and all things have been out of good order Kings Princes Rulers Governments Laws and Decrees have been corrupt and not right in the sight of the Lord oppressions tyranny and vain-glory hath abounded in the Nations and justice and true judgement have been neglected and mercy and truth have been strangers and the world hath been filled with violence and the whole earth stained and polluted with oppressions unjustice and cruelties and the cry of poor hath not been heard every one hath sought themselves and not the Lord not the good one of another the Kings and Princes of the earth have not been perfect nor upright before the Lord but vain-glory hath abounded and superstitions and idolatries have reigned over them and unrighteousnesse hath abounded and self-seeking and they have risen up one against another in quarrelling and destroying one another and to gain one anothers dominions by craft and Policy and strong hand and the poor hath been oppressed and troden down and thousands of thousands destroyed to fulfill their wills and lusts and the pride of their hearts all this hath been evill in the sight of the Lord and his soul hath been weary with it by the destruction of his creatures one by another even Rulers Teachers and people have all been out of the way and subverted from that wherein God hath pleasure and the Prince of darknesse hath ruled in his dominion swaying all under his Government and even all things both of civill and spirituall concernment hath been on t of the counsell of the Lord Oh what cruel injustice and tyranny in civill Government Oh what abominable superstitions and idolatries hath been in supposed Church-Governments it s a vexation to the Spirit of the Lord to consider it and the righteous soul hath long cried out and mourned under it and because of this is the Lord of Heaven and Earth now arisen to overturn to overturn Kings and Princes Governments and Laws and he will confound and break down all tyranny and oppression under which the poor hath groaned and he will change times and laws and governments there shall be no King ruling but Jesus nor no government of force but the government of the Lamb nor no law of effect but the law of God all that which is otherwise shall be ground to powder the Kingdom of the most high shall rule amongst men and the Kingdoms of this world shall be changed and shal become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and the Lord shall be known in the earth to be the God of truth of righteousness justice and mercy and truth shall be exalted and true judgement shall be set up in the Nations and the worship in spirit and in truth shall be established for the Lord is gathering his numberlesse number to stand before his throne without guile in their mouth and without fault before him CHAP. VI Concerning mans Restauration Redemption and Salvation what they are and by whom they are wrought this testimony I give unto all people MAns Restauration is a repairing and giving again that which he hath lost by transgression and Redemption is a recovering and a winning again and setting free from that wherein man hath been held even all the Sonnes of Adam because of disobedience and Salvation is a saving keeping and preserving from sin and death and disobedience and all the waies thereof and also a saving from wrath and misery and condemnation which are the effects thereof and by the Son of God Christ Jesus is all this wrought manifested and witnessed and Restauration Redemption and Salvation is onely in Christ Jesus the second Adam and not in any other and it is wrought by him and by no other and they are the free gift of the Father unto the sons of men no way purchased by the works of the creature or desert of him but are freely given unto the creature through the power and wisdom of the Creator and only by Jesus Christ the Son of the eternal God and by the eternal Spirit are they witnessed in all that believe and through the word of life are they handled tasted seen and felt near at hand in power and not in words onely Many professes them in words and what others enjoyed of these things but hath not felt in themselves the working of the eternall Spirit neither hath the witnesse in themselves of being restored to God again and of being redeemed by him from under the devils power neither are saved by Christ from sin and transgression and so are not nor cannot be saved from condemnation and wrath for who abide in their sins and in the state unreconciled to God hath not any part or portion in these things which belongs to their peace and without the knowledge of which by the working of the eternall Spirit all mankind is everlastingly miserable CHAP. VII Concerning true Religion and the true worship of the true God this testimony I give unto the whole world THis is true Religion to be kept pure and clean from all evil and from all that which would defile in the sight of the Lord and to walk in his fear in all things this is Religion to do good and to do no evill and to speak the truth and to do the truth in all things and to do unto all men as a man would be done unto and to love God withal the heart and the neighbour as self and not to love the world and waies and pleasures of it nor to use deceit in words or actions this is true Religion and the true worship of God to be led with his Spirit in all things and to be guided in the truth at all times on all occasions this is acceptable and well pleasing unto God above all words and outward conformity and set times and daies and observances for the worship of God is not in these things but is without respect of daies places or things this Religion and worship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam who hath lighted every man that comes into the world that all men through him might believe and by him have their consciences purely exercised towards God and towards man in all things whatsoever and this is our Religion and worship of the true God he that can receive it let him CHAP. VIII Concerning Iustification and Sanctification this testimony I give unto all people JUstification is freely by Jesus Christ in the sight of the Father and not by the works of mans own righteousness and such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the waies of truth and righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfill by him and it is the new man that is justified and not the old he that is born of God and none that are born of the flesh such cannot please God neither can such be justified by him for they are not taught of him nor saved nor restored nor
rather than their destruction Yet this we give all to know that the Lord will be avenged on all them who hates the way of righteousnesse and all that opposeth the Lord and his way and despiseth his truth which he hath revealed they shall be confounded and broken to pieces and shall confesse to the Lord and his way and his truth in the day of their destruction Again let all the earth know that against all unrighteousnesse injustice oppression whoredom murder and drunkennesse and all sin whatsoever we do declare and acknowledge our selves to be enemies against all sin and they that commit it and we cannot hide sin and iniquity in any but gives our testimony against it and against all that live in it whatsoever without respect to men or places and cannot flatter any man in his transgressions but saith that lying swearing drunkenness covetousness injustice dissimulation hypocrisie murder and envy lust of the flesh pride and wantonnesse and all the works of the flesh whatsoever are contrary to God and of the devill and they that lives in them and brings them forth are the servants of the devill and must not inherit that kingdome of God who brings forth those works which grieves the Spirit of God and vexes his righteous soul and this is that Government onely which is the Government of sin and death which we declare our selves enemies to which is of the devill and not of God and this is that Government which we testifie against and warrs against by the sword of the Spirit of God and by his power and not by the carnall weapons or subtill conspiracies or violent insurrections for this way and by this means shall not the Government of Satan be overthrown or the kingdom of Christ ever exalted Again let all the world know that we are not such as disanuls or makes voyd the Covenant and bond of Relations or teach any so to do or give any example by our practice to any subjects to be rebellious to their Governors or children to be disobedient to their Parents or that servants be undutifull to their Masters But on the contrary doth say and affirm it that it is the duty of Subjects to be obedient and subject in the Lord to their Rulers and Governours whether Kings Dukes or others who have rule over them and also that Children should be obedient to their Parents and Servants to be dutifull and subject to their Masters in the Lord in all things and that Husbands and Wives live in all unity and peace in the Lord Provided onely where Rulers Parents or Masters or Husbands requireth of their Subjects Children or Servants or any other whatsoever requiring of their relations that which is unjust and contrary to God and his righteous law in such a case we say that Subjects Children Servants and all other whatsoever are free and we say where man requires any thing contrary to God and God requires another thing contrary to man the obedience to God is rather to be chosen and the obedience to all men is to be denyed and this is our judgement which is according to truth and is the mind of God concerning subjection and obedience and the duty of Relations one to another And lastly know ye assuredly that we do not hold and maintain any thing by conversation or doctrine but the very same truth in word and practice as all our fore-Fathers did but bears witnesse of the same salvation by the same Christ as they did and are not setters forth of strange gods for no other God is worshipped by us than he which Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the rest of the servants of the Lord in every generation worshipped served and obeyed neither are we such as doth maintain Heresie Errour or Idolatry or the worship of any strange god though hereof we are accused falsely yet against us cannot it be proved truly and this we give the whole world to know that no other end or purpose or design is in our hearts but only to fulfil the will of God in all things as it is to us made manifest Even this is the resolution of our hearts and the full purpose of our minds to give testimony through the world as we are moved both by writing and declaring of these Truths which to us is known from the Lord that truth and righteousnesse may come to reign and this may we do as the Lord provideth way for us nor fearing the face of any man nor being afraid of the threatning of high looks and that we may finish the testimony given us of God our life nor any other thing is dear unto us and all ye people every where for your sake is this written to come abroad amongst you to give you warning and true information of the work of the Lord and what he is about to do that you may hear and understand and may receive the knowledge of those things which belong to your peace and may be saved with an eternall salvation or otherwise through this are you wholly left without excuse if you perish And unto this was I pressed in spirit for many daies that all the world may be satisfied what we are and what we hold and what the purpose of the Lord is and I whom God hath warned do warn all people upon the face of the earth that you prepare prepare to meet the Lord for his coming and his day is nigh at hand and his judgements shall be revealed in the Earth and all flesh shall tremble before him and all the inhabitants of the world shall be confounded at his presence The proud shall be abased and the poor shall be exalted the high and lofty shall be brought down and the meek and upright shall be set up Truth shall reign as King and deceit shall utterly be confounded they that now suffer all manner of evill for the Name of Jesus shall possesse everlasting freedome and the dominion shall be in their hands and they that now cause the just to suffer shall go into endless captivity the seed of God shall spring forth and flourish but the seed of evill-doers shall never be renowned And betwixt these two seeds is an enmity put and they can never be reconciled each seed hath his fruit the one is cursed and the other is blessed and each seed is known by its fruit and must receive from the Lord accordingly And this is the testimony of the servants of the Lord and the witnesse which they give unto all the world of those things which we have handled tasted heard seen and felt blessed are all they thar can receive it We are known to God in the Spirit and one to another in his life and are known in the world by the name of Quakers cast upon us through the derision of the heathen But Quaking and trembling at the World of the Lord by the servants of the Lord we do own when the power of God reacheth to the witnesse of God in the creature which brings condemnation upon all high looks and upon the lofty nature which causeth the earthly part to tremble we do own and many of us do witness the Quaking and Trembling which is by the operation of the Spirit of God and the severall operations by the one Spirit we own which brings down proud flesh whose honour God will lay in the dust and bring it to everlasting contempt and when this comes to pass quaking shall not be a strange thing nor the Name reproached as it is at this day by the proud spirits of men who knows not the work of the Lord nor the operation of his Spirit Moreover and besides all this let all the world know that our conversation life and practice is one and the same with what we hold forth in words and that we give as large a testimony of God amongst us by pure conversation as doctrine and doth deny them who gives testimony in words onely and answers not in their conversation for that is hypocrisie and our souls loath it and it is abomination in the fight of the Lord where he is profest in words and not walked to in purity and righteousnesse of life for righteousnesse being brought forth in the heart works of righteousnesse will spring forth in the world and where righteousnesse springs not forth in the world and the fruits of the knowledge of God it shews that righteousnesse is not in the heart and that God is not known Also concerning our Government it is according to Christ whom we own to be head amongst us and no other head we have or do bow unto and we are but members of his body joyned to him through the Spirit as head over us all and the greatest of us is but a member of Christ who is the head alone and we have not another neither can we be subject to any other Government but his or to obey any Government but what is justly according to his whose Government must be set up in the earth and for it we wait and labours and travels and counts nothing hard but all things are easie to us for this prise which is before us even the Government of Christ to be set up and all Governments of men establisht according to it and this is our testimony which we give forth in words and practice and if it be required can seal it with our blood And this is written for no other end but that you may be certainly informed what we are and what we hold and what the Lord hath done and what he is about to do in all the earth who is arisen and hath said Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries FINIS ERRATA Pag. 3. l. 21. for word r. world p. 3. l. 33. for same r. son p. 25. l. 10. for world r. word p. 25. l. 18. r. and in the heart
this Testimony I give of him unto all people upon the face of the whole Earth CHAP. II. Concerning the Son of God this testimony I give unto all the world THe Son of God who is called Christ the Prince of peace and righteousness he is one with the Father in power and dominion and was with him before the World was and by him the Father created all things and without him was not any thing made that was made he is Heir of all things and is the Prince of the Kingdom of Righteousness of Peace and Truth and he is the word and power by which all things doth subsist and is the Salvation of mankind and the very life of the word he inherits life and immortality and is the Redeemer Saviour Deliverer and Restorer of the Children of men he is the very Wisdom and Power of the Creator and the Father doth nothing without the Son and by him and through him the Father brings all things to pass by him the Father will judge the whole Earth and all the Children of Adam therein and this Christ Jesus the Son of God is the Life and Light of the world and hath enlightened all mankind every one that cometh into the world is lighted by him with the true light of life or condemnation and what the same doth the Father doth also and he is at his right hand exalted and is the very express Image of the Father and is the Fathers gift into the world and is given to all mankind that they may have life by him and all that receives him hath life and salvation but many receives him not and they that receive him not perisheth even because they do not receive him whom the Father hath given into the world for he is the arm alone of Gods salvation and he is the Leader of his people CHAP. III. Concerning the Spirit of God this testimony I give unto the whole world THe spirit is with the Father and with the Sonne and is present every where and filleth all places and is for ever and ever and trieth all things and revealeth the things of the Father and of the Sonne unto all that doth believe in the Sonne and makes manifest add searcheth into the deep things of God and it witnesseth the salvation of the Just and the condemnation of the unjust it is not absent from any place nor contained in any one place the Father and the Son works all things through it and brings all things in heaven and earth to pass by it and it works in the hearts of the Children of men and in every one it witnesseth of the Father and of the Sonne to the Justness Greatness Righteousness and to the power of the eternal Creator that made all things by the Sonne through his eternal Spirit which is one with the Father and with the Sonne and is the worker of their will and mind in all things it worketh in the wicked to reprove them and to witness against them and that God is angry with them it sheweth and it worketh in the Righteous and witnesseth the love and mercy and peace of the Father unto them he that can receive it let him this is the testimony of the Spirit of God and it leadeth into all truth and out of all evill all that are guided by it and it is given to be the guide and rule of life to the Children of God CHAP. IV. Concerning man and all mankind this testimony I give unto all Nations and Peoples MAn was created and brought forth in the Image of God and was without sin or evil brought forth to do the will of him that created him and was Lord over all creatures to use them to the glory of the Creator and all creatures was to serve him but man transgresseth against his Maker and offended him and dishonoured him and became degenerate and grieved his Maker continually and was drove out from the presence of the Lord and he is now a child of disobedience and of wrath and an enemy in his mind against the Lord that made him and he is doing and fulfilling daily the will of the Devill and grieveth the Spirit of God and vexeth his righteous soul and is subject unto the curse of woe and destruction being ignorant of the life and power and wisdome of the Creator to lead him to guide him and to preserve him but follows the counsell of his own heart which is evill altogether though he was made upright yet hath he sought out many inventions which are continually abominable unto the Lord the ground in which he stands is corrupted and all his fruit is unpleasant even bitter and evill unto the Lords tast Man is fallen into the pit of misery and sorrow compassed about with desolation and is left without a helper from himself or from any other creature and this in short is the state of all mankind upon the face of the earth who was planted a noble Vine wholly a right seed to bring forth good fruit unto his Maker but he is turned into a degenerate plant bringing forth cursed fruits which the Creator hath not pleasure in his best works are not accepted and his evill deeds are condemned because the ground in which he stands is accursed because of disobedience CHAP. V. Concerning the World in generall and the state of things as they have been and as now they are this testimony I give to the whole World DArkness hath been over the face of the earth and thick darkness hath covered the people for many ages the Beast hath reigned upon the face of the whole earth and all Nations have been subject to his power and dominion even the Kings and Princes of the earth have given their power unto him all the world hath wondred after him as t is written and the whole world hath worshipped the beast and his image he hath power to kill all that would not worship him both small and great rich and poor even all hath been subject to his government and he hath had power to warre against the Saints and to make war with them and to overcome them even all that would not worship him he hath had power to kill the Rule and Government of the Son of God hath not been witnessed among men for ages nor the true God known nor manifestly worshipped in spirit and truth but he hath been as a stranger among men and they have been ignorant of his waies and judgements and all people have been doing that which is right in the sight of their own eyes and God hath been forgotten daies without number the living Fountain hath been forsaken and many broken cisterns have been hewen out which hath not holden pure water great evills and continuall abominations have been acted in the sight of God and the measure of iniquity hath been fulfilling through many generations and it is grown nigh to the full the Law of God hath been made void and his grace hath turned into wantonnesse
rewards from any man which is given freely into the world and it ever was and is persecuted by the generation of the unjust and by the powers of the earth he that comes in the Fathers name cannot be received of the world but the world is at enmity against it in this generation as ever was it converts people unto the knowledge of God and many did and many doth receive the knowledge of God thereby though some thereby be hardened against God unto destruction and the word of the Lord and the Ministry returns not in vain unto God but all by it are left without excuse the witnesse of Christ in every creature being reached to which gives testimony to the power and to the truth of the Ministry of Christ but the false Ministers and Ministry are not such for their Ministry is received by naturall learning and arts and is not the gift of the Holy Ghost but stands in the wisdom of mans words and not in the power and life of God it profits not the people at all neither doth any come to the knowledge of God thereby neither is turned from darknesse to light but Teachers and people continues in the power of Satan and in the unconverted estate the witnesse of God not reached to to bring to the understanding of things which are eternall but people are ever learning by it and never coming to the knowledge of the truth but the blind leads the blind and like Teachers like People all out of the way given to iniquity and unrighteousness and such are they who preaches for hire and divines for money and seeks for their gain from their quarter and through covetousnesse by feigned words makes merchandize of souls going for gifts and rewards and reaching for filthy lucre having setled places and so much a year these are not the true Ministers of Christ but false Ministers of Antichrist and deceivers and was never sent of God and do never bring any to the knowledge of God and such we bear witnesse against to be of the Devil and that for many generations the world hath been deceived by them who hath had the form of godlinesse but not the power and Christs words and the Apostles words without the life and they have served themselves and not the Lord Jesus but now they are made manifest with the true Light which approveth the Ministry of God and disapprove such who are Ministers of Antichrist and all that are in the light and walks in the light can receive this testimony which is given by the Spirit of God to that Ministry which is sent of him which doth fulfill his will and against the false Ministry which is not of God which runs and was never sent of him CHAP. XII Concerning the Gospel of Christ this is my testimony unto all the world THe Gospell is the power of God and it is sent of him into the world to reconcile people unto him that have been in the enmity against him it is peace to the poor in spirit and judgement to the fat and to the high minded and it is to be preached to every creature male and female under Heaven without respect of Peoples Nations or generations it is the manifestation of the love of God to the whole world togather people out of all unrighteousnesse into the living way of life peace and truth to walk with God in purity and holinesse and to deny the world and all its waies and works and worships which are evill and by it some are brought to God and to salvation and life eternal and some through it are hardened against God that they may be destroyed and condemned who are reprobates and believes not in him from whom the Gospell comes and it cannot be received by any other way or means than by the revelation of Jesus Christ in the hearts of his people and many have the letter which knows not the Gospell nor hath received it and this Gospell which is everlasting have we received from God and this is the sound of it which we give in the world unto the world fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgements is come and this is the everlasting Gospell of salvation he that can receive it let him CHAP. XIII Concerning the word of God and concerning the Scriptures this testimony I give unto all the World THe word of God was in the beginning before any creatures were made and by it all things stand and remain unto this day and the world endures for ever and by it all things in Heaven and in Earth are brought to pass which God doth and it is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without end and the word is powerfull dividing and discerning all things even the secret thoughts of every mans heart it is a two-edged sword and as a fire and like a hammer to cut up to burn and to beat down the word of the Lord reconciles man again to him and this word is in the mouth in the heart and the servants of the Lord handled tasted saw and felt the word of life and from it spoke sorth the Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost through the eternall Spirit and it is a declaration of the word of life which was in the beginning and endures for ever and it declares what the Saints received believed and enjoyed and none can understand it without the same Spirit that gave it forth and to such who have the same Spirit the Scripture is profitable the Word of God which was in the beginning and which endures for ever is not the Scripture which was not in the beginning neither can it endure for ever but the Scripture testifies of that word and that word witnesseth to the Scripture and they are not contrary one to the other but gives witnesse each of other but many hath the Scripture that hath not the Word neither knows it but they that have the Word cannot but own the Scriptures and this the truth as it is in Jesus testified to all the world by us who doth deny them that hereof gives any other testimony CHAP. XIV Concerning the Devill and Damnation this testimony I give to all people THere is a Devill which is out of the truth who abode not in the truth but is a lyar from the beginning and the Father of all evill and evill doing and the author of all unrighteousness and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word and action he is the enmity against God and against all good and by his power subverts creatures and things to another end than wherefore they were created even to the dishonour of the Creator he is the god of this world the Prince of darknesse and he rules King in all the children of the first Adam who are in evill he was the cause of the first transgression and is the cause of disobedience to God to this day in all people who are led by him moving
no circumcision but the circumcision of the heart which is the putting away of all the uncleanness of the flesh nor in it there is no means of salvation but Christ the onely way the truth and the life and none comes to the Father but by him he declares of the Father and there is no light but the light of the Lamb all that are saved shall walk in the light of the Lamb and there shall be no need of any other light no need of the light of the Sun nor of the Moon nor of a candle but the Lord is unto them an everlasting light and God alone is their glory and this Covenant is for ever and cannot alter nor change but is sure unto the seed of his own inheritance but he that is born of the flesh hath no part in it who is shut out from the knowledge of God who is not known to the wisdom of this World which is foolishnesse with God and the knowledge of God is received no other way but only by the revelation of Jesus Christ and by the working of the Spirit of the Father in the heart he opens the blind eye and unstops the deaf ear and changeth the heart and causeth it to understand and he removes that which hath stood in the way betwixt God and the creature which hath caused ignorance in the creature that the Lord could not be seen nor perceived Christ Jesus the second Adam lighteth every man and all mankind that cometh into the world with the true light but some hates the light and they will not come to the light least their deeds should be reproved and their deeds are evill and they are in a condemned estate and such cannot receive Christ nor the knowledge of God but such who love the light with which Christ hath enlightened them they bring all their deeds to the light and walks in the light and their deeds are wrought in God never to be condemned and such as loves the light receives Christ and the knowledge of God which is eternall life and none comes to the knowledge of God and of Christ any other way but through the light of Christ and by the operation of the Spirit of God and evill is condemned out of the heart and the heart is made clean by the word of God and the knowledge of God is received into the clean heart and nor into the impure for without holinesse none shall see God nor ever come to the knowledge of him neither can the knowledge of God be received by the traditions of men or any outward observance in the will of man but only by the teachings of the eternal Spirit is the living God known in the creature CHAP. XVII Concerning Faith this testimony I give unto the World FAith is the gift of God and by it Christ is received and enjoyed it is the substance of things hoped for and the very evidence of things not seen gives the creature to believe God in all what he hath promised all that which is acted and spoken in it is well pleasing unto God and that which is done without sinne it is the strength of the creature to act for God in all things it is that whereby the world is overcome and all the powers of hell and death it is the armour against the Devill and the defence of all the children of God by it they overcome all their enemies and through it they reign over all the world it carries through all sufferings and tribulations with joy and patience Faith is an act of God in the creature through it peace and righteousnesse and the crown of life is received from God by Faith all things are received that are received of God by any of his children He that hath Faith sees and feels the Lords presence at all times and through Faith we do and suffer gladly for the name of Christ in all things and this is thus far our testimony given by the Spirit of the Father of these things of which we have received the knowledge from God who hath given us his treasure and we have this treasure in earthen vessells even the knowledge of these things which are eternall which is not our own but the Lords to give forth according to his movings and of those rhings have we handled tasted and felt CHAP. XVIII Concerning what works are accepted of God and what works are not accepted brought forth by the Creature WHatsoever work man is moved and led unto by the Spirit of God and guided and ruled in the practice of to speak or act whatsoever by the same Spirit which moveth and leadeth into all the works of righteousnesse and not into any evill this is acceptable in the sight of the Lord and these works are well pleasing to him where the Lord goes before and is the leader in all things and this man and his works who is led with the Spirit of the Father is justified and accepted of God and not for the creatures sake who respects not the person of any but for his own Name sake because they are wrought in him through faith and is moved unto and guided in by his own Spirit and they arise from Gods righteousness revealed in the creature and not from the righteousness of the creature for man being changed and replanted into the living Vine and the root being good every work which springeth forth from it is good also and accepted of God because the root is so But whatsoever works are brought forth by any creature though the same in appearance which are accepted of God from another yet not being moved unto nor guided in by the Spirit of the Father but brought forth in the will and wisdom of the creature which is from below and acted in imitation from the Saints words these works are not accepted and well pleasing unto God but is offence unto him and sin against him even the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto him and if a man come before the Lord with thousands of Rams and ten thousand of Rivers of Oyl and if he give the fruit of his body for the sin of the soul and cover the Altar with tears and is not led with a measure of Gods Spirit none of all these works are accepted nor his preaching praying baptism nor breaking of bread nor any other observances towards God whatsoever are not good in his sight but evill and to be contemnted and the root from whence they spring because man is in the enmity against him and not changed out of the old root nor in that state is not led with the holy Spirit of the Father and the root being bad the branches are evill and none are accepted of God in any thing which they perform towards him but such as are in Christ Jesus the second Adam and such are new creatures so that it is not for the creatures sake that any work is accepted of or offence against God but onely for his Name
dangers on every hand and are in perills often and we are not nor cannot be afraid of the face of any man even that the Lord alone may be exalted whose Name and Honour and Truth is more dear unto us than any other thing and for it have we forsaken all and counted it as nothing in comparison of the knowledge of Christ and his truth herein declared and witnessed to the whole world to whom it shall come and the light of Christ in every one shall give testimony to it unto which I do only commend my self and these truths to be witnessed And know ye assuredly that God who is just and righteous in all his wayes it is he that setteth the way of life and the way of death before every man and he hath appeared in this generation and he hath caused his voice to be heard in the earth and he hath set the way of death and the way of life before you and all that perish it is through unbeliefe and because they do despise the way which God hath prepared who hath prepared a way for life and salvation unto all people that all may come to life and salvation and may not perish and he hath not shut out any creature before he was brought forth into the world but giveth to every one that cometh into the world a day of visitation and a time of repentance and returning that healing may be received from the Lord who is the restorer of lost man and there is not another so that if man perish it is of himself and not of God who hath so loved mankind that he hath given his Son his own wisdome and his power into the world that all that doth receive him Christ Jesus may have everlasting life and they that receive him not they perish because of unbelief whereby they are hardened for destruction and unto such our Gospell the Gospell of God is hid whose eye is blinded by the God of this world that they cannot see the things which be eternall nor believe in him from whence life comes and such are stumbling at Christ the foundation and therefore shall be broken and must not inherit the kingdome of God and unto such though they be wise in the kingdome of this world are we become fools for Christ sake and our testimony cannot be received by them nor approved of them even them that seek after a signe and them that seek after wisdome to such we are not known nor can our testimony be acceptable to them which is not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of God Spirit and in simplicity of truth which is of great price with the Lord even above knowledge and all wisdome which is of this world which comes to nothing but the Lord will confound that and bring it to nothing for the world by its wisdome doth not know God neither can it receive the things of God but is foolishnesse in the sight of God and the wisdome of the world must be offended in him and in the testimony which is given of him and the Princes of this world and the wise men must stumble and fall the powers of the earth must be offended at him that they may be confounded and brought to nought all the heathen shall rage and the people shall imagine a vain thing but what of all this the testimony of the Lord is true which he hath given us to bear of his Name and of it we are not ashamed before the face of the whole world and we are armed to suffer for it and not only to subscribe to the truth of it with our hand or to declare of it with our tongue and pen but also if we be called to it may seal it with our blood Wherefore this is sent among you all Rulers Teachers and people in all the world this is sent among you as to give you the certain knowledge of what we hold and bear witnesse to which is received of us from God and born witnesse of to you by his Spirit even those things with many others which we have not received from man but from God are we purposed in the Lord to declare abroad and he hath put it into our hearts to fulfill his will herein for he hath spoken who can but prophesie and he hath given the word and many are they that publish it in faithfulnesse against the kingdome of the man of sin which hath long been exalted in the earth over the seed of God which the Lord is now a gathering and establishing his Covenant with an Ierusalem that hath long lain wast shall be made the praise of the whole earth and the Gentiles which hath polluted her shall be cast out and the Saints shall rejoyce over all their enemies And know you assuredly from us who know the Lord that God is doing great things in the earth he is begun to work and his arm shall bring it to passe he will overturn and overturn till he come to reign whose right it is who will change times and things even that which cannot be believed though a man declare it unto you is the Lord bringing to passe the eye shall blesse that sees it and the heart shall praise that can understand and behold the Lord comes quickly and they are blessed that waits for him whose reward is with him and his glorious work is before him to be wrought by his own hand without the help of any other who needs not the help of man and yet that man that doth oppose him shall be overthrown confounded and destroyed And again all the Kings Princes Rulers and People whatsoever know ye assuredly that we are not enemies against but friends unto all Civill Government and to all just and righteous orders and decrees and wholsome Law and Customs of any Common-wealth and no way are we destructive to or destroyers of the Peace and welfare and wholsome Laws which is according to God of any Nation whatsoever But are preservers of the peace of all people and waits in patience for the establishment of justice and true judgement and that righteousnesse may spring forth and the Government of all Nations may be according to the Law of God Neither are we such who makes void the just Government of any Nation or City neither are we such who through evill purposes plotteth or conspireth or contriveth evill in our hearts against any Governours or Government whatsoever but wisheth peace and truth and the fear of the Lord unto all men and Nations and desireth not the overthrow or evill to any people or their Government but is subject to just Government every where by obedience to it and subject to evill Government by suffering in patience under it so that righteousnesse alone we wait to see set up through the world and for that cause suffereth patiently under our enemies not seeking revenge against them nor envying the persons of any but pitties our enemies and desireth their repentance