Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	flesh_n	soul_n	word_n	5,587	5	4.4264	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78561	A tender salutation: or, loving epistle to such, who have a breathing in the innocent life of my friends with whom I walked in the outward observances. Also, for my relations (after the flesh) with all others professing God, and that have any breathings after the truth in the inward parts. Wherein something is declared in the power and light of God, concerning the sure foundation, and the house of God, with the inward glory, government, cloathing, feeding, non-superiority, and safety, that is in Gods habitation. With a word to the weak to establish them, that they faint not at the appearances of outward trouble for their consciences. - Whereunto is annexed a further discovery of God to my soul, concerning the spiritual temple, tabernacle and ark of Gods testimony, being the truth, life, and substance of the temple, tabernacle and ark of the testimony under the legal day. - To be read in the light, which discovers the things that be of God. -	Chandler, Jacob.	1664 (1664)	Wing C1927A; ESTC R227552	24,960	33

letter search the letter improve in the notions of the letter c. If you are for all this strangers to that Spirit that gave forth the letter at first and unto which the letter points and directs to that your life may not stand in a seeming outward conformity to the letter without but that your life may stand and abide in the Spirit within This is that Law of life that is in the habitation of God that is pure and perfect converting the soul inlightning the understanding whereby we may come to know him that is true even Christ Jesus the true God and eternal life Friends this Law that every particular soul that is become Gods house is guided by is not that Law from Mount Sinai but from Mount Sion Not from Mount Horeb on which Moses received the Law of the Ten Commandments and writ it on Tables of stone but the Law of the Spirit of the living God written upon the Tables of our hearts neither is it that Law written by pen and ink without but that written by the Spirit of the living God within and that must needs be a living Law that a living Spirit writes FRiends look in for this living Law of the Spirit of life for every one of ye have a measure thereof in your selves now see that you be guided by it and take not up in the outward thing but presse through and come to the Spirit and life that your standing in this day may be sure and unshaken by all the powers of the evil One that your joy may so abound springing from the true foundation as that persecution tribulation imprisonment banishment nor death it self may be able to take that Crown from you nor in the least may amaze amuse or distract you from pure joy of the Lord and from the obeying of the pure movings of the life in your souls My soul knows something of the inward feeling of this joy but its unspeakable yet glorious and as my soul comes to obey the inward teachings of the pure eternal God so I come to experience to feel the flowing in and shedding abroad of this blessed peace of God in my heart that Prisons Banishment Tribulation and Disiresse is even a light thing through the abundance of love that my soul has to God which is freely given unto me because then I can believe that my defence is the munition of Rocks and that my bread shall be given me and that my waters shall be sure Oh Friends do ye all with my soul stand in the counsel of the everlasting God and resign up freely to the Lord body soul spirit mind and all things else for he is faithful and able yea will keep that which is committed and resigned up freely unto himself who is El-shaddai the strong and mighty God and none shall be able to pull that out of his hands that is freely given and resigned to him according to his requiring You have been often a speaking after this manner but come to the life to the truth and stand in the power of it the which you will never be able to do unlesse every one in particular abide in the counsel of the Lord and hearken to his voyce and hear his living Word which is nigh viz. in the heart of every particular which teaches every one to deny himself viz. his self-will self-wisdom self-righteousnesse and understanding and all that is self to be debased laid low thrown to the dust and become nothing and what God would have him of a rich man rich in notions in gifts parts and outward services out of the life as Paul before be was converted to become poor in spirit of a strong man to be made weak of a proud man to become humble than a little child may lead him of a notional one to be made ignorant c. That now every particular may be made new again a living Temple and habitation of God to dwell in and to reach them out of his Law as they are able to receive it from him and as you come to be taught of the Lord and to obey his teachings which are pure so you shall come to be the blessed of the Lord and the Word of the Lord shall dwell richly in you and you shall become strong in the power and Spirit of the Lord the brother of low degree shall be exalted as he abides in the anointings and the ignorant that has let go his knowledge in the knowing comprehension shall be inlightned and as he waits upon the Lord and hearkens to his teachings within by the Law of the Spirit of life writ by the Spirit of the living God in his heart he I say shall come to a good understanding in the misteries of the Kingdom of God and shall know the doctrine that is of God for who teaches to profit like him Though others that feeds upon the Tree of knowledge and comprehends much in the knowing part shall slight it and call it strange doctrine delusion heresie c. But why is it because they feed not on the Tree of life but on the Tree of knowledge which apart and separate from the Tree of life is death destruction and poyson to the soul No Lordly and Majestical Superiority in Gods house AGain There is no Superiority in the Family of God the children of God are all equal there is none allowed by the Father to be one above the other to rule it and Lord it over his Brothers Conscience as we see in the world by men that would fain be reputed something as to the matters of holiness and fear of the Lord when it s not the fear of the Lord that puts them on to assume and arrogate to themselves a power over their Brothers Conscience but it s the flesh the Devil and carnal wisdom that puts them upon it Too much of this spirit was in the Disciples of old but Christ rebuked them for it The true children in the Family of God they serve one another not usurp over one another its true God may and does discover his secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom more to some than to others of his children not that they should lift up themselves above their Fellow-brethren but that they should submit to the Brother of low degree and strengthen the weak hands and feeble knees and consolate the discomforted with the overflowings of that Cup of blessing that God hath filled to him But ah how does proud man that has got into the form of godlinesse Lord it over them that he dreams are under him and so demonstrate they have an Antichristian spirit Oh Friends there is a quiet peaceable loving carriage in the children of God one towards the other according to the anointing received there 's love not only in word but in deed there 's a sweet condescending according to the requirings of God one to the other a holy bearing and forbearing in this Family there 's not a shoving with the shoulder

and a pushing one at the other for that 's of the flesh but a submitting the shoulder to bear each others burthen they lay out for each others good of what the eternal God has laid into their hearts and all this according to his working in them who works freely that all might be strengthned and comforted so that here 's not among the children of God Superiority one over another but all equally alike the children of God and Brethren one of another And certain I am that according to the measure of Gods indwelling in the pure light of life in the soul so the haughtinesse of man is crucified and laid low for haughtinesse and lordlinesse of spirit is from the flesh and beneath But as the soul receives of the Spirit of light and life and obeyes its teachings and drawings it shall find it drawing him from this spirit of haughtinesse and lordlinesse into a humble and low frame that it can standing in the power of such drawings condescend to wash his Brethrens feet as Christ did and become in the power of this so little and low that a little Child may lead him to wit Christ the Babe of righteousnesse the holy One of God for Friends the more the soul is anointed with the consecrating oyle i. e. the Spirit of God the more humble that soul is and willing to instruct his poor and weak Brother what God has done for his soul in order for his weak Brothers perseverance in the truth such a soul under the anointing of God is far from a Lordly and Majestical spirit This is that which God destroyes in the day of his power and glorious appearings of his life in a soul In that day the lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the hanghtinesse of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exaleed AND now my dear Friends Turn in and see what you can experience in your own particulars that your rejoycing may be in your selves and not in another and think not this strange that you are pressed through such a weak instrument as I am to turn in and to see if these things are wrought by the eternal Spirit and that you have your teachings from the Spirit within Consider Friends the soul that is to be saved is within and Christ the light is within he sayes I am meek and low in heart And Christ in you the hope of glory And know you not that Christ is in you c. And the Law of the Spirit of life by which every particular is taught though every particular does not learn holinesse righteousnesse and the true fear of the Lord c. is said to be within I 'le put my Law in your minds and write it in your hearts c. And God himself is within as the Apostle declaved I will dwell in you and walk in you and you shall be my people and I will be your God Now if all this is within then turn in and examine your selves what of the teachings what of the life of the power and Spirit what of the flowings forth of the living vertues of the eternal Fountain of righteousnesse do I feel spring up in me that I and thou oh soul may rejoyce in our own portion and not in anothers and each of us come to sit down under our own Vine in particular and eat of the sweet fruit hereof none making afraid sayes my soul This Vine to be Christ and the Father to be the Husbandman that we may rejoyce together as the children of one Father all drinking into that one Rock and baptized into one Spirit and bound up together in the bundle of one life and that our union and communion may stand in the life Spirit and power and not in forms and outward observances saith my soul A brief discovery of the entrance into this house and habitation of God AND Friends There is no entring into this house of God but by great travel and pains Thou must travel out of Egypt through the loathsom Wilderneste to enter into Canaan Thou must oh soul experience the bond of thy iniquities to be broken Thou must know a day of trouble of misery a day of burning before thou canst advance this Church that is in God I say Thou must know the terrors of the Lord as my soul has known by reason of sin a day of shaking the foundations of the earth and making it to tremble a feeling the Arrows of the Almighty God stick in thy soul and great disquietnesse within thy borders because sin is in thy Tabernacle thou must feel his indignation as my soul hath according to thy measure and 't is good to bear it because of sin untill he raise thee up and comfort thy soul as sin is purged out Wait upon the Lord and suffer the wrath of God to be revealed from heaven against thy unrighteousnesse and in due time thou shalt feel a power-springing up from that light which first discover'd to thee thy sin whereby thou shalt have sin cast out but not all at once but as thou waitest here and obevest so thou shalt feel thy sin and thy old nature and all self destroyed and crucifyed so thou shalt experience a crucifying with Christ that thou maist live with him a pure innocent and spotlesse life and as thy sin and old nature c. is destroyed and dies so shall Christ the light of life live in thee and so as thou obeyest this light of life which is risen to destroy thy death thou shalt come to live in the pure life and have it in your selves and so as he who is this light of life to wit Christ Jesus lives in you you shall live also in him and so come to experience what it is to dwell in the house of God and to be a member of the true Church that is in God and to experience all and much more as already declared And now Friends unto the Lord I commit you and give up to be taught governed and guided by his pure Law of righteou snesse the Law of the Spirit of life which is the Law written in the heart which Law is pure and consents not to sin but reproves it and manifests it and holds out a power to mortifie it the which every soul that waits on the Lord and stands in his counsel shall feel spring up to cast out the son of the bond-woman for it shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman i. e. with Christ the life and seed of God And that you might be cloathed with the garment of light and salvation and with zeal and holy courage for the Lord as with a Cloak and that you might come to praise and adore the living God of endlesse life and that you might be fed upon the Mountain of Gods holinesse with the Feast that God has prepared a Feast of fat things of Wines well refined and that he might destroy by the appearance of his life the

vail that is upon you that you might come forth from darknesse and walk more in the light of life A word to the Weak to establish and direct them that they faint nat at the sight of the outward Adversary in their Meetings AND Friends There is a desire risen in me that every one of you in particular may come so to be established on that sure foundation the everlasting Rock of Ages that you may not be so soon shaken away many of you from the confidence that you seem to have for God and Truth as you are perswaded I speak not this to reproach you but in the power of God to establish you Friends your 〈◊〉 going forth out of the power of God into the flesh is it that makes you faint in the day of adversity and in the face of your enemy Therefore Friends if you would be valiant for the truth mind the life of God in your souls reside and dwell in it and give up all unto it fix your mind steddy upon it and stay thereon and as thou comes to this O soul thou shalt be kept in peace and quiet off from the trouble and disquiet that the flesh raises up for God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid upon him Friends it ill becomes those that fears the Lord to be of such a fearful frightful spirit as I have observed there is sometimes in your Meetings though it be but of suspition of an invasion by the enemy without Friends the desire in my soul is that you would mind the life the spirit in you and be still and quiet in the patience of the life and Lamb of God according to the measure in you and as you mind this and dwell in this your fears and terrors of the flesh will abate and your courage advance for the life of the pure God crucifies the flesh which leads to death The Spirit of God is a Spirit of love and of a sound mind it casts out such fear and it is not a Spirit of slavish fear so that my Friends if you be the sons and daughters of God why then you are led by the Spirit and not by the flesh which is fearful sinful c. And if you have the Spirit and live in the Spirit why then it has mortified the deeds of the flesh which are evil c. See Rom. 8.5 to the 17. verse They which are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit Slavish fear and cowardise for truth is of the flesh and to be fleshly and carnally minded is death to the soul but to be spiritually minded is life Oh Friends it has been a trouble to my spirit sometimes to see the distraction perturbation and trouble that many have entered into in their Meetings at a shallow c. Oh Friends labor to crucifie this old man with his fleshly meanbers and branches that springs forth into the visible life and what you have in the invisible life watch to have it strengthned and live in the measure you have attained of this invisible or inward life in your own particulars And if any further of the coming in of the visible enemy be into your Meetings in the discharging what you are perswaded to be your duty which is too probable and likely be still and quiet in your selves sweetly composed with your mind fixed upon God enjoying communion in the life and Spirit of God according to your particular measure keeping steddy in the beholdings of the life and be in the serious pursuit of it and do not suffer your thoughts and your minds to straggle in the least no not for a moment though the enemy provoke you be diligent in the watch that the enemy of your soul the invisible enemy break not in to overthrow your peace and communion with God and destroy your pursuit in the life and so your peace being lost your watch down and the enemy broke in then you enter into the flesh in the troubles fears tempests and disquiets which the life is freed from c. and so will be ready to say any thing do any thing so that you might be acquitted of the enemy without and released of a Prison and banishment for thy body which affrights many poor hearts who considers not the Prison the banishment and darknesse and trouble that their souls is in in the want of the light life Spirit peace and communion with God Oh Friends I say unto you all watch watch the life and go not from upon any terms be surely built on the sure foundation and you shall be able to say in the same life according to thy measure as David I am fixed I am fixed O God I am fixed O happy state here is the only safety And now unto the Lord once more I commit you that every one of you may so come to be established on that sure foundation the everlasting Rock of Ages and build so upon the power and life of God that Prisons Fines Persecutions the gates of hell even death it self may not prevail against you non affright you Amen Some further discovery of Gods house or habitation through the Spirit And according to my measure declaring of the spiritual Temple or Tabernacle and Ark of the Testimony the Truth Life and Substance of the Temple or Tabernacle and Ark of the Testimony under the Legal dispensation to be read in the light which manifesls the things that are of God FRiends The house and habitation of God is called the Temple or Tabernacle of God where God dwells walks moves c. and this was shewed by the Temple under the Law in which Temple or Tabernacle God was graciously present with his people in that day but now dwells no longer in Temples made with hands but in his people and children who are the Temple and hat itation of God through the Spirit Though my Friends some do imagine that the Legal Temple or Tabernacle is a figure holding forth to us the outward Ordinances viz. Preaching Praying Supper Water Baptism c. And some calls this a new Iemple state and 't is to be feared there do abide and look no further or very little higher than just to draw from it the outward observation but God hath revealed it otherwise to me and a necessity is laid upon me being called to it not to deny it In order to your understanding of this Consider I. That in the Legal Temple was the Ark of the Testament and this was the Ark of his presence Now this Ark figured forth the Lord Jesus in the Spirit which dwells in his people or particularly in a Saint this is the Ark of the New Testament Isa 42.6 Mal. 3.1 which also is called the New Covenant That Ark was Legal this is a Gospel-Ark that was an outward Ark this an inward Ark that was an Ark in a form this an Ark in the power that

was in a Type and shadow this is in truth and in substance Deut. 10.30 that was wrought by mans hands this is wrought by the finger and Spirit of God I say that Legal Ark was a Type Hebr 9.3 4. Exod. 23.33 and Christ Jesus the Ark of the New Covenant is the Antitype of the Tipe the residence of the Legal Ark was in the Temple or Tabernacle not in the outward Court or Sanctuary but within the Curtain or Vail called the Holy of Holies by Gods appointment so is the Gospel-Ark the Ark of the New Covenant it s in the holy place it s within the Vail Col. 1.27 it s not in the outward Court of profession or Sanctuary of observation but within Christ in you the hopes of glory And know you not that Christ is in you except you be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 II. In this Legal Ark whose place of residence as before said was in the Temple Deut. 10.4 5. and in the holy of holies in the Temple there was put the two Tables of stone whereon was the Law of the Ten Words or Ten Commandments by which the Jews in their day was to walk what does this figure forth unto us Rom. 8.2 but the Law of the Spirit of life which was in Christ Jesus the Ark of Gods presence which Law is alwayes in the Ark for believers to walk by as God said This is my Son hear him And Friends it s he only that teaches the will of God perfectly and profitably for none teaches to profit like him Hebr. 8.10 Jet 31.33 2 Cor. 3 3. I will write my Law in your hearts and put it into your inward parts said the Lord. It s not now as under the Legal dispensation a written Law without on Tables of stone or by pen and ink but upon the Tables of our hearts by the Spirit of the living God and this Law of the Spirit of life is read and known by all that comes to know it in the Lord Jesus Christ the light the Ark the Covenant and Gospel of God III. In the Legal Ark there was Aarons Rod put which budded in the Ark c. what does this figure forth Ans Heb. 9.4 Gal. 5.22 John 15.8 John 3.21 Isa 26.12 Ezek. 37.1 c. The Spirit of God which buds blossoms and brings forth fruit to the praise and glory of the pure God which pure Spirit is in Christ Jesus the Ark of God without which none can bring forth fruit except they abide in it and that in them working the works of God in them and for them for without this Aarons Rod viz. the Spirit of God what dry sticks dry bones are we bringing forth no fruit to God nor good to our Neighbour so that to me Aarons Rod does figure forth the pure Spirit of life Col. 1.27 29. and the budding is that fruit that is brought forth where it is by its operation and working and this is in the Ark in Christ Jesus who dwells in the Temple that is made without hands Acts 17.24 Chap. 7.48 IV. In the Ark of the Legal Temple there was a golden pot of Manna put c. Now what also does this figure forth I shall declare as God hath inlightned me in it and given my soul to taste hereof which is the sweet fruit and divine manifestations of his precious love to the soul in and through the Spirit it s the precious fruit of the Kingdom of light the true bread that cometh down from heaven John 6.51 the which the soul that eats thereof shall never dye and no soul comes to eat of this Manna but as he overcomes Rev. 1 ●7 and he that overcomes shall eat of this hidden Manna i. e. shall eat of the peaceable fruits and have the divine manifestations and sweet refreshings of the eternal Spirit of truth It was laid up in the golden pot now gold is the purestand finest of all mettals 1 Tim. 3.9 so this Manna I speak of is put into a clean Vessel into a pure and holy heart and the more any soul comes to be clean pure and holy the more they come to enjoy and see God For the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 3.8 Heb. 11.14 and without holinesse none shall see God But I say as they come to be holy and pure so they shall see God and the more the soul comes to see God the more is that soul transformed into the likenesse of God now the more any soul sees God and is like God the more does that soul eat of this hidden Manna i. e. this soul feels a spting of life peace comfort 2 Cor 3.18 joy in the Holy Ghost spring up in him wherein the soul comes to be strengthned fixed and established in God and his soul feeds on this and is refreshed and this is the Manna the meat he eats that the world knows not of and which a carnal flesh in all its outward shew cannot feel nor see John 4.32 for its spiritually seen and felt Blessed is he that knows and feels the living vertue and spring of it V. Upon the Legal Ark there was the Mercy-seat c. what does this shew Answ It figures forth unto us that the tender mercies of God is seated on Jesus Christ for God in himself is unknowable unutterable unexpressable unconceivable as having nothing to do with his creatures or his creatures with him but as he hath introduced himself into them through his Son and so the eternal God comes to be known seen felt and heard as he hath and does make forth himself through his Son by his Spirit so that all knowledge and mercy of God comes in upon the revelation of the Son as Christ said John 1.18 Mat. 11.27 None have seen God at any time save the Son and unto whom the Son shall reveal him Neither can we see God in the divine manifestation and discovery in the Spirit of his eternal goodnesse righteousnesse and truth except the Son does reveal him so that in this brief hint it may be seen if the light of God doth inlighten according to the measure of it that its on the Ark of the testimony of God to wit Christ Jesus that mercy is seated for this is the way of all mercy to the whole Creation Friends I give you but a hint of these things though sometimes I see much of these things in the deep VI. Upon the Legal Ark was two Cherubims covering their faces with their wings because of his presence Now as God manifests his living pure presence the flesh is hid and doth disappear and that soul is led by the Spirit and walks after the Spirit and not after the flesh Rom. 8.1 14. Oh when the Lord God in his eternal Spirit of light and holy brightnesse appears according to the measure of its manifestation what a trembling is there in the flesh by reason of his presence and glorious

A Tender Salutation OR LOVING EPISTLE To such who have a breathing in the innocent life of my Friends with whom I walked in the outward observances ALSO For my Relations after the flesh with all others professing God and that have any breathings after the Truth in the inward parts WHEREIN Something is declared in the power and light of God concerning the sure Foundation and the House of God with the inward Glory Government Cloathing Feeding Non-superiority and Safety that is in Gods habitation WITH A word to the Weak to establish them that they faint not at the appearances of outward Trouble for their Consciences Whereunto is Annexed A Further discovery of God to my Soul concerning the spiritual Temple Tabernacle and Ark of Gods Testimony being the Truth Life and Substance of the Temple Tabernacle and Ark of the Testimony under the Legal day To be read in the light which discovers the things that be of God By Jacob Chandler That which we have seen and heard and felt declare we unto you that you might have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1.3 If our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 Printed in the Year M.DC.LXIV To all those that love the Lord Jesus in Power and Spirit of my Friends with whom I walked in the outward form As well my professing Relations after the flesh with all else unto whom these presents shall come that have any breathings after the precious Truth and life of God Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied the everlasting love life and truth of God dwell richly in you c. DEar Friends it has been oft upon me to write unto you of the things appertaining to the Kingdom of God in Spirit and Truth But my flesh with the reasoning part withstood upon some considerations that now I 'le forbear But now after much striving of the Lord God of Power by his Spirit in my Soul I am overcome with the overcomings of the love of God to write unto you And this I find springing up in me to exhort you in tender bowels of love to look at the power light life and truth of God within in every one of ye in particular for Friends it s not the outward profession that will stand you in stead in the day of Tryal and in the day when all Secrets shall be made manifest nor approve you to God without the power and truth of God within And therefore Friends in the bowels of tender compassions let the evil minded think never so otherwise I am moved as before said to exhort you to look to your standing that you turn inward and see what foundation you are built on for Friends that which is not built on a good foundation will come to nothing if the foundation be rotten and corrupt you know whatsoever is built thereon suffers losse Therefore let every soul take heed how he build thereon for every mans works must be try'd Now if you build on the truth and power of God you build on a sure foundation but if you build on some other foundation viz. some outward observation of external performances outward gifts parts humane wisdom or the sayings of men though they may be good men c. Be it known unto you that its a false foundation its deceivable and the whole building will fall great and lamentable will be the fall thereof There is but one foundation for every poor soul that would be saved to build on and another foundation can no man lay than that which is already laid and that is Jesus Christ the power of God the wisdom and truth of God This is that ground and pillar of truth that saves to the utmost all that come unto it and build on it Therefore Friends mind whether you have built on this foundation whether the truth power and Spirit of God be the thing that you mind the foundation that you build on How to come to the foundation and build thereon and how to know in the light of God when the soul has built on the sure foundation THere must be a digging deep to build on this foundation it s not so easie as many Professors think of thou must dig down into thy innermost parts into the secrets of thy soul deep yea very deep into humility must thou sink and resign up freely and must be content to be nothing in thy will wisdom understanding c. Oh soul before thou canst find the foundation the Rock to build on and in the deep thou maist find it for 't is hid from the carnal wise man by all his wisdom he cannot search it out and all his notional knowledge though he may speak much of the foundation is too short to fathom it And now Friends if you are built on this foundation this Rock then you are immovable and cannot be shaken away from the confidence that you have springing up from hence and you are sure and stedfast and you walk in the pure fear of the Lord and you are of tender bowels and full of compassion to all the Lords little ones and you are of a meek spirit and lowly in heart and you are of tender compassion to all the Creation of God you are weak with the weak and bear a dear sympathy with the afflicted precious sons and daughters of Sion let them be under what name and notion soever if thou seest they are built on the power life and truth of God by which they breath after the everlasting well-springs of life the fountain of eternal love thou hast a principle in thee if thou art upon the sure foundation that is stirred up with an endearednesse to such a breathing soul after the pure life of God for my Friends if we have built on a good foundation then 't is certain we have a good building if we have a good Root we have a good Tree and if a good Tree there must be good fruit Now Friends by this you may come to know whether you are built upon the power life and truth of God or what foundation you are built on Let me lay it farther before you NOW if we have a good foundation we have a good building a good house and there is good order and government in this house and good dyet good meat and drink and choice cloathing and blessed safety and no Lordly or Majestick superiority over one another in this house or family that is built on the power and life of God with other good things Now that soul that hath built upon Christ the truth and power of God hath a good building a good house and it s none other but the house of God the Temple of God and God hath said I 'le dwell with you and walk in you and be your God c. And this every Saint is in particular the habitation

Now Friends I am not a judging of any of you neither a disswading you though the evil mind in some may think I do insinuate to draw from the use of the Elements but do as the Lord shall direct you and as you see him going before you in all you do and moving you after and leave nothing undone that you are really perswaded in your Consciences to be your duty lest you get a wound to your soul and the Lord should say Who hath required this of you c. But know from the Lord God your life lies not here viz. in these outward observations though never so strictly observed but in God and the communion of Saints lies not here but in Spirit truth and power and therefore be not fierce against your Brethren that are not of your mind or perswasion in the outward observation Friends turn in and stand still from your own wayes and commune with your hearts and make enquiry Do I eat of this bread of life and drink of those pure springs of refreshment Does the Lord lead me into his green and fresh pastures and make me to lie down and repose my soul in eternal kindnesse And do I receive my refreshing from the pure and clear chrystal fountain of living waters Or do I take up in the outward observances and lesse mind this inward feeding this inward drinking of the bread and waters of life Oh Friends this thing is to be well minded and weighed in the truth and equity of God Now there be many a poor soul more a minding the outward observances than the inward vertue and power of the living God as it was in dayes of old so 't is now one cryes in this observation Lo here is Christ and others in that observation Lo there is Christ c. Every perswasion cryes up their own and sayes Come amongst us Christ is here in the observing of this order and others in that order and so are divided amongst themselves and are in confusion in Babylon and knows not where Christ is but what saith the Scripture Believe them not go not forth after them Now Friends Christ is nigh thee in thy heart as Paul did witnesse The righteousnesse that is of fatth saith on this wise Who shall ascond to heaven to fetch Christ down or who shall descend to fetch Christ up but what saith it Christ is nigh then in thy heart Rom. 10.6 7 8. Therefore Friends look not so much at the outward observation for Christ if that be it thou art in good earnest desirous to have as to a looking in for Christ for Christ as before said is within he is nigh in thy heart Christ is the pearl of price that great treasure that is hid in the field of every mans heart and therefore Friends stand still from thy own words works thoughts and carnal reasonings of the fleshly wise part and hearken to the voyce of Christ in thy own particular which cannot be heard but in a still quiet state of the soul freely resigned up to God to be no more any thing in it self but that God might be all in all and above all to its soul And as to the outward which man flesh and carnal wisdom make such a stir about they walk in as they have freedom and seeing the Lord going before them in it and if any thing outward be done otherwise it s but fleshly labour which profits not Oh but how many poor hearts is there that thinks God cannot be enjoyed truly and have communion with truly but it must be injoyed and had in such a way in such a form which I know is the language of men in different forms wayes or perswasions every one binding as it were and limiting the holy God to their perswasion but Friends the Lord is free to work where he please and when he please and on whom he please and this I have heard some say but will not stand unto it but bind up the Lord in his workings as much as they can and calls all into question that the soul injoyes of God if it come not in at their door though it do come in at the door of the sheepfold as I have had experience of and do know of what I speak and much more than this also But Friends the Kingdom of heaven manifests its self not in this or that observation but in righteousnesse in power Spirit and truth and this will be owned by many in words but denied in works and so manifest that they are in Babilon in confusion it s he in what Narion soever whether Jew or Gentile bond or free one or tother that feareth the Lord and worketh righteousness and that has all his works within wrought in and by God within is excepted of him it s not he that observes observations without but he that stands in the power Spirit and truth of God within that is accepted it s not thus much outward observance but this inward obedience That soul that is convinced of this is near the Kingdom near the possession now stand but still from acting in thy will and sink down into God and settle upon the foundation and resign up all to the Lord and stand to his order and cleave to truth with a purpose of heart and a little while viz. the Lords time he that shall come will come and bring thee into the Kingdom into the possession wherein thou shale enjoy all as before said and much more abundantly than I can speak of for I have but a stammering tongue in these matters yet what the eternal God has freely given to me to experience and to spring up in me freely declare I unto you my dear Friends all unto whom this is writ that you might all eat hereof and drink hereof i. e. of that which this points unto and so come to a higher growth in the birth of God though I may be traduced calumniated and persecuted one way or other either in secret smilings or open reproaches by some or other for I see in the light of God and through the revelation of the Spirit that the evil thing in some cannot bear that the power life and truth of God should clearly shine though in words they may speak otherwise that they might go undiscovered but may seek to destroy this holy Child Jesus the birth of God the shinings forth of the light of God by putting upon it some false glosse as delusion false light heresie blasphemie c. as they did by Christ himself and the servants of God in dayes past and so opposing of the seed of God and so as Pharaoh will labour to deal subtilly that it spread no further but I shall leave it and my self to the Lord and wait on him as being given up to his will not fearing what man can do or say knowing that I am a discharging my duty and conscience herein Of the inward adorning and beautifying of Gods House FUrther Friends the Lord my God