Truth 's Vindication OR A Gentle Stroke to wipe off the Foul Aspersions False Accusations and Misrepresentations cast upon the People of God called QUAKERS Both with respect to their Principle and their way of Proselyting People over to them Prov. 4. 18 19. The Path of the Iust is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day The Way of the Wicked is as Darkness they know not at what they stumble Isa. 51.7 41. 14. Hearken unto me ye that know Righteousness the People in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the Reproach of Men neither be ye afraid of their Revilings Fear not thou Worm Jacob and ye Men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel Also An EPISTLE to such of the Friends of Christ that have lately been convinced of the TRUTH as it is in JESUS Hosea 6. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning and he will come unto us as the Rain as the latter and former Rain unto the Earth Job 8. 7. Though thy Beginning was small yet thy Latter-end shall greatly increase Printed in the Year 1679. AN EPISTLE TO You Five in particular viz. A.W. E.T. M.I. B.P. E.F. unto whom this is more especially intended to be delivered FRIENDS NOT in Affectation to be Popular for that I do not desire but in Obedience to Christ Iesus my Lord and Master have I pen'd this matter that so the Innocency of his Truth and People may more conspicuously appear Neither have I fondly desired to get my Name in Print for 't is not Inky Character can make a Saint such must be sanctified and cleansed in Body Soul and Spirit through which they come to be prepared God's Kingdom to inherit Wherefore I write unto you my Friends That you may not content your selves barely in an outward Separation whilst not wholely separated from that within which is the Cause of Transgression to wit that Adulterate Spirit of the Man of Sin that 's got not only into the Pontificial Chair at Rome whence so many corrupt Customs both in Worship and Practice are come abroad into the World but doth also sit upon the Throne in the Hearts of many People even in this our Native Land And this Spirit hath led Man into many False Wayes and Forms in his fallen Condition whereby he hath strayed from the Right Way of Restoration which Way being made known to a Remnant whose Minds are turned to Christ's Light within God's saving Power these cannot but call to their Friends and Acquaintance to turn in hither and therefore have I been made to send this Friendly Invitation abroad into the World That People may be invited to that Feast of Fat Things which the Lord hath prepared for them that turn in unto him But more especially doth it lie upon me for you Five to whom I write this Epistle Dedicatory to let you know his Oxen and his Fatlings are ready only come away do not tarry For I well know this is the time of the Lord's Love towards you because of the sounding of his Bowels which I have heard within me I know they are not restrained from you because of the constraint that he hath laid upon me which hath been so powerful that my Heart hath been pained in me and my Soul hath been distressed for you and often have I been bowed down in Spirit yea till I could hardly stand upon my Feet until the Lord who bowed me down raised me up and set before me a Door of Hope whereat his Prisoner in you may be brought forth which is that for which God's Seed in me hath travailed through many Tribulations and now having delivered me from that cruel Bondage of Corruption which once I groaned under this makes me restless in my Spirit that others may believe in that inward Power that 's able to rescue from the Eury of their Soul's Oppressor Yet I write not this by way of Complaint as though I thought it a Weariness to serve the Lord in answering his Requirings no that I cannot think for I must acknowledge so gracious is he in his Condescension that he hath made this my Exercise become also my Divertion yea though I was his Prisoner by Indisposition of Body occasion'd through the Pressure of my Mind whilst the Weight of this Matter lay upon me yet I wished for no Walks of Pleasure nor was I weary of my Pain the Reward given into my Bosome in returns of Peace and sweet Security that my Soul enjoys amidst the disturbing Fears and Perplexities that are abroad is sufficient Recompence for all these light Afflictions What the subject Matter hereof is read and you will find wherein I have first endeavoured to remove the Stumbling-blocks from before you and then to cast up the Way of Truth for you and that by Scripture Road as you may read in those cited Texts which here have been brought unto my Hands without the Help of Humane Concordance Read in Charity what I have written in Humility knowing you are my Elders in years I would address my self unto you in all Christian Manners but I dare not Flatter you nor can I complementally crave Excuses of you accept it therefore from me who can truly say For some time I have not been my own the Lord having made me your Servant in this thing but now the Truth hath in measure set me free which also made me willing to serve you as it gave me Ability that God might have the Glory and you the Profit of these my Spiritual Labours Who am Your Faithful Friend Elizabeth Bathurst AN INTRODUCTION By way of PREFACE TO THE Ensuing Treatise MY former Friends and Acquaintance for whose sakes this is written it is to rectifie your Mistakes about and to inform you in that which some stick not to call A New Religion But though the old Enemy of all Righteousness has found this new opprobrious Term to asperse and undermine the Truth with blessed be the Captain of our Salvation he hath defeated him of his Design and out of the Mouthes of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained Praise to his own Name For let me tell you my Friends True Religion is of great Antiquity 't is as old as Abel who by Faith offered up a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained Witness That he was Righteous God testifying of his Gift and by it he being dead yet speaketh as you may read Hebr. 11. 4. And now I appeal to you What Faith was this by which Abel pleased God Was it not a living Faith which God had wrought in him and not a dead Faith received by Tradition of Man's teaching yet such was the Nature and kind of it that he did not only believe in the true God his Creator but also in Jesus Christ his Redeemer although he was not come in the Flesh then yet
been an Ear Witness of and must needs confess through the Respect I had to the splendid Professions of those that did help forward at least the Report thereof I have given too much Credence to some of them so that though I can truly say I have no Guilt to charge my self with as to spreading these false Reports yet my keeping too much silent heretofore when I was convinced in my Conscience I ought to have spoke in answer to those whom I might have contradicted in many of these false Accusations obliges me now to put forth this Vindication And now my Friends if I can demonstrate to you how falsly this People have been accused which I doubt not to receive Power from on high to enable me in I hope to be believed when I come to speak according to the Measure of the Grace of God which I have received concerning that Principle of true Religion which through this People is promulgated Willing I am to give you Satisfaction in Matters whereon so great Concerns are depending and that the more because many of these things are Points wherein I my self lately doubted concerning which when I came to a Solution of in my own Mind I can truly say I then was made willing to answer the Lord's Requirings in taking up the Daily Cross which Jesus Christ hath said every one must take up that will be his Disciple and so I hope may some of you as the Lord shall make way for his Truth 's taking impression upon your Minds in this the Day of your Visitation So shall the Desire of her Soul be answered whose Spirit was exceedingly pressed to write this Matter The CONTENTS READER IT is some time since I set about this Treatise which makes me now think that the latter part hereof may seem to some to be unseasonable for as it swelled beyond my intention and took up more time in writing then I thought it would so also hath it occasionally been hindred from the Press since it hath been wrote in which time those former Discourses which were the occasion of the Subject may possibly be forgotten by those which spoke them but as they were afresh brought into my Memory by the Remembrancer the Holy Ghost by which I was pressed in Spirit to give Answer thereunto and vindicate Truth therein that so I might ease the PRESSURE of my OPPRESSED SPIRIT I have in some sort stated and I hope satisfactorily answered the same In which 't is like I may be thought prolix but I knew not how to comprize the Matter shorter for the truth is though I at first thought to have filled but one Sheet of Paper when I set about it I saw a Field before me which cost me some spiritual Travel before I got thorow And now lest any should think the Trace too long to follow I have taken pains to prefix and page Contents to every material Point that so they may readily turn to that which they are most desirous to be at The Book being divided into Three Parts the first is in answer to some Controverted Points ranked under Ten Heads The second treats of the PRINCIPLE OF TRUTH what it is from whom it comes and whereto it leads The third is a Confutation of people's False Opinions concerning the Manner how we have been convinced of the Principle of TRUE RELIGION PART I. CHAP. 1. Concerning the Scriptures page 1. Chap. 2. Concerning the Humanity of Christ c. p. 6. Chap. 3. Touching the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of the Saints p. 15. Chap. 4. Concerning Original Sin p. 17. Chap. 5. Concerning the Sacraments p. 19. Chap. 6. Touching Free will p. 26. Chap. 7. Concerning Inherent Righteousness p. 28. Chap. 8. Concerning a Possibility of a Total Fall from True Grace p. 31. Chap. 9. Concerning Perfection p. 35. Chap. 10. Concerning Infallibility p. 38. PART II. A general Description of TRUTH 's PRINCIPLE § 1. It is a PRINCIPLE of DIVINE LIGHT and LIFE of Christ Iesus placed in the Conscience c. p. 42 A more particular Relation of what the PRINCIPLE of TRUTH is and what 't is called in SCRIPTURE § 2. 'T is the GRACE of GOD that bringeth SALVATION and hath appeared TO ALL MEN p. 43. 'T is the LIGHT of JESUS who is that True LIGHT that lighteth every man that cometh into the WORLD p. 44. 'T is a Measure of the DIVINE SPIRIT and a Manifestation of it is given to every man to profit withal p. 48. An Answer to an Objection p. 51,52 'T is that DIVINE PRINCIPLE of LIFE which brings the Clad Tidings of Salvation near unto ALL. 'T is the WORD of RECONCILIATION p. 53. 'T is the Law written in the HEART p. 54. 'T is the Word of FAITH ibid. 'T is that Incorruptible SEED by which we are begotten to GOD and born again by his Eternal Word p. 55. 'T is that Foundation which GOD hath laid in SION and hath also made become the Head and Corner STONE p. 59,60 § 3. An Account from whom this true and inward PRINCIPLE doth come It comes from GOD through Christ as saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4 6 p. 62. Touching the FALL of MAN p. 63. And the Way of Restoration BY CHRIST the LIGHT c. who is the Free Gift of the Father for the Salvation of poor Sinners p. 64. And he hath manifested something of this GIFT unto ALL MEN by the Light of his Spirit WITHIN for the Lord of the whole Earth is universal and impartial in his Love to all MANKIND p. 66. Concerning the effectual Operation of the Spirit or Principle of God WITHIN from p. 66. to p. 78. The LIGHT of JESUS in the CONSCIENCE proved to be no Natural Insufficient Thing as some have sought to render it being something OF GOD placed in EVERY MAN to witness against ALL SIN c. p. 78. Christ God's Covenant of LIGHT called by divers Names in SCRIPTURE p. 79 80 81. A General Invitation to turn to the LIGHT WITHIN p. 82 83 84. PART III. A Confutation of Peoples False Opinions concerning the Manner how we have been Convinced of this Principle of true RELIGION p. 85 86. Wherein I have endeavoured to refute the Errors Ignorance and Mistakes that many yet lie under concerning the Practices of those who are led guided by the Light of Christ WITHIN relating to the Means whereby they CONVINCE and turn People to the same p. 87 c. Whereunto is added an Epistle to the late CONVINCED of TRUTH p. 97. Truths Vindication c. CHAPTER I. Concerning the SCRIPTURES IN the first place I shall begin with the holy Scriptures which hath been said by some this People called Quakers do not own Answer That this is a great Slander their many Writings and Declarations make manifestly appear in which their Testimonies are all so consonant and agreeable to the Records of Scripture that I never met with the like amongst any other And besides this I am well
love to their Souls by giving them his Flesh to eat which is the true Bread that cometh down from Heaven This is he that gives true freedom of will to his People whereby they can cheerfully serve him and keep the Word of his patience though in much Affliction and he hath promised to keep such in the hour of Temptation Rev. 3. 10. This is the Lord our Righteousness and he of whom our Righteousness is as saith the Prophet which while we abide in him we have a sure standing But if any go out from him who is a God at hand and whose Salvation is near to be reveald in all that wait for him then 't is no wonder if they fail of the Riches of that Grace which is treasured up in him This is he whose Works and Wayes are all Perfect and in him we are made compleat that is as we are guided by his Spirit which he gives to lead the Saints into all Truth according to his promise Iohn 16. 13 14. Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will lead you into all Truth for he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you saith Christ and this his Spirit by which his People are led is an Infallible Spirit Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ which is Infallible he is none of his saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 9. And now if any man have and profess to be led by this Spirit of Christ he is made a Scoff even by the very Professors of this Age. Thus I have again touch'd upon the former Particulars wherein I undertook to Vindicate Truth and its Followers in all which Christ the Light and Life of Men is all in all unto his People For Christianity doth not consist in the belief of so many Doctrines Articles and Principles as some suppose but in conformity unto that one Eternal Principle to wit the Light of Christ manifest in the Conscience and yet leads into a heavenly Order both in Doctrine Principle and Conversation according to the diversity of its Gifts whereby man comes not to be at liberty in his own Will but bound again to God which is the true signification of the word Religion And this Light of the unerring Spirit by which the Lord leads his People in the Way Everlasting it shineth within mark It shineth in the Darkness though the Darkness comprehend it not as saith the Apostle Iohn 1. 5. It shines in the dark Heart of man though man in his dark state cannot discern what it is yet is this that sure Word of Prophecy whereunto we do well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place untill the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in our Hearts according to that 2 Pet. 1. â—9 which is as much as if the Apostle had said This is commendable that you give diligent heed to the least measure of this Light or Grace of God which he hath dispenced to you till he shall see fit to bestow a greater measure upon you For 't is still but one thing that I am describing although rendred by divers Names inasmuch as the sure Word of Prophecy and the Day-Star here spoken of differ only in Degrees not in Nature and Kind both which Expressions denote to us that one gift of Light and Grace through Christ Jesus freely bestowed on all men and according to the improvement that they make of their Measures so an increase thereof is administred to them It was by this Light that Iob walked through Darkness Iob 29. 8. And it is by this Light that we come to see our Darkness but 't is not that we should abide in Darkness but walk through it and come out of it by following the Light of Christ that in his Light we may see more Light and so come to receive the Light of Life as 't is written Iohn 8. 12. Then spake Iesus unto them saying I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of life And praised be the Lord there is a Remnant who have experienced it and can say with the Apostle this thing is true in them viz. The Darkness is past and the true Light now shineth 1 John 2. 8. Which Light is a Light of the Spirit of the Lord dwelling in his People and therefore whatever the World may think concerning them 't is no presumption in them to own they are made Possessors of the same For saith the Apostle to the Corinthians Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you For ye are the Temples of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them 1 Cor. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Now since God himself is said in Scripture to dwell and walk in his People why should it be thought Arrogant for them to say Christ in them is the hope of their Glory according to that of the Apostle Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles Christ in you the hope of Glory And let me tell you this was the Judgment of Dr. Langly which I my self heard from him in a Sermon preach't upon that Text viz. That the great Gospel Treasure is the Lord Iesus Christ and the glory of that Treasure is Christ in us This was his Observation and this I think is Confession clear enough to the Truth of our Assertion viz. That in being guided by the Light which is the Spirit of Christ within us hereby a sure Hope of Eternal Glory is given to us However we do not conclude Christ in our selves only but we say a measure of his Light in order to shew the way of Life every man is or hath been enlightned with Nor yet do we include him in the fleshly Temples of Men and Womens Hearts so as to exclude him from being any where else but as we know his Presence fills Heaven and Earth so we believe that notwithstanding his appearance in our Hearts he is continually at the Right Hand of God at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High ever Living to make Intercession for us and by his Spirit we feel the Signification thereof within us For this Grace of God which is the Light of Jesus 't is a measure of the Divine Spirit and a Manifestation of it is given to every man to profit withal see 1 Cor. 12.7 Yea this Universal Principle which I am describing it is a Measure of the quickening Spirit even of that Spirit which raised up Jesus from the Dead by the Indwelling of which in us we come to be renewed in the Spirit of our Minds and to have our Mortal Bodies quickned so as to capacitate us to serve the Lord with our Spirits and with our Bodies which are his Now if any shall think I have raised this Principle too high
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
his Death who tasted Death for every man And so we do freely confess all that is derived to us to be in and by Christ Jesus as Mediator unto whom we ascribe all acknowledging him to be our Head in whom all Fulness dwells So that this Light with which all men are in some measure enlightned of God 't is no other but a measure of that Divine Fulness that dwelt in the Son of his Love when he was hear on Earth and now dwelleth in him since he is ascended up to Heaven where he was before whence he descends the streams thereof into the Hearts of all the Children of Men in order to bring them out of the Fall in the First Adam and to redeem them up unto himself the Second Adam that as they have born the Image of the Earthly so they may bear the Image of the Heavenly be restor'd unto that Grace and Favour of God again which by Transgression they are fallen from But First Let me tell thee whoever thou art that reads me This effectual Operation of the Spirit or Principle of God within is not nor cannot be known without a being centred down into the same For this I speak from good Experience the Spirit 's first work is to convince of sin before it effect a Restoration and this it doth even in all though all do not regard it it doth first shew them what is Evil and then it Reproves them when they do Evil which Reproofs if they be despised cause the fierce Anger of the Lord to be kindled and such as despise Wisdoms Reproofs which are the Way of Life while they are so doing they are treasuring up to themselves Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God And as ever they would come to know Remission of their Sins and enjoy Peace with the Lord who is hereby justly encensed against them they must submit to bear his Indignation against them that so they may be redeemed through Judgment and brought to unfeigned Repentance and then and not till then shall they know a blotting out of their Transgressions according as 't is written Acts 3. 19. But I say before Remission of Sins comes to be known there must be a centring down into the Manifestation of the Spirit of God within which will bring down every exalted Imagination and every high Thing and lay it Low even to the Ground that so every Thought may be brought into subjection to Jesus Christ And here comes the Terrors of the Lord to be known which causeth Fear and Trembling now doth the Soul exceedingly Fear and Quake under the Sense of the just Wrath of the Almighty who is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity and whose Jealousie burns like Fire and will so do till it have consumed the Stubble that it meets with in the Heart of the Sinner For he that long offered himself as a Guide is now become a judge in the Conscience of this Creature and his just Judgment against all Unrighteousness must be accomplished True indeed the Opperation of the Word of his Power by which he judgeth is diversly felt and experienced In some 't is as a Hammer to break the Rocks is sunder In others 't is as a Fire to melt down the Dross and separate it from the Silver In all 't is as a Sword to divide Sin and their Souls assunder yea it divideth between the Soul and that sinful Spirit which hath got into it and defiled it Thus the Lord deals with his Creatures as the matter doth require he considers their Nature and Temper and layes no more upon them then he gives them strength to bare For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but Duft therefore he doth not retain his Anger forever left our Spirits should fail before him and the Souls which he hath made us However all that have sinned must know a Time of Sorrow yea even such who have not so rebelliously despised his Counsel and slighted his Reproofs and cast his Law behind their Backs as some there are which have yet inasmuch as they have at any time not hearkned unto his holy Spirit within them his Judgments will overtake them and in Righteousness will he plead with them and then I know former things will come into their Minds This I write as one having witnessed the Spirit to be given for a Remembrancer which was faithfully promised by the Lord Jesus Iohn 14. 26. even that Spirit of Truth which he told his Disciples it should bring all things to their Remembrance and so indeed it doth call back things that are past and set them in order before us judging condemning of us for what we have done amiss And now a Remnant having heard that in our Hearts that hath told us all things that ever we did we know this to be the Voice of Christ yea the spiritual appearance of the Christ of God For this was he who saw us under the Figg-tree when we had nothing but Leaves to cover us although we saw him not yet did he send and call us to himself that he might cover us with his own Spirit which when we came to be covered with we then saw who it was that cast the skirt of his Love over us and said unto us when we were poluted in our Blood Live And then was the time of his Love even when he stood at the Door of our Hearts and knockt that he might be entertained by us yea and sometimes in the silence of the Night hath he broken in upon us I know it in my own particular when no Creature hath been near this Invisible Oracle hath secretly communed with me reproving of me wherein I had done amiss and shewing me what was right in his sight And at other times in Company thus would the Lord cause his Voice to sound in my Heart THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE ARE VAIN by which I was brought off from many of those Vanities which before I had spent Time in and that by the Witness of God in my own Conscience which testified against the same although then I did not understand what it was that did so restrain from sin but now I know it was the Lord that girded me though I knew him not For I well remember when I have been using the common Language of our Country especially if after the now most usual strain this Testimony from God would arise in my Heart against it viz. I will return unto my People a pure Language Whereby I was reproved in my self for using Flattering Speech though such as was and is accounted of by many to be but Civil Language or expressions of common Civility to Persons according to their Quality in which I had such as Care to keep within the Bounds of Verity that I dare assert I did stere as near the compass of Truth-speaking as the Nature of such Speech would couch But since it hath pleased the
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
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
not prove the Lord to be so partial in his Love towards his Creatures as to choose some but leave the greatest part of Mankind in the fallen state without affording them any Benefit by Christ or a Measure of his Grace and Spirit for want of which and being so past by of God as somehave asserted they become under a necessity of sinning a necessity of dying Oh harsh Doctrine and so I must confess I often thought it whilst I was industromsly striving to work my self into a Belief of it but now from a certain experimental Knowledge and in full assurance of Faith can I testifie for God He is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that seareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him For though all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God wherefore he hath concluded all under Sin 't is that he might have Mercy upon all not willing that any should perish in Sin but that all might come to Repentance Moreover than this the Scriptures do abundantly speak forth the extent and Benefit of Christ's Death for all Mankind upon condition of Faith and Repentance joyned with new and continued Obedience which are the Gospel Terms on which he is offered to them For Christ Jesus gave himself a Ransom for all he tasted Death for every Man so saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5. Hebr. 2. 9. So that it is a certain Truth all that are or shall be saved are elected only in Christ Jesus that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life There is no Prae-exception or absolute Fore-appointment as partially designed in relation to Persons but upon Man's Disobedience Wherefore it shall not be said The Fathers have eaten sour Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but he that eateth the sour Grapes his Teeth shall be set on edge for all Souls are the Lord's as the Soul of the Father so also the Soul of the Son is his aud he hath said The Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 2 4. Yet hath the Lord no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his way and live Wherefore he hath given the Beloved of his Soul out of his Bosom to come into the World to same men from their Sins that they might be made accepted in him Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life read Rom. 5. 18. which makes it clear to me the Lord will not condemn any for Adam's Sin who have not demerited his Wrath by Actual Trausgression CHAP. V. Concerning the Sacraments AS touching the Institution of the Sacraments so called by which is meant Water-Baptism and the outward Supper here also is another great Charge brought in against the Quakers unto which I cannot but be very tender in the Answer for I must confess I my self did once think them very chargeable in this Matter Now that Baptism even the Outward and Tipical Baptism was an Ordinance that is so say a Thing ordained by one that hath power to Ordain as Iohn Baptist had Command from God to Baptize this I do believe and own But then the Lord himself hath ordained a higher Baptism whereby he saveth which surely is not the outward no that 's not of Efficacy to obtain or effect such an End which is Salvation as that I think our Enemies themselves will grant and then why are they so angry with us that we do not own it in their Outward Form But the One Baptism necessary to Salvation I do believe is Inward and Spiritual being that of the holy Ghost fore-told by Iohn the Baptist Mat. 3. 11. I indeed Baptize you with Water unto Repentance saith he but he that cometh after me is Mightier then I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire This is the Baptism which Christ commanded his Disciples that they should wait for and therefore I call it an Ordinace because ordained by Christ as you may read Acts 1. 45. And being assembled together with them he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me for John truly baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost not many days hence The same did Peter Witness Acts 11. 15 16. And as I began to speak saith he the holy Ghost fell on them as on us in the beginning then remembred I the word of the Lord how he said John indeed baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost Now if any shall Oppose these Scriptures to prove outward and Water Baptism now in force Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water of the Spirie he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead Something I shall write by way of Answer to them these being the chief Texts that ever I heard brought to prove the same As to the first I say that must needs mean the Baptism of which I am now speaking viz. Spiritual Baptism for Christ's bidding of them go denotes their being impowred from him to Baptize in or rather Into his own and his Father's Name which is the true Spiritual Baptism besides here is no Water made mention of whence we may infer the Apostles Ministry was to be the Laver in which they were to be baptized See here their Mission Christ bids them go Teach Baptizing Baptizing is in the Present Tence whilst they were Teaching and as it was then so it is now the Spiritual and Inward Baptism goes along with the preaching of the Word of Life To the second Scripture I Answer If our Opponents will have that mean Material Water may not we then as well conclude that Iohn Baptist meant Christ would Baptize them with Material fire but if we understand the Power of the holy Ghost to burn up the Stubble that naturally grows in us by the latter then must we also understand the same Power to cleanse us from our natural Filth by the former But I know it will be expected I should prove this by Scripture for which see Tit. 3. 5. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done faith the Apostle but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renexing of the holy Ghost Here is the Washing of Regeneration to parallel being born again of Water and the renewing of the holy Ghost to answer being born again of the Spirit for
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
to inform them in the Principle of True Religion for the Principle of Truth is but One I shall therefore according to the Manifestation of the Spirit given unto me endeavour to signifie What this Principle is From whom it comes and Whereto it leads PART II. Concerning the Principle of Truth What it is From Whom it comes and Whereto it leads § I. IT is a Principle of Divine Light and Life of Christ Jesus placed in the Conscience which opens the Understanding enlightens the Eye of the Mind discovers Sin to the Soul reproves for it and makes it appear exceeding sinful quickens such as accept and believe in it though they were dead in Trespasses and Sins makes them alive to God ang bringeth up into Conformity to the Image of his Son Christ Jesus that he may be the First-born among many Brethren That this Description accords with Apostolical Doctrine see Ephes. 5. 23. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Therefore saith Christ Iohn 3. 20 21. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved But he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Ephes. 2. 4 5 6. But God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in Sins hath quickened us together with Christ c. Rom. 8.29 For whom he did fore-know he also did praedestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the First-born among many Brethren Thus is general have I briefly described the Christian-Principle but that I may make it further intelligible unto you I feel it upon me to write more particularly that so when you shall read it by a familiar Demonstration you may the sooner be prevail'd upon to yield to its Operation § II. In the first place This Principle of which I am now writing 't is the Grace of God that brings Salvation and hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this Present World as saith the Apostle Tit. 2. 11 12. Even that Word of his Grace which is able to build us up and to give us an Inheritance among all those that are Sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Iesus see Acts 2. 8. By which Grace we are Called Iustified and Saved That is If we believe in the same if we receive it and continue therein grounded and settled and be not moved away from the Hope of our Calling nor from the Hope of the Gospel which we have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven according as it is written Col. 1. 23. But if we turn this Grace into Wantonness and so receive it in vain then indeed it will not save us However this Grace of God in it self is able and sufficient to save all to whom it appears and all that believe in it and are led by it are preserved because it was by this Grace of God that his Son Christ Jesus should taste Death for every man For there is no difference between the Iew and Greek but the same Lord over all is Rich unto all that call upon him For the Lord is Gracious and full of Compassion slow to Anger and of great Kindness The Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are over all his Works as you may read Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 10. 12. Psal. 145. 8. 9. All which are clear proofs that the Grace of God is both Free and Universal which Grace of God is else where called the Light of Jesus he being that Gift of Grace given by God to enlighten the Children of Men as 't is written of him Joh. 1. 9. He is that true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World And this is he whom the Father promised by the Mouth of his Prophet saying I will give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles Isa. 42. 6. The same is again spoken of Chap. 49. 6. It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the Preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a Covenant to the Gentiles that thou may'st be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And the Prophet Isaiah speaking to the Church Chap. 60. 20. saith thus The Lord shall be thine Everlasting Light To which the Prophet David brings in his Experience The Lord is my Light and my Salvation saith he Psal. 27. 1. This is indeed the mighty Saviour he upon whom the Father hath laid help and who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him whose appearance is Light whereby he Discovers and Reproves Sin in men see therefore that none reject him For this is he who hath the Key of David that openeth the Understandings of his People by which they understand the Scciptures when they read them This is he who hath discovered himself to be God manifest in the Flesh and also doth manifest himself in our Mortal Flesh in which we dwell This is he who when he was on Earth yielded both Active and Passive Obedience to his heavenly Father in Life Doctrine and Death which I firmly do believe was a Sacrifice acceptable unto God for the Sins of Men by believing in whom and yielding Obedience to him Pardon and Remission of Sins comes to be known and so the Creature finds Acceptance with the Father through the Son This is he who justifies by Faith in his own Name This is he which imputes his own Righteousness to the Children of men without whose applicatory act and gift of Grace in imputing his own Righteousness unto us all creaturely actings are but in vain This is he that hath laid down his Life for us and took it upon again for saith he I have Power so to do John 10. 18. And by the same Power that raised his own Body out of the Grave doth and will he raise up the Souls and Bodies of Believers to glorifie his great Name For this is he that Acquits his People of all Sin old as well as new taking away and cleansing them from the Sins of their first and fallen Natures as well as pardoning upon Repentance those Sins which some have at unawares or through weakness fallen into after they have received the Knowledge of the Truth For he who is called the Light of the World Iohn 8. 12. Iohn 1. 9. the same is called the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World vers 29. And therefore was his Name called Jesus a Saviour for it was said he should save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. This is he who baptizeth his People with the Water of Life and Regeneration and sealeth up his
is well-pleased for 't is no other Jesus concerning whom I write but the same that was born of the Virgin even the Lord 's Christ who hath made himself known unto his Servants by such Peculiar Names as suited the particular Circumstances of their Souls and according to their several Experiences of him so they reported concerning him Isaiah describes him to be as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land a Refuge from the Heat a Covert from Rain and from Storms Chap. 4. Vers. 6. and chap. 32. 2 Again he spake of his being to his People as a place of broad Rivers and Streams Chap. 33. 21 David calls him The Shepherd of Israel which leadeth Joseph like a Flock Psal. 80. 1. He also calls him The Watchman of Israel who neither slumbereth nor sleeps Psal. 121 4. Paul speak of his being our High-Priest yea a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedeck Heb. 5. 6. And likewise calls him the Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which God hath pitched Chap. 8. 2. Iohn the Evangelist calls him The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 9. The other Iohn or Iohn the Divine saith This is he which was and is and is to come Rev. 1. 8. And now since he is come to a Remnant and they have believed in his Light as manifest in them they are not ashamed to confess that in the mind which gives a discovery of Sin to be the Power of God the Appearance of Jesus and that Light of the Lamb which the Nations of them that are saved must and shall walk forever in according to Rev. 21. 23 24 Neither is this any new Doctrine Opinion or Principle other then that which Abel Seth Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac and Iacob with all the holy Patriarches of Old were led and guided by in things relating both to Faith Life and Worship For what else could be a Rule unto them in matters of Salvation but this divine Principle when as they had no written Laws nor Ordinances amongst them which Principle is Christ the Light and Leader of his People in all Ages of the World who is one in all never was divided though variously described being the same who by his Light sheweth unto the Wicked and condemns them for the Vanity of their Thoughts who also by the same Spirit comforts and consolates his Peoples Hearts that so as many as whose minds are turned to this Light of Jesus and stayed in it though it be but small in its first appearance yet shall they see a growth and increase of it Thus Reader have I according to the Gift communicated to me from the Dispensation of the Most-high described what the Principle of Truth is which is perfect in it self and tends to the Perfecting of those that are gathered into it And now my former Familiars Neighbours Acquaintance and Kindred in the Flesh and all others to whom this may come hereby I invite you all to turn in hither even into the secret of your own Souls to that which there reproves you for your Sins witnessing for God against all Unrighteousness of men both in Thought Word and Action striving in their Hearts to turn them from the Evil of their Wayes and from the Vanity of their Conversations to walk in the newness of Life that so they may be redeemed and restored out of their fallen state of Degeneration into the Image of God again which hath been lost through Transgression O turn in turn in I say before it be too late lest you at last cry with them spoken of in Ieremiah 8. 20. The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved Work while it is Day while the Candle of the Lord shineth in your Tabernacle be you workers together with God for the Night cometh wherein no man can Work and who can tell how soon the Sun of Righteousness may go down upon you and the Light thereof obscure it self from you Therefore hear Instruction and be wise while the good Spirit of the Lord is nigh to teach you seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near and refuse not to hearken to his heavenly Oracle in your Consciences whereby under this his spiritual Dispensation he is pleased to speak unto the Children of men lest he say by you as he said by some of Old who regarded not his Counsel They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.25.28 For that in the Conscience which checks for Sin and excites to Holiness is the Voice of the son of God by whom in these last dayes the Father speaketh unto us Oh be ye perswaded to hearken diligently unto him Hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you saith the Lord even the sure Mercies of David Isa. 55. 3. And then you will come to know that Faith which Jesus is the Author of which stands in the Power of God even in that Power which inables to resist Temptations and overcome Sin and to get Victory over the World and the Spirit of it so will you witness a dying unto Sin and a living unto Righteousness to the praise of his Grace who is calling of you out of Darkness into Light that you may be Holy in all manner of Conversation So now since God's saving Arm is made bare for the gathering many People to himself before your Eyes Beware therefore left that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets Behold you Despisers and Wonder and Perish for I work a Work in your dayes which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Read Acts 13. 40 41. But Friends my Hearts desire and Prayer to God for you is that you might be saved And therefore have I in the tender Bowels of his Love which he hath shed abroad in my Heart by Jesus Christ sent this Invitation unto you that ye all may make ready and come to the Supper of the great God who hath spread his Table and prepared a Banquet for you whereof whosoever will may eat and drink abundantly as long as the time of Visitation is extended unto you For this I write in the Openings of Life and from the motion of the good Spirit of my God do I declare unto ye viz. That none of ye were absolutely excluded from Eternity well knowing that a measure of his Grace hath been freely tendred to every one of you because his Love extendeth Universally and he is crying Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters of Life And he that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Isa. 55. 1. Here is free Grace indeed free Love indeed O do you but yield your selves the Subjects of his Love and he will set your Souls
Wherefore I say the first Mistake is Gross for any thing of Force which is that that some conclude to be the cause of my coming amongst the People called Quakers that I do declare I never felt nay I now find it to be Diametrically opposite to that Foundation Principle upon which their Religion is built which Principle is Christ the Prince of Peace who utterly disallows of all Coersive Compulsion Force Constraint or Violence to be used in Matters of Religion and teaches such who learn of him in Meekness to Instruct those that are Ignorant of the Way of Truth and then patiently to wait till he inclines their Hearts to walk in it so that having their Dependance upon and Expectation from the Lord alone they dare not attempt the Propagation of the Gospel of his dear Son by the strength and in the skill and time of man without being guided directed and subjected by him in whom is all their Help found This as to the first Mistake But the second Mistake amounts to thus much viz. That what could not be wrought upon me by Constraint and Force was othewise attempted to be brought to pass to wit by subtil Insinuations and fair Promises by which it hath been said this People use to tamper with those whom they Design to make their Proselites In Answer whereunto I shall make this Reply This mistake is Obvious For Promises of outward advantage and Worldly good availeth nothing that can stand the Soul instead Therefore it were altogether imprudent as well as utterly unlawful to propose any thing of such a kind upon this occasion neither indeed was it outward advancement that I sought after although this is a reproach I have been made to bear the Lord is my Witness herein who subjected me unto himself and made me willing to be at his disposing and to have my Lot cast by him The truth is Corn nor Wine nor Oyll did not esteem nor yet length of dayes to enjoy them for in my solitudes the whole World seemed to me as a very little thing my Soul desiring nothing but a part in Gods Kingdom which made me earnestly intreat him that he would lead me in the Way Everlasting wherefore this was my frequent Supplication unto him viz. O! thou incomprehensible Majesty who hast established thy Throne in the high and holy Heavens yet dost thou graciously condescend to look down upon the Inhabitants of the Earth wilt thou now be pleased to suffer Dust and Ashes to plead with thee and to admit Mortal Flesh to make request unto thee Then this is it O Lord that I would most earnestly implore of thee even that thou wouldst cast up cast up a Way for me and remove all Lets and Stumbling-blocks from me and mark out a plain Path before me in which I may walk straight forward towards thy Heavenly Country and that amidst the various Forms there are for Worshipping of thee my Soul may certainly know how to serve thee aright and wherewith to bring an acceptable Sacrifice unto thee So that this being the Prayer which the Lord often put into my Heart as I then took it to Pray unto him when my Soul was seeking the way to his Kingdom promises of outward promotion had they been proposed could not have given me satisfaction And as for that which hath been termed The Quakers subtil Insinuation I think it must needs intend their sincere and upright Conversation For as to my own particular I do declare There was no way by which they did insinuate into me but by being found real in what they appeared to be the Heart-searching God having then put my Soul upon search to find out a People with whom I might joyn as with a Communion of Saints I looked here and there into many Assemblies but alas still I saw their Conversations so much contradicting their Professions that I could heartily joyn with none of them And then as to their Principles some indeed I did believe when I heard them declared but other some Gods witness in my Conscience did so testifie against that them I could not receive And thus finding no People with whom I could joyn in every thing I concluded my self to be single in the matter of Religion which made me many a time extend my Voice to the Lord in these Words Oh! my God upon whom I have been cast from my Infancy up How long shall my Faith stand alone upon the Earth In Answer whereunto I must acknowledge the Lord was graciously pleased even at those very times to signifie unto my Spirit That he had many Thousands though I knew them not who were sincere and upright before him unto whom he had regard as to his own Children But still I over looked this People of whom I am writing as if it had been altogether unlikely I should find what I sought for amongst them although Natural Affect on had laid a Bond upon me to judge charitably concerning them howbeit at length there was a Way made whereby I was brought to search here also notwithstanding the many false Aspersions which my Ears were fill'd with concerning them For I could not tell but little David the beloved of the Lord might lie hid amongst the Stuff whom God hath anointed to Reign in Self-seeking Souls stead wherefore I then was willing to look amongst â—is People to wit the Quakers and to turn up the foul covering which others had cast upon them under which I soon saw a glorious one lie hid the Form of whose Countenance was like the Son of God And now having not only sought but sound the Lord and his People in the Earth in their behalf do I here set my Probatim Est I have proved them in the thing which they profess They profess themselves the Disciples and Followers of Jesus Christ from whom they derive their Name Christian which Name though it were given the Disciples in scorn at first in Antioch yet did they and so do these esteem it as an honourable Epitaph And therefore have they laboured to answer their Christian calling with such a Meek Patient Holy Harmless Humble Trembling Self-denying Conversation as may be most conformable to the Pattern of Christ Jesus the High-Priest of their Profession So that now I say upon my search amongst them I have found those who are guided by the Principle of Truth in themselves by which they were called for 't is such only whose cause I am Vindicating very careful to walk worthy of their High and Holy Calling like as they have been called by this inward Principle to be Saints so by it have they led a Saint-like Life that thereby they might reach to the same Principle in the Consciences of others And by this their innocent Life I needs must acknowledge I felt my own Conscience powerfully reached for some time before my Judgment was fully satisfied But having those words of our Saviour imprinted upon my mind Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do
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
and now hath it made me a Spiritual Traveller for Souls Eternal Well-fare AN EPISTLE To such of the Friends of Christ As have lately been Convinced of the Truth as it is in Jesus MY Dear Friends and Spiritual Relations unto whom by Grace I am allied in the Love of Truth I send you this Salutation Often have you been upon my Mind long before I found a place to write unto you For though it was first upon me to write to my former Friends and Acquaintance and Natural Relations yet you being that new Kindred spoken of by Christ Matth. 12. 50 thus are you nearer to me by the Union of his inward Grace than any unconverted thereunto can be And now I tenderly admonish you That as you are convinced of the saving Power of this Divine Principle to wit the Light of Jesus manifest in the Conscience see you constantly keep therein For Friends let me tell you Here lieth our Strength in these Times of Tryal herein is our Safety this Day of Danger in this you 'l be secure and quiet when peoples Hands shall be upon their Loins because of Fear in the Night yea though you may be come but to the Dawning of this Day of God where you can discern but the glimmering of its Light appear which may at present shew you Trouble and minister condemnation to your Souls for your Evil Deeds placing Judgment on your Heads making you possess the Punishment of your Iniquities that are past so that instead of Peace you may have great Bitterness yet be perswaded to dwell in the Judgment wait patiently upon God who draweth near to you in the Way hereof and I will assure you in this Light you shall see more Light and in it Consolation and Salvation shall be injoyed Wherefore I now write unto you Little Children in the spiritual stature being my self one of that Number by way of Exhortation To cast away your Idols keep yourselves from them say unto them Get ye hence to the Moles and to the Bats Friends you know what I mean by them turn in and I am sure the Light will let you see them and the sooner you part with them the sooner will you find Forgiveness with the Lord for the Idolatry which he hath beheld in them And when your Idols are utterly destroyed then shall you be joyned to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall never be broken And here will your Bow abide in strength wherewith you shall shoot at Mystery Babylon and see her falling down yea though her Archers may shoot sorely at you yet shall they not be able to hurt you for the Lord the Help of Israel will be a Shield before you and will turn back their Arrows into their own Quiver so shall they hang by their Sides and stick in their Hearts who privily intended to wound the Innocent without Cause Yet 't is very likely the Wicked will be pushing at you and casting scandalous Calumnies upon you in which I cannot but tenderly simpathize with you having my self lately passed those Pikes of the Enemy Renowned be the Lord of Hosts the Captain of my Salvation which caused me to march through valiantly and hath also given me the Victory so that though I speak not boastingly yet I can say The Revilings of the Vngodly do not at all dis-spirit me for now I can take their Reproaches for Christ's sake and bind them as an Ornament unto me To God be all the Glory who hath raised this Spirit of Courage and Christian-Fortitude in me and now hath called me to call on others to wait upon him that they may be thus strengthned with Might in their inward Man by him Therefore wait on the Lord be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your Hearts wait I say on the Lord as said holy David Psalm 27. 14. so shall One chase a Thousand and Two put Ten Thousand to flight Friends read inwardly so you 'll understand me I do not mean that you should avenge your selves on any with Carnal Weapons of War No no But as you stand and wait in the Light of the Lord though you can handle neither Sword nor Spear he will make you shew comely as Tirzah and terrible to the Wicked even as an Army with Banners For though the Remnant of the Just as to outward Defence are left this day like a City without Gates or Walls whom the Wicked will be PLOTTING against yet God will laugh at him for he seeth that his Day is coming and hath also given me this Confidence of Hope in him to wit That he will not give his People into the Hands of cruel Lords nor suffer Men of fierce Countenance to rule over them But they shall be as Standers in the Gap and Stakes in the Hedge though some may be but of tender growth to stop the Enemy from laying waste our Country and to stay the Lord's sore and terrible Stroke Ah Friends is it not Pity that Sin should make an Aceldama of our Nation and this City See therefore ye mind your inward Reprover that ye may be no Cause in procuring the Nation 's Misery You Children of the Light arise therefore and shine for your Light is come which will adorn your Conversation let it now appear throughout your whole Behaviour so shall your Words and Actions glorifie your Heavenly Father thus shall the Wicked see our Rock hath not sold us for stronger is he that is in us than they that are against us so though they may outwardly beset us yet we have a Rock to shelter us where the Enemy shall dispair forever of coming at us Wherefore faint not in your Minds nor be discouraged in your Spirits at the Tidings which you hear abroad but dwell within your Tent and serve the Lord with Fear everyone in your Sphear so shall you shine like Stars in their proper Orbs Yea though some of us may be but of small Magnitude as in the natural Firmament one Star differs from another Star in Glory yet as we abide in the Fear being clothed with Humility so shall we be preserved in our spiritual Station while we are as Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth to have our Conversation honest and as much as in us lies inoffensive amongst them that are without that whereas they speak against us as Evil-Doers they may by the Good Works which they shall behold in us glorifie God in the Day of their Visitation so shall we convince the World of that Principle of Light and Grace that shineth in their Hearts which if they turn into it and obey it it will teach and enable them That denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts they should live Righteously Soberly and Godlily in this present World And by this Grace shall we be to those about us as Saviours in the Hand of the Lord upon Mount Sion as others have been to us when we were in spiritual Babylon Thus we being as a City
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.