holdeth forth so ye may if ye are not wilful see your mistake in separating Nature from the God of Nature and that that which naturally sheweth man what is good and what is evil is the pure principle of God or the word by which all things were made which is Christ the light for saith the Apostle whatsoever may be known of God is made manifest in them to wit by nature or from their birth for God hath shewen it unto them which he hath not shewen unto a beast because of the lower Region he was created in so that men are not in this sence by nature Children of Wrath but Children of the Day to wit as man was at first brought forth into that which shewed him what was good and what was evil for so he was in the Image of God but as going from the good and chusing the evil so acting in self in distinction from the power or pure Principle of God which inclination is since become natural or is in him from his birth and so by nature is a Child of Wrath as the inclination to evil acts it self forth and whereas Jude speaketh of some who in whatsoever things they know naturally as living Creatures void of reason for so it is in the Greek in those things they corrupt themselves that is not in those things which they know onely from the Eternal light manifested in them which is Gods faithful Witnesse which none but a Creature that hath reason is capable of but in things pertaining to the five Senses of Seeing Feeling Tasteing Smelling and Hearing for the Sensitive Beast knows by the instinct of Nature or from his birth which is also the Principle of his Creator in him in his kind that he is to eat and drink to satisfie himself as feeling when he hath enough meat and drink to give off and chew the cud or lie down to sleep c. whereas these men as many do now feasted and fed without fear inordinately or drunk inordinately and so corrupted themselves in such things wherein the Beast was more moderate and this is the Natural man that perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God the light being obstructed by sense and sensuality in him and in this sense whatsoever a man doth by nature or in his own sensual will distinct from the feeling of the Life and Power of God all that he doth is rejected and accursed though the works may be good in themselves and shewen by the Eternal Light yet he that is charitable to the poor which the light sheweth to be good if he give his Alms from a wrong ground or to a wrong end though he cannot witnesse acceptation in his Work with the Lord yet he shall judge another who is Rich and yet so covetous that he shutteth up his bowels from the Poor and Needy and so might the Gentiles also condemn the Jews though themselves sensually performing some good actions were not accepted because not reconciled to the light in themselves which shewed the action to be good But notwithstanding this is a real and infalible Truth that it is no other than the pure Principle of God or his Word in the heart which is the true light that sheweth man by nature or from his birth what what is good and evil which Principle it self was never born or had a beginning any other-wise than was in manifestation in man whose Soul came out from the breath of the Almighty who is out of time in time But some may say what great hurt or inconvenience can come unto us though we do not own or believe that which is nigh every man to shew him sin and evil and which convinceth in his Conscience to be Christ the true light since we believe Christ to be the true light in himself and to be tbe Judge Saviour Teacher and Comforter of his People according to the Scriptures I Answer as Paul in another case much every way for first thou shalt never come aright to know what is good and what is evil what is sin and what is righteousness but wilt be ready to call good evil and evil good and wilt be still in an uncertainty concerning what the good and perfect will of God is and how then shouldest thou do it for thy mind being abroad thou art in the wandring state and although thou searchest the Scriptures never so narrowly and diligently yet therein will appear thwarting 's and contradictions scruples not through default of the scriptures but by reason that thou art not staid in that which should reconcile them Hence have arose for many years past those which they call Casuites who have under-took to Answer Cases of Conscience for people from the Scriptures when as those very Resolvers being themselves from that which should Resolve all doubts and difficulties have like unskilâ—â—d Physitians left tender Consciences half quieted yea and oftentimes made the scruple and trouble greater than before and so the leaders of the people have this way caused them to err Neither wilt thou so see the odiousnesse of sin as it is in it self and as thou oughtest to see it for that which searcheth and pricketh to the heart makes men cry out What shall they do they seeing sin staring them in the face with a dismal Countenance and how it hath separated them from God the fountain of all good they are even at their wits end and so their stony and stubborn heart comes to be broken and they are willing to deny their wills lusts and pleasures for the enjoyment of his favour whom they have transgressed against but men may and do hear the plagues and judgements of God declared against sin and sinners in the Scriptures a long time as God shall wound the hairie scalp of him that goes on in his wickedness the wicked shall be turned into hell and all that forget God how that their worm shall never die nor fire never be quenched that they shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death and such like and yet they never be moved at it but either are apt not to believe it or to put the day of evil far from them for all outward Declarations or threatnings without that which rips man open and set him naked and bare before the Lord are but as shot that flies over the head but never toucheth the body and so do no execution upon the transgressour So neither can man if at any time he be wounded for sin be truely healed and comforted because that which smites must heal and that onely Now if any one see his sickness as Ephraim did and go not to the true Physitian but go to Egypt how should he have a true and thorow cure Now at such a time one may fetch and gather in all the promises in the Scriptures and endeavour to apply them or have them applied to himself and strive to believe that they do belong to
acknowledge Christ and the Scriptures in words but oppose and betray his pure Life wherefore he commandeth his wiâ—nesses now to fight with her with the sword of his mouth in the Power of Wisdom which is better then outward strength and so they act and speak as he moveth and enableth them keeping to their own gift measure and work as the Apostles and Saints formerly did to theirs and not regarding how they acted or spake so as to be moved or troubled at it as to question their call to the work of the Ministry for they know if they receive the witness of man the witness of God is greater which witness is his light within them which plainly sheweth them and sealeth in them though the whole world gain-say it that they have felt in themselves the Baptism of the spirit and fire whose effects I before declared and so the operation of his living Word which hath brought thousands of others to believe in the same light and many to feel also the same living Word and spiritual Baptism which hath shaken the Earthly part within like a cottage and also the outward body of some putting words in their mouths to declare his righteousness in the great Assembly and magnifie his Holy Name in the Congregations of his Saints this was that greater work that Christ said his Disciples should do then he had done because he went to his Father for the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified this is really witnessed among us the Spirit sealing it in our hearts so that we witnesing the one Lord one Faith and one Baptism we are thereby baptized into the one body and being many are one bread and so the true Church that is come and coming out of Babylon and out of the wilderness Glory be to the Lord for ever who hath thus visited and Redeemed his People for this living Power is the gift it self tongues miracles prophesie c. are but the gifts flowing as streams from this fountain now if the Lord do keep back some streams and give us more of the fountain in this his day we are not loosers but gainers by that and so the more to be owned as the Church of Christ But ye will say when the Church was brought out of mystical Babylon John declareth there was an Angel who flow thorow the midst of heaven with an everlasting Gospel to Preach to them that dwell on the Earth and to all Nations kindreds tongues and People which since we see not how that could be without the gift of tongues sheweth us that the true Ministry must have the very same visible gifts now as the Apostles had before they undertake to go forth That People were never truely called out of Babylon before the Preaching of this everlasting Gospel is certainly true and that it is to be Preached to all sorts of People upon the Earth is as cerâ—â—in but that this Gospel must not be Preached to some till the gift of tongues be given where by it might be declared to all is false for the Wisdom of God teacheth his People in what manner and order he will proceed in the publishing his truth throughout the world it must begin first in Sodom and Egypt where our Lord Christ the light and life hath been crucified I mean the Anti-christian State which under pretence of professing Christ opposeth him this Beast indeed is many headed and consists of divers Nations but they must not all be cut off at once but by degrees we know by experience what ever ye believe that he hath begun his work in this Isle of the North wherein we live and that there have been wayes made somewhat to awaken other Nations also the pure Language being known a tongue hath not been wanting to speak to them in and in this one thing do I behold Gods great Wisdom that he hath taken the wise in their own craftiness that whereas the Antichristian Priests have as the Hebrew and Greek so especially idolized the Latine or Romane tongue all over Europe whereby it s become a general Language hereby a good occasion is given to spread the truth throughout all these Nations of Christendome so called also so much hath been the mutuall commerce betwixt these Antichristian People for many years as counting each other to be Christians that in any of these Nations it may be either spoken in their own Language or by an Interpreter which last way is not to be despised for the mighty God brings and will bring to pass great things in these last times by weak beginnings and none is to despise the Day of small things yea the voice hath been hard in Turkie already and if any of you shall say But what had they to do to go thither without the gift of the Tongue I answer you must ask him that moved them thereto even by turning in to Gods witness which is his true light within every one of you and waiting there for Counsel ye shall know the Lords secrets and feel his Power to arise which shall bring you into Unity with their Spirits who knew their Call which ye will not then dispute but in the mean time him that is ignorant let him be ignorant but however know that your unbelief cannot make the truth of God of none effect But is it not Prophesied by Isaiah concerning the Church that he will turn his hand upon her and pâ—rely purge away her dross and take away all her tin and will restore all her Judges as at the first and her Counsellors as at the beginning afterwards she shall be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Zion shall be Redeemed with Judgement and her converts with Righteousness whereby it appeareth that at the Restauration of the Church the second time which is a very refining time and of Redemption through Judgement and Righteousness which ye talk so much of the Ministry of the Church shall be as they were at the first gathering of it by the Apostles and so gifted just as they were The endowing of the witnesses at their Resurrection shall be with the Spirit of life from God entring into them and so they shall be as at the first for that is the gift it self which brings into Unity of Spirit all the Prophets Apostles and Saints in all ages and into Unity in Ministry as declaring one Everlasting Truth for substance and from one Eternal Root but in respect of the gifts and operations of that one Spirit or Gift it may be different at sundry times and seasons according to the work that is to be done and the various workings of the Spirit it self So God who at sundry times and divers manners spake to the Jews by the Prophets spake in the last times by his Son by whom also he speaketh sundry wayes at sundry times though not a sundry truth for the Apostles bare witness to the true light that lightneth every man and to the Word nigh in the
A DEFENCE OF THE True Church Called QUAKERS Come and coming out of the Wildernesse Babylon and the dark Night of the Apostacy of Antichrist into their own Land which is Sion the Mountain of Holinesse there to Worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth against the several Sects and sorts of people called Independants Separatists or Brownists Baptists Fift Monarchy-men Seekers and High Notionists of all sorts who by the True Light are found and discovered to be out of the same Written by J. C. According to the measure of Wisdom given unto him from God who is the giver of every good gift LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. WHen the Jewes outward Returned from the Captivity of Babylon which was the true figure of the Saints coming out of the long and dark night of Apostacy from the Doctrine and Life of the Apostles in the Primitive Times which was the Captivity of the spiritual Seed so great and many were their Enemies who endeavoured to cause their Work in repairing the desolate and ruined places of Jerusalem to cease that those who were imployed in that Work with one hand wrought and with the other held the Weapon even so is it and must it be now at the Return of the spiritual Seed not only within by exercising Faith and Prayer upon and to him that is able to save to the uttermost and in his strength wrestling against the Dragon and his Angels Principalities Powers and Spiritual Wickednesses in High Places and sundry temptations so quenching by the Armour of Light all the fiery Darts of the wicked one but also without both by holding forth the Word of their testimony and sealing it with their bloud and sufferings for the conviction and conversion of sinners so fitting stones for Gods spiritual building and also by stopping the mouths of gain-sayers who shall not be able to resist the Spirit by which they speak So standing in the gap and quitting themselves like Spiritual-men against the Beast and false Prophet and all the Armies of the Aliens Hear now therefore all ye that are called Independants Separatists or Brownists Baptists Fift Monarchy-men Seekers high Notionists of all sorts the Apologie or Defence that I in the wisdom and strength of my God for without him I can do nothing do make against you and for the true Church called Quakers against whom and whose standing Profession ye variously have prejudice and do contend And First for you called Independants ye assume a great Name but ye are not found in the Independant nature and so are not the true Church for although ye professe your selves as to the visible Administration of Church-power not to have dependance upon other Congregations or Churches as an inferiour on a superiour yet are there many things apparently seen amongst you which do un-Church you and remove your Candlestick far off for the true golden Candlesticks among whom Christ the Son of God walketh do hold up and hold forth the true light that it may shine before men but ye as do the common multitude reject it sleight it and Dispute against it as invalid and insufficient to lead in the way everlasting and so ye would have it kept under the bushel yea quite extinguished in the hearts of men and would have the Scriptures or Writings to be a light to it and not it an enlightener and opener of them whereby ye stumble at the Scriptures themselves and cannot discern of the times and seasons or of the Saints several states and conditions to God-ward who because they sometime witnessed a war and striving against the body of sin therefore say you they must alway while they live carry it about them as though the Saints fought as those that beat the Air or as though their labour were in vain in the Lord Oh! foolish people and unwise when will ye come to the true Teacher in your selves that ye may believe and know the Promise made unto the seed That there shall be no more a pricking Bryar unto the House of Israel nor a grieving Thorn of all that are round about them that despise them and they shall know that I am the Lord Also that their Enemies which they have seen to day they shall see them again no more for ever And that ye may see their interest in Christs Prayer whom the Father heard alwayes because he did alwayes the things that pleased him who said Neither Pray I for these alone to wit for the Apostles and Saints then in the world that they might be sanctified through the Truth but for them also who shall believe in me through their words that they all may be one c. I in them and thou in me that hey may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Mark This was a state of Saints Perfection in this world that worldly Spirits might be convinced thereby but ye being in the unbelief are even as the multitude alwayes hanging upon the lips of men whose tongues are not touched as the Prophets was with a Coal from Gods Altar who witnessed his sin purged and so are ever learning and never come to the true knowledge for the Pastors and Teachers of your Congregations have not yet witnessed the Vrim of the Sanctuary I mean the true spiritual Gift by believing and waiting on the true light which shineth in their dark hearts that should give them power from on high to minister in but are either men learned with the learning of this world or such who through strength of Brain and often reading of the Letter of the Scriptures can compose a Form of Words and deliver it unto you after a Priestly manner so that ye as still unsatisfied heap to your selves National Priests also for Teachers sometimes hearing the one and sometimes the other Yea some of your Pastors so called are National Priests also Oh! Friends it might shame you and make you blush for shame if ye could rightly consider to call your selves the Churches of Christ and Independants and be thus so dependant on mans Teachings Yea joyning with the National Priests about the way of sending out a Ministrie and bearing the Beasts very Mark in your Foreheads while ye are so called owning your Baptism in your Infancie to be true though ministred to a blank and by those who sprang from a Popish stock and sprinkling your own Infants now from a false apprehension of the Promise made to you and your seed after the flesh so calling that the seed whereas the true Churches of Christ knew no such seed nor owned any but that which sprang out of Christs womb in the Regeneration who is a quickning Spirit So Christ the Corner-stone and Head of the Church even the true and universal Light is come to fight against you with the sword of his mouth and to testifie to your faces That though ye call
thee saith he to Timothy in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keep this Commandment which was to fight the good fight of Faith and follow after righteousness godliness patience meekness love c. without spot unrebukeable till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who onely hath immortalitie dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto to wit in his own wisdom or with his bodily eye whom no man hath seen nor can see to wit with those to whom be honour and Power everlasting Amen Oh that ye sword-men had your eyes opened to behold this King as he is here witnessed how would you then be ashamed and amazed at your own folly in gazing upwards as expecting to see him in a bodily shape and with a corporal eye to Reign on Earth Here you see Paul witnesseth he shall be shewn in his times and that as the onely Potentate or Monarch and yet he saith no man can see him what a contradiction may this seem to be to your grosse understandings but it is really so I averre for his appearance in the world in his times must be agreeable to his nature he onely hath immortality therefore must be seen onely by that which is immortal he dwelleth in the light and therefore must be beheld onely in the light and by an eye internally enlightned So that now stop your mouths for ever and cease from your carnal interpretations of those Scriptures which speaks of Christs coming to reign on earth but turn to within even to his light wherewith every one of you are enlightned that in that light ye may see him who is invisible dwelling in the light whom no man hath nor can see nor approach unto for assure your selves that the world shall see his bodily Shape and Person no more but the Saints do and shall see him for because he liveth they shall live also And as for the manner of this spiritual Kings Government it must be spiritually not by an outward visible shining body quelling and over-awing the enemies of his Kindomg but by his inward and invisible Power in the hearts of his People making the people to fall under him or chaining them up yea making all his enemies within and without to go backward and flee before him and although ye may look upon this as a weak inconsiderable thing because it seems not pompous to your carnal eye yet know that it is of the greatest force that can be imagined For is not Conscience more to a man than a thousand witnesses Which if it once condemn God is greater and knoweth all things and so the comment of the wicked increaseth Now that of Christ in the Saints arising in Power and transforming them into its own Image of Righteousness and true Holiness his Name is seen in their foreheads by living fruits which reaching to the witness of God in wicked men they cannot stand before it for the wicked cannot stand in Judgement nor sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous because by the Righteous Principle of God in themselves they are Judged which worketh in their guilty Consciences the fear and flashes of Eternal vengeance which fierce indignation of the Almighty that they may avoid they also are oft times brought to lay hold of eternal Life bringing forth fruits meet for Repentance and so the work of the Lord prospereth in this his King immortal his hand in his Majesty riding prosperously because of Truth and Meekness and Righteousness and his right hand teaching him terrible things and brings to pass greater things hereby than all outward force fear and violence were able to do Now the reason why ye savour not such things as these is because ye with many other Professours are out from that which should give you salt in your selves to savour withal and so being buried in the Letter of the Scriptures do interpret them according to a mind that is under the ministration of the Letter and not of the Spirit So look what truths of God are to be spiritually understood and discerned ye being out of the light do literally understand and so are for an external or personal appearance of Christ in his Kingdom even as a fifth visible Monarch in the world and for a Holy City outward just so long and broad and every way composed as that description of it in the Revelation seemeth outwardly to describe So ye will talk and be even very zealous for a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness but what fruit doth the expectation of such things in your way expected bring forth in you Doth it make you diligent to be found of him in Peace without spot and blameless as Peter exhorted the Saints to be who looked for such things Or are you in the vanities and folly of the multitude who are without Hope or God in the world How proud rough rugged earthly-minded bitter dead dry and unsavoury do many of you appear Oh People it is not a discourse of or expectation of great and outward changes or happiness though for ever to endure that will bring to the Cross of Christ and slay the enmity of your minds by wicked works but it is the knowing the Cross of Christ in your selves which is his living and quickning Power felt by waiting in his light that must bring you to take up your own cross and follow him else while you think to be the men that shall Reign with Christ and Judge the world ye your selves will be Judged by Christ in this his day which cometh and is come as a snare upon all the earth Your good intentions towards the executing of Justice and Righteousness in the earth in opposition to Tyranny and Oppression I confess is to be owned but ye take not the right course how to bring it forth for it is not the shaking a Weapon or sore threatning or the like at the Beast that will change his nature but it is the Life that is the light of men which will do it for that which alone searcheth the heart can and doth alone turn the same so that if as the Lambs true followers ye knew how to make War in Righteousness with the Whore Beast false Prophet through Faith Patience ye might should do good but if out of a rash and blind zeal ye will steer an indirect course no wonder if you arrive not at your desired Harbour for if ye will needs give blows ye must expect blows again because this exasperates the proud and wilful nature whose Element it is even to live in the fire also an outward force to an outward is like to like but a spiritual Power against a carnal is altogether different and what shall alway stand against Gods living Power in Spirit
their guide and would also see that most words that are spoken are for their sakes as taking compassion on the multitude who are wandring like sheep without a shepherd and the Lord God will have all this so to be for Jerusalems sake which he will make the praise of the whole earth therefore shall not his Watch-men keep silence night nor day till her brightness go forth as the light and her Righteousness as the Lamp that burneth Wherefore if ye knew what this meaneth ye would not condemn the guiltless yea the faithful for doing their duty for which they so suffer by the hands of wicked men but it is no wonder that ye do so for ye being in a too loose liberty under pretence of Christian Liberty despise and shun the Cross as foolishness which to us is the Power of God But perhaps ye will further say Although words may be useful to the world as also to build up those who are weak or that are not come to perfection yet to those who have attained they are useless according to thy own Doctrine who hast said before that the Holy City had no need of the Sun Moon or light of a Candle c. 'T is one thing to hear words that come from the life out of necessity and another thing to hear them in the Unity now the Saints who walk in the Lambs immediate light alone may hear the Bride-grooms voice in others and have great joy therein though they are not spoken to their particular conditions or have no need at all of any outward Declaration to build them up so John his joy was fulfilled in hearing what Christ preached to others Therefore the Assembly of all Saints is still needful both to rejoyce together in the Truth and to witness the same in the sight of others But some of you may say Though we are not of the number of any of those Sects thou hast mentioned nor walk with you yet we do meet together at certain times and pray and preach yea and sing also and are therefore called the singing People and professing the Virgin life as those who live in the highest Region of Light and Truth Friends consider seriously with your selves what you do least ye deceive your own Souls for it is not in words no nor the highest words that can be uttered nor those in the highest manner that Gods Kingdom doth consist therefore examine your selves whether ye are yet come to the first Principle of God in your selves which is the true light within that searcheth the heart judgeth the deceit thereof makes humble and meek pulls down pride within and without roots out the covetousness denies respect of or from persons brings to the Cross every way into the true silence before the mouth is opened by the Power for who shall take his Word or Covenant into his mouth that is not Reformed Or how can the dead praise the living Now those marks of Non-reformation by the light are too visible upon you Wherefore stop your mouths ye Preaching Praying lumenaries that are found in the pollutions of the world that flee the Cross and love not to come to the light that ye may be Judged but will be ready to be angry or touchy at such words as these saying We are too censorious or the like when as they are but the words of truth and soberness for truth and sobriety consists in plain dealing which ye all will confess is a Jewel and yet do not desire to be plainly dealt withal ye are they that cause divisions rents professing to be taught of God yet stand at a distance from those who by his true Teachings take up the Cross and stand in it Wherefore sink down I charge you all such and come to the light believing and waiting in it with us and let not the glory of this world or any other interest pleasure or lust hinder you from so doing so shall ye be called the Repairers of the breaches and those that follow Love and Peace aright which is shewen in nothing more than by having one heart and one way with Gods People who ye will not deny many of us to be to serve him with them with one consent for we know that ye ought to return to us and that we must not return to you And as for you Singers consider whether ye have not rather cause to mourn and lament since those things which are the proper causes of sorrow are found in and among you Will ye be covetous proud and lofty self-seeking dissemble for advantage sake respect and court persons and the like and come before the Lord with a Song Can such sing the New Song as Redeemed from the earth Nay they that live in pleasure are dead while they live and so are in the grave of sin in which there is no true remembrance of the Lord God of Life and Power and far from the undefiled Virginity of the Lambs Wife Wherefore be not deceived God is not mocked for this is but a mockery and except ye come first to the house of mourning and bid Adieu to all your lovers and pass under the Rod ye cannot be brought into the bond of the Covenant of Light Life and Peace but your Harps must needs be ere long hanged upon the Willowes For how should ye sing the Song of the Lord in a strange Land But I hear some of you retorting and saying Thou hast judged all but your selves as living in sin and divers lusts and idolatry c. but we see the same things among you that thou chargest us with and deniest us for Is not covetousness idolatry and unmercifulness a fruit of unrighteousness are not some of you also in the pride in your house and in the fulnesse of bread when some are pinched are ye not too partial in looking upon one more than another doth not anger and emulation and judging one another wrongfully and rash speaking appear among you do we not see these things and why then should ye be accounted more the Church of Christ than any other People for the Kingdom of God stands not in yea and nay pulling or not pulling off a hat saying thou to any one or wearing of apparel or taking by the hand but in Righteousnesse and all the fruits thereof as thou thy self hast said If I speak of my self my witness is not true I judge you not out of that light which judgeth all things which ye either call natural and insufficient or sleight as a little low and weak thing and so are out of that which should make all works acceptable to the Lord and which should discover and destroy all unriâ—â—â—â—ousness so that ye are not only denied because of your bâ—â—â— fruits but as being out from that which would make you bring forth good fruits for make the tree good and the fruit shall be good saith Christ the light in whom the tree is made good as acting from a living
mouth and heart as Moses also witnessed and so do we now by the same Spirit they were for taking up and standing in the Cross fulfilling of all Righteousness and for separation from every Idol and all Idolatrous wayes and so are we now and that not only in word but in deed and in truth they would not go forth to speak and suffer in their own strength without power from above felt to enable them thereunto neither dare we the like without the same Power so then here are now Judges as at the first the same Spirit of Judgment proceeding yea the Lord in his People rather coming more near to Judgement and Counsellours as at the beginning those that exhort and reprove in the same Authority whose words the earthly mind is even less able to bear than formerly for Plagues and Woes unsufferable and so scorching vials are now pouring forth upon the seat of the Beast and the Whore and hail-stones fall from Heaven upon the wicked like the weight of a talent and those who speak in all wisdom to the Saints themselves are seen so ministring from the life to the same immortal life whereby they are built up unto a perfect man so that neither are they to be denied to be Counsellours as at the beginning because they do not exhort People to be Baptized with water c. for they find not that in their spiritual Commission yea see by the internal light the end of all shadows which must and do flee away at the very dawning of this bright day of the coming of the Son of man which shall never set more for saith the Lord to the Church Thy Sun shall no more go down at noon increase it shall but not decrease So here now is the true Tryal of the true Church and Ministry when the sign of the Son of man is seen in Heaven even himself appearing in his People as a universal light enlightning every one as the lightning which shineth from one end of Heaven to the other as also by the Baptism of Fire and the Holy Spirit which is felt really amongst us for as Eliah in Jezabels time said when there was a contest about his being a true Prophet or whether Baals prophets who were 450 were such or no he that answereth by fire let him be God so the Lord answering Eliah by fire a lively figure of this spiritual Baptism it licked up the water which was in the ditch and wood and fleshly offering a true representation of the consuming outward shadows the hay wood and stubble that Paul speaketh of whereby he alone was known to be the Lords own Prophet and the other though many to be false ones and so he had dominion over them and slew them So say I now to all Sects and Gatherings and Opinions in the world where the Lord God Baptizeth with fire consuming and burning up the dross filling his People that wait on him with a Holy Jealousie for his Holy Name and against all evil in thought word and deed where the outward earthly tabernacle as well as the inward is shaken where all shadows are made to vanish as needless in such a day as this there is the true Church visible and the true Prophets and Witnesses who slay all false prophets with the Sword of Christs mouth laying them by spiritual Judgement under Eternal Condemnation they repenting not and so casting them into the lake of fire And in this sense is that place in Jer. 30. to be understood which I believe ye called Sâ—ekers much stick at where the Prophet fore-telling the Restauration of the Church after the captivity said The City should be builded upon her own Heap and the Palace remain after the manner thereof and that their Children should be as aforetime and their Congregation be established before the Lord and their Nobles should be of themselves and their Governour proceed from the midst of them c. to wit by the building the Church upon the same true Foundation as formerly even Christ the true light and bestowing on it the same spiritual gift which was the Spirit of truth the Fathers Promise to all true believers So establishing them upon the Rock of ages against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail out of whom should go forth such Ministers who should be Noble and Valiant for the Truth Christ himself the Head of the Church being their Governour who from the midst of them ariseth in his strength to scatter all their enemies and to punish all that oppresse them as the Lord hath said he will do by the same Prophet so that the Palace remains after the manner of the former as enjoying the substance though the shadowes and same gifts in all things be not practised by the Saints or found amongst them for the Prophet Amos Chap. 9. fore-telling of the raising up of the Tabernacle of Davâ—d that was fallen down c. said That the Lord would build it as in the dayes of old Now we find that the Apostle James in Acts 15. applieth this Prophesie to the raising up of the Gentile Church in those dayes which was truly applied thereunto because although the Jewish Church of old was very far different both in matter and manner of Administration from the Churches of Christ then yet it was builded as in the dayes of old because it was established upon the Foundation of Abraham with whom the Covenant was made both to the carnal and spiritual seed and because the substance was felt and witnessed which was the same in the Saints in all ages Wherefore I exhort ye all called Seekers if ye will find what ye say ye seâ—k after to come to the light in your own selves and wait low in it so shall you find the vail to remove from off your understandings whereby the true faithful witness Christ Jesus will be seen to stand up and so all impediments stumbling blocks taken up from the Letter without will be removed and a right understanding of the Scriptures be given so as to discern of the times and seasons but ye must first come to the Cross by owning your Reprover for sin and deny the pride pleasures interests folly and vanities of this world so as not the longer ye seek the worse ye grow as 't is too manifest some of you have done for it is the humble that he will teach and his secret is with them that fear him so as to shew them his Covenant for so have I found it by experience which Covenant of light being witnessed ye will easily see your way to Sion and your Leader thither not standing still for lack of gifts in others or wanting an Administrator of external ordinances but will keep to your own and find in due time such pure Power to arise as will administer to you in his own Sanctuary and make you Minister that to others which will plainly shew that ye are those who are called chosen