purity in him reproveth so he comes nearer and comes to join in some measure to the spirit of holines or the holy spirit and to receive it and to feel the power of God in some small measure though but weakly working in him to the purging out those things which the spirit lets him see is evil which hath been reproved in him and so in some measure feels in himself what to wait upon and where to wait and in what even in that which gives every one a feeling of their own condition within and opens their understandings How the spirit of truth worketh and operateth in them who are convinced and yet hath not obeyed it shewed THough God who is a spirit hath appeared by his manifestation unto all yet all have not received it he that hates the light hath not received it The eye-lids of the morning are unto him as the shadow of death that which manifesteth and bringeth to light all evil the evil doer likes it not heeds it not receives it not but still is without God in the world that lies in wickedness and without the spirit in death and dead in trespasses and sins a sepulchre in which the just lies slain in this state God is not remembred there is no remembrance in the grave nor no thanks in the pit yet night shines in darkness and a man unconverted yet convinced in that darkness and that which convinceth him is the light so light shines in darkness in man in the greatest darkness and this may convince all vain disputers who say every one is not inlightened neither that the spirit of God hath appeared to all good men have it bad men it s near them they that bring forth the fruits of darkness and bring forth the deeds of darkness they are lighted yea they that are in darkness and are darkness the light shines in them the Spirit of God shines there in darkness manifesteth their darkness here man is darkness the Ephesians were darkness in the unconverted estate yet had light shining in them Eph. 5. 8. the spirits manifestation they had but were not led by it once they were without God in the world but after were turned unto it â—it shewed them their darkness and it leading their minds they came to be made light in the Lord who is that spirit whose manifestation hath appeared to all so all are without excuse for he hath not left himself without witness and they that have not Gods witness to be theirs that is to say to possess it they have no faith nor assurance in God at all but that which should bring assurance of salvation unto them it assures their condemnation and also reveals sorrow Now as every one is turned to the measure of Gods holy spirit and keeps his mind into it he comes to feel and to see its reproof and so as the mind is kept still into it it arises in its purity and shines forth in the heart in more brightness still checking man for disobedience still judging and as it is listened unto it appears in strength and layes every mans heart open and lets him see how full of unrighteousness he is how full of imaginations he is how his heart is full of vain idle thoughts and how lust aboundeth in the heart this makes his trouble to increase and his sorrow to multiply and this is alwayes present none can run from it but it follows him and shall pursue every one to the pit who obey it not and kindle his torment and whatsoever the mind may run into to take pleasure for a moment and the heart be exercised in yet this measure of Gods Spirit is alwayes present to condemn it and judge a man for it so the strokes of the Almighty is still heavy upon his back being still in the disobedience of the spirit it never bears witness unto any man in that state but God through it still sounds the alarum of War and terror in his heart so that fear compasseth him about on every side and though for moment the cry may not be heard and through disobedience it may seem as dead as unto him yet if ever the mind be but still and a man sober and calm and ever mind what he is doing it appears again and though a man may take up something and perform something which is called religious and pray in words and read and talk of the Scriptures and may take up some carnal outward Ordinance and there content himself for a time yet still the witness of Gods holy Spirit for that shews him his hypocrisie and that he seeks a cover to shelter himself under that he may live in disobedience be at ease in the flesh but all in vain for there is no peace within but the measure of Gods Spirit still shewes him that he serves sin and follows his own will and in this will brings forth a worship and this is will-worship nay if a man practice all those things which others who were in the life performed and were accepted yet this will not satisfie God hath no pleasure in this no more then if one slew a man or blessed an Idol or kissed Baal all is abomination to the Lord and though a man may sin so far against the light of Christ in his own conscience that the light be to him as though there were no such thing yet all this well not do for the Lord will thunder from his holy plaâ—â—â—â—ough thou have stopped thy ear as to him and closed thy eyes yet he will cause his terror to strike into thy heart so that dread shall compass thee about as a wall and thou shalt be afraid for that which thou shalt see hear though the spirit strives long yet being still disobeyed the long-suffering of God comes to an end concerning him that hath been unfaithful and then his wrath is kindled as fire which shall burn to the lowest Hâ—ll into which all the rebellious and stif-necked shall be cast and have their portion for ever among all the children of darknesse therefore all who have been convinced long still are by Gods holy spirit of the way of truth and yet have not submitted to the leading of the spirit think on this for its the Lords truth which I declare to you or else eternal mysery will be your end And if thou still persist on after the imaginations of thine own heart and in thy rebellious will thou quencheth the spirit and the motions thereof though it be life in it self yet is as ded unto thee who art in the gainsaying resisting that through which Gods eternal power is manifest in them that believe thou wilt grow insensible past feeling and become as seared flesh and be senslesse as to the things of God and hardnesse of heart will come upon thee and thou wilt be as a stone that cannot be melted and woe will be unto such where the spirit of the Lord in them ceaseth
the heavens and the Earth was created and all things that therein are even then the Lamb of God was alive and the Son of God glorified with the Father and man in happynesse and in pure perfection without sin in Inocency for nothing that was nocent or hurtful had yet appeared neither was there any such thing in all that God had made Here the wise may learn and they that have a good understanding may read the wisdome of God in a Mystery and also see the darke sottish doctrine of the blind Apostates who have lost the power and are keeping people ignorant of the Mystery of God NOw this hath been a common doctrine and received to be orthodox and as they call it authentick that while we are in this life there can not be an overcoming of all sins nor no expectation of it in this life and their main ground hath been this because we have natural bodies Now I say had not Adam a natural body when he was in purity and perfection in innocency in Paradise in the garden yet was this any hinderance to him to answer the will of his Creator No For as the soul spirit and body was moved by the power out of which power he was not to stir then I say he had ability to perform the will of his maker in the body for as he was created by the power in the inward man that led about the natural earthly or outward form according to its will which will was pure and kept the body acting in its place in the power for then I say all was good for the Celestial power in which he was made moved the whole man according to its will and while he stood in the power he was in innocency and purity and without blemish in the power was his health and peace and he knew no evil Ob. But some may say what is this as to the confutation of the doctrine which hath been taught as to the freedom from sin in this life Ans. This declares that there was such a thing in being to wit a natural body and an earthen vessel and yet without sin as he stood in the power for the earthen vessel was good as all the rest of Gods creation was in its place to serve the power as the rest of Gods creatures did in the beginning and who ever comes to know that state again may come to glorifie God in soul body and spirit though in the body in this tabernacle but take their own phrase for the clearing of the thing not to be freed from the committing of sin in this life I say in the corruptable life or the life of unrighteousness which may be properly called death there is no freedome from sin neither of soul or body or spirit but who comes to know regeneration or the Life of men in which Adam was created in the beginning in that incorruptable Life there is no transgression and if he live in man the body is dead because of sin and I know none who have preached any other 〈◊〉 Life who hath spoke by the spirit of God in which freedome from all sin is obtained but onely the life of Christ and whosoever comes to know the Lord from heaven who ruled over all in the beginning and was the life of all and all moved in his Life before the fall whether they were things visible or invisible that same power or Life of Christ the Lamb of God who was alive then if he live in man man come to be guided by his power as in the beginning he living in man the soul and body and spirit being quickned by his power and raised from under the bondage of corruption then death hath not power over man but life and because he lives in them they live also their souls to praise him and their bodies and the members thereof to be servants of righteousness and so that unbelieving Doctrine of the world is turned into the pit and truth is set above it Object But further it will be objected that our bodies are not like Adams in innocency we are in the fall and therefore we say they hinder from being freed from all sin and ever will while upon Earth Ans. That the naked truth may appear to them that seek after true knowledge I answer freely that I grant that the soul lies in death and the creature is subject to vanity and the whole Creation groans in travel and in pain and waits for the manifestation of the Son of God and the Redemption of the body and in this state is all mankind upon the face of the whole Earth in the first Adam but he who is the second Adam the Lord from Heaven who was in the beginning and is now what he was and shall be for ever I say as man comes to believe in the Son who hath life in himself and he come to be revealed in man and man subject to his leading he brings the soul out of death to have union and communion with himself and restores the creature from his bondage and and breakes the bond and knocks that down which hath imbondaged and so changes the body I do not mean the form of the body but the quality and nature thereof for the form of Adams body was not changed but the quality and it was degenerated from its pure nature wherein it glorified God as he stood in the Power so I say Christ who is the life of men the true light which lighteth every man that comes into the world he changes all that follow him into his own nature and restores the creature into his first estate again into purity that like as the inward man is renewed and restored by the power and serves the Power so the members of the body is also yeelded servants unto righteousness and they receive vertue and Power from the power the Life and so the whole man comes out of condemnation to glorifie his maker the will of God is don in earth as it is in heaven and he saves to the utmost them that comes unto him now if he save the soul and not the body then he saves not to the utmost But this is a high state blessed are they who waites in the faith to the end are happy that they may see and know the redemption of their souls and also the redemption of their body For I deny redemption in the grave or in death or after this life for the holy men of God never mentions a cleansing from sin in the grave nor after men be dead for they that have served sin in their life time and served the devil as long as they live and have yeelded their bodyes to be temples for uncleannesse while they live upon earth eternal misery will be their portion and not redemption think on this you who are holding this forth for an article of your Faith in the world among poor ignorant people that they must not expect redemption
the ground thereof And after they were come to the Land that God had promised them they were commanded not to worship idols as the Canaanites did that were Hams-stock who was accursed and set up cursed idols yet nevertheless breaking the Law which was to limit that part which had transgressed that which was contrary to the Law was set up in themselves even the nature of the Canaanites Gentiles and heathen and then they worshipped the heathens gods or else formed gods and idols and images of their own and worshipped Baal Ashteroth and Chemosh and the Sidonians gods every Nations gods and Images where they came and so the Lord sent his true Prophets who feared his name and worshipped him to declare against them even the house of Israel a distinct people from the heathen great professors Ezek. 14. 4. They set up idoles in their hearts and put a stumbling block of iniquity before their face the Lord said he would answer them according to the multitude of their idoles they being gone into vanity they hearkned to the Idols that spake vanity Zech. 10. 2. And baked bread and rosted flesh with wood and of the same made a God and they transgressed at Dan at Bethel at Gilgal yea their Idols flood in their hearts and they formed such without as was sutable to their hearts as you may reâ—d through many ages generations before the flood after the flood in the wildernesse in Canaan in the Nations where they were scattered Hab. 2. 18 19. What profiteth the graven Image and the molten image and teachers of lies woe unto him that saith to the wood awake to the dumb stone arise it shal teach behold it is laid over with gold and silver and there is no breath at all in the midst of it seek not to Bethel nor enter into Gilgal for Gilgall shall goe into captivity and Bethel shall come to nought Furthermore they corrupted themselves in those things which God had commanded which were commands in their time made Idols of those things which were but figures or shadowes of good things to come which they should have waited for as the Brazen serpent temple offering oblations Tythes Priests Sabbaths new-Moons solemn Feasts Circumcision Passeover and all these things were given to be observed til the seed came the end of all these things and of the Law for righteousnesse but Christ the seed the heire of all things when he came after many Prophets had declared of him from Moses to Samuel from Samuel till Iohn they exalted those things above him and neglected him who had life in himself would not come unto him that they might have had life and then their Temple Priests Sacrifice oblations became Idols and their practise Idolatry and so are in blindnesse to this day and so in the daies of Christ they held up those things and were counselled in their works and observances and days and times and came not to believe in him in whom all daies ends in and so continued in their large observations all along in the Apostles dayes and did as they had done in the days of the Prophets slew the Prophets that were sent of the Lord and set dreamers and such as prophecied for hire and divined for money and said no evil should touch them and they said the Law should not depart from the Priests mouth nor vision cease from their prophets but believed their lies and prophesied of wine and strong drink and cryed peace to them that Gods controversy was against and so persecuted the Apostels from City to City and from place to place till the the wrath of God came upon them and Jerusalem compassed about with armies and not one stone left upon another and for their sakes Sion became a plowed corne field their Temple burnt their Priests slain their sacrifices ceased and their oblations at an end and they scattered among the heathen and they and all their Idols and their worship blasted and cursed from God and from being a Nation to this day and thus hath the Lord brought shame and contempt upon all through all ages who have worshipped the works of their own hands or that hath holden up any figure representation and have set it up and exalted it above the life and with it have opposed the power the life in which all figures Types and representations ends in And thus far I have passed through generations and also through administrations that all who have a desire of the true knowledge of God may see that man in the degeneration being out of the Image of God corrupts himselfe in all things and makes idols of all things being from the life in which man hath power onely to fulfill the righteous will of God But to descend to come nearer to our age because all that which is called christendome will say this in nothing unto them because they hold not up the heathens Images nor the Jewish Idols nor the Jewish Types and worship and therefore they are no Idolaters when John the Prophet came and preached repentance in the wildernesse of Judea which was a preparer of the way he baptized in Jordan and many believed and repented and were baptized and Christ also was baptized and so was he circumcised and eate the passeover and observed what was written because he came to fulfill all righteousnesse and also bad his Disciples hear them that sat in Moses seats for he was not yet sacrificed up nor glorified I say Iohn baptized not in his own name but bore witnesse unto Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world who came after him and was preferred before him whom Iohn said should baptize them with the holy Ghost and with fire and many of Iohns Disciples followed Christ the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world and Iohn was not offended at them for following of Christ but rejoyced take notice of this you baptizers who are offended with them that followes Christ the light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world and excommunicates them like the envyous Jewes out of your assemblies and saith they are deluded and are so far from Iohns spirit that instead of bearing your testimony to him who is the light that you would bind them up and council your disciples not to goe after him the true light that lighteth every man the Christ of God I say to you you are in the Idolatry who prefer your water before the light but Iohn bore witnesse to Christ the light and said he was preferred before him and some Imitaters and Idolaters say the baptisme of water is the door or entrance into the Church of God when as Christ saith he is the door none comes into the fold but by him and none comes to the Father but by him and he is the way so who sets up an other entrance unto God or into the foule or into the Church which is the pillar and
quenched but as there is a submission unto its pure operation it burnes up and destroyes that which hinders the growth of the seed it purgeth the heart of them that have confidence in it from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and worketh up the creature into its own frame and nature and fashions and makes and moulds all that are in the Faith into the Image of the Father and so the Fathers love comes to be shed abroad in the heart and as the wrath was revealed through the spirit and condemnation so now the peace of God comes to be enjoyed and his consolation shed abroad largly in which there is pure rejoicing for ever Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love and of justification with God declared NOne hath the witness of Gods Spirit bearing witness to them nor in them who have not believed in the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world by whom alone life is begotten by the powerful operation of Christ in them that believe in him who is eternal light it self whose word is spirit and life by which the new Creature is framed formed in them that believe unto whom he maketh manifest his power for unto him who is the life of men is all power committed both in heaven and earth for nothing was made or created but by him neither is any turned from sin but by him and by his mighty power without him is death in him is life and the life is the light of men So that none but they that are born of the light and are begotten by him who is light can have the spirit of Christ who is light to bear witness unto them neither the assurance of the Fathers love for onely they that are born of the spirit and walk after the spirit are justified by the spirit of the Lord for the assurance of his love is not made manifest to his enemies but unto them that are born brought forth in his own image in his own likeness and nature which is pure and incorruptible without stain or defilement the holy seed which is heir of the promise who knows the living hope which purifies the heart and bringeth the answer of a good conscience unto them that feel and witness the washing of regeneration and have known in themselves the clean water poured forth upon them which hath taken away the stains and spots and blemishes and the defilements for where these are no washed out the heart cleansed from them that believed in wherein Gods all-sufficiency is felt and his power made manifest there cannot be assurance of the Fathers love in the heart nor in the soul neither doth the spirit of the Father bear witness unto such nor assure their justification but on the contrary where sin remains unsubdued and taken away the spirit of the Father condemneth the sin and the creature now is joyned to it and is become one with it for no sin is brought forth but there is a consent and an assenting to the instigation of the Devil although when a temptation ariseth either within or without there may be a resisting and a striving against it for a little but the heart not being kept close to the spirit the enemy often enters and so captivates the understanding then there is an agreement and a joyning to the adversary and so the spirit pronounceth the sentence of condemnation upon him who is joyned to the harlot and becomes one flesh and joyned unto strange flesh which is not the flesh of Christ the seed and that which hath joyned and consented to drink of the cup of fornication must drink of the cup of indignation and terrour and bear the stroke of Divine Justice and lie in patience under it till that be cut down which hath joyned to deceit before there can be the remission of the transgression or the Creature justified in the fight of God For sin is not blotted out of the book of Gods remembrance till it be turned from and repented of neither doth the creature stand clear in the sight of God when God judges in righteous judgement which the light in every ones conscience shall answer Now he that is born of God sins not for the seed of God remains in him which is life And as the creature joyns to that seed which is heir of the Kingdom and of the Crown immortal he comes to be made partaker of its vertue and operation which seed is Christ and by his power by which he limiteth the seed of the Serpent and weakens his strength in the creature as man cometh to believe in his strength unto whom all power is committed the covenant with Death is broken and that agreement that the creature hath made with death comes to be disannulled by the arm and power of the Lord and so the creature comes to be delivered from the bondage of corruption and the new man comes to live or the new creature which is born of God which sins not comes to be framed and fashioned in the image of the Father and the Fathers love is manifest unto him and in him and he hath the assurance in himself The Babe that is born from above of the Spirit which is from above of which he is born and brought forth of the just by the just he is justified by the just God and the just witness of the spirit sealeth this in him And he hath the record of his justification For there is three that bear record in the earth the water the blood and the spirit and he that is born of that which is pure in it self hath the witness of all these three in himself for they agree in one That which one beareth wit-witness to and for the other doth the same and the record and testimony and witness of all these three hath he that is born from above Moreover there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the spirit and these three are one So he that is born of the Father and begotten of the Father in Christ the seed through the Spirit he and he alone comes to feel the Fathers love made manifest in him and is justified in the sight of the Father and hath the record of all these witnesses before mentioned in himself so that he hath his assurance and evidence near him and in him the seal of the Father the seal of the Spirit And so when the adversary comes to tempt and to assault and would raise up doubts in the mind the evidence is near which puts him out of all doubt that he is in the love of God blessed for ever and happy are all they who have waited for these things have felt these things and are witnesses of these things for flesh and blood hath not revealed these things Now let every man who reads this prove himself and try himself whether he be in the faith or
rest false and fained hope and faith and of his own ragged garment and let goe his selfe-righteousnesse and his dead works and come to Christ the life of men again that man hath run from that so he might have life and peace Ob. But some would say that thou wouldst have all upside down unchristian the Nations and unchurch Churches and throw down all our worship and then what should we doe all would be as heathens and turne into Athisme I say a time of fanning and â—ifting and trying is come when nothing shall stand but that hath the image stamp and character of the living God upon it and all that which hath been brought up and raised up since man hath been in the transgression must be turned down into the pit again and all that have got a name of Christian and wants his life to live among them and in them shall be scattered as clouds with the East wind and all imitated worships and will worshippers and the fained faith and the fained hope shall be confounded and all will worships and worshippers will be overturned who are not come yet to the true light that lightens every man that comes into the World and till man comes to the light and tries his deeds and works by it he never sees what he is doing nor what he is working nor what he works and so all that man doth here in the unbeliefe it is but sin or selfe-righteousnesse which is brought forth by him who abode not in the truth in the unbelief and so who be come to the power which was in the beginning before sin entred and death by sin hath and doth measure all deeds and all works man that is in the losse in the fall sees that a dead man cannot act a living work nor bring forth living fruits unto God nor living works of righteousnesse being in the unrighteousnesse neither the fruits of faith being in the unbeliefe neither the works of the day being in the night neither the works of charity being in the emnity in a word without Christ the power the light the life which was glorified with the Father before the world began I say he said it himself who is the beginning of the creation of God the first born of every creature he said and his testimony will be found true without me ye can do nothing nothing that is wel-pleasing to the Lord nothing that ever shall be acceptable and here is the true state of all the Earth discovered and all mankind drove out from God miserable naked hopelesse helplesse faithlesse and so can doe nothing as to the glorifying of God his maker or to the ordering of any thing in the creation to his glory having lost his dominion and Gods wisdome and this being considered seriously by all and brought to the light in all and their deeds tryed by it would make the lofty bow and the stout hearted fear and the conceited sit down in solitarinesse that they should so long deceive their own souls with a conceit of righteousnesse and redemption when as death yet reignes in them and over them and not life eternall So the Devil is a distinct being from God and his works are distinst and his deeds from the works of God and neither he nor his works shall ever be numbred among the works of God but he and they that obey him and follow him who is out of the truth they their works of what sort soever they may seem unto men to be whose eyes the devil hath blinded so I say all is to be condemned and shut out from Gods presence for ever and to be destroyed by him who is a consuming fire and all the righteousnesse of man burned as combustable stuff in unquenchable fire Pr. And by what hath been said the principle of that ranting crew who are become vaine in their imaginations and foolish their understandings being darkned are seen and their principle overthrown As that light and darknesse is one good evil one and sin and righteousnesse one and truth and a lye one and that God is all and doth all and what ever is done is of God and that there is no evil but to him that thinks it so and it is onely a false apprehention of things and that there is no such thing as sin that sin is nothing Unto all these things I might speak but the understanding Reader may by what is before written see each of these plainly declared and the true ground of things laid down as the spirit gave utterance and this shall at present suffice in this matter Ob. But some may object further and say will not reading the scriptures and conforming to the practise of the saints in the use of his ordinances will not this make us accepted and bring us out of the fall and make us good christians Answ. No while death hath dominion in man and over man and the vaile over the heart man doth not understand the mystery of Gods kingdome neither understands the scripture which was spoken from the spirit of truth or any thing of truth as it is in Christ for none understands the things of God but by the spirit of God so that every man that comes to have a good understanding must come to know the pure spirit of God in him to direct him informe him which spirit was the original of the scripture for the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and without the Holy Ghost in some measure be known â—nd that which is infallible the sayings the writings the scriptures cannot be understood because of the want of this all the Earth is run into heads sects opinions large treatises and volumes expositions have been written yet differing one from another and all from the spirit and in all these particular sects persecuting one another envying one another and hating one another and would compell others to believe what they believe in what they say if they had but power and for proof of this it is most evident in the scripture of truth and in latter ages since the Apostles it hath been and it is evidently seen both among the Papists and Protestants and among all them that are called the reformed Churches but all this is in the fall and in the transgression and in the Apostacy and is an evident token that they are all under the power of the beast who makes War against the Lamb so all compellation and they that do compell are not worshippers of the Lamb but of the beast which is to be destroyed and cast into the lake For the Jews under the first Covenant had the Scriptures the good and wholsome words of God and the Prophets and read the Law and the Prophets on the Sabbath dayes and yet the vail was over their hearts and and though they did perform many things commanded yet they being erred from the spirit did not understand
his face and his name shall be in their foreheads and the Lord God shall give them light and shall be unto them an everlasting light and they shall reign with him for ever and ever over the whore Beast false prophet Antichrists deceivers seducers the pit death hell the grave shall triumph in his strength over all the powers of darkness and sing praises to him that abides for ever these things are true and faithful and shall be fulfilled and the time is at hand blessed are they that waite and watch that they may discern the signs of the times and the coming of the bride-groom that they may enter into the chamber of rest and into the Palace of eternal life into the City of the great King to sit with him and eat with him and rejoyce with him in the glory Eternal which was before the world began shall be when it shall be no more the end hastens he is blessed that is come and coming to the end of it for that which is immutable and Eternally glorious shall appear the Lord hasten it saith my spirit Amen The day of the Lord and how it is seen THe Lord God of the whole earth who lives for ever even the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob whose Throne is established in righteousness for ever who rideth upon the heavens and shines forth in his eternal excellency from the firmament of his power he is manifesting himself in his power as in the dayes of old and revealing his righteousness as in the years past and pouring forth his spirit upon his sons and daughters according to his promise and they that believe comes to be made partakers of the blessing of the everlasting Hills even the Lord who appeared at Sinai unto Moses his servant in the bush who rose up from mount Seir and shined forth in his brightness from mount Paran and came with ten thousands of his Saints even he from whose right hand went a fiery Law so that the people could not behold his glory the same is he who hath now appeared in this the day of his power and is appearing whose glory shall dazle the eyes of the world whose brightness shall make dim all the worlds glory and stain its wisdom and shut it up in utter darkness that it shall not appear to have any existance or being and the shadow of death shall flie away and all the haughty and lofty Princes of this world shall be horribly afraid the beasts shall go into their dens when the day appears and the Lambs of the everlasting fold shall come forth and be fed in the fat valleys where the springs of life compasseth about all the banks and rejoyce in their shepherd and shall say The Lord is my shepherd which many at this time doth admire and say What hath the Lord wrought who have seen his wonders in the dayes of old and have seen his noble acts which the fathers have told of who are fallen asleep and are at rest in the Lord and now many is God bringing to see their witness to be true and to have the same fulfilled in themselves honour and praise unto him for ever who is the stay and strength of all his people for ever And the day of the Lord is broken and the light hath appeared that manifesteth all things which are reproveable and the day-star is risen in the hearts of many and they are come to see that fulfilled in their hearts which Peter exhorted them to wait for and to take heed unto the sure word of prophesie until the day appeared and did dawn in their hearts which day when it appears and to whom it appears discovereth all things and maketh all things manifest as it is declared by the Spirit of truth in the Scripture of truth and every mans work shall be tryed of what sort it is and of what nature it is and this day hath appeared to many praises to the Lord who have waited for it and now they see every thing in its ground and rise and every tree and fruit is seen according to its kind whether good or bad and every mans work is obvious to every one who are in the day and upon whom the morning of righteousness hath appeared and the Sun of righteousness hath shined upon whereby that is seen in every one by the light which is truly called day by the Lord who causeth it to spring from on high which is reproveable and condemnable and also whatever is justifiable and unreproveable is seen by the day of the Lord appearing in the heart The day of the Lord what it is and to whom it hath appeared discovered and how it is seen GOd is a spirit his day is spiritual and is seen with a spiritual eye its pure light pure brightness the pure shining forth of the Lord in his glorious excellency the pure shining forth of eternity life putting forth it self in its brightness holiness sheding it self abroad in its glory purity spreading it self in its immeasurable excellency and can only be seen as it is in it self by the children of the light that are born of it there is a natural day there is a spiritual day the natural day receives its brightness from the Sun the spiritual day receives it brightness from the Son of righteousness by whom it s brought forth without whom nothing was made or is made or brought forth but by him who is the fountain of life and as the natual day receives its clearness from the natural Sun and is discerned by the natural eye of a natural man and all things natural are seen and discovered by and in the natural day and are perspicuous and obvious to him that hath his natural sight even so from the Son of righteousness the Lord of glory light and purity the day of God receives its brightness and is issued out from him by the rayes of his brightnes and is discerned and seen only by the spitual eye of the spiritual man who is the image of the father brought forth in life and in his own nature and quality that is to say from God the Father of life by Christ Jesus the life of men the light of the world and this is the birth which is born from above wch is of the nature of the Father and the Son of the day he only comes to behold this day and discerns all things of the Fathers Kingdom by it and likewise discerns all the hidden things of dishonesty and the works of darknes which are brought forth by the Prince of darkness who is shut up in eternal and utter darkness which is his dwelling place for ever which is his residence and shall be the residence of all the workers of iniquity that bear his image for ever Ob. But some may be ready to say It is not yet appeared and all things are not yet made manifest and that day is not yet come neither hath appeared in this
no and whether he have the evidence of the Spirit or no that he is born of it and knows a birth that sins not because the seed remaineth in him who is kept by the power that the evil one touches him not and kept in salvation and in saving health alive unto him who hath brought him forth to life to drink of the cup of blessing and of the cup of salvation which nourisheth and refresheth up unto eternal life them that continue in the Faith What the free grace of God is and unto whom it hath appeared and where all are to wait to receive it declared as it hath been revealed by the Spirit THe grace of God is pure is the free gift of God and it is perfect it is the appearance of Christ it is a beam of righteousness shining forth it is a measure of Gods strength and power issued out from himself and a proportion of his treasure vertue and sufficiency which comes to be shed abroad in all them that believe in it it s that through which God maketh known his will and teacheth his by it and reveals his saving health through it to them that are taught by it and through it them that believe in it are builded up in the truth and becomes a habitation for God no man doth any thing to purchase it none need say where may I get it or how may I know its teaching it s near thee it is in thee it hath appeared to all men it shews ungodliness in the heart of man by its pure brightness yea to all men it shews the motions unto sin and that which is not like God in motions words or actions it draweth the heart of man from them as with a cord it shews the lusts of the heart and mind the lust of the eye and the pride of life it never joyned to sin nothing can alter its purity or property as in it self it is always one and the same it is perfect and will be alwayes so it stands off and at a distance from that which is corruptable and imperfect and yet beholdeth it and although some that have turned to it be again turned from it and may turn it as in themselves into wantonness yet it keeps its purity and still reproves thy wantonness and will lay it before thee and will shew thee how thou hast abused the appearance of Christ and hath marred his countenance and his face reprove thee for it many have been the talkers of it in this professing age but knew not of what they spoke neither ever informed the mind of man where it was to be waited for neither how it might be known or how or what the operation of it was but have cryed up their own Imaginations we are justified by his free grace for all sins past present to come in this conceit thousands have been led into the pit of darknesse while out of thick darknesse they have cryed up we are justified by free grace in Christ while the free grace of Christ Gods gift which should have taught them they never heeded at all but got up into conceitednesse and carelesnesse and presumption out of the feare of God and pretending justification while they themselves were servants of sin and bond-slaves to corruption and this is the state of thousands at this day and they that have been publishers and preachers of free grace Now when the thing it self comes to be witnessed and declared what it is and as it is and where it is now they say it is not sufficient to teach any the knowledge of God but from all such foolish doaters and blind guides and ignorant shepherds is God bringing many sheep home which they have driven away they would kill them now that are fed and taught by the gift of God and says it s not sufficient and to make them to dislike their food and dislike their shepherd so would make them deaf and blind and then they may lead them into any desart and feed them among the swine who wallow in the mire in filthinesse and lust and pleasure and ungodlinesse and so beguil the sheep and scatter them from the fold and lead them from the true shepherd and from his appearance which is his grace and from the shepherds voice which is the word of his grace which is able to save the soul. Oh all you blind guides and you that call your selves Orthodox men and Ministers and all you that have been preaching free grace in words and now when God hath given them that have waited upon him an understanding to declare the thing it selfe that you have spoken of now you cry it is not a sufficient Teacher Now let me aske you a question if that which teacheth to deny ungodlinesse and shewes it be the grace of God and the gift of God then how say you it s not a sufficient teacher If it be not a sufficient teacher then why did the Apostles commit them and commend them to the word of his grace which was able to save their souls And whether is not that which is able to save the soul a sufficient teacher Answer ye wise men and ye literal Rabbies If that which shewes sin and temptation be not sufficient then declare you and let us see your skill in the mysteries of God but to return to them in whose minds there is a desire to be informed seeing then that Gods free grace which is his pure appearance hath so far manyfested it selfe or God through it shewes sin and teacheth from sin that which teacheth from sin is holy and that which leadeth from worldly lusts is pure and that which saves from sin is grace which is saving in it selfe and God hath so loved the world as that he hath sent his Son into the World he was and is the light of the world and hath shed abroad his grace and hath made it appear to all and all that waites upon it and comes to be taught by it feels its assurance so all is left without excuse therefore wait in that which hath appeared in thee that which shewes the lusts and thoughts and motions unto sin this is Gods gift Gods grace this is sufficient Though all men in the World say it is not sufficient yet this makes not my faith voyd neither thine who hath received it but thou hast the witness of thy faith in thy self which giveth pure and perfect feeling of the operation of the Spirit of the Lord and all is to wait within to hear him who condemns sin in the flesh within which by his grace shews man his transgression and insufficiency in himselfe and by the word of his grace saves all them that believe in it out of sin giveth dominion over sin and this comes to be revealed in the heart of man and there must it be waited for in that which is pure that it may be received and there the operation it comes to be known and its