the spirit And John the Apostle of Christ often exhorteth him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit saith Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. and 3.6 13 22. And by the preaching of the true Ministers of Christ many came to receive the Teachings of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost which is the same and were led by it Rom. 8.16 Isa 54.13 14. Jer. 31.32.33 John 6.45 Heb. 8.10.11 and so became Children of God And it was truly said among them the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God and so they were all taught of God as it was Prophesied of them They were taught of God by his Grace Light Spirit or Word being one and the same though called by several other Names and Appellations besides what is before here written according to the most suitable Expressions whereby to shew the Operations and Effects of it to the Understandings and Capacities of all The Apostle John likewise calleth it the Unction Joh. 2.20.27 or Anointing writing thus Ye have an Unction from the Holy One and ye know all things and again the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him This and much more to the same purpose was the Doctrine of the true Christian Ministers as the Scriptures of Truth more at large declare and the true Ministers of Christ preach the same in our Age and Generation And as the true Ministers of Christ in his Authority preached his Divine Word Light Grace and Spirit so by the same they preached up the Liberty of his Gospel and true Christian Dispensation and preached down the use of the Ceremonies of the Jewish Law though formerly commanded of God and given by Moses his Servant which was then to cease being abolished by the Death of Christ they being in their time for Shadows and Types of good things to come by Christ but he the Substance being come having as they truly preached nailed them to his Cross and taken them out of the way they were not then to be used by them who had received the free and glorious liberty of his substantial Everlasting Gospel in the inward Spiritual Dispensation of his Word Light Grace and Spirit in their Hearts and Souls whereby they knew the glorious Liberty of the free-born Children of God they were not then to be subject to Ordinances neither burthened with Traditions nor to observe Days and Times as may at large be read in the holy Scriptures particularly in these places Gal. 4.9 10. Gal. 5.2 to 8. Eph. 2.13 to 17. Col. 2.14 to 23. Rom. 7.6 Heb. 7.11 12. But the deceitful Antichristian Ministers could not bring any into the True Faith which is in the Name Light Grace and Spirit of Christ for they were out of it themselves and were not faithful but disobedient to the Light and hated it and would not bring their own Deeds thereto lest they should be reproved thereby For though they might talk and preach of the Name Word Grace Light or Spirit of Christ and speak there of great swelling words to allure and draw others after them yet all that was but in disobedience to Christ and in deceit and therefore they could not by such Preaching bring any into the true Faith of Christ who is the Truth nor bring any to believe in his Light and Grace which they hated and did despite unto And the true Ministers preached that true Christians had put off the old Man with his deeds Col. 3.9 10 11 and had put on the new Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor free but Christ is all and in all and they preached up a Spiritual Circumcision saying That he is not a Jew which is one outwardly Rom. 2.28 29. neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God And again saying to some Ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ being buried with him in Baptism Col. 2.11 12. to â—â—c end wherein you are also risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God And it is plain that the Apostle here meant no outward Ordinance of Circumcision nor of Baptism for he writes after in the same Chapter thus If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or burdened with Traditions as some Translate it touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh concerning which things he warned them lest any Man should beguile them or spoil them through Philosophy or vain Deceit after the Tradition of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Read the Second Chapter to the Colossians And the same Apostle said Phil. 3.3 We are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh which sheweth plainly that they were Jews inwardly and of the inward Circumcision as all true Christians are And this agreeth with the Doctrine of Christ himself who said to the Samaritan Ye Worship ye know not what we know what we Worship for Salvation is of the Jews John 4.22 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seekethsâ—â—â—h to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth So the Worship of the true Christians was in Spirit and in the Truth and in the obedience of the Spirit of Truth and not in outward Ordinances Observations of Times Will-worship nor in Acts of voluntary Humility and accordingly in the demonstration of the Spirit the true Christian Ministers preached and not in the words that Man's Wisdom teacheth but which the same Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost teacheth which preaching is foolishness to the natural Man 1 Cor. 2.13 14. for he receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that yields obedience to the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every Man to profit withal he cometh to discern his own Estate and
only by his Light in his Faithful People revealeth the Man of Sin but also with the Spirit of his Mouth will consume and with the Brightness of his Coming will destroy the Man of Sin and his Works these having tasted and experienced something of the Goodness of God to their Souls not only of the Revelation but also of the Destruction of the Man of Sin and his Works in themselves and also having sweet and satisfactory Comfort and Consolation in their Hearts in the Love of God given unto them these cannot with the Times turn as Hypocrites do from one Profession of Religion to another for these are fully satisfied concerning the Way of God which is straight and narrow and not like the Ways of the Man of Sin the Devil the Serpent which are crooked like himself and broad and wide and can hold of all sorts of Professors and too many go in thereat But these being Children of the God of Truth who is Light they love to walk in their Fathers way which is the true Light and so they cannot neither dare they go out of it into the Ways of the Man of Sin and so serve him again in the least for they have had too much of his Tyrannical Servitude before and though his Children love his Ways wherein they have their pain bringing Pleasures yet the Children of God love them not but in the fear of God hate them all and love the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts the Way of God their Father And so it is in vain for Men to offer to force them out of God's Way into their ways for they dare not for fear of offending their Heavenly Father comply in the least to Worship God after any other Way or Manner but as he manifesteth himself in the Light of his Spirit of Truth in their Hearts and Consciences in which only with acceptance he is to be worshipped Neither can they again embrace or come into the Bondage of Corruptible Elements Ceremonies or Traditions of Men Gal. 4.9 Rom. 8.14 to 22. for which there is no warrant from God their Father lest they forfeit their glorious liberty of the Children of God Gal. 5.1 Tim. 2.12 Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 4.12 to 19. Col. 1.23 to 28. whose Spirit beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ And they know that if they suffer with him they shall also be glorified together and they account that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in them And such can truly rejoice that unto them it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake and this was the state of the Primitive Christians And as there is a great difference between the outward husk sign or shew of Religion of the Followers of the Man of Sin who are his Children and the pure spiritual undefiled Worship and Religion of the Followers of Christ who are Children of God so there is as great a difference between the Nature of the true Christians and false and between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil and also between the Persecutor for Religion and the Persecuted for true Religion and so doubtless as great a difference will and must be between their Rewards And so every one Male or Female Rich or Poor High or Low as they tender the Eternal Salvation of their precious Souls are to examine themselves in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus which is the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts whether they Worship God in his Light John 4.20 to 25. Mat. 15.7 8 9. Isa 29.13 14. Acts 17 22 to 31. Col. 2.6 to 23. Mat. 15.2 to 15. and Spirit and Truth in which only his pure spiritual undefiled Worship is acceptably performed Or whether their Worship â—e formal and taught and prescribed by the Traditions Precepts and Commandments of Men and so but a sign or shew of Religion being Will-worship and Voluntary Humility which Christ and his Apostles warned People to beware of For all such Worshippers worship God in vain or worship they know not what and the Reward of Hypocrisie shall be their Portion for they be Blind leading of the Blind and if the Blind lead the Blind both shall fall into the Ditch And likewise it concerneth all truly to examine themselves inwardly in the Light of Christ whether they be Baptized truly with the one Baptism of Christ by his spiritual Water and the Fire and Fan of his Spirit with which he will and is able thorowly to purge his Floor Mat. 3.11.12 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.22 23. even the Hearts Souls and Consciences of true Believers and that only maketh fit to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven And so whether they be Children of the Light and of God who is Light and Born again of the Water and of the Spirit whose witness agreeth in one witnessing with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Born of his Incorruptible Word which liveth and abideth for ever Or whether they have only been Baptized or Sprinkled with Water by a Man and because thereof are taught to believe that then they were made Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven And if they have no better Assurance than such Baptizing or Sprinkling with outward Water then the Light and Spirit of Christ will bear witness in their Hearts that they are not Children of Light nor of God and then whose Children are they And likewise all may examine themselves in and by the true Light in their Hearts whether they be in the true Religion or not That is Whether or no they be true Christians John 6.45 who are all taught of God by the Light Grace and Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Or they be but Pretenders to Christianity having a Profession or Form of Godliness but denying the Life and Power thereof resisting and rebelling against the strivings and movings and teachings of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and embracing and complying with the temptations motions and teachings of the Spirit of Antichrist and the Power of Darkness which is the Devil And such can profess that they know God Tit. 1.15 16. but in Works they deny him which is abominable And every one that doth Truth John 3.18.19 20 21. cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God but every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered and so loving Darkness rather than the Light that is the Condemnation And it is certain that all who love not the Light of Christ Jesus in themselves and believe not in the sufficiency of it are deceived by the deceivableness of
Condition upon a Spiritual Account and as he faithfully followeth the Leadings of it he cometh to know a profiting by it and in it and as he persevereth in the Love 1 Cor. 2.9 10. and Obedience of it it manifesteth and revealeth inwardly unto such a one the Things which Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of Man which God hath prepared for them that Love him Thus the Apostle Paul preached 1 Cor. 2.4 not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and said he Christ sent me not to Baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1.17 not with Wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect Gal. 1.11 to 17. So he was a Minister sent of Christ by his Spirit and by his Spiritual Appearance in him and to him for otherwise he was a Persecutor of Christians after the Ascension of Christ And all that are true Ministers of Christ are sent and taught and moved by the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 2.11 to 15. for no Man can know the Things of God but by his Spirit And if any falsly profess to be sent by his Spirit their Deceit will be manifested by the Light and Spirit of Christ to them who walk in it but as for such as pretend to be Ministers of Christ who say Divine Revelation is now ceased and mock at the Teachings 1 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Isa 54.13 14. John 6.45 Leadings and Movings of the Spirit of God by which all that ever were Children of God were led and taught and moved as is fully declared by the Scriptures of Truth which they falsly profess to be their Rule the Deceit Hypocrisie and Wickedness of such is manifest to the view of all who have not wilfully shut their Eyes And so though Antichristians may talk or preach of the Worship of God and may use Scripture words and the words which Christ and his Prophets and Ministers speak which are Recorded in the Scriptures yet they being erred from his Spirit wherein only the true Worship of God is performed they are out of the true Worship of God and Worship they know not what for their Worship is in the Spirit of Errour and not in the Spirit of Truth and all the Preaching of such with all their Learning acquired Parts and Philosophy it is but vain Deceit and stands in the Wisdom that is from below Jam. 3.15 which is earthly sensual and devilish and so those are moved by the Spirit of the Devil who mock at the movings of the Spirit of God let their Profession be what it will So the Scriptures shew plainly that there was Antichrists or Antichristian Ministers in the Apostles Time and that there was a great difference between them and the Apostles or true Ministers of Christ and the Followers of those false flattering Deceivers were as their Leaders were principally deceived by giving heed to the Insinuations of the Old Serpent their deceitful Enemy in their own Particulars For those that loved and obeyed the Light of Christ Jesus in their own Hearts and Consciences they came to a good understanding of their own Estates and Conditions inwardly and also came thereby into a true discerning of the difference between the true Ministers of Christ who were in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ Commissionated to Preach the Gospel of Truth and those who without Commission from Christ and in disobedience to his Light and Spirit preached for their own Carnal Ends and Designs such could discern between the Voice of Christ in his true Ministers John 10.4 5. and a strange Voice in them that falsly pretended so to be Such could discern between those who preached for filthy Lucre love of Money or any other self-end and those whom the Love of Christ constrained to Preach 2 Cor. 5.14 without which Love which they want who hate his Light all Preaching though with never so much Excellency of words is but as sounding Brass 1 Cor. 14.1 2 3. or a tinkling Cymbal and without which the most seeming excellent Works of Piety are nothing available Such could discern in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ which searcheth all things to which they were obedient between them that were of God whom true Christians heard 1 John 4.6 and them that were of the World whom the World heard and thereby they knew the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Errour And such by the Light and Spirit of Christ in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge came truly to discern the deceitful Devices Col. 2.3 2 Cor. 2.11 and Snares of their Souls great Enemy who in his Devilish Wisdom and Serpentine Subtilty was continually endeavouring to entangle and deceive them as he did others both inwardly by his dark unclean wicked Power and outwardly by the Deceit of the same Power and Spirit in his deceived deceitful Antichristian Ministers who transformed themselves as into the Apostles 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. or Ministers of Christ but the true Christians discerned them and knew that their end should be according to their Works and they likewise knew that Satan himself was transformed into an Angel of Light And yet in and by the true Light of Christ which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World they saw him to be what he is to wit a Serpent a Dragon a roaring Lion the Devil an Adversary a Murderer a Devourer a wicked Spirit and by many other Names and suitable Descriptions is he called by the Scriptures of Truth to describe the Visage of the Wicked One that all may in the Light of Christ behold his Deceitfulness wherewith he is continually endeavouring to Destroy Murther and Devour the Souls of the Children of Men both by his Transformed Instruments and otherwise And all that profess Christianity and oppose the Light and Spirit of Christ they may fitly be said to be Transformed or to Transform themselves whether Leaders or Followers of others for they are neither Members of Christ Children of the Light nor Children of God who is Light as all true Christians are and therefore such only Transform themselves into Christians that is they pretend to be Christians falsly And such as are not Children of the Light nor Children of God whose Children are they Are not they Children of Darkness and Disobedience and of the Power of Darkness which is the Devil Such are grosly deceived and transformed as were those Jews who professed to be both the Children of Abraham and of God and yet Christ said plainly unto them John 8.33 to 45. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do And all People in and by the Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ may examine and try themselves whether they be true Christians who are Children of God yea or nay For the Spirit
Fruit must be cast into the Fire and there must lie how can the Pope or any Man else recover such out of the Fire And if it be the wide Gate and broad Way that leadeth to Destruction how can they that walk therein escape Destruction or the Pope deliver them from it when they come to the end of their Journey But yet this Antichristian Doctrine of a Purgatory after this Life is upheld by the Popes and by their Cardinals Bishops and Councils to their great gain of Money to themselves and their Clergy so called and upon this groundless point of their Faith hangs many of their Antichristian Ceremonies to get Money by as their Trentals Masses Diriges Requiems Indulgences Pardons Jubilees and their pretended power of Binding and Loosing and their Prayers for the Dead And though many pretending Reformation from Popery deny their Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead yet they claim Popish Wages for Praying for the Dead which they call Mortuaries and annex it to their Tythes for which they cast them that cannot for Conscience sake pay them into Prison and so they deny the Work but claim the Wages which is more unreasonable then to work for Wages And it is a general Tenet of pretended Reformists that none can be fully cleansed from Sin on this side the Grave and yet confess they that no unclean thing shall enter into Heaven and then where must they be cleansed or how will they escape the Popes Purgatory which they also deny And the Popes and their Abettors on the other hand say Council of Trent Can. 10. Ellar lib. 2 de justific chap. 2. pag. 129. That they can do more good Works than God hath commanded which they call Works of Supererogation which they hold not only meritorious of Eternal Life and of singular Glory in Heaven but also that they may communicate of the abundance of these their Merits unto others but this Doctrine is also false and also Antichristian For the Apostle of Christ said I laboured more abundantly then they all speaking of the Apostles and yet not I 1 Cor. 15.10 but the Grace of God which was with me and by the Grace of God said he I am what I am and said he the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us so it was his Teacher or Commander that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 12. we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world So the Grace of God teacheth to live Godly or like God who worketh all in all in his Servants and by his Spirit the Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal giveth the Word of Wisdom and Faith 1 Cor. 12.6 7 to 12. and Gists of Healing and working of Miracles and discerning of Spirits c. dividing to every Man severally as he will and so it is God that worketh in his People both to will and to do Phil. 2.13 Isa 64.6 of his own good pleasure and all Man 's own Righteousness is as filthy Rags Therefore they who say 1 John 4.17 1 John 3.3 7. that they can out-live the Teachings or Commands of the Grace of God which teacheth to live Godly or like God as true Christians do it is plain that such are not as true Christians are the workmanship of God by his Grace created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath ordained and prepared for his Servants to walk in Eph. 2.10 but it is certain that such are exalted in their Imaginations by the working of the Man of Sin who is exalted in them above the Word of God's Power in their Hearts and so he as God sitteth in the Temple of God the Heart shewing himself that he is their God Acts 20.28 Heb. 9.12 who with his wicked deceivableness hath deceived them in a high degree or else they durst not speak such Words or teach such Doctrine And so no Men can communicate any of their Merits towards the saving of others that Pretence being an abominable Cheat to get Money by for true Christians are what they are by the Grace of God and the working thereof in their Hearts and never pretend to any of their own Merits for their Salvation is only by Christ who bath obtained Eternal Redemption for them and purchased them with his own Blood And as the Man of Sin is yielded unto obeyed and worshipped by them upon whom he prevaiss with his Temptations he becomes exalted in their minds and proud ambitious and imperious like himself and then they are offended when others do not bow or submit unto them and as by his deceit he prevaileth in them he makes them like himself Deceivers Lyars and Hypocrites and yet they would be called true Christians and Children of God like the Jews formerly who were in the same Nature though not Profession to whom Christ said Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do John 8.44 he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him And so the Devil being a Murtherer and a Lyar makes his Children and Servants as like himself as he can of a murthering lying Spirit and apt to persecute and murther those over whom they have the power that cannot comply with their Doctrines Worships Traditions Inventions Customs and Practices by them in the dark and woful Apostasy from the Truth invented ordained set up and practised And all false Churches or gatherings of People what Name soever they go under are all one in the ground for being erred from the Light and Spirit of Christ who is the Way of God the Truth it self and the Life of Righteousness they are all wandred into Confusion and that is the ground in which all who are erred from the Light of Christ in themselves remain let them profess what they will And so as Babel's Builders of Old would build themselves a Tower whose top might reach to Heaven but were defeated by being all confounded in their Languages who before were all of one Speech and of one Language so all that are erred from the Light of Christ in themselves being gone into Confusion inwardly they would have a Tower or a Way of their own making or building to get to Heaven by and they can but build it where they are that is in Confusion And so all who are erred and strayed from the Way of God the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and depend upon Men of Languages to teach them or guide them to Heaven are in Confusion and may fitly be called Children of Babylon and Mystery Babylon the Great is their Mother who is the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17. and Abominations of the Earth whom the Servant of Christ saw drunken with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus and this Woman is the great Whore that sitteth upon many Waters which
the Papists mean a Visible Man called Antichrist and a Monarch and absolute Owner of the World who exerciseth upon others good Christians much barbarous Cruelty and sheddeth much Innocent Blood whether then may not all except themselves and have they not reason too who have but heard of their Visible Head the Popes and what Monatchs and what absolute Owners of the World they have been and what Barbarous Cruelty they have exercised upon good Christians and what an abundance of Innocent Blood they have caused to be shed during the term of their outragious Cruelty reasonably conclude that the Head of the Papists the Pope hath been or is that Antichrist that Monarch that exerciser of barbarous Cruelty upon good Christians and that shedder of much Innocent Blood mentioned in the written Prophecies of Ezekiel Daniel and the Apostle John which the said Robert Persons one of the Popish Priests writes of as aforesaid who writes or stiles himself Priest of the Society of Jesus which signifieth Saviour but seems rather of the Society of Destroyers for Blood shedders are Destroyers And this appeareth by the Decrees of their own Councils which tend to enjoin all to conform or burn an Antichristian Decree indeed and wo will be the portion of them who make such Unrighteous Decrees and prescribe such grievous things what will they do in the Day of Visitation and in the Desolation which shall come from far to whom will they flye for Help and where will they leave their Glory Isa 10.1 2 3 4. And if any be offended at what is here written let such know that he that writeth this hath no evil will or prejudice in his Heart towards any Man or any People in the World but desireth the good of all even as he desireth the same for himself and according to the Mind of Christ would not that any should perish but that all through true Repentance might find Mercy and obtain Eternal Salvation by Jesus Christ For I have by woful Experience known a time when the deceivable unrighteous power of the Devil the Man of Sin prevailed upon me so far that I could not then believe that ever I could be free from Sin while in this World because I daily felt my self overcome by and subject to Sin which daily deceived me and so I was perswaded of the common received Tenet viz. No freedom from Sin whilst in this World but that all must carry a Body of Sin and a Body of Death whilst on this side the Grave And so was I long in a miserable condition being often troubled exceedingly in my Heart and Conscience with a deep sence of my own sinful condition which in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus in my Heart and Conscience I plainly saw to be very wicked and deplorable wherewith my Soul was grievously oppressed but knew not how to be eased of my Burden which seemed to me such an intolerable heavy Burden or Load that I was very near to have fainted under it for the more I looked into my inward condition the worse it then seemed unto me being exceedingly afraid lest the Lord should have cut me off in mine Iniquity wherewith I had provoked him And the sence of this my Condition kept me in a constant Care lest I should do any thing whatsoever that might further incense or provoke the Lord God of Heaven and Earth against me and so make my Load more grievous and as I thus looked upon my Soul to be in a most wretched forlorn condition and in continual danger to be cast into everlasting Fire in which the Devil and his Angels are tormented Day and Night for ever and ever then for a long season I cryed in bitterness of Soul unto the Lord that I believed knew the very seeret Thoughts and Intents of all Hearts that he would shew Mercy unto me and teach me to know the Way wherein he would have me to walk for I was yet as a Stranger to and unacquainted with that which then and formerly reproved me for Sin in my Heart which is the Light of Christ and the true Christians Spiritual Way to God which when I did or spake any thing that added unto my Burden ever made me sensible that it was wrong before I did it and this aggravated my Sorrow And after several Months continuance in this dolorous condition by the Light of Christ in my Heart I saw the emptiness and insufficiency of all Formal and Ceremonial Worship of God that is not in his own Spirit and Truth in the inward parts which Spirit God ever heareth the cry of and which Truth he ever loveth out of which I could not but judge my self to have been with those I associated my self in that formal insufficient Worship which was no sooner ended but though Confession of Sins and Prayer for Repentance in a seeming Zeal had been made and Sin preached against yet before parting and sometimes in the Worship too the spirit and power of the Man of Sin that tempts into all Sin arose amongst us causing Laughter and â—olly and Vanty to appear amongst us which was far from a State of true Repentance And though of late before I had kept over the Witness of God the Light in my Conscience though it had often reproved me for Sin and had been like the rest of the company with whom I joined in Worship yet then the sence of my own deplorable state being upon me continually I could not appear in my former Jollity and Vanity amongst them but though mine Eye was chiefly upon mine own condition yet I could not be unsensible of their state which had so lately been mine own but in the love that thinketh no evil I mourned over them and sorrowed for them who then began to deride me And after I had thus remained for a Season till I durst no longer delay the time then I began to question them that had been my Teachers concerning the Light the Way of God and the Just Man's Path which had convinced me of all my Sins and in my Heart and Conscience reproved me for the same but alas the Teachers though professing to be Ministers of Christ the Light yet they were untaught by the Light and untaught of God by whom all true Christians are taught as Christ and his Holy Prophets and Apostles declared John 6.45 Isa 54.13 John 14.26 1 Kings 8.35 36. Heb. 8.11 1 John 5.20 And being willing to be satisfied as fully as I could amongst them as well concerning the Light as their doubtful Doctrines Ordinances and Ceremonies I passed over a considerable time in reasoning and discoursing with those of my Teacher whom I judged most able but though the most or all of them understood several Languages yet none of them owned the true Light wherewith Jesus Christ enlighteneth every Man and Woman that cometh into the World to be saving John 1.9 or of sufficiency to lead to Salvation whereby I plainly saw that they were
as Strangers to it and had not tryed the Vertue of it For the Scriptures also are herein very plain John 1.1 4 9. that this Light is the Life which was in the Eternal Word which is Christ which was in the beginning with God which Word was and is God and so this Light is certainly divine and consequently sufficient to lead to Salvation all that faithfully give up with all their Hearts Tit. 2.11 12. Eph. 2.8 2 Cor. 12.9 to follow it and obey its Requirings and this Light is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation which hath appeared to all Men and was the true Christians Teacher and by it they were saved through Faith for it was and is sufficient and it was and is the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 Eph. 5.13 Rom. 1.10 and whatsoever maketh manifest is Light which maketh manifest all things that are reproved and whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within But the said Teachers said That Revelation was now ceased and that in our days none must expect to enjoy God or Christ in his inward appearance in the Heart Soul and Conscience in which his Servants the Prophets Apostles and true Christians enjoyed him in days past but that now God hath in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament called the Bible given us wholly to understand our Duty towards him and one unto another and that none can know God but by the Scriptures And indeed none can know God but by that which the Scriptures declare of which is the Light or Spirit for I then knew certainly that though I had often with zeal and delight read the Scriptures yet I knew not rightly my own condition nor how far I was from the state of a true Christian till I gave diligent heed to the Light of Christ the Grace of God in my own Heart and Conscience and as I waited low in it by it I received a clear discovery of my own state towards God and what was needful for me to know And though the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy saith Of a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation yet saith he it is through Faith which is in Christ Jesus Mark that Rom. 10.6 7 8. It is through Faith which is in Christ Jesus the Light and the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth And saith Paul All Scripture given by Insporation of God is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works So they that deny Perfection through Faith which is in Christ Jesus to be attainable on this side the Grave for which end the Scriptures by the Inspiration of God were given do not such deny the very end for which the Scriptures were given But the Apostle Paul did not write according to the common Translation that All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God Take notice of this for the Word Is is added there being nothing for it in the original Greek Copies And also the Word Scriptures signifieth Writings whether good or bad and no bad Writings are given by the Inspiration of God Therefore they that profess the Scriptures to be their Rule and Standard should not add to their Rule or Standard lest they be found to falsify it And so whilst I was thus reasoning with my former Teachers I became fully satisfied concerning their Ignorance of the Truth and their Insufficiency to be Teachers or Guides to direct in the Way of Salvation being out of it themselves and so I became as it were weaned and in weaning from the Breast I had formerly sucked which was the Conceivings of the Wisdom of Men and in the Eyes of the World I became a Fool and was reckoned mad and a Changeling and I durst not give way to the Entreaties nor to the Threatnings neither of Parent nor Relations though near and dear unto me whose Welfare every way I defired as my own yet then they became as mine Enemies being mightily offended with me though after some time more Friendly again then before some of them came to be unto me And when the said Teachers said unto me Why do you question our Religion for we exhort People to Vertue and to live Holily and to strive against Sin I answered saying Whether is it possible that the Soul of Man may be Cleansed from Sin on this side the Grave They replyed No then considered I Ah! then where must my Soul be cleansed and to strive and fight against Sin all the time of a Man's Life and never to get the Victory but always to be overcome surely this is not the good Fight of Faith but a very uncomfortable fighting when a man knoweth or thinketh before he fight that he certainly must be conquered And when they said unto me You may live as Holily and as strictly and as free from Sin as you can or will and yet continue of our Religion too for we command no Vices nor are not against any of our Hearers living holily and strictly but advise them to it Then I answered Ah! but I am unsatisfied and I have read in the Scriptures That they who seek the Lord with all their Heart shall find him and I believe this is true but alas I have not yet found him to my Satisfaction and I am resolved whatever cometh to seek him with all my Heart and I hope that I shall find him and so I considered that he who would find the Lord to his satisfaction and enjoy his Blessing must not walk in the Counsel of the Ungodly nor stand in the Way of Sinners and so I durst no longer join with them in their Worship For I believed that they who seek God aright and so find him to their Satisfaction must seek him Inwardly and Spiritually for he is a Spirit and is not to be found in Carnal Ordinances Ceremonies or Traditions of Men which the said Teachers pleaded for and I had been very zealous in those things but found no profit until I took heed to the Light of Christ in mine own Heart and Conscience And as I continued waiting upon God in his Light and taking heed unto it the Day dawned more and more upon me and the Day-Star arose in my Heart and I plainly saw the emptiness of all outward Ceremonies invented in the wosul Night of Apostasy and set up when the Power of Darkness ruled in the Heart by such as were disobedient to the Light in their own Wills and for filthy Lucres sake And I came to see plainly that the true Worship of God is only performed in his own Spirit and Truth the Mani estation whereof is the true Light out of which none can know God nor worship him acceptably but worship they know not
what and the Worship of God is in Fear and Trembling before him and at his Word in the Heart and such are accepted of God and shall be accepted with him and with such he will dwell as the Scriptures largely testifie read John 4.20 to 25. Mich. 6.8 Isa 66.2 5. Ezra 9.4 and 10.3 Jer. 5.21 22. and 33.9 Psal 2.11 Dan. 6.26 And so I durst not but deny all Worships prescribed by the Wisdom of Men and set-up by Men which were not in the Spirit and Truth of God neither durst I embrace the Pleasures or Preferments of the World for I was sensible both of their danger and Vanity and that the Words of Christ were true who said If any man will come after me Luke 9.23 24 25. Luke 14.27 let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me and whosoever doth not bear his Cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple for whosoever will save his Life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his Life for my sake the same shall save it for what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole World and lose himself or be cast away And now I am not of their Perswasion who believe that there is no Salvation nor Freedom from Sin on this side the Grave and that the Souls of true Christians cannot be cleansed from Sin while their Bodies live in this World for that is contrary to the Truth and to the Testimony of the Holy Scriptures and where Sin hath a place in the Heart or Soul of any there the Man of Sin hath a place whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 9. And so much of the Worship of them in whom the Man of Sin ruleth by his Power consisteth in Ceremonies and Signs for he will allow them all Signs of that which is good so that they may be content without the Substance yea even the very Name at least in Profession or Pretence of Christians though he have quite bereaved them of the Nature of true Christians and allow them outward Signs of Baptism also at least whilst uncapable Infants which they may afterwards be told of and taught to believe that they were thereby made Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 8.10 11. although they know nothing experimentally of the one Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Spirit or Ghost and with Fire nor believe in the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in which all true Christians believe who are really Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 13.19 being led and taught by his Light and Spirit and obeying the Word of the Kingdom which is one with the Light and is sown in the Hearts of all Men. And Christ said to the unbelieving Pharisees that The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation or outward Shew neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for saith he behold Luke 17.21 the Kingdom of God is within you And why may it not as well be said now to be within those who are ignorantly seeking it without them For their Teachers teach them to believe that they were made Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven when they were Infants by their outward Baptism and yet they have it to seek and know not where it is to be found but seek it as they are taught and expect it to come with their Observations outward Shews and Signs without them and Pray at least in Words to God saying Thy Kingdom come and yet believe not in the Word of his Kingdom which is sown in their Hearts which is the Light Grace and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which reproveth them for Sin in their Hearts and Consciences And so whilst they disobey the Word of the Kingdom the Light in themselves they are making themselves Strangers to God and his Kingdom through disobedience and so are unlike to be Inheritors of it though they make never so large a Profession of seeking it in their Observations outward Shews and Signs for there it is not to be found much less inherited And John the Baptist who baptized with Water to Repentance we read not that he baptized Infants for what should Infants repent of but he Preached saying Repene ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand So it seemeth the Kingdom of Heaven was near then and to some who came to his Baptism he said O Generation of Vipees who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance or as some translate answerable to amendment of Life for said he the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree Mat. 3. therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fare But do not Infants sprinkled with Water or Baptized as they call it afterward bring forth Fruits rather to be repented of than meet for Repentance So it seemeth they that came to John's Baptism which was with Water to Repentance if they brought not forth Fruits meet for Repentance they were little or no better being to be hewn down and cast into the Fire And where can any read that John's Baptism being outward could make any true Christians Was it not before Christ that John came Baptizing with Water and before there were any called Christians for we read not of that Name given till after the Ascension of Christ and if John's Baptism could not make Christians how should Sprinkling of Infants now or the outward Baptism of any others either It is not like that they that now take upon them to baptize either Infants or others for Money for which none can buy the Gift of God should exceed John who was sent of God Acts 8.20 and did it freely without Money And John was sent to bear witness of the Light that all Men through him might believe that was the true Light John 1.8 9 10. which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World though the World knew it not But the Baptizers Dippers and Sprinklers in our days are far from bearing witness to the true Light for they cry out against it and give it many ridiculous Names John 3.20 and Titles and this is according to the Words of Christ that Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light And what a strange thing doth it seem that any should believe which some suppose that Sprinkling an Infant with a little Water some after one manner and some after another should make it a true Christian For true Christians are Members of Christ and Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven but no Man can make them so for it is only by believing in the Light of Christ and obeying it that a
about Religious Tenets c. let such consider That he who abideth not in Christ the true Vine which none can do but they that continue in his Love and Doctrine is cast forth as a Branch and is withered not knowing a partaking of his Vertuous Life which is called his Flesh and Blood and the Love and Doctrine of Christ teacheth Mat. 5.39 44. Mat. 7.12 Mat. 7.28 Luke 12.4 not to resist evil but when any smiteth on the Right Cheek to turn the other also and to love Enemies and to pray for Persecutors and despiteful Users and to do as they would be done unto and not to be afraid of them that kill the Body but cannot kill the Soul And which of them of any of the said three Opinions about their Bread and Wine continue in this Love and Doctrine of Christ But such as war sight oppress persecute or cast into Prison Innocent People till Death if they can for Wages for Preaching or make havock and spoil of their Goods or Imprison them for Tythes Easter-Reckonings or Midsummer Dues as they call them or for not paying for their Bread and Wine which they neither had nor would buy knowing therein is no true spiritual Food as the Sellers of it pretend and also knowing true and substantial Food for their Souls daily given of God freely which those Sellers of Bread and Wine are ignorant of for if they knew it they would not persecute those for their Price of their Bread and Wine who will not Buy of it And also they that Persecute or Imprison others for meeting together to Worship God in his holy Fear Spirit and Truth they that do such things are far from doing to others as they would have others to do to them and are far from a state of loving their Enemies and of truly praying for Persecutors and despiteful Users of themselves being themselves Enemies and Persecutors and despiteful Users of others and they are far from turning the one Cheek to the smiter when the other is smitten and so not resisting evil who themselves persecute smite or abuse the Innocent And if such suspect danger how should they but be afraid of them that kill the Body who are such evil Doers themselves to the Bodies and Goods of the Innocent And so live unprepared for Death themselves And let it be considered whether Persecution and Imprisonment of the Innocent for Tythes and Wages for Preaching and about their Worship of God c. be not Persecution of Christ in his Members And whether any of such Enters of Bread and Drinkers of Wine in their Worship of any of the said Three Opinions especially their Teachers when many of them are such Persecutors and despiteful Users of others when they have power And whether such be not guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ and so in their eating and drinking their Sacramental Bread and Wine as they call it eat and drink their own Damnation not discerning the Lord's Body which is a spiritual Body And what Condition are the Followers in when the Leaders are such And as to those who take the Bread and Wine in remembrance of the Death of Christ and affirm That the Flesh and Blood of Christ is Really and Sacramentally received by the Faithful in the use of Bread and Wine and make the Communion or Participation thereof to relate to that outward Body that was Born of the Virgin Mary and suffered without the Gates at Jerusalem in Judea whereas it should relate to the spiritual Body Flesh and Blood of Christ the spiritual Rock which was and is the Souls Food of his Faithful Servants in all Ages And who al 's tye this Participation of the Body and Blood of Christ to the Ceremony of breaking outward Bread used by him with his Disciples as if it were only to be enjoyed in the use of that Ceremony and therefore reckon that Ceremony to be a perpetual standing Ordinance in the Church of Christ and of Necessity to be used Mat. 26.26 27 28. Mark 14.22 Luke 22.17 18 19 20. because the Evangelist Luke only for Matthew and Mark mention only the action Recordeth that Christ took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto his Disciples saying This is my Body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me And both before and after taking of the Bread Luke mentioneth that he took the Cup and giving thanks said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you or as Matthew relates This is my Blood of the New Testament Upon this said Sentence to wit this do in remembrance of me lyeth the stress of the Argument that Christ commanded the Continuance of this Ceremony of taking outward Bread and Wine in his Church in remembrance of him perpetually but the words being spoken figuratively as they also grant imply no such thing but rather the Discourse mentioned by Luke Luke 22. maketh plainly to appear that Christ intended only that their so doing which was in a state of their weakness might be a means to instruct them in the Mystery of the spiritual eating of his Flesh and drinking of his Blood in his Kingdom Luke 17.21 which was within them And to this purpose he said With desire I have desired to eat this Passeover with you before I suffer for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God and said he I will not drink of the Fruit of the Vine until the Kingdom of God shall come and said he Ye are they which have continued with me in my Temptations and I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom Luke 22.15 to 38. And said he I say unto you That this that is written must yet be accomplished in me he was numbred among the Transgressors for the Things concerning me have an end By which words it is plain that Christ appointed to his Disciples that they should eat and drink spiritually at his Spiritual Table in his heavenly Kingdom which was within them which shall never have an end and that the outward things concerning him were to have an end for the inward or spiritual things concerning him have no end And so by the outward Bread and Wine which he gave them he instructed them in the knowledge of their spiritual eating of the daily Bread of Life Mat. 6.5 to 15. John 6.51 without which no Soul can live to God which he bade them to pray in secret for which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life which Bread Christ giveth which is his Flesh And also in the knowledge of their spiritual drinking of the new and spiritual Wine in his Kingdom which is his Blood and is also the Living Water which he freely giveth and inviteth all and every one that is athirst to come unto John 4.10 13
used and for meeting together to Worship God in his Fear Spirit and Truth and they were Imprisoned and extream hardly used in so much that in their Petition to the Parliament they reckoned the Cruelty of their Persecutors to exceed the Cruelty of the Heathenish and Popish professed Tyrants and Persecutors and said The Records of the Heathen Persecutions under Nero Trajan Decius Galienus Maximinian c. could scarcely afford any Examples of the like Cruelty that was used to them they craved but the liberty either to die openly or live openly in the Land of their Nativity and many of them ended their Days in loathsom Prisons And Six of them were put to Death Sealing their Testimonies with their Blood whose Names follow viz. Henry Barrow and John Greenwood who were Executed at Tyburn John Penry at Thomas a Waterings near London William Denis at Thetford in Norfolk and one Coppin and one Elias at Edmundsbury in Suffolk And it appeareth by Records that the Chief Instruments of their Death was the Clergy and not the Queen for one Doctor Rainolds being by Queen Elizabeth much pressed to tell her what he thought concerning the said Barrow and Greenwood at last told her That he was perswaded if they had lived they would have been Two as worthy Instruments for the Church of God as hath said he been raised up in this Age then the Queen sighed and said no more But afterwards being near the place of their Suffering and calling it to mind she demanded of the Earl of Cumberland who was present at their Execution what an End they made he answered A very godly end and prayed for your Majesty and the State And there was a Famous Preacher one Phillips having seen and heard Barrow's Speeches and Preparation for Death who said Barrow Barrow my Soul be with thine And after Queen Elizabeth's Decease in the Reigns of King James and King Charles the First many called Puritans c. suffered greatly and some for no other Cause but for refusing to join with the publick Worship Established by the Bishops and for separating themselves from the Church of England were Banished the Land of England And this is observable that the Long Parliament in the Year 1644. denying the Common prayer Book and by an Assembly of Priests setting out a Directory for Publick Worship the generality of the Priests then Conformed to that calling the Common-prayer Book Popish Rags of Rome Dregs of the Whores Cup and the English Mass c. And when Oliver Cromwell was made Protector he took Course in the Year 1653. for the Glergies Recovering their Tythes and other Dues as they pretended and many of the People of God who were led by his Light and Spirit to testifie against Tythes and to deny to pay them because they could not uphold what Christ came to pull down and were also made willing with the hazarding of their Lives and Estates to preach the Everlasting Gospel of Christ freely in Sincerity and Truth denying to join with their Man-made Hypocritical Worship and telling them plainly that if they repented not God would overturn them as it came to pass many such then suffered deeply by and under their Cruelty who through Killing and taking Possession were come from a suffering state themselves into high Places of Earthly Authority where being setled they soon forgot their own Sufferings and their Covenants and Vows made to the Lord therein and trod in the Antichristian and Popish steps of Persecution themselves of whose Cruelty both Old England and New England are Witnesses but the Lord preserved his People in Constancy and Faithfulness to him in their great and many Sufferings But notwithstanding all the aforesaid Reflections against Popery and the Common-prayer Book when King Charles the Second was Restored in the Year 1660. and the Common-prayer Book enjoined again how generally it was received and entertained of the Clergy is yet fresh in the Memories of many and how the strictest sort of them in Times of Persecution joined with it again or crept into Corners and ran from their Assemblies upon the sight of Informers or the like it is very well known whereby it appeareth they themselves who contended against the true Light and the Faith that is in it thought their own Faith not worth suffering for as really it is not and so they could not abide Persecution But in Times of Toleration for Liberty of Conscience those would numerously appear in publick again though when a Storm of Persecution arose as in the latter end of the Reign of King Charles the Second then few of them durst appear But when King James the Second began his Reign and proclaimed Liberty of Conscience which is desirable to all People which hitherto continueth and is now by Act of Parliament confirmed then and since then the Corner-creepers have bodly appeared in publick again By what is premised it is plain and evident that they who were prevailed upon by the power of the Man of Sin the power of the Devil and of Darkness to disobey the Light the Word of God's Grace and Power in their own Hearts whatever they might profess of Christianity yet they went in the Way of the Man of Sin and as they persevered therein he came to be exalted in them over all that is called God and so he made them Liars Persecutors and Murderers like himself who was a Liar and a Murderer from the beginning and such could turn as the Times turned from one Religion or Profession to the contrary to and fro any whither to save themselves and their worldly things with which the God of the World hath blinded their Minds lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God 2 Cor. 4.3 4 5 6 7. who is Light should shine in them And also it is plain and evident that they that faithfully obeyed the Light and Spirit of Christ in their own Hearts they resisted the power of the Man of Sin in themselves and through Faith in the Word of God's Power in their Hearts were in good measure made Conquerors over the power of the Adversary in their Hearts and to the Honour of God through the same Faith and Obedience of his Light they were enabled patiently to undergo what their Antichristian Persecutors the Members of the Man of Sin were suffered to inflict upon them which was not only Imprisonment and loss of outward Enjoyments and Possessions but also to many Death it self they would rather part with Goods and Life and all than lose their Heavenly Treasure which God had given into their Earthen Vessels the Excellency of which Treasure and Power is of God and out of the sight of all those who disobey the Light of Christ in their Hearts And so they in whose Hearts God who commandeth the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ who not