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
in mind I have no scornful eye I do not exercise my self in things that are too high When they never knew any change wrought in their minds and so causeth the People to lye And causing them to sing David's Prayers as O Lord rebuke me not in thy Wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure for thine Arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presseth me sore for mine Iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy Burden they are too heavy for me to bear my wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long And may be none of you in all that place can witness the condition and so blaspheme the Name of God who will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth and this is the Rule given out from him if any be afflicted let him Pray if any be merry let him sing Psalms And there is none merry but the Ransomed of the Lord who return to Sion with joy and singing and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and Sorrow and sighing shall flee away All People may search the Scriptures and see how you have been deceived by your Teachers who have caused you to seek your lost God in carnal dead observations which they have not any Scripture for all cease from them for the Lord complains of them The Loaders of my People causo them to err saith the Lord of Hosts and now are these Scriptures fulfilled in these men which the Apostle prophesied of This know also that in the last days perilous tiâ—…es shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous proud boasters blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy All People see are not your Teachers so Self-lovers before they come at you they must know what they must have covetous griping for much if you will not give them so much as they can have in another Place they will not come at you here is Self-love and Covetousness manifested without natural affection Truce-breakers false accusers Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a Form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such the Apostle exhorts to turn away All People behold and see all these Scriptures are fulfilled in your Teachers they spake against Pride and live in it against Covetousness and live in it They teach by words to be naturally affectionate one towards another and they walk contrary causing poor People to pay to maintain them in Pride and high ranks in the Earth who can scarce get Bread for their bellies and clothes for their backs yet they force them to pay them being void of all natural affections and they are Truce-breakers breaking all Bonds and Covenants if they can get more money in another place Thus they shew forth to all the world that they are lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God and have a form of Godliness in words but deny the Power thereof from such turn away for of this sort are they which creep into houses lead captive silly women laden with Sin divers lusts These Scriptures are fulfilled in your Teachers every one hath his particular house to creep into where none must come but themselves or whom they please which is contrary to the practice of Christ or any that he sent forthâ—…they went through the countries Towns Cities and Villages according as they were guided by the Spirit of God to declare what he gave them to spake and your Teachers lead silly woman captive laden with Sin and led away with divers Lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth Do not they tell you to look for Christ's coming in such observations as they set up which are nothing but the inventions of their brains for Christ tells you The Kingdom of God comes not with observations But is within you But many of them deny that the Light in your Consciences which makes manifest the evil of your hearts to be the Kingdom of God calling it the Light of a corrupt conscience so shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men and will neither enter in themselves to be guided by the pure Light of the Kingdom of Christ within them nor suffer them that are entering in to enter as the Scribes and Pharisees did Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these men resist the Truth men of corrupt minds Reprobates concerning the Faith but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs also was and no man shall buy their Merchandize any more All you enslaved captives in the Kingdom of Babylon why will you lay out your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not hearken diligently unto Jesus Christ the Light that lets you see the evil of your hearts to be guided by it and you shall eat that which is good Encline your ears saith Christ and come unto me hear and your souls shall live and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David Mind the Call of a powerful and tender Father in the Lord Jesus who calls Come forth of Babylon my People touch no unclean Thing and I will rceieve you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty Friends prize your time slight not the Day of the Lord's Mercy foâ—… he waits to be gracious and saith I stretch forth my Arm all the Day long to a back-sliding and gain-saying People Every one mind your Conditions deal justly with your own Hearts fee what your Hearts have Fellowship with and guide your Minds for the Kingdom of Christ is within you it is not in Observations as your Teachers tell you for they deceive you therefore Christ forewarn'd us for looking forth at those which would come in the latter days that would say Lo here is Christ lo there is Christ as it is in these our days some say Lo here is Christ in the Presbyterian practise the Independants say He is there and the Anabaptists say Lo he is here But Friends mind what Christ saith unto you Believe them not look not forth the Kingdom of Christ is not in any of those nor in any other outward observations but be warned the Kingdom of Christ is in you and that is the Light that lets you see the evil of your hearts and Christ compares it to a grain of Mustard-seed the least of all Seeds and it grows up above all other Herbs and becomes a Tree that the Fowls of the Air lodge therein and he compares it to a little Leaven that a Woman took and hid in three measures of Meal and it leavened the whole lump These are Earthly parables and figures which Christ lays down speaking to the earthly and carnal heart of man that
Confession of the Party And we believe That the Executors of the Law ought to be just men and not given to Pride Drunkenness or any other Evil And thus true Judgment and Justice will be brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace that all Evil-doers may stand in a we and be afraid of God and Just men and the Execution of good Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is the Spirit the of Lord that makes men truly Religious and no man ought to be compelled to or from any exercise or practise in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to reprove false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exâ—…rtation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought not to be counted a breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punished by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe that the outward Laws Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Laws of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe That Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit must only lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors that Subjects ought to obey them in the Lord that have rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which is according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require Subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him in such cases all People are free and ought to obey God rather than man And we believe that herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is good and out of all that which is evil Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a State of Election and a State of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Mankind are in one of these states All that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of death and darkness being Children of Wrath and Disoebdience in the Alienation and Separation from God in the Transgression unreconciled to God the Enmity ruling in the heart being in the fall and not restored to God again but ignorant of his Power and Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal And in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all Evil bringing forth all his Works out of that ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adam and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and shall never enherit eternal Life but go into Perdition yet have all such a day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprobation but hating Knowledge and despâ—…fing the Love of God they continue in the state Reprobate and the Wrath of God abides upon them but they that are chosen of God are delivered from Wâ—… for they believe in the Light and become Children of the Light and are renewed in mind and heart and receive the love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adam are chosen in him to bring forth fruit uâ—…to the Father and all their fruâ—…t â—…pringeth from that ground which is blessed for they are led by the Spirit of the Father and such are in the state of Election who are made Heirs with Christ of the Everlasting Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe that Mercy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad into the World that all People may understand what we believe and what we have received of God And they that believe this and walk therein by the Spirit of the Father shall be saved but they that believe not but are disobedient to the Truth shall be condemned because they do not believe Much more might be written but in short this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the knowledge of these things from God A Friend unto all People Edward Burroughs To all that say we whom the World do in scorn call Quakers do deny Ministers and Magistrates These things I write unto you to give you in short an understanding what Ministers and Magistrates we own and what and whom we deny 1. SUch Ministers as are made by God who are sanctified by his Word and Power who have freely received perfect Gifts from God and so by the Spirit and Power of God are sent forth into the World to turn the People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God who freely Minister unto others without coveting any mans Gold or Silver or Apparel not seeking theirs but them Warning every man and teaching every man in all Wisdom that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Such as minister from the Spirit and have the Word of God abiding in them who are never unprovided but at all times and seasons and in all places do speak and declare the Truth as they are moved and instructed and as the Spirit of Truth doth give them utterance such Ministers we own and have in great esteem for their works sake Gal. 1. 1 12. Joh. 15. 3. Ephes. 4. 7 8 11 12 13. Acts 26. 15 16 17 18. Mat. 10 8. Acts 20. 33. 2 Cor. 12. 14. Col. 1. 27 28 29. 2 Corinth 3. 6. John 15. 3 4 5 6 7. John 4. 10 14. and 7. 38 39. 2 Tim. 4. 2 3. Acts 2. 4. But such as are brought up at Schools Colledges so made Ministers by the will of man who have not freely receiv'd perfect gifts from God for perfecting of the Saints but deny Perfection and so deny the Ministers work neither do ministr freely but seek for gain from their Quarters and will not
finished his work are not all People in the first place now to wait for the Spirit and to receive the Spirit by it then to be led into all Truth and so being first led into the Truth then in the same Truth to worship God in Spirit who is a Spirit And whether there be now any true Worship standing which God accepteth but only this And whether this alone be not agreeable to Moses Christ and Scriptures And whether all other Worships now upheld be not contrary to this true Worship of God and contrary to Moses Christ and Scriptures and indeed chiefly opposite to the Spirit of God whereby he is grieved And if so whether all such Worship Way Practice Performances Duties and Ordinances so called be not better left undone then Performed until Gods Spirit be received to guid therein Thirdly Concerning the Ministration of the Spirit which abideth for ever Moses and his Ministry were visible and Christ in the form of a Servant and so like unto Moses was visible and so were his Miracles and that which is visible to the natural eye the carnal mind can come to profess and contend about but the blessed eye which God openeth with the Light cometh to see the one done away and the other finished by Christ the Light and Life And the Spirit is that which first moved and yet moveth and moved unto and led through the visible Ministration and this Spirit is invisible as it is wirtten the invisible only wise God whom no eye of flesh hath seen or can see and this moving invisible Spirit of God which is without limit or end is that which all people should be led unto by all its outward visible appearances ministration and dispensations and this Spirit was that which gave forth and ordained the Ministration of the Law which was glorious in its time though to be done away but how much more glorious is the Ministration of that Spirit of Life it self from which the Ministration of the Law came which Spirit abideth for ever And the second Adam is made a quickning Spirit and the Spirit which is the Word was with God and was God before the body of flesh was made and that Spirit abideth forever as iâ—… heard out of the Law He shall abide forever And this is that which ever liveth to interceed And this forever blessed invisible Spirit was before time and is to be when time shall be no more and is without limit an eternal lively Substance giving Life from it self and secretly covering it self from the carnal part of man not seen nor understood but by such as by its secret motions come to be led to see through that which shadows it forth and by the Image form shadow or figure to discern the Substance which is the Life where Immortality dwelleth for in the most innermost and secret of all is the Life of all being covered over with that in which it lies through which it breaking forth in any discovery of it self is that whereby the beholders might be drawn through the discovry unto it self which in the discovery broke forth for the discovery was still too short of that from whence it came that which was discovered forth in any Shadow Form or Image was not to be idolized nor set up for the very things or Substance of Life from whence it proceeded and herein hath been much mistaken by such who came not by that which opened in the Visibles to that from whence it came in that to have their understandings opened and thereby to be made sensible of that which is Eternal by it to be brought in where its Indwellings abide forever whose breaking forth in the Visible which was to draw to that invisible refreshed the Soul invisibly in an unexpected manner and time but being after sought for in the visibles and not in the Eternal withdraws it self out of the visibles and out of the sight and reach of that which seeks it there that thereby that which is to live forever with it may come through all that which it appeared in unto the very thing and invisible Substance it self which is the Life of all and the true Center of the living motion which moveth of itself and gave forth all things good as they proceed from it by vertue of its gradual and various motions and this being come opens it self in them that find it and live therein and this maketh Darkness Light before the People whose dwellings is with God and the crooked comes to be made streight by the things it self and dark sayings of old come to be opened and secret things revealed But to write more plain for the sake of the weak of this glorious indwelling Spirit which in the fulness of time cometh forth in flefh laying hold of the Seed of Abraham the most glorious Appearance that ever was being thus appeared was the express Image of God who dwelleth in his People whose bodies are flesh and earthly Tabernacles but by the operations of the Sanctifying cleansing Siprit which the Father sendeth are made fit habitations of God and Co-heirs with Christ and Members of his Body Flesh and Bones which Spirit quickneth to God and being thus received and obeyed is felt to live forever though the shadowings forth of it be done away and this is Eternal and never endeth but a bideth with such forever and the Ministration of it iâ—… Life it self to the Soul and more to be valued and desired then all that ever was seen before it And as the Lord took of that Spirit which was upon Moses and put it upon his Brethren the Elders of Israel whereby they might rule and judge with him so saith Christ The Father shall take of mine and give it unto you even of that Spirit of Love Life Power Valour and Virtue which was upon and in him that was like unto Moses is ministred into and put upon such as are truly his Brethren and Friends whereby with him they thus gifted sanctified and qualified judge the World for all Judgment is committed to the Son and of that which the Son hath and is committed to him doth the Father give unto his Members and so from Christ the Head they come to receive Power over the World and its Way Worship and Fashions and over unclean spirits And that is an unclean spirit which will lead into any sin and it is an unclean spirit in which sin standeth and which pleadeth for the continuance and upholding of that which is unclean and that is of the World which the Saints Judge And as those Elders of Israel who were of the Church in the Wilderness were not made fit to Judge or Rule in outward matters by all the writings and words of the Law though received by disposition of Angels until the Lord himself took of that Spirit which was upon Moses and put upon them So those that profess to be Elders in the Church now or any other person whatsoever are much less
to come and that they might not run to teach others as many do now before they had received the Spirit of Truth in themselves by and with that to be led into all Truth but might receive the Power of truth in themselves from the Life thereof to convert others unto the same therefore said he further after he was risen again But tarry ye in the City of Jerusa em until you be endued with power from on high Mark 24. 4. so that though they had seen his body before and had now seen him after his Resurrection yet that and all the rest was not enough without the Power and the Spirit which was to come which they were to wait for And so now men should tarry wait and stand still to see the Salvation of God and until they receive the Spirit for it is the Spirit not the body which searcheth all things and sheweth plainly of the Father And by this before written in short I have a little endeavoured to shew unto the â—…cek and single-hearted that Moses when he was upon Earth directed unto Christ as in these words The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midest of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Dcâ—…t 18. 15. And Christ when he was upon Earth directed unto the Spirit which was to come in like words saying These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you but the comforter which is the holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things John 14. 25 26. And then what if I did write after the manner of men and fay If Moses were now upon the Earth and Christ in his own body upon the Earth and Moses with all his Pâ—…iests Tythes Offerings and Religion which discovers Sin but makes nothing perfect which Paul profited much in If he I say should command and exhort all People under his Ministry to go to Christ and hear him And if Christ were now upon Earth and notwithstanding his outward Miracles Circumcision Baptism Supper and Death yet he should command and exhort all that â—…ome through the Law or Ministration of Moses unto him to look and tarry and wait for another Comforter that they might receive the Spirit in them and say unto them that that should teach them all things and lead them intâ—… all Truth Then whether or no people were to continue following Moses's Priests with their Tythes and long Prayers and still be seeking the Law at their mouthes or to come to Christ to seek the Gospel for Moses himself did not fay that they should seek the Gospel at the Priests mouth And then when did the Priests ever preach the Gospel And then whether those obey not Moses who leave the Priests and come to Christ the Light and whether such when they are come to Christ should alwayes be looking and following after his Body Miracles Baptism or Supper without them or tarry and wait to receive the Spirit within them And then which of these now should all people that profess Christ be led by in these dayes either Moses or the Person of Christ or the Spirit of Truth And whether such as have received and are truly indeed led by this Spirit of Truth and know that to be their Teacher and follow it and are ruled governed and guided by it according to the Command of Moses and Christ do not hereby obey the command of Moses and Christ and fulfil their Doctrine And whether any other People or Professors whatever do obey the Command of Moses and Christ but only such And whether this be not a thing of great concernment to be known and learned by all who Profess Christianity But why then do People follow these Priests of England any longer which are contrary to Moses and also to Christ who have no Store-houses but suffer the poor to want within and without and the Widdow and the Stranger ready to perish and moreover devour and can never have enough of the Spoil of other mens goods And why do others dispute about and talk of the Body so much which they never saw nor knew And is it not better to be silent and know God who dwells in his People and the Spirit of Truth which he requires in the inward parts and to feel after God even the Life in themselves because the Apostle said they were saved by his Life being before reconcited by his Death Rom. 5. 10 And until the Life came there were many things which they were not saved from by the Body for the Body was before the Death and the Death which reconciles was passed through before the Life was received again to save and Justifie And why then are people so much busied about that which was before the Reconciliation and so therein much short of the Life and for outward Bread Wine and Water Are not these things which are seen And are not the things that are seen Temporal But Christ the true Prophet being come of whom Moses did write who is the end of the Law and so the end of that Ministry whereby that is done away for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof and Christ coming after John of whom John bore witness that he was before and greater and came after him and Christ also having finished that which he himself came to do and likewise so largely and often Exhorted to wait for another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth Then what Ministration is it that now standeth and remaineth which is according both to Moses Christ and the holy Scriptures and what Ministration is to be expected or waited for but the Ministration of the Spirit And whether all they be not compassed about with a cloud of error who are upholding that Ministry of the Law or a worse which Christ is the end of and the Apostles said was done away and likewise such as are upholding and keeping up that which Christ said he had finished And whether the upholding of such things now be not quite opposite both to Moses Christ and Scriptures And being that Moses nor indeed his true Ministers of the Law are not upon Earth neither that Body of Christ which by the Professors was murthered at Jerusalem visibly to be seen upon Earth then what is it those have to follow who have not received the Spirit to be led by and if they will say they have the Writings of Moses and the Words of Christ I say if that be all then they that forsook and denyed Christ had more then them for they had the words from his own mouth which were Spirit and Life and yet they understood not and then what do those understand who have not so much as they had therefore after he had suffered and rose again he opened their understandings And so what is all their Religion worth who are not come to the Spirit And whether Moses's Ministration being ended by Christ and Christ also having