of Esau for Stubble c. Obed. 3. 6 10 12 13 14 15 18. This Prophecy of Obediah is but one Chapter read it through Note Reader here God plainly tells Esau in his Seed and Generation of the many acts of Pride and Cruelty which he did which he should not have done and because he did them God was angry with him and therefore rejected him and cut him off and returned a reward upon him according to his evil works So Esau's ruin misery and destruction was of himself the effect and reward of his own rebellious evil Works which the Devil not God was the Original and cause of and God was and is just in his righteous Judgments that he brought upon him and which he brings upon all such Moreover concerning striving to enter into the Kingdom c. Paul in the holy Ghost saith And if a man also strive for mastery yet is he not crowned or gaineth not Victory except he strive lawfully 2 Tim. 2. 5. Now all who strive lawfully to enter the Kingdom of God they must strive ONLY in the divine heavenly Spirit or Word of God whereby every one that cometh into the World are enlightned in some measure or degree to know Good from Evil according to John 1. 9 8 12. 12. 46. Psalm 27. 1. 2 Sam. 22. 29. Isa 60. 20. Luke 2. 32. Acts 13. 47. John 3. 19 20. Ephes 5. 8 13. 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Ephes 1. 18. Christ saith God is a Spirit and they who Worship him must Worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth for such the Father seeketh to Worship him c. John 4. 23 24. God is Light and in him 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 we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1. 5 6 7. Christ saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life John 8. 12. The Apostle Peter by the holy Ghost gave a true Relation of the Voice which he others heard from the excellent Glory concerning Christ Jesus saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased c. After he had given this true Relation he further said We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shines in a dark place untill the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1. 17 18 19. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehended it not Take notice Reader God is Light God is a Spirit Christ is the Light of the World as he saith yea the true Light that lighteth everyone that cometh into the World There was a Man sent from God whose Name was John the same came for a Witness to bear witness of the Light that ALL MEN through him might believe he to wit John was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light which was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not he came unto his own and his own received him not but as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God c. which were Born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh nor of the will of man but of God 1 John 1. to vers 14. Note Reader Christ in his Divinity as he is the Word which was in the beginning by whom all things was made he is the true divine Light who lighteth every man that cometh into World He said unto the World whom he enlightneth Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light The Children of the Light are the Children of God for God is Light as is shewed before This holy Apostle John said The Light shined in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not Therefore was John the Baptist sent from God to bear witness to that Light which shineth in Darkness that all men through him might believe mark all being enlightned by Christ who is given for a Light to the Gentiles and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth for so it is written of him by the Holy man therefore Gods will is that all People Male and Female may believe in the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightned them this Light being believed in giveth to see Christ and leads to him the giver of it and to God the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning or changing as saith the holy Apostle Mankind in the fall and alienation from God in their Sin are darkened by the God of the World who hath blinded their minds Man in that state is said to be Darkness The Apostle Paul saith For ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord walk as Children of the Light for the Fruits of the Spirit is in all Goodness and Righteousness and Truth Ephes 5. 8 9. And so here the Light and Spirit are joyned together by the Apostle whose Fruits are one their Testimony and Work one and they are one as God who is Light and Spirit is one and not divided For God being a Spirit and Light and Christ as he is the divine Word is God is Light is a quickening Spirit so the Light and Spirit floweth from the Father in and through his Son and thereby are all men enlightned to know Good from Evil in some degree or measure this Light is the Condemnation of all them that hate it Christ saith This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds were Evil for every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his deed should be reproved but every one that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 19 20 21. To be turned to this Light is the great and weighty concern of the fallen darkened Sons Daughters of Adam and therefore was that great and faithful Prophet John the Baptist sent to bear witness of the Light that all men might believe here is none fore-ordained of God to be Unbelievers here none is Reprobated by him before they were Born Christ according to the Flesh dyed for all yea his Soul was made an Offering for Sin by his
ELECTION AND REPROBATION Scripturally and Experimentally Witnessed unto c. Wherein the Love of God in Christ is Freely and Clearly held forth to all Mankind Given forth in tender Love for a general Good but more particularly for the Comfort of all who in Sincerity seek after the pure God with Desires to walk in his Holy Undefiled Way Also Divers other weighty things needful to be duely considered and rightly understood witnessed unto as aforesaid By one who travails in Spirit for the gathering of the scattered Nations who are like troubled Waters out of their Sins home unto God by Christ Jesus the good Shepherd William Gibson Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else a mighty God a Saviour c. Isa 45. 22. God's Will is that all men might be saved Christ gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance but after the hardness and Impenitency of thy Heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the Day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgments of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 4 5 6. Printed in the Year 1678. An Epistle to the Reader Reader REmember the Command and Example of Christ Jesus and obey and follow the same who said Learn of me I am Meek and Lowly and ye shall find Rest to your Souls if thou takest his counsel and followst his example then thou wilt read in meekness and lowliness of Mind and if thou so read I question not but what I have writ in this following Testimony will meet with an answer in thy Conscience and some benefit may come to thee thereby and if so it come to pass it will be matter of true rejoycing to me for I do take great pleasure in the Well-being of the Sons and Daughters of men every way both in Soul and Body It is certain that the Holy Glorious Lord God of Heaven Earth doth give Life and a Being upon Earth unto all mankind for one and the same purpose even that all should serve him with their Souls and with their Bodies which are his it is equitable in God to require this service therefore saith the holy Apostle This is your reasonable service at this the Law of God directly pointed given by Moses unto the Family of Abraham after through sin man-kind was fallen from God saying Hear O Israel Thou shalt have no other Gods but me thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind this is the first and greatest Commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Christ Jesus in the days of his Flesh did not only ratifie and confirm this and commend the same to his Disciples and to the Multitude but also opened or expounded the latter yea enlarged the same unto his Disciples saying Love your Enemies do good to those who do despightfully use you and persecute you Christ said to the Jews Think ye I came to destroy the Law I tell ye nay I came not to destroy but to fulfill those who did believe in him and receive him he did endue with power to love God with all their Heart Soul and Mind and their Neighbours as themselves yea to love and pray for their Enemies and it s written as many as receiv'd him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God and those Believers in him who received him into their hearts by Faith were not born of flesh nor of blood nor of the will of man but of God these were born of the Spirit and led by it and they are the Children of God who are led by the Spirit of God as the Apostle saith Christ Jesus through the Grace Favour and tender Mercy of God the Father tasted death for Every man as saith the holy Apostle and Christ saith I am the Light of the World mark that he is not only the Life and Light of his Disciples whom he hath gathered out of the World who are not of the world as he saith and therefore the world doth hate them but he is also the Light of the World which lieth in wickedness and by his light shining in their dark hearts he lets them see their sins and reproves them thereby and calls of them thereby to Repent Christ saith Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light and will not bring their deeds unto it but every one that doth Truth bringeth his deeds unto the Light that they may be made man fest that they are wrought in God who is LIHGT as saith the holy Apostle John and he saith Christ is the propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD mark that he is the common and universal Saviour who died for all lighteth all and is the propitiation or Intercessor provided for all but none can have the benefit of his Death or Life or his Light or of his Mediatorship unto their Eternal Salvation without Faith in him Abraham saw his day and believed in him and was glad and the Fathers under the Law and before the Law believed God and his Promises which are all yea and amen in him the Gentiles who had not the Law in the outward Letter did the things contained in the Law shewing the deeds of the Law written in their hearts as saith the Apostle by vertue of his enlightning enlivening presence they were naturalliz'd or made naturally to do the things contained in the Law and so were made partakers of that nature which is Divine of which nature the true Believers were and are made partakers as the holy Apostle saith here take notice that nature or the nature of man considered as he is in the fall from God man in and by this nature fallen corrupted and degenerated into a plant of a strange Vine unto God in this estate in this nature he cannot do the things contained in the Law of God but contrariwise as the Apostle saith the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him therefore those who without the Law in the outward Letter do the things contained in it these deeds are done by the verture of the heavenly and divine nature or spirit of the Lamb of God who as John Baptist saith cometh to take away the sins of the World Mark the sins of the World So it is certainly true which Christ Jesus saith without me ye can do nothing and this of old was and now is as true in and among the Gentiles as among the Jews there is not Salvation in any other there is no name given under Heaven by which any can be saved but by him whom the Father hath given to be
for there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for All Mark that for All 1 Tim. 3. 4 5 6. In the Prophecy of Obediah there is much said concerning Esau and his Generation of the just Judgments of God against them for their Wickedness Verse 6. its said thus How are the things of Esau searched out how are his hidden things sought up Verse 9 10. God threatned to cut off every one of the Mount of Esau for said God For thy Violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off forever Vers 18. And the House of Jacob shall be a Fire and the House of Joseph a Flame and the House of Esau for Stubble c. Reader here observe God by his holy Prophet shews the Cause why his hatred was kindled against Esau and his Generation House Family or Off-spring and why he would cut off or destroy them even because of their Wickedness and Rebellion The Apostle Paul saith The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteonsness because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them and because when they knew God they glorified him not as God and even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge God gave them up to a Reprobate Mind c. Rom. 1. 18 19 21 28. And again he speaks against those who did not know the Long-suffering and Goodness of God to lead them to Repentance and he saith God will render to every man according to their deeds and he also saith There is no respect of Persons with God c. Rom. 2. 4 6 11. And the same Paul puts the Question saying What if God willing to shew his Wrath and to make his power known endured with much Long-suffering on the Vessel of Wrath fitted to Destruction Rom. 9. 22. Thus it appears that God waited long upon the Evil-doers to lead them to Repentance But when they knew God they did not Glorifie him as God neither did they like to retain God in their Knowledge and after God had suffered and waited long to lead them to Repentance and they did not turn at his Call and Reproof then he gave them up to a Reprobate Mind They had a time in which they might have been made of an Heavenly Spiritual Mind in which they might have had Life and Peace The Prophet Jeremiah saith of the Apostatized Jews who were the Children of Jacob according to the Flesh Reprobate Silver shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6. 30. Reader the People of God called Quakers do own Election and Reprobation but do utterly deny That God hath ordained that some men should be Wicked or that he WITH-HOLDS his Light Grace or Spirit from them and so puts them UPON A FORCE to be Wicked for want of the gift of his Spirit Grace and Light and afterwards casts them into Hell for not obeying him when they had no power offered or given to them by him to enable them to obey No God's Way is Equal as his Servants of old have testified Where he gives much he requires of man accordingly and where he gives less he requires accordingly and he that is faithfull in a little he will make Ruler over much The Apostle Peter said The Saints were Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience c. 1 Pet. 1. 2. And we do deny that any Man or Woman is Elect of God that is Chosen of God without the Sanctification of or by the Spirit of Truth and Obedience unto it The Apostle Paul saith unto the Saints at Rome Those whom God did fore-know them he did predestinate that is fore-ordain to be conformed to the Image of his Son that is to the Likeness of his Son Rom. 8. 29. But it is certain that none can be made Conformable to the Likeness of his Son without he be Sanctified by the Spirit of Truth and none can be so Sanctified by the Spirit of Truth but those who believein and obey the same Spirit for that is it which Christ promised should lead the Saints into all Truth The Apostle Paul writ to the Church of Christ at Ephesus saying Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in heavenly Places in Christ according as he hath chosen us that is Elected us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy without blame before him in Love c. Ephes 1. 3 4. We do believe that God doth fore-know those who become his while they are ignorant of him And we do believe that he hath chosen them in his Son before the Foundation of the World Christ the Son of God is the Light of the World he lighteth every one that cometh into World for one the same Cause Purpose or End even that all might believe in him obey him through Faith and Obedience might be Chosen or Elect in him and so have Eternal Life in him He that believes in the Son of God hath Everlasting Life he that doth not believe in the Son of God shall not see Life John 38. Again the first Epistle of John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life and such are not Elect in him but are under condemnation because of their Unbelief which Unbelief the Devil not God iâ— the Author of Reader thus we own Election and Reprobation as did the holy Men of old but we deny that those who continue in sin and plead for it term of Life are in that state chosen of God we do deny an UNCONDITIONAL Election Reprobation as held forth by many of the Professors in our time for the condition of Election is Faith in God and Christ and Obedience unto the Spirit of Truth which is given to lead the Saints into all Truth and to conviuce the World of sin And the condition of Reprobation and Damnation is Unbelief in God and Christ and Disobedience unto and Rebellion against the Spirit of Truth The Apostle Paul saith to the Saints at Rome If ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 13 14. And further the same Apostle saith His Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16. So here the holy Apostle declares the GOSPEL conditions of Election and Reprobation or chusing to Eternal Life and casting off unto Eternal Damnation Christ is the Elect the Chosen of God Behold saith God my Servant
whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in Darkness out of the Prison-house Isa 42. 1 6 7. He is the blessed Seed in whom the blessing is to whom the Promise is That he shall bruise the Serpents Head who brought in the Curse and Reprobation He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. he is ordained of the Father to put an end to Sin to finish Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteouâ—ness He is the Lamb of God who takâ—th away the Sin of the World he is â—the Author of eternal Saltation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Mark here obedience unto Christ is required in order to Salvation this is a Gospel-truth The Apostle Peter said unto the Jews God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Mark those who are blessed by Jesus Christ and Elect in him they are turned away from their Iniquities by him and in vain do they profess him and to be his Elect who continue in their sins and plead for their continuance therein for term of Life God said by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isaiah Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else Isa 45. 22. read the Chapter through God doth largely therein express by plain words his Universal Love to Man-kind Observe Reader he calls to the Heathen even to all the Ends of the Earth to look to him for Salvation Mark that for which one man is called to look to him for the same all Man-kind is called to look to him every one in the Day of their Visitation viz. for Salvation Christ is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World according to John 1 9. he is the Light of the World as he said John 8 12. 12. 46 He said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light So all being onlightned by Chr st in the Light they may look unto God and be saved if they believe in it but if they believe not in the Light but hate it they cannot have Salvation Joh. 3. 19 20. 1 Joh. 1 5. and such Perish whose Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear for the Unbelief and the Disobedience of those who Perish is not of God but of the wicked One. God said by the Mouth of David â—y People would not hearken to my Voice and Israel would none of me So I gave them up unto their own Hearts Lusts and they walked in their own wayes O that my People had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes Psal 81. 11 12 13. God spake by the Mouth of Hosea unto Israel saying O Israel thou destroyest thy self but in me is thy help Hosea 13. 9. God said by the Mouth of the Apostle Peter That the Wicked bring Destruction upon themselves 2 Pet. 2. 1. Read the Chapter through Christ Jesus said O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them who are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Matth. 23. 37. Luk. 13. â—4 Reader when Christ would have garnered the Inhabitants of Jerusalem unto their Immortal Souls Rest they rejected him And he did not tell them that they could not come to him for they might have come to him or else it had been vain Words for him to tell them that he would have gathered them But he told them they WOULD NOT come to him So it was their own Self-will which did hinder them from coming to Christ and not Gods holy Will for his will is that all might be saved God said by the Mouth of Solomon That the Wicked would have none of his Counsel And he said they dispised all his Reproof Therefore said God they shall eat the Fruit of their own way c. Prov. 1. 30 31. Christ is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World as I have shewed before and he hath tasted Death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. The Apostle John said Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2. 2. And he further said We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 John 4. 14. The Apostle Paul said There is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for ALL mark for all And he said God's will is that ALL MEN might be saved mark that 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. Reader by what I have cited and writ in the holy Scripture words and according to them it doth plainly appear that God hath not Created nor Fore-ordained any Man or Woman on purpose that they should be Wicked so to be Damned or Destroyed or cast into Hell but he doth give to all People a Day or Time of Visitation by his Grace Light and Spirit by the same to lead them out of the broad way that leads to Destruction all those that continue therein till the Lord cease to strive with them for their Salvation such perishing their Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear I have no pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 32. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the Death of the WICKED but that the Wicked turn from his evil way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil Wayes for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. The Apostle Peter Exhorted those who had believed in Christ saying Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure giving all diligence add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge 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 Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these things is Blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old Sins For if you do these things YE SHALL NEVER FALL for so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Reader here thou mayst see that the Apostle took great care of those who had believed in Christ that they might make their Calling and Election sure So it appears that
diligence in attending upon his Grace by which they were saved was required of them in which diligence they being found the Spirit of Grace did make them Fruitful in those good things before mentioned and the diligent did not fall but made their Calling and Election sure the same Apostle Exhorted the Saints saying Beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness but grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. Here again the Apostle sheweth not only his great care that the Saints might make their Calling and Election sure and so STAND but also sheweth that it was possible that they might be led away with the Error of the Wicked and so FALL if they did not diligently attend upon the Spirit of Grace which teacheth to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly and Godly in this present World The Author to the Hebrews saith Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Vnbelief in departing from the Living God lest any of you be hardened through the Deceitfulness of sin Here again the Apostle doth not only shew his great care that those Believers might not depart from the Living God but doth also shew that they might depart from him if they did not diligently wait upon him as aforesaid Thus it doth plainly appear that Faith Obedience are Gods conditions upon which God doth Elect that is Chuse People to inherit Eternal Life And the conditions upon which God doth Reject Reprobate and Turn people into Hell is Unbelief Rebellion Departing from him into Apostacy The Apostle writ of some who knew God who when they knew him glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish Hearts were darkened and as they did not like to RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE God gave them up to a REPROBATE MIND Rom. 1. 21 28. Now these knew God and he gave them a time of Visitation to the end they might have been Everlastingly happy So it was their own Self-will and unthankful Evil hearts which did draw back from the Living God which did deprive them of Eternal Rest and Peace God did not will that they should draw back and depart from him For Gods will is that all People may be Holy and as the Apostle saith God's Will is that all men may know the Truth and be saved 1 Tim. 2. 4. vers 5 6. He saith There is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for ALL to be testified in due time Mark Reader Christ gave himself a Ransom for All here is none shut out by him here is none Reprobated by him from this RANSOM he is God's free gift to the Gentiles or Heathens as well as to the Jews yea to be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth he is the Shilow the peaceable Saviour unto whom the gathering of all Nations must be even as God hath promised I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Psal 2. 8 9. He tasted Death for every man Heb. 2. 9. He is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 9. 8. 12. 12. 46. He is the Propitiation not for our Sins only said the Apostle but also for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2. 2. And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 John 1. 4. The Apostle Peter saith God is Long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should Perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. Note Reader the holy Apostles and the rest of the faithful Christians were come to Repentance and were Regenerated and Born of God and so were new Creatures in Christ Jesus But the Long-suffering of God is exercised towards the Ungodly who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance and he gives them time to repent and doth visit them with his good Spirit in tender Love to enable them to Repent but many reject his tender Love herein and will not obey his Voice as he said Israel would have none of me and as Christ said to the Jews Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life Christ Jesus the Son of God said unto the Angel of the Church of Thyatira That he gave the Woman Jezabel space to repent of her Fornications and she repented not Rev. 2. 18 21. Mark Reader though God gave her Space that is Time to Repent yet she Repented now her not Repenting proceeded from her own Self willfullness and not from God's holy Will for inasmuch as God gave her time to Repent she was put into a condition by him to Repent and therefore might have Repented within the time he gave her to Repent though afterwards it might be hid from her Eyes as it was in the Case of Esau The Author to the Hebrews Exhorted the Believers in Christ to Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which NO MAN shall see the Lord looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God or fall from it lest any Root of Bitterness spring up and trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb. 12. 14 15 16 17. Here the holy Man labours to keep them to the Grace of God which doth bring Salvation which did teach them to deny Ungodliness and to live Soberly and Godly in the present World For he knew that the Devil who did and doth go about the Saints ever seeking which of them he may Devour would seek to draw them from the Grace of God and he knew that it was possible that he might prevail upon them and might lead them to do Despite against the Spirit of Grace if they did not Watch deligently against him and he knew if once they were drawn from the Grace of God then the Root of Bitterness would spring up speedily by which many might be Defiled but as a provision against this Evil he Exhorted them to Watch as afore-said in which Watch they being found the Grace of God was sufficient to preserve and uphold them even as the Lord said unto Paul that diligent Watcher My Grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in Weakness The Apostle Paul told the Galatians saying Whosoever of you are Justified by the Law or seek to be Justified by it ye are fallen from Grace Gal. 5. 4. The Author to the Hebrews saith He that despised Moses 's Law dyed without Mercy under two or three Witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall they be thought worthy who have troden under Foot the Son
What if God willing to shew his Wrath and to make his Power known endured with much Long-suffering on the Vessels of Wrath fitted to Destruction Now mark God suffered them long and his Long-suffering was to lead them to Repentance as the Apostle saith in another place Dispisest thou the Riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance but after the hardness and Impenitency of thy Heart treasure stup unto thy self wrath against the Day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgments of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 4 5 6. Now they not Repenting but in the hardness of their Hearts going on till they grew ripe in Wickedness their ripe Age in Wickedness fitted them for Destruction which Wickedness not God but the Devil led them into In Proverbs God called to Fools and Scorners to turn at his Reproof but they did not return and God said Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regardeth but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would have none of my Reproof I also will Laugh at your Calamity c. when your Destruction cometh as a Whirl-wind then shall you call upon me but I will not answer and they shall seek me but they shall not find me for that they hated Knowledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 22. to the end of the Chapter Here its clear that God calls Fools and Scorners to Repent he wills that they should Repent and he puts them into a condition that they may Repent he puts them into a condition that they may Turn at his Reproof from the Evil which he doth Reprove them for he puts them into a condition that they may take his Counsel and chuse the Fear of the Lord. It were horrible Blasphemy to say That though God called them to turn at his Reproof yet he did not Will or Intend that they should turn at his Reproof chuse his Fear or take his Counsel or to say he knew they could not do it is likewise Blasphemy And it is Blasphemy to say or think that God who commands people to be Holy FORCETH CONSTRAINETH them to be wicked and ungodly by WITH-HOLDING his Spirit of Grace and Truth from them which should enable them to turn at his Reproof to receive his Counsel chuse his Fear without the Spirit of Grace and Truth which comes by Jesus Christ who is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the world NO Man or Woman can turn from sin take Gods Counsel nor chuse his Fear but that all the Wicked might Repent and Turn from their Evil Wayes while the Day of their Visitation lasteth The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to All Men as the holy Apostle saith Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live godly in this present World The Grace of God appears unto all people for one and the same Cause Purpose or End even to teach all to deny Ungodliness and to live godly in this present World but as Jude the Servant of Christ saith The Wicked not being Obedient unto it turn into Wantonness and as it s else-where writ The Wicked do despite unto the Spirit of Grace Isaiah saith That the Jews Rebelled and Vexed Gods holy spirit therefore he was turned to be their Enemy and Faught against them Isa 63. 10. Now for any person to say or think That it was the Will of God that they should Rebell against him and Vex his holy Spirit this is horrible Blasphemy Mark these had the Spirit and did Rebell against it and thereby did grieve or vex it for which cause he became their Enemy and Fought against them Mark he did not become their Enemy nor Fight against them until by their Rebellion they vexed his holy Spirit so these Rebells being Reprobated from Rest and Peace with God their Destruction was of themselves and the Lord God is clear Nehemiah in his 9th Chapter saith concerning the Children of Israel Lord thou gavest thy good Spirit to Instruct them but they Rebelled against thee Now for any person to say or think that it was Gods Will that they should Rebell against him this is horrible Blasphemy as I said before or for any person to say or think that God gives his good Spirit to some persons on purpose that they may Rebell against it and thereby cause him to become their Enemy and to Fight against them this is no less then Blasphemy The Apostle saith With whom was God grieved forty Years was it not with them that had sinned whose Carkases fell in the Wilderness to whom sware he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of Vnbelief let us labour to enter into that Rest lest any man FALL after the same example of Vnbelief Heb. 3. 17 18 19 4. 11 1. Note here Reader the Apostle doth not place the Fall of these rebellious Jews who came out of Egypt with Moses upon the decree or will or fore-appointment of God BUT upon their Unbelief Rebellion and Apostacy which the Devil NOT GOD was the author of for they might have entred if they had improved that help and ability which God gave them Nehemiah said God gave them his good Spirit to instruct them but they rebelled against it they were disobedient and rebelled against thee saith he and cast thy Law behind their Backs and slew thy Prophets WHICH TESTIFIED AGAINST THEM TO TURN THEM UNTO THEE and they wrought great provocation c. And Nehemiah said unto the Lord God of Heaven and Earth Thou art JUST in all that thou hast brought upon us for thou hast done RIGHT but we have done wickedly Nehem. 9. 20 26 33. read the Chapter through Reader by this it appears plainly that God had not reprobated these Rebels from all Eternity or ordained them before they were Born to slay his Prophets For saith Nehemiah Thou sent thy Prophets whom they slew to turn them unto thee It were horrible Blasphemy to say that Gods will and purpose and fore-determination was that they should slay his Prophets which he sent unto them to turn them unto him And it were horrible Blasphemy to say that God did not will or intend that they should be turned unto him but only told them so and it would be no less Blasphemy to say that God both sent the Prophets to turn them to him and also sent them to slay the Prophets this would render God to be the author of Confusion which cannot be for he is the God of good and holy order not of Confusion as saith the holy Apostle nay it would render him the author of Murder and so make him contradict his own holy Law which he hath given unto the Sons and Daughters of
divine Life and Spirit he enlightneth all He is the Propitiation saith the Apostle John not for our Sins only but for the Sins of the whole World Reader this is the COMMON Salvation that Jude speaketh of in the beginning of his Epistle to believe in the Light as aforesaid is true Belief or true Faith which the Apostle Paul speaketh of to Titus saying Titus My own Son after the COMMON Faith Grace Mercy Peace from God the Father c. Titus 1. 4. Of this Faith Jude speaketh in his Epistle this was and is the common Faith For this Faith the true Christians stood or contended against all the false Faiths among the Jews and Heathens and Apostate Christians for this Faith do the true Christians now stand against them all and in this Faith is the Victory over all false Faiths and evil things see 1 John 5. 4. This is the true and living Faith which is attended with Works of Righteousness a Godly Holy Conversation c. according to the Testimony of the Apostle James This is the Faith which worketh by Love which purisieth the Heart the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience see 1 Tim. 3. 9. In this Faith is the command of God kept who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy In this is the Doctrine of the holy Apostle fulfilled who exhorted saying As he who hath called you is Holy so be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. The Apostle Paul saith by the holy Ghost God hath made of one Blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the buonds of their Habitation that they should seek the Lord c. because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead It is rendred in the Margin He hath offered faith unto all men see Acts 27. 26 31. Again Paul saith to Timothy Now the end of the Commandment is Charity or Love out of a PURE HEART and of a GOOD Conscience and of Faith UNFEIGNED from which some having swarved have turned aside unto vain Jangling 1 Tim 1. 5 6. Again Paul saith to the Galatians For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but FAITH which worketh by LOVE see Gal. 5. 6. The Apostle Peter by the holy Ghost saith That God put NO difference between the Jews and Gentiles but PURIFIED both their Hearts by Faith see Acts 15. 6. Again Paul said to the believing Thessalonians Your Faith GROWETH exceedingly see 2 Thes 1. 3. Again to the Galatians The FRUIT of the Spirit IS Faith c. see Gal. 5. 22. The Apostle James signified by the holy Ghost unto the twelve Tribes of the Jews the UNIVERSAL LOVE of God saying If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to ALL MEN LIBERALLY and obraideth NOT and it shall be given him let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a Wave of the Sea driven with the Wind and tossed c. A double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes James 1. 5 6 8. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. Heb. 10. 22. Again the same Author saith Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for the evidence of things NOT seen for by IT the Elders obtained a good report through Faith WE UNDERSTAND that the World was framed by the WORD of God So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear by Faith Abel offered unto God a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain c. by Faith Noah being warned of God of things NOT seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his House by the which he condemned the World and became HEIR of Righteousness which is by Faith by Faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which after he should receive for an Inheritance obeyed c. for he looked for a City which hath a Foundation whose Builder and MAKER is God through Faith also Sarah received strength to conceive Seed and was delivered of a Child when she was past Age BECAUSE she judged him faithful who had promised therefore sprang there even of one and him as good as dead so many as the Stars of the Skey in multitude c. These ALL dyed IN the FAITH c. by Faith Abraham when he was TRYED offered up Isaac and he that had received the Promises offered up his only begotten Son of whom it was said In Isaac shall the Seed be called accounting that God was ABLE to raise him up even from the DEAD from whence also he in a Figure received him by Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come by Faith Jacob when he was dying blessed both the Sons of Joseph by Faith Moses when he was Born was hid c. 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 PLEASURES of Sin for a SEASON esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater RICHES than the TREASURES in Aegypt for he had a RESPECT unto the Recompence of REWARD by Faith he forsook Aegypt NOT fearing the Wrath of the King for he endured as SEEING him who is INVISIBLE by Faith Israel passed through the Sea as by dry Land c. by Faith the Walls of Jericho fell down c. by Faith the People of God LIVED unto HIM through ALL Ages in all Afflictions Persecution Tortures and Punishments whatsoever see Heb. 11. read it through Abraham believed in God and it was counted unto him for Righteousness know ye therefore saith the Apostle that they which are of Faith the same are the Children of Abraham Note Reader God fore-determining to justifie the Heathen through Faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all Nations be blessed So that they which be of Faith are blessed with faithful Abraham see Gal. 3. 6 7 8 9. Gen. 12. 3. Again Now to Abraham and his Seed was the Promises made He saith not and to Seeds as of many but as of one and to thy Seed which is Christ see Gal. 3. 16. Which Christ who was of the Seed of David and Abraham according to the Flesh as he is the eternal word he is the true spiritual and divine Light who lighteth every one that cometh into the World according to John 1. 9. 8. 12. 12. 46. as is shewed before The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15. 26. and 16. 8 9 10 11 13. which doth Convince the World of
Repent and turn to the Lord from these abominable things that so they might not be forever shut out of the Kingdom of God! O that the Inhabitants of England and all Nations would believe in God that made them who is spiritual Light who is a holy pure Spirit who is Omnipresent or present every where who said Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Foot-stool c. see Isa 66. 1. read the Chapter through 1 King 8. 27. his pure Spirit lighteth every one that cometh into the World O that the great multitudes in England and all Nations who are in Strife and Contention Hatred and Envying Murthering and Killing one another about Religion and about Earthly things WOULD BELIEVE in this Heavenly Spirit that enlightneth them which giveth them to understand in some measure or degree what is Good and also what is Evil O that they would bow down unto it and become subject unto the leadings and teachings of it then would it teach them to love one another NOT to be like Cain who slew his Brother because his own works were evil and his Brothers righteous but it would teach them to do to all men as they would be done unto as God hath commanded yea it would teach them as it did good Joseph who was kind unto his Brethren who was cruel to him who sold him to the Ishmalites yea it would teach them to overcome the evil with the good as Joseph did and as God commandeth But because Multitudes and Nations believe not in this holy pure peaceable loving and long-suffering Spirit therefore it is that they are as the raging Sea that casts up Mire and Dirt and many are as the cruel merciless Beasts of Prey destroying one another yea many oppressing and seeking to destroy Gods tender People who have true love to all and desire the temporal and eternal good of all who Worship him in his holy Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth the faithful followers of it and because that Vengeance is not executed speedily or suddenly for these crying Abominations therefore are the Hearts of the Sons of men fully set in them to do Evil as it was of Old see Eccles 8. 11. and because it is thus that many have given up themselves to Unbelief and hardness of Heart who have closed their Eyes and stopped their Ears against the Convictions and Reproofs of this pure meek merciful and compassionate Spirit of God and Christ whom he hath sent and have given up themselves to work Wickedness with greediness therefore there is great cause to take up a dolefull Lamentation and Mourning and those whom God hath made skilfull in Mourning who greatly desire the Salvation of the Multitudes Tongues Languages and People these have Mourned and do Mourn to see Multitudes running on swiftly toward the Pit of everlasting Destruction suddenly to be sunk into it Thus as of Old many say in their Hearts unto the Almighty God Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Thus they hate the knowledge of God they do not chuse his holy fear which is the beginning of the pure peaceable Wisdom which cometh from above as saith the holy Scriptures see Job 21. 14. read the Chapter through see Prov. 1. 4 7 22 29. read the Chapter through Well said the Apostle Peter Our beloved Brother Paul in all his Epistles writes things which are hard to be understood which they who are Vnlearned Vnstable wrest as they do the other Scriptures unto their own DESTRUCTION Peter was an Illiterate man and so an Unlearned man in Natural or Artificial Learning of Tongues and Languages but he was a man of great Learning in the Heavenly Spiritual School of Christ all who come to learn of Christ Paul and Peters heavenly Master they are taught by to understand their Words and to have unity with them and such are of one mind concerning them But they who are not yet come to learn of Christ as he is the Light of the World they are not come to a right understanding of the holy mens Words which are Recorded in the holy Scriptures and this is the cause that they are not of one mind concerning them but in very many contrary minds and in tumultuous Controversies about the meanings of them Paul doth say as is shewed before that God's Will is that ALL men should know the Truth and be SAVED This have I written in the love of God concerning Election and Reprobation for the Comfort and Encouragement of all those who are weary of and heavy laden with their Sins who hunger and thirst after Righteousness that they may come to Christ Jesus who dyed for them and rose again and ascended as it is written of him in the Scriptures of Truth who hath promised that he will give them Rest see Matth. 11. 28 29 30. This is also written as a Warning unto those who are at ease in their Sins flattering themselves speaking Peace unto themselves in their Unchristian Conversations and pleading for a necessity of continuing in the act of Sin unto the end of their dayes upon Earth and yet vainly imagin that they are the Elect and Chosen of God Jesus said I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life The Pharisees therefore said unto him Thou bearest Record of thy self and thy Record is NOT true But Jesus said unto these Unbelieving Jews If ye believe NOT that I am he ye shall die in your Sins whither I go ye CANNOT come see John 8. 12 24. Note Reader These great professing Pharisees Opposed Christ Jesus and denyed him to be the Light of the World Too like these Pharisees are many Teachers high Professors of Christ in Words in our Age who though they will talk much of Christ as he was born and dyed and rose again according to the Flesh yet can they not endure to hear him preached as he preached himself and as the holy Apostles preached him to wit the Light of the World the true Light which lighteth every one that cometh into the World This is the Stone which all the Builders do reject and set at nought who build up their VAIN Religions Faiths and Worships in the Serpentine Earthly Devilish Wisdom in Murther Cruelty Oppression and Idolatry but when this Stone falls on them in Judgment it will grind them all to Powder see Luke 20. 17. Psal 118. 22. Mat. 21. 24. O Blessed will all they be who come unto and believe in this Living Stone their hard Hearts shall be broken by it and made soft and tender and thereby be made fit to enter into the Kingdom of God into which nothing that is Unclean can enter and their sins that are past though they be many God will freely Pardon Remit and Forgive them in his tender Mercy and forbearance in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself a Ransom for
Isa 48. 18. Blessed are they who do his Commandment that they may have right to the Tree of Life may enter in through the Gate into the City for WITHOUT are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a LYE Rev. 22. 14. Christ prayed for his Disciples saying I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst PRESERVE them FROM the EVIL John 17. 15. Again when he taught them to Pray he said Pray thus Deliver us FROM ALL EVIL c. And Jesus said Whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son John 14. 13. The Apostle John saith And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight c. And he that keepeth his Commandments DWELLETH IN HIM and he IN him And hereby we know that he abideth IN US by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 John 3. 22 24. see also John â—â— 23. Again Jesus said All things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer believing ye shall receive Matth. 21. 22. Christ said If ye abide IN ME c. ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be given unto you John 15. 7. Jesus who saith Be perfect c. also saith If a man love me he WILL keep my words and my Father will love him and WE will COME unto him and make OUR ABODE with him he that loveth me NOT keepeth NOT my Sayings c. John 14. 23 24. Again He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them HE it is that LOVETH ME and he that loveth ME shall he beloved of my Father see verse 21. Again Jesus said If ye KEEP my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and abide in his Love Chap. 15. verse 10. Again the holy Apostle John saith By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and KEEP HIS Commandments For this is the love of God that we KEEP his Commandment and his Commandments are NOT GRIEVOUS 1 John 5. 2 3. Again Circumcision is nothing and Vncircumcision is nothing but the KEEPING the commands of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. God who said unto Abraham I am God All sufficieâ—â— walk thou before me and be thou perfect He said Abraham obeyed my Voice and kept my Charge my Commandments my Statutes and my Laws Gen. 26. 5. And Christ said unto the Rebellious Jews If ye were Abraham's Children ye would do the Works of Abraham Christ saith Every one that is perfect shall be as his Master Luke 6. 4. The Apostle Peter prayed for the Believers that God would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5. 10. Jesus said unto the Rich Young-man If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me see Matth. 19 21. Again he prayed to the Father for his Disciples he said The Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as WE are one I IN them and thou in me that they may be made PERFECT in one see John 17. 22 23. And Jesus said Neither Pray I for these ALONE but for them ALSO that shall believe on me c. verse 21. Note Reader this blessed Prayer of Christ Jesus was and is for or on the behalf of ALL who truly believe in him t his is truly comfortable to all true Believers in this age glory to the Lord God for the same The Apostle said We speak Wisdom among them that are PERFECT not the Wisdom of this world c. but the wisdom of God in a Mystery c. see 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. Again Paul exhorted saying Be PERFECT 2 Cor. 13. 11. The Apostles laboured that they might present every man PERFECT IN Christ Jesus see Col. 1. 28. Paul preached Christ WITHIN the Colossians the hope of Glory verse 27. Again Epaphras who is one of you a Servant of Christ saluteth you alwayes labouring for you fervently in PRAYERS that ye may stand PERFECT and Compleat in ALL the will of God see Chap. 4. verse 12. Again the Apostle gives Testimony to the Inspiration of God which giveth a right understanding of the things of God and to the holy Scriptures c. saying These Gifts are given that the man of God may be PERFECT THROUGHLY furnished unto ALL GOOD WORKS 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Again the Author to the Hebrews prayed for them That God would make them PERFECT in every good Work to do his Will Heb. 13. 21. Again Strong Meat belongeth to them that are PERFECT so it is rendred in the Margin who by Reason of use have their Senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil Chap. 4. 14. Moses the Man of God said Give ear O ye Heavens and I will speak and Hear O Earth the words of my Mouth My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain my speech shall distil as the Dew as the small Rain upon the tender Herb and as the Showers upon the Grass because I will publish the Name of the Lord ascribe ye greatness unto our God he is the ROCK his Work is PERFECT c. a God of Truth and without Iniquity Just and Right is he THEY have Corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his Children c. Do you thus requite the Lord O Foolish People Deut. 32. 1 2 3 4 5 6. read the Chapter through see Chap. 31. 27. to the end Reader Many Sweet Heavenly and Comfortable Sayings I have Collected out of the holy Scriptures whereby Gods Love unto all Men and Women is clearly held forth IN CHRIST Jesus the blessed Seed whom God hath promised shall bruise the Serpents Head who brought in the Curse Death and Reprobation by leading Man and Woman into sin Your Sins saith God have with-holden good things from you Jer. 5. 25. Christ is God's free Gift as I have plainly shewed before both unto Jews and Gentiles to be his Salvation to the ends of the Earth he tasted Death for every man as the Apostle saith He is the true Light who lighteth every one that cometh into the World he saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life He said Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light as is shewed before The Children of Light are the Children of God for God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all as saith the Apostle 1 John 1. 5. Again Chap. 3. Vers 5 6. John saith unto the Saints concerning Christ Ye know that he was manifest to TAKE AWAY our Sins whosoabideth in him sinneth NOT. Again He is able to save them to the uttermost them that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. O blessed are all they
Sin and Reprove it for the same IN THAT is Faith offered to all People the work of that Spirit within doth give in some degree a true and real Testimony in the Souls of all Men and Women that there is a God unto whom Worship doth belong by this Spirit God doth give just cause unto all Men and Women to believe in him every one in the time of their Visitation and if they believe NOT THEIR Unbelief is their SIN which doth shut them out of the Kingdom of God and such do destroy themselves as God hath said O Israel thou Destroyest thy self There are degrees or measures of the Spirit of Truth freely tendred as Gods free gift to all to profit withall and as the measure or degree differeth not in Nature but in measure or proportion so the enlightning of the darkned understanding thereby is greater or less according to that which God hath given and the Faith wrought thereby is more or less accordingly and every one that delightly improveth the little or LEAST measure God who is faithful to perform hath promised that they shall be made Ruler over much yea they shall enter into the Joy and Peace of their Lord and the Faith of such diligent Improvers of the little shall grow exceedingly as did the Faith of the diligent Ones of Old witnessed unto by the holy Apostle as is shewed before The Lord God is just and equal who requireth Faith and Obedience according or answerable to what he gives in all Ages and Dispensations be it more or less and NOT otherwise for he is equal in ALL his doings just in all his Judgments to him be all Glory Honour Dominion and Praise throughout all Ages yea World without End Amen Paul declared unto King Agrippa saying That Christ sent him to the Gentiles to open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith that is in me saith Christ see Acts 26. 14 15 16 17 18. Again Paul said We Preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake For God who 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 Jesus Christ but we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us see 2 Cor. 4. 5 6 7. Christ said I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life John 8. 12. Again He saith I am the Light of the World c. I came not to destroy the World but to save the World He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my Words hath one that judgeth him the WORD that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last Day John 12. 46 47 48. Note Reader that Christ is the Author and Finisher of true Faith as it is written of him Heb. 12. 2. To believe in him as he is the Light of the World is true Belief or true Faith He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are evil for every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deed should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God see John 3. 18 19 20 21. see also the 14 15 16 17 verses God is Light in him 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 onother and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin see 1 John 1. 5 6 7. Reader thus it plainly clearly and evidently appears in the words of the holy Scripture that God and Christ is Light and by God in and through Christ are all Men and Women enlightned in some measure or degree to know good and evil the one from the other in and by this Light is true and saving Faith tendred or offered to ALL. They who take heed unto this Light which shineth in their dark sinful Hearts and there convinceth them of and reproveth them for Sin they do well as saith the Apostle see 2 Pet. 1. 19. By this spiritual and divine Light which cometh from God who is a Spirit in and through Christ the second Adam who is made a quickning Spirit as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth is all true saving Faith begun increased and finished Now those who strive to enter the Kingdom of God out of this Light and Faith are as Thieves and Robbers who will not come to Christ the Light the Door to enter in by him but would climb up by another way and therefore must be cast down and though they strive never so much in their fallen corrupt Self-will out of the true Light and Spirit of God and Christ yet can they not be able to enter The Apostle saith And if a man strive for mastery yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully see 2 Tim. 2. 5. Again Christ compareth or likeneth the Kingdom of Heaven unto ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went out to meet the Bride-groom and five of them were Wise and five of them were Foolish while the Bride-groom tarried they all slumbred c. and at mid-night there was a Cry made Behold the Bride-groom cometh go you out to meet him then all those Virgins arose and trimed their Lamps and the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your Oyl for OUR Lamps are gone OUT but the wise answered saying NOT so c. buy for your selves c. and while they went to buy the Bride-groom came and they that were ready went in with him into the Marriage and the DOOR was SHUT afterwards came also the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us but he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not Watch ye therefore for ye know not neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of man cometh see Matth. 25. to the 14. verse Note Reader the Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto ten Virgins five Wise and five Foolish both wise and foolish had Lamps yea and both had Oyl ONCE for the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your Oyl for our Lamps are gone out This sheweth that they were once IN lighted and burning but through sloathfulness they neglected to renew their Lamps with Oyl and so
all as saith the Apostle see Rom. 3. 24 25. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Again the Apostle Peter said He commanded us to Preach unto the People and to Testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead to him all the Prophets gave witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive Remission of Sins see Acts 10. 42 43. Acts 2. 28. Note Reader The Command which the Apostles received from Christ concerning Remission of sins it was that they should preach the Remission or Forgivness of the sins that were PAST they did NOT receive Command from Christ to preach unto people that they must continue in sin all their Dayes NEITHER did he Command them to preach that he had paid the DEBT for all sins past PRESENT and to COME NO he nor his Apostles never preached this Doctrine this Doctrine proceeds from him whose Kingdom stands in Sin who is the Father of Lyes who first LEADS people into sin then tells them that they can NEVER come out of it while they are on this side the Grave and to encourage and embolden them to continue in sin all their dayes HE tells them Christ has paid the DEBT for it ALL and he tells them that God sees no sin in them the Debt being paid for all c. So tells them that they are the Elect and therefore cannot totally fall c. It s greatly to be Lamented that many do GIVE UP themselves to believe these his Lyes to their own Ruin and Destruction We do say that NOT only the sins which Man and Woman doth commit in their Dark Unbelieving State is forgiven when they come to believe repent but ALSO those who through unwatchfulness negligence fall into some sin after they have believed and Repented if THEY find a place of Repentance so Forgivness this forgiveness also is in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ but we do utterly DENY that God or Christ doth WILL or Ordain that any Man or Woman should live in sin ALL their DAYES upon Earth And those who do continue in sin all their dayes who Repent not who Forsake not this their sin will sink them into the Pit of Everlasting Destruction where there is Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth and when they are THERE they will see how the Devil hath deceived and cheated them and then they will know that Christ hath NOT paid the Debt for all their sins past present and to come but they shall know he hath not paid the Debt for their sins which they do never Repent of for which they must suffer Vengeance of Eternal Fire as a just Reward from the Hand of the Lord God who said Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Concerning Eternal Life JEsus Christ said unto the Unbelieving Jews Search the Scriptures or ye search the Scriptures for in them you think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and YE will NOT come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 39 40. Note Reader Christ told them not that they COULD NOT come unto him but told them that they WOULD NOT come unto him so their NOT coming unto him Christ doth not place upon the fore-ordination or appointment of God but he placeth it upon their CORRUPT SELF-WILL for as it is before expressed in this Book God's will is that all Men might come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be SAVED This is a Gospel Truth spoken by the holy Apostle as he was moved by the holy Ghost Well said the Apostle Peter the Scripture came not in Old Time by the Will of Man but holy men of God gave them forth as they were moved by the holy Ghost or Spirit the holy Scriptures are things of God The Apostle saith What man knoweth the things of a man SAVE the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God know no man but the Spirit of God but that Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. There is two weighty things to be considered and understood from the afore-said Words of Christ the one I have said something to Namely that it was NOT the Fore-appointment or Decree of God which HINDRED those Jews from coming to Christ but their own Corrupt WILL c. for Christ saith That men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him John 5. 23. Christ the Son of God saith I am the Light of the World Mark that he is not the Light of the Saints and true Believers ONLY for he said unto the Saints Ye are not of the World c. but he is the Light of the World that lieth in Wickedness by his Light in their Consciences he doth convince them of their sins and wickedness Now all that honour the Son according to the Will of the Father they do believe this is Doctrine and â—o do believe in the Light where-with he has enlightned them who is the true Light that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the World according to John 1. 9. he said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light He tasted Death for every man as saith the holy Scripture He is a Propitiation not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole World as saith the Apostle John as the Will of God is that all men should believe in the Father so his Will is that all men should believe in the Son and so in believing and obeying both honour the Father and the Son The second thing which I may speak something to upon the foresaid words of Christ concerning the grand Mistake of those Jews who would not come to Christ their Mistake was that they thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures for though the Scripture testifies of him as he saith yet the Scripture doth NO where say that Eternal Life is IN THEM but they do testifie that Life is in HIM Therefore GREAT was their Error who thought to have Eternal Life where it was not to be had and the same Error some are fallen into in our day and their Error in this weighty matter is greatly to be LAMENTED and my Soul with many more do greatly desire that out of this great Mistake they may be delivered There are two great EXTREAMS which many run into concerning the holy Scriptures in this our day the one is that which I have spoken to already which IS in those who think to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures where it is not to be FOUND but IN Christ as I said before the other Extream is run into by Prophane persons who do not value them and esteem them as they are truly worthy but in their Pride and Presumption greatly slight them yet make EVIL use of them many times in wresting of them to uphold
and justifie themselves in their Ranterism and Debauched Wicked Conversations the State also of the latter is greatly to be Lamented and it is the earnest desire of my Soul with many more that those might come to Unfeigned Repentance for this their great EVIL that so they might come to a true and godly use Esteem of the holy Scriptures and so to have profit by them and comfort in them as the true Believers had in Primitive Times and such now have Glory to the Lord God for the same it is the Spirit or Light of Truth which leads the true Believers into all Truth and convinceth the World of sin that giveth a right Understanding and leadeth to a right use of the Scripâ—â—â—es this Spirit was mans Guide before the Scriptures were written by it men were made holy before they gave forth the holy Scriptures this is the Key which openeth them and leadeth to a right use and application of them but they whose Minds are gone ASTRAY from this Spirit who have not do not LEARN of it those do WREST the Scriptures to their own Destruction as some did in the Apostle Peter's Dayes against whom he testified Christ told some amongst the earthy Wise Jews Ye neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God yet those were great Talkers of them and even as they knew them not not owning the Key that openeth them so many in our day knoweth them NOT because they believe not in the Spirit of Truth which ONLY openeth them Concerning Good Example CHrist suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth 1 Pet. â— 21 22. Here the holy Apostle shews that it is the Duty and Practice of all true Christians to follow the Example and the holy clean Steps of the holy man Christ Jesus who did not Sin But those who do continue in Sin and plead for a continuance in the same all their dayes upon Earth who Sin as they say in their most Holy Duties these are very far from the holy Faith and holy Conversation of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ and all true Christians and very far from following his pure Examples and his holy clean Steps The Apostle John saith concerning Christ Hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar But whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 John 2. 3 4 5 6. Reader see how these holy men of God agree in their Testimony in this weighty matter these holy men did abide in Christ and Christ in them they by virtue of his divine spiritual dwelling in them were strengthned and enabled in their Lives and Conversations to follow that holy Example which he gave them in the dayes of his Flesh who went about doing Good who never did Evil and though they had sinned he redeemed them from it and from the Devil the Author or Original of it And so many came to behold their good Conversation in Christ COUPLED WITH FEAR as the Apostle exhorteth 1 Pet. 3. 2. John saith We know that whosoever is Born of God sinneth NOT And we know that we are of God and the whole World lieth IN WICKEDNESS And we know that the Son of God is come and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and Life eternal Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen 1 John 5. 18 19 20 21. Here the Apostle shews plainly who are true Christians and who are not the true Christians are in Christ who hath redeemed them out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God and such have the Spirit of Christ bearing witness with or unto their Spirits that they are the Children of God according to the promise of God Rom. 8. 16 21. And they are NOT TRUE Christians who Lye or continue all their dayes in Sin and Wickedness these are the World as John saith Certain it is those who go on in Sin who plead a necessity to continue in it all their days they live or abide upon Earth these are NOT the Bride the Lambs Wife the true Church whom HE presents to the Father a glorious Church WITHOUT spot or wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish as in Ephes 5. 27. But those pleaders for and continuers in Sin all their dayes these are the Harlot these are the World that lieth in Wickedness whom the cursed One is the God of who hath BLINDED THEIR MINDS these are in the broad way that leads to Destruction IN VAIN DO these call Jesus Lord who do not believe his Commands who are not governed by him who do not that which he saith he said Learn of me I AM MEEK AND LOWLY and ye shall find rest to your Souls A Remnant hath learned of him in this Age and hath found his Promise true Glory to the Lord God for the same they have found Rest and Peace to their Souls in him THEIR PRINCE of PEACE though they have Trouble Oppression in the World for his SAKE yet these can truly say as the holy Apostles said of the faithful followers of Christ of Old GREATER IS HE that is in you then he that is in them to wit the World by whom we overcome them they are of the World therefore speak they of the World the World heareth them We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth NOT US hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error 1 John 4. 4 5 6. The Apostle Paul said unto the the Philippians Brethren be followers together of me and mark them who walk so as ye have VS for an ENSAMPLE for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even WEEPING that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3. 17 18. to the end of the Chapter The same Apostle said to the Corinthians Be ye followers of ME even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor 11. 1. The Apostle Peter writ unto the Elders of the Church of Christ saying 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 Gods Heritage but as ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Reader there are several things worthy of thy serious and weighty Consideration in these words of the holy Apostle Peter the first is that the Elders of the Church of God and Christ did and do as Instruments in â—od's Hand Ministring that is Serving
not to come to me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19. 14. Concerning doing Good J. B. thou art a great Enemy to the Command of Christ who saith Be ye Perfect c. pag. 26. Thou bringest those words in Psal 14. which say There is none that do Good no not one Answ Those words were spoken of Mankind in the Fall to a Generation of Evil doers In the same Psalm God said Have all the Workers of Iniquity no Knowledge who eat up my People as they eat Bread and call not upon the Lord And in the next Verse he saith God is in the Generations of the Just and Righteous Here thou mayst see that there was a Just and Righteous Generation and those were Hated and Persecuted by the Workers of Iniquity for the Good that appeared in them which though the Lord was the Principal Worker of yet they as Instruments in his hand were acted in what was Righteous and Good Mat. 12. 34 35. And Christ saith The GOOD MAN out of the GOOD Treasure of his Heart bringeth forth GOOD things and the Evil Man out of the Evil Treasure of his Heart bringeth forth Evil Things By this thy Ungodly Plea against Christ's Command thou declarest thy self to be one of the Evil Men who brings out of thy Evil Treasures thy Evil Words against the plain Command of Christ and of God who said Be Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy and against the Doctrine of the holy Man who saith Cleanse your Hands ye Sinners Purifie your Hearts you Double-minded c. And again Let the Wicked for sake his Way and the Vnrighteousman his Thoughts let him Turn unto God and he will have Mercy on him c. Again Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord and Holiness becomes the Lords House forever And the Apostle said unto the Saints The House or Temple of God is Holy which House or Temple ye are And the Apostle Paul said to Christian Romans I am perswaded of you that ye are FULL the of all GOODNESS c. Rom. 15. 14. And again to the Hebrews Chap. 13. 16. the Author saith To do GOOD and to Communicate forget not for with such Sacrifice God is well-pleased Again Gal. 6. 10. Paul Exhorted the Saints To do GOOD unto all men especially to the Houshould of Faith And again to the Thessalonians Ever follow that which is GOOD And again Hold fast that which is GOOD 1 Thess 5. 15 21. Again Paul to Timothy the first Epistle Chap. 6. Vers 18. Charge them that are Rich in this World that they be not High-minded that they do GOOD and be Rich in GOOD WORKS c. Thus it appears from the Testimony of the holy men of God that the People of God both under the Law and Gospel were commanded to do that which was GOOD and by his power they were enabled to do GOOD So this is written in Love to J. B. as a just Rebuke for his Contempt of Christ's Command and encouraging People to continue in that which is Evil. Concerning the Righteousness of God and also of Man's own Righteousness J. B. as a Plea for Evil doing saith All our Righteousness are as filthy Rags and saith the Church confesseth so Isa 64. 6. Answ In this Chapter the Prophet Representeth and Lamenteth the Sinfull Apostatized State of the Jews saying Our Iniquities have carried us away like the Wind all our Righteousness is as filthy Rags In the same Chapter he also saith to the Lord Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness those that remember thee in thy Way Here again thou mayst see that there were two Generations one remembring God in his Way and working Righteousness therein and the other in their Iniquities which carried them away as the Wind. J. B. Though all the Righteousness of the Jews in their Apostacy were and are as filthy Rags yet the Righteousness of the true Christians the Church in God made of Living Stones chosen and precious are not as filthy Rags It were horrible Blasphemy to say so for Christ is the Righteousness of the true Christians as saith the holy Apostle But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption see 1 Cor. 1. 30. J. B. Take notice of this Christ was and is in the true Christians made of God unto them Wisdom which Wisdom did and doth lead them out of sin which the Wisdom of the Serpent hath led into so Christ the Power and Wisdom of God who leads them out of Unrighteousness which is Sin he did and doth become THEIR Righteousness who Redeemeth and Sanctifieth them And this is the Righteousness which we the People of God called Quakers own stand and Plead for and NO OTHER This is the Righteousness which the Apostle Paul desired to be found in and not in his own Righteousness which was of the Law which he did sometime hold up in opposition to Christ the Substance as may be seen at large in his Epistle to the Philippians Chap. 3. The same Apostle said of the Jews in their Apostacy thus For they being Ignorant of God's Righteousness and going about to Establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes Rom. 10. 3 4. Christ offered up himself through the Eternal Spirit as a Lamb without Spot and Blemish who by offering up himself once for all put an End to the Jews Offerings of Lambs the Blood of Bulls and Goats and all the rest of their Carnal Shadowy Ordinances which could not take away Sin nor make the Comers thereunto Perfect as appertaining to the Conscience But the Unbelieving Jews continued their Sacrifices in opposition to Christ the Substance who had ended them and so they sought to be justified by the Shadowy Works of the Law which Christ had ended and though it was a Righteous thing in the sight of God that the Iews should observe and practice those Outward Shadowy Works of the Law which he had commanded until Christ had ended them yet when Christ had ended those Works by his one offering they still continued in them this was an Unrighteous thing in Gods sight therefore he rejected them yet they looked upon and judged what they did to be Righteous and this the Apostle esteems their own Righteousness so they did not submit to the Righteousness of God WHICH IS CHRIST but stumbled at the stumbling Stone as it s written And TOO like these are many of the Professors of our Times who hold up those JEWISH Shadows which never were a Command to us Gentiles in Opposition to Christ Jesus who saith I am the Light of the World and he that follows me shall not walk in Darkness but have the Light of Life and saith Believe in the Light that you may be the Children of the Light Now as