of your Fathers ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell Wherefore behold I send unto you Prophets Wise men and Scribes and some of them you shall Kill and Crucifie and some of them you shall Scourge in your Synagogues and shall Persecute from City to City that upon you may come all the righteous Blood shed upon the Earth from the Blood of Righteous Abel unto the Blood of Zacharias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar And now Oh all ye Professors of all sorts who will not believe Christs words which he hath left upon record in the Holy Scriptures and yet say you do believe in him you are judging and condemning the Jews for slaying Christ and his Apostles and you imagine and say if you had lived in the dayes of the Jews who slew Christ and his Apostles you would not have been partakers with them in the Blood of Christ and of his Apostles Oh consider if Christ were now walking up and down in these Nations called Christendom in such a low and mean Appearance as he appeared among the Jews in that Age in which he suffered death among the Jews and should pronounce Woes against those who calls themselves Christians and say they do believe in him and love him would not they be angry at him and fret at him and cry away with him Oh consider it if he should tell the Proud and Covetous and Envious Priest and Professors who calls him Lord and calls God their Father that they were of their Father the Devil who was a Lyar and a Murtherer and if he should call them Serpents and a Generations of Vipers would they not chase and fret at him and would they not cry Away with him and would they not desire to have him shut out of their Countrey Oh consider of these things and lay them to heart ye persecuting Priests People and Professors of all sorts if you are Christians you are Christ-like now Christ is meek and he saith Learn of me I am meek and lowly in the heart and you shall find rest unto your Souls so all you persecuting Priests People and Professors of all sorts come to the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened you all and believe in it and obey it and it will open your Hearts and Understandings to know and understand that Christ is the Light of the World and hath enlightened every one that is come into the World and that all that believeth in that Light wherewith he hath enlightened them shall not die and perish in their Sins but by Christ the Light within they will come to be led out of their Sins and so to have Everlasting Life in him the Light For it is written In him was Life and the Life was the Light of men and the Light will let you see that Christ spiritually within men and women is unto them the way to God the Father and the Truth and the Life and the Door of the Sheepfold and if you believe in the Light it will open your hearts to understand that no man or woman upon the Earth can come to get any entrance into Gods Everlasting Kingdom but by Christ spiritually within for he saith I am the Light I am the Way I am the Truth I am the Life I am the Door of the Sheepfold he that enters by me the Door shall go in and find Pasture but he that climeth up another way is a Thief and must be cast down and none can ever enter into Gods Kingdom but by Christ spiritually within even the same Christ which the Jews cried away withal who was Crucified without the Gate of Jerusalem yea I say the same Christ and not another I say if ye believe in this Light it will open your hearts to understand these things to your own everlasting comfort and satisfaction and it will give you an entrance into Gods Everlasting Kingdom and if you do not believe in the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened you then you will continue in blindness of mind and hardness of heart and will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and you will continue fighting against the Lord God who Created you and you will continue fighting against the Lord Jesus Christ in his Members persecuting his tender and dear Servants who are as dear unto him as the Aple of his Eye and if you do it had been better for you that you had not been born for said he Whosoever shall offend one of these my little ones that believe in me Mat 18.5 6 7. it were better for him that a Misstone were hanged about his Neck and he were cast into the Sea 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 13. and if you continue in so doing then these are the words of Truth unto you all you are of the same Seed and Spirit that they were of who slew the Prophets and Christ and the Apostles and if you be found in the same work the Holy and Just God will give you the same Reward So remember you are warned now in your life time Mat. 25. from vers 32 c. to the end so prize your time and all of you labour to amend your doings which are evil in the sight of the Lord God And believe in the Light that you may be the Children of God who is Light and in whom is no Darkness at all And now unto all people in all Forms who profess the Scriptures of Truth to be your Rule to walk by and denieth the Light Grace and Spirit of God which is but one wherewith he hath enlightened you to be a sufficient Rule or Guide for you to walk by and calleth it a new Way and calleth it False Doctrine to direct people to the Light within them I say in Coolness and true Moderation in the Fear of the Lord God consider and take diligent notice of Peter's Doctrine to the Saints Know this said he that the Scriptures came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God gave them forth as they were moved by the Holy Spirit or Ghost So I say in the Fear of the Lord God take notice there were Holy men before there were Holy Scriptures and it was the Holy Spirit or Light of God and Christ in men that made men holy and was their Guide and their Rule by which they were led and guided to do those things which did please the Lord God before there was any outward Writing or Printing Abel was a Righteous man and was beloved of God and was Guided and Ruled by the Spirit of God within him before any part of the Bible was written and Abel offered unto the Lord and the Lord accepted of his Offering but Cain was a wicked man and a Vagabond for he was wandered and ravened from the Spirit of God within him and when he was ravened and wandered from the Spirit of God within him and his Soul had
do as he said and not as he did for he had no need to say so for his Conversation and Doctrine was agreeable The Apostle Peter when he writ unto the Elders he said unto them Feed the Flock of God which are amongst you not taking the Oversight thereof by Constraint but willingly let all people that reads take notice of those words the Elders were not to take the Oversight of the Flock by constraint but willingly now the reason why Peter did write these words unto them was because there was not any outward Gift or Reward to be given unto them for their Feeding and taking Care for the Flock of God for it was a Spiritual Work and it was to have a Spiritual Reward so lest any through the temptation of the Enemy of their Souls should have striven to put that from them that God required of them Peter warned them then the next following words are these Not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind now filthy lucre is much Earthly gain ill gotten but the Elders were not to take the oversight of the Flock of God for outward gain but as being of a ready mind and a willing mind to serve God in what he required of them yea to feed his Sheep with the Bread of Life which God gave unto them and the Elders were not to be Lords over Gods Flock which he had made them Overseers of but they were to be Examples to the Flock and they were good Examples to the Flock and they did not say as some of the Hirelings have said Do as we say and not as we do for they had no need to say so for their Conversation and Doctrine was agreeable and so is the Doctrine and Conversation of the Elders and Ministers of Christ in this Age Glory to the Lord God for ever Now if there were a young Priest that had learned his Trade at Oxford or Cambridge who wanted a place to set up his Trade in if one should come unto him and tell him of three or four places one of One hundred pounds by the year and another of Two another of Three and another of Four and bid him chuse which of those he would go unto one may easily know which he would chuse for he would be where he could get most with his Trade and he need not be constrained to go unto a Parish where he might have Four hundred pounds in the year for his Hire 1 Thess 2.9 but he would make great hast to get unto it lest another of his own Trade should get it before him and this is contrary to those Ministers which Christ sent forth Paul who was a Tentmaker when he was a Minister of the Gospel laboured with his own hands and administred unto his own necessities that he might make the Gospel without charge and Peter and John and the rest of the Ministers of the Gospel some were Fisher-men and some of other callings and they Laboured with their hands yet they had power to eat and to drink for the refreshment of their Bodies when they did travel up and down among the Saints who were gathered by their Ministry but they were often in Hunger and Cold and Fastings and Peril by Sea and Land and were often whipped stocked and imprisoned and they had not a Parish and a hundred pound in the year and an outward Law to guard them as the Hireling Priests have And now all ye Magistrates both high and low and all people in what Form of Religion soever think it not strange that we cannot come unto the Steeple-house and hear your Priest Preach and Pray seeing that they are so far different from the Ministers of Christ every way so that they are no more like the Ministers which Christ sent forth in nature then a Wolf is like a Lamb. And now all Magistrates and People of what form of Religion soever who profess the Scriptures to be your Rule and denieth the Light Spirit and Grace of God within you which convinceth you of Sin to be a sufficient Guide of it self to lead you out of Sin whether you be such as own those Priests and their Practice which I have written something in short against or whether you be such as do deny them and are gathered into some other Form differing from them if you set the Scriptures in the Place of the Spirit of God which made men holy before any Scriptures were written and from which the holy men spake forth the holy Scriptures then with you is my controversie on the behalf of the Lord my God So come to your Tryal and be you tryed by that which you call your own Rule the Holy Scriptures which was given forth from and by the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit of God is the Original of the Holy Scriptures therefore I and all my faithfull Brethren and Sisters do know them and love them and believe them Abel was a Righteous man before the Scriptures were written and he in the Spirit of God had his Habitation and by it he was kept pure before God and in the Purity of his heart and Innocency of his Soul he offered unto God and God had respect unto his Offering And Enoch walked with God in the Spirit in Innocency before the Scriptures were written And Abraham knew God who is a Spirit and believed in him before Scriptures were written Isaac and Jacob had acquaintance with God before the Scriptures were written for these men were before Moses was born and Moses knew God before he did write Scriptures No man knows the things of God but the Spirit of God and the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God and these men did know the things that God did require of them in their Generation by the Spirit of God and in the same they did perform that which was required of them in which they were accepted of God in their Generation And all the Prophets and Apostles who did write the holy Scriptures they did know God before they did write Scriptures and it is the same that ever it was that doth give unto man the knowledge of God and of his things even the Spirit of God But in the Bible which you call your Rule there is an express Command of God Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart Mat. 19.19 and thy Neighbour as thy self these words are written in the Bible which you call your Rule now to the Witness of God Mark 12.29 30 31. the Light of Christ in all your Consciences do I appeal Whether do you love the Lord God with all your hearts and your Neighbours as your selves yea or nay You that persecutes your Neighbours because they will not be of your Religion and come to your Steeple-houses and hear your Hireling Priests and pay them Tythes which was never demanded by any of Christ's Ministers no the Ministers and Apostles of Christ did never demand nor receive any Tythes
at all for the Tythes were ordained for the Tribe of Levi Neh. 10.38 who were to serve in the Outward Temple who were the Outward Priesthood who had not any part in the division of the Land for the other Tribes had the Land divided amongst them Num. 18.20 22 c. to the end Chapter but the Tribe of Levi had no part of the Land but as I said before the Tythes was for to relieve them and not only them but the Strangers and Fatherless also that there might not be a Begger in Israel but this was before Christ the Everlasting High-Priest was made manifest as to the outward but when he was come and was offered up then Stephen a man full of Faith and full of the Power of God he lift up his voice in the Power of the Everlasting High-Priest and said God that made the World dwels not in Temples made with hands but the Temple-worshippers they were filled with wrath against him for his true Testimony and they stoned him to death And Paul in the Power of the Everlasting High-Priest he said unto the Saints Heb. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. That their Bodies were the Temple of the Living God and when Paul writ unto the Hebrews he told them that the Priesthood being changed Heb. 7.12 to the end of the chapter there was also a necessity of the change of the Law So the Ministers of Christ in the Power of him the Everlasting High-Priest they preached down the outward Temple and its Worship and its Priests and all their Sacrifices which made nothing perfect Heb. 10 11 20 21 22. as pertaining to the Conscience and so the Priests and Temple and Tythes was but to continue till Christ was offered up and though they did uphold the outward Temple worship and its Priests and Tythes for some time after Christ was offered up and so slew Stephen and others for crying against it yet the Arm of the Lord God was against them and it brought them down and the Foundation of their Temple was pulled up and they were scattered up and down in many Nations and are so scattered unto this day according unto the Prophesie of Christ Jesus the Everlasting High-Priest Acts 7.47 48 49 50 59 60. And now unto all people I say 2 Sam. 7.5 6 12 13. 1 Kings 6.1 2. there was never any outward House or Temple that Gods Worship was limitted to but only that at Jerusalem which David prepared for and Solomon builded neither was there ever any command from God to pay Tythes unto any other Priests but only those who belonged to that Worship under the Law and the Command was but in force until Christ was Crucified without the Gate of Jerusalem Joh. 4.20 c. to ver 27. and that was many hundred years ago and the Scriptures of Truth which the Priests of England do call their Rule do prove what I have written concerning this thing And O ye Priests of England you have no command from God to take Tythes and therefore you have no right to Tythes and there is a People of a tender Conscience in this Nation whom you in scorn call Quakers God hath opened their Eyes and they see and know you have no right to Tythes and therefore in obedience unto Christ Jesus the Everlasting High-Priest 1 Cor. 3.16 17. who hath ended the outward Temple and outward Priests and Law and Tythes they have with-holden their own from you 2 Cor. 6.16 and durst not give you any Tythes for if they had then they had provoked the Lord God unto wrath against them and for this their tender obedience unto their God you have persecuted several of them your Neighbours unto death and thus you have brought innocent blood upon your selves for which you must drink deep of the Cup of Gods fierce Indignation Isa 49.25 26. and you do still continue your Cruelty in imprisoning the Bodies and spoiling the Goods of those your Neighbours and you have not yet repented of those your grievous Sins neither do you seek Repentance for those your grievous Sins for if you were sorrowfull for what you have done in those things which you have done then you would give over so doing but the most of you who have power given you by men you continue in your wicked works Phil. 3 18 19. and as the Apostle said Your Consciences are Seared as with a hot Iron and you have sold your selves Slaves unto Satan to do his work with greediness for his Servants your are to whom you obey and in those things you obey Satan for he was a Lyar and a Murtherer from the beginning and his Children and Servants are like him and these your wicked works which you have done it hath been for your Bellies which you make your god and though you have been professing the true God in words yet you have not known him for your hearts have been far from him and though you have talked of him with your Mouthes for Money yet in works you have denied him and so you have not loved the Lord God with all your hearts and so you could not love your Neighbours the People you call Quakers as you have loved your selves for if you had loved the Lord God with all your hearts then you would have loved your Neighbors as your selves for before any man or woman can come to love their Neighbours as themselves they must come to love the Lord God with all their hearts but you have loved your Bellies more then you have done either God or your Neigbours your Fruits do make it plainly manifest many thousands of Englands Inhabitants seeth it to be so therefore you are not Ruled by the holy Scriptures without you nor by the holy Spirit which is the Original of the Scriptures within you but you are unruly and the holy Spirit of God in your own Consciences and the holy Scriptures without you do bear witness against you and you stand judged and condemned before the Lord God and all just and holy men And Christ Jesus spake words which was written and is upon Record in the Holy Scriptures which you call your Rule he said unto the people Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do you even so unto them this is Christs Command and he saith If you love me keep my Commandments and if you did love him you would keep this his Command He that saith he knoweth or loveth God and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar 1 John 2.4 If any man say he loveth God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen And this Commandment have we from him that he that loveth God loveth his Brother also 1 John 4.20.21 By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments For this is the love of
that playes in the Sea yea he will dry up the Sea for he hath cursed all her Springs these are those Waters which are gathered together on which the Great Whore doth sit 2 Cor. 10.4 5. but the Waters are drying up and as the Waters dry up the Whores Torment increaseth and it is increasing more and more yea God is casting her upon a Bed of Torment and those that have committed Fornication with her and the Beast that rose out of the Earth is God judging with that which rose out of the Sea also and the Dragon Beasts and False Prophet and Whore must be cast into the Lake that burns for ever and ever he that hath an Ear to hear let him hear Babylon the City of Confusion is going to decay daily and her Children are dying daily and her tall and stately Buildings are tumbling down apace and her Desolation is coming on swiftly for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her the Light which she and her Children hath hated is gloriously shining out of Darkness and as it ariseth it maketh more and more bare her Skirts and the Everlasting Day is dawning in the hearts of the Sons and Daughters of men and this Everlasting Day will give people a true Spiritual seeing feeling tasting and handling and they shall be more Heavenly and Spiritually wise then they have been in the thick Night of Darkness and Apostacy in which men have slept and committed Fornication with the Whore and have been made drunk with her Cup of Fornication in the night while men sleep their Sences are benumned and they are dreaming that they have a thing or seeth a thing but when they are awakened then they recover their true sense and then they know that they have not the thing that they dreamed they had for the Everlasting Day of God it declares all things as they be But come to further Tryal all wicked people who profess the Scriptures to be your Rule Obad. 3 4. Isa 28.1 Psal 10.1 c. to verse 12. Psal 73.6 7 8. Prov. 16.17 18 19. Prov. 29.23 Jam. 4.6 Job 26.12 Pro. 16.5 Pro. 15.25 Pro. 21.4 Mal. 4.1 and denieth the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened you Come you Proud and Lofty ones come to your Tryal these words are written in the Scriptures as followeth Wo to the Crown of Pride God resists the Proud God beholds the Proud afar off Pride goeth before Destruction Mark Pride goeth before and Destruction followeth and the High-mind before a fall these Scriptures without you and the Light of Christ within you condemns you you are not Ruled by the Scriptures without you nor by the Light within you and so you are unruly your Covering is to narrow it will not cover you but you are stripped therefore behold your Nakedness and come to the Light and repent and be humbled by the Judgments of God You Covetous Carnal and Earthly minded ones come to your Tryal It is written in the holy Scriptures Rom. 8.6 7. 1 Cor. 2.14 To be Carnal-minded is Death and the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God and the Carnal Mind cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are as foolishness to the Carnal Mind Covetousness is Idolatry and the love of Money is the Root of all Evil so these words with many more in the holy Scriptures bears witness against you and the Light within you is your Condemnation and you are left without a Covering therefore turn unto the Light and repent And you Malitious Envious and Blood-thirsty ones come to your Tryal 1 Joh. 3.15 It is written He that hateth his Brother is a Murtherer and no Murtherer hath Eternal Life abiding in him and Cain was an Envious man and slew his Brother and Haman was a Proud and Envious man and Gods Wrath and Judgments came upon them Mat. 5.44 45 46 47 48. and Christ said Love your Enemies do as you would that others should do unto you Love your Neighbours as your Selves Render no man Evil for Evil but overcome Evil with Good and remember how you use to pray Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us and Christ said If you forgive not men their Trespasses neither will God forgive you your Trespasses and the Lord God said Vengeance is mine and I will repay it and so you that are envying and hating and taking revenge and will not forgive one another all your Prayers are a Stink and loathsom and abominable unto the Lord God and he is grieved at you that you do presume to pray unto him with such wicked and envious hearts Psal 66.17 18 19. the Prophet said If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer so these Scriptures without you and the Light of Christ within you bears witness against you and so you are stripped off all your Coverings and nothing shall be able to deliver you from the Wrath of the Lamb the Light therefore while you have a little time prize it and come to the Light Mat. 5.14 15. Pro. 10.7 and own its Judgments and turn at its Reproofs from the Evil it reproves you for that so the Lord God may have mercy on you and forgive your Trespasses which you have Trespassed against him and that you may receive Power from him to forgive one another and if you do not you will perish The Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And now O ye Drunkards come to your Tryal It is written in the holy Scriptures Isa 5.22 vers 20. Pro. 23.30 31. Isa 28.1 Joel 1.5 Lu. 21.34 Rom. 13.13 14. Gal. 5.19 to the end That the name of the Wicked shall Rot and Wo unto them that are strong to drink Wine and rise betime to drink Strong Drink Wo to the Drunkards who is as a fading Flower Awake ye Drunkards and weep and howl The Drunkards and Glutions shall come to Poverty these Scriptures with many more bears witness against you and hear you may read your condemnation in that which you call your Rule But oh you Beastly ill-carriaged men and women you have a Condemner nearer you then these Scriptures without you that is the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened you if you did love that it would Rule and Govern you all it would not let you take more of Gods Creatures either to eat or drink then what is truly necessary but you are ravened from that and so you have no good Government but you are more loathsom then common Beasts for the Ox and the Horse knoweth when they have enough and is satisfied therewith and they are better governed then you therefore come to to the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened you all wait in it and cross and famish and starve and pine your own ungodly Lusts and take and use Gods good Creatures in his Wisdom with moderation that God may forgive you your Sins which is past and may guide and rule you
word in all the Bible called the Old and New Testament But in Proverbs 24. vers 15 and 16. thus it is written Lay not in wait O wicked Man against the Dwelling of the Righteous spoil not his Resting-place For a Just Man falleth seven times and riseth again but the Wicked fall into Mischief Now mark the Just man falleth seven times and riseth again now I say here is neither Sin nor Day spoken of but the Wicked fall into Mischief now consider to do Mischief is to do Evil and to do Evil is Sin but the Just man did not fall into Mischief and so he did not fall into Sin Now Hopkins and Sternhold who was men that did play upon Instruments of Musick in the same wisdom in which the Poets do make ungodly Ballads they made a Song which they called The Humble Complaint of a Sinner and in that Song of theirs there is some such like words as the Just man sinneth seven times a day but those words of theirs are not to be heeded for they had them not out of the Holy Scriptures but they are their own invented Lyes Many other places of the Holy Scriptures are wrested after this manner by those who have not believed in the Light who pleads for Sin for the Apostle Paul according unto the wisdom given unto him in all his Epistles he did write things hard to be understood which they that were unlearned and unstable did wrest as also they did the other Scriptures to their own destruction this is Peters Testimony who was a Fisherman and knew not Letters 2 Pet. 3.15 16. Acts 4.13 So all people take notice that it was not because they wanted Greek Hebrew and Latine that they wrested Pauls Epistles and the other Scriptures to their own destruction but it was because they were not come to believe in that measure of the Spirit wherewith Christ had enlightened them for from the Spirit of God was the holy Scriptures given forth and there is none can come to know them and understand them until they come to believe in and obey that measure of God in themselves which is one with that from which the holy Scriptures was given forth and when people come to believe in that and learn of that then God by that will open their understandings to know and rightly to understand the holy Scriptures and until then people can neither know nor understand them aright for while people are out from that of God in them they one imagine one thing from the Scriptures and another imagineth another thing from the same part of the Scripture and one saith it meaneth thus and another he saith nay but it meaneth thus and so they are bewildered in their imaginations about the holy Scriptures one saying this is the meaning and another saying that is the meaning and so every one builds his Religion according to his imagination and so every one that hath not believed in the Light they are wresting of the holy Scriptures and with their dark meanings are pleading Scripture and would fain prove by the holy Scriptures that theirs is the true Religion and as Christ said it should be so it is come to pass one saith Lo here is Christ and another saith Lo there is Christ but Christ said unto the Saints Go not forth now the Saints minds were gathered in unto the Light and that gave them to know the holy Scriptures and also to know the false Prophets who led peoples minds out from that of God in them for the Way of God is to be known within and he that leads people from that of God in them into outward observations he is a Deceiver and an Antichrist Pilate had Greek Hebrew and Latine and he could not open the Scriptures by it nor know the Son of God by it but he judged him to die and when he was to be Crucified he did write a Superscription in Greek Hebrew and Latine Letters and set it over Christs head and the persecuting Jews had Greek Hebrew and Latine for they came and did read the Superscription which Pilate had written but they could not open the Scriptures with their Greek Hebrew and Latine though they had all the Prophets Writings who prophesied of his coming and of the Place where he was to be born yet they could not understand the Prophets words with all their Greek Hebrew and Latine all their Earthly wisdom and Learning was to short and to shallow to understand those Heavenly things and so because they had not believed in the Light of Christ in them they were dark and blind Spiritually and could not know nor understand the Scriptures nor know Christ when he was come but they said he had a Devil and was Mad but had they come to that of God in them that would have given them the knowledge of the Scriptures and the knowledge that he was the Son of God for he told them that the Kingdom of God did not come with outward observation as Lo here or Lo there Luk. 1â— 20 21. but that the Kingdom of God was within them and he told them that it was like a Grain of Mustard-Seed and it was like Leaven and he did direct their minds unto that in them but they did not believe his Doctrine and so would not turn their minds inwardly to learn of the Father the Word and the Spirit and so they knew not the Son but Crucified him and the Son said unto the Father I thank thee O Father Lord God of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and thou hast revealed them unto Babes now Pilate and the Jews the wisest and most prudent men that was in all that Quarter of the Earth in natural Learning and natural Wisdom because they did not come to that of God in them therefore did God hide the Heavenly things from them and all their Greek Hebrew and Latine and all their natural Wisdom did not do them any good at all as to bring them to the knowledge of God but they were hurt by looking at it for because of their great Learning and Wisdom naturally their hearts were lifted up in Pride and they would not believe in Christ nor receive his Testimony they judged him an inferiour man unto them and the Pride of their hearts deceived them For the World by Earthly wisdom doth not know God and the Carnal mind is Enmity against God and the Natural man receives not the things of God for they are Spiritually discerned and they do appear Foolishness unto all Earthly minded men and women But Peter and John and the rest of the Fishermen who knew not Letters they were men of more humble and low Spirits then the Jews were who had Greek Hebrew and Latine for they were proud because of their Tongues and Natural Learning as our English Priests and Doctors are and ours can no more know Christ and the holy Scriptures by their Greek Hebrew and Latine and Earthly Wisdom then Pilate and the Jews could but Peter and John and the rest of the Fishermen they were low mean men as to the outward they did not dispise Christ because of his low Appearance outwardly but they did believe in him and loved him and did forsake their Nets and followed him and in them God did take delight and he did reveal Great and Mighty things unto them which was hid from Pilate and the Jews who had Greek Hebrew and Latine And now I say unto all people God is rising to confound the Wisdom of all the Earthly Wise men who are proud of Greek Hebrew and Latine and who dispise their Neighbours who have it not and all their Earthly Wisdom in which they have boasted and exalted themselves will the Lord God make to appear as it is Foolishness and he will abase proud Haman in this the day of his Mighty Power yea he will bring down the Mighty and he will exalt them of a low degree yea this is the Lord God doing that no flesh may glory And now unto all people in tender Love I say turn in your minds unto the Manifestation of the Spirit and Light of Christ which is given unto you to profit withal that it may give you the Knowledg of God whom to know is Eternal Life and that it may open the holy Scriptures unto your understandings For it is written No man knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God And now Oh all ye Professors in all Forms I charge you in the Name and Power of the Lord God do not give your dark meanings unto the holy Scriptures for they are of no private interpretation and remember how you use to take Pauls words in his Epistles which are too hard for you to understand until you come unto the Light and learn of it I say remember how you use to take his words to plead for Sin for term of Life but come to the Light of Christ in you all and Learn of it and it will stop your Mouthes and not suffer you to open them to plead for Sin which is the work of the Devil I charge you in the Name of the Lord God do not wrest the holy Scriptures to plead for your Pride and Covetousness and Envy and other Abominations which you live in and delight in for Wo will come upon all that are covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord God and no other covering will stand you in stead in the day when you must all receive a Reward according to the Deeds done in the Body whether they be good or evil Read Isa 28. from Verse 1 to 23. And now I have cleared my Conscience in obedience unto the Lord God and I rest in peace and whether you will hear or forbear I am clear W. G. The End
and the excellency of it is of him and not of us and to him we give the glory and honour for to him it is due for ever who by his Light which he hath caused to shine in our hearts hath given us to see them and their false Doctrines and false Worships and Wayes and now he hath given unto us Christ his Son his Covenant of Light to be our Teacher and this is that Way which once we did not know And God said unto man Thy Teacher shall no more be removed into a Corner but thine eye shall see thy Teacher thou shalt hear a voice behind thee saying This is the way walk in it And we can say Experimentally through Gods mercy that that which in times past came behind us to call us out of Evil when we were gone into Evil even than same hath led us out of Evil and so that which formerly we were turned from we are now turned to again so that which followed us and condemned us when we did Evil that is come before us and leads us into those things which is well-pleasing to the Lord our God and so Christ Jesus the Light in us is become our Shepherd and we do hear his Voice in us and we do follow him and he doth give us Peace in our inward parts which neither the Devil nor Wicked men can take from us if we abide faithful unto him And so we are set down under him who is the true Vine and we are Branches in him and so we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in the Son of God Christ Jesus and this is the true God and Life Eternal and he is our Teacher Bishop and High-priest and Lord and King and we do believe that he shall no more be removed out of our sight nor hearing but we shall for ever see him and he shall Live and Reign for evermore and he said Because I live ye shall live also and we know what he said is true and he said I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and he that liveth and believeth shall never die and these things we do stedfastly believe And as for those Priests and Professors who say Revelation is ceased and there is no immediate teaching to be received in this Age and those that say they have not an infallible Spirit as the Apostle had as for those that hate the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned them and loveth darkness which is of the Devil that cannot reveal the things of God and his Kingdom unto them and we know that those who hate the Light and will not hearken to the Light nor obey the Light they can have no immediate testimony to bear for God unto others and we know that there is no infallible Spirit but the Spirit of God and Christ and so they who do not believe in that measure of the Spirit of God and Christ which he hath placed in them to instruct them they have no infallibility but they fail of their Duty toward God and one towards another and so they are unprofitable Servants and wholy useless in the worship of God For if any man have nor the Spirit of Christ he is none of his now it is certain that the Spirit of Christ is infallible it did never fail to fulfil the Will of his Father and the Apostle said God had sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts whereby they called him Father and we do confess to the Glory of God that he hath sent the same Spirit of his Son into our hearts by which we can experimentally call him Father and in and by this we have the things of God and his Kingdom revealed unto us and are immediatly taught by this and this is infallible and doth not fail to lead us into all truth if we do in Faithfulness follow it and so it is our Comforter who love it and obey it but it is and will be the Torment and Condemnation of all those that hate it So the way of the Wicked is Darkness they know not at what they stumble Destruction and Misery is in their way and the way of Peace they know not The Priests and Professors who cry Revelation is Ceased and there is no immediate Teaching to be received in this Age and say that they have no Infallible Spirit These People say that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the Revealed Will of God unto them I say the Scriptures was given forth by the Inspiration of God which gives understanding and they do not stand and remain Open and Revealed unto any man or woman but unto such who comes into the Spirit of God and Christ which is infallible for when the Son of God opened his mouth and spake unto the World he spoke in Parables and they could not understand his words because their minds was out from that of God in them for Christ told the unbelieving Jewes that they did neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God And now all People whose minds are out from that of God in them they can no more know the Scriptures then the unbelieving Jewes could for it is that from which they were at first given forth which must give People the true understanding of them for Christ said unto his Disciples unto you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom but unto others who were in the unbelief he did speak in Parables even the same words which to unbelievers seemed Lyes and madness even those words was made plain unto them And their hearts did burn within them when he opened unto them the Scriptures after his Resurrection and I say the Scriptures is a book sealed from all People who hath the Light and will not own it to be their Teacher and they are jangling and quarrelling about the meaning of the Scriptures and so are fighting and striving one with another about the Shaddow and Outside of things and never comes to Christ the Substance for said Christ to the unbelieving Jewes Search the Scriptures for in them ye think you have Eternal Life But ye will not come unto me that you might have Life He did not say you cannot come unto me but he said you will not come unto me that you might have Life so Reader thou mayst see they had a Stubborn will who would not come unto Christ God said unto man in the daies of old I have set Life and Good before thee and Death and Evil and God did not nor doth not say unto man Choose Death that thou mayest dye but he did say and doth say choose Life that thou mayest live Paul said I will that Prayers and Supplications be put up for all men in as much as God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge
and Wisdom of God words which they left behind them and after their decease Grievous Wolves did arise who was ravened from the Spirit and was gone out from the Apostles in the Apostle John's dayes saith he 1 Joh. 2.18 19 20 26 27. They went from us that they might be made manifest they were not of us For said he if they had been of us no doubt they would have continued with us and Paul when he wrote unto Timothy he said I know that after my decease grievous Wolves shall arise who will not spare the Flock so before the true Apostles of the Lamb laid down their heads there was False Apostles and Deceitfull Workers crept in among the Saints who spoke perverse things and did draw disciples after them but while the true Apostles remained in the body they watched diligently over the Flock over which the holy Spirit had made them Overseers and they were a terror to deceit and kept back the work of the Devil in the false Apostles and deceitfull Workers for then they were already entred into the World and then it was the Last Time as John said Fifteen or sixteen hundred years ago Brethren 1 Joh. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. as you have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists and false Prophets in the World whereby we know that it is the Last Time So all People take notice that Antichrist and the false Prophets were entred into the world before the Apostles decease and they have remained in the world ever since and this was before the name Quaker was given unto us by the Scorners yea this was before we were born so that it is plain that the Priests and Professors in all that called Christendom who have said that the false Prophets and Antichrists and Deceivers and Seducers came but when those people they called Quakers came have all erred in their Judgments and so have judged with evil thoughts and so they must all bear the Judgments of the Lord God for their false and unjust Judgment upon those they in scorn call Quakers for Antichrist and the false Prophets were entred into the World in the Apostles dayes Rev. 17.2 6. and after the true Apostles were put to death and were taken away from amongst men then the false Apostles work went more swiftly on Rev. 18.3 and they being ravened from the Life and Power and Spirit within they took the words of Christ and the Apostles which they had written in the motion of the Spirit of God in them and had left upon Record and they professed them and they being ravened from that measure of the Spirit of God from which the Scriptures was given forth then they wrested the Scriptures and gave meanings unto them they having lost the Key of Knowledg and then they went into the Liberty of the Flesh and so drew people after them and then the Night of Apostacy grew in fast and the Beast and the false Prophets made war against the Lamb and the Saints and they slew the Lamb and slew many of the Saints and so overcame them and then Antichrists Kingdom did increase fast and then the false Church which was not in God but in the Dragons power who had slain the Lamb and the Saints it grew great and then began the false Christians to be increased and the number of them to be many and so the false Christians who have taken upon themselves the bare name but are out of the Life and Nature of Christ they are spread over many Nations and are become a great and large people And so it is easie for people now to take the name Christian upon them in England and other Nations for now the whole Nation of England doth profess Christ in words and several other Nations so that if a man will profess Christ without him as they do and live in deceit and ungodliness as they do and turn and conform unto one Invention and Tradition of man after another as they do then they will not persecute him for professing of Christ without him as they do but if he be one who hath believed in the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened him and so is come to know Christ in him to destroy Sin in him and that Christ hath already led him out of the Sin which they live in then they will persecute him and as it was in the Apostles dayes so is it now He that is born after the Flesh persecutes him that is born of the Spirit and they that do live godly in Christ Jesus do suffer persecution It is evident that the Apostles and Saints in the Ages past witnessed Christ in them and so were made new Creatures by the working of his mighty Power if them for it is written If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a New Creature Now consider the thing in the fear of the Lord God who searcheth all Hearts Rev. 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. and tryeth all Reins who will assuredly reward every one according to their deeds done in the Body If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become New Mark Old things are passed away Now in the Fear of the Lord God 2 Cor. 5.17 I say consider the thing well for it is weighty What was the old things which were passed away from the Saints Eph. 4.22 23 24. in that Age in which they lived upon the Earth was it not Sin yea assuredly it was Sin for Sin was and is the Deeds of the first Adam and all who are in his state are dead in Trespasses and Sins Joh. 1.29 but said the Apostle to the Saints You have put off the Old man with his deeds which is corrupt Joh. 8.34 and you have put on the New man Christ Jesus and Paul said That as many as were Baptised into Christ Jam. 1.12 13 14 15 16 17. they had put on Christ and so they were in him and he in them had destroyed the Works of the Devil and so had led them out of Sin and so had saved them from their Sins Gal. 3.27 28. for that is the work which God hath given him to do for the Sons and Daughters of men and all who comes to believe in his Light in their Consciences and obeys it they come to feel these things wrought within them and not without them for it is a plain Truth and cannot be denied by any sober wise and truly understanding man or woman the pure and holy God of Life and Power of Heaven and Earth he will not be reconciled to any people under what Name or Profession of Religion soever upon the Face of the whole Earth while they are in their Sins that is while they are in the practice of Evil-doing rebelling against the good Spirit of God in them Isa 63.10 which he hath placed in them to instruct them
God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 1 John 5.2 3. And now Oh ye Magistrates Priests and People who have persecuted and imprisoned until death your Neighbours called Quakers and spoiled and made havock of their Goods here you have broken the commands of Christ which is upon Record in the holy Scriptures of Truth which you call your Rule and everlasting Wo will come upon you if you do not speedily repent and with speed forsake those evil deeds for it is written in the Scriptures of Truth Wo unto thee that spoilest and thou wast not spoiled and I know we have not spoiled your goods nor sought your hurt any way but hath and still doth desire that you might repent and forsake the evil of your wayes and have your Sins forgiven you and obtain mercy from the Lord God we desire not your destruction the Lord God knoweth but we desire that you might repent and live But the words of Christ in the holy Scriptures bears witness against you that you have not done unto us as ye would we should have done unto you if you had been in our condition and we in yours you would not have had us to have imprisoned you unto death as you have done many of our dear Brethren whose innocent blood lies upon you and it cryeth unto God against you for vengeance as righteous Abel's did cry unto God against Murthering Cain and God doth hear and will avenge the blood of his Elect And you would not have had us to have spoiled your goods as you have done ours therefore the Scriptures of Truth without you and the Light of Christ within you doth bear witness against you And now you are stripped of all your Coverings and you stand judged and condemned before the Lord God of Heaven before whom all things are naked and bare he searcheth all hearts Ezek. 18 read it through and tryeth all reins and there is not any wicked work that you do or have done but the Lord God seeth them all and they must not go unpunished for the Lord God is just and equal in all his wayes and he will deal justly with you and with all people upon the Earth yea he will certainly reward every one according to their deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil And Christs words are upon Record in the holy Scriptures which you call your Rule where he commanded his Disciples to love their Enemies Mat. 5 43 44 45 46 47 48. and to do good unto those that did dispitefully use them and persecute them and they did as he commanded them for they loved him with all their hearts and his Commandments were not grievous unto them but to keep his Commandments was great joy unto them and so it is unto us whom you in scorn call Quakers endless infinite eternal everlasting praises honour dominion and thanks be unto the Lord our God who hath gathered us out from amongst you and by his own everlasting power working in our hearts he hath made us a willing people yea willing to bear all that you are permitted to do unto us and also makes us willing to do you any good that lieth in our power and so to reward you good for evil and this shall add to your torment and our God for whom we suffer he will clear our innocency in the sight of all Nations But you are far from fulfilling of this Command who hates and persecutes us who are your friends and so these words which Christ spake which is in the holy Scriptures which you call your Rule bears witness against you and the Light of Christ within you condemns you and so you are stripped of all your Coverings and so you stand judged and condemned by the Lord God in the presence of all holy just and upright men who sees and behold your wicked works And now all ye Merchant men Husbandmen and Tradesmen of what Trade or Calling soever who are Extortioners who take unlawfull gain and use unjust Weights and Measures who cheat and defraud one another in Buying and Selling and Exchanging of Gods good Creatures some of you lying and speaking worse of Gods good Creatures then you know them to be for your own corrupt ends that you may make a prey upon them that hath those good Creatures to sell and others of you that hath Gods Creatures to sell you speak better of them then you know them to be and so you tell lyes to get gain and so to make a prey of the Buyer and here you are judged and condemned by the Light of Christ within you and by his words which are upon Record in the holy Scriptures of Truth without you which you call your Rule because you do not do unto others as ye would they should do unto you and you do not love the Lord God with all your hearts and therefore you cannot love your Neighbour as your self therefore those words with many more in the holy Scriptures bears witness against you and the Light of Christ within you condemns you so you are neither Ruled by the Light of Christ within you nor by the Scriptures of Truth without you and so you are unruly Therefore I say unto you all turn in your minds unto the Eternal true Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened you all and if you love it it will work repentance in your hearts and if you give up your minds to be led by it it will lead you out of all deceit and double dealing and if you love it and in faithfulness follow and obey it it will lead you to love your Neighbours as your selves and then I am sure you neither can nor will nor dare cheat nor defraud them but then you will do unto them as you would they should do unto you and I am sure there is no man that would be cheated nor defrauded by any man that he deals withal in buying and selling and exchanging Gods good Creatures and so let every man and woman come to the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them and as they would have none to cheat nor defraud them the Light of Christ will not suffer them to cheat nor deceive nor defraud any man or woman or child whatsoever if they love it and in faithfulness follow it for the Light is the Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth all those that believe in it and in faithfulness follow it and so if all people would come unto the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them then it would lead them all to deal justly plainly truly and uprightly one with another But alas this pure Light and Spirit in peoples Consciences is not loved nor heeded nor believed nor obeyed by many thousands of men and women who doth profess God and Christ in words and calls the Scripture their Rule and that is the reason that there is so much cheating and defrauding amongst people in buying and selling and exchanging