to deceive that all may be warned by what I have learned in Sufferings and they that will not may be left without excuse JAMES NAYLOR Written in Bridewell about the Beginning of 1658. FINIS LONDON Printed in the Year 1659. TRUTH Cleared from Scandals Being James Naylor's Answer and Declaration Touching some things Charged upon him in the Lancashire PETITION HAVING heard of divers Untruths cast upon me by some of the Priests in their High Places though I stand only to the Lord in respect of my self yet least any that love the Truth should be led to speak Evil of the things they know not I shall lay open the Truth as it is in me Revealed touching those things Jude 10. Re. 19. 13 1 Joh. 1. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 1. 25. John 1. 14. Eph. 5. 30. 1. 21 22. Joh. 8. 12. 2 Thes 2. 8 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. whereof I have been Falsly Accused 1. Concerning Jesus Christ who is the Eternal Word of God by whom all things were made and are upholden which was before all Time but manifested in Time for the Recovery of Lost Man which Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst the Saints who is the same Yesterday and to Day and for Ever who did and doth dwell in the Saints who Suffered and Rose again and Ascended into Heaven and is set at the Right Hand of God to whom all Power is given in Heaven and in Earth who filleth all Places is the Light of the World but known to none but those who Receive and Follow him and those he leads up to God out of all the Ways Works and Worships of the World by his pure Light in them whereby he Reveals the Man of Sin and by his Power casts him out and so prepares the Bodies of the Saints a fir Temple for the pure God to dwell in with whom dwells no Unclean thing and thus he Reconciles God and Man and the Image of God 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. which in Purity and Holiness is renewed and the Image of Satan which is all Sin and Uncleanness is defaced and none Col. 3. 10. can Witness Redemption further than Christ is thus Revealed in them to set them Free from Sin Which Christ I Witness John 8. 34 36. to be Revealed in me in Measure Gal. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Col. 1. 27. 2. Concerning the Scriptures That they are a true Declaration 1 John 1. 3 5. 2 Pet. 1. 21 22. Deut. 4. 2. Rev. 22. 18. Tim. 3. 16 17. of that Word which was in them that gave or spake them forth and are of no Private Interpretation but were given forth to be Read and Fulfilled in the Saints as they were given forth by the Holy Ghost without adding or diminishing and was not given forth for Men to make a Trade upon to get Mony by but as they are they are Profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished unto every good Work But they who tread in the Letter and are Ignorant of the Mystery deny all Perfection and none can rightly 1 Cor. 2. 14 15. Joh. 3. 11. Acts 1. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 2. Col. 2. 12. Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 6. 3. Mat. 26. 26 28. John 6. 51 53 54 55 56. 1 Cor. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Col. 2. 10. Acts 4. 32. 1 Cor. 11. 27 28 29 Joh. 5. 20. understand the Scriptures but they who Read them with the same Spirit that gave them forth For the Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are Spiritually discerned 3. Concerning Baptism the true Baptism is that of the Spirit with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Baptized by one Spirit into one Body not the washing away of the Filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ without which no other Baptism can Save us they being but Figures or Shadows but this Baptism of Christ is the Substance whereby we are Baptized into his Death and those who are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ 4. Concerning the Lord's Supper the true Supper of the Lord is the Spiritual Eating and Drinking of the Flesh and Blood of Christ Spiritually which the Spiritual Man only Eateth and is thereby nourished up unto Eternal Life without which Eating there can be no Life in the Creature profess what you will and all who Eat of this Bread and Drink of this Cup have real Communion with Christ the Head and also one with another as Members and are all of one Heart and one Mind a Compleat Body in Christ Now the World who take only the Outward Signs and are not brought into a discerning of the Lords Body Eat and Drink Damnation to themselves and so become guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ and calls this a Communion but Lives in Envy Strife and Debate Fighting and going to Law one with another for Earthly things 5. Concerning the Resurrection That all shall arise to give 1 Cor. 15. 38. an Account and receive at the Last Day according to their Works done in the Flesh whether Good or Evil these Bodies that are Dust shall turn to Dust but God shall give a Body as pleaseth him that which is sown in Corruption shall be raised 1 Cor. 15. 42 43 44 46 50 51. in Incorruption it is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body and as we have born the Image of the Earthly so we shall bear the Image of the Heavenly But Flesh and Blood Rev. 20. 6. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 20. cannot Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven neither doth Corruption Inherit Incorruption for we shall all be changed But they who cannot witness the first Resurrection within themselves know nothing of the second but by hear-say And therefore say 1 Cor. 15. 47. Col. 1. 15. some of your Teachers that Christ is in Heaven with a Carnal Body now that Christ who is the first Fruits should be there with a Carnal Body and the Saints with a Spiritual Body is not proportionable 6. Concerning Magistracy That it is an Ordinance of God Ordained for the Punishment of Evil doers and an Encouragement Rom. 13. 3. to them that do Well Where Justice and Righteousness is the Head and Ruleth without Partiality that Land is kept in Peace and those who Judge for the Lord I Honour as my Jude 16. own Life not with a Flattering Honour of putting off the Hat and bowing of the Knee which is the Honour of the World having Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage for Self-ends but from my Heart for Conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. as to the Power which is of God and not to Mens Persons For the Scripture saith He that Respects Persons commits Sin and is Convinced of the Law as are Transgressors And
over and we have not found help from Man as to all the Powers that have been till this Day since we were a People nor do we speak this because we look for help from Man nor indeed can we expect that from Men until Men own the same Principle of God to Rule in them to which we are subject which is the Son of Righteousness and leads all into Righteousness Truth and Peace that his Light doth follow who is known to us to be King of Kings and Judge of the Judges though Flesh and Blood sees not his Kingdom And now O King as we have been moved of the Lord in Bowels of Love and with much Plainness of Speech after the Spirit of Truth and not with vain Complements to lay these things before all the several Powers that have risen hitherto with several other Evils which our God hath sent us to testifie against both in Rulers Teachers and People so we have done and for that we have suffered also for a Witness against them as it is at this Day So the same God hath now after a while put into our Hearts to lay these things before thee O King that thou mayst not be Ignorant to what we are called and for what we suffer And in this we rejoice That we feel love to thy Soul even while we are thus doing and if many should be moved hereto of God take heed of being wearied therewith nor count it Clamour or Trouble as they that was before thee did and so let up Prejudice and Evil Thoughts in their own Hearts against the Innocent for this we say unto thee and affirm in the Name of our God that the more any are truly moved by the Eternal Spirit to warn thee of these Things or any other Evils that may any way grieve his Holy Spirit so much doth the Lord of thy Life and true and Everlasting Peace double his Love unto thee and shew his Willingness to stay thee from that which hath removed Kings and broken Kingdoms And this we know to be in God and by him in us towards thy Soul and Eternal Welfare And though we cannot Swear and Unswear Covenant and Uncovenant with every Change that comes as Men do that know not the Everlasting Covenant and Decree of God yet this hath God fealed in our Hearts To seek the Good of all Men Plot against none but study to live quietly and Exercise our Conscience faithfully towards whatever Government our God shall set up desiring that all Men in their Day may so use their Power as they may give Account to God with Joy and not leave their Names for a Curse and Reproach among Men for this we know That God is now at Hand to give a speedy Reward to every Man as shall be the Work of his Day Wherefore O King seek the Fear of the Lord and not Pleasure do Justice and Judgment in this thy Day Relieve the Helpless Oppressed and break the Yoak of Bondage that lies upon the Poor and bring Judgment into the Gates and let not Justice be sold least the Meek of the Earth Cry to God against thee Verily God is nearer this Nation to avenge than many can believe though the hath done Wonders in this Generation that many Generations have not seen and he is trying all Sorts of People with the Testimony of his Appearance Blessed are they whose Eye is open to discern the Signs of the Times for a Work is God working in the Earth and he will cut it short in Righteousness for his Elect sake which Daily hath waited upon Him that is Blessed for ever O King spend not thy time in Fleshly Pleasures neither strive after that Glory which will fade away but apply thy Heart to God and wait to feel his Spirit in thee giving thee Light and Understanding to guide thy ways before him for only Blessed is he who Rules by his power and who is taught of God shall be Established in Righteousness and be far from Oppression and only such shall be called the Blessed of God to all Generations read and remember the Righteous and the Wicked From one of those whom the World calls Quakers JAMES NAYLOR Written the 3d Day of the 4th Month 1660. FINIS LONDON Printed in the Year 1660. To all the Dearly Beloved PEOPLE of GOD Mercy and Peace THere is nothing dear and percious to me in this World but God's Truth and his Life of Righteousness for which I have forsaken all the World and whatever was dear to me therein I have hated and counted it as an Enemy that I might obtain Christ the Fountain and Spring of that Eternal Life of Truth the Beauty whereof I cannot express as I see it and feel it The Loveliness thereof to my Soul hath so dearly united my Spirit to all that bear the Image and Life of it that there can be no Separation but my Life suffers thereby and I can truly say that there is no other thing whatsoever that can unite me as one with any Creature living but this Image and Life where I see it born up or breathing to Life but in whomsoever it be without respect of Persons that I see the least appearance of this Seed of Life is I can by that Power of Love the Father hath begotten in me lay down my Life to serve for the Seed's sake And wherein I have come short of this formerly and have respected the High more than stood only in this Seed I have been judged of the Lord and my evil Thoughts therein condemned yea and I do condemn them before all the World to be of that which favours Self and not the Things of Christ And the lower God doth bring me and the nearer to himself the more doth this Love and Tenderness spring and spread towards the poor simple and despifed ones who are poor in Spirit meek and lowly Suffering Lambs and with those I choose to suffer and do suffer where-ever they are found and I bear my Testimony against that Spirit by which they suffer where-ever it is found and this lies upon me from the Lord Hearing and feeling a Spirit of Enmity having got head by what the Lord hath done with me and now doth exercise its Power against the Peaceable Meetings of the Lord's People the Burthen whereof lies heavy upon me and I suffer under it and have long waited with Prayers and Tears of Sorrow Night and Day to receive Counsel from the Lord what to do in it in that Condition I am now in at present God knows I Lye not for there is nothing of all my Hardships that hath lain and doth lie upon me like this that any of the Flock of God should be offended or suffer through me therefore I have not ceased to warn as God hath opened to me such as I could speak to to live in Peace and Love to suffer but not to act Strife and Violence and have denied that Spirit not to be of the Lamb but
an Enemy to him tho' the Creature may not know it but may think it is doing God service it being got above the suffering Seed in themselves would scatter and devour it in others And this Spirit the Lord hath shewed me and its end and hath redeemed me from it by the Spirit of the Lamb and I shall never join as Head or Tail therewith but shall earnestly pray to the Father that a deep Search of Truth may seriously pass through the Hearts and Reins of all Contenders that all that are guilty herein may speedily come to Repentance left they be hardned therein and there come a time when they would give whatever is dear to them for one Hour's Society with the People of God and cannot obtain it then with lamentable Wo shall the Wrath of that be known that is now trampled on without the true Fear of God or Life of his Love And having at length received this Favour of the Lord I have taken this time in the tender Bowels of Love as one wounded therewith to warn you hereof Beseeching you all for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake that you all search low for the Bowels of him who loved you and suffered for you when you were his Enemies and put them on towards all Men but especially towards one another who have been called by one Spirit into one Truth that so the holy Spirit be no more grieved nor Satan get any more advantage whose Work is to sow Dissention even among Brethren And the Lord God of Love give us all to see that whatever our Gifts or Powers be yet if we have not the Life and Power of Love it avails not with God though Men may esteem of us never so high For only he that dwells in Love knows God and lives in him the rest knows not what Spirit they are of And this I feelingly declare from that dear Love of God in me begotten to all his People whereby I am so far from taking delight in troubling the People of God that their growth in Peace and Truth upon the Foundation laid already was never so much desired and my Love to them is daily increased beyond what I can here express yet the Lord knows it and whence it is whether it be receiv'd by Men or no yet the Seed snall feel it in God's time to which it is and in whose Peace only I have Peace and I hope in the Power of that Love God will so strengthen me that nothing of Shame Loss or Reproach shall ever be too hard to take up for the advancement thereof as God shall shew and lead me therein without whom I dare do nothing lest I deny his Work or confound it with my own And concerning you the tender Plants of my Father who have suffered through me or with me in what the Lord hath done with me in this time of great Tryal and Temptation the Almighty God of Love who hath numbred every Sigh and put every Tear in his Bottle Reward it a Thousand-fold into your Bosoms in the Day of your need when you shall come to be tryed and tempted and in the mean time fulfil your Joy with his Love which you seek after The Lord knows it was never in my Heart to cause you to mourn whose Sufferings is my greatest Sorrow that ever yet came upon me for you are innocent herein But the Envious One hath taken his advantage which the Lord will turn to his disadvantage and utter ruine in many Souls and in this believing is all my rest in my great trouble of heart concerning you or my self and in Patience I wait to see it when the Man of Sin hath had his time to be revealed For I have seen the good Hand of God all along working in it whose End is good to all that love him else had I been destroy'd e're this such hath been the Violence of the Enemy of my Soul But he hath numbred my Hairs and not left me in the Fire or Water when none else was with me thou wert my Comforter O that I may never hide thy Praise by covering my Sin or Shame God forbid By a way unexpected did the Lord open a way to declare these Words all other means of writing being taken from me Blessed be He on whom I wait further to see his Will that I may do or suffer it The Presence and Peace of the Almighty comfort his People whom I salute in the Bowels of Love James Naylor I beseech you all that can to receive it even as you would be received of the Lord and for the rest the Lord give me Patience to suffer till the Lord make up the Breach A Testimony to Christ Jesus delivered to the Parliament who Persecuted him as a Blasphemer written in the time of his Imprisonment in Bridewell CHrist Jesus the Immanuel of whose Sufferings the Scriptures declare him alone I confess before Men for whose sake I have denied whatever was dear to me in this World that I might win him and be found in him and not in my self whose Life and Virtue I find daily manifest in my mortal Body which is my Eternal Joy and Hope of Glory whom alone I seek to serve in Spirit Soul and Body Night and Day according to the measure of Grace working in me that in me he may be glorified whether by Life or Death and for his sake I suffer all things that he alone may have the Glory of my Change whose Work alone it is in me Even to that Eternal Spirit be Glory and to the Lamb for ever But to ascribe this Name Power and Virtue to James Naylor or to that which had a beginning and must return to Dust or for that to be exalted or worshipped to me is great Idolatry and with the Spirit of Christ Jesus in me it is condemned which Spirit leads to Lowliness Meekness and Long-suffering So having an opportunity given with readiness I am willing in the Fear of God the Father in Honour to Christ Jesus and to take off all Offences from every simple Heart this to declare to all the World as the Truth of Christ is in me without Guile or Deceit daily finding it to be my Work to seek Peace in Truth with all Men in that Spirit James Naylor J. N's ANSWER to the FANATICK HISTORY In Relation to himself AS for thy Charge against J. N. through the Everlasting Mercy of my God I have yet a Being amongst the Living and breathe to answer for my self though against the Intents of many Bloody Cruel Spirits who pursued my Soul unto Death as much as in them lay in that Day of my Calamity when my Adversary was above and wherein I was made as a Sign to a Backsliding Generation who then would not see nor hear what now is coming upon them but rejoiced against this piece of Dust and had little pity towards him that was fallen into their Hands wherein God was just in giving me up for my
SEVERAL PAPERS OF CONFESSIONS PRAYER and PRAISE By James Naylor Concerning His Fall and Restoration A Just Man falleth seven times and riseth up again but the Wicked shall fall into Mischief Prov. xxiv 16. LONDON Printed in the Year 1659. To those who were in AUTHORITY whom the LORD is now Judging that they may Repent and find Mercy from God By James Naylor With His Letter to King CHARLES II. OH Men of England whose Day is over and whose Time is passed away from you and you are now left as Men in Desolation and Darkness You had a large Day and Time to have done good and to have answered God's Requirings of you and your Engagements to him and so to have laid up Treasure with God against the Evil Day which is come from far upon you and you had a large time and a great Power in your Day to have made you Friends of the Unrighteous Mammon by doing Justly and shewing Mercy therein that so you might have had a Habitation in the Day of Adversity And in your Day the Heavens were fair and the Son gave you his Light shining upon you through many Clouds that seemed to arise over which he sent you Light that in his Light you might have walked and seen Light and his Visitations and Risings towards you was often and his Appearance was lovely towards you even as a calm Sun-shine after a stormy Tempest and as warm Clearness after Rain to the softning of the Earth and to make it Fruitful that he might have received of his Tillage a good Savour from the Fruit of his Labours and have blessed you But Oh People You would not hear nor regard in that Day when his Work was good towards you every Morning and his Mercies upon you all the Day long but you grew high and lofty in your selves and Proud in your Minds and Self-conceited and Self-ended and hardned your Hearts against his tender Witness in your Conscience and walked Rebelliously against his good Spirit in your own Hearts and he could not cause you to hear but you grew past feeling of any thing that is called God in you Then you dayly waxed Fat and Fulness encreased and Pride gendred into your Hearts and you grew wanton and kicked against him that bore you and made light of his Bricks in your Consciences Thus was your Ear stop'd towards God and you wholly lost from all that he might speak unto you in Spirit or Counsel or Fear and from the Way of his Teaching and Reproof you was utterly gone and had removed your Hearts far away from hearing his Voice for you had filled them with Pride and vain Glory and your unjust Gain had made many of them even as the nether Mill-Stone so you became unmoveable in your Way Then did the Lord raise him up Servants that would hear and gave them his Light to see what you were doing against the Lord your God who had redeemed you out of all Adversity and had raised you up out of a low Estate and had done for you exceedingly even to win you as a People to himself And also what God was a-doing against you because of this your contrary walking towards him and that he would certainly bring you down before your Enemies if you did not return and humble your selves before him And these he sent amongst you with his Word rising early and sending them to speak his Mind expresly what he minded to do and it could no longer slumber But you would nâ—t hear neither would you believe but the same which had stop'd your Ear and hardned your Hearts in your own selves from feeling that had wrought too such Hardness Dullness and Unbelief till God's Word could have no Entrance into you nor his Servants Liberty to walk among you to publish it But you begun to Question in your unbelief whether it was the Word and in your Pride to scorn it And in the Hardness of your Hearts then you begun to persecute the Messengers of the Lord which he sent with it to you for your Good and many Hundreds suffered in all Parts of the Nation upon this Account till there was no hope of your hearing or obeying the Voice of your Return Then did the Lord raise up Signs and Wonders among you if by any means he might appear as one to be feared or observed by you And he stript his Children naked and sent them among you and some he cloathed in Sack Cloath as mouring over you And some with Ashes upon their heads he sent into your Assemblies of Worships and your Assemblies in your Feasts and of your Fasts which was all Abominable to him while you walked in your own Ways and would not hear his Voice but these you used worse than formerly and your Rage encreased in Stocking Beating Whipping and Imprisoning until the Cry of Oppression was so great that there was no Remedy and then the Lord arose and shaked you in Pieces as a Mighty One in his Anger and broke you with such a Breach so as you could not be healed nor be a Power any longer and so hath brought the Wheel over you and from far without help hath he caused the Rod to Blossom And the Just Lord is now seen in the midst of you and which of you is able to stand before Him in Judgement or to Condemn Him in the thing he hath done and Captivity is taken Captive before Him and you that did Imprison are imprisoned and you that sought to make your selves dreadful by Oppression now knows not where to hide your selves from the mighty Day that 's coming upon you from the God of the whole Earth And now this is the Word of the Lord to you all you Sturdy Oaks and Tall Fruitless Trees whom the Wind of the Fierce Wrath of the Almighty hath thus shaken Hear the Rod and who hath appointed it and how before the Terrible Iudge of all flesh and seek not to save your selves with your former Consultations with that Spirit in which you have always Rebelled against God till this Day and in whose Counsel you have wrought this great Evil to provoke the Lord and in which you have ever rejected his Word in your selves and others neither trust to your Friends to make Flesh your Arm yet farther to provoke the Lord to your utter Confusion neither trust in your Prayers or Performances or ought you can do while you are in that Rebellious Spirit of Disobedience to God's Witness in your own Consciences for verily God will not hear you while you are unwilling to hear him And now for this he is come near you at last to Judgement and he hath brought near his Righteousness that you might see it and lay hold on it and make Peace therewith now at last for your Souls that you may be saved and your Return must be first to that Spirit against whom you have Sinned there to make Peace And now spend not your time in vain Talks and vain
Practises and so still serve that Evil Spirit that hath all along betrayed you of your Obedience to God but wait to feel that Spirit which calls you to mourn a part every one for the Evils of his own Heart against his God and let that be minded which leads to Repentance towards God first that if by any means you may find a place for Repentance which will be hard for many of you to do you have so long Dissembled with God and betrayed his Witness in you through Deceit for this is the Truth to you all If you find that from the Lord in Spirit that will let you see the Evils of Provocation and give you Power to put it off whatever it be you will find favour with God therein for your Souls but if you find not that Spirit you will find small Peace with God and then that which Men can do for you will be little available for it is for want of Hearing and Obedience towards God that all this Evil is come upon you which must be turned to e'er it can be taken Everlastingly off for if you had harkned to his Light in your Consciences and his Word had had a Place in your Hearts to Obedience when you was yet tender then would it have kept you in his Fear so that you durst not have coveted that Cursed thing with which you hid and covered that Just Principle in you and blinded your Eyes with the Riches and Spoil of your Enemies nor durst you have set up what you had cast down and got into their Estates and so into their Pride by unrighteous Gain whom God had cast out Then had you not provoked God by these things to your utter Ruining Or if after this was entred upon you you had hearkned to his Reproof and put this off your selves with his Spirit then had he not brought this Terrible Besom to sweep it away from off you and from within you who hath left you no Place to hide your Glory or your Riches where his Hand shall not reach and his Eye find them out And there is now no hope for Agreement with God in yâ—â—r selves nor that he will cease his Anger against you till you return to that from which you departed that the same Spirit may be confessed and Glory given thereto by putting off in his Counsel and Motion that which was put on in your Counsels against that Spirit and his Light in your own Consciences and also in many others whose Souls were troubled and grieved for you in that Day and this the Lord God looks for that Glory be given to the just in his sight and in the sight of all before whom his name hath been Blasphemed And this is now the Work of this your Day while you have a little time and for this he waits and forbears that he may be Gracious to your Souls for his Names's sake And it is not a time for you to sleep and sit at ease nor spend your time in Vanity nor seek to hide that which God is resolved to declare openly nor with fleshly Counsel seek to save that which God will destroy It 's time now at last to see what that selfish Spirit and its Counsel hath done for you and Repent of it by following whereof all this Evil is come upon you for your Authority hath vomited you out your Glory hath left you naked and your Riches cannot profit you in this Day of Wrath from the Almighty This was I moved of the Lord to write to you J. N. Oh! KING GOD hath in these Nations a People gathered by himself into his Light who are known to himself better than to Men and therefore have we suffered by Men under all the Powers that have risen in this Nation ever since God called us towards himself by his Eternal Light and Spirit and though we receive not our Laws from Man yet are we not without Law as to our God but have one Law-giver even Christ Jesus our Lord our Life and our Head blessed over all And from his Laws we may not depart and by his Law in our Conscience and the Power of his Spirit in our Hearts are we ordered and guided to walk Holily towards our God and Harmlessly towards Men as the Saints of Old witnessed in Scripture however they be minded towards us and by the Virtue of the Lamb and not of Flesh and Blood are we made to give our Goods to the Spoil and our Bodies to the Tortures of Cruel Men rather than defile our Consciences or Sin against any one of the least of the Commands of our Lord and Law-giver Christ Jesus who by the Light of his Eternal Spirit doth dayly lead us out of the Evils and Vanity of this present World and having begotten us into his own Guiding he doth not suffer us to subject our selves to any thing whatsoever is not set up by himself nor to Worship the god of this World nor obey him in Commands or Customs but the Exercise of our Consciences he hath redeemed wholly to himself and by his Precious Blood hath sprinkled them and made them tender and pure so that we may not Worship false gods nor the true God in a false manner nor may we Worship Men nor the true God in a false manner nor may we Worship Men nor follow the Customs of Nations Kindreds or People or Languages but the Spirit of Truth it self we must follow Nor may we break Christ's Commands in Swearing when Men Command us but must obey him who faith Swear not at all Nor may we join to or uphold any Worship whatsoever but what the Spirit of Truth it self leads us into though many have sought to force us thereto Nor may we leave the Ministry of Christ and that Maintenance which the Gospel allows of to Maintain a Priesthood with Tithes and so go back from Christ to the Law that the Apostle saith is disannulled Heb. 7. And for such things as these concerning a tender Conscience and the Law of our God have we suffered Grievous Persecution and not for any Unrighteousness done by us against any Man's Person or Estate nor have we suffered by any just Law of the Nation but by the Wills of Cruel Men and as a Prey to every Man's Lust hath been our Liberties Lives and Estates and the Rulers that have been to this Day have not sought our Deliverance but have dealt Treacherously with us and the Lord whom we serve hath seen it and reproved it and yet we are not set free but at this Day we live in the Account of the rude and envious People as a People appointed to Death and Desolation and the whole Body of Ungodliness and Rage of Wickedness is upon us daily and with Cruelty falls upon us in our Persons and Estates and our Peaceable Meetings to Worship the living God And as to all these things we are laid as the Mire in the Street for every rude Boy to run
Scattered IN the Fear of God and Love to his Truth and People do I declare in the Spirit of Meekness what hath long oppressed my Soul concerning those Unclean Spirits gone out from the Unity of the Truth and Light by which we have been called and gathered into one in Christ Jesus the Head over all his Blessed for ever whose Name hath been greatly dishonoured through many wild Actings and his Innocent Spirit grieved and many simple Souls deceived many opressed and many offended against the Truth because of those Spirits gone out from the Truth and now secretly under a pretence seeks dayly to make it odious to all For which Work my Soul hath been much troubled Who to this Day raven about from Place to Place amongst the People of God seeking to enter where they can and so to strengthen themselves into Parties to trouble such as they cannot enter seeking to spoil the peaceable Pasture of the Lambs that they should not Feed in Peace And for that end hunt after the Meetings of the People of God All which Practises and Pretences I deny in my Soul and that Spirit that acts therein And the more it lies upon me from the Lord to warn the simple innocent ones of his thereof openly in that through me these Spirits have got much Head and Entrance into the Minds of some who were simple towards God's Truth And this the Envious One hath done in the Night of my Tryal and Hour of Darkness and Temptation taking Advantage at my Sufferings in the Day when my Judgment was taken away and I led Captive under the Power of Darkness which all along hath sought my Life had not the Father hid it and with his Hand upon me staved me in those great Temptations to whom alone I give the Glory of my Deliverance from that great Destruction as his Promise was to me before I came into that Tryal who hath now brought me up again and hath given me to see those Evil Spirits and that the Work of the Murtherer and Devourer is therein against the Life of God in his Temple Which though they seek Entrance under pretence of Humility promising some great things and more Holiness in that way to steal into simple Minds but being got in exalts themselves above the Seed of God and Tramples the Meek Spirit under Foot and so darkens the Vessels and being exalted in the Openings of the Imaginations leads the Creature as God above that of God and so against that of God he warrs in others where God is above And this Mystery of deep Iniquity hath the Lord God in the Spirit of the Lamb revealed unto me whose powerful working I have found working in me above the pure Measure and Unspotted Life of God And though in the Simplicity of Christ Jesus I had given up my Body all along a Free Offering to the Will of God in Life or in Death for the Seeds sake yet ungathered in the World as God knoweth I lye not yet could I often feel that exalted One above secretly tempting to Envy against the People of God already gathered pretending a greater thing to come another Way but this with the Life of God was ever Judged Though often I was buffeted therewith sometimes so strongly as to force Words from me above the meek and lowly Principle All which Words were soon judged with the sufferer which lay under and with his Life be they Condemned for ever And this lyes upon me to declare openly which God hath revealed to me for the sake of the simple Ones who may be deceived therewith but would not did they know his Subtilty And by this shall you all perceive that Spirit whatever it pretends it will secretly withdraw your entire Love from the Flock of God already gathered and cool your Affections and Zeal towards their present Meetings and if you judge it not there it will grow on with an Evil Eye to spy out their Failings and delight to hear of them and talk of them with an hidden Joy whispering them to others and adding thereunto with a desire to see them broken and their Nakedness laid open if any thing be amiss And thus it hath wrought in a Mystery of Wickedness in some Unjudged until it be seated in the Throne of open Enmity and Strife against the Lambs of Christ preferring the Society of the Prophane before them and taking Part therewith against them joining with any who seek to scatter them And what ever pretence this Spirit seeks to cover it self with this I declare of it having been kept by the good Hand of God to see it reveal'd in its Ground and End that it is the Old Spirit of the Ranters which now in a new Way makes Head against the Light of Christ and Life of his Cross which is the only thing that stands in its Way by condemning its Filthiness in every Conscience And so they in whom this is Entered being exalted above the Living Witness in themselves would devour it in others And this in the Presence and Fear of God I declare without the least Prejudice against the Person of any Man or Woman but in Obedience to God and for the Seeds sake lest any more of the simple should be deceived and that such as are deceived already might recover themselves out of Satan's Snares no selfish End have I in it God knoweth And long time hath my Soul been in travail e'er I could obtain Power herein so strongly hath he that letteth withstood my Way Therefore in the Bowels of tender Love I warn you all to take heed how you ever come under that Spirit under any pretence whatsoever but let the Fear of God and sound Judgment in the Spirit of Meekness you all preserve above it for wheresoever it enters by consent it is hardly got out again And if it be it is not without much Sorrow And this I have found in the Depth which for your sakes I declare in Plainness and Truth as I have learned of the Lord labouring with him without ceasing that the rest of the People of God every where may be saved from this Devourer who goeth dayly about to deceive and whosoever he takes he casts into the Earth or into the Sea for Wickedness is with him wheresoever he goeth Even the Lord God Almighty arm you all against his Wiles being warned thereof in his Love and the Eternal Power of Holiness you all preserve clean to Himself who are dearer unto me than ever and that in no other thing but in that Innocent Principle in which you are kept free from all the Pollutions of the World and Fleshly Liberty and stand Witnesses for God against it before all Men and in no other thing have I fellowship with any which is that I seek to set up above all And this was I moved to give forth to go every where as a Witness against that unclean Spirit where-ever it goes felling its Work is to run to and fro
the Apostle James James 2. 5. Verse 1 2 3 4. Commands the Saints not to have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with Respect of Persons And saith such are Partial in themselves and become Judges of Evil Thoughts And Rom. 13. 1 5. saith Paul Let every Soul be Subject to the Higher Powers For saith he there is no Power but of God The Powers that be are ordained of God not of Man and that whosoever Resisteth the Power Resisteth the Ordinance of God And saith We must needs be Subject for Conscience sake And therefore though the Prophets and Saints were often sent by the Lord to Pronounce Judgment against Unjust Men who had the Power committed to them and did not Judge for God but for Self-ends yet they never attempted to raise any Violence against them but used all means to Persuade them to do Justly Love Mercy and Mic. 6. 8 walk humbly with God that they might be Established and the Wrath of God turned away from them For those that be of God cannot Rejoyce in the Destruction of any but would 1 Pet. 1. 12. Eph. 4. 11. 12. have all to turn to God and find Mercy 7. Concerning the Ministry The true Ministers of Jesus Christ have always been and are still such as came not by the Will of Man but by the Will of God neither are they fitted for that Work by any thing of Man but by God alone for the true Ministry is the Gift of Jesus Christ given for the Perfecting of the Saints and needs no addition of Humane Helps and 1 Cor. 12. 7. Learning but as the work is Spiritual and of the Lord so they are Spiritually fitted only by the Lord. And therefore he chose Pet. 4. 10. 11. Gal. 11. 11 12 16. Herds-Men Fisher-men and Plough-Men and such-like and as he gave them an Immediate Call without the Leave of Man so he fitted them Immediately without the Help of Man And as they received the Gift Freely so they were to give Freely And when ever they found any of the false Ministers who Taught for Hire they Cryed out against them and Pronounced Woes against them and shewed them that they lay in Iniquity because they thought that the Gift of God could be Bought and Sold for Money And Christ calls them Hirelings Mat. 10. 8. Acts 8. 20. John 10. 13. Micah 3. 10. Jer. 5. 30. and 6. 13. Isai 56. 10 11. 2 Pet. 2. 14 15. 2 Cor. 11. 15. Jude 11. and saith they care not for the Sheep And Micah cryes out against the Priests that Taught for Hire and saith They Build up Sion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity And Jeremiah cried out against the Priests in his Days that bare Rule by their means and calls it an Horrible thing and saith That from the least of them to the greatest they are all given to Covetousness And Isaiah cryed out of such in his Days and calls them Greedy Dogs that can never have enough and saith he they all look for their Gain from their Quarter And Peter saith of such in his Days as should come that they through Covetousness should make Merchandize of the People and saith They have Hearts exercised with Covetous Practises who have forsaken the right Way and have followed the Way of Balaam who loved the Wages of Unrighteousness And Jude cryes Woe unto them for they go on in the Way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam for Rewards But those that were sent out by Christ counted it their Reward to make the Gospel without Charge neither ever had they any set 1 Cor. 9. 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 4. 11. Gal. 4. 19. means but went about having no certain Dwelling Place neither were Masters but Servants to all for Christs sake Nor ever went to Law for Tythes or any other Earthly thing but Suffered Persecution and as always he that was after the Flesh Persecuted him that was after the Spirit even so it is now Now all People Try your Priests by the Scriptures whether they are of God or of the World and never think to hear the Word of the Lord from their Mouths who walk contrary to the Scriptures for such were never sent of God for had they been sent of God they would abide in his Doctrine And John 1 John 2. 3 4 5 6. Joh. 9. 10. 2 John 9. 10 11. saith such hath not God but he that abides in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son And if there come any to you and bring not this Doctrine you are forbidden to receive them into your Houses or bid them God Speed for if you do you are partakers of their Evil Deeds And unto the Wicked saith God What hast thou to do to Declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest Psal 50. 16 17. take my Covenant into thy Mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my Words behind thy Back and art a partaker with the Thief the Adulterer Evil-Speaking Slandering and Deceit and such as Psal 50. 21. do these things think God to be like themselves But I will Reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes J. N. 1653. The Condition and Portion of the People of England who have long Flattered themselves with the Church-Ministry and Ordinances but upon Tryal are found to be the Synagogues of Satan Persecutors of the Truth and Enemies of the Gospel of Christ The Lyon hath Roared Tremble all you Beasts of the Field The Trumpet hath sounded let the Beast prepare himself to Battle for the great Day of Sions Recompence is at hand and Woe to all her Enemies I Have heard a Voice of Woe and Terror to come upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth Repent all you Inhabitants of the Earth the Sword of the Lord is Furbished against you to make a grievous Slaughter Howl Woe and Misery all sorts of People who have preferred your own Wills Lust and Pleasures before the pure Law of God Howl you Sodomites and Belly-Gods of the Earth who have given up your selves to Fulness of Gluttony and all Excess of Riot Feeding without the Fear of God Sporting in the Day Time Living like fed Horses spending the Creatures upon your Lusts which were never made for that end Woe unto you you Fat Swine the Sins of Sodom are found among you and the Plagues of Sodom are nigh at hand Woe unto you for now is the Lord come to Require his Corn and his Wine which he gave to Feed the Poor and Hungry which your Lusts have Devoured the Wants of all Poor in the Nation cry out against you you have exceeded all that ever went before you and you shall exceed in Misery Woe unto you Proud Lustful and Lofty ones that are lifted up in your own Eyes and have set your selves above the Fear of God which Teacheth Humility you plainly appear to be Children of the Devil who is the
Father of all Pride and Self-exaltation you bear the Image of the Serpent you speckled ones who have Painted your selves in the various Colours to make your selves seem Glorious in the Eyes of others that they may Bow to and Worship you Woe unto thou that hast set thy self in the Seat of God thou art Weighed and found Wanting thy Pride is for the Fire and thy Honour for the Dust for now isthe Lord coming to Enquire after his Wool and Flax which he gave to Cloath the Naked of all sorts with which thou hast Decked the Serpent and spent it upon thy Lusts thereby to set thy self in the Seat of the Almighty Woe Woe Woe unto thee thou that art exalted as high as Heaven yea as into God's Throne but thou shalt be cast down to Hell the Lamb is Risen to Rule the Nations Woe unto the Covetous Cruel Oppressors who Live upon Dust you Grind the Face of the Poor and Oppress them that are Fallen your Measures you have filled and you have heaped up abundance against this Day of Wrath. The Fire of the Almighty is kindled and it shall never be Quenched till it hath Devoured and Burnt up you and your Heaps and made you a Curse to the Generations that shall come after Woe unto the Evious Serpents that seek to Devour the Innocent that make a Prey upon them that depart from Iniquity you are the. Head of the Serpent that must fulfil what is spoken of you and you now shew the Enmity that God hath put between the two Seeds now thy Rage is come the Seed is come whose Heel thou art Bruising who shall Bruise thy Head thy Time is as short as thy Rage is great Rejoyce all you that Suffer it that the Scriptures may be fulfilled Woe unto you Scorners you Sons of Hagar you Sons of Bondage to the Works of the Devil Scorning Backsliding False Accusing Slandering and Evil Speaking you are brought forth by the Egyptian Woman and are in Egyptian Darkness and you cannot see that you are in the Works of the Devil and by him you are put on to Act against Christ in his Saints But now is the Son of the Free-Woman brought forth to whom the Heritage belongs and you shall be cast out among the Heathen and Ungodly and Judgment is coming upon you in which you shall not be able to Stand. Woe unto you Swearers and Lyars under whose Tongues lies the Poyson of Apses which you vent out as you are moved by your Father the Devil against the Holy and Dreadful Name of the Almighty the Land is filled with this Generation and hath long Mourned because of you Who can pass in Streets or Markets that Fear the Lord and their Hearts not be Broken to hear it Do not all places abound with Vain Oaths and Lying Idle Words Never was Nation like to this in these things so that any who will not use these Idle Words and Oaths is known in the Streets as they pass and not esteemed worthy to Live in the Nation and thus not only with all the Common sort but also with many that are in place of Authority to Punish such things and yet those are not afraid to call themselves Christians Shall not the Lord be Avenged on such a People as this Woe unto you that Live upon Deceit in your Weights and Measures by your Slighty Words arising from the Serpents Wisdom which makes a Prey on the Simple and when you have got great Estates you say God hath given you them you are set up above them who are made Poor by you now is the Lord come to search you out and you shall Restore for your Theft Four-fold Woe unto you that have had Power in your Hands to restrain these things but instead of using the Sword to scatter the Works of Iniquity have turned the Edge of it against such as the Lord hath called out of these things and sent them to call others out least they partake of the Plagues that are to come upon those who are found in them Woe Woe unto you Blind Guides who have called your selves Christ's Seeds-men and now that the Lord of the Harvest is come to look for Fruits here is no better Fruit to Reap but such as these and that among such as you call Saints and the Churches of Christ And now that the Heir is Appearing you are stirring up the Powers of the Earth how to Destroy him lest you be called to Account for your great Care to feed your own Bodies and heap up Carnal things and the little Care for the Souls of Christ's Flock Now shall you not Escape your Day is near at hand Who could have Believed that England would have brought forth no better Fruits than these now after such Deliverance as no Nation else can Witness Oh! tell it not among the Heathen least you strengthen the Hands of the Enemy and occasion the Wicked to Blaspheme the Name of the God of Hosts who is reported to be amongst us and Subdued all our Enemies and hath Delivered us thus far Awake Awake all sorts of People can you say you have not had Power in your Hands against these Abominations But now that you have not proved Faithful in your Promises to the Lord in the Day of your Fears therefore is the Lord coming to call to Account all sorts of Dissemblers and Oppressors and by his own Right Hand to get himself the Victory And now Woe unto you that have known to do Well and had it in your Power but have not done it Woe unto you that have taken Counsel at your own Wisdom and Multitudes and not at the Spirit of the Lord and have Strengthned your selves by your Riches Woe unto you Fruitless Trees you have long been Digged and Pruned but no Fruits brought forth you have long cumbred the Ground Woe unto you that are at ease in Sion Howl Woe and Misery Tremble ye Women that are at Ease Strip you make you Bare put off your Pride and put on Ashes turn your Musick into Wailing your Feasts into Fasting and Bitter Lamentation and meet the Lord if there may be Hope for your Souls in the Day of his Fierce Wrath that is coming upon the Earth While you have time improve it J. N. THE END Printed in the Year 1654. TWO EPISTLES OF JAMES NAYLOR's An Epistle to several Friends about Wakefield JAMES a Prisoner of Jesus Christ unto all that love the Appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ every where Grace and Peace be multiplied from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ My dear Hearts you whom the Lord hath manifested so much Love unto as to call you out of Sin and Death and the World all the Delights and Pleasures of the World which Fades away up to himself where is Joy unspeakable Pleasures and Riches that endure for Evermore Dear Friends Watch and be Sober that you may hear the voice of your Beloved when he calleth and let not the
precious profers of the Love of God be tendred in vain while you have an Ear open to the World you cannot hear the Voice of God so that you have been made to groan under it How long have you been deceived by it all your time promising Peace Fulness and Satisfaction but have been brought to cry out of Oppression and Deceit and your Cries are come before the Lord of Sabbaths who is your Rest and he is now appeared to Deliver you and set you free from Bondage that you may serve him alone And now take heed of consulting with your Old Master hath the Lord been so Merciful unto you as that he hath set your Faces out of Sodom and Egypt towards the promised Land Oh take heed of looking back lest you be taken Captive and led back again and so you come short of Redemption and your Faith fail you and so you come short of the Promise for Unbelief cannot enter into the Rest but you Dear Friends put on Resolution put on Strength be Valiant for your Freedom cast off every Weight follow your Captain the Lord Jesus Christ who for the joy set before him endured the Cross despised the Shame and so enter'd into Rest and Glory Take heed of halting between God and the World what agreement can there be or what Peace while you are Married to the World Your thoughts turn in thither and you are Adulterated from God who gives you all good things as so many tokens of his Love hereby is the broken Language brought forth and you cannot speak the pure Language of the Land of Rest And while you give way to that in you which leads you to look back to what is behind you you keep your selves in the Wilderness and Darkness and lose your way and know not where you are Grieving the Holy Spirit of the Lord which hath appeared unto you to Guide you But Oh Friends mind your Guide and follow him Arise Shine your Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you the Night is far spent the Day is at hand even the Day of Sion's Deliverance Arise come away all you that love her come off from the World and Worldly things come into the Life lie no longer in Death and Dead things Awake thou that Sleepest and stand up from the Dead that Christ may give thee Light Come forth come forth of all Created things witness your Redemption from the World that you are Redeemed from the Earth up to God out of all Kindreds Tongues People and Nations to Reign as Kings and Priests for Ever above the World Sin and Death Triumphing and Treading upon all that would take you Captive This is the Day of your Deliverance own it with the Loss of all Fading Pleasures make it appear to all the World this is the Day you waited for even the Day of your Joy but of the Worlds Sorrow A Day of Blackness and Gloominess a Day of Fear and Trouble to them that Oppress you a Day wherein the Kingdom of Jesus Christ shall be Exalted and all the Kingdoms and Powers of the Earth Shaken a Day wherein the Lord will Avenge the Power of him that is too strong for you Rejoice Rejoice ye Meek of the Earth Shout for Joy ye poor Despised ones whom your Brethren have troden upon and have cast you out and you have been made their Mocking-stock for the Truths sake Sing and Rejoice the Voice of a King is amongst you and he will Marry you to himself in Righteousness Purity and Holiness and will Rejoice over you as a Bridegroom over the Bride and you shall be for a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the hand of your God O my dear Hearts my desire to God for you all is that you might come to see what unspeakable Riches is laid up for you in Jesus Christ which is hid from all Flesh neither can they see it who live after the Flesh and while they continue their Love to the World and Worldly things they keep out the Manifestation of the Father's Love for their Hearts cannot receive both Now shew your selves Wise Men choose that which is Eternal here is Light and Life tendred you in Jesus Christ freely out of the Father's Love freely receive Life and Love and shew forth Life and Love to God again by giving up to him all you have and all you are for Christ's sake that so you may come to receive all again with Christ who is the fulness of the Father's Love and in him are all good things needful for this Life and that which is to come even the earnest of your Inheritance which none can take from you which being received you shall never hunger more having a Well-spring within even the Witness of Eternal Life and Love and as Christ Appears who is our Life and Love so shall Life and Love Appear Spring Blossom and bring forth Fruit towards God and Man that so being raised with him from Death and Dead Works you may henceforth Live unto God and being brought into Oneness with him and Purity and Holiness you may be one amongst your selves of one Heart and one Mind speaking one and the self same thing and having the same care one for another as for your selves And take heed that there be not in any of you a Principle of Self-love which will lead to Separation and Division casting a stumbling block in the way of the Simple and so they that are Weak may be Defiled and turned back into the World And I beseech you Brethren that you mark them that once set their Faces towards Sion but not being willing to deny the World and take up the Cross have consulted with Flesh and Blood and turned back into Egypt again of such take heed knowing that the same Spirit that hath wrought in them Deceitfully will not cease to work by them to Deceive others to maintain its own Kingdom but you standing fast in the pure Light of Christ shall see whither those Return and the cause of their Returnings and that the end of such is worse than the beginning but there will be such that they who are approved may be made manifest But you my Brethren be ye so far from following such that their falling away may cause you to watch and search by what Power you stand and so a pure fear may be preserved in you by which you may be kept in the way that leads to the Crown which is Immortal For it is he that overcomes that must wear the Crown wherefore faint not nor think any thing hard the Lord calls you unto nothing must Suffer but that which is to Die that your Souls may Live Oh your light Affliction worketh for you a far more exceeding weight of Glory while you keep your Eye to that which is Invisible wherefore give up your selves to his will in all things Stand in the will of God in your present