glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.11 And as preaching or ministring on the behalf of God is a gift Received of God so the Ministers of God are to Minister as of the ability given and received of the Lord as aforesaid that is by a Spiritual Power to reach the witnesse of God and to the refreshment and comfort of the People of God For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one we are a savour of death unto death and to the other a savour of life unto life as it is written 2 Cor. 2.15 16. And who is sufficient for these things For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 2 Cor. 2.17 not handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God according to the Scriptures 2 Cor. 3. 2 Cor. 4 1 2.2 Cor. 1.3 4 5. By what hath been said it is evident and doth appear First That the Lord God Almighty hath a Teaching Office by his light and Spirit in the hearts and souls of the sons of men 2. That the People of God in the New Covenant or Gospel dispensation are under the administration or Teachings of the light and Spirit of God 3. That they are the beloved people and true worshippers of God that are in Covenant with God and under the Administration and Teachings of the light and Spirit of God who walk in dutiful obedience and subjection thereunto 4. That the beloved people of God who are truly obedient and subject to the inward spiritual Laws and power of God are led and guided by the holy Spirit of God 5. That because they are led and guided by the Spirit of God and are the Children of God they do deny the way and works of the flesh and do walk in the Spirit and have accesse unto God and they do appear in and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit of God by which they are led 6. That because they have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof and have put on the Lord Jesus Christ they are not desirous of vain glory nor of provoking and envying one another but do live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit which is the Rule of the new Creature sent into their hearts or given unto them according to the will of God 7. That they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh and do oppose and persecute them that are entred into and are born after the Spirit For the fleshly birth ever did and still doth oppose and persecute the Spiritual birth as it is evident 8. That such as are born after the flesh and unacquainted with the Spiritual Laws and Teachings of God they are unacquainted with the new Birth and know not the way and work of the Spirit of God therefore do they speak evil of the Spiritual way and people of God who walk and act by the Rule of the new Creature which is the holy Spirit of God given unto them according to the will of God as afore said 9. That they who are under the Administration and Teachings of the light and Spirit of God they are taught to wait upon God in silence from the fleshly birth and to let the Spirit of God speak unto them that are born after the Spirit and do truly wait upon God that they may speak unto others oh the behalf of God as the Spirit giveth utterance according to the movings and directions of God 10. That holy men of God both in the old and new Covenant spoke on the behalf of the Lord as they were moved by the holy ghost and as the Spirit gave them utterance So that the holy Ghost was the moving cause of their speaking on the Lords behalf and the Spirit of God did guide them to speak and to be silent according to the mind and will of the Lord And therefore when the holy Ghost did not move them to speak or when the Spirit of God did not give them utterance but drew them into an inward retiredness to wait upon an Eternal presence they knew right well when to speak and keep silence and to stand in the Counsel of God whether in speech or in silence is agreeable to the mind of the Lord and very profitable to the people of God as well now as in the dayes of old which is consistent with the Truth and according to the Scriptures being agreeable with the Spirit of God that moved in the holy men of God and gave them utterance to speak forth the Scriptures to the people according to the will of God So that both in the old and new Covenant Silence became the people of God when they were not moved and directed by the Spirit of God in them to speak unto others on the behalf of the Lord who hath the Right of Teaching and Ruling by his light and Spirit in the hearts and souls of his people as aforesaid 11. That the true Prophets and Messengers of God in the dayes of old who were sent by the Lord God and his spirit and stood in the Counsel of God they rather chused to meet and sit with the people in silence until they received the word from the mouth or spirit of the Lord then to be hasty to utter a word before the Lord And they that do so now being ordered and disposed of by the holy spirit of God it is agreeable to the mind of the spirit of the Lord and according to the practise of the holy men of God in the dayes of old who were ordered and disposed of by the Lord as the Lords people now are and ought to be hereafter For who hath more right to order in and dispose of the hearts and souls of men then the Lord who requireth the hearts to be given unto him for thither the Lord sends the spirit of his Son Gal. 4.6 that the heart may be prepared and fit for the Lord For the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure heart and of Faith unfeigned according to 1 Tim. 1.5 and as the hearts of men are disposed of and ordered by the spirit for the Lord we know that the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the Tongue is from the Lord according to Prov. 16.1 It is therefore agreeable to the scriptures and the duty of the people of God to wait upon the Lord that they may know the preparations of their hearts and the answer of the Tongue to be from the Lord And they that speak in meetings amongst the people of God or Minister on the behalf of the Lord ought to know the Lord preparing their hearts for his service and giving them utterance that they may speak as they are prepared and fitted by the Lord
THE Spirit of GOD SPEAKING IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD. OR Gods Spiritual Teachings in his People puts flesh to silence that the Spirit of Christ may speak in the Church c. VVritten by Richard Farnworth LONDON Printed in the year 1663. To the Christian Reader READER THis is to signifie and certifie unto thee as thy heart and understanding may by kept open by the principle of God in thee that the Lord is now teaching his people according to his promise and they that are unacquainted with the spiritual Teachings of God seems to stumble or be offended at the spiritual way and work of God as I have found by experience now of late in my Travels being led forth in a spiritual power and love of God to visit the Flock and Family of God in the several Counties of this Nation as Nottingham-shire Leicester Warwick Worcester Glocester-shire c. Amongst which Flock and Family of God I have met with much of the love and kindness of God and the Lord is pleased to honour the Assemblies of his Saints with his inward spiritual presence And the Lord by his Spiritual Teachings in his people puts flesh in them to silence that the Spirit of Christ may speak in the Churches and that the true Spiritual Christians may serve God the Father in newness of the spirit that being dead wherein they were held Rom. 7.5 6. At which some old formal professors seems to be offended which was one cause of my writing this little ensuing Treatise as a means to remove that stumbling-block or pretended ground of an offence viz. The meeting of the People of God to wait upon God and sit together in outward silence until the Lord move upon the hearts and souls of any that are at his own disposings to speak unto others according to the motions and directions of the Spirit of the Lord Because I have proved as at Tewxbury it was required and that by the Scriptures How that Silence in Meetings became the People of God in the dayes of old until the Lord spoke to his servant to speak as from the mouth of the Lord to the people Ezek. 3.14 15 16 17. and as hereafter in this ensuing Treatise more fully appeareth c. The Spirit of God speaking in the Temple of God c. THe Lord God Almighty who is absolute in himself and hath the Right of Teaching and Ruling by his Spirit in the hearts and souls of men he is performing his promises concerning the new Covenant that is to say I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be my people And they shall not teach every man his brother and every man his neighbour saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest according to Heb. 8.8 9 10 11. whereby it is evident that it is the work and Act of God in his own Right and Authority by vertue of the Eternal power and god head upon the performances of his promises as aforesaid First to put his Laws into the minds of men Secondly to write his Laws in the hearts of men that they may know them and be in subjection to the Lord who hath right to command them and also punish them for their contempt or neglect of performing their obedience as a manifestation of their subjection to his Authority who ought to be obeyed in all things he requires because his Commands are Just and Righteous amd the Right of his Authority is undoubtedly true and unquestionable by any therefore he ought to be obeyed by all that know his Commands and Requirings for which End he hath written his Holy Spiritual Laws in their hearts and they are the people of God that are in Covenant with God and truly obedient and subject to the inward Spiritual Laws and Power of God written and made manifest in their hearts and inward parts by the Holy Spirit of God and they that are subject to the Spiritual Laws and Power of God they are led by the Spirit of God and are therefore declared the Children of God Rom. 8.14 15 16. And because they are led by the Spirit of God Gal. 5.18 And do walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 They do deny the works of the flesh Gal. 5.19 20 21. And because the People of God are led by and do walk in the Way of the Spirit of God they have accesse unto God Eph. 2.18 19 20 21 22. And do appear in and bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit of God by which they are led Gal. 5.22 23. And such do crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts and they that have crucified the flesh with affections and lusts they have put on the Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 5.24 and do live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 and they are not therefore desirous of vain glory nor of provoking and envying one another Gal. 5 26. But they that are taught of God and are led by the Spirit of God and are therefore the beloved People of God they are provoked and envied by them that are desirous of vain glory for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 And the fleshly birth ever did and still doth oppose and persecute the Spiritual Birth Gal. 4.19 20. They that are unacquainted with the Spiritual Teachings of God and are unacquainted with the Way and Work of the Spirit of God are very apt to speak evil of the Spiritual Way and People of God who Walk and Act by the Rule of the New Creature which is the Holy Spirit of God given to them according to the Will of God Gal. 4.6 And as the Lord is the Teacher of his People by his Spirit he teacheth them to wait upon him in silence from the fleshly Birth and to let the Spirit of God speak unto them that wait upon God that they may speak unto others on the behalf of the Lord as the Spirit giveth utterance For holy men of God in the dayes of old spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost and when the holy Ghost did not move in them to speak they sate together in silence and were not hasty to utter a word before the Lord but waited to receive the Word from the Lord and because they stood in the Counsel of God they were profitable to the People of God 1. That holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost is true and proved by the Scripture 2 Pet 1.21 but had they been here now and done so some would be ready to mock them and say they will not speak but sit silent until the Spirit move them But take heed whoever thou art of making a mock and scoff at the Way and Work of the holy Spirit of God least in making a scoff at the
And people had better be silent then speak on the behalf of the Lord until they be prepared by the Lord that they may speak as they are moved by the holy Ghost and as the spirit gives them utterance that it may appear and be evident unto them and others that they are guided by the spirit of God to reach the witnesse of God and be a refreshment to the souls of the people of God And because that Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ doth put his holy spiritual Laws into the minds of his people and write them in their hearts he is spiritually present in the mind and heart of a man when he puts his Laws in their minds and writes them in their hearts to give them the knowledge of himself that they may know it their duty to be obedient and subject unto him by walking answerable to the knowledge given of God who hath a Teaching Office and Ruling Authority within them And where or in whom God hath entred the hearts with his Power the spiritual Power of God is known to be a heart-opening Power and the Lord is spiritually present to open the heart and prepare it for himself It is therefore the duty of the People of God whose hearts are opened by the spiritual Power of God to wait upon God that they may know the Lord spiritually Teaching and strengthening the heart first teaching the heart to deny sin And secondly strengthening the heart and soul against the same And those hearts and souls that must deny sin are most strengthened by the Lord to stand against Satan and the preparations of such hearts in men and the answer of the Tongue is from the Lord and therefore agreeable to the mind of the Lord and profitable to themselves and to others as they speak unto them on the behalf of the Lord according to the preparations and directions of the spirit and Power of God in them Therefore let none be hasty to utter a Word before the Lord that flesh may be silent for the Right of speaking and ministring on the behalf of the Lord belongs not to the flesh but to the spirit Therefore he that hath an ear to hear is enjoyned and required by the Lord in the dispensation of the Gospel to hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches Seeing that such as have an ear to hear are enjoyned and required by the Lord in the dispensation of the Gospel to hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches It is apparent and evident by the Scriptures that the Spirit of God is of Counsel with the Church of God and hath a Right of Teaching in and speaking unto the Churches and he is to be heard and obeyed in what he requireth For as Flesh is to be silent and hath no right to Teach or speak in the Churches It is the duty of all true Christians to distinguish betwixt Flesh and Spirit that they may deny the Flesh and obey the Spirit For the Flesh profiteth nothing Therefore fleshly speaking is an unprofitable Action and is altogether uselesse in point of Salvation and Worship of God It is the Spirit that quickeneth and is appointed by the Father and the Son to be a guide to the People of God both to speak and act on the behalf of the Lord and because the Spirit of God is given for a guide to the People of God he ought by them in all things to be obeyed and followed that thereby they may be led into all Truth And as the Spirit of God is given for a guide to the People of God to guide them into all Truth so in order to the enjoyment of Truth the People of God are guided by the Spirit of God out of sin and self-righteousnesse and also out of all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse and whatsoever stands in opposition to a souls enjoyment of Truth for the Spirit of Truth which is the saints guide is as able to guide out of all sin and whatsoever stands in opposition to Truth as to guide the saints and true believers into all Truth And they that are led by the spirit of God they do not daily Err and go astray from the wayes of God but they who daily Err and go astray from the wayes of God do refuse to be led and guided by the spirit of God and they who refuse to be led and guided by the spirit of God must needs be subject to Err and go astray from the wayes of God and how should they guide others out of Errour who themselves are subject unto and daily live in Errour do not they Err in Doctrine Principle and Practise that forsake the spirit of God daily to Err and go astray from the wayes of God as aforesaid And though flesh must be silent and not take upon it a Teaching Office in the Church of Christ yet the spirit of God may speak in the Temple of God For it hath a Teaching Office in the Temple of God and a true Right to Teach and speak in the new Covenant and Gospel-dispensation And the bodies of men and women subjected unto and guided by the Spirit of God are the Temple of God Therefore the spirit of God may speak in and through them And as the Lord is the Teacher of his People he may be the speaker in them and through them And they are his Vessells or Temples for the holy Ghost to dwell in and he may make use of them and speak in them and through them according to his own good will and pleasure And the People of God are at the disposings of God whether in speech or in silence and he is worthy to be obeyed and have the preeminence and the praises that is due to the glory of his grace Written the 2d m. 1663 The End