Worshippers and therefore no true Receivers of the Promises of God made to those that meet in his Name There is therefore now no condemnation to them which Rom. 8. 1. are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit It appears he knew when there was a time and State of Condemnation and it was before this time that he now speaks of this Man Paul knew several States having been a zealous Man and a Persecutor and then the Lord met with him and smote him to the ground and said to him Saul Saul why persecutes thou me Insomuch as he did it to his People he took it as done to him and without question knew great Condemnation for it and went thorow a great Warfare and tells us how it was with him in his Warfare he found a law in his members warring against the law of his mind and led him captive but afterwards he says now there is no Condemnation But to whom to those that are in Christ and who are they Even those that walk not after the flesh but after the spirit For the law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me Rom. 8. 2. free from the law of sin and death Here he tells us of a Freedom how he came to be the Lord's Free-man this was while he was in the Body and a sound Testimony against all that plead for Sin term of Life For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh Rom. 8. 5. but they that are after the SPIRIT the things of the SPIRIT Here he makes a great difference between these two as if they comprehended all Mankind and the one so contrary to the other that which of these we joyn'd to we either please or displease the Lord For they that walk in the flesh cannot please God but they that walk in the spirit shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. Here is a plain Demonstration that this Apostle reckons the Spirit the main means of our being his and that a Man may so have or not so have the Spirit in his account is as he walks in it or obeys it or not walks in it or obeys it for his Servants we are to whom we obey now if we obey not the Spirit of Christ we loose that Priviledge of having it as our Guide to our comfort and yet may have it as to condemn and judge for Disobedience and then we have not the favour and love of it because of Disobedience But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead Rom. 8. 11. dwell in you he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you There is a Testimony of the Spirit that it raised our Lord Jesus from the Dead and how it was to dwell in his People and how it was to quicken them whom it dwelt in I would all People might know a quickening to God by it Rom. 8. Rom. 8. 13. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Now who are they that live after the Flesh but those that live in Sin for the word Flesh is comprehensive of all the Works of the Flesh and of Iniquity but now the Spirit is to mortifie all these deeds and this is the way to live for People cannot tell us what Sin it is that this cannot mortifie and bring under if any think they can let them shew it us For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of Rom. 8. 14. God And truly if People were led by the Spirit of God they would not be at such uncertainty nor so unstable in their ways for the end of being thus led is to bring the Sons of Men to be the Sons of God Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received Rom. 8. 15. the spirit of Bondage again to fear but we have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Here he makes mention of two Spirits the one is the Spirit of Bondage wherein are its Children and there is a Fear attends it a slavish Fear from inward Guilt a Fear of Punishment the other that the Children of God had received was the Spirit of Adoption whereby they could call God Father and gave them evidence that he was their Father Rom. 8. 16. The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God A certain evidence of God's Care to his Children that they need not be tossed hither and thither with every windy Doctrine of Men and by the sleighty ways of Mens Invention but that they may come through the Spirit to a settl'd stay'd Mind from among the Lo here 's and Lo there 's to have this Witness in our selves and this Seal in our selves that the Lord knows who are his Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not Rom. 8. 26. how to pray as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered Then we ought to mind the help of the Spirit in drawing near to God least when we ask we ask amiss Howbeit when the spirit is come he will guide you into all truth John 16. 13. for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak They that run and the Lord never sent does not profit the People at all And why because they speak and the Lord speaks not by them This I say then walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Gal. 5. 16. lusts of the flesh How full the Scriptures are and how many Admonitions left us from time to time to walk in the Spirit and yet many People make a Mock at it But the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long suffering gentleness Gal. 5. 22. goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Here is the Fruit of the Spirit made mention of and what Fruits is to be brought forth by it in the Sons of Men. Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word Eph. 1. 13. of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise This Seal of the Holy Spirit is to be waited for and trusted in to receive the Promises of God which are Yea and Amen for ever in Christ Jesus For the spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. It searcheth Mans hearts and Womens hearts and with out it the things of God and of his Kingdom cannot be found out Verse 12. Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit which is
Life Then the Spirit took me up and I heard a voice behind me Ezek. 3. 12 saying Blessed be the Glory of the Lord from his place Here was the Work of the Spirit in which God is glorified for it is his own Work that praises him and glorifies his great Power and excellent Name And all the while my Breath is in me and the Spirit of God Job 27. 3. is in my Heart my Lips shall not speak wickedness nor my Tongue utter deceit my Righteousness I will hold fast and will not let it go my Heart shall not reprove me as long as I do live It appears the Spirit of God in his Heart was able to preserve him and is it not now the same as ever it was from everlasting to everlasting God blessed for ever The Spirit of God hath made me and the Breath of the Job 33. 4. Almighty hath given me Life This he experienc'd hath given me Life he knew both what the Spirit of God had done and what it was then a doing a state beyond all Lifeless Forms and Shadows that are in the World And I will pour upon the House of David and upon the Zech. 12. 10. Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn for him It is not in vain then to wait for the motion of the Spirit to supplicate the Lord but many vex it and grieve it in themselves and others also it may be said they crucifie to themselves afresh the inward appearance of the Lord of Life and Glory And it shall come to pass after those days saith the Lord Joel 2. 28. I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie If the Lord has said it great reason for men to believe it and wait for it and not to be offended at it for who shall stop the Mouths of those the Lord opens Woe to the rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Isa 30. 1. Counsel but not of me that cover with a Covering but not of my spirit that they may add sin to sin Here is a Woe pronounced to the rebellious Children and that from God that cannot lye they had taken Counsel but it was ill Counsel it was such Counsel as to be rebellious and truly such Counsel is taken by the greatest part of Mankind But the Lord would have People to take Counsel of himself and be covered with his Spirit for they that are covered with Profession and with the words of other mens Experiences be but like the Fig-leaves or Fig-tree that bore no Fruit it was blasted and withered and so will all be that add Sin to Sin Therefore it is high time for all to come to Repentance and amendment of Life not to talk so very much of it but to come to it and live in the self-denyal of all false things and false ways and ill words that offend the Lord. Saith the Lord Behold my servant speaking of Christ Isa 42. 1. whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles The Spirit of the Lord was poured upon him without measure and the Lord delighted in him and would have all People to behold him that they may receive a Measure of his Spirit whereof Christ testified saying He shall take of mine and give it unto you and the least Measure of it if taken heed unto is sufficient to make a man an upright man For I will pour Water on him that is thirsty I will pour Isa 44. 3. my spirit upon thy seed and my Blessing upon thy Off-spring A very large Promise and in this Gospel-day we ought to look wait and hope for the fulfilling of it here is the free Love of God to the Children of Men that hunger and thirst after Righteousness they shall be filled they shall know the pouring forth of God's Spirit from Generation to Generation As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit which is upon thee and my Words which I Isa 59. 21. have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Many are the Promises of God to the Children of Men which are yea and amen in the Seed which is Christ this Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head and delivers the Soul When the Enemy shall come in like a Flood the spirit Isa 59. 19. of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him How full is the Scriptures of Truth and how many times over the Lord has said and promised to pour out of his spirit and the wonderful Effects that it would bring forth for the Sons of Men both in former Ages and also in our Age. I have set down some few of them here in great love to my Native Country that all might believe and see them as recorded in the Scriptures though one of the least whom God has reached to yet by his Grace I am a Believer believing that it is not in vain to wait upon God for the fulfilling of these many precious Promises that are left us in the holy Scriptures I shall set down a few more and for no other end but that People may endeavour to reap the real Benefit thereof Jesus saith Verily I say unto thee except a man be born of John 3. 5. water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God This new Birth here spoken of is not that Birth which is after the Flesh but the Birth which is after the Spirit which no one can know but by the Holy Spirit and he that believes therein as the Scriptures have said Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water But this John 7. 3. spake he of the spirit which they that believed in him should receive Now let us try our Belief if true then we shall know the Promise true also for the Promises of Christ and of the Spirit which he said he would send is to be expected or otherwise our not believing nor expecting of them hinders us from partaking thereof as it doth all them that do not expect the appearance of Christ in Spirit For the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers Joh. 4 23. shall worship the Father in the spirit and in the truth God is a spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Now let all the Worshippers in the World see what they worship for Christ said of the Temple-worshippers And to such as said in this mountain ye worship ye know not what and truly we may see by Christ's own words that all the Worshippers in the World that do not come to the Spirit are no true
A Compassionate INVITATION OF Christian Love TO All Tender-hearted People Testifying unto GOD's Free-Grace His Spirit 's Teaching and good End of Man's Creation By one that has tasted of the Goodness of the Lord WILLIAM ROBINSON London the 25th of the 2d Month 1692. LONDON Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-Yard in Lumbard-street 1692. A Compassionate Invitation OF Christian Love To all Tender-hearted People MY dear Friends and all tender-hearted People there is Love in my Heart to you all according to the measure of Grace received from the Lord and my Heart is truly enlarged at this Time and Season in the consideration of the Work of the Lord that he has begun in our day and how the Lord has reached forth a Hand of Help unto us to bring us on our way Oh! my dear Friends there is a Travel upon my Spirit that none of us may turn back again but that our Eye may be to that Arm that has gathered us into a belief that it can save us and preserve us if we keep to it that that brings to the Birth will bring forth in the Lord 's due time for we may remember the earnest Cries that has been put up unto the Lord in days past and in years that are gone that the Lord would be pleased to make known his way to us and we were ready to say we would walk in it And truly Friends the Lord has been very gracious to us he has brought us by a way we then did not know and a great Concern and Travel was upon our Souls to be delivered from the Bondage and Captivity that we was then under notwithstanding we had a Profession but there was still something longed after that is beyond all the Professions that are in the World even Life to our Souls Oh the longings of Souls that was in that Day when the Lord visited us let it never be forgotten And truly Friends these things are mentioned that all may be stirred up to watchfulness and to faithfulness to God and for no other end for we may say and that without boasting we have known the Terrors of the Lord and therefore we perswade Men to come to this godly Sorrow and to a bowed down state before the Lord for this we can say that the Lord wills not the Death of him that dyes but rather that he may turn to him and live Turn ye turn ye why will ye dye said the Lord Turn ye at my Reproofs I will pour out my Spirit upon you and make known my ways unto you Oh! that all People were but willing to walk in God's way and lay aside all that hinders that every thing that hinders may be brought down by degrees every Weight and every Burden may be removed and Sin that so easily besets Oh how easily are men perswaded and drawn away after this thing or the other thing not considering what the end of these things will be Surely if the end was rightly considered People might be more concern'd how to get out of these Besetments and Entanglements for we may remember that the wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ We would all men might come to this Gift of God he has given to us this is that we shall be called to an account for whether it amount to the degree of one two or five Talents comparatively that all People may be faithful to it the least measure the least appearance is of a saving nature if men will believe in it Oh what a tender regard the Lord had to a People in former times that were beset and under heavy Burthens how willing was the Lord to deliver them and bring them out from under Pharaoh that hard Task-master Was not this a lively Figure to his spiritual Israel in this our day he divided the Waters they passed through the Deeps he brought them into the Wilderness and Pharaoh and his Hosts were drowned And then they could sing and praise God for this Deliverance Now Friends there is an inward Warfare to be known there are inward Enemies to be met withal and we had need to know the same Arm of Power as they did to work in us and for us that we may come to serve God and worship God and love God with all our Hearts love his Truth love his Word and love his Appearance tho' God may appear in Judgment yet it is for a good end that we that know him trust in him and not in our selves nor in the Arm of Flesh but in God I will bear thy Indignation O Lord says one of old because I have sinned against thee and though thou kill me I will trust in thee Now Friends the way of his appearing is not to kill the Body but the Sin that dwells there the evil Affections the evil Desires that war against the Soul Oh what Warfare there has been and a Travel there has been that we might arrive at the good Land and that we might not faint in our Minds And truly Friends the Lord has given us a Brook by the way he has turn'd our Wilderness into a fruitful Field so that we many times can invite others to come and partake with us for we believe that God would have all men come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved Now there has been a great deal of searching after outward Knowledge many have been very busie and diligent in seeking that to talk of and discourse of but the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Christ is a saving Knowledge and a sensible Knowledge to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is Life eternal Come Friends try your Experience have you been made to cry out under the weight and burthen of Sin as one did when it was too heavy for him to bear Now People may see what a loathsome thing it is to have a Profession and Talk and Notions of good things and be out of the Life and Knowledge thereof for what benefit has a hungry Man or Woman in hearing tell of Bread if they do not partake of it We know that the Lord feeds the Poor with Bread but many are so high and rich in Notions they do not mind to come into a state of low degree nor the low and little appearance of Truth in their Hearts Oh! come Friends let us take notice of the day of small things and be faithful in a little or else we shall never be made Rulers over much And now Friends as we turn in our Minds we may find how the Lord reproved us for many things even things that were little taken notice of by some and made us to remember that Saying We must give an account to God for every idle word Now Friends here we can say was a good beginning when the Truth met with us and brought Judgment upon us we were made sensible what it was for and how we had been led
Man and Womans Soul were but conquered and brought down then Truth would reign and Righteousness would reign but now these two cannot reign together in one Heart Righteousness and Unrighteousness cannot dwell together in one Soul the one is a man's Friend the other is his Enemy for a Man's Enemies are they of his own House Oh that I could perswade Men and Women to break off from their Sins or be an Instrument in the Truth to direct others thither also for the Lord promised to dwell in Peoples Hearts they that were of a clean Heart and feared the Lord he promised the Son of Righteousness should arise with healing Virtue under his Wings that was to heal those that wanted healing from this deadly Wound for all Nations have been wounded by it and it is a deadly Wound too without this healing Virtue be known Let us a little enquire into it how it comes to have a place in Man's Heart how it comes to be seated there it is not because it ought to be there but many loves to have it there take a Delight in it and it has got such a Root in them that they will plead for it and for its continuing as long as they live and more than so as if it were unpossible to be delivered out of it but blessed be God a Deliverer is come out of Zion to turn away Ungodliness from Jacob then Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad because a Saviour is known they shall call his Name JESUS for he shall save his People from their Sins not in their Sins but from their Sins to be a People saved by the Lord. And these may indeed be called God's People because He has saved them and redeemed them There is none that can be truly called God's peculiar People and God's Children but those that receive him in his spiritual Appearance for to as many as received him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God For as People cannot by all their Learning and Reading and all as they can do of themselves get Power over Sin so of themselves they cannot truly come to the Sonship and yet we may see there is a possibility through the Power that Christ gives to come to that Estate Now I hope we may also believe that it is as possible through this Power not without it to overcome Sin as it is to come to the Sonship seeing the overcoming of the one is the way to the other and the saving from one that is Sin that Power that saves also entitles to the Sonship and without all question it is as possible for Christ to save his People from their Sins as to give them an Inheritance with the Saints in Light and as easie because he gave himself for us to redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works I would have all People come to believe that all things is possible with God that cannot lye and He has said Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy and without Holiness no man shall ever see the Lord That is to his comfort This is a very weighty thing to be consider'd for I hope all men would be saved and therefore all men ought to consider what it is that shuts Men out of the Kingdom of God and keeps them out it must needs be granted that it is Sin This is that that with-holds Good things from sinful men that they cannot enter for Sin cannot enter that is certain There is no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God But it is as certain there is a Rest and a Kingdom prepared for the People of God this we will all grant But now to say or think that none can be or are prepared for this Kingdom will be great Folly then what was they prepared by but by the Power of God the Word of God which is one and nigh in the Heart And I hid thy Word says David in my Heart What to do that I might not sin against God And the Preparation of the Heart if it be prepared aright is of the Lord. Now Friends God prepares the Heart while we are in these Bodies that must needs be Well then we may say as it was said Let not Sin reign in your mortal Bodies These mortal Bodies Sin is not to reign nor dwell in them it is to be purged out that we may know the Leaven of the Kingdom that we may come to be Heirs of the Kingdom of God that Christ may come to rule and reign in us whose Right it is for there is no one has Right to rule in Man but he and as we know him to rule and have the Dominion of his Rule and Dominion there shall never be an end the Power and Rule of the Wicked one must come to an end where any come to be Witnesses in their own particulars of the Reign and Government of Christ Jesus who said Learn of me I am meek and lowly in Heart and you shall find Rest to your Souls He gives Peace to all those that truly learn of him and follows him in the Self denial and these can give the Praise of his own Works to him that has wrought such a Good Work in them and for them for the Gospel has been preached and is preached in our day for this end that all People might truly fear God and give Glory to his Name for the hour of his Righteous Judgments is come and is set up in the Hearts of many People to judge and condemn Sin in the Flesh in the Heart of Man where it has lodged and doth yet lodge and will continue there if the Judgments of the Lord be not known to break in and to be submitted unto for the strong man armed has kept the House long but when a stronger than he comes and is entertained he binds the strong man spoils his Goods and casts him out Now this strong man is the Enemy of all Righteousness is an Enemy to all Good and is that Spirit that rules in the Children of Disobedience and while he has ruled his Goods have been at Peace and What is his Goods but Sin and Wickedness Men and Women have been at peace with these Goods in their Errings and Strayings from God like lost Sheep and yet they have been at Peace such a Peace as it is it serves many People that takes liking to the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and Pride of Life But now this Peace will not last it will soon come to an end there is a Judge that stands at the Door of our Heart and knocks he will soon break this Peace for he never sends Peace to People in that state and in that condition for we have his own Testimony for it I came not says he to send Peace on Earth but a Sword What Sword but the Sword of the Spirit which cuts down Sin Now we may read how God
placed a flaming Sword at Eden 's Gate that turned every way if a man had all false Coverings of Professions or the Fig-leaf Garments or all the changable ways of Religion that are in the World this flaming Sword still placed it turns every way against him that there is no way at all left for fallen Man to enter or find out for Life in a state of Sin if he chang'd his way never so often this still turns against him Now in this state we may truly say there was none to help but the Lord and What did the Lord say to this thing for he had warned Man and Woman and had given them a Command before and a very large Priviledge too if they would have been contented Of all the Trees of the Garden thou maist eat save that only of Knowledge of Good and Evil And yet after Transgression the Lord in his great Love that he had to the Workmanship of his Hands says on this wise That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head here is the Promise of the Lord this is the way that God promis'd to restore Mankind And this Seed was Christ he is the Way to God again Now it is very like many will be ready to conclude that Christ is the way to God again but that they suppose they may do by Tradition and never come to know the Seed to bruise the Serpent's Head in them but until this is known Men may make a Profession of God and Christ and yet know little or nothing at all of the Work of that Eternal Power and Spirit of Christ to renew to break down Sin and Satan and to renew and restore them into the Image of God again Oh! what need have we all to wait as they did of old until we be endued with Power from on high But some may say they had a Command for so doing and doth not this Command reach to us I hope none will deny it for says the Prophet They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength these are all they that come to a true waiting State upon the Lord for he is worthy to be waited upon and he will be waited upon and sought unto by the House of Israel and truly if People had a true regard to the Spirit of Truth that Christ said the Father would send in his Name People would be more watchful and more concern'd in waiting upon God then they are for I cannot but take notice many times how loose and careless many People are though not in pursuing after the things of this World that pass away and comes to an end but very loose and careless in Religious and Heavenly Matters and Things of far more concern then the Things that are here which we can behold with our outward Eye for the things which we behold with our outward Eyes are Temporal but the things that are not seen thereby which we ought to behold with our inward Eyes are Eternal Oh! that all People might hasten out of Sin even as Lot hastened out of that sinful Sodom that the Lord was angry with in days past Come Friends it is the same in our day the Sins of the People of England cry aloud and the Lord has spared this Land of ours many Years though sometimes visited with Judgments Oh! that all People would lay to heart the great Mercy the continued Mercy of the Lord to this poor Land wherein we live and how the People have provoked the Lord with their Disobedience for Disobedience is as the Sin of Witchcraft and the Disobedient dwell in a dry Land they know not when good comes But the earnest Cry of my Heart to God is that all People may come to amend their Ways and amend their Lives by coming to Unfeigned Repentance and turn to the Lord to his Grace that has appeared to all Men Where has the Grace of God appeared In the Heart where Sin has appeared For what end but that Sin may be forsaken destroyed and wrought out and everlasting Righteousness brought in instead thereof For righteousness exalts a nation or a people but sin is a shame to any nation or people And why will People love that which is a Shame to them and a Disgrace to all that are found in it indeed we may say the Lord found many of us therein but there has been a day of Washing and a day of Cleansing known inwardly where this Pollution lay there has been the Word of the Lord as a Fire and as a Hammer to burn it up and consume it Root and Branch And thus Friends we have learned true Religion and to bridle our Tongues that we might not offend against the Lord and a Stay to our Minds that we might not wander any more nor be bewildred any more nor turn aside any more Oh! the Lord grant that all People may come to walk in the Light of the Lord and then we are sure they will walk in that which pleases God And the Prophecy of Isaiah will come to be fulfilled upon us That the time should come that they should say one to another Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths For how do People linger away their time in sinning against God How easily are they overtaken and perswaded to live in Sin term of Life but they are not so easily perswaded to forsake Sin although when a Sinner doth repent him of his Sins or forsake them he shall find Mercy the Lord will have Mercy he will abundantly pardon But now instead of Mens forsaking of it they are daily adding Sin to Sin and pulling it upon them as with a Cart-rope Men of perverse Minds of ill Minds and of ill Lives their Lives bespeak whose Children they are and whose Works they are a doing even the Works of the Flesh which is Sin the Works of the old Enemy that is shut out for ever he upholds his Kingdom in Disobedience and so do all that loves Sin and pleads for Sin there is nothing so hurtful as Sin is here Men has lost their Belief they have lost their right Senses talk of believing in God the Father Almighty and in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son and yet believe Sin must Reign as if there was a necessity for it so to do but we have learned better things Glory to God and things that do accompany Salvation we know that of whatsoever a Man is overcome of the same he is brought in Bondage I write said John unto you little children that ye sin not and to you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one then there was a possibility of Victory therefore let none be faint-hearted but look to Christ who has all Power in Heaven and Earth and is Alsufficient
and truly the 3d Chapter of the first Epistle of John is very full And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin And whosoever abideth in him sinneth not and whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him And then 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 made manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Now this is the Testimony of John and set down here to perswade all to come to the Work of the Spirit of Truth in their own Hearts that through the same they may come to please God and leave off those things that displeases him for we according to our Measures that we have receiv'd would have all People come to be saved and to see how far they are saved from Sin and also to come to learn Righteousness by the Spirit of Truth that leads into the way of it for in the way of Righteousness there is Peace and Assurance and that for ever and herein we are owned of the Lord he owns us as his Children and gives unto us a Portion or Measure of his Spirit which he giveth to them that truly ask it Truly this is a Portion indeed more to be desired than all that this World can afford and therefore that all may be good Stewards in the manifold Grace of God for God's Love has been manifold his Mercies has not failed to those that are found in their Duty to him and continues as dutiful Children alwaies observing what the Lord requires of them and as we are found obedient he gives us our Portion of Meat in due season He is the Rewarder of all those that truly seek him he doth not long hide his Face from these tho' sometimes he is pleased to try them in the Furnace of Affliction it is that they may come forth as Gold tryed in the Fire that is more pure more weighty more solid more of the nature of Truth may appear in them and through them that others beholding their good Conversations may come to glorifie their Heavenly Father for He is worthy of all the Honour Glory and Renown by us all both now henceforth and for ever saith my Soul Now Friends something relating to the Spirit of God how it wrought in former times even in the Beginning and also to several Generations In the Beginning the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the Waters Here is something of the Spirits moving for before it was said that Darkness was upon the face of the Gen. 1. 2. Deep and holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost The Spirit of God strove with the old World to reclaim Gen. 6. 2. them from their Wickedness else how shall that place be understood when the Lord says My Spirit shall not always strive with Man because when Men grieve the Spirit of God by continuing in that which the Lord is angry with therefore the Lord said his Spirit should not always strive with Man we all of us ought to mind the day of our Visitation while the Help and Means of the Spirit is afforded to us or else Man's Destruction will be of himself Thou gavest them also thy good Spirit to instruct them and Neh. 9. 20. with hold not thy Manna from their Mouths yet nevertheless they rebelled against thee Oh how many Mercies both spiritual and temporal has the Lord showred down upon Englands Inhabitants also and yet they evilly requite the Lord Yet many years didst thou forbear Neh. 9. 30. and testified against them by thy Spirit in thy Prophets yet would they not give ear they still retained the hardness of their Hearts for which cause the Lord thus complained of them and testified against them by his Spirit and it is the same to this day notwithstanding the great Pretensions of many as not being under the Law but under the Gospel Thus saith the Lord he that created the Heavens and the Isa 42. 5. Earth he that giveth Breath to the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein the Breath and Spirit which all People have meet for Body and Soul is given them of God and all People ought to mind his good Spirit that their Souls may live to him But there is a Spirit in Man and the inspiration of the Job 32. 8. Almighty giveth Understanding That is Spiritual Understanding of the things of God that are hid while Man is in Disobedience for the carnal-minded man knows not the things of God neither indeed can he and the reason renderd because they are spiritually discerned and there was some that neither knew the Scriptures nor the Power of GOD this must needs be for want of taking heed to his Spirit or Divine Inspiration Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee Psa 139 7. from thy Presence There is no hiding from the Lord he sees and beholds all the ways of the Children of men and their Works of what sort or kind soever they be He is an All-seeing God and will not be mocked such as every one sows must they such reap and the Spirit of the Lord pursues the wicked and the ungodly man for his Wickedness and all his ungodly Deeds though acted never so secretly Teach me to do thy Will thou art my God thy Spirit is Psa 143. 10 good lead me into the Land of Uprightness This is a good Confession to the Spirit of Truth both as a Leader and a Teacher to do the Will of God and a Leader into the Land of Uprightness then out of the Land of Darkness and out of the Land of Unrighteousness We would to God all men were thus taught and thus led Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high and the Isa 32. 15. Wilderness be a fruitful Field and the fruitful Field be counted for a Forrest Here we may see what we are without the Spirit though our Professions may seem green and fruitful yet when the Spirit of the Lord is poured forth upon us they will be but little accounted of that can turn our barren Wilderness of Profession into a fruitful Field and blessed be God it has done great things for many And the Spirit entered into me when he spake unto me and Ezek. 2. 2. set me upon my Feet so that I heard him that spake unto me Here was the Entrance of the Spirit witnessed and it was said that the entrance of thy Word giveth Light The Spirit and the Word is one and by the entrance of the Spirit he heard the Lord speak to him and his words are Spirit and
of God that we might know the things freely given us of God Now they that are in the Spirit of the World sees not nor perceives those things but the things of God are made known by his own Spirit Not theives nor drunkards c. shall inherit the kingdom of 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. God and such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God He tells us here who shall not inherit God's Kingdom and how they had been such but now they were washed and sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and that by the Spirit of God But the manifestation 1 Cor. 12. 17. of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal The great Love of God to us in giving such manifest Tokens I desire we may all consider the intent and end in giving of it to us it is that we might know a Soul 's profiting by it Verse 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether Jews or Gentiles bond or free and have been made to drink into one spirit This is the true substantial saving Baptism and 't is of the Spirit they that witness this Baptism has the Witness in themselves even the Spirit of God bearing witness with their Spirits that they are his Children and that they are baptised by this one Spirit for it is not the washing away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God this is that Baptism that burns up the Chaff and subdues the light vain airy Mind in Man and Woman and crucifies them to the World and to the Affections and Lusts of it for it cannot be said that Men are truly baptized by this One SPIRIT while the evil Lusts and Uncleanness remains in their Hearts for said John speaking of Christ's Baptism He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire His fan is in his hand he shall throughly purge bis floor that is Peoples hearts that their hearts may be set on heavenly things and he may dwell therein for if ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God The first man Adam was made a living soul the second man 1 Cor. 15. 45. Adam was made a quickening spirit Oh! that all People would come to be quickened by him who is the Repairer of Breaches and the Restorer of Paths to dwell in Now the 2 Cor. 3. 18. Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty He is that quickening Spirit that quickens the Soul to God and proclaims Liberty to the Captives and to those that have been in the Prison-house of Sin to come forth and shew themselves For we through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by Gal. 5. 5. faith This was a blessed waiting indeed and they waited in a degree of the Spirit and of Faith and Hope for more thereof and they who feel this Hope need not be ashamed to wait upon God for an increase Gal. 6. 8. But he that soweth Gal. 6. 8. to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting And many more faithful Testimonies concerning the Holy Spirit and Man's Duty to obey it are in the Holy Scriptures of Truth of the Pourings forth of it and of the Work of it I have set down these few out of the Old and New Testament that all may regard the same Spirit and thereby see learn and believe what God has done and what he will do and also what he is a doing by his Spirit and Power and reap the Benefit of it and the great Advantage that is by it and for no other end have I laboured in this thing but that all might believe in it and come to the knowledge of the Truth by it and be saved In the Beginning God made and created Man for a purpose of his own Glory in a state of Uprightness and Innocency wherein he was capable to serve God but the Enemy being subtile beguiled and betrayed and drew Man and Woman into Disobedience to their Maker and Creator for which the Curse and the Woe came and still remains upon all the Children of Adam to this day that remain in Disobedience against God for by one man's Disobedience Death came upon all men but by the Obedience of one even our Lord Jesus Christ the Free Gift of God is come upon all men and Life is preached to all men for in him there is Life and this Life is the Light of men and all that ever come to Life must come to him Many make great Professions and yet want Life and the Reason is they abide in Death and they will not believe but many will say We do believe yes but it is but historically There is a Belief in the World that is received by hear-say of a Saviour and a Redeemer without receiving him and they not saved by him As if he would save People from Hell and Punishment and not from Sin that is the cause of it Surely the one is as possible as the other For his name shall be called Jesus he shall save his People from their Sins that Man may come to glorifie his Maker and know his Redeemer For Job said I know that my Redeemer liveth And because He lives we live also Now we must not think to live to follow the Devices and Desires of our own Hearts Lusts and do those things we ought not to do This state we have lived in when we knew no Redeemer when we lived without God in the World but surely this was not the way to know our Redeemer because we were not redeemed by him we did not know his Blood to sprinkle our Hearts from an Evil Conscience and him to wash us as with pure Water but the Temple was defiled divers Lusts dwelt and Uncleanness dwelt therein But now to know our Redeemer is so to know him as to be redeemed by him out of the World 's corrupt Ways and Fashions and ill manner of living that is not to live loosely and wantonly for they that live after this manner live to themselves and will have the Reward of their own Doings from the Hand of the Lord. But now the thing that I would have all People to mind is the Redeemer and Restorer of Mankind out of that fallen Nature and Spirit that so much prevails that so they may come to glorifie God and know him to be their Redeemer CHRIST JESUS to redeem them from an evil State and Conversation that he may present them to his Father without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing And truly Friends we are to glorifie GOD with our Bodies and Spirits they are the LORD's we were created for this end and we are bought with a great Price for this end we are not our