Gideon and of Baruck and of Sampson of Jephtha and of David also and of Samuel and of the Prophets c. see Heb. 10. 38 39. Read the 11 Chapter through Habbakkuk 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Again the Apostle Peter writ to the Saints concerning Faith vâ—z Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation see 1 Pet. 1. 5. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering Heb. 10. 23. Now the Apostle James who writ of this Faith writ also of the works and fruits of it which the rest also did hear what he saith in this matter viz. What doth it prâ—fit my Brethren though a Man say he hath Faith can Faith save him If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of dayly Food and one of you say unto them Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not thâ—se things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Even so Faith if it hath not works is dead being alone yea a man may say Thou hast Faith and I have works shew me thy Faith without thy works and I will shew thee my Fath by my works Thou believest there is one God c. But wilt thou know oh vain man that Faith without works is dead Was not Abraham our Father justified by Works seest thou how Faith wrought with his Works and by works was Faith made perfect and the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and was imputed to him for Righteousness and he was called the friend of God ye see then how that by works a Man is justified and not by Faith only for as the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also James 2. 14 to the end Again the Apostle John writ to the Children of Light concerning this Faith viz. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith 1 John 5. 4. Again Peter Exhorts those who were come to some degree of this Faith saying Give all diligence add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg and to Knowledg Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that laâ—keth these things is blind c. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if you do these things you shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 4 11. Again the Apostle Paul writing to the believing Thessalonians said unto them We are bound to thank God always for you Brethren as it is meet because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth 2 Thess 1. 3. Again Paul writ to the Galatians viz. Knowing that a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified but if while we seek to be justified by Christ we our selves are found sinners is Christ therefore the Minister of sin God forbid for if I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a Transgressor for I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the â—on of God c. Gal. 2. 16 17 18 19 20. Again he writ thus to the believing Ephesians viz. We are Gods â—â—â—kmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained we should walk in them Ephesians 2. 10. The same Apostle writing to the believing Philipians writ thus viz. For it is God which worketh in you â—â—th to will and to do of his own good pleasure do all things without murmuring and disputing that you may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World Philip. 2. 13 14 15. Again he writ to the Ephesians thus viz. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be Glory in the Church throughout all Ages world without end Amen Eph. 3. 20 21. Again the Author to the Hebrews writing to them saith viz. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. O all you who profess your selves to be Christians and to be led and guided by the Spirit and Light of Christ within seriously consider of the faithful sayings of these faithful Apostles and Servants of Christ concerning Faith in God and Christ and the Gospel and Christian works which God in Christ works in all those who comes to the Baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and Fire which burns up the works of Satan to with Sin who destroys the old man with his deeds which are corrupt and which renews and restores man again into the likness or image of God who created him All who come to drink into the one Spirit and be Baptized by it into the one Body come thereby to be made of one Heart and Soul and to Worship and Serve God with one consent these have not Faith without Works which is dead but they have the living Faith which God hath wrought in them which by the Apostle is called the Faith of the Operation or Work of God and with this living Faith they have the living Works and Fruits which Faith and Works prove them to be the generation and living off-spring of God Further observe How sweetly all the before-mentioned Apostles in their sayings are in Harmony and Unity concerning this living Faith and its living Works or Fruits Again observe Where many Professors of Faith and Christianity have been grosly mistaken concerning Faith and Works The Apostle Paul in some of his Epistles writing much against the upholding of the shadowy works of the Law after Christ had ended them by his one offering many Professors of Christianity of latter times have been willing to exclude all works as with respect to Salvation or Acceptance with God under the Gospel dispensation though the holy Apostle Exhorted the Believers in Christ to work out their
have done before them until God cut them off in his Anger as he hath done such like already My dear Friends you who have anciently been turned to the Divine Light of Christ who have and do walk in it you know what I have here briefly touched at is true and you in this divine Light may see the Old Enemy of our Peace pure Christian Fellowship Unity at work against the same under a Profession of the Light to darken and draw persons from it into the works of Darkness And thus as in the Apostles days he hath and doth transform himself as like an Angel of Light as he can how should he appear like an Angel of Light if he should in words deny the Light of Christ Within Man and Woman The Apostle writing of false Apostles saith thus viz. For such False Apostles are deceitful Workers and fashion themselves like unto the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an Angel of Light Therefore is it no great thing though his Ministers fashion themselves as though they were the Ministers of Righteousness whose end shall be according to their Deeds Thus 't is rendered in 2 Cor. 10. Old Translation Printed in 1566. O consider of it all such whom it concerns And how should the False Apostles in the True Apostles days have transformed themselves like unto them if they should have in Words denied the Light of Christ Within though in Works they did Seeing Christ's Command was and is to believe in the Light and walk in at that Men and Women might then may now and hereafter be Children of the Light as the faithful Followers of the Light then were and now are The great Message and Work of John Baptist and the Apostles Paul John Peter and the rest was to bear witness of the Light and to turn People to it that they might all believe in it and obey and walk therein that they might be saved Now for Satan to send his Apostles or Preachers amoâ—gst us to seek to deceive us if they should come blaspheming against the Light of Christ Within mocking and scoffing at it as many dark Preachers and Professors of this Age do who have been bred up in Darkness and Ignorance from their Youth who yet never understood what the Light of Christ Within is he were not like to prevail upon those who have been turned to it and have had their Hearts tendered and in some measure opened by it But if he come under a Profession of it and his Ministers confessing it and in words owning of it professing to be taught and led by it in their talking of it and in the rest of their Conversation especially if they do keep out of the common gross Debaucheries that are in the World then they are like to prevail upon such who do not faithfully watch in the Light which maketh all things manifest as they are Christ hath commanded us to Watch and pray lest we fall into the Temptation of the Devil He said to his Disciples What I say unto one I say unto all watch The holy Prophet said I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak Peace to his People and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly O blessed are all they who so do they are the Children of the Wisdom that comes down from above their Eye being kept single to God they are kept by his mighty Power through Faith so that they shall not stumble nor walk in the crooked ways of Satan which leads to the Chambers of Death even to take hold on Hell My Friends you who are anciently convinced of the blessed Truth as 't is in Christ Jesus our Lord and have kept your Habitations therein some of you may remember what great Evils some run into when they made a Profession of the Light of Christ Within and when they had so done and were reproved for it and admonished to repent and reform they would tell us We must leave them to their own Measures of the Light of Christ and what they did they were justified therein by it And such would say The Light Within is sufficient to teach us will not you leave us to it And when some had acted things which were evil and scandalous they would say That they were justified by the Light in them They would have persuaded us that the Light of Christ Within did lead them into those evil and confused disorderly Practices which they run into But the Lord Jesus Christ by his Light shewed us plainly that those things which they said the Light Within taught them led them into and justified them in were the Works and Fruits of Darkness proceeding through them from Satan who had betrayed and deceived them as he did Eve And as we then withstood those who blasphemed against the Divine Light of Christ Within by seeking to father their Works of Darkness upon it by rendering it the Author thereof so in the Light of Christ we do withstand those vain Talkers of the Light at this time whose Walking and Works are in Darkness and in the Light of Christ we testifie to the sufficiency of it against all Priests and Professors whatsoever who blaspheme against it calling it a Natural Insufficient Light c. Take notice Oh my Friends That Satan the Prince of Darkness and his dark wicked prophane Generation or Offspring long have and at this day do profess the great true and living God Christ Jesus whom he hath sent in Words but in Works they do deny both the Father and the Son And although Satan the Prince of Darkness may in some of his confused dark Instruments confess to and profess the Light of Christ Within yet he is still Satan the Adversary the Prince of Darkness and his Professing and Talking of the Light is only with design the more readily to prevail upon and destroy those who through Love to the Light delight to hear it spoken of and commended And Satan and his dark Instruments have done more harm to some such in their false feigned Profession Commendation of the Light than ever they did or could do by their direct opposition to it and blasphemous words against it My dear Friends Consider what our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles have testified concerning the only true God and left the same upon Record in the Scriptures of Truth Christs Testimony is That God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth The Apostle John's Testimony is That God is Light and in him there is no darkness at all If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another c. Observe that this living true God who is a Spirit and Light is one God his Light
growth and prosperity in the Truth doth answer this parable Yea or Nay And observe what Isaiah Prophesied concerning Christs Kingdom and Government He saith Of the Increase of His Government and Peace there shal be no End Now they who under the profession of the Light within are against this pure Government of Christ and the increase of it in the particuler and in his Church in generall who are for bringing in and Practising a corrupt fleshly Liberty Contrary to Christ these are the Apostates and Innovaâ—ors with such the Faithful Christian Apostles and Elders c. were Exercised and greâ—ved in the Primitive times as the Epistles of Paul Peter John Jude c. do shew Hear what Peter saith Concerning this matter viz. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punisht but Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the Last of Vncleanness and dispise Government presumtuous are they self-willed having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin beguiling unstable Souls These are wells without Water Clouds that are Carryed with a Tempest to whom the mist of Darkness is reserved for ever for when they speake great swelling words of vanity they alure through the Lust of the flesh through much wantonness those that were Clean Escaped from them who live in Errour while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought into bondage 2 Peter 2. 9 10 14 17 18. 19. read the Chapter through And as it was in their dayes so is it in ours some fell away then from the faith and Obedience to the Cross of Christ who had been Enlightened and tasted of the Heavenly Gift and of the power of the World to Come who while they therein abode were as Stars in the Firmament of the power of God and as the Clouds that are filled with rain and as the Trees of the Lords Planting which brought forth some fruit to him but when they fell away from Christ the root seed Light and fountain of life then their fruit withered and so they came to be without fruit as Jude writeth Trees twice dead pluckt up by the Roots c. and could not grow any more Now observe it is not with these as it was in the beginning when they were first turned to the Light of Christ by which they come to see their Sins and to be led to Repent of them and to forsake them the latter End of these is and will be worse than their beginning as the Apostle Peter writes concerning such for saith he It had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered to them but it is come to pass according to the true Proverb the dog is returned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Peter 21. 22. such in former time became the Agents of Sathan to seduce and draw others from the Faith and Obedience of the Cross of Christ some such have been and are in our day All you that Love the Light of our Lord Jesus Christ which makes Manifest all things as they are and reproves that which is Evil wait dilligently in the Light that therein you may see all the Mysterious workings of Sathan and his Agents that therein waiting and a biding stedfast you may Escape all their Snares Something more Concerning the order of the works of God in Heaven and Earth and particularly in his People THE great God who made Heaven and Earth and the fountains of Water who made all things good in the beginning he is the great God of Order he works his works in Order In the begining God Created the Heaven and the Earth and the Earth was without form and void and Darkness was upon the face of the Deep and the spirit of God Moved upon the Face of the Waters and God said let there be * Note God Commanded the Light to be and appear the first day Light and there was Light and God saw the Light that it was Good and God divided the Light from the Darkness and God called the Light Day and the Darkness he called Night and the Evening and the morning were the first day and God said let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters and let it divide the Waters from the Waters and God made the Firmament and divided the Waters which were under the Firmament from the Waters which were above the Firmament and it was so and God called the Firmament Heaven and the Evening and the Morning were the second day and God said let the waters under the Heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry Land appear and it was so and God called the dry Land earth and the gathering together of the waters called he seas and God saw that it was good and God said Let the Earth bring forth grass the Herb yeilding seed and the fruit-tree yeilding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it self upon the Earth and it was so and the Earth brought forth grass and Herb yeilding seed after his kind and the tree yeilding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kind and God saw that it was good and the Evening and the morning were the Third day and God said let there be Lights in the Firmament of the Heaven to divide the Day from the Night and let them be for Signes and for Seaâ—ous and for Dayes and Years and let them be for Lights in the Firmament of Heaven to give Light upon the Earth and it was so and God made two great Lights the greater Light to Rule the day and the lesser Light to Rule the Night he made the Stars also and God set them in the Firmament of the Heaven to give Light upon the Earth and to Rule over the Day and over the Night and to divide the Light from the Darkness and God saw that it was good and the Evening and the Morning were the Fourth day and God said let the waters bring forth aboundantly the moving Creature that hath life and Foul that may fly above the Earth in the open Firmament of Heaven and God Created great Whales and every living Creature that moveth which the waters brought forth aboundantly after their kind and every winged Foul after his kind and God saw that it was good and God blessed them saying be fruitful and Multiply and fill the waters in the Seas and let Foul Multiply in the Earth and the Evening and the Morning were the Fifth day and God said let the Earth bring forth the Living Creature after his kind Cattle and Creeping thing and Beast of the Earth after his kind and it was so and God made the Beast of the Earth after his kind and Cattle after
contemn that which the Light or Spirit of Truth hath spoken and dictated to write in its servants and Children for the Profit Edification Confirmation Establishment comfort of the Body which Thousands being Children of the Light have gladly received and finds the great comfort and profit of These are not the Lights Children these do not walk in it though they talk of it and though some of them may be full of self-confidence that they walk in it and that they are discerning Persons Wise Strong c. yet this is their great mistake herein they shew their spiritual darkness blindness nakedness miserableness Laodician like Fourthly Again Observe That the Apostles who had turned the people to the Light and Spirit of Truth within who were thereby gathered into Congregations or Churches did afterward write the several Epistles to the several Churches and therein gave to them Commands Doctrines Instructions Exhortations Admonitions and sometimes sharp Reproofs and Rebukes as the Lord by his Light and Spirit moved in them according to the several States and Conditions of those they writ to the Apostle Exhorts Timothy viz. them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5. 20. Again Reprove Rebuke Exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. Again he writ to Titus viz. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority let no man dispise thee Titus 2. 15. And again Wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the Faith it is rendered out of the Greek in the Margent Cutingly touching to the quick Titus 1. 13. Here take notice that Reproofs and Rebukes are commanded of the Lord and profitable in their season though it sometimes comes to pass that those who are seasonably reprooved and rebuked do not seasonably and rightly receive the same but turns against it in Self-justification and into Enmity against those who in the Councel of God give it unto them for their good in some such is that Proverb verified Reprove a fool and he will hate thee but a wise man and he will love thee Fifthly Observe Timothy and Titus were Overseers made so by the Holy Ghost Spirit and Light therein to watch over the Saints for their good to Minister to them from time to time whether by Word or Epistle what was needful and profitable for them we do not read in the Scripture of Truth nor believe that these two Overseers did reject Paul's Epistles written to them or call them Man's Edicts Man's Decrees Prescriptions or put any such contemptable names upon them but on the contrary we believe they received them in Love and obeyed the good Counsel Charge and Exhortations therein given them we do not read nor believe that these two Ministers of Christ did plead their Place and Office in the Body and Church of Christ to Exclude and Reject Paul's Epistles to them which he gave forth in the Light and motion of the Holy Ghost we do not read nor believe that they said to Paul we deny thy Forms Dâ—deâ—s Prescriptions c. we are Ministers of the Gospel as well as thee thy Epistles are of no use or service to us why dost thou seek to impose them upon us the Holy Ghost and Light within by which we are made Overseers is sufficient for us away with thy Orders The Apostle Paul writ thus to Timothy viz. These things write I unto thee being to come to thee shortly but if I carry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 14 15. Behold here Paul in this Epistle Instructs Timothy who was an Overseer in the Church how to behave himself in it we do not read nor believe that this Overseer in the Church did Reject Paul's Instruction herein or that he pleaded the Sufficiency of the Light within in opposition to Paul's Advice and Instruction but we do believe that he saw in the Light the Instruction given to be good and profitable for him and therefore gladly received the same Now if these Overseers in the Holy Ghost could see a Service to them in Paul's Epistles which certainly they did then there certainly was a Service in his other Epistles to the Novices Paul who in the Light and Holy Ghost taught the Elders by his Epistles to them he also taught the Younger by his other Epistles though both of them knew and obeyed the Light within in it they saw the good use profit and comfort of them and therefore did not contend against them but chearfully received them and obeyed the Councel of the Lord therein given or young Schollars weak in the Faith feeble minded c. Upon all which Observe That neither these strong men Overseers in the Churches nor the younger who walked in the Light of Christ did plead their being taught by the Light of Christ or Holy Ghost within in opposition to their being Taught Exhorted and Instructed by the Instrumental helps of those Epistles which Paul and other of the Apostles writ to them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost I do Advise and Exhort those professors of the Light within who are offended at some profitable and wholsome Epistles given forth by some of the most ancient and faithful of the Children of Light in this Age concerning good Order and Government in the Church of Christ to read the two Epistles to Timothy and that to Titus and Peter's Exhortations to the Elders or Overseers to fâ—ed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers which take as followeth viz. The Elders which are among you I Exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away likewise ye Younger subm't your selves unto the Elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be cloathed with Humility for God resisteth the Proud and giveth grace to the Humble humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may Exalt you in due time casting all your care upon him for he careth for you Be sober be 〈…〉 or watchful because your Adversary the Devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the Faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the World But the God of all Grace who hath called us into his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stabtish strengthen settle you To him be Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Pet.
Grace be with you all Amen Heb. 13. 7 17 24 25. Observe Though the many sorts of false Teachers have and do falsly pretend to watch for the Soul who watch only for their own corrupt earthly Ends as by their Fruits have and doth appear yet God did of old and now doth send faithful Labourers into his Vineyard who have and do labour and watch for the Salvation of the Souls of the Sons and Daughters of Men glory be given to him for the same These faithful Watchers are known by their Fruits they covet no Mans Gold Silver or Apparel they do not watch for Earthly gain they do not take the oversight of the Flock for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind they are not Lords over Gods Heritage but good Examples to the Flock they are not Lords over the Faith of the People of God But they are Fellow-helpers of their Joy Peace Comfort and Establishment in the way of Righteousness They Preach and give freely according to Christs Command they walk in Love to Friends and Enemies witnessing against that which is Evil in all without Partiality and without Hypocrisie and the Fruits of Righteousness is sown by them in peace they have peace with God and live in Love and Peace one with another They have learned of Christ Jesus true Humility true Lowliness of Mind and Heart in which they Preach in their good Example as well as Doctrine to the honour of God and the good of his People they labour in the Word and Doctrine of the Gospel and in a good Conversation in Christ that he may be Exalted in all both Male and Female to Rule in all whose Right it is These do not seek their own glory or exalt themselves but in humility they glorifie God with their Souls and Bodies which are his and faithfully and unweariedly serve God and his People in patience possessing their Souls in all their Tryals and Afflictions Again Paul writ to Timothy saying An Overseer or Bishop in the Church of God must not be an Novice that is a young Scholar one lately begotten to the Faith of Christ or one that is Raw and unskilful in the word of Righteousness lest being lifted up with pride he falls into the Condemnation of the Devil see 1 Tim. 3. 6. Again he writ to him viz. Let the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Chap. 5. v. 17. Again he writ to the believing Romans thus viz. For I say through the Grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath deâ—â—t to every man the measure of Faith for as we have many Members in one Body and all Members have not the same Office so we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministry let us wait on our Ministrying or he that Teacheth on Teaching or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation he that giveth let him do it with Simplicity he that Ruleth with diligence he that sheweth Mercy with cheerfulness let Love be without Dissimulation abhor that which is evil cleave to that which is good be kindly affectionated one to another with Brotherly love in Honour preferring one another c. Rom. 12. 3. to 11. My Friends all you that Profess to be Members of the Church of Christ and taught by his Spirit and Light within you by what is here written given forth by the Apostle as he was moved by the Holy Ghost you may understand that there is a Rule and Government in the Church of God in his Power Wisdom and Strength for his Glory who is the Head of it And you may also understand hereby that Christ the Head hath given Gifts differing by the same Spirit for the Preservation Edification and well Ordering and Governing his Church and every one is to attend on his Gift in the Church and to improve the same which being done is to the Increase of the Body for the Edification of it in Love Moreover by what is before written you may understand that the Apostle through the Grace of God given to him did warn every Man amongst the believing Romans not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God had dealt to every man the measure of Faith Observe If every one which profess the Light and Spirit of Christ within to be their Guide and Teacher did obey and walk in it it would teach them all not to think too highly of themselves or of their States and Conditions in the Truth which some do and if such of the aforesaid Professors were so Taught then would they not think nor speak so highly of themselves or of their Sights Knowledg and Growth in the Truth as they do far beyond what they really are then would they not be so puffed up self-conceited and unruly as they are then would they live quietly peaceably and harmlesly among the People of God to his Glory and the Comfort of his People and their own peace and rest which some do not but are contentious unruly and disorderly self conceited fretful and clamorous with Tongues and Pens Oh that they could seek and find a place of unfeigned Repentance it would much rejoyce my Soul to see it Concerning the Living Faith with its fruits and works COncerning Faith the Apostle thus writ viz. Now the just shall live by Faith but if any Man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him saith the Lord God but we are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul By Faith the Elders obtained a good report Through Faith we understand the World was framed by the Word of God By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain By Faith Enoch was Translated that he should not see death but without Faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of all them that diligently seek him By Faith Noah was warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark. By Faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac By Faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter chusing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season esteeming the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the Recompence of Reward by Faith he kept the Passover c. I may say with this faithful Author What shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of
Salvation with fear and trembling saying It is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure Now the Words which I have here brought out of Paul's Epistles with much more of the like nature that may be found in them which for brevity I here omit doth and will plainly shew that he did never intend in his writing against the shadowy works of the Law to exclude deny or make void the substantial good and living Works of God in Christ in his People under the Gospel dispensation so that he was of the same mind concerning Faith and Works with James Peter and John so here are four faithful and honourable Witnesses linked together in Testimony to the living Faith which God works in his People and the living Works and Fruits which accompany it Glory to the Lord God for the same and those Four faithful Witnesses to the living Faith its Fruits and Works as aforesaid are also faithful Witnesses against the dead Faith and dead Works of the Professors of Christianity in our Age who notwithstanding their high Notions and talk of Faith Election Redemption Salvation c. are yet dead in their Trespasses and in their Sins The Apostle John writ to the Saints saying This is the Victory over the World even your Faith And Christ saith If you have Faith as a grain of Mustard Seed if you shall say unto this Mountain be thou removed and to this Hill be thou cast into the Sea they shall obey you But they that are yet dead in their Trespasses and Sins pleading they must continue therein all their days upon Earth Their dead Faith hath not given them Victory over the World neither can it for as they are taught by the Serpent to believe that they must live in sin all their days according to this ungodly belief they submit themselves to him and he leads them into sin and they multiply their sin daily as they say and such are not in the strait and narrow way they talk of but in the broad way that leads to destruction Oh! that they would turn in their minds to the Light of Christ Jesus and believe in it and diligently seek a place of Repentance that they might find it and so return to God from Satan and their Sins which while they abide in subjection to holds them in a Separation from God from peace and rest with him and from Unity with his chosen whatsoever they do or may imagine or say to the contrary they will find this true at last Again these in their dead Faith and works of Sin have not known Gods wondrous and miraculous works yet wrought in them to throw down the Hills and Mountains of Sin and Wickedness which the Devil who abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth hath raised up in them to wit Pride self-Exaltation vain freshly earthly Glory c. for as the Apostle saith All that 's in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of this World and this World passeth away and the Lusts thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever except a man be regenerate and born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God and the blind who doth never see it is never like to inherit it Now all you who do not only profess Christ as the before-mentioned Professors do but also profess his Spirit and Light within to be your Teacher which they do not who profess according to John Baptists Testimony and the Testimony of Daniel the Prophet that Christ the Lamb of God is the sent One of the Father and is come to take away the sins of the World to put an end to sin to finish transgression to bring in everlasting Righteousness all be retired in the spirit of your Minds to the Divine Light of Christ Jesus wherewith you are lighted and therein wait to receive and keep a right sense of your Conditions see how you have taken up your Cross and how you bear it and what the fruits and effects of your bearing of it are see that the hills and mountains of sin be overturned in you and the rough places made smooth in you and the Valley exalted in you for who have not known these wonderful works of God wrought in them they are yet short of the possession or sitting down in the Inheritance of the Kingdom of God and of his Christ which consists or stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost for through the Righteous and Fiery Judgments of God inwardly must sinful Man come before he can draw neer to God see his Kingdom or have a place in it this fiery Baptism they must come through wherewith Christ Jesus the power and wisdom of God Baptizeth all who believe in him and in his Divine Light patiently and constantly wait to be made new Creatures by him It is true what the Apostle hath writ If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are done away and all things are become new and all things are of God for as he also saith They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts Again observe That if any person professing to be led and guided by the Divine Light of Christ within and that he or she believes the before-mentioned Testimonies concerning Christ viz. That he is come to put an end to sin and bring in everlasting Righteousness to enable his People to perfect Holiness in his Fear according to what God hath promised and his Servants have writ and spoken if such person or persons so professing continue in a loose and sinful Conversation whether they be called Quakers or by what other name soever their Sin is not less but much more grievous to Almighty God than the sins of the before-mentioned who have not yet come to be opened so far as to understand what the Light of Christ within is Therefore do not make profession to be taught and guided by it but those loose and sinful Professors of the Light of Christ within if they did ever really come to the Light they make profession of and in any measure obey it then were their hearts opened thereby to understand and know sin and the displeasure of God against it more than the before-mentioned and so the Judgment of God will fall more heavy on them if they repent not and come not to walk orderly as becomes the Gospel than upon others who have not known so much as they have known and therefore are not guilty of the sin of Rebellion so much as they are for Rebellion is as the sin of Witcheraft as 't is written And he that knows his Masters will and doth it not he shall be beaten with many stripes as 't is also written Again observe such loose Professors of the Light of Christ within may boast and talk of their Faith in God