out of the deceitful and wicked heart and the Devil he is the father and the Author of it and of all sin and whosoever commits sin is of the Devil and so out of the heart from the cursed ground it springs and arises for lust after it hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death for the wages of sin is death Therefore every one in particular mind the leadings and movings of the pure spirit of Light for there is your strength near you and if ye thorow the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body then shall ye live and be made sensible of the workings of God destroying the Devils works and defacing his image and renewing in you a pure image like unto himself and so the pure Truth ye will really be possessed of that which the Lord doth love and desire even Truth in the inward parts and offer up a sacrifice in righteousness to the Lord which is a broken heart and a contrite spirit which ever was and is acceptable in the eyes of the pure God for God is pure and loves righteousness and to know him and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is life eternal Now to have a literal knowledge of him and so to speak of him from the Scripture letter and not from the spirit and power of God within this is not a saving knowledge but puss up into pride and soto reject and despise the cross of Christ Such a knowledge had they who crucified the Son of God and such a knowledge have many in our age but are persecuting the appearance of Christ in his Saints But this I say none knows the Lord in Truth and Righteousness but as he is revealed and manifested by his spirit within for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep and hidden things of God So all turn in your minds and wait upon the Lord in the Light of his spirit that into his house you may be led there to feed upon the living bread soul-satisfying food upon the hidden Manna that which the world knowes not but it is hid from them who be without feeding amongst the swine upon the husks and empty shadowes but through love and mercy is revealed unto us by the spirit of our God and freely imparted unto you to invite you to come in to our Fathers house that you may eat with us and be satisfied and praise the Lord with us in the Land of the living for ever and ever Oh my dearly beloved whom my soul longs and breaths after whom in the truth I dearly love you are as a lively Epistle written in my heart and I cannot forget you go on in the Name and Power of the Lord look not back there is nothing behind you but death and darkness for if any one draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in them therefore press on towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus let not the rage of the heathen daunt you knowing that it is our portion from that wicked and untoward generation to be reproached and reviled But blessed are ye when men revile you and reproach you and persecute you and speak all manuer of evil against you falsely for the Name of Christ rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets and the holy Apostles which which were before you for if you were of the world then would the world love you but because Christ Jesus hath chosen you out of the world to be unto him a holy People therefore do they of the world who know not God hate and revile you but herein they are discovered and made manifest of what generation they are of even of cursed Cains who slew his brother and where envy and rage is they bear the mark of Cain and so in this day of the Lord they are made manifest for wherever persecution is it is a mark of the beast that makes war against the Lamb and it is not the mark or token of a Christian for the Nature of a Christian is to suffer and not to persecute therefore though ye suffer and be reproached yet be not discouraged but put on the strength of God the armour of righteousness whereby ye may all be kept safe and the fiery darts of the wicked cannot pierce you Dwell in meekness and love and pure innocency these are the Garments of the Lamb which the world cannot stain though they may cast dirt and filth upon you by their lies and false slanders yet your innocency and uprightness shall stand a witness against them and so their mouths shall be stopped and the witness of God in their own consciences shall testifie against them and answer for you and for the Lords Truth which you profess and make them to acknowledge though against their wills that God is in you of a Truth I do by the power of the Lord charge you all in the presence of the Lord who profess the light that you walk in the light that every one may be in life and substance what you seem and profess your selves to be in words that no hypocricy may be amongst you nor deceit nor feigned love nor seeming shew of feigned humility for that is gross and wicked abomination in the eyes of the pure God but that indeed and in truth your love may flow forth one towards another without dissimulation for this is a true mark and token that you are the Lords chosen ones for hereby shall all men know that you are followers of the Lord if ye love one another for love is of God and all who dwell in love they dwell in God for God is love Oh let this love constrain you to deney your selves freely and follow him who by his love invites you to come and eat and drink freely at his Table Let not the love of the world nor any other earthly enjoyment draw away your hearts and affections from the pure love of God into the love of the visible and creaturely enjoyments and so for a messe of pottage Esau like sell your birth-right for want of a small thing of self-denyal chusing the pleasures of the World as many do rather then to suffer with the people of God despising and counting the Cross of Christ foolishness and so lose the Crown of glory Oh let it not be so with any of you but take up the Cross willingly and despise not the day of small things but whatsoever the light of Christ doth shew you to be evil or vain cast off and deny that evil and vanity otherwise you cannot have true peace for whilst the wild nature is at liberty and the unruly affections and lusts they war against the soul therefore saith Christ take my yoke upon you and learn of me I am meek and lowly in spirit and you shall find rest unto your souls So the yoke of Christ being laid upon the
wilde it tames and brings down and leavens the whole and brings it into the nature of Christ to meekness and gentleness and lowliness of mind and brokenness and tenderness of spirit and so the fountain comes to be opened and the pure streams flowes forth to water the City of the living God Therefore hide not the enemies of your peace in your own bosoms neither let any prejudice or evil thoughts lodge in your hearts if you do it will eat as a canker untill the pure love be grown cold and then comes a cloud of darkness and hides the glory of the Son of Righteousness that it doth not shine in its brightness and the earth will grow thick and stop the passage that the streams of love cannot run to water and refresh the plants of God therefore be faithful in following the light and yielding up to the pure obedience to what the light makes manifest though it be never so small or foolish to worldly wisdom for that which stumbles at little things will never obey greater and whilst you are disobedient to the light after convincement of any fin you not turning from that sin which the light of Christ makes manifest and reproves for it you are still in the same nature with the world under the same condemnation being condemned by the light in your own consciences Therefore every one be faithful according to your measures and so in love and joy you will be kept in the unity of the spirit and bond of peace and grow up in the vine as lively plants and encrease in grace until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man even to the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ Take heed of reasoning and consulting withflesh and blood for that betrayes the simplicity for many have been convinced of the Truth and tender and honest desires and a true love raised in them by hearing of the sound or declaration of Truth but not abiding in that love to wait in the Cross of Christ but reasoning with flesh and blood they have lost their tenderness and simplicity and those true desires are choaked and the iniquity got up and their love grown cold and such though they may come to your meetings Yet are dead barren empty and possessed with a dull and sluggish drowfie spirit when others are feeding and sitting in peace and rest under their own vine having oyl in their vessels these careless ones are ready to starve and are weary in waiting when words are not ministred I say unto all such repent and fear the living God and cause not the holy Name of our God to be blasphemed amongst the Heathen return to your first love and wait in patience until refreshment come into your souls from the presence of the Lord. And all you dearly beloved ones who keep your garments white and clean you are as my own life and dear unto me as the Apple of mine eye with you I am present in the spirit of pure love though in the body I be absent from you Dear hearts let my bowels be refreshed to hear of your faithfulness and growth in the truth that the labour and travel of the Messengers of the Lord may not be in vain but that we may rejoyce in our labours and see the fruits springing up to the glory of God this will be our joy and your comfort So all of you in patience wait until the work of the Lord be perfected in you turn not to the right hand nor to the left but keep in the plain way that leads to life eternal meet often together accordingly as you have been directed and when you are met together wait upon God in his pure fear with the loins of your minds girt up that his voice you may hear and his counsel receive and stand in so shall your meetings be for the better and not for the worse and your strength renewed though there be no sound of words spoken to your outward ears yet coming once to taste of the sweetness of the love of God you will find the union more pure more dear and more neer then pen or tongue can declare for if there be a sweetness and a refreshment to hear words as I know there is when they are spoken from the pure life and spirit of the Lord then much more is there sweetness and more pure refreshment in the spirit of the Lord from whence the words do proceed and all words and writings given forth from the spirit are to bring to the spirits worship this is the sum and the end of all the shadows and carnal observances to know God and to worship him in Spirit and in truth according as it is written for there is no man knowes the things of God but the spirit of God so without the spirit guiding and teaching all words and writings will but little avail onely serve to add to the condemnation of all those that are hearers but are not doers of the Word of God Therefore every one retire your selves into your inward habitations and wait upon God in the manifestation of his spirit as you have received and as the pure spirit of the Lord doth move in any of you so be obedient either to act or speak for the Word of the Lord is not limited but if any one have the Word of the Lord let him speak it faithfully for you may all prophesie one by one and if any thing be revealed to another that stands by let the first hold his peace quench not the spirit for it is my desire that all the Lords people were Prophets but let all flesh be silent I charge you by the Lord and none to speak before the Lord for that is but as chaff and what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord is not my word as a fire and as a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces So all dear friends wait that the Word of the Lord you may feel within you and tast of it which is quick and powerful and cuts down sin and removes the earth and breaks the hard heart and purifies it and purges the conscience from dead works and so the body is made a holy Temple for the Lord to dwell in as it is written I will dwell in them and walk in them I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore saith he come forth and be ye separate touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty All mind the call of a loving Father and be obedient to his voice that you may be heirs of the promise and have a right unto the tree of life and live and reign with the Lord God and the Lamb and sing the songs of deliverance praises and haleluja's for ever and ever The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and teach you to live soberly and righteously and establish you in the truth that your words and actions may be gracious and savory proceeding from the grace of God that you may have salt in your selves to savour withal no more to be tossed to and fro with mens doctrines but be built upon the rock of ages even Jesus Christ the light of the World the same to day as yesterday and shall continue the same forever The peace of God which passeth understanding keep your hearts and minds up to God in love and unity all to grow that God may delight to do you good and to dwell amongst and his pure power to compass you about 〈◊〉 keep you upright and single-hearted This so large an Epistle with my own hand have I wriâ—ten unto you because my love is enlarged toward you The Lord God Almighty breath forth his spirit upon you and guide you in his pure wisdom that with chearfulness you may run the race set before you Faint not 〈◊〉 the way but be ye faithful unto death and you shall have 〈◊〉 Crown of life Read this with a meek and sober spirit in the fear of the Lord when in his name you are met together For friends in the Truth in the West parts of England or else where it may come Written from the movings of the Lord as I was directed by his spirit by your dear brother in the Lord who is a Labourer in his Vineyard Known to you by a nearer name then Alexander Parker THE END
A TRYALL OF A CHRISTIAN SHEWING That it is not the outward name of Christian that differs from a heathen but the inward life and nature Also A Testimony of Truth against the deceit and subtilty of the Serpent wherein truth is cleared from many accusations With a loving Invitation to all who are hungring after the living bread and hath not wherewith to satisfie themselves in their own houses but are seeking without and begging from others and are spending their money for that which is not bread inviting them to come into my Fathers house where they shall find full satisfaction With a word of exhortation to all who are called to be saints by way of remembrance to stir up their pure minds By Alexander Parker LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. TO THE READER Friend IF thou art so far come into the moderation as to try all things and hold fast that which is of God stand single in that which is pure and try not the truth in a ballance of deceit for that which is of God must be tryed by something of himself the light of the body is the eye If thou deny the light with what wilt thou see the natural cannot discern the spiritual neither can the darkness comprehend the light but the light the darkness Now if thou wilt try that which is good let the light of Christ in thy conscience judge for that I own to be a measure of the true light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world if thou deny this true light thou deniest the life of Christ and art in death and darkness and cannot receive the things of God if thou receive them not here thou mayest see what hinders but otherwise if thou confess that Jesus Christ is come a light into the world a light to lighten the Gentiles and if thou believe that in the first nature thou art a Gentile and cannot witness the new nature wilt thou deny the gift of God which is given thee to open the blind eye to lead thee out of the prison of corruption into the new nature If thou denyest this light thou denyest the way the truth and the life and hast left thy self without all help of recovery so thy damnation is of thy self You will not come unto me that you may have life saith he Now if thou canst believe that in the Son is life turn to him that thou mayest have life and if thou believest the Scripture that the life is the light of men receive it and believe in it that thou mayest be a child of light for this I say and stand a witness for the Lord that if ever thou find him who is the desire of all Nations it must be by a measure of himself made manifest in thee therefore delay not as thou prizest thy pretious soul but seek him while the may be found for in the grave there is no remembrance of him to day hear his voice then harden not thy heart but turn at his reproof that which reproves thee in secret and makes manifest all thy evil deeds that is the light which leads out of sin and evil this is the voice which saith behind thee This is the way walk in it therefore see thou refuse not him that speaketh but turn at his reproof that he may pour out his spirit upon thee contrarywise if thou wilt not stand in his counsel but hate his reproof thou mayest call but he will not answer thou mayest seek early but thou shalt not find thou mayest strive but shalt not be able to enter and being without art among the dogs sorcerers whore-mongers murtherers idolaters and lyars which have their portion in the lake for ever and ever It is the Nations of them which are saved that walk in the light of the Lamb these do his commandements that they may have right to the tree of life these that walk in the light are they that enter through the gate into the City Now if thou sayest in thy self that thou hast witnessed an entrance already how camest thou in art thou one of the saved Nations that walks in the light of the new Jerusalem canst thou truly say that Jesus Christ hath perfectly wrought his work in thee which he came into the world to finish that is to put an end to sin and bring in perfect righteousness If this be wrought in thee thou art righteous as he is righteous for he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one and if thou art one with Christ thou art a new creature created unto good works which is the fruit whereby thou art known from the world for thou art not of the world that witnesseth redemption out of the vain conversation for the worlds fruits whereby they are known is the vain conversation thou that hast an eye to see thou mayest see if these marks of a Chrisiian be found in thee I own thee and am one with thee in the life of Christ but if on the contrary the worlds marks do appear in thee I deny thee and all thy profession and service is an abomination in the sight of the Lord for thou professest what thou art not and so art a hypocrite blaspheming the Name of Christ in saying thou art a Christian being found one of the Synagogue of Satan Therefore friend whoever thou art to whom these papers shall come be not prejudiced against the truth before thou hast heard it first read and then judge try the matter before thou passest sentence be sure it be in the cool of the day for this know and I bear testimony to the truth hereof that herein is the pure way of God declard in which the holy men of God did walk which the Prophets prophesied of and the Apostles walked in which way is Christ the light of life who is come and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and his way which is pure and his life which is perfect the end of our faith and salvation of our souls and knowing the Lord and his way and his indignation against sin and wickedness cannot but deal plainly with all people judging and condemning onely the deceit and deceivable wayes which leads to destruction if thou say most Sects and Judgements will plead for their own I say we are not our own but anothers who hath bought us with his blood and for him we plead and for his pure life contend held by the mystery of faith in a pure conscience once delivered to the Saints for which we are bold to contend and valiant to go forth to battel by his command under his banner to fight against the Beast and all his Army Gog and Magog which battel shall never end till the Lamb hath got the victory and all his enemies brought under his feet for now is he risen in his Saints and glorified in his servants and admired in them that believe yea I bear testimony
life of the Heathen and the pure law of equity is set up to do to all as they would be done unto according to the doctrine of Christ and all who walk according to this light though they bear the name of Heathens yet their heathenism who keep the Law of equity doing unto all as they would be done unto their heathenism shall condemn those who profess Christ in words and are called Christians but do not act according to the Law of equity but cast the Law of God behind their backs such are shut out from the promise of life and have no right unto Christ who act contrary to him such are heathens of what countrey or nation soever they be who live in sin and fulfil the desires of the flesh they cannot please God for they who live after the flesh are not subject to the Law of righteousness but are heathens living in rage and malice pride and vain-glory lightness and wantonness scâ—ffing and jearing reviling and persecuting lying and swearing drunkenness whoredomes murders and such like these are the marks of the heathens and all such are shut out of the kingdom of God and have no share with the Christians in the inheritance which is everlasting for there is no promise to the wicked but wo is their portion for ever So the true Christians have right to to the inheritance Christ Jesus but the heathens have no right unto the promise until they come forth and repent and be turned from darkness unto light and from the Power of Satanunto God they that are Christians are in Christ and are Christs bought and purchased by his bloud and they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts but they that are heathens are out of Christ in the world not bought and redeemed from sin but are satisfying and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh so in the name of God I do exhort every one that doth read this to try your selves with the Light of Christ in you whether you be in the faith or no or true Christians and be not deceived with a vain hope contenting your selves with the bare name when the life and nature is wanting for though you may profess all the Scriptures and can talk much of God and Christ without you yet all this doth not make you true Christians unless the word of God and the life of Christ be manifest in you as it was in them that gave forth the scriptures for the scriptures do declare of a generation that were great professours and as zealouss for God and the Ordinances of God as you can be for Christ and his ordinances as you profess yet they were blind in understanding and had not true discerning but did oppose Christ Jesus the Son of God I speak of the Jewes and that generation of scribes and Pharisees who profest a Christ to come but when he was come because he came not in pomp glory according to their expectation but in a low despised manner they called him a blasphemer and cryed out crucifie him and this was the cause of their blindness they had not the word of God abideing in them so the vail was over their eyes Christ cryed wo unto them calling them blind guids whited walls painted sepulchres and the like so I say unto you all your outside profession your going to hear Sermons and the like this you may do many years as I know you have done and be never the better but grow worse and worse ever learning laden with sin and led away with divers lusts but never able to come to the true knowledge of God for none ever knows God in truth and righteousness but as he is known by the working of his spirit within whereby he destroys the works of the Devil in the heart and creates a new heart and a new mind according to his own will and renews his own Image of righteousness and true holinesse and so man is made Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works and so his members are servants of righteousness and the work of God is brought forth into the world by his servants and children whereby he is glorified in them and wisdom is justified of her children But all those of what name soever they are called whether Jews Gentiles or Christians though they may professe much outwardly and be counted godly and religious yet if their hearts be not upright to God and purified by the Word of God abiding in them they cannot serve nor worship God in truth for if iniquity do lodge in the heart and be regarded God will not hear the prayers of such nor accept of their sacrifices for it is not every one that sayes Lord Lord that shall enter into the Kingdom of God but such as do the will of God such shall know of his doctrine and such are they that are built upon the rock of ages and such do glorifie God by their godly and upright lives and so are Gods workmanship and bears Gods Image of love and meeknesse patience and long suffering and the like But thou and all you that are in rage and envy you are the devils workmanship and bears his Image drunkards swearers lyars scoffers scorners light and wanton ones you are the devils workmanship and he begot you and is your father and you bear his Image and not the Image of God All you high and lofty ones you proud Pharisaical professors you proud and covetous ones God never begat you but the God of the world the Prince of the air he rules in you and carries you up into pride and vain glory and all you ungodly ones under what name soever you be you are not in the way of God but in the way of the wicked one and your end will be misery The righteous God of heaven and earth doth not desire the death of any of you but that you might turn from your wickedness and live for this end he hath given his dear Son a light into the world who doth enlighten you wherby many times you are made sensible of your lost conditions how that you are aliens and strangers from the covenant of promise and you have been many times reproved in secret for your sins and iniquities and called and invited to come forth of your sins But have you not been rebellious and stiff-necked and resisted the councel of God and would none of his instructions But you have chosen your own wayes and you have delighted in your own abominations and so not minding the goodness and long suffering of God which leadeth to repentance all that hearken to his voice but you after your hardness and impenitent hearts are treasuring up unto your selves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgements of God who will render unto every one according to his deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for honour
they did eat together in singleness of heart as it is declared and testified in the Scriptures 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ for we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread This bread and this cup are not carnal and visible but spiritual in invisible This bread is Christ for saith he I am the bread of life I am the living bread that came down from above John 6.35 John 6.51 he that eats of this bread shall live for ever and he shall never hunger and he that drinks of this cup shall never-thirst but it shall be in him a well of living water springing up unto eternal life John 4.14 Christ Jesus is called by several names in the Scriptures and they who have the names but not the substance are in confusion and devision and falls out about the names and so runs into the outward which are but the shadowes but knows not the life and substance 1 Cor. 2.14 John 6.35 John 8.12 He who is called the bread of life the same is called the Light of the World who doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World John 1.9 and every one loving and walking in the light so they come to walk in love and unity 1 John 1.7 and are all made partakers of that one light and so of that one bread which is the Saints life 1 Tim. 3.16 which is spiritual and a mistery hidden from the world and from all worldly wisdom Psal 25.15 but revealed to them that fear the Lord and is to them a living Ordinance ordained of God for the Salvation of their souls And as for the outward water it is but a figure of the living water within which washeth and cleanseth the heart which the outward water doth not Heb. 10.22 Ephes 4.5 Mat. 3.11 As for the one Baptism I own which is the Baptism of Christ with the holy Ghost and with fire which the water Baptism was but a figure of and in denying the outward water Baptism it is no breach of Christs Commands 1 Cor. 1.17 for I was not sent to Baptize but to preach the Gospel And all you who take upon you that power I demand of you who gave you commission to go and Baptize with outward water if you take your commission from the letter without a lively commission from Christ I deny your ground and your commission 1 Cor. 3.11 for it is not the letter of the Law of God that doth impower any one to execute the Law of God neither doth the letter of the Gospel impower any one to go and preach the Gospel though they be never so skilful and expert in the knowledge of the Scripture without power from on high to commission and impower them no more then the letter of the Law of England doth impower any one to be a justice of peace to execute the Law though many may buy the letter of the Law and may be expert and skilful Yet if the earthly powers do not give them commission they cannot act as a justice nor execute the Law if they should take upon them such a thing the powers of the earth would call them into question Even so all you who have taken upon you that power to baptize without commission from the Lord assure your selves you will be called into question and in the Name of my Lord and Master I do charge you to give an account who it was that gave you commission and cease speaking against others who keep the commands of God whom you cannot accuse justly for breach of the holy and pure substantial commands And likewise all other the Ordinances of Christ as praying and singing according as the spirit of God doth move to sing with understanding 1 Cor. 14 15. and to pray with understanding for as the Apostle saith Rom 8.26.27 1 Cor. 2.10 we know not what to pray for as we ought but the spirit helpeth our infirmities and makes intercession for us with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered for it is the spirit that makes manifest and searcheth out the deep and hidden things of God John 4.24 for as God is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit so there is none knowes him nor worships him in spirit John 3.5 but those who are born of the spirit And so whatsoever the world or the enemies of Truth do say or speak of us Rom. 13.8 yet we can truly say in the presence of the Lord that we ow no man any thing but love 2 Cor. 6.4 to the 11. desiring the good of all people that all might come to the knowledge of the truth and for this end do we labour and travel under many heavy burthens through much reproaches and cruel mockings Mat. 5.11 12. stocks bonds and imprisonments every one giving their sensures of us and so we pass thorow many tryals but in all these things we can rejoyce knowing that it is and hath been the portion of the Lords chosen ones to be reviled and persecuted by the wicked generation they went through evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true and so in the Name and Power of the Lord do we go abroad as we are led by his spirit freely declaring unto others in tenderness of love unto their fouls what the Lord hath done for our souls and we do not go about to deceive any Acts 26.18 nor to draw any to our opinions but to turn them from deceit and deceivers and to gather them to the Lord that so the Lord may teach them according as he hath promised and according as it is written Isa 56.13 all the Children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord. And though for our love we be envied and hated John 15.20 yet for Christ our Masters sake we can willingly bear it for the servant is not greater then his Masters for saith Christ as they have done unto me so will they do unto you and so it is no new thing but that which hath formerly been for the appearance of Christ was ever opposed especially by the professing people who had a form of godliness but were ignorant of the power as the Scriptures do bear testimony with me For in the time of the Law under that administration divers Statutes and Ordinances were given forth by Moses and while those things were practised and done in the integrity and simplicity of heart it was accepted of the Lord But when they turned from their integrity and uprightness of heart though they drew near to God with their lips and with their mouthes and multipled their offerings and sacrifices Yet it was abomination in the eyes of the Lord and the Lord sent his servants the Prophets to testifie
to the truth and witness the glory of his power revealed in me praises praises to his name for ever therefore do deny all the worlds glory and honour pleasure and profit and esteem it great riches to be worthy to suffer persecution and reproach with his dear people who are reviled of the world and scornfully called Quakers but known to me by another name and I to them by the same but to the world by Morgan Watkins A TRYAL OF A CHRISTIAN It is not the outward name of Christian that differs from a heathen but the inward life and nature TRy your selves with the touch-stone of Truth all you who bear the name and are professed Christians see and read within with a single eye whether you be in Truth what you profess in words and have the nature and life of Christ manifest in you or you have the bare name and are one in nature and life with the heathens the day is dawned which doth discover each name and nature and it is not the outward name of a Christian that will avail where the life and nature of Christ is wanting Many there be who are called Christians because they have been sprinkled with outward water which hath been called baptizing into the faith and into the Church but all are not Christians who are so called it is not the outward name nor the outward sprinkling or dipping that doth make a true Christian no more then the outward name and the outward Circumcision did make a true Jew as it is written by the Christians He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcission which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter So it is of a Christian not the outward washing or sprinkling but the inward washing with the blood or life of Jesus whereby the heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed with pure water so as many as are baptized into Christ by the holy Ghost have put on Christ and are one in Christ one heart one mind one soul and are like unto Christ in name and nature they bear his Image and his name is written in their foreheads and they are marked and known to be his and followers of him by their meekness and lamb-like harmlesness by their gentleness patience and long suffering by their soberness and temperance moderation and vertuous chaste conversations by their humility and true love one toward another these are tokens and marks of a true Christian but all those who have the name of Christians and profess God and Christ and scriptures and do not live according to what they do profess but are in nature like unto the heathens and so they are marked out and known by their fruits All those that live in rage envy wrath and malice these are marks of a heathen and not of a Christian and they are of their Father the Devil and bears his mark in their foreheads so every one doth bear the image of him that begat him There are two births the one from above the other from below that from above is pure and that from below is impure and these are contrary one to the other even as light and darkness all the Children that are begotten of God who is pure and born of the spirit are hated and persecuted by them who are begotten by the Devil and born of the flesh and so as it was in former ages they that were born after the flesh did persecute them that were born of the spirit even so it is now in this age but they that were born of the spirit did never persecute any but did bear and suffer even as Christ the forerunner hath lest an example and all that follow him and will live godly in him they must suffer persecution for it can be no otherwise for enmity is put between the two seeds and there is no agreement nor fellowship betwixt them so every child is of the nature of him that begat him All the Children of God who are born from above they bear Gods Image and are like unto their father as the Lord is righteous and just and loves truth and righteousness and cannot behold but hates iniquity even so all his children they are pure and loves truth and righteousness and cannot have fellowship with the unfruitful workers of darkness but it is a burden and a grief to be in company with the wicked and presses and grievs their righteous spirits as it did just Lot who was grieved with the sins of Sodom hearing and seeing their wickedness and profaneness it grieved his righteous spirit day by day so it is with the Children of God what their father loves they love and what he hates they hate also But the Children of the wicked one who are born from below are contrary in nature to the Children of the holy one and bears a contrary Image and so contrary fruits and are of the same nature with their father the wicked one which is the devil who is unclean and hates the truth and loves iniquity so all his children are naturally inclined to evil and hates the truth and lives in iniquity and loves darkness rather then the light because their deeds be evil and so are under the wo and condemnation aliens and strangers from the living God and from the covenant of promise for the wicked have no right unto the promises of life but their portion is wo and misery in the lake of fire Now thou that reads this read within thy self with that of God in thee which is light and it will let thee see whose child thou art and whose Image thou bears whether the Image of the holy one or the Image of the wicked one and what thy nature is inclined unto whether to good or to evil and whether thou takest delight in the Law of God and his commandments or whether thy delight be in the things of the world which fades away whosoever thou art whether Professor or prophane one thou canst not serve two masters thou canst not be heir of two kingdoms thou canst not have enjoy the love of God and the love of the world at one time for the love and friendship of the world is enmity against God therefore saith the Apostle love not the world neither the things that be in the world for if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life this is not of God but of the world and if thy heart and affections be hankring after the things of the world whether gold or silver lands or livings wife or children goods or cattel pleasures or earthly honour or seeking earthly preferment if thy love be drawn away to any of these earthly things and there takes pleasure and delight thou art not a childe
of God and a worshipper of him in truth but thy heart is run a whoring after other lovers and other gods for of whatsoever any one is overcome of the same is he brought into bondage and worships and falls down to the same as a God some their belly is their god some their gold some one thing some another whose hearts and affections are drawn away from the pure living invisible God and such are not worshippers of God but follows their own hearts lusts and so they are defiled and the Temple of God polluted and such have not peace nor rest unto their souls but they are at liberty in the flesh in their wild untamed natures and such though they are professed Christians yet are in the wilde bruitish nature of the world feeding amongst the swine upon the husks and finds no satisfaction and that is the broad way that leads to destruction where there is no Law nor limit to the carnal mind nor bridle to the tongue but all is at liberty the tongue to speak vain words and the thoughts and vain imaginations roving up and down the eye running after vanity the ear open to wickedness the hands and other members ready to obey every vain motion of the vain mind such are not followers of Christ in the strait and narrow path of life but are going on without limit the broad way to destruction All that follow Christ in the strait way must bear his yoak and learn of him therefore saith Christ Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden take my yoke upon you and learn of me I am meek and lowly in spirit and you shall find rest for your souls which is the chief thing to be sought after for what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul Now this I know that there is no rest unto the soul until the yoke of Christ be born for where the yoke is not born the lusts are at liberty which war against the soul and in that condition men and women are bruitish and heathenish like to the beasts of the field and are without God in the world in the sin and wickedness where the anguish is upon the soul and there is the tossings and the troubles in the world and there men and women are wallowing in the mud and mire like swine feeding upon the husks but never finds peace but are troubled in conscience for their sin and rebellion yet still runs out and when they have received a wound by the sword of the Lord gets it healed again deceitfully but knowes not him who is the saving health of all Nations though he be not far off but stands at the door cals to come in but they not minding his call le ts in the strangers the Inn is taken up with other guests and Christ must lie in the manger and is not received but shut out of the heart and so other lovers other guests have taken possession and the house is so full that it will hold no more Read with understanding godliness is a great mystery sealed from the worldly wise ones as it was formerly but is revealed to them that fear the Lord and so I may say now as the Apostle said formerly You see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the wise and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence but every one that glorieth let him glory in the Lord and this is the cause why the wise ones of the world and the great professors and the Rulers of the people are now found in rage and envy against the appearance of Christ in his Saints as it was formerly against Christ in person they have not the word of God abiding in them and so the enmity is not cut down for all the profession of God Christ and Scriptures without doth not slay nor cut down the enmity within and so we in the light of the Lord do see this generation to be in the same nature with their fore-fathers though they condemn them for crucifying of the Just one as that generation condemned their fore-fathers for killing of the Prophets yet crucified the Son and persecuted his Ministers so these now are found in the same action persecuting Christ in his Saints for persecution arises all from one ground and root and is cursed and wherever it appears it is a mark of the Beast that makes war against the Lamb and it is not the mark of a Christian for the nature of a Christian is to suffer for Christ suffered the contradiction of sinners and to be a Christian is to be like unto Christ and to follow him in the same steps and so those whom Christ sends forth into the world he first sanctifies them by his living Word in their hearts and so sends them forth as lambs in the midst of wolves lambs because of their harmlessness and meekness and being sent among wolves that is among men in the nature of wolves tearing and rending haling and persecuting envying and full of rage ready to swallow up the innocent ones and this is made manifest at this day in England the Lord is making a separation and gathering his lambs from among the devouring wolves and they shall no more be made a prey upon but the Lord will compass them about with the arm of his power and salvation shall be for walls and for bull-warks he will feed them himself as a good shepherd upon the tops of the mountains of Israel and they shall dwell in peace and safety and eat plenteously and be satisfied and they shall no more go among the broken cisterns that will hold no water but the living springs and the fountain of life shall be opened in them and they shall hunger and thirst no more and the Lord will be the teacher and feeder of his people and will dwell in them and walk in them and they shall worship him in his own Temple not made with mens hands but his people are his Temple whom he is now purifying and cleansing that it may be a holy habitation for his pure presence to dwell in so these are the true Christians who are in Christ who are washed and cleansed in his blood who are new creatures old things being done way and all things become new their bodies being made Temples of God where holiness and purity dwells and you who say you are Christians but are not in Christ neither are washed nor cleansed but have on the old garments and the old things are not done away but the heart is full of the old stuffe as envy wrath malice pievishness and perversness crossness stubborness wilfulness when things fals crosse to your wills