meerly Worldly and Carnal hath caused betwixt Prince and Prince And doth not this plainly shew that such a State or Church as hath brought so great a Curse over God's Creation where-ever it hath bin received is not Christ's Church whose Church and Kingdom is not of this World who loved his Enemies and came to save Mens Lives and not to destroy them So by their Fruits all Men may know the True Church from the False the Church of Christ from Antichrist's Church As I am a Priest of God after the Order of Melchisedeck who was of the Order of the Holy Ghost and born of the Spirit without Carnal Father or Carnal Mother I say as I am a Priest of God ordained by having Christ Jesus in me my Priest my Prophet my King I have something from God my Father to the high and mighty Men of the Earth in whose hands the Almighty God hath placed the Rule and Government of things Terrestrial as his Vicegerents in all the Earth to them I humbly make this Request First That they would look up unto him who bestowed on them this great Honour and Glory and acknowledg him God of Gods King of Kings and Lord over all Lords Allelujah Next that they would seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof which having found I most humbly intreat them to adore worship and serve the Lord our God therein and therewith which Worship only stands in the Spirit of Truth the Spirit of Grace given to every one to profit withal which Worship the Omnipotent Lord God will accept and no other Service nor Worship but what proceeds from a pure sincere Heart to the Commands of Christ in Spirit the Word in the Heart And that none may be ignorant what this Kingdom of God is and wherein it doth consist and where it is to be found I most humbly offer and say The Kingdom of God stands not in any outward Observation of Man's prescription but is placed within every Man a Light to lighten the Gentiles and to be God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth which Light is called the Word in the Heart Christ the Vnction the Messiah the Anointed of the Lord which God in his great Love to the World hath given to and in every Man a Talent to profit withal that so every Man in it might work out his own Salvation the which as it is received and obeyed giveth power to repent and forsake Sin and leadeth into Truth and Righteousness and thereby we become the Sons of God being led by his Spirit This Talent in Scripture is also called by divers Names viz. The Grace of God which appeareth to and in every one teaching those that love his appearance to deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts c. It is also called A Measure of the Spirit given to every Man to profit with also Truth in the inward Parts the Word in the Heart Christ the New Birth and New Creature God's Covenant of Light and Life to all the World who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and so is God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth the way to God and Godliness that whosoever believeth in him and followeth him faithfully shall have Life Everlasting Allelujah Read Deut. 30.11 c. with Rom. 10.6 c. Isa 42.6 49.6 57.10 54.13 60.3 Jer. 31.3 c. with Heb. 8.8 c. John 1.9 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 And this Light of Life the Kingdom of God within every Man is compared to many things in Scripture He is the Lamb of God not the Pope's Agnus Dei that taketh away the Sins of the World the Lord our Righteousness the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth and the one thing only needful is that we hear and obey the Spirit of Truth and our Souls shall live Allelujah This Kingdom of God is likewise compared to a grain of Mustard-Seed sown in the Heart of every Man by God the Seed of Abraham which Seed is Christ the Light of the World also the Kingdom of God is compared to Leaven placed in a Man's Heart sufficient to leaven the whole Lump from the leaven of Malice and Uncharitableness into a lump of Truth and Love to Righteousness which Leaven is the Bread from Heaven which nourisheth the Souls of true Believers into Eternal Life Allelujah Thus you see what the Kingdom of God is where it is to be found and the blessed Effects it produceth in all that receive God's Heavenly Gift and are found walking therein and when ye know and feel this Kingdom of God in the movings thereof to be within you in the next place my most humble request and advice is That you would thenceforth seek the Righteousness thereof and walk in the same all the days of your Life in which you will find Peace with God Joy in your own Spirits and good Will from and to all Men but as you do undervalue this Small Seed the true Light and Spirit of Grace the Gift of God and prefer this present evil World Man's Prescriptions Traditions and Impositions above it then a Woe and a Curse from God to your Souls and Bodies in your Basket and in your Store but walking in the Righteousness of God's Kingdom you will know how to give God his due and to please him in things Spiritual and Temporal If you leave the Conscience of your Subjects to God alone for him to rule and guide which is God's due then will God give to Caesar his due viz. the Hearts of his Subjects to obey their Soveraigns in all things Temporal Natural and Civil then will Unity and Concord spring up Righteousness Peace and Love will kiss each other And then God will give his Blessing bless us in our Bodies and in our Souls in our Basket and in our Store in our Wives and in our Children in what we eat and what we drink and in whatsoever we set our hands unto both Prince and People Rulers and Ruled all blessed and happy and so will all the ends of the Earth fear the Lord our God bless and magnify him for ever Allelujah The Contents hereof I most humbly and heartily recommend to your most holy Father the Pope of Rome and his Clergy as they will answer it at the Day of God's Tribunal that they communicate these Matters to the Emperor and to all other Kings Rulers and Princes over whose Souls God I hope by his blessed Spirit of Grace hath made them Overseers who being born of the Spirit and having Christ Jesus the new Man in you the only begotten Son of God the Father in you go and preach Him to and in all the World a Saviour to all that believe in him and that follow him who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that comes into the World Yet know that no Man can preach truly to the converting of Souls neither can turn any from
and highest Profession we were but as sounding Brass and as a tinkling Cymbal c. Holiness and Love to God are but two Names for one Thing Love to God and to Man are like Soul and Body that are separated no way but by death Sin is hardly known in its secret Root till Men have tasted the bitterness of the Fruit. In a word I have long seen that envious Wisdom what-ever it pretends is not from Above but is earthly sensual and devilish and that where envy and strife is upon a Religious Account there is Confusion and every evil Work That which killeth Love killeth all Grace and Holiness and killeth Souls that which quencheth Love quencheth the Spirit a thousand-fold more than the restraining of our Gifts of Utterance doth That which banisheth Love banisheth God that which is against Love is against the Design of Christ in our Redemption and therefore may well be called Antichristian the White Devil is a Love-killer as well as the Black he is as mortal an Enemy to Love who backbiteth another and saith he is prophane or he is an empty Formalist or he is a Lukewarm temporizing complying Man-pleaser as he that saith he is a peevish factious Hypocrite Believe it it is Apostacy to fall from Love your Souls die when Love dieth To preach without Love to any that differ from your Sect O what a loathsome Sacrifice is it to the Lord of Love When the Papists had murdered so many hundred thousands of the Albigenses and Waldenses who would have thought but that they had done their Work When the French Massacre had murdered thirty or forty thousand and dispatcht the Leaders of the Protestant Party who would have thought that they had but strengthened them When the Duke d' Alva had done so much to drown the Belgick Protestants in Blood he little thought he was but fortifying them Queen Mary's Bishops little thought that their English Bonefires were but to light Men to see the mischief and badness of their Cause and like firing of a Beacon to call the Land to take them for the Enemies of Mankind When the Irish had murdered two hundred thousand they little thought that they had but excited the Survivery to a terrible Revenge I will come no nearer but you may easily do it your selves If we bite and devour one another we shall be destroyed one of another c. These and the like faithful and true Sayings the Book is full of which are well worth the reading with due Consideration had thereon And as Mr. Baxter intimates That he which suffers for his Religion sheweth he hath the better Religion than those that cause Sufferings And our patient Martyrdom and Suffering by them may tend at last to open their Eyes and turn their Hearts and save their Souls for the Blood of Martyrs hath ever bin the Seed of the Church which Seed hath ever encreased the number of the Sufferers Many other good Instructions and Directions both to Ministers and People hath he in this Book set forth for uniting in Love and Amity different Perswasions into one Principle of Love well worth the taking notice of And now my dear Brethren as I am a Priest unto God by having Christ Jesus the Eternal Spirit of Truth in me I am thereby enabled to hold forth an Exhortation to all of you which in the Bowels of the extensive Love of God towards you I earnestly pray you may receive I know there is amongst you a Worthy Righteous and Sober People who I can bear you record have a Zeal of God according to the several Administrations of your outward Forms and Worships whereby you are distinguished Nevertheless I have a few things against you namely That you have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ amongst you with respect of particular Persons outward Forms and carnal Observations Hence arise all those Strifes and Contentions those bitter Revilings and evil Censures that have abounded amongst you both towards each other in your divided Forms and also toward all others that are not concerned with you as under your distinct Attainments But I testify and declare to you and to the whole World That if any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature and as many as walk according to this Rule of the New Creature Peace be upon them as upon the Israel of God and in every Nation Sect Form and Opinion He that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him 'T is neither here nor there in this nor that neither in the Mountains of Form and Worship that you have raised to your selves nor at Jerusalem that God will be now worshipped but every where in Spirit and in Truth is the Worship that he accepts Give therefore the Spirit of God his due Scope and Latitude to blow where when and how it listeth in every Man 'T is the great Controversy that God hath with the World at this day That he alone may reign in the Consciences of Men by the just Measure of his own Light in every one And till this Royal Prerogative be setled upon Him there will never be Peace on the Earth but Men shall rend tear and devour one another and those that lead into Captivity must themselves go into Captivity herein will the Patience Love and Charity of the Saints be exercised and encreased Allelujah Wherefore let your Moderation be known to all Men the Lord is at hand Be not O be not found smiting your fellow Servants in the day of his Appearance The Spirit of God which hath sealed you to the day of Redemption is a tender Spirit O do not grieve it in your selves nor endeavour to quench it in others If thus you can come forth amongst Men you shall be a blessing in your Generation a Light to them that sit in darkness and a Refreshment to the Mourners of Zion who languish in the Breaches and Divisions that have bin made upon her Inhabitants In which Universal Spirit of Love to Truth and Righteousness I Rest a Friend to you and the Souls of all Men in any Sect or Opinion of Religion whatsoever whilst I am and when I am no more Robert Rich. An Epistle for the most pure Amity and Unity in the Spirit of Life and Love of God in all sincere-hearted Souls amongst the People called QUAKERS And as to them so unto all or any other Sort or Sect of People that own and follow the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith every one is enlightned ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah IN the Year 1666 feeling the Babe of Grace the Word in the Heart to wax strong in the Love of God shed abroad in my Heart I sent to the Poor of your People Thirty pounds which after some of your Leaders had received to wit John Bolton Gerad Roberts and Amos Stoddard and given under their hands accordingly 't was denied to be received and about a Year after returned to me again with many
of Christ in the Sanctified which Sanctified are the only true Church of Christ You also say The only difference between the Old and New Testament is that in the Old lies hid the New by an Allegory Which is a Truth to him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit in the Letter saith Allelujah On Rom. 4.8 you say The words Imputed or Reputed do not diminish the Truth of Justice and that Justice is not reputed to them that are not made Just and Righteous Which is also a most real Truth On Gen. 22.1 you say There is as much difference betwixt Christ's Divinity and his Humanity as was between Isaac and the Ram and as is 'twixt Elesh and Spirit for what is born of Flesh is Flesh c. The Book Ecclesiasticus you say teacheth to contemn this present evil World and that things Earthly and Sensual are insufficient to give Peace and Rest to our Souls and that true Felicity consisteth not in Natural Knowledg gotten by Wit and Natural Industry nor in Riches Honour Pleasures nor in Authority or Dominion nor in any thing that is Sensual or Carnal but only in the Eternal and Internal fruition of God in our Souls which is procured by Free Grace which enables us to decline Vices and to pursue the ways of Vertue which lead to Beatitude all which are Truths most clear and excellent Allelujah Before Leviticus in which Book saith St. Jerome all Sacrifices Aaron 's Vestments and the whole Levitical Order almost every Syllable breaths forth Heavenly Sacraments I say even as the whole Creation doth breath forth God's Omnipotence his Grace and loving Kindness to Mankind Allelujah Zach. 1.3 When the Scripture saith Convert c. we are admonished that we have Free-Will and when we answer Convert us O Lord to thee and we shall be converted we confess that God's Grace preventeth or enableth us and when he commandeth any good of us it is either to humble or enable us in the performance as James 1.17 Heb. 13.21 which Doctrine is true for we have no other free-will to good but what God giveth us in by and through his Holy Spirit of Grace which appears to and in every Man Allelujah On Gal. 6.16 you say The New Creature is the true Faith and Work of Grace in the Hearts of the Faithful and is the Faith first delivered to and in the Saints A Speech most true Allelujah 1 Cor. 12.3 you say No Man can say Jesus is our Lord but by his Spirit within us which enableth us to be obedient to his Commands and to do the Will of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven for by Christ strengthening us we can do all things pleasing to God our Heavenly Father Allelujah On Heb. 12.28 you say Grace is the only means enabling us to serve and please God Tit. 2.11 And that Man 's free-Will is begot and worketh freely by free-Grace Also you say Free-Will is in Man for that no Sin can be committed without consent of free-Will nor can any Work merit or please God but what is wrought in Man by the free Grace of God's Holy Spirit Thus by Grace we are saved not of our selves it is the free Gift of God to every one Allelujah You say Elias is alive and shall be a fore-runner of Christ's second coming I say Elias in Spirit is alive and now preacheth Repentance and forgiveness of Sins to all that amend their Lives according to God's Holy Word written in every Man's Heart the Volumn of God's Book wherein his Will is known that it may be done here on Earth as in Heaven Allelujah You say also That Enoch is yet alive and shall preach in Antichrist's time with Elias This is also a Truth if you speak this of the Spirit of God that was in Enoch for as Elias's Spirit in John the Baptist's Time preached Repentance and forgiveness of Sins to all that truly repented and forsook their Sins preparing the way for Christ to be begot and born in us So did that Spirit of Elias preach Repentance to the Disobedient in the days of Noah As in this day the same Spirit of Elias preacheth Repentance to all that are dead in Trespasses and Sins Even so likewise Enoch the seventh from Adam in Spirit is alive who shall and now doth as you say preach in Antichrist's time for Christ the Word incarnate the Resurrection and the Life is now preaching in the Sanctified the Resurrection from the Dead to and in all that have bin crucified with Christ and are risen with him from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness Allelujah Which Word Incarnate or Word in the Heart is God's Preacher to all the World and is the Gospel of Christ preached for the Obedience of Faith to and in all Nations and all Religions whatsoever so that all Men may believe and by obeying may be saved Amen Allelujah As it is written Deut. 30.11 to the 15. with Rom. 10.6 to the 9th Rom. 1.5 2 Cor. 10.5 Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 1.22 Gen. 22.18 Deut. 13.4 Dan. 7.27 Isa 1.19 Job 36.11 12. You say Christ in Soul descended into Hell to deliver all just Men Which is a Truth if you mean Christ in Spirit as he is the Light of the World descends into every Man's unclean heart to cleanse and purifie it and so leads Captivity captive bringing the Souls of the Faithful once dead in Trespasses and Sins out of Death out of the Grave out of Hell into Abraham's Bosom where they sit and sing Allelujah You say Sin is always the cause of Reprobation Which is also a Truth most clear for it is our Sins that separate us from God and with-hold good things from us And in our Obedience or disobedience to the Word of God in our Hearts stands Life and Death Election and Reprobation for according to their Works shall every one receive whether they do good or evil Allelujah On Col. 3.9 you say The New Man is an inherent quality of Justice and Righteousness in our Souls and not only an Imputation of Christ's Righteousness but a Work of God's free Grace enabling the Faculties of our Souls to work freely the thing that is good and righteous A Truth most clear and excellent Allelujah 2 Cor. 1.5 you say All the Saints Sufferings and Afflictions are Christ's Sufferings by reason of the Conjunction and Vnion that is betwixt Christ the Head and the Sanctified his Members Allelujah You say Adam was created in Grace and Innocency which he lost only by Disobedience yet by Repentance is saved And thus it is with all the Sons of Adam He that sins against the Light of Christ in his Conscience eats the forbidden Fruit and so sins after the similitude of Adam 's Transgression and is not saved out of Transgression but by Repentance and laying hold of God's Spirit of Grace which obeying brings through the flaming Sword or Sword of the Spirit that turns every way to cut down Sin
outward Observations consist the many Antichrists St. John saw who said You have heard that Antichrist should come and now are there many Antichrists Even all Man's Prescriptions and Impositions not being the Spirit 's teachings are Antichrists the many false Spirits which do not feed but devour the Flock of Christ by bringing in the Old Law and other beggarly Rudiments and Inventions of Man's Wisdom which is the Whore and false Prophet which serves to no other end than to raze out the Revelation of God in the Consciences of Men to crucifie the Lord of Life the Spirit of Christ in resisting his Spirit of Grace and speaking evil of the Spirit which is the highest Blasphemy not to be forgiven in this World nor in the World to come Allelujah Thus the Universal Church of Rome may know by examining themselves whether they are in the Apostacy in the fall with Peter or whether they are in the Restoration with Peter when the Church of Rome was so renowned and guided by the Spirit and Revelation of God Or whether led by Traditions Prescriptions and Impositions of Man and as the Universal Church of Rome may know whether they are built on Christ the Rock Peter's Faith that never failed or on Peter's Person that so easily fell against which the Gates of Hell prevailed even so may every individual Person in the Church of Rome know whether they be in the true Faith of Christ or in the false Faith for the true Faith worketh by Love purifieth the Heart and destroys the Works of the Devil in Men it worketh Miracles it removeth Mountains of Sin crucifieth the Flesh with its Deeds and raiseth the Soul dead in Trespasses and Sins out of the Grave enabling the Soul to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Thus wonderfully doth Faith in Christ the Gift of God work in every one that truly believes Read Acts 15.9 Mat. 17.20 Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.9 Heb. 12.2 Mark 16.17 1 John 3.8 Allelujah By this time your selves may answer Dr. Bayley's Challenge who saith The Church of Rome was once an excellent flourishing Mother-Church This Church saith he could not cease to be such but she must fall either by Apostacy Heresy or Schism To which I answer Christ's Church in Jerusalem and in Antioch were Mother-Churches before Rome and in Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippe Colosse Thessalonica and the Church among the Hebrews were all flourishing Christian Churches but now not visible as to Man's Eye And how was Rome the Mother-Church whilst the Popes kept their Residence in Avignon for seventy Years together Nevertheless God knoweth who are his amongst them all for as St. Peter saith Acts 10.34 All of every Nation Sect and People those that fear God and work Righteousness are accepted with him whether Jews or Gentiles Barbarians or Scythians they are all one in Christ the Truth they that walk in the Truth walk in Christ Jesus and such the Truth makes freely accepted with God Allelujah Though I take not upon me to know Whether the present Church of Rome are Members of Christ's Body whereof himself the Spirit of the Father is only Head or the Synagogue of Satan the Children of the Devil their Father in whom he rules and guides who do his Work Yet this I declare That every one in themselves may perfectly know whether they belong to the True or False Church to God or the Devil If you do but examine your selves Whether Christ the Word in the Heart the Revelation of God by the Spirit of Truth the Light of Christ his Spirit of Grace be Head in you leading you into Truth and Righteousness bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit which Fruits are evident read Gal. 5.22 Ephes 5.9 Or whether the Spirit of Satan be Head leading into Lying Swearing Whoredom Fornication Adultery Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Hatred Variance Wrath Strife Pride Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers Drunkenness Revilings and such like Now your own selves every one in particular know these things to be Fruits of the Flesh proceeding from Man in the Fall unregenerate and are Earthly Sensual and Devilish And know ye not to whom you yield your selves Servants to obey his Servants ye are whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience to Righteousness also that the Wages of Sin is the death of the Soul and he that soweth to the Flesh shall reap Corruption for if ye live after the Flesh your Souls shall die but if through the Spirit you mortify the Deeds of the Flesh you shall live Finally my Brethren whether the Spirit of God that revealed to Peter the Things of God be Head in you or the Spirit of Satan which Ied Peter into the Fall into the Schism into Heresy into the Apostacy be Head which Spirit is the Spirit of Antichrist the which exalts many Inventions his Prescriptions and Traditions above the Inspiration and Revelation of God So try your selves examine your selves Know you not your own selves that unless Christ the Spirit of the Father be in you you are Reprobates as concerning the true Faith and cannot think a good Thought much less work a good Work and that it is he by his Spirit of Grace which is given to every one to profit withal that works all good in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure as it is written Phil. 2.13 Isa 26.12 Rom. 8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 12.7 2 Cor. 10 11. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Gal. 5.16.22 13.5 And whether the Court of Rome hath not used as much worldly Policy to obtain Soveraignty and Dominion in the Earth as any Earthly Prince whatsoever he that will resolve this Question let him read the History of the Council of Trent and other French Histories written by Members of the Gallical Church And whether with their good Words and fair Speeches they have not got into the Hearts and Consciences of simple People perswading them to believe the Pope to be Head of the Church and Vicar of Christ And when the Net hath thus catched and brought into this Faith is it not easy to make Merchandice of such Souls and also to command their Bodies and Purses who believe Peter's Key can open and shut Heaven when and to whomsoever Peter's Vicar and Successor pleaseth And what hath thus bin got by Peter's Net hath it not bin kept and added to by Man's Carnal Weapons which are not the Weapons of Christ nor of his Apostles nor Followers read 2 Cor. 10.4 John 18.36 as by woful experience many Emperors Kings and Princes in Europe have found to their great loss both of Blood and Treasure in pursuing and subduing the Waldenses and Albigenses Excommunicated An. 1250 and in acting against John Husse Jerome of Prague John Wickliff and Sir John Oldcastle as also against the Protestants in Germany Holland and Flanders with those Massacred at Paris by the then called Holy League and since by the inhumane Massacre in Ireland 1640 even against all those that have adventured
Spirit of Grace they in him and he in them made perfect in one to them Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Which Spirit of Light begot Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good will towards all his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved in me in the Year 1666 to send Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of the Episcopal Protestant Church as a sign of my dear love and good will to them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for thirty pieces of Silver but as from one that witnessed the Resurrection of Christ who had bin dead in Trespasses and Sins whose Soul was raised out of the Grave of Sin and Death wherein it had long lain Thus by the Incarnation or Indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace I came to see what St. Peter saw that of all Religions Those that feared God and acted Righteously towards Man are accepted with him as it is written Acts 10.34 35. Mat. 16.17 Through which Grace I came to understand the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath given and sent his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light and Grace into the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith he doth enlighten every one Jew and Gentile that comes into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him that is the Way the Truth and the Life of God who is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth as you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 38.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Rom. 10.6 7 8 9. Heb. 8.8 c. 2 Cor. 4.4 6. By which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word in the Heart moving on the face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which God pitched in me I say I in the same Light found freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions even in that Light which shewed me Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Episcopal Protestants viz. something of Bishop Andrews Bishop Hall but most of Dr. Jeremy Taylors Dr. Hammonds Dr. Stillingfleets Dr. Tillotsons with divers others of like kind Which Books I read with delight having unity with them feeling the Spirit of Love to Truth and Righteousness to be their Dictator which Spirit of Grace taught them to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World which made them honourable in this World and glorious in the World to come Allelujah In reading of which Books I took notice of many worthy and true Sayings viz. Dr. Jeremy Taylor in his Great Exampler saith That Christ Jesus is our Example in his Birth Life and Death Also what I have read in Ancient Fathers that Disputes amongst Christians is the scab of the Church and destroys Charity which only edifies That God's Will and Commandments are made known in all Mens Spirits that they may do them The Word Incarnate is God's Preacher to all the World That Christian Religion is nothing else but a Restorer of the perfect Law of Nature for God gave Man at first a reasonable intelligible Nature both to love and serve him That Man 's Original Sin was to leave God the Good and go to the Creature the Evil. Man may keep or break the Law of Nature so sin against God his Neighbour and Himself Well-being is when right Reason and the Law of Nature is satisfied and evil Doing is to transgress the Law of Nature or right Reason this brings guilt of Conscience and torments And in this Obedience to the Law of Nature consists Heaven and in Disobedience Hell Christian Religion is to worship God in Spirit and in Truth and so to serve our Neighbour Revelation is both Natural and Reasonable so is Self-denial Death and Martyrdom to those that have an Ear to hear the Spirit 's Reason Self-denial is but confining the Appetite within the Limits of Nature The Philosophers were commended of old for preserving Reason and Religion in Practice before the School-men that fight about Opions Jesus his Life was sweet and affable and for our Example to Life Eternal Christ who dwells within the limits of Love gives us boldness with God and not fear In Christ are two Natures the Body but the upper Garment of the Soul his Soul was of the same Nature and Substance with ours in this inferior to the Angels One Grace succeeds another well prest and sometimes running over till we come to the fulness and stature of Christ Jesus even filled with the Spirit which hath no measure but is Infinite and Eternal God crowns and accepts his Grace in all Sects even the most Heathenish and accepts that when in Conscience they worship Idols Original Sin or one Sin committed makes us more apt for another so we have no cause to charge Adam but our selves only every one of us is the Adam the Man of Sin Obedience unites to God and conforms to his Will the which sanctifies Isaac offered is our Heart and Will offered up to God which he accepts Nothing so able to do Miracles as Love nor so certainly acceptable All exteriour Acts of Religion to be guided by our Superior that is by God only for no Man in Religion is Superior No act of Corporal Austerity or External Religion acceptable to God unless commanded by him The first Baptism Appearance or Resurrection of Christ is to kill Sin or to put off Sin The second Resurrection is to put on Christ the New Man and to walk in him God requires no more of Man than to receive and entertain his Grace that appears to every Man Though the Son of Man hath no where to hide his Head yet many Houses to convey his Grace Grace works Miracles in Saints as in Christ When Faith and Charity meet then Christians indeed and in Truth all else false and Antichristians God's House is the sanctified Heart where he dwells and is a House of Prayer for all Nations Every graceless wicked Man is a Devil No Sin hath Guilt but when a Man hath Understanding and Abilities to do better By the help of the Spirit it is possible to please God in all things One may die for Christ's Name that will not love his Nature nor quit one evil Lust for him this is false Martyrdom The law of Love in our Spirits
and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and that he shall keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of his life I say it would be inquired into Whether those God-Fathers and God-Mothers do perform and keep this Oath Promise and Vow themselves If not then why should they undertake for another what they perform not themselves And if I mistake not it is a Tenent of the Church of Englands That we cannot live free from sin so long as we live in this World If so were it not far better never to Swear and Vow than afterwards to break them Is not this to add Sin unto Sin and so bring a greater condemnation on our selves As I am a Priest to God by having Christ Jesus in me I declare That Infant Baptism is no Ordinance of Christ's neither is John's Baptism with Water Christ's Baptism Christ's Baptism is to be baptized into the Name Nature and Spirit of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost which Baptism of the Spirit is the one Lord one Faith and one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all through all and in us all that are born of and baptized with the Spirit of Grace This Baptism is that alone which saveth by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and not by putting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God And this Baptism of the Spirit which followed John's Baptism of Repentance is that only which can initiate into the Church of God make a Child of God and give an entrance into and an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Allelujah And I query Whether Infant Baptism were not the Invention of Man rather than the Command of God brought in by the false Church for advantage-sake in the long dark night of Apostacy after that the True Church was fled into the Wilderness there fed and preserved of God whilst the Whore the Beast and false Prophet ruled who set up Shadows instead of Christ the Substance the Letter above the Spirit Man's Baptism which is with Water instead of Christ's by Fire which is the Holy Ghost And instead of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ the New Man which is the Saints Righteousness they put on a white Linnen Surplice to make them seem outwardly Holy that inwardly were full of Sin and Uncleanness full of Self-love Hypocrisy and Pride full of Covetousness Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness And instead of bowing at the Name of God which is the Command of God Isa 45.23 that every knee should bow to him you bow at the Name of a Man not greater than is Immanuel which is the Name God himself gave the Virgin 's Birth Isa 7.14 who is the only begotten Son of God in all the Sanctified that saves his People from their Sins And your bowing at the Name of Jesus rather than at the Name Immanuel doth it not demonstrate you to be worshippers of Angels rather than the true God And for you to bow down to any Letters or Syllables joined into a Name of God or Man is this think you to worship God in Spirit and in Truth as he requireth And for any to bow down and worship any Thing or Name that is not purely God alone is most certainly Idolatry and false Worship And be not ignorant that the Name of God is his Power his Love shed abroad in our Hearts his Immanuel a strong Tower whereinto the Righteous flee and are there in Peace Rest and Safety Allelujah Holy Days Holy Days both Fasting Days and Feasting Days were they brought in by the Command of God or prescribed and imposed by Man Was not St. Paul afraid of his Galatians that he had bestowed his labour on them in vain who instead of setting up and forming of Christ the Day-Star in their Hearts fell to the observation of Days and Months and Times and Years setting up of Meats and Drinks what to Eat and when to eat and what and when to forbear respecting of New Moons and Sabbath Days one day more holy than another all which in the first Covenant were but shadows of good Things to come which the Saints possess and enjoy in the second Covenant which is Christ in them the end of the first Covenant their Hope their Crown and Glory Allelujah In the fourth Commandment you pray That God would incline your hearts to keep this Law which is to keep holy the Seventh day according to God's Command to the Jews Thus by your Traditions ye make void the Law of God and change the Truth of God into a Lie and by bringing in the Old Covenant which stands in divers outward Observations which maketh nothing perfect ye have thrust out the New Covenant Christ the Word in the Heart the Saints Teacher which perfecteth for ever those that are sanctified Allelujah The Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper I humbly declare to be a great Mystery not rightly understood by Man in the Fall It is not Carnal Bread and Wine neither Carnal Flesh and Blood as unregenerate Men apprehend and imagine Christ's Words and Works are more Spiritual than for Carnal Men to understand them it is the Spirit that quickneth and the Inspiration of God alone that giveth to man understanding in the things of God The true Supper of our Lord is when Christ stands at the door of our Hearts and knocks that we then open to him and he comes in to us and sups with us This is the right Supper of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus who is the First and the Last the Alpha and Omega of all our Graces and Mercies Wherefore my dear Hearts Open O ye Gates and be lift up ye everlasting Doors that Christ the King of Glory may come in and sup with you Allelujah So the Flesh and Blood Bread and Wine that comes from Heaven is Christ's Spirit of Light his Body which he gives for the Life of the World this is Meat indeed and Drink indeed that feeds and nourisheth the Soul up to Eternal Life which Cup of the New Testament is the saving Health of all Nations that dwell upon the Face of the whole Earth O my dearly Beloved take and receive eat and drink abundantly of this Cup of Salvation it is the new Wine in our Father's Kingdom a Fountain of Life that can never be drawn dry Allelujah Behold I shew to you a Mystery the Word in the Heart the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts is the Leaves of the Tree of Life St. John speaks of in the Revelations given for the healing of the Nations for the uniting of all Sects and Opinions in Religion into the one true Religion both Jews and Gentiles Barbarians and Scythians as well as Christians of all Sorts or Names whatsoever whether called Roman Catholicks Episcopal Protestants Presbyterians Independents Baptists Quakers Seekers Socinians Arminians or