will follow when the Lord comes to lay open their Nakedness and clear our Innocency in these things as he hath done for me which Work hasteth greatly Praises Eternal be to him alone who hath let me see by the Light werewith Christ hat enlightned me Who is the true Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the World John 1.9 As the Lord by the Prophet Jeremiah saith Jer. 7.22 23. I spake not unto your Fashers nor commanded them in the Day that I brought them our of the Land of Egypt concerning Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices but this one thing commanded I them saying Obey my Voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my People c. And when Jesus Chrift was upon Earth and spoke unto his Disciples and told them what they must do to come after him he did not tell them That they must Sing David's Condition either themselves or others or Baptize little Children or Infants with Water or take a Text or place of Scripture of another's Condition and add to it their own Inventions But these things said he unto them Whosoever will come after me must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9.23 And in obedience to his Commands we deny our selves and take up the Cross daily that accompanies the same whereby we are by him Baptized into that one Body whereof he is Head and we being many do eat of one Bread and drink of one Cup not Carnal but Spiritual where true Communion and Fellowship lies hid from the World wherein we are altogether of one Spirit and of one Mind even of the same Mind that was in Christ Jesus according to the Apostle's Exhortation Phil. 2.5.1 Pet. 4.1 And rejoycing in the same Spirit Praises to our God for ever And we Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also I Cor. 14.15 And with the same we Pray But it is not so with the World's Teachers who have their Form or those who are accounted the best of them that fetch in of the Saints Words but dare not however cannot truly say That they are given them by the Spirit of God and their Singing is the like not from the Spirit of God but taking David's words by which he declared the several Conditions that he was was in and these they put into the Peoples Mounths which they do not understand and these they Sing without understanding and so instead of glorifying of God they dishouour him and this is one of the Practices used in their Church as they call it which is without in the World but the true Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as in 1 Thess 1.1 Now these words that they Sing are true as they were spoken from David who said That he watered his Couch with his Tears but it is not so with many And the will Sing his words who could truly say That he was not puft up in Mind and had no scornsul Eye whenas too many are puft up in Mind and have scornful Eyes and the like Thus the Leaders of the People their Priests in most places put such words into the Peoples Mounths causing them to Err and make them Hypocrites in saying They are as it is not with them and so by and in them is fulfilled that Scripture Isa 9.16 17. But if any shall say Doth not the Apostle Jomes 5.13 Exhort Is any Merry Let him sing Psalms Yea and so it is with the redeemed Ones of the Lord his Ransomed witness that Prophecy fulifilled Isa 35.10 and such come to find in themselves according to the Apostle's Exhortation being filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 19 20. speaking unto themselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Singing and making Melody in their Hearts unto the Lord giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ This is to be with the Heart it is not so with the World I know it when they are Offering up their Scarifices both of Prayers and Praises they with their Mouths and Lips may be pretending to Serve God whenas their Hearts may be in another place far from Him according to Scripture Isa 29.13 And after they have been Blessing God and Singing to his Praise as they pretend How often in the same Mouth is Cursing Which thing ought not to be James 3.9 10. Thus the Leaders of the People by putting the Name of God in the Mouths of People who are not in his Fear they speak it without understanding and so take it in Vain whom the Lord will not hold guiltess And as they have no Scripture for this their Practice to Sing David's Condition neither have they and for Sprinkling or Baptizing as they all it little Children Infants with Water nor any Command from Christ in Scripture to do that to any for those who are got up in Imitation of the Letter from John's Baptizing in Jordan those that confessed their Sins Mat. 3.6 or of his Baptism yet he said There was one to come after him which was preferred before him John 1.15 30. which was to Baptize with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3.11 And that he must Decrease but Christ must Increase John 3.30 This of Christ's being the true Baptism that was to encrease The Apostle speaks but of One Baptism in Eph. 4.5 and by One Spirit not by any Outward Sprinkling or Dipping into Water that the Saints were Baptized into One Body 1 Cor. 12.13 This Outward with Water is not the Baptism that is to Save us whereof that of Noah's being saved in the Ark was a Figure but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ according to 1 Pet. 3.20 21. Many may come to the outward Baptism to have the filth of the Flesh put off but want the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ This I having a sight of was through the Love of God towards me a means to keep me back from going into those other Forms in the World that differed from the publick Profession that was in this Nation I being let see that I might get into them and no change in my Life wrought And these Cries were often in mine Ears Born again a new Creature which Condition is now witnessed Praises to our God for ever by those who come to witness that Baptism of the Spirit spoken of in Scripture whereby they come to be Buried with him by Baptism into Death Rom 6.3 4. And to be made partakers of his Sufferings wherein is Rejoycing 1 Pet. 4.13 But this is not known by Water-Baptism but by the Obeying of the Spirit of our God And as the World's Baptism is without with Water so is their Communion without in Bread and Wine which they call a Sacrament For which as now used by them they have no Command from Christ nor any such Name given in Scripture
the more Money And for their often exchanging fained words they do not want saying sometimes that they are sorry to leave them others that they do not see that Fruit of their Ministry which they desire and thereupon they do and may exchange as one did to wit Priest Sinclare of Slingsby near Malton in Yorkshire who having within a few Years time been at three Places or Livings as they are called being come unto the fourth I asked him the cause Why and How they could so often exchange He answered That they might when they did not see that fruit of their Ministry that they desired As if it were to see a change of Reformation in the People as he pretended then But unto me it doth plainly appear since that it was fained and that in his Conscience will witness with me that it was his own Earthly Profit more than the People's Good For this I know that in respect of the People's Wickedness he had as much cause to exchange as before Little Fruit or Reformation of Life doth appear the same fained excuse he might have if he knew of a greater Living For where he is now is near if not more than double the value of that he left and there he had continued longer than at two places before And thus it is with most if not all of them when they exchange Place and People it is for the greater Profit Self is in it commonly plain to be seen And herein they go from Christ and do not take that way to come after him that he hath set down Luke 9.23 If any Man will come after me he must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me But their way that they pretend to folow him in is in pleasing themselves and to have their Wills at Liberty and rule over others And although Christ Command Those that will find Rest to their Souls to take his Yoak upon them and learn of him to be meek and lowly in Heart Mat. 11.29 Yet these Pretenders are not so for Who more Proud or Impatient than they Or greater Patterns of Pride in the Parish than their Wives and Children in most places I leave to all who have any Eyes to see and behold and judge as there is just cause If any shall say Pride lies in the Heart I know it but as the Tree is known by its Fruits even so the Heart may be known by its Fruits for the Image of its delight is set up within before it be set up without this or that thing which they desire or see others have the Heart thinks is Good or Decent and it would have the like And are not they to wit the Priests their Wives and Children such as follow the Fashions of the World in using needless things which are to satisfie the vain Mind and the lustful desires of the Heart and the Apostle's Exhortation they are out of 1 Pet. 1.14 and so shew themselves to be in Ignorance and lust alive many contending for the continuing of Sin and the Devils Kingdom These Scriptures fore-mentioned being by the Priests practised are recommended unto them for to read unto the People which they ought in Plainness and Simplicity as it doth concern them to take them to themselves and acknowledge that they are their Conditions and that they are the Men that have done these things and are guilty and thereupon forsaking and no more practising that horrible and filthy thing that hath been committed in this Land by them to bear rule by their means to seek for their Gain from their Quarter to Teach for Hire and other-like Practices heretofore mentioned committed by them they not only as they come to see it simply confessing it but honestly forsaking it then they shall find Mercy but if they cover and hide their Sins they shall not prosper And this I was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to write unto them that they may not plead Ignorance Now you are warned of the Evil that shall follow whilst you have time prize it and return unto the Lord lest you remember this when it is too late which is from him who is a lover of your Souls And this word is to you O Priests And in the mean time until your Priests come unto this Honesty as to confess and forsake these filthy Practices all you that profess your selves to be Christians and own the Scriptures search the Scriptures and see if these things be not so and if you find that it be so and that your Teachers are such in their Practices as the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles spoke against then take heed I warn you from the Lord how you joyn with them to hold them up in their Sins lest you partake of their Plagues Now you are forewarned of the Evil know that the Light is arisen that discovers their Ways and Deeds of Darkness in their Practices therefore come forth from amongst these wicked Men who fear not God but live in these wicked Practices fore-mentioned And this word is to you O People Object Now if any shall say as they must if they will but speak Truth We know it is so with the most of them but if we leave them How shall we do for Teaching They have Learning and they are most likely to know the meaning of the Scriptures Answ The Scriptures were not given forth by the Learning Wisdom not Will of Man as in 2 Pet. 1.21 The Prophesie came not in old time by the Will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And in the fore-going verse he saith Know this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation and that nothing but that which gave them forth can open them And so in vain it is for you to go to such as say They are not guided by the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture nor do therewith speak when unto you they do speak of the Scriptures nay their Fruits their Lives and Conversations will Witness it against them if they should affirm it with words This know likewise many of those who gave forth the Scriptures were Unlearned Men in the World's Learning nay from the World's Learning they did not speak them forth but from the Mouth of the Lord by the movings of his Spirit which the World's Wisdom cannot reach for Man by this Wisdom knows not God nor the things of God We read that Jacob and David were keepers of Sheep and Elisha was a Plowman that Amos was an Herdsman and they said of Christ How knows this Man Letters having never learned John 7.14 15. Peter and John being brought before the Rulers Acts 4.13 The Rulers perceiving that they were Unlearned and Ignorant Men marvelled and divers of the Apostles were Fishermen and Paul tho' a learned Man yet was a Tent-maker Acts 18.3 And what things formerly he accounted gain to him he accounted loss for the excellency of the
I told Robert Barwicke if he had been upon Earth when Christ told the Jews They were of their Father the Devil he would have sent him to Prison Therefore all you who own this to be of God be not hasty to speak or act thus because it is agreeable to Scripture for a bare literal Imitation will not carry forth in time of Trouble neither will you find benefit by it For it is only the Spirit of Truth that gives righteous Judgment wait for the movings thereof And on the contrary you that talk of the Scriptures Fear to speak evil of those who are brought into the Life and Practice of them as the Holy Men of God witnessed lest the Scriptures condemn you This I was moved to write to fore-warn all of Extreams And now further top declare how I was dealt with at that place called Sessions Robert Barwicke declared Lawyer-like That he could do no otherwise with me than he had done seeing he had never seen my Face before To which I answered I had been with him upon Occasions and often I had seen him and he me Then he said I might not affront him I answered I might not suffer him to Lie but tell him of it Then after saying what he could against me he at down saying That he being concerned in the business would leave it to them others called Justices who asked me Whether I would submit or Traverse I answered In the Will of God I was and what he suffered them to do with me they might Then one of them asked me What Call or Occasion I had to that place I answered The same the Prophet Amos had to go into the King's Chappel to cry against the Altar in Bethel and Paul into the Synagogues as his manner was Acts 17.16 Robert Barwicke hearing this rose up in great Rage not heeding what he had said That he would leave it to them and begun to speak his Imaginations Priest-like wherein was no Truth and to say that he perceived and thought it was my Practice to disturb their Ministers as he called them and proceeded further using these Speeches Sirrah Sirrah Then I bid him see if these words did not come from an envious spirit But he went on with Threats that if I did so any more he would send me to the House of Correction and have me soundly Whipp'd whereupon these words were spoken O Tyranny Then he begun to take witness that I called him a Tyrant but they could not agree and so left it For one of them called a Justice said I said O Tyranny Then they asked me again whether I would submit or Traverse I answered them as before Then they concluded that they should get no other answer Then I asked them What Law I had broken And said If I had broken a Law they might lay the Penalty upon me But they would not shew me any Law that I had broken Then I asked them If the Prophets were Railers But they said that they might not discourse with me Then they caused me to be taken away And thus were they suffered to act And this is their time wherein they rule over others to their own hurt Herein they were seen and taken notice of by many both Officers Soldiers and others the Event I leave unto Him in whose Power I am who is present The next Day he who had the Charge of me brought to me two Papers called Mittimus's whereby I was by the Court ordered back again Prisoner to York Castle where I am in their Bonds but at Liberty in the Spirit of the Lord Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 This is witnessed Praises to the Lord God Almighty for evermore And all you who are guided by the Spirit of the Lord with whom I am one Praise the Lord with me who am a Well-wisher to the Souls of all Known by the Name of Roger Hebden A Warning from the Lord to Magistrates AWake awake look about you see what you are a doing You that profess your selves to be Christian Magistrates What are you doing with Christ's Appearance Do you not cast such into Prison who are brought into the Life and Practice of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles If you say They will not be subject to Authority but act contrary to Law So said the Jews of Christ We have a Law said they and by our Law he ought to dye But Pilate knew that it was out of Envy that the Jews did it What think ye was he clear of his Blood although he took Water and washed his Hands and said He was Innocent To that which is Pure of God in every one of your Consciences I leave it to judge you who am a Lover of Souls and a Lover of Justice It is not my desire nor the desire of any other that fears God that Sin should be unpunished when it is brought forth That is your Place and that is your Duty use the Sword put into your Hand for that end and the Blessing of God will accompany you But take heed lest you in your Wills or out of Zeal to prevent Sin do put in Practice those Laws whereby the Innocent are brought to suffer and so you come to be Actors of Sin instead of preventing it This I was moved to write to put you to a Search in your Selves to see how your Profession and Practice does agree and herein to you I have cleared my Conscience who am a Friend to Truth and a Witness against Deceit For which I am now Prisoner in York Castle known by the Name of Roger Hebden Copies of this was sent to those called Justices at several Sessions in Yorkshire and the City of York about the 16th of the 11th Month 1654. A Letter written to Friends in the Truth after I came to Prison before I was had to the Sessions at Wetherby This was to Friends in the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire before the 16th Day of the 11th Month 1654. from York-Castle O my dear Hearts THE Remembrance of you is precious my Bowels are even sweetly refreshed therewith even by every of you that are Faithful to the Lord in obeying the Measure of Grace received God Almighty bless you preserve you and increase the Knowldge of himself in every of you to his Praise and Glory who alone is worthy for ever and ever And all of you as Members one of another be faithful in your places watching one over another in Simplicity of Heart with a single Eye and in Love to re-call those that go astray from the Simplicity from that Spirit of Truth in them which ought to guide So the Simple will be delivered out of the Snare of the Crafty and so you will be altogether in the Unity serving God in Spirit which is the Service well-pleasing to him wherein you will come to witness the Rejoycing and Abiding therein the continuance of that Love which cannot be expressed In which Love I salute
your Adversary although he seem Potent but joyning with that which lets you see him there lyes your Strength God Almighty bless preserve and keep you all Faithful and Obedient to the Measure of Grace received from him is the Prayer of your dear Brother in the Truth of God in his Measure your Servant for the Truth 's sake and a Watchman for your Souls good by Name Roger Hebden From York-Castle the 22d of the 12th Month 1654. THE blind Watchman cries Watch but cannot but I as to the outward being Imprisoned for the Truth am at Liberty in the Spirit of the Lord with you all that are therewith guided and rejoyce in that the World cannot comprehend where lyes the Unity and the true Welfare even Fulness for all that are Obedient to the Lord in what is made known to them to be the Will of God and are found doing it Let this Enclosed with this be read at your Meetings amongst Friends in the Fear of God in which Meeting and Waiting whilst you are together and being kept when asunder all other Fear will be kept forth and you brought into the Blessedness For Blessed is the Man that feareth always A Letter to John Hebden my Brother after the Flesh I Am in Health and Well every way being and knowing my self to be in Obedience to the Will of God in this Condition and how long here I do not desire to known for that which would is for Condemnation with the Light that comes from Christ Jesus in obeying whereof the true Peace is But this is a Mystery to the Carnal Mind but to be Carnally Minded is Death and to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace is witnessed Praises to the Lord God Almighty for evermore Therefore in Love running forth to thy Soul I exhort thee Consider what it is thy Mind is upon whether upon things Carnal or upon things made known by the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in thee to be thy Duty to do A Talent God hath given a Measure of his Spirit unto every Man to profit withal and the Movings thereof in every one is cross and contrary to the Will of Man For Prophecies is times of old came not by the Will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Say not That was so then but can any expect it to be so now Who say it cannot make God changeable and not a Fulfiller of his Promise who saith Sons and Daughters shall Prophesie and upon Servants and Handmaids he will pour forth of his Spirit and they shall Prophesie Therefore that in thee which calls with a still low Voice as if it were behind thee when thou turnest either to the right Hand or to the left from That which the Righteous Pure and Holy Law of God makes known unto thee to be thy Duty to do or to leave undone To that give heed and thou shalt do well as the Apostle Peter saith as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in thy Heart And this Light shines in Darkness although the Darkness comprehend it not and so I know it is whith many as it was with me this Light did shine in me althogh the Darkness in me did not know what it was but when I came to know it and to be faithful in little things but it made known to be Sin avoiding them and by it little things which was made known to be my Duty doing them I came to find the Increase of God and whoso will not be Faithful in a little can never be made Ruler over much Who shall entrust him with it Nay that little is even taken from him and that unprofitable Servant is cast into utter Darkness where is Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth so it was I did witness it But there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Time was when Paul found a Law in his Members warring against the Law in his Mind so it was there was something in me that would as with the Apostle have served the Law of God but he found a contrary power giving way to it led him captive to commit Sin and then he cried out of his Wretchedness But he here did not rest himself satisfied as the Professors of the World now do who take this Condition of his when he cries out under the Burden of his Misery and in his Warfare to plead for a Hold for Sin and Satan in them so long as they live but he looks up to Christ and thanks God that he gave him the Victory through him and then he says There is no Condemnation and That the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death Which Condition is now witnessed the Conquest gotten by the same Conqueror and here is nothing of the Will of Man in it That hath neither Part nor Lot in this matter but the Work is the Lord 's only by that of himself in the Creature he joying to the Gift of God the Creature comes to Witness it Praises to our God for ever From a Well-wisher of thy Soul whose desire is that he may write himself thy Brother in that which the World cannot comprehend nor be bound by them wherein is the Unity of Saints and Rejoycing in the Lord in Spirit Roger Hebden York-Castle the 3d of the 1st Month 1665. From York-Castle the 12th of the 1st Month 1655 and sent into Swadale and Bishoprick to be read at their Meetings Frends ALL in the Manifestation of God's Spirit received wait for the increase of God being content with what is made known of him take heed of that desire that would be leading you before the Light for that will lead into Confusion and Trouble and that Zeal that would carry forth to Speak or Act beyond the true Knowledge which ariseth from the Light of the Son will lead into Darkness Sorrow and Lamentation when the Condemnation which comes from the Son ariseth upon it which will consume it up Therefore Friends every motion that calls upon you to Act or Speak do not lend an Ear to it so as to give obedience to it at the first although it seem at the first view to tend to Self-denial and be a Cross to your Wills but when such a motion doth arise then return in again and examine if there were not first in you a desire to do or speak such a thing as then is presented to be done or spoken it your find it so then to wait and be not hasty in the acting thereof it self be seen at the bottom then the Adversary will be ready to threaten with Disobedience if it be not presently done but do not hearken thereto but wait that you may know the Mind of God in it that you may not be deceived such waiting is not disobedience but
on the contrary when the Mind of God is clearly seen in it and nothing of felt at all to be seen upon the Examination as afore then be Faithful This is not to hinder any Commands for being obeyed that is of God he is my Witness but to prevent forwardness and rashness which must be repented of and I am moved to write this unto you to put you into a search in your selves that you may know from whence all your Obediences and Performances do arise and who it is that doth require them of you Thus in love to your Souls I have cleared my Conscience in what hath been shown me of a forward Spirit that way which hath carryed forth many in Zeal to speak and act beyond their knowledge Written by Roger Hebden For Friends to Truth in Malton and else-where ALL in that which is pure the measure of Grace received dwell every one in the particular that a growth in the Vine you may come to Witness from whence the knitting and uniting of Hearts comes yea the Sap springs up whereby the tender Plants Grow Blossom and bring forth Fruit to the Praise of the Planter and the Comfort of each other herein is your heavenly Father Glorified that you bring forth much Fruit. Now there is no need to write unto you what Fruit it is that Glorifies God but I exhort you all in Love running forth to you who are dear unto me that you every one in particular see by that which is pure of God in every of you let it be viewed whether your Fruit be such yea or nay for by the Fruit of Holiness God is glorified the Enemies of Truth their Mouths stopped and you are brought and knit together into the Unity of the one Spirit of God from whence all good Fruits grow in which being knit as one and growing in the same the contrary Spirit with it's Fruits will be cut down yea a shame will arise at the remembrance thereof yea even loathing thereof which is the Desire and Prayer of your dear Brother for you Roger Hebden Written and sent as aforesaid from York-Castle the 20th of the first Month 1655. Now all of you to whose hands this shall come do not look upon it in Scorn and take it ill and hastily thereupon Reply as it is usual with the People of the World when they are spoken to hereof What do you tell us What will the wicked Ones of the World say of Knowing or Fearing or Serving God We hope will they say that we Know Fear and Serve God as well as the best of you all Therefore in love to your Souls I exhort you all to consider with your selves whence have you this to wit the Knowledge of God which brings into his Fear with which he is served as is required Psalm 2.11 Serve the Lord with Fear Who taught you it Have you it any otherways than from looking upon things without you from Hearsay or from the outward Declaration of Scripture or looking upon your selves and the rest of the Creation And from thence conclude That there must be of necessity something above or over all these things that are to be seen from whence they had a Beginning and have a Continuance as also by Hearsay from Man and the outward Declaration of Scripture that declares of him from whence all these things were and are that he is God But what do you know of him By this you may say knowing that he made all things he is to be Served and Worshipped by his Creatures And you may say That you Serve him and Worship him according as you have been taught and ought all this may be granted and yet you all this while Strangers to God yea such as know him not Thus it was with the Children of Israel whom the Lord complains of by his Prophet Isaiah 1.3 The Ox knoweth his Owner and the Ass his Master's Crib but Israel doth not know my People doth not consider This People was not wanting to perform outward Sacrifices and Services as is mentioned in the 11 12 13 14 15. Verses of this first Chapter of Isaiah but the Lord asks them To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the Lord I am full of the Burntt Offerings of Rams and the Fat of fed Beasts And I delight not in the Blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of he-Goats when you come to appear before me Who hath required this at your hands to tread my Courts Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an Abomination unto me The New Moons and Sabbaths the calling of Assimblies I cannot away with it is Iniguity even the Solemn Meeting your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear them And when you spread forth your hands I will hide mine Eyes from you yea when you make many Prayers I will not hear your hands are full of Blood Now although these were such Services as they might have said That the Lord did require of them yet there was another thing that the Lord required of them without which these were not acceptable as in Jer. 7.22 23. For saith the Lord I spake not to your Fathers nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the Land of Egypt concerning Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices But this thing commanded I them saying Obey my Voice and I will be your God and you shall be my People c. And in the next verse it is said But they hearkened not They might say That they did his outward Commands as these did which he complained of by his Prophet Isaiah before mentioned which knew not God nor did consider him although he had as in the first of Isaiah and 2 d verse where it is written I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me For Whoso knows and loves him will keep his Commandments this was and is the Sign and Token of such as know God 1 John 2 3 4. And hereby we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments he that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar Now the Kingdom of God stands not in outward Sacrifices and Observances but first comes inward and there makes known what is to be done without as Christ declares The Kingdom of God comes not with outward Observations neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you Luke 17.20 21. And as the Prophet Jeremiah said the thing which the Lord did require of them was to Obey his Voice which if it had been only his outward Commands they might have pleaded with him that these they had done which the Lord by the Prophet asks them what purpose they were to and tells them that although they did these things yet his Soul loathed them But the things that he expected from them and required of them was these in the Verses
Knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord and he did account them but Dung that he might win Christ Phil. 3.7 8. which Excellency even the Knowledge of Christ he received not from Man but by the Grace of God appearing unto him which revealed the same within him Gal. 15.16 And thiâ— same Grace which appeared unto him was and is the Saints Teacher and whoso are obedient unto it it teaches them to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts Pilate who crucified Christ writ over his Head in Hebrew Greek and Latine The King of the Jews John 19.19 20. And these Tongues many may understand who know nothing of the things of God neither can they receive them for they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 But these Tongues are Natural and a natural Man may have them and they do not tech any to depart from Wickedness but the Grace of God being obeyed doth which is witnessed as in Scripture is declared Titus 2.11 12. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this present World This their Teacher was the Grace of God which is near every one within them and the Church of God now witnessing the Teachings thereof come to the Promise even the Word which is within in the Mouth and in the Heart the same which the Lord did give to the Children of Israel Deut. 30.11 12 13 14. For this Commandment which I command thee this day it is not hidden from thee neither is it far off it is not in Heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it Neither is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it But the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thine Heart that thou mayst do it Which doth agree and is one with that Rom. 10.5 6 7 8. where the Apostle speaking of Christ being the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth For Moses describeth the Righeousness which is of the Law that the Man that doth these things shall live by them But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or Who shall descend into the deep that is to bring Christ up again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart That is the Word of Faith which we Preach And in Heb. 4.12 13. The Word of God is quick and powerful and Sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and it is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart Neigther is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open before Him with whom we have to do Thus the Scripture testifies of the Word of God it is quick and hath Power in it That within which lies underneath in all whilst they are in the Fall this is that which with a still low Voice as if it were behind one Isa 30.20 21. when they turn out of the Commands of God to act Wickedness tells them in secret that such a thing they ought not to do and this rises up in them when they do Evil as when they tell a Lye or when they think evil Thoughts Hate or Back-bite and tells them they ought not so to do Yea I do appeal to any who have but any Knowledge of their Conditions whether they have not found something within them time after time check them for Evil Deeds and that hath plainly shewn them that they ought not to have done so as they did when as they did Swear Lie were Drunk or have been wrathful or envious against others when such deeds have been done by them then they have cryed for Mercy and said They had done wrong Now something there was within them that let them see plainly That they ought not to have done so although they did not know what it was here Light shined in Darkness but the Darkness comprehended it not And so it was with me many times for there was that in me which did check me secretly when I did tell a Lie for my Profit and Pleasure but I did not know what that was yea many a time after I had done such a thing as to tell a Lie I should have been troubled in my self for it And there was something in me that would have brought it to remembrance again a good while after as fresh as though it had been then spoken yea things which I did in secret which none knew of without to tell of them such things were raised up again into the remembrance even my secret Thoughts and evil Intents could not be kept but these things would have been brought to remembrance that such a thing thou didst at such a time in such a place and such Thoughts thou didst think which were evil All things that ever I did were laid open by the Righteous Law of God within me yea the Judgments and Wrath of God were shouwn me by the same to be my Portion And I did not know any way how to get free from the same And although it were many times shown me that such a thing I had done and thereupon the Wrath of God was shown likewise to be the Portion thereof yet notwithstanding I did still run into the same although I was condemned in my self for it not knowing what it was which did condemn me so this was in a time of ignorance as to the knowing what it was yet there was that in me which cleared the Lord when he did arise to Judgment in me And if he had Eternally Condemned me my Condemnation had been just for my disobeying of what I knew So that I know that the Lord will be Justified when he arises to Judgment and all Mouths shall be stopped for my Condemnation was not in the Day of Account for what I did not know but that such things were made known unto me to be my Duty to have done and I did them not neither shall any be Condemned for what they know not but for what they know and do not obey This is the Condemnation that Light is come yet Men love Darkness rather than Light John 3.19 This was true I witness And as the Word of God is thus Quick and Powerful and searches the Heart the Secrets thereof rips up lays open and brings to remembrance things done in the dark and so lets every one see the just Judgments of God to be their Portion for acting contrary thereto So the same which thus Checks and Reproves for Sin the same being hearkened unto and
who witness them true and to have been fulfilled in us and in obedience to the same Power are kept can read with Comfort from the Testimony within our own selves wherein we may and do rejoyce in Persecution and Suffering for Righteousness sake which none knows but as they are guided by the Righteous One wherein is our Happiness that although we be numbred amongst the Transgressors of Men's Laws yet we suffer not as evil Doers for who goes under the name of Quakers and suffers for evil Doing are neither owned by us nor know our Joy who suffers as Christians herein can Rejoyce in as much as we are made Partakers of Christ's Sufferings and can and may read 1 Pet. 4.13 14 15 16. Our Sufferings being for the same that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles practised to wit for speaking against Formal and False Worships and Worshippers and against Sin in Plainness even in their publick Meeting-places as they did as in 1 Kings 13.1 2. By the Word of the Lord the Prophet cryed against the Altar in Bethel Jeroboam standing by And by the Word of the Lord Amos prophesied in the King's Chappel in Bethel and in plainness speaks of the Judgments of God to befall Jeroboam Amos 7. But this was not from the Letter the outward Declaration of Scripture that they spoke but from the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in them as Prophesies came 2 Pet. 1.21 And the Father and Mother of Jesus found him in the Temple amongst the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions Luke 2.46 And the Apostle Paul an his manner was went into the Synagogues and Reasoned with them three Sabbath Days together out of the Scriptures And into the Synagogues he went at three several places to wit at Thessalonica at Berea and at Athens read Acts 17. for which he was then Persecuted And it is the same Generation in Nature now which Persecutes for the same Practices as then He that was Born after the Flesh persecuted him that was Born after the Spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 And so all that live in Persecution Hating and Envying and in Pride Covetousness Drunkenness Swearing Lying or any such like Wickedness take the Scriptures and look who they were that did such things and what was to be their Portion And this use you may make of the Scriptures Search them and see every one where you can find your own Condition for this I know and so you shall find That if you do apply the Promises to your selves which do not belong to that Condition which you live in that will do you no good at all in the time of trouble Therefore all consider betimes now whilst you have time and now that you are warned And all People of all Professions cease from looking at your Profession and see whose Work you do and what Fruit it is that you bring forth whether it be the Works of the Flesh or the Fruits of the Spirit of God which are different as the Scripture declares Gal. 5.19 20 21 22 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witcheraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Sedition Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law And be not deceived God will not be mocked for such as you sow such shall you reap If ye sow to the Flesh then ye shall reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting which is witnessed as in Scripture declared Gal. 6.7 8. Therefore with Bowels of Love running forth towards your Souls I exhort you all to consider whose Will it is that you are doing and what it leads into For the Will of God is your Sanctification 1 Thess 4.3 Therefore take heed I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord and by his Spirit how you go on in any Wickedness and lay the blame upon God and say When the Lord will it shall be otherwise It is not his Will that any should go on in their Wickedness but that all should turn from their Wickedness and Live but your Destruction I do declare unto you all to be from and of your selves running on your own Wills working the Works and delighting to live after the Flesh which brings Death as the Scripture declares Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh ye shall live And the Lord is not wanting on his part for to bring to Life but by the Spirit of his dear Son he calls upon every one for to return from the Evil of their Ways and as Obedience thereunto is given the Deeds of the Flesh come to be mortified and so they come to witness Life But if any say Hath every one the Spirit of Christ I answer with the Apostle Rom. 8.9 If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his that is such as do not live up to the Spirit of Christ so as to enjoy its Indwelling For a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit with And so every one as they stoop down in Obedience to that of God in them which is pure which rises up within them and shews them Evil Deeds and calls upon them to depart there-from they owning this to be of God from thence this Fear comes to be placed in the Heart that they dare not act contrary thereto but the same they obey and so him serve and worship who is a Spirit and is worshipped in Spirit and Truth Which that you may all do is my Desire and Prayer to the Lord for you all by whom I have been moved to write this forth unto whom I have cleared my Conscience and unburdened my Spirit in the informing your Understandings in the way of his Worship who is God over all and Blessed and Praised for evermore Hallelujah to the Highest Written by one who desires the Welfare of Souls R. H. Who was committed Prisoner to York-Castle for speaking the Truth To Enoch Sinclare Parish-Teacher of Slingsby this is A Copy hereof being sent to go unto him the first that went forth with what in this foregoing is thereunto added as in the Conclusion of this expressed is Friend I Being moved for to write something forth for to inform the Understandings of such as have been scattering and wandering in the cloudy and dark Day as I was whilst following the Inventions of such as thou art who knows nothing of God but by Hear-say conceivings of the Scriptures and looking upon things without Such pitying and in love unto their Souls I have
declared as I have received where they are to wait even within to hear That of God even his Word which is nigh them even in their Mouths and in their Hearts as in Deut. 30. Rom. 10. speaking unto them and so come to know something of him near them even what is to be known of him Rom. 1.19 Seeking him where they may haply feel after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us as in Acts 17.27 Which being known and obeyed will bring into the true Fear of him which must be before he can be served or worshipped who is a Spirit and is worshipped in Spirit and Truth which is witnessed as in Scripture declared John 4.24 And although it be so now with me and such like as it was with those which did Tremble at the Word of the Lord Isa 66.5 That this Generation doth cast Reproach upon and say That we deny the Ordinances of Jesus Christ and for a pretence say Let the Lord be glorified as they did But the Lord hath already arisen to our Joy who have been made to Tremble at his Word and his Commands obey And your Shame will follow when the Lord lays open your Nakedness to all the World as he hath done to me which hasteth greatly Praises Eternal be unto Him alone who hath let me see by the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned me who is the true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 That divers of your Observations in your pretended Worship of God are not the real Ordinances of Jesus Christ but the Inventions of Man for which you have no Command from Christ nor Example in Scripture as they are used by you And naming thee and thy practice as is hereafter written it came to me for to send thee in Writing what was written of thee before it went forth unto any other With a Warning therein written unto thee and the rest of thy Brethren Priests who live in these Practices hereafter mentioned who take Tithes as the Priests did who were of Levi but the Stranger the Fatherless and the Widdow have no liberty for to eat thereof with you and to be satisfied therewith as it was required Deut. 14.29 And your Store-house that you instead of keeping for them is for your own particular Prosit and not to receive them into for to distribute forth as the Lord required And so as you own Tithes take the Name of Priests who were of Levi and do as they did and never make mention of the Name of Christ who was of another Tribe to wit of Judah of which Tribe Moses spake nothing of Priesthood Heb. 7. 13 14. Neither did Christ ever that we read of in Scripture speak any thing concerning this being continued for to be his Ministers Wages But if any say When were they taken away I answer The Apostle saith That the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change of the Law Heb. 7.12 And none will say but that Law which made the Priests gave the Tithes and so must end together by right For Christ's Ministers were not for to stand and for to condition with People for any such Wages but as they had freely received so freely give Mat. 10.8 And into whatsoever House or City they did enter if they were received there to remain Eating and Drinking such things as they had given them and this was the Hire he appoints his Luke 10.7 But thou and such like will either see or hear from Man what you may have before you will sit down with a People and so plainly shew that you dare not trust but live by Sense and not by Faith in the Son of God And as you are ordained and ordered by Man to your Places and your Wages of Man's setting down and the Will of Man only to be seen in all these things so never profess your selves to be more than Ministers made by Worldly Men and for Worldly Ends and then poor Ignorant People may know you as you are who have long been deceived by you looking upon you to be Ministers of Christ or else prove that it is otherwise But it was not so with the Apostle He was not of Man Gal. 1.1 neither by Man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the Dead and such an one I own and all others who walk contrary I testifie against as Deceivers of the People And now for to write unto thee at present in short thus Concerning those things which you use and call some of them Ordinances of Christ which I say he did not Ordian And prove that he did if thou canst by plain Scripture and let me hear it in Writing and do not Back-bite that is a work of Dark-ness and condemned with the Light that comes from Christ jesus Therefore do to me as thou wouldst be dealt withal And what is said of thee and thy Brethren do not call it Railing for it is no harsher than Christ's telling the Jews That they were of their Father the Devil although they pretended to be of Abraham yet the Fruits which proceeded from their Lusts made them manifest as yours also do to be as he said John 8.44 And as to your Practice this I say That when Christ Jesus was upon Earth whom in Words some of you pretend to be Followers of when he told his Disciples what they must do to come after him he did not tell them That they must Sing David's Words either themselves or others not being Witnesses of his Conditions Or Sprinkle little Children or Infants with Water Or take a Text or Place of Scripture another's Condition and add to it their own Inventions But these things said he unto them Whosoever will come after me must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9.23 A Letter written to Friends in the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire to be read at their settled Meetings ALL Friends In the Measure that you have received of the Spirit of God dwell and wait for increase from him and do not fear Want not do you distrust the Love of God but there wait upon him in the Obedience to his Will made manifest being content with what is made known by him That Mind in you that would know more than he gives you to know is proud and is not willing to do what is made known Therefore take heed of that which would be high that is not of God It 's the Lowly that the Lord loves and he will give more Grace to the Humble but he resists the Proud and the Rich and Full must be sent empty away So all of you I exhort to dwell low at the Feet of Jesus wait for to hear his Word every one at the least Appearance of his Light and Grace which is pure in you bend down in Obedience and herein only do you Worship God who is a Spirit and is Worshipped in the
shall come to sit Judge in thee thou shalt then be made to confess that these thy words are vain Boasting and that his Merits and Mercies thou art ignorant of nor never canst know until thou return to be guided by that which checks thee in secret for the Evil of thy Doings and whatsoever thou dost not therewith being guided it is Self-Righteousness and of the Devil and so art guided by the Fancies of thy own vain Mind For that Mind is vain that leads the Creature into Vanities Now consider if it be not so with thee that such things as thou didst see a Vanity in thou art returned back to do those things again Therefore let Shame stop thy Mouth for accusing others of what thou art guilty of thy self And for the Rash Judgment thou speakest of casting upon our fellow Creatures which are the Workmanship of God's Hands as well as we who lives in the height of Conceits above all the People in the World Hence I do declare thee from whence this is to be a false Accuser for the Judgment is not past upon the Creature as it is the Workmanship of God's Hands but chiefly upon the wicked One in the Creature and only upon the Creature as subject to him which is the Enemy of God And saying We live in Conceits That is thy own Condition as will be made manifest and thou may'st as well condemn them who said That they knew that they were of God and that the whole World lay in Wickedness And no other Light do we speak of to be guided by but that Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned every one that cometh into the World which Light thou say'st is the Conceits of our own Minds And here I charge thee in the Presence of the Living God to be an Evil Speaker of that Light which comes from his dear Son saying It is the Conceits of our own Minds So I charge thee to make it appear that thou didst hear any of us ever speak of any Light to be guided by but the Light of Jesus Christ in the Conscience and if thou canst not then let Fear take hold upon thee and Shame smite thee in thy Face to say That Light is the Conceit of our own Minds that carries us on in the Work But the Grace of God and his Mercies thou sayest are above all our rash Judgment and Conceit I answer The Grace of God and his Mercies thou hast turned into Lasciviousness and out of a vain light Mind thou speakest of Blessing and Praising his most Holy Name and says in thy Conceits That he will sit as Judge him self to confound the Conceits and rash Judgments and Imaginations of high Aspiring Spirits of boasting Men of which Spirit and Mind Quakers are of thou sayest and so in Scorn writest Adieu Quakers How couldst thou get this written and not be condemed in thy Conscience that it was in Scorn Nay consider let the Search pass through and a Wirness shall speak in thee for me That these words were in Scorn written And although thou sayest God himself will sit Judge to confound the Conceits and rash Judgments and Imaginations of high Aspiring Spirits of boasting Men of which Spirit and Mind Quakers are of here consider what thou hast said That God should sit but thou art Exalted as if got into his Seat to judge not with his Spirit but with Scornful Mind speaks of that Condition which his People Witnessed and he Commanded And here thou shews to all that have any Understanding or Eyes to see That thou hast no Bridle to thy Tongue and so thy Religion is in vain Then thou asks out of a vain Mind What Rule we have in Scripture for our high Conceits of our selves Here Ishmael makes himself manifest in thee And further says If we imitate our formed Weekly Meetings from the Apostles and Disciples we Err for they lived in the Truth and we live in the Conceits of Mind I answer meer Imitation without the Spirit we deny But this is known that who are guided by the same Spirit that the Apostles were it will bring them to follow their good Example And did they not meet Weekly Deny it if thou canst And whereas thou sayedst They lived in the Truth and we in the Conceits of Mind Here again I charge thee that so speaks to be a false Accuser And thou sayest God is Judge of the whole World Himself Whereas he Judgeth by his Son and Saints For do not the Scriptures say That the Father Judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son John 5.22 and in the 27th verse And hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of Man And in the Epistle of Jude 14 and 15 verses Behold the Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all c. But thou shewest thy self to be an Opposer of Christ and it is true and nor rash Judgment to say so of thee who art found in the Enmity And it is not for us to work before the Eternal Creator of Heaven and Earth doth work in us but his Acting in the Creature is a Mystery to thy carnal Mind and thou art not Judged before the time and this Judgment wherewith the wicked One in thee and others is judged shall not Condemn us for That of God in your Consciences shall witness it to be true and Condemn all for you who live in the Filth of the Flesh and Conformity to the World Acting contrary to what you are Convinced of for Self-Ends and Fear of Man And further thou proceed'st and say The turning of the Mind what way we will that we call the Word of the Lord Thou false Accuser and evil Speaker of the things thou dost not understand how long wilt thou suffer the envious One to rule in thee and to speak Evil of that thou understandest nor If thou knowest the Word of the Lord which is as a Fire shut up in the Bones Jer. 20.9 and how it comes thou wilt know that it is not in our power to turn it what way we will Therefore make out what thou sayest otherwise thy Mouth being stopped own thy Condemnation upon thy false Accusation Thou sayest The Word came by Revelation but how it comes thou knowest not neither canst thou say in the Presence of the Lord and not Lie That the Lord ever spoke one Word unto thee for to declare abroad and yet wilt be Judging of others Then thou further proceeds for to bid John Brown Let high Aspiring Thoughts and Conceits depart and let Brotherly Love be placed in his Heart and Tenderness and Pity possess his Soul This I know that Tenderness and Pity doth possess his Soul and in his Heart he doth love them that are Brethren in Christ Jesus But to the Deceit that rules in thee and others which would have fair and pleasant Words those who are guided by the Spirit of Christ cannot speak Peace