follows as the Faith and Experience of a True Christian which iâ— written in True Love and Good-Wiâ—â— to all that have the Vail over their Hearts and the Scales before their Eyes when they are reading the holy Scriptures and professing God Christ Christianity and the Doctrines thereof which are but briefly hinted at or spoaken to in few words in what follows And whether thou art a bare Professor or a real Possessor thou mayest reap Profit hereby if the one thou art in vited to inherit Substance if the other thou art exhorted and Warned to beware lest thou lose thy Inheritance again So to the Light Grace and holy Spirit of God in thee 〈◊〉 thou Professor Prophane or Believerâ— I do commend thee with it to read and with it to judge by it to be taught gâ—â—ded into a good Understanding and into the true Knowledge of the two great Mysteries of Godliness and Iniquity And that thou mayest truly understand and receive the one and discover and avoid the other is the Desire of him who is a Lover of the Christian-Religion and of all that walk therein and hath Good-will to all men William Shewen Reader THese Scriptures following having a good Esteem in my Mind as Sayings worthy greatly to be noted and weightily considered I have committed them to the Press wishing thou mayest enjoy the End wherefore And this I will assure thee If thou canst understand believe and receive these Divine and Heavenly Sayings Precepts Exhortations Promises and Testimonies in these and other Scriptures mentioned in this brief Declaration of a True Christian's Faith c. thou wilt not stumble at nor reject his Testimony c. but imbrace and have Unity therewith But if thou understandest not nor believest the one neither wilt thou the other for the True Christian bears Testimony to the holy Scriptures and the Scriptures to him and the Titular Christian's Testimony is against them and they are against him because he doth not obey them nor live the Life they call for Eccl. 12.1 2. Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth while the Evil Dayes come not nor the Years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no Pleasure in them while the Sun or the Light or the Moon or the Stars be not darkened nor the Clouds return after the Rain Dearly Beloved Believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God for many False Prophets are gone out into this World 1 John 4. 1 c. Little Children You are of God and have overcome them for greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World Vers 4. Whosoever transgressâ—th and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God He that continueth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 John 9th vers If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your House neither bid him God speed Vers 10. To be Carnally-minded is Death but to be Spiritually-minded is Life Peace because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be So then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God But ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of God he is none of his And if Christ be in you the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.6 7 8 9 10 11. Vnto the Pure all things are pure but unto them that are Defiled and Vnbelieving is nething pure but even their Minds and Consciences are defiled They profess that they know God but by Works they deny him and are abominable and to every good Work Reprobate Tit. 1.15 16. If ye abide in me and my Words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you John 15.7 And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free Whosoever committeth sin is the Servant of sin John 8.32 34. Verely verely I say unto you If a man keep my Saying he shall never see Death Vers 51. Father I will That they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World That the Love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them John 17.24 26. The Disciple is not above his Master but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master Luke 6.40 But love ye your Enemies and do good and lend hoping for nothing again and your Reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the Highest for he is Kind to the Vnthankful and to the Evil Be ye therefore Merciful as your Father also is Merciful Luke 6.35 36. Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you And ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye And even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 John 2.27 Read the 8th Chapter to the Romans and the Lord give thee Understanding Rom. 10.8 The Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith he knoweth him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him But whosoever keepeth his Word in him verely is the Love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him He that saith He abideth in Him â—ught himself also so to walk even as he walked 1 John 2.3 4 5 6. read to the end of the Chapter Little Children Let no man deceive you He that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this Purpose was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loves not his Brother We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren He that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death 1 John Chap. 3. Vers 2. to the 10th and 14th No man hath seen God at any time If we love one another
a being led by the Spirit in the Way of Holiness and so cannot fulfil the Lust of the Flesh but by the same doth mortifie them and gain Victory over them and is sanctified and cleansed from them and is taught by the Spirit the true Knowledge of God how to worship him aright in Spirit Truth and so prayes in the Spirit and with the Understanding and sings in the Spirit and praiseth God in the Spirit and the Law of the Spirit is in his Heart and this Law of the Spirit of Life makes him free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit of God which raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in him and quickneth his Mortal Body And this True Christian is the Spiritual Man which discerneth all Things but is not discerned by another out of the same Spirit which searcheth all Things yea the deep Things of God and he is led by the Spirit from under the Law and through the Law to him which was before the Law and so is under Grace and brings forth the Fruits thereof which is Love Peace Joy Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against this Christian there is no Law The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Holy Spirit c. But how doth he demonstrate his Faith and Belief he is ready to make a Mock of receiving the Spirit and being led by the Spirit mov'd taught by the Spirit this seems strange Doctrine to him that he should know his Lusts mortified by the Spirit and that he should walk in the Spirit and be sanctified by the Spirit from all Sin and Uncleaness and that he should attend the Motion and Guidance of the Spirit and in all his Conversation to do nothing but what will stand justified by this Holy Spirit and that he should pray in the Spirit and sing with the Spirit and worship in the Spirit c. These are new Doctrines to the Titular Christian he knows not what to make of them except it be to brand them with despicable Names And the Law of the Spirit of Life which should free him from the Law of Sin and Death he is a Stranger to and wholy ignorant of the Indwelling of that Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead to quicken his mortal Body this he counts Fanatick Doctrine c. And instead of being a spiritual Man which discerneth all Things he is Carnal and seeth not far off the Vail being over his Heart cannot see nor regard the Glory of God when it appeareth in the Inward Temple but opposeth slighteth the Appearance of that Holy Spirit which searcheth his Heart and all Things and so is not led by it from under the Law which Law was added because of Transgression and this Titular Christian which liveth in the Nature and Act of Transgression and that knows not the Cursed Ground removed which bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns from whence all Evil Thoughts Words and Works proceed and is a Stranger to the Mortification of them by the Spirit he is under the Law and liable to the Punishment thereof and not under Grace let him profess what he will if he brings not forth the Fruit of the Spirit in his Life and Conversation he clearly sheweth he doth not believe in it nor walk in it neither hath received it nor come to any true Knowledge of it by its Work and Operation in his Heart he only talks of it with his Tongue as some Book or Body hath told him this is the Property and State of a Titular Christian IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Scriptures THE True Christian truly honoureth the Holy Scriptures in their Places and believeth and receiveth their Testimony and is a living Witness of the Truth thereof and he domonstrateth it as followeth By believing receiving and obeying him viz. Christ Jesus of whom they testifie whereby he receives Power to order his Conversation according to them and the True Christian believeth that they were spoaken and written by the Motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God in Holy Men Prophets and Apostles and that it is his Duty to Wait upon God to receive the Spirit of Grace and Glory and the Gifts thereof of whom they testifie that thereby be may be enabled to read them with Understanding and to receive the Comfort of them and to be made wise through Faith in Christ unto Salvation by them And this Christian knows rightwell That all the Vniversity or Acad miâ—al Learning in the World is not able to give the true Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit in the holy Scriptures they are as a seal'd Book to all the Wit Reason Comprehension and Acquired Parts of all Mankind in the Fall Learned and Unlearned And until man comes to receive regard and improve the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal as the Scriptures witness he is wholy ignorant and a Stranger to the Key of true Knowledge and the Treasures of Life and Wisdom are hid from him and secured as with seven Seals and the Cherubimâ— with a Flaming Sword that turns every Way and guards the Tree of Life with the Fruits thereof from the faln Wisdom of Man And this the True Christian knows by Experience having tryed what the Wisdom of this World in all its Perfection can do and hath seen it confounded and brought to nought in himself being discovered to be no part of the Key of true everlasting Knowledge but rather that which hides it makes the Vail the thicker and shuts the Door of the Kingdom the faster and those that abound in it neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and this the Holy Scriptures testifie The Titular Christian he saith He honoureth the Scriptures and believeth the Testimony of them c. But how doth he demonstrate his Honour to them and Belief of them Doth he order his Conversation according to them They exhort To abstain from every Appearance of Evil and from every fleshly Lust which wars against the Soul and to put on the whole Armour of God and thereby resist the Devil and make him flee The Titular Christian doth not obey this Exhortation neither doth he believe that it 's possible that any should obey it on this side the Grave So while he pretends to honour them he gives them the Lye for what 's more ridiculous and unreasonablethen to profess a Belief that the Spirit of God in Holy Men hath left Holy Precepts and Exhortations upon Record in the Scriptures which are unpossible to be obeyed Yet this is the Language of the Titular Christian who honoureth them with his Lips and cryes them up with his Tongue but in Works denyes them Sometimes he will give them more Titles of Honour then to them is due as when he calls them The Word of God The Touch-stone and Tryer of all Spirits The Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice so in his
and Power to save being known to none but such as do receive it And all that do receive this Grace Tit. 2,11 are taught by it to deny Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Thus it taught the True Christian in former Ages and teacheth the same now and all that are so taught by it ☞ are not under the Law but under Grace for Grace doth not destroy the Law but fulfils it and leads those that are under it to the Enjoyment of the Substance of those Heavenly Things it shaddowed forth and which the Prophets prophesied of And further it teacheth more Spiritual and Evangelical Lessons then Moses did by whom the Law came And the True Christian not only receives this Grace but grows in it from one Degree unto another and witnesseth a being saved by it and a being justified by it having Experience of its Sufficiency when the Enemy doth assault and Tryals and Temptations attend even as Paul 2 Cor. 12.19 the aged when in Danger and besought the Lord the Answer was My Grace is sufficient for thee The Christians are Witnesses this Day of the same And Paul could say ☞ By the Grace of God I am what I am That was an High and Heavenly State to be no otherwise then Grace made him Self Sin and Satan is here excluded and all Boasting and Glorying in the Flesh is laid aside and the free Gift and Grace of God exalted over all This is a standing by Grace and a living under it being sav'd by it from transgressing the Law Rom. 5.20 21. which is Holy Just and Good Here Grace reigneth through Righteousness unto Eternal Life even where Sin reigned once unto Death and abounded here Grace is known to abound much more ☞ This was not only professed and talked of by the True Christians in former Ages nor is not now in this Age but really selt known and witnessed in them by the effectual Work and Operation of it they did not nor do profess a living under Grace while they do and commit that which the Law is over and which the Law was added because of viz. ☞ Sin He that is alive to Sin the Law hath Power over him and he is indeed under the Law notwithstanding he may profess a being under Grace and living in Gospel-Times Rom. 7. Read and Vnderstand for Paul's Parallel holds good A Woman is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as he liveth but when Dead she is loosed from the Law of her Husband So the Law hath Dominion over a Man so long as he liveth in that Life and Nature which transgresseth it let him profess what he will And none are fitted and prepared to be married to another even to him who is raised from the Dead till they are become Dead unto the Law and so delivered from it that being Dead wherein or whereby they were held viz. Sin For saith he When we were in the Flesh the Motions of Sin which were by the Law did work in our Members to bring forth Fruit unto Death but now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held that we should serve in Newness of Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter Here the True Christian knows the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled in him who walketh not after the Flesh nor the Motions of it but after the Spirit and the Motions thereof so that his Words are seasoned with Grace and walks to the Praise and Glory of his Grace And as he here abides he witnesseth a being delivered from under the Law and knows the Occasion of it taken away and so truly lives under Grace and grows in it and in the Knowledge of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be Glory both now and forever But now notwithstanding the Cry of the Tuular Christian is No Falling from Grace totally c. yet there is a Possibility that after People have received the Grace of God and known the Virtue and Operation of it also that they may Fall from it again and of Children of Grace become Children of Wrath they may turn the Grace of God into Wantonness or rather turn from it after they have received it into Wantonness they may use their Liberty which by Grace they are come unto as an Occasion to the Flesh and so not stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ had made them free And they may fall from Stedfastness after by Grace they have attained unto it And after People have clean escaped from them which live in Error and from the Pollutions of the World they may Err again and be polluted again and turn like the Dog to his Vomit again and like the Sow that was washed to the Wallowing in the Mire again ☞ and an Evil Heart of Unbelief and Disobedience in departing from the Living God after they have known him may get in again and People may crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open Shame and trample the Blood of the Covenant with which once their Hearts were sprinkled under Foot again and do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace and grieve the holy Spirit of God and finally they may make Shipwrack of Faith a Good Conscience c. These things may all be done or else in vain are the divers Exhortations recorded in the Holy Scriptures to the primitive Christians To Stand fast Abide and Continue to the End that they might not be Entangled again Deceived nor fall into Temptations again And in vain was all the Labour Travail Care and Exercise of the Apostles Teachers and Elders among the Churches after they were gathered out of the World and had received the manifold Graces of God to confirm them and establish them in the same if there had been no Danger of their Falling from it again and corrupting themselves again This Titular Christian's Opinion of no total Falling from Grace is contrary to the Current of the whole Scriptures and of the True Christan's Experience And Paul's Testimony is That such that so fall away who were once enlightened and tasted of the Heavenly Gift and Powers of the World to come Hebr. 6.4 10.26 if such sin wilfully after they have received the Knowledge of the Truth that it is unpossible to renew them again to Repentance and that there remains no more Sacrifice for Sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and Fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries who incur a sorer Punishment then those that despised Moses's Law who dyed without Mercy under Two or Three Witnesses There is a sorer Punishment then Outward Death which the Outward Law inflicted upon the Transgressors of it and those that have known the Law of him that is greater then Moses which is the Law of the Spirit of Life and have been Subjects of it and fallen and apostatized from it again
Devil and Anti-christ rules there teacheth there thou art a poor Captive and Bondslave thereof profess what thou wilt and if the Power of God thou knowest not working within thy self and operating in thy Heart not only to shake pull down and remove that which can be shaken and removed but also to bring in that which cannot be shaken nor removed viz. Everlasting Righteousness I say if this thou knowest not the Power of the Enemy of God and thy Soul worketh in thee and prevaileth over thee by working in thy Imaginations Will and Affections Mind and Members that which is Evil either in self-Sinning or self Righteousness which are both Abomination to the Lord So if thou knowest not the Word of God within thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart with the Virtues and Properties thereof as a Hammer as a Fire quick and powerful sharper then a two-edged Sword and hearest and obeyest the Voice thereof I say if this Word thou knowest not within thou art not made clean nor sanctified by it but those Things stand in thee against which it is as a Hammer Fire Sword sharp and powerful and the Word and Commands of the old Serpent that Betrayer sounds loâ—d in thy Ears and pierceth deep into thy Heart and thou art carryed away with the Wind thereof and enterest into his Temptations daily and knowest not Power against them so thou canst not say as David once did Psal 119.11 I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against thee neither hast thou received with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save but art of those whom Christ spoak to Ye have not his Word speaking of his Father abiding in yoâ— John 5.38 And if thou knowest not the Law of the Spirit of Life within thee written in thy Inward Parts thou art a Stranger to the New-Covenant Jer. 31.33 the Law of Sin Death hath Power over thee the Law that is in thy Members leads thee Captive thereto and the Carnal Mind which is Enmity against God and cannot be subject to his Law reigns in thee though thou professest the Law of God with thy Tongue thou dost not love it nor delight in it in thy Hearr neither is it better in thy Esteem then Thousands of Gold and Silver So in short If thou art not Partaker Possessor of the Heavenly Treasures in thy Earthen Vessel thou art fraighted with Earthly Treasures Vanities if thou knowest not thy Body the Temple of the Living God and thy Heart his Throne then is it as a Cage for Unclean Birds and as a Habitation for Wild Beasts and as a Nest for Venemous Creeping Things and the Prince of Darkness sits upon the Throne of thy Heart and rules there let thy Opinion and Talk of Religion be what it will Now be thou warned and advised to watch against that Spirit in thy self which moveth thee to sleight deride and mock at the Appearance and Manifestation of the Light Crace Spirit Power Word and Law of God within And learn to cease also from those Teachers without which have caused thee to err who hate the Light within and despise the Shining of it and give it despicable Names as Ignis Fatuus 〈◊〉 certain or Falce Fire Natural Light and the Checks and Reproofs of it but the Checks of a Natural Conscience and despise the Grace that appears to all men and call it Common and not Saving Crace and sleight and reject the Power and Spirit of God within which moves and works against all Evil and to all Good not allowing it to be the principal Rule and Guide of a Christian and also endeavour to demolish race out the Word and Law of God within under Pretence of directing thee to a more sure Word and Law without viz. the Holy Scriptures which contain divers Words Precepts and Commandments c. spoaken by holy men to whom the Word of the Lord came which was before the Words were and by this Word and Spirit that came to them and was in them were they moved to speak them and that is greater then the Words and till thou knowest a Measure of the same Word and Spirit within thy self thou canst neither truly understand nor obey the Words and holy Precepts and Exhortations that proceeded from it that indeed being the Original Cause Root and Ground from whence all the Good Words and Good Works that ever sprang up in the Heart of Mankind proceeded Such Teachers have ran â—ut God hath not sent them so People are not profitted but spoiled by them they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men they neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and under the Name of Ministers of Christ are direct Ministers of Antichrist from such turn thou away learn of the Grace of God which Teacheth to deny Ungodliness c. and love the Light and bring thy Deeds to it John 3.21 and walk in it so shalt thou become a Child of it and have Right to inherit the precious Promises and possess and enjoy the Glorious Priviledges which thou hast hitherto only profess'd heard and read of in the holy Scriptures so wilt thou come to inherit Substance and soon be wiser then thy former Teachers and of a Titular Christian thou wilt become a Christian indeed an Israelite indeed a Jew inward indeed whose Praise is of God and not of Men. W. S. THE True Christian's FAITH AND EXPERIENCE DECLARED Concerning God Christ the Spirit c. First Concerning God THE True Christian believes there is One God who is a Spirit pure in Essence God is infinite and incomprehensible in himself and all the Words of Men and Angels cannot define him as he is being in all through all and above all And the various Names given him throughout the holy Scriptures were according to the Manifestation or Appearance and Operation of his Spirit in their Hearts that wrote them and according to the State it found them in when it appeared to them hence he was call'd a Consuming Fire Our God is a Consuming Fire and his Word as a Hammer and as a Fire and a Jealous and Angry God who as a Devouring Fire goes through the Bryars and Thorns and consumes them and the Day of his Appearance among these Bryars and Thorns Thiâ—les and Stubble is compared to the burning of Fire in an Oven in which the Wicked cannot dwell And others could call him by quite contrary Names even according to the Operation of his Spirit in them by the same could say that God is Love and his Word was as Milk and sweeter then Hony or the Hony-Comb and that the Light of his Countenance was better then the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl and that he was a Shield and a Shaddow of a Rock in a Weary Land his Name as a strong Tower and safe-dwelling-Place and as precious Oyntment pour'd forth and his Face or Presence
among them that are sanctified Acts 20.32 Eph. 5.27 who are Members of that Glorious Church which is without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish The Titular Christian he also talks of and professeth the Doctrine of Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin and Corruption But his Talk is not true and his Profession is feigned because he is not a Witness of the Work thereof in himself He hath read in the Holy Scriptures That no Vnclean Thing can enter the Kingdom and that without Holiness no man can see the Lord and that the Lord will be sanctified of all that draw near unto him Therefore he hath devised a Profession of Sanctification which may be only talkeâ— of but never possessed and wrought in him on this side the Crave And to this End he hath made up a Faith of his own and is wholy ignorant of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints or holy People by which their Hearts were purified And by Vertue of this Feigned Faith perswades himself that the Sanctification and Holiness of Christ without him shall be reckoned and imputed unto him ☞ while he remains unsanctified and unholy and that the Cleanness Innocency and Spotlesness of Christ shall be accounted unto him notwithstanding he remains foul guilty and full of Spots and Defilements and that God looks upon him not as he is in himself but as he is in Christ Jesus his Saviour when indeed he is not in him nor saved by him from that which defiles him for if any man be in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 he is a New Creature old things are past away and all things are become New By this the Titular Christian may try himself if he be not really changed the old Creature and old Things past away he is not in Christ and God cannot nor doth not look upon him where he is not ☞ therefore let him not further deceive himself for God's Witness in his own Conscience seeth and judgeth him where he is out of Christ unsanctified in the old Nature and old things and God from whence it comes is greater and seeth and judgeth him also And this Titular Christian is so far from living and enjoying a sanctified State really indeed and in truth as the True Christian did and doth that he never comes to enjoy so much Clearness and Freedom from Sin as the Jews did who lived but in the Types Figures and Shadows of Good Things to come for they once a year while they kept the Law were quitted and eased of all their Sins and Transgressions and a full Attonement was made once a year for all Sins past c. which is more then all the Nominal Christians upon the Face of the Earth really enjoy notwithstanding their Boast of living in Gospel Times and in the Dayes of the New Covenant and of Salvation by Christ Jesus Their Boast is vain the Gospel which is the Power of God to Salvation working and operating in their Inward Man to save not only from the Guilt but from the Act of Sin and to cleanse from all Iniquity they are wholely ignorant of and Strangers to and the New Covenant the Law in the Heart which makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit that sanctifieth from it reigns not in their Mortal Bodies but the contrary viz. Sin and the Law of it and by the Spirit of Truth are convinced of it and by God's Vicegerent the Light in their Consciences they stand arraigned and convicted before the Judgment-Seat of God let their Profession be never so high And the Titular Christian is not a living Witness of the One Everlasting Offering which perfecteth forever those that are sanctified nor of the Oneness and Unity which is between him that sanctifieth and those that are sanctified nor of the abiding with him that sanctifieth so as to sin no more neither is he drawn near unto God with a true Heart sprinkled from an Evil Conscience nor is his Body washed with pure Water he hath no full Assurance of Faith in these things but rather concludes them unattainable on this side the Grave and so is held captive in the Chains of Sin and Satan and entangled with the Yoak of Bondage and in this State inherits Misery and Darkness and is a Member of that Church which is full of Spots and Wrinkles Sores and Corruptions Diseased from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot of this Church Christ is not the Head Let the Titular Christian imagine what he will he must depart among the Goates because he is a Worker of Iniquity VIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Justification THE True Christian believeth the Doctrine of Justification and that it immediately succeeds the Work of Sanctification Being justified by Faith even that Faith which is the Gift of God he witnesseth Peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Heb. 10.38 Heb. 12.23 And the Just lives by Faith And he is come to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect c. even now in this Age as the True Christian did in former Ages testified of in the holy Scriptures Now to be Justified is to be made Just by Vertue of that Faith which gives Victory over the Unjust and by that Blood which cleanseth and saveth from Wrath to come And this Justification comes not by the Works of the Law Gal. 2.16 For by that shall no Flesh be Justified nor by self-Works nor self-Righteousness but by the free Gift of God which leads through the Law and fulfils it and destroys self-Works and self-Righteousness establishes good Works and brings in Everlasting Righteousness which exceeds the Righteousness of Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites and herein the True Christian stands Justified in the Sight of God who worketh all his Works in him and for him ☞ and to will and to do of his own good Pleasure Phil. 2.13 Rom. 8.33 And none can lay any Thing to the Charge of this Elect whom God justifieth The Titular Christian he professeth the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ Jesus But it 's no more then a bare Profession and his Faith is not the Faith of God's Elect neither is he led into Peace with God by it nor receives Power by it to gain Victory over the Unjust Nature and Spirit that lives in him but imagins an imputative Justification and applies the Justness Righteousness and Holiness of Christ wrought without him above 1600 Years ago unto himself while he is Unjust Unholy and Unrighteous But this avails not the Titular Christian at all herein also he decâ—ives himself being not experimentally acquainted with the Blood of Christ which justifieth washeth and cleanseth and saveth from Wrath to come and from that which is the Cause of it viz. Sin And so he knows not a leading through the Law which was added because of Transgression and hath Power over the Transgressor as
Old Serpent in the Hearts of Men. THe True Christian is endued with a Heavenly Spirit of Discerning by which he seeth to the Beginning before Sin enter'd the World and by it perceiveth how it entered and how it hath grown and encreased and filled the Earth with Violence and how that Old Serpent which at first was fain to use great Subtilty and Lyes and make great Promises before he could prevail against Eve is now grown so Power ful a Prince in his Kingdom of Darkness in the Hearts of the Children of Men in whom he rules that he no sooner moves in their Hearts ☞ but they follow him no sooner commands but they obey he needs not use his Subtilty and Cunning to betray allure and perswade nor make great Promises before he can win to his Obedience many being grown such Natural Children of him and such born Slaves in his Kingdom that now in these dayes his Commands are sufficient to Thousands and Ten Thousands and his very Motions to Evil have gain'd such a Powerful Name in the World even among the Titular Christians that they count them too Mighty to be withstood too Powerful to vanquish too Strong to war with overcome and conquer in all his Motions Commands and Temptations while on this side the Grave hereby People are become Home-bred Slaves and have sold themselves for nought having let in that accursed Faith that hath sprung up in the Apostacy from the True Faith that they can never resist all the Motions of the Devil nor disobey all his Commands ☞ nor be delivered from all his Temptations till the Death of their Natural Bodies which is then too late for As the Tree falls so it lies c. Now the Titular Christian will readily acknowledge and confess that the Motions of the Devil are strong powerful and present with him and in him and that thereby he is stirred up to Evil But he doth not believe that the Spirit of God is so nigh him and present with him moving in him against the Motions of the Evil One nor that there is sufficient Power from God given to him to preserve him from obeying the Motions and Temptations of the World Flesh and the Devil and to move him to that which is Good and enable him to do it Also he hath no Faith in this Gift of God but rather counts it Delusion and the Property of a Phanatick to profess the Knowledge of the Spirit of God moving in them to speak and write good Words and do good Works this Professors and Prophane Learned and Unlearned make a Mock at concluding this Operation of the Spirit is not in use nor to be known in these dayes nor to be expected in these latter Ages of the World as if God had left the World of Mankind to be guided wholely by the Motions of the Devil as if there was no Law or Power in the Mind able and sufficient to war against the Law and Power that is in the Members and overcome it Thus to believe is the Faith of Devils and not the Faith of God's Elect For the True Christian in this Age as in former Ages is a living Witness of the Moving of the Spirit of God to every good Word and Work as the Holy Men and Christians in former Ages did who speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and as they were led and guided by the Spirit as is testified in the Holy Scriptures though made a Mock of in this Day And this Spirit of God accompanied the Righteous in all Ages and always moved led and guided them into the Way of Peace and as they obeyed it and abode with it Acts 7.9 they were preserved by it therein though in the midst of their Enemies This preserved Joseph when the Patriarchs moved with Envy sold him into Aegypt and out of the Temptations he met with there and the same Spirit of Envy that moved the Patriarchs to sell Joseph moved Cain to kill Abel and moved Esau to hate his Brother and the Israelites to envy Moses and Aaron and the Jews to persecute the Prophets Christ and the Apostles And the Unbelieving Vagabond Jews were moved by this Spirit of Envy Acts 17.5 to make a Tumult against Paul and Silas and to assault the House of Jason and to draw him and the Brethren to the Rulers with false Accusations the Spirit of Envy is the same at this Day and his Motions are the same and all that obey them are found in the same Work And the Motions of the Holy Spirit are also the same and all that obey them bring forth the Fruits thereof and they are both manifested by their Fruits the one moves to Good the other to Evil the one to Love and Good-will the other to Envy and Hatred ☞ the one to Patience and Long-suffering the other to Anger Rage and Persecution the one moves to Meekness Gentleness Lowly-mindedness the other to Hardness Roughness Exaltedness and High-mindedness So by the Fruits and Effects are the Motions of the Spirit of God known and distinguished from the Motions of the Devil the Prince in Darkness And whosoever do or shall profess to speak or write Words or do Works Many whom the old Serpent could not move nor draw into Carnal Wickednesses have been captivated with Spiritual Wiskednesses in High Places and have been deceived so far as to call High Thoughts and Imaginations Motions of the Spirit of God and these have been exalted above all that is called God being joyned to the Son of Perdition who usurps the Throne of God and hath been and is worshipped as God or do Works in and by the Motion of the Spirit of God if they tend not to Good if they are not accompanied with the Fruits of the same if they will not endure the Tryal of the Spirit of God in others and abide by the Testimony thereof and also agree with the Testimonies of the Holy Men of old left upon Record in the holy Scriptures For the Spirit of the Prophets was subject to the Prophets and The Christians were of One Mind I say except this their Motion is to be judged by the Spirit of God and them also that obey it as a Delusion of an Exalted Spirit and as a High Imagination which must be brought down and whoever glories therein or boasts thereof will fade and wither as a Flower and fall and corrupt as Untimely Fruit the Mouth of the Lord hath spoaken it XV. The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning Revelation THE Cry in the World is even among many called Christians No Revelation in these dayes Revelation is ceased No Spiritual Vision to be known now No Sight of God now as Abraham Moses and the Prophets and Primitive Christians had c. Now the Faith Experience and Testimony of the True Christian is that Where there is no Vision Prov. 29.18 no Heavenly Sight that 's the Perishing State Where there
I now live I live by the Faith of the Son of God this is the Perfection the True Christian arrives at ☞ even to know Christ live in him and Self and Sin dead then this Life of Righteousness reigns where once Sin and Death reigned and this Life cureth all Diseases and makes a Man grow to Perfection makes the Mind sound and the Understanding A perfect Sign where Life reigns the Heart clean and honest purgeth the Conscience from all dead Works and brings into the Service of the living God and makes free and redeems from the contrary viz. the Service of Sin and Satan and this is a perfect State and hath been is and may be attained unto according to the Holy Scriptures and the Testimony of the True Christian And some Titular Christians do pray for promise and profess as much 〈◊〉 Words The Titular Christian prayeth for and professeth Perfection but doth not believe it 's possible to attain till after the Death of the Body So his Prayer is vain his Belief a strong Delusion when they pray for a clean Heart and the renewing of a right Spirit to live a holy Life and to be cleansed from all Sin and when they promise one for another to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments this is Perfection and he that doth receive a clean Heart and a right Spirit and doth those Things is a perfect Man Now he that professeth and witnesseth these Things before spoaken of and hath travailed through the Work of the New Creation he can speak of Perfection in Truth and Righteousness he can say all the Works of God are perfect good yea very good being a living Witness of the same and that the Works of Man in the Fall and Degeneration and of the old Serpent whom he obeyes are all imperfect and bad yea very bad therefore let all that talk of Perfection with their Tongues and profess it with their Lips see that they are in that Faith which is the Gift of God and works by Love ☞ and doth wonderful Things though it be but as a Grain of Mustard Seed it removes Mountains and the Effect of it doth away all Imperfection and makes whole every whit the Eye being fixed upon the Author thereof it brings the Mighty from its Seat and exalteth that of low Degree it brings to the true Poverty which makes many rich and inherits all Things to the Sorrowing wherein is Rejoycing alwayes to the having nothing and yet poffessing all Things to the Weakness wherein is Strength to the Loss wherein is Gain to the Death wherein is Life Everlasting this State Paul was in when he spoak after this Manner When I am Weak then am I strong when dead then alive as sorrowing yet alwayes rejoycing 2 Cor. 6.10 as poor yet making many rich as having nothing yet possessing all Things these Things are as Riddles and Mysteries to the Carnal Mind and are hidden from the Wise and Prudent but revealed to the Babes who suck at the Breasts of Consolation and are weaned from the Breasts of this World in all its Perfection Glory and Beauty visible and invisible and are become Children of that Faith without which 't is impossible to please God Therefore if any will be perfect and have Treasure in Heaven ☞ they must become as new born Babes feeding on the Milk of the Word and know a growing up in and by the Vertue of the same to the State of a perfect Man out of all Self-Will Thoughts and Imaginations self-Wisdom Riches and Knowledge for in the State of Innocency before the Fall Man was not rich wise nor strong of himself his own Will Thoughts and Desires ☞ though in themselves and in their Places harmless did not rule over him neither did he feed upon the Tree of Knowledge which was and is good in its Place though not for Food but he ruled over them all while he stood in the Image of his Maker and obeyed his Command he had Power over all the Beasts of the Field and Fish of the Sea and the Earth was subdued by him and he had Dominion over it standing in the Life Power Riches and Wisdom of his God and out of his own here though he had nothing yet he possessed all subdued all and had Dominion over all though he fed not upon the Tree of Knowledge yet was he full of Knowledge and Wisdom to discern the Nature of all Things and to give them Names accordingly though he had no Will nor Defire ☞ but what was to be subject to the Will of God nor no Power or Strength given him of God to act contrary to his Command yet he had great Power Liberty and Freedom given him of God over all the Works of his Hands And every Herb bearing Seed which was upon all the Earth and every Tree in which was the Fruit of a Tree bearing Seed for Meat only the Tree of Knowledge which grew not at one Corner but in the midst of the Garden even where the Tree of Life it self grew he was not to eat of he that reads let him understand for I testifie that Moses ☞ or the Author of Genesis was endued with the same Divine Heavenly Sight and Wisdom when he wrot these Things as John was when he wrot his Book of Revelations and a Measure of the same must give the Understanding of them Now Mankind had nothing to do but to dress and keep the Garden which God 's own Hand had planted and this he was to do in the Will Wisdom and Power of God by which he became a Living Soul cloathed with the Image of God without any other Covering but his Spirit this was his Glory and Perfection And in this stood his Joy and Felicity Power and Dominion within and without in this stands the True Christian 's now But when he suffered his Will and Desire and the Eye of his Mind by the Temptation to be drawn and alured forth and gave way to the springing up of a Desire ☞ to know and be wise for himself to be something of himself this let the Temptation over him being deceived disobeyed his God even under a Hope of gaining by it and bettering his State The Life and Image of God which Adam lost was inward and spiritual he dyed not immediately as to his outward Form or bodily Existence but lived many years believing the Serpent who said You shall be as Gods you shall not dye Thus Death entred upon him thus the Image of God in him became vail'd and his Beauty Glory and Perfection defaced his own Will and Desires no sooner gave way to but Temptationt entred no sooner his own Eye opened but his Imperfection appeared and his Nakedness was seen ☞ no sooner he began to live of himself and to will
THE True Christian's FAITH AND EXPERIENCE Briefly Declared Concerning God Christ the Spirit the holy Scriptures the Gospel and the Doctrines thereof Also The Titular Christian's Faith and Profession Try'd Examin'd and Judg'd Written for the Confirmation and Consolation of the One and for the Information in order to the Restoration and Salvation of the Other Also A Few Words to such who are newly turned in their Minds to the Light within are Believers in it By William Shewen He is not a Jew that is one outwardly Rom. 2.28 He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom John 3.29 He that hath the Son hath Life he that hath not the Son hath not Life John 5.6 Darkness is past the True Light now shineth 1 Joh. 2.8 The People that walked in Darkness have seen a great Light they that dwell in the Shadow of Death upon them hath the Light shined Isa 9.2 Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light c. John 3.20.21 Printed in the Year 1675. THE CONTENTS THE Faith and Experience of the True Christian briefly declar'd 1. Concerning God page 33. 2. Concerning Christ page 39. 3. Concerning the Holy Spirit page 45. 4. Concerning the Holy Scriptures page 48. 5. Concerning Repentance page 52. 6. Concerning Mortification Warfare Self-denyal and Dying Daily page 60. 7. Concerning Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin and Corruption page 65. 8. Concerning Justification page 72. 9. Concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper page 76. 10. Concerning the Universal Love of God towards all Mankind page 88. 11. Concerning Election and Reprobation page 92. 12. Concerning Temptation page 105. 13. Concerning a Holy Life pag 114. 14. Concerning the Motion or Moving of the Spirit of God and the Motion of the Spirit of the Old Serpent in the Hearts of Men pag 119. 15. Concerning Revelation pag 224. 16. Concerning the Gospel or Gladtidings of Life and Salvation pag 133. 17. Concerning Grace and Living under it and Growing in it from one Degree unto another and of the Possibility of Falling Away from it pag 142. 18. Concerning Outward and Inward Miracles pag 150. 19. Concerning the Doctrine and State of Perfection pag 161. 20. A Few Words to such as are newly turned in their Minds to the Light and are Believers in it pag 173. TO THE READER Friend THou mayest know that in this Part of the World call'd Christendom the Name Christian is very Famous and that there are few therein but desire to be call'd by that Name and a high and great Profession of Christianity abounds amongst the divers Sects therein all covering the Name of Christian ☞ but the Christian-Life the Christ-like Life and the nature of Christianity is much Wanting and the Fruits and Effects of the holy Spirit of Christianity are much wanting among them all and the contrary much abounds whereby an Evil Savour is sent forth to the Nations round about called Heathens and Infidels For there is scarce any Sort of Wickedness to be found upon the Face of the whole Earth which is not done and committed in this Part of the World called Christendom whereby the Jews and Heathen instead of being Converted are strengthned and confirmed in their Infidelity Ignorance Blindness and Idolatry For where this Nominal or Titular Christian hath prevailed as among the Americans he hath sent forth such a Stink and III Savour by his Abominable Inhumane Practices that the Name of Christ is blasphemed and the Christian-Religion hated by many that have heard the Fame and Report thereof Had the Life of Christ and the Nature of Christianity been known and lived in by all that profess the Name Christendom had bin as a Fruitful Field and as a Pleasant Garden enclosed and as a Vineyard wall'd about full of Trees of Righteousness and Plants of God's own Right Hand planting and the Tree of Life would have flourish'd among them in the midst thereof and the Leaves of the same would have healed the Nations round about and it would have been as a City set upon an Hill which cannot be hid and as a Lamp that burneth being fed with Sweet Oyl and as a Glorious Light that shineth and many would have fled unto it as unto a City of Refuge and have walked in the Light thereof and have seen and beheld their Good Works and have Glorified their Father which is in Heaven and they would have lain down as a Flock of Harmless Lambs together solacing themselves in the Green Pastures of Life and Salvation in the low Valley and a top of that holy Mountain where no Destroyer is nor none can make afraid Isa 11.7 8 9. Where the Lyon eats Straw like the Ox and where the Sucking Child-plays on the Hole of the Asp and the weaned Child puts his Hand on the Cockatrice's Den without Hurt And the Earth would have been full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea And this Song would have been in Christendom as in the Land of Judah Isa 26.1 2. We have a strong City Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bullworks and the Gates thereof would have been open to them as a Righteous Nation that keepeth the Truth that they might have entred in and dwelt safely this would have been the State of Christendom But alas alas the quite Contrary appears Instead of being as a Fruitful Field and as a Pleasant Garden â—â—closed and as a Vineyard planted and walled about bearing Fruit unto God and flourishing with Trees Plants of his own Right-hand planting it s like a Desart Howling Wilderness full of Bryars Thorns and hurtful Weeds whereby the Good Seed that was sown is choaked and the Noble Plant degenerated from and become the Plant of a strange Vine which brings forth the sower Grapes which makes the Wine of Sodom which fills the Whore's Cup whereby Nations are made drunk And instead of being like a Flock of Harmless Lambs lying down together in Love and Unity feeding in the Green Pastures of Life and Salvation in the low Valley and a top of the holy Mountain where no Destroyer is they are like unto a Herd of Swine that is possessed and runs violently into the Sea and that walloweth in the Mire and like the Wolf Bear Lyon ☞ Asp and Cockatrice which the little Child hath not Power over but their devouring and poysonous Nature remains which makes them prey one upon another bite and devour one another hate and murder one another even under the Profession and Name of Christ and Christianity So instead of being as a City whose Walls are Salvation and as the heavenly Jerusalem they are like Sodom Gomorrah and Babylon And instead of being like a Lamp that burneth being fed with sweet Oyl and a Light that shineth they are like a Lamp that 's gone out and a Candle under a Bed or Bushel which gives no Light to others Instead of the Meekness Love Brotherly-kindnes Gentleness Patience Long-suffering Forgiveness Innocency Goodness
and hearkening to this and following of this in the particular and in the general is the universal Ground and Root from whence spring all the Diversities of Sects and Erroncous Opinions upon the Face of the Earth and from this ariseth all the Willing Running Self-Righteousness Will-Worship Voluntary Humility and Intrusion into Things which are not seen in the Vision of God but being vainly puffed up in a fleshly Mind Now this thou art to cease from in thy own particular for thou wert not created to sollow thy own Thoughts Conceivings and Imaginations ☞ nor the Motions of the Flesh nor Enticements of the Serpent But another Guide is appointed for thee which all that are ignorant of go astray from their Youth Now this Guide is not far off that thou needest say Who shall ascend or descend or go beyond the Seas to setch it but it s nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart thaâ— thou mayest hear it and obey it and be guided by it And that thou mayest know its Voice and Teaching and Guidance from all other Voices and Teachings I will in a few words set before thee an Infallible Way and shew thee Certain Marks and Tokens thereof for it s known by its Work and Operation First If thou art as all are before the New Creation is known without Form and Void Darkness being over the Face of the Deep ☞ if thou art as the Waters or one cover'd with Darkness yet the Spirit of God moveth upon the Waters and is ready to work in thee and to form thee into a Comliness and the true Light shines in thee though thou art Darkness in order to shew thee the Way out of it And thou mayest know this holy Spirit that moveth upon the Waters and the Voice of it from thy own Spirit Thoughts and Imaginations and from the Voice of the Serpent * An infallible Mark of the Holy Spirit of God in the Hearts of Men Jew and Gentile because it alwayes moveth against every Appearance of Evil and calls out of it sheweth thee the very secret Thoughts and Intents of thy Heart reproveth and judgeth every vain Thought and wicked Imagination and when thou goest before it and walkest in the Pathes of Darkness Sin and Disobedience thou may'st hear it as a Voice behind thee reproving thee saying This is the Way walk in it And this holy Guide consents to no Evil thou dost but is given of God to lead thee out of it and to bring thee to him that saves from it This is the great Ordinance of God Ae and the Means of Salvation that he hath appointed the which if thou sleight and difregard thou wilt remain without Form Void and Empty of the Heavenly Treasures and never be able to say in Truth as the Primitive Christians did and the True Christians now can viz. God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ and so wilt continue ignorant of the New Creation of God and of the Experimental Work of Regeneration profess what thou wilt ☞ and live under what other Ordinances and Means thou wilt and hear what other Teachers thou wilt and follow what other Guides thou wilt if thou learnest not of the Grace of God within which hath appeared to thee and all men if thou walkest not in the Light which shines within and art not guided by the good Spirit of God which was the Saints Guide in all Ages thy Profession is vain and thy Religion a Lye and thou deceivest thy own Soul in Sin thou livest and in Sin thou wilt dye and where Christ is thou canst not come This is the Experience of him that hath tryed the Traditions of Men the Teachings and Inventions of Men Books and studied Sermons and Carnal Ordinances and hath found them not able to lead one Step in the Narrow Way or give perfect Victory over one Sin neither is all the Wisdom Understanding Prudence and Knowledge among all the Children of men that are Strangers to the New Creation Work of Regeneration wrought by the Spirit of God within themselves ☞ able to direct or bring any so much as to the Gate or Entrance of true Wisdom Life and Immortality but rather hedgeth up the Way and leadeth more and more astray from it This is the Wisdom and Knowledge which the Righteous in former Ages testified against which is of this World Fleshly and Foolish Earthly and Sensual and whoever encreaseth in it encreaâ—eth in that which brings Sorrow for as the Fool so dyeth this Wise Maâ— And whosoever sets himself up 〈◊〉 this Wisdom ☞ as a Teacher of thâ— Ignorant and as a Guide to the Blinâ— though allowed by the Universitiâ— or general Schools he runs befoâ—â— he is sent and doth not profit tâ— People at all but is as the Bliâ— which leadeth the Blind and they bâ— fall into the Ditch together out which there is no Redemption 〈◊〉 by the Knowledge of the Effect Working of the holy Spirit and Son of God in thee to open thy Eye that thou mayest see where thou art and beget a Desire in thee and a Cry in thee for Deliverance and minister Strength unto thee and to pull thy Feet out of the Mire and Clay and to set them upon a Rock and be as a Light unto thee to guide thee in thy Way that thou stumblest not again all which I testifie he is ready and willing to do for thee and all that love his Appearance ☞ And those only love his Appearance that love the Spirit of Truth in them and believe in it and receive it which reproveth them of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment and this is an Infallible Proof that People love this Spirit believe in it and receive it A True Proof that People love the Spirit when they walk in it and obey it and bring forth the Fruits of it and are led by it out of Sin and that Righteousness and Judgment which it did reprove them of while they lived therein and are led by it into that Holiness and Everlasting Righteousness through true Judgment which is the White Rayment Fine Linnen and Cloathing of the True Christian who is come to know the same holy Spirit of Truth which once convinced reproved and judged him for Sin and Ungodliness to make him free from it and become his Comforter and Leader into all Truth according to the Promise of Christ Jesus Joh. 16. the which to possess and enjoy The Sum of Christian-Religion is the End Sum and Substance of the Christian-Religion and the End of all Hearing Reading Preaching and Believing And that thou mayest know whether thou art a Possessor hereof or whether thou only talkest of it and professest it I in thâ— Bowels of Love intreat and beseecâ— thee seriously to weigh read and confider what
Glory and Power which is Terrible to the Worker of Iniquity is pleasant and desirable by those that witness Sion's Redemption by the Spirit of Judgment and Burning from Iniquity these things are known now as in former Ages The same Ark whose Presence troubled and plagued the Philistians was the Glory of Israel the same Hand and Power that smites and destroyeth the Egyptian saves and delivers the Israelite the same Spirit of Truth that reproveth the World of Sin is the Comforter of those that are made free by it from Sin the same Breath that breathed Life in the beginning before Sin entred kind'eth the Fire that tormenteth the Wicked He that can understand let him â—mnipresent in Beâ—â—g incomprehensiâ—â—e and Almighty in Power And he demonstrateth his Faith and Experience after this manner He has received a Manifestation of him in his own Heart Mind and Spirit and so is come to know him pore Omni-present by his Work and Operation therein he can say that God is pure of a Truth because he findeth his Appearance so pure and holy in his Heart that it will not allow nor suffer so much as a vain Thought to lodge there nor no unclean thing to be touched And this True Christian is a true witness of the Truth of those Scriptures Hab. 1.13 Jer. 17.10 15.19 which saith that God is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity and that He searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and divideth betwixt the Precious and the Vile betwixt Thought Thought Word and Word Work and Work And further He is a True Witness that God is Almighty in Power because he hath by his mighty Power broaken down those Strong Holds formerly builded in his Heart by the Enemy of his Soul Cast down Imaginations and every High Thing that exalted 〈◊〉 self against the Knowledge of God â—inging into Captivity very Thought into the â—bedience of Christ And he knoweth the â—rk Mountains at â—â—ich his Feet stumbled removed the Rocks rended the Raging Waves stilled and that Tongue and Nature bridled which no Man could tame But before this be witnessed he hath known him to sit as a Refiners Fire Mal. 3.3 and as Fullers Sope and as a Spirit of Judgment and Burning and so became a living Witness of what he hath seen felt heard understood by the mighty Working of his Holy Spirit in his Mortal Body The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in one God who is pure omnipresent and Almighty take his Word and there is no Difference But how doth he demonstrate his Faith that to him there is but one God why he hath heard a Relation of him his Oneness his Purity and Almightiness in the Holy Scriptures and he hath been educated and trained up in the Traditions of his Fore-fathers and so his Knowledge of God he professeth is acquired therefrom he hath read in some Book or some Body hath told him that God is One Pure Omnipresent and Almighty and he grounds his Faith and Knowledge upon this Tradition and History and sorofesseth God and his Attributes in Words but is not a living Witness of the same within himself And so notwithstanding he professeth one God he liveth in the World which hath many Gods and worships and falls down before them every beloved Lust obeyed is a God Let the Titular Christian profess what he will he that committeth Sin is the Servant of it and therein is no Believer Worshipper nor Knower of the True God his Purity nor Almightiness because his Heart remaineth Corrupt and Rocky and the Mountains of Darkness Ignorance remain unremoved and the strong Holds of Satan unbroaken down his Thoughts and Imaginations unsubjected to the Obedience of Christ his Will Tongue and Nature unbridled the Dross Tin and Rubbage remains and is as a Grave to the pure Mettal this Titular Christian contents himself to hear or read of God as a Refiner's Fire and as Fuller's Sope and as a Spirit of Judgment and Burning and of his cleansing and purifying some in former Generations but loves not nor cares not to know him so in himself but rather despiseth and hateth his pure Appearance in him whose first Work is to convince him of Sin Righteousnes Judgment which is compared to a little Silver amongst much Dross a little Seed amongst many great ones to a little Leaven hid in three Measures of Meal which Silver can't be parted separated enjoy'd but by the Appearance of God within as a Refiners Fire to purge away the Dross take away the Tin also which is somewhat like the Silver whereby indeed the Titular Christian is deceived neither can the little Seed grow up till the Rubbish be taken away and the Ground that is Cursed removed and the Heart made honest which is the good Ground wherein the Seed of the Kingdom grows to Perfection neither can the little Leaven work through and leaven the three Measures of Meal till that be taken away which lets and hinders viz. Unbelief and Hardness of Heart Now this Day of small Things this Day of Jacob's Troubles wherein he goes through the Refiners Fire this little Seed this little Leaven is overlook'd despised and flighted by the Titular Christian who in his own Conceit is exalted and puffed up above the pure Appearance of God in his Heart which to know and obey is the Gate of all true Wisdom and Knowledge and is grown so tall great and Wise in his own Thoughts and Imaginations that he cannot walk in the straight Way nor go in at the Door of the Sheepfold but would climb up some other Way and so contents himself with a Traditional Historical Profession of God in Words and deny him in Works And all the Knowledge and Experience he hath of God his Purity Oneness and Almightiness is but as some Body hath told him or as he hath in an Unsanctified and Unprepared Heart read in the Holy Scriptures which Knowledge avails nothing except accompanied with a living Expeâ—ience of the same Power working after the same Manner as it did in others in Times past who have left their Testimonies thereof upon Record II. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Lord Jesus Christ THE True Christian believes in one Lord Jesus Christ who came from the Bosom of the Father who is the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer Sanctifier and Cleanser by his precious Blood and is to him as a King Priest and Prophet c. And he demonstrateth his Faith in this Manner in being Obedient to him as he is Lord in being saved by him from Sin as he is Jesus and by his learning of him and being taught by him as he is Christ or the Anointing So he can call him Lord Jesus Christ in Truth and Righteousness having truly learned his Name and Nature through Obedience to his Cross and a Cleansing by his
short Time and that his Dispossession grows nigh and the spoiling of his Goods are at Hand Except he could by any Means prevent it but all his Endeavours were and are in vaâ—n against this true Repentant who trusting in the Goodness of the Lord which at first led him to Repentance and relying upon the Arm of his Power which had opened the Eye that was blind and unstopped the Ear that was deaf and enlightned the Understanding that was darkened he in the same is made able to stand and to resist him in all his Assaults and to escape all his Baits and Snares and to quench all his fiery Darts and to overcome him in all his Temptations and to go right on his Way pressing forward towards the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 where all the Treasures of Wisdom of Knowledge and of Glory are hid Col. 2.3 and laid up for these that love his Appearance and obey his low Calling which is to Repentance and none other are in the Way to know what the High-Calling of God in Christ Jesus is let their Notions Professions and Confessions be never so high The Titular Christian he professeth he believeth the Doctrine and Teachings of Christ and his Apostles and first this of Repentance but how doth he demonstrate his Faith Is his Mind turned from the Darkness and the Way of it to the Light and the Way of it from the Power of Satan and the Works of it to the Power of God and the Works of it Is he quickned and made alive by the hearing of the Voice of the Son of God Is he come forth of the Grave of Sin and Sea of Corruption Doth he feel the Weight and Burthen of it Is Sin become exceeding sinful unto him Is a Cry raised in his Soul unto the Lord for a full Deliverance and Redemption from the Servitude of Sin and Satan Hath he a true Sence and Sight of the Nature and Tendency of Sin Is his Mind truly turned to the Appearance of God in Christ within which is to destroy and make an End of Sin and finish Transgression and the Authors of it and bring in Everlasting Righteousness instead thereof Doth he bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance And doth he shew by them that he is turned from the Service of Sin and Satan into the Service of God and Righteousness Is he turned out of the broad Way Doth he walk in the straight and narrow and make strait Steps to his Feet and are they pulled out of the Mire and Clay and are they set upon the Rock and are all his Goings guided by the Line of Righteousness is he enabled by the powerful Voice Arm of the Son of God to stand upright on his Feet in the midst of all his Enemies and by the same to travail on in the Way of Holiness towards the Holy City and Heavenly Jerusalem the City of the Saints Solemnity These Things accompany True Repentance therefore let the Titular Christian turn the Eye of his Mind Inward and commune with his own Heart and be still and consult with God's Witness therein and examine and answer these Things and see and try whether he hath not deceived himself with a false Profession and a feigned Repentance wherein he confesseth daily but doth not forsake and so finds not Mercy deceiving his own Soul by daily sinning and an Imaginary Repentance being subject to call and account a changing and turning from one Sort of the Devil's Service to another from Self-Sinning and Debauchery to Self-Righteousness from one Opinion to another and from one Sort and Fashion of invented Worship to another a Repentance though in all the old Man with his Deeds appears prevalent and the Earthly Image is born and the Nature and Ground of Sin and Transgression remains unshaken by the Voice and Power of the Son of God which calls and leads all that hear and obey it to true Repentance And till this Voice be heard and this Power felt and witnessed to work and operate in the inward Man the Beast receives no deadly Wound nor the Strength of Sin is not abated and the strong Holds of Imagination continues unbroaken down and so Repentance in this State is only talked of in vain by all the Nominal Christians upon the Face of the Eatth who experience not these Things wrought and effected in them and for them and are wholely ignorant of that Repentance which is never to be repented of and of that Joy that is in Heaven over one Sinner that Repenteth more then over ninety nine Just Perfons who need no Repentance VI. The True Christian 's Faith Experience concerning Mortification Warfare Self-denyal and a Dying daily THe True Christian next unto Repentance believes the Doctrine of Mortification Warfare Self-Denyal and a Dying daily and he sheweth forth his Faith by his Works having heard obey'd the Call of God being thereby turn'd or repented he comes to receive the Spirit of Adoption where by he can call God Father and so comes to receive Power against the World the Flesh and the Devil which though he hath turned his back upon them and set his Face Sion-wards yet they will follow him and pursue him and attend him with divers Allurements and Temptations in order to turn him back again and thus will continue laying Baits and Snares in Hopes to prevail until a Death be witnessed to the Carnal Mind and Transgressing Nature which is prone to receive the Temptation therefore the True Christian being come to a true Sight and Sense of the Strength and Subtility of the Enemy watches and wars in the Spirit against him and obeyes the Apostle's Exhortation Mortifie therefore your Members Col. 3.5 Rom. 8.13 which are upon the Earth c. And if ye through the Spirit mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall live So he witnesseth a Dying or Mortifying daily of that Nature and Mind which has had a Life in Sin until it be mortified or Killed and till he cometh to witness that Saying fulfilled Death is Swallowed up in Victory the Strength of it being taken away till which is effected he remaineth in the Warfare like a good Souldier sollowing his Captain conquering and to conquer until a perfect Victory be obtain'd And that he may not fail nor come short in this Warfare and Work of Mortification he keeps his Eye alwayes upon his Captain and his Ears open to that Voice that at first quickened him and called him to Repentance and his Mind stay'd upon that Holy Spirit of Grace that hath wrought hitherto for him which makes Self of no Reputation and which burieth self in all his Acquirements and Perfection in the Death of the Cross as not being fit nor worthy to be concerned in the Work of Regeneration And the True Christian well knows that there is no Possibility to be a Disciple and Follower of Christ further then the daily Cross to Self
is taken up he meets with no greater Enemy in his Journey then Self-Thoughts and Imaginatons Self-willing and Running Self-consultation and Self-working which * This made Paul careful to keep his Body under lest while he preached to others he himsolf became a Cast-away if he watch not against rule over and keep under by that Hand and Power that hath appeared for his Deliverance and hath wrought it in a measure he again may be entangled and enshared and driven back into that Pit wherein is no Water therefore he stands in the Doctrine of Self-Denyal till Self be denyed and in the putting off the Old Man with his Deeds till they are wholy put off and when he hath done all to stand still and abide with the same powerful Hand that hath wrought all these things in him and for him and to it he attributes the Glory and gives the Praise forever Now the Titular Christian professeth the Doctrine of Mortification and talks of a Dying to Sin and a Warring against it and of Self-Denyal and putting off the Old Man and taking up the Daily Cross c. But how doth he answer his Profession What Course doth he take to mortifie Sin while he believes not in the Light which shines in his Heart that discovers it nor in the Manifestation of the Spirit given him to mortifie and destroy Sin nor in the Power of God within which gives Strength to War against it and to overcome Sin within neither hath he received the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 whereby he is enabled to call God Father but is unacquainted and ignorant of him in that Relation yet hath learned by Tradition as the impenitent and unconverted Jews did John 8.41 to call God Father whose Knowledge of him was taught by the Precepts of Men And though they accounted themselves Children of God by virtue of this Traditional Knowledge received from their Fore-Fathers Isa 29.3 John 8.44 c Rabbies and Doctors of the Law yet Christ Jesus the Great Doctor and Righteous Judge and True Teacher told them they were quite the Contrary even of their Father the Devil So the Titular Christian while unbegotten to God in his impenitent unregenerate State having read the holy Scriptures and the Traditions of his Fathers furnisheth himself with the Profession of the Doctrines of the Gospel as the Jews did of the Law even while Sin reigns in his mortal Body while the Old Man with his Deeds are un put off and while Self Will Self-Wisdom and Self in all its Properties is undenyed and while he is a Stranger to the Cross of Christ and so takes it not up and follows him but wants Power to mortifie Sin and to war against the World Flesh and the Devil So while he talks of Mortification and Dying to Sin Sin lives in him encreases as his Days encrease and instead of overcoming it is overcome daily by it And while he professes Self-Denyal nothing but Self is owned Self wills and runs Self worships and offers the Offerings of Cain Self seeks and knocks and strives to enter but is not able And â—â—ll this Willing and Running and Power of Self is denyed judged and brought down and made of no Reputation by the Powerful Working and Operation of the Spirit of God within none can witness a being dead to Sin nor have Victory over it nor be a Disciple of Christ Jesus nor follow him in the Work of Regeneration let them profess what they will except this be known their Profession is a Lye and they deceive their own Souls This is the Word of Truth to all the Titular Christians upon the Face of the Earth of what Name or Sect soever VII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin and Corruption THe True Christian owns and believes the Doctrine of Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin and Corruption and he manifests his Faith by the Virtue and Operation of the Spirit of God working in him having been led by the same through the Work of Repentance Mortification and Self-Denyal he is now not only turned from Sin and come to the Mortifying of it but also to the Sanctifying Washing and Cleansing from it so he comes to witness a being delivered from the dead Body and the Dead to be buried out of his Sight ☞ and as he abides and dwells with this Sanctifying and Cleansing Power he is preserved from corrupting himself or so much as touching the Dead again This is the Anti-Type and Substance of all the divers Washings Purifications and Sanctifications used under the Law where the Temple and all the Furniture thereof were sanctified 1 Cor. 6.19 Now he knoweth himself to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost and this Knowledge keepeth him from defiling of it being bought with a Price not with Gold nor Silver nor Corruptible Things but with the Precious Blood of Christ which cleanseth and keepeth clean the True Christian who trampleth it not again under his Feet And herein also he witnesseth the Anti-Type and Substance signified by the laying of the People's Sins upon a Scape-Goat once a year and letting him go into the Wilderness c. so that the People were as free and clean from Sins committed the year past Levit. 16. from vers 8. to 26. as if they had committed none at all their Sins confessed and Sacrifices being offered and Attonement made ☞ These were the Shadows of Good Things to come the Substance of which the True Christian now enjoyeth and is come to the One Everlasting Offering Christ Jesus which perfects forever those that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 and both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one Hebr. 2.11 And he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit And the True Christian abiding in this Sanctification and Unity with the Lord Sins no more so needs no farther Confession of Sin nor further Sacrifice for it being drawn near unto the Lord with a true Heart Heb. 10.22 in full Assurance of Faith having his Heart sprinkled from an Evil Conscience and his Body washed with pure Water Here is no more a Remembrance again of Sin once a Year Yet there is a Possibility after this Estate is witnessed and enjoyed Heb. 10.26 that there may be a Falling-away or a Wilful Sinning again which the Apostle knew well and therefore warned People to beware of it that they tread not the Son of God under Foot Heb. 10.29 30. nor count the Blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified an Vnholy Thing nor do Desâ—ight unto the Spirit of Grace Therefore the True Christian after he is washed cleansed and sanctified watcheth against all that would defile him again and in the Spirit and Power which hath wrought his Sanctification abiding he rules and reigns over Sin and Satan and is no more entangled with the Yoak of Bondage but keeps in his Inheritance
Enemy having drawn out his Mind to look after it he turns his Back upon the other then his Eye is blinded and his Ear stopped then he cannot see the Glory of God to surpass the Beauty and Glory of all things visible and in visible nor delight in the hearing of his Voice and obeying it but his stoln Water is sweet and the Forbidden Fruit is pleasant to Man in this Blind Deaf and Dead Estate wherein he walks in the Broad Way and falls into every Temptation Bait and Snare of the Enemy that old Serpent who having drawn him thus far takes him captive at his Pleasure ☞ Thus entered Sin in the Beginning and thus it encreaseth and thus the Enemy â—revaileth Now no man in this Estate can open that Eye which was blinded through Transgression nor unstop that Ear nor save and deliver himself out of the Hand of his Enemy which holds him in sore Captivity Therefore herein is the Universal Love of God manifest that he hath laid Help upon one that 's Mighty that 's able to save to the uttermost that he hath appointed and prepared a Seed that 's able to bruise the Serpent's Head and that he hath sown this Good and Powerful Seed in the Hearts of all men ☞ in the Bad Ground as well as in the Good and that he hath caused his Light to shine in the Hearts of all though in Darkness and his Rain to Fall upon all Just and Unjust and to call upon all men every where and to follow Maâ—kind who is run from him by Transgression hid himself among the Trees and covered himself with the Fig-Tree Leaves and to meet with him in the Cool of the Day and to Reason with him Reprove Correct and Chastise him in order to do him Good if he will hearken to his Voice and turn at his †Correction is Gracious to him that forsakes the Way and he that hateth Reproof shall dye Prov. 15.10 Reproof and be gathered by his Arm which is stretched out to save him which if he doth he shall not miss of Salvation But if he stops his Ear hardens his Heart and continues in Rebellion and refuseth to be reconciled his Destruction is of himself and God will be just when he judgeth XI The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation ELection and Reprobation stands in the two Seeds called The Seed of the Woman and The Seed of the Serpent and all Mankind are Partakers of the one or of the other as either of these two Seeds grows up in them ☞ and as they grow up in the one or in the other or joyn to the one or to the other and are born of the one which is Incorruptible or of the other which is Corruptible And this Seed which is incorruptible and hath remained pure throughout all Generations is that in which all Nations are blessed Acts 3.25 as they come to be born of it ☞ And this is it unto which all the Promises of God are Yea Amen which was not made unto Seeds as of many as Paul saith speaking of the Seed of Abraham Gal. 3.16 29. but of one Seed which is Christ and they that are Christ's are Abraham 's Seed and Heirs by Promise And the Election or Choice of God stands in this Seed and all the Heavenly Blessings and Evangelical Promises come to be enjoyed and inherited by Mankind through Faith in this Seed through the Growing up of this Seed in them and through the knowing this Seed to remain in them and become the greatest of all Seeds stopping the Growth of the Seed of the Serpent bruising his Head and causing his whole Body to languish and dye And through the knowing this Seed become so Powerful in them as to possess the Gates of its Enemies ☞ with this Seed and with all that are born of it God's Election stands sure and his Covenant is kept with it forever whom he loves here he loves to the End and all that love this Seed he will be their God and they shall be his People and those are the Elect which can never be deceived nor the Gates of Hell prevail against And the True Christian who is born of this Incorruptible Seed 2 Pet. 1. obeyes Peter's Exhortation Giving Diligence to make his Calling and Election sure adding to his Faith ☞ Virtue and to Virtue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly-Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Charity c. and as he doth these things he shall never fall but have an Enterance ministred abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of his Lord and Saviour Jesus-Christ And he layes aside all Malice and all Guile Oh! that Christendom would obey this and Hypocrisies and Envies and all Evil-Speakings and becomes as a New-born Babe desiring the Sincere Milk of the Word that he may grow more and more and encrease with the Encrease of God thereby until he grows up in the Promised Seed in which his Calling and Election stands unto the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ growing up in him in all things which is the Head ☞ even Christ This is the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus and these are the Marks Tokens and Signs Fruits and Effects which attend and accompany all those that are born of this Incorruptible Seed in which their Election stands in through and by which their Calling and Election is made sure And the True Christian who is thus elected and born of this Seed hath not only the Witness in himself and the Spirit of God bearing witness and sealing to his Spirit ☞ that he is a Child of it but the Fruit of this Seed also shews it self forth and appears that men may see and behold it and glorifie his Father which is in Heaven Now the Reprobation stands in the Seed of the Serpent and all that are born of it are born of Flesh and Blood and of the Will of Man and not of the Will of God nor by Promise and in whomsoever this Seed grows up ☞ Enmity encreaseth in them against the Seed of the Woman against the promised Seed and all the Children of iâ— hence arose Cain's Envy Ishmael's Mocking and Esau's Rage and is continued in that Generation or Birth down to this Age This is that Birth that is born after the Flesh which alwayes did and doth to this Day persecute him that is born after the Spirit this is he that was grown a great Dragon in John's Day which persecuted the Woman that brought forth the Seed the Man Child and that went to make War with the Remnant of her Seed which kept the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus And he is the same at this
Things And all those Babel Builders blind Guides which set up minister this kind of Doctrine that God hath pre-ordained how many Persons shall be saved and how many damned if People were not as ignorant and as blind as themselves their Trade would quickly be spoiled and come to an End and no Body would imploy them for if there be a fixed Decree from all Eternity how many shall be saved and how many damned which neither the one nor the other by all the Good Evil they can do are able to alter this determinate Counsel then altogether in vain is it for People to hire such Builders who say before hand their Tower will never convey any to Heaven who are not designed to go there without it or to maintain such unprofitable Talkers and vain Bablers when they can neither make them better nor worse nor bring one Soul to Salvation that is not determined and decreed already to be saved nor direct one Soul how he may escape Hell that shall not escape it without their Directions these are unprofitable and vain Talkers indeed and Messengers of miserable Tidings that preach this Doctrine of Devils in the World the Fruit and Effect of which runs many a poor Soul upon one of these desperate Rocks disfolute Despair or implicite Imaginary Security Again this Doctrine of God's absolutely decreeing the greater Part of Mankind to Damnation makes void Christ's coming a Light into the World and his Suffering Dying and Râ—sing again his sending his Apostles and Ministers out into the World to perswade Men to be reconciled to God and to receive his free Love and Grace that 's tendered in Christ Jesus to all †The Doctrine of a setled Decree concerning Election and Reprobation as to Persons layes wast all the general Means of Salvation and excludes God's Vniversal Love and makes him a Rospecter of Persons and if all stand under such a unrevokeable Decree which all that the Sons of Men can do or say is not able to alter or to make them one Jot the better or worse as to the End nor any Means contrarvwise take Effect to gain Heaven nor prevent going to Hell I say if these Things were so then in vain are all conditional Preachings Woings and Beseechings in an universal Way in vain is the Gospel preached in every Creature in vain hath and doth the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation appear unto all Men in vain are all enlightened in vain is a Manifestation of the Spirit given to every Man to profit withal in vain are his good Gifts given to the Rebellious and the Testimonies of God's Universal Love to all Mankind plentifully declared of in the Holy Scriptures are all in vain and this Doctrine gives them all the Lye Much might be said to shew the Grossness and Absurdness of this kind of Doctrine but intending Brevity and a Hint at Things and hoping the Light of the glorious Gospel that now shines and is broaken forth in the Hearts of Thousands and Ten Thousands will disperse this gross Darkness and cause this destructive pernicious Doctrine to vanish away especially in this Nation of England before this Age is worn out I say for these two Reasons I forbear to enlarge with a Breathing to the Lord that People may come to know the fallow Ground plowed up and the hard Clods broaken and their Hearts made tender and honest that the good Seed of the Kingdom wherein the Election stands may spring and grow up and bear Fruit in them to Everlasting Life and the Seed of the Serpent rooted out and he and all his Works destroyed this is the glorious Liberty which the whole Creation groans for and some already enjoy it Praises to God forever whose Love extends to all whose Arm is stretched out to help all whose Scepter of Salvation is held forth to all whose Desire is that all may come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved This is the Testimony of God and of those Righteous Men that knew him in former Ages who were born of the Incorruptible Seed and is the Testimony of the Righteous in this Age ☞ and the contrary is the Testimony of the Enemy of God and Man that old Serpent and his Children who are born of the Seed of it and their Fruit is the Off-spring of the Adulterer and the Whore whom God will judge This is the Word of Truth to all whom it may concern XII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Temptation IAMES saith Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Let no man say when he is tempted he is tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with Evil neither tempteth he any man But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed James 1.12 13 14. Now the True Christian is a Witness of this Saying of James having found the Blessedness that follows the enduring Temptation received the Earnest of the Crown of Life And he truly and experimentally knoweth That God cannot be tempted with Evil because that Heavenly Light and Grace and Manifestation of the Holy Spirit which he is Partaker of and endued withal and is of God cannot be tempted with Evil nor be prevailed upon to consent or take Pleasure in any Unrighteousness and this good and perfect Gift of God which cannot be tempted with Evil nor tempteth no man received believed in and entertained in the Heart is that which enabled the Righteous in all Ages to endure Temptation and doth enable them in this Age ☞ And all those that know not receive not believe not in this Good and Perfect * Which is the Light and Grace or Holy Spirit Within Gift of God given and sent into the World to Sinners as well as Saints they cannot nor are not able to endure Temptation but are led away of their Lusts and enticed and fall into Temptation for want of Faith in the Gift and Power of God which is as near them as the Temptation and able and ready to deliver them if they would regard it and obey it Now the Ground of all Temptations are within the Lusts that lead away are within the Light which discovers them and the Grace which is sufficient and the Spirit which mortifies the Lusts ☞ must be also known within where the Temptations rise and attend Mankind even the Righteous for a time and divers outward Objects also may present in order to draw out and alure the Mind to joyn with them and to entertain them ¶ The Devil hath Power to Tempt but not to Force But neither the Temptations Within nor Without can prevail until the Light is disregarded the Appearance of Grace sleighted and the Spirit of God despised and the Mind joyned to the Tempter and Temptation Now it s no Sin to be tempted but to
enter into the Temptation No man was ever condemned because tempted or because Evil Motions Temptations did arise in him and present themselves if he entered not into them nor gave no place to them nor joyned with them in his Mind nor suffered his Members to obey them but kept in the Light Grace and Spirit of God by which he resisted them and the Author of them and made him flee This is the Blessed Man that endureth Temptations So though Temptations are Evil and Sinful in themselves and did at some times attend the Righteous in all Ages and do at this day yet if they give no place nor Consent to them ☞ nor obey them but by the Light and Spirit of God judge them and walk in the Light which discovers them and the Evil Tendency of them and are preserved from joyning to them they are no Sinners because tempted as for instance to speak but to a low State if any are troubled with unclean and vain Thoughts and tempted with Dark Unlawful Imaginations which in themselves are Evil and * These will lodge in that Flesh in which dwells no good thing till it and its Habitation be Mortified and removed which is to be known even while the Earthen Vessel remaineth that holds the Heavenly Treasure Sinful yet if they by the Light and Spirit of God judge them and give no Place or Obedience to them but wait to see the ground thereof remov'd they do that which is right in the Sight of the Lord and are no Sinners so if tempted to use any Member of the Body to speak or do any Evil as the Tongue to lye flatter or dissemble or speak perverse things or the Hand to do Violence to any man or the Feet to run to do Mischief ☞ if these Members are not yielded up to serve and obey these Temptations those so tempted are no Transgressors but are Witnesses of that Prayer and the Effect of it which Christ taught his Disciples Lead us not or let us not be led into Temptation but deliver us from Evil. Christ Jesus was attended with divers great Temptations and the Old Serpent that deceived the first Adam was very bold with him and carried him from * Let him that readeth understand Place to Place from the Wilderness to the holy City from thence to the Pinacle of the Temple and then to an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them with a Promise He would give them all to him if he would fall down and worship him But he standing in the Power of his Father gave no place to him but rebuked him and resisted him in all his Temptations and overcame him Now it s said While the Time of Temptation lasted he eat nothing and when they were ended Luke 4. Mat. 4. he afterwards hungred and when the Devil departed Angels ministred unto him this is the Glory of the Second Adam that never fell though tempted to fall eat no forbidden Fruit though tempted to ea◠neither did he hunger in the time of Temptation after it nor gave no place to the Lyes of the Old Serpent that allured and deceived the First Adam thereby and subjected him under Hope of enjoying a better Estate then that wherein God had placed him and so fell into the Depth of Misery first by letting out a Desire after the Pleasantness of the Forbidden Fruit and Hungering after it in the Time of Temptation and then putting forth the Hand and joyning to it obeyes and eats and fulfils the Lusts of the Serpent And thus and in this manner Temptation prevails over all the Sons of the First Adam who bear the Earthly Image and are not born again of the promised Seed that breaks the Head of the Serpent and redeems from under his Power and brings to grow up in the Second Adam who could not be prevail'd upon with his Lyes and Subtilty And this Second Adam Christ Jesus is the Captain of the True Christian's Salvation who is gone before leaving him an Ensample to follow his Steps And he hath endued him with Heavenly Power and armed him with Spiritual Armour and furnished him with Strength so to do So the True Christian is compared to a good Souldier that follows his Captain ☞ and fights with him and doth not desert him and leave him to fight by himself but makes Good Use of the Power Armour of Light and Sword of the Spirit that 's given him to war withal and to overcome his Enemy withal and he keeps on his Breast-Plate of Righteousness and the Helmet of Salvation which are able to quench all the Fiery Darts of the Devil and so follows his Captain not only Conquering but also to Conquer for when he hath overcome him not only in the Field but hath also pursued him to his †The Devil 's Strong Holds are built in the Wills Thoughts and Imaginations of Men. Strong Holds and beaten him out there and pulled them down and cast down Imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the Knowledge of God in which he built them When this is effected by virtue of the Weapons which are Mighty and by the Power of him which enables the True Christian to do all things he still keeps on his Watch-Tower which is the Light of Christ wherewith he is enlightened that he may not be surprized with another Part of his Forces and as he keepeth watching there in vain are all his Stratagems Wiles and subtil Devices in vain are all his Snares Ambushments laid in vain are all his Temptations and Allurements as the True Christian keeps in that and dwells in that in which the Devil hath no Part nor Fellowship in ☞ viz. the Light whereby he is discovered and all his Baits and Snares seen and avoided It is in the Darkness and over all that dwell in it that he prevalls his Power stands there and is exercised over all that walk in it he need not go about with Wiles and Devices to deceive such who already dwell and are Subjects in his Kingdom nor he need not go about like a roaring Lyon seeking to devour them being already under his Dominion and obedient Children Vasals and Slaves to him ☞ he need not use Subtilty to tempt such but Power to command and they obey But it s against the Children of Light that are turned from the Darkness and from under his Power that he improves all his cunning Subtilty and Devices and it s against them he rageth if by any Means he can beguile them as he beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11.3 and corrupt their Minds from the Simplicity that is in Christ even after they are presented as a chast Virgin to Christ and are come to a dwelling Place in Paradice and to appear before God in Heaven he will not cease to tempt and accuse there as he hath done he is still ready to do he tempted
shall partake of this sorer Punishment And as none knoweth the Joy and Consolation of those that have the Law of the Spirit of Life and obey it and abide in it or the White Stone wherein the New Name is written which none knoweth but he that hath it so none knoweth the sorer Punishment the Fiery Indignation kindled by the Breath of the Lord Apostates Punishment is from God and not Men. Vengeance is the Lord's And it s a fearful thing to fall into his hand by sinning against Light and Knowledge c. nor feels the biting of the Worm which never dyes which attends the Transgressors and wilful Sinners against this Law of the Spirit of Life but he that hath it and receives it as a Just Recompence of Reward of his Disobedience Rebellion and Apostacy And the Fitular Christian who talks of living under Grace and not under the Law and of being married to Christ c. before he hath known the Law as a School-Master to bring him to Christ before he is become dead to that which the Law hath Power over before he comes to know the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled in him by the Spirit of Grace and Righteousness which exceeds the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees before he knows Grace to reign through Righteousness unto Eternal Life even where Sin hath reigned unto Death before he is taught by Grace to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly and before he ceaseth from Sin and before he knoweth the Body of it destroyed and become dead and Deliverance from the Dead Body I say before this his Talk and Profession of living under Grace is â—ain he remaining alive in that for which the Law was added viz. Sin For the main Reason to prove a Person under Grace which Paul mentioneth is For Sin shall not have Dominion over you for or because you are â—ot under the Law but under Grace He that â—ommitteth Sin is the Servant of it and Sin â—ath Dominion over him let the Titular Chritian profess what he will XVIII The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning Outward and Inward Miracles ALL Miracles and Wonders that were outwardly wrought by the Power of God before the Law under the Law since the Law by the Hand of Mâ—ses and Aaron the Prophets Christ and his Apostles were in themselves Signs generally shewed before Unbelieving Hard-hearted Adulterous Untoward Generations and we read not of very many in the holy Scriptures that were converted by the Working of Outward Miracles Pharaoh and the Egyptians were hardened the Israel tes themselves after they had seen and partook of wonderful Deliverances and Mighty Miracles wrought before their Face as the going through the Sea on Dry Land and their Enemies dâ—stroyed in the same the Pillar of Cloudâ—y Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night the Manna and Quales from Heaven the Watter out of a Rock and also drunâ— of the Spiritual Rock which followed them yet an Unbelieving Ignorant Disobedient Rebellious Murmuring Heart got up in them so that they discerned not the Power by which they were wrought nor the End wherefore being ignorant of both neither did they truly regard the Instruments by whom they were wrought their Wills and Lusts remained strong their Hearts foul and gross their Ears dull of Hearing and their Eyes so weak and their Understandings so darkened that they could not look upon nor behold the Glory of that Ministration though it was but of Angels nor abide and endure the Voice of God in giving forth the Law for the Condemnation of the Transgressor which was Glorious in its time so that they could not behold the Glory of Moses's Face without Fear Exod. 34.30 19.22 nor so much as touch the Mount on which God appeared yea the Priests unless Sanctified or made Holy were not to come nigh the Lord This was the State of the Israelites notwithstanding they were Eye-witnesses of the Mighty Wonders and Miracles visibly wrought before their Natural Senses yet through Unbelief Disobedience Murmuring and Rebellion they perished and their Carcases fell in the Wilderness and entred not into the Promised Land Let the Reader consider those things And when Christ Jesus the Great Prophet came of whom Moses prophesied and wrought divers Visible Miracles before the Hard-hearted Jews who professed themselves the Disciples of Moses I do not find nor read that many of those that saw them wrought with their Natural Eyes and that drank of that Mâ—raculous Wine made of Water and that eat of the Five Loaves and Two Fâ—shes that fâ—d Five Thousand and Twelve Baskets of Fragments to spare ☞ were converted nor so much as became his Disciples or Foâ—â—owers except for Loaves or some Selfish Ends and some among whom he wrought mighty Miracles desired him to depart their Coasts And from the Chief Priests and Leaders he met with this Judgment That he was a Deceiver a Samaritan and had a Devil and cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils so that his Raising the Dead Healing the Sick Possessed and Diseased though Mighty Works in themselves and wrought by the Power of his Father in him yet they were not such great Works â—oâ— the Effects of such great Extent but that those that did believe in him should do greater or he in his Spiritual Appearance in them would do greater John 14.12 13. according to his Saying Verely verely I say unto you He that believeth in me the Works that I do he shall do also and greater then these shall he do because I go to my Father and whatsoever ye ask in my Name that will I do This Saying and Promise was and is fulfilled fulfilling and to be fulfilled And every True Christian is a Witness of the Power that is received by believing in Christ and knoweth and experienceth greater Works and Miracles wrought by the Power and Spiritual Appearance of Christ within then all the Outward Miracles he wrought before the Carnal Eyes of Carnal Professors and Unbelievers in the dayes of his * We read of more Converted at One Sermon of Peter then by all Outward Miracles Flesh But this the Titular Christian cannot receive knowing nothing thereof In order therefore to convince him of the Truth of the same the True Christian speaks further as follows First He saith That once he was Dead in Trespasses and Sins and so Dead that though he was loaded therewith yet he felt not the Weight and Burthen thereof and not only so but he had all the Properties of a dead Man spiritually his Eye was so blind that he could not see the exceeding Sinfulness of Sin his Ear was so deaf that he could not hear the Voice of God though he often called him out of it his Feet were so lame that he could not walk one Step in the Way of God and he was so bowed down that he could not stand upright and his Bloody
Issue could not be stopped nor his Wounds healed and his Sores ran in the Night and his Soul refused Comfort and he was cast out into the open Field to the loathing of his Person and the Levite and the Priest passed by and ministred no Help he saw no Eye to pitty nor no Hand to save nor no Physitian of value could he meet withal all told him he could never be cured healed and made a sound living Man again while he lived upon the Earth and to encrease his Misery he was perswaded to believe the same which Belief is one of the strongest Links of the Chains of Darkness in short Words cannot express the sad and lamentable Estate of Mankind in the Fall which the True Christian once lay in even bound in Chains of Darkness under the Slavery and Bondage of Sin and Satan captivated in a strange Land c. out of which nothing leâ—s then the mighty terrible and glorious Power of God by and through his Son Christ Jesus is able effectually to redeem save and deliver Therefore in the second Place the True Christian's Testimony is as followeth To the Praise and Glory of the Power of God in his glorious Appearance and heavenly Revelation through the Son of his Love in this latter Day wherein his exceeding Riches and Kindness and Power is manifested and made known as in Ages past and as in the Generation of Old and his faithful Promises fulfilled John 5.25 〈◊〉 the Hour is come wherein the dead hear the Voice of God and the Graves open and they that are therein come forth and a mighty Sound is heard of the dry Bones in the Valley coming together People dead in Sins and Trespasses degenerated and estranged from the Life of God are as these dry Bones and are to be witnesses of the same Power to restore them to Form and Life and knitting Bone to Bone and Joynt to Joynt and Sinnew to Sinnew and Flesh grows upon the same and the Breath of Life is received and a standing up is known of an exceeding great Army which shall yet encrease more and more and inherit and possess the Anti type of the promised Land this was seen and prophesied of by Ezekiel and now enjoyed by the True Christian read Chap. 36. to Ver. 14. and the Lord give the Understanding Now to witness these Things effected by the Spirit and Power of the Lord is more then to see a dead Body outwardly raised to Life and to have the Eye of the Mind opened and the Ear of the Spiritual Man unstopped the Tongue unloosed that can praise the Lord and the Lamâ—â— to leap as an Heart and to run the Wayes of God's Commandments with Delight without stumbling Weariness or Fainting I say these Things being wrought by the Power of God in the inward Man are greater Miracles then the opening of a blind Eye or unstopping of a deaf Ear or unloosing the Tongue of the dum or curing the lame outwardly And to be cleansed from the Leprous Disease of Sin and to know the bloody Issue thereof stopped and to have the Heart sprinkled from an Evil Conscience and the Body washed with pure Water and the Heart and Mind cleansed from all that would defile by the precious Blood of Christ manifest and known within where the Defilements are greater Miracles ☞ and effected by a greater Power though the same in Nature then that which cured the Leprosie and bloody Issue outwardly and the cleansing of the Mind Heart and Conscience and healing the Inward Man of all its Diseases is more wonderful then the healing all outward Diseases whatsoever Now the working of outward Miracles are not of absolute Necessity in the Church of Christ neither doth the Gift thereof alwayes attend the Church and we read of no outward Miracles wrought by divers primitive Apostles Ministers and Teachers Elders and Fathers in the Church ☞ But these greates Works and Miracles which Christ promis'd those that believed in him should do they were all Witnesses of in a Measure being of absolute Necessity to be known wrought by Christ the Power of God in every True Christian now as then without which no Resurrection to Life nor Entrance into the Way of Salvation is attained unto let the Titular Christian profess what he will And I still well remember when I was a Titular Christian and a Hearer and Disciple of that Generation which now calls upon the True Christian for Signs aad Miracles which no Impostor or false Christian can give they used then to acknowledge and preach for Doctrine That the Conversion of one Soul to God was a greater Work then the Creation of the World and the main Reason they gave was That in the Work of the Outward Creation nothing did resist and oppose God said Let it be and it was so But now in the New Creation and Work of Regeneration God meets with much Opposition He speaks and calls once and again and Man regards it not he stretcheth out his Hand all the Day long and the Rebellious regards it not he stands at the Door and knocks but his Enemy is gotten into the House and the Door is shut against him yet he waits to shew himself gracious according to the Phrase in Scripture Till his Head is wet with the Dew and his Locks with the Drops of the Night and he woeth and beseeches with Bowels of Compassion all Mankind by his Universal Love and Light and holy Spirit All have a Day of Visitation to be reconciled unto him and to turn or be converted unto him that he may heal them restore and redeem them out of the Degeneration which they are run into through Sin into the Primitive Estate and pure Enjoyment of himself which was before Sin entered or the forbidden Fruit was eaten or Evil was in the World but Mankind slights this great Love and resist and despiseth this Light and Holy Spirit which would work all these Things in him and for him So these Things above considered which are according to the Phrase and Language of the Holy Scriptures it may evidently appear that the Work of the New Creation being accompanied with so much Opposition is greater then the Work of the Old In this the Titular Christian as in many other Things talks a Truth with his Tongue but is not a living Witness and Experiencer of the same in his Heart ☞ therefore when the True Christian tells him what the Lord hath done for his Soul and the mighty Works and Wonders that he hath wrought in him and for him how he hath raised him from Death to Life from Sin to Righteousness and translated him from Darkness to Light from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of his dear Son and how he hath made him whole every whit even upon the Sabbath Day and that he now sits in Heavenly Places with him cloathed in his right Mind and that he hath received a good Understanding
and beguiled Eve in Paradice Gen. 3. Job 1. Rev. 12.4 And on a Day when the Sons of God appear'd before the Lord Satan came also among them and accused Job And John in his Day saw the great red Dragon appear in Heaven ☞ waiting to devour the Man-Child he that reads let him understand This made Paul fear the Serpent might beguile them he wrote to 1 Cor. 11.3 as he beguiled Eve through his Subtilty tempt allure them out of Innocency out of a Virgin sinless and harmless Estate after they were in it * It 's possible to be tempted and allured out of Innocency and to loose a good Estate this he once did and may do again if he be not watched against and resisted in the Power of the second Adam which enables to endure Temptation and so to receive the Blessing and after Tryal to enjoy the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1.12 XIII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning a Holy Life THE True Christian believeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life and to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of the World which lyes in Wickedness and to keep God's holy Will and Commandments Jer. 31.33 and they are not grievous unto him for he loves the Law of God in his Heart and sees it written there with his own Finger enjoying that precious Promise I will write my Law in their Hearts Isa 51.7 and put my Fear into their inward Parts and he can say as David once did Oh how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. how sweet are thy Words unto my Tast yea sweeter then the Hony to my Mouth thy Law is my Delight the Law of thy Mouth is better to me then Thousands of Gold and Silver The True Christian being in this Estate and persevering in this Love of God and his Law it becomes his Meat and Drink to do the Will of his Heavenly Father And so by walking in this Law and meditating in it and by feeding on this Word which is sweeter then Hony he becomes so united with it and so natural a Subject and Child of it that he comes to be able to say ☞ as some of old did We can do nothing against the Truth this is the true forsaking the Devil and all his Works c. and the keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments And as the True Christian grows up in this he doth alwayes that which pleaseth him like unto his elder Brother the Captain of his Salvation who is gone before being Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh sitting in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of their Heavenly Father even the same Glory which was before the World began before the Devil and his Works entered before his Holy Will and Commandments were broaken or before the forbidden Fruit was eaten Those that have their Eyes anointed with Eye-Salve and are cloathed with fine Linnen and have their Garments washed in the Blood of the Lamb and follow him whethersoever he goeth and have no Guile in their Mouthes but stand before the Throne of God without Spot or Wrinckle those are they that are redeem'd from the Earth and have their Conversation in Heaven and enjoy those Things and give the Glory to him who is God blessed forever The Titular Christian he saith and professeth that it is his Duty to live a holy Life to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments but never cometh to witness that Estate it 's very grievous to him to make streight Steps to his Feet he enjoys not that precious Promise the Law writ in his Heart and the Fear which keeps the Heart clean in the inward Parts neither is the Law of God his Meditation all the Day nor his Delight therein neither are his Words to him sweeter then Hony or better then Thousands of Gold and Silver he cannot say that he doth nothing against the Truth nor that he doth alwayes that which pleaseth God nor that he follows Christ the Captain of Salvation neither is he a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones nor sits in Heavenly Places with him beholding the Glory of God c. though he will sometimes talk of these Things as they are written in the Holy Scriptures but in his Heart he is a Stranger to them and God's Holy Witness in his own Conscience makes him confess that his Heart is desperately wicked and that his Thoughts and Meditations are defiled and full of Sin and that his best Performances or Doings are accompanied with Sin and Corruption and that in all he doth he doth something against the Truth ☞ And further he is so far from living a Holy Life and forsaking the Devil and all his Works and keeping God's Holy Will and Commandments that he is begotten into such a Belief and Perswasion that it is not possible to do it while he breathes in the Air of this World but must alwayes be sinning and doing that which he ought not to do and leaving undone that which he ought to do alwayes confessing alwayes sinning and never forsaking so alwayes reaping the Wages of Sin which is Death and so alwayes wanting the Mercy and Forgiveness which he that forsakes the DEVIL and all his WORKS partaketh of So in short this is one of the last Lessons the Devil can teach his Children viz. to †Those that preach this Belief and Perswasion in the world aredirect Ministers of Satan perswade them and make them believe that they cannot cease from Sin but must be Committers of it and Servants to it and that they cannot forsake him and all his Works nor keep God's Holy Will and Commandments so long as they live in these Houses of Clay such Titular Christians as these he hath them in Chains and Fetters strong enough nothing less then the Mighty Arm and Power of God is able to break them and to release those poor Captives and to redeem them out of this deep Pit of Misery wherein is no Water wherein their Souls or inward Man lyes as among the Pots soiled with the Smoak and Soot of the Bottomless Pit Oh God hasten and bring Deliverance to these poor Bend-slaves of Sin and Satan is the Cry of the Souls of the Righteous who have the Mind of their Heavenly Father who desires not the Death of him that dyes but that they should come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved and be Partakers with them of the exceeding Riches and Glory that is laid up for all that love his Appearance ☞ and is ready to be reveal'd to all that truly wait for it XIV The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning the Motion or Moving of the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the