in the way the Instruments by whom this Redemption was to be wrought how it was to be done and where which was in the man c. Also that the Scripture was not the Word of God but it was what was spoken from the Word by the Word was meant Life and the Scriptures were a Declaration from this Word of Life the Word was the substance from whence it was spoken and this substance the Word of Life was the measure of God manifested in man the gift of the Holy Spirit manifested in flesh made known in all that thereby they might be guided to profit in that obedience required of God also by which all the disorder in the Creation of man made by the flouds poured forth in man in that time of God's displeasure occasioned by his fall from God into the Lust was to be put into the same order they were at the first which was good by which Word the mountains were to be leveled all hills were to be cast down and the valleys were to be exalted crooked places were to be made strait and rough wayes to be made smooth every thing was to stand in awe before him the lofty minde was to be pulled down and all high thoughts and imaginations were to be burned up and these things being not done by the Word in you the pure Witnesses of God lie slain in your streets the house of darkness the house of bondage those Cities which spiritually have a relation to Sodom and Egypt and I was sent by God to declare against that in you by which you are blinded and so the Witnesses kept slain expressing with a firm confidence that searching of the Scripture was not the way to finde out the knowledge of Christ but the turning the minde to within there to be taught by the measure of God the Law written in the heart and so standing in obedience to it in time death being passed over all that sinned Christ would be brought forth which sin reigned from Adam till Moses even over all that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression Adam the earthly nature in man which prevailed with him to be earthly minded to love the Mammon of unrighteousness which death reigned over the whole man till Moses the servant of God which gave the Law to the children of Israel the seed of the Faithful by which they were to be guided to the Angel of the Covenant Christ and so witness the perfection which to know saith God is life vvhich life was manifested in him and he savv it the onely Begotten of God and from vvhat he had seen felt heard and understood in himself that vve also might have fellovvship did he declare these things concluding with a strict Charge in the Name of the living God that we turn to him the Rock whence we were hewn as we respected our eternal peace bearing record that he the God of life stood waiting ready to receive all that turn to him and having your faces Sion-ward go on bearing your Crosses joyfully for his reward is with him and his work before him So after about an hours discourse in things of this nature all spoken with a firm confidence mighty powerfully declared with so much scriousness that possible could be supposed to be far beyond whatever I saw by any man and using those words Thee and Thou barren of any Complement or whatever might be taken in them to please man they departed Now upon the consideration of divers things also the strong Ingagement laid upon us as we tendered our eternal happiness together with that bold undaunted confidence he had in the Truth of what was spoken all my former Knowledge my former Belief my former Hope being struck with a great Fear was immediately dashed in pieces they being taken to be earthen Vessels made by the Wisdom which was begotten of the * Self for the justifying of Self earthly Man and then coming to understand that they were of those People called by the name of Quakers together with what formerly I knew of them I became strongly affected with them divers also of the same Meeting at the same time being possess'd with the like perswasions Whereupon much love acted me to follow them very zealously but in order to a more perfect clearing of my understanding I remained a time before I complied with them or made my self known to any one of them in which time meeting with one whom I formerly knew to be a very serious true-hearted Man who was converted to their Belief and also subjected to their Obedience who gave me to understand that they were sent forth to preach the Gospel by the same Christ that the Apostles were and that the Person that Son of God which died at Ierusalem was not the Redeemer of Man from Sin but the Redeemer was in every particular Man that Light by which he was given to see Sin and enabled by it if obeyed to be redeemed from Sin which Christ had redeemed them perfect and now lived in them Lord of all things by which they were made the Sons of God and so what was manifested unto them by that substance from that substance were they moved to speak which was the same Holy Ghost by which the Apostles were endued sent forth enabled to preach the Gospel and declaring of them much to admiration how that sometimes in the night they were immediately commanded by the eternal Spirit to go forth and preach the Gospel also by the like command some of them were limited to fast from Food as I remember about twenty or more dayes together * And afterwards I knew some who fasted 30 or 40 days which was intended to make them willing and pliable to the will of God in the travel of their Spirit before they came to the Land of Canaan the rest of the new created Being or Work of God in them So he gave me to understand the next day of their meeting and the place where with earnest invitation to be there Now that I might have the Counsel of God in what I did as touching my uniting with them when I came home I went to Prayers and being mightily carried forth in that Duty very often before the time of their meeting I looked upon it as a sign which did make manifest the good pleasure of God in my closing with them so at that meeting three of the chiefest of them being Speakers whose matter and manner of preaching was more taking unto me than all the former but especially the powerful operation of their Prayer all which effectually wrought upon me whereupon my minde being established I was moved to make a confession of my self concluding with the owning of them in the presence of all the people upon which I became subject to the teachings of a Spirit in my self the which being believed to be the Christ of God the Redeemer from sin I was fully perswaded that if denying any thing in the least
The Foot out of the Snare OR A Restoration of the inhabitants of Zion into their Place after their bewildered and lost Estate by the Operation of a violent Power and Authority wrought in the Author by the Prince of Darkess under an Appearance of the brightest Light BEING A Brief Declaration of his entrance into that Sect Called by the Name of QUAKERS With a short Discourse relating what Judgment he was learned in by the Ministry of those People Together with the Revelation of a Spirit in himself Also what Desperate Delusions he was led into by yieldding a subjection to the Teachings of a Seducing Spirit in him under a shadow of the true Light and how this Body of Deceipt came to be destroyed With the manner of his Separation from them By me John Toldervy then Servant to Col. Webb Thus saith the Lord-God Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone a tryed Stone a precious Corner-stone a sure Foundation he that believeth shall not make haste Wherefore hear the word of the Lord ye scornful men that Rule this People which is in Jerusalem This thy Brother was dead and is alive was lost and is found London Printed by J.C. for Tho. Brewster at the Three Bibles neer the West-end of Pauls 1656. TO THE READER FRIEND UPon a Presumption that thou art One whose Minde is in some measure fitted for Information and not of those who are Resolved into Self and Hardened against any Discovery which might effect to the enlightning of their Understanding where their own Weakness Fancy and Imagination hath formed it self in them which depraved Condition I sadly witnessed somtime to have been mine own At which time though any Person whatsoever yea were it possible to have been an Angel from Heaven that should have attempted me with any Information contrary to my Espoused and Indulged Fancy and Imagination I should have concluded such a Messenger and Message unresistably Accursed And through the depravedness of my Understanding adjudged it to have been the Spirit of God in me which had so concluded If this Discourse should come into the hands of any such Person or Persons as such there are too many I expect but little Fruit upon their accompt but they are by me pitied for as much as their Bondage and Captivity is Great and much to be lamented though the God of Truth can restore a sound Minde and a cleer Understanding unto such who by their own Righteousness under a seeming appearance of Self-Denial have made themselves Servants to other gods And when this power of God is made known that they might be Guided in one Worship of one God living in them indeed they shall admire and magnifie that gracious Arm by which they were made Free as I do this day and then this Discourse will not be unsutable or unpleasing unto them In the mean time to such whose Minds are Free and not Entangled I would give an Accompt briefly of the Matter but chiefly the Occasion of this ensuing Discourse together with my Intent and Scope therein though the subject Matter doth relate principally to the Persons who go under the Name of Quakers as being so distinguished amongst men and of the Effects which were wrought in and by me through the Guidance and Teachings of a Seducing Spirit in me under a pretence of Light yet is not my Scope to traduce the Persons nor to incense the Powers or Authorities Ministers or People against them For I know many of whom they are not known have abused the Truth by seeking to Defend themselves in that deceipt which that Spirit that is of God in them hath witnessed against by which the generality of men are through their misguided Spirits are already beyond measure bitterly incensed against them Touching the Occasion It is not unknown to many yea I say to many in and about this City of London That I was in an eminent way as a first Fruits of those who gave up themselves to those Wayes and Teachings wherein I profited not a little nor went I on with a slow pace But I confess such was the fire of zeal which burned within me that by it I was over-powered and hastily Acted forth without Knowledge I mean such Knowledge as was according to God but such as my Teachers held forth in some measure I abounded in as the Discourse it self will witness but the tendency thereof in the General was to Folly and Madness as I by sad Experience witness in my measure But God who is rich in Mercy through his great Love wherewith he hath loved me hath magnified the same in opening mine eyes and turned me from the Darkness wherewith I was bewildered and benighted even to Astonishment and Admiration Having opened my Mouth and put a new Song into it of Praises to his Name in despight of all those cruel denountiations of Woe and Plagues which have been pronounced against me even to Eternity since my departure and Separation from them by some of those who could once have put me into their Bosomes whom I nevertheless patiently bear within Love having better Perswasions towards them It having therefore pleased the Father to Rescue and Deliver my Soul out of this deep Pit and raised me up and set me as a living Monument of his Praise beyond expectation I durst not shut up in Silence the marvelous Wiles and deep Deceipts and Devices which the Enemy had upon me through which I have been carried and from whence through Mercy Redeemed that I might tell to Others how bountifully God hath dealt with me remembring me in my low Estate for his Mercy endureth for ever 1. To which end therefore that I might make known my Duty of Praise and Thanks to God for the Riches of his Love towards me as also to express my tenderness towards my Brethren my Companions in the Bond of Love who are environed in the same Circle and Maze kept in Bondage by their own misguided Spirits subjected to Lawes and Ordinances Ceremonies and Traditions of their own Inventing to which they are nevertheless in so great Subjection as amounts to Eternal Death and Wrath and Firy Indignation upon the Breath thereof Of which may be said Who hath required these things at your hands May not this be a Word in season to some by which they might be perswaded at least to Debate the Matter with their own Souls and to Consider where they are and who requires these things wherein they are so prepostrously Zealous denying themselves their Just and Lawful Liberty out of a slavish Fear but there is such a Resolvedness that I can scarce conceive that this might be successful to many yet the power of Truth can overturn all things which exalteth it self under a shadow of Good as being maintained by a Lye 2. That the Example of my Zeal and Forwardness of Minde without serious Consideration and Examination taking all for Truth affecting those Notinal Apprehensions which in that Way I was then
far distant from London But a short instant following being perswaded in this way as I was restrained from proceeding in this business so also I was engaged to make known what I had done otherwise than I intended which was privily to restore it as I had taken it forth which I did restoring the same which I had received not having made any use thereof Now amongst other things which this change of minde wrought in and upon me and by which first I became famous in the general discourse of men especially amongst those of whom I was known this business was a chief by which through the not understanding of the thing divers conclusions have been conceived otherwise than the Truth by which many abusive reproaches have been unjustly cast upon me but what I speak cannot in the least be gain-said known unto those whom it did concern A short time after my compliance with that Spirit which entred in me by the observation of their practice declared to be from the teachings of the Spirit Christ in them My Master having been at the Wells came home so out of that respect I had to what was good in him and also that love I bare towards his eternal rest with God I was moved to go to him presently and inform him of my Restoration from the depth of those delusions which I was serviceable in by the ministery of those Teachers who were blinded in their understanding not knowing the mystery of godliness upon which I really supposed that he would have been prevailed upon by me to frequent our Meetings that if may be the same Ministery spoken from the Life by which the Life was raised in me might effect the same end in him unto his Salvation so coming to him I wrote a Scroll took him by the Arm or Cloak and bade him Sit down William Web not bowing not pulling off the hat not Master for then I denied that title to him though related to him a Servant as afterwards I denied all relations from the words of one He that liveth in the Light will see no difference after which I spake these words How does thy body do for as may be observed we made a separation between the Body and the Spirit Now the observation of my carriage with the strangeness of that expression Body moved him to speak these words John what is the matter where is the Servant's Obedience where is the Master's honour The answer as I remember was thus ' My Master was the faithful Spirit in me So I gave him to understand That I had heard the Ministers of the everlasting Gospel by whom I was converted to the faithful obedience by which I should finde Life desiring of him as he respected his eternal happiness to come amongst us that so what is true might be made manifest to and in him For said I from the Lord do I declare that all the Ministers of these times or that were not of us are the Ministers of the Devil and in particular Feak that Minister whom he heard was of the Devil whose Ministery was Death So being stopped by much dislike in him of what was spoken I was dismissed by him at that time A while after this when he and his Company were at Dinner I was moved by that Spirit in me to go and Dine w th them now because it was against my will I concluded that this moving was indeed from the Lord which service was intended by the Lord to make known unto him that he willed there should be no Difference between Man and Man So I went into the Room where he was took me a Stool and sate down at the Head of the Table which being done I applied my Minde to my Business Then was asked me some Questions forth of the Scripture concerning the Duty of the Servant which was Answered in the justifying of my self as to that Deed giving him to know That I was the Servant of the living God and he was not therefore I had more right unto the Greatures than he had So having finished my work I departed Now I was with exceeding love out of respect unto my eternal Salvation formerly fixed with a resolution to be taught by the Light in me and so never to sin any more upon which I became very punctual in every word and every Deed Also having received a strict Charge with the rest That nothing should be Spoken or Acted but what might be eternally witnessed whereupon when any Customers came to deal with me I durst not ask them What they wanted believing that those Words could not be eternally witnessed for they knew what they came for Then when that was required which they came for I durst not make in the price of it but one word and if by them tempted to more because of what was expected of advantage to themselves by a cheaper Rate I should be provoked to look sternly with wrath and envie out of the extream hatred I bare towards that Spirit which moved them to speak more than was needful and so by this and that Spirit by which I was limited to those words Thee and Thou and not pulling off my Hat without any civil respect in my Carriage I was made unfit for that Service by which was intended a way for my livelihood Also divers of those Commodities we dealt in having honourable Names and other having such Names which I judged were not meet I was commanded and enjoyned by this Spirit in me to give unto them fresh Names believing that those Names did proceed from the invention of Man and they stood in the Fall as did every thing that was invented and made by Man and so used by Man that was not absolute necessary Also it was believed that all those things before spoken of which I was limited from stood in the will of Man and they came in the Fall I was farther perswaded not to eate any thing that I loved believing that what did set a Difference of any Creature stood in the Will for he looked upon all things and behold it was good therefore it was of Man that gave a respect to any thing above other so by degrees at the last I was wrought upon to eat nothing but Crums pickings of Bones when finished by others with such Food that was destructive to my health it being contrary to pure Nature Also I was limited from eating of the Creature what was needful to the satisfying of Nature so that I was made extream poor so changed as though I were not the same man fasting some weeks from eating little more than Nature would have required to eat in one day Going along Cheap-side I saw Cabbage-stocks with broken leaves of Colworts which were thrown away by the Market-women at which sight I was enjoyned by a command of this Spirit in me to gather them all up and carry them home which being done I was commanded in the like nature to dress them and the next food I
did eat to eat them The strangeness of this alteration being so great divers Friends came to see me intending by discourse to work me to a consideration of my condition by a better informing of my understanding but Reason being destroyed nothing took place in me but I judged them to be in the dark and that what was spoken from them was flesh their mindes and understandings being alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel my Master also with his Partner and others of the Family when discoursing with me all what was spoken by them was judged to be from the evil one in them whose I believed they were Now said they coming to live the life of the Scriptures you will finde the meaning of them they being fulfilled by you to be opened to your understanding by the life in you and so they will be found another thing than what formerly they were but at this time not having received that knowledge that I was to wait for the birth such a time out of my own wisdom my own knowledge and imagination going to read the Scriptures I found such a strange alteration in many things contrary to what formerly I did believe that I was taken affected with it upon which I was perswaded to read over the whole Scriptures and in reading that which desired knowledge in me prevailed upon me to search out the meaning of divers things which seeking destroyed my former understanding and gave me to believe another meaning then did I really conclude That I was taught by the word in me the same word which the holy men of God that spake forth the Scriptures had living in them by which they were inabled to speak them forth upon which I was injoyned by a stronger phansie supposed to be the Spirit of Christ to spend all my time that possible I could gain night and day to learn knowledge by the teachings of the Holy Ghost in me by which in a short time I did really believe that there was not any thing expressed but I had the perfect knowledge of in the end words and letter did signifie to my apprehension divers meanings Thus fancy and imagination acting together I was besotted and made perfect drunk in my understanding by the airy Spirit gotten in from without by which I became like unto a distracted man Having this perswasion in my self that all knowledge contained in the Scriptures was revealed unto me I was really possessed with a confident belief that Christ Jesus that died at Ierusalem was a figure of me and that I was the true Christ that Angel spoken of in the Revelation which was to flie through the midst of Heaven declaring the everlasting Gospel to all Kindreds Nations Tongues and People There was also revealed unto me by the teachings of that Spirit in me which gave me the knowledge of the Scriptures that the dissolution of all things would be at the end of sixty three yeers in which time by my Ministery and the rest of our Teachers the Jews were to be called with the Gentiles who had lost the knowledge of the Gospel immediately after the Apostles dayes from which time until now that God raised his Spirit to Life in those of us both Jews and Gentiles have lain in blindness serving the God of the World the Prince of darkness and without the knowledge of the true God in the world Wherefore all both Ministers and people that were since a short time after the Apostles dayes they having bowed down to the Gods of the Earth and so worshipped the Gods of the Heathen the God of Gods who is the Lord of all had condemned them and their gods eternally Wherefore now the Candle of the wicked was to be put out by the everlasting Gospel spoken from the eternal Life in us by which those that were elected to Salvation should have the Life raised in them whose brightness as it was revealed should swallow up all that was for Condemnation so the eternal Life living in them there was Salvation It was also believed That I should live to the End and then Christ which died at Jerusalem was to meet me in the Mount of God which was in a multitude of bright Clouds where I was immediately to be transformed into a Celestial Body all Spirit where that Christ and I should sit Judges of all that ever had a Being in the World Wherefore now it being so that I was to be the Minister in the hand of God for the converting of those who were Elected to Salvation to the true knowledge by which eternal life was to be found my minde was informed that though I had the perfect knowledge of the Scripture it was not sufficient for this work And also I was perswaded There was a greater Revelation to be made manifest in me than there was in Christ or the Apostles Whereupon I was enjoyned that I should spend all the time that possibly I could in waiting for Revelations from Heaven which I did according to the teachings of this Spirit in me hearkening diligently with my minde fixed upwards towards Heaven in expectation to hear some voyce from thence Whereupon the first time I really supposed I heard many excellent voyces which made an exceeding sweet and pleasant Melody Upon which I believed they were Spirits sent from God to make known unto me the greatness of that joy there was in Heaven because of me by which appearance being over-ravished I was firmly resolved to be pliable to that Spirit which moved me in this way of waiting So a short time following there appeared to me two Spirits in the likeness of a Man's shade which apparitions were believed to be Angels sent from God to minister unto me from whom did proceed to my acceptation at that time excellent things concerning God and Christ that died at Ierusalem also concerning the Angels and the excellency of that place called Heaven Following this there came many such-like Spirits that were all taken to be Angels at which sight there was a voice spake in me which gave greetings to those apparitions upon which there was answered by them That within twenty five dayes perfection should be stablished in me and so I should be made perfect entire wanting nothing the whole work of God having been made manifest then should I suffer the likeness of that Death and Resurrection which was real by him that died at Ierusalem after which I should be sent forth to preach the Gospel and then Michael the Archangel should be living in me by whom I should be carried to and fro throughout the World and enabled to preach the Gospel After this time for these twenty five dayes when the Spirit in me willed me to go private which was sometimes in the day and almost all these twenty five nights I durst not deny the movings as I respected my Salvation yea I do verily believe I did not rest one night with another above one hour in a night all the time of these
twenty five dayes most of which time I had the company of these apparitions according as I was moved to desire them by that Spirit which was in me for when I was moved by that Spirit to desire them they would come and when that mov'd me to require their departure they would depart and constantly when they came they brought with them excellent Musicks which alwayes kept over my head and followed me according as I moved the apparitions making merry amongst themselves dancing leaping and flying about the room according to the musicks of those Spirits which continually plaid over my head I shall now declare some things that were acted by my orderly subjection to the teachings of this Spirit in me and those apparitions in the time of these twenty five dayes There was not a day or night but many strange actions were performed but I shall speak of some few by which may be judged what the rest were The second or third night I was commanded by that Being in me to stay up all night so about mid-night five of these apparitions with those Spirits which made such pleasant melody came as I was waiting for revelations one of which Spirits as they were flying about the room came and overshadowed my face as though a vail and spake to me telling me in my ear That three of the seven plagues had been poured forth upon me and because of my diligent obedience in all things required by the Spirit in me two were not and the other two were yet to come and that after my resurrection from the dead I should make choice of twelve that were chiefest Speakers amongst us to be my Apostles so parting from me they went all to dancing About an hour after as I was standing before the fire I heard somthing that made a noise upon which I heard a voice speak in me saying Babylon is fallen Babylon is fallen which was significant to my understanding that all in me which formerly reign'd was thrown down being dashed in pieces by the coming of Christ and turning round I saw that the fire being much burned fell down then being weary of standing having not sate that night I went to sit down going to sit I was commanded by one of these Spirts that I should stand for God was then present in the room Whereupon after about an hours standing looking for a revelation I was over-shadowed as before like as with a vail and commanded from a voice immediately to pull off my shoes off my Feet for the place where I stood was holy ground and as God appeared to Moses in the Bush so God appeared now unto me in this revelation giving me to understand That the appearance of God unto Moses was a figure of this appearance unto me Whereupon I pulled off my shooes and being struck with an exceeding fear much trembling I pulled off my hat also and laid it down at which time I was sensible of very much cold it being an exceeding cold night so immediately there came an extream warmth all over the room and thence it seised upon my Feet and with a tingling heat it raised it self upwards till over my Legs and there rested a little time infusing a heat into my legs then did it arise by degrees little and little until at last my whole Body was encompassed with warmth as though a great heat had been infused in me by a violent compulsion All which time I trembled exceedingly but durst not move from that place I stood in Also the tunes of the Spirits were changed into a great singing or hissing much like to the noise of thousands of Bees and the apparitions danced so a voice spake calling me by my name telling me That I was John the beloved of himself as Iohn was the beloved of Christ and he that Iohn was a figure of me So after some time spent I could not contain but speak of my own accord these words Ye are the Angels of the living God concluding with the owning of what was by them revealed But in the speaking of these Words I stammered out of fear upon which there flew one of these apparitions by me and told me That I had blasphemed What the cause was I could not tell but I supposed it to be because I spake these words in my own will before I had a true moving from that Being in me for I believed that in doing of any deed or speaking of any word that stood in my own will I did blaspheme judging That what spake moved or acted in man that had not a patient working with a joynt concurrence of the whole man was wrought in the will and so imperfect a blast which perisheth in its act and so eternally not to be witnessed by which the whole man is defiled Upon which all the Spirits and the pleasant noise vanished away and were not also the warmth infused in me and encompassed about me was taken away in the same nature as it came Then was I struck with a great fear not knowing what this meant upon which as my manner was when committing of any offence as I was moved by the Spirit in me I lay down upon the ground with my face close to the floor which was believed to be the greatest humility I could express and after a short time of my wallowing and tumbling upon the ground I was moved by that Spirit in me to lie still on my belly with my face flat on the ground which being done immediately came the like warmth on the floor under me as before and from thence arose a great steam which encompassed me over and then seised upon me as before infusing a heat through my whole body then was I by that Spirit in me moved to rise up but supposing it was not a true motion I did not obey upon which came all those apparitions which were without and with them those Spirits which made such excellent melody Then did that power in me move me to stand up as before upon vvhich I fell a vveeping and much love vvrought upon me to remain longer in that place of Humility judging my self as unworthy of that Union and Love with God which before I was a partaker of then came one of those Apparitions to me who gave me to understand that all what I was having been offered as a Pledge according to the Will of the Pure in me had wrought in God that affection which formerly he had towards me upon vvhich I vvas raised upon my Feet by the povver of that Spirit in me my Hands my Feet and Body moved and acted in their Order vvithout the least motion or consent of motion by me then vvas I highly elevated in my Spirit and commanded by a voice in me to Dance vvith those Apparitions vvhich I did the remaining part of that night and by the povver of that Spirit in me yielding my subjection vvas I tossed to and fro and mounted up and dovvn in the observation of those
a Fire should be kindled now being confident I should effect the vvork yea had I been Master of the vvhole world I should have ventured all vvith a value of no vvorth upon the performance of this Deed having laid all things in their order as directed by that Spirit which moved me to the work I was moved to blow with my mouth but in short blow I did try one way then another way and blowed as strong that possible I could expecting still that from my Life the Lord there should heat proceed with my breath to the lightning of the fire but in the end not being able to effect the thing I was extreamly troubled that I the Christ of God should fail in the performance of the first miracle since so many miracles were wrought by him that was a figure of me Then went I private into the Cellar and there hearkned to within my self for a command from the Spirit in me to desire the apparitions which being given they were desired and so came Then was made known unto them how imperfect my performance was in that Service required of me Upon which was answered That I was not yet perfect but however it was the purpose of God that I should be serviceable in the healing of the lame the sick the blinde c. souls as Christ did heal the imperfect parts of the visible body and that all the visible miracles wrought by him did signifie what was to be effected miraculous in the invisible part of every man that should be saved by my Doctrine and so they departed Seldom a night after this for about a week but I staid up most part of all the night and divers strange things effected by me or those apparitions every night so that having destroyed the course of nature so much in not taking of rest that for a time following when I came to have liberty to rest I could not though never so desired Once when striving strugling mounting flinging and throwing in a contest against sleep I was immediately taken by the power of that Spirit in me and cast up against the wall and when setled upright and closed to the wall there was infused in me such a fresh supply of life like unto a mighty startle that all drowziness was destroyed and I was a fresh as could be The day following this night was the first day of the week so betimes in the morning I was moved to go to the place of our Meeting and there wait until the time of meeting and as it was usual not purposing to come home till the evening and also much necessitated I was moved to eat before I went so having cut a piece of Bread about a fourth part of a peny-loaf I began to eat but when having eaten about half I was commanded to eat no more but lay the rest by till the next day so it being undeniable by me I did obey and it was my food the following day Then did I make to the Meeting where I spent my time while the people were gathered together in which time as I was walking in the Garden a Fly flew in my face which thing being observed I was moved to examine what it should mean so by the counsel of this Spirit in me I was confidently perswaded that it was a Messenger from God the Life in him being believed to be of God and from that life was he moved to flie in my face by which was meant a giving me to understand something that was required of me by God From that time was I guided by Flyes in many things being very certain that they were moved by God in them to make known what was his will to me Then vvhen the Company came I vvas commanded to shevv a humility in me beyond any of theirs as Christ did shevv a humility in him beyond any of his Apostles Whereupon I vvas commanded to pull off my Band and then vvas I moved to make knovvn unto the people the order that God required in the Creation vvhich vvas to gatheir up the small sticks that vvere scattered in the Garden and lay them by themselves and the dry leaves that vvere under the Trees by themselves and the small stones that vvere scattered in the Walks by themselves and the pieces of Brick as I remember if not some such-like by themselves Now in the time of this service I gave over sometimes by the perswasion of divers Friends but when given over I should be commanded by the first Fly that I saw to the service again Afterwards being observed by one who was a Chief of us he came to me and took me by the hand perswading me to give over and go along with him and hear what was spoken by him that was speaking to the people so I gave over Then when the time of our being there was ended it was also required by him that I should go with him where he intended to spend his time till the Afternoon which I did but in the way as we were going I was mov'd to gather up stones as before and as I was gathering I saw two white round stones lie one by the other at which sight I was possessed with a confident belief by the information of this Spirit in me that those stones came from Heaven and it was given unto me to finde them then was my minde informed by that in me that the one signified Esau and the other Jacob so I was moved to throw the greatest of them away and onely preserve the lesser it was also given me to understand that this lesser did not onely signifie Iacob but the white Stone spoken of in the Revelations which was sent as a token from Christ in Heaven to me and so long as I kept that stone I had unity with God but if lost I should be dis-united So when we came to that place we intended to go which was a Garden-house we sate down in the Garden but after a time I was moved to do the former work again where I gathered up stones and coles sticks and broken corkes or what I saw scattered on the ground So by and by comes into the Garden one whom I much loved that was of us and looking him in the face I was confident in my self I saw death in him upon which as I remember I told him that he was accursed from God seeing of him much changed I was really perswaded by this Spirit in me that he had slain the Witness and there was no remedy he must die eternally the plagues of God would be poured forth upon him in this life and in the life to come A short time after this as I was at rest about mid-night in a slumber between sleep and wake I saw a vision of Spirits in the room by which I was startled exceedingly and sate up being strongly moved to rise but being much drowsie and desirous of more sleep I lay down again and fell asleep presently and then into a
dream that the Chamber-floor sunk under me and that I was loosed down upon those boards that sunk under me through the boards of every Chamber till I came into the Cellar which is five stories high upon which I waked and sate still a little instant then was I taken with a strange fancy that the bed was sinking under me upon which I moved my body and in moving I was possessed with a fierce command by the Being in me to rise and make all the speed that possible I could into the Kitchin which being done I was guided by the power of that in me to turn round and in turning round I saw a light playing upon the wall at which sight I was moved to stand still and look stedfastly upon it so as I stood looking upon it it ceased then was I possessed with a great fear not knowing what that signified but since I conceived the occasion was the brightness of the fire and in the time of this fear going to sit down I was moved to stand immediately upon which I was taken with the sight of Linens that lay a soaking in water intended by the Maids as a preparative in order to the cleansing of them so I was moved to look as stedfast upon them that possible I could upon which there came a speedy command from this Being in me that I should lay them in a better order than they were with this information that God is the God of order and remembring that Christ denied not the least service willed of his Father I was the more speedier subjected to the obedience of this moving so the readiness of my will to that service required was accepted of as though the deed had been effected and I was set free immediate upon which I was guided to look stedfast upon another object which was not in that order as I judged it should have been then the like command as before injoyned me that I should effect that service which related to the order of those things though far more different from that business properly doth respect a man than the former but in regard of my speedy condescention to the business I was freed from the performance as before then was I moved to fit down and look stedfastly in the blaze of the Candle in expectation to be directed in some service by the moving of the blaze to and fro or by the sparkles that proceeded forth of it so the blaze of the Candle moved to and fro and the sparks were many but being not able to apprehend what the meaning of the Life should be by which it was moved to and fro and occasioned to sparkle I was tormented in my self and stamped and flew up and down the room like a mad man By and by when a little quieted I came to the fire-side and was moved to look in the fire in expectation to receive some directions to service by the flame or sparks of the fire so after a time being tired by looking in the fire I cast my eyes upwards and seeing something swim upon a great Kettle of water over the fire I was taken at the fight thereof to see what it was and as I stood looking upon the water I was possessed with a command from that Spirit in me upon the account of Salvation that I should put my right hand in the pan of hot water giving me to know that the heat thereof should not seise upon me but through fear standing a little instant before I performed the command as in the twinkling of an eye I cast my sight off the water and seeing something as I conceived falling towards the ground I looked back again to see what it was and found it to be a black thing like unto a great Fly which then I took to be a Fly whereupon I was taken from the former Service and Commanded by that in me to look as fierce as possible I could upon that Fly then was Lenjoyned by the same being in me to hold my right Leg to the Fire and observe strictly the direction of that Fly to the burning of it so the Fly moved from the same place it was and stood upon the Harth above a quarter of a yard off the Fire Now this perswasion being firmly wrought in me That did I not Obey this Command I should be eternally damned I went speedily close to the Fire and there held my Right Leg with both my Hands the same distance off the Fire as it stood so the Fly began its work thus moving somtimes neerer the Fire somtimes farther off somtimes turning the one side somtimes the other somtimes round and so to the same place again c. So by the strength of that Command in me was I made plyable to guide my Leg in the imitation of every moving by the Fly And having spent about a third part of an hour in this Service all which time very sensible of the heat that proceeded from the Fire burning in my Leg in turning round by the direction of the Fly I lost the sight of him and then was I freed to go from the Fire Afterward it was made known unto me by that in me That this was the other of the two Plagues Then going to see what work was made by the Fire in my Leg I was taken with a strong perswasion That the same Spirit in me by whom I was moved to burn it would by the power of himself heal it so that for several dayes I durst not make it known to any man though it was burned from the Knee to the Foot and then was the time come of my Perfection as was made known to me by the Apparitions so about noon of the same day being about my imployment I was moved to give over but not obeying the motion present there came divers Flyes and rested upon that Business I had in hand by which I was perswaded I had offended in not readily Obeying so having left my employment I was moved by the power of that in me to Wrastle and War with my self three times which I did like a mad distracted man and when it was done it was given me to understand that this was a preparation against my Suffering and it had a respect to that Agony which Christ was in before his Death Then was I moved to stand still and having stood a little instant I was directed by this Spirit To look about me and as I was looking I saw a Needle stuck in my Sleeve which Needle I was moved to take in my Hand and thrust both Ends through my two Thumbs which I did with what speed possibly I could first the one End to the Bone of the one Thumb and afterwards the other End to the Bone of the other Thumb and there being no passage for the Needle through the Bones the Needle was bent in the closing of my Thumbs together Then was I commanded speedily that I should stand upon a Box by the Wall about half
a yard off the Ground which being done I was directed to turn my Back to the Wall and spread my Hands one upon the other with the Needle remaining in my Thumbs so wide that I could and so lift my Arms over my Head and then to strain my Arms and Body as high as possible I could with the Backs of my Hands joyned to the Wall All which being done I was to liken a Death upon the Cross so I gave way to a Drouziness as though I was a dying and by and by I fell down upon the Ground as though dead But before I lay as in the Grave I was moved to spread over me Shavings of white Paper that lay by on the Floor by which was meant the Covering of me with white Sheets then to tye a Handkerchief about my Head so in regard of my speed and not heeding but making as though I were dead in the tying of my Handkerchief I tore much of my Hair off This being done I lay upon my Back minding nothing like as in a sleep and having lain there about three quarters of an hour in imitation of three dayes the time of Christs being in the Grave I was immediately by the power of that Spirit in me raised on my Feet and Commanded with all the speed that possibly I could to make to that place where the Ministers that were of us with divers more were and give them knowledge of what was done and then to make choice of some of them to be my Apostles and so speedily to go abroad into all the world and Preach the Gospel So I took my Cloak and ran forth in expectation to flie by the power of Michael the Archangel which was believed to be then in me according as before was promised but being then disappointed of Ability to flie I was much troubled upon which there came a special command that I should pull off my Shoes which I did instantly and turning my Cloak under my Arm I threw my Shoes in my Cloak and so made away with all the might I could and verily I am perswaded were I now to run for a Kingdom I could not make two thirds of that speed I did then Now the House being in Moor-fields and the path-way to the House being of a little compass I was caused to leap over the Railes and also run over much Linen that lay Whiting upon the Grass because of the fierceness of my speed So When I came to the place I gave them to understand That Christ meaning my self was Risen from the Dead c. shewing the Holes that were made in my Thumbs with the Needle upon which I was looked upon with a strange hasty look and charged to be silent for I was in Darkness the Witnesses of God were slain in me So there being many there and all of them judging me with one Consent I was silenced Upon which they spake lovingly to me and bad me to sit down and put on my Shoes which being done I made known unto them that my Leg was burned and the way by which it came to be burned then was there care taken by them for the healing of my leg but in regard it had been kept unknown before it was much corrupted and as I remember about a quarter of a year before it was cured much of which time I was constrained to keep my Bed and so not having the Liberty of my Body my Spirit was kept the stiller and the means of my Recovery out of that sad Condition which I was in was the more effectual Now being incensed by what was spoken from them and the strangeness of their Spirits towards what moved in me to speak or to act that I was in darkness the light by which I was enlightned being put out so that I had not a savory discerning of what was good and what was evil and also when seriously considering of divers actions which I was subjected to by the teachings of this Spirit that they were destructive to my being I was the more concerned in what was given me to understand by them Then was I in a sad condition not knowing what I should do that I might be redeemed from this body of sin and death So I was directed by them to wait a time and keep in my minde not giving heed unto any thing but what had a respect unto my necessary imployment which I endeavoured to do but could not for a time being so full of this Spirit by which I was tormented day and night through the strength of imagination upon things without me and also by the power of it self in me and many times with extream fiery burnings in my Spirit So in labouring to keep in my minde this Spirit in me came to be silenced in his motions and weakned of his strength by which his union with those Spirits without me was separated and so I was freed from their Company being resisted they flew away Now for a time this body of sin remained living in me by which I was tormented as before spoken and then being not fed with my service the strength of that Substance which is my Life having raised a war against him utterly destroyed burned up and confumed his whole Beings as is declared following About two months after it was given me to understand that I was in a delusion as I was going along the street I met one that was of us who told me That he had recieved a Letter forth of the Country from a Friend that was a Teacher so he asked me the Question Whether he were best to open it the next meeting which was on a private day or forbear until the first day so it was answered in the close of our discourse Do as thou wilt But when parted there was a voice spake in me saying Do as thou art moved which strongly tempted me to go back again and unspeak that word Wilt and place in the stead thereof Moved being perswaded that I had offended in speaking that word because the will of man was to be destroyed The next day being called to Dinner I refused in regard I had eat something that day before whereupon there arose in me an exceeding joy which I was not able to subdue the cause was conceived because of my obedience to the Pure in me The same day in the Afternoon going to a Meeting I was moved to eat two small Apples that I had in my pocket but first I waited a time that a patient gentle and pure Spirit might guide me in the eating of them then when going to eat them I was perswaded that two was too much at once believing that that Spirit which moved me to eat so much was a Devourer of the Creation so I resolved to eat but one and retain the other to dispose of to a Friend at the Meeting upon which there arose the like joy in me as before then did I conclude that surely the Lord was well pleased with me
new Name Immortality which abideth for ever those I say speaking forth mysteries which men by wisdom cannot know though not my steries to the simple who lived or doth live in the wisdom of God but men in their own wisdom even sensual men who have not the Spirit going about to comprehend those things which they enjoy not they drowned their understanding and darkned their sight and so the eyes of their Mindes being blinded they of themselve wrest the Scriptures to their own condemnation But to my understanding and great is my mistake if the Spirit of God doth not bear me witness herein where the minde is staid in that Truth which is manifest plainly in and unto all men and be guided thereby in faithfulness and respecting nothing before that Obedience which is required by it surely therein God will be glorified for his Grace hath appeared to all men and he requireth no more than what he hath given onely Grace for Grace and he that abides herein needs not desire to dive beyond himself thinking thereby to apprehend that knowledge which is acceptable though in the sight of God accursed but in time he will witness a Comforter which will lead him out of the Spirit of this world into the beginning where all Truth is made manifest and when in joying the same Spirit and living in the same Life which the upright and true Servants of the Lord hath done then will those mysteries of God which are hid from the fleshly wisdom be made known Life and Immortality being raised to Light and so being staid in a sound minde the glory of the Lord will be seen to the peace of his and surely if the Lord please to reprove convince and correct the wandrings of such as are gone astray from him and have exalted themselves upon the Mountains being lifted up above all what is called God and guide them to wait thus upon himself there needs no fear but the blessing which he hath reserved for his Chosen even the eternal rest with himself shall be their reward Whereas it hath been spoken That I was not right principled in the way of the Quakers so called and that I had not a clear understanding of what their Ministery held forth I say deceit speaks in those who thus report of me for before I was perswaded to comply with them I had a right Knowledge of their Belief and Practise but the occasion by which I became to be lost in my Understanding and so distracted and confused in Mind may be observed in divers particulars before spoken yet for the Truth sake I shall discover the thing more plainer But first I shall speak a little of what condition I was in before I came amongst them Having been very zealously affected in divers wayes before there was begotten in me much fleshly wisdom in which my hope did much rest believing it was the mystery and wisdom of the holy Spirit revealed unto me by which I was perswaded that the true worship of God was a true endeavouring to live up to that Obedience which the outward Law required wherein I failed of what this Law required that Doctrine I was learned in continually laboured to perswade me that Christ which died at Ierusalem had perfected for me and so I was not under the Covenant of Works but under the Covenant of Grace Yet nevertheless all this time I could not enjoy a true peace but was greatly dissatisfied with my Condition sometimes being perswaded that I was out of the Faith a Reprobate a Cast-away being out of the Election and other times when covered over with deceit I should glory in my condition Now when being fully perswaded by what I learned from these People before named that the Truth indeed was to be found in us which Truth was made known by the Light in us which Light as it was spiritual if following it it would guide out of all the works of the flesh to the worshipping of God in Spirit and in Truth I was then to begin a new Religion and to lose all that ever I learned before all that Wisdom that Knowledge Faith Hope Love Zeal c which before I hoped in and so to wait out of my own Thoughts and Imagination as in Obedience to the Ministration of Condemnation which was to pass upon all that which was of flesh by which the Spirit was to be renewed and as Death passed upon the one Life was to be restored unto the other until a new Birth was brought forth from which would proceed the Ministration of Righteousness unto Holiness the end of which as saith the Scriptures is eternal Life My Understanding being now thus opened I was posfessed with much Joy in the sense of that Love I had received and was in hopes to enjoy and on the other side I was incensed with much Fear lest I should be careless and so lose my way in the Wilderness before I came to the Land of Canaan and also lest I should die before I witnessed the first Resurrection Whereupon I was resolved to give all diligence that my Calling and Election might be made sure but being naturally of a very hasty forward Minde and my Resolution in part being a Covenant of my own there was speedily begotten in me an extream fiery Zeal so that in the general I was hastily carried for the before the true Light by which in a short time I became lost in my Understanding and then being to seek in the wilderness the Disputer was raised to Life and so exalted it self mightily pleading the cause of his people upon which there was proclaimed a desperate War in which division the Enemy which was for Condemnation having darkned the Light of the Sun formed it self in the shape of a true Light and so deceit having gotten the power to bear rule in Israel my mind was led forth out of the true Obedience as is before related by which the simple became exceedingly deceived but when after it had finished his course and I was restored to a right Understanding it is known that no weapon formed against the Just did prosper but my Life was as a clear Light in the sight of those amongst whom I was known being guided in that Obedience which was professed by those people amongst whom I was This may reprove the Gain-sayer for my witness therein is true Such who may be dissatisfied with any thing contained herein might judge of me otherwise then they ought because of those hands by whom what I have written is countenanced I therefore declare that before any of them had the least knowledge of my purpose I had writ of my self being perswaded it concerned me as a Duty chiefly for those Reasons before spoken but when after some considerable time that this discourse was wholly perfected I was perswaded in what I have done that so such serious mindes as might question the Truth of any thing contained in it might the better receive a satisfaction Since my separation from these people there hath been dispersed abroad concerning me divers scandalous and false abusive reports by which where it hath taken place I am presented as a lewd person changed from whatever it is known I have been but unto the Truth am I made manifest by which Truth in me and in all those that thus have spoken and do speak against me am I justified which Truth is and will be the Condemnation of what is believed or spoken touching me untruly True since it pleased the Father to make known the excellency of his power in the raising out of nothing this body that the Image of himself amongst other of his works might therein appear compleat both in Body and in Spirit to the glory of himself and to the praise of his Name I say since the beginning of this Creation of God a disobedient Mind hath appeared in me against that Will that Grace which God hath as his Law made known in and to me and I have amongst others many times rejected the offers of Grace by the presumptuous resolvedness of my own peremptory will so that I cannot justifie my self yet am I bold wherein I am made free in the sight of God being witnessed by the Spirit of Truth False reports and good reports must pass but my Witness liveth for ever I know and have heard of many which were of them that were convinced in themselves of much delusion they lay under and so their Understandings being enlightned they were reformed in their Judgements but not one of these have I known or heard that have not received from them the like Judgement and scandalous untrue reports that have been given forth concerning me Wherefore by right according to their Law though false I must come under the same Condemnation with them But herein is my Peace the Word of Truth bearing me witness against all deceitful Lyes The end
perswaded with By which true Judgement became lost in me That I may in this be as a Sea-mark whose poor Vessel was well-nigh Split upon those Rocks and am now become as one to give warning that none do through the hastiness of their own Minds in their own Wills under a pretence of God's Will dishonor the Truth by giving heed to such Seducings and Temptations ascribing that to God and calling it His when indeed it is the Effects of their own Fancy through their own Weakness and their own Imagination 3. That there may be a true and impartial Information held forth to every one to whose Hands this Discourse shall come of the true Rise and Progress of my Entrance into and Separation from the People called Quakers in order to the silencing of those false Aspersions which have been cast not only upon me but also upon the aforenamed People themselves by reason of me And which is more especially upon the Truth it Self which through misrepresentation and misunderstanding of things hath much suffered These things Considered I hope it will be understood by all sober-minded Persons that I am in this Work upon a great Duty which I may not be at rest till it be effected and the rather because herein the Temptations and Wiles of Satan are Discovered and in measure detected which many being ignorant of could not Believe or Avoid And although I must and do expect That there will be sent forth Floods after me even to the very drowning of me if possible by Reproaches Calumnies Aspersions and whatever may be to render me or make me Odious as divers have appeared in such-like very active towards me already but those who profess the highest Truth even the Perfection and abounds therein dares not nay they cannot appear in the Language of the Beast of the Serpent of the Deceiver yet however things be I shall abide where I am therefore I count not any thing which I may suffer valuable in comparison of that Peaee I have in bearing this Witness which is not anothers but fulfilled in and on my Person So that I may truly say as in another Case What I have heard with mine Ears and seen with mine Eyes and felt with my poor tormented Body and Spirit That I have testified and do testifie and my Witness therein is true To which let me add a few Words by way of Caution to thee in the perusal of what followeth 1. That thou Consider what thou Readest and understand things as they are Also be serious in thy Observation and be not light in Mind nor easily tickled with toyish Laughter at such Vanities as thou mayest perceive to have attended me But Watch and Pray That thou also mayest not be led into Temptation For I assure thee That in the hour of my Temptation I judged those Madnesses and Follies great and serious things though now through Mercy I look upon them with another Eye 2. Despise not the Scriptures wherein the Minde of God is so preciously and plentiously Recorded neither doat too much upon them for therein the Deceiver will work in thee Subtilly to the drowning of thy Understanding by forming in thee Imaginations and comprehensions of things which are not I mean things which are not in the Counsel of God by which the Unbelieving and Disobedient Minde will be kept nourished in thee therefore be not wise above what is written either in the Scriptures or in thy Self lest the Light of Israel become a Rock of Offence and a Stone of Stumbling unto thee for both which were my Errors by which I dearly suffered 3. Watch unto Prayer and be staied in what is thy Obedience that so thy Understanding might be opened and thou mayest be able to distinguish between things that differ as saith the Scripture Try the Spirits whether they are of God for there are that have a great seeming-sameness at least a great similitude and likeness of God as when thou shalt be inwardly moved to Speak or Act See that thou impute not that to God which is thine own nor ascribe not that to thy Self which is His and by how much the more Difficult it is for thee to Distinguish thy own Spirit in its Operations and Effects from the Operations and Effects of the true and faithful Spirit of the Lord be so much the more Humble and Lowly and filled with Moderation both towards thy Self and others until thou art Restored to a cleerer Sight 4. Be not rash in Judging nor Censuring an Evil whereunto I my self was most inveterately addicted and is the universal Distemper of these times for unsavoury Expressions being out of Charity especially where it come short of Knowledge stands not in the Counsel of God though many glory therein but they Acting from themselves and so their work being their own true Judgement will rest upon them the wisdom which is from above being pure and peaceable and full of gentleness yea even to the Froward otherwise I say otherwise what had become of me and others this day but the Word of Truth will Rebuke in his day when the Eyeshall see as it is seen beholding things as they are and not as Fancied or Imagined to be 5. If thy Heart be set Free pray for the Author that he may be kept by the power of God in Obedience to that Faith which is Salvation who referring thee to the Discourfe as it follows bids thee Farewel John Toldervy WE whose Names are hereunto Subscribed being Certified of the Contents and Circumstances of the Discourse ensning and some of us having Perused a Part and others the Whole of it are fully satisfied of the Truth of Things Reported in it and do Recommend it as a Piece worthy to be Read and taken into Consideration by all serious Christians as a sad and very remarkable Providence of God to be Observed of all those who take pleasure either in the knowledge of the gracious Works of God or in the Discovery of the Wiles and Subtilties of the Devil And as a seasonable Warning-piece unto all others that they be not taken in the like Snare And if taken that they may recover themselves out Thomas Brooks Thomas Jacomb George Cokayn Will. Adderley John Goodwin John Tombes Will. Jenkyn Matth. Poole The Foot out of the Snare I J. T. having for divers years been full of zeal after the things of God by which zeal I was led forth with exceeding love after the knowledge of Christ to which end I sought after those Ways and Means which I was perswaded to be most useful for the satisfying of my Judgment clearing of my Conscience as Duties enjoyned in order to my upright and close walking with God and blameless life and conversation amongst men To the same end I was led forth with much fervencie of spirit after the Teachings of those whom I judged to be most enlightned with that Spirit which was of God and that were esteemed of the primest Professors to be
very knowing and understanding of what the truth or substance and life was To which end I laboured were it possible in that way to apprehend what was pure out of divers Opinions that so one knowledg one minde witnessed by one Truth my Understanding being well informed might act me to live in unity with God by a holy and innocent life But after a time in regard of much unstableness I saw in divers Teachers by the diversity of their Opinions and also much Confusion in many Societies who made a profession to be gathered together by one Spirit pure of God into one pure minde and so at unity with one pure God it occasioned much trouble and disquietness in me Whereupon considering seriously with my self I sought diligently what the cause should be of all this division by which men professing the Truth were thus distracted in their own mindes Upon which there was cleared to my understanding Truth being but one the ministration of righteousness which proceedeth from this Truth must necessarily be the same therefore that which occasioned this Division was the wisdom of the flesh which continually was and still is at enmity with Truth God being not the author of confusion but of peace After this I found a little pleasure in hearing of Ministers because of the pleasantness of their discourse by the excellencie of their beautified language but nothing sufficient to edifie or learn me with knowledge for in hearing I could not understand in seeing I could not perceive that any thing I ever saw or heard did proceed from a right understanding of the minde of God there being so many mixtures by what I apprehended in every thing spoken forth by all Whereupon was I perswaded to see what might be learned from others who were out of the way of these professions by whose Doctrine together with what I apprehended of my self by the operation of a spirit infused into me after a short time there was made clear to my understanding what follows But first I shall declare the manner of my entrance into this belief Being thus perswaded I began to be very inquisitive after some other people that might accord with and be instruments of good to me whose life conversation might be one with their doctrine both which being of God might certainly confirm their unity with God So in a short time I became affected with those people called by the name of Seekers but afterwards hearing at a private house two of those called by the name of Quakers and much observing their discourse little was spoken but all tending to the destruction of every the least sin So by the sincerity of their discourse with the sobriety of their appearance I was taken somewhat affected with them upon which I was perswaded to make a further enquiry after that Sect though to my wisdom notwithstanding what was spoke was against all sin yet there was nothing declared of the mystery of the Gospel of Christ But upon a further enquiry in the observation of them I saw their order their maner of teaching and duties and found as was declar'd by them as far as I perceiv'd that all spake the same things their Ministery was one all in one Order united compleat in one Minde whereby they were acted as one in their duties whereupon I concluded that surely these people were of God sent forth as witnesses for himself against all others who took the name of God in their mouthes and declared themselves to be the Ministers of Christ though they were made Ministers of man and sent forth by man whose Doctrine stood in the will of Man and not understanding what the Word of life was therefore uncapable of edifying the people being Ministers of the Letter and not of the Spirit Now since it was written that the people of God should be of one soul and one minde God also being one and his Name one and these people declaring to be the same who did live much witnessed by their humility one pure life also moved to speak and act onely from a true and faithful being of God manifested in them by which they appeared to be as Lights in the world and all others who were in a subjection unto divers Forms in many things taking liberty to themselves their lives appeared to be judges of them as well as their outward declaration yet in regard of much strangeness that I apprehended in their way also the extraordinary bold confidence they had in their judging which gave no liberty for the justification of any besides themselves I could not finde a sufficient satisfaction to comply with them A short time following being at a private * Of those called Seekers Meeting where after some time spent by two or three who were making enquiry what should be the meaning of the Spirit of God in two Scriptures which seemingly did appear to contradict each other there comes into the Meeting divers strange men and in the midst of their discourse upon those Scriptures there stood up a man of these strangers and silencing of them he began with an exceeding bold courage to speak crying aloud in these words or to this effect Praises praises be to the Lord God for ever who hath hid these things from the wise prudent and hath revealed them unto babes giving them to know that the dark clouds were veiled over the Sun and with this darkness did they go about to comprehend the light but the light did see the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not So repeating over those Scriptures he affirmed with confidence that they meant that they spake and made those plain to the understanding of many affirming that those who never came to live obedient to the Life which was of God in them should never come to see what was meant by the holy Spirit which moved those who lived the life of God to speak them forth the words of the Wise were dark to such who by their disobedience had lost their light So Man having now lost his guide being blind he seeks after Knowledge by the teachings of that minde which is darkned and so feeds upon that tree forbidden of the knowledge of Good and Evil not discerning and beginning in Genesis he passed thorow the whole scope of the Scriptures declaring what was meant by them and all things being turned by him into Allegories typifying or figuring forth what was to be fulfilled in man before he came to be born of the Spirit the second birth without which there was no entrance into the Kingdom of God heaven which was in man according to that Scripture I will dwell in them and walk in them they shall be my people and I will be their God And so declaring what was meant by the first Adam what by the second Adam what the Fall was what the cause of the Fall what reigned after the Fall what by Redemption out of this fallen estate the way of this Redemption the effects produced