world in him the fulnesse of the Godhead dwells bodily and all that dwell in the truth in the light in Christ dwell in peace for in me saith Christ Ye have peace dwell in the light in Christ free from the condemning power of the Law but out of the light in draknesse under the condemning power of the Law under the curse and wrath of God this is the way of true knowledge the light loving it and the way of life and peace to all that receive it to be their leader and for ever blessed are they that submit to the Scepter of Jesus Christ and continue under his Government unto the end for they shall have an inheritance with the righteous generation in the world which hath no end A Discovery of the true worship of God the order of the true Church and the Disorder of the Synagogue of Antichrist MAny various Forms there are in these our latter dayes who all pretend to be believers in Christ and call themselves by the names of Christians yet in judgement and opinion one differ from another Yea in severall points principles and doctrines and in the ministration of their ordinances which they call the ordinances of Christ as Baptisme their Sacraments preaching praying singing of Davids conditions and private duties as they call them which all are performed in their own wills and in their own times which will worship is contrary to the worship of God and is to perish as the Scripture of truth doth affirm as may be read in Colossians the 2. chap. 20 21 22 23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances touch not tast not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of men which things have indeed a shew of wisdome in will-worship humility and neglecting of the body Take notice the will-worshippers neglect the body which is the substance and continues in the perishing shadows which profiteth not all the doctrines of men and carnal ordinances which have their rise and foundation from the imagination of the fleshly wisdome are to perish for they are all without life and all ye various formalists who feed upuon such things feed upon husks and something there is in you which cannot be satisfied with such food but often shews the emptinesse of all your duties and self-performances and will worship though you little regard it ye are so highly puft up in the knowledge of what your imaginations hath led you into and though your Souls famish for want of living bread yet many of you are content to take up your rest in these perishing things which can never give true satisfaction to the hungry soul but onely nourishes and feeds the carnall mind which is enmity to God and there are all the Forms of Religion upon the face of the whole earth who deny the light of Jesus Christ the chief corner-stone who is true and sure foundation in enmity against the truth and enemies to the true worshippers who are builded upon the sure foundation who worship God in the Spirit and in the truth Now verily verily I say unto you the truth is but one the true worship but one the true Church which is the body of Christ but one the Members of the body of Christ differ not in any thing but are of one heart one mind and one soul their doctrine principles and way of worship but one not rent nor schisme in the body of Christ all divisions differences and contrary judgements and opinions are in the corrupt erroneous body of Anti-christ which is the body of confusion of whose body all are members who deny the true light which Jesus Christ hath enlightened them with which light is the way out of confusion into true and perfect union The Worship of God God is a Spirit John 4. and seeketh such to worship him who will worship him in the Spirit and in the truth saith Christ the Son of God and the eternall Father commands people to hear him This is my beloved Son saith the Father of Spirits hear ye him but all ye that be from the Spirit and out of the light in your imaginations following after carnal Ordinances the doctrine and traditions of man hearkens not to the voice of the Son of God who saith God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and in the truth but rejects the Councell of the Son and disobeyes the pure command of God the Father who saith This is my beloved Son hear ye him And all ye Professours upon the face of the whole earth be without God 2 John 9. who erre from and abide not in the Doctrine of Christ the onely Son of the Fathers love How do ye love the Son of God that keeps not his saying but erres from his councels and Commands who saith God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spririt and in the truth is not this the true way of worship which Jesus Christ hath prescribed is there any other way agreeable to the will of the Father than the way which his onely Son hath manifested who came not to do his own will but the will of his Father that sent him and this is the will of the Father to have his people to worship him in the Spirit and in the truth for so will God be served and worshipped Therefore all people take notice the true service and worship of God is in the Spirit and in the truth and stands not in carnall ordinances nor extenall shews neither consists in outward bowing Ceremonies and traditions of men which is but the exercise of the body and the exercise of the body profiteth nothing the living eternall God who is pure just and holy seeketh such worshippers to worship him who will worship him in the Spirit and in the truth and all people who be turned to the light of Christ in them with it are guided and in it walk be in the truth the light in truth and in the Spirit and in the truth worshipped the antient Christians in former ages received the light and were called the children of light and as they were moved of the Lord they exhorted one another to walk in the light as children of the light and of the day and as they walked in the light they had fellowship one with another and with the Father and the Son who is light and in whom is no darknesse take notice the fellowship of the Saints is in the light which is but one and all in the light are but one united by the Father of light and spirits and all people that receive and abide in the light walk in the Spirit and in the truth and in the spirit and truth worship God the Father of spirits but all that be from the light be out of the truth out of the spirit in which God is worshipped and worship they
know not what as Jesus Christ told the woman of Samaria and said that neither at Jerusalem nor at the Mountain of Samaria God the Father would be worshipped John 4. But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Take notice Jerusalem was the City where Solomon built a Temple for the Service and worship of God according to his Command and the Mountain of Samaria was also a place where people worshipped Neverthelesse the Son of God said his Father would not be worshipped there but the true worshippers must worship the Father in Spirit and in truth Wherefore I say all such Teachers as lead people to the externall Temples which they call Churches and to the observation of carnall ordinances and to follow after the Ordinances vain traditions and doctrines of men from the spirituall Worship are deceivers and Antichrists for this same reason because they teach people to uphold follow and observe that which Jesus Christ and his Apostles declared against and was never observed nor practised by the antient Christians recorded in the Scripture of truth for the Primitive Christians that believed in and followed Christ denied and bare testimony against the outward Temple and Synagogues and the customary places upheld by the Jews and Infidels and their traditions and superstitious ceremonies Co. 2. Act. 1.13 Act. 20.8 Gal. 5.5 Mat. 18.20 and met together at one anothers houses in an upper chamber or in an inner room and waited upon the Lord in his light and counsell for the manifestation of his Divine power and according to his promise they enjoyed the powerfull presence of the Lord who saith where two or three meet together in my name there am I in the midst of them and when the Saints in light were assembled together waiting in the pure fear of the Lord as any of them were moved of the Lord they preached and prayed and exhorted one another in the fear and power of the Lord and none were restrained from speaking but all had liberty to speak that had a motion from the Lord as the Scripture of truth makes manifest if any thing were revealed to any one in the Saints Assembly that sate by 1 Cor. 11. the first was to hold his peace that all might speak one by one that all might be edified this was the order and practice of the Saints in light the Church in God the body of Christ in former ages and the same order and practice is in the true Church now at this day in the Assemblies of the children of light who are hated and despised of this unrighteous generation and in contempt and scorn called Quakers but reproaches and unrighteous slanders cast up-upon us by Ishmaels line we esteen as great riches and are not ashamed to suffer for righteousnesse sake but all ye various Forms who push one at another and all against the life of truth ye shall wither as grasse in the heat of of Summer and fade as a flower for the vertue and power of the Almighty ye want amongst you for to support and uphold you and the earth is your Centre and a habitation in God the life or righteousnesse ye have not but in the earth and the woe is coming upon the inhabitants of the earth therefore cease cease from your inventions and airy imaginations and fear and dread the pure name of the living God and worship him serve him and give glory to him that ye perish not in your iniquities with the ungodly for truly the houre of his judgement is come ye shall all be tryed and winnowed and the wheat the good seed that is amongst you shall be gathered into the Lords Garner and the chaste shall be burned with unquenchable fire judgement is alreaready begun at the house of God where will the ungodly and sinners appear now will the terrible Judge of heaven and earth give Sentence against you hypocrites and dissemblers Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I know ye not except ye repent truly and cease from your sins and iniquities and with all your hearts turn unto the Lord God and dread and fear his holy name and walk in his light and counsell and serve and worship him as he will be worshipped in the spirit and in the truth your time prize whilst the doore of mercy is open lest it be shut against you and ye in your gainsayings and Rebellion eternally perish To the Romane Catholicks ANd ye who are called Romane Catholicks are the most dark and ignorant people upon the face of the whole earth that go under the names of Christians your whole worship is made up in the imagination and invention of the wisdome of the flesh none so foolish but the naturall heathen to bow to the works of mens hands in which there is no life as ye do and for many of your Ceremonies and Traditions ye have no other foundation but the naturall Heathen as one of your own professors doth confesse as ye may read in the 587. Page of the Book called the Treasury of the Romane Antiquities where the Authour expresses many of your Customes and practises in your Religion and is not ashamed to say ye borrowed them of the heathen as that they hung their streets with Tapestry and had resting places in divers parts of the Towns when they went in Procession as ye have at this day c. And that they carryed their images and reliques of their gods about as ye do and that they marched two and two together carrying wax candles or Torches in their hands and the same is observed in your Religion and hath been ever since the Procession was instituted And that they went afoot as ye do and when they were encompassed with misery they went bare-foot crying mourning striving to appease the wrath of their gods and ye in the time of your great calamities do practise the same Ceremonies they ordained supplications and Lectures that is publick prayers and service for more or less of dayes and their Temples were full of calves and their altars filled with offerings and all the holy places as the Author terms them were filled with people kneeling and praying to their Idols to their gods and ye have your Orizons of forty hours your pardons and Jubilees and observe the same Ceremonies several other of the Customs and practises of the Heathen this Authour declares of and confesses they follow the same example and practises the same in their Religion which truly are such foolish things that they are not worth the mentioning but of this I would have ye Roman Catholicks to take notice the sure foundation Christ Iesus is none of your example in any of these things nor your foundation nor the Apostles the Primitive Christians for Iesus Christ never
A DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUE TEMPLE And Worship of GOD. And Jesus Christ manifested to be the Head of the Church which is his Body and the onely Pastour And also the Members of the Body of Christ known by their fruits from the Synagogue of Antichrist with a few words to the Romane Catholicks Likewise the order of the Church in God the Body of Christ made manifest and the disorder of the Synagogue of Antichrist Given forth in the fear of the Lord in obedience to his pure will for the edification of all people who have any true and simple desires in them after the knowledge of the naked simple truth as it is in Jesus Christ by a lover of the souls of all people who in contempt and scorn by this dark generation am called Quaker known to man by the name of John Harwood London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Ball and mouth near Alders-gate 1658. A Description of the Temple and Worship of God c. The true Church manifested to be the Body of Christ and not the externall Temples made with hands and Christ exalted who is Supreme head of his Church and the Teacher of the Members of his body and the end of the first Priesthood THE Eternall God that made the world and all things therein Act 17. who gives life to all living creatures Acts 7. dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped with mens hands as people may imagine but the Almighty dreadfull God is a Spirit and the true worshippers worship him in the Spirit and so he will be worshipped and is and hath been so served and worshipped by the true Christians the faithfull worshippers created anew in Christ ever since Christ came in the flesh the living substance who prophesied of the deftruction of the Temple which Solomon builded for the Service of God in the time of the Law which Temple and Service in its time was agreeable to the will of God being duly and truly observed according to the requirings of the Law and the first Priesthood as they stood faithfull in the Councell of the Lord their service and offerings was accepted but their time was but untill Christ came in the flesh the everlasting unchangeable High Priest in whom the Righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled who is made a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech he puts an end to the first Priesthood Law the carnall Ordinances offerings and outward observations Rites and Ceremonies contained in the Law which were Types figures and shadows all fulfilled in Christ the living Substance the end of the Law and the Prophets for the substance the end of all things the eternall son of the dreadfull God being come the shadows and figures cease and end the first Priesthood which was the changeable Priestood had its time untill the coming of Jesus Christ the eternall unchangeable Priest and then changed and the Law also Heb. 7. And this is he at whom the whole world is offended who makes themselves Priests after the Law of a carnall commandement who is made high Priest for ever over the houshold of God not made by a carnal 〈◊〉 of a commandement as the Priests of the world are who receive their orders Commissions from man so made by the will of man but after the power of an endlesse life and they who have not Christ to be their chief Shepherd and high Priest are none of his sheep nor of the houshold of God whatsoever in words may be professed of him for there are many that draw nigh with their mouths and lips but their heart far from him The Law made nothing perfect as the Scripture of truth affirms but Christ Jesus the substance hath by one offering perfected for ever them that be sanctified the daily sacrificers the Priests themselves Heb. 10. who daily offered sacrifice for themselves and the people in the outward Temple according to the Custome of the Law were not made perfect as pertaining to the conscience for that by the works of the Law no flesh can be justified if there had been perfection in the works of the law under the first Priesthood what need had there been for a change of the law and the Priesthood but not being of force to make the comers thereunto perfect nor the Priests themselves therefore there was a necessity for the change of the law and the Priesthood Heb. 7.11 12. for as saith Paul if there had been perfection by the Leviticall Priesthood for under it the people received the law what further need was there that another Priesthood should arise after the order of Melchisedech and not be called after the order of Aaron for the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity also a change of the law Wherefore I say all such people as now go to and uphold the outward Temple and Synagogue and observe the ancient customes the Rices and Ceremonies contained in the law follow the example of the Jews and the first Priesthood and their practises and so goes on in the way where perfection cannot be actained nor the light of life received It was the labour and practice of the Apostles the primitive Christians to go into the Temple and Synagognes and to declare against their carnall Ordinances weak and beggarly Elements which had no strength nor power in them to bring people to perfection and to call them forth of these things to follow Jesus Christ the everlasting unchangeable high Priest who by one offering hath perfected for ever them that be sanctified and so many as believed and received Christ which the Saints in light preached left the outward Temple and worship and forsook the types figures and shadows and the rudiments of the world and followed Christ and they recived the light of life the knowledge of God and in Chirst was created anew and so became Christians forsaking the old way and following the new and living way which all be our of Col. 2.20 21 22 23 who uphold the outward Temple and be in the Rudiments of the world the carnall Ordinances and outward observations whose performances stands in their own wills and time take notice they who continued in the outward Temple-worship were not called Christians and though ye Temple worshippers call your selves Christians and go under the name of believers in Christ neverthelesse your practises and fruits manifests the contrary with the eternall eye ye are seen to be in the same nature and life of the Jews and Infidels who were enemies to Christ and the primitive Christians for ye have but the talk or nimes of Christ and the Saints our of the nature and life of the living substance The Temple which King Solomon builded Mat. 24. Jesus Christ the everlasting unchangeable high Priest Mar. 13. foretold the destruction of and told his Disciples Luk. 21. that there should not be left one stone upon another that should not be thrown down and
manifest to be out of the truth and true way of God for the truth defends it self and hath done in all ages it needs not the help of the Magistrates sword neither did ever the antient Christians who gave forth the Scripture of truth seek to the Magistrates to defend them their weapons were not carnall they fought with but spirituall the spirit of truth was their defence the Magistrates sword or the outward Law the arme of flesh hath been refuge of Anti-christ in all ages as it is at this day for if any of the servants of the Lord the true worshippers who worship him in spirit and in truth be moved of God to goe into their meeting places which they call Churches and in obedience to the command of God speak to the Priest or a word of exhortation to the people then cryes out both Priest and people haile him away or words to that purpose and calls it disturbance to performe the will of the Lord and goes to the Magistrates for assistance and cryes away with him send him to prison or punish him this is the practise of the carnall professours who uphold the externall Temple and Synagogues therefore view your disorder and be ashamed of such gross and filthy practises for ye Rulers Priests and people in England in these late years have outstript the Heathen in many ages in your cruell persecution which makes the hearts of the righteous sad to see such fruits brought forth in the Nation where so much liberty in words and writings is proclaimed for Religion and honest hearted people by the supream in authority but woe woe from the Almighty unto you who make the hearts of the innocent sad which God hath not made sad a day of torment and misery is coming upon you wherein the righteous shall be glad which ye have made sad and over the smoke of your torment they shal rejoyce Did ever the Primitive Christians recorded in the holy Scripture persecute any prison whip burn with hot Irons or cast into Dungeons any sort of people that came into their Assemblies is not the Heathen your example for these things who persecuted and shamefully entreated and murdered the Christians who could not submit to their unrighteous decrees and unreasonable wills shew one example of cruelty if you can from the practise of Christ or his Disciples if not number your selves amongst the Heathen your example for your cruell persecution is not cruelty and persecution a true marke to know the Synagogue of Satan by from the body of Christ the Church in God who in all ages hath suffered but never persecuted any but prayed for their enemies which persecuted them c. The order of the Church in God in this age THe body of Christ the Church in God meet together as the Saints in light did in former ages upon the first dayes of the week and upon other dayes as the Lord affords opportunity and wait upon the Lord in his fear and Counsell and serve and worship the Lord in the Spirit and in the truth and doth preach the word of truth the everlasting Gospel and pray and exhort one another as they are moved of the Lord and as the holy spirit gives utterance but not in the wisdome of the world which is sensuall but in the pure wisdome and power of God which by the world is counted foolishness And this is the true and onely way of God the true way of worship and order of the body of Christ the Church of God as the Scripture of truth doth make manifest to the understanding Reader and according to the doctrine of Christ the order doctrine and practise of the antient holy Christians which in the Scriptures of truth are recorded Rom. 6. who worshipped God not in the oldness of the letter but newness of spirit which is the new and living way wherein God is and will be served and worshipped I. H. THE END
not own him to be their Pastour and chief Shepheard as the Church in God owned him and confessed him as the Scripture of truth makes manifest yet account themselves to be his Church and people but such as cannot own him to be their teacher and leader clearly manifests themselves to be none of his flock for the Sheep of Christ know his voice and follow him and regards not the voice of the stranger and they who know his voice observe his counsell and follow his leadings and directions for how doth any man follow Christ if he doe not hearken to his pure Counsell and obey what he requires Christ saith himself I am the good Shepheard and know my sheep and am known of mine and such as know Christ and are known of him need no other Pastour or Shepheard he is sufficient to guide his own flock and such as make a profession of him in words and shew outwardly as the various formalists doe and will not own him to be suflicient without other helps to teach them the way of life and salvation shews that they know him not for if they knew him they would know that there is no salvation in any other all power and authority is committed unto the true light Christ Iesus the everlasting unchangeable high Priest who is over the houshold of God their head and Pastour and who are not under his Scepter and Government what ever they profess in words of him they are none of his subjects none of his body none of his Church but the subjects of Antichrist for whose Scepter and Government ye are under his servants and subjects ye are if Christ govern then are ye guided in the way of truth righteousnes which is the strait path which leads to life eternall and ye cannot follow the broad path of wickedness and unrighteousness which leads to perdition and eternall destruction for the Church of Christ who are subject to him are restrained by his saving power from the evill way and kept in the pure way the way of holiness for he goeth before and his flock follow him and they that follow his leadings cannot erre from the way of truth and holiness who goe on in the ways of wickedness follows not Christ he doth not goe before them but Anti-christ the enemy of Christ he is the King of unrighteousness and the wicked his subjects follow him so that ye who be in the sin and unrighteousness and plead for sin remaining in you so long as ye live upon the earth ye are none of the subjects of Christ for he saves his people from their sins Christ is none of your King Priest nor Prophet who are not governed by him and saved from your sins ye are none of the members of his body who be in your sins the members of his body are purified and cleansed without spot or blemish Take dilligent notice the Church in God which is the body of Christ Eph. 5. is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing holy and without blemish and of this sanctified body Christ is the Head and Saviour who saveth to the utmost all them that come unto God by him and such a glorious high Priest becometh the Church of God who is able to save and defend them from the power of sin and Satan and to present it without spot or fault unto God the Father of Spirits who hath set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places and hath put all things under his feet Eph. 1. and hath given him to be the Head of his Church which is his body such people as choose a man or men and set him or them up to be their teacher or teachers Christ is not their pastour nor teacher such as set up man and dishonours Christ ye that choose a man and set him up to be your Head and receives Orders and Commissions from him you goe about to take the authority from Christ and to rob him of his glory who in all things ought to have the preheminence who is the everlasting unchangeable high Priest in whom there is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning he alone is the Supreme of his Church and the members of his body receive orders and directions from him they know his voice and follow his Counsell and need not seek unto man so sets not up man but Christ to be Supream Ruler head and Governour who is most worthy to have the Government of his own body who is over all God blessed for ever he is the same yesterday to day and for ever and his Church is the same the chast pure holy Virgin which he hath chosen to be his espouse for ever he is not espoused nor will not espouse himself to an harlot an adulterer that followeth after other lovers such as follow their imaginations and inventions and loves themselves the world and its glory such are none of Christs espouse for the Bride the Lambs wife follows the Lamb denies the world its pomp and glory and tramples upon all vain traditions foolish inventions and earthly imaginations and over all the earth reigns and gives glory to him who redeems them from the earth Therefore all people upon the face of the whole earth who make a profession of believing in the name of Christ turn in your minds to his light in you with which he hath enlightened you and in it wait patiently that you may come to know his saving power which is nigh you if ye were but acquainted with it which if you cease from man and your own works and imaginations and take heed to the light of Christ in you which shew you your thoughts desires and evil deeds the saving power of his love you would shortly come to know and feel which would rend the vails which hath darkned your understandings and give ye to see into the secrets of God the Church in God you would come to know and Christ to be the chief Shepherd the everlasting unchangeable priest the light is the eternall eye which sees and searches into the deep secrets of God and ye cannot come to know the true Church nor the order and Government thereof untill you come to the light in you and receive it to be your guide which light leads to Christ from whence in comes who reveals and makes known the deep secret mysteries of life peace and eternall salvation which you can never attain unto by any other means for man by reading studying praying in his own will and observing duties and outward Ordinances can never find out the knowledge of God and his secrets for whatsoever man doth in his own will and time is but his own work and not the work of God and all men and women upon the face of the whole earth must cease from their own works before they enter into the true rest the rest prepared for the children of God which is in Christ the true light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the