the Captives that are in Satans Bands That they may all upon these fore-mention'd Terms come to Enjoy Peace with God again and a Crown of Everlasting Life to their Souls when Dayes in this Life will have an End 2 Cor. 5.7 when all Crowns of Glory here below will fade away and never be enjoyed more Oh! then Happy will they be that have got an Habitation in God and an Inheritance that will never decay And God also by his holy Spirit makes Proclamation on the other hand That they that will not turn to him and lead a New Life but still Rebel against the Manifestations of his Light and the Strivings of his good Spirit in their own Hearts and Consciences till he leaveth striving with them and their Day of Visitation be over That unto all such and upon all such shall pass the Sentence of Mat. 7.23 ch 25.40.41 Go you Cursed Depart from me I know you not And thus the Wicked and all the Workers of Iniquity will be turned into Hell and all that forget God where they must inherit Everlasting Punishment And here is the Reprobation Damnation that God decreed in the Beginning not that God would not have saved them But it is happened to them as to Jerusalem of old Luke 13.34 God hath striven to gather them and they would not be gathered and so God's Unalterable Decree in Justice is fulfilled upon them And this concerneth all people upon the face of the Earth that desire Peace with God in this Life and a Dwelling with him for their Souls when this Life will have an End I say It concerns them to search and try how it is with them and how they stand in Relation to the Spirit of God in themselves and to consider by what they are led for all are led by the good Spirit or the bad and the good Spirit leads Peoples Mind Heaven-wards to mind heavenly things and the bad Spirit leads Peoples Minds Hell-wards to mind Ungodliness and Carnal Earthly things and if not resisted strived against and turned from it will lead into the Bottomless Pit out of which there is no Redemption And no man in his own Will or Strength can stand against that Soul-betraying Spirit which hath taken hold of all Mankind so that without the help of God's Spirit all are undone being no way able to Help themselves but blessed be the Lord he hath taken care of man and hath sent his good Spirit to that end to help us against the Spirit of Unrighteousness Now here all People by this good Spirit of God may come to have their Understandings opened and to see how it is with them as upon the account of their Salvation and how they stand in acceptance with God Now Mark here lies the thing if thou art led by the Spirit of God then thou art at Peace with the Spirit of God in thy self Rom. 8.16 but if the Spirit of God be yet a Reprover and Condemner in thy Heart and Conscience John 16.7 8. John 3.3 20 21 22. and check and trouble thee there then thy Peace and thy Salvation is not wrought with God but thou standest far rejected in the sight of God who is the Searcher of all Hearts and the Discerner of all Thoughts although thou mayst profess much of Religion and mayst run into many Inventions and Forms thinking to please God and to find Peace for thy Soul and thou mayst Pray Preach Read and Sing and be an Observer of outward Ordinances and Family-Duties too as they are called and yet be an Enemy to God and to thy own Soul if thou refusest to be led by the Spirit of God out of the Evil Wayes of the World from a vain Conversation Prov. 15.8 28.9 For the Prayers of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord. For so far came Saul when he was an Enemy to God and his People and to his own Soul he made a great flourish about Religion and was much in the outward Observations Acts 9. chap. 22. he said of himself that he was blameless as concerning the outward Law Rom. 7. and doubtless he had great Learning and was very zealous for Religion far beyond Thousands now adayes of those that are called Christians yet all this while he was an Enemy to the Spirit of God in his own Heart and in his blind Zeal kickt against the prickings of Gods Spirit in himself as many high Professors do now adayes and are rebelling against the strivings of Gods Spirit in their own Consciences while full of outward Duties that make a fair shew in the Flesh But it is hard for People to kick against the Pricks for consider that if ever man come into the Way of God again it must be by being instructed by the Spirit of God Prov. 6.23 For the Reproofs of instruction are the Way of Life and God hath given his good Spirit to that end viz. to instruct People in the way of Everlasting Life And this is he that was in that Body of Flesh that suffered at Jerusalem by the murdering Jews who was the only begotten of the Father John 1.12 13 14. Chap. 3.16 full of Grace and Truth that whosoever would believe on him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life He that said Before Abraham was I am this is that second Adam John 8.59 that quickning Spirit who is that Saviour and God manifested in Flesh Rom. 9.5 1 Cor. 15. 1 John 2.5 who is come to Redeem people out of Sin and from a Vain Conversation that he might be the Saviour of their Soul Tit. 2.13 14. by inwardly washing and cleansing them from their Sin by his own Blood and not to save People in Sin but from it and this is that Rock that followed Israel of Old of which they drank Which Rock 1 Cor. 10.4 says Paul was Christ Jesus So here is the means of Salvation and that of Gods preparing for poor lost mans recovery to bring him back to be an Inheritor in that Kingdom that stands in Righteousness and Peace and Joy forever and the way to it is to come to be instructed by this holy Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth and the Reproofs of this instructing Spirit is the way to Life as the Scriptures of Truth say and bear Testimony Now that that Reproveth people for sinning is that which leadeth them that adhere to it out of Sin and Instructs and teaches people the Way to this Kingdom of God and till People come to own the Instructions Teachings and Leadings of this good Spirit of God that leads into all Truth and teaches all Truth and no Lye is in it they shall never know the way to the Kingdom of Heaven nor have the Peace of it never any did But by rejecting the strivings of Gods Spirit and striving against the prickings of it in the Conscience comes Misery upon all People This was the Overthrow
Sheep hear my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger they will not hear John 10.27 these were good Sheep Now to come to hear Christ's Voice is to obey his Spirit that striveth in the Heart to reclaim the Wicked and the Willing and Obedient shall dwell in the Land in the Kingdom of God and shall eat of the Good of the Land the Bread of Life and their Souls shall partake of the Honey and the Milk that floweth therein Isaeah 1.19 Some may say If I had been in the dayes of his Flesh I would have heard him and have come to him but he is asoended up on high and sitteth at the Right Hand of God and how can I hear him now Well it is true he is ascended into Heaven and is with the Father But mark this he is not confined to one place but as thou mayst read in the Scriptures Rom. 9.5 He is God over all blessed forever and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is every where and there is a measure or manifestation of his Light and good Spirit given to thee 1 Cor. 12.7 and to every man and woman upon the Earth that thou and they may profit by it upon the count of Salvation and the knowledge of this is made known in thee or that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 The Word is near even in the Heart and in the Mouth c. there thou mayst hear it and as thou obeyest the Voice of it it will give thee Power to do that which it doth require of thee and by doing this it is that thou mayst hear his Voice by keeping to that of God in thee and thy mind exercised in it Here the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is known as well as in days past and in Generations gone So let none deceive themselves for the Spirit of Christ is near to all whether they will hear him or not and true it is that they must one day give an account to him whether they will or no therfore let none deceive you with lying Vanities or unprofitable Words for this is he that searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and sheweth unto man what his Thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name and he is not far from any Acts 17.27 28. so that no man need say Who shall ascend to fetch Christ or who shall descend to fetch Christ up or who shall go beyond the Sea For saith the Apostle The Word of Faith which we Preach is nigh but how nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.6 7 8. and that Christ was that Word of Faith which they preacht and so we say that People may hear it and do it And Christ said to John as may be read in the third Chapter of the Revelations Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 It is at the Door of the Heart the Lord knocketh and they that hear obey the Spirit of Jesus that there knocketh such come to be born of the Spirit and by this come to sup with the Lord which is not an outward Supper but an inward enjoyment of spiritual Food the Bread of Life that which came down from Heaven which Christ said He that eateth thereof should never dye should live forever John 6.33 34 35 50 52 53 63. and that Bread that a man eating of it never dyes Christ said was the true Bread that his Father gave from Heaven then the Priests did not give it And when the People murmured because Christ said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you did not Christ for their further satisfaction make them this Answer The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life it is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profitteth nothing Now they that can believe Christ let them who said The Flesh profitteth nothing but the quickening Spirit and Power of God that raiseth the Soul from Death to Life And this is that we labour to bring People to that all might come to know that they have a part in him who said I am the Resurrection and the Life John 5.25 and so to feed at the Table of the Lord that they may never hunger more And for this we have been and yet are hated of the World both of Professors and Prophane but more especially of some angry and envious Professors and no marvel for none hated Christ and the Apostles more than they that made Profession of Religion in those dayes who were themselves out of the Life of Righteousness and in Hatred Strife and Envy as too many Professors are now adayes who stick in the outward Observations and Ceremonies one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is and all in their own Inventions or in the Inventions of their Fore-Fathers or at least in the Imitation of Elementary Things often Persecuting and Destroying one another about Opinions And these are they that are led by a false spirit for all people are led by the true or false Spirit for there is but two the Good and the Bad which all People upon the Earth are led by that is the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Devil and to which of these a man gives his Mind to serve his Servant he is and his Conversation is managed by that Spirit and it may be that both lead to profess Religion for even the Devil in some sense is not against Peoples making a Profession of Religion but he makes them so blindly Zealous that they shall Hate Persecuto or Murder those that will not believe what they believe and worship as they worship and be of their Religion The Devil cares not how much People talk of God and Christ and Religion provided they do not deny him to lead them and so become New Creatures For they that are not led by the Spirit of Christ are none of his Rom. 8.9 And to be led by the Spirit of Christ is to become a New Creature for all have been in the old Nature Children of Wrath as the Apostle said Ephes 2.3 we as well as others till we come to put off the Old Man with his Deeds and to put on the New Man which is created after the Image of him that created him in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes 4.24 the image of Christ who said Behold I make all things New And herein cometh the New Birth to be known by which People come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom which none ever come to but they that are born again which is to live a Life answerable to the Truth and to put off the old Man's Deeds is to put off Sin for all Sin and Wickedness is of the Devil the old Man and this is the old Nature by
Blind and think all is well till Death comes and then they come to see all is in vain their spending of their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfies not the immortal Soul and then begins to say O that I had another day I would not do as I have done and the Reason of this is because they have been seeking the Living among the Dead and Life where no Life is for there is no Life among the Priests in their dead Professions which will satisfie any man's hungering immortal Soul for that which satisfies peoples immortal Souls Priests and Professors are crying out against because it troubles them in their Sin and False Worships and for making a Trade of the Scriptures and Merchandize of the People and for this they are crying out against it almost in every Pulpit and almost in every Professors Meeting crying and railing against the Light of Christ Grace and Truth in the inward parts one calling it A Diabolical Light others calling it A Natural Light and The Check of a Natural Conscience and some in their Ignorance are so impudent as in plain English to call the Light of Christ A Devilish Light and some call it The Quakers Light and An Insufficient Light with many other Reproachful and Villifying Terms against Christ and the Light not only in their Pulpits but also in their Lives and Practices at other times for they find that when people once come to walk in the Light of Christ and to be led by the Spirit of God they will have no more of their blind Teaching then down goes their Trade and their great Gain of Merchandize with all their Gifts and Rewards and Babylon with all her Bravery and the old Whore which sate upon the Waters and made many People drunk with the Cup of her Fornication When once People come to be led by the Spirit of Jesus which is revealed in mankind to wit the Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth and guideth into all Righteousness Then down falleth all Babylons Merchants Kingdom of Hell and altogether and then cometh Christs Kingdom to be set up and known which is hid from the Wisdom of this World But some may say Revelation and Inspiration is now ceased and how shall People come to that State thou speakest of now adayes I Answer If Revelation be ceased then Salvation and the Knowledge of God is ceased and if this be true then what have Priests to Preach now adayes for Christ said No man knows the Father but the Son and him to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 and that none came to him but by the Father whom Christ the Son revealeth And Paul also said That when it pleased God to reveal his Son in him he consulted not with Flesh and Blood but with the Son whom the Father revealed So here its plain to the Eye that seeth which God opened that Revelation is not ceased but the Son revealeth the Father and the Father reveals the Son in People as witnessed by the Apostle Paul to show to People their inward conditions how it stands with them in the sight of God and this Paul did not see nor find out with all his Learning nor with his great Zeal or great Religion till Christ the Light was revealed in him neither shall any man upon the Earth come to know how it is with him as to his inward condition till he come to know Christ revealed in him and to Inspire him by his holy Spirit as I have hinted before that although there be a Spirit in man yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives a man an Understanding and if it be as some say that Inspiration is ceased then all true Understanding concerning Salvation and Spiritual matters is lost then what need any go after the Priests or any other Professors if there be no Knowledge of God or Christ to be attained to Away with all their blind and false Juggles which they bewitch People with that they might not obey the Truth it is all Lyes Delusions Revelation or Inspiration is not ceased Paul was since Christ and he witnessed Revelation and Inspiration and many more since him and I believe Christ and Paul spoke true and that the Scripture is true and all that is against it is Deceit and the Scripture holds forth Revelation and Inspiration is not ceased although in the time of the Law the Priests Lips were appointed to preserve the Peoples Knowledge and the people were appointed to seek the Law at their Mouthes Yet now it is not so but every one that lacks Knowledge is to ask of God who gives Liberally and upbraideth not such as ask in Faith But say some You Quakers do not Baptize your Children nor receive the Sacrament as we do I Answer If thou meanest Sprinkling of Infants I do not believe that was used by any of the People of God in many Ages since Christ and the Apostles dayes and therefore I do not know why any should use it seeing there is not any President in all the Scripture that it was ever used by any of the Primitive Christians neither in all the Scripture do I find any command of God for it and therefore why should we use it besides I look upon the thing as it is now practised to be a great offence to God in the Actors of it and for this Reason which I shall render for when the Priests and People meet together to Christen or Baptize a Child as they so call it most commonly the Parents of the Child must get some other Persons as they can to stand for the Child and there they must Promise and Vow three things in the Child's Name first That it shall forsake the Devil and all his Works Pomps and Vanities of this wicked world all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly That the Child shall believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith Thirdly That it shall keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the dayes of its Life This is Confusion and contrary to their Faith and Principle for they do not believe that any such thing can be or such a state attained to Now to enjoyn People to promise that the Child shall do that which they themselves do believe is Unpossible is Folly and Madness Coufusion and a Snare to them to whom they make so to imagine For if one should ask the Priest or any of them if they could live such a Life as they Promise and Vow the Child shall do they will say No it cannot be And are crying out in almost every Pulpit and almost in every Professors Meeting against such a Perfect Life as they promise and vow the Child shall live and saying No Perfection here For to forsake the Devil all his Works to keep Gods holy Will and Commandments is Perfection Now consider the Distraction Confusion Madness and Blindness of this
which People are Children of Wrath and it is the old Leaven the Apostle commanded to be purged out that in the room thereof Righteousness may dwell which is of the New Nature and they that come to this in all things become New Men and have New Thoughts New Words and New Works being begotten and born again by the Spirit of God all things become New and all Old Things be done away to wit Swearing Cursing Lying Quarreling Fighting Stealing Whoreing Drunkenness Pride Envy Murther Cozening Cheating Covetousness and Idolatry Dissimulation and Hypocrisie all that is Old and all False Religions must be roled together as a Scrole John 4. and a New Worship must be known even in Spirit and Truth And this was that which John was shewed in the time of his Banishment by him that said to him Behold I create all things New Mark the end of the Old John said He saw a New Heaven and a New Earth in which dwelt Righteousness and there was no Sea but the Old Heaven was roled together as a Scrole with a great Noise and the Earth was burnt up with every green Tree and every Island and every Bonds-man and every Free-man fled away and the Elements were melted with fervent Heat But these things are a Mystery hid from the Wisdom of this World for the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are hid in Christ Jesus who only and alone opens and reveals the Mysteries and secrets of God's Kingdom and also of the Devil's Kingdom and without this Revelation of Jesus none can know the Right way from the Wrong nor the True Worship from the False because it is spiritually discerned They therefore that are not led and guided by the Spirit of God cannot know these things for the true Knowledge the right Understanding of it is foolishness to them therefore they are putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and calling Good Evil and Evil Good and the Wrong Way the Right and the Right Way the Wrong And in this Blindfold Condition are all the Worshippers in the World that are not led by the Spirit of God to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth for there is no Worship accepted of God but that which People are led into by the Spirit of God and for want of keeping to the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth which in the Heart and Conscience Reproves for Sin and Justifies men in doing of Good People run into all manner of Errors as well in Judgment Discipline and Worship as in the other things for though there be a Spirit in man Yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives a man Understanding how to Worship God and of the Way to Heaven and what to believe and what not to believe and what to do and what to leave undone and what will please God and what will not please him But that there is such an immediate Inspiration whereby God doth teach and reveal his Mind to his Children in this Age is opposed vilified and denyed by the Generality and no marvel for needs must it be so while they are beside the Truth and will not come to the Spirit of Truth to be led by it but oppose it that should lead into all Truth and give a man to understand that which no man can un derstand by the Wisdom of this World 1 Cor. 1.12 ch 2.14 for the Scripture saith The World by Wisdom knew not God but as People come to be made wise by God so they come to have an Experience of these fore mentioned things to know the old Heaven to be dissolved and the Elements melted with fervent heat this is not an outward thing but an inward Work of God and it was never done by any Power but the Power of God And blessed be the Name of the Lord he hath begun this Work in many which is to the Salvation of them that are faithful and use victoriously the spiritual Weapons of their Warfare in Righteousness against Sin and Wickedness in the Heart and as they of old said so can many say now adayes The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual and mighty through God for the pulling down the Strong Holds of Satan in man Principalities and Powers of Darkness and for the bringing into the Obedience to Christ our Evil Thoughts 2 Cor. 10.4 that in the room of Sin Everlasting Righteousness may reign then that Peace will be known which passeth all Understandings of this World And as People give way to the Spirit of God it wars against the Devil and against his strong Holds which is Sin in the Heart for that is the chiefest Place in Man the Heart therefore God expecteth the Heart And the Wise Man said My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 So when Christ cometh to rule in the Heart then all things become new the Old Nature by him cometh to be purged out and a New Nature cometh to be known which is of the Nature of Christ and here Man comes to be born again by putting off the Old World's Worships Delights and Pleasures which are the old Heaven and Earth in the Heart for Heaven is as False Worship so Pleasures Delights c. for whatsoever a man sets his Heart Mind and Affections upon more than upon Christ that he makes his Heaven and his God too some made their Bellies their God and some make Covetousness their Heaven and some make Pride their Heaven whose chiefest Delight is to deck their Bodies up in foolish Toyes and cannot tell what New Thing many times to invent to put on or spend their Money upon Little do such remember what the Prophet cryed Isa 40.6 All Flesh is but as Grass and the Beauty of it but as the Flower of the Field the Grass withereth and the Flower fadeth away in like manner doth the Bodies of Men and Women with the Beauty thereof but the Word of the Lord endureth for evermore but this holy Word is little minded little loved or regarded by many although it strive with People in them to save them from the Wrath to come and will be with them forever a Joy to those that are faithful to it and a torment to the Wicked But the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of many and they are willing to be blinded by him alwayes delighting themselves in the things of this Life till Death seizeth upon them and then their Delights here become their Burden then they begin to cry out Lord Lord but what doth the Scripture say of such Matt. 7.21 22. mark Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter the Kingdom of God but he that doth the will of God and the Will of God is that people should cease to do Evil and learn to do well Isa 1.16 17. and cleanse their Hands and their Hearts by putting away the Evil of their Doings whilst they are on this side the Grave For the Scripture saith There is
no Unclean Thing shall enter the Kingdom of God and all Sin and Wickedness is unclean in the Sight of God and this was that which John saw was done away which he called the Old Heaven and the Old Earth and said He saw a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness which was a real Change in Man and Woman out of Sin and Wickedness into Righteousness and so Christ comes to rule where the Devil ruled and this is being born again and without coming to this none can come to be saved nor go to Heaven Therefore 't is good for all to consider this while there is time to do it before the Night come wherein no man can work for God for there are many things that hinder man from being born again as I was about to say concerning them that make Visible Things their Heaven and their God as some make Covetousness and Pride their Heaven and their God and othersome Drunkenness Swearing and Lying their Delight so it is their Heaven and their God some in Envy Malice Hatred and Strife Backbiting and Revenge others delight in Quarrelling Fighting and Murdering about Religion others in Hunting Hawking and Horse-Racing in Cards and Dice in Foolish Jesting spending their precious time in Idle Stories which corrupt Youth and are a Shame to Old Age. These things and many more while people live in them they are not born again nor led by the Spirit of God for all these things are brought forth in people by the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit which ruleth in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience ' Ephes 2.2 But the worst is that all these things ' or most of them are brought forth by such and in such as do pretend to worship and Religion but all such Worshippers are out of the Fear of God God made Man Upright but he falling from that Upright State he came to invent many Wayes to find out that again which he by Disobedience had lost but none could find it till they came to be led to it by the Spirit of God the Spirit of Truth which leadeth and guideth into all Truth and none come to be led by the Spirit of Truth till they deny themselves and take up a Cross to their own Wills a Cross to their old Heaven and to their old Earth which they have lived and delighted in not a Cross of Wood or Stone and such outward things as the Papists set up but to the Perverse Nature and the Selfish Will that the Will of God may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven in thy Earthen Vessel but while the old Heaven and the old Earth and the old Beggarly Elements are standing these things cannot be till all that cometh to be done away by the Spirit and Power of God for by him all things are to be made new in Man and Woman For when thy Delight cometh to be set on the Law of the Lord and thy Mind to be set on God and Godliness above all other things and to make it thy chiefest Joy to serve and worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and to seek after a Righteous Life here thou wilt come to know that New Heaven which John spoke of in the Revelations wherein dwelleth Righteousness so new Pleasures and Joyes for while the Old Nature in thee bears rule the old Pleasures of Sin yet stand in thy Mind and Heart in that dwelleth Unrighteousness and that must be destroyed and when these things by Christ come to be destroyed then thou wilt come to know Sanctification and to be redeemed from Sin by the Spirit of God and to be sanctified as the Scripture saith throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and so come to know all things to become new to be changed by the Lord and this is the New Birth which is begotten and brought forth by God which is not of this World but cometh to be changed by the little Leaven which was hid in the three Measures of Meal Matth. 13.33 and blessed be the Name of the Lord this little Leaven hath in many brought the three Measures into one Lump and hath changed Body Soul and Spirit into its own Nature and in such all things are become new for the Kingdom of Heaven and the Spirit of it is compared to a little Leaven that was hid in three Measures of Meal for the Spirit of God seemeth to most people to be of little and of low Esteem in their Eyes and the Appearance of his Spirit in them against Sin is more hated than any man's and he is as the Prophet said Amos 2.13 prest down as a Cart that is laden with Sheaves It is Sin and Wickedness that the Spirit of God is pressed down with in the Hearts and Consciences of People but Wo be to them one day if by Faith and Repentance they remove not these Weights and Burdens from the Lord's Spirit this is that which will sink them down to the Pit of Hell where there is never any more coming out it s without End 't is Torment forever Therefore it is good for all People to be faithful to the Spirit of Christ it is no less than the Power of God to Salvation in them that are faithful to it and by this People come to escape the Damnation of Hell and by no other means can ever any escape but as they come to know Christ's Spirit to rule in the Heart and Mind over all Impurity for he is come to bear sway in the Heart and therefore Wisdom saith My Son give me thy Heart and if he rule in the Heart then that which abounds out of the Heart will be from the Good Motions of Christ's Spirit and as the Holy Man of God said in dayes past Acts 17.28 In Him we live and in Him we move and have our being this will also be witnessed by them in this day that know Christ to rule in them for such come to live in him and to move by him and in him to have their being he that came to this state said Gal. 2.20 The Life that I now live is by the Faith of the Son of God This was a Life out of Sin in the New Birth being chosen out of this World and come to walk in a new and living Way which leadeth to the Rest which never will have End Christ is the Leader of such and they are no more their own but his as he is their Leader so he is their Father Master and Keeper when Temptation comes he is a strong Tower he is also in the Righteous as a Refiner's Fire and as a Fuller with Soap and as a Purifier of Silver he makes them more pure than Gold than the Golden Wedge of Ofer he is in all those that are led by him as a Consuming Fire against Sin and all Deceit and therefore it is said Who can dwell with Everlasting Burnings Isa 33.14 for by that Heat cometh all the
Law of God that is written in the Heart and if so then whether the Lords Power Law and Spirit be not the same as it was and whether the Lords Love be not as it was and whether he hath not the same Power to help man as he had I hope all this will be granted and that it was only and alone by the Power and Spirit of God they came to be Righteous and to witness an Overcoming of Sin and by no Self righteousness nor by any other Power and that the Lord's Law Power and Spirit is the same as it was and his Love the same as it was and that God has the same Power to help men as he had And if this be granted that it is so then it seems the Fault is not in God that it is not now as it was in the Apostles dayes and if the Fault be not in God then it is in Man But 't is my Belief and Experienced Knowledge that there be some that are come to witness the same Power over Sin as the Apostles witnessed in their day and I believe that it is with Men and Women that are faithful to God as it was in the Apostles dayes as concerning having Power over Sin and to come to a Perfect State in Christ Jesus But to them that are wallowing in Sin as a Sow in the Mire and to them that are pleading for Sin for term of Life although they may be got under a high Notion of Religion and out of the open Prophaneness of the gross Abominations which are practised in the World yet notwithstanding this while they plead for Sin and live in Sin herein they are striving to uphold the Devil's Kingdom and live in that which Pleaseth the Devil and Displeaseth God for Sin is of the Devil's Kingdom and they that plead for it to wit for Sin are pleading for the Devil's Kingdom and with such I must needs confess it was never with them as with the Apostles in their day and them that followed Christ in the Apostles dayes nor in our dayes and such there were in the Apostles dayes that would not believe and follow Christ and they knew no Power over Sin because they came not to him that gives Power and so came not to be Sons of God because they did not receive him that was come to give Power to become the Sons of God as the Scripture saith which we that are in Scorn called Quakers do believe to be a true Declaration of those things that ought to be believed and have a reverent Esteem of them and they say Christ came to his own but his own received him not but as many as did receive him unto them he gave Power to become the Sons of God John 1.10 11 12. Receiving of him is to yield to the Motions of his good Spirit in them and these be they which come to know that God is not changed nor his Power lessened nor his Love abated but he is the same to Mankind to day as yesterday and forever and as there were some in the Apostles times that would not believe the Doctrine of Christ nor the Apostles so now in our dayes there are many Professors and Prophane that will not believe Christ nor his Doctrine because his Doctrine is against Sin but they cannot abide it and are crying out No Perfection Here neither will they believe that Christ is able to do the Work that the Father sent him to do for he came to put an End to Sin to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness This is that which they cannot believe and especially they that are got under a Colour of Religion as the Scribes and Pharisees were they ever were the worst against Christ and the Apostles and so they are now adayes For all Religions and Worships are False and Vain except that which Christ set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago which is in the Spirit and Truth which is the Light of Christ Jesus and the Power of God to Salvation made known to Mankind in the Heart and Conscience as the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest within for God hath shewed it to man that Sin by this may be made known and Righteousness made known the Way of Life and the Way of Death made known that lost Man may not be to seek concerning Salvation this hath the Lord done in Mercy for us that none may miss of that Kingdom which is not of this World and if any miss that it is because of Sin and this must be known to be taken away in this Life if it could have been done away after this Life then Christ needed not have come and suffered for Sin as he did nor the Apostles and Ministers of Christ have prest People so much to Perfection as they did and to make their Calling and Election sure in this Life But this is certain If ever people come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom they must come to have Assurance of it before they go hence else they will miss of their Expectation of having a Rest with God when this Life will End And to know Assurance is to know Sin destroyed and Righteousness set up in the Heart Some may be ready to say How is this possible to be seeing our Mortal Bodies are frail and full of Infirmities and Weakness doth attend us and when we have done all we are Unprofitable Servants It is true all the Service that Man can do it is unprofitable in the sight of God if God lead not unto it all Worship Service and Duty that is done set up and offered to the Lord it being done in Man's Will this is all unprofitable and unaccepted of God it being Man's Will and not the Will of God for while People live in Sin and plead for it and while the Old Nature is standing their Preaching Praying Baptizing and Breaking of Bread Singing and Family Duties it is all vain if Christ move not to it and lead into it the Scripture saith The Prayers of the Wicked are Abomination to the Lord and if their best Service be Abomination to the Lord needs must the rest for all Sin is Abomination at the best and therefore while people live in Sin and plead for the continuation of it they must needs be Wicked and herein I say all is unprofitable as people live in this Condition But there is a State and Condition which is profitable perfect and that Job came to and many more of the People of God in all Ages Generations that knew the Spirit of God to lead and guide them into all Truth this is that Spirit which a Manifestation of is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and they that came to be led by that Spirit their Prayers avail much and their Works are the Works of Righteousness and this is that which God doth accept of and I hope there is none that will dare to
People this is one of the chief Articles of the Church to Promise and Vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and live so all its Life long this is the first thing they injoyn a Member of their Church in the receiving a Member into their Church as part of their form of Worship and in their Pulpits Preach against it that is against the principal part of their Articles of belief in Baptism inasmuch as they say there is no Perfection here O the Darkness gross Darkness that is over this people the blindness and ignorance they are in concerning their Salvation it is hard to express how they are misled the blind Leaders of the Blind till many a thousand fall into the Ditch But blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath drawn me and many more out of it and hath set our Feet upon a Rock as David said Out of the Miery Clay For all these Performances and their best Duties are but as Mire and Clay in the sight of God and we that were in it as well as others hath the Lord raised up to bear a Living Testimony against this Idolatrous Worship and false Imaginations that others may come to see where they are and come out from amongst them before they fall together into the Pit of Hell where there is never coming out more For the Priests and all other Sect-Masters are blind Leaders of the Blind for do but consider the manner of their proceeding in this matter of Sprinkling of Children and what it doth produce the Priest he sprinkleth Water in the Face of the Child and saith I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost And that they reckon maketh a Christian of the Child to wit a Child of God a Member of Christ and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of God an absolute Delusion and then there they must have some other People good or bad to stand bound for the Child and these they call God-Fathers and God-Mothers as if the God of Heaven and Earth had Fathers and Mothers made of wicked Men and Women for do but mind these people take the Work of God upon them inasmuch as they take upon them to Promise and Vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works which is to live without Sin and no less then all the dayes of his Life which is a thing all the World can never do for inasmuch as they promise that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works this doth include all Sin whatsoever for there is no Sin nor never was but is of the Devils work and herein they take that upon them which none can do but God and Christ and therefore Christ is come to destroy Sin to put an End to Sin to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness for all man's Righteousness is but as filthy Rags and when he hath done all that he can while he is in the old Nature it is all unprofitable And further consider both Priests and People how the Priests Err in compelling people to do that in this case which they are ignorant of and cannot give Answer for what they do and here the Blind are Leaders of the Blind For neither Priests nor People know in this matter what they do for if they did some of them would not do it for when some in obedience to the Lord have asked them why they did do these things which there is no Scripture for they could not well tell what to say some have said The Law of the Nation is for it Others in a blind manner will say That if they should not do it their Children would be Damned because they think that maketh them Christians when few of them know what a Christian is for a Christian is one that walketh like Christ or as Christ would have him and so to be United to Christ Some will Answer and say That it was used in our Fore-Fathers dayes and therefore we will use it It was said In the time of Ignorance the Lord winked but now he hath removed the Clouds of Ignorance and made these things known and hath cleared up the understandings of a Remnant more in this Age than in some Ages past and hath manifested the emptiness barrenness unfruitfulness and unprofitableness of the Traditions of the Ignorant and is calling to Repentance and the People of this Age have as much need of Repenting of this thing of Sprinkling as any one thing for in the manner as it is now used and hath been for some time past it is very wicked and abominable in the sight of God and why may not people as well plead for their Fore-Fathers Drunkenness Swearing Lying and Whoreing as for this For note this one thing when they go to make a Christian as they suppose do but mark them in the Action when they are met together they behave themselves more like People of making Heathens than Christians for it is common for them they take occasion at such times to Feast Play Dance Revel and be drunk at the time when they practise such things And this is their manner of making Christians who make use of those opportunities of their so meeting to commit such Abominations but I would leave to the serious consideration of any sober People whether these Actions and Practices be the way to make Christians O! the horrid Abominations and Pollutions that People do commit in this and almost in all their Duties when they meet together as they say to worship God! the Lord is weary of bearing with it and his Indignation is against them that run into any thing and call it Service and Duty to God when God hath not commanded it nor required it nor his Spirit led them to do it These things are an Abomination to the Lord and Christ is come to judge the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment for people that are got into any Judgment or Righteousness as to Religion and Worship which they are not led and guided into by the Spirit of God although it were a likeness of the true Worship which the People of God in Ages past did do in obedience to the Spirit of God and where things that were accepted of God being done and acted by the holy men of God as they were moved by his holy Spirit were well-pleasing to God in their Day and Time they being but Shadows and Figures of the Substance Christ Jesus which is come and hath put an end to them outward things now is calling of People to worship in the Spirit and in the Truth for Christ said Such the Father seeketh to worship him So now though People may run into these things which were good in their Time and Day as Circumcision was in its day so were other things in their day and time as John's Baptism breaking of Bread and many other things before as the Passover the Brazen Serpent which
People own the Scriptures more than we do for 't is not every one that readeth it that doth own it although 't is good to read it 't is they that answer and fulfil the Sayings of Scripture in Life and Conversation that truly own them and these come to know the Mysteries of them and not every one that can talk of them as the Scribes and Pharisees could and premeditate things in their Brains and talk of them in their Wills but 't is he only that doth the Sayings of them that cometh to know the Comfort and Benefit of them For People are mistaken in this thinking that by often reading the Scriptures little minding what they read that this will do God Service No no 't is they that read with Understanding and come to Practise the same who come to know all false Worships from the true and the true from the false For the Scripture doth not direct people to it self but to Christ Jesus for we say he is the Way the Truth and the Life and we see where Christ taketh them off from having so much dependency on the Scriptures and said thus Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but you will not come to me that you may have Life John 5.39 So we say that Christ is he that giveth Life and without him no man can come to God And this is our Principle and that which we do faithfully believe and the Scriptures are on our side as a Cloud of Witnesses And we do not believe that any of these outward things will do as Praying to them that are dead or Worshipping of Images or Signing with a Cross or any of these things but man must become a new Creature all old things must be done away Neither do we believe that Water Bread or Wine can do any thing towards cleansing of the Conscience Neither do we believe that the Church Faith as they call it nor their Directory but he that said Before Abraham was I am 't is he that is mans true director alone without all their made Faiths and framed Directories or any such thing And we do further believe That 't is not the Common-Prayer-Book nor the Sprinkling of Children or any thing else that they can invent that will make a Man or a Woman a new Creature but Christ which is the true Bread which cometh down from Heaven they that eat thereof shall never Hunger more and Christ hath promised this to them which hunger after Righteousness they that hunger after Righteousness Christ is feeding with this Bread and he is chusing of them out of the Vanities of this World But they that deny the leading and guiding of the Spirit of God and say That Inspiration and Revelation is ceased as the Priests and Professors do and say There is no such thing now adayes Such never come to eat of that Bread which Christ said he would give to them that hungred after him but them that are Full and Rich he sendeth empty away but the Needy and poor of Spirit he Feedeth and filleth with good things But as to them that deny Revelation and the Light of Christ which enlightneth all and the Righteous are guided by them that oppose and deny this I do believe that they see no Revelation neither do they see any Beauty or Comliness in the appearance of Christ for he is grieved in them as a man of Sorrows and his Visage is more marred by them then any mans because they are alwayes Warring Writing and enviously Opposing the Light and Spirit of God in themselves and in others Therefore they must needs not know how it is with them and must needs be blind while they are in striving against that which would let them see for the Scripture saith There is none knoweth the things of God but by the Spirit of God And in this state and condition rebelling against that which is the only means of Salvation and are mudling in the dark and know not how it is with them because they are hearkening to the false Prophets and blind Guides and this is the reason that Condemnation is come upon them that are condemned because Christ is come they that will not believe on him must be condemned This being the Condemnation of the World that Light is come into the world men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil. For we may read that whilst Paul was opposing of the Light and Spirit in himself which often times pricked him in his Conscience for what he did which was not right although it were in a blind Zeal and under a cover of Religion yet being done in his own Will and according to the Wisdom of the Flesh this was that which blinded his Eye that he could not see how it was with him but was as these be now adayes hating and persecuting of the Just and yet talking much of Religion and very busie about the Letter talking much of the Prophets Words but Persecuting the Just and quenching the Spirit of Christ as these outside Professors do now adayes So we may see that Paul till he came to know Revelation in himself and to walk by the Light of Christ which shone in him for all his Learning and his great Profession yet he was ignorant of the Way of the Lord and as to his own Condition he could not examine himself nor know how it was with him till he turned to that which reproved him and so to have his mind guided by it and his Conversation to be managed by that which pricked his Conscience and so he came to fear the Lord more then men and though men rose up against him for coming to that strange Doctrine as they so called it which Doctrine the Wisdom of this World could never understand in that Age neither can they now but alwayes counted it strange Madness and Folly and so they do now adayes and when Paul came to be led by another Spirit then that he was led by or then that they were led by by this he came to be led beyond their wisdom then they cryed out he was a Mad Man and so they are crying now adayes concerning us because as Christ saith They know not what they do nor what Spirit they are of and thus the Blind leadeth the Blind And here lieth the reason there is so much Confusion among men about Religion and why so few are chosen because they go from the true Guide and from him that giveth a right understanding concerning the true Worship and things relating to Salvation For there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby any man comes to the Kingdom of Heaven and is saved but by Christ Jesus alone for as Christ saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 Now to this most People of all sorts will confess because it is Scripture that Christ is the Way the Truth
true I have found it so by good Experience And this is the Devils end to keep Peoples Minds upon Earthly things that they may never mind Heavenly things but to spend away their precious time in this world till there be no more time that thereby they may lose the Treasure in Heaven that is laid up in Heaven for all those that will come to God upon his Terms which Terms are for People to Repent deny themselves to take up a Cross to their own Wills to love and fear God and to worship him in Spirit and Truth and I am sure that none can do this without the Spirit if it must be as the Scripture saith in the Spirit and in the Truth and I believe the Scripture is true and that Christ spoke true when he spoke these words and all priests and Professors are in Error and Blindness that deny these things but all them that love the Appearance of the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is the chief Terms of Salvation come to know Benefit thereby the manner of his appearing is in Peoples Minds against Sin and they that love that which the Spirit of God appeareth against and judgeth in their Minds they are yet hating of God let them profess what they will it is in vain but they that love those things which the Spirit of God in themselves appeareth for these be they that love his Appearance But in all Ages they that had got on a Covering which was not of God's Spirit these were ever the work for all Religions are false except that in Spirit and Truth and all these false Colours of Religion were ever invented by the Devil and this is one way that he in all Generations did work when he could no longer keep People in open Prophaneness then he invents new wayes for them to walk in and he will plead Scripture for it too and speak much of the holy men of God's Works too That in Ages past they were commanded to do which were good in their Day and Time to them that were obedient to it which were to last till Christ the Substance came or till the time of Reformation being but Shadows and Figures of the Substance which blessed be the Lord he is come and hath put an end to these things and hath set up a Worship in Spirit and Truth But the Spirit of the Devil he is alwayes a keeping busied about outward things and Lip-service that he may keep the Heart upon some visible thing and off from the inward and spiritual Worship and this is one way that he worketh in the Mystery of Iniquity alwayes when he can keep People no longer in open Prophaneness then to turn them into outward Duties as he calls them when God required no such thing at their Hands for it is first the Heart the Lord requireth saying My Son Prov. 23.26 give me thy Heart that is to set their Hearts on the Lord and to be led by his good Spirit in them then Family-Duties and other Duties are by God accepted they being done by the Guidance of Gods good Spirit for thou mayst read in the Scriptures of Truth which we own and have more esteem of them than any other Book in the World and they speak after this manner saying The Prayers of the Wicked are Abomination to the Lord but the Prayers of the Righteous avail much But the Manner of the Spirit of the Devil is to keep People from being Righteous that their Prayers may not be accepted and keeping in outward things that they may never know the inward Work of God which is to work out Sin and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness But he is keeping of them ever hearing and ever learning that they may never be able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth for he knows while they are hear kening to the Teaching of the blind Guides they can never come to the Knowledge of the Truth for the Devil knows till People come to be led and guided by the Spirit of Truth it is impossible that they can ever come to the Knowledge of the Truth here he keeps People seeking of the Living amongst the Dead and Life where no Life is And this is the manner of the working of the Enemy And this is the greatest Cheat that the Devil hath to cheat People of their Souls to turn People into one Outside Painted Religion or another and then perswade them all is well and most of them are willing to believe him it being in the Delightsome Tract of the World only differing in some Geremonies but the Religion in Spirit and Truth Light and Grace this the Professors cannot abide because it calls into a Narrow Way and to enter in at a strait Gate For the Enemy had rather or as lieve People got into some Tract or Form of Religion as not for then he can perswade them it is well with them and perswades them that they need not seek after any thing else and all this he doth that he may keep them from the true Worship in Spirit and Truth But those that are in open Prophaneness he cannot blind after this Manner for they know whosoever is Right they are Wrong and have no Cover for what they do therefore Christ said Publicans and Harlots should enter the Kingdom of Heaven before such as Profess Service to God and serve him not acceptably for no Service is acceptable but that in Spirit and Truth We unto them that are Covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord. And many more Wayes the Devil hath to keep People from answering the Requirings of God's Spirit but no Snare like to a False Cover of Religion Many there be that he hath other Baits for that matter nothing of any Religion some he keeps all their dayes their Minds and Hearts in Covetousness some in Pride some in Drunkenness some in Cozening and Cheating and many more Baits and Snares he hath to betray People of their Happiness with the Lord some the Devil perswades they shall never give an Account to God for what they do and so live like Ranters all their dayes And he tells them There is neither God nor Devil Hell nor Heaven and many are willing to believe it But have a care of this Perswasion for thou shalt know these things to be Lyes one day to the Sorrow of thy Soul when it will be too late for thee to consider if thou dost not Repent in time Others the Devil perswadeth that God hath created some to Salvation others to Damnation which is as great an Untruth as the other and a great many are willing to believe it supposing they are of those that are ordain'd to Salvation some others there be of that mind that are perswaded that if it be so they are of that Number which are born to Damnation and upon this Perswasion many grow Careless in their Conversations and run into all manner of Evil. This Perswasion is a just Road to
put in by the spirit of the Devil and whatsoever is put into any Man or Woman's Mind that is good right and just is done by the Spirit of the Lord for take notice of this all peoples Minds and Affections are swayed by one or the other of these two Spirits one turning into Wickedness the other into Righteousness this is true whether thou wilt believe it or no thou shalt be made to know it when it will be too late if thou art not aware A few words in answer to the fore-mentioned Reasonings and Objections against the Truth and Spiritual Worship As to the Strait Gate and Narrow Way it is strait to the Wicked it is pleasant to the Righteous and as to the many Wayes there are not many Wayes to Heaven but to Heaven there is but one Way and that is to come to answer God's Spirit in thee and to worship God in Spirit and in Truth And as to the being hated of all people this is no new thing for Christ and all the holy Men of God were ever Hated as thou mayst read in the Scriptures and Moses said He did esteem of the Repreaches that be under-went for Christ's sake to be greater Riches to him than all the Treasures in Egypt and though they were hated of Men yet they were beloved of God and all this while it is well enough And as to the Danger of Losing any thing for Christ's sake this was counted by the Righteous all Joy that they were not counted only worthy to Rain with Christ but also to Suffer with him and the Lord hath promised That whatsoever any Suffer for him they shall have Recompensed in this Life a hundred fold and in the World to come Life Everlasting without End And the Scripture saith They that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecutions And Christ told his Disciples The Servant was not greater than his Master if they persecuted him it was certain they would perseoute them And as to the Displeasing of Men it is impossible that people can please God and Ungodly Men and Peter and John bad people judge whether they had best Please God or Man And as concerning a Livelihood believe the Scripture First seek God's Kingdom and the Righteousness thereof and all other things shall be added to thee Matth. 6.33 And as for our Religion which is in Spirit and in Truth to be a New Upstart Religion this is a downright Slander for it was set up by Christ above sixteen hundred years ago and there is no other Way to Heaven but this though some there be that do profess it that do not walk in it this doth not alter the Case or make the thing not to be the same as it is professed for Judas did not alter the Case in that matter neither do any Traitors to the Truth now adayes And as to the False Religion it is true it hath been long standing the more is the Pity yet that doth not make because False Religions have been long standing that therefore it must ever remain this will not hold It is true ever since Wickedness hath been covered under a Cloak of Religion this hath been standing And as to the Church which some say cannot Err I answer that there is no Church or People but do Err except them that are led and guided by the Spirit of God and such are the only true Church and they that are led by this are led by that Spirit that never did nor can Err and till people come to this all go astray let them profess what they will And as to our Fore-Fathers how it was with them that I will leave to the Lord I will not judge of them that I never knew but this I do believe of them That some of them were Faithful to what they knew and that is it the Lord requires and doth accept of and as to them they are gone and I do believe some of them dyed in the true Faith which we do believe in and I do believe they are at Rest with the Lord and were of our Mind and Belief though not called by this new Nick-Name which the Devil in our Age hath invented for his Servants to put upon us as in all Ages the Devil had New Nick-Names for to disguise and deride Christ and his Followers and so he hath now And for your Ministers to know the Way there are none that know the Truth nor no true Ministers but them that come to be endewed with Power from on High which is known by Revelation and Inspiration which your Priests and Professors do deny therefore they cannot know the Truth while they are denying that which bringeth to the Knowledge of the Truth for the Scripture saith and I do believe they are true and they say though there is a Spirit in Man yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives an Understanding And as concerning Great Learning this is good in its place as men come to the true Understanding of it given to them by the Spirit of God for the Scripture is as a Mystery hid from the Wisdom of this World and it was never known that Outward Learning or Education of Men nor Great Learning did ever bring any man to the Knowledge of the Truth nor never was able to unsold the Mystery of Godliness to any man as for Instance there was Paul he was a great Learned Man and had great Parts and Education and counted himself beyond many of the Jews yet for all this he was ignorant of the true Knowledge of God till he came to it by the Revelation of the Son of God for that was and now is the thing alone that brought People to the Knowledge of that which is hid from the Wisdom of this World And as concerning Tradesmen and Plowmen knowing the Way read the Scriptures and there thou wilt find in all Ages it was such chiefly that came to the true Knowledge of the right Way of God for there were Peter and John that were Unlearned Men and many more beside them which were able Ministers of the Lord and where are there any great Learned Men now adayes that can compare with them but there are many now adayes that are come to the Knowledge of the Truth as they came to it by the Learning which they have learned of the Lord so do they preach whether they have outward Learning or not this makes not much matter in the things of God though Learning be very good in its place to them that make good use of it but if you observe the greatest Learned Men are commonly most ignorant of Christ's Kingdom therefore that is not the thing that makes people Righteous nor is it enough barely reading the Prophets Words and Works and Christ's Words and what he did and the Apostles Conditions how it was with them it is not enough to read these things unless people come to live the same Life that they did but it must be done by the Power of God and this is the Reason that there are so many ever reading and hearing and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth thinking by running into outward things they shall do well and never come to Christ that they may know Life Eternal which is to know God as the Scripture saith whom to know is Life Eternal A Day and a Time hath God given to all people that if they will in that Day and Time they may come to know God and by him to be cleansed of Sin which is the Cause of Death to their Souls And in this Day Christ would gather all People to himself as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings but if people will not come to him in that Day and Time when he calleth to them they shall never know Freedom from the Bondage of Hell and Death A Lamentation may be taken up concerning all such that sin out their Day and the Night comes on them at unawares and there be none to help as Christ took up concerning Jerusalem when their Day was over he went and beheld it with much Sorrow and wept over it with much Pity saying on this wise O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent to thee how often would I have gathered thee even as a Hen would have gathered her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not and further said he O that thou hadst known in this thy Day the things belonging to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes So it is with all people that sin out their Day as they did for the Lord striveth with all People as well as he strove with them to bring them to the Knowledge of the Things that belong to their Peace but still here they lie in Ignorance not yielding to the Motions of the Spirit of Christ although there be things laid up in store for them which do belong to their Peace yet in this Condition they are never worthy to know it because they believe not and they that are not faithful in a little never come to know much Thus will it be with all those that sin out their Day and will not answer God in the Time when he striveth with them So 't is good for all people to consider these things before it be too late that they may get Assurance of that which will stand by them and make choice of that which Mary did that Good Part which shall never be taken from them and herein people will come to finish their course with Joy and lay down their Heads in Peace when Dayes and Time shall be no more Thus far have I cleared my Conscience of that which lay upon me from the Lord to write in Love to all who desire to be in Favour with God that they may have Assurance of Acceptance with him for their Souls when their Bodies must be laid in their Graves So I rest with Love and Good Will towards all People desiring the Good and Prosperity of all in that Way which leadeth to that Kingdom which is not of this World who am known to many to be of that Mind and of that Desire by the Name of John Songhurst West Chiltington in Sussex in the 2d Moneth 1680. THE END