that which so oppresses thee in Spirit or stands in thy way mark well what I say unto thee thou willest too much and through thy willing thou would run too fast and make too much haste through thy Will striving to be out and over things which is the great cause of hindering thee or why thou comes shoâ—t of obtaining Victory through Faith and that thou dost not come to know the blessed Effects or Work of it in thy Heart and inward part Remember the Counsel given to Israel of old Thy Strength oh Israel is to stand still So true Strength Ability and Victory thorough Faith over and against Enemies both within and without is in standing still and being quiet and cool in thy mind for as the Scriptures of Truth testifie it is certainly true It 's not in him that wills nor runs the Battle is not unto the Strong nor the Race unto the Swift And Christ saith Which of you by taking thought can add one Cubit to your Stature So to stand still and patiently wait to receive the true power that the Lord will give to all in his own time though not in their's that patiently wait for it that so patience in thee may have its perfect work that so true Experience thou may gain of Victory given unto thee over all the Temptations of the Enemy through Faith in the Power of God and so will all those things come to be removed out of thy way that thou stands questioning and reasoning about and this is true Faith indeed that gives Victory and it s known to be so by the blessed Effects of it and as Christ said This is that which gives Victory even your Faith and this is the way thorough Faith for all to come to know an Anchoring and Establishing upon the sure Rock through Faith and Hope that never makes ashamed And now Dear Friends unto all you whom God in and through Christ Jesus his Son hath not only called to believe in his Name but also to suffer for Truth and Righteousness sake Blessed and Happy of the Lord are all you and happy shall you be if you continue unto the end that hath a true Knowledge and right Understanding that your Suffering is for Truth and Righteousness sake that is to say whose Suffering is for Christs sake as those that are his that he hath Redeemed and Saved and Sanctified by his Blood Death and Suffering as those that are not your own nor any thing you have or enjoy mark well and take good Notice as those that your Suffering may be for Christ your Redeemer your Saviour your Shepherd Counsellor King Priest and Law-giver and so for Righteousness as those that because of the tenderness of your Consciences cannot do nor consent to be done that which is Unrighteous Unjust nor Lawful according to the righteous Law of God and tends to Oppression Blessed and Happy of the pure God are all you whose Suffering is on this wise and in this manner for it is not only that any doth suffer whether in Body or Goods that will tend to bring the recompence of Reward home to the comfort of the Heart and joy of the Soul as a confirming encouragement in the Suffering but also that you all know and be sensible for what you suffer to wit to be in the Name in the Power in the Truth in the Seed Christ for which you suffer here is the true ease the true peace the true quietness in Spirit in Suffering this makes the Yoak easie and the Burthen light and the blessed Recompence of Reward from the Heavenly Hand of the Blessed God cometh and is extended unto all such of an Hundred fold in this Life and also shall inherit Life Everlasting as Christ Jesus our Lord said unto Peter Where there is a willingness to forsake Father or Mother Wife or Children Houses or Lands for his Name sake this shall be their Reward So Dear Friends the Councel and Advice of my Life unto you all in the Testimony of it is that you all be truly careful what you suffer in and for that none may have only a Name that you live and be dead but as those who have Faith in the just Principle and are in a Spiritual Travail for if any one suffer in Body or Goods and not in the Truth that will be a sad comfortless Suffering So Dear Friends while as a great Mercy from God you have yet Health and Liberty to meet together to Worship and serve him be faithful in meeting often together First day and Week day Men Womens Meetings and when met be diligent in waiting upon him for to receive of his living power from day to day and time to time which is that which truly Fits Furnishes and Prepares in every good Word Work and Service I say make good use of time every one in being truly careful how you spend it for it 's the ill use made of time or the careless squandering away of it that makes many unfit for a day and time of Tryal when called thereunto remember the ten Virgins they had all Lamps but five wanted Oyl and it 's said their Lamps were gone out it seems they once did shine mark they were all called unto to prepare but the five Foollish wanted wherewith and so were left behind and the door was shut against them as to enter into rest and pertake of Joy because of their Unwatchfulness and Sleepy Sluggardliness in the time they had given them and although they came calling and crying afterward it was to no purpose the door was shut it 's plain there was a time the door was open when the Wise that had both the Lamps and Oyl entered in so all be upon your watch continually with a care to have Oyl in your Lamps that an entering into the Place of Rest where you shall pertake of Joy unspeakable and full of Glory in your Suffering as in a House and Habitation of Safety where none nor nothing can make afraid that if the Storm or Tempestuous Tryal last long you shall never want for Bread but it will be sure and your Water will never fail for he for whose Name Sake ye suffer will spread your Table fill your Cup and maintain your cause where your Communion will be sweet with the Lord and your Unity and Fellowship will be very comfortable that you will have and feel with all his Faithful Suffering People This is the Counsel and Advice of your Brother in Bowels of tender Love that all who do suffer in oppression for Truth and Righteousness sake that it may be on this wise and in this manner that so cause of great Encouragement you may all have in and under Suffering whether in Body or Goods which I can give in Truth by good experience to wit Encouragement to all faithful Sufferers who have had my own Goods spoiled and my Body Imprisoned time after time and now am a Prisoner because for Conscience I cannot uphold
THE Blessed Effects Of True and Saving FAITH With Good COUNSEL VVholsome ADVICE AND Also Encouragement to all Friends every where that Suffer for Truth and Righteousness Sake Given forth by a Servant of the Lord who is in a Travail for the Prosperity of Sion and that Jerusalem may become the Praise of the whole Earth known by the Name of JOHN BANCKES Let this Epistle be read in the fear of the Lord in all the Meetings of Friends both in Prison and at Liberty thorough England and where it may go or be sent elswhere Faith is the Gift of God and it Purifieth the Heart Blessed are they that suffer for Truth and Righteousness Sake for there 's is the Kingdom of Heaven LONDON Printed in the Year 1684. The Blessed Effects of True and Saving FAITH c. DEAR FRIENDS THE great Work of God in the Sons and Daughters of Men is to purifie the Heart and make clean the inward part which is through Faith in his Son Faith is the Gift of God and the work of it is to purifie the Heart and cleanse the inside from dead workes to serve him the true and living God in the newness thereof this is the great work of God in and through Faith in his Son to work out the old Leaven and mould into a new Lump to make the Heart anew the Mind heavenly and the Soul living Oh! the blessed effects of True and Saving Faith even that Faith which stands in the Power of God which as Man and Woman comes truly to the knowledge of with the Heart such comes truly to believe in God and Confession with the Mouth is made to Salvation and so gradually a casting off and forsaking every thing that is Evil whereby a learning to do well by the Teachings of the Grace thorough Faith comes more and more to be known this is the blessed Effects of true and saving Faith which true faith thorough the power of it works a true tenderness in the Heart instead of hardness and brings to true openness those that have been shut up and into a true nearness with the Lord and one with another even such that have been far seperated from him and that by Wicked Workes this is true Faith that works in the Heart to the overcoming of it which is True and Saving Faith saves them that were lost quickens them that were dead and brings them in and through the Strength and Power thereof to serve the true and living God in the newness of Life The blessed Effects of this true and saving Faith is to make Clean Pure and Holy sanctifies throughout both in Body Soul and Spirit makes a new Creature which brings to a true Knowledge What it is to be in Christ Iesus and so the Heart and Mind with the whole Affections comes to be set on things that are Heavenly Everlasting and Eternal Oh! the pure change and blessed Alteration that comes to be known herein and hereby Man that hath been unclean is made clean and Man and Women that hath been unholy and impure is made holy and pure and so in the Holy Life Holy Men and Holy Women come to worship and serve the pure Holy God in the Newness Livingness and Tenderness thereof and so according to measure whether more or less come with the Blessed Apostle to say by living experience The Life that I now live is by Faith in the Son of God Here Old things are past away and behold all things are become new the old words past away the bad Actions and vain Conversation put off which is for Judgment and Condemnation which being put off the Armour of Light and true and saving Faith comes to be put on through the blessed Effects thereof So in and thorough this true and saving Faith that stands in the Power of God Gods people come to have their Armour on whereby and because of which they are made more then Conquerors made able to withstand all the Fiery Dâ—rts of the Devil and all his Instruments both within and without are made able thorough this same Faith with the Prophet to leap over a Wall run through a Troop and to break that which is as a Bow of Steel Spiritually that otherwise to wit out of the Faith cannot be got over run through nor broken Oh! what is too hard for those that are of and in this true and saving Faith As the Author unto the Hebrews saith the 11th Chap. Vers. 22th having spoken largly of the Fruits and Effects of Faith saith he What shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Bariak and of Sampson and of Jephthar of David and also of Samuel and of the Prophets who through Faith subdued Kingdomes wrought Righteousness obtained Promises stopped the Mouths of Lyons quenched the violence of Fire escaped the Edge of the Sword out of weakness were made strong Women received their Dead raised to Life again and others were tortured not accepting of Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection and others had Tryals of Cruel Mockings and Scourgings yea moreover of Bonds and Imprisonment they were stoned they were sawn asunder were Tempted were slain with the Sword they wandered about in Sheep-Skins and Goat-Skins being distitute afflicted tormented of whom the World was not worthy they wandered in Desarts and in Mountaines and in Dens and Caves of the Earth and these all have obtained a good report through Faith So Dear Friends Brethren and Sisters whereever this may come unto whom the Salutation of my Life reacheth try your selves prove your selves for that end you may know whether you be in this Faith or not whereby all these blessed Effects are wrought and brought to pass and many more to the making perfect throughout and none to content or satisfie your selves with the word Faith or with the bare Profession of Faith but carefully mind what Christ Jesus our Lord saith If thou have Faith as a grain of Mustard seed thou shalt say unto this Mountain be thou removed and it shall be so If Faith in this small measure or degree through the blessed effects of it be thus able or those whose Faith is no more thus gain Victory how much more Victory shall those obtain that keep it unto the end for it 's those that finish in that same Faith in which they have begun that shall be saved and that the Crown of Life and of Immortal Glory is laid up for But now some may say that are young in the Truth and that the Enemy may bear hard upon by Temptations I thought I had had Faith in some Measure however in the least degree and yet those things stand in my way like Mountaines that I cannot get over as yet and great Oppositions and Temptations I meet with both within and without that prevail with me Dear Friend in much tenderness doth my Soul breath unto the Lord for thy Deliverance and in order that thou may be delivered from
the Jailer awaked he thought to have killed himself seeing the Doors open supposing the Prisoners had been fled but Paul said Do thy self no harm we are all here and then he came trembling when he perceived what was done and said What shall I do to be Saved and Paul and Silas spoke unto him the Word of the Lord and bid him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and he should be Saved and he and all his House Believed Oh! what great Encouragement is here for all faithful honest Hearted Friends though in and under Suffering or that yet may be called thereunto to go on in all faithfulness freely giving up Life and Liberty and all into the Lords hand willing to cast their care and put their Confidence in him who hath all power in his own hand to do and bring to pass whatsoever seems good in his own Eyes Oh! how the Wicked many times in the height of their Wickedness are frustrated and Gods People beyond all expectation preserved and delivered as you your selves have many times been made living Witnesses hold it fast Dear Friends in your Remembrance And you may also see when there is a freely giving up to answer what the Lord requires in the faithful performance of the same thorough the Might of Gods Power Peoples Hearts and Consciences are reached to the causing of them to tremble whereby good desires are begotten and raised What Men shall do to be Saved though before they have been Persecutors and Afflictors of Gods People as you may see by the Goaler afore mentioned and whose care it is thus to walk and shew forth a Godly Conversation and Example in doing or suffering so as to reach to the Witness of God in Peoples Consciences though in the Inner Prison as Paul and Silas was they have not only cause to bless and praise the Holy Name of the Pure God for accompanying them by the Angel of his Presence but also to Sing and make Melody unto him in their Hearts For now Dear Friends and Suffering Brethren though the Lord our God see it good so to come to pass for a tryal of your Faith and Patience to see how you will trust in him in the hour of Temptation and time of Tryal that Man shall be so far permitted to take your Goods and seperate you from your dearest and nearest Relations your Dear Wives and Tender Children and put you in Prison now this is greatly your Joy and Comfort being sensible of the Cause wherefore you suffer Man with all his Power and Strength Fury and Rage cannot seperate you from the pure enjoyment of the presence of the Lord but by it reacheth unto his Dear Suffering Lambs though in a Dungeon which if it were not so above all People we were most Miserable but now above all People we are most Blessed and Happy Blessed and Praised and Magnified for evermore be the Holy Name and great Power of our God by and thorough which he always did and doth carry through all his faithful Children and People for he is for ever worthy of all Praise Honour and Glory unto him alone be it given both now and for ever more Amen And so Dear Friends put on Courage and Boldness in the Name Fear and Power of the Most High as an Armour faithfully to follow your Captain the Lord Jesus Christ that will never leave you nor forsake you except you first leave him who will lead in and through the good and bad report the Fire and the Water the sixt and in the seventh Trouble and Exercise will also be your Preserver and Upholder who upholds all his by his Word and Power I say Dear Friends all in faithfulness follow your Leader whithersoever he goes for as you with diligence follow him he will bring you thorough and bring you forth in his own time 〈◊〉 happy are they that patiently wait till it be though as great a Tryal as ever any of his People suffered Yet I say if you be stedfast in the Faith he will still bring you forth and thorough more bright and more pure Holy and Clean for the fiery Tryal makes so concerning which as the Apostle Peter said Marvel not concerning the Fiery Tryal as though some strange thing had happened for it 's for no other end but that you more and more may shine as the Stars of Heaven in the Firmament of his Power that so a True Living and Faithful Testimony whether in doing or suffering Body or Goods by you all according to your several Measures may be born unto the Truth and for the pure God and his Pure Holy Worship and against all Oppression and Unrighteousness that is upheld in the World that the same may stand remain and be left upon record to after Ages and Generations how faithful ye were to God in your day as a confirmation unto their Faith and as may greatly tend to their Encouragement as those faithful Witnesses that have already finished their course in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and are gone to their rest doth greatly tend to strengthen the Faith and encourage all those that yet remain that are travelling on in the same way That so in that same love Pure Life and true tenderness into which at first you were begotten and raised to bear a faithful Testimony for the Lord his Name Truth and Glory though but in little and small things when nothing in that day all keep it in Mind was too near or dear for you to part with that you may all persevere and fiâ—ish in that in which you have begun that that which was known to be the First may carefully be kept unto to be knowa to be the Last the Alpha the Omega the Beginning and the Ending the same to Day Yesterday and forever who is from Everlasting to Everlasting that so the Crown of Life and of Immortal Glory may be set upon your Heads that is laid up in store for all that in faithfulness continue unto the end unto which the Lord God of Life by and through the greatness and strength of his own Power keep and preserve you all Faithful in Life and unto Death and in the end Amen From my Prison-house in Carelâ—le in Cumberland the 17th of the â—th Month 1684. Printed by Iohn Bringhurst in Leaden-Hall