Gospel-tydings wherein is shewed what the Gospel administration was, the apostacy from it, and the restauration into it again : being a message of true and unfeigned love ... / [by] W.S.

Gospel-tydings wherein is shewed what the Gospel administration was, the apostacy from it, and the restauration into it again : being a message of true and unfeigned love ... / [by] W.S.

Table of contents

Title page

Goſpel Tidings, &c.

A tender greeting unto the royal off-ſpring of God.

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Goſpel-Tydings: Wherein is ſhewed, What the Goſpel-Adminiſtration was, the Apoſtacy from it, and the Reſtauration into it again. BEING A Meſſage of true & unfeigned Love UNTO All that are ſeeking peace in their own way, and wearying themſelves in their own wanderings, that they may come to the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, and be eſtabliſhed in the Power of the Goſpel, where Life, and Peace, and reſt is witneſſed. With a tender GREETING UNTO THE Royal Off-ſpring of God.

W. S.

LONDON, Printed in the year 1662.

Goſpel Tidings, &c.

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THat there was a time in which the Goſpel was preached and publiſhed, is a thing which generally is confeſsed by all that profeſs Chriſtianity; but that there was an apoſtatizing from it, and a night of thick darkneſs came over that diſpenſation, is a thing that few underſtand; and therefore it is, that the appearance of the ſame Goſpel which at this day is broken forth in light, out of the night of apoſtacie, and preached again in the ſame power, is by ſo few believed and received, for as that ſpirit and power doth remain in people, which led into the apoſtacie, and went over that glorious diſpenſation of the Goſpel that then was, even ſo it blinds their mindes, that the Light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt doth not ſhine unto them, though by the ſame ſpirit & power in which it was then preached it be preached again; and ſo through the ignorance that is in them, they are led captive in Error; having Eyes but ſee not, Eares but hear not, hearts but do not underſtand, ſo are not converted nor healed, but in darkneſs abides, and in darkneſs walks in their own way, and ſuch wearies themſelves in an endleſs travel, being driven about with divers doctrines, which is held forth in mans cunning part that lies in wait to deceive, by which they are toſſed from one thing to another, and catches at words and ſounds, inſtead of life and power; and ſo the many Inventions have been ſought out, and ſet up, with which people pleaſe themſelves as if they were in the right way, though there is a cry in many which is not ſatisfied in it: And theſe Inventions which are come up in the long night of apoſtacie, and obſerved and practiſed as if they were a Goſpel diſpenſation, they want the virtue with which the goſpel gives ſatisfaction, and are found dry and emptie Ciſterns which yeilds no refreſhings; for they onely lye in forms without, and not in the light and power of God within, in which the goſpel hath a free paſſage to the ſoul in its own virtue, and therefore unto [Page] that all people muſt come, from which the night of apoſtacy hath cauſed them to erre, that they may feele the diſpenſation of the Goſpel in its own power and virtue; for the Goſpel is not changed into any new Invention, though people have invented many new forms, & every one ſets up their own form as a goſpel diſpenſation, yet their form doth not make a Goſpel adminiſtration, neither can any breathing deſire receive peace or ſatiſfaction therein; for whoſe minds are turned outwards, & looking for the Kingdom of God in obſervations, they deceive themſelves with a vain hope, & runs themſelves at a greater diſtance from the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, & by how much they place their belief in any invented form, by ſo much the more they err from the power, which is the Goſpel & loſes the virtue of its adminiſtration, & whilſt they are ſeeking the Kingdom of God in formes and obſervations without, they neglect the power of the Goſpel, which miniſtreth an entrance into the Kingdom of God within. Now as it is generally confeſſed, that there was a time in which the Goſpel was preached and publiſhed, ſo it is to be conſidered, in what principle their adminiſtration ſtood who was the miniſters of it, and how they became worthy to be put in truſt with it, for the Apoſtle ſaid, Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of ucleanneſs, nor of guile, but as we are allowed of God to be put in truſt with the Goſpel: even ſo we ſpeak, not at pleaſing men, but God which trieth our hearts, 1. Theſs. 2. (mark) they were blowed of God, and put in truſt with the Goſpel by him, having received Chriſt Jeſus into their hearts by the manifeſtation of his light and love, and ſo were found worthy in Chriſt to be put in truſt with the Goſpel for by the holy principle of Light which they had received in Chriſt Jeſus, they received power to Crucifie deceit, uncleanneſs, and guile, and thereby they became renewed in the Spirit of their mindes unto God, who put them in truſt with the goſpel, in that which was pure and clean, in which he allowed them to be ministers of it, not in words onely, but alſo in power; ſo that their words which in the power was miniſtred, they were ſpoken as in the ſight of God, who tried their hearts, and they did not frame their words to pleaſe men, but in the power by which they were made miniſters, they were made manifeſt unto every mans Conscience in the ſight of God: and the Apoſtle ſaid, Now thanks be unto God which always cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt, and maketh [Page] manifeſt the ſavour of his knowledge by us in every place▪ for we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God, but as of ſincerity but as of God, in the ſight of God ſpeak we in Chriſt, 2. Cor. 2. (marke) they ſpake in Chriſt, and ſo were manifeſt to every mans Conſcience in the ſight of God, and the meaſure of Chriſt in every one bare witneſs unto their teſtimony; though ſuch as did not joyn to the meaſure of Chriſt in themſelves could not receive it yet the ſame principle in which they ſpake did bear witneſs to it in every mans Conſcience, and ſo they ſtood approved unto God, and not unto men: whereby it is evident, that they had received Chriſt Jeſus, and that he was in them; for they ſpake in him, and that was the Goſpel which they preached, and which many receiv [...]d as glad tidings that brought life and immortallity unto their ſouls, and they that did receive the glad tydings of the goſpel, and did abide in it, they became followers of the Lord, and of the truth in the love of it; ſo that the ſavour of life in them that miniſtred, did reach the life in them that believed, by which life they all came into the fellowſhip of the gospel, and ſo they that miniſtred was a ſweet ſavour in the hearts of thoſe that believed: and the Apoſtle ſaid, My ſpeech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wiſdom, but in demonſtration of the ſpirit, and of power; that your faith ſhould not ſtand in the wiſdom of man, but in the power of God; for what man knows the things of a man, ſave the Spirit of man which is in him, Even ſo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God; which things alſo we ſpeak not in the words which mans wiſdome teacheth, but which the holy Ghoſt teacheth, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual, 1. Cor 2. (mark) they had not received the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, & that was their principle, & in the Spirit of God they knew the things that was freely given of God, & in the ſame principle in which they freely received, they freely miniſtred; & this was the preaching of the Goſpel then not according to mans wiſdom, but in Chriſt Jeſus the power & wiſdom of God, in which goſpel many believed, and were ſaved: and the Apoſtle ſaid, Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the Goſpel which I preached unto you, which alſo you have received, and wherein ye [Page] ſtand, by which alſo ye are ſaved, if ye keep in memorie what preached unto you, unleſs ye have believed in vain, 1. Cor. 15 (mark) the Goſpel which then was preached, they that received it, ſtood in it, and were ſaved by it, and they were not to let it ſlip out of their mindes, but to keep it in memorie, that they might not believe in vain; and many did ſo receive it in the love of it, as they did retain it, and the ſalvation in it, and was preſerved by the power of it, to hold faſt that which they had received; and ſuch continued in their well doing, and perſevered unto the end, and died in the faith, having obtained eternall redemption and Salvation by the power of the Goſpel; and unto whom this Goſpel was hid, it was hid unto them that was loſt, in whom the God of this World had blinded the mindes of them which believed not, leaſt the Light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, who is the image of God, ſhould ſhine unto them, 2. Cor. 4. And ſuch periſhed in their gain ſaying, not receiving the truth in the love of it, but gave up themſelves to believe lyes, which the God of this World led them into, and blinded their mindes with, and ſuch could not ſee though they had Eyes, nor hear though they had Eares, nor underſtand though they had hearts, and ſo was not converted nor healed by the power of the Goſpel, though in the ſame power it was preached unto them, as unto thoſe that did believe in it, and receive it; and ſo it became the ſavour of life unto life in thoſe that believed, and the ſavour of death unto death in thoſe that periſhed, and as there were many which could neither ſee, nor hear, nor underſtand the glorious diſpenſation of the Goſpel, but were blinded by the God of this World, unto whom they yeilded themſelves to obey, and ſo were never converted not healed, but periſhed in their gainſaying, even ſo there were many whole Eyes were opened, and Ears unſtopped, and hearts broken; who did both ſee, and hear, and underſtand the true and living meſſage of the Goſpel, and yet did not abide in that which they had ſeen, and heard, and underſtood; not likeing to retein God in their knowledge, but yeilded themſelves again unto the God of this World, and ſo became vailed from the Light of the glorious Goſpel, that they loſt the ſight of that which they had ſeen, and the hearing of that which they had heard, and the underſtanding of that which they had in ſome meaſure underſtood, and by the God of this World unto whom they yeilded [Page] themſelves again, their hearts were darkned, and their mindes blinded; and though profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe, they became fooles; having put away faith and a good Conſcience, and made ſhipwrack of it, & though they were gone from the Goſpel; and the power of it in themſelves, yet they reteined the form, and became more in love with the form then the power, and ſo did not onely err from the power, but turned againſt it, and denied it; and of this ſort they were that crept into houſes; and led ſilly women captive, loaden with ſins, and led away with divers luſts, 2 Tim 3. For they being erred from the power of God, and having made ſhipwrack of ſaith and a good Conſcience, they were gone into Captivity themſeves, and ſo led others to follow them, and captivated them in the forme in which they were always learning, but never came to the knowledge of the truth, and ſo many apoſtatized from the Light of the glorious Goſpel, and denied the power of it, after that they had ſeen, and heard, and underſtood ſomthing of it; and ſuch became falſe brethren, who turned the grace of God into Laſciviouſneſs, and denied the onely Lord God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as in Jude. So that after the Saints deceaſed, who by the power of the Goſpel was cleanſed, and with its vertue waſhed from all filthineſs of fleſh, and ſpirit, and did retain it, and hold it faſt in the pure principle of life, then did the Apoſtacy overſpread, and the darkneſs of it covered the Earth, and the God of this World came into dominion, and ruled in the hearts of people, and in darkneſs they conceived what was in the power practiſed, and thereby people came to be deceived, being erred from the principle of God; and ſo that hath been taken for a Goſpel diſpenſation, whcih in the unclean part hath been conceived and practiſed, and in that unrighteous nature the truth hath been held; for by the God of this World peoples minds have been corrupted, & their Eyes blinded; & hereby it may be underſtood, how the apoſtacy entered, and how the Goſpel diſpenſation came to be loſt, and how the many invented forms came to be ſet up and obſerved, with which people now ſeemes to be well pleaſed and ſatiſfied, and every one according to their own perſwaſion obſerves their own for me as a Goſpel diſpenſation; yet in all ages ſince the apoſtacy entered, there hath been ſomething of God ſtirring in ſome particular, that hath breathed after the enjoyment of that life which in pure Goſpel times was: [Page] witneſſed amongſt the Saints and Goſpel worſhippers but the God of this World being in dominion, it hath been Cruſhed and quenched in its riſing and hath been beaten down again by a ſtrong hand which the God of this World hath ſtretched forth againſt it, ſo that it could not come to ſpread abroad in the liberty of the life, but hath alway been ſuppreſſed in its riſing by the force of Laws which the God of this World hath invented: but now it hath pleaſed God in the fulneſs of time to reveale his Son in power and great glory, who hath brought life and Immortallity to Light by his appearance, in whoſelife and power the Goſpel is preached again, and many have believed and received the glad tydings of it, who ſome times were wandering in the apoſtacy, and ſeeking peace in their own way but could not finde it; for which cauſe they many times mourned and lamented, and their Souls endured griefe and trouble for want of Chriſt, whom they earneſtly breathed after: and though they had gone through many invented forms, and tried the depths of mans wisdom in his own way; yet they could not finde him whom their Souls longed after: but when the glorious Goſpel brake forth in its own power, and came to be preached in the life, then by its ſtrength their Ears were pierced, and the joyful ſound did enter into their hearts, and the living witneſs of God was raiſed, and life from death was witneſſed, and then they found him whom their ſouls loved, and ſuch knows the Scripture to be fulfilled, and can truly ſay, How beatutiful is the feet of him that brought glad tidings of Salvation, and publiſhed peace, who is riſen in life to proclaim the Goſpel; and ſuch do witneſs, that the night is over and gone, and the day is come, and the light of the knowledge of the glory of God ſhines in their hearts in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, who is the firſt born of God, that brought many Son to glory, who are now made living witneſſes of his Reſurrection, and his life, and are allowed of God to be put in truſt with the Goſpel, whoſe labour and traveail is in the ſtrength and power of God, and in the ſame they publiſh his meſſage, that people may be turned from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive remiſſion of ſins, and come to an inheritance amongſt all that are ſanctified by faith in Chriſt Jeſus: and whoſoever doth not bring this meſſage is not to be received; for it is the ſame Goſpel that was preached unto Abraham, and in [Page] which he believed▪ it is the ſame Goſpel that was preached by the Apoſtles, and in which many then believed, and what they had heard, and ſeen, and taſted, and handled of the word of life, that they declared in the life, and ſo they preached Chriſt Jeſus, the power of God to Salvation, and there was not another Goſpel to be brought, either by Angel or man, but they that brought it was to be accurſed; for the Apoſtle ſaid, though we, or an Angel from heaven preach any other Goſpel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accurſed, as we ſaid before, ſo ſay I now again, if any man preach any other Goſpel unto you then that ye have received, let him be accurſed: but I certifie you brethren, that the Goſpel which was preached of me, is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. 1. Oh that they which ſpeak of themſelves would conſider this, who knowes no more of the Goſpel then what they receive of man, and are taught by man, which is not the way by which the Apoſtle came to the Goſpel, and therefore it is evident that ſuch have not the Goſpel to preach who denies revelation, and ſo they preach another Gospel then that which the Apoſtle preached. But now the ſame Gospel is known again by many in whom Jeſus Chriſt is revealed, who hath brought life and Immortallity to light by the Goſpel, and in his power it is preached again, even the ſame Goſpel which is neither of man, nor by man, but in the ſame power received as they received it, and in the ſame power preached as they preached it, and it is committed unto faithful men whom God hath intruſted with it, who are able to teach others alſo; and this is the Light which ſhines out of darkneſs, and goes over the night of apoſtacy, with all the Apoſtates Inventions, and in power redeemes people up to God again, from whom they are alienated in the apoſtacy, and ſuch whoſe Eys are ſhut, and Ears ſtopped, and hearts hardened againſt this glorious adminiſtration of the Goſpel, they are of all men moſt miſerable; for it is the mighty power of God unto Salvation unto all that believe in it, and receives it; but they that reject it, and are rebellious againſt it, they reject the loving kindneſs of God, and with the Goſpel are condemned and not ſaved; for they that believe not, they are condemned becauſe they believe not in the name of the onely begotten Son of God, but unto all that do believe, his appearance brings [Page] life and immortallity to light by the Goſpel, and it is evident that it is the ſame Goſpel that is now preached, and not another; for it hath wrought effectually in the hearts of many, and hath purged and expelled the uncleanneſs and filthineſs both of fleſh and ſpirit, and hath pulled down felf-righteouſneſs, and revealed the Righteouſneſs of God, in which many are eſtabliſhed: ſo that the life of ſuch now who have received the Goſpel, doth fully anſwer to the life of ſuch then, by which it is manifeſt that it is the ſame Goſpel, and not another, having wrought the ſame work in the hearts of all that have received it as in times paſt, and they anſwer to the ſame in life and practice, as face anſwers face in a glaſs; ſo that the demonſtration of the Goſpels power may be clearly diſtinguiſhed from all Inventions, for though there may be fair ſhews of Godlineſs in ſome particular forms, yet they are not tranſlated into the power and life of Chriſt, in which the Goſpel adminiſtration ſtandeth: therefore unto all ſuch, who yet abide in darkneſs, and are ſeeking peace in their own way, is this meſſage ſent in love, that they unto the Light may be turned, by which the danger of their way will be opened and diſcovered; for the Light will open that eye which hath been cloſed, and unſtop that Eare which hath been ſtopped, and break that heart which hath been hardned by the God of this World, and ſo they will come to ſee, and hear, and underſtand what is with the Light made manifeſt, without which the things of God can never be perceived; for as the Light is in it ſelf a moſt holy, pure, and Righteous principle, ſo it doth diſcover in mans Conſcience all unrighteouſneſs, which is ſin, and lets him ſee what lovers he hath entertained into his heart; which defiles him, and makes him unclean in the ſight of the pure God, and in the Light waiting, that voyce which ſpeaks from heaven will be heard, and the Goſpel will ſound into that Ear which is unſtopped, & pierce into the heart, & prick it, and with the precious ſavour of its virtue it will ſoften it, and ſo the Light of the glorious Goſpel will ſhine out of the night of apoſtacy, and bring glad tidings into the Soul, which in the night of apoſtacy hath been captivated; and there man will come to feele the love which God hath unto him, who would not that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to the knowledg of the truth, and be ſaved; and there is no want of love from God to ſave men, but there is want of love from men to cloſe with [Page] and joyn into the love which God makes manifeſt in the Light, and ſo mans deſtruction is of himſelf, becauſe he loves not the Light, but loves his evil deeds better, and follows the devices of his own heart, which, with the Light is reproved; and ſuch obeys not the Goſpel, in which the love of God is tendered, but ſollows the God of this World, and cheriſhes their own hearts luſts, and this is mans own way, in which the god of this World blindes him, and keeps him in the apoſtacy, where he is alienated from the life of God; therefore let all people conſider, whilſt they have a day; for with whom was the Lord grieved, was it not with thoſe that had ſinned, whoſe carcaſſes fell in the wilderneſs; and unto whom did he ſwear that they ſhould not enter into his reſt, was it not thoſe that believed not; therefore all people take heed, leaſt you out-stand the Lord in the hardneſs of your hearts, and let the day of your viſitation ſlip over your heads without regarding for unto which of you hath he not manifeſted his love, and who amongſt you can truly ſay, the Lord hath not viſited; have you not had many convictions in your Conſciences, and many convincements for your ſins? have you not been reproved for the Evil of your doings, and have you not been ſecretly judged for ſecret faults? have you done any thing ſo privately that hath not been manifeſt, or could you ever hide any thing ſo cloſely that hath not been made known; who amongſt you can excuſe your ſelves before the moſt High, or which of you can ſay in truth the Lord hath not ſhewed me evil, or that I am ignorant of my ſin? who amongſt you can ſtand to plead with God in theſe things? Oh ſurely the day of account is very great, and unto it you muſt all come, and the Lord will be clear when he judges, for all his Judgments are true; and do you not draw his judgments upon your ſelves, becauſe you regard not his law: how will you ſtand to account for all your idle words and ungodly deeds, in which you run at liberty as if all ſhould end without account? look over your lives, and with the Light of Chriſt in your Conſciences view your ſelves, and behold the fruit of your doings, and conſider whether you can ſtand approved unto God in ſecret; for your lives demonſtrate, your nature, and the fruit of your doings declares your root, the old man is yet alive in you, and the god of this World hath dominion over you, and with his deceivable working he blindes you, and in the apoſtacy you are loſt, when the [Page] Goſpel is hid from you, and ſo you remain in your fins, which the Goſpel caſteth out and expelleth, where it is believed and received; and if you will but view your ſelves with the Light of Chriſt which is in you, though you be not in it you will ſee that you are under the Law, and approved by it, and not under the Goſpel; and the Law ſaith, Thou ſhalt not Covet: now view your ſelves and behold whether you keep this one commandment and if you do not, then you are yet under the Law, and the Law condemnes you; for it is Spiritual, holy, juſt, and good, and was added becauſe of tranſgreſſion, and whilſt you are in tranſgreſſion and doth not keep the Law, you are under the curſe, and not in the bleſſing, which is a Goſpel ſtate. Now if you will view your hearts with the Light, it will ſhew you that you are coveting an evil covetouſneſs, and both the riches of this World, and the riches of Knowledg your hearts are ſet upon, and theſe are two great evils which the holy Law condemneth: and though you may talk of the Goſpel, and a Goſpel-adminiſtration, and apprehend your ſelves to be Goſpel-worſhippers, yet you are under the firſt Covenant, with its curſe and condemnation, being yet in the tranſgreſſion and you have not received the love in the Light, in which the Law and Prophets is fulfilled; ſo it is not what you profeſs that makes you to be the ſame you profeſs, neither is it what you apprehend your ſouls to be that makes you ſo to be, for the new man doth not live the life of the old; therefore let this conſideration enter into all your hearts, and ponder it in ſecret, that it is not ſuch as onely profeſs the Goſpel that are approved, but ſuch as obey the Goſpel; and therefore you that talk ſo much of a Gospel diſpenſation, and the free grace of God in it, and thereby would exclude perfect obedience as a duty onely belonging to the firſt Covenant, and ſay, it is not now of works; but of grace; and run from good works, and ſo are reproved by St. James, you are in the apoſtacy covered with imaginations; for all the children of Light are children of obedience, and you that are not ſo, are fooliſh and diſobedient; and whilſt you talke of ſalvation by the free grace of God without works, your ſelves are found in the works of ſin, and yeilding your ſelves to obey the God of this world, and ſo you would hold two Kingdomes at once; but do you not know, that unto whom you yeild your ſelves ſervants to obey, his ſervants you are to whom you obey; and is [Page] not here obedience to ſomthing, and doth the free grace of God ſave the diſobedient, who yeild themſelves to obey the God of this world, and denies the teachings of the grace when it appeareth; for the grace of God appeareth unto all men, and the appearance of it doth diſcover ungodlineſs and worldly luſts in all, but who are they that are taught to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts? are not they ſuch as obey the grace in its appearance; or can any be taught by the grace and not obey it; you may as truly ſay, that all men ſhall be ſaved, becauſe the grace unto all men appeareth; but this is known and witneſſed by the children of Light, who are the children of obedience, that as the grace appeareth againſt ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, ſo the grace is to be obeyed in its appearance, and being obeyed, it then teaches to deny that which it appears againſt; and not onely ſo, but it alſo teaches to live the life of godlineſs, and ſo the grace being obeyed it brings ſalvation; for it overcomes ſin, and gives victory over the God of this World, who leadeth in ſin ſuch ſervants as obeys him; and hereby it may be underſtood, that ſalvation is by grace, and not by works, and ſo it is believed and vvitneſsed by all the children of Light, vvho knovves that obedience to the grace, doth not ſet up the firſt Covenant, but eſtabliſhes the ſecond, in vvhich the Goſpel is miniſtred according to the riches of his grace, vvho is the fulneſs of all things; therefore it is manifeſt that you are yet under Moſes, though you have Chriſt to talk of, and the vail is yet over your hearts, not being redeemed from under the Lavv and its condemnation, but are in diſobedience to the Light of Chriſt, by vvhich the law is fulfilled, and in vvhich the Goſpel is preached again as in times paſt; therefore all come to the Light of Chriſt vvith vvhich you are enlightned, and obey it vvhen in your Conſciences it reproves you, that it may guide you, and lead you, and teach you, and bring life and imortality into you, vvhich you can never finde in your ovvn vvay; and therefore out of your ovvn vvay you muſt depart in, the leadings of the Light, if ever you come to the life from vvhich the Light is made manifeſt, and you muſt obey the Light; and follovv it, and not reject it, and quench it, and by follovving the Light in obedience, it vvill bring you to forſake your ovvn vvay, and all your invented forms, and vvill bring you into the vvay vvhich God hath prepared, in vvhich the croſs is placed; upon [Page] vvhich all worldly luſts is crucified and condemned, and the old man vvith all his deeds deſtroyed; and as you take up the Croſs and follovv the Light, vvhich is to obey it, then you vvill have true peace in your vvay, and vvill knovv and underſtand the Goſpel of God, vvhich is the power of God unto Salvation; and the Goſpel will have a free courſe in you, and not be quenched, and ſo the Croſs is in the way which God hath prepared, but eaſe and fleſhly liberty is in the way which man hath invented; and therefore it is that ſo many walkes in it, and are ſo in love with it as they will not forſake it, but whoſoever continues in that path, and doth not turn to the Light, with the Light to be guided they will finde the pit to be in the end of it; therefore how deeply are people concerned to take heed to their way, leaſt their obſtinacy run them to perpetual ruine; for it is not a profeſſion of any ſort that will bring peace in the latter end, though people may be obſervant in what they do profeſs, according to their own forme, but the life which in the Light is miniſtred, in that alone by which the Soul is comforted, and ſuſtained, and in the needful times is helped and relieved, and that is the Goſpel which brings glad tydings of peace, and glad tydings of good things, that binde up the broken hearted, and reſtores joy for mourning, and gives the ſpirit of gladneſs for the ſpirit of heavineſs, and ſo the poor receives the Goſpel, and it is glad tydings unto them, but the rich reject it, being filled with their own wealth, and ſo they are ſent emptie away as to the virtue which the Goſpel miniſtreth; and therefore it is hard for a rich man to be ſaved, who hath ſtirred himſelf with the fetchings in of wealth by his Earthly wiſdom, his Ear is ſtopped to the joyful ſound of the Goſpel; but the poor are ſenſible of their want, and ſo are always waiting to be ſupplied from the ſpring of life, and are ready to receive when it opens and miniſters, and by the Goſpel they are converted, relieved, refreſhed, and ſtrengthned; for the virtue thereof flowes in the life, unto every breathing ſoul that wants in the Light; and this is the Goſpel which is preached again in the Spirits power, as in times paſt, and the joyful ſound hath entered the hearts of the poor, and thereby they are reſtored into the joy of Gods Salvation, and are heires of the Kingdom, and inherits the riches of life everlaſting, ſo as the teſtimony of the Light is faithfully obeyed, the power of the Goſpel, workes by operation, and overcomes the [Page] god of this World, and rend away the vail with which he hath blinded the minde, and then the minde enters into the power of the Goſpel, and in the power receives faith to believe in God, and by faith in the power there is a ſure ſtanding, and a patient waiting upon God; then doth the power work into ſalvation regeneration and tranſlation, beating down every ſtrong hold, and caſting out the god of this World which hath been exalted in the place where he ought not, and ſo darkneſs comes to be Expelled out of man by the power of the Goſpel which worketh effectually in all that believe, by which the mindes is drawn into the new and living way, and ſo comes to be redeemed up to God by Jeſus Chriſt, in whom is life Eternal, and in whole life is the fellowſhip of the Goſpel; therefore all people, forſake your own way and live, and walk in the way of underſtanding, that after your long time of weary wandrings in the night ſeaſon where darkneſs hath compaſſed you about, you may come to the Light of Chriſt in your own Conſciences, and ſo enter into the ſame reſt, which is onely in God.

A tender greeting unto the royal off-ſpring of God.

RIght Dear and tenderly, beloved Lambs, in an acceptable time hath the Lord God manifeſted his everlaſting love unto you, and in the day of his Salvation he hath ſweetly viſited your tender ſoules, and hath raiſed you up by the arme of his power into the glorious life of the ſon of his love, in whom he hath choſen you, and in whom he hath ſet his love upon you, and made you his peculiar ones, in whom he taketh great delight, and unto you his love doth freely run without ceaſing, and his life doth flow with pure ſtreams of ſweet refreſhings; for in his Covenant he hath gathered you, and in his Covenant his virtue hath free paſſage to you, in which you ſpring as plants of his own hand; and in his hand he keepes you, that none can pluck you out; for with his hand he hath done valiant things ſince the day he ſet his love upon you, and you are made witneſſes of his mighty power, by which he hath preſerved you in your greateſt afflictions, [Page] it is none but he alone that could do that for you which hath been done, and therefore he alone is worthy of all the glory; for the work is of him, and the glory belongs unto him over all. Therefore my dearly beloved in the Lord, keep your Eye ſingle to the firſt principle, the meaſure of Light which is pure, for therein the Goſpel was firſt preached unto you, and by the ſame your Eyes were opened, and your Ears unſtopped, & your hearts broken and melted, and there was the hand reached forth by which you was firſt helped, and by that holy principle alone you have been quickned; for it preached from the throne of God, and from his glory, and with the ſame you were overcome to yeild up all to be made one with it: So that ye are made children of the Light, and of the day, and are witneſſes that this principle brought life and immortality to Light by the Goſpel, and the glad tydings did reach your mourning ſouls, and you were thereby turned unto God, and became followers of the truth in the love of it, and the Lord hath been with you, and bleſſed you, and hath made your way proſperous, even as a people upon whom his love is placed; and as he hath choſen you, and is a God present with you, ſo let the deſires of your hearts be kept unto him, and to the remembrance of his name, that the pure ſeed of life may be Crowned in every one, which is the birth that ſeekes the glory of God alone; for as ye abide in the principle in which you are gathered, ſo will the pure fear be retained, and in the low eſtate you will be preſerved, unto which the Lord hath great regard; for the waves upon the waters doth but riſe to fall again, but the low eſtate is fixed on the Rock, and upon the rock ſtands higher then all, and there the life is fell which God doth highly exalt. Oh ye tender hearts! the Light of Chriſt teacheth, that plainneſs is the path of truth, and lowly mindes walks in that, way, and ſimplicity is with them, and innocency cloaths them, and in that life is the ſweet refreſhment; for there the babe doth relliſh the ſavour of that which is good for food, and with the ſame is comforted and nouriſhed in its tender growth; therefore in the innocency keep our ſtation, that the weighty power of God may for ever be your defence; ſo will the glory of his life reſt upon you, and the plant of his hand wil flouriſh and be fruitful in you, and in its beautie you will be comely as the off-spring of God, and bear his Image in the ſeed of glory; therefore retain the firſt [Page] principle which is of God, that the love wherewith God loves you may for ever remain with you, and do you increaſe therein to the glory of him who hath choſen you; for there is not an other Goſpel but that which was firſt preached amongſt you, and received by you, the ſound of which was joyful in your hearts, and made your feeble knees to gather ſtrength, ſo that you could walk and leap for joy. Oh dwell in the ſame my dear beloved, for it is the weighty power of God, in which is the Kingdom and life without end.

And have ſuch in ſingular love who are Fathers in Iſrael, who firſt brought the tydings of peace by the Goſpel; for they are worthy of double honour vvho yet continues labouring in the vvord and doctrine, and nurſes the birth vvith pure milk, and refreſhes the plant vvith heavenly vvaters; and though ſome be fallen aſleep, having finiſhed their teſtimony faithfully, yet their life remains vvith us, and in the ſame their glorious teſtimony are had in remembrance; yea it can never be forgotten by the upright in heart, for their labour and travel, and faithful ſufferings for the Lord and his precious truth, doth ſtand as a ſure feal of their holy teſtimony, which by them was faithfully held forth unto the end, againſt all unrighteouſneſs and ungodlineſs of men, and all their unlawfull deeds, and they are now entered into everlaſting reſt, where their reward is with them in fullneſs; and as their precious life is reteined, ſo will their teſtimony be abundantly increaſed and enlarged, by which God will yet make known his great power and glory, to the comfort of his people, and amazement of their enemies; therefore hold faſt the gift of God which in the Light ye have received, that you with the ſame may be cloſe girded up, and in your well doing continue to the end, neither looking back, nor turning aſide to lay hold upon any other thing then what was firſt preached, and in which ye believed and received, which is the gift of God into Eternal life.

Brethren, theſe things I write, not as though ye had need of teaching, but in that dear and tender love which floweth to youwards, in the ſame to ſtir up your pure mindes to retain and hold faſt that which ye have heard from the begining; and the anointing which abideth in you will teach you the ſame, as ye abide in it; for you have no need of teaching who are in the anointing, but [Page] as the ſame anointing teacheth you of all things, which alſo will bring to your Remembrance whatſoever hath been told you, through the holy teſtimony of faithful brethren in the ſame life, ſo ye being come to that which abides for ever, ye know the Lord to be your teacher, who by his Counſel inſtructs you in the night ſeaſon, and with his love doth comfort you and ſtrengthen you, when there is not another to help you; and herein the Lord hath made you to differ from all wanderers, who are wearying themſelves in their own way, and ſetting up teachers in their own wills, upon whom the apoſtacie yet abideth, ſo that they hear not the heavenly voyce, but gives heed to fables; which unto them is ſpoken by the voyce of dreamers; but yee beloved have a more ſure word, being come to the heavenly Light, in which you hear Chriſts voyce, and follow him as his own ſheep in his own way, where he teaches you in ſecret with the ſtill voyce of his life, ſo that you can ſit in ſilence and ſee your teacher, and hear his voyce that ſpeakes from heaven, and receive the joyful ſound into your hearts, and feed upon the ſweetneſs of his own virtue, and drink of the Rivers of his pleaſure freely▪ and this is the weighty power of God which goes over all the wandrings and preſſes into the ſtillneſs, by which the ſeed of God comes into dominion, and cloathes the babes of its nature with the garment of praiſe, and in this life the witneſs of God is anſwered in every Conſcience; and this is the life which unto you is come, and of which ye are born, ye dear beloved Lambs, who are reconciled unto God through Jeſus Chriſt, in whoſe love, life and power he hath joyned you together, and made you a compleat body in himſelf, from whom let no man ſeparate you, or put you aſunder; but grow in his life, in which you are purely the off-spring of God, by whoſe power you are regenerated, and born again of incorruptible ſeed, and are tranſlated into the nature of the lamb, whoſe heavenly image you bear in his glory.

So let the Word of Chriſt dwell plentifully in you, and in the ſame exhort one another, and build up one another in your moſt holy faith, alwayes keeping your Eye to the movings of the word, that none may quench it through fear or doubting, nor loſe its motion by over-running; but as it purely moves in it ſelf, & opens the riches of its fulneſs, ſo let the virtue flow from its own life without adding or diminiſhing, and there you will all drink at the [Page] ſtreams of one fountain, and be comforted together by one ſpring; for as there may be a ſervice loſt when the movings of the word is quenched, ſo there can be no ſervice done when another motion is anſwered, or the true motion of the word is over-run; but when the word diſpoſeſit ſelf in the riches of it ſelf, the ſavour of its life is to the life in which the Babes rejoyce in endleſs peace and unitie.

Oh ye Lambs, right dear and precious you are, be ſtrong in the faith, and look up to God, the day of your glory yet breaketh forth, darkneſs cannot vail it, cruelty cannot cloud it, your innocencie preaches, your patience and meekneſs reaches Gods witneſs, the ſeed anſwereth and riſeth, & many Eyes are turning to your Light and life, ſtrong deſires are kindled towards you, and the hearts of many wiſheth well unto you; and though they behold you a far off, yet they love you: Oh the patient ſufferings of the lambes hath pierced deep, glorious is your teſtimony ye holy ones; who ſhall oppoſe you to proſper, I know not any, though for a time they may afflict you and caſt you down, yet you are not forſaken, but ſhall riſe again▪ for the moſt high hath bleſsed you, and your life ſhall ſpread and flouriſh, whilſt they that ſeek your hurt will run themſelves to ruine. Dearly beloved brethren and lambs, Fare ye well in the life of Chriſt Jeſus, who hath made us one in himſelf, and ſet us together in the heavenly places of his love, in whoſe boſom our joy, and peace, and reſt is ſure for ever, where I right dearly greet you all. The everlaſting God of power & peace be with you, preſerve and keep yon in his heavenly power, life and wiſdome, in dominion to reigne, even ſo Amen.

The arme of the Lord in this place is largely ſtretched forth, to the gathering of his elect, and the precious truth doth flouriſh and abundantly proſper, & many are lately joyned with it, & are become followers of it in love, glory and everlaſting praises be given unto God moſt High. Friends in theſe parts are generally well and freſh in the truth of God and meetings large & peaceable, and in the love and Life of God both bond and free rejoyces together.

Nottingham County Gaole The ſecond Month 1663.

W. S.

THE END.

Information about this book

Title statement

Gospel-tydings wherein is shewed what the Gospel administration was, the apostacy from it, and the restauration into it again : being a message of true and unfeigned love ... / [by] W.S.

Smith, William, d. 1673.

Edition statement

1663

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A60634

ID [STC]

Wing S4306

ID [STC]

ESTC R42733

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

10440497

ID [OCLC]

ocm 10440497

ID [VID]

45031

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A60634)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 45031)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1390:4)

Source

— Gospel-tydings wherein is shewed what the Gospel administration was, the apostacy from it, and the restauration into it again : being a message of true and unfeigned love ... / [by] W.S., Smith, William, d. 1673..

Extent

17 p.

[s.n.],. London :: 1663.. (Signed and dated: W.S., Nottingham County Gaol, the second month, 1663.) (Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.)

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