keeps the â—…ind pure and the Heart clean through the sprinkling of the Heart from an Evil Conscience by the Blood of Jesus which remits the Sin and justisies the Soul through the Virtue of this Blood received into the Heart by this living Faith which receives all its Power and Virtue from Christ in whom it abides as its Root and Object whereby Justification is witnessed from Sin not in Sin Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from Sin and become Servants unto God you have your Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life We believe That Justification and Sanctification are distinguished but not divided for as he that sanctifieth and justifieth is one so do these go together and when the Son hath the greaâ—…t Sence of Justification upon it through the Vertue of the Blood of Jesus by the Living Faith then is it most in Love with Holiness and at the gratest Distance from Sin and Evil and whenever there is a Failing in Sanctification there is also some â—…elipse of Justification in the Eye of the Soul until Faith hath received its Strength again which it lost by Sin 's prevailing For as the farthest clear'st Sight is in the brightest Day so is it with the Soul when it is most in the Brightness and Beauty of Holiness its Justification appears most Glorious and its Union and Communion most sweet and lasting and so like two Twins as they are much of an Age so they are like one to the other And what God hath joyn'd together let no maâ—… put asunder We also by this Light believe That Acceptance with the Father is only in Christ by his Righteousness made ours or imputed unto us not by the Creaturely Skill but by the Applicatory Act of God's Gift of Grace whereby the Soul feels the Difference between Self-applying by its own Faith and God appling by his Spirit and so making Christ unto the Soul Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption So that we bâ—…lieve and are sure that there is a great Difference between Imputaâ—…on as it is the Act of man's Spirit as it is the Act of Free Grace without man's forcing And so we distinguish between Imagination and Imputation between Reckoning or Imputing that is Real and Reckoning or Imputation that is not Real but a Fiction and Imagination in the Creaturely Will and Power And because we are against the latter we are clamoured upon as if we deny'd the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness when it is only unto those who are not made Righteous by it to walk as he also walked For as the Scripture saith it is not he that saith he is Righteous by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he that dâ—…th Rightâ—…ousness is Righteous even as Christ is Righteous 1 Joh. 3. 7. he that believes otherwise is deceived And yet it is not Acts of Righteousness as done by us nor as inherent in us as Acts by which we are accepted of God and justified before him but by Christ the Author and Worker of those Acts in us and for us whereby we know that we are in him and he in us and we hold him as our Head unto whom all things are gathered together in one even in him We further believe That God is only to be Worshipped and not any Likeness that man makes unto himself of God from any View Sight and Knowledge that he hath had of him but in every Act and Service man is to know what substantially as well as whom speculatively or notionally he wopships as it is written John 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews And he that thus worships the Father honours the Son by the same Spirit which is one with the Father and the Son in which Spirit only God is worshipped according to the Form of its own chufing and manifesting of himself in and by according unto the Good Pleasure of the Father who is a Spirit and limits man unto the Spirit's Form but allows not man to limit the Spirit unto his Form though it be not of his inventing originally but of the Father Yet Man must no more limit God unto it then he could command God to appear in it at first For as he chose it himself so he hath reserved Liberty to leave it at his Pleasure who works all things after the Counsel of his own Will which be hath purposed in himself that the Gift of the Knowledge of the Mystery of his Will might forever be acknowledged to be of his Grace and for the Riches of the Glory thereof according to Ephes. 1. and man be bound but God free Man bound to wait in the Light for God's Movings but God free to move in whom to what and when he pleaseth Then man is to go when he saith Go and come when he saith Come and such Servants do serve him And then there is no more Curse as in the days of Will Worship and Voluntary Humility but the Throne of God and of the Lamb Col. 2. 18 23. Rev. 22. 3 4. And they shall see his Face and his Name shall be on their Foreheads We believe also That this Worship is spiritual and not carnal in all its Parts and Ordinances and not to be imposed by any outward Force but performed by the inward Leading of God's Holy Spirit according as the Holy Men of God were led and guided in the days past who gave forth the Scriptures all Impsitions of Worship outward being only enjoyn'd under the first Covenant that made nothing perfect until the Time of Reformation spoken of Hebr 9 10. But Christ being come there is an End as well of such Impâ—…sitions as of the Meats and Drinks and divers Baptisms and carnal Ordinances they being all but Temporary and in Order unto an End but all to vail to Christ the sum and substance of all the first pointed at by all and the last ending of all the Amen And he that thus worships God in Christ his Ordinances are spiritual and not carnal and his Faith carries him beyond his Works with righteous Abel and preserves him that he is not drowned in the Form like Cain neither falls he short of the glory of God nor of his assurance of Acceptance with him We believe There is one Baptism necessary to Salvation Ephs. 4. 5. One Lord one Faith one Baptism And this Baptism is Spiritual of which John's Water was but a figure John 1. 31. That he should be made manifest to Israel therefore am I come baptizing with Water saith John and 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us not the puâ—…ting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Râ—…surrection of Jesus Christ This one Spiritual Baptism into the Name of Jesus Christ is that which saves the Water being but a figure that Christ might be manifest to Israel who had divers Baptisms
imposed on them until the time of Reformation but Christ the Substance being come the Shadows flee away And yet where-ever any are commanded now by the same Spirit that commanded the Believers to be Baptized in the days past either for the furtherance of the Gospel or tryal of their Faith we judge them not But this obedience is very rare to be found and we could heartily desire that all would consider seriously whether literal sayings observed only by outward reading hearing by the â—…ar or inward impluses upon the heart by the Divine Power are the motives unto Obedience in this kind And if honesty and uprightness of heart may be heard we believe and know the many dead souls every where notwithstanding their Baptisms will be as so many witnesses against them by their groveling upon the Earth as so many slain and killed men by the Letter while the Spirit's quicknings have not been known in the true Baptism into death For we find by daily experiences that most men and women live like Pharaoh's lean Kine only to eat up the fat and to envy those that are not so lean-soul'd as themselves We believe also That as there is one true saving Baptism so there is one Bread or Body of Christ which all the Saints do feed upon and though they be many as to persons yet their Bread is but one and they all in it but one Bread And this we believe is the flesh that came down from Heaven John 6. 33. Though the outward Jews now as then murmur at him because he said I am the Bread which came down from Heaven ver. 41 42. But Christ ver. 45. to stop their murmuring tells them that the knowledge of this Mystery was only revealed unto them whom God and not man teacheth and no more then are taught of God can set seal and subscribe unto this Truth in Jesus though we believe also that Jesus took outward bread and break it and gave it to the Dâ—…sciples as the Scripture saith and this was a figure of his Body that was to be pierced and broken upon the Tree and a shew to shew forth his Death until he came And we believe he did arise again and appear unto his Disciples and all that believed were together and had All things Common c. And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God and having favour with all the People Acts 2. 44 45 46 47. And we believe that the Apostle in 1 Cor. 11. 20. said true where he said When ye come together therefore in one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper And all that he speaks in that chapâ—…er is not to perpetuate that outward breaking of Bread otherwise then as the Belivers did that were filled with the holy Ghost in singleness of heart as before is said and yet we judge not those who break outward Bread and drink outward Wine being commanded so to do and put in remembrance thereby of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ by the Remember ancer the Spirit of Truth which is appointed by the Father to lead into all Truth But to do it by imitation or tradition only as most do it if not all at this day we know it is not an Offering unto God in Righteousness neither do we believe this to be the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ and yet the eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Christ we believe man must know and witness or he hath no life in him Joh. 6. 53 54 55. And we believe that many are striving now in their Spirits as the Jews did verse 52. saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat And not only the Jews but many of his Disciples said This is a hard saying who can hear it Vers. 60. And in vers. 63. he tells them It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing Thâ—… words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And he that hears and understands these words that are Spirit and Life will not be offended at what I have spoken of the Flesh and Blood of Christ By the same Spirit and Grace we believe That Prayer is an Ordinance of God when performed by his Spirit in its words and not those which man's wisdom teacheth or without words by sighs and groans which cannot bâ—… uttered and these so often as the Spirit it self pleaseth But the Form without the Spirit whether it be by words of other mens framing or words of man's own Spirit according to his will time and manner this is not the Prayer that prevails with God And we believe that there is none so weak and infirm but this spirit proffers his help at some time or other though man regardeth it not And the more man's mind is gathered within from all visibles the more he comes to be sensible of the Movings and Stirring of this Spirit in its secret cryes unto God answerable to the wants of that man or woman in whom it moves and cryes And by the due watching thereunto we believe and know the Spirit of Prayer and of Adoption that cries unto God comes to be discerned and distinguished from a man 's own spirit and will We believe by the same gift of Grace that there are several Minstrations and several Operations according to 1 Câ—…r 12. and all by the same Spirit as before and after the Law by Moses and after by John the Baptist and Christ and his Apostles and in all these the ministration had acceptance with God through the mannagment of the Spirit and its rejection and dislike of God for the want thereof And by this Spirit were the Scriptures given forth and the Holy men of God did speak prophesie preach and pray as they were moved and for want of it the letter did and doth kill And for the further appearance and pouring out of this Spirit answerable unto the work service that God had for them to do they weâ—…e to wait as Christ commanded his 〈◊〉 to do at Jerusalem to receive the Promise of the Father For by this spirit he that speaks speaks as the Oracle of God And therefore as it was the practice of the People of God in old time to wait for the moving and stirring of this Spirit that they might speak 〈◊〉 it gave them utterance in the evidence and demonstration thereof so do this People called Quakers now and according to its moving in their hearts they minister according to the signification of the Spirit whereby they understand both what and when to speak and when to be silent as also who are they that minister and speak in their own wills above the Cross of Christ which the Apostle was careful always to be in subjection to lest he should make it void by speaking the words which man's wisdom teacheth and therefore as the Saints did
so we do believe and therefore we speak And such Preaching and Speaking in Faith as well as Praying in Faith is acceptable unto God as his worship and not otherwise And we further believe by the same Spirit that the sum of all Religion according to the Truth and signification of the word Religion is Man not at liberty in his will but bound again unto God by his having given to him by the Light of Christ within the true sight and knowledge of himself as in himself as lost and undone forever and from this Sight a true sense to arise upon and remain with him from whence spring unutterable groans and cryes unto God under the weight of the burthen and wretchedness by reason of the body of Sin and Death and then when there was none to help or pitty in this state then is Mercy shewed in Christ the Arm of God which is revealed as an help neither seen nor known where how or when to come at it or meet with it And this begets in the heart of that man or woman in and unto whom it is thus revealed thanks and praises unto God for this Gift and Revelation of his Son in this needful time whom the Soul sees to be the Gist of Eternal Love And we believe and know upon this Love and Faithfulness of God is founded built and established the Everlasting Covenant whereby not only all men may be saved for its ability but some shall be saved because for its Prevalency which is not like to the Covenant hâ—… made with our Fathers And although all mankind is not saved yet it is not because either of in sufficiency in this Covenant or because of the weakness of the Grace that appears in and unto all men but because of mans will loving death and chusing his own delusions whereby his destruction is of himself and God clear of his Blood in the free tender of his Grace Gift and striving of the Spirit within him For we know assuredly according to the Scriptures of Truth and experience of all souls that ever were truly converted to God that though by Grace man is saved not of himself but by the free Gift yet as the old world did and those rebellious Jews spoken of Acts 7. who as did their Fathers so did they always resist the Holy Ghost so do men now And yet in the tender of this Grace and striving of his spirit the Lord is a God so hiding himself in the mannagement of this striving and Ministration of his Spirit as if it wholly depended upon mans choice and consenting that mans will as to him is as it were free in rejecting or accepting Life and Death being set before him whereby in the wisdom of God the propensity of his Name as it came out of the hands of his Maker hath an advantage by this dealing of God to put forth it self so that man is as free in the choice as he is in the refusal of the tender of Mercy and Help and that with an equal indifferency as it appears to him in this state notwithstanding afterwards in the further growth in this Grace and knowledge of Christ he sees clearly and convincingly that the Grace that wrought hiddenly from his sight and knowledge in the first working tender and ministration of God towards him gained his consent through its own prevalency in the Love of God by which sight and sence self comes to be abhorred and the free Love so admired that he knows from first to last all was of Grace and that free that self is not able to challenge any thing as due from what it had done but all of gift and yet as before with such an equal indifferency on mans account so that God may and will appear to be just both in condemning and saving and the Justifier freely of all that believe in Jesus the Light of the world Therefore let all take heed how they dislike this Ministration of God and striving of his Spirit in their Hearts Consciences under colour and pretence of its in sufficiency and therefore they will not come to him because his drivings and strivings are not so strong as they would have them to be looking for such an overpowering and irresistibleness as they are not able to withstand and gainsay left such perish through a willful neglect and for want of stretching out their hand when the Lord holds out his and so they perish in the ditch with a vain expectation of further Power or cry in their mouthes Lord have mercy upon us and so with the Sluggard while they cry Yet a little more slumber and folding of the hands to sleep their Garden is over-grown with weeds and their backs cloathed with rags and they beg in harvest whilst others that have sown in tears not fainting do in due time reap in joy and not despising the crums that fell from the table nor the day of small things Witness the presence of their Beloved come down into his Garden and walking among the Liâ—…ies Let these thing be truly considered pondered and weighed in the true Ballance of Light and Righteousness lest any Soul perish through the false weight and measure so shall my soul rejoyce that any have escaped the Net of the Fowler through the discovery of the true Light and God have all the Glory unto whom alone it belongs and man ashamed confounded his â—…th stopped and he laid in the dust forever and then shall my end be answered in writting these things John Crook Concerning Perswasions in Matters of Religion THere is the Natural man and the Spiritual man and there are the Perswasions of each in and about matter of Religion There is the perswasion of Reason and the perswasion of Faith The perswasion of Reason is that Belief which man receives into his mind or heart from the exercise of the Reasoning Faculty this perswasion in maters of Religion is but mans Opinion or Judgment which how certain or infallible soever it appears to him yet may be shaken by a demonstration or evidence of a higher kind of nature The perswasion of Faith is that Belief which the new Creature receives into the renewing Mind from the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit which openeth and manifesteth the things of the Spirit unto that mind which is begotten and renewed by it And this perswasion is certain and infallible however it may be struck at and battered by the reasonings of the wise Earthly part even in that very man whose heart is thus perswaded by the Light of the Spirit of God concerning the things of Gods Kingdom Now the lowest perswasion of Faith is higher and of a more noble nature then the highest perswasion of Reason because Faith is of an higher Principle and of a deeper nature and ground then mans Reason is But this because it appears not in mans sphear but rather out of it and is contrary to the line and reach of his wisdom is accounted by
THE PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH Being A DECLARATION OF OUR FAITH Who are call'd QUAKERS Whereby all that want PEACE with GOD may Return into their First Estate through the Operation of the LIGHT and Power of God in the great Work of REGENERATION Written by E.B. J.C. W.D. H.S. I.P. and A.P. Truth's Principles OR Those things about Doctrine and Worship which are most Surely Believed and Received among the People of God called QUAKERS MAny are the Reports that are abroad concerning this People not only as to their Practices and Deportments but also as to other Doctrines and Beliefs The former time having in a great measure resolv'd and worn out as being the Refuge of Lyes for the Ignorant Unrighteous to flee unto but that stormy and wintry Appearance is well nigh over and gone because the Sun is so far risen and the true Light so shineth that most begin to see that those Reports were but Lyes and Scandals raised as Fig leaves to cover the Nakedness of other Professions that begun so manifestly to appear through the Light that shined in these Peoples Lives and Conversations But though the first be gone yet the later sticks with many as not knowing what they hold as to Doctrine some saying They deny the Scripture and the Resurrection of the Body and all Ordinances with the Man Christ and his Death Sufferings and Imputation of his Righteousness and Faith in his Blood c. Wherefore for the Satisfaction of all that would willingly be resolv'd and know the Truth as it is in Jesus I have written this short Account of their Faith Belief and if it were possible to stop the Mouthes of the clamorous Tongues before the Sentence be given against them by some signal Stroke of the Lord from Heaven which he will undoubtedly in his appointed Time reveal and make manifest to the trembling of all hearts concerned therein and tinglong of all Ears that shall hear thereof when it shall be said to them The holy shall be holy still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still Rev. 22. 11. We believe That the God of all Grace has given a measure of Grace or some Manifestation of his Spirit and Light thereof unto all men according unto these Scriptures Jo. 1. 9. Tit. 2. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 7. Neh. 9. 20. and Experiences of all men who at some time or other do feel something in their Hearts and Consciences that doth lust against the Flesh and the Flesh against it and that these two are contrary the one to the other one lasting after Evil which is Evil and the other after Good which is Good the one Carnal the other Spiritual the one from Earth the other from Heaven Gal. 5. 16 17. We believe By this Gift Grace and Inspiration of the Almighty man only can come to know the true God truly what he is how he works in the Hearts and Consciences of People to regnerate them and make them bear his Image according to 1 Cor. 3. 19 20. 21. Luke 10. 21. and Experiences of all that ever were regenerated and born again We believe That all the Errors and Mistakes about God and the things relating to his Kingdom sprang and arose from men's wandring from this gift of God into their own Imaginations whereby though they thought themselves wise yet they became Fools err'd their foolish hearts being darkned according to Rom. 1. 21. not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God as it is written Mat. 22. 29. We believe and know That this Gift and Grace of God appears in and unto all men that all may be without Excuse accusing for the Evil and excusing for the Good according to Rom. 2. 15 16. shewing unto man what is good and reproving of him in his own Conscience for the evil whether Thoughts Words or Deeds and that this Reproof of Instruction is the Way of Life Prov. 6. 23. We believe That as the true God and eternal Life is known only by the Light of this Gift and Grace according unto the Scriptures from which Light and Spirit of God came the Scriptures both from the old new Testament as it is written 2 Pet. 1. 21. so can they only be read as truly to be believ'd fulfill'd and practised in the Light and Power of the same all that are out of this Spirit must needs be ignorant and unlearn'd in the Apostle's Sense who wrest the Scriptures to their own Destruction as it is written for Peter and John were unlearn'd men outwardly not knowing Letters but inwardly read in the knowledge of this Light and Spirit of God and wrestâ—…d not the Scriptures Acts 4. 13. 2 Pet. 3. 16. We believe according to the Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 3. That wheresoever the Power of God is not known within there the Gospel is hid and unknown unto them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them and God should heal them because it is only by the Light of Christ the Power of God that the Creature comes truly to see himself in his lost and undone Estate from which Sight ariseth the true Sence in the Heart of the Creature that makes him cry out of his Wretchedness by reason of the Body of Sin and Death which necessitates him to look out for a Saviour whom God manifests in and by the same Light that shines in the heart on purpose to give the sight of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ God's Image whereby God heals the Soul and therefore doth the Devil the God of the World strive so much by the Gift of the Pleasures Profits Vanities and Lusts that are in the World which he presents to men and women now as he did to Christ in the days of his Flesh when he shewed to him all the World with its Glory which Glory is the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of the Life whatever may make this Life happy as it were in the things that may pride it or lift it up to sit as a Queen And as Man and Woman take and receive the Gifts from the God of this World their Minds are blinded because they believe not in the Light which shews thee the Vanities of all the Gifts of the God of this World which Gifts the Devil knows if they be received will so blind the Minds of them that receive them that they will not come to be sensible in the true Light of their lost conditions so as to cry unto God from the deep true Senceâ—… for then God out of the Depths of his Love and Mercy could not but Heal them And therefore lest the true Light should shine into them to give them the sensible Knowledge of themselves and God should Heal them the Devil as God of
to come and that they might not run to teach others as many do now before they had received the Spirit of Truth in themselves by and with that to be led into all Truth but might receive the Power of truth in themselves from the Life thereof to convert others unto the same therefore said he further after he was risen again But tarry ye in the City of Jerusa em until you be endued with power from on high Mark 24. 4. so that though they had seen his body before and had now seen him after his Resurrection yet that and all the rest was not enough without the Power and the Spirit which was to come which they were to wait for And so now men should tarry wait and stand still to see the Salvation of God and until they receive the Spirit for it is the Spirit not the body which searcheth all things and sheweth plainly of the Father And by this before written in short I have a little endeavoured to shew unto the â—…cek and single-hearted that Moses when he was upon Earth directed unto Christ as in these words The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midest of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Dcâ—…t 18. 15. And Christ when he was upon Earth directed unto the Spirit which was to come in like words saying These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the comforter which is the holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things John 14. 25 26. And then what if I did write after the manner of men and fay If Moses were now upon the Earth and Christ in his own body upon the Earth and Moses with all his Pâ—…iests Tythes Offerings and Religion which discovers Sin but makes nothing perfect which Paul profited much in If he I say should command and exhort all People under his Ministry to go to Christ and hear him And if Christ were now upon Earth and notwithstanding his outward Miracles Circumcision Baptism Supper and Death yet he should command and exhort all that â—…ome through the Law or Ministration of Moses unto him to look and tarry and wait for another Comforter that they might receive the Spirit in them and say unto them that that should teach them all things and lead them intâ—… all Truth Then whether or no people were to continue following Moses's Priests with their Tythes and long Prayers and still be seeking the Law at their mouthes or to come to Christ to seek the Gospel for Moses himself did not fay that they should seek the Gospel at the Priests mouth And then when did the Priests ever preach the Gospel And then whether those obey not Moses who leave the Priests and come to Christ the Light and whether such when they are come to Christ should alwayes be looking and following after his Body Miracles Baptism or Supper without them or tarry and wait to receive the Spirit within them And then which of these now should all people that profess Christ be led by in these dayes either Moses or the Person of Christ or the Spirit of Truth And whether such as have received and are truly indeed led by this Spirit of Truth and know that to be their Teacher and follow it and are ruled governed and guided by it according to the Command of Moses and Christ do not hereby obey the command of Moses and Christ and fulfil their Doctrine And whether any other People or Professors whatever do obey the Command of Moses and Christ but only such And whether this be not a thing of great concernment to be known and learned by all who Profess Christianity But why then do People follow these Priests of England any longer which are contrary to Moses and also to Christ who have no Store-houses but suffer the poor to want within and without and the Widdow and the Stranger ready to perish and moreover devour and can never have enough of the Spoil of other mens goods And why do others dispute about and talk of the Body so much which they never saw nor knew And is it not better to be silent and know God who dwells in his People and the Spirit of Truth which he requires in the inward parts and to feel after God even the Life in themselves because the Apostle said they were saved by his Life being before reconcited by his Death Rom. 5. 10 And until the Life came there were many things which they were not saved from by the Body for the Body was before the Death and the Death which reconciles was passed through before the Life was received again to save and Justifie And why then are people so much busied about that which was before the Reconciliation and so therein much short of the Life and for outward Bread Wine and Water Are not these things which are seen And are not the things that are seen Temporal But Christ the true Prophet being come of whom Moses did write who is the end of the Law and so the end of that Ministry whereby that is done away for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof and Christ coming after John of whom John bore witness that he was before and greater and came after him and Christ also having finished that which he himself came to do and likewise so largely and often Exhorted to wait for another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth Then what Ministration is it that now standeth and remaineth which is according both to Moses Christ and the holy Scriptures and what Ministration is to be expected or waited for but the Ministration of the Spirit And whether all they be not compassed about with a cloud of error who are upholding that Ministry of the Law or a worse which Christ is the end of and the Apostles said was done away and likewise such as are upholding and keeping up that which Christ said he had finished And whether the upholding of such things now be not quite opposite both to Moses Christ and Scriptures And being that Moses nor indeed his true Ministers of the Law are not upon Earth neither that Body of Christ which by the Professors was murthered at Jerusalem visibly to be seen upon Earth then what is it those have to follow who have not received the Spirit to be led by and if they will say they have the Writings of Moses and the Words of Christ I say if that be all then they that forsook and denyed Christ had more then them for they had the words from his own mouth which were Spirit and Life and yet they understood not and then what do those understand who have not so much as they had therefore after he had suffered and rose again he opened their understandings And so what is all their Religion worth who are not come to the Spirit And whether Moses's Ministration being ended by Christ and Christ also having
made fit to Rule or Judge in Spiritual matters by all the reading and professing Moses Writings and Christs Words and the rest of the Holy Scriptures though they were given by the Inspiration of God until the Lord take of that Spirit which was upon and in Christ who is like unto Moses and give unto and pour it upon and minister it in unâ—…o them And this is done in Gods way which is secret and time which is in his own hand to those whom he accounteth wrothy thus to honour and who truly wait for it as a wayfering man for a resting place and as a Captive for deliverance And though Christ after his Resurrection said All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given unto me Go ye therefore and teach yet they were to tarry until they had the power in themselves and when that was come which they were to tarry and wait for then with that they went and so taught the Nations from the sensible feeling of that which taught them how to teach and all things else when the same Spirit and Power was upon them which was before committed unto him and so the coming forth of it from him into them and filling them therewith was to them in that work of the Ministry most effectual like as the Vertue going forth of Christ healed the Woman so the Power and Vertue of the Holy Spirit coming forth from Christ being sent of the Father and received by the Disciples who with much desire waited for that impowered them to do that which before they were commanded to do after they were endued with Power or had the Power in them and so what they were commanded to do they were to wait to receive Power in themselves from God to perform and Christ did intend to give them Power to do that which he commanded And as he commanded them to go and teach he also required them to tarry and so not to go until they had received so to do and so it was the Power of the holy Ghost in them which made them Ministers and these were and such are truly Ordained Ministers And after they had received Power from on High even the Spirit or Life of Truth and were filled therewith and so had it in them then they went to do that which was commanded them then they went to teach Nations and converted thousands and turned sinners and brought Souls to God and then they were called Christians and then were People brought to be of the True Church which Christ buildeth upon that which Flesh and Blood revealeth not And this is the Enterance into the Church in God 2 Thes. 1. 1. The receiving of the Spirit and in this God is Worshipped and not else for this hath excluded all other Worship and these only are the true Worshippers who come in thus by the door which is Christ the Light and Spirit of Truth sent into the heart from God And if all the prudent learned Divines so called in Europe or all or any of the wisest Orthodox men so called in any other quarter of the whole World can prove by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament any other true Worship of God who is a Spirit now extant among men and to be performed especially among them called Christians with acceptance to God but only that which the Spirit of Truth leadeth such unto as receive it then let them bring it forth that we may see it and prove it by plain undeniable truth of Scripture or otherwise I shall look upon their proofs words ways actions practices performances duties and several Worships as things of no value Or if there be any other enterance into the true Worship of God then this Spirit that God sendeth for the Light which leadeth to it or if there be any other Worship which God doth or will accept to be after this spoken or prophesied of in the Scriptures of Truth whereby this shall ever be done away or ended from being the true only and alone Worship of God whilst men have a being upon Earth then let the wisest of the sons of men bring it forth and produce their strong Reasons therein that we may plead together and that the enterance into and the true Worship it self of the only true invisible God may be declared all over the World for the satisfaction of every tender heart concerning this For this I am satisfied in that Christ Jesus who is the End of the Law and who finished his work when he was upon the Earth is made a Quickning Spirit and is the Way and Truth of life which bringeth into the Worship of God and he is the Beginning and the End and he leadeth to the beginning of Gods Worship and he is the end and the Rest of all the Faithful in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen and without him all is as nothing and all that comes before him are Theives and Robbers and he it is that abideth a Priest forever and his Spirit of Truth is it which all â—…cople and Professors whatsoever should first wait to receive thereby to be led into the true spiritual Worship which alone God accepteth llâ—…st they have their worship and building fall together in a day when there is none to deliver And then thus I query If Christ's own dear Disciples who had forsook all and followed him not Priests or Papists did not come to receive this Spirit by hearing all the words which he spoke unto them but by waiting after the words were ended Then whether those that have not forsaken all nor so much as the Worlds fashions do now come to receive the Spirit by reading hearing or professing the same words of Christ now written or any other part of the Scriptures Or whether a Proud man hath received this Spirit or a Lyar or Profane Person or any Wise or Prudent Man whatsoever by any means or way of his And whether any such ever did have or can or may by any industry or other way or means attain to this Spirit which leadeth in the true Worship of God but as it is freely given forth from God and then whether all people are not to be led by that Spirit which God freely giveth into the Worship of God because Christ said the Spirit shall lead which indeed doth lead into all Truth and nothing else doth so And they that have not received this from God to lead them are not yet come to be led by that which the Sons and Children of God were and are led by And the Ministration of the Spirit which all are now to be taught by is inwardly to be known in the nearest secret invisible maner and is more out of the sight comprehension and reach of mans Wisdom then any other Ministration and it is given forth from the clear Foundation it self unto the soul satisfaction of man when he is come to the end of words or having heard much or all the words that can he spoken
the World by the things of the World endeavours to blind the mind not the Brain-Knowledge but the Heart Fâ—…eling Sence within in the mind lest the Light within should so shine as God should heal them all the Buslings of Satan with his Gifts are but to blind the Mind within lest God should heal the Soul that complains to him from the true Sight and Sence of his Misery as in himself By this Grace and Gift within we believe That to Us though in the World there be Lords many Gods many there is but ONE GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ witnessed within man only by the Spirit of Truth that manifests both the Father and the Son and yet these Three are One and agree in One and he that honours the Father honours the Son that proceeds from him and he that denies the Spirit denies both the Father and the Son and is Antichrist but he that believes in the Spirit and is led by it is the Son of God Rom. 8. 14. As many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God We believe The Scriptures bear witness unto and testifie of Christ but they say The Witness of God is greater then them The Spirit it self bearing witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God For it is not the Scriptures without the Spirit nor the Spirit contrary to the Scriptures but the Spirit 's discovering the Will of God in the Heart oâ—… opening of the Scrlpâ—…ures in its own Time and Way and not in or by the Will of Man but as it self pleaseth who searcheth all even the deep things of God and manifests them unto the Soul which gives the Perfect Sound and Saving Knowledge for said Christ The Spirit shall take of mine shew them unto you And as Holy Men gave forth the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1. 21. so Holy Men and they only come truly to understand them and not proud and ungodly men because their Hearts and Lives do not answer the Hearts Lives of those that gave them forth as Face answers Face in a Glass And this we believe to be the Reason why so long Preaching by men of corrupt Minds who have and do handle the Word deceitfully for Selfish Ends and filthy Lucre sake hath brought forth so little Fruit and been to so little Purpose except to their Purses and Bellies for had they believed and therefore spoaken and stood in God's Counsel they should have profited their Hearers Jer. 23. 21 22 23 to the end Through this Gift we believe That Christ Jesus the Son of God was manifest in the Flesh in the Fulness of time And this we know by the same Spirit by which our Fathers believed he should come and Abraham saw his Day by the same we do believe he is come and do see his Day as also by the Prophet and Apostles Writing which two-fold Cord is not easily broken We believe also according to the Scriptures of Truth That this same Jesus hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every Name that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that there is not another Name whereby any can be saved than this Name of Jesus Christ nor is Remission of Sins to be preached by any other Name But as we do not believe that the outward Letters and Syllables are that Name that is to be bowed to by the outward Knee no more then the Letters or Syllables in the words God or Spirit seeing the Scripture faith Unto God who is a Spirit every Knee shall bow Isa. 45. 93. But the Name which saves is the Power and Arm of God that brings Salvation from Sin and makes every Soul that names it to depart from Iniquity This is that Name which was preached and which is preached through Faith in which Name Remission of Sin is obtained Therefore was the outward word Jesus given him as his outward Name Thou shalt call his Name JESUS for he shall save his People from their Sins mark for he shall save c. So that which saves is the Name which is to be believed in which is that Arm of God that brings Salvation when no Eye pities neither is there any Help the Power of God that then saves is that Grace that comes from the Fulness of Christ the Saviour And without this Virtue Christ and Jesus are but empty Names 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the LORD but by the Holy Ghost We believe also That this Jesus dyed for or because of Sin and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him as well as to manifest to all the World that he was the Son of God and that he thereby spoiled Principalities and Power and triumphed over them openly and led Captivity captive in his own Person yet we believe and know by his Grace in our Hearts that as his Name Jesus without Virtue and Power is but an empty Word so his Dying without man's Conformity to his Death or being planted into the Likeness thereof or being crucified with Christ as saith the Scripture Rom. 6. 2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 2. 20. will not profit man as to the Salvation of his Soul no more then the naming of his outward Name Jesus doth at this day make People to depart from Iniquity For we believe and are â—…ure that man must dye inwardly as well as Christ dy'd outwardly and must be put to Death in his Flesh as Christ was in his for he that is in the Flesh cannot please God Rom. 8. 8. Neither ceaese froâ—… Sin but he that is dead is freed from Sin Rom. 6. 7. And yet man 's dying unto Sin and the Root and Principle of it in himself is so far from making void Christ's Death in his own Person that it establisheth it to all those Ends and Purposes for which it was intended of the Father As the Cures which the Physitian doth manifest and establish his Skill and Ability so doth man's dying unto Sin and Self and living unto God manifest and establish the Virtue and Power of Christ's Death for as man manifests his being risen with Christ by his seeking the things that are above Col. 3. 1 2. so doth he manifest his Knowledge of the Death of Christ by his being crucified with Christ and bearing about in his Body the Dying of the Lord Jesus For as it is not an outward Belief gather'd from the Letter that will change the Heart and Life though the Judgment and Opinion it may so it is not a Belief from the History or Letter only that can give man a saving Knowledge of the Death of Christ but he must have the same Glory and Power of the Father in measure working in him there to beget Faith in his Heart thaâ—… he may believe unto Salvation from his own Filthiness and Righteousâ—…ess as well as confess with his Mouth Rom. 10. and must have that
him foolishness and madness This is the Wiâ—…dom of God and the children thereof judged and condemned by man in his day And how can it be otherwise How can the wisdom of men but judge that as foolishness whose beauty and excellency is hid from its eye But this is because the wisdom of man is out of its place not subjected to the Wisdom of God but exalted above it therefore as a Curse unto it is it suffered to lift up it self in its conceitfulness against and so to persecute the pure Wisdom of God and the birth thereof that it might fall and be broken and snared and taken and its day deservedly come to an end and be shut up in the shadows and chambers of eternal darkness But what Ear of Man can hear this Surely none that is whole in the line of Man's wisdom reason and understanding but that alone which is bruised broken and in some measure dashed to pieces by the inroads of a divine Life and Nature This iâ—… the leading of that Life which hath broken it and in the shinings of the Light eternal upon it and into it may be enabled to take up the Cross to the natural part and to die that Death with Christ which preserves from the second Death with the misery thereof Happy is he who knows and hearkens to the Perswasions of God's Spirit who is born of God and taught to wait upon him and worship him in Spirit who receives his Religion from the Ligâ—… of Faith into the renewed Nature and Mind and not from the Reason of Man into the natural understanding which is easily corrupted and cannot be kept pure but alone by the indwelling of the Principle of Eternal Life in it For though such may suffer very deeply in this World from the men of this world as the Subjects and Servants to the Principle of Life have done in all Ages and Generations yet their Principle will bear them out in which God will appear to strengthen and refresh their spirits and carry them up above all their Sufferings in the Patience Meekness and Faith of the Lamb And keeping to their Principle they cannot be overcome but must either live or die Conquerors according to the will and good pleasure of Him who ordereth and disposeth of all things well and bringeth good out of every evil in despite of all the Powers of Darkness And he that overcometh whether by life or death in the Lamb's Spirit shall wear the Lambs Crown sit down in that perfect Rest in the Kingdom of the Father which will give the hearts of all his Children full Satisfaction In which assured hope Life stirring in our bosoms and quickning our hearts with Love unto our God and Zeal for his Truth we can freely give up all that is near and dear unto us in this World and lay down our heads in inward Peace â—…n the midst of the greatest outward Persecution and Trouble Even so O Lord thy Will be done concerning this Generation of thy People whom thou hast begotten to thy Self and brought forth by thy mighty Power to testifie to thy Truth in this present day Dispose of them as it pleaseth Thee and let not their Faith in thee nor thy Faithfulness to them fail but let them be a Praise to thy Name throughout all Generations and tendered by Thee as the First fruits of thine Appearance in the Glorious Light of the Everlasting Day after this great long thick and dark Night of Apostacy from the Life and Spirit of the Apostles hath so long ecclipsed and covered the brightness of thy Beauty from the fight of the Earth Isaac Pennington A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we Believe who are called QUAKERS Also what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny Concerning God Christ and the Spirit FIrst That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator Preserver of all things that Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things remain unto this day by his Power and whatsoeveâ—… he willeth in Heaven and Earth he brings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God only is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipped by all Creatures and no other thing besides him in Heaven and Earth and we believe that his Worship and Obedience and Care and Love is to be given in Spirit even iâ—… what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his people unto And we believe his True Worship required and accepted of him is not by the tradition of men in outward observances or set days or places but he is worshipped only in Spirit and Truth without respect of times places or things and that none can worship him in righteousness but his Children who are born of his Spirit and are led and guided thereby And we believe that this God hath given his Son Christ Jesus into the World a free Gift unto the whole World and that every man that cometh into the World is lighted by him that every man may believe and be saved And we believe That he is given into the World and no Nation Country or People excepted but to all mankind he is given of God and hath enlightened them And every man through the world that believeth in and receiveth Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal Salvation And every one that believes not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting misery And we believe That Salvation Justification and Sanctification is only in Him wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but him alone by which Salvation is and we believe all that receive him and believe in him are reconciled to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things and do receive the forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all unrighteousness and from the body of Sin and Death and have the witness of the Spirit in them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong to their peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwell in the Saints and by it they have fellowship one with another and the Father Son and Spirit are one And this we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe Thaâ—… he is one with the Father and was with the Father before the World was and what the Father worketh is by the Son for he is the Arm of Gods Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without beginning or end And we
believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony of him and that he was made manifest in Judea and Jerusalem and did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Jews and was crucified by his Enemies and that he was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascended on high exalted at the right hand of the Father for evâ—… and that he is gloâ—…ified with the same gloâ—…y that he had before the world was and that even the same that came down from Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe Even he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to judge the whole world with righteousness and all people with equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the day of Judgment when all shall arise to condemnation or justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the World was and that is the knowledge unto Eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive he subdues death destroys him that hath the power of it restoreth from Death to Life and quickeneth by his Spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifiâ—…th and such are taught of him but he condemns all that believe not and continue in unbelief and are not taught of him And this we faithfully believe And we believe That unto all People upon the face of the whole Earth is a time and day of Visitation given that they may return and be saved by Jesus Christ who is given of the Father to call the worst of men to repentance and the most ungodly of sinners are convinced by him of their ungodly deeds that they may believe and be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the love of God manifested to all mankind and that none wert shut out by him before they were born into the world but unto all men is a visitation given and they that perish it is because they do not believe in Christ and Destruction is of a mans self but Salvation is of God through believing in his Son who takes away sin and reneweth into his ownImage that they may become Heirs with him And we believe That there is a Crown of eternal Glory and an Inheritance of eternal Life to be enjoy'd for evermore by all that believe are chosen of God and that there is an everlasting Misery and Destruction to be possessed by all that believe not but continue in the state of Reprobation and are not changed from the ways of sin and death but walk after the ways of their own hearts lusts fulfilling the will of the flesh in the evil of this world and follow not Christ the Light of the world that they may be saved and we believe upon all such the Wrath of God abides and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe That it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death unto Life and who is redeemed out of the world and all its ways such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they only have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleans'd from all unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their sins are remitted for his Blood cleanseth them from all Unrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned the World withal And we believe That the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of Sins and may be perfectly freed from the body of sin death and in Christ may be perfect and without Sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Jesus Christ And we believe Every Saint that is call'd of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtain it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit and are in Covenant with God and their Sins are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit sin being born of the Seed of God And we believe the Goâ—…pel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation and that it ought to be preached freely unto all People Christ to be held forth to all Mankind by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is receiv'd by the gift of the holy Ghost and all they that receive it are lawfully called to the Ministry and they may preach the Gospel of Christ freely as they have received it freely and this Ministry is not of man but of God and is made powerful to the converting of sinners and to the bringing of People to God and to the knowledge of his ways And we do not believe that any man is a Minister of Christ without the gift of the holy Ghost or that the Gospel can be received by natural Larning or Education And we believe such as preach for hire and have hire for preaching are not the lawfully called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are proud and high-minded and covetous men who do not profit the people at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calls by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governors we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governors in every Nation City Country or Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge Righteously Equally and Justly and will give true and sound Judgment unto all men without bribery or respect of Persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a Praise unto all that do well a terror to all evil doers having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continually exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being the Foundation thereof that Gods witness in every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all People before Transgression be charged or punished in any man And we believe That every Transgression ought to be punished according to its nature that the punishment exceed not the greatness of the Transgression neither ought Transgressors to escape unpunished neither ought any upon false suspicion or jealousies be caused to suffer without the Testiâ—…ony of true men or the
Confession of the Party And we believe That the Executors of the Law ought to be just men and not given to Pride Drunkenness or any other Evil And thus true Judgment and Justice will be brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace that all Evil-doers may stand in a we and be afraid of God and Just men and the Execution of good Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is the Spirit the of Lord that makes men truly Religious and no man ought to be compelled to or from any exercise or practise in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to reprove false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exâ—…rtation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought not to be counted a breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punished by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe that the outward Laws Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Laws of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe That Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit must only lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors that Subjects ought to obey them in the Lord that have rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which is according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require Subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him in such cases all People are free and ought to obey God rather than man And we believe that herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is good and out of all that which is evil Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a State of Election and a State of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Mankind are in one of these states All that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of death and darkness being Children of Wrath and Disoebdience in the Alienation and Separation from God in the Transgression unreconciled to God the Enmity ruling in the heart being in the fall and not restored to God again but ignorant of his Power and Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal And in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all Evil bringing forth all his Works out of that ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adam and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and shall never enherit eternal Life but go into Perdition yet have all such a day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprobation but hating Knowledge and despâ—…fing the Love of God they continue in the state Reprobate and the Wrath of God abides upon them but they that are chosen of God are delivered from Wâ—… for they believe in the Light and become Children of the Light and are renewed in mind and heart and receive the love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adam are chosen in him to bring forth fruit uâ—…to the Father and all their fruâ—…t â—…pringeth from that ground which is blessed for they are led by the Spirit of the Father and such are in the state of Election who are made Heirs with Christ of the Everlasting Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe that Mercy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad into the World that all People may understand what we believe and what we have received of God And they that believe this and walk therein by the Spirit of the Father shall be saved but they that believe not but are disobedient to the Truth shall be condemned because they do not believe Much more might be written but in short this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the knowledge of these things from God A Friend unto all People Edward Burroughs To all that say we whom the World do in scorn call Quakers do deny Ministers and Magistrates These things I write unto you to give you in short an understanding what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny 1. SUch Ministers as are made by God who are sanctified by his Word and Power who have freely received perfect Gifts from God and so by the Spirit and Power of God are sent forth into the World to turn the People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God who freely Minister unto others without coveting any mans Gold or Silver or Apparel not seeking theirs but them Warning every man and teaching every man in all Wisdom that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Such as minister from the Spirit and have the Word of God abiding in them who are never unprovided but at all times and seasons and in all places do speak and declare the Truth as they are moved and instructed and as the Spirit of Truth doth give them utterance such Ministers we own and have in great esteem for their works sake Gal. 1. 1 12. Joh. 15. 3. Ephes. 4. 7 8 11 12 13. Acts 26. 15 16 17 18. Mat. 10 8. Acts 20. 33. 2 Cor. 12. 14. Col. 1. 27 28 29. 2 Corinth 3. 6. John 15. 3 4 5 6 7. John 4. 10 14. and 7. 38 39. 2 Tim. 4. 2 3. Acts 2. 4. But such as are brought up at Schools Colledges so made Ministers by the will of man who have not freely receiv'd perfect gifts from God for perfecting of the Saints but deny Perfection and so deny the Ministers work neither do ministr freely but seek for gain from their Quarters and will not
rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him who said I am the Light and is sate down at the right hand of God who is a Spirit eternally in the Heavens ascended up out of the sight of them which gazed after that Body which iâ—… gone out of their sight even he Christ the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil being meek and low in heart he saith Learn of me Then not of the Priests nor any longer of Moses for the Law is the School-master to Christ who being come calleth one from the Custom another from going to bury the dead another from questioning and reasoning what this man or another man should do that he might not stand looking out at others but himself to follow the Light saying Follow thou me And those that followed him when he was upon Earth saw his miracles and heard his Parables and eat of the outward Bread and were filled though many now eat and are not filled and they had his Body among them and they came to the Baptism and the Supper but Christ himself baptized not and when he was upon the Earth he said I go to the Father and I go to prepare a place for you And he said Whither I go ye know and he said before Follow me and except a man deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple and he said My sheep hear my Voice and they follow me and he entered within the Vail the Vail is over the heart and was made perfect through sufferings and is sate down in the Majesty on high glorified with God the Father and the Father was in him even the fullness of God and that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and he said he had finished the work the Father gave him to do and so the Father's will was accomplished done for which the body was prepared he said Now glorifie 〈◊〉 Father with the same glory which I had with thee from the beginning and he that spake in the body abideth forever who said A body hast thou prepared me which Body being crucified he took up his Life again then those that did know him three dayes before knew him not and he ascended and a cloud received him out of the sight of certain men who never found him unto this day for he remaineth out of the sight of most that profess him and as Lightning in the Clouds of Heaven doth he come again and every eye shall see him that condemneth Sin and the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and yet the blind cannot see nor the deaf hear And this was he that Moses commanded to hear who said he that is with you shall be in you and he that was with or without was to go away and that which was to be received within he said should abide with them forever the spirit of Truth was to lead into all Truth for though the body was prepared to do God's Will yet they by it were not lead into all Truth but sometimes understood it not though he spake Spirit Life and moreover they went away and some fled from the Truth Peter denied him that was the Truth and so such as have got a profession of the Truth without them and not the Spirit within to lead into all Truth such fly in the day of Tryal from that they profess and some deny it rather then suffer with or for it and herein them called Baptists also have not come short and some of them have bowed to the Beast and so it is with many who profess Christ and Truth without them even as with those who understood not the Parables neither could cast out the unclean Spirits so that Christ was and is grieved when he hath been so long with and professed and followed without and yet not come to that Faith which purifies the heart whereby to cast out the unclean within as thou mayst read in thy self And therefore Christ when he was upon Earth did often speak unto them of what was yet to come and I do seldom read to take notice that he did so often Preach and repeat any one thing unto them as that of the Spirit to come saying that it mark the Spirit would lead into all Truth and seeing their weakness and unbelief Mark 16. 14. he by the often repetition thereof did as it were the more chiefly to engage their hearts to wait for and seek after the Incomes of that which should comfort them and abide with them when his body was gone from them whither they could not come and to this one thing doth he direct them in various expressions as of his going to the Father and coming again and saith he I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive John 14. 16. And many things Jesus did which if they should be all wirtten the World might not contain the Books John 21. 25. And many things he spake unto them Acts 2. 40. And yet there was something to come to be waited for and after to be received which was more then all this for saith he These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the Comforter c. Mark the word but intimateth somethâ—…ng greater or more than what was spoken to them whilest he was with them for saith he He that is with you shall be in you John 14. 17. And said but the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name he will teach you all things mark what that is that teacheth all things and bring all things to your Remembrance whatsoever I have said and so that is within which bringeth the words of Spirit and Life to remembrance John 14. 25 26. And having spoken of other things he saith again But when the Comforter comes even the Spirit of Truth John 15. 26. And if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you John 16. 7. And I have many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now howbeit when he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth John 16. 12 13. Here it may be seen that they who followed Christ without and not received the Spirit within could not bear what he had to speak unto them and also it may be seen that when the Spirit was come it would be better with them And much more might be mentioned how Christ foretold what was to come and be received and revealed in that day John 16. 23. When the Spirit should be poured forth according to the Prophets all which plainly declareth and most evidently sets forth how Christ in his Ministry when he was upon Earth did most chiefly direct unto the Ministration of the Spirit of Truth which was then yet
in mind I have no scornful eye I do not exercise my self in things that are too high When they never knew any change wrought in their minds and so causeth the People to lye And causing them to sing David's Prayers as O Lord rebuke me not in thy Wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure for thine Arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presseth me sore for mine Iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy Burden they are too heavy for me to bear my wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long And may be none of you in all that place can witness the condition and so blaspheme the Name of God who will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth and this is the Rule given out from him if any be afflicted let him Pray if any be merry let him sing Psalms And there is none merry but the Ransomed of the Lord who return to Sion with joy and singing and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and Sorrow and sighing shall flee away All People may search the Scriptures and see how you have been deceived by your Teachers who have caused you to seek your lost God in carnal dead observations which they have not any Scripture for all cease from them for the Lord complains of them The Loaders of my People causo them to err saith the Lord of Hosts and now are these Scriptures fulfilled in these men which the Apostle prophesied of This know also that in the last days perilous tiâ—…es shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous proud boasters blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy All People see are not your Teachers so Self-lovers before they come at you they must know what they must have covetous griping for much if you will not give them so much as they can have in another Place they will not come at you here is Self-love and Covetousness manifested without natural affection Truce-breakers false accusers Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a Form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such the Apostle exhorts to turn away All People behold and see all these Scriptures are fulfilled in your Teachers they spake against Pride and live in it against Covetousness and live in it They teach by words to be naturally affectionate one towards another and they walk contrary causing poor People to pay to maintain them in Pride and high ranks in the Earth who can scarce get Bread for their bellies and clothes for their backs yet they force them to pay them being void of all natural affections and they are Truce-breakers breaking all Bonds and Covenants if they can get more money in another place Thus they shew forth to all the world that they are lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God and have a form of Godliness in words but deny the Power thereof from such turn away for of this sort are they which creep into houses lead captive silly women laden with Sin divers lusts These Scriptures are fulfilled in your Teachers every one hath his particular house to creep into where none must come but themselves or whom they please which is contrary to the practice of Christ or any that he sent forthâ—…they went through the countries Towns Cities and Villages according as they were guided by the Spirit of God to declare what he gave them to spake and your Teachers lead silly woman captive laden with Sin and led away with divers Lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth Do not they tell you to look for Christ's coming in such observations as they set up which are nothing but the inventions of their brains for Christ tells you The Kingdom of God comes not with observations But is within you But many of them deny that the Light in your Consciences which makes manifest the evil of your hearts to be the Kingdom of God calling it the Light of a corrupt conscience so shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men and will neither enter in themselves to be guided by the pure Light of the Kingdom of Christ within them nor suffer them that are entering in to enter as the Scribes and Pharisees did Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these men resist the Truth men of corrupt minds Reprobates concerning the Faith but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs also was and no man shall buy their Merchandize any more All you enslaved captives in the Kingdom of Babylon why will you lay out your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not hearken diligently unto Jesus Christ the Light that lets you see the evil of your hearts to be guided by it and you shall eat that which is good Encline your ears saith Christ and come unto me hear and your souls shall live and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David Mind the Call of a powerful and tender Father in the Lord Jesus who calls Come forth of Babylon my People touch no unclean Thing and I will rceieve you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty Friends prize your time slight not the Day of the Lord's Mercy foâ—… he waits to be gracious and saith I stretch forth my Arm all the Day long to a back-sliding and gain-saying People Every one mind your Conditions deal justly with your own Hearts fee what your Hearts have Fellowship with and guide your Minds for the Kingdom of Christ is within you it is not in Observations as your Teachers tell you for they deceive you therefore Christ forewarn'd us for looking forth at those which would come in the latter days that would say Lo here is Christ lo there is Christ as it is in these our days some say Lo here is Christ in the Presbyterian practise the Independants say He is there and the Anabaptists say Lo he is here But Friends mind what Christ saith unto you Believe them not look not forth the Kingdom of Christ is not in any of those nor in any other outward observations but be warned the Kingdom of Christ is in you and that is the Light that lets you see the evil of your hearts and Christ compares it to a grain of Mustard-seed the least of all Seeds and it grows up above all other Herbs and becomes a Tree that the Fowls of the Air lodge therein and he compares it to a little Leaven that a Woman took and hid in three measures of Meal and it leavened the whole lump These are Earthly parables and figures which Christ lays down speaking to the earthly and carnal heart of man that
Mourners in Sion the Lord waits on you to be gracious unto you and though he give you the Bread of Adversity now and the Water of Affliction yet shall not your Teachers be removed into Corners any more but your Eyes shall see your Teachers and your Ears shall hear a Voice behind you saying This is the way walk in it when you turn to the right Hand or the left therefore every one of you mind the Light which is of Jesus Christ in you that judgeth the Unrighteousness of your Hearts give up to be guided by the pure Light in you which is your Teacher the Counsel of Jesus Christ and it will bring Judgment forth unto Victory and whatever he makes manifest to you to be his Will Wait on the Lord in his Counsel and he will give you Power to obey and when you have obeyed his Will take heed of departing from the Counsel of the Lord which is the Light within you to hearken to the Counsel of your own Hearts which will draw your Minds to look back at your Obedience and the Experiences you have passed through so will the Beast which received a deadly Wound with the Sword the Righteous Law that goeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb in you his deadly Wound will be healed and sits a painted Beast above the Cross of Christ working lying Wonders in your Hearts imitating the Operation of the Power of God who is purifying his Sons and Daughters with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of Burning and the Beast in you that tasted of the Power of God when he received his deadly Wound under the Justice of God now can imitate the same in Deceit and cause Fire to come down from Heâ—…en in the Sight of Men intimating the Operation of the Spirit of Burning and so deceives himself and all that dwell upon the Earth he is made manifest to all that dwell in the Heavenly Light in their Hearts All Friends mind youâ—…Watch for the Adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour abide in the Counsel of the Lord which is the Light in you and you will discern between the Beast which is Antichrist in his lying Wonders and the Lamb Jesus Christ in the Operation of his Power so you will come to try the Spirits whether they be of God yea or nay all that are guided by the Beast have their Life in speaking and acting in outward Operations what they once experienced and what they comprehended to be Truth speaking that they enjoy not and are exalted in Pride the Heart returned into the Earth But thou that art guided by the Lamb the Light in thy Conscience the righteous Law cryes through thy earthly Heart and bringâ—… it to Judgment and thou canst find no Life in the Operation of the Power of God nor in thy Obedience but whilst the Presence of the Lord is with thee in it and when thou haâ—… done the Will of God in obeying what he hath made known unto thee thou seeâ—…t thy self to be an Unprofitable Servant and hast need of Patience that thou may est receive the Promise where thy Life is hid with Christ in God to save thee freely for his Names sake or else thou perishest and to carry thee on by his Mighty Power or else thou fallest so thou haft nothing to glory in but in the Lord And as they that are guided by the Beast which is Antichrist spake of the Truth a riddle to their own hearts not knowing the Power and Life of what they speak adding to the Word of the Lord and the Plagues Curse of God will be added unto them But thou art guided by the Lamb Jesus Christ thou knowest when the Word of the Lord is committed to thee If any have my Word saith the Lord let him speak my Word faithfully Is not my Word like a Fire saith the Lord and like an Hammer that breaketh the Rocks in Pieces Thou canst witness the Word of the Lord to be as a Fire and as a Hammer to break the Rocks in Pieces in thee and bring down all in thee in Subjection to itself and it alone rules in thee And thou that canst witness the Word of the Lord thus manifested in thee thou art a true Messenger of the Lord let not the Deceit stop thy Mouth for the Word of the Lord that calls thee to speak shall perfect his Work for which he is sent All Friends stand fast in the Counsel and Will of God be faithful in following the Lamb daily through the Cross and none be discouraged In Temptations be content look up to the Lord to keep you in the Hour of Temptations for it is no Sin to be tempted but to yield to the Tempter and when the Lord delivers you from the Power of the Tempter watch that your Will get not from under the Cross but sink down into the Love of God And every one be content in what the Lord hath made manifest to you and be faithful according to your Talents and more will be communicated to you And none look forth at others Conditions for if you do the Enemy will cause you to stumble and you will come to a Loss in your own Condition Wait patiently in the Counsel of the Lord the Light in you for he is making a short Work in the Earth that you that come into the Vineyard at the eleaventh Hour shall receive as much as they that came in at the third Hour and have laboured in the Heat of the Day All ye Children of the Lord lift up your Heads behold your King riding in Majesty and Power upon the wild Ass Colt which is your wild Nature subjecting it to himself that you may enter with him through the Gates of the city into the New Jerusalem where there enters nothing that worketh Abomination and maketh a Lye but what is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and there you shall dwell in the Banqueting House of the Lord forever feeding upon the Feast of fat Things rejoycing in the Eternal Love and Mercy of your Souls in the free Covenant of Life in the Blood of Christ who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings God blessed forever who is riding on in Majesty and in Power conquering and to conquer all the Powers of Darkness in the Hearts of his Saints that they may reign as Kings upon the Earth to the Praise and Glory of our God who is taking unto him his Great Power to reign in his Saints for evermore to whom alorâ—… be all Honour Glory Power and Eternal Praises forever W. D. A Word of Consolation unto the Child of Light that yet sits in Darkness being deeply afflicted and wounded in Spirit through Ignorance of Salvation in the New Covenant in Christ Jesus the Light DEar Child of the Birth of the Immortal Seed which crieth over all the World and beyond all the Pleasure Pomp and Vanity therein for the Enjoyment of