People this is one of the chief Articles of the Church to Promise and Vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and live so all its Life long this is the first thing they injoyn a Member of their Church in the receiving a Member into their Church as part of their form of Worship and in their Pulpits Preach against it that is against the principal part of their Articles of belief in Baptism inasmuch as they say there is no Perfection here O the Darkness gross Darkness that is over this people the blindness and ignorance they are in concerning their Salvation it is hard to express how they are misled the blind Leaders of the Blind till many a thousand fall into the Ditch But blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath drawn me and many more out of it and hath set our Feet upon a Rock as David said Out of the Miery Clay For all these Performances and their best Duties are but as Mire and Clay in the sight of God and we that were in it as well as others hath the Lord raised up to bear a Living Testimony against this Idolatrous Worship and false Imaginations that others may come to see where they are and come out from amongst them before they fall together into the Pit of Hell where there is never coming out more For the Priests and all other Sect-Masters are blind Leaders of the Blind for do but consider the manner of their proceeding in this matter of Sprinkling of Children and what it doth produce the Priest he sprinkleth Water in the Face of the Child and saith I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost And that they reckon maketh a Christian of the Child to wit a Child of God a Member of Christ and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of God an absolute Delusion and then there they must have some other People good or bad to stand bound for the Child and these they call God-Fathers and God-Mothers as if the God of Heaven and Earth had Fathers and Mothers made of wicked Men and Women for do but mind these people take the Work of God upon them inasmuch as they take upon them to Promise and Vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works which is to live without Sin and no less then all the dayes of his Life which is a thing all the World can never do for inasmuch as they promise that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works this doth include all Sin whatsoever for there is no Sin nor never was but is of the Devils work and herein they take that upon them which none can do but God and Christ and therefore Christ is come to destroy Sin to put an End to Sin to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness for all man's Righteousness is but as filthy Rags and when he hath done all that he can while he is in the old Nature it is all unprofitable And further consider both Priests and People how the Priests Err in compelling people to do that in this case which they are ignorant of and cannot give Answer for what they do and here the Blind are Leaders of the Blind For neither Priests nor People know in this matter what they do for if they did some of them would not do it for when some in obedience to the Lord have asked them why they did do these things which there is no Scripture for they could not well tell what to say some have said The Law of the Nation is for it Others in a blind manner will say That if they should not do it their Children would be Damned because they think that maketh them Christians when few of them know what a Christian is for a Christian is one that walketh like Christ or as Christ would have him and so to be United to Christ Some will Answer and say That it was used in our Fore-Fathers dayes and therefore we will use it It was said In the time of Ignorance the Lord winked but now he hath removed the Clouds of Ignorance and made these things known and hath cleared up the understandings of a Remnant more in this Age than in some Ages past and hath manifested the emptiness barrenness unfruitfulness and unprofitableness of the Traditions of the Ignorant and is calling to Repentance and the People of this Age have as much need of Repenting of this thing of Sprinkling as any one thing for in the manner as it is now used and hath been for some time past it is very wicked and abominable in the sight of God and why may not people as well plead for their Fore-Fathers Drunkenness Swearing Lying and Whoreing as for this For note this one thing when they go to make a Christian as they suppose do but mark them in the Action when they are met together they behave themselves more like People of making Heathens than Christians for it is common for them they take occasion at such times to Feast Play Dance Revel and be drunk at the time when they practise such things And this is their manner of making Christians who make use of those opportunities of their so meeting to commit such Abominations but I would leave to the serious consideration of any sober People whether these Actions and Practices be the way to make Christians O! the horrid Abominations and Pollutions that People do commit in this and almost in all their Duties when they meet together as they say to worship God! the Lord is weary of bearing with it and his Indignation is against them that run into any thing and call it Service and Duty to God when God hath not commanded it nor required it nor his Spirit led them to do it These things are an Abomination to the Lord and Christ is come to judge the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment for people that are got into any Judgment or Righteousness as to Religion and Worship which they are not led and guided into by the Spirit of God although it were a likeness of the true Worship which the People of God in Ages past did do in obedience to the Spirit of God and where things that were accepted of God being done and acted by the holy men of God as they were moved by his holy Spirit were well-pleasing to God in their Day and Time they being but Shadows and Figures of the Substance Christ Jesus which is come and hath put an end to them outward things now is calling of People to worship in the Spirit and in the Truth for Christ said Such the Father seeketh to worship him So now though People may run into these things which were good in their Time and Day as Circumcision was in its day so were other things in their day and time as John's Baptism breaking of Bread and many other things before as the Passover the Brazen Serpent which
Sheep hear my Voice and the Voice of a Stranger they will not hear John 10.27 these were good Sheep Now to come to hear Christ's Voice is to obey his Spirit that striveth in the Heart to reclaim the Wicked and the Willing and Obedient shall dwell in the Land in the Kingdom of God and shall eat of the Good of the Land the Bread of Life and their Souls shall partake of the Honey and the Milk that floweth therein Isaeah 1.19 Some may say If I had been in the dayes of his Flesh I would have heard him and have come to him but he is asoended up on high and sitteth at the Right Hand of God and how can I hear him now Well it is true he is ascended into Heaven and is with the Father But mark this he is not confined to one place but as thou mayst read in the Scriptures Rom. 9.5 He is God over all blessed forever and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is every where and there is a measure or manifestation of his Light and good Spirit given to thee 1 Cor. 12.7 and to every man and woman upon the Earth that thou and they may profit by it upon the count of Salvation and the knowledge of this is made known in thee or that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 The Word is near even in the Heart and in the Mouth c. there thou mayst hear it and as thou obeyest the Voice of it it will give thee Power to do that which it doth require of thee and by doing this it is that thou mayst hear his Voice by keeping to that of God in thee and thy mind exercised in it Here the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is known as well as in days past and in Generations gone So let none deceive themselves for the Spirit of Christ is near to all whether they will hear him or not and true it is that they must one day give an account to him whether they will or no therfore let none deceive you with lying Vanities or unprofitable Words for this is he that searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and sheweth unto man what his Thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name and he is not far from any Acts 17.27 28. so that no man need say Who shall ascend to fetch Christ or who shall descend to fetch Christ up or who shall go beyond the Sea For saith the Apostle The Word of Faith which we Preach is nigh but how nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.6 7 8. and that Christ was that Word of Faith which they preacht and so we say that People may hear it and do it And Christ said to John as may be read in the third Chapter of the Revelations 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 Rev. 3.20 It is at the Door of the Heart the Lord knocketh and they that hear obey the Spirit of Jesus that there knocketh such come to be born of the Spirit and by this come to sup with the Lord which is not an outward Supper but an inward enjoyment of spiritual Food the Bread of Life that which came down from Heaven which Christ said He that eateth thereof should never dye should live forever John 6.33 34 35 50 52 53 63. and that Bread that a man eating of it never dyes Christ said was the true Bread that his Father gave from Heaven then the Priests did not give it And when the People murmured because Christ said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you did not Christ for their further satisfaction make them this Answer The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life it is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profitteth nothing Now they that can believe Christ let them who said The Flesh profitteth nothing but the quickening Spirit and Power of God that raiseth the Soul from Death to Life And this is that we labour to bring People to that all might come to know that they have a part in him who said I am the Resurrection and the Life John 5.25 and so to feed at the Table of the Lord that they may never hunger more And for this we have been and yet are hated of the World both of Professors and Prophane but more especially of some angry and envious Professors and no marvel for none hated Christ and the Apostles more than they that made Profession of Religion in those dayes who were themselves out of the Life of Righteousness and in Hatred Strife and Envy as too many Professors are now adayes who stick in the outward Observations and Ceremonies one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is and all in their own Inventions or in the Inventions of their Fore-Fathers or at least in the Imitation of Elementary Things often Persecuting and Destroying one another about Opinions And these are they that are led by a false spirit for all people are led by the true or false Spirit for there is but two the Good and the Bad which all People upon the Earth are led by that is the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Devil and to which of these a man gives his Mind to serve his Servant he is and his Conversation is managed by that Spirit and it may be that both lead to profess Religion for even the Devil in some sense is not against Peoples making a Profession of Religion but he makes them so blindly Zealous that they shall Hate Persecuto or Murder those that will not believe what they believe and worship as they worship and be of their Religion The Devil cares not how much People talk of God and Christ and Religion provided they do not deny him to lead them and so become New Creatures For they that are not led by the Spirit of Christ are none of his Rom. 8.9 And to be led by the Spirit of Christ is to become a New Creature for all have been in the old Nature Children of Wrath as the Apostle said Ephes 2.3 we as well as others till we come to put off the Old Man with his Deeds and to put on the New Man which is created after the Image of him that created him in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes 4.24 the image of Christ who said Behold I make all things New And herein cometh the New Birth to be known by which People come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom which none ever come to but they that are born again which is to live a Life answerable to the Truth and to put off the old Man's Deeds is to put off Sin for all Sin and Wickedness is of the Devil the old Man and this is the old Nature by
which People are Children of Wrath and it is the old Leaven the Apostle commanded to be purged out that in the room thereof Righteousness may dwell which is of the New Nature and they that come to this in all things become New Men and have New Thoughts New Words and New Works being begotten and born again by the Spirit of God all things become New and all Old Things be done away to wit Swearing Cursing Lying Quarreling Fighting Stealing Whoreing Drunkenness Pride Envy Murther Cozening Cheating Covetousness and Idolatry Dissimulation and Hypocrisie all that is Old and all False Religions must be roled together as a Scrole John 4. and a New Worship must be known even in Spirit and Truth And this was that which John was shewed in the time of his Banishment by him that said to him Behold I create all things New Mark the end of the Old John said He saw a New Heaven and a New Earth in which dwelt Righteousness and there was no Sea but the Old Heaven was roled together as a Scrole with a great Noise and the Earth was burnt up with every green Tree and every Island and every Bonds-man and every Free-man fled away and the Elements were melted with fervent Heat But these things are a Mystery hid from the Wisdom of this World for the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are hid in Christ Jesus who only and alone opens and reveals the Mysteries and secrets of God's Kingdom and also of the Devil's Kingdom and without this Revelation of Jesus none can know the Right way from the Wrong nor the True Worship from the False because it is spiritually discerned They therefore that are not led and guided by the Spirit of God cannot know these things for the true Knowledge the right Understanding of it is foolishness to them therefore they are putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and calling Good Evil and Evil Good and the Wrong Way the Right and the Right Way the Wrong And in this Blindfold Condition are all the Worshippers in the World that are not led by the Spirit of God to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth for there is no Worship accepted of God but that which People are led into by the Spirit of God and for want of keeping to the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth which in the Heart and Conscience Reproves for Sin and Justifies men in doing of Good People run into all manner of Errors as well in Judgment Discipline and Worship as in the other things for though there be a Spirit in man Yet it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives a man Understanding how to Worship God and of the Way to Heaven and what to believe and what not to believe and what to do and what to leave undone and what will please God and what will not please him But that there is such an immediate Inspiration whereby God doth teach and reveal his Mind to his Children in this Age is opposed vilified and denyed by the Generality and no marvel for needs must it be so while they are beside the Truth and will not come to the Spirit of Truth to be led by it but oppose it that should lead into all Truth and give a man to understand that which no man can un derstand by the Wisdom of this World 1 Cor. 1.12 ch 2.14 for the Scripture saith The World by Wisdom knew not God but as People come to be made wise by God so they come to have an Experience of these fore mentioned things to know the old Heaven to be dissolved and the Elements melted with fervent heat this is not an outward thing but an inward Work of God and it was never done by any Power but the Power of God And blessed be the Name of the Lord he hath begun this Work in many which is to the Salvation of them that are faithful and use victoriously the spiritual Weapons of their Warfare in Righteousness against Sin and Wickedness in the Heart and as they of old said so can many say now adayes The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual and mighty through God for the pulling down the Strong Holds of Satan in man Principalities and Powers of Darkness and for the bringing into the Obedience to Christ our Evil Thoughts 2 Cor. 10.4 that in the room of Sin Everlasting Righteousness may reign then that Peace will be known which passeth all Understandings of this World And as People give way to the Spirit of God it wars against the Devil and against his strong Holds which is Sin in the Heart for that is the chiefest Place in Man the Heart therefore God expecteth the Heart And the Wise Man said My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 So when Christ cometh to rule in the Heart then all things become new the Old Nature by him cometh to be purged out and a New Nature cometh to be known which is of the Nature of Christ and here Man comes to be born again by putting off the Old World's Worships Delights and Pleasures which are the old Heaven and Earth in the Heart for Heaven is as False Worship so Pleasures Delights c. for whatsoever a man sets his Heart Mind and Affections upon more than upon Christ that he makes his Heaven and his God too some made their Bellies their God and some make Covetousness their Heaven and some make Pride their Heaven whose chiefest Delight is to deck their Bodies up in foolish Toyes and cannot tell what New Thing many times to invent to put on or spend their Money upon Little do such remember what the Prophet cryed Isa 40.6 All Flesh is but as Grass and the Beauty of it but as the Flower of the Field the Grass withereth and the Flower fadeth away in like manner doth the Bodies of Men and Women with the Beauty thereof but the Word of the Lord endureth for evermore but this holy Word is little minded little loved or regarded by many although it strive with People in them to save them from the Wrath to come and will be with them forever a Joy to those that are faithful to it and a torment to the Wicked But the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of many and they are willing to be blinded by him alwayes delighting themselves in the things of this Life till Death seizeth upon them and then their Delights here become their Burden then they begin to cry out Lord Lord but what doth the Scripture say of such Matt. 7.21 22. mark Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter the Kingdom of God but he that doth the will of God and the Will of God is that people should cease to do Evil and learn to do well Isa 1.16 17. and cleanse their Hands and their Hearts by putting away the Evil of their Doings whilst they are on this side the Grave For the Scripture saith There is
say That the works of Christ are not perfect they that know Christ to work all their Works in them and for them which Works are perfect and profitable in all they that are pure in Heart and by this Sin cometh to be destroyed and by the Power of God Perfection is known and not by any thing of man's Righteousness Service or Invention which is but Outward Lip Service which Christ complained against concerning them that honoured him with their Mouthes but their Hearts were far from him it is now just so with most sorts of People Priests Professors and Prophane that are come no further than the Scribes and Pharisees were and the Jews and High Priests in Christ's dayes when he in the Body of Flesh walked upon the Earth they then were much opposing Christ and the Apostles Doctrine because they preach't up another Doctrine contrary to the Traditions who were busie about Outward Duties and Services Praying Preaching and Singing and Eating Drinking Washing and making a great flourish with Outward Worship and boasting about Religion which was but in Ceremonies Types Figures and Shadows altogether in Outward things as people are now adayes that are not come to the Spiritual Worship which is in Christ Jesus these were in Ages past and are in this our Age all crying out against that inward Principle which Christ and the Apostles exhorted People to as you may read in the Scriptures of Truth how Christ said He was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1.9 This Light shineth in the Heart and Conscience there to shew a man his Thoughts and to set his Inward Condition in view before him because nothing else can do it and this was that Light that shone in Paul when he said O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 It was the Light of Christ that shewed him his wretched state and not only so but gave him Power over it and he being faithful to it through great Self-denyal he taking up the Cross to his own Will whereby he was crucified to the World and the World to him was made able to travail through great Tribulations Exercises and Persecutions both by Professors and Prophane and by his own Country Men and all this Hatred and Malice was raised up in them by the Devil against Paul because he was turned to the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus in himself and led a new Life and worshipped God in another manner than he did before to wit in the Spirit and in the Truth he being come to that which was out of their sight to things that Christ had revealed to him and by this he preached and turned People from Darkness to the Light of Christ in themselves and from Satan's Power to the Power of God for this thing was Paul enviously persecuted and cryed-out against and accounted Mad and ceased not their Pursuit till they had murdered him at Rome and for this very thing do Professors Priests Magistrates and many others hate us now adayes for turning of People from Darkness to Light from Satan's Power to the Power of the living God many have been the Inventions Consultations Contrivances against us both by Parliaments Councils Magistrates Bishops Priests Professors and Prophane that if the Lord had not stood by us we had been destroyed long ago but the Righteous God that pleads the innocent Cause of his Children hath so kept us and preserved us by his Living Power that our Adversaries had never ought to prove against us but only the Law of our God and this honest Daniel was accused for but consider what became of his Accusers and the Accusers of the Righteous in all Ages and then read within what will become of the Persecutors of God's People in this Age and for the future and who ever prospered that fought against God for the Hand of God is too strong for the whole World and it was ever turned upon them that used Violence and Misery must be their Portion if they Repent not Therefore 't is good for all people to look home and to consider how it is with them as to their inward Condition for it I am Wrong thou shalt not give an Account for me nor I for thee but every one for themselves therefore it is good for every one to walk in the Light while the Light shineth before Darkness come upon thee and there be no more Light and thou left without Remedy for Salvation for it is the Light that bringeth Salvation as you may read in the Scriptures what the Holy Men say 2 Cor. 4.6 That God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ that is in the Appearance of Jesus Christ Christ is the Light and the Light is Christ Within the Hope of Glory and this they spoke who were Witnesses of his inward Appearance of his revealing himself in their Hearts and Inward Parts And further the Scripture saith That this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men loved Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are Evil John 3.19 This is Salvation to them that are saved and Damnation to them that are damned to wit the Light for you may see that they that hated the Light were condemned by it and it was and is hated by all that love and plead for Sin which is Evil for while people live in Darkness which is Evil they see not the Evil Effect that Darkness will produce to them that love it nor the Misery that doth attend them and therefore they hate the Light for the Light makes Sin appear exceeding sinful and dreadful to behold and they that are not willing to leave their Sins get up into Disregard and Hatred against the Light that sheweth them it and sheweth to them their States this is that which troubleth people in their Minds and disquietteth them in their inward Parts for following their Lusts and Pleasures and therefore hated by them for this is oftentimes troubling of them for creeping under false Colours of Religions and false Security and lets them have no true Peace under any invented Religion that is not set up by God and Christ and also troubleth the common Priests for making a Trade of the Scriptures and Merchandize of the people who with their Lyes make People believe all is well with them when it is no such thing and so cheat People both of their Souls and Money and all this they do for Money but People are not willing to believe this because it is an easie Road and pleasing to the Old Nature and old course of Life and here they can live and please the basest of men and do according to the Traditions and Doctrines of man although it be never so contrary to God and here the Blind lead the
them off in their Sin neither desired he their Death or Destruction but rather that they should turn from their Wickedness and live And so the Lord considering the Misery man was fallen into and what was become of man looking down upon them with an Eye of Pity and Compassion remembred his former Love to man in the Beginning when he first created him how that he had more regard to man than to all he had created upon the Earth besides insomuch that he made him in his own Likeness in pure Holiness without any Spot of Sin and set him above the Ox the Ass and above all other Creatures in Wisdom Power and Glory but man losing that Dominion God gave him fell under the Ox and the Ass that is became more degenerated than the Beast of the Field and hath not Power of himself over Sin that holy Nature being lost which he was created in that Wisdom that Glory that Power in which he was created are also lost and Man disabled to glorifie God but the Beast of the Field kept their places as they in the first were created and praise the Lord in their kind and he findeth no Fault in them And as man at the first was set above them so now in God's Account he is set above man in his Fallen State for instance If one have an Ox or an Horse to a Pond to drink and beat him till one kill him he will drink no more but to do him good but man is worse than a Beast in drinking to Excess and so drinks up Iniquity as an Ox drinks Water and many times men destroy their Bodies as well as their Souls in Excess of Drunkenness and as we are in this Condition the Beasts of the Field are set before us and herein Complaint was taken up against Man The Lord by the Mouth of his Prophet said Isaiah 1.2 He had nourished and brought up Children and they had Rebelled against him and had for saken him Dayes without Number Him the Fountain of living Mercyes to their Souls and had been seeking and inventing to themselves other Fountains which would stand them in no stead Jer. 2.13 broken Cisterns that would hold no water And in this Condition the Beast of the Field is set before man and the Lord said The Ox knows his Owner Isaiah 1.3 and the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know the Lord. Oh the Sad and Deplorable State of Man Oh the depth of Misery that men are fallen into whom God so highly honoured that now the poor Ox and Ass is set before them Oh! what Misery Wo Dread Sorrow and perpetual Destruction never to have End doth attend Man and Woman in this Condition and that without Remedy of fallen man had not the Lord in Mercy towards man provided a Remedy we had been all Undone as on the account of Salvation and that forever But the Lord of yearning Bowels and tender Mercy to our Souls hath prescribed a way how Man may come again into favour with God and to escape all those fore-mentioned Dangers which by reason of Sin they are like to be plunged into and become more Miserable than any other Creature upon Earth for there is nothing else that God hath Created upon the Earth but Man and Woman that hath sinned therefore in this Condition they are of all other Creatures most miserable in the sight of God And the Lord looking down upon People in this Condition seeing them all gone astray and that there was none in this state did good no not one but all were running Head-long to Hell being gone from the Wisdom of God and the good Spirit of God in themselves therefore there was none found doing good and then came they to be led by a bad Spirit And to this day the bad Spirit rules and bears sway more or less in all People that are not come to obey Christ's Spirit and to be led and guided by it For all People upon the Earth are led and guided by one of these two Spirits Sinners by the Spirit that begetteth Sin in them and carrieth it on in Thoughts in Words and in Actions and Righteous men by the Spirit of Righteousness that begetteth Righteousness in them and carrieth it on in them in Thoughts Words and Actions and thus all men and Women come to be known that is by their Words and Actions what Spirit it is they are led by Mat. 12.33 For the Tree is known by his Fruit as Christ said of old Now here was the Lord's Love wonderfully manisested again to Mankind after he had rebelled against God and had lost that glorious Habitation which the Lord had placed him in in that the Lord was not willing to reject man forever and to take the Kingdom from him forever but upon Terms the Lord offered it to man again and hath sent his good Spirit into the Wilderness of deep Distress Nehem. 9.20 whither Man and Woman was driven from the Presence of God by reason of Sin to visit man in his fallen state and bring him back again to God Now this is the Terms that God hath proffered his Kingdom to man again upon Luke 13.3 Acts 3.19 Repent ye and Believe the Gospel And this Jesus proclaimed in his Message from the Father when he sent him into the World to preach the Glad-tidings of the Kingdom So all that turn again to God believe him and hear him and obey his Voice as the true Shepherd and Repent of the Evil they have done Isa 1 17. and cease to do Evil and turn from their Evil Wayes and learn to do well and lead a new Life and keep God's holy Laws and Commands the residue of their Lives Now to all without Respect to Persons Rich or Poor Old or Young High or Low Bond or Free Master or Servant White or Black All that will receive God's Kingdom upon these Terms behold it stands offered to them and to help man in this Work seeing no man can do it of himself without God's help God hath so loved the World that he hath sent his Son Christ Jesus the true Light John 3.16 that Enlightens every man that cometh into the World to visit man and hath given a Measure or Manifestation of his good Spirit to every Man and to every Woman to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 according to the Sayings of the Scriptures of Truth which we that are called Quakers do own to be A True Declaration of the Holy men of God and of those things that ought to be Believed and Practised And this profiting which they are to profit by the Measure of his holy Spirit is upon the Account of Salvation which nothing else can do but God's Light and Spirit and therefore he hath freely given it to all People to awaken them out of Sin and Wickedness saying Arise and go hence for this is not your Rest He also makes Proclamation of Liberty to
and Ruin of Israel of old Neh. 9.20 That God had given unto them his good Spirit to instruct them but they rebelled against it till their Day was over and then came in a Flood of Misery upon them and then all the World could not help them but his Wrath broke out upon them as it is written Their Carcases fell in the Wilderness yea Twenty Three Thousand in one day and were destreyed of Serpents and of the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10.8 9 10 11 12. and this happened to them because they rebelled against God's good Spirit that he gave to instruct them resisting it till their Day was over and that the Lord ceased striving with them and swore in his Wrath They should not enter into his Rest a dismal Conclusion These things did not only happen to them in that time but to all those in all Ages that rebelled against God's Spirit till he ceased striving with them they ever came to Misery which never will have an End Rebellion said one of old is as the Sin of Witchcraft 1 Sam. 15.23 and the Law would not suffer a Witch to live and as in the time of the Law God allowed not Witches their natural Lives neither will God give Eternal Life to those Souls that go on in Rebellion against the Reproofs of his good Spirit now but sin out the Day of their Visitation even the Day of his Long suffering and Forbearance to them who hath said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man Gen. 6.3 It was the Saying of a good Man in dayes past speaking to People in their Youth one that was acquainted with the Dealings of the Lord with Mankind Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth before the Evil Day come Eccles 12.1 that is the Evil Day when God's Spirit hath done striving with Man which will come upon all People that do not turn at the Reproofs of God's Spirit in their Hearts in that time when he offereth Merey to them But in all Ages God raised up faithful men that were faithful to the Spirit of God in themselves to bear a Testimony against Sin and to warn People of the Evil of their Doings as well as by the strivings of his good Spirit in them because he would leave them without Excuse that hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord but set at nought all his Counsel and would not turn from their Evil Wayes at the Reproof of his good Spirit in them And these good Men the Prophets they spake what God spake to them or in them by his Spirit and not a Premeditated Matter as the Priests do now adayes of all sorts that are not led by the Spirit of Christ In dayes past God spake to the People by the Prophets and they were moved to speak as he pleased sometimes little and sometimes much as he pleased and what hep eased and in this manner God speaks by his Prophers in this our Age and these be the true Ministers and none else nor none else ever were nor can any inform men and set them in the Way to Heaven if they are not themselves led instructed 1 Cor. 1. Chap. 2.10 1 John 1.1 2. taught and guided by the Spirit of God themselves such can instruct others as God doth them and such can speak their Experience to the People of the Teachings Leadings and inward Guidings of God's Spirit and how the Soul comes to be reacht converted and brought into Union Communion and Fellowship and to converse with God as they are moved by the Holy Ghost and as the Spirit gives them utterance and these be the true Ministers of Christ and these preach without Study or Natural Art or Invention of Man and they that take upon them to be Teachers of others and are not come to be taught led and guided themselves by the Spirit of Truth that leads mark into all Truth that so by this they may turn people as Prophets and Apostles did of old to the Leadings and Guidings of God's Spirit in themselves are False Prophets and Deceivers for that which may be known of God is manifest and to be manifested in man for there God shews it to man as it is written God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1.19 And all that take upon them to be Teachers and would seem to be something and know not these things are Deceivers and will cheat people of their Souls and have done many Thousands already Jerem. 14.14.23.28 29 30 31 32 36. And this I speak that all may take Warning and be awakened to seek after God and come out from the False Prophets and Deceivers that are in the World and in wardly to wait upon God to receive from him the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of himself in your inward parts and this is the saving Knowledge as it is writterr This is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 But now to return to the thing before in hand which was to take a View of the Misery Destruction and Ruin of those that in their Day did not turn from the Evil of their Doings at the Reprooss of God's Spirit in their own Hearts and inward parts but provoked God from day to day then God raised up his Servants the Prophets and sent them to warn Evil-doers as a Sign to them that the Long-suffering of God was drawing to an End and that his Spirit should cease striving with them and that swift Destruction should come upon them except a speedy Repentance and Amendment of Life as namely Noah that just Man who walked with God and was perfect in his Generation him did God raise up to be a Witness against that Generation a Minister a Preacher of Righteousness to whom God revealed his Mind concerning that Generation saying My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man that will take no Warning and God said to Noah Make an Ark for the End of all Flesh is come before me and behold I even I said God bring a Flood of Water to destroy all Flesh wherein is the Breath of Life but I will establish my Covenant with thee for thee have I seen Righteous before me in this Generation And I suppose much need not be spoken now to convince people that God did destroy the old World in the execution of his Wrath and that because they sinned out the Day of their Visitation and did not Return at God's holy and just Reproofs while his Spirit strived with them Again the Inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah with their Cities and Substance for their Sins were brought into Ashes who as the Figure of Eternal Vengeance hath God made to be an Example to all that afterward should live Ungodly here Also there was the Overthrow of Pharaoh and his Host who in the Pride of his Heart said Who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice I know not the Lord neither will
no Unclean Thing shall enter the Kingdom of God and all Sin and Wickedness is unclean in the Sight of God and this was that which John saw was done away which he called the Old Heaven and the Old Earth and said He saw a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness which was a real Change in Man and Woman out of Sin and Wickedness into Righteousness and so Christ comes to rule where the Devil ruled and this is being born again and without coming to this none can come to be saved nor go to Heaven Therefore 't is good for all to consider this while there is time to do it before the Night come wherein no man can work for God for there are many things that hinder man from being born again as I was about to say concerning them that make Visible Things their Heaven and their God as some make Covetousness and Pride their Heaven and their God and othersome Drunkenness Swearing and Lying their Delight so it is their Heaven and their God some in Envy Malice Hatred and Strife Backbiting and Revenge others delight in Quarrelling Fighting and Murdering about Religion others in Hunting Hawking and Horse-Racing in Cards and Dice in Foolish Jesting spending their precious time in Idle Stories which corrupt Youth and are a Shame to Old Age. These things and many more while people live in them they are not born again nor led by the Spirit of God for all these things are brought forth in people by the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit which ruleth in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience ' Ephes 2.2 But the worst is that all these things ' or most of them are brought forth by such and in such as do pretend to worship and Religion but all such Worshippers are out of the Fear of God God made Man Upright but he falling from that Upright State he came to invent many Wayes to find out that again which he by Disobedience had lost but none could find it till they came to be led to it by the Spirit of God the Spirit of Truth which leadeth and guideth into all Truth and none come to be led by the Spirit of Truth till they deny themselves and take up a Cross to their own Wills a Cross to their old Heaven and to their old Earth which they have lived and delighted in not a Cross of Wood or Stone and such outward things as the Papists set up but to the Perverse Nature and the Selfish Will that the Will of God may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven in thy Earthen Vessel but while the old Heaven and the old Earth and the old Beggarly Elements are standing these things cannot be till all that cometh to be done away by the Spirit and Power of God for by him all things are to be made new in Man and Woman For when thy Delight cometh to be set on the Law of the Lord and thy Mind to be set on God and Godliness above all other things and to make it thy chiefest Joy to serve and worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and to seek after a Righteous Life here thou wilt come to know that New Heaven which John spoke of in the Revelations wherein dwelleth Righteousness so new Pleasures and Joyes for while the Old Nature in thee bears rule the old Pleasures of Sin yet stand in thy Mind and Heart in that dwelleth Unrighteousness and that must be destroyed and when these things by Christ come to be destroyed then thou wilt come to know Sanctification and to be redeemed from Sin by the Spirit of God and to be sanctified as the Scripture saith throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and so come to know all things to become new to be changed by the Lord and this is the New Birth which is begotten and brought forth by God which is not of this World but cometh to be changed by the little Leaven which was hid in the three Measures of Meal Matth. 13.33 and blessed be the Name of the Lord this little Leaven hath in many brought the three Measures into one Lump and hath changed Body Soul and Spirit into its own Nature and in such all things are become new for the Kingdom of Heaven and the Spirit of it is compared to a little Leaven that was hid in three Measures of Meal for the Spirit of God seemeth to most people to be of little and of low Esteem in their Eyes and the Appearance of his Spirit in them against Sin is more hated than any man's and he is as the Prophet said Amos 2.13 prest down as a Cart that is laden with Sheaves It is Sin and Wickedness that the Spirit of God is pressed down with in the Hearts and Consciences of People but Wo be to them one day if by Faith and Repentance they remove not these Weights and Burdens from the Lord's Spirit this is that which will sink them down to the Pit of Hell where there is never any more coming out it s without End 't is Torment forever Therefore it is good for all People to be faithful to the Spirit of Christ it is no less than the Power of God to Salvation in them that are faithful to it and by this People come to escape the Damnation of Hell and by no other means can ever any escape but as they come to know Christ's Spirit to rule in the Heart and Mind over all Impurity for he is come to bear sway in the Heart and therefore Wisdom saith My Son give me thy Heart and if he rule in the Heart then that which abounds out of the Heart will be from the Good Motions of Christ's Spirit and as the Holy Man of God said in dayes past Acts 17.28 In Him we live and in Him we move and have our being this will also be witnessed by them in this day that know Christ to rule in them for such come to live in him and to move by him and in him to have their being he that came to this state said Gal. 2.20 The Life that I now live is by the Faith of the Son of God This was a Life out of Sin in the New Birth being chosen out of this World and come to walk in a new and living Way which leadeth to the Rest which never will have End Christ is the Leader of such and they are no more their own but his as he is their Leader so he is their Father Master and Keeper when Temptation comes he is a strong Tower he is also in the Righteous as a Refiner's Fire and as a Fuller with Soap and as a Purifier of Silver he makes them more pure than Gold than the Golden Wedge of Ofer he is in all those that are led by him as a Consuming Fire against Sin and all Deceit and therefore it is said Who can dwell with Everlasting Burnings Isa 33.14 for by that Heat cometh all the
False Worships which are but Elementary to be melted with fervent heat the Zeal of God is kindled against them and the old Earth by this cometh to be burnt up then cometh the New Earth which John saw wherein dwelleth Righteousness and in such there is known no more Sea for all people being from the Spirit of Truth are in their Minds as unstable as the Waters of the Sea tossed to and fro with every Wind of Doctrine and with every Tempest of the Enemy before they come to be setled by the Power of God but this stability being once known then people come to know a Stay to their Minds and come as the Scripture saith Isa 26.3 Phil. 4.7 to be kept in perfect Peace and to know that Peace which passeth the Understanding of this World which the Wisdom of this World comprehendeth not for they whose Minds are thus preserved the Wicked One toucheth them not 1 John 5.18 although he may come with many Snares and Temptations to insnare and draw aside yet while people are kept by the Spirit of God they are delivered from them all for it is no Sin to be tempted but to enter into the Temptation that is sin then People come to break their Peace with God when the Devil tempts them to do any Wickedness and they give way to it this is making shipwrack of Faith and a Good Conscience as by sad Experience some have done see the 1st Epistle to Timothy the 1st Chapter and the 19th Verse But the way to prevent this is to give way to Christ that he may bear Rule in thy Heart and Mind and that he may order thy Affections and Conversation and bear sway in thee then thou wilt come to know m that said John 14.17 He that is with you shall be in you And they that he spoke to knew his words fulfilled and so spoke by experience that which they were Eye-witnesses of and said that he wrought all their Works in them and for them And I hope there is none that are so mis-led in their Understandings as to say that Work was Sin but altogether to work out Sin for that is the Work which Christ came to do To put an end to Sin in People Dan. 9.24 and to finish Transgression in People and in the room of Sin to bring in Everlasting Righteousness in People for Sin is in People for there is none in the Beasts of the Field but in mankind for the Beasts of the Field keep their places as God created them and do no way displease God but mankind knows not his Owner as the poor Ox and Ass doth as the Prophet said The Ox knows his Owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but the People know not the Lord Isa 1.3 In the old Nature no Man nor Woman ever knew God but as they came to be changed and Born again and so to put on the New Man Christ Jesus the Old man being put off with his Deeds which is Sin then Christ is known as he said Lo said he 2 Cor. ch 6. ver 16. I will dwell in man and walk in man I will be their God and they shall be my People To know this is Eternal Life but God dwelleth not in Sinners but in them that are pure in Heart for 't is the pure in Heart that see God and so come to be acquainted with God here all People that are acquainted with God by this acquaintance come to know how it s with them as to their inward condition and how it stands with their inward man in the sight of God and by the guiding of Gods Spirit all things in man and woman are kept in good order and by this come to have Power over Sin and in such there is no need to cry out for want of Power for God gives Power to them that come to him by Jesus Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth in his Hand and God's love is Universal to all People and desires not the Destruction of any but rather they would turn from their Wickedness and live Here you may see according to the Scripture of Truth that it is Sin and Wickedness that is the cause of Death to the Soul for you may read in the holy Scriptures that God hath promised that whosoever will turn from their Wickedness and from their Abominations which they had committed and come to him In quity shall not be their Ruin such shall not Perish but have Life Everlasting these are terms of Salvation that God hath promised the Kingdom of Heaven upon that People may lay down their Heads in Peace when they are to go hence never to be seen more in this World And man must know Wickedness done away in this Life For as the Tree falleth to the North or to the South so it lieth and as Death leaveth People so Judgment will find them and there is no Repentance in the Grave nor calling the time once spent back again nor no Remission of Sin after this Life For no unclean thing shall enter the Kingdom of God And all Sin is Unclean in the sight of God and this is that which Christ is come to destroy that People may be Heirs to a Kingdom which is not of this World And this Paul witnessed when he said He had fought a good Fight he had finished his Course and had kept the Faith and henceforth there was laid up for him a Crown of Glory and not for him only but for all them that feared God and loved his Appearance 2 Tim. 7.8 And this appearance was and is against Sin in the Heart and Paul's fighting was against Sin and Wickedness with Spiritual Weapons which was the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which was not with Carnal weapons but Spiritual and mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong Holds of Sin and this was not known only by Paul and of the Apostles but by the Righteous in all Ages and Righteous Abel and Enoch and all the Righteous all along to this day they that were made Righteous it was by that Power by which the Apostles witnessed Righteousness which was the Power and Spirit of God and this is near to all that all may be led by it But some have said that It is not now as it was in the Apostles dayes Why is it not now as it was in the Apostles dayes what is changed that it is not now as it was then O say they we cannot do as they did and have Power as they had to live and to stand against Sin and to come to that Perfect State as they did To which I Query thus What was it that made them Righteous or gave them Power over Sin and Death And by what did they War against Sin was it not God that gave them Power over Sin and delivered them from the Evil of this World and what was it by which they did this if not by the Spiritual
for here he makes them believe All is well and so being under a Profession they are willing to believe it but he cannot so easily perswade them that are in open Prophaneness that it is well with them for they have no such Cover for their Sins and therefore Christ said Publicans and Harlots should enter the Kingdom before such Matth. 21.31 And for them that profess the Truth and do not walk in it they shall never enter the Kingdom of God All these fore mentioned things and many more that might be mentioned do hinder many from entering in at the Strait Gate these be the Weights and Burdens which were and are to be laid aside which do easily beset People and it is not applying of Promises as they call it will do it in that Way which Carnal-minded Men do apply them for there is no Promise of coming to the Kingdom of God which Kingdom is not of this World but upon such terms of being born again and so becoming new Creatures and then such come to know the In-side cleansed of Sin by him that hath regenerated them which is the Lord from Heaven the Second Adam the Quickening Spirit for 't is not making clean the Out-side will do and still the In-side to be full of Sin and here many People have been cheated of their Souls in believing of them that have smoothed them up in Sin for when it hath pleased the Lord many times to awaken people out of Sin that have been asleep in Sin and when they are a little awakened and by that Light which then shineth in them come to see Sin appear as it is exceeding sinful and he that shews unto man his Thoughts he it is that sets all in order before them and so people come to see that it is not as it should be with them as concerning their Peace with God and then not knowing what it is that sheweth them how it is with them and that God is so near them neither do they know that that which sheweth them their Sin is able to deliver out of it and to give them Power over it because it is so slighted by their Teachers therefore they sleight it also and under this Trouble of Mind many a poor Creature is under great Distress seeing his Sin is remaining and that the Wages thereof is Death finding no Helper on Earth but wandering in dry places seeking Rest but finding none because they are still reasoning with Flesh and Blood not joyning to that which sheweth them their Sin here they are at a Loss concerning Salvation and in this State and Condition many are going from one Profession to another there inquiring of one Teacher or another What they must do to be eased of their Troubled Mind and come to some Satisfaction concerning their poor Souls then these blind Teachers begin to turn them to Wrong Wayes herein cometh Destruction upon many a poor Soul being led by the blind Leaders of the Blind into many Crooked and By Wayes which lead to Destruction and here one he bids them apply the Promises another he cryes out Go into the Water another turning them to the Bread and Wine and another to worship Images which can neither hear speak or see So here they are turning People to Outward Things when the chief cause lies within and cannot be purged out by these outward things but only by the Power of God Man may make clean the Out-side but the In side must be cleansed by God and if the In-side be clean then the Out-side also will be clean the Out-side may be clean and painted and the In-side full of Rottenness and in this State and Condition the Dawbers with Untempered Morter dawb over peoples Wounds but could never cure them I am not speaking against those Outward Means which the Lord calleth any into but for People to run into any thing which they are not called to though it may be in Pretence of Service and Worship to God this never did not will ease any of their Burden of Sin which they groan under but it is Christ alone that must do it it must be upon his own Terms and not as Man would have it but there are many Lo Heres turning people to Outward Things and not to Christ's Appearance within one crying Lo here is Christ and another Lo there he is in this or the other Outward Observation But what said Christ of such that spoke after this manner Go not after them said he that shall say Lo here is Christ or Lo there he is go not forth believe them not for that which may be known of God is near which is called the Word which is in the Heart and in the Mouth and this is that which shews unto Man his Sin and also able to take it away for he is come to put an End to Sin and to finish Transgression so to bring in Everlasting Righteousness this is the Work which he came to do which all the blind Guides can never do and this is he which bringeth that Peace and Wisdom which passeth all Understandings of Men. And further Christ said to the Jews The Kingdom of Heaven is within you But observe instead of turning People to this inward Principle which Christ told People of the Blind Guides are altogether turning People unto outward things and so here setting them to make clean the Out-side of the Cup and Platter and People are cheated of their Souls for one is crying The Mass-Book is the Way to come to Heaven and Praying to dead Saints and Worshipping of Images others crying Dipping and Bread and Wine is the Way and another crying The Church-Faith is the Way another steps up and saith His Directory is the Way and there is another saying The Common Prayer-Book is the Way so here are many Wayes set up by the Invention of Man in the fallen state so leading many Thousands of poor People into these outward things and not keeping to that or being turned to that which searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and for want of this come to lose their Souls Rest and Happiness with God for 't is not the making clean the Out-side will do but them that are cleansed within these are them which God delights in it is the Pure in Heart that see God here every one cometh to know how it is with them for God is with the Pure in Heart and by him people come to know the Way which leadeth to Everlasting Life and this is he that we say is the Way to come to that Kingdom which is not of this World where no Mortal Man ever came to and the Scripture directeth people to him and bears Testimony of him which we whom the World in Scorn calls Quakers do faithfully believe is true and though we have been belyed and falsly accused in that matter we desire the Lord may forgive them that have been guilty of that thing in saying we Deny the Scriptures for there are no
People own the Scriptures more than we do for 't is not every one that readeth it that doth own it although 't is good to read it 't is they that answer and fulfil the Sayings of Scripture in Life and Conversation that truly own them and these come to know the Mysteries of them and not every one that can talk of them as the Scribes and Pharisees could and premeditate things in their Brains and talk of them in their Wills but 't is he only that doth the Sayings of them that cometh to know the Comfort and Benefit of them For People are mistaken in this thinking that by often reading the Scriptures little minding what they read that this will do God Service No no 't is they that read with Understanding and come to Practise the same who come to know all false Worships from the true and the true from the false For the Scripture doth not direct people to it self but to Christ Jesus for we say he is the Way the Truth and the Life and we see where Christ taketh them off from having so much dependency on the Scriptures and said thus Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but you will not come to me that you may have Life John 5.39 So we say that Christ is he that giveth Life and without him no man can come to God And this is our Principle and that which we do faithfully believe and the Scriptures are on our side as a Cloud of Witnesses And we do not believe that any of these outward things will do as Praying to them that are dead or Worshipping of Images or Signing with a Cross or any of these things but man must become a new Creature all old things must be done away Neither do we believe that Water Bread or Wine can do any thing towards cleansing of the Conscience Neither do we believe that the Church Faith as they call it nor their Directory but he that said Before Abraham was I am 't is he that is mans true director alone without all their made Faiths and framed Directories or any such thing And we do further believe That 't is not the Common-Prayer-Book nor the Sprinkling of Children or any thing else that they can invent that will make a Man or a Woman a new Creature but Christ which is the true Bread which cometh down from Heaven they that eat thereof shall never Hunger more and Christ hath promised this to them which hunger after Righteousness they that hunger after Righteousness Christ is feeding with this Bread and he is chusing of them out of the Vanities of this World But they that deny the leading and guiding of the Spirit of God and say That Inspiration and Revelation is ceased as the Priests and Professors do and say There is no such thing now adayes Such never come to eat of that Bread which Christ said he would give to them that hungred after him but them that are Full and Rich he sendeth empty away but the Needy and poor of Spirit he Feedeth and filleth with good things But as to them that deny Revelation and the Light of Christ which enlightneth all and the Righteous are guided by them that oppose and deny this I do believe that they see no Revelation neither do they see any Beauty or Comliness in the appearance of Christ for he is grieved in them as a man of Sorrows and his Visage is more marred by them then any mans because they are alwayes Warring Writing and enviously Opposing the Light and Spirit of God in themselves and in others Therefore they must needs not know how it is with them and must needs be blind while they are in striving against that which would let them see for the Scripture saith There is none knoweth the things of God but by the Spirit of God And in this state and condition rebelling against that which is the only means of Salvation and are mudling in the dark and know not how it is with them because they are hearkening to the false Prophets and blind Guides and this is the reason that Condemnation is come upon them that are condemned because Christ is come they that will not believe on him must be condemned This being the Condemnation of the World that Light is come into the world men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil. For we may read that whilst Paul was opposing of the Light and Spirit in himself which often times pricked him in his Conscience for what he did which was not right although it were in a blind Zeal and under a cover of Religion yet being done in his own Will and according to the Wisdom of the Flesh this was that which blinded his Eye that he could not see how it was with him but was as these be now adayes hating and persecuting of the Just and yet talking much of Religion and very busie about the Letter talking much of the Prophets Words but Persecuting the Just and quenching the Spirit of Christ as these outside Professors do now adayes So we may see that Paul till he came to know Revelation in himself and to walk by the Light of Christ which shone in him for all his Learning and his great Profession yet he was ignorant of the Way of the Lord and as to his own Condition he could not examine himself nor know how it was with him till he turned to that which reproved him and so to have his mind guided by it and his Conversation to be managed by that which pricked his Conscience and so he came to fear the Lord more then men and though men rose up against him for coming to that strange Doctrine as they so called it which Doctrine the Wisdom of this World could never understand in that Age neither can they now but alwayes counted it strange Madness and Folly and so they do now adayes and when Paul came to be led by another Spirit then that he was led by or then that they were led by by this he came to be led beyond their wisdom then they cryed out he was a Mad Man and so they are crying now adayes concerning us because as Christ saith They know not what they do nor what Spirit they are of and thus the Blind leadeth the Blind And here lieth the reason there is so much Confusion among men about Religion and why so few are chosen because they go from the true Guide and from him that giveth a right understanding concerning the true Worship and things relating to Salvation For there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby any man comes to the Kingdom of Heaven and is saved but by Christ Jesus alone for as Christ saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 Now to this most People of all sorts will confess because it is Scripture that Christ is the Way the Truth
true I have found it so by good Experience And this is the Devils end to keep Peoples Minds upon Earthly things that they may never mind Heavenly things but to spend away their precious time in this world till there be no more time that thereby they may lose the Treasure in Heaven that is laid up in Heaven for all those that will come to God upon his Terms which Terms are for People to Repent deny themselves to take up a Cross to their own Wills to love and fear God and to worship him in Spirit and Truth and I am sure that none can do this without the Spirit if it must be as the Scripture saith in the Spirit and in the Truth and I believe the Scripture is true and that Christ spoke true when he spoke these words and all priests and Professors are in Error and Blindness that deny these things but all them that love the Appearance of the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is the chief Terms of Salvation come to know Benefit thereby the manner of his appearing is in Peoples Minds against Sin and they that love that which the Spirit of God appeareth against and judgeth in their Minds they are yet hating of God let them profess what they will it is in vain but they that love those things which the Spirit of God in themselves appeareth for these be they that love his Appearance But in all Ages they that had got on a Covering which was not of God's Spirit these were ever the work for all Religions are false except that in Spirit and Truth and all these false Colours of Religion were ever invented by the Devil and this is one way that he in all Generations did work when he could no longer keep People in open Prophaneness then he invents new wayes for them to walk in and he will plead Scripture for it too and speak much of the holy men of God's Works too That in Ages past they were commanded to do which were good in their Day and Time to them that were obedient to it which were to last till Christ the Substance came or till the time of Reformation being but Shadows and Figures of the Substance which blessed be the Lord he is come and hath put an end to these things and hath set up a Worship in Spirit and Truth But the Spirit of the Devil he is alwayes a keeping busied about outward things and Lip-service that he may keep the Heart upon some visible thing and off from the inward and spiritual Worship and this is one way that he worketh in the Mystery of Iniquity alwayes when he can keep People no longer in open Prophaneness then to turn them into outward Duties as he calls them when God required no such thing at their Hands for it is first the Heart the Lord requireth saying My Son Prov. 23.26 give me thy Heart that is to set their Hearts on the Lord and to be led by his good Spirit in them then Family-Duties and other Duties are by God accepted they being done by the Guidance of Gods good Spirit for thou mayst read in the Scriptures of Truth which we own and have more esteem of them than any other Book in the World and they speak after this manner saying The Prayers of the Wicked are Abomination to the Lord but the Prayers of the Righteous avail much But the Manner of the Spirit of the Devil is to keep People from being Righteous that their Prayers may not be accepted and keeping in outward things that they may never know the inward Work of God which is to work out Sin and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness But he is keeping of them ever hearing and ever learning that they may never be able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth for he knows while they are hear kening to the Teaching of the blind Guides they can never come to the Knowledge of the Truth for the Devil knows till People come to be led and guided by the Spirit of Truth it is impossible that they can ever come to the Knowledge of the Truth here he keeps People seeking of the Living amongst the Dead and Life where no Life is And this is the manner of the working of the Enemy And this is the greatest Cheat that the Devil hath to cheat People of their Souls to turn People into one Outside Painted Religion or another and then perswade them all is well and most of them are willing to believe him it being in the Delightsome Tract of the World only differing in some Geremonies but the Religion in Spirit and Truth Light and Grace this the Professors cannot abide because it calls into a Narrow Way and to enter in at a strait Gate For the Enemy had rather or as lieve People got into some Tract or Form of Religion as not for then he can perswade them it is well with them and perswades them that they need not seek after any thing else and all this he doth that he may keep them from the true Worship in Spirit and Truth But those that are in open Prophaneness he cannot blind after this Manner for they know whosoever is Right they are Wrong and have no Cover for what they do therefore Christ said Publicans and Harlots should enter the Kingdom of Heaven before such as Profess Service to God and serve him not acceptably for no Service is acceptable but that in Spirit and Truth We unto them that are Covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord. And many more Wayes the Devil hath to keep People from answering the Requirings of God's Spirit but no Snare like to a False Cover of Religion Many there be that he hath other Baits for that matter nothing of any Religion some he keeps all their dayes their Minds and Hearts in Covetousness some in Pride some in Drunkenness some in Cozening and Cheating and many more Baits and Snares he hath to betray People of their Happiness with the Lord some the Devil perswades they shall never give an Account to God for what they do and so live like Ranters all their dayes And he tells them There is neither God nor Devil Hell nor Heaven and many are willing to believe it But have a care of this Perswasion for thou shalt know these things to be Lyes one day to the Sorrow of thy Soul when it will be too late for thee to consider if thou dost not Repent in time Others the Devil perswadeth that God hath created some to Salvation others to Damnation which is as great an Untruth as the other and a great many are willing to believe it supposing they are of those that are ordain'd to Salvation some others there be of that mind that are perswaded that if it be so they are of that Number which are born to Damnation and upon this Perswasion many grow Careless in their Conversations and run into all manner of Evil. This Perswasion is a just Road to
Law of God that is written in the Heart and if so then whether the Lords Power Law and Spirit be not the same as it was and whether the Lords Love be not as it was and whether he hath not the same Power to help man as he had I hope all this will be granted and that it was only and alone by the Power and Spirit of God they came to be Righteous and to witness an Overcoming of Sin and by no Self righteousness nor by any other Power and that the Lord's Law Power and Spirit is the same as it was and his Love the same as it was and that God has the same Power to help men as he had And if this be granted that it is so then it seems the Fault is not in God that it is not now as it was in the Apostles dayes and if the Fault be not in God then it is in Man But 't is my Belief and Experienced Knowledge that there be some that are come to witness the same Power over Sin as the Apostles witnessed in their day and I believe that it is with Men and Women that are faithful to God as it was in the Apostles dayes as concerning having Power over Sin and to come to a Perfect State in Christ Jesus But to them that are wallowing in Sin as a Sow in the Mire and to them that are pleading for Sin for term of Life although they may be got under a high Notion of Religion and out of the open Prophaneness of the gross Abominations which are practised in the World yet notwithstanding this while they plead for Sin and live in Sin herein they are striving to uphold the Devil's Kingdom and live in that which Pleaseth the Devil and Displeaseth God for Sin is of the Devil's Kingdom and they that plead for it to wit for Sin are pleading for the Devil's Kingdom and with such I must needs confess it was never with them as with the Apostles in their day and them that followed Christ in the Apostles dayes nor in our dayes and such there were in the Apostles dayes that would not believe and follow Christ and they knew no Power over Sin because they came not to him that gives Power and so came not to be Sons of God because they did not receive him that was come to give Power to become the Sons of God as the Scripture saith which we that are in Scorn called Quakers do believe to be a true Declaration of those things that ought to be believed and have a reverent Esteem of them and they say Christ came to his own but his own received him not but as many as did receive him unto them he gave Power to become the Sons of God John 1.10 11 12. Receiving of him is to yield to the Motions of his good Spirit in them and these be they which come to know that God is not changed nor his Power lessened nor his Love abated but he is the same to Mankind to day as yesterday and forever and as there were some in the Apostles times that would not believe the Doctrine of Christ nor the Apostles so now in our dayes there are many Professors and Prophane that will not believe Christ nor his Doctrine because his Doctrine is against Sin but they cannot abide it and are crying out No Perfection Here neither will they believe that Christ is able to do the Work that the Father sent him to do for he came to put an End to Sin to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness This is that which they cannot believe and especially they that are got under a Colour of Religion as the Scribes and Pharisees were they ever were the worst against Christ and the Apostles and so they are now adayes For all Religions and Worships are False and Vain except that which Christ set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago which is in the Spirit and Truth which is the Light of Christ Jesus and the Power of God to Salvation made known to Mankind in the Heart and Conscience as the Scripture saith Rom. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest within for God hath shewed it to man that Sin by this may be made known and Righteousness made known the Way of Life and the Way of Death made known that lost Man may not be to seek concerning Salvation this hath the Lord done in Mercy for us that none may miss of that Kingdom which is not of this World and if any miss that it is because of Sin and this must be known to be taken away in this Life if it could have been done away after this Life then Christ needed not have come and suffered for Sin as he did nor the Apostles and Ministers of Christ have prest People so much to Perfection as they did and to make their Calling and Election sure in this Life But this is certain If ever people come to be Heirs to God's Kingdom they must come to have Assurance of it before they go hence else they will miss of their Expectation of having a Rest with God when this Life will End And to know Assurance is to know Sin destroyed and Righteousness set up in the Heart Some may be ready to say How is this possible to be seeing our Mortal Bodies are frail and full of Infirmities and Weakness doth attend us and when we have done all we are Unprofitable Servants It is true all the Service that Man can do it is unprofitable in the sight of God if God lead not unto it all Worship Service and Duty that is done set up and offered to the Lord it being done in Man's Will this is all unprofitable and unaccepted of God it being Man's Will and not the Will of God for while People live in Sin and plead for it and while the Old Nature is standing their Preaching Praying Baptizing and Breaking of Bread Singing and Family Duties it is all vain if Christ move not to it and lead into it the Scripture saith The Prayers of the Wicked are Abomination to the Lord and if their best Service be Abomination to the Lord needs must the rest for all Sin is Abomination at the best and therefore while people live in Sin and plead for the continuation of it they must needs be Wicked and herein I say all is unprofitable as people live in this Condition But there is a State and Condition which is profitable perfect and that Job came to and many more of the People of God in all Ages Generations that knew the Spirit of God to lead and guide them into all Truth this is that Spirit which a Manifestation of is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and they that came to be led by that Spirit their Prayers avail much and their Works are the Works of Righteousness and this is that which God doth accept of and I hope there is none that will dare to