not know the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and so have not life therefore they do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God All who reject the councel of the Lord in denying the light within Priests and people have not life and are out of the Scriptures they boast of the Letter of other mens lines made ready their hands and they are to be kept out of the Scriptures for they are thieves and climb up coming not by the door because they reject the light within which is of Jesus Christ who is the door and the life of the Scriptures but do speak of the Letter which is death and know not the power of life They build an house upon the sand with untempered morter and it shall fall and be dashed in pieces by the light within the chief corner stone which they stumble at and they do greatly err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God And so the blind leads the blinde and both shall fall in the ditch for they have eyes and see not because they deny the light within their ears are dull of hearing and they will not hear but wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction so to the Priests and people of the world the Scriptures are Parables as it was so it is and they erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God because they deny the light within wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightened rejecting the Lords counsel and know not the mysteries of the kingdom of God and therefore are shut out of the Kingdom because they deny the light within wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightened every one which opens the Scriptures to his disciples that follow him and seals the Testimony among his disciples but without are sorcerers unbelievers whoremongers and who works abomination and trust in lies who are to be kept out of the Scriptures for in rejecting the light within they speak not according to the Law and testimony and have not the life of the Scriptures And therefore they run to wizards that peep and mutter and to the wise men of the world whose wisdom is foolishness with God and seek the living among the dead and death speakes of the dead letter which is death wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction denying the light within which would lead to life therefore do erre not knowing the Scriptures which they are to be kept out of for they are enemies to Jesus Christ doing now as they ever did who persecute those that live in the life of the Scriptures as their forefathers did those that gave forth the Scriptures and their Kingdom is of this world as their forefathers were being out of the Kingdom of God by rejecting the light within which leads to the Kingdome and they hate and persecute those that are called out of the world whose Kingdom is not of the world but within which the Princes and wise men of the world knowes not nor never did but were enemies to it Therefore howl and weep ye wise men of the world who are rich in your wisdome yee shall be consumed by the light within which is contrary to it for the preaching of the Crosse is foolishnesse to the wise of the World now as ever it was therefore the Lord will confound the wisdome of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent Where is the wise Where is the Scrib Where is the disputer of this World God hath chosen the foolish things of this World to confound the wise Those that do follow the light of Christ within which the wise of this World accounts foolishnesse and the preaching of the Crosse which now as ever is to the unbelieving Jew a stumbling-block and to the Gentiles the wise of the World foolishnesse but to all that are saved it is the power of God to World Salvation Jesus Christ made to us wisdome and righteousnesse which the World knows not of but wisdome is justifyed of her Children and they who hate it the light within they are without in the world and dare not come to the light because it doth reprove them and it is a stumbling stone and rock of offence to them being disobedient to it and while they are so whatsoever they do professe is dust their profession is without ground the foundation is false they have not life but are in death wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction stumbling at the Rock Jesus Christ the light within which is the life of the scriptures and who reject it they build upon the sand and their house shall fall and be made desolate Therefore all people see upon what foundation you build and what is the ground and hope of your calling They who reject the light within are the enemies of Jesus Christ and Stone and persecute and imprison the messengers of the Lord who live in the life of the Scriptures as their forefathers did those that gave forth the Scriptures and the righteous blood will be required at your hands who live in the same nature your house shall be left unto you desolate the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and did not the word of the Lord take hold of your forefathers and they returned and said like as the Lord of Hosts hath spoken so hath he done unto us Zeck 1.5 c. and the word of the Lord endures for ever it is the same yesterday to day and for ever Now ye have time prise it this is the day of your visitation In loving the light within and obeying it it will lead you to the life eternal In looking out and disobeying the light within you lye in death feeding upon the deaâ—â— letter which is deaâ—â— and do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God and are in Babylon in your wisdome where is confusion dashing one place of scripture against another in your imagined waies of it not living in the life of the scripnures and have the light within to be your condemnation and it will dash you to pieces while ye run out from it ye are in darkness without God in the world all return within and wait upon the Lord in the light that your souls may be raised out of death Hast hast to meet the Lord hearken to the voice of Jesus Christ in you and obey it least ye perish whosoever stumbles at it shall be broken and upon whomsoever it shall sall it will grinde him to powder 11. mon. 30. day 1653. Moved and written from the spirit of the Lord by Thomas Stubbes To the Priests and people of the World that worship they know not what being ignorant of the true and living God who is worshiped in spirit and in truth and a call out of false worships to worship the living God in spirit and in truth ALL who uphold an outward Temple and a steeple house calling it the Church of God they worship the work of their own hands and live in darknesse without God in
CERTAIN PAPERS Given forth from the SPIRIT OF TRUTH Which witnesses against the wisdom of the world and unrighteousness of men both Priests and People and against their false wayes and false worship and which witnesses of the Light of Jesus Christ in the conscience wherein true wisdom is that people may see with the true Light into the things that be invisible and be converted and healed of God in Christ By Thomas Stubbs I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so Father for it pleased thee Mat. 11.25.26 Luke 10.21 Every man is brutish in his knowledge c. Jer. 20.14.15 The Portion of Jacob is not like them c. Jer. 10. I would seek unto God and unto God would I commit my cause he taketh the wise in their own craftiness Job 5.13 Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsel together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us Isai 8.9 10. LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldesgate 1659. A Declaration of Life and Power in me O LORD thou art my God Thou art a Father to the fatherless Thou art my shield and strong tower of defence Nothing is to be compared to thee My love my Dove my undefiled one Thou art the chiefest among ten thousands With thee is rest and peace With thee is love and joy Keep me under the shadow of thy wings Stay me with the flagons of thy love Stay me in thy house Let me not go from thy presence Thou art my strong tower of defence Thy love is better then wine Thou art sweet and comely Nothing is to be desired besides thee Thou art meek and lowly Because of thy precious ointment Therefore do the virgins love thee All things are nothing besides thee What am I without thee I have all things with thee Never suffer me to flee from thee With the sweetness of thy love stay me Thou art sweet and lovely With thee is lowliness and purity With thee is meekness and chastity With thee is true humility Thou stillest the raging of the Sea All enemies in me do submit to thee There is no power besides thee And all things shall obey thee With thee is life eternal For thy flesh is meat and thy blood is drink to all whose mindes are stayed on thee With thee is sweet simplicity Oh do not thou forfake me Draw me and I will run after thee With thy presence guard me So shall be kept out the enemy They are satisfied who wait on thee Nothing is too hard for thee All nations shall obey thee and cast down their crowns before thee for thou art worthy For thy name is a strong tower to all that give up to thee to whom be all honour and glory Come down ye high and lofty ones and submit to Jesus Christ and to that pure simplicitie which lets you see the evil of your hearts and so will be cut down the corrupt tree But if ye follow the imaginations of your own hearts and reject the chief corner stone his indignation will be poured on thee and thou shalt run to the ragged rocks and cry to the mountains to fall on thee To hide thee from the presence of the Lord But thou shalt finde no place to fly unto but his judgements will follow thee But blessed are all they that wait on him They shall flourish like the green olive tree which is planted by the rivers of water which is sweet and comely Sweeter then the honey and the hony comb Nothing can express thee No tongue can declare thee Thy love is appeared to mee and shall to all that wait on thee for thou art just and holy No unclean thing shall come to thee For thou art all purity The wells-springs of life are with thee Never suffer me to run from thee Keep me as the apple of thine eye No tongue can declare thee The sweetness that flowes from thee Thee carnal heart knowes it not but that heart which is given to thee Thy free love is tendered to all none drinkes of it but who are obedient to thee Wo is to him that forsakes thee Nothing is to be compared to thee Oh unite me unto thee Never suffer me to distrust thee Thou hast brought me into thy banqueting house Oh stay thou with me Blessed are all they that trust in thee All things below thee are vanity My soul doth witness it forth because it drinketh of thee Oh let none be discouraged whose faces are set towards thee Believe not the enemy Give up give up to be guided by the counsel of Jesus Christ in you For he is worthy Why will you spend your time in vanity and forsake the living mercies which are tendered freely Return return from every evil way That ye may become branches of the living tree Come forth come forth of Babylon and submit to that pure light in you which cries for holiness and purity Take heed of feeding upon vanity Oh never suffer me to forsake thee nor none whose souls thirst after thee Nothing is to be compared to thee Yea thou art sweeter then the hony-comb No tongue can express thee the sweetness of the love that is in thee Oh sweet simplicity Blessed are all they that wait on thee and comes again to their first innocency being regenerate and born again who comes to feed upon the living-tree and drinks of the pure streames that run from thee which heals all that comes to thee for thou art life and purity Moved and written from the Spirit of the Lord by Thomas Stubbs called a Quaker The Word of the Lord against them who do err not knowing the Scriptures THE Priests and people of the world wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction because they do deny the light within wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world which is the way that would lead up to the life which the Scriptures testifie of who abides in the light and follow it they have the light of life abiding in them and who do deny the light within are the enemies of Jesus Christ and are out of the Scriptures Now the Scriptures testifie of him that he is the light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world and that he is the way the Truth and the Life who followes him not rejecting the light within hath not life and is out of the Scriptures and the wrath of God abideth on him for the light reproves him and there is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evill And they in whom the Prince of the power of the ayre rules do
the World and speak of God but ignorantly worship him not knowing the true and living God who is worshipped in spirit and in truth Io. 4.22.23 God that made the World and all things therein dwelleth not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with mens hands Heaven is my Throne and Earth is thy footstool what house will you build me saith the Lord seeing my hands hath made all these things Act. 7. Steven was stoned to death for witnessing forth the truth against the stif necked and rebellious people of the World who are uncircumcised in heart and eares who do resist the holy Ghost and as did your forefathers so do ye hold up the same things and do persecute stone and imprison the messengers of the Lord who declare against your traditional worships and hethenish practices which are held up by priests and people that they have no rule of Scripture for Mat. 15.8 9. Isa 28. Therefore search the Scriptures and every one examine your selves see what ye hold up and worship all you who call a steeple house the Church are deceived through the ignorance that is in you and your blind guides who are your teachers and have each of them a steeple-house to creep into one year after another where they will let none come but themselves and who they please there they cause you to err lead captive silly women laden with sin led away with divers lusts alwaies learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 3.1.2 To that light of Christ in your consciences I speak which will eternally witness the truth and that this is your condition you cannot deny it unlesse you lye against the light in your consciences your leaders live in pride and covetousnesse while they promise you liberty they themselves are the servauts of lust and uncleannesse being men of corrupt mindes so the blind leades the blind and both falls into the ditch Lu 6.39 And know ye not that your hearts should be an house of prayer and ye members of the Church of Christ but while ye live in sin and in the lusts of the flesh ye yeeld your members to be servants to the Devil And your hearts which should be a house of prayer ye have made it a den of Theeves and a Cage of unclean birds and a den of Vipers and venemous beasts to dwell in And ye are not members of the Church of Christ for no whore-monger nor drunkerd nor sweater nor lyer nor covetous person nor proud and high minded one nor who lives in pleasures and wantonnesse nor deceitful person nor whosoever works abominations and do live in sin and uncleannesse these are not members of the Church of Christ nor have any inheritance in the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10. for all that filthinesse defiles the flesh and because of these things the wrath of God is for the children of disobedience Eph. 5.4 And how full is the land of Priests and people that worship they know not what and hold up an outward temple and call a steeple-house the Church of God and thither do resort proud and covetous persons drunkards swearers lyars oppressors dissemblers hypocritical persons and professors which are fair sayers but not doers of what they say and all these sorts of people now combind together and are persecuters now as their forefathers were and as they did so do these now persecute stone and imprison those that do witnesse forth the truth as Steven the messengers of the Lord did against the stisnecked and rebellious people who are uncircumcised in heart and live in filthinesse of the flesh and in pride and covetousnesse in pleasures and wantonnesse in envy and persecution both Priests and people your lives do plainly make manifest whose children you are and that you live in the same nature and act the same things that the Pharisees and your forefathers did which held up the outward Temple and called truth heresie and stoned the prophets and despised the messengers of the Lord and were the betrayers and murtherers of the holy one and the just and as did your fore-fathers so do ye hold up the false prophets that seek every one their gain from their quarter and such as Isaiah the true prophet was sent to cry out against Isa 56.10.11.12 Saith he his watchmen are all blind they are all ignorant they are greedy dogs that can never have enough and they all look to their own way every one seeks for his gain from his quarter they did so then and do not the Priests so now they that have eyes to see may plainly see who are the false Prophets by their fruits ye may know them And do not the Priests now preach for hire cry peace peace to them who put into their mouthes and who put not into their mouthes they prepare warr against them such Micah was sent to cry out against Mic. 3. They preached for hire then and do not they all so now And have the chief place in the assemblies stand praying in the Synagogues and are called of men Master as the Scribes and Pharisees did and were and which were the persecutors of Jesus Christ and the Apostles and do they not take counsel together now as the chief Priests Pharisees and Herodians did and perrecute those who are sent of the Lord to crie out against their deceit and heathenish practices which are held up by Priests and people contrary to the Scriptures And woe and judgement was their portion and wo and judgement is yours who lives in the same nature and act the same things that the chief Priests and Pharisees and their followers did for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And did not the word of the Lord take hold of your fore-fathers and they returned and said like as the Lord of Hosts hath spoken so hath he done to us Zech. 1 2 3 4. and the word of the Lord endures for ever Therefore fear and tremble ye workers of iniqutity and seed of evil doers both Priests and People that bring forth fruits of unrighteousnesse and as did your forefathers so do ye call the trueprophets seducers deceivers but by your fruits ye are easily known who are the fals prophets and corrupt trees who are for the fire and corrupt trees cannot bring forth good fruits and Jesus Christ hath foretold by their fruites ye shall know them Mat. 7.16 c Therefore if you will but search the scriptures and look at the fruits that are brought forth yee need not be deceived but may see who are the false prophets see in Jer. 5.30.31 and Jer. 6.13.14 c. Jer. 8.8 and Jer. 23. ch Mich 3. Jsa 56.10 11 12. and Isa 28.7 Ezek. 22.26 and 24. ch Look these Scriptures and you may see whether this sort of men be not now as they have been of a long time but now their kingdome is falling and as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these men resist the truth being men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the faith but they shall proceed no further and their folly will be made more manifest as theirs also was Therefore come out of Babylon come out from among them and hold not up the false prophets and idol worships and heathenish practices which are held up by the priests and people that know not the living God whose sacrifice is not accepted but is abomination before the Lord. And all that live in pride earthly-mindedness in lust uncleanness are Gentiles that know not God and they rage against those who are redeemed from their vain conversation that the people of the world live in which run on the broad way to death Hell and destruction living in swearing lying covetousnesse pride and wantonnesse both priests and people But wo wo wo is to the wicked and all that worship the Beast which the whole world wonders after Rev. 17. Therefore all that desires the welfare of your soules hearken to the voice of Jesus Christ in you in the conscience which he hath enlightened you with mind to be guided by that which checks you when you swear or lie or use any deceit in your callings there is a light in your conscience that reproves you and tells you that you should not do so And when your hearts runs after covetousnesse and pleasures of this world and when you spend your time in vain idle communications foolish jestings or laughter the light in the conscience reproves you and tells you that you should seek the kindome of God and the righteousness thereof before all things and let not vaine idle communication proceed out of your mouth but fear the living God and delight in him alone now in loving this light of Christ in the conscience and obeying it it will lead you up to purity and holiness and into the true fear of the Lord but in hating the light of Jesus Christ and giving liberty to your vain light minds you run on the broad way to death Hell and destruction and the light in the conscience is your condemnation Ioh. 3.19 20.21 and Jo. 8.12 So all people take heed to the light by it you are left without excuse Rom. 2.16 c. now ye have time prize it whilst it is the day of your visitation THE END