the comfort of meeting with his People commonly called Quakers to wait on God Forty Years by-past and such that wait on God in Sincerity and Uprightness of Heart according to God's promise shall renew their strength for the Power and Presence of God is near to help such against all opposition whatsoever But there are many People that Content themselves with a bare reading the Scriptures of Truth but do not know that Spirit that gave them forth therefore such greatly need to wait on God to be inspired by the same Spirit that you may understand them for Christ said to the Jews you read the Scriptures for in them you think to have Eternal Life for they Testifie of Christ but he blames them for not coming to him in whom is Life and with sorrow I tell you that Life is wanting among many that make a large Profession of Christ in words yet slight and reject the Spirit 's Teachings such my Soul pities and I Pray God to rend the Vail of Darkness that is over their Minds who think themselves good Christians because they have a form of Religion and speak good words in their own wills and Practice quite contrary I accuse none but let all be cautioned lest they are found false witnesses for one speaks in the Light and Life of Truth but the other speaks by Immaginations And some outside Professors that love the praise of Men and would be thought somebody in Religion are but Lukewarm neither Hot nor Cold such the holy God doth Abominate except they come to believe and walk more Sincerely for God loves Truth in the Heart both of Male and Female And the Holy Glorious God hath Visited my Soul and hath shewed me that as little David with his Sling and Stone out of the Brook slew great Goliah that defied Israel and those that took part with him were scattered even so the mighty God by his Invisible Arm of Power will scatter all Feigned shews of Religion without Life and cause them to Vanish like smoke for which my Soul magnifies the Glorious Name of our God in Covenant with his People And now I beseech all that in any measure have tasted of the Love of God to be still incouraged to wait on God in Spirit and in the Faith of God's Elect which Purifies the Heart and Pray to God in Sincerity for Life and Salvation which is only to be had through Faith in Christ Jesus Therefore let all People Dread and Fear the All-seeing and Heart-searching God both of Professors and Profane and consider how it stands betwixt your Souls and God and Examine with the Light of Christ in your Consciences whether Christ be Revealed in you without which none can have Acceptance with God nor Worship God aright in Spirit and in Truth And my Soul's desire is that you do not neglect the Day of your Visitation till it be two late And in tender Love to your Immortal Souls I conclude this weighty matter who truly loves your Souls as mine own Edward Brush AND now dear Friends and People having through some Difficulty and Weakness born my Testimony to the Truth remains upon my mind in a sense of the Love of God to mention what followeth how that from my Childhood my mind was inclined to Religion and the Professors of it above Eighty Years ago and I can say as Jacob did when he built an Altar at Bethel that God was with me though I knew it not And I can do no less than admire the goodness of God in putting his Fear into my Inward parts that I durst not be so Wanton and Foolish as many other Children were When I was but Ten Years Old then I dwelt with a zealous Man called a Puritan who was persecuted for Religion and in that day I read the Scriptures with delight and was many times broken into Tears and did learn good part of a Book called The Doctrine of the Bible by heart And about Twelve Years of Age I came up to London and served Eight Years of Nine by Indenture and was tender in my Spirit towards God and my Master Dyed of the Plague in the Year 1625. and I purchased the Ninth Year but did not so well improve my time as I ought which when I came to consider caused sorrow to enter my Soul and my Countenance was changed and I was exercised Inwardly because of outward straits but God made use thereof to Humble me and the word sounded in me that God would Humble me that he might do me good in the latter end and still my mind was exercised about Religion and I kept House and Servants Twelve Years before I took a Wife and the Fear of God in my Soul preserved me from gross Evils And now I may say something concerning my Suffering and Banishment Richard Brown in 1660 or 1661. then Mayor of London sent me to Newgate only for keeping my Hatt on before him and there kept me Six or Seven Weeks without Mittemus and in that time the Power of God in me prepared me for greater Sufferings by Banishments but because my dear Wife was very Tender I kept my Thoughts from her and afterward I was carried to the Sessions and was Sentanced to Banishment for Seven Years but soon after was called to the Bar again and the Bible was offered me to Swear I told the Court of the old saying That those that did Swear would Lie Then the Judge said if I would leave going to the Quakers Meeting the Sentance should be revoked I answered that was against my Life So Alderman Fredrick then upon the Bench and Mayor Elect did moderate the Judge But I was sent again to Newgate And next Morning Hurried with Two more by VVater to Gravesend and many Friends came to take leave of me which afterward returned to London with my beloved Wife Sarah and our Son Isaac and the Ship sailed away towards the place intended And though the Ship was Leaky and wet my Bed so that I thought she might Sink yet my mind was sweetly resigned to Dye in the Sea because my Suffering was for Truth and that did uphold me and all thoughts of outward things came not into my mind but I was in Peace and Comfort all the Voyage and in good health and to God's Eternal Praise I did arrive safely in Jamaico the Fourth Month called June 1665. And in a few Days after the Governour sent for me to his House and did offer that if I would give Bond of Two Hundred Pounds I should have my Liberty in the Island which I refused because I was the Lord's Freeman And after a while the Governour received an Express from King Charles the Second to send me home to England And to God's Praise I still speak and do testify that it is a Precious thing to forsake all for God and his Truth And I now remember the last words I spoke in Jamaico to Jane Hilyar was these That Holiness becometh the House
THE Invisible Power Of GOD Known in Weakness WITH A Christian Testimony of the Experience and Sufferings of Edward Brush Aged Ninety One Years BY HIM Tenderly recommended to all moderate and well-inclined People LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle near the Meeting-House in White-hart-Court in Gracious-street and at the Croocked-Billet in Holy-well-lane near Shoreditch 1695. The Invisible Power of GOD made known in Weakness with a Christian Testimony of the Experience and Sufferings of EDWARD BRUSH Aged Ninety One Years By him Tenderly Recommended to all moderate and well-inclined People OH All People and professors of the Christian Religion my desire is you may see and be sensible how that the Lord God of Life and Power hath manifested his Love unto the Sons and Daughters of Men in general and put his Spirit in their Minds and Consciences that thereby they may come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved by Faith in Christ Jesus Oh! How greatly doth my Soul and Spirit Travel for your Souls Everlasting good and that you may be gathered by Gods Spirit and power of Holiness out of Sin and Transgression which all have fallen into by Disobedience which Sin stands as a Wall of Separation betwixt God and all Souls in which State all Perish except they come to know a timely Repentance But the great and glorious God in his eternal Love that made mankind for a purpose of his own Glory and to serve and Worship him in his own holy Spirit would not that Man should perish but waits to be Gracious to all the Sons and Daughters of Men And in the Riches of his Love hath found out a way in his Eternal wisdom for to restore Man out of his perishing Condition and hath Freely given his Son Christ Jesus to lay down his Life a Ransome for those that truly believe in him and in the fulness of time prepared him a Body to do and suffer his Heavenly Father's will for us all that were by Nature Children of Wrath. The Righteous and Holy God Cast out the First Adam out of Paradice for Transgressing his just Holy Law and notwithstanding Man's disobedience God hath sent forth his only Son a Light into the VVorld who hath Enlightened all Men that came into the VVorld that by his Grace and Light which shines in their Hearts they might receive the knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ And this Inward and Spiritual appearance of Christ in your Hearts and Consciences you must all believe in which lets you see your States and Conditions and whether you be in a State of wrath and unbelief or in a State of grace and have obtained that Faith in Christ which overcomes the VVorld In the days of Christ's Flesh he did many Glorious things without us and Dyed for our Sins and was Buried and Rose again for our Justification but until by Faith in Christ Jesus we are turned from Darkness to the Light of Christ's Spirit within which makes manifest Darkness none can truly Judge what Condition their Souls are in nor see from whence they are fallen Therefore my Friends it is in mine Heart to perswade all to turn their minds inward and wait on God's witness that he hath placed in your Consciences for that will give Righteous Judgment Come home to Gods blessed Spirit to be your Teacher and Leader into all Truth and out of all Errour that so your Souls may Feed in the green Pastures of Life And Oh you Professors of all sorts There is a Travel in my Soul that you come of the Barren Mountains of Profession without into the possession of Christ the substance within who by his invisible Power Renews and Regenerates our Souls to God again out of that deplorable State into which Adam and Eve fell by hearkening to the subtil Serpent I now remember my Darkness and Ignorance which I was in when a Professor of God Christ and Christianity and a Zealous Professor without true knowledge and therefore my Soul is still in Tarvel that all may know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent in Spirit and in Power For I was seeking the Living amongst the Dead And the last time I broke Bread and drank Wine as an ordinance I heard a Voice within me saying What doest thou here seeking the Living amongst the Dead He is not here he is risen and I can truly experience I found not that inward refreshment and satisfaction until by the Power and Spirit of God I was delivered from the Empty Forms and Shadows Therefore my Soul Breathes to God on your behalf that you may retire your minds inward to be taught of God as the Scripture often testifies They shall all be taught of God and that the Lord will Teach his People himself and the humble God will Teach of his Ways c. And I Testify in the Fear of God that none can VVorship God acceptably until in some measure they are made partakers of the Spirits Teaching and have an understanding by the Inspiration of the Almighty and as they come to believe in Christ's Spiritual appearance in their Souls he gives them that Living Faith which purifies their Hearts and by his Spirit they come to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God And until the holy Apostle was Enlightned and was obedient to God's Power and made partaker of the Divine Nature of Christ within he did not Preach the Gospel neither can any among all sorts of Professors assure themselves that they are true Christians without a sensible feeling of the Life of Christ revealed in them for it is not the Name but the Nature that makes true Christians and without true Faith we cannot please God Therefore it is of absolute necessity that all wait to know a through Change and Renewedness to God in Soul Spirit and Body for God hath put his pure witness in all Men that never consented to any Evil. And it is God's witness that secretly Checks and Reproves for Sin in all Men and Womens Consciences therefore my Soul desires that all People do mind the reproof thereof in themselves which is the way of Life to all that are obedient thereunto and to abstain from all appearance of Evil which is made manifest by the Light and until People be turned to the Light which makes manifest the deeds of Darkness they cannot see the Broad way which leads to Destruction and also in the Light of Christ Jesus we come to see the Straight and Narrow way which leads to Life and Salvation But I do speak in grief of Soul there are but few in Comparison with the many Professors that are found walking in the straight and narrow Way Therefore be you considerate and turn in to the way of God which is the Light of Christ within you Do you as David did He considered his ways Christ Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life and if any Climb up any other way they are Thieves and Robbers he
of God for ever and we parted And passing from Jamaico by Sea to the Ship it was in my Heart to breathe to God to preserve me safe to England and the answer of God's Spirit in my Heart was He would be sought unto Some-time after the Ship run upon Bohemia Sholes where we lost Anchor Cables and Plummet and in the Night-season I was constrained to break forth into Prayer so that all in the Ship heard me and the Wind Turning the Ship and Passengers were preserved and the Lord my God was with me all that Voyage and brought be safe to London the First Day of the Third Month 1660. A Coppy of a Letter formerly sent to Friends in Jamacio MY dear Friends Breathren Sisters I salute you all in the Truth and in a pure remembrance of our Heavenly Father's Love which my Soul with yours was made partaker of when present with you is never to be forgotten and in the renewedness thereof my Soul hath been refreshed and at present is my Spirit rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is a Fountain of Light and Life to all that believe and obey his holy Spirit 's leadings And I having obtained Mercy from the Lord it is in my mind in a few lines to visit the Seed of Life in you breathing to the God of our Salvation that we may be preserved together in the Holy and Blessed Union and pure Fellowship with God and one another in his Everlasting Truth which we have long made Profession of O how doth it greatly Concern you and I and every particular of us to Answer the Loving kindness of our God and Father that his Light that in measure hath Enlightened us and opened our understandings in the Mysteries of his Kingdom may shine forth in our Lives and Conversations to the Men of this Generation with whom we converse that we may shew forth the Vertue of his Light and Life freely given to us in Christ Jesus to the Praise of the Name of God who made us for a purpose of his own Glory and that you with me may have an understanding that a measure of Light is given to every one to profit with For our God hath not been wanting to us but hath given his Spirit to help our Infirmities for of our selves we can do nothing that is Acceptable in his Sight but he hath blessed us with Spiritual Blessings that our Souls may thrive in his Grace and Truth that comes by Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of God to all that truly Believe and Wait diligently in his Light and Spirit such do witness him to be revealed in them to give Life and Comfort to their Immortal Souls and they that in the Living Faith abide shall obtain Victory over the World's Spirit Within and Without but if we Suffer our Minds to wander from God after the fading things of this World that will bring Death and Darkness over your Minds again and the Spirit of this World will dceivee you as he did Eve by drawing her mind to look out and Eat of that which God had forbidden her therefore 't is my hearty desire to God that you and I watch diligently against the Enemy of our Souls who works in a Mystery to deceive and will appear as an Angel of Light as he did to me to my sorrow for the Devil knew where to lay his bait in tempting me and telling me it was good but when the Light began to shine in my Heart I found it to be as contrary to God as Darkness is to Light and my Soul Magnifies the Lord's Power over the Spirit and Power of Darkness Therefore dear Friends suffer the word of Exhortation through your Weak and Aged Brother who has long been Travelling towards Sion in that way of Truth which leads to Rest and Peace and in a hearty desire that you all may be found in a Spiritual Travail and witness a Spiritual Growth in Christ and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind for he is come near to Judge both Quick and Dead and they are Blessed that do put on the Armour of Light and are bringing forth fruits of Righteousness before God and Man they witness the Comfort thereof in themselves And if any among you hath a Form of Truth without the Power such are Spiritually Dead and Christ said Ye shall know them by their Fruits And you that are quickned to God and have passed from death to life are witness of those things for Light makes manifest and expels Darkness which deadens the Soul to God and clouds the Understanding in the Mysteries of his Kingdom O my dear Friends let us Joyn to the measure of Light in our Souls to know how it stands betwixt God and our Souls for according to his promise he will search Jerusalem as with Candles Therefore let all arise from the Dead that Christ may give you Light and if you are Risen with Christ mind Heavenly things And it doth nearly concern us that we believe and pray in the Faith of God's Elect to do his will on Earth as it is done in Heaven And as the living Members of the Natural Body are ready to help each other so much more will the living Members of the Mystical Body of which Christ is Head mutually Love each other Condescend Sympathize and Help the Weak and forbear one another And if any be overtaken in a fault you that are strong and Spiritual to restore such an one in the Spirit of meekness is precious and such a Spirit doth well become the Children of Light in this Day of God's Spiritual appearance which is broken forth in Spirit and Power within to Judge and Purge out of his People all that is contrary to his mind and Holy will Therefore dear Friends let us all wait to feel his Judgments upon the Transgressing Nature and this is our Father's Love to bring us into Conformity to his Son Christ Jesus And blessed is that Eye that Sees and Understands these things nothing shall Separate their Souls from the Love of God that which is near and dear as a Right Hand or Right Eye must be parted with yea even Life it self if Required which brings to my mind the preserving Arm and Power of my God both at Sea and Land in my going abroad and in my returning home again and to this Day he hath given me Health and Life Spiritually and Enabled me thus to write unto you being above Ninety Years of Age tho' with a shaking hand I beseech you to Receive these Lines in the Love of God manifested through this weak Vessel for the good of your Souls for with Longing desires I have some Years waited for strength thus to signifie the unchangeable Love of God who brought me thither where I felt your love to God his Truth and me also and have often thought of the Lord's Servant John who was Banisht into the Isle of Patmos where the Mystery of God was Gloriously Revealed unto him
as you Reading with Spiritual senses exercised may understand And Pray bear with me when I was on shore on the Island of Jamaico a serious mind did possess my Soul and I said within my Self now am I here for bearing my Testimony to the Truth what shall I now do And the Lord being present with me did Immediately by his Spirit Answer me in these following words My Grace is sufficient for thee and by his Grace was my mind stayed on the Lord and tho' weak God's Power hath been with me to keep me to this Day all Glory to God in the beauty of his own Holiness be returned to him alone saith my Soul And God did in measure open the Mysteries of his Kingdom to me and by his constraining Power sometimes in the Meetings I broke forth in a few words in Prayer and I now Pray to God who is the Giver of every good and perfect Gift that we may all be kept low before him and little in our own Eyes then his own Name and Power will be Exalted over all and Fleshly Wisdom in the will of Man where the Devil it Seated will be cast out and Self for ever abased and made of no reputation Farewel I am your Brother in the Truth which is my Strength Edward Brush From the Bull and Mouth Meeting-House in Martin Le-Grand the 15th of the 7th Month 1688. FINIS 〈…〉 next Door to the Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street and at the Crooked Billet in Hollywelllane Shoreditch Folio Samuel Fisher's Works Isaac Pennington's Works Francis Howgil's VVorks Christian Quaker by W.P. and G.W. Antichristian Treachery Discovered W. Penn's Preface G. Fox's Journal Quarto Stephen Crisp's VVorks William Bayly's Works Humphry Sinth's Works William Bennet's Works William Dewsberry's Works Spirit Martyrs prize 2 s. 6 d. A brief State and Examination of Liberty Spiritual by W. Penn. The Religious Assemblies of the People call'd Quakers Vindicated A legal Exam. of Abuses of Law Lawson's Treatise concerning the seven Liberal Arts. Tythes Ended by Christ by W. Gibson Warning to England in general Warning to London in particular Truth and Innocency Defended by R. Vickris Just Reprehension to John Norris Some Weighty Reasons c. by Seb. Elithorp Octavo W. Penn's Address to Protestants Second Addition No Cross No Crown in two Vol. the 5th Edition much Enlarged Travails in Holand and Germany Account of the Rise and Progress of the Quakers Call to Christendom Tender Counsel and Advice Memory of the Righteous Revied in 〈…〉 Elizabeth Bathursts Works Essay for Peace Treatise of Charity T. Ellwood's Foundation of Tythes His Epistle to Friends concerning G. K. his Further Discovery of G. K. The State of the Case between Friends at Pensilvania and G. K. Robert Barclay's Catechism G. F's Instruction for Spelling lately Reprinted with large Additions G. F. and S. Crisp's Now Book for Children Tithe no Gospel Maintenance by W.L. Spiritual Guide Also for the Service of Truth and Enouragement of the Buyer many Antient and VVorthy Friends Books bound in Volumes are Sold for half the Prize A Rational Catechism or a Conference between a Father and a Son Good House-VVife made a Doctor Monthly Observations Country-Man's Companion Ethiopian Complaint Treatise of Dreams and Visions Good News for the Poor Dr. Chamberlin's Queries Relating to Physick Averroes and Pythagoras Letters Three Tracts of the Great Medicines Philadelphia or Brotherly Love c. Pax Redux or Christian Reconciler Culpeper's Dispensitory His English Puisitian c. Bibles Testaments Paper Books 〈…〉