COme all you who expect to be Heard and Accepted of the Living God; Fasting and Prayer, in the Spirit of Holiness, is required [Page 36]as Necessary thereunto: but the want of a certain Knowledge Discerning, how, and in what manner the same ought to be Performed, (therefore it is that people are rejected) being all Vain Service and Lost Labour, where no Reward is received, or when they ask amiss, what answer shall such have, judge ye? And therefore, be Admo­nished, I beseech you, to mind that which gives you a Discerning and cer­tain Knowledge in this weighty Work: You may read what the Lord said by his Servant Isaiah, chap. 8. concerning Fasting; and what Christ Jesus said, Mat. 6. but how long may people read these Sayings. (as well as others) and yet have no certain knowledge of the Will of God therein? I speak of such who are out of the way of a True Un­derstanding; which all are who are in a bare Confession, with their Mouths, that God ought to be feared; but the Heart, that not being right in his sight, Infidelity that taking place there; from whence a Conclusion is drawn, That Sin, which is Evil, can't be parted with; [Page 37]this is a great Evil indeed, set up in the Heart by the spirit of Antichrist; where a Form of Words, and large Confes­sions concerning God and Christ are made; but the Blessed and Effectual Workings of God's Spirit in Flesh, for the Destroying of Sin, that being de­nyed, the Enemy's works (which is Sin and Evil) they continue in the Heart (contrary to the Blessed Will of God) by which means the Nobi­lity of Man's Understanding that is Clouded and Darken'd through Error and Falshood; by which means the Minds of Mankind are exercised in a Brutish Understanding concerning Spi­ritual Matters; imagining a Perform­ing of Service to God by confessing, That he ought to be feared, (and yet live out of what they confess in a Talk) that all good Success and Blessing comes from him, &c. So then, let such be judged by their own words, who con­fess he ought to be feared, and yet live in Sin and Evil, under a strange Delusion, That those Works can never be so destroyed, as to know Dominion and [Page 38]Freedom from them on this side the laying down the Body, or at least, till about that time of separation from all outward vi­sible things: So here Sin, the Continu­ance of that hath been pleaded for by them who would be called Christians, and would be accounted such who fear God, and that they are in his Service, though never expect to be free from sin; What Service is that in Evil? And what Reward shall Evil Works have? Is not sin an Evil work of the Evil One? And must not the Works of the Evil One, if continued in, have a Bad Reward?

Oh that people would Fear God in Deed and in Truth! for they that fear him will do no Evil: So the way of a Right Understanding, that leads quite contrary to Sin and Evil: So its strong Delusion indeed, to expect a Right Understanding in an Evil Way; and Presumption indeed it is, to hope for Good out of Evil.

Oh, be Awakened to Righteous­ness, in which there's no sin! and then will the Eye of the Understanding be [Page 39]opened to see the Man of sin, who hath exalted himself above that of God in Man, under Confessions and Professions of the Name of God and Christ, whilst that signified by the Name, which is Power manifested in Flesh, for the revealing the Man of sin, and destroying his works, that hath been denyed by the Exaltation of the Man of sin in man; by whom Man­kind hath been exalted above the Pure Principle of God in man, even above the Light of that Blessed and Unerring Spirit of Christ, by which that which is reproveable is made manifest: But through Unbelief of God's Love there­in, Mankind in a great part being held under strong Delusions of Satan, their minds being exercised in a Brutish Un­derstanding, some have called that Blessed Principle of God in man, a Devilish Light; and others a Bewilder­ing Light, or a Natural Light; so that all that is of God in man that hath been denyed (whose Work do you think this is?) But if it were so, as the Wicked One in the wicked hath con­cluded, [Page 40]may it not be said now, as it was in the dayes of old, after God had created Mankind upon the Earth, and they had corrupted their Wayes, which displeased God, who in his Dis­pleasure said, My Spirit shall not alwayes strive, &c. Then was not Destruction nigh? but in that there was a time in which God's Holy Spirit did strive with flesh, it plainly appears, the good will of God was therein to have had it otherwise; but Mankind resisting his Way of bringing it to pass, the Way of Salvation that was removed, and a Way of Destruction let in; so the Way of Salvation then that was by the mov­ing and working of God's Good Spi­rit, the which had place in Noah, who was a perfect man in his day, who being moved in a True Fear of God had a Right Understanding, in which he was a Preacher according to the Will of God. So that Blessed Spirit of God, by which Noah had regard and was acted by, though it was rejected by Mankind in their corrupt Wayes, yet it was not Devilish nor Natural, as [Page 41]Mankind in their Brutish Understand­ing in great measure have concluded: but the least measure of that pure Principle of God in Mankind of his Blessed Spirit, is Unerring; the which in measure, in all Ages, in God's Time and Season did strive in Mankind, and for the good of Mankind, that through it they might have been Preserved out of Corrupt Wayes and Works, which Corrupt Wayes and Works was and is the Cause of all Heavy and Grievous Judgments in Ages past, and to come upon Mankind: So its plain and evi­dent, how Gracious, Merciful and Long­suffering God hath been throughout all Ages through some measure of the shining of the Light of his Unerring Spirit, notwithstanding the Great and Grievous Provocations of Mankind in their Corrupt Wayes, by which their Understandings were and are darkened, that they could not come to a clear Discerning what manner of Love of God that was unto them (as it is written) How often is the Candle of the Wicked put out, Job 21. So its [Page 42]plain, that was and is the Love of God in the Light of his Unerring Spi­rit, by which the Wicked were shewn their Wickedness in all Ages; and the putting that Love from them was, and is the Cause that the Wicked perish in their Wickedness, through the Hard­ness of their Hearts, and Unbelief of the Love of God in his Blessed Prin­ciple of Light, which shines sometimes even unto the Wicked, though they cry, Depart, I desire not the Knowledge of thy Wayes: And though this Wicked­ness of the Wicked, under many fair pretences of Confessions and Profes­sions of God, have labour'd to put away the way of the Lord, and through many Devices hath the Wicked One in his Agents in their Wickedness, set up many Corrupt Wayes; yet the Way of the Lord remains Pure forever, and can never be Corrupted, but it remains a True Witness against all Evil and Corrupt Wayes whatsoever. And this Perfect Way of God was the Way of the Upright in Heart in all Ages, by which they were led out of [Page 43]Evil (though under more Servitude) before the fulness of time, when it pleased God so to cause his Light to shine forth in Flesh, in an absolute per­fect Dominion over all the Lusts of the Flesh, where Satan could get no En­terance, though Forty Dayes Christ Jesus was Tempted by him; so herein was the Son, who is the Heir of all, manifested. So all the true Prophets in all Ages, they had their Testimony from a measure of the Light of that Spirit; and there their Testimony end­ed (who were Faithful) and the Law written in Tables of Stone, that was by the Light of that Blessed Spirit, by which all might see and learn to come to Christ, in whom the Law is fulfilled: So here is the Prophet, whom Moses spoke of, that God would raise up, whom all is to hear; and every Soul that will not hear that Prophet, De­struction attend it.

So let none say in their Hearts, Who shall ascend into Heaven, that is, to bring this Prophet Christ from above? or, Who shall descend into the deep, that is, to [Page 44]bring up Christ again from the Dead? For the Word is nigh, even in the Heart and Mouth; which Word of Faith the Ministers which were True did Preach, and them which are True do Preach; and herein is the Labour of them whose Abiding is in the Word, that others may be turned to the Word in the Heart and Mouth, that by it they may be reconciled unto God: And this Blessed Word was in the beginning, before words were; All things being made by him, in whom is Life, and the Life was (and is) the Light of Men, who believe therein: And though the World did not, nor doth not know the Love of God here­in, yet he was and is in the World; and though his Appearance was and is rejected by most, yet some did and do receive him, who felt and feel his Power to overcome the Lusts of the Flesh, which is Sin and Evil; which Unspeakable Love of God, shed abroad in the Hearts of the Primitive Chri­stians, by this Free Gift of his Holy Spirit, which made them who received [Page 45]the same, who were truly sensible of God's Love therein, undergo great and grievous things, some things of which may be read in the Scriptures of Truth. So their Fasting and Prayers being performed by the Movings and Guidings of that Blessed Principle of God, how were such preserved by the Power of God, in the Peace of God, wherein their Souls rested in God? So the Blessed Name of the Lord was unto them a strong Tower (which was the same to the Righteous in all Ages) but never was a more clearer Discern­ing thereof then in this Age; there being a Cloud of Witnesses of the Everlasting Love of the Everlasting God herein: and so they are Blessed who live up to that Blessed Principle of God in them, and continue Faith­ful to the End in the Testimony there­of: O the Remembrance of them will be had in great Esteem in Ages and Generations to come.

So now, that which is Chiefest of all, and of greatest Value, let that be first minded, that all things may be [Page 46]done according to the Will of God; in order to which a Right Understand­ing is necessary, the which is better then Gold and Silver; for the Wicked may possess Gold and Silver, and things visible to their Hurt, where a Right Understanding is wanting; for if Know­ledge and Understanding be wanting, people perish: Therefore be advised to wait in the Way of Understanding, the Fear of the Lord God, who made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all things else according to his good Plea­sure; here is the beginning of Know­ledge, and to attain to a Right Under­standing: for, in the Fear of the Lord there's no Evil in that Way. So away with Invention and Imaginations of Fearing God, whilst Conclusions are made, That Sin can't be parted with; all Wayes made up by men in Sin, are from a Corrupt Understanding: So come to the Fear of God, and he will teach us his Wayes; and all that come there come out of Evil; for there's no Evil in God's Wayes: so that they that are in God's Way, are out of Evil; [Page 47]by which it plainly appears, that all Wayes where Conclusions are made, That Sin, is in them; or, that they can't live out of Sin; or, that they know not a Way out of Sin; all such, where such Conclusions are made, are out of a Right Understanding, and their Wayes are Destructive, and their Works in them Wayes are Destructive, so that all who endeavour to save their Lives there, do want a Right Under­standing; for Transgression, which is Sin, is the Cause of Death; so all that are raised from Death, are raised from Sin, the Cause of it: so then, all that keep their Lives there, shall lose Life; and all that lose their lives there, shall find Life: So Blessed are they who serve the Living God, they do as they should do; so that's no Evil (but Good) so let none think in their Per­verse Wayes, that they shall be fed with Knowledge and Understanding there (No, no) they will Starve and Perish there for want of Understan­ding: so let all deal clearly with them­selves, in coolness and stillness, in the [Page 48]silence of fleshly wisdom, in a true Examination concerning the wayes they live in and let that which is wrong be rejected and that which is right received; and in that which is Right will be [...]n what Fast is Pleasing and Acceptable in God's sight; and that Prayer which will be Effectual and Prevalent for the good of the Soul in a Right Understanding will be seen: So now, begin a Fast; come, pitty the Oppressed; let the Prisoner go free; have Compassion on the Poor; break off Imquities by a True Repentance, in turning from Evil, the Cause of An­guish and Trouble upon the Soul, that the Soul may be set at Liberty to praise the Lord; and so let hard hearts be melted and broken down, and the seat of Unbelief, by reason of which the Love of God in the Light of his Son [...] rejected, and by that means p [...] souls are kept in Bondage con­ [...] [...]o the Will of God, let that seat [...] Unbelief be thrown down; for God [...] greatly displeased at the Presumpti­on of Mankind, who have exalted [Page 49]themselves in their own wills, where Self exerciseth Will-worship in a feign­ed Humility, whereby the Cross is counted Foolishness. So Christ's Ex­hortation, To take up the Cross daily, and deny Self, God's Love therein that is slighted; the Cross that being with­out, Fasting that being without, Prayers that being without, all being done without a Right Understanding; for want of which Ptetended Fasting is vain, Prayer is vain, and the Con­versation of Mankind is vain and un­profitable, where the will of man is set in Opposition against the Will of God in his Heavenly Guift, even the Light of his Unerring Spirit, by which the World is reproved of Evil: and this is, and will be the World's Con­demnation, their sleighting the many Visitations of God's Love, in that he doth manifest unto them what is re­provable in his sight; but they being unmindful of God's Love therein, by which means their Souls are in great Bondage under Sin and Corruption; subjected there under a vain Hope by [Page 50]the Subtilty of the Serpent, That though they live unseparated from Sin, yet they shall obtain Justification through Christ, and see a good End, or good brought forth through Sin be never finished; this kind of Perswasion is through strong Delu­sions of Satan, whose workings are in a deep Mystery of Iniquity in preten­ded Godliness; but his End therein is, to make void that Blessed coming of Lord and Saviour to finish Sin, and to put an End to Unrighteousness, and thereby to make way for the bring­ing in Everlasting Righteousness, that souls in that Blessed Principle of God may rest in Peace.

Now where this is not known, be Awakened, I beseech you, unto Righteousness, which is God's, and no otherwayes man's, but as he be­comes stript of his own Eyes, and so comes before the Lord with a Broken and Contrite Spirit, and Heart hum­bled at his sight, who seacheth it by his Light, and shews to man in the Cool of the Day what beastly Imaginations are lodging therein; to the end, that [Page 51]man might lye down at the Feet of his Appearance in a True Fast, in abstain­ing from Evil; and Praying in the Spirit, that by the Exercise of God's Love in his striving therewith, Evil may be overcome, and so the soul set at liberty from Evil, the cause of Trouble and Anguish, which is upon every soul that's in Evil.

So let every one that names the Name of the Lord depart from Evil. Come Curser and Swearer, be perswaded to be awakened, and see what a sad Condition thy soul is in: but if thou wilt not, but hardenest thy heart, what will the taking the Name of the Lord into thy Mouth avail thee? Or Un­clean Person who art defiled, and en­deavouring to defile others, remem­ber, That none in Ʋnclaanness can en­ter into Heaven; so except thou leav­est thy Evil therein, thy Expectations of God's Kingdom will fail thee.

Come Idolaters, who are making Gods of Gold, and Silver, and Wood, and Stone, and so are bowing down to the works of your own hands; that [Page 52]is a great Abomination and Evil, great­ly to be lamented, who are so far blind­ed from the Appearance of the Light of God's Spirit in your own Hearts, which being taken heed unto and obeyed, brings to the Knowledge of God; but that Love of God being re­jected, what strangers are you to God, and the Saints of Life? and so are be­come Beastly and Bruitish in your Un­derstandings, your Bands of Corrup­tion through sin and iniquity being made strong; and so under strong de­lusions are bowing to Pictures to put you in mind of God and the Saints, though they cannot hear, nor see, nor smell: what savour think you to get out of them Stocks and Stones? Be Awakened, I beseech you, to Consi­deration; and know, that it's some measure of that Grace and Truth which Jesus of Nazareth was filled with; by Vertue of that all the Saints savour to God, and one unto another; which Grace hath appeared unto all, but the Saints or Believers, were and are taught by it: so that which convinces of Evil [Page 53]is to them that believe in it and obey it, an Instructer in the way of Life. So leave your Folly in Bowing and Cring­ing to the East, and to you know not what; and answer the Love of God in his Principle of Light in you, which makes manifest that which is Evil; and then will the Eye of your Understan­ing be opened, to the beholding of him who fills Heaven and Earth with his Presence, so that no Darkness can cover man from him, who is God of the North, South, East, and West; who will spoil your glorying, who are boasting your selves of the Antiquity of your Religion, who first went from the Cross, which is the Power of God, and so got up in a form of words, and then set the Cross upon the House, of Stone, &c. Alas! your Religion is seen through; and all who hang upon your Skirts, they must have a share of the shame, which is coming upon that Adulte­rated whorish Spirit, which hath led the minds of the people out from a sense of the Royal Law of God [Page 54]within man, so that the stream of God's Love therein to Mankind, that hath been stopt; and in the Night of Apo­stacy the stream of Malice, and Envy and Hatred, that hath run in your Streets, where the Innocent Blood­shed lyes at your doors. So it's time you were awakened to a true Repen­tance, that you may come to the knowledge of Salvation through the Remission of your sins: for it's the sa­ving of your souls, I seek, and not the destruction of your bodies; so Truth is my weapon, which I desire may reach to that of God which is Truth in you; that so the pure Language, which is Truth, may be restored in all; and the Royal Law of Love therein may shew it self, which gives an Understanding, To love God above all, and our Neigh­bours as our selves, and to do to all men as we would they should do unto us.

Come all you who conceive mis­chief on your Beds in your hearts, and cannot rest till you bring it forth in­to action; now consider what manner of evil this is, which though it may be [Page 55]covered for a time, if continued in, ruin and destruction is in the way thereof.

Come you who live in Pride and Idleness, following the lust of the Eye, the lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life, who live in fulness of Bread and Wan­tonness, Feasting and making Merry over the pure Principle of God in you; this is a great Evil: therefore be admo­nished to mind that God in you, and Watch and Pray in the same, that so by that which is good of God, the Evil may be overcome, and the root and ground judged from whence all evil springs.

Come all you Drunkards and Glut­tenous Persons, who waste and spoil the good Creatures, which are ap­pointed for the necessary use of Man­kind; read what is written in Isa. 5.11, 12. What a miserable life are you in who are attended with Wo and Misery, who are so far separated from the love of God in his Son, and the Do­minion that is therein to use and order all things aright, according to the [Page 56]will of God? For want of this know­ledge how are many overcome with Strong Drink? the which having Do­minion, how are many there un­manned of that natural ability of a man, and so lye lyable to other Temp­tations, whereby the soul lyes in bon­dage? Come now, be perswaded to mind that love of God which in the Cool, when the Drink is out, shews you what a great evil this is; which if not departed from, ruin is in that way both of Soul, Body and Estate.

Come you Gamesters of all sorts, who spend your time in Gaming and Sports, who are coveting an Increase by such unequal and unjust wayes, and many spending their time in such Pra­ctices, How many Families are ruined by such a Course of Life? and what an evil example Parents thereby shew to their Children and Families? This is a great evil, such being an ill sa­vour who are living therein, both to God, and man who fears God. Therefore be admonished, to break off these evils by a true Repentance, [Page 57]and learn to redeem time, that a Change may be witnessed (before you go from hence) by vertue of the Power of Christ, which often moves against evil: so let not the just alwayes be resisted by the unjust; but if the just principle of God be minded and joyned unto, then will the unjust be overcome, and the just set up; in which all that dwell will be good savour in their day, and a good example to all.

Come all you who are exalting a false Birth, where your Ears are stopt and your Eyes are closed, so that you have neither heard, nor seen, nor hand­led that which was from the beginning; even that word of Life (which ever­lasting Life was with the Father, and was and is manifested to Believers) from whence Testimony is given of Gods love therein, where the true fel­lowship is witnessed in the Blessed Light of God; which all you, who are exalting a false Birth, do despise, and speak very evilly of, or at least, very slightly: So the true Heir hath been rejected, and not thought fit to [Page 58]raign; having been called by you who are exalting the false and untimely Birth, either a Devil (which some have called him; and others, Natural, or a Fool: by which it may be seen, how the Serpent's Wisdom hath been set by, by the Adulteress, who would fain have her Bastard to be Heir; for which end how seemingly fair hath the Harlot Trimmed and Decked her self? being arrayed in Purple and Scar­let, and decked with Gold and Preti­ous Stones and Pearls; her Religion being in her head, from whence Abo­minations are let into the Heart; where if the Light appear to search it, it is mocked and sleighted by Ishmael: So that false Prophet he is set up, who cryes out, No Revelation now; so the deceitful heart being after the false Prophet, gross darkness that covers: so the love of God in the Blessed ap­pearance of the Light of his unerring Spirit, that is not comprehended; so the Eye hath not seen, nor the Ear heard, neither hath it entred into their hearts, the Mercies and Goodness of [Page 59]God, which is to them that fear him, and love his appearance in the Heart, where the Light of his Blessed Spirit doth shew forth his goodness, from whence is Ministred forth life and strength to the poor soul, strengthning it against the appearance of evil: so the soul be­ing made sensible of the Peace of God, and rest through the Revelati­on of his Holy Spirit, which causes joy and gladness to the Soul; having found a friend in its adversity, it sets a high value and esteem of him, and is wil­ling to be guided and directed by him. So the Harlot is seen, and the false Birth is seen, and the false Prophet which steals the true Prophets words is seen: so the Adulteress may Cry long enough, and Scold long enough, and Peep and Mutter, all her Whine­ings in seeming Prayers, and Teaching Doctrines all end in filthiness and sin in her best duties; and yet this Impudent Harlot concludes, There is none like her; and her Birth is the true Birth; and all the rest are false: But her deceit is manifest, and her Sorceries and [Page 60]Witchcraft is seen; and a Bed of Tor­ment is prepared for her: so they are Blessed that fear the Living God, and sanctifie him in their Hearts, who do not commit Leudness with the Harlot, nor add any thing to the maintaining of her Gallantry.

Come all you Ranters, who have gotten some words of Truth, but do use them in an exalted spirit, in which you are swimming up and down above the pure stream, which flows from the pure meek principle of God, the na­ture of the Water of Life, which comes from the Fountain of all good, that be­ing to drive away all filthiness of Flesh; where that hath passage, it refreshes and keeps green and fresh, in a good sa­vour to God and man. But you Ran­ters having lost its savour, are exalted above that which is lowly and good, being under a great Imagination of a knowledge of good and evil, on which, through the subtilty of the Serpent feeding you, are become dead to any true sense of the Vertue that flows from the living Power, from whence through [Page 61]disobedience you being shut out: What a do you are making? some crying out against Meeting, as formal; and that you feel not the Power that was a­mongst them: which indeed is no wonder when you are past feeling, and so being tossed up and down in your minds in an exalted state, some appearing in a singular pretended Zeal, under a voluntary humility, as if you were Wiser and Holier then others (the Serpent here having puft up) sets a judging the Body, and feeds his members who waits for hurt, as by the slipping of some through weakness, or the like, and so gets all occasions of making Parties and Rents, still the Ser­pent being covered under a pretence of a higher Attainment; but at length, after some time of exercise in this work, and through the everlasting love of God in the Body, in preser­ving it sound and intire, where his will is done, and a fight given of the Enemy's working therein, and so not able to prevail: At length many go out in Distraction to Meetings, and [Page 62]there make sad noises, to prevent (if possible) the going forth of the Decla­ration of Truth, as much as in them lyes; keeping people from a Reception thereof by their Babbling and Squal­ling to Disturb Meetings, it having plainly appeared. But their Nourish­ment being from the Vine of Sodom, disobedience to that which they might be convinced of, being the cause from whence the first going out was; so the Root being corrupt, the Fruit is cor­rupt: so all in time grow dry and wi­thered, being an ill savour therein, and a stink whilst they live herein up­on Earth; so that both the way and end in that way is destructive. The which may serve for a warning to all who are convinced of the Truth, to take heed how they slight Gods love therein, in disobeying that Principle of God in them, which is meek and lowly; and all that live in true Obe­dience to it, they live in safety, where evil in uncleanness cannot enter, nor haughtiness hath no place there; but they that answer that Blessed Principle, [Page 63]they rise in its nature to hate unclean­ness and haughtiness; so in its nature of meekness and lowliness, all who grow here bring forth good Fruit, which is a Blessed savour in his sight, who is Creator of all; and all who are grafted into this root, and abiding therein, do feel sap and nourishment from the same, whereby they spring, grow and flourish in a green, lively, sensible life of the exercise of God's love to mankind; and so dare not appear otherwise in the sight of men, then they stand approved in his sight who sees all things: and so, meeting to­gether to wait upon him, who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth, all gathering together in his Blessed Name, feeling true Refreshment in his Pre­sence: strength there by is renewed to love God above all, and to love one another, and to watch for the good in one another; and to testifie against the evil, which may be an oc­casion of defiling or hurting any; still waiting in meekness and love, to the end the good may be preserved, and [Page 64]that which is evil resisted: And though this love by many may be rejected, yet it is that which will carry them who are exercised therein above the head of all opposition; and preserve them who keep their Habitation therein out of all extreams, even to finish their course with Joy and Peace in that Crown of Life which is everlasting.

Come all you who live in Envy, Hatred, Malice, Strife and Contenti­on, Masters and Dames of Familes, who are in Branglings, and evil and rash Speakings, and Discontents; these Fruits proceed from a corrupt and cursed ground; and so is an ill savour and bad example to your Families: This is a great evil.

And all Children who are Stubborn and Heady, who do not obey your Parents, as it is meet in the Lord: This is a great evil.

And all Servants who are not Sub­ject and Obedient in your several places, but are high-minded, and can­not bear Reproofs; but are ready to Answer again, and to be Disquiet, and [Page 65]Murmur, and Whisper, and to tell Tales to stir up Anger and Strife: This is a great evil.

COme, sit down together in a deep Silence out of all fleshly Wisdom, forgiving all Tres­passes; that he that sits upon his Throne, who said, behold I make all things new, that he may forgive all your Trespasses; and then wait for acceptance into Gods pure holy Co­venant, his holy Law in the Mind that it may be writ in the Heart, and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me from the least to the [Page 80]greatest; for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and ini­buities will I remember no more; A blessed day, magnified be the Lord, whose Works praise him for ever (and not good works out of wicked workers mouths) to these mighty works of the mighty God, the which he is working and bringing to pass through his mighty power, are appointed that mankind should live in the enjoyment of them, to the praise and honour of his Maker for ever.

And that it may be distinguished between evil workers who have got the good words, and the good works, from whence all true and good and gracious words came, (observe.)

In one of the Collects appointed in the Book of Common Prayer, it is thus written,

Almighty and everlasting God, which of thy tender love towards man, hath sent our Saviour Christ Jesus to take up­on him our Flesh, and to suffer Death upon the Cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great Eumility, [Page 81]mercifully grant that we both follow the example of his Patience and be made partakers of his Resurrection, &c.

Now mind; To pray for this, that is common, and used in the old World of Transgression, where iniquity and sin is, which separates from God, and are out of his Blessed Work: But to be in the Humility and Patience, this is God's Work, where his Will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven: So that if people would but so far condescend to the Will of God, as to sit down in coolness in a true Silence of all the works of the fleshly wisdom, would they not agree with us, who are in Scorn called Quakers, in Judg­ment at least, though it may be not in Practice, viz. That Words with­out Effects, are as Dreams and Chass, (to the Wheat, the Substance.) So he that hath a Dream, let him tell his Dream; but he that hath Gods Word let him speak it: What is the Chaff to the Wheat? Is not my Word like a Fire, saith the Lord, and like a Hammer, that breaketh the Rock in pieces, Jer. 23. [Page 82] I am against the Prophet, saith the Lord, that steals my Word from his Neighbour, who use their Tongues, and say, he saith, and Prophesie false Dreams, and tell them, and cause people to err by their Lyes and Lightness. And so now in Coolness, when the works of the ene­my are down, viz. Prejudice and Pas­sion, &c. Then by a little work of God, in its least appearance, by which mankind is made sensible, they may see by this small distinction what it is that we, who are in Scorn called Quakers, stand for, (and against:) And when the Eye of your Understanding is opened, to behold his glorious works whom you have pierced; then will you love us, whom so many have hated, because of our Testimony of God's Works. Do but see how you first ha­ted the Light of God in your selves, before that great Darkness came over you to hate us, who are called Qua­kers, because we are bowed unto Christ's Spirit, the true Christians Spi­rit, and therein have in some mea­sure partaken of his Cup, out of which [Page 83]some indeed have drunk very deep, even to the following of his great Hu­mility and Patience, even to Death, as in the New-England Sufferings may be seen (by those cruel imaginary Christians, whose wicked hands have been deep in the shedding of Innocent Blood. And though through Igno­rance the Sufferings of God's people hath been much in Old-England, yet they have not been in that desperate kind as there; where doubtless they are more drunk with the Whores Cup of Sorceries and Witchcraft, then those of that kind are here in Old-England, whose spirit is felt; but that their Wings are cut, so cannot fly at that rate, which otherwise they would be at; for now their Hands are tyed, how wonderfully do their Tongues go? by which its plain they have no Bridle, but are set on Fire of Hell, wondering, despising and fretting against the work of the Lord in this the day of his power, though thou­sands are raised by it, to declare and publish the same words, in life and conversation, &c.

And now you vain and empty Pro­fessors and Notion its, who are saying in your dark and imaginary conceiv­ings of things; that if you had been in the Scribes, and Pharisees dayes, you would not have done as they did: But come, be patient a little; the works of Truth have a good tendency, though they be bitter to the guilty for the present; come I say, look where you are; by the Light you may see; you must see by it at last; it were better for you if you would let your Eye be opened now, and see that of­fensive Eye pulled out which hath been offended at God's works all this while: So do not harden your hearts in this day of God's power being ma­nifest, least you be cut off from his rest for ever. Come therefore you that are judging others that did wickedly in their Generation, by resisting God's holy Spirit, so had none of the works of Revelation; come see now what Latitude your works are under: If you be in the same liberty in the flesh as you were in, its no matter what you [Page 85]say: Come now to the Tryal; what experience have you of the operation of God's Spirit? How much of the mind and will of God hath it revealed to you? Can you say, Thus saith the Lord, by the certain knowledge of the Revelation of God's holy Spirit? Or have you only talkt of it, as the Jews did, who said, we have God for our Father, when they were doing the Devil's works? Come do not stop your Ears; Have you heard the voice of God or seen his shape? or are you ig­norant of it, as they were who accused Christ, as if he was bearing false wit­ness? Nay, come further; Have you not said, That Revelations are ceased, and thereby shut up the way of the Kingdom of God, and from the know­ledge of his Righteousness by your wicked works, in going about to establish your own Righteousness, and works therein for term of life.

Come you that have set up the Law and Covenant without (above the Law and Covenant within; are not these your own works? and have not [Page 86]they made you as blind as your Fa­thers, the Scribes and Pharisees, that you can neither see nor hear?) but in your blind zeal are persecuting Christ's near Relations, who follow him in their Generation, even by the drawings of his Father's Spirit unto Humility and Patience, who is the way, in whom God's Will was done: And did not Christ give Testimony of Relations, his Mother, his Brothers and Sisters, who did his Father's Will? And is not this to be done on Earth? And is it not the will of God that we should speak the Truth at all times, and that we should be led and guided by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth? (is there any sin in the guide:) And is not this Christ of God the same Anoint­ing or Teacher, as he was in the begin­ning of the World? Was not he be­fore Abraham was? And is not he the same yesterday, to day and for ever, as he was in the beginning, who was David's Lord, and the Holy mens Lord in all Ages? And is not he the Covenant by which all must come un­to [Page 87]God? Was he not given for a Co­venant, and a Light to enlighten peo­ple, and to be their Salvation, to lead and command his people? And must not his sheep hear his voice? And is not he the same that he was in the be­ginning? And is not this the Precious tryed Stone, which the Wise Builders, building without, are confounded and stumble at, even the highest Notionists in the fleshly Wisdom, in their highest conceivings about the holy mens words? Come, examine your selves, and see whether Christ be not in you, except you be Re­probates: You unbelievers, how hath the God of the World led you a­bout, and blinded you, that you can­not see the Light of his Glorious Gospel? Come see the cause; have you not been making Provision for the flesh in the first place, and answering the Lusts thereof after the glory of the old World of sin and iniquity? Hath not respect of persons been in your Eye, and filthy lucre, and praise of men, and greeting in Market-places? Have [Page 88]you not preacht and prayed in your own wills, and run for gifts and re­wards in your own wills? and is not all this Honour to be had below? And have you not sought it before the Honour of God's work in your hearts? And is not this the cause of your Ig­norance of God's Kingdom, and his Righteousness (Christ) and his Rela­tions, his Mother, Sisters and Brethren, who are sanctified and blest through the will of God, where it is done in Truth and Righteousness? and where that it is done, do not such confirm in truth and reality all God's Blessed and holy works without in all generations? So do not envy and hate the people called Quakers, for maintaing the works of God's holy Spirit within them; for there are many of them have been as high Talkers of the works of God in holy men without, as you are; but found not such Salvation, as to ven­ture souls, and bodies, and estates, till we came to cease from our own labours in our own willings and runnings; and so our hearts were bowed unto [Page 89] God's holy will in the deep silence of all fleshly reasonings and consultations: So by the works of God's holy and blessed Spirit the way of God came to be made manifest in us; the which is a pure, Holy, undefiled way, Christ, the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, as he was in the beginning without guile, without sin; no iniquity is in him; he that is the hope of Glory, the great Mystery made manifest in us Gentiles, who in former times, when without knowledge of him in the World, had Lords many, and Masters many, and feigned Faiths and Beliefs concerning him many and divers: But when we were given up clearly to seek the Kingdom of God, without any re­serve of making provision for the flesh, then the New Jerusalem, God's build­ing, came down from above, the Mo­ther of all the Faithful, where no evil can be conceived, whose Children in her are made free from the Law of sin and death; and this blessed City hath no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to shine in it; for the Glory of [Page 90]God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof. This blessed habi­tation is prepared for God's people, who love the Light of his appearance, and delight to do his will.

So away with all false Accusations from all you false Accusers of the peo­ple called Quakers, who say, we ex­pect to be Saved by a righteousness of our own, and by works of our own: If it were so, as you falsly and vainly do say, then might we not keep in the broad way, with you Hypocrites, who are gotten above the dayly Cross, and so led about by the Thief above the door, where you Foxes, who are cunning in hunting about after others works, have holes enough to creep and cringe into to keep you in the glory of the World of sin and iniquity, where you have had a long Trade in your imaginations, conceiving God's works in his blessed Instruments without you, whose Lines you have long made your boast of; so your Lyes are upon your own heads. For, this I testifie, and the Testimony is the same in thousands, who are wit­nesses [Page 91]of the works of God's holy Spi­rit, in some degree or measure, viz. That it is in Christ, God's Covenant, in which we hope for Salvation, and in no Covenant or Work of man's; and in this Covenant we are made a good savour unto God, and one unto another: And acceptance with God is obtained no other way but by the one pure offering, without spot or blemish, by the effectual workings of the Eternal Spirit, where the Blood of Christ is witnessed to be sufficient to purge Consciences of dead works, and so to serve God in the New and Liv­ing way, which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail, his flesh: And therefore all who are thus partakers of God's works, by the Revelation of God's Spirit, being true witnesses of the Blessing of God in this one unspot­ted offering, we cannot but confess him before men, denying all imagi­nary offerings in mens wills, where their Garments are filled with spots and blemishes, and their Consciences are defiled with dead works of their [Page 92]own Inventions and Works, the which having some outward shew of Holiness may recommend unto man, who lives in the same, but not unto God; and therefore experience in the works of God's blessed Spirit hath taught us to deny them.

And by this Christ of God, the Me­diator of the New Covenant, we have Acceptance with God, from whence the knowledge of Salvation comes, by the Remission of offences and sins; and therefore we deny all false and vain Mediatorship of vain man in his works of Conceivings and Imagina­tions concerning this Mediator; the which is really to be enjoyed and known by the effectual workings of God's Eternal Spirit, to the Consola­tion and Peace of Souls who partake thereof.

And through the blessed Works of this blessed Spirit of God the deaf Ear comes to be opened, to hear the voice of the one true powerful Shepherd, who alone doth feed the Sheep of his Pasture with that convenient and [Page 93]wholesome Food, the which causeth soundness of Heart and Mind, and therein doth he take care to preserve and keep his Sheep in a living sense of his Love and Fatherly care, who calls to his Sheep when the Lion, the Woolf and the Bear appears, and strengthen­eth them who take pleasure in hearken­ing and obeying his voice. So to the one Shepherd and one Fold, Testimony is given, unto whom all that are erred and strayed must return, if ever they witness deliverance from evil and pre­servation from danger. So we deny all false Shepherds whose works of darkness tend to the scattering people in their minds and understandings from the sense of God's Works in Christ, in reconciling lost mankind, and bring­ing them home unto himself (the sub­stance of all) of which the Law out­ward was but a shadow of good things the which are enjoyed in this one Shepherd and Bishop, who takes care and oversight of Souls; magnified and praised be his holy and glorious works of Redemption for ever and ever.

And so to the Honour of this one blessed Physitian of Souls, whose Works are certain and effectual, the which has been tryed by many wounded Souls, who could find no Cure without by the foolish and vain Physitians with­out, who are meer Deceivers, and Daubers up of people through their Inchantments and Sorceries, by which they have made a long Prey of people through their fair Speeches, getting their Money through meer Deceit and Flattery, intruding into things they have no knowledge of, in which Works they are puft up above the pure holy Works of God's blessed Spi­rit, the Revelation of which they have denyed, they in lew thereof have set up their own Imaginations and Con­ceivings in the Revelation of their Sin­gular exalted Spirit, the Flattery and Deceit of which having taken with people, how are Nations corrupted by it? and what Misery have these wicked Works brought into this Na­tion? God having given signal Testi­monies of dislike unto them by Plague, [Page 95]Fire and Sword, and by many Mes­sengers whom he hath drawn near un­to himself by his works, by the hands of them Messengers hath he sent warn­ing upon warning, and exhortation up­on exhortation, with tenders of his blessed works of reconciliation upon just and equal terms, of his enemies repenting, and turning unto him by turning from their wickedness: But what Entertainment these Servants of the Living God have found by these foolish Physitians, who are meer Time-servers for their own ends, whose refuge is an Arm of Flesh to defend their wicked corrupt works, which have filled the Nations with their De­filements, who by their Flatteries have drawn a Compliance from Magistrates, to punish the Messengers and Ser­vants of the most high God for telling the Truth from a certain knowledge of the works of God's Spirit of Truth, and therein testifying against the works of error and darkness. But the sufferings that have been for this love of God in and through them who have [Page 96]been Instruments in his hands, may through search be known; so Testi­mony is given against them, who are in the exaltation of works without, and denying the immediate blessed works of God's holy Spirit in its Ope­rations and Revelations of the Mind and Will of God unto wounded Souls within.

And further concerning these bles­sed works of God's righteous holy Spirit, the which are attended with Peace, unto which way many have been turned; and becanse some loiter, and are sloathful, and yet remain un­converted of the old man's corrupt words and deeds, and therefore not fit to put on the new man, Christ Je­sus; and some who were in the way, do turn out of it again; and some fall head-long down to Perdition: Oh! what occasion have the watchers for evil taken at this, and thereby set at nought God's works in his holy righ­teous Spirit, and them that abide there­in, making conclusions in their dark imaginary conceivings of the works [Page 97]of God, That he hath no such perfect works now adayes; but that all are fal­lible and changeable: And so measure and weigh the things of God in their corrupt false measure and ballance, which things are Abomination in the sight of God. So Testimony is given to God's blessed works, though many are so brittle that they will not abide them; yet notwithstanding God's works in and through his holy Spirit of Truth, are righteous, holy, perfect in every degree and measure, and remains firm in goodness, and unchangeable, there being no spot nor blemish in them, the which praises them for ever, out of which none shall ever find accep­tance of him. Mutter, peep, whine and scold as long as you will, your works of darkness must down, which have corrupted the Nations, which is cause of the great Judgments past in this Nation, and the greater yet to come; For the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is gone out against wicked workers and works; and thus saith the Lord, No Peace to the wicked, [Page 98]their prayers are abomination in my sight. So whatsoever your professions and coverings therein be, of your talkings and imaginations concerning the gift of God, which is Life Eter­nal, you being really out of it, in your own imaginary parts and gifts, in comprehending the works done with­out you, and so not sensible of any real, perfect, pure work of God's holy Spirit in you, the which is the cause you are so dark, and wickedly blind­ed to plead for sin, the which is ac­companied with the wages of death; the cause of death being sin, the which remaining, the effects cannot cease, even death and corruption from that venomous sting over all flesh that is corrupted with it. So for shame leave your false Accusations against an inno­cent people, called by the Name of Quakers, for testifying of the works of God's holy Spirit, the which are perfect in every degree, and therefore there is not the least sin nor evil in them. So all you who say, You are not with­out sin in your best duties; I say, they [Page 99]are all works of your own (which blind and hide God's works from you.) And as you may read of the works of God's Spirit in Mordicai, how they could not bow to the Pride and Ar­rogance of Haman; and also, the works of God's Spirit in Daniel, how they could not bow to them that would have restrained and limited them; and also the works of Gods Spirit in Shadrach, Meshech and Abed­nego, how they could not bow to the Golden Image, set up by Nebuchad­nezar, though Laws under Penalties of Death in a Cruel manner was before them; and also, the works of God's holy Spirit in the Primitive Christians, through the strength of which they under-went hard and grievous things under the spirit of Antichrist, which got up in a form of good words, in the pleasures and vanities of the works of the fleshly wisdom, the which have been kept up by the same wisdom, by the Arm of flesh, under which the Inno­cent people, who are true witnesses of the works of God's Spirit have suf­fered [Page 100]very deeply in this Age, the which cannot be hid, though the cause for which they have thus suf­fered is so far hid that it cannot be believed, though they have been won­derfully declared of. But it is Morde­cai, Daniel, Shadrach, Mesh [...]ch and Abednego's God, which we, who are in scorn called Quakers, do worship in and by the effects and blessed Opera­tion of his own blessed Spirit, where­in stands our confidence, and not in Flesh; and our Faith, Belief and Hope is in him, that he will turn the Hearts of our enemies unto us, though many will perish in their gain-saying. So over all the works and powers of dark­ness in our Faith and Belief, that the holy righteous works of God's blessed Spirit shall be exalted, and the God of Truth in and through his blessed works, in preparing and fitting the hearts of people, the knowledge of him shall increase, till it spread over all. And for this purpose hath God raised many, contrary to the wisdom of the World, in whom he hath made [Page 101]known his Righteous Works, who have unity and fellowship therein (who are true labourers therein) purely out of love to God and his blessed works, in good-will and true-love to all men, that all may taste of the goodness of God, the experience of which will bring mankind to be of one mind and heart, and therein to agree to praise and magnifie God, who shows man his Thoughts, to whom belongs ho­nour and glory for ever.

And now all you Leaders of the People, in all forms and fashions, who are denying the works of the Divine Power of God in its blessed operation and powerful workings, in setting free them who are heavy laden and weary through the enemies works of sin and iniquity, the which you say cannot be overcome; therefore you are denyers of the sufficiency of God's works and his kingdom, wherein dwells righte­ousness, peace and joy, in and through effectual workings of God's holy Spi­rit; the which, though you say in [Page 102]words, Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, &c. But being sayers, and not doers, you are so darkened that with all your own wills and mights you are strengthening the old King­dom of transgression, where sin and iniquity aboundeth, the Devil's works: Was it not by reason of transgression that the first Law, the first Covenant, was added, which was written in Tables of Stone? And was not this in force till the Seed of Life and Power, the coming of the Messiah, to finish Transgression, and to put an end to Sin, and so bring in everlasting Righ­teousness, God's Kingdom?

Now all you blind Leaders of the blind, is not here God's second Co­venant, writ in the heart, into which all must come that come unto God, where his Light is to shine, who is the True Light that enlightens every man that comes into the World? And if this righteous Law be taken heed un­to, will it not judge Lust when it rises in the heart? And will it not judge Anger when it rises in the heart? And [Page 103]will it not judge every desire of break­ing Promise, when it arises in the heart? And will it not judge every hasty and froward Action and Light­ness, when they appear in the heart? And is not all that proceeds from this righteous Law and Covenant of God in the heart Pure Truth, Yea and Nay? And what is more then plain Truth, Yea and Nay, is it not judged by this pure Law in the heart? And are not all fotbidden to Swear by this one Law-giver, who is able to Save or to Destroy? And must not his righteous Law and Decree take place, though many Laws through darkness and Ignorance may be made against it? And must not all that come to Sion, the City of the Living God, be re­deemed through these righteous judg­ments? And all that will not come under this righteous Law and Govern­ment, where Mercy and Peace kisses, and Truth and Righteousness is set over all; is it not just that they be left to Judgment without Mercy? So is not Destruction from Self-willing and [Page 104]running of people out of the counsel and knowledge of the will and mind of the living God? And is not the Sal­vation of every Soul in and through the righteous Decrees, and just and holy Laws of God, which is Light in every Conscience? And must not all come to Salvation come first to the way and means that God hath ordain­ed? And is not the second coming of Christ, in the Light of his Holy Spirit, the way by which all must come unto God, the which is without spot, with­out guile? And must not all that come unto God come unto him in this one blessed savoury offering? And is not this Christ of God the same yesterday, to day and for ever as he was before Abraham was, and so the same in the beginning of all things? And must not all that come to God, come out of Transgression, the cause why man­kind was drove from the presence of God? And is not this Christ of God the way out of Transgression, who was obedient and subject to the will of his Father in all things? And must [Page 105]not they, all that are saved, be brought into this blessed Covenant of Life, the end God's great love in his Son manifested to the World, that through him they might not abide and perish in Darkness; but through believing and obeying that second coming and appearance of the Light of him, they might have the Light and Under­standing of the Life of him, the one blessed Offering, that perfects for ever them that are sanctified?

And now all you blind Leaders of the blind, under all your imaginary lifeless Confessions and Professions of God and Christ, what strength of Ar­guments do you use in your perverse Wills and Affections to strengthen the old World of Transgression in sin and iniquity? whereby you go about with all your might to make void the second Covenant which is without fault, and so you shut up the way to God's King­dom and the knowledge of his Righ­teousness, by labouring and moiling in your vain service and works to establish your own Righteousness, and [Page 106]dark works therein? And by this fruitless labour and travel, what dark­ness and blindness have you brought over the Nations, through your ig­norant Conc [...]vings of those gracious words, which were spoken by the effectual working and moving of God's holy Spirit in and through holy men, the which was for a blessed end spoken, even to turn people from the darkness, which was over them by reason of their transgression, unto the true witness in them, the Light makes manifest all that is reprovable and wicked in mankind, the which being turned from, and the Light obeyed, that they may be led to the knowledge of God, that they may not be without God in the World, whom to know is Life Eternal? And so Light is sown for the Righteous, that through this blessed Seed the Serpen [...]'s head may be bruised, and kept under in all; and so is way made to put on the Heavenly Image again, by being led and guided out of Darkness by the Light of the Emanuel, in and through [Page 107]every blessed and glorious degree of his works to the mark of that price, the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ Jesus, the Heavenly Man, the Heavenly Image; as many as are baptized into Christ, put on Christ.

Now I say unto you blind Leaders of the blind, who have got some few of the gracious words and works of the righteous m [...]n of God, therefore I say but few of them, because there is but little upon record of those migh­ty works, which did then shew forth the wonderful power of God in and by the effectual workings of his holy blessed Spirit, the which, if all had been written, the World could not have contained the Books; and of that which was written, you have but a part, with which you blind Leaders of the blind have made a long Trade, in Wresting, Perverting and Cor­rupting to your own destruction, mak­ing them look every way but the right in your imaginary Conceivings thereof. So wrong you are in your Judgments, who have denyed the [Page 108]effectual workings of God's holy Spi­rit, that what in you lyes by your works of darkness, you are making void God's holy Law and Covenant, as to any true understanding or know­ledge of it in the mind and heart: And so building your selves up in Ima­ginations and Conceivings, what strangers are you to God's holy work, in and by the effectual working of his holy Spirit within man? How bruitish are you in your understandings, to stand and wonder, and some to de­spise, till they perish at the news of these works, though God hath raised many faithful Witnesses, who have declared and given Testimony to them, even to the laying down their Lives, and many their Liberties, and in great measure their Estates, whereby it hath plainly shewed, that this is the time and season wherein God is making known his mighty power, for the sub­duing and bringing under the power of darkness, that the Kingdoms of this World may become the King­doms of God; and that the Kingdom [Page 109]of his Son, which is in Righteousness, Peace and Joy of his blessed holy Spi­rit may be set over all? And is not this according to that Prayer, Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on Earth, &c. Now consider, are not all those wayes destructive to mankind that are made up in the dark Con­ceivings of man, without the Light of understanding the will of God here­in? And by your works of darkness, in opposing the blessed effectual works of God's holy Spirit, what misery and consusion have you brought your selves and the Nations into, where you lye in heaps in Controversies about the works and words without, till the enemy's works of darkness be over­grown in you, by which you are so droven from the presence of God, and the Light of his Countenance, that you are greatly confounded, kicking and stumbling at the precious stone, the which in your fleshly worldly wis­dom you think too mean to be in your Buildings? by reason of which how many fashions are your Building [Page 110]of? reeling and staggering from one fashion to another, soaring alost in your airy imaginations of the things of God, in using your Wits and Arts to bend the holy men's Testimonies to your corrupt Wills and Affections: And so much more as you strive in these works, so much more you are, and must be confounded: What a sad work have you herein taken in hand? and what vast Sums of Money have you exacted out of Nations to main­tain the Pride and Arrogancy of your hearts herein?

Oh! that there were such a heart in people to sit down before the Lord, that they may partake so much of his works as to open the Eye of their un­derstandings, that they see over these works of darkness, where nothing is good nor pleasant to the truly hunger­ing and thirsting Souls after God's Righteousness: How miserably have these Nations been cheated by these blind Guides, who have exacted abun­dance of Wages under pretence of being Healers and Curers of the Na­tions; [Page 111]but are now found by the Ef­fectual Workings of the Light of God's holy Spirit to be the chief Instruments of the letting in of Darkness, Cor­ruption and Abominations that raign on the Earth; through that adulte­rated Spirit, the Mother of all Harlots, who are departed from the true Spouse, and so running and hunting after o­thers blessed works and experiences, have set up Trades in their Arts of telling and boasting of others Lives and Works, where that adulterated Spirit hath covered them, who are corrupted with her Sorceries and Witchcraft under various fashions of Confessions and Professions of God and his Christ? But underneath these coverings are the same wicked hands by which the Just hath suffered, and been rejected, and set at nought in all Ages.

And through the blessed works of the Light of God's holy Spirit these corrupt workers and works of dark­ness being discovered, and a Righte­ous Testimony in Thousands that stand [Page 112]against them; what a sad work do these blind Leaders make to hide them­selves from the wrath of the Lamb that is coming upon them, looking back to the several Traditions, Customs and Commands of men, from whence they drive several establishments upon flesh­ly rotten Foundations, as Covenant, and Directory, of man's, none of God's Foundation: Christ, God's Founda­tion, is a pure, holy, unspotted Foun­dation, where God's Wisdom and Counsel directs in and through the works of his holy Spirit, the which are perfect and good in every degree thereof, by which people are built up a Spiritual house, to the honour and praise in and through God's blessed works forever.

So to God's Covenant and Works must all mankind be brought under; (that are redeemed and made alive to God;) therefore we deny the Presby­terians Covenant and Directory, as be­ing but a meer Parcel of Conceivings and Imaginations, which tends to hide the holy Covenant, and Foundation [Page 113]of the Righteous people in Generati­ons past, and now present in being (who were and are built upon the sure Foundation, which God hath laid, and thereon in Covenant with his righteous holy works.)

And concerning your Foundation, who are built upon a Church-Faith, made up by an Assembly of Diviners out of their own Brain, in the fleshly Comprehensions; its man's work, full of blemishes and spots (and not God's,) God's Foundations and Works there­on are pure and holy, without spot, wrinkles or blemish. And forasmuch as your made up Faith and Works tend to the making void the pretious Faith of God's Elect, which is the gift of God, the which purifies the heart, and works by love, and giveth victory over the old World of Trans­gression and sin, without which there is no pleasing God: And so to this one Faith, one Baptism, and one Lord, Testi­mony is given, and against all feign­ed Faiths, the works of men's hands, [Page 114]the which are in wickedness, by which the Just was slain.

And concerning that head of the Beast, which is branched out into se­veral Horns in feigned Humility and Will-worship, intruding into things which they are not led into by the Light of God's holy Spirit, and there­fore their Foundation being not from a certain knowledge of the immediate works of God's holy and blessed Spi­rit in them; But are in their own wil­lings and running into Imaginations and Conceivings about the Practices of the holy men of God; but being out of their Spirit and Works therein, what dark works of plungings and dippings in outward Water, and ima­ginary fellowships in outward Ele­ments; but being out of a true sense of the works of God's Spirit, and its inspiration to enlighten them, and give them an understanding of the Times and Seasons of the Dispensati­ons and Works of the mighty God; what strangers are they to the New Birth, and the one Baptism of Christ [Page 115]with Fire and the holy Spirit, to burn and consume Lusts, and so to bring down every high Thought and vain Imagination under his Feet, who is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World? And so by that one pure holy Spirit of God are many bap­tized into one Body, where God's will is done on Earth by him that abides forever. So not by the works of man, is any saved, but by the merciful works of God in his Son, by the washing of Regeneration, and re­newing of the holy Spirit. So into this pure holy Name must all be bap­tized, dipped, plunged, the which tends to the bringing out of all false Fellowships, into that one and only Pure Fellowship, to walk in the Light of the Lord, where the Blood of Christ cleanses from all sin: A pure Baptism indeed, a pure Washing in a pure Foun­tain, where filthiness that is within man comes to be washed away, and thereby way is made for the comfor­table fresh springs that rise from the Fountain of Love and Mercies, (the [Page 116]Substance,) of which many outward things are shadows; but the good thing it self is come, glory to God on high, (Heb. 9.9, 10.) So to this blessed work, who must increase, his Testi­mony is given; and against all the works of men's hands, the which tend to the making void thereof. So the Fountain of God stands sure, and must do forever; and all false foundations, whereon people have built, must be swept away for evermore.

COme Persecutors, Awake, A­wake, hearken how the Cows and the Oxen Low in your Ears; when you lye down to sleep, doth not their Lowing trouble you? And when you rise, are not you tor­mented at the noise of their Lowing? sleep as secure as you can, you will be awakened at last; and then the [Page 140]noise of the Lowing of Cows and Oxen will sound in your Ears: In your lying down, in your rising up; in your Eating and Drinking; in your going about your business; it will be a dread­ful noise, when the cause of the In­nocent, whom you have wronged, comes to be laid before you.

Come Persecutors, Awake, Awake, hearken; do you not hear the Bleat­ing of Sheep, which have been taken from Innocent people, for keeping the Commands of Jesus? stop your Ears as hard as you can, they will be open­ed at last; and heir Bleating will be so loud sounded in your Ears, that you cannot avoid the terrible noise thereof.

Come Persecutors, Awake, Awake; hearken what a dreadful noise is a­mongst the Pots, Kettles, Skillets, Frying-pans, Dripping-pans, Pewter­dishes, Flaggons, Chamber-pots, &c. the which have been taken from an In­nocent people, for keeping their Con­science void of offence towards God and man; that men take offence against [Page 141]the Innocent, when no proof can be made thereof; that is the steps of the wicked in all Ages: But hearken Per­secutors, sure you are not so fast a sleep, but that you may hear the rat­ling of these things in your Ears; well, they will make a fearful noise at last.

Come Persecutors, Awake, awake; open your Eyes, they will be opened at last, and then the Beds, Cloths, Corn, Hoggs, Horses, Butter, Cheese, Ba­con, and all sorts of Commodies taken from Tradesmen, out of their Shops, and working Instruments from poor people, Shoe-Leather, and abundance of other things, too long to name; all taken from an Innocent harmless people, who seek the good and well­being of all men: At last all these things shall be laid before your Eyes, you shall not be able to shut them against them, nor to stop your Ears, from the several dreadful noises; but they must sound in your Ears, and you must know, that all these doings proceed from a corrupt rotten heart and mind, which is abhorred by the living God.

And now after all the spoil, that hath been made on the Goods and Persons of an innocent people, many of whose bloods have been shed in your Streets, witness Horsly-down meet­ing: After all this, the matter of Fact which the Innocent people, called Quakers, have been accused of, it hath not at all been prov'd against them; neither hath there been any cause of a ground given to suspect their Meetings to be any wayes tending to Sedition, &c. They have been al­wayes peaceable on their parts; and therein the peace and well-being of all hath been sought? When you are awakered, and the Book opened wherein your wickedness is recorded; then will the Meetings of the People called Quakers, appear unto you as aforesaid. And so all you, who are wondering at a peoples standing still in Silence to wait upon the Living God, to receive Counsel of him, that by the same they may be guided in the way and path of Life: would it not be good if all would do the same? [Page 143]And not run forward in Satans Coun­sels, in envy, hatred, and malice, till you come to be bitten and devoured, one of, and by another: What is it the near to have the names of Chri­stians, when there is none of Christs Spirit or Nature in you. Be not de­ceived, the Living God will not be mocked; though in his tender mercy, he hath yet spared many Vials of wrath and hath not poured them forth, but instead thereof he hath caused many to go out in dread, and fear, to testifie of his good will, upon repen­tance and amendment of life, but that love having been slighted, the con­trary will come heavy at last; and then your courage and valour which you have exercised against an inno­cent people, that will fail you, and fear, and trembling, and amzement, that will seize upon you. Brambles and Thornes, whose nature is to Tear and Rend, cannot stand against a consum­ing Fire.

Come, hearken all that have a Fin­ger in this Dish; have you not be­trayed [Page 144]your Master? are you not cal­led Christians? and should not Chri­stians have all one Master? Did not the name of Christian come by him who is Master of all, and hath all power in Heaven and Earth? and was it not given to them who came out of the Heathenish nature, who came under the power, which was manifest to de­stroy the works of the Devil, and the nature of the Devil's power, which is to Rend, Tear, and Devour; com­ing in Troops, as he did upon Jobs Goods, in Troops of Caldeans, and Bands and Troops of Sabeans? So have not you, who are in the same works now, as the Sabeans and Cal­deans were then (in spoiling the Goods of Innocent men, who love that which is Evil? have you not betrayed your Lord and Master, having given your selves up to serve a wicked Ruler, he that is Prince of the power of darkness, who hath his rule in his Servants, who are departed from their obedience to him who is Lord and Master of all, and ought to be served and feared by [Page 145]all; since there is no blessing, nor any thing that is good, but what is of him, and from him, who created all, and upholds all, who is Lord of all, blessed for ever.

Come, be awakened, and hearken; where do you find (by the example or Doctrine of Christ Jesus, who is Lord of all, and hath all power in Heaven and Earth,) or do you read of any such works afore-mentioned, done by him or his Followers? No, no, you have betrayed him, who call him Lord, and yet live in such works of malice and revenge; he taught, and teaches quite contrary, even to learn of him, who is meek and lowly in heart, admonishing all to love one another, and to do good for evil, and to love enemies; who dwell with them that are of a contrite and humble spirit, who teaches the humble and meek, and who wash­eth and cleanseth his Followers from their filth, as in dayes past, so to day and for ever. Oh you betrayers of him, who have rendred him a hard Master, in that you deny him; for he [Page 146]is righteous, just and true, and gives power to them that receive him, and obey him patiently, to bear the re­proaches, of the wicked, and to un­dergo their cruel mockings, and scof­fings and spoilings, till his pleasure is to plead the cause of the Innocent, who have no Arm of Flesh, nor Car­nal weapon; but their trust is in him who is Lord of all, unto whom all Tongues must confess, and every Knee must bow; though for a while, the wicked, with their Ruler the Devil, may be loose, he must be chained at last, and cast into the Lake of Fire, where their part and portion will be, who continue serving him (a sad Bar­gain.) So all you betrayers of the just, holy principle of Light and Life in your hearts, be awakened; come, see what a Dream you have been in, and what Dreamers you have followed, who are out of the way of the Lord, and yet for lucre sake, by art and po­licy, keep people confessing they are out of the way of the Lord, perswa­ding its not to be found, or as if there were no such thing.

Oh, be awakened, and see what a Dream you are in, and what silly Dreamers these are, who have put from them Christ, the way of Truth and the Life, by which all that ever come to God, it must be by him, whom many have found, so cannot but confess him before men, there be­ing no other way out of Evil, and which brings and leads to peace; this is a perfect way, and tryed way, into which no unclean person, nor envious person can come into; he must for­sake his Envy, and uncleanness, and all the Devils works, if ever he comes there.

Come, don't stop your Ears, and shut your Eyes, it will be all in vain; for he that is Lord, Master and Crea­tor of all, sees and beholds all, you can hide nothing from him, and he will call you to an account; then, what can the betrayers say?

Oh, you whose dayes are not quite over, consider what you are a doing, and what you are a treasuring up; malice, envy and hatred are from a [Page 148]rupt root and ground, which is cursing.

Come, be awakened, cease to do evil, then learn to do well, if happily you may obtain mercy; restore the pledge and repent: Keep nothing back that hath been taken by violence.

Be awakened, and see how filthy your hands are, through Malice and Cruelty, which hath brought a filthy smell and curse upon your Estates; a sad portion for your Children, for their Fathers to die with their Estates entailed in the Curse, the which can never be removed, from Father or Child, till the cause of the Curse be repented of, and done away, and so the hands wasted in innocency; until which time every one shall bear his own iniquity, because of the accursed thing that is in their hands.

So out of love to Truth, and good will to all is this written, whatever construction you may make thereof, in­to whose hands it may come; in his sight who sees all things, I am cleared, that herein I wish the good of all.

I. CHrist Jesus he is Lord of Hea­ven and Earth, and hath power over all flesh, by whom the World was made, who is [Page 150]Heir of all things, and hath right of government in the Hearts and Con­sciences of all people, and over all the Kingdoms of men, the right of ordain­ing and appointing Ministers being in him, and also in giving forth his Righ­teous Law and Commands in their Hearts, where he ought to reign, where his Ministers so ordained of him are to wait, with their Minds staid in his Light, to receive of him freely a supply of wisdom and power, and to communicate from the same freely, and to be contented with what provision the Lord is pleased to make for them; and by him there being a change of the Priesthood under that Covenant given unto Moses and the people of Israel, there is made of necessity a change also of the Law; and foras­much as the Priests in this Age, who are not ordained of Christ, do uphold that which the Lord hath changed, therefore we do deny them, and that which they claim for their Main­tenance.

[Page 151]II. These Priests being not ordain­ed of Christ, nor appointed to that Office by him, they therefore do u­surp that Authority, the which doth of Right belong to Christ Jesus, the which are presumptious sins, and there­fore we do deny them.

III. These Priests having denyed the Revelation of Christ's Spirit now adayes, and set up the Letter and Law without above the Spirit and Law within, by which its plain and evident, that they are Strangers to the great Love of God in his New Covenant, and being void of the knowledge of the gift of God to the World, they have nothing but Imaginations and In­ventions of their own Brain-study, and out of others Works and Labours, therefore we do deny them.

IV. They not being ordained of Christ they bring forth no pleasant Fruit, as is evident, but being or­dained of man, being man-made Mi­nisters, they are men-pleasers, so no Servants of Christ Jesus, but of their own Bellies, and for the sake thereof [Page 152]they are abominable greedy of filthy Lucre, and therefore we do deny them.

V. They being out of the way of the Lord, and strangers thereunto, therefore they can be no guides there­in, having set up Imaginations and Devices in their own Hearts, they fol­low them in defrauding people, there­fore we deny them.

VI. Forasmuch as Christ hath said, John 10. All that ever came before me are Thieves and Robbers, or as it may be rendred, All that go before him; (Now mind) before Abraham was he was, and before the Prophets were he was; so the true Prophets they did not go before him, they waited for the Signification of Christ's Spirit, which was in them, the which was their Foundation, and this was the Apostles Foundation, and the Be­lievers in the Primitive time were built upon the same; but the Thieves and Robbers were the false Prophets and Priests that came before him, who steal the true Prophets words, and use [Page 153]them in their Divination for Money, and Rewards, and Preaching for Hire, the which were wicked practices, testi­fied against, and cryed out against by the true Prophets; among which wick­ed practices we finding the man-made Ministers in this Age and Generation, who go before Christ, and being of that number Christ Jesus spoke against, therefore we deny them.

VII. All take notice, that the Testi­mony against Priests that preach for Hire is no new thing of twenty or thirty years standing, as some do vain­ly imagine; those abominable practices were testified against by the true Pro­phets; read Micah 3. Isaiah 66. Jer. 5. Ezek. 13. Hosea 6. and read Christ's Testimony against Hirelings, John 10. (and mind) all the holy men of God were and are of the same mind. And for Priests and People now adayes to pretend to Cospel-order and Gospel-dayes, and to live in the same, and if not worse practices then the false Pro­phets, Priests, Teachers and People, who were before the more powerful [Page 154]manifestation of Christ to flesh, the everlasting Gospel, who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe; this is a very great shame even to the name of Christianity, and the false Teachers the Priests being the Leaders into these Abominations; therefore we do deny them.

VIII. Paul an Apostle of Jesus, he did exhort the then Believers, to follow him as he was a follower of Christ, who ever was, and is a blessed Leader out of Transgression, out of sin, and therefore out of Strife and Contention; he taught and teaches to love enemies, for this Cause was and is the love of God in his Son ma­nifest in flesh, even to condemn sin in the flesh, and to destroy the Devil's works of Malice, Envy, Lust, Pride, Ex­cess, Covetousness, Lying, Guile, Hypo­crisie, Deceit, Fraud, Vain Worships, Vain Services, Persecution, and all other Abominations that may be men­tioned; the true and faithful witness, even the Light of his holy Spirit in mankind, never did nor will assent un­to [Page 155]to any thing that is evil. And for­asmuch as the Priests are led by ano­ther Spirit, and acted by another Spirit, as by their Fruits and Practices they are manifested, even to be led by the spirit of Cain, he being the first Perse­cutor about Religion; and the Priests being in the same steps of Persecution, they may say if they speak truly, Be­loved, be you followers of us as we are fol­lowers of our fore-Fathers, Cain, the false Prophets and Teachers in Ages past; they bringing forth the same Fruits, therefore of necessity they must spring from the same corrupt ground and root; and therefore let all the wise in heart judge, whether we have not good cause to deny them.

IX. It hath been so from the be­ginning, that he that was born after the Flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now; and when we turned our backs upon ungodliness, and waited in the grace of God, that we might live godly and righteously in this present evil World, we did believe we might suffer by un­reasonable [Page 156]reasonable ungodly men, who live ex­alted above the Grace of God, of which number the Priests are chief; and there­fore we deny them.

X. And whereas Christ Jesus, who is Lord of the Sabbath, did above six­teen hundred years ago set up the everlasting Worship in the Spirit and Truth, and directed all to take that for their Leader into all Truth, and the Truth and blessed effects whereof be­ing witnessed to the praise of God this day, as it was in the Primitive time. And whereas the man-made Ministers of this Age and Generation, who are not ordained nor sent of Christ Jesus, do teach for Doctrine the Commands of men, and so worship in vain, and by their Traditions and vain Customs they have excluded that Worship in Spirit and Truth, the which Christ Jesus set up; therefore we do deny them.

XI. Whereas the man-made Mini­sters now adayes do make that their Plea for their Persecution and wick­edness, they have a Law, so said their fore-Fathers, the Scribes, Pharisees, and [Page 157] Chief Priests, who Crucified Christ, they said, they had a Law; and what Perse­cutors about Religion since Cain had not some seeming pretence and cover­ing? though indeed these in this gene­ration do excel in rare Arts and Cover­ings to hide their wicked bloody Spi­rit of Persecution under; but he is risen and come that sees through them, and teaches his Followers of them; and therefore we do deny them.

XII. And we do commend the Read­er for his full and compleat satisfaction about the ground and setting [...]p of Tythes, since the Gospel-dayes, unto a Book Entituled, The Great Case of Tythes Revived, by Francis Howgil, who dyed a Prisoner for the Testimony of Jesus; in that Book are all Reason­able Objections clearly answered, and there is clearly shewen, what a dark night of Apostacy was over people when Tythes were set up by a Law, and how many hundred years it was after Christ, before that gross Igno­rance was ushered in, in making Laws to Prosecute and compel about Tythes.

And unto all we do signifie, That we have hopes in our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, our Saviour, that he will maintain us by his Grace, and supply us out of his fulness of Wisdom and Power to live godly, soberly and righteously in this present life, giving no just Gause of Offence to any, but in all things to live an innocent harmless life, keeping our Conscience void of Offence, both before God and all men: And if any that may be among us, and profess to own our Principle, should do otherwise then right and just, let none be so rish as to condemn our just Principle, or those that live in it, because of the unfaithfulness of some that may make some Pro­fession of it, and not live up to it: And we do pray for all in Authority, that the Lord of Hea­ven and Earth man pour out his Spirit of Judg­ment and Wisdom upon them, that they may be opened, and that the Nobility of their Ʋnder­standings may be cleared from Darkness and Er­ror, that they may discern between the Precious and the Vile, and that they may be for the Pu­nishment of them that do Evil, and for the Praise of them that do well.

The 6th. of the 1st. Month, 1676,

THe Lord of Heaven and Earth, who by his great power and wisdom did Create all things good, who in the beginning gave un­to mankind Dominion over the Earth, and God blessed them, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and [Page 160]replenish the Earth, (and subdue it) and have Dominion over the Fish of the Sea, and over the Fowl of the Air, and every Living thing that moveth upon the Earth: And the works of the Lord were all good (and are all good, sa­voury pleasant) being ordered by his universal power and wisdom, by which they were created.

But mankind being fallen from the sense thereof, they have formed and fashioned many Inventions in their minds, being captivated under the enemy's power of Darkness, wherein they are become corrupt and unsa­voury, having lost their Dominion, instead of subduing the Earth, they have let the Earth over them, and be­ing become Earthly-minded, the things that move upon the Earth have Domi­nion over them; and thus being cap­tivated under the enemy's dark power, set the enemy's dark power above the power and wisdom of God, Christ, the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, by whom all things were created, who is Heir of all, by whose Power, Life [Page 161]and Immortality is brought to Light; glory be to him for ever.

But people being imbondaged and corrupted, they are become such slaves thereunto, and in such a ground of Infidelity, that they cannot so much as believe in God's power and wis­dom, which is manifested to create again into its own primitive, savoury, holy Life, in Dominion over the Earth; but in the State of Infidelity, man­kind being plunged with their nar­row spirits they go about to measure the things of God, and in their fallen Earthly wisdom to weigh things of Eternity (and being confounded in their works) what variety of cover­ings do people get to cover their shame in all parts of the World, as well as in Christendom (so call'd) where indeed they do greatly excel other Nations in curious Arts to make co­verings to hide their great shame; (a miserable Trade! but very costly in in this Nation.) And forasmuch as the love of God hath been, and is largely manifested, through which many have [Page 162]been, and are redeemed from that great folly and madness, in that vain travail and labour, in joyning with those Arts-men of the Times, who spend their dayes and consume abundance of Treasure in making false coverings to cover their shame; out of which confusion many being redeemed, who are baptized into Christ, and have put on Christ's beautiful Garment, and are comely in his sight, who is Lord of Heaven and Earth, before whom every Creature is manifest: and because such cannot run with them in the same Ex­cess of Riot, and pay towards the Maintenance of those Sottish Arts­men, what a wonder they make of it! and cry to the Magistrates for help, to punish the Innocent people, for keeping their Consciences void of offence both towards God and man: What Imprisoning, even many to Death, and Spoiling, Tearing and Rending of Goods, seeking thereby the destruction and ruin of many thou­sands of industrious laborious Fami­lies.

A practice not so common amongst the very Turks, among whom I having lived, I did observe something of their Behaviours to the Christians and Jews that live amongst them, and one unto another; and in many common Ci­vilities, which are called moral, in which they seemed to exceed many who are called Christians in Christen­dom; the Christians that live amongst them of several Opinions agreeing to­gether in outward concerns, do enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences in their several ways of Worship; and the Jews have the same freedom, the Jews observing the Seventh day, and are quiet; and the Christians the First day, and are not disturbed; and the Turks observe the Sixth day; and I did not perceive any Penalties inflict­ed either on Christians or Jews for wor­shipping of God as they suppose they should; but they do live quietly and peaceably one with another in these Concerns.

And concerning the Turks Modera­tion, in permitting the Christians so [Page 164]quietly to enjoy their several perswa­sion in Religious matters, I made some Inquiry, What reason they could give for the same? and thus answer was re­turned me, thus saith Turk, In case we should go about to compel or force them to be of our Religion, fear might overcome some of them, for fear of the Punishment some may yield; and in case we should perswade them by promises of Cutward Preferment, for the Advantage sake some might yield; but (saith the Turk) when we have done all, we cannot alter or change their Belief, the which they retaining, though they may yield unto us, it would be but in Hypocrifie; and in case we should accept of them on those terms, they then would have an oppor­tunity to do us hurt. And herein they shew more Moderation then the Apo­state Christians in many places of Chri­stendom.

And concerning the Turks Deport­ment, and Civil respect one unto ano­ther, in meeting and greeting one ano­ther; they seem to exceed the Chri­stians in Morality; it being a cause of [Page 165]Laughter unto them to see the Chri­stians Beggarly Airy Behaviours one unto another, in Scraping with the Leg, and Doffing the Hat, and foolish Gestures, too too much used amongst many who are called Chri­stians, who want the more solid, and more comely, and truly courteous Behaviour, which the Truth guides unto.

But lest any should mistake, who do not know the difference which is amongst them called Turks, wherein I speak of the Behaviour of the Turks, as before, I do not speak of those Nests and Dens of Theeves and Robbers, who are made up of Christian Run­nagadows, Moors and Turks; neither do I speak of the aspiring high-mind­ed ones amongst them; but I speak of a plain people, called Turk-men, whom I have trusted much, and hav­ing found them faithful, I perceived they had an Awe and Fear of God up­on them, they often expressing these words [The Lord is just, and therefore we must do justly] And by occasion [Page 166]having proved a Turk, I shall in brief give an Instance of his Faithfulness, where in he declared the Fear and Awe of God that was upon him: Being or­dered by a Merchant that then lived in Aleppo, to send him up 1500 Dollers privatelely from Scanderown, where I lived; according to order, the Money being delivered, and laid upon a Horse in a Satchel, as their manner is, the Horse by Chance ran away with the Money before him, it being in a dark Night he could not find him, and in the Morning betimes the Horse with the Money was feeding at a Turk-man's Crib, the Turk taking hold of him, and feeling the Money, and seeing the Christians Mark, there being none to accuse him but the witness in him, he might clearly have kept the Money, and turned the Horse going; but the faithful and true Witness was so preva­lent in him, that he took the Money carried it unto an Agaw; which in that place is somewhat like unto a Lord of a Manner, and after diligent search; what he had done was shewed unto me, [Page 167]and the Money recovered: But mind the Awe and Fear of God that was upon the Turk, after Inquiry concern­ing his Doings, this was his Answer; said the Turk, The Lord hath blessed me with Cattle of several sorts, account­ing his Outward Riches; in case (said he) I should have put that Money to that which the Lord hath blessed me withall, that being none of mine, the Lord would have brought a Curse upon all that I have. Hear this O Christians, and awake to Righteousness, and don't persist in your Gain­saying the preaching the Gospel to every Creature, Col. 1.23. lest you be cut off from the goodness of God through your unbelief and hard-heartedness; and those whom you so despise, be grafted in; (all things are possible to the power of the Lord) for of a Truth, as said Peter in ano­ther Case, The Lord is no Respecter of Persons, but in every Nation he that feareth him, and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him. So mind, it's not a bare talk of Righteousness that will [Page 168]serve; and what have you more who say, Visions are ceased, and Revelations are ceased, and the Inspiration of God's Spirit is not to be known now adayes? Oh blind Apostates! what Gospel have you to preach? No; the Gospel is hid to you, in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God should shine unto them: The Confession out of your own Mouthes will rise up against you in the day of account, which hastens: The midnight of it is much over you, and the day of the Visita­tion of God's love to many of you is far spent: Do you think that your having the holy mens Testimonies of the Righteousness of God will add to your Comfort in the day of account, if you be found out of the Righteous­ness there testified of? No; assured­ly they will be a witness against you. The learned Scribes and the Pharisees they had the Law and the Prophets, [Page 169]which witnessed to the Righteous­ness of God (but they resisting the Spi­rit of God) how blind and ignorant were they of the Law and Prophets! so that goodness of God they being strangers unto, through their hard-heartedness, in resisting the Key of knowledge, they were so far from the comfort thereof, that they took oc­casion by them to resist the righteous­ness of God; so those blessed Testi­monies which witnessed to the righte­ousness of God, were a witness against them for refusing the same: And for­asmuch as the Christian-Nations have more of the holy mens Testimonies concerning the righteousness of God in the blessed operation of his holy Spirit, and do grieve it, and do de­spight unto it, and are found in the day of account out of the life of the righteousness thereof, the more and stronger will the Scriptures of Truth be a witness against them: So then the Scriptures are profitable and comfortable, through the blessed Spi­rit that opens them, and gives power [Page 170]to live the life of the holy men record­ed therein: But if the righteousness of God's holy Spirit, which is wit­nessed unto throughout the Scriptures of Truth, be rejected, then will the Scriptures be unprofitable and uncom­fortable in the day of account, when every one shall receive a reward ac­cording to their Deeds done in the Body.

Oh! that people would consider, and not go on striving against the works of the Lord, who is exalting the peaceable Kingdom of the Son of his Love, which is in righte­ousness, Rom. 14.17. peace and joy in his holy Spirit. (Oh! its for want of knowledge that people perish) and rather then they will deny themselves, that they may have knowledge of the righteousness which is of God, they will persist and persist, and perish in their own un­righteous Works; For the Wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God: Jam. 1.20.For the eyes of the Lord are over the [Page 171]righteous, and his Ears are open unto their Prayers,1 Pet. 3.12.but the Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil. Oh that people had a true knowledge of the Scriptures! but they do erre, not know­ing the Scriptures, nor the power of God: The goodness and mercies of God, both in the holy Testimonies, as recorded in the Scriptures of Truth, and otherwayes manifested, should lead unto true repentance of every evil way and work, whereby God's righteous Spirit is grieved and quench­ed.

Assuredly the more God's holy and righteous Spirit doth strive many wayes with a people or Nation, and they go on, not regarding the operation of the hand of the Lord therein, but do continue to grieve and quench the blessed motions thereof, it will be more tolerable in the day of Judgment unto that People or Nation which profess less, but do more: So it's not a bare Profession and Confession, what peo­ple do that is acceptable; but it's in do­ing [Page 172]the Will of God, through the mov­ings of his holy Spirit, in every Nati­on they that fear God and work righ­teousness are accepted; and for that end, that people might fear God and work righteousness, his universal Love in his universal Spirit and power doth inlighten all mankind, whereby they may see the evil and the good; and to them that receive him in his tenders of love, he gives them power to es­chew the evil and to love the good, of what Nation, Language or Coun­try they be of. In the time I lived among the Turks it appeared to me, that they had more Charity and true Love one unto another, then may be found amongst many who are called Christians, who live in Error, out of God's way: Surely such Christians are driven farther from true Love one to another, and Mercy, and Patience, and Self-denyal, then the very Turks: They may be ashamed when they look back into those malicious works ma­nifested upon an Innocent People in this Nation; I suppose they are not to [Page 173]be parallel'd amongst the very Turks: And for Christendom, so called, in ge­neral, who are apostatized from the Truth, how many Religions and high Professions there are made of God and Christ, but how little of the blessed example and humiliation of Christ is followed! Let the wise in heart take but a view of the greatest part of Christendom, so called this day, and see what works of Envy, Malice and Hatred (Evil Fruit) is shewn forth, where they seek the ruin and destructi­on one of another; such wilde Fruit doth not proceed from Christ the Vine; no, no; such Fruit proceeds from a cor­rupt root, which Ax of the Lord must be laid to, and it must be cut down, the word of the Lord must come over it, which must be felt a Hammer to beat down corruption, and a Fire to consume it; this Cross that Christians must take up, if they arrive at that blessed Haven of rest which the Lord of Heaven and Earth has appointed for them that love him; thus Christians bowing under the Cross, the power [Page 174]of God, and Crucifying their corrupt Wills, and Affections, and Lusts, with that exalted, proud, arrogant spirit, that carryes people above the Fear of God and the blessed example and hu­miliation of Christ; Christians (so cal­led) coming under this Cross, then will you be a good example to all Turks and Infidels in the World, and your good Conversations and true Love one unto another will convince the Turk that the Lord is with you of a Truth, there being no other way to true happiness and peace with the Li­ving God, but by Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life, which people being converted to and living in, therein shewing forth the great Love of God to the World in his Son; this will preach forth the righteousness of God unto them who are strangers there­unto; and the people thus gathered to the Lord, the Lord will be with them, and plead their Cause, whilst you observe that great and chief Com­mandment, in loving God above all, and your Neighbours as your selves; in do­ing [Page 175]this you will please God, and reach to the witness in them that do not know God: But if you continue meer Talkers and high Professors of what you should do, and leave that undone which should be done, therein you will be a bad example, and an ill savour to other Na­tions, and a stink, which the Lord of Heaven and Earth will never be pleased with; though you may cry Lord, Lord, in your deep Distress, he will not hear, if you regard Iniquity (the Prayers of the wicked are abomination to the Lord) I speak the Truth in the love of God unto you, in dealing plainly, accor­ding to his blessed Will: You that say, you are Christians, examine your selves; will the name Christian avail you, if you be out of the Christian-Life and Nature? What will it avail you to retain a Name of being Christ's Followers, and if you be found in the way of the Scribes and Pharisees, by whom he was Crucified? What will it avail you to talk of the Truth in the inward parts, that which is lovely in the sight of the Lord, if you be found [Page 176]in a Spirit of Deceit and Falshood in the Friendship of the World, resisting the Just, and he doth you no harm? What will it avail you to cry Lord, Lord, and not wait to know his Will and do it? What is it the near for you to talk of God's great Love to the World in the Son of his Love, who invited all to him, who was and is meek and lowly, where the Rest and Peace is in the joy of the Lord to Immortal Souls, if you be found in froward, peevish, exalted, imaginary, proud, ambitious spirits? What will it avail you to read and talk of the holy mens Lives and blessed Practices, if you be found in the Life and Practice of Cain, Nabal and Hamman? The Followers of Christ Jesus, the Heavenly man, they were and are to deny them­selves, and take up a dayly Cross to Cain's Nature, to Nabal's Nature, to Haman's Nature: The blessed and effectual Cross that slayes the Enmity, and makes a reconciliation by the blessed Cross (the Power of the Lord and Saviour) Christians being plung'd, dipped, bap­tized, [Page 177]and brought under Christ, the power and wisdom of God: And in the blessed Gospel-order established, and therein shining forth to the Praise and Honour of God; this will preach and reach to the Turks and Infidels in the World, and overcome them, and make them confess, That Christ Jesus is a blessed Leader, and all that fol­low him are blessed and happy forever; and that there is no other way to true Peace and Happiness, but by following Christ's blessed example and great humi­liation, by all that ever come to attain to his Resurrection, he must lead them in the way.

So, away with all your Wooden, Brazen, Iron, Golden Crosses, with all your Trumpery thereunto belonging, The very Turk sees over it. with all Images, and Religions which are turned into Trades and Merchandize, whereby spiritual wickedness and the Mystery of Ini­quity is upholden; away with it all, it stinks. Now the great Mystery, Christ in us the Hope of Glory, is open­ed, [Page 178]a blessed Fountain to wash in, which makes clean the inside, and fits and prepares for his glorious and ever­lasting Kingdom; the desire of all Na­tions is come, and coming; blessed are all they that wait for him, and receive him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, Col. 3.11.Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free, but Christ is all and all.

And this Love of God to the World, in his Son Christ Jesus, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, by his universal Power and Wisdom hath raised thou­sands of Living Witnesses, who can­not deny him before men, knowing assuredly that the Cause is the Lord's, and he will plead it with all flesh; and to all faithful and true witnesses, that continue to the end, they shall have a Crown Immortal Life, the which Life and Im­mortality is brought to Light through the Gospel (praises be to his holy Name forever) So its for True Christianity that many who are call'd Quakers have so deeply suffered to this day; and in this true Self-denyal and dayly Cross, [Page 179]following our blessed Leader and Com­mander Christ Jesus, we have sought the good of all mankind, testifying against Infidelity and Corruption where­ever it appears.

Take but a view of this Nation, and see what abundance of poor distressed Families are begging up and down, and many are ready to perish for want of Conveniencies; and do but view how others do swell in Pride and Luxury, and cover themselves over with a Name of Christian; whatever esteem this may have in the sight of fallen men, I am sure it hath none with God, nor those who are raised unto some degree of knowledge of his divine power and wisdom, by which all things were created good in the beginning, and by which alone that which is out of order must be put in­to order again.

IN the everlasting Seed, Power and Life, keep the substance of all sig­nified in Ages past, under many Types, Figures and Shadows, now known and dwelt in by them who have believed the good report of the holy men of God, which is left upon record, who was redeemed from the Earthly part; even that they might be Gods witnesses of his Heavenly gift, wherein is all the Treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid; which Treasure hath been freely opened un­to us, who through faithfulness and diligent waiting, have expected the [Page 254]same, as a sure reward of the bounty and goodness of our Creator for ever. So that all the obedient and upright hearted can truly say, for ever be the day had in remembrance, when we were awakned out of Carnal Security, we had in vain Customs and Traditi­ons of men in the Fall; who have sought out many Inventions, through which comes blindness, hardness of heart, and unbelief; from whence proceeds envying, hatred, malice, un­cleanness, and all other evils whatso­ever: He who is Prince of Darkness, having his Power and Authority there in blindness and darkness, carries the Creature into bondage at his will, he being ruler in the Children of disobe­dience: But glory and praises be to the Lord our God, who is the great God, and besides him there is none: It's he alone that opens the under­standings of them that fear him; who hath discovered unto us, the Mistery of the workings of Satan, and the bredth and length of his rule and do­minion, and the end thereof; for ever [Page 255]is he who thus opens unto them that fear him, greatly to be admired by all his Sons and Daughters, who are redeemed by his great power out of Adam in the Fall, up into him that never fell, through whom we have access into his presence, the which sweetens all to us, and carries all that truly trust in him through all Tempests and Storms whatsoever: Even by his Arm and Power, who will and can appease and lay all Tempests and Storms when they have accomplished that for which they were suffered to be raised, he being seen and known who walkes upon a troubled Sea; as in dayes past, so yesterday, and to day, and for ever. So Dear Friends, keep out his appearance, who would work questionings and reasonings con­cerning the Rod of the wicked, with which the Righteous are threatned: (It's for the Fire) (It's for the Fire) that's Gods Word: So all to abide faithful in his power, by whom all appearances of the wicked one may be resisted in his many wills, who is [Page 256]a Murderer and a Thief; who walkes about in the Earthly mind, compas­sing there, and betraying there; and draws back into the Earth there: And then when tryals come, the Earth is in the way; and then the false ballance is set up in the heart, and the precious Jewel being weighed therein, the Earth that appears heaviest, and so carries the sway in the mind, and so comes to be set up in the heart: So thereby many come to lose the everlasting reward of peace, and joy, and comfort, which is in that Life which lives and abides for ever: So Dear Friends, have an Eye to the re­ward of well doing; even that Pearl of great Price, and let it have domi­nion in the heart, and the Earth set under all; that so we may continue to the end in all well-doing; and patient and meek running in that race which is set before us, unto whom belongs the Crown of Immortal Life. When the Lord pleases to shew me a clear way unto you, I shall be willing to see your Faces, to the end that we [Page 257]may be refresht together; even from that everlasting Fountain, from whence comes all our fresh springs which glads the Souls of the upright for ever: But at present I find my Testimony re­quired, where I have had the greatest time of my Conversation in the ever­lasting Covenant of Truth, Light and Life.

That wicked ruler who rules in the Children of disobedience, hath many Agents here abouts, as well as in o­ther places, who have been at work amongst us: They took from me six Cows, for a Fine of 20 l. for speak­ing the things of God according to his will, (but they had great trouble with them:) From my Brother John nine Cowes, for a Silent Meeting at his house; and from another all his Beds, Cloaths, two Geldings, Pewter, Brass, Leather, and abundance of other things, to the value, as is supposed, of near 50 l. for a Silent Meeting at his House: At Kingston on Thames, Friends have had abundance taken from them, and they kept out of their Meeting [Page 258]place, and not suffered to stand quiet­ly in the Streets; but some were taken and sent to Prison, and others drove about by Souldiers in a barbarous manner; and several other Fines have been levyed, too long to mention: And Meetings being disturbed, Friends being haled out, &c. all which works for good to them that truly fear and obey the voice of the Living God: The more they strive, the more doth Power and Life appear; which keeps Friends Clear, Sweet and Innocent; even to love God above all, and their Neighbours as themselves, greatly de­siring that they may see a necessity of building upon the same Rock; even Christ Jesus, who is the power of God, and wisdom of God, who feeds all that truly hunger with spiritual Meat, and all them that truly thirst with spi­ritual Drink; him who was glorified with the Father in the beginning, by whom all things were made, who con­tinues the same yesterday, to day, and for ever: Through whom Friends Meetings in these parts are fresh, lively [Page 259]and constant: But the great Boasters, as Presbyterians, Independants and Bap­tists, who have kicked against the Everlasting Covenant of Late in their own hearts, yet in their Imaginations have said they would follow Christ, &c. But they now, as in days past, when the storm was up, are drove into their holes: But they would not be­lieve it in days past, before the storm was seen, when it was testified unto them: But they are Foxes, they can cover themselves no more; if they turn not to the Truth now, they stand in danger of being swallowed up in dark­ness for ever.

So Dear Friends, that which con­cerns us, is to be thankful, and to meet often together, that so we may grow up together, even from one de­gree to another of an Heavenly ap­pearnce of him in whom is all glory; that so we may bear his Heavenly Image for ever. So in true watchful­ness, keep over all the appearan [...]es of the Enemy: And in true love and tenderness, keep watchful over one [Page 260]another; seeking one anothers good, and the strong bearing with the weak, that so all may be preserved in the way of the upright, out of all evil; that so we may be sanctified through­out in Soul, Body and Spirit, even to the glory and praise of the great God, who made all things at his pleasure; who hath appointed times and seasons and bounds to all: Whose work is great which he is bringing to pass, and in vain do the [...]herds strive again [...]t it; of a certain he will dash them to pieces: So in the Ever­lasting Seed is my Dear Love unto all, who loves and obeys the appearance of him who brings Salvation, who is over all, blessed for ever and ever.

A Paper coming to my hands, In­tituled, The Christians Vow in Baptism, Explicated and Re­newed; given forth by an unknown Author, who is crept into his hole again, from whence he brought that bundle; which upon due considera­tion he will have cause to be ashamed of, being works of Darkness; where many words are used out of the wis­dom of God, the which hath a ten­dency of darkning and hiding Gods Counsel from mankind; and there­fore that I may be clear in this matter, in giving check to that high presump­tion manifestly shown in the said Paper as above, is this given forth.

First, He calls it, The Christians Solemn Vow; afterwards he saith, let the remembrance of the Vow of God in Baptism: Something he would have it, but he knows not what; and so he colours it over with many Scrip­tures, wherein Gods Covenant with man is expressed; where he tumbles new and old together, as one igno­rant of him from whence both came, and therefore unlike to have the knowledge of either.

So now as one high flown in Ima­ginations, undertakes to make a Co­venant for others: But the better to colour over and usher in his Babel, he takes many of the true Prophets words, and therewith decks himself over, that he may appear the more beautiful in the sight of his good Masters. A thing highly esteemed of by man; but was, and is an abomination in the sight of the Lord. But to begin with some of his words: Oh wonderful grace, when thou hadst forfeited all, and wert no more his by nature, then the Devils and damned in Hell!

Answer, In this Confession, what a humble man doth he appear to be; see where he sets you who are con­cerned with him, even equal with the Devils nature, and damned in Hell. What a rare Arts-man this would be, if he could make the Devils nature good; by saying over so many words as he hath ordered in his Paper: But in the dark where he is foaming and tumbling about in an endless work, seeking to make the Devils na­ture good, which alwayes was, and is bad and envious against good: There he is left bound till he repent of his presumption.

Now to Esau's Pottage, which is ushered in as a Prayer after his manner; the which he would have all to fol­low, either in that Image, or as like it as he can. But let all wise people consider, and compare the true Pro­phets Prayers with his: The true Pro­phet taught his followers to Pray, Our Father, &c. as you may read, every word being of great weight, But all you who are followers of this [Page 264]Imaginary man in his works of Dark­ness, see what a broad way your leader hath found, to tell over a pennyworth of Prayers, and then you are fit for his invented marriage; and in case you should lose that Paper, you may buy a pennyworth of another sort somewhat like it: So passing by much of his supposed goodly stuff, come to the Marriage Bond in his words: And do here solemnly joyn my self in a Marriage Covenant unto him. Oh blessed Jesus, I come to thee hungry and hardly bestead, poor, and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked; a most loathsom poluted Wretch, a guilty condemned Malefactor, unworthy for ever to wash the Feet of the Servants of my Lord, much more to be married to the King of Glory: But such is thine unparalleled love, I do here with all my power accept thee, and take thee for my Head and Husband. Did you ever hear of a more Loathsom, Impudent Harlot, who in all her filthiness and abominations, presumes to say that God is her Husband: Oh high pre­sumption, [Page 265]which arises from the nature of the Devil; this is made indeed in the Earthly wisdom, and there ratified, the which I leave all you to judge who do return in some degree or measure the Divine, Pure, Holy nature of the Son of Righteousness, into which all do grow; and so take a view of the Heavenly Marriage of the Heavenly man, and compare it with that loath­some conceited marriage, Revel. 19. Let us be glad and rejoyce, and give honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made her self ready: And to her was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine Linnen, clean and White; for the Linnen is the Righteousness of Saints, &c.

Alleluja, for the Lord God Omni­potent reigneth; here is a Heavenly melody: Had the Author of that Pa­per been so Ingenious to have come to that Marriage Supper, he might have partaken of the Heavenly joy and com­fort, and not have been left to that great confusion manifested in that Paper: For the Invitation unto it hath [Page 266]gone throughout the Nation, that they that would come, might come, for the Fountain to wash and prepare for it, hath been and is open, glory to God for ever. But further, see the confusion of the Author of that Paper in these words: And the Covenant which I have ratified on Earth, let it be ratified in Heaven: What, after the Marriag is concluded, to be made? What work is this? he hath ratified it on Earth, and would have it done so in Heaven? but whether he will or no, it seems he doth not know; so all is left in doubt and fear again: What a sad bargain you have made all this while; who spent your Money and time after such Idle Immaginary do­ings.

Now all you who have seen and read the Authors supposed Covenant, be so Ingenious to read how God was pleased to give forth his Law and Co­venants, the which he ratified in Hea­ven; and compare them with the Au­thors pretended Covenant which he ratified on Earth, without any know­ledge [Page 267]of the parties consent, he pre­tends to be concerned; let any prove the contrary if they can, and let him shew if he can in all the Scriptures of Truth, where God ever left it to vain man to make a Covenant to be bind­ing to all others in that manner, &c. That many did vow obedience, and were incouraged in the Covenant of the Lord, that is true and manifest through the Testimonies of the Prophets; but where did any presume to bind God in that manner? Oh gross Idolatry; But the blessed holy God at all times and seasons, according to his blessed plea­sure and good will to mankind, did give forth his Law and Commands, and so Covenanted to be the God of his people, to keep them in Peace, &c. On condition of their living in obe­dience to his will and pleasure mani­fest in his time and season, as you may read, Deut. 5. and Exod. 19. The Lord our God made a Covenant with us in Ho­reb: The Lord talked with them face to face in the Mount, in the midst of the fire; which caused a fear and trembling: [Page 268]These words the Lord spake unto all your Assembly, &c. and he wrote them in two tables of stone: Wherein the Lord shewed his glory and greatness; and they said, we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth: So the Law was added because of trans­gressions till the Seed should come, Gal. 3.19. So Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness for every one that be­lieveth, Rom. 10.3. But concerning the first Covenant which God made with his people when he shewed fa­vour and love; In taking them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, Heb. 8. Because they continued not in my Co­venant, I regarded them not, saith the Lord: But now mark that second Covenant which is without fault: After those dayes, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a People: And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour, and every man his Brother, saying, know the Lord; for all shall know me from the least to the [Page 269]greatest: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more: Oh for ever blessed is this Covenant, there is no fault in it; and that it is a bad nature indeed by which Imaginary Covenants are made, which hath a tendency of drawing peoples minds out from waiting to know this blessed Covenant in the mind and heart: So to the sober and wise in heart I write, that they may weigh these weighty things in a true ballance, and from thence give forth true judgment.

And mind further the Authors words: This Covenant you are advised to make not only in heart, but in word, not only in word, but in writing: Sure he thinks all's done; but if that must be made or written in the heart, then there will be no room for Gods Cove­nant, for that doth not at all agree with that confused stuff; and what pity it is that any should be deprived of Gods righteous Covenant, since Gods love is universally tendered therein, and inviteth all unto it, that [Page 270]they may partake of its pure, holy na­ture to convert sinners, and make wise simple and Ignorant people, who are ready to perish for want of know­ledge; the which is communicated to them that fear God, and wait to feel his blessed promise to extend his mercy and goodness therein, to overcome and give victory over that which is evil and corrupt: But further he ad­viseth; To spread the writing before the Lord, as if you would present it to him as your act and deed: So here is an act and no act, sometimes presumed to be done and ratified, then again in doubtful terms; as if you would do so, &c. And saith the Author, when you have done this, set your hand to it. Answer, so you may stand to it be­loved, whilst he that exhorts you runs away, Fox-like, creeping into his hole, &c. why is not his hand to it. Note further, Keep it, saith he, as a memorial of the solemn transactions that have passed between God and you. Answer, Since God here is made party concerned; you that concern your [Page 271]selves therein, had need know when and how God appeared unto you; sure else (if you be not wilfully blind) you will see all that stuff to be meer Imaginations, if you cannot see them to be Devilish Inventions, the which indeed they are; Now take this last advice in these words: That you may have recourse unto it in Doubts and Temptations; what think you now, either the Paper must be an Idol, or Christ? It is not Christ, therefore it must be an Idol, then the Author must be an Idolater; let them that concern themselves with it deny it if they can: Hath not this a tendency of making void the love God through Christ Jesus, who is the way to God out of doubt, and through his power and wisdom all doubts are resolved; who also is the succourer of them that are tempted, and the deliverer of them who are guided by him out of tempta­tions; into his holy Name all are to be Baptized, Dipped, Plunged, that Sin and Iniquity may be brought under, and consumed by Fire and his holy Spirit; [Page 272]which is the one true Baptism, through and by him who is to increase in all his Blessed Office as Priest to Minister according to the necessities of all that come unto him, as proper to open the Mysteries that are hid from the Wise and Prudent; a Bishop to oversee what is lacking in the Church, a Shepherd to lead his Flock in an out, and to Feed them in Green Pastures of Life and Peace, a Physitian to heal the Wounded, a Prince to give forth his Righteous Laws and Decrees in his Church; where his Righ­teous, Holy Laws are written in the Heart, is to be read and spread before all, that all who are met in his holy Name, may partake of his Divine Nature, and so become Heirs of his everlasting Kingdom, which never shall have end: So Blessed are they who be­lieve in God, and do not make haste, but wait patiently for the fulfilling of his pro­mise; that you may be delivered and kept from Worshipping the Inventions of men: So in good will to all who have a desire to Truth is this given forth by.

A Paper Intituled, The Gospels Glory, or the Covenant of Grace; and Grace of the Covenant, Ʋnfolded.

And for the better understanding of them who Impartially desire to know the Truth as it is in Jesus, is this brief Answer given.

The Blessed Gospel of Christ, glad Tydings of Christ, The Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth; Rom. 1.16, 17.therein is the righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith: This was preached unto Abraham which was hundreds of years before Moses, and therefore so long before [Page 274]his Writings: And the same blessed Gospel they which are of the same faith with blessed Abraham, Gal. 2.8. are blessed with him in the knowledge of; this is in­visibly to be felt and seen, to expel the Clouds of darkness and error, and to rent the vail thereof; and to break down the Partition wall which is made up through sin and iniquity; and thus to finish sin and put an end to transgression, and to bring in ever­lasting righteousness; and herein is the righteousness of the law fulfilled in them that believe, through the Go­spel of Christ, he being the end of the law for righteousness to them that be­lieve: And in this invisible glorious work in opening the understandings of them that believe, is the glory of the Gospel manifestly shew­ed: 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the God of the World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, [Page 275]should shine unto them; so unbelief is the cause why people have not the knowledge of the Gospel which the Apostle was not ashamed of, it being the power of God unto salvation, the power of a Saviour, the wisdom of a Saviour, Christ Jesus the Heavenly man: In his blessed spiritual ap­pearance for the refreshing of every truly hungering and thirsting soul after his righteousness: Paul to the Galatians saith, the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man; Gal. 1.11, 12.for I nei­ther received it of man, nei­ther was I taught it, but by the revela­tion of Jesus Christ; so that the blessed Gospel is an inward glorious work, wrought by the Spirit and power of Christ Jesus, the foundation of all the Prophets and Apostles; on which the true believers were and are built, to the praise and honour of God for ever.

And whereas he saith, the grace of the Covenant unfolded; therein he shows what birth he is of, which [Page 276]might fitter be imployed in its Poetry, in making of Balads, then to be found so presumptuous in affirming the grace of the Covenant unfolded in that dark (imaginary stuff in that Paper.)

The grace of God being an invi­sible appearance of Gods holy Spirit unto all mankind, which is testified to Paul and Titus: For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all men, (Teaching us, &c.) So here was and is the universal love of God to all mankind; not willing that any should perish, but that all might know the Truth and be saved: So in that the grace of God appears unto all, the renders of his love is therein shewed to all without respect of persons: That in every Nation they that fear God and work righteousness through the blessed operation of the grace of his holy Spirit, such are accepted of him: So than they are in the way of a bles­sing, who believe in God, and wait in a full assurance: And trust in him, for the knowledge of the infallible teachings of grace, whereby way is [Page 277]ministred unto a growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus: And thus far the Apostle did unfold the love of God, from what he had handled, felt seen, of the mercies and riches of Gods great love to all mankind therein, be­ing a true witness of the love of God through the grace of his holy Spirit; by and in which the good of all was and is sought, but indeed there be but few that doth regard it, though his hand of love be stretcht out all the day long: There be so many false Teachers, who by good Words and fair Speeches deceives poor simple ig­norant people, through their great flourishing words about the grace of God; out of the sensible feeling of its blessed vertue and power in its in­fallible Teachings and thereby bring­ing Salvation: And though this love of God hath appeared to all, all have not the knowledge thereof, as they had and have, who are true believers in God: As said the Apostle to Ti­tus, Teaching us, so true believers [Page 278]Baptized by one blessed Spirit into one body; and therein being re­ceived into Gods holy Covenant of grace, cannot but cry out; Oh the vertue of Christ Jesus by whom comes grace and truth, which is of a healing nature, glad tydings indeed unto wounded Souls, and none can be fur­ther truly sensible of the unfolding of this love of God, to the refreshing and comforting of their immortal Souls, but by the feeling of its vertue and power, to quicken, revive and raise up out of sin and iniquity the cause of death.

And in his Poetry he saith; Gods works preach not redemption from Hell, the name of Christ there is not legible.

Ans. And in and by all Gods power­ful and glorious works; both within man and without, is the blessed and powerful name of Christ to be read and understood: So its Gods works alone that preach redemp­tion from the power of Hell and death, 2 Cor. 5.19. and there­in is Christs holy name legible: But [Page 279]as it is written, that which is born of flesh is flesh, and so a heap of fleshly works are in that Paper, to the shame of the Author, in giving them that Title, &c. And as that which is born of flesh is flesh, so that which is born of the spirit is spirit; and these two births are contrary, for the birth of the flesh, though it may speak great swel­ling words, and tell of the victory of Christ, and triumph in swelling words of his fame, as in that Paper; yet it being a worker of iniquity, it must have that Sentence, depart from me; it can in no wise inherit the Kingdom of God, though it may glory and say, I have preached and done many things, yet its product is but spiritual wick­edness got in a high place, which the indignation of the Lord is against, so it must be cast out; he that can re­ceive it let him.

And thus much might be said as to the words in that Paper; but to all Impartial readers this is sufficient, to convince them that that Paper is none of the Gospels glory, nor none of the [Page 280]Covenant of grace, neither is the Co­venant of grace at all there unfolded? But it is a meer parcel of conceivings from the same imaginary spirit, that uses to be Imployed about making of Ballads.

And so in true love to all unto whom this may come, I counsel you to mind the fear of offending God, that you may be made sensible of the blessed appearance of the grace of Gods holy Spirit, that you may be received into the blessed Covenant thereof, and therein be witness of its sufficiency, in teaching what to deny, and what to do, this being the means ordained of God for the good of all, and all that becomes sensible of the infallible teachings of the grace of God; such will not wonder at Silent Meetings, as many do who are out of the sense of Gods love therein; many such grow despisers, and won­der, and cannot believe the effectual works of the grace of Gods holy Spi­rit, though in the demonstration and power thereof, they be declared and [Page 281]published from time to time: And I wish all to take heed of being exalted through vain glory in fleshly works, the which are attended with sorrow and misery, and will bring all them that rest there to the end, but in the Lord is everlasting glory. And mind the saying of the Apostle to the Ephesians; But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us; even when we were dead in sins, hath he quickned us together with Christ, by grace yea are saved; So mind the blessed teachings of the grace of God which is pure, holy and perfect in every de­gree, and this the mark which all should set before them as they expect to run well in their Heavenly race, and obtain the blessed peace of God to their Souls, which is the will of God; and in the knowledge thereof I give this Testimony, who am what I am by Cods Grace, and therein a well wisher to all who are truly seek­ing after the knowledge of Cod, in which love I rest,

THat which hath been of low degree and little esteem with mankind; now is the Lord God exalting and will exalt and set over all; the blessed Way, Truth and Life, Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, the blessed way of the Lord opened unto the wise in heat, but ever was and is a mistery shut and hid from the wicked; the Vultures eye hath not seen it, nor the unclean cannot enter into it; but a Fountain is opened (praise to the Lord for ever) to wash and to cleanse from sin and iniquity, and so to sift and prepare for the way of Truth and [Page 283]Life. Blessed are they who trust in the Lord, and keep their minds stay­ed upon the blessed manifestation of his light, and love and mercy unto them therein, with their eye single unto the Lord, whose blessed springs of life and true refreshment, will in the Lords time and season rise in the hearts of such, to the great consolati­on, and peace, and rest of their Souls; whom the Spirit of the Lord will guide unto the knowledge and understan­ding the pure and unchangable Re­ligion which comes from above, where the true Worship which Christ did and doth set up in the Spirit and Truth, will be witnessed: And this being possessed and enjoyed, all the false Religions and Worships which are out of the way of Truth and Life will be discovered; and keeping low in the silence of the earthly and sen­sual wisdom, wisdom which is pure from above will be manifest, and herein the works of the blessed day of the Lord will be seen, who is work­ing a reformation in the Earth, in re­storing [Page 284]the blessed language of Truth, and setting up Truth, and Righteous­ness, and Mercy, and Peace; and bringing a people to a pure language to speak the Truth, from the guidings and leadings of the Spirit of Truth, which was Prophesied of; That the Lord would power out of his Spirit up­on all flesh, Sons and Daughters: And the glory of the Lord shall be revea­led, and all flesh shall see it together: Blessed are they who believe and trust in the Lord, and patiently wait for the fulfilling of his promise, for the Lord will assuredly stain the glory­ing of all the fleshly births; and create and bring forth a spiritual birth, unto which all his blessed promises are: And the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Lords and his Christs, and he shall reign for ever; and he will exalt his everlasting Kingdom, and of the increase of his Govern­ment there shall be no end: This peaceable Kingdom of the Son of his love, is in righteousness, peace and joy in his holy Spirit; whose Taber­nacle [Page 285]is with men, and the Ark and the Testimony, and the Mercy Seat over all his works, where he doth commune with them; he takes plea­sure in and makes known his good will and pleasure unto mankind, who receiving freely, communicates free­ly the good will and pleasure of the Lord; here is the Wine and Milk without Money or Price: And the Spirit saith come, and the Bride saith come, and he that heareth saith come, and he that will come let him come, and take of the water of life freely for a fountain is open where life ma­nifests it self freely; and the streams of Babylon are drying up, where the Whore with her guilded Cup of Sor­ceries and Witchcraft hath sat; a Cup of Wormwood and Gaul is fil­ling to her, and a Bed of Torment will be the portion of her Merchants, and all that receive her mark, and wear it on their forehead, or in the hand: So blessed are they who do escape out of Babylon, and set their faces towards Zion the holy City, [Page 286]where the substance is injoyed, and that which was figured and typified in the Law and Covenant given forth in Mount Sinai, in the Gospel in Mount Sion is possessed the blessed Law and Covenant, in the Mind and in the Heart, Christ in us the hope of Glory, the Substance; and herein that which the Lord hath ordained for peace is witnessed, and in and by this great Ordinance are all Ordi­nances necessary to Salvation clearly understood: So blessed are they who cease from their own vain labour and works, and believe and wait upon the Lord to partake of his glorious works, to expel the clouds of dark­ness, and to command his Light to shine out of it in the heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ; here's the pure powerful foun­dation which God hath laid for all mankind to believe in and build up­on, and all that labour in darkness to comprehend what the Light is, its all vain labour; though Light doth [Page 287]shine in darkness, yet darkness can­not comprehend it; and Christ knew what he said, when he said, I am the Light of the World, though the World through malice, envy and prejudice are so corrupted and darkened, that he is become unto them a stumbling stone and a rock of offence, yet he is the Light of the World, and doth light the Candle of the wicked: but when the wicked are lighted, and their wickedness manifest, they of­ten hate Light that makes manifest their wickedness, and puts out the Candle, and so adds sin to sin in get­ting covers to hide their transgressi­on: And to such the hands of the Lord is stretched out in the love and mercy to them, but all gain-sayers of it do turn into vanity, calling good evil, and evil good, light darkness, and darkness they call light, and herein they reject love and mercy, and im­brace hatred, and lay other founda­tions which the Lord hath not laid, and so labour in vain, and build in vain, which are all for the fire, and [Page 288]must be destroyed, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Oh that peo­ple would consider and be wise, and not go on to provoke the Lord to shut them out into utter darkness; for out of darkness people are invited to turn to the Light, and from Satans power unto God, that they may have a sense and knowledge of his love and mercy, who gives remission of sins to them who truly and unfeignedly re­pent of them, and forsake them, ap­proving themselves before him in so doing, and imbraceth that love and mercy and good will therein, and so watching and walking in his light there will be more light and under­standing given of his way, truth and life, the which he is making known in the Earth and his Salvation among his people.

Therefore be admonished not to provoke him, and harden your hearts against his reproofs, for in so doing you will be more and more confounded, and your bonds of corruption in dark­ness will be made stronger, and when [Page 289]his good Spirit hath done striving, and the light and councel thereof be taken from you, then will you be left in utter darkness where is weeping and gnashing of Teeth: For of a Truth the Lord is risen in great power to break down all the pleasant pictures and likenesses which mankind in their corrupt wills and affection have made of Religions and Worships, and through their dark immaginary works therein, they have opposed the Lords making known the true Religion and the true Worship which Christ did and doth set up in his Spirit of Truth, and is standing and remains firm and unchangeable.

And therefore in the bowels of love I admonish all you who are not come to a true sense and experience of the Lords good will and pleasure in making known his way, Truth and Life, but are in some tenderness in panting after the Lord for the know­ledge of his good will and pleasure therein: I desire you to be perswa­ded to consider whether you have be­lieved [Page 290]in the Light that comes from him, and leads to him; and if you were true believers in God and in his Christ, then you cannot deny the ma­nifestation of love and light that comes from him; for what is known of God is manifest in us, he shews it unto: Oh its a good thing to wait up­on the Lord in Truth, with a single eye unto him who sits with light and understanding of his blessed way, Truth and Life, Christ that was be­fore Abraham, and was in the body which was prepared for him to do the will of his Father, in which he suffered without the Gates of Jeru­salem by wicked hands, and rose a­gain and shewed himself unto many hundreds of witnesses, and hath many thousand witnesses this day of his suf­ferings and resurrection; who is the same yesterday, to day, and forever; a mistery which is hid from the worldly wise and prudent, who live in an exaltation above the pure, holy manifestation of the Light of Gods holy Spirit; and so neglecting the [Page 291]one thing necessary, do live in the many things where offence to the just is given dayly, and the movings of Gods good Spirit is grieved and quenched; and then comparing them­selves with themselves, and measur­ing themselves by themselves, they are not wise in heart; and therefore are they shut out from the knowledge of the way of Truth and Life.

Therefore I do perswade all to wait low at wisdoms gate for the opening thereof, that your hearts may be sea­soned with grace; and then that which hath been of low degree, as to the esteem mankind hath had of it, by the savour of Gods grace, it will be beloved and esteemed, and exal­ted; and those dark immaginary works which hath been lets and hindrances of the knowledge of the Truth, Way, and Life; they will be hated and dis­esteemed: And things will be put in order by the true wisdom, to the praise and honour of God, and to the great peace and comfort of all the truly humble in heart: And thus in [Page 292]a few plain words is this Testimony of Truth given forth for the Informa­tion of the truly breathing and thirst­ing Souls after the Way, Truth and Life, and the righteousness therein: The which the Lord God Almighty exalt more and more unto the break­ing forth of the day of his perfect love unto all them that seek him in Truth, and with an upright heart.

BLessed are they who feel the In­spiration of the Almighty giving them understanding; that in reading the Scriptures of Truth (the Holy-mens Testimonies) they may be understood, and deliverance witnessed from them who wrest them to their own destruction.

There is indeed a time for all things, as said Solomon, who in that wisdom given him, knew that God created man upright, but man found out many Inventions: And all that Mirth where­by Gods righteous spirit is grieved, they who live in it; they increase their own sorrow.

The Rejoycing and Melody which David had in his heart to the Lord who gave him power over his foes, Psal. 30. And girded him with gladness: But what is this to them who are over­come with their foes, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and pride of life: All such have not a true know­ledge of that joy and melody which David witnessed, as being girded with gladness by the Lord; who said, My soul and all that is in me praise the Lord, and let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord: And figuratively he makes mention of outward Instruments; all which are but Types in comparison of that heart that is prepared and put into a right frame, even as a well Tuned Instrument to make Melody to the praise and honour of God (this is the sub­stance) shewed forth by holy peoples praises to the Lord for his work of deli­verance; as is recorded in the Scriptures of Truth: When the Children of Israel were delivered, and their foes destroy­ed: Then sang Moses and the Chil­dren of Israel: (and this was the sub­stance, [Page 342] the Lord shall reign for ever and ever:) And Miriam with the women went out with Timbrels and Dances in a Heavenly Melody unto the Lord who had delivered them.

But the wicked and proud who hate to be reformed, they have no­thing to do to take the name of the Lord in their mouths: And none but wicked Instruments dare bring those Scriptures to stir youth up to be Pro­digals, and to spend their Portion of precious time in riotous living in keep­ing company with some who wallow in pride and idleness Sodoms sins; and except such Prodigals do turn whilst the door of mercy doth open, and they find a reception into the Fathers house, by a true unfeigned repentance; they shall never witness that Melody or Musick (whereby the Soul is made to leap for joy,) which the Prodigal obtained through a true repentance, and returned to his Fathers house; he had not that Musick and Melody among the Harlots, nor when he kept Swine; mind that, see the generation of the [Page 343]wicked, Job. 21.11. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their Children Dance: They take the Timbrel and Harp, and rejoyce in the sound of the Organ: They spend their dayes in Wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave: Therefore they say unto God, de­part from us, we desire not the know­ledge of thy wayes: What is the Almigh­ty that we should serve him, &c. See here you wicked generation of proud prophane persons, who stir up the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life one in another, by your light frothy behaviours in your wicked Inventions. Oh for shame do not go about to cover your evil works by the instigation of wicked Instru­ments, who wrest the holy mens words; which if persisted in, will be to their de­structions, and of all them that follow them therein. See what the Prophet Amos pronounced to them that chant to the Viol, &c. And are at ease, wo to them, Amos 6.

And concerning comparisons in the sound of Instruments, being certain or [Page 343]uncertain; this makes not at all for your purpose who extol that Musick by which the Lord is dishonoured, and the seed of life grieved and burdened, so for shame leave off your lightness and vanity, least you be left as them who are filthy to be filthy still, and you seek repentance, as Esau did with tears, and cannot find acceptance.

And see the effects of wicked Dan­cing, Mat. 14.6, 7. But when Herod's birth-day was kept, the Daughter of Herodias danced before them: Now read and see what effects her brave Dancing procured; weigh these things you that have Children that are Light and Airy, and restrain them from that wicked practice, least they add sin un­to sin, and bring woe upon them, as you may see Herodias Daughter, who added one wickedness unto another.

ANswer, The Lord God hath sig­nally shewen his great displea­sure by Sword, by Plague, and by Fire, against that opposite spirit that hath led into all rebellion against the motions of his holy spirit, where­in he is making known his way of blessing, and his saving health among the people. Yet for his great name sake, and in his love, mercy and pity, he did put a stop to those Judge­ments, and hath given space and time [Page 346]of repentance; and through many faithful Servants hath the Lord mani­fested his good pleasure, that all who are erred from the way of blessing in life and peace, that they might return unto him and wait upon him who is Lord of Heaven and Earth, for his teachings and instructions in his holy Covenant of Life and Peace: But how regardless have you been of the many and frequent Testimonies that have been faithfully in the moving of Gods holy spirit of Truth, given forth against the swelling and groaning abominati­ons of the times? So that instead of hearkning and obeying the motions of Gods holy spirit, you have proceeded in vexing and grieving the same in a most high degree; you have abused the Servants of the Lord God: And through your pride and presumption you have drawn the heavy displeasure of the Lord upon you, whose dreadful judgments do hang over you; and will not be averted or turned from you by any feigned shew of fasting made up in the will of man, contrary to the good will, mind and pleasure of God.

In that which is called the order for Morning Prayer, are these words; Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, &c.

Answer, To them that do in Truth and in unfeigned repentance open their hearts unto him, with a faithful resigna­tion of heart, soul and body unto the pure manifestation of his holy Law of his pure spirit of life; unto such he hath shewn himself very gracious and mer­ciful, in setting them free from the Law of sin and death: But how often do you repeat those words, and yet keep your hearts whole in the friendship of the World, in the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and pride of life; you have been so far from renting your hearts, that you have not so much as rent your garments; are not the gar­ments of your own righteousness (which is no better then filthy rags) whole up­on you; and in that loathsom garment you appearing before the Lord, who seeing your loathsomness and hypo­crisie in imputing the righteousness of [Page 348]Christ unto you, whilst you are really and truly whole in your loathsome gar­ments of your own righteousness; where the righteous judge both of the quick and the dead, beholding you as you are in your loathsome garments, he will never agree with you in your accounts, whilst you account so falsly of your Interest in the righteousness of Christ, and yet whole in the garments of sin and iniquity, doing the things you should not do, and leaving un­done the things you should do; would you when you reckon with your Ser­vants agree with them in such account, and allow of their doing so all their life, and leave them to account of your riches; and that you are bound to give it them; sure its time to be awake­ned from this misery of ignorance: And take notice of your following words, Though we have rebelled against him, neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his Laws which he set before us. (Now mind) was ever your hearts rent from this condi­tion; do not you persist in your re­bellion [Page 349]and so grieve Gods holy spirit, in keeping your heart whole, in persecuting them who are led by it: Are not the Priests whole in their sin of preaching for Hire and for filthy lucre sake, they tell lyes in Hypocrisie, pro­mising that to people, which neither they nor the people have right unto, whilst they are Servants to sin: Come down from these barren mountains of imaginations, and rent off these filthy garments, and rent your hearts from these evils, and follow the example of them who are really in this work, and from the Lords acceptance have found him gracious and merciful, and in the righteous government of his holy spirit of Truth, the knowledge of his way of Truth is known in this World, and in walking therein there is that hope ma­nifest by Christs righteousness in us, of having Eternal life with him in that World which is without end.

And you say, Dearly beloved Bre­thren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that [Page 350]we should not dissemble and cloak them before the face of Almighty God our hea­venly Father, but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and obedient heart, &c.

Answer, Here you acknowledge yourselves to be fallen from the Primi­tive Christians guide, and moreover, in the service and work of the Lord they did speak as they were moved by Gods holy spirit, and did declare the pleasure and will of God as that gave utterance; and by his holy spirit they were made Ministers, not coveting any mans Silver or Gold, or Apparel, nor they did not move for any filthy lucre sake; but how have you erred and strayed from this way, being lost as to a true and saving knowledge of the motions of Gods holy spirit: And in this lost Estate every private spirit is set a work, and imaginations dreams do tell their several conceivings of what was given forth by the moving of Gods holy spirit; but having erred from the way of the spirit of God, and being strangers thereunto, they are also [Page 351]strangers to what was given forth by the Spi­rit of God; thus being in error, they don't know the Scriptures nor the power of God: And thus being become strangers to the moti­on of the true Christian Spirit, in the Worlds earthly sensual Spirit they move, and say, the Scripture moveth, and under this cover you can dissemble and cloak your sins, cloaking your selves under the failings of the holy men of God, as they are recorded in the Scriptures of Truth, but are far enough off their sorrow and repentance by which they obtained favour with God again; And thus you go on cloak­ing your sins, and opposing the motions of Gods holy Spirit, under a pretence of the Scrip­ture moveth us; and under this cover you can dissemble your sins in persecuting and spoiling the Goods of them who have truly testified of the motions of Gods holy Spirit in them, against all the evil motions of the ene­my in all his flattering deceitful works and wayes: And to this motion of Gods holy Spirit you must bow if ever you come to know the way of Truth, you must come to the mo­ving of the Spirit of Truth in you, even that Spirit which reproves the World of sin, the which Christ Jesus set up to be a leader and a guide into all Truth: In this Spirit the Lord God is to be worshipped, it's this Spirit that convinceth of sin, that is the way out of sin, that is it which moves in the heart against sin, [Page 352]and so to confess and acknowledge sin, and so to repent and forsake sin, and this is the way to obtain mercy and forgiveness of sin. And by its leading and guiding to abstain from the appearance of evil, unto this Spirit of Truth you must bow, and take it for your leader, if ever you come truly to call God Father, and he owns you to be his Sons.

In your Confession you say, Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheep; we have followed too wuch the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy Laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and there is no health in us, &c.

Answer, And when do you intend to do otherwise, since you have appointed this form of words to be always said. Oh turn for shame unto the true Spepherd and Bishop of your Soul; and don't come still with this sad un­profitable story before the Lord. (Mind) if a man offend against the Laws of the Nation, if it be but once he is lyable to the punishment that is prescribed by that Law, or if a Servant should but once do the thing he should not do, and leave undone the things he should do, this would incurr his Masters displeasure; but if he should continue doing so, he would turn him out of his service and account of him as he is an unprofitable Servant: How then can you ex­pect to be heard and received of the Lord, who [Page 353]are alwayes doing that you should not do, and leaving undone that you should do; you may well say you have no health in you, neither are you like to have, so long as you continue in these sad practices: And in that you do offend Gods righteous Law, how can you ex­pect but to be punished by the righteous Judge? Indeed you have done that which you ought not to have done, in that you have caused to suffer so many innocent people, both by long Imprisonment, and spoiling of their Goods; in that you have shewn no more mercy to them, how can you expect to receive mercy at the hand of God, seeing those sufferers have been a people fearing God, and hoping for his mercy in whom the Lord takes pleasure, and in his pleasure he hath sustained them, wherein many have been faithful and true witnesses, where­of many have departed this World under their several confinements in peace; and many re­mains living to this day confessing and testi­fying to the mercies and favour of God in the manifestation of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, which sets free them who walk up to it from the Law of sin and death: And that there is great peace in keeping this holy Law, this hath been, and is the Testimony of them who are, and have been led by the Spirit of Truth, witnessing unto the Way, Truth and Life, the way of peace and happiness: And thus in the good will of God in good [Page 354]will to all mankind, in patient suffering under your wills who have followed too much the devices and desires of your own hearts, and thereby having rejected the councel of the Spirit of Truth, you have provoked the Lord, as you say in these words: We have pro­voked thine anger, thy wrath is waxed hot, and thy heavy displeasure is sore kindled against us. You have confessed to the Truth, and when you come to feel the weight of your many transgressions against Gods holy Law, then you will wish you had been serious in what you have said, and that you had broken off your sins by a true and unfeigned repentance: And for this end hath Gods holy Spirit strove with you many wayes; but see by your own con­fession how evilly you have required this love.

Your words are, We sinful people of this land do acknowledge before thee, to thy glory and our own shame and confusion, that never any Nation under Heaven had more experience of all the in­stances of thy goodness, and the methods of our amendment; nor yet did ever any more shamful­ly abuse them, when thou gavest us great and long prosperities, we sed our selves to the full, waxed fat and wanton, and kicked against thee; when thou threwest us into horrid confusions, from which we saw then little hope of arising, even in the time of that distress did we trespass yet more against thee, when by miracles of mercy thou hadst turned our captivities, we soon returned [Page 335]to folly, to our vomit, and to our wallowing in our former or greater filthiness, &c.

Answer, This is a very sad miserable condi­tion indeed, much to be lamented; you had need consider it and be in Truth humbled for it; and to forsake that evil Spirit that hath been your leader in those horrid practices, and to wait upon the Lord for the leading and guiding of you out of those evils, that you may have a better account to give unto the Lord in the day of account, as Hezekiah had when the Prophet Isaiah was sent unto him with this Message from the Lord: Saying, Thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not live; then Hezekiah tur­ned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord; and said, remember now O Lord I be­seech thee, how I have walked before in Truth, and with a perfect heart; and have done that which is good in thy sight, and Hezekiah wept sore. And the Lord heard his prayers, and see­ing his tears, he was very gratious and mer­ciful unto him, as you may read: Now com­pare his confession with your confession; and seeing you have no better account to give, you may well be ashamed and confounded at the thoughts of what acceptance you can think to have, and reward at the hand of the Lord.

And you say these words, The Communion Service, the Priest standing at the Lords Table shall say: Our Father, &c.

Answer, Here you manifest your selves as deep in the appostasie from the Communion and the [...] Table, as they were in, who put Lig [...] [...] Darkness, (and Darkness for Light:) You here plainly shew from whence you had your Ordination and Learning; the least in the School of Christ that hath learned of him, neither Shepherds or Fishermen, sees over the dark works. It's but in vain for you to think to make this service pass; no, that Dark­ness is much vanquished by the the breaking forth of the Light of Christ out of Darkness, by which the Table of God, and the Table of Devils is known, and the Cup of God, and the Cup of the Devil, and at the Table of God, and with the Cup of God, many thirsting Souls are satisfied, and do truly bless and praise the Lord, knowing that we cannot partake of the Table of God, and the Table of Devils, or of the Cup of God and of the Cup of De­vils; and therefore are fully satisfied at the Table of God and with the blessing; and here­in do bless the Lord who hath led many from the North, South, East and West by his good Spirit hereunto: And thus being led by his holy Spirit, we can truly say, our Father who doth feed us in all our tryals and afflictions with his bread of Life, and nourish us with his Cup of Blessing; to him be praise and honour for ever.

Oh Nation of England, how wonderful [Page 357]kind hath the Lord been unto thee, in send­ing his Servants with warning after warning, even warning thee to break off thy sins by a true repentance? And in that Fast that is ac­ceptable unto him, that thee mightest have been found in turning from the evil of thy do­ings, and in answering the Lords just requi­rings, in doing justly, and walking humbly, and shewing mercy in remembring the meek, and them who fear the Lord, in whom the Lord takes pleasure, and in renting of your false coverings, and have put off your loath­fome clothing, the which you confess you are under, and to have rent your hearts in deed and in truth, and to have abstained from the appearance of Evil, and to have let the op­pressed go free: Had you chosen this Fast, and truly turned to the Lord, and in simplicity to have waited upon him, to have known his mind and pleasure in his sore and grievous and never to be forgotten Judgments, with which he did visit you, by Sword, by Plague, and by Fire: (Oh how can you easily pass over the remembrance thereof.) If I say you had considered your ways, and by abstaining from the appearances of evil, you had truly turned unto the Lord; you might then have expected to have found favour of him, and in his coun­sel and wisdom you might have been directed to have been establisht in the fear of the Lord, and in his righteous way to have been con­firmed; [Page 358]and under the covering of the work of his righteous Spirit you might have been preserved, as you pray in these words; From all evil and mischief, from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the Devil, and from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation, good Lord de­liver us.

But turn unto your confession, and take a view of it, and see how short you have come of this Fast, the which is well pleasing unto the Lord; and how instead of waiting upon the Lord to know his way made known in the Earth, you have gone on in your way of grieving and vexing his good Spirit, and pro­voking the Lord God against you. But what will be the end thereof?