their power oppose and persecute this is a Ministry of darkness There is a Ministry also that teacheth Christ onely as an Allegory or figure of things to be done in us the cross and bloud without onely typing and signifying the cross and bloud and spirit within us Moses John and Christ with their several Ministries being onely as transient forms figures and examples of another and more spiritual Ministry within that onely makes perfect this doctrine indeed has a glory with the natural man or him that is led by the principles of Law or heightened Reason but has no glory with afflicted ones who are under workings of wrath and spoiled of all let the Masters of such doctrines with all their disciples know the Law was an Allegory or shadow of good things in Christ had nothing in it self but signified all in another and referred us over to him this was but the weakness and emptiness of the Law it was but an Allegory So they that preach the Person of Christ and Redemption in him to be onely an Allegory of things in us such set not forth Christ in glory but weakness this is the emptiness of Christ that he was but a figure having done nothing for us in himself but onely pointing us to another the Spirit to work Redemption in us this is a Ministry of darkness but under a form of Light Which sets forth Christ in most light let it be judged he that sayes Christ has already by himself done away the ministration of condemnation and death which was as a cloud of darkness spread over us as a thick vail before us that we could not come unto God and in the place thereof hath brought forth a ministration of righteousness and life whereby a way is opened into the holiest into the light and glory of God that saith Sing oh heavens for the Lord hath done it shout ye lower parts of the earth break forth into singing ye mountains oh forrest and every tree therein for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel all things that were against us are overcome on his cross and descended into his deep grave for ever nothing remains but that you receive this Saviour as having done all things for you as working all things in you or he that saith Christ came once into the world a Teacher of Perfection and a living Example therein but is now come in us setting up a Law of condemnation and death wherein if we abide and bear the indignation of God and punishment of sins in his Spirit and after his example through these sufferings as by the bloud of the Cross shall the Attonement and redemption be made and perfected if we be perfect in obedience and that we are not to beleive any such thing that the bloud of Christ without takes away sins sin is not taken away nor redemption made till the same obedience and sufferings be fulfilled in us as in him this doctrine because pointing to the bloud the Cross the Redeemer within may by shaken and darkened hearts be called a doctrine of light but indeed it bringeth back the shadows and terrors of the Law again remembrance of sin suffering sacrifice wrath and so far from being a Light that it shuts up the light grace and glory of God that he cannot be seen any other wayes than through a vail far thicker than that of Moses Christ as appearing above all mountains as Head over all Principalities and Powers to his Church so he is a Light as by the brightness of his glory he has vanquished that darkness and death brought in by sin so he is a light as he has in himself the second Adam destroyed all that which came in by the first Adam so he is a light he that brings not this doctrine makes Christ no more a Light but either a figure and example without or at the best a Law-giver a Moses and an Exact or within Their Purity and Power examined what it is THere is a Purity that is so with men but not before God Reason saith Man's nature is defiled by sin and must be washed by our obedience disobedience to God was the defilement and by obedience and mortification we return to Purity but faith sayes Purity before God is the conscience purged by the dead body of Christ and the heart purified by the Spirit of faith beleiving the same who are most for spiritual Purity they that beleive sin already done away in him that came by bloud water and spirit and by union with him are therein washed and made clean every whit or they who contend sin not yet done away take away our righteousness in the Head so pure and perfect and affirm our righteousness to be but in part till perfection in obedience if bodily exercise or purifying the flesh may be called purity divers Monks and Jesuites especially of old may claim a name herein who yet knew little of Purity by the righteousness of God when almes bodily chastisements retirement into holy houses and going on pilgrimage was beleived as the way to be perfect no wonder if this Religion abounded so where this Principle is received in power that obedience to the light within and all the several acts of that obedience till come unto perfection are the onely Redemption and way to be perfect to see zeal and exactness labours and sufferings denying the pleasures fashions and customs of the world in such t is not to be wondered at to purifie the earthly members by the spirit is good while the inward Man abides as in a more excellent way purified in the Head but to purifie the members as reckoning it our redemption our righteousness all such Purity is sin blindness and Idolatry Lastly as to their Power the Law is mighty to kill because of sin weak to save because of the flesh he that takes out of our sight our righteousness as in heaven in the Lord already prepared brings us back into weakness and bondage again and leaves us without light or strength to withstand in the hour of temptation that may come either by spirits from without or our flesh from within that doctrine that declares our liberty victory triumph to be already in being in Christ the Head that shews us a life given unto us above all spiritual actings exercises and comforts felt in our selves a life liberty and perfection hid in Christ this doctrine brings power and a spirit of power Compleatness in the Head without Law or work being beleived and learned gives a spirit of judgement over all spirits and doctrines interest and kinds of life and a strength of righteousness which preserves from the evils of all whilst this Truth lay hid the Church was in bondage unto the elements of the world will-will-worship and monkish holiness having over-spread all instability and unfaithfulness to this Truth does at this day deliver up many unto principles and practises not according to Christ thus where righteousness in the Head
without work is denied there is neither light purity nor power though a shew of all speech or words and outward appearance was one thing and power another with him that said I will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but their power Opposition and persecution that is raised against this people what to be thought of it HAving given this general view of this people and their way I shall conclude with a word concerning the opposition and persecution that is every where practised against them and my sense thereupon The opposition made against that or any way that pretends to be of God may be said to proceed either from ignorance or enmity or truth As to the first they that have not the Spirit of light in themselves oppose the same and the very appearance of the same in others the Religion and faith of the greatest part of the Nation is no more but traditions of others or inventions of their own reason the teachings of God through the Son and Spirit being things they know nothing of and therefore the more lively inward and spiritual manifestations of Truth they oppose being in darkness themselves they know not the light nor the workings of it in others and therefore think no man sees more than themselves and so measure all things by themselves by this sort of men is this way every where spoken against because under shews of light and spirit it testifies against them as in darkness and the flesh as to this I testifie against the Nation as fighters against God while they ignorantly oppose any spirit or way whether it be of God or do but appear to be oâ—… Christ and the light of him is an offence to this world therefore is his way such an offence because having some resemblance of him though to me no more what is done against them though it be not done against him yet is done as against him and the Nations sin is not the less Others have had a taft of Light and Truth and begun in the Spirit but are returned back to the flesh and are sit down at ease in their forms and interests and having lost their simplicity savour and love to the interests of Light and Truth the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ further measures and manifestations of Christ and Light and of obedience thereto are as much an offence to them as the least measures thereof are to the other stinted forms of words and worship were the interest of the Bishops stinted measures of light and profession are the interest of these those were at warr with every thing that was beside their form because against their interest these are at warr with what is beside their measure because against their interest while the tyranny of Princes and idolatry of Religions was heavy upon them that Righteousness and Light was sweet that redeemed and led them out Liberty and pleasures in the flesh having since flattered them into the policies principles and customes of the world they take up the same weapons against encreases of light and reformation in others which their oppressors took up against the beginnings of it in themselves by this sort are this people and others opposed and persecured because pretending to higher measures of light and righteousness than they can bear unto such I say it is a shame and sadness in such a day as this that for meer differences and offences about spiritual things where no more occasion is given men should be delivered up unto bonds prisons and unreasonable men let them live under you in peace who break not your peace let the true Jesus and the true Gospel-spirit shine forth more in our hearts and wayes and there will not need the arm of flesh either against the Whore or the Beast spiritual or outward enemies Truth as it is in Jesus is the onely principle whereby to oppose errour unto which Truth I do here bear witness and have so far herein appeared against this people as they have to me appeared against the truth in Christ disputes and strifes among brethren divided in the letter where the spirit is one I avoid and forbear Enmity and opposition against spiritual enlightenings in others has been the sin of many in this Nation if I had been left to my own heart I should have been as they but a searching for more light and a readiness to receive it has been my frame having through grace learned that one beam of true Gospel-light is more worth than the reading of many books more mighty than all the Kingdoms of the world with all their policy force and greatness The difference between me and this people is as I judge no other but what is between them and Christ not about words or postures or glits or operations but about the bloud the attonement the person of Jesus Christ if after divers conferences readings and hearings their words and writings I could have found the difference no more than in gifts and measures of light and knowledge if I could have found them holding the Head the Person of the Mediatour and compleatness in him by faith I should have been silent and studied unity with them God indeed is Love but Christ coming forth as righteousness and peace was the manifestation of this Love in him is our victory liberty and songs this Truth sense feels not reason cannot reach law vails it flesh and bloud resist it spiritual wickednesses in all false Religions fight against it if our faith and sight hereof be taken from us we are delivered up to the power of some of these earthly dark and worldly principles as this truth is darkened or denyed by this people I have appeared for it it has been my light herein by which I have written as it is opened or shut upon my heart I did herein go or stand still if it had pleased the Lord to have encreased my light and faith herein I might have written with more evidence and power that little strength that has been lent I have not denied not knowing what use it may be of An account of the Faith of this people in the severall parts and principles thereof being made publique by a chiefe Leader of that way J. Naylor in his Book called Love to the Lost I shall gather up every principle by it self into a short and just summe and therewith the principles of truth according to the Prophets and Apostles whereby we may come to an understanding both of their faith and the truth and to a right judgement of their agreement or difference therewith in doing of which I trust the Lord of light and truth shall so command me that I shall present this faith to others as their own writings present it to me and also set out the faith of Christ no otherwise then as it is in him Concerning the fall of man THe summe of things spoken by him is that Gods own wisdom and power or Spirit was placed in man whereby
of the Fathers glory has already by himself without us and before any good wrought in us finished transgression made an end of sin abolished condemnation and death and that not by Spirit onely but by spirit water and bloud That though in the Kingdom of the Law of Reason and sense that is in the flesh sin condemnation and death are seen and felt yet in the Kingdom of Grace and Faith that is in Christ they are vanquished and appear no more That a beleiver while enclosed and shut up in a body of sin and death fightings and fears within and without as he is in flesh is at the same time raised up into the heavenly righteousness immortality and freedom above all sin or shadow of evil as he is in Christ the Head as redeemed in Spirit a Christian is in heaven in rest in victory and perfection as not yet redeemed in the body he is on earth in labours infirmities and imperfection These blessed sayings whosoever holds fast in faith and love will be in him as a lamp leading him through the thick vail of Legality the vain speculations of Philosophy the mysterious depths of Anti-christ and will be to him a Light to discern the Doctrine Spirit Ministry and Church of Christ from them that say they are so and seem to be so but are not but are of the Synagogue of Sathan Ye are compleat in him Upon this truth has the Church of Christ been built as upon a rock higher than all the flouds and storms that have gathered against her during the long Night of Anti-christian darkness as this Truth shined forth literal and mystical Idolatry in England France and Germany as shadows of the Night fled away On the other hand this Truth dying and decreasing out of the Churches of Galatia Colosse c. prepared the way of the Man of Sin into them and to this day hath exalted him over all Nations when the knowledge of Christ as Head shall more encrease and the Church grow up more into him who is Head Anti-christ in his highest forms his deepest speech his fairest shews worshipped and wondered at by the unbeleiving and unstable world of Professors shall be revealed and consumed Three cheifest Principles of this people called Quakers examined and weighed COncerning this people passing by their language postures and all other respects as to Person or Circumstance the tryal and knowledge of theirs or any other Spirit may more certainly be had from the substance and ground of their doctrine and faith the sum and scope whereof as to me it appears may be fully and faithfully gathered up in these three following principles 1. That the Light which enlightens every man accusing of sin is Christ and God the Pure and Perfect the Eternal and Just One and so the Redeemer and Saviour and the All to be known and beleived not as do others in word letter or person without but as within redeeming reconciling and making attonement not without in another but within in our selves out of which Light man departing was lost in darkness and the fall into which Light returning again he is restored and redeemed as at the beginning 2. That this Light as condemning of sin and death and restoring out of it into Righteousness and Life this is the bloud and death of the Cross the resurrection and second coming of the Son of God and that Obedience without mixture unto this Light working all our works in us this is our Redemption Justification Mortification and Sanctification so much obedience so much redeemed thus the Law and Gospel Faith and Obedience Death Resurrection Redemption Justification and Sanctification are not things distinct but one and the same within us 3. That the way to come to all this and to Christ and the Father is the Light in every man condemning of sin the sure word of prophesie wherein we must wait within and not as others go out unto a Christ without a letter without Christ and the Scriptures onely delivering their own experiences and conditions not as a Rule or word of faith to others and giving their Testimony onely to the Light within not to any Person Redemption or operation without also his and their Ministration in work words or letter without being onely the literal Covenant that makes nothing perfect This is the justest description and my truest understanding I can give of their faith and principles their other doctrine are but conclusions proceeding from these Three Principles of Truth are perverted and denied by these three principles of theirs the Person of Christ as the Object of Faith the Scriptures as the Rule of Faith and Faith it self as the evidence of things not seen of each of these a word whereby both Truth and Errour may appear Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God the Word the promise the Life yet fore ordained in the end of the world to be manifest in flesh to put away sin therein by the sacrifice of himself Unto him that is Christ as to come in the flesh the two great witnesses under the old Testament the Law and the Prophets did testifie and point as the true Promise and Sacrifice the Law having a shadow of things seen afarre of not then received of good things to come not present and done of Jesus the High-Priest to minister in flesh and therein to offer himself the one the perfect the eternal Sacrifice once and for ever no more to be offered from thenceforth in any age or generation In the fulness of time the Word was made flesh and being greater than Moses the Prophets or John he gathered up their several ministrations and finished them in himself the fulness of the Godhead in him as a Sea of righteousness life and blessing abolishing and overwhelming the sin condemnation and curse of the world as the less is overcome of the greater And hereunto when he ascended on high he gave gifts unto men whom he ordained as Apostles and Witnesses to the world that the Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ before the world began which was shadowed by the Law and foretold by the Prophets was now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished sin and death in his crucified body and hath brought forth immortality and life in himself in spirit Thus the Mystery of Grace and truth lay hid in the divinity but came forth and was acted in the humanity neither is the divinity without the humanity nor the humanity without the divinity but both one in Christ thus the crucified and glorified Person of Christ is the express Image of God the alone object of faith the way whereby God came down in salvation unto men and by which we ascend and have access unto God thus Redemption and Righteousness is gloriously wrought without us in the person of Christ to point to any Person or Spirit within for the working Redemption over again other than to him that descended and ascended
hid from such eyes or principles of flesh that Religion that saith sin is not done away for us in the Head because felt in part in our earthly members whatsoever honour it may take to it self as above others yet is but built upon the same principles with all the false Religions of the world to wit sense reason and unbeleiving conscience that is to say the Law thus Christ's first coming was to take away sin As Christ first appeared bearing and taking away sin so he shall appear the second time without sin that is not as at first condemning bearing and taking away sin for thâ—s he did once when he offered up himself as he first came cloathing himself upon with our sin so he shall come again cloathing us upon with his everlasting righteousness once he came in Grace taking upon himself the sin the sentence that was upon us then he shall come in more grace as having taken away sin both from off us and himself his first coming united him to our flesh and us unto him all his were gathered together in him in one body on the Cross his second coming shall unite us together with him in one glory and spirit and shall gather all Saints into one in himself as it is said The Lord my God shall come and all his Saints with thee we who beleive are entered into Rest we have Redemption perfection and life already but hid in him we wait for the same at his second coming not to be done over again but to be revealed in us those that shall trouble them who have beleived in Jesus by charging them of sin and calling to a Redemption as a thing yet to be done or that shall declare him coming again to charge or accuse his people of sin to set up in them a cross of attonement and redemption from sin such do make void his first coming in flesh which was to beat away sin such are not the Angel that shall publish his second appearance which is without sin unto salvation Jesus Christ in Person as raised up above all Principalities and Powers is the Head of his Church all that are Christ's whether those that are fallen asleep or that yet remain alive are in a mystery raised up already in him as in union with their Head they are so but they appear not so as all that were Christ's were raised up together with him when he was raised up so they shall all come together with him when he shall appear again the dead out of the graves and the living changed and all this by vertue of union the members with the Head as Christ is not Head in Spirit alone but as the whole Person so his second appearance will not be in Spirit alone but also in Person and as we are his members not as to the Spirit alone but also as to the body spiritual so our gathering together unto the coming of the Lord will not be in Spirit onely but also in the spiritual body thus the coming of the Lord in his heavenly Person and our meeting of him in our heavenly tabernacle or incorruptible state will be together the union of Head and Members and the evidence of Scriptures agreeing thereto perswading me so Let this union be kept clear as to our understanding and entire from first to last so shall the disputes of many and the diversities of their faith about the coming of the Lord be cleared and ended and the professions of this people will appear to be not according to Truth who some of them say to us the Day is come and the shadows are fled away that Day being as the Lightening that shall shine from East to West that is not coming to some first but to all that are Christs together bringing forth Redemption not of the Spiritt alone but also of the body bringing forth our Lord Jesus not onely in Spirit but also in Person and with him all that are his at coming Wherefore our union in Christ the Head and his union with us the members are Truths of a distinct nature and consideration according to the first we are in him compleat already according to the other we know him in part and grow up in measures to be in him compleat is a state more inward mor hid seen onely to faith to have him in us encreasing and in part is a thing more in sight and seen to sense and feeling learn and beleive your selves perfect in him and wait and groan for the manifestation thereof in your members let no man spoil you of your reward in the first if you would not fail and come short of the last live by faith alwayes in him though the clear and comfortable sense of him live not alwayes in you thus much of Christ his first and second Comings Anti-christ's last coming what and how COncerning Anti-christ in his last coming it may be said a conjunction of carnal things with spiritual Law and Reason with Christ was the Egg of Anti christianisme wherein that Kingdom began and whereby it has been nourished and continued unto this day Circumcision and Philosophy under the Pagan power Ceremony and works under the Papal subtil speculations in the dayes of the School-men and fair shews in the flesh in these our times all these in their several seasons having been coupled and mingled with the things of Christ and standing where they should not have made Anti-christ appear as a mystery worshipped and wondered as the true Christ In times of light or of the Apostles and first Churches he came forth in a ministry of light and righteousness of works that he might dishonour and diminish the righteousness of Christ in after ages as spiritual lights and truths decreased and declined into more carnality and darkness he likewise took up and worked by more carnal principles in later times as truth has begun to shine forth again he also has transformed himself into an Angel of light again Thus the way and method of Antichrist in general has been by a similitude of truth to deface the Truth or by lesser truths to oppose the greater by pâ—inciples of reason to oppose the things of faith by the letter to oppose the Spirit or by the Spirit as working all in us to oppose Christ as having wrought all for us in himself That Anti-christ in his last coming will observe the same method as before to wit a counterfeit of truth seems to be expressed by the Lord himself in his speech to his Disciples concerning Antichrist's and his own last coming Math. 24.5 26 27. Many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ some shall say he is in the desert some in the secret chambers but my coming shall be as lightening shining from East to West The last Truths or Truths last to be revealed before the coming of the Lord will be such as relate to his coming spiritual whispers and voices from Christ to the Virgins behold I come quickly and a
of fear zeal and activity for God in the Contemplations of him as a pure and holy God but 't is a far other principle that is Christ crucified for us and the faith of him that leads unto that spirit of peace power and joy in the beholding of God as our father in him so then that spirit that shews the commandment and leads to the services thereof to be redeemed thereby is a spirit which all men may attain unto but that spirit that reveals the things freely given of God without Law or service is that spirit that is not given unto all nor eye nor ear nor heart of man can see or find this out he only descends and blows where he lifts neither being received can he be retained any longer then he pleaseth no more then we can restrain the breath in our nostrils that spirit exerciseth the servants thereof with labour and hard bondage and then kills them as preferring the commandment of the Old before the blood of the New and everlasting Testament this makes his Children free and saves for ever as rejoycing in the Head and having no confidence in the flesh or the works done therein That the pattern of true worship is Jesus Christ as the Oracle speaking from Heaven and the Gospel as the Preacher on earth the one being the substance of Heavenly things themselves the other but the Copy that doctrine or spirit whatsoever it may seem that calls you to the light in every man and to that alone as the only pattern of faith and worship doth but build up a worship upon the same foundations with the worships of the world that is righteousness by the Law and serves to no other end then to blot out the true attonement the blood and water that fountain of healing in the Person of Christ with the very name and remembrance thereof to bring forth instead thereof another attonement to be made in our persons which in true sense is no other but the righteousness of the Law Concerning Error Heresie c. He saith that the light within every man is that Spirit of truth which judgeth all deceit but can be deceived by none that to divide or go out from this Spirit or light is errour and the mother of all false worship and Religions It has been before proved that the light within all men is the candle of the Lord in every naturall man revealing the law and the offences against that law but the Spirit that reveales the gift of grace by one man Jesus Christ the naturall man neither knows nor can receive There are three that bear record in heaven and they are one there are three that bear witness on earth and they agree in one God sending forth his Son in our flesh for a propitiation for sins this is the witness of the Father as the fountain of grace and truth Christ comming forth as the Image and brightnesse of the Father purging away our sins by himself and returning to God this is the witness of the Son as the fulness of grace and truth the spirit of Christ coming into our hearts revealing the righteousness of Christ and the life of Christ in us this is the witness of the Spirit Now among these witnesses there is such an Unity that he that denies one denies all the witnesses are one and their testimony one yet each in their order the Father spoke and appeared and bowed himself to sinners but so as in the Mediator the man Christ the Son redeemed sinners but so as he did in his own body not in ours the spirit comes unto such but so as he leads them into the Light and fulness of Christ not the light in every man to divide from any of these or to set one against another is Error Jews and Turks believe in God but not as in the Son they divide from the Son and so have not the Father the litteral and carnal Professors after a sort believe in God as in the Mediator but deny his spirit in their hearts these divide from the spirit and so have neither the Son nor the Father this people believe in God as by the Light within men redeeming from sin but not as in the Man Jesus having done it already and so deny the witness of the Son and have neither Son nor Father Christ is the band of unity between God and men in him Mercy and Truth righteousness and peace do kiss each other in him God and sinners are met together reconciled and at unity in him God comes down to sinners by him we come unto God in him the blessed Divinity and the seed of Abraham that is the humane nature are in covenant in union the Covenant the union was made by the Cross by blood by the body of Christ this was the Sons witnesse take heed he that divides you from the Son and this his witnesse sets you at such a difference with the Majesty of God as no light nor spirit within you can attone or make up thus Error is not to divide from the Light within all men but from Christ the Head the fulness of all Truth in whom we only see and have the Father and Spirit and without whom all Religions are fleshly or mystical Idolatries Concerning Faith He saies the measure or light of God in every man is Gods righteousness perfection that turning into this righteousness and adiding therein is the receiving of the righteousness of Christ by faith that by waiting in the light within through faith and obedience thereto righteousness is wrought in and unrighteousness wrought out and so the creature is made free from sin not a word of the Faith in the person of Christ or the operation of God in him for us The scope of their Doctrine herein and in all the height and depth of it seems plainly this that a measure of the eternal Divinity is in every man by turning whereinto out of all sayings writings persons operations Scriptures or Christ without the same doth through obedience thereto destroy and purge away sins out of us and so redeems and reconciles unto God The precious faith saies that the eternal word manifest in flesh being the substantial fulness of the Divine life and righteousness and having thereby vanquished in his flesh and buried in his grave our sins and death with all powers visible or invisible that were against us this is he who is the pure perfect and acceptable righteousness of God That to look away from all the voices and condemnations of the Law without or conscience within from all things in our flesh and heart whither good or evil unto the person of Jesus Christ himself and to believe him to be our righteousness salvation and liberty as in the hidden mysterie of faith which to our sense or earthly members we are in infirmities buffetings and bondage this is to receive the righteousness of Christ by faith the faith of things not seen to sense and reason yet hid in
let him and them consider if it be not so and fear Concerning good Works His account is that by obedience to the light which reproves of sin following it out of the world and bringing forth the fruits of it the creature comes into the good work or obedience of Christ and so is by Christ redeemed that by being diligent in this light waiting and obedient therein the believer is led into the obedience sufferings tribulations and temptations of Christ that all the works and measures performed by the creature in obedience to this light do all compleat but this one work of the creatures redemption Where faith and unity with the head is lost no marvel if all the thoughts of that man run into confusion that the obedience or righteousness in Christ for justification and good works in us are one thing his own words at large may manifest if this short account of them may not and thereupon what foundation they build I need say no more only for the weaks sake I shal speak a word Christ was in the beginning with God that good Word whereby all things were made the same word in fulness of time became flesh in him that was the holy and just One who in his own person eternally vanquished all the evils of the world and to the utmost fulfilled the holy and perfect work of God for an everlasting and only righteousness upon all that believe of the greatness whereof might I speak it is higher then the Heavens deeper then the Sea and the utmost bounds and ends thereof can no more be known then can the heights and depths of him be known that is the holy one of Israel And this is the one obedience one righteousness one good work in one person one in spirit one in operation never to be renewed more in any other the same being not of a private nature nor for a private spirit but one for all he that hath made of one blood all Nations of men hath by one blood created anew out of all Nations a people for himself and if the natural heavens over us were spread forth at once in length and breadth large enough to comprehend preserve and nourish all Nations and all things therein how much more shall that One righteousness of Christ which is one with himself be as spiritual heavens large enough to take in to cover and preserve the second creation without any other to be added thereto how low and narrow yea how unbelieving and unworthy are their thoughts and esteem of the person and righteousness of Christ that think otherwise I leave to be weighed Through faith I come to read this most good and glorious work of God and therein to understand how that this world and my old man or flesh with all the evils of both by the operation of the blessed Divinity in his body were abolished in himselfe through death whilst yet darkness pollutions and fightings and thereby heaviness for a season is felt in my flesh wherein I also reckon my self to be as truly crucified and buried with him through the operation of the Godhead in the man Jesus for me as if the same had been done in me and this is the mystery of faith and the praise thereof is great but not before men who esteem of nothing but of what appears or is seen felt or handled and hence I think it necessary to give this warning that all approaches unto or converses with the majesty and glory of God by any redemption or operation of whatsoever spirit or light within and all mysteries of light and perfection so reputed whatsoever where that blessed and eternal redemption in the person of Christ for us is excluded I say through faith that all such are no other but some of the brighter sparks of Satans fires kindled on purpose to lead the creature to God by such a door as wherein he will be unto it a consuming fire can two walk together except they be agreed that man knows neither what God is nor himself that thinks to attain or to have attained the glorious presence of God by spirit within him who is not first reconciled through the propitiation of grace in the blood of Jesus If any man ask as they often do how can Redemption be where it is not witnessed where conscience chargeth of sin my answer is who shall lay any thing to my charge it is Christ that died my witnesses are the spirit water and blood the spirit of Revelation shining in my heart and the power of his death and redemption in part manifest in my body whilst heart and flesh that is reason and sense and law witness against me yet Christ and grace is greater then all let him alone speak let these be silent But if they ask to believe redemption whilst sin in me is not this the unreasonable hope No the father laid our sins upon Christ to take them away whilst we were yet enemies that he might commend his great love to us this was reasonable with God the Son rent our sins from off him in his own body on the tree because he could not be held of them this was reasonable with Christ the spirit bears witness that all things are finished sin death and the flesh in the body of Christ unto him that works not but believes on him that justifies the ungodly this witness is reasonable through faith I receive Christ into my self and am received into him and through this oneness am made righteousness life and light in the Lord whilst yet I am in many darknesses and deaths as to sense and feeling and this is reason as in the mind of God and according to the mystery of Christ that doctrine or spirit how mysterious soever in words or shâ—w that teacheth redemption to be by the operation of the spirit within us and not by that alone operation of God in the man Christ Jesus is indeed the excellency and height of man's reason and thoughts but a fearful contradiction to that higher reason or rather that blessed mystery of grace that appeared in Christ Whereas he saith that all the works and measures performed by the creature in obedience to the light within do all compleat the one work of the creatures redemption to this I shall only say how is the day of free grace set upon us and how are the thick clouds of Legality and misterious reason spread over us if this may be received for truth and let me only remember you of the words of Luther a man wiser and mightier in Christ then I which follows It was indeed a great glory that Abraham received circumcision at the commandment of God that he was endued with excellent vertues that he obeyed God in all things but all this availeth nothing to righteousness before God the excellent deeds and vertues of Abraham were not the cause that he was counted righteous before God so the following of the example of doth not make us righteous before