to receive the Spirit by it then to be led into all Truth and so being first led into the Truth then in the same Truth to worship God in Spirit who is a Spirit And whether there be now any true Worship standing which God accepteth but only this And whether this alone be not agreeable to Moses Christ and Scriptures And whether all other Worships now upheld be not contrary to this true Worship of God and contrary to Moses Christ and Scriptures and indeed chiefly opposite to the Spirit of God whereby he is grieved And if so whether all such Worship Way Practice Performances Duties and Ordinances so called be not better left undone then performed until Gods Spirit be received to guide therein Thirdly Concerning the Ministration of the Spirit which abideth for ever MOses and his Ministry were visible and Christ in the form of a Servant and so like unto Moses was visible and so were his Miracles and that which is visible to the natural eye the carnal mind can come to profess and contend about but the blessed eye which God openeth with the light cometh to see the one done away and the other finished by Christ the Light and Life And the Spirit is that which first moved and yet moveth and moved unto and led through the visible Ministration and this Spirit is invisible as it is written the invisible only wise God whom no eye of flesh hath seen or can see and this moving invisible Spirit of God which is without limit or end is that which all people should be led unto by all its outward visible appearances ministrations and dispensations and this Spirit was that which gave forth and ordained the Ministration of the Law which was glorious in its time though to be done away but how much more glorious is the Ministration of that Spirit of Life it self from which the Ministration of the Law came which Spirit abideth for ever And the second Adam is made a quickning Spirit and the Spirit which is the Word was with God and was God before the body of flesh was made and that Spirit abideth for ever as is heard out of the Law He shall abide for ever And this is that which ever liveth to inâ—ercede And this for ever blessed invisible Spirit was before time and is to be when time shall be no more and is without limit an eternal lively Substance giving life from it self and secretly covering it self from the carnal part of man not seen nor understood but by such as by its secret motions come to be led to see through that which shadows it forth and by the image form shadow or figure to discern the Substance which is the Life where Immortality dwelleth for in the most innermost and secret of all is the Life of all being covered over with that in which it lies through which it breaking forth in any discovery of it self is that whereby the beholders might be drawn through the discovery unto it self which in the discovery broke forth for the discovery was still too short of that from whence it came and that which was discovered forth in any shadow form or image was not to be idolized nor set up for the very thing or substance of Life from whence it proceeded and herein hath been much mistake by such who came not by that which opened in the visibles to that from whence it came in that to have their understandings opened and thereby to be made sensible of that which is eternal by it to be brought in where its indwellings abide for ever whose breaking forth in the visible which was to draw to that invisible refreshed the soul invisibly in an unexpected manner and time but being after sought for in the visibles and not in the eternal withdraws it self out of the visibles and out of the sight and reach of that which seeks it there that thereby that which is to live for ever with it may come through all that which it appeared in unto the very thing and invisible Substance it self which is the Life of all and the true Center of the living Motion which moveth of it self and gave forth all things good as they proceeded from it by vertue of its gradual and various motions and this being come opens it self in them that find it and live therein and this maketh Darkness Light before the people whose dwelling is with God and the crooked comes to be made streight by the thing it self and dark sayings of old come to be opened and secret things revealed But to write more plain for the sake of the weak of this glorious indwelling Spirit which in the fulness of time cometh forth in flesh laying hold of the Seed of Abraham the most glorious Appearance that ever was being thus appeared was the express Image of God who dwelleth in his People whose bodies are flesh and earthly tabernacles but by the operation of the sanctifying cleansing Spirit which the Father sendeth are made fit habitations of God and so Coheirs with Christ and Members of his Body Flesh and Bones which Spirit quickneth to God and being thus received and obeyed is felt to live for ever though the shadowings-forth of it be done away and this is Eternal and never endeth but abideth with such for ever and the Ministration of it is Life it self to the soul and more to be valued and desired than all that ever was seen before it And as the Lord took of that Spirit which was upon Moses and put it upon his Brethren the Elders of Israel whereby they might rule and judge with him so saith Christ The Father shall take of mine and give it unto you even of that Spirit of Love Life Power Valour and Virtue which was upon and in him that was like unto Moses is ministred into and put upon such as are truly his Brethren and Friends whereby with him they thus gifted sanctified and qualified judge the World for all Judgment is committed tâ— the Son and of that which the Son hath and is committed to him doth the Father give unto his Members and so from Christ the Head they come to receive power over the World and its Way Worship and Fashions and over unclean spirits And that is an unclean spirit which will lead into any sin and it is an unclean spirit in which sin standeth and which pleadeth for the continuance and upholding of that which is unclean and that is of the world which the Saints judge And as those Elders of Israel who were of the Church in the Wilderness were not made fit to Judge or Rule in outward matters by all the writings and words of the Law though received by disposition of Angels until the Lord himself took of that Spirit which was upon Moses and put upon them So those that profess to be Elders in the Church now or any other person whatsoever are much less made fit to Rule or Judge in spiritual matters by all the reading
endeavours to blind the mind not the brain-knowledge but the hearty-feeling sence within in the mind lest the Light within should so shine as God should heal them and all the buslings of Satan with his gifts are but to blind the mind within lest God should heal the soul that complains to him from the true sight and sence of his Misery as in himself By this Grace and Gift within we believe That to Vs though in the world there be Lords many and Gods many there is but ONE GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ witnessed within man only by the Spirit of Truth that manifests both the Father and the Son and yet these three are one and agree in one and he that honours the Father honours the Son that proceeds from him and he that denies the Spirit denies both the Father and the Son and is Anti-Christ but he that believes in the Spirit and is led by it is the Son of God Rom. 8.14 As many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God We believe The Scriptures bare witness unto and testifie of Christ but they say The Witness of God is greater than them The Spirit it self bearing witness with our spirits that we are the Sons of God for it is not the Scriptures without the Spirit nor the Spirit contrary to the Scriptures but the Spirits discovering the Will of God in the heart or opening of the Scriptures in its own time and way and not in or by the will of man but as it self pleaseth who searcheth all even the deep things of God and manifests them unto the Soul which giveth the perfect sound and saving knowledge for said Christ The Spirit shall take of mine and shew them unto you And as holy men gave forth the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.21 so holy men and they only come truly to understand them and not proud and ungodly men because their hearts and lives do not answer the hearts and lives of those that gave them forth aâ— face answereth face in a Glass And this we believe to be the reason why so long preaching by men of corrupt minds who have and do handle the words deceitfully for selfish ends and filthy lucre sake hath brought forth so little fruit and been to so little purpose except to their Purses and Bellies for had they believed and thereforâ— spoken and stood in Gods Counsel they shoulâ— have profited their Hearers Jer. 23.21 22 23 to the end Through this Gift we believe Thaâ— Christ Iesus the Son of God was manifest in the flesh in the fulness of time And this we know by the same Spirit by which our Fathers believed he should come and Abraham saw his day by the same we do believe he is come and do see his day as also by the Prophets and Apostles Writing which twofold Cord is not easily broken We believe also according to the Scriptures of Truth That this same Jesus hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every name that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that there is not another name whereby man can be saved than this Name of Jesus Christ nor is Remission of Sins to be preached by any other name But as we do not believe that the outward Letters and Syllables are that Name that is to be bowed to by the outward knee no more than the Letters or Syllables in the words God or Spirit seeing the Scripture saith Vnto God who is a Spirit every knee shall bow Isa 45.23 but the Name which saves is the Power and Arm of God that brings Salvation from Sin and makes every Soul that names it to depart from Iniquity This is that Name which was preached and which is preached through Faith in which Name Remission of Sin is obtained Therefore was the outward word Jesus given him as his outward name Thou shalt call his Name JESVS for he shall save his People from their Sins Mark for he shall save c. So that which saves is the Name which is to be believed in which is that Arm of God that brings Salvation when no eye pitties neither is there any to help the Power of God that then saves is that Grace that comes from the fulness of Christ the Saviour And without this virtue Christ and Jesus are but empty names 1 Cor. 12.3 No man can say that Jesus is the LORD but by the holy Ghost We believe also That this Jesus died for or because of Sin and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him as well as to manifest to all the world that he was the Son of God and that he thereby spoiled Principalities and Powers and triumphed over them openly and led Captivity captive in his own person yet we believe and know by his Grace in our hearts that as his Name Jesus without Vertue and Power is but an empty word so his Dying without man's Conformity to his Death or being planted into the likeness thereof or being crucified with Christ as saith the Scripture Rom. 6.2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 2.20 will not profit man as to the Salvation of his Soul no more than the naming of his outward name Jesus doth at this day make people to depart from Iniquity For we believe and are sure that man must dye inwardly as well as Christ died outwardly and must be put to death in his flesh as Christ was in his for he that is in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 neither cease from sin but he that is dead is freed from sin Rom. 6.7 And yet mans dying unto Sin and the Root and Principle of it in himself is so far from making void Christ's Death in his own person that it establlsheth it to all those ends and purposes for which it was intended of the Father As the Cures which the Physitian doth manifest and establish his skill and ability so doth mans dying unto Sin and Self and living unto God manifest and establish the Vertue and Power of Christ's Death for as man manifests his being risen with Christ by his seeking the things that are above Col. 3.1 2. so doth he manifest his knowledge of the Death of Christ by his being crucified with Christ and bearing about in his body the dyings of the Lord Jesus for as it is not an outward belief gathered from the Letter that will change the heart and life though the Judgment and Opinion it may so it is not a belief from the History or Letter only that can give man a saving-knowledge of the Death of Christ but he must have the same Glory and Power of the Father in measure working in him there to beget Faith in his heart that he may believe unto Salvation from his own filthiness and righteousness as well as confess with his mouth Rom. 10. and must have that Spirit in him quickning his mortal body as well as to believe that it was in Christ and raised
and justifies the Soul through thâ— virtue of this Blood received into the hearâ— by this living Faith which receives all itâ— power and virtue from Christ in whom 〈◊〉 abides as its root and object whereby Justification is witnessed from Sin not in Sin Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from Sin and become servants unto God you havâ— your fruits unto Holiness and the end everlasting Life We believe That Justification and Sanctification are distinguished but not divided for as he that sanctifieth and justifieth iâ— one so do these go together and wheâ— the Soul hath the greatest sence of Justification upon it through the vertue of thâ— Blood of Jesus by the Living Faith theâ— is it most in love with Holiness and at thâ— greatest distance from Sin and Evil and whenever there is a failing in Sanctification there is also some eclipse of Justification in the eye of the Soul until Faith hath recovered its strength again which iâ— lost by sins prevailing For as the farthest and clearest sight is in the brightest day so is it with the Soul when it is most in the brightness and beauty of Holiness its Justification appears most glorious and its Union and Communion most sweet and lasting and so like two Twins as they are much of an age so they are like one to the other And what God hath joyned together let no man put asunder We also by this Light believe That Acceptance with the Father is only in Christ and by his Righteousness made ours or imputed unto us not by the creaturely skill but by the applicatory act of Gods gift of Grace whereby the Soul feels the difference between self-applying by its own Faith and God applying by its Spirit and so making Christ unto the Soul Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption So that we believe and are sure that there is a great difference between Imputation as it is the act of mans spirit and as it is the act of Free Grace without mans forcing And so we distinguish between Imagination and Imputation between reckoning or imputing that is real and reckoning or imputation that is not real but a fiction and imagination in the creaturely will and power And because we are against the latter we are clamoured upon as if we denied the Imputation oâ— Christ's Righteousness when it is only unto those that are not made righteous by it to walk as he also walked For as the Scripture saith It is not he that saith he is righteous by the imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he that doth Righteousness iâ— righteous even as Christ is Righteous 1 Joh 3.7 he that believes otherwise is deceived And yet it is not Acts of Righteousness as done by us nor as inherent in us as acts by which we are accepted of God and justified before him but by Christ the Author and Worker of those acts in us and for us whereby we know that we are in him and he in us and we hold him as our Head into whom alâ— things are gathered together into one even in him We further believe That God is only to be worshipped and not any likeness that man makes unto himself of God from any view sight and knowledge that he hath had of him but in every act and service man is to know what substantially as well as whom speculatively or notionally he worshippeth as is is written John 4.22 Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews And he that thus worships the Father honours the Son by the same Spirit which is one with the Father and the Son in which Spirit only God is worshipped according to the form of its own chusing and manifesting of himself in and by according unto the good pleasure of the Father who is a Spirit and limits man unto the Spirit 's Form but allows not man to limit the Spirit unto his form though it be not of his inventing originally but of the Father yet man must no more limit God unto it then he could command God to appear in it at first For as he chose it himself so he hath reserved liberty to leave it at his pleasure who works all things after the counsel of his own Will which he hath purposed in himself that the Gift of the knowledge of the Mystery of his Will might for ever be acknowledged to be of his Grace and for the riches of the glory thereof according to Ephes 1. and man be bound but God free Man bound to wait in the Light for Gods Movings but God free to move in whom to what and when he pleaseth then man is to go when he saith Go and come when he saith Come and such Servants do serve him And then there is no more Curse as in the dayes of Will-worship and voluntary Humility but the Throne of God and of the Lamb Col. 2.18 23. Rev. 22.3 4. And they shall see his Face and his Name shall be on their foreheads We believe also That this Worship is spiritual and not carnal in all its Parts and Ordinances and not to be imposed by any outward force but performed by the inward leading of Gods holy Spirit according as the holy men of God were led and guided in the days past who gave forth the Scriptures all impositions of Worship outward being only enjoyned under the first Covenant that made nothing perfect until the time of Reformation spoken of Hebr. 9.10 But Christ being come there is an end as well of such Impositions as of the Meats and Drinks and divers Baptisms and carnal Ordinances they being all but temporary and in order unto an end but all to vail to Christ the sum and substance of all the first pointed at by all and the last ending of all the Amen And he that thus worships God in Christ his Ordinances are spiritual and not carnal and his Faith carries him beyond his Works with righteous Abel and preserves him that he is not drowned in the Form like Cain neither falls he short of the glory of God nor of his assurance of Acceptance with him We believe There is one Baptism necessary to Salvation Ephes 4.5 One Lord one Faith one Baptism And this Baptism is Spiritual of which John's Water was but a figure John 1.31 That he should be made manifest to Israel therefore am I come baptizing with Water saith John and 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the Reâ—urrection of Jesus Christ This one Spiriâ—ual Baptism into the Name of Jesus Christ â—s that which saves the Water being but a figure that Christ might be manifest to Israel who had divers Baptisms imposed on them untill the time of Reformation but Christ the Substance being come the Shadows flee away And yet where-ever any are commanded now by the same Spirit that commanded the Believers to
foolishness whose beauty and excellency is hid from its eye But this is because the wisdom of man is out of its place not subjected to the Wisdom of God but exalted above it therefore as a curse unto it is it suffered to lift up it self in its conceitfulness against and so to persecute the pure Wisdom of God and the birth thereof that it might fall and be broken and snared and taken and its day deservedly come to an end and be shut up in the shadows and chambers of eternal darkness But what ear of Man can hear this Surely none that is whole in the line of Man's wisdom reason and understanding but that alone which is bruised broken and in some measure dashed to pieces by the inroads of a diviner Life and Nature This in the Leading of that Life which hath broken it and in the shinings of the Light eternal upon it and into it may be enabled to take up the Cross to the natural part and to die that Death with Christ which preserves from the second Death with the misery thereof Happy is he who knows and hearkens to the Perswasions of Gods Spirit who is born of God and taught to wait upon him and worship him in Spirit who receives his Religion from the Light of Faith into the renewed Nature and Mind and not from the Reason of Man into the natural understanding which is easily corrupted and cannot be kept pure but alone by the indwelling of the Principle of Eternal Life in it For though such may suffer very deeply in this World from the men of this World as the Subjects and Servants to the Principle of Life have done in all Ages and Generations yet their Principle will bear them out in which God will appear to strengthen and refresh their spirits and carry them up above all their Sufferings in the Patience Meekness and Faith of the Lamb And keeping to their Principle they cannot be overcome but must either live or die Conquerors according to the will and good pleasure of Him who ordereth and disposeth of all things well and bringeth good out of every evil in despite of all the Powers of Darkness And he that overcometh whether by life or death in the Lamb's Spirit shall wear the Lamb's Crown and sit down in that perfect Rest in the Kingdom of the Father which will give the hearts of all his Children full Satisfaction In which assured hope Life stirring in our bosoms and quickning our hearts with Love unto our God and Zeal for his Truth we can freely give up all that is near and dear unto uâ— in this World and lay down our heads iâ— inward Peace in the midst of the greatesâ— outward Persecution and Trouble Eveâ— so O Lord thy Will be done concerning theâ— Generation of thy People whom thou hast begotten to thy Self and brought forth by thy mighty Power to testifie to thy Truth in thiâ— present day Dispose of them as it pleaseth Thee and let not their Faith in thee nor thy Faithfulness to them fail but let them be 〈◊〉 Praise to thy Name throughout all Generations and tendered by Thee as the First-fruits of thine Appearance in the Glorious Light of the Everlasting Day after this great long thick and dark Night of Apostacy from the Life and Spirit of the Apostles which hath so long eclipsed and covered the brightness of thy Beauty from the sight of the Earth Isaac Pennington A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we believe who are called Quakers ALSO What Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny Concerning God Christ and the Spirit thus we believe FIrst That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things That Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things remain unto this day by his Power and whatsoever hâ— willeth in Heaven and Earth he brings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God onely is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipped by all Creatures and no other thing besides him in Heaven and Earth and we believe that his Worship and Obedience and Fear and Love is to be given in Spirit even in what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his people unto And we believe his True Worship required and accepted of him is not by the tradition of men in outward observances or set dayes or places but he is worshippeâ— only in Spirit and Truth without respect oâ— times places or things and that none caâ— worship him in Righteousness but his Children who are born of his Spirit and are leâ— and guided thereby And we believe That this God hath given his Son Christ Jesus into the World a free Gift unto the whole World and thaâ— every man that cometh into the World iâ— lighted by him that every man may believâ— and be saved And we believe That he is given intâ— the World and no Nation Country oâ— People excepted but to all mankind he is given of God and hath enlightened them And every man through the world that beâ—ieveth in and receiveth Christ who is â—he Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal Salvation And eveâ—y one that believeth not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting misery And we believe That Salvation Justification and Sanctification is onely in Him wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but Him alone by which Salvation is and we beâ—ieve all that receive him and believe â—n him are reconciled to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things and do receive the forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all unrighteousness and from the body of Sin and Death and have the witness of the Spirit â—n them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong to their peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwell in the Saints and by it they have fellowship one with another and thâ— Father Son and Spirit are one And thiâ— we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe That he is one with the Father and waâ— with the Father before the World was and what the Father worketh is by the Son for he is the Arm of Gods Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without beginning or end And we believe That all the Prophetâ— gave Testimony of him and that he waâ— made manifest in Judea and Jerusalem anâ— did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Jews and was crucified by
bâ— baptized in the dayes past either for thâ— furtherance of the Gospel or tryal of theâ—… Faith we judge them not But this obedience is very rare to be found and wâ— could heartily desire that all would consider seriously whether literal sayings observed only by outward reading hearinâ— by the ear or inward impulses upon thâ— heart by the Divine Power are the motives unto Obedience in this kind And 〈◊〉 honesty and uprightness of heart may bâ— heard we believe and know the manâ— dead souls every-where notwithstandinâ— their Baptisms will be as so many witneâ—ses against them by their grovling upoâ— the earth as so many slain and killed meâ— by the Letter while the Spirits quickning have not been known in the true Baptism into death For we find by daily experiences that most men and women live likâ— Pharoah's lean Kine only to eat up the fat and to envy those that are not so lean soul'd as themselves We believe also That as there is onâ— true saving Baptism so there is one Bread or Body of Christ which all the Saints dâ— feed upon and though they be many aâ— to persons yet their Bread is but one and they all in it but one Bread And this we believe is the flesh that came down from Heaven John 6.33 Though the outward Jews now as then murmur at him because he said I am the Bread which came down from Heaven ver 41 42. But Christ ver 45. to stop their murmuring tells them that the knowledge of this Mystery was only revealed unto them whom God and not man teacheth and no more than are taught of God can set seal and subscribe unto this Truth in Jesus though we believe also that Jesus took outward bread and brake it and gave it to the Disciples as the Scriptures saith and this was a figure of his Body that was to be pierced and broken upon the Tree and a shew to shew forth his Death until he came And we believe he did arise again and appear unto his Disciples And all that believed were together and had All things Common c. And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God and having favour with all the people Acts 2.44 45 46 47. And we believe that the Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.20 saith true where he saith When ye come together therefore in one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper And all that he speaks in that chapter is not to perpetuate that outward breaking of Bread otherwise than as the Believers did that were filed with the holy Ghost in singleness of heart as before is said and yet we judge not those who break outward Bread and drink outward Wine being commanded so to do and put in remembrance thereby of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ by the Remembrancer the Spirit of Truth which is appointed by the Father to lead into all Truth But to do it by imitation or tradition only as most do it if not all at this day we know it is not an Offering unto God in Righteousness neither do we believe this to be the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ and yet the eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Christ we believe man must know and witness or he hath no life in him Joh. 6.53 54 55. And we believe that many are striving now in their spirits as the Jews did verse 52 saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat And not only the Jews but many of his Disciples said This is a hard saying who can bear it ver 60. and at verse 63. he tells them It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And he that hears and understands these words that are Spirit and Life will not be offended at what I have spoken of the Flesh and Blood of Christ By the same Spirit and Grace we believe That Prayer is an Ordinance of God when performed by his Spirit in its words and not those which mans wisdom teacheth or without words by sighs and groanes which cannot be uttered and these so often as the Spirit it self pleaseth But the Form without the Spirit whether it be by words of other mens framing or words of man's own spirit according to his will time and manner this is not the Prayer that prevails with God And we believe that there is none so weak and infirm but this Spirit proffers his help at some time or other though man regardeth it not And the more mans mind is gathered within from all visibles the more he comes to be sensible of the Movings and Stirrings of this Spirit in its secret cryes unto God answerable to the wants of thaâ— man or woman in whom it moves and cryes And by the due watching thereunto we believe and know the Spirit of Prayer and 〈◊〉 Adoption that cries unto God comes to bâ— discerned and distinguished from a man'â— own spirit and will We believe by the same gift of Grace that there are several Ministrations and several Operations according to 1 Cor. 12. and all by the same Spirit as before and after thâ— Law by Moses and after by John the Baptisâ— and Christ and his Apostles and in all thesâ— the Ministration had acceptance with God through the management of the Spirit anâ— its rejection and dislike of God for thâ— want thereof And by this Spirit were thâ— Scriptures give forth and the holy meâ— of God did speak prophesie preach and praâ— as they were moved and for want of it thâ— letter did and doth kill And for the further appearance and pouring out of thiâ— Spirit answerable unto the work and service that God had for them to do theâ— were to wait as Christ commanded hiâ— Disciples to do at Jerusalem to receive thâ— Promise of the Father For by this Spiriâ— he that speaks speaks as the Oracle of God And therefore as it was the practice of the People of God in old time to wait for the moving and stirring of this Spirit that they might speak as it gave them utterance in the evidence and demonstration thereof so do this People called Quakers now and according to its moving in their hearts they minister according to the signification of the Spirit whereby they understand both what and when to speak and when to be silent as also who are they that minister and speak in their own wills above the Cross of Christ which the Apostle was carefull alwayes to be in subjection to lest he should make it void by speaking the words which mans wisdom teacheth and therefore as the Saints did so we do believe and therefore we speak And such Preaching and Speaking in Faith as well as Praying in Faith is acceptable unto God as his Worship and not otherwise And we further believe by the
same Spirit that the sum of all Religion according to the Truth and the signification of the word Religion is Man not at liberty in his will but bound again unto God by his having given to him by the Light of Christ within the true sight and knowledge of himself as in himself as lost and undone foâ— ever and from this sight a true sence to ariâ—â— upon and remain with him from wherâ— spring unutterably groans and cryes untâ— God under the weight of the burthen anâ— wretchedness by reason of the body oâ— Sin and Death and then when there waâ— none to help or pitty in this state then 〈◊〉 Mercy shewed in Christ the Arm of Goâ— which is revealed as an help neither seeâ— nor known where how or when to coâ—â— at it or meet with it And this begets iâ— the heart of that man or woman in anâ— unto whom it is thus revealed thanks anâ— praises unto God for this Gift and Revâ—lation of his Son in this needfull timâ— whom the Soul sees to be the Gift of Eteâ—nal Love And we believe and know upon thâ— Love and Faithfulness of God is foundeâ— built and established the Everlasting Covâ—nant whereby not only all men may bâ— saved for its ability but some shall be sâ—ved because for its prevalency which is 〈◊〉 like to the Covenant he made with our Fâ—thers And although all mankind is not sâ—ved yet it is not because either of insuâ—ficiency in this Covenant or because of tâ—â— weakness of the Grace that appears in and unto all men but because of mans will loving death and chusing his own delusions whereby his destruction is of himself and God clear of his blood in the free tender of his Grace Gift and striving of the Spirit within him For we know assuredly according to the Scriptures of Truth and Experience of all souls that ever were truly converted to God that though by Grace man is saved not of himself but by the Free Fift yet as the old World did and those rebellious Jews spoken of Acts 7. who as did their Fathers so did they alwayes resist the holy Ghost so do men now And yet in the tender of this Grace and striving of his Spirit the Lord is a God so hiding himself in the management of this Striving and Ministration of his Spirit as if it wholly depended upon mans choice and consenting that mans will as to him is as it were free in rejecting or accepting Life and Death being set before him whereby in the Wisdom of God the propensity of his Nature as it came out of the hands of his Maker hath an advantage by this dealing of God to put forth it self so that man is as free in the choice as he is in the refusal of the tender of Mercy and help and that with an equal indifferency as it appears to him in this state notwithstanding afterwards in the furtheâ— growth in this Grace and Knowledge oâ— Christ he sees clearly and convincingly that the Grace that wrought hiddenlâ— from his sight and knowledge in the firâ—â— working tender and ministration of Goâ— towards him gained his consent througâ— its own prevalency in the Love of God bâ— which sight and sence self comes to be abhorred and the free Love so admired thaâ— he knows from first to last all was of Grace and that free that self is not able to challenge any thing as due from what it haâ— done but all of gift and yet as before with such an equal indifferency on manâ—… account so that God may and will appeaâ— to be just both in condemning and saving and the Justifier freely of all that believe iâ— Jesus the Light of the World Therefore let all take heed how they dislike this Ministration of God and striving of his Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences under colour and pretence of its insufficiency and therefore they will not come to him because his drawings and strivings are not so strong as they would have them to be looking for such an overpowring and irresistibleness as they are not able to withstand and gainsay lest such perish through a wilfull neglect and for want of stretching out their hand when the Lord holds out his and so they perish in the ditch with a vain expectation of further power or cry in their mouthes Lord have mercy upon us and so with the Sluggard while they cry Yet a little more slumber and folding of the hands to sleep their Garden is overgrown with weeds and their backs cloathed with rags and they beg in harvest whilst others that have sown in tears not fainting do in due time reap in joy and not despising the crums that fell from the table nor the day of small things witness the presence of their Beloved come down into his Garden and walking among the Lillies Let these things be truly considered pondred and weighed in the true Ballance of Light and Righteousness lest any Soul perish through the false weight and measure so shall my soul rejoyce that any have escaped the Net of the Fowler through the discovery of the true Light and God have all the Glory unto whom alone it belongs and man ashamed confounded his moutâ— stopped and he laid in the dust forever anâ— then shall my end be answered in writinâ— these things John Crook Concerning Perswasions in Matters of Religion THere is the Natural man and the Spiritual man and there are the Perswasions of each in and about Matters of Religion There is the Perswasion of Reason and the Perswasion of Faith The Perswasion of Reason is that Belief which man receives into his mind or heart from the exercise of the Reasoning Faculty and this Perswasion in Matters of Religion is but mans Opinion or Judgement which how certain or infallible so ever it appears to him yet may be shaken by a demonstration or evidence of a higher kind of nature The Perswasion of Faith is that Belief which the New-Creature receives into the renewing-Mind from the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit which openeth and manifesteth the things of the Spirit unto that mind which is begotten and renewed by it And this Perswasion is certain and infallible however it may be struck at and battered by the reasonings of the wise earthly part even in that very man whose heart is thus perswaded by the Light of the Spirit of God concerning the things of Gods Kingdom Now the lowest Perswasion of Faith is higher and of a more noble nature then the highest Perswasion of Reason because Faith is of an higher Principle and of a deeper nature and ground then Mans Reason is But this because it appears not in mans sphear but rather out of it and is contrary to the line and reach of his wisdom is accounted by him foolishness and madness Thus is the Wisdom of God and the Children thereof judged and condemned by man in his day And how can it be otherwise How can the wisdom of man but judge that as
hiâ— Enemies and that he was buried and rosâ— again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascendeâ— on high and exalted at the right hand oâ— the Father for evermore and that he iâ— glorified with the same Glory that he haâ— before the World was and that even thâ— same that came down from Heaven is ascendeâ— up to Heaven and the same that descended iâ— he that ascended And we believe Even he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to judge the whole World with Righteousness and all People with Equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall arise to Condemnation or Justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the world was and that is the knowledge unto Eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive and he subdues Death and destroys him that hath â—he power of it and restoreth from Death â—o Life and quickneth by his Spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifieth and such â—re taught of him but he condemns all â—hat believes not and continue in unbelief â—nd are not taught of him And this we â—aithfully believe And we believe That unto all People â—pon the face of the whole Earth is a time â—nd day of Visitation given that they may â—eturn and be saved by Jesus Christ who is given of the Father to call the worst oâ— men to repentance and the most ungodâ—â— of Sinners are convinced by him of theâ— ungodly deeds that they might believe anâ— be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the Love oâ— God manifested to all mankind and thâ—â— none are shut out by him before they were boâ—â— into the World but unto all men is a Visitâ—tion given and they that perish it is becauâ—â— they do not believe in Christ and Destructâ—on is of a mans self but Salvation is of Goâ— through believing in his Son who takâ—â—… away Sin and reneweth into his own Imagâ— that they may become Heirs with him And we believe That there is a Crowâ— of Eternal Glory and an Inheritance 〈◊〉 Eternal Life to be injoyed for evermore bâ— all that believe and are chosen of God And that there is an Everlasting Miseâ—â— and Destruction to be possessed by all thâ—â— believe not but continues in the state 〈◊〉 Reprobation and are not changed from tâ— Wayes of Sin and Death but walk after tâ—â— ways of their own hearts lusts fulfillinâ— the will of the Flesh in the evil of thâ— world and follows not Christ the Lighâ— of the world that they may be saved anâ— we believe upon all such the wrath of God abideth and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe that it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death to Life and who is redeemed out of the World and all its wayes such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they onely have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleansed from all unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their Sins are remitted For his Blood cleanseth them from all Vnrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned the World withal And we believe that the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of Sins and may be perfectly freed from the body of Sin and Death and in Christ may be perfect and without Sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Jesus Christ And we believe every Saint that is called of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtaiâ— it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walâ— not after the Flesh but after the Spirit anâ— are in Covenant with God and their Sinâ— are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit Sin being born oâ— the Seed of God And we believe the Gospel of Christ 〈◊〉 the Power of God unto Salvation and that iâ— ought to be preached freely unto all Peoplâ— and Christ to be held forth to all Mankinâ— by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is receiveâ— by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and all theâ— that receive it are lawfully called to thâ— Ministry and they may preach the Gospâ—â— of Christ freely as they have received 〈◊〉 freely and this Ministry is not of Maâ— but of God and is made powerfull to thâ— converting of Sinners and to the bringinâ— of People to God and to the knowledgâ— of his Wayes And we do not believâ— that any man is a Minister of Christ witâ—out the Gift of the Holy Ghost or that thâ— Gospel can be received by natural learninâ— or education And we believe such as preach for hire and hath hire for Preaching are not the lawfully called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are proud and high-minded and covetous men who do not profit the People at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calleth by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governours we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governours in every Nation City Country or Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge Righteously Equally and Justly and will give true and sound Judgement unto all men without bribery or respect of persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a praise unto all that do well and a terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continually exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being thâ— Foundation thereof that Gods Witness iâ— every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all People beforâ— Transgression be charged or punished iâ— any man And we believe That every Transgreâ—sion ought to be punished according to itâ— nature and that the punishment exceeâ— not the greatness of the Transgression neâ—ther ought any Transgressor to escape uâ—punished neither ought any upon falâ—â— suspition or jealousies be caused to suffeâ— without the Testimony of true men or thâ— Confession of the Party And we believe That the Executors oâ— the Law ought to be Just men and not gâ—ven to Pride Drunkenness or any otheâ— Evil whatsoever And we believe
That all Governouâ—â— and Rulers ought to be accountable to thâ— People and to the next succeeding Ruler for all their actions which may be enquireâ— into upon occasion and that the chiefe of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be transgreâ—sors as well as the poorest of the Peoplâ— And thus true Judgment and Justice wiâ—â— be brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have praise and live in Rest and Peace that all Evil-doers whatsoever my stand in awe and be afraid of God and Just men and the execution of good Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly Religious and no man ought to be compelled to or from any exercise or practise in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other practice in Religion and every man of what profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in peace provided himself be a man of peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to reprove false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exhortation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought not to be counted a breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary minds or judgments this ought not to be punished by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe that the outward Laws and Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons and Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Laws of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe That Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit must only lead into alâ— Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors and that Subjects ought to obey them in the Lord that have rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which is according to God which stand in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require Subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him in such cases all People are free and ought to obey God rather then man and we believe that herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirt in all that which is good and out of all that which is evil Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all mankind are in one of these states all that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of Death and Darkness being Children of Wrath and Disobedience in the Alienation and Separation from God in the Transgression unreconciled to God the Enmity ruling in the heart being in the Fall and not restored to God again but ignorant of his Power and Wisdom having the understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal And in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted with God for he is dead to God and alive to all Evil bringing forth all his Works out of that ground which is cursed This is the condition of all mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adam and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and shall never inherit eternal Life but go into Perdition yet have all such a day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprobation but hating knowledge and despising the Love of God they continue in the state Reprobate and the Wrath of God abides upon them but they that are chosen of God are delivered â—rom Wrath for they believe in the Light and become Children of the Light and are renewed in mind and heart and receive the love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adam and are chosen in him to bring forth fruit unto the Father and all their Fruit springeth from that ground which is blessed for they are led by the Spirit of the Father and such are in the state of Election who are made Heirs with Christ of the everlasting Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe that Mercy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad into the World that all People may understand what we believe and what we have received of God And they that believe this and walk therein by the Spirit of the Father shall be saved but they that believe not but are disobedient to the Truth shall be condemned because they do not believe Much more might be written but in short this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the knowledge of these things from God A Friend unto all People Edward Burrough To all that say we whom the World do in scorn call Quakers do deny Ministers and Magistrates These things I write unto you to give you in short an understanding what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny 1. SUch Ministers as are made by God who are sanctified by his Word and Power who have freely received perfect Gifts from God and so by the Spirit and Power of God are sent forth into the world to turn the People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God who freely ministeâ— unto others without coveting any manâ— Gold or Silver or Apparel not seeking theirs but them Warning every maâ— and teaching every man in all Wisdom that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Such as minister from thâ— Spirit and have the Word of God abiding in them who are never unprovided buâ— at all times and seasons and in all places do speak and declare the Truth as they are moved and instructed and as the Spirit of Truth doth give them utterance Such Ministers we own and have in great esteem for their works sake Gal. 1.1 12. Joh. 15.3 Eph. 4.7 8 11 12 13. Acts 26.15 16 17 18. Matth 10.8 Acts 20.33 2 Corinth 12.14 Collos 1.27 28 29. 2 Corinth 3.6 John 15.3 4 5 6 7. John 4.10 14. and 7.38 39. 2 Tim 4.2 3. Acts 2.4 But such as are brought up at Schools and Colledges and so made Ministers by the will of man who have not freely received perfect gifts from God for perfecting of the Saints but denies
believe in him who said I am the Light and is sate down at the right hand of God who is a Spirit eternally in the Heavens ascended up out of the sight of them which gazed after that body which is gone out of their sight even he Christ the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil being meek and low in heart he saith Learn of me Then not of the Priests nor any longer of Moses for the Law is the Schoolmaster to Christ who being come calleth one from the Custom another from going to bury the Dead another from questioning and reasoning what this man or another should do that he might not stand looking out at others but himself to follow the Light saying Follow thou me And those that followed him when he was upon Earth saw his Miracles and heard his Parables and eat of the outward Bread and were filled though many now eat and are not filled and they had his Body among them and they came to the Baptism and the Supper but Christ himself baptized not and when he was upon the Earth he said I go to the Father and I go to prepare a place for you and he said Whither I go ye know and he said before Follow me and except a man deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple and he said My Sheep hear my Voice and they followed me and he entred within the vail and the vail is over the heart and was made perfect through sufferings and is sate down in the Majesty on high glorified with God the Father and the Father was in him even the fulness of God and that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and he said he had finished the work the Father gave him to do and so the Fathers will was accomplished and done for which the body was prepared he said Now glorifie me Father with the same glory which I had with thee from the beginning and he that spake in the body abideth for ever who said A Body hast thou prepared me which Body being crucified he took up his Life again and then those that did know him three dayes before knew him not and he ascended and a cloud received him out of the sight of certain men who never found him unto this day for he remaineth out of the sight of most that profess him and as Lightning in the Clouds of Heaven doth he come again and every eye shall see him that condemneth sin and the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and yet the blind cannot see nor the deaf hear And this was he that Moses commanded to hear who said He that is with you shalâ— be in you and he that was with or without was to go away and that which was to bâ— received within he said should abide witâ— them for ever and the Spirit of Truth waâ— to lead into all Truth for though the body wâ—s prepared to do Gods Will yet they by it were not led into all Truth but some times understood it not though he spake Spirit and Life and moreover they wenâ— away and some fled from the Truth anâ— Peter denied him that was the Truth anâ— so such as have got a profession of the Truth without them and not the Spirit within to lead into all Truth such fly in the day oâ— Tryal from that Truth they profess anâ— some deny it rather then suffer with or foâ— it and herein them called Baptists also have not come short and some of them have bowed to the Beast and so it is with many who profess Christ and Truth with out them even as with those who understood not the Parables neither could cast out the unclean Spirits so that Christ was and is grieved when he hath been so long with and professed and followed without and yet not come to that Faith which purifies the heart whereby to cast out the unclean within as thou mayst read in thy self And therefore Christ when he was upon Earth did often speak unto them of what was yet to come and I do seldom read or take notice that he did so often preach and repeat any one thing unto them as that of the Spirit to come saying that it mark the Spirit would lead into all Truth and seeing their weakness and unbelief Mark 16.14 he by the often repetition thereof did as it were the more chiefly to engage their hearts to wait for and seek after the incomes of that which should comfort them and abide with them when his Body was gone from them whither they could not come and to this one thing doth he direct them in various expressions as of his going to the Father and coming again and saith he I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive John 14.16 And many things Jesus did which if they should be all written the World might not contain the Books John 21.25 and many things he spake unto them Acts 2. â—0 and yet there was somenthing to come to be waited for and after to be received which was more then all this for saith he These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the Comforter c. Mark the work but intimateth something greater or more then what was spoken to them whilst he was with them for saith he He that is with you shall be in you John 14.17 and said but the Comforter which is the holy Spirit whom the Father will senâ— in my Name he will teach you all things mark what that is that teacheth all things and brings all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said and so that is within which bringeth the words of Spirit and Life to remembrance John 14.25 26. and having spoken of other things he saith again But when the Comforter comes even the Spirit of Truth John 15.26 and if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16.7 And I have many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now howbeit when he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth John 16.12.13 here it may be seen that they who followed Christ without and not received the Spirit within could not bear what he had to speak unto them and also it may be seen that when the Spirit was come it would be better with them And much more might be mentioned how Christ foretold what was to come and be received and revealed in that day John 16.23 when the Spirit should be poured forth according to the Propheâ—s all which plainly declareth and most evidently sets forth how Christ in his Ministry when he was upon Earth did most chiefly direct unto the Ministration of the Spirit of Truth which was then yet to come and that they might not run to teach others as many do
feel and enjoy the thing it self which the words declare of and that which satisfieth the true thirsting-soul comes clearly from God to the refreshing of the inward parts of man and filling of the empty barren hungry spirit which cannot be satisfied without Gods in-dwellings and thus the Disciples were led along and at last in a foolish way to the great Professors they waited among them in Jerusalem and the Lord had regard unto them and senâ— his own Spirit unto them and then they were filled with the Holy Ghost And the secret invisible hand of God whose Power was and is felt in my heart having out of the sight of flesh and blood in the hidden counsel of his secret Wilâ— led me by the vertue of the operation anâ— drawings thereof through those thing which thereby I come to leave behinde and to receive and feel that which noâ— goeth before and is my Leader in whosâ— Covenant of Life Eternal my soul is noâ— satisfied and so by good experience oâ— the Lords leadings and from an experimental knowledge sensible feeling anâ— present enjoyment of the incomes of thâ— Spirit of Truth and Life which filled the inward parts with the Holiness of iâ— self and giveth power to do the thing required before of God even from thâ— right and good understanding thereof iâ— this written That where it meets with the like condition in a weary Traveller iâ— may answer its own and be helpfull to thâ— weak and feeble that such may not givâ— over pressing forwards nor faint in their long travel though many Mountains on which they did nourish themselves for a time will not yeeld them Bread now yet that they may with me and the rest of the Followers and Friends of Christ past and present always continue following the Spirit as it leads until the inward man be filled therewith and so power and strength from God come to be known and received in every particular For thus it is with Christs Followers now they are not satisfied until they are filled with that which they have heard of and their souls thirsted after and so it was with them then and they were filled with what they wanted before and then from that which they were filled with they spoke forth and so they did teach the Nations and brought People under the Power of God and baptized them into that and dipt them into the Name of the Father and brought them under that which saveth from Sin and plunged them into the holy Spirit and as they teach'd they did this baptizing as they did teach and plunging them as their doctrine went forth into that which washeth and purifieth the Conscience from the filth and guilt of Sin of which the outward Baptism waâ— a figure of this which saveth and so their Doctrine was from an inward Life and proceeded from that which was invisible and so reached to that which wanted life in the Hearers and so brought up the Power of God over them and them under it and into it for the Word is Into and they were to bring people into the Name not Water and they were to bring or baptize them into the Name as they did teach Go ye and teach baptizing into Baptizing is in the Present Tense when they did teach and so here the spiritual and inward Baptism goes along with the Preaching of the Word of Life which is inward and brings man into an inward enjoyment of God being baptized into his Name which is a Strong Tower which preserveth from the power of the Devil and we all who are brought into this and are come in here are all by one Spirit baptized into one Body and so worship God in the Spirit having the heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience by the washing of Regeneration in the Ministration of the Gospel of Peace whereby there is a drawing nigh to God being brought into his Name and a free access to the Throne of â—hat Grace which saveth from and out of â—ll filthiness of flesh and spirit Humphrey Smith The Discovery of Mans return to his first Estate by the Operation of the Power of God in the great work of Regeneration ALL Men and Women behold and see in what estate you were created And God said Let us make Man in our Image God created Man in his own Image and in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them And the Lord took Man and put him in the Garden of Eden to dress and keep it And the Lord God commanded the Man saying Of every Tree in the Garden thou mayst freely eat but of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for iâ— the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surâ— dye the death The Serpent was more subtile than 〈◊〉 beast of the field which the Lord God bâ— made he said unto the Woman Ye shall nâ—â— surely dye for God doth know that in the dâ—â— you eat thereof your eyes shall be opened aâ— ye shall be as God knowing good and evil And when the Woman saw the Tree wâ—â— good for food and that it was pleasant unâ—â— the eyes and a tree to be desired to make 〈◊〉 wise she took the fruit thereof and did eaâ— and gave also to her husband with her 〈◊〉 he did eat And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made thâ—â— Aprons And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his Wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the Trees of the Garden and the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou And he said I heard thy Voice in the Garden and was afraid and because I was naked I hid my self and he said Who told thee that thou wast naked hast thou eaten of the Tree wherof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat And the Man said The Woman whom thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the Tree and I did eat And the Lord God said unto the Woman What is this that thou hast done The Woman said The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat And the Lord God said unto the Serpent Because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all Cattel and above every Beast of the field upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the dayes of thy life And I will put enmity betwixt thee and the Woman and betwixt thy seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel And the Lord God said Behold this Man is become as one of us to know good and evil and now lest he put forth his hand take also of the Tree of Life and eat and live for ever Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken and he drove out
constrains thee now who can witness this work of Regeneration manifest in thee to follow him whithersoever he goes no more to obey him for Life as thou didst when thou wast without seeking him in Forms and Observations but now the Love and Life thou enjoyest in Christ Jesus constrains thee to deny thy self and take up thy Cross daily and follow him Now art thou come into the beginning to live in the Lord guided by the powerfull word of Faith the Light that shines in thy heart which is the Light of the City New Jerusalem to whom thou art come to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth and all that are come to walk in the Light of the City New Jerusalem are the true Israel of God that are taught of God to whom the New and Everlasting Covenant is made according to the Promise of the Lord This is the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah after thâ—se dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour nor every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their Sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more And in this City there is no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it which are borrowed lights outward dispensations and teachings of men for the glory of the Lord God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light of it and the Kings of the Earth bring their glory and honour unto it and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they ever which are written in the Lambs Book of Life And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there for the Lord God giveth them Light and they shall reign for ever and ever Hallelujah to the Highest To all revolted Souls who have departed from the Councel of the Lord and are made drunk with the wine of the wrath of the Fornication of the Whore bewitched with the Mother of Witchcraft to return into spiritual Sodom and Egypt where our Lord is Crucified WHoever thou art in whom the righteous Law of God Jesus Christ the Light in thee hath cryed through thy earthly heart for Righteousness and Judgment and there thou didst stand arraigned before the Throne of the Lamb where the Book was opened in thee and written therein all the deeds thou hast done in the body and the Sentence of Wrath and Judgement passed out of the mouth of the Lamb on thee for every idle word and all that thou hast done and in this thy condemned estate thou rann'st to and fro to hide thee from the Wrath of the Lamb in reforming thy wayes and strictly observing what thou wast convinced of to be the Will of God but what way soever thou turnedst in thy obedience towards God to get life thither the flaming Sword turned that proceeded out of the mouth of the Lamb and cut thee down and cast thee into Hell where thou layest weeping and wailing under the Wrath of God sealed down under his eternal Judgment for evermore for any help or power thou hadst in thy self until Jesus Christ manifested eternal Love and Mercy freely to thy poor lost condemned soul and raised thee up to a lively hope and sealed thee up in the Covenant of Life with his own blood Now after the Witnesses have sealed up their Testimony the Beast which is thy will that ascends out of the bottomless Pit of thy deceived heart which is deceitfull and desperately wicked hath made war against the Witnesses Christ in thee and slain them and they lie dead in the spiritual City of Sodom and Egypt where our Lord is crucified and thou art made drunk with the Wine of the Wrath of the Fornication of the Whore and bewitched with her Witchcrafts who now tells thee Whom he loves he loves to the end and To the pure all things are pure thou art no more under the Law but under Grace and all things are alike that when thou disobeyest the pure Law which once had power over thee and it witnesseth against thee secretly crying in thy heart Use thy liberty but not as an occasion to the flesh thou regardest not the Counsel of the Lord but hearkens to the Mother of Harlots in thee and causeth thee to wrest the Scriptures to thine own destruction and tells thee the Law hath no power over thee thou art under Grace it is but the Law in thy members that wars against the Law in thy mind the acting of the humanity which acts in its place that the Grace of God may appear more gloriously God sees no sin in thee for it is no more thou but sin that dwells in thee and the former misery thou wast in under the Wrath of God for the disobeying of the Righteous Law thou now treadest under thy feet and lies slain in spiritual Sodom and Egypt in thy heart yet not put in grave but lies in thy sight and lets thee see the evil of thy doings and vexes and torments thy earthly and carnal heart in the midst of all thy joy but the Whore in thee tells thee that the former trouble thou wast in it was through the ignorance of God but now thou art grown up to a higher stature in Christ to see nothing but Love in whatsoever thou dost and now thou knowst nothing but to eat and to drink and be merry for the Children of the Bride-Chamber cannot mourn while the Bridegroom is with them time was thou didst mourn but it was when the Bridegroom was not with thee but now the Winter is past and Summer come and singing of Birds is heard in thy Land and now wash thy face and anoint thy head with Oyl that thou appear no more before men as thou didst when thou wast a Pharisee Now to be a friend to Publicans and Sinners and become all to all that thou mayest win some and whatever thou dost it is God that acts thee for thou art not stronger then he to resist him and if he would have it otherwayes how couldst thou hinder it so it is as it must be and it cannot be otherwise Thus the subtil Serpent windes into the mind of man and causes him to wrest the Scriptures to his own destruction to draw back into Perdition Wo wo unto thee thou backslider in heart who chargest God who is Purity it self to be the author of Sin and the actor of thee in all thy filthy and unrighteous walking and hast turned the Grace of God into wantonness
truly desireâ—h and is willing to receive the Power of his Life and come into Covenant with the Lord. Such may lend me an ear a little and you are them who may receive some benefit hereby for behold I write in plainness of the things of God my heart being enlarged with abundance of his Peace in which there is good will towards men that you might come to draw near to the Witness the testimony whereof is within the Vail which Vail is over the heart 2 Cor. 3.15 and is not done away but 〈◊〉 you come to be in him who is given for 〈◊〉 Witness Isaiah 55.4 by believing in thâ— Light John 12.36 and so to have thâ— Witness in you 1 John 5.10 and you tâ— be in it and that you may come to partâ—cipate of Gods indwellings and feel thâ— Oyl which will last for ever therefore 〈◊〉 proceed thus How can I but look back a little witâ— an eye of pitty over those who yet aâ— where once I was when the Darkness wâ— over the Earth and the cloud of Erroâ— compassed me as well as others surely 〈◊〉 cannot now be unmindfull of them thâ— are yet lost as not to have compassion uâ—on the Out-casts of Israel or to conceâ— from them these things of so great concerâ—ment but rather as the Lord of my Liâ— hath opened to me I will reach forth 〈◊〉 hand towards the weak and utter my voiâ— to the Prisoner of hope and shew unto tâ— Meek in the Earth how the invisible Gâ— hath led his Seed and is leading his Reâ—nant through and out of the variety 〈◊〉 things unto the One Thing it self froâ— whence the various Things Gifts and Mâ—nistrations do come Now that which is chiefly in my heart to write for the Seeds sake is First Something concerning the Ministration of Moses when he was upon the Earth Secondly Concerning the Ministration of Christ whilst he was upon Earth Thirdly and chiefly Concerning the Ministration of the Spirit First Concerning Moses Ministration when he was upon Earth which was to last till Shilo came or until the time of Reformation AS concerning Moses's Ministration to wit the Law Condemnation or Death with the Priests Offering and worldly Sanctuary and an outward Tabernacle and daily Offerings for sin and Store-houses for the Levites Strangers Fatherless and Widows having the Ark of the Testimony within the Vail and the Mercy-Seat covered and the Golden Pot and the People to seek the Law at the Priests mouth whereby their knowledge is preserved and many profit much thereby and come day by day and year 〈◊〉 year unto that which they esteem a plaâ— of Holy Worship and Ordinances of Goâ— And notwithstanding the Priests of Moseâ— Law were made by the Law of God yâ— that Priesthood changeth and the Laâ— changeth and the very glory of all thiâ— passeth away for this did once seem glorious unto me and many more which only discovered sin though it made nothinâ— perfect and with much delight was thâ— reading of the Law and the Prophetâ— hearkened unto and the daily Confession of Sin but the Vail is over the hearâ— whilst Moses is preached and Sacrificeâ— Morning and Evening with the long Prayers which the Comers thereunto were not at all thereby made perfect as pertaining to the Conscience though it haâ— a Shadow of good things to come yeâ— the glory thereof comes to be done away Then how much more will the very glory of the most glorious appearance of that Ministry perish and be done away which cometh short of this and hath not so much as the image of this which was a Shaddow O weak and beggerly things that are found among those Priests now and their Followers who come short of Mose's Ministry for he directed them to Christ the Substance and so his Ministration comes to be done away as Christ comes to be received for Moses did not seek to uphold his Priests or Law or Tythes or any thing else when Christ should come who is the end of the Law â—ut did write of him and notwithstanding his Ministry and Priests he said He that would not hearken unto him should be cut off and said The Lord will raise up mark the words raise up the Lord shall raise up a Prophet and when the Prophet was come he said I am the Light and I am meek and â—ow in heart and this is to be raised up which is meek for to them that sate in darkness Light hath sprung up And the Soul that hearkneth not to the Prophet which springs up shall be cut off for Truth springeth up out of the Earth and Christ is the Truth and he said I am the Light which is the horn of Salvation that God raised up to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles and is the Salvation of Israel and so the soul is to hearken to that which God raised up and that is it which condemneth Sin under it who is like unto Moses whose Ministry discovers Sin and so Moses directed unto Christ who puts away the Sin and Paâ— said of the glory of Mose's Ministration that it was no glory in respect of the glorâ— of the Ministration of the Spirit and thâ— glorious Ministry of the Spirit was recâ—ved after he who had a body prepared haâ— suffered the crucifying of his body and thâ— Prophets searched diligently to see the glory that was to be after the Sufferings 〈◊〉 Christ 1 Pet. 1.10 11. But the thing intended That Mosâ— when he was upon Earth directed untâ— Christ and gave commandment that theâ— should hearken unto him who said I am thâ— Light and this is one Tittle of the Law thâ— the Light be hearkened unto who is the end 〈◊〉 the Law and the Substance and he that oâ—fendeth herein is guilty of all and this iâ— that in which all the large Ministrations oâ— Moses is included that Christ the Light thâ— true Prophet be hearkened unto and obeyeâ— that by hearing and obeying his voice or thâ— word in the heart they might come from under the Law and the Priests and thaâ— which waxeth old unto the Life Obediencâ— of him who abides a Priest for ever even thâ— Lord of that Glory which lasteth for evermore Secondly Concerning CHRIST and his Ministration when he was upon Earth and his Work which he finished ANd when he cometh which Moses commandeth to hearken unto even Christ the true Prophet the Light of the World the Living Minister the end of the Law who had a body prepared to do the Will of the Father which was in him the Man CHRIST JESVS he saith Follow me and he took up his Cross and passed through the Death and the Vail and so being made perfect through Sufferings attained that glory which he had with the Father before he had a body which body was prepared to do the Fathers Will whose Will was that all men should be saved therefore Christ tasted death for every man and rose again for the Justification of those that