long as he liveth unto Christ which was before the Law and before there was any Occasion for the Law who alone is able to Justifie the Righteous and condemn the Wicked whose Wayes are all Equal Just and Righteous never condemning the Just nor justifying the Wicked and it may be truly said of this Titular Christian as Christ said to the Covetous Pharisees who derided him ☞ Ye are they which JVSTIFIE YOVR SELVES before Men but God knoweth your Hearts Luke 16.15 for that which is highly esteem'd amongst Men is Abomination in the Sight of God And now the same Spirit that then derided Christ and set him at Naught and that then ruled in the Hearts of Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites and Impenitent hard-hearted Jews in this Part of the World called Christendom ☞ is now turned Professor of him in Words and teaches him in whom it rules to talk of Salvation and Justification by him though at the same Time that Spirit lives and rules in his Heart to which God looks and which he knoweth that denyeth ☞ despiseth betrayeth and crucifieth him even while he pretends to worship him as the Jews did who smâ—te him on the Head Mark 15.19 and spit upon him and mocked him and at the same Time bow'd their Knees and worshipped him and as Judas did who said Hail Master and Kissed him Mat. 26.49 and at the same Time betrayed him the Nominal or Titular Christian is guilty of the same Thing he living in that and daily committing that which ever was the Cause and Occasion of all his Sufferings viz. Sin Therefore is he many Times convicted ☞ reproved judged and condemned in his Heart by God's Spirit that searcheth it even while his Tongue talks of Justification Now to this Spirit of God which searcheth his Heart and tryeth his Reins and the innermost Parts of the Belly is this Titular Christian counsel'd to take heed and to hear its Judgment concerning him and with his whole Heart receive the same and by it judge all the Flatteries vain Conceits Notions Imaginations and Dreams by which he hath been led and deceived through the Subtilty of that grand Enemy the Devil and Satan who will suffer his Servants Children Slaves ☞ to turn Professors of Christianity be Christians in Name and to talk of the Gospel while he keeps Possession of the Heart Let the Titular Christian confider these Things before it be too late IX The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper THE True Christian believes and lives under the two great Ordinances of Christ Baptism and the Supper of the Lord in the Mystery and he can give an experimental Account how he come to live in the Enjoyment of these Ordinances even how he passed through the Work of Regeneration Mortification and self Denyal Sanctification and Justification before he come to be a true Subject and Partaker of these Ordinances he can tell how the Old Man with his Deeds were put off and the New Man put on Gal. 3.27 for he that is baptized into Christ hath put on Christ ☞ not only professed him while the Old Man was alive but baptized with the same Baptism he was baptized with in a Measure even with the Holy Ghost and Fire which is inward and spiritual and washeth cleanseth and purifieth inwardly and Spiritually which all the outside Washing and Baptisms were but a Type of and by this Baptism the True Christian is not only washed and made clean but kept and preserved by the same clean and pure prepared and made fit to put on the Wedding-Garment and to sit at the Table of the Lord and partake of the Feast of Fat Things and drink of the Wine that he hath prepared which is the Blood of the New Testament which is Drink indeed and he eats the Flesh of the Son of Man John 6 5â— which is Meat indeed and this is the Supper of the Lord and he eats and drinks worthily discerning the Lord's Body having heard his Voice and opened the Door at which he once stood knocking and he is now come in unto him according to his faithful Promise Rev. 3.20 and suppeth with him and he with him here is the Fruit of the Vine drank new in the Kingdom of God Mark 14.25 Luke 14.15 and here is the blessed Man that eateth Bread in the Kingdom of God and sitteth down therein being cloathed with his Wedding-Garment of fine Linnen and adorned as a Bride for her Husband and enjoying the efficacious Vertue of him which is Everlasting Life and Salvation hungring and thirsting no more after the forbidden Fruit nor after the Wine of Sodom because he hath the same Mind which was in Christ Jesus who never hunger'd nor thirsted after those Things ☞ though tempted yet never transgressed but overcame the Devil in all his Temptations This is the State and Glory of the True Christian this Honour have all the Saints who come to be established in the Mind of Christ and this Honour they had in former Ages born witness of and testifyed in the Holy Scriptures and is in Store and laid up for all that love his Appearance and come unto God by him The Titular Christian he saith he owns Christ's Ordinances and professeth himself a Subject of the Baptism of Christ and a Guess at the Lord's Table but his Profession must be examined tryed and searched for as in other Things so in this he must not be so because he professeth it this were to judge according to Appearance and so not Righteous Judgment his Account that he gives to prove that he is so is as followeth First as to Baptism he hath received the Administration of it by Water after one Fashion or other either when he was a Child he had Water sprinkled upon his Face by the Hand of a sinful Priest or plunged all over it may be accompanied with other Ceremonies as Spittle Cream Salt Oyl and the Sign of the Cross c. or otherwise when he grew up to Years of Discretion able to receive the Traditions of his Fore Fathers and to read the Holy Scriptures therein he finds that divers were baptiz'd in Water after they did believe in John's Ministry who was the peculiar Minister of it was a burning and a shining Light in his Day as the Voice of one crying in the Wilderness Prepare the Way of the Lord and that Jesus himself was baptized therewith and that many others were baptized not only by John but also by the Disciples and Apostles of Jesus Now this Reader it may be in the Tenderness and Simplicity of his Spirit the Vail being over his Heart when he reads is ready to conclude Surely this is an Ordinance of Christ this is Christ's Baptism if I will be his Disciple I must be a Subject of it if I would be counted a Believer I must also be baptized with Water or else I
a being led by the Spirit in the Way of Holiness and so cannot fulfil the Lust of the Flesh but by the same doth mortifie them and gain Victory over them and is sanctified and cleansed from them and is taught by the Spirit the true Knowledge of God how to worship him aright in Spirit Truth and so prayes in the Spirit and with the Understanding and sings in the Spirit and praiseth God in the Spirit and the Law of the Spirit is in his Heart and this Law of the Spirit of Life makes him free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit of God which raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in him and quickneth his Mortal Body And this True Christian is the Spiritual Man which discerneth all Things but is not discerned by another out of the same Spirit which searcheth all Things yea the deep Things of God and he is led by the Spirit from under the Law and through the Law to him which was before the Law and so is under Grace and brings forth the Fruits thereof which is Love Peace Joy Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against this Christian there is no Law The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Holy Spirit c. But how doth he demonstrate his Faith and Belief he is ready to make a Mock of receiving the Spirit and being led by the Spirit mov'd taught by the Spirit this seems strange Doctrine to him that he should know his Lusts mortified by the Spirit and that he should walk in the Spirit and be sanctified by the Spirit from all Sin and Uncleaness and that he should attend the Motion and Guidance of the Spirit and in all his Conversation to do nothing but what will stand justified by this Holy Spirit and that he should pray in the Spirit and sing with the Spirit and worship in the Spirit c. These are new Doctrines to the Titular Christian he knows not what to make of them except it be to brand them with despicable Names And the Law of the Spirit of Life which should free him from the Law of Sin and Death he is a Stranger to and wholy ignorant of the Indwelling of that Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead to quicken his mortal Body this he counts Fanatick Doctrine c. And instead of being a spiritual Man which discerneth all Things he is Carnal and seeth not far off the Vail being over his Heart cannot see nor regard the Glory of God when it appeareth in the Inward Temple but opposeth slighteth the Appearance of that Holy Spirit which searcheth his Heart and all Things and so is not led by it from under the Law which Law was added because of Transgression and this Titular Christian which liveth in the Nature and Act of Transgression and that knows not the Cursed Ground removed which bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns from whence all Evil Thoughts Words and Works proceed and is a Stranger to the Mortification of them by the Spirit he is under the Law and liable to the Punishment thereof and not under Grace let him profess what he will if he brings not forth the Fruit of the Spirit in his Life and Conversation he clearly sheweth he doth not believe in it nor walk in it neither hath received it nor come to any true Knowledge of it by its Work and Operation in his Heart he only talks of it with his Tongue as some Book or Body hath told him this is the Property and State of a Titular Christian IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Scriptures THE True Christian truly honoureth the Holy Scriptures in their Places and believeth and receiveth their Testimony and is a living Witness of the Truth thereof and he domonstrateth it as followeth By believing receiving and obeying him viz. Christ Jesus of whom they testifie whereby he receives Power to order his Conversation according to them and the True Christian believeth that they were spoaken and written by the Motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God in Holy Men Prophets and Apostles and that it is his Duty to Wait upon God to receive the Spirit of Grace and Glory and the Gifts thereof of whom they testifie that thereby be may be enabled to read them with Understanding and to receive the Comfort of them and to be made wise through Faith in Christ unto Salvation by them And this Christian knows rightwell That all the Vniversity or Acad miâ—al Learning in the World is not able to give the true Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit in the holy Scriptures they are as a seal'd Book to all the Wit Reason Comprehension and Acquired Parts of all Mankind in the Fall Learned and Unlearned And until man comes to receive regard and improve the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal as the Scriptures witness he is wholy ignorant and a Stranger to the Key of true Knowledge and the Treasures of Life and Wisdom are hid from him and secured as with seven Seals and the Cherubimâ— with a Flaming Sword that turns every Way and guards the Tree of Life with the Fruits thereof from the faln Wisdom of Man And this the True Christian knows by Experience having tryed what the Wisdom of this World in all its Perfection can do and hath seen it confounded and brought to nought in himself being discovered to be no part of the Key of true everlasting Knowledge but rather that which hides it makes the Vail the thicker and shuts the Door of the Kingdom the faster and those that abound in it neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and this the Holy Scriptures testifie The Titular Christian he saith He honoureth the Scriptures and believeth the Testimony of them c. But how doth he demonstrate his Honour to them and Belief of them Doth he order his Conversation according to them They exhort To abstain from every Appearance of Evil and from every fleshly Lust which wars against the Soul and to put on the whole Armour of God and thereby resist the Devil and make him flee The Titular Christian doth not obey this Exhortation neither doth he believe that it 's possible that any should obey it on this side the Grave So while he pretends to honour them he gives them the Lye for what 's more ridiculous and unreasonablethen to profess a Belief that the Spirit of God in Holy Men hath left Holy Precepts and Exhortations upon Record in the Scriptures which are unpossible to be obeyed Yet this is the Language of the Titular Christian who honoureth them with his Lips and cryes them up with his Tongue but in Works denyes them Sometimes he will give them more Titles of Honour then to them is due as when he calls them The Word of God The Touch-stone and Tryer of all Spirits The Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice so in his
Old Serpent in the Hearts of Men. THe True Christian is endued with a Heavenly Spirit of Discerning by which he seeth to the Beginning before Sin enter'd the World and by it perceiveth how it entered and how it hath grown and encreased and filled the Earth with Violence and how that Old Serpent which at first was fain to use great Subtilty and Lyes and make great Promises before he could prevail against Eve is now grown so Power ful a Prince in his Kingdom of Darkness in the Hearts of the Children of Men in whom he rules that he no sooner moves in their Hearts ☞ but they follow him no sooner commands but they obey he needs not use his Subtilty and Cunning to betray allure and perswade nor make great Promises before he can win to his Obedience many being grown such Natural Children of him and such born Slaves in his Kingdom that now in these dayes his Commands are sufficient to Thousands and Ten Thousands and his very Motions to Evil have gain'd such a Powerful Name in the World even among the Titular Christians that they count them too Mighty to be withstood too Powerful to vanquish too Strong to war with overcome and conquer in all his Motions Commands and Temptations while on this side the Grave hereby People are become Home-bred Slaves and have sold themselves for nought having let in that accursed Faith that hath sprung up in the Apostacy from the True Faith that they can never resist all the Motions of the Devil nor disobey all his Commands ☞ nor be delivered from all his Temptations till the Death of their Natural Bodies which is then too late for As the Tree falls so it lies c. Now the Titular Christian will readily acknowledge and confess that the Motions of the Devil are strong powerful and present with him and in him and that thereby he is stirred up to Evil But he doth not believe that the Spirit of God is so nigh him and present with him moving in him against the Motions of the Evil One nor that there is sufficient Power from God given to him to preserve him from obeying the Motions and Temptations of the World Flesh and the Devil and to move him to that which is Good and enable him to do it Also he hath no Faith in this Gift of God but rather counts it Delusion and the Property of a Phanatick to profess the Knowledge of the Spirit of God moving in them to speak and write good Words and do good Works this Professors and Prophane Learned and Unlearned make a Mock at concluding this Operation of the Spirit is not in use nor to be known in these dayes nor to be expected in these latter Ages of the World as if God had left the World of Mankind to be guided wholely by the Motions of the Devil as if there was no Law or Power in the Mind able and sufficient to war against the Law and Power that is in the Members and overcome it Thus to believe is the Faith of Devils and not the Faith of God's Elect For the True Christian in this Age as in former Ages is a living Witness of the Moving of the Spirit of God to every good Word and Work as the Holy Men and Christians in former Ages did who speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and as they were led and guided by the Spirit as is testified in the Holy Scriptures though made a Mock of in this Day And this Spirit of God accompanied the Righteous in all Ages and always moved led and guided them into the Way of Peace and as they obeyed it and abode with it Acts 7.9 they were preserved by it therein though in the midst of their Enemies This preserved Joseph when the Patriarchs moved with Envy sold him into Aegypt and out of the Temptations he met with there and the same Spirit of Envy that moved the Patriarchs to sell Joseph moved Cain to kill Abel and moved Esau to hate his Brother and the Israelites to envy Moses and Aaron and the Jews to persecute the Prophets Christ and the Apostles And the Unbelieving Vagabond Jews were moved by this Spirit of Envy Acts 17.5 to make a Tumult against Paul and Silas and to assault the House of Jason and to draw him and the Brethren to the Rulers with false Accusations the Spirit of Envy is the same at this Day and his Motions are the same and all that obey them are found in the same Work And the Motions of the Holy Spirit are also the same and all that obey them bring forth the Fruits thereof and they are both manifested by their Fruits the one moves to Good the other to Evil the one to Love and Good-will the other to Envy and Hatred ☞ the one to Patience and Long-suffering the other to Anger Rage and Persecution the one moves to Meekness Gentleness Lowly-mindedness the other to Hardness Roughness Exaltedness and High-mindedness So by the Fruits and Effects are the Motions of the Spirit of God known and distinguished from the Motions of the Devil the Prince in Darkness And whosoever do or shall profess to speak or write Words or do Works Many whom the old Serpent could not move nor draw into Carnal Wickednesses have been captivated with Spiritual Wiskednesses in High Places and have been deceived so far as to call High Thoughts and Imaginations Motions of the Spirit of God and these have been exalted above all that is called God being joyned to the Son of Perdition who usurps the Throne of God and hath been and is worshipped as God or do Works in and by the Motion of the Spirit of God if they tend not to Good if they are not accompanied with the Fruits of the same if they will not endure the Tryal of the Spirit of God in others and abide by the Testimony thereof and also agree with the Testimonies of the Holy Men of old left upon Record in the holy Scriptures For the Spirit of the Prophets was subject to the Prophets and The Christians were of One Mind I say except this their Motion is to be judged by the Spirit of God and them also that obey it as a Delusion of an Exalted Spirit and as a High Imagination which must be brought down and whoever glories therein or boasts thereof will fade and wither as a Flower and fall and corrupt as Untimely Fruit the Mouth of the Lord hath spoaken it XV. The True Christian 's Faith and Experience concerning Revelation THE Cry in the World is even among many called Christians No Revelation in these dayes Revelation is ceased No Spiritual Vision to be known now No Sight of God now as Abraham Moses and the Prophets and Primitive Christians had c. Now the Faith Experience and Testimony of the True Christian is that Where there is no Vision Prov. 29.18 no Heavenly Sight that 's the Perishing State Where there
a Form yet there may be a Form without the Power this Spirit of Formality captivated some in former Ages and led them to deny the Power from such they were to turn away then and so art thou now for if this Spirit of Formality prevails though a Form of Godliness be â—etained as a Form of sound Words Plainness and Decency in Apparrel Superfluity of Meats and Drinks laid aside Respecting Mens Persons and Worshipping them with Cap and Knee avoided Truth and Light within profest in Words Meetings and Assembling often frequented the Sound of Truth as a lovely Song c. Yet if thy Heart be gone astray if thou feelst not Life to lead thee if thou takest not up the Daily Cross to thy Will Thoughts Affections Lusts and Passions and by the same mortifie them thou mayst be a meer Formalist and thy observing and abiding in thy Form may become as abominable in the Sight of the Lord now as it was of old among his once Peculiar People the Jews when he sent his Prophet Isaiah to cry against them though they kept and observed the Multitude of Offerings and Sacrifices Feasts Fasts New-Moons and Sabbath Dayes Solemn Meetings and Assemblings before the Lord c. which was the very Form of Worship he once commanded but the Spirit of Dead Formality being got into their Hearts corrupted them So that he that killed an Ox was as he that slew a Man he that sacrificed a Lamb as he that cut off a Dog's Neck he that offered Oblations as if he offered Swiâ—â—s Blood he that burnt Incense as if he blessed an Idol the Reason of all this was not because these Things were evil in themselves but because the Call of the Lord was not answered and because when he spake they did not hear but did Evil before his Eyes and chose that in which he delighted not yet observed and performed the outward Part of Worship and sate before the Lord as his People and loved and delighted to hear the Word of the Lord by the Mouth of his Prophet but not to do them Read Isaiah 66.3 and Ezekiel 33.30 31 32. Now dear Friend let this sore Evil never some near thy Dwelling in thy holy Form of Godliness which thou hast been lead unto by the Power keep in the Sence and Feeling of the same in thy Form of sound Words keep in the Fear of God and Tenderness of Conscience wherein thou wert at first constrained to speak them even in the Cross to self which took great Offence thereat yet in Tenderness Love and Fear to God against thy Will and the Pride and haughty Spirit of this World wert thou moved to speak them likewise thy holy Form in not Respecting Mens Persons or having them in Admiration because of Advantage nor honouring them in bowing with Cap Knee nor giving flattering Titles to Men this the Spirit of the Lord led to in the Beginning keep in the same and his Presence and Power will uphold thee in the same and also lead thee to honour all Men in the Lord and to be subject to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake and truly to honour thy Parents and rise up before thy Elders and give them double Honour and to be curteous and kindly affectionate unto all this will the Spirit of the Lord lead thee to being the Nature of Christianity as thou walkest and abidest therein thou wilt be like thy Heavenly Father And thy Holy Form of Plainness of Apparel and thy Avoiding of Superfluity in Meats and Drinks c. keep thou with that Holy Spirit that led thee thereto and let not the Sense thereof depart from thee so shalt thou feel the Power thereof accompanying of thee and working in thee to remove that Root and Ground from whence all Superfluity of Naughtiness did arise and wholely mortifie that Spirit that delighted in these things And in thy Holy Form and Manner of Meeting together alwayes have thy Mind exercised in that Love and Life Virtue and Power of the Lord by which he touched thy Heart and met with thee therein in the beginning so shalt thou enjoy more and more of his Presence and encrease in Wisdom Life and Strength and all the Virtues of the Holy Spirit And though thou hast received an Unction from the Holy One which is able to teach thee all things necessary or needful to thy Salvation yet this will not lead thee to forsake the assembling of thy self with the Lord's People according to their wonted Manner nor to forsake the Flocks of the Companions nor the Foot-steps thereof but to travail on in the same till thou comest to know where they lie down at Noon solacing themselves in the green Pastures of Life and there to lie down with them where none can make thee afraid and where no Destroyer is where the Spirit of dead Formality hath no place Here thy Form of Godliness will be accompanied with Power and this Evil will never overtake thee as it hath some in our Age who are convinced by the Truth and love the Sound thereof yet come to our Meetings and frequent our Assemblies formally and customarily even as the Unbelievers and ignorant People go to hear the Common Service or Studied Sermons but receive not the Ingrafted Word which is able to save their Souls So though they hear many Heavenly Testimonies and Exhortations they receive and obey them not neither do they grow and encrease in their Inward Man from one Degree of Grace Knowledge and Virtue unto another This Spirit of dead Formality hath also assumed the Form of Sound Words and Plainness of Apparel c. and under this Form and Disguize hath brought forth and effected much Evil deceived many and laid a stumbling before others and brought an Evil Report upon the Truth and those that live in it And this Evil Spirit of Deceit Hypocrisie and Formality hath wrought more Mischief against the Truth and the Holy Profession of it manifest within even under this Form then all open Opposition and Persecution could ever effect This is now and hath been in former Ages the Way and Work of the Spirit of Deceit when he cannot prevail by direct Opposition and Perfecttion then will he get the Words and Profession of Truth and appear and work under the Form thereof and by the Evil Fruits he brings forth under this Disguize he occasions many who are waiting for the Consolation of Israel and strictly observing the Conversation of the Children thereof to lose their Expectation and to sit down and conclude These People are but as others and their Way is but as other Wayes and they fail in their Profession of Holiness c. as others do we see Evil amongst them as amongst others even under their very Form c. This hath occasioned many to take up their Rest in a Latitudinarian Spirit or to be ready to say All Men are Lyars and Religion a Cheat and some to run into Atheism it self But double Wo and Misery will be the Portion of those Persons who entertain and joyn with this Spirit of Deceit and Hypocrisie and thereby occasion many to stumble go backwards and fall and speak Evil of the Way of Truth which is Peaceable Peasant and Pure not only in it self but also to all those that love it and obey it and become Children of it But as for those that once knew the Way of the Lord and afterwards gave way to the Spirit of Evil Deceit Hypocrisie and Formality or that took up the Form of Godliness to deceive as in former Ages so now such are more Abominable in the Sight of the Lord and more to be testified against then the very Heathen or prophane Unbelievers False Brethren are most Perilous and Hypocrites most Odious in the Sight of God and all good Men and the Guilt of Souls lies at their Door because of their Ungodly Practices and Evil Doings under the Form Shew and Profession of Godliness such like Unsavory Salt are good for nothing but to be trod under Foot of Men judged and condemned by God's Witness within themselves and without by others and the Knawing Worm takes hold of them and the Unquenchable Fire is kindled in their Bowels and an Earnest of Eternal Vengeance they receive as a Just Recompence of Reward and like faln Angels are reserved in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day For my Faith and Belief is That if all that ever took up the Form and Profession of the Truth Light Grace and Spiritual Manifestation thereof within had stood firm in the same and watcht against ruled over and kept out the Spirit of Enmity Vngodliness Deceit and dead Formality and by the Heavenly Gift and Power with which they were endued had judged the Serpent in all his Appearances Formings and Transformings and walked Vprightly in the same the Eye of the Nations had been towards us and Yea and Nay had been of great Authority in this Nation of England before this day and Truth in the Inward Parts the Law of the Spirit the Rule of Life and Manners Within honourable and of high Esteem in the Hearts and Minds of Thousands more then now it is Offences have come and may come but Wo to them by whom they come So my tender Friend who hast not had thy spiritual Senses throughly exercised nor art not yet acquainted with all the Wiles and Devices of the Enemy for whose sake I chiefly write this Epistle this One Thing I would have thee settle in thy Mind At the Gate of dead Formality and under the Form of Godliness the Destroying Spirit of Apostacy entred in the Primitive Times and soon ecclipsed the Light of the Glorious Gospel and the Old Adversary effected that by turning Professor of Christianity which he could not bring to pass by Bloody Persecutions and open Opposition and fully understand that the Spirit of Satan working under the Form of Godliness is that which hath been is and will be the greatest Waster and Destroyer and Opposer of the Power thereof Therefore watch thou against him in this Appearance not only in others but in thy self so wilt thou frustrate his Design and be able to keep thy self as some of Old did that the Evil One touch thee not W. S. THE END
Harmlesness Righteousness and Heavenly-mindedness of Jesus which he and his Followers were and are indued withal the quite contrary abounds and yet a Profession of Jesus in Words is not wanting in these Nations called Christendom so that Isaiah's Vision Sight or Prophesie is fulfilled therein The shew of their Countenance doth witness against them Isa 3.9 12. and they declare their Sin as Sodom they hide it not Wo unto their Soul for they have rewarded Evil unto themselves Children are their Oppressors and Women rule over them Oh my People they which lead thee cause thee to Err and destroy the Way of thy Paths c. In this day also this Prophecy is fulfilled in Christendom Seaven Women shall take hold of one Man Isa 4.1 saying We will eat our own Bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy Name to take away our Reproach ☞ These seven Women are or may fitly be compared to the perfect full Number of all the Titular Christians of all the diverse Sects and Opinions in whole Christendom who profess the Name of Christ and call Christ their Husband but play the Harlot with other Lovers and eat their own Bread which is the forbidden Fruit and the old gather'd Manna and wear their own Apparel which they have sowed together with their own Hands and formed by their own Inventions to cover thei Nakedness in Transgression But the Lord God whom they have transgressed against is come down to walk in his Garden and he finds it overgrown with Weeds Thorns Bryars and Thistles but neither the Weeds Trees nor Fig-tree Leaves of Profession though sowed together and made like a Garment of Modefty and Righteousness ☞ can hide from his All-seeing Eye the Word Adam where art thou is sounded forth and he and all his Works are found out and the hidden things of Esau are sought out and the Earth can no longer cover her slain But the Blood of Righteous Abel cryes and the Souls under the Altar cry How long Lord how long will it be ere thou avenge thy self on them that dwell on the Earth and yet profess thy Name and thy Son's Name and say Thus saith the Lord when they have not heard thy Voice nor seen thy Shape nor known thy wonderous Works in the Deep nor regarded the Operation of thy Hand Because of these things the Cry of the Righteous hath been unto the Lord in all Ages and is now in this Age even because of the Hatred and Bloodiness of Cain about Religion and Worship and because of the Envy of Esau about the Blessing and because the great Whore who sits upon the Waters and rides upon the Beast and calls her self the Lamb's Wife and holds forth her Golden Cup full of Abominations with which the Nations even those called Christendom are made drunk hath so far prevailed And because the Waters on which the Whore sitteth which are Nations Tongues and People and the Beast on whom she rides takes her Golden Cup for the Cup of Blessing and for the Gold that is tryed in the Fire and the Wine of Fornication for the New Wine of the Kingdom And because this great Whore is taken for the Bride the Lamb's Wife the Harlot for the Spouse of Christ the Titular Christian for the True finally because Light is called Darkness and Darkness Light Good Evil and Evil Good I say This made Jeremy wish his Head were Waters and his Eyes a Fountain of Tears that he might weep day and night for the Slain of the Daughter of his People Jer. 9.1 2. This made Christ to weep over Jerusalem and Paul to wish himself separate from Christ for his Brethrens sake This made the Prophets Apostles Ministers willing to spend and be spent and to run to and fro that Knowledge might be encreased and People undeceived because of these things the Cry Breathing of the Souls of the Righteous is unto the Lord that he would take away the Vail that is spread over the Hearts of all People by Transgression and open the Blind Eye and unstop the Deaf Ear that his Glory may be seen and his Voyce heard and the two great Mysteries of Godliness and Iniquity revealed And that People may come to look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn over him even him whom they have kissed with their Lips but betrayed in their Hearts and so come to that Godly Sorrow which leadeth to Repentance and a Turning unto him who redeemeth from all these things and bringeth into Favour with God again and giveth Right to eat of the Tree of Life and to enter through the Gate into the City even the heavenly Jerusalem which that all may partake of and inherit is the Desire of the True Christian who hath received the Gospel of Peace and Good-will to all men the which that thou may attain unto take the Counsel of one who was a Child of Wrath as well as others and once lived in the Nature of Cain and Esau and was one of them on whom the Whore sate and was deceived by her Golden Cup and drank of the Wine of her Fornication and once took the Whore for the Lamb's Wife the Harlot for the true Woman Babylon for Jerusalem Antichrist for Christ the Titular Christian for the True But now knoweth that the Son of God is come and a good Understanding given whereby he knoweth him that is true and is in him that is true and hath received Wisdom to trace the Eagle in the Air and the Serpent on the Rock and the Adulterous Woman who eateth the Forbidden Fruit and wipeth her Mouth and saith She hath done none Evil and is now acquainted with the Wiles and Mysterious Workings of him who is more subtil then all the Beasts of the Field and is come to the Rending of the Vail and the taking off the Covering and to the falling of the Scales from his Eyes and to the Revelation of the two great Mysteries of Godliness and Iniquity I say unto thee whosoever thou art that readest these words and knowest not the same Turn thy Mind inward ☞ commune with thy own Heart and be still stand in Awe and sin not fear to offend that holy Spirit which searcheth thy Heart and love the Reproofs thereof for its the Way of Life and wait low in the same until that Eye be opened in thee that can see God's Salvation that he hath appointed unto the ends of the Earth then wilt thou Rejoyce therein And cease from Man ☞ whose Breath is in his own Nostrils and speaks the studied Inventions of his own corrupt Heart and the Traditions of his Fore-Fathers and yet saith Thus saith the Lord when he hath not spoaken unto him nor heard his Voice nor seen his Shape but speaks the Conceivings and Divinations of his own Brain and the Uncertain Notions of his own Spirit The * The Root of all Division Erroneous Opinions and Sects listening
God dwelleth in us and his Love is perfected in us Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And we have seen and doe testifie That the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 John 4.12 read to the end of the Chapter I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the Fire that thou mayest be Rich and White Rayment that thou mayst be cloathed and that the Shame of thy Nakedness do not appear and anoint thy Eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayst see As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be Zealous therefore and Repent Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am sate down with my Father in his Throne He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches Rev. 3.18 19 20 21 22. To him that Overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a White Stone and in the Stone a New Name written which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it Rev. 2.17 He that believes hath the Witness in himself He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son But the Fearful and Vnbelieving and the Abominable and Murderer and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their Part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone which is the Second Death Rev. 21.7 8. Thus I have here transcribed and set before thee these Scriptures before being very Divine and Heavenly Sayings greatly worthy of thy reading over and over again and in that Light and Grace which shines and appears in thy Heart and is able to remove the Covering and take away the Vail from off the same I desire thee to weigh and consider them and measure and try thy self thereby Had I not the Remembrance still upon my Mind how I often read those Scriptures and many the like while my Understanding was clouded and the Vail over my Heart and did not understand what I read nor receive the Comfort of them nor witness the Truth thereof in my self I say were it not for this Remembrance and the Knowledge of the true Light that now shineth out of Darkness I should admire and wonder how the Titular Christian who readeth and professeth the holy plain Testimonies Precepts Exhortations and Glorious Promises recorded in the Holy Scriptures and lived in and born witness to by divers true Christians now in this Age should oppose and gain-say the fame and understand nothing thereof Though he professeth them to be 〈◊〉 he is so far from being ruled by 〈◊〉 Ruâ—â— that he hates and persecutes those that are and that have received the good things they testifie of And were it not that the holy Scriptures had a great Esteem in the Affections of the People of those Nations called Christendom and that they did bear so plain Evidence to the Truth of the Doctrines taught and Heavenly Estates now professed and enjoyed by the True Christian he would be more hated persecuted and cryed out against then he is So for this Reason and divers more he hath great Cause to praise God that the Scriptures have been preserved and the holy divine Sayings and Testimonies of the Righteous delivered down to this Age so clear true and plain as they are for he alone enjoyes the Benefit Priviledge and Comfort of them by the Virtue and Operation of the Light Love and Spirit of God which they testifie of working in his Inward Man And except this be known the Scriptures and all Heavenly things are as a sealed Book to thee let thy Natural Parts Wisdom and Acquired Attainments be never so great Therefore thy Duty is above all things To hearken to and obey the Voice of God and regard the Inspiration of the Almighty which gives Understanding that thou mayest learn his Heavenly Precepts and understand his Divine Mysteries and enjoy his Glorious Promises and be made wise unto Salvation and so inherit Everlasting Life Peace and Glory and know an Entrance ministred into the Joy of the Lord. And at least an Earnest of all these things thou art to know revealed felt and enjoy within thy self before thou go hence and be no more among men Therefore put not the Day of the Lorâ— afar off nor say in thy Heart The Lorâ— delayes his Coming for he waits to shew himself gracious unto thee and is come nigh unto Judgment and standeth even at thâ— Door Read Proverbs 8. and appeareth at the Gate Entrance of thy Hearth and his Appearance thou may 〈◊〉 infallibly know from all other Appearances because it judgeth every Appearance of Evilâ— and not only so but if thou openest thâ— Gate and entertainest him in thy Heart hâ— will furnish thee with Power and Strength against it and fill thy Temple with his Heavenly Treasures of Wisdom and Glory Sâ— shalt thou not only read and hear of Gooâ— Things but understand possess and enjoy them and be able to obey this Exhortatioâ—â— Abstain from every Appearance of Evil. And this Saying once spoaken to Cain the First-born after Transgression universally concerns thee and all Mankind and is sounded daily in their Ears If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted But if thou dost Evil Sin lies at thy Door Gen. 4.3 And Tribulation and Anguish attends every Soul of Man that doth Evil let him profess what he will Rom. 2.9 Something by Way of Caution and Warning to the Titular Christian to whose Hand this following Treatise may come I Have some Sence upon my Mind that thou wilt upon thy reading thereof be ready to censure and judge those Things thou understandest not nor hast had any Experience of and also to deride and mock at the frequent Testimonies and Exhortations to the Light within Grace within Spirit within Power of God within Word of God within Law within c. Consider what thou dost and against what and whom thou openest thy Mouth and dread the living God whom in Words only thou professest to be a Spirit Infinite Omnipresent and Almighty which Spirit searcheth thy Heart and judgeth thy Wayes though thou at present be Ignorant and Unbelieving concerning him and his being so near thee and also consider within thy self how that if thou knowest not Light shining within and a walking in it thou art no Child of it but Darkness abounds in thee and thou knowest not whither thou goest nor at what thou stumblest if Grace thou knowest not to rule and reign within thee Sin ruleth and Death the Wages thereof is present with thee if the Spirit of God thou knowest not teaching and ruling in thy Heart and sitting upon the Throne thereof the Spirit of Satan
Devil and Anti-christ rules there teacheth there thou art a poor Captive and Bondslave thereof profess what thou wilt and if the Power of God thou knowest not working within thy self and operating in thy Heart not only to shake pull down and remove that which can be shaken and removed but also to bring in that which cannot be shaken nor removed viz. Everlasting Righteousness I say if this thou knowest not the Power of the Enemy of God and thy Soul worketh in thee and prevaileth over thee by working in thy Imaginations Will and Affections Mind and Members that which is Evil either in self-Sinning or self Righteousness which are both Abomination to the Lord So if thou knowest not the Word of God within thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart with the Virtues and Properties thereof as a Hammer as a Fire quick and powerful sharper then a two-edged Sword and hearest and obeyest the Voice thereof I say if this Word thou knowest not within thou art not made clean nor sanctified by it but those Things stand in thee against which it is as a Hammer Fire Sword sharp and powerful and the Word and Commands of the old Serpent that Betrayer sounds loâ—d in thy Ears and pierceth deep into thy Heart and thou art carryed away with the Wind thereof and enterest into his Temptations daily and knowest not Power against them so thou canst not say as David once did Psal 119.11 I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against thee neither hast thou received with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save but art of those whom Christ spoak to Ye have not his Word speaking of his Father abiding in yoâ— John 5.38 And if thou knowest not the Law of the Spirit of Life within thee written in thy Inward Parts thou art a Stranger to the New-Covenant Jer. 31.33 the Law of Sin Death hath Power over thee the Law that is in thy Members leads thee Captive thereto and the Carnal Mind which is Enmity against God and cannot be subject to his Law reigns in thee though thou professest the Law of God with thy Tongue thou dost not love it nor delight in it in thy Hearr neither is it better in thy Esteem then Thousands of Gold and Silver So in short If thou art not Partaker Possessor of the Heavenly Treasures in thy Earthen Vessel thou art fraighted with Earthly Treasures Vanities if thou knowest not thy Body the Temple of the Living God and thy Heart his Throne then is it as a Cage for Unclean Birds and as a Habitation for Wild Beasts and as a Nest for Venemous Creeping Things and the Prince of Darkness sits upon the Throne of thy Heart and rules there let thy Opinion and Talk of Religion be what it will Now be thou warned and advised to watch against that Spirit in thy self which moveth thee to sleight deride and mock at the Appearance and Manifestation of the Light Crace Spirit Power Word and Law of God within And learn to cease also from those Teachers without which have caused thee to err who hate the Light within and despise the Shining of it and give it despicable Names as Ignis Fatuus 〈◊〉 certain or Falce Fire Natural Light and the Checks and Reproofs of it but the Checks of a Natural Conscience and despise the Grace that appears to all men and call it Common and not Saving Crace and sleight and reject the Power and Spirit of God within which moves and works against all Evil and to all Good not allowing it to be the principal Rule and Guide of a Christian and also endeavour to demolish race out the Word and Law of God within under Pretence of directing thee to a more sure Word and Law without viz. the Holy Scriptures which contain divers Words Precepts and Commandments c. spoaken by holy men to whom the Word of the Lord came which was before the Words were and by this Word and Spirit that came to them and was in them were they moved to speak them and that is greater then the Words and till thou knowest a Measure of the same Word and Spirit within thy self thou canst neither truly understand nor obey the Words and holy Precepts and Exhortations that proceeded from it that indeed being the Original Cause Root and Ground from whence all the Good Words and Good Works that ever sprang up in the Heart of Mankind proceeded Such Teachers have ran â—ut God hath not sent them so People are not profitted but spoiled by them they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men they neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and under the Name of Ministers of Christ are direct Ministers of Antichrist from such turn thou away learn of the Grace of God which Teacheth to deny Ungodliness c. and love the Light and bring thy Deeds to it John 3.21 and walk in it so shalt thou become a Child of it and have Right to inherit the precious Promises and possess and enjoy the Glorious Priviledges which thou hast hitherto only profess'd heard and read of in the holy Scriptures so wilt thou come to inherit Substance and soon be wiser then thy former Teachers and of a Titular Christian thou wilt become a Christian indeed an Israelite indeed a Jew inward indeed whose Praise is of God and not of Men. W. S. THE True Christian's FAITH AND EXPERIENCE DECLARED Concerning God Christ the Spirit c. First Concerning God THE True Christian believes there is One God who is a Spirit pure in Essence God is infinite and incomprehensible in himself and all the Words of Men and Angels cannot define him as he is being in all through all and above all And the various Names given him throughout the holy Scriptures were according to the Manifestation or Appearance and Operation of his Spirit in their Hearts that wrote them and according to the State it found them in when it appeared to them hence he was call'd a Consuming Fire Our God is a Consuming Fire and his Word as a Hammer and as a Fire and a Jealous and Angry God who as a Devouring Fire goes through the Bryars and Thorns and consumes them and the Day of his Appearance among these Bryars and Thorns Thiâ—les and Stubble is compared to the burning of Fire in an Oven in which the Wicked cannot dwell And others could call him by quite contrary Names even according to the Operation of his Spirit in them by the same could say that God is Love and his Word was as Milk and sweeter then Hony or the Hony-Comb and that the Light of his Countenance was better then the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl and that he was a Shield and a Shaddow of a Rock in a Weary Land his Name as a strong Tower and safe-dwelling-Place and as precious Oyntment pour'd forth and his Face or Presence
I now live I live by the Faith of the Son of God this is the Perfection the True Christian arrives at ☞ even to know Christ live in him and Self and Sin dead then this Life of Righteousness reigns where once Sin and Death reigned and this Life cureth all Diseases and makes a Man grow to Perfection makes the Mind sound and the Understanding A perfect Sign where Life reigns the Heart clean and honest purgeth the Conscience from all dead Works and brings into the Service of the living God and makes free and redeems from the contrary viz. the Service of Sin and Satan and this is a perfect State and hath been is and may be attained unto according to the Holy Scriptures and the Testimony of the True Christian And some Titular Christians do pray for promise and profess as much 〈◊〉 Words The Titular Christian prayeth for and professeth Perfection but doth not believe it 's possible to attain till after the Death of the Body So his Prayer is vain his Belief a strong Delusion when they pray for a clean Heart and the renewing of a right Spirit to live a holy Life and to be cleansed from all Sin and when they promise one for another to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments this is Perfection and he that doth receive a clean Heart and a right Spirit and doth those Things is a perfect Man Now he that professeth and witnesseth these Things before spoaken of and hath travailed through the Work of the New Creation he can speak of Perfection in Truth and Righteousness he can say all the Works of God are perfect good yea very good being a living Witness of the same and that the Works of Man in the Fall and Degeneration and of the old Serpent whom he obeyes are all imperfect and bad yea very bad therefore let all that talk of Perfection with their Tongues and profess it with their Lips see that they are in that Faith which is the Gift of God and works by Love ☞ and doth wonderful Things though it be but as a Grain of Mustard Seed it removes Mountains and the Effect of it doth away all Imperfection and makes whole every whit the Eye being fixed upon the Author thereof it brings the Mighty from its Seat and exalteth that of low Degree it brings to the true Poverty which makes many rich and inherits all Things to the Sorrowing wherein is Rejoycing alwayes to the having nothing and yet poffessing all Things to the Weakness wherein is Strength to the Loss wherein is Gain to the Death wherein is Life Everlasting this State Paul was in when he spoak after this Manner When I am Weak then am I strong when dead then alive as sorrowing yet alwayes rejoycing 2 Cor. 6.10 as poor yet making many rich as having nothing yet possessing all Things these Things are as Riddles and Mysteries to the Carnal Mind and are hidden from the Wise and Prudent but revealed to the Babes who suck at the Breasts of Consolation and are weaned from the Breasts of this World in all its Perfection Glory and Beauty visible and invisible and are become Children of that Faith without which 't is impossible to please God Therefore if any will be perfect and have Treasure in Heaven ☞ they must become as new born Babes feeding on the Milk of the Word and know a growing up in and by the Vertue of the same to the State of a perfect Man out of all Self-Will Thoughts and Imaginations self-Wisdom Riches and Knowledge for in the State of Innocency before the Fall Man was not rich wise nor strong of himself his own Will Thoughts and Desires ☞ though in themselves and in their Places harmless did not rule over him neither did he feed upon the Tree of Knowledge which was and is good in its Place though not for Food but he ruled over them all while he stood in the Image of his Maker and obeyed his Command he had Power over all the Beasts of the Field and Fish of the Sea and the Earth was subdued by him and he had Dominion over it standing in the Life Power Riches and Wisdom of his God and out of his own here though he had nothing yet he possessed all subdued all and had Dominion over all though he fed not upon the Tree of Knowledge yet was he full of Knowledge and Wisdom to discern the Nature of all Things and to give them Names accordingly though he had no Will nor Defire ☞ but what was to be subject to the Will of God nor no Power or Strength given him of God to act contrary to his Command yet he had great Power Liberty and Freedom given him of God over all the Works of his Hands And every Herb bearing Seed which was upon all the Earth and every Tree in which was the Fruit of a Tree bearing Seed for Meat only the Tree of Knowledge which grew not at one Corner but in the midst of the Garden even where the Tree of Life it self grew he was not to eat of he that reads let him understand for I testifie that Moses ☞ or the Author of Genesis was endued with the same Divine Heavenly Sight and Wisdom when he wrot these Things as John was when he wrot his Book of Revelations and a Measure of the same must give the Understanding of them Now Mankind had nothing to do but to dress and keep the Garden which God 's own Hand had planted and this he was to do in the Will Wisdom and Power of God by which he became a Living Soul cloathed with the Image of God without any other Covering but his Spirit this was his Glory and Perfection And in this stood his Joy and Felicity Power and Dominion within and without in this stands the True Christian 's now But when he suffered his Will and Desire and the Eye of his Mind by the Temptation to be drawn and alured forth and gave way to the springing up of a Desire ☞ to know and be wise for himself to be something of himself this let the Temptation over him being deceived disobeyed his God even under a Hope of gaining by it and bettering his State The Life and Image of God which Adam lost was inward and spiritual he dyed not immediately as to his outward Form or bodily Existence but lived many years believing the Serpent who said You shall be as Gods you shall not dye Thus Death entred upon him thus the Image of God in him became vail'd and his Beauty Glory and Perfection defaced his own Will and Desires no sooner gave way to but Temptationt entred no sooner his own Eye opened but his Imperfection appeared and his Nakedness was seen ☞ no sooner he began to live of himself and to will
and to know of himself but Death Misery and Ignorance followed and Shame Fear and Guilt appeared and many Inventions and Contrivances how to cover the Nakedness and Shame and excuse the Guilt was invented This was the Work of Transgressing Man in the Beginning and is the same at this day among all the Children of Men of what Nation Name or Sect soever who abide in the transgressing State of the First Adam Now the State of Perfection that the Children of the Second Adam do attain unto while in the Body is a True Self-denyal and Resignation into the Will of God throughout all Tryals ☞ and over all Temptations he is a Perfect Man in Christ who is not only Restored and Redeemed by him into a State of Innocency Harmlesness and Uprightness but also in this State is resigned and given up in his Mind Will Thoughts and Desires into the Will of God as clearly knowing it so that his Mind being the Mind of Christ ☞ is eying his Heavenly Father and his Mind is stay'd upon him where the perfect Peace is And his Will Thoughts and Desires though Harmless as Christ's were yet subject to his Father truly saying as Christ did Not my will but thine In this State of true Resignation unto and Unity with the Father's Will stands the True Christian's Safety and Perfection and that which preserveth him in the same is the Power of God that throughly debaseth Self subjecteth Man's Will and saves to the uttermost through Faith in it And in this State of Perfection as he lives and remains he is cloathed with the Spirit of Glory and Humilâ—ty the greater his Attainments are and the higher the Heavenly Place is he fits in the lower is his Mind and the lesser he is in his own Eyes the greater he is in the Kingdom of God the more he is replenisht with true Love Goodness Humility here the greatest is the Servant a Helper of others the highest the lowest here the Servant is as his Lord and the Lord as him that serveth And among these True Christians there is no Strife nor Dispute ☞ who shall be Greatest though they are Elders and have Crowns upon their Heads yet they throw them down at the Feet of him that sits upon the Throne and give Glory to him forever Rev. 4.10 11. XX. A Few Words by Way of Advice Counsel and Exhortation to such as are newly turned in their Minds from Darkness within to Light within from the Power of Satan within to the Power of God within whereby the Work of Regeneration is begun within that such may not miscarry in the same nor sit down by the Way short of the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus is what follows written seriously to be Read Weighed and Considered TEnder Friend who art turned to this Light and Power and art a Believer in it and desirest to hear and obey the Word in thy Mouth and in thy Heart to this Light thou dost well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place and as a Voice that calleth unto thee saying Come up hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's Wife In Order thereto thou must understand and regard the End of the precious Appearance of the Light within though it be and appear unto thee but as Light that breaketh forth before the Day dawn within or before the Day-star arise in thy Heart yet the End of its Appearance and Shining in thee is that thou shouldst fix the Eye of Faith upon it and keep thy Mind towards it till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise within and this is the Star of the Messias and the Angel of the Lord that will lead thee to the Inn where the Virgin is delivered of a Son and where the Babe of Glory lyes swadled in a Manger unregarded by all the Guests thereof and thou following this Star and finding him wilt not spare thy Cold Incense and Mirth but offer up thy precious Things unto him as the Wise Men did And when the Light within the Day-star within hath led thee thus far thou must not think within thy self that thou hast now attained to the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus because thy Eye seeth the Salvation which God hath prepared before the Face of all People think not with thy self that thou presently possessest and enjoyest the same because of the Joy Delight and Pleasure that accompanies the Sight thereof yet take thou heed of sitting down in the Appearance of Light and Heavenly Discoveries and in the bare Sight and Knowledge of the Man-Child that 's born but wait thou and walk in the same Light within which will discover unto thee that Spirit that secks its Life within thy self even after it is born ☞ under the Pretence of worshipping of it as Herod did and in it thou wilt receive Wisdom and Counsel to cherish and preserve it till the Death of its Enemies as Jâ—seph did in the Light thou mayst come to read and understand those Things which are written for thy Learning Now whatsoever makes manifest is Light Darkness and the Works of it is and hath been wrought within the Light that expels the Darkness and the Power that destroyes the Works of it is also to be known within None walk in the Light further then they bring their Thoughts Words and Works to the Light to be proved and tryed whether they proceed from or are wrought in God or no Joh. 3.21 thou must believe continue walking in the Light that thou mayest become a Child of it and abide with the Power that thou mayest know witness the Work of it within thy self proceeding in Order from the first Day to the seventh or Sabbath of Rest And thou mayst understand that thou dost not become a Child of Light so soon as thou seest the Shining of it and begins to believe and walk in it thou must not only have Faith but thou must add unto thy Faith Patience c. for thou hast as much need as some of old had which Paul wrote to when he said You had need have Patience that after you have done the Will of God you may wait to receive the Promise and it was after they believed that the Primitive Christians were sealed with the Spirit of Promise the End of Faith is not soon attained unto ☞ he that believes must not make hast neither must he will nor run but in Patience wait in the Faith without Doubt and Wavering till he receives the End of it as some of old did viz. the Salvation of their Souls And so thou wilt know as in the Light thou waitest Salvation come nearer and nearer one Day then another unto thee and wilt witness to the Truth of what the Apostle wrote when he said Now is Salvation nearer then when you first believed Now tender Friend I have this principally to advise thee of that
the Wiles and Devices of the Enemy are many and mysterious and the Murtherer ariseth with the Light and 't is against thee who art come to believe in the Light he rageth within and without and about thee he goeth as a roaring Lyon seeking to devour and as a subtil Fox to get into the Vineverd again and spoil the tender Grapes therefore I counsel thee to wait low in thy Mind in that Heavenly Principle of Light to which thou hast been turned and in which thou hast believed in this the Devil hath no Part abiding here thou art as one armed in a strong Tower of Defence keep thou thy self that he may never prevail against thee by Allurements Baits Shares and Enticements and he can never force thee nor by all his Strength compel thee to yield unto him and obey him But know this he will suit and sort his Temptations according to thy Temperament State and Condition seeing thou hast turned thy Back upon that wherein his Kingdom stands and where his Works and Will is done and set thy Face Sionward and walks in the Light within that leadeth thereto he knoweth 't is in vain for him to appear unto thee now as a Devil therefore will he transform himself like unto an Angel of Light and propose and promise as great Things to thee as he did to Eve in Paradice if he can but get thee out of thy Way the Light within which makes him manifest in all his Shapes and Transformings he will prevail against thee and cause thee to err and deceive thee under the Hope of enjoying a greater Liberty and a higher Glory thus he hath beguiled some in this Age for when and where the Woman appeareth cloathed with the Sun ☞ and the Moon under her Feet and a Crown of twelve Stars upon her Head being with Child crying travailing in Birth pained to be delivered then and there also the great red Dragon with his seven Heads ten Horns and seven Crowns upon his Heads appeareth also and with his Tail draws Stars from Heaven and casts them to the Earth and also stands ready before the Woman to devour her Child as soon as 't is born Read Rev. 12.1 2 3 4. and the Lord give thee Understanding So tender Friend If thou desirest to travail on with Safety in the Way and Path of Christianity from its Birth to the Cross and from the Cross to the Crown thou must walk in the Light and daily learn of the Grace of God within and keep on thy Armour the Light within whereby thou hast conquered many Enemies within and overcome divers Temptations within and hast known it as an Ax laid to the Root of the Evil Tree within abide thou in it and keep thy Eye fixed upon him that heweth therewith that thou mayest know its Work throughly effected viz. the very Root of the Evil Tree cut up not only its Branches lopt off and the Root struck at but Root and Branch destroyed and the Heavenly Plant to grow and encrease into a Tree of Righteousness instead thereof within thy self that thou mayest fit under its Shadow with Safety and eat of the Fruit thereof with Delight Now though thou art a Believer in the Light and a Learner of the Grace and art travailing right on in the same towards a full Enjoyment thereof know this That thou wilt meet with many Tryals Exercises and Temptations in the Way some to turn thee out of it and others to cause thee to sit down short and take up a Rest by the way and glory in thy former Experiences Openings Sights and Revelations and Power over Devils which thou hast been endued withal so if the old Serpent cannot prevail in the one he may in the other envying thy Happiness he will try all Means against thee to beguile thee as he did Eve tempt and alure thee out of a Heavenly Estate he will hardly beset thee within and without and when thou appearest before God hewill appear also with Lyes and Accusations against thee Now keep thou in the Light wherewith thou art enlightened and in which thou hast believed and lean thou upon and trust in the Grace of God which is sufficient and present with thee and ready and able to save and deliver thee when his Alurements and Buffetings attend thee And this Light within in which thou hast believed as thou walkest in it will shew thee the Nature and Tendency of the Bait though covered with Golden Pretences and the very Hook that 's covered therewith So as thou waitest and abidest in this Light in vain is the Snare laid in thy Sight in vain are all his subtil Devices gainst thee and in vain are all his variable Appearances in order to deceive and destroy thee whether he appears as a subtil Serpent or as a Satan to accuse as he did Job before God or as a Dragon or Roaring Lyon to devour or as an Antichrist or on the contrary whether he appear as an Angel of Light with two Horns like a Lamb and in Sheep's Cloathing and further In our Age as in Ages past the Devil hath confessed to the Appearance of Christ and preacht the Words of Truth but in O position to the Power though he appears in and assumeth the Form of Godliness and preaches and confesses Christ in his Spiritual Appearance within in words and talks of and professeth the Light within and the Motion of the Spirit and a Learning of the Spirit and a Ceasing from Man and a Learning of the Anointing Light and Grace within and get into the Throne and Temple of God and sit there as God I say In vain are all his variable Appearances Wiles and Works Formings and Transformings as thy Eye is kept single thy whole Body will be full of Light and thou wilt be able to say as some of old did We are not ignorant of his Devices And thou wilt try and discern Spirits and that Ear will be open that tryes Words as the Mouth tastes Meat and judgeth the divers Sounds and Voices and seeth to the In side Root Ground and Foundation of things that do appear and gives them Names according to their Nature and judgeth Righteously concerning them and not according to Appearance only whether within thy self or without As in this Wisdom and Discerning thou abidest thou wilt travail safely on from Faith to Faith from Knowledge to Knowledge from one Degree of Grace and Glory unto another till thou comest to be fully gathered from the East West North and South and sittest down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God and also knowest the Son surrender the Kingdom to the Father and God become all in all then shalt thou know as thou art known and see as thou art seen and Death shall be swallowed up in Victory Mortality of Immortality and there shall be no more Sea Death nor Sorrow Crying nor Pain former things being past away and all things made new this Estate