Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	temple_n	worship_v	2,613	5	9.6572	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54043	Naked truth, or, Truth nakedly manifesting itself in several particulars for the removing of hinderances out of the way of the simple-hearted, that they may come to true knowledge, life, liberty, peace and joy in the Lord, through the vertue and power of his precious truth, revealed and working in them : given forth by way of question and answer : whereunto are added, some experiences, with some Scriptures very sweet, and necessary to be experienced in the Gospel-state : as also, a few words concerning the true Christ, and a few words in the bowels of tender love and good will to my native country / by a long mourner and traveller after, but as length an happy experiencer of the truth, as it is in Jesus, Isaac Pennington.	Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.	1674 (1674)	Wing P1179; ESTC R39811	53,138	126

Naked Truth OR TRUTH nakedly manifesting it self in several Particulars for the removing of Hinderances out of the way of the Simple-hearted that they may come to true Knowledge Life Liberty Peace and Joy in the Lord through the vertue and power of his precious Truth revealed and working in them Given forth by way of Question and Answer Whereunto are added some Experiences with some Scriptures very sweet and necessary to be experienced in the Gospel-state As also A few words concerning the True Christ and a few words in the Bowels of tender love and good-will to my native Country By a long Mourner and Traveller after but at length an happy Experiencer of the Truth as it is in Jesus ISAAC PENINGTON Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see Luke 10.23 London Printed in the Year 1674. The Preface TRue Knowledg and true Experience especially concerning things of necessity and great concern to the Soul is very precious As to know the true Foundation the Corner-Stone which God layes in his Spiritual Sion and the Heavenly Jerusalem which is the Mother of all that are born of God and the gathering out of the spirit of this World with the vanity and falshood thereof into God's Spirit which is Truth and no Lye and the building up of the holy Temple in which God appears and is worshipped and the heavenly Communion with the Father and Son in the one pure Light which shines from them into the heart and the one Faith the one Circumcision the one Baptism the one holy Mountain the one feast of sat things made thereon the one Water of Life the one Bread the one Cup of Salvation c. Now the things of the Kingdom are all at the dispose of the King thereof To him all Power is given in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge he hath life in himself and he hath life to dispose of and dispense to his He gives the true Knowledge which is Life Eternal He gives Repentance and Remission of Sins He teacheth to believe in the Father and he giveth Faith also He is the Shepherd of the Sheep who by his Voice quickeneth and maketh alive and leadeth and preserveth and nourisheth up to Life eternal Therefore whoever will understand aright must receive understanding from him And whoever will repent aright must receive repentance from him And whoever will believe aright must receive Faith from him And whoever will hear and see aright must receive an ear and eye from him and whoever will come unto him and receive him must witness that new heart forming or formed in him wherewith and whereby he is received Men greatly mistake and erre about the Gospel-knowledge and Religion by beginning therein without the Gospel-Spirit and Power Therefore that man that would not be deceived and lose his Soul for ever let him take heed how he begins how he stands and how he proceeds in his Religion The Jews-state stood in the Revelation of God's Spirit and Power outwardly and the state of the Christians the New-Covenant-state stands in the revelation of Gods Spirit and Power inwardly For none can beget a new birth to God inwardly but his own Spirit and Power working inwardly in the heart Therefore thou that wouldest live with God for ever and not perish from the Presence and Glory of his Power mind these three things First God's inward visiting thee and making a real change in thee I do not mean a change in thy mind from one notion to another but a change in thy heart from one nature and spirit to another This is the great Work which nothing but the mighty Power of God which raised Jesus from the dead can effect in the hearts of the children of men Now that this may be wrought out in thee wait for the appearing and working of that Power which by its appearing and working doth effect it daily more and more in these that unite to it and give up to its operations O wait to feel the Power begetting somewhat of its own nature in thee leavening thee into its nature by the pure heavenly leaven where with God waits to leaven thy heart Thu● feel thy beginning from the true Root from the holy Principle from the Seed of th● Kingdom and then wait to feel that grows up in thee and to grow up therefrom tha● as the beginning is pure so the growth may be pure also For after God hath visite● thee and begotten somewhat in thee an● leavened thee in some measure so th● there is true life true sense true hungerings true breathings after the Lord an● his Righteousness after the Fountain 〈◊〉 living Waters then in the next place mind and wait to learn of the true Teache● how to come to the true Waters that th● mayst drink thereof and of no dirty puddle of thy own or any others forming Where are these Waters dispensed and where are they to be found why in the New-Covenant which God makes with the hungry and thirsty Souls as they come to the Shepherd and hear his Voice and learn of him and follow him Therefore thou must wait to distinguish Spirits and the knocks of Spirits in thy own heart Thou must know when the Shepherd knocks and when the stranger knocks and let in the Shepherd when he knocks and not let in the stranger when he knocks Thus by knowing him enclining thine ear to him and hearing his voice thou comest to have the everlasting Covenant made with thy Soul even the sure Mercies of David wherein the union with God is sure the Teacher sure never more to be removed from thee the fear which God puts into the heart sure the Law of the new life sure being so written in thy heart by the finger of Gods Spirit as none can blot out the love of God sure his preservation sure the inheritance of life sure O sweet Covenant O holy Covenant O blessed Covenant and blessed are all those Souls with whom God makes this Covenant and who are kept by him in the sense and enjoyment of it Now lastly After God hath made this Covenant with thee and spoken peace to thee and given thee of the Power Righteousness and joy of the Kingdom and set the holy Hedge of his Power and Wall of Salvation about thee thou must take heed of going forth after any lust after any desire of the flesh after any temptation of the enemy thou must keep within the holy limits and not touch any dead or unclean thing lest thou be defiled and so in degree separated from him who is pure The occasion of what follows was briefly thus There was a controversie between me and another about many of these things towards whom my love was in a travel And having a sense on my heart that the enemy makes use of the wrong apprehensions and mistakes he begets in mens minds about these things contrary to the true knowledg and experience which God giveth to the Children which

have the witness in themselves the living testimony which none can put out or take away from them He hath opened mine eyes he hath opened my heart he hath raised me out of the grave he hath given me eternal Life He hath changed me inwardly created me inwardly by the working of his mighty power and I daily live am preserved and grow by the same power I feel his Life his vertue his power his presence day by day He is with me he lives in me and I live not of my self but by feeling him to live in me finding life spring up from him into me and through me and therein lies all my ability and strength for evermore A few words in the Bowels of tender Love and Good Will to my Native Country It is written When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the World shall learn Righteousness O that this might be verified concerning thee O England even that thou mightest learn Righteousness and that the dayes of thy unrighteousness might come to an end Have not God's judgments been upon thee Yea are not God's Judgments still upon thee And can any thing divert them from coming more upon thee but thy speedy returning unto the Lord in breaking off thy sins by unfeigned Repentance O that thou mightest be sensible of the hand of the Lord and mightest hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it The Lord hath power over all Nations and can break them in peices as a Potters Vessel They are but as the drop of a Bucket as the small dust of the Ballance they are before him as nothing and are counted to him less than nothing and vanity Read Isa 24. See how God will plead with Nations and consider whether he be not dealing thus with thee O hath not that been found in thee and is not that found in thee which provoketh the Lord exceedingly O that the weighty sense of thy sins were upon thee and that thou mightest truly repent and turn from them that thou mightest reap the benefit of God's Judgments and learn Righteousness and his Indignation might be removed from thee and his tender Bowels of compassion move towards thee But perhaps some may say What is the Righteousness we should learn Answ O learn to know God that is a righteous thing Learn to fear God Learn to worship him aright How is that Why in his own Spirit and Truth in which he seeks to be worshiped Learn Humility towards God learn Justice and Mercy towards Men. Learn to love thy Enemies If ye will be Christians that is the Law of Christ But that which is called the Christian world many of them have not yet learned so much as to love their Friends but hate and persecute such as fear the Lord and seek their good and stand in the gap to keep back the Wrath of the Lord from breaking in upon them and are wrestling mightily with him with strong cries that he would stay the sharpness thereof that it might not break forth to their destruction Learn to do to others as ye would be done to Do not do to any because of their Religion and tender Consciences towards the Lord what ye would not have done to your selves because of your Religion How long will it be ere ye learn this how many Judgments and Distresses shall come upon you before ye bow in Spirit under the mighty hand of God and yield your selves in submission to him to learn things of him Quest But how shall we learn Righteousness Answ Retire inwardly to that and harken inwardly to that which gives the sence of Judgments and learn of that and that will wean you inwardly from all your unrighteousness and teach you Righteousness There is that inwardly in the unregenerate which hardens and misleads there is also that inwardly which tenders melts teacheth and leadeth aright as it is believed in and obeyed O that men knew the difference between these two and how to turn from the one to the other For out of the heart proceeds all that is evil and vain and out of the heart are the issues of Life also The well or puddle of the muddy Waters of the Waters of Egypt of the Wine of Sodom and Waters of Babylon is there and the Well and Cistern of the pure Waters is there also O my native Country that thou mightest be the first Nation in this age of the World that might pass through the judgments of God and be cleansed thereby and be happy O that thy Rulers and Governors were weaned from the spirit and wisdom of this World and might receive of God's holy Spirit and Wisdom and Judge and Govern themselves and the people thereby When the Jew outward was chosen to be the people of God did not he pour out of his Spirit to govern them by Were the Judges Kings and Leaders thereof only anointed with outward Oyl were they not also anointed with God's Spirit And can any Christian Magistrate govern aright any Christian Nation without the assistance and guidance of the same Spirit And O that all the people were anointed also that they might be inwardly Kings and Priests to the Lord and the Kingdom of Christ might be inwardly set up in all their hearts and every man might reign in and through him over the enemies of his own soul O that the Power and Glory of the Lord might cover thy Governors and Inhabitants O England O the prayers that have been long put up in bowels of tenderness for thee O the besome of the Lord the besome of his Righteous Judgments that it might sweep the hearts of men inwardly that this Nation might be prepared for the Glory of the Lord for the Glory which he reveals in his Heavenly birth to break forth outwardly to the admiration and magnifying of the work of his Power in the eyes of all beholders Amen Amen THE END A Brief TABLE of the CONTENTS 1. COncerning understanding the Scriptures Page 11 2. Concerning the illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit Page 12 3. Concerning the Spirit of God and the Scriptures Page 13 4. Concerning the perfect and converting Law of God Page 14 5. Concerning David's Longings Page 15 6. Concerning the Spiritual Sun Page 16 7. Concerning the Words being a fire and hammer Page 17 8. Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Page 18 9. Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Page 19 10. Concerning the Gospel-Ministers and Ministry Page 20 11. Concerning trying of Spirits c. Page 22 12. Concerning things necessary to Salvation Page 23 13. Concerning the True Gospel-Church Page 24 14. Concerning the way to Salvation Page 25 15. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Page 26 16. Concerning Regeneration Page 27 17. Concerning true Holiness ibid. 18. Concerning Christs works Page 28 19. Concerning the Yoke or Cross of Christ Page 29 20. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure ibid 21. Concerning Prayer Page 31 22. Concerning Repentance Page 32 23. Concerning Faith Page 33 24. Concerning Obedience Page 34 25. Concerning Justification Page 35 26. Concerning good Works Page 37 27. Concerning Love Page 38 28. Concerning Meekness and Patience Page 39 29. Concerning the knowledg of the new Covenant Page 40 30. Concerning the Fear of the new Covenant Page 42 31. Concerning Hope Page 43 32. Concerning Peace Page 44 33 Concerning Joy Page 45 34. Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility Page 46 The Conclusion Page 49 EXPERIENCES 1. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 57 2. Concerning the Souls food Page 58 3. Concerning Gods power Page 59 4. Concerning Temptations Page 60 5. Concerning Prayer Page 62 6. Concerning Justification and Sanctification Page 63 7. Concerning Faith Page 67 8. Concerning Obedience Page 71 9. Concerning the Cross of Christ Page 74 10. Concerning the Mystery Page 77 11. Right judging experienced Page 80 12. About knowing God's Spirit Page 84 13. Queries concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 85 14. Postcript to the experiences Page 91 Some Scriptures very sweet c. Page 93 A few words Concerning the true Christ Page 111 A few words to my native Country Page 115 ERRATA THe Stops have been much misplaced and many left out which the Reader is desired by his careful observation of the matter to supply the defect herein Some Errors which alter or may hinder the understanding of the sense are here taken notice of PAg. 6. lin 6. read those l. 14. r. grow P. 16. l. 3. f. they r. thy P. 22. l. 8. r. and the life P. 24. l. 20. r. meet together P. 27. l. 3. Blot out the first the. P. 54. l. 21. r. and experience P. 55. l. 16. r. to cure every Sickness P. 57. l. 17. r. Warring against them P. 61. l. 16. r. in the patience P. 64. l. 13. blot out the word for P. 68. l. 14. r. from P. 73. l. 8. Lord and Master P. 74. l 7. r. producing l. 17. r. hath this power P. 83. l. 12. r. bring Through the misunderstanding of the Printer the Titles over the pages belonging to that part of the Book called Experiences were omitted and the Title belonging to the following part put in heir stead which the Reader is desired thus to amend Experiences pag. 57 to p. 63. Concerning Justification and Sanctification p. 63 to 67. Experiences concerning Faith p. 67 to 71. Experiences concerning Obedience p. 71 to 74. The Cross of Christ experienced p. 74 to 77. The Mystery experienced p. 77 to 80. Right Judging experienced p. 80 to 84. How to know God's Spirit p. 84. Experimental Queries p. 85 to 90. How to know the Seed A serious Examination A Postscript to the Experiences p. 91 to 93.

are born of the Heavenly Womb who indeed alone can rightly plead for and justifie their Mother in this day of great strife and contention about the Kingdom and right Heir thereof I say having this sense on my heart and these things naturally springing up and opening in me upon this occasion I was drawn in love and in the motion of life thus to give them forth to others hoping that the Lord may thereby open the minds of some towards and confirm the minds of others in the sense and belief of the Truth and the inward manifestation of his Spirit which discovers and strives against the darkness lusts and corruptions in them The Lord give People the sense of the strivings and reproofs of his holy Spirit inwardly in their hearts and joyn their spirits thereto that they may receive Light Life Vertue and Strength from his holy Spirit and thereby witness the overcoming and keeping under the enemy of their souls that they may know what it is to have the seed of the Woman bruise the Serpents head in their own particulars that so the holy Child Jesus may be exalted his Horn exalted in them and he may reign and exercise his Government in them and they may become Kings and Priests to God and reign in him over all that his Power is ordained to break and keep under yea utterly consume and destroy in the hearts of those that submit themselves willingly to him and walk in the Light and Leadings of his holy Spirit Amen NAKED TRUTH OR Truth manifesting it self in several Particulars for the removing of Hinderances c. Given forth by way of Question and Answer I. Concerning understanding the Holy Scriptures truly and aright Quest WHether the Scriptures can be understood aright without the Light of God's holy Spirit shining inwardly in the heart and giving the true understanding of them Answ No not possibly for as the outward eye cannot possibly see without the shining of some outward Light no more can the inward Eye see without the shining of the inward Light God who commanded Light to shine out of darkness causeth the Light of his Spirit to shine in the hearts of People according to his holy pleasure and thereby they come to see God seeth all things in his own Light in the light of his own pure eternal Spirit and in his Light do the Children of Light see Light The things of Gods Kingdom are holy Mysteries and the words which he speaks concerning those holy Mysteries none can understand but as he pleaseth to open and reveal them He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true 1 Joh. 5.20 The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Job 32.8 without which Man is dead and can neither hear nor see nor understand any of the things of God's Kingdom II. Concerning the Illuminating Spirit and Sanctifying Spirit Quest Whether the Illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit be one and the same Spirit or no Because it is affirmed by some and written by one to me as a sound distinction of Divines which distinction he saith he hath a mind I should learn that there is a Spirit of Sanctification and that is peculiar to the Godly and there is a Spirit illuminating and that is oft vouchsafed to the wicked as it was to Balaam Answ The Spirit which illuminateth and the Spirit which sanctifieth is one and the same Spirit and the illumination of the Spirit is in order unto Sanctification The same Light which discovereth the Darkness also chaseth away the Darkness as it is received and subjected to and purifieth the mind for the Light hath not only a property of enlightening but also of cleansing and sanctifying And the reason why Men are not changed justified and sanctified in and by the Light is because they love it not and bring not their hearts and deeds to it and so it is their reprover and condemner and not their Justifier and Sanctifier But the same Spirit Light and Life which Enlighteneth also Sanctifieth and there is not another III. Concerning the holy Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures Quest Whether they be alwayes joyned or some may have the Spirit who have not the Scriptures and some may have the Scriptures who have not the Spirit Answ The holy Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures are not always joyned together for some in the dark corners of the Earth may be visited by the Spirit become sensible of the Spirit and receive the Spirit who never heard of the Scriptures and many may have the Scriptures and yet be very ignorant of and strangers to Gods holy Spirit as the Jews were who had them read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day and yet Christ told them you neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God IV. Concerning the Law of the Lord which is perfect and which converts the Soul Quest What is the Law of the Lord which is perfect and converts the Soul is it the outward Law or Writing in the Letter or the inward Law and Writing in the Spirit Answ No Man is or ever was or ever can be converted to God from the inward Law of Sin and Death but by the inward Law of Life and Righteousness written in his heart And I am sure that Law is perfect The New-Covenant is perfect and the Law thereof perfect the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus perfect which converts the mind to Christ the Righteousness of God and sets it free from the Law of Sin and Death And David was a spiritual Man and knew the inward Covenant and the inward creating of the heart a new and Gods holy and free Spirit and the Law and Testimony thereof I will grant a great deal to the Letter and ministration outward but I must attribute more to the inward or else Gods Light and the holy Experience which he hath given me will condemn me And as the Jew outward had the Law and Testimony and Statutes outward so I am sure the true Jew the Jew inward hath the Law and Testimony and Statutes inward written in his heart by the finger of Gods Spirit yea and the same Spirit put within him to cause him to keep this Law and the holy Testimony Statutes and Judgments of the Lord and the spiritual Jacob and Israel of God in this the day of their Redemption and Salvation from on high do follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes and walk in the Light of the Lord. V. Concerning David's longings exprest in Psal 42. Psal 43. and Psal 119. and other places Quest Were Davids longings more after the Law outward or after the Law and Light of Gods Spirit inward Answ David was a man after Gods own heart a man that knew an inward and clean heart of Gods creating and knew the free Spirit of the Lord and the fresh springing Life thereof and the leadings of the pure living Truth inwardly in his heart and this was it he most especially prized and longed after

Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me and take not they holy spirit from me c. saith he Psal 51.10 11. after his fall shewing what he had been acquainted with before and what he now God having touched his spirit afresh began to long after again And saith he in another place O send out thy Light and thy Truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy Hill and to thy Tabernacles Psa 43.3 O the sweetness of Light within Truth within O the precious leadings and drawings thereof which where once felt upon a fresh and tender remembrance thereof cannot but be longed after again VI. Concerning the Sun or Fountain of Spiritual Light Quest Whether the holy Scriptures or written Testimonies be the Sun or Fountain and the Light within but a ray or stream from them as is affirmed by my Antagonist Answ It is just quite contrary for the holy Men spake the holy words from the inward Light and quickning Life of Gods Spirit within them so that that was the Fountain in them and is so still With thee is the Fountain of Life And he that believeth as the Scriptures have said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he of the Spirit Joh. 7.39 that 's the Fountain The water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life Joh. 4.14 Who esteems honours the Scriptures aright He that believes their Testimony comes to Christ and makes his Spirit Light and Life all or he that sets the Scriptures in the stead of that Word of Life which they came from testifie of and point men to as the fountain and foundation of Life and Salvation to all mankind VII Concerning the Words being a Fire and a Hammer to burn up the Chaff and break the Rocks in pieces Quest Is the Word which is a fire and hammer the Testimonies and Declarations of the holy Scriptures without or the Word nigh in the mouth and heart Answ That which I have felt hammering inwardly that which I have felt burning inwardly unquenchably as the mind has been kept to it has been the Word of Life it self from which the good words and holy testimonies proceed That which does the work in the inward Jew is the inward Ministration of the inward Covenant the appearance of God there He is the consuming Fire he is the Spirit of Judgment and Burning who by his holy flamings inwardly burns up the filth of the daughter of Sion A man may be exercised in the letter all his dayes and yet witness nothing of this inwardly in Truth and Righteousness but he whom the Spirit of Judgment and Burning inwardly comes nigh and whose flesh is kept in that holy furnace it will be consumed there day by day until it be quite wasted and destroyed and so he come to be judged according to the flesh and to live to God in the Spirit VIII Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Quest How doth God write his Law in the heart Answ By his Spirit and Power working there whereby he both creates a new Heart and writes the new Law even the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus in the new Heart The Isles shall wait for his Law Whose Law The Law of the Messiah the Law of Grace which gives dominion the Law of the Anointing the Law of the New-Birth the Law of the Holy Seed His Seed remaineth in him 1 Joh. 3.9 In that Seed is the new Nature and the new Law both What is the Law of Sin what is the Law of Death how is it written in the Heart How doth the enemy write it there but by his corrupt spirit and nature And doth not God by his holy Spirit and Nature write the new Law the Law of Life in the hearts of those that are renewed and made tender to the impressions of his holy quickning Power every motion and drawing whereof is a Law to them who are born of the Spirit and taught of God to eye and walk after the quickning Spirit IX Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Quest What is it which the mind is to be turned to to enlighten it and to work the darkness and corruption out of it Answ It is no less than the Light of God's Spirit nothing else can do it The day-spring must arise from on high in the heart or there will be night for ever there All notions or apprehensions concerning the Light will not do it it is the shining of the Light alone inwardly which is able to expel the darkness there It was not for nothing that Christ came a Light to enlighten men and directed men to follow him the Light that they might not abide in Darkness and that he sent his Apostles with this message that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all and so gave his Apostles wisdom authority and power to turn men from the darkness to the light And if the darkness was within which they were to be turned from surely the light must shine within to discover the darkness and to that light must they be turned And in this light the holy Spirit is received and dwells there but out of this light and the limits thereof in every heart dwells the unclean and dark spirit and hath power and rule there for nothing but the light and strength of Gods Spirit is able to break his Kingdom and dominion inwardly in the heart X Concerning the Ministers and Ministry of the Gospel Quest Who are the ministers and what is the ministry of the Gospel Answer They are the ministers of the Gospel who have received that spirit and power wherein the ministry of the Gospel stands For Christ came in the spirit and power of the Father and he sends his Apostles and Ministers in the same spirit and power that they might be able to beget and reach to that birth which is to be begotten and ministred to It is one thing to be a Minister of the Law and to minister Letter and another thing to be a Minister of the Gospel and to minister Spirit The Apostles were able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and so are all in a degree who succeed them in any measure or proportion of their Ministry For the Ministry of the Gospel is in the Light Spirit and Power of the most High to turn peoples minds to a proportion of the same Light Spirit and Power in themselves and so to come to the manifestation and quickning of the same Life in themselves that so they may walk in the same Light For the Life is the Light and he can never have Light or see Light who comes not first to feel some vertue from the quickning Power O how precious is this ministry blessed be the Lord for his renewing of it in these our days And this ministry is not to

be confined to an outward order of men as the ministry of the law was but whoever hath received the gift so he is to minister as the Lord guides leads and orders him in the use of that gift which he hath bestowed upon him for that end And what if he be an herdsman a fisherman a Tent-maker or the like yet if God hath poured out his spirit upon him and openeth his mouth he hath not only liberty but more even authority from the Lord God almighty to speak in his name either for turning men unto Christ the light and life of men or for building men up in their holy faith in him whose spirit and power was and is the resurrection of the life for evermore XI Concerning trying of Spirits and searching the Heart Quest What is it which searcheth the heart and infallibly tries Spirits Answ Gods Spirit Gods word nigh in the heart and mouth separateth and giveth true discerning and judgment there to all whose ears are circumcised and inclined to it Gods Spirit is the spirit of judgment and where he is given the spirit of judgment is given and he judgeth in his children by the quickning life and sense he bestoweth on them which distinguisheth between life and death between truth and deceit yea between the same words when they come from the dead spirit and when they are spoken in his living power Christ gives his spirit to his sheep which gives them to know his voice to know when life speaks and when words are living and food for the living and in what mouth they are dead and cannot yield living nourishment XII Concerning things necessary to Salvation Quest Whether all things necessary to Salvation be contained in the Scriptures Answ The Scriptures give testimony concerning the one thing necessary to salvation but the thing it self Christ himself the seed it self is not contained in the Scriptures but revealed in the shinings of the true light and so received or rejected inwardly in the heart Behold I stand at the door and knock Blessed are they that hear his voice and believe him knocking and open to him and receive him who gives eternal life and power to become Sons of God to as many as receive him and believe in and give up to the inward revealings of his redeeming arm and power therein To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed They in and to whom this arm is revealed Christ is revealed and they in whom and to whom Christ is revealed know the one thing necessary even him who is life eternal in whom all other necessary things are wrapped up and by whom they are conveyed to the soul according to its need by him who is faithful in all his house and takes care of every sheep which the Father committeth to him XIII Concerning the true Gospel-Church or Society Quest What is the true Gospel-Church or society Answ A company of true believers in the spirit and power of the Lord Jesus Christ A company of true Jews inward Jews Jews in Spirit of the true circumcision whom the Father hath sought out and made true inward worshippers Such as are gathered to the name and gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through him A company of living stones who have received life from him the foundation-stone and met together to wait upon and worship the Father in the life and Spirit which they have received from him This is the holy Church or living assembly of the New-Testament blessed are they that are of it For about this Church is the wall of Salvation and they that are added by Gods spirit and power to this Church and abide in it shall certainly be saved XIV Concerning the way to Salvation Quest Which is the certain and infallible way to Salvation Answ It is a new and living way it is such a way as none but the living can walk in It is an holy way which none but the cleansed the ransomed the redeemed of the Lord can set one step in The way the life and the truth are all one blessed are they that find it and walk in it In plain and express terms It is the Lord Jesus the light of the Lord Jesus the life of the Lord Jesus the Spirit of the Lord Jesus the Truth as it is in him his wisdom his power he himself the covenant or holy limit between God and the Soul He that comes into him comes into the way he that abides in him abides in the way he that walks in him walks in the way He that comes to his light his life his Spirit his truth in the inward parts comes to him he that abides therein abides in him he that walks therein walks in him and he that walks out of the light and leadings of his Spirit let him walk in what form he will yet he walks not in him the way XV. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Quest How doth Christ save the Soul Answ By visiting inwardly knocking inwardly appearing inwardly causing the light of life to shine inwardly and so enlightning and quickning inwardly breaking the strength of the enemy inwardly and bringing out of the region and shadow of darkness inwardly into the region and path of light By the light and power of his spirit he begets a child of light which child of light he brings out of Egypt the dark land out of Sodom the filthy unclean Land out of Babylon the Land and City of confusion where the Spirit of the living God and the holy order of life and his precious government in the heart is not so much as known and brings him into the light where He his Father dwels And this child of light is not of the nature of darkness but light in the Lord and walks in the light as he is in the light and by the further shining and working of the light and life in him he preserves and saves him daily more and more XVI Concerning Regeneration or the New birth Quest What is the Regeneration or the new birth Answ It is an inward change by the spirit and power of the living God into his own nature It is a being begotten of his Spirit born of his Spirit begotten into and born of the very nature of his Spirit That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3. It is not every change of mind which is the right change but only that which God by the very same power wherewith he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the Grave makes in the hearts of those whom he visits who are sensible of receive and are subject to his inward Life Light and Power XVII Concerning true Holiness Quest What is true Holiness Answ That holy nature and those holy actions which arise from the holy root all else are but imitations of holiness not the true holiness The tree must be made good first and then the fruit will be good also There are many likenesses of

the true holiness up and down in several professions but there is no real holiness to be found nor righteousnes neither but in the trees of Gods planting in the branches which are by him ingraffed into the true Vine and Olive-tree whose strength of vertue and holiness lies in the lap which they daily receive from him XVIII Concerning Christs works outwardly in the days of his flesh and inwardly in the day and inward shining of the light of his spirit in the heart Quest Which are greater the works which Christ did outwardly on the Bodies of men in the days of his flesh or which he doth inwardly in mens Minds and Spirits by the powerful appearance and operation of his Spirit because Christ said the works that he did those that believed on him should do and greater also because he went to the Father Joh. 14.12 Answ Doubtless to reach to the Soul and quicken the Soul and raise the Soul out of the grave of death and cure the blindness deafness hardness and diseases of the soul is greater than the outward and was signified by the outward XIX Concerning the yoke or cross of Christ Quest What is the yoke or cross of Christ Answ It is inward as that which is to be crucified is chiefly inward It is that gift of God that light of his Spirit which is contrary to the darkness contrary to all that is corrupt which wills against it and wars against it and being received subjected to and born patiently takes away the life of the flesh the will and wisdom of the flesh and all the subtile reasonings and devices of the fleshly part and so that languishes and dies and Gods plant is eased of it and the soul abiding under this cross comes into the true pure and perfect liberty where it hath scope unto holiness freedom unto righteousness and is in strait bonds and holy chains from all liberty to the flesh and from all unholiness and unrighteousness of every kind XX. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure Quest How may a man make his Calling and Election sure Answ By making the gift of God sure to him by making that sure to him wherein the Calling and Election is For the choice is of the seed the holy seed the inward seed the seed of Gods Spirit and of the creature as joyned to the seed God would have none to perish but would have all come to the knowledg of Christ the Truth who is the seed in whom the Election stands and his holy advice to men is whom he begins to call and to lead towards the Election To make their Calling and Election sure So that the way of making the Calling and Election sure is to make the gift sure the seed sure the leaven sure the pearl sure which God will never reject nor any that are found in true union with it and in the love and obedience of it O therefore as God visits with power with his powerful gift and as thou receivest power dominion and authority over sin for in this gift is God's dominion and authority revealed be faithful to the gift be faithful to the power give up to the truth in the inward parts come into it dwell in it that thou mayst feel its vertue and delivering nature from every enslaving and embondaging thing and then stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ the Lord by the life vertue and power of his truth sets thee free And so here thou wilt read thy Calling and read thy Election day by day and find them sealed and sure to thee in that truth in that gift in that Heavenly Light in that holy seed which came from God and is of him and which he delights to own and will never reject XXI Concerning Prayer Quest Which is the true Prayer Answ The breathings which arise from the true birth from the living sense which God gives to the true birth that is the true prayer There is a spirit of prayer and supplication given by God to his children to wrestle and prevail with him by All prayer that arises from and is given by that Spirit is true prayer all other prayer is not right and true but at best but an imitation of the true We know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Mark the very groanings that come from Gods Spirit from his breathing and work upon the heart are right prayers in Gods sight but other sighs and groans are not so XXII Concerning Repentance Quest Which is the true Repentance Answ That which Christ gives whom God hath exalted to be the Prince and Saviour to give Repentance and forgiveness of sins Acts 5.31 It is not in man's power to repent his heart is hard and impenitent It is God's power which melteth tendereth and changeth the heart So that there is a great difference between the sense and sorrow of mans nature and the sense and sorrow which God gives to the heart which he renews and changes The one is of an earthly the other of a heavenly nature The one is like the early dew or morning cloud it soon passeth away the other is written in the new heart and abideth So that in it there is a real sorrow and mourning over the corrupt nature and all the dead works of the flesh and a turning from them and medling no more with them This is the Repentance of the renewed ones which is the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ unto them and is a godly sorrow for sin not to be repented of XXIII Concerning Faith Quest What is the true Faith Answ It is a belief in the power which saves from a true sense and experience of it in the heart For the power which saves must first manifest it self before it can be believed in And how doth it manifest it self but by shining in the heart which hath been darkened by transgression to open the eye of the understanding which the God of the World hath Blinded and to unstop the deaf Ear and so it begets and creats somewhat capable to receive its further manifestation The Scripture speaks of a new Creation in Christ Indeed all true believers are so and they have the ability the faculty the power of believing from him who creates them anew There is that which is called Faith in unregenerate men but that is not the Faith I am now speaking of but that which is the gift of God to his own birth to his own begotten To you it is given not only to believe c. Phil. 1.29 Mark it is given to believe O this holy gift this Faith of the new birth is the Faith which pleaseth God prevaileth with him purifieth the heart to which it is given giveth access to God interest in his power and promises and victory over the worldly nature and over all the Soul's enemies Blessed be the Lord for bestowing and increasing it in the hearts of his

spiritual effects in the Mind and that this is it even that which slays the enmity in the mind and crucifies to the World and the affections thereof God forbid said the Apostle that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World Now mark That which is contrary to the World and crucifies to the World that is the Cross The Cross hath its power and nothing else and so there is nothing else to glory in The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Mind here is the Cross The Spirit which is contrary to the flesh which mortifies the flesh through the Obedience whereof the flesh is crucified If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Whatsoever is of and in the Spirit it is contrary to the flesh The light of the Spirit is contrary to the darkness of the flesh The holiness of the Spirit is contrary to the unholiness of the corrupt heart The Life of the Spirit is contrary to the Life or rather death that is in sin The power of the Spirit is contrary to the power that is in Satan and his Kingdom The Wisdom of God is contrary and a foolish thing to the Wisdom of man Yea the new Creature which springs from God's Holy Spirit is contrary and death to the old Now he that comes hither out of his own Wisdom out of his own will out of his own thoughts out of his own reasonings and comes to a discerning of God's Spirit and to the feeling of his begetting of life in his heart and his stirrings and movings in the life which he hath begotten and waits here and receives counsel here he is taught to deny himself and to joyn to and take up that by which Christ daily crosseth and subdueth in him that which is contrary to God And here is the fight of Faith and the good travel under the Cross whereby the holy journey is gone and the enemies which rise up to oppose in the way vanquished and overcome For here is the power revealed the preserving power the leading power the conquering power of him who rideth on conquering and to conquer his spiritual enemies in the hearts of his Children who know his voice and are subiect to him who daily denying themselves and taking up his Cross follow him Wo is to them that are at ease in Sion under any thing that is contrary to God but blessings are upon them whose dwelling is under the Cross and who know no ease but what it allows It will make Truth Life Holiness Righteousness Faith Obedience Meekness Patience Love Separation from Sin Communion with the Lord and all the fruits of the Spirit as natural to them in the renewed state as ever sin was in the corrupt state And in that state they shall be able to say with Paul who once complained of his captivity and that he did what he hated yet after he had known the power of the Cross and was crucified with Christ he could then do nothing against the truth but for the truth Yea then being a conquerer having overcome the enemies which stood in his way he could do all things through Christ that strengthened him The cause of so many complaints and bowings down the head going mourning because of the prevailings of the enemy through temptations sin and corruption is because the Cross of Christ which is the power of God which is his Ordinance against the strength of the enemy is either not known or not taken up And this is the reason that many that make a fair shew for a while yet afterwards come to nothing but are like untimely figs or like corn upon the House-tops which hastily springeth up but soon withereth because they either rightly never learn or keep not to the Cross For that alone hath power from God to bring down and keep down that which is contrary to him So that from under the Cross of Christ there is no witnessing Salvation or preservation from the Lord but out of the limits of the Cross the enemy hath power to recover and bring back under his dominion again And whosoever in his travels leaves the Cross behind him does draw back unto perdition and not travel on in the living faith and newness of Obedience towards the Salvation of the Soul X Concerning the Mystery of Life and the Mystery of the fellowship which is therein God is hid from Man as he lies in his sinful and fallen estate and no Man can find or know him but as he pleaseth to reveal himself by his own blessed Spirit And Christ being God's image there is no knowing or confessing him or right calling him Lord but in and by the same Spirit 1. Cor. 12 3. When he appeared in the days of his flesh flesh and bloud could not reveal him but only the Father And he is the same to day as he was yesterday He is not to be known now but in the same Spirit in his own Grace and Truth in a measure of his own Life The dead cannot know him they only know him who are his Sheep who are quickned and made alive by him And this Life is a Mystery none can understand it but they that partake of it Can a man that is naturally dead know what the Life of nature means No more can a man that is spiritually dead know what the Life of the Spirit means The natural Man may get the words that came from Life and cry up them and speak great words of the same of Wisdom and of her Children but the thing it self is hid from them all O it is a strait gate at which the birth enters at which none else can enter The wise and prudent knowers and searchers after the flesh and of the Scriptures as they can put meanings upon them and comprehend them are shut out in every age but ther 's a babe born of naked Truth born of the pure simplicity admitted by God while men disdain and despise it And the fellowship of the Saints is in the Life and in the Light which is this Mystery The fellowship is not outward but inward All they that meet together in the outward place are not in the fellowship or worship but only they they meet together in the inward Life and Spirit They that worship the Father must worship him in Spirit and Truth Look ther 's the worship there are the worshippers They that are in the Spirit in the Truth They that meet in the Spirit in the Truth they meet together in the one spiritual place as I may call it And so we own no man after the flesh no man according to the appearance but in the righteous judgment of the Spirit those only who are of the Spirit Indeed we are tender where there is the least beginning of the work of God in any

or very God and Eternal Life What are all notions about God and about his Son Christ Jesus to this inward sense and experience of them God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2. Cor. 4.6 O how precious is it to be able to witness this in measure to experience God shining upon my tabernacle as Job speaks Job 29.2 3 and by his Light my walking through darkness It is true Christ was the Light he had the fulness of Light and the Apostles a very great proportion but blessed be the Lord I have received some and am changed by it and become light in the Lord and walk with God and dwell with God in the light even as he is Light and dwels and walks in the Light Is not this a blessed testimony and is not he blessed who can set his seal to it Which veil is done away in Christ 1 Cor. 3.14 It was promised of old that in the mountain where God would make the Feast of fat things he would destroy swallow up or do away the veil or that which veils the Life and Glory of the Lord from man and hinders it from being revealed in him Isa 25.6.7 Now in Christ there is no veil In his Light Life Spirit and Power there is no veil Where they are inwardly manifested and received the veil is done away and the glory of the mystery revealed and beheld If ye continue in my Word then are ye my disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free Joh. 8.31 32. What is this word which the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are to continue in Is it any less than Spirit and life And wh t is it to be a disciple indeed but to learn the Law of Life at his mouth and to continue therein And what is the truth which makes free Is it not the living truth the word which lives and abides for ever the powerful truth the operative truth This cuts between a man and his lovers this divides between Soul and Spirit Joints and marrow and makes the Soul free from that evil Spirit which had embondaged it It Sanctifieth it cleanseth it reneweth it quickneth it giveth strength it maketh free from the Souls enemies from the bondage of sin and corruption and brings into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And they that are made free from sin by that which is contrary to ●n and which subdues overcomes and destroys sin they doubtless are free indeed O precious is it to experience this even the truth that is free from sin and makes free from sin all that truly know it and are joyned to it and live and abide in it For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 What 's the Law What 's the ministration of the Law Is it not the ministration of the letter of that which is holy and righteous by an outward or litteral Command What 's Grace Is it not the inward teacher which inwardly instructeth to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godlily c. Is it not the ministration of the Spirit and Power Is it not the ministration of the new Covenant where the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is written in the heart and the commandement of Life made easy by the power of the Lord Jesus who manifests himself within to mak● willing unto and to strengthen to obedience Now they that are under this Grace under this Spirit under this Power doth it not break the power and dominion of sin in them and set them free therefrom Can sin break in upon those who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty Indeed a man may be under a literal dispensation of holy Commands against sin and yet be under the power of Sin but he that is gathered under the wing of Christ under the Grace and Spirit of the Gospel turned from Satans power to God's Power and within the Wall and Bulwark thereof he witnesseth this true Sin hath not Dominion Sin cannot have Dominion Sin shall not have Dominion over you no device of the enemy shall be able to hurt or destroy on Gods holy Mountain for his Light shines there to dispel the darkness and his power is revealed there to scatter and dash in pieces the strength of the enemy whenever it appears Vpon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 O the Lord God by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel in the day thereof is bringing many Sons to Glory into Great Inward Spiritual Glory yea into exceeding Glory For the ministration of the Spirit exceeds in glory And as God hath ordained this glorious ministration for his Sons and daughters under the New Covenant so by the Spirit and Power of the New Covenant when it breaks forth he is daily working translating and changing them out of the earthly nature and image into his own divine nature into his own heavenly Glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And blessed be the Lord the defence of his power is spread over the glory of his holy Mountain so that nothing can make a prey of or devour the birth of life or deprive of the inheritance of Life there The Lord doth not only give a blessed lot and lines in pleasant places but he maintains the lot of his Children so that they can dwell in their Fathers House and feed on the Heavenly Food and rich dainties of the Kingdom in the majesty of the name of the Lord their God which is such a dread unto the enemies and such a defence about them as none can make afraid but they are kept in perfect Peace in perfect rest in pure Love out of which Life springs and flows continually And in that day thou shalt say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and Song he also is become my Salvation Therefore with Joy shall ye draw water out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.1 2 3. O precious to witness the inward Spiritual day of redemption and deliverance wherein praises from a living sense naturally spring up to the Lord To witness the reproofs at an end the anger indignation trouble and sorrow at an end and the comforter come ministring Peace Joy and Comfort to the Soul Ah when the Lord is felt the Salvation his pesence his Power his Life his Vertue the Salvation when Faith springs towards him and the fear of the enemy or concerning the enemy is banished when he is experienced to be the Soul 's daily strength against him yea and doth so deliver that instead of the former fear because of the fury and oppression of the