his sore Tryal particularly that * 1 Cor. 9. 5. for his leading about of a Sister a Wife †2 Cor. 11. 28. He had care of all the Churches * Act. 9. 26 27 28 29 30 31 38. 11. 26. 14. 22 28. 18. 23 27. 19. 1 9. 20. 1. 7. 21. 4 16. 1 Cor. 16. 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 8. 16 17 18. Deut. 18. 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. Where he made or found thorow Disciples of Christ in any City Town or elsewhere he had and held actual Communion with them SHEM ACHER Since Christ's more thorow Calling of Shem Acher to this Office and Work of the Ministry the LORD has given him a willing and ready mind and heart gladly to spend and be spent in his Service and for Souls and although his Travels have not been comparable for Miles and for Countries with Paul's yet he has had a Desire that way if Christ had called and enabled him thereunto and he had this Honour put upon him to be one of the first who set up open Separate Meetings in two or three Counties And for his Diligence in Preaching it is well known to many of which he gave good Testimony through Grace to the God of which Grace he ascribes all the Honour especially for five years in a great Town in Dorcetshire and afterwards whilst above nine years the LORD's Prisoner towards the latter end of which part of his Confinement in Dorchester he did preach sixteen times a week for some weeks besides other occasional work and since his coming near or into the City of London he has not been idle As for filthy Lucre he has not greedily sought it Whilst he received Tithe-Maintenance in a private Parish which was near one Hundred pounds by the year it was spent amongst them in Hospitality in providing for the Poor in buying of Bibles and such like in setting the Poor on work for he suffered no Beggar knowingly of all the Parishioners and towards parting with them he laid out about three hundred pounds in building a new House which he left to such as should after succeed him to labour in the Word and Doctrine This Estate he freely left to answer a Call unto a Neighbour Town where was much Work and little Wages For the small Tithes belonging to the Vicarage were so inconsiderable that when one whole years Profits were given to the King upon the Benevolence-Act the Man who was to gather the Profits for the King had at the years end laid out about five shillings more for decimation and in collecting than he had received which he doth not mention to reflect it upon the Inhabitants of that Town some whereof were not backward in contributing but all that and fourscore pounds Annuity of his own setled upon him by his Father was spent upon the place except what was laid out in Books and such like He also freely restored Thirty pounds out of which himself took not one shilling which was procured by some of the Town and paid to an Assistant as an Augmentation which ran in Shem Acher's other-Name If any take himself to have been wronged or defrauded by him let such prove the Charge and he will make Restitution Numb 16. 15. 1 Sam. 12. 3 4 5. Luke 19. 8. 2 Cor. 7. 2. For seventeen years or thereabouts altho he hath refused many pounds yet he doth remember but one piece of Tithe that he received of any which was brought to him by a Fellow-Prisoner conscientiously as she declared which was a very little Pot of Honey the Tenth-part of some Hive-Honey which she had in a little Garden of hers in the Country which to satisfie her he did receive from her hands but he presently gave it back to her again and a shilling besides This he doth mention to wipe off that Slander of Self-seeking who during his Ten-days Tribulation lived upon his Annuity whilst a Prisoner and since his coming to London he has done the same Tho his Judgment be that Decimation is the Peoples Duty about which he hath drawn up several Arguments in another Paper reserved for such a season when such Doctrine is like to have a readier reception What his Sufferings have been are well known to some * Rev. 2. 10. in nine full years close and hard Imprisonment and the beginning of a tenth besides those continued Reproaches Slanders and other Opposings which have assaulted him for about these last seventeen years more especially both from declared Enemies and pretended Friends But blessed be Jehovah who has enabled him in any good measure †2 Cor. 6. 3. 10. to endeavour to give no just offence or occasion of falling in any thing that the Ministry might not be blamed but in all things has endeavoured to approve himself as a Minister of God in much Patience in Afflictions in Distresses in Imprisonments in Labours in some Watchings and Fastings by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Spirit by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the right hand and on the left by Honour and Dishonour by evil report and good report As a Deceiver and yet true as unknown to many and yet well acknowledged by some as dying and yet behold he lives as chastened and not killed as sorrowful yet always rejoicing He forbears to enlarge much more upon this as not knowing how that will be received which is already mentioned However he doth †Col. 1. 24. rejoice in his Sufferings for the LORD's People and by way of Correspondence and Conformity to Christ is filling up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in his Flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church * Act. 9. and in many other pâ—aces of the Acts of the Apostles Mat 3. 13 14 15 16 17. 4. 1 17. As it was with Paul and as it was with Christ so also with Shem Acher a flood of Temptations and Persecutions brake in upon him when he thus passed under perfecting the Ordinance of Baptism and into a more thorow discharge of his Ministerial Function As Paul was so also has Shem Acher been much slanderously misreported concerning his Authority and Power of leading about of a Sister a Wife in his travels Historians do differ in their Judgment about Paul whether he were actually married or not Eusebius Pamphilus nameth Clemens and Ignatius and some others there are wâ—o hold that he was married That which doth perswade Shem Acher that Paul was married besides somewhat else which he could produce that way is †1 Cor. 7. 7. that expression of Paul I would that all Men were even as I my self which being interpreted of abstaining from Marriage altogether were a very sinful wish in him For if simply and absolutely taken if such a Will and Desire had obtained all the Race of Mankind and the whole Church of
forth sooner he has much to say in answer if he would enlarge but in short some hints he has already given which carry forcibleness of right Words in them to the impartially intelligent and spiritually discerning and he hoped that the Experiences of many in this City upon whose Hearts the LORD had sealed to the Office of his Ministry might have put some timely stop to the further spreading of such defameings Besides it is evident to him being led far into the mystery and meaning of this Providence that this is the fittest season for the making of the present Apology and if either some will charge him with Vanity and Pride with Folly and Vain-boasting in writing so much upon his own Defence or if it have another effect than many are well aware off for the putting of separate Churches upon a further search into the Scriptures of Truth about the right constituting of Churches the lawful Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and some other weighty Ordinances spoken unto in this Paper it will much concern those who make the exception duly to ponder who is chargeable Whether the Apologist who in a Cause and Case so circumstanced doth make his honest Defence and just Plea or those unfriendly ones who have compelled him hereunto which advocating for Innocence so far as it is Innocence has Scripture-Warrant †Joh. 29. and 31. Chap. and elsewhere in that Book Acts 22. and 26. chap. 1 Cor. 4. 1. 5. and 2 Cor. 11. throughout and 12. 11 both in the Old and New Testament so that if he have been a Fool in glorying they are others who have necessitated him thereunto PAVL * Acts 19. 18. and 22. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 13. 17. He was baptized upon this eminent Conversion and clear Call to the Office and Work of the Ministry He being sent more to Preach the Gospel than to Baptize though this were in his Commission too They were not very many whom he did Baptize lest any should misjudge that he had baptized in his own Name which he doth expresly deny and disown He is called upon not to tarry but to arise and baptising to be baptized and wash away his Sins calling on the Name of the Lord whereupon he doth submit to this Baptismal Ordinance SHEM ACHER He having had such Calls and such clearings up of this Call to this Ministerial Office of which so large an Account has been given especially at those solemn Seasons of Fasting and Prayer when he set himself more in serious earnest to be satisfied concerning this his Call from Heaven by the Holy Spirits leaving some sealing Testimony thereof upon his Heart according to the Word at such a needful time when he was under some perplexing Doubts and distressing Fears about this Call Being thus prepared for it as is already rehearsed the Light of amongst some others two Truths and Duties of this Age were evidently made known unto him the one of the Seventh-day weekly Sabbath the other of perfecting Believers Baptism he doth leave others here whose Case at present is or hereafter may be more concerned in this Matter if it be not already perfected upon and in them to consider whether then if there be otherways a fittedness for and a Call to the Ministerial Function it may not be proper and useful to enter upon this Office with such * Heb. 6. 1 2. Mat. 3. 13 14 15 16 17. and 4. 1. 17. Act. 9. 18 20. aâ—d 26 16. 20. Exod. 29. 4. Leâ— 8. 6. perfecting of Baptism now they are grown Believers so were the Priests under the Old Testament which is mentioned not at all to reinforce any Old Testament Shadow Figure Type or Ceremony now under the present New Testament Administration of Grace so was Christ so were his Apostles so was Paul let the Spirit of God from his Word speak with Men's Hearts about this I forbear in this place to add any further Arguments for or Advantages by this The occasion of his passing into the Scripture-Path of the weekly seventh-day-Sabbath was this A near and dear Brother and Friend of his from the Country wrote this Case of Conscience to him whether the first day of the Week as commonly observed by almost all Christians or the seventh which is the last day of every Week in the weekly returns of it were indeed the weekly Sabbath according to God's Command or in words to the sâ—me effect for it is now about sixteen years since and he earnestly desired the Opinion and Judgment of Shem Acher upon this Case Upon the Receipt of this Letter he was somewhat startled at this new Proposal though he was not so fully satisfied for some years before about any word-Institution for observing the first day as a Sister in Sabbath-Fellowship converted under his Ministry a shining Ornament to her holy Profession whilst here below but now above with the LORD informed and reminded him that when she propounded the very same Case to him about six or seven years before he gave her a very faint unsatisfactory answer as if he scarce were then a cordial Favourer of that first day for tho he preached up Sabbath-Duties and Priviledges in that Town yet his Assistant was as one part of his Work to engage in the Controversy which was the limitted day At the first receipt of that Case he was full of other work and employ about his own and other Cases and laid it aside for near a Month the Brother whose Spirit was tender in this Case as in many other new Cases sent a second Letter with renewed importunity requiring and expecting a speedy Answer Upon this Shem Acher speaks to Jehovah Aelohim to Father Son and Holy Spirit to Christ God-Man in Prayer about it and then makes Scripture-Testimonies to be †Psal 119. 24. the Men of his Counsel and being under an Obligation to take the whole Scripture along with him for the resolving and determining of this Case and to lay aside all his former Apprehensions and no longer to parle with Humane Traditions Philosophical arguings Carnal reasonings or any other unscriptural Authorities he took his Bible which he has now had about forty years and to which he was well used and so could with the more readiness turn unto apt places beginning with the first Week of the created World and there he found that * Gen. 2. â— 2 3. the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath had Foundation both in Jehovah's Word and in Created Nature as being the only day of the whole Week on which the Creator and Redeemer rested which day he Blessed and which day he Sanctifyed for Sabbath-Purposes and Priviledges and not any other Day of the Week neither first second third fourth fifth nor sixth but only the seventh On he goes with his enquiry through the whole Book of Moses and finds the seventh day Sabbath †Exod. 16. 22. 30. reinforced and the neglect and profaneing thereof reproved before the solemn proclaiming of it
best way where she according to her raised expectation has received more of the Holy Spirit and of influences from Christ as a living Member under this Church as the only Head and as the Supream Material Cause of the Church then neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Christ in all this c. Therefore This was drawn from the Material Cause of the Church Supream A further Argument shall be drawn †1 Cor. 6. 15 12. 27. Eph. 1. 22 23. 4 4 12. 5. 23. 30. Col. 1. 18 24. 2. 19. Joh. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 2. and the Titles of Paul ' s other Epistles to the Churches Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 4. 16. from the inferior Material Cause of a Church of Christ which are the Elect Believers and Saints who are the Members and the Body of Christ and have mutual care of and for one another Communion with one another and are jointly helpful to each other and do faithfully and friendâ—â—y discharge the Gospel Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one anotheâ— such as mutual considering of one another c. It is here thus argued If this Sister have joined her self there in Church-Fellowship with them amongst those whom she charitably hopes may be such living Fellow-Memberâ— in Christ with her more and better suited to her Spirit in such a Church-way of Spiritual Incorporation where she has more freedom and better agreement in her 〈…〉 an more Spiritual Communion more really expressed and acted helpfulness as to Spirituals more enjoyment of the Gospel-Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one another than in that Society where she was before and all this as the Inferior Material Cause of the Church then neither she non they c. But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Formal Cause of a Church of Christ The Formal Cause or Form or * Eph. 4. 3 4. Acts 2. 41 47. 4. 32. 9. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 27. 10 17. 1. 10 11. Phil. 2. 1 5. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. 3. 17. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Eph. 5. 32. that which doth give a spirited Life Being and Motion is the uniting Spirit of the LORD enlivening the Church-Body and that Union of Believers in the Spirit with Christ as the Head and with and another as Fellow-Members of the same Mystical Body The Argument thus presenteth it self to be considered If the Spirit of this Sister in Experience according to the Word both were before Admission and hath been and still is since her Admission amongst such more knit and united by the Holy Spirit in Holy Spiritual Union to Christ and to these Fellow-Members where she has more of spirited Life Being and Motion than when amongst those with whom she walked in Society withal before which was broken off and taken away from her as to the quickness and comfort oâ— it as to the former Church in whose fellowship she could not any longer to any good satisfaction continue and where she had little or no expectation after much proof and long waiting to have it otherwise as the Case was circumstanced she being now made more sensible that her Spirit doth more close with and is more one in Union and Communion with the Spirit of that Church in this Church-way of Ordinances with whom she is joined and all this as the Formal Cause or Form or that which doth give a Spirited Life Being and Motion to a Church then neither she nor they c. But the Spirit of this Sister c. And therefore From the Final Cause a strong Argument may be drawn and its right words are forcible †Isa 43. 7 21. Jer. 13 11. 14. 21 Eph. 5. 26 27. 4. 11 12 13 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 10. 16 17. Luke 12. 32. 1 Cor. 14. 3 26 40. 10. 16 17. 2 Cor. 13. 10 The Final Cause or the great End or Ends for which Jehovah Aelohim has formed his Church and for which Christ gave and delivered up himself in respect of him is his Glory the Honour of his Name in the World that it may be as a Throne of his Glory the purging and cleansing of his Church and People their enjoyment of Spiritual Priviledges and Benefits purchased by the Blood of Christ their nourishing growing more up into and further perfecting in Christ their receiving more of all Spiritual Supplies from Christ their mutual Edification being built up more and more in their most holy Faith their possessing of signed sealed witnessed delivered free gracious Grants from the Father through his Son by his Spirit in the word of his Truth of Grace and at the last their everlasting Happiness in a clear sight and full enjoyment of the Heavenly Glory in his Eternal Kingdom in the better Country In the mean time the giving and receiving of Spiritual Alms Bread and Wine to hungry thirsting Souls as necessary Provision in their Voyage whilst here in the way The Argument is thus formed If this Sister after long Experience and much waiting and earnest Praying could not attain the forementioned Ends of Church-Fellowship in that way wherein she walked before whereas since she passed into Church Communion with others the LORD has graciously given her to enjoy in growing Measures much of these desired Ends and some good Beginnings as she hopes of the filling up of these in the Heavenly Country where she longeth and waiteth prayeth and prepareth to be with her LORD in the most pure and Glorious Church then neither she nor they c. But this Sister after long Experience c. Therefore Two other Arguments may be drawn from the just Right and due Property of this Sister * 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Deut. 18. 6 7 8. The Gifts and Graces and Experiences of all the Faithful Ministers of Christ in the same City especially being one with Christ and his Word in the Faith and Order of the Gospel are a part of every Believers Portion there which they may use as their own especially when actually really more to their Ediâ—â—cation as Providence doth give opportunity From hence it is thus argued If this Sister in this have acted but as her just Right and due Property is to enjoy this part of her Spiritual Portion and if they have but done her Right in granting her what is her own as due unto her then neither she nor they c. But this Sister in this has acted c. Therefore Also from her lawful Liberty This Sister reserved a Liberty if she found in Experience that her continuing there were not to her Satisfaction and Edification that then it should be free to joyn her self to some other Church of the same Faith and Order in the main of 〈◊〉 Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers where she might be more to her Soul-profiting â— and †Rom. 13. 7 8. Prov. 3. 27
Saints being injurious to the Christian Churches and a Blasphemer of God of Christ God-Man and of his Truths Worship Cause Ways and Disciples suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven and he fell to the Earth and heard a Voice saying unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And he said Who art thou LORD And the LORD said I am JESVS whom thou persecutest It is hard for thee to kick against the Goads And he trembling and astonished said LORD What wilt thou have me to do And the LORD said unto him Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do The History of this wonderful Work he is now ready to own and to declare before Princes Priests or People where he had a Call and Opportunity preaching up that Christian Doctrine and Discipleship which but a little before he endeavoured to persecute down counting all his former self-righteousness formalworshippings creature-advantages outward Church-priviledges vain affectation of human wisdom by Philosophic Studies to be as dung and as Dogs-meat for the excellency of the Knowledg of Christ Jesus his Lord for whom he suffered the loss of all things that he might win Christ and be found in him not having his own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith And now he lays aside his old human Set-Forms and prayed in the help of the interceding Spirit Framing of such arguing Requests within him as his present Case called for Thus he who had been one of the prime of Sinners is now become one of the greatest Exalâ—ers of the Father's rich Grace and free Love of Christ's Alsufficient Satisfaction and prevailing Intercession and of the holy Spirit 's powerful gracious working SHEM ACHER The way and manner of the holy Spirit 's working upon him hath been various at several times yet in a marvelous gracious manner even from his Childhood and in his Youth oftentimes by Terror now and then by Bands of Love He lay for many years under a spirit of bondage to Fear being very often frighted in terrible Dreams wherein he fell into deep Waters the Earth sliding away from under him whilst he endeavoured to climb up to the top of an Hill or Rock for safety which he was not able to do falling over Bridges into the Sea and down from thence into the Gulph and horrible Pit though at that time he little understood that thus was the positure of the Creation as to the lowest World The Devil many times seemed to be at hand running to lay hold on him though always he escaped yet so terrified as awakened him and left cold sweats upon him yet this kept him several years in aw and held him back from many Sins Once when he was tampering about one Sin which was preparing for another Sin though he did not then actually commit either the one or the other a Voice with power smote his heart as with a Thunder-bolt from Heaven What if God should strike thee dead and damned upon the place which quickly sent him to his private Chamber and set him about Praying Reading Confessing Humbling work and at other times he was put upon Fasting thinking with himself to conquer Corruptions and Temptations too much going forth in his own strength and depending upon Duties which yet Experience told him were all too weak in this Combat without help from Christ and his Spirit At other seasons there were sweet Allurings especially upon reading the History of Christ's Life Sufferings and Death which did very much melt him into Tears and kindly affect and winningly overcome the Heart Though he dare not say as one Minister told him concerning himself he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Self-Father or his own Spiritual Father his meaning being that he was his own Converter begotten and born by that Word which he preached to others If any would have Shem to name his Father He of and by whom he was born from Above was Abi-jah Jah my Father Abi Ael the mighty God my Father Abi-hu He and the Alone my Father He. As Shem has been in the lowest World in his Spirit in the Gulph and somewhat in Hell so also there have been two more remarkable passages at special seasons when his Heart was taken into nearer union to and closer fellowship with Christ in the uppermost World The one was when solemnly and seriously setting himself to enquire into the safety of his Spiritual Estate he was held strictly to these Terms That he must burn his Papers with his own Hand and his former Collections out of humane Authors of Philosophical Learning wherein much of that which was corrupt was heaped together amongst a little somewhat that was true and good and that he must begin as it it were Religion and all anew and take all from Christ and from his Word purely and only with a Promise That then he should be better taught and not lose any thing that was useful of what he knew before and should have a better and richer stock given in About which time it was clearly revealed to him and in him by a passage in an Author who so opened that word in 2 Tim. 3. 16. The whole Scripture which the English Translation doth render All Scripture that for the whole and every part of his Religion in all Doctrine and Duties he must take the whole Scripture along with him both Old and New Testament to be for him where-ever the holy Spirit doth take occasion to â—reat of any such particular subject-matter which Word-Rule in the harmoniousness and uniformness or oneness of it throughout has been of singular unexpressible usefulness to him ever since in this Age of growing Light This put him to a kind of offering up his Isaac But Jehovah his Aelohim framed his Heart to it and he readily answered the Call and sacrificed with his own hand in the Flames several years Labours of great value in the esteem of some for he had still an industrious mind trying many ways of heaping up Learning but was not set right till now And from that day to this he has found the LORD True and Good as his Word so that he can say to the praise of this God of all Grace and Mercy That scarce one week for many years has passed over him without some special Teachings the holy Spirit opening some Scripture or other before him and then opening the Eyes of his Understanding to take in the light and meaning thereof of which he has gathered much and it is laid up by him as his rich Treasure in and under Christ yea it is a very black night and dark day with him if there be any one such whole natural day in any one week wherein there is not somewhat of this All the Glory be to Jehovah Aelohim But how now what shall be done to carry on Preaching and Praying Work for he was a
he being honoured with an Imprisonment for Christ's sake for the Gospel sake for Righteousness sake for the Elect's sake he gathered a Church there in that place of Confinement towards the end of which Imprisonment upon a solemn Fasting day so far as their light in those matters did attain the Brethren and Sisters then present thankfully owned their profiting under his ministerial Labours and gave a large Testimony to his ministerial Office and Work only this must be remembred that at several times upon several occasions he in the hearing of several of them did always reserve to himself the liberty of answering of Christ's Call to any other Place or People for he was the LORD's having given up himself unto Him to be wholy and only at his dispose and not to be during Life staked down to any particular Place or People Once more since his coming to London he has been gathering of another People and that Church with whom he now walks did all such of them as were then actually in Fellowship upon a Solemn-Fast-assembling communicate their Experiences to one another how much the LORD had blessed his Labours upon their Hearts and towards the close of the work of that day not by Imposition of Hands or Ordination to the ministerial Office or any thing of that Nature which was openly so declared both by him and them One of them in the Name of the rest in Prayer to the LORD did by stretching out of his Hands as others also of them did commend him unto the LORD in a special Message to the Sabbath Churches in Wiltshire Hampshire Dorcetshire Glocestershire and Berkshire which was undertaken by him and prospered with desired Success the report whereof at his return caused Joy to all the Brethren and Sisters in Fellowship This is somewhat of that which he here brings in as an Argument unto Men who are urgent for such outward common ordinary Calls to this Office from Men. This was a choice piece of the Beauty of this Providence in this his age of growing-Light For let any one convinced of the Seventh-day-Sabbath have been of what Judgment soever yet still there had been a Receiver of him into Church-Fellowship whatsoever his Principle had been If after all this it be more deeply researched into and he be close and home put to it what he himself doth mainly and ultimately resolve his inward special more than ordinary Call into as to the ministerial Office and Work he desireth that so far as the Case will run Parallel with Paul's though he here as before gives the preheminence to Paul it may be in a Brotherly manner and Christian way admitted and received He was set apart to this Office from his Mother's Womb For his Father and Mother related to him when he grew up to some capacity for the taking of this in that if not whilst he was in the Womb in case he should prove a Male perfect Child yet at least upon his being born a Male Child with perfection of Limbs and of Parts by Vow or some religious Promise made to God they would give him up unto the LORD to whom they dedicated him for the Office and Work of the Ministry which has since been suggested to him by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by many Experiences according to the Word which he doth embrace with a thankful joyful Heart as a more than common Favour from that good Spirit His Parents as they had thus designed him to this special Course and honourable Calling so accordingly they were at the care and cost to train and breed him up in such Knowledg and Learning as the Principles and Attainments of that Age and Day directed them to As he grew up his strong Propensions and continued Inclinations were for this Calling as the only proper course of his Life intended for him tho by invitation thereunto by his Father and from others he has since discerned that he entered upon somewhat of it too soon and too unfurnished for the longer he doth live and the more spiritual discerning he hath still the more he sees and feels of his * 2 Cor. 2. 16 17. Insufficiency for so high honourable and great undertaking and would gladly sit at the Feet of others every way more accomplished and more †2 Chron. 24. 20. Margin clothed with the Holy Spirit for it and he is grieved at Heart and afflicted in Spirit to behold the over forwardness of so many in the present Age who undertake to be publick Teachers of others when divers of them do need to be catechizinglytaught themselves Since his more thorow passing into this Office the Holy Spirit who doth divide his Gifts to every Man severally as he will hath in some measure * Ps 68. 11. 18. Eph. 4. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Gifted him for it which he would speak thankfully as acknowledging it to be meer Grace and special Favour for he ascribes nothing of the Spirituallity of it to his own former Philosophick Studies or self Acquirements or human Instructing but it was divine Teaching and Gifted infusing from Heaven so withal humbly with self-abasing that all this while he has made no further progress in a Fittedness and Ability for this Calling in the proper peculiar Endowments for it though this he can say through Grace that for these last seventeen years more especially for the last fourteen years he has had in the Strength and Supplies of the Holy Spirit an industrious mind to trade with his Talent received and there is seldom a day wherein somewhat more is not according to the †Mat. 25. 29. 1 Pet. 4. 10. Rom. 12. 3 6. 1 Cor. 12. 3 -11. Luke 19 12 26. 1 Cor. 7. 17. Promise given unto him and he remembers well that for about seventeen Years ago though he hâ—â— some knowledg of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues before yet this Meditation taking sensible hold of his Heart that when he went thorow the Bible and examined the Gifts of Ministers there he could not find any one Minister of Christ lawfully called by him to that Office who did not understand the Words of Jehovah Aelohim in their Original Language that which did so quicken him up to pray for and to endeavour after a more growing Skilfulness especially in the inner knowledg of the Hebrew Significations by the Holy Spirits Teachings that the serious Thoughts of and unexpressible Advantages by this Scripture Learning do abide with him to this Day and he doth judg it very requisite for those who concâ—rn themselves in this Calling to lay this more to Heart had not the Holy Spirit somewhat Gifted him for this employ he should still fear and doubt he had never called him to it The same Holy Spirit has in a measure Graced and Sanctifyed him for this Holy Function This also as before concerning Gifts he doth write with the same thankful humble Acknowledgments It is not every one who doth pretend and pride himself
being all private Brethren some private Brother or Brethren into the Ministerial Office and to send him or them forth to preach and to baptize neither could this quiet his thoughts or satisfy his spirit Or else some such one who however pretending to be called and sent forth by Men yet is not gifted graced and qualified according to the Requirements of Christ in his Word for such an honourable Office and weighty Work here also he was to seek and could not so acquiesce Or otherwise some such who say they were at their first passing under this Ordinance under an unavoidable necessity of doing somewhat this way beyond and besides the ordinary-stated-Scripture-Rule and Way which they hope the LORD did accept of they giving to him the best they had according to their then-understanding whereunto Shem Acher has only this to desire of such at present that they see well unto it their pleaded necessity be such an indispensible real urgent unavoidable necessity as the holy Scriptures do warrant and that they impose not that on him as a standing Rule to submit to and to walk by who is under other manner of Circumstances and doth derive all his Satisfaction from an higher and purer Spring And if that Necessity which they plead have led them into a private Path which is besides the ordinary beaten High-way of King Jesus in his Word they have need to bring forth somewhat extraordinary which may carry along with it true-and self-evidence What other way was there then yet left in this case but only this one to his satisfaction He having been before so quite taken off from all Men and all Creature-Authorities in these matters of Religion and having given up himself wholly and entirely to Christ as his one and only LORD and Lawgiver and to the Word of Christ as the one and only Rule of Faith Worship and Life and compleat Summary of all useful Arts and profitable Sciences and having had so many sealing Experiences of Christ's more immediate and extraordinary Teachings Callings Healings of Him by his holy Spirit from his Father in his Word and having passed before under a being baptized with the holy Spirit he with one more travelled from London to Salisbury where about the middle of the Day in the broad River of that City which runs with living water he received his being baptized as by the Hand of Christ himself in the Face of the Heavens and so passed under Waâ—er and baptized another and further also received Imposition †Act. 10. 41. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They were before-chosen and ordained of God to this Office of being Witnesses of Christ's Resurrection by his lifting up stretching out laying on of Hands It was God's Hand who thus set them apart The compound Word is afterwards used for Ordination of Ministers to their Office Acts 14 23. or stretching out by laying on of Hands as from this God Man from Christ tho sitting in the higher Heaven in his glorified Humanity Christ being the Author of this both Water and Spirit-Baptism and stretching out and laying-on of Hands The Reader or Hearer of this Narrative is desired to make a little stand in his thoughts and here to ponder a while upon this weighty Considerable In two grand parts of this Historical Declaration the LORD has graciously given unto Shem Acher somewhat of * 1 Cor. 2. 9 16. 12. 10 11. a Spirit of Discerning whereby to discern Spirits for the present and to foresee some of those Prophesied Methods which he will use to set in order the Affairs of his House towards and in the latter-day-Glory whereby Shem is enabled to trust Christ for Afterwards or Afternesses or what shall hereafter come to pass The holy Spirit working and distributing what Gift he will to whom he will These two Parts are his more than ordinary both Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and way and manner of his Perfecting of Baptism Both which being more immediately derived from ‖ Eph. 1. 20 23 2. 19. 22. 4. 7 16. Christ that Head Officer of the Church he has the advantage and opportunity of holding forth before others this as one of the great Truths of the * 2 Pet. 1. 12. present Age the way and means of Jehovah's bringing his People †Ezek. 43. 10 11 12. chap 44. throughout Psal 74. 9. to measure all Administrations according to the Prophetical Paâ—tern and promised Platform will be by raising up by gifting graceing calling and sending forth some extraordinary Messenger as from Heaven to open interpret apply and promote this revealed Mystery relating to the aâ—proaching Glory of the latter days Do not now over-hastily conclude that this is a rare Artifice and a witty Invention for Shem hereby to point out himself to be this special Prophet by a new Name which he assumes to himself as if the foregoing Prophets did direct as with a Finger to him as that Elijah the Prophet or one in the Spirit of that Elijah who was to come and to restore all things and so to take this glorious honour unto himself For he doth not cry up himsâ—lf to be this very Messenger tho Jehovah Aelohim may use and employ whom he pleaseth in this honourable Work and Shem is somewhat prepared in Heart by the Holy God Spirit greatly to rejoice and to give all the Glory to the LORD might he live to see in his day and time such a Gentile-Minister or Ministers as an Angel or Angels from * Ps 12. 6. Isa 34. 16. Rev. 11. 19. Heaven to come forth with the pure Word of God altogether freed from all corrupt humane Mixtures whatsoever either the very Original it self or an exact Copy word for word and being clothed with the Spirit may preach it abroad with Power and Success tho Shem as to this more eminent Honour were laid aside and might be priviledged with sitting at the Feet of such a one to receive words as from Christ by such an extraordinary Messenger But this is that which he has further to say in this matter that he takes it for a special Favour freely bestowed upon him that the LORD has revealed this inner Secret to him and has so far made use of him as to assert and revive the Doctrine and somewhat to prepare the way for the coming of Jehovah Christ in the conspicuous Appearance of his Personal Presence before which time he will by Voice direct and call and send some peculiar Officer or Officers of his as * Isa 4â— 6 7 8 9. 42 4 16 21. 1 Pet. 1. 23 24 25. a publick Cryer with this Royal Proclamation That this Christ as King of Kings and LORD of Lords is about to come to crown his Kingly Law his written Word and revealed Will therein as the one and the only living abiding Rule for all Churches and States to walk and to measure All by let the Scriptures in the Margin be noted well
These Cryers and Proclaimers are publick Officers to give open notice of some State or Church-Affair whereof the supream King Priest and Prophet the LORD Jesus Christ thinks good to advertize his Subjects as by sound of trumpeting Voice that all and every one who are concerned may have the certain knowledg and timely warning thereof It must be with such a vehement sound as is heard at a far distance that no one may pretend or plead Ignorance when within hearing with the Voice of one crying calling by Name those he meets and by express Word gathering a Convocation and Assembly reading some part of the Book and Law and Will of God preaching some Evangelical Word unto them who give the hearing For this Voice in the 6 7 8 ver of the 40th chap. of Isaiah is distinct from the foregoing Voice in the 3 4 ver which was more fulfilled in and by the Ministry of †Mal. 3. 1. Mat. 3. 3. Mar. 1. 2 3. Luk. 3. 2 5. Isa 52. 7 8. 60. 5 10 16 61. 4 5 6 9. 62 6. 66. 12 19 20 21. John the Baptist John delivered his Message faithfully both as to his Ministerial and Baptismal Office at the enterance of the New-Testament-Administration of Grace when Christ was coming shortly after in his state of Humiliation But some other or others will be called and sent forth about this latter and toward the latter-day-Glory a little before Christ's coming in the Clouds in his state of Exaltation as the 9 10 11 ver of the formentioned Chapter will evidence to a discerning considerate Reader when the Sioners shall be Evangalized and gathered into Church-Flocks unto a purer way than ever yet When the Jews shall be in a preparedness for this great turn and thereby made ready for the LORD at that time * Song 8. 8 9 10. as at the beginning of the New-Testament-Dispensation of Grace some Ministers from among the Jews were employed in converting and baptizing of the Gentiles so now in these later days some of the Gentile-Ministers may have the honour to be Instruments under Christ of converting and baptizing of the Jews And where can that People find a meet Administrator if the LORD do not more immediately send them some Prophet who can prove his Mission and Commission to be from on High They still requiring a Sign 1 Cor. 1. 22. For as for those few of their Brethren in this day who by outward Profession and Confession do own Christ to be the true Messiah already come in the Flesh Shem Acher never yet met with any of them he has conferred with about five or six of such who come forth with any thing extraordinary visible mark and gift upon them as to a being clothed with the Spirit And that Baptism which they have received at least some of them if not all has been from corrupt hands in a corrupt way And Shem doth bear good will towards that People praying for Jerusalem's Peace and for Sion's Purity seeking the good of her Sons and Daughters and having experienced the Truth and Goodness of that Promise more ways than one that such shall prosper who love her Besides there may be divers of the Gentiles who a little before God's thus favouring of Sion may be brought more throughly into a perfecting of their Baptism from among the Seekers non-Church-Men and several others upon some of whose Spirits this doth lye with pressing weight whither shall we go to meet with a lawfully-called-Ministry and a lawfully-constituted Church where is there a well-warranted heavenly attested-Administrator Shem in this doth speak out some of the Thoughts of such dissatisfied ones and he is so far ready with an answer which he can give to those who ask him a word concerning his Ministry and Baptism Whence is thy Ministry and Bapâ—ism and from whom thy Ministry and Baptism as to the perfecting of both it is from Heaven not from Earth from Christ more immediately and not so from Men. Here in the way let it be remembred that the reviving of the Seventh-day-Sabbath doth make way for the later-day-Glory-Conversions and Ingatherings of the Outcasts of Israel Isa 56. 1 8. And that the Prophecies and Promises of building the old waste places and of raising up the Foundations of many Generations and of being called the Repairer of the Breach the Restorer and Paths to Sabbatize is made over to such Revivers of the Seventh-day-Sabbath This great useful Truth is therefore not only received in the Principle but also closed with in the Practice by Shem Acher wherein he doth sweetly acquiesce to his own satisfaction whilst others do dispute preach and print to defend and justify their various Calls to both by Arguments mostly drawn from Men tho running down to them in a very corrupt Channel and if his LORD should say to his Servant Shem as once to * Chap. 12. v. 13 Isa 58. 12 13 14. 66. 21 22 23. Daniel And thou Shem Acher Go to the end and thou shalt rest and shalt stand in thy lot to the end of those days let it suffice thee that Jehovah thy Aelohim hath revealed this in thee and done this for thee but the larger pourings out of the Spirit and more signal ownings are reserved for some others yet even this is a special honour and the Glory be to him It is well worthy of an observable Remark in Scripture that besides the stated Ministry the LORD has sent forth special Prophets and Apostles upon urgent occasions Some of these were of another Education and Profession such as †Amos 1. 1. 7. 14 15. Acts 7 42. 15. 15. Amos who had been no Prophet nor Prophets Son but an Herdsman and a Gatherer of Fruit. Thus also * Mat. 4. 18 19 20. the Apostles in Christ's time were some of them poor plain Fishermen Jehovah communicated Himself and his Will unto such in extraordinary Revelations and confirmed their Office by miraculous attests from Heaven In other Instances he has dignified some with such special singular Employs in a Ministry not common †Acts 7. 22. Dan. 1. 4 17. Acts 22. 3 2 Cor. 12. 11. 1 Cor. 14. 18. who were skilled in great variety of Arts and Sciences especially in Scripture-Knowledges in which latter he blessed their Studies and Labours and encouraged their Diligence and Industry So it was with Moses Daniel Paul and others * Jer. 28 8. Luke 1. 70. 11. 50. Act. 3. 21. Prophets there have been in all the Ages of the Church besides the standing Ministry Before Moses there were Adam Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Afterwards there were Moses Joshuah Samuel David Solomon Nathan Gad Elijah Elisha Michajah Esaias Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Zecharias the Father of John the Baptist In the New Testament Simeon Agabus the good Apostles by Name particularly Peter John Paul
Scripture-Learning and for the procuring of a more exact literal Translation of the Old-and New-Testament into our Mother-Tongue and for the more religious educating of Children in Families and in Schools and for the relieving of the Poor and for such other good Works and to enquire what may be further a Duty upon us towards the two and the ten Tribes of Judah and of Israel to help forward their Conversion as also what the Spirit has to say more particularly and especially to our Churches and to other Churches in this great Providential-day and such like publick-spirited Inquiries and all this for the promoting of the Honour of our LORD and of his Word Works and Cause the Purity and Peace of Churches and Salvation of Souls Thus through Grace and Mercy obtained from our LORD we discover and declare our readiness to joyn in with you in what is the work of our Day and Generation and so commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you and us up and to give us an Inheritance among all them who are Sanctified Shem Acher Now that Shem Acher's Ends towards the latter-day-Glory might be promoted and that Shem might prosecute so good a design in the use of all those lawful means which his Line could reach into in his place for the finishing of this part of his Testimony for Christ for the Word of Christ for the Law of his ten Words and the annexed Judicials and for the Seventh-day-Sabbath more especially whilst others were following of the King with Petition upon Petition subscribed with multitudes of Hands from Cities Towns and Counties By Shem's direction this following Address was put into the Hands of the King Honoured SIR THe Land doth tremble it is broken it shaketh the right Way and proper Method to heal its Breaches is plain and evident You have seen the Hand of the LORD stretched out against the Popish Plotters in a continued Discovery for many Months of their bloody Design If the LORD Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings would graciously give you a Heart for it and then put it into your Heart openly at the next Session of Parliament to declare that It is your full Purpose and firm Resolution in the Strength and Supplies of the Almighty God to set up the Laws of Christ in the Scriptures of Truth as the one and the only Rule of your Government for which you have their own Authority in express Words The Law of God is the Law of the Land Then will your Name be transmitted to Posterity in the English Chronicle with a Crown Royal upon it Those who honour Christ he will honour This from a mean Handmaid Elizabeth Hooker The Sabbath of my Mighty God make thou it Precious O my God of Deliverance A like Address was made by the same Advice and Hand to the King to the same Effect in answer to that loud awakening Call by that signal Blazing Star for the promoting of the same grand Design of exalting of Christ and of the Word of Christ And a third sometime after to the present Mayor of London for the like End As Paul's manner was accordingly Shem Acher in his place finding some Disciples of Christ at his first coming to live near London to do work for his LORD and for Souls they agreeing to desire him thereunto and expressing this desire to him that seeing they were a few scattered Sheep without a Shepherd not being fully then satisfied to join in Church Fellowship with any particular Church as so constituted and so walking in London they declaring their being satisfied in one another and in him that he would administer the LORD's Supper unto them which after Conference with them and divers of them having profited under his ministerial Labours and having been baptized by him accordingly he did at Bethgnal-Green in the year seventy four withal declaring both he and they that this was a providential Communion in all the Ordinances of Christ's new Spiritual House towards the latter-day-Glory so far as for the present according to our Scripture-Light they can regularly come at them and so long as the LORD should continue them somewhat near together in their Dwellings this was assented unto and agreed upon by those baptized Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers A little after this some difference in Judgment arising amongst them which Shem Acher foresaw and told it unto some a remnant of them who were more of one Mind agreed at a meeting in seventy five to own the LORD Jesus Christ to be the one and only LORD and Lawgiver to their Souls and Consciences and the Holy Scriptures of Truth as the one and only Rule of Faith Worship and Life according to which they were to judg of all their Cases Then did they pass into a Church For at that meeting upon this Agreement without any particular Church-Covenant about controverted Matter they did firmly lay all their Churchbottoming and building upon this Rock and Foundation even upon Christ and upon his Word A little before their thus passing into this Church State and Relation the two Sabbath Churches in the City desired his Labours at sometimes with them in the use and exercise of his Gifts which he consented to upon their importunity the LORD assisting him and prospering of his Labours upon the Hearts of several whose longings still encreased to enjoy more of his Ministerial Labours after that he had gathered some Disciples of Christ and was in a Church-way with them and had a distinct Meeting-place in the same City where he met with the Church and others who gave their Attendance at that Assembly where his service was accepted of the Saints so that they were mutually refreshed whereby they had in much experience a savoury taste of the Spirits of one another divers of the Brethren and Sisters of one of those two other Churches of Sabbath-keepers imparting some of their inmost Cases unto Shem Acher who has here upon this occasion a weighty Case to propound As to the Matter of Fact which is attested to be true by the whole Church who knew what doth follow with whom he doth walk Shem Acher doth suppose a Sister of another Sabbath-Church in the same City imparted this Case of her Soul unto him reporting to him that for some years she had been muâ—h oppressed in Heart distressed in Spirit broken and distempered in her bodily Constitution for want of that Spiritual Life and Liberty Purity and Peace Sweet and Satisfaction which she enjoyed not where she sat before but since she came under the Ministry of Shem her communicated Experience is that she has met with that Presence of the Holy good Spirit and of Grace sealed upon her Heart here to her Edification Comfort and Healing whereupon she desired to be in full Communion with Shem Acher and with the Friends in Church-Fellowship with him he laying this Gase in the several Circumstances of it to Heart the particulars whereof he
him for it is where seriously throughly and discerningly performed one of the most solemn Actions in this World As to a Covenanting with the LORD On the part of Jehovah * Deut. 29. 10 14. 30 1 2 3. 26. 16 19. Ps 110. 3. He sets his Faces before the convinced Sinner who is now about to turn unto him He shews his readiness to pass into a Covenant-State and Relation with the returning Sinner Jehovah makes gracious Offers and precious Promises to such a returning Soul upon certain equal Terms if it voluntarily by his enabling and making willing thereunto choose and approvingly agree to and readily close with those Terms He declares to such a Soul that it will be accursed if it either refuse this Offer or be falshearted in its profession of Assent and Consent to these Terms He raiseth up and establisheth the Soul in some great expectation of receiving some special Good from Jehovah He shews himself forward to take such a Soul to himself and to acknowledg such a one for one of his own peculiar People Jehovah engageth to be a God to such a Soul if the returning Sinner give in the supplies of the Holy Spirit unfeigned Assent and Consent to all this so equal a Proposal so every way for the covenanting Convert's Good He refers this reâ—urning Sinner as to what Jehovah hath spoken to his own Conscience for all this He confirms all these Offers and Promises to such a Soul by Oath Jehovah sits upon the Throne of his Grace expecting an answer from this returning Sinner unto all this On the returning Sinners part This Soul sets it self before the Faces of Jehovah Upon serious deliberation this returning Sinner is by a day of Christ's Power upon it made willingness voluntarily to choose and readily to like all the Terms of this Covenant of Grace This Soul passeth over actually into Covenant with Jehovah and acknowledgeth him for its God This covenanting Soul submits to the justness of the threatning Curse if the Soul be false-hearted unfaithful in this Covenant The Soul is made sensible of Jehovah's great Kindness in making so free and gracious an Offer to it The covenanting Convert doth present give and resign up his whole Self Body Soul and Spirit to this Jehovah to be wholly one of his altogether and only at his Command Will and Disposal The Soul believingly particularly applyeth this Jehovah to it self as its own God in Covenant This Soul takes this Jehovah at his own Saying being well persuaded that his Word so confirmed by his Promise and Oath which are two immutable things is true concerning all this and upon this Word bottometh its Faith and adventureth it Self its Salvation it s All. This covenanting Convert expecteth that Jehovah will make good all this and fulâ—â—l and acomplish it in a Scripture-way as his Word is The Soul is duly humbled under all this going out of it self off from all meer Creatures and away from all dependance on any Duty it doth perform to receive all its Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption from the Father freely through Christ purchasingly by the Holy Spirit in workingly giving all the Glory to Jehovah Aelohim resolving in his Strength to know keep and do all the Words of this Covenant Somewhat of the manner of Spiritual Espousing at that remarkable time of inward Vision and Revelation was thus Shâ—m Acher having a distinct view by an Eye of Faith in a more than ordinary way and manner of the Father as the Father of the Son as the Son of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit did orderly pass being helped from on High thereunto and assisted therein into a distinct mutualness of such solemn Contract between him and every one of these which took up some time in his particular application severally to each from that Scripture Isa 54. 5. Thy Husbands thy Maker Jehovah Aelohim so commending Himself his Beauty his Goodness his every-way Amiableness and Loveliness to Shem Acher's choise so utterly altogehter unworthy of such an unexpressible Favour in such a way of condescending Grace drawing Shem's Heart with such Bands of a Man and such Cords of Love in working and outcalling such answerable Affections from him towards each of them and so knitting and uniting his very Heart and Soul to every one as his Tongue cannot utter the whole of he had rather leave the rest to the admiring Meditations of experienced Believers who have in any good growing measures felt and enjoyed the same than to expose any more of this at present to publick view Only so it was that Jehovah himself approved of what then passed between him and Shem the sealing witness whereof was never wholly withdrawn since that time to this day but still abides and lives there tho he have been exercised with many humbling Providences buffeting Temptations boistrous Corruptions blasphemous Suggestions and distressing Cases since that signal Honour The LORD hath since that Contract all along provided for Shem as for one wedded to him and the espousing knot between them is declared indissoluble He doth not by this say that the LORD was never graciously at work upon his Heart before for he has brought in some other Testimonies for that in some choice Experiences before this more eminent Favour and Honour tho for several years in his younger time the work were more from a Spirit of Bondage to Fear as has also been expressed one time more especially when upon Fasting and Prayer as he remembers being under the Terrors of the LORD he was summoned to appear before the Bar of God's Justice to answer unto such Charges as were to be brought in against him which were so many so heinous and criminal that seeing himself before the actual passing of the Sentence condemned in the Court of the transgressed Law in the Court of Divine Justice and in the Court of his own guilty Conscience he was close and home put unto it Whether he would submit to the Sentence of the Judg were it for everlasting Condemnation by an Act of Justice or for Eternal Salvation by an Act of Grace and Mercy and whether he would acknowledg God to be just and righteous therein if he should condemn him by an irreversible Sentence to be deservedly miserable Those whoever were thus exercised cannot but apprehend what Horrours and Fears did now surprize and overwhelm Shem Acher yet was it not long before the Holy Spirit framed him to such a submission and acknowledgment which with Tears and broken Language he expressed and declared and so threw himself all along with his Mouth in the Dust as at the Feet of his Judg not knowing at first whether he should be struck dead and damned upon the place or not But the LORD quickly after pronouncing how justly Shem had deserved to be cursed for ever yet that Christ was made a Curse for him and presently an Act of Grace in the free and full forgiveness of his many and great
Sins was drawn up signed sealed and delivered received applyed and witnessed to his Soul the Crown of all be on the Head of the free Forgiver since which signal Pardon Shem has not that he remembers had almost any considerable fears of Hell at all to speak of at any time upon him Thus there is * Mat 18. 1 2 3 4. Luke 22. 31 32. Conversion after Conversion In all which Relation concerning his Conversion Covenanting Espousing to and with Jehovah Aelohim he doth not impose his Experiences as a Rule for others to measure the Truth and Soundness of their turning to the LORD by in all and every of the parts degrees and Circumstances of them provided that their Conversion be indeed true and serious sound and sincere according to Word-warrant and approbation it highly concerns them to see well to this and duly to examine themselves by Scripture-Rules about it that they do not deceive themselves If further Evidence be called for he can add these comprehensive Particulars That †Eccles 9 3. Gen 6. 5. Rom. 1 30. Mat. 15. 18 19 20. Mark 7. 21 22 23. there is no one Sin in the Seed of it in corrupt Nature or in the Thought of it at least in the Imagination which ever any of the Sons or Daughters of Adam on Earth or in Hell for the kind of it either thought spake or did recorded in the Word or communicated to him by the voluntary Confession of others which he has not had both some sight of some sense of and some hatred of yea some ways worse than ever he yet read or heard of by inventing of such evil things in the Phancy as he doth not know any other Man or Woman in the World did ever contrive This Universal both Original and Natural Corruption which has so defiled his whole Man in all and every of the parts of it being so direct a Contrariety and Enmity to and against that Holiness and Righteousness which is in God and in his Law having been Shem's Burden both Night and Day for many a long Year * Rom. 7. 17 25. 8. 2 3. 13. 14. 4. throughout 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. Dan. 9. 24. Rom. 3. 19 20 26 Isa 45. 24. Rev. 19. 8. Luke 7. 47. 1 Joh. 1. 9. Col. 2. 13. Isa 38. 17. Mic. 7. 18 19. Psal 103. 12. Isa 43. 25. Psal 32. 1 -5. Rom. 1. 17. Isa 45. 25. Jer. 23. 6. Tho he doth thank God through Christ Jesus his LORD that the Perfect and All sufficient Sanctification of Christ's Humane Nature and the through and perfect Obedience performed by Christ in the whole Course of his Life whilst conversant amongst-Men here on Earth is imputed unto him for Justification in the presence of God and has been so imputed he by Faith putting on the LORD Jesus Christ and being cloathed with his Righteousness whereby his Sins have been forgiven cast behind Jehovah's Back into the bottom of the Sea passed by forgotten and blotted out and not imputed Jehovah Christ being his Righteousness in which he doth stand righteous before the Judgment Seat of God That he knows not any one Saint either on Earth or in Heaven so far as we have Scripture-Records of these in the Word who experienced either edifying Gift or sanctifying Grace or priviledged Enjoyment or useful Serviceableness and such like which he doth not heartily approve of and which more or less he hath not both holily with submission †2 Cor. 5. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum Ambitione contendimus we ambitiously endeavour aspired after and some ways so far as he is concerned in his Place and Calling had some workings about it and by improving of Mystical Membership applied as his own That he knows nothing either in a whole Christ or in the whole Word of Christ of Holiness or of Righteousness which he would not have an universal growing Knowledg of and Conformity and Obedience to in all things in his whole Man That all these have been carried on for several years by a very sharp Contest and continued Conflict within more especially against the universal Corruption of his Nature which has very slily and sometimes fiercely assaulted him yet so as that tho there have been many a Foil and Fall in some particular Combates yet that the Issue of the Fights have been Victories Spoils and Triumphings This humble ingenuous Confession Shem Acher doth freely make of those secret Sins which no Man alive can so charge upon him which is one part of his Evidence whereby he doth conform to Christ's Mind * Ezek. 43. 10 11. Lev 5. 5 6. 22. 1 2 3 7. Prov. 28. 13. 1 Joh. 1. 9 10. Psal 32. 1â— 5. 1 â—im 1. 13. 1 Joh. 3. 21. 4. 17. Heb. 4. 16. in his Word where it is required where Promises are made to it where Examples are recorded of it and which will give him the more boldness in the Day of Judgment before the LORD the righteous Judg and before Angels and Men. For these Considerations have brought his Spirit to this self-shaming acknowledgment so that he can die with the more Peace of God in his Conscience when the Hour shall come That the LORD hath graciously in some ascending degree manifested to him and revealed in him that inward Mystery of a †1 Thess 5. 23. Joh. 3. 3. 4 5 6 7 8. Ezek. â—6 26 27. 1 Cor. 2. 10 16. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 5. 16 17 -25. Rom. 8. 1 -27. Eph. 2. 10 4. 4 5 6 15 16 22 23 24. 2 Pet. 1 3 4. new-creature-New-Creature-Spirit in his regenerate State in Christ as distinct by a New Creation from his own natural constitutive Essential parts as a Man and from the Holy Spirit who was is the begetter of it by the immortal Seed of the Word and as contrary to that Evil Spirit Satan and to the Spirit of the World it being of that same Spirit which Christ as Mediatoral Head received without measure and is one of the highest Advances of a Believer in a growing and withal an humble frame to partake of the Divine Nature That * 1 Cor. 15. 10. Gal. 2. 20. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 1 Joh. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 13. 14. the Steps and Degrees of this Spiritual Growth have been more and more out of corrupt self off from idolized Creatures away from Duty-dependances into more and more of a State of Grace through and by that into a Life of and in Christ and through and by him into a Distinctness and Orderliness of Communion with the Father as the Father with the Son as the Son and with the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit and thence into a more raised Communion with Jehovah himself That all through †Gal. 1. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paul went to Jerusalem to visit Peter so to visit him as that he might know from him or declare to him the History oâ— Persons and of things especially of