The Ancient PRINCIPLE OF TRUTH Or the Light Within Asserted and Held forth according to true Experience and the Faithful Testimony of the Scriptures Also An Appeal to the Witness of God in all Consciences which is the More Sure Word of Prophesie the Testimony of the Scriptures Without or the Voice and Testimony of the Light and Spirit of God Within in the Heart By one once greatly Distressed but now at length in the Tender Mercy of the Lord effectually Visited and Redeemed by the Light and Power of Truth Isaac Pennington Printed in the Year 1672. THE PREFACE THe true Ministers of the Gospel the Ministers of the new Covenant were ordained and appointed by God to be Ministers of Light Ministers of Righteousness Ministers of the Spirit Mat. 5.14 2 Cor. 11.15 and Chap. 3.6 And this was their work and service even to preach the Light to deliver their Message concerning the Light which they heard of Christ and were sent by him 〈◊〉 preach as is recorded 1 John 1.5 〈◊〉 that they were to tell men what the Light was and where it was to be found and to turn men from darkness to Light from sin and unrighteousness to purity and righteousness from the spirit and power of Satan to the Spirit and Power of the living God Dan. 12.3 Act. 26.18 that so they might come from under Satans authority power and kingdom of darkness into the light wherein Christ reigns as King Priest and Prophet unto and over all his who is faithful in all his House as Son and Lord of all distributing Life Righteousness Mercy and Peace to his whole Family as they abide in him and walk in subjection to his Spirit So that there is no condemnation to them that are gathered unto Christ engrafted into him and who abide in him walking not after the Flesh but after the Spirit who is the Quickener Guide and Rule of all the Children of the new Covenant For Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life in and to them all and is made by God all in all unto them He is their Shepherd their King their Captain their Vine their Olive Tree their Leader their Door their Path their Rule their Righteousness their Holiness their Wisdom their Redemption their Altar their Sacrifice their Priest their Prophet their Sabboth their Light their Day-spring their Bright and Morning Star their Son their Shield their Rock and their High Tower What shall I say God hath gathered together all things into one even in him whose Spirit Life and Light Eternal is the one Substance which answers all the Figures and Shadows of the Law and they are all comprehended and fulfilled and end in him So that he is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe in him And he Ministers Righteousness he Ministers Truth he Ministers Life he Ministers Salvation he Ministers Power he Ministers Pure Heavenly Wisdom and no good thing will he with-hold from them that come unto him in the Drawings of his Father and follow him whithersoever he leads and obey his Gospel which is Everlastingly new and living Now this precious Ministry hath been withdrawn and hid from Ages and Generations in the long Night of the great Apostacy and thick Darkness And how could it be otherwise for men being in the Dark and having Erred from the True Spirit and let in a wrong spirit and built up wrong Churches and having not known the True Wilderness nor being willing to flee into it whither the True Church fled and was Nourished by God with the true Food even with the true living vertue and Nourishment all this Dark Night of the Apostacy I say how could they come at the true Light the true Spirit the true Power from which the true Ministry is which did not visibly now appear but was with the true Church in the Wilderness So that there hath been a true Church all this while which the Gates of Hell have not been able to prevail against as to her inward Temple and Altar nor over the Worshippers which have worship'd therein although they have gained the outward Court God having severed it from his inward building and given it to the Gentiles in spirit who are not true Jews who are not Worshippers in the Spirit and in the Truth Rev. 21.1 2. But now at length blessed be the Lord the long Night of Darkness araws towards an end yea is come to an end in many Spirits and the true Light is broken forth again and shineth again inwardly in many and the true Mninstry is revived again and the everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Covenant of Life Mercy and Salvation in and through Christ Jesus the Light and Life of men preached again For now it is not only outwardly read that God is Light But the Message hath been received and persons chosen and sent forth by God to publish it and to turn men from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to God And blessed be the Lord the publishing of this precious Testimony in the power and authority of the Most High hath not been in vain but the Captivity of many hath been broken by the Power of Light and the power and strength of Darkness inwardly overturned by it O how hath the strong man which kept the House before the stronger then he appeared in the name and authority of his Father I sâ—y how hath he Trembled at the inward and Spiritual Appearance of him that was stronger than he and how have the pillars of the old building been shaken How hath the witness of God been reached to in mens spirits how have the dead been raised the blind eye opened the deaf ear unstopped the dumb tongue loosed the Lame caused to leap as an Hart and the tongue of the dumb to sing the inward Spiritual Leprosie cleansed and done away forever the wounded healed the broken-hearted bound up and what hath not the Lord done inwardly and spiritually for his people who have been sensible of his appearance and gathered by his Spirit and Power to the true Shiloh who is the true Shepherd the Land of the living the holy City and Temple the Light of the City the Life of the City the Gates and Wall of the City the King and Kingdom both for his Life his nature his Spirit is all and in all Ah what do we desire to have but Christ the Seed and this Seed sown in our Hearts and abiding in us and his Life righteousness and glory his holy Power Dominion and Kingdom springing up in it And as in the Apostles days there was the Seal to their Testimony in peoples hearts where their Ministry was ordered by the Lord and was received even so it is now O how doth the witness answer in mens hearts and Consciences and they that keep to the witness and its Testimony not hearkening after words to the wisdom of the flesh how do they become living Epistles to be seen and read of all men as the
Lord pleaseth to open that eye in any which can see and read Now to be often Testifying of this Light which the Lord hath visited us with and wherein we experience the knowledg of his Son and Redemption by him to us it is not grievous and it is good and safe for others Therefore it arising in my heart in the springings of Life and lying upon me as in the Sight of the Lord to give forth this further short Testimony for the sakes of such as have any desire to know and experience the Truth as it is in Jesus I am given up in Spirit to serve my God therein and do give it forth in humility in fear in tenderness of spirit in true love with breathings to my God that he would please to open the hearts of those that shall be inclin'd to read it that they may feel somewhat of that in themselves from which the Testimony came so there-from may hear in true sense and understanding the true and good report of the sound of Life and Salvation in this our Age and may learn so to turn inwardly from the darkness to the Light from the power of Satan to Gods Spirit and appearance inwardly that the â—rm of the Lord may be revealed in them and powerfully stretched out for them And this is the precious knowledge of Christ indeed even to know Christ the Power of God Christ the Wisdom of God inwardly revealed and working in the heart destroying sin there and building up the holy building wherein he himself will dwell and reign O that all that truly breath after him might not be with-held from him and his living Testimony inward appearance by the power of darkness deceit which works subtilly in the heart against the appearance power and work of the Lord there but might thus come to know him Amen The Ancient Principle of Truth or the Light Within asserted and held forth according to true Experience and the faithful Testimony of the Scriptures in the Answers to four Questions 1. What this Light is which we Testifie of and what is the nature of it 2. What it doth inwâ—rdly in the heart 3. How it cometh to be lighted set up and and increased there 4. How it cometh to be diminished or exstinguished in any Quest 1. WHat is this Light which we so earnestly testifie of and whereof we affirm that all men are or have been in some measure enlightened by it and what is the nature of it Answ It is that which shineth from God in the heart wherein God is neer to men and wherein and whereby men may seek after God and find him God is a Spirit and his Spirit and Presence is neer to all men Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy Presence Psal 139.7 c. It is impossible for any so to do For God who is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits is nigh to every Spirit Every Spirit depends upon him the Fountain of Spirits and hath its being Life and motion from him and in him after a sence though not after such a sence as they who are quickened by him experience Now God who is Light being so neer every man doth he never shine upon them They are Darkness but doth he never appear in the darkness He who is Light loveth Mankind doth he never visit them with his love He knoweth what and how great inward and spiritual Enemies Man-kind hath doth he never make any discoveries of their Enemies to them Yes The Light is neer all Man-kind to discover to them and help them against the darkness and the love is neer to help them against the enmity which destroyeth and so to save them For whosoever joyneth to the Light of Gods Spirit cannot but witness Salvation thereby for it is of a saving nature and bringeth Salvation with it to all that receive it Christ is in it and is known by it inwardly spiritually livingly known and he is not nor can be known without it He that knoweth the Light of Gods Spirit knoweth Christ and he that believeth in it believeth in him and he that knoweth not nor believeth therein neither knoweth nor believeth in Christ So that as the Jews circumcision outward and their knowledge and thinking to be justified by the righteousness and works of the Law which most of them brake and were Transgressors of though Paul said he was touching the righteousness which is in the Law blameless I say as this was disowned and denyed by Christ and his Apostles and the circumcision and work of God on the hearts of the Gentiles set over it and exalted above it as Rom. 2. So is it now also The knowledge of those and belief of those who own the Light and believe in the Light is owned by God's Spirit in this our day for the true believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and for that knowledge which is life eternal and the knowing and believing on him as men account it according to their apprehensions of the Letter without this is reckoned with God for ignorance and unbelief So that in this is God known in this is Christ believed in Here God draws nigh to every man and is a God not afar off but nigh at hand and his Salvation is nigh and his Righteousness ready to be revealed here and here every man may seek after and obtain the knowledge of him the saving knowledge the knowledge of the Grace of the Gift of Grace which brings Salvation In this is the Son kissed in this is he drawn nigh to and come to by the Soul and not out of it Here are the drawings of the Father felt Let any man feel this he feels that which begets to God he feels that which comes from the Son is of the nature of the Son wherein the Father draws the heart of the Child whom he begets to the Son And in this the Soul comes it comes out of the darkness wherein Christ is not nor dwels into the Light wherein Christ is with the Father and so in this the Soul is ever neer and out of it still afar off In this is the holy root witnessed and the ingrafting thereinto out of this the holy Root is not known nor can men understand what it is to be ingrafted into him and how he is an Olive Tree a Vine a Door a Shepherd a Leader a Captain a Redeemer Nor can men possibly know the voice of the true Shepherd from the voice of a Stranger till they come hither nor how the true Shepherd walks before his Sheep and what it is to follow him out of that which destroys into that which regenerates makes new and living till they come hither Now this inward Light is abundantly testified of in the Scriptures As first by Moses who speaking of the other Covenant the new Covenant the Covenant of Circumcising the Heart turneth or directeth the mind to this Word or Commandment nigh whereby alone it can
that comes to witness the true Light ought to do else there is no true fellowship with God nor with his Sanctified Ones who are gathered into and walk in the Light even as God is in the Light 1 John 1.7 And the Angel that opened the Prophesies and Mysteries of that Book to John said that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Chap. 19.10 So then he that hath this Spirit of Prophesie he that hath this inward Light hath the Testimony of Jesus but he that hath it not hath not the Testimony it self but only words concerning the Testimony For this is the Distinction between the true Believer and the False The true Believer hath the Spirit of Prophesie the Witness in himself 1 John 5.10 the False Believer hath but the Outward Testimony or Relation of things but not the Inward Substance the Covenant and Law of Life within Quest 2. WHat doth this Light do inwardly in the Hearts of those that receive it believe in it and give up to it Ans It doth all that is requisite to be done from the Souls coming out of Spiritual Egypt into the Land of Rest and all that is needful for its Growth and Preservation there First it Enlighteneth It sheweth what is Evil and also what is Good according to the Measure and Proportion of it and according to Gods causing it to Shine in the Heart It Discovers the Mystery of Darkness the Mystery of Ungodliness the Mystery of Iniquity the Mystery of Deceit in all its Mysterious Workings for nothing is hid from the Light of him with whom we have to do And it also discovers the Mystery of Godliness the Mystery of Holiness the Pure Way and Commandment of Life and gives all the Believers the True Believers in Christ this Experience That his Commandment is Life Everlasting There is nothing the heart needs desire to know of God but this makes it manifest in the due season It opens the very Mystery of the Scriptures gives the right Understanding and application of the Promises and fulfils the Prophesies thereof in the heart 2 dly It doth not only manifest the good and evil but likewise inclines the mind to chuse the good and refuse the evil It draws from the evil and towards the good yea and the soul is made willing in the day of him who is light and who appears in the light and reveals his power there There is a way an high way spoken of Jsa 35.8 called the way of holiness which the unclean can neither discern nor pass over to but the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ the measure of Grace and Truth wherewith he enlightens men so manifests and leads into this way that they that are taught and guided by him shall walk therein and not err 3 dly It scatters the darkness breaks the power of the enemy it makes one with him who is all power and giveth â—o partake thereof so that power is given to become sons in the Light to the Children of the Light power given to become Kings and Priests to God power given to reign in the dominion of his Life in the dominion of his Truth over sin over death over deceit and to offer up the holy living sacrifices to God What shall I say It is one with Christ it is of his heavenly Spirit and Nature it makes way for him it leads to him it fills with him it brings into unity and fellowship both with the Father and the Son where the peace which passeth understanding and the joy unspeakable and full of glory abounds This is the Gospel-message that God is Light and they that are gathered into and abide in this Light they are gathered into and abide in unity and fellowship both with the Father and the Son David had great sense and great experience of this Light of Gods holy Spirit of his Truth sent forth manifested and revealed in his inward parts as is signified Psal 51.6 and again in that vehement Prayer of his Psal 43.3 O send out thy Light and thy Truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy Hill and to thy Tabernacles Then will I go unto the Altar of God unto God the gladness of my joy yea upon the harp will I Praise thee O God my God Indeed when the Light shines and the Truth springs up in the heart it leads to him that is true it leads to the Holy Hill and Mountain of the Lord and to the Inward Altar which they have no Right to who serve and and worship at the outward and the Harp is known whereon the Most High is Praised even that Inward Harp whereof Davids outward Harp was but the Figure Therefore they that come to the Holy Hill of God to the Mountain of the Lord's House and to that Holy building which is reared there they invite and incourage others â—o walk in that Light which led them thither wherein Communion with God and one with another and the Blessings of Life and Peace are Enjoyed Isa 2.5 But what should I speak of the Sufficiency of the Light and Grace of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ or of what it is able to do and of what he is pleased to work by it I shall only say this that as the Fulness was enough for Christ and to fit him for the Work which he had to do so the measure of Grace and Truth which he bestows is enough for every man My Grace is Sufficient for thee said God to Paul and so it is for every man There is no Want of Sufficiency in the Grace of God in the Seed of the Kingdom in the Pearl of Price in the Holy Leaven in the Heavenly Salt but the Vertue and Strength of it is Greater then the Enemy is able to withstand and he that keeps 〈◊〉 and departs not from it shall feel Life and Power springing up in it to quicken him and carry him through all that God requires of him For the Water which Christ gives is a Well springing up in him to whom it is Given unto Life Eternal and this Water is able to Wash able to Nourish able to Fill the Soul with Living Vertue which waiteth for it and partaketh of it And all the Nations of them that are saved are to walk in the Light of God's Spirit To this men are to be turned unto this they are to be gathered into this they are to be Translated even from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Sons Marvellous Light and being changed by it into its Nature become Light in the Lord and ought to walk in the Light as God is in the Light 1 John 1.7 Quest 3. HOw doth the Mind come to be Enlighted and the Candle of the Lord come to be set iup in the Soul Answ By God's causing it to shine there and the minds being turned to it and given up to be exercised by it as it pleaseth the Lord to cause it to shine The Power of
of the Scriptures it is very clear that God would have none to Perish All Souls are mine saith the Lord Ezek. 18.4 I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dyeth ver 32. and again As I live saith the Lord God I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked Chap. 33.11 I have sent my Light to enlighten all men and turn all men and I would have all men receive it and be turned by it I have shewed every man what is Good and what I the Lord require of him and I would have every man answer the Manifestation of my Light and Spirit in him Do ye not read Gods charge against the whole Earth Isa 24.5 That they had transgressed the Law changed the Ordinance broken the everlasting Covenant Why then they all had the Law had the Ordinance had the everlasting Covenant and for this cause it is that the Curse and Judgement comes upon them ver 6. So that this was the Condemnation from the begining and this is the Condemnation still that Light is come into the World and men love darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil. Men are not condemned for want of Light from Christ Jesus but because they do not believe in and obey that Light which they have from him because they believe in the Darkness believe in the dark spirit believe in the dark power which riseth up against the Ministration of Light in the heart and do not believe in that which is given of God to discover and work it out What should I multiply Scriptures for That common Scripture is absolutely undeniable as the Lord opens the heart unto the Simplicity of Truth and keeps it out of the subtle enchanting wisdom John 3.16 17. For God so Loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World But that the World through him might be saved What can be more naked and plain then these Words of Christ who knew the very Heart of God in this particular and plainly declares what it is even not to condemn not to destroy but to save men from Condemnation and Destruction And would Christ have so affectionately Wept over Jerusalem had he known it to have been his Fathers will and Determinate Counsel that they should have perished and not have been gathered and saved by him I shall add but one Place more where the Apostle who knew God's Counsel and understood the Mystery of Election and Reprobation and had the Mind of Christ saith expresly that God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the Knowledge of the Truth 1 Tim. 2.4 What words can be spoken more plain and full And let People mind that these words are far plainer and easier to be understood then those Scriptures which treat of Election and Reprobation which is a deep Mystery and men must come to a growth in the Truth before they can receive that capacity which is necessary towards the understanding of them But to open the thing a little as it is now in my heart There hath been a threefold Dispensation of God to Mankind A Dispensation of the Law to the Jews A Dispensation of the Gospel or promise which was as well before the Law as after it to the called Jews and Gentiles And a secret hidden Dispensation of the Mystery of Grace of the Mystery of Life and Salvation which the Apostle calls the Mystery hid in the Gentiles Coloss 1.27 For somewhat of God somewhat of the Nature and Spirit of Christ the Souls of all Mankind have had neer them to enlighten them and to turn them from Satan's power to God though it hath not been a thing known to them but a Mystery hid in them Now that God did cast off any Jew under the Law or any whom he visits with the Grace and Power of the Gospel from a meer absolute will in himself because he would destroy them and have them perish to shew forth the Praise of his Justice and his absolute Soveraignity this the true sense of Life in me denies But all have a visit of that which saves heartily and in true Good-will from God and he that is turned to that which God hath sent to turn him shall be owned and saved thereby He that believeth in the Truth in the Light in the Word nigh even in the very lowest appearance of it for the lowest appearance is the same thing in nature with the highest and the Grace is saving in its very lowest appearance as well as in its highest shall be saved thereby Now mark God's Grace God's Mercy God's Love Gods Light God's Spirit God's Power c. is his own And he may do with his own what he pleaseth Now it being by this that he strives converts and saves And it being in his own will and good pleasure how long he will strive and contend to save it lieth therefore absolutely in him even in his own will what he will do in this kind He may take advantage against Rebellious Man and cut him off when he will And again he may strive and raise true sense in a mans heart and give Repentance and Pardon his Transgressions as long as he pleaseth Yea he may so change a man's heart and so Create him a new in Christ Jesus and so bring him into Unity with the pure Seed and to that estate in the Seed as that he may have assurance he shall never be utterly cast off But that though he should Sin and Transgress the Holy Law of God's Spirit his Iniquity shall be chastised with Stripes and his Soul recovered and brought back thereby but not utterly rejected by the Lord. Now it being thus hath not God Mercy on whom he will And doth not he Harden as he pleaseth Did not God give up the Jews to hardness after much striving with them Did not God give up the Gentiles to hardness and to vain imaginations concerning the true God after they had rejected a measure of the True Knowledge Rom. 1.21 Have not the Vessels of Wrath who are fitted to destruction a day of much long-suffering first Rom. 9.22 Had not the Old World who were fitted for that Destruction of the Floud a long day of Patience and Forbearance from God his Spirit reproving of them and striving with them To what end did God forbear them and cause his Spirit to strive with them Was it not to lead them to Repentance that thereby they might have Avoided that Destruction which by their Rebellion and Stiffness of Spirit against God's good and Tender Spirit they were fitted for and exposed to See Rom. 2.4 So for Cain How tenderly did God deal with him how uprightly did God seek his good Would not God have had him come to a true sense and repentance Would not God have had him believed and offered in the Faith and been
accepted as his brother was And for Pharaoh God indeed was against that nature and Spirit in him which oppressed Israel but would not the Lord have had him denied and turned from that nature and Spirit and let Israel go God would have no man do evil and bring upon themselves Destruction though in his just Judgement he is many times provoked to give men up to that which leadeth into and hardeneth in Evil. So not onely Pharaoh but Israel also was given up to their own hearts Lusts when they would none of the Lord nor hearken to his counsel Psal 81.12 But saith the Lord O that it had been otherwise O that my People had hearkened unto me c. it should then have been otherwise with them ver 13. c. So that God of himself doth not desire the Destruction of his Creature nor doth he desire to harden them or to give them up to a deluding spirit that they might be damned but men first refuse the Truth and turn from it or let it go not receiving it in the love of it or not liking to retain the knowledge of it which is Death to the man's corrupt nature spirit will and wisdom and such a Cross and Yoke as he is in no wise willing to bear and then the Lord in his just Judgement gives them up to the Deceitfulness of Sin to be hardened by it Now this liveth in God's own Breast when and to whom to do it according to his own Will and according to his own Wisdom and Counsel so that it may be truly and properly said He hath mercy and Compassion on whom he will and whom he will he hardeneth But that God hath determined to harden any without giving them a Day of Mercy or that it is Gods Will and determinate Counsel that men should reject the Day of his Mercy and precious Invitation that they might be hardened by him and perish This is not God's Truth but mens Mis-Apprehensions upon true words gathering Meanings therefrom in their own wisdom and not waiting upon God till he cause the true Light to shine in them and thereby give them the True Knowledge and Understanding Therefore since there is such Mercy in God towards all and he hath given all men a Day of Visitation greater or lesser yea since of late he hath caused his Light to shine forth and given this Age such a Visitation as many Ages have not had O let men take heed how they close their Eyes stop their Ears and harden their Hearts against it lest they provoke God to give them up to their own imaginary conceited fleshly comprehensive knowledge of the Letter and so seal them up in that hardness of heart and deafness of Spirit which they first gave themselves up to For the Letter without the Spirit killeth And so doth all litteral knowledge and there needs no greater Curse from God it will sufficiently avenge the Cause of his Reproached Light and holy Covenant of Life in Christ Jesus now abundantly revealed and made manifest then to close mens Eyes and stop their Ears and harden their Hearts in their Litteral Knowledges and Practises from beholding and partaking of the precious Life and Vertue of this holy and Living Ministration in Christ Jesus the Lord wherewith God visiteth and redeemeth his people Indeed the Physitian is come inwardly and spiritually and he inwardly heals and restoreth his People faithfully seeking after the Sick the Distressed the Broken the Wounded pouring Oyl into their Wounds and healing them But there are some who are so sound and whole in their notional Apprehensions and Practises that they have no need of the Physitian and then the Physitian passeth by as unworthy of him and whom he intendeth shall have no share with him Ephraim is joyned to Idols he is well he hath enough he hath no need of me let him alone saith the Lord. I will pour out the choice Vertue of my Spiritual Life and redeeming Power among my gathered Sheep and Lambs who have need thereof and will rejoyce therein These will know my Voice these will justifie the appearance of my spirit and power these love the savour of my Anointing and precious Oyntment which runs down from the Head upon all the Living Body and these shall have it These understand how I have Mercy on whom I will and whom I will I Hearden and it is my will to have Mercy on these my once greatly Distressed Ones and to destroy inwardly to destroy O who knows what that means the fat and the strong and to feed them with judgement O that men did know to whom the Mercy and to whom the Judgement belongs To the wisdom of the Flesh to the wise Comprehenders of the things of God after the Flesh is the judgement to the Poor to the Distressed to the Broken in Spirit not to them that are at ease in their Litteral Knowledge but to the Mourners in Sion after the holy God and his living Power and Righteousness is the Everlasting Gospel the Mercy the Love the Peace the binding-up the Redemption which is by Christ Jesus the living Minister in the holy Sanctuary of our God THE END