freely nor did not for sake all freely but like Ananias and Saphira though I had parted with much yet would have kept a part back and if the Lord had cut me off as they were I must have justified the justice of the Lord in my Soul and Conscience which daily witnessed against me as it were sealing and confirming this Testimony to me and in me that I should never find Peace nor Reconsiliation with the Lord untill I gave obedience to the Light and came into society with the Children of Light viz. the People by the World called Quakers and came to the Worship that stood in Spirit contrary to all the Wayes Worships and Services of the World set up in the wills and limitations of Men which I saw to be only Formal and Traditional and no less then Idolatry as they then stood in the Will-Worship being prescribed and set forth at the Wills and Pleasures of Men and established by the then present Powers Government and Authority as by the Independant Church Faith the Presbyterian Directory the Episcopals Common-Prayer Book and such like may more fully Testifie none being to question or object against any thing that was or is believed by their several Churches and Assemblies or prescribed in their Rules or Canons Directories or Service-Books though never so much dissatisfied in Conscience without undergoing the Censures or Abjudications of their particular Societies and Churches so called But they that are come to the Light and Liberty of the Sons of God and to live and walk in the Spirit and by the Spirit they know the Anointing which abideth in them which is truth and no lye which Teacheth them in all things to follow the Lamb only whithersoever he goes and the leadings of his Spirit and not the formal trash and traditional precepts of Men and so they are ceased from Man and his teachings knowing the Lord is come to Teach his People himself whereof I being perswaded in my own heart and this Testimony aforesaid standing in me viz. that I should never know Peace with God in my Soul untill I obeyed and followed the Light which I daily felt striving in me and with me in my Meditations and Communications with my own Heart secretly condemning me for my disobedience and works of darkness I was in the fulness of time constrained to yeild and resign my self into the Will and Lap of the Lord as Esther did either to Live or Perish resolving as I said before freely to drink that Cup which had so long appeared bitter but was then made sweet and wholsom as the Waters of Jericho being seasoned with that power that makes every bitter thing sweet and hard things easie then was the Arm of the Lord made bare and stretched forth for my deliverance and his strength was perfected in weakness being brought into subjection and made willing to bear his Cross then his Yoke was made easie and his Burden became Light then he that sat in Darkness saw great Light and he that dwelt in the Land of the shaddow of Death upon him did the Light shine in that Day did he cause the Deaf to hear the Blind to see out of obscurity the Lame to walk the Dumb to speak and the Tongue of the stammerer to speak plainly even then when mine Ears hearkned to the Word that was near in the mouth and heart the righteousness of Faith which the Apostle Preached Rom. 108. Even then when I cast away my Jewels Ornaments Images c. Menstruous cloaths Isa 30.21 22. and my own Righteousness Faith and best Performances which was but as filthy rags in comparison of the excellency of that Glory revealed in and through the Son of righteousness which arose with healing in his Wings then did he give rain unto his Seed even the former and the latter in his Season and upon every Mountain and Hill made he Rivers and Streams to run then was the light of the Moon as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun was sevenfold even in that Day when he bound up the breach of his Servant and healed the stroke of his wounded he opened the Prison doors also and set the Captive at liberty and let the Oppressed go free then he made the Lame to leap as an Heart and the tongue of the Dumb to sing for joy the crooked paths did he make straight and the rough ways plain and smooth he brought down the mighty from their Seats and exalted them of low degree then he filled the Hungry with good things and the Rich he sent empty away then did joy spring forth as the Mornning and gladness did arise as the Sun even then when Peace did run down like a River and Salvation as a mighty Stream then was the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord even then when the Bridegroom came out of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet then was the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at hand then was the Day of joy and gladness when sorrow and sighing fled away then was the Day of mine espousing when my Maker became my Husband Hosea 2.19 20 23. and the Bridegroom and Bishop of my Soul when I was betrothed unto the Lord then was the Marriage in Cana of Galilee known John 2. which was the only Marriage Christ and his Disciples were called to where all the Water in the Vessels was turned into Wine which maketh glad the heart of Man and comforteth the Living Psal 104.15 Eccles 10.19 such did Israel of old Drink in the Land of Promise Deut. 32.14 here was the first and beginning of Miracles that Jesus wrought shewing forth his Glory it was here also he Healed the Rulers Son which was ready to Die his second Miracle wrought in Galilee John 4.50 54. here also was his first appearance to his Disciples after he was risen from the Grave Matt. 28.7.10.16 17. here also was his first appearance and working of Wonders in me and to me which when I saw I believed as his Disciples and the Galileans did John 2.11 and 4.45 then he whipped out the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple and overthrew the Tables of the Money-changers then I knew the Tabernacle of the Lord was with Men and that he was come to Teach his People Himself and great was the Peace of His Children as Isaiah said chap. 54.13 then did I witness the Covenant changed the Law changed the Priesthood changed the Offerings Oblations Sacrifices and Ordinances changed the Service and the Worship changed and all the Shadows Types and Figures abolished which was but a Shadow of good Things to come Hebr. 10.1 and the Tabernacle and Sanctuary changed Heb. 10.20 and the Vail removed and the New and Living Way to be Revealed which he hath prepared for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh for even to this Day while Moses and the Old-Testament and the Law is read the same Vail remains over and untaken away 2
THE MEMORY OF That Faithful Servant of the Lord Thomas Carleton Reviv'd BEING A COLLECTION Of several of his VVritings in the ensuing Volume as a Testimony of his Zeal for promoting the blessed Truth and Establishing of Friends therein Also some TESTIMONIES Concerning his Faithfulness and Perseverance in the Way of the Lord unto the Finishing of his Course here with joy which was the 18th day of the Ninth Month 1684. The Memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10.7 The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Psal 112.9 Printed in the Year 1694. The Testimony of Thomas Trafford concerning his Friend and Brother in the Truth Thomas Carleton THere is a Testimony in my Heart at this time to bear for dear Thomas Carleton Notwithstanding it is long since he was Removed from us as to the outward yet his Memorial lives with me and in the Revivings of it can do no less then say something of the Experience Knowledg I had of him My first acquaintance with him was by the Spirit of Truth in a Meeting for as soon as I saw his Face as he was coming into the Meeting I felt my heart united or knit to him as Jonathan's was to David and it was sealed to me That he had a Testimony to bear for the Lord's Truth in the Assemblies of his People which was Confirmed to me that Meeting For after some time sitting in the Meeting there came an Exercise upon his Spirit and he stood up in great Fear and Dread which was his usual manner when he was so Exercised under the powerfull Word of Life not being a Man forward in entring upon that service but rather backward until necessitated thereunto by the constraining Power of God And while he was delivering his Testimony I had dear unity with him and my Soul was refreshed by his Ministry although he was but short and my love reached so to him that I could not be satisfied untill I went to see him at his Lodging after which time we grew into a more near acquaintance one with another both inwardly and outwardly so that we became near and dear one unto another and thereby came to have a true sense and knowledge of one anothers Mindâ— and Spirits and truly my heart and spirit is broken at this time in the remembrance of that sweet and brotherly love that continued between us to the last for he was a true Yoke-fellow in the Labour of the Gospel for the good and wel-fare of the Church and I must needs say I have found the want of him with some others who were true sensible Members in the Body or Church of Christ whom the Lord hath been pleased to remove from us and take to himself which I must be content with resting in the Faith that he can and will raise up others in his time to supply their places And although this my Friend and Brother was a Man attended with many Infirmities of Body which disabled him from Travelling much abroad yet I can say he was seldom if ever without a Concern Care or Exercise upon his Spirit that all things might be well in the Church and that those who were Convinced of the Truth might live answerable to what they did profess and was many a time Constrained to bear Testimony in a holy Zeal against such as were dry Formilist Professors of it and did not come up into a Living Experimental Exercise of the power of Truth and such who walked loose in their Conversations as will appear by the following Epistles that he Writ and God who tempers the Body as he Sees meet had indued him with a large and clear understanding both in Divine Spiritual things and also Natural Parts beyond many which did very much adorn him and so much the more in that he did not think so of himself but would appear as simple as any which bespoke him to be one of Christs Followers who had Learned to be Meek and Lowly in heart I Write what I know and it is not to attribute any thing to Man but to acknowledge the great Work of God in and for Man who as Vessels in his Hand he hath honoured therefore we who have been made partakers of their Work and Service can do no less And indeed all his Parts and Gifts were Sanctified unto him for he was a Man of of a sweet temper mild in Controverting things and could govern his Spirit with gravity either with such as did oppose Truth and contend against it or at other times in Church Discipline or with unruly Spirits that he might have to do with Oh the Remembrance of him makes the loss of him more to be Lamented But having this answer returned sealed unto me that our loss is his gain therefore am Contented in the will of the Lord and notwithstanding his Parts did exceed many yet he was ready to prefer others before himself which was an Ornament to him and did very much become his Holy Profession he was a Man that Loved the Truth and all such that lived in it and he was of a tender Spirit desiring nothing more then the Unity of the Brethren and to hear of the Prosperity of Truth and Peace in the Church So that I have cause to believe he is one of that Number to whom it is said Blessed are the Dead which Die in the Lord from henceforth yâ—â— said the Spirit that they may rest from â—â—eâ—â— Labours and their Works do follow them Written this 15th day of the 6. Month 1693. At Wicklow by one that loves the Brethren Thomas Trafford THE TESTIMONY OF GEORGE ROOKE Concerning Thomas Carleton THis I have to say concerning this our dear Friend and Brother in the Truth that is removed from us by Death according to God's appointment for all Men once to Die he was a Man that was tender of Gods glory in his Day and laboured for the promotion of his Truth into the service of which the Lord was pleased to Call him when he was but young in years and made known unto him the riches of the Mistery which had been hid from Ages past even Christ Revealed within the sure Hope of Eternal Glory by which he was preserved both sure and stedfast in his Testimony-bearing for God where-ever the Lord was pleased to Order him whether it was in a Prison-house or at Liberty he was not unwilling to submit to his Will even to do and suffer whereby he might honour and glorifie his Maker in his day and generation And he had not long been Convinced of the blessed Truth till Lewis West the Priest of the Parish where he lived began to persecute him because for Conscience-sake he could not pay Tythes and cast him into Prison at Carlisle in Cumberland for at Little-Salkeld in that County was the place of his abode then though some years after his Enlargement he removed himself and family into this Nation of Ireland But mark he being put in Prison was kept Prisoner
Cor. 3.14 15. as is evident and clearly seen to he the very State and Condition of the Ministers and People of England to whom the Way of Life of Regeneration of Light of Righteousness of Peace of having their Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and of witnessing Redemption and Remission of sins is hid and to them the covering is not yet taken away for the Vail is over their Hearts and what they see and know of God is but by the seeing or hearing of the outward Eye or Ear as Job said chap. 42.5 knowing nothing but what they know Naturally in a literal historical notional external Sense and in these Things they foyl and corrupt themselves never owning or obeying the Light that leads out of Darkness and Discovers all the works thereof which makes all things manifest and gives the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which till then is Vailed through which we draw nigh unto God and makes bold to enter into the inner Sanctuary even the holy Place being purified through his Blood having our Consciences purged from dead works Hebr. 9.14 which is not yet made manifest where the Tabernacle is standing Hebr. 9.8 neither do they know the Power which through his death hath rent the Vail but we that are come to believe in the Light and to witness the New Covenant which God promised to his People Jer. 31.31.23 c. Rom. 11.27 Hebr. 8.8.10 c. Hebr. 10.16 17. they whose Hearts are turned to the Lord know the Vail taken away accord-to his promise 2 Cor 3.16 17 18. and we all with open face behold the glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty Now being born of the same Seed and not another and regenerated by the same Life and Power and because we have the same Spirit of Faith which the Apostles and Servants of the Lord had as it is written 2 Cor. 4.13 Psalm 116.10 I believed therefore have I spoken we also have Believed and therefore speak now we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 and having this hope and trust we use great boldness and plainness of speech and are not ashamed of that worthy Name by which we have been called nor of the glorious Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto all those that Believe and this Mystery viz. Christ in us the hope of Glory Col. 1.26 27 hid from Ages and Generations hath he opened and revealed in us blessed honored and glorified by the sweet and precious Name and Love of our God for ever that hath opened the mysteries of his Kingdom and hath revealed them unto Babes Sucklings and to the little and lowly in Spirit and yet hath hid them from the Wise and Prudent of the Earth this is the Lords doing and is marvellous in our Eyes blessed yea everlastingly blessed be his holy Living eternal Name Love Life and Power who alone is worthy of all Glory Rule and Dominion for evermore And having this Testimony and for this Testimonies sake and for our love and faithfulness thereunto we suffer and are brought into bonds by the chief Priests and Rulers of this Generation for as it was in the Apostles dayes so it is now They that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and as Christ said In the World you shall have tribulation but in me you shall have Peace and if you love Me the world will hate you and even so persecuted they the Prophets that went before us this persecuting spirit getting a place and room in the Woman as I said before broke forth in Cain the third Person in the Earth and he slew Abel his only Brother and here the Enmity between the Seeds appeared which I mentioned in the beginning and this envious Persecuting spirit hath had a place and descent through all the Generations of Man-kind to this very Day as the Scriptures are full how they that served and feared the Lord did suffer Persecutions Afflictions Tribulations Reproaches spoiling of Goods Buffettings Imprisonments yea even to the Death and all for following the Lord in the Regeneration and for serving and obeying Him in heart and spirit and for departing and separating themselves from the Ways Worships Customs Traditions and beggerly rudiments of the World and as they persecuted the Prophets and Apostles of Christ that went before us even so do they persecute us and yet they will profess they know God but their Works deny Him for I was no sooner turned from Darkness to Light nor from Satans Power to God nor from sin to righteousness nor from the lusts and pleasures of the Flesh to serve the Living God nor no sooner come to deny my self and take up the Cross of Christ and follow him through Tribulations Reproachings Revilings Mockings Fastings Temptings or what other Sufferings soever or through Death it self unto Life yea no sooner I say was I given up to follow him but persecution arose for the Gospel sake notwithstanding my long Travel and Pilgrimage in the Wilderness neither considering the Faintings the Hungrings the Thirstings the Jeopardies Perils the many desperate Dangers the dark Disconsolate days the long and wearisom Nights my poor Soul sustained with many a sigh and heavy groan with many a dolefull lamentation with much brokenness of Heart and contrition of Spirit when Rivers as it were run down from mine Eyes when my Heart failed me for fear in the day of my spiritual progress from Egyt to Canaan I say never considering the afflictions I bad gone through the enmity in Gods enemies without arose against me to repoach revile and persecute me and as I said before having withdrawn and separated my self from them with their Way and Worship I was hated envied and threatned by them but especially by one of Englands chief Priests named Lewis West a Man whose Life and Gonversation doth more fully declare him to all that knows him part whereof I may set down in this following Treatise and shall leave it to the view judgment and consideration of all sober juditious Men that knows any thing of the Way and Worship of God but especially to those my Neighbours and Country-men that hath known both him and me according to the flesh though he be a Man in esteem honour and repute amongst Men and the Children of this World and hath attained to his several Titles and degrees of Honour and Preferment being reckoned one of their chief and learnedst orthodox Divines being as his Wife once said to me contemning me as â—udatious and for my puerility and illiteratness far inferior to argue or dispute matters of Conscience with him brought up at his Book and School from his Child-hood and I being but a Child
must have Tythes paid them as they were then all that Law say they is abolished since Christ came in the Flesh save that sweet morsel of Tythes which is so pleasant to their pallat like Achan's wedge of Gold and Babylonish Garment Josh 7.21 which they covet as much as he did and would save alive as Saul did the King of the Amalekites and the best of the spoyl as Sheep Oxen and Fatlings c. 1. Sam. 15.9 even so they would have Tythes kept up above all the rest of the Ordinances Ceremonies and Services of the first Tabernacle and that shadowy Dispensation Tythes is the sweetest of all many of the rest would be trouble and cost to them and diminish their Revenue So these they confess to be abolished and why not Tythes say I Of what institution was Tythes Or for what term more then the rest that they must not be abolished with the rest I know no cause but the reasons aforesaid crept in amongst their Ancestor or Mother the Church of Rome in the Night of Apostacy Then again there is that in Luke 11.42 where Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees c. from which they infer that Christ allowed the payment of Tythes under the Gospel indeed so say I that Christ there allowed the payment of Tythes the Scribes Pharisees being as under the Law but not under the Gospel its true he condems them for the neglect of weightier matters as Judgment c. may not I accordingly condem both Priest and People now he said they Strained at a Gnat and swallowed a Camel may not I say so now to them that makes so much ado about Tythes and neglects things of greater weight as departing from Iniquity as Swearing Lying Coveting Stealing Oppressing Defrauding Cozening Drinking Cheating Adultery Fornication and many more things of greater weight walking in disobedience to what God hath manifested by his Light in their Consciences doing that which they ought not and leaving undone what they ought they are at best but like the Pharisees Sticking at the outside things as Tythes Ordinances of the Church so called Conformity and the like Traditions required by Men but never shew so much zeal and diligence to keep their Consciences clear and to observe what is required of them by the Lord they 'll pretend a great zeal for the Church and Government c. but when appears so much zeal for God and the keeping of his Commandments and of loving him with all their Heart But to come more positively to the point of his allowing of Tythes in this place I say I grant it for they were then under the Law and the Law was but a fulfilling For he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it which he did observe in the dayes of his Flesh untill he had offered up himself a perfect and everlasting Sacrifice then he said It is finished then came in the Second Covenant and took place of the First it being disanulled the Second was Established when his Blood was shed by which Salvation was obtained For without shedding of Blood there is no Remission So may not we as justly Condemn then the Tything Priests and other fiery Zelots in our Age who is so Exact for their Tythes as if Salvation depended in that particular and is very negligent in seeking after Righteousness Piety and Reformation of Life but contrarily if any seek after God or the knowledge of his Way and Truth then they cry out of such with open mouth as Fanatick Schismaticks Seducers Erroneous persons who seek to be Wiser then their Forefathers What is become of them say they that the Way and Worship that served them cannot serve you but you must have a new Way of your own contrary to Church and State I now remember some of the same Spirit said to the Apostles They were setters up of strange Gods bringers in of new Doctrine turners of the World upside down away with them they Taught the People against the Law and the Customs of the Place and People they were not worthy to live so that I see by experience They that live after the Flesh persecute those that live after the Spirit in every Age but I shall not here insist but as I have said before to that of Luke he spoke to them that was yet under the Judaical Laws but so am not I and was a fulfilling them as appears elsewhere by his saying to John about Baptism Suffer it to be so now for so it becomes us to fulfil all Righteousness so he was but a compleating that Dispensation but when he came to suffer and was lifted up upon the Cross he said It s finished then he put an end to all the Ordinances of the First Tabernacle and brought in the Second the unchangeable Priesthood which stands for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Thus much for Tythes as they were due under the Law and no where else and as they were an Ordinance amongst the Jews only in the Land of Canaan and no People else for it s said He gave his Statutes and his Judgments to Israel to every Nation he did not so but I am no Jew therefore not under that Law but rather of the Stock of the Gentiles as is believed and Tything among the Gentiles I never yet read of and Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness sake and the Heart and Life of what the Law figured out being come neither Jews nor Gentiles ought to be any longer under Shadows and Figures c. But again when their claiming of Tythes by vertue of the Mosaical Laws is overturned and will not hold plea Jure Divino as they say then they betake them to another that is Jure humano or The Civil Laws of this Nation by which Laws say they Tythes is established and setled to them say the Priests by vertue of their Place and Office as a most competent Livelyhood for them and their Families In answer whereunto I say that the radix and grand Original property of this Title and Claim did and doth still arise from the Mosaical or Levitical Law which is disanulled and done away in Christ as is before proved and hence they are accounted a Spiritual propriety and therefore a pretended Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Law and Court is kept and appointed by Episcopal Authority within their several jurisdictions distinct from their Civil Laws only for the tryal and recovery of Tythes and such other matters as they account Spiritual and this Levitical Institution is the sole Basis and Foundation upon which their Civil Law depends and the Foundation being taken away the Structure or Building falls so that being disanull'd in Christ the Civil Law hath no more power so that the Title of Tythes is lost Now again every Law is or ought to be grounded upon Equity and sound Reason and Righteousness and for some conscientious and pious honest end and purpose as the Preamble to all Laws do
they will be as a broken Reed but all keep low and mind the narrow Way that leadeth unto Life the self denying way 't is but a few that find it yea peradventure but a few of that few that professes to walk in it The broad way the way of the World lies very near on every hand it is soon stepped into if once ones Eye be turned aside then it appears delightfull and hath a show of Beauty in it but it leads to the chambers of Death And my Friends those things I laid before you in my former Epistle I hope I need not here reiterate or make repetition of but as I was enjoyned by the Lord to deliver them unto you so I would have all Male and Female to ponder them in your Hearts that all may be clear and I clear of all And Friends keep your Hearts clear of the spirit of this World of all the Ways Fashions Pleasures and Alurements thereof shake your selves from them live loose to them for things may be Lawful to them and by their Law that may not be Lawful to us by our Law The Law of the spirit here is our rule so take heed of measuring by their Rule for our Rule being spiritual exceeds all their carnal Rules and our Righteousness must exceed theirs also so all minding the Rule and minding the Line none needs go out of their Way for it exceeds all the Lines and Rules of Mans making so come to the just measure the measure of Truth for unjust measures are abomination in the sight of God And all shake your selves from all the Whorish Babilonish brats from all her Customs from all her Ways and Worships partake not of them come away come away hasten hasten out from among them bid adieu to all her Glories and escape for your lives as Lot did out of Sodom before Gods destroying Angel go forth for his Wrath is kindling and his Fury is coming up into his Face and who shall stand before him Oh therefore come come away linger not hasten hasten to little Zoar the City of our Refuge which God hath appointed for us come give up give up all in pure obedience follow the Lamb even the Lamb of God that takes away the sin and finisheth Transgression and breaks the bonds of Death oh give up leave all and come away and wait to feel the Blood of sprinkling the Blood of the Lamb to sprinkle the posts of your Doors that the destroying Angel may not enter but may pass over you as he passed over his Israel of old for I know it from the Lord and can declare it unto you that God hath a Remnant at this Day as he had in that that are in Covenant with him And those are they that hath obeyed Truth in their inward parts and hath kept their Garments unspotted of the World and hath walked with God in the simplicity of their Hearts they are his he hath Chosen them out of the World he hath called them by his Name and espoused them to himself and whosever toucheth them touches the apple of his Eye God will take care of them and will be their munitioned Rock he will pass by them and spare them as a Man spareth his onely Son that serveth him oh therefore retire retire to the Lowly Meek and self-denying Spirit of Jesus live in the possession of it so shall you be Heirs of Life and Glory in and through Christ Jesus and Citizens of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem whose Walls is salvation and Gateâ— praise and though fear may surprize the hypocrite and astonishment cease upon the Disobedient and Rebellious yet you shall â—â—and as Mount Zion that cannot be moved the Lord God Almighty will strengthen your stakes so that not a stake of Jerusalem can be removed nor a Cord of Zion ever â—e broken the Mouth of the Lord hath said it Oh therefore all sink down sink down to the pure Principle of God in the inward Man the just Mans path the shining Light of Jesus Christ oh let that Guide all and Order all and then may we say with David thy Word o Lord is a Light unto my feet and a Lanthorn unto my paths indeed and so in the Light feel the Love the first Love renewed and strengthened again oh strengthen strengthen that little that yet remains that it may grow warmer and warmer and not colder and colder for where iniquity abounds there Love grows cold and undoubtedly in such the Life declines therefore feel universal Love to grow to fill to run through all for Love worketh no ill to his Neighbour it is the fulfilling of the Law as faith the Apostle so if any one Male or Female have declined have walked disorderly have turned aside from the holy Commandment from the Footsteps of the flock of God from the holy Order of the holy Life and Gospel of Jesus Christ it stops the Currant of Love both in themselves and others oh let such return return repent and amend and bow to the Righteous Judgment of him to whom all Judgment is committed and at the Footstool of Jesus truly humbled in true Tenderness and Contrition of Spirit wait to feel the Currant and Streams of Love from God the Father to flow in and heal again and to restore again that so the heavenly sap vertue and universal love may be felt to spring run and ascend again through every member or branch that love and good will in all may grow and increase and the contrary nature may decline and that root in which enmity self-love pride and contention stands may be daily subdued and slain that all may bow to the Cross and be subject to the Power the heavenly Power of God oh feel it feel it in your Souls to live oh let none resist it in themselves nor in others for whoever resists the Power resists the Ordinance of God so prise it prise it my dear Friends retain the sense and savour of it in your selves let not that be lost in any high nor low rich or poor old nor young there is a living Beauty and Comliness in it still it is beyond all professions or prescribed Forms or imitations of Mans making there can no form nor likness be made of it so the nature and work of the Power being possessed and lived in it will preserve all in Love Unity and Peace and Heavenly fellowship and spiritual oneness out of all jars strifes discords or divisions And the God of Peace and Love will be with us and delight to do us good and will undoubtedly cherish and maintain his own heavenly Birth and righteous Seed which by the over shadowings of his heavenly eternal Power he hath begotten and raised in all his regenerated ones So to the pure gift of God I Recommend you all my dear Friends Brethren and Sisters that in it we may all hold the mistery of Faith in a pure Conscience even that Faith that gives Victory and Dominion over the
World and all that nature that in it we may live and by it all may be preserved unto the end That so the Lord God Almighty his Living Holy Name and Eternal Truth may be Feared Served Honoured and Obeyed over all by and through all for He alone is worthy yea Everlasting worthy God blessed for ever and evermore Saith the Soul and Spirit of him who is the Lords and yours in the Unity of the Gospel of Christ Jesus T. C. A General EPISTLE CONTAINING Wholsom Admonition and Advice to Friends in IRELAND and else-where By Thomas Carleton DEar and well beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters who are in some Measure gathered by the Arm of God's Power and have known the blessed Appearance of Life and Salvation to you is the Salutation of my unfeigned Love and in the Fellowship of God's Everlasting Light do I tenderly greet you all and for the clearing of my Spirit of that which for some time hath been upon me do I communicate these Lines in the true Simplicity of my Heart dearly desiring all that love the Lord Jesus Christ To keep low and near the Lord and wait to feel God's living Power in your Hearts unto which we were turned or exhorted from the Beginning for in the Light of the Lord I see there is a Necessity for it For unless the Sense of God's living Power be felt Profession is vain and Meetings are not made profitable for the Mysteries of Life and Salvation and of true Christianity consist not only in any Profession Name or Notion of this or that Principle Article or Creed formed or received in the Minds of Men or Women but in a living Enjoyment and Possession of the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of the living saving Faith So my dear Friends all wait to feel the Operation of that Power in every Heart and Soul to subdue all to God and to work all into submission and real obedience to the heavenly Will and Mind of Christ Jesus who is come a Light into the World that all men through him might believe hear is the unchangeable standing Rule which every one is to measure themselves by and he or she that is measured or squared by this are as polished Stones for God's spiritual House and he or she that is not squared by this are not fit to be Members of God's Building so all having the Measuring line in your hearts let Judgment be laid to it and so try all things words works behaviours and the Intent of all and from what ground and spirit it doth proceed and this unchangeable everlasting Rule all keep to it and Build by it so shall you be justified with it in the Day of Tryal so all things done by this unchangeable unerring Rule the Law of the Spirit of Life this keeps clean and pure and sets free of all Mud and Confusion Sin and Iniquity and things that bring death and darkness over the Soul and understanding and so cloud the Testimony So let every man and woman by this standing Rule examine themselves and so let them eat speak or act as the Lord shall perswade them and wherein any one doubteth and is not clear in what he or she undertaketh let such forbare and wait in quietness till the Lord clear their way So all take heed and keep to the Rule for in the Lord's Light we see Light and have Clearness and Freedom and Peace but going from the Light without Rule without Guide the Vail comes over Darkness gathers in Confusion and Trouble then Peace comes to be lost So you that have known in any measure the work of Regeneration and of the New Birth through the working of God's Spirit and power in your Hearts by which some unclean spirits have been cast out keep to the Power still and beware of letting in the unclean spirit again for if you do the latter-end will be worse then the beginning And lean not to the World's Wisdom beware of that spirit I advise all for by that wisdom God is not known and if once the Sense and enjoyment of God be lost then man and woman is in a woful state without God in the World so keep out of the world's spirit I intreat you all and live as Fools to it and all its wayes fashions customs for in the light of the Lord I see a great Snare there at this day and too many that make Profession of Truth are like to be split upon that Rock So dear Friends live loose to the world and all the glories of it and seek to be wise in that which is not of this world that you may be loved of God and so dwell in that which can bear the revilings and reproaches of this world and the contradiction of sinners as our Lord Jesus Christ hath left us an Example So beware of looking back to Egypt's Glory again to see any heauty or comliness in that dark Land for from the Lord I see a Temptation attending God's spiritual Israel in this day as surely as ever it attended Israel after the Flesh and many are too prone to desire the pleasures of Egypt again though the best of them be bondage as many to their Sorrow have found yea too many there be that cannot bear tryals and reproaches and the way of the Cross and self-denyal but think it long and wearisom and hard as they did in the dayes of old and so are too ready to murmur and repine and lust in their hearts after this World 's glory again and joyn to its fashions and customs again and so set up Idols again as they did whose Carcases fell in tho wilderness with whom the Lord was displeased So beware of letting in that spirit of destrust unbelief and rebellion against God and his pure Witness in your Consciences and beware of building that which was once destroyed or licking up that which was once vomited or entertaining of that which was once cast out or owning that which was once denyed either in words in works in behaviour in apparel in doctrine or faith hath Truth in you condemned for all idle vain prophane wicked unfound and unfavoury words and brought you into a Form of needful true and sound words keep to it still hath Truth condemned all idle proud prophane wicked and ungodly Actions and all empty airy foolish wanton lustful proud self-willed and Men-pleasing behaviours and brought you into moderation gravity plainness reallity and Truth in Life and Conversation keep to it still hath Truth condemned for decking and adorning the Body with vain superfluous proud needless worldly eye-taking Toyes in Apparel and led you into plain profitable decent needful things keep to it still and fashion not your selves like unto the World nor learn any of their manners nor of the breeding of that egyptian-Egyptian-Spirit which keeps the Seed in bondage and oppressed the just in the particular and in the general so from the Lord I advise you all and
warn you all that are Parents to watch over your Children and bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and beware you breed them not up in the World's manners nor customs nor in pride lightness and vanity nor in things that puff up and lead away their minds from under the Cross of Christ Jesus but rather breed them up in Humility Lowliness and Self-denial and in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom and gate of Virtue and so endeavour to train them up in the right Way to Life and lay a good Foundation in them while they are young and then both you and they may expect a blessing from the Lord which is better then all So away with all Manners and Breeding and Education that is out of the Fear of God for you your selves know the first Nature in it self is too inclinable to be taken with the Manners and Customs of the Egyptian-Spirit and to take pleasure and conceit it self and be puffed up with and in those things that lead from God without nursing and encouraging thereunto so keep all Low in Meekness and Self-denial that God's Fear may be timely planted in their Hearts and the Principles of Life and Peace they may be instructed in as you your selves have learned them of the Lord that so the loving-kindness and gentle dealings of God towards us we may tell of them to our Children and they to another Generation so all learning the way of the Cross and Self-denyal that Will that is carnal and earthly will be mortified and slain and the Spirit of the World and the Customs thereof will be Crucified to you all and you all unto it and then how can they that are Crucified to the World live any longer therein and so Spiritual Men and Spiritual Women Sons and Daughters of the incorruptible Seed begotten again by the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus and so dead to the World's Spirit Ways Customs Manners Traditions Ordinances and Worships all in the Fall and Degeneration from God and every one Living up to this being guided by God's Wisdom keep their Testimony clear and unviolated in the sight of God and Men. So stand true Witnesses for God and be Faithful or full of Faith in the Lord believe in Him love Him above all and trust Him with all Wife and Children Estate and Life and take heed of giving Offence or of causing Truth to suffer in its Esteem for God hath glorified it and will glorifie it and Wo from the Lord is to them that cause Truth to be Evil spoken off that brings a blot upon their Testimony and so marreth the Visage and Countenance of Truth in the particular or in the general And dear Friends stand living Witnesser for God's Truth and be not cowardly but valiant as Soldiers of Christ Jesus and stand up against all the Works and Workers of Iniquity against all Hirelings and false Shepherds against the grand Oppression of Tythes with the abolished Ceremonies and Ordinances of the first Covenant and Jews outwardly which Antichrist and the Deceivers that are gone into the World having lost the Power would innovate and set up again among the Gentiles and Jews inward contrary to the Institution of God and stand up against all Swearing and that which leads to Swearing and against Lying or Stealing and against Fighting or Killing since our Kingdom is not of this World and against Fornication Adultery Whoredom Lasciviousness Luxury and all manner of Uncleanness the sins of this World which are so vile they are scarce fit to be spoken of or named amongst the Saints so as becomes Warriours for God and the everlasting Gospel of Christ Jesus stand clear of them all and against them all and then there will be no need of shifts and excuses and crooked Reasons in the fallen wisdom to hide or cover any one with And my dear Friends let your Yea be Yea and your Nay be Nay and keep to the form of sound words in all your Communications Bargains and Dealings one with another and also with them that are without that so you may honour the Lord and honour his Truth and convince all with whom you have to do that Truth and Righteousness lives in you and you live in it this is the glory of all Profession And be not forward and rash in Words and Promises for some there are yea too many that make Profession of Truth and true Religion and yet know not a bridle for the Tongue and the Apostle said such Mens Religion was vain yea and too many there are that are hasty to promise and flow to perform and then shuffle to excuse themselves as Eve did where no Excuse can properly bear in the Truth so beware of it I desire you all for this was one express Token the Apostle laid down of the falling away therefore be slow to promise but careful quick and forward to perform when promised and that keeps Truth clear and answers the Expectations of all and Preaches to all with whom we have to do and hereby the Saints reached God's Witness in one another in the beginning so keep to it still and every one speak the Truth from his Heart without Dissimulation and learn not the slighty words and cunning evasions of the deceitful Spirits of this World which darken knowledge thereby to drive Bargains to accomplish self-ends and covetous designs for such things though never so fairly glossed are inconsistent with the innocency and naked simplicity of our Gospel neither is Truth honoured by such deceitful coverings so all Friends keep clear of such things and be plain-hearted with all Men for no coverings will hide or avail in this bright lightsome Day but that of God's Eternal Spirit which will stand over all and Darkness cannot comprehend it but going from the Light and Spirit of God into the fallen deceitful wisdom then the World comprehends and sounds and bottoms all such and so Truth suffers in the particular and in the general so the Law of the Spirit of Life which we profess is beyond all Laws and a Rule beyond all Rules and reaches further to the ordering and guiding of all those that are resolved and given up to it in Obedience then all Laws Precepts Canons or Injuctions that are outward whatsoever so the Righteosness that is God's which Christ Jesus is the Author of is beyond all and exceeds all the Righteousness of other Professions Scribes or Pharisees whereby its plain every Righteosness doth not enter nor is accepted of God but only that which exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ works in all his by the Operation of his eternal Spirit So my dear Friends wait to feel it and the effectual Works of it brought forth in you all which to feel is more then words that your Faith may stand in it and in a living Enjoyment of it for that Man or Woman that doth not feel it and the efficacy and vertue of