TO praise my dear deceased Child (who is entred into her Rest, and her Works follow her) or to exalt my self, the Lord is my Witness, I do not expose this Relation to publick view; but to exalt the Name of our God, and of his Everlasting Truth, whose Name alone is excellent throughout all the Earth; who rather then fail will and doth raise up Children to be the Heralds to proclaim his Goodness, making good his Promise; to ordain praises out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings: I say for Psal. 8. 2. this cause am I made willing it should be communi­cated to publick view, and that others may be ex­cited and stirred up thereby to enquire after the Way of Life and Happiness; that they with her may find rest also for their immortal Souls. There are many I know with Balaam will desire to dye the death of the Righteous, and that their latter end may be like theirs, who never so much as chuse the Lord to be their Portion, as she did, nor scarce set one foot for­ward [Page 4] in the Way which is Everlasting, but are ra­ther walking in the many by-paths, and in the crook­ed and broad way which leads to perdition, when as the Way is but one, and its a plain Way, in which the Wayfaring-man, though a Fool, (giving heed Isa 35. 8. thereunto) shall not err: Its the Way in which this Child was educated from her child-hood, and it led her, and it is of ability (I do affirm it in the Name of the Lord, and give it in as my Testimony for his everlasting Truth) to bring all that shall o­bey it to the same Haven of Rest and Happiness as it brought her.

Quest. Now many an honest heart may say, Let me know that Way, and acquaint me with that Princi­ple; for rest is that which I desire, and is that which I have long been seeking after.

Answ. To such I answer, Christ Jesus is the Way, who hath lighted every man and woman that com­eth into the World; who is come a Light into the Joh. 9. Joh. 3. 17. World, to the intent that all men through him might believe and be saved; according to his own assertion, I am the Light of the World, he that be­lieveth John 12. 46. Joh, 8. 12 Joh. 1. 12 Joh. 3. 19 in me shall not abide in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life; And as many as did receive him, to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God; And to those that believe in him he is the same at this day; but those that did not believe on him, but reject him and his Counsel, against their own souls, those were condemned by him, because they believed not in him; for so himself affirms, This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World, and men love dark­ness rather then Light; That is the very cause of con­demnation, [Page 5] and the cause why the Wrath of God comes upon men and women; to wit, Because they are disobedient to the Light with which they are enlightned, which if they did obey, it would lead them to the Light of Life.

Quest. But some are ready to say, Why is it called Light? Where doth this Light shine? Or where is it to be found? And what effects, when it is obeyed, will it produce?

Answ. For the sake of the simple-hearted I shall lay it down, as I have received it of the Lord.

First, Most properly it is called Light, because it maketh manifest, according to the Apostles own words, What ever is reproved, is made manifest by the Light; for whatever maketh manifest is Ephe. 5. 13. Light.

Secondly, This Light shineth in the heart, making manifest the evil that lurketh and lodgeth there, di­scovering the very hidden things of dishonesty; 2 Cor. 4. 6. making a difference there, between the precious and the vile: And it is a Discoverer of the very thoughts, intentions, and purposes of the heart, so Heh. 4. 12. that the Enemy of the soul cannot lay a bait to in­snare you, or with his cunning wiles come to tempt you; but as you apply your selves to the Light of Christ, (which shineth in your hearts) for directi­on, and believe therein, and flee thereunto, as unto a strong Tower, ye will find safety.

Thirdyy, I do affirm, that this Light of Christ, which shineth in the heart, hath Power, Vertue, and Efficacy in it to overcome the evil One in all his appearances; and therefore the Apostle Paul rightly Rom. 13. 12. [Page 6] calls it Armor; commends it to be the Armor of proof; commands it to be put on: Saith he, Put on the Armor of Light, by which you shall be able to resist Ephe. 6. 16. the fiery Darts of the Devil; not onely be able to resist temptations from wicked men without you, but a [...]so the Devils temptations within you: Yea his Darts, his most piercing Darts, his fiery Darts, and not onely some of them, but all his fiery Darts are to be resisted by this Light, which is Armor.

Friends and People, there is but Christ or Be­lial, there is but Light or Darkness ruling in every man or woman that is in the World; the Darkness, and the power of it, is that which leads and hurries men and women into sin and evil: The Light and Power thereof, is that which makes sin and evil ma­nifest, convinceth of sin, repoveth for it, and leads out of it; and this Light is not at a distance from Joh. 16. 8 you, but it shineth in your hearts, in which the a­boundant Love and Kindness of God unto man hath appeared; that as the Enemy of mens Souls hath got a Seat in man, and is near to him (for as its said, He ruleth in the hearts of the Children of Ephe. 2. 2 disobedience) to tempt him to sin and evil; so the Light of Christ is in him also, to shew him the sin, and to lead man out of it, and to give him power to resist him in all his appearances: So by minding hereof you will not be caught in his snare; for as its said, In vain is the Net laid in sight of the Bird; yea, Prov. 1. 17. as you apply your selves to the Light, and wait for power there from, and stand upon your watch Tower, the Enemy of your souls will flee from you, as a routed Enemy, or as darkness doth when [Page 7] the Sun ariseth, and it cannot be otherwise, for he cannot abide the Light, in it he cannot dwell; dark­ness is his Center and Habitation: The appearance Pro. 4. 17 of Light is the appearance of God, and that is terrible to him, that wounds him most; for God is Light, and in it he dwells, and in him is no darkness 1 John 1. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 15. at all; and Light and Darkness cannot dwell together, nor Christ with Belial; and therefore this old subtil Serpent the Devil, the Enemy of man-kind, bends his greatest strength against the Light: I say the power of Darkness most opposes that, if he can but bring men and women into a dis-esteem and dis-re­gard of the Light, to account that as a slight or a 2 Cor. 4. 4. mean thing, not worth the minding, he soon makes that man or woman his Slave and Vassel; as it is written, The god of this World blinds the minds of them which believe not, least the Light of the glorious Gos­pel of Christ (which is the Image of God) should shine upon them; [Mark] He would not have the Light to shine, nor its operation in the heart to be regarded; for where its minded he knows men and Joh. 12. 40. women soon comes to be redeemed, from under his power, region, and dominion; and therefore he blinds their minds and closes their eyes, least they should see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and be converted, and the Lord should heal them: I say, the power of darkness both in himself within, and in his Instruments without, bends his greatest strength and force (setting it as it were in battel array) against the Light, and the Children of the Light, because that makes him and his Kingdom manifest, and not only so, but destroyes, and also de­tects [Page 8] all the deceitful & unfruitful works of darkness, that are brought forth by him, and by his off-spring, which are all children of darkness; and could he but expel the Lig [...]t out of the World, and root that out of the hearts of people, then he would soon ac­complish his desired end indeed; then would his mountain stand strong for ever; but blessed be the Lord, & magnified be the pure Name of our God for ever, whose Glory is revealed, and whose Light is risen, which not only makes him and his subjects manifest, but shall also destroy and expel the pow­er of darkness, and lay waste his heritage for ever; it hath done so already in the hearts of thousands, Prov. 4. 18. yea, of ten thousands, and it shall increase more and more, till the Righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp Isa. 62. 1. that burneth; for that is God's determination, to exalt his Son Christ Jesus, the Light of the World, and to give him a Name above every name; yea; he will magnifie his Law (and Solomon tells thee in the Proverbs, The Law is Light) and make it ho­norable; Pro. 6. 23 Isa. 23. 21. he hath done it in a great measure alrea­dy; the reproach of his people he hath taken away, the mockings of Moab, the revilings of the Chil­dren of Ammon is little now to what it was in years past; but he will magnifie it yet more, and make it yet more honourable; for the Gentiles must come to this Light, and Kings to the brightness of its ri­sing, Isa. 60. 3. Revel. 21 24. as it was prophesied by Isaiah; for the Nations of them that are saved must come to walk in the Light of the Lamb, of which Friends and People, we affirm that without it ye cannot be freed from [Page 9] the cunning wiles of Satan, who goes about like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour; for Friends, there is not another power can save you from sin, but that Power which makes sin manifest; there are but two powers to which all men and wo­men in the World are subject, the one leads into sin, the other leads out of sin; that power which prompts and leads into sin, all men will readily grant thats the power of Darkness, that never leads to God, nor yet to goodness; that Power which leads out of sin and evil, it must on the contrary be confest, is the Arm and Power of God, none dare say that that at any time leads into sin and e­vil.

So Friends and Neighbours, with the Light which shines in your hearts, which as you are faithful unto, will increas [...] to shine more and more until it be per­fect Pro. 4. 18 d [...]y, examine your selves every day and hour under wh [...]t Powe [...] and Region you are, and whom you do [...], (For his Servants assuredly you are (as it is written) to wh [...]m you yield obedience) This Light will [...] with you, it will fl [...]ter none of you, nor will i [...] accuse any of you falsly; its Voice is God's Voice in you: and speaks one and the same Language with the Lord in Heaven; it will never justifie you when you do evil, (but then brings an­guish, tri [...]ulation, and sorrow upon you) nor never condemn you when you have done well; when you do well, you find and feel inwardly acceptance with the Lord; Honour, Glory, and Immortallity, is your Portion, agreable to the Apostles words, If our Hearts condemn us not, then have we peace towards 1 John 3. 21. [Page 10] God; So dear Friends, slight not its appearance, for it never appears but to do you good, or to preserve you from evil before you enter into it; it is a faith­ful Witness, there is no bribing of it, that will do Pro. 14. 5 its Office, it will shew you the evil you are about to do, that so of your blood it may be clear, and if you are condemned, your condemnation may be of your selves, as Christ the Light of the World said, If I had not come ye had not had sin, but now you have no Cloak for your sin; now men have no excuse, as it is written, All men shall be left without excuse; John 15. 22. Every mouth shall be stopped; because, What could the Lord have done more for men and women, then to place a Light (which is a measure of his own Spi­rit) so near them, even in, in their very Hearts and Consciences, that the Enemy of their souls cannot budge or stir, but this Light makes him manifest; Eph. 5. 13 and often woeth and beseecheth men to forsake the evil of their wayes, which grieves his holy Spirit, and wounds their own souls; had the Lord not caus­ed such a Light to shine, or had it not shined within, in the heart, where the Devil, and his temptations, and his goods lodgeth, man might have had a fair plea, and a just excuse another day; & have said, Lord, I saw not the Tempter, nor his Temptation, thou gavest me nothing to discover him; nor yet, that that was of au­thority or power to resist or graple with so potent an Adversary; I was without any Light which should manifest his approach to me, or if I had it, it was a Light remote from me, the Enemy was in one place, and the Armour of Light by which I should resist the Devil (and so he be made to flee from [Page 11] me) was in another place, at a great distance from me, and I needed it nearer me, yea, within me, for, there I felt the power of Darkness stirring to tempt and prompt me to sin and evil, and so I was over-come Eph. 2. 2. by him: Yea, and this would have been a fair excuse at the Bar of God's Tribunal; but all men shall be left without excuse, because, Christ is 1 Joh. 2. 8. come, the true Light shineth, and it shineth in your hearts, and makes manifest the sin that lodgeth there, to the end that ye might joyn to its Power, and resist the Devil in his first appearance, that so the Cockatrice-Egg might be broaken, before ever it come to be a Serpent: My selfe, with many o­thers can set to our seal, that this is true; We have been redeemed by its Power; We have been saved and preserved by its Arme; We have felt its Efficacy in our hearts, not only to make sin and evil manifest, but also to give us power against sin, as we have ad­hered and joyned to it; yea, it hath cleansed us, and sanctified us, and wrought in us mightily, and inabled us to make that resistance which otherwise we had never been able to make against the man of sin, and the power of darkness, by which we know it is the Power of God; as Christ said, If I do not the Works that none ever did, believe me not; If I do, then believe me for my Works sake: We have felt and tasted it, and experienced it many a year; and so we affirm not of a thing which we have not tryed, or which we have taken up upon trust or here-say, from other mens reports; but we have believed, and therefore do we speak; we have tryed it, and therefore we cannot but praise it, and recommend it [Page 12] [...]o others, as the only Armour by which ye must be inabled to resist all the fiery Darts of the Devil; and as that without which ye cannot be preserved from sin and evil, but no sooner from Sinners without shall ye be inticed, but you shall consent unto them; Prov. 1. 10. nor no sooner be tempted by the Evil-One within, but you shall yield to his temptations. And therefore dear Friends and Towns-men, I exhort you all in the Name and Fear of the Lord, to prove and try this ex­cellent piece of Armour of Light; and to that end ex­amine first, whether there is not a Light in you, which shews you your thoughts, intentions, and purposes of your hearts, whether they be evil or good, and by what name can you call this, but Light; and then examine further, when you have an intent and purpose to do evil, whether this Light doth not warn you of it be­fore-hand, shewing you its a wicked thing you are a­bout to do? and that its against the Will and Com­mand of God, and against the Witness of God in your own Consciences, and yet oft-times you will presume to do it, (can any man deny this to be true, except such as are seared as with a hot Iron?) Well, notwith­standing the Light thus testifieth against the evil, yet when ye have committed it, examine further, whe­ther it ceaseth to do another Office, and that is to bring Judgment upon you, to reprove you, and con­vince you of the evil you have done, and somtimes lies so hard upon your Consciences that you resolve not to do the like another time; and yet again you not minding the Light, but rather rebelling against it, are soon over-taken in the same evil again: Oh Friends, upon examination of your own hearts, [Page 13] you knowing these things to be true, methink, if you would act reason but as men, you should argue in this manner; Surely this Light which shines in my heart is the Light of the Lord, & its not placed in me to be put under a Bushel; surely I ought to obey it, & give heed to it; it is a precious Light, for it strives with me to make me good; it pleads with me on God's behalf, to forsake evil, and it never reproves me but when I do evil; surely it can be no less then a measure of God's Good Spirit, that thus shines in my heart; and so caus [...] you to take up a Resolution hence-forth to love and obey it and be led by it; it was so with me when I was first convinced: The Light was so plain a Thing, and so precious, and so clear a Truth to me, that I have oft-times wondred in my self how I could oppose it so long, and did not bow to it soon­er; and I then concluded what ever it cost me, to walk in the Light, and be obedient thereunto; and I can truly say to this day, I have not served a hard Ma­ster, nor was it ever in the least in my heart to question the truth of it, nor hath my faith therein been shaken; but without all controversie it is un­doubtedly the Way to Life and Immortallity, and a Voyce from that excellent Glory, which if men do not give heed unto, and answer its requiring, it will be their condemnation; for if they that despised Moses's Law dyed without mercy, of how much Heb. 10. 28, 29. sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy, that tre [...]ds under foot the Son of God and doth despite to the Spirit of Grace. Consider further, that that which hath no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but which constantly declares against it, & re­proves [Page 14] for it, cannot be of the nature of the dark­ness, against which it testifies, but of a contrary Nature, to wit, of the Light; and it is that Seed which God hath left in man, of which the Apostle testifies, Had he not left us a Seed, we had been as So­dom, Rom. 9. 29. and made like unto Gomorrah. Now some will confess there is a relique of the Image of God (which Adam was in, in innocency) left in man; but they reckon it a trifle, and deny it to be of any power or efficacy to lead to God; but we who h [...]ve felt its living Power and Vertue do testifie for God, and for his Truth, that its of a growing N [...]ture, and though, in its first appearance, it is small and little, e­ven as a Grain of Mustard-seed, as Christ compa­red it, the least of all the Seeds in the Garden, yet it comes in time to be the greatest of all Herbs, and becometh a Tree. Friends, doth it make manifest to you one evil one day? be faithful to its manifestati­on, & cease from that evil, & then it will teach you to deny an other, and an other evil after that; for, to that end the Grace of God appeareth, until all un­godliness Titus 2. 11. and worldly lusts be denyed, and teache [...] to live Righteously, Holy, and Soberly in this pre­sent World: And until you become a new Lump cre­ated in Christ Jesus unto good Works; for like unto Leaven also did Christ compare it, which hid in three measures of Meal leavened the whole Lump: I say, as ye are subject to its operation and manifestation, be it in never so little, yet being faithful hereunto, ye shall be Rulers over much, and so at length come to rule in the Power and Authority of the Lord, over Satan and all his temptations.

So, Friends and People, to this Principle of God, which is near you, which brought this Child near unto the Lord, and neer and dear unto his People, do I recommend you, and not to a new thing which you have never before heard of, or in no wise ex­perienced; but to that which you cannot but be sen­sible of hath striven with you ever since you were Children, and came to know your right hand from your left, which, I say, from that time bore a se­cret testimony in your hearts, for God, against your Lyes and Falshoods, and Evils committed, though in never so much secresie; nay, although your Lyes had the best gloss and cover put upon them that the Devil, and your own wicked hearts, could invent, yet did this pure Witness of God (which never consented to sin and evil, nor could be contaminated o [...] defiled by it) bear a true and faithful Witness a­gainst you, and shew you that you lyed and did wickedly; unto this, I say, do I recommend you, if ever you expect to enter that Kingdom into which no unclean thing can enter, or ever ye expect to be a Habitation for God, or fit Vessels for the Lord's use; even to the Word in your hearts; for he that is the Light of the World is also called the Word of God, Rev. 19. 13. which was from the beginning, unto which David in his day recommended Young-men, as that by Psal. 119. Prov. 6. 23. Joh. 15. 3. which they should clense their way; and which Solo­mon testified of, Which was Guide unto his Feet, and a Lamp unto his Path; And which Christ testified of, had clensed his Disciples, Ye are clean through the Word; Which Peter also testified, of, To be a marvellous Light; and the Apostle Paul 1 Pet. 2. 9. [Page 16] brings in his testimony concerning this ingrafted Word, That its nigh, even in the Heart and in the Mouth, so that none shall need to say, Who shall ascend to bring it down, or descend to bring Rom. 10. it up, for its nigh in the heart and in the mouth: And this was the Doctrine of all the holy Men of God, in all Ages of the World: David prayed to the Lord, That he would lift up his Light, and his Truth, that they might lead him; for as he saith in another place, In thy Light we shall see Light; Isa. 2. 5. And the Prophet Isaiah exhorted those that he loved, To walk in the Light of the Lord, and walked therein himself; Come, saith he, And let us walk in the Light of the Lord; he calls it, The good old Way, and leads into the new and living Way; and this was the very end why Paul had a Ministry committed to him, to wit, That h [...] mig [...]t turn peo­ple from Darkness unto Light, and fro [...] [...]he power of Satan unto God; Good old Simion [...] saith, Its A [...]t. 26. 18. the Way prepared before the face of all People: Therefore now Friends, you giving up your con­sent to the truth of these things, by an inward con­viction in your Consciences, (for to that I appeal, and to that alwayes the Apostles defired to be evident) rebel no longer against it, the Spirit of God shall not always strive with you, and if you continue in re­bellion against it, you shall never know the Way Job 24. 13 of it; and this is one main reason why the Light is so much opposed and spoken against, because peo­ple through their rebellion to it, know not the ver­tue and efficacy of it, and so speak evil of that they know not, but are incompetent Judges in the case; [Page 17] and an other reason is, because commonly they are men of perverse minds, evil men, concerning the Faith, Reprobates.

And this Light reproves for evil deeds; as Christ said, He that doth evil hateth the Light, and will not bring his deeds to the Light, lest the Light should re­prove John 3. 20. him; so from Christ's own Words it follows, they are evil men that hates the Light, or speaks contemptibly of it, they are such as are Enemies in their minds to it through wicked works. Col. 1. 20.

But may some say, Do not our Priest and Pro­fessors with one consent (yea, as unanimonsly, as ever the Jews called to have Christ crucified, release not this man to us, but Barrabas) speak and exclaim against the Light; Some say its a check; some say a natural light; and some a carnal light; others an in­sufficient light; and some call it an Ignus Fatuus; and some a diabolical light; but the truth is (saith many an honest heart) they are divided among themselves about it (as the Elders was in accusing innocent Susanna; some said, under a Sick more Tree; and some under an other Tree; and none of all these testimonies in this case are true; or to be regarded) and we know not what to think of it; but I dare not but think (say some people) that many of them are knowing men, and good men, and who shall we believe? Its none but you Quakers commend the Light, as it was said of Christ's Followers of old, Do any of the Rulers of the People believe in him? but this People that know not the Law are accursed.

Here what Christ saith, He concludes them igno­rant men; against whom thou art not (whosoever [Page 18] thou art) to opose thy judgment: He said to the learn­ed Mat. 22. 29. Pharisees, You err not knowing the Scripture (though they had the Scripture) nor the Power of God; and testifies further against them, They were evil men, and a Generation of Vipers, and herein their wickedness appeared in hating the Light; He that doth evil hates the Light; such as are reproved by John 3. 20. it, and judged by it, and condemned by it, are the onely Haters of it: I say, such as would have Christ's Kingdom pulled down, and Satans King­dom set up, its no other that dare lift up a hand or a tongue against the Light, whatever they may profess in words; can you make me believe, or any rational man, that a good man that hath experien­ced its operation, and that walks in the Light, can speak against the Light? its as easie and as possible for a man to fathom the Are, or make a Girdle for the Sun; he cannot, he dares not; for the Light is his Life, his Armour, his Preserver, his strong Tower, (which as he flees unto he is safe) its his de­light to dwell in it, and walk in it; its that which he is made a child of; should he speak against the Light, he should speak against the Lord, he should vi­lifie his Maker, he should speak against his own In­terest, and against that Kigndom of which he is an Heir; for the Inheritance which is prepared for him, and others of the Cloud of Witnesses gone before him, is an Inheritance of Light; for the Apo­stle Col. 1. 12. called it, An Inheritance with the Saints in the Light; Nay he is so far from speaking against it, that he continually exalts it, and commends it; and commends it best by walking in the Light, and is ready to [Page 19] lay down his Life in defence of the truth of it; He that doth well (its written) loves the Light, and Joh. 3. 21 brings his deeds to it, that it might be manifest his works are wrought in God. So all Friends and Peo­ple, its an everlasting Truth to you, neither your Guides nor your selves can ever be competent Judges of the Light, or of its sufficiency, nor ever truly report of its Authority or Power, nor know what it will lead you from▪ nor bring you unto, until you come to be led by it, and give up to its requirings, (as did this dear Child) and when you have done so, you will bring in your Testimonies for the Lord with me and others, that its a marvellous Light, and worthy to be followed, loved, and obeyed, for Wisdom was, and ever will be justified of her Children, as it was ever hated of its Enemies; but on the contrary, the children of Darkness will ex­alt their fathers Kingdom, the Prince of Darkness, and their inheritance, which is a kingdom of Dark­ness, 2 Pet. 2. 17. Jude 6. where they are reserved in Chains of Darkness to the Judgment of the great Day.

So Friends and Towns-men, whose lives the Lord hath miraculously spared, in the last great Contagion in this Town, which swept away thou­sands, and also hath hitherto preserved, in or from this last Visitation of the Small-Pox; and made you li­ving monuments of his Mercy at this day: Let the time past suffice, wherein you have walked contrary to this Light of Christ in your Consciences, and said often to it in your Hearts in this kind, Cease from before me, I desire not the knowledge of thy Law; nor would you hear the voyce of the Charmer, charm [Page 20] he never so wisely (nor never so seasonably, (even just when your feet were oft-times going down to the chambers of Death) and which sometimes hath looked you in the face, and smit you in your Hearts, when you have entertained thoughts of acting wick­edly; yet have ye made good the Prophets words, In a Land of [...]righteousness you would do unjustly, and would not behold the Majesty of the Lord: I say, let the time past suffice (and now turn at his reproof, and obey his call, lest his Wrath be kindled against you, and he may not hear when you call, but may laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh (for though you have escaped one woe, and a second, yet the Lord hath many more Arrows in his Quiver, which he can bring out of his Armory of his Justice, wherewith he will wound the hairy Scalp of every one that goeth on in his iniquities) that so a time of refreshing you may know from the presence of the Lord, before you go hence and see man no more, which is my hearts desire to the Lord for you all.