are they that Isaiah the Prophet of God in his time so grievously complains of also as one may read in the 56. Chapter of his Prophesie saying Vers. 9 c. All ye beasts of the field come to devour yea all ye beasts of the forest his Watchmen are blind greedy c. all looking for their own way every one for his gain from his quarter c. And against this sort of earthly-spirited Teachers it was that God sent his Prophet Ezekiel to cry wo against saying Wo to the Shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves should not the Shepherds feed the flock Ye eat the fat and ye cloath you with the wool ye kill them that are fed but ye feed not the flocks And so the God of this World through pride and covetousness had so blinded their eye and corrupted their hearts that they had neither will nor skill to help nor heal the poor diseased sick broken scattered souls of their hearers and therefore the Lord was glad to put them aside as Physicians of no value and became the Teacher of his People himself as one may read in the 34. Chapter of his Prophesie throughout Glory to the Lord who hath fulfilled his Promise to his Israel this day and is become the Teacher of his People himself whereby they come to be truly profited as it is written I the Lord thy God teach thee O Israel to profit But the fore-mentioned Teachers who have run in their Wills for self-ends and the Lord never sent them could never profit People at all and as Christ Jesus the Lord and his true Prophets in former times were troubled and opposed by such hirelings So also the true Apostles of Christ did not escape the trials and oppositions of that deceitful spirit by which they were acted For such saith Paul are false Apostles deceitful Workers Satans Ministers transforming themselves into the likeness of the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. Some of these were already come in his day And I know saith he that after my departure grievous wolves shall come in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Acts 20.29 c. And as the Kingdom of Antichrist grew these perverse things were established for Doctrine by a Law For the very Name of Antichrist holds forth a spirit opposing it self to every appearance of Christ and of his holy Spirit and Anointing in man The true Apostles and Ministers of Christ drew the soul from men and self unto Christ and his Anointing in them to know that to teach them but these and all other false teachers draw from Christ and his Anointing within to look at Flesh and Form without which perfects not at all to God And of this sort also are they saith the same Paul which creep into houses understand the great stone houses called Churches as well as others and lead captive silly Women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth 2 Tim. 3. Of this sort saith Paul as shall come in the last perilous times even Lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers Unholy who say they are Christians but are not so in truth Fierce c. having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof and these he exhorted true Believers to turn from and so in obedience to God those now who are come to know Christ and his anointing in them to teach them are turned from such And though these Deceivers have proceeded for a time to wit during the late night of Apostacy which Paul 2 Thess. 2. spake of to deceive many Yet now that the Light is risen again from under the earth they are manifest and can proceed no further Let none therefore now be so void of understanding as to brand the true Messengers of Jesus Christ in this day with the name of Deceivers Because they declare truth not only publickly but also from house to house by virtue of the holy Spirit only for so did the Apostles themselves and yet were no creepers into houses for creeping into houses denotes the work of the children of darkness who run without the Lord Jesus Christ his Spirit or Authority in their own wills for self ends as before leading about People in their silliness and sinfulness all their dayes as by woful experience in the late Ages of the World since the Apostles dayes hath been fully manifest wherein the World hath wondred after the Beast And as there were false Prophets among the People saith Peter even so also shall there be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable Heresies c. 2 Pet. 2. But how may these be known may some say By their fruits saith Christ ye shall know them And of this sort are they saith Peter in the same Chapter who through covetousness with fained words make merchandise of People and by walking after the flesh in the lust of covetousness and uncleanness and despite of Christs Government even deny the Lord that bought them These are the presumptuous ones indeed who count it pleasure to ryot in the day time speaking evil of the worthy things that God works and makes manifest in his Children which these presumptuous ones know not And these false Teachers are of those whose eyes are full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin for how should they seeing their heart is exercised with covetous practises loving the wages of unrighteousness like Balaam as he to wit the Apostle Peter there speaks And therefore those that see not these are blind indeed and those that these Teachers can deceive may well be said to be without a foundation and hence it hath comes to pass that through such Teachers wickedness and Peoples ignorance the World hath been as a Wilderness And now therefore is the the Lord according to his blessed Promise bringing up that knowledge of himself and his Christ again that shall make the Wilderness a fruitful Field and sweet smelling Garden for himself to be glorified in And this knowledge of God shall cover the Earth as the Waters do the Sea And thereby shall all hurting and destroying be done away from amongst men Isa. 65. last as is this day witnessed amongst such where this knowledge of God hath place Glory to his Name for ever So now therefore all ye Kings Princes Potentates and Rulers of the Earth see in what Principle you stand and upon what Foundation you grow and whose work you are a doing whether Gods or your own True Magistrates are not a terrour to the good but to the evil But how can ye see the good and the evil truly asunder or know what to punish and what to protect if you come not to the Light Christ Jesus that true Light which lighteth every man that cometh in to the world as was said before to take counsel at him for
A Loving Exhortation TO All Kings Princes Potentates Bishops and People in the whole CHRISTENDOM Wherein is a Distinction betwixt the TRUE and FALSE TEACHERS To be Read over in Meekness and the Fear of the Lord. Written by Thomas Taylor LONDON Printed in the Year 1666. A Loving Exhortation TO All Kings Princes Potentates Bishops and People in the whole Christendom c. O Ye Kings Princes Potentates and Rulers of the Earth we desire not your Thrones Honours Places or Dignities neither do we envy you for them for we have enough in God our Reconciled Father who hath made us Kings and Priests to himself by Jesus Christ spiritually to reign over the evil in the World and to offer up our selves in righteousness to his Glory and this is our Crown and that which we strive after in a pure Conscience for we are not of those that fight with flesh and blood and with carnal weapons for an earthly Crown but such as in the strength of Almighty God are taught with spiritual weapons to war only against that Mystery of Iniquity and Power of darkness that captivates the pretious Soul of Man and keeps it short of the Glory of God desiring from the truth of our hearts that neither the Soul nor Body of any may perish but that this Wicked one which is the Enemy of both may be destroyed out of the Earth in this day of Christ by the Spirit of his mouth and brightness of his appearing that so the whole Creation of God may be delivered from Bondage to stand in its holy Order to the glory of the Creator as in the beginning that so he may take delight in the Children of Men and make his abode with them as at that time when the Morning Stars sung for joy and all was full of beauty and sweetness and no Death in them And O ye Bishops and high Teachers of the World we desire not your Seats neither do we envy you for your great Promotions but do desire that you may know with us the true Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul Christ Jesus the good and true Shepherd and Bishop who gave himself for the Sheep that he might Redeem them from all Iniquity and deliver their Souls from the hands of all Oppression to serve him in his own free Spirit where none can come to make afraid And as this Saviour you come to know and receive your knowledge of Men and things according to the flesh will cease and the Love of the World and the Worlds things will die in you and a Love to the Seed that breaths after Righteousness will arise in you and you will know what God requires of you and how you may do that which will commend you to God in the great day of his Judgment which is nigh at hand and apply your hearts thereto Therefore awake awake arise arise for the great day of the Lord is indeed nigh at hand yea the Sun is already arisen and his bright glory shineth upon the Sons of the Morning and the true searching Light from which nothing can be hid is felt and known in the Earth and before it the workers of iniquity are as Chasse and before it can no mortal man stand in Judgment though he glister never so much in outward glory in the Worlds eye for in the presence of this Light the Judgment proceedeth not according to person or worldly appearance but according to Truth Equity and Righteousness and so every Evil-doer hates this Light because his deeds are evil and the Light reproves him to his Face and in his Heart without respect to his Person And therefore none but they whose deeds are wrought in God can willingly come to this Light with their deeds or endure that this Light should pass Judgment on them for its the Righteous only that hath praise in the presence of this pure God the Light who lighteth every man that commeth into the World and is come a Light in the World that all through him might believe and come out of Darkness and the deeds thereof and be saved So if any of you perish it is in your love of Darkness and your destruction is of your selves for God would have you to be saved and to that purpose holds forth his Love in his Light to your Consciences daily that you might be warned and not perish And if this Gospel of his Love and Grace the Light be hid from you it is because the God of this World with his deceitful Allurements hath blinded your eye Mark The God of this World hath blinded your minds that Old Serpent who is called the Devil and Satan and Prince of the power of the Aix which works in the hearts of all disobedient ones hath captivated your Understanding if this Gospel of Light you perceive not to Love and Obey it And consider how the power of Darkness deceives man it begins with him betimes and works subtilly with him in his mind when he is tender and young carrying him forth eagerly after Childish Vanities and youthful Lusts if by the Light that secretly checks for these things he be not resisted The World tells the Youth that by going forth into some form of Religion and conforming to that is Gods way by which man may be helped against his sin but God the Truth saith I have laid help upon One that is mighty Christ Jesus the Light who is to be known in man a present help against sin And by what means saith David may a young man cleanse his way save only by taking heed according to the Word of God And the Word is nigh in the heart saith Paul discerning the thoughts and intents thereof And the Light shineth in darkness saith John in man yea in every man that cometh into the World making all things in secret manifest and who can hide their deeds from it So if the young men come not to this Light then they abide in darkness and grow up in darkness and covering themselves but not with the Spirit of God so long until there be no remedy but the wo and the curse must needs come upon them But he that followeth me saith Christ the Light shall not abide in darkness sin nor evil but shall have the Light of Life and shall not come into condemnation So He that hath an ear let him hear and mind the Light of Christ in you that lets you see all that ever you have done and sets before you your sins in order and brings Judgment and Condemnation upon your Souls for them And love the Light and its righteous Judgements for Zion must be redeemed through Judgment and bring all your deeds words and thoughts to this Light of Christ and hide not any thing from it for he that hideth his sins from the Lord shall not prosper But he that in this true Light sees his sin and forsakes the sin and turns to God in his Light and abides therein â—hâ—ll be blessed But wo is
he is the wonderful Counsellour and whatsoever makes things truly manifest is his Light and with it every hard thing is known and every secret thing found out but without it nothing but all People that walk in the darkness of their own understandings do erre in Vision and stumble in Judgment and so know not what they do nor whither they go and this way that seemeth good in the mans own eye is that which alwayes tended to death and disordered all things And by such a judgement Barralas was released and the innocent Jesus delivered to be crucified and by this the false Prophets in all ages were protected and born up and the dear Servants of Christ cast out as a thing of nought So arise arise awake awake to righteousness and sin not for the Lord is on his way to give unto every Nation and each People therein Rewards according to their Works without respect of persons And until Gods righteousness rule in all and over all how can any thing stand let that of God in all Consciences judge So lay things to heart for this is the day of your visitation Also you Bishops and high Teachers who are pleased in your mindes because accepted of man consider Are you accepted of God Is your Sacrifice so pure and your Persons so innocent that the holy God can receive them Is your Doctrine so sound and Life incorrupt that none can justly blame it Have your Hands handled the Word of Life which you speak of to others And do you know in your selves what that living sharp and powerful Word of God is which the Apostle Heb. 4. speaks of which divides betwixt joynt and marrow soul and spirit and discerneth all the thoughts and intents of every heart And are your hearts cleansed by it And do you preach and minister this internal living and eternal Truth the Word to the People or the dead Letter only See how it is For the Fruit now must be the real witness of every Trees nature Have you received the free gift from above Then sell it not for mony Would you be accounted Ministers and Embassadors of Christ and would you have the Children of Light to own you Then approve your selves to them as Paul did to the Brethren in his dayes 2 Cor. 6.3 c. In much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses in Stripes in Imprisonments as dying yet alive in the hearts of the Hearers by the power of Truth c. And let all People see that you mind the good of the Soul and Gods glory more than the World and your own self-ease and advantage For the Day is dawned that makes all things manifest And lay by your carnal Weapons and make proof of your spiritual Weapons if you have any and try a little how you can perswade men to be of your mind by that means for People begin to question much the forcing of men into Religion by the carnal Sword and outward Constraint whether it be of God or no. For it s found by experience that into what People are forced by the outward Power by the same meanes may they be forced out of that again and so remain restless and without a foundation until the Truth it self settle them So set not up your rest in the Wilderness much less in Egypt but look towards the holy Land the undefiled unmoveable Foundation and suffer others to do so too And those that have spied out the good Land hinder them not from entring in but help them on in their journey if you can lest you be found fighters against God For now is the effect of every Vision coming in and a feeble one in this blessed Jerusalem that is descended and daily coming down from God out of Heaven is as David and David as the Angel of God before them Zach. 12.8 he that runs may now read it his eye be open And blessed are all that have believed in Gods holy Name these will not be troubled at Zions Prosperity but will set to their Seal that God is true and praise the Lord with us the Children of the Womb of the Eternal Morning Praised be God So be it And all know a separation in your selves betwixt the precious and the vile and the vile brought under and the precious bearing rule there and then will you be in some measure able to discern and judge aright of things abroad but not until then The carnal man seeks to gather a great heap into a Form but the Spiritual man whose eye is in his head he seeks to bring People out of the evil of the world into the good of Gods Kingdom and power of Godliness Blessed are they that can lay down all their own at the feet of Jesus Christ that they maybe what they are in him for the World and the Glory of it and the Lovers of it is as a fading Flower but he only that doth the Will of God abides for ever Given forth in the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord God in his Servant who is a Sufferer amongst his Reproached Ones called Quakers for the Testimony of his Everlasting Truth praised and blessed be God for ever who hath counted us worthy thereunto T. Taylor THE END