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A54043 Naked truth, or, Truth nakedly manifesting itself in several particulars for the removing of hinderances out of the way of the simple-hearted, that they may come to true knowledge, life, liberty, peace and joy in the Lord, through the vertue and power of his precious truth, revealed and working in them : given forth by way of question and answer : whereunto are added, some experiences, with some Scriptures very sweet, and necessary to be experienced in the Gospel-state : as also, a few words concerning the true Christ, and a few words in the bowels of tender love and good will to my native country / by a long mourner and traveller after, but as length an happy experiencer of the truth, as it is in Jesus, Isaac Pennington. Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679. 1674 (1674) Wing P1179; ESTC R39811 53,138 126

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spiritual effects in the Mind and that this is it even that which slays the enmity in the mind and crucifies to the World and the affections thereof God forbid said the Apostle that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World Now mark That which is contrary to the World and crucifies to the World that is the Cross The Cross hath its power and nothing else and so there is nothing else to glory in The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Mind here is the Cross The Spirit which is contrary to the flesh which mortifies the flesh through the Obedience whereof the flesh is crucified If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Whatsoever is of and in the Spirit it is contrary to the flesh The light of the Spirit is contrary to the darkness of the flesh The holiness of the Spirit is contrary to the unholiness of the corrupt heart The Life of the Spirit is contrary to the Life or rather death that is in sin The power of the Spirit is contrary to the power that is in Satan and his Kingdom The Wisdom of God is contrary and a foolish thing to the Wisdom of man Yea the new Creature which springs from God's Holy Spirit is contrary and death to the old Now he that comes hither out of his own Wisdom out of his own will out of his own thoughts out of his own reasonings and comes to a discerning of God's Spirit and to the feeling of his begetting of life in his heart and his stirrings and movings in the life which he hath begotten and waits here and receives counsel here he is taught to deny himself and to joyn to and take up that by which Christ daily crosseth and subdueth in him that which is contrary to God And here is the fight of Faith and the good travel under the Cross whereby the holy journey is gone and the enemies which rise up to oppose in the way vanquished and overcome For here is the power revealed the preserving power the leading power the conquering power of him who rideth on conquering and to conquer his spiritual enemies in the hearts of his Children who know his voice and are subiect to him who daily denying themselves and taking up his Cross follow him Wo is to them that are at ease in Sion under any thing that is contrary to God but blessings are upon them whose dwelling is under the Cross and who know no ease but what it allows It will make Truth Life Holiness Righteousness Faith Obedience Meekness Patience Love Separation from Sin Communion with the Lord and all the fruits of the Spirit as natural to them in the renewed state as ever sin was in the corrupt state And in that state they shall be able to say with Paul who once complained of his captivity and that he did what he hated yet after he had known the power of the Cross and was crucified with Christ he could then do nothing against the truth but for the truth Yea then being a conquerer having overcome the enemies which stood in his way he could do all things through Christ that strengthened him The cause of so many complaints and bowings down the head going mourning because of the prevailings of the enemy through temptations sin and corruption is because the Cross of Christ which is the power of God which is his Ordinance against the strength of the enemy is either not known or not taken up And this is the reason that many that make a fair shew for a while yet afterwards come to nothing but are like untimely figs or like corn upon the House-tops which hastily springeth up but soon withereth because they either rightly never learn or keep not to the Cross For that alone hath power from God to bring down and keep down that which is contrary to him So that from under the Cross of Christ there is no witnessing Salvation or preservation from the Lord but out of the limits of the Cross the enemy hath power to recover and bring back under his dominion again And whosoever in his travels leaves the Cross behind him does draw back unto perdition and not travel on in the living faith and newness of Obedience towards the Salvation of the Soul X Concerning the Mystery of Life and the Mystery of the fellowship which is therein God is hid from Man as he lies in his sinful and fallen estate and no Man can find or know him but as he pleaseth to reveal himself by his own blessed Spirit And Christ being God's image there is no knowing or confessing him or right calling him Lord but in and by the same Spirit 1. Cor. 12 3. When he appeared in the days of his flesh flesh and bloud could not reveal him but only the Father And he is the same to day as he was yesterday He is not to be known now but in the same Spirit in his own Grace and Truth in a measure of his own Life The dead cannot know him they only know him who are his Sheep who are quickned and made alive by him And this Life is a Mystery none can understand it but they that partake of it Can a man that is naturally dead know what the Life of nature means No more can a man that is spiritually dead know what the Life of the Spirit means The natural Man may get the words that came from Life and cry up them and speak great words of the same of Wisdom and of her Children but the thing it self is hid from them all O it is a strait gate at which the birth enters at which none else can enter The wise and prudent knowers and searchers after the flesh and of the Scriptures as they can put meanings upon them and comprehend them are shut out in every age but ther 's a babe born of naked Truth born of the pure simplicity admitted by God while men disdain and despise it And the fellowship of the Saints is in the Life and in the Light which is this Mystery The fellowship is not outward but inward All they that meet together in the outward place are not in the fellowship or worship but only they they meet together in the inward Life and Spirit They that worship the Father must worship him in Spirit and Truth Look ther 's the worship there are the worshippers They that are in the Spirit in the Truth They that meet in the Spirit in the Truth they meet together in the one spiritual place as I may call it And so we own no man after the flesh no man according to the appearance but in the righteous judgment of the Spirit those only who are of the Spirit Indeed we are tender where there is the least beginning of the work of God in any
be confined to an outward order of men as the ministry of the law was but whoever hath received the gift so he is to minister as the Lord guides leads and orders him in the use of that gift which he hath bestowed upon him for that end And what if he be an herdsman a fisherman a Tent-maker or the like yet if God hath poured out his spirit upon him and openeth his mouth he hath not only liberty but more even authority from the Lord God almighty to speak in his name either for turning men unto Christ the light and life of men or for building men up in their holy faith in him whose spirit and power was and is the resurrection of the life for evermore XI Concerning trying of Spirits and searching the Heart Quest What is it which searcheth the heart and infallibly tries Spirits Answ Gods Spirit Gods word nigh in the heart and mouth separateth and giveth true discerning and judgment there to all whose ears are circumcised and inclined to it Gods Spirit is the spirit of judgment and where he is given the spirit of judgment is given and he judgeth in his children by the quickning life and sense he bestoweth on them which distinguisheth between life and death between truth and deceit yea between the same words when they come from the dead spirit and when they are spoken in his living power Christ gives his spirit to his sheep which gives them to know his voice to know when life speaks and when words are living and food for the living and in what mouth they are dead and cannot yield living nourishment XII Concerning things necessary to Salvation Quest Whether all things necessary to Salvation be contained in the Scriptures Answ The Scriptures give testimony concerning the one thing necessary to salvation but the thing it self Christ himself the seed it self is not contained in the Scriptures but revealed in the shinings of the true light and so received or rejected inwardly in the heart Behold I stand at the door and knock Blessed are they that hear his voice and believe him knocking and open to him and receive him who gives eternal life and power to become Sons of God to as many as receive him and believe in and give up to the inward revealings of his redeeming arm and power therein To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed They in and to whom this arm is revealed Christ is revealed and they in whom and to whom Christ is revealed know the one thing necessary even him who is life eternal in whom all other necessary things are wrapped up and by whom they are conveyed to the soul according to its need by him who is faithful in all his house and takes care of every sheep which the Father committeth to him XIII Concerning the true Gospel-Church or Society Quest What is the true Gospel-Church or society Answ A company of true believers in the spirit and power of the Lord Jesus Christ A company of true Jews inward Jews Jews in Spirit of the true circumcision whom the Father hath sought out and made true inward worshippers Such as are gathered to the name and gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through him A company of living stones who have received life from him the foundation-stone and met together to wait upon and worship the Father in the life and Spirit which they have received from him This is the holy Church or living assembly of the New-Testament blessed are they that are of it For about this Church is the wall of Salvation and they that are added by Gods spirit and power to this Church and abide in it shall certainly be saved XIV Concerning the way to Salvation Quest Which is the certain and infallible way to Salvation Answ It is a new and living way it is such a way as none but the living can walk in It is an holy way which none but the cleansed the ransomed the redeemed of the Lord can set one step in The way the life and the truth are all one blessed are they that find it and walk in it In plain and express terms It is the Lord Jesus the light of the Lord Jesus the life of the Lord Jesus the Spirit of the Lord Jesus the Truth as it is in him his wisdom his power he himself the covenant or holy limit between God and the Soul He that comes into him comes into the way he that abides in him abides in the way he that walks in him walks in the way He that comes to his light his life his Spirit his truth in the inward parts comes to him he that abides therein abides in him he that walks therein walks in him and he that walks out of the light and leadings of his Spirit let him walk in what form he will yet he walks not in him the way XV. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Quest How doth Christ save the Soul Answ By visiting inwardly knocking inwardly appearing inwardly causing the light of life to shine inwardly and so enlightning and quickning inwardly breaking the strength of the enemy inwardly and bringing out of the region and shadow of darkness inwardly into the region and path of light By the light and power of his spirit he begets a child of light which child of light he brings out of Egypt the dark land out of Sodom the filthy unclean Land out of Babylon the Land and City of confusion where the Spirit of the living God and the holy order of life and his precious government in the heart is not so much as known and brings him into the light where He his Father dwels And this child of light is not of the nature of darkness but light in the Lord and walks in the light as he is in the light and by the further shining and working of the light and life in him he preserves and saves him daily more and more XVI Concerning Regeneration or the New birth Quest What is the Regeneration or the new birth Answ It is an inward change by the spirit and power of the living God into his own nature It is a being begotten of his Spirit born of his Spirit begotten into and born of the very nature of his Spirit That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3. It is not every change of mind which is the right change but only that which God by the very same power wherewith he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the Grave makes in the hearts of those whom he visits who are sensible of receive and are subject to his inward Life Light and Power XVII Concerning true Holiness Quest What is true Holiness Answ That holy nature and those holy actions which arise from the holy root all else are but imitations of holiness not the true holiness The tree must be made good first and then the fruit will be good also There are many likenesses of
are born of the Heavenly Womb who indeed alone can rightly plead for and justifie their Mother in this day of great strife and contention about the Kingdom and right Heir thereof I say having this sense on my heart and these things naturally springing up and opening in me upon this occasion I was drawn in love and in the motion of life thus to give them forth to others hoping that the Lord may thereby open the minds of some towards and confirm the minds of others in the sense and belief of the Truth and the inward manifestation of his Spirit which discovers and strives against the darkness lusts and corruptions in them The Lord give People the sense of the strivings and reproofs of his holy Spirit inwardly in their hearts and joyn their spirits thereto that they may receive Light Life Vertue and Strength from his holy Spirit and thereby witness the overcoming and keeping under the enemy of their souls that they may know what it is to have the seed of the Woman bruise the Serpents head in their own particulars that so the holy Child Jesus may be exalted his Horn exalted in them and he may reign and exercise his Government in them and they may become Kings and Priests to God and reign in him over all that his Power is ordained to break and keep under yea utterly consume and destroy in the hearts of those that submit themselves willingly to him and walk in the Light and Leadings of his holy Spirit Amen NAKED TRUTH OR Truth manifesting it self in several Particulars for the removing of Hinderances c. Given forth by way of Question and Answer I. Concerning understanding the Holy Scriptures truly and aright Quest WHether the Scriptures can be understood aright without the Light of God's holy Spirit shining inwardly in the heart and giving the true understanding of them Answ No not possibly for as the outward eye cannot possibly see without the shining of some outward Light no more can the inward Eye see without the shining of the inward Light God who commanded Light to shine out of darkness causeth the Light of his Spirit to shine in the hearts of People according to his holy pleasure and thereby they come to see God seeth all things in his own Light in the light of his own pure eternal Spirit and in his Light do the Children of Light see Light The things of Gods Kingdom are holy Mysteries and the words which he speaks concerning those holy Mysteries none can understand but as he pleaseth to open and reveal them He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true 1 Joh. 5.20 The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Job 32.8 without which Man is dead and can neither hear nor see nor understand any of the things of God's Kingdom II. Concerning the Illuminating Spirit and Sanctifying Spirit Quest Whether the Illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit be one and the same Spirit or no Because it is affirmed by some and written by one to me as a sound distinction of Divines which distinction he saith he hath a mind I should learn that there is a Spirit of Sanctification and that is peculiar to the Godly and there is a Spirit illuminating and that is oft vouchsafed to the wicked as it was to Balaam Answ The Spirit which illuminateth and the Spirit which sanctifieth is one and the same Spirit and the illumination of the Spirit is in order unto Sanctification The same Light which discovereth the Darkness also chaseth away the Darkness as it is received and subjected to and purifieth the mind for the Light hath not only a property of enlightening but also of cleansing and sanctifying And the reason why Men are not changed justified and sanctified in and by the Light is because they love it not and bring not their hearts and deeds to it and so it is their reprover and condemner and not their Justifier and Sanctifier But the same Spirit Light and Life which Enlighteneth also Sanctifieth and there is not another III. Concerning the holy Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures Quest Whether they be alwayes joyned or some may have the Spirit who have not the Scriptures and some may have the Scriptures who have not the Spirit Answ The holy Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures are not always joyned together for some in the dark corners of the Earth may be visited by the Spirit become sensible of the Spirit and receive the Spirit who never heard of the Scriptures and many may have the Scriptures and yet be very ignorant of and strangers to Gods holy Spirit as the Jews were who had them read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day and yet Christ told them you neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God IV. Concerning the Law of the Lord which is perfect and which converts the Soul Quest What is the Law of the Lord which is perfect and converts the Soul is it the outward Law or Writing in the Letter or the inward Law and Writing in the Spirit Answ No Man is or ever was or ever can be converted to God from the inward Law of Sin and Death but by the inward Law of Life and Righteousness written in his heart And I am sure that Law is perfect The New-Covenant is perfect and the Law thereof perfect the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus perfect which converts the mind to Christ the Righteousness of God and sets it free from the Law of Sin and Death And David was a spiritual Man and knew the inward Covenant and the inward creating of the heart a new and Gods holy and free Spirit and the Law and Testimony thereof I will grant a great deal to the Letter and ministration outward but I must attribute more to the inward or else Gods Light and the holy Experience which he hath given me will condemn me And as the Jew outward had the Law and Testimony and Statutes outward so I am sure the true Jew the Jew inward hath the Law and Testimony and Statutes inward written in his heart by the finger of Gods Spirit yea and the same Spirit put within him to cause him to keep this Law and the holy Testimony Statutes and Judgments of the Lord and the spiritual Jacob and Israel of God in this the day of their Redemption and Salvation from on high do follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes and walk in the Light of the Lord. V. Concerning David's longings exprest in Psal 42. Psal 43. and Psal 119. and other places Quest Were Davids longings more after the Law outward or after the Law and Light of Gods Spirit inward Answ David was a man after Gods own heart a man that knew an inward and clean heart of Gods creating and knew the free Spirit of the Lord and the fresh springing Life thereof and the leadings of the pure living Truth inwardly in his heart and this was it he most especially prized and longed after
Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me and take not they holy spirit from me c. saith he Psal 51.10 11. after his fall shewing what he had been acquainted with before and what he now God having touched his spirit afresh began to long after again And saith he in another place O send out thy Light and thy Truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy Hill and to thy Tabernacles Psa 43.3 O the sweetness of Light within Truth within O the precious leadings and drawings thereof which where once felt upon a fresh and tender remembrance thereof cannot but be longed after again VI. Concerning the Sun or Fountain of Spiritual Light Quest Whether the holy Scriptures or written Testimonies be the Sun or Fountain and the Light within but a ray or stream from them as is affirmed by my Antagonist Answ It is just quite contrary for the holy Men spake the holy words from the inward Light and quickning Life of Gods Spirit within them so that that was the Fountain in them and is so still With thee is the Fountain of Life And he that believeth as the Scriptures have said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he of the Spirit Joh. 7.39 that 's the Fountain The water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life Joh. 4.14 Who esteems honours the Scriptures aright He that believes their Testimony comes to Christ and makes his Spirit Light and Life all or he that sets the Scriptures in the stead of that Word of Life which they came from testifie of and point men to as the fountain and foundation of Life and Salvation to all mankind VII Concerning the Words being a Fire and a Hammer to burn up the Chaff and break the Rocks in pieces Quest Is the Word which is a fire and hammer the Testimonies and Declarations of the holy Scriptures without or the Word nigh in the mouth and heart Answ That which I have felt hammering inwardly that which I have felt burning inwardly unquenchably as the mind has been kept to it has been the Word of Life it self from which the good words and holy testimonies proceed That which does the work in the inward Jew is the inward Ministration of the inward Covenant the appearance of God there He is the consuming Fire he is the Spirit of Judgment and Burning who by his holy flamings inwardly burns up the filth of the daughter of Sion A man may be exercised in the letter all his dayes and yet witness nothing of this inwardly in Truth and Righteousness but he whom the Spirit of Judgment and Burning inwardly comes nigh and whose flesh is kept in that holy furnace it will be consumed there day by day until it be quite wasted and destroyed and so he come to be judged according to the flesh and to live to God in the Spirit VIII Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Quest How doth God write his Law in the heart Answ By his Spirit and Power working there whereby he both creates a new Heart and writes the new Law even the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus in the new Heart The Isles shall wait for his Law Whose Law The Law of the Messiah the Law of Grace which gives dominion the Law of the Anointing the Law of the New-Birth the Law of the Holy Seed His Seed remaineth in him 1 Joh. 3.9 In that Seed is the new Nature and the new Law both What is the Law of Sin what is the Law of Death how is it written in the Heart How doth the enemy write it there but by his corrupt spirit and nature And doth not God by his holy Spirit and Nature write the new Law the Law of Life in the hearts of those that are renewed and made tender to the impressions of his holy quickning Power every motion and drawing whereof is a Law to them who are born of the Spirit and taught of God to eye and walk after the quickning Spirit IX Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Quest What is it which the mind is to be turned to to enlighten it and to work the darkness and corruption out of it Answ It is no less than the Light of God's Spirit nothing else can do it The day-spring must arise from on high in the heart or there will be night for ever there All notions or apprehensions concerning the Light will not do it it is the shining of the Light alone inwardly which is able to expel the darkness there It was not for nothing that Christ came a Light to enlighten men and directed men to follow him the Light that they might not abide in Darkness and that he sent his Apostles with this message that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all and so gave his Apostles wisdom authority and power to turn men from the darkness to the light And if the darkness was within which they were to be turned from surely the light must shine within to discover the darkness and to that light must they be turned And in this light the holy Spirit is received and dwells there but out of this light and the limits thereof in every heart dwells the unclean and dark spirit and hath power and rule there for nothing but the light and strength of Gods Spirit is able to break his Kingdom and dominion inwardly in the heart X Concerning the Ministers and Ministry of the Gospel Quest Who are the ministers and what is the ministry of the Gospel Answer They are the ministers of the Gospel who have received that spirit and power wherein the ministry of the Gospel stands For Christ came in the spirit and power of the Father and he sends his Apostles and Ministers in the same spirit and power that they might be able to beget and reach to that birth which is to be begotten and ministred to It is one thing to be a Minister of the Law and to minister Letter and another thing to be a Minister of the Gospel and to minister Spirit The Apostles were able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and so are all in a degree who succeed them in any measure or proportion of their Ministry For the Ministry of the Gospel is in the Light Spirit and Power of the most High to turn peoples minds to a proportion of the same Light Spirit and Power in themselves and so to come to the manifestation and quickning of the same Life in themselves that so they may walk in the same Light For the Life is the Light and he can never have Light or see Light who comes not first to feel some vertue from the quickning Power O how precious is this ministry blessed be the Lord for his renewing of it in these our days And this ministry is not to
Life filling with Love filling with Virtue feasting the Soul in the presence of the Father O what sweet joy O what fulness of Joy is there then in the heart In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore said the Psalmist Psal 16.11 Surely he had had a taste of the thing he had been in God's presence and that made him cry out Cast me not away from thy presence Psal 51.11 and he had drunk of the river of God's pleasure which is at his right hand which made him speak so sensibly of it Psal 36.8 and 46.4 Christ said to his disciples that because of his going away they should have sorrow but he would see them again and their heart should rejoice and their joy no man should come from them Joh. 16.22 How or when was this fulfilled What were they sorry for Was it not the loss of his outward presence which had been so sweet and comfortable to them How would he come to them again Was it not by the Comforter Was it not by his inward and spiritual presence So that he that was with them should be in them Before they knew Christ with them now they should know Christ in them the Father in them and they in him Immanuel the Gospel-state God with us dwelling with us tabernacling in us living in us walking in us and we living and walking in him When the Apostles came to this state then they came to witness the Joy in the Holy Ghost even the Joy unspeakable and full of glory And hence it is that the Gospel-state is a state of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord even in his glorious living presence and in the glory of his power For in the Gospel-state the true light shines inwardly in the heart the life is manifested and being manifested they that come into the manifestation of it come into the holy union and into the holy fellowship with the Father and Son where the Joy is and where the Joy is full where the power is revealed which does away that which is contrary to the holy fellowship and hinders the holy Joy and rejoicing in the Lord. See 1 John 1.3 4. XXXIV Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility Quest Which is the right Poverty of Spirit and the true Humility Answ That Poverty and Humility of Spirit which springeth from the same root from which the Faith the Love the Peace the Joy and the other heavenly things arise and is of the same nature There is a voluntary Humility and a voluntary Poverty even of Spirit which man casts himself into and forms in himself by his own workings and reasonings This is not the true but the false image or counterfeit of the true But then there is a Poverty which ariseth from God's emptying the Creature from God's stripping the Creature and an Humility which ariseth from a new heart and nature This is of the right kind and is lasting and abides in the midst of the riches and glory of the Kingdom For as Christ was poor in Spirit before his Father and lowly in heart in the midst of all the fulness which he received from him so it is with these who are of the same birth and nature with Christ They are filled with Humility and Cloathed with Humility in the midst of all the Graces and heavenly riches which God fills them and adorns them with Keep in the faith keep in the Truth keep in the Light keep in the Power it excludes boasting in or after the flesh and keeps the Mind in that Humility and Poverty of Spirit which God hath brought and daily further and further brings it into and so the Humility and Poverty remains poor in Spirit for ever humble in Spirit forever nothing before the Lord for ever even as that remains which brought into that frame and keeps in that frame for ever And so the Lord of Life is only exalted and the Creature kept abased before him and low for ever and is nothing but as the Lord pleaseth to fill and make it to be what it is So what I am I am by God's Love by his Grace by his Mercy by his Goodne s by his Power by his Wisdom by his Righteousness b his Holiness which he of his own good pleasure communicateth and causeth to spring in me and filleth and cloatheth me with as seemeth good in his sight The Conclusion There is mention made in the Book of the Revelations in the Ep stles from Christ to the Seven Churches of Asia of a tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God the fruit whereof is good for food and the leaves thereof for the healing of the Nations and of hidden Manna and a white stone and in the stone a new name written which none knoweth but he that receiveth it and of a morning-star to be given and power over the Nations to rule their spirit even as Christ hath received of his Father and of being cloathed in white and his Name confessed before the Father This is the Sheep of my told the child of my Father's begetting who is named by me among the living I know him by his name Joh. 10.3 as also of being a pillar in the Temple of God and of going no more out but bearing the name of God and the name of the City of God the new Jerusalem which cometh down from God out of Heaven and of Christ's new name Oh what is that and of sitting with Christ in his throne This is the generation of spiritual Kings who have a Spiritual Kingdom and a Spiritual Throne even Christ's Kingdom and Christ's Throne the royal Priesthood of God O precious things O rich glory Surely Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor hath it entred into the Heart of men to conceive what these things are Now he that would witness these things he that would know experience and enjoy these things must mind that seed in which they are wrapped up as in a seed and out of which they spring and shoot forth The Kingdom is in the seed the Throne in the seed the Power in the seed He that is united to the seed and abideth in the seed receiveth power from the seed and overcometh shall inherit all things And I will be his God and he shall be my Son Rev. 21.7 But he that will be so must not be fearful or unbelieving of overcoming sin or his souls 〈…〉 must depend upon the Almighty and alsufficient Power of God which will give him vict●ry over sin and keep him that he touch no unclean things that he may be h●ly as the Lord his God is holy and righteous even as the Lord his God is righteous Indeed it becometh the heavenly Children to partake of the Divine Life of the heavenly nature of their Father and be like him And he that partaketh of his nature of his holiness Heb. 12.10 is holy as he is holy and he that from the holy root
of purity and righteousness doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 So it is written without and so it is testified within by him that is born of God in whom the Seed remaineth which overcometh the wicked one bruiseth him and keepeth him under and the just live by the Faith which giveth victory over him A PREFACE TO THE EXPERIENCES IT hath pleased the Lord to unseal and open the Fountain of Life in the midst of his Heritage so that in his Light do they see Light and in his Life do they reap and enjoy Life And the precious Promises are fulfilled in the midst of them of sending the Comforter and pouring out of the Holy Spirit so that he that believeth out of his belly do flow rivers of living water Yea the Lord hath a vineyard of his own planting which he keepeth night and day lest any hurt it and watereth every moment O the streams of Life the streams of Love the streams of Grace the streams of Mercy the streams of Peace the streams of Joy and Consolation which flow from him into the Bosoms of his Children Indeed Grace and Mercy and Peace is multiplyed from God our Father in and through the Lord Jesus Christ daily insomuch as that saying of Christ to his disciples Joh. 14.26 27. is now fulfilled I say not that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you c. the Father in his Love hath brought us to the Son and the Son in the same Love hath brought us back to the Father and now the Love flows from the Father in and through the Son most naturally and abundantly And where the heart is Circumcised and much forgiven there also Love returns back most truly and naturally So that the Lord our God in the Lord Jesus Christ is loved with all the heart and with all the Soul and nothing is thought too good to sacrifice to him nor any thing too much to suffer for him O the pure Love that Springs and Flows between the heavenly Father and the Spiritual Child The best love that is to be found in this world in the Men of this World is not worthy to be a shadow of it God is Love and his Children are of him and partake of and dwell in the same love though the enmity and highest Wisdom of this World know them not nor can know them even as it never could know the Children of the true Wisdom sormerly Now from this Fountain do not only issue Springs and Streams of Life to refresh our own hearts but testimonies concerning the Life which we feel and partake of and concerning our travels from the dark Land through the valley of tears where he who gave us Life was our well towards our resting place These many times Spring up in us for the sakes of others of which nature are the things which follow For not for my own sake did they Spring up in me at this time but to signify to others of the Mercy the Lord hath shewn me and the way wherein he hath led me and what he hath given me to taste of an experience in the way which will answer every true paalate every palate that is seasoned with life and with the true experience And having received them from the Lord for this very end to hold them forth to others in Love and tenderness of Spirit my heart is freely given up to him therein not aiming at any thing thereby but his glory singly and the good of such Souls to whom he shall please to extend favour and shew Mercy in opening the heavenly Mistery of Life and Salvation to them I have often said in my heart Who hath begotten me these Who would have said that Sarah should have given Children Suck My wound was deep and seemed incurable But blessed be the Lord who hath made known to me the Phisitian of value for whom no disease is too hard but he is able to cure sickness and to relieve and rescue all that are captived and oppressed by the Devil that come unto him and wait upon him in the way of his righteous judgments and most tender Mercies For after all my Religion and deep exercises and inward experiences and knowledg I came to such a less of what I once had that I sensibly felt I knew not the Lord and lay continually groaning and Mourning after him and deeply afflicted for want of him O the pure Light and precious Life and sweet presence of my God that my Soul wanted insomuch that my moisture was turned into the drought of summer and my bones grown dry and withered But at length the Lord in his goodness O blessed for ever be his name breathed upon the dry bones and I felt Life enter from him into me and the days of deep sorrow and distress were at length forgotten because a man-child was at length conceived and brought forth And now wher 's the Sack-Cloth Wher 's the Ashes Oh ther 's beauty in Life instead of the Ashes in the state without Life and the garment of praise instead of the Spirit of heaviness O Glory Glory to the binder up of the bruised and broken-hearted to the redemer of the captives to the repairer of the breaches to the builder up of the wasted and des la●e ones Glory to his tender Mercy Glory to his Grace Glory to his Love Glory to his Wisdom Glory to his Power for ever and ever Amen Some Experiences added I. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom COncerning the Seed of the Kingdom this I have experienced that it consists not in words or notions of the Mind but is an inward thing an inward spiritual substance in the heart as real inwardly in its kind as other Seeds are outwardly in their kind and that being received by faith and taking root in man his heart his earth being ploughed up and prepared for it it groweth up inwardly and bringeth forth fruit inwardly as truly and really as any outward Seed doth outwardly This Seed is known by its contrariety and enmity against the Seed of the Serpent against all the Seeds of evil in the heart of Men it discovering them turning the mind from them and warning against them and bruising and overcoming them in all that receive it and let in its holy nature which as an holy leaven or salt worketh out that which is unholy and unrighteous dark and dead and seasoneth with Light with Life with Grace with the Holiness and Righteousness of truth II. Concerning the Souls Food The Souls Food is that which nourisheth it which is the same with that which giveth it Life Every word proceeding out of the mouth of God every motion every quickning every operation of his Spirit is living and nourisheth the Soul with Life which receiveth it and feedeth on it The spiritual Manna the spiritual water from the holy Well or Fountain the Milk of the word the flesh and bloud of the Son of the
or very God and Eternal Life What are all notions about God and about his Son Christ Jesus to this inward sense and experience of them God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2. Cor. 4.6 O how precious is it to be able to witness this in measure to experience God shining upon my tabernacle as Job speaks Job 29.2 3 and by his Light my walking through darkness It is true Christ was the Light he had the fulness of Light and the Apostles a very great proportion but blessed be the Lord I have received some and am changed by it and become light in the Lord and walk with God and dwell with God in the light even as he is Light and dwels and walks in the Light Is not this a blessed testimony and is not he blessed who can set his seal to it Which veil is done away in Christ 1 Cor. 3.14 It was promised of old that in the mountain where God would make the Feast of fat things he would destroy swallow up or do away the veil or that which veils the Life and Glory of the Lord from man and hinders it from being revealed in him Isa 25.6.7 Now in Christ there is no veil In his Light Life Spirit and Power there is no veil Where they are inwardly manifested and received the veil is done away and the glory of the mystery revealed and beheld If ye continue in my Word then are ye my disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free Joh. 8.31 32. What is this word which the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are to continue in Is it any less than Spirit and life And wh t is it to be a disciple indeed but to learn the Law of Life at his mouth and to continue therein And what is the truth which makes free Is it not the living truth the word which lives and abides for ever the powerful truth the operative truth This cuts between a man and his lovers this divides between Soul and Spirit Joints and marrow and makes the Soul free from that evil Spirit which had embondaged it It Sanctifieth it cleanseth it reneweth it quickneth it giveth strength it maketh free from the Souls enemies from the bondage of sin and corruption and brings into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And they that are made free from sin by that which is contrary to ●n and which subdues overcomes and destroys sin they doubtless are free indeed O precious is it to experience this even the truth that is free from sin and makes free from sin all that truly know it and are joyned to it and live and abide in it For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 What 's the Law What 's the ministration of the Law Is it not the ministration of the letter of that which is holy and righteous by an outward or litteral Command What 's Grace Is it not the inward teacher which inwardly instructeth to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godlily c. Is it not the ministration of the Spirit and Power Is it not the ministration of the new Covenant where the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is written in the heart and the commandement of Life made easy by the power of the Lord Jesus who manifests himself within to mak● willing unto and to strengthen to obedience Now they that are under this Grace under this Spirit under this Power doth it not break the power and dominion of sin in them and set them free therefrom Can sin break in upon those who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty Indeed a man may be under a literal dispensation of holy Commands against sin and yet be under the power of Sin but he that is gathered under the wing of Christ under the Grace and Spirit of the Gospel turned from Satans power to God's Power and within the Wall and Bulwark thereof he witnesseth this true Sin hath not Dominion Sin cannot have Dominion Sin shall not have Dominion over you no device of the enemy shall be able to hurt or destroy on Gods holy Mountain for his Light shines there to dispel the darkness and his power is revealed there to scatter and dash in pieces the strength of the enemy whenever it appears Vpon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 O the Lord God by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel in the day thereof is bringing many Sons to Glory into Great Inward Spiritual Glory yea into exceeding Glory For the ministration of the Spirit exceeds in glory And as God hath ordained this glorious ministration for his Sons and daughters under the New Covenant so by the Spirit and Power of the New Covenant when it breaks forth he is daily working translating and changing them out of the earthly nature and image into his own divine nature into his own heavenly Glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And blessed be the Lord the defence of his power is spread over the glory of his holy Mountain so that nothing can make a prey of or devour the birth of life or deprive of the inheritance of Life there The Lord doth not only give a blessed lot and lines in pleasant places but he maintains the lot of his Children so that they can dwell in their Fathers House and feed on the Heavenly Food and rich dainties of the Kingdom in the majesty of the name of the Lord their God which is such a dread unto the enemies and such a defence about them as none can make afraid but they are kept in perfect Peace in perfect rest in pure Love out of which Life springs and flows continually And in that day thou shalt say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and Song he also is become my Salvation Therefore with Joy shall ye draw water out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.1 2 3. O precious to witness the inward Spiritual day of redemption and deliverance wherein praises from a living sense naturally spring up to the Lord To witness the reproofs at an end the anger indignation trouble and sorrow at an end and the comforter come ministring Peace Joy and Comfort to the Soul Ah when the Lord is felt the Salvation his pesence his Power his Life his Vertue the Salvation when Faith springs towards him and the fear of the enemy or concerning the enemy is banished when he is experienced to be the Soul 's daily strength against him yea and doth so deliver that instead of the former fear because of the fury and oppression of the