THE Royal Law of GOD REVIVED Wherein You may see That all Nations of Men may keep in it a Royal Society and by obeying the Principlâ— of God in them which brings Men to do the Royaâ— Law and to do unto all men as they would have alâ— men to do unto them which Royal Law of God answers that of God in every Man and Woman in thâ— whole World which they transgressing are judged by the Royal Law of God in doing that unto others as they would not have others do unto them and they to be without natural Affections which Royal Law brings all men to have Natural Affections and to do unto all men as they would have them to do unto them G. Fâ—â— Jam. 2.8 If ye fulfil the Royal Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self ye do well â—â—t 7.12 Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so to them Printed in the Year 1671 2 Who they are that break this Royal Law of God Them that Quench Vex and grieve the good Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walk despightfully against the Spirit of Grace and make Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience And also They are them that keep the Royal Law of God that walk in the Spirit of God and in Faith and a good Conscience and love the Light Christ who inlightens every man that comes into the World The Royal Law of God Revived c. ALL People upon the Face of the whole Earth both High and Low Rich and Poor know that as the Apostle Paul saith Acts 15.26 God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the Face of the Earth So all Men and Women are of God's making his Workmanship and the Works of his Hands and Creation and he it is that gives Life and Breath unto all And hath determined the Times before appointed and the Bounds of their Habitations saith he And saith Moses Deut. 32.8 The Most High divided to the Nations their Inheritance when he separated the Sons of Adam c. And the Psalmist acknowledgeth Psa 24.1 The Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof the World and they that dwell therein which he hath distributed unto the Sons of Men. And the Lord is called The God of the Spirits of all Flesh Num. 27.16 And so saith likewise the Apostle Eph. 4.6 One God and Father of all who is above all through all and in you all Now seeing the Lord hath made all Nations of Men and Women upon the Earth of one Blood and Mould to dwell upon the Face of the Earth and that the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and he gives the encrease and hath distributed unto the Sons and Daughters of Adam What then is the matter that makes a Discord amongst all the Sons and Daughters of men but the Devil the Cause of all Discord who is out of Truth and so leads them out of Unity with God and with one another so that they cannot Commerce Trade and hold a Correspondence a Concord in Civil things of the Creation of the Earth seeing the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof that all Nations of Men cannot hold a Commerce Unity and Concord I say in these outward things though they cannot agree in and about Matters of Religion and Worship and abouâ— their Teachings and Wayes What is the matter now that they do not agree seeing there is no Discord nor Disagreement in the Way of the Lord which is Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man who is the Way to God the Father Neither is there any Disagreement in the Fellowship of the Spirit nor in the Worship nor in the Spirit nor in the Truth And therefore are not all the Disagreements and Discords throughout all the World about Religions Worships and Doctrines about I say such as men have made which are called National Worships National Wayes and National Religions that are all the Works of Mens hands And there are such a Multitude of them in all the Nations of the World which hinders them from Civil Commerce Civil Society of Natural Affections that ought to be amongst Mankind For where these Natural Affections or Affections of Nature are not they will destroy one another about their Religions Worships and Ways and certainly such doings are not of God nor of Christ who said to his Disciples when they would have had Fire to come down from Heaven to consume them that would not receive him That they did not know what spirit they were of Therefore do all people that Persecute others for not receiving their Doctrines their Worships their Wayes and Religions yea persecuting for not receiving of Christ they know not what Spirit they are of Now mark the tender Nature of Christ Who saith he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Therefore they that would have mens lives taken away for Religion or not receiving of Christ They have not the Affections of Nature 2d They do not know what spirit they are of themselves 3d They have not the Mind of Christ 4th No man will trust his Body Soul or Spirit in the hands of such that do not know what spirit they are of themselves Have any of all these that make Religions VVayes and Worships and Doctrines of their own any Affections to Nature who will destroy people because they will not conform to that Religion VVay and VVorship that they have set up As now look over all the whole VVorld and all the Religions therein and see and consider Who they are that have destroyed burnt and put to death such as would not conform to the Religion and VVay and VVorship that they have made And have not these first been Truce-Breaâ—â—â—â—â— to and with God and then with Man and fallen from that Religion that is from above and from his Religion his VVorship and Truth his VVay Christ Jesus and then the Devil entred them who hath led them to destroy one another about their Religions VVayes and their VVorships which they have set up and were not set up by the Lord but forbidden by Christ and saith the Apostle He is not worshipped with the Worships of Mens Hands Acts 17.24 who is Lord over all and would have all Repent and feel after him and so to Repent as to change from their Worships and the Works of their own hands the Religions the Worships and Wayes that they have made and come to God by Christ Jesus who is the VVay to God and so through him receive that Religion that is from above and so to worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth And is there any Religion to be owned or any VVorship from such which are without Natural Affections And is it not the Devil that makes Religions VVayes and VVorships and leads them to be so peevish about them and in a blind Zeal to contend so earnestly for them which brings
Righteousness there is Peace one with another and with Christ who is our Righteousness And so give over Envying Hatred and Persecution and Imprisoning Murdering and Killing one another about these outward things which the Kingdom of God stands not in for it stands in Righteousness Faith and in Love and Joy in the Holy Ghost And come all of you to the Light of Christ that you have hated and to the Spirit of God in you that you have vexed grieved and quenched and the Grace of God that you have walkt despightfully against and turn'd unto Wantonness that by it you may come to see your Salvation and cease from Evil and learn to do well from the Evil I say that you have done in times past and do not do so any more for the time to come but as God has given his Spirit to profit withal obey it that so you may profiâ— in Truth and Righteousness and the Love of God that edifieth the Body and which Love fulfils the Law the Royal Law which is To do unto all as you would have all do unto you then you will come to a holy Society a good righteous and just Society and then you will have your equal weight and measure to weigh and measure withal for such as transgress the Royal Law of God did and do unto others as they would not have others do unto them and upon such the Royal Law of God takes hold and judges them yea upon all Jews Christians Turks and Heathens it doth not take notice of their Profession nor respect them for their Profession but it respects them if they love their Neighbours as themselves and do unto all men as they would have all men do unto them then it shews that they have a Profession of Righteousness that is good that which is just and holy which is the Law of Liberty which gives another Liberty if he would have Liberty himself in this Royal Law which is answered by the Spirit in every man and the Royal Law answereth it And this Royal Law takes hold upon all Men and Women in the whole Earth let their Profession be what it will be if they grieve the Spirit of God it judges all that walk not according to the Spirit of God in them that brings them to the Royal Law in which they have Liberty and then they come to confess the one Legistator or Law-Giver one Lord Jesus Christ by whom is all and one Lord who is over all So then let this be read seriously with the Spirit of God in every Male and Female that they may answer the Royal Law of God in which they may all have Liberty Unity Commerce Fellowship and a Society a holy a just a righteous one in which all do to others as they would have them do to them and they come to love their Neighbours as themselves And in this all Nations of men may keep a Society a Unity a Trade a Traffick and a Communion and Commerce and hold a Correspondency one with another and this will preserve him in a natural Affection And as they all keep in this Royal Law that answers the Spirit of God in them all and his Light and Grace in which they will have a Unity and by it to be kept above all the Religions and Worships they have made with that peevish spirit that hath led to disobey the Spirit of God from which they have not natural Affections who cannot do to others as they would have others do to them that cannot bring you to the Royal Law of God This Royal Law will slay that peevish spirit in you all and that being slain and fallen then falls all Religions that you have set up together in the whole World And the Spirit of the Lord turns you to the Royal Law whereof God is the Donor and judges them that transgress it And so in this Royal Law you keep dominion and you keep your Love to your Neighbours as to your selves and the Royal Law keeps you in that Spirit To do unto all as you would have all do unto you If any man Jam. 1.23 heareth the Word and declareth not the same by his Works he is like unto a man beholding his natural Face in a Glass for as soon as he looks on himself he goes his way and forgets immediately what fashion he was of But who so looks into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein if he be not a forgetful Hearer but a Doer of the Work this man shall be blest in his Deed. Now consider this all ye that profess God and Christ you Christians Jews and others for is not this your Condition Have you lookt into the perfect Law of Liberty and if so With what have you lookt into it Is it not by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ which when you have lookt into by the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus and not done the same you may read your selves as in a Glass that you look into and after forget what manner of men you are And so are not all that look into this perfect Law of Liberty whether they be Jew Christian or Heathen who look into this perfect Law of Liberty and doth it not are like unto the natural Man or Woman that look into a Glass and after that forget what manner of Men and Women they are of and so they that look into the perfect Law of Liberty and do it not are not blest nor happy in their Deeds though they may be Hearers of this perfect Law of Liberty and yet not Doers they are like I say unto the Natural Man and Woman that looks as saith the Apostle into the Glass and after know not what manner of Men or Women they are though they see themselves when they look into the Glass But they that look into the perfect Law of Liberty and do the same do not forget what manner of men they are but see what manner of men they are and what manner of men they have been And so by the perfect Law of Liberty looking into it and doing it they mend so that they who have been without Natural Affections it brings them to Natural Affections who have not loved their Nighbours as themselves it brings them to love them as themselves who have not done to all men as they would have all men do to them this perfect Law of Liberty looking into it and doing of it will bring them to do unto all as they would have all do unto them So look upon all Christendom and all that profess God and Christ in the whole World and those also that do not who do grieve and quench and vex the Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walk despightfully against the Spirit of Grace though these have the Word of God sown upon all their Grounds and if they hear it and declare it not in their Works Lives and Conversations they are like a natural man beholding his
Royal Law to do unto others as they would have others do unto them but none can fulfill this Royal Law of God that fulfills the Lust of the Flesh and walks according to that Will which makes them Children of Wrath by Nature so then all people must come to that which they have disobeyed and still do disobey then they will walk according to the Will of God and the Royal Law of God and not according to the Prince of the Power of the Air for all they that disobey and walk according to the Prince and Power of the Air have not affections to Nature but they walk according to that Prince and Power of the Air who destroyeth Nature in themselves and then the Nature of others without them and these have not affections to Nature Natural Affections in themselves nor to them without and are out of the Royal Law of God viz. to do unto others as they would have others do unto them now the Religions Worships and Wayes of such are no Religions Wayes nor Worships of God who do disobey the Spirit of God in their own selves and such do not come to this Noble Royal Law and Royal Society in it wherein all men might commune commerce and hold correspondency with all Man-kind and one with another We read in Neh. 9.20 how the Lord gave the Children of Israel his good Spirit to instruct them but in the 28th verse 't is recorded how that they were disobedient and rebelled against the Spirit of the Lord and cast the Law behind their backs and slew the Prophets of the Lord which testified against them c. Now mark after they had rebelled against the Spirit of God and disobeyed the Lord they cast the Law of God behind their backs and slew the Lord's Prophets that testified against them and came to turn them to God again Now but consider whether or no this hath not been your Work in Christendom nay you have been more dark then these Jews and worse for you that be the Teachers in Christendom say that every Man and Woman hath not the Spirit of God to rebel against and God hath not given to every Man and Woman his Spirit and therefore you preach up Rebellion who are found all in the Disobedience and Rebellion to the Spirit of God in your selves that he hath given to instruct you and likewise also you rebel against the Spirit of God that he hath given to others instruct them with so by that you not only cast away the Royal Law of God behind your backs your selves but are also a means to bring others to disobedience to do the same and this Royal Law being cast behind your backs both of Christian and of Jew you are out of the Royal Society and concord in which you might commerce together among your selves and not only so but with all Nations that obey the same Principle of God in them But all you Christians Jews Turks and Heathens that disobey the good Spirit which God hath given you to instruct you you do cast the Royal Law behind your Backs and then you follow all your Wayes Religions and Worships and then are peevish about them and for them persecute others with a disobedient spirit that will not conform to them and to you and destroy people as the Jews did that would not conform So in that as I said before you destroy God's Creatures which he hath created and the Works of his Hands and so in that is manifested that you have no natural Affections nor no Love to God nor his Royal Law being disobedient to the Spirit of God which would lead you to his Law To do unto all as c. In this you might keep a Correspondency viz. In this Royal Law one with another I say above all your Religions Wayes and Worships And if you all lived in this Royal Law both Jews Turks Heathens and Christians so called your Religions Wayes and Worships would all fall to the Ground For in this Royal Law all Men and Women would have Liberty in a common Society and common Commerce and in the Worship of God and might receive a Religion pure from above for Religions Wayes and Worships are below of mens making which are Works of their own hands about which they do persecute their Fellow-creatures and their Brethren And also Such as grieve the Spirit quench and vex the Spirit of God signifying that they have a Measure of it else how could they quench vex and grieve it so quenching grieving and vexing that which would lead them unto the Royal Law To do unto others as they c. And that spirit that quencheth and vexeth the Spirit of God in them will never lead them to the Royal Law of God but lead them to do such things as they would not that others should do unto them but they would judge it hard measure if others should do unto them as they do unto others And so all they let them be Christians Jews Turks or Heathens who quench vex and grieve the Spirit of God and set up Religions of their own and are peevish about them to force and draw others to them those have neither Affections to Nature nor Natural Affections but are in that spirit that destroys Nature and the Affections to it and such do to others as they would not have them do unto them and come not up to that Royal Law To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them And also you may read of some That turned the Grace of God unto Wantonness and walked despightfully against the Spirit of Grace and hating the Light as you may see John 3.19 20. Jude 4. and in other places Now their hating the Light signifieth that they had it for Christ saith They would not come to the Light lest their deeds should be reproved that is by the Light and therefore it was their Condemnation So all Religions Wayes and Worships whatever men make that hate the Light they are made in Darkness both they and those are condemned as in John 3. So every man that comes into the World being inlightened by Christ the Heavenly Man in whom was Life and this Life was the Light of Men so every man that cometh into the World being turned to this Light they are turned to Christ they are turned to this Royal Law To do unto all men as they would have them do unto them for there 's the Liberty Now this shews that every Man and Woman that comes into the World is inlightened with the divine Light of the Heavenly Man Christ Jesus which while they hate it they break the Society with their Fellow-creatures who are of God's Creation as also the civil Commerce and Correspondence one with another And none that hate the Light have Affections to God to Christ Affections to his Royal Law or Affections to a general Communion or Affections to Nature it self or his Creation for they that hate the Light are under the
Mat. 12.24 A Devil and a Mad-Man a Blasphemer a Deceiver a Maker of Tumults yet he did not exercise any Power or any outward Authority over them though he had all Power both in Heaven and in Earth given unto him so as to imprison any or persecute or banish them neither did any of those that follow'd him who did convert people unto God Isa 12.5 Sing unto the Lord for he hath done excellent things this is known in all the Earth So then you may see that there is something of God in people that brings them to know those excellent things that the Lord has and doth work in the Earth which if people would but mind seriously it would lead them to do his Law viz. To do unto all c. Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar off Can any hide himself in secret places that I cannot see him saith the Lord Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord So the Lord God is the Lord the Creator of all things in the Heavens Earth and in the Sea so then he is Lord of all and they are all his and hath created them to his glory But man that grieved his Spirit and transgressed it and his Royal Law cast away he jars with the Creation of God And oft-times you may see throughout the Scriptures how the Lord and his Prophets did declare against them that did cast his Royal Law behind their backs So now if you say This was in reference to the Jews may it not be verified of you called Christians and others for Do you do unto all men as you would have all men do unto you Do you keep this Law of Liberty in which the right Natural Affections are 'T is said The Jews did cast the Righteous Law behind their backs which Law was Just Holy and Good and do not you called Christians who profess the Gospel and others do the same who may be ready to find Fault with the Jews for doing it So both you and them have cast the Law of God behind your backs which I say is holy just good and righteous so as you do not to others as you would they should do to you you have broken the Royal Society you have thrown away Natural Affections you do that that is unjust to people you do that that is not good to them nor righteteous and would you have all people do unrighteously and unjustly and that that is not good nor holy to you For casting away the Righteous Good and the Just Law behind their backs you cast away that whereby you should do that which is Just Righteous and Holy to others And so all your Societies that are not upheld by this Just Righteous and Holy Law of God are upheld by that which is not Just nor Righteous nor Holy nor Good so that people do that to others that they would not have them do unto them Mark the End of all that Hab. 3.3 The Glory of the Lord covered the Heavens and the Earth was full of his Praise c. Zach. 14.9 And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that Day shall there be one Lord and his Name shall be one And Gen. 9.1 2 c. where we read how the Lord God blessed Noah and his Sons saying unto them Bring ye forth Fruit and multiply and replenish the Earth and the Fear of you and the Dread of you shall be upon every Beast of the Earth and upon every Foul of the Air and upon all that moveth upon the Earth and upon all the Fish of the Sea into your hands are they delivered every thing that moveth it self every thing that liveth c. Mark here God who is the Creator of all and the God of the whole Earth which is full of his Praise and created all things to his Glory and Man in his Image and set him above all the Works of his Hands and gave him his Law by which he was not to oppress any Creature that he had created nor to spend them on his Lust to the dishonour of God and gave him his Spirit by which he should know his Law and know him the Law-giver For that which might be known of God was manifest in them and God hath shewed it unto them And so with this of God in Mankind he might know his Royal Law which is just righteous holy and good and within the limits of this that all Mankind do keep a Royal Society a just good and holy Royal Society and do unto all men as they would have them do unto them in all things for this Royal Law teaches so to do in which is the Liberty All people in the whole World consider Do not all your Religions Wayes and Worships lie in external and outward things that you have made and yet many of you Christians and others will find Fault with others that is such that worship the works of their own hands And are not all Religions that are made and Worships by men which are the works of their own hands in the whole World And do not every Sect in their Way Religion and Worship do unto another Sect and Religion as they would not have them do unto them And so is not all the Conversion of people as you call it one Sect beget people from another Sect and it is but a Sect when all is done and yet not come to the Royal Law of Liberty nor yet the Gospel For let the eye go over the whole World and see how one Sect strives and and makes it their Business to pluck from another Sect and the more People they get the more Wages Tythes and Augmentations they get So this is not getting people to God but to themselves this is not preaching Christ nor God but themselves And now all people but consider Has not the Conversion been by outward Powers by Queens Powers or Kingly Powers by States Powers or by an Emperor's Power for many Hundreds of Years For before the Pope got up did not the Arian Heresie when he got up I say that is got the power in his hands made most turn Arians by his Sword insomuch that it became a Proverb Totus mundus Arianus And then when the other Power got over Arian then they turn'd from him And further When the Pope got up did not he by his Inquisition and outward Sword by his Prisons and Goales convert people unto his Sect and Faction and this hath been the Conversion all along And then when the Turk got up did not he by his outward Power convert people to him yea many that were Christians were turned by his outward Sword and Power And did not the King of Spain convert abundance of Indians by his External Power and outward Sword when he put so many to several sorts of cruel Deaths as their own Historians relate Now this Conversion was not of God nor of the Spirit of God nor of
not something of God in him nor of his Spirit And so these Teachers in the whole world do bring their people to those Religions that they have made and do get the Magistrates Power and Sword to hold then up and allow them a Maintenance for their Preaching of it to them And so hereby is begotten a great deal of Peevishness Fury and Rage one against another and one Religion maker against another Religion-maker as may easily be seen over all the world the National Religions differing one from another and yet the people are bound to observe all that which their Priests have framed whereas if all men and women came to the Principle of God in themselves by which they might come to the Royal Law of God namely In doing to others as c. then all these peevish religions and the Makers and Upholders of them would quickly fall wherein they did unto others as they would not have others do unto them And this would be Religion to do the Law of God which is To love thy Neighbour as thy self and God above all then thou wouldst be ready to entertain Strangers For if thou shouldst be a Stranger thou wouldst think it hard shouldst thou not be entertain'd and reliev'd the Sick and the Widdow and Fatherless the same compassion as thou wouldst have done to thy self being in the like condition capacity necessity And this Principle of God within in keeping the Royal Law keeps up the mind to God who is the Law-giver who is blessed forever from whom they receive their Religion And this Royal Law of God being kept by all the Sons and Daughters of men in the whole World which is according to the Principle of God in them all and one with it this preserves natural Affections and so Nature in its course where Nature may not be destroyed for where Nature is destroyed it is but by the Transgressor of the Royal Law whereas this Royal Law being duely kept it preserves I say the Creation of God part of which are men women in order government themselves and to walk and to do to all as they c. And out of this Royal Law of God all the Disorder is and all the Ill-government in the whole Creation by disobeying and transgressing I say this Royal Law of God yea and all the unequal measuring Weights and false Judgments that are among them that do transgress and disobey this Royal Law which is To do to all c. yea and all the Ill-neighbourhood in the whole World is amongst them who disobey this Royal Law of God and quench the Spirit of the Lord in themselves which would lead them to obey it And all the good Neighbourhood in the whole Universe is by obeying the Principle of God in them to do the Royal Law of God whereby they love God above all and their Neighbour as themselves And in Ezek. 5. where the Lord said That the Jews had despised his Judgments and his Laws more then the Gentiles and had broken his Commandments more then the Nations Now mark May not this be apply'd unto Christians who have broken and despised the Law of Life the Law of Love and the Law of Faith and the Commands of Christ who saith Love one another and love Enemies Have not I say Christians broken this more then the Gentile Nations and Heathens yea we can say we have found it so for they are more ready to entertain Strangers then Christians who have cast away that Command nay many of them are more Christian in their Dealings then such as are called Christians which signifies that there is something of God in these Heathens and Nations that brings them to a sensibility of the Law of God which is To do unto all c. Psal 117. Where David saith Praise the Lord all ye Heathen Which imports as much that there is something of God in the very Heathen else it would be a vain word to bid them praise the Lord. And again saith the Psalmist there following Praise the Lord all ye Nations c. He doth not say one Nation but all Nations must do it Now mark This likewise imports thâ—â— there is something of God in them all whereby they may praise him agreeable to that of the Apostle who saith That which is to be known of God is manifest in them This he speaks to the Romans who were sometime Heathen So if the Priests Doctrine be received who say There is not something of God in all Nations of men and in the Heathen then by their Doctrine I say David's words are needless who exhorts all Nations and Heathens to praise the Lord But David full well knew what he spoke who saw Christ but the Priests see not themselves and so are Judges in their evil Thoughts of the Scripture and holy Mens words whose judgment is judged by the holy men's words Psal 100. Be joyful in the Lord all ye Lands and serve the Lord with Gladness and come before his Presence with a Song be ye sure that the Lord is God he it is that made us not we our selves Now mark this general Doctrine of David's who would have all the Lands to be joyful in the Lord c. Here David made no Sect as if some people only were to serve him and as if some people only were to praise him no saith he All Nations and all Heathen are to praise the Lord And now if they all serve the Lord and praise him then they all obey his Law his Royal Law which is To do to all as they would have all do to them Isa 51. The Islands of the Gentiles shall hope in me and put their trust in my Arm. Here you see is a Promise made unto the Heathen that they should trust in the Arm of the Lord and hope in God which clearly implies that there is something of God in them And in Rom. 15. where the Apostle writes to those that were sometime Heathens how that the Offering of the Gentile should be accepted of God now this was a spiritual Sacrifice and how the Lord would be praised among the Gentiles and he should be lauded among all the Nations and praise him saith he among all the Nations And again the Prophet Isaiah saith There shall be a Root of Jesse he shall arise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust So that 't is undoubtedly clear here that there is something of God in all the Gentiles in all the Nations and People which would praise the Lord and by that of God in them they come to know the Root of Jesse viz. Christ Jesus to reign over them who is the Light and enlighteneth them they see him by which Light Christ hath enlightened them withal all such trust in Christ who reigns over them and rules over them and so they come to do his Law and Commandments his Royal Law of Love of Life and of Faith by which they come to do unto all as they would have all do unto them and to love their Neighbours as themselves George Fox THE END