them nor follow them behold I have told you before Mat. 24. 25. Luke 17. 28. And now since we upon whom the Ends of the World are come have seen it so come to pass that People are gone from this Gift of God in themselves to the many outward Observations of Dayes Times and Superstitious Customs thinking to find Christ in them whilst they shut their Eyes against his Light which shineth in their Consciences to guide their Feet in the Path of Peace Is it not high time for his faithful Watchmen who see the danger of such a state to Cry aloud unto the People that they may take Warning before it be too late and therefore do they lift up their Voice like a Trumpet to sound a Retreat to the Inhabitants of the Earth who are without the Spiritual City of Resuge that they may return in time and lay hold of the Horns of the heavenly Altar and get into the Habitation or Tower of safety before the Enemy of their Souls take the strong hold of their Hearts and sortifie himself against them and keep them without the Gates till the Avenger of Blood who once would have had Mercy on them pursue and overtake them and so they be destroyed Therefore right-glad are the Hearts of many that ever they heard this joyful Sound RETIRE TO THE INWARD GRACE thereby signifying to them where Help is to be had who were seeking Salvation from the Hills and from the Mountains yet laboured but in vain but in returning and in Rest they have found themselves saved according to the Word of the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah 30. 15. Secondly Although I did say That all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord yet I did not say that all are his Children for 't is they and they only who are led by the Spirit of God that are Sons of God For though the Lord hath given his Spirit yea his Son to be a Leader and a Commander to the People yet many there are who do not follow his Guidance saying in their Hearts what the jews spake with their Mouthes We will not have this Man to reign over us Now is there not need that some should seek to convince such of the Evil of their Ways and the Error of their Doings who instead of walking in the Straight and Norrow Way of Righteousness which leads to Everlasting Life are going on in the Broad Way of Sin and Wickedness which leads down to the Chambers of Death that so they may be perswaded to leave off the Weapons of their Rebellion where-with they fight against God and wound their own Souls and submit themselves unto his Ambassador of Peace the Spirit of his Son in their Consciences that true Balm of Giliead with which they may be healed Thirdly That I may be rightly understood let me acquaint my Reader neither do I assert that those who are set out as Travellers in Sions Road are at once so perfectly instructed in all the Paths thereof that they need not to inquire of those that are gone before which is the way thither whose experiences may be to them of use for escaping the Snares which the subtil Fowler layeth to catch Souls in both on the Right hand and on the Left that so they may walk right forward with their Faces Sion-ward untill they shall come to sit down in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lastly Nor is it altogether useless for those that are established in the Truth to hear the things thereof declared notwithstanding they knew the same before yet may it be to the stirring up of their pure minde by way of remembrance of the dealing of the Lord with themselves in dayes that are past and for the comforting and refreshing of their Spirits to feel how the Work of the Lord prospers in others of his People and for the clearing and making glad their Hearts to hear how Truth prevails and gets Ground in the Earth This therefore is the end of all Declarations amongst us viz. that the ignorant may be Instructed that Gain-sayers may be Convinced that the Weak may be Confirmed and that the Strong may be Consolated Therefore do our Ministers labour in the Word and Doctrine to Convert Sinners to Christ Jesus the Gift of God and to build up Saints in their most holy Faith and to Edifie one another in Love Thus much in Answer to the Objection so I return to the point in Hand which is further to demonstrate as the Lord shall inable me what this Principle is that is Preacht up amongst us 'T is that divine Principle of Life which brings the Glad-Tidings of Salvation near unto all by which they may be put into a capacity of receiving the Grace of God in the Gifts thereof which he hath purposed in the appearance of the Son of his Love to bestow upon as many as shall believe This being the Everlasting Gospel that Paul gloried in I am not ashamed of the Gospel saith he for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. Yea it is that Word of Reconciliation which God hath committed to such as himself hath called to make them Ambassadors for his Son Christ Jesus by the Ministry of which they turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified through Faith that is in Christ Jesus see Acts 26. 18. Thus these profit their Hearers and so do not only Pray but also prevail with Sinners to turn unto the Lord that he may be a Father to them and they his Sons and Daughters And this Word that reconcileth is not afar off 't is not in Heaven that any should say Who shall go up for us and bring it down to us that we may hear it and do it neither is it beyond the Sea that any should say Who shall go over the Sea for us and fetch it to us thence but the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou may'st hear it and do it as was testified by Moses a Man of God Deut. 30. 12 13. and also by Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ Rom. 10. 6 7 8. This now is the Word of Faith which is again preach't by those whom the World in scorn call Quakers And though such preaching be accounted foolish by the learned Rabbies of our Age yet let them know 't is by the Foolishness of Preaching that God is pleased to save them that believe as 't is written 1 Cor. 1.21 So notwithstanding these use not enticing words which Man's Wisdom teacheth yet do they preach in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit and in a way of Power whereby they are known to be of God as were the Apostles see 1 Cor. 2. 1 4. And the Tendency of their Ministry is to direct people to the Teaching of Christ
doubtless Abel as well as Abraham saw Christ's Day to come notwithstanding neither of them had any Scripture Revelation of him For Abraham saw Christ's Day afar off and rejoyced many Ages before the Scriptures were recorded and by the same Faith no doubt Abel looked beyond the Firstlings of his own Flock to Christ the First-born of God who was to be made an Offering for Sin as the Anti-type which these typified otherwise his Sacrifice had not obtained Acceptance with the Lord for he is the Propitiation for our Sin and through Faith in his Blood we come to know Remission which agrees to that of the Apostle Rom. 3. 25. Again I appeal unto you What Witness was it that Abel obtained of his being Righteous or how did God testifie of his Gift since Moses who writes the Story in Gen. 4. 4 5. to whom the Author to the Hebrews refers gives us no farther account but only this The Lord had respect to Abel and to his Offering but to Cain and to his Offering he had no respect Now I ask How was this manifested or how came they to know it how should Abel know that his Offering was accepted since Cain was as forward yea beforehand with his Brother in offering had not God signified it to them by the Manifestation of his Spirit in them even that same Spirit by which they came to know it to be their Duty to offer Sacrifice unto him But Cain sticking in the Form and not flying on the Wing of Faith to Christ the one Offering mist the Mark that should have been aimed at by him and for this cause God rejected both him and his Offering as you may read in the following Verses of this 4th Chapter of Genesis where the Lord expostulates the Case with Cain saying Why art thou Wrath and why is thy Countenance fallen if thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted but if thou dost not well Sin lieth at thy Door So that it was for Evil-doing Cain lost the Acceptance of his Offering which seems clear to me that God had no Respect to Abel personally more then he had to Cain but as he had an Eye to the promised Seed to be accepted in even Christ Jesus the Eternal Son of God in whom alone the Father is well pleased And it is also as clear to me through the Openings of the same Spirit That by the Spirit of his Son in their Hearts he gave Testimony of their Gifts to Abel that his was accepted and to Cain that his was rejected for Cain must needs have a Manifestation of the Spirit otherwise how should he know it to be his Duty to offer Sacrifice as you may see he did for we read not of any outward Precept that either of them had to enjoyn it Now then if it was a living in-wrought Faith whereby Abel obtained Acceptance of his Offering and if it was by an inward Manifestation of the Spirit by which God gave testimony thereof unto him if this be granted I hope the Way of Truth will no longer be Evil spoken of which is the same now that it was in the Beginning And this brings me to that which I chiefly intend which is as I said to rectifie your Mistakes concerning and to inform you in that which I hope you will see not to be a New but the Old True Religion which is the Way of this People amongst whom I now walk and desire to walk notwithstanding they are accounted a Sect every where spoken against I marvel not that the World hates them since it hated him to wit Christ Jesus whom they have believed in because he rectified thereof that the Works of it were Evil see Iohn 7. 7. And truly my Friends this is the Testimony this People bears this day against the corrupt Wayes and Practices of the World both among Professors and Prophane telling of them plainly That all Unrighteousness is Sin and for this cause I know were Power given into Mens Hands they should quickly be rooted out from amongst them But though they put no trust in an Arm of Flesh yet they have a strong Tower of Defence even the Name of the Lord which they run into and are safe This is their Munition of Rocks whereunto their Adversaries cannot climb up and though they do what in them lie to pull them out from thence yet their Arm is too short to reach them their Strength too weak to hurt them their Power of no force against them whilst they abide in this safe place notwithstanding great is the Wrath of the Enemy who intends them Mischief so that what he cannot do by Power he will seek to do by Policy insinuating into the Minds of People That though 't is the Spirit of Truth which they pretend unto yet 't is a Spirit of Error that they are led by which Suggestion of Satan has taken place in the Hearts of so many that were not the God of Truth engaged on their side to perswade people from this false Opinion concerning them it would seem an utter Impossibility But knowing and being well assured of this viz. That the Lord's Strength is made perfect in his Peoples Weakness I as one of the least of the Thousands of Israel have undertaken in his Name to go forth against those who have risen up against them though I know many are the cruel Mockings and hard Usings from Prophane on the one hand with evil Surmisings and severe Censurings from Professors on the other that hath been the Lot of this People to bear some of which from the latter of these to whom I chiefly write I hope has not been so much out of Disaffection to the Truth as Misapprehension about the Principle of it as believing that this People in whose behalf I am now constrained to write preach Damnable Doctrine-the which I have heard reported of them some say ing They deny the Scriptures others saying They deny the Man Christ Iesus with all the Benefits that by his Active and Passive Obedience as also by his offering up of himself a Sacrifice to God for us do thereby accrue to us together with Iustfiication by Faith which is in him and the Imputation of his Righteousness to Man others somewhat more moderate yet have affirmed That whatever they may own as to the Death of Christ yet they deny the Resurrection of his Body and of the Bodies of Believers so that they have said Though they dare not charge them with Dimnable Doctrine yet certainly they are of very dangerous Opinions as concerning Original Sin and the Institution of the Sacraments and in Point of Free will and Inherent Righteousness and in holding a Possibility of a Total Fall from True Grace and yet they plead Perfection and reckon themselves infallible say they for all this and herein they liken them to the Papist These are some of the Foul Aspersions False Accusations and Misrepresentations that have been cast upon this People which I my self have
Scruples of the Moderate having heard some whom I esteem such lay this Principle to the Quakers charge But now being better acquainted with them I find they have wrongfully charged it upon them and therefore I can do no less but use some sharpness of Speech to refute the falseness of this Opinion that through a mistaken Zeal I am apt to think some have taken up against them Well may I say Mistaken for were the Quakers rightly understood People would find that they have as low Thoughts of any Human Righteousness as those that daily confess all their Righteousness to be but as filthy Rags CHAP. VIII Concerning a Possibility of a Total Fall from True Grace THIS Doctrine being held by the Quakers it hath been branded with the Approbrious Term of Hetrodox which if so I know not how the Apostles Doctrine can be accounted Orthodox and yet I know the General Opinion of many Professors is Once in Grace and ever in Grace or Once in Christ and ever in Christ But it is not Universality if they had it that can give a certainty if this would have sufficed our Ancestors needed not to have divided from her who stiled her self the Universal Church Therefore as we are not to follow a multitude to do Wickedly so neither are we to receive an Opinion for Truth because it is so received by many Here I 'll digress no further but proceed to shew the Apostles Judgments in this matter Paul speaking of the Iews whom he calls the Natural Branches of the true Olive how that they were broken off that the Gentiles whom he compares to Branches of a wild Olive they might be grafted in saith the Apostle to them Well because of Vnbelief they were broken off and thou standst by Faith be not High-minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed also lest he spare not thee Behold therefore saith he the goodness and severity of God towards them that felt severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou shalt be cut off Rom. 11.20,21,22 And the Author in his Epistle to the Hebrews having spoken of Israel of Old to whom God sware in his Wrath That they should not enter into his Rest he Cautions them saying Take heed lest there be in any of you an Evil Heart of Vnbelief in departing from the Living God Heb. 3. 12. And in Chap. 4. he exhorts both them and himself saying Let us labour therefore to enter into that Rest lest any man fall after the same Example of Vnbelief And in Chap. 6. Vers. 4 5 6. he shews them the danger of falling for saith he 'T is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly Gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted of the Word of God and the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto Repentance seeing they Crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open Shame And in Chap. 12. Vers. 15. he wishes them to look dilligently lest any fail of or from the Grace of God lest any Root of Bitterness springing up should trouble them and thereby many be defiled Nor was this his Suspition concerning others only but his Supposition of himself For I keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection saith he lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should become a cast away 1 Cor. 9. 27. And in his Epistle to Timothy he speaks positively The Time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own Lusts shall heap unto themselves Theachers having itching Ears and they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. 3. 'T is likewise said of Hymeneus and Philetus that concerning the Truth they have Erred 2 Tim. 2. 17. And this I have heard publickly asserted by one Eminent in your own Esteem viz. That there could be no Hereticks if some did not Apostatize from the True Faith Which he infer'd from Paul's Advice to Timothy Chap. 3. Vers. 10 11. where he bids A Man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition Reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself And this was the exposition which he gave upon the Text viz. A Heretick is one that maintains an Error contrary to the Light of his own Conscience pertenatiously persisting in it notwithstanding Reproof And without doubt the Text was truly exposited may we understand him to intend the Light of Christ Jesus in the Conscience for 't is Christ the true Light who lighteth every Man's Conscience and that is the Light of Conscience which if we may believe he had regard unto then it will follow from the fore-going words First That it is possible for People to turn from the true Grace of God by sinning against the Light which he hath placed in their Consciences Secondly That those are Nick-named or Mis-called who are called Hereticks for acting according to the Dictates of their enlightned Consciences or which is more clear to say For being guided by the Light of Christ in their Consciences Thirdly It follows that'tis utterly impossible to prove a man an Heretick unless he be guilty of Heresie and condemned in himself by the Light of Christ placed in his own Conscience to shew him what is Error and what is Truth Thus much the words import but it may be some will refuse to confess to the Import of them for fear of being counted Quakers herein Howbeit the Spirit speaks expresly That in the Latter Dayes some shall depart from the Faith c. 1 Tim. 4. 1. And such who have so done we know that inward Condemnation doth attend them according as the Apostle Peter and Iude spake of some in their Day as had forsaken the Righteous Way and were gone astray following the Way of Balaam the Son of Bosor who loved the Wages of Vnrighteousness These saith Iude are Wells without Water Clouds carried about with a Temptest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever for when they speak great swelling words of Vanity they alure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were Clean escaped from them who live in Error For if after they have escaped the common Polutions of the World through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the Latter End is worse with them than the Beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them but it is happened to them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his Vemit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 15 17 18 20 21 22. And hence
Lord by the inshining of his heavenly Light in my Conscience to let me see clearly into the Falshood and Folly of this corrupted courtesie I do not only Conscientiously but Voluntarily decline the using such Flattering Speech notwithstanding I know 't is to expose my self to be censur'd by some as a Person Unaccomplished Unmannerly and Ill Bred. Praised be his Powerful Name who hath made me willingly Renounce both giving and receiving that Honour that cometh from Man that so I might partake of that Honour which proceedeth from himself alone For this is the Honour which all the Faithful in Heart chiefly esteem it being the Unbelieving who seek the Praise of and Honour from men Which made Christ say to some of Old How can ye believe who receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only John 5. 44. Yet notwithstanding this Christ did then require his Disciples to render Honour to whom Honour and Fear to whom Fear which Requiring of his all his true Followers in their Respective places are at this Time careful to answer how uncivil soever accounted by the World yet have they learnt Gospel-Manners which is to give the Right Hand of Fellowship to whom it doth belong in Honour Preferring one another each Esteeming other better then themselves And now I say it was by this Principle of Divine Eight which God hath placed in my Heart by which he pleaded with me in days past even when I knew him not that is I knew not that it was the immediate Act of his own Power and Spirit though I felt such a Force in it that as I did in the least yield thereunto I must confess I was overcome by it but still it was as I was subject and obedient to his Power for I cannot say The Lord wrought in an irresistable manner although I know and do declare it was he who did subject me and made me willing in the Day of his Power and thus being prepared by him then did he send his Spirit to convince me both of Righteousness and of Judgment as well as Sin yea to convince me of that Righteousness and Religious Way of Worship which I formerly walked in whereby he let me see it was but a humane Righteousness and an invented traditional Worship set up by the Will and performed in the Spirit of Man and derived to me by outward Instruction and Education so that I had a Form which the Power did not attend for want of having regard to the Movings and Guidance of God's own Spirit in which alone he delights to be worshipped and therefore is he striving by this his Spirit in the Hearts of the Children of Men to bring them out of all Forms of humane establishing that they may worship him in Spirit and in Truth and serve him in the Gospel of his Son that so they may be accepted through him yet I do acknowledge that while I saw no farther and did sincerely serve the Lord in the Way which I walked in before hoping it might be right because reform'd in many things to what some other Wayes of Worship are the Lord was graciously pleased often to administer some Comfort and refreshment to my Soul through the Ministration I then sate under And in like manner I do believe his Dealings are with all the Upright-hearted who are seeking after him in the divers Wayes of Worfhip which if they continue seeking him in the Integrity of their Spirits I doubt not but he will seek them out for his Seed's sake and in due time bring them to the Mountain of his Holiness where his dwelling is For this was Christ's Promise Iohn â—0 16. Other Sheep have I which are not of this Fold them also saith he will I bring and there shall be one Sheepfold and one Shepherd over them And when Christ comes to fold them upon his holy Mountain which Mountain is within then will they walk in the Foot-steps of the Flocks of his Companions and know a lying down where he makes his flocks to rest at noon but first they must come to know a passing through Judgment and their Works must be burnt and they suffer Loss because the Lord of Hosts hath said Zion shall be redeemed with Iudgment and her Converts with Righteousness Isa. 1. 27. And Christ said I lead in the Way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Iudgment Prov. 8. 28. And the Spirit of Christ was promised to convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Iohn 16. 8. by which the Spirit and Prince of this World should be judged and he cast out of his Throne in the Hearts of the Children of Men whereby every one who comes to experience God's Righteous Judgments in themselves to be brought forth unto Victory such may also witness an Overcoming of the Prince Power of Darkness through the spiritual Strength of this Son of Righteousness howbeit while these two Spirits are striving together the Soul cannot but be sensible of an Hour of sorrow I surely know that Day is a Day of Mourning of Weeping and of Lamentation when Zion fits solitary with her Tears upon her Cheeks clad in Sack-cloth covered with Ashes in a spiritual sense fearing and quaking exceedingly before the Lord and trembling in her self because of his fierce Wrath and just Indignation that burns as a Fiery Oven against Sin Oh! then 't is a Time of Heaviness and of great Sadness with the Soul sleep departing from the Eyes and slumber from the Eye-lids because of Grief in the Night-season it being truly the Time of Iacob's Trouble even the time when the Seed of Iacob is travelling to bring forth and therefore doth that Dragon the Devil as in the General so in the Particular seek to destroy this Birth he is not willing this holy Off-spring should be born and therefore doth he raise Wars without and Fears within stirring up the Wicked to revile and smite with the Tongue and causing cutting Calumnies and sharp Censures to come from more Sober hands hereby intending to encrease the Commotions which are within by threatning the Soul with this that now it must expect to be reproached with the Reproaches of men Thus the Evil One in this time of sore Conflict seeks to aggravate the Soul's Grief and what he cannot do by storm he will attempt by Terror secretly striving to make the Soul impatient under its Exercise thereby to drive it into Dispair But though it be a Day of Tryal in which every ones Work must be tryed as by Fire and of sore Exercise with the Creature yet is there a secret Hope lieth hid under all this which is as an Anchor to the Soul sure and stedfast founded upon that Rock which endures forever and this bears it up above those Floods of Persecution which the Dragon spues out of his Mouth to drown that heavenly Birth that the Power of God is bringing forth within which when it is
brought forth and comes to have the Government in the Soul it must shall and will Reign over Death Darkness Sin and Corruption and all the Powers of Hell and the Devil I would have none think strange of what I have writ concerning this Thing though I know 't is a Mystery to the Natural Understanding of the wifest of the Children of Men and therefore since Paul was called a Babler for preaching such strange Doctrine to the Stoick Phylosophers Acts 17. 8. I can expect no better from some but to be counted a Non-sensical Scribler for writing of the same but this I am content to bear knowing in my self I had no Previous Intentions to amuse my Reader but having undertaken to describe in measure the extent of this powerful Principle of God placed in the Consciences of his Creatures following the Foot steps thereof for my Guide in this Matter Before I can attain to the End of my Journey I am necessarily brought hither and as I stand here I see by the Light of this Spiritual Pillar of Fire that though the Sea with the Waves thereof Roar yet is there a Way for the ransomed of the Lord to pass over and this Way is Christ the Light the Lamb the Grace the Gift of God given by the Father to bring out of the Fall which all Mankind are in by Nature that whosoever believeth in him layeth hold on him and continueth to be led by him should be brought into Fellowship with himself and abide therein forever and this same is he who leads in the midst of the Paths of Judgment and through the many Exercises that I have been writing of before he brings to the Banks of Salvation puts Songs of Deliverance into our Mouthes whereby we can sing of the Mercies of the Lord And thus having brought out of spiritual AEgypt's Land and caused to drink deep of the River of Judgment he then brings to Shiloh's Brook and giveth to drink of the Waters of Refreshment So 't is the same Hand that wounded which healeth and that Arm which broke us doth now bind us up the same Power which killed reviveth and he who once caused grief now giveth Songs in the Night And appointeth to Zion's Mourners Beauty for Ashes the Oyl of joy for Mourning and a Garment of Praises for the Spirit of Heaviness and who will in due time bring all his true spiritual Israel out of the Waste Howling Wilderness into a Land of Everlasting Rest. Thus it appears that the Light of Jesus in the Conscience is no Natural Insufficient Thing as some have sought to render it being something of God placed in every Man to witness against all sin convincing and reproving for that which is Evil contrary-wise prompting exciting and inclining to that which is good so that as many as yield to the Motives of it it is sufficient not only to condemn and to destroy but also to justifie and save being a measure of the Living Omnipotent Power of that One Law-giver who is able to save as well as to destroy see Iames 4. 12. which Power is Christ as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling Block and unto the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that are Called both Jews and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God who as he was once manifest in the Flesh so now is he manifest in Spirit to be that Covenant of Light which the Father promised by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isa. 42. 6. And this Light Power and Arm is in measure extended and reached forth at one time or other unto all people for the gathering unto him in whom the Election stands that so as many as obey his Call in yielding themselves to be gathered by this gathering Arm may make their Election and consequently their Salvation sure in him For this is he who would have gathered Ierusalem and saved her from that Ruin and Destruction which afterwards came upon her because she knew not the time of her Visitation 'T is the very same Jesus and no other whom we believe in for our Saviour who by his spiritual Appearance in the Hearts of the Children of men gives Light gives Life gives Power and Victory over sin to as many as follow the Leadings and Guidance of this Immaculate Lamb for 't is given to the Lamb and his Followers to overcome and who so overcometh shall sit down with the Lamb on his Throne and live and reign with him for evermore Rev. 3. 21. 12 11. Even the same which was with his Church in the Wilderness being that Spiritual Rock that followed them of which they drank by the way and were refreshed in him who is the Rock of Ages the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last the Antient of Dayes whose Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed whose goings forth have been from of Old from Everlasting For he is the blessed and only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath Immortallity and Eternal Life to whom be Glory and Honour Dominion and Power henceforth and forever Here now ye have a Description and that in Scripture Dialect concerning the Principle of our Faith something I have writ as to the Nature of it which though at first it causeth grief and brings in sorrow upon the Soul yet doth this sorrow work Repentance never to be repented of after which cometh reviving so that it was truly said Though Weeping may endure for a Night yet Ioy cometh in the Morning for they that sow in Tears shall reap in Ioy he that goeth forth Weeping bearing precious Seed shall doubtless come again Rejoycing bringing his Sheaves with him And such shall surely say In the Lord have we Righteousness and strength for in the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be justified and shall Glory in him not in Wisdom Wealth nor Strength but in this that they know him to be the Lord who exerciseth Loving-kindness Iudgment and Righteousness in the Earth as saith the Prophets Isa. 45.24,25 Ier. 9.23,24 And this is he whom we acknowledge to be our Iudge and Law-giver yea he is our King and he will save us for to this end hath he appeared by his Light in our Hearts and for this end doth he appear in the Hearts of all men that as many as bow down to the measure of his Appearance in them may thereby see and be enabled to forsake their Wayes and Doings which have not been good whereby they may be saved from sin and by the same saving Power and Spirit in their Hearts come to be led into the Way of all Truth which Way of Truth is Christ our Mediator and Intercessor with the Father through whom man comes to be accepted of God as he cometh into him in whom alone the Father
mens Confidence in it shall be shaken and their Expectation from it disappointed then shall those who truly fear the Lord be abundantly satisfied For Friends I must acknowledge it often rises in my Soul as a Return of Thanks to God viz. The Remembrance which he gives me of the Time of his Love even when my Soul was secretly crying Where shall I find true Rest Then was the Lord pleased to bring me to the Mountain of his Holiness where a peaccable Dwelling is and that just before these Disturbances broke out in this part of the World where my Lot is cast Oh! praised be his Name For now he hath taken me into his Family and makes me to sit down with the Ancients of his House at the Table of his Blessing where he feedeth every one with food convenient for them And now Friends let me mind my self and you That we greatly Love and Esteem and in Honour do prefer those that were in Truth before us some of whom have been made as Trumpets by the Breath of the Lord to sound the Everlasting Gospel in our Ears and others on whom that Gift of Vtterance hath not been bestow'd yet have they taught us to Fear God and give Glory to Him by the Example which they have set before us And thus respecting these as Elders so shall our Love regularly extend it self towards all others I write this to you Friends only by way of Remembrance as knowing none need teach us to love those who have received like precious Faith with us much less need we any humane Teachings to Esteem such as held the same ancient Faith before us For we are taught of God to Love one another and by this shall all men know that we are the Disciples of Christ Iesus Thus as they behold our comely Order whilst we live in Love together like Children of one Father and in the inward Union dwell so shall they discern the Splendor of the Truth to shine in and amongst us even like an Orient Pearl And so shall we be bound up together in the Bundle of Love and Life in Christ Jesus and shall grow up in him like Willows by the Water courses and as tender Plants which God's Right Hand hath planted and our Natural Capacities shall be enlarged and our Spiritual Talents augmented to serve the Lord with Faithfulness in our several places where we shall be as Lights unto the World whilst our dwelling is here amongst them then having improved out Talents to the Glory of God and run well to the End of our Race when our Course is finished we shall lay down our Heads in Peace and hear that joyful Sentence pronounced on us Well done good and faithful Servants enter ye into the Ioy of your Lord where we shall receive the End of our Faith even the final Salvation of our immortal Souls which shall eternally live to sing and set forth Praises and Halelujahs in the highest to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb Christ Jesus who hath Redeemed us from the Earth unto whom the Praise doth belong for the Assistance of his Spirit in this thing Given forth by one of the least of the Flock of Christ whose outward Name it ELIZABETH BATHURST READER SOme Errors having escaped the Press most of them being Scripture Quotations I desire when thou art at a loss that thou turn to this Errata so shalt thou find what thou look'st for Page 7 line 31 read Iohn 8. 58. p 12 Margin r Rom. 3. 20. Acts 15. 9. Margin dele 6 7. p 13 Margin r 1 Tim. 1. 5. p 21 l 20 for ony r any l 12 f about r above p 24 Margin r Iohn 1◠14 p 27 l 19 f Ier. r Isa. p 32. l 25 for Timothy r Titus p 34 l 7 r Mat. 24 13. p 36 l 6 r Iames 1.4 Margin r Col. 1. 28. p 36 l 17 r Luke 1.5,6 p 39 l 38 f pervert r perverted p 42 l 11 r Eph. 5. 13 p 43 l 8 f demonstration r denomination l 18 r Acts 26.18 p 45 l 4 delo on p 47 l 1 r Iob. 27. 3. p 50 l 21 f 14 r 27. p 51 l 18 f 28 r 2◠p 60 l 10 f such a r asmuch p 61 l 2◠f explified r explisit p 62 l 17 f gifts r gift p 64 l 26 f Chap. 4 r 3. p 65 l r f 15. r 5. p 74 l 17 for 28 read 20. Chap. 11. Vers. 4. Luke 1. 79. Psalm 119. 130. Doctor Owen Independant Iohn Faldo Rom. 3. 2. Gal. 3. 24. Rom. 3.26 Ephes. 2. 8 9 10. Tit. 3. 5 6,7 Act. 15.9.6,7 Tim. 3. 5,6,7 Ephes. 4. 10. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Phillip 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. Ezekiel 33. 11. Read Thomas Lawson's Treatise concerning Baptism page 53. 55. John 13.5 Acts 15. 28 29. Iames 5. 14. Prov. 6. 23. * Can they think that Christ would bid his Disciples pray for what he never meant to grant This were to render him who is Truth it self an Impostor and to tax the blessed Son of God with Deceit Oh Horrible * Namely Loaves an Independant Preacher †Dr. Annesley Col. 1. 18. * Vpon which Text I heard a Preacher of your own thus Paraphrase The Words saith he signifie a compleatness in the subject that nothing be wanting For to be negatively blameless is to be without Crime to be without Offence to be without Fault but to be positively blameless is to be in some measure Innocent 't is to be like Adam in his pure Creation 't is to make Christ our Pattern Now whether this doth not tantamount to Perfection I 'll leave the Reader to Iudge ‖ It is not a present laid upon me to discover all the Errors of Popery therefore I shall say no more then what is pertinent to my present Matter But that the Popists are far from Infallibility notwithstanding they pretend highly thereto their Difference in Doctrines to which Bellarmine himself hath confest with the Disagreement of their Popes one pulling down what another had set up and the Dissention of their Councils particularly about the Popes Supremacy their Priests Marriages and Worshipping of Images wherein one Synod hath decreed what another hath dissannulled their own Writings witness against them which those that have read any thing of Papal Story cannot but have a Knowledge of Gal. 1.15 Rom. 3. 24. Ephes. 2. 8. Rev. 3. 7. * Jer. 23. 6. Isa. 54. 17 56. 1. 25. 9. Iohn 1. 4. These instances I bring in to shew how those that speak against the Quakers Principle which is Christ manifest within are forced many times by the Power of the same Principle in themselves in plain words to confess to the same Col. 2. 14. Rom. 8. 16. Rom. 8. 14. ‖ So then the Indians and Americans shall not perish for want of the Bible which we have here in England Zeph. 2.2 Acts 7. 51. Luke 7. 30. 1 Iohn 1. 5. Psal. 104. 1. 1 Tim. 6.26 Iomes 1. 17. Iames 1. 17. Numb 16.22 * ☞ Note That I do not say Personally as some suggest concerning us as if we believe that very Body of Christ is in us that was hanged upon the Cross which were Foolish as well as False to assert but Spiritually as he is the Word of God the Wisdom of God the Power of God so he dwells in every Christians Heart And so he dwells in us by which Power he compleatly sanctifieth us Yet Truth doth allow of a Property in Speech which may be put into a degent Stile although it admits not of giving flattering Titles to men Read Elihu his acknowledgment Job 32. 21 22. Ier. 30. 7. Isa. 61. 3. Luke 19. 44. Acts 7. 3 8. 1 Cor. 10. 4. Rev. 22. 13. Dan. 7. 13 14. Mich. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 6. 15 16 Psal. 30. 5. Psal. 126. 5 6. Isa. 33. 22. Isa. 55. 6. * ☞ No doubt but Habakkuk's Countenance was altered when his Lips thus Quivered for 't is true what David said Psalm 39.11 When Thou Lord with Rebukes dost correct Man for Iniquity thou makest his Beauty to Consume away like a Moth If so why should any think it strange when they see the like Change †Who they are that 't is supos'd I should either fear or sllatter I need not name for those to whom I write may easily understand Acts 11. 26. 1 Cor. 4. 13. Psams 31. 20. Psalm 12.4 Isa. 26.8 41. 1. Isa. 2.20 Psalm 37. 12 13. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Titus 2. 11 12. Psalm 60. 12. Phil. 1.28 Nahum 1. 7. Isa. 29. 19. Psalm 37. 11. Ezekiel 12. 18. Isaiah 40.29 2 Pet. 1. 1. 1 Thess. 4. 9. Iohn 13. 5.
assured of it not only from their own Witness of themselves but from the Witness of God in my own Breast They do believe all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets so that those which do so clamorously charge them cannot prove the things whereof they so much accuse them But then it hath been replyed viz. They own the Scriptures indeed but 't is in their own Way they believe them as they do a moral History just barely giving credit to them owning that they are Truth but they do not believe they are the Word of God and the Rule of Faith and Life As to this I Answer They do believe the Scriptures so far as Scripture itself requires Faith in it self that is that they are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus being given by Inspiration of God according to that of the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. And they do also believe That this same Jesus here spoken of who is said to be the Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. the same and not another did Inspire his Prophets and Apostles in writing of the Scriptures But still he is the Word as well as the Wisdom of the Father and I ask Where do the Scriptures themselves declare any other Where do they say that they are the Word of God or the Rule of Faith and Life Though I have heard it said that The Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel c. often call their Prophecys by the Name of the Word of the Lord which say some is all one if we say the Word of God Now such I would advise to take a second view of the Text and then they may find that the Prophets did not call their Prophecies and Writings The Word of the Lord for they were the Lord's Words he being The Word of the Lord who revealed their Prophecyes unto them as for instance Ezek. 29. 1. says the Prophet there In the tenth year in the tenth moneth in the twelfth day of the moneth came the Word of the Lord unto me saying c. So then it was the Word of the Lord that came and said unto him the Prophecy was that which he said So in Ieremiah Chap. 7. v. 1 c. old Translation 't is said The Words that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying Stand in the Gate of the Lord's House and proclaim there this Word and say Hear the Word of the Lord all ye of Judah Mark The Prophet was to make Proclamation of the Word of the Lord that the Men of Iudah might hear what he said as it followeth Thus saith the Lord Amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place c. And this was he as I said before who is the Messenger of the Covenant appointed by the Father to reveal his Secrets unto his Servants the Prophets who came to Ieremiah with this Prophecy so that it was not what he said but he himself whose Name is called The Word of God Revelat. 19. 13. And this is that Word which came unto Abraham in a Vision Gen. 15. 1. saying Fear not Abraham I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great Reward Unto whom in the very next verse Abraham gives the Titles of Lord and God which proves the Word to be Eternal and Divine but so are not the Scriptures Eternal for we know they had their Beginning in time and though they are Words and Declarations of divine Things yet must we distinguish between the Declaration and that which is Declared of so as not to call them both by one Name Those written words for Scripture signifies a Writing they are Publications in Testimony of that Creating Word of Power by which the Worlds were framed see Heb. 11. 3. yet they do not declare that the World was made by them but by that Eternal Word which was in the beginning as it s recorded Iohn 1. 1. the same is that which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1. 23. which Word is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do even as 't is written Hebr. 4.11 13. This is that Word to whom the Scriptures direct us as a Light unto our feet and a Lanthorn unto our Paths to guide our feet into the Way of Peace the very entrance of which giveth Light yea it giveth Vnderstanding to the Simple So that the Scriptures themselves say not of themselves that they are the Word of God but that they bear witness of him And this is he who said to those great Scripturians namely the Iews of old who so greatly exalted the Scriptures but had not the Living Word abiding in them Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me saith Christ but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 38 39 40. So here it may be seen there is good Reason to distinguish between the Written Words the Writing or Letter and the Living Word which is a Quickening Spirit But now as to the other part of the Change which is That this People of whom I am now writing do not own the Scriptures to be the Rule of Faith and Life In their behalf I Answer They do own the Scriptures to be a Rule as they direct unto him to wit Christ who is the Object of our Faith and Lord of Light and Life They do also believe that the Scriptures are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be throughly furnished unto every good Work as saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. But yet still it is in Christ Jesus whom his People do believe and he is the Rule by which they live according to the Example of the Apostle who saith The Life that I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2 20. He must needs be his Peoples Rule for he is the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by him John 14.6 And 't is his Spirit that leads into all Truth Joh. 16. 13. even that Spirit which searcheth all things yea the deep things of God as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 10. which Spirit teacheth them of all things and bringeth all things to their Remembrance according to Christ's Promise Iohn 4. 26. Therefore the Spirit of Christ is the Rule of his Peoples Faith and the Guide of their Life yet doth not this detract from the Scriptures nor the Estemation of this People called Quakers concerning them for I know they do believe that whatsoever
things were written afore time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope as 't is recorded Rom. 15. 4. So that it appears the Scriptures are owned of them and are believed by them and are practiced amongst them but they dare not ascribe them that Glory which is due to God nor exalt them above his Son Christ Jesus nor prefer them in his Spirit 's stead neither yet is it any Derogation from the Scriptures to exalt Christ and his Spirit more than they for Scriptures themselves exalt Christ and the Spirit above themselves so that it is not in any slight or disrespect they have to those holy Writings wherefore they do not call them the Word and the Rule of Faith and Life but as they have declared 'T is from that reverend regard they owe and ought to bear to Christ Jesus the great and eminent Word of God to whose Spirit all Scripture Directions in Matters of Salvation refer us as to an Infallible Rule and Guide They direct us thereunto that we may not live in them but in him who is the Author and Dispenser of them Thus though the Scriptures are granted to be a Righteous Rule and of Divine Dispensation for the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost even as the Apostle testified 2 Pet. 1. 21. and my Soul praises the Lord that he hath preserved the Records of so many Prophecies and Testimonies of his primitive Servants through so many Contingencies unto this present Age yet can I not think that the God of infinite Wisdom and Grace whose Mercy is over all his Works would leave Mankind in so great a Concern whereon their Eternal Salvation is depending to such a Rule alone for Guidance therein as is subject to concealing Mis-translation Mis-interpretation False Application as we find the Scriptures have been by Corrupters of them Muchless can I believe that he would suffer the greatest part of the World to live without them as they do were there no other means appointed for their Salvation Yea moreover I am very sensible that where the Scriptures are many occurrances may fall out in the course of our Lives about which the Scripture gives no particular Advice and yet it is necessary we should have a Guide near in all our Affairs But I well know many Cases there are where Scripture is altogether silent in the matter Admit then here that the Creature in such a streight not knowing what to do betake it self to inquire of the Lord by Prayer alas what will that avail unless it receive an Answer which is already granted not to be found in Scripture neither can it now he had by the meer Literal Priesthood nor by their pretended Vrim and Thummim and say they who cry up solely Scripture to be the Rule of Faith and Life Neither must we expect Answer by Dream nor yet by Vision no nor by Revelation nor Inspiration for these say they are craft many Ages past Whom I ask What way then can the Creature come by Advice which till they can resolve me in I shall still retain my Opinion viz. That that inward Oracle which is a Measure of God's Spirit whereby we obtain access to him with Answer and Direction from him in all our Concerns about which we inquire of him undeniably is of greater Authority both to beget living Faith and order us therein and a more perfect Rule to guide our Lives than the outward Writings of the Scriptures which in many things leave us without either Counsel or Instruction And here I shall leave this Point which is in answer to an Accusation which is That we deny the Scriptures a thing often charged upon but never proved against the People called Quakers CHAP. II. Concerning the Humanity of Christ c. A Second Charge which I have heard brought in against the Quakers is That they deny the Humanity of Christ Iesus and the Obedience that he yielded in the dayes of his Flesh by his Sufferings Death Buriel Resurrection from the Dead together with all the benefits that thereby accrue unto Believers as also Iustification by Faith and the imputed Righteousness of Christ. Now that this hath been as falsly charged upon them as the former I shall undertake to prove by Scripture But first let me mind the Reader this I have observed viz. That there are many that have born false Witness against them yet they do not seem to accord in their Witness For first comes out a learned Doctor and he declares publickly though somewhat ambiguously that this People deny that Christ which dyed at Ierusalem to be God equal with the Father But when this was refuted so as not to be believed then comes out another and he would give the World to know as if they only deny the Son of God to have assumed Humane or man's Nature Thus their accusers contradict one another for both seem to grant we own a Christ which well they may do since they differ in Principles amongst themselves how ever they agree thus far like Herod and Pilate to unite against Jesus so have they against his Followers but I need not enlarge upon particulars since rather then they will want a Host to go out against the Quakers look but into the Muster and thou mayst see One and Twenty Divines as they give themselves the Stile enter the Lift together of whom I shall say no more here lest it should be taken for a Digression from the Answer 1 st Therefore to clear Truth from Slander both on the one hand and the other I do in the first place affirm and that upon certain Grounds viz. That all who may be rightly denominated Quakers such as Tremble at the Word of God they are of the Faith of one Substance which the ancient Christians so earnestly contented for and suffered such hard things in maintaining to wit that Christ the blessed Son of God as to his Divinity was of the same Eternal substance with the Father as may be read at large in George Bishop's Looking glass for the Times pag. 85 86. 2 dly I affirm they faithfully own the Scriptures And therefore what Iohn the Divine saw in his Revelations concerning him as 't is Recorded chap. 13.8 That he to wit Christ was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World And what the Apostle said of him Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the Form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God Likewise Iohn the Evangelist in his first chapter 1.2 3. saith concerning Christ In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made for by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and
said before 't is still but one thing if rightly understood in its true Notion And thus I chose to express it because thus I have found it viz. A Principle of Divine Light and Life in Christ Jesus placed in the Conscience which discovers both Sin and Duty to us and not only so but it Reproves the one and Enables to perform the other and this I know that a measure of the same is placed in the Consciences of all Mankind by which they might see the right Way were but their Minds turned thereunto Therefore let none slight or undervalue this Light of Jesus manifest in their Consciences by calling it as some have done A Natural Created Insufficient Light which will lead men down to utter Darkness Though sometimes again these very Persons will confess That the Light of Nature as they call it ought to be followed as far as it will lead for say they though the obeying its Dictates will never bring men to Heaven yet the disobeying them will certainly sink them down to Hell Hereby rendring the Lord cruel to his Creatures as if he required them to follow a Guide that would certainly lead them amiss or leave them short of the place of Rest and then would punish them for being Mis-led or for sitting down when they had no Guide to shew them the Way to walk in and that from a purpose in himself to leave the greatest part of Mankind without any other Guide to direct them in Matters of Salvation but that that is Insufficient that it must be a Miracle if it shew them the Way to Heaven according to their common Answer when asked how those must be saved who have not the Scriptures amongst them which these account the only Rule to Guide men Why we leave them to the Mercy of God say they the Lord may in an extraordinary manner bring some to Heaven if he have any Elect amongst them but whether any of them shall be saved or not 't is hard for us to determine Thus they darken Counsel by uttering words without Knowledge They say The Grace of God is Free and yet they make it a Monopoly so it shall not be Free to all nor must all be sharers in it neither will they allow the Lord himself to dispense it nor yet to inspire his Servants to go forth and preach it But arrogate to themselves a kind of Sacerdotal Right to be Dispencers of the Grace of God and Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of some outward Qualifications acchieved by them as External Parts or Humane Learning although they never were called of God to the Work of the Ministry nor never had the Word of Reconciliation committed to them yet would they have People come to enquire of them the Way to the Kingdom though they are so narrow-spirited as to shut out the greatest number of Mankind by absolute Predestination not sticking to affirm that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never was intended nor can be useful to their Justification but must and will be effectual for their Condemnation So being void of Universal Love themselves they fondly imagine the Lord to be like themselves Hence concluding there is no Salvation to be had without the explified Knowledge of Christs coming in the Flesh and of the Scriptures both which we know whole Kingdoms and Empires in the World are unavoidably ignorant of aud yet few or none of these will Jeopardize their Lives to preach amongst such notwithstandings this was the Apostle Paul's Practice to preach Christ where he had not before been named for said he if I build upon another Man's Foundation I make my Glorying void But blessed be the Lord he hath caused many Witnesses to rise up amongst us who have given Testimony to the Truth as it is in Jesus and have taught others both in our own Country and in Nations abroad to take heed to that sure Word of Prophecy nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the true Grace of God that is sufficient for us not only as some say to leave men without Excuse and so to aggravate their Condemnation but as 't is received and obeyed it will lead out of Sin into Holiness and in the end crown with Salvation And thus I am brought to the next thing promised which was to shew whence this Principle of Grace proceedeth I have according to my Measure shewn What it is now I come to shew From whence it comes to which I say § III. It comes from God through Christ as saith the Apostle God that commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Iesus Christ 2 Corinth 4. 6. 'T is God's Gift unto us and therefore well may we return Thanks unto him for his unspeakable Gifts God is the Author of it who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all for he covereth himself with Light as with a Garment and dwelleth in that Light which is inaccessible which no mortal Eye can approach unto he is the Father of Lights and therefore hath he given a Measure of his own Divine Light to all Mankind to reveal himself unto them that so they may know substantially What he is and not worship him as the Vnknown God and this knowledge of himself the Father is pleased to dispense to Men in and through the Son of his Love Christ Jesus our Lord who is come a Light into the World as himself testified Iohn 12. 46. I am come a Light into the World saith Christ that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness And therefore I believe and am well assured this is the one Faith whereinto many thousands by the Lord have been gathered viz. That the God of all Grace hath sent his Son into the World a free Gift unto the World and hath given a Measure of his Light and Spirit to manifest and reveal him unto all men Thus hath his universal Love and free Grace appeared For though God made Man pure and innocent yet Satan and disobedient Man hath marred that Creation In the Beginning God created Man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him as we read Gen. 1. 27. But Man soon defaced and stained this glorious Stamp and by yielding to the Tempter went out from his first Nature and so his Beauty was turned into Deformity I mean that Beauty of his inward Man wherein the Image of God stood in which he had Communion and Fellowship with his Maker through Disobedience this was lost and so man came to be without God in the World being alienated from that divine Life Light Love Grace Goodness Wisdom Power Holiness Virtue Purity Innocency wherewith the Lord invested him at the first in perfect Beauty but man going out from that
his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Then immediately I consulted not with Flesh and Blood but was made willing to give up to the obedience of his will revealed in my Conscience and so I came to receive the Faith of that Principle which the Quakers do profess and by it am I joyned to them not only in Head but in Heart so that this Faith by which I am united to them is more then a meer Natural credential that stands in the bare assent to the Truth of a proposition as propounded by man for it is founded and grounded upon Christ Jesus who was the Author and I trust will be the Finisher of the same But there hath arisen another Wonder and that is That not my self only but also my Brother and Sister should together and that so quickly too become Converts to the Truth at this say some we cannot but greatly admire To which though it might suffice for answer to let them know the Lords Works are all Works of Wonder and therefore may very well be admired by Beholders yet I must needs say there is little reason why such should wonder that true Conversion should at once pass upon three who talk so much of expecting a Nation to be born in a Day sure if their Faith can conclude the certainty of the latter they need not be so incredible concerning the Truth of the former No doubt therefore but it was prejudice enough against the Truth that caused some to say It must needs be Hypocrisie which brought us all at once into the Profession of it But the Truth is such neither know how we came by it nor can they tell what Progress we have made in it how far any of us do witness a real Change my Soul is made to rejoyce herein and for this I bow my Knee to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ That he would prosper and carry on this his own Work more and more in every one of our Hearts yet dare we not be found false Witnesses for God in speaking of things beyond our measure or boasting of that which we have not attained for though it may be granted we did feel an inward and effectual Call much about a time to come out of spiritual AEgypt's Land yet must we travel through the spiritual Wilderness before we arrive at the heavenly Canaan therefore I would have none Mistake so as to think that Conversion is wrought in an instant for it is a Gradual Work carried on by degrees in the Soul which is not presently Compleat and Perfect although the very first Motion towards it proceeds from a Principle which is Perfect in it self and which will in time Perfect the Soul as it follows the Leadings thereof But if any shall sit down by the way on this side the Mountain of true Holiness notwithstanding they began in the Spirit yet if they end in the Flesh how far soever they have travelled on in their Journey still may their Carcasses fall in the Wilderness Howbeit I write this not to Discourage any but to Provoke to Diligence as well my self as others that after we have set out towards the Promised Land and had a sight of it none of us may grow weary nor faint in our Minds and so fall short of the Everlasting Rest for 't is not a bare Convincement of the Truth in our Understandings which may produce a Change in the Judgment Opinion and Profession that will serve our turn without a Change of the Old Nature without there be a Change wrought in the inward as well as the outward man whereby the Heart may be throughly sanctified and made clean else there can be no real Conversion yet may we say since we have felt the beginnings of this Work in our Hearts we have been made as Signs and Wonders in the Earth whilst we have been Weaning from the Worlds Breasts we have been made a Mock to the scoffing Ishmaels of our Age But be it so we are not much concerned having an Eye to the Hope set before us we do not only despise the Worlds Flatteries but also contemn its Scorns even as those Worthies of Old who after they were Illuminated indured a great Fight of Afflictions partly in being made a Gazing-stock both by Reproaches and Afflictions and partly by being Companions with them that were so used yea though they had Tryals of cruel Mockings yet they esteemed the Reproach of Christ greater Riches then the Treasures of AEgypt For they had an Eye to the Recompence of the Reward and patiently they indured this with much more as seeing him who is Invisible which you may read in the Tenth of Hebrews more at large Wherefore we think it not strange concerning the fiery Tryals that are to try us as though some strange thing happened unto us when the Wicked Reproach us and speak all manner of Evil against us falsly for Christ's sake in this we account our selves happy yea we secretly rejoyce that he hath accounted us worthy to suffer Shame for his Name himself having said to our Comfort Blessed are ye when Men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their Company and shall Reproach you and cast out your Names as Evil for the Son of man's sake Rejoyce ye in that day saith he and leap for Ioy for behold your Reward is great in Heaven for in like manner did their Fathers to the Prophets Luke â— 22 23. So 't is no wonder that the World hate us for we know they have hated all the Righteous Generations that went before us they were defamed and made as the filth of the World yea they were accounted the off-scouring of all things by the Wicked of that Generation and so are their Off-spring esteemed with such a sort of People even at this present time For the Seed of the Righteous have alwayes been despised in the Eyes and reproached in the Mouthes of the Proud Ungodly World howbeit they have learned to put their trust in him who hath promised to keep them in a Pavillion from the Pride of man and to hide them from the Strife of Tongues yet some there are that say Their Tongues are their own who is Lord over them And such I may say have sorely railed on me both in Word and Writing wherein were Queries which I think not worthy to receive an Answer because they came from a Nameless Author Therefore I 'll leave them with their remote Questions winding up all in this Conclusion Let none no longer inquire at a distance after the Quakers and their Principle as Nathaniel did concerning Christ Iohn 1. 46. saying Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth But let them remember the answer of Philip who bid him Come and see so shall they meet with satisfaction in that inward Principle of divine Light and the Professors of it which hath made many