the spirit And John the Apostle of Christ often exhorteth him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit saith Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. and 3.6 13 22. And by the preaching of the true Ministers of Christ many came to receive the Teachings of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost which is the same and were led by it Rom. 8.16 Isa 54.13 14. Jer. 31.32.33 John 6.45 Heb. 8.10.11 and so became Children of God And it was truly said among them the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God and so they were all taught of God as it was Prophesied of them They were taught of God by his Grace Light Spirit or Word being one and the same though called by several other Names and Appellations besides what is before here written according to the most suitable Expressions whereby to shew the Operations and Effects of it to the Understandings and Capacities of all The Apostle John likewise calleth it the Unction Joh. 2.20.27 or Anointing writing thus Ye have an Unction from the Holy One and ye know all things and again the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him This and much more to the same purpose was the Doctrine of the true Christian Ministers as the Scriptures of Truth more at large declare and the true Ministers of Christ preach the same in our Age and Generation And as the true Ministers of Christ in his Authority preached his Divine Word Light Grace and Spirit so by the same they preached up the Liberty of his Gospel and true Christian Dispensation and preached down the use of the Ceremonies of the Jewish Law though formerly commanded of God and given by Moses his Servant which was then to cease being abolished by the Death of Christ they being in their time for Shadows and Types of good things to come by Christ but he the Substance being come having as they truly preached nailed them to his Cross and taken them out of the way they were not then to be used by them who had received the free and glorious liberty of his substantial Everlasting Gospel in the inward Spiritual Dispensation of his Word Light Grace and Spirit in their Hearts and Souls whereby they knew the glorious Liberty of the free-born Children of God they were not then to be subject to Ordinances neither burthened with Traditions nor to observe Days and Times as may at large be read in the holy Scriptures particularly in these places Gal. 4.9 10. Gal. 5.2 to 8. Eph. 2.13 to 17. Col. 2.14 to 23. Rom. 7.6 Heb. 7.11 12. But the deceitful Antichristian Ministers could not bring any into the True Faith which is in the Name Light Grace and Spirit of Christ for they were out of it themselves and were not faithful but disobedient to the Light and hated it and would not bring their own Deeds thereto lest they should be reproved thereby For though they might talk and preach of the Name Word Grace Light or Spirit of Christ and speak there of great swelling words to allure and draw others after them yet all that was but in disobedience to Christ and in deceit and therefore they could not by such Preaching bring any into the true Faith of Christ who is the Truth nor bring any to believe in his Light and Grace which they hated and did despite unto And the true Ministers preached that true Christians had put off the old Man with his deeds Col. 3.9 10 11 and had put on the new Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor free but Christ is all and in all and they preached up a Spiritual Circumcision saying That he is not a Jew which is one outwardly Rom. 2.28 29. neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God And again saying to some Ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ being buried with him in Baptism Col. 2.11 12. to â—â—c end wherein you are also risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God And it is plain that the Apostle here meant no outward Ordinance of Circumcision nor of Baptism for he writes after in the same Chapter thus If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or burdened with Traditions as some Translate it touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh concerning which things he warned them lest any Man should beguile them or spoil them through Philosophy or vain Deceit after the Tradition of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Read the Second Chapter to the Colossians And the same Apostle said Phil. 3.3 We are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh which sheweth plainly that they were Jews inwardly and of the inward Circumcision as all true Christians are And this agreeth with the Doctrine of Christ himself who said to the Samaritan Ye Worship ye know not what we know what we Worship for Salvation is of the Jews John 4.22 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seekethsâ—â—â—h to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth So the Worship of the true Christians was in Spirit and in the Truth and in the obedience of the Spirit of Truth and not in outward Ordinances Observations of Times will-Will-worship nor in Acts of voluntary Humility and accordingly in the demonstration of the Spirit the true Christian Ministers preached and not in the words that Man's Wisdom teacheth but which the same Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost teacheth which preaching is foolishness to the natural Man 1 Cor. 2.13 14. for he receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that yields obedience to the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every Man to profit withal he cometh to discern his own Estate and
Condition upon a Spiritual Account and as he faithfully followeth the Leadings of it he cometh to know a profiting by it and in it and as he persevereth in the Love 1 Cor. 2.9 10. and Obedience of it it manifesteth and revealeth inwardly unto such a one the Things which Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of Man which God hath prepared for them that Love him Thus the Apostle Paul preached 1 Cor. 2.4 not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and said he Christ sent me not to Baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1.17 not with Wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect Gal. 1.11 to 17. So he was a Minister sent of Christ by his Spirit and by his Spiritual Appearance in him and to him for otherwise he was a Persecutor of Christians after the Ascension of Christ And all that are true Ministers of Christ are sent and taught and moved by the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 2.11 to 15. for no Man can know the Things of God but by his Spirit And if any falsly profess to be sent by his Spirit their Deceit will be manifested by the Light and Spirit of Christ to them who walk in it but as for such as pretend to be Ministers of Christ who say Divine Revelation is now ceased and mock at the Teachings 1 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Isa 54.13 14. John 6.45 Leadings and Movings of the Spirit of God by which all that ever were Children of God were led and taught and moved as is fully declared by the Scriptures of Truth which they falsly profess to be their Rule the Deceit Hypocrisie and Wickedness of such is manifest to the view of all who have not wilfully shut their Eyes And so though Antichristians may talk or preach of the Worship of God and may use Scripture words and the words which Christ and his Prophets and Ministers speak which are Recorded in the Scriptures yet they being erred from his Spirit wherein only the true Worship of God is performed they are out of the true Worship of God and Worship they know not what for their Worship is in the Spirit of Errour and not in the Spirit of Truth and all the Preaching of such with all their Learning acquired Parts and Philosophy it is but vain Deceit and stands in the Wisdom that is from below Jam. 3.15 which is earthly sensual and devilish and so those are moved by the Spirit of the Devil who mock at the movings of the Spirit of God let their Profession be what it will So the Scriptures shew plainly that there was Antichrists or Antichristian Ministers in the Apostles Time and that there was a great difference between them and the Apostles or true Ministers of Christ and the Followers of those false flattering Deceivers were as their Leaders were principally deceived by giving heed to the Insinuations of the Old Serpent their deceitful Enemy in their own Particulars For those that loved and obeyed the Light of Christ Jesus in their own Hearts and Consciences they came to a good understanding of their own Estates and Conditions inwardly and also came thereby into a true discerning of the difference between the true Ministers of Christ who were in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ Commissionated to Preach the Gospel of Truth and those who without Commission from Christ and in disobedience to his Light and Spirit preached for their own Carnal Ends and Designs such could discern between the Voice of Christ in his true Ministers John 10.4 5. and a strange Voice in them that falsly pretended so to be Such could discern between those who preached for filthy Lucre love of Money or any other self-end and those whom the Love of Christ constrained to Preach 2 Cor. 5.14 without which Love which they want who hate his Light all Preaching though with never so much Excellency of words is but as sounding Brass 1 Cor. 14.1 2 3. or a tinkling Cymbal and without which the most seeming excellent Works of Piety are nothing available Such could discern in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ which searcheth all things to which they were obedient between them that were of God whom true Christians heard 1 John 4.6 and them that were of the World whom the World heard and thereby they knew the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Errour And such by the Light and Spirit of Christ in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge came truly to discern the deceitful Devices Col. 2.3 2 Cor. 2.11 and Snares of their Souls great Enemy who in his Devilish Wisdom and Serpentine Subtilty was continually endeavouring to entangle and deceive them as he did others both inwardly by his dark unclean wicked Power and outwardly by the Deceit of the same Power and Spirit in his deceived deceitful Antichristian Ministers who transformed themselves as into the Apostles 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. or Ministers of Christ but the true Christians discerned them and knew that their end should be according to their Works and they likewise knew that Satan himself was transformed into an Angel of Light And yet in and by the true Light of Christ which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World they saw him to be what he is to wit a Serpent a Dragon a roaring Lion the Devil an Adversary a Murderer a Devourer a wicked Spirit and by many other Names and suitable Descriptions is he called by the Scriptures of Truth to describe the Visage of the Wicked One that all may in the Light of Christ behold his Deceitfulness wherewith he is continually endeavouring to Destroy Murther and Devour the Souls of the Children of Men both by his Transformed Instruments and otherwise And all that profess Christianity and oppose the Light and Spirit of Christ they may fitly be said to be Transformed or to Transform themselves whether Leaders or Followers of others for they are neither Members of Christ Children of the Light nor Children of God who is Light as all true Christians are and therefore such only Transform themselves into Christians that is they pretend to be Christians falsly And such as are not Children of the Light nor Children of God whose Children are they Are not they Children of Darkness and Disobedience and of the Power of Darkness which is the Devil Such are grosly deceived and transformed as were those Jews who professed to be both the Children of Abraham and of God and yet Christ said plainly unto them John 8.33 to 45. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do And all People in and by the Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ may examine and try themselves whether they be true Christians who are Children of God yea or nay For the Spirit
over and to exercise Lordship over others their fellow Creatures with much Pride and Austerity expecting and desiring to receive and receiving Honour from them and one from another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only and this sheweth according to the Words of Christ that they are out of the true living John 5.44 1 John 5.4 Eph. 6.16 1 John 2.13 14 15. Christian Faith and so in the false dead Antichristian Faith which giveth no Victory as the true Faith doth for such are overcome and captivated by the love of the Honours Pleasures Preferments and Vanities of the World which if any man love said the Apostle the love of the Father is not in him And so though the dark Power of the Man of Sin more and more prevail upon and captivate them yet the Light of Christ in their Hearts and Consciences often sheweth them their Sins and for Sin checks and reproves them and sheweth them the dangerous dismal consequences of Sin but they not believing in the Light of Christ the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 Heb 5.13 and the Word of Righteousness do not submit themselves unto the Righteousness of God nor unto Christ who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth no more then old Israel did Rom. 10.1 2 3 4. And so though they may be zealous for their several Professions and as the Jews were for their Traditions Ordinances and Ceremonies which they use some after one manner and some after another according to their particular Apprehensions and Imaginations seeking to find Souls-satisfaction by using outward typical shadowy things which they cannot find whilst they neglect the Light the Substance the Word of God's Grace in their Hearts the Word of Faith Act. 20.32 Act. 13.26 1 Joh. 1.11 Col. 1.5 Mat. 13.19 John 3.36 the Word of Salvation the Word of Wisdom the Word of Truth the Word of Christ the Word of Life the Word of Reconciliation the Word of the Kingdom of God which is in the Heart and so they being in unbelief the Wrath of God abideth on them in all their doings For whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 And so their best Performances their Prayers their Preaching and whatsoever they can do in that state is sinful as they generally confess But they who seek the Lord while he may be found with all their Hearts and Souls and cannot rest satisfied till he manifest himself in his Love but patiently in true brokenness and contrition of Heart wait under his Judgments till his Indignation for Sin be overpast as they continue faithful in true self-denyal bearing patiently the daily Cross to their own Wills the Lord will in his own time satisfie such with his Mercy and with his everlasting Kindness But if any flatter themselves that they shall have Peace although they walk in the stubbornness of their own Hearts they shut the Door of Mercy against themselves and when they have sinned out and slighted the Day of their Visitation wherein the love of God in and by his Light in their Hearts visiteth them and striveth with them then the Spirit of God ceaseth to strive any longer with them and they are wholly given up to be rul'd by the Man of Sin who is exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped Psal 14.1 2 3 4. and although some of them may be wickeder then others yet none of them are righteous at all there is none of them that doth good no not one but many of them do badly with eagerness eating up the People of the Lord as they eat Bread And they do not only prey upon those who depart from Iniquity who make themselves a Prey but they often prey upon one another Isa â— 15 and sometimes war about their Ceremonies and Ordinances and many thousands have been killed upon that account and many they have put to Death for their Testimony for God who have by his Spirit been raised up even in the darkest times of Apostasy to testifie against the Abominations set up by the ruling power of the Man of Sin the Devil and his Instruments And many call the Popes or Pope of Rome the Man of Sin which the Apostle said should be revealed who may by the Light of Christ in their own Hearts be sensible of the Man of Sin and his power and works in themselves unto them revealed and therefore it were good for such first by the Power of God to be cleansed from him and his power and works inwardly in themselves lest they become more and more like unto him But indeed the Popes of Rome have been the chief visible Rulers of the false Church drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.5 6. and the Mother of Harlots and the many Abominations of the Earth and the Inventers and setters up of the pestilent Traditions and idolatrous Ceremonies still used in the Apostasy from the Truth and many who look upon themselves as reformed from Popery are yet in a great measure found in many of their pernicious Practices and Inventions to get Money by For the Popes having been in a great degree influenced by the power and spirit of the Man of Sin the Devil and having had the highest outward Exaltation over the Nations and Kings of the Earth or at least having claimed or challenged it may fitly be said to have been or to be the highest Representatives of the Man of Sin And amongst the many Popish Cheats none seemeth greater then their Purgatory or their telling of a purging Place from Sin after this Life whereby many are cheated of Eternal Happiness by living in hopes thereof securely in Sin while they live and many cheated of their Money also for Pardon and Indulgences from the Pope to redeem the Souls of their deceased Friends out of Purgatory Which is contrary to the Truth and to the Record of the Holy Scriptures which say where the Tree falleth there shall it be and every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Ecc'e 11.3 Mat. 3.10 and Christ said Enter ye in at the straight Gate for wide is the Gate and broad is the Way that leadeth to Destruction and many there be that go in thereat because straight is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it And beware said he of false Prophets in Sheeps cloathing which are inwardly ravening Wolves ye shall know them by their Fruits A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Matth. 10.7 to 20. Now if a good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit how is it then that all good men are continually sinning for Sin is Evil Fruit And if every such a one as bringeth not forth good
Fruit must be cast into the Fire and there must lie how can the Pope or any Man else recover such out of the Fire And if it be the wide Gate and broad Way that leadeth to Destruction how can they that walk therein escape Destruction or the Pope deliver them from it when they come to the end of their Journey But yet this Antichristian Doctrine of a Purgatory after this Life is upheld by the Popes and by their Cardinals Bishops and Councils to their great gain of Money to themselves and their Clergy so called and upon this groundless point of their Faith hangs many of their Antichristian Ceremonies to get Money by as their Trentals Masses Diriges Requiems Indulgences Pardons Jubilees and their pretended power of Binding and Loosing and their Prayers for the Dead And though many pretending Reformation from Popery deny their Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead yet they claim Popish Wages for Praying for the Dead which they call Mortuaries and annex it to their Tythes for which they cast them that cannot for Conscience sake pay them into Prison and so they deny the Work but claim the Wages which is more unreasonable then to work for Wages And it is a general Tenet of pretended Reformists that none can be fully cleansed from Sin on this side the Grave and yet confess they that no unclean thing shall enter into Heaven and then where must they be cleansed or how will they escape the Popes Purgatory which they also deny And the Popes and their Abettors on the other hand say Council of Trent Can. 10. Ellar lib. 2 de justific chap. 2. pag. 129. That they can do more good Works than God hath commanded which they call Works of Supererogation which they hold not only meritorious of Eternal Life and of singular Glory in Heaven but also that they may communicate of the abundance of these their Merits unto others but this Doctrine is also false and also Antichristian For the Apostle of Christ said I laboured more abundantly then they all speaking of the Apostles and yet not I 1 Cor. 15.10 but the Grace of God which was with me and by the Grace of God said he I am what I am and said he the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us so it was his Teacher or Commander that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 12. we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world So the Grace of God teacheth to live Godly or like God who worketh all in all in his Servants and by his Spirit the Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal giveth the Word of Wisdom and Faith 1 Cor. 12.6 7 to 12. and Gists of Healing and working of Miracles and discerning of Spirits c. dividing to every Man severally as he will and so it is God that worketh in his People both to will and to do Phil. 2.13 Isa 64.6 of his own good pleasure and all Man 's own Righteousness is as filthy Rags Therefore they who say 1 John 4.17 1 John 3.3 7. that they can out-live the Teachings or Commands of the Grace of God which teacheth to live Godly or like God as true Christians do it is plain that such are not as true Christians are the workmanship of God by his Grace created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath ordained and prepared for his Servants to walk in Eph. 2.10 but it is certain that such are exalted in their Imaginations by the working of the Man of Sin who is exalted in them above the Word of God's Power in their Hearts and so he as God sitteth in the Temple of God the Heart shewing himself that he is their God Acts 20.28 Heb. 9.12 who with his wicked deceivableness hath deceived them in a high degree or else they durst not speak such Words or teach such Doctrine And so no Men can communicate any of their Merits towards the saving of others that Pretence being an abominable Cheat to get Money by for true Christians are what they are by the Grace of God and the working thereof in their Hearts and never pretend to any of their own Merits for their Salvation is only by Christ who bath obtained Eternal Redemption for them and purchased them with his own Blood And as the Man of Sin is yielded unto obeyed and worshipped by them upon whom he prevaiss with his Temptations he becomes exalted in their minds and proud ambitious and imperious like himself and then they are offended when others do not bow or submit unto them and as by his deceit he prevaileth in them he makes them like himself Deceivers Lyars and Hypocrites and yet they would be called true Christians and Children of God like the Jews formerly who were in the same Nature though not Profession to whom Christ said Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do John 8.44 he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him And so the Devil being a Murtherer and a Lyar makes his Children and Servants as like himself as he can of a murthering lying Spirit and apt to persecute and murther those over whom they have the power that cannot comply with their Doctrines Worships Traditions Inventions Customs and Practices by them in the dark and woful Apostasy from the Truth invented ordained set up and practised And all false Churches or gatherings of People what Name soever they go under are all one in the ground for being erred from the Light and Spirit of Christ who is the Way of God the Truth it self and the Life of Righteousness they are all wandred into Confusion and that is the ground in which all who are erred from the Light of Christ in themselves remain let them profess what they will And so as Babel's Builders of Old would build themselves a Tower whose top might reach to Heaven but were defeated by being all confounded in their Languages who before were all of one Speech and of one Language so all that are erred from the Light of Christ in themselves being gone into Confusion inwardly they would have a Tower or a Way of their own making or building to get to Heaven by and they can but build it where they are that is in Confusion And so all who are erred and strayed from the Way of God the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and depend upon Men of Languages to teach them or guide them to Heaven are in Confusion and may fitly be called Children of Babylon and Mystery Babylon the Great is their Mother who is the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17. and Abominations of the Earth whom the Servant of Christ saw drunken with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus and this Woman is the great Whore that sitteth upon many Waters which
the Papists mean a Visible Man called Antichrist and a Monarch and absolute Owner of the World who exerciseth upon others good Christians much barbarous Cruelty and sheddeth much Innocent Blood whether then may not all except themselves and have they not reason too who have but heard of their Visible Head the Popes and what Monatchs and what absolute Owners of the World they have been and what Barbarous Cruelty they have exercised upon good Christians and what an abundance of Innocent Blood they have caused to be shed during the term of their outragious Cruelty reasonably conclude that the Head of the Papists the Pope hath been or is that Antichrist that Monarch that exerciser of barbarous Cruelty upon good Christians and that shedder of much Innocent Blood mentioned in the written Prophecies of Ezekiel Daniel and the Apostle John which the said Robert Persons one of the Popish Priests writes of as aforesaid who writes or stiles himself Priest of the Society of Jesus which signifieth Saviour but seems rather of the Society of Destroyers for Blood shedders are Destroyers And this appeareth by the Decrees of their own Councils which tend to enjoin all to conform or burn an Antichristian Decree indeed and wo will be the portion of them who make such Unrighteous Decrees and prescribe such grievous things what will they do in the Day of Visitation and in the Desolation which shall come from far to whom will they flye for Help and where will they leave their Glory Isa 10.1 2 3 4. And if any be offended at what is here written let such know that he that writeth this hath no evil will or prejudice in his Heart towards any Man or any People in the World but desireth the good of all even as he desireth the same for himself and according to the Mind of Christ would not that any should perish but that all through true Repentance might find Mercy and obtain Eternal Salvation by Jesus Christ For I have by woful Experience known a time when the deceivable unrighteous power of the Devil the Man of Sin prevailed upon me so far that I could not then believe that ever I could be free from Sin while in this World because I daily felt my self overcome by and subject to Sin which daily deceived me and so I was perswaded of the common received Tenet viz. No freedom from Sin whilst in this World but that all must carry a Body of Sin and a Body of Death whilst on this side the Grave And so was I long in a miserable condition being often troubled exceedingly in my Heart and Conscience with a deep sence of my own sinful condition which in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus in my Heart and Conscience I plainly saw to be very wicked and deplorable wherewith my Soul was grievously oppressed but knew not how to be eased of my Burden which seemed to me such an intolerable heavy Burden or Load that I was very near to have fainted under it for the more I looked into my inward condition the worse it then seemed unto me being exceedingly afraid lest the Lord should have cut me off in mine Iniquity wherewith I had provoked him And the sence of this my Condition kept me in a constant Care lest I should do any thing whatsoever that might further incense or provoke the Lord God of Heaven and Earth against me and so make my Load more grievous and as I thus looked upon my Soul to be in a most wretched forlorn condition and in continual danger to be cast into everlasting Fire in which the Devil and his Angels are tormented Day and Night for ever and ever then for a long season I cryed in bitterness of Soul unto the Lord that I believed knew the very seeret Thoughts and Intents of all Hearts that he would shew Mercy unto me and teach me to know the Way wherein he would have me to walk for I was yet as a Stranger to and unacquainted with that which then and formerly reproved me for Sin in my Heart which is the Light of Christ and the true Christians Spiritual Way to God which when I did or spake any thing that added unto my Burden ever made me sensible that it was wrong before I did it and this aggravated my Sorrow And after several Months continuance in this dolorous condition by the Light of Christ in my Heart I saw the emptiness and insufficiency of all Formal and Ceremonial Worship of God that is not in his own Spirit and Truth in the inward parts which Spirit God ever heareth the cry of and which Truth he ever loveth out of which I could not but judge my self to have been with those I associated my self in that formal insufficient Worship which was no sooner ended but though Confession of Sins and Prayer for Repentance in a seeming Zeal had been made and Sin preached against yet before parting and sometimes in the Worship too the spirit and power of the Man of Sin that tempts into all Sin arose amongst us causing Laughter and â—olly and Vanty to appear amongst us which was far from a State of true Repentance And though of late before I had kept over the Witness of God the Light in my Conscience though it had often reproved me for Sin and had been like the rest of the company with whom I joined in Worship yet then the sence of my own deplorable state being upon me continually I could not appear in my former Jollity and Vanity amongst them but though mine Eye was chiefly upon mine own condition yet I could not be unsensible of their state which had so lately been mine own but in the love that thinketh no evil I mourned over them and sorrowed for them who then began to deride me And after I had thus remained for a Season till I durst no longer delay the time then I began to question them that had been my Teachers concerning the Light the Way of God and the Just Man's Path which had convinced me of all my Sins and in my Heart and Conscience reproved me for the same but alas the Teachers though professing to be Ministers of Christ the Light yet they were untaught by the Light and untaught of God by whom all true Christians are taught as Christ and his Holy Prophets and Apostles declared John 6.45 Isa 54.13 John 14.26 1 Kings 8.35 36. Heb. 8.11 1 John 5.20 And being willing to be satisfied as fully as I could amongst them as well concerning the Light as their doubtful Doctrines Ordinances and Ceremonies I passed over a considerable time in reasoning and discoursing with those of my Teacher whom I judged most able but though the most or all of them understood several Languages yet none of them owned the true Light wherewith Jesus Christ enlighteneth every Man and Woman that cometh into the World to be saving John 1.9 or of sufficiency to lead to Salvation whereby I plainly saw that they were
as Strangers to it and had not tryed the Vertue of it For the Scriptures also are herein very plain John 1.1 4 9. that this Light is the Life which was in the Eternal Word which is Christ which was in the beginning with God which Word was and is God and so this Light is certainly divine and consequently sufficient to lead to Salvation all that faithfully give up with all their Hearts Tit. 2.11 12. Eph. 2.8 2 Cor. 12.9 to follow it and obey its Requirings and this Light is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation which hath appeared to all Men and was the true Christians Teacher and by it they were saved through Faith for it was and is sufficient and it was and is the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 Eph. 5.13 Rom. 1.10 and whatsoever maketh manifest is Light which maketh manifest all things that are reproved and whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within But the said Teachers said That Revelation was now ceased and that in our days none must expect to enjoy God or Christ in his inward appearance in the Heart Soul and Conscience in which his Servants the Prophets Apostles and true Christians enjoyed him in days past but that now God hath in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament called the Bible given us wholly to understand our Duty towards him and one unto another and that none can know God but by the Scriptures And indeed none can know God but by that which the Scriptures declare of which is the Light or Spirit for I then knew certainly that though I had often with zeal and delight read the Scriptures yet I knew not rightly my own condition nor how far I was from the state of a true Christian till I gave diligent heed to the Light of Christ the Grace of God in my own Heart and Conscience and as I waited low in it by it I received a clear discovery of my own state towards God and what was needful for me to know And though the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy saith Of a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation yet saith he it is through Faith which is in Christ Jesus Mark that Rom. 10.6 7 8. It is through Faith which is in Christ Jesus the Light and the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth And saith Paul All Scripture given by Insporation of God is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works So they that deny Perfection through Faith which is in Christ Jesus to be attainable on this side the Grave for which end the Scriptures by the Inspiration of God were given do not such deny the very end for which the Scriptures were given But the Apostle Paul did not write according to the common Translation that All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God Take notice of this for the Word Is is added there being nothing for it in the original Greek Copies And also the Word Scriptures signifieth Writings whether good or bad and no bad Writings are given by the Inspiration of God Therefore they that profess the Scriptures to be their Rule and Standard should not add to their Rule or Standard lest they be found to falsify it And so whilst I was thus reasoning with my former Teachers I became fully satisfied concerning their Ignorance of the Truth and their Insufficiency to be Teachers or Guides to direct in the Way of Salvation being out of it themselves and so I became as it were weaned and in weaning from the Breast I had formerly sucked which was the Conceivings of the Wisdom of Men and in the Eyes of the World I became a Fool and was reckoned mad and a Changeling and I durst not give way to the Entreaties nor to the Threatnings neither of Parent nor Relations though near and dear unto me whose Welfare every way I defired as my own yet then they became as mine Enemies being mightily offended with me though after some time more Friendly again then before some of them came to be unto me And when the said Teachers said unto me Why do you question our Religion for we exhort People to Vertue and to live Holily and to strive against Sin I answered saying Whether is it possible that the Soul of Man may be Cleansed from Sin on this side the Grave They replyed No then considered I Ah! then where must my Soul be cleansed and to strive and fight against Sin all the time of a Man's Life and never to get the Victory but always to be overcome surely this is not the good Fight of Faith but a very uncomfortable fighting when a man knoweth or thinketh before he fight that he certainly must be conquered And when they said unto me You may live as Holily and as strictly and as free from Sin as you can or will and yet continue of our Religion too for we command no Vices nor are not against any of our Hearers living holily and strictly but advise them to it Then I answered Ah! but I am unsatisfied and I have read in the Scriptures That they who seek the Lord with all their Heart shall find him and I believe this is true but alas I have not yet found him to my Satisfaction and I am resolved whatever cometh to seek him with all my Heart and I hope that I shall find him and so I considered that he who would find the Lord to his satisfaction and enjoy his Blessing must not walk in the Counsel of the Ungodly nor stand in the Way of Sinners and so I durst no longer join with them in their Worship For I believed that they who seek God aright and so find him to their Satisfaction must seek him Inwardly and Spiritually for he is a Spirit and is not to be found in Carnal Ordinances Ceremonies or Traditions of Men which the said Teachers pleaded for and I had been very zealous in those things but found no profit until I took heed to the Light of Christ in mine own Heart and Conscience And as I continued waiting upon God in his Light and taking heed unto it the Day dawned more and more upon me and the Day-Star arose in my Heart and I plainly saw the emptiness of all outward Ceremonies invented in the wosul Night of Apostasy and set up when the Power of Darkness ruled in the Heart by such as were disobedient to the Light in their own Wills and for filthy Lucres sake And I came to see plainly that the true Worship of God is only performed in his own Spirit and Truth the Mani estation whereof is the true Light out of which none can know God nor worship him acceptably but worship they know not
〈…〉 By the FINGER of Gods Power AND His Visage Discovered by the Light of CHRIST JESUS and his Ministers Members Workes 〈◊〉 Lying Wonders Manifested by the Spirit of God a Manifestation whereof is given to every Man and Woman to profit withal With Friendly and Serious Invitations Exhortations and Warnings to all Professors of Christianity to beware that Antichristian Spirit that leadeth to Destruction and those Teachers who are Influenced by it Written in the Love of God by a Prisoner at Lancaster Castle for the Testimony of Truth and one of the People called in Scorn Quakers HENRY MOLLINEVX And Jesus answered and said unto them Take heed that no man deceive you for many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many and because Iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold Mat. 24.4 5 10 11. As ye have beard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists 1 John 2.18 LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sâ—â—â—â— near the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court in 〈◊〉 street 1695. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Friendly Reader IT hath been a weighty Concern upon me for several Years to give forth in Writing a Testimony against the Spirit of Antichrist as I have through the Love and Mercy of God been made sensible thereof by the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ Jesus the Son of the Living God and so having cleared and eased my Mind and Conscience of what hath lain upon me I commit to thee the following Treatise desiring that the fear and dread of the Lord God may constantly have a place in thy Heart in the Reading of it as it had in mine in the Writing of it and that will preserve thee Meek and Low in Heart in an aptness to Learn of Christ the Son of God's Love that many Professors of Christianity are but ignorantly talking of and so thou wilt not be apt to take offence nor stumble at the Truth as thou art made sensible of it in thy Heart but wilt be willing for thine own Eternal Good truly to examine thy self before the Lord in Secret how thou standest in thy Spiritual State and Condition before his All-seeing Eye for there was never more need for People to be truly concerned for the Salvation of their Precious Souls than there is now but they who walk not in the fear of the Lord slight it And if thou Reason saying Ah! But I am Unlearned and how should I understand or know the Truth For there are many great Scholars and Men Learned in Latin Greek and Hebrew and yet one sort of them preacheth one Doctrine and others other Doctrines and therefore how should I know which is the Truth I answer that thou mayest be as capable to know the Truth as if thou understood Latin and Greek and Hebrew for the Manifestation of the Spirit of Truth in thy own Heart that reproveth for Sin is sufficient to teach thee to know the Truth if thou believest in it and be truly willing to obey it and in disobedience to it none can know the Truth to their Comfort though they may perfectly understand Latin Greek and Hebrew the understanding whereof in its place may be good and serviceable Yet thou knowest not how soon thou must give an Account to the God of Truth how thou hast profited with the Manifestation of his Spirit of Truth which is given to thee to profit withal As for the Times and Manner of the Inventions setting up and establishing of the Popish Mass Ceremonies Tythes and other Trumpery I refer thee to a Book put forth by Francis Howgill in Two Parts the first Intituled The Glory of the True Church discovered and the latter Part The Rock of Ages exalted above Rome 's imagined Rock And also to a little Book called Popery Arraigned set forth by G. F. and E. H. it not being my present Concern so much to shew the Times and Persons and Manner how by whom and when the Popish Inventions came up in the Apostacy that being upon Record and sufficiently done before as to shew how much they are contrary to the Scriptures of Truth and to the Spirit of Truth by which those Scriptures were given forth and how many professing Christianity and Reformation from Popery are yet found in them and in an Antichristian Spirit and how they may know the evil thereof and come out of them that they may enjoy the pure Life of Christianity which is more than Profession thereof Herein several Popish Inventions and Practices are very little or none Treated of yet comprehended being contrary to the Scriptures of Truth and the Witness of God in every Heart in them who truly take heed to it will Testifie against them such as their Worshipping of Images and Pictures and Relicks and Bones of the Dead and praying to the Dead and for the Dead and counting their Prayers by Beads as if they thought like the Heathens of which Chirst spake that they should be heard for their much speaking or babling with their Mattens and Letanies and their Idle Complements and giving of Flattering Titles c. and also their being divided into many distinct and different Orders and Sorts of Monks Friars and Jesuits and yet they plead or cry up Unity and also their Orders for Barbarian Praying wilfully in an Unknown Tongue and their not permitting to the People the Scriptures of Truth in their own Language which were publick amongst the Primitive Christians who searched them daily and found great Comfort by them and the Apostles and Holy Men of God wrote in a Known Tongue or Mother Tongue to whom they wrote that all might understand them and be edified by them in the Spirit of Christ by which only the Scriptures of Truth may be truly understood And so I commit thee to the Word of God's Grace which is the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in thine own Heart by which only thou mayest be made sensible to understand aright the Things that Concern thy Everlasting Peace and Happiness who am a Well-wisher to all Mankind H. M. THE CONTENTS COncerning the Prevailings of Antichrist and his being manifested in the Primitive Times of Christianity and the Prophesies of him from Page 1 to 32. Concerning the Power of Antichrist and also concerning Freedom from Sin and concerning the Popes and Babylon from Page 32 to 105. Concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper and also concerning the Signs of Antichrist and Fighting and Persecution and Tythes and the Spirit that denieth Christ come in the Flesh from Page 105 to 233. Concerning Reformation from Popery and Constancy and Inconstancy to Professions from Page 233 to 251. Concerning the Wonders of Antichrist and concerning them that say lo here and lo there from Page 251 to 258. Concerning the Rock on which the Church of Christ is Built and the Popes pretended Headship and Infallibility and Popish Persecutions from Page 258 to 270. Concerning the Popes pretended Stewardship from Page
them who are in judgment contrary to themselves yet they must never have their desire but as they destroy their Fellow-Creatures their Friends so Eternal Destruction will be to themselves and the Light and Spirit of God will be their Condemnation for ever But blessed and happy are all they and shall be for evermore who suffer for the Testimony of a good Conscience and are faithful unto Death for God will give them a Crown of Eternal Life and such in the midst of Persecution or at the laying down of their Lives for their Testimony in obedience to the Light and according to the Example of Christ the Captain of their Salvation can pray for their Persecutors who being blinded by their deceitful Leader the Devil know not what they do but think they do God service but Eternal Torment shall seize upon the Murtherers fear shall surprize them and truth will rise up in Judgment against them over all Deceit over all Error and over the Devil and all his deceived Followers and God will be magnified over all who is worthy for evermore Amen And after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ when his Apostles who according to his command waited at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high were commissionated to Preach in his Name and Power his Everlasting Gospel then the great Deceiver and Enemy of Man's Felicity was very busie in his deceived Servants and Instruments to hinder the propagation and publication of it stirring them up by his Murthering Persecuting Spirit to Murder and Persecute the Ministers and Apostles of Christ as may at large be read in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles But Christ the power of God by the living operation of his Light which he sent his Ministers to turn People unto from Darkness and by the word of his Grace which is one with the Light working effectually in the Hearts of many to the convincement of them of their evil deeds thereby-bringing them to true Repentance and to the acknowledgment of the truth and not only so but also teaching them to live godlily and righteously and soberly thereby as well in Life and Conversation as in Words to Preach and Propagate the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God So that the number of Christians encreased much and that in several Nations to the glory of God and the great comfort and cause of rejoicing of many Souls who had received the Light of Christ and believed in it and walked in it wherein they had true Unity and Fellowship one with another and knew by the Blood of Christ Jesus 1 John 1.7 a cleansing from all sin which their Soul's Enemy had wrought in them and in the Name and Power of Christ knew and witnessed a triumphing in his Eternal Life over the power of Death which is the Devil 2 Cor. 2.14 Col. 2.13 to 17. Heb. 2.14 who had formerly captivated them and held them as in Chains of Darkness which they knew and witnessed to be broken and dissolved by the Light and Power of Christ and so could say The Darkness is past 1 John 2.8 and the true Light now shineth So the great Deceiver the Devil was frustrated of his Will for the Gospel was Preached and the Name of Christ gloriously magnified in his People over the Earth all the Endeavours of the Devil and his deceived ones not being able to suppress it But although many received the Gospel of Christ in uprightness of Heart and believed in his Light unto which his Ministers were sent to turn their Minds from darkness and in faithful obedience from their very Hearts gave up their All to the service of God in his Light the manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts and Souls and Consciences out of which Light and Spirit no service was ever acceptable to the Lord and so became Children of the Light of God who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and in his Light and Spirit enjoyed precious Unity and Fellowship one with another and knew Satan the Devil the Old Serpent who by his subtilty had formerly deceived them to be by the power of God as bruised under their Feet no more able to prevail upon them by his subtil deceit but in the Light Spirit and Power of God they could keep their standing over him and all his deceivable Device of Unrighteousness and in Christ the Lord their Righteousness had Peace and Joy in his Holy Spirit and so rejoiced together in their Heavenly Places in Christ and glorified God over all in their day and time and though many came to these and the like Attainments as the Scriptures of Truth at large declare Yet the subtil Deceiver the Devil who was a Lyar and a Murtherer from the beginning by his deceitful Devices and dark Power prevailed upon many that were convinced of the true Light that enlightens every Man that cometh into the World and that believed concerning Christ that he laid down his Life for Mankind and rose again from the Dead and ascended up on high and so they could make a Profession of Christianity having a Notional Knowledge of Christ and of things relating to Eternity and it was by drawing their Minds from the Light of Christ in themselves that the deceitful Enemy prevailed to keep them only in a Profession of Christianity and in a Form of Godliness but out of the obedience of the Light and Spirit of Christ and so out of the Truth though professing it And so being out of the Truth and out of the Obedience of the Light which is the manifestation of the Spirit of God they were not though they might profess to be Children of the Light nor Children of God for it is they that are led by the Spirit of God that are Children of God and all the Children of God are taught of God by his Spirit and consequently they were out of the glorious Liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.14 Isa 54.13 John 6.45 Heb. 8.11 1 John 2.27 and of the Gospel of Christ the beguiling Serpent keeping their Minds fast in the love of outward things and so they would still keep up the Ordinances Col. 2.14 Gal. 4.9 10. Ceremonies and Customs of their Forefathers though contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and were in Bondage to weak and beggarly Elements and observed Days and Months and Times and Years And so they were held in Bondage to Corruption and Corruptible Things and tho' they then professed Christianity and desired no doubt to be called Christians yet their Enemy beguiling them and keeping them by his deceit in disobedience to the Light of Christ in themselves they acted and lived contrary to true Christianity And though they appeared as for Christ they were really against him and his Truth and being themselves deceived they endeavoured to deceive others being Enemies to the Cross of Christ to which he
had nailed the Hand-writing of Ordinances Phil. 3.18 Col. 2.14 blotting it out and taking it out of the way where the Redeemed were to walk And as the Ministers of Christ declared among the true Christians that the Spirit of Antichrist should come so the Apostle John in his time restified 1 John 4.3 that it was then already in the World And although it appeared in them upon whom it prevailed as for Christ or on his behalf yet it was and still is really against him and the Truth of his Gospel being the same deceitful Spirit that draws into and endeavours to keep the Minds of Mankind in the love of outward things and in a kind of satisfaction in outward Performances old Ceremonies uncertain Traditions and beggarly Elements and so keeps out of the obedience of the Light and Spirit of God and out of the Service of God which they profess but it keeps in the Service of him who is their Enemy the Devil who hath deceived them who is to be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone to be tormented Day and Night for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 So when Man 's grand Enemy could not hinder the glad-tydings of the Gospel of God's Salvation from being Preached thorough the Nations of the World then by his Spirit of Antichrist he laboured with all his subtil Devices to keep them who were convinced of the Light of the Gospel of Christ only in a Profession of Christianity without the Life and Power of Godliness that so though they profest Christ in words Titus 1.16 yet in works they might deny him And at that time he thus prevailed upon many with his deceit and made them deceitful like himself 2 Tim. 3.5 Philip. 1.15 Titus 1.11 having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof and so some preached Christ even of Eavy Strife and Contention and others being Men of corrupt Minds supposing Gain to be Godliness and having Hearts exercised with covetous Practices taught for filthy Lucreâ—s sake things that they ought not And many having itching Ears followed such Teachers and their pernicious ways erring from the way of Truth the Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in themselves to which if they had been faithful and obedient it would have manifested inwardly unto them the subtil Devices Snares and Stratagems wherewith the Devil their Enemy had beguiled them and whereby he acted them in his Service to deceive others and to draw them away from the true Faith of Christ being themselves reprobate concerning the Faith resisting the Truth as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8 But their Folly was manifested by the Light and Spirit of Christ and they that walked in the Light saw their Folly And the Apostle called such Antichrists saying Little Children it is the last time And as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists 1 John 2.18 19. whereby we know that it is the last time They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Thus it is manifest that when the Enemy of Man's Happiness the Devil could not keep People from believing in Christ because the Testimony of the Light of Christ in their Hearts and Consciences confirmed and was at one with the Doctrine and Preaching of his Ministers yet those that he could with his deceit prevail upon by his Unclean Envious 2 Tim. 3.13 Antichristian Spirit to keep them in disobedience to the Light them he made Antichrists evil Men and Seducers waxing worse and worse deceiving and being by him deceived And yet the Devil could allow such to make a Profession of the Knowledge of God and of Christ and to speak great swelling words 1 Pet. 2 1â— 19. to allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were clean escaped from them that live in Errour and to promise Liberty to others while they themselves were the Servants of Corruption And so though such could style themselves Ministers of Christ and of his Gospel and could use the words of the Scriptures and of the true Ministers of Christ and of his Prophets who spake by his Holy Spirit as they were moved thereby and could make a large flourishing shew by their Preaching in their enticing words of humane Wisdom which is earthly sensual and devilish and in their large comprehending Wit Jam. 3 1â— which they had as natural Men thereby to draw many after them yet all that was in the Airy Lustful Wanton Spirit that proceeds from the Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 who works and rules in the Hearts of all the Children of Disobedience And therefore it was not like that they should bring any into Obedience they themselves being in Disobedience to the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in themselves which teacheth them that believe in it and obey it to live soberly godly and righteously and reproveth for lightness and vanity and lustfulness and wantonness and all the hidden works of darkness and dishonesty and unrighteousness and ungodliness all which the Prince of the Power of the Air teacheth and worketh and leadeth into by his dark Power and deceitful Antichristian Spirit And it is not like that his Servants and Followers should bring any out of those things for he leads them into them and so do his Ministers too let them profess what they will or can And none can come out of them but by taking diligent heed to the Light of Christ in themselves which is the Grace of God which brings Salvation and hath appeared to all Men. And so Antichristian Ministers keep poor People from the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves although many by it see them to be wrong that they may be ever learning of them but never thereby be able to come to the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus and such can never bring any to the knowledge of the Truth for they are out of it themselves and all are such who Preach for Hire and for their own Carnal Ends or for Strife or Envy and filthy Lucre's sake through Covetousness with feigned words making Merchandise of People for such run and God never sent them therefore they shall not profit the people at all Jer. 23.21 32. But they who obey the Light of Christ in their Hearts by it see their deceit who would keep People from it for the Apostles were sent to turn their Minds to it and the Eye of the Lord is upon the ways of all and he will render unto all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings who sees and knows and searches the Hearts and tryeth the Reins of all And though those Antichristian Ministers could not only talk and preach of Holiness and
Coming even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of Vnrighteousness in them that perish Now in as much as he who is called the man of sin the Son of perdition and the wicked one is truly said to be in them that perish it is evident that he first by his deceit drawing them into disobedience to the Light and Spirit of God had beguiled and deceived them and so by the working of his deceitful power 1 Cor. 3.10 17. had gotten in them an usurped place of exaltation above the Light and Spirit of God which he had tempted them to disobey 1 Cor. 6.19 and oppose in themselves and so he and his dark power thereby was exalted in them above the Light Power and Spirit of God whose Temple true Christians are And so the Devil the Man of Sin sitteth in the Temple of God or that which ought to be the Temple of God being exalted above all that is called God or that is worshipped in and by them that obey him And let all mark that he is to be consumed and destroyed with the Spirit of God and with the Light or brightness of Christ when he comes to rule and reign in People whose right it is and that is when his Light or Voice in their Heart is obeyed And so though those who disobey the Light of Christ in themselves may yet in words confess him Rom 1.16 1 Cor. 1.18 24 and profess Christianity yet they by disobedience to his Light which is the Word of his Power who is the Wisdom and Power of God in yielding to and embracing the allurements drawings and temptations of the wicked One thereby he getteth the power over them and begetteth them into a belief of his Power perswading them that it is impossible for them while they live in this World to be set free from the ruling or prevailing of his Power over them And so he whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs Ephes 2 2. Ephes 5.2 3 4 5 6. and Lying Wonders who is the Prince of the Power of the Air he worketh in the Children of Disobedience and he ruleth and hath all the power and prevalency in and over such whom he holdeth in such a Belief or Faith that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death while they live in this World which is a dead Faith and never like to give Victory over the World nor over Death nor him that hath the power of Death which is the Devil nor over his Works And so such through disobedience to the Light of Christ which is the Word of Life Phil. 2.16 Prov. 6.23 Prov. 21.16 and the Reproofs of its Instruction the Way of Life are wandred from the Way of Life and Understanding and remain in the Congregation of the Dead Ephes 2.1 and are dead in Trespasses and Sins and are never like to be by a dead Faith recovered to Life to live to God in Christ Jesus in whom is Eternal Life and such may contend for their dead Faith But the Faith which true Christians are earnestly to contend for â—ude 3. Eph. 6.16 Phil. 1.27 Rom. 10.8 1 Tim. 6.12 1 John 5.4 Chap. 2.13 14. which was once delivered to the Saints stands in the Word of God's Power which is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nïgh in the Mouth and in the Heart and this is a Living Faith and gives Victory and overcometh as the true Christians testified And so they that in their dead Faith believe no overcoming the wicked One on this side the Grave they believe quite contrary to the true Christians as the Apostle John testified of them to whom he wrote 1 John 4.4 saying Ye have overcome the wicked One and though he writes 1 John 1.8 9 10. saying If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us yet he writes in the next words after If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness If we say that we have not sinned we make him a lyar and his Word is not in us Now if the said Words to wit If we say that we have no Sin c. which some greatly object in this case be taken as they are in the common Translations yet that will not import the Apostle himself to be included as the Scripture hath such Expressions for the Apostle James speaking of the Tongue saith Therewith curse we Men c. James 3.9 And Paul saying Let us Eat and Drink for to morrow we dye 1 Cor. 15.32 Who can conclude from hence that the Apostle James was a Curser of Men Or that Paul was one of those luxurious Ones who used that saying about Eating and Drinking which was reproved by the Prophet Isa 22.13 and 56.12 Or who can from the Apostle John's Words here conlude that he then had Sin For as the Apostle James explained his saying of the Tongue to wit Therewith Curse we Men by saving presently after thus My Brethren these things ought not to be so vers 10. And as Paul also explained himself when he said Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye by saying forthwith Be not deceived evil Communications corrupt good Manners c. vers 33 34. So also the Apostle John in this place after that which some translate thus to wit If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us which might relate to the Conditions of others though not to his own present condition saith in the very next words thus If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness Now is not all Sin Unrighteousness And therefore what can be more plain than that the Apostle here declareth that upon Confession and Repentance true Believers are not only forgiven but also come to be cleansed from Sin And doth he not also in the next Words before those that are objected as well as after fully declare the same speaking of the Light which they that love Sin do not love thus If we walk in the Light c. we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And moreover according to said the common Translation if any should think the Apostle John here to be included yet he doth not say that we sin daily in Thought Word and Deed nor that the best Performances of the Children of God are sinful or mix'd with Sin as the pleaders for Sin for term of Life say therefore what he said importeth not the matter they contend for But according to those Translators much approved by Protestants Beza and Pasor and others the aforesaid objectible Words of the Apostle John are to be rendred thus
if not for Deliverance for he saith presently after The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death So it is plain that he was delivered and set free from the Law of Sin and Death unto which he had been in Captivity while he was carnal sold under Sin and therefore the aforesaid Words of Paul with which some plead against the possibility of freedom from Sin cannot properly be rendred to describe his present condition at the writing thereof And it may at large be read in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul as also of the other Apostles that Freedom from sin Eph. 2.4 to 11. Rom. 6.22 1 Cor. 15.56 57. and the servitude thereof may be and was attained by true Christians while in this World And those that from the aforesaid Words of Paul do plead for continuance in sin during Life 1 Cor. 15.32 33 34. Isa 22.12 13 14. Isa 56.10 11 12. Wisd 2.5 6 7. they may as sensibly plead that he in a commanding manner spake to the Corinthians saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye which in Scripture is recommended as a Motto of Epicures and Libertines though he writes next after saying Be not deceived Evil Communications corrupt good Manners awake to Righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame But the Apostle Peter as it were to put the matter concerning the understanding of Paul's Words out of all question 2 Pet. 3.14 15 16. writes thus Be diligent that ye may be found of him without Spot and Blameless and account that the Long suffering of our Lord is Salvation even as our beloved Brother Paul also according to the Wisdom given unto him hath written unto you as also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction By which Words it is plain that some things written by Paul and here spoken of by Peter were things concerning Spotlesness and Blamelesness which things are not consistent with Sin and concerning which things Paul wrote in all his Epistles And it was such who obeyed not the Light and Grace of Christ which is the Word of Faith Tit. 2.11 12. Rom. 10.8 2 Cor. 10.4 5. 1 John 2.13 14. 1 John 5.4 nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart which the Apostles preached who were not diligent to be found spotless and blameless and it was such as those that wrested Paul's Words to their own destruction for such being in Sin and out of the living Faith whereby true Christians overcome they feeling themselves under the power of the Man of Sin in themselves he easily perswades them that there is no overcoming sin or attaining freedom from sin or spotlesness and blamelesness on this side the Grave and there he would have all Mankind And so such Rom. 6.18 22. quite contrary to the Doctrine of Paul and of the other Apostles wrest the Words of Paul to their own destruction Rom. 8.2 〈◊〉 Cor. 15.57 1 Tim. 6.12 14. 2 Tim. 4.7 Heb. 11.6 and plead for Sin with the Words that he wrote concerning his Warfare in the Faith against Sin though presently after he declares himself to be in another condition but they being out of that Faith without which it is impossible to please God they do not undertake the Warfare aright and therefore are not like to witness the Victory as Paul did And now let all those that plead for Sin for term of Life beware lest they be of those Unlearned and Unstable who wrest the Words of Paul to their own Destruction for though they may have learned many Languages and all the Learning that can be gotten for Money at Schools and Colleges yet if they be not learned in the Mystery of the Faith of Christ which is in his Light and Word of Faith nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart they will be found to be of the unlearned that the Apostle Peter here speaketh of Acts 1.13 for concerning humane Learring Peter himself was called unlearned and ignorant And let all consider whether are most likely to wrest the Apostles to their own destruction they who are truly diligent to be found spotless and blameless who take his Words as well as the words of the other Apostles against Sin in so strict a sence that according thereunto and for f ar of offending God they dare not allow themselves in any Sin lest it be to their destruction Job 28.28 Psal 111.10 Prov. 1.2 to 7. Prov. 9.10 Prov. 8.13 Prov. 14 26 27. Prov. 13.14 Prov. 16.6 or those that take liberty in Sin and chuse not the Fear of the Lord which is Wisdom whereby they might better understand the Words of the Wise and their dark Sayings which Fear is not only to hate Evil but to depart from Evil and from Sin the snare of Death and so they make use of the Apostle's Words to plead for the continuance of Sin reckoning that the Apostle when he wrote Letters on Truth 's account and reproved Sin with severity in others was himself continually sinning And so such who reject the Fear of God and his Counsel in their Hearts they are perswaded by the spirit of the Man of Sin in themselves that though they may strive and talk against sin yet while they are in this World they must continue in sin yea even in their best Performances and then what are their worst And so they do not believe that while they live God Feb. 12.29 who is a consuming Fire is able in them with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume the Man of Sin or the Body of Sin and Death whose coming is after the working of Satan Mat. 3.11 12. Luke 3.16 17. with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders and so for all their using signs of Baptism that is a sign that they are not baptized througly with the Baptism of Christ who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit and with Fire whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floor and gather his Wheat into the Garner but he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire Mark his Floor which is the Heart of Man he will throughly purge gather his Wheat and burn up the Chaff that which proceeds from the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience And what Mat. 15.18 19 20. must Sin remain in the Heart when it is throughly purged or if Sin be not in the Heart where is 〈◊〉 And let all consider that to whom they yield themselves servants to obey Rom 6.16 17. his servants they are to whom they obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness as
can truly call him according to the Prophecies of Old the Lord our Righteousness Rom. 8.4 9 10 14. and this is to be fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh Gal. 5.25 1 John 1.7 but after the Spirit and in the Light and Manifestation thereof And they that truly examine themselves and prove themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.3 Gal. 2.20 Col. 1 2â— they may know how that Jesus Christ the Lord their Righteousness is in them except they be Reprobates thus the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 13. who through weakness in the Faith sought a Proof of Christ speaking in him which speaking of Christ he affirmeth was to themwards not weak but was mighty in them By which it is evident that where the Man of Sin hath prevailed by his deceitful power in and upon any when such come by the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in themselves to be convinced of their Sins and made willing to resist the wicked One in the Faith of Christ the Power of God yet it seemeth not easie at the first for such to believe in the mighty Speakings of Christ the Power of God in themselves nor to believe in Christ's Ability to save and cleanse them from all Sin and that he is able with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume and destroy the Man of Sin and his Works in them For while People yield their Members Servants to Sin and profess Christianity the Man of Sin in themselves and by his Instruments outwardly is ready to perswade them either that a Priest can forgive them or pronounce Forgiveness to them for their Sins as not only the Popish Priests but others as for instance the Author of the Book called The Practice of Piety teach and that so they may be absolved from their Sins or else he would perswade them as he doth too many That they must have the Righteousness of Christ only imputed to them wholly without them to justifie them though they be not inwardly sanctified by the Word of his Power in their Hearts and though they be continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed against his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Consciences and that they must believe that they must only be saved by the Meriâ—s of Christ's Death and Sufferings which he suffered for them now above Sixteâ—n Hundred Years since without the Gates of Jerusalem to satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins but they must not expect to be free from Sin but to be continually sinning while they live in this World So the Man of Sin the Devil will suffer his Servants to make as large a shew of Christianity as they can so that they will continue in Sin that is in Service and Slavery to him and his Power but he willeth not to have them believe that they must be saved from their Sins by the precious Blood of Christ which he hath shed for them Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.12 13 14. Eph. â—2 5 nor that they must be saved from their Sins and redeemed from all Iniquity by the Grace of God in their own Hearts Heb. 2.9 by which all true Christians were and are saved and by which Christ tasted Death for every Man and the Man of Sin would have People to believe Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.18 22. Heb 8.10 that while they are in this World they cannot be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus as true Christians witnessed that they were and that Law was in their Hearts Thus the Prince or Ruler of Darkness keeps many in subjection to his dark Power and Spirit so that they consider not that they who live in Sin Heb. 6.6 and in disobedience to the Light of Christ's Spirit in themselves crucifie Christ afresh and put him to open shame whereas the Apostle said Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Gal. 5.24 they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts And the Apostle John writes He that saith he abideth in Christ as true Christians do ought himself also to walk even as be walked 1 Joh. 2.6 1 John 4.13 And said he Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him 1 John 3 5 6 7. little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous And the Apostle Paul saith The Church is subject to Christ in every thing but they that live in Sin are not so and that he gave himself for it Eph. 5.24 25 26 27. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word which is nigh that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And again he writes The Weapons of our Warsare are not Carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. casting down Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ And now let all that profess Christianity examine and prove themselves whether or no they be thus subjected to Christ for though he be the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Heb. 2.9 Job 10.14 15. Nah. 1.3 Rom. 2.6 to 10. Rev. 22.12 John 1.4 and though by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man yet he will not acquit the Wicked but as he is a righteous Judge he will render to every Man according to his Deeds and how shall those escape that neglect his great Salvation and rebel against his Light which is his Life which they crucifie and oppress in themselves by Sin in their Affections and Lusts They are not like to escape the Righteous Judgments of God who disobey the Light of his Spirit in their Hearts and obey the Man of Sin the Devil who tempts them so to do and so they yielding to his Temptations are taken captive by his power which cometh through disobedience to God to be exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped and so he swayes and rules them being his Subjects by his dark power who ought as true Christians are to be subject to the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in their Hearts And so according to the perswasion of him whose power prevails over them many believe Gen. 17.1 Mat. 5.48 1 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 3 4 5 6. and plead that none though assisted by the Grace and Power of God can keep the Commandments of God nor be freed from Sin
Words so well that they think they cannot leave them till they dye what an Account will they have to give then because they hated the Light of Christ which reproved them in their Hearts and Conscientes for every one that doth Evil John 3.20 hates the Light therefore they must be cast into outer Darkness they must then have Darkness enough where there is Weeping Mat. 8.12 Ch. 22.13 Ch. 24.51 Ch. 25.30 Wailing and gnashing of Teeth And though the Swearer think it impossible to leave Swearing or the Drunkard think it impossible to forsake Drunkenness and those that are accustomed to sinful Words or Actions think it impossible to leave them because the Man of Sin hath gotten power over them and so perswadeth them yet those that have chosen the Fear of the Lord and believed in his Name in his Light in the Word of his Power in their Hearts and from the very Heart have obeyed the Teachings thereof have come in the Lord 's due time to know hard things to be made easie to them and the power of Christ in which they have believed to be stronger in them than the power of the Man of Sin which once prevailed in them But those have first sought the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and they have sought God with all their Heart Deut. 4.29 Pro. 8.17 Mat. 7.7 Ch. 21.22 Mark 11.24 and with all their Soul and have experienced his Promise truly fulfilled that they who seek so shall find him And Christ the Wisdom and Power of God hath been their Beloved and they have sought him early and found him as he promised Luke 11.9 John 16.24 But while they sought him as in the Night or in Darkness and in their ease as upon their Beds then they sought him but they found him not and when they arose and sought him as about the City where multitudes dwell and in the broad Ways of Profession wherein many walk where there is room for Sin there they sought him but they found him not and then they enquired of the Watchmen that go about the City the professed Teachers and pretended Ministers of Christ saying particularly Isa 56.10 11 12. Cant. 3.1 2. Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Alas the Watchmen were blind and all ignorant as such like were in the days past and they saw him not how should they but they smote and wounded these diligent Enquirers after Christ their Beloved in telling them that is impossible really to enjoy him the Righteousness of God in them to be the Lord their Righteousness while in this World they must only have the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them for they cannot be freed from Sin and the Body of Death while they are on this side the Grave said the Watchmen And such Doctrine as this smote and wounded the Enquirers who could not so be satisfied because there was no enjoyment of their Soul 's beloved and therefore they passed from them and it was but a little that they passed from them Cant. 3 3 4. and they found him whom their Souls loved and they held him and would not let him go for all the Glory of the World But these were and are such as were first sick of Love who mightily thirsted after the Fountain of the Water of Life Cant. 5.8 Rev. 21.6 Isa 55.1 Mat. 5.6 Luke 14.33 Luke 14.26 Rev. 13.11 John 12.25 Luk. 9.23 and 24. Mat. 8.19 20. Rev. 14.4 John 10.5 27. Joh. 14.4 5 to 26. John 16.13 Phil. 2.7 Luk. 6.20 to 36. Mat. 5.1 2 to 48. who truly hungred and thirsted after Righteousness that could forsake all that they had knowing that none but such can be true Disciples of Christ and who could not only forsake but also hate the enticement of Father and Mother Wife and Children Brethren and Sisters yea and their own Lives also for none others though they could come to him can be true Disciples of Christ for he that loveth his Life shall lose it these were and are they who denyed themselves and took up their Cross daily and followed Christ who heard and believed in his Voice his Word his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit the Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth or into Truth in every thing these were and are they who are willing with Christ to make themselves of no reputation who can rejoice and be exceeding glad when men revile them and persecute them and say all manner of Evil falsly for Christ's sake against them these were and are poor in Spirit meek and low in Heart and could and can endure Persecution for Righteousness sake and can do good to and love them that hate them and bless those that curse them and Pray for those that despightfully use them and it was these who received and do receive the comfortable Promises of Christ fulfilled in them and came and do come to the true enjoyment of their Souls beloved Mat. 10 22. Mat. 24. â—â— and are despised and hated of all Men and of all Nations for Christ's Name sake and are zealously affected to Christ who gave himself for them that he might redeem them from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People Tit. 2.14 zealous of good Works But those that continue in Sin and plead for Sin to continue in them till they dye how can they know Purification or Redemption from all Iniquity such have not in them the true Christians hope for the Apostle saith 1 John 3.3 1 John 4.17 1 John 2.6 1 John 3.7 Every one that hath 〈◊〉 this Hope in them purifieth himself even as Christ is pure but such are not as he is in this World as true Christians are such walk not as he walked such are not righteous even as he is Righteous such do not truly seek and therefore do not find such do not truly hunger and thirst after Righteousness and therefore they are not filled with it as Christ promised Mat. 5.6 For none can be so filled or satisfied who believe not in the Light of Christ in their own Hearts but disobey and rebel against it Job 24.13 and abide not in the Paths thereof and know not the Ways thereof which is the Path of the Just that is as a shining Light Prov 4.18 19. that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day but the Way of the Wicked is as Darkness 1 John â— 10 11. they know not at what they stumble for he that abideth in the Light there is none occasion of stumbling in him but they who abide in Sin while they live they stumble while they live because they know not whither they go nor how near they are to the Pits brink for they walk in Darkness and so in a dangerous state And so the power of Darkness the power of the Man of Sin prevailing upon them who yield their Members Servants thereunto it cometh to rule over them and makes them ambitious to rule
Waters are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues so Tongues or Languages is one part of her Seat And this Woman is the great Whore with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and this Woman is that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth and she is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird for all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication and the Merchants of the Earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her Delicacies But how much this False Church this City Babylon hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow must be given her for she saith in her Heart I sit a Queen and am no Widow and shall see no Sorrow therefore shall her Plagues come in one day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall utterly be burned with Fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her and the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the Smoke of her Burning standing afar off for fear of her Torment shall say Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one Hour is thy Judgment come And the Merchants of the Earth shall weep and mourn over her for no Man buyeth their Merchandize any more a great number of Priests and covetous Preachers will be at a great loss then and that Day is now drawing near for fear of her Torment weeping and wailing and saying Alas alas that great City that was cloathed in fine Linnen and Purple and Scarlet and decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls for in one hour so great Riches is come to nought But Heaven and the holy Apostles and Prophets shall then rejoyce over her when God hath avenged them on her Rev. 18. for by her Sorceries were all Nations deceived and in her is and will be found the Blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth And if this false whorish Church had not had a large and splendid Profession of Christianity and Religion she could not possibly have magnified her self so much nor by her Sorceries could she so have deceived all Nations and if it had not been a Golden Cup that she handed forth to the Nations being full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication probably she cōuld not have allured the Inhabitants of the Earth so freely and generally to have drunk of it as they have done with which they have been made drunk brutish and ravenous so that as Wolves they have preyed upon the Sheep of Christ true Christians who loved their Enemies and Persecutors and in killing of them they thought they did God good Service as Christ foretold being drunk with the Wine of the Whore's Fornication Joh. 16.2 And so they were far from the Nature of Christ and from his Teachings who came not to destroy mens Lives but to save them and taught and by his Spirit teacheth all his Disciples to love their Enemies but they are far from loving their Enemies who kill or persecute their Friends for witnessing to the Truth though it reprove them for Sin for Sin may cause them to be destroyed but it will never do any of them any Good thus all Persecutors are acted by the Murthering Spirit of the Man of Sin and drunk with the Wine of the Whores Cup. And so as Cain who was the first Persecutor about Religion had a Mark set upon him lest any finding him should kill him so all Persecutors about Religion have a mark set upon them for their Persecuting is an infallible Mark or Token whereby all may know that their Religion is vain and that they are no true Christians but false Pretenders to Christianity For the Apostle Paul said All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.12 shall suffe Persecution and so they are no persecutors but persecuted and can Pray for such as persecute them And when Paul was called Saul he was a Persecutor and consenting to the Death of Stephen who prayed for his Persecutors and Murtherers Rom. 8.10 but when he believed in the Light the Word of Faith in the Heart and ceased to kick against the Pricks of it and obeyed the Teachings of it then of a Persecutor he became a Preacher of the Cross of Christ which he bare through much Persecution even unto Death 2 Cor. 4.17 and could say This light Affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory and said he I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time Rom. 8.18 are not worthy to be compared to the Glory that shall be revealed in us So he changed for a better condition And so all Professors of Christianity of what sort soever that are Persecutors are within the compass of the false Church Mystery Babylon in whom is found the Blood of all the Righteous that are slain upon the Earth And though such differ among themselves one Preaching this and another that different Doctrine and often go to Wars and kill one another about their pretended Religions and Doctrines and Tenets and which of them can get the upperhand prey upon vex and trouble the others yet none of them all can endure to be persecuted themselves but when they are under they creep into Corners and hide or run or seek to save themselves by joining with the Worship of their Persecutors in Hypocrisie and being at difference thus among themselves like Herod and Pilate yet they can all agree to set at naught and mock and persecute Christ in his Members But true Christians Children of the Light are Children of God and God is their Friend and therefore they fear not what Man can do unto them for they know that God their Father will preserve his faithful Children and they are Members of Christ the Truth and the Truth is precious in their Eye and their Faith in it is worth contending for and worth suffering for and for it they can suffer what God their Father seeth meet and Man can inflict no more and so true Christians are freely given up to suffer Persecution for Christ the Lord their Righteousness knowing it will be to the glory of God if he so please and also having an Eye to the Recompence of Reward And now is fulfilled that which was prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah saying In the Day when the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious Isa 4.1 2. and the Fruit of the Earth excellent and comely for all them that are escaped of Israel then seven Women shall take hold of one man saying We will eat our own Bread and wear our own Apparel only let
to Christ Nay do they not rather keep them from him teaching them to kneel down and ask Blessing of them called their Godfathers and Godmothers and teaching them to say that by or in Baptism in their Infancy they are made Members of Christ and Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and so do they not train them up after the Traditions of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ And do not many called Christians and Protestants in their Profession of Religion compel their Children to these things in their Childhood Is it not Blasphemy and Idolatry thus to teach and practise and whether such things be bringing Children to Christ or keeping them from him and from his Light and Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit wherewith every one ought to profit let the honest single hearted judge And concerning the Saying of Christ that Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein 1 Pet. 1.23 That is no proof of the need of Water for true Christians are Children of the Light and are born of the Incorruptible Word of God which liveth John 3.5 and abideth for ever and such though they be Men in outward Stature yet are as little Children being little and low in their own esteem For Christ said Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And this some alledge for proof of their Infants Baptism though neither Infant nor outward Water be mentioned for a Man is not an Infant and here Christ speaketh of the Spiritual Water which washeth the inside unto Regeneration or the New Birth Zech. 13. which springeth out of the Fountain opened to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for Sin and for Uncleanness which also purgeth from Idolatry and false Prophecy Isa 55.1 as was prophesied And to these Waters every one that thirsteth may come and buy without Money and without Price So they need not give Money to be sprinkled And Christ saith John 7.37 38. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and he that believeth on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water And saith he I will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely Rev. 21.6 Joh. 4.14 and he that drinketh of the Water that I shall give him it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Eternal Life So it is this Spiritual Water that inwardly washeth and regenerateth unto Eternal Life without the washing whereof none can enter into the Kingdom of God and they that are born of this Water and of the Spirit they are Children of the Light and of the Kingdom of God and they are truly as little Children in the receiving of his Kingdom though they be outwardly Men of Stature And the Apostle John writing to the Christians calleth them Little Children saying If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light 1 Joh. 1.7 we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Here is a cleansing beyond the Priest's sprinkling of Infants and saith he 1 Joh. 2.1 My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And again The Darkness is past and the true Light now shineth he that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light 1 John 2.8 9 10 11 12. and there is none occasion of stumbling in him but he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes I write unto you little Children because your Sins are forgiven you for his Names sake And again he writeth 1 John 2.18 20 28. Little Children it is the last Time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists But saith he ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things those were intelligent little Children Again he saith Now little Children abide in him And again Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness 1 John 3.7 8 9 10 18. is righteous even as he is righteous he that commiteth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother And again My little Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And again Ye are of God little Children and â—â—ve overcome and saith he Hereby know we that we are in him and he in us 1 John 4.4 12. 1 John 5.21 because he hath given us of his Spirit And again Little Children keep your selves from Idols So it appeareth that the Children of the Light the Children of God who had received and believed in the Word of Faith in the Heart which the Apostles preached the Word of the Kingdom of God and were born of it they were frequently called little Children therefore that saying to wit Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein maketh nothing for the Doctrine of the Priests Infant Baptism neither is it any warrant for the same And let every one that readeth this take diligent notice of what is here before quoted which the Apostle John wrote to them which he called little Children and seriously examine themselves whether they be such little Children and whether their Teachers teach such or the same Doctrine either to Children or others and if they perceive any difference it is good for them weightily to consider it For the single Eye can see plainly that it is because People have neglected the Substance that they have idolized the Shadow and being by their subtil Enemy deceived and drawn from obedience to the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and Consciences they are become dark and vain in their Imaginations and walk in Darkness and know not whither they go or else they could not surely for shame talk of Godfathers and Godmothers and of Men making Infants Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and yet profess the Scriptures to be their Rule which mention no such thing And whereas some may say That outward Water Baptism is a Sacrament wherein there is an outward visible Sign of an inward Spiritual Grace and if it do Children no good say they
Ministers of Christ whose Travail and Preaching often is and hath been in the hazard of their Lives and outward Estates And they that receive believe in walk in and continue in the New Covenant of the Everlasting Gospel of God which is the Light Grace Law and Spirit of God in their Hearts there is no need for them to be subject to Ordinances of Men nor to be burdened writh ther Traditions 2 Cor. 3. nor to be in Bondage to weak and beggarly Elements in their true Worship of God John 4.24 Col. 2.20 Rom. 8.21 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.9 which is in his Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and such are all led and taught by the Spirit of God and stand fast in the glorious Liberty of the Children of God wherewith Christ hath made them free from the Yoak of Bondage to outward Elements Ordinances and Traditions of Men. And the Children of God who stand in their Liberty are the Babes unto whom the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed which are hid from the Wise and Prudent of the World Mac. 11.25 and these Babes have believed the Record of the Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these Three are One and this is the Record that God hath given unto them Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son and these Babes believe on the Son of God 1 John 5.1 2 to 12. and have in themselves the Record or Witness being One in signification and this is the Witness of God which is greater than the Witness of Men which Witness the Spirit beareth because the Spirit is Truth and so there are Three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree in One witnessing with the Spirits of these Babes who are true Christians that they are the Children of God And these are not dead Witnesses as outward Water is dead but are living Witnesses John 6.63 1 Cor. 15.45 for the living Spirit beareth Witness 2 Cor. 3.6 Tit. 3.5 Jer. 4.14 John 4.10 Isa 4.4 1 John 1.7 which Spirit quickeneth and giveth Life and the living Water beareth Witness which Water washeth the Heart from filth and wickedness which Water Christ giveth to them that are athirst and ask and the Blood which is not dead for the Blood is the Life Dent. 12.23 beareth Witness which Blood cleanseth them that walk in the Light as God is in the Light from all sin And so these Three the Spirit and the Water and the Blood agree in One witnessing or bearing Witness in the Earth to wit the Hearts of true Christians of and unto the inward Baptism of Christ And these Babes being Born not of Corruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. Heb. 4.12 Eph. 6.17 Eph. 6.25 but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword 1 Pet. 2.2 which is the Sword of the Spirit of God by which the true inward Circumcision is made and the true inward Baptism of Christ in the Heart wrought These as now Born Babes desiring the sincere Milk of this Living Word how should their tender Heavenly Father who knoweth all their Needs and Necessities but afford them Nourishment by the same that they may grow thereby And though these Babes at the first be but as unskilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.12 13.14 Col. 2.19 and use as it were Milk and not strong Meat yet as they truly hunger after the Divine Milk of this Word they come to be satisfied therewith and nourished thereby and so they grow and increase with the increase of God till they come to have their senses truly exercised by reason of use to discern both good and evil and then the Apostle calleth them perfect or of full Age as some Translate to whom strong Meat belongeth and so then they know an eating of the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World And Christ said If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and saith he The Bread that I will give is my Flesh John 6.32 33 to 63. which I will give for the Life of the World and he said to the Jews Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last Day for my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him as the Living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me This is the Bread that came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are dead he that eateth this Bread shall live for ever and to them that murmured at these sayings Christ said Doth this offend you What and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And so it is plain Mat. 4.4 that true Christians live by the words that Christ speaketh in their Hearts and Souls and Consciences by his Light and Grace the answering of which in faithful Obedience is as Meat and Drink to their Souls and they know the Law of the Mouth of God to be better unto them John 14.10 Psal 119.72 Mal. 2.7 than Thousands of Gold and Silver And as in Times past under the Law the Priests Lips were to keep Knowledge Col. 2.3 and the People were to seek the Law at his Mouth so the Lips of Christ who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck they keep Knowledge and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and all true Christians inwardly seek the Law at his Mouth and their Souls live by the words that proceed out of it Psal 26.8.9 1 Tim. 6.16 Isa 60.19 and these are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's House who dwelleth in the Light and these drink of the River of his Pleasures for with him is the Fountain of Life and in his Light they see Light and the Lord will be unto them an Everlasting Light and their God their Glory But they that believe not in the Light of Christ in their Hearts but rebel against it and kick against the Pricks and Reproofs of it how should such be satisfied with the fatness of God's House Or how should such know an eating of the Bread that Christ giveth which is his Flesh and Blood and a dwelling in Christ and Christ in them Or how should such know the words that Christ speaketh unto them by his Light Grace and
Prophets Mat. 23.29.30 but Christ pronounced Wo unto them as being guilty of the Blood of the Prophets And if the Command of Christ be taken in the strictest sense John 13.1 to 16. concerning the Bread and Cup yet in perusal of the Writings of the Beloved Disciple of Christ John the Evangelist we find that Christ washing his Disciples Feet enjoined them as strictly to that Ceremony which he performed with more observable Circumstances than that of the Bread and Cup for we read that he rose from Supper laid aside his Garments poured out Water into a Bason and began to wash the Disciples Feet and to wipe them with the Towel wherewith he was girded and coming to Simon Peter Peter said Lord dost thou wash my Feet Jesus answered What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter and when Peter denied to let him wash them Jesus answered If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Then after he had washed their Feet and taken his Garments and was set down again with more words he said unto them If I your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye ought also to wash one anothers Feet for I have given you an Example that ye should do as I have done to you And so may not all that are willing see that this Ceremony last rehearsed either in respect of the time when it was appointed or the Circumstances or the Command enjoining the use of it hath as much or more in it to prove it instituted by Christ to be a perpetual standing Ordinance in his Church as either of the other two Ceremonies to wit of Baptism and of Bread and Wine And yet by those Reformed from the extream grosness of Popery this Ceremony of washing Feet is not at all used in their Assemblies though their Christianity seemeth mostly to depend upon the use of the other two Ceremonies to wit of their Baptism and of Bread and Wine amongst the generality of them that use them So they that use plead for and call Sacraments the Signs or Ceremonies of Baptism and Bread and Wine as by the Command or Institution of Christ or of his Apostles they may with as much or more reason use and plead for the Ceremonies of washing one anothers Feet and of Anointing the Sick with Oyl Jam. 5.14 and call them Sacraments also as the Papists who have more of them do for either of the last mentioned seemeth to be full as positively commanded as being of as much necessity as the other according to the Scriptures of Truth And they that use them in-imitation of the Apostles of Christ they may as well use Circumcision or the outward purifying according to the Jewish Law and abstain from Blood and things strangled and use laying on of Hands but then they should cause others to receive the Holy Spirit by their laying on of Hands as the Apostles did which thing some practice but not with the like effect nor is it so like to be whilst they themselves who lay on Hands do not so much as pretend to be guided by the Holy Spirit of God but mock at the movings of it which sheweth them to have much of the Spirit of the Man of Sin as also they have many of his Signs And as concerning the Primitive Christians using the Ceremony of Bread and Wine so they also used several others for having been accustomed to many Ceremonies and Observations they would not easily be weaned from them all at once and therefore might use some suitable Types which the Apostle for a Season suffered in condescention to their weakness thereby instructing them cocerning the Mystery of Christ and labouring to bring them on by degrees from their Carnal Conceptions and Knowledge of Christ after the Flesh 2 Cor. 5.14 to 17. to know him in the Spirit revealed in them unto them Baptizing them by his Spirit into his one Body of which every Member receiveth daily suitable Nourishment from Christ the Head from whom all the Body by Joints and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God And so when the Apostle of Christ had brought the Colossians to this estate and to know Christ in them the hope of Glory then he labours to bring them quite out of the use of Ordinances and Ceremonies as may be read at large in the first and second Chapters of his Epistle to them and saith he Why are ye subject to Ordinances touch not taste not handle not and saith he to them also Let no Man judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an Holy Day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath Days which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ or in Christ And also when the Galatians came to be Children of God and that God had sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their Hearts Gal. 3.26 Gal. 4.6 9. Gal. 5.1 Paul saith to them Now after ye have known God or rather are known of God how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly Elements whereunto ye desire again to be in Bondage And saith he to them Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the Yoak of Bondage And also the Ephesians Eph. 2.13 14 15. who were sometimes far off and were as Darkness when they were made nigh by the Blood of Christ and Children of the Light and saved by Grace to whom was one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all above all through all and in them all Paul saith Eph. 4.5.6 Christ had broken down the middle Wall of Partition Eph. 5.5 having abolished in his Flesh the Enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances So the use of outward Baptism and eating and drinking in the Assemblies of those who had but newly received the Faith of Christ having their Minds lately turned from Darkness to Light it was to instruct them in condescention to their weakness in the Mystery of Christ the Substance the Spiritual Purifier and the Spiritual Rock and heavenly Bread of Life which they were to come to know an inward and spiritual partaking of and feeding upon and when they came to this state then they were tostand in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free and not to be any longer in Bondage to outward Elements Ceremonies Ordinances or Traditions as is very plain by the Apostles Doctrine for when he wrote against outward Ordinances Elements and Traditions he no where maketh any Exception at all For the Apostle Paul testified That the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink Rom. 14. but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit and that none ought to judge one another concerning Meats or Drink or observation of Days saying Every one of us shall give account of himself to God shewing to the Romans that there is
3. the Doctrine of Devils And they seem to imitate the Jews in taking Tythes now Tythes were given to the Tribe of Levi Numb 18.20 to 38. Deut. 14.22 to 29. Neh. 10.37 38. of which the Priests as Aaron and his Sons c. were and the Priests were to have a Tenth Part of the Tythes and the rest was for the Portion of the other Levites having none other Inheritance and for the Fatherless and Widows and Strangers But now the Priests Challenge the whole Tythes which may be as much as a Sixth Part of the clear Profits all to themselves and would rather have more than let either Levite or Fatherless or Widow have part with them for when a Widow hath her Husband taken from her by Death then presently the Priest or his Tythe-farmer or Servant cometh to threaten the Widow if she be not free to pay for a Mortuary as they call it what Children soever she have to maintain if all her Husbands Goods but amount to 6 l. 6 s. 8 d. though perhaps the Priest's Income amount to an Hundred times so much for one Year And their Mortuaries so called in the very Midnight caused by the prevailing Power of Darkness in the Apostacy and Popery were invented for pay for Prayers for the Dead to bring their Souls out of Purgatory as the Pope and Priests that had terrified poor People with a Dream of Purgatory after Death told and preached to People and that the Soul of the Dead might share in the Stock of Merits that they pretended they had to Sell to them who came with Money to buy And now those Priests that pretend Reformation from Popery and deny to pray for the Dead are not ashamed to Claim Mortuaries the Wages of Prayers for the Dead And Mortuaries and Pigs and other things they have annexed to their Tythes and so now the Priests exceed all the whole Tribe of Levi for Tythes though a Tenth Part of their Tythes given by the Law of Moses sufficed the Jewish Priests who were part of the Tribe of Levi but now under the Gospel Dispensation Christ Jesus Heb. 7. Heb. 8. Heb. 9. Heb. 10. who came of the Tribe of Judah is become the High-Priest for ever who by Offering up himself once for all hath changed the Levitical Priesthood and the Law that gave Tythes and hath established his Law of the New Covenant written in the Heart and his Everlasting Priesthood which is inwardly to be witnessed by true Christians But the Ceremony-preachers imitate the Jews and Heathens nearer in their Swearing and pleading for Swearing upon a Book which is Swearing by a Sign a Jewish or Heathenish Custom and contrary to the Command of Christ and his Apostle And likewise they imitate the Heathens in keeping and using their Names of Days and Months who were Idolaters and adored divers Idols and approprated Seven of them unto the Seven Days of the Week and worshipped each Idol on the appointed Day On the First Day of the Week See Verstiâ—an's Antiquities and Cambden's Brit. the old Saxon Heathens whom Records mention to have been the first that brought in those Names they worshipped the Idol of the Sun which was placed in a Temple and there Sacrificed unto to the Adoration whereof they gave to that Day the Name of Sunday likewise on the Second Day of the Week they worshipped their Idol of the Moon and from thence it retaineth the Name of Monday or Moonday and the Third Day of the Week they Dedicated to the Worship of an Idol called Tuisco and the Fourth for an Idol called Wooden and the Fifth to an Idol called Thor and the Sixth to an Idol called Friga and the Seventh Day of the Week to an Idol called Seator and from thence came the Names of Tuesday Wodensday or Wednesday Thorsday Friday and Saturday so they may see from whence those Names of the Days came And also the Heathens named the Months thus they called the first Month Maron from Mars whom they called the God of Battel and the second Month called they April from a Title of Venus whom they called the Goddess of Love and Beauty and they called the Third Month May from Maia otherwise called Flora who was a Strumpet in Rome and on the first Day of that Month she set up a Pole before her Door to allure her Lovers and thence came the Name of May-pole and they called the Fourth Month June from Juno whom they called the Goddess of Wealth and the fifth and sixth Months they called July and August in Honour to Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar two Roman Emperors and four of the other Months retain their proper Names after the Latines as September October November and December but the Eleventh Month they called January from Janus a King of Italy who for his Wisdom they pictured with two Faces and honoured him as a God and they called the Twelfth Month February from Februnus otherwise called Pluto whom they called the God of Hell and so they may see how their Names of the Months and Days came from the Heathens And in as much as the People of God the Jews under the Law were strictly commanded to make no mention of the Names of other Gods Exod. 23.13 nor let it be heard out of their Months Psal 15.4 and David in obedience thereunto said That he would not take their Names into his Lips therefore Christians being Jews inwardly ought not to use such Names who are under a more glorious Dispensation than the outward Jews were for how can they truly claim the Name of Christians who call the Days and Months that God hath given them wherein they ought to serve him by the Prophane Names of the Heathenish False Gods and Idols And so the Preachers up of Ceremonies and Ordinances of Men may see how they imitate the Jews and Heathens and therefore it is to no purpose for them to use or plead for their Ceremonies as necessary to distinguish them from Jews and Heathens Now as the Man of Sin after the working of Satan cometh with all Power and Signs and lying Wonders and so prevaileth upon People who may profess Christianity by his dark Power to disobey the light of Christ in their Hearts so People come to be by degrees darkned and blinded in their Minds and their Senses come to be so stupified that they more and more depend upon their Teachers though they be as blind and stupid as themselves and after their Doctrines depend upon their Signs and Ceremonies which they receive as Ordinances of Christ but know not neither truly seek to know the Substance Christ Jesus whose Religion they profess but are out of as indeed all are though they may profess the Truth as it is in Jesus who disobey the light and walk not after the Spirit of Christ though they talk never so much of it but walk after the Flesh And because many that pretend Reformation from Popery the Nest of
only by his Light in his Faithful People revealeth the Man of Sin but also with the Spirit of his Mouth will consume and with the Brightness of his Coming will destroy the Man of Sin and his Works these having tasted and experienced something of the Goodness of God to their Souls not only of the Revelation but also of the Destruction of the Man of Sin and his Works in themselves and also having sweet and satisfactory Comfort and Consolation in their Hearts in the Love of God given unto them these cannot with the Times turn as Hypocrites do from one Profession of Religion to another for these are fully satisfied concerning the Way of God which is straight and narrow and not like the Ways of the Man of Sin the Devil the Serpent which are crooked like himself and broad and wide and can hold of all sorts of Professors and too many go in thereat But these being Children of the God of Truth who is Light they love to walk in their Fathers way which is the true Light and so they cannot neither dare they go out of it into the Ways of the Man of Sin and so serve him again in the least for they have had too much of his Tyrannical Servitude before and though his Children love his Ways wherein they have their pain bringing Pleasures yet the Children of God love them not but in the fear of God hate them all and love the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts the Way of God their Father And so it is in vain for Men to offer to force them out of God's Way into their ways for they dare not for fear of offending their Heavenly Father comply in the least to Worship God after any other Way or Manner but as he manifesteth himself in the Light of his Spirit of Truth in their Hearts and Consciences in which only with acceptance he is to be worshipped Neither can they again embrace or come into the Bondage of Corruptible Elements Ceremonies or Traditions of Men Gal. 4.9 Rom. 8.14 to 22. for which there is no warrant from God their Father lest they forfeit their glorious liberty of the Children of God Gal. 5.1 Tim. 2.12 Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 4.12 to 19. Col. 1.23 to 28. whose Spirit beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ And they know that if they suffer with him they shall also be glorified together and they account that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in them And such can truly rejoice that unto them it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake and this was the state of the Primitive Christians And as there is a great difference between the outward husk sign or shew of Religion of the Followers of the Man of Sin who are his Children and the pure spiritual undefiled Worship and Religion of the Followers of Christ who are Children of God so there is as great a difference between the Nature of the true Christians and false and between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil and also between the Persecutor for Religion and the Persecuted for true Religion and so doubtless as great a difference will and must be between their Rewards And so every one Male or Female Rich or Poor High or Low as they tender the Eternal Salvation of their precious Souls are to examine themselves in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus which is the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts whether they Worship God in his Light John 4.20 to 25. Mat. 15.7 8 9. Isa 29.13 14. Acts 17 22 to 31. Col. 2.6 to 23. Mat. 15.2 to 15. and Spirit and Truth in which only his pure spiritual undefiled Worship is acceptably performed Or whether their Worship â—e formal and taught and prescribed by the Traditions Precepts and Commandments of Men and so but a sign or shew of Religion being Will-worship and Voluntary Humility which Christ and his Apostles warned People to beware of For all such Worshippers worship God in vain or worship they know not what and the Reward of Hypocrisie shall be their Portion for they be Blind leading of the Blind and if the Blind lead the Blind both shall fall into the Ditch And likewise it concerneth all truly to examine themselves inwardly in the Light of Christ whether they be Baptized truly with the one Baptism of Christ by his spiritual Water and the Fire and Fan of his Spirit with which he will and is able thorowly to purge his Floor Mat. 3.11.12 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.22 23. even the Hearts Souls and Consciences of true Believers and that only maketh fit to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven And so whether they be Children of the Light and of God who is Light and Born again of the Water and of the Spirit whose witness agreeth in one witnessing with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Born of his Incorruptible Word which liveth and abideth for ever Or whether they have only been Baptized or Sprinkled with Water by a Man and because thereof are taught to believe that then they were made Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven And if they have no better Assurance than such Baptizing or Sprinkling with outward Water then the Light and Spirit of Christ will bear witness in their Hearts that they are not Children of Light nor of God and then whose Children are they And likewise all may examine themselves in and by the true Light in their Hearts whether they be in the true Religion or not That is Whether or no they be true Christians John 6.45 who are all taught of God by the Light Grace and Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Or they be but Pretenders to Christianity having a Profession or Form of Godliness but denying the Life and Power thereof resisting and rebelling against the strivings and movings and teachings of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and embracing and complying with the temptations motions and teachings of the Spirit of Antichrist and the Power of Darkness which is the Devil And such can profess that they know God Tit. 1.15 16. but in Works they deny him which is abominable And every one that doth Truth John 3.18.19 20 21. cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God but every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered and so loving Darkness rather than the Light that is the Condemnation And it is certain that all who love not the Light of Christ Jesus in themselves and believe not in the sufficiency of it are deceived by the deceivableness of
what and the Worship of God is in Fear and Trembling before him and at his Word in the Heart and such are accepted of God and shall be accepted with him and with such he will dwell as the Scriptures largely testifie read John 4.20 to 25. Mich. 6.8 Isa 66.2 5. Ezra 9.4 and 10.3 Jer. 5.21 22. and 33.9 Psal 2.11 Dan. 6.26 And so I durst not but deny all Worships prescribed by the Wisdom of Men and set-up by Men which were not in the Spirit and Truth of God neither durst I embrace the Pleasures or Preferments of the World for I was sensible both of their danger and Vanity and that the Words of Christ were true who said If any man will come after me Luke 9.23 24 25. Luke 14.27 let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me and whosoever doth not bear his Cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple for whosoever will save his Life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his Life for my sake the same shall save it for what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole World and lose himself or be cast away And now I am not of their Perswasion who believe that there is no Salvation nor Freedom from Sin on this side the Grave and that the Souls of true Christians cannot be cleansed from Sin while their Bodies live in this World for that is contrary to the Truth and to the Testimony of the Holy Scriptures and where Sin hath a place in the Heart or Soul of any there the Man of Sin hath a place whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 9. And so much of the Worship of them in whom the Man of Sin ruleth by his Power consisteth in Ceremonies and Signs for he will allow them all Signs of that which is good so that they may be content without the Substance yea even the very Name at least in Profession or Pretence of Christians though he have quite bereaved them of the Nature of true Christians and allow them outward Signs of Baptism also at least whilst uncapable Infants which they may afterwards be told of and taught to believe that they were thereby made Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 8.10 11. although they know nothing experimentally of the one Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Spirit or Ghost and with Fire nor believe in the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in which all true Christians believe who are really Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 13.19 being led and taught by his Light and Spirit and obeying the Word of the Kingdom which is one with the Light and is sown in the Hearts of all Men. And Christ said to the unbelieving Pharisees that The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation or outward Shew neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for saith he behold Luke 17.21 the Kingdom of God is within you And why may it not as well be said now to be within those who are ignorantly seeking it without them For their Teachers teach them to believe that they were made Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven when they were Infants by their outward Baptism and yet they have it to seek and know not where it is to be found but seek it as they are taught and expect it to come with their Observations outward Shews and Signs without them and Pray at least in Words to God saying Thy Kingdom come and yet believe not in the Word of his Kingdom which is sown in their Hearts which is the Light Grace and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which reproveth them for Sin in their Hearts and Consciences And so whilst they disobey the Word of the Kingdom the Light in themselves they are making themselves Strangers to God and his Kingdom through disobedience and so are unlike to be Inheritors of it though they make never so large a Profession of seeking it in their Observations outward Shews and Signs for there it is not to be found much less inherited And John the Baptist who baptized with Water to Repentance we read not that he baptized Infants for what should Infants repent of but he Preached saying Repene ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand So it seemeth the Kingdom of Heaven was near then and to some who came to his Baptism he said O Generation of Vipees who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance or as some translate answerable to amendment of Life for said he the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree Mat. 3. therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fare But do not Infants sprinkled with Water or Baptized as they call it afterward bring forth Fruits rather to be repented of than meet for Repentance So it seemeth they that came to John's Baptism which was with Water to Repentance if they brought not forth Fruits meet for Repentance they were little or no better being to be hewn down and cast into the Fire And where can any read that John's Baptism being outward could make any true Christians Was it not before Christ that John came Baptizing with Water and before there were any called Christians for we read not of that Name given till after the Ascension of Christ and if John's Baptism could not make Christians how should Sprinkling of Infants now or the outward Baptism of any others either It is not like that they that now take upon them to baptize either Infants or others for Money for which none can buy the Gift of God should exceed John who was sent of God Acts 8.20 and did it freely without Money And John was sent to bear witness of the Light that all Men through him might believe that was the true Light John 1.8 9 10. which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World though the World knew it not But the Baptizers Dippers and Sprinklers in our days are far from bearing witness to the true Light for they cry out against it and give it many ridiculous Names John 3.20 and Titles and this is according to the Words of Christ that Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light And what a strange thing doth it seem that any should believe which some suppose that Sprinkling an Infant with a little Water some after one manner and some after another should make it a true Christian For true Christians are Members of Christ and Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven but no Man can make them so for it is only by believing in the Light of Christ and obeying it that a