A CALL Into the Way to the KINGDOME This is written to go abroad into the World for the good of poor soules that they may know the Way to their Soules rest Written by Thomas Stubbs one whom the people of the World scornfully calls Quakers which word Quaking I willingly own else I should deny the Scriptures for Moses and the holy Men of God quaked and trembled at the presence of the Lord Heb. 12 c. Jesus saith unto him I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by me John 14.5 6 7. Verily verily I say unto you He that heareth my words and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life John 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live John 5.25 28. Marvail not that I say unto you Ye must be born again Joh. 3. London Printed for Giles Calvert 1655. A CALL into the WAY AND Into the Kingdome MAny there are seeking rest to their soules and finds it not Rev. 17. Rom. 10.6 7 8. but are deceived by the aspiring wisdom of the Whore and the Merchants of Babylon which draw out of the Way and to look for the coming of Jesus Christ only without puting the day of the Lord afar off and looking for the Kingdome of God in outward observations still putting the day afar off but therein they are deceived being led out of the way from their guide and resting place for that which drawes out must be judged John 1.9 Acts 4.11 12. Luke 17.20 21 22 23. Heb. 4.15 and Babylons building must fall for the Way is within which is that of Jesus Christ in the conscience which convinces of sin and lighteth every one that cometh into the world which is the alone way to the Kingdom and the Kingdom of God cometh not by observation for the Kingdome of God is within you and as the lightening cometh from the East and shineth to the West so is the appearing of the Son of Man in his day and this is the day to them who hear his voice and enter into rest but this is witnessed thorow death in following Jesus Christ through the regeneration Iohn 5.24 25 38. And likewise many there be that say they shall be saved by Christ when they die and live in vanity sin and uncleannesse fulfilling the lust of the flesh and of the vain mind running on the broad way that leads to destruction and never come into the narrow Way which leads to life eternal but these are deceived for who live in the first nature in their vain and lustful minds hoping therein to be saved Job 8.13 that is the hope of the hypocrites and of vain persons which will perish for except ye be regenerate and born again ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven but perish therefore every one in particular search and examine your conditions within what assurance you have of your calling and election Rom. 8.5 6 7 8. there is that in your conscience if you will hearken to it that will tell you truly that if you be not guided by the Spirit of Christ ye are none of his but are out of the Way in the world in the first nature in the lust of the flesh and vain and carnally minded which is death ye need no further witness but the light of Jesus Christ in the conscience therefore let none deceive you with vain words in telling you that ye shall be saved by Christ while ye are here living in the lust of the flesh in sin and uncleannesse therein they deceive you and daub up with untempered morter for God will not be mocked Ephes 5.6.1 Cor 6.9 for such as you sowe such shall ye reap and if ye live after the flesh ye shall die Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance strife emulations wrath strife seditions heresies Envyings murthers drunkennesse revellings and such like Gal. 5.19 20.21 and no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God for because of these things the wrath of God is for the children of disobedience and all such are out of the Way thou that art covetous being carnally minded thou art out of the way in the world thou canst not hide thy self with all thy profession in words that in thy conscience finds thee out to be a worldling and a hypocrite thou that lives in pride worldly pleasures and vain-glory Isa 5.11 22 23. seeking honour and preferment of men thou art out of the way drunkard thou art out of the way there is that in thy conscience that tells thee Thou should not be drunk 1 Thess 5.7 Joel 1.5 Thou that lives in whoring or theeving in the night thou art out of the way though thou lie and deny it in words to hide it from men that in thy conscience reproves thee and finds thee out and bears witnesse against thee and tells thee both time when and place where thou didst commit such things either commit adultery or steal from any swearer liar and filthy speaker and who delight in filthy talking Prov. 19 5. and foolish jesting and who delight in vanity ye forget God and ye are out of the Way and the wicked must be turned into hell who forget God And false accuser thou art out of the way thou that lives in crossenesse peevishness perversness hastiness and passionatenesse through thy own will thou art out of the way thou that art guided by thy own will not being guided by that in the conscience which would submit to the Will of God thou art out of the way thou quarreller and envious person thou runs before thy guide thou art out of the way Thou great and fat one Luke 12.15 16 c. who fares deliciously every day pleasing thy vain and lustful mind Dives like thou canst not hide thyself with a profession in words thou art found out of the way Psal 49.11 thou that pulls down thy houses to build faiter and greater and thereto adding field to field in oppressing the poor striving to make thy name great upon the earth thinking these things will never fail thee Oh thou fool thou art out of the way and deceived thou canst not hide thy self with a vain profession in words thou art found to be out of the way and a worldling whom the god of this world hath blinded one whose mind runs after covetousness and vain desires of things which perisheth Jude 16. Isa 10.1 2 3. Thou that art in office and doth not Justice seeking self-ends and respecting persons of men because of advantage thou canst not hide thy self thou art found to
judgeth the world in righteousness and the wicked who hate the light cannot stand in judgement this cries in the Conscience secretly within First seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof before all things Now all covetous worldlings and who live in unrighteousness this reproves them Mat. 5.28 and there is their condemnation hating ill and this searches the secrets of the heart and reproves for disobedience this witnesseth against the Adulterer if thou looketh upon a woman and lust after her this bears witness thou hast committed adultery with her in the he art this in the Conscience saith Thou should love the living Lord God with all thy heart and with all thy minde Now who are in the first Nature who delight in vain things of the world there is that in the Conscience which witnesseth against them 1 Joh. 2.15 16 17. that the love of the Father is not in them this light of Jesus Christ in the Conscience is the alone way to the Kingdom where no unclean thing can enter for no unclean person can enter into the Kingdom of God and who live in the lust of the flesh and of the minde in sin and uncleanness is as in Egypt out of the Kingdom and flesh and blood must not enter into the Kingdom of God 2 Cor. 13.5 6. So let none deceive you any longer with vain words for the light of Jesus Christ in the Conscience is the alone way and who are not guided by the Spirit of Christ are none of his but are out of the way who hate it so search and examine how it is with you And furthermore this is witnessed that who drawes you from watching and taking heed to that of Jesus Christ in you they shut the way of the Kingdom of God against you and drawes you from your guide and strength and resting place therefore all minde the Call of the Lord which is the light of Jesus Christ in you that convinces which is the alone way to the Kingdom that which convinces you of sin Isa 30.15 and bears witness against the evil of your doings Acts 4.11 12. either when you lie or swear or use any deceit in your Callings or do any unrighteousness though ye do it never so secretly from the sight of men there is that in the Conscience that checks reproves you tells you that ye should not do so so ye cannot flee from that in the Conscience nor do any wickedness but that in the Conscience reproves you is your condemnation disobeying it so by it you are left without excuse that is their teacher guid who love it they who hate it live in sin run out to men for teaching and to such as are called of men Master who hath the chief place in the Assemblies stands praying therein devoures Widdows Houses who shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men Such Christ forbad and cryed woe against therefore now cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils and every one in particular now minde the call of the Lord which is the light of Iesus Christ in the conscience Loving this it will lead thee out of the wayes and works of darkness and it will shew thee the vanities of the world now what will it profit any to gain the whole world Mat. 23.8.13 14 c. Isa 2.22 and loving this light of Iesus Christ it will teach you to deny your selves and take up the Crosse daily and follow the Lord Iesus Christ through the regeneration and watching to be guided by it the pure Law of God will be set up in thee and judgement will passe upon the vain earthly carnal part in thee and thou must give an account for every evill deed done in the body Mat. 12.36 37. 1 Psal 39. and as the book of thy conscience is opened thou must give an account for every idle word and that will cause thee to set a watch before thy mouth that thou offend not with thy tongue and if thou do offend either in words or actions there is a witness in thee that bears witness against thee Isa 30.20 21. so thou needs not run out for mens teaching without thee for thy teacher shall no more be removed into a corner but watching and waiting within to be guided by it thou shalt heat a voice behinde thee saying when thou turns to the right hand or to the left Deut. 30.19 this is the way walk in it here is death and life set before thee chuse whether and loving this light in thee in thy measure being guided by it it will keep thee in the way of peace to have peace with the Lord walking with it being obedient to it and it will call you out of Egypt towards the Land of Canaan PLACE = marg Exod. 7.3.13 14. out of all carnal desires fleshly lusts and thou wilt come to see the hardness of Pharaohs heart that doth oppress the righteous seed and waiting within to be led and guided by it Rom. 9.18 Exo. 13 14 the light of Iesus Christ alone thou wilt come to see the narrow way and it will lead thee through the sufferings and death of Christ Isa 25.8 9. Isa 26.1.8 and to the judging and crucifying of the old man with his deeds and bring the carnall man to judgement O the first born in Egypt must be slain and passing forward at Moses call thou wilt see Pharaoh with his Hoast pursuing but waiting within in the way of the judgements of the Lord till judgement be brought forth unto victory Exod. 15.1 2 3 c. So shall Pharaoh with his Hoast be overthrown and destroyed then thou mayst sing the Song of Moses the Servant of the Lord seeing his salvation appeared and the righteous seed being raised up and delivered by the manifestation of the mighty power of the spirit of God then thou wilt finde some Scriptures fulfilled in thee Joh. 4.23 24. and see that God is a spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth and as many as are led by the spirit of God are the Sons and Daughters of the living God this is known in the confirmation of the new Covenant in the new Creature and that will make thee to rejoyce Now all who read these things take heed of getting them into comprehensions and the light minde speak of them Dan. 9.27 Isa 30.1.2 Mat. 5.13 therein is danger but all examine how it is with you and where you are in the way and what ye can witness fulfilled in you and you who are so far come on your journey as out of Egypt to rejoyce Now take heed lest your wills get into liberty in thinking all is done and then high thoughts of self get up that leads thee above the Crosse and drawes from the fear and the carnal part gets strength again and thou losest the Saviour and would look back at what thou formerly hast
injoyed 2 Cor. 10.3 4. thinking to fetch something back from thence but there is danger while the will hath its liberty therefore watch and wait low daily in thy measure to be guided by that which is pure and eternal which keeps in the fear of God and in the Saviour so minde the warfare for there are many enemies to be fought with after ye come out of Egypt there is the uncircumcised Philistins and tryals in the Wilderness where there is much drought and the Countries of the Amalekites and many more to be passed through before ye come to Canaan PLACE = marg Deut. 8.11.14 the land of rest and who are thither come take heed least thou forget the living Lord God who hath done these things for thee but daily be watchful to dwell in that which is pure and eternal to serve the only true and living God and walk in his fear and sing Halelujah to the highest in the beauty of holiness because the Lord God omnipotent raigneth that which we have heard and seen declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and these things write we unto you that your joy might be full Now all who desire the welfare of your souls prize your time and minde where you are and cease from all your outward teachers who are deceivers which leads you out of the way and to look for the Kingdom of God in outward observations and they tell you 1 Joh. 1.3 4. ye cannot finde it till you depart out of this world but they are liers and deceives you they are not in the Kingdom of God themselves and they shut the way to them that would enter who follow them by drawing them from taking heed to the light of Jesus Christ within which is the alone way to the Kingdom and so they keep people alwayes learning that they never come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.8 9. leading them from Mountain to Hill and from their resting place but cease from them for this is witnessed that the Kingdom of God is found within Jer. 50.6 now of all the Children of the Lord who are new Creatures being born again and taught of the Lord So all you dear hearts Joh. 6.45 who are weary and heavy laden seeking rest to your souls to you this is the word of the Lord now return 2 Cor. 5.17 return within unto the Lord where a fountain of living love and life is found Oh every one that thirsteth Mat. 11.28 29 30. come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa 55.1.2 3. wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not Hearken diligently unto me saith the Lord and eat you that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness encline your eare and come unto me hear and your souls shall live Joh. 10.4.9 27 28. and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David while ye run to men without which are broken Cisterns which led you out of the way Heb. 4.15 and from the Fountain ye were not satisfied for within it is found of all who hear his voice and they finde pasture and refreshment in the fountain of his free love Jer. 12.16 My sheep hear my voice saith Jesus Christ and they know it and I give unto them eternal life and to you weary ones this is the day if you will hear his voice so will you enter into rest and let the wicked forsake his way and the ungodly man his thoughts Isa 55.7 8 c. and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon for my thoughts are not your thoughts nor your wayes my wayes saith the Lord but if ye be wicked and rebel ye shall not have peace and be consumed This then is the Message that we have heard of him 1 Ioh. 1.5 6 7. 2 Cor. 4.2 and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all all prayses prayses everlasting prayse honour and glory be unto the Lord God Almighty 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 4. to him it belongs now and evermore and if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin therefore minde the seed of God and the light in you this is no other truth but that which was from the beginning and which the Scripture the Apostles testified of and which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life for the life was manifest and we have seen it and bearwitness and shew to you eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us So all friends minde the light in you in the Conscience every one in your measure to be guided and led by it and see where you are in your journey and what ye can witness fulfilled in you loving this light of Christ it will keep you in the way of peace and in following him to have life eternal but hating it you run out of the way from God and the light is the condemnation So be watchful and God Almighty be with you Ioh. 8.12 Ioh. 3.19 20. and preserve you in the way and and into his heavenly Kingdom so I rest a lover of your souls called Thomas Stubs a prisoner of the Lord at Carlile for witnessing the truth As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 11. If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth him that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be prayses and dominion for ever and ever Amen To those who are called Justices Rulers and Magistrates within the County of Cumberland and elsewhere to whom this may come the word of the Lord which came to me in prison at Carlile concerning you and moved of the Lord to give it forth for the good of your souls with a word of warning to the wicked and joy to the righteous Friends Beware that ye do not act according to your own wills contrary to the Law of God either in respecting persons in judgement or in taking a gift and turning Justice and true judgement backward if ye do these things then you are called such men as you are not for such men as were set to rule over the people by the Law of God they were to judge the people at all seasons they were not to respect persons in judgement they were to be men of truth fearing God and hating covetousness they were to judge the cause of the poor as well as the rich they were not to take a gift for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise herein I have shewed you your duty what ye ought to do and if ye be not such men and do these things then you judge not for the Lord and are not for his people and the Law of God is against you to you this is the word of the Lord and ye that are corrupt Lawyers and Magistrates which act according to your own wills contrary to the Law of God in doing unjustice and persecute the innocent and let the offenders go free ye that do so ye shall be hewed down and cut in pieces ye hypocrites who pret end to do justice and do not ye shall be over turned as your fore-fathers were which were corrupt for the Law of God respects no mans person and it is not for the righteous but it is against all transgressors so you that act contrary to the Law of God them who witness the Law of God and suffer by your wills they for conscience sake suffers and submits to God who is the righteous Law giver and thereby did the righteous seed ever suffer by that which was not subject to the Law of God and he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now T. S. THE END