Truth Something concerning the Operation of the LIGHT in all that Obey THe LIGHT is given for a Leader and to be Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth in all that believe as the Light is minded and obeyed it leads out of the Evil that it testifies against when it reproves for Lying then being minded and the Reproof turned unto and obeyed it will lead out of Lying and learn every man to speak Truth to his Neighbour or what ever it is that man is driven into through the Fall and hath taken up a life in it the Light bears witness against it which being turned unto and obeyed it leads out of it and leads unto that which is good and it places Gods fear in the heart of man and brings him to depart from the Evil and then he comes to the thing that is good in the Leadings of the Light and so man comes out of Anger and Envy into Meekness and Love and is led from all the Works of the Flesh that be evil unto God who is the chiefest good and this is the work of Christ the Power of God unto Salvation he comes into the World and reproves the World he leaves the World again and saves out of it all that obey and follow him So he makes manifest all things that be evil and he leads out of them and saves from them as obedience is given to him So a Drunkard turning to the Light when it reproves him for Drunkenness and yielding obedience to it it leads him out of Drunkenness into Soberness and delivers him from under the power of Satan who hath him Captive at his will and so the Light makes all things manifest and as it is obeyed it leads out of all Evil both in thought word and deed and places true judgement upon all Evil things and brings them all to the death of the Cross and slayes the Enmity and makes all subject to its power cutting down the Man of Sin and Crucifying the Flesh with all the Affections and Lusts of it and so the old Man dies with all his corruptible deeds and in the Judgment is buried down and the new Man is raised which after God is created in Righteousness and so a holy Birth is born through the Operation of the Power of the Light in which the spirit of the mind is renewed and Soul and Body sanctified and the Conscience purged from all dead works and thus all old things is put off and all things are made new in the work of Regeneration in which a new birth is raised that abides in the Fathers House and feeds upon bread of Life And this is something of the Operation of the Light in all that do obey according to the Scriptures Something concerning our PRACTICE and our walking therein VVE meet together as we are moved of the Lord and wait upon him in his Fear and are subject to the Power of his Spirit that is manifest in us and in the measure of the Spirit which we receive of God we Worship him and in the fervency of the Spirit we serve him and as he moves upon any who in his Fear waits upon him and opens in them the Word of Eternal Life and gives a Word to minister in due season and utterance to declare it in the power of his own Spirit so we minister one to another in the gift of Gods Spirit and are thereby Edified and Comforted one in another and so our Preaching stands not in the inticing words which mans Wisdom teacheth but in the Spirits Demonstration and in Power and this is the Gospel which we freely receive from God and freely Preach in his own Power And this is something of our Practice and our walking therein according to the Scriptures And thus do we own what stands in the Truth and is brought forth in the Spirit of Truth and agrees with the Scriptures of Truth and hath its Root in the Love and Meekness Gentleness and Patience that we own and dearly love in whomsoever it doth appear VVE own MAGISTRACY that stands in the Power of God and executes true Judegment within the Gates cutting down Sin and Evil-doers and setting up Righteousness and those that walk therein We own MINISTERS who are made of God and sent forth in his Living Power and Preaches freely as they receive and labours to gather People unto the Power of God We own WORSHIP in the Spirit and in the Truth which makes all flesh subject We own the CHURCH which is in God of which Jesus Christ is HEAD and KING We own SINGING in the Spirit which gives the Psalm and an understanding to Sing at and the Melody is made in the Heart unto the Lord We own PRAYER that is made in the Spirit which teaches how to Pray and what to Pray for and makes Request unto God according to his Will We own BAPTISM in the Spirit by which all are Baptised into one Body These with many other things which is true according to the Scriptures we own and dearly love with all that walk in the practice of them being guided thereunto by the Spirit of Truth in the power of which we are constrained to testifie unto the Truth as we know it in Jesus and these things which God hath opened unto us and the practice of them and in what they are to be performed unto him we dare not deny in the practice of it neither can we be subject unto any Traditions for Conscience sake Something that we cannot own for Conscience sake being found contrary to the Scriptures VVE cannot own ENGLANDS WORSHIP nor joyn with it because it is set up by Tradition and not after Christ We cannot own ENGLANDS CHVRCH to be the Church of Christ because it hath been set up in the night of Apostacy and is but the Work of Mens hands and found amongst the many Inventions We cannot own ENGLANDS MINISTERS to be the Ministers of Christ because they walk contrary to him in all things and are not endued with his power nor made Ministers in that but are made at Schools and Colledges by natural Arts and Languages and so speak things they know not for filthy Lucres sake making their Belly their God and Sues and Imprisons and Persecutes such as cannot put into their mouths We cannot own such a MINISTRY nor for Conscience sake joyn with them or any way help to maintain them because they walk contrary to Christs Ministers who themselves were persecuted but never persecuted any or sued people at Law for Wages We cannot for Conscience sake pay unto any whether Priest or Impropriator the Tenth part of our Increase which is called Tyths because the Lord freely gives it unto us and he doth not Command us to give it to any other and knowing that Priesthood to be changed who had a Maintenance out of the Tyths We also know that of necessity the Law must be changed and of this we are convinced by the manifestation of his Light
who hath changed both that Priesthood and Law and is become the End of the Law for Righteousness unto us that do believe and we are also convinced of the Unjustness of it upon what account soever it is claimed whether unto a Minister as given unto him by a Law or an Impropriator as a Purchase and assured unto him by a Law We cannot own that LAW to be just or equal which compels us to give or set out contrary to our freedom unto another man any part of that which the Lord freely gives unto us or else gives him power to sue and Imprison us and to keep in prison until death as some of late have been or else give triple dammage and power to distrain for it and drive away Goods and sell them and make spoil and havock of them to the impoverishing and weakening the outward Estates of many tender People in this Nation of England within these late years in which time there hath been many fair promises made for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE but Persecution was never stayed nor Cruelty stopped but unreasonable men executed their own Wills upon many tender Consciences and made a prey upon them notwithstanding all fair promises And these things we cannot own or conform unto being found contrary to the Scriptures and to the Saints Life and Practice though long they were pleaded for to be right according to the Scriptures But the DAY is sprung and the LIGHT now shines in ENGLAND that hath declared them and their Root and they are of the POPES Invention and by his power settled in ENGLAND in the midnight of Apostacy and now they cannot be proved a lawful thing by the Scripture either to Priest or Impropriator They plead them right by the Nations Law and so takes us to be Transgressors of the Law when we never resisted the Law but alwayes submitted to it by a patient Suffering under it for a Testimony against it with all such as Exercise Cruelty by it We cannot own that which they call SERMONS neither can we joyn in that Practice because they make SERMONS by their natural Arts and humane Inventions which they have studied at Schools and Colledges and then by their Art they divide a portion of Scripture which they call their TEXT and raise DOCTRINES and make Vses and Arguments in such like things as by their Art they make and so their Preaching stands in the Wisdom of man and not in the power of God We cannot own their SINGING Davids Words in Metre nor joyn in that practice because it stands amongst the many Inventions in which people satisfie their vain minds in Singing Davids Words out of Davids Condition which is to Sing Lies in Hypocrisie when David roared all the day and at night watered his Couch with his tears and they neither roar nor weep but are Singing they do not Sing with an Understanding We cannot own their SPRINKLING INFANTS with Water and calling it Baptism nor joyn in that practice because it stands in the many Inventions to bring a little Child into their Congregation and have certain People come up with it where they have a little Water and call those People GOD-FATHERS and GOD-MOTHERS and put it upon them to confess a Faith on the Child's behalf and to promise for the Child That it shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments with such like things and then sprinkle a little Water in its face and say they baptize it into the Congregation of Christ's Church and when the Child grows up it runs in the Vanity and the Pomp of the World which is the Devil's Work and so neither keeps God's holy Will nor Commandments which they promised on its behalf that it should keep And we cannot own this practice knowing that the living God is without beginning of dayes or end of time and hath neither Father or Mother and they blaspheme the Lord and his Name who give such names unto the Creature And there is none that can forsake the Devil and all his Works but as they come to the Light of Christ manifest in them that doth discover what the Devils Works are and gives power over them and leads out of them all that in it do believe We cannot own Made PRAYERS and Reading them over in a Book or any other formal way we cannot joyn with that practice or those that pray after that manner because it stands amongst the Inventions and is not performed in the Spirit of Truth that only hath access to God and makes Request according to his Will We cannot RESPECT PERSONS of what quality soever they may be reputed because they that respect persons commit sin We cannot put off our Hats as in honour to the Person of any man or give him any flattering Titles for our Subjection is to the Power of GOD and all Men in that we honour not with putting off the Hat and bowing the Knee which is the honour below but in Uprightness of our hearts before the Lord we truly honour all Men in his Power We cannot speak any other language but THOU to any single person which is the language of Truth unto him and according to the Scriptures of Truth and that which cannot receive it is proud flesh which we cannot satisfie but speak Truth to every man without any respect to his person We cannot own the WORLDS CUSTOMS which they run into and answer one another in when they meet one with another or passing by one another saying Good Morrow or Good Even or Good Day or Good Night and this they have got in the Custom not understanding what they speak but if the Custom of it be but observed and the words be spoken they are pleased and satisfied when they know not that which made the Evening and the Morning good So unto them neither Morning nor Evening nor Day nor Night is good not dwelling in God's Power that made all things good So it is but words in Custom which fallen man that abides in the Evil uses one to another which Custom we cannot own neither dare we observe to do it unto any People upon the Earth And this is the great cause why we bear so many Reproaches from Ignorant People who are in darkness and know nothing beyond their Customs because we dare not speak but in the Wisdom of God which gives us words to speak in due season These things here mentioned with much more that is observed in the Customs and Worship of the World We cannot own nor joyn withall for no other cause but only for Conscience sake being convinced of the Evil of them and being redeemed by the Power of God from amongst them we cannot return again to observe them or to come under the power of them for we have weighed them and finde them to be out of the Truth and contrary to the Scriptures of Truth and who will search the Scriptures and wait in the Light to understand them may certainly know that our Testimony agrees with them and what we are led to witness for or testifie against we finde the Answer of a good Conscience in it and Peace with God which is our Joy and Crown of Rejoycing And if any sober People desire any further satisfaction concerning us we are ready in the Power of God to give a Reason unto any that asks us a Question of the Hope that is in us in meekness and fear THE END
deceived thee in those late years who then had their day in thee and were set up by thee and thy Faith stood in their Wisdom they have all deceived thee by their lies and flatteries crying peace unto thee through all changes that have come to passe in this great Revolution and whatever came up to rule that favoured their time and day they cryed peace unto thee in it though the Lord had determined to overthrow it speedily and when it was overthrown and destroyed they covered thee over with new lies and flatteries and still cryed peace within thy borders under the next appearance that came forth to rule within thee So they cryed peace unto thee in O LIVER' 's Day and when he was cut down and fell and RICHARD his son seemed to arise in his place then their sound went forth with a noise of a Star that was risen and a Son that was born in Bethlehem to establish Peace and thus they cryed aloud in their deceitful sound which was nothing but lies and flatteries for theis Star soon fell and their Sun soon set and was overshadowed and Bethlehems Peace was broken Canst thou not see O England how deceit hath abounded within thee and how thy Prophets and Teachers have dealt with thee Was ever such a professing People so blinded as thou hast been and so overcome to believe lies and flatteries as thou hast done and these are they which thou hast laboured to uphold who have brought that which thou mad'st thy day into darkness and obscurity Oh England the Lords love hath been exceedingly towards thee though thou hast been a Rebellious Nation and it is yet with the Lord to do thee good if thou wilt but hearken and obey Therefore turn unto the Lord God and wait his Counsel to receive that Cruelty and Oppression Vanities and Abominations which do still abound in thee may all be done away and removed out of thy bowels that a godly sorrow may come upon thee and true Repentance may be wrought in thee never to be repented of that a Life in the pure God thou mayest come to know and Uprightness of heart thou mayest learn by the teachings of his own Spirit and deny all thy Ungodliness Prophaness and Licentiousness vain Customs Worships Fashions and Traditions and learn to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world that God may divert his Judgment from thee which certainly thou art drawing down upon thy own head by those unclean abominations which still live and abide within thee and though the Revolution be come about yet thou dost not learn Righteousness neither makest thy wayes and doings good before the Lord thou reapest little profit by all that hath come upon thee and passed through thee in these late years of thy Calamity thou hast had sufficient tryal of man and his way and if thou dost but mind in soberness thou mayest see what the end of it is and whither and into what it all turns This may be a Warning unto thee O England for ever placing thy Faith in man's Wisdom any more for thou hast been long a deceived Nation and the Lord hath largely opened his love to thee that thou mightst have been undeceived and not to have placed thy confidence so much in man but that thou mightest have turned unto the power of God and placed thy confidence in it but thou hast kickt as a wild Heifer that would not come to the yoke and didst not regard the faithful MESSAGES that in thee hath been sounded forth Therefore O ENGLAND Turn Fear and Obey in this thy day whilst the visitation reaches thee and mind the Teachings of God and hearken to his Reproof that thy Faith may stand in his Power and no more in the Wisdom of men that thy confidence may be placed in God and not in the arm of flesh Oh ENGLAND down into the dust with speed and be humbled for the day hastens over and night comes on a pace in which darkness will be thy covering and WO and MISERY thy portion except thou speedily repent then shalt thou know that God hath raised up true Prophets in Israel this day who run in obedience to his movings to do thee good and labour in thee to bring thee to repentance that thou mayest escape the judgment from which no man can hide thee or prevent it from coming upon thee if thou go on in Rebellion against the Almighty God Therefore all RULERS TEACHERS and PEOPLE dread the Mighty God and bow before the Most High and unto Him turn with speed and joyn to his Spirit that is manifest in you own Conscience and make your wayes and doings good therein love mercy do justly and walk humbly before the Lord who respects no persons in judgment And this is a faithfull warning unto thee O England with all thy Rulers and Teachers and all sorts and sects of people whatsoever that inhabite within thy borders and now have their day in thee that all may turn to the Light of Christ in their own conscience and that none may neglect it any longer but turn to it speedily that in it they may obtain mercy before he strike in judgment whose everlasting Power ruleth over all the Kingdoms of the world Something concerning our PRINCIPLE and what it is OUr PRINCIPLE is JESUS CHRIST the LIGHT of the World that doth enlighten every man that comes into the VVorld it is the free gift of God unto every man placed in his Conscience to be a witness for God it shews unto man all his thoughts words and deeds and makes them manifest whether they be good or evil when man joyneth unto evil in thought word or deed the Light reproves him in his own Conscience and finites him in judgment for Transgression the Light speaks near unto every man and calls the workers of Iniquity to Repentance and to abstain from evil it doth not consent to any evil thing which in mans heart arises but secretly reproves it if any intent arise that is not brought forth it searcheth it out and makes it manifest and brings it to a discovery that it may be seen of what sort it is it brings man into a sensibleness of his present state the Light shews him whether he be a Drunkard a Swearer a Lyer an Envious man or what ever it be that arises from the Darkness it is made manifest by the Light if any thing lodge never so secretly it finds it out if there be an intent to Steal or to Defraud or to Lie or Anger or Envy or Pride or Evil-will lodge in the heart of man and none can accuse him for any of them yet the Light finds out such things and judges man and reproves him in his own Conscience for them the Light hath no Communion with Darkness nor fellowship with Unrighteousness but stands in man a witness against man that unto any evil thing is joyned And this is something of our PRINCIPLE according to the Scriptures of