A general epistle containing wholsom admonition & advice to friends in Ireland and elsewhere Carleton, Thomas, 1636?-1684. 1676 Approx. 19 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2014-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A34334 Wing C589 ESTC R29174 10840401 ocm 10840401 46095

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Early English books online text creation partnership. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A34334) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 46095) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1418:25) A general epistle containing wholsom admonition & advice to friends in Ireland and elsewhere Carleton, Thomas, 1636?-1684. 8 p. s.n., [S.l. : 1676] Caption title. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.

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eng Christian life. Dissenters, Religious -- England. Gifts, Spiritual. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2013-04 Assigned for keying and markup 2013-04 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2013-08 Sampled and proofread 2013-08 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2014-03 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
A General Epiſtle: CONTAINING Wholſom Admonition & Advice to Friends in IRELAND, and elſe-where. By Thomas Carleton.

DEar and well-beloved Friends, Brethren and Siſters who are in ſome Meaſure gathered by the Arm of God's Power, and have known the bleſſed Appearance of Life and Salvation, to you is the Salutation of my unfeigned Love, and in the Fellowſhip of God's Everlaſting Light do I tenderly greet you all; and for the clearing of my Spirit, of that which for ſome time hath been upon me, do I communicate theſe Lines, in the true Simplicity of my Heart, dearly deſiring all that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, To keep low and near the Lord, and wait to feel God's living Power in your Hearts, unto which we were turned or exhorted from the Beginning; for, in the Light of the Lord, I ſee there is a Neceſſity for it: For, unleſs the Senſe of God's living Power be felt, Profeſſion is vain, and Meetings are not made profitable; for the Myſteries of Life and Salvation, and of true Chriſtianity, conſiſt not only in any Profeſſion, Name or Notion, of this or that Principle, Article or Creed, formed or received in the Minds of M n or Women, but in a living Enjoyment and Poſſeſſion of the Power and Spirit of Chriſt Jeſus, the Author & Finiſher of the living ſaying Faith. So my dear Friends, all wait to feel the Operation of that Power in every Heart and Soul, to ſubdue all to God, and to work all into ſubmiſſion and real obedience to the heavenly Will and Mind of Chriſt Jeſus, who is come a Light into the World, that all men through him might believe; here is the unchangeable ſtanding Rule, which every one is to meaſure themſelves by; and he or ſhe that is meaſured or ſquared by this, is as poliſhed Stones for God's ſpiritual Houſe; and he or ſhe that is not ſqaared by this, are not fit to be Members of God's Building: ſo all having the Meaſuring line in your hearts, let Judgment be laid to it, and ſo try all things, words, works, behaviours, and the Intent of all, and from what ground & ſoirit it doth proceed: and this unchangeable everlaſting Rule all keep to it, and build by it, ſo ſhall you be juſtified with it in the Day of Tryal; ſo all things done by this unchangeable everting Rule (the Law of the Spirit of Life) this keeps clean and pure, and ſets free of all Mud and Confuſion, Sin and Iniquity, and things that bring death and darkneſs over the Soul and Underſtanding; and ſo cloud the Teſtimony: So let every man and woman (by this ſtanding Rule) examine themſelves, and ſo let them eat, ſpeak or act, as the Lord ſhall perſwade them; and wherein any one doubteth, and is not clear in what he or ſhe undertaketh, let ſuch forbear, and wait in quietneſs till the Lord clear their way: So all take heed, and keep to the Rule; for in the Lord's Light we ſee Light, and have Clearneſs, and Freedom, and Peace; but going from the Light, without Rule, without Guide, the Vail comes over, Darkneſs gathers in, Confuſion & Trouble, then Peace comes to be loſt: So you that have known in any meaſure the work of Regeneration and of the New Fi th through the working of God's Spirit & Power in your Hearts, by which ſome unclean ſpirits have been caſt out, keep to the Power ſtill, & beware of letting in the unclean ſpirit again, for if you do, the latter end will be worſe then the beginning. And lean not to the World's Wiſdom, beware of that ſpirit I adviſe all; for by that wiſdom God is not known; and if once the Senſe and enjoyment of God be loſt, then man and woman is in a woful ſtate, without God in the World; ſo keep out of the world's ſpirit I intreat you all, and live as Fools to it, and all its wayes, faſhions & cuſtoms; for in the Lord I ſee a great Snare at this day, and too many that make Profeſſion of Truth are like to be ſplit upon that Rock. So dear Friends, live looſe to the world, and all the glories of it, and ſeek to be wiſe in that which is not of this world, that you may be loved of God; and ſo dwell in that which can bear the revilings and reproaches of this world, and the contradiction of ſinners, as our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath leſt us an Example: So beware of looking back to Egypt's Glory again, to ſee any beauty or comlineſ in that dark Land; for, from the Lord I ſee a Temptation attending God's ſpiritual Iſrael in this day, as ſurely as ever it attended Iſrael after the Fleſh, and many are too prone to deſire the pleaſures of Egypt again (though the beſt of them be bondage, as many to their Sorrow have found) yea, too many there be that cannot bear tryals and reproaches, and the way of the Croſs and ſelf-denyal, but think it long, and weariſom, and hard, as they did in the dayes of old, and ſo are too ready to murmur and repine, and luſt in their hearts after this World's glory again, and joyn to its faſhions & cuſtoms again, and ſo ſet up Idols again, as they did whoſe Carcaſes fell in the Wilderneſs, with whom the Lord was diſpleaſed: So beware of letting in that ſpirit of diſtruſt, unbelief and rebellion againſt God, and his pure Witneſs in your Conſciences, and beware of building that which was once deſtroyed, or licking up that which was once vomited, or entertaining of that which was once caſt out, or owning that which was once denyed, either in words, in works, in behaviour, in apparel, in doctrine or faith: hath Truth in you condemned for all idle, vain prophane, wicked, unſound and unſavoury words, and brought you into a Form of needful, true and ſound words? keep to it ſtill: hath Truth condemned all idle, proud, prophane, wicked and ungodly actions; and all empty, airy, fooliſh, wanton, luſtful, proud, ſelf-willed and men-pleaſing behaviours, and brought you into Moderation, Gravity, Plainneſs, Reallity and Truth in Life and Converſation? keep to it ſtill: hath Truth condemned for decking & adorning the Body with vain, ſuperfluous, proud, needleſs, worldly, eye-taking Toyes in Apparrel, and led you into plain, profitable, decent needful, things? keep to it ſtill: and faſhion not your ſelves like unto the world, nor learn any of their Manners nor of the Breeding of that Egyptian-Spirit, which keeps the Seed in Bondage, and oppreſſeth the Juſt in the particular and in the general; ſo from the Lord I adviſe you all, and warn you all that are parents, to watch over your Children, and bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, and beware you breed them not up in the World's manners nor cuſtoms, nor in Pride, Lightneſs and Vanity, nor in things that puff up and lead away their Minds from under the Croſs of Chriſt Jeſus, but rather breed them up in Humility, Lowlineſs and Self denial, and in the Fear of the Lord, which is the Beginning of true Wiſdom and gate of Virtue; and ſo endeavour to train them up in the right way to life, and lay a good Foundation in them while they are young, and then both you and they may expect a Bleſſing from the Lord which is better then all. So away with all Manners and Breeding, and Education that is out of the Fear of God; for you your ſelves know, the firſt Nature in it ſelf is too inclinable to be taken with the Manners and Cuſtoms of the Egyptian Spirit, and to take pleaſure and conceit itſelf, and be puffed up with and in thoſe things that lead from God, without nurſing and encouraging thereunto; ſo keep all low in Meekneſs and Self-denyal, that God's Fear may be timely planted in their Hearts, and the Principles of Life and Peace they may be inſtructed in, as you your ſelves have learned them of the Lord, that ſo the loving kindneſs and gentle dealings of God towards us, we may tell of them to our Children, and they to another Generation; ſo all learning the Way of the Croſs and Selfdenyal, that Will that is carnal and earthly will be mortified and ſlain, and the Spirit of the World and the Cuſtoms thereof will be crucified to you all, and you all unto it, and then, how can they that are crucified to the world live any longer therein? and ſo ſpiritual Men and ſpiritual Women, Sons and Daughters of the incorruptible Seed, begotten again by the Power and Spirit of Chriſt Jeſus, and ſo dead to the world's Spirit, Wayes, Cuſtoms, Manners, Traditions, Ordinances and Worſhips, all in the Fall and Degeneration from God, and every one living up to this, being guided by God's Wiſdom, keep their Teſtimony clear and unviolated in the Sight of God and Men. So ſtand true Witneſſes for God, and be faithful, or full of Faith in the Lord; believe in him, love him above all, and truſt him with all, Wife and Children, Eſtate and Life; and take heed of giving Offence, or of cauſing Truth to ſuffer in its Eſteem; for God hath glorified it, and will glorifie it; and Wo from the Lord is to them that cauſe Truth to be ev l ſpoken of, that brings a Blot upon their Teſtimony, & ſo marreth the Viſage & Countenance of Truth in the particular, or in the general. And dear Friends ſtand living Witneſſes for God's Truth, and be not cowardly, but valiant, as Souldiers of Chriſt Jeſus, and ſtand up againſt all the Works & Workers of Iniquity, againſt all Hirelings & falſe Shepherds, againſt the grand Oppreſſion of Tythes, with the aboliſhed Ceremonies and Ordinances of the firſt Covenant, and Jews outwardly, which Antichriſt and the Deceivers that are gone into the World (having loſt the Power) would innovate and ſet up again, among the Gentiles or Jews inward, contrary to the Inſtitution of God; and ſtand up againſt all Swearing, and that which leads to Swearing, and againſt Lying or Stealing, and againſt Fighting or Killing (ſince our Kingdom is not of the World) and againſt Fornication, Adultery, Whoredom, Laſciviouſneſs, Luxury, and all manner of Unclearneſs, the Sins of this World, which are ſo vile they are ſcarce fit to be ſpoken of, or named amongſt the Saints; ſo as becomes Warriours for God, and the everlaſting Goſpel of Chriſt Jeſus, ſtand clear of them all, and againſt them all, and then there will be no need of Shifts and Excuſes, and crooked Reaſons in the faln wiſdom, to hide or cover any one with. And my dear Friends, let your Yea be Yea, and your Nay be Nay, and keep to the form of Sound Words in all your Communications, Bargains and Dealings one with another, and alſo with them that are without, that ſo you may honour the Lord, and honour his Truth, & convince all with whom you have to do that truth & righteouſneſs lives in you, and you live in it; this is the glory of all profeſſion. And be not forward & raſh in words & promiſes; for ſome there are, yea, too many, that make profeſſion of Truth & true Religion, & yet know not a Bridle for the Tongue; and the Apoſtle laid, ſuch mens Religion was vain; ye , and too many there are, that are haſty to promiſe, and ſlow to perform, and then ſhuffle to excuſe themſelves (as Eve did) where no Excuſe can properly bear in the Truth; ſo beware of it, I deſire you all; for this was one expreſs Token the Apoſtle laid down of the falling away; therefore be careful to make abſolute Promiſes, and be as careful, quick and forward to perform, when promiſed, and that keep, Truth clear, and anſwers the Expectations of all, and preaches to all with whom we have to do, and hereby the Saints reached God's Witneſs in one another in the beginning, ſo keep to it ſtill, and every one ſpeak the Truth from his heart without diſſimulation, and learn not the ſleighty words and cunning evaſions of the deceitful ſpirits of this world, which darken knowledge, thereby to drive Bargains to accompliſh ſelf ends and covetous deſigns; for ſuch things (though never ſo fairly gloſſed) are inconſiſtent with the innocency and naked ſimplicity of our Goſpel neither is Truth honoured by ſuch deceitful coverings: ſo all Friends, keep clear of ſuch things, and be plain-hearted with all men; for no coverings will hide or avail in this bright lightſome day, but that of God's eternal Spirit, which will ſtand over all, and darkneſs cannot comprehend it; but going from the Light and Spirit of God, into the fallen deceit ul wiſdom, then the world comprehends, and ſounds, and bottoms all ſuck, and ſo Truth ſuffers in the particular, and in the general; ſo the Law of the Spirit of Life, which we profeſs, is beyond all Laws, and a Rule beyond all Rules, and reaches further to the ordering and guiding of all thoſe that are reſolved and given up to it, in Obedience, then all Laws, Precepts, Canons or Injunctions that are outward whatſoever; ſo the Righteouſneſs that is God's, which Chriſt-Jeſus is the Author of, is beyond all, & exceeds all the Righteouſneſs of other Profeſſions, Scribes or Phariſees; whereby its plain every Righteouſneſs doth not enter, nor is accepted of God, but only that which exceeds the Scribes and Phariſees, which Chriſt works in all his by the Operation of his eternal Spirit. So my dear Friends, wait to feel it, and the effectual Works of it brought forth in you all, which to feel is more then words, that your Faith may ſtand in it, and in a living Enjoyment of it; for that man or woman that doth not feel it, and the efficacy & vertue of it, they bring forth from a ſtrange Vine, which Chriſt Jeſus will not own; and all take heed, and keep low in God's Fear. And you my Friends, that are rich in this World, or have much of the Creat on of God, Do you watch and take heed; for there is a Snare, and that none of the leaſt, which attends that ſtate alſo; and if the Lord hath increaſed your ſtore, ſet not your hearts upon them, nor truſt to them; for he that truſteth to his Riches, ſhall fall; for as one ſaid, They are not forever, but ſometimes make themſelves Wings, and fly away: ſo be not lifted up with them, but eye the Lord, and poſſes as though you poſſeſſed not & labour to be rich towards God, and rich in good Works; and remember poor afflicted Joſeph, and be ready to do good, and to communicate, as ſaid the Apoſtle, and keep your Hearts ſingle and looſe to thoſe things, and ſo in God's Wiſdom you will ſee your Way & Service, and the End and Uſe of all. And all you Young Men and Women, that are ſingle and unmarryed, you have an Oportunity to ſerve the Lord; do you keep low, and beware of being entangled or brought in Bondage by youthful Luſts; for thereby many have loſt a good condition with God and brought themſelves to Sorrow and Wo, both in this Life and that which is to come: And above all, take heed of joyning Affinity with ſtrange Nations, and ſuch as know not God, 〈◊〉 obey the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; for this was f rbidden Iſrael after the fleſh, Deut 7 3, 4. and for their Diſobedience herein, God's anger was kindled againſt them, and they were carryed away captive many years; which made Ezra, the Servant of the Lord, rent his Garments, and pluck his Hair off his Head and Beard, and mourn before the Lord, till he and the Elders of Iſrael reſolved to put away their Strange Wives, Ez 9, 10. chap. And Eſau by marrying the Daughters of Heth, ſo grieved his Father and Mother, that Rebecca complained, ſh was weary of her Life, Gen. 27.46. And Paul adviſed, not so be unequally yoaked together, Believers with Ʋnbelievers, knowing there could be no Ʋnion between Light and Darkneſs, nor the Temple of God and Idols, &c. ſo keep your Hearts ſingle to God, and wait in God's Wiſdom to overcome the Wicked One in your own particulars, and ſeek to be marryed to the Lord firſt, and joyned to the Lord by his eternal Spirit, which brings into Unity, and keeps Chaſtity in Mind and Spirit unto him: and obſerve the Advice of the Apoſtle, who ſaid, The Ʋnmarried cared for the things of the Lord, how he or ſhe might pleaſe the Lord; but the married for the things of this World, how he or ſhe might pleaſe Wife or Husband: So all be watchful, and mind your Places and Callings in Chriſt Jeſus: but if any one (in the Fear and Wiſdom of God) do ſee it their way to marry, let ſuch ſeek God's Counſel, and be not haſty, but wait in it, that he or ſhe may enjoy a Wife or a Husband in the Peace & Love of God, and to be joyned one by his eternal Spirit, and then Meet helps and a Bleſſing one to another, and then the Marriage is honourable, and the Bed undefiled; ſo all keep clean, and live up to God in all things, in all States and Conditions, in your Places and Callings whereunto God hath called you, that the Lord may take pleaſure to do you good, and to multiply his Bleſſings upon you, that the Iſſues of Life and Peace may abound, and run through all, and reſt upon all your Hearts and Souls as the Dew of Hermon. And the God of Peace and Love preſerve us all in his Peace and Love, and carry us through all by the Arm of his Eternal Power, and guide us all in his heavenly Wiſdom, to the Praiſe, Glory and Renown of his Everlaſting Name, who is God alone, bleſſed forever and for evermore.

Your Friend and Brother in the Obedience of Truth Tho. Carleton. Written the 13th of the 7th Moneth, 1676.