MAny are the Devices of Satan, and great is the Subtilty which he furniſheth his Children and Servants withal; by which he ſeeks to uphold his kingdom; pleading now a Right to that which he got by Subtilty; and has taught his whole Family, That it is impoſſible for any to be freed from under his Service; even as if all men, that are created of God, were created to the ſervice of the Devil: and although he can make no man, yet that he is able, after they are made, to keep them in his ſervice; yea, although their Maker does call for them to ſerve him: And ſo by this ſuppos'd Neceſſity (which is a Doctrine well-pleaſing to the fleſh) he keeps Nations, Kindreds, Tongues, and People in Bondage to his will; and not only ſo, but he has ſo bewitched, and beſotted his whole Synagogue, and every ſort in it, that they cannot endure to hear that they ſhould be made free; and all that comes to declare Liberty to theſe Captives, and an opening of the Door of this Priſon-houſe (the darkneſs) unto thoſe that are ſhut up within it; they cry out againſt ſuch, Away with them from the Earth; let them be Crucified, Stoned, Hanged, Burned, Impriſoned and Baniſhed; or at leaſt, derided and mocked at, and all manner of evil be ſpoken of them: And what have they done? They have preached againſt Sin, that it muſt come to an end; and have preached that that which is Perfect is to be found in this life, by which men might come to the acceptable Year of the Lord, unto whom there is nothing acceptable which is imperfect.

Certainly there is no manner of Slaves, ſo well contented with their Bondage, as the Devil's are; and therefore it is worth the conſidering, what right he has to Raign over Mankind, and what Work it is, he gives his Servants to do, that is ſo well pleaſing unto them, that they cannot endure to hear of being ſet at liberty, as long as they have a day to live: As for my part I have conſidered; what right the Devil can claim to the Government, which he has among the Children of Men, raigning over Kings and Princes, Prieſts and People, from one Sect to another, ſetting them all to work in blind Zeal one againſt another, yet all agreeing in this one Queſtion (to wit) Is there any Man or Woman upon the Earth, that is freed from under the reign of the Devil, that he can live without Sin? or is it poſſible for any to be ſo? the general Anſwer is, No; we are all, and muſt be all his Servants all the dayes of our lives. But ſome might ſay, Seeing you are all Fellow-Servants; and that both you, and your Work do belong to one Maſter, why then are you diſagreeing with one another about the work: But Oh, my ſoul longeth that ſome might be awakened, once to conſider, and to bethink themſelves, how they came to this ſtate and condition, and by what right and authority, their Maſter keeps them in this Bondage; and whether it i • not both lawfull and poſſible, to come from under it.

And in the firſt place it is to be conſidered, that this ſpirit, which is called the Devil and Satan, had no dominion over Man in the beginning; for God gave Man power over all Beaſts, Fiſhes, Fowls, and over every creeping thing, that he ſhould Rule over them; and in that time, the Devil that old creeping Serpent was kept under, and could not ſpeak, nor command as with authority, and he being but a ſubject himſelf, he ſought to have dominion; having loſt the glory of the everlaſting Kingdom, and ſo he came to the Woman, which was made and brought forth in a time of ſleep and perſwaded her, (Mark, not commanded) and his perſwaſion was; that ſhe ſhould break the Command of God; under pretence that ſhe ſhould be profited thereby: So here was but a ſneeking underly ſpirit, coming to the Woman in a deceitful feigned manner, with a Lye in his mouth, to ſee if he could deceive her, and lead her to be diſobedient to her God and Maker; Who could then have thought, that this ſpirit, that was ſubject to all ſorts of miſery, ſhould have reigned and ruled over ſo many Millions of thouſands of Men, both high and low, young and old? Well, the Woman hearkned after a Lye, and broke the Command of God, and went to try whether this Serpent had found out a way, to make her better or not; and not only ſo, but went to the Man, and gave him alſo, and he did eat: Mark, this Devil; the old Serpent, he did not go to the Man; that was a work too high for him; but there comes his Companion, (which was given of God) which was of his Fleſh and Bones, to tempt him; he did not hearken to the Devil, but to his deceived Wife, and he did eat, and their Eyes were opened, and they were aſham'd, and hid themſelves: Here were the two firſt ſubjects which the Devil had in his Kingdom, he having before this time no Dominion among the Creatures which God had made.

Now it is to be obſerved, that there are but four wayes to come into Dominion; to wit, by Deſcent, by Election, by Conqueſt, and by Treaſon.

Now which of theſe it is, by which the Devil got his entrance, is eaſie to be concluded: All that are wiſe will ſay, That it was by Treaſon and Falſhood, and that Man thereby came to be deprived of that Dominion and Rule, which he had before, and his boldneſs, was taken from him, and he was aſhamed: So now ſee for whom you are pleading, all you that are ſo zaelouſly pleading for the Devils Kingdom (viz) for an old Traytor, that came into his Government by a Lye, and ſpoyl'd our Predeceſſors, of their Dominion, Glory and Power at once, by Sin, for which you are now pleading: Oh, Bluſh and be aſhamed every one of you, and let your mouthes be ſtopped for ever.

But now, ſeeing that it fell out ſo; What was the determination of the Lord in this matter? hearken to his Sentence: And to the Serpent he ſaid, becauſe thou haſt done ſo, thou ſhalt creep upon thy Belly, and art curſed above all Cattel; and above all the Beaſts of the Feild; ſee he muſt creep upon his Belly, and not ſtand upon his tip-toes, lifting up his head above the Nations; he muſt eat Duſt, and the other Beaſts muſt eat the Graſs of the Field; but he Duſt, all the dayes of his life, and not the Fat of the Land, and to have the tenth part of the Fruits of the Earth beſtowed on his meaneſt Servants, having alſo the other nine parts of it beſtowed and ordered to his will, and ſo ſhall it be with thee as long as thou liveſt; that is not to ſay, that he ſhall live for ever, and to have Duſt to eat, and a Belly to creep upon; But at laſt God has determined that his head ſhould be bruiſed, there is his end. Oh! All ye Pleaders for Sin, behold your Prince, and hear his Sentence and be aſham'd, and ſtop your Monthes forever.

And now when he had gotten a little Dominion, let Us examine a little, how this Trayter us'd his Rule in the beginning? his firſt Leſſon was, to Teach his new ſubjects, to hide themſelves from the preſence of God, that which before was their chiefeſt joy and crown, was now their greateſt fear and dread; and ſo they run under the Trees, hiding themſelves, as their Poſterity now does at this day; but the Lord found them out, and ſpoke to them, and cauſed them to hear that dreadfull Sentence; and not only ſo, but drove them out from where Life was to be found, into the Earth, where there was nothing to be gotten without pain and labour; and whereas they were before in Dominion, and had nothing to do but to dreſs the Garden in which the Life was; they muſt now Till the Ground, which brought forth unto them Bryers and Thorns; and in that ſtate Man's miſery was great, and his ſorrow unſpeakable; and his darkneſs not to be expreſſed; and had loſt his diſcerning of things that differ, and having an expectation of a Seed, which ſhould deſtroy the Serpent, and bruiſe his head; he was apt to think every Birth, to be that Seed (as his Children in the fall do at this day) ſo that when Cain was born, his mother ſaid, ſhe had gotten a Man from the Lord; but poor Woman, ſhe knew not the feed, and how that that ſeed which is born of the fleſh, is a Perſecutor, and that the Enmity is great in the firſt birth; and ſo that although he grew up to be an Offerer, yet he did not grow up in dominion over the Serpent, nor over the quality of the Deſtroyer in himſelf, and that ſort of Offering was more acceptable to the Devil then to God. And now mark; that man was a Sinner, and yet religious, his Sin and Religion were conſiſtant, and could have place together at one and the ſame time in one man, as it is now with the Profeſſors of this Age; who ſay, they are Sinners, and that their beſt Works are polluted and defiled with Sin, and that they muſt remain ſo whilſt they live; and yet they will ſeek acceptance with God in theſe poluted Offerings; notwithſtanding they do profeſs him to be pure to whom they Offer: Thus was this firſt Sacrificer blind and darkned, and ſo are many Thouſands after him, and the dominion of the Devil was over him.

Firſt, Deceiving him, by Leading him, to Expect an Acceptance, becauſe he Offered, though with an Evil Heart.

Secondly, to lead him into the evil which had kept him from acceptance.

Thirdly, by making him ſo Wrath and Angry (becauſe he was not accepted) againſt his Brother that did well, and was partaker of the one ſure Faith of the Elect Seed of God: And the Serpent having thus darkned his mind, then he durſt come before him with a Lye (though he was a Man, of whom Eve thought, that ſhe had gotten him from the Lord) perſwading him, that if that Faithfull Abel was out of the Way, that then it would be better with him: So he hearkned to the Counſel of this evil ſpirit, and ſhed Innocent Blood about Religion; here Perſecution got his entrance into the World, by one that was an Offerer, and an evil Doer together; a fit Inſtrument for ſuch a Work. But behold, what became of this Man; the Blood which he had ſhed, and the Earth which had drunk it up, cry'd for Vengance againſt this bloody Offerer, and he fear'd exceedingly, and ſaid, He could not bear his Puniſhment; and ſaid, Every one that finds me will ſlay me; and to prevent that, he went and Built a City in the Land of Nod; hear was the beginning of Fortifications, which was to defend the Tranſgreſſor; for the Righteous have a Tower, namely, the Name of God, and there they are ſafe without ſuch Gates or Walls.

Now let every one conſider, how little right this ſpirit had in all theſe things; but he entred by a Lye, and Reigned by a Lye, and Darkneſs and deceit was his defence for his Government; and how little reaſon there is to plead for ſuch a ſpirit, let the wiſe in heart judge.

It would go beyond my preſent aime and purpoſe, to trace this ſpirit, who is called the Devil and Satan, the Dragon and old Serpent, through all Ages, ſince the beginning; to ſee with how little Truth, Right or Equity he came up, to Reign among Men. The underſtanding Reader of the Scriptures of Truth, can ſee it clear enough; and it is a great wonder (and one of the greateſt) that is in that part of the World, called Chriſtendom, that there are ſo many men (being men of knowledge in other matters, and ſuch as ſet up the Scriptures, ſo much as they ſeem to do, calling it the Word of God, the Rule of Chriſtians, the Light of the World, the Guide of Life, &c.) that they ſhould go with ſuch a Book in their hands, pleading for the Devil's Kingdom; and for a neceſſity that it muſt continue, as long as there is a man upon Earth: Whereas the Scripture in ſubſtance, is nothing elſe but as a Declaration againſt him, and his Government, and ſheweth, how he ought to be forſaken, oppoſed, reſiſted, and caſt out; and withall, how that Primitive, pure and holy, and Righteous Law of that Spirit, which is called God, and is holy, pure, and Bleſſed for ever, how that ought to be imbraced, received and exalted in the whole Creation; I ſay, this is a very great wonder, of which and of the conſequences thereof, the Chriſtians ſo called have cauſe to be aſhamed; yea, are a Reproach to the whole World; and it is high time that ſome do ariſe for God; and the call is gone forth, Who is on the Lord's part, Exod. 32.26. The Devil has an innumerable Hoſt, to plead for Sin, ſome with Arguments, and ſome with cruel Weapons; but who is on the Lord's part, that can ſay, the Lord Reigns in Righteouſneſs, and in Truth he Judges the Earth? Oh! All ye carnal Profeſſors of God and Chriſt, in words, but in works deny him, and ſayes, that Sin muſt ſtand, and remain as long as you live. Be it known unto you, in the Name of the God of Heaven, that where Sin remains, there the Devil is Prince and Ruler: And if that muſt remain as long as you live, the Devil deſires it no longer; for he that will be his Servant in this life, muſt be his Companion in the World to come. But hear ye the Word of the Lord, thou great Hoſt, and mighty Army of the Devil, Beaſt, Serpent, and the old Deceiver, who plead that his Government ſhall ſtand as long as there is a man to live upon Earth: The Controverſie of the Lord God Almighty is Proclaimed, and begun againſt you all, and your Prince; yea, the Arm of the everlaſting God is ſtretched out againſt you, and henceforth ye ſhall not be proſperous; but the Dominion of your Prince ſhall be leſſened, and both his and your Power ſhall be weakned, and your Weapons, both of Deceit and Cruelty ſhall be broken and come to nought: The Inheritance of of the Wicked ſhall be laid waſte, and the deſign which hath been carried on ſo long ſhall be fruſtrated; Deceit and Falſhood ſhall fall before the Truth, and Darkneſs ſhall flee before the Light, and your fortified City ſhall fail you, and the Land of Nod will not be a hiding place for you: For the Arm of the mighty God of Jacob ſhall ſcatter you as a reproach, and make y • u aſhamed of your Work, and of your Prince.

Now to touch a tittle at your Arguments, which the Servants of this ſpirit make uſe of, for to hold • p his Kingd • m; of whi • h they ſay, It is impoſſible tha • it ſhould be brought down; even as if God had given up all Man kind? which is the beſt of his Creation) unto t • e Devil; and that he ſhould keep none of them for himſelf to ſerve him, till they have fulf • lled the Devi • 's work to the •• ll; and can ſerve him no longer: Certainly t e Heathens, M • ors, and Indians, have a better D • ctrine then theſe in the ground, though Darkneſs is over their underſtandings, as concerning God and Heaven, and ſuch things, yet many of them, do not judge that there is ſuch a neceſſity to do evil as long as they live; but abſtain from that which they know to be evil, and they that do ſo, are eſteemed to have their pleaſures and delight in the Elizium-Feilds, after they are dead. Lucillius ſaid; know ye not what grevious Puniſhments and Torments the wicked and evil men are to ſuffer after this life; or in what great happineſs the good men ſhall live? The Heathen Epicarmus, ſaid, If thou art godly in thy mind, thou ſhalt (being dead) not ſuffer evil; and many ſuch ſayings are among them: But theſe fallen Chriſtians who plead a neceſſity to ſerve this ſpirit, whom they call the Devil, whoſe place they will confeſs is in Hell, and in the everlaſting Fire; yet they notwithſtanding without doing good expect to injoy their Elizium; to wit, a Heaven where God and the holy Angels dwell forever.

Now let us examine a little what reaſon there is for this great miſtake.

Firſt, They ſay, that Sin is rooted and planted in the Nature of Man; yea, ſo that a Man muſt ceaſe to be a Man, before he can come to ceaſe from being a Sinner.

Anſwer, That Man in his Natural ſtate, is ſo united with Sin as that he thereby is ſeperated from God, I do not deny; and alſo that there is a natural inclination in man, to commit Sin, is alſo true; to wit, as long as they remain in their natural ſtate and condition: And if theſe Champions for the Devil's Kingdom had blotted out (out of that which they call their Rule) all thoſe Pretious ſayings, that make mention of a ſtate of Grace, of being under Grace, of being Changed or Tranſlated, of being Redeemed and made Free, of being Waſhed, Clenſed, Sanctified, perfectly in Soul Body and Spirit; and many more ſuch places; then they had had a Plea for their Prince: But ſeeing there is ſuch a large Teſtimony of the Mercy and goodneſs of God, and of his Power and Al-ſufficiency to Redeem and Save; therefore it is worthy to be pleaded, before we allow the Devil ſuch an unlimitted Power in and among, yea, over all the Sons and Daughers of Men. And therefore, as concerning the firſt part of this Objection, to wit; That Sin is rooted in the Nature of Man; How came it to be rooted there? Whoſe Work was it to make it ſo? was it the Work of God? or hath he ordered it, that it ſhould be ſo? If ſo, Why is any Man or Woman puniſhed or condemned for its being ſo, ſeeing it could not be otherwiſe? But none elſe but ſuch as are wholly blind from a true ſence of God will dare to ſay ſo: For then the manifold calling of Sinners unto Repentance, to Waſh them, to Cleanſe them, to put away the Evil from them, to Ceaſe to do Evil, &c. muſt all be againſt his will and ordering; and ſo conſequently but a mockery: But God forbid that any Man ſhould ſay or think ſo. Well, if it was not by the ordering or appointment of God, but that God has made Man Righteous in his Nature, Will and Affections; yea in the Image of God he Created him: Then it muſt needs be another that has wrought this great Work, to plant Sin in his Nature; and when it is examined, it will appear, that it is the work of a curſed Out-caſt, an Unclean, Lying, Treacherous Spirit, who was rejected of God, and had no place in the whole Creation, but by framing a lye he brought a poor Woman from her Integrity and Obedience; and ſo from that came a great alteration to be in her, and a Ground or Foundation was laid for the Devil to build upon; and from that time he has alwayes had a Rule in the hearts of the Children of Diſobedience: But now that this Rule and Government ſhould not onely be Univerſal, but alſo Irreſiſtable and unalterable; yea, though God Almighty ſtretch forth his Power, to Redeem any out of this Kingdom, to bring them into the Kingdom of his dear Son; yet they ſay, it is impoſſible for him, till he dies. It is as much, as to ſay, If God will have any Man to ſerve him perfectly, he muſt firſt kill him, and then he ſhall have him to his ſervice in another World: Oh Horrible Ignorance of the Power of God, and of the end for which Chriſt came into the World! namely, to deſtroy the Divel and his Works. Now when his Work is deſtroyed, which has a tendancy to corrupt man's nature; then the nature, of Men and Women come to be ag • in holy, clean and pure, and Man comes to be Reſtored to his firſt Image, and the Glory of the firſt Body is again known, of which all the Bond-ſlaves of the Devil are Ignorant; and this Power to reſtore the nature of Man again, is the Lord's alone, it was the Devil that corrupted it, and it is God that ſanctifies it again, and delivers it by the Spirit of Judgment and of Burning, which the Hypocrites cannot bear.

Now the manner how, the nature of Man came to be corrupted, you have heard that it was by Man's joyning with that ſpirit, that was fallen and caſt out from God, and had onely a power in the Darkneſs, and could not Reign over any thing, but over that which he could draw from the Glory of God into the Darkneſs: And God who dwells in the Light, being moved with infinite compaſſion, ſent his Eternal Son, that was with him before the World was, that he ſhould be made partaker of the ſame nature in which Man was Created; that by the Vertue of the Eternal Power he might reſtore him unto God; and might miniſter unto the ſpirits of all ſuch, to whom this Darkneſs and corrupted ſtate was as a Priſon-houſe; And this Jeſus received not the nature of Angels, that was not his Work, but he received the Seed of Abraham, which was in Captivity, that he might Redeem it from Captivity through Death, ſuffering under the weight of that which oppreſſed the Creature, and cauſed it to groan after Redemption; ſo that although it could not deliver it ſelf, yet it might come to be Delivered through Faith in him who is mighty to ſave; And this Jeſus which was of the Seed of Abraham after the fleſh, purifieth the nature of all thoſe that joyn with him; for the Work of the Devil is to bring in corruption, and the Work of Chriſt is to deſtroy it, and inſtead thereof to bring in Everlaſting Righteouſneſs: Now where Sin is remaining in the nature; there the Covenant with Hell and Death is not broken, neither are ſuch in Covenant with God, but are yet under the Power of the Prince of the Air, whatever they may profeſs, And the death of Chriſt is yet of no value unto them, becauſe they are yet in their Sin, and corrupted nature, unchanged, Untranſlated; So that thoſe that hold this Plea for the Devil, that becauſe he once got a Place in the nature of Man, and has corrupted it; that therefore Sin muſt remain ſo long as the Life or nature remains, ſuch are ſtrangers to the Work of God, and to his Power by which he worketh, and alſo to Chriſt Jeſus, through whom he works; and they have more Faith in the Power of the Devil, then in the Power of Chriſt, believing that the Devil is more able to keep the Creature, and to hold faſt that, which by Deceit, and Treachery he has gotten in it; then God (who made the Creature good in his nature) is • ble, to reſtore it to his firſt purity, that the Creature might come to ſerve him in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs; And ſuch as ſo believe, are no true Chriſtians, nor true Believers: But are ſtanding in the corrupt nature, that has unity with the Devil and plead his Cauſe, who is willing, that his corrupt birth ſhould live in Man, as long as he lives in the World; For he knows that ſo long no acceptable Sacrifice can be offered up to God; for you cannot bring forth a clean Sacrifice out of an unclean Veſſel; and as long as nature is defiled; the works will be unclean, that are wrought in that nature.

Secondly, The ſecond pleading is; That never any Man was freed from Sin, ever ſince Sin firſt entred into the World; and that therefore it is Preſumption, to expect ſuch a thing in this Life.

Anſw. If this Poſition were true; That there was never any Man freed from Sin; yet it would be preſumption to ſay, that God ſhould not be able to do that, which he never did: and it is alſo preſumption to conclude, that never any Man was freed; but if this Poſition be falſe, then not only the conſequence is falſe, to wit, that none can be freed, but alſo the Argument it ſelf is proved to be a Lye, and ſo is ſwept away, and a Door is opened unto all, that has more love to Righteouſneſs, then to Sin, both to hope and to expect, that the ſame work ſhould again be wrought in and for them, without preſumption. Now, that all men are Sinners by nature, is evident; and that ſome were changed out of that natural State, is as evident; ſo that the Queſtion is only; whether thoſe, that are tranſlated out of that ſinfull nature, remain ſinfull, yea or nay? which if it be ſo, what advantage have they beyond others, if they, after they are tranſlated; muſt remain unfreed? But I anſwer, with the words of the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 4.1. He that hath ſuffered in the fleſh; hath ceaſed from Sin. And here he ſpoke of ſuch that were yet in the Body; but had ſuffered with, and were made partakers of the Sufferings and Death of Chriſt, which was to Sin; through which every one muſt paſs, before they can come to the Reſurrection, that is in Chriſt, by which (ſaid Peter) They obtained the anſwer of a good Conſcience in the Sight of God; which he calls the Baptiſm that Saves: now, ſome having been Partakers of that Death, Baptiſm, and Reſurrection of Chriſt, by which they came to ceaſe from Sin, and to have an anſwer of a good Conſcience, without offence both to God and Man, (which none that ſins, can have) then may there ſome lawfully expect to come to the enjoyment of the ſame ſtate of freedom and clearneſs, as well now, as formerly without preſumption.

Secondly, I anſwer with the words of the Apoſtle John, 1 Joh. 3.9. He that is born of God ſinneth not; becauſe his ſeed abideth in him; and he cannot ſin, for he is born of God. Now whereas there have been ſome, that were born of God, and have been his Children; and that they that were ſo, had overcome the Wicked one, ſo that he could not touch them; but they had kept their Garments white and unſpotted; and that ſome have been freed from the Law of Sin and Death; and that ſome have Walked unbl • mable, and without ſpot, and had put off the old Man with his Deeds, and had known the new Birth, and could by the Holy Spirit call God, Father; which things are all manifeſt in the Scriptures of Truth, which none can deny, but thoſe, that will deny the Scripture; Why then ſhould any man queſtion, that the ſame Works of Redemption ſhould not now again be brought to paſs? And therefore it is lawfull to expect it without preſumption. This Argument being confuted by the experience of the Saints.

Thirdly, The Faith of Gods Elect is but one in all Ages; and that Faith has purified the Hearts of many in former Ages, and has taught them to Walk with God; as for Inſtance, Enoch Walked with God ſeveral hundreds of years: Gen. 5.21. and it would be a horrible thing to ſay, that he Walked with God, when he Walked in Sin; as if God Walked in a Sinfull Way: for the Prophet ſaid; the Bloody-man, nor the Worker of Iniquity Dwells nor walks not with the Lord: But Enoch Dwelled and Walked with the Lord, and did not Iniquity; for if he had, he ſhould not have obtained a Teſtimony, that he pleaſed the Lord: for Sinners and Evil-doers do not pleaſe him. By Faith Noah Walked with God, and was a Preacher of Righteouſneſs in the old World;2 Pet. 2.5. alſo Lot in Sodom: which they could not have been, if they had been Sinners, except they had been ſuch Preachers, as the Preachers at this day; but they were owned of God, though they were mocked of men; and it is ſaid of them, that they did Inherit Righteouſneſs which they preached: And of Lot it is ſaid, that his Soul as well as his Doctrine was Righteous: And by the ſame Faith Job was kept in the fear of God in the Land of Ʋz; for that taught him to eſchew evil, by which he obtained a Teſtimony of God, that he was perfect and upright; which no Sinner is:1 Job 1.22. and if he had not been free from Sin, it would have been falſe to ſay of him; that he eſchewed the evil, and was perfect: and though his Tryals were many; yet he ſinned not with his Lips, neither did he charge God fooliſhly, and in the end of all his Tryals God cleared him of having ſinned, witneſſing, that he had found him faithfull, and received a Sacrifice from his Hand for thoſe zealous Profeſſors, that had charged him with Sin, whom God had cleared: And the ſame Faith cauſed Abraham and Sarah to be partakers of the Promiſe; and Abraham was a Friend of God, of which Chriſt ſaid, That none could be, but by fulfilling his Will; and thoſe that do ſo, are no Sinners: And by this Faith Moſes chuſed rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, Heb. 11.25. then to enjoy the pleaſures of Sin: So mark, he left Sin and the pleaſures of it, and then he muſt be without Sin; by which he obtained a Teſtimony, that he was a Servant of God, which Sinners are not. By Faith David's Heart was made after the Mind of God, and that is not ſinfull, but free from it, for in him is no Darkneſs at all. By the ſame Faith the Prophets were choſen Veſſels of God, and were upheld in their Teſtimony for God, till they came to obtain that Teſtimony, that they were the Men and Servants of God, which they could not have been, and withall Servants unto Sin; And the Scripture beareth Record of Zachariah and Elizabeth his Wife, Luke 1.2. that they were both Righteous before God, not by an Imagined Righteouſneſs; but in regard to their Couverſation, walking in all the Commands and Statutes of the Lord unblamable; but if they had been under the Power of Sin, and not freed from it; they had been neither unblamable, nor Righteous, but muſt at leaſt have Tranſgreſſed ſome of the commands of the Lord, or elſe they could not be Sinners. Alſo Nathaniel, in whom there was no Guile, which could not have been, John 1.48. if he had been under the Power of Sin; And much more might I write upon this Subject, to ſhew, how that many by this one Faith in all Ages have been delivered from Sin, and become the Children and Servants of God; and therefore thoſe, that are Partakers of this Faith in this Age, may hope and expect, that the ſame Work may be wrought in them; and this is no preſumption: And if theſe Sin-pleaders ſhould ſay, that there is none Partaker of this Faith now at this day, and therefore cannot be made free from Sin, they will exclude themſelves, which they will hardly do, becauſe they would fain have a Name of being Believers, though they deny the Work of the True Faith in themſelves.

Further, let us conſider, what theſe ſtrong Pleaders for Sin have to fortifie themſelves withall; They ſay, they have the Scripture to plead withall for Sin; which certainly was never the intention of the holly Spirit, by which it was given forth: But (ſay They) It is written in 1 Kings 8.46. For here is no Man that ſinneth not. Anſw. This is very true, neither do I plead, that any man is free from Sin all the dayes of his life (except Chriſt) but have confeſſed, they are all Sinners by nature, untill they be changed: and beſides, there it is but ſpoken of a People, that were under the Law, of which the Apoſtle ſayes, that it made nothing perfect; but, ſaid he, the bringing in of a better Hope did; but the Law did not purifie the Comers thereunto, according to the Conſcience: but, when the Offerers had offered, there remained an Evidence of Sin in the Conſcience; but what is that to the Chriſtians, who are come to know a better Hope, and the Blood that purifieth the Conſcience; for that ſame Apoſtle that ſaid, the Law made no man perfect (under which Law Solomon was, as alſo that People, concerning whom it was ſaid; there is none that lives and ſinneth not) notwithſtanding the ſame Apoſtle ſaid, that it was the bringing in of a better Hope, that did it: And what are theſe Fighters for Sin, and Sin-pleaders become ſo Zealous, that they will rather deny the better Hope then to ceaſe from Sin? if not, then there is a poſſibillity to be made perfect by the Blood of Chriſt, which the Blood of Bulls and Goats could not do.

An other Objection is brought forth; that is, That the Apoſtle Paul ſaid, that Sin lived in him, and that the good that He would do, He did not; and the evil that He would not do, that He did.

Anſw. That Paul knew the paſſing through ſuch a State, is without queſtion, and is not denied; but this does not prove at all, that he never knew no better State; or that he never came to perfection; for in that place he makes mention of three States. Firſt, How it was with him, when he lived without the Law of God in his liberty to fight againſt the Truth; and he thought, he might do many things againſt the Name of Jeſus. Secondly, He declares of his Convincement, and how it was with him then, when he knew, he ſhould not do no more againſt the Truth, and yet, not being wholly changed he did things which he knew he ought not, by reaſon of Sin living and dwelling in him; and that State he did not call Happy or Bleſſed (as theſe blind Profeſſors do at this day, that takes up a Reſt in this State, and ſay, they can never be Redeemed out of it (for he ſpeaking of ſuch a Condition, cryes out for Deliverance, calling it a miſerable Condition, which plainly ſheweth, that his eye was upon a further and better State, unto which he alſo beareth Witneſs; ſaying, he was made free by the Law of the Spirit of Life both of the Law of Sin and of Death; in which time he was yet in the Body.

Now, what • eaſon have theſe Pleaders for Sin to believe, that Paul was in all theſe three States at once? and if not; Why not in the laſt? being the other two are but fore-going States, leading to the third; eſpecially conſidering the many other Teſtimonies, which he gives of his being perfect; and of thoſe, that by his Miniſtry were brought to perfection; ſaying, concerning himſelf, Timothy, and Silvanus: We can do nothing againſt the Truth: and in an other place he teſtifies, That he has fought a good Fight, kept the Faith, and finiſhed his Courſe. Now if it was finiſhed, then there was no more to run: and if the Fight was Fought; then the Enemies were no more alive, as they were, when Sin lived and dwelled in him. Again he ſayes in an other place; We preach Wiſdom among them that are Perfect: That is after the explication and Sence of theſe Sin-pleaders; We preach Wiſdom among none, except among thoſe, that are already departed out of this World, and gone to Heaven. And again, As many of you as are Perfect, be ſo minded: That is to ſay, after their explication; let none be thus minded, before they be dead. Again at laſt, Dear Brethren be perfect; And of one mind, &c. But this, they ſay, cannot be in this Life. And again he ſayes to the Hebrews; You are come to the ſpirits of juſt Men made perfect, and to God the Righteous Judge of all, &c. But where were theſe Hebrews? were they yet alive, or were they dead? if dead; How came his Epiſtle to meet them? But a wilfull Blindneſs is come over many of theſe Servants and Miniſters of Darkneſs, and they have rebellious Hearts againſt the Light, that diſcovers their Sin, and would lead them out of it.

But becauſe they have more love to Sin, then to the Light; therefore they ſeek to cover themſelves ſo much: But the Day is come, that has diſcovered them, and their deceitfull Coverings will not longer cover them.

An other pleading is of that which is ſpoken by the Apoſtle, John 1 Joh. 1.8. If we ſay we have no Sin, we deceive our ſelves, and the Truth is not in us.

Out of which words every miſerable, and pitifull Souldier of this great Prince of Darkneſs thinks, he may Arm himſelf ſufficiently to fight againſt that, which would deliver them and make them free: But if this Scripture were ſeen and read with that Spirit by which, and in which it was written; then it would appear, that this John was not ſuch a great Friend to Sin, and the Devil (who is a Father of Lyes) as they would have him to be; For in the ſame Chapter he had ſhewed before, into what State they muſt come, before they can come to have Fellowſhip with God, viz. To walk in the Light, as Chriſt was in the Light: and thoſe that ſaid, They had Fellowſhip with God and Chriſt, (as the Prieſts and Profeſſors do at this day) and did not come to attain unto that State to walk in the Light, but inſtead thereof walked in Darkneſs; ſuch ſaid he, were Lyars, and did not the Truth.

Now he ſaid; his Fellowſhip was with the Father and with the Son; which could not be, if he had walked in Darkneſs, or was a Sinner, or that he had not walked in the Light, as Chriſt was in the Light, for then he would have made himſelf a Lyar, if he had been a Sinner, when he ſaid; that he had Fellowſhip with God and Chriſt.

And therefore it ought to be well obſerved, that John ſpeakes there of a ſort of Men, that were not yet brought to confeſs their Sins; and if ſuch came to that Conceit and Pride, as to ſay, they had no Sins to confeſs; and ſo exalted themſelves above the Witneſs of God that reproved them; then ſuch deceived themſelves: But if theſe that are ſo ſinfull, come to own that which brings them to a Confeſſion of their Sins; then God is Faithfull to forgive ſuch their Sins, and to Cleanſe them from all Iniquity. Now, when this is done, to wit; when the Creature has confeſſed his Sin, and God has forgiven it, and Cleanſed him; What muſt then that Man ſay? Muſt he then ſay; that he has his Sin ſtill, when he has it not? Muſt he ſay, that he is Filthy and Defiled, when he is Cleanſed from all that? This would be a Lye; and If he ſhould be Cleanſed from all Sin; he muſt certainly be Cleanſed from Lyes: And if it was his Duty to confeſs the Work of the Devil, when it was ſtanding in him, which were his Sins; May not he now being Cleanſed, confeſs God's Work that has Cleanſed him; he being Cleanſed by him freely? Muſt he therefore be cryed out of for a Deceiver and Heretick? Who is ſo blind, that cannot ſee, that it is as ſerviceable as needfull, and as lawfull for a man, that has known the Power of God to clenſe him, to confeſs that, and to bear a teſtimony to that work; as it is needfull and lawfull, when the Devil's work is manifeſted in him; to confeſs that, and to bear a Teſtimony againſt that.

Yet ſaith John to thoſe that were thus waſhed: If we ſay, that we have not ſinned, we make God a Lyar; It is as much, as if he would ſay, That even thoſe that are ſaved, muſt confeſs to the Power of God, by which they have been judged for ſin; and not to exalt themſelves above it, as if they had never ſinned; ſeeing that the Witneſs of God teſtifieth in all, that they have ſinned, and come ſhort of the Glory of God; So that now the underſtanding Reader may ſee, that John hath not written here of an impoſſibility of being Delivered from Sin, but abſolutely the contrary; Namely, that thoſe that cannot ſay that they are without ſin, may come by confeſſing their ſins to be Cleanſed and made free from it; yea, from all that which is Unrighteous: Yet ſome will ſay, that the Apoſtle in that place uſeth the word We, as if he included himſelf; as if he would ſay at that time; if I ſhould ſay, that I had no ſin, &c.

Anſw. This is no proof at all, becauſe the contrary is prov'd before; to wit, that he had Fellowſhip with God and Chriſt, which no Man could have that walked not in the Light, as he is in the Light, and ſuch may as well, by the ſame manner of ſpeaking, prove James to be a Curſer; whereas he ſaid, with the Tongue we Bleſs God, and with it we Curſe Men that are made after the Image of God; and many more ſuch Inſtances might be brought forth, of the Lamentations and Complaints of the Prophets concerning the Houſe of Iſrael, which is Tranſlated ſo in that manner of ſpeaking, which does not prove at all, that the Prophets were Guilty of ſuch Sin and Rebellion, of which they complained, Neh. 9.37. &c. But how zealous are theſe Pleaders for ſin to find out words, which, they think, do ſerve for the upholding of the Kingdom of their Maſter, when there is not one word, that properly belongs, or was written to their purpoſe, except that Part of it, which the Devil and his Servants, their Predeceſſors has Spoken or Written, and that indeed may ſerve them; as I once heard a Prieſt, that was exhorting of the People to imploy their Time, and Ability to gather knowledge, confirming his Exhortation with the Scripture, (viz.) Gen. 5. You ſhall be as Gods, knowing Good and Evil.

And an other, a Menniſt Preacher in North-Holland, whilſt he was warning the People to take heed of being Deceived, he exhorteth them to Immitate the deaf Adders, Pſal. 58.4. And ſo to ſtop their Bars againſt the voice of the Charmers, that charm never ſo wiſely: So, the one hath his Proof from the Adders, and the other from the Devil. Such Scripture Places as theſe, I do confeſs, that theſe Pleaders for Sin may find to ſtrengthen their Arguments; but that which was written by the Motion of the Holy Spirit of God, is a perfect Teſtimony againſt them all; againſt their Work, and againſt their Prince.

So, having anſwer'd their chiefeſt Objections, which they draw out of the Scripture; by which they endeavour to prove, That none can be free from ſin in this life, contrary to Rom. 6.22. I make haſte to the third great Argument of theſe Captives, which they lay down againſt their own Freedom:

Thirdly, That is, That it is the Will of God, to let ſome Sins remain in the Best of his People, to keep them Humble thereby.

Anſw. If it be the Will of God, that his beſt Servants ſhould ſin; then his Will is done, when they ſin. And what reaſon have any men to be humbled and caſt-down, becauſe they have done the Will of God? but rather to rejoyce, and be glad, that the Will of God is done, and that their Will is conformable to the Will of God, that the Will of both can be done together: This is a very eaſie way to the Joy of the Lord, if this brings to tha • ſentence, Well done Good and Faithful Servant, &c. But Wo unto thoſe, that are given up to believe this Lye.

Again, Let the underſtanding Reader (I mean thoſe, that are weary with their ſins, and are willing to be freed) conſider, (for, as concerning the other, they are my Oppoſers) How can God properly be call'd Almighty? and how can the Work of the Converſion of Souls properly be call'd His, if he is neceſſitated to borrow ſomething from the Devil to keep his Children Humble withal? Certainly we muſt conclude, That if God had a better way to do it, that he would do it in the beſt, and not in the worſt way, viz. By Sin; which is ſo very contrary to his nature.

But, Let but theſe Sin-Pleaders ſuppoſe, That if God ſhould ſtretch forth his Power ſo far in man, that it ſhould deſtroy all the Works of the Devil, and caſt out Sin; and cauſe his Soul to take as great Delight and Joy in Well-doing, as ever it had in Sin; and ſhould plant Humility as naturally in the Soul, as the Devil has planted Pride in it.

Now the Queſtion is, Whether this Power, that works this change, be not as able to keep the Creature in this Condition, as to bring him to it, without any help of the Devil or his Work? But they will ſay, To ſuppoſe a thing that is Impoſſible, is either against Reaſon, or Preſumption.

I Anſwer, All things are Poſſible with God, except to Lye; and as concerning this, It is not only poſſible, but the contrary is impoſſible, becauſe God hath ſo often promis'd it, to make a perfect Work, and to finiſh his Work in all them that truſt in him: And for this End is Chriſt Jeſus come, That he might deſtroy the Devil, and his Works: And in the Parable he ſaith, When he comes, that is ſtronger, he ſhall bind the ſtrong Man, and ſpoil his Goods, and cast him out. This ſeems as if Chriſt, who is the ſtronger, had no need of the Devil, or his Goods either, to keep his People Humble thereby: But the Apoſtle ſaid, That they were kept by Faith through the Power of God, unto Salvation: Except you will ſay, as the Prieſts in Scotland ſay, Curſed is he that ſayes, Faith it without Sin; and let all the People ſay, Amen. Then the words of the Apoſtle muſt be read thus, You are kept by a Faith, which is mixed with ſin, in the Power of God unto Salvation: But if you will have it ſo, ſpeak it out, as they have done; but, being you profeſs, That Faith is the Gift of God; we may well ſay, It is able to clenſe the Heart, and to give Victory over the World, and alſo over the Devil, and Sin; and then there is no need of ſin, to keep us Humble: For if Humility was a Fruit of ſin, it would not be ſo acceptable unto God, as it is; for the Prophet ſays, He giveth his Grace to the Humble, and dwelleth with ſuch that are of a Contrite and Broken Heart.