what end they were created even for them to serve his body and his body to serve his soul and his soul to serve his Creator in the body and as he thus stood in the fear dominion and wisdome of his Lord all things were blessed unto him and all things were clean and pure and being guided by the pure holy Spirit of his maker is counselled as in the beginning and hath a law-giver as at the first but when once he gave ear unto the voyce of the Serpent who was more subtile than any beast of the field consented to eat of that which was forbidden him that he should not touch to eat even of the tree of knowledge of good and evil let him which readeth understand he had liberty to eat of every tree but that all being good and that also for all that which God made was good and blessed but for food it was not to be eaten of nor touched And as I said when man once had transgressed the righteous Law of his Creator he lost his glorious Dominion he had and the pure Spirit of the Lord by which he was covered departed from him so that he was naked without a covering then shame entred in upon him and so he went to make unto himself other coverings then those which he had in the beginning to hide himself but all in vain So all the professors in the world who are not covered with the holy Spirit of the Lord may read and see what they are doing for this is truely your state and condition feeding upon your own knowledge which is forbidden and feeding thereon are thereby set on work to make unto your selves other coverings then that of the holy Spirit of truth and righteousnesse So read and consider when Adam had once done so the Lord cast him out of his Garden and he lost his dominion which he had and God placed Cherubins at Eden gate which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life so that men could never enter again that way but through death even the death of that nature and wisdom which he fed on which was of the earth and is earthly sensuall and devilish So read and consider whether you witnesse this yea or nay And so man being drove out of the earth the curse entred and the Serpent became head in him and he that was the sonne of God before and was guided by him in all his actions became the son and servant of the Devil and a bondslave unto corruption and thus was the Lamb slain even the just seed of God became oppressed in him even as a Cart that is loaded with sheaves which before bore rule in him wholly yet the Lord having regard to the works of his hands and his bowels being moved with pity towards them his mercy being over all the works of his hands took not his holy seed from him but made a Covenant with man that the seed of the woman should bruise the Serpents head which was become head in man then which promise was witnessed and fulfilled in Abel who was righteous and was accepted the seed of God bearing rule in him and the seed of the envious one was brused which reign'd in his brother Cain and so being one with the holy seed became a sufferer and suffered by the seed of the evil one in his brother and here was the first persecution and from that day unto this hath the just suffered by the unjust the seed of the Bond-woman persecuting the seed of the free-woman which kept the Commandements of God So here all men may read and see what stock and generation they are of and what seed is head in them for one of the two beareth rule in every individual man upon the face of the whole earth where the seed of the woman is head there is peace humility meeknesse long-suffering patience temperance love to all bearing and forbearing praying for enemies and suffering and enduring all things not having confidence in the arm of flesh nor yet a helper in the earth not seeking revenge but committeth its innocent cause to God knowing that vengeance belongs only to him praying for enemies doing good to those that despitefully use them and this this only is the life of the true christian for in him alone this holy seed of God beareth rule and hath dominion for they are the peace-makers but where the seed of the Serpent beareth rule there lust reigneth from whence cometh all warre strife contention and debate and this was Cains nature even to kill and murder who was a Vagabond drove from God yet he built him a City and called it by the name of his son and so from this stock hath risen oppression and murder and getting of possession in the earth and this was the fruit and effect of that seed which from him sprung for which cause the holy Spirit of God was grieved from day to day until it had repented him at the heart that he had made man which caused Noah to preach unto them righteousnesse but they rejected his counsel and would not be warned but they continued eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage all in the lust and unclean nature which crucified the just and so continued until the day of wrathful unresistable vengeance and flood of Gods indignation brake out upon them And thus in all ages have those in whom this seed of enmity hath borne rule provoked the holy God to wrath against them yet he forbore with them until they had filled up their measure of iniquity in which time he sent his holy servants the Prophets to warn and forewarn them of the wrath which was due unto the transgressors and still as they did reject the councel of the Lord and his tender reproofs they felt his heavy hand in the end for he hath said his Spirit shall not always strive with man though men may as they did then seek by their own strength policy and wisdome to build them a Tower to reach up unto Heaven but God confounded their design for neither by that way nor by that meanes could they ever bring their purpose to passe and from that stock came and sprung all the divisions upon the face of the earth one building this thing and the other that thing and all in the confusion being confounded and dispersed in their understandings by the wise God though vain man may think by such meanes to build him a Tower to reach up to Heaven but such are the thieves and the robbers which climb up another way then Christ spake of who came not in by the door which is the light the onely and alone true way to God and there is not another but men are so hardened and their understandings so darkned through the deceitfulnesse of sin that though these things are plainly written and spoken of in the Scriptures yet they cannot perceive them the book being become to them a book that is sealed which one
it and do you thereby take warning and read search and see your state if you are true Christians and redeemed of God and be no longer fed with a name for they were a Royall Priesthood a holy nation and did Reign as Kings upon the earth even over the World Sin Hell Death and the Devil and though on the earth yet they loved not the world neither the things of the world but used all those as though they used them not being in the Light which is Christ the wisdome of God they came to use all creatures in the same wisdome as they were created and to the same end for by Christ Jesus the eternal Word of the Father were all things created and as ye come to live and walke in him who is the wisdome of the Father ye will come to the right use and understanding of all things and know and witness the ends of the earth upon you and your conversation will be in Heaven far above all created things Therefore come all to the word by which all was created even the good word of God which is quick powerfull and sharper then any two edged Sword dividing between the precious and the vile the clean and the unclean for it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and this is the true word which sanctifies makes clean which is Christ the Light the Word of God which will be a Light and a Lanthorn unto your path if you diligently heed and follow it as David did witness and unless you come to witness this word in you you can never witness Christ nor the end of his coming Who hath given himself for us to redeem us from this present evil world according to the will of God These things are plain to every single eye Who desires not to hold the truth in unrighteousness nor make Christ a cover for sin and uncleanness by crying they are saved by Christ and have remission through his Death and shed his Blood for their Redemption and yet witness nothing they are redeemed or saved from and are aliens unto the Covenant of promise which is That he shall save his people from their sins and his Blood which purifies sanctifies and makes clean for so the true Christians did witnesse it even through it they had access to God and were redeemed from their vaine lives and conversations through and by it even By the Bloud of the Lamb which was offered up to God Without spot or blemish who hath also given himself for his Church that he might present it in like manner unto God which is a spiritual building Built and joyned together a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God Christ being the chief corner stone even he who the builders have in all Ages rejected and refused therefore come to the living Stone that ye may be joyned and united to it as the Christians were and as you come to be joyned here you will come to be one Spirit in the Lord and be covered with it without which covering wo unto you as it is written Wo be unto you who are covered and not with my Spirit saith the Lord for the day is come and coming even upon you O ye Protestants in France as well as in all Nations that all other coverings will be too short for to hide you and will stand you in no stead in the day of tryall Therefore be awakened and awake arise and stand up ye which sleep in the dust and the Lord shall give you Light and understanding of the things which belongeth unto your peace in this the day of your visitation therefore sleep not any longer in a false security least they be hid from your eyes you be left desolate and without excuse for ever for of a truth this is the day of Gods everlasting love and mercy unto you which constraineth me to warn you and wo would be unto me if I did not but whether you hear or forbear I shall be a sweet savour unto God if ye perish therefore I use great plainness of speech unto you and not as mans wisdome teacheth but in the demonstration of the Spirit I speak beseeching you to be reconciled unto God I being one who truly hath known the terrours of the Lord for sin and hath been accepted at the tribunal seat of God for Christ sake in whom and through whom I have had access unto God and by his stripes am healed and purged by his Blood from sin and corruption and this hath not been of works but by grace I am saved through faith in Christ by which victory is obtained through patience and hope which purifies even as Christ is pure Which hope is an Anchor unto the soul in the time of tryal And this hath God done for my soul not by any works of my own righteousness as though I had any thing to boast of above another for all boasting is excluded for ever by the Law of Faith neither have I any thing but what I have received of God whose love hath been in an unexpressible manner extended unto me since I gave up unto him believed his report by his holy servants messengers of his holy new and everlasting Covenant unto the sons of men which is Light and in and with the same love the Father hath loved me am I drawn forth to invite you my Countrey-men after the flesh whom God moved me to visit even from a far Countrey where my outward habitation was many years even in Virginia and truly my soul is often powred out unto God for you and sure I am if you do not wilfully reject his love but open freely unto him his love will touch many of your hearts as it hath touched mine which if you receive you will I know with a ready heart and mind follow him and forsake all earthly treasure to follow him in the delightfull way of peace and holiness And dear Countrey-men remember Moses who chose Rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God then to injoy the pleasures of sin for a season refusing to be called the son of Pharaohs Daughter and take all the holy Servants and Prophets of God for an example of patience and suffering through which and by which they plainly declared they sought not a habitation in this world but were strangers and Pilgrims therein Seeking a City whose builder and maker is God into which my soul desireth that ye may have an entrance and habitation even into the new and Heavenly Jerusalem which cometh down from God into which nothing that workes abomination or makes a lie can enter Though the gates thereof stand open day and night but without are Dogs and Sorcerers and all uncleanness And this the true Christians waited for even for a new Heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness therefore saith the Apostle Peter Seeing these things what manner of persons ought we to be yea they were
his own right hand hath planted and none shall be able to pluck you up for he will keep you in the hollow of his hand and they which shall touch you to harm you shall be as though they touched the apple of his eye and though for a time some of you may be suffered to be tryed for the tryal of others yet assuredly it shall be but for a short season a book of remembrance thereof will be written before the Lord and you will delight to meet often together to speak of his goodness and he will assuredly be in the mid'st of you and ye shall be his Temple Sanctified and made meet for his Use and he will delight to take up his habitation with you for ever and remember Satan may have power given to kill some of you and put some of you in prison ten days Read and understand and be not dismayed at these things when they shall come upon you For so did they persecute of old the holy Prophets of God before you and if any of you shall go in this cause to save your lives ye shall assuredly lose it but they which shall lay it downe for this testimony shall surely save it And whosoever shall forsake Father or Mother for my sake saith Christ shall receive in this life an hundred fold and in the world to come life everlasting And as I have said a day and a time of tryal may come over you But a short worke will the Lord make in the earth for his Seeds sake And the Rod of the wicked shall not alwayes rest upon the back of the righteous saith the Lord God Allmighty But I have said in and through the good Spirit of the Lord and by the strength of his own Arm which is made bare he will burst the bonds of your oppressors asunder that his oppressed seed may go free even to the ends of the uttermost habitations of the earth Therefore I say again to the holy Seed in you even the Seed of the Kingdome Which is as a grain of mustard seed yea the least of all things in you which if ye diligently need prize and follow it will become a great plant and cover the whole earth in you which if ye do the good which I have shewed you in faithfulnesse to God and which is to all your immortal souls will come upon you but if ye refuse and reject the good councel of the Lord unto you and joyne to the power of the oppressor to keep the Seed in bondage then know as sure as the Lord liveth the just shall be taken from you and all the evil I have been made to Prophecy of shall come upon your heads in a day when ye looked not for it even when ye may be eating and drinking and Marrying and giving in marriage Remember the old world and take ye warning before it be too late For the Spirit of the Lord will not alwayes strive with man which is the Word of the Lord God unto you all and wo be unto that man or Nation as the Spirit of the Lord shall cease striving with better were it that they had never been born for a manifestation of his holy Spirit hath been given to every one to profit withall which is the Lords money and your talent and misery will be the portion of those that hide their Masters money in the earth for such have grieved his righteous Spirit which will be too heavy for them to bear in the end Read the parable and againe I say be ye warned and while ye have time prize it before it be too late Remember Esau who after he had despised his Birthright sought it carefully with teares but there was no place found for his repentance And do not think it will be sufficient for you to deny bowing unto the Images and Idols of the Nation while ye live openly in the same abominations of those which went before for the voice saith Be ye separated and touch no unclean thing and I will accept you saith the Lord which the Light of Christ Jesus in you search whether it be not so as I say and have said in every particular and let Judgement pass upon the head of the transgressor in you that the oppressed Seed of God may go free to Reigne and Rule over you and in you for ever for Sion is to be redeemed by Judgement and her Converts with righteousnesse and the Prophet said He would bear the indignation of the Lord because he had sinned against him Therefore give up freely to the judgement that ye may reape righteousnesse for God hath said that judgement shall be given for a Light to the people and truly the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether for by them is thy servant forewarned I call Heaven and earth to record this day That you are truly and faithfully warned to fly and escape the evil to come and life and death is set before you and if ye chuse the Light ye shall live for the Light is the life of men but if ye refuse to be guided by it then darkness shall be your habitation for ever for a true Jubilee and release is tendred unto you of the Lord freedome from bondage and corruption within and and without and if ye reject this glorious freedome even freedome from your old master which is sin and Satan then hear ye the word of the Lord ye shall be boared through the eare and be made to serve your old Master for ever not one jot or tittle of this which is here written shall pass away unfulfilled be it with you or against you I shall be cleare of your bloud before the Lord for ever God will be Justified and glorified in all Even in them which believe and in them which perish Think not that going unto the Temple once or twice a week and there to hear what a man hath studied in his own will and time will serve turn nay nor yet the taking of Davids words and singing of them who was a man of a true penitent heart before the Lord who fasted cryed and mourned because of his transgressions and watered his Couch with his teares yea and so abhorred all workers of iniquity that he said He would not keep a lyar in his house which is far wide from your state who take his words and say you are not puft in mind you have no scornfull eye and you have fasted untill one may number your bones and you have roared for the disquietnesse of your hearts and are you not a company of liars and offer a sacrifice of lies unto the Lord And do you not think the Lord will Judge you for these things Yea verily do you not read That all liars shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and no liars can enter into the holy habitation and rest of God Consider these things and lay them to heart and put away lying out of your
mouths as you desire to be accepted of God and no longer say you Sing to the praise and glory of God and the comfort of your own souls when your Singing is to the dishonour of God such sacrifices are an abomination unto the Lord But whoso cometh before him though never so simple Yet if he have clean hands and a pure heart even he who speaks the truth from his heart shall and will be accepted of him for it is truth in the inward part God onely delights in without which there is no acceptance Were not they condemned of the Lord by the Prophet Who came before him as his people did and heard his word and it was unto them as a very lovely song yet their hearts being after their covetousness availed them nothing and you never yet came so far as this to wit to delight to hear the word of the Lord which is like a fire and a Hammer as hath been said but instead of it ye call the letter the Word whereas the letter saith Christ is the Word yet if you were come to hear the word of God and do it not all would availe you nothing And you to take Bread and give it one to another and call it a Sacrament which word you have no where in the Scripture neither was such a thing ever commanded to Drunkards Swearers Liars and the like but to those who in faithfulness of heart had forsaken all to follow Christ he brake bread amongst them and gave it them as a signe of his true Body and bad them do it in remembrance of him untill he came and when the substance came againe amongst them there was no more need of any outward shadow or figure which thing they did really witnesse shortly after but you are breaking bread all the dayes of your lives and never witness him come as they did Even the second time without sin unto Salvation who are pleading for sin as long as you live and Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians speaketh unto them of it who did also abuse it and therefore in his next Epistle he tels them and bids them Try and prove themselves if Christ were not in them they were reprobates So read with moderation and consider If all were reprobates who did not witness Christ in them little will it availe you to take bread and wine and eat it in imitation of what Christ did to his Disciples which thing was neither commanded them nor any who live in sin but the true followers of the lamb did and do shew forth the Lords death in eating and drinking and in all their actions and their moderation appeareth unto all men which sheweth forth both his death and life in them So they brake their bread from house to house with singlenesse of heart which is the thing the Lord delighteth in above all sacrifice whatsoever and such came to witness Christ in them to be their life and all in all and this witnessing in deed and in truth is a true regenerate state and Christians life which is more then to talke or taking a little water and sprinkling it upon the face of a child say it is a seal of the Covenant and an entrance into the Church which is but a Popish trick and invention to deceive the hearts of the simple feeding them with a name but not of the nature which thing hath been sufficiently spoken of already Neither is there any one example in the Scripture for such practise Search and so read and consider what you are a doing for it is high time for of a truth the mighty and terrible day of the Lord is at hand Wherein all shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body whether good or evil Therefore be ye awakened and repent and think not that a man or Minister made in the will of men that can preach unto you about an hours space by the houre glasse once or twice a week will serve your turn which thing is a stink and a shame to all who are true Christians and sheweth plainly that such have not the unlimited Spirit of God which cannot be limitted to a glasse time or place but speaketh in whom he will where he will and as long as he will And this was the true order amongst the Saints in their assemblies not to quench the Spirit of God but the Spirit of the Prophets were subject unto the Prophets so that if any thing was revealed to one that sat by the first was to hold his peace and they might all Prophecy one by one and were not forbidden that all might be edified and did not maintaine an hireling to speak unto them about an hour and if any were moved to speak in that time to call it a disturbance and insolence nay nay in these your fruits and practices you have not so much as a forme of godlinesse much lesse the power as you your selves confesse you have not the Spirit of God which is the power in all the true Christians and was the fruits and effects of the true living Faith without which they could not please God even the Faith which layeth hold on the promise of the Father which is that the holy Spirit even the comforter should come unto them which should lead them into all truth and shew them things to come And this doth all come to witnesse who come to know the onely one and true Baptisme which is by one Spirit baptized into one body which doth not only serve to the washing away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God even purified from dead works whereby they come to serve and worship the living God in Spirit and in truth and such onely doth he seek to worship him So come away out of all the beggarly Elements which are to perish in the using to serve the Lord in newness of mind without which all your profession and Religion is but in vaine for then and not till then will ye come to witness a bridle to your tongue which bridle ye must come to witness in you even the light which condemneth you for every idle word and action and all the works of the flesh which are these envy pride malice covetousnesse whoredom railing back-biting evil speaking drunkenness gluttony uncleannesse and all uncharitableness and they who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Gal. 5.19 Therefore go ye not forth for the Kingdome of Heaven is in you saith Christ and as you come to give up to his pure Light you will be levened into its own nature and so be made partakers of it which consisteth not in word but in power holinesse peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which is the desire of my soul that you even my Countreymen may be made partakers of that ye may witness your conversation to be in Heaven and be no longer sayers but doers of the pure holy will of God that ye
may partake of the everlasting blessing which the Lord hath prepared for all who fear him even such everlasting happiness as ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the unspeakable glory which he hath in store for such who give and offer their bodies as living sacrifices daily to do his will in For truly the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory which is and shall be revealed in all such And this I do not speak because another hath spoken it but by true and daily experience through sufferings I have found and felt And I say that ye may partake of the same with me in this the day of Gods eternal power is the simple desire of my heart to God for you and I know if ye reject not his loving mercy and counsel which is freely tendred unto you in and through me ye shall not come short of the good things of God for the Lord hath shewed it unto me Therefore come away and give up to God and crowned shall ye be by him for ever which is a word of eternal truth unto you all In his house there are many mansions and if it were not so I would not say it my soul hath richly fed thereon Therefore I through the Spirit of my Father invite you that we may all come to feed at one table together and that ye may no longer feed at the table of the Devill Therefore embrace and accept Gods love that ye may eat of the banquet which is prepared and that God hath sent me forth to invite you to O make not any excuse least ye be rejected and not found worthy there is yet entertainment and room to spare and if ye refuse others shall be constrained to come in even those who stand in the high ways and hedges and ye be shut out for evermore with the foolish Virgins but be ye wise and watch that ye may have your Lamps trimmed that when the cry is made at mid-night ye may enter in with the Bride so will ye be found worthy to eat and drink at his table of his own spiritual food even of his own body and drink of his own blood and will witnesse life in you life I say immortall and will be leavened into his own nature even into a new lump and so you being many will come to be one bread and will be built up together a spiritual house holy and accepted where the Lord will take delight to dwell and make his abode for evermore and this onely is the true blessed state which my Soul desireth ye may come to witnesse in deed and in truth who am a true lover of all Souls A Word unto you who call your selves the Ministers of Christ. IS it not a shame unto you who call your selves by the name of the Ministers of Christ to preach by an hour-glasse and pray by a book doth not this clearly and plainly manifest you are not Ministers of Christ nor of the Spirit who doe thus where have you any example in Scripture for these things done by the Saints who were Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter who said they were not Ministers of the Letter but you would so have it and limit the holy Spirit of God as your practises are seen to doe that limit it to an hours time and place and so long it should speak and no longer O take shame upon your selvs for these things and Repent and cease from deceiving the people with your vain customes and traditions and taking money of the people for so doing which they or any who can but read may doe as well as you to take a weeks time or thereabout to study or compact a company of words together even as many as you can well speak in an hours time part you steal out of the Scriptures and another part out of other mens writings and adde your own meanings unto them and so boast of other mens lines made ready unto your hands and have not the word from the Lord but steal it from your Neighbour Therefore the hand and arm of the Almighty is against you and will lay your shame nakednesse and deceit open unto all people that they may no longer be deceived by you Did not the Apostles who were true teachers of God speak as the Spirit of God gave them utterance and sung with the Spirit and with understanding and prayed with the Spirit and with understanding and can any be said to be true Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but such Oh! how hath the day of the Lord over taken you as a thief in the night wherein your deeds of darknesse are made manifest and discovered and ye found not to be savers but deceivers of Souls being such who teach for Doctrine your own inventions and traditions and so the peoples fear towards God is taught by the traditions of men as Christ said and if any one be moved of the Lord to speak to you or the people while you are in your high places you are the first which will cry to the people to take him away was this the Apostles example who bid if any thing was revealed unto him which sate by the first was to hold his peace or is it not the example and practise of the persecuting spirit whose works and deeds are wrought in the dark and are affraid that the light should reprove them How can ye say unto your hearers and followers as the Apostles and Ministers of Christ did Be ye followers of us as we are of Christ whose examples condemneth yours every way for he said unto his Disciples that they should be hated of all men for his name sake and persecuted and cast out of the Synagogues and the like see and try if your fruit be not like unto those who cast out and not like unto those who were cast out And the Apostle said the man of God should not strike but be humble and should in meeknesse instruct those which did oppose him this was the fruit and practise of the true ministers of Jesus Christ who in all things walked for to be good examples to others bearing their faithful witnesse against all sin and said that no unclean thing could enter into the kingdome of Heaven and bid people walk as they had them for an example but you instead of bearing witness against all sin tell people that they cannot but commit sin as long as they live you your selves being examples of pride to them and immoderation maintaining your wives and children in pride and wantonnesse settling your selves in such and such places as may make best for your maintainance and the like which sheweth plainly you are not like Christ nor his Ministers who went about seeking those that were lost being such that were cast in prisons in persecution in hunger in cold in want and in distresse and all for the good of others
never able to come unto the knowledg of the truth which makes free all who come unto it as saith Christ Jesus if you know the truth the truth shall make you free And the Apostles were sent to turn people from darknesse to light and from Satans power to God which was the effect of the true and free Ministry of Christ even to open the blind eyes and make blind those which could see So they who come to be turned from Satans power unto God come to be turned from darknesse to light which is a turning from sinne to righteousnesse and here the people come to be profited but such hirelings who run and are not sent they neither bring the people to the light nor from sin to righteousness being Ministers of darkness themselves and Preach for filthy lucre sake and do in no wise profit the people as I have said if one come amongst them and their hearers and do but declare and speak of those things unto them wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned him then presently they fall upon him commonly by the command of their Priests and cry out he is a deceiver away with him though they have nothing to be deceived of but sin and uncleanness which sheweth plainly they are not of the number of the Elect of God for they need not to fear being deceived for it is impossible to deceive them For Christs sheep hear his voice and knoweth it and a stranger will they not follow But these like blind men instead of trying all things and holding fast that which is good stop their ears and furiously run themselves upon a poore simple innocent man who seeks not theirs but them And this their fruits manifests they are not in the nature of the true Christians but of the Jews who persecuted the Prophets and stoned them who were sent unto them and in this nature do they sing pray and the like which is no more accepted of the Lord Then if they cut off a Dogs neck or offer a sacrifice of blood for such was Cains sacrifice who was of the envious one who slew his brother And this is the fruits and effects of the hirelings Ministry which is a griefe unto the upright in heart to see And behold how poor people are kept in bondage and from the knowledge of God by them hearing and learning from their youth up untill they go to the grave and still in sin and pleading for it as long as they live O people it is high time to awake and consider these things and lay them to heart for the Ax of the Lord is a laying to the roote of every tree And every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire for the Lord hath long born with you and men have conceived nought but vanity and brought forth lies and every one is striving either by deceit or policy to uphold his own way by the arm of flesh and he that can get the power into his hand oppresseth all who will not bow unto his manner or forme of worship as though God were served in mans will or could or would be limitted by the sons of men while every one is crying up his own way to be best while they are all in the way of sin pleading for it as long as they live The Lords soul abhorreth these things for it is only the sacrifice of clean hands and a pure heart which he accepteth even of such who are of an humble and contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word and such he will in no wise despise But how far men are from this spirit which is onely accepted of by the Lord let the pure Light of Christ Jesus judge in all your consciences doth not envy reign still in their hearts and where that reigneth there is strife and every evil work which seperateth man from God and in this state should they sacrifice thousands of Rams and ten thousand rivers of Oyle the fruit of their bodies for the sins of their souls it would availe them nothing But wash you make you clean saith the Lord and put away the evil of your doings relieve the fatherless and the widdow and I will accept you and though your sins are as red as scarlet yet will I make them as white as snow Saith Solomon he which confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy and it is certain that none else doth or ever shall for the sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination unto the pure God For when the Jews were in the observation of sacrifices Sabbaths New-moons and the like the Lord said they were an abomination and loathsomness unto him and his soul did abhor them and the reason was because of the evil of their doings for in such things the Lord delighteth not but a body which is prepared to do his will in is only accepted for there he only takes delight to dwell which is more then all sacrifices offerings and oblations which David knew right well But this thing Satan and his Ministers Preach not to the people that he may keep his seat whole within them profess what they will in words he matters it not for he knows if once the creature cometh to the Covenant of God that then he will come to witnesse his body to be his Temple as he hath promised I will dwell in them and walk in them therefore Satan strives every way to keep people from the light which is the Covenant whereby men would come to know the teachings of God and would not need that man should teach them But this makes not for the hireling nor his profit therefore would he be Master as much as in him lieth telling people they must not look for God to speak unto men in these days and that revelations are ceased and such like stuff he filleth up his hours time with which sheweth he and his hearers know not the Son of God as the true Christians did And saith Christ unto those that come unto me I give eternal life and none hath eternal life but those who know the Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent So all Priests and people this is to you and sheweth that you are from the true Faith and to every good work reprobate for he that doth not witness all his works done and wrought in him by the vertue and power of God all his works are but as filthy rags which is self righteousnesse for if the just do not work in the creature it is self which can never be accepted of the Father for the true children of God came to witnesse that God did all their works for them and in them and so did witnesse in deed and in truth the Lord to be their righteousness and were called by that name So come and try your works and by whom they are wrought in you if not by Christ then it is self and so it will availe you nothing For without me saith Christ ye
heart and while you have time prize it before it be too late And know ye Protestants that it is onely the true Jew which shall have acceptance in his presence in that day even they who are of the circumcision of the heart who are covered with his holy Spirit and not with a name to live and are dead as it is with you at this day Therefore this visitation of love is sent amongst you that you may read and consider your condition and how you stand that ye may not plead ignorance in the dreadfull day of account which is even at the door and remember If God spared not the natural branches but cut them off who sinned he will not spare you for the soul that sinneth shall dye but he that turneth from his sins and doth righteousnesse shall live and there is no other Covenant or promise of God then this Therefore let not your Preachers deceive you any longer by telling you it shall go well with you though you live in sin and uncleannesse but turn to the light of Christ which condemneth you for all sin and give up to be guided by it and it will lead you to forsake your sins so will you find mercy else you will perish eternally which is the word of the Lord unto you all therefore I say again and again prize Gods love which is freely tendred unto you For a famine of the word of the Lord hath been amongst men and the vision hath failed which hath been the cause people have perished even because of ignorance Therefore come to Christ the light the wisdome of God that you may learn only of him and receive wisdome of him who maketh all them truly wise unto Salvation who come unto him and hear him so then their souls come to live and not before And take not this as an idle tale or story for though my message is not adorned with inticing words of mans wisdome or as mans wisdome teacheth yet know assuredly that if ye reject it it will be your condemnation and you will be left without excuse as I said If God spared not the natural branches when they sinned even they who were once truly grafted into the true Olive Tree surely he will not spare you who were never yet grafted into any thing but sin and corruption as plainly appeareth by your fruits of lightness vanity and vain glory and the deportment both of you and your women who goe in plaited haire and in gold and silver which was never the ornament of the holy women of God nor of Sarah but their ornament was that of the heart even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is with the Lord of great price and is only accepted of God and your own habit is nothing differing from all the vain and abominable in your Nation which the true Christians were not to do nor fashion themselves according to the former time of ignorance but were to be renewed in their minds and to be carefull in all things and to walk answerable according to the holy calling wherewith Christ Jesus had called them who had left them a pure example that they should follow his steps And saith the Apostle Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ But how ye do those things let the pure just principle of the Lord Jesus Christ judge in all your consciences Were you truly what you professe your selves to be in words would ye not be a witness against all the vanities and wickedness of the Nation and bear your witness for God against it all and so would be a sweet savour unto the Lord in your generation even as lights which are set on a hill But instead of this ye are one with them in all manner of evill whatsoever onely you differ in some external things in your worship seeming to cry against Idolatry and covetousnesse is in your hearts which is as great Idolatry as can be named and if you should speak against respecting of persons you are as much in it as they and as partial in all your wayes and any other abomination which is committed in the land may be as commonly seen and heard amongst you as amongst any other people in the Nation as swearing lying vain talk and foolish jesting whoring whatsoever that may be named pride and vain custome and the like and for a cover for all this you say you are saved by grace for shame shame shame cover your faces Are any saved by grace who are taught by it to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lust and to live soberly and righteously in this present evil world and doth not who live in wickeedness and turn the Grace of God into wantonness or rather turn from it hath not the free grace of God appeared unto all unto Salvation as well as unto you as if a bear talk of being saved by grace would serve turn why may not all be saved as well as you seeing your fruit differeth nothing in substance and then you say you are saved by faith in Christ Jesus but vaine men shew your faith by your works for if it be the living Faith which gives victory over sin the other may also be brought into it by good works which are the effects of the only true and living Faith and so be converted unto it and be saved but your profession without a possession doth but adde the more unto your condemnation as you shall witness except ye repent for if only a saying you believe in Christ Jesus will save you why may not those you esteem different from you be saved as well as you seeing they will in the particular say it and affirm it as well as you and both your fruits in respect of life and conversation varie nothing at all Read and consider these things seriously and repent knowing that as the body without the spirit is dead so is Faith without works also dead Again I say in love pity to your immortal souls prize prize Gods eternal love which is freely tendred unto you all least you cry when it is too late Oh how have I slighted the day of my visitation and it be said of you as it was of Israel of old Oh Israel thou hast destroyed thy self for it is only the sins of a people or Nation which separateth them from God and brings judgements upon them or any Land that the inhabitants may learn righteousness but if they refuse to be warned thereby and harden their necks then will the Lord sweep them away with the Bosome of destruction Therefore lay it to heart for the sins of this land hath surpassed the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah who were made examples of Gods just judgements that others might take warning Therefore my bowels is truly moved in me towards you that you may not slight the day of your visitation but diligently hearken to the Lord which if you do he will soon subdue all your enemies for you and make you
A Seasonable Warning To such who profess themselves MEMBERS OF Reformed Churches INTO What Forme soever gathered or where-ever scattered over the face of the whole earth but most especially to France and the parts adjacent With a few remarkable QUERIES c. Given forth in love to all souls a tender visitation of breathing desires of good to the whole Creation by a friend thereof CHARLES BAILY LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. try your spirits and there is no difference between you and those you seem to deny for in nature ye are one in pride and hypocrisie envy malice and cruelty drunkenness swearing lying whoredom deceit and whatsoever is evill and were the power in your hands ye would be more cruel then those ye seem to complain of and in the ground there is no difference between you for ye have lost your suffering spirit which was once amongst you at the first and are grown as vaine in your Imaginations as any of the heathen of the Nations Therefore repent repent ye also and think not in your hearts that it will serve your turns to say you are reformed while iniquity and abomination is in your inward parts and are not at all reformed from that to wit iniquity though ye say ye are saved by faith in Christ ye are found wholly out of that spirit and doctrine which leadeth To do unto all men as ye would others should do unto you as your fruits hath proved some of you casting out of the Synagogues or Temples as the Jews did and as is foretold should be done unto my servants Therefore be ye warned in time and remember how the Jews came under the reproofe of the Just when they said they were Abrahams children whilest they were Of their father the Devil whose works they did and do you not think but your evill deeds are as abommable as theirs they boasted as well as you they were the children of my Covenant while you and them trample the Blood thereof under your feet for which cause a curse came upon them and shall also come upon you if ye repent not and take not warning in time while my hand is stretched out towards you for good that ye may live and not die in your sins for if you die in your sins Where I go ye cannot come saith Christ Jesus the Light of the world who is the Covenant of God given for Salvation unto the ends of the earth and untill ye come to this Light ye are far from being children of the Covenant as ye pretend but in Covenant with Hell Death and the Devill pleading for sin as long as you live which is the Devils Kingdom and for so doing ye give men great sums of money yearly which is an abominable thing to the Lord God Almighty And then you say you are Christians by Baptisme and the like sprinkling a little water upon the face or head of a child and thereby have an entrance into the Church and yet will not admit the same to the Roman-Catholicke though their Water hath as much vertue as yours and the child of the one believeth as much as the other and both when they grow up are in one nature which sheweth plainly you are ignorant of the one onely true Baptisme which washeth away sin and corruption and gives a true entrance into the Church which is in God the ground and Pillar of truth into which no unclean thing can have an entrance for it is a spiritual House built with living Stones elect and precious Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone who gave himself for it That he might present it to God without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And this is the true Church and Baptism which gives an entrance into it and the true saith which once came and takes the possession So read and try and prove your selves If Christ be not in you ye are reprobates professe what you will and if Christ were in you The body would be dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness but how far you are from this let the Light of Christ Judge in you therefore repent that ye may find mercy and think not that God will have respect unto your persons no more then he had respect to those who said They were Jewes and were not for because of that he said he would spue them out of his mouth and seeing he spared not the natural branches but cut them off the root because of transgression do you think he will spare you Nay verily The soul that sinneth shall die saith God for he spared not the Angels who kept not their first estate but hath reserved them under the chaines of darkness untill the Judgement of the great day And let these things be a seasonable warning unto you for it was so and is so that he which is a Jew outwardly is not the true Jew neither is he a Christian who beareth the name outwardly and hath not the nature of Christ all such are an abomination to the Lord. You are so far from being leavened into his nature which only maketh a Christian that if any one come amongst you and say he hath the Spirit of God he is had in great derision amongst you and is laughed at to scorne though the Apostle saith He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and all who were Baptized with the true Baptisme they received the Holy Ghost So read consider and try your selves what state you are in and do not think that the nature of Christ is changed since the Apostles time nay it is all one though many have the name and are out of the nature You fall a quarelling and killing one another about their words this was not the nature of Christians for they were the sons of God led by his pure Holy Spirit which was Gentle meeke and easie to be intreated full of long-suffering and mercy even to enemies and ready to do good unto all in which spirit walking they did not fulfil the lusts of the flesh but in it conquered and had dominion over sin Hell and the Devil though a time of warfare they came to witness before they came unto this state as all the Saints and holy men of God ever did witness the travel of the children of Israel through the wilderness into the land of rest which is the true Type of all the travel of the faithfull for they came to witness the true Baptisme as it is written They were all Baptized into Moses under the Cloud who was a true Type of Christ and because of unbelief many did not enter because they received the false report and believed they should never overcome their enemies which things relate all unto the true spiritual warfare of every true Christian which did believe and entered and possessed the land of rest which is the true Sabbath and it is written He that believes hath entered into rest ceased from sin which is
for he hath prepared a way and a means for the Salvation of all that they might be saved For he so loved the world that he hath given his onely begotten Son into the world that all through him might believe for he is the Covenant of God even a Covenant of Light unto all Nations that he might be his Salvation unto the ends of the earth This testimony John did bear of him that he was the true Light which enlightens every man which cometh into the world and as many as receive him and believe in his name even in the Light to them he giveth power to become the Sons of God which is another birth then yours Which is of the flesh and will of man Read and consider you that desire Salvation unto your souls for it is the visitation of Gods eternal love unto you for I am truly constrained by his pure Spirit hereunto therefore whether you will hear or forbeare I shall be a sweet savour unto God Even in them which believe and in them which perish But my hearts desire is that ye may come into the Covenant of God and be saved even to be taught led and guided by him for the way is plaine and it is but one in all even the Light which reproves for sin maketh manifest all the deeds of darkness though never so secret for saith the Apostle whatsoever makes manifest is Light he that comes to that which makes manifest cometh to Christ for saith he I am the Light of the world I am the way No man cometh to the Father but by me So come to the Light and then you will come to the Way the Truth and the Life this will be more then a bear name unto you life truth even truth in the inward part which God onely accepteth out of which all profession is vain therefore he which comes to the Light comes to the truth and comes to know the teachings of God as it is written All thy children shall be taught of me and great shall be their peace so in the Light you will witness the teachings of God which is his holy Covenant with his people I will write my law in their hearts saith God and put it in their inward parts the law is Light saith Solomon and if you come to turn to the Light you will witness the same I will live in them and walk in them saith God Marke this is the holy true and everlasting Covenant of God to his people and this the true Christians came to witness even their bodies to be the Temples of God through the Spirit and God dwelleth with no unclean thing neither dareth such a one plead for sin as long as he liveth for they are sanctified and made fit for their Masters use not having only the forme of Godliness but the life and power and they who had the form without the power were to be turned from it which power is the Light which cometh from Christ and leadeth up to God and the Saints were Saints in Light for they were sanctified by it which was the will of God And as saith the Apostle this is the will of God even your Sanctification this is no new Doctrin but the good Old Way which God hath prepared even for his Ransomed ones to walk in in which path the way faring men though fools shall not erre therein for the way is Light as saith the Apostle if ye live in the Light and walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship with God and one with another Mark fellowship with God this Light leadeth unto in which the Saints fellowship onely stood which brought them to the knowledge of God and he which said he knew God and walked in darkness was a liar for the darkness comprehendeth not the Light which is the only habitation and Covenant of God so as you come truely to confess your sins you will witness the Blood of Christ to cleanse you from all unrighteousness but if you say you have not sin before you come to this and say it is done away in Christ then you are lyars and the truth is not you no more then it is in them who say they have not sinned as you come to witness the Blood of Christ and its vertue you will witness these sayings to be true and faithfull not onely to be talked of but to be witnessed in you and untill you come here you are perfect strangers unto the several states and growths the true Christians came through in their Warfare there was little children young men and old men for saith John I write unto you little children that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world Marke He freely offered up himself for all And by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandements He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandements is a liar and the truth is not in him Marke the true Christians state is life And consider what state and nature you are in and whether ye keep Christs Commandement yea or nay for these things are of great weight and concernment unto you even you that have taken up the name but are out of the nature And againe saith the Apostle Whose keepeth his Word in him verily in the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him Marke by this they the true Christians knew that they were in Christ because they kept his word and he which dwelleth in him ought to walke even as he walked are you here nay your consciences witnesseth to your faces the contrary therefore forbeare the name untill you witness the life else the greater will be your condemnation which is the Word of the Lord unto you all therefore be ye warned in time And againe saith he A new Commandement I write unto you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is past and the true light now shineth Marke againe they did witness the darkness past and the true Light to shine which Light giveth the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which treasure saith Paul we have in Earthen vessels this treasure even the Light they the true Christians witnessed in them and walking in it had fellowship with it and one with another For God is Light and he which liveth and walketh in the Light liveth and walketh with God and witnesseth a true translation as Enoch did and is not seen Because his life is hid with Christ in God and this is a true translation from death to life which is the true Christians life and he which saith he is in the Light and hateth his brother is a liar and is in darkness even untill now he which loveth his brother dwelleth
profession soever and it shall prove you who say you are Jews and are not and every mans works shall be tryed of what sort they are and all coverings besides the pure Holy Spirit of the Lord shall be as Adams fig-Leaves were and when the Lord shall call them to an account they shall fear to appear before him because of their transgressions and Gods witnesse in all shall answer unto his just judgments which shall come upon them the hypocrites shall weep and howle and many shall call to the Hills and Mountains to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb whom they have willfully despised and rejected Therefore be ye warned in time and see and search diligently what you are built upon for no other foundation shall be able to abide the dreadful day of Gods controversie with the sons and daughters of men but the Rock of ages and he which is not built upon this let him be never so secure in his own conceit or in the eye of flesh his building shall utterly perish and come to nought and great shall be his ruine Therefore come all to the Light and make no other foundation but that if ye desire to abide the day of tryal which is neer even at the dore therefore this warning is sent unto you in an acceptable time that ye may take warning before it be too late for a consummate decree is determined of the Lord which shall consume and destroy all the workers of iniquity for ever therefore blessed will the man be who hath not walked in their way nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull after he is warned but shall cleave to the Law of God and meditate therein his off-spring shall be prosperous in the Earth and his name shall be written in the book of life for ever he shall wash his garments white in the blood of the Lamb and follow him who hath a Bow and a Sword and maketh war in righteousness against the Dragon and his Followers even the Man of Sin who hath long sitten in the Temple of God and said He is God but by the Lamb shall he be overcome and his followers and all that are found in resistance of Gods power shall be cast into the pit of endlesse torments for ever and the day is already dawned wherein this glorious work shall be accomplished Therefore beware with whom ye joyn in battel for the Lamb makes war in righteousness against all sin and the appearance thereof but the Dragon and his followers shal be to uphold it and plead for it and imprison such as bear testimony against it so each will be known by their weapons their fruits and their colours the one's weapons are spiritual the others carnal the one is in unrighteousnesse the other in righteousnesse the one is in blood and revenge the other in suffering and patience so you may easily distinguish between them and will not be able to plead ignorance in the day of account for it was ever so from the beginning the just suffering by the unjust the seed of the Bond-woman persecuting the seed of the Free-woman which never persecuted any therefore be ye warned of joyning with the persecuting spirit of Antichrist for if you doe you shall assuredly as the Lord God of Heaven and Earth lives partake of his plagues but rather cast out the Bond-woman and her son that ye may be heirs with the seed of the Free-woman which keep the Commandements of God so will ye be heirs of the promise and of the mercy of God which is freely tendered unto you through his simple servant who is at present a sufferer in the patience and tribulation of the Lamb on whom the Lord hath laid a necessity to warn thee O nation of France that thou mayst find mercy in this the day of Gods free love which is tendered unto thee and though this reacheth unto the whole Nation yet in particular it is sent to you who are called by the name of the Reformed Religion to the end that ye may not only be so in name but also in life and practise without which your name will but adde unto your condemnation as hath already been told you God is purposed to try you and your foundation and a name will not serve the turn and except ye partake of the nature of the sufferance of Gods seed and spirit of truth in you and turn to the Lord by putting away the evil of your doings ye shall surely partake of her plagues which is the word of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth unto you all for her sins have exceeded the sins of Sodom and the measure of her iniquity is even up and judgment is already prepared for her therefore be ye seperated from your iniquities in time for the word is gone out of the mouth of the Lord and can never be recalled but shall surely accomplish the thing which he hath purposed therefore my bowels are drawn forth in love towards you that ye may not perish with the uncircumcised and unclean but that rather ye may come to repentance and amendment of life and live for ever which is the true desire of his soul Friends the Lord is about to do a wonderful work in the Earth which many cannot believe though it were told them but the upright in heart shall see it and praise him yea the youth shall rejoyce and the virgins shall be glad and the Saints shall admire and smite upon their breasts in beholding the wonderful works of the Allmighty which he purposeth to doe in this generation And therefore give ear unto me and be not hard of heart nor unbelieving and I will through the spirit of the Lord which is upon me shew unto you the certainty of things which shall shortly come to passe The Lord will cast down the haughty and the proud from his throne and will exalt the humble and the meek yea he will rebuke the proud and give grace unto the humble He will exalt his horn over all that shall rise up against him he will break the bond of oppression and set the Nations at liberty that his name may be glorified from one end of the Earth unto the other though at present his name is not known amongst the sons of men and he be more a stranger and less known amongst them then the Ox to his owner or the Ass to his masters crib yet shall the knowledge of him cover the whole earth even as the waters cover the Seas He will overturn all Idolaters and all Idols for ever and all who shall set a hand to uphold them all Idol Priests shall be turned into confusion for ever the haughty seat shall be laid low and the humble and the meek shal be exalted yea he will by his own arm and Allmighty power arise and plead the cause of the innocent and set the oppressed free and enlarg the borders of the innocent and the meek shall take the possession and the glorious
in these did the true Ministers of Christ glory and did not get into a place there settle themselvs at their own wil to preach to this or that people but as the Lord did send and direct them they were to go whether in life or in death bond or prison yea wo were to them if they did not doe it and again they preached to the people nothing but what they had seen tasted and had handled of the word of life and that only did they minister unto others but if you should preach nothing but what you did witnesse in this nature which every true Minister of Christ ought to doe and no more then you might stop your mouths and indeed untill then it would be a thousand fold better for you so to doe for your condemnation would not be so great if you did not presume thus to teach the people the knowledge of God and his holy wayes but did sit down and labour with your own hands for your livings for of a truth you doe but adde to your condemnation in this state you are in as your fruits manifest to your faces Can you look upon your assemblies not blush and be ashamed to see the fruits of your ministry in pride lust and ambition dressed more like antiques than sober moral men ful of vain talk and foolish jesting swearing lying and all manner of vice is to be found amongst them even amongst your constant hearers whom you call Reformers of Religion but what they are reformed from in nature let the pure light of Christ Jesus judge in all their consciences as it doth for God against them and you and I am sure it sheweth that they differ nothing in nature from the common practise of the Nation but rather through them and their ungodly practises cause the good way of God to be evil spoken of And this O ye Priests is the manifest and evident fruits of your work and labour but the free and true ministry of Christ Jesus was for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of the body untill they all come to a perfect man into the measure and stature of the fulnesse of Christ who was and is head of their body unto which no corrupt nor prophane member can be joyned and thus your ministry differeth from the true yea even as much as light from darknesse the one teacheth and leadeth out of all sin and the other teacheth that there can never be a freedome from sin in this li e though the Apostle said ye being made free from sin became the servants of righteousness for while ye were servants unto sin ye were free from righteousness so there was the fruits and effects of the true ministry and the fruits and effects of the ministry of Satan is so far from this that they preach up sin for term of life as hath been spoken of already Therefore O ye Priests be ye warned of the Lord God of life and cease thus from deluding the people and let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he might have to give to him that needeth And this is counsel of life unto you all O ye Protestant Priests in France I say cease from stealing other mens words and making merchandise of them to others but come to the light your selves that ye may hear and learn of Christ your selves and then if he pleaseth to send any of you forth to open the blind eyes and turn the people from darknesse to light and from Satans power to God then obey his voyce and go forth freely and preach as he hath given you freely so will ye profit the people though this manner of call will be contrary to your own wills and against mens wills ye come to preach to and till you come to witnesse this only holy and true call I say again and again as from the Lord God of life cease and be still and let the people alone until the Lord send labourers amongst them for the Vineyard is only his to send into it to labour who he only will appoint thereto and he which goeth and is not sent is but a thief and a robber which is the word of the Lord God unto all Priests of this Nation Therefore cease cease and repent that ye may find mercy for the blood of one man if it be laid to your charg will be too heavy for you to beare which assuredly ye must for many if ye refuse to hearken unto the counsell of God which he in the infinitenesse of his love tendereth unto you for know the end of the true Ministry is to bring people unto God and on him alone to wait for teaching which is his Covenant and promise to bring people to be sensible of the gift of the holy Spirit of God in themselves and the Apostle said every man hath a manifestation of the Spirit given to him to profit withall which being turned unto to profit is a sufficient teacher of it self such need not mans teaching any more and so people come to know their bodies to be the Temples of God through the Spirit which dwelleth in them and so they come to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit which are love meekness long-suffering patience and the true reconciliation by Christ Jesus between God and man the enmity being slaine upon the Crosse and of twaine one new man is witnessed and so peace comes to be witnessed with God and not before and untill the new creature be witnessed all availeth nothing but the true and everlasting Ministry of Christ Jesus bringeth the creature unto this and none else by which and in which the creature comes to bring forth naturally the fruits of the Spirit as he did the fruits of the flesh before which was nothing else but lust and uncleannesse and filthinesse of life So give up to be taught by him in this the day of his Almighty power Therefore let this be a warning unto all Priests Let God alone with his own work for he needeth no mans wisdome to help him for the best of your stuff you have is but compacted with your own natural wisdome which you must all loose before you can come to know God For man by wisdome knows not God neither can the natural man discerne the things of the Spirit for they are spiritually discerned therefore ye must all come to the teachings of the Spirit of God your selves before you can come to teach others These things are plaine and manifest unto every one who is not wilfully blind and drunk with prejudice therefore consider Paul had more to lose of this kind then most of you have yet he said he counted it gaine to lose it all to gaine Christ and let him be your example who reasoned not with flesh and blood but immediately obeyed the Heavenly voice I speak this unto you in love and some of you the Lord may
can do nothing I am the Vine saith Christ and ye are the branches and my Father is the husbandman and every branch which bringeth not forth fruit my Father cutteth it off and casteth it into the fire but every branch which bringeth forth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more abundantly so abide in me saith he the light of the world for in him only is their fruit found to be accepted So read try and consider in whom ye are and whether ye are in the true Vine yea or nay if not your state is miserable and ye are yet in your sins Therefore cease from your hireling teachers and learn of Christ the pure light in you and you will come to witness a teacher continually with you Which will never be removed into a corner any more but your ear shall hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walk in it turn neither to the right hand nor to the left which if once witnessed ye will abhor all hireling teachers for ever and being come to know the voice of the true Shepherd of your souls ye will witnesse the pure holy teachings of the holy God lying down and rising up directing you in the pure holy and undefiled path of peace in which no Lions whelp can tread and this to witnesse is the end of all Ministrations Types and shadows whatsoever the life and substance being witnessed in you even Christ Jesus the Light the Covenant of God which is given a Covenant of Light unto all Nations that he might be his Salvation unto the ends of the earth which is the only true Cistern that is able to hold water for your souls And John did bear witness in like manner of him saying He was the true light which inlightned every one that came into the world and the light is the life of men and as you come to the light you will witness it so and not before ye know his life to abide in you which light being received and followed you will receive power to become the sons of God even a birth which is not of man nor of the will of man but of God which only is loved so the sons of God you will witnesse to be and his holy Spirit you will be lead by For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God and they who have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his Therefore I say again and again try whose ye are for if you have not the Spirit of Christ you are none of the sons of God but of the Devil These are true and plain words unto you all that ye may not be any longer deceived nor trust to lying vanities any longer and forsake your own mercies which is freely tendred unto you of the Lord in this the day of his love wherein he doth invite you freely to come unto him Without money and without pride that ye may eat and drink and be satisfied at the Rivers of his pleasures and not to spend your labour and precious time for nought for your time is but short and the measure of your iniquitie is even up amongst the sons of men and the Angel of his wrath is even ready to smite Therefore be ye separated and touch no unclean thing and God Almighty will accept you for verily I have seen the wrath of the Lord breaking forth against this Nation and it was very terrible Therefore stand not as you love your immortal souls to contend about words or any outward thing but come to the light that ye may witnesse life that so your covering may only be the pure Spirit of the Lord thereby to have a hiding place in him else the sword of his indignation and wrath you will never be able to escape but it will cut you off for ever with all the unclean and uncircumcised of the earth Therefore be ye not mockers nor despisers least ye perish for the Lord is working a work in these dayes that such cannot believe though it were told them and this is a true warning and testimony of Gods everlasting love in and through one that is a witness thereof and a friend to all souls And now that you may read and seriously consider into what a sad state you are fallen from the Image of him that created you is the desire of my heart and come for to be restored again into the same dominion for all are degenerated into the plant of a strange Vine bringing forth wild fruit contrary to the expectation of the good husbandman and to the grieving of his righteous soul for read and consider He planted a Vineyard and fenced it about and pruned it and cast the stones out of it and expected it should bring forth fruit as I have said but it brought forth wild fruit what could I have done more for my Vineyard saith the Lord. Here all the sons of men may consider their condition which is truly sad and miserable though they are so setled upon the Lees of iniquity that they do not consider it as it is written There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh God they are all gone out of the way they have been made altogether unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one their throat is an open sepulchre they have used their tongues to deceit the poison of aspes is under their lips Rom. 3.11 Yea they commit iniquity with greedinesse even as the Ox drinketh in water their table is full of vomit and there is no soundnesse in them they conceive mischief in the night upon their bed and rise early in the morning to put it in practice and say in their hearts the Lord seeth us not our mouthes are our own who shall us controll they lye in waite privily for the innocent and lay a snare in secret for him O! what a sad and dolefull condition are the sons of men fallen into yea there is no fear of God before their eyes Eating and drinking and rising up to play marrying and giving in marriage and all in the lust and uncleanness the seed of the evil one being head in them nought but pride and oppression is brought forth envy and malice yea the best of men is but a lyer every one seeking by fraud and deceit to exalt his own horn and seeking to maintain his own carkase in great honour and dignity and he which is stronger then his neighbour will take all advantages against him to bring him under him and to bow to his will O woful state and hard to be declared is the degeneration of fallen man from his Creator who at first created him in his own Image and likenesse in holinesse and purity to reign over all the works of his hands in the power and wisdome of his Creator and had put all things in subjection under him and knew the right use of every thing he standing in the dominion and wisdome of God and to
to shine as his own elect and chosen people as the Stars in the Firmament and many shall desire to be joyned unto you yea the day hastneth apace That ten shall lay hold of h m which is a Jew and say we will eat our own bread and drink our own drink only let us be called by thy name yea this and much more which is hard to be uttered either by tongue or Pen shall be the portion of him who is of the true circumcision which is made without hands who worships God in the Spirit a City and habitation is prepared for them whose builder and maker is God wherein the Lamb shall be their Light and they shall walk in it for ever and ever Therefore come all away to the light which is the true door into the new and Heavenly Jerusalem wherein no unclean thing can or ever shall enter thereby by the light must ye come to be cleansed which is the blood of the Covenant which is freely shed abroad for the cleansing of all the sons of Adam therefore trample it not under your feet as the blood of a dead man and count it not an unholy thing for by it alone were all the Saints of old cleansed and it did not serve them onely to talk of but were truly purged purified and made clean by it and so witnessed Justification and Sanctification in this life without which they never could for except you come to witnesse your souls cleansed from sin and sanctified with the blood of the everlasting Covenant you cannot be justified by God for God justifieth no unclean thing and remember it is written That without holinesse no man shall see the Lord and lay it to heart and there ponder these things in the coole of the day which if you do The grace of God will not be bestowed upon you in vain but through its pure teachings and vertue you will come to witnesse salvation to your souls and death swallowed up in victory and he that hath the power of it which is the Devil then will that saying be brought to pass O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory and will thank God with your souls bodies and spirits and serve him therewith as holy vessels sanctified to his use who hath given you the victory over all and living praise will issue out of your mouths not by constraint but willingly out of a pure heart for evermore to the living praise of him who hath redeemed your souls out of the horrible pit and set your feet upon a Rock even upon Mount Sion to live and Reign for ever And this is the true Salvation of God through Christ Jesus which thousands witnesse at this day in England and praise the Lord with one heart mind and soul continually which is their only joy and delight God only being witnessed to be their Judge King and Law-giver who hath saved them with everlasting Salvation from sin and uncleanness and are translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son and there live and delight only to walk to the praise and glory of the glorious God of all grace who hath thus bestowed his rich grace and mercy upon them which also is freely and richly tendred unto you O ye inhabitants of France therefore slight it not but draw nigh unto God and he will draw unto you for he is a God at hand and not afar off even unto them who call upon him with a simple heart and is a ready help unto such in time of need and you will witnesse him so unto you if ye embrace the riches of his grace mercy and goodnesse which is freely tendred to every individual of you without respect of persons Therefore call upon the Lord while he is neere least when you call he will not answer which is counsell of life unto you all which if you reject then hear what the Spirit saith ye shall have your portions with the wicked stiff-necked unbelievers and rebellious and your children shall enjoy the blessing for God of a truth will be glorified in many of them and you also if ye count not your selves unworthy of Eternal life which is richly and plentifully tendred unto you Therefore cease from all your Idol-shepherds and hireling-Priests which feed themselves and not the flock preach up sin as long as men live which shews they are imperfect Ministers and cannot make the comers thereunto perfect therefore I say cease from them in time least while the blind lead the blind ye both fall into the ditch for they are truly the Ministers of Satan and preach up his power to be greater than the power of God even to have more force to keep people in sin then the power of God hath to redeem from sin as hath already been said and so make the coming of Christ to be of no effect which was to redeem people from the Law which was added because of transgression up to God to live in his power which was before transgression was therefore saith the Apostle in what the Law could not doe in that it was weak God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Mark this was the true end of Christs coming not to destroy the Law because the Law is righteous and layeth hold on the transgressor but he came to destroy the transgressions and so he redeems all who come unto him from the curse of the Law by destroying the works of the Devil in people that so the righteousnesse thereof might be fulfilled in them by the power of Christ Jesus and so they come to the Spirits of just men made perfect the seed of the Serpent being bruised and wholly destroyed in them by Christ the seed of God in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen and they who witnesse this witnesse the end of Christs coming and the new birth which is incorruptible of God which sinneth not and they who come to witnesse this know that the power of Satan is not greater then the power of God in Christ Jesus who saves his people from their sins and this is the only true living Ministry which is to the salvation of the soul and all who preach any other doctrine then this though we our selvs or an Angell from heaven let them be accursed therefore consider your doctrine who preach against perfection and for keeping men in sin as long as they live and then the Devil knows he hath them sure enough afterwards for the wages of sin is death out of which there is no redemption if the creature dye therein for as the tree falls so it lyeth And this is the truth of God to all the inhabitants of the Earth therefore high and low rich and poor bond and free be ye warned and while ye have time prize it and if ye call upon God who
also witnesse it so upon yours if ye come and submit unto Davids humble spirit of prayer and repentance which was the cause God did so delight in him above many for the humble and contrite spirit which David was of God will in no wise despise for he even confessed his sin and forsook it and willingly submitted unto the judgements of the Most High for it by which meanes he had acceptance with God And thy word saith he I have hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee for that is the dayly care of the honest heart least God should take his holy spirit from him for he prayeth continually that God would renew his dayly countenance upon him which made Davids heart more glad than those who had all the encrease of the earth so all you who take Davids words to sing and talk of deal faithfully with your own souls and see whether you are come to his spirit yea or nay and until then his word and penitent heart is your condemnation which you shall eternally witnesse to be true in the day that by Davids spirit ye shall be judged who said depart from me all ye that do wickedly and was made the song of the drunkard Truly Friends the Lord hath made my bowels as an open fountain towards you that you may no longer be of that generation which Solomon speaks of who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not purged from their iniquity I shall as being truly moved of the Lord thereunto lay these following things before you to consider seriously of as being things which every one who dare professe the name of Christ and Christianity ought truly to mind to the end they may not be only Christians in name but in nature which will only stand you instead in the dreadful day of judgement wherein God will appear with flames of fire to render vengeance to the wicked which day hastneth apace Therefore read and consider Whether Christ Jesus when he spake unto his Disciples saying Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect did not speak really as he meant And whether he would bid them be that which was impossible for them to be Secondly Read through the whole Scripture and see if you can read of any other Salvation but that which is from sin And whether or no that was not the promise of God unto Adam after he had sinned to wit that the seed of the woman should bruise the Serpents head which seed was Christ And whether this is not to be witnessed in every regenerate man or woman yea or nay And whether the Serpent be not head in all untill this be witnessed yea or nay For seeing the Scripture saith we are saved by faith in Christ whether is there any true faith which saves but that which gives true and perfect dominion over all sin And whether there be any other true faith which justifieth before God And whether this faith only be not the true faith of Gods Elect seeing the Scripture saith that God justifieth not the ungodly shewing that no unclean thing is justified before God And can any in truth say that they are justified but those who witnesse this faith by which the just liveth and obtaineth victory yea or nay Whether the free grace of God hath not appeared unto all men And whether all those who receive it and are taught by it are not led and taught to deny all ungodly lusts And whether they who are not thus taught by it are not of those who turn it into wantonnesse And whether it will not be their eternall condemnation yea or nay Whether Christ according to Johns true and faithful testimony which he bare of him hath not enlightned every man which cometh into the world And whether this Light doth not judge righteously for God against all sin in the consciences of all men And whether if they reject its reproofs it will not be their condemnation yea or nay And whether God hath not so promised that he would give Christ his only son for a Covenant of Light that he might be his salvation even to the ends of the Earth And whether any ever came to witnesse salvation but those that thus witnessed Christ a Covenant of Light to be their leader and teacher yea or nay Whether God hath not promised that in his new and everlasting Covenant all his people shall be taught of him And whether those who are yet looking at man for teaching be not out of this pure holy Covenant yea or nay Whether God hath not promised that he will live and walk in his people And whether they who do not witnesse it even their bodies to be the Temples of God be not the Temples of the Devil yea or nay Whether any are or can truly be said to be the sons of God but those who are led by the Spirit of God And whether any are true Christians but those who have put on Christ yea or nay Whether any are Christs but those who have the Spirit of Christ And whether any can witnesse the true Baptisme but such who have received the Spirit yea or nay Whether there be any other Baptisme needful unto Salvation but this to wit by one Spirit into one body by the Holy Ghost and by fire And whether all other sprinklings are nothing but traditions of men yea or nay Whether the true Christians did not come to witnesse Christ in this life to be wisdome justification and redemption yea or nay Whether Christ in the Saints was not the onely hope of their glory even to live in them as he did in God and through which they came to have fellowship with the Father And whether they who came to witnesse this were not sanctified throughout in body soul and spirit yea or nay Whether Christ did not give himself for his Church that he might purge and sanctifie it and present it to the Father without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And whether any can come to be true members of this Church but those who come to witnesse a true purging in this life seeing the Scripture saith the Church is in God to whom no unclean thing can be united And whether all who say they are members of the Church of Christ and doe not witnesse this to wit a cleansing be not lyars yea or nay Whether the true Ministers of Christ Jesus do not preach freely as they have received freely And whether they who preach for hire gifts and rewards or yearly maintenance are not Ministers of Satan yea or nay Whether any can be truly said to be the Ministers of Christ Jesus but who are sent by him and called immediately by his voyce unto his work And whether all others are not of man and by the will of man who run and are not sent yea or nay Whether such men who say they can never be freed nor put off the body of sin as long as they live
ever for the witnesse of God in me answered thereto and that their message was true and faithfull for I had that in me which had never consented to the evil of my wayes from my youth up untill that day but was a witnesse against me when I did sin against God and after had brought sorrow upon me for my vaine and wicked conversation and after I had believed their report concerning the holy pure light of Christ as they told me it came from him and would lead to him I witnessed their words to be true and at this time am ready to seale to the truth thereof with my blood if called thereunto of the Lord for through it I came to have accesse to God and no other way yet so as through judgement which laid hold of the transgressor in me and all that ever I had done came to be judged by him who sitteth upon the throne and liveth for evermore So I came to witnesse the promise of God in me that judgement should rest for a light to the people for it was so in me and I heard a voice saying This is the way walk in it turn neither to the right hand nor to the left so my teacher came to be near me even in me and will never be removed into a corner any more if diligently heeded and followed which teacher is the light of Christ in the conscience which shined in the darknesse in me though the darknesse could not comprehend it but as I came to heed it diligently it did comprehend all the darkness in me and for me and hath given me a clear discovery of all things pertaining to the Mysterie of the Kingdom of God which are needful unto salvation and I came to see Pharaoh and his host overturned which kept the seed of God in bondage in me and I passed the Red Sea into the wilderness where I came to know a sacrifice offered up which he did accept and not before and then I came to mount Sinai to the giving forth of the Law which was terrible to the flesh but it was and is glorious unto me and will be for ever for it laid hold on nothing but on that part which is estranged from God wherein I had seen many wonders and overturning of enemies yet many temptations and provocations I had to returne into Egypt again and that I should never be able to enter the promised Land the enemies were so great which I know all will come to be tempted in like manner who come truly to travail towards the Land of rest but to such an one I say be of good cheer and courage for if thy heart be given to God he will of a truth be with thee in all thy travails even to the end thereof and thy work will be only to keep in the Faith and so thou wilt find thy strength will be to stand still and see the Salvation of God For this testimony I faithfully give and bear for the Lord that it is he only who doth and will subdue all their enemies in and for them be they never so many or mighty who truly put their whole trust and confidence in his name alone who is a strong tower in time of need I say such shall possess the gates of their enemies and shall come to witness with me as I do at this day the elder to serve the younger which is the true work and promise of God and the true travail of the seed into the Lord of rest and there is no other salvation to be looked for even the subduing casting out of the seed of the bond woman that the Seed of the free woman which is Christ the Son of the most high God over all blessed for evermore may have the preheminency in the creature and thus coming out of Egypts darknesse I came to see that all the teachers in the world made by the will of man were but soul-deceivers for they had not the word from the Lord neither were they sent by him therefore did not they profit the people at all and were but Babels builders one building and another destroying and all in the confusion and the most refined of them were but Ministers of the letter and not of the Spirit boasting of other mens lines made ready unto their hands serving and worshipping the works of their own hands according to the oldnesse of the letter and not according to the newness of the Spirit and teaching them for Doctrine the traditions of men And thus are poor people in an expectation of deliverance and salvation through their teachings but all in vain for when they have heard them all their life time they tell them they can never be freed from sin and yet tell them they are good Christians though they be Drunkards Swearers Liars and wicked persons and this is the fruits of their Ministry which all shall witness with me who come to the one teacher and Shepherd of the soul who saveth all to the uttermost that come unto him who is the light of the world and enlightneth every one which cometh into the world who saith Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart who is the way the truth and the life and he is the door even the light for the way is but one the truth is but one which is the light the onely way to God and there is not another And no man cometh to the Father but by me saith Christ the light the door the way the life so none can ever come to God nor the way to God nor the truth but who comes to the light wherewith they are inlightned which comes from Christ and condemneth all the evil that is in the creature and sheweth a man all that ever he hath done for saith the woman of Samaria Is not this the Christ who hath told me all that ever I have done So all likewise who come unto the light they witnesse with her and with me the same thing and all who come into subjection unto it shall come to witnesse the wild Colt tamed upon which never man sat and then and not till then is Hosannah sung nor blessed can he ever be who comes in the name of the Lord by any untill this be fulfilled and witnessed by them and in them and this onely is the state of a true convert and true Christian and is my testimony for the Lord which shall stand for ever whether ye will hear or forbear And thus far have I cleared my conscience towards you in obedience towards God and love to your immortal souls therefore prize it while ye have time least the things which belong to your peace be hid from your eyes and a lamentation be taken up by the just for you as was over Jerusalem saying O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her chickins under her wings and thou wouldest not Therefore I say again and again lay it to heart and prize Gods everlasting love unto you all which is freely tendred unto you notwithstanding that your sins have surpassed the measure of many Nations and remember Nineveh who repented at Jonahs preaching in Sackcloath and ashes whose sins and abominations never surpassed yours which is a word of truth unto you all therefore take her for an example and repent in time least Gods judgements overtake you for Gods anger is kindled against the workers of iniquity he will destroy them from off the face of the earth that nothing but holiness may reign for evermore And the meek alone shall inherit the earth for ever and ever And this is the infallible Decree and purpose of my God which can never be recalled but will stand for ever and it hastneth to be fulfilled and he will overthrow Powers Princes Kings and Dominions even all such as shall oppose or withstand him in this his glorious work whom he will destroy in his fury will break them in pieces Therefore O ye powers of the earth down with your Crowns at the feet of the Lamb and ye shall find mercy but if ye resist him he will grind you to powder And this is the word of the Lord God unto you all and I shall be innocent before the Lord God of my life for ever therefore be awakned and beware what you do now ye are warned for you will be left without excuse if you perish and you shall know that you have been warned in time by one whom the Lord hath truly required so to do which if I should not wo wo would be unto me for ever so I shall lay down my life here in Peace and Rest and shall rejoyce if ye take warning more then in the treasures of Egypt who am called by the name of Charles Baily THE END