as they did are in the same state of Hypocrisie and under the same sentence of dreadful wo and misery Therefore I beseech you to consider what state or condition you are in and don 't go about to exalt your selves in wisdom above what is written but take notice what Christ said Luke 17. For behold the Kingdom of God is within you These are plain and true words a wiser then he that spoke them never was nor ever shall be Indeed it 's very great presumption for any to exalt a wisdom above his and to set at naught his blessed counsel in so great and weighty a concern And for further proof of the necessity of bowing to that of God in you observe also further what Christ said But whosoever drinketh of the water I shall give him Joh. 4.14 shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life See how plain and evident are the Testimonies in Scripture unto that which is pure and holy of God within It must needs also be as plain and evident that those who do oppose the way to the knowledge thereof are real opposers of that love and mercy of God testified unto by the moving of Gods holy spirit as recorded in the Scriptures Indeed that is a very sad state and miserable will be the end of 〈◊〉 who live and dye in it Therefore be admonished to take heed to the Light of Christ within thee â—â—â—ch is a blessed leader proved 〈…〉 thousandâ— who are living 〈…〉 of it s blessed leading them that are led â—nd guided by it out of that which would harm them anâ— a blessed Commander he is who gives power to them that receive him tâ—â—k up his Commandments the which are no way grievous and in the doing thereof there is great peace as said David Psal 119.165 Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them The Law is pure holy and good and to be taken heed unto in the heart Jâ—r 31.33 Come come to the pure principle of God within or else you can never know the Truth and its freedom not the will of God signified through the Truth under what denomination soever the end and tondency of Gods love thereby being that all should come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved to which end none can come but as they take heed to the blessed motions of Gods holy Spirit in them Cease therefore your vain labour and hard travail under that slavish servitude where the prince of the power of the Air ruleth them who doth despite unto the Spirit of Truth and he blinds and darkens the minds of people so that unto them he makes darkness seem as light and light seem as darkness and so he instructs his Vassells and Slaves to call light darkness Isa 5.20 and darkness light evil he calls good and good evil and thus in and through his dark works he brings people and keeps them under wo and misery Oh that people would fear the Lord and depart from evil and wait upon the Lord in the leadings and guidings of his good Spirit in them the which will draw them unto the knowledge of Christ in them the hope of Glory even unto Christ the way truth and life the same yesterday to day and for ever the resurrection and the life the first born of every creature who said Search or ye search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life John 5. and they are they that testifie of me And ye will not come to me that ye might have life of me It is very plain and evident by what hath been said and may be said That except people come unto Christ the power and wisdom of God to all that believe they cannot see life but the wrath of God abide on them and being dead in trespasses and sins under condemnation and the wages of sin which is death In this state what ever high talk and profession may be made from what may be read in the Scriptures of Truth of the Heavenly gift which is Life Eternal this will but add to their condemnation who do put Christ at a distance far from them and will not receive him in his spiritual appearance but do despite to his Spirit of Grace in quenching and grieving the motions thereof Such prophane unprofitable talkers are real opposers of the Spirits Testimony the which testifies of Christ Vnto whom all must come that do receive Eternal Life even unto his quickning Spirit the Lord from Heaven And wait to feel his power to raise out of the ways of death and destruction and to translate them by the blessed work of regeneration and conversion into the way of life and peace This is the work of the Spirit and not of the Letter For the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Mind It is not the Letter and Testimony of the Law written which effects this blessed work in giving life â—â—â—ut that holy and blessed Spirit of â—â—â—e in Christ Jesus which sets free from sin and death The which Law of the Spirit is testified of and born witness unto by the Letter and Testimony of the Law and Prophets and the Apostles and Disciples of Christ Jesus Therefore I do in the moving of the Spirit of Truth according to my measure therein exhort and perswade all to take heed unto the manifestation of Gods holy Spirit in them for the opening the eye of your understanding in those weighty coâ—â—â—â—ns of everlasting life as testified of through the Scriptures of Truth And that the Scriptures may Be set in their right places and the honour which is due unto the Lord of Heavâ—n 〈◊〉 earth may be given unto him who hath powerover all flesh and gives Eternal Life to all that are freely given up to him and with whom he is well pleased and doth accept As it is written My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me John 10.27 28. and I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Oh be admonished to leave oâ—â— giving private Interpretations of the Prophesies the Seriptures and bow to the universal love and mercy of God in the moving of his Spirit of Truto that thereby you may be led and guided into all Truth And for your sakes who desire that Truth and Righteousness may 〈◊〉 place in the Earth again for your clearer Information take notice it is written He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning Joh. 3.8 for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Now observe what a sad condition they are in who through unbelief and hard heartedness in resisting the spiritual appearance of the quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven in which works of darkness do draw such
with Profession and Confession of Christ Jesus that he was made Righteousness Wisdom and Sanctification and Redemption to them that believed in the Primitive time by the pouring out of his blessed Spirit then the Arm of the Lord was revealed and the power of the Lord did redeem people from under the enemies power and the Faith of Gods Elect was then very precious And the power of Christ Jesus who hath power over all flesh that then was the higher power and people did then bow under it and confessed him before men then indeed Christs Doctrine and Commands taught and received and his precious blood confessed unto by them that were witnesses thereunto who through the vertue and sufficiency were redeemed from under the man of sin's power and so cleansed from the filthy Garments of sin Then indeed the Lord had a people the which were his purchased possession being sanctified throughout in Soul Body and Spirit by the pouring out and renewings of Christs holy Spirit They were not their own being purchased and bought with a price they all confessed unto the Lord that had bought them and all the true Preachers of righteousness they preacht up then the sufficiency of the Blood of the Lamb and the uncorruptable word of life and laboured and travelled for the forming of Christ in the Believers that they might present them perfect in Christ Jesus All this saith the Seed of the bond-woman where Mistery Babylon hath her brood we cannot deny but that the state and condition of the Primitive Christians were as aforesaid But they may say if they will speak the Truth our Mother Mistery Babylon hath taught us another Lesson now adays Alas for you our fore-Fathers Demas and the Antichristian Spirit that led abundance from among the true Christians many in the Antichristian Spirit went out and imbraced this World and in the Wisdom thereof the God of the World blinded our our Fore-fathers Minds and then the Gospel was hid and in the Apostacy we grew being inwardly ravened from the Spirit of Christ we lost the sense of the sufficiency of the power thereof Then the Spirit of Antichrist that led and became head and the Beast and false Prophet with many Heads and Horns some like a Lamb having received power from the Dragon became in time such a great head and mountain that they made War with the true Woman and her Seed and cast out floods of ungodliness against that Birth and Seed that was conceived by the free Woman and in such a degree the Beast prevailed that he proclaimed open War saying who is able to make War with the Beast Thus the Seed of the bond Woman who are conceived and brought forth out of the Womb of Mistery Babylon may truly say the Arm of flesh is now accounted for the higher power and we teach for Doctrine the Commands of Men our Mother hath trained us up and taught us to deny the power of the Lord to be the higher power and to deny the infallible teachings of the Grace of Gods Spirit and to deny the Operation and Revelation and Inspiration of Gods holy Spirit now a dayes and to say that is ceased now adayes And now we can live bravely in the Lusts of our own eyes and in the Lust of our own flesh and in the Pride of Life under many Fair Coverings that our Mother hath made us having cast off Christs Yoak we are now at liberty in the flesh to use our Tongues in our own wills and pleasures the Beast and false Prophet hath purchased this liberty for us and our Mother sits as Queen and saith we shall see no sorrow It is service good enough now adayes to be high talkers of the holy mens words and works and to set them up for Teachers who have an Art and subtilty to please men best with their good Words and fair Speeches As for the universal Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus and his blessed Office to fit and prepare for the blessed Ministery Our Mother Mistery Babylon hath taught us to deny the sufficiency thereof and to set up Universities and Schools to make Ministers by and let them be as graceless as they will so they be Witty and Learned and can talk Learnedly of the good words and Testimonies that proceeded from the moving of Gods Spirit through Fisher-men Shepheards and Herds-men and the like If they can by their floods of Eloquence and high flown Doctrines and Speeches under fair shews of Confession and Profession of some things that have been done and of some things that should be done and yet leave all undone and stop the very motions of the Spirit of Truth by and in which alone every thing that is good is done and without it we can do nothing that 's good and acceptable and well pleasing to God We the Children of Mistery Babylon may say if our Preachers and Teachers do so well apply themselves to Learning and get such curious Arts and Eloquence as to stop the motions of the Spirit of Truth now adays they do our Mothers work well and deserves good Incouragement some long Coats some short Coats some Shop-keepers and Trades a vast Revenew by the year some more some less according as we and our Merchants can agree And for this Trade and Merchandize we are beholding to the Beast and false Prophet who hath purchased this liberty for us to deny the Revelation Operation and Divine Inspiration of the Spirit of Truth now adayes And so to give our private Interpretations of the holy Prophesies in Scripture and to make void the very end and tendency of the moving of Gods holy Spirit through holy men in giving forth the same Thus you may see the Fruit of your Doctrine you Seed of the bond Woman who are nourished and trained up by your Mother Mistery Babylon in whose Womb all the Treachery in Cruel Butchery hath been conceived and brought forth who have been so drunk with the Whores Cup of Sorceries that you have not spared to drink the Blood of the holy Prophets A postles and Saints and Martyrs of the living God and this is and hath been the fruits and effects of the motions of your own proud arrogant exalted spirits whereby you have disdained and mocked the very appearance of Gods holy Spirit of Truth and the Light thereof You have contemned and spoke slightly and evil of and all this have you done under a Mistery wherein in your drunken fits you have killed and spoiled the Servants of the living God and then wip't your Mouths like Sheep-biting Dogs and made the World believe that Worshipped the Beast that you had done some service for the Lord You are the Generation whom Christ spoke of Mat. 23.33 Ye Serpents ye generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of Hell Fill up your measure that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth For of a Truth the good Husbandman the Lord of Heaven and Earth
the chief Corner-Stone So here was the Primitive Christians Foundation from whence proceeded and proceeds Heavenly blessed and gracious words from the true sense and feeling of the operation and powerful works of God's holy and blessed Spirit And from this holy uncorruptible pure Foundation and way of God were all true Ministers and Teachers of others raised from the blessed operation of the Spirit of Truth in themselves whereby they had and have the Will and Mind of God unto People though not all in the same measure or degree But every one being faithful to his own measure of knowledge is therein a Minister of the universal love of God in his Eternal Spirit unto the World So here lyes the difference between true Teaching and Teachers and false The true Teaching being the anointing of God's holy Spirit and Power wherewith mankind being anointed and taught of God and according to God's blessed will therein in a cross to his own Carnal Will and Affections speaking forth and delivering the Truth unto people as it is in Jesus Lord of all in whom the Peace is and from whom Peace is proclaimed under those Conditions and Qualifications as it pleases him to make and tender who is Lord of all The false Teaching is that Spirit of Iniquity the old Deceiver of the World the Serpent that worked and wrought under a Mystery subjecting mankind unto his will under a vain hope through which he beguiled him at first drawing out a Compliance of his Will unto his delusions and so to transgress the blessed commands of his Maker through which yielding of mankind unto the Serpent's Counsel they became Transgressors of God's holy Law and Covenant and for that cause was drove from God's Presence and then Fear entered and Trouble and Sorrow entered by man's yielding to the Traytor by which means he partook of the Nature of his Cursed works and being thus drove out of the Garden of Eden the Lord placed a Flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life And now the same Mystery of wickedness by which mankind was drawn into Transgression the same spiritual wickedness got in a high place above the pure Seed of God in man there keeps mankind in bondage to his will under many fair and specious hopes That though sin and transgression the cause of death be not finished in them yet deliverance shall be had by the manifestation and works of the Seed without them So here mankind being Imbondaged by these corruptible works under the dark power of the enemy from whence arises all corruptible ways man being gone from the uprightness in which he was created goes now abroad hunting about in his Inventions and Conceivings being led about by this Thievish Spirit which first drew his mind from the will of God and so in this is climing up and down every way but the right door and so being in this Earthly wisdom from below by Arts and Trades set a teaching of their Imaginations and Conceivings concerning the holy works without and so here lay down Foundations under Confessions and Professions of good works and gracious words without and thereby keep the Serpent's works of transgression and sin alive within and here the false Teachers under several covers of Confessions and Professions in the spirit of Antichrist set up And so here being tossed up and down in floods of Inventions from thence their shameful works are cast up in the old World of transgression and sin where these false Teachers are so rivited the works of the Enemy being become so natural unto them by reason of the continuance of time in transgression and sin that thereby they are now become impudent and bold even to dare to plead for the Serpent's works sin for term of life taking it for delusion and high presumption for any to speak to the contrary And so here false Teachers being raised from the works of the enemy moving in the Earthly wisdom for Earthly things being propt and bolstered up through vain glory praise of men and weighty Pounds many Nobles and special Marks with abundance of Crowns and frequent appearances of Angels in and by which they are so oyled that their Tongues run at their own Wills and Lusts by fair Speeches of other mens Lines and Works with which ignoront simple people being taken have so fed and oyled the Wheels of these Trades-men the which hath set them up so strong that they make all the defence they can to strengthen themselves and their Clients in the old World of sin and Iniquity And so these false Teachers having put darkness for light and light for darkness what strong Pillars and props they are grown under the Devil's Kingdom and power of darkness under several heads more that might be mentioned being derived from one beastly power from whence is risen several Heads and so branched out in several Horns the which are pushing every way against the Horn of God's Anointing the power and strength of the effectual and blessed Teachings of his holy and blessed Spirit the door and way by which all must enter that come to be truly satisfied with God's righteousness Christ the same Seed promised in the beginning to bruise the Serpent's Head the effectual works and power of which according to God's good pleasure was and is manifest in the World So to the praise and honour of God's holy works many can say Peace from him that is and was and is to come Jesus Lord of all who delivers his people from their sins the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World through which powerful and blessed works of mercy and Peace is extended to all mankind without respect of persons upon Earth So blessed are they that fear God and are found out of their own willings and running in their perverse and crooked nature in a true submission and obedience to the righteous works of God's righteous holy Spirit the true Christian Spirit that Christianity may flourish again and that Heathenism and Paganism under that name Christian may be subdued and vanish away and Jesus Lord of all exalted in the hearts and minds of people over all his enemies Then shall the Nations flourish and yield Fruit in Season to the praise and honour of God forever ANd now all you Merchants of Babylon Howl and Cry Alas alas What! all these precious Trades whereby we have gotten so much Gain must they all down Where be all our Mountains and Rocks that have been so long a making up by all our Fellow-Tradesmen by Arts and Inventions in Professions and Confessions of good works and words without through Ages and Generations past Will none of these Mountains and Rocks cover and hide us from the great wrath of the Lamb What must we now bow to his righteous works who takes away the sins of the World or else will ye grant us no Peace Alas alas what clothing in Scarlet and and Purple and Fine Linnen of Egypt
compel or force them to be of our Religion fear might overcome some of them for fear of the Punishment some may yield and in case we should perswade them by promises of Cutward Preferment for the Advantage sake some might yield but saith the Turk when we have done all we cannot alter or change their Belief the which they retaining though they may yield unto us it would be but in Hypocrifie and in case we should accept of them on those terms they then would have an opportunity to do us hurt And herein they shew more Moderation then the Apostate Christians in many places of Christendom And concerning the Turks Deportment and Civil respect one unto another in meeting and greeting one another they seem to exceed the Christians in Morality it being a cause of Laughter unto them to see the Christians Beggarly Airy Behaviours one unto another in Scraping with the Leg and Doffing the Hat and foolish Gestures too too much used amongst many who are called Christians who want the more solid and more comely and truly courteous Behaviour which the Truth guides unto But lest any should mistake who do not know the difference which is amongst them called Turks wherein I speak of the Behaviour of the Turks as before I do not speak of those Nests and Dens of Theeves and Robbers who are made up of Christian Runnagadows Moors and Turks neither do I speak of the aspiring high-minded ones amongst them but I speak of a plain people called Turk-men whom I have trusted much and having found them faithful I perceived they had an Awe and Fear of God upon them they often expressing these words The Lord is just and therefore we must do justly And by occasion having proved a Turk I shall in brief give an Instance of his Faithfulness where in he declared the Fear and Awe of God that was upon him Being ordered by a Merchant that then lived in Aleppo to send him up 1500 Dollers privatelely from Scanderown where I lived according to order the Money being delivered and laid upon a Horse in a Satchel as their manner is the Horse by Chance ran away with the Money before him it being in a dark Night he could not find him and in the Morning betimes the Horse with the Money was feeding at a Turk-man's Crib the Turk taking hold of him and feeling the Money and seeing the Christians Mark there being none to accuse him but the witness in him he might clearly have kept the Money and turned the Horse going but the faithful and true Witness was so prevalent in him that he took the Money carried it unto an Agaw which in that place is somewhat like unto a Lord of a Manner and after diligent search what he had done was shewed unto me and the Money recovered But mind the Awe and Fear of God that was upon the Turk after Inquiry concerning his Doings this was his Answer said the Turk The Lord hath blessed me with Cattle of several sorts accounting his Outward Riches in case said he I should have put that Money to that which the Lord hath blessed me withall that being none of mine the Lord would have brought a Curse upon all that I have Hear this O Christians and awake to Righteousness and don 't persist in your Gainsaying the preaching the Gospel to every Creature Col. 1.23 lest you be cut off from the goodness of God through your unbelief and hard-heartedness and those whom you so despise be grafted in all things are possible to the power of the Lord for of a Truth as said Peter in another Case The Lord is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him So mind it 's not a bare talk of Righteousness that will serve and what have you more who say Visions are ceased and Revelations are ceased and the Inspiration of God's Spirit is not to be known now adayes Oh blind Apostates what Gospel have you to preach No the Gospel is hid to you in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them that believe not 2 Cor. 4.3 4. lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them The Confession out of your own Mouthes will rise up against you in the day of account which hastens The midnight of it is much over you and the day of the Visitation of God's love to many of you is far spent Do you think that your having the holy mens Testimonies of the Righteousness of God will add to your Comfort in the day of account if you be found out of the Righteousness there testified of No assuredly they will be a witness against you The learned Scribes and the Pharisees they had the Law and the Prophets which witnessed to the Righteousness of God but they resisting the Spirit of God how blind and ignorant were they of the Law and Prophets so that goodness of God they being strangers unto through their hard-heartedness in resisting the Key of knowledge they were so far from the comfort thereof that they took occasion by them to resist the righteousness of God so those blessed Testimonies which witnessed to the righteousness of God were a witness against them for refusing the same And forasmuch as the Christian-Nations have more of the holy mens Testimonies concerning the righteousness of God in the blessed operation of his holy Spirit and do grieve it and do despight unto it and are found in the day of account out of the life of the righteousness thereof the more and stronger will the Scriptures of Truth be a witness against them So then the Scriptures are profitable and comfortable through the blessed Spirit that opens them and gives power to live the life of the holy men recorded therein But if the righteousness of God's holy Spirit which is witnessed unto throughout the Scriptures of Truth be rejected then will the Scriptures be unprofitable and uncomfortable in the day of account when every one shall receive a reward according to their Deeds done in the Body Oh! that people would consider and not go on striving against the works of the Lord who is exalting the peaceable Kingdom of the Son of his Love which is in righteousness Rom. 14.17 peace and joy in his holy Spirit Oh! it s for want of knowledge that people perish and rather then they will deny themselves that they may have knowledge of the righteousness which is of God they will persist and persist and perish in their own unrighteous Works For the Wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God Jam. 1.20 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his Ears are open unto their Prayers 1 Pet. 3.12 but the Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil. Oh that people had a true knowledge of the Scriptures but they do erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the
hath all this while reserved a Seed as it is written And as Esaias said before Rom. 9.29 except the Lord of Sabbath had left us a Seed we had been as Sodoma and been made like unto Gomorrha And in this is the Lord replenishing the Earth and making of it fruitful in vertue in life in praises to his holy name even by the same spirit of Truth that moved in the holy men of God that gave forth those holy Prophesies and blessed Testimonies in the Scriptures of Truth And this is the time and season wherein the Lord is pouring out his spirit even the same spirit as he did pour out upon his Sons and Daughters in the Primitive time And it s by the Operation Revelation and Divine Inspiration of the same spirit of Christ Jesus in and by which the Holy Prophesies and Testimonies in the Scripture comes to be understood And in this spirit the Lord hath and is ordaining Ministers that they may go and bring forth fruit and that their fruit may remain And by the power and efficasie thereof are thousands of living witnesses raised now in these dayes unto whom the goodness mercy and loving kindness of the Lord is revealed even by the Operation Divine Inspiration and blessed effects of the same spirit of Christ Jesus which the holy men of God were witnesses of in the Primitive dayes And in and by this spirit of power and wisdom is the Lord made Righteousness Wisdom Sanctification and Redemption unto his people who are believers this day as he was in the Primitive days unto his people who did believe in him And by the power and effectual works of this spirit of Christ Jesus in these days time and season The Blind receive their Sight Mat. 11.5 6. and the Lame Walk the Lepers are Cleansed and the Deaf Hear the Dead are raised up and the Poor have the Gospel Preached to them And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me This spirit of Christ Jesus was the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles on which the true Believers which were the Church of Christ was built and it s on this Foundation that the true Believers which is the Body of Christ which is his Church is built this day time and season where Christ is Head Leader Law-giver and Commander and by his spirit is the blessed Worship set up now in the Church of Christ the which Christ set up in opposition to all false Worships in the Primitive time as you may read But the hour cometh when the true Worshipers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth John 4.23 24. for the Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in Truth Therefore yours is the false Worship now where the Revelation Operation and Divine Inspiration of this blessed spirit of Truth is denyed now adays Your Worship is false imaginary and conceited for none can truly call Jesus Lord but by the leading and guiding of the same holy spirit of Truth and all that makes mention of his holy Name let them depart from Iniquity And all you who do not but do continue in the Mistery thereof in subjection to the man of sin your Prayers are the Prayers of the wicked the which is abomination to the Lord And your patcht up Sermons the which you Study and Frame up in your Brain from the works of others They are all alike abomination and how costly these works of abomination are let the Wise in Heart judge And in all where this blessed spirit of Truth is rejected and stoped in its motions and so grieved and quenched and another spirit leads all their labour and travel is vain and your Consultations are vain and whatsoever you form up be it an Instrument never so cunningly and wisely wrought in the deepest of your Skill and Councel in the highest degree of the Worlds Wisdom to oppose the out-goings of this blessed Spirit of Christ Jesus it shall never prosper neither shall the Contrivers ever prosper in their works Look back 20 or 30 years past where great undertakings have been even if it had been possible to have ruined and spoiled all those who gave Testimony to this Spirit of Truth And see what sad effects those works of Opposition have produced what hath your turning of things upside down availed you Alas for you your worth is the product of ruine and misery that which you intend to your peaceable Neighbours will come upon your selves your own works in your singular exalted spirits is the purchaser thereof Oh you Ignorant Fools who are blinded by the God of this Wold and are so high flown that you go about to limit the holy God in the goings out of his holy Spirit you may as well undertake to alter the course of the Sun and stop up the course of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea Your sins of Presumption would be much alike and your Folly will end in as great shame Indeed your presumption arises from an Arm of Flesh and long continuance in vain Customs Traditions and Inventions And because you can clap up in Prisons and make Havock and Ruine and Spoile of People and their Goods your spirit that leads you in these works being an envious Malicious Cruel Abominable Wicked spirit therefore proceeds this wrong Judgment from you even that Gods holy Spirit in Revelation Operation and Divine Inspiration as moving through holy Men in the Primitive time is now ceased But if it were so as you vainly Imagine then shew where the difference lyes between you who call your selves Christians and the Heathens if the Spirit of Christ Jesus the Spirit which people were brought under in the Primitive time and thereby to be Baptized into one Body the which was to be ruled and governed by that Spirit of Christ Now if the Revelation Operation and Divine Inspiration thereof be ceased then tell me by what spirit Christians so called are Baptized into so many Bodyes and Fellowships and what Spirit rules and governs And what difference there is between them called Heathen in their Fellowships and them called Christians in their Fellowships where the Authority Rule and Government of Christs Spirit is denyed Come to plain dealing and don't Shuffl you have been long enough in that work already and the more you persist therein the more you will be confounded and the deeper plunged into the horrible pit and your Feet will be faster stuck in the Mire Therefore be admonished to deal plainly least you be your own Executioners through your high presumptuous mindedness in bringing swift destruction upon you for of a Truth thousands have been bowed before the Lord under a sense of their own insufficiency to perform that which is good and acceptable of themselves and have truly waited upon the Lord in a deep silence of the flesh And indeed Christ hath appeared the second time in his blessed Spirit and
by you there are these sayings In page 252 thus His pure Spirit is put into the inward parts to be the rule and guide of life in all things And again Only by the teaching of the eternal Spirit is the living God known in the Creature Again page 408. It is promised saith he that the Spirit shall lead into all Truth and such do own the Scriptures but not as their Teacher for the anointing dwells in them and they need no man to teach them but as that anointing teacheth all things for all the Children of God are taught of God and need not any other Teacher nor need to say one to another know the Lord and all such own the Scriptures to be the Testimony of that which they believe and have received And again in page 834. The only perfect rule of Conscience in the exercise to God is the Spirit of Christ and not any other thing And because something besides the Spirit of God exercises the Conscience therefore it is that there are so many wayes and Sects of Religion and kinds of Worship in Christendom and among Christians while the Spirit of Christ only is not the rule of Judgment and exercise of Conscience to God and man Again page 861. The judgment in that matter Heresie must be just equal holy and only by the Spirit of Christ which is infallible and gives infallibility of Judgement and discerning into all cases and things Mr. Pen spends the fourth Chapter of his late Book Intituled Reason against Railing to prove that the Light within and not the Scriptures is the rule of Faith and practice In page 47. he saith We dare boldly affirm in the name of the Lord that the great reason of our belief concerning them the Scriptures is not any outward thing but inward Testimony recorded and Heavenly Amen that we have received from the holy Light within us to the Truth and faithfulness of those sayings Again p. 48. Wherefore the Scriptures are so far from being the great rule of faith and practice that the Light of Christ within us is both our warrant and rule for faith and obedience to them Again page 114. Let it be remembred saith he that Christ promised to send the spirit of Truth to lead into all Truth as much as to say none are led into the Truth nor in the Truth but by the holy Spirit of Truth or that their practice is a lye or they are led into a lye who are not led by the Spirit of Truth that alone leads into all the ways of Truth where by Truth is not meant the meer Letter of the Scripture which notwithstanding is true But the living powerful Truth Christ the Way the Truth and the Life of which the Scripture is but a record or declaration And page 115. Many may run into the practice of several outward things mentioned in the Scriptures to have been the practice of Saints in former Ages and yet not be led into the Truth for all that is but Will-worship imitation and unwarrantable Now let all the wise in heart who do retain so much of sense of the Spirit of Truths leading and operation thereof in them as that thereby they are in some degree in a capacity to judge of spiritual matters and that have a desire that God may not take away his holy Spirit from them I say let all such in the coole of the day when all self Interest is laid aside judge whether these men Edward Burroughs and William Pen and all them who are of the same Faith and Judgment with them do deserve such strange contradicton as the Author of that Book hath raised and made against them To be sure their method as he calls it is clearly agreeing with Christ and his Apostles Christ Jesus the Light of the World the Way Truth and Life did direct his followers to take heed to the Spirit of Truth that reproveth the World of sin c. and he counselled them to take that for their guide into all Truth And ought not all Christians to be followers of Christ their Lord and Master and how is it possible that any should follow Christ except they be led by the Spirit of Truth in themselves And he that steals away their minds from that guide he is a Thief and as Christ said The Thief comes to steal to Murder and to destroy but I am come that you may have Life and that you may have it more abundantly And the Apostle Paul is very open and plain in his Testimony concerning this matter in these words The things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God by this the deep things of God are searched out And are there not many deep things of God contained in Scriptures The which is not possible to be understood and searcht out by any other Spirit but only and alone by the Spirit of Truth therefore this must needs be a sufficient teacher of mankind without the Scripture as it was to Abel Enoch and to Abraham and the holy men of God long before there was any of the old or new Testament written And it was the great love of God in the moving of his holy Spirit in those faithful Servants by whom those weighty things as are recorded in the Scriptures of Truth were given forth And it is the great love of God in the moving of his holy Spirit in its leadings and teaching of his people through which the many Types Figures Prophesies and many hard sayings comes to be understood and a clear distinguishing comes to be known between the Jew outward and the Jew inward between the Law outward and the Law of the Spirit of Truth inward and between the shadow of good things and the good things themselves and also between the Spirit and the Letter the Power and the Form c. And for want of fearing God and taking heed to the motions of his blessed Spirit of Truth that is the cause there are so many heaps of Opinions about the Scripture therefore it is that all learned men in the Spirit of Truth do so highly esteem the teachings thereof as absolutely necessary to life and peace And all whose minds are converted by the Spirit of Truth and are spiritually exercised therein and feeling the life and peace that flows from it unto their Souls this confirms them settles them and makes them unmoveable and unchangeable in their Faith in the power of the Lord who hath been thus merciful in opening this fountain of life and love where a washing and cleansing comes to be witnessed and entrance ministered into the kingdom of God and of this day that is breaking forth and shining clearer and clearer Edward Burroughs that man of God was a faithful Instrument in the hand of the Lord and his works do demonstrate the same to thrash and cut down hypocrisie and gainsayers of the Truth and faithfulness of God unto mankind And in the succession of this blessed work and service in
to what outwardly hath been taught or written from the blessed motions thereof or that may be taught or written by the motion of the same But we do oppose the true Teachings thereof to the false Teaching of all immaginary deceitful Spirits who under a pretence of love to Souls do make Merchandize of them And that being the great hinge on which his work depends in concluding the Scriptures to be the rule of Faith and Practice excluding the immediate Teaching of the Spirit and the all-sufficiency thereof I do ask whether Faith be a fruit of the Spirit or of the Scripture or whether a true Christians practice in living peaceably lovingly justly and holy and mercifully and in a clean life and conversation in long sufference patience goodness brotherly kindness c. be a fruit of the blessed Spirit of God or of the Scripture And since it cannot be denyed but that Faith and practice in a true Christian holy Conversation is a fruit of the blessed Spirit and that the Scriptures say the same Then are not all the gain-sayers of the immediate Teaching Opperation Revelation and Divine Inspiration of Gods holy Spirit of Truth a grand cause that there is so little fruit of the Spirit brought forth in Christendom And whether that be not the cause of so many heaps of Sects Notionists and Opinions among them and of so much Pride Lust Hypocrisie Fraud Deceit Wrath Malice Murders Witchcrafts Sorceries and all other abominations that might be mentioned committed in all the World the Lord gives the humble in heart true Judgment but the proud he doth resist But in Page 42. the Author saith Christ indeed or God Creator as he is described in the beginning of that Chap. Joh. 1.9 Doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World with the faculty of reason and understanding by which he may know that there is a God and that he is to be worshipped and that he is peaceable and the difference between moral good and evil in many things But however this may possibly be a light sufficient to direct the Heathen to as much as God expects from them if they live up to it to whom he affords no other Light yet this Natural Light is not sufficient to direct those that live under the Gospel to believe and do what they are bound to believe and do upon pain of Damnation c. Answer He hath clearly manifested his ignorance of the Gospel and what men are to be brought under that are made true Christians as if the Light of Christ within had not Gospel in it or could not minister Gospel But by hating of the Light how blind are they who have such low thoughts of thy way thereof accounting the Light of Christ natural yet sufficient to direct the Heathen as much as God expects of them Such is the esteem of them whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds taking the Jew outward for the Jew inward and the Christian in shew for the Christian in Truth And the wild Heathenish life and conversation of the Christian in shew for Christianity if they do but only in words own the Scriptures to be their rule of faith and practice And the true Christian that brings forth the fruits of Gods holy Spirit in life and conversation and is not ashamed to confess to the immediate motions of it in its blessed leadings and teaching to love of God above all and their neighbours as themselves and lives in true fear and watchfulness that they may not grieve nor quench the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit in them but are careful to live up to the reason and understanding that Christ hath illuminated or inspired them with and to eshew the evil and to love the good being shewed it by the Light of Christ and that God ought to be worshiped in Spirit and Truth and is in the performance thereof according to Gods will confessing to the blessed holy Spirit of God to be the rule of Life Faith practice Such a faithful and true Christian as this having such an account to give as is given by Edward Burrough and William Pen of the sufficiency of the pure Spirit of God to be the Judge of all matters of life and conversation Such true Christians are very slightly esteemed by such private immaginary Spirits as the Author of that Book is manifest to be of in all his works of darkness in that Book But I had rather be a Christian and though I am called Heathen then to be a Heathen and yet to be called and accounted a Christian In Page 61. the Author saith Another place misunderstood and misapplyed by you is Joh. 16.13 When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth which is not a promise of sending the Spirit to guide all Christians by its immediate motions But a promise to his Apostles for they only were then present with Christ at his passover c. Ans Indeed the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit is the great trouble of them who follow the motions of their own Spirit and lives out of the way of the knowledge of the holy Spirit of God which is Light and Life But I ask in case people are not to follow Christ and his Apostles into the true Faith and practice of Christianity by the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit of Truth by the motions of what Spirit are they to be led and guided since there is such variety of Sects and Opinions in the motions of their private Spirits which of them is to be followed But since the Author hath limited the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit only unto the Apostles I do ask into what Spirits motions were people Baptized and led into the body of Christianity or are they now to be led into the same and how can Christians have the Crown of Immortal Life as Paul had in finishing his course of life well and he said that was not laid up for him alone but also for all them that love the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ And who can be a follower of him in the way if they do not take heed to the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit as he did according to the measure and manifestation thereof in every one And again What can set people free from the spirit of bondage or from the spirit of error or corruption and deceit and hypocrisie but the immediate motions of Gods pure holy spirit in them But such is the dark work of the Author of that Book even to gainsay and limit the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit and to set up the private selfish imaginary Spirit which is not in unity with the Light and Spirit of Truth But if the promise of Christ was only to give that gift of the immediate motion of Gods holy Spirit unto the Apostles then to what end did he counsel the Churches to Pray in the Spirit to Sing in the Spirit and to
persevere and go on in the Spirit and not to quench and grieve the Spirit and abundance more to this purpose in Exhortations to the Churches to follow the spirit and mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the spirit Had not Christians need to have the immediate motions and help of Gods blessed spirit in this work and to be their rule of life and guide in judgment that all wicked malitious spirits under the cover of the Prophets Christs and the Apostles words may be judged down let all the wise in heart consider this and lay it to heart What a sad tendency such unprofitable talkers and teaching hath in opposing the immediate motion and teaching and guiding of Gods holy spirit and whether such Agents and props in the Divels kingdom and power of darkness be not a lett to the blessed works of the Lord who sits upon his Throne and saith behold I make all things new And whether such dark works as are manifest in that Book be not the cause that there are so many mockers now adays at the immediate motions of Gods holy spirit in and through his servants according to their several measures and services therein But such is the work of all dark spirits to pretend love to peoples souls But in the dark to work against the great love and mercy of God in the immediate motions of his holy and blessed spirit for the bringing of souls to peace and happiness and everlasting rest in his heavenly gift the which is life Eternal But by what hath been written as before the whole drift scope and tendency of the Authors spirit in that Book may be seen where several particulars might be answered with the same sharp reproof as that which is answered hath Such works have been answered over and over again as may be seen at large in abundance of Books but one more especially I refer the Reader to And that is a Book Intitled The Christian Quaker and his Divine Testimony vindicated c. By George Whitehead and William Pen And though the Author of that Book hath concealed his Name and covered his spirit of Error with smooth words stolen out of the Scriptures yet by the light of Christ Jesus he is seen clearly though he calls that Light Natural and like a foolish builder hath built without the Corner-stone By the Light of Christ his building is seen to be raised from no other foundation and ground but meer imaginations And that it must be cast down into the pit of darkness out of which it was raised So though he may complain as he doth in the beginning of his Book of the entertainment others have had in the like endeavours Yet unto the Truth and wisdom of God in all who have not lost the sense of his holy spirit from them I do appeal whether this be not an entertainment according to Truth And though he hath pretended his work to be in love to souls yet it is manifest in the Light of Christ to have this tendency even to deprive souls of the infinite benefit of the sense and injoyment of the immediate motions of Gods holy spirit and to make void their Testimonies who are planted into the same But to prevent the Enemies works is this written in love to Truth and Righteousness and all people who desire after the same Stephen Smith Worplesdon in Surrey the latter end of the 5th Month 1677. A Testimony against the Worlds vain Mirth and Pastimes c. BLessed are they who feel the Inspiration of the Almighty giving them understanding that in reading the Scriptures of Truth the Holy-mens Testimonies they may be understood and deliverance witnessed from them who wrest them to their own destruction There is indeed a time for all things as said Solomon who in that wisdom given him knew that God created man upright but man found out many Inventions And all that Mirth whereby Gods righteous spirit is grieved they who live in it they increase their own sorrow The Rejoycing and Melody which David had in his heart to the Lord who gave him power over his foes Psal 30. And girded him with gladness But what is this to them who are overcome with their foes the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and pride of life All such have not a true knowledge of that joy and melody which David witnessed as being girded with gladness by the Lord who said My soul and all that is in me praise the Lord and let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord And figuratively he makes mention of outward Instruments all which are but Types in comparison of that heart that is prepared and put into a right frame even as a well Tuned Instrument to make Melody to the praise and honour of God this is the substance shewed forth by holy peoples praises to the Lord for his work of deliverance as is recorded in the Scriptures of Truth When the Children of Israel were delivered and their foes destroyed Then sang Moses and the Children of Israel and this was the substance the Lord shall reign for ever and ever And Miriam with the women went out with Timbrels and Dances in a Heavenly Melody unto the Lord who had delivered them But the wicked and proud who hate to be reformed they have nothing to do to take the name of the Lord in their mouths And none but wicked Instruments dare bring those Scriptures to stir youth up to be Prodigals and to spend their Portion of precious time in riotous living in keeping company with some who wallow in pride and idleness Sodoms sins and except such Prodigals do turn whilst the door of mercy doth open and they find a reception into the Fathers house by a true unfeigned repentance they shall never witness that Melody or Musick whereby the Soul is made to leap for joy which the Prodigal obtained through a true repentance and returned to his Fathers house he had not that Musick and Melody among the Harlots nor when he kept Swine mind that see the generation of the wicked Job 21.11 They send forth their little ones like a flock and their Children Dance They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce in the sound of the Organ They spend their dayes in Wealth and in a moment go down to the grave Therefore they say unto God depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that we should serve him c. See here you wicked generation of proud prophane persons who stir up the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and the pride of life one in another by your light frothy behaviours in your wicked Inventions Oh for shame do not go about to cover your evil works by the instigation of wicked Instruments who wrest the holy mens words which if persisted in will be to their destructions and of all them that follow them therein See what the Prophet Amos pronounced to them that chant to the
of the true Christian Spirit in the Worlds earthly sensual Spirit they move and say the Scripture moveth and under this cover you can dissemble and cloak your sins cloaking your selves under the failings of the holy men of God as they are recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but are far enough off their sorrow and repentance by which they obtained favour with God again And thus you go on cloaking your sins and opposing the motions of Gods holy Spirit under a pretence of the Scripture moveth us and under this cover you can dissemble your sins in persecuting and spoiling the Goods of them who have truly testified of the motions of Gods holy Spirit in them against all the evil motions of the enemy in all his flattering deceitful works and wayes And to this motion of Gods holy Spirit you must bow if ever you come to know the way of Truth you must come to the moving of the Spirit of Truth in you even that Spirit which reproves the World of sin the which Christ Jesus set up to be a leader and a guide into all Truth In this Spirit the Lord God is to be worshipped it 's this Spirit that convinceth of sin that is the way out of sin that is it which moves in the heart against sin and so to confess and acknowledge sin and so to repent and forsake sin and this is the way to obtain mercy and forgiveness of sin And by its leading and guiding to abstain from the appearance of evil unto this Spirit of Truth you must bow and take it for your leader if ever you come truly to call God Father and he owns you to be his Sons In your Confession you say Almighty and most merciful Father we have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheep we have followed too wuch the devices and desires of our own hearts we have offended against thy holy Laws we have left undone those things which we ought to have done and there is no health in us c. Answer And when do you intend to do otherwise since you have appointed this form of words to be always said Oh turn for shame unto the true Spepherd and Bishop of your Soul and don't come still with this sad unprofitable story before the Lord. Mind if a man offend against the Laws of the Nation if it be but once he is lyable to the punishment that is prescribed by that Law or if a Servant should but once do the thing he should not do and leave undone the things he should do this would incurr his Masters displeasure but if he should continue doing so he would turn him out of his service and account of him as he is an unprofitable Servant How then can you expect to be heard and received of the Lord who are alwayes doing that you should not do and leaving undone that you should do you may well say you have no health in you neither are you like to have so long as you continue in these sad practices And in that you do offend Gods righteous Law how can you expect but to be punished by the righteous Judge Indeed you have done that which you ought not to have done in that you have caused to suffer so many innocent people both by long Imprisonment and spoiling of their Goods in that you have shewn no more mercy to them how can you expect to receive mercy at the hand of God seeing those sufferers have been a people fearing God and hoping for his mercy in whom the Lord takes pleasure and in his pleasure he hath sustained them wherein many have been faithful and true witnesses whereof many have departed this World under their several confinements in peace and many remains living to this day confessing and testifying to the mercies and favour of God in the manifestation of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which sets free them who walk up to it from the Law of sin and death And that there is great peace in keeping this holy Law this hath been and is the Testimony of them who are and have been led by the Spirit of Truth witnessing unto the Way Truth and Life the way of peace and happiness And thus in the good will of God in good will to all mankind in patient suffering under your wills who have followed too much the devices and desires of your own hearts and thereby having rejected the councel of the Spirit of Truth you have provoked the Lord as you say in these words We have provoked thine anger thy wrath is waxed hot and thy heavy displeasure is sore kindled against us You have confessed to the Truth and when you come to feel the weight of your many transgressions against Gods holy Law then you will wish you had been serious in what you have said and that you had broken off your sins by a true and unfeigned repentance And for this end hath Gods holy Spirit strove with you many wayes but see by your own confession how evilly you have required this love Your words are We sinful people of this land do acknowledge before thee to thy glory and our own shame and confusion that never any Nation under Heaven had more experience of all the instances of thy goodness and the methods of our amendment nor yet did ever any more shamfully abuse them when thou gavest us great and long prosperities we sed our selves to the full waxed fat and wanton and kicked against thee when thou threwest us into horrid confusions from which we saw then little hope of arising even in the time of that distress did we trespass yet more against thee when by miracles of mercy thou hadst turned our captivities we soon returned to folly to our vomit and to our wallowing in our former or greater filthiness c. Answer This is a very sad miserable condition indeed much to be lamented you had need consider it and be in Truth humbled for it and to forsake that evil Spirit that hath been your leader in those horrid practices and to wait upon the Lord for the leading and guiding of you out of those evils that you may have a better account to give unto the Lord in the day of account as Hezekiah had when the Prophet Isaiah was sent unto him with this Message from the Lord Saying Thus saith the Lord set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not live then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord and said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before in Truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore And the Lord heard his prayers and seeing his tears he was very gratious and merciful unto him as you may read Now compare his confession with your confession and seeing you have no better account to give you may well be ashamed and confounded at the thoughts of what acceptance
THE True Light Discovered to all who desire to Walk in the Day In several little TREATISES Written by that faithful Member of the true Church of Christ Jesus lately deceased STEPHEN SMITH Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life John 8.12 LONDON Printed in the Year 1679. To the Friends of Truth in the Counties of Surrey Sussex and Hampshire Friends HOw greatly hath the Lord appeared in this day in raising up many Instruments to sound forth his glorious Truth yet many are not sensible of it nor of the great Work he is a doing who is a setting up his Spiritual Kingdom and is establishing Righteousness in the Earth and all those that oppose this Work shall in â—im be ashamed and the Lord will go on with his Work who is come to restore Man into the primitive purity he was first created in Man that hath been drove from him into the Earth by reason of Transgressions and been a Servant to sin and under the power of Satan and been ignorant of the Life of God and of the sweet refreshments of his living presence not knowing the motions and leadings of the Father neither hath his ear been open to hear the voice of God but hath been without any sensible feeling of the Life and Power of God and had no savour of the things of God In this condition is Man that is drove from God in the Fall But now is the Lord come to restore him again by his beloved Son Christ Jesus who redeems Man again from his lost estate and brings him out of the Earth and out of all such things which had separated him from God to delight in the Lord his Maker again and from being a Servant of sin to be a Servant of God and of Righteousness and Holiness and to bring him again into Innocency in which he was first created And this hath been the Work of the second Adam the Lord from Heaven in all that did receive him and it is his Work at this day The Father of Mercy and great Compassion he hath considered Mankind who had corrupted his way and he sent his Messengers to foretell the coming of the acceptable day of the Lord and the day of Salvation of God who invited all the hungry and thirsty to come and drink at the Fountain of Life And this was the free Love of God to help Man out of the Pit wherein there was no Water and to offer him the Wells of Salvation to drink at that so he might be washed from sin and from pollution into which he was fallen and could see no deliverer till the Lord was pleased to open a door of Hope and to set him free by his Son Christ Jesus and to save that which was lost and to bring Peace and Salvation whose power is indeed as able to cleanse from sin as ever the Devils was to defile and corrupt This is true and witnessed by some though many cannot believe that ever any can be free from sin in this life Now he that is in the first birth and sees no further but is overcome with sin daily and his mind is earthly and corrupt and has never known the power of God to work in him the New birth and a change from his sinful Estate he judges he can be no otherwise while he is here and so is like a blind man who though the Sun shines because he cannot see it he will not believe that it shines or that others see it But this must not make the Faith of some void who have known the second Adam to be a quickning Spirit and have found him able to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him and the bloud of Christ is to them of full effect and they witness him to be a perfect Saviour and indeed for this end was Christ given of the Father and for this end came he into the World and was made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil and to save his People from their sins and until Christ hath brought Man out of the Transgression he hath fallen into he hath not finished the Work that the Father hath given him to do for as sin hath reigned unto death so must Righteousness reign unto Life Eternal and as through the power of Lust man hath been defiled throughout in Body Soul and Spirit so by the power of Christ is man to be sanctified throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and being once cleansed by his power to be saved from those sins which formerly have defiled him and by this Man doth witness the Restoration by Christ and the renewing by the Holy Ghost into the Image of God again which he had lost whilst in the Transgression and so Man comes again into unity with God and to know his voice his motions and the leadings of his Holy Spirit which while he was in darkness and served sin he was wholly ignorant of This makes Man fruitful again unto God who before was as a barren Wilderness and whereas he was before filled with Darkness he now comes to be filled with Light and Life and now he hath Visions and Revelations of Heavenly things before he was crying There was no Revelation nor Vision they are ceased whilst night was upon him he saw no Vision and because he saw no Vision nor had no answer from God therefore he thought it was so with all others and that Revelation and Vision was ceased and he measured all men by his dark rule darkness being over him and his eye blinded Whilst he was in the first birth he was Earthly his mind Earthly delighting in Earthly things he could not then believe there was any immediate Teachings of the Father by his Holy Spirit nor any enjoyment of Heavenly things neither was his eye inward but to an outward Teacher and outward Books and Writings but when the inward ear came to be opened and the day of the Lord appeared unto him then he heard the words of God and saw the Visions of the Almighty and then he began to praise the Lord for his goodness and for his mercies which endure for ever And now being come to taste of the loving kindness of the Lord and his heart being filled with Heavenly blessings he ministers forth the same to others and these are the true Ministers indeed who are moved by this blessed power of God to seek the Salvation of Souls And of this number was our dear Brother Stephen Smith now deceased a man who laboured in faithfulness and constancy according to the ability God had given him to beget others to the Truth and was constant in Sufferings in Travels and Labours and had a good esteem in the hearts of many for his faithfulness to the Lord as you well know and therefore I need not write much concerning him especially since some others have written so
when he is cast out of those more upright hearts and more thankful that he may possess those Swinish natures and so throw them headlong into a Sea of Destruction whith others of the like bad natures of whom I shall say something Those are they which have heard and seen something of Truth by reading Books or speaking with some in the Truth whose words being accompanied with power proceeding from the Spirit of Truth they not having been able to resist but standing over them questionings and reasoning have been raised in them concerning their buildings whether or no they be upon the right Foundation but that being catch'd too which shews them their conditions so plain that they have no assurance of their well-being but in doubting and reasonings and fears through which secretly torment doth arise but their minds being from him that shews them their conditions which though it be the greatest Love that God could bestow on lost Mankind yet in that it brings a Cross to flesh seeing plainly that if they hearken to it they must forsake all their vain Customs and Traditions of the World with all its Lusts and Vanities these things not agreeing with Flesh and Blood which they are consulting the mind being drawn from the Witness for God in their hearts by their wilful yielding to the Enemy of their Souls who is alwayes ready with his Baits to betray them who desire ease in the Flesh and whose minds are out in studying Arguments to keep them in the same the subtle Serpent being here at work to the end that the Creature may partake of his Table for he knows that then they cannot partake of Gods Table as the Scriptures of Truth declares so at his Table he hands out curious words in Prayers and hanging down the head like a Bullrush and with feigning and flattering words to all sorts of Deceitful Workers and doth help to turn and wind all sorts of Worship which the Beastly Nature sets up and so tells them there is Flesh as well as Spirit to be satisfied and that they must live in sin as long as they have a being here and to others whose natures be inclined to Lust he provides plentiful Dishes for them and others who are disposed to Drunkenness he directs them to Companions and opportunity and at his Table are variety of Dishes for the Covetous man or Proud High Heady Boaster Curser Ranter for all sorts that will come to his Table he hath curious Dishes in a plenteous manner and in all these he promises content and satisfaction but as he ever was so he is and ever will be a Lyar for let those speak who hath fed most plentiful at his Table if ever they were satisfied but that the more they fed the more hungry they were let all these forementioned and Gamsters speak for themselves and Thieves and Murtherers and the like But in some he works more in a Mystery and furnisheth his Table with curious words and so feeds them and decks them but alwayes at his Table he hath this Dish for all sorts of Professors and Prophane that they must live in Sin in this Life this is as it were a Chain by which he holds all that will believe so fast to his Table and then let them be as rich as they will in comprehending and getting into the Brain-knowledge the Scriptures and outward Learning so though the work grows so high in the Mystery of Iniquity that the Enemy of the Soul hath exalted himself above all that is called God and so makes a shew in fine words and in long Prayers and in curious Arts yet whilst he can keep them in his Chain to his Table if they cannot have ease in professing in one Sect he will give them leave to profess in another Sect and if that will not serve he will give them leave to go into the profession of Truth it self and further to meet together with them in the Truth any thing but hearing the Voice of the Son of God and obeying which brings to the Table of God and so overthrows his Table to any thing but this his Chain will reach Now as to what is before those that have seen something of Truth and some trouble hath by reason thereof risen in them but for love of a little ease to the flesh such their minds being out willingly goes into the Devils Chain and so feeds at his Table where they are furnished with Arguments against the Spirit of Truth manifested to lead and to guide into all truth and so out of Sin which is the Devils Chain but being thus furnished according to their hearts lust being in the Adulterous Spirit takes all occasion to speak evil of Truth and them that are in it who are true Worshippers of the Lord according to his Will in Spirit and Truth so the god of the World having blinded their minds an evil eye gets out and this watches for the halting of them who are in Truth and when the just hand of God is gone out in making manifest some who have been in the profession of Truth who have hardned their hearts against reproof till at length their hypocrisie and guile is made manifest on which they hereby take occasion to speak evil of the Way of the Lord and them that are in it the Enemy of their Souls giving them thereby some ease for the present but it lasts not long but the Fame of Truth is sounded in their ears again by the Witness of God within or else from those in whom it dwells without them then the Lamb riseth and gives torment again and their Coverings be too narrow and will not serve them neither shall they Wo to the Rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of me and that cover with a covering but not with my Spirit So all unrighteous Coverings which people of unstable minds are under the Wo of the Lord is against so what will become of them that are under them O that men would in coolness consider whose day of Gods Visitation in Love is not past least by their often provocations he visits in his great displeasure and says My Spirit is weary with striving it shall strive no more now for the sakes of many who have yet true Breathings after Living Refreshment and are willing to take up Christs Yoke and Burthen and to follow him that is meek and lowly in heart that so they may rest for their Souls for their sakes I shall give a brief Relation of the Ministers of Christ and of the Ministers of Antichrist First The Ministers of Christ must know Christ and see him and believe on him Joh. 6.40 But some will say Who is there that knows not Christ Doth not all that can read see what is writ of him in the Scriptures of Truth And is not the Christ which you mean who suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem and the like Yes we do own the same Christ and that which the
Scriptures do declare of him is true and we do expect no other but to know him no further then the report of him though that be true this is but a poor knowledge which the Workers of Iniquity have of all sorts that lives visibly in gross and manifest Sins and notwithstanding that knowledge yet live and abound in the same so that knowledge only though that as I have said be true is not sufficient to fit a man to be a Minister of Christ But saith the diligent Enquirer What knowledge then is necessary for a Minister of Christ To know him as he is the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations but now is made manifest to his Saints to know what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory Collos 1.26 27. To know him as he is a Covenant given to the People and a Light to enlighten them manifested within them to give the knowledge of God and to know that he is the Light of the World and how he hath enlightned every man that comes into the World to know him to be the Word in the Heart and Mouth to know him to be the Reconciler unto God to know him to be the Anointing which is true and teacheth all things to know him to be the Spirit of Truth which is manifest to lead and to guide into all Truth to know Christs Flesh and what it is to eat it to know Christs Blood and what it is to drink it but some will say all this may be read in the Scriptures But by the way though the words may be read in the Scriptures of Truth yet the knowledge of the Mystery which is declared of in those words is not attainable by reading them But because some are willingly ignorant and so desires to be rather then to have true wisdom in Gods way and so stumbles at all I shall say a little concerning seeing the Son which is necessary for a Minister of Christ First To see him to be the great Love of God manifested to convince of Sin to see him to be the wonderful Power of God and how that he died to the end that whether we sleep or wake we should live together with him to see him as he was manifest to destroy the Works of the Devil to see him to be the great Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh and much more might be said of the knowledge and sight which a true Minister of Christ hath but what hath been said is enough to satisfie the truly hungring and thirsting Soul but the full loath the Hony-Comb But is this all the upright-hearted say Nay they that thus have obtained mercy to have the knowledge of what is above declared must receive it in the love of it and this Love of God thus manifested in them they must give up to obey being his Everlasting and Unchangeable Covenant which is the Key of knowledge manifested to rend the Vail and to break the Chain of Darkness and to open the Mysteries of the Scriptures of Truth and to give the knowledge of God whom to know is Eternal Life so Iniquity being taken away and Sin being purged through the knowledge of Christ who is the Power of God and God known to walk and to dwell in them through the Son of his Love who is Gods Righteousness as God hath said I will dwell in you and walk in you The Eye of the Understanding being thus opened and the Revelation of Christ being dayly witnessed to sit and to furnish them with Wisdom from above to speak a word in season unto all conditions being thus filled with the Love of God and his Glorious Appearance a constraint lying upon them through the Power of God that dwells in them and from the great Love of God in the same such cannot be silent nor eat their Morsel alone but the Love of God doth constrain them who have Wives and Children and Estates and several others that have no Wives and Children to leave their Callings and several Imployments and go abroad as Sheep among Wolves to declare this great and unspeakable Love to the end That People may be turned from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to the Power of God that others may partake of the same Love of God in his Son Christ Jesus with them But for this their love how Barbarously and Cruelly they have been used many having finished their Testimony in Nasty Holes and Prisons and other great Cruelties which would be too long to relate so these thus furnished with the Love and Power of God and being obedient to the same being Learned men in the Book of Life these are not to take with them Scrip nor Purse so as to be careful of Earthly things but as they have received freely do Minister freely but into what house they come where this great Love is answered in the same Love of God in measure what things such set before them for necessity they eat and drink and the like seeing it comes from their Fathers Love but when they come into a place and cannot see in the Counsel of the Lord that that Love is answered in which they come there they cannot receive though in never so much necessity True say some these are fit Qualifications for a Minister of Jesus Christ but be there any such now adays How dost thou know them Yes I do testifie as thousands beside my self are ready to give the same testimony that such Ministers qualified as before-mentioned there be many in this Day of Gods Power But how do you know may some say I answer By turning us to the great and unspeakable Love of God manifested in our hearts which shews us our conditions how it stood between us and our Creator as it had done long before but we knew not that that was the appearance of the Son of Love till those who had tasted handled seen and felt the powerful working thereof told us but told us also the first step must be through Judgment so a belief thereof being raised and a clean and a perfect obedience yielded to it we in time found its power in us opening the Eye of our Understandings and revealed the man of Sin and so came the knowledge of the Spirit of Truth to be revealed in us and by it we had a sight of the unfruitful Works of Darkness without in his Instruments and the sight of the Spirit of Truth and those that were Ministers of it But notwithstanding this Testimony if some should be hard to believe let such deal so ingeniously with their own Souls as to go and hear and try with a single heart and hold fast that which is good and this is desired to the end that others may be partakers of the same Love of God and of their assurance of their being reconciled unto him through his Son to whom be glory for ever Now there being a necessity that
some time of exercise in this work and through the everlasting love of God in the Body in preserving it sound and intire where his will is done and a fight given of the Enemy's working therein and so not able to prevail At length many go out in Distraction to Meetings and there make sad noises to prevent if possible the going forth of the Declaration of Truth as much as in them lyes keeping people from a Reception thereof by their Babbling and Squalling to Disturb Meetings it having plainly appeared But their Nourishment being from the Vine of Sodom disobedience to that which they might be convinced of being the cause from whence the first going out was so the Root being corrupt the Fruit is corrupt so all in time grow dry and withered being an ill savour therein and a stink whilst they live herein upon Earth so that both the way and end in that way is destructive The which may serve for a warning to all who are convinced of the Truth to take heed how they slight Gods love therein in disobeying that Principle of God in them which is meek and lowly and all that live in true Obedience to it they live in safety where evil in uncleanness cannot enter nor haughtiness hath no place there but they that answer that Blessed Principle they rise in its nature to hate uncleanness and haughtiness so in its nature of meekness and lowliness all who grow here bring forth good Fruit which is a Blessed savour in his sight who is Creator of all and all who are grafted into this root and abiding therein do feel sap and nourishment from the same whereby they spring grow and flourish in a green lively sensible life of the exercise of God's love to mankind and so dare not appear otherwise in the sight of men then they stand approved in his sight who sees all things and so meeting together to wait upon him who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth all gathering together in his Blessed Name feeling true Refreshment in his Presence strength there by is renewed to love God above all and to love one another and to watch for the good in one another and to testifie against the evil which may be an occasion of defiling or hurting any still waiting in meekness and love to the end the good may be preserved and that which is evil resisted And though this love by many may be rejected yet it is that which will carry them who are exercised therein above the head of all opposition and preserve them who keep their Habitation therein out of all extreams even to finish their course with Joy and Peace in that Crown of Life which is everlasting Come all you who live in Envy Hatred Malice Strife and Contention Masters and Dames of Familes who are in Branglings and evil and rash Speakings and Discontents these Fruits proceed from a corrupt and cursed ground and so is an ill savour and bad example to your Families This is a great evil And all Children who are Stubborn and Heady who do not obey your Parents as it is meet in the Lord This is a great evil And all Servants who are not Subject and Obedient in your several places but are high-minded and cannot bear Reproofs but are ready to Answer again and to be Disquiet and Murmur and Whisper and to tell Tales to stir up Anger and Strife This is a great evil NOw to the good in every particular is this writ even that good Principle of God by which if taken heed to its nature is to make manifest that which is evil and it will not in the least agree with any thing that is evil That is a Pearl indeed which the Earthly mind and wisdom hath kept people from the knowledge of but the way of the upright which was and is out of evil And so the fear of offending God by obeying his good gift that is good and out of evil which is a true and right way to a clear understanding what to abstain and Fast from and what to Pray in and for according to the will of God So a Testimony of the everlasting love of God in his way which is perfect many have received where the Eye of Understanding hath been opened from which that is seen which was from the beginning even the word of life in which there 's no Evil so its good and just that this be confessed to before men and great evil to deny it so it s the good which is of God by which all evil is overcome so Blessed are they who overcome the evil by the good and so are built and established through the good word of God by which the soul being freed from bondage and corruption in sin and evil from which the soul being set at liberty on the unspeakable love of God herein in his Son manifested to destroy the Devil's works which is sin and evil here is freedom through the the Son of God's love in Deed and Truth so that Scripture is fulfilled If the Son sets you free then are you free indeed whose Blessed freedom is out of sin and evil So the Blessed end of the everlasting love of God in his coming in the Light of his unerring Spirit of life and power to finish sin and put an end to transgression this is seen and known to be the richest and choicest of his many mercies to mankind the which mercy of God being rejected or obstructed through the vain imaginations and evil ways set up by man's wisdom in the fallen estate from a right understanding where conclusions are made That sin cannot be overcome I say to all such who are at ease under that conclusion they are fled to lying vanities where being from a sense of God's mercies in his Son and there dwelling and abiding their habitation is in Darkness their Fasting is in Darkness their Prayers are in Darkness their Fellowship is in Darkness and their Professions and Confessions of God and Christ are in Darkness where they know not what they say or what they do being in Darkness and there reading the Testimony of the holy men of God they are quite blind to what the Will of God is therein so through Darkness the way of God that being hid how many ways have been set up in the dark the Eye that should see that being shut and the Ear that should hear that being stopt the Vultures eye that being open which could never see the way of God so people under gross darkness being led about there by the Vulterous eye an evil eye how are they on heaps about the words being on heaps in Parties so heaps in Parties being up one Party cryes out Lo here another Lo there and so many Parties with their Lo here and Lo there are set up one Party crying out Stand further off my way of building and fashioning in Professions and Confessions of God and Christ is better and more righteous then thine Another Party
honour of God is ANd further concerning Ministry this I say as the blessed works of the Light of God's holy Spirit has place in hearts and so opens understandings a discovery will be made from thence of the false corrupt and and wicked Ministers who open their Mouths for Gifts and Rewards from whose works in fair and deceitful Speeches Prophaneness is gone out into the World where the Revelations of God's holy Spirit is denyed and set at nought they telling people Revelations are ceased they are not to be known now adayes c. So the sight of all the good and blessed works of God's good and holy Spirit are become as a Sealed Book so that they who have exalted their parts and knowledge in Hebrew Greek and Latin above the pure Life of Jesus they can't read in it because it is sealed and these Learned men unlearned in the things of God can't read in it because they draw near to God with their Mouths and seem to honour him with their Lips but their Hearts not being right in his sight therefore are the wisdoms confounded and understanding in the Things of God kept from them So it s such who have nothing to Minister from but a divination of their own Brain in conceivings and imaginations concerning the works of God in others but from no knowledge of his works in themselves so they run and Divine for Money and Gifts and Rewards in that adulterated whorish Spirit which hath sate a long time and reigned over people who have been as unstable and unsettled as Waters reeling and staggering to and fro through the Sorceries and Witchcraft of that whorish wicked spirit into which Cup the Kings of the Earth have drunk and been made drunk with Envy Malice and Hatred one against another and from Lusts which have been conceived in that wicked and untimely womb have proceeded Wars and Fighting and Hatred one against another and also hatred against the appearance of God's good works in others So it s against that bad and wicked spirit which is not to speak in the Church that I am moved to give Testimony in and through the operation of God's good and holy spirit the which is mightily at work this Day wherein his power is made manifest to destroy the Devil's works and so a way making for the pouring forth of God's holy and blessed spirit more and more upon all flesh from whence I believe there are at present hundreds of Able and Gifted Ministers in this Nation in some degree or measure or other of God's holy spirit who can speak experimentally of what they have felt handled tasted and seen of his works thererein who is the beginning and ending of every good and perfect work and gift in and for them who wait to know his will and do it And through these blessed works must the wounded and distracted Nations be healed and set to rights and all that hinder these blessed works of God's holy and unlimited spirit they are enemies to God and to their own souls and to the Nation and Country where they live So to that of God in every ones Conscience I appeal in these weighty and high concerns wherein I have done the will of God I rest The 9th day of the 4th Month 1673 A Lover of the Truth wherein I seek the good of all Mankind Stephen Smith NOw unto you who say I write out of Enmity Therein you say true for in the true Enmity which God hath put between the two Seeds viz. The blessed Seed of the woman and the Cursed Seed of the Serpent So that in that which is truly good that blessed Seed by which evil is overcome according to the good-will of God in that I give Testimony against that which is corruptible and bad by which mankind is led away into darkness and there captivated under the enemy's power But if any shall say I wish herein any ill to any one's person I do say in the Truth and Uprightness of my heart that such do falsly accuse me For I know in the blessed Seed Intercession is made through me and many thousands that Light may rise in them who sit in darkness that mankind who are dead in trespasses and sins may be quickened and raised into the glorious freedom and liberty in the Son of God where we may live together in Peace with God and one with another to the praise and glory of his holy Name forever Stephen Smith A Trumpet sounding in the Ears of all Persecutors to awaken them out of their dead sleep in which they have taken Prey from the Innocent who have made themselves drunken with Malice and Envy and so Nabal-like are saying What are these that we should regard them c. COme Persecutors Awake Awake hearken how the Cows and the Oxen Low in your Ears when you lye down to sleep doth not their Lowing trouble you And when you rise are not you tormented at the noise of their Lowing sleep as secure as you can you will be awakened at last and then the noise of the Lowing of Cows and Oxen will sound in your Ears In your lying down in your rising up in your Eating and Drinking in your going about your business it will be a dreadful noise when the cause of the Innocent whom you have wronged comes to be laid before you Come Persecutors Awake Awake hearken do you not hear the Bleating of Sheep which have been taken from Innocent people for keeping the Commands of Jesus stop your Ears as hard as you can they will be opened at last and heir Bleating will be so loud sounded in your Ears that you cannot avoid the terrible noise thereof Come Persecutors Awake Awake hearken what a dreadful noise is amongst the Pots Kettles Skillets Frying-pans Dripping-pans Pewter-dishes Flaggons Chamber-pots c. the which have been taken from an Innocent people for keeping their Conscience void of offence towards God and man that men take offence against the Innocent when no proof can be made thereof that is the steps of the wicked in all Ages But hearken Persecutors sure you are not so fast a sleep but that you may hear the ratling of these things in your Ears well they will make a fearful noise at last Come Persecutors Awake awake open your Eyes they will be opened at last and then the Beds Cloths Corn Hoggs Horses Butter Cheese Bacon and all sorts of Commodies taken from Tradesmen out of their Shops and working Instruments from poor people Shoe-Leather and abundance of other things too long to name all taken from an Innocent harmless people who seek the good and well-being of all men At last all these things shall be laid before your Eyes you shall not be able to shut them against them nor to stop your Ears from the several dreadful noises but they must sound in your Ears and you must know that all these doings proceed from a corrupt rotten heart and mind which is abhorred by the living
a vail of gross darkness over them that they cannot so much as see to the beginning of that blessed work and redemption from under the enemies power of darkness in sin and corruption The which blessed works of redemption was is and is to be wrought by the manifestation of Gods great love to World in his Son but people being darkened and their minds and understandings blinded through the God of this World they do in this dark and sad condition plead and contend for sin the which is the Devils work the which through darkness they conclude must continue for term of Life Now mind he that committeth sin is of the Devil and therefore this Doctrine of pleading for sin must also be of the Devil sin being the Devils work those works of pleading for sin must also be the Devils And thus through gross darkness and great and horrid Ignorance are the works of the Devil the grand adversary and enemy of Souls exalted above the blessed works of Christ Jesus who was and is manifest to destroy the Devils works Even the Son of Gods love Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever And these works of God in and through the manifestation of the Son his love unto all mankind are in every degree righteous perfect holy and pure forever and herein is his power dominion and glory seen felt and clearly understood by them who are his workmanship created again unto good works the which he hath ordained and appointed for mankind to live and walk in And by and through them is his power dominion and glory confessed unto and set above all and over all the enemies works and power of darkness as it was in the Primitive time by them in whom the Spirit of the Lord had place to live and move in and in the blessed motions thereof were those blessed Testimonies in Scripture given forth wherein is shewed his great love to the World in the manifestation of his power and wisdom in flesh to destroy the Devils works And by the same blessed Gospel through which the righteousness of God was then revealed by the preaching of the same Gospel is now the righteousness of God revealed and confessed too by them who are raised by the same power to be the living witnesses thereof And to that same power and wisdom by which the Devils works are destroyed and destroying in these last dayes is Confession made by them who are raised in some measure unto the knowledge thereof and by the same power and wisdom is Testimony given against the Spirit of Antichrist the which came in in the Apostles dayes Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 as said the Apostle from such such turn away Now take notice that it was by this Spirit of Antichrist That the false Teachers were set up and maintained by whom the damnable Heresies came in 2 Pet. 2. in denying the Lord that bought them by whose pernicious wayes the way of Truth hath been and is evil spoken of In all the Congregations and Assembles of unbelievers where the beast with his many Heads and Horns doth exercise his power and Antichrists Spirit is head Leader and Commander There this damnable Heresie is maintained that no more of the Revelation of Gods holy Spitit is to be known now adayes say they Revelations are ceased and they look upon it to be presumption and of a dangerous consequence for any to speak or testifie of what the Spirit of the Lord reveals and makes known now adayes or for any to expect new Revelations now adayes Oh damnable Heresie what people that have but the least glimmering of the things of God would give away their reason and understanding therein and maintain such false Preachers by whom these damnable Heresies is maintained this is the work of a subtil enemy unto whom people being joyned do betray the light and understanding the which in some degree or measure at some time or season through the striving of Gods holy Spirit they have or may be inlightned withall in the things that concern their everlasting peace and well-being in that world which is without end For as much as the good Spirit reaches to all that they may profit in their perverting their understanding therein and not profiting thereby will be no good answer in the day of account when the faithful and true witness will rise up against them testifying unto what they have had and how they have betrayed it if a Talent or Talents are hid in the Earth the Earth then shall not be able to conceal it but the hidden things must be brought to light and every one will be rewarded according to the Deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil It will be a shame to say then my sins and iniquities were not manifest unto me by the Spirit of Truth and so think to hide them and cover them with lying excuses saying it was a natural Light or as some have called it a Devil Thus mankind being darkened by the enemy the man of sin He now exalts himself above all that is called Gods 2 Thes 2.3 4. and sits and judges the motions of Gods holy Spirit to be delusions or insufficient to lead and guide out of evil accounting that Religion good enough that can talk of what is recorded in Scripture how the Primitive Christians were moved and acted by Gods holy Spirit But saith this man of sin to expect new Revelations now adayes this is dangerous Revelations are ceased the operation of Gods Spirit is not to be known now adayes and thus the man of sin brings a fear upon all his vassals and subjects that they dare not own the Spirit of Truth as manisested in them to lead and guide them into all Truth though Christ Jesus did bear witness to it and did commend it unto the world Even that Spirit of Truth which reproves the World of sin c. But the man of sin teaches his Subjects to deny the sufficiency thereof and fears them and keeps them in such subjection that they must not so much as confess to the sufficiency thereof Now believe in it saith the man of sin the Scripture is the only rule of life and in this belief he keeps them who are only professors thereof under his strong delusions in many Sects and Opinions wrangling and scolding about their coverings one Sect of Professors of what holy Lives and blessed Conversations the Saints and Servants of the Lord of Heaven and Earth lived by the guidance of his holy Spirit in the Primitive time This Sect cryes my dress my covering is the fairest and best another Sect cryes down that dress and covering and sets up another dress and covering and what abundance of these Sects there be let the wise Judge who live under the wo and misery as is written Wo to the rebellious Children Isa 30.1 saith the Lord that take counsel but not of me and that
quarter And he did not rail in saying so he spoke the Truth Read what wicked motions there was in the flesh and the motion of the true Prophet against them said he They were as fed Horses every one neighed after his neighbours Wife Jer. 5. The Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so and what will ye do in the end thereof Read the true Prophets motion in the word of Truth against the false fleshly Prophets motion Who moved for handfuls of Barley and pieces of Bread Ezek. 13. Read how wicked they were The wicked false Teachers in this Age have a larger and richer Trade they move for Thousands of Pounds The true Prophet moving in the Truth cryed out against the horrible wicked fleshly motions of the Priests and said As troops of Robbers wait for a man Hosea 6. so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent for they commit lewdness Observe they were agreed in their motion Read the wicked motions of a wicked spirit in the Presidents Princes Governours Counsellers who moved the King to make an unalteralterable Decree to insnare Daniel Dan. 7. because he was Honest and Just And though Daniel was acquainted therewith and knew the penalty yet he was moved in a good Spirit to open his Windows and pray as before And read what became of the motions of the wicked and also of the blessed motions The good Spirit in the Prophet moved him to testify against the false Spirits motions both in head and tail Said he The heads thereof judge for reward and the Priests thereof teach for Hire Mic. 3.1 and the Prophets thereof Divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us Oh the presumption and confidence of wicked motions and observe how hireling Priests were cryed out against in former dayes as well as in these last dayes Christ in his Doctrine gave people warning To beware of the Scribes which love to go in long Clothing and love Salutations in the Market places Mark 12. and the chief Seats in the Synagogues and the uppermost Rooms at Feasts Which devour Widows houses and for a pretence make long Prayers But they are worse that make Widows and devour Estates examine the Jailers Calenders for near 30 years last past Acts the 20. The Apostle was moved by a good Spirit to declare what should come after him saying For I know this that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock And what a wonderful motion this wicked generation have had for near this 30 years let all them that have heard and seen and are more moderate and wise in heart judge 1 Joh. 2. There you may read that there was then many Antichrists and the evil motions of that wicked Spirit the which was then in the World Chap. 4.3 was to deny Christ's coming in flesh And John being in the Spirit on the Lords day had wonderful things revealed unto him both of the Beasts rising out of the Sea and out of the Earth Revelation and with what swelling Pride he exalted himself over the Saints and Servants of the Lord God And how that Kings agreed to give their strength and power unto the Beast with one mind to make War with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them For he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are blessed and chosen and faithful And he saw the downfall of Babylon and the End of the Beast and false Prophet Read chap. 19. And this is coming to pass and must be fulfilled glory praises and honour be given to the Lord God forever And thus unprejudiced Reader who hath some Breathings after the knowledge of the Lord and canst not take up a rest in a sinful state but desires that true Judgment may go forth Here is plain Truth and also some brief instances therein which is but few to what might be given from Genesis to the Revelations of the wicked Spirits motions and their Effects and of the blessed motions of Gods good Spirit and their Effects by which thou mayest see by the fruits and practices who are of that brood and generation of Cain and his followers and who are of the generation of Abel and his followers And what a wicked proud arrogant Spirit that is which dares presume to limit the moving of Gods holy Spirit in its Revelation Operation and Divine Inspiration And by which wicked and presumptuous works that proud ambitious and aspiring Spirit hath turned the very end and tendency of the love and mercy of God in the moving of this holy Spirit through holy Men in giving forth those blessed Testimonies and Prophesies in Scriptures even quite to another use then intended And how the Antichristian Spirit which was in the World in the Apostles dayes wrought in a Mistery of Iniquity and in Confessions and Professions from the true witnesses Testimony that Christ was come into the World and how he was Born and how he Suffered and was Ascended and will come again which is all true But under this fair covering the Merchants of Babylon set up their Trades and fraighted their Vessels with the Whores Trumpery and with fair Speeches and good Words out of the Life out of the Power they have deluded poor Souls making Merchandize of them setting up that which is profitable in the way of righteousness for the way of righteousness and so excluded the second coming of Christ in Spirit to them that look and wait for him without sin unto Salvation This great mistery the which is Christ in us the hope of Glory the way of Truth and Life the way of Righteousness unto the Father out of which none can come unto him this by their Arts they have wholly excluded And thus having set the Scripture for a chief rule and only rule of Life they have excluded the Spirit of Truths guide and leadings the which the Scripture directs unto and so set the Scriptures above the Spirit by the moving of which they were given forth And the Words and Writings of the Scripture they have set up for the word it self And this Spirit having put the Declaration and Writings of Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel here the Gospel the power of God that is excluded and Christ the word of God in the heart and mouth that is excluded And thus having turned the Scripture upside down The man of sin the Son of Perdition 2 Thes 2.3 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God And now saying in effect that the day of Christ is past as touching his appearance and coming in the flesh he is at a remoteness or distance from his people Now Revelations are ceased say they and the best
to lead into Christianity wherein the Author of the Book hath sufficiently manifested his folly in undertaking to detect that for Error which is a fundamental Truth Indeed he hath made a bold attempt in his dark comprehension in going about to limit the leading of the Light of Christ Jesus which shews plainly that he is not acquainted with the way thereof and in adventuring to speak and to affirm things so confidently that he hath no knowledge of this bespeaks him to be a rash inconsiderate man But least we should know him like a Coward he hath concealed his Name And in our reasonable and faithful confidence in Christ the Way Truth and Life we cannot give such dark ignorant works better entertainment then they deserve and by giving of them their due entertainment according to Truth we have cause to believe the endeavors of such dark immaginary Spirits will grow weaker and weaker and the turning of things upside down as the Author of that Book and his Generation hath done will prove a miserable hard travel and labour that will end in great sorrow and trouble But to come to the business in as brief manner as may be that I may not be tedious to the unprejudiced Reader This short answer is recommended shewing the drift of that dark Spirit by answering only some particulars Such manner of work as this having been often answered by many worthy Servants of the Lord the which are faithful witnesses against all such dark works By the way let it be remembred 1. That we truly own the holy Scriptures and all true and effectual outward Teaching in their place as proceeding from the holy Spirit 2. That by the assistance of the same Spirit only the Scriptures c. are truly to be understood and be made profitable 3. This Spirit works immediatly in the understanding where ever outward means becomes effectul 4. Divine Light and Inspiration being all sufficient to teach immediatly it is not to be limited to outward means First to prove the sufficiency of the Light of Christ Jesus to lead into true Christianity either without outward teaching or by it The Lord God of Heaven and Earth be his glorious and powerful outgoings in the Light being not to be limited take two or three instances out of the Prophets concerning this blessed leader the Light of Christ within Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart and said David rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness The which many thousands do this day by the springing up of this ever blessed Light within even where outward Teaching is not and by the effectual working in its powerful operation in springing up out of darkness many who had the name of that they were not were both convinced and converted and led into true Christianity And Isaiah prophesying the coming of Christs kingdom saith Isa 2.5 O house of Jacob come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord and in the 55 chap. 4 v. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people And of this Covenant this light promised to inlighten the Gentiles John the greatest Prophet that was born of a woman God sent to be a witness that all through him might believe and this Testimony of the true light that lighteneth every man that comes into the World he had from God who sent him and not man's Teaching And Paul saith Gal. 1.12 speaking of the Gospel For I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ So here men were made Christians by Christ the Light of the World without outward Teaching and this overthrows the affirmation of the Author of that Book who saith That men do not become Christians by following the Light within without outward Teaching But the Author may know that these men true Christians and men But I do affirm that there was never a true Christian made by mens Teaching without the leading and guiding of the Light of Christs Spirit within and that is by the leading of Christ within that people are made true Christians and the gainsaying of the Truth is the cause there are so many false Christians now adays by reason of such natural men as the Author of that Book manifests himself to be being ignorant of the Light not knowing the way thereof neither doth he know the fundamental principle of the people called Quakers the which is a manifest token of the gross darkness that he is under in that he presumes to call that error which he is a stranger to But neither he nor any else hath yet proved our opposing the leading and guiding of the Light of Christ within to its leadings and guidings in Teaching without But we do oppose its blessed Leading within and Teaching without to such dark unchristian-like Spirits that doth not know the way thereof who in such like dark works in a high degree of pride and arrogancy are going about to limit and set bounds to the works of the Lord God Almighty So that which he calls a fundamental Error is a fundamental Truth that it is possible with God this day and time as well as in days past to lead by the Son of his love into true Christianity with or without outward Teaching of which Truth the Lord God hath raised abundance of living witnesses this day and by his arm and power he is raising up more dayly who are built upon the same foundation that the Prophets Apostles and the Primitive Christians were built upon against which work and foundation the gates of Hell cannot prevail This Covenant this Light this Witness this blessed Leader Gods love Gods gift to the people all mind that it did not only inspire immediatly the Apostles but also the people by which Inspiration people come to understand when they have done evil even when none without can accuse them by this love wicked people are made sensible of their wickedness though indeed as it is written the Candle of the wicked is often put out yet many times they are overcome with the Light and Love of God therein that thereby they forsake their evil and turn from their wickedness and by yielding their members servants unto this righteous appearance of the grace of God and by obeying the infallible teaching thereof many have been converted into the true Christians faith and by the Truth sanctified and then justified through their obedience to the Heavenly gift of God are made true and living Christians abiding the Baptism of Christ who Baptizeth with Fire and the Holy Ghost and therein are confirmed and settled under the shadow of his wing whose fruit is very precious and pleasant And it is by this Light that the voice of the true Shepherd comes to be known from the false Shepherd thus by grubbing up the root of the tree the branches must needs
outward written Law since they must be judged without any such Law for transgressing of what Law must they be judged it cannot be denyed but that God hath given them a Law to walk by and that it is for the transgression thereof that they come under condemnation and must be judged Before this question be answered in Truth that Gospel must be known that is preached in every creature which is under Heaven Page 37. The Author saith we that have the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles brought down to us in the Scriptures may according to Scripture Dialect be said to have Christ and his Apostles as truly as it was said of the Jews in our Saviours days on Earth that they had Moses and the Prophets for it was by having in the Scriptures what they said and did that they were said to have them and by hearing and believing the Scriptures of the New Testament we may as well be said to hear and believe Christ and his Apostles c. Answer That ever such a stranger to Christianity should be so impudent as to say I will shew you the method and way of God that doth not know himself one step therein as appears by his dark arguing The Jews had the writing of Moses and the Prophets and no question but they did believe them to be so but what did they profit by them when out of that Faith and Spirit through which they are profitable they did testifie of Christ and were a witness to the righteousness of God as saith the Apostle when by them they judged Christ ought to die Christ did send the hard-hearted Jews who went about to kill him to Moses and the Prophets saying Joh. 5.39 40. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye may have life And mind what the Apostle saith Rom. 3.12 But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets which righteousness the said Jews did not know though they had heard what Moses and the Prophets said of it But mind the cause of their not hearing so as to understand Neh. 9.20 Thougavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them but the cause of their blindness was even their rebellion against Gods Spirit And Stephen said to the Jews Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye So it 's very clear though the Jews had Moses and the Prophets writings yet by not taking heed to the Instruction of Gods Spirit in them they were without the knowledge of them and thus it is with the generality of those called Christians they have some of the writhings which gives a relation of Gods great love to the World in his heavenly and powerful gift of his holy Spirit manifest in the flesh to bruise the Serpents head and to destroy the Devils works But by disesteeming the blessed appearance of the Light of the Spirit of Christ in man as the Author of that Book doth in calling it a natural Light being thus in unblief their foolish hearts are darkned So though they have the New Testament as it is called by many that do not know the Law and the Testimony though they have some part of what was writ concerning Christ the Way Truth and Life of Christianity Yet by their quenching and grieving the immediate motions of Gods holy Spirit in them they are as clearly void of the knowledge of the end and tendency of Gods great love in and by the motion of his holy Spirit that gave forth those writings with the several blessed Testimonies therein even as the hard-hearted Jews were of the Law and the Prophets when they were in the gainsaying and rebellion against Gods holy Spirit But such kind of smooth teaching as the Author of that Book who is unlearned in the blessed Teaching of the Spirit of Truth is very pleasant to unlearned people in the things of God but the Scripture is fulfilled in many of them Acts 13.41 Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you So it 's very clear and that in a true sense that people may have the writings and not have Christ nor his Apostles neither be in their Doctrine but in lieu thereof they may have the Spirit of Antichrist and Doctrine of Antichrist and the ravening Woolves nature though they may have the Sheeps clothing First The Scriptures we must needs highly own in that they refer us to and exalt Christ and his immediate teaching of his Divine Light and Spirit within as being subservient thereto where they are received therein But since a great part of the work of the Author of that Book is to maintain the Scriptures being a rule of Faith and Practice and to gainsay the sufficiency of the Spirits teaching without the Scriptures or its immediate teaching now adays without some outward teaching I do ask whether the Authority be in the Spirit that spoke the words or in the words when spoken or written if none can deny but the Authority both was and is in the Spirit And Isaiah by the same Authority of Gods blessed Spirit he can work a saving change in people either with or without what is written therefore it is a high degree of presumption in going about to limit the blessed holy Spirit of God as the Author of that Book doth But what Authority or effect had the true Prophets words in the false Prophets mouths this sad effect they stole away the hearts of people from the living fountain and put them upon a vain labour in making broken Cisterns that could hold no water And what Authority profit or advantage have the true Ministers and Apostles of Christs words now in the false Teachers mouths with their meaning upon them Even this sad and lamentable effect they thereby steal away the hearts of people from the sense of the immediate motion of Gods holy Spirit in them and to gainsay its powerful teachings and the universal love of God in the moving of his universal holy Spirit through all the World in its convincing and reproving the World of sin c. And then to set them upon vain and unprofitable service First having turned their hearts and minds out of the way that the holy Spirit of Truth leads in and then set them upon a vain labour and travail in seeking but never finding till at length they conclude with the Devils Doctrine that there is no way out of a body of sin and death on this side the grave And such flattering and deceitful Teachers are in a high esteem and account among a flattering deceitful people So all may mind that we do not oppose the in ward Teaching of the Spirit of Truth
Viol c. And are at ease wo to them Amos 6. And concerning comparisons in the sound of Instruments being certain or uncertain this makes not at all for your purpose who extol that Musick by which the Lord is dishonoured and the seed of life grieved and burdened so for shame leave off your lightness and vanity least you be left as them who are filthy to be filthy still and you seek repentance as Esau did with tears and cannot find acceptance And see the effects of wicked Dancing Mat. 14.6 7. But when Herod 's birth-day was kept the Daughter of Herodias danced before them Now read and see what effects her brave Dancing procured weigh these things you that have Children that are Light and Airy and restrain them from that wicked practice least they add sin unto sin and bring woe upon them as you may see Herodias Daughter who added one wickedness unto another Stephen Smith To all Bishops and Priests and all concerned with them in a Book Intituled A form of Common Prayer for Gods blessing upon His Majesty and His Dominions and for the averting Gods Judgments Printed this year 1678. ANswer The Lord God hath signally shewen his great displeasure by Sword by Plague and by Fire against that opposite spirit that hath led into all rebellion against the motions of his holy spirit wherein he is making known his way of blessing and his saving health among the people Yet for his great name sake and in his love mercy and pity he did put a stop to those Judgements and hath given space and time of repentance and through many faithful Servants hath the Lord manifested his good pleasure that all who are erred from the way of blessing in life and peace that they might return unto him and wait upon him who is Lord of Heaven and Earth for his teachings and instructions in his holy Covenant of Life and Peace But how regardless have you been of the many and frequent Testimonies that have been faithfully in the moving of Gods holy spirit of Truth given forth against the swelling and groaning abominations of the times So that instead of hearkning and obeying the motions of Gods holy spirit you have proceeded in vexing and grieving the same in a most high degree you have abused the Servants of the Lord God And through your pride and presumption you have drawn the heavy displeasure of the Lord upon you whose dreadful judgments do hang over you and will not be averted or turned from you by any feigned shew of fasting made up in the will of man contrary to the good will mind and pleasure of God In that which is called the order for Morning Prayer are these words Rent your hearts and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful c. Answer To them that do in Truth and in unfeigned repentance open their hearts unto him with a faithful resignation of heart soul and body unto the pure manifestation of his holy Law of his pure spirit of life unto such he hath shewn himself very gracious and merciful in setting them free from the Law of sin and death But how often do you repeat those words and yet keep your hearts whole in the friendship of the World in the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and pride of life you have been so far from renting your hearts that you have not so much as rent your garments are not the garments of your own righteousness which is no better then filthy rags whole upon you and in that loathsom garment you appearing before the Lord who seeing your loathsomness and hypocrisie in imputing the righteousness of Christ unto you whilst you are really and truly whole in your loathsome garments of your own righteousness where the righteous judge both of the quick and the dead beholding you as you are in your loathsome garments he will never agree with you in your accounts whilst you account so falsly of your Interest in the righteousness of Christ and yet whole in the garments of sin and iniquity doing the things you should not do and leaving undone the things you should do would you when you reckon with your Servants agree with them in such account and allow of their doing so all their life and leave them to account of your riches and that you are bound to give it them sure its time to be awakened from this misery of ignorance And take notice of your following words Though we have rebelled against him neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God to walk in his Laws which he set before us Now mind was ever your hearts rent from this condition do not you persist in your rebellion and so grieve Gods holy spirit in keeping your heart whole in persecuting them who are led by it Are not the Priests whole in their sin of preaching for Hire and for filthy lucre sake they tell lyes in Hypocrisie promising that to people which neither they nor the people have right unto whilst they are Servants to sin Come down from these barren mountains of imaginations and rent off these filthy garments and rent your hearts from these evils and follow the example of them who are really in this work and from the Lords acceptance have found him gracious and merciful and in the righteous government of his holy spirit of Truth the knowledge of his way of Truth is known in this World and in walking therein there is that hope manifest by Christs righteousness in us of having Eternal life with him in that World which is without end And you say Dearly beloved Brethren the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness and that we should not dissemble and cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father but confess them with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart c. Answer Here you acknowledge yourselves to be fallen from the Primitive Christians guide and moreover in the service and work of the Lord they did speak as they were moved by Gods holy spirit and did declare the pleasure and will of God as that gave utterance and by his holy spirit they were made Ministers not coveting any mans Silver or Gold or Apparel nor they did not move for any filthy lucre sake but how have you erred and strayed from this way being lost as to a true and saving knowledge of the motions of Gods holy spirit And in this lost Estate every private spirit is set a work and imaginations dreams do tell their several conceivings of what was given forth by the moving of Gods holy spirit but having erred from the way of the spirit of God and being strangers thereunto they are also strangers to what was given forth by the Spirit of God thus being in error they don't know the Scriptures nor the power of God And thus being become strangers to the motion