that are baptised with it are baptised into his death buried with him unto the world its wayes and worships loves and freindships and to all that in them is which would conforme or bow thereto and through this death is the seed of God raised up out of the grave quickned by the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead And all that are Baptised with this Spirit and the old Man dead and buried they are raised a spiritual seed unto God holy and zealous of good works being begotten againe of another nature from above which is but one and all as they are baptized herein grow into one in God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and so the Saints were all baptised by one Spirit into one body out of that nature in which all differences are Sects and opinions and so come to put on Christ which is but one for as many as are baptised unto Christ have put on Christ and his mind and affection and such know a further prize then contentions about Elements of the world or washings without neither do they stand laying againe such foundations as stands in times and seasons and customs and persons as all the world is contending about who are in the many Baptismes and many fashions some contending for sprinkling Infants â—ome for dipping them some for sprinkling them over againe and some for dipping them over againe when they are growne to such a confusion in outward words and many other outward Ceremonies they keepe themselves disputing and jangling about from the letter in an imitation of Johas Ministry calling it the Baptisme of Christ but out of the Spirit and power of Christ or John either yea so farre from the power as not come to the forme of either And this effect this hath taken in all who are gone out into the world in these imitations and imaginations that so many Baptismes so many Religions and Sects and every Sect Master and his followers set themselves against all other in the way they have conceived to be right and to that way must all bow or else no agreement though never so neare in other things nay so zealous they are for their Likenesse that if any come not into it though the Spirit of God be in them and they themselves confesse it yet he must not speake in that creature in their Churches without bowing to their formes of water which are all different one from another though the Spirit of God be but one and cannot be limitted to any visible forme or rudiment And thus the form is set above the power and not the true form neither but as men have conceived from the letter by the Counsels of their own braine some in the Popish Councels some since but none from the Mouth of the Lord and therefore they are scattered in their imaginations and baptismes But who are baptised with the baptisme of the Spirit are baptized into one body But all that are without who are the nearest are in the error not knowing the Scripture nor power of God herein For all who have not their law guide and rule in Spirit are in that generation who have erred and lost the Saints guide and such are scattered with what they from the letter imagine into divisions And this was that which Paul saw getting in amongst the Churches in 1 Cor. 14. 17. his time setting up sects and the persons by whom they were baptised puft up for them and against the other Apostles some of Paul some of Peter c. Which Paul seeing thanks God he had baptized no more of them and plainly saies Christ sent him not to baptize but to Which clearly shows it was not laid on the Apostles as of necessity but as they found it of service or disservice preach the Gospel though he could use it untill he saw them make an Idoll of it thereby to make devisions and parties and to puffe up one above another as it is now used at this day yea farre more for it is now made the key to let in and shut out of that they call a Church yea further some say none can be saved without it but all that have it are belâ—evers and shall be saved and so set it in the place of Christ But others are more moderate who finding it practised in the Letter they say it is an ordinance and they who practise it not deny an ordinance of Christ To such I say all that is in the letter is not ordained there to be taken up by all that read it for the Saints had their call to their particular Ministrations in Spirit and not in Letter for else they had not witnessed differences of administrations but the same Lord But by the Spirit they were led from carnall administrations and through them not sticking in the Letter What letter had Paul to deny Circumcision which the letter said should be as a signe for ever Or by what letter did he deny Baptisme Did he deny an Ordinance of Christ in either of these divers more rudiments which were commands in the letter which he preached practise in Spirit putting an end to the shadow of things to come and leading to the body as is plaine Col. 2. Further I say if it were so that all that was done in the letter was to be taken up then the forme thereof must not be changed if the letter be the rule But not any that I know at this day that are in the forme as the Saints did it for none practised this but who was called out to teach all Nations So you that have your certaine dwelling places and live in your worldly estates and fashions are out of this Call Neither did they take such into the outward washing who had beene there before but baptised such into the name of Christ Jesus with the Spirit that they might receive the holy Ghost But if you say they had it not in right forme and manner nor by persons rightly called and qualified c I say Nor can they have that from you who are not called out of the world but live in its friendship professions fashions and customs in which the Saints never lived after they were called to teach and baptize So you do but add another false forme to that they had before but still out of the power nor any change of faith or qualification onely in that thing of Water over againe differing in some circumstances as you have conceived from the letter but still with the rest of professions in Covetousnesse Pride and Contention vaine words and heathenish customes and manners of the Nations in which you live you that can live in Suites and revenge you that sweare at mens wills and so deny the commands of Christ and his Apostles whosaies Above all things sweare not at all you that can uphold the high places of Popery which yet remaine in the land and such a worship therein as Christ never commanded with tythes and
wicked one who keeps his house in peace till a stronger then he comes And this you shall find recorded through all the Scriptures And all histories of persecution in all ages and at this day and you shall never find that ever any of these could joyn in with the worlds worships but cryed them down their priests their prophets their dayes their times their places their whole worship who was gone out into the world from the Word and spirit for which they was ever envied of them who was therein and such as they had deceived thereby for the world ever loves its own but he that is of God testifies against the world and the deeds thereof that they are evil therefore hated thereby for the truths sake And as the ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the world and the things thereof so they are not carfull for the things of the world but he who is their master is their maintainer whom they preach and so they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel so never any of his sought to the people for meanes nor bear rule by it nor sought for their gain from their quarter nor taught for the fleece preached for hire nor prophesied for money for peices of bread nor handfulls of Corn none of Christ ministers ever lived in parson ages nor lived upon tythes nor ever went to law with their flock for carnall things they were never called masters of their hearers but servants they were never approved by men to whom they was to preach but was sent of God to preach to such as sought him not nor them neither and amongst such they in all things approving themselves to be ministers of God that the ministry be not blamed In much patience in affliction in necessities in distresses in Stripes in prisonments in tumults in labors in watchings in fastings by purenesse by knowledge by longsuffering by kindnesse by the holy Ghost by love unfained by the word of truth by the power of God by the armor of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown yet well known as dying yet live chastned sorrowfull poor having nothing wandering up and down having no certain dwelling place and in this state their reward was that they might keep the Gospel without Charge and yet they was ever hated by such as was approved of men who stirred up such as they preached to for their hire to persecute them that preached freely yet must they not cease but preach freely even against their own wills to such as are so far from hiring them as they would rather devour them then heare them yet will hire and heare them of their own choosings And this must be that the grace of God may apeare to be free and He be found of them that sought him not And this was ever his way who will be taught by none nor shall any chuse for him by whom he shall send nor shall any whom he sends ever want nor take care for ought afore-hand that they may follow their maister and be as their Lord who shall feed many but seek to none for food but what God gives for it is not like that they should feed others with everlasting food who dare not trust God for carnall food for God will not have such as are of his family to take care for food or Raiment nor wherewith to feed others for who hath the word in them in which all fullnesse is need not study what to say nor have a divination to make what to preach like them who have not the word in them but what they steal from another or fetch out of the bottomlesse pit by divination and witchcraft who can have their word in their own times and wills against whom they will and to flatter whom they will who cry peace to such as put into their mouthes else they prepare warr against them who minde earthly things whose God is their belly who talke against pride and live in it against covetousnesse and live in it who preach against sin but cannot cease from sin and such as they are such is their hearers who in words confesse Christ but in works deny him And these are they who for their pride pleasures and carnall ends have changed all the Lords worship from what it was both in matter manner meanes and maintenance and so have scattered the Lords people into sects and opinions Forms Customes and Traditions in every Nation as may best sute their wicked wills for which they pretend decency order and necessity so that not one is found in the way of God nor forme of true worship such as the Scriptures will own without wresting And now the Lord is appeared in the true way as Christ left it with his disciples to gather his own from off all these mountaines where they are scattered all the Idol shepards are gathering against him to battel of all sorts not willing to heare of the living way which is but one in which there is no Rent Sect Error and opinion but Christ in all nay one can scarcely grieve a Town-Teacher worse then to tell him of the Apostles way of preaching their call their spirit their wandrings their wages their word and way of walking in this world and amongst their hearers as is declared in Scripture without a meaning or liberty to change it according to the times Nay though all their parish be beleivers as they call them yet can they not beleive they shall get their wages from them without a law to compell them so that though they have begott a larger faith in their hearers then the Apostles ever taught to wit that though they commit sin while they live yet they may be saved and set free when they dye yet have not they so much faith themselves as to beleive they will pay them their wages without it be forced from them that which none of Christs Ministers ever did either in Law or Gospel so we may not say that these are Ministers of Christ or like them if we will speak truth and take Christs Rule to judge by who saith By their fruits you shall know them Nor should I have spoken thus much of them in this place did they but call themselves the ministers of men made so by them and so upholden and maintained but such as call themselves ministers of Christ and walk so far unlike him and his in all things I say to such as are found in these things Your wayes testifie to your face and before all men that you are no more like the ministers of Christ then they that walked in your steps before you so Search the scriptures and search your hearts with the light of Christ and know your portion and count me not your enemy for telling you the truth how ever I have cleared my conscience in love to your soules though such as are deceived through
have bowed down to the god of this World and his begettings are in all houses and assemblies and the name of the Lord you have polluted before all the world yet will you lean upon the Lord and say The righteousnesse of Christ the righteousnesse of Christ so that you have more dishonoured his Righteousnesse then all that ever were before you and the name of a Christian is become a reproach in all the world because of your unfaithfulnesse to his righteousnesse For this will he plead with you and will take from you the Covering that you may appear and he will bring forth his Righteousnesse to your Confusion and his own shall witnesse him in the Gate and his work shall praise him openly so shall sinners be afraid and fearfulnesse surprize the Hypocrite when God shall own his own righteousnesse and judge the wicked after the works of their hands Concerning the Word THe Word is that which was in the beginning and was the beginning of all visible things and that by which all things were made but it self is invisible which though it be the Upholder of all visible things yet can no visible thing reveal it yet doth it reveal the ground and use and end of all visibles And as without it was nothing made that was made so without it is nothing soen as it was made nor any thing can be guided nor used in its pure place but what ever man medles with not having the Word in him to guide order and sanctifie the same he defiles and it is polluted as to him Nor can this Word be comprehended in Heaven or Earth without this Word can no Scripture be read with profit for it opens the Scriptures and the Scriptures declare of it yet cannot the Scriptures nor all the Writings of the World comprehend it nor declare the depth and extent of it which is beyond all Generations yet is it the Teacher and Guide of his own in all Generations and in all Generations of Saints hath been known in measure more or lesse immediatly though it hath no place in the worlds profession So hearing of a Word but not knowing it they say The Letter is it But who hath the Word hath that which comprehends Death and Hell and the Grave that which binds and chains Satan overcomes the World gives the issues of Life and Light whereby the new Creation is known wherein dwels Righteousnesse and this every one hath so far as he hath the Word abiding in him but so hath not every one that hath the Letter Nor can any mans will change the Word for it is contrary to all mens Wills nor can any mans Wit open or expound this Word which confounds the Wisdome of the Wise and brings the understanding of the Prudent to nought that hides from the Wise and Prudent and reveals to Babes and the Word grows and increases within the Babes but so doth not the Letter and as it grows it sanctifies all that have it but so doth not the Letter and it s as a Fire and a Hammer to all that have it but so is not the Letter It is quick and powerful to the dividing asunder the Joynts and Marrow the Soul and Spirit where ever it is so is not the Letter And the Word is a Reproach to every Carnal Mind even to them especially who profess the Letter Whosoever have the Word with it are washed and cleansed and translated from the World and conformed to God so far as they have it and it reconciles to God all that have it but many have the Letter who know not God but are in the unclean Customes and Fashions and wayes of the World not changed nor reconciled None can keep the Word and his sins both but the Letter without he may for where ever the Word is known the new Creature is witnessed who is created to walk in Righteousnesse and who hath the Word sees all who say they know the Word and walk not in Righteousnesse to be Lyars and do not the Truth and with the Word of Truth are such cast out and judged to be those who dishonour the Word as though it were a polluted thing or could dwell with pollution which is a Fire to burn up all uncleannesse where ever it is and where sinne stands the Word is not known But such reading of the word which came to the Saints in obedience to which they were washed and purified and in which they were begotten again they finding that the Saints had this word but not knowing it they say the Letter is it which doth but declare of it and so their word hath not power in them to overcome the Devil break the bonds of wickedness whereas the word of God is not bound but free sets free all that have it abiding in them which breaks down the seat of sin and raises up and quickens the seed of God which lives in the life of God which through sin death hath passed over and so quickens the mortall body to newness of life So that the old life and the word cannot stand together in one body nor doth the old man who lives in that life know any word but the letter and the life of that he knows not but in the Imaginations searches with the fallen wisdome for that which God hath in his wisdome hid from it and in this is all the darknesse to this the Scriptures are spoken as a Parable and Mystery which in that disobedient wisdome cannot be found out so is the Simplicity deceived with Meanings Addings and Wrestings which are all in that man that cannot enter in whom the Word dwells not nor can any thing such do be accepted because it is not from the Word for all that comes not from the Word by the Word is condemned not to be the Work of God for all that God made he made it by the Word and it was seen in the light to be good which was made with the Word and here all stood in the reconciliation to God but when man went out from the Word then he went out from the good and so with the Light was seen to be in the evil and so was accursed from the same Word against which he had sinned and so long as out of that Word he acts all is accursed being Self and not God that works it And so man being gone out into the world the light of the Gospel is preached to turne man again to know the word that coming to the knowledge thereof in his heart and having his mind stayed thereto in the light he may come to see the power of the word working in Spirit working out the unclean nature and the rebellious will and working in the pure nature in the Cross slaying the carnall man with all his affections and so through death thereof raising up the new man making a new Creation in Christ Jesus with power unto Good works from the eternall word and this God owns when he is
the mover thereof and worker also and the creature only servant therein in the same power And this is not a self taken on performance from the Letter but is in the eternall counsell and strength of God commanded moved and performed in Gods will and time contrary to the will of the flesh whereby the will of all flesh is subdued even all that is come in since the beginning till all be seen in the light to be good and the work of God and so his works praise him from a good understanding of the spirit and power of the Living God And with the living word is the living soul witnessed and the life of Christ made manifest in the mortal body and the creature comes to have fellowship in the life and is transformed thereinto and united in one and this is the word of reconciliation which unites God and the Creature in Spirit which who ever knows needs not go forth for wisdom counsell or strength against all the powers of darkness nor wiles of the enemy but by diligent taking heed to the word which is nigh in the heart from thence finds the issues of life spiritual strength and power against the spiritual wickedness which all who run out for help lye under become servants of Concerning Worship THe worship of the true and living God stands out of mans will and knowledge wisdom or prudence as in the naturall for God is a Spirit and in Spirit he is worshipped not with mens hands nor with bodily exercise further then by the eternall Spirit the body is exercised nor doth it stand in meats and drinks nor divers washings nor carnall ordinances taken on by tradition nor imitation of others but as every Creature is moved by the Spirit of the living God who is that Spirit who will be served with his own alone not with any thing in man which is come in since the fall so the imaginations thinkings and conceavings are shut out all mans ways mans times and formes nationall customes mans decency and orders by men devised and added are all shut out and condemned with that Spirit in which God alone is worshipped and his people taught his worship and the manner of it and the times are in his hand whose the worship is So that before any can rightly worship God they must waite to know his Spirit that leads to know him and his worship and the matter and manner for all who do the same thing as to the outward performance do not worship God because they worship not in Spirit and power of God himselfe So that all who would so worship him as to be accepted you must know the light and in it waite to know what God calls for at your hands for it is not what men appoint you to do or not to do that will acquit you before the Lord for this know that God made man for himselfe and for his service and the living God is not as the dumbe Idolls that people should imagine a way to serve him as may best sute with the fashion and custome of a Nation or people but he that made man hath given him a life from himself to improve in his service and a light hath he given wherewith to see the moving of this Spirit of life which ever moves after the will of God because it is of him and so where it is awakned it ever draws the Creature towards God the mind and will and affections and love of God is in it and who walks in the light sees this But the Creature running before this or without this there comes all the dead works and worships And the ground of all this ariseth out of darkness and disobedience for when the Creature hath beene out in the world and unrighteous wayes thereof doing that which is evill then that in the heart condemns for the evill and neglect of good then the same mind runs to act a worship to get peace when both the evill and the worship is in one nature and so the prayer becomes abomination as the others was for he that regards the iniquity God will not heare his prayers nor accept his worships that 's Cains sacrifice and Esaus prayers but either must your worship be performed in one that never sinned or it cannot be accepted with the pure God So that the way to be well pleasing to the Father is to waite in the light till you see somthing of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus moving in you and then to that joyne in its power to worship and that being of God he cannot forget himselfe and that is done in the name of Christ which is done in his light and power and wisdom and strength and what ever is done in his name is not denyed of the Father and so far as any are in him so far sons and so far accepted in him without whom you can doe nothing nor be respected nor did ever any worship in this nature but they found acceptance and the knowledge thereof and you who know not this to lead and guide you in your worships are worshiping you know not what nor with what and though you say that God works all your works in you and that it is his work and worship you are about yet when it comes upon tryall he will not own it for his which the worker of iniquity hath wrought For the evil worker hath not onely his hand in the deceitfull works of the unrighteous Mammom but in the deceitfull works of Worship too For did he not deceive in worship to hide his wickednesse with pretence of godlinesse and long prayers he could not keepe people in any peace in his wicked wayes so they who joyne to him herein receive the greater damnation for the false worshippers were alwayes greatest enemies to Christ and so to their own souls and woe to him that hides his sin thus So all who desire to worship in truth you must know the truth even the Spirit of truth to lead into all truth which Spirit of truth takes of Christ and testifies of his life and power in the Creature worshiping who believes in the light and such know they are in him and he in them who is true in whom they worship the Father of the truth and so God is served with his own and no further then this is known can any worship God in Spirit which the light doth manifest So you having received a light from Christ in that waite till therein you find the Spirits leading acting and ordering and here the least in the light is in Gods service when on him you are waiting in Spirit and such as abide in the light waiting upon God in the light are kept from serving the Prince of darknesse and having your loynes gire and your light burning you are always ready to know the voyce and answer it with obedience and then you serve God and not men when you have a command from the living God not
taken on by tradition from men for in vaine do all worship whose feare and service towards God is taught by the precepts of men for all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord And they are the Sons of God who are led by the Spirit of God and such harken to the Lord and know his voyce and what they see and heare that they doe and doe not offer the sacrifice of fools But do not you ofter the sacrifice of fooles who have been worshiping all your time and yet have his worship to learne and are but still asking If this be the right worship and have it yet to dispute if not confident in a false way which is much worse and such are you who are fighting and contending for such a manner of worship as Christ never ordained nor his own ever practised as you may see if you compare your nationall worship with the Saints practice which is changed in every particular and that by men and councels under pretence of decency or conformity or somthing that stands in mens will which God never commanded But you may long worship here and call it Gods worship ere he own it by answering you yet was Nebuchad nezzer never more zealous for his Image then you are for this if you had but his power yea them who have found the everlasting way of Christ and an answer from God in it such would you force to bow to your imaginations where you know not God nor his presence with you therein nor can you euer find God in that way which is not his own nor is that his own which generations of men and councels have altered and added to and changed from time to time as may most sute their customes and Countryes so that each Nation hath its different manner of worship but all out of the counsel of God agreed on by Councels of men And all you who are gone out in any thing from Christ the true paterne and example you are gone into the imaginations of men and so are become servants of men and not of God herein For God is pure and so is his way and worship and without his command cannot be changed in the least jot but by him is denyed and is become will-worship and not Gods worship For it is not the name that makes it Gods worship for all pretend to worship God but it is the nature of it which must be in Spirit and will of God contrary to the will of all men and their wisdome wherein men in all ages have performed the idolatrous worship and set up likenesses instead of true worship though being heart-blind did not know it but ever looked upon all to be out of the way but themselves And this is your work who at this day set up an imitation from the letter of what other men have done but have not received your command and power in Spirit from the Lord and to you it will be said Who hath required these things at your hands for all the Saints have their commands in Spirit but yours is in letter and so of another Ministration for the litterall Ministration is don away in the spirituall and all that knows the command in Spirit knows it is life eternall and gives life to fulfill the command and so the worship is spiritual and the heart and the mind and soul is united in it and so being in one there is no idolatry nor likenesses but in one is the command and power life and will and way and worship but all you who have taken on the Saints practice to performe the like but not called commanded and furnished in Spirit you want power and life and so even in the time of your worship your hearts are going out after carnall things and there is the spirituall idolatry for what ever your minds are in that is your God you worship and the pure God ownes no such for its truth in the inward parts he seeks for wherein none of you can worship who knowes not the living word in your hearts to keepe them up to God in your worship and that worship which is not in the will of God is the worshipping of Devills Concerning Error Heresie c. IT is not Error to forsake the opinions of any man whatsoever nor to with draw from the Church of Rome as they call it nor from any who have reformed some things since the time of popery but yet are not come to the true foundation of the Apostles though they call themselves Nationall Churches or Gathered Churches whatsoever But the Error is to erre from the Spirit of God and its teachings and that Church which by its teaching alone is gathered into God out of all the wayes worships sects and opinions of the world Convocations and Councels that are not in God And the Church so gathered into God is the pillar and ground of truth where the Spirit alone is teacher and all that are gone out from this church and Teaching are in the Error where all the Sects and Opinions and false wayes and worships are and their teachers who have erred from the Spirit of Christ and the Saints teacher and theâ—r practice and are gone after their pride covetuouâ—ness and filthy lucre here lyes the Worlds Teachers thoâ—gh they do not know from whence thâ—y are Erred because they never yet came in the right way nay who never yet came so far as Balaam who had the word of the Lord from his ownmouth knew it yet hâ—s heart erred after gifts and honour So these preâ—ch against Balaam but cannot see themselves in the same Error ever since they were promoted to honour and gifts and Maisterships and great Livings by the pope who received his power from the Beast and gave of it to all his Adherents to cause all that dwell on the earth to worship them but such whose names are written in the book of life who have suffered to this day and do suffer because they cannot bow to that power nor worship it nor according to its likness and under pretence of Herefie and Eerror do these alwayes suffer by such who are Erred and with the Spirit of Error do Judge which Spirit hath shed all the innocent blood since Abel to this day though the Error was ever in the persecuter So that there is no Error but who goes from the spirit of Christ and his teachings and all who are gone from that are into Error what ever they pretend And that which leads from that Spirit is the mother of Confusion and vain Janglings and Contention disputeing about the things of God but are gone out into the world where all the deceived ones are AntiChrists and seducing Spirits which deceives the nations with inchantments and witcheries which none can see till to the light of Christ and his Spirit they return which only leads out of all Errors as it is beleived and followed For no Spirit can lead out of Errors but
they come to receive in their hearts onely such come into the good work and will of God For without the Word was nothing made nor without it can any be redeemed For it is the Word of the Lord heard and received that quickens the Dead and raises to Life that which is dead in the trespasses and sins and the Spiritual man being quickned the power of the Word brings forth in him the work of Gods righteousnesse which was from everlasting which in the measure thereof confirms the Creature unto God in righteousnesse who lost the Image in unrighteousnesse and so is the Creature renewed in the Spirit of the mind and inward parts to receive wisdom and power in the hidden man how to escape the evil and resist it and to bring to light what God begets in the heart and so the new Creature is seen created in Christ Jesus unto good works to walk therein as was fore-ordained And as the Believer is found diligent in the light waiting and in the Spirit obedient to this work in this work he comes still more to learn Gods Power and Teaching and Christs obedience and Gods wisdome and care over him in leading into the sufferings and tribulations tryals and temptations and the Faith and Fellowship with Christ therein in which if the creature stand not a hair can fall but he is sure to come out more pure then gold and so in all this work he grows in the knowledge of Christ and his Sonship toward the measure and stature and fulnesse of the perfect man into the likenesse of God And thus the Saints were made conformable to God by his mighty working whereby he wrought powerfully in them after his good pleasure contrary to their fleshly pleasures And what is thus wrought is good because it comes from the Fountain of all good and this is not a new work but the everlasting good work of God manifest to the Creature and through the Creature to the World by which God is glorified who is the Father and Author and Finisher thereof in every one that believes And this is no self-work nor can it be wrought in any but where self is denyed and a Crosse to self taken up so boasting is excluded the Creature having nothing but what he hath received neither by his own Will nor Deed but by believing in the Light and in obedience of Faith And with this Faith and Work are all the world judged who are in their own works and all that are without works whose Faith is dead and to every good work reprobate And whose works are their own their prayers are abomination where the Works come not from this one everlasting Work and Workings For though there be many Works as to the Creatures obedience and measures yet they all compleat but this one work of the Creatures Redemption and Gods praise therein the beginning and end of all And of this work of God is all the world ignorant who are preaching pressing and acting their good works as they call them but all their works do not manifest a Power that brings them out of sinne and the worlds Conformity and service thereof in his ways and worship but every good work of God in his Saints who become obedient to his working as they subject to bring forth the good work and will of God every work begets the Creature nearer to God and into his likenesse and nature and this is the reward of good works to every one who are exercised therein that thereby they are wrought out of the worlds likenesse and conformity and so out of their friendship till all manner of evil they suffer for the name of God that is in them and the nature of his works which is abomination to the Worlds works and the world to them And so their name being cast out as evil among men they are received into the love of the Father of the Work for which they are hated of the world and so the reproach of the world becomes great riches to all who love God and are obedient to his work which none who stands in their own wills can inherit And so self-works and Gods works are manifest in the light The one is that which men see or hear or imagine and so set themselves to imitate the same in their own Wills and Ways which they have conceived in their fallen wisdome and earthly minds not in Spirit new born but in the old letter or tradition from men But Gods works are those which are from everlasting before the Will of Man or the Worlds Customs and therefore must conform to neither but every one who into this Work will come must deny the world and their own Wills and all that is in them must bow and conform to the motion of the Spirit and to its Workings which is seen to such as in the Light dwels and in its way and time must bring forth the fruits of the Spirit in due season not the works of the flesh nor to the flesh but the working of the Spirit to God in the sight of God and the praise of such is not of the world who bring not forth to the World but of God who bring forth to God and the World praises it own Concerning Election and Reprobation THis is that which is Sealed from all the world nor can any know it nor receive it who is in the reprobate state though many be disputing about it in the dark which none know but the children of light So as one who have obtained favour to have this mystery revealed I shall according to permission write a few words as is received in Jesus yet can be received by no mans wisdom nor any who are born after the flesh but who knows what it is to walk in the Spirit shall witness me herein And I deny all of that Spirit who would foolishly Charge God to have concluded the condemnation of some persons before they come into the world and though they seek after God yet they cannot be sayed because God hath purposed the contrary And on the contrary some are concluded to salvation though they live and dye in their sins And this is the Spirit of the world which knowes not the secrets of God revealed in Spirit and therefore judges from the letter from the figures and shadows but knows not the uprightness that lyes in the mystery but being without so he imagins But none knows the purpose of God but who comes to the beginning for in the beginning was the Election and reprobation established by an eternal decree unalterable in the two seeds that after the flesh and that after the Spirit and he that can Judge of these two he knows the two vessels ordained to honour and dishonour and as every one is found in these so is Gods purpose touching them Now in the fall all are in the dishonour and so children of wrath under the curse and â—heirs thereof and so without God or the promise
offerings and all the rest of Popish inventions whereby Christ is denyed comne in the flesh the everlasting Preist and somthing set up instead of his way like unto the Jewish Preisthood which is not it neither but an imagined thing from men of corrupt minds c You who can do these things and much more of that Nature rather then you will suffer the losse of all things you are farre unlike those you would imitate or those they baptised And were baptisme in your manner as great a crosse to you now as it was in the time of the persecuting Jews or as these other weightier things are now we should find few to contend for it as for the other things For did you know the right ends of that ministration of water you would know that it was a forerunner of Christs Kingdom and a witnesse to all men that the Jews Ceremonies and Heathenish prayers and worships wherein they was growne into divisions was to have an end and the spirituall ministration and baptisme was to be set up in the downfall of Carnall Ordinances and Elements of all which they were to repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand even within all that would beleive it who did deny all the Jews worships circumcisions and ordinances without in the letter and preached them and practised them in Spirit but your baptisms which comes not to an end of tythes and offerings and Jewish Ceremonies and Gentiles also that baptisme we deny for herein was the crosse of Christ and the Power of God manifest for they suffered for this all the envy that Jews and professors could do unto them who upheld the same in the letter but denied the power and Spirit which could they but have bowed to their ceremonies outward the crosse of Christ had ceased and then the power of Christ had ceased also and the same is now seene of you at this day and the same crosse For could but those whom Christ hath called out now bow to your severall forms of baptismes and worships of you that be zealous for them and bow to mens wills and worship the persons of such as are zealous for their Pride and wilfulnesse we should not suffer by you but the offence of the crosse would cease as it is ceased to all who preach Baptismes Carnall Ordinances respect of persons conformity to mens wills and the worlds customes and manners who preach up pride swearing and imperfection and sin for terme of life c. I say to you who can conforme to the wayes of men and please them the Crosse of Christ is ceased and so the power also and therefore are you ever preaching against the worlds wayes and wickednesse but never able to lead out of them like those who minded earthly things who were enemies to the Crosse of Christ ever learning and teaching but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth that makes free to those the Crosse and sufferings is ceased and they and the Powers of the Earth are one against such as take up the Crosse to follow Christ in the way of the Spirit and such being without in the letter are become spiritually blind and so cannot see that the appearance of Christ was ever crosse to all who was got into the rudiments pleading for out-sides but had lost the power wherein this generation exceeds having lost both power and forme also And to you I say of all sorts of baptismes as the Apostle said of circumcision We are the baptisme who worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh though we might have confidence in the outward washing being that we have had it from such as gathered it from the letter and yours is no more But this we have learned that it is not baptisme which is outward in the flesh but that is Baptism which is in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God whereby we are baptised by one Spirit into one body and as many as are baptised into Christ are baptised into his death and have put him on and are become new creatures and this is that which availeth to save us not the washing the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus And this baptisme we witnesse that whosoever is therewith baptised shall be saved but for other baptismes which men are contending about from the letter we see the end thereof and what they bring forth But if any should come in the power and Spirit of Johns baptism or if any had a Call from God thereto such we judge not nor gainsay but that any hath power from the letter to take up and impose it upon others yea though it was the true form that I deny or that they who are not sent to baptize that the leaving the outward water and going on to the Spiritual Baptism is a sleighting or contemning of an Ordinance of God that I deny also for this might as well have been charged against Paul who denyed it in his time and preached Baptisme in Spirit in its stead the same thing for which we are accused to deny an Ordinance of Christ whom he hath not sent to dip or sprinkle in water but to preach the Gospel of Light and Life and the Spiritual Baptism of Christ Jesus to the bringing all that receive our testimony into one body by one Spirit not making divisions about carnal things for to us the day is come and the shadows fly away And your Baptisme we judge and the end of it which hath not led you out of Tythes and Offerings Swearing Suing and Contention out of the Worlds Worships Manners and respects of Persons and to suffer the losse of all to witnesse Christ That Baptisme we see to be out of the Faith of Christ Jesus and not worth contending about for he that is in the world without it is as good as he that is in the world with it if not much better for that Baptisme which preaches not repentance to all the ways of faln-man and manners there set up is none of Johns and that which walks in the flesh is none of Christs So with the Light of Christ if you it mind you will see your selves out of the true Baptism both as to Matter Manner and the End who are crying up Ordinances in the World which leads not out of the world and when the world comes to Judgment that Baptism will not save you from the worlds portion But this I say to those who would knew the truth herein as we have received we do not despise any Ordinance of God which he hath called any of his people to in any Generation nor dare we take a Tradition upon us which God hath not required at our hands lest we keep people in that which God is departed out of and it be said to us who hath required it at your hands But God hath
him who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire whose Flesh is the Life of Men and his Light is as a Law that goeth forth whereby man is led to his food and the sons of men sees out of darknesse and this is he who cannot be limitted nor his person restrained in one place who filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence and appeareth at his pleasure to his own though the wise of the world knows him not and therefore limit him above the stars who dwelleth in the bodies of his Saints but as for the Reprobates they know him not so who have put the good day farre from them and hate reproof that they may spend their days in folly and feed themselves with the wind and fill their hearts with carnal delights When the hearts of the Children of Light are established with grace yet these will be disputing about the body of Christ but the body of sinne rules in them whereby they are darkened and become Heart-blind past Ephe. 4. 18 19. feeling the measure of God whose hearts are over-charged with surfeiting and cares of the world and their minds corrupted with Earthly things To such I say Cease your imaginations as to find out what Christ is in that state for he alone reveals himself in Spirit to such as wait in the Light and love that which is pure to such his appearance is as the Sun whose Rising is not by the Will of Man but for his appearing all the World must wait to be refreshed with the Beams of his Glory and to all who are yet in the night shall he appear if you look towards the place of his Rising which is not Lo here Lo there but within you in your Luke 17. 21. hearts and all who are come to the sure Word of Prophesie as to a Light that shines in a dark place to which you do well to take heed til the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts you shall see the Sun arise where the day-starr appeares in your hearts if in the light you wait that shines in the darknesse and you shall feel the vertue and life of him and receive thereof to live in the same with him and you shall see him as he is and know him to be the Sun of Righteousnesse whose arising is with healing in his wings and whose breaking forth is upon all his enemies which over the seed hath raigned whose spirituall weapons are mighty through God to the palling down strongs holds 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 himself and having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled And thus the Saints know the Son with his Light his power and dominion over all things in Heaven and in Earth who rules in righteousnesse in the hearts of his people trampling down Satan under their feet which Son of God Hypocrites call Lord Lord but the Devill they serves and obey and though such have got the words of Lord and Christ and Jesus yet they know not his light his power his kingdom and dominion over sin and the Devill in them to set them free therefrom by his Light and life Nor his blood to wash them from their pollutions and to present them without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And so you have made the name of Christ a reproach among the Nations who call him a redeemer but lives in your sins So as such as professe not the syllables of Christ and Jesus even from a principle of God within them many of them become your Judges as to moderation faithfullnesse and honesty Nay it is manifest amongst you that the name of Jesus which gives the Saints victory over sin you know not Who have it in words and therewith make a cover for your sin your pride Lust and excesse What covetousnesse and all manner of unrighteousnesse is covered over which a profession of the Name of Christ which redeems from those things all that knows him For none knowes Jesus further then they know a Saviour from sin And not a cover for sin and live in it for the promise of the Father is He shall save his people from their sins And the Children of the promise knowes this to be so without a cover or meaning to live in sin And none knowes Christ but who knowes the anointing and such need no man to teach them but as the Anointing teacheth them all things that is true if they abide therein and there is noe lye in it But who sayes they know Christ and are redeemed and commits sin not keeping his commands is a lyer And so abides not in the truth and anointing And so is of the Devil and not of Christ for he that abides in Christ sins not For the Name of Jesus Christ is power over all sin as it is known and the creature baptized into it by faith So all that know Christ know the seed the promise the word of Life the covenant the Heritage the righteousnesse the Kingdom the power the glory which is not of this world and the Father of all which you that commits sin have not seen Neither can any say that Jesus is Lord but by the Spirit so you whose knowledge is without Another Lord ruleth within Concerning the Ministry of Christ THe Ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the World and contrary to the world contrary to their own wills and the wills of all flesh for such have the Word who are begotten of the word and such are begotten contrary to the will of man and through such came the Scriptures which came not by the will of man but by the Spirit and so are of no private interpretation nor are his ministers of any private Call but of himself who hath all creatures in his hand to chuse whom he will to go on his message nor would he ever send by whom the Kings of the earth did chuse nor the powers thereof but such as they called and set up without his Immediate call was ever the great enemies to such as he sent and this is evident in all the Scriptures and in all histories since that when ever the mystery of iniquity had spread over and darknesse had passed over his seed and his people had broken his covenant and lost his word then he in love to his people sent out some Immediately who had his word in them to bear witnesse to the Lord against all their blackslidings and self wayes and formall worships and to such the worlds ministers or rather masters was ever enemies and sought to stirr up the powers of men against them to devour them alwayes under the name of Blasphemers and hereticks destroyers of worship and peace-breakers and enemies to authority when they are but sent of God to testifie against their false worships and to break the peace of the
but could not obtain it And in this state came Nicodemus to Christ but could not enter into the Kingdom in that state nor knew the new Birth though he loved Christ and believed him to be sent of God And this is that state David speaks of when he saith If I regard iniquity God will not hear my prayer And in this state you all are who are worshipping in your carnal minds and sensual wisdome in the flesh But that which is born of the Heavenly is Heavenly Spiritual Eternal and incorruptible which is the state of the New man which of God is begotten of the Divine Nature and as is his Nature so is his Works and so his delights are Spiritual as he is Spiritual for as is the Man so are his Works and as is the Tree so is his Fruit and so he that is born of this Seed is born of God and he that is born of God sins not in whom that Seed remains And all who remain in this Seed and it in them this hath the Promise and Power that puts off the Old Man with his Deeds Lusts and Affections and so the body of sinne being put off through the body of Christ the Redemption is witnessed and as the Creature passeth from the Old to the New so they passe from the Death to the Life for the life is in the new and so the victory is received in the new over sinne the grave and hell which the Worlds Birth talkes of in their fallen Nature but cannot receive the Power and Victory whereby to enter into that Kingdome nor see the glory of it and so takes up their rest and delights in visible things and so encumbers themselves with that the end whereof is destruction which those who are born of the spirit tread upon and cannot set their mindes upon nor bow unto nor be conformable to such vanities And so those who are of the heavenly cannot have communion with the earthly they being contrary minded in all things So that which is wisdom to the one is foolishnesse to the other and ever was So the Spirituall seed could never worship the heathen Gods nor can it bow to their imaginations for that seed which is of God leads the heart upto God and that which is of the earth to earthly things and so those that are the children of God are lead by his spirit of which they are born and the children of this world by the Spirit of this world are Captivated into the worlds wayes and fashions and love of it wherein is the Serpents seate and kingdom in which he rules and wherein his power is seen in all who are disobedient to the light of Christ the new man so being given up because of the blindnesse of their hearts to his power which is alwayes in the dark in such he brings forth his enmity against the babes of God born after the Spirit children of the light of the immortal seed who bear the image of the invisible God and have the Spirituall worship into which they are led and guided with the eternal spirit of which they are born which can no longer stay in any form of worship then God stayes therein but by his Spirit is led to follow him into whatever he goes and out of what ever he departs which those who are born after the flesh and see but the out-side and form and there abides when God is departed such are the seat of Satan become where he sitts and persecutes such as follow the Spirits teaching into its several ministrations And therein hath the serpent beguiled the creature by getting into somewhat of the form once used with the Saints whilst God dwelt therein and to that adds inventions of his own called Decency and Order and the like and with this hath deceived the creatures so as to serve his ends to shed the blood of their bretheren under a pretence of error and blasphemy and denying Ordinances and worships and as being leaders of dangerous Sects and Heresies denying government turning the world upside down and the like So that the childreu of light have been ever numbred amongst transgressors but were never so further then to transgresse the wills of men to observe the will of God yet none of these did ever suffer as well-doers in the worlds accompt but as not worthy to live in the world being born of a principle above the world which the natural man knows not So he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the spirit as it is at this day thinking they do God service because they know not the Father nor the Son but live in darknesse nor owning that whereof the children of light is born so becomes their enemies And this is your state who resist that measure of light that shines in your dark hearts that shews your evil deeds So being against the light of the Spirit you are enimies to all who of that Spirit are born And so farr as you see the ground root of your disobedience to the light in your selves that reproves of sin so farr you may see the ground of your emnity and no farther And untill you joyn to that light you cannot be one with that seed but hate it for that which is born of the will of the flesh is emnity to that which is born of the will of God and that which is born of God is emnity with the world and conformity to it And with the light are you Judged to be of the flesh who love the things of the flesh and minde them and who conform to this world are of it what ever you professe to the contrary the light will find you out which light leads above all these things up to the Father of light which light is one with all who are born of the Spirit but a witnesse against you who are born of the flesh So they that are in the flesh cannot please God that in your conscience is witness the light which is condemnation But who is born of the Spirit with such he is well pleased the testimony of their conscience bearing them witnesse in the sight of God that they are his Children and born of him and their envy and reproch and suffering from the world for testifing against the deeds thereof are as a cloud of witnesses that they are not of it for it loves its own and so the enmity is seene put betweene the seeds that of the Serpent seeks a word or a forme without whereby to murther and destroy the creature that God hath made under a pretence of serving God but the seed of God strikes at the head of that enmity and roote of sin but saves the work of God alive Concerning the Baptism of Christ from that the world so calls IN the world there be many forts and forms of Baptismes but in Christ there is but one and that is that of the Spirit and this is the Baptisme of Christ and all
shewed us a more excellent way The Light is come and therein have we found Christ Jesus the Guide of his people and the Leader of Ages even the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth even into all that God requires the obedience to which is better then Sacrifice And to direct people to this Spirit are we sent that Christ may be all in all who gives power in the Creature to perform in what he leads into that thereby all that believe in the light may learn him who begets the Will and the deed also who is the Author and Finisher of their Faith who look to him alone and to his light that all may see their righteousnesse to be of him alone And by this which we have received of him in Spirit do we all see you who read what the Saints have done by Call from God and from that sets your selves to do the like to be in the Imitation and self-righteousnesse and will-Will-worship both in this and all other things into which you are not led by the Lord and by a Call from him For this I say that the Father hath given his Son for a Leader and Guide to all Ages and into and out of all Forms at his Will and in his way and time in every Generation And therefore it is that all who know his Will herein cannot endure that any visible thing should be set up to limit his leading in Spirit or his people from following in Spirit So no form we deny into which Christ leads in Spirit but all forms we deny that are used by Men to keep people from following the Spirit for those onely are the Children of God Rom. 8. 14. who are led by the Spirit of God to whom they who are led by the 2 Cor. 4. 6. Letter were ever enemies for it is the Spiritual Ministration that gives the knowledge of God and his Glory and Power and not the literall for he that is born after the flesh hath his way in the visibles but he that is born after the Spirit hath his food the world knows not of and therefore becomes his enemy And in that state you are who takes the shadow to oppose the body which should lead to the body which is the end of the shadow And takes the Letter to oppose the Spirit which Coâ— 2. 16 17 20. is given to declare the sufficiency of the Spirits teaching alone and so pervert the Scriptures out of their place and end which are set to testifie of Christ the Life and End to set them in the place of Christ and Joh. 5. 38 39 40. think to have life in them And this is the errour of the Wicked who are gone into the world sensual not having the Spirit And in this state wherein the Spirit leads not both Scriptures and Ordinances and all other the gifts of God are abused wrested out of their places and made unprofitable And therefore you that take up from the Letter cannot bring forth their fruits who were spiritually called into their several Ministrations therefore your Ordinances are left to you desolate you and they in the world together out of which God is leading his people in Spirit to get himself a Name in such a way as is foolishnesse to your wisdome yet the hidden wisdome of God to the Children of Light who have believed therein And you that use great swelling words crying We deny an Ordinance of God To you I say To neglect that which is altered from what God ordained both in Call Manner and End is no neglecting an Ordinance of God 1. God never called any to baptize but first he called them out of the world and their habitations there to follow Christ as into the Wildernesse which were Prophets and Apostles called immediatly 2. They did not baptize Believers over again with water who had had it because they had it not before in their fashion but they went to disciple Unbelievers Neither did they lay it upon all as of absolute necessity but as they saw it useful and could for bear in case it was idolized 3. Their End was to gather all into One out of all the Shaddows and Ceremonies and Fashions of the World to follow Christ alone as he walked bearing his Crosse daily suffering the spoyling of their goods joyfully and their lives unto death rather than to conform to any but him alone for whose sake they were hated of all men which end how your Baptisms answers let your Pride and Pleasures and Conformity to the world in their Fashions Manners and Worships and upholding thereof your Suits and Contentions about carnal things your Rents and Divisions about outward Forms of Baptisms and Worships and upholding that in others which you know is false by Tythes and Offerings whereby Christ is denyed and the Popish Inventions holden up with much such like I say That these things judge you before all men and the light in your Conscience answers thereto untill the Lord appear to judge your unfaithfulnesse herein Concerning the Lords Supper THis is the thing that all the Worlds Professors are contending about and indeed is of great use and profit to the weak Believers who have not yet seen the Lord for bringing them all into one body and bloud mind and heart and soul and spirit But since the Mystery of Iniquity began to work the Worlds Teachers and Professors having lost their in-dwelling in the body of Christ are run out into the Imaginations and are so far from the life of this as that they have lost the Form and the first Institution as as it was by Christ first performed and appointed and therefore are so far from being thereby made one in the blood of Christ that they are shedding one anothers blood about the Form which they are all out of and have lost and the power also For this was done and instituted by Matth. 26. 26. Christ as they sate at meat and did eat and so often as they did eat and drink thereof they were to do it in remembrance of him shewing his Mar. 14. 22 death till he came 1 Cor. 11. 26. And this was that the Apostles received of the Lord and was so practised in the purity of the Church before they ran into confusion which did continue stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship breaking bread and prayer daily breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladnesse and singleness of heart in the fear and favour of God And this was to be done at all Seasons when they eat and Act. 2. 41. to the end drank in their eating and drinking they were to do it to the Lord and therein to have Communion with his Body and his Blood and for that 1 Cor. 10. end were to keep themselves pure from all pollution yea when they 15. to the end were to eat with Gentiles they were to partake of the Table of the Lord as
is plain 1 Cor. 10 therefore they were to keep their Consciences pure from things offered to Idols for they could not partake of the Table of the Lord and eat that which was sacrificed to Devils though in some Cases they might go to a Feast among Unbelievers yet whether they eat or drank they were to do it to the Lord as at his Table and not as at the Table of Gentiles whose feasting is in the Lust and so their meat they sacrifice to Devils and eat not to God and so do all who eat to the lust To keep from which there is no other thing can but to eat in remembrance of Christs death till he come who when he is come he takes the ordering and government of the Creature himself upon his shoulders and so ever keeps them out of the lust in all they do and so is the Creation restored and reconciled to God in Christ Jesus at his appearing till which time the Apostles exhorted to these things and warned of the contrary as Jude who saw some crept in among the Church who did turn the grace of God into lasciviousnesse walking after their own hearts lusts whereby they defile the flesh living in sensuality not having the Spirit to order them they fed themselves without fear and these were spots in their Feasts who being once inlightened and again giving way to the lusts and excesse they became twice dead plucked up by the roots yet had they great swelling words And of such like are many Examples at this day who have had something quickned in them to hope for the appearance of the Lord but fulnesse and excesse having overtaken them for want of eating alwayes in fear and in remembrance of his coming they are become dead again to any hope of his appearance at the present and have put his coming afar off into 1 Cor. 4. 5 6. another world yet are contending about the Shadows or Figures of his coming as they have imagined concerning them But are become reprobate Pil. 4. 5. in the Faith as to his appearance and plucked up by the roots And to avoid this it was the Lord Jesus commanded his Disciples in eating and drinking to shew forth his death till he came and they knowing this from the Lord gave it in example and warning to those who were convinced that in all fear and moderation they might wait for his appearance who at his coming would bring to light the hidden things and manifest the counsels of the heart and all its deceipts and become the Worker in them and then they should have praise of God and these things were transferred to the Apostles in a figure So they exhorted the Believers to whom the Lord was at hand to let their moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand which they knew All who get up into the liberty of the flesh rioting and excesse will put afar off as it is at this day with many who are in Observations outward who have a day to go into the Idols Temple and there to eat Bread and drink Wine in a Self-solemnity once a moneth or three times a year or as they imagine some affirming the Body and Blood of Christ to be in the Creature after Consecration as they call it some saying Nay but it is Spiritual after Consecration Others saying It is still carnall and not changed because of words and one imagines the body of Christ reall in it another not reall but by Faith as they say But in this they all agree that they return back into the pleasures of the flesh and fashions of the world there to eat and drink the rest of Gods Creatures to spend on their lusts and it must needs be so with such as do not discern his body in their eatings who is the body of all Creatures and filleth all things in Heaven and in Earth which they who stick in Observations never knew and with such he is alwayes to come or past But the carnall eye which stickes in the Visibles can never see him present to order the Creation out of the Lust and therefore it is that all the Creatures of God are turned to feed the Lust in that state as is seen in all the Worlds Profession and therefore accursed the more riches the more pride the more fullnesse the more lust in that state where Christ is not discerned present And so their eating is not the Supper of the Lord nor doth he sup with them in the Newbut in the lustfull Spirit become the table of the Devill where the Creatures are Sacrificed to his use so he keeps them in observation of a day from the letter which they think is worship but he bears rule in their whole lives by his Spirit and so much of the Creation as is in their hands is used at his will Aud hence is all lasciviousnesse wantonnesse strife fighting Suites and Violence Sports and Vanities too many here to mention all with the Creation is spent upon given not to that end for which they shall account who are in that state when shall be required his Corn and his Wine his Wooll and his Flax which he hath made for his use and to be ordered by his Son who is the fullnesse and vertue of every Creature which all know who come to his Supper where the Father and the Son are come in and Supp with the Creature which all the imitaters and observers of times are ignorant of whose contention is about out-sides And for the sake of such who are lost in this thing and troubled in minde concerning it what I have received of the Lord that I shall declare unto you which all shall witnesse to who come to pertake thereof as the truth is in Christ Jesus If you intend to supp with the Lord or shew the Lords death till he come let your Eating and Drinking so oft as you do it be in remembrance of him and in his feare that at death you may witnesse to the lust and excesse which is that which slew him since the Foundation of the World And is the great enemy of his appearance and that by which he lies slain in the great City which is called Sodom Egypt For all you that live in pleasure on the Earth and are wanton you that nourish your hearts as in the day of slaughter you have condemned and killed the Just and he doth not resist you and you must know a death to this before you can Supp with the Lord or he with you But if you eat in remembrance of him and so come to dye to that which slue him then do you shew the Lords death till he come and when he comes he shall not find you eating and drinking with the drunken nor beating your fellow-servants And this is known from the Lord in the Eternall to be the true end of the Supper of the Lord instituted and appointed that in the rememberance of his death they might
is done away and they are not under any ministration of Law but under grace and so by their faith make voyd the Law not knowing what they say herein And this is all such know either of Law or Gospel who in their wisdom and prudence read the letter and from thence imagine what is Law and what is Grace not having that spirit by which they were ministred to the Saints and by them received who had the law in their hearts and grace there also and such do know that the one of these doth not make voyd the other but establish the other for the coming of Christ was not to make voyd but to fulfill the Law and he doth not come to put the Law afatre off but to bring it neare that with his light all may see it as it is written in the heart by the living God and he is so farre from destroying or taking away the Law that he declares it in its force and purity saying That one jot or tittle should not passe till it be fulfilled And whereas it was said in the letter Thou shalt not commit adultery saith he Thou shalt not lust In the letter it was said thou shalt not sweare falsely but in the Spirit he saith Swear not at all In the letter Thou shalt not kill but in the Spirit Thou shalt not be angry and whosoever doth any of these things is guilty before God and this is farre from making it voy'd which declares it in its purity so as they who might seeme to be cleare in the letter might be found guilty in the Law of the Spirit that by Christ Jesus who is the end of that Law they may come to see their condemnation and by faith in him become set free not by the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer and carnall Sacrifices Oracle Temple or Altar or Days or Sabbaths without in the letter but by all these in Spirit which are in Christ Jesus ministred to the soule and conscience to wash away sin and purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God which the ministration of the letter and carnall Ordinances could not do And for this cause is the ministration of the letter done away because it could not make perfect the commers thereto as pertaining to the conscience And the Ministration of the Spirit preached in its steed which gives perfect knowledge of sin and perfect redemption from it and from all things from which the Law without could not and the same Spirit doth testifie it perfectly in the conscience which the letter cannot though the letter may shew a man his condemnation yet it cannot give life it can shew the duty but not give power to performe it so the letter kils but the Spirit giveth life And hence it is that all you who read your duty in the letter but want power to performe what you read you set up your imaginations instead of performance and some say the Law is done away and none now shall be condemned by it others say Christ fulfilled it in his own person and to believe what he did sixteene hundred yeares since is all we need to do others say nay but we must do what we can of what the Scriptures commands and he will do the rest with his Father others say that what we do he makes it accepted which the Father as though we did performe all that is required but none in that state knows his commands in Spirit which gives life and power to performe what is commanded in Spirit which none knows who reads what others did but want their Spirit and power to performe the same This was the selfe righteousnesse and is the selfe righteousnesse which is by the letter of the Law taken-on without the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus And here is the weaknesse of the Law taken-on through the flesh but the power of the law to such as receive it in Spirit and life for the Law is fulfilled in Spirit and not in the letter and so in Christ and not in selfe and so by faith and not by works even by the everlasting righteousnesse of God freely given and received by faith and revealed in the creature from faith to faith in every one that beleives and not by works of the Law which the creatures see in the letter and sets themselves a doing who are carnall and sold under sin not quickened by the Spirit of righteousnesse for the letter of the Law gives the knowledge of sinne but the Law in the Spirit gives not only the knowledge of sin he knowledg of God and his righteousnesse in Christ Jesus for fulfilling the Law which is life eternall according to his promise I will write my Law in your hearts and put it in your inward parts and you shall all know me from the greatest to the least so the letter kills but the Spirit giveth life So all you who read the commands in the letter without from thence you may fetch your own Condemnation but from thence can you not fetch power for obedience to justification of life From within is the Life in Spirit and not in the letter And here is change of the Law to that which is Spirituall the Preisthood Spirituall The Temple Spiritual The Altar the Circumcision the offering the blood the Oracle the Anointing the washings and the whole worship which was without and could make nothing perfect is become Spirituall and within which is the better hope being more pure then that without could be and so more perfect even as he is perfect Now the Law was added because of transgression till the promised seed should come of whom it is prophesied in types and figures which seed is Christ the end of the Law to every one that believes without respect of persons and so it is in the spirit A Law hath God written in the heart whereby the transgressor is condemned in his own Conscience and this Law is upon the first Man who is the Transgressor and hath power over that man as long as he lives Judging reproving and condemning And prophesying of one that is to come to fulfill the Law in every one who minds the light And so is as a Scool-master to bring to Christ And till he come to fulfill it who is the end of it there is Condemnation upon the Creature because the pure Law of God is broken And this is testified by the light in the conscience a witnesse against the first Man and his deeds which is contrary to the perfect Law of God And so by that which perfect is he condemned who is imperfect where the Image of God is lost and the seed lyes in death because of trespasses and sins For God did not give a Law to condemne his own work but the work of the Devil And where the transgressor is there is the work of the Devil And the law hath power over that man as long as the transgressor lives
blind zeal and enviy cannot receive it Concerning Free Will. THere is no Will free for God but that which is free from sinne which Will Man lost in the Fall when he let in the Will of the Devil and entred into it wherein Man became in bondage And all that man in that state knows of the free Will is that which moves in him against the Will of the flesh and of the Devil which is seen in the Light of Christ And this is the Will of God whereby he willeth not the death of the sinner And this Will of God is manifest according to the Spirit which is free always moving contrary to the Will of the flesh which is in bondage to the Devil And this Will that is free onely those who abide in the light do feel the moving of it present in the Spirit And as the Spiritual man is quickned by the Word of God and that man born which is not of the flesh nor of the will of it so is that Will seen again in man which is free wherein the Creature is made free from the Will of the flesh which is bondage So the Spiritual man hath the Spiritual Will which is free and that is from above And the Carnal man which is from below his Will keeps in bondage who is contrary to God in all things So the first born hath not the Free-Will for who is born after the flesh thereof is kept in bondage but who is begotten again of the Word from above is free born when he is born who is born of the Spirit for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty but where the Spirit of the World is there is bondage for as is the Man so is his Will So with the light of Christ which shows you the thoughts of the heart if you it diligently mind you may see the two motions of the two Wills each contrary to other the one after the flesh the other after the spirit So whether of these Wills thou art servant to that thou may be said to have and to the other thou art an enemy for no man hath Free-Will further then he is joyned to it though he that is in his own Will may feel the Will of God contrary to him and that Will he is in yet can he not come to it untill he own that which leads him to take up the Cross to his first Will and in the Cross to his own Will is he born who hath the Will of God wherein God worketh to Will and to do of his good pleasure in the Male and in the Female even the plant of God who hath the will of God the mind of God the heart of God as in measure he is formed it the Creature So man hath not free will further then he is free-bor from above of the Seed that sinneth not and the growth in that Seed is mans freedom but while this lies under the Earthly Will and Self thereby it is denied though the Free-will may often move in the Creature to Holiness and be felt in the light of Christ as a Tender of healing yea and would lead to holiness healing were it minded obeyed for that will which is of God onely leads to God by which Will we are sanctified and saved but you that stand in the Will of the flesh resists and so you will not come to me that you may have life for the Will of God which is life is free and freely tendered in Christ Jesus to every Creature and in the light which reproves the evil deeds it is seen but they that resist free grace resist free will for that 's free grace which shews a man his sin and reproves for it which would lead to God and to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and so to live godlily righteously and soberly in this evill world And that 's free Will which wills not that thou should commit sin which Will is that thou should not die So mans destruction is of himself and self-will by which he resists the Will of God but Salvation is of the Will of God which is free and in the measure of God is this freedom found and enjoyed so that in Christ I have free will but in the flesh is bondage therefore the flesh must be denied by all that will own freedom in will or deed for none hath free Will but who in the light of Christ hath learned to deny their own Wills and such knows that in the first man is neither will nor deed that is free from sin nor for God and his Work or Worship for God hath concluded the whole man under sin that the gift of grace might appear to be free that all might glory in the Lord and the whole treasure be found in him to whom every tongue shall confess when the glory of man shall come to an end to his praise who is blessed for evermore FINIS