is done away and they are not under any ministration of Law but under grace and so by their faith make voyd the Law not knowing what they say herein And this is all such know either of Law or Gospel who in their wisdom and prudence read the letter and from thence imagine what is Law and what is Grace not having that spirit by which they were ministred to the Saints and by them received who had the law in their hearts and grace there also and such do know that the one of these doth not make voyd the other but establish the other for the coming of Christ was not to make voyd but to fulfill the Law and he doth not come to put the Law afatre off but to bring it neare that with his light all may see it as it is written in the heart by the living God and he is so farre from destroying or taking away the Law that he declares it in its force and purity saying That one jot or tittle should not passe till it be fulfilled And whereas it was said in the letter Thou shalt not commit adultery saith he Thou shalt not lust In the letter it was said thou shalt not sweare falsely but in the Spirit he saith Swear not at all In the letter Thou shalt not kill but in the Spirit Thou shalt not be angry and whosoever doth any of these things is guilty before God and this is farre from making it voy'd which declares it in its purity so as they who might seeme to be cleare in the letter might be found guilty in the Law of the Spirit that by Christ Jesus who is the end of that Law they may come to see their condemnation and by faith in him become set free not by the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer and carnall Sacrifices Oracle Temple or Altar or Days or Sabbaths without in the letter but by all these in Spirit which are in Christ Jesus ministred to the soule and conscience to wash away sin and purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God which the ministration of the letter and carnall Ordinances could not do And for this cause is the ministration of the letter done away because it could not make perfect the commers thereto as pertaining to the conscience And the Ministration of the Spirit preached in its steed which gives perfect knowledge of sin and perfect redemption from it and from all things from which the Law without could not and the same Spirit doth testifie it perfectly in the conscience which the letter cannot though the letter may shew a man his condemnation yet it cannot give life it can shew the duty but not give power to performe it so the letter kils but the Spirit giveth life And hence it is that all you who read your duty in the letter but want power to performe what you read you set up your imaginations instead of performance and some say the Law is done away and none now shall be condemned by it others say Christ fulfilled it in his own person and to believe what he did sixteene hundred yeares since is all we need to do others say nay but we must do what we can of what the Scriptures commands and he will do the rest with his Father others say that what we do he makes it accepted which the Father as though we did performe all that is required but none in that state knows his commands in Spirit which gives life and power to performe what is commanded in Spirit which none knows who reads what others did but want their Spirit and power to performe the same This was the selfe righteousnesse and is the selfe righteousnesse which is by the letter of the Law taken-on without the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus And here is the weaknesse of the Law taken-on through the flesh but the power of the law to such as receive it in Spirit and life for the Law is fulfilled in Spirit and not in the letter and so in Christ and not in selfe and so by faith and not by works even by the everlasting righteousnesse of God freely given and received by faith and revealed in the creature from faith to faith in every one that beleives and not by works of the Law which the creatures see in the letter and sets themselves a doing who are carnall and sold under sin not quickened by the Spirit of righteousnesse for the letter of the Law gives the knowledge of sinne but the Law in the Spirit gives not only the knowledge of sin he knowledg of God and his righteousnesse in Christ Jesus for fulfilling the Law which is life eternall according to his promise I will write my Law in your hearts and put it in your inward parts and you shall all know me from the greatest to the least so the letter kills but the Spirit giveth life So all you who read the commands in the letter without from thence you may fetch your own Condemnation but from thence can you not fetch power for obedience to justification of life From within is the Life in Spirit and not in the letter And here is change of the Law to that which is Spirituall the Preisthood Spirituall The Temple Spiritual The Altar the Circumcision the offering the blood the Oracle the Anointing the washings and the whole worship which was without and could make nothing perfect is become Spirituall and within which is the better hope being more pure then that without could be and so more perfect even as he is perfect Now the Law was added because of transgression till the promised seed should come of whom it is prophesied in types and figures which seed is Christ the end of the Law to every one that believes without respect of persons and so it is in the spirit A Law hath God written in the heart whereby the transgressor is condemned in his own Conscience and this Law is upon the first Man who is the Transgressor and hath power over that man as long as he lives Judging reproving and condemning And prophesying of one that is to come to fulfill the Law in every one who minds the light And so is as a Scool-master to bring to Christ And till he come to fulfill it who is the end of it there is Condemnation upon the Creature because the pure Law of God is broken And this is testified by the light in the conscience a witnesse against the first Man and his deeds which is contrary to the perfect Law of God And so by that which perfect is he condemned who is imperfect where the Image of God is lost and the seed lyes in death because of trespasses and sins For God did not give a Law to condemne his own work but the work of the Devil And where the transgressor is there is the work of the Devil And the law hath power over that man as long as the transgressor lives
And all his works are by the law condemned untill the Resurrection of the seed and the Image of God be witnessed and all things subdued to him who is the end of the Law by whom the fruits of the Spirit are brought forth against which there is no Law And so by his resurrection and the vetrue thereof that which is of God in the Conscience is answered And so the creature saved from the condemnation of the Law of God which respects no mans person But hath respect to his own seed where it is raised but condemns all where it lyes in death and where death raigns So the Law that layes hold upon all trangressors we witnesse to endure spirituall just and good Given forth against the first Man and his works good or bad as people calls them yea though he set himself to do the workes of the Law never so zealously yet a witnesse of condemnation the pure Law of God is against him in his conscience untill the promised seed be born which is not of the will of the first Man nor after the flesh but after the spirit after the will of God one with the Law and by his grace who shews the merry and glad tydings Now Israel after the flesh who received the law in the literall Ministration and the carnall ordinances of them was Christ to be born who was made of a woman under the law to redeeme them that was under the law if they did beleive Even so now Israel fater the Spirit who receive the law in the Spirituall ministration written in the heart such shall witnesse the Child Born of the Royall seed heir of the promise even of Gods righteousnesse for the fulfilling of the pure Law of God for that end given forth Whereof there are many witnesses at this day who have patiently waited in what God hath written in their hearts seen with the light of Christ Who have therein received the faith of the Gospel and the end of that faith even Gods righteousnesse revealed from faith to faith whereby the pure law of God is fulfilled in many and fulfilling in others who abide in their measures of faith which God hath dealt to them walking in the Light not after the flesh but after the Spirit And so by the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus see themselves set free from the law of sin and death And so witnesse the Gospel which you cannot do who cast the law of God and his Light behind your backs and in your vain minde say you are not under it in the day of tryal you will be found under the Condemnation thereof And that in every conscience shall witnesse thereto at that day Concerning Christ Jesus THis is He whom the world much talk of but few there be that know him though it be He by whom all things were made who is the Life of all Creatures the Beginning of all Creatures who was before all Creatures without Beginning of Dayes or End of Life a Priest for ever and a King of whose Dominion there is no end By him Kings reign and Dominions are cast down though they know him not where Self is standing who is hidden from the worlds wisdome and the depth of Prudence cannot find him out yet doth he reveal himself to such as walk in his light which is contrary to all the dark paths of the world nor can the will of man walk therein but who deny themselves that they may learn the way of the Lord to such he freely reveals his way for their return that he may bring them down from the seat of exaltation and make known to them their beginning and from whence they are digged that they may see him that bears up the pillars of the earth hath laid the foundation thereof who hath set the world in their hearts who stood not in his counsell so that they cannot find out the beginning nor the end of the work of God yet will vain man in that state be imagining touching him and from whence he had his beginning who is the Eternal Word before all time glorified in the Heavens with the Father who in time was manifest which Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the death that he might become a living Example to all Generations which no Creature could be the whole Creation being in the Fall and having finished the Work of Redemption given him of the Father to do and for which he was begotten he ascended far above all Heavens to prepare a place for all that follow him by Faith in his Light and that from thence all such as wait for him may see his appearance as a Saviour and onely such know him for their Redeemer who know him for their Judge and Law-giver who love him and keep his Commands to such he comes and the Father also and make their abode with him And this is He who is the Light of the world and lighteth every man that comes into the world who stands at the door and knocks and if any hear his voyce and open he will come in and sup with him and such know him and he knows them who hear his voyce by which they are quickned out of the trespasses and sins and the Seed of God raised out of death but where Death reigns Christ is rejected and the wisdome by which he should be known is foolishnesse So if you desire to know him who is not of this world but who is before the world was a Witnesse against all the worlds wayes and wickednesse then mind that light in you which thus witnesseth for as Christ is so is his light that leads to him for that which bears testimony against the world is not of the world even as he is not of the world and so leads out of the world to him who is not known in the world for the world by wisdome knows him not And as thou follows the light out of the world thou wilt come to see the seed which by the worlds wisdome and glory is crucified to which Seed are all the Promises and wherein is all the knowledge of God and Christ and as that Seed is raised therein is the Father revealed and his Power and God-head in his Son Jesus Christ which in him dwels and without him is not revealed but being known is Life Eternal and Eternal Power and Eternal Glory and Riches made manifest in the Light for as you know this Seed raised by the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the death so shall you see him to whom all power and judgment is committed in Heaven and Earth and for whom and by whom all things were made in Heaven and Earth of whom it is said When he bringeth his onely begotten Son into the world Let all the Angels worship
nor to hate that which God hates and love that which he loves in any measure but joynes with that which destroyes the soul and devoures the life and yet makes a profession and a prayer against it in words and that 's the pharisee and hypocrite who with the words destroys the life who makes a profession above the life but not in the life and this is he that climeth up some other way then the life which is the doore to which the light leads And in this state are all the high minded lofty ones whose mouths speake of great things swelling words of vanity for so are words without life empty Brasse giving a pleasant voyce to the carnall eare but cannot evidence the life and the works of it who have the Saints words present but their righteousnesse is as far off as Judea Corinth Thessalonica c and these are they who in words confesse God but in works deny him who have a large faith in words but to the good worke reprobate for none can be of any true judgment concerning the work of God who are strangers to the life that workes it Concerning Righteousness THat Righteousness which God accepts is but one which is his own perfectly fulfilled and manifest in the world in Christ Jesus the light and Saviour thereof which Righteousness is not of the world nor manifest to the world nor in the world received but by the world ever Judged as unrighteousness nor can the world inherit it but only they who believe in the light of Christ which God hath given into the world to lead out of the world to Christ where Gods righteousness is And there be many talkers of this righteousness but none inherit it further then by faith they receive the Son of righteousness and with him his righteousness is freely imputed or put into the creature a free gift from the Father and with this righteousness is the creature made righteous even as he is righteous even as the measure of Christ is received and no further and whose life is kept in the measure of him as he is so are we in this present world and not of this world even as he is of not of this world and herein is boldness in the day of Judgment in that which is perfect And all that is not perfect is self and with the righteousness of Christ denied in the light which condemns all self-actings under what pretence soever So who abides in the righteousness abides in that which denies Self and all the world and so lives in obedience to that which is contrary to all mens wills and so every where evil-spoken on for the will of men works not the righteousness of God but this righteousness is wrought into the Creature in that obedience which is contrary to the will of the flesh and in the faith by the eternall Spirit is the new begetting both of the will and the deed and so the new is born of the Spirit and life And so farr as any have this righteousness he doth not lye under sin nor give place to the Divell but it is as a brest-plate against all assaults on the right hand and on the left and all who have not this are they who have that which will not stand in stead in the evil day So you that say your righteousness is as filthy Raggs why do you abide in that Gods righteousness is not so wherefore Cease from that and own that which is perfect even that everlasting righteousness in which his all Saints have been gathered unto himself who can receive nothing but what 's his own and it must be yours also else can you not be received in it In vain do you plow wickedness and sow iniquity and think to reap righteousness So with the light you may see what works in you and to what you yeeld your selves servants to That you bring forth while you live that will go with you so if you own no works in you but what God works you shall have no righteousness but what is perfect even the least measure of it And as you obey unto this righteousness you shall see the Spirituall man raised and living and the bonds of death broken and that living which gives power over hell and death Then may you say the spirit is life because of righteousness and your dead profession will be Judged with the life as it arises and seen to be fruitless But this is blasphemy in your own eyes who have made Christs righteousness a cover for your abominations What wickedness is so vile now in these nations but the righteousness of Christ is made a Cover men blesse themselves there-with in the greatest abomination And this hath its beginning at the head of deceit and is gone over all the whole body For to cover your own wickedness pride and covetuousness have you teachers invented this faith That its sufficient to believe in a righteousness you read of in the letter through you be not obedient to it in Spirit But you that are not servants of Righteousnesse are no servants of Christs and his Workes and your Faith without his Works will be little worth to Salvation and even as it saves you out of sinne so will it save you out of condemnation and no further And this that in your Conscience will witnesse if you take counsel at it no further then you find the power of his righteousnesse working in you and you owning it in obedience and subjection and joyning to it against all unrighteousnesse no more of it you can inherit nor be made the righteousnesse of God in him And at that day when he comes to separate the precious from the vile then will you see in what stead your notions of righteousness are when the Worker of iniquity is found and judged with Christs righteousnesse of which you have been boasting in words without the power of it By the power and purity of it shall all the workers of iniquity be judged and condemned So deceive not your selves He that workes righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous but he that talks of this and commits sin is of the Devil and with him must inherit by whom he is acted and guided for Gods righteousness will not mixe with nor cover deceipt nor was it ever given for that purpose but as it is obeyed it reveales and destroys mans righteousness and unrighteousnesse as it is revealed from Faith to Faith by which the just lives and the unjust perisheth and passeth into death And all who have Christs righteousnesse can witnesse this effect to kill and make alive as by Faith it is received and this is Zions righteousnesse that goes forth as brightnesse and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth that the Gentiles may see it and its glory Be ashamed you Heathens who have hid the Lords righteousnesse under your Pride and Covetousnesse who have exalted the Idols of the World and bring forth to the Oppressor who
that Spirit which never erred and who ever is lead out by any other is Erred already though unknown to them who are so deceived For Error could never Judge of Error nor darkness of light though it will be doing to shew enmity So Error Cryes Take heed of being deceived which is deceived already but the Spirit of light searcheth out that deceipt but who walks not in the spirit and light of Christ is blind and knows not by what he is lead nor whither and stumbles at the light which should Judge his blindness and become his Leader and such a one though he be in Error yet knows not whence he is fallen who never knew the right way as many at this day who are talking of blindnes but themselves in the pitt and must be till they own the light to lead them out of it which never Erred which is of God even as they who received it are of God and they that were of God knew that all that would not heare them had the Spirit of Error and thereby they knew it and the Spirit of truth And what ever that be which leads out into the Worlds Conformity and pleads for it or any thing that is come in by the Fall that is the Spirit of Error But that Spirit which testifies against all that is in the fall and convinceth of it and leads out of it that 's the Spirit of truth comes to testifie of the redeemer Christ Jesus who is to set free out of it which all that lives in lives in Error So all who desire to know the Spirit of Error you must turn to the Spirit of light from whence you have Erred for no other thing shews the Error but that which reproves the fruit of Error that which reproves for sin is that from which man hath Erred the faithfull and true witness which is in the beginning of the Creation of God to which all must give an account and which alone is appointed for a light and leader of the people that sit in darkness to shew the darkness and the way out of it So to that which was in the beginning all must come that with the light from which man hath Erred you may know the wayes of Error and the way of truth Concerning Faith HE that hath living faith which is in Christ lives by it and the life that he lives is above all the world and the powers of darknesse and the least measure of that Faith â—s perfect and is present power against all the assaults of â—acan if in it the Creature abide faithfull and run not to other helps and so lay himself open to distrust for it is the gift of God whereof whosoever receives a measure he hath a measure of the Son above which he Father will not suffer any temptation for the true faith laies hold upon Gods righteousnesse against which no unrighteousnesse can prevaile which righteousnesse is received by faith in Christ Jesus wherein the Creature so believing stands armed against all the fierie darts and temptations of the Devill with Gods righteousnesse seene in the light and wrought in the Spirit whereby the Creature becomes Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works by which he becomes free from the evill dead to sin but alive to Gods righteousnesse waiting in faith to see it revealed through obedience thereto from faith to faith and it is written The just shall live by faith and this is the living faith which purifies the heart unto the life of godlinesse and so reveales the righteousnesse of faith for an inheritance everlasting righteousnesse ever growing and springing whereby the Creature grows into the knowledge of God with him to walke by faith out of the knowledge of all the world translated out of the pleasures and kingdoms of it into the kingdom of the Son of God where the reproach of Christ is esteemed great riches laying hold upon the invisible which the worlds faith cannot reach which caryes them no higher then visible reasonings and consulting with sensuall wisdom and carnall helps and so brings nothing to perfection because it sees nothing that is perfect but the liying faith sees him that is invisible and layes hold on the measure of God made manifest in Spirit which measure of the Spirit is that which in the faith worketh out the old and worketh the new both will and deed whose worke is perfect to kill and make alive But the worlds faith is not of this nature and power who heare a thing with the outward care and so set themselves to believe or not believe it in their wills or outward perswasion from others or in their own imagination and as their imaginations thoughts and conceivings changes so their faith changes also and so it cannot be steadfast because it stands not in the measure of God known in the heart which changes not and this faith serves not God nor can it please him nor doth it see him that is invisible And so not standing in that which is contrary to the will of man and power of sin it lies under the wills of men and power of the Prince of this world and as the world and times changes so doth that faith but can never lead out of the world and all time up to the redeemer of the soul And to all who are in that nature the living faith that stands in that which is of God in a pure conscience is a mystery not known nor received and so cannot be improved which is the true faith which is the gift of God which none Tim. 3. 9. can receive but in the Spirit So the faith of Christ and the faith of the world are two and have their severall effects and fruits the one professeth freedome and redemption in the imaginations and comprehensions but is a servant of sin the other hath the living faith which gives the life of freedom and so as is their ground and roote so is their fruits and effects and the one of these is against the other For that Act. 13. 27. faith which stands in Christ believes in purity and perfection and holynesse and slays sin and by that faith alone the just lives and justice and righteousnesse is brought forth to light in the godly conversation but that faith which stands in the imaginations and wisdom of man which believes salvation without holynesse of life that slaies the just and keeps alive the unjust and this faith they had which believed the Scriptures and the words of the Prophets and that God was their Father but not having the word of Faith in their hearts these slew the Son of God and set the murtherer free and as that faith which is dead works death so that faith which is living worketh life And a profession of faith without righteousnesse is like a body without life and like as a living man is known by his actions so is the living faith by its fruits And as the man cannot live
without action no more Jeames 2. 18. can faith in Christ without righteousnesse these are inseparable Rom. 10 6. 10. therefore it s called the righteousnesse of faith where the heart believes unto righteousnesse there the mouth confesseth to salvation without hypocrisie of selfe righteousnesse And so Gods righteousnesse is received in the heart by faith and by obedience thereto brought forth into the world a witnesse against all the unrighteousnesse of the world and so the righteousnesse of God is preached through faith in all whose faith stands in Christ Jesus but that is a dead faith which brings not forth the life of Christ into the 1 Tim. 6. 10. 21. world and that 's the reprobate faith which is to the good worke reprobate and he that errs from the righteousnesse errs from the faith also which is held in a pure conscience and he that makes shipwrack of a good conscience and puts that away makes shipwrack of faith also And in the eternall light is all your faith seene and judged to be without Christ and without foundation who are out of the light and out of the life And your Faith is seen to be the same with the Scribes and Pharisees who believed the Scriptures and thought to find life therein but did not believe in the Light and so would not come to Christ that they might have life So all your Faith which is out of the Light which from the Letter you have formed is a Faith set up in your own Wills and not that which is given of God For that Faith that is the gift of God believes in the Light and follows it and so leads to the Life and this Faith that stands in the Light and Life is the living Faith and never without Works which Works are Love Meeknesse Patience Mortification Sanctification Justification c. the Works of God in Christ Jesus in which Gods Workmanship is seen in the new Creation received in the Faith and in the obedience to which the Soul is purified and Victory witnessed over the World Sinne and Death But you who believe not in the Light are Enemies to this Faith and yet you get the Words of the Scripture given forth from the Light and so your Faith stands in the Wisdome of words into which you have been searching with your wisdome but not in the power of God and his Work so you are they who say and do not whose practice could never suit your Profession Concerning Hope HOpe is a gift of God and is pure and stands in that which is pure shewing that purity of God and his righteousness Rom. 4. 8. in Christ Jesus the beholding whereof stayes the soul Rom. 5. 4 5 from Joyning to the wicked one when he tempteth because 2 Joh. 3. 2 3 he sees in the light a better worke to serve so that untill the time of that work being manifest the hope is as an Anchor to stay from following the unclean one and so keeps out of the sin and so makes not ashamed even in the time of want it hopes against 2 Tim. 1. 1â— hope When that life of Christ is not yet seen in its full power yet it is evidenced in the hope which is wrought in the patience experience 1 Pet. 1. 1â— 12 1â— whereby the love appeares and the faith workes whereby Gods righteousnes is revealed and the Son is seen who is the redeemer and he that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure And this is that hope that enters within the vail into the holy place where the life and immortality is brought to light which the mortall eye nor carnall senses cannot approach to and this is the living hope which hopes to the end That Christ and his righteousness may be revealed to take away sin and save from it and out of it and in hope of this the Children and babes of Christ wait in the obedience of the Spirit not fashioning themselves after the lusts of ignorance but as he who hath called to that hope is holy so in his holiness is their conversation who are in his hope But the Devill hath begotten an other hope as like this as may be in his servants who beleive him and are acted by his Spirit which stands in an other ground and brings forth an other fruit And that is That though they be servants to sin for that must be Concluded in all his Covenants and graces yet there is hopes of salvation and such hopes as may not be Judged false nor questioned although the witness of God in the conscience doth testifie to the contrary yet it must not be heeded lest they be deluded So that where he is become teacher â— Cor. 1. 12 a tender conscience to is be resisted as the greatest Error and foolery in the world and that To wait for the testimony or witness within is to deny Christ at Jerusalem and the greatest blasphemy that can be spoken of and to wait for that mystery that hath been hid from ages to wit Christ Col. 2. 17. within the hope of glory is to deny the person of Christ and his blood and sufferings And many such imaginations hath he begott in peoples brains to scare them from â—â—inding the light of Christ within that so he may Ephe. 4. 18. 19. keep the heart in darkness and his seat there undiscovered So he sets them to look for the kingdom of Christ without them and a spirit without and a light without and a word without and righteousness without and in that to hope while he dwells in the heart and there in darkness Luke 17. 21. upholds his kingdom of sin and seat of unrighteousness all their life and feeds them with a hope after they be dead by a profession without power Gal. 4. 6. and life and spirit and truth in them to order them and their Conversation 2 Cor. 4. 6 a right towards God and man in their generation Psal 119. 11. and this is the hope of the hypocrite that must perish in the end and come short of salvation whose hope is not in God nor gives being Rom. 10. 8 in his righteousness but he hath a hope and lives in the world without 2 Cor. 5. 21. God and his hope And this is not the hope of Christ which lives in sin and hopes for salvation but this is his hope that hopes to freedom Rom. 1. 17. and perfection which never comes short of its end in all that Iob 17. 8. wait in it and this hope only is it that maketh not ashamed But you Ephe. 7. 17. may be ashamed of your hope who are found in your sins and Hab. 7. 19. encouraging your selves therein that you shall not dye That 's the Devils hope which hopes not freedome from sinne as much as freedome from Hell And with this hope would he make God a Lyar and partial like himself that
he should find some in sinne and save them and others in sinne and condemn them But who knows Christ and hopes in him hopes in righteousnesse and therein to stand in the day of Judgment and therein to live in this evil world above it and all the unrighteousnesse of it And the end of the lively hope is no lesse then Gods righteousnesse to attain and live in as it is received and onely 1 Pet. 3. 14 15. such can give a Reason of the Hope that is in them Who sanctifie the Lord God in their hearts and have a good conscience and suffer for well-doing 1 Thes 5. 8. 16. which unreasonable men who live in the unreasonable nature cannot do whose Hope is not an Helmet of Salvation against Sinne yet would have it for Salvation against Hell And this is the unreasonable Hope in unreasonable men for which they can give no reason but in their own Wills and Imaginations for is there any reason why you should hope to be saved by Christ who will be the Devils servants to yield your members servants to and delight in his wickednesse while you live and yet be saved by Christs righteousnesse when you die This is a Hope that serves you to talk on to feed your selves in your vanities but will be in the end like the giving up of the Ghost But who is begotten into the lively Hope are begotten into an Inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled whereunto they are kept by the power in Hope through Faith unto Salvation from sinne the thing that he that 's begotten of God longs and hopes for which Hope shall not faile Concerning Love THe love of God is but one and in One nor can any receive it but who receives that one the Son of God and this cannot stand with Self or any changable thing for God is that love and none can dwell in it but as he dwels in God so it 's pure and perfect As the Creature comes to live in God as he is into his Image and likenesse so with the pure Light his love is seen and shed abroad in the heart whereby the power of Faith worketh to the overcoming all that is contrary to God so the love of God abounds and who dwels in it worketh none ill but the Work of Love fulfills the Law of God which is upon all that 's gone out from him into the world self-ends which hath received-in the love of carnal things and so are gone into the enmity against God setting the Affection on changable things for whosoever will be a friend to the worlds is the enemy of God for the Worlds love arises from the Spirit of the World but the love of God is a fruit of Gods Spirit and none hath the love of God but who hath that Spirit from which it springs which is Eternal Unchangeable and above all Carnal things nor can Time or Carnal things quench it for it endures for ever and herein it differs from all the worlds love nor can any one have this love but in the Fountain of love even the manifestation of Gods love shed in the heart wherewith he first loved the Creature and this being known and seen in the Light from thence is the Spring of Love which runs out to the whole Creation of God and for the same end for as the love is one so the End is but one Now God so loved the World that he gave his Son into the World a Light to condemn sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of God might be fulfilled in the Creature in walking after the Spirit and denying the Works of the flesh and this is the love of God to sinners to condemn sinne and take it away in the Light and life of Christ and to all that love with this love this is the end of it But with this love is all your love condemned whose love stands in Fashions and Customes Feastings and Ryotings Sports and vain Pleasures or any thing in the flesh that 's in the Fall and in flattering one another in your evil wayes or in respect of persons or any other thing that hath an end for the love of God is without end in love to the Soul and Body as God hath made it but in hatred to all that is come in since which hath defiled it So that this love of God consists of Reproofs Judgment and Condemnation against all that defiles the Creation and against the Creature who yields to that pollution and this is pure love to the Soul that deals faithfully therewith in declaring its condition and that was the Mat. 23. great love Christ shewed the Jews when he told them they were Hypocrites blind guids Lyars and said Wo unto you ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell And many such plain true Act. 13. 10 words he spoke in love to them And that was the love of God in Paul which said to Elimas O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou Child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to pervent the right wayes of the Lord For all the love that can be shewed to any Creature is to deal faithfully and truly with them as they are seen in the Light and he who doth not so loves neither God nor them as will be found in the day of Judgment and so are out of Gods love and have imagined a love which is of another nature and with this love such as are out of the love of God flatter one another in your evil wayes and changable opinions which love is grounded in carnal things and stands in your own Wills And therewith when you will you love and when you will you hate but neither knows love nor hatred as it is in God Eccles 1. 9 6. whose love and hatred stands in changeable things so your love and hatred perisheth which stands not in God But who knows the love of God tramples upon all your love and hatred and sees an end thereof And such sees your blindnesse who say you would have all wone by love but know not whereof you affirm whose wayes is not Gods ways nor your Isa 2. 27. thoughts his For saith he I will redeem Zion with Judgment and with Isa 4. 4. the Spirit of Judgment and burning will I wash away the filth thereof But You who are in your filth would have all flattered therein So that love is seen to be filthy which spares filthinesse which defiles the Temple of God but that is pure which purges away the filth and condemns the Unclean and all that loves it For the love of the Devil may be wone with serving of him and flattering him in his wayes in them in whom he is But what is it worth So may one have the love of all the World and their friendship but woe unto that friendship which is got by sparing Gods enemies that is enmity against God
he do any thing but what he see the Father do in that worke he was found doing the same as he was taught of the Father in his obedience to him not what the Scribes and Pharisees did though they sat in Moses seat nor what the world approved but what was contrary to all the world and contrary to his own will onely submitting to the moving of the Spirit of the Father that dwelt in him by which alone he was to be guided and furnished to every good work And all that believe in him and follow his light he leads into the same knowledge and obedience out of all carnall knowledge power and obedience and by faith the creature is made partaker of this obedience and the power thereof from faith to faith And all that have learned him as he is so are they in this present world both in law and life and power and Spirit and in all this in the measure as he is learned and as any comes to the unity of the faith in him to his measure stature and fulnesse so the obedience is but one the power one the way one and the Son one and the Father one And this is not any thing from without but in Spirit it is learned and obtained and the mystery of it is hid from all who are without and the ministration of it is spirituall within whereby that obedience is known which is to the truth through the Spirit which is in life and not in imitation in the will of God and not in self will which obedience stands not in any thing seen from man or by man done thereby to imitate or doe the like for that is two obediences but it stands in Christ Jesus and in his one obedience to the Father seene in the light and in the faith received whereby the believer is made one in it and it in him that as the same Father calls for the same obedience in Spirit so in the same Spirit doth the believer offer up himself and all he hath in the same power and obedience in Christ Jesus And so as the creature by faith partakes of that one obedience in the second Adam he is made righteous and no further even as all are made sinners as they partake of the disobedience of the first Adam and no further And who knows to partake of this obedience knows the eternal Spirit in which all the Children of God have been taught and enabled to this one obedience in their several measures ever since the world was which is not works by them done but the everlasting righteousnesse of God obeyed in that Spirit according to the motions thereof seene in the light of Christ which none knows who are heart-blind and who minds the motions of the flesh and obeys them their minds being gone out to carnall pleasures the Call to this obedience is not by them heard neverthelesse the same carnall Spirit that leads out into the world teaches to make an imitation of this obedience and so deceives the simplicity by setting up a likenesse without life and so glories in appearance but not in heart And the witnesse of God in the heart or Conscience of such testifying to the face of truth that their obedience is not perfect nor accepted they conclude that there can be no perfect obedience attained in this world they not knowing the mighty powerful working of God in Spirit which worketh in them perfectly who believe and walk in the light whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into his obedience and his obedience into them in their measure till they become of one heart one mind one soul one spirit one flesh and bone and blood and one obedience and one life that it is no more we that lives but Christ that lives in us and the life that we now live is by Faith in the Son of God and though the fulnesse of this obedience is not attained at once yet the least measure of it is perfect and accepted and so accepted in him in whom it is wrought as the obedience of a Child is as pure clear and willing as the strong mans even so is the new Birth in Christ Jesus according to what God requires thereof who never requires but what he gives and never gives but what is perfect and what he perfectly accepts which gifts are all in his Son and in him the least is accepted and every one that therein exercise themselves without mixture Concerning good Works AS there is but one good so there is but one Worker of good in Heaven and in Earth who by the Word of his Power made all good in the beginning and in this good Work and Will was Man wrought in the Will of God in his Image and goodnesse he stood but falling from this stedfastnesse that was in God and be taking him unto self thereby to become wise he became subtill and proud in himself seeking to be as God was cast out from God his Power Love and goodnesse and being fallen into the dark Imaginary of his own heart and finding himself under the Curse whereof the Light of Christ in the Conscience is a Witnesse he hath set himself to make a likenesse of God Christ and Gods Worship and good Works Faith Hope Patience Love c. but being under the powers of darknesse neither knows God nor his Work but is deceived by the Prince of Darknesse and so doth please himself with an Imitation of God and his Work but without power and so as he imagines is doing good but the testimony of God in his heart bears witnesse against him that his Work is not perfect nor accepted He also imagines that he is redeemed but is still under the commanding power of Satan led Captive at his will who that he may the more strongly blind him he leads him sometimes into a seeming worship that so he may not so much suspect his way nor be too much troubled at his other unrighteous practices so that the worst of men in this state have a worship and each sort thinks they are right though there be but one way and they all without it and each in their thoughts are not so bad as others but have their severall good works though there be but one good work and they all out of it in their own works And it is no small work to undeceive the least of these who are thus conceited though men of greater wits and parts as they call them which is but a higher deceipt may lead them from one deceipt to another yet all the worlds wisdome cannot bring them into the good work nor the way wherein it is wrought Onely such who mind the light of Christ in their dark hearts which manifests to them their Evill deeds and reproves them for them and can believe it to be the light of Christ and thereto take heed to follow it out of the world and carnall mindednesse and in that light wait till the Living-Word
in bondage Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification THe wisdom of men in the Fall finding these several words in Scripture hath in their imaginations run them into divisions and separated that which is in one and cannot be devided in the possession for it is one that worketh all these where he is present according to the measure received And this is the just one who by faith lives in the Creature and the Creature in him and so becomes the justifier and sanctifier of all that believe and the mortifier of that nature which is out of the faith and one of these is not alone without the rest For that which sanctifies that mortifies and the same justifies and all that know what it is to have these in the life knows this I know there are a people who have a desire to Heaven more then to holynesse and they lest they should spoyle their Carnal delights have in their brain-imag'nation conceipted a Justification without santification or mortification wresting those Scriptures which condemns the works of the law and therewith they would exclude the righteousnesse of faith also And because the Scripture saith God justifies the ungodly through faith therefore they conclude themselves justified in their ungodlinesse by a fancy which they call faith but are without faith in Christ For that faith which laies not hold upon Gods righteousnesse is not the faith of Christ but a dead thing for so far as any hath the faith of Christ so far it reveals Gods righteousnesse without the law from faith to faith by which righteousnesse of God the just lives and the unjust dies and so justified as they are sanctified and mortified and no further even as the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleive without respect of persons No righteousnesse no faith in Christ but where Gods righteousnesse is unto all and upon all there the belief is witnessed and the faith is shewed by the works which cannot be shewed without the works for that faith that hath not works is dead being alone as the body without the Spirit so is your faith without workes and so is your justification without holinesse and mortification of life And you will find in the end that he that justifies the wicked in you is the same that condemneth the just and they are both abomination to the Lord And this is your state who plead for sin and live in pleasure and wantonly on the earth you slay the just and holy one and save the unjust alive and so know not him that is just who justifies mortifies sanctifies and redeemes who of God is made so to us that in all things we are and have we may glory in him And although the Scriptures mention these three yet not to devide them so as to make people believe they may have one and not all but as to shew the severall effects of that one work of mans redemption all wrought by one thing in the creature For the blood of Christ it washes away the filth and so puts off the old man and mortifies the deeds of that body and so sanctifies and justifies The Spirit it mortifies and sanctifies and justifies now though the Saints named both these it was not to devide them but being one they might declare it by either for none could have the one without the other and all that have them are thereby mortified sanctified and justified yet none of these without the creature being works of faith and not of selfe for by the law of faith is selfe-sanctification self-mortification and self-justification excluded though they who had received the Spirit were called to all these by faith in his blood yet it is the work of God wrought by Christ in the believer and in the light are they called to behold the work of God herein and joyne to it in the faith and obedience thereto being the work of God which he will work in all that beleive in the light that they may receive his Son in whom the promise is and the power to mortification sanctification and justification as by faith he is received from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised againe for our justification but such who would share in his Justification but not have fellowship in his sufferings and obedience are such as are justified in conceipt but sin raignes and the unjust lives and acts in them and this is selfe that justifies selfe but is not just before God the just being dead in trespasses and sins but God justifies the living and not the dead Therefore the Saints suffered the losse of all things counting them as doung that they might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death These through death came to the power and fellowship of his resurrection whereby they are justified being raised with him to newnesse of life by faith receiving the gift of Gods righteousnesse and becoming servants thereto and thereby became free from sin and this is true justification where there is no condemnation where the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the creature walks no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for the condemnation is to him that walks after the flesh but he Gal. 5. 16. that walks in the Spirit is justified for he that walks in the Spirit shal not Rom. 8 3 4 fulfill the lusts of the flesh and there is mortification to that nature that breaks the law and the just is seen who fulfils the law in such as walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit So not the hearers of the law are just Rom. 2 13. before God but the doers of the law shall be justified In the first mans state the law is broken and there mortification and sanctification is denyed and there the man would be justified from the guilt of sin but not from the love and power of sin but would have his carnall delights in the world and Heaven also but this is vaine hope and will perish But in the second mans state the law is fulfilled through mortification sanctification Justification of the Spirit And no man can be justified where the just lives not for that by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified Concerning the Law IN this thing are many people confounded yea all who know not the ministration of the Spirit for such going into the Scriptures and finding the ministration of the Letter and the ministration of the Spirit and themselves being under neither of these but in Notion as they have received it in their imaginations and not from the Mouth of the Lord some say they are under the Law and that it continues still others say but some part of it which is Morall others say nay but it
Therefore faith Jam. 4. 4. God let love be without dissimulation abhor that which is evill cleave to Rom. 12. 9. that which is good and that love is it which covers sinne which condemns sin unto death and covers it with righteousnesse Otherwise saith the Scriptures he that covereth sinne shal not prosper And saith James Prov. 28. 13. Jam. 5. 20. He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a Prov. 29. 5. soul and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And saith Solomon Open rebuke is better thâ—â—â—â—â—â—t love such wounds are precious to them that know what love is but he that spares mens wickednesse hates Gods righteousnesse And so with the Light is seen Gods love and the Devils love and each loves his own works and so do their Children in whom they raign For who ever loves the one hates the other and he that serves the one hates the other and so the Servant pleads for his Master whom he loves Concerning Judgment TRue Judgment as it is known to men is a gift from the Spirit of God set in the heart of every one who dwells in the Light of Christ which Judgmennt passeth upon all that 's in the Creature contrary to the life of God and so as it is received springs up with Light and Salvation to the redeeming of the heart from all uncleannesse condemning all which is contrary to purity that God may be seen in his dwelling place with his righteousnesse and so he is said to redeem Zion with Judgment and her Isa 1. 27 Converts with Righteousnesse and to purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of burning And if there be a dwelling in the Light this Judgment ceases not till the Isa 4. 4. Throne of Christ be established in the heart in peace for this is his Judgment and is upon all that stands up against his Kingdom and this Isa 9. 7. is the cause why the enemies of righteousnesse love it not but have turned it into gall and wormwood which the righteous delights in and loves who are redeemed and saved therewith and knows it to be the the Promise first to be received For saith the Lord I will make Judgment Isa 51. 4 to rest for a light of the people which being received his righteousnesse is neer to be revealed Therefore his Judgment must passe before upon all that 's Unrighteous and none can have his righteousnesse but who receives his Judgment Hos 6. 5. Therefore saith the Lord I have hewed them by the Prophets I have slain them by the words of my mouth and my Judgments are as a Light that Dan. 7. 2 goeth forth And for this end is Judgment given to the Saints of the most High And saith the Lord righteous men shall judge them after the manner of Adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed blood because they are Adulteresses and blood is in their hands thus will I cause loudness to cease out of the Laud. Therefore is Ezekiel so often commanded to judge them and cause them to know their abominations And Jeremy was full of the fury of the Lord and he was weary with hold 〈◊〉 in And Micah was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sinne And so in all Ier. 6. 11. Ages he placed his Judgments in his servants who were to judge the Heathen and such as knew not God therewith and so many as did believe Mic. 3. 8. it and receive it did repent and found mercy and the rest were hardened And this judgment is eternal and shall stand in Heaven as it is passed upon earth And this was committed to the Apostles as a Doctrine and Heb. 6. 2. whom they bound were bound and who by it they loosed were loosed therefore did all the Saints love judgment for it is the ministration of Christ ministred out upon all that 's against Christ and that which is against Christ is against the Soul so this judgment must begin at the 1 Pet. 4. 17 house of God but where the Devil keeps the house he rejects it and saith Solomon the ungodly scorneth Judgment and evill men understand it not So saith he there i that 's destroyed for want of Judgment and Prov. 19. 28. he that hath not Judgment is blind and sees not that his Enemy raigns which must raign till Judgment be brought into victory and set in the Prov. 28. earth but when Judgment is laid to the Line and Righteousnesse to the Prov. 13. 25. Plummet then the Covenant with Hell and Death must be disanulled so all that are in this Covenant loves not that which breaks it Isa 28. 17 18. And this is your Case who hates reproof who when you are told of your evil hearts where sinne lives and your cursed crooked natures you say Who made thee a Judge And many say You could like what we say but that we judge people so you are they that hate Judgment and would not have the Ministry of Christ to go on for who hath the Spirit of Christ hath the Spirit of Judgment and who serves that Spirit must sâ—ffer it to speak and judge in them and all that oppose it shall be condemned by it Therefore saith David the tongue of the Righteous talketh judgment the Law of God is in his heart his steps shall not slide but the wicked Psal 137. 30 31 32. seekech to slay him So for uttering the Judgments of God against the Wicked have the just ever suffered and for the same do you now hate them and condemn them and you are in the same nature and covenant that your Fore-fathers was in who shed the innocent bloud and you would have joyned with them had you lived with them what ever your deceipt may say to the contrary And you are found in the same Opposition to the utmost power you have against the Spirit of Judgment now as they was then and the cause is the same now as it was then both they and you living in that which is for Judgment Fire and Condemnation therefore you cannot receive their Testimony who have that evil judged and condemned which you love and live in and for this cause Cain slew his Brother and so do all his generation and with that which you hate shall you be condemned and shall not be able to stand in judgment which is the Saints delight in which they are united to God as he hath said I â—os 2. 19. will betroth ye unto me for ever in righteousness and in judgment which righteousnes and Judgment must condemn the wicked So who hath Christ hath him in Judgment and righteousness and loves him his Judgment and righteousness but who is married unto the world cannot love that which is his Condemnation for so doing Concerning
but could not obtain it And in this state came Nicodemus to Christ but could not enter into the Kingdom in that state nor knew the new Birth though he loved Christ and believed him to be sent of God And this is that state David speaks of when he saith If I regard iniquity God will not hear my prayer And in this state you all are who are worshipping in your carnal minds and sensual wisdome in the flesh But that which is born of the Heavenly is Heavenly Spiritual Eternal and incorruptible which is the state of the New man which of God is begotten of the Divine Nature and as is his Nature so is his Works and so his delights are Spiritual as he is Spiritual for as is the Man so are his Works and as is the Tree so is his Fruit and so he that is born of this Seed is born of God and he that is born of God sins not in whom that Seed remains And all who remain in this Seed and it in them this hath the Promise and Power that puts off the Old Man with his Deeds Lusts and Affections and so the body of sinne being put off through the body of Christ the Redemption is witnessed and as the Creature passeth from the Old to the New so they passe from the Death to the Life for the life is in the new and so the victory is received in the new over sinne the grave and hell which the Worlds Birth talkes of in their fallen Nature but cannot receive the Power and Victory whereby to enter into that Kingdome nor see the glory of it and so takes up their rest and delights in visible things and so encumbers themselves with that the end whereof is destruction which those who are born of the spirit tread upon and cannot set their mindes upon nor bow unto nor be conformable to such vanities And so those who are of the heavenly cannot have communion with the earthly they being contrary minded in all things So that which is wisdom to the one is foolishnesse to the other and ever was So the Spirituall seed could never worship the heathen Gods nor can it bow to their imaginations for that seed which is of God leads the heart upto God and that which is of the earth to earthly things and so those that are the children of God are lead by his spirit of which they are born and the children of this world by the Spirit of this world are Captivated into the worlds wayes and fashions and love of it wherein is the Serpents seate and kingdom in which he rules and wherein his power is seen in all who are disobedient to the light of Christ the new man so being given up because of the blindnesse of their hearts to his power which is alwayes in the dark in such he brings forth his enmity against the babes of God born after the Spirit children of the light of the immortal seed who bear the image of the invisible God and have the Spirituall worship into which they are led and guided with the eternal spirit of which they are born which can no longer stay in any form of worship then God stayes therein but by his Spirit is led to follow him into whatever he goes and out of what ever he departs which those who are born after the flesh and see but the out-side and form and there abides when God is departed such are the seat of Satan become where he sitts and persecutes such as follow the Spirits teaching into its several ministrations And therein hath the serpent beguiled the creature by getting into somewhat of the form once used with the Saints whilst God dwelt therein and to that adds inventions of his own called Decency and Order and the like and with this hath deceived the creatures so as to serve his ends to shed the blood of their bretheren under a pretence of error and blasphemy and denying Ordinances and worships and as being leaders of dangerous Sects and Heresies denying government turning the world upside down and the like So that the childreu of light have been ever numbred amongst transgressors but were never so further then to transgresse the wills of men to observe the will of God yet none of these did ever suffer as well-doers in the worlds accompt but as not worthy to live in the world being born of a principle above the world which the natural man knows not So he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the spirit as it is at this day thinking they do God service because they know not the Father nor the Son but live in darknesse nor owning that whereof the children of light is born so becomes their enemies And this is your state who resist that measure of light that shines in your dark hearts that shews your evil deeds So being against the light of the Spirit you are enimies to all who of that Spirit are born And so farr as you see the ground root of your disobedience to the light in your selves that reproves of sin so farr you may see the ground of your emnity and no farther And untill you joyn to that light you cannot be one with that seed but hate it for that which is born of the will of the flesh is emnity to that which is born of the will of God and that which is born of God is emnity with the world and conformity to it And with the light are you Judged to be of the flesh who love the things of the flesh and minde them and who conform to this world are of it what ever you professe to the contrary the light will find you out which light leads above all these things up to the Father of light which light is one with all who are born of the Spirit but a witnesse against you who are born of the flesh So they that are in the flesh cannot please God that in your conscience is witness the light which is condemnation But who is born of the Spirit with such he is well pleased the testimony of their conscience bearing them witnesse in the sight of God that they are his Children and born of him and their envy and reproch and suffering from the world for testifing against the deeds thereof are as a cloud of witnesses that they are not of it for it loves its own and so the enmity is seene put betweene the seeds that of the Serpent seeks a word or a forme without whereby to murther and destroy the creature that God hath made under a pretence of serving God but the seed of God strikes at the head of that enmity and roote of sin but saves the work of God alive Concerning the Baptism of Christ from that the world so calls IN the world there be many forts and forms of Baptismes but in Christ there is but one and that is that of the Spirit and this is the Baptisme of Christ and all
that are baptised with it are baptised into his death buried with him unto the world its wayes and worships loves and freindships and to all that in them is which would conforme or bow thereto and through this death is the seed of God raised up out of the grave quickned by the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead And all that are Baptised with this Spirit and the old Man dead and buried they are raised a spiritual seed unto God holy and zealous of good works being begotten againe of another nature from above which is but one and all as they are baptized herein grow into one in God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and so the Saints were all baptised by one Spirit into one body out of that nature in which all differences are Sects and opinions and so come to put on Christ which is but one for as many as are baptised unto Christ have put on Christ and his mind and affection and such know a further prize then contentions about Elements of the world or washings without neither do they stand laying againe such foundations as stands in times and seasons and customs and persons as all the world is contending about who are in the many Baptismes and many fashions some contending for sprinkling Infants â—ome for dipping them some for sprinkling them over againe and some for dipping them over againe when they are growne to such a confusion in outward words and many other outward Ceremonies they keepe themselves disputing and jangling about from the letter in an imitation of Johas Ministry calling it the Baptisme of Christ but out of the Spirit and power of Christ or John either yea so farre from the power as not come to the forme of either And this effect this hath taken in all who are gone out into the world in these imitations and imaginations that so many Baptismes so many Religions and Sects and every Sect Master and his followers set themselves against all other in the way they have conceived to be right and to that way must all bow or else no agreement though never so neare in other things nay so zealous they are for their Likenesse that if any come not into it though the Spirit of God be in them and they themselves confesse it yet he must not speake in that creature in their Churches without bowing to their formes of water which are all different one from another though the Spirit of God be but one and cannot be limitted to any visible forme or rudiment And thus the form is set above the power and not the true form neither but as men have conceived from the letter by the Counsels of their own braine some in the Popish Councels some since but none from the Mouth of the Lord and therefore they are scattered in their imaginations and baptismes But who are baptised with the baptisme of the Spirit are baptized into one body But all that are without who are the nearest are in the error not knowing the Scripture nor power of God herein For all who have not their law guide and rule in Spirit are in that generation who have erred and lost the Saints guide and such are scattered with what they from the letter imagine into divisions And this was that which Paul saw getting in amongst the Churches in 1 Cor. 14. 17. his time setting up sects and the persons by whom they were baptised puft up for them and against the other Apostles some of Paul some of Peter c. Which Paul seeing thanks God he had baptized no more of them and plainly saies Christ sent him not to baptize but to Which clearly shows it was not laid on the Apostles as of necessity but as they found it of service or disservice preach the Gospel though he could use it untill he saw them make an Idoll of it thereby to make devisions and parties and to puffe up one above another as it is now used at this day yea farre more for it is now made the key to let in and shut out of that they call a Church yea further some say none can be saved without it but all that have it are belâ—evers and shall be saved and so set it in the place of Christ But others are more moderate who finding it practised in the Letter they say it is an ordinance and they who practise it not deny an ordinance of Christ To such I say all that is in the letter is not ordained there to be taken up by all that read it for the Saints had their call to their particular Ministrations in Spirit and not in Letter for else they had not witnessed differences of administrations but the same Lord But by the Spirit they were led from carnall administrations and through them not sticking in the Letter What letter had Paul to deny Circumcision which the letter said should be as a signe for ever Or by what letter did he deny Baptisme Did he deny an Ordinance of Christ in either of these divers more rudiments which were commands in the letter which he preached practise in Spirit putting an end to the shadow of things to come and leading to the body as is plaine Col. 2. Further I say if it were so that all that was done in the letter was to be taken up then the forme thereof must not be changed if the letter be the rule But not any that I know at this day that are in the forme as the Saints did it for none practised this but who was called out to teach all Nations So you that have your certaine dwelling places and live in your worldly estates and fashions are out of this Call Neither did they take such into the outward washing who had beene there before but baptised such into the name of Christ Jesus with the Spirit that they might receive the holy Ghost But if you say they had it not in right forme and manner nor by persons rightly called and qualified c I say Nor can they have that from you who are not called out of the world but live in its friendship professions fashions and customs in which the Saints never lived after they were called to teach and baptize So you do but add another false forme to that they had before but still out of the power nor any change of faith or qualification onely in that thing of Water over againe differing in some circumstances as you have conceived from the letter but still with the rest of professions in Covetousnesse Pride and Contention vaine words and heathenish customes and manners of the Nations in which you live you that can live in Suites and revenge you that sweare at mens wills and so deny the commands of Christ and his Apostles whosaies Above all things sweare not at all you that can uphold the high places of Popery which yet remaine in the land and such a worship therein as Christ never commanded with tythes and