the only Word of God without any Distinction but by way of Information to the understanding of aâ—â—unbyassed Minds that my design in the following Liâ—â— a is not to deprive the holy Scriptures of that honour due unto them but that Truth and Righteousness may take place for the holy Scriptures in their place are highly to be esteemed with that Honour due unto them for which end 〈◊〉 labour is that by others they may not be dissplaced by to understand a true distinction between the written declarative Word of God and the VVord of his Spirit of Grace Life and Light by Jesus Christ whom to know is Life indeed for they that come unto him it must be through Faith in obedience to the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit which opens the dark Understanding and quickens the Mind and works Grace in the Heart and sanctifies the inward Man of him that yeilds Obedience to the Word of his Spirit without which there can be no true understanding of Gods saving Truth by Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Everlasting concerning which things the written VVord is large in its Declaration concerning what God requires of the Sons and Daughters of Men who for Power to perform what they find to be their Duty as by holy Record they are to come unto Christ the Author and Finisher of his ovvn Work in them that believe for the holy Scriptures of Truth vvere given forth by the Spirit of Truth and living Word of Truth vvhich vvas the Word of God in His Servants of old vvhich Word according to measure remains the same to this Day in every sincere true Believer vvhose vvhole desire is to give up in obedience to the manifestation of Gods good Spirit of Grace by vvhich they come to a thorovv understanding of vvhat they find of his VVill and Mind recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth vvithout vvhich Obedience the Letter kills but by Obedience the Spirit makes alive for the holy Scriptures are full in relating of what hath been past and of what is to come but as to the time when and manner how the Lord in his own due time by the Word of his Spirit doth reveal it to his Servants and Messengers of his Truth in this Day even as it hath pleased him in days past for as then in that day the same is it with many in this day who the Scriptures yet it is said of them That they had not the Worâ— abiding in them for whom God had â—ent which was Christ the Word him they believed not Joh. 5.3 â— which by the written Word is evident that the gift of Gods Spirit of Grace Life Light by Jesus Christ is the saving Word of God to every Soul that by him is saved for what saith it the Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith James 1.21 Rom. 10 7 8 and this Word is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Ephes 6.17 it sanctifies the heart of the faithful by the Word of God and Prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 for the faithful are them that are poor and of a contrite Spirit which tremble at the Word of the Lord Isa 56.2 5. Hear ye the Word of the Lord ye that that Tremble at his Word And again I have written unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you Young Men because ye are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and you have overcome the wicked One John 1.14 Now let all People mind by which they may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures which were not from the beginning neither do they of themselves and without the inward Word give Power to overcome the wicked One for the VVord of God was before Scripture promises Life eternal to all that are willing to receive the Word which is the Promise of God in Christ before the World began Ti. 2.3 And this Word hath been a Rule of Life to the faithful of God in all Ages shewing unto Man the Thoughts of his Heart and intents of his Mind and Obedience to the Word is an acceptable Sacrifice to the Lord and God hath promised oâ— overcome sin in the faithful by the Power of his Word which is as a two edged Sword to cut up and beat down all that is contrary to his heavenly divine Life in the heart of every faithful Man and Woman that is come to yeild their Obedience according 〈◊〉 that knowledge which they have received of God in Christ whom to know is Life Eternal in which Life they have the true saving knowledge of God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost which is One God and One Lord Lord Jesus Christ One holy Spirit God in all and through all and over all the Alpha and Oâ—aega the beginning and the end the first and the last blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life Rev. 22.13 14. which as aforesaid is that which the Lord by the assisting Power of his Spirit hath made known to me concerning his Word of Life and Light by which the holy men of God were assisted in giving forth a Declaration of his holy Truth which they received by his holy Spirit which is the living Word of all Truth and will remain the same when the Letter of the Scripture
shall end and be no more for the Word of the Lord shall endure forever And what is left recorded in the written Word of God is for this end that People may learn in the Light of the Lord to perform that which by the Gift of his Spirit of divine Light Grace he requires of them to do the Declaration of which is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth which are profitable for Doctrine c. 2 Tim. 3.16 which no man can learn but as he remains faithful to the gift of God which he hath received for that end that by so doing he may come to grow more and more in Grace to the Honour of God and everlasting Wellfare of his immortal Soul which will never witness Salvation but by true Faith in Christ Jesus the most sure VVord of Prophecy whereunto they will do well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the Day star arise in their hearts without which there is no Salvation CHAP. VI. Concerning Faith Hope and Obedience which by the Power of God through â—esus Christ worketh Salvation to the Souls of them that truly believe in the gift of his Grace Also something concerning Silence JEsus Christ in all things became obedient to the Will of God the Father for the Redemption of all Mankind that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but should receive Life Everlasting which is the Promise of God by Jesus Christ unto all the faithful willing and obedient that is in all things for the Salvation of their Souls by Faith in Jesus Christ for Man by Obedience to the Gift of God which is a measure of divine Light by Jesus Christ by whom the Soul comes to be reconciled unto God for the Lord in 〈◊〉 â—ay requires no less than perfect Obedience of all Men 〈…〉 all men have received of his Gift of his Spirit of divine Light by Jesus Christ so he will not have any left without Excuse in the Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the Vngodly which call not upon the Name of the Lord. for Christ is made manifest according to the Commandment of the Everlasting God made known to all Nations for the Obedience of their Faith Rom 16.6 and for that end did the Apostle write that he might know the proof of them whether they were obedient in all things 2 Cor. 2 9. for this is the Day of Gods Visitation wherein if ye will hear his Voice harden not your hearts against the Light of his Spirit of Grace for unto whom ye yeild your Minds Servants to obey his Servants you are to whom you obey whether of Sin unto Death or Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6.16 Now the Gift of Gods divine Light by Jesus Christ makes manifest to all men all the thoughts of his Heart and intents of his Mind for the Righteousness of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead but what saith it the VVord is nigh thee even in thy Mouth in thy Heart that is the VVord of Faith Rom. 10.6.7 8 By which it is evident that where men perish it is not altogether for want of Knowledge but for want of Obedience to the Gift of God which he hath placed in the hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Men which by obedience would give them Power over their lustful Desires which by Nature lodgeth in the hearts of sinful Men and Women whose Minds for want of Obedience are drawn by the Enemy's Power to joyn with the Temptations of the Devil but if they yeilded Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit they would witness strength to with-stand the Enemy and cause him to flee for the â—eapon of every true Believers VVar-fare are not carnal but spiritual and mighty through God to the pulâ—ing down strong Holds casting down every high thing that exalteth its self against the Knowledge of God and bringeth into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ having in readiness to revenge all Disobedience when their Obedience is fullfilled 2 Cor. 10.1 5 6. and in this do the faithful come to witness the inward Affections of Christ more more abundant towards them whilst he remembereth their Obedience how with fear and trembling they receive him 2 Cor. 7.15 Which things are plain and by Obedience easie to be understood that they who come to receive the benefit of Chriâ—â— by the Power of Gods Spirit in and through him it is by true Faith in Obedience to his Word at which they fear and tremble it being sharper than any two-edged Sword dividing between the Precious and the Vile which is an Engagement between the Power of God and the Power of the Souls Enemy who hath seated himself in the Temple of God as if he were God which Enemy is the strong Man that hath taken Possession in the hearts of the Sons Daughters of Men whose Minds are alienated from God by reason of Sin and Transgression who keepeth the House until a stronger than the Devil doth dispossess him of his Power unto which Povver through the Lust of Peoples unregenerated Hearts they are most inclined to serve vvhich hath been and yet is the state of many Thousands of Men and Women vvho are deceived by the Devil vvhich is for vvant of Obedience to the gift of God Povver vvhich by true Faith and Obedience vvould dispossess the Devil of his Povver and bring the inward Man into the true saving Knowledge of his sanctified Work of Grace in their own Hearts vvhich things they are ignorant of who remain in a blind zeal for God but not according to the true saving Knowledge of him in Jesus Christ Rom 10.2 by which their Faith remains in a dead Hope that shall perish for true Faith works the whole inward Man of Heart Mind Soul and Spirit into the true Love of God and Hope of Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ whose Spirit gives Evidence of an assurance in those things that by true Faith are hoped for so that Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 2. for by Faith the holy Men of God obtained a good Report for we see and understand through Faith in God that the Worlds were framed by Christ the Word of God so that things that were seen were not made of things which do appear Heb. 1.3 By when it is manifest that Christ is the Word by whom all things were made long before the Scriptures were given for 〈◊〉 for the Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ in whom remaineth the â—ope of hâ—s People for the â—arvation of their Souls and from this Word Christ the Seâ—vant of God received Grace Apostleshâ—â— for their Obedience to the Faith
among all thâ— Nations for his Name Rom. 1.5 and as many as received this Word in oâ—e â—rence to the Faith being grafted in him in whom there is not my thing availeth the Soul of Man but by that Faith which worketh by the Love of God Gal. 5 6. Now seeing that tâ—â—e Faith worketh by the Love of God in and through Christ what Faith is that in them which leads to destroy the Lives and Estates of People for their Obedience to God who worketh by Love in the hearts of his People for this end that they might believe in the Word of Faith which sanctifies the Soul of every true Believer that by Faith in Jesus Christ through Grace they are saved for true Faith works by Love through Obedience to the Word of Faith which is Christ in his People the Hope of their Glory by whom his People are begot into a lively Hope that maketh not ashamed but that Faith which leads People to believe that they do good service for God by destroying the Lives and Estate of their peaceable Neighbours for their different Judgment concerning spiritual things is it not the Faith of Devils and Hope of â—pocrites whose Obedience is to the Prince of Darkness the Enemy of Mans Happiness and all such are in a dangerous stâ—â— for God worketh by love and Christ came not to dâ—stroy mens Lives but to save them and such men being many that pretend to work â—o God whose Truth is contrary to their Doctrine Principle and Practice as doth at large appear by their preaching and writing such things as in Deut. 13. Numb 25. also in Ezra and divers other places in the Law which were only to continue the Lords time of fullfilling the Righteousness thereof whose Râ—gateousness in this Gospel â—ay will not be received by the many Teachers in this Age who preach and teach to advance their own profit in way of their Trade for in the time of the Law the false Worshipper with all hâ—â— Substance was held accursed before the Lord and for that end both were to be destroyed and therefore in this Age the Anti-christian Teachers do account that such who are not of their Faith and as one with â—hem in Doctrine Principle and Practice that â—heâ— as false Worshippers are to be destroyed But Christ is come by whose Coming the Righteousness of the Law is fullfilled in that he came not to destroy mâ—ns Lives but to save and make alive by calling Stanners to Repentance and to return by Faith in Oâ—edience to serve him the living God with uprightness of Heart Mind and Spirit doing unto all Men even as they themselves would be done unto which is the Law and Prophets out of which state men are not in the true Faith but are ignorant of Gods Righteousness which is in the New Covenant of Life Light and Grace which came by Jesus Christ contrary to whose Righteousness they establish their own Righteousness and not submit themselves to the Righteousness which is of God Rom. 10.13 wherefore their Faith remains dead and their Hope vain for Faith is the gift of Gods Word which is Christ the true and living Priest who by the gift of his Spirit of divine Life Lighâ— preaches Light Life and Grace by which the Souls of â—he faithful are saved and of this nature cometh Faith â—y hearing the Word of God Rom. 10.17 which doth manifest that Faith comes not by that Word which is not from the Spirit of God in such faithâ—ess men who for â—â—cre of Gain make use of other mens lines made ready to their hands that is of such who bargain with People to preach unto them for their Money who if they perceive a greater benefit to present in another place they account it sufficient Encouragement to leave the lesser and to hold the greater but such their Doctrine Principle and Practice is inconsistent with Gods holy Truth which doth live in the hearts of them that are faithful unto what of God by Jesus Christ is made manifest unto them for unto them doth the Promises of God belong by whose Spirit of Grace is his Righteousness revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written The Jâ—st shall live by Faith Rom. 1.17 Then what doth it profit any man to say that he hath Faith when that by works of Righteousness he doth not maâ—â—est the â—â—me for Faith without Works is dead even as the Body is dead without the Spirit such may believe that there is one God they do well the Devils also believe the same and fear and tremble but they fear and tremble because of Gods Wrath in Judgment even so it is with the Rebellious who by their vain Life of Disobedience fall short of true Faith they also fear and tremble but not in love to God but for fear of Terment to comâ— such are they whose Faith is without Works whose Faith is as dead as the Body is dead without the Spirit 〈◊〉 2 17 18 19 20. Then seeing that without that Faith whâ—â— is by the gift of Gods Grace that sanctâ—fies every true Believers Work of Obedience by which it is imputed to him for Righteousness without which â—t is impossible to pâ—ease God who will hold all men guilty of Dist bedâ—ence â—haâ— remain in sin for sin makes a continual â—eperation 〈…〉 God and â—he Soul whereby they that continue in a state of sinâ—â—ng against the gift of Gods Grace they by so doing fall short in the true Hope of Salvation for by true Faith in Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit the Mind is wrought into a still frame of Spirit being made able through the Power of Gods Gift to wait for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith Gal. 5 5. By which it is manifest that waiting in Silence of Mâ—â—â— the inward Affections come to be drawn from having any desire in that part which through the Temptation of the Souls â—nemy is natural to lust after evil for the Body is the Temple of the holy Ghost and all thoughts and intents of the heart and mind that appear contrary to the moving of his own Spirit they are Thieves and Robbers that proceed from the Souls Enemy which strive to prevent and hinder the prosperity of Gods Gift of divine Light which is of the Seed of the Kingdom of God which Seed in measure hath been sown in all sorts of ground which is the heart in all men Mat. 13.3 4 5 6 7 8 for the Temple of God is the Body of Man in which Christ is to rule for the Salvation of all them that by Faith in obedience to the gift of his Grace Life and Light receive him Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are 1 Cor. 3.16 1â— â—t is a worthy subject for every Man and Woman to consider well with
themselves by making a diligent search with the â—ight of the Lord in their own hearts how it stands between God and their Souls which must either live forever or eternally perish with the Devil and all they that by obedience to him in this Life have sinned out the Day of Gods Grace and of his â—ich Mâ—cies by Christ Jesus which hath been tendered unto them for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls So to all with whom the Spirit of God doth strive that they may bend in the strength of their Minds to â—ir upon him in a retired state out of all their owRnâ—â—nnings from Hill to Mountain in which state they are out of that Silence which the Lord hath commanded That the whole Earth which is all flesh should keep silence before him Hab. 2 20. And again the Spirit of the Lord by the Mouth of his holy Prephet saith The Lord who is raised out of his holy Habitation commandeth all flesh to keep Silence before him Zech. 2.13 By which it appears to all that hear see and understand That Silence is that which God hath commanded to all Men and Mankind who are to wait upon him in the Silence of Mind that they may see and perceive hear and understand the Lords Will and Mind in hole things which belong to the Peace and Well-fare of their Immorcal Souls in which state of true faithful Obedience the inward Man of Heart Mind Spirit will be made capable of receiving that benefit which the Lord will improve by his faithful Instruments and that not only for the benefit of his own good but for the benefit and good of others that so the Name of the holy One may bâ— honoured thereby The Lord in his rich Mercy is good unto all them that wait for him in Sâ—â—ence Lam. 3.25 28. And in this state did David wait on God from whom cometh the Salvation of the faithful who truly wait iâ— Silence on the Lord Psal 37.7 69.1 Now 〈◊〉 the â—alvation of Peoples Souls cannot be without Obedience to the Faith of God in Christ of whose Spiritâ—â—â— men in measure have received which is the Call of God by the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ who was obedient to the Fathers Will in â—ll things for the Redemption of mens Souls which without true Faith and Obedience according to the Requirings of his good Spirit of Grace there is no Salvation by him then if no Salvation by him to them that remain in Disobedience to the gift of Grace they are to perish for evermore for as in the outward among the Disobedient and Rebellious which pretend themselves Subjects to some Earthly King he knowing them so to be will not protect them with that care and safety from the danger of an outward Enemy as he will protect them whom he well knows that theâ— are faithful Subjects which in true obedience serve him such Subjects will remain in silence to hear what their King doth relate as tending to the preservation of their outward Man then how much more suppose ye will the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords keep and preserve them that observe his Commands to remain in silence before him the Lord of Life to hear what he will speak by the Voice of his Spirit for the preservation of their Souls which keep silenâ—e before him Vnto me Men gave ear and waited and kept Silence at my Counsel Job 29.30 Now they that are not in the Faith of these things they are in a Faith of their own Righteousness seeking the Lord where he is not to be found crying Lo here and Lo there in this and the other Form wandering in their Minds from place to place from one high Hill to the other barren Mountain which bringeth forth barren Fruit by Hebrem Greek and Latine of which are few that are not in Paul's first state in which all his unsanctified Learning would not give him the true saving Knowledge of God by Jesus Christ for in that unregenerated state Mans Will and Time is not accepted with God but Gods Will is to be Mans Time in that which Man offers unto the Lord otherwise Who required these things at your hands depart from me ye that work Iniquity against me and my People for I know you not and forasmuch as you have not received them you have also denyed me therefore the Lord will utterly destroy the Wicked by bringing their Works to nought but he will preserve the Righteous which shall shine as Stars in the Firmament of Hâ—â—ven as it is written How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad Tidings of good Things Rom. 10.14 15. Now where are the good things that the Hireling Teachers bring as to spiritual I could never find any thing by or from them that did proceed from the divine Nature of God by his Son the Lord Jesus Christ but as to other Mens Lines made ready to their hands that for Money men may buy once or twice a week of which things I shall only touch in this Chapter leaving the substance for another place where through the assisting strength of Gods Power I shall prove to the satisfaction of them whose Minds are in faithfulness before the Lord who cannot bâ—â— see heaâ— and understand that forced Maintenance for Preaching is not according to the Rule of God nor practised by any of his holy Prophets in days past neither is the manner and method in Preaching nor their Order in that they call their Church Government or Gospel Order in their Church with divers others of their Principles and Practices which they account belongs to their Calling are so inconsistent with Gods holy Truth as is sufficiently maniâ—ested by his own Spirit and by his holy Prophets and Apostles lest on holy Record as doth appear by the Declaration of the holy Scriptures and the Spirit of God by which they were given foâ—th and my Charity is to write and speak of them that which I am fully perswaded is the Truth of God iâ— my heart That they either hold the Truth of God iâ— Unrighteousness or that they are ignorant of his saving Knowledge by the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ that is they know little or nothing as they ought to do of Gods â—â—ving Power and spiritual appearance of Christ in their own heâ—â—ts but are blind Leaders of the blind till without true Repentance and Reformation they shall fall together which according to Christs own words all they that continue in a state of unfaithfulness in Dâ—obedience to the giâ—t of his Word of his good Spirit of â—race which is given by measure to heal and make alive they shall â—ade and wither away as fruitless Branches which when their day is over they shall be cut off and cast into the Fire where the Worm dyes not nor the Fire of Goâ—s Wrath goeth out for Christ came not in any measure of that nature which hath appeared in the false Teachers of this Age
for he came not to dest oy mens Lives and Estates but his coming was for this end To save that which he had made alive by calling Sinners to Repentance which by Obedience through Faith found Mercy and entered into that Hope by which the Righteous have been preserved in all Ages Heb. 11.2 to 40. for it is the Just that live by Faith â—ab 2.4 and therein is the Righteousness of â—od revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written The Just shall live by Faith Rom. 1.17 which proves That the Righteous by Faith in Christ are the Just that live by Faith having yeilded their Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which gave them the Hope of Christ through his Death and rising again to Life by whose Spirit of Grace Life and Light they come to receive an assurance bâ— Faith of that blessed Hope in Christ for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls for through Faith by Grace are the Righteous saved for it is the gift of God Ephes 2 8. and the gift of God is Life Eternal unto them that are not found cloathed with any thing of their own Righteousness but altogether cloathed with that Righteousness which is by Faith in Christ which is the Righteousness of God Ephes 3.9 which 〈◊〉 works bâ— love and is that Faith which â—orâ—s into thâ—Vâ—ity of the one Spirit and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Ephes 4.13 in which state the Righteous 〈…〉 â—â—â—tified bâ— Faith and have peace with God through the Lord Jesus â—hrist Rom 5 1. and by him have the â—aith 〈◊〉 access by Faith into the Grace wherein they stand and rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God and not only so but they glory in Tribulation also knowing that Tribulation works Patience and Patience works Experience and Experience works Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shâ—d abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto them Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Which things are by the Spirit of God in his faithful Servants Messengers of Truth left upon holy Record that People may learn to keep low in their Minds from the love of all Vanity and things of a perishing nature that so they may come to give wholly up in their Minds to retain God in their Thoughts by which through Faith and Obedience they may not fall short in the Hope of Gods heavenly Riches which are treasured up in Jesus Christ for all them that by Faith and Obedience live up to his Spirit of Grace Life and Light whereby the faithful have been made partakers of Gods durable Riches which is that Crown of Righteousness laid up in store for all them that by true Faith live in Obedience to the appearance of Christ in their Hearts such so living and so dying shall in no way fall short in the true Hope of Jesus Christ Concerning Perfection and that Warfare which the faithfull are to pass through before they come to witness free and full Redemption from Sin in this Life according as will appear by what follows GOD is perfect just and holy in all his Works and gifts towards all the Sons and Daughters of Men for every good and perfect gift cometh from the Fathêr of all Grace Life and Light with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of Turning Jam. 1.17 but in Man the heart above all things is deceitful and desperately VVicked who can know it save the Lord that made Man in his own Image after his own Likeness made he him and gave him Dominion over the things of the Earth Jer. 17. â— Gen. 1 26. commanding him that he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil for in that day wherein he did eat thereof he should surely dye gen 2.17 Which Command through Disobedience Man broke by which he brought the Sons and Daughters of Men into a state of Lust which through the Temptations of the Enemy to his own feed in the Heart draws the natural Mind to lust after that evil which bringeth sin and sin bringeth Death oveâ— the Soul for the VVages of sin is Death but the gift oâ— God â—s eternal Lâ—â—e unto them who do not remain in that first staâ—e of Dâ—generation sinning against the gift of God for as the Children of men selâ— short of the glory of God through the I all of the first Man Earthly so the Children from Adam 〈◊〉 Faith and Obedience to the gift of â—od shall be saved through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of Life the second Adam â—om Heaven spiritual who requires perfect Obedience of all men to his holy Commands that their Souls through Faith in him may be saved for only they are saved which perfectly believe in him that he is able and willing to give them Power that are willing to keep his Commands â—or which end of Mans Salvation he hath commanded People to be â—â—â—â—ect even as God is Perfect Mat. 5.48 which Command by Jesus Christ seems too straight for many to receive into their Belief of ever attaining such a state in this Life that they either distrust in the Power of God â—y Jesus Christ or otherwise they are not willing to part with all their sins to gain Christ for Sin makes a partition Wall between God and mans Soul that it cannot come to receive the incomes of Gods divine Love by Jesus Christ for all Sin is of Unrighteousness and all Unrighteousness is of the Devil which is the Father of all Sin whose work of Darkness hath no relation to the Kingdom of Heaven neither can any enter Gods holy place before they are free from Sin but he that serves the Lord and keeps all the Commandments of God doth witness a perfect state in this Life Mat. 19.20 21. 5.48 and the holy Scripture is full and clear that such as feared God and wrought Righteousness were perfect Men for Noah which walked with God was a perfect Man and God commanded Abraham to be perfect Gen. 17.1 Also Job was a perfect Mâ—n being upright and one that feaâ—ed God and eschewed evil Job 1.1 cap. â— 2 3. in which Tryal of Job's Faith he saidâ— That God would not cast away a perfect Man Jâ—b 8.20 which manifests that such have been perfect men in this Life otherways the Spirit of the Lord would not have suffered an account of the same to have been recorded in the 〈◊〉 Scriptures of Truth Also David was a man after Gods own heart except in the matter of Vriah of which he repented which could not have been had not David been a perfect Man for he that is not perfect in the Work of the Lord to keep his Commands he is not a Man after the Nature of Christ who perfectly performed the Work of God for the Redemption of Men in whom the work of God is to be perfected by Jesus Christ who came to
to witness the Renewings of Gods Grace from day to day and from time to time which increases their Faith in the hope of Gods heavenly Riches in Jesus Christ whose Spirit of Grace gives Utterance to preach pray add sing in the Spirit of Holiness to the praise and honour of God and to the edification and comfort of one another which is the true worshipping of God in the Spirit and Truth And in this Worship have all been in whose Minds have been turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God through which their Souls were made alive in Jesus Christ without whose Spirit of Grace all preaching praying and singing avails not the Soul in the sight of God for whatever men practice as to the worshipping of God if it do not proceed from the drawings of Life by his own Spirit in and through the Lord Jesus Christ it is no more but what is by and from their own Works of Righteousness which will not justifie in the sight of God to save from his Wrath to come in which Day it will be said Who required these things of you Therefore it is expedient for People which are in their several ways of Worship to be deeply concerned about these things and to make a diligent search with the Light of the Lord in their own hearts which through Obedience they may soon find how it stands between God and their Immortal Souls which must come to witness the Lords spiritual â—ppearance in their Worship which if other ways it is not the true worshipping of God in the Spirit and Truth but is a false Worship which differs not from the Worship of them that worship a false God all which are built without the Spirit of God stand upon sandy Foundation which the Lord in his own due time will overthrow for no Worship shall remain but that which is in the Spirit and Truth for that is the true worship of God and the Father seeks such to worship him for they are the true Worshippers and their building remains upon the Rock of Ages and Foundation of many Generations on which the holy men of God in dayes past built their Faith in him who gave them an assurance in the Hope of their Salvation who in their day were perfect Obedient Children to the gift of Gods divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit which made them able Ministers not of the Letter but of the Spirit by which they were lead and guided in a holy fear to perform the Work of God according as they were moved thereunto by the Power of his own Spirit in and through the Lord Jesus Christ the gift of whose Light and movings of whose Spirit in his People is that which is as much derided and evil spoken of among Professors in this Day as his holy Servants of Truth were by that professing People the Rebellious Jews in days past vvho had a zeal for God but not according to true Knowledge even as it is vvith many vvho profess to vvorship the true God but vvorship in a false vvay in this Day but blessed are they vvhose Works are governed by the Spirit of God in and through Jesus Christ such are they that vvorship God in the Spirit and Truth for as I have said and that by experience that God is Worshipped by his ovvn and not by or from any thing of mans ovvn natural Will but all are to wait the Lords Time that his Will in all things may be done to the honour and praise of his own holy Name and the overlasting comfort of them that continue in the vvell doing unto them belongs a Revvard vvhich is that heavenly Portion of Gods Riches in Christ Jesus vvho is the Author and Finisher of his ovvn Work in them that love him and keep his Commandments Concerning vvhich things it is good for People to consider vvhile Time is before Time be no more for every Man and Woman have a Soul which must either live vvith the Lord of Life or eternally perish vvhich vvill be the state of all them who at the Lords coming shall by him be found to have been Worshippers of false Gods or that have been false Worshippers of him who is the true and living God whom all men are commanded to worship in the true and living way which is in the Spirit and Truth which is the desire of my Soul that all may do that so they may come to witness true Peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ who is God of all and over all blessed be his holy Name for evermore for in him is the Riches of God which belongs to them that worship him in the Spirit and Truth CHAP. VIII Concerning true Prayer by which the faithful find Acceptance with God by Faith in the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ TRue Prayer is an Ordinance of God and a Duty which God requires of Man to be performed by the Power of his own gift which came by Jesus Christ who hath commanded all men to watch and pray in a believing frame of Spirit which is that that God requires of all men and all men that are in perfect Obedience to God they watch and pray by the assisting Power of Gods Spirit by which they are made able to resist the Devil in the hour of Temptation but they who are in Unbelief of Gods Power by Jesus Christ That they shall never be made free from sin in this Life they cannot pray by the Spirit of God because of their Unbelief for all sin is of Unrighteousness and all Unrighteousness is of the Devil and the Pâ—â—â—â—s of them that continue in sin are an Abomination in the sight of God for the Eyes of the Lord are more purer than to behold Sin or regard Iniquity for the Thoughts of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord but the words of the Poor are pleasant words Pro. 15.26 By which it is plain that by Peoples living in Sin is the cause of their Prayers not being accepted with the Lord because the Wayes of the Wicked are an Abomination before him but he loveth him that followeth after Righteousness Prov. 15.9 for sin being loved and entertained makes a separation between God and mans Soul in which state man is incapable of receiving the incomes of Gods divine Love by Jesus Christ by whose Spirit of Life the hearts of them which hunger and thirst after Righteousness come to be enlightened through which they come to receive his Will in what they should pray for unto him for Man in his own Will cannot know when or what to pray for â—s he ought to do for thou O Lord hast revealed unto thy Servant therefore hath thy Servant found in his heart to pray this Prayer unto thee 2 Sam. 7.27 By which it is evident that true spiritual Prayer proceedeth from the Power of Gods Spirit by which the Righteous come to enjoy the benefit of that which they
pray for but the Unrighteous pray for the deliverance from sin which living in a state of Unbelief that God will never in this Life wholly free them from Sin which Unbelief stops the current of Life and hinders the Work of God by Christ whose Work by Faith in him is to destroy Sin and put an end to Transgression that is in them which believe in the gift of his Grace by which men are saved for its the Gift of God which comes by Jesus Christ and through Faith in him is Life Everlasting that is to them who through Faith have their whole dependance on him but where men remain in a state of dayly sining against the manifestation of his spirit which all have received to profit with all it keeps them short of Gods Grace by Jesus Christ for the Prayers of the Wicked are sin because they remain in sin which causeth their Prayars to be sin in the sight of God for the Prayers of the wicked are an Abomination before the Lord and the Sacrifice of the wicked are an Abomination to him but the Prayers of the Vpright is his delight Psal 119.7 Prov. 15.2 so it is the Prayers of the Upright in heart which the Lord accepts and delights in for unto them is the promise of God by Christ who renews the Faith of his People by the power of his spirit which begets the inward man into a lively hope of that assurance which by true Faith the soul receives by true Prayer unto the Lord through which Prayer by Grace every Dispensation of Gods gifts come to be sanctified through the Power of his own spirit for every Dispensation is from God and only sanctified to the Righteous which receive of the Lords free benefits and rich Mercies of his Love in the outward Dispensation which through Prayer and Thanks-giveing are sanctified to them which live in Uprightness of heart and mind towards God which the Unrighteous also pretend but it is with unclean Hearts for which cause the Lord will not accept their Prayers for the Lord only dwells with the pure in heart whose minds are wrought into a true and living sence of Gods heavenly riches in Jesus Christ which is the inheritance of his faithfull People which pray unto him by the power of his own spirit which doth condemn the Prayers of all unrighteous men who pray in their own time and in their own wills But some may then query Whether the Unrighteous are not commanded to pray Ans The hearts of the righteous desire the return of the Wicked that they may forsake the evil of their way and serve the Lord in Truth and Righteousness and that the Wicked are to pray which will not discharge any part of their Disobedience to God until they come to forsake their Unrighteous way of sinning against the gift of his Grace and divine Light of his Spirit which remains their Condemnation for sin Joh. 3.19 20 21. By which it is evident that the Prayer of a wicked man availeth not before the Lord that is while he remaineth in the known Life of Sin which he prays against but let the wicked forsake their way and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and unto our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55 7. So that where men live in known sins against God and in a belief of its being impossible to be free from sin in this Life the Prayer of such doth not proceed from the Spirit of God who hath Commanded his People not to touch taste nor handle with any unclean thing but to follow the leadings of Gods holy Spirit as the Apostles have done for Example and to mark them which walk otherwayes So every man and every woman is to seek God for themselves for he hath promised to be found of them that seek him in uprightness of heart and I do not read that any of the Lords servants in dayes past were ever lead by the spirit of God to pray either privatly among People in unbelief of ever attaining that which ths Apostles prayed for which is that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus then where in remains the profit of any true Beleivers Prayer in publick though in his own family which through their unbelief in the power of God that they shall never be free from sin in this Life by which they are not as yet of the true Houshold of Faith at times and seasons as the spirit of God moves in the heart of every such master of family he doth pray for the return of them and all other People which remain in the same state of Unbelief which until they repent and forsake their prayers will not be accepted of God CHAP. IX Concerning the Lords Supper which People call the Sacrament AS to the word Sacrament I find it not contained in the holy Scriptures of Truth but as to the Lords Supper according to Christs OWN words Luke 22.1.20 when he took Bread and gave Thanks and broke it and gave it to his Disciples saying This is my Body which is given you This do in Remembrance of me likewise also thê up after Supper saying This is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you The fore-going words some have Wrested by which they have gathered in their Comprehension some-what of a Meritorious Work which they hold most necessary to Salvation â—rom which grounds they have set up a Form each for themselves according to the Apprehension of the natural Mind being altogêther destitute of experience of the Power of the Blood of Christ the end of whose Death was not to destroy mens Lives and Estaâ—es about his Body and Blood for his Coming was to heal the Sick to bind up the Broken and to make alive but where the Nature of Christ is wanting they are not come to the true saving Knowledge of God by the Body and Blood of Christ through whose Death and Resurrection there is no hope of Salvation to them that by his Blood are not cleansed from all sin in this Life for where sin remains it Rules the Heart and darkens the Understanding by which the Power of God is not received which gives the true knowledge of the Nature of the body and Blood of Jesus Christ which proves their Form dead and they to remain in a dead Form having a zeal for God without his saving Knowledge by Jesus Christ about whose Body and Blood many thousands of Peoples Lives have been destroyed which makes manifest that such are not in the true form of Godliness for neither Christ nor his Apostles have enjoyned any to particular time or place but in remembrance of his Death as is furder manifested by the Apostles saying 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26 27. That Christ took the Cup when he had supped saying This is the New-Testament in my Blood this do ye as often as you drink it in remembrance of me So
the Gift of his Grace they may not fall short of the true Hope which is by Jesus Christ who will not with-hold from any man of his Grace whom he finds in the well doing for he that doth well shall be accepted but he that doth not well sin â—veth at the door and unto him shall be his desire and he shall rule over him which proves sin is the cause of mans perishing for the spirit of 〈…〉 and whosoever wîll let him come and tane the Water of Life freely Rev. 22 7. So that for my part ac 〈…〉 that small measure of Light which God hath 〈…〉 Concerning the knowledge of his Truth as it 〈◊〉 he Son of his Love the Lord Jesus thorough Faith 〈◊〉 do I believe with many thousands oâ— the Lords â—â—â—thfull People that God who in his indâ—ite Wisdom knows all things long before the â—oâ—ld began and whatever comes to pass that it is by his Power of commission or permission but thaâ— he hath unchangeably ordained whatsoever cames to pass seems to me a charging of God with all the unrighteous Actions and wicked Wâ—â—ks that ever unrighteous and wicked men have done or ever shall do for time to come and to hold that God from all eternâ—â—ty hath ordained men women and their infants for everlasting perdition without respect to their final impeaitency is that which they can never prove by or from any things that is left on holy Record by the Spirit of God in the holy Scriptures of Truth for he that fears God and works his righteousness through Faith in Christ the same shall be accepted as a faithfull Child of God and true Servant of Jesus Christ whom the Father hath made manifest by the gift of his divine Light which through Obedience thereunto no man need walk in Darkness but have the Light of Life which gives the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Everlasting CHAP. XIII Concerning the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation through Faith in Christ to the Souls of them that by him are saved THe Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ John 1. vers 17. Now the Love of God is largely manifested through the gift of his Grace which came by Jesus Christ before whom no mans works shall stand which are not sanctified by Grace neither can any mans works be sanctified by Grace further then he comes into Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit of Grace which is that gift of divine Light which God hath bestowed to the Children of men thorough the Death Resurrection of his Son the Lord of Life in whom the fullness of Grace remaineth and it is by the Grace of Gods Power in and thorough him which sanctifieth the soul of every true Believer in him by whom thâ—i saith is imputed to them for Righteousness by which they are justified before God in the sight of Jesus Christ whose Kingdom hath been prepared before the Foundation of the World for the righteous to enter for their works have been in obedience to the gift of Gods Grace for as there is but one God and one Lord Jesus Christ and one Spirit so there iâ— but one saving Grace in the Ground Seed and Root or Being and Nature for the race of God is one and manifold according as we read in the holy Scriptures of the manifold Grace of God and manifold Wisdom of God even as the Spirit of God is one but diversity of Gifts and there are Diversities of Operations but one God and diversity of Administrations but one Lord and the Scriptures do declare of the Spirit of Fear and Bondage and of Adoption also the Sâ—â—â—â—ture distinguisheth between the Servants and Sons in the Hâ—â—se of God â—or every son is a servant of God but every Servant is not a son born of the Free Woman And of this mystery Ishmael and Isaac were Figures men may be Servants and Sons by the Bond Woman by obedience â—o the first Ministration of the Spirit or Light within as it teacheth common Duties Piety Temperance Justice without revealing the Mystery of Christ crucified and raised again or working the Faith of it but none are the Sons of God by the Free Woman or Children of the New Covenant but they who have the Mystery of Christ crucified and raised again Outwardly revealed in them and have a living Faith in it by which they witness a conformity to Christ in his Life Death and Resurection and by that Power that raised him from the dead The sufficiency of Gods Grace within is not to be understood in opposition either to the Faith of Christ as he was outwardly Crucified for us and rose again and is a scended into Heaven there making Intercession for us nor in opposition to the great benefit and help of the holy Scriptures or sincere preaching of faithfull men or any other help but in unity with all these and it ought to be acknowledged that though God hath not left the Heathens where Christ is not outwardly Preached altogether destiture but hath given them a dispensation of Light that is real and divine and is of great service to them who improve it to prepare and call them to receive the Faith of Christ when Preached to them yet faithful Christians are under another Dispensation of Light and Grace as far exceeding that of the meer Heathens however honest or conscientious as Gold excelleth Brass or the Light of the Sun excelleth that of the Moon but both proceeding from one God one Christ and one spirit and the sufficiency of Grace that any man doth receive or that any man hath is only with respect to the present time and state but not for all times to come for the best of Saints are to depend and Pray to God to receive more and more Grace from him who is the God of all Grace and Father of Mercies and Father of Lights which lighteth his Sons and Daughters by the gift of his Grace and good Spirit of Life which giveth unto them the Light of Life to walk in the straight and even way which he hath layd out by the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ who is one with God the Father in all his holy Works of Grace Life and Light by which he is Working among the Sons and Daughters of men among whom is also the spirit of Iniquity working in and thorough the many Teachers which would make the Grace of God to be 〈◊〉 and differing in kind of being and nature when it is evident that though the 〈◊〉 diversities of gifts yet they all proceed from the one Spirit of the one God and one Lord Jesus Christ whose Grace is but one which restrains and saves from sin for he is the only begotten of the Fâ—â—â—hâ— full of Grace and Tâ—uth and of his fulness every true Believer in him receives 〈…〉 for Grace John 1.14 16. and by his Grace they received Apostleship for Obedience to the
Faith among all Nations for his Name Rom. 1.5 that in Ages to come they might shew forth the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his kindness towards them through Jesus Christ Ephes 2.7 and this is the Grace which is of God and is sufficient for the Salvation of them â—hat truly believe 2 Cor. 12.9 So that it is not an outward are Profession of what God hath wrought by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of others but that every man and woman live their Life in true Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace that by Faith in Christ they may witness the same Life through faith by which men are saved for the Grace of God bringeth Salvation only to them thaâ— believe in the the gift of his â—race without which no man can be saâ—ed foâ— it is by Grace that men are saved and noâ— oâ— an 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 of themselves but by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ Ephes 2 8. Then seeing it is by Gâ—ace that men are â—aved and not of themselves let every man and woman turn in the strength of the Mind to the teaching of Gods gift of Grace which teacheth to deny all Vngodliness and to live a righteous sober and godly Life in this present Woâ—â— that nothing may appear but what is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace to the Hearers Eph. 4.29 for where there is Obedience to the gâ—â— of Gods Grace â—â—e more of Christ dwelleth richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Sâ—ngs singing with Grace in their Hearts Col. 3.16 17. which â—s contrary to the practice of mâ—â—y thousands who profess much in the outward of God and Christ in this day whereby they gain of one another the outward Name of Christians but inwardly in the Anti-christian Practice as their outward fruits manifest for where Faith is without Works it is 〈◊〉 dead Faith and in such Grace works no effect towards 〈◊〉 peace with God in Christ by whom the Righteous are 〈◊〉 conciled to God through Faith by Grace in him 〈◊〉 requires perfect Obedience to the gift of his Grace which teaches his â—eople to pray preach and sing with Grace 〈◊〉 their hearts to the praise and honour of his holy Name and edification of one another which they that yeild 〈◊〉 their Obedience to the Spirit of Grace cannot do for which cause of their unclean Fruits their Condemnation doth follow in which state they witness no true peace through Faith by Grace in Jesus Christ whose Sons and Daughters begotten through Grace in him they continue in the Way of the Lords own â—aying out having their words seasoned as with Sâ—â—â— and Grace abounding in their hearts through which by grace they become able Witnesses for the Lord of Life that by him through grace they are made able to perform his Will in what of them he requires by his good spirit of Grace Col. 3 17 in which state the Love of God by Jesus Christ is his Peoples everlasting Consolation and good Hope through Grace 2 Thes 2 1â— Not by Works of Righteousness which they have done but according to his Grace by the washing of Regeneration and the reâ—ewâ—nâ— of the holy Ghost Tit. 3 5 Which is sufficient encourage neâ— to come with holdness unto thâ— Throne of his Grace by which they obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 For the Grace of God hath appeared unto all men teaching them that they should dâ—ny Vngodliness and Wouldly Lâ—st and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tâ—â— 2.11 12. By which we see and know that all men have received of his Grace sufficient for the present time and state for as the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath in measure appeared unto all men so all men that have neglected the day of Gods Visitation they shall be left without any excuse in that Day of the Lords calling all to an account for the Deeds done in the Body when it shall go well with the Righteous but sorrow and trouble will reach the Wicked on every side for the Lord will not hold them guiltless which take his Name in vain Then will the Wicked which have derided at the movings of Gods good Spirit of Grace in his People come to know a Day of Trouble when the Lord shall laugh at their Distress for unto them Damnation slumbereth nor sleepeth not but will overtake all the Ungodly as a Thieâ— in the Night of their Darkness but it shall go well with the Righteous which ask in Faith without doubting unto them is Salvation through Grace by Jesus Christ who came to save his People from their sins for which end he was made a littlâ— lower than the â—ngels for the suffering of Death and crowned with Glory and Honour that he might by the Grace of God taste Death for every man Hâ—â— 2 9. that whosoever believeth in him 〈…〉 but have Life eternal for the Promise 〈…〉 â—ent to then 〈◊〉 at believe in the gift of 〈…〉 of his Will and Mind by Faith thrâ—â— Grace in Jesus Christ by whom the Souls of them thaâ— believe in him are justified in the sight of God for he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2 11. for bâ— the Grace of God are they of him who unto them of God is made Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 〈◊〉 1.30 by which People may see that the main cause why People perish is through Disobedience to the gift of Gods Grace which by Jesus Christ they have received and it bringeth the Tenders of Salvation to every man in some measure or degree which as improved leads unto perfect Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus which they that refuse do unjustly charge God that is is for want of Grace by which they perish when that it is not for want of Grace tendered unto them but for want of their Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which is sufficient for the Salvation of them that are faithful thereunto so as the Righteous through Faith and Obedience grow from grace to grace until they become perfect in Christ Jesus so the Unrighteous through unfaithfulness by Disobedience sin away the Grace of God more and more until the Day of Gods Grace with them be over and his Spirit with them hath left striving which all ought to consider while they have time to Repent for there is no repenting in the grave CHAP. XIV Concerning the Resurrection MAny are the People that are concerned to know how the dead are raised and with what Bodies they appear â—or 〈◊〉 what Bodies they do come forth Then seeing their minds are to concerned to know with what Bodies they shall appear doth manifest that they are not come to the knowledge of Gods saving Power through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ which to know gives
an assurance of Salvation in which state mâ—n may know hâ—w the dead are raised and with what Bodies they shall appear for it is certain that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead bâ—th of the Just and Unjust for all shall appear before the Lord the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth before whom the heavenly spirited and the earthly spirited shall appear to give an account of all their Deeds done in the Body of this Life which then will be time sufficient for the unrighteous to know with what Bodies they shall appear in the mean time the Apostles words are very suitable unto all such whose state of Disobedience is far from the saving knowledge of God by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and though not simply fools yet through 〈…〉 Disobedience and Unbelief 〈…〉 as the 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 the husband man â—o 〈…〉 of the Râ—â—rrection Thou soul that which thou so rest is not qâ—â—e 〈…〉 it dye and 〈◊〉 which thou so rest thou so well noâ— that 〈◊〉 that shall be bath reâ—â—rain it â—ay chance of Whâ—at 〈…〉 othâ—r Grain and withall coâ—â—ledes that God 〈…〉 as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body 1 Cor. 15.35 36 37 38. by which the unrighteous may know with what Bodies they shall come forth for he that so with to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soâ—eth to the Spirit shall of the spirit reap Lifâ— Everlasting Gal 6.5 for the time is at hand that he that is Vnjust let him be Vnjust still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is Righteous let him be Righteous â—â—ll and he that is Holy let him be Holy stiâ—â— fâ—r behold the Lord will quickly come and his Reward will 〈◊〉 with him to give every man according as his works shall be Rev 22.11 12. which doth manifest that according as men have sown so shall they reap for every seed shall have his own Body whether of Works of Faith and Obedience to Salvation or Works of Unbelief and Disobedience to Damnation Then seeing these things are plain as by holy Record which agrees with the inward Word of Gods Spirit and the gift of his divine Light which came by Jesus Christ and through Faith in Obedience to him through whom Salvation comes which work is most necessary for People to be concerned in for as the Soul is the most Noble part of Man so ought every man principally to be concerned about his Soul and the well air thereof yet because the Body is a part of the Man and that Christ is the Saviour doth of Soul and Body of every sincere Believer in him therefore every Man may and ought to be concerned about the whole Man both â—oul and Body and the Faith and Hope of the Resurrection of the Body as the â—pirit of God worketh that Faith and â—ope in us it is of great use to sanctifie us and prepare us for the Resurrection to come for Paul doth not call them Fools simply for enquiring concerning the manner of the Resurrection but for their Ignorance and Unbelief that some did not believe the Resurrection which they that do not believe it they remain in gross Ignorance and Unbelief and such are directed to the Husband-man to learn the manner of the Resurrection by using the Example of the â—orn And it is a great Error for any to hold That the Saints now living in the mortal Body have attained the Resurrection of the Body or that they attain it immediately after Death for it is most evident from the holy Scriptures that the Resurrection of the Dead is reserved to the last coming of Christ to judge the quick and the dead and the dâ—â—d in Christ shall rise first so where there is the true knowledge to God in Christ of the Souls well-being it mâ—â—t necessarily follow that the spiritual Understanding wâ— be the more capable to know in what state the Body wâ—â—appâ—aâ— which shall never enter Gods Kingdom with natural Flesh â—lood aâ—d Bones for though it be sown a natural Body it is raised a spiritual Body as it is written The first â—â—aâ— a living Soul the last â—â—dam was mad a quickâ—ning Spirit so that which was first was not spiritual but natural and afterwards that which is spiritual Sâ— then it must be 〈…〉 minded only that have the true knowledge of these things for the natural minded man is a fool aâ— to the true Knowledge of God because he remains in Dâ—â—obedience to the gift of his Grace but is bewitched that he should not obey the Truth made manifest by Jesus Christ Gal. 3.1 through which unfaithfulness the mind of his Understanding is Darkness as to the things of God which chiefly concern his Soul and such live without God in the World not knowing that there is a God by his saving Grace according as by their Works is manifest which includes them to be one with the fool which saith in his heart there is no God neither indeed is there any Salvation of God to the rebellious Children of Disobedience who pretend they know God but in Works deny him Therefore it is most necessary for all such to bend in their Minds and by true Repentance seek the Lord whiâ—e he is to be found for he is only found of them that truly seek him in true Humility of Spirit and not oâ— them that remain in a state of serving the Lust of their corrupted Desires and yet remain talking about the fashion of the Body and in what likeness they shall appear before they witness any thing for the Souls wellfair as they â—â—ght to do for Christ is rîsen otherwise all preaching is in vain and Faith also is in vain or if the deaâ— rise not thâ—n is not Christ raised and if Christ 〈…〉 raised Faith is in vain and all men are yet in their sins Buâ— the Lord hath given a true knowledge of himself to the Righteous who witness Christ to be raised from the dead and is become the first Fruits of them that slept and by true Faith they witness his Resurrection by what they feel of his heavenly divine Nature that he is raised from the dead for since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15.21 22. So as People come to witness a dying state from sin they shall also witness a living â—ate to God through whose Spirit of Grace they shall partake of his heavenly Riches through Faith in Jesus Christ but as to these spiritual things there is no profit by them to any who come not into Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which comes by Jesus Christ whom no man knoweth but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Mat. 11 2â— Joh. 6.44 Then as the Scriptures are left for
that service for which it was intended that is for the honour of God and service of mens outward Imployments between Man and Man and Nation anâ— Nation and not to be upheld for this end that non without humane Learning are capable of preaching thâ— Gospel for Paul without that Learning which was 〈◊〉 the Wisdom of God was not capable of preaching Chriâ—â— to the Peoplè no more are they Gospel Ministers nâ— Ministers of the Gospel which remain in Pauls first staâ— of outward Learning but Learning sanctified through Grace by Faith in Jesus Christ is of benefit to his People which without Grace outward or 〈◊〉 Learning cannot be any Honour to God for 〈◊〉 profit of his People which doth prove that men without Grace cannot be the true Ministers of Christ but all without Grace are of the Ministers of Anti-christ unto whom no Gospel Mainteuance belongeth for they remain in the outward knowledge of the Letter and by their Fruits they are manifest not to be the Ministers of Christ but the Ministers of Anti-christ CHAP. XVI Concerning divine Inspiration and Revelation MAny are the Teachers which hold all divine Inspiration and Revelation to be ceased ever since the Apostles days and from that time that God hath wholly committed his Will and Mind to be known by the written Word To which I Answer That God in Christ before the World began did determine all things necessary for mans Salvation whom God did make in his own Image and gave him Dominion over the Works of his own Hand which Image of Holiness Man lost in the Fall Now Adam is called the Son of God and he that is a Son of God is also a Child of God Luke 3.38 in whom the Spirit of God by measure dwelleth which is for this end to direct the mind of Man unto the true and living Knowledge of God for which end there was a sufficient gift of God Spirit to save Adam's Soul which gift in measure is given to all the Children of Men that they may know the Mind of God and do it for Salvation is not by the Works of the Law but by Grace through Faith in â—esus Christ for the Law was given by â—loses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of his own work of in his people John 1 1â— and for that end they have received a divine gift of his Spirit of Grace which doth reveal the Mind and Will of God in and through the Son of his love the Lord Jesus which is Christ by the divine Life and Light of his Spirit in his People the Hope of Glory in which state they serve the Lord of Life according to the Revelation of his Spirit of which all in measure have received or shall receive for their Obedience to the Faith through which Obedience of Faith is the Justification of Life and Salvation and Condemnation unto them whose Disobedience is to the true Faith which hath been delivered unto the Saints unto whom the Lord in measure doth reveal himself in this day as to his faithful Children in days past it being granted that God gave extraordinary Revelations c. to the holy Prophets and Apostles beside what he gave them in common with all Saints for he changeth not but is the same God yesterday to day and for evermore who makes known the Mystery of Salvation by the Revelation of his good Spirit of Grace through their Faith in Jesus Christ So now as the Almighty God hath in all Ages made known of his Will and Mind to the Children of men by the revealings of his Spirit in their hearts even so is it among his Children in this Day who behold with their spiritual Eyes the mighty Works of God to their Souls by the Revelations of his Spirit in and through Jesus Christ for he that was to come is come in whom the fullness is and hath brought in the hope of Salvation to all them that believe in the gift of his Spirit which doth reveal the Mind of God in his People who witness him to be come which hath fulfilled all Righteousness and brought in the Hope of Assurance which is revealed by the Inspiration of his holy â—pirit in them through which they are brought into a further acquaintance with the Lord of Life whom to know through the drawings of the Father is Life Eternal through the Son for no man cometh to receive Life by the Son but as the Father draws him neither cometh any to the Father but by the Son John 6.44 Thes 65 So here is a drawing by the Spirit which reveals the Will of God in the Children of his own begetting thorough which by Faith they come into fellowship with the Son more and more whom no man knoweth but the Father neither knoweth any the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Mat. 11 2â— Therefore the true saving knowledge of God is by the divine Revelation of his own Spirit in and through Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Eternal of which the Scriptures do declare that the Power of God remains in the gift of his Grace which câ—me by Jesus Christ through which is the assurance of Salvation to them that by Faith in Christ through whom by his Grace they are saved Now the holy scriptures were given forth by the holy Spirit of God therefore is his Spirit before and above the Scriptures as the workman is above the instrument he works with for the spirit worketh with the Scriptures instrumentally upon the souls of men both to inform their Understandings and to move and incline their Wills and Affections and no man can understand the things oâ— the Spirit but by the Revelation of the Spirit for they in days past did search the Scriptures thinking therein to find eternal Life when tho' they restifie of him yet there is no Life to them thâ— by true Faith in Obedience to the gift of his Spirit will noâ— come unto him Joh. 5.39 40 Here is Life tendered but not barely and only by the Scriptures but by coming to Christ for they in that day had the outward knowledge of the Letter which kills without the saving knowledge of God in Christ which by Faith is revealed thorough the Gift of his own Spirit in his People for all that either tends to Salvation or Condemnation it is by the Revelation of Gods Spirit in man for the Spirit of God keeps striving against the Enemies Power in them whom God hath armed with his spiritual Armor against the Devils Temptations and in them that disobey God thorough their Life of Disobedience to the gift of his divine Light in them it is their condemnation for sin and evil Joh. 3.19 Rom. 1.18 19. 2 Cor. 3.6 for it is by the Revelation of Gods Spirit that men come to the knowledge of which thought and intent is for him or against his Truth for the thoughts and Intents of men whether
good or evil the Lord shews it unto them in their own heart and conscience by the Revelation of his spirit which Justifies the thoughts and intents of the Righteous but condemns the thoughts and intents of the Wicked Now the holy Scripture is short in giving men the knowledge of their thoughts and intents without the searchings of the Spirit of God for the Lord searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reigns and decleares unto Man what is his Thoughts Amos 4.13 Also the Prophet hath said by the Spirit of Truth That they shall all be taught of God which is according to Christs saying John 6 45. Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to meâ— neither hath Eye seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath Prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God for what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit oâ— God and to whom the Spirit reveals them for true believers in this day as well as in dayes past have not received the Spirit of the World but the spirit which is of God that they might know the things that are freely given to them of God 1 Cor. 2 9 10 11 12 By which it is manifest that divine Revelation by the inspiration of Gods holy Spirit is of absolute necessity for Salvation in and thorough Faith by Jesus Christ whom no man can know but by the revealed gift of his Spirit which through Faith begets the inward man into the saving knowledge of God and of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ through which every true Believer in him comes to receive of the like benefit with the Saints in their day to see with their spiritual Eyes and to hear with their spiritual Ears and with their spiritual hands they come to handle the Word oâ— Life 1 John 1.1 Then if all divine Revelation and Inspiration of Gods Spirit to his Children be ceased must not all spiritual seeing and spiritual hearing be ceased also which by their Doctrines doth seem to me as if they conclude Christ also to be ceased for if the Inspiration of Gods holy Spirit of Revelation be ceased then how shall God and Christ be heard and seen spiritually as believers in dayes past did spiritually hear and see him Also if God hath committed his whole Will and Mind to Writing then by what means are these saved which have not received the knowledge of the Letter of the holy scripture Will they conclude they all perish for want of the Letter when the Mind and Will of God is that a Remnant of all Nations of them that fear him and work Righteousness shall be saved And though the holy Scriptures do give Infallible Marks of such an estate yet there is no scripture can infallibly assure any man that he hath these marks but it must be the spirit of God that gives every true believer such an assurance for the spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.6 So it is the Spirit of God by which that assurance is revealed to beleivers or more properly in believers by which they come to witness that they have the Son and he that hath the Son of God hath Life 1 Joh 5.12 Now the holy Scriptures hold forth that he that hath the Son of God hath Life but give no assurnce of Life but the Spirit of God doth reveal an assurance which proves that all divine Revelation is not ceased CHAP. XVII Concerning the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Anti-Christ THe whole state of mans Life is governed in Thoughts Words and Actions by the Power of the Spirit which hath the Commanding part in man who is either governed by the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of Antichrist which is the Devil for there are but two Spirits which rule the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ which rules in the Righteous whose Thoughts Words and Actions are governed by the Power of Gods Spirit which brings the Thoughts of the Faithful to be subject in Obedience to the Power of his own Spirit in and through Faith by Jesus Christ Now the Spirit of the Devil is that Anti-Christ which Gods Power permits to rule in the Children of Disobedience whose Thoughts Words and Actions are governed by the Spirit of the Devil so that men are Servants unto that Power which they obey for the Thoughts of mans Mind are in a continual motion and where God is not retained in the Thoughts they cannot be of any service to him for the Souls benefit but are in servitude to him unto whom they yeild their Obedience which Work altogether tends for Distruction of the soul therefore People ought to be diligent with that gift of divine Light which God hath given to find out the hidden things of Darkness in the heart of man who by Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace may come to understand the Lords Will to be done in their Thoughts Words and Actions which work will bring honour to the Name of the Lord and Peace to their own Souls for he that brings his Deeds to the Light they are made manifest by the Light whether they are wrought in God through faith and Obedience to the gift of his Grace for the promise of God by Christ is to the obedient part for his Children are made a free and Willing People to serve him with uprightness of Heart Mind Thoughts Word and Actions for the carnal Thoughts of man brings Death over the soul but the spiritual Thoughts of man bring Life for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace with God in Christ Sâ— as there is but two Spirits which bare rule the one or the other hath the Commanding part in the heart and mind of man for the Mind cannot serve two Masters that is no man can serve God and Mammon for while the Mind is in obedience to the Spirit of Life it overcomes the Spirit of Death but while it remains in obedience to the Spirit of Anti-Christ it becomes dead remains with Death which state hath no relation to the things of Christs Kingdom for God is not a God oâ— that which is dead in sin and Treâ—pass against the heavenly divine gift of his Spirit of Grace Life and Light which come by Jesus Christ whole Spirit is not of this World neither are they of this World whose Minds are begotten of God thorough him to live in Obedience to his holy Truth but the Spirit of Anti-Christ is of this World and rules the Thoughts Words and Actions of them who are the Children of this World which by subjecting to his Power they believe that in the best of men sin remaineth all the
own hearts 2 Tim. 4.8 which is that true beâ—eving on Christ by which the faithfull receive Life everlasting John 6.7 for he that loveth any thing more thâ—n the appearance of Gods Gift of divine Light of Life by Jâ—ins Christ he is not in the true Love of God to receive Christ for he that will not come into obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit in his own heart he is free through Disobedience from the Love of God by Jesus Christ for it is the Willing and Obedient that are made partakers of Gods heavenly Riches by the Son of his Love and Lord of Life whose Life remains hid to them that are not willing in true love to forsake the love of all Visibles and visible Delights for his sake but they who in obedience to him are willing to forsake the love of Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Fathers or Mothers or Wife or Children or Lands for the Name of Christ they shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherâ—â— everlasting Life Mat. 19.29 Luke 8.29 30. So that Life and Salvation is of no other way then by that love which is free for God to serve him in what he hath commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ who requires no less love from his People then to serve him in true love of Uprightness in heart and mind for he that was to come is come to redeem his People from spiritual Bondage and they are to serve no other lovers but the Truth of God made manifest by the Son of Gods love the Lord Jesus Christ whose Commands they are to keep all the dayes of their appointed time and not to love any thing more then to serve the Lord with a perfect heart and willing mind out of which state the Soul is free from that benefit which the faithfull receive through the love of God by Jesus Christ for no man can remain in love to serve two Masters he will either hate the one love the other or despise the one and hold with the other for no man can serve God and mammon Mat. 6.2 Luke 16.13 but many are they that profess love to God in words but their love is far from him in works for he that saith his love is to God and doth not keep the Commandments of God the same is a Lyer and the love of God abideth not in him for whosoever keepeth his word in him is the Love of God perfected and he is known by his walking even as he walked Joh. 2.1 â— 3 4 5 6. for Christ is the Righteousness of Gods Love to his People and every one that doth Righteousness is born of him 1 Ioh. 2 2â— then People who are in a profession of Gods Truth and of loving one another and their Neighbours as themselves which except such Professors are come to witness the saving Love of God and of his redeeming Power through Faith and Obedience to the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit their Profession is for Condemnation because it remains dead as to the Love of God by Jesus Christ in which state it is not he that saith Lord Lord that shall enter but he that doth the will of God in love of obedience to what he hath required which is to serve him and keep his Commandments for in that day many shall say they have done wonderfull Works in his Name but having not done the will of God in perfect Love of Obedience to keep his Commandments they shall not be found worthy to enter the Lords Rest Mat. 7. to 23. Luke 13.27 So that Gods Love is not for the rest of mans Soul which remains only in the outward Profession of his Truth unto such the Lord will say Depart from me ye that work Iniquity I know you not so that the Love of God by Jesus Christ doth not reach to save the soul of any man only and barely by an outward Profession of his Truth but if any man love him and keep his Word the same is accepted of God Iohn 14. for the Promise of Gods Love is only to them that fear him and work Righteousness they shall receive Life everlasting for where the heart is there the Treasure is also if in the Love of Visibles then free from the love of God for all that is of the World the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life all which is not of God but altogeather of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth forever 1 Iohn 16.17 then as the World and Vanities thereof shall perish the Souls of them whose minds remain in the things of this World they shall perish also therefore let none be deceived for God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that also shall he reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but be that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting Gal. 6.7.8 which is sufficient encouragement for all to be faithfull in love to God by which they will come more and more to witness of his divine Love to the spiritual strength of their inward man through which every true Believer in him comes to witness their holy Life in all manner of good Conversation in which state the love of God in and through the Lord of Life leadeth in true love to do good unto all men especially to them of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6. â— 10. who arê bound in true love to God that they do not dare to love that which God haâ—tâ— neither to hate that which God loves neither indeed can they because the Love of God is to his own begetting and they that are begot of him through Faith and Obedience in Christ they can neither love nor hate but as â—â—od loveth or hateth that which is for him or against him so that the Life of every true believer in Christ is of the nature of Christ and is led by his spirit to love that which Christ loveth and to hate that which he hateth in which Life of true love to God by his good Spirit of Grace are the faithful led to perform his will in all things of Love and Charity to the honour of his Name and the everlasting well-beeing of their own Immortal Souls so that good Works are in a band of true Love and Charity which man in his own Will and Time cannot perform according to what the Lord requires for the Lords Thoughts are not as mans Thoughts neither is the Lords Time as mans time whose Love is as unstable as the Mind which mâ—ves here and there having no constant abiding place even so is the Love and charity of unstable men which for want of true Love to God and obedience to his command they have no a biding in his Truth but love and hate even as the natural will stands affected one towards the other in which state
his holy Will who knocks at the door of mans heart for obedience to his holy Truth which if any man will obey the Word of his Grace he spiritually will come in and sup with them and they with him Rev. 3.20 Then the Table of the Lord is in a clean heart and with them of a willing mind for Christ will not enter the Door to remain for his abode with them of corrupt hearts and unwilling minds whose state is alway to confess but never to forsake all sin against God and his Christ neither doth the most High dwell in Temples made with hands Acts 7.4.8 17.24 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the High and Holy Place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit and revive the heart of the contrite Ones Isa 57.15 But to this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and Trembles at my Word Isa 66.2 By which it is manifest that God in Christ by the Grace of his Spirit of Life and Light dwelleth not in outward Covenants made by men in their own time and will whose hope of Salvation as they say depends on the Promises of God by Christ who is not to be found in all their humane Precepts and Ordinances which from time to time for many years People have observed which to the Dâ—obedient the Lords coming to them will be even as his coming was to a Generation in days past whom savingly he did not know because their works and way was not in obedience to his holy Commands for which cause though many Works by them were done in the outward Profession of his Name yet they were commanded to depart from him as workers of Iniquity because they had not kept the Commandment of God Mat. 7.23 Luke 13.22 27. for the Works of their own establishing were found unclean before the Lord even as all mens works will be which are not established by the Power of Gods Spirit in and through the Lord of Life whose Life is only witnessed in men of clean hearts and willing minds who are made willling that Christ should rule every Thought of the Heart and Intent of the Mind that all their Works may be done to the Honour and Praise of his own Name and they to receive the Comfort of it to their own Souls in which state of Obedience they witness the Cords of Gods Love to draw the heart and mind in to a more and more fellowship of his divine Nature in and through the Lord Jesus Christ by which they remain in the true Worship of the Spirit and in the Truth and such Worshippers are they whom the Lord seeks to worship him Joh. 4 22 23 24. 6.44 Then the true Church and People of God witness a drawing by his Spirit or the Power of his Spirit in and through the Lord of Life otherways they cannot receâ—ve Life for no man cometh to the Son except the Father draw him for all things of the Father are delivered unto the Son and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son reveals him Therefore all that will come to the knowledge of God by Jesus Christ it must be through Faith and Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit of Grace which comes by Jesus Christ under whose eafie Yoke and light Burthen all may learn of him who is meek and lowly whereby they that are heavy laden may come to find rest in him to their Souls Mat. 11.27 28 29 30. for by and through the Power of God in Christ every obedient Child learns of the will and mind of God in Chriâ—â— Joh. 6.45 by which Life and Salvation cometh to them that believe neither is there any true Believers but as they are come to witness in measure of the like state for he that hath not received the Son hath not received the knowledge of God by the Son through whom every true Believer in him receives Life for he that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life 1 Joh. 5.12 Now they that have received this Life they manifest it by fruits of a holy Life in all manner of holy Conversation doing no other to another then as themselves are willing to be done unto for as the outward Tree is manifested by its fruits so is every mans works manifested by the outward manner of Life for Grapes of Thorns nor Figs of Thistles can no man expect to gather neither is any mans Faith accepted of God without Works of Obedience to his holy Will for as the Body is dead without the Spirit in the sight of men so is Faith without Works of Obedience also dead in the sight of God Mat. 7.16 17 18 19. James 2. Then where Faith is without Works of Obedience they cannot perform the Commands of God by the Power of his own Spirit in and through the Lord Jesus Christ that Church and People remain in a dead Faith to God who is not a God to that which is dead but a God to that which is living in true Obedience to the maniâ—estation of his Spirit which they have received to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 for as in the time of the Law there was means for the Peoples outward cleansing who were to remain without the Camp as not fit for the service of Gods Worship before they were cleansed of their Filth Lev. 13.46 23 42 43. Neh. 8.14 even so in this Gospel Day is no man fit for the service of Gods Worship in Spirit and Truth before he comes to witness something of an inward cleansing through the little Leaven whereby through Faith and Obedience to his Talent received he will come to witness more and more of Gods Power by Jesus Christ until the whole Lump be leavened into the new Nature of Gods Kingdom in Jesus Christ which only belongs to them of his Church who are not in a state of always confessing and never so faking but as the true Church acknowledgeth her Weaknesses and Inabilâ—tâ—es as of themselves not able to do any one work acceptable to God so through Faith and Obedience to the Word and â—ower of God by Jesus Christ through his Grace are they made able to do all things according to what the Lord of his Church and â—eople requires so that they remain not in a state of always confessing what great Sinners they are but withal forsake their sins in Obedience to God whose Power gives Victory over their sins in which state they grow from one degree of Grace to another till they become perfect Men and Women in Christ Jesus which is according to the Apostles Doctrine who were sent of God by Jesus Christ to turn People fâ—â—m Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God and praying that they may present every
Lord. CHAP. XXVII Concerning the begetting being born and brought forth of the Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ THe Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of Gods Kingdom in Jesus Christ is of that Birth which the World by all their Wisdom in outward Learning are never able to find neither can any ever know to witness the new Birth further than by Faith and Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit by Jesus Christ whose Spirit of Life makes frâ—â— from the Law of Sin and Death for the Seed of the Kingdom is of a heavenly divine Nature which hath no fellowship with the Works of Darkness in which all that disobey the Lord of Life remain by which their Birth is of the Enemies Seed which alienates the Heart of Man and Woman from true Oâ—edience to God â—n which state they are Strangers to the nature of the New Birth which is not born of Blood nor of the will of the Fleâ— nor of the Will of Man but of God Iohn 1.13 for it is born of the Spirit of God and brought forth by Gâ—ace through Faith in Christ Jesus by whom the Children of men have received a measure which though but as a grain of the smallest of all grain it is of the little leavens Nature to purge out and leaven the whole Lump into the nature of Gods Kingdom in Christ Jesus whom the World by all their Wisdom can never know for the things of Gods Kingdom are hiâ— from the Wise and Prudent of this World and revealed to the Children of God whose Life remains in the Babe-like Nature of God in Christ whose Babes they are begotten of God by the word of his Spirit through Faith and Obedience to the Lord of Life in whose Life and Nature every true Child of God in their measure live move and have their being in the nature of him for as his nature is the New Birth and all that are born of him hey bring Fruits acceptible to him for they are the Children of the Day which live in the Light and walk in the Light which the Children of the Night cannot do for the Day of Gods Visitation by the gift of his divine Light is unto them a dark thing at which the wise stumble and the prudent cannot receive for by their own Wisd 〈◊〉 in their own prudent way is their Understanding darkdarkened as to the things of God and Nature of his Kingdom neither can any grow to understand the things of 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ buâ— as they grow in Grace through the affectual working of his divine Life and Light by the quickening Word 〈◊〉 his Spirit which opens the understanding and enlarges the gift of his divine Nature through which 〈◊〉 the holy Seed increâ—seth more and more and in the increase bringeth forth fruit more and more abundant to the praise of God and honour of his Name and well-being of the Soul in Christ Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work of Righteousness in his true begotten People who are begot by the gift of Gods good Spirit of Grace Life and Light in which the faithful see Light Psalm 36.9 for by Light is all and every Deed of Darkness manifested so that Faith in Christ Jesus and Faithfulness Obedience to the gift of Gods divine Light is the first beginning of an acquintance with the divine Nature of Christ who draws the heart of every faithful man and woman into the assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from â—n evil Conscience and their Bodies washed with pure Water Heb. 10.22 and of this Nature is the Seed of Gods Kingdom in the hearts of them that belong unto him the nature of whose Kingdom the wise prudent part in man cannot comprehend for the wise unregenerated part is that which ramains in the Fall and is alienated from the true Seed of the Kingdom which will not take root in any other ground but in that honest heart which is made willing to bear the Cross in all things to the self will in which state of subjection to the will of God the Seed takes root down-ward and brings forth Fruit upward to the honour of Gods holy Truth so than all reasoning with Flesh and Blood is shut out by the Power of Gods Spirit in every upright honest heart to wards God in which life of Obedience there is no giving way to the Earthly part which ramains in the Disobedient through which they oppress the Seed of God and cause his Life in the measure of the Seed to depart which if they were but faithful to the measure of Seed received the Life of Gods Spirit of Grace would increase to the withstanding of all the Enemies Power which through the willingness of the obedient part being yeilded to him the true Seed of God will take no root of abidance in any sort of ground whatever where People live in a state of sinning against God and his Christ Mat. 13. So they that are new born of the incorruptible Seed they first come to dye through the Cross of Christ which crucifies the self will prudent part for Knowledge without Obedience brings Death over the Soul in which state the Kingdom oâ— God is hid For that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3.2 3 4 5 6. So they that are truely begotten of God in Christ theâ— witness the New-Birth which is not born of Flesh and Blood nor of the Will of Man but of the incorruptible Seed the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1.23 Now the Word of God which abideth forever is of his Spirit 〈◊〉 Life Light and Grace which floweth into the hearts 〈◊〉 true Believers through Faith in Christ Jesus who drawâ— the willing mind to partake of Gods heavenly Riches iâ— and through him who is the Lord of all Grace Life anâ— Light which by measure lives moves and abides in thâ— heart of every sincere Believer in him through whoâ— Power they witness a daily decaying of the first Nature and a daily increase of Newness in a holy Life unto Goâ— who gives power to the weak feeble through which there is no distrust in the Power of God which they daily experience to give them Victory over every Thought which would exalt it self above the Witness of God and hinder the growth of the Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven in which no man can enter without being born again the benefit of which no man is denyed of God by Jesus Christ who hath said by his Spirit of Truth Whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely Rev. 22.17 Isa 55.1 2 3. By which it is clear that the Spirit of God hinders no man of any benefit by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of his Soul that is as Man keeps faithful to God according to what he hath commanded by the Son of his Love the Lord of Life Postscript MUch more might
be rich is pierced through with many sorrows for it is written They that will be rich fall into many Temptations and a Snare and many foolish and hurtful Lusts which draw men into perdition for lust to Covetousness is such a subtil Enemy and the Devils snare is so cunningly contrived and so full of fair pretences that let a man be once in love with Money he knows not which way to wind himself out for it doth so bewilder fetter and entangle his mind even to the destruction of his soul and loss of body also yet how vehemently with care and diligence will men vindicate Covetousness because that care and diligence there may be and ought to be but the truth is every covetous man makes care and diligence a cloak for Covetousness whereby he is sheltered against all reproof in which state mans life among his Neighbours is not much desireable neither by the Poor lamented at his Death but rather rejoyce at the dividing of his Idol to whom God hath not given the priviledge of a beggar who hath a Child to inherit his old Apparel And again an Inheritence hastily gotten by covetous men soon wasteth among their Children for all that is gained not agreeable to truth and righteousness it is under the curse for the promise of blessing is only to that which is gained according to Gods Word which is That men should first seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof unto which is the promise of adding all other things needful for God that taketh care to provide for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field takâ—th the greater care for them that fear him and work righteousness So that in whomsoever God is not retained in their thoughts words and works cannot be agreeable with his Truth therefore are they of the World the ways of which are Covetousness through which they oppress one another evèn like to the sweeping rain CHAP. VI. Concerning that Life the Nature of it which God requireth of all Men. GOd in the counsel of his own Wisdom and Time hath set before all men the way of Life and the way of Death which Death is the Tree of Knewledge of good and evil that is man 's own will wisdom knowledge reason righteousness and the like of which he ought not to eat because in it is death for it opens their eyes against themselves and that in evrey thing in which to them abideth death Now the Tree of Life is Christ which calleth to all men to feed upon him to eat his Flesh to drink his Blood to do his Will to follow his gift of divine Light to hear and obey his Word to improve his Talant and measure of his Spirit of Truth which leads into all truth which is Bread and Wine indeed without Money without Price the Bread of the Kingdom the Water of Life of which if a man eat and drink he can neither hunger nor thirst for it giveth life to all that hunger and thirst after Righteousness These things are not hid from man unto whom the spirit saith Come take of the Water of Life freely come take the yoâ—e it is easie and the burden is light come take up the Cross and follow him that in all things hath done the Fathers will for the Redemption and Salvation of all them that hear him and obey him to do his will which is meat and drink indeed Here the heavy are made light and the mourner is comforted yea he of a sad Countenance hath his heart made better here the flying Cherub and the glittering Sword turns every way to destroy lay waste and dispossess the strong man of all his goods the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil mans own wisdom will knowledge reason righteousness and the like that all lust may dye and Devils be cast out and that through the work of the spirit which hath the Government to mortifie all the deeds of the flesh that man may be brought to nothing to will nothing do know nothing omit nothing but as God willeth in him doth in him knoweth in him and omiteth in him this man doth rest from his Labour and keepeth the Sabbath holy he cleaves to the Tree of Life he is regenerated new born and brought forth of the immortal Seed he is cleansed and purified through the Baptism of the Spirit he is planted into Christ and is in whole obedience to the rule and goverment of his Spirit both in though word and work his meat and drink is to do the will of God on Earth as it is done in Heaven he willeth nothing but what God willeth in him he doth nothing but what God doth do inhim he omitteth nothing but what God omitteth in him he knoweth nothing but what God knoweth in him his only food is of the Tree of Life which is Bread and Wine of Life indeed which he that knoweth nothing of this work wrought in him self he yet is in a miserable and undone estate reposing upon his own knowledge wisdom and reason in which abideth death it self therefore saith the Spirit arise take up the cross to that which is of self and Christ will give thee Life his yoke is ease his burden is light that is to them whom he is of God made Wisdom Righteousness Senctification and Redemption they also renew their strength in the Tree of Life which is the beginning of grace by the work of the Spipit which mortifies the deeds of the flesh that the house may be cleansed of Gods Enemies which destroy means peace with his maker and defile the Temple of God whose Enemies is mans lust and every Devil which hath sprung from the seed of the Serpent sown in man which lusteth to be wise and knowing having its eyes alwayes open against it self which must be destroyed by the Spirit of Truth the strength of the Tree of Life that the man of God may grow from one degree of Grace to another till they become perfect men and women in Christ Jesus in whom there is no condemnation to them to whom Christ of God is made wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemtion they are born of the Spirit and baptized of the Spirit and made free by the Law of the Spirit of Life from the Law of Sin and Death in which work of the Spirit of Life there is nothing of mans own Wisdom Knowledge Will or Reason for the work is wholly wrought of God through faith and obedience to hear believe and obey Gods gift of Grace his Spirit of Truth by Jesus Christ who for his works lake imputeth it to them for Righteousness for faithful Abraham beleived God to trust in his promise but his faith was not without Works of Obedience nor according to his own knowledge wisdom will and reason but in Gods time according to his own knowledge and wisdom through which the work done by Abraham was done in Faith and Obedience to God whose will was done on Earth as it
was done in Heaven therfore is it writen that as the body is dead without the spirit so is also Faith dead without Works that by whomsoever works are not manifested agreeable to Gods holy Truth and example of his holy People in days past they are only Christians in namê and not in nature of that life which God requireth of all men to live and abide in therefore it is that people profit not by what they hear or read because they are spiritually dead having blinded Eyes and deaf Ears with which they can neither see hear nor receive to understand the Spirit of Truth of which a manifestation is given to every man to profit withal and is the gift of his Spirit the Word of Faith to them that will hear to obey the Light of the Spirit of Truth which is the condemnation of the Disobedient who are here and there in this and the other Form of Religion serving God with mouth and lip in their own wisdom wills and with their own words being only called by the Name of Christ without the Nature of his Life which being destitute of no man can be a true Christian yet how contentedly do men live and abide in this and the other form but do not witness the strength of the power of God to redeem from sin and transgression and to make alive to God who is only a God them that through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the flesh and through the Spirit are brought in again by the flying Cherub and glittering Sword of Gods power in and by Christ the Tree of everlasting Life on which as any eats he cannot dye to God but hath an infallible assurance of life in the Son of God without which assurance no man can truly say that he pleaseth God in thought word and deed for it is the anointing which is by the Tree of Life that teacheth all things which leadeth into all Truth the evidence of which Spirit doth assure the Son in whom there is life and the nature of his life dwelleth and abideth in them that by true faith in him and obedience to the word of his Spirit they are made alive unto God and of this nature is Christ in his people and in whom he is not they are Reprobates and in whom he abideth not they are cursed Children abiding under the curse in their own wisdom knowledge will reason righteousness and the like which causeth them to lust more and more after the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil for which cause they rebel against the Spirit of God in themselves and deny his appearance in his People for which cause of Rebellion which is as the sin of Witch-craft the Truth of God abideth not in them therefore are they without God in the world living to their own God of which in the world there are many that delight and sweetly recreate their minds in by living a life of obedience to their own ways of righteousness which only proceeds from lust that gives way for men to live according as their own will and reason directeth them in all they do for God and to one another all which is vnder the Curse as it is written Cursed is he that putteth his Trust in man and maketh flesh his Arm. So all men that live in flesh and blood and are obedient to their own wisdom will and reason they are servants to their own lust being in bondage as slaves servants to that and those things which they do as it is written Men are Servants to him to whom they obey and Children of him whose work they do therefore he that will be free from the curse of condemnation must take up the cross and deny himself of all things which are not of God and his Spirit of Truth otherwise he cannot come to the Tree of Life but will fall short of that Crown of Righteousness which is in store for all them that abide faithful to God as by his divine Light he doth lead and teach by the spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth by which men are made fit to enter in at the strait gate of Christâ— Kingdom CHAP. VII Concerning Judgment begun at the House of God and in his House to judge down every appearance of evil THe House of God in general where Judgment first beginneth is his people but Judgment cometh to every Transgressor of his holy Truth and that to judge down every appearance of evil therefore said one in his day Who shall deliver me from this Body of sin death Now the Body of this man was the House of God and Temple of the holy Ghost in which God by his Judgment was at work to judge down cast out and destroy every lust that would evalt it self above the Witness of God that the House of God might be throughly cleansed and only become a house of â—oly Habitation for the Spirit of Truth to abide in for as 〈◊〉 is written The high holy one who inhabits EternÃty dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but taketh up his abode with men of clean hearts contrite spirits that fear him and work righteousness do justly love mercy and walk humbly such bear the image of God and nature of Christ with whom and in whom both Father and Son do take up their abode therefore where men give not up to come under the cross and follow the light and word of Gods Spirit in obedience to his call they resist the holy one crucifie him afresh to themselves such defile the house and temple of God and them will God destroy indeed how many such people with a fair Israel 〈…〉 of Religion are crept into a profession of Gods Truth 〈◊〉 â—hrough deceit have under the like profession entered 〈◊〉 selves as Christians among the People of God but he that caused the Net to be cast into the Sea which brought forth good and bad to the shore the same doth permit the net of profession to gather all sorts of People into the outward name Christian therefore doth Judgment also begin at the House of God which are his people to make a seperation between the precious and the vile not only to purge and cleanse from lusts but also to cut off the stubborn and stiff-necked ones which will not submit to the cross whose Judgment will also reach to the old Age of them that live in disobedience to the Spirit of Truth for Judgment from God hath spread it self to the ends of the Earth and hath begun its work at the house of God If the righteous scarcely are saved where shall the ungodly and sinners appear Judgment is not come to bring peace to any unrighteous person but is gone forth to do the work of God among the People and will both inwardly and outwardly lay waste and destroy all that is not of himself for that which only is of himself shall stand and that which is not of himself shall come to nought and therefore Judgment from God is gone forth to the ends of Earth that all that will be gathered may be preserved and that which will not hear the Spirit of Truth to be obedient thereto the same shall be scattered abroad till Judgment gather it as Fuel for the fire of Gods Wrath which forever burneth against the unrighteousness of wicked and ungodly men and for this very end is judgment at work for God that he may gather a People pure in heart and of uprightness in mind which in all things shall be of one spirit and mind towards him in thought word work therefore let none in this day which make a profession of Gods holy Truth deceive themselves for God will not be mocked such as every man soweth of the same he shall 〈◊〉 reap whether to the flesh or to the Spirit for all that is of the Spirit the spirit giveth evidence in every faithful man and woman that it is of God though the Spirit abideth not in every unrighteous man yet the appearance of it is often to their condemnation and so doth continue 〈◊〉 it hath left striving and the day of Gods Grace be over having sinned out the day of Gods Visitation Let all therefore consider in what state they abide as to God whose promise to the Righteous is That it shall go well with them but it shall go ill with the Wicked Therefore let not these Truths which have been received by the Spirit of Truth find itching Ears among any but as every man turn in his mind to the Spirit of Truth he will witness the truth of these Things â—th 1st Mon. 1694. THO. MAVLE THE END
Truth held Forth AND MAINTAINED According to the Testimony of the holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles recorded in the holy Scriptures With some Account of the Judgments of the Lord lately inflicted upon New-England by Witch craft To which is added Something concerning the Fall of Adam his state in the Fall and way of Restoration to God again with many other weighty things necessary 〈◊〉 People to weigh and consider Written in true Love to the Souls of my Neighbours all Men which includeth that Love to them 〈…〉 by Thomas Maule Printed in the Year 16â—◠〈◊〉 PREFACE Friendly Reader AMong the many Writers in this Age who profess themselves Gospel Ministers great iâ— the number of false Prophets and wordâ— teachers whose Doctrines Principles Practices are inconsistant with the Doctrines Principles and Practices of the holy Prophets and Apostles in days past who brought glad tidings of Peace to â—he souls of many People who were turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Pow-God Acts 26.18 even so ingmeasure is it with true Gospel Ministers in this day who turn Peoples minds to the inward manifastation of the gift of Gods Spirit which ministers Life to them that hear and obey unto them its life indeed for the gift of God is Life eternal and as every true faithful Minister of Christ hath received the gift of God freely they minister freely from he same as good Stâ—wards of the manifold Grace of God dâ—ing unto all men at they would have all mâ—n do unto them not striving for Mastership but are gentle unto all men and apt in teach patient in 〈◊〉 instructing those that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 〈◊〉 24 25. that 〈◊〉 by the Church may be edefied for the true Ministers of Christ are Servents to Christ and not Masters own 〈…〉 as many Anti-christian Teachers are 〈…〉 Hâ—â—itage 〈…〉 Persons in admiration for advantage but the true Ministers of Christ are men of sorrow desolâ—ed and rejected oâ— mend as he was they are not made ministeâ—s by the mill of 〈◊〉 but by the will of God and blameless as the Stewards of God not self willed nor soon angry nor given to Wine nor strikers â—or are they greedy of filthy Luâ—re but lovers of Hospitality and sober Just holy temperate holding fast the faithful Word as they have been taught that they may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the gain-sayers for there are many unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers even as those in days past whose mouths must be stopped for they subvert whole Houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy Lucre sake and as in that day they had a Prophet of their own said the Cretians are alwayes Lyars evil Beasts flow bellies Tit. 1.7.8 9 10 11 12. even so as by Luther and others who have left their Testimonies agreeable with what is found incorded in the Scriptures of Truth which give a true account of the Doctrine Principles and Prectices of the many Teachers in this age who will not preach 〈…〉 Mony This witness is true wherefore rebake thâ—â— sharply that they may be found in the Truth for they profess they know God but in Works they deny him Tit. 〈…〉 By which is it not manifest that the love of Money which is the root of all evil is in them that will not prench without Money what better are they theâ— the 〈…〉 and false Prophets we read of Jer. 14.14 Do they 〈◊〉 bare rule by their means in all Nations where 〈◊〉 seeâ— for their gain each from his Quarter Isa ◠〈…〉 Do they 〈◊〉 preach for hire and divine for Money Mâ—â— 3.11 And do they not preach peace so long as men keep paying but when any come to see their deceit and cannot put into their mouths then they preach open war 〈…〉 And have not the false Prophets Anti-christian 〈◊〉 and hired Priests destroyed â—he lives of many thousands of People for their obedience to the faith which work by consent of the Magistrâ—â—â— hath had its day in New-England when they put to â—ath four of the People called Quakers at Boston concerning the which an Account will hereafter follow which was by the Priests accomplished by the consent of the then Rulers for without the consent of Power the Priests could not Persecute which they wait to do as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so have the company of Priests murdered in the may by consent Hos 6.9 So that by their fruits men may know them Luke 6.13 Mat. 7.13 16. for they are tryed which say they are Apostles and are not and they are found to be Lyars Rev. 2.2 Come from among them and do not pertake of their sins that ye may be free from their Plagues which the Lord is bringing upon the Whore and the false Prophets Teachers which 〈◊〉 wrought Iniquity against the Lord and his chosen People From my dwelling House at Salem in New-England 1st 3d. Mon. 1690. Thomas Maule Humane Learning I have not God doth to me afford His Teaching by his Spirit good To understand his Word T. M. The Heads or Contents of the ensuing TREATISE Chap. 1. COncerning the 〈◊〉 of Gods quickening Spirit by Jesus Christ pag. 1. Chap. 2. Concerning Christ the true Seed and Everlasting Covenant of God to his People p. 10. Chap. 3. Concerning the Man Christ Jesus which was conceived of the holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary and suffered Death for the Redemption of all men p. 16. Chap. 4. Concerning the holy Scriptures p. 2â— Chap. 5. Concerning Faith Hope and Obedience which by the Power of God through Jesus Christ worketh Salvation to them that truely believe Also something concerning Silence p. 30. Chap. 6. Concerning Perfection and that Warfair which the faithful are to pass through before they come to witness fâ—ll and free Redemption from sin p. 47. Chap. 7. Concerning the Worship of God in Spirit p. 5â— Chap. 8. Concerning true Prayer by which the faithful find acceptance with God by faith in the Son of his Love p. 6â— Chap. 9. Concerning the Lords Supper which People call the Sacrament p. 65. Chap. 10. Concerning Baptism and sprinkling Infants which many hold most necessary to Salvation p. 70. Chap. 11. Concerning the true Sabbath p. 76. Chap. 12. Concerning Election and Reprobation p. 79. Chap. 13. Concerning the 〈…〉 tion through Faith in Chr◠〈…〉 p. 87. Chap. 14. Concerning the 〈…〉 p. 93. Chap. 15. Concerning the Ministers of Christ and the Ministers of Anti-christ Also of humane Learning and the use of it and how it came in practise among the Reformed Churches in this latter Age. And concerning Gospel Maintenance in what manner and to whom it belongeth p. 99. Chap. 16. Concerning divine Inspiration and Revelation p. 109. Chap. 17. Concerning the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Anti-christ p. 114. Chap. 18. Concerning the true Language and proper Nature of Speech and the true Names of the Days and
the Father in full Power Maiesty and Dominion being God over all and in all for evermore whom the World hath in great dispute and many Controversies have risen to the destroying of many Thousands of Peoples lives when that it is plain That Christ came not to dâ—stroy menâ— lives but to save and make alive leaving this Example That Wheat and Tares should grow together until the Harvest lest in gathering the Tares they root up also the Wheat with them Mat. 13 28 29 30. from which saving Christ proceeds to another Parable comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of Mustard-sâ—ed being accountâ—d the least of all Grain Seeds which being grown up it becomâ—th the greatest among Hâ—rbs and bâ—cometh a Tree that the Bâ—rds of thâ— Air come to lodge in the Branches thereof Mat. 13.31 32. and in the 33 verâ— Christ likens the Kingdom unto leven hid in three measures of Meaâ— until the whole was leavened These things were spoke in Parables that the Saying of the Prophet might be fullfilled in the â—ttering things which have been kept secret from the Foundation of the World which now is manifest by the Light through the Death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus and also left upon Record in the holy Scriptures of Truth that in the light of the Lord God People may learn and come to uâ—derstand that Peoples perishing is not altogether for want of Knowledge but for want of Obedience to that measure of Light which they have received for he that is faithful in that which is little is made Ruler over more for as the Grain of Mustard Seed hath the Light been â—own in the hearts of many which have received as one Talent and in others who have received more so that where much is given much is required and where more or less if it light on good ground it becomes the greatest among Herbs in the Lords Garden and bringeth forth Fruit abundantly to the Praise and Honour of Gods holy Name also the little Leaven had in three measures of Meal implyes the whole man till the whole becomes leavened into a new lump of the heavenly Nature of Gods Kingdom in Christ Jesus which as men come into a true Christian state of Obedience to the Gift of Gods divine Light quickening Word or his Spirit which hath been handed â—orth through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of Life and Light they through Obedience may come to witness Eternal Life by Jesus Christ Which things one would think are sufficient to incourage all to yeeld their Obedience to the gâ—â—t of Gods divine Light for there is not a Thought of the Heart nor an Inâ—ent of the Mind but the Light makes it manifest which to obey is 〈◊〉 and to disobey is Death for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace Rom. â— 6 For while men â—emain in obedience to the Light they are spiritually minded in which state they are â—ervants to Righâ—â—ousness but while men are in Disobedience to the Light it is accounted before the â—ord as Rebellion which is as the 〈◊〉 Witchcraft for it is the Willing and Obedâ—ent that shall 〈◊〉 the good Land which 〈◊〉 only extends to the Christ of 〈…〉 to the Lâ—ght who walk in the right as 〈…〉 â—â—dallght and â—n Christ the 〈◊〉 and Light havâ— they Fethâ—â—sh pâ—one with anothâ—â— and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansâ—◠〈…〉 from their sins 1 John 1 7 for Christ is the Light 〈◊〉 the â—oeld and he that followeth Christ shall not walk in Darkâ—◠〈…〉 have the Light of Life Joh. 8.12 Now 〈◊〉 this 〈…〉 it 〈◊〉 the Dâ—â—obedâ—ent whose Eyes are blâ—nde◠〈…〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Gor. 4.4 Awake thou that sleepest in sin and Christ will give thee Light for all things that are reproveable in the heâ—â—t of man are reproved by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ephe. 5.13 1â— by which it is manifest that mans condemnation is of himself in that he will not be faithful to the Gift of Gods divine Light because his deeds are evil for every man that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reprovea Joh. 3.19 20. but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his â—eâ—ds may be manifest that they are wrought in God cap. 3.21 for God in Christ is the Fountain and Well spring of all Life and Light in whom the â—aithful of God shall for evermore remain in the holy City of heavenly Jerusalem where there is no need of Sun Moon nor Stars to shine in it for the Glory of God righteth it and Christ the Lamb of God is the Light thereof and the Nation of them that have been Obedient to the Light of Gods Gift by Jesus Christ shall be saved and shall walk in the Light of it Rev. 21.23 24. So the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God of all Life and Light and the Way the Truth and the Life of Light which all men in measure have received that they may yeild their Obedience to the Requirings of it that by it their Understandings may come to be more more enlarged towards the Lord of Life and Light that by him through the Power of his Spirit of Grace they may come throughly to see and perceive to hear and understand the things of God treasured up in â—hrist for all them that love the appearance of his â—ight in their own hearts which is the gift of his Spirit of â—race which in measure all men have received and it preaches Life and Salvation to all that are found in faithful obedience to it but it preaches Condemnation Wo and Misery to all that live in a known Life of Disobedience to it which state of so living is no less than to â—rucifie the Lord of Life afresh and to trample under foot all that ever Christ hath done and suffered for the Redemption of the Soul of that Man or Woman which is found in a known state of Disobedience to the Gift of Gods Spirit of Truth which is that Gift of his divine Light which will not loose it honour either by the Salvation or Condemnation of all Mankind even as their Obedience or Disobedience hath been in this Life accordingly will be their Reward in the Life to come which is matter for all to consider before the Spirit of God hath lest striving and the Day of Gods Grace be over with them that perish through a Life of known Disobedience to the Gift of Gods divine Light which came by Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work in them that believe Concerning Christ the true Seed and everlasting Covenant of God to his People THis is the Christ which the holy men of God in their Day and eneration prophesied to come and to finish Sin and to put an end to Transgression in all thaâ— truly believe in his Name which according to Gods appointed
redeem from sin and will redeem the Souls of them that faithfully believe in his redeeming Power by which they shall be freed from sin in this Life till sin can find no place to lodge in the hearts of them that are saved and this hath been the state of Noah Abraham Job and David with many others of the Lords Servants who did not distrust in the Power of the Almighty but believed in God by which they became Men after Gods own heart and for any to believe that David or any other of the Lords Servants could be Men after Gods own heart and yet could not be free from all sin which is the work of the Devil to me it seems the Anti-christian Faith which is of the Devils begetting to perswade People that Gâ—d is not willing to give Power to them that truely believe in him to perform what he requires of his People that is to keep all his Commandments according as he hath commanded that thereby they may fullfill his Command To be perfect as â—od is perfect and holy as he is holy that is to be free from sin which is to be free from consenting to joyn with the Devils Temptations for Gods Holyness iâ— Perfection extends beyond what Mâ—n in this Life can â—â—â—prehend but they that dye from sin to live in 〈◊〉 aâ—â— made free from sin in this Life otherwise according to Christs own words where he is gone they can never come Then it is sufficient in the Wildom of God to be perfect just and holy according as the Lord requires in this Life and in the Life to come to see him and to be with him in Glory and to be in measure of his Glory even like unto him and as it pleased the holy God in his own Wisdom to let the Enemy by Temptation to prevail against David and Peter with others of his Servants in dayes past by which their Testimonies for Gods holy Truth came to bear the more force by the Power of God through which by true Repentance they came to be renewed to a heavenly Life again by which Fall they tâ—roughly came to see and behold that there was not any 〈◊〉 â—ower save the Power of God that was able to preserve and save from the Power of the Devil for tho' the Wildom of God many times doth suffer the righteous to all yet the cause is imputed unto themselves through the neglect of their Watch against the Temptations of their Souls Enemy but by Repentance through Faitly in God they by his Grace come to be restored again which is sufficient warning that their Watch should never be neglected more so that though the Righteous fall yet by their faithing it doth not in the least measure weaken the Truth of God's Cause in the work of Perfection for they which fall rise again and by Repentance through Faith in Christ by him they are restoâ—ed as his faithful Servants and Children to God again which state of Falling once or twice in the whole time of a Man or Womans Life some make an câ—â—sion or matter for the Devil to work against the Trum of God as doth evidently appear by them that sin daily in Thought Word and Deed against God â—hos Commanitonâ—nts they say no Man in this Life can keep accordingâ— to what God requires of them to do By which they unjustly charge the Lord as did that unfaithful Servant which hid his Lords Talent in the Earth and charged his Lord of being a hard Master â—at 25 2â— c. even so is it with them in this day who do not improve the Gift of God but live in the daily breach of Gods Commandments in which state they plead for sin all the dayes of their Life in which they remain in the Fall which is as much differing from the Life of the Righteous as Heaven diffâ—rs from Hell for the Righteous live not in the Fall for God is their strength and Power he maketh their wayes perfect Psal 18.32 By which it is manifest that if People would but give up in their Minds with this godly Resolution to follow the Dictates and Motions of Gods Gift which is the Light of his own Spirit by Jesus Christ and by measure is bestowed on the Sons and Daughters of men to profit withal that they would come to witness Gods Power by Jesus Christ to be sufficient for their preservation against all the Temptations of their Souls Enemy but while People remain in their Lo here and Lo there running in their Minds from one high Hill to â—he other Barren Mountain where the chiefest of their Food is by a Confession from their Shepherds Mouth That their best Performances are Sin and that they draw in Sin as an Ox draweth in Water which in so doing they do well to acknowledge the Truth of their state which by their continuance therein it doth further enlarge Gods just Judgments against a People which live in sin against the Lord of Life whose gift of Grace they ought to improve to the profit of their Lords Talent which hâ— hath bestowed upon them for the honour of his own Name and everlasting wellfare of their Immortal Souls which must either live by true Faith and Obedience to God or eternally perish through their Disobedience to his heavenly Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit for as they live in sin they continue Servants unto him whom they obey and his Children they are whose Works they do and they that plead for a Body of sin all their dayes they uphold the Devils Kingdom in which state they oppress the Seed of God and quench the gift of the Spirit of God by which they hinder themselves of the heavenly divine incomes of Gods Love which refreshes the Heart and quickens the Spirit of the faithful by which their Souls through Faith in Christ are made alive to God whose people preach pray and sing in his Time to the honour of his holy Name and edification of one another but the Prayers of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord for the Lord doth abhor the Prayers of him that prayeth in his own Time and in his own Will for the Spirit of Prayer leads the faithful to pray in the Lords own due time by which the Sourâ— comes to be refreshed by the effectual working of Gods spiritual Appearance which doth assist the in ward Man in the holy Work of Prayer unto God without which assisting Power of Gods spiritual Appearance which doth assist the inward Man in the holy Work of Prayer unto God without which assisting Power of Gods spiritual Appearance Prayer is of no effect to the Soul of Man who in their own Time go round in their own Wills in their preaching praying and singing even like to a Horse in the Mill and a Door on the Hinges and still remaining where they were yet such men in the like Confession will in the same place of their Worship presume to call the â—uakers Light a
to the Dispensation which he had received for the opening of blind Eyes in others by which they were turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Stran to the Power of God and received Forgiveness of sins and an Inheritance among them 〈◊〉 are faâ—ctified Acts 26.18 in which state he did not 〈◊〉 to speak any thing which Christ had not wrought in him yea he so strove to preach the Gospel not where hâ—st was named lest that he should build upon another mans Foundation Rom 1â— 18.20 which is as much differing from the call and practice of many called Gospel Ministers in this day as the East differs from the West being contrary one against the other and at that distaâ—ce by which they can never joyn one to the other even so contrary are they in their own Wisdom to the Doctrine Principle and Practâ—ce of the holy Apostles who were called of God by the Power of his own Spirit in and through the Lord Jesus Christ which made them able Ministers not of the Letter but of the Spirit which gave forth the Letter that kills them that are not in Obedience to the gift of the Spirit for the Letter kills but the Spirit makes alive 2 Cor. 3.6 for the Apâ—stles were not made Ministers by the Will of Man neither were they upheld by the Power of Man but were made Ministers according the gift of Gods Grace given unto them by the effectual working of his Power Ephes 3.7 neither did they build again the things which they had once destroyed for in so doing they become Transgressors Gal. 2.18 Now the hited Teachers of this Age preach against Sin which on the other hand they build up by laying a rotten Foundation That People can never be free from sin in this Life which is inconsistent with Gods holy Truth by Jesus Christ who came to destroy sin and put an end to Transgression that is in them which believe as the Apostles have done for example for they were so far from hire that they had as it were nothing and yet through contentment with the Lords providing were made possessors of all things approving themselves as the Ministers of Christ in much â—atience in Distress by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the holy Ghost by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the right hand and on the left by Honour and Dishonour by evil Report and good Report as Deceivers yet true as sorrowful yet always rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing yet possessing all things 2 Cor. 6.4 to 11. which was the state of the true Ministers of Christ in that day and is in measure the same with many in this day Which doth manifest the wide difference between the Ministers of Christ and the Ministers of Anti-christ the one being in a state of Darkâ—eâ—s through that wisdom which will neither enter nor suffer others to enter and the other in a state of Light through the gift of that Wisdom which is of God by Jesus Christ which is willing to give entrance through Faith in him to his Rest which the wise of this World by all their outward Learning can never find for as the true Ministers of Christ give no offence so the Ministers of Anti christ offend in all things towards God and his People and he that offends Christs little ones better were it for him that a Mill stone were hanged about his Neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat. 18.6 7. for the People of the Lord are even to him as the Apple of his Eye and blessed are they that are not offended in him for they shall receive a double Reward of Gods heavenly Râ—ches in Jesus Christ but Wo is unto them that have taken upon them the name of his Ministers and are not found in â—he 〈…〉 of his Life by whose Spirit of Grace his Servants were made able Mâ—nisters of his Truth according to the Dispâ—niation given thâ—â— for others to fullfil the Word of God Col. 1.25 which is evident they did not preach 〈…〉 but Jâ—us Christ the Lord and themselves the Peoples Servanâ—s 〈◊〉 Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 neither had any mans Person in aâ—miration for advantage sake of outward gain neither was their preaching with 〈◊〉 words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration oâ— the Spirâ—â— and of Power that Peoples Faith might not stand in the Wisdom oâ— Man but in the Power of God 1 Cor 2.4 〈◊〉 that so they might continue in the Faith grounded and stedâ—ast and not be moved away from the Hope oâ— the Gospel which they â—ave heard and which was preached to every Creature â—hat is under the Heavens whereof the Apostles were made the Ministers of Christ Col 1.23 Now it is evident that they who pretend to be Gospel Ministers and are not in Dâ—ctrine Principle and Pratice as aforesaid related of Christs Ministers they are â—â—e Worlds Teachers set up and upheld by the World â—nd so no true Gospel maintenance belongeth unto them â—r their mouthes are to be stopped because they subvert â—hole Houses teaching things they ought not for filthy â—ucre take therefore their mouthes are to be 〈◊〉 â—hom God hath not sent to tred out his Corn for 〈◊〉 God taketh care for Oxen so he taketh the greater care 〈◊〉 the Ministers of his Truth that as they plow in hove they also thresh in hope and are made partakers of their hope 1 Cor. 9 9 10. in which state the Houshold of Faith do good unto all men and more in a special manner to them of whom they pertake of their spiritual things So in the one Faith do the People of God minister to each other without any Compulsion by or from the Power of man Rom. 15.27 1 Cor. 9 11. So they that waâ—t aâ— the Altar are made to partake with the Altar 1. Cor. 9 13. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preaâ—â—h the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.14 So the true Ministers of Christ do not use any outward Power least that they should hinder the Gospel of Christ 1 Cor 9.2 which Example is left for all to follow even as the true Gospel Ministers have followed Christ and also to mark them that walk otherways 1 Cor. 11 1. Phil. 3.17 Then whom should we mark but them who have taken upon them the Name of Gospel Ministers and by their Doctrine Principle Practice are not found of the Nature of Christ and his true Gospel Ministers which teach People the way to Gods Kingdom without Money by the year for preaching for the Love of God in Christ by whom his Servants and Messengers of Truth are constrained to preach the Gospel for whose sake they preach the Gospel without Charge even so was it with the Apostles in their Day who used no Compulsion neither did he write that any such thing should be done unto them
dayes of this Life which Faith is begotten by the spirit of Anti-christ which rules in the Children of Disobedience whose minds are drawn into works of Darkness which are begotten by their Father the Devil the Prince Power of the Air whose â—iry Kingdom remains in the Heart and Mind of all Unrighteous men who are bewitched by the spirit of Anti-Christ that they should not obey the Truth of God made manifest by Jesus Christ Gal. 3.1 by whose Spirit the heart and mind in the righteous are governed from vain and evil Thoughts for every Thought Word and Action that tends not to the honour of God it proceeds from the lust of the corrupted Desire which yeilds its Obedience to the Spirit Power of Anti-christ who is that Devil and Enemy to God and all Mankind and his they are if they obey for his Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6.16 So that Death Hell and Destruction remains in all Thoughts Words and Actions which proceed not from the Power of God in Obedience to the gift of his Spirit by Jesus Christ for all that is not of Gods Righteousness by the Spirit and Power of Christ is of Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Power of Anti-Christ So that all sin is of Unrighteousness and all unrighteousness is of the Devil who sinneth from the beginning and he that committeth sin it is of the Devil but whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remnineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 Joh. 3.8.9 Then let no man be deceived by the Spirit of Anti-Christ or by any of his Disciples for he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is Righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 for whosoever committeth Sin is a Servant to sin Joh. 8.34 Then he that is a Servant to sin is free from Righteousness for the wages of sin is Death and God is not a God of the Dead but a God of them that are made alive by the Power of his Spirit in and thorough the Lord Jesus Christ whose gift of Righteousness is Life eternal that is to them that keep close in their minds with the Lord by which they may not be drawn into the Anti-Christian Faith of any one thing with which the Devil seeks to destroy the Soul for God is not mocked whatsoever men some that they shall also reap for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that soveth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting Gal 6.7.8 Now every-Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God 1 Joh. 4 2.3 Then that which appears from a spirit in men which doth not lead from sinning against the gift of Gods holy Spirit their so living doth manifestuâ— a unrighteous Life is towards God and that unrighteous Life is in obedience to the Spirit of Anti-Christ which denyeth that Christ is come in the flesh of which Spirit there are many which have entered the false Prophets which are gone out into the World by which many are deceived for they are of the World and speak of the World and the World heareth them 1 â—oh 4.5 but the Children of God are begotten by the Power of his own Spirit in and thorough the Lord Jesus Christ and by Grace through Faith in him their works are of Righteousness before him who is the Author and the Finisher of his own Work in all them whose Works of Righteousness manifest Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh which the works of the Unrighteous do not do CHAP. XVIII Concerning the true Language and proper Nature of Speech and the true Names of the Days and Months And also the Vnrighteousness of Peoples vain living Through the Unrighteousness of Peoples careless living unto God they are got into a habitual custom of vain living before the Lord not regarding to live up in Obedience to the the Spirit of Truth which lead Gods faithful People into the true Nature of Speech and to call the Dayes of the Week and the Months of the Year by their proper Names according as by that Spirit of God they are recorded for People to learn in the holy Scriptures of Truth which givs a holy Testimony of the Righteous in dayes past who lived in all manner of good Life and holy Conversation before the Lord speaking their words in the true Language which is the proper Nature of Speech and calling the Days of the Week and and Months of the Year by their proper Names which holy Practise doth witness against this Generation of evil Doers who accostom themselves to a vain way of living both in Words and Actions by which it doth manifest that they are Lovers of their own vain Wayes and not the Lovers of Gods holy Truth which leads every upright hearted man and woman to keep in the true Language and proper Nature of Speech unto all men without respect of Person to any for that which the World terms Reâ—pect with Hand Hat and Knee and You to the Rich and Thee and Thou to the Poor is a respecting of Mâ—ns Peâ—sons which is a transgressing of Gods holy Law for they that respect mens persons commit sin and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors Jam 2.9 for thee and thou is proper to all men and you to more then one for God said thee and thou to Adam and Adam said thee and thou to God again Gen. 3.12 13. and the same was maintained between â—acob and his Sons Gen. 43.49 which proves that thee and thou was the true Nature of Speech between God and Man and Men and their Children as Jeptha a Judge in Israel did thee and thou his Daughter and his Daughter did thee and thou her Father again Judg. 11.3 5 6. And the three Children did thee and thou to the King and also Paul to Agrippa And the same form of thee and thou to a single person and you or ye to more then one was prectised by Christ to his Disciples and the same by the Disciples as thee and thou to Christ again which is the true Nature of speech as contained in holy Record thoroughout the Scriptures of Truth though some have wrested divers Scriptures thinking thereby to prove a lawfullness of saying thee and thou to more then one which doth not prove that you on ye is proper to a single person for those scriptures which they have wrested do manifest that when the spirit of God in his Servants and Messengers of his Truth did speak by the Spirit of Truth to a Nation Church or People it was proper to say either you or ye or thou which did include a Nation Church or People as one body in the cause which was from the Lord either for or against them which is not the
their People to live in a Life of these things which are so contrary to the holy Scriptures and the Spirit of God by which they have been given forth doth manifest that such People are only Christians in the outward Name but not in the inward Liâ—e and Nature of what God requires that every true Christian should be CHAP. XIX Concerning Prophecying Womens speaking in the Church PRophecying signifies Preaching which is declaring the Word of God as they receive his Will and Mind by his Spirit of Grace in and through the gift of his own Spirit by Jesus Christ whose gift of good spirit of Grace is by measure in the Male and in the â—emale alike who are made partakers of his blessed Truth and in this day called of God by Jesus Christ to declare his Truth as the holy Men and Women were in days past for he hath promised To pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh and among the faithful their old Men dream Dreams and their Young Men see Visiâ—ns and their Sons and Daughters Prophecy But many have wrested the Apostles words 1 Cor. 14 35 Lâ—t our Womâ—â— keep silence in the Church for it is not permitted them to speak but are commanded to be under Obedience and if they will leaâ—â— any thing let them ask their Husbands at home for it is a shamâ— for a Woman to speak in the Church Now the Apostle words do not include all speaking by Women in the Church which if they did it would then follow that every true believing Woman is debarred from improving the gift of Gods holy Spirit among his People which are the Church of Christ for by measure is the gift of God by Jesus Christ to the Man and Woman alike wherefore they may pray and prophecy in the Church of Christ for all may prophecy one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted 1 Cor. 14.31 So that here is no tye nor bar from believing Womens speaking in the Church of Christ but deparred by them which are not the true Church for every Woman that praveth prophecyeth with her Head uncovered dishonoureth her Head 1 Cor. 11.15 By which it is evident that their Women did in that day speak in the Church for it s of no Edification for any Woman to prophecy alone by her self but where two or three are gathered together in the Name of the Lord there will his Spirit be in the midst oâ— them which proves that where two or three Male or Female are met together in the Lords Name that there is his Church and whether Male or Female if called of him they are to speak which is not that speaking which Women in the Church are not permitted to do For whereas they are not permitted to speak in the Church it is to be understood relating to the Government of the Church in which they are to keep silence and be under Obedience as also in the Law for the outward Government of the Church God hath committed unto men of which if the Women will learn they are to ask their Husbands at home for it is a shame for a Woman to speak in the Church relating to the Government thereof for in so 〈◊〉 she comes to usurp in Government over the man 1 Tâ—o 2.12 for Christ is the Head of his Church and the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God 1 Cor. 11.3 And as to such Women whose Husbands are Unbelievers or that have no husband a believing Brother hath liberty to inform them in things relating to the Government of the Church in which the Women Prophets in days past did not rule in the Government of the Church as may be read of Miriam and Deborah who were Prophetesses in their day Exod. 15 20. Judg. 4.4 and Haldah the Prophetess which prophesied of the evil to come upon Jerusalem 2 Chron. 34.22.23 And we read of Anah that prophesied concerning Redemption for it is said she coming in that instant gave Thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem which all that looked for Redemption did include the whole Church of Christ in Jerusalem and at that instant of her coming in and giving Thanks likewise was when the Church was gathered together and Christ himself at that time in the midst of his Church in which at that time Anah the Woman Prophetess did speak Luke 2.27 to v. 0. And Phillip had four Daughters which did prophesie Acts 21.8 9. And the Lord hath promised That he will pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh and their Sons and Daughters shall prophecy and their old Men shall dream Dreams and their Young Men shall sâ—e Visions and upon the Servants and Hand-maids will the Lord pour out his Spirit Act. 2 17 18. Joel 2.28 29. By which it appears that prophecying is not altogether ceased among the People of God whose promise doth continue among the faithful whom he hath called both Male and Female to preach the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ and by his good spirit of Life Light and Grace are they lead to preach in order as becometh the Gospel so to do that the Prophets may speak two or three and the others to judge and if any thing be ravealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his pâ—ace that all may prophecy one by one that all may learn and be comforted for the Spirit of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets for God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all the Churches of the Saints but if any he ignorant let him be ignorant 1 Cor. 14 to v. 38. But all covet to prophesie and forbid not to speak with Tongues vers 39. Now among such Professors where these things are not in practise according to the Record of the holy Scriptures which are for Peoples learning that by the Spirit of God they may follow Christ as the Apostles have done for Example and to mark them which walk other ways then whom is it that true Believers should mark but them who pretend to be Gospel Ministers and with their Hearers are not in the holy Practice of the faithful in days past whom they are commanded to follow as they have followed Christ which until such time as they reform in obedience to Gods holy Truth and are found to worship him in the Spirit in the Truth they are to be marked by all true Believers in Christ Jesus To have a form of Godliness but deny the Power who are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth CHAP. XX. Concerning Powers ALL Power is of God either by commission or permission Let every Soul be subject to the higher Power for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13.1 The Apostles words are very weighty for all to Consider and not
in days past have done for Example 1 cap. 12 13. in which holy Work the holâ— Scripturesâ— great help for through Faith in Christ Jâ—sus they are to make the Man of God wise to Salvation for of the Nâ— of God and Christ is every true Believer begotten by and by his Spirit gifted in measure and are to mark that live not up in good Works of Faith to the wâ— Gods holy Truth according as it is manifested by 〈◊〉 Christ and left recorded by his Spirit of Truâ—h wâ— hath commanded each Member of the Body to wâ— over one another not for evil but for good and iâ— Member be out of place the next Members are to seeâ— the way of the Lord for to restore it into its place agâ— but when all diligent care and means hath been useâ— its restoration and with long waiting cannot be recovâ— but remains in a state of dishonour to the Body the 〈◊〉 is to cut off that Member in obedience to God by wâ— means all the other Members of the Body may receivâ—nefit in the Work of the Lord by by casting that 〈◊〉 from the Body which hath offended the whole Body by all the other Members of the Body cannot be resâ— to the Body again for its better that one Member â—â—perish than that the whole Body should be cast into Hell 5.29 18.8 Mark 9.47 So that of what use for that Member hath been as to the benefit of the Eâ— whether as the right â—ye or the right Hand yet if oâ—â—orrupted and cannot be recoved by all the other Mâ—â—ers of the Body it is not to remain whereby to destroy â—he whoâ—e Body and to cause it to perish So that all is â—o be done by and through the gift of Wisdom which is from him who is the great Physitian of Value so that all â—â—e to stand faithful upon their Watch and to watch over one another for good and not for evil that all may be done to the praise and honour of Gods Name and for the Prosperity of his Truth in and among his chosen People which are the Church of Christ among whom there can â—e no real forgiving of each other further than thy Brother turns to thee and says he does Repent for the Lord forgiveth no man but as he doth turn by Obedience and Repent So that alâ— may live so as to keep out that Canker Worm of Prejudice which hath caten up some till they are become nothing as to the Life and Power of Gods saving Truth by Jesus Christ but are turned with the Dog to the Vomit and with the Sow to the wallowing in the Mire such went out from the People of God because they never were of the Church of Christ but remain as Land-marks and not as Way-marks for any of the Lords People to follow so there is no unbinding that on Earth which is 〈◊〉 unbound in Heaven neither binding that on Earth which is not bound in Heaven but that all may be done to the Honour of God and Prosperity of his Truth whose People are to pray that in all their Undertakings for his Truth the Will of God by them may be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven through which he will have the Honour of his own Work and they the Comfort of it to their own Souls which I desire may be fulfilled When all the scattered Sheep shall come Into that Fold in which are some Then will the faithfull come to see Christs Church in glorious State to be CHAP. XXVI Concerneng the State of all men and of Gods Judgments and also of Gods calling the Jews and manner of their Return to the Light of the Gospel THe Light of the Gospel is of God by Jesus who is the Power of God to Salvation in all them that believe and the Power of God for Condemnation in them that beâ—ieve not John 1.11 12 for the Lord searcheth the heart and tryeâ—h the Râ—ms even to give every man according to the fruit of his doings for the Light of Gods gift of divine Life by Jesus Christ makes manitest what fruit God requires of the Sons and Daughters of men who through Faith and Obedience do not answer his holy Will for which cause the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men because their Life of Disobedience is knowingly against the gift of Gods divine Light which is their Condemnation for their evil Deeds John 3.19 20. for that which may be known of God is manifested in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1.18 19 For the Lord sheweth unto Man what is his Thoughts Amos 4.13 Which if through Faith and Obedience to what the Lord makes manifest then the Thoughts of the Heart and Intents of the Mind are justified before him but if their Works are of Unbelief through Disobedience then the Thoughts of their Heart and Intents of the Mind are for Condemnation for every Obedient Child of God bringeth his Deeds to the Light by which they are manifest to be wrought in God but they who are Lovers of their own unrighteous Ways more than they are Lovers of Gods holy Truth they hate the Gift of Gods divine Light because by it their evil Deeds are reproved So that the state of all men is either of Obedience or Disobedience to the known Will Mind of God made manifest by the Light of his Spirit in and through the Lord Jesus â—hrist whose Light is not hid to them that are faithful but through Disobedience the Wicked that sin away the Day of Grace their Candle hath been often lighted and through their Disobedience goeth out again Job 21.17 8.5 6. Prov. 2.20 So that if the Light of the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the godd of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shâ—ne unto them 2 Cor. 4.3 4. So that it is thâ—ough continued Disobedience by which men perish for the Light of the Lord is not hid under a Bed nor under a Bushel for there is nothing hid that shall not be made manifest neither was any thing kept secret but that it shall come abroad Mat. 5.15 Mark 4.21 22 23. Luke 11.33 By which it is clearly manifested that Gods Wrath and Indignation in his just Judgments upon the Unrighteous is because of their Unbelief and Rebellious living which is as the sin of Witch craft before him and in his sight Now as the state of the faithful witness Salvation by Grace through Faith and Obedience so also do the unfaithful witness Condemnation Destruction through Disobedience and Unbelief begotten by the Father of all Unrighteousness So that the state of all men are either in Servitude to the Power of Gods gift by Jesus Christ or in Servitude to the Power of the Devil who is the Father of all Unrighteousness which
be related for the convincing of People concerning the Truth of God by Jesus Christ but all that hath been with all whatsoever of holy care and means that may be used is but for the further Condemnation of them that refuse Obedience to the gift of Gods divine Light which men have received as a Talent or Talents for them to improve for their Lords use and the benefit of their Souls for the Lord of Life waits with the Tenders of Life and Salvation for every Soul where the heart and mind is willing to forgo all the ways of Unrighteousness and to give up in true Obedience to serve the Lord with an upright heart and willing mind as becometh his People so to do for there is no Salvation of God by Jesus Christ to any mans soul but by true Faith and Obedience to God in Christ who sivingâ— is noâ— a God to them 〈◊〉 love and delight in any one thing which is not 〈…〉 his holy Commands for as the Lord of 〈…〉 of God in all things for the Servation 〈…〉 so them that witness Sâ—â—vation in and through him must through Faith and Obedience come through the Cross even as he hath done for as he was outwardly crucified on the outward Cross for the sins of the People somust the Power of God through Christ come to crucifiâ— every lustful affection which would exalt it selâ— above the Witness of Gods holy Truth which no man can savingly partake of but as he comes through faith and obedience to partake of Gods heavenly Riches which are in store for all them that love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ whom it any man will hear let him not harden his heart by Disobedience in â—nbelief for the Devils Power is of no other strength than to tempt the mind of man to serve him which if men obey his Temptations to serve him in sin it begets the heart into a hard stare of Unbelief to believe no other but a sinning life all the days of their appointed time in this life the cause of which is altogether through their Obedience to the Devils Temptations whose Power never did neither can force any man to sin but as they yeild their Obedience to his alluring Temptations which if through faithfulness men would watch and pray to God the strength of his Power by Jesus Christ would give them Victory against and over every lustful Desite of the corrupted heart which is by nature inclineable to serve no other save the Devil which seeks all unrighteous ways to destroy the soul of Man which through Faith and Obedience to what God hath of his divine Grace and Light of his Spirit made manifest by Christ Jesus through which they may be saved And though some may despise at my small measure in the aforesaid Work yet this I have an aâ—â—urance of and that from the Lord of Life thaâ— as 〈◊〉 keep faithful to that measure of his good Spirit of Grace Light and Life which through Faith and Obedience he will increase my Faith and enlarge my Understanding to understand his Will and Mind more and more in the things which concern the wellfair of the Souls well-being with God in Jesus Christ CHAP. XXVIII The Substance of my Letter to the Committee of the Militia in Salem in answer to what they did desire of me I Received yours by one of the Committee relating to my joyning with your laying out Disbursments for a Town stock of Ammunition and Provision against a time of Invasion Now you your selves well know that I never did with-hold the promotion of any Work among you or any other of Power in this place so far as it hath not been inconsistent with the Truth of God according to my Faith which leadeth me to assist and help according to my measure when and where God shall direct until which time if I should conform to your desire where then will follow my Reward And as to your War both Temporal and Spiritual where doth the benefit of it appear to a People whose unrighteous cruel Bloody Laws yet remain only wanting Power against the Lives and Estates of their honest Neighbours whom your Priests esteemed as those of your Church Members whom your selves do now put to Death as Witches which possibly some of them may be so and if that God should further permit the Devils Power against the Rulers Priests and Hearers it would follow to be the greatest of all other of Gods just Judgments that ever have befallen New-England since they began to stock whip cut off Ears banish order for Bonds men and women long and cruel Imprisonment and taking away to the value of twenty hundred Pounds besides the Lives of them four Righteous â—e sons put to Death at Boston all which hath been the afflicted state of the Lords People which in Derision have been known by the Name of Quakers And if the Children of them that destroyed the Lives and Estates of the Lords People in that day will say That they had no hand in the same I say that their assertion is utterly false so long as they condemn not their Predecessors actions and I prove it by the rebellious Jews many thousands of whom had no actual hand in destroying the Righteous in those days and they could say even as these in this day That they had no hand in the same but forasmuch as they did not bear a faithful Testimony for Gods holy Truth against the Unrighteousness of their Priests and Rulers the just Judgments of God hath reacht their Posterity to following Generations even so is it with New England while the Land remains defiled with the Blood of the Lords Servants slain at Boâ—on which New-England former Priests and Rulers have done in the Name of God and the Kings Name without any warrant or example from either but in their blind persecuting Spirit have maintained their persecuting way from a command in the Law which relates to false Worshippers in that day which in this Gospel Day they have charged upon the Lords People which worship the only true God in the Spirit and in the Truth which if God should permit the Power of the Devil by the spirit of Persecution then might more than three parts of the People of the World lose their Lives among whom it is evident the Lord hath a Number belonging unto him though at present stâ—angers to the outward Sufferings of Christ for he is the Light of the Gentiles and Salvation to the ends of the Earth and by him the Remnant of the Nations which fear God and work Righteousness are saved and he hath commanded That Wheat and Tears should grow together until the Harvest of which things I only hint to you for your understanding my Mind concerning the Proceedings in New-England whose former Priests and Rulers have not manifested the like Repentance as that of Judas who repenting himself oâ— betraying innocent Blood and withal returned the Money which he had unrighteously taken
belief of their being at more ease when out of this body than in the body then what changeth the nature between black People and white People the colour of the skin doth not change the Nature But some may say The Negroes in Barbadoes do not go to Church Indeed is it so and what better are many for going to Church in New-England where they that have been nearest related to the Church have manifested themselves to be the furden from God as witness their puting four of the Lords Servants to death at Boston which Church they then accounted the purest Church in the World and if the sheding of innocent Blood be the mark of a pure Church the Church of Rome is more pure then the church of Boston of which I may hereafter more relate so that it is not the going to Church in New-England that causeth white People to differ in nature from black people which go not to Church in Barbadoes And therefore Judges had need to consider all things aright because they are expresly commanded To do no Vnrighteousness in Judgment Lev. 19.15 Now some of these People have said to me that they were in trouble of mind and then hearing of themselves accused by the Specter or Devil turned Informer that it made them even as it were besides themselves or out of their natural Understanding and then hearing that all without confession were suddainly put to Death and large promises of mercy from God and Man and with the Priest and his Fallowers on the one side and their nearest and dearest Relations on the other side all urging to a Confession which is so as I beleive it was let all rational men judge what state and condition these confessors were in for we read That over much Oppression will make a wise Man mad and its easie to conceive that lesser Oppression will make them mad who are not in their right Understandings by reason of some trouble in mind But the thing then is how or which way or by what means shall men come to know one that is a Witch from one that is not a Witch To which I say it must be by that Wisdom by which the Damsel Eâ—â—mus and Simon came to be known Acts 10.16 13.8 9 10. 8.23 and notwithstanding they were known to be Witches the Apostle did not direct to the command in the Law of not suffering a Witch to live but directed or exhorted him to repent and pray which ought to be noted that first to repent then pray which may afford this use that Prayer before Repentance is not accepted of the Lord neither is Repentance without the Fruits of Repentance and without Fruits the Faith of Man is dead even as the Body is dead without the Spirit James 2.26 But then say the Professors of this Age Is there no other way and means to know Witches but as the Apostle did in his day Then there is no knowing a Witch in this day because say they all such means by the Spirit of God is ceased for one working of Miracles is past Answ Past indeed to them that know no other state but to bear a Body of Sin all their days but to them who are redeemed from sin they know in measure as the Apostle did in his day for if one Spirit cannot discern another then Christ is not in his People but the faithful witness Christ is spiritually in them and in whom he is not are they not Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 and to them is no Prophesie no Revelation no Miracle for they are spiritually dead deaf dumb and blind as to all the spiritual things of God by Jesus Christ and to such the Truth of God by any of his Servants is as Pearl before Swine and if a faithful man should say That he hath an infallible assurance that some of these twenty People put to Death in N. E. for Witches were not such Witches as accused condemned and put to Death for then what follows but the prosecution of Law because he hath but one Evidence and that 's in himself by the Spirit of God so though all are lawful yet all things are not expedient without the call of God thereunto But Witches there be of divers sorts as before related and if any be convicted of Murder they ought to dye but if men once maintain it lawful to put all to Death for Witches in whose likeness the â—evil may appear and work the like Wickedness as is laid to the charge of these put to Death they may I believe put to Death for Witches the greatest part of People now in the World because it s but a few in comparison that shall be saved which greatest Number that perish when the Spirit of God leaves striving and the day of Grace is over then their House becomes desolate and they become the Children of him whose Work they have done and he takes more full possession of his own House and Goods which is the heart mind and Spirit of them that are wholly departed from the Lord and the Lord from them Gen. 6.3 Mat. 12.43 44 45. Luke 11.24.25 And thou hath not the Devil full Power over his own that is without their consent to act and do so far as he is permitted any manner of Wickedness in their likeness or in the form and shape of their Bodies But to act and do such Wickedness in the form shape and likeness of Gods faithful Children is that which I cannot believe therefore I leave it waiting the Lords time for the further manifesting of that with other Mysteries unto me and doubt noâ— but as I remain faithful the Lord will manifest unto me in his own due time what he sees convenient for me And his I am well satisfied in that if men maintain that command of not suffering a Witch to live as in the time of the Law that they are not Ministers in all things according to the Law except they put to Death as the Law in that day did require that is the Witch and the Wizard the false Worshipper the rebellious Child the Adulterer and Adultress all which were under one sentence of Death in the time of the Law then why only a Witch not guilty of Murder to be put to Death in this Gospel Day when Christ hath said Let the Tares and Wheat grow till the Harvest and to let the blind alone for if one lead the other both shall fall into the Ditch And though the holy man of God destroyed twice fifty with their Captains by fire from Heaven and forty more by cursing them in the Name of the Lord these things according to Christs own words are not lawful to be done in this Gospel Day 1 King 1.10 Thes 2.24 Luke 9.5 Mat 15.14 Luke 6.39 Mat. 13.30 Mat. 5. Then as to the Command in the Law relating to false Worshippers as they were accursed so was their whole Substance accursed also therefore if these put to Death be Witches it must needs
Which â—â—th manifeâ—â— that the Prophet fore-saw Christ to come the Covenant or Light and Promise of God to the Gâ—â—â—ike of which Steek we are who have received a measure of Gods Spirit which is of the divine Light and Nature of Christ the true Sâ—ed of his Kingdom which by measure hath been sown in the Hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Adâ—â— To open their blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoner out of the Prison House Iâ—a 42.6 7. which is that which the Prophet declared of Christ the Foundation of Life in whose Light the faithful see Light Psal 36 9. Here David saw God in Christ who was to 〈◊〉 and in that day was a Rule to light Dâ—vid in his 〈◊〉 goings and Incomings by which he received the heavenly â—â—ehes or Gods Love to the saving â—f his Soul which is the Portion of all the faithful who receive Christ in the love of his Light which is no less than Life Eternal to all them that believe in his Name for his Name is Light and this Light hath been preached to every Creature under the Heavens Col. 1.23 which is that Light which John was sent to preach Christ the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and this Light opened their Understandings to know the Scriptures Luke 24 15 to 29. for Obeâ—â—ence to the Light of Christ brings into the Knowledge of 〈◊〉 by which there comes to be a right understanding of what iâ— contained in the holy Scriptures for by the Spirit of God in Christ were the holy men of God enlightned and gave forth the holy Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost Now mind That of this Light hath every man received a â—â—â—sure in his heart it being the Seed of the Kingdom and â—â—â—â—geth forth Fruit in good Ground Mat. 13.4 5 6 7 8. 〈◊〉 not in all other Grounds which signifie dark unclean stoney and hard Hearts in which the Seed hath been sown but only thrives and brings forth Fruit acceptable to God in the good Ground that is the honest faithful Heart which yeilds Obedience unto that which the gist of Gods divine Light requires it being the Lords Talent Mat. 25. wherein we find Christ did declare concerning the Work of his Kingdont by the Parable of the ten Virgins and sloathful Servant both having received the Seed of the Kingdom the Lords Talent which is a Gift of his divine Light Spirit of Truth which had they been faithful thereunto Salvation had not been wanting for when men receive of the Lords heavenly Gift of divine Light be it more or less yet through faithful Obedience it is sufficient for their Salvation for whether more or less yet the Lord requires his own with profit and where much is given much also is required but he that is not faithâ—ul in that which is little shall neuer be made Ruler of that which is greater but that which he haâ—h poâ—â—mprâ—â—ved shall be taken away and given to him that hath improved the Gift of God for the Honâ—nur of his holy Nameâ—â— and comfort of mans own Soul Mat. 25 28 29. which is maâ—â—er of great concern for all to be wâ—le an diligent in the Work of the Lord for the diligent gain Heavenâ— Riches when the sloathful are sent empâ—y away which will be the Portion of all the 〈◊〉 that are found living in a careless state spending their time in that which brings dishonour to the Name of the Lord and sorrow to the Soul oâ—hâ—m that so liveth for the Light of the Wicked shall bâ— put out and the Sparks of his Fire shall not shâ—ne and the Light shall be Darbness in his Tabernacle and hâ—â— Candle shall be put out with him Job 18.5 6. but in the faithful shall the Light shine which begets the heart and mind into good Works that glorifie God their Father which is in Heaven Now the Light of Gods Spirit in the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ is that Light â—hich the Lords People called Quakers profess to be the Rule of their Life whose Life is the light of men John 1.4 and this light hath been a Rule to the faithful in all Ages Psal 27 1. The Lord is my Light and Salvation and he shall bring forth thy Rightâ—oushesâ—â—â— the light and thy Judgments as the noon day In this the Righteous rejoyce and give Thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness Here Light is sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the Vpright in Heart Psal 97.11 12. And again he speaketh of Christ to be the Light For with thee is the Fountain of Life in thâ—â—ight shall we see Light Psal 36.9 O send out thy Light and 〈◊〉 Truth let them bring me unto thy holy Hill and thy Tabernacle Psal 43.3 And the Spirit in the Bropher saith Arise shine for thy Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Isa 60.1 And the Gentile shall come to thy Light and the Kings to the Brightness of thy Râ—sing vers 3. And many more instances from the holy Prophets Writings may be produced to that effect but these are sufficient to prove Christ the Everlasting Foundation of Lâ—fe and Light in whom the faithful of God in all Ages have built their Faith in the Light of God in Christ which gave them â—ull assurance in the same Faith That God in his due time would enlarge his Covenant of Light to all Natâ—ons by sending hâ—â— Son Jesus Christ who hath appeared in the likenâ—ss of sinful flesh to take away sin in the flâ—sh by pâ—â—forming the Will of God the Father to fullâ—r Death in a Body of Fâ—â—sh for the Redemption of all men and this is Jesus which shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1.21 By which it is evident That the Work oâ— God by Jesus Christ is to save People from their sins Then what is the state of such man who profess themselves to be the Ministers of Christ and teach People of an imperfect state never to be free from sin in this Life concerning which at presenâ—â— shall omit leaving it in order for another Head in which God willing I shall clear by sufficient Testimony of holy Sempture Proof and at present proceed in Vindâ—cation of the Light against the Lyes by which evil minded men reproaâ—â— the People of God and dishonour his holy Truth in which the saithful live each according to his measuâ—e of Light and 〈◊〉 Spirit of Grace Light Life by Jeâ—ds Christ which leadeth them to acknowledge God the Father Word and Spirit Christ the Word Life and Light and the holy Ghost which 〈◊〉 the Soirit of God the Father 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Son and Lord of Life and Light which was conceived by the holy Ghost and brought forth by the Virgin Mary betrayed by Judis suffered under Pontius Pilate rose again the third day aseen led into Heaven where now he sits in all Righteousness and Holiness with God
stinking Vapour from Hell Now we know that with God there dwelleth no imperfect thing but with the Devil dwelleth all Unrighteousness and with him remaineth all they that live and dye in theiâ— sins for all them that remain in sin in this Life they are never free from the Devils Power which if it were not for the restraing Power of God the Devil by them that serve him would soon destroy the whole Heritage of God which as yet remain the Body on this side the Grave for the Devil finneth from the beginning and his Work is to lay waste Gods Heritage and to destroy all that which is good Now so this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he â—â—ght destroy the Works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. â— For whosoever committâ—th sin transgresseth the Law for sin is the Transgression of Gods holy Law and ye know he was made manifest to take away our siâ— and in him is no sin 1 Joh. 3.5 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither knoweth him 1 Joh. 3.6 Let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Sâ—â—d remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 Joh. 3.9 Now in this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that hateth his Brother vers 10. Now we know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that Wicked One toucheth him not 1 Joh. 5.18 And this Declaration of Gods Truth hath proceeded from the Spirit of God and is agreeable with Chriâ—s own words John 8.21 Thy that dye in their sins where Christ is gone they can never come for as Death leavâ—s so Judgment finds and there is no Repentance in the Grave And in John 1â— 23 from Christs own words Ian them and ther în me that they maâ— be made perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them â—s thou hast loved me By which we may see that which God hath commanded he is in no way short in his Power towards the willing and obedient but unto them who through Disobedience to the Gift of Gods Spirit which came by Jesus Christ they remain in sin whose Reward will be with that unprofitable Servant which hid his Lords Talent by which he lost his portion of Gods heavenly Riches which the faithful are made partakers of in this Life and in the Life to come so that where there is any thing of faithfulness wanting to the gift of Gods Spirit of divine Grace Life and Light it hinders from a perfect state even as with him whom Christ brought to the Touch-stone If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that which thou hast and give it to the poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven Mat. 19.20 21. By which it is manifest that men through Obedience to what the Lord requires of them to do may by him be made perfect according to his own Command in this Life Mat. 5.48 for Christs words are to be believed before the words of all men that have ever taught the Doctrine of Imperfection for Christs vvords are very plain and by the Spirit of God easie to be understood in his saying Be ye therefore Perfect as your heavenly Father â—s Perfect also That the Disciple is not above his Master bâ—t every one that is perfect shall be as his Master Luke 6.40 Which also implyes that some there were that were perfect otherwise it vvould not have been said Every one that is perfect and for this end Christ gave Gifts for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.12 For the gift of God is for the perfecting of his Saints for vvhich the Lords Servants prayed That they might present every man Pefect in Christ â—esus preaching and â—arning every man and teaching eâ—â—â—â— man in all Wisdom that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus 1 Col 1.28 But unto such who Reply That he that saith he hath no sin deceiveth himself and the Truth is not in him 1 Joh. 1.8 and vers 10. If we say we have not sinned we make him a Lâ—ar and the Truth is not in us By which it is evident That all men in their first state have sinned and that there is something of that Nature so long as the Warfare against sin remaineth but at the end of the Warfare against sin sin in the Warfare is overcome and no longer remains in the Man of God which is according to the Spirit of God as by the Apostles writing concerning that state in which men were in the Warfare I write unto you little Children because your sins are forgiven you for his Name sake I write unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you Young Men because ye have overcome the Wicked One I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father I have written unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you Young Men because ye are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and you have Overcome the Wicked One 1 John 2.12 13 14. So that in the Warfare the Churches growth was in their several states of pressing forward to Perfection in which state of their Warfare they came to grow from a Childs state to the state of a strong man in Christ Jesus So that in their Spiritual Travail against Sin they still come more and more to the increase of Gods holy Truth by their knowledg of his will and mind through Jesus Christ by whose Power they received dayly Strength for their Preservation in his holy Truth by which they come to grow from one degree of Grace unto another till at length in the Lords due time they become perfect Men in Christ Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of his good Work in the hearts of his People for when they have overcome the wicked One they have also overcome sin and the same is a perfect Man 1 John 2.13 14. And this is agreeable with the Apostle Pauls writing concerning the same state which he did experience in his Warfare including all under sin in the first state for as Men are found to partake of Adams Disobedience so also are they found Transgressors of Gods holy Command in which they have sinned and all that remain in that state remain in sin being Servants to sin which frees them from the Righteousness of Christ whose faithful Servants war not with carnal Weapons but with spiritual Weapons which through him are mighty to the pulling down of strong Holds and Wickedness in high Places Now least the Apostle should be exalted above measure through the abundance of Revelations there was given unto him a Thorn in the Flesh
the Messenger of Satan to buffet least he should be exalted above measure And whereas he said O wretehed Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death Rom. 7.24 All which doth not incinde him to be a Transgressor of Gods holy Law as every man that remains in sin is which cannot in truth and righteousness say as the holy Apostle did I thank God throvgh Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of sin vers 25. Now by the Law of Sin the ignorant do conclude the holy Apostle was not free from sin in this Life which he clears in Rom 8.1 2 3 4 5 6. There a therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Lâ—â— of Sin and Death for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the Likeness of sinful Flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Rightenâ—sness of the Law might be fullâ—illed in them who walk not after Flesh but after the Spirit For they that be after the Flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that be after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal mind is at Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. By which it is manifest that the holy Apostle did not all his days continue in a Body of sin but in his Warâ—are was pressing forward towards the Mark of the Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before Phil. 3.13 That the Man of God might be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 4.17 in which state of pressing forward to Perfection Patience hath her perâ—ect work that they might be perâ—ect wanting nothing James 1 17. Which state the holy Scriptures bear Record Paul in the end of his Warfare did attain which is a state free from sin in this Life according as by the Spirit of God he himself testified That he had ought a good fight wherein he had finished his Course and â—ept the Faith or whom there was laid up a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous â—udge would give him at the last Day and not to him only but to all them that love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.7 8. And these things were done before his Departure from the Body as appears by his Epistle to Titus and to Philemon and also to the Hebrews so that the Lords People well know by the Spirit of God agreeing with the holy Scriptures as also by their daily progâ—ess in the Way of the Lord all agreeing with the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit that by true Faith and Obedience thereunto they shall receive a daily supply of his Power which will give sufficient strength against the Devil and all his Temptations by which he that hath set his hand to the Plow and doth not look back shall come to witness a thorow cleansing from sin in this Life which they that witness not in this Life shall not witness a cleansing in the Kigndom of Heaven for no imperfect thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven neither is there any Repenting in the Grave for as Death leaves so Judgment finds Concerning the true Worship of God in Spirit EVen at this day as in days past among the Peopâ—â— of the World there are many Wayes of Worship but with the People of the Lord his way of Worship is but one in which they worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth for God is a Spirit and they which are true Worshippers of him they worship in the Spirit and in the Truth Then how can any be true Worshippers of God which abide not in his Truth for Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and they that are not in â—hrist are out of his Truth and so not in the true Worship of God so as they are not in Christ theâ— are not in the 〈◊〉 but out of that spiritual Life in which the true Worship of God remaineth Now this we know that all men are in the worship of some one thing or another all pretending that their Worship is the right and true way of Worship Then seeing that all are Worshippers How is the true Worshipper known from the false Even as the Tree is known by its Fruit so are Worshippers known one from the other for the good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but the evil Tree bringeth forth corrupt Fruit for men do not expect to gather Grapes of Thornes nor Figs of Thistles neither can any man be a true Worshipper of God in Spirit that doth not bring forth Fruits of the Spirit which are Love Joy Peace Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law Gal. 5.22 23. for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Christ such are the true Worshippers of God in Spirit and Truth but such Worshippers that draw in sin as an Ox draweth in Water their best Performances in Worship are sin unto which the Lord hath no regard for we know that God heareth not sinners but if any man be a true Worshipper of God and he doth his will him he heareth John â— 31 Now to think that God will accept any mans Work wherein sin remaineth that man deceiveth himself for all Works wherein sin remaineth it is not of the Spirit of God but of the Devil for he is a sinner from the beginning and the Truth abideth not in him for in the time of the Law the Peoples Offerings before the â—ord were to be perfect without blemish Lev. 22.21 and their weight and measure were to be perfect before the God or their Salvation Deut. 25.15 Which did signifie spiritual Obedience to â—hrist the Lamb of God without blemish spot or wrinkle who requires in this Gospel Day under the Light of his â—ovenant of Grace Light and Life unto which not any thing of mans imperfect Gift and Offerings can find place to enter into Covenant with the Lord of Life for the Salvation of their immortal Souls for as God hath perfected his work of Grace in Jesus Christ for the Salvation of Peoples Souls so most their work be also perfect by the Power of God in and through Christ for the Salvation of them that are saved in and through him the Lord of Life of whose Spirit there is a gift given to the Sons and Daughters of men which is for
this end that through perfect Obedience thereunto they may work out their Salvation by true Faith in Jesus Christ who is Author and Finisher of his own Work in the hearts of them that in him believe for he is given a Light to the Gentiles and a Rule of Life for all to walk by So here is no occasion of stumbling as the heart and mind attends its Rule which Rule directs the heart and mind in to the true and living Way which leads to the Kingdom of Heaven where they that worship out of the Spirit and Truth can never come for though they may not profess to worship a false God as many do yet they profess a worship of the true God in a false way by which their worship is a false Worship which the â—ord will destroy for contrary to the mind and will of God they have set â—p a false Worship teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men Mat. 15.9 For the hour cometh and now is â—hen the true Worshipper shall worship the Father in Spirit â—â—d in ruth for the Father seeketh such to worship him â—ob 4.23 By which its manâ—est That all words in Deâ—arations Preaching and Praying with all whatsoever â—se that men pretend to the Worship of God being not â—ad thereunto by the Power of God it is no more before 〈◊〉 Lord than he that cuts off a Dogs Neck or â—fforeth Sâ—ines â—lood Isa 66. â— For the â—ord is o◠〈◊〉 pure Eyes â—an to behold Iniquity or to regard Iniquity for be will not have regard to that Worship in which Obedience is not yeilded to the gift of his own Spirit of Truth which calls for Silence in the heart and mind of all such People whose Worship is not in the Spirit and in Truth for the fleshly part must be subdued and the natural Thoughts of the heart and the intents of the natural Mind must be subdued by the Power of God unto which Obedience is to be yeilded that every wandering Thought may be brought into subjection by the Power of God then the Lord will have regard unto the Soul of him that so worshippeth for such Worshippers are they of the Circumcision which worship in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus having no Confidence in the Flesh Phil 3 3. Now this is the main Reason why People do not pront but in their Worship as themselves confess go round in their Duties even like a Horse in the Mill and a Door on the Hinges still remaining where they were because they offer to God with a false weight and measure which is of their own Imperfection in a belief that they shall never be free from Sin in this Life whereby their Debt is in larged and causeth them to fall short of a true Hope by Jesus Christ who will not accept that imperfect Offering which would not profit in the Time of the Law for this is the Day of Gods Grace by Jesus Christ in which if any man will hear let him not harden his heart through a false Belief begotten by the denyal that in this day of so large a Dispensation of Light by Jesus Christ that God will receive the imperfectness of Mans own Work which indeed is that which the â—ords Soul abhors for the Devil and Enemy of Mans Peace hath seated himself in the heart and mind of Man and exalted himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God fitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God Thes 2.4 and unto him the natural Mind inclineth to serve by which the Soul remaineth in Sin and Transgression against God whose Gift of divine Light is vailed from the Understanding which also becomes Dark in which state they walk in the light of their own wayes which leads in the Paths of Death which fulfills Christs saying If the Eye be evil the whole Body shall be full of Darkness then how great is that Darkness Mat. 6.23 which Darkness drowns the Understanding of the inward Man that it cannot come to perceive the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus which is the Power of God to Salvation in them that believe in the Light of it which if it be hid it is only to the Disobedient who yeild their Obedience to their hearts Lusts which lusteth after Sin and Evil being also desirous to know God without Obedience to the gift of his Spirit of Grace in which state the Devil hath the ruling part in the heart which lusteth after some outward Work in pretence of worshipping God only for the outward Name of Christian amongst Men such Worshippers the Lords Soul doth abhor for Mans natural Will is Enmity with God and in that state mans Time in Worship is not that Time which the Lord doth accept but the Lords Time in which he doth accept Mans Offering is when by the Power of his own Spirit the heart is moved to worship him the only true God in the only true way of his Worship which is in the Spirit and Truth So all are commanded to keep silence before the Lord and to hear him for the profit of their own Souls before they can speak or declare any one thing for the spiritual Edification of another for he that nameth the Name of the Lord is first to depart from Iniquity and to wait for the Teachings of Gods holy Spirit which hath commanded Silence to all Flesh before hîm Hab. 2.20 Ezek. 2.13 also Psal 3.25 28 Let all the Earth keep Silence before the Lord I patiently waited on the Lord Truely my Soul waiteth on God from him cometh my Salvation So that God requireth a free and willing Mind to be free from all Incumberments and love of visible things which are below the true Wisdom of God which unto the wise-learned in the things of this World is counted foolishness to see the Lords Children sit together in Silence waiting on God to hear the Voice of his inward Call by the gift of his Spirit of divine Grace Life and Light in which is the true Worship of God in Spirit and Truth So here is to be no giving way to any stragling Thought of the Heart nor Intent of the Mind for all that is of Self is by the Power of God to be brought into Subjection to his holy Will which is the true worshipping of God in Spirit and Truth for all Thoughts and Intents which proceed not from the Power of Gods Spirit they are Thieves and Robbers which keep lurking through the Devils Power to deceive the Soul of that benefit which if they were obedient to the command of the Lord they might receive for as the true Worshippers in all Ages have been sound in the silent waiting their strength hath been renewed for they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and thâ—y shall walk and not be faint Isa â—0 31 for they come
that he baptized in his own Name he then thanked God that he had not baptized as he knew of any more save Crispus and Gaius and the Houshold of Stephanus plainly concluding that Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1.16.17 Now the Apostles saying that he thanked God that had not baptized any other is sufficient proof that Water Baptism is not that which God doth expect in this day if other wayes the holy Apostle would never have said he than ed God that he had baptized no other as he knew of which is sufficient that the Almighty God doth neither except nor accept sprinkling or dipping with visible Water in this day for Jesus Christ hath fulfilled all Tipes and Figures which were but shadows of better things to come and are come to them which by true Faith in him and he in them by which there is no need to lay the Foundation of things past for Christ crucified and risen again as the Mystery oâ— his Death and Resurrection outwardly is inwardly revealed is the Substance and Foundation of his Peoples Faith which gives them an assurance in the hope of his heavenly Riches which they that are not dead with Christ from the Rudiments cannot pertake of for they are yet living with their affections uncrucifid as to the Rudiments of the World being yet subject to Ordinances of divers forms in their will Worship which the righteous have overcome so that they cannot again be brought into bondage to touch taste nor handle those things wherein their uncrucified Affections once did remain well knowing they are all to perish with the using after the Commandment of men which things indeed have a shew of will Worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any honnor to the satisfying of the flesh Col. 2.20 21 22 23. Now the faithfull of God are risen with Christ in which state they are â—â—â—king those things which are above where Christ siâ—â—eth on the right hand of God so that their Affections are set on things above and not on things on the Earth Col. 3.1.2 and they are a blessed People which are come to witness that state in which they seek the Lord and his righteousness which is the right use of means that God hath appointed for the honour of his holy Name and the salvation of them who in the true use of means lay hold on God thorough faith in the son of his love the Lord Jesus Christ by whose Power the Faithful are baptized into the one spirit by the holy Ghost which is the true Baptism of Christ by whom they that are not baptized thorough the Water of Regeneration they yâ—t remain with their Affections uncrucified in which state the Lord hath no regard to their daily Offerings And yet if any for a furtherance of the Gospel should find freedom in the Will of the Lord to condescend to the weakness of some to baptize into Water we should not forbid it but the bare form and Imâ—â—ation taken up in the meer Will of men without any inward motion or call of God or inward approbation we utterly disown CHAP. XI Concerning the true Sabbath which signifies Rest to them who abide in Christ who is the everlasting Sabbath MAny are the Talkers of the Sabbath and of the first days Rest but few are they that come so far in the Work of God by Faith in Jesus Christ as to witness their first days Work in him who is the true and everlasting Sabbath in whom the faithful have their resting place they are them which are come to witness the end of their Labour which have their rest in Christ the true Sabbath Now where People in their differing forms of Will Worship rest from their outward Labour one day in seven calling that the Sabbath Day thinking thereby that the Lord of Sabboth will accept their will Worship with their rest from outward Labour for his â—abbath they deceive themselves and the Lord of Sâ—bâ—ath will reward them according to their own Works by which they preâ—end to serve him for the Lord only looks at them who in in uprightness of heart labour against sin that by so doing they witness the effect of their Labour through the Power of God by Faith in Christ against sin for they that labour not six days against sin shall never witness the seventh Day Holy to the Lord of Sabbath which proves such Talkers of the Sabbath to be no keepers of any Time Holy to the Lord of Sabbath and as to many such Talkers about the Sabbath Day on which they are more unholy in their Minds as to the Lord of Sabbath than on any other of the six days in which Peoples Minds are exercised on things of Bodily concern which being freed from outward Bodily Labour on the first day which they call the Sabbath their minds are more in the exercise of those things which are of no profit to the Soul neither of so much profit to the Body as their outward Labour is on the other six days of the Week which things are manifested by their Fruits as appears both in words and actions upon the first day which they pretend a Sabbath to the Lord in which state they are Sabbath Breakers and not Sabbath keepers for all Time is to be kept holy unto the Lord of Sabbath which if any observe a Day let him keep it holy unto the Lord and not to judge another mans Liberty in matters of Faith concerning the keeping or not keeping of a Day for one man may be prepared as from the Lord to keep a Fast unto him when another man may not be called of God to dâ— the same for every man is to seek God for himself for the Lord hath promised To be found of them that seek unto him with a peâ—fect Hâ—art and with a willing Mind for the Lord searcheth all Hearts and understandeâ—h all the Imaginations of the Thoughts which if they seek him he will be found of them but if they forsake him he will cast them off forever 1 Chron. 28.9 1 Sam. 16.7 Psal 7.8 9. and 139.2 3 4. Jer. 17.10 Now in what men pretend to God if in uprightness of heart they do not retain him in all their Thoughts their Work is of no effect for the profit of their Soul but further adds towards their Condemnation which is matter of weight for People to consider how thâ—y spend their precious Time which God hath given them in this Life to make their Peace with him through Faith in obedience to the gift of his Grace which came by Jesus Christ the Lord of Life and Everlasting Sabbath of his Peoples Rest which for People to talk of without a true believing in his outward Sufferings and in the inward Word of his Life their Souls shall never find rest in the Lord of Sabbath who was buried and rose again the third day which is the first Day of the Week which in honour to
that great â—ork of Redemption by the Son of God and Lord of Sabbath is worthily regarded and attended for the Worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth having the holy Apostles for Example to follow them as they were Followers of Christ and to mark them which walk otherwayes then sure we are to mark them whose Dress appears more like for Stage-Play than for the true Worship of God on the first Day of the Week for where the heart is there is the Treasures also and out of the heart proceedeth all evil Communications which abundantly appears among People who rather exceed upon the Day of their Worship than at other times when their Minds are exercised in things of Bodily Labour which by their Fruits they are to be judged that they live void of the true fear of God or regard to their Immortal Souls and so are as a People without God in the World who have no true saving Knowledge of God by Jâ—sus Christ they will talk of God and Christ and of the Sabbath without any spiritual sence of his saving Grace by Jesus Christ the Lord of Sabbath who is the everlasting â—abbath of his Peoples Rest where the Righteous cease from their own Works as God did from his Heb. 4.9 10. CHAP. XII Concerning Election and Reprobation agreeing with the Holy Scriptures THis is that which many hold That God from all Eternity hath unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass and That God hath decreed one part of the Angels with Men Women and their Infants for everlasting Damnation Which Doctrine is mostly held by the Presbyterians as by their Confession of Faith cap. 3. which Doctrine I have often considered in the spirit of Meekness and according to my measure of Gods holy Truth by Jesus Christ do I declare as followeth That to know God by Jesus Christ is Life eternal and for that end was the Son of God made manifest that all might come unto God through Faith in Jesus Christ and through Grace by him be saved for God made Man in his own Image and gave him a being in the Garden of Paradise from which state he soon fell which Fall was through Disobedience by eating of the forbidden â—ruit which hath brought Darkness over the Children of Men which are in a state of Bondage to that Seed of the Enemies sowing in their first Parents which more or less comes by Nature in the Children of Men in whom that Seed lusteth which is a doing of that in Obedience to the Temptations of the Souls Enemy which God hath strictly commanded should not be done And for that end that the Children after Adam should know the Will and Mind of their Maker God in all Ages gave unto the Sons and Daughters of Men a gift of his own Spirit of divine Light by which they might see the right way of the Lord and walk therein which is according to his holy Promise as in Gen. 3.15 And I will put Enmity between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Hâ—el in which two Seeds iâ— chiefly contained Election and Reprobation former Seed should bruise the Head of the Serpent and break his Power that is through perfect bedience to Christ the Seed of the Woman and to his Grace which is that gift of divine â—ight that makes manifest all the hidden things of Darkness so that let the Devil appear in what likeness soâ—ver he will yet as Men and Women stand faithful to the manifestation of Gods gift the Enemy's Power comes to beâ—broken So that the Promise of God in the Seed remains only to the faithful for the Promise of God was not to Seeds as of many but as of One and to thy Seed which is Christ Gal. 3.16 for the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the Law which was four hundred and thirty Years after cannot disannul that it should make the Promise of none effect for the Law was added because of Transgression till the Seed should come to whom the Promise was made but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the Promîse by Faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Gal 3.17 18 19 20. Now all not believing in Christ the true Seed doth not include that God ordained them to perish because the Promise of God in the Seed is tendered in Gods own time and way to all the Children of Men otherwise all that perish would not be left without excuse concerning which the Spirit of God hath left it plain to be understood that the Seed of the Kingdom hath been sown in all sorts of Ground and the Reason is rendered by the Spirit of God why it did not bring forth fruit in all sorts of Ground which is because Obedience hath not been yeilded to the Command of God for if God had absolutely decreed mens Damnation his Decree being unrevokable there would be no need for men to strive for Salvation for who could resist such an absolute Decree But blessed be the Name of God and Father of Jesus Christ whose faithful People well know that he is a just God which hath not ordained the Souls of any to perish before they were born but for their Sins and final Impenitence through Disobedience to the â—ift of his Grace which is of the Seed of the Kingdom and hath been sown throughout all Ages in all sorts of ground of what Nature soever and hath been the same in this day among all the Children of Men and if any perish it is of themselves for Light is come into the World and mans Condemnation is of himself because he loves Darkness rather than Light Joh. 3.1 the Reason is because he hates the Light which repreves his evil Deeds in which stare the Seed is appressed and kept as in Bondage by which it can take no roâ—t in the hard rebellious heart and barren sandy ground where Rocks Thornes and Thistles grow and Serpents have their abiding place which destroy and cause the Life of the Seed to depart which iâ— the state of disobedient and rebellious men whose Damnation neither slumbereth nor sleepeth but is of themselves by which they cannot charge the just and holy One of ordaining them to perish By which it is manifest that mans Dimnation is of himself and thaâ— is by yeilding his mind to serve in Unrighteousness when occasions sin that destroys the soul â—y which at appears that they unjustly charge â—od of decreeing men â—o perish which for the begetting of a further belief of unfound Doctrine they have wrested the Apostles words Rom. 9.11 12 13 where is is said The Children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth it was said unto her the elder shall serve the younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Also in another place where
it is said That Esau sought the blessing with Tears but could not obtain it All which makes not the least proof that the soul of Esau did perish for they themselves allow that if the Parents are Believers their Children are holy Then finding that the Parents of Esau were holy Believers why should any judge of God to be such a severe Master as to decree the soul of a Child born of holy Parents to perish without having done any evil in its own Body And as to Esau â—s being hated the Lord never hated the soul of any man as to decree its Damnation before he was born but for its sins and final Impenitency for hatred is taken in a two-fold sence for Jacob loved Rachel and hated Leah And Christ said He that hateth not Father and Mother Wife and Children he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14.26 Now if God had hated Esau with such Hatred as to decree his soul for Damnation before he was born or had done either good or evil then Isaac by Faith would not have blessed Esau for Isaac did by Faith bless Jacob and Esau concerning things to come And as to Repentance which Esau could not find it was relating to the first blessing which he could not recover being before given to Jacob the younger of whom it is said Esau the elder should serve Which no more implyes that Esau did perish than David the younger Brother whom God chose before all the rest of his elder Brethren who were to serve David their younger Brother whom God saw good to place on the outward Throne in the outward Kingdom of Israel that the outward Government might 〈◊〉 in the Line of David in which line of David's stock the elder did serve the â—ounger for so did the Wisdom of God order the outward Government of Israel in Church and State in which the elder did serve the younger And in Jacob's Line the stock of Esau served the younger until the â—â—ling of the Gentiles which then did reach the stock of Esau and all Nadons that should be found to call on his Name that they may possâ—â—s the Remnant of Edom and all the Heaâ—hen which are called by any Name saith the Lord â—mos 9.12 by which it is manifest that the Church of God remains seattered aâ—nâ—ng all Nations among whom they that 〈◊〉 God and work his Righteousnâ—â—s the same shall be saved through Faith in Christ Jesus for the gift of Gods Grace bâ— Jesus Christ is large in his love to all Nations which bâ— his promise in calling the Gentiles it frees the yoke of servitude from the stock of Esau's Posterity which is no less priviledge than to be made partakers of Gods Promise in the Government of his Grace by Jesus Christ which the stock of Jacob have refused for which cause they have lost their Interest through their Self-Righteousness in the first Covenant of Works for which cause of refusing the rich Mercy of Gods Grace by Jesus Christ they are given up in Unbelief concerning the great Work of Redemption by the Son of God whom they wickedly slew without the City Gates for which cause the Lord hath given them the Spirit of Slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear unto this day And Davîd said Let their Table be a Snare and a Trap and a stumbling Block and a Recompence unto them let their Eyes be dirkenêd that they may not see and bow down their back alway Then have they stumbled that they should fall God forbid but rather through their Fall Salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousie for if the fall of them be the Riches of the World and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fuliness For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the World what shall the receiving of them be but Life from the Dead for if the first Fruit be holy the Lump is also Holy and if the Root be Holy so are the Branches for if through Vnbelief they were broken off then it is by true Faith that there is an entrance into the Covenant of Grace which extends to the stock of Esau Ishmael and all the Nations of the World for the Lord hath said That he will call them his People which were not his People and her his beloved which was not his beloved Rom. 9.25 Hos 2.23 1 Pet. 2 10. Hos 1.10 Therefore let not any be ignorant to establish their own Righteousness but submit to that Righteousness which is of God by Faith in Jesus Christ who doth not delight himself in the death of any sinner but had rather all might turn and live By which it is evident that God hath not decreed the Destruction of any mans soul before he hath sinned out the day of Gods Visitation whose spirit shall not always strive with man whose Condemnation is of himself through the unbelief of his own hard heart and the decree of God respecteth him only as such which was the state of Pharaoh of whom it is said The Lord hardned the heart of Pharaoh that be might be honoured upon Pharaoh and upon all his host So not only Pharaoh but his People also had rebelled against the Word of the Lord by his Servants and Messengers of his Truth for which cause the Lord gave them up thorough unbelief to haronâ—â— of heart by which it is said The Lord hardened Pharaohs heart for this end to give honour to his own holy name thorough the overthrow of so great a King as Pharaoh in the Earth then was who hardened his own heart through the unbelief which he had to the Word of the Lord who permitted the Devil to draw Tharaoh from Obedience to the Command of the Lord thorough which his heart came to be hardened to the Glory of God and honour of his name for all the Devils work is by permission and is to the honour of God in the Condemnation of them which thorough Disobedience yeild their minds in obedience to the Devils Power by which their hearts come to be hardened against Gods holy Truth so that God hardeneth not any mans heart whose Condemnation is of himself in that he will not yeild his Obedience to the gift of God who desires not that any should perish but that all might do his Commandments and live for which end all men have ever had the way of good and evil set before them which proves that man do not perish thorough a decree of Gods making before they have done either good or evil hat they shall perish for tho the Decree or Purpose of God begins not in time yet it respecteth Man having had a time and day of Visitation and living in Sin until it be expired for the holy Scriptures are very full that God is clear of all mens Blood which perish for he hath tendered Life to all the Children of men by which thorough Faith in Obedince to
Rest so that now in this Gospel day it is by the Sword of the Spirit by which the Kindom of God is advanced in the hearts of his People who pray to the Lord oâ— Life to teach their spiritual hands to right the Lords Battel against the Enemies of their Peace with him so as Israel of old were to destroy all Gods outward Enemies with the outward Sword for the outward advancing the outward Kingdom of Israel in the outward Laâ—d of Canaan so are the People of God in this day with the inward Sword of his spirit to maintain now in their inward Travail to the heavenly Canaan against all the inward Enemies which would hinder the advancing of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ in his People by whom they receive strength to fight the Lords spiritual Battel against the Enemies of their soul and as Israel of old did not perform the command of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophets to destroy all them outward Enemies out of their Land for which cause they remained as Thorns in their sides so will it be with them that reserve alive any one inward Enemy to Gods Truth for every Enemy to his Truth seeks to draw the heart and mind from serving God in the true and living way even as in the outward with Israel in that day of the Lords command to destroy all them that were outward Enemies to his Truth which Israel not fulfilling the word of the Lord them Enemies were as snares and gins to draw their minds from serving the true and living God by which they not obeying the word of the Lord they by their enemies were drawn into Idolatry to worship the gods of the Nation which were no godds to save Israel from the just hand of God through whose just Judgments they received their reward from â—he Lord which suffered them for their disobedience to be destroyed by the hand of their outward Enemies so as Israel was to fulfill Gods command to destroy their outward Enemies by or with the outward Sword of the Lords outward Battel against them that were outward Enemies to the true Worship of God in that day even so are the inward Enemies of mans soul to be destroyed by or with the spiritual Sword which is to fight the Lords spiritual Battel against the spiritual Enemies which would hinder the inward man of the true inward Worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth so as the Rebellion in dayes past did not regard the Sword of the Lord who of long time after did strive with his People in that day of their outward War against their outward Enemies and they would not hearken to obey the Word of the â—ord by the mouth of his Prophets but beat one and destroyed another till at length through unbelief and hardness of heart they crucified the Lord of Life whom they put to open shame without their City gates for which cause their day was over and their House became desolate even so will it be with the Rebellious in this day who reserve Gods spiritual Enemies by keeping them alive whom God hath appoynted to be destroyed which for not obeying the command of God by his Son the Lord of Liâ—e but refuse the tenders of his Grace by his gifts of divine Light and Word of his Spirit which keeps striving from day to day and from time to time until their day be over and House be left desolate for the Spirit of God vvill not alvvays strive vvith man which is matter of great vveight for all to consider that they may so live in obedience to the manifestation of Gods Spirit that they may come to vvitness every evil Lust of the heart and corrupt desire of the mind vvhich are the invvard Enemies to God and mans Soul that they may not reserve or keep any one alive but keep all dovvn vvith the spiritual Svvord of Gods Povver in and through the Lord Jesus Christ vvho vvith-holds not from any that are vvilling to take up the Cross to their natural will and follovv him to gain the Crovvn vvhich is far from them that lust after War and Fighting vvith the outvvard Svvord vvhich hath no relation tovvards the promoting of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ vvho hath said all they that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword vvhich is according to the Apostles Query From whence come Wars and Fightings among you come they not hence even of your Lusts that war in your Members ye lust and have not ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain ye fight and war yet ye have not because ye ask amiss that you may consume it upon your Lust Jam. 4.1 2 3. Then they vvhich ask cannot receive because thay ask that vvhich God hath forbidden they lust to kill and ask Victory that they may spend it on their lust but their reward is to be according to Christs vvords all that take the svvord shall perish vvith the Svvord But some vvill say If the Spirit move the Quaker he will sell his coat and buy a Sword to fight for his Religion To which I Answer That Christ sent his Disciples vvithout Purse and Scrip and Shoos yet they lacked nothing notvvithstanding he said unto them He that hath a Purse let him take it and likewise his Scrip and he that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy one for I say unto you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me So he that had no Svvord vvas to sell his Garment and buy one that the use of the Sword according to the Righteousness of the Lavv might befulfilled by the Righteousness of Christ vvho said unto them that two Swords were enough Luke 22.35 36 37 38. Then seeing that tvvo Svvords vvere enough for the Disciples of Christ by vvhom the use of the Svvord vvas fulfilled by the Righteousness of Christ as to the Lavv then vvhose Unrighteousness is that vvhich the many Svvords are fulfilling in this day for the use of the Sword as to the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled by the Righteousness of Christ which suffered his Body to be pierced for the sins of the People that all might witness him to be the end of all War Strife and Contention for if his Kingdom had been of this World he could have prayed to the Father and the Father would have sent him more then twelve Legions of Angels and this was in full satisfaction to Peter which was after Peter had put up the Sword when Christ said to him all they that take the Sword shall Perish with the Sword which doctrine is true as by the Spirit of God and holy scripture with daily experience which teaches the same but Faith and Patience of the Lords People witness the Kingdom of Christ not to be of this World for which cause they cannot fight for him with the carnal Sword for the Spirit of God doth not change in his People to command them from a thing that is
evil one time and another time move them to do it for the Spirit of God by Jesus Christ moves his People in the way of holiness in which holy Way of Righteousness they have born their faithful Testimonies for Gods holy Truth against Fighting to defend their Faith by or with the carnal Sword or to take up any such like evil Practice again for Gods way of bringing his People nearer to him is by Jesus Christ whose Kingdom he will more and more exalt in the hearts of the saithful and not with the using of any carnal Weapon but by the Power of his own Spirit Ezek. 4.6 in which state they desire the wellfare of all men both Soul and Body and not as many do to kill the Body and say they desire the wellfare of their Souls whose Bodies they have destroyed for the Spirit of God meaneth not any such thing as to destroy mens Bodies with the carnal Sword and say they desire the wellfare of their souls for according to Christs Dostrine he that destroyes the Body of his Enemy cannot love the Soul of his Enemy for Christ came to save both Soul and Body and through the Power of God in him are many redeemed which by nature were Enemies â—nto him then what more can be said are not men by rature Enemies to one another then come to the Law and the â—rophets and do even as ye would be done unto for if you will be beloved of God in Christ you must love both Soul and Body of your Enemies even as Christ hath done unto them which have been Enemies unto him for Love covers a multitude of faults and Love leads them that are faithfull to God to keep the sayings of Christ who hath commanded to pray for Enemies and to do good unto all men by which they may be the Children of their Father which is in heaven in which state the Kingdom of this World may become the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ that the Prophets saying may be fulfilled that Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2.4 Mich 4.3 untill which time the saying of Christ is fulfilled upon them that take the Sword which must perish with the Sword then happy are they that are yet living in the Body and have known the end of all War Strife and Contention for unto their Number Will be the gathering of them that shall not lift up the Sword one against the other neither learn war any more of which Number are the despised of this day who strive to maintain Peace by denying all Wars and Fightings with the carnal Sword or of the like Nature CHAP. XXIII Concerning Conscience which justifies the Ways of the Righteous and condemneth the unrighteous Works of the Wicked MAny People talk of Conscience among vvhom some there are vvhose Hearts are so hardned that their Consciences are seared as vvith a hot Iron such are in the depth of Iniquity against God and his Christ and many are they that have so little regarded Conscience that they have sinned out the Day of Gods Grace and many more are travailing in the broad Way of Destruction and fevv there be that knovv vvhat Conscience is or the Nature of a good Conscience tovvards God and all men for the Righteousness of God is held in a pure Conscience by vvhich the fruits of their righteous Works are manifest in the sight of God and in the sight of men but the Righteousness of the World is Unrighteousness vvith God for their Righteousness is held in a corrupt Conscience of their own Unrighteousness vvhich is to themselves for Destruction but vvhere there is any thing of Life in heart mind and spirit as to the things of God vvhich concern the Wellfair of the Soul there is Conscience at vvork either excusing or accusing according as their vvords thoughts actions are before the Lord vvhich searcheth the heart and giveth to every man according to the Fruits of his ovvn Works vvhether of Faith and Obedience or of Unbelief and â—isobedience vvhich the Witness of God vvith every and â—isobedience vvhich either justifie or condemn for all men shall be tryed by their Deeds done in the Body and accordingly they shall receive from the Lord the righteous Judge of Heaven Earth vvho vvill call all to an Account in the great Day of his Coming to judge the Quick and the Dead then happy vvill it be vvith them vvho have made good Conscience in all things of this Life towards God and all men for the Day is coming in which Fear and Dread shall come upon all the Ungodly vvho have not made Conscience of Obedience to the Name of the Lord Jesus vvho is largely manifested and many have and do believe and confess and shevv their Deeds as many have already â—one vvho have brought out their Books of curious Arts â—nd burnt them in the presence of men the loss of which to â—hem vvas gain though the price thereof amounted to fifty thousand pieces of Silver Acts 19.17 18 19. and such vvere they that by believing made good Conscience before God in the sight of men vvhich if all vvould live up in obedience to the Witness of God they vvould come to the improvement of the like Conscience before God CHAP. XXIV Concerning the free Love of God in and by the Lord Jesus Christ THe Love of God by the gift of his Spirit of Light Life and Grace is free for all men by Jesus Christ for God so loved the World that he sent his only beloved Son the Lord Jesus to suffer Death for all men that abosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3.15 16. Then they that believe in Christ are them that abide in the love of God which leads to keep all his Commandments which he hath by the Son of his Love the Lord of Life commanded all men to keep for the great Love of God was manifest that Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour that by the Grace of God should taste Death for every man Heb. 2.9 by which every man that heareth his Word and believeth on God hath Life and shall not come into Condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life John 5.24 For the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Vers 25. which is according to the Apostles saying that when he was dead in Tâ—espasses and Sins against God the Voice of the Son of God appeared unto him who became willing to give up in true love to serve the Lord with uprightness in heart and mind by which thorough the Love oâ— God in Christ he came through Faith and Obedience to receive that Crown of Righteousness which was not only in store for him but for all them that love the appearance of the Lord Jâ—sus in their
they run on in many words about Love and Charity even as they do in all other things of the like nature not knowing a bridle to the Tongue in true love to God and knowledge of his Wayes which lead the faithful in love to render unto every Man his due in which work they do justly love mercy and hate all iniquity in which life of true Obedience there is no room to love that which the Lord hates nor to hate that which the Lord loves but to render in true love to every man according to the mind of God in Christ who doth not allow his Children to give their holy things to Dogs nor to cast their Pearls before Swine but to live in the true love of God which is above the Wisdom of the Serpent whose Wisdom in unregenerated man is far from the innocent Dove-like nature in which liâ—e the faithful continue and remain in the Power of an endless Life in which they are redeemed from the pollutions of the World which the unfaithful remain in for as they are of the World the world loves its own but the Righteous whom God hath chosen out of the World such the world hates John 15.9 Then they which remain in the love of the world they cannot receive the love of God because they continue in Disobedience against the known will and mind of their maker therefore they have no true love to God nor his People John 15.18 but this the righteous know that all things of this world shall perish even so shall the love of them which are of this world perish also but unto them which are of the world to come the love of God is there received which shall endure forever but the love of this World remains in the works of Darkness in which the minds of them that are the Children of this World are roving out of one perishing thing into another of the like nature being unstable in all their wayes as to the Lord but the love of God which passeth knowledge is stable in the hearts of all that are faithful whose Works are without Dissimulation aâ—horing all that is evil cleaving only to that which is good and leads to be kindly affectionated in Brotherly Love and in the holy fear of God honouring and prefering one another in the work of his own calling who hath called his People out of all sloathfulness into fâ—rventness of Spirit seeking the Lord and rejoâ—cing in Hope patient in Tribulation and instant in prayer in which state love worketh no ill to his Nighbour but is the fulfilling of the righteous Law Rom. 12 9 to v. 13. and 13.10 So the works of the Righteous manifest them to be Christs Disciples Joh. 13.35 for they have not received the Spirit of Fear but of Power and Love and good Works 2 Tim. 1.7 Heb 10.2 4. which they that witness not these things they remain in Darkness as to the things of God from which the Righteous cannot be seperated neither by tryal in Affliction Tribulation Distress nor Persecution neither Famine Nakedness Peril nor Sword for as it is written the Righteous are all the day long killed for his sake and accounted as sheep for the Slaughter Rom. 8.35 36. which is the state of Gods Heritage who are justified by Faith and have peace with God in Jesus Christ by whom also they have access by Faith into his Grace wherein they stand and rejoyce in the hope of the Glory of God and not only so but they glory in Tribulation also knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in their Hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto them Rom. 5.2 3 4 5. so that hight nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to seperate from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. for their Souls are redeemed and become the first fruits of his Spirit in Truth and Righteousness and Holiness Love Joy Peace Long-sufferîng Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law Gal. â— 22 23. And this is the Love of God in Christ which passeth knowledge that they may be filled with all the fulness of God Ephes 3.19 in which state the Work of the Lord is done in them that are brought home to him through perfect Obedience to his holy Will in all things which of them he hath required by the gift of his Spirit of Grace in and through the Lord Jesus Christ â—y whom the Righteous are saved for they are grounded in the Love of God which is without blame forbearing in love speaking in love walking in love dwelling in love having no fear in love being knit together in Faith and love which is in Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 4.12 Ephes 1.4 Thes 3.17 and 4.2.15 and 5.2.16 Col. 2.2.2 Tim. 1.13 and many more Instances which the holy â—criptures afford to the same effect that the free love of God by Jesus Christ hath appeared unto all men but all men have not received the free tenders of his love through faith and obedience to his holy Will so that by Disobedience to the free gift of Gods Grace hardness of heart and unbelief hath got the Victory in all that perish and God is clear of the Blood of all men that perish because his free love hath been tendered through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ who delights not in the death of them that perish but had rather all might turn and live CHAP. XXV Concerning the Church of Christ and Gospel Order in the Government of the Church of Christ IN the World among men of divers Perswasions each Society pretends to be the Church of Christ and each have their differing Forms to govern in their Church Now Christ is but one in God the â—ather and so are his Children but one in him who are begotten by the quickening Word of his Spirit which governs the Righâ—â—ous in Thought Word and Deed by which they know his government in his Church which are the true People of God in whom Christ is glorified John 17.9 10 11. for as God is but one in Christ and Christ is but one in God so are the People of God but one in Christ and Christ is but one in them for as their Body is the Temple of the living God he hath said That he will dwell in them and walk in them and will be their God and thâ—y shall be his People 2 Cor 6.16 Then Gods People begotten by him through their Faâ—â—h and Obedience to the gift of his Grace in and through Christ Jesus by whom through Grace his People are of an upright heart and willing mind to part with all that is not agreeable to his holy Will who will not take up his abode in men of corrupt hearts whose minds are not free to part with every delight to gain Christ and only to delight in the performing of
man perfect in Christ Jesus whose Church and People are not to remain in sin all the days of their appointed time here in this Life and therefore many Teachers of this Age with their Hearers are out of Gods holy Truth in the Doctrine of Imperfection and even so is the Life and Practice of many who call themselves by the Name of Christ to say that their Church is the Church of Christ when in neither Doctrine Principle nor Practice are they according to the Command of Christ nor Example of his holy Apostles but in a faith of their own Works teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men Mat. 5.19 But the Church of Christ are they of the Circumcision which worship God in Spirit and rejoyce in Christ esus having no Confidence in the flâ—sh Phil 3.3 and in all things relating to the Worship of God and Government in his Church are they led and guided by the Power of Gods Spirit in and through the Lord Jesus Christ who ever was and will remâ—in to be the Head of his Church whom God hath buâ—lt upon that Rock of Ages and Foundation of many Generations against which the Gates of Hell can never prevail for he is the first born of God whom the Father hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head in all things over his Church so that in him is the fullness that filleth all in all Ephes 1 22 23. for he is the Head of the Body the Church who is the beginning the first and the last the first born â—rom the Dead that in all things he may have the Preheminence for it pleasâ—d the Father that in him should all fullness dwell Col 1.18 19. for he is the Head of his Church from which all the Body by joynts and bands have nourishment ministred increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2.19 which increaseth the knowledge of God in Christ that not any one Member of the Body may be ignorant in spiritual things and as every one hath received the true Knowledge and Faith of Christ the Spirit of Christ will enable and move them to confess with the Mouth God and Christ in whom they have believed and openly to confess and profess without fear or shame the Doctrine of Christ such have their Minds wholly given upto wait the movings of Christ the Head through whose Power the spiritual Understanding in each Member comes to receive the true knowledge in things relating to the well-fair of the Body for no man can truly say that Jesus iâ— the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12 3. Which doth manifest that there cannot be the performing of any one Work by any one Member which will be â—â—â—ted of God but as they receive Power from the gift of his Spirit by Jesus Christ who is the Head by which the whole Body of true Believers witness his Government in which Body as every Member keeps faithful to the Head it comes to know a true Government in its right place belonging to the Body of which Christ remains the Head for as every Member of the Body keeps faithful to the gift of Gods Spirit he is serviceable according to the measure of his gift which is of service to the whole Body in which Body each Member hath his gift according to that measure which God â—ath given him to pâ—oâ—t withâ—â— for there are diveâ—sâ—ies of Gifts but the same Spirit and there are differences of Administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of Operations but â—he same God which worketh all in all for the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal for to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another the working of Miracles to another Prophesie to another the Discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpretation of Tongues but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will for as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptized into one Body whether Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit for the Body is not one Member but many for if the Foot shall say because I am not the Hand I am not of the Body is it not therefore of the Body And if the Ear shall say because I am not the Eye I am not of the Body is it therefore not of the Body for if the whole Body were an Eye where were the hearing or 〈…〉 who le Body were hearing where were the smelling But now hath God set the Members every one of them in the Bâ—â—y as it hath pleased him for if they were all one Mâ—â—ber where were the Body But now are they many Mâ—mbers yet one Body and the Eye cannot say to the Hâ—â—â— I have no need of thee nor again the Head to the 〈◊〉 I have no need of thee nay much more those Members of the Body which seem to be more feeble are necessary and those Members of the Body which we think to be less honourable upon these we bestow more abundant honour and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness for our comely parts have no need but â—od hath tempered the Body together having given more abundant honour to that part which lackeâ— that there should be no schism in the Body but that the Members should have the same care one of another and then where one Member suffers all the Members suffer with it and when one Member is honoured all the Members rejoyce with it Now the Church of Christ which are the chosen People of God they are the Body of Christ and Members in particular and God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thâ—rdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of Hâ—aling Hâ—lps Government Diversity of Tongues aâ—â— all Aâ—ostles are all Prophets are all Teachers are all Workers of Mâ—racles having all the gifts of Healing Do all speak with Tâ—nâ—â—es do all Interpret but covet earnestly the best Gifts And yet shew I unto you a more excellent way though I speak with the Tongues of Men and Aâ—gel and have not Charity I am become as sounding Brass or a tinckling â—â—mbal and though I have the gift of Prophecy and understaâ—d all Mysteries and all Knowledge and though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing And though I beslow all my goods to feed the Poâ—r and though I give my Body to be burnt and havâ— Charity it profiteth me nothing So that these thing left recorded by the Spirit of God with which every faithful Believer which is a Member of the Body reâ— his Duty to follow Christ the Head even as the Men of God
should be so blind and of so unbelieving hard hearts to work in such a hight of Wickedness against the Lord and his People whom they have imprisoned whipt stockt out theâ— Ears undering them to be sold for Bonds Men and Bond Women banishing them upon pain of Death if ever they return to be offered up at their bloody Altar and to the value of twenty hundred Pounds taken from them for Fines and made a Law that every Master of a Vessel that landed any one Quaker within their Power of Government should pay one hundred Pounds and five pounds for any one that gave entertainment to any one of their Books with much more of the like nature acted and done by them to the aforesaid honest harmeless People whom in their Law they have stiled with the Name of Rogues and Vagabonds Blasphemous Hereticks and Seducers of the People from the Faith but if they have called the Master a Devil they of the same Spirit have called his People after the like manner and after the same nature have they perseented his Servants to Death at Boston which Wickedness they would cover with a Lye even as their fore Fathers did by giving large Money to the ignorant to say his Disciples stole him away by Night which large Money will not hide their Lying no more will the twenty hundred Pounds taken from the Quakers hide the Lyes of them in this day who say The Quakers hanged themselves for the Law by which they were put to Death was made after that they had been a time in the Country which after their Return according to that Law of Banishment were they in a most barbarous inhumane way put to Death being drove to their bloody Altar with Drums Guns and Swords and out down even to the breaking of their skulls and in a barbarous manner dragged their naked Bodies in a Roap with the gnashing of Teeth in which inhumane manner they threw their naked Bodies into a stinking Pit near to their Bloody Altar not suffering their Friends to secure the place with Fence by which their Bodies might be preserved from Swine and other ravenous Creatures By which it is evident they hanged not themselves but as they were persecuted in one place they kept the Command of the Lord by fleeing to the other until they delivered up their Lives as for â—xample the Lords Servants in days past have done for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus whom they have followed even as the Disciples and Apostles of Christ have done Then seeing that it is high Rebellion against God and the King to put his People to Death without any warrant precept command or example from either of how much lower nature is the Work of Witch-craft if really it so be in and about the Town of Salâ—m for the Lords People are to him as the apple of his Eye and he that toucheth them toacheth the Apple of his Eye Zâ—ch 2.8 Deut 32 10. Psal 17.8 for whosoever offendeth one of them bâ—tter were it for him that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat 18 6. Mark 9.42 Luke 17.1 2. Therefore People ought well to consider whom they establish to rule for their outward Peace among themselves for where men of Persecuting Principles are appointed by the People to rule where they once gain Power by the consent of the People to persecute their unrighteous Work draws the judgments of God upon the Inhabitants of the whole place where they rule for had the Body of the Jews withstood their unrighteous Prieâ—â—s and Rulers by bearing a faithful Testimony for Gods holy Truth they had been freed from that Judgment which now remains upon their Generation even so is it with tâ—e Inhabitants of New-England though many of them had no actual hand in shedding of innocent Blood which hath defiled the Land because they did not bear a faithful Testimony against the unrighteousness of their Priests and Rulers of that Day for which cause every Judgment upon this place reaches the whole Body of People in the general Calâ—â—â—ty for Christ charges the Spirit of Persecution with all the righteous Blood that hath ever been shed Mat. 23.35 Then seeing that this Spirit of Persecution is charged with more Unrighteousness towards God and his People then all them of that nature which they call witches who have not that influence upon People to bewitch them that they should not obey the Truth even as the persecuting Priests and Rulers have done which proves Persecutors to be the greatest Witches in the World because the one as the Devil was only permitted to touch the outward Body for the inward tryal of Faith but the other are permittnd to bewitch People to persecute one the other to Death and through the Power of the Devil cause People to believe that they are deing good Service for God when they are persecuting his People to Death Acts. 26.10 11. and 8.5 and 9.1 2. which time hath been and yet remains where the Priests bear rule Joh. 16.2.3 for as Troopes of Robbers have waited for a man so have the company of Priests murdered in the way by consent Hos 6.9 So that these things are in all places where the persecuting Priests are rule among the People who are like their Priests Hos 4.6 7 8 .10 it is by the consent of the People that persecuting Magistrates rule and by consent of their â—urighteous Laws do the persecuting Priests destroy he outward Lives and Liberties of the Lords People 〈◊〉 which cause the Lords Wrath and Indignation is gainst the whole People so far as they are either accally or by silence consenting to these things through which the righteous suffer for the cause of Gods holy Truth who are not to give their Bread to Dogs nor to cast their Pearls before Swine neither are they to forgive further then men turn and say they repent Mat. 6.10 Luke 17.4 for nofurther then men repent of their Evil Deeds will the Lord forgive so that his will may be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven men are not to seek to unbind that on Earth which as not unbound in Heaven neither to â—â—ek to bind that on Earth which is not bound in Hraveâ— but to pray that the sin of Murder may not be laid 〈…〉 charge of them that know not what they do Mat. 5.44 Acts 7.00 for in this Day of great Trouble upon them that have not done even as they would be done unto the Lord is daily adding unto their Afflictions because they Kopent not of their evil Deeds towards him and his People whom Pharaoh-like they have opprest but the Lord hath in a great measure with-held the roaring of the Lyon and the fierce Lyon and the Teeth of the young Lyon the Lord hath broken and the strength of their power against Gods Heritage is become of no force for their striving against the holy One of Israel is brought to nought for he is a consuming fire to
of Life seemeth to the Sons and Children of men to be pleasant fruit which indeed are but such as are Death it self for I do believe that no man can sufficiently express the general worshipping of Idols where withal the corners of the World and hearts of men are stuffed How common is it for men to worship Idols and what is an Idol but to worship the true God in a false way and who is it that saith not to his own reason knowledge honesty art and wisdom thou art my God They do not thus say with their Mouthes but their whole life and their idolatrizing Mind saith as much by their deeds for they continually sacrifice to their own Drag and here it is that mortal men deny God and testifie it by their works which are without faith being dead even as a body is without the spirit for if by true faith they were alive to God they would leave vengeance to him and not so much seek to revenge themselves which doth manifest they dare not trust God with their cause to avenge for them if otherwise why are they anctiously careful why do they so exercise mischief and fraud and so deceive one another why do they make war and strife right or wrong for mine and thine why do they so lye deceive and flatter one another why do they forget God and his saying making no account of his Commandments wherefore are they so covetously minded to labour night and day and to take every opportunity to improve every unrighteous advantage against their Neighbour to get and heap up the perishing things of this Worlds Riches truly all this is because they retain not God in their Thoughts to believe that he hath any care of them or that he can provide or will revenge for them therefore is it as their works do manifest for them to believe they must not be wanting in this and the other thing but that it is most necessary to help and revenge for themselves otherwise say they we might by our Enemies be all hilled or become Slaves and Bond-men and beg our Bread And thus it is with them who will not have ought to do with good and Truth in good earnest no they must not be wanting to themselves but make their own Markets by lying deceiving cozening usury and the like these things they think will enrich them good and thus by them are the Commandments of God and his Word slighted until with many they cause his Spirit to leave striving for they oppress the seed and crucifie the just Principle of God in themselves and account the Word of God an insufficient help in time of adversity therefore it well pleaseth them to adore themselves and to kiss their own Works and to sacrifice to their own Net to speak big words and to admire themselves for who else is our God saith the whole World by their works CHAP. IV. Concerning that great Idol of Mans Wisdom and Knowledge how men kiss their own hands and the whole World doth diligently worship only self and the Works of their own hands that is the Inventions Arts and Counsels of their own Reason and Wisdom WHAT other thing is it that is the Worship of Idols Superstution Witch caft evil Doctrine and the Ordinance of Men which is no other but the Wisdom Reason Inventions Crafts Actions Instincts and Prudence of men therefore the worshipping of Idols is but to fashion such or such a form like unto God but not according to his Word as he teacheth figureth and formeth himself in man but according to their own Opinion and Judgment of him Moreover what is sin any other then mans own Will Wisdom and Counsel sown in the mind of Adam and in his Posterity by the serpent Then consider the purpose cause and life of Man where and how thou wilt and it is nothing but humane Wisdom here will man be his own God to lead teach govern revenge defend excuse enrich him self and the like and so mans own Head Will and Reason is instead of God to him though the sin and fall of Adam be nothing but the cunning Reason and Wisdom of the flesh which in Scripture is called Foâ—y and Devilish Wisdom yet how do men generally prize and magnifie it as if they were endowed from above all men therefore ought with Christ to bring man to nothing and that by daily lessening and depressing him to make him become as a Child and a Fool but instead of performing what God hath commanded it is with man clear contrary thereunto for men build up the man that so he may come to prove wise glorious and famous and for that end they have many Arts that wreched and unprofitable man may become great eminent praised and excellent and may obtain Places Titles and Names so that thereby young men are purposely inflamed with a desire of Glory for which cause many are they that are not content to abide with the teachings of Gods gift of divine Light by the Word of his Spirit but by their humane Wisdom and cunning reason of the flesh they come to domineer in Pulpits and teaching places where they are upheld to lord it over Gods Heritage and to this very end there are artificers imployed to make their Schollars accute witty and knowing in all kinds of Crafts and in all exercises arts and litteral deceits whereby it appeareth more clearer then the light that the World is contrary and an enemy to God Now here the wise and prudent of this World perish in their own way because they live without the true knowledge of God and kiss their own hands and adore the wisdom of their own wit which is to the World and its Teachers insted of God his way and word and indeed of all things it is the greatest and only sin and the very fall of Adam and the very fountain whence all other sins do flow as Job confesseth for this only to be obedient addicted to serve himself to admire and adore himself to follow his own will briefly to be his own and to serve only self being of a free will and glad to be some-what in and of himself and to do to omit and to know some what in himself and not to be utterly void of all name will work and subject only to God this is the only and most deadly sin yea rather the sinck and mother of all sins for the delight will and wisdom of the flesh is Death it self and a man is thereby no more profitable better nor religious then a dog toad or swine in his Death for when they dye all their misery endeth with them but in this state with man as death leaves so Judgment finds and he cannot repent in the grave but his torment doth increase and with him will abide forever without end which to remove all horror which to the wicked is disquietness of Mind trouble of Conscience in this life and encreaseth torment in the life to come is
love of all things vvhich are his ovvn and vvholly cleave to the Tree of Life to live to Gods Word that the Life of it may grovv in him othervvise he vvill remain in that state vvhich fulfils vvhat is vvritten That he which is unjust unrighteous unholy and filthy let him be so still for the Lord will quickly come as a swift Witness and his Reward will be with him to give to every man according as his Works shall appear to be and a day of terror horror and misery vvill be to every vain proud covetous and unrighteous man and vvoman vvho have defiled the Temple of God through a life of obedience to the love of any one thing vvhatever more than to love the appearance of Gods holy Truth his divine Light and Word of his Spirit vvhich is the appearance of Christ the Tree of Life and seed of the Kingdom of Heaven which all unrighteous and covetous men have and do in this day burden oppress and keep under as a Cart loaden with Sheaves until with many the Spirit of God leaves striving and their house becomes desolate being left in hardness of heart with a seared Conscience having eyes and ears with which they can never more see the tenders of Gods free Love and the riches of his free Grace and large Mercy towards them that hunger and thirst after his Righteousness which only them that abide faithful are made to partake of for although the seed of the Tree of Life hath been lown in all sorts of ground yet for as much as through pride covetousness usury oppression and the like of other sins which fruit it hath brought forth to unrighteousness the seed or their own lust which hath refused to cleave to the Tree of Life and lived on the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil which hath caused their ground to be accursed and their 〈◊〉 with the fruit thereof to vvither vvaste and perish away for every branch which bringeth not forth fruit in the Tree of Life the saâ—â—e is taken off and cast into the fire of Gods Wrath which is burning against all the unrighteousness of men but as any repent they find mercy with God with whom all power in Heaven and Hell doth remain for as Love is a Heaven to them that live to him so likewise is his Wrath a flame of holy zeal and fire from Heaven which is Hell both in this World and also Hell in the World to come which will burn forever against every wicked Spirit of every wicked Man and Woman who have yeilded themselves Servants to serve their own lusts which hath brought forth all manner of evil fruit which is accursed in the sight of God who hath commanded all men against Pride and Covetousness which are the two great inlets or doors of Unrighteousness which mans Enemies the Devils his own lusts keep open through which the greatest of all sins enter namely Pride Blasphemy Covetousness Vsury Oppression Murders all manner of Prophaneness Lying Swearing Drunkenness Theft Whoredoms both spiritual and temporal Back-bitings Whisperings Witch-crafts Hatreds Strifs Emulations and what not of other sins is it that Pride and Covetousness make not way for them to take place for Pride and Covetousness are not willing to live and abide alone without the whole company of Enemies which find room enough to abide and live together as Brethren of one House or Family in the heart and mind of every covetous man and woman whose lust is natural to give way to any appearance of outward profit or gain in the things of this 〈◊〉 Lust is such a subtil Devil that it teaches and lead 〈◊〉 a covetous man and woman to cloath the outside with a form of Religion which is but a Child of their own lusts begetting whose Servants they are to whom they obey and a Child of their own Lusts whose work they do And thus is the Scripture fulfilled by men in a form of godliness without the power of God therein being outwardly cloathed with Scripture words which to them is such cloathing that causeth such men and women outwardly to appear as Sheep of the true Fold when indeed as the Scripture speaketh they are inwardly ravening Wolves for when they speak most fair there is seven abominations in their heart So that all men and women under what Name soever few are they that cleave to the Tree of Life to live to God in thought word and work as they ought to do because the love of some one thing or another blocks up the way of Truth that no part of the Cross can be taken up by them that love any thing more than the appearance of Gods holy Truth for which cause many are them that cannot enter the strait Gate which will not open to any but to them that keep in the path of the just which leadeth to the Tree of Life from which the faithful receive their daily nourishment who are made fit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven but of such their Number is small and in this life the tryal of their Faith is great but this is their strength through faith in the Promise of God that nothing shall befall them more than what he will enable them to bear for they have an assurance of his Grace that it is able to save from the nethermost pit of Hell and will keep and preserve all them that abide faithful to him who in the stillness of mind and retiredness of thoughts witness his saving power whose Salvation is to the ends of the Earth So that nothing more shall befall his chosen ones then vvhat hath happened to the Houshold of Faith in dayes past There is no nevv thing under the sun for as in all ages even so novv he that vvas a Jew in the outvvard vvas only a hearer of the Lavv and not a doer of vvhat vvas contained in the Lavv and so no true Heir of the Promise vvhich vvas to faithfull Abraham and to his seed not after the flesh but after the spirit for that which is born after the flesh lives to the things of the flesh which to the wisdom of the flesh are sweet and delightfull but the end thereof is the bitterness of Death for Death and Destruction is the portion and inheritance of every covetous man born after the flesh whose love to covet is that Enemy the Lust and Devil of his own houre that persecutes the Just Principle of Truth both in themselves and others which fulfilleth the scripture he that that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born of the spirit which consequently follows that every man which is in disobedience to the spirit of God is a persecutor of the just and holy One but who is it that considers this or thinks of it nay rather do not men hide and cover themselves with this and the other form of Religion which if they do but barely come up to the outward form and in common honesty answer the extream
Righteousness of the Law of men they pass among men for Christians not at all considering that no man can be a true Christian but as he is born of the Spirit and through the Spirit to mortifie the deeds of the flesh such are not only Christians in name but in nature also they witness the work of God by Jesus Christ whose Leaven is the seed of the Kingdom the Tree of Life unto which every true Christian cleaveth to know himself purged cleansed and purified regenerated new born and planted into Christ being of one spirit with him to know do omit go forth and work for God when and at what time soever his spirit moveth here the Anointing teacheth them in all things and the Evidence of the spirit gives an infallible assurance of their having the mind of God in Christ and to thêm that have not made some good beginnings in this work however their outside Cup may seem clean as to men yet their minds are in the world and the world in all its wayes is at enmity with God who will shut out every covetous man woman from having any lot or inheritance in the Tree of Life except they turn to God by true Repentance which will manifest it self by holy fruit of the Spirit which bringeth forth no unclean thing in thought word nor work but is altogether obedient and submitting to its own nature to work Righteousness do justly love mercy and in lovvliness of mind and meekness of heart keeps the even path and enters the strair Gate which will not open to any that do not in all things follow the teachings of Gods Word and leadings of his Spirit which begetteâ—h true faith of which is good works viz. to fear God to work Righteousness to do justly love mercy walk humbly and doing no other thing to any whatever than as themselves would be done unto this is the Law and Prophets and what God requires of all men to do otherwise they are not accepted of God by Jesus Christ to enter into his rest So that if any man say he hath faith and trusteth in God to believe in his promise and doth not manifest his faith by holy works which according to the Light of the Gospel so shine that others may gloryfie God by the same that man whomsoever he be is a Lyar and the saving knowledge of Gods holy Truth abideth not in him for faith without works is dead and such a faith and hope will fade away and perish And again in whom Faith is not Grace worketh no effect which is altogether through mans own neglect of Obedience to the spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth for the Truth is no other than the Tree of Life which is Christ in whom no mans faith can abide without works of Holiness for where men have a Faith without works of Righteousness their building is founded upon a rotten foundation against which the Gates of Hell do ever prevail that is of their own Lusts they are led and kept in bondage not having any right to the promise which only belongeth to the free born who are redeemed by the power of an endless Life and made heirs of the promised Land and heavenly Jerusalem which is from above and is the Mother of all them that abide in faithfulness to the end Now here every unrighteous and covetous minded man is shut out from entring the Kingdom of Heaven nay though he may be outwardly righteous as was one in Christs day when he said It was easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom Heaven which is for this cause of a coveting desire to which their love is joyned that their love abounds more to delight therein than to part with all to take up the Cross in true love to follow Christ who hath said He that loveth any thing more than me is not worthy of me Now for what end do people think were these things written do they think that God is such another as themselves or that he will be mocked No verily God will not be mocked such as every man soweth of the same he shall reap whether to the flesh or to the spirit the one being life the other death for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace which things ought by all men to be duely considered before Time be no more for as Death leaves so Judgment finds and in the Grave they cannot repent but these things are not regarded nor minded among many therefore is it written The fool hath said in his heart there is no God which though in words he acknowledge God yet the bent of his covetous mind draws the heart from retaining God in its thoughts that such men live without God in the World for by their deeds they manifest the same therefore is it that there is no true saving knowledge of God to them and in this state are all covetous men among whom many are they that have taken upon them the Name of God and Christ whose words they have stollen who through covetousness make it their Trade to gain Money by this is also contrary to the Word of God and not at all according to the example of his holy Ones who coveted no mans Silver nor Gold but freely received the gift of God and as good Stewards of his manifold Grace they freely broke their Bread from House to House with singleness and gladness of heart rejoycing in the Work of the Lord whose Word they divided to every one his portion without Money or Price labouring with their hands for their maintenance that they might not make the Gospel chargeable to any and wo was to him that did not preach the Gospel without reward from men because the promise of him that taketh care for birds of the air and beasts of the field is large in that he taketh the greater for his Servants and Messengers of his Truth who have said That Godliness with content is great gain but alas who is it among men that regard or mind these things is not the love of Money which is the root of all evil that which is most beloved among men And again Covetousness is of Lust such a Devil that contrives and joyns so close and fast to the mind of men that some have lost their lives by sorrow for worldly goods for a covetous mâ—n can meet with no greater sorrow than to part with that in which his love doth most abide for above all other things that which a man doth most love to delight his mind in that is to him his Godd therefore is it that bear outside Christians are so entangled with the things of this Life for where the Treasure is there is the heart also and yet extream righteous as towards the Law of men which often is extream wrong in the sight of God because a covetous man takes the opportunity to enrich himself by