before you and lead you in whom there is no occasion of stumbling this was the Saints Walking-place and this Grace of God was their Teacher wherein they witnessed the Blood of Cleansing as ye may read And this Grace of God hath appeared to all men and its the Gift and Talent which he hath given according to measure to every one to profit withal of which he will require an Account how it hath been improved to his Glory your Neighbours Benefit and your own Souls Comfort For this is the Condemnation of the World that Light is come into the World and men loved Darkness rather then Light because their deeds were Evil The Condemnation is not because ye had not a Talent but because it is not improved but hid or buried in the Earth For the Free Gift is come upon all Jew and Gentile through one Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ who lighteth every man that cometh into the World this is Glad-tidings the Gospel preached to every Creature Therefore deceive not your selves with Lying Vanities neither feed on Husks and that which dyes of it self but remember the Strait Gate and Narrow Way that leads in the Regeneration in the Daily Cross to Life Eternal For your great Notions and Talk of Religion Church and Worship will not save you nor give you an Inheritance with the Saints in Light while you love Darkness and live in it if ye had all the words of holy Men from the beginning to this day and of what Christ did and suffered this is all but crying Lord Lord while the Heart is far off and the True God and his Worship in Spirit and in Truth is not known by you For such the Father is now seeking to worship him who worship him in the Spirit and have no Confidence in the Flesh As a Shepherd seeketh out his Sheep in the day when they are scattered abroad and gathering from the Mouthes of the Idol-Shepherds and from off all the Barren Mountains into the fresh Pastures of Life and Peace unto the Fold of Everlasting Rest where no Ravenous Beast can come Glory to the Lord God for evermore And against this his Work now begun Gog and Magogg shall never prevail The Great Day of the Feast is come wherein he is inviting the Poor in Spirit the Hungry and Thirsty Souls the Year of his Redeemed is come and the Day of Vengeance is in his Heart which Day the Apostle saw and wrote of that should come after the Apostacy or falling away where the Man of Sin should be consumed and destroyed and the Great and Glorious Work of Restauration determined should be accomplished And this is from the Lord God Almighty to all the Inhabitants of the Earth whether they will hear or forbear I have a few words more to all you that Sleight and make a Mock at the Light Within as a Foolish Erronious and Contemptable Thing O Ye brutish among men and Fools that hate Knowledge and ignorant of the Scriptures of Truth of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles which testifie of the True Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World of which Moses wrote and John bore witness John 1.9 though you profess their words And Abraham saw Christ's Day the True Light did he see it Within or Without Answer me And Enoch walked with God before the Scriptures were given forth And John's Message was That God is Light And God said of his People I will dwell in them and walk in them is not this the Light VVithin or is God changed Did not Isaiah say Isa 26. The Lord was an Everlasting Light and in the Lord Jehovah was Everlasting Strength and bid people trust in him and that he had wrought all their Works in them And did not the Apostle say It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure And do you not make a Mock at God and Christ that dwelleth in his People and at the Scriptures you that mock at the Light VVithin Did not the Light that shined in the Saints give them the true Knowledge of the only true God and his Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ or did ever any know the true God and Jesus Christ which is Life Eternal by a Light VVithout seeing the Scripture saith The things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God by which they are revealed 2 Cor. 2.9 10 11. And no man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 And the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth man Vnderstanding Job 32.8 Whether this Spirit Inspiration and Revelation be Within or Without And by what did Abel Enoch and Noah and many others know God before the Scriptures were given forth or whether the Invisible God which is a Spirit was ever seen by any carnal or visible Eye seeing Israel saw no Similitude but only heard a Voice Deut. 4.12 15 16. May I not say to such Go to the Beasts and they shall teach thee and to the Fowls and they shall instruct thee Hath not God in his Universal Love and Tender Care ordained a Universal Light and Sun to shine without for the Well-being Comfort and Refreshment of all Creatures Man and Beast even of the Mortal Bodies throughout the Habitable Parts of the Earth who causeth his Sun to shine and Rain to fall on the Just and Unjust And hath he not afforded or ordained a Universal Light and Son of Righteousness for the Immortal Soul the Inner Man for its Help Comfort and Refreshment which is of far greater value in his sight then the Mortal Creatures If he be thus straightened and his Arm and Hand of Love thus shortened when came this to pass seeing his People and Children have found him in all Ages Unchangable the same yesterday to day and forever who taught his Followers To be Merciful as their Heavenly Father is Merciful who would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 O the Blindness that is happened to people professing Christianity to despise and deride so Glorious a Comforter It is no less then the Manifestation of the Spirit of Truth which guides and leads its Children into all Truth and shews them things to come My soul pitties you and I could even mourn in secret for you knowing how miserable your Feet will stumble at the dark Mountains who hate the Light and the Mockers Bands be made strong Jer. 13.16 Isa 28.22 I will ask you this Question and let the whole World answer me if they can What will become of the Immortal Part or Inner Man which must have a Beeing forever when the Body or Outward Man is perished what will be its state when deprived of all visible or outward Light to all eternity and the Light Within wholy rejected and whether that state be not the utter Darkness spoken of Mat. 25. where neither any Glory nor Benefit can be
seen but Torment from the Light Within Consider it well in the Fear of God and what will be thy Portion when the Desire Beauty and Comforts of thine outward Eyes are gone and thou gone to thy long Home if thou hast no Benefit of the Light Within to comfort thee Blessed are the Eyes that see and the Heart that understands and believes in the Light for such become the Children of Light as Christ said and they are the Children of God For God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all 1 John 1.5 Objection But some may object and say How can any be in utter Darkness seeing thou affirmest every one in the World is lighted with the true Light of Christ Jesus and that it is the Talent or Gift given to every man to profit withal and that all must give an Account of the Improvement of it And how is it said to be taken from a man and he cast into utter Darkness Answ It is thus taken away Through Disobedience to it the not improving of it the Benefit and Comfort of it is lost and if a man live and dye in the state of Rebellion it only remaineth in him as a Tormenting Worm that never dyes And thus you may read of the Wicked and Slothful Servant who had a Talent and did not improve it as required but hid it in the Earth read within this was his Condemnation and this is the Fire that never goes out And the Rich Man in Hell Torment who had lived in the fulness of Pleasures had enough to see himself in Darkness and Tormented in the Flame and Abraham and Lazarus in Joy and Comfort which added to his Misery and not to his Refreshment for he desired but a little of their Water and could not get it as ye may see Luke 16.23 24 25 26. And it was said of them that separated themselves from the Saints in Light That they were sensual having not the Spirit that is They not being guided lead and taught by it but were disobrdient to it had not the Benefit and Comfort of it nor a right Understanding by it of the Way of God nor true Knowledge of the Work and Mysteries of God which were the things that belong to their Everlasting Peace but it reprov'd and condemn'd them for their Rebellion as it is written The Rebellious dwell in a Dry Land Psal 68.6 But the Apostles and Servants of God who were led by it had the comfort of it and it abode with them so forever and they handled tasted and felt the Word of Life which was in the beginning and they fed upon it and it nourish'd and strengthen'd them with all Might in the Inter-Man and it was a Sword and Armour to them a Defence against Evil and Darkness And others they cast it behind their backs and so must needs go in Darkness For the Word is a Light so their Feet that take heed to it and it is powerful so people cast that which is powerful behind them and then complain they have no Power this is the state of the Disobedient But to as many as received him to them he gave Power even to as many as believe in his Name to become the Sons of God and he is the Author of eternal Salvation to as many as obey him Heb. 5.9 And so Disobedience is the Ground of man's Ruin and Destruction and not the Insufficiency of God's Gifts or any straitness in him towards Mankind So remember you are warned and its the Day of your Visitation from the Lord God in Love to your Immortal Souls and prize your Inch of precious time and fear God and give Glory to him and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Fountain of Water for the Hour of his Judgments is come in which Babylon must fall and his invisible Glory be revealed more and more to the Ends of the Earth till the kingdoms of this world become the Lord's and he shall Raign forever and ever world without end Amen I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent of this World and revealed them to Babes for so it pleaseth thee A few words in true Breathings of Love unto you that are turned in this Day of his Power from Darkness to the Light and do believe in it and have tasted that the Lord is Gracious DEar Friends dwell in it dwell low and cool and still in the true Dread of the Lord Wisdom's Gate and Door and there keep your Watch and be sober for your Enemy seeks to devour you all Opertunities he waits for his Prey to catch and destroy your poor tender Souls who are escaping from him whose desires are after God and things Above Remember it is the Old Serpent and he wants neither Age nor Cunning he is still more subtil then any Beast and is Cursed forever You have no Armour against him like the Armour of Light therefore keep it on and Watch and Pray continually and wrestle against this Principality and Power of Darkness the Enemy of Mankind which lies near to many and then he cannot enter he cannot spoil you nor sow his Tares of Corruption and Wickedness but while men sleep he sows them that was his first Oportunity while men slept and hath alwayes been and is the same now and no other So dear Friends keep your Watch it s the Word of the Lord to you then you keep out the Enemy and over him in true Dominion and Peace and your Soul is Comforted and God Glorified and his Work prospers in the Earth which praiseth him who hath Wonderfully and Graciously Appeared in this his Day for the deliverance of his Chosen and he will appear more and more till Jerusalem is made the Praise of the whose Earth and none shall hinder W. B. An Answer to those Cries among some ignorant People viz. Where did you ever hear or read in all the Scriptures of a people called Quakers and that preached of a Light Within people as you Quakers do And is not your Religion a New Religion of about Twenty Years standing not heard of before And whether you called Quakers do not deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God And whether you do not hold that dangerous Tenet of Perfection in this Life Given forth for the sake of the Simple Inquirer and to silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men and to Reprove the Scorner who Err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God AS for our Religion it is no New Religion neither is it onely of a late standing as you suppose and yet as new to many now as Christ's was unto the Jews who did not believe his Doctrine For the Light is a New and a Strange Thing to such as were born Blind and have alwayes lived in Darkness though it hath been the standing Rule and Path of the Just from the beginning as you may read and see if you are
not still blind in what followeth Though the Name QVAKER hath been given us in Reproach and Scorn by Scoffers and Mockers which the Apostle said would be in the last dayes yet we know that the Holy Men and Servants of God of old did witness Quaking and Trembling who would have been mocked by you had they been in your dayes who were Quakers and Tremblers and preached the Light above Twenty Hundred Years ago as ye may read in the Scriptures of Truth from the Mouthes of more then two or three Witnesses herein mention'd which is but in short of what may be declared 1. Moses a Servant of God by whose hand the Lord wrought Mighty Wonders and deliver'd his People out of Egypt the Land of Darkness he was a Quaker and a Trembler and all the people of the Camp Trembled Exod. 19.16 Hebr. 12.21 2. Those that Trembled at the Words and Commandment of God were the Choice Men and Chief in Counsel with Ezra and in the Work of the Lord in building the Temple Ezra 9.4 and 10.3 see whom the Lord chuseth to do his Work 3. Ezekiel a Prophet and Servant of God who did and wrought great Things in his day was a Quaker and Trembler chap. 12. vers 18. 4. And Isaac Trembled very exceedingly Gen. 27.33 Would not you like Ishmael have Mocked such an exceeding Trembler and called him Quaker had he been in your dayes Consider it 5. Job a Servant of God who saw God and knew his Redeemer live in his day an Upright man Trembled Job 21.6 19.25 6. And Daniel a Man greatly beloved of God in whom was an Excellent Spirit of Light and Understanding he was a Trembler and the men with him Quaked and we do not read the Heathens Mocked them chap. 10. nor called them Quakers And King Darius made a Decree That all men Fear and Tremble before the God of Daniel chap. 6.26 7. And David a Man after God's own Heart was a Trembler who did great things for God and his People Psal 55.5.119.120 but he was the Song of the Drunkards and despised of Saul's Daughter his Wife 8. Habakkuk Trembled Prophets of the Lord all owned Trembling Hab. 3.16 9. Jeremiah Trembled Prophets of the Lord all owned Trembling Jer. 5.22 23.9 10. Joel and Trembled Prophets of the Lord all owned Trembling Joel 2.1 11. Amos Trembled Prophets of the Lord all owned Trembling Amos 8.8 12. Nahum a Prophet of God witnessed the Mountains to Quake at his Presence chap. 1.5 And Isaiah who spoke in the Name of God said Hear the Word of the Lord all ye that Tremble at his Word your Brethren that hated you and that cast you out for my Name sake said Let the Lord be Glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and they shall be Ashamed chap. 66. Hear this ye Outside-Lip-Professors and Scoffers And saith God To this man will I look even to him that is Poor and of a Contrite Spirit and Trembleth at my Word chap. 66.1 And Paul an Apostle and Minister of Jesus Christ Trembled and the Converted Goaler Trembled and Felix Trembled reasoning with Paul about Righteousness Temperance and Judgment to come Acts 9.6 24 25. 16.29 Would not you Unrighteous and Untemperate Ones have scoffed at them and called them Quakers Consider it and Repent and Dread the Lord God who will not be mocked And Paul preached in much Trembling and in the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit of God and his Work was To turn people from Darkness to the Light and said God who is Light had shined into their Hearts And the true Believers were to work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling And it was God that workt in them c. as you may read 1 Cor. 2.3 4. 2 Cor. 7.15 Phil. 2.12 2 Cor. 4.6 And many more Quakers and Tremblers preached the Light the same true Light which John bore testimony of that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World And Abraham saw the Day of Christ the true Light before Moses was born who wrote of Christ and the Law of God and Enoch walked with God before Abraham was born who was the seventh from Adam and had the Witness in himself That he pleased God And Isaiah Preached and Prophesied of the Light and the House of Jacob when Idolatrous was called to walk in the Light of the Lord Isa 49.6 60. 2.5 And Christ was further promised to be for a Covenant of Light and Salvation Isa 10.17 51 4. Ezekiel speaks of the Voice and Glory of God when he had seen the Fire and Lightening chap. 1. But this is hid from your Eyes who are in the Dark And Daniel declared of the Light chap. 2.22 5.11 12. And the Queen of that Country said It was in him and that it was an Excellent Spirit and did not Mock him nor at the Light Within as many do who profess Christianity but are worse then the Heathens And David preached the Light Within and VVord VVithin Psalm 27.1 36.9 97.11 37.6 119.11 vers 105. And Job owned and preached the Light chap. 24 16. 25 3. 33.28 And he saw God with his Eye which is Light chap. 42.5 And Paul preached the Light VVithin 2 Cor. 4.6 And Christ Jesus preached the Light and bid People believe in it and so do we that they might become the Children of the Light John 12.35 36. And John his Message was That God is Light 1 John 1.5 And God said He would dwell in his People 2 Cor. 6.16 And the Saints Inheritance is in the Light Col. 1.12 And Immortality dwelleth in the Light 1 Tim. 2.16 which is the Saints Inheritance though the Unsanctified Dark and Unclean have no part in it in that state or Knowledge of the Wayes of it while they Rebel against it as you may read Job 24.13 Much more might be written as to this particular but this is onely mentioned in short for the sake of such as may simply inquire and to stop the Mouth of the Lyar and Scoffer who speak evil of those things they understand not And also I do affirm That the Quakers and Tremblers which were Servants of God of old as I have here shewed did bare a Testimony against all the Unrighteousness of men in their day without Respect of Persons in Plain Language to the people and did preach the Light as we have done and yet do in our Age. And the Gospel of this Kingdom of God Within must be preached for a Witness unto all Nations and then shall the End come They testified against Idolatry against the Proud Mockers and Scoffers against the Rebellious who rebelled against the Light and pronouced many Woes against the Hypocrites and False Shepherds and Hirelings such as seek't their Gain from their Quarter that fed themselves and bore Rule by their Means and Prophesied for Money and Barley and Pieces of Bread that ruled with Force and Cruelty pushing with their
Horns like as some bruit Beasts have done in this Age against whom the Lord God did move many of his Servants to testifie as may be yet remembred And there was a time when Christ Jesus was daily striving with such in their Temple to have gathered them in their day but they refused and then after said They are Blind Leaders of the Blind let them alone which was an Expression of a sad Sin and Consequence for they would both fall into the Ditch Which may serve for an Answer to some that have inquired Why we do not visit them as formerly if they had Eyes to discern the Times and Seasons which are in the Father's Hand Much might be said to this They testified against the Bloody against Robbers and Lyars and against the Covetous Violent and Oppressors of the people And Zephaniah cryed Wo to the Filthy and Poluted Oppressing City whose Princes were Roaring Lyons and Judges Evening Wolves and Prophets light and treacherous chap. 3. And read Amos 6. And against such as were in Cain's Way and Balaam's Way Michah 3. Nahum 3. Ezek. chap. 34. Jer. chap. 4. Isa 10.1 and Chap. 28. Jude vers 11. And Isaiah pronounced Wo to the Crown of Pride to the Drunkards of Ephraim they shall be troden under Feet Isa chap. 28. And Wo unto them that decree Vnrighteous Decrees c. chap. 10.1 and to the Rebellious Children that took Counsel but not of the Lord and that cover with a Covering and not of his Spirit that they might add sin to sin Hear this all ye Outside-Professors of Christianity who rebel against the Light and Counsel of the Lord and his Spirit Within which reproves you for your Sin and Hypocrisie your Covering is too narrow and your Bed too short to hide you from the Wrath of the Lamb. The Sheep's Clothing will not serve you while you are inwardly ravened from the Truth required in the Inward parts no more then Cain's Sacrifice did while Sin lay at his Door The Day of the Lord is come that discovers you and your works and the Fire shall try them And Christ Jesus cryed many Woes against the Scribes and Pharisees and Lawyers and Blind Guides and called them Hypocrites and Serpents and Vipers And John cryed Wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth and said The Devil is come down unto you Rev. 12. And the Serpents and Vipers and Cain and Blind Guides like Moles are the Earth's Inhabiters and the Roaring Lyons and Evening Wolves and them that pusht with their Horns and the Swine Dogs and Foxes and Thorns and Thistles Christ spoke of are all of the Earth's Inhabitants and all the Ravenous and Unclean Beasts and the Devil went into the Swine and Cain the Wicked one sacrificed and slew his Brother about it a Vagabond and Fugative in the Earth an Inhabitant there and so the Wo remains upon all in his Way and in Balaam's Way Blind-Guides Way who could not see the Angel And such cannot see the VVay of the Lord nor his People nor their States and Conditions nor their VVorship till they are turned to the Light and the Eye become opened which the Godd of this VVorld hath blinded And so I have no Pearls to cast to Swine but to this man hath God regard That is Poor and of a Contrite Spirit and Trembleth at his Word VVherefore Fear God and consider these things and be VVise and do not Mock at the LIGHT nor at the QUAKERS but remember your Latter-end and Repent lest the Lord's Anger be kindled against you and you perish in your Folly For the Holy Men of God preached the LIGHT and witnessed QUAKING and TREMBLING as I have shewed you So take VVarning while you have time and prize it And as for the SCRIPTVRES we own them in their place as Christ Jesus said of them John 5.39 and as the Servants of God in Ages past acknowledged and testified Luke 1.1 2 Tim. 3.16 To be a Trus Declaration and leave it to the VVitness of God in you all to consider and judge whether they are all the Word or Words of God yea or nay as by what followeth First In the Bible or Scriptures are many words relating to divers Matters which we do not Question the Truth of the Relation thereof There are the words of God and of Adam and Eve in the Fall and of the Serpent that beguiled them I hope you will not say These are are all the VVord or VVords of God but very much to be distinguished by them that have a Right Understanding as Contradictory And there are the Words of Cain to God who slew his innocent Brother about Sacrifice And the words of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of Moses and the Prophets Noah Daniel and Job Holy Men. And there are also the Words of Esau the Prophane Person and the Aegyptians and Sodomites and of them that caused Daniel to be Cast into the Lyon's Den for Praying to his God And the Words of David Mordecai and Esther And of the Philistines that Fought against Israel and of Proud Wicked Hamon who sought the Jews Destruction because Mordecai would not do him Reverence And the Words of Ahah and Jezebel that Murdered Naboth for his Vineyard and the Words of Samuel to him whom he called his Enemy though a Holy Man And there are the Words of Saul who sought David to slay him and of the Witch he went to and of the Priest's Son Pashur Chief Governour c. who smote Jeremiah Are all these the Words of God And there are the Words of the Devil concerning Job who would have destroyed him but confessed God had made a Hedge about him And a Relation of the Reign of Good Kings and also of many Bad Ones And of the False Prophets and Hirelings that seek't for their Gain from their Quarter and spoke Lyes to the People whom God never sent and so did not profit them at all who heard and believed them Secondly And in the Scriptures are recorded the Words and Sayings Works and Sufferings of Christ Jesus the true Prophet of whom Moses wrote and the Words of the Devil that Tempted him and of Judas that Betrayed him and of the Priests that gave Large Money to the Souldiers to tell Lyes How his Disciples had stole him away while they were Asleep Is that likely They could tell what was become of Him being all Asleep VVhat a Shift and poor Refuge of Lyes the Devil putteth his Servants to when his Kingdom is going down And there are the words of Pilate that delivered him into their hands and Washed his own but that would not do and of them that Blindfolded and Mocked him And there are the Words of the Holy Apostles and their several Letters and Epistles to the several Congregations of the Lord's People And also of the Vagabond Jews who bound themselves under a Curse Neither to Eat nor Drink till they had Killed Paul And of the Captain that Rescued him out of