Some Aſſertions concerning the Principle and Way of Life.
THat it is a great and hard matter to come into a capacity of knowing and receiving the Truth. It is no hard matter to take up any Religion that a man finds in the World. To reade Scriptures, to believe what a man finds related there, according to his underſtanding of them; yea, to believe that he hath the Light and help of the Spirit in his reading and underſtanding, to apply himſelf alſo to practiſe and obſerve what he finds therein required, and to aime at Holineſs, &c. This is no hard matter, every man that is ſerious, and ſeeks religion of any kind but in the weight of a mans ſpirit, may go thus far. But all this adminiſters not the true capacity, but he that meets with it, muſt go further then thus.
2. That which gives the true capacity is a Principle of Life from God, and there alone and no where elſe can man meet with it and receive it. This principle is the Seed of the Kingdom or Heavenly Leaven, with which the mind muſt be in ſome meaſure leavened, ere it can come into a true capacity of underſtanding and receiveing the truth. And in this Leaven muſt it abide and grow up, if it abide and grow in the true knowledg, &c.
3. That from this principle and in this principle, not only the true Light and Knowledge of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and all Spiritual things is given and received, but alſo the true Faith, the true Love, the true Sanctification, the true Juſtification, the true Peace, the true Joy, &c. And what of theſe is not received and held here, is not of the Truth, but a garment of mens own forming and not the covering of the Spirit.
4. That the Spirit himſelf ſows this principle, and is received in this principle. And he that receives this principle and is born of this principle, receives and is born of the Spirit; and he that receives it not, nor is born of it, neither hath received nor is born of
the Spirit, but is but in the imagination and ſelf-conceit about the things of God, but is not in the truth, as it is in Jeſus.
5. That in this Principle the new Covenant is made with the ſoul and entred into; and he that receives this principle from the hand of God, receives Life and enters into the Covenant of Life, and feels the pure fear, wherein God cleanſeth the heart, and whereby he keeps the heart clean, and feels the Laws of God daily writing there by the finger of Gods Spirit, and feels the power and ſence of the Spirit to teach and cauſe obedience; ſo that the yoke, which is hard to the tranſgreſſing nature (alienated from the Life and Power) is eaſy (and as I may ſay natural) to him that is born of this nature. For being dead with Chriſt, and riſen with Chriſt, and changed into the nature of Chriſt, by the principle which is of him, through the Power and Spirit of Chriſt which worketh therein, he can ſay as Chriſt did, when the Lord cals him to any thing, Loe I come, tis my meat and drink, yea my great delight to do thy will O God, yea thy Law is written in the midſt of my bowels.
6. Among thoſe who are gathered into this Principle, and abide in the Sence, Light and Life of this Principle, there is great love and unity. They are of one mind, of one heart, of one ſoul, of one ſpirit, of one life, gathered into one demonſtration of truth, and there is no jarriug, no doubting, no diſſenting, &c. All this is out, in the world, in the earthly wiſdom, in the earthly profeſſions and walkings, but it is excluded the Principle of Truth, and them that are gathered into and abide therin.
7. That all that are not gathered into, nor walk nor live in this Principle, they are yet in the darkneſs and error from the pure power of God, and ſtand and walk in ſlippery places: and though their way may ſeem very right, and their eſtate and condition ſure (as to God-wards) in their own eyes and judgment, yet is not really ſo; but they are but in a dream concerning the Truth, not in the Truth it ſelf, which (how ſtrange ſoever it may ſeem to them at preſent to be affirmed concerning them) yet they ſhall certainly feel to be ſo, when the Lord by his powerful voice and bright appearance of his Spirit awaketh them. For many things go for truth now with men in the dark, which will vaniſh like ſmoak before the light of the day, and then that only which is Truth indeed ſhall have the glory and praiſe of being accounted ſo; and then what will become of thoſe
who have miſtook about Truth, and are not clothed with the pure Wedding-Garment (the ſpotleſs life and righteouſneſs of the Son) but only with that which they have accounted ſo.
8. That to thoſe that ſee in the light of this Principle, the Mountain of the Lords houſe is diſcovered, and thoſe that abide and grow up therein, they know and experience it eſtabliſhed above all Mountains and exalted abve all Hils; all earthly Knowledg, earthly Religions, earthly Ways, earthly Worſhips, earthly Spirits and Minds, &c. in their greateſt exaltations and glory, being far beneath it. And here the feaſt of fat things, and Wines on the lees well refined, even the fruit of the Vine which gladdeth and refreſheth the very heart of God, is fed and partaked of by thoſe that dwel here. For the Father and the Son and the Spirit is here revealed, in the holy Houſe and Tabernacles which are built here: and here they make their feaſt, bringing forth the riches of their Nature, Spirit and pretious Life, on which they feed with the ſoul, and give unto the ſoul favour and ability to feed with them; in which food there is the life, ſtrength, righteouſneſs and joy of the Kingdome given forth and received.
9. That in the heart which diſcovers iniquity, reproveth it, witneſſeth againſt it, & ſtriveth with the mind to turn it from it, and to wait for life and power from on high, that is this very principle. In that is the Divine Nature, even the nature of Gods Spirit, which was always againſt ſin and ever will ſo be, and in all its appearances teſtifieth againſt it, and in love to the creature ſtriveth with the creature to convince it of that in it which is contrary to God, and to draw it to that ſtrength and divine vertue which ſtoppeth it, beateth it back, and worketh it out of the mind and nature of the creature, as it can get entrance, and is harkned and ſubjected to. For there is no Salvation, but by the Croſs and Yoke of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: for in that is the power to crucifie the affections and luſts, which lead into ſin and death, and will not ceaſe to tempt and lead aſide, till the ſoul be gathered into unity with that, and become ſubject to that which is contrary to them. So that this is the main thing in Religion, even to know Chriſt revealed in the ſoul as a Standard againſt corruption, and to be gathered under his Banner, which is the Croſs, or that living Principle in the heart, which reſiſteth the corrupt principle: and he that is gathered hither,
and continueth faithfully fighting here, ſhall receive mercy help and ſtrength from on high, in every time of need.
10. That the true and certain way of knowledg of the things of God, is in the faith and obedience of this Principle. It is not by reaſoning & conſidering things in the mind (after the māner of men) that a man comes to know ſpiritual things: but they are ſpiritually revealed by God, after a ſpiritual manner, to the Believer, to the Obeyer; and they are revealed to him in his believing, in his obeying, in his waiting, in his holy fearing, in his diſtruſting of himſelf, and feeling his own inſufficiency, either to attain them or retain them, but as the Lord God makes them manifeſt in him, and preſerves him in the ſenſe of them. He that doth my Will, ſhall know of my Doctrine, ſaith Chriſt. This is the way. Wouldſt thou know what God requires of thee, what this or that is which appears in this or that ſort as Truth, whether it be ſo or no? Mind this Principle in thee, mind the pure, the holy Light, inward touches and leadings of this pure Divine Principle: that will make manifeſt to thee whatever is fit for thee in thy preſent ſtate to know; and thou art not to deſire more, but as a child to reſt contented with that proportion of knowledge and ſtrength, which the wiſe and tender Father judgeth fit for thee: and as thy ſtate groweth capable of more, he will not fail to adminiſter to thee. And what he giveth thee is good, ſeaſonable and proper for thee, which thou mayeſt ſafely feed upon and enjoy in the ſenſe and fear of him. But if thou preſs after what he would not as yet have thee know, thou entreſt into the will and wiſdom of the fleſh, and there are the diſputes, diſcontents, murmurings and ill tempers and diſpoſitions of the mind, which there will increaſe and grow upon thee to thy hurt.
11. That the mind that is gathered here, will find great oppoſition, both within and without, inſomuch as he ſhall not eaſily paſs from out of the kingdom of darkneſs, into the Kingdom of the dear Son, but through many tryals, temptations, oppoſitions and dangers many wayes, for turning the back on the kingdom of darkneſs, by joyning to the Principle of Life, in hearkning and ſubjecting to the light thereof; hereupon the powers of darkneſs both within and without beſtir themſelves to hinder the ſouls progreſs, and to bring it back again into ſubjection under the will and wiſdom of the fleſh.
O how doth the will and wiſdom ſtrive within in a mans own boſome! What riſings of the Impure are felt againſt the Pure! What ſecret and ſubtil reaſonings to enſnare and entangle the mind! and if they cannot draw the ſoul back from the Lord and the Living-Path, then they ſtrive to vex, afflict and torment it! There is none knows what is felt inwardly by the followers of the Lamb but thoſe that travel with him in the Living-Path; they are often ſenſible of what they meet with in their travels, and how hard it is to abide in the path of Salvation, inſomuch as they underſtand the truth of that ſaying, If the Righteous ſcarcely be ſaved. It is ſcarcely indeed, ſo ſubtile, ſo ſtrong, ſuch a many holds, ſo many ſtratagems hath the ſubtile, twining, crooked, piercing Leviathan, to enſnare, perplex, over-run and entangle them with. And then outwardly, the ſame fleſh, the ſame earthly ſpirit and wiſdom, the ſame crooked, helliſh will is ſtriving in men without alſo, to bear down and ſubject the pure Principle in them who are born of God, to their devices and inſtitutions, decrees, wayes, cuſtoms, &c. which are of the will and wiſdom of the fleſh. So that, as the Apoſtle ſaid, through much tribulation is the entrance of the ſoul into the heavenly Kingdom; and there is no avoiding the many tribulations, but by turning aſide out of the way (which though thereby the fleſh get eaſe for a time, it will be to the greater loſs and ſorrow in the end:) For the ſpirit of the world, the wiſdom of the world, the nature, religion, worſhip and whole courſe of the world, is contrary to the way of the pure Wiſdom and Spirit of God, and uſeth it as its enemy, where ever it findeth it: and they that will not bow to the ſpirit, wiſdom and way of the world, muſt feel the force of its beaſtly claws. For is it not a beaſtly thing (even far beneath the nature of a man) to perſecute that which is good, to hurt, reproach, and purſue the innocent life of the Lamb? and yet this is that which the ſpirit of the world (which is not of God, but wiſe and ſeemingly juſt and righteous in another wiſdom, nature and principle) always hath done, ſtill doth and will do to the end.
12. That there is a glorious Crown prepared for all thoſe, who are gathered to the Lamb in this Principle, and abide with him faithfull therein to the end, hearing his Voice, believing the demonſtration of his Spirit, obeying him in all his motions and requirings, undergoing every yoke (which is appointed by him to yoke down
the fleſhly nature and mind) and taking up every Croſſe of every kind in meekneſs, patience and fear. And there is not only a Crown laid up for them at laſt, but the Power of the Lord God is nigh unto them to work all in them, to bear them up through and over all, and to keep them to and in that Principle, whereby and whereinto his tender Mercy and powerful Arm gathered them. For, as the Power of the Lord began the work: for there could never any heart be gathered from under the power of darkneſs to the Light which leads out of it, but by the Power of the Lord: for the powers of darkneſs ſtand between, and would hold and keep their own, did not a greater Power appear and put forth it ſelf for the ſoul againſt them. I ſay, as the Power of the Lord began the work, ſo the ſame Power alone is able to go on with it and perfect it; and it will go with it and perfect it upon the ſame terms it began, and no other. How were the terms at firſt but on a giving up of the ſoul in the faith to the Lord, in the ſenſe of his love and goodneſs and mercy, touching and drawing and making willing? And how is the ſtanding, but in the ſame giving up ſtill, in abiding with the Lord, in hearkning to the voice of the Lord, in waiting for the wiſdom and counſel of the Lord? But if any man draw back from this, if he deſpiſe the Spirit and his motions and counſels, and hearken to the voice of a contrary ſpirit, believing and following it, like the Angels that fell, he departeth from his place and habitation, which he had in the drawings, life and power of God, and is not to God what he was before, nor is God to him what he was before: but the Lord who loved him before, and delighted in him to do him good, hath now no pleaſure in him, he being turned from that which the Lord loveth, and in which he hath determined and appointed to chuſe, love, and own the children of men: who as they are gathered thither, are his children; as they are gathered from thence, into a contrary principle, are the children of the wicked one.
And now what is of man in all this? where is the man that can boaſt before the Lord, who is thus ſaved? He hath all from a Principle, yea he is gathered into, preſerved in, and abideth in this Principle by the Power, goodneſs and mercy of the Lord. The Power begins the work in him, the Power accompanies him; the Power carries him through, or he falls and miſcarries. There is no man can ſtand any longer here, than he ſubmits to and is upheld by the Power,
nor act nor ſuffer, but as the Power acts in him and helps him to ſuffer. Let the man that boaſteth, bring forth ſomewhat of his own, if he can, here. Is the will at any time his own? Doth not he that is ſpiritual and in the true ſence, always finde God to work in him to will, when ever he willeth rightly and holily? and if he cannot will of himſelf, can he do any thing of himſelf? can he beleive of himſelf, pray of himſelf, wait of himſelf, reſiſt enemies and temptations of himſelf, nay, ſo much as give a look to the Lord at any time of himſelf? Indeed in the grace of the Lord, and principle of his Life there is ſufficiency, and therein he that is joyned to the Lord and become one Spirit with him, what can he not do here? but that is, as he is new-made in Chriſt, and as Chriſt ariſeth, lives and acts in him, which he that is in the true ſence and feeling will ſtill acknowledg, not only in his words to men, but in his heart and ſpirit before the Lord.
Some further directions to Chriſt, the Principle and Fountain of Life, by way of Queſtion and Anſwer.
Queſt. 1. VVHat is CHRIST?
Anſw. He is the Word of Eternal Life, who is appointed of the Father to give life, and who giveth life to them that receive him and obey his Goſpel. He is the Son of God, the Wiſdom of God, the Power of God, the Righteouſneſs of God, the Saviour and Salvation of God. The peace, the reſt, the joy, the life of the ſoul. The King, the Prieſt, the Prophet, the Shepherd of the ſheep. The Way, the Truth, the Door, the Vine, the Olivetree, into which the living are gathered and engrafted. And he is alſo an Hammer, an Ax, a Sword, a Fire to the corrupt tree and fruit.
Queſt. 2. How is Chriſt known, received and obeyed?
Anſ. As a ſeed: as the ſeed of Life, as the ſeed of the Kingdom, as a Leaven, as Salt: as a little ſmal thing, riſing up in the heart againſt all that is great & mighty. As a branch out of a dry ground, as a little child to lead, which all the wiſdom of man and fleſh cannot
but deſpiſe: and therefore that muſt firſt be brought down in ſome meaſure in the heart, before Chriſt can be owned in the heart and ſubiected to.
Queſt. 3. How is this Seed received?
Anſw. By feeling its vertues, manifeſtations and operations in the heart, and ſubjecting thereto.
Queſt. 4. What are its vertues, manifeſtations and operations?
Anſw. They are all living, and have all living and powerful effects upon the heart, as they are let in. They are all againſt darkneſs, ſin and death, tending to diſcover it, to turn the mind from it, to lead out of the captivity, power and reach of it: and they are alſo all for God, tending to prepare the heart for him, and to bring it into union and covenant with him.
Queſt. 5. What is the firſt operation of the ſeed to the ſoul, wherein it is to be waited for and cloſed with, that the ſoul may come into the farther ſence and feeling of it?
Anſw. It is according to the ſtate of the ſoul, which being in darkneſs, ſin and death, it appears as a light to diſcover the darkneſs, ſin and death, and to lead out of it to the redeeming power. And then, to them that thus receive it, and wait upon it in the fear and humility which it gives and begets, it appears as life, quickning the ſoul, and as power enabling it in ſome meaſure to live to God, and to walk with him in the way to the Kingdom.
Queſt. 6. How comes this way to be hid from ſome that deſire after the Lord, and to know his Truth as it is in Jeſus?
Anſw. From the ſubtilty of the enemy, who blinds the eye which alone can ſee, and ſtops the ear which alone can hear, and hardens the heart which alone can underſtand; and hath devices, ſnares, and baits, and falle reaſonings from Scriptures, and from Experiences, which any one that hearkens unto, and is entangled and enſnared in, is his captive, and cannot be at liberty to ſee or know, or embrace the Truth as it is, but his heart is deceived about it, and filled with prejudices againſt it. (Therefore ſuch ſhould wait for the true Circumciſion, that they might hearken to the Lord, come out of the enemies ſnares and ſubtil devices, and live,
〈…〉
Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3.)
Queſt. 7. But may not theſe be ſaved notwithſtanding?
Anſ. There is no Salvation but in and by Chriſt Jeſus; and the Salvation is not to them that received a bite notion of him under
the Law, or another empty notion under the Profeſſion of the Goſpel, but only to them that receive him as he was promiſed, as the Holy Seed: for in that alone is the Redemption, freedom from ſin, and power of life felt, and no where elſe. So that he that hath not this knowledge of him, hath not the true knowledg; nor he that doth not ſo beleive in him, doth not rightly beleive; nor he that doth not ſo hope in him, doth not rightly hope: and without the true Knowledg, the right Faith and Hope, how can any man be ſaved?
Therefore awake, awake, O weary, thirſty ſouls, Come to the ſpring of Life, come to the living Waters. Become little, that ye may learn of Chriſt; wait to have your eyes anointed, that ye may ſee him, and your hearts opened; that ye may know and receive him. O wait for the manifeſtation of this Seed in you, be abaſed before him, joyn to him, receive his checks, receive mourning and repentance from him; wait for the Light and Faith that he gives, and the Power that iſſues from his Throne, and ye ſhall find him the bruiſer of the Serpent head (which none elſe is able to do) and the breaker of the bond of Iniquity, which keeps down the Juſt and lets the Unjuſt at liberty, till he diſſolve it. And this is ſufficient to manifeſt againſt all the diſputes of the mind, that this is He and no other, by his doing that which none elſe can do. This demonſtration he gave to the Jews in fleſh, in his appearance in fleſh: and this demonſtration he giveth now to the Jews in Spirit, in his appearance in Spirit, whereby he ſatiſfieth their hearts, and putteth them out of doubt that it is he. And we muſt profeſs to the world (as our hearts are drawn and guided by the Lord, to give forth the teſtimony we have received of him) that we look not, yea we cannot look for another. Whom ſhould we look for, beſides the Lamb, beſides the Word which was in the beginning, beſides him who is one with the Father, and hath the Eternal Life, Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs and Power of the Father, and manifeſteth it in us? We look for indeed more of the ſame, and the more univerſal and powerful breaking of it forth, but another thing, another Chriſt, another Life, Spirit, Power, &c. we cannot look for. And this we further teſtifie, that whoever receives this Teſtimony in the truth and uprightneſs of his heart, waiting on that which diſcovers ſin to him, and in ſimplicity joyning and giving up thereto, and walking
with him in forſaking the evil and cleaving to the good, in the faith of him and of his power, he ſhall witneſs the ſame thing with us, and all the reaſonings, imaginations and ſtrong holds of his mind ſhall be battered down and come to nothing, before the vertue, power and life of him who thus is pleaſed to appear and manifeſt himſelf after the Apoſtacy, even as he did before, even in an inward Principle, an inward Seed, an inward Light, an inward Life, an inward Word, an inward Power. And Friends and People, mark (in your minds, and learn to put a right difference betwen) that which ſtumbles you, and that which draws and convinces you. What makes any of you own Truth at any time? is it not an inward, lively, powerful touch and demonſtration of Gods Spirit? what makes you afterwards doubt and queſtion? is it not another thing, of a different nature from this? is it not a ſubtil reaſoning, whereby the enemy twines into your ſpirits, and begets firſt a doubt concerning, then a prejudice, and at laſt a great ſtrength againſt that, which before ye had ſome ſence of and ſome unity with, in the teachings and quickenings of the Spirit of the Lord. And what ſpirit is it in you, that thus worketh in your minds? and whither doth he lead you by theſe workings and ſubtile reaſonings? Oh that ye might ſee! Oh that ye might feel the ſnare, and know with us the Preſerver there-from: for we have met with much of this; and had we not been helped by the Lord, and given up to him, we had been entangled to this very day, as ye are. And he that hath helped us, waits to be gracious to you: and O that you would not reject his help, that he might deliver you alſo, that ye alſo might bleſs his Name, in feeling the benefit and joy of his preſervation. And this is written in true bowels and tender yearning love, that ye might be a little ſtirred up to wait to know the Fathers houſe, and might feed on the bread which abounds therein, and drink of the waters which makes freſh and living to God, and be clothed with the raiment which the Maſter of the family gives to his Spouſe, Children and Servants.
The end of Chriſts Manifeſtation, his Salvation, and whom he ſaves.
CHRIST came (and is manifeſted in the hearts of thoſe that receive him) to deſtroy the works of the Devil, and to ſet the ſoul free from ſin: and whom he maketh free, are free indeed. Is the Liberty which the Son giveth, inferiour in this Life, in its kind, to the captivity and bondage of the Enemy, in its kind? Which of them is ſtronger? the Enemy to enthrall, or the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to ſet free from his Thraldom? Yes; the Lord Jeſus Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, the mighty Saviour (who is more able to ſave, than the Enemy to deſtroy) delivereth his Iſrael out of the hands of their Enemies, and ſo mightily and powerfully delivereth them, that they are able (in the power of his Might) to ſerve him, without fear of them any more, in holineſs and righteouſneſs before him all the dayes of their life.
It is true, there is a ſtate of darkneſs, ſin and death, wherein Satan reigns: and there is a ſtate of weakneſs, wherein Satan much prevails, if the watch be not ſtrictly kept to him, who is the everlaſting ſtrength; and there is a ſtate of fighting and groaning under the body of ſin and death, and crying out who ſhall deliver from it! But there is alſo a ſtate of growth in the Life, and of Victory (through the Life) over that which captiv'd and cauſed to cry out. There is a treading down of Satan under the feet by the God of Peace, inſomuch as not only the Elders, but the very youngmen in Chriſt overcome and triumph over him, feeling the enterance miniſtred to them abundantly into the everlaſting Kingdom, into which no unclean thing can enter. Oh! wonderful is the travel to the holy Reſt of the pure Life! Happy are they that meet with the true Leader, and faithfully follow him, till they have travelled through and overcome all that ſtands in their way! for to them, and to them alone, is the promiſe of the poſſeſſion of the everlaſting Inheritance; and ſuch find and feel the Lord to be their God indeed, and themſelves to be his Children (brought forth in his holy Life and Nature) which to feel in truth and certain knowledge, is more than tongue can utter.
Chriſt ſaves only thoſe that come unto him, and believe in him, and ſo are born of his Spirit, & by the faith and through the ſtrength and vertue of his Spirit overcome the wicked one, his works, ſnares and temptations in their hearts. And theſe feel in themſelves the Root of his Life, the holy Seed of his Kingdom ſpringing up in them, into which they are ingrafted and become one with him, and ſo bringing forth the holy Fruit, the living Grapes, the new and righteous Converſation, wherein the Life of God ſhines and is glorified. Now it is not knowing, or believing, or receiving any thing into the old underſtanding, that avails with God, or the Reformation which is there wrought, but the New Creature alone, created of God in Chriſt Jeſus. This is born of God, this lives in him, this is cloathed with him. This puts off the old man with his deeds, and puts on the newneſs of the Nature and Spirit of the Lord Jeſus Christ; ſo that this man is as really in Chriſt, in the Spirit, in the new Adam, found in him, formed in him, covered with him, as the firſt man or nature is in the old Adam. Therefore this is the main thing in Religion, to mind the Seed of the Kingdom, the Leaven of the Kingdom, its growth in the mind, foul and ſpirit, and the minds, ſouls and ſpirits gathering into and growth in it. And here is Faith, the true Faith, the true Love, the true Hope, the true Meekneſs and Patience; the true Juſtification and Sanctification felt, and not elſewhere: but thoſe that are out of this, out of Chriſt the Seed, out of Chriſt the Word, out of Chriſt the VViſdom, Righteouſneſs and Power of the Father, are only in a dream concerning theſe things, but know not the truth and real nature of them, as they are felt in Jeſus, by thoſe who are truly ingrafted into Him, and livingly grow up in him.
Three Queſtions
anſwered concerning JUSTIFICATION.
Queſt. 1. VVHat is juſtifying or Juſtification with God?
Anſw. It is God's owning the ſtate, works or actions of a creature, either inwardly in his own mind, or manifeſtly to them. This is God's juſtifying of them, or his Juſtification: his diſowning or diſallowing them, is his condemnation. As for inſtance, God's owning Adam in the upright eſtate of his Innocency, wherein God created him; and any thing he did in that ſtate and ſpirit, was his juſtifying of him and his works. Gods diſowning and diſallowing his hearkning to his Wife and the Serpent, and his eating the forbidden fruit, upon their temptation, was his condemnation thereof.
Queſt. 2. What is it God juſtifies, and what is it he condemns?
Anſ. That which God juſtifieth is the Spirit of his Son, the Life of his Son, the Nature of his Son brought forth in any creature; the Faith which is in him, and ſo the creature as it is in the Obedience which is of him, and the works that are wrought in him: but the fallen eſtate of Man from him, and all that is done by Man out of him, God condemns.
Queſt. 3. How is Juſtification received, kept and grown up in; and what is the Preſervation out of Condemnation?
Anſw. Juſtification is only received by receiving him,
who is the righteouſneſs and juſtification, and only kept by abiding in him, and only increaſed by growing up in him. For as every one that is found in him, is juſtified: ſo he that hath more of him, more of his Life, more of his Faith, more of his Nature, more of his Spirit, more of the pure Obedience, more of the Garment of Righteouſneſs and Salvation drawn over him, he is more juſtified. For there are degrees of Juſtification, as the ſoul that is really in the thing, and is acquainted with the true nature and diſpenſation of it from God, feels and knows. A father is more or leſs pleaſed with his children, yea with the ſame child ſometimes, which is a true figure to man who is come under Gods Teachings. And the preſervation out of condemnation, is, by being preſerved out of that, which God condemns: for no man upon the earth, that hath the true ſence and feeling, ſhall ever find the Holy and Juſt One juſtifying him in his ſins, but as the heart is turned from them, and by the power of Life kept out of them. He that will be kept in the Juſtification, muſt be kept out of that which the Juſtification is not to: for there he is not Juſtified; but in his being drawn again out of it, and turning again from it, his Juſtification in the tender Mercy of the Lord is renewed. Juſtification under the Law, was according to that Covenant: and Juſtification under the Goſpel, is according to that Covenant. He that walkes with God in that Covenant, he that walks in and after the Spirit of Chriſt, he is therein juſtified: but he that walks after the fleſh, and doth any thing that is fleſhly; that is not juſtified with God, nor he in that: but in the Faith which cleanſeth and giveth victory over it, in that is the Juſtification from it, and the pure Heavenly peace with the Lord God of Life witneſſed.
He that is in Chriſt, and receiveth his knowledge from Chriſt, and is kept in the pure fear and ſenſe of him, he underſtandeth the truth of theſe things: but he that is erred in ſpirit, and holds but up a literal knowledge (though from, or at leaſt accompanied with ſome remembrance of former feeling and experiences) he errs about theſe things alſo, and deceit and a lie hath prevailed over him, as he will find, when the Lord confounds his wiſdom and preſent apprehenſions of things, by awakening his Witneſs in him. For Religion, the true Religion is a Myſtery, Life a Myſtery; Chriſt is a Myſtery, the Spirit is a Myſtery, Faith is a Myſtery, Obedience (the pure Obedience) is a Myſtery, Worſhip (the Spiritual Worſhip in and according to the New-Covenant) is a Myſtery, hid from the eyes of all the wiſe ſearchers of the World, but revealed to the leaſt Babe that is of God, and abideth in the quickned Life of his Son. But many that are out of the Myſtery of Truth, are in the Myſtery of Deceit, and have a knowledge or profeſſion concerning Chriſt, his Spirit, Faith, Obedience, the Spiritual Worſhip, &c, in that Myſtery of Deceit, which they for the preſent account the true, and by it venture to judg, diſallow and condemn the Truth it ſelf: but that is not at all to the hurt of the Truth, or ſuch as are in it, but rather to their own hurt and great danger. For the ſparks which man kindles, will never light him to God; the garments of man's righteouſneſs (either according to his apprehenſions or the letter of the Law, or letter of the Goſpel) will never cloath him; but for all that, he muſt lie down in ſhame and ſorrow, when the Truth of God appears in his conſcience, and all his ſhadows and deceits flee away.
Therefore hearken to the Teſtimony from theſe, whom the Lord hath awakened, whom the Lord hath quickned,
whom the Lord hath led out of the darkneſs of the night, into the light and brightneſs of the day; who have ſeen Jeſus, and teſtifie what they have ſeen, heard, felt and handled of that eternal Word, which was from the beginning, which appeared in fleſh, and afterwards in Spirit before the Apoſtacy, and hath again appeared (ſince the Apoſtacy) as a Shepherd, as a Gatherer, as a Seeker-out and Preſerver of his wandring Sheep, who were driven from Him in the cloudy and dark day. And if ye would hearken aright, breath to the Lord, in that which deſires and longs after him, that he would circumciſe the heart, and open the right ear in you, that the ear may hear his witneſs in you, that ſo ye may indeed know the voice of the Shepherd, and in true underſtanding, ſenſe and conſtant experience bear witneſs to that true Teſtimony, which Chriſt ſpake in the dayes of his fleſh; My Sheep hear my Voice, and follow me; but a ſtranger they will not follow: for they know not the voice of ſtrangers.
Of the pure, conſtant, eternal, unchange
able Nature of Gods Truth.
TRuth is of God, and was with God and in God, before any thing elſe had a being. Truth was before Error or Deceit: for it was from the Truth that the Error was, and it was about Truth that the Deceit was. There was ſomewhat which erred from Truth, and brought in Deceit into the World, and hath propagated Deceit in the World: but Truth remains the ſame that it was, keeping
its pure, eternal, unchangeable nature; and is not, nor ever was, nor ever can be defiled or tainted with any Errour or Deceit; but teſtifieth againſt it, reproveth it, and condemneth for it, draweth out of it, and delivereth from its bands and captivity, all thoſe that hearken and cleave to it, in the Faith which is of its nature and begetting.
The Father, the Fountain of Truth, is the ſame. The Son, his expreſs Image (whom he fills with himſelf, and in whom he appears) is the ſame. The Spirit, the Anointing (who is Truth, and no Lie) is ſtill the ſame. The Principle, or Seed of Truth, is ſtill the ſame. The Doctrine and Way of Truth is ſtill the ſame: for it was the ſame Truth which was preached in ſhadows under the Law, the ſubſtance whereof appears and is witneſſed in the Goſpel: and it was the ſame before the great Apoſtacy, in the latter dayes from it, and all the times of the Apoſtacy, and again after the Apoſtacy. It hath the ſame nature ſtill, the ſame properties, the ſame operations and effects, and gives forth the ſame Teſtimony in the ears and hearts of all that are open to it. Indeed the minds of men, and the ſtates of men may often change in relation to Truth: but Truth it ſelf changeth not, but is equal, fair and juſt to all men upon the Earth, in all Ages and Generations, alwayes condemning that which is unjuſt, erroneous and deceitful, and alwayes juſtifying what is pure, holy and righteous.
Now is not this a Pearl? nay is not this the Pearl indeed, the precious Pearl of price? Who would not buy it? who would not ſell all for it? who would not dig in the Field where this Treaſure is hid, until he find it? The Field is near thee, O man, which thou are to purchaſe and dig in, and muſt feel torn up by the Plough of God in ſome meaſure, before this Pearl or Treaſure appear to thee: and thou
muſt take up and bear the Yoke and Croſs of Chriſt, until all be bowed down and crucified in thee which is contrary to its nature before it be poliſhed in thee, and thou come to behold and enjoy, its riches and ever laſting fulneſs. O happy are they, that are begotten and born of it! happy are they that know its voice and give up to it, to be gathered and redeemed by it, out of all deceits, out of all errours, out of all that entangles and on ſnares the ſoul in ſin, miſery and utter perdition: for deſtruction and miſery everlaſting is out of it, and Life and Salvation is alone to be found in it.
There is a Witneſs in every heart, which knows theſe things and will teſtifie it to their faces, when the Light of God is opened in them and its tongue ſpeaks therein to them. O happy they, that wait for, know, hear and ſubject to the heavenly Voice while he day of their Viſitation and reclaiming laſteth, wherein they may travel from Sin to Holineſs, from Death to Life by its help and guidance. O why ſhould Man periſh
•
why ſhould Man hearken to that which hates him, and ſeeks his deſtruction, and ſtop his ear againſt that which loves him, and warns him of his danger in the dearneſs of love, and in tenderneſs of bowels towards him?