speaking to the Corinthiaens in his first Epistle chap. 6. 11. saith But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God But more of this in another place 5. Adoption as 't is written Ephes. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Iesus Christ to himself according to the good Pleasure of his Will To the like purpose is that in Rom. 8. 29. For whom he did fore-know he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the First-born among many Brethren To which accords Iohn 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to as many as believe in his Name 6. A sixth Benefit is Forgiveness of and Redemption from all Sin as saith the Scripture Ephes. 1. 7. In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of Sins according to the Riches of his Grace So Titus 2. 13 14. Looking for that blessed Hope and Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works And 1 Iohn 3. 8 5. 't is said For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil and ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin 7. Victory over Satan Forasmuch as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he also took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death that is the Devil see Hebr. 7. 14. So that his strength being broken and his power destroyed by the Captain of our Salvation if we resist him stedfast in the Faith he will flee from us as 't is written Iames 4. 7. 8. Another Benefit is Access to God by Faith as saith the Apostle Ephes. 3. 12. In whom we have Boldness and Access with Confidence by the Faith of him And as we have Access to God by him so likewise we find Acceptance with God in and through him 9. Through him we receive A sure Hope of Eternal Life as 't is recorded Hebr. 9. 15. And for this Cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of Death for the Redemptions of the Transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance Thus 't is confest that in Christ Jesus we are Elected Called Reconciled to God Sanctified Justified Adopted by him we obtain Pardon and Redemption from all Sin through Faith in his Name we find Access to God and Acceptance with him in him we are made Victors over Satan and Heirs of Life Eternal Now Reader thou may'st see how falsly the Quakers have been accused in laying to their Charge They deny that Christ which came in the flesh with the Obedience he thereon performed by his Sufferings Death Resurrection from the Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also the Benefits that thereby are obtained which things never were by them denyed for they know that the Son of God is come and hath given them an Understanding that they know him that is true and they are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal Life see 1 Iohn 5. 20. But for further satisfaction concerning their Faith herein if any do desire it they may see a Book put sorth by George Whitehead intitilled The Divinity of Christ and Vnity of the Three that hear Record in Heaven with the blessed End and Effects of Christ's Appearance Coming in the Flesh Suffering and Sacrifice for Sinners Confessed and Vindicated Now concerning Iustification by Faith in Jesus Christ and the Imputation of his Righteousness to Believe's Here also it may be seen how grosly this People have been abused how greatly their Principle hath been misrepresented For Justification by Faith they own as hath publickly been confessed by them according to these Scriptures By the deeds of the Law shall no Flesh be justified in his sight wherefore the Law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of our selves it is the Gift of God not of Works lest any man should boast for we are his Wormanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour that being justified by Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life But then it must be a living Faith according to the definition of the Apostle Iames in the second Chapter of his Epistle And it must be such a Faith as purifies the Heart and is held in a pure Conscience and is manifest in the Life by Works of love and gives Victory over the World For in Christ Iesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love saith Paul Gal. 5. 6. And this is the Victory whereby we overcome the World even our Faith saith Iohn 1 Joh. 5. 4. Therefore say I without this real Faith 't is impossible we should please God or be justified in his sight Yet now because these my Friends have distinguished between Faith and Fancy therefore they have been calumniated and their Principle traduced by many So likewise as to the imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ this they own according to the Scriptures even as David describeth the Blessedness of the man whose Transgression is forgiven and whose Sin is covered saying Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is no Guile Psal. 32. 1 2. And Abraham being justified by Faith 't is said he received the sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had yet being Uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not Circumcised that Righteousness might be imputed to them also Rom. 4. 11. Wherefore this People believe acceptance with the Father is only in Christ and by his Righteousness made ours or imputed unto us by the inward Work and applicatory act of God's Gift of Grace whereby he is made unto the Soul Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption but because they deny the Righteousness of Christ to be imputed where it is not imparted and distinguish between Imagination and Imputation between reckoning or imputing that is real and reckoning or imputation that is not real but a fancy and dare not own the point in the
he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of First Fruits of his Creatures James 1. 18. But since there is a Willing Faculty placed in Man and this Will being corrupted is naturally froward and averse to any thing spiritually Good whereby Man chooseth that wherein the Lord delighteth not and will not hearken to his Counsel nor turn at the Reproofs of Instrustion which are the Way of Life but obstinately pursues the sinful Desires and Lust of the Flesh to his Soul's Ruin and so his Destruction is of himself and God clear of his Blood by the free Tenders of his Grace and strivings of his Spirit within him If this be granted then it will follow if ever Man be saved this stubborn Will most be bowed and subjected and brought into Obedience to the Lord Jesus for 't is the Willing and Obedient to whom the Promise is made Ier. 1. 19. So that Man must come to be freely willing to serve the Lord and to take up the Cross and bear the Yoak of his Son Christ Jesus not only of Necessity but of a Ready Mind And thus now to have the Will sanctified and brought into the pure Obedience of him that sanctifieth it which is an Effect of the free Grace of God here comes the true Freedom of Will to be known even to be made free from Sin being delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God which agrees to that of the Apostle Romans 8. 21. And here as the Truth maketh free man comes to be free indeed and to receive Ability to attend upon the Lord without Distraction and to do his Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven according to that Prayer which our Blessed Saviour taught his Disciples as we read in the sixth Chapter of Matthew After this manner pray ye saith Christ Our Father which art in Heaven hollowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven c. And yet how many are there that will plead for this Plat-form of Prayer who never expect to receive an Answer For say they The Will of God cannot be done perfectly here I grant where the Kingdom of God is not come there his Will can never perfectly be done but where the Kingdom of God is known and witnessed to be within that gives Power and Ability and makes willing to yield Obedience unto his Requirings of us so that here every one according to their several Measures may perfectly perform the Will of their Heavenly Father Yet is here a vast difference between the Natural Freedom of Man's Will which some plead for and the Gracious Freedom thereof maintained by the Quakers for that is quite another thing to what hath been slanderously reported of them CHAP. VII Concerning Inherent Righteousness AS touching Inherent Righteousnes as a Righteousness of Self is intended a thing wherein this People have been falsly as well as foully aspersed it having been given out concerning them viz. That hereby they expect to merit Heaven Now seeing the Truth struck at with such a Soul-mrudering Weapon as this makes me like Cresus his dumb Son to speak What! can their Adversaries wrongfully reproach them with nothing less then laying waste the very Foundation of the Christian Faith which stands in submitting to the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and not in establishing any Righteousness of our own as inherent in us and of our selves But be it known to the World though it hath been reported that the Quakers hold this dangerous Tenet yet the report will not hold true when it comes to be examined For although I have heard others often charge it upon them yet I never could find the person that durst say this was their own Confession viz That upon the account of Inherent or Self-Righteousness they expect Salvation but if we will take the Confessions of those that are so forward to make Confessions for others we may then believe the Quakers are as bad as they are pleased to render them to us but we must not take things upon trust but hear both parties if we will be ingenuous no Reader they have no such expectation far are such thoughts from them For though they do reckon a man must be made inwardly Righteous by the power of Christ that is meet for the Kingdom of Heaven I think this amounts to no more then what I have heard asserted by a Teacher of your own viz. That God freely bestows his Grace upon Men and Women and afterwards rewards his own Grace in his own Children which Words plainly imply the Grace of God to be free to all and to be tendered within which whoso accepts thereof to be led by the same do thereby receive the Spirit of Adoption and so come to obtain the reward of Children which is a part in their Fathers Kingdom and this indeed is according to the Quakers Principle for they know right-well Gods Grace is Universal a proser whereof he maketh unto all by which they might be made a Righteous people and in it come to enjoy Salvation Therefore they believe that inward Righteousness is wrought by Virtue of the Grace of God and is a necessary qualification to fit man for Glory which makes them choose with the Apostle rather then talk of the Righteousness of Faith to shew forth their Faith by their Works yet do they not expect to be saved neither for their Faith alone nor by their Works but by Christ who worketh true Faith For 't is not Works of Righteousness as done by them not only as Inherent in them by which they expect to be accepted of God and justified before him but by and through Christ Jesus the Author and Worker of those acts in them and for them whereby they know that they are in him and he in them and they hold him as their Head into whom all things are gathered together in one even in him How comes it about then it may be asked that this report has spread so far concerning them Why truly Reader if I may give in my Answer it must be this he who was an Enemy to all Righteousness ever since the beginning seeing the Faithful among this People not only Nominally but really Righteous throughout their Conversation he hath been so inraged against them that he hath not spared any pains to put on his Instruments to Reproach and Vilifie them Therefore have they been masked with the most affrighting Vizards of Self-Righteousness and Self-Sufficiency to bring about their own Salvation that if possible he might fright People from having any converse amongst them but notwithstanding the Wrath of the Adversary their Innocency will appear with its open Face for the time is now a hasting wherein it will be seen who are but Nominally and who are really Righteous Bear with me my Friends to whom I dedicate this little Tract For though I rank'd this point amongst the
Scruples of the Moderate having heard some whom I esteem such lay this Principle to the Quakers charge But now being better acquainted with them I find they have wrongfully charged it upon them and therefore I can do no less but use some sharpness of Speech to refute the falseness of this Opinion that through a mistaken Zeal I am apt to think some have taken up against them Well may I say Mistaken for were the Quakers rightly understood People would find that they have as low Thoughts of any Human Righteousness as those that daily confess all their Righteousness to be but as filthy Rags CHAP. VIII Concerning a Possibility of a Total Fall from True Grace THIS Doctrine being held by the Quakers it hath been branded with the Approbrious Term of Hetrodox which if so I know not how the Apostles Doctrine can be accounted Orthodox and yet I know the General Opinion of many Professors is Once in Grace and ever in Grace or Once in Christ and ever in Christ But it is not Universality if they had it that can give a certainty if this would have sufficed our Ancestors needed not to have divided from her who stiled her self the Universal Church Therefore as we are not to follow a multitude to do Wickedly so neither are we to receive an Opinion for Truth because it is so received by many Here I 'll digress no further but proceed to shew the Apostles Judgments in this matter Paul speaking of the Iews whom he calls the Natural Branches of the true Olive how that they were broken off that the Gentiles whom he compares to Branches of a wild Olive they might be grafted in saith the Apostle to them Well because of Vnbelief they were broken off and thou standst by Faith be not High-minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed also lest he spare not thee Behold therefore saith he the goodness and severity of God towards them that felt severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou shalt be cut off Rom. 11.20,21,22 And the Author in his Epistle to the Hebrews having spoken of Israel of Old to whom God sware in his Wrath That they should not enter into his Rest he Cautions them saying Take heed lest there be in any of you an Evil Heart of Vnbelief in departing from the Living God Heb. 3. 12. And in Chap. 4. he exhorts both them and himself saying Let us labour therefore to enter into that Rest lest any man fall after the same Example of Vnbelief And in Chap. 6. Vers. 4 5 6. he shews them the danger of falling for saith he 'T is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly Gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted of the Word of God and the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto Repentance seeing they Crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open Shame And in Chap. 12. Vers. 15. he wishes them to look dilligently lest any fail of or from the Grace of God lest any Root of Bitterness springing up should trouble them and thereby many be defiled Nor was this his Suspition concerning others only but his Supposition of himself For I keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection saith he lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should become a cast away 1 Cor. 9. 27. And in his Epistle to Timothy he speaks positively The Time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own Lusts shall heap unto themselves Theachers having itching Ears and they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. 3. 'T is likewise said of Hymeneus and Philetus that concerning the Truth they have Erred 2 Tim. 2. 17. And this I have heard publickly asserted by one Eminent in your own Esteem viz. That there could be no Hereticks if some did not Apostatize from the True Faith Which he infer'd from Paul's Advice to Timothy Chap. 3. Vers. 10 11. where he bids A Man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition Reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself And this was the exposition which he gave upon the Text viz. A Heretick is one that maintains an Error contrary to the Light of his own Conscience pertenatiously persisting in it notwithstanding Reproof And without doubt the Text was truly exposited may we understand him to intend the Light of Christ Jesus in the Conscience for 't is Christ the true Light who lighteth every Man's Conscience and that is the Light of Conscience which if we may believe he had regard unto then it will follow from the fore-going words First That it is possible for People to turn from the true Grace of God by sinning against the Light which he hath placed in their Consciences Secondly That those are Nick-named or Mis-called who are called Hereticks for acting according to the Dictates of their enlightned Consciences or which is more clear to say For being guided by the Light of Christ in their Consciences Thirdly It follows that'tis utterly impossible to prove a man an Heretick unless he be guilty of Heresie and condemned in himself by the Light of Christ placed in his own Conscience to shew him what is Error and what is Truth Thus much the words import but it may be some will refuse to confess to the Import of them for fear of being counted Quakers herein Howbeit the Spirit speaks expresly That in the Latter Dayes some shall depart from the Faith c. 1 Tim. 4. 1. And such who have so done we know that inward Condemnation doth attend them according as the Apostle Peter and Iude spake of some in their Day as had forsaken the Righteous Way and were gone astray following the Way of Balaam the Son of Bosor who loved the Wages of Vnrighteousness These saith Iude are Wells without Water Clouds carried about with a Temptest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever for when they speak great swelling words of Vanity they alure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were Clean escaped from them who live in Error For if after they have escaped the common Polutions of the World through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the Latter End is worse with them than the Beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them but it is happened to them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his Vemit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 15 17 18 20 21 22. And hence
them nor follow them behold I have told you before Mat. 24. 25. Luke 17. 28. And now since we upon whom the Ends of the World are come have seen it so come to pass that People are gone from this Gift of God in themselves to the many outward Observations of Dayes Times and Superstitious Customs thinking to find Christ in them whilst they shut their Eyes against his Light which shineth in their Consciences to guide their Feet in the Path of Peace Is it not high time for his faithful Watchmen who see the danger of such a state to Cry aloud unto the People that they may take Warning before it be too late and therefore do they lift up their Voice like a Trumpet to sound a Retreat to the Inhabitants of the Earth who are without the Spiritual City of Resuge that they may return in time and lay hold of the Horns of the heavenly Altar and get into the Habitation or Tower of safety before the Enemy of their Souls take the strong hold of their Hearts and sortifie himself against them and keep them without the Gates till the Avenger of Blood who once would have had Mercy on them pursue and overtake them and so they be destroyed Therefore right-glad are the Hearts of many that ever they heard this joyful Sound RETIRE TO THE INWARD GRACE thereby signifying to them where Help is to be had who were seeking Salvation from the Hills and from the Mountains yet laboured but in vain but in returning and in Rest they have found themselves saved according to the Word of the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah 30. 15. Secondly Although I did say That all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord yet I did not say that all are his Children for 't is they and they only who are led by the Spirit of God that are Sons of God For though the Lord hath given his Spirit yea his Son to be a Leader and a Commander to the People yet many there are who do not follow his Guidance saying in their Hearts what the jews spake with their Mouthes We will not have this Man to reign over us Now is there not need that some should seek to convince such of the Evil of their Ways and the Error of their Doings who instead of walking in the Straight and Norrow Way of Righteousness which leads to Everlasting Life are going on in the Broad Way of Sin and Wickedness which leads down to the Chambers of Death that so they may be perswaded to leave off the Weapons of their Rebellion where-with they fight against God and wound their own Souls and submit themselves unto his Ambassador of Peace the Spirit of his Son in their Consciences that true Balm of Giliead with which they may be healed Thirdly That I may be rightly understood let me acquaint my Reader neither do I assert that those who are set out as Travellers in Sions Road are at once so perfectly instructed in all the Paths thereof that they need not to inquire of those that are gone before which is the way thither whose experiences may be to them of use for escaping the Snares which the subtil Fowler layeth to catch Souls in both on the Right hand and on the Left that so they may walk right forward with their Faces Sion-ward untill they shall come to sit down in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lastly Nor is it altogether useless for those that are established in the Truth to hear the things thereof declared notwithstanding they knew the same before yet may it be to the stirring up of their pure minde by way of remembrance of the dealing of the Lord with themselves in dayes that are past and for the comforting and refreshing of their Spirits to feel how the Work of the Lord prospers in others of his People and for the clearing and making glad their Hearts to hear how Truth prevails and gets Ground in the Earth This therefore is the end of all Declarations amongst us viz. that the ignorant may be Instructed that Gain-sayers may be Convinced that the Weak may be Confirmed and that the Strong may be Consolated Therefore do our Ministers labour in the Word and Doctrine to Convert Sinners to Christ Jesus the Gift of God and to build up Saints in their most holy Faith and to Edifie one another in Love Thus much in Answer to the Objection so I return to the point in Hand which is further to demonstrate as the Lord shall inable me what this Principle is that is Preacht up amongst us 'T is that divine Principle of Life which brings the Glad-Tidings of Salvation near unto all by which they may be put into a capacity of receiving the Grace of God in the Gifts thereof which he hath purposed in the appearance of the Son of his Love to bestow upon as many as shall believe This being the Everlasting Gospel that Paul gloried in I am not ashamed of the Gospel saith he for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. Yea it is that Word of Reconciliation which God hath committed to such as himself hath called to make them Ambassadors for his Son Christ Jesus by the Ministry of which they turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified through Faith that is in Christ Jesus see Acts 26. 18. Thus these profit their Hearers and so do not only Pray but also prevail with Sinners to turn unto the Lord that he may be a Father to them and they his Sons and Daughters And this Word that reconcileth is not afar off 't is not in Heaven that any should say Who shall go up for us and bring it down to us that we may hear it and do it neither is it beyond the Sea that any should say Who shall go over the Sea for us and fetch it to us thence but the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou may'st hear it and do it as was testified by Moses a Man of God Deut. 30. 12 13. and also by Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ Rom. 10. 6 7 8. This now is the Word of Faith which is again preach't by those whom the World in scorn call Quakers And though such preaching be accounted foolish by the learned Rabbies of our Age yet let them know 't is by the Foolishness of Preaching that God is pleased to save them that believe as 't is written 1 Cor. 1.21 So notwithstanding these use not enticing words which Man's Wisdom teacheth yet do they preach in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit and in a way of Power whereby they are known to be of God as were the Apostles see 1 Cor. 2. 1 4. And the Tendency of their Ministry is to direct people to the Teaching of Christ
said before 't is still but one thing if rightly understood in its true Notion And thus I chose to express it because thus I have found it viz. A Principle of Divine Light and Life in Christ Jesus placed in the Conscience which discovers both Sin and Duty to us and not only so but it Reproves the one and Enables to perform the other and this I know that a measure of the same is placed in the Consciences of all Mankind by which they might see the right Way were but their Minds turned thereunto Therefore let none slight or undervalue this Light of Jesus manifest in their Consciences by calling it as some have done A Natural Created Insufficient Light which will lead men down to utter Darkness Though sometimes again these very Persons will confess That the Light of Nature as they call it ought to be followed as far as it will lead for say they though the obeying its Dictates will never bring men to Heaven yet the disobeying them will certainly sink them down to Hell Hereby rendring the Lord cruel to his Creatures as if he required them to follow a Guide that would certainly lead them amiss or leave them short of the place of Rest and then would punish them for being Mis-led or for sitting down when they had no Guide to shew them the Way to walk in and that from a purpose in himself to leave the greatest part of Mankind without any other Guide to direct them in Matters of Salvation but that that is Insufficient that it must be a Miracle if it shew them the Way to Heaven according to their common Answer when asked how those must be saved who have not the Scriptures amongst them which these account the only Rule to Guide men Why we leave them to the Mercy of God say they the Lord may in an extraordinary manner bring some to Heaven if he have any Elect amongst them but whether any of them shall be saved or not 't is hard for us to determine Thus they darken Counsel by uttering words without Knowledge They say The Grace of God is Free and yet they make it a Monopoly so it shall not be Free to all nor must all be sharers in it neither will they allow the Lord himself to dispense it nor yet to inspire his Servants to go forth and preach it But arrogate to themselves a kind of Sacerdotal Right to be Dispencers of the Grace of God and Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of some outward Qualifications acchieved by them as External Parts or Humane Learning although they never were called of God to the Work of the Ministry nor never had the Word of Reconciliation committed to them yet would they have People come to enquire of them the Way to the Kingdom though they are so narrow-spirited as to shut out the greatest number of Mankind by absolute Predestination not sticking to affirm that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never was intended nor can be useful to their Justification but must and will be effectual for their Condemnation So being void of Universal Love themselves they fondly imagine the Lord to be like themselves Hence concluding there is no Salvation to be had without the explified Knowledge of Christs coming in the Flesh and of the Scriptures both which we know whole Kingdoms and Empires in the World are unavoidably ignorant of aud yet few or none of these will Jeopardize their Lives to preach amongst such notwithstandings this was the Apostle Paul's Practice to preach Christ where he had not before been named for said he if I build upon another Man's Foundation I make my Glorying void But blessed be the Lord he hath caused many Witnesses to rise up amongst us who have given Testimony to the Truth as it is in Jesus and have taught others both in our own Country and in Nations abroad to take heed to that sure Word of Prophecy nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the true Grace of God that is sufficient for us not only as some say to leave men without Excuse and so to aggravate their Condemnation but as 't is received and obeyed it will lead out of Sin into Holiness and in the end crown with Salvation And thus I am brought to the next thing promised which was to shew whence this Principle of Grace proceedeth I have according to my Measure shewn What it is now I come to shew From whence it comes to which I say § III. It comes from God through Christ as saith the Apostle God that commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Iesus Christ 2 Corinth 4. 6. 'T is God's Gift unto us and therefore well may we return Thanks unto him for his unspeakable Gifts God is the Author of it who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all for he covereth himself with Light as with a Garment and dwelleth in that Light which is inaccessible which no mortal Eye can approach unto he is the Father of Lights and therefore hath he given a Measure of his own Divine Light to all Mankind to reveal himself unto them that so they may know substantially What he is and not worship him as the Vnknown God and this knowledge of himself the Father is pleased to dispense to Men in and through the Son of his Love Christ Jesus our Lord who is come a Light into the World as himself testified Iohn 12. 46. I am come a Light into the World saith Christ that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness And therefore I believe and am well assured this is the one Faith whereinto many thousands by the Lord have been gathered viz. That the God of all Grace hath sent his Son into the World a free Gift unto the World and hath given a Measure of his Light and Spirit to manifest and reveal him unto all men Thus hath his universal Love and free Grace appeared For though God made Man pure and innocent yet Satan and disobedient Man hath marred that Creation In the Beginning God created Man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him as we read Gen. 1. 27. But Man soon defaced and stained this glorious Stamp and by yielding to the Tempter went out from his first Nature and so his Beauty was turned into Deformity I mean that Beauty of his inward Man wherein the Image of God stood in which he had Communion and Fellowship with his Maker through Disobedience this was lost and so man came to be without God in the World being alienated from that divine Life Light Love Grace Goodness Wisdom Power Holiness Virtue Purity Innocency wherewith the Lord invested him at the first in perfect Beauty but man going out from that
first Divine Nature and Seed in which he stood before Transgression here was his Fall and Degeneration and so he came by that unexpressible Loss of the Favour of God and Freedom of Will that now the Lord being angry with him he had no Power to do any thing to appease him the Garment of Innocency being lost their Fig-leaf Aprons could not hide their shameful Nakedness from the Lord which he seeing and taking notice of compassionately made them Coats of Skin for their clothing and then he drove them out of the Garden of Eden So here man was put out of the Paradise of God for eating of the forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and Cherubims placed at the East End of the Garden with a Flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life as may be read in the third Chapter of Genesis at large Thus man being drove from the Presence of the Lord Death came over his Soul though he lived outwardly yet did he dye as to that Inward Principle of Divine Life and Virtue which once he enjoyed and so the Threatning was fulfilled which the Lord had said In the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely Dye Here Man and Woman having transgressed the Royal Law of God by breaking of his holy Commandment in eating of the Tree whereof he commanded them saying Ye shall not eat thereof by this they came to be separated from him So it was Sin that made the Separation and it is Sin which makes the Separation For Man and Woman in their primitive state wherein they were created were good as the rest of the Creatures of God for 't is written God saw every thing which he had made and behold it was very good and God blessed Man and Woman and they were in Favour with him till they became subject to Vanity by reason of that false Hope which the Serpent suggested to them they hoped to have been a Gods to know Good and Evil but by going out of God's Counsel they became corrupted by the Evil one and being joyn'd to the Serpentine Seed they were alienated from God so that had not the Lord out of his unmeasurable Loving-kindness and Compassion opened a Way to restore them they must have perished in this Deplorable Condition And this Way of Restoration was by Christ the Light the Seed and Saviour for he of whom God said unto the Serpent I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel He it was who was to be the Saviour of the World So that now considering the Sons and Daughters of Adam as they are found in the Fall and Degeneration having all sinned and come short of the Glory of God herein I say hath his universal Love and free Grace appeared to wit in giving of his Son to be a Saviour unto them as saith the Apostle Iohn In this was manifest the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him 1 Epist. 4. 9. And that he was sent to the whole World see what Iohn the Evangelist faith Chap. 4. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Mark that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life To which the Apostle testifies 1 Iohn 2. 2. saying He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World This was the free Gift of the Father that the Son of his Bosome should take Flesh upon him come into the World and lay down his Life for poor Sinners for he came from God and went to God again So that though he laid down his Life of himself having Power and being willing so to suffer according as 't is written Iohn 10. 18. Yet himself also said That his Body was prepared of his Father Heb. 10. 15. In which Body he did the will of him that sent him Lo I come to do thy Will O God saith he for a Body hast thou prepared me Who now that rightly considers this Dispensation of favour but must needs cry out Oh the Height and Depth and Breadth and Length of the Love of God and of Jesus Christ our Saviour who took not on him the Nature of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham and was made in every thing like unto us only without Sin that he might restore Fallen Man Which thing I know will readily be granted but 't is the extent thereof that some would have limitted affirming That Christ dyed for a certain definite number and not for the whole Lump of Mankind one as well as another Nay they speak as if none had any benefit by no nor so much as the Revelation of Christ this Gift of God whom to know is Eternal Life but those who have the outward Letter of the Scripture Yet do I believe and so do Thousand more whom the Lord hath called viz. That the Father of Lights and God of the Spirits of all Flesh hath given a measure of his own Divine Light and Spirit unto all the Children of men to manifest and reveal the Appearance of his Son in them who is that same Saviour which shed his Blood for us that he might wash us and cleanse us from our Sins and was offered upon the Cross not only as a Propitiatory Sacrifice to make Reconciliation for the Transgressors but that by his once offering up of himself he might bring in everlasting Righteousness and Perfect forever them that are Sanctified and a measure I say of this his Power which is Light God hath placed in every persons Heart in order to their Sanctification as they shall be subject to this his appearance in them True indeed all are not Sanctified and made Perfect by him although this was the end of his coming that he might finish Transgression and make an end of Sin and this was the will of the Father in sending him to wit our thorow Sanctification but this is not because all have not a knowledge and manifestation of his Light or Spiritual appearance of him in themselves but because all do not believe in and obey this his Appearance Now that People may attain to what Knowledge may be had of God by the inward manifestation of the Light of his Son which is a measure of his Spirit in their Hearts this is clearly proved by the Apostle Rom. 1. 19. That which may be known of God saith he is manifest is men for God hath shewed it into them For the Lord of the whole Earth who is the Preserver of men he is impartial in his Love to all Mankind not only to them in Christendom so called who have the Scriptures amongst them but his Love is extended unto all People in one Land as well as in another for his Spirit is not
is well-pleased for 't is no other Jesus concerning whom I write but the same that was born of the Virgin even the Lord 's Christ who hath made himself known unto his Servants by such Peculiar Names as suited the particular Circumstances of their Souls and according to their several Experiences of him so they reported concerning him Isaiah describes him to be as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land a Refuge from the Heat a Covert from Rain and from Storms Chap. 4. Vers. 6. and chap. 32. 2 Again he spake of his being to his People as a place of broad Rivers and Streams Chap. 33. 21 David calls him The Shepherd of Israel which leadeth Joseph like a Flock Psal. 80. 1. He also calls him The Watchman of Israel who neither slumbereth nor sleeps Psal. 121 4. Paul speak of his being our High-Priest yea a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedeck Heb. 5. 6. And likewise calls him the Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which God hath pitched Chap. 8. 2. Iohn the Evangelist calls him The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 9. The other Iohn or Iohn the Divine saith This is he which was and is and is to come Rev. 1. 8. And now since he is come to a Remnant and they have believed in his Light as manifest in them they are not ashamed to confess that in the mind which gives a discovery of Sin to be the Power of God the Appearance of Jesus and that Light of the Lamb which the Nations of them that are saved must and shall walk forever in according to Rev. 21. 23 24 Neither is this any new Doctrine Opinion or Principle other then that which Abel Seth Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac and Iacob with all the holy Patriarches of Old were led and guided by in things relating both to Faith Life and Worship For what else could be a Rule unto them in matters of Salvation but this divine Principle when as they had no written Laws nor Ordinances amongst them which Principle is Christ the Light and Leader of his People in all Ages of the World who is one in all never was divided though variously described being the same who by his Light sheweth unto the Wicked and condemns them for the Vanity of their Thoughts who also by the same Spirit comforts and consolates his Peoples Hearts that so as many as whose minds are turned to this Light of Jesus and stayed in it though it be but small in its first appearance yet shall they see a growth and increase of it Thus Reader have I according to the Gift communicated to me from the Dispensation of the Most-high described what the Principle of Truth is which is perfect in it self and tends to the Perfecting of those that are gathered into it And now my former Familiars Neighbours Acquaintance and Kindred in the Flesh and all others to whom this may come hereby I invite you all to turn in hither even into the secret of your own Souls to that which there reproves you for your Sins witnessing for God against all Unrighteousness of men both in Thought Word and Action striving in their Hearts to turn them from the Evil of their Wayes and from the Vanity of their Conversations to walk in the newness of Life that so they may be redeemed and restored out of their fallen state of Degeneration into the Image of God again which hath been lost through Transgression O turn in turn in I say before it be too late lest you at last cry with them spoken of in Ieremiah 8. 20. The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved Work while it is Day while the Candle of the Lord shineth in your Tabernacle be you workers together with God for the Night cometh wherein no man can Work and who can tell how soon the Sun of Righteousness may go down upon you and the Light thereof obscure it self from you Therefore hear Instruction and be wise while the good Spirit of the Lord is nigh to teach you seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near and refuse not to hearken to his heavenly Oracle in your Consciences whereby under this his spiritual Dispensation he is pleased to speak unto the Children of men lest he say by you as he said by some of Old who regarded not his Counsel They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.25.28 For that in the Conscience which checks for Sin and excites to Holiness is the Voice of the son of God by whom in these last dayes the Father speaketh unto us Oh be ye perswaded to hearken diligently unto him Hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you saith the Lord even the sure Mercies of David Isa. 55. 3. And then you will come to know that Faith which Jesus is the Author of which stands in the Power of God even in that Power which inables to resist Temptations and overcome Sin and to get Victory over the World and the Spirit of it so will you witness a dying unto Sin and a living unto Righteousness to the praise of his Grace who is calling of you out of Darkness into Light that you may be Holy in all manner of Conversation So now since God's saving Arm is made bare for the gathering many People to himself before your Eyes Beware therefore left that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets Behold you Despisers and Wonder and Perish for I work a Work in your dayes which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Read Acts 13. 40 41. But Friends my Hearts desire and Prayer to God for you is that you might be saved And therefore have I in the tender Bowels of his Love which he hath shed abroad in my Heart by Jesus Christ sent this Invitation unto you that ye all may make ready and come to the Supper of the great God who hath spread his Table and prepared a Banquet for you whereof whosoever will may eat and drink abundantly as long as the time of Visitation is extended unto you For this I write in the Openings of Life and from the motion of the good Spirit of my God do I declare unto ye viz. That none of ye were absolutely excluded from Eternity well knowing that a measure of his Grace hath been freely tendred to every one of you because his Love extendeth Universally and he is crying Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters of Life And he that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Isa. 55. 1. Here is free Grace indeed free Love indeed O do you but yield your selves the Subjects of his Love and he will set your Souls