for he hath prepared a way and a means for the Salvation of all that they might be saved For he so loved the world that he hath given his onely begotten Son into the world that all through him might believe for he is the Covenant of God even a Covenant of Light unto all Nations that he might be his Salvation unto the ends of the earth This testimony John did bear of him that he was the true Light which enlightens every man which cometh into the world and as many as receive him and believe in his name even in the Light to them he giveth power to become the Sons of God which is another birth then yours Which is of the flesh and will of man Read and consider you that desire Salvation unto your souls for it is the visitation of Gods eternal love unto you for I am truly constrained by his pure Spirit hereunto therefore whether you will hear or forbeare I shall be a sweet savour unto God Even in them which believe and in them which perish But my hearts desire is that ye may come into the Covenant of God and be saved even to be taught led and guided by him for the way is plaine and it is but one in all even the Light which reproves for sin maketh manifest all the deeds of darkness though never so secret for saith the Apostle whatsoever makes manifest is Light he that comes to that which makes manifest cometh to Christ for saith he I am the Light of the world I am the way No man cometh to the Father but by me So come to the Light and then you will come to the Way the Truth and the Life this will be more then a bear name unto you life truth even truth in the inward part which God onely accepteth out of which all profession is vain therefore he which comes to the Light comes to the truth and comes to know the teachings of God as it is written All thy children shall be taught of me and great shall be their peace so in the Light you will witness the teachings of God which is his holy Covenant with his people I will write my law in their hearts saith God and put it in their inward parts the law is Light saith Solomon and if you come to turn to the Light you will witness the same I will live in them and walk in them saith God Marke this is the holy true and everlasting Covenant of God to his people and this the true Christians came to witness even their bodies to be the Temples of God through the Spirit and God dwelleth with no unclean thing neither dareth such a one plead for sin as long as he liveth for they are sanctified and made fit for their Masters use not having only the forme of Godliness but the life and power and they who had the form without the power were to be turned from it which power is the Light which cometh from Christ and leadeth up to God and the Saints were Saints in Light for they were sanctified by it which was the will of God And as saith the Apostle this is the will of God even your Sanctification this is no new Doctrin but the good Old Way which God hath prepared even for his Ransomed ones to walk in in which path the way faring men though fools shall not erre therein for the way is Light as saith the Apostle if ye live in the Light and walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship with God and one with another Mark fellowship with God this Light leadeth unto in which the Saints fellowship onely stood which brought them to the knowledge of God and he which said he knew God and walked in darkness was a liar for the darkness comprehendeth not the Light which is the only habitation and Covenant of God so as you come truely to confess your sins you will witness the Blood of Christ to cleanse you from all unrighteousness but if you say you have not sin before you come to this and say it is done away in Christ then you are lyars and the truth is not you no more then it is in them who say they have not sinned as you come to witness the Blood of Christ and its vertue you will witness these sayings to be true and faithfull not onely to be talked of but to be witnessed in you and untill you come here you are perfect strangers unto the several states and growths the true Christians came through in their Warfare there was little children young men and old men for saith John I write unto you little children that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world Marke He freely offered up himself for all And by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandements He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandements is a liar and the truth is not in him Marke the true Christians state is life And consider what state and nature you are in and whether ye keep Christs Commandement yea or nay for these things are of great weight and concernment unto you even you that have taken up the name but are out of the nature And againe saith the Apostle Whose keepeth his Word in him verily in the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him Marke by this they the true Christians knew that they were in Christ because they kept his word and he which dwelleth in him ought to walke even as he walked are you here nay your consciences witnesseth to your faces the contrary therefore forbeare the name untill you witness the life else the greater will be your condemnation which is the Word of the Lord unto you all therefore be ye warned in time And againe saith he A new Commandement I write unto you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is past and the true light now shineth Marke againe they did witness the darkness past and the true Light to shine which Light giveth the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which treasure saith Paul we have in Earthen vessels this treasure even the Light they the true Christians witnessed in them and walking in it had fellowship with it and one with another For God is Light and he which liveth and walketh in the Light liveth and walketh with God and witnesseth a true translation as Enoch did and is not seen Because his life is hid with Christ in God and this is a true translation from death to life which is the true Christians life and he which saith he is in the Light and hateth his brother is a liar and is in darkness even untill now he which loveth his brother dwelleth
to shine as his own elect and chosen people as the Stars in the Firmament and many shall desire to be joyned unto you yea the day hastneth apace That ten shall lay hold of h m which is a Jew and say we will eat our own bread and drink our own drink only let us be called by thy name yea this and much more which is hard to be uttered either by tongue or Pen shall be the portion of him who is of the true circumcision which is made without hands who worships God in the Spirit a City and habitation is prepared for them whose builder and maker is God wherein the Lamb shall be their Light and they shall walk in it for ever and ever Therefore come all away to the light which is the true door into the new and Heavenly Jerusalem wherein no unclean thing can or ever shall enter thereby by the light must ye come to be cleansed which is the blood of the Covenant which is freely shed abroad for the cleansing of all the sons of Adam therefore trample it not under your feet as the blood of a dead man and count it not an unholy thing for by it alone were all the Saints of old cleansed and it did not serve them onely to talk of but were truly purged purified and made clean by it and so witnessed Justification and Sanctification in this life without which they never could for except you come to witnesse your souls cleansed from sin and sanctified with the blood of the everlasting Covenant you cannot be justified by God for God justifieth no unclean thing and remember it is written That without holinesse no man shall see the Lord and lay it to heart and there ponder these things in the coole of the day which if you do The grace of God will not be bestowed upon you in vain but through its pure teachings and vertue you will come to witnesse salvation to your souls and death swallowed up in victory and he that hath the power of it which is the Devil then will that saying be brought to pass O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory and will thank God with your souls bodies and spirits and serve him therewith as holy vessels sanctified to his use who hath given you the victory over all and living praise will issue out of your mouths not by constraint but willingly out of a pure heart for evermore to the living praise of him who hath redeemed your souls out of the horrible pit and set your feet upon a Rock even upon Mount Sion to live and Reign for ever And this is the true Salvation of God through Christ Jesus which thousands witnesse at this day in England and praise the Lord with one heart mind and soul continually which is their only joy and delight God only being witnessed to be their Judge King and Law-giver who hath saved them with everlasting Salvation from sin and uncleanness and are translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son and there live and delight only to walk to the praise and glory of the glorious God of all grace who hath thus bestowed his rich grace and mercy upon them which also is freely and richly tendred unto you O ye inhabitants of France therefore slight it not but draw nigh unto God and he will draw unto you for he is a God at hand and not afar off even unto them who call upon him with a simple heart and is a ready help unto such in time of need and you will witnesse him so unto you if ye embrace the riches of his grace mercy and goodnesse which is freely tendred to every individual of you without respect of persons Therefore call upon the Lord while he is neere least when you call he will not answer which is counsell of life unto you all which if you reject then hear what the Spirit saith ye shall have your portions with the wicked stiff-necked unbelievers and rebellious and your children shall enjoy the blessing for God of a truth will be glorified in many of them and you also if ye count not your selves unworthy of Eternal life which is richly and plentifully tendred unto you Therefore cease from all your Idol-shepherds and hireling-Priests which feed themselves and not the flock preach up sin as long as men live which shews they are imperfect Ministers and cannot make the comers thereunto perfect therefore I say cease from them in time least while the blind lead the blind ye both fall into the ditch for they are truly the Ministers of Satan and preach up his power to be greater than the power of God even to have more force to keep people in sin then the power of God hath to redeem from sin as hath already been said and so make the coming of Christ to be of no effect which was to redeem people from the Law which was added because of transgression up to God to live in his power which was before transgression was therefore saith the Apostle in what the Law could not doe in that it was weak God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Mark this was the true end of Christs coming not to destroy the Law because the Law is righteous and layeth hold on the transgressor but he came to destroy the transgressions and so he redeems all who come unto him from the curse of the Law by destroying the works of the Devil in people that so the righteousnesse thereof might be fulfilled in them by the power of Christ Jesus and so they come to the Spirits of just men made perfect the seed of the Serpent being bruised and wholly destroyed in them by Christ the seed of God in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen and they who witnesse this witnesse the end of Christs coming and the new birth which is incorruptible of God which sinneth not and they who come to witnesse this know that the power of Satan is not greater then the power of God in Christ Jesus who saves his people from their sins and this is the only true living Ministry which is to the salvation of the soul and all who preach any other doctrine then this though we our selvs or an Angell from heaven let them be accursed therefore consider your doctrine who preach against perfection and for keeping men in sin as long as they live and then the Devil knows he hath them sure enough afterwards for the wages of sin is death out of which there is no redemption if the creature dye therein for as the tree falls so it lyeth And this is the truth of God to all the inhabitants of the Earth therefore high and low rich and poor bond and free be ye warned and while ye have time prize it and if ye call upon God who
profession soever and it shall prove you who say you are Jews and are not and every mans works shall be tryed of what sort they are and all coverings besides the pure Holy Spirit of the Lord shall be as Adams fig-Leaves were and when the Lord shall call them to an account they shall fear to appear before him because of their transgressions and Gods witnesse in all shall answer unto his just judgments which shall come upon them the hypocrites shall weep and howle and many shall call to the Hills and Mountains to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb whom they have willfully despised and rejected Therefore be ye warned in time and see and search diligently what you are built upon for no other foundation shall be able to abide the dreadful day of Gods controversie with the sons and daughters of men but the Rock of ages and he which is not built upon this let him be never so secure in his own conceit or in the eye of flesh his building shall utterly perish and come to nought and great shall be his ruine Therefore come all to the Light and make no other foundation but that if ye desire to abide the day of tryal which is neer even at the dore therefore this warning is sent unto you in an acceptable time that ye may take warning before it be too late for a consummate decree is determined of the Lord which shall consume and destroy all the workers of iniquity for ever therefore blessed will the man be who hath not walked in their way nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull after he is warned but shall cleave to the Law of God and meditate therein his off-spring shall be prosperous in the Earth and his name shall be written in the book of life for ever he shall wash his garments white in the blood of the Lamb and follow him who hath a Bow and a Sword and maketh war in righteousness against the Dragon and his Followers even the Man of Sin who hath long sitten in the Temple of God and said He is God but by the Lamb shall he be overcome and his followers and all that are found in resistance of Gods power shall be cast into the pit of endlesse torments for ever and the day is already dawned wherein this glorious work shall be accomplished Therefore beware with whom ye joyn in battel for the Lamb makes war in righteousness against all sin and the appearance thereof but the Dragon and his followers shal be to uphold it and plead for it and imprison such as bear testimony against it so each will be known by their weapons their fruits and their colours the one's weapons are spiritual the others carnal the one is in unrighteousnesse the other in righteousnesse the one is in blood and revenge the other in suffering and patience so you may easily distinguish between them and will not be able to plead ignorance in the day of account for it was ever so from the beginning the just suffering by the unjust the seed of the Bond-woman persecuting the seed of the Free-woman which never persecuted any therefore be ye warned of joyning with the persecuting spirit of Antichrist for if you doe you shall assuredly as the Lord God of Heaven and Earth lives partake of his plagues but rather cast out the Bond-woman and her son that ye may be heirs with the seed of the Free-woman which keep the Commandements of God so will ye be heirs of the promise and of the mercy of God which is freely tendered unto you through his simple servant who is at present a sufferer in the patience and tribulation of the Lamb on whom the Lord hath laid a necessity to warn thee O nation of France that thou mayst find mercy in this the day of Gods free love which is tendered unto thee and though this reacheth unto the whole Nation yet in particular it is sent to you who are called by the name of the Reformed Religion to the end that ye may not only be so in name but also in life and practise without which your name will but adde unto your condemnation as hath already been told you God is purposed to try you and your foundation and a name will not serve the turn and except ye partake of the nature of the sufferance of Gods seed and spirit of truth in you and turn to the Lord by putting away the evil of your doings ye shall surely partake of her plagues which is the word of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth unto you all for her sins have exceeded the sins of Sodom and the measure of her iniquity is even up and judgment is already prepared for her therefore be ye seperated from your iniquities in time for the word is gone out of the mouth of the Lord and can never be recalled but shall surely accomplish the thing which he hath purposed therefore my bowels are drawn forth in love towards you that ye may not perish with the uncircumcised and unclean but that rather ye may come to repentance and amendment of life and live for ever which is the true desire of his soul Friends the Lord is about to do a wonderful work in the Earth which many cannot believe though it were told them but the upright in heart shall see it and praise him yea the youth shall rejoyce and the virgins shall be glad and the Saints shall admire and smite upon their breasts in beholding the wonderful works of the Allmighty which he purposeth to doe in this generation And therefore give ear unto me and be not hard of heart nor unbelieving and I will through the spirit of the Lord which is upon me shew unto you the certainty of things which shall shortly come to passe The Lord will cast down the haughty and the proud from his throne and will exalt the humble and the meek yea he will rebuke the proud and give grace unto the humble He will exalt his horn over all that shall rise up against him he will break the bond of oppression and set the Nations at liberty that his name may be glorified from one end of the Earth unto the other though at present his name is not known amongst the sons of men and he be more a stranger and less known amongst them then the Ox to his owner or the Ass to his masters crib yet shall the knowledge of him cover the whole earth even as the waters cover the Seas He will overturn all Idolaters and all Idols for ever and all who shall set a hand to uphold them all Idol Priests shall be turned into confusion for ever the haughty seat shall be laid low and the humble and the meek shal be exalted yea he will by his own arm and Allmighty power arise and plead the cause of the innocent and set the oppressed free and enlarg the borders of the innocent and the meek shall take the possession and the glorious
took and gave another to read and said I pray thee read it and he said I cannot for it is sealed and he gave it to another and said I pray thee read it and he said I cannot for I am unlearned so to learned and unlearned it is a mistery And truely I freely declare unto all the sons of men that there is none that can open the seals thereof neither is there any found worthy in Heaven or in Earth but Christ Jesus the Lamb of God the Light of the World who hath enlightned every one which cometh into the World and till men come to give up to be led guided and directed by this pure Light in all their words and actions the mysteries of the Kingdome of God nor godlinesse they will never come to know nor understand for the vail is over their hearts and until it be rent and taken away by the power and vertue of the Light they run on as the Jews doe in darknesse and know not at what they stumble for though the mistery of godlinesse be great yet it is but one to all and in all either Jew or Gentile even God manifest in the flesh the Emanuel God with us even with men and in men and this is the Mistery of Mysteries which the Apostle said hath been hid from ages and generations which was Christ in them the hope of their glory and without this be witnessed there is neither true hope nor true glory though men talk of hope yet it is but the Hypocrites hope which perisheth and will never bring them to glory no farther then the earthly which is but grief and vexation of spirit but he that hath and is truly possessed with the true and living hope abiding in him purifieth himself even as Christ is pure even from all earthly affections either of glory honour or riches wisdom or any other earthly thing being given up in all things to seek the true honour and glory which cometh from God onely though for so doing he may and is accounted a fool poor and simple and rejected by those who possesse onely the false hope who seek the riches honour and praise of the Kings and Princes of this world which are the manifest fruits and effects of their hope And thus is Christ become the true riches of the soul and the creatures glory whereby he comes to tread all other things under his feet and counts them but as drosse and dung in comparison to it So here all may prove and try their hope by its manifest and apparent opperations in brief the one hoping this and that power will be the chiefest that they may have accesse unto it to maintain their Church and Religion and the other desiring that God onely may have and take the dominion and that he alone may rule and reign because he knoweth it is in God and the gates of Hell can never prevail against it therefore matters not nor fears any outward strength because his strength and hope is in God alone who purifies and makes clean all who hope and put their trust in him by the power of his own seed in them to rule and reign which bruiseth the seed and head of the Serpent for ever and conquers the last enemy and such onely come to witnesse the true and living birth which is of God which sinneth not and comes to be restored into the same glorious state and condition as Adam was in before he fell And this is the substance of all words and also it is the end of Christs ministring even to bring people unto this by which they come to know as I have said the promise of God fulfilled to wit the seed of the woman to bruise the Serpents head and their bodyes to be Temples and habitations of God through the Spirit and he to live and walk in them as he hath promised but the ministry of Satan is to preach up sin as long as men live by which means he may keep his Kingdome for he hath no other Kingdome but it Therefore let men professe what they will in word he matters not as long as he hath his Dominion in their hearts and his head unbruised there where he sitteth as God even in the Temple of God and this is the abomination of desolation amongst the sons of men which is to be made desolate in this the day of Gods Almighty power in which the mistery of the Man of sin shall be fully revealed and made manifest and the Kingdome of the most High shall be established with men and in them And this great and glorious work shall not be by might nor by force of men but by the arm and Spirit of the Almighty God whose power shall be evidently made manifest to free and set at liberty the sons of men from the bonds of sin and corruption that they may no longer be Satans bond-slaves I say all such shall come to witnesse this who shall cleave to the Lord with sincerity of heart in this the day of his gracious love unto the sons and daughters of men but those that reject his love and will none of his reproof shall witnesse and also feel his power in wrath and dreadful vengeance who will assuredly render unto them according to their deeds and so much the more as they have slighted the day of their visitation and rather believed Satan and his messengers that his power is greater to keep them in sin and bondage than Gods was to deliver them though the Scripture it self which they seem to professe beareth witnesse against them And the Apostles Ministry was to open the blind eyes and to turn people from darknesse to light and from Satans power unto God and they who believe in this Ministry and receive it in the love thereof they come perfectly to know as they are turned from darkness which is the power of Satan unto light which is the power of God and witnesse in deed and in truth the power of God greater to deliver from sin than Satans power is to keep in sin therefore the unbeliever and Satan and his Ministers shall all be taken and cast into the lake of Brimstone and Fire and be tormented for ever and ever and the little stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall become a great mountain and cover the whole earth for ever and shall grind all his enemies to powder for God Almighty hath determined it and his Decree is unalterable Therefore O thou Nation of France in particular I warn thee as one whom God hath warned and constrained so to do that thou stand not in the stubbornnesse of thy heart against the Lord and his Anointed in this the day of his power but submit unto him by repentance and forsaking of thy sins that thou mayst find mercy else he will teare thee in pieces and none shall be able to deliver thee out of his hands which is his eternal word unto you all Therefore lay it to
A Seasonable Warning To such who profess themselves MEMBERS OF Reformed Churches INTO What Forme soever gathered or where-ever scattered over the face of the whole earth but most especially to France and the parts adjacent With a few remarkable QUERIES c. Given forth in love to all souls a tender visitation of breathing desires of good to the whole Creation by a friend thereof CHARLES BAILY LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. try your spirits and there is no difference between you and those you seem to deny for in nature ye are one in pride and hypocrisie envy malice and cruelty drunkenness swearing lying whoredom deceit and whatsoever is evill and were the power in your hands ye would be more cruel then those ye seem to complain of and in the ground there is no difference between you for ye have lost your suffering spirit which was once amongst you at the first and are grown as vaine in your Imaginations as any of the heathen of the Nations Therefore repent repent ye also and think not in your hearts that it will serve your turns to say you are reformed while iniquity and abomination is in your inward parts and are not at all reformed from that to wit iniquity though ye say ye are saved by faith in Christ ye are found wholly out of that spirit and doctrine which leadeth To do unto all men as ye would others should do unto you as your fruits hath proved some of you casting out of the Synagogues or Temples as the Jews did and as is foretold should be done unto my servants Therefore be ye warned in time and remember how the Jews came under the reproofe of the Just when they said they were Abrahams children whilest they were Of their father the Devil whose works they did and do you not think but your evill deeds are as abommable as theirs they boasted as well as you they were the children of my Covenant while you and them trample the Blood thereof under your feet for which cause a curse came upon them and shall also come upon you if ye repent not and take not warning in time while my hand is stretched out towards you for good that ye may live and not die in your sins for if you die in your sins Where I go ye cannot come saith Christ Jesus the Light of the world who is the Covenant of God given for Salvation unto the ends of the earth and untill ye come to this Light ye are far from being children of the Covenant as ye pretend but in Covenant with Hell Death and the Devill pleading for sin as long as you live which is the Devils Kingdom and for so doing ye give men great sums of money yearly which is an abominable thing to the Lord God Almighty And then you say you are Christians by Baptisme and the like sprinkling a little water upon the face or head of a child and thereby have an entrance into the Church and yet will not admit the same to the Roman-Catholicke though their Water hath as much vertue as yours and the child of the one believeth as much as the other and both when they grow up are in one nature which sheweth plainly you are ignorant of the one onely true Baptisme which washeth away sin and corruption and gives a true entrance into the Church which is in God the ground and Pillar of truth into which no unclean thing can have an entrance for it is a spiritual House built with living Stones elect and precious Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone who gave himself for it That he might present it to God without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And this is the true Church and Baptism which gives an entrance into it and the true saith which once came and takes the possession So read and try and prove your selves If Christ be not in you ye are reprobates professe what you will and if Christ were in you The body would be dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness but how far you are from this let the Light of Christ Judge in you therefore repent that ye may find mercy and think not that God will have respect unto your persons no more then he had respect to those who said They were Jewes and were not for because of that he said he would spue them out of his mouth and seeing he spared not the natural branches but cut them off the root because of transgression do you think he will spare you Nay verily The soul that sinneth shall die saith God for he spared not the Angels who kept not their first estate but hath reserved them under the chaines of darkness untill the Judgement of the great day And let these things be a seasonable warning unto you for it was so and is so that he which is a Jew outwardly is not the true Jew neither is he a Christian who beareth the name outwardly and hath not the nature of Christ all such are an abomination to the Lord. You are so far from being leavened into his nature which only maketh a Christian that if any one come amongst you and say he hath the Spirit of God he is had in great derision amongst you and is laughed at to scorne though the Apostle saith He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and all who were Baptized with the true Baptisme they received the Holy Ghost So read consider and try your selves what state you are in and do not think that the nature of Christ is changed since the Apostles time nay it is all one though many have the name and are out of the nature You fall a quarelling and killing one another about their words this was not the nature of Christians for they were the sons of God led by his pure Holy Spirit which was Gentle meeke and easie to be intreated full of long-suffering and mercy even to enemies and ready to do good unto all in which spirit walking they did not fulfil the lusts of the flesh but in it conquered and had dominion over sin Hell and the Devil though a time of warfare they came to witness before they came unto this state as all the Saints and holy men of God ever did witness the travel of the children of Israel through the wilderness into the land of rest which is the true Type of all the travel of the faithfull for they came to witness the true Baptisme as it is written They were all Baptized into Moses under the Cloud who was a true Type of Christ and because of unbelief many did not enter because they received the false report and believed they should never overcome their enemies which things relate all unto the true spiritual warfare of every true Christian which did believe and entered and possessed the land of rest which is the true Sabbath and it is written He that believes hath entered into rest ceased from sin which is
the enemy adversary of all mankind and to this did the true Christians attain in this life even a perfect Redemption from sin and did witness the Blood of Christ sufficient to purge them from all unrighteousness and saith the Apostle he which hath Suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin Marke such ceased from sin and witnessed the body of sin put off and again the Apostle Paul saith unto the Romans when they were Servants unto sin they were free from righteousness being then made free from sin they Became the servants of righteousness So these things did the true Christians come to witness though you are not ashamed to take their words to plead for the Devils Kingdome as long as you live though the Apostle saith His servants ye are to whom ye obey So he which obeys sin is a servant of sin and the Apostle James saith let no man say When he is tempted that he is tempted of God for God tempteth not to evil but when a man is tempted unto lust he is tempted of the Devil and lust when it is conceived brings forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death so be not deceived with vain words For such as you sow such shall you reape if you sow to the Spirit ye shall of the Spirit reape life everlasting but if to the flesh ye shall of the flesh reape corruption for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life So come all to the gift of God which is the Light of Christ Jesus which he hath enlightened you withall and you will come to know the free grace of God unto Salvation which will teach you to deny all ungodly lusts and not to plead for them and to live Soberly and righteously in this present evil world Marke this is the fruit and effect of the Grace of God and is not onely given to talke of and say you are saved by grace while you turn from it in wantonness which the Saints and Christians did not but came through the Cross to be saved even from sin and being redeemed from their vain conversation which they lived in in times past so witnessed a new birth which was of God which sinned not being washed with water by the word which word is Christ the Saviour of the soul and all who comes to know the word abiding in them they do know and witness this state even a perfect state from sin and that was their boldness in the day of Judgement that as Christ was so were they in this present world perfect even as their Father which is in Heaven is perfect So here is a true measuring line for you to measure your selves by what stock and lineage ye are of and who is your Father and whom ye obey for the true Christians Christ was their Example in all things and left them a perfect Example that they should follow his steps who said Learn of me for I am meeke and lowly in heart and the true Christians followed him and were like minded in all things Friends my hearts desire is to the Lord for you that you may be saved and come to the knowledge of truth which truth will make you free from sin and pollution though this thing stumbled the Jews when Christ spake it unto them for they looked out at some worldly thing not considering they were servants to sin which was the cause of all their misery Therefore be ye warned and fear pleading for that which will be your utter destruction if ye live and die in it read through the whole Book of Scripture and see if ever any Covenant of God stood with any Nation or people but as they did forsake their sins or were there ever any people to whom God did so largely manifest himself as unto the Jews and yet when they forsooke the holy Commandement which was delivered unto them did not the Lord forsake them yea verily and will all who do the like But if any of you shall say they were under a Covenant of workes and we under grace were they not under the Covenant of grace as well as any yea verily in all their travels did not the spiritual Rocke follow them which was Christ And after the Law was administred unto them by Moses did not he preach the true and living faith unto them saying they were not to say Who shall ascend or go beyond the Seas that they may hear and do it but what said he The word is nigh you even in your mouth and in your heart that ye may do it and was not this the same word of faith the Apostle Preached yea even the living faith which gives dominion over sin Hell Death and the Grave by which all the Saints of old had their glorious dominion and by which the Just liveth and they who come to witness this true and living faith they know a Shield against all the fiery darts of the Devil which faith Worketh by love and love fulfilleth the whole law of God which is to love God with all thy heart and thy neighbour as thy self So here is the true faith and the man which is in it does unto all men as he would all should do unto him which is the true Christians life and there is not another Oh! how doth my soul pitty you to see the blindness and ignorance you are fallen into though ye pretend the Scripture to be your rule which condemns you in all your practises as will plainly appear when you come to be tried by them doth any thing availe but a new Creature doth not the Scripture say and also doth not Christ say Except ye be converted and become as a little child ye cannot inherit the Kingdome of Heaven And againe Except ye be born againe ye cannot see the Kingdome of God Is there any true Christians but who witness this state and birth nay verily there is not any but those who followeth Christ through the Regeneration who cometh to sit with him in his Fathers Kingdome Is there any who do not suffer with him that shall Reigne with him Consider these things in the coole of the day and do not any longer take up a rest and a security in a beare name but come to the nature and then you will witness a true redemption out of all earthly affections and not plead for them but loath them for the Saints conversation was in Heaven which are above you which plead for beggarly lust which shuts out of the Kingdome For no uncleane thing can enter there These things I speake unto you in great plainness and singleness of heart as I am moved of the Lord that ye may come to the true Salvation from sin for who knoweth Christ and his power knoweth him to be in vertue as he is in name even A Saviour of his people from their sins therefore is his name called Jesus God hath sworne that he delighteth not in the death of a sinner
it and do you thereby take warning and read search and see your state if you are true Christians and redeemed of God and be no longer fed with a name for they were a Royall Priesthood a holy nation and did Reign as Kings upon the earth even over the World Sin Hell Death and the Devil and though on the earth yet they loved not the world neither the things of the world but used all those as though they used them not being in the Light which is Christ the wisdome of God they came to use all creatures in the same wisdome as they were created and to the same end for by Christ Jesus the eternal Word of the Father were all things created and as ye come to live and walke in him who is the wisdome of the Father ye will come to the right use and understanding of all things and know and witness the ends of the earth upon you and your conversation will be in Heaven far above all created things Therefore come all to the word by which all was created even the good word of God which is quick powerfull and sharper then any two edged Sword dividing between the precious and the vile the clean and the unclean for it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and this is the true word which sanctifies makes clean which is Christ the Light the Word of God which will be a Light and a Lanthorn unto your path if you diligently heed and follow it as David did witness and unless you come to witness this word in you you can never witness Christ nor the end of his coming Who hath given himself for us to redeem us from this present evil world according to the will of God These things are plain to every single eye Who desires not to hold the truth in unrighteousness nor make Christ a cover for sin and uncleanness by crying they are saved by Christ and have remission through his Death and shed his Blood for their Redemption and yet witness nothing they are redeemed or saved from and are aliens unto the Covenant of promise which is That he shall save his people from their sins and his Blood which purifies sanctifies and makes clean for so the true Christians did witnesse it even through it they had access to God and were redeemed from their vaine lives and conversations through and by it even By the Bloud of the Lamb which was offered up to God Without spot or blemish who hath also given himself for his Church that he might present it in like manner unto God which is a spiritual building Built and joyned together a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God Christ being the chief corner stone even he who the builders have in all Ages rejected and refused therefore come to the living Stone that ye may be joyned and united to it as the Christians were and as you come to be joyned here you will come to be one Spirit in the Lord and be covered with it without which covering wo unto you as it is written Wo be unto you who are covered and not with my Spirit saith the Lord for the day is come and coming even upon you O ye Protestants in France as well as in all Nations that all other coverings will be too short for to hide you and will stand you in no stead in the day of tryall Therefore be awakened and awake arise and stand up ye which sleep in the dust and the Lord shall give you Light and understanding of the things which belongeth unto your peace in this the day of your visitation therefore sleep not any longer in a false security least they be hid from your eyes you be left desolate and without excuse for ever for of a truth this is the day of Gods everlasting love and mercy unto you which constraineth me to warn you and wo would be unto me if I did not but whether you hear or forbear I shall be a sweet savour unto God if ye perish therefore I use great plainness of speech unto you and not as mans wisdome teacheth but in the demonstration of the Spirit I speak beseeching you to be reconciled unto God I being one who truly hath known the terrours of the Lord for sin and hath been accepted at the tribunal seat of God for Christ sake in whom and through whom I have had access unto God and by his stripes am healed and purged by his Blood from sin and corruption and this hath not been of works but by grace I am saved through faith in Christ by which victory is obtained through patience and hope which purifies even as Christ is pure Which hope is an Anchor unto the soul in the time of tryal And this hath God done for my soul not by any works of my own righteousness as though I had any thing to boast of above another for all boasting is excluded for ever by the Law of Faith neither have I any thing but what I have received of God whose love hath been in an unexpressible manner extended unto me since I gave up unto him believed his report by his holy servants messengers of his holy new and everlasting Covenant unto the sons of men which is Light and in and with the same love the Father hath loved me am I drawn forth to invite you my Countrey-men after the flesh whom God moved me to visit even from a far Countrey where my outward habitation was many years even in Virginia and truly my soul is often powred out unto God for you and sure I am if you do not wilfully reject his love but open freely unto him his love will touch many of your hearts as it hath touched mine which if you receive you will I know with a ready heart and mind follow him and forsake all earthly treasure to follow him in the delightfull way of peace and holiness And dear Countrey-men remember Moses who chose Rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God then to injoy the pleasures of sin for a season refusing to be called the son of Pharaohs Daughter and take all the holy Servants and Prophets of God for an example of patience and suffering through which and by which they plainly declared they sought not a habitation in this world but were strangers and Pilgrims therein Seeking a City whose builder and maker is God into which my soul desireth that ye may have an entrance and habitation even into the new and Heavenly Jerusalem which cometh down from God into which nothing that workes abomination or makes a lie can enter Though the gates thereof stand open day and night but without are Dogs and Sorcerers and all uncleanness And this the true Christians waited for even for a new Heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness therefore saith the Apostle Peter Seeing these things what manner of persons ought we to be yea they were
to be holy just in all their conversation for of a truth all the true Christians came to witness this even all old things to passe away and all things to become new without which the new creature cannot be witnessed Which is renewed after the Image of him who hath created him Therefore as an Ambassador from God I beseech you in Christ lay these things to heart and count it not as a vaine thing or as an idle tale but remember that because of sin and iniquity God did ever send Plagues and Judgements unto the sons of men and when they would not be warned thereby he swept them away in his wrath for so hath he appointed in his determined counsell That the wicked shall not go unpunished but they shall be cast into Hell and all who forget God for he is no respecter of persons for of all Nations he who feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him but Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man which doth evil for his wrath is revealed from Heaven against all ungodlynesse and unrighteousnesse of men and he is not partiall in judgement as some would make him that he will punish one man for sin and not another nay it is not so with him for Such as every man soweth such shall he reap and every one shall receive a just and due reward for the deeds done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil The unfaithfull servant had a Talent given him to improve as well as the rest but his unfaithfulnesse was the cause that it was taken from him and he cast into utter darknesse for ever but the faithful entered into the joy of his Lord and this will assuredly be the portion and sentence of all the sons of men the workers of iniquity shall be tormented with the Devil and his Angels for ever And it will not suffice to say Lord Lord in thy name we have done many things yea they came so far as to cast out Devils and prophesied in the name of Christ and so far as this none of you at this day hardly ever came yet and notwithstanding Christ said he know them not depart from me ye cursed workers of iniquity Read and consider and lay it to heart that ye may be an holy people and come to answer Gods Everlasting love which is tendered unto you least the grace of God bestowed upon you be in vain and loose the entering into the Land of promise through unbelief which was the cause why so many fell in the Wildernesse and dyed though they were come forth out of the Land of darknesse and had seen the wonders of the Lord which are set forth as examples for those who should come after for the Gospel was preached unto them as well as unto you And truely from a good understanding doe I declare it unto you that if ye be willing and obedient a larger possession never had any people then the Lord will possesse you with and ye shalt eat the good thereof in peace for if ye accept and embrace his love and reject not his counsell which is freely tendered unto you he will rebuke Princes and Kings for your sakes but if ye harden your necks ye shall be of many people most miserable And these are words of truth and of a good understanding unto you all which will stand a witnesse for God either with you or against you for ever against you if ye reject it and for you if ye receive it for of a truth Gods Eternall and Everlasting love is tendered unto you in and through which if ye receive it and be faithfull to what the Lord will yet further manifest unto you ye shall be blessed with faithful Abraham for ever who forsaked his Fathers house to follow the Lord he knew not whether and stumbled not at the promise of the Lord but was faithful therefore was he called the friend of God and the Father of the faithful I say take him for an example and God Almighty will give you Dominion and honour you before many if you honour him but if you despise him he will despise you and if ye refuse to hear him now when he calls unto you the day is nigh when ye shall call and he will not hear which is a word of eternall truth unto you Therefore arise in the Spirit of meekness and stand a witnesse against all superstitions and Idolatry not onely in word but in life and practise and turn to the light of Christ Jesus which condemns sin and evill in you so will ye become children of the light and become a living testimony against all sin so will ye be a sweet savour unto the Lord in your generation and happy will the man be who joynes to the Lord in deed and in truth in this work his name shall be had in everlasting remembrance for evermore so let the fear and dread of God Allmighty possesse your hearts and the wicked shall be dreaded by you and brought into subjection within you and without you for ever And this is the word of the Lord unto you and blessed will ye be if ye hear and obey it for the youth shall faint and the young Lyon shall suffer hunger but they which feare the Lord shall never want any good thing for the fear of the Lord is clean and the beginning of a true Christian therefore blessed is the man which feareth always he shall be blessed in his deed and shall prosper and flourish like a green Bay tree which is planted by the rivers of water bringing forth fruit in due season to the praise and glory of his Creator and the Lord will spread his table in the sight of his enemies while they suffer hunger And this will the Lord doe for the upright in heart whose hands are not polluted with blood nor deceit harboured between his lips even he shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied and his dayes shall be prosperous in the land of promise and the sons of the aliens shall be his servants this shall surely be the heritage of those who confesse and forsake their sins but he which hideth it shall not prosper even his prayers shall be loathsome unto the Lord and all his sacrifices an abominable abomination but he which purifieth his way by taking heed unto the Law of the Lord though he be simple yet shall he be made wise and his soul shall be converted for the Lord will perfect his glorious praise in the mouths of babes and sucklings and this thing shall be marvelous in the eyes of many These are prophesies of things which shall shortly come to passe therefore blessed is he which watcheth that he may not be found naked for the day of the Lord is coming on like a theif in the night upon all the inhabitants of the Earth wherein the hearts of all shall be made manifest and made bare and naked of what Nation or
glory of his renown shall go over all which shall strike dread unto his enemies he will thresh the mountaines to dust before him and the wicked shall be but as the stubble which is dried before the fire and shall be consumed for ever he who is mightier then the mightiest will doe this he even he before whom all Nations are but as the drop of a Bucket and weigheth the hills in a scale and the mountains in a ballance and measureth the waters in the hollow of his hand will accomplish the thing which he hath purposed and the word which is gone out of his mouth for as the rain which falleth upon the Earth and returneth not again so is the word of the Lord which is gone out of his mouth which shall not return but shall accomplish his purpose which is to subdue all the Kingdomes of this World into the subjection of his own only anointed seed to live and reign over all and in all who is blessed for evermore in whom all the promises of the father are Yea and Amen for the promise was not unto many but unto the seed when he spake unto Abraham the Father of the faithfull In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed which Seed is Christ which shall have the Dominion in all and over all for ever Let him which readeth understand The Government shall be put upon his shoulder and who will not willingly subject unto it shall be beaten to pieces with his Iron Rod with which he shall rule all Nations and this is the little stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands which became a great mountain and covered the whole Earth which hastneth apace to be fulfilled even so saith my Soul Amen and Amen And for the fulfilling of this his glorious word the Lord will not onely shake the Earth but the Heavens also and will Overturn Overturn Overturn Kings Princes and Powers even all those who shall rise up against him and will tear them in pieces as he hath already apparently done when the Lord will work who shall lett the Heathen may rage and the people imagine a vain thing and the Judges of the Earth may take counsell against the Lord and against his Anointed but all in vain for he will exalt him to reign upon his holy hill of Sion for evermore in the sight of all his enemies to their utter overthrow and confusion for ever Your Judges shall be restored as at the first and Counsellers as at the beginning who will not judg for gift nor reward the wicked shall no more be called good nor the churle liberall light shall not be put for darknesse nor darknesse for light but all shall be judged by him who seeth in secret and who lives for ever whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion of which there is no end Therefore come to the just in you all in the particular even to the Seed of God in you all which of his infinite mercy he hath left in you else long ere now had ye been destroyed and made like unto Sodom and Gomorrah but for his seed sake hath he withheld his hand from destroying you untill this day and consider the end of Sodom and the inhabitants thereof and their end when the just was taken from amongst them and even as it was with them so shall it be with you if you harden your hearts and will not hear the Lord will take the just Seed from you which suffereth dayly by you and is oppressed in you even as a Cart which is pressed and loaden with sheaves and grieved as the just was in Sodom by their unrighteous and ungodly conversation and if it be once taken away from you though the faithfull may make intercession for you as Abraham did for them yet as sure as the Lord God of Heaven and Earth lives your end shall be as theirs for if once the just in you be taken away nought but fury and vengeance will be poured upon you from Heaven untill you be utterly swallowed up with the eternall flames of Gods fury and vengeance for evermore for whose sake I am now moved to warn you from the wrath which is to come and if you refuse and reject and despise his everlasting Messengers as they did take them for an example for God hath made them so of his wrath to all who shall reject his loving kindnesse mercy and counsel Therefore in bowels of mercy and pity am I drawn forth again and again to warn you and advise and beseech you to turn unto the just pure holy principle of God in you and give up to be guided by it and governed by it in all things that ye may be leavened into its own nature even the incorruptible nature of God that ye may come to witnesse the new creature which is the first Resurrection over which the second Death hath no power and as many of you as come to walk according to this rule peace will be unto you and with you for ever peace which the world can neither give nor take from you even the peace of God which will rule in your hearts which will keep your hearts and minds spotlesse and blamelesse for ever and the power of the crosse of Christ you will come to witnesse to be the power of God unto salvation as you believe and are subject unto it whereby the world will become crucified unto you and you unto the world and nothing else will you desire to glory in but will come even to be ashamed of those things which ye now delight in and have no more pleasure in them nor fashion your selves as you did in the former time of ignorance as the Heathen did in vain and foolish habit idle and foolish talk such things will be an abomination unto the Lord of your life by whom ye breath and nothing can or will proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying and according to the promise of God you will come to witnesse even the pouring out of his Spirit upon you and your Sons and your daughters shall prophecy your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams and every one of you shall sit under his own Vine and under his own Fig-tree and none shall make you affraid and you will not need to go to men for teaching nor every one say to his neighbour know the Lord for all of you shall know him from the least unto the greatest and shall say one to another come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his light for ever and the Lord will make a hedg about you and set his holy Angels to watch over you and prune you that as ye come to bring forth fruit unto him ye may bring it forth more abundantly to the honour and delight of the Lord will ye be for ever which
can do nothing I am the Vine saith Christ and ye are the branches and my Father is the husbandman and every branch which bringeth not forth fruit my Father cutteth it off and casteth it into the fire but every branch which bringeth forth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more abundantly so abide in me saith he the light of the world for in him only is their fruit found to be accepted So read try and consider in whom ye are and whether ye are in the true Vine yea or nay if not your state is miserable and ye are yet in your sins Therefore cease from your hireling teachers and learn of Christ the pure light in you and you will come to witness a teacher continually with you Which will never be removed into a corner any more but your ear shall hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walk in it turn neither to the right hand nor to the left which if once witnessed ye will abhor all hireling teachers for ever and being come to know the voice of the true Shepherd of your souls ye will witnesse the pure holy teachings of the holy God lying down and rising up directing you in the pure holy and undefiled path of peace in which no Lions whelp can tread and this to witnesse is the end of all Ministrations Types and shadows whatsoever the life and substance being witnessed in you even Christ Jesus the Light the Covenant of God which is given a Covenant of Light unto all Nations that he might be his Salvation unto the ends of the earth which is the only true Cistern that is able to hold water for your souls And John did bear witness in like manner of him saying He was the true light which inlightned every one that came into the world and the light is the life of men and as you come to the light you will witness it so and not before ye know his life to abide in you which light being received and followed you will receive power to become the sons of God even a birth which is not of man nor of the will of man but of God which only is loved so the sons of God you will witnesse to be and his holy Spirit you will be lead by For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God and they who have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his Therefore I say again and again try whose ye are for if you have not the Spirit of Christ you are none of the sons of God but of the Devil These are true and plain words unto you all that ye may not be any longer deceived nor trust to lying vanities any longer and forsake your own mercies which is freely tendred unto you of the Lord in this the day of his love wherein he doth invite you freely to come unto him Without money and without pride that ye may eat and drink and be satisfied at the Rivers of his pleasures and not to spend your labour and precious time for nought for your time is but short and the measure of your iniquitie is even up amongst the sons of men and the Angel of his wrath is even ready to smite Therefore be ye separated and touch no unclean thing and God Almighty will accept you for verily I have seen the wrath of the Lord breaking forth against this Nation and it was very terrible Therefore stand not as you love your immortal souls to contend about words or any outward thing but come to the light that ye may witnesse life that so your covering may only be the pure Spirit of the Lord thereby to have a hiding place in him else the sword of his indignation and wrath you will never be able to escape but it will cut you off for ever with all the unclean and uncircumcised of the earth Therefore be ye not mockers nor despisers least ye perish for the Lord is working a work in these dayes that such cannot believe though it were told them and this is a true warning and testimony of Gods everlasting love in and through one that is a witness thereof and a friend to all souls And now that you may read and seriously consider into what a sad state you are fallen from the Image of him that created you is the desire of my heart and come for to be restored again into the same dominion for all are degenerated into the plant of a strange Vine bringing forth wild fruit contrary to the expectation of the good husbandman and to the grieving of his righteous soul for read and consider He planted a Vineyard and fenced it about and pruned it and cast the stones out of it and expected it should bring forth fruit as I have said but it brought forth wild fruit what could I have done more for my Vineyard saith the Lord. Here all the sons of men may consider their condition which is truly sad and miserable though they are so setled upon the Lees of iniquity that they do not consider it as it is written There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh God they are all gone out of the way they have been made altogether unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one their throat is an open sepulchre they have used their tongues to deceit the poison of aspes is under their lips Rom. 3.11 Yea they commit iniquity with greedinesse even as the Ox drinketh in water their table is full of vomit and there is no soundnesse in them they conceive mischief in the night upon their bed and rise early in the morning to put it in practice and say in their hearts the Lord seeth us not our mouthes are our own who shall us controll they lye in waite privily for the innocent and lay a snare in secret for him O! what a sad and dolefull condition are the sons of men fallen into yea there is no fear of God before their eyes Eating and drinking and rising up to play marrying and giving in marriage and all in the lust and uncleanness the seed of the evil one being head in them nought but pride and oppression is brought forth envy and malice yea the best of men is but a lyer every one seeking by fraud and deceit to exalt his own horn and seeking to maintain his own carkase in great honour and dignity and he which is stronger then his neighbour will take all advantages against him to bring him under him and to bow to his will O woful state and hard to be declared is the degeneration of fallen man from his Creator who at first created him in his own Image and likenesse in holinesse and purity to reign over all the works of his hands in the power and wisdome of his Creator and had put all things in subjection under him and knew the right use of every thing he standing in the dominion and wisdome of God and to
heart and while you have time prize it before it be too late And know ye Protestants that it is onely the true Jew which shall have acceptance in his presence in that day even they who are of the circumcision of the heart who are covered with his holy Spirit and not with a name to live and are dead as it is with you at this day Therefore this visitation of love is sent amongst you that you may read and consider your condition and how you stand that ye may not plead ignorance in the dreadfull day of account which is even at the door and remember If God spared not the natural branches but cut them off who sinned he will not spare you for the soul that sinneth shall dye but he that turneth from his sins and doth righteousnesse shall live and there is no other Covenant or promise of God then this Therefore let not your Preachers deceive you any longer by telling you it shall go well with you though you live in sin and uncleannesse but turn to the light of Christ which condemneth you for all sin and give up to be guided by it and it will lead you to forsake your sins so will you find mercy else you will perish eternally which is the word of the Lord unto you all therefore I say again and again prize Gods love which is freely tendred unto you For a famine of the word of the Lord hath been amongst men and the vision hath failed which hath been the cause people have perished even because of ignorance Therefore come to Christ the light the wisdome of God that you may learn only of him and receive wisdome of him who maketh all them truly wise unto Salvation who come unto him and hear him so then their souls come to live and not before And take not this as an idle tale or story for though my message is not adorned with inticing words of mans wisdome or as mans wisdome teacheth yet know assuredly that if ye reject it it will be your condemnation and you will be left without excuse as I said If God spared not the natural branches when they sinned even they who were once truly grafted into the true Olive Tree surely he will not spare you who were never yet grafted into any thing but sin and corruption as plainly appeareth by your fruits of lightness vanity and vain glory and the deportment both of you and your women who goe in plaited haire and in gold and silver which was never the ornament of the holy women of God nor of Sarah but their ornament was that of the heart even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is with the Lord of great price and is only accepted of God and your own habit is nothing differing from all the vain and abominable in your Nation which the true Christians were not to do nor fashion themselves according to the former time of ignorance but were to be renewed in their minds and to be carefull in all things and to walk answerable according to the holy calling wherewith Christ Jesus had called them who had left them a pure example that they should follow his steps And saith the Apostle Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ But how ye do those things let the pure just principle of the Lord Jesus Christ judge in all your consciences Were you truly what you professe your selves to be in words would ye not be a witness against all the vanities and wickedness of the Nation and bear your witness for God against it all and so would be a sweet savour unto the Lord in your generation even as lights which are set on a hill But instead of this ye are one with them in all manner of evill whatsoever onely you differ in some external things in your worship seeming to cry against Idolatry and covetousnesse is in your hearts which is as great Idolatry as can be named and if you should speak against respecting of persons you are as much in it as they and as partial in all your wayes and any other abomination which is committed in the land may be as commonly seen and heard amongst you as amongst any other people in the Nation as swearing lying vain talk and foolish jesting whoring whatsoever that may be named pride and vain custome and the like and for a cover for all this you say you are saved by grace for shame shame shame cover your faces Are any saved by grace who are taught by it to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lust and to live soberly and righteously in this present evil world and doth not who live in wickeedness and turn the Grace of God into wantonness or rather turn from it hath not the free grace of God appeared unto all unto Salvation as well as unto you as if a bear talk of being saved by grace would serve turn why may not all be saved as well as you seeing your fruit differeth nothing in substance and then you say you are saved by faith in Christ Jesus but vaine men shew your faith by your works for if it be the living Faith which gives victory over sin the other may also be brought into it by good works which are the effects of the only true and living Faith and so be converted unto it and be saved but your profession without a possession doth but adde the more unto your condemnation as you shall witness except ye repent for if only a saying you believe in Christ Jesus will save you why may not those you esteem different from you be saved as well as you seeing they will in the particular say it and affirm it as well as you and both your fruits in respect of life and conversation varie nothing at all Read and consider these things seriously and repent knowing that as the body without the spirit is dead so is Faith without works also dead Again I say in love pity to your immortal souls prize prize Gods eternal love which is freely tendred unto you all least you cry when it is too late Oh how have I slighted the day of my visitation and it be said of you as it was of Israel of old Oh Israel thou hast destroyed thy self for it is only the sins of a people or Nation which separateth them from God and brings judgements upon them or any Land that the inhabitants may learn righteousness but if they refuse to be warned thereby and harden their necks then will the Lord sweep them away with the Bosome of destruction Therefore lay it to heart for the sins of this land hath surpassed the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah who were made examples of Gods just judgements that others might take warning Therefore my bowels is truly moved in me towards you that you may not slight the day of your visitation but diligently hearken to the Lord which if you do he will soon subdue all your enemies for you and make you
also witnesse it so upon yours if ye come and submit unto Davids humble spirit of prayer and repentance which was the cause God did so delight in him above many for the humble and contrite spirit which David was of God will in no wise despise for he even confessed his sin and forsook it and willingly submitted unto the judgements of the Most High for it by which meanes he had acceptance with God And thy word saith he I have hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee for that is the dayly care of the honest heart least God should take his holy spirit from him for he prayeth continually that God would renew his dayly countenance upon him which made Davids heart more glad than those who had all the encrease of the earth so all you who take Davids words to sing and talk of deal faithfully with your own souls and see whether you are come to his spirit yea or nay and until then his word and penitent heart is your condemnation which you shall eternally witnesse to be true in the day that by Davids spirit ye shall be judged who said depart from me all ye that do wickedly and was made the song of the drunkard Truly Friends the Lord hath made my bowels as an open fountain towards you that you may no longer be of that generation which Solomon speaks of who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not purged from their iniquity I shall as being truly moved of the Lord thereunto lay these following things before you to consider seriously of as being things which every one who dare professe the name of Christ and Christianity ought truly to mind to the end they may not be only Christians in name but in nature which will only stand you instead in the dreadful day of judgement wherein God will appear with flames of fire to render vengeance to the wicked which day hastneth apace Therefore read and consider Whether Christ Jesus when he spake unto his Disciples saying Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect did not speak really as he meant And whether he would bid them be that which was impossible for them to be Secondly Read through the whole Scripture and see if you can read of any other Salvation but that which is from sin And whether or no that was not the promise of God unto Adam after he had sinned to wit that the seed of the woman should bruise the Serpents head which seed was Christ And whether this is not to be witnessed in every regenerate man or woman yea or nay And whether the Serpent be not head in all untill this be witnessed yea or nay For seeing the Scripture saith we are saved by faith in Christ whether is there any true faith which saves but that which gives true and perfect dominion over all sin And whether there be any other true faith which justifieth before God And whether this faith only be not the true faith of Gods Elect seeing the Scripture saith that God justifieth not the ungodly shewing that no unclean thing is justified before God And can any in truth say that they are justified but those who witnesse this faith by which the just liveth and obtaineth victory yea or nay Whether the free grace of God hath not appeared unto all men And whether all those who receive it and are taught by it are not led and taught to deny all ungodly lusts And whether they who are not thus taught by it are not of those who turn it into wantonnesse And whether it will not be their eternall condemnation yea or nay Whether Christ according to Johns true and faithful testimony which he bare of him hath not enlightned every man which cometh into the world And whether this Light doth not judge righteously for God against all sin in the consciences of all men And whether if they reject its reproofs it will not be their condemnation yea or nay And whether God hath not so promised that he would give Christ his only son for a Covenant of Light that he might be his salvation even to the ends of the Earth And whether any ever came to witnesse salvation but those that thus witnessed Christ a Covenant of Light to be their leader and teacher yea or nay Whether God hath not promised that in his new and everlasting Covenant all his people shall be taught of him And whether those who are yet looking at man for teaching be not out of this pure holy Covenant yea or nay Whether God hath not promised that he will live and walk in his people And whether they who do not witnesse it even their bodies to be the Temples of God be not the Temples of the Devil yea or nay Whether any are or can truly be said to be the sons of God but those who are led by the Spirit of God And whether any are true Christians but those who have put on Christ yea or nay Whether any are Christs but those who have the Spirit of Christ And whether any can witnesse the true Baptisme but such who have received the Spirit yea or nay Whether there be any other Baptisme needful unto Salvation but this to wit by one Spirit into one body by the Holy Ghost and by fire And whether all other sprinklings are nothing but traditions of men yea or nay Whether the true Christians did not come to witnesse Christ in this life to be wisdome justification and redemption yea or nay Whether Christ in the Saints was not the onely hope of their glory even to live in them as he did in God and through which they came to have fellowship with the Father And whether they who came to witnesse this were not sanctified throughout in body soul and spirit yea or nay Whether Christ did not give himself for his Church that he might purge and sanctifie it and present it to the Father without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And whether any can come to be true members of this Church but those who come to witnesse a true purging in this life seeing the Scripture saith the Church is in God to whom no unclean thing can be united And whether all who say they are members of the Church of Christ and doe not witnesse this to wit a cleansing be not lyars yea or nay Whether the true Ministers of Christ Jesus do not preach freely as they have received freely And whether they who preach for hire gifts and rewards or yearly maintenance are not Ministers of Satan yea or nay Whether any can be truly said to be the Ministers of Christ Jesus but who are sent by him and called immediately by his voyce unto his work And whether all others are not of man and by the will of man who run and are not sent yea or nay Whether such men who say they can never be freed nor put off the body of sin as long as they live
ever for the witnesse of God in me answered thereto and that their message was true and faithfull for I had that in me which had never consented to the evil of my wayes from my youth up untill that day but was a witnesse against me when I did sin against God and after had brought sorrow upon me for my vaine and wicked conversation and after I had believed their report concerning the holy pure light of Christ as they told me it came from him and would lead to him I witnessed their words to be true and at this time am ready to seale to the truth thereof with my blood if called thereunto of the Lord for through it I came to have accesse to God and no other way yet so as through judgement which laid hold of the transgressor in me and all that ever I had done came to be judged by him who sitteth upon the throne and liveth for evermore So I came to witnesse the promise of God in me that judgement should rest for a light to the people for it was so in me and I heard a voice saying This is the way walk in it turn neither to the right hand nor to the left so my teacher came to be near me even in me and will never be removed into a corner any more if diligently heeded and followed which teacher is the light of Christ in the conscience which shined in the darknesse in me though the darknesse could not comprehend it but as I came to heed it diligently it did comprehend all the darkness in me and for me and hath given me a clear discovery of all things pertaining to the Mysterie of the Kingdom of God which are needful unto salvation and I came to see Pharaoh and his host overturned which kept the seed of God in bondage in me and I passed the Red Sea into the wilderness where I came to know a sacrifice offered up which he did accept and not before and then I came to mount Sinai to the giving forth of the Law which was terrible to the flesh but it was and is glorious unto me and will be for ever for it laid hold on nothing but on that part which is estranged from God wherein I had seen many wonders and overturning of enemies yet many temptations and provocations I had to returne into Egypt again and that I should never be able to enter the promised Land the enemies were so great which I know all will come to be tempted in like manner who come truly to travail towards the Land of rest but to such an one I say be of good cheer and courage for if thy heart be given to God he will of a truth be with thee in all thy travails even to the end thereof and thy work will be only to keep in the Faith and so thou wilt find thy strength will be to stand still and see the Salvation of God For this testimony I faithfully give and bear for the Lord that it is he only who doth and will subdue all their enemies in and for them be they never so many or mighty who truly put their whole trust and confidence in his name alone who is a strong tower in time of need I say such shall possess the gates of their enemies and shall come to witness with me as I do at this day the elder to serve the younger which is the true work and promise of God and the true travail of the seed into the Lord of rest and there is no other salvation to be looked for even the subduing casting out of the seed of the bond woman that the Seed of the free woman which is Christ the Son of the most high God over all blessed for evermore may have the preheminency in the creature and thus coming out of Egypts darknesse I came to see that all the teachers in the world made by the will of man were but soul-deceivers for they had not the word from the Lord neither were they sent by him therefore did not they profit the people at all and were but Babels builders one building and another destroying and all in the confusion and the most refined of them were but Ministers of the letter and not of the Spirit boasting of other mens lines made ready unto their hands serving and worshipping the works of their own hands according to the oldnesse of the letter and not according to the newness of the Spirit and teaching them for Doctrine the traditions of men And thus are poor people in an expectation of deliverance and salvation through their teachings but all in vain for when they have heard them all their life time they tell them they can never be freed from sin and yet tell them they are good Christians though they be Drunkards Swearers Liars and wicked persons and this is the fruits of their Ministry which all shall witness with me who come to the one teacher and Shepherd of the soul who saveth all to the uttermost that come unto him who is the light of the world and enlightneth every one which cometh into the world who saith Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart who is the way the truth and the life and he is the door even the light for the way is but one the truth is but one which is the light the onely way to God and there is not another And no man cometh to the Father but by me saith Christ the light the door the way the life so none can ever come to God nor the way to God nor the truth but who comes to the light wherewith they are inlightned which comes from Christ and condemneth all the evil that is in the creature and sheweth a man all that ever he hath done for saith the woman of Samaria Is not this the Christ who hath told me all that ever I have done So all likewise who come unto the light they witnesse with her and with me the same thing and all who come into subjection unto it shall come to witnesse the wild Colt tamed upon which never man sat and then and not till then is Hosannah sung nor blessed can he ever be who comes in the name of the Lord by any untill this be fulfilled and witnessed by them and in them and this onely is the state of a true convert and true Christian and is my testimony for the Lord which shall stand for ever whether ye will hear or forbear And thus far have I cleared my conscience towards you in obedience towards God and love to your immortal souls therefore prize it while ye have time least the things which belong to your peace be hid from your eyes and a lamentation be taken up by the just for you as was over Jerusalem saying O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her chickins under her wings and thou wouldest not Therefore I say again and again lay it to heart and prize Gods everlasting love unto you all which is freely tendred unto you notwithstanding that your sins have surpassed the measure of many Nations and remember Nineveh who repented at Jonahs preaching in Sackcloath and ashes whose sins and abominations never surpassed yours which is a word of truth unto you all therefore take her for an example and repent in time least Gods judgements overtake you for Gods anger is kindled against the workers of iniquity he will destroy them from off the face of the earth that nothing but holiness may reign for evermore And the meek alone shall inherit the earth for ever and ever And this is the infallible Decree and purpose of my God which can never be recalled but will stand for ever and it hastneth to be fulfilled and he will overthrow Powers Princes Kings and Dominions even all such as shall oppose or withstand him in this his glorious work whom he will destroy in his fury will break them in pieces Therefore O ye powers of the earth down with your Crowns at the feet of the Lamb and ye shall find mercy but if ye resist him he will grind you to powder And this is the word of the Lord God unto you all and I shall be innocent before the Lord God of my life for ever therefore be awakned and beware what you do now ye are warned for you will be left without excuse if you perish and you shall know that you have been warned in time by one whom the Lord hath truly required so to do which if I should not wo wo would be unto me for ever so I shall lay down my life here in Peace and Rest and shall rejoyce if ye take warning more then in the treasures of Egypt who am called by the name of Charles Baily THE END