him foolishness and madness This is the Wiâ—…dom of God and the children thereof judged and condemned by man in his day And how can it be otherwise How can the wisdom of men but judge that as foolishness whose beauty and excellency is hid from its eye But this is because the wisdom of man is out of its place not subjected to the Wisdom of God but exalted above it therefore as a Curse unto it is it suffered to lift up it self in its conceitfulness against and so to persecute the pure Wisdom of God and the birth thereof that it might fall and be broken and snared and taken and its day deservedly come to an end and be shut up in the shadows and chambers of eternal darkness But what Ear of Man can hear this Surely none that is whole in the line of Man's wisdom reason and understanding but that alone which is bruised broken and in some measure dashed to pieces by the inroads of a divine Life and Nature This iâ—… the leading of that Life which hath broken it and in the shinings of the Light eternal upon it and into it may be enabled to take up the Cross to the natural part and to die that Death with Christ which preserves from the second Death with the misery thereof Happy is he who knows and hearkens to the Perswasions of God's Spirit who is born of God and taught to wait upon him and worship him in Spirit who receives his Religion from the Ligâ—… of Faith into the renewed Nature and Mind and not from the Reason of Man into the natural understanding which is easily corrupted and cannot be kept pure but alone by the indwelling of the Principle of Eternal Life in it For though such may suffer very deeply in this World from the men of this world as the Subjects and Servants to the Principle of Life have done in all Ages and Generations yet their Principle will bear them out in which God will appear to strengthen and refresh their spirits and carry them up above all their Sufferings in the Patience Meekness and Faith of the Lamb And keeping to their Principle they cannot be overcome but must either live or die Conquerors according to the will and good pleasure of Him who ordereth and disposeth of all things well and bringeth good out of every evil in despite of all the Powers of Darkness And he that overcometh whether by life or death in the Lamb's Spirit shall wear the Lambs Crown sit down in that perfect Rest in the Kingdom of the Father which will give the hearts of all his Children full Satisfaction In which assured hope Life stirring in our bosoms and quickning our hearts with Love unto our God and Zeal for his Truth we can freely give up all that is near and dear unto us in this World and lay down our heads in inward Peace â—…n the midst of the greatest outward Persecution and Trouble Even so O Lord thy Will be done concerning this Generation of thy People whom thou hast begotten to thy Self and brought forth by thy mighty Power to testifie to thy Truth in this present day Dispose of them as it pleaseth Thee and let not their Faith in thee nor thy Faithfulness to them fail but let them be a Praise to thy Name throughout all Generations and tendered by Thee as the First fruits of thine Appearance in the Glorious Light of the Everlasting Day after this great long thick and dark Night of Apostacy from the Life and Spirit of the Apostles hath so long ecclipsed and covered the brightness of thy Beauty from the fight of the Earth Isaac Pennington A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we Believe who are called QUAKERS Also what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny Concerning God Christ and the Spirit FIrst That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator Preserver of all things that Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things remain unto this day by his Power and whatsoeveâ—… he willeth in Heaven and Earth he brings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God only is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipped by all Creatures and no other thing besides him in Heaven and Earth and we believe that his Worship and Obedience and Care and Love is to be given in Spirit even iâ—… what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his people unto And we believe his True Worship required and accepted of him is not by the tradition of men in outward observances or set days or places but he is worshipped only in Spirit and Truth without respect of times places or things and that none can worship him in righteousness but his Children who are born of his Spirit and are led and guided thereby And we believe that this God hath given his Son Christ Jesus into the World a free Gift unto the whole World and that every man that cometh into the World is lighted by him that every man may believe and be saved And we believe That he is given into the World and no Nation Country or People excepted but to all mankind he is given of God and hath enlightened them And every man through the world that believeth in and receiveth Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal Salvation And every one that believes not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting misery And we believe That Salvation Justification and Sanctification is only in Him wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but him alone by which Salvation is and we believe all that receive him and believe in him are reconciled to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things and do receive the forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all unrighteousness and from the body of Sin and Death and have the witness of the Spirit in them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong to their peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwell in the Saints and by it they have fellowship one with another and the Father Son and Spirit are one And this we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe Thaâ—… he is one with the Father and was with the Father before the World was and what the Father worketh is by the Son for he is the Arm of Gods Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without beginning or end And we
made fit to Rule or Judge in Spiritual matters by all the reading and professing Moses Writings and Christs Words and the rest of the Holy Scriptures though they were given by the Inspiration of God until the Lord take of that Spirit which was upon and in Christ who is like unto Moses and give unto and pour it upon and minister it in unâ—…o them And this is done in Gods way which is secret and time which is in his own hand to those whom he accounteth wrothy thus to honour and who truly wait for it as a wayfering man for a resting place and as a Captive for deliverance And though Christ after his Resurrection said All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given unto me Go ye therefore and teach yet they were to tarry until they had the power in themselves and when that was come which they were to tarry and wait for then with that they went and so taught the Nations from the sensible feeling of that which taught them how to teach and all things else when the same Spirit and Power was upon them which was before committed unto him and so the coming forth of it from him into them and filling them therewith was to them in that work of the Ministry most effectual like as the Vertue going forth of Christ healed the Woman so the Power and Vertue of the Holy Spirit coming forth from Christ being sent of the Father and received by the Disciples who with much desire waited for that impowered them to do that which before they were commanded to do after they were endued with Power or had the Power in them and so what they were commanded to do they were to wait to receive Power in themselves from God to perform and Christ did intend to give them Power to do that which he commanded And as he commanded them to go and teach he also required them to tarry and so not to go until they had received so to do and so it was the Power of the holy Ghost in them which made them Ministers and these were and such are truly Ordained Ministers And after they had received Power from on High even the Spirit or Life of Truth and were filled therewith and so had it in them then they went to do that which was commanded them then they went to teach Nations and converted thousands and turned sinners and brought Souls to God and then they were called Christians and then were People brought to be of the True Church which Christ buildeth upon that which Flesh and Blood revealeth not And this is the Enterance into the Church in God 2 Thes. 1. 1. The receiving of the Spirit and in this God is Worshipped and not else for this hath excluded all other Worship and these only are the true Worshippers who come in thus by the door which is Christ the Light and Spirit of Truth sent into the heart from God And if all the prudent learned Divines so called in Europe or all or any of the wisest Orthodox men so called in any other quarter of the whole World can prove by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament any other true Worship of God who is a Spirit now extant among men and to be performed especially among them called Christians with acceptance to God but only that which the Spirit of Truth leadeth such unto as receive it then let them bring it forth that we may see it and prove it by plain undeniable truth of Scripture or otherwise I shall look upon their proofs words ways actions practices performances duties and several Worships as things of no value Or if there be any other enterance into the true Worship of God then this Spirit that God sendeth for the Light which leadeth to it or if there be any other Worship which God doth or will accept to be after this spoken or prophesied of in the Scriptures of Truth whereby this shall ever be done away or ended from being the true only and alone Worship of God whilst men have a being upon Earth then let the wisest of the sons of men bring it forth and produce their strong Reasons therein that we may plead together and that the enterance into and the true Worship it self of the only true invisible God may be declared all over the World for the satisfaction of every tender heart concerning this For this I am satisfied in that Christ Jesus who is the End of the Law and who finished his work when he was upon the Earth is made a Quickning Spirit and is the Way and Truth of life which bringeth into the Worship of God and he is the Beginning and the End and he leadeth to the beginning of Gods Worship and he is the end and the Rest of all the Faithful in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen and without him all is as nothing and all that comes before him are Theives and Robbers and he it is that abideth a Priest forever and his Spirit of Truth is it which all â—…cople and Professors whatsoever should first wait to receive thereby to be led into the true spiritual Worship which alone God accepteth llâ—…st they have their worship and building fall together in a day when there is none to deliver And then thus I query If Christ's own dear Disciples who had forsook all and followed him not Priests or Papists did not come to receive this Spirit by hearing all the words which he spoke unto them but by waiting after the words were ended Then whether those that have not forsaken all nor so much as the Worlds fashions do now come to receive the Spirit by reading hearing or professing the same words of Christ now written or any other part of the Scriptures Or whether a Proud man hath received this Spirit or a Lyar or Profane Person or any Wise or Prudent Man whatsoever by any means or way of his And whether any such ever did have or can or may by any industry or other way or means attain to this Spirit which leadeth in the true Worship of God but as it is freely given forth from God and then whether all people are not to be led by that Spirit which God freely giveth into the Worship of God because Christ said the Spirit shall lead which indeed doth lead into all Truth and nothing else doth so And they that have not received this from God to lead them are not yet come to be led by that which the Sons and Children of God were and are led by And the Ministration of the Spirit which all are now to be taught by is inwardly to be known in the nearest secret invisible maner and is more out of the sight comprehension and reach of mans Wisdom then any other Ministration and it is given forth from the clear Foundation it self unto the soul satisfaction of man when he is come to the end of words or having heard much or all the words that can he spoken
rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him who said I am the Light and is sate down at the right hand of God who is a Spirit eternally in the Heavens ascended up out of the sight of them which gazed after that Body which iâ—… gone out of their sight even he Christ the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil being meek and low in heart he saith Learn of me Then not of the Priests nor any longer of Moses for the Law is the School-master to Christ who being come calleth one from the Custom another from going to bury the dead another from questioning and reasoning what this man or another man should do that he might not stand looking out at others but himself to follow the Light saying Follow thou me And those that followed him when he was upon Earth saw his miracles and heard his Parables and eat of the outward Bread and were filled though many now eat and are not filled and they had his Body among them and they came to the Baptism and the Supper but Christ himself baptized not and when he was upon the Earth he said I go to the Father and I go to prepare a place for you And he said Whither I go ye know and he said before Follow me and except a man deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple and he said My sheep hear my Voice and they follow me and he entered within the Vail the Vail is over the heart and was made perfect through sufferings and is sate down in the Majesty on high glorified with God the Father and the Father was in him even the fullness of God and that which may be known of God is manifest in thee and he said he had finished the work the Father gave him to do and so the Father's will was accomplished done for which the body was prepared he said Now glorifie 〈◊〉 Father with the same glory which I had with thee from the beginning and he that spake in the body abideth forever who said A body hast thou prepared me which Body being crucified he took up his Life again then those that did know him three dayes before knew him not and he ascended and a cloud received him out of the sight of certain men who never found him unto this day for he remaineth out of the sight of most that profess him and as Lightning in the Clouds of Heaven doth he come again and every eye shall see him that condemneth Sin and the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and yet the blind cannot see nor the deaf hear And this was he that Moses commanded to hear who said he that is with you shall be in you and he that was with or without was to go away and that which was to be received within he said should abide with them forever the spirit of Truth was to lead into all Truth for though the body was prepared to do God's Will yet they by it were not lead into all Truth but sometimes understood it not though he spake Spirit Life and moreover they went away and some fled from the Truth Peter denied him that was the Truth and so such as have got a profession of the Truth without them and not the Spirit within to lead into all Truth such fly in the day of Tryal from that they profess and some deny it rather then suffer with or for it and herein them called Baptists also have not come short and some of them have bowed to the Beast and so it is with many who profess Christ and Truth without them even as with those who understood not the Parables neither could cast out the unclean Spirits so that Christ was and is grieved when he hath been so long with and professed and followed without and yet not come to that Faith which purifies the heart whereby to cast out the unclean within as thou mayst read in thy self And therefore Christ when he was upon Earth did often speak unto them of what was yet to come and I do seldom read to take notice that he did so often Preach and repeat any one thing unto them as that of the Spirit to come saying that it mark the Spirit would lead into all Truth and seeing their weakness and unbelief Mark 16. 14. he by the often repetition thereof did as it were the more chiefly to engage their hearts to wait for and seek after the Incomes of that which should comfort them and abide with them when his body was gone from them whither they could not come and to this one thing doth he direct them in various expressions as of his going to the Father and coming again and saith he I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive John 14. 16. And many things Jesus did which if they should be all wirtten the World might not contain the Books John 21. 25. And many things he spake unto them Acts 2. 40. And yet there was something to come to be waited for and after to be received which was more then all this for saith he These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the Comforter c. Mark the word but intimateth somethâ—…ng greater or more than what was spoken to them whilest he was with them for saith he He that is with you shall be in you John 14. 17. And said but the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name he will teach you all things mark what that is that teacheth all things and bring all things to your Remembrance whatsoever I have said and so that is within which bringeth the words of Spirit and Life to remembrance John 14. 25 26. And having spoken of other things he saith again But when the Comforter comes even the Spirit of Truth John 15. 26. And if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you John 16. 7. And I have many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now howbeit when he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth John 16. 12 13. Here it may be seen that they who followed Christ without and not received the Spirit within could not bear what he had to speak unto them and also it may be seen that when the Spirit was come it would be better with them And much more might be mentioned how Christ foretold what was to come and be received and revealed in that day John 16. 23. When the Spirit should be poured forth according to the Prophets all which plainly declareth and most evidently sets forth how Christ in his Ministry when he was upon Earth did most chiefly direct unto the Ministration of the Spirit of Truth which was then yet
of it remaineth unsatisfied in a restless longing desire to find receive feel and enjoy the thing it self which the words declare of and that which satâ—…fieth the true thirsting Soul comes clearly from God to the refreshing of the inward parts of man and filling of the empty barren hungrv Spirit which cannot be satisfied without God's indwellings and thus the Disciples were led along and at last in a foolish way to the great Professors they waited among them in Jerusalem and the Lord had regard unto them and sent his own Spirit unto them and then they were filled with the Holy Ghost And the secret invisible Hand of God whose Power was and is felt in my heart having out of the sight of Flesh and Blood in the hidden counsel of his secret Will led me by the vertue of the opreations and drawings thereof through those things which thereby I come to leave behind and to receive and feel that which now goeth before and is my Leader in whose Covenant of Life Eternal my Soul is now satisfied and so by good experience of the Lords Leadings and from an experimental knowledge sensible Feeling and present enjoyment of the incomes of the Spirit of Truth and Life which filleth the inward parts with the Holiness of it self and giveth Power to do the things required before of God even from the right and good understanding thereof is this written That where it meets with the like condition in a weary Travailer it may answer its own and be helpful to the weak and feeble that such may not give over pressing forwards nor faint in their long travel though many Mountains on which they did nourish themselves at formerly will not yield them Bread now yet that they may with me and the rest of the Followers and Friends of Câ—…ist past and present always continue following the Spirit as it leads until the inward man be filled therewith and so Power and Strength from God comes to be known and received in every particular For thus it is with Chirsts Followers now they are not satisfied until they are filled with that which they have heard of and their Souls thirsted after and so it was with them then and they were filled with what they wanted before and then from that which they were filled with they spoak forth and so they did teach the Nations and brought People under the Power of God and baptized them into that and dipt them into the Name of the Father and brought them under that which saveth from Sin and plunged them into the holy Spirit and as they teach'd they did this baptizing as they did teach and plunging them as their doctrine went forth into that which washeth and purifieth the Conscience from the filth and guilt of Sin of which the outward Baptism was a figure of this which saveth And so their Doctrine was from an inward Life and proceeded from that which was invisible and so reached to that which wanted life in the Hearers and so brought up the Power of God over them and them under it and into it for the Word is â—…nto and they were to bring people into the Name not Water and they were to bring or Baptize them into the Name as they did Teach Go ye and teach Baptizing into Baptizing is in the Present Tense when they did Teach and here the spiritual and Inward Baptism goes along with the Preaching of the Word of Life which is inward and brings Man into an inward enjoyment of God being baptized into his Name which is a Strong Tower which preserveth from the power of the Devil and we all who are brought into this and are come in here 〈◊〉 all by one Spirit baptized into one Body and so worship God in the Spirit having the heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience by the washing of Regeneration in the Ministration of the Gospel of Peace whereby there is a Drawing nigh to God being brought into his Name and a free access to the Throne of that Grace which saveth from and out of all filthiness of flesh and spirit Humphrey Smith The Discovery of mans Return to his first Estate by the Operation of the Power of God in the great work of Regeneration ALL Men and Women behold and see 〈◊〉 what estate you were created And God said Let us make Man in our Image God created Man in his own Image and in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them And the Lord took Man and put him in the Garden of Eden to dress and to keep it And the Lord God commanded the Man saying Of every Tree in the Garden thou mayest freely eat but of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou 〈◊〉 thereof thou shalt surely dye the death The Serpenâ—… was more subtil then any Bestâ—… of the Field which the Lord God had made he said unto the Woman Ye shall not surely dye for God doth know that in the day you eat thereof your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as God knowing good and evil And when the Woman saw the Tree was good for food and that it was pleasant unto the eyes and a Tree to be desired to make one wise she took the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her husband with her and he did eat And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed Fig-leaves together and made them Aprons And they heard the Voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his Wife hid themselves from the Presence of the Lord among the Trees of the Garden and the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou And he said I heard thy Voice in the Garden and was afraid and because I was naked I hid my self and he said Who told thee that thou wast naked hast thou eaten of the Tree whereof that I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat And the Man said The Woman whom thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the Tree and I did eat And the Lord God said unto the Woman What is this that thou hast done The Woman said The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat And the Lord God said unto the Serpent Because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all Cattel and above every Beast of the Field and upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life And I will put enmity betwixt thee and the Woman and betwixt thy seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel And the Lord God said Behold this Man is become as one of us to know good and evil and now left he put forth his hand and take also of the Tree of Life and eat live forever Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden
Mourners in Sion the Lord waits on you to be gracious unto you and though he give you the Bread of Adversity now and the Water of Affliction yet shall not your Teachers be removed into Corners any more but your Eyes shall see your Teachers and your Ears shall hear a Voice behind you saying This is the way walk in it when you turn to the right Hand or the left therefore every one of you mind the Light which is of Jesus Christ in you that judgeth the Unrighteousness of your Hearts give up to be guided by the pure Light in you which is your Teacher the Counsel of Jesus Christ and it will bring Judgment forth unto Victory and whatever he makes manifest to you to be his Will Wait on the Lord in his Counsel and he will give you Power to obey and when you have obeyed his Will take heed of departing from the Counsel of the Lord which is the Light within you to hearken to the Counsel of your own Hearts which will draw your Minds to look back at your Obedience and the Experiences you have passed through so will the Beast which received a deadly Wound with the Sword the Righteous Law that goeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb in you his deadly Wound will be healed and sits a painted Beast above the Cross of Christ working lying Wonders in your Hearts imitating the Operation of the Power of God who is purifying his Sons and Daughters with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of Burning and the Beast in you that tasted of the Power of God when he received his deadly Wound under the Justice of God now can imitate the same in Deceit and cause Fire to come down from Heâ—…en in the Sight of Men intimating the Operation of the Spirit of Burning and so deceives himself and all that dwell upon the Earth he is made manifest to all that dwell in the Heavenly Light in their Hearts All Friends mind youâ—…Watch for the Adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour abide in the Counsel of the Lord which is the Light in you and you will discern between the Beast which is Antichrist in his lying Wonders and the Lamb Jesus Christ in the Operation of his Power so you will come to try the Spirits whether they be of God yea or nay all that are guided by the Beast have their Life in speaking and acting in outward Operations what they once experienced and what they comprehended to be Truth speaking that they enjoy not and are exalted in Pride the Heart returned into the Earth But thou that art guided by the Lamb the Light in thy Conscience the righteous Law cryes through thy earthly Heart and bringâ—… it to Judgment and thou canst find no Life in the Operation of the Power of God nor in thy Obedience but whilst the Presence of the Lord is with thee in it and when thou haâ—… done the Will of God in obeying what he hath made known unto thee thou seeâ—…t thy self to be an Unprofitable Servant and hast need of Patience that thou may est receive the Promise where thy Life is hid with Christ in God to save thee freely for his Names sake or else thou perishest and to carry thee on by his Mighty Power or else thou fallest so thou haft nothing to glory in but in the Lord And as they that are guided by the Beast which is Antichrist spake of the Truth a riddle to their own hearts not knowing the Power and Life of what they speak adding to the Word of the Lord and the Plagues Curse of God will be added unto them But thou art guided by the Lamb Jesus Christ thou knowest when the Word of the Lord is committed to thee If any have my Word saith the Lord let him speak my Word faithfully Is not my Word like a Fire saith the Lord and like an Hammer that breaketh the Rocks in Pieces Thou canst witness the Word of the Lord to be as a Fire and as a Hammer to break the Rocks in Pieces in thee and bring down all in thee in Subjection to itself and it alone rules in thee And thou that canst witness the Word of the Lord thus manifested in thee thou art a true Messenger of the Lord let not the Deceit stop thy Mouth for the Word of the Lord that calls thee to speak shall perfect his Work for which he is sent All Friends stand fast in the Counsel and Will of God be faithful in following the Lamb daily through the Cross and none be discouraged In Temptations be content look up to the Lord to keep you in the Hour of Temptations for it is no Sin to be tempted but to yield to the Tempter and when the Lord delivers you from the Power of the Tempter watch that your Will get not from under the Cross but sink down into the Love of God And every one be content in what the Lord hath made manifest to you and be faithful according to your Talents and more will be communicated to you And none look forth at others Conditions for if you do the Enemy will cause you to stumble and you will come to a Loss in your own Condition Wait patiently in the Counsel of the Lord the Light in you for he is making a short Work in the Earth that you that come into the Vineyard at the eleaventh Hour shall receive as much as they that came in at the third Hour and have laboured in the Heat of the Day All ye Children of the Lord lift up your Heads behold your King riding in Majesty and Power upon the wild Ass Colt which is your wild Nature subjecting it to himself that you may enter with him through the Gates of the city into the New Jerusalem where there enters nothing that worketh Abomination and maketh a Lye but what is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and there you shall dwell in the Banqueting House of the Lord forever feeding upon the Feast of fat Things rejoycing in the Eternal Love and Mercy of your Souls in the free Covenant of Life in the Blood of Christ who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings God blessed forever who is riding on in Majesty and in Power conquering and to conquer all the Powers of Darkness in the Hearts of his Saints that they may reign as Kings upon the Earth to the Praise and Glory of our God who is taking unto him his Great Power to reign in his Saints for evermore to whom alorâ—… be all Honour Glory Power and Eternal Praises forever W. D. A Word of Consolation unto the Child of Light that yet sits in Darkness being deeply afflicted and wounded in Spirit through Ignorance of Salvation in the New Covenant in Christ Jesus the Light DEar Child of the Birth of the Immortal Seed which crieth over all the World and beyond all the Pleasure Pomp and Vanity therein for the Enjoyment of
Spirit in him quickning his mortal Body as well as to believe that it was in Christ and raised up him from the Dead Rom. 8. 11. And this man whoever he be Bound or Fâ—…ee that thus believes the Death of Christ and itâ—… Satisfaction to God as well as its Usefulness to man cannot make it void nor divide it and its Virtue upon the Soul that thus knows it but will say Here is a dying man witnessing the Death of Christ and nevertheless the same man living with Christ and concluding if Christ had not dyed man must have perished in his Sin This being the Way found out by God to recover him whereby he knows Christ and him crucified and what the preaching of the Cross of Christ is which is Foolishness to them that perish but to them that are saved the Wisdom of God and the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 81. By this Gift of God in our Hearts we further believe That Christ Jesus rose again froâ—… the Dead according to the Scriptures and sits at God's Right Hand in a Glorious Body And we believe that our low Estates and humble Bodies shall be made like unto his glorious Body through the Working of his Mighty Power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and that this Mortality shall put on Immortality For though we believe that Christ Jesus hath lighted every man with his Light whereby man may come to know himself lost and undone as before is said yet therefore is not every man saved though the Grace that appears to all men is sufficient in it self but some have the Grace of God bestowed upon them in vain not likeing to retain God in their Knowledge though something within them shews them what is good But they reject the Counsel of God within or against themselves to their own Destruction Luke 7. 30. see the Mergant and yet it doth not follow that the Grace is insufficient of it self no more then it follows that Christ's Death is insufficient because he tasted Death for every man and yet every man is not saved Neither doth Regeneration or the believing in the Light of Christ within make void the Death and Sufferings of Christ without at Jerusalem no more then believing the Scripture testimony without concerning Christ's Death makes void the Work of Regenertaion and Mortification within but as the Apostle saith in another Case so I say in this For as the Man is not without the Woman neither is the Woman without the Man in the Lord even so is not the Death Sufferings of Christ without at Jerusalem to be made void and of none effect by any thing within neither doth the Light within make that of none effect without but both in the Lord answers his Will For though there is and may be a Knowledge and Belief of what Christ did and Suffered without the Gates in his own Body upon the Tree and yet Sin alive in the Heart and the Work of Regeneration not known yet it can't be so where the Light within is believed on and obeyed so as to have its perfect Work in the Heart to regenerate and make all things new and to be of God this man can never make void what Christ hath done and suffered without And yet this New Birth or Christ formed within and dwelling in the Heart by Faith doth not limit or confine Christ to be only within and not without also but both within and without according to the Good Pleasure of the Father to reveal and make him known for he fills all things and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him and yet is he at God's Right Hand far above all Heavens in a glorious Body And we also believe the Resurrection of the Just Unjust the One to Salvation and the Other to Condemnation according unto the Judgment of the great Day and then shall every Seed have its own Body according to 1 Cor. 15. 36 37. which we verily believe For if the Dead rise not we are of all men most miserable But because we dare not be so foolishly inquisitive as to say With what Bodies shall they arise therefore do some say We deny both the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of all that are or shall be dead But this also is false for every man shall be raised in his own Order but Christ the First Fruits 1 Cor. 15. 23. And we believe they shall be raised with the same Bodies so far as a Natural Spiritual Corruptible and Incorruptible Terrestrial and Celestial can be the same We further believe according unto the Sâ—…riptures concerning Faith That this Faith is only true which is God's Gift and has Christ Jesus the Power of God for its Author and Object and is distinguished from the Dead Faith by its Fruits For though in Description and Definition they may carry a Resemblance yet in Nature are as different as a Living Man is from a Dead which wants not Form or Shape but Life Power So saith the Apostle James As the Body without a Spirit is dead so is Faith without Works even so is that Faith which stands in the Wisdom of Words and not in the Power of God by the one man is kept in Captivity to the World and the things of it but by the other he hath Victory over the World 1 Joh. 5 4. and the Seal and Witness thereof in his own Heart whereby it is purified and God is seen for the Pure in Heart see God Mat. 5. 8. This Faith differs men now and their Worships as it did Cain and Abel For By Faith Abel offered up a more excellent Sacrifice then Cain Hebr. 11. By this Living Faith Abel saw beyond the Sacrifice unto Christ the First Born of God beyond the Firstling of the Flock which he offered and therefore God had Respect unto Abâ—…l and his Offering but God rejected Cain and his Offering though he had Faith to believe it to be his Duty yet sticking in the Form and not flying on the Wing of Faith unto Christ the One Offering he missed the Mark as all have done ever since that have gone in Cain's Way of Worshipping as well as Killing men about Worship But we believe that Faith to be only true and saving that flyes over Self Righteousness as well as Filthiness unto the Fountain of Life in Christ which Faith hath nothing of man in it but is as the Breath of Life by which the Soul lives nor a bare Assent of the Truth of a Proposition in â—…he natural Understanding but the Soul's cleaving unto God out of a Naturalness between Christ and the Soul and so live rather by Relation then bare Cerdit or desperate Adventure and Hazard not looking at its doing to commend it but God's Love and Bounty in Christ the Light to receive it and yet Holiness is its Delight he can no more live out of it then the Fish upon the dry Land We believe That this Faith