that Spirit which never erred and who ever is lead out by any other is Erred already though unknown to them who are so deceived For Error could never Judge of Error nor darkness of light though it will be doing to shew enmity So Error Cryes Take heed of being deceived which is deceived already but the Spirit of light searcheth out that deceipt but who walks not in the spirit and light of Christ is blind and knows not by what he is lead nor whither and stumbles at the light which should Judge his blindness and become his Leader and such a one though he be in Error yet knows not whence he is fallen who never knew the right way as many at this day who are talking of blindnes but themselves in the pitt and must be till they own the light to lead them out of it which never Erred which is of God even as they who received it are of God and they that were of God knew that all that would not heare them had the Spirit of Error and thereby they knew it and the Spirit of truth And what ever that be which leads out into the Worlds Conformity and pleads for it or any thing that is come in by the Fall that is the Spirit of Error But that Spirit which testifies against all that is in the fall and convinceth of it and leads out of it that 's the Spirit of truth comes to testifie of the redeemer Christ Jesus who is to set free out of it which all that lives in lives in Error So all who desire to know the Spirit of Error you must turn to the Spirit of light from whence you have Erred for no other thing shews the Error but that which reproves the fruit of Error that which reproves for sin is that from which man hath Erred the faithfull and true witness which is in the beginning of the Creation of God to which all must give an account and which alone is appointed for a light and leader of the people that sit in darkness to shew the darkness and the way out of it So to that which was in the beginning all must come that with the light from which man hath Erred you may know the wayes of Error and the way of truth Concerning Faith HE that hath living faith which is in Christ lives by it and the life that he lives is above all the world and the powers of darknesse and the least measure of that Faith â—s perfect and is present power against all the assaults of â—acan if in it the Creature abide faithfull and run not to other helps and so lay himself open to distrust for it is the gift of God whereof whosoever receives a measure he hath a measure of the Son above which he Father will not suffer any temptation for the true faith laies hold upon Gods righteousnesse against which no unrighteousnesse can prevaile which righteousnesse is received by faith in Christ Jesus wherein the Creature so believing stands armed against all the fierie darts and temptations of the Devill with Gods righteousnesse seene in the light and wrought in the Spirit whereby the Creature becomes Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works by which he becomes free from the evill dead to sin but alive to Gods righteousnesse waiting in faith to see it revealed through obedience thereto from faith to faith and it is written The just shall live by faith and this is the living faith which purifies the heart unto the life of godlinesse and so reveales the righteousnesse of faith for an inheritance everlasting righteousnesse ever growing and springing whereby the Creature grows into the knowledge of God with him to walke by faith out of the knowledge of all the world translated out of the pleasures and kingdoms of it into the kingdom of the Son of God where the reproach of Christ is esteemed great riches laying hold upon the invisible which the worlds faith cannot reach which caryes them no higher then visible reasonings and consulting with sensuall wisdom and carnall helps and so brings nothing to perfection because it sees nothing that is perfect but the liying faith sees him that is invisible and layes hold on the measure of God made manifest in Spirit which measure of the Spirit is that which in the faith worketh out the old and worketh the new both will and deed whose worke is perfect to kill and make alive But the worlds faith is not of this nature and power who heare a thing with the outward care and so set themselves to believe or not believe it in their wills or outward perswasion from others or in their own imagination and as their imaginations thoughts and conceivings changes so their faith changes also and so it cannot be steadfast because it stands not in the measure of God known in the heart which changes not and this faith serves not God nor can it please him nor doth it see him that is invisible And so not standing in that which is contrary to the will of man and power of sin it lies under the wills of men and power of the Prince of this world and as the world and times changes so doth that faith but can never lead out of the world and all time up to the redeemer of the soul And to all who are in that nature the living faith that stands in that which is of God in a pure conscience is a mystery not known nor received and so cannot be improved which is the true faith which is the gift of God which none Tim. 3. 9. can receive but in the Spirit So the faith of Christ and the faith of the world are two and have their severall effects and fruits the one professeth freedome and redemption in the imaginations and comprehensions but is a servant of sin the other hath the living faith which gives the life of freedom and so as is their ground and roote so is their fruits and effects and the one of these is against the other For that Act. 13. 27. faith which stands in Christ believes in purity and perfection and holynesse and slays sin and by that faith alone the just lives and justice and righteousnesse is brought forth to light in the godly conversation but that faith which stands in the imaginations and wisdom of man which believes salvation without holynesse of life that slaies the just and keeps alive the unjust and this faith they had which believed the Scriptures and the words of the Prophets and that God was their Father but not having the word of Faith in their hearts these slew the Son of God and set the murtherer free and as that faith which is dead works death so that faith which is living worketh life And a profession of faith without righteousnesse is like a body without life and like as a living man is known by his actions so is the living faith by its fruits And as the man cannot live
your selves above your brethren for that came in by the devil and perfection is hid from it and all that live therein nither can it be bought or sold nor procured with all the industry of man Only such obtain it who wait in the light till they receive the free gift of rigteousness and be indued with power from above Not they who heare a thing in the notion and then declare it nor who see a work done and go do the like for none was more like to have been able ministers then the Apostles in this who had seen the mighty works of Christ and heard him and his doctrine but these were not fit for perfecting the Saints till they had received the same Spirit from above Therefore was they commanded to wait at Jerusalem till therewith they was indued and then they was made able ministers not of the letter but of the spirit and their testament in the spirit not old in the letter for that of the letter kills but the Spirit perfects And so all that ever beare the testament in spirit preach and beleive perfection but that testimony of the letter being without cannot perfect the comers thereto for the light faith hope love patience c. are gifts Spiritually given for perfecting and cannot be had any other way but in spirit freely given and freely received which gifts you know not nor the effect of them who are in the literal ministration but in your vain imaginations and comprehensions are Judging you know not what And limitting the spirituall covenant of God to the literall and because you who are in the letter searching with your witt can find no perfection therefore you will judge the spirituall covenant also That so the devill may for ever keep people from the coming in of the better hope for if the first covenant made nothing perfect nor the second neither what hope is there for people seeing no imperfection can enter into the kingdom of heaven Concerning Government or Magistracy THere is no just government but what is of God and in whomsoever he having called them placeth his power and authority which is just and righteous received in the light and from the anointing of Jesus and the subjection to his spiritual power in the soul whom the Father hath appointed King and Governour of all things in heaven and in earth And none can deserve the name of Christian governors but who by him are governed and do receive his authority with subjection thereunto in Spirit Therefore saith the Apostle Let every soul be subject to the higher power And he that will rule for God must first see that his own soul be subject to the higher power must know one higher then hee and so himselfe coming under that power then with that power authority upon him he goes forth to rule with God for God and having set up his Kingdom in his heart he goes to make way that his Kingdom may be set up in others that all may bow to his authority wherewith he is anointed from above and to which he is become subject for conscience sake And so his government being according to that in every conscience every one that minds that in the conscience shall witnesse him and his government to be of God and so he that resists shall receive to himselfe damnation witnessed by that in the conscience and all who own not that in the conscience which is pure to obey the Lord therein the sword of the Lord in the hand of his Minister shall be upon such and that of God to which he is subject even the anointing he hath received shall instruct him in the Spirit of meekenesse wisdome and judgment to find out the transgressor and lay the sword upon him and such shall not beare the sword in vaine but a terror to the evil doer shall be without respect to the persons of men or any other thing but onely to the law of God which is one with that in the conscience So is Christ honoured as Lawgiver and Judge and King and with this honour he honoureth such Rulers in the consciences of all his people and before all the world and though the world knows not the authority of such nor from whom they have it yet all that feare God doe and are made to confesse them before God and man and so Isay was made to confesse to Cyrus whom others counted a Heathen for it is the authority in the person that is honourable where ever it is placed so Moses was dreadfull in this authority though otherwise but a shepheard and the meekest man in the world and Samuel a poore man yet this authority made the Elders of Bethlem to tremble at his coming when they heard thereof Nay it is too much to instance in particulars for all that ever honoured God in this he honoured them whose names are a blessing to this day and their memoriall shall not rott for when such raignes the people rejoyce that delights in righteousnesse the just are bold and righteousnesse flourishes in the open streets and wickednesse is ashamed and is hid and the innocent clap their hands for joy that the Lord raignes and their governors are of themselves When Christ rules all in all then he makes his Officers peace and his exactors righteousnesse But if it be said Must not men own wicked Majestrates I say they are to be owned and obeyed in all things as they are appointed by God for God limits them and hath set bounds to them though they know it not and so far as they command the will of God they are to be obeyed for conscience sake but when they are contrary to God and command that which God forbids and forbid what he commands then God is to be obeyed and man denyed for Consciencesake for none can be obeyed for conscience sake who commands that which is contrary to that of God in the conscience though many do deny the Lord and conforme to such yet who are guided by the Spirit of God which keeps the conscience cleane never could but in all ages have suffered violence from such to keepe their consciences void of offence for so it must be when rulers themselves deny obedience to God in Spirit then all who walk after the Spirit must needs suffer by them And here is the ground of all persecution that ever was when governors are out of the feare of God and stand in their owne wills and walke after the flesh then that seed rules which persecutes him that is borne after the Spirit and so the enmity getting up snares are laid for the innocent to make him an offender for a word who is none indeed And from this ground have the Lambes beene devoured always as evill doers but ever innocent yet never wanting accusations as Heretickes Ring-leaders of Sects and Seditions Blasphemers and the like that so the Devill may the more blind the world least they should see his envie and their innocency
in bondage Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification THe wisdom of men in the Fall finding these several words in Scripture hath in their imaginations run them into divisions and separated that which is in one and cannot be devided in the possession for it is one that worketh all these where he is present according to the measure received And this is the just one who by faith lives in the Creature and the Creature in him and so becomes the justifier and sanctifier of all that believe and the mortifier of that nature which is out of the faith and one of these is not alone without the rest For that which sanctifies that mortifies and the same justifies and all that know what it is to have these in the life knows this I know there are a people who have a desire to Heaven more then to holynesse and they lest they should spoyle their Carnal delights have in their brain-imag'nation conceipted a Justification without santification or mortification wresting those Scriptures which condemns the works of the law and therewith they would exclude the righteousnesse of faith also And because the Scripture saith God justifies the ungodly through faith therefore they conclude themselves justified in their ungodlinesse by a fancy which they call faith but are without faith in Christ For that faith which laies not hold upon Gods righteousnesse is not the faith of Christ but a dead thing for so far as any hath the faith of Christ so far it reveals Gods righteousnesse without the law from faith to faith by which righteousnesse of God the just lives and the unjust dies and so justified as they are sanctified and mortified and no further even as the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleive without respect of persons No righteousnesse no faith in Christ but where Gods righteousnesse is unto all and upon all there the belief is witnessed and the faith is shewed by the works which cannot be shewed without the works for that faith that hath not works is dead being alone as the body without the Spirit so is your faith without workes and so is your justification without holinesse and mortification of life And you will find in the end that he that justifies the wicked in you is the same that condemneth the just and they are both abomination to the Lord And this is your state who plead for sin and live in pleasure and wantonly on the earth you slay the just and holy one and save the unjust alive and so know not him that is just who justifies mortifies sanctifies and redeemes who of God is made so to us that in all things we are and have we may glory in him And although the Scriptures mention these three yet not to devide them so as to make people believe they may have one and not all but as to shew the severall effects of that one work of mans redemption all wrought by one thing in the creature For the blood of Christ it washes away the filth and so puts off the old man and mortifies the deeds of that body and so sanctifies and justifies The Spirit it mortifies and sanctifies and justifies now though the Saints named both these it was not to devide them but being one they might declare it by either for none could have the one without the other and all that have them are thereby mortified sanctified and justified yet none of these without the creature being works of faith and not of selfe for by the law of faith is selfe-sanctification self-mortification and self-justification excluded though they who had received the Spirit were called to all these by faith in his blood yet it is the work of God wrought by Christ in the believer and in the light are they called to behold the work of God herein and joyne to it in the faith and obedience thereto being the work of God which he will work in all that beleive in the light that they may receive his Son in whom the promise is and the power to mortification sanctification and justification as by faith he is received from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised againe for our justification but such who would share in his Justification but not have fellowship in his sufferings and obedience are such as are justified in conceipt but sin raignes and the unjust lives and acts in them and this is selfe that justifies selfe but is not just before God the just being dead in trespasses and sins but God justifies the living and not the dead Therefore the Saints suffered the losse of all things counting them as doung that they might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death These through death came to the power and fellowship of his resurrection whereby they are justified being raised with him to newnesse of life by faith receiving the gift of Gods righteousnesse and becoming servants thereto and thereby became free from sin and this is true justification where there is no condemnation where the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the creature walks no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for the condemnation is to him that walks after the flesh but he Gal. 5. 16. that walks in the Spirit is justified for he that walks in the Spirit shal not Rom. 8 3 4 fulfill the lusts of the flesh and there is mortification to that nature that breaks the law and the just is seen who fulfils the law in such as walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit So not the hearers of the law are just Rom. 2 13. before God but the doers of the law shall be justified In the first mans state the law is broken and there mortification and sanctification is denyed and there the man would be justified from the guilt of sin but not from the love and power of sin but would have his carnall delights in the world and Heaven also but this is vaine hope and will perish But in the second mans state the law is fulfilled through mortification sanctification Justification of the Spirit And no man can be justified where the just lives not for that by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified Concerning the Law IN this thing are many people confounded yea all who know not the ministration of the Spirit for such going into the Scriptures and finding the ministration of the Letter and the ministration of the Spirit and themselves being under neither of these but in Notion as they have received it in their imaginations and not from the Mouth of the Lord some say they are under the Law and that it continues still others say but some part of it which is Morall others say nay but it
is done away and they are not under any ministration of Law but under grace and so by their faith make voyd the Law not knowing what they say herein And this is all such know either of Law or Gospel who in their wisdom and prudence read the letter and from thence imagine what is Law and what is Grace not having that spirit by which they were ministred to the Saints and by them received who had the law in their hearts and grace there also and such do know that the one of these doth not make voyd the other but establish the other for the coming of Christ was not to make voyd but to fulfill the Law and he doth not come to put the Law afatre off but to bring it neare that with his light all may see it as it is written in the heart by the living God and he is so farre from destroying or taking away the Law that he declares it in its force and purity saying That one jot or tittle should not passe till it be fulfilled And whereas it was said in the letter Thou shalt not commit adultery saith he Thou shalt not lust In the letter it was said thou shalt not sweare falsely but in the Spirit he saith Swear not at all In the letter Thou shalt not kill but in the Spirit Thou shalt not be angry and whosoever doth any of these things is guilty before God and this is farre from making it voy'd which declares it in its purity so as they who might seeme to be cleare in the letter might be found guilty in the Law of the Spirit that by Christ Jesus who is the end of that Law they may come to see their condemnation and by faith in him become set free not by the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer and carnall Sacrifices Oracle Temple or Altar or Days or Sabbaths without in the letter but by all these in Spirit which are in Christ Jesus ministred to the soule and conscience to wash away sin and purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God which the ministration of the letter and carnall Ordinances could not do And for this cause is the ministration of the letter done away because it could not make perfect the commers thereto as pertaining to the conscience And the Ministration of the Spirit preached in its steed which gives perfect knowledge of sin and perfect redemption from it and from all things from which the Law without could not and the same Spirit doth testifie it perfectly in the conscience which the letter cannot though the letter may shew a man his condemnation yet it cannot give life it can shew the duty but not give power to performe it so the letter kils but the Spirit giveth life And hence it is that all you who read your duty in the letter but want power to performe what you read you set up your imaginations instead of performance and some say the Law is done away and none now shall be condemned by it others say Christ fulfilled it in his own person and to believe what he did sixteene hundred yeares since is all we need to do others say nay but we must do what we can of what the Scriptures commands and he will do the rest with his Father others say that what we do he makes it accepted which the Father as though we did performe all that is required but none in that state knows his commands in Spirit which gives life and power to performe what is commanded in Spirit which none knows who reads what others did but want their Spirit and power to performe the same This was the selfe righteousnesse and is the selfe righteousnesse which is by the letter of the Law taken-on without the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus And here is the weaknesse of the Law taken-on through the flesh but the power of the law to such as receive it in Spirit and life for the Law is fulfilled in Spirit and not in the letter and so in Christ and not in selfe and so by faith and not by works even by the everlasting righteousnesse of God freely given and received by faith and revealed in the creature from faith to faith in every one that beleives and not by works of the Law which the creatures see in the letter and sets themselves a doing who are carnall and sold under sin not quickened by the Spirit of righteousnesse for the letter of the Law gives the knowledge of sinne but the Law in the Spirit gives not only the knowledge of sin he knowledg of God and his righteousnesse in Christ Jesus for fulfilling the Law which is life eternall according to his promise I will write my Law in your hearts and put it in your inward parts and you shall all know me from the greatest to the least so the letter kills but the Spirit giveth life So all you who read the commands in the letter without from thence you may fetch your own Condemnation but from thence can you not fetch power for obedience to justification of life From within is the Life in Spirit and not in the letter And here is change of the Law to that which is Spirituall the Preisthood Spirituall The Temple Spiritual The Altar the Circumcision the offering the blood the Oracle the Anointing the washings and the whole worship which was without and could make nothing perfect is become Spirituall and within which is the better hope being more pure then that without could be and so more perfect even as he is perfect Now the Law was added because of transgression till the promised seed should come of whom it is prophesied in types and figures which seed is Christ the end of the Law to every one that believes without respect of persons and so it is in the spirit A Law hath God written in the heart whereby the transgressor is condemned in his own Conscience and this Law is upon the first Man who is the Transgressor and hath power over that man as long as he lives Judging reproving and condemning And prophesying of one that is to come to fulfill the Law in every one who minds the light And so is as a Scool-master to bring to Christ And till he come to fulfill it who is the end of it there is Condemnation upon the Creature because the pure Law of God is broken And this is testified by the light in the conscience a witnesse against the first Man and his deeds which is contrary to the perfect Law of God And so by that which perfect is he condemned who is imperfect where the Image of God is lost and the seed lyes in death because of trespasses and sins For God did not give a Law to condemne his own work but the work of the Devil And where the transgressor is there is the work of the Devil And the law hath power over that man as long as the transgressor lives
And all his works are by the law condemned untill the Resurrection of the seed and the Image of God be witnessed and all things subdued to him who is the end of the Law by whom the fruits of the Spirit are brought forth against which there is no Law And so by his resurrection and the vetrue thereof that which is of God in the Conscience is answered And so the creature saved from the condemnation of the Law of God which respects no mans person But hath respect to his own seed where it is raised but condemns all where it lyes in death and where death raigns So the Law that layes hold upon all trangressors we witnesse to endure spirituall just and good Given forth against the first Man and his works good or bad as people calls them yea though he set himself to do the workes of the Law never so zealously yet a witnesse of condemnation the pure Law of God is against him in his conscience untill the promised seed be born which is not of the will of the first Man nor after the flesh but after the spirit after the will of God one with the Law and by his grace who shews the merry and glad tydings Now Israel after the flesh who received the law in the literall Ministration and the carnall ordinances of them was Christ to be born who was made of a woman under the law to redeeme them that was under the law if they did beleive Even so now Israel fater the Spirit who receive the law in the Spirituall ministration written in the heart such shall witnesse the Child Born of the Royall seed heir of the promise even of Gods righteousnesse for the fulfilling of the pure Law of God for that end given forth Whereof there are many witnesses at this day who have patiently waited in what God hath written in their hearts seen with the light of Christ Who have therein received the faith of the Gospel and the end of that faith even Gods righteousnesse revealed from faith to faith whereby the pure law of God is fulfilled in many and fulfilling in others who abide in their measures of faith which God hath dealt to them walking in the Light not after the flesh but after the Spirit And so by the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus see themselves set free from the law of sin and death And so witnesse the Gospel which you cannot do who cast the law of God and his Light behind your backs and in your vain minde say you are not under it in the day of tryal you will be found under the Condemnation thereof And that in every conscience shall witnesse thereto at that day Concerning Christ Jesus THis is He whom the world much talk of but few there be that know him though it be He by whom all things were made who is the Life of all Creatures the Beginning of all Creatures who was before all Creatures without Beginning of Dayes or End of Life a Priest for ever and a King of whose Dominion there is no end By him Kings reign and Dominions are cast down though they know him not where Self is standing who is hidden from the worlds wisdome and the depth of Prudence cannot find him out yet doth he reveal himself to such as walk in his light which is contrary to all the dark paths of the world nor can the will of man walk therein but who deny themselves that they may learn the way of the Lord to such he freely reveals his way for their return that he may bring them down from the seat of exaltation and make known to them their beginning and from whence they are digged that they may see him that bears up the pillars of the earth hath laid the foundation thereof who hath set the world in their hearts who stood not in his counsell so that they cannot find out the beginning nor the end of the work of God yet will vain man in that state be imagining touching him and from whence he had his beginning who is the Eternal Word before all time glorified in the Heavens with the Father who in time was manifest which Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the death that he might become a living Example to all Generations which no Creature could be the whole Creation being in the Fall and having finished the Work of Redemption given him of the Father to do and for which he was begotten he ascended far above all Heavens to prepare a place for all that follow him by Faith in his Light and that from thence all such as wait for him may see his appearance as a Saviour and onely such know him for their Redeemer who know him for their Judge and Law-giver who love him and keep his Commands to such he comes and the Father also and make their abode with him And this is He who is the Light of the world and lighteth every man that comes into the world who stands at the door and knocks and if any hear his voyce and open he will come in and sup with him and such know him and he knows them who hear his voyce by which they are quickned out of the trespasses and sins and the Seed of God raised out of death but where Death reigns Christ is rejected and the wisdome by which he should be known is foolishnesse So if you desire to know him who is not of this world but who is before the world was a Witnesse against all the worlds wayes and wickednesse then mind that light in you which thus witnesseth for as Christ is so is his light that leads to him for that which bears testimony against the world is not of the world even as he is not of the world and so leads out of the world to him who is not known in the world for the world by wisdome knows him not And as thou follows the light out of the world thou wilt come to see the seed which by the worlds wisdome and glory is crucified to which Seed are all the Promises and wherein is all the knowledge of God and Christ and as that Seed is raised therein is the Father revealed and his Power and God-head in his Son Jesus Christ which in him dwels and without him is not revealed but being known is Life Eternal and Eternal Power and Eternal Glory and Riches made manifest in the Light for as you know this Seed raised by the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the death so shall you see him to whom all power and judgment is committed in Heaven and Earth and for whom and by whom all things were made in Heaven and Earth of whom it is said When he bringeth his onely begotten Son into the world Let all the Angels worship
nor to hate that which God hates and love that which he loves in any measure but joynes with that which destroyes the soul and devoures the life and yet makes a profession and a prayer against it in words and that 's the pharisee and hypocrite who with the words destroys the life who makes a profession above the life but not in the life and this is he that climeth up some other way then the life which is the doore to which the light leads And in this state are all the high minded lofty ones whose mouths speake of great things swelling words of vanity for so are words without life empty Brasse giving a pleasant voyce to the carnall eare but cannot evidence the life and the works of it who have the Saints words present but their righteousnesse is as far off as Judea Corinth Thessalonica c and these are they who in words confesse God but in works deny him who have a large faith in words but to the good worke reprobate for none can be of any true judgment concerning the work of God who are strangers to the life that workes it Concerning Righteousness THat Righteousness which God accepts is but one which is his own perfectly fulfilled and manifest in the world in Christ Jesus the light and Saviour thereof which Righteousness is not of the world nor manifest to the world nor in the world received but by the world ever Judged as unrighteousness nor can the world inherit it but only they who believe in the light of Christ which God hath given into the world to lead out of the world to Christ where Gods righteousness is And there be many talkers of this righteousness but none inherit it further then by faith they receive the Son of righteousness and with him his righteousness is freely imputed or put into the creature a free gift from the Father and with this righteousness is the creature made righteous even as he is righteous even as the measure of Christ is received and no further and whose life is kept in the measure of him as he is so are we in this present world and not of this world even as he is of not of this world and herein is boldness in the day of Judgment in that which is perfect And all that is not perfect is self and with the righteousness of Christ denied in the light which condemns all self-actings under what pretence soever So who abides in the righteousness abides in that which denies Self and all the world and so lives in obedience to that which is contrary to all mens wills and so every where evil-spoken on for the will of men works not the righteousness of God but this righteousness is wrought into the Creature in that obedience which is contrary to the will of the flesh and in the faith by the eternall Spirit is the new begetting both of the will and the deed and so the new is born of the Spirit and life And so farr as any have this righteousness he doth not lye under sin nor give place to the Divell but it is as a brest-plate against all assaults on the right hand and on the left and all who have not this are they who have that which will not stand in stead in the evil day So you that say your righteousness is as filthy Raggs why do you abide in that Gods righteousness is not so wherefore Cease from that and own that which is perfect even that everlasting righteousness in which his all Saints have been gathered unto himself who can receive nothing but what 's his own and it must be yours also else can you not be received in it In vain do you plow wickedness and sow iniquity and think to reap righteousness So with the light you may see what works in you and to what you yeeld your selves servants to That you bring forth while you live that will go with you so if you own no works in you but what God works you shall have no righteousness but what is perfect even the least measure of it And as you obey unto this righteousness you shall see the Spirituall man raised and living and the bonds of death broken and that living which gives power over hell and death Then may you say the spirit is life because of righteousness and your dead profession will be Judged with the life as it arises and seen to be fruitless But this is blasphemy in your own eyes who have made Christs righteousness a cover for your abominations What wickedness is so vile now in these nations but the righteousness of Christ is made a Cover men blesse themselves there-with in the greatest abomination And this hath its beginning at the head of deceit and is gone over all the whole body For to cover your own wickedness pride and covetuousness have you teachers invented this faith That its sufficient to believe in a righteousness you read of in the letter through you be not obedient to it in Spirit But you that are not servants of Righteousnesse are no servants of Christs and his Workes and your Faith without his Works will be little worth to Salvation and even as it saves you out of sinne so will it save you out of condemnation and no further And this that in your Conscience will witnesse if you take counsel at it no further then you find the power of his righteousnesse working in you and you owning it in obedience and subjection and joyning to it against all unrighteousnesse no more of it you can inherit nor be made the righteousnesse of God in him And at that day when he comes to separate the precious from the vile then will you see in what stead your notions of righteousness are when the Worker of iniquity is found and judged with Christs righteousnesse of which you have been boasting in words without the power of it By the power and purity of it shall all the workers of iniquity be judged and condemned So deceive not your selves He that workes righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous but he that talks of this and commits sin is of the Devil and with him must inherit by whom he is acted and guided for Gods righteousness will not mixe with nor cover deceipt nor was it ever given for that purpose but as it is obeyed it reveales and destroys mans righteousness and unrighteousnesse as it is revealed from Faith to Faith by which the just lives and the unjust perisheth and passeth into death And all who have Christs righteousnesse can witnesse this effect to kill and make alive as by Faith it is received and this is Zions righteousnesse that goes forth as brightnesse and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth that the Gentiles may see it and its glory Be ashamed you Heathens who have hid the Lords righteousnesse under your Pride and Covetousnesse who have exalted the Idols of the World and bring forth to the Oppressor who
without action no more Jeames 2. 18. can faith in Christ without righteousnesse these are inseparable Rom. 10 6. 10. therefore it s called the righteousnesse of faith where the heart believes unto righteousnesse there the mouth confesseth to salvation without hypocrisie of selfe righteousnesse And so Gods righteousnesse is received in the heart by faith and by obedience thereto brought forth into the world a witnesse against all the unrighteousnesse of the world and so the righteousnesse of God is preached through faith in all whose faith stands in Christ Jesus but that is a dead faith which brings not forth the life of Christ into the 1 Tim. 6. 10. 21. world and that 's the reprobate faith which is to the good worke reprobate and he that errs from the righteousnesse errs from the faith also which is held in a pure conscience and he that makes shipwrack of a good conscience and puts that away makes shipwrack of faith also And in the eternall light is all your faith seene and judged to be without Christ and without foundation who are out of the light and out of the life And your Faith is seen to be the same with the Scribes and Pharisees who believed the Scriptures and thought to find life therein but did not believe in the Light and so would not come to Christ that they might have life So all your Faith which is out of the Light which from the Letter you have formed is a Faith set up in your own Wills and not that which is given of God For that Faith that is the gift of God believes in the Light and follows it and so leads to the Life and this Faith that stands in the Light and Life is the living Faith and never without Works which Works are Love Meeknesse Patience Mortification Sanctification Justification c. the Works of God in Christ Jesus in which Gods Workmanship is seen in the new Creation received in the Faith and in the obedience to which the Soul is purified and Victory witnessed over the World Sinne and Death But you who believe not in the Light are Enemies to this Faith and yet you get the Words of the Scripture given forth from the Light and so your Faith stands in the Wisdome of words into which you have been searching with your wisdome but not in the power of God and his Work so you are they who say and do not whose practice could never suit your Profession Concerning Hope HOpe is a gift of God and is pure and stands in that which is pure shewing that purity of God and his righteousness Rom. 4. 8. in Christ Jesus the beholding whereof stayes the soul Rom. 5. 4 5 from Joyning to the wicked one when he tempteth because 2 Joh. 3. 2 3 he sees in the light a better worke to serve so that untill the time of that work being manifest the hope is as an Anchor to stay from following the unclean one and so keeps out of the sin and so makes not ashamed even in the time of want it hopes against 2 Tim. 1. 1â— hope When that life of Christ is not yet seen in its full power yet it is evidenced in the hope which is wrought in the patience experience 1 Pet. 1. 1â— 12 1â— whereby the love appeares and the faith workes whereby Gods righteousnes is revealed and the Son is seen who is the redeemer and he that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure And this is that hope that enters within the vail into the holy place where the life and immortality is brought to light which the mortall eye nor carnall senses cannot approach to and this is the living hope which hopes to the end That Christ and his righteousness may be revealed to take away sin and save from it and out of it and in hope of this the Children and babes of Christ wait in the obedience of the Spirit not fashioning themselves after the lusts of ignorance but as he who hath called to that hope is holy so in his holiness is their conversation who are in his hope But the Devill hath begotten an other hope as like this as may be in his servants who beleive him and are acted by his Spirit which stands in an other ground and brings forth an other fruit And that is That though they be servants to sin for that must be Concluded in all his Covenants and graces yet there is hopes of salvation and such hopes as may not be Judged false nor questioned although the witness of God in the conscience doth testifie to the contrary yet it must not be heeded lest they be deluded So that where he is become teacher â— Cor. 1. 12 a tender conscience to is be resisted as the greatest Error and foolery in the world and that To wait for the testimony or witness within is to deny Christ at Jerusalem and the greatest blasphemy that can be spoken of and to wait for that mystery that hath been hid from ages to wit Christ Col. 2. 17. within the hope of glory is to deny the person of Christ and his blood and sufferings And many such imaginations hath he begott in peoples brains to scare them from â—â—inding the light of Christ within that so he may Ephe. 4. 18. 19. keep the heart in darkness and his seat there undiscovered So he sets them to look for the kingdom of Christ without them and a spirit without and a light without and a word without and righteousness without and in that to hope while he dwells in the heart and there in darkness Luke 17. 21. upholds his kingdom of sin and seat of unrighteousness all their life and feeds them with a hope after they be dead by a profession without power Gal. 4. 6. and life and spirit and truth in them to order them and their Conversation 2 Cor. 4. 6 a right towards God and man in their generation Psal 119. 11. and this is the hope of the hypocrite that must perish in the end and come short of salvation whose hope is not in God nor gives being Rom. 10. 8 in his righteousness but he hath a hope and lives in the world without 2 Cor. 5. 21. God and his hope And this is not the hope of Christ which lives in sin and hopes for salvation but this is his hope that hopes to freedom Rom. 1. 17. and perfection which never comes short of its end in all that Iob 17. 8. wait in it and this hope only is it that maketh not ashamed But you Ephe. 7. 17. may be ashamed of your hope who are found in your sins and Hab. 7. 19. encouraging your selves therein that you shall not dye That 's the Devils hope which hopes not freedome from sinne as much as freedome from Hell And with this hope would he make God a Lyar and partial like himself that
And in the time of such governors hath the Lambe borne testimony in much patience meekenesse and long suffering bearing all the venom and envie that the Serpent could cast out upon him where he was manifest in the creature for a witnesse against all such rulers that his long suffering might lead them to repentance and leave them without excuse in the day of his wrath and against such is he finishing his testimony at this day And a blinder generation never was in any age who have run from all tendernesse so far into that wisdom that many are grown wholly past feeling imprisoning whipping and torturing their brethren for such things as never any age of persecution can paralell And it must needs be so for as every generation of that seed growes more subtill so to the things of Christ more blind and deafe So that its rare to find one who hath an eare to heare oppression but not one whose heart is perfect to deny the worlds favour to beare witnesse against the ground of oppression so the just man perisheth and none layes it to heart nor can any lay it to heart whose hearts are filled with selfish passion and selfe will for none can rule for God whose heart is not ruled by God but when the Lord rules in the heart then the just raignes and the cause of the just is heard and he that rules for the just rules for God and with God over the unjust first in himself then in all the world otherwise though an unjust Judge may heare the cause of the poore in some case or time yet it is not for God nor from obedience to the Spirit of Judgment which is of God the heart being filled with self ends So that he that is a selfe lover or proud or covetous or respects gifts or rewards cannot rule for God nor he that respects persons cannot rule for God nor with God who is no respecter of persons but only hath respect to such as walk in obedience to that just principle of himself nor such as seeke for honour from men cannot rule for God for such are out of the faith of Christ and in the unreasonable nature seeking the praise of men and so cannot have the praise of God for the friendship of the world is enmity with God and he that seeks the one loses the other And such as are out of the feare of God cannot rule for God for such are subject to be drawne with feare or favour of men from the just principle of God out of which none can rule for God And herein is the cleare difference betwixt Heathens and Christians The one exercise Justice and Judgment and righteousnesse which is of God and in his will whereby they rule over all unrighteousnesse of men of corrupt minds and principles whatsoever and stand in the authority of God a terror to the evill doer The other execise Lordship over mens persons in their own wills which they set up in their selfish principle in carnall pollicy who lay the sword upon the just as on the unjust if he bow not to their wills which who stands in the will of God may not do and so they that abide in the feare of God do ever suffer by such as are out of his feare And though these be set in their places by the permission or appointment of God yet not knowing him who ordereth all things to order them though they are restrained from evill or made to do his will yet have they no reward nor share in it not doing it in obedience to God nor from a principle of equity not knowing Christ guiding and leading them therein they are no Christians what-ever they may call themselves And to such as these who mind not that of God to governe withall hath God sent his servants to testifie to their faces of their departure from the just principle and so cannot please God with his government yet did they never plot against them nor murmur which if they did heare they rejoyced to see them established as a blessing to the place and people which the people of God ever seeke to God for but if they heare not then they are made to mourne that God should be grieved and his Creature lost especially in such a place by which God may be so dishonoured and a Nation or Towne plagued from the Lord for his sake who hath the sword of God in his hand and suffers sin but punishes the innocent both which the Lord will revenge and seldom but the place where it is done tastes thereof which such as rule with God and for him prevent yea by such the peace hath beene lengthned after the Judgment hath beene pronounced So when the righteous raignes God is honoured and good men rejoyce but when wickednesse gets up in the King then the Lord is dishonoured and the glory departs Concerning Obedience SPiritual and living obedience is not that of mans way and will wherein men and women in the firstbirth and wisdom therein read the Scriptures and there find what the Saints performed in the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus and from that set themselves on work to do the like and so make an imitation instead of obedience and set up selfe works instead of Christs works and obey selfe righteousnesse instead of Gods righteousnesse and so cover themselves with filthy Raggs instead of ever lasting righteousnesse But all who will know true obedience must first know a measure of Gods Spirit in the light of Jesus and therein moveing and drawing towards Christ Jesus wherein the faith is which laies hold on Gods righteousnesse which is in Christ Jesus and by the moving of this Spirit in the light the truth is seene and the obedience that is one in Christ Jesus the second Adam And as the Creature is joyned in the light to that Spirit of Christ and in believing there is the life of Jesus made manifest quickning the body unto that one obedience which is contrary to the will of man and the mind being kept spirituall in the measure the seed is raised and the new is borne of that Spirit to which seed the promise and power is wherein the creature is joyned heire with Christ Jesus who is Gods righteousnesse and so in the faith is the glad tydings of good things preached to the soule and by the power of the Gospel preached to the creature the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith and the just lives in that faith and Christ is manifest for obedience to the faith and all that are in this faith are in the one obedience which is in Christ Jesus which he learned of the Father for us that in that obedience many may be made righteous and all that learnes Christ learnes his obedience which was not what he see or heard from men but what he saw and heard of the Father not in his own time or will but in the Fathers nor in his own strength could
he do any thing but what he see the Father do in that worke he was found doing the same as he was taught of the Father in his obedience to him not what the Scribes and Pharisees did though they sat in Moses seat nor what the world approved but what was contrary to all the world and contrary to his own will onely submitting to the moving of the Spirit of the Father that dwelt in him by which alone he was to be guided and furnished to every good work And all that believe in him and follow his light he leads into the same knowledge and obedience out of all carnall knowledge power and obedience and by faith the creature is made partaker of this obedience and the power thereof from faith to faith And all that have learned him as he is so are they in this present world both in law and life and power and Spirit and in all this in the measure as he is learned and as any comes to the unity of the faith in him to his measure stature and fulnesse so the obedience is but one the power one the way one and the Son one and the Father one And this is not any thing from without but in Spirit it is learned and obtained and the mystery of it is hid from all who are without and the ministration of it is spirituall within whereby that obedience is known which is to the truth through the Spirit which is in life and not in imitation in the will of God and not in self will which obedience stands not in any thing seen from man or by man done thereby to imitate or doe the like for that is two obediences but it stands in Christ Jesus and in his one obedience to the Father seene in the light and in the faith received whereby the believer is made one in it and it in him that as the same Father calls for the same obedience in Spirit so in the same Spirit doth the believer offer up himself and all he hath in the same power and obedience in Christ Jesus And so as the creature by faith partakes of that one obedience in the second Adam he is made righteous and no further even as all are made sinners as they partake of the disobedience of the first Adam and no further And who knows to partake of this obedience knows the eternal Spirit in which all the Children of God have been taught and enabled to this one obedience in their several measures ever since the world was which is not works by them done but the everlasting righteousnesse of God obeyed in that Spirit according to the motions thereof seene in the light of Christ which none knows who are heart-blind and who minds the motions of the flesh and obeys them their minds being gone out to carnall pleasures the Call to this obedience is not by them heard neverthelesse the same carnall Spirit that leads out into the world teaches to make an imitation of this obedience and so deceives the simplicity by setting up a likenesse without life and so glories in appearance but not in heart And the witnesse of God in the heart or Conscience of such testifying to the face of truth that their obedience is not perfect nor accepted they conclude that there can be no perfect obedience attained in this world they not knowing the mighty powerful working of God in Spirit which worketh in them perfectly who believe and walk in the light whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into his obedience and his obedience into them in their measure till they become of one heart one mind one soul one spirit one flesh and bone and blood and one obedience and one life that it is no more we that lives but Christ that lives in us and the life that we now live is by Faith in the Son of God and though the fulnesse of this obedience is not attained at once yet the least measure of it is perfect and accepted and so accepted in him in whom it is wrought as the obedience of a Child is as pure clear and willing as the strong mans even so is the new Birth in Christ Jesus according to what God requires thereof who never requires but what he gives and never gives but what is perfect and what he perfectly accepts which gifts are all in his Son and in him the least is accepted and every one that therein exercise themselves without mixture Concerning good Works AS there is but one good so there is but one Worker of good in Heaven and in Earth who by the Word of his Power made all good in the beginning and in this good Work and Will was Man wrought in the Will of God in his Image and goodnesse he stood but falling from this stedfastnesse that was in God and be taking him unto self thereby to become wise he became subtill and proud in himself seeking to be as God was cast out from God his Power Love and goodnesse and being fallen into the dark Imaginary of his own heart and finding himself under the Curse whereof the Light of Christ in the Conscience is a Witnesse he hath set himself to make a likenesse of God Christ and Gods Worship and good Works Faith Hope Patience Love c. but being under the powers of darknesse neither knows God nor his Work but is deceived by the Prince of Darknesse and so doth please himself with an Imitation of God and his Work but without power and so as he imagines is doing good but the testimony of God in his heart bears witnesse against him that his Work is not perfect nor accepted He also imagines that he is redeemed but is still under the commanding power of Satan led Captive at his will who that he may the more strongly blind him he leads him sometimes into a seeming worship that so he may not so much suspect his way nor be too much troubled at his other unrighteous practices so that the worst of men in this state have a worship and each sort thinks they are right though there be but one way and they all without it and each in their thoughts are not so bad as others but have their severall good works though there be but one good work and they all out of it in their own works And it is no small work to undeceive the least of these who are thus conceited though men of greater wits and parts as they call them which is but a higher deceipt may lead them from one deceipt to another yet all the worlds wisdome cannot bring them into the good work nor the way wherein it is wrought Onely such who mind the light of Christ in their dark hearts which manifests to them their Evill deeds and reproves them for them and can believe it to be the light of Christ and thereto take heed to follow it out of the world and carnall mindednesse and in that light wait till the Living-Word
and so not having the in-dwelling of God no vessels of honour but reprobate concerning God Now Christ Jesus is the election and the elect seed in whom the election is obtained and in whom alone it is established and in the midst of all the dishonour his light is tendered to lead out of the dishonour the curse and the fall and whatsoever he be that will believe in his light without respect of person he leads out of the world And to the cleansing and purging the body soul and mind till the vessell be changed from the oldnesse of the will and affections and lusts of the flesh till the newness of the Spirit be witnessed and so the creature in heart and minde is brought out of the flesh wherein the dishonour lodges and which is prepared for dishonour and is brought to live in the Spirit where the lusts of the flesh is not fulfilled so the vessel of honour is witnessed prepared for the masters use Who while he lived in the flesh was prepared for dishonour and fitted for destruction Not knowing the master nor his use though God with much long suffering endure such vessels that he may at his pleasure shew his wrath thereon who will not own the merey shewed in his Son And for this purpose had he long endured Pharaoh suffered his oppression till he was fit to shew his power upon him who had long been setting himself above the seed of God As also he did the Amorites till their iniquities were full and so doth many at this day who proceed to one wickedness after another till they fill up their measure that he may make known his wrath upon them that will not own his seed And so shall it be with all who owne not the light of Christ and whose day of visitation is past such hath a measure of sin to fill up in the other seed which they shall not passe And for this purpose is that seed raised up and prepared that he may shew his power upon him who doth not retain the knowledge of God that they all might be damned who take pleasure in unrighteousnesse serving the creature more then the Creator whose hearts are filled with all lasciviousnesse and fleshly lusts and these are the vessels of dishonour But if any man purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour Sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work which they who live in these things are to the good work reprobate to God and to the faith of God And so here is the Election and reprobation they that are the after the Spirit and they that are after the flesh and they thar are after the flesh are not the seed but they that are after the spirit are accounted for the seed and these have obtained but the rest are hardned And so there is no unrighteousness with God but the unrighteousnesse is with men who reject the Counsel of the Lord against themselves and chuse to abide in that which God hath cursed and wherein all must be hardned to their own destruction notwithstanding all their indevours and labours prayers and teares that are in this nature it s not accepted this being the seed which God hath put the emnity in against his own seed it cannot be well pleasing to him For in this he hath placed his displeasure but in the other mercy wherein he is well pleased for his mercies sake So it is not of him that wills nor of him that runs but of him that hath shewed mercy and this mercy hath he set above all his works so he that stayes in the world cannot obtain it but the light which leads out of the world leads up to it and whosoever comes unto him he will in no wise cast off but who comes not to him are cast off already because they will not come to the light of life So read your condemnation you vain babblers who spend your time with disputing about Election with your reprobate mindes When ye find that the light of Christ condemns you for your lusts and earthly delights and the Spirit of God moves in you against your evil deeds but you will not be obedient thereto but you still harden your hearts against the light that is the reprobate state and that is the Spirit of God that strives in thee against it which would not thou should dye in it then let that of God in thy conscience judge if thy destruction be not of thy self whose way is reprobate from God and let that of God in thy own conscience which reproves thee for thy wickednesse be a witnesse against thee that God delights not in thy destruction but rather that thou should repent and so hath given thee his light to reprove thee and lead thee to repentance shewing that he hath not concluded thy condemnation before thou wast born And let the same light which checks thee for thy sin and lets thee see in thy heart that the righteous God hath appointed a day wherein all shall receive after their doings be a witnesse against thy vain thoughts that God hath not concluded to quit thee in thy wickednesse nor do thy selfish imaginations make thy sins any lesse in Gods accompt And so the righteous Judge of all the earth will proceed to do righteousnesse And therefore to make way for the same hath he placed his pure light in the heart of every one that will minde it which will clearly shew you all whether you be in the elect seed or in the seed of evil doers and this light is that which being believed and followed doth reveal the Election and Reprobation and without it none knows who is Elected or Reprobated nor can judge thereof but if the light be minded it will reprove the Reprobate and his way which is contrary to God in his own heart for his own works but whose work is wrought in God with the light is justified Concerning the New Birth THere is the Old Man and a New Man which is known in the light and their several Births and their several Natures and Kindreds according to that whereof they are born That which is born of the Earth is earthly fleshly carnal and corrupt and this is the state of the Old Man and all that are in that state are fallen from God and his Covenant and are in the Curse and wholly blind in heart as touching the mysteries of God yet in the sensual wisdome of the flesh make profession of God and his Gospel but being heart-blind neither knows God nor his Power but is alienated from the life of God and led Captive in the dark at his Will who is the Prince of Darknesse and what ever he doth is cursed in this state And in this state did Cain sacrifice but could not be accepted for he was out of the state of well-doing or well-being yet would have been accepted And in this state Esau sought the blessing and wept for it
shewed us a more excellent way The Light is come and therein have we found Christ Jesus the Guide of his people and the Leader of Ages even the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth even into all that God requires the obedience to which is better then Sacrifice And to direct people to this Spirit are we sent that Christ may be all in all who gives power in the Creature to perform in what he leads into that thereby all that believe in the light may learn him who begets the Will and the deed also who is the Author and Finisher of their Faith who look to him alone and to his light that all may see their righteousnesse to be of him alone And by this which we have received of him in Spirit do we all see you who read what the Saints have done by Call from God and from that sets your selves to do the like to be in the Imitation and self-righteousnesse and Will-worship both in this and all other things into which you are not led by the Lord and by a Call from him For this I say that the Father hath given his Son for a Leader and Guide to all Ages and into and out of all Forms at his Will and in his way and time in every Generation And therefore it is that all who know his Will herein cannot endure that any visible thing should be set up to limit his leading in Spirit or his people from following in Spirit So no form we deny into which Christ leads in Spirit but all forms we deny that are used by Men to keep people from following the Spirit for those onely are the Children of God Rom. 8. 14. who are led by the Spirit of God to whom they who are led by the 2 Cor. 4. 6. Letter were ever enemies for it is the Spiritual Ministration that gives the knowledge of God and his Glory and Power and not the literall for he that is born after the flesh hath his way in the visibles but he that is born after the Spirit hath his food the world knows not of and therefore becomes his enemy And in that state you are who takes the shadow to oppose the body which should lead to the body which is the end of the shadow And takes the Letter to oppose the Spirit which Coâ— 2. 16 17 20. is given to declare the sufficiency of the Spirits teaching alone and so pervert the Scriptures out of their place and end which are set to testifie of Christ the Life and End to set them in the place of Christ and Joh. 5. 38 39 40. think to have life in them And this is the errour of the Wicked who are gone into the world sensual not having the Spirit And in this state wherein the Spirit leads not both Scriptures and Ordinances and all other the gifts of God are abused wrested out of their places and made unprofitable And therefore you that take up from the Letter cannot bring forth their fruits who were spiritually called into their several Ministrations therefore your Ordinances are left to you desolate you and they in the world together out of which God is leading his people in Spirit to get himself a Name in such a way as is foolishnesse to your wisdome yet the hidden wisdome of God to the Children of Light who have believed therein And you that use great swelling words crying We deny an Ordinance of God To you I say To neglect that which is altered from what God ordained both in Call Manner and End is no neglecting an Ordinance of God 1. God never called any to baptize but first he called them out of the world and their habitations there to follow Christ as into the Wildernesse which were Prophets and Apostles called immediatly 2. They did not baptize Believers over again with water who had had it because they had it not before in their fashion but they went to disciple Unbelievers Neither did they lay it upon all as of absolute necessity but as they saw it useful and could for bear in case it was idolized 3. Their End was to gather all into One out of all the Shaddows and Ceremonies and Fashions of the World to follow Christ alone as he walked bearing his Crosse daily suffering the spoyling of their goods joyfully and their lives unto death rather than to conform to any but him alone for whose sake they were hated of all men which end how your Baptisms answers let your Pride and Pleasures and Conformity to the world in their Fashions Manners and Worships and upholding thereof your Suits and Contentions about carnal things your Rents and Divisions about outward Forms of Baptisms and Worships and upholding that in others which you know is false by Tythes and Offerings whereby Christ is denyed and the Popish Inventions holden up with much such like I say That these things judge you before all men and the light in your Conscience answers thereto untill the Lord appear to judge your unfaithfulnesse herein Concerning the Lords Supper THis is the thing that all the Worlds Professors are contending about and indeed is of great use and profit to the weak Believers who have not yet seen the Lord for bringing them all into one body and bloud mind and heart and soul and spirit But since the Mystery of Iniquity began to work the Worlds Teachers and Professors having lost their in-dwelling in the body of Christ are run out into the Imaginations and are so far from the life of this as that they have lost the Form and the first Institution as as it was by Christ first performed and appointed and therefore are so far from being thereby made one in the blood of Christ that they are shedding one anothers blood about the Form which they are all out of and have lost and the power also For this was done and instituted by Matth. 26. 26. Christ as they sate at meat and did eat and so often as they did eat and drink thereof they were to do it in remembrance of him shewing his Mar. 14. 22 death till he came 1 Cor. 11. 26. And this was that the Apostles received of the Lord and was so practised in the purity of the Church before they ran into confusion which did continue stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship breaking bread and prayer daily breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladnesse and singleness of heart in the fear and favour of God And this was to be done at all Seasons when they eat and Act. 2. 41. to the end drank in their eating and drinking they were to do it to the Lord and therein to have Communion with his Body and his Blood and for that 1 Cor. 10. end were to keep themselves pure from all pollution yea when they 15. to the end were to eat with Gentiles they were to partake of the Table of the Lord as