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A62880
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A faithful vvarning to all backsliders, who hold the truth in vnrighteousness, for to return to the Lord and cleave to the light which leadeth out of darkness
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Tompkins, Anthony, d. 1699.
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1668
(1668)
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Wing T1829; ESTC R10283
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9,718
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11
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A Faithfull VVARNING TO ALL BACKSLIDERS Who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness FOR To return to the Lord and cleave to the Light which leadeth out of Darkness IT is now in my heart to discover unto you the manner of my falling from the Truth notwithstanding I had tasted of the Lords Love and did come in measure to see what was laid up for them that love him in his appearance VVHâ—n the time of Trials came on that the Lords People were carried to Prison the reasoning part got up in me the which the Enemy soon joyned with shewing me the danger that might happen if I went to Meetings that then I should or might be put into a Prison then as I said the reasoning part got up insomuch that I began to take care for my Wife and Children and Family considering the weak capacity of my Wife she being altogether uncapable of mannaging my Trade it must of necessity fail which Friends I would have you to take notice this was whilst the reasoning part was gotten up which when that began first to enter if I had stood in that which did discover it not to be of God my heart had been kept clean but joyning to the evil that caused the Lords Presence to be withdrawn then did the Devil transform himself into an Angel of light shewing me that Friends did not do so well as the Infidels did for they took care of their Families then the thoughts of this began to minister to me a false peace insomuch that I became one that did weaken the weak and to lay a stumbling-block in their way so then when I had done this yet had I no peace but was still condemned in my Conscience then the transformed Angel had another way signifying to me that I might be serviceable in my bâ—â—ng forth of Prison for I might go and serve the Body of Friends which did for a little while satisfie but yet the Lords Love was such that he shewed me that was not enough but had I should go to the Meetings and bear my Testimony for God who caused the Light to shine and had shined into my heart which gave me to understand my duty towards God and man aâ—d walked in it and obeyed it But when I had thoughts of obeying the Will of the Lord then would my Wives tears flow from her eyes which drew me to be tender to her and not standing in the Cross I came more and more to lose my portion Then the Devil drew me to acquaint my self with those that did also flee the Cross and we began to daub our selves with untempered Morter and so grew light and vain and so come to speak our own words and to think our own thoughts and to do our own work and so become rebelious Children unto him that was our Father whilst we obeyed the Light in our hearts which shewed our duty towards God but we reâ—using to obey it the Enemy came amongst us and sowed his seed and so here was a waring in us for victory insomuch that we or I had no peace but continually filled with trouble at the very time when I was jesting and jearing the Light in my heart did condemn me and at my lying down or at my rising up I was so condemned that I had some breathings towards the Lord for to desire forgiveness and was ready to cry unto the Lord Father forgive me but before the word Father was uttered the Lords Witness would arise in my heart and shew me that I was not to call God Father for I had done the will of the Devil which caused me to remember what was said of some that was calling God Father and was doing the works of the Devil and I was out of the redeemed state as well as they but as for my dealing amongst men I have very little to charge my self with but can truly say as to that point I kept my self very much unspotted of the World and â—isplaid had some respect for the same of the Truth and could not endure to hear the Truth evil spoken of although I was in a great measure departed from it So by my plain dealing among men I was esteemed with many up and down the Country my name was famous insomuch that my Trade did much increase so that I came to be very much hurried in the World which did choak the Seed more and more and so became worse and worse so the god of the World blinded the mind that when I would have done the will of God something or other lay in the way which did hinder so Death and Darkness came to reign and to rule and have the preheminence insomuch that the Light which did shine once in me came to be darkned so then that wicked Prince began to reign over the Seed and kept it in bondage which would have reigned over the Devil had it been obeyed as it ought to have been for I could and did witness it so once but by disobedience I became a Captive to the Devil to do his will in a great measure But yet had there not been a Seed I may say I might have been as Sodom or made like unto Gomorrah but I can say I was kept out of the practice of many things which at some times was almost or altogether concluded in my mind to act therefore who is like unto the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob who left us a Seed or else what had become of me in this apostatising state When I was first convinced of the Truth and Living Way then accounted I all but dross and dung in comparison of Christ the Way the Truth and the Life insomuch that the Lord was pleased to manifest himself unto me in his Way which was by Christ the Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World so as I come to the Light of Jesus I come to see that I had done amiss in giving money to the Parish Priest whose Doctrine I could not own I had been a hearer of those people called Baptists before I came to hear Truth declared by the Servant of the Lord Edward Borough at which time when I went to hear him I went not to hear the despised people called Quakers so as to receive their Doctrine but rather gaze at them to see their manner when I first came in he that went with me seemed to be very much dissatisfied with what my dear Friend layed down for which cause he spake unto me my answer was to him I had heard nothing but what was truth at which time I come away when the Meeting was parted or the Friends one from each other with joy which I knew not how to express but coming to a Relations house I declared to the Woman that I had heard the Truth declared and that I did never know the way to which I could witness satisfaction but in this Way which was that there was the Light of Christ