Fruit must be cast into the Fire and there must lie how can the Pope or any Man else recover such out of the Fire And if it be the wide Gate and broad Way that leadeth to Destruction how can they that walk therein escape Destruction or the Pope deliver them from it when they come to the end of their Journey But yet this Antichristian Doctrine of a Purgatory after this Life is upheld by the Popes and by their Cardinals Bishops and Councils to their great gain of Money to themselves and their Clergy so called and upon this groundless point of their Faith hangs many of their Antichristian Ceremonies to get Money by as their Trentals Masses Diriges Requiems Indulgences Pardons Jubilees and their pretended power of Binding and Loosing and their Prayers for the Dead And though many pretending Reformation from Popery deny their Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead yet they claim Popish Wages for Praying for the Dead which they call Mortuaries and annex it to their Tythes for which they cast them that cannot for Conscience sake pay them into Prison and so they deny the Work but claim the Wages which is more unreasonable then to work for Wages And it is a general Tenet of pretended Reformists that none can be fully cleansed from Sin on this side the Grave and yet confess they that no unclean thing shall enter into Heaven and then where must they be cleansed or how will they escape the Popes Purgatory which they also deny And the Popes and their Abettors on the other hand say Council of Trent Can. 10. Ellar lib. 2 de justific chap. 2. pag. 129. That they can do more good Works than God hath commanded which they call Works of Supererogation which they hold not only meritorious of Eternal Life and of singular Glory in Heaven but also that they may communicate of the abundance of these their Merits unto others but this Doctrine is also false and also Antichristian For the Apostle of Christ said I laboured more abundantly then they all speaking of the Apostles and yet not I 1 Cor. 15.10 but the Grace of God which was with me and by the Grace of God said he I am what I am and said he the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us so it was his Teacher or Commander that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 12. we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world So the Grace of God teacheth to live Godly or like God who worketh all in all in his Servants and by his Spirit the Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal giveth the Word of Wisdom and Faith 1 Cor. 12.6 7 to 12. and Gists of Healing and working of Miracles and discerning of Spirits c. dividing to every Man severally as he will and so it is God that worketh in his People both to will and to do Phil. 2.13 Isa 64.6 of his own good pleasure and all Man 's own Righteousness is as filthy Rags Therefore they who say 1 John 4.17 1 John 3.3 7. that they can out-live the Teachings or Commands of the Grace of God which teacheth to live Godly or like God as true Christians do it is plain that such are not as true Christians are the workmanship of God by his Grace created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath ordained and prepared for his Servants to walk in Eph. 2.10 but it is certain that such are exalted in their Imaginations by the working of the Man of Sin who is exalted in them above the Word of God's Power in their Hearts and so he as God sitteth in the Temple of God the Heart shewing himself that he is their God Acts 20.28 Heb. 9.12 who with his wicked deceivableness hath deceived them in a high degree or else they durst not speak such Words or teach such Doctrine And so no Men can communicate any of their Merits towards the saving of others that Pretence being an abominable Cheat to get Money by for true Christians are what they are by the Grace of God and the working thereof in their Hearts and never pretend to any of their own Merits for their Salvation is only by Christ who bath obtained Eternal Redemption for them and purchased them with his own Blood And as the Man of Sin is yielded unto obeyed and worshipped by them upon whom he prevaiss with his Temptations he becomes exalted in their minds and proud ambitious and imperious like himself and then they are offended when others do not bow or submit unto them and as by his deceit he prevaileth in them he makes them like himself Deceivers Lyars and Hypocrites and yet they would be called true Christians and Children of God like the Jews formerly who were in the same Nature though not Profession to whom Christ said Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do John 8.44 he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him And so the Devil being a Murtherer and a Lyar makes his Children and Servants as like himself as he can of a murthering lying Spirit and apt to persecute and murther those over whom they have the power that cannot comply with their Doctrines Worships Traditions Inventions Customs and Practices by them in the dark and woful Apostasy from the Truth invented ordained set up and practised And all false Churches or gatherings of People what Name soever they go under are all one in the ground for being erred from the Light and Spirit of Christ who is the Way of God the Truth it self and the Life of Righteousness they are all wandred into Confusion and that is the ground in which all who are erred from the Light of Christ in themselves remain let them profess what they will And so as Babel's Builders of Old would build themselves a Tower whose top might reach to Heaven but were defeated by being all confounded in their Languages who before were all of one Speech and of one Language so all that are erred from the Light of Christ in themselves being gone into Confusion inwardly they would have a Tower or a Way of their own making or building to get to Heaven by and they can but build it where they are that is in Confusion And so all who are erred and strayed from the Way of God the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and depend upon Men of Languages to teach them or guide them to Heaven are in Confusion and may fitly be called Children of Babylon and Mystery Babylon the Great is their Mother who is the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17. and Abominations of the Earth whom the Servant of Christ saw drunken with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus and this Woman is the great Whore that sitteth upon many Waters which
their deceit and they often with much exercise experience that such as claim Tythes c. for their Preaching and Ceremonies though in the Serpents Wisdom they may cover as with Sheeps cloathing they are inwardly and often manifest it outwardly as ravening Wolves amongst Sheep and not as Sheep amongst Wolves and so they observe not Christ's Command of being harmless as Doves And likewise Christ and his Apostle commanded saying Mat. 5.33 to 38. Jam. 5.12 Swear not at all neither by heaven neither by the earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay lest ye fall into Condemnation and this the Apostle commanded above all things And Christ said Whatsoever is more than yea yea and nay nay cometh of evil but the Pleaders for Ceremonies Signs and Shadows they make light of this great Command and plead generally for Swearing and at their very entrance into their Office or Calling to get their Tythes or Wages c. they must Swear and so break the Commandment of Christ at the beginning of their pretended Ministry of his Gospel in which they Preach up Signs and Ceremonies for which they can find no such plain nor positive Command from Christ or from his Apostles as they may find against any Swearing at all And of what success to the good of any can their Ministry be the beginning of which is indisobedience to the strict and positive Command of Christ And it is evident by many undoubted Histories and Records of the Transactions of former Times that true Christians as well under Apostatized Titular Christians as under Heathens have deeply suffered for their Obedience to Christ's Command in denying to Swear upon any account and it is also evident that the Preachers up of Signs and Ceremonies who plead for Swearing get more Tythes and Money for their Preaching than they could get by denying of Swearing but if according to the Apostles intimation by Swearing they are fallen into Condemnation who can get them out again though they should give him all their Tythes and Money to get them out So it is very plain that they who pretend by Command from Christ to preach up Ceremonies Signs or what they call Sacraments do practice disobedience to several of the plain and positive Commands of Christ but above all that weighty and positive Command of Christ concerning Faith Heb. 11.6 without which it is impossible to please God which Command is this John 12.36 While ye have light believe in the light that ye may be children of light this they cannot endure to hear of they are far surely from keeping it and what a Faith have they who believe not as Christ commandeth to believe Now every one that doth evil hateth the light John 3.16 to 21. neither cometh to the light lest his Deeds should be reproved and so such are far from believing in the light neither would they have others to believe in it who hate and speak evil of the light as the Ceremony-Preachers generally appear to do but they who have come to the light and brought their Deeds to the light Mat. 24.24 Mat. 7.15 to 20. and thro' Faith in it are become Children of light these know False Prophets by their Fruits and their Signs as Christ foretold and many of their own Followers also are convinced by the light of Christ in their own Hearts though but as strangers to it of much Deceit and Hypocrifie amongst them and they that take heed to this light that inwardly reproveth for sin and give up their Hearts in the love of it to answer the requirings of it to them it will discover daily more and more but they that resist it and go from it the God of this World even the Spirit of the Man of Sin who prevaileth upon such with his Power and Signs blindeth their Minds and so the Blind leading Mat. 15.14 and following the Blind both fall into the Ditch And if any reckon their Ceremonies as necessary to distinguish them from others as Turks Mahometans and Jews c. who do not at all believe that Christ the Messiah is come in the Flesh yet there is no ground for such an Assertion for they are more distinct from them who use no such Ceremonies Ordinances nor Traditional Observations at all for the Turks Mahometans Jews and Heathens all of them have many such things though not the same yet as ridiculous as any of theirs that profess Christianity and they are not like to change their own Ceremonies and Observations for others with them or by the Perswasions of them who can shew no better ground for their own than can be shown for sprinkling of Infants and having to them Godfathers and God mothers so called c. And so that which maketh the People of God to be best distinguished from Turks Mahometans outward Jews and Heathens is to take heed unto believe in and obey the true light of Christ in their Hearts and Consciences wherewith he lighteth all without exception which is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation â—â—t 2.11 12. and hath appeared to all Men teaching those that are willing to be taught of it to deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts to wit Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Gal. 5.14.20 21. Wrath Strife Covetousness Emulations Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revelling and such like things in which Turks Mahometans outward Jews and Heathens are generally too apt to be sound and all that are in these or any of these things though they profess Christianity are yet but as in the same ground with them and so little distinction but in Name can be made betwixt them But they that are faithfully given up in their Hearts and Minds to obey the light the saving Grace of God it teacheth them to live soberly Gal. 5.22 23 24. righteously and godly in this present World and so to live in peace love long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness and temperance and so here is a clear distinction between these who are true Christians and these called turks Mahometans outward Jews and Heathens who generally live in ungodliness and worldly Lusts though some of them for Temperance and Moderation have far exceeded many Professors of Christianity who unworthily claimed the Name of Christians But they seem to imitate the Jews who have and plead for Typical Ceremonies Heb. 9.9 10.11 12. and Ordinances for Meats and Drinks and divers Washings and Observations of certain Days Gal. 2. and Times wherein they command to abstain from some sorts of Meats or from labour but they seem to exceed the Jews concerning Times of Marriage Col. 2. who forbid Marriage at some particular Days Rom. 14.6 or Months or Times or to their Priests some forbid Marriage at any time But such were Prophesied of by the Apostle of Christ who accounted forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats 1 Tim. 4.1 2
of People The Number of the Slain in the other Three Provinces not being upon Record with the Burning of Hundreds in England in the Reign of the Popish Queen Mary with the dreadful Cruel Spanish Inquisition and several others of Popish Massacres too large here to be inserted And so though the Popes of Rome have pretended to Christianity and have called themselves Vicars of Christ yet they and their Adherents have been as Cruel and as Bloody Persecutors of Christians as the Roman Emperors who hated Christianity were before them and have equalled if not exceeded the said Emperors in their Cruel and Barbarous Murders acted with all manner of Cruelty that possibly could be Invented which stands upon Record that all may see it read Clark's Martyrology and Fox's Acts and Monuments and a Book called Ireland's Tears and the History of the Churches of Piedmont Collected and Compiled by Samuel Morland in the Year 1658. And not only have the Popes been Persecutors where they could prevail by means of the Kings or Governours of the Nations but also they have Lorded it over Emperors and Kings Deposing and setting Up at their Pleasure whom they thought meet for their Purposes as the Apostle Peter never did And thus Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth hath Reigned over the Kings of the Earth who have given their Strength and Power unto the Scarlet-coloured Beast that hath carried her which ascendeth out of the Bottomless Pit and goeth into Perdition and this false Church this Woman this Whore this great City that hath made all Nations to drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Forâ—ication which she hath handed forth to them in a Golden Cup she hath been and is drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus and her Sins have reached unto Heaven therefore shall her Plagues come in one day and she shall be utterly Burnt with Fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Rev. 17 and 18 Chapters And all that err from rebel against and believe not in the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts they will be found in Babylon the City of Confusion and how great or large soever their Professoâ—â— of Christianity may be yet in that great Day of the Lord which hasteth apace such will be found in an Antichristian Estate and Partakers of the Sins of Babylon and consequently must receive of her Plagues Rev. 18.4 And now the Light the Voice of God's mighty Power calleth unto all for Faithfulness and Obedience thereunto and that all that are in Babylon who have not yet quite out lived the Day of their Visitation may come out of her and may be no longer Partakers of her Sins lest they Eternally partake and receive of her Plagues And all that hearken to the Grace of God the Light and Voice of Christ Jesus in their own Hearts and Consciences and believing therein Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. continue in Faithfulness and Obedience thereunto such shall more and more come to know the Effectual Working thereof even to the redeeming of their Souls from all iniquity and the purifying of their Hearts and purging of their Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God and they shall know the Ancient Prophecy fulfilled in them That the Lord will pour Ezek. 36.25 to 31. Heb. 8 9 10 Chapters or sprinkle clean Water upon them that they may be clean from all their Filthiness and Idolatry which is false Worship that is out of his Spirit and that he will give them a new Heart and put a new Spirit within them And such shall see the Sun Rev. 9.2 and the Air clear again which have been darkned by reason of the Smoak of the Bottomless Pit and shall know the Sun of Righteousness to arise upon them with healing in his Wings Mal. 4.2 Rev. 21.24 Rev. 22.14.17 2 Thes 2.3 to 10. and a walking with them that are saved in the Light of the Lamb and shall know to do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and take of the Water of Life freely and such will witness a growing up into him in all things who is the Head of his Church Christ Jesus from whom the whole Body fitly joined together Eph. 4.15 16. and compacted by that which every Joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh Increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in Love And the Members of that Body are faithful Stewards of the Grace of God Tit. 2.11 12. Mat. 13.10 11 Mar. 4.10 11 Luk. 8.9 10. John 14.17 to 27. Joh. 7.16 17 Joh. 8.31 32 1 Joh. 2.27 which bringeth Salvation and teacheth them that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts they should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world And it is only they who are truly taught of the Grace of God which hath appeared to all Men that are true Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God for they are the Disciples of Christ unto whom it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but unto others it is not given but they are as Parables to them Now the Grace of God teacheth none to Persecute about Religion nor to make Merchandize of People through Covetousness with feigned words as the Popes and other sorts of Priests have done and so though the Popes have professed to be Peter's Successors and to sit in Peter's Chair and to have the Stewardship of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven yet they have been and are found not only out of the Faith wherein the Apostle Peter served God but to be such false Prophets as Peter Prophesied of 2 Pet. 2.1 to â—0 and so not faithful Stewards of the Grace of God being not willing to be taught by it in their own Hearts and so for all their Learning and for all their Talk and for all their Splendor of Profession they are ignorant of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven wherein they pretend to be Stewards For the Apostle Peter said to Simon the Sorcerer who offered Money saying Acts 8.18 19 20. Give me also this power c. Thy Money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with Money thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter so Peter was far from selling the Gift of God and Pardon of Sin is the Gift of God though the Popes and Priests for Money have pretended that they could Sell Pardons c. And so all the Offerers or Pretenders to Sell the Spiritual Gifts of God for Money as well as they who desire for any outward thing to Buy the same of any Man they have neither Part nor Lot in the true Stewardship of the Grace of God nor of the Mysteries thereof but all their Worship their Sacrifices Offerings and Prayers in that state are
pretend to be Spiritual Physicians though they confess themselves to be all overspread with the Contagion and Leprosie of Sin and believe that they and all People must be so whilst their Bodies live for their Preaching and Confessing is to that effect and so they are not like to Cure others of it though they hold their Trade of advising People against Sin that brings this Contagion and Leprosie upon them and others might as needfully advise the Pretended Physicians for they themselves know not how to be rid of their Leprosie yet these Pretenders claim and rob and make havock of Peoples Goods and cast them into Prison for Tythes and Wages for their Advice and pay for their unprofitable Physick though People have not had it nor would have neither Buy any of their deadly Physick And so they are worse than Gehazi who when his Master Elisha would receive nothing though freely offered for the Cure of the Leprosie of Naaman the Syrian being thro' Elisha's Advice 2 Kings 5. by dipping himself Seven times in Jordan fully performed yet this Gehazi being Covetous ran after Naaman and took somewhat of that he offered to Elisha which was given to Gehazi very freely and yet Elisha by the Manifestation of the Spirit of God knowing what he had done said to his Servant Gehazi The Leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and unto thy Seed for ever and he went out from his presence a Leper as white as Snow And now these Pretenders to be Spiritual Physicians though the Cure never be performed nor can be by their Directions and though People have nothing of Advice or Physick from them they are like Gehazi and so of his Seed spiritually for Gifts and Rewards yea and more for Tythes and Wages for their Advice or Physick and take it by force and so worse than their Father Gehazi and so the Leprosie of Naaman which clave unto Gehazi and unto his Seed cleaveth unto these Pretenders being spiritually of Gehazi his Seed and so they are all spiritually Lepers as indeed they know it and confess themselves to be spiritually Leprous being sensible of it by the Light in their own Hearts which they hate because it reproveth for their unrighteous Doings and the Children of the Light see their Leprosie which cleaveth to them spiritually to be even as white as Snow so plain to be seen But the Light of Christ Jesus which reproveth for Sin in the Hearts and in the Consciences of People though it may be despised and rejected 2 Kings 5.11 12. as Naaman despised Jordan before he tryed it as in the Love of it any receiveth it and with a true Heart obeyeth it it will direct such a one to the spiritual Jordan which is by Interpretation the River of Judgment which is inwardly to be known where Christ Baptizeth with his Holy Spirit and washeth away the Contagious Leprosie of Sin and healeth the Bruises and Wounds and loathsom putâ—ifying Sores which Sin had made in the Soul as the dipping and washing in it is time after time abode in and that in true faithfulness and therefore they who have tryed the Vertue of it do freely recommend the tryal of its Vertue to all who are ignorant of it and are willing to be recovered from the spiritual Leprosie of Sin And now I heartily acknowledge my great Errour who being in a wretched sinful state my self did undertake and promise for Infants that which I then believed impossible for me ever to perform my self to wit That they should forsake the Devil and all his Works and keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the Days of their lives Oh what an abominable thing is it thus to Promise and Vow unto God who knoweth the Secrets of all Hearts that Children shall do that which a Man who promiseth it believeth that he shall never be able to do himself God accepteth of no such Sureties For it is a Ridiculous thing amongst Man for a Man to become Surety for the Debt of others that is never like to be able to pay the one half of his own Debt And then certainly God will not so be mocked and therefore let this serve for a warning to all that hear or read this that they undertake no such thing for the Lord will plead with all who are found in such things by his Light in their Consciences and he will fight against them with the Sword of his Mouth Rev. 2.16 Acts 3.22 23. Joh. 13.7 8 9. and every Soul that will not hear his Voice the Word of his Grace and Light in their Hearts and Consciences and suffer him thereby to wash them in his spiritual Baptism they have no part in him but shall be cut off And though some pretend that the Children sprinkled may receive Benefit by the Faith of their Sureties 1 King 17.17 to 24. 2 King 4.18 to 37. Luke 8.49 Luke 7.10 called Godfathers and Godmothers and alledge Examples to prove it as the Widows Son being raised to Life and Jairus Daughter also by the Faith of their Parents and the Centurions Servant restored to Health by the Faith of his Master and such others but this proveth nothing at all to their purpose for there is no mention made of Godfathers nor Godmothers nor of them promising any thing for the Parties restored nor yet of Water Baptism nor of paying the Priest for it and the Lord is often pleased and hath been formerly to answer the Desires and Cries that he hath begotten in the Hearts of his Faithful Ones upon the behalf of others in making them Instrumental in his Hand for the Benefit of whom it pleaseth him but it doth not follow that God requireth one Man to be Surety for another and especially to perform that which he believeth he cannot not perform himself Rom. 14.12 Mat. 12.36 but every one must give account of himself to God and that of every idle word And what a Ridiculous Prophane and Foolish thing doth it appear to be and without the least Ground of Scripture to Teach Children to say Such a one is my Godfather 2 Cor. 1.11 12. or Godmother Is it not far more absurd than that which Paul reproved the Corinthians for because they said I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cophas and I of Christ Nevertheless it is of absolute Necessity to Salvation that every one be truly careful to perform that which they say was promised in their Baptism to wit That they should forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flish but do not their Teachers teach them when they have their Money and this Promise of them to believe that they cannot perform this Promise whilst they live in this World And is not that confused Baptizing and Teaching And how should it be otherwise being composed in Babylon that is in Confusion in the False
the spirit And John the Apostle of Christ often exhorteth him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit saith Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. and 3.6 13 22. And by the preaching of the true Ministers of Christ many came to receive the Teachings of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost which is the same and were led by it Rom. 8.16 Isa 54.13 14. Jer. 31.32.33 John 6.45 Heb. 8.10.11 and so became Children of God And it was truly said among them the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God and so they were all taught of God as it was Prophesied of them They were taught of God by his Grace Light Spirit or Word being one and the same though called by several other Names and Appellations besides what is before here written according to the most suitable Expressions whereby to shew the Operations and Effects of it to the Understandings and Capacities of all The Apostle John likewise calleth it the Unction Joh. 2.20.27 or Anointing writing thus Ye have an Unction from the Holy One and ye know all things and again the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him This and much more to the same purpose was the Doctrine of the true Christian Ministers as the Scriptures of Truth more at large declare and the true Ministers of Christ preach the same in our Age and Generation And as the true Ministers of Christ in his Authority preached his Divine Word Light Grace and Spirit so by the same they preached up the Liberty of his Gospel and true Christian Dispensation and preached down the use of the Ceremonies of the Jewish Law though formerly commanded of God and given by Moses his Servant which was then to cease being abolished by the Death of Christ they being in their time for Shadows and Types of good things to come by Christ but he the Substance being come having as they truly preached nailed them to his Cross and taken them out of the way they were not then to be used by them who had received the free and glorious liberty of his substantial Everlasting Gospel in the inward Spiritual Dispensation of his Word Light Grace and Spirit in their Hearts and Souls whereby they knew the glorious Liberty of the free-born Children of God they were not then to be subject to Ordinances neither burthened with Traditions nor to observe Days and Times as may at large be read in the holy Scriptures particularly in these places Gal. 4.9 10. Gal. 5.2 to 8. Eph. 2.13 to 17. Col. 2.14 to 23. Rom. 7.6 Heb. 7.11 12. But the deceitful Antichristian Ministers could not bring any into the True Faith which is in the Name Light Grace and Spirit of Christ for they were out of it themselves and were not faithful but disobedient to the Light and hated it and would not bring their own Deeds thereto lest they should be reproved thereby For though they might talk and preach of the Name Word Grace Light or Spirit of Christ and speak there of great swelling words to allure and draw others after them yet all that was but in disobedience to Christ and in deceit and therefore they could not by such Preaching bring any into the true Faith of Christ who is the Truth nor bring any to believe in his Light and Grace which they hated and did despite unto And the true Ministers preached that true Christians had put off the old Man with his deeds Col. 3.9 10 11 and had put on the new Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor free but Christ is all and in all and they preached up a Spiritual Circumcision saying That he is not a Jew which is one outwardly Rom. 2.28 29. neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God And again saying to some Ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ being buried with him in Baptism Col. 2.11 12. to â—â—c end wherein you are also risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God And it is plain that the Apostle here meant no outward Ordinance of Circumcision nor of Baptism for he writes after in the same Chapter thus If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or burdened with Traditions as some Translate it touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh concerning which things he warned them lest any Man should beguile them or spoil them through Philosophy or vain Deceit after the Tradition of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Read the Second Chapter to the Colossians And the same Apostle said Phil. 3.3 We are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh which sheweth plainly that they were Jews inwardly and of the inward Circumcision as all true Christians are And this agreeth with the Doctrine of Christ himself who said to the Samaritan Ye Worship ye know not what we know what we Worship for Salvation is of the Jews John 4.22 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seekethsâ—â—â—h to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth So the Worship of the true Christians was in Spirit and in the Truth and in the obedience of the Spirit of Truth and not in outward Ordinances Observations of Times Will-worship nor in Acts of voluntary Humility and accordingly in the demonstration of the Spirit the true Christian Ministers preached and not in the words that Man's Wisdom teacheth but which the same Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost teacheth which preaching is foolishness to the natural Man 1 Cor. 2.13 14. for he receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that yields obedience to the Light or Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every Man to profit withal he cometh to discern his own Estate and
Coming even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of Vnrighteousness in them that perish Now in as much as he who is called the man of sin the Son of perdition and the wicked one is truly said to be in them that perish it is evident that he first by his deceit drawing them into disobedience to the Light and Spirit of God had beguiled and deceived them and so by the working of his deceitful power 1 Cor. 3.10 17. had gotten in them an usurped place of exaltation above the Light and Spirit of God which he had tempted them to disobey 1 Cor. 6.19 and oppose in themselves and so he and his dark power thereby was exalted in them above the Light Power and Spirit of God whose Temple true Christians are And so the Devil the Man of Sin sitteth in the Temple of God or that which ought to be the Temple of God being exalted above all that is called God or that is worshipped in and by them that obey him And let all mark that he is to be consumed and destroyed with the Spirit of God and with the Light or brightness of Christ when he comes to rule and reign in People whose right it is and that is when his Light or Voice in their Heart is obeyed And so though those who disobey the Light of Christ in themselves may yet in words confess him Rom 1.16 1 Cor. 1.18 24 and profess Christianity yet they by disobedience to his Light which is the Word of his Power who is the Wisdom and Power of God in yielding to and embracing the allurements drawings and temptations of the wicked One thereby he getteth the power over them and begetteth them into a belief of his Power perswading them that it is impossible for them while they live in this World to be set free from the ruling or prevailing of his Power over them And so he whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs Ephes 2 2. Ephes 5.2 3 4 5 6. and Lying Wonders who is the Prince of the Power of the Air he worketh in the Children of Disobedience and he ruleth and hath all the power and prevalency in and over such whom he holdeth in such a Belief or Faith that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death while they live in this World which is a dead Faith and never like to give Victory over the World nor over Death nor him that hath the power of Death which is the Devil nor over his Works And so such through disobedience to the Light of Christ which is the Word of Life Phil. 2.16 Prov. 6.23 Prov. 21.16 and the Reproofs of its Instruction the Way of Life are wandred from the Way of Life and Understanding and remain in the Congregation of the Dead Ephes 2.1 and are dead in Trespasses and Sins and are never like to be by a dead Faith recovered to Life to live to God in Christ Jesus in whom is Eternal Life and such may contend for their dead Faith But the Faith which true Christians are earnestly to contend for â—ude 3. Eph. 6.16 Phil. 1.27 Rom. 10.8 1 Tim. 6.12 1 John 5.4 Chap. 2.13 14. which was once delivered to the Saints stands in the Word of God's Power which is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nïgh in the Mouth and in the Heart and this is a Living Faith and gives Victory and overcometh as the true Christians testified And so they that in their dead Faith believe no overcoming the wicked One on this side the Grave they believe quite contrary to the true Christians as the Apostle John testified of them to whom he wrote 1 John 4.4 saying Ye have overcome the wicked One and though he writes 1 John 1.8 9 10. saying If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us yet he writes in the next words after If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness If we say that we have not sinned we make him a lyar and his Word is not in us Now if the said Words to wit If we say that we have no Sin c. which some greatly object in this case be taken as they are in the common Translations yet that will not import the Apostle himself to be included as the Scripture hath such Expressions for the Apostle James speaking of the Tongue saith Therewith curse we Men c. James 3.9 And Paul saying Let us Eat and Drink for to morrow we dye 1 Cor. 15.32 Who can conclude from hence that the Apostle James was a Curser of Men Or that Paul was one of those luxurious Ones who used that saying about Eating and Drinking which was reproved by the Prophet Isa 22.13 and 56.12 Or who can from the Apostle John's Words here conlude that he then had Sin For as the Apostle James explained his saying of the Tongue to wit Therewith Curse we Men by saving presently after thus My Brethren these things ought not to be so vers 10. And as Paul also explained himself when he said Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye by saying forthwith Be not deceived evil Communications corrupt good Manners c. vers 33 34. So also the Apostle John in this place after that which some translate thus to wit If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us which might relate to the Conditions of others though not to his own present condition saith in the very next words thus If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness Now is not all Sin Unrighteousness And therefore what can be more plain than that the Apostle here declareth that upon Confession and Repentance true Believers are not only forgiven but also come to be cleansed from Sin And doth he not also in the next Words before those that are objected as well as after fully declare the same speaking of the Light which they that love Sin do not love thus If we walk in the Light c. we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And moreover according to said the common Translation if any should think the Apostle John here to be included yet he doth not say that we sin daily in Thought Word and Deed nor that the best Performances of the Children of God are sinful or mix'd with Sin as the pleaders for Sin for term of Life say therefore what he said importeth not the matter they contend for But according to those Translators much approved by Protestants Beza and Pasor and others the aforesaid objectible Words of the Apostle John are to be rendred thus
to wit If we have said us not to have Sin the Latin words being thus si dixerimus nos peccatum non habere which are according to the signification of the Greek words in which the Apostle wrote which are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which implieth the time past and that there had been a time wherein they could not have truly said that they had no Sin See Beza's Latin Testament and Pasor's Lexicon But that all are to continue in Sin while in this World the Words of the said Apostle here are very plain to the contrary to wit If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins 1 John 1.7 and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness And again If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another 1 John 2.1 to 10. and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And again My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And speaking of Christ he saith He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the truth is not in him And again saith he Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure And again Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let no man deceive you it seemeth there were pleader for Sin then he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God in this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil By all which and many other Scripture sayings it is evident that the Faith of those who believe that they cannot be free from sinning but must carry a Body of Sin and a Body of Death while they are in this World is quite contrary to the Faith and Testimony of true Christians For the Faith of true Christians is in Christ the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.2 and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2.5 2 Cor. 13.3.4 5. 1 John 4.4 Phil. 2.13 Rom. 6.18 22. Jude 24. and that he is greater that is in them than the Prince of the power of the Air he that is in the World and that he must rule in them whose right it is who worketh in them both to will and to do and their Faith is that he is more able to cleanse and keep them free from Sin as true Christians were and are than the Devil is to lead them to Sin the Wages whereof is Death which the Servants thereof must have And so though those whose Faith is dead being servants of Sin may profess Christ who is a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Ephes 2.1 2 to 7. and quickned and quickneth them that truly believe in him who were dead in Trespasse and Sins yet in that dead Faith they cannot enjoy the benefit which true Christians did Rom. 8.1 2. and do enjoy which is to be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus for according to their Faith so it is unto them For as the People of Christ's own Country were offended at him for his Wisdom and his mighty Works and being astonished said Mark 6.1 to 7. Mat. 13.54 to 58. Whence hath this Man this Wisdom and these mighty Works Is not this the Carpenter's Son is not kis Mother called Mary and his Brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas and his Sisters are they not all with us whence then hath this Man all these things And he did not many mighty Works there because of their unbelief So they that are offended at the Light of Christ in his Spiritual Appearance in their Hearts that shews them their Sins and reproveth them in their Souls and Consciences for all their Offences against it insomuch that they are sometimes astonished thereby yet say they Is not this the Check of a Natural Conscience Is not this a Natural Light that we are born and bred up with are not our Vnderstandings and Knowledge in Arts and Sciences Brethren and Sisters to it whence hath it these things And there cannot in such be mighty Works done because of their Unbelief But true Christians who have believed in the Light Rom. 8.11 Ephes 2. Rom. 6.1 2 to the end Gal. 2.20 1 Pet. 4.6 Phil. 2.13 the Manifestation of the quickning Spirit of Christ in their Hearts and Souls they have as they have been faithful in the obecience of it known by the effectual working of it in themselves a being raised from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness and that where Sin hath abounded Grace doth much more abound and so to the Praise and Glory of God they live by Faith in the quickning Spirit of Christ in them But they that believe that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death with them while they live in this World and that the Devil's power and spirit must prevail in them so long as they live how can the Faith of such or their Works either honour God or Christ or his Power And they that deny Freedom from Sin being attainable while in this Life 1 Joh. 3.8 Jer. 23.6 Chap. 33.16 Dan. 9.24 deny the very end and purpose of Christ's coming which is to destroy the Works of the Devil and to put an end to Sin and to finish Transgression Rom. 8.3 4. and bring in Everlasting Righteousness and therefore it was prophesied that he should be called Mat. 21.1 The Lord our Righteousness and likewise it was said Thou shalt call his Name Jesus which is Saviour for he shall save his People from their Sins But are such his People or how doth he save them from their Sins who sin while they live in this World And likewise they that deny that Perfection to true Christians who are Saints is attainable while they live Eph. 4.11 to 17. they deny the very end of the true Christian Ministry which is for the perfecting of the Saints but they that are imperfect till they dye how doth the Work of the Ministry perfect them Eccles 11.3 or doth the Death of the Body perfect them for as the Tree falleth so shall it lie And if any believe that the Power of God if faithfully obeyed is able to make them free from Sin and so perfect one minute of an hour before Death why may they not as well believe that the same Power is able to make them so Heb. 13.8 Psal 111.3 10. two Minutes or two
Hours or two Months or two Years before Death for that Power is the same for ever and the Righteousness and Praise thereof endureth for ever And they that think themselves to be true Christians and Members of Christ and yet believe that they and every other Member of his Body while in this World must be as the pleaders for Sin commonly confess themselves full of Bruises and Wounds and putrifying Sores which daily and continually renewed Sin makes in them from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot 1 Cor. 6.15 16. Chap. 12.12 to 27. Eph. 4.15 16. Chap. 5.26 27. 1 John 4.17 such surely suppose that Christ hath a very corrupt putrid imperfect Body which is his Church contrary to what the Apostle Paul speaks of it being holy and without blemish spot or wrinkle or any such thing and contrary to what the Apostle John wrote saying Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this World speaking of God which he truly could not have said if they had not been free from Sin but full of Bruises Wounds and putrifying Sores which Sin makes in the Soul but contrary to that he saith plainly This is the Love of God 1 John 5.3 that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous And although there be some three places in the Scriptures which are translated as if they implied that all men sin to wit Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not And 1 Kings 8.46 and 2 Chron. 6.36 If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not Yet in all the said places the Latin Translations as Iunius Tremellius and Vatablus render it instead of that sinneth not that may not sin or cannot sin it being the very same Word that is used in Psalm 119.11 to wit I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I may not sin against thee And any sensible one may see that it is imperfect Sence to say If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not for if all Men sin continually there would be no occasion here to say if they sin but it is good sence to say if they sin against thee for there is no Man that may not sin or that cannot sin which only implieth a possibility and not a continuation of Sin as likewise the next Verse but one after the last mentioned places doth where it is said If they turn unto thee that is to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul which Words plainly intimate a possibility to leave Sin for such a turning is certainly no Sin But there is no Man but he may sin if he be not continually watchful in the Light against the Man of Sin the Devil who is continually endeavouring to tempt Mankind to sin but as Man waits in the true Light of Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Jam. 4.7 which is the Word of Faith and the Word of God's Power in his Heart and Soul as he is truly faithful in the obedience of it and walketh in it he cometh to feel Power in the Faith of it to resist the Devil in all his Temptations and the Devil will flee from such a one and hath not power to take him captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 as he hath over his own whom he perswades that it is impossible for them to recover themselves from under his sinful power Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 while they live in this World and so they confess that their best Daties are intermix'd with Sin and so they are for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and it is plain that such are not turned to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul whatsoever they profess For the Holy Scriptures say plainly That as many as received Christ and believed on his Name John 1.1 to 14. Rev. 19.13 Rom. 10.8 1 John 3.1 to the end which is called the Word of God which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God and such do not commit Sin But admit that the common English Translation of the aforesaid Words of Solomon were true Heb. 7.19 Heb. 9.9 Heb. 10.1 to 24. yet that was under the time of the Law which could not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and that which was not attainable under that Law may by the Grace of God be attained in a Gospel state Rom. 8.1 to 5. And although the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans saith The Good that I would I do not but the Evil that I would not Rom. 7.9 to 25. that I do Yet it is plain by what he wrote before and after that in the same Epistle that he wrote not of his own then present condition but of himself as well as others passing thro' that Condition for in that continued kind of Speech he likewise there saith I am carnal sold under Sin but a little before he had told them Rom. 8.7 the Carnal Mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be And saith he The Natural or Carnal Man cannot receive the Things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 for they are fool shness unto him neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned And in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans aforesaid he expresseth himself to be able to impart unto them Spiritual Gifts Rom. 1.11 which a Carnal Man could not do By which it is plain that when he wrote that Epistle he was not Carnal sold under Sin neither a Servant of Sin and therefore he was in another condition than he had been in of which he wrote the said objectible Words And that which renders it more plain is that in the same Epistle before the said Words Rom. 6.16 to 24. he gave testimony of the Romans to whom he wrote that they were made free from Sin and become Servants of Righteousness and Servants to God But they that are carnal sold under Sin are not so for how can they be free from Sin who remain carnal sold under Sin And the Apostle immediately after that kind of Speech which intimated his former condition declared plainly that he had when he wrote that Epistle attained to a better state for in the conclusion of that kind of speech he writes thus I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my Members O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Now for what doth he give thanks
said the Apostle Paul but how doth any obey unto Righteousness or how is any right in the sight of God that doth continue in Sin during Life for the same Apostle plainly intimateth the contrary concerning true Christians in his repeated Question and Answer saying Rom. 6.1 2 15. Shall we continue in sin God forbid And so it is plain that those who continue in Sin Acts 6.7 Rom. 1.5 Rom. 16.26 Eph. 6.11 16. Joh. 2.13 and believe that they must do so while they live they are out of the Obedience of the Faith of Christ in which true Christians are and they want the Shield thereof wherewith true Christians are able to quench all the fiery Darts of the wicked One And so though such may strive or talk of striving against Sin yet they are never like to get the Victory while they take not the only right Weapon Eph. 6.17 Rom. 10.8 or Shield which is Faith in his Word the Word of Faith nigh in the Mouth Rom. 13.12 and in the Heart which is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Light that truly manifesteth the Deeds of Darkness which while they are out of the Faith they know not how to put off nor how to put on the Armour of Light aright And such are unlearned in the Mystery of that Faith which is held in a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 Luke 17.21 and in the Mystery of Godliness and of the Kingdom oâ— God which is within and they are also unstable and double-minded who would have their Sins and continue in them while they live and have Heaven at their latter end notwithstanding and that is double mindedness James 1.8 and a double minded Man is unstabe in all his Ways And so being unlearned and unstable they wrest the Scriptures to their own Destruction in pleading for Sin all the while they live which is the very upholding of the Kingdom of the Prince of Darkness for they can be his subjects in this World no longer and none are his subjects but the disobedient to the Light of Christ in themselves and they are subjects to him and his Power and consequently in his Dominion Rev. 16.10 Evh. 5.11 to 15. John 3.18 to 21. Empire and Kingdom which is full of Darkness working the Works of Darkness which Works are reproved and manifested by the true Light in themselves which they hate and rebel against which is their Condemnation let them profess what they will But they that believe in the Light of Christ in their own Hearts and Consciences and are faithful in obedience thereunto come to know deliverance from the Power of Darkness Col. 1.12 13. and Translation while in this World into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God and are made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light And let all that believe not this great Work of God to be possible beware lest that come upon them which was spoken of by the Prophet and the Apostle saying Behold ye Despisers and wonder and perish Hab. 1.5 Acts 13.40 41. for I work a Work in your days which you shall in no wise believe though a Man declare it unto you And although the Apostle James writes saying In many things we offend all James 3.2 yet he saith in the very next Words If any Man offend not in Word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole Body which is nothing against Perfection being attainable or a being made free from Sin and able to bridle and govern the whole Body And again he saith speaking of the Tongue Therewith bless we God even the the Father James 3.9.10 and therewith curse we Men which are made after the similitude of God out of the same Mouth proceedeth Blessing and Cursing my Brethren these things ought not so to be So they that will say that the Apostle here speaketh of himself in many things offending may as truly say that he proclaimeth himself to be a Curser which he here reproveth for the manner of speaking is in both alike being in one continued kind of Speech And the same Apostle writes saying lay a side all filthiness and all Sin is filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engraffed Word James 1.21 22 23 24. which is able to save your Souls but be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves for if any be a hearer of the Word and not a doer he is a like a Man beholding his natural Face in a Glass for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of Man he was This engraffed Word which is able to save the Soul is the Word of God's Salvation which he hath prepared before the Face of all People Luk 2.30 â—1 32. Tit. 2.11 12. Rom. 10.8 a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of his People who are Israclites indeed And it is the Word of God's Grace which bringeth Salvation and hath appeared to all Men teaching true Christians And it is the Word of Faith which is near in the Mouth and in the Heart which the Apostles preached Psal 119.9 10 11. and this is the Word which David hid in his Heart that he might not sin against God and he accounted the only means whereby a Young Man may cleause his Way is by taking heed thereto according to this Word which he said was Lamp unto his Feet Psal 119 105. and a Light unto his Path. And so the Apostle James biddeth to be Doers and not hearers only of this Word comparing them that hear and do not to him that beholdeth his natural Face in a Glass c. for they thereby see and know their condition to be sinful and miserable because of Disobedience but not truly taking heed to this Word that according to the teaching thereof their Ways might be cleansed so they go from it and more and more forget their sinful condition and what manner of Persons they are how filthy by reason of sin Rev. 21.27 and how unfit they are for the Kingdom of Heaven which no Unclean thing can enter And it is the Man of Sin that is the Devil that tempteth People into disobedience to the Word or Light of Christ in their Hearts James 4 7. but the said Apostle James saith Submit your selves unto God resist the Devil and he will flee from you And certainly none truly submit themselves unto God but they that submit to and obey his Light the Word of his Grace in their own Hearts So then if the Devil who is the author and original of all Sin will flee when he is resisted stedfastly in the Faith he being fled those that he is fled from are not surely continually sinning but Christ who puts an end to Sin Jer. 23.6 Jer. 33.16 Dan 9.24 and finisheth Transgression in them bringeth in Everlasting Righteousness and such
can truly call him according to the Prophecies of Old the Lord our Righteousness Rom. 8.4 9 10 14. and this is to be fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh Gal. 5.25 1 John 1.7 but after the Spirit and in the Light and Manifestation thereof And they that truly examine themselves and prove themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.3 Gal. 2.20 Col. 1 2â— they may know how that Jesus Christ the Lord their Righteousness is in them except they be Reprobates thus the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 13. who through weakness in the Faith sought a Proof of Christ speaking in him which speaking of Christ he affirmeth was to themwards not weak but was mighty in them By which it is evident that where the Man of Sin hath prevailed by his deceitful power in and upon any when such come by the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in themselves to be convinced of their Sins and made willing to resist the wicked One in the Faith of Christ the Power of God yet it seemeth not easie at the first for such to believe in the mighty Speakings of Christ the Power of God in themselves nor to believe in Christ's Ability to save and cleanse them from all Sin and that he is able with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume and destroy the Man of Sin and his Works in them For while People yield their Members Servants to Sin and profess Christianity the Man of Sin in themselves and by his Instruments outwardly is ready to perswade them either that a Priest can forgive them or pronounce Forgiveness to them for their Sins as not only the Popish Priests but others as for instance the Author of the Book called The Practice of Piety teach and that so they may be absolved from their Sins or else he would perswade them as he doth too many That they must have the Righteousness of Christ only imputed to them wholly without them to justifie them though they be not inwardly sanctified by the Word of his Power in their Hearts and though they be continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed against his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Consciences and that they must believe that they must only be saved by the Meriâ—s of Christ's Death and Sufferings which he suffered for them now above Sixteâ—n Hundred Years since without the Gates of Jerusalem to satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins but they must not expect to be free from Sin but to be continually sinning while they live in this World So the Man of Sin the Devil will suffer his Servants to make as large a shew of Christianity as they can so that they will continue in Sin that is in Service and Slavery to him and his Power but he willeth not to have them believe that they must be saved from their Sins by the precious Blood of Christ which he hath shed for them Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.12 13 14. Eph. â—2 5 nor that they must be saved from their Sins and redeemed from all Iniquity by the Grace of God in their own Hearts Heb. 2.9 by which all true Christians were and are saved and by which Christ tasted Death for every Man and the Man of Sin would have People to believe Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.18 22. Heb 8.10 that while they are in this World they cannot be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus as true Christians witnessed that they were and that Law was in their Hearts Thus the Prince or Ruler of Darkness keeps many in subjection to his dark Power and Spirit so that they consider not that they who live in Sin Heb. 6.6 and in disobedience to the Light of Christ's Spirit in themselves crucifie Christ afresh and put him to open shame whereas the Apostle said Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Gal. 5.24 they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts And the Apostle John writes He that saith he abideth in Christ as true Christians do ought himself also to walk even as be walked 1 Joh. 2.6 1 John 4.13 And said he Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him 1 John 3 5 6 7. little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous And the Apostle Paul saith The Church is subject to Christ in every thing but they that live in Sin are not so and that he gave himself for it Eph. 5.24 25 26 27. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word which is nigh that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And again he writes The Weapons of our Warsare are not Carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. casting down Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ And now let all that profess Christianity examine and prove themselves whether or no they be thus subjected to Christ for though he be the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Heb. 2.9 Job 10.14 15. Nah. 1.3 Rom. 2.6 to 10. Rev. 22.12 John 1.4 and though by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man yet he will not acquit the Wicked but as he is a righteous Judge he will render to every Man according to his Deeds and how shall those escape that neglect his great Salvation and rebel against his Light which is his Life which they crucifie and oppress in themselves by Sin in their Affections and Lusts They are not like to escape the Righteous Judgments of God who disobey the Light of his Spirit in their Hearts and obey the Man of Sin the Devil who tempts them so to do and so they yielding to his Temptations are taken captive by his power which cometh through disobedience to God to be exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped and so he swayes and rules them being his Subjects by his dark power who ought as true Christians are to be subject to the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in their Hearts And so according to the perswasion of him whose power prevails over them many believe Gen. 17.1 Mat. 5.48 1 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 3 4 5 6. and plead that none though assisted by the Grace and Power of God can keep the Commandments of God nor be freed from Sin
nor be made perfect while they live in this World And they may as well say plainly that God is an hard Master and commands Impossibilities or that he is unjust in requiring and commanding his People and Children to forsake all Sin and to be perfect but doth not afford them sufficient means or power so to do and so they seem to render God more unjust then the evil Men of which Christ spake If ye being evil Mat. 7.11 Luke 16.13 know how to give good Gifts to your Children how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things or give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him And also they may as well say that Christ promised that which he will not or cannot perform Mat. 7.7 and 21 22. Maâ—k 11.24 Luk. 11.9 John 16.23 24. for he said Whatsoever ye ask in Prayer believingly or in my Name ye shall receive or it shall be given unto you Now probably all Professor of Christianity will confess that all ought according to Christ's Command to Pray for Freedom from Sin and Perfection while they are in this World and that believingly too but if they believe that it is not attainable to what purpose then should they Pray continually for it For they that Pray and not in the Faith do not obtain what they pray for but if their Faith were in the Light and Power of Christ it might be otherwise with them for why may not Perfection be attainable as well in our Age which is under a Gospel Dispensation as it was before as the Scriptures of Truth testifie For Enoch walked with God which no Man while sinning can do Gen 5.22 Gen. 6 9 22. And Noah was a Just Man and perfect in his Generation and walked with God and it is said that according to all that God commanded him so did he Job 1.8 and 2.3 Luke 1.6 And Job was a Perfect and Upright Man And Zacharias and Elizabeth were both Righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Who can believe that these before mentioned were actually sinning And these were before or in the time of the outward Law which was given by Moses who typified Christ Rom. 10.4 who is the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth And under the more glorious Dispensation of the Gospel the Scripture is very plain and largely testifieth of Christians that they were made free from Sin for the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans saith Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye have your fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life He doth not say that they were continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed and must be so during their Lives And again he writes to the Ephesians thus But God who is rich in mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in Sins hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved and hath raised us up together Eph. 2.4 5 6 10. and hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus For saith he we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath ordained that we should walk in them Those that are daily or continually sinning are far from the state the Ephesians were in Now such who hold that Perfection or Freedom from Sin is not attainable by the Grace of God in this World will commonly confess that every degree of service done to Satan is an act of treachery and disloyalty against the King of Heaven and every Sin is certainly some degree of service done to Satan therefore such may as well hold that it is impossible while in this World to do any thing but act treachery and disloyalty against God the King of Heaven but certainly Death is the reward of treachery and disloyalty and the Wages of Sin And that Perfection or a state of being made free from Sin is required of true Christians is very plain from these Scripture Testimonies Matâ—h 5 48. 2 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 4 5 6. and Chap. 3.2 to 10. Which Scriptures contain the Words of the positive Commands of Christ and his Apostles and declare an absolute necessity to leave Sin and are therefore sufficient to shew the great Mistake of those who esteem themselves true Christians or Children of God while they continue in Sin And so let every particular Male and Female examine themselves in the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts whose Servants they are whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness and whose Children they are whether Children of the Light and of God or Children of Darkness and of the Devil for they are certainly of the one and also whose power rules in their Heart whether it be the power of God or the power of the Devil for the power of one of them will rule And let all consider the Apostle's sayings that The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness See G. Pa. Lex Rom. 1.18 and Vnrightenusness of Men who hold or rather with-hold detain or suppress see G. Pasor's Lexicon the Truth in Vnrighteousness and if the Righteous scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 Pet. 3.10 11 12. Luke 21.35 where shall the Vngodly and the Sinner appear And therefore let none put afar from them the Day of the Lord which will come as a Thief in the Night and as a Snare upon all them that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth And therefore according to Christ's Admonition let all Watch and Pray continually Luke 21.36 that they may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before him that Sinners cannot stand before in the Great Day of his Wrath when the Kings of the Earth and the Great Men and the Rich Men and the chief Captains and Bondmen and Free-men Rev. 6.15 16 17. shall hide themselves and say to the Rocks and to the Mountains Fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb for the great Day of his Wrath is come and who shall be able to stand And so let all Rich and Poor High and Low of what state or condition soever consider Amos 4.13 Isa 59.18 Eccles 12.14 Jer. 25.14 Rom. 2.6 7 8 9 10. that they must appear before him who not only knows but also by his Light in their Hearts declares unto them what their Thoughts are and that they must before him give an Account of their Deeds done in the Body whether good or evil and they must be recompensed accordingly and Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish shall be upon every Soul that doth Evil but to them who do well and patiently continue in well doing glory honour peace and eternal Life And all those who love their evil Deeds or
what and the Worship of God is in Fear and Trembling before him and at his Word in the Heart and such are accepted of God and shall be accepted with him and with such he will dwell as the Scriptures largely testifie read John 4.20 to 25. Mich. 6.8 Isa 66.2 5. Ezra 9.4 and 10.3 Jer. 5.21 22. and 33.9 Psal 2.11 Dan. 6.26 And so I durst not but deny all Worships prescribed by the Wisdom of Men and set-up by Men which were not in the Spirit and Truth of God neither durst I embrace the Pleasures or Preferments of the World for I was sensible both of their danger and Vanity and that the Words of Christ were true who said If any man will come after me Luke 9.23 24 25. Luke 14.27 let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me and whosoever doth not bear his Cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple for whosoever will save his Life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his Life for my sake the same shall save it for what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole World and lose himself or be cast away And now I am not of their Perswasion who believe that there is no Salvation nor Freedom from Sin on this side the Grave and that the Souls of true Christians cannot be cleansed from Sin while their Bodies live in this World for that is contrary to the Truth and to the Testimony of the Holy Scriptures and where Sin hath a place in the Heart or Soul of any there the Man of Sin hath a place whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 9. And so much of the Worship of them in whom the Man of Sin ruleth by his Power consisteth in Ceremonies and Signs for he will allow them all Signs of that which is good so that they may be content without the Substance yea even the very Name at least in Profession or Pretence of Christians though he have quite bereaved them of the Nature of true Christians and allow them outward Signs of Baptism also at least whilst uncapable Infants which they may afterwards be told of and taught to believe that they were thereby made Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 8.10 11. although they know nothing experimentally of the one Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Spirit or Ghost and with Fire nor believe in the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in which all true Christians believe who are really Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 13.19 being led and taught by his Light and Spirit and obeying the Word of the Kingdom which is one with the Light and is sown in the Hearts of all Men. And Christ said to the unbelieving Pharisees that The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation or outward Shew neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for saith he behold Luke 17.21 the Kingdom of God is within you And why may it not as well be said now to be within those who are ignorantly seeking it without them For their Teachers teach them to believe that they were made Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven when they were Infants by their outward Baptism and yet they have it to seek and know not where it is to be found but seek it as they are taught and expect it to come with their Observations outward Shews and Signs without them and Pray at least in Words to God saying Thy Kingdom come and yet believe not in the Word of his Kingdom which is sown in their Hearts which is the Light Grace and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ which reproveth them for Sin in their Hearts and Consciences And so whilst they disobey the Word of the Kingdom the Light in themselves they are making themselves Strangers to God and his Kingdom through disobedience and so are unlike to be Inheritors of it though they make never so large a Profession of seeking it in their Observations outward Shews and Signs for there it is not to be found much less inherited And John the Baptist who baptized with Water to Repentance we read not that he baptized Infants for what should Infants repent of but he Preached saying Repene ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand So it seemeth the Kingdom of Heaven was near then and to some who came to his Baptism he said O Generation of Vipees who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance or as some translate answerable to amendment of Life for said he the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree Mat. 3. therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fare But do not Infants sprinkled with Water or Baptized as they call it afterward bring forth Fruits rather to be repented of than meet for Repentance So it seemeth they that came to John's Baptism which was with Water to Repentance if they brought not forth Fruits meet for Repentance they were little or no better being to be hewn down and cast into the Fire And where can any read that John's Baptism being outward could make any true Christians Was it not before Christ that John came Baptizing with Water and before there were any called Christians for we read not of that Name given till after the Ascension of Christ and if John's Baptism could not make Christians how should Sprinkling of Infants now or the outward Baptism of any others either It is not like that they that now take upon them to baptize either Infants or others for Money for which none can buy the Gift of God should exceed John who was sent of God Acts 8.20 and did it freely without Money And John was sent to bear witness of the Light that all Men through him might believe that was the true Light John 1.8 9 10. which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World though the World knew it not But the Baptizers Dippers and Sprinklers in our days are far from bearing witness to the true Light for they cry out against it and give it many ridiculous Names John 3.20 and Titles and this is according to the Words of Christ that Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light And what a strange thing doth it seem that any should believe which some suppose that Sprinkling an Infant with a little Water some after one manner and some after another should make it a true Christian For true Christians are Members of Christ and Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven but no Man can make them so for it is only by believing in the Light of Christ and obeying it that a
it can do them no hurt It is granted that whilst they are not capable of understanding it can neither do them hurt nor good but when they come to be taught a Lye that is to believe that by Baptism in their Infancy they were made Christians and Members of Christ that doth them much hurt as I have in my own particular experienced for because of such teachings when I was young I was ready to conclude my self to be a Christian and a Child of God whenas the Grace of God in my own Heart which they told me my Baptism was a sign of testified plainly to me that it was not so with me and that my condition was very dangerous and yet I then should have thought my self highly affronted if any Man had told me so And so I know by experience that my being taught to believe and depend upon the outward visible Sign made me to neglect the Teachings of the inward spiritual Grace of God in my own Heart and Conscience and made me more secure and careless of my Duty towards God in not answering the requirings and teachings of his Grace in order that I might be prepared to render an account to God of his Talent which he had given me and so I saw perfectly before I left them that my Teachers had deceived me as it was formerly the Leaders of the People caused them to err Isa 5.16 and they that were led of them were destroyed 〈◊〉 is recorded that Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France in the Year 1500 ordained that Infants Baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved as a Command from the Scriptures and yet many that profess Reformation from Popery and profess the Scriptures to be their Rule are contending for it and practising it to get Money by having no warrant from God nor the Scriptures of Truth for it nor any Example but Popish Tradition and such are certainly Deceivers and deceived But some may think that outward Water Baptism is a Seal of Christianity and therefore to be used because in some Cases and to some People it was used by the Apostles among the Primitive Chrisitans as they can read As to its being a Seal of Christianity if it were a Seal to one it is likewise so to others that have it and so a Seal to them all but no outward Sign is needful to be a Seal to true Christianity for it is Inward and Spiritual and therefore cannot be known by any outward Seal neither doth it admit of the impression of any such outward Seal for true Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 and so they need no outward Seal for if an outward seal would do many would get that upon their own terms and so many get outward Baptism for Money which pleaseth the Priests well though it profiteth nothing to the buyer of it But it is the true inward Spiritual Baptism of Christ that is the true Seal wherewith all true Christians are sealed to the Day of Redemption by the Spirit of God And although it is said that Abraham received the Sign of Circumcision Rom. 4.11 to 17. a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised yet it was that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised whereby it is plain that true Christians who are of the Faith of Abraham who saw the Day of Christ may truly be called Children of Abraham though they have not the Sign nor Seal of Circumcision outwardly but they who were naturally the Children of Abraham and were not in the Faith of Abraham Mat. 3.9 that would not avail them And although Circumcision of Infants was commanded by the Law of Moses which Law of Ceremonies and Types was abolished by the offering up of Christ the Substance the Antitype who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 read the 8th 9th and 10th Chapters of the Hebrews yet concerning Circumcision which was a cutting off the Foreskin of the Flesh and typified the Substantial Spiritual Circumcision by Christ Rom. 2.29 and the cutting off the foreskin of the Heart which thing true Christians witness Paul the Apostle of Christ said 1 Cor. 7.1 Circumcision is nothing nor Vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping the Commandments of God and also in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision Gal. 5.6 Gal. 6.15 but Faith which worketh by Love or a New Creature And so though some alledge that outward Water Baptism was instituted in the stead of outward Circumcision yet there is no proof for it neither doth the Apostle mention any such thing but saith that Faith that worketh by Love and the keeping of the Commandments of God and being a New Creature availeth but not Circumsion Also to the Collosians he writeth thus to wit In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptism wherein also you are risen with him through the Faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the Dead And he saith to them of Christ's Blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross and saith he to them Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments * See Margined Bibles or Elements of the world why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or as some translate burdened with Traditions touch not taste not handle not which are all to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Col. 2.11 12 14 20 21 22. Thus it is very plain that the Apostle here writeth of the Spiritual Circumsion of Christ and of his Spiritual Baptism through the Faith of the operation or working of God and was far from preaching up such outward Ordinances declaring that they were against them and contrary to them who were true Christians and he bad them not to touch taste nor handle such things saying they were all to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men And so now the Commanders and Teachers of their Ordinance of Water-Baptism as also of their other Ordinances and Traditions some of them command and teach it after one way and others after other ways and yet all profess the Scriptures to be their Rule and therefore some of them are erred from the direction of their Rule yea are they not all erred from their professed Rule for the Scriptures plainly testifie against such Ordinances and Traditions as being contrary to true Christians But these Baptizers for Money are so far erred from the Light and Grace of Christ in themselves which the Scriptures
Ministers of Christ whose Travail and Preaching often is and hath been in the hazard of their Lives and outward Estates And they that receive believe in walk in and continue in the New Covenant of the Everlasting Gospel of God which is the Light Grace Law and Spirit of God in their Hearts there is no need for them to be subject to Ordinances of Men nor to be burdened writh ther Traditions 2 Cor. 3. nor to be in Bondage to weak and beggarly Elements in their true Worship of God John 4.24 Col. 2.20 Rom. 8.21 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.9 which is in his Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and such are all led and taught by the Spirit of God and stand fast in the glorious Liberty of the Children of God wherewith Christ hath made them free from the Yoak of Bondage to outward Elements Ordinances and Traditions of Men. And the Children of God who stand in their Liberty are the Babes unto whom the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed which are hid from the Wise and Prudent of the World Mac. 11.25 and these Babes have believed the Record of the Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these Three are One and this is the Record that God hath given unto them Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son and these Babes believe on the Son of God 1 John 5.1 2 to 12. and have in themselves the Record or Witness being One in signification and this is the Witness of God which is greater than the Witness of Men which Witness the Spirit beareth because the Spirit is Truth and so there are Three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree in One witnessing with the Spirits of these Babes who are true Christians that they are the Children of God And these are not dead Witnesses as outward Water is dead but are living Witnesses John 6.63 1 Cor. 15.45 for the living Spirit beareth Witness 2 Cor. 3.6 Tit. 3.5 Jer. 4.14 John 4.10 Isa 4.4 1 John 1.7 which Spirit quickeneth and giveth Life and the living Water beareth Witness which Water washeth the Heart from filth and wickedness which Water Christ giveth to them that are athirst and ask and the Blood which is not dead for the Blood is the Life Dent. 12.23 beareth Witness which Blood cleanseth them that walk in the Light as God is in the Light from all sin And so these Three the Spirit and the Water and the Blood agree in One witnessing or bearing Witness in the Earth to wit the Hearts of true Christians of and unto the inward Baptism of Christ And these Babes being Born not of Corruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. Heb. 4.12 Eph. 6.17 Eph. 6.25 but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword 1 Pet. 2.2 which is the Sword of the Spirit of God by which the true inward Circumcision is made and the true inward Baptism of Christ in the Heart wrought These as now Born Babes desiring the sincere Milk of this Living Word how should their tender Heavenly Father who knoweth all their Needs and Necessities but afford them Nourishment by the same that they may grow thereby And though these Babes at the first be but as unskilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.12 13.14 Col. 2.19 and use as it were Milk and not strong Meat yet as they truly hunger after the Divine Milk of this Word they come to be satisfied therewith and nourished thereby and so they grow and increase with the increase of God till they come to have their senses truly exercised by reason of use to discern both good and evil and then the Apostle calleth them perfect or of full Age as some Translate to whom strong Meat belongeth and so then they know an eating of the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World And Christ said If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and saith he The Bread that I will give is my Flesh John 6.32 33 to 63. which I will give for the Life of the World and he said to the Jews Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last Day for my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him as the Living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me This is the Bread that came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are dead he that eateth this Bread shall live for ever and to them that murmured at these sayings Christ said Doth this offend you What and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And so it is plain Mat. 4.4 that true Christians live by the words that Christ speaketh in their Hearts and Souls and Consciences by his Light and Grace the answering of which in faithful Obedience is as Meat and Drink to their Souls and they know the Law of the Mouth of God to be better unto them John 14.10 Psal 119.72 Mal. 2.7 than Thousands of Gold and Silver And as in Times past under the Law the Priests Lips were to keep Knowledge Col. 2.3 and the People were to seek the Law at his Mouth so the Lips of Christ who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck they keep Knowledge and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and all true Christians inwardly seek the Law at his Mouth and their Souls live by the words that proceed out of it Psal 26.8.9 1 Tim. 6.16 Isa 60.19 and these are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's House who dwelleth in the Light and these drink of the River of his Pleasures for with him is the Fountain of Life and in his Light they see Light and the Lord will be unto them an Everlasting Light and their God their Glory But they that believe not in the Light of Christ in their Hearts but rebel against it and kick against the Pricks and Reproofs of it how should such be satisfied with the fatness of God's House Or how should such know an eating of the Bread that Christ giveth which is his Flesh and Blood and a dwelling in Christ and Christ in them Or how should such know the words that Christ speaketh unto them by his Light Grace and
they that believed not in the Light Luke 8.37 the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts they did not believe his Miracles nor in him for his Works sake But they who believed in the Light the Name of Christ in their Hearts they believed both him and his Works who said He that believeth on me John 14.12 or in me the works that I do he shall do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father And likewise he said The hour is coming John 5.25 and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live And so such as have been dead in Trespasses and Sins against God and his Light when their Minds have been truly turned to the true Light of Christ Col. 3.1 2. to 17. which is the Voice of the Son of God and reproveth for Sin in the Heart as they have believed in it and taken diligent heed to the reproofs of its Instruction which is the Way of Life Prov. 6.23 they have known a being made alive to God and a being dead unto Sin in which formerly they lived And so many have been and are made living Witnesses of the wonderful Operation of the quickening and healing Power and Spirit of Christ in their Hearts Souls and Consciences and have certainly and sensibly known and do know Luke 7.22 that the Blind have been restored to sight the Lame have been made sound the Lepers have been cleansed the Deaf have heard and the Dead are raised up and live to the Praise and Glory of God in that which is out of the sight and reach of the World Col. 3.3 that lyeth in wickedness for their Life is hid with Christ in God who hath raised from Death and with the daily Bread of Eternal Life preserveth their depending Souls alive in his Love and this is far more satisfaction than the seeing hearing of or doing of any outward Miracles that can be done by Man to know the Lord's wonderful doings in themselves Psal 118.22 to 28. and that the Stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone of the corner the true Light which Babel's Builders have refused the Lord hath made to become such a Day that those which he hath quickned can with trembling in his presence rejoice and be glad in it These are Built upon the sure Foundation the tryed Stone the precious Corner Stone that God hath laid in Sion for a Foundation Isa 28.16 1 Cor. 10.3 Deut. 32.4 according to his Promise of old this Foundation is the Rock of Ages and the Spiritual Rock of Spiritual Israel which is the Satisfactory Nourishment of all that are true Israelices indeed The Pope of Rome is not this Rock nor a Succession of their Popes nor the Apostle Peter is not this Rock though the word Peter signifieth a Stone or a Rock but the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God is this Heavenly Rock against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail For when Jesus Christ asked his Disciples saying Mat. 16.15 16 17 18. Whom say ye that I am Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God Jesus answered and said Blessed art thou Simon the Son of Jonas for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven and I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it By which words it is plain that Peter was not the Rock upon which Christ would Build his Church neither was Flesh and Blood that Rock but the Revelation of his Father which is in Heaven and that is by the Son for Christ had told them before saying Mat. 11.27 No man knoweth the Son buy the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son Luke 10.22 and he so whomsoever the Son will reveal him And not only did the Apostle Paul testifie That another foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 10.4 1 Cor. 3.11 Eph. 2.20 the Rock and Corner Stone but also the Apostle Peter himself testified that Christ was as a Living Stone disallowed indeed of Men but chosen of God and precious and the Chief Corner Stone laid in Sion Isa 28.16 according to Isaiah's Prophecy and that he was a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence to them which stumble at the Word which is nigh in the mouth and in the heart being disobedient And also he said 1 Pet. 2.1 to 10. That true Believers coming unto this Rock as unto a Living Stone are also as lively Stones Built up a Spiritual House then out of the sight of the Carnal-minded an Holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ the Popes Mass is no such Spiritual Sacrifice and that they are a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation then no * Witness Pageon of Popes and the Papists Order to allow Whore-houses proclaimed and published Jan. 24th 1509. Whore-houses allowed amongst them as have been at Rome a Peculiar People to shew forth the Praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light of which Light he wrote thus speaking of the Voice which came to Christ from the Excellent Glory he said We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed 2 Pet. 1.10 to 20. as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts And so according to the Testimony of Christ and of his Apostles Peter and Paul Christ is the Rock upon which his Church is Built against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail and not Peter for did not the Gates of Hell prevail against Peter In so much that we read in the very same Chapter some Verses after mention is made of Christ's Building his Church upon the Rock Mat. 16.23 that in answer to other words of Peter Christ said to him Get thee behind me Satan thou art an Offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God and was not he prevailed against by the Gates of Hell Mark 14.66 10 72. Luke 22.54 to 62. John 18.25 26 27. after that even so far as to deny his Lord and Master and to Curse and Swear And did not Peter err and so was not Infallible Though the Popes that pretend to be Peter's Successors reckon themselves Infallible and that they cannot err And so it plainly appeareth that Peter was not that Rock upon which Christ Buildeth his Church and that the Popes who call themselves Peter's Successors Bellar. de Poot lib. â— Câ—â— 1. Ibid. lib. 4. C. 6. Bellar. Conâ—ov Tom. 2 the Head of the Church and the Vicars of
Abomination unto him and therefore as Cain was with his Brother Abel so they are wroth with those whose Offerings and Worships finds respect with God being in the Spirit of God which they are erred from as also was Cain And so these also run greedily after the Errour of Balaam for a Reward and tho' they Preach Peace to them that buy of them yet they prepare War against such as put not into their Mouths these are such as Judge for Reward Teach for Hire and Divine for Money and yet seem to lean upon the Lord Miâ—â—h 3. and say Is not the Lord amongst us no evil shall come upon us But when such as these cry unto the Lord he will not hear them but he the Light whom they have rejected will hide his Face from them and then surely Night will be unto them that they shall not have a Vision for so it was Prophesied of such deceitful Prophets no marvel then if they say Vision is ceased and Revelation ceased for it was said The sun shall go down over them and the day shall be dark over them that they shall not Divine the seers shall be ashamed and the diviners confounded yea they shall all cover their lips for there is no answer of God So here is the Work and Wages of false Prophets described And now is at hand the great and notable Day of the Lord wherein he will try and weigh all People in the just Ballance of his Sanctuary and it will come as a Thief in the Night in an unexpected and terrible time and manner upon all the Children of Disobedience in whose Hearts the Prince of the Power of the Air worketh and ruleth and they being Airy and Light and Wanton which are compared to Chaff will be found too light in the tryal and upon them will the unquenchable Fire take hold Mat. 3.12 and in that day their Leaders and Teachers of whom it is said Mic. 7.4 The best of them is as a Briar and the most upright is sharper than a Thorn-hedge Eccles 7.6 who are thus compared to Briars and Thorns whose end is to be burned their end must be like the end of the laughter of a Fool which is compared to the crackling of Thorns under a Pot and all their Wit and Learning Arts and Parts can then yield them small satisfaction So there is a great difference between these false Teachers and their Rewards and the Ministers of Christ and their Rewards for the Apostle Peter said 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 5.2 3 4. 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 reçady mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being ensamples to the flock and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away So the Reward of the Ministers of Christ who are faithful Stewards of his manifold Grace and diligently improve the Talent which he hath given them shall be a Crown of never-fading Glory And they that are faithful to God tho' it be but as in a little may be made Stewards or Rulers over more but they who are unfaithful whether in much or little that is committed to them and sin against the Light and Grace of Christ in their Hearts and continue in so doing how can such expect any other from the Hand of the Lord Mat. 25.14 to 31. but the unprofitable Servant's Reward which is to be cast into outer Darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth And certainly the Lord God of Heaven and Earth will render to every Man and Woman according to their Works and will bring all People upon the Face of the whole Earth to an account not how strictly they have obeyed the Orders Laws and Injunctions about Religion made by Popes Cardinals Bishops or Priests of any sort who say Lo here or lo there in this Way or in that Form is the true Religion but he will have an account how every one hath improved and profi ed with the Talent which he hath given them to profit withal which is the Manifestation of his Holy Spirit the true Light inwardly enlightening every Man and the Word of his Kingdom in their Hearts the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the Grace of God that brings Salvation and hath appeared to all Men and this Word Grace and Light inwardly reproveth for Sin in the Hearts and Consciences of People and woe to them that turn not at its Reproof But all that in the love of it receive it and believe in it and give up their Hearts and Minds freely to learn of it will become sensible of the powerful Work of it more and more in their Hearts for it teacheth all that believe in it and carefully take heed to it to deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to deny all other teachings of Men who are not taught by it but turn from it into wantonness or worldly-mindedness and it teacheth to deny paying any thing to any Man for his Teachings whereby he may deceive People for the Teachings of Christ are free and all Christ's Ministers have freely received and they freely give and Covet no Man's Silver Acts 20.32 33 34. nor Gold nor Apparel nor other of his worldly things but are content with such things as they have and Godliness with Contentment is to them great Gain And so the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation is the Teacher of all true Christians and teacheth them to live soberly Tit. 2.11 to 15. righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for them that he might redeem them from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works who have profited with the Talents that God hath bestowed upon them and must enter into the Joy of their Lord having hearkened diligently to the Reproof of Instruction in their own Hearts which is the Way of Life and love to walk therein even in the Just Man's Path Prov. 4.18 which is as a shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day of Redemption and Salvation from all Iniquity 1 Cor. 6.2 Eph. 4.30 and these glorifie God in their Bodies and in their Spirits which are his to whom belongs the Honour and the Glory and the Praise for ever and for evermore Amen The END