and professing Moses Writings and Christ's Words and the rest of the holy Scriptures though they were given by the inspiration of God until the Lord take of that Spirit which was upon and in Christ who is like unto Moses and give unto and pour it upon and minister it in unto them And this is done in Gods way which is secret and time which is in his own hand to those whom he accounteth worthy thus to honour and who truly wait for it as a wayfering man for a resting place and as a Captive for deliverance And though Christ after his Resurrection said All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given unto me Go ye therefore and teach yet they were to tarry until they had the power in themselves and when that was come which they were to tarry and wait for then with that they went and so taught the Nations from the sensible feeling of that which taught them how to teach and all things else when the same Spirit and Power was upon them which was before committed unto him and so the coming forth of it from him into them and filling them therewith was to them in that work of the Ministry most effectual like as the Vertue going forth of Christ healed the woman so the Power and Vertue of the holy Spirit coming forth from Christ being sent of the Father and received by the Disciples who with much desire waited for that impowered them to do that which before they were commanded to do after they were endued with Power or had the Power in them and so what they were comcommanded to do they were to wait to receive Power in themselves from God to perform and Christ did intend to give them power to do that which he commanded And as he commanded them to go and teach he also required them to tarry and so not to go until they had received power so to do and so it was the Power of the holy Ghost in them which made them Ministers and these were and such are truly Ordained Ministers And after they had received Power from on high even the Spirit or Life of Truth and were filled therewith and so had it in them then they went to do that which was commanded them then they went to teach the Nations and converted thoâ—sands and turned sinners and brought souls to God and then they were called Christians and then were People brought to be of the True Church which Christ buildeth upon that which flesh and blood revealeth not And this is the entrance into the Church in God 2 Thes 1.1 the receiving of the Spirit and in this God is worshiped and not else for this hath excluded all other Worship and these only are the true Worshippers who come in thus by the door which is Christ the Light and Spirit oâ— Truth sent into the heart from God And if all the prudent learned Divineâ— so called in Europe or all or any oâ— the wisest Orthodox men so called iâ— any other quarter of the whole World can prove by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament any other true Worship of God who is a Spirit now extaâ—â— among men and to be performed especially among them called Christians with acceptance to God but only that which the Spirit of Truth leadeth such unto as receive it then let them bring it forth thâ—â— we may see it and prove it by plain uâ—deniable truth of Scripture or otherwise I shall look upon their proofs words wayes actions practises performances duties and several Worships as things of no value Or if there be any other entrance into the true Worship of God then this Spirit that God sendeth or the Light which leadeth to it or if there be any other Worship which God doth or will accept to be after this spoken or prophesied of in the Scriptures of Truth whereby this shall ever be done away or ended from being the true only and alone Worship of God whilst men have a being upon Earth then let the wisest of the sons of men bring it forth and produce their strong Reasons therein that we may plead together and that the entrance into and the true Worship it self of the onely true invisible God may be declared over all the World for the satisfaction of every tender heart concerning this For this I am satisfied in that Christ Jesus who is the end of the Law and who finished his work when he was upon the Earth is made a quickning Spirit and is the Way and Truth of Life which bringeth into the Worship of God and he is the beginning and the end and he leadeth to the beginning of Gods Worship and he is the end and the Rest of all the Faithfull in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen and without him all is as nothing and all that comes before him are Thieves and Robbers and he it is that abideth a Priest for ever and his Spirit of Truth is it which all People and Professors whatsoever should first wait to receive thereby to be led into that true spiritual Worship which alone God accepteth lest they and their worship and building fall together in a day when there is none to deliver And then thus I query If Christs own dear Disciples who had forsook all and followed him not Priests or Baptists did not come to receive this Spirit by hearing all the words which he spoke unto them but by waiting after the words were ended Then whether those that have not forsaken all nor so much as the Worlds fashions do now come to receive the Spirit by reading hearing or professing the same words of Christ now written or any other part of the Scriptures Or whether a Proud man hath received this Spirit or a Lyar or Prophane Person or any Wise or Prudent man whatsoever by any means or way of his And whether any such ever did have or can or may by any industry or other way or means attain to this Spirit which leadeth in the true worship of God but as it is freely given forth from God and then whether all people are not to be led by that Spirit which God freely giveth into the Worship of God because Christ said the Spirit should lead which indeed doth lead into all Truth and nothing else doth so And they that have not received this from God to lead them are not yet come to be led by that which the Sons and Children of God were and are led by And the Ministration of the Spirit which all are now to be taught by is inwardly to be known in the nearest secret invisible manner and is more out of the sight comprehension and reach of mans wisdom then any other Ministration and it is given forth from the clear Fountain it self unto the soul-satisfaction of man when he is come to the end of words or having heard much or all the words that can be spoken of it remaineth unsatisfied in a restless longing desire to find receive
to receive the Spirit by it then to be led into all Truth and so being first led into the Truth then in the same Truth to worship God in Spirit who is a Spirit And whether there be now any true Worship standing which God accepteth but only this And whether this alone be not agreeable to Moses Christ and Scriptures And whether all other Worships now upheld be not contrary to this true Worship of God and contrary to Moses Christ and Scriptures and indeed chiefly opposite to the Spirit of God whereby he is grieved And if so whether all such Worship Way Practice Performances Duties and Ordinances so called be not better left undone then performed until Gods Spirit be received to guide therein Thirdly Concerning the Ministration of the Spirit which abideth for ever MOses and his Ministry were visible and Christ in the form of a Servant and so like unto Moses was visible and so were his Miracles and that which is visible to the natural eye the carnal mind can come to profess and contend about but the blessed eye which God openeth with the light cometh to see the one done away and the other finished by Christ the Light and Life And the Spirit is that which first moved and yet moveth and moved unto and led through the visible Ministration and this Spirit is invisible as it is written the invisible only wise God whom no eye of flesh hath seen or can see and this moving invisible Spirit of God which is without limit or end is that which all people should be led unto by all its outward visible appearances ministrations and dispensations and this Spirit was that which gave forth and ordained the Ministration of the Law which was glorious in its time though to be done away but how much more glorious is the Ministration of that Spirit of Life it self from which the Ministration of the Law came which Spirit abideth for ever And the second Adam is made a quickning Spirit and the Spirit which is the Word was with God and was God before the body of flesh was made and that Spirit abideth for ever as is heard out of the Law He shall abide for ever And this is that which ever liveth to inâ—ercede And this for ever blessed invisible Spirit was before time and is to be when time shall be no more and is without limit an eternal lively Substance giving life from it self and secretly covering it self from the carnal part of man not seen nor understood but by such as by its secret motions come to be led to see through that which shadows it forth and by the image form shadow or figure to discern the Substance which is the Life where Immortality dwelleth for in the most innermost and secret of all is the Life of all being covered over with that in which it lies through which it breaking forth in any discovery of it self is that whereby the beholders might be drawn through the discovery unto it self which in the discovery broke forth for the discovery was still too short of that from whence it came and that which was discovered forth in any shadow form or image was not to be idolized nor set up for the very thing or substance of Life from whence it proceeded and herein hath been much mistake by such who came not by that which opened in the visibles to that from whence it came in that to have their understandings opened and thereby to be made sensible of that which is eternal by it to be brought in where its indwellings abide for ever whose breaking forth in the visible which was to draw to that invisible refreshed the soul invisibly in an unexpected manner and time but being after sought for in the visibles and not in the eternal withdraws it self out of the visibles and out of the sight and reach of that which seeks it there that thereby that which is to live for ever with it may come through all that which it appeared in unto the very thing and invisible Substance it self which is the Life of all and the true Center of the living Motion which moveth of it self and gave forth all things good as they proceeded from it by vertue of its gradual and various motions and this being come opens it self in them that find it and live therein and this maketh Darkness Light before the people whose dwelling is with God and the crooked comes to be made streight by the thing it self and dark sayings of old come to be opened and secret things revealed But to write more plain for the sake of the weak of this glorious indwelling Spirit which in the fulness of time cometh forth in flesh laying hold of the Seed of Abraham the most glorious Appearance that ever was being thus appeared was the express Image of God who dwelleth in his People whose bodies are flesh and earthly tabernacles but by the operation of the sanctifying cleansing Spirit which the Father sendeth are made fit habitations of God and so Coheirs with Christ and Members of his Body Flesh and Bones which Spirit quickneth to God and being thus received and obeyed is felt to live for ever though the shadowings-forth of it be done away and this is Eternal and never endeth but abideth with such for ever and the Ministration of it is Life it self to the soul and more to be valued and desired than all that ever was seen before it And as the Lord took of that Spirit which was upon Moses and put it upon his Brethren the Elders of Israel whereby they might rule and judge with him so saith Christ The Father shall take of mine and give it unto you even of that Spirit of Love Life Power Valour and Virtue which was upon and in him that was like unto Moses is ministred into and put upon such as are truly his Brethren and Friends whereby with him they thus gifted sanctified and qualified judge the World for all Judgment is committed tâ— the Son and of that which the Son hath and is committed to him doth the Father give unto his Members and so from Christ the Head they come to receive power over the World and its Way Worship and Fashions and over unclean spirits And that is an unclean spirit which will lead into any sin and it is an unclean spirit in which sin standeth and which pleadeth for the continuance and upholding of that which is unclean and that is of the world which the Saints judge And as those Elders of Israel who were of the Church in the Wilderness were not made fit to Judge or Rule in outward matters by all the writings and words of the Law though received by disposition of Angels until the Lord himself took of that Spirit which was upon Moses and put upon them So those that profess to be Elders in the Church now or any other person whatsoever are much less made fit to Rule or Judge in spiritual matters by all the reading
endeavours to blind the mind not the brain-knowledge but the hearty-feeling sence within in the mind lest the Light within should so shine as God should heal them and all the buslings of Satan with his gifts are but to blind the mind within lest God should heal the soul that complains to him from the true sight and sence of his Misery as in himself By this Grace and Gift within we believe That to Vs though in the world there be Lords many and Gods many there is but ONE GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ witnessed within man only by the Spirit of Truth that manifests both the Father and the Son and yet these three are one and agree in one and he that honours the Father honours the Son that proceeds from him and he that denies the Spirit denies both the Father and the Son and is Anti-Christ but he that believes in the Spirit and is led by it is the Son of God Rom. 8.14 As many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God We believe The Scriptures bare witness unto and testifie of Christ but they say The Witness of God is greater than them The Spirit it self bearing witness with our spirits that we are the Sons of God for it is not the Scriptures without the Spirit nor the Spirit contrary to the Scriptures but the Spirits discovering the Will of God in the heart or opening of the Scriptures in its own time and way and not in or by the will of man but as it self pleaseth who searcheth all even the deep things of God and manifests them unto the Soul which giveth the perfect sound and saving knowledge for said Christ The Spirit shall take of mine and shew them unto you And as holy men gave forth the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.21 so holy men and they only come truly to understand them and not proud and ungodly men because their hearts and lives do not answer the hearts and lives of those that gave them forth aâ— face answereth face in a Glass And this we believe to be the reason why so long preaching by men of corrupt minds who have and do handle the words deceitfully for selfish ends and filthy lucre sake hath brought forth so little fruit and been to so little purpose except to their Purses and Bellies for had they believed and thereforâ— spoken and stood in Gods Counsel they shoulâ— have profited their Hearers Jer. 23.21 22 23 to the end Through this Gift we believe Thaâ— Christ Iesus the Son of God was manifest in the flesh in the fulness of time And this we know by the same Spirit by which our Fathers believed he should come and Abraham saw his day by the same we do believe he is come and do see his day as also by the Prophets and Apostles Writing which twofold Cord is not easily broken We believe also according to the Scriptures of Truth That this same Jesus hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every name that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that there is not another name whereby man can be saved than this Name of Jesus Christ nor is Remission of Sins to be preached by any other name But as we do not believe that the outward Letters and Syllables are that Name that is to be bowed to by the outward knee no more than the Letters or Syllables in the words God or Spirit seeing the Scripture saith Vnto God who is a Spirit every knee shall bow Isa 45.23 but the Name which saves is the Power and Arm of God that brings Salvation from Sin and makes every Soul that names it to depart from Iniquity This is that Name which was preached and which is preached through Faith in which Name Remission of Sin is obtained Therefore was the outward word Jesus given him as his outward name Thou shalt call his Name JESVS for he shall save his People from their Sins Mark for he shall save c. So that which saves is the Name which is to be believed in which is that Arm of God that brings Salvation when no eye pitties neither is there any to help the Power of God that then saves is that Grace that comes from the fulness of Christ the Saviour And without this virtue Christ and Jesus are but empty names 1 Cor. 12.3 No man can say that Jesus is the LORD but by the holy Ghost We believe also That this Jesus died for or because of Sin and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him as well as to manifest to all the world that he was the Son of God and that he thereby spoiled Principalities and Powers and triumphed over them openly and led Captivity captive in his own person yet we believe and know by his Grace in our hearts that as his Name Jesus without Vertue and Power is but an empty word so his Dying without man's Conformity to his Death or being planted into the likeness thereof or being crucified with Christ as saith the Scripture Rom. 6.2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 2.20 will not profit man as to the Salvation of his Soul no more than the naming of his outward name Jesus doth at this day make people to depart from Iniquity For we believe and are sure that man must dye inwardly as well as Christ died outwardly and must be put to death in his flesh as Christ was in his for he that is in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 neither cease from sin but he that is dead is freed from sin Rom. 6.7 And yet mans dying unto Sin and the Root and Principle of it in himself is so far from making void Christ's Death in his own person that it establlsheth it to all those ends and purposes for which it was intended of the Father As the Cures which the Physitian doth manifest and establish his skill and ability so doth mans dying unto Sin and Self and living unto God manifest and establish the Vertue and Power of Christ's Death for as man manifests his being risen with Christ by his seeking the things that are above Col. 3.1 2. so doth he manifest his knowledge of the Death of Christ by his being crucified with Christ and bearing about in his body the dyings of the Lord Jesus for as it is not an outward belief gathered from the Letter that will change the heart and life though the Judgment and Opinion it may so it is not a belief from the History or Letter only that can give man a saving-knowledge of the Death of Christ but he must have the same Glory and Power of the Father in measure working in him there to beget Faith in his heart that he may believe unto Salvation from his own filthiness and righteousness as well as confess with his mouth Rom. 10. and must have that Spirit in him quickning his mortal body as well as to believe that it was in Christ and raised
same Spirit that the sum of all Religion according to the Truth and the signification of the word Religion is Man not at liberty in his will but bound again unto God by his having given to him by the Light of Christ within the true sight and knowledge of himself as in himself as lost and undone foâ— ever and from this sight a true sence to ariâ—â— upon and remain with him from wherâ— spring unutterably groans and cryes untâ— God under the weight of the burthen anâ— wretchedness by reason of the body oâ— Sin and Death and then when there waâ— none to help or pitty in this state then 〈◊〉 Mercy shewed in Christ the Arm of Goâ— which is revealed as an help neither seeâ— nor known where how or when to coâ—â— at it or meet with it And this begets iâ— the heart of that man or woman in anâ— unto whom it is thus revealed thanks anâ— praises unto God for this Gift and Revâ—lation of his Son in this needfull timâ— whom the Soul sees to be the Gift of Eteâ—nal Love And we believe and know upon thâ— Love and Faithfulness of God is foundeâ— built and established the Everlasting Covâ—nant whereby not only all men may bâ— saved for its ability but some shall be sâ—ved because for its prevalency which is 〈◊〉 like to the Covenant he made with our Fâ—thers And although all mankind is not sâ—ved yet it is not because either of insuâ—ficiency in this Covenant or because of tâ—â— weakness of the Grace that appears in and unto all men but because of mans will loving death and chusing his own delusions whereby his destruction is of himself and God clear of his blood in the free tender of his Grace Gift and striving of the Spirit within him For we know assuredly according to the Scriptures of Truth and Experience of all souls that ever were truly converted to God that though by Grace man is saved not of himself but by the Free Fift yet as the old World did and those rebellious Jews spoken of Acts 7. who as did their Fathers so did they alwayes resist the holy Ghost so do men now And yet in the tender of this Grace and striving of his Spirit the Lord is a God so hiding himself in the management of this Striving and Ministration of his Spirit as if it wholly depended upon mans choice and consenting that mans will as to him is as it were free in rejecting or accepting Life and Death being set before him whereby in the Wisdom of God the propensity of his Nature as it came out of the hands of his Maker hath an advantage by this dealing of God to put forth it self so that man is as free in the choice as he is in the refusal of the tender of Mercy and help and that with an equal indifferency as it appears to him in this state notwithstanding afterwards in the furtheâ— growth in this Grace and Knowledge oâ— Christ he sees clearly and convincingly that the Grace that wrought hiddenlâ— from his sight and knowledge in the firâ—â— working tender and ministration of Goâ— towards him gained his consent througâ— its own prevalency in the Love of God bâ— which sight and sence self comes to be abhorred and the free Love so admired thaâ— he knows from first to last all was of Grace and that free that self is not able to challenge any thing as due from what it haâ— done but all of gift and yet as before with such an equal indifferency on manâ—… account so that God may and will appeaâ— to be just both in condemning and saving and the Justifier freely of all that believe iâ— Jesus the Light of the World Therefore let all take heed how they dislike this Ministration of God and striving of his Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences under colour and pretence of its insufficiency and therefore they will not come to him because his drawings and strivings are not so strong as they would have them to be looking for such an overpowring and irresistibleness as they are not able to withstand and gainsay lest such perish through a wilfull neglect and for want of stretching out their hand when the Lord holds out his and so they perish in the ditch with a vain expectation of further power or cry in their mouthes Lord have mercy upon us and so with the Sluggard while they cry Yet a little more slumber and folding of the hands to sleep their Garden is overgrown with weeds and their backs cloathed with rags and they beg in harvest whilst others that have sown in tears not fainting do in due time reap in joy and not despising the crums that fell from the table nor the day of small things witness the presence of their Beloved come down into his Garden and walking among the Lillies Let these things be truly considered pondred and weighed in the true Ballance of Light and Righteousness lest any Soul perish through the false weight and measure so shall my soul rejoyce that any have escaped the Net of the Fowler through the discovery of the true Light and God have all the Glory unto whom alone it belongs and man ashamed confounded his moutâ— stopped and he laid in the dust forever anâ— then shall my end be answered in writinâ— these things John Crook Concerning Perswasions in Matters of Religion THere is the Natural man and the Spiritual man and there are the Perswasions of each in and about Matters of Religion There is the Perswasion of Reason and the Perswasion of Faith The Perswasion of Reason is that Belief which man receives into his mind or heart from the exercise of the Reasoning Faculty and this Perswasion in Matters of Religion is but mans Opinion or Judgement which how certain or infallible so ever it appears to him yet may be shaken by a demonstration or evidence of a higher kind of nature The Perswasion of Faith is that Belief which the New-Creature receives into the renewing-Mind from the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit which openeth and manifesteth the things of the Spirit unto that mind which is begotten and renewed by it And this Perswasion is certain and infallible however it may be struck at and battered by the reasonings of the wise earthly part even in that very man whose heart is thus perswaded by the Light of the Spirit of God concerning the things of Gods Kingdom Now the lowest Perswasion of Faith is higher and of a more noble nature then the highest Perswasion of Reason because Faith is of an higher Principle and of a deeper nature and ground then Mans Reason is But this because it appears not in mans sphear but rather out of it and is contrary to the line and reach of his wisdom is accounted by him foolishness and madness Thus is the Wisdom of God and the Children thereof judged and condemned by man in his day And how can it be otherwise How can the wisdom of man but judge that as
foolishness whose beauty and excellency is hid from its eye But this is because the wisdom of man is out of its place not subjected to the Wisdom of God but exalted above it therefore as a curse unto it is it suffered to lift up it self in its conceitfulness against and so to persecute the pure Wisdom of God and the birth thereof that it might fall and be broken and snared and taken and its day deservedly come to an end and be shut up in the shadows and chambers of eternal darkness But what ear of Man can hear this Surely none that is whole in the line of Man's wisdom reason and understanding but that alone which is bruised broken and in some measure dashed to pieces by the inroads of a diviner Life and Nature This in the Leading of that Life which hath broken it and in the shinings of the Light eternal upon it and into it may be enabled to take up the Cross to the natural part and to die that Death with Christ which preserves from the second Death with the misery thereof Happy is he who knows and hearkens to the Perswasions of Gods Spirit who is born of God and taught to wait upon him and worship him in Spirit who receives his Religion from the Light of Faith into the renewed Nature and Mind and not from the Reason of Man into the natural understanding which is easily corrupted and cannot be kept pure but alone by the indwelling of the Principle of Eternal Life in it For though such may suffer very deeply in this World from the men of this World as the Subjects and Servants to the Principle of Life have done in all Ages and Generations yet their Principle will bear them out in which God will appear to strengthen and refresh their spirits and carry them up above all their Sufferings in the Patience Meekness and Faith of the Lamb And keeping to their Principle they cannot be overcome but must either live or die Conquerors according to the will and good pleasure of Him who ordereth and disposeth of all things well and bringeth good out of every evil in despite of all the Powers of Darkness And he that overcometh whether by life or death in the Lamb's Spirit shall wear the Lamb's Crown and sit down in that perfect Rest in the Kingdom of the Father which will give the hearts of all his Children full Satisfaction In which assured hope Life stirring in our bosoms and quickning our hearts with Love unto our God and Zeal for his Truth we can freely give up all that is near and dear unto uâ— in this World and lay down our heads iâ— inward Peace in the midst of the greatesâ— outward Persecution and Trouble Eveâ— so O Lord thy Will be done concerning theâ— Generation of thy People whom thou hast begotten to thy Self and brought forth by thy mighty Power to testifie to thy Truth in thiâ— present day Dispose of them as it pleaseth Thee and let not their Faith in thee nor thy Faithfulness to them fail but let them be 〈◊〉 Praise to thy Name throughout all Generations and tendered by Thee as the First-fruits of thine Appearance in the Glorious Light of the Everlasting Day after this great long thick and dark Night of Apostacy from the Life and Spirit of the Apostles which hath so long eclipsed and covered the brightness of thy Beauty from the sight of the Earth Isaac Pennington A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we believe who are called Quakers ALSO What Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny Concerning God Christ and the Spirit thus we believe FIrst That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things That Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things remain unto this day by his Power and whatsoever hâ— willeth in Heaven and Earth he brings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God onely is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipped by all Creatures and no other thing besides him in Heaven and Earth and we believe that his Worship and Obedience and Fear and Love is to be given in Spirit even in what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his people unto And we believe his True Worship required and accepted of him is not by the tradition of men in outward observances or set dayes or places but he is worshippeâ— only in Spirit and Truth without respect oâ— times places or things and that none caâ— worship him in Righteousness but his Children who are born of his Spirit and are leâ— and guided thereby And we believe That this God hath given his Son Christ Jesus into the World a free Gift unto the whole World and thaâ— every man that cometh into the World iâ— lighted by him that every man may believâ— and be saved And we believe That he is given intâ— the World and no Nation Country oâ— People excepted but to all mankind he is given of God and hath enlightened them And every man through the world that beâ—ieveth in and receiveth Christ who is â—he Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal Salvation And eveâ—y one that believeth not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting misery And we believe That Salvation Justification and Sanctification is onely in Him wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but Him alone by which Salvation is and we beâ—ieve all that receive him and believe â—n him are reconciled to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things and do receive the forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all unrighteousness and from the body of Sin and Death and have the witness of the Spirit â—n them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong to their peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwell in the Saints and by it they have fellowship one with another and thâ— Father Son and Spirit are one And thiâ— we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe That he is one with the Father and waâ— with the Father before the World was and what the Father worketh is by the Son for he is the Arm of Gods Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without beginning or end And we believe That all the Prophetâ— gave Testimony of him and that he waâ— made manifest in Judea and Jerusalem anâ— did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Jews and was crucified by
hiâ— Enemies and that he was buried and rosâ— again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascendeâ— on high and exalted at the right hand oâ— the Father for evermore and that he iâ— glorified with the same Glory that he haâ— before the World was and that even thâ— same that came down from Heaven is ascendeâ— up to Heaven and the same that descended iâ— he that ascended And we believe Even he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to judge the whole World with Righteousness and all People with Equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall arise to Condemnation or Justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the world was and that is the knowledge unto Eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive and he subdues Death and destroys him that hath â—he power of it and restoreth from Death â—o Life and quickneth by his Spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifieth and such â—re taught of him but he condemns all â—hat believes not and continue in unbelief â—nd are not taught of him And this we â—aithfully believe And we believe That unto all People â—pon the face of the whole Earth is a time â—nd day of Visitation given that they may â—eturn and be saved by Jesus Christ who is given of the Father to call the worst oâ— men to repentance and the most ungodâ—â— of Sinners are convinced by him of theâ— ungodly deeds that they might believe anâ— be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the Love oâ— God manifested to all mankind and thâ—â— none are shut out by him before they were boâ—â— into the World but unto all men is a Visitâ—tion given and they that perish it is becauâ—â— they do not believe in Christ and Destructâ—on is of a mans self but Salvation is of Goâ— through believing in his Son who takâ—â—… away Sin and reneweth into his own Imagâ— that they may become Heirs with him And we believe That there is a Crowâ— of Eternal Glory and an Inheritance 〈◊〉 Eternal Life to be injoyed for evermore bâ— all that believe and are chosen of God And that there is an Everlasting Miseâ—â— and Destruction to be possessed by all thâ—â— believe not but continues in the state 〈◊〉 Reprobation and are not changed from tâ— Wayes of Sin and Death but walk after tâ—â— ways of their own hearts lusts fulfillinâ— the will of the Flesh in the evil of thâ— world and follows not Christ the Lighâ— of the world that they may be saved anâ— we believe upon all such the wrath of God abideth and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe that it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death to Life and who is redeemed out of the World and all its wayes such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they onely have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleansed from all unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their Sins are remitted For his Blood cleanseth them from all Vnrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned the World withal And we believe that the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of Sins and may be perfectly freed from the body of Sin and Death and in Christ may be perfect and without Sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Jesus Christ And we believe every Saint that is called of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtaiâ— it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walâ— not after the Flesh but after the Spirit anâ— are in Covenant with God and their Sinâ— are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit Sin being born oâ— the Seed of God And we believe the Gospel of Christ 〈◊〉 the Power of God unto Salvation and that iâ— ought to be preached freely unto all Peoplâ— and Christ to be held forth to all Mankinâ— by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is receiveâ— by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and all theâ— that receive it are lawfully called to thâ— Ministry and they may preach the Gospâ—â— of Christ freely as they have received 〈◊〉 freely and this Ministry is not of Maâ— but of God and is made powerfull to thâ— converting of Sinners and to the bringinâ— of People to God and to the knowledgâ— of his Wayes And we do not believâ— that any man is a Minister of Christ witâ—out the Gift of the Holy Ghost or that thâ— Gospel can be received by natural learninâ— or education And we believe such as preach for hire and hath hire for Preaching are not the lawfully called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are proud and high-minded and covetous men who do not profit the People at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calleth by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governours we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governours in every Nation City Country or Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge Righteously Equally and Justly and will give true and sound Judgement unto all men without bribery or respect of persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a praise unto all that do well and a terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continually exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being thâ— Foundation thereof that Gods Witness iâ— every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all People beforâ— Transgression be charged or punished iâ— any man And we believe That every Transgreâ—sion ought to be punished according to itâ— nature and that the punishment exceeâ— not the greatness of the Transgression neâ—ther ought any Transgressor to escape uâ—punished neither ought any upon falâ—â— suspition or jealousies be caused to suffeâ— without the Testimony of true men or thâ— Confession of the Party And we believe That the Executors oâ— the Law ought to be Just men and not gâ—ven to Pride Drunkenness or any otheâ— Evil whatsoever And we believe
That all Governouâ—â— and Rulers ought to be accountable to thâ— People and to the next succeeding Ruler for all their actions which may be enquireâ— into upon occasion and that the chiefe of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be transgreâ—sors as well as the poorest of the Peoplâ— And thus true Judgment and Justice wiâ—â— be brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have praise and live in Rest and Peace that all Evil-doers whatsoever my stand in awe and be afraid of God and Just men and the execution of good Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly Religious and no man ought to be compelled to or from any exercise or practise in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other practice in Religion and every man of what profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in peace provided himself be a man of peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to reprove false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exhortation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought not to be counted a breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary minds or judgments this ought not to be punished by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe that the outward Laws and Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons and Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Laws of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe That Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit must only lead into alâ— Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors and that Subjects ought to obey them in the Lord that have rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which is according to God which stand in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require Subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him in such cases all People are free and ought to obey God rather then man and we believe that herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirt in all that which is good and out of all that which is evil Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all mankind are in one of these states all that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of Death and Darkness being Children of Wrath and Disobedience in the Alienation and Separation from God in the Transgression unreconciled to God the Enmity ruling in the heart being in the Fall and not restored to God again but ignorant of his Power and Wisdom having the understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal And in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted with God for he is dead to God and alive to all Evil bringing forth all his Works out of that ground which is cursed This is the condition of all mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adam and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and shall never inherit eternal Life but go into Perdition yet have all such a day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprobation but hating knowledge and despising the Love of God they continue in the state Reprobate and the Wrath of God abides upon them but they that are chosen of God are delivered â—rom Wrath for they believe in the Light and become Children of the Light and are renewed in mind and heart and receive the love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adam and are chosen in him to bring forth fruit unto the Father and all their Fruit springeth from that ground which is blessed for they are led by the Spirit of the Father and such are in the state of Election who are made Heirs with Christ of the everlasting Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe that Mercy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad into the World that all People may understand what we believe and what we have received of God And they that believe this and walk therein by the Spirit of the Father shall be saved but they that believe not but are disobedient to the Truth shall be condemned because they do not believe Much more might be written but in short this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the knowledge of these things from God A Friend unto all People Edward Burrough To all that say we whom the World do in scorn call Quakers do deny Ministers and Magistrates These things I write unto you to give you in short an understanding what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny 1. SUch Ministers as are made by God who are sanctified by his Word and Power who have freely received perfect Gifts from God and so by the Spirit and Power of God are sent forth into the world to turn the People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God who freely ministeâ— unto others without coveting any manâ— Gold or Silver or Apparel not seeking theirs but them Warning every maâ— and teaching every man in all Wisdom that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Such as minister from thâ— Spirit and have the Word of God abiding in them who are never unprovided buâ— at all times and seasons and in all places do speak and declare the Truth as they are moved and instructed and as the Spirit of Truth doth give them utterance Such Ministers we own and have in great esteem for their works sake Gal. 1.1 12. Joh. 15.3 Eph. 4.7 8 11 12 13. Acts 26.15 16 17 18. Matth 10.8 Acts 20.33 2 Corinth 12.14 Collos 1.27 28 29. 2 Corinth 3.6 John 15.3 4 5 6 7. John 4.10 14. and 7.38 39. 2 Tim 4.2 3. Acts 2.4 But such as are brought up at Schools and Colledges and so made Ministers by the will of man who have not freely received perfect gifts from God for perfecting of the Saints but denies
faces thitherwards FEar not ye Mourners in Sion the Lord waits on you to be gracious unto you and though he give you the Bread of Adversity now and the Water of Affliction yet shall not your Teachers be removed into Corners any more but your eyes shall see your Teachers and your ears shall hear a voice behind you saying This is the Way walk in it when you turn to the right hand or the left Therefore every one of you mind the Light which is of Jesus Christ in you that judgeth the unrighteousness of your hearts give up to be guided by the pure Light in you which is your Teacher the Counsel of Jesus Christ and it will bring Judgement forth unto Victory and whatever he makes manifest to you to be his Will Wait on the Lord in his Counsel and he will give you power to obey and when you have obeyed his Will take heed of departing from the Counsel of the Lord which is the Light within you to hearken to the counsel of your own hearts which will draw your minds to look back at your obedience and the experiences you have passed through so will the Beast which received a deadly wound with the Sword the Righteous Law that goeth out of the mouth of the Lamb in you his deadly wound will be healed and sits a painted Beast above the Cross of Christ working lying wonders in your hearts and imitating the operation of the Power of God who is purifying his Sons and Daughters with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of Burning and the Beast in you that tasted of the Power of God when he received his deadly wound under the Justice of God now can imitate the same in deceit and cause fire to come down from Heaven in the sight of men intimating the operation of the Spirit of Burning and so deceives himself and all that dwell upon the Earth he is made manifest to all that dwell in the heavenly Light in their hearts All Friends mind your Watch for the Adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour abide in the Counsel of the Lord which is the Light in you and you will discern between the Beast which is Antichrist in his lying Wonders and the Lamb Jesus Christ in the opperation of his Power so you will come to try the spirits whether they be of God yea or no all that are guided by the Beast have their life in speaking and acting in outward opperations what they once experienced and what they comprehended to be truth speaking that they enjoy not and is exalted in pride the heart returned into the Earth But thou that art guided by the Lamb the Light in thy Conscience the righteous Law cries through thy earthly heart and brings it to Judgment and thou canst find no life in the opperation of the Power of God nor in thy obedience but whilst the Presence of the Lord is with thee in it and when thou hast done the Will of God in obeying what he hath made known unto thee thou seest thy self to be an unprofitable Servant and hast need of Patience that thou mayest receive the Promise where thy Life is hid with Christ in God to save thee freely for his Name sake or else thou perishest and to carry thee on by his Mighty Power or else thou fallest so thou hast nothing to glory in but in the Lord. And as they that are guided by the Beast which is Antichrist speaks of the Truth a riddle to their own hearts not knowing the Power and Life of what they speak adding to the Word of the Lord and the plagues and curse of God will be added unto them But thou art guided by the Lamb Jesus Christ thou knowest when the Word of the Lord is committed to thee If any have my Word saith the Lord let him speak my Word faithfully Is not my Word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rocks in pieces Thou canst witness the Word of the Lord to be as a fire and as a hammer to break the Rocks in pieces in thee and bring down all in thee in subjection to it self and it alones rules in thee and thou that canst witness the Word of the Lord thus manifest in thee thou art a true Messenger of the Lord let not the deceit stop thy mouth for the Word of the Lord that calls thee to speak shall perfect his Work for which he is sent All Friends stand fast in the Counsel and Will of God be faithfull in following the Lamb daily through the Cross and none be discouraged in temptations be content look up to the Lord to keep you in the hour of temptations for it is no sin to be tempted but to yeeld to the Tempter and when the Lord delivers you from the power of the Tempter watch that your will get not from under the Cross but sink down into the Love of God and every one be content in what the Lord hath made manifest to you and be faithfull according to your Talents and more will be communicated to you and none look forth at others conditions for if you do the Enemy will cause you to stumble and you will come to a loss in your own condition wait patiently in the Counsel of the Lord the Light in you for he is making a short work in the Earth that you that come into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour shall receive as much as they that came in at the third hour and have laboured in the heat of the day All ye children of the Lord lift up your heads behold your King riding in Majesty and Power upon the wild Ass Colt which is your wild nature subjecting it to himself that you may enter with him through the Gates of the City into the New Jerusalem where there enters nothing that worketh abomination and maketh a lie but what is written in the Lambs Book of Life and there you shall dwell in the Banqueting-house of the Lord for ever seeding upon the feast of fat things rejoycing in the Eternal Love and Mercy of your Souls in the free Covenant of Life in the Blood of Christ who is the Lord of lords and King of kings God blessed forever who is riding on in majesty and in power conquering and to conquer all the powers of darkness in the hearts of his Saints that they may reign as people upon the Earth to the praise and glory of our God who is taking unto him his Great Power to reign in his Saints for evermore To whom alone be all honour glory power and eternal praises for ever W. D. A Word of Consolation unto the Child of Light that yet sits in Darkness being deeply afflicted and wounded in spirit through ignorance of Salvation in the New Covenant in Christ Jesus the Light DEar Child of the Birth of the Immortal Seed which cries over all the World and beyond all the Pleasures Pomp and
Vanity therein for the enjoyment of the light Countenance of God fear thou not neither be thou discouraged because of the violent assaults of the Enemy who seeks to draw thee into the carnal reasonings of thy spirit and in it to kindle a fire to thy self and cause thee to walk in the light of the sparks that thou hast kindled and this thou hast at the hand of the Lord in going from his Counsel lyest down in sorrow few knows thy great distress but to the Lord it is known and to them that had and walked in the same paths Oh thou beloved Babe who liest in the deep sence of the working of the evil-one in thy mind and many times art ready to say Never was any like unto me neither any sorrow like unto my sorrow and in this languishing despairing mournings of thy soul all things made bitter unto thee as the waters of Marah thus art thou driven from all comfort as a Child without a Father and a desolate Widdow without a Husband and as a Stranger that no eye pittieth in thy apprehension sometimes saying in thy heart in the heat of the temptation and the fire that thou hast kindled O that I had been any Creature but what I am or if it were the Will of the Lord that he would shorten my dayes that I might not be any longer on Earth to sin against him for in thy own sence and feeling thou walking in the sparks thou hast kindled in carnal reasonings thou deservest not any thing but Wrath Horror Misery and Distress on every side and great languishings that thy dayes were shortened secretly crying out in thy heart O that I were alone in the Wilderness or any Cave or Den in the Earth that I might never set nor hear any of the Sons of men any more but in the secret retiredness even roar and mourn out my dayes until I die O thou Royal Child of the birth of the morning of the pure eternal Day of the God of Israel hearken no longer to the enemy who saith There hath none travelled where thou art nor none drunk of the Cup that thou art drinking he is a Lyar who goes about to destroy thy precious soul In the Word of the Lord God I declare unto thee I drank the same cup with my faithful Friends who are born of the Royal Seed every one in their measures travelled in the same path and have endured the same temptations and walked in the light of the same sparks and laid down in sorrow in the sence of the same misery as thou mournest under this day no longer lend an ear to the enemy and the thoughts of thy heart Arise arise in the Light of the Covenant stay thy heart and the Lord will throw down the Enemy of thy peace destroy the carnal reasonings of thy mind put out the fire that thou hast kindled and he will deliver thee out of the horrible Pit and set thy feet upon the Rock of Ages and thou shalt tread down the enemies of thy soul in the sensible feeling of the Love of the Father who will manifest himself to be a Father to the Fatherless in thee and a Husband to the mournful Widdow and a Comforter to the Immortal Babe that mourns in thee in the uprightness of thy heart to do the Will of the Living God so in the power of his Might stay thy heart and tread upon all doubts fears dispairing thoughts questionings reasonings musings imaginations and consultings arise over them all in the Light of Christ he will lead thee into the Banqueting-house of the Pleasure of our God where thou shalt sit down with me and all the Redeemed of my Father who are born of the Immortal Seed and have passed through great Tribulations have washed our Garments and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb therefore do we now stand before the Throne of God praising him day and night in his Holy Temple And this shall be the portion of thy Cup if thou diligently hearken to the Counsel of the Lord which calls thee to trust in him he will embrace thee in the arms of his Love and thou shalt praise his Name for ever God Almighty in his Light and Life raise up thy soul and establish thy heart in his Counsel stedfastly to wait in his Power to lead thee in the Cross out of all unbelief and cause thee to lie down at rest in obedience to his Will where thou shalt drink the Cup of Salvation for ever Farewel William Dewsbury THE END