The Worlds Question;

VVHether is Perfection, or freedom from all sin, Quest. to be attained in this life, or no?

Yea; Answ. or else to no purpose was Christ made manifest in the flesh, as may hereafter appear: for in the lowest distance or alienation, in the fall from God, we are but the servants of sin; and if by him we are not set free from the service there­of, then what are we saved from? or, what are we the better by him? for without him we are but so; and if he leave us where he finds us (which is to say) in sin, what then is he a Saviour from? or, how doth he effect that which is said of him? For Sin and Imperfection is of the Devil; 1 John 3.8. for the de­stroying of which, he the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of all that believe in his Light and Son of the world, was manifested; and if this work be not effected by him, then may we say he is insufficient, and comes short of the end for which he was given for a Light to the Gentiles, Isa. 42.6, 7. and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth; who is the second Covenant, which is not sound faulty, as was the first, which made nothing perfect; Therefore was it taken away, that the second, Heb. 7.19. which is the better hope, by which we draw nearer to God, might be established: so then, shall I conclude with the world, that the first made none of the comers thereto perfect, nor the se­cond neither? God forbid.

For they who do believe and receive him who is the new and second Covenant, Christ Jesus the true Light, who en­lightneth every man that cometh into the world; to them, as the Scripture saith, he gives power to become the sons of God, who are not born of flesh and blood, neither of the will of man, Joh. 1.12, 13.but of God: and who is so born, sinneth not, because God's Seed, [Page 8]Christ Jesus abideth in him, 1 John, 3.9. Mal. 1.21. who is a Saviour thar saves his People from their sin, and not in it: they who know this, know the Scripture to be true, because it is fulfilled in them; and can truly call Christ, Lord, because they do his Will, and not their own, but are dead thereto, and are only alive to God, bringing forth fruits of Righteousness, the end of which is Life and Peace: Rom. 8.3, 13. All which is fulfilled in them, who walk not after the flesh, but through the Spirit of Life in Christ, which makes free from sin and death, and doth mortifie the deeds of the same: These are they, who through the washing of Rege­neration in the work of mortification, come to know and witness a cleansing from all sin, and to have their Robes made white in the blood of the Lamb, Heb. 9.26. who was made manifest to put a­way and make an end of all sin, and to perfect for ever those that through the Spirit are thus sanctified.

Yea, Object. but (saith the world) Our Teachers Rich. Baxter for one.who are learned and wise, tell us, this Doctrine of Perfection is a dangerous tenent, and the Doctrine of the Devil, and not of Christ nor his Apostles; but is a blasphemous Principle, contrary to the Scriptures.

Now to this, Answ. I say, You are not to believe all that your Teachers tell you, but come down to the Light of Christ, and hear these things tryed by it, and the Scriptures also, and hold fast that which is good. Now this is the Record that God gave of his Son, by his Servant Moses, who prophesied, saying, Acts 3.22. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me, Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he saith: And it shall come to pass, That whosoever will not hear and obey him, shall be cut off from the Land of the Living. And in like manner, Mal. 3.3. to Him gave all the Prophets witness, saying, He shall come as a Refiners fire, and as Fullers sope, and shall thorowly purge the sons of Levi, that they might offer an Offering to the Lord in Righteousness. Mat. 3.12. Also John Baptist bare witness of him, saying, His Fan is in his hand, and he will thorowly purge his Floor, (Mark that) not in part, he doth not say, but thorowly. And now he, the Eternal and Everlasting true Light, the chief and High-Priest over the Houshold of God, the pure Purger, Perfecter, Cleanser and Fulfiller of all the Law and the Pro­phets: Behold, this is his Doctrine, preached by him in the [Page 9]dayes of his flesh, Be ye perfect, Matth. 9.48.as your heavenly Father is per­fect: And now, behold, he is arisen in many sons and daugh­ters by his quickening Spirit, which hath raised them out of Sin and Death, and through them is he preaching by Life and Doctrine, the same as he lived in, who is the same, yesterday, to day, and for ever; who is the perfect Pattern, and finished his course in Perfection, leaving it an Example, for all that be­lieve in him to follow. So this is none of the Devil's Do­ctrine, neither his Command; but the Doctrine and Com­mand of the Son of God, who is not a hard nor an unjust ma­ster, requiring that of his servants which he gives them not power to do, but it is the slothful servant that makes not use of his talent, but buries it in the Earth, and then complains for want of power; but they who receive the gift of God, God giveth them power to do whatsoever he commandeth, whose Commandments, 1 Joh. 2, 3.1.7. to them that follow him in faithful­ness, were not greivous, but joyful; who were washed and cleansed, but not by themselves, but by walking in the Light, as God was in the Light; so came they to witness the Blood of his Son to cleanse them, not from some sin, but all; and so were made Ministers, not of the Letter, which killeth, but of the Spirit, which giveth Life, and quickeneth unto Perfection, and laboured to bring men thereto, that they might present every man perfect in Christ, in whom there is no sin; for he was not sent to be a cloak to cover sin under his righteous garment, but to destroy it, and take it away, slaying the car­nal or fleshly mind which warreth against the soul, working sin in the members, upon the Cross which is spiritual, or all spirit; which Cross worketh inwardly, bringing into subjection every vain thought and imagination, taking every motion of evil in the conception, and so destroyes it there before it be acted or consented to; which every one that receives him in his Light, which maketh all things manifest, shall come to witness, even a dying with him to the flesh, from whence comes sin, and then quickning by the Spirit with Christ unto Righteousness. This is the first Resurrection, to arise out of Sin into Perfection with Christ, the which except a man be made a partaker of in this life, the second death will have power over him.

So by all this it appears, that Christ is the Minister of Per­fection, who preached it more clear and exacter than it was in the Law; Matth. 5.28. who said, if a man lust to do any thing, he is guilty as if he did it; which the Law without was too weak to find out; and so became a strengthner of the Law, which requireth Perfection: and also for the effecting of this he gave gifts to his Apostles and Ministers, some he made Prophets, some Teachers and Evangelists, others Pastors, and the like, for the finishing of the work which he had begun, which was, to perfect all the Members of his Body, the Church, that they might all come to the measure, and stature, and fulness of him who was perfect, and is the perfecter of all that believe in him, who is the Light that shines in darkness; and these Apostles brought some, Rom. 6.18. by turning them from darkness to this Light, to witness freedom from sin, and had their fruits unto holi­ness, and the end everlasting life: and also, those who had not attained to this estate, 1 Pet. 1.15. they did not tell them they never should in this life, but exhorted them to go on to Perfection, giving them many Commands to that end, warning and tea­ching every man in all wisdom, that they might present them­selves perfect in Christ, in whom there is no sin nor sinners: for they that are in him, are new created in Righteousness and true Holiness, which is without sin, and all things in them are of God, being all made new by the Son of God who sits upon the Throne as a Refiners fire, which consumes all the dross and takes away the tin, and then sin must needs be done away, for that's of the Devil. Now for this end did Paul strive and labour mightily, Heb. 13.21. Jam. 1.4. both praying and desiring God to make them perfect in every good work. And likewise James, in the tryal of their Faith, exhorted them to keep in the pati­ence, and let it have its perfect work, that they might be per­fect and entire, wanting nothing. Peter also in his exhortati­on, wherein he stirs them up by way of remembrance, to go on unto the end, and not faint by the way; neither to live in the fashions of the world, nor lusts of the flesh; but com­mands them to be holy in all manner of conversation, as he that hath called them is holy; 1 Pet. 1.16. (The reason why? saith he) because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy; (Mark that) He doth [Page 11]not say this Command is taken away, neither too hard to be fulfilled. To the same effect John, the blessed Disciple, to the little Children, warned them not to deceive themselves, by saying they had no sin before they were cleansed there­from, but that they should confess it to God, then he would forgive it them; and not only so, 1 John 1.7, 8, 9. but if they walked in the Light, as he is in the Light, then their fellowship should be with him, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son should cleanse them from ALL Sin. 1 Joh. 3.8, 9, 10. He then exhorts them not to be deceived by any man, telling them, he that doth Righteousness, is righteous, even as Christ is righteous; and that he that hath the living true Faith in him, purifies himself, even as he is pure; saying, he that commits sin, is of the Devil, for he sinned from the beginning: but he that is born of God, sinneth not, neither indeed can he, be­cause God's Seed remains in him, which is Christ the Light, which saves from sin. And then he gives a mark to know the Children of God from the children of the Devil, saying, Whosoever doth not Righteousness, is not of God, but of the Devil, as his words before signifie; and also, if a man sayes, he knows Christ, Mat. 5. last.and keeps not his Commandments (one of which is to be perfect) he is a lyar, and the truth is not in him; for he that saith he abideth in him, ought himself so to walk, even as he walked: For he that sinneth, and abideth not in his Doctrine, 2 Joh. 9.hath not God, but denies, and is denied of both the Father and the Son, let him say and profess what he will. Also, the Spirit speaking to one of the Churches, found fault, because their works were not perfect before God, Rev. 3.4.who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; bidding them therefore to repent and be watchful, because there was something wanting.

Wherefore the Spirit cryeth this day through me, Awake, awake ye sluggards, arise, arise ye careless ones, who are at ease in sin, and have taken up your rest in iniquity; for the Son of Righteousness is risen, and the Day of Holiness is dawned, therefore God requireth all men to repentance, and to bring forth fruits meet thereto; for the night of ignorance, where­at he winked, is past, and he is arisen in his mighty Power who will no longer be silent, but will cry like a travelling woman, who will not cease till the Birth is brought forth, [Page 12]which is to establish Judgement and Righteousness in the Earth, that he alone over all may be exalted; therefore will he search the whole Earth with his pure candle of Light, and will make the sinners in Sion afraid, and fearfulness shall sur­prize the hypocrites, and none shall abide before him who is a con­suming fire, nor dwell with everlasting burnings; but he that walk­eth in Righteousness and speaketh uprightly,Psa. 15.1, 2, 3.and despiseth the gain of oppression, and holdeth his hands from bribes, his eyes from see­ing of evil, and his ears from hearing of blood; it is he that shall dwell on high, his place of defence shall be the Name of the Lord, which is the Refuge of the Righteous, his eyes shall see the King of Sion in his beauty: and therefore let all people fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his Judgment is come, wherein he will be avenged upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth, who are made drunk with the Wine of Fornication, in Babylon the Mystory of Iniquity, which the Lord God in his Almightiness is arisen to destroy; and therefore if any man follow the Beast, which is that unclean nature which polluteth man, or receives and keeps his Mark, which is Sin, the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured forth without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and of the Lamb of God; who would have taken away their sin by his Light of Life, but they would not believe therein, Joh. 3.19. but loved the darkness rather, because their deeds were evil: but blessed are they that believe therein, and follow it, for it's they only that die in the Lord, and rest from their labour, and their works do follow them, saith the Spirit, Revel. 14.13.

But now to the thing before-mentioned. It's plainly ma­nifest, that the Doctrine of Perfection is of God; commanded by him, and preached by his Son, whom the Prophets pro­phesied should come to that end, and witnessed by his Apo­stles and Ministers, who have left in the Scriptures of Truth their Testimony concerning the same, which as a Cloud of Witnesses, doth testifie for and to the same, far exceeding more than I have here mentioned.

By all which it appears, that your Ministers are not of [Page 13]Christ, notwithstanding all their wisdom and learning, but contrary to him and his Ministers, Isa. 40.3. and the true Prophets who foretold of Him, and the glory of his Day: Therefore the conclusion must needs be, They are of the false Prophets spi­rit, and consequently of Antichrist; wherefore I shall men­tion a little, according to Scripture, how they are one in this very thing, with the false Prophets and Antichristian Sedu­cers which were in the world in the Apostles days, and which they prophesied should come in the latter days, after their de­cease. Now in the first place, in the dayes of old, God by the mouth of his Servants, cryed against false Prophets and Priests, who were from the greatest to the least all given to covetousness, every one dealing falsly, Jer. 23.14, 17. Micah 3.5, 13. Ezek. 10.11, 12, 13 14, 15, 16in healing the hurt of the danghter of his People slightly, crying peace to those that put into their mouth, when there was no peace: So they strengthned the hands of the wicked, that they should not turn from their evil wayes, but promised them life therein; and so seduced the people, and caused them to erre, by their lyes, and by their lightness; one building a wall, and another daubed it with untempered mortar, which would not stand in the overflowing shower of the Wrath of God.

So in like manner, your Teachers through covetousness and self-ends have spoken smoothly to you, telling you of the Mercy of God, 2 Pet. 2 [...]. through which your sins should be forgiven you, though you lived in them, and with the Serpent's voice have said, though you eat of the forbidden fruit which is sin, yet ye shall not die; so here in your unsound conditions, even like a rotten wall, they have daubed you with untempered mortar, which will not stand you in any stead when the Lord by his pure Light in your Consciences, comes to search you with Judgment, then your daubing will not hide you from the Wrath of the Lamb; no, no, then all their smooth words, and untempered doctrine, which they have invented to please you for self-ends, telling you of Heaven & what a happy glo­rious place it is, wil all flie away from you, and them also, who have led you in blindness, and have caused you to erre from the Voice of God, to follow the voice of the Serpent, who led man into sin, and so blinded his mind that he might cause [Page 14]him never to find the way to God again, which is a way of Holiness in which the unclean cannot walk: So I say, if you will not come out from amongst them, and be separated from the unclean thing, which is sin, and own and receive the Light of Christ, that it may search all your wounds and pu­trifying sores, from the crown of your heads to the soals of your feet, that so he may wash you thorowly, and baptize you with fire, and burn up all that is contrary to his pure Life in you: I say, except this you come to and witness, with you blind guides you must fall into the ditch.

Now I shall come to speak a little of the Deceivers which Christ and the Apostles spoke of in their dayes. First, Christ said, 1 Joh. 3.8. Beware of false Prophets, which come unto you in sheeps clo­thing, but inwardly are ravening wolves: ye shall know them by their fruits. Now we know that sin is a mark of the Devil, or a fruit of an evil tree; likewise Perfection is a mark of God, for he is perfect, and it's the fruit of a good tree; so they who are in sin, and plead it for doctrine, that they can never be out of it whilst in this life, are the evil trees, because they bring forth such fruit as this, which a good tree cannot bring forth. Also Paul said, that the Spirit spake expresly, that in the latter times some should depart from the Faith, 1 Tim. 4.1.giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of Devils, speaking lyes in hypo­crisie, having their consciences seared with a hot iron. Now mark, Is not this the doctrine of the Devil, that though men live in sin they shall not be damned, but shall escape the condem­ning power thereof? did not the Devil himself preach this first, Gen. 3.4. when he said, Ye shall not surely dye, though you eat of the forbidden tree? and are not they who maintain this for truth, those, whose consciences are seared and hardned against the Voice of God, even to speak lyes in hypocrisie against his Spirit, which condemns sin in the flesh? And also, he fur­ther saith this; 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, &c. Know that in the last dayes perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boa­sters, proud, blasphemers, false accusers, without natural affection, truce-breakers, fierce, despisers of those that are good; heady, traiterous, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof. [Page 15]Now of this sort are they that creep into houses, leading captive silly women, laden with sin, led away with divers lusts; ever learn­ing, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now it seems, that these proud, covetous, high-minded men, who were fierce, despisers of those that are good, had a form of Godliness, like many now, who deny the power thereof, even as those did; for the power of God, or of Godliness, makes all those that have it, free from the power of the De­vil, whose power leads man captive at his will, doing his work, which is sin, which all who have the form, and not the power, are servants to; for he that commits sin, is the servant of sin, Joh. 8.34 and he that serves it, the Devil is his master: Rom. 6.16. for his servants ye are to whom ye obey; and he that serves him, cannot serve Christ, nor is a Child of God; for ye cannot serve God and mammon, neither two masters, saith Christ. So it's certain we must be of the one, for we cannot be of both. And now also, who is it that be ever learning, and never comes to know the Truth, but those that never knew a freedom from sin, neither do believe they ever shall in this life? for Christ said, if you continue in my Doctrine, then shall you know the Truth, Joh. 8.31, 32, 33, 34.and the Truth shall make you free. But the Jews replied, saying, We were never in bondage to any man. But said Christ, He that com­mits sin, is the servant of sin. So it appears, that they who are overcome with sin, and led away with divers lusts, are not come to know Christ the Truth, who sets free from sin; and they are the creepers into houses, who lead silly people in blind­ness, laden with sin, and tells them they can never be eased of the burden thereof in this life; yet promises them liberty and freedom in the life to come, whilst they are the servants of corruption in this life: Are not these the filthy dreamers that defile the flesh, who are sensual and devilish, Jude, 10, 11.knowing nothing but what they know naturally, in which they corrupt themselves? (which is to say) in their outward learning, which though it be Hebrew, Greek and Latine, yet it is all but natural, even as English is, which a child may learn of its parents; so like­wise all other tongues are learned of men: but the true know­ledge of God is onely learned in and by the Spirit. Are not these also those, who with fair words and smooth speeches deceive [Page 16]the hearts of the simple by their great swelling words of vanity, which they invent to please such who have itching ears, that cannot away with sound Doctrine, but love to be daubed up slightly; who cannot endure to hear of coming out of sin in this life, and yet would have Heaven in that which is to come: I say, such Teachers as these are of Antichrist, whom Jude saith were clouds without water, Jude 12. which is, to have a shew of Godliness, but have not his Life abiding in them, but their hearts are exercised with covetous practices, and for self-ends admire some mens persons for their own advantage, who themselves could not cease from sin: these are the murmur­ers and complainers, Phil. 3.19. who walk after their own ungodly lusts, minding earthly things, whose god is their belly.

This was the fruit of the spirit of Antichrist that the Apo­stles said should come, and was come in their dayes, by which we know that those who bring forth such fruits are of the same spirit in these our dayes; the consideration of which I shall leave to the Witness of God in all people, that they thereby might come to see whether those that deny the Do­ctrine of Perfection, and plead for sin term of life, do not in all, or many of these things, agree with the Antichrists and false Prophets that are mentioned in Scriptures? and so the conclusion unavoidably will be this, They are not of God, but of the world, which lieth in wickedness, and therefore the world heareth and followeth them.

Yea, Object. but (saith the world) though we do not believe, we can be perfectly freed from all sin in this life; yet we do not believe that we must or may live in sin wilfully, neither do our Teachers tell us we shall be saved if we do; but they tell us we must strive against it what we can, and then we shall be accepted through Christ, for he hath tasted death for us, and so hath made a way for all that can believe he died for their sin, and rose again for their Justifi­cation, to be accepted through his Righteousness, which shall be im­puted for ours; and though we live in some sin which is condem­ned by the Law, yet hath he by his Death delivered us from the condemning power of sin and the Law, the force of which he hath taken away; for we are not under the Law, but under Grace.

To this I answer. Answ. Although they teach you to abstain from wilful sinning, yet in teaching that you can never be free from all, causeth many to give up to temptations, and to give place to the Devil; and then if the Witness of God reprove them for so doing, they flie back in their minds from it, and strengthen themselves in their unclean faith against it, and so reject the Light and Power of God, which is it onely that saves from sin; and so though you strive against it what you can in this state, all your striving is in vain, being onely in your own wills, and altogether of your selves, having re­jected, through disobedience, the Power of God, which in his mercy is freely offered unto all, in the Light of his Son, to redeem them from that wherein they are held in bon­dage, which is sin; I say, denying it, and counting it an un­certain and insufficient thing, you are never able to overcome the Enemy in your own striving; for if you could, then you had no need of a Saviour to destroy the works of the Devil for you, which is sin, and to save you therefrom, which was and is the end of his coming in the flesh, even in the hearts of all people, to condemn sin there; and also for this end he died to the flesh once, and was made an Offering, to put an end to all the Types, Rom. 3.25. Sacrifices and Shadows of the first Law and Priesthood, and so took away all the hand writing of Or­dinances, making an Atonement for sins past, that forgiveness might be preached to and in all that receive him, and walk in his Light; which was not to be found in, nor by the outward Law, for it being once transgressed, there remains nothing but condemnation: So mercy and forgiveness came by Jesus the Saviour, (and not by the Law) without whom none could be saved; because all had and have transgressed, and come short of fulfilling the Law; therefore all your striving, whilst you reject Christ the Light, which makes sin manifest, in whom the Law of the Spirit of Life is witnessed, which sets free the soul through the administring of death unto, and condemning that in man which warreth against it, by bringing it into captivity unto sin, through which comes death; I say, though you may strive with all your might, which indeed is but weakness, you will never get dominion over sin, because you [Page 18]in denying the Light, miss of the Power which only redeems out of the bondage thereof; which Power doth accompany that which reproves for, and condemns sin in the flesh; to which, except you become subjects unto, neither freedom from sin, nor the righteousness of the Law (which is Perfecti­on) you will never come to witness; and so though you be­lieve he died for your sin, yet unless you come to know him to arise in you, to destroy it and take it away inwardly, and thereby to fulfil the Law of Righteousness in you, and so to mortifie the deeds of the flesh, which breaks the Law by his powerful Spirit, that you may follow it, and your fruits may be unto Righteousness, and you dead to the fruits of the flesh, which is sin, all your belief will avail you no more than the Jews unbelief did them, which rather added to their con­demnation than otherwise.

Therefore all come down to that of God made manifest in you, and receive it with a willing mind, and then you will feel it giving you that power, which by all your own willing and striving out of it, you could never obtain, even to become the Sons of God, and to know his Seed brought forth in dominion, in you to abide, and then you will come to know what that state was in which they were that could not sin, 1 John, 3.9. because they were born of God, and his Seed remains in them, by which they were kept, so that the wicked one toucheth them not; because greater was he that was in them, than he that was in the world: So unless you feel this wrought in you by him, all your talk of him and his Righteousness will do you no good: for as long as you commit sin, the filth will follow it, and the condemning of that which condemns sin in the flesh will follow you to the end of your race, by which a fire will be kindled where the worm will never die, neither goes it out; and the Law against sin you will find to have its full force then, because you rejected the Light through diso­bedience, which would have destroyed for you that which transgressed the Law in you, and as you had yeelded in obe­dience to it, it would have fulfilled the Law in you, by bring­ing forth fruits of holiness which the Law requireth; and all your thoughts of being from under the Law, will prove vain; [Page 19]for it is said to be a Schoolmaster to bring unto Christ the Light and Lamb of God, who takes away sin; the which, Gal. 3.24. except you are brought to, and by him cleansed, you will find the Law to stand in full force over you, you being out of him who ends that which transgresseth it, Jam. 2.10. even by slaying it upon the Cross, which is the Power of God, which over-comes, or rather comes over, and so brings under the power of the De­vil, which keeps man in bondage in sin: so when you come to know this, you will cease remembring his death at Jerusalem, and will come to see how he hath been cru­cified in you, and what it is that hath crucified him; Rom. 6.10. and not onely so, but will know a dying with him to the flesh and the fruits thereof; and then shall you be quickened with him in the Spirit of Life, in which you will live unto God, which you will truly know when he comes to arise from the dead in you, and to lead that captive which hath held him in captivity, and oppressed him as a cart with sheaves, who while you go astray bears the iniquity of you all, and is cru­cified in that place which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt; (reade within and feel what I say) then will you come to mourn over him whom you have pierced: Rev. 1.7. And this ve­rily I say unto you, except you know his Crucifixion and Re­surrection nearer you than Jerusalem, even in you, and ari­sing with him out of the grave of sin and death, and a living to God in the Spirit of Holiness, which sets free from sin; all your talking of his dying for your sin, and arising for your ju­stification, while you have lived in sinning against his Light in your Consciences, will never profit you any thing: Ephes. 5.14. There­fore arise thou that sleepest in sin, and stand up to Judgment, and hearken to that which calls out of sin, which is the Spirit of Truth, and it will give thee life, if through death thou wilt follow it; for no other way is there to come to life, but tho­row death to that which leads thee from God; Gal. 3.19. therefore take up the Cross, and kiss the Rod, and it will whip thee out of sin, and a new work in thee will begin: Those that know this death, are not under the Law, but under Grace; for the Law was added because of transgression, in which if a man live, and it live in him, then is he under the Law: for it takes hold [Page 20]on a man so long as he lives in sin, which is the transgression thereof; Tit. 2.11. but he that is dead to sin, is not under it, but is come to the Grace of God, which leads him out of sin, and teacheth him to live godly and righteously in this present evil world: so then by Grace sin is done away, and the Law ful­filled, which requires a holy life, which is brought forth in and through all that receive the Power of God, which in Christ the Light is offered freely to all, that he might be all in all both to will and to do that which man of himself could in no wayes do; he having lost his first estate in which he had po­wer over all things, being fain into the bondage of the Devil, and captivated by him at his will: therefore God in his end­less Love to lost man, Rom. 8.3, 4. sent his Son a Light into the world, who for sin condemneth sin in the flesh, which the Law without was too weak to do, that the Righteousness of it might be fulfilled in all that obey and follow him: Now such can truly witness he comes not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it in and for them, which Law requires Perfection and Holiness, without which a man shall never see God.

But saith the World, Object. Yea, perfect in part, so are accepted a [...] wholly perfect through Christ.

Nay, Answ. not in part say I, but wholly, even entire, wanting nothing; for the Law requires not a part, but the whole; and it is not a Perfection inferiour to what the Law requires, but even the same, if not a better, that we are to be brought to by the power of the Lamb of God, who takes away the im­perfection of all that walk in his Light; or else it cannot be said he fulfills it, but leaves it unfulfilled, and hath made a way by which man shal escape the condemnation of it, though he live in transgression thereof, which was not the end of his coming in the flesh, that man should be accepted perfect, be­cause he lived in perfection; but that the same perfect, in­nocent, harmless life, might be brought forth by the opera­tion of his Life, which is the Light of men, in our mortal bodies; herein lies the acceptance, if he come thus to live in us, to make our sinful bodies conformable to that Body of his, 2 Cor. 5.17. which was the perfect pattern; then are we in him, ac­cording as it is said, He that is in Christ, is a non creature; old [Page 21]things are passed away, and all is become new, and all things are of God, then that which is of the Devil is done away. So here perfection in part will not stand nor agree with this Doctrine; for it is manifest, if we are in Christ, Jam. 1.4. then the intireness is known, where nothing is wanting, because all things are of God who is perfect; but this work is not by self, neither by man's own willing [...]or running, but of God that shews mercy; Col. 1.27. 1 Cor. 1.30. 2 Cor. 4.7. which mercy is Christ the Light, in all that receive him the hope of Glory, who is made unto them wisdom and power, to mor­tifie and justifie, to kill and to make alive, even to work all their works in them and for them, which was the treasure that the Apostles had in their earthen vessels; that the excel­lency of the Power might be of God, and not of them; the which work must be witnessed in this life, for after the de­parture hence, Heb. 3.7, 8. there is no putting off the old man with his deeds: Therefore, while it is called to day, harden not your hearts, but arise, and awake to Righteousness, and hearken to that which knocks at the door of your hearts, calling to repentance; Rev. 3.20.21.27. for nothing that defiles, or is defiled, must enter with the Lamb into the Kingdom of Glory; And if your heads lie down in sin, and in it you end your race, even so will your rest be; in your old garments you will be found, which the Lord, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, hath no pleasure in, neither will receive you, unless your garments are made white in the blood of the Lamb, which clenseth all, who walk in his Light, from sin; which was witnessed by the Apostles, who walked therein in this world, which made them bold against the day of Judgment; because, as he was, even so were they, which is agreeable to Christ's own words, who said, He that is per­fect, shall be as his Master; the which if you witness not before you go hence, all your hopes of it hereafter wil be as a dream, wherein a man thinks he is drinking, but when he awakens, lo he is dry; Even so all your dreams of entring into Holi­ness with Christ, or having his Righteousness imputed for yours, whilst you have lived in unrighteousness, will all pass away as a vision of the night, or as a dream which cometh to nothing.

And for the further proof of this point in hand, the Doctrine [Page 22]of Perfection, Joh. 1.1 give ear a little to the Light of Christ, the faith­ful and true Witness, even the Word that was in the beginning, before sin was brought forth, Rom. 10 8. which in the Scripture is called the Word nigh in the heart, and in the mouth, which Paul prea­ched; Joh. 15.26. and the Spirit of Truth, which convinceth the world of sin, which is infallible, and cannot change, nor err, but keeps its unity with God, of whose nature it is: Behold, I bear a Testimony against all sin, saith the Light, whatever is re­proved is made manifest by me, and in righteous Judgment I seal the Condemnation upon every soul of man that doth evil; for I never consented to any sin since the day that man transgressed against me in the beginning, but have kept my Unity with my Father in purity; though man fell, yet not me, I spare no sin great nor small, but by me it is condem­ned all, neither speak I peace to any therein, telling them they shall be saved from the Wrath to come, though they live in some sin; though man's ear which should have heard my Voice, hath been stopped by the Devil, and his eye kept blind by the god of the world, so that he hath not known my Voice nor seen my Shape; and though I have knockt at the door of his heart, yet he would not open to me, but loved the voice of the Serpent better, who hath taught many to teach this for Truth, That he must have some part in their hearts as long as they live on the earth, and yet notwithstanding they shall be saved; but behold they shall find it a lie, and I will make them to know, it was never spoken by me, in the day when I shall judge the secrets of all hearts, when none shall be able to stop my Mouth, nor hinder my Voice; Then will I kindle a Fire that shall never go out, and quicken a Worm which shall gnaw eternally; then shall they remember how I shewed them the evil of their wayes, and set their sins in order before them, but they would not hearken unto me, neither regard reproof, but stopped their hears at my Voice, and closed their eye-lids at the shining of my Light, John 3.19, 20. loving the darkness rather, because their deeds are evil; therefore the wages of sin shall be their portion in the pit of death for ever.

Wherefore, thus saith the Light that shines in darkness, [Page 23]Come all ye workers of iniquity, and stand in your ranks to­gether, and let me reason with you a little; O ye Murderers and envious ones, ye Thieves and covetous of other mens goods; ye Swearers, Lyars, and false-witness-bearers, Co­zeners, Cheaters, and users of any dissimulation whatsoever, with all you proud lustful ones; and all you Gamesters, and vain boasters, Singers and rejoycers in that which your own vain minds have invented; and all foolish jesters and speak­ers of idle words whatsoever, even all, from the greatest sin­ners to the least, Do not I, the Light in all your Consciences, reprove and condemn you for all these things, as well the least as the greatest? Did I ever give you leave to live in any of these things? but contrariwise, have I often wooed and entreated you to come out of them, telling and shewing you plainly, if you lived in any of these things, you should never inherit the Kingdom of God.

And also, O you Professors, who have had a form of Godli­ness, but not the holy power thereof, who in an outward show have made many Prayers, with other outside shews of Holi­ness, while your hearts were full of Iniquity and the in-side all Deceit? have not I [the Light] often smitten you for these things, Mat. 7.20, 21, 22, 23. shewing you that the Lord looked not at the out­ward appearance, but only requireth the heart? and though you may say, you have prophesied in my Name, yea, and cast out Devils, with many wonderful works, yet will I profess I never knew you, unless you receive me, that I may cleanse you from all iniquity: Wherefore cleanse your hands ye Publicans, and purifie your hearts ye Pharisees; for so long as you are in sin, neither of you are justified by me. Deny me in any of these things before-mentioned if you can, for which if I condemn you, think you to find mercy with my Father? Nay, Joh. 5.22. nay, my Father and I are both one, and he hath committed all Judgment unto me, and that you will find one day, to your utter condemnation for ever, except you turn at my reproof, that I may pour out my self upon you, to cleanse you from all pollutions of flesh and spirit, and so bring you into a godly life, in perfectness and true holiness, before you go hence and be no more seen; for as Death leaves you, so will Judgment find [Page 24]you;Isa. 38.18.for in the grave there is no cleansing: So whilst you have time, take this for a warning, for you will find no mercy with God after death, if you reject me, the Light, whom my Father hath in his mercy sent into the dark world, that all that receive me should be led out of sin and darkness, into the Light of Everlasting Life. If any ask for a proof of these words, let them turn within, and search the Book of Consci­ence, and look truly therein, and there they shall find it.

We hope we shall finde mercy hereafter, World. for God is a merciful God.

The mercy of God is not as many think it is, Answ. nor to be found where many hope for it, which is to say, in the life to come, after death of the outward man; but it is to be found in this life, whilst thou hast a being in this earthly tabernacle; or else all thy hope in thy dead mind will be in vain; for, ex­cept thou know a cleansing by the Light, which is the mercy of God, from sin, when you shall come to receive a just re­compence of reward for all your deeds done in the body, Rev. 20 13. then shall your dead minds be awakened, and the mercy which you have dreamed of therein, be turned into fear, wrath and anger, wherein the Lord will reveal himself, to take Ven­geance upon all that knew him not, to live in them, and they to live in him, whose Life raiseth out of Death and all dead works, Revel. 20.6. into the Life of Righteousness, which is free from sin, which is the first Resurrection, of which whosoever partakes not, the second Death will have power over.

Therefore more plainly to all understandings, this I say, is the mercy of the compassion at God to all mankind, who have lost their spiritual life, through falling into sin, by which came death over all, insomuch that man became more sensless than the Ox, Isa. 1.3 which knew his owner, or the Ass, which knew his Master's crib; I say, his mercy is to offer him Life freely, in the Light of his Son, which he had fully lost, and of himself could in no wayes gain it again, John 1.3. therefore God so loved the world, that he sent his Son a Light into it, in whom was and is Life, whose Life is the Light of men, shining in dark hearts, to which they in taking heed, and obeying it in its movings, leadings and workings, will thereby be led out of sin, which [Page 25]it bears Testimony against, to take up a Cross to the carnal mind and lusts of the flesh, which in them is all enmity against God, on which Cross the evil seed will be crucified, and the enmity slain, and so comes of twain, one new man to be made, in whom the Image and Life of God is restored again by the second Adam, in whom all are made alive, 1 Cor. 15.22. who receives him who is the quickening Spirit, from that death which entred them by the first Adam, who was an earthly man; and so all that receive Christ the Light, receive the Mercy of God, and come to know the Seed of the Kingdom, which is like a little leaven, which as it comes to have its way to work and operate in the heart, it makes all things new, by working out the evil seed, and killing the old man with his deeds, and so makes a new lump; Joh. 3.3, 5. this is the work of Restoration in the washing of Regene­ration, through which the new birth is brought forth, of which, except a man be born, he must not inherit the Kingdom of God: So this is the Mercy of God, Joh. 15.24. to give every one a mea­sure of the Light of his Son, to work this Work in and for them, which they of themselves could not work, which must be wrought in this life or never.

But yet I feel there are some in the world who are ready to say thus: Oh this perfect life that we could attain it! Object. Oh how willing could we be to be rid of all sin, if it be possible! for we feel something in us, crying as it were for deliverance, which is grieved and burthened with the heavy load of sin; and indeed, notwith­standing all our Observations, wherein we have been seeking life and peace, yet are we unsatisfied, and which way to be we know not.

Well, my Friends, Answ. in the remembrance of you is my soul refreshed; and what if I say I have been striving all this while that I might make a way to come plainly to your un­derstandings, to speak a little in the Bowels of Love, that these good desires in you may be strengthened, and the eye of your understandings opened, to see the good day that is bro­ken forth unto many, who sate in darkness and under the shadow of death, hoping for life, and breathing for power, to come up out of the pit where there is no water, where their tongues clave to the roof of their mouthes, in which their [Page 26]hearts were ready to faint, and were almost giving up to con­clude that there we must remain, notwithstanding something breathed to come forth, but being in bondage in the Prison­house, the keeper thereof said its impossible; and while we hearkened unto him, we saw no hope of attaining our desires, but turning away from him, and standing a little still, we heard a Voice that spake unto us comfortably, Joh. 13. and with it was a Light that shone out of darkness, by the which we saw mar­vellous things, wherein our souls were greatly revived; and as we hearkned diligently, and gave up to the call of the same, it brought us by a way that we thought not of, out of the depth of the dungeon of death, where we were held in bondage and slavery, by the King of the bottomless pit, who seemed so strong, as if he could never be overcome; but he that spake unto us in the Light, Matth. 12.29. hath proved too strong for him, for he hath broken the bars of brass, by the might of his power, and unlocked the doors of steel, and by the Sword of his Spirit hath he cut our bands assunder, even the chains wherewith we were held.

And therefore I, as one that have been in the deep, even in bondage under the prince of that world which lies in wicked­ness, do hold forth and testifie unto you, that a stronger than he is come, Matth. 12.29. who is able to bind the strong-man, and spoil all his goods; and behold he is nigh unto you, who breathes from deliverance from sin, for it is he that hath begotten that de­sire in you, and not only so, but his purpose is to satisfie it, if you would joyn with him with whom all things are possible, in that which shews you your conditions in that state where you are, and makes it loathsome unto you, that you might consent unto him, and be willing to come forth; who is calling in the freeness of his Love this day, to all that are weary and heavy laden with sin, Matth. 11.28, 29, 30. and have no delight in it, that they might come to him, who is meek and lowly, in their hearts, and take his yoke upon them, which I testifie is easie to all the honest-hearted, and his burden is very light; wherefore, O ye sincere breathers after God, who hunger truly after him and his Righteousness, lift up your heads, for the Blessing of God is unto you; therefore doubt you not, but turn to the [Page 27]Light that tells you all that ever you did, and look ye only at him, and not at your own weakness, then will you find him to be a Saviour, who will open your eyes, and enlighten your hearts, and will bring you to the Fountain of Life, where you shall draw Water out of the Well of Salvation, Joh. 4.14. whereof you shall drink and be satisfied, which shall spring in you up to everlasting Life: Oh therefore come away, for the Day of all dayes is dawned, and the black clouds of the dark night which were over the Sun of the morning are fleeing away, and the stone is rouled from the mouth of the Sepulcher, and the Lamb is arisen from thence; therefore arise, come away my Be­loved, why seek ye the living amongst the dead? For lo, the fulness of him is not at all to be found in the observation of any outward things; as Bread and Wine, or the like, Col. 2.20, 21, 22, 23. which perish with the using: therefore is leanness of soul upon all who stick in outward shadows, and a complaint heard in all their habitations, mourning in all their streets; Wherefore arise, arise, this is not your Rest, for it is polluted, and the Lord is departed from thence, and is turning away the back­side of his Glory, that you may behold him in the perfection of beauty, even face to face: therefore his bowels yearn to­wards you, that he might come in and sup with you; that he may make his abode with and in you; knowing right well that your souls satisfaction depends onely of the enjoyment of his pure living presence, which only quickens and raises them out of death to life, which no external thing can do; Rev. 3.20. Jer. 23.29. Rom. 10.8. therefore is he come home to the door of your hearts; Oh then come down and feel to the knocks of the hammer of his Word, which is nigh you, even in your hearts and mouthes, that your rocky and stony hearts may be softned and broken there­by; then shall you feel the Water of Life which will spring from the Light therein; the which when you have felt and tasted of, you will never go more to the muddy waters which are fouled by the feet of the beasts of the field, which satis­fieth not the appetite of that which hungers after God; for the sake whereof my soul breathes after you, and to the Lord also in your behalf, and in the yearning bowels of endless and unutterable Love am I drawn forth thus to write unto you [Page 28]in this day, wherein the Lord hath shewed me, how he is seeking you to himself, who by the right-hand of his out­stretched Arm will bring you into the Fold of true Rest, if you resist him not in the way of his own workings, wherein he is drawing near unto you, even to reveal himself in your hearts, that he might guide you with the Light of his Eye, and be unto you an Everlasting Teacher: Therefore, this must I signifie unto you, that it is in his Love to you for good, to suffer your Teachers to be removed into corners this day, and to premit such in their places wherein your souls have no delight, that so he may draw you home to his own house, wherein there is bread enough; that so you may come to wait to receive at his hand, and not at the hands and lips of men, who have fed you with that which died of it self, and quickened not unto God, neither will stand you in any stead in this day, which is come as a tryal to shew you the empti­ness of all outward things, whereof you have been feeding, in them thinking to have life, and have denied the Light within, in which the Life is (only) and have been idolizing men, who spoke unto you in the wisdom of words, and not in the power of God, by setting them up in your hearts, and run­ning in your minds upon them more than you should have done; and while you enjoyed their presence, you made slight of the little appearance of Christ's Light in your Conscien­ces, the which many of them taught you to do, telling you it was a natural thing, which grieved the Lord; therefore did he often warn the Teachers and Professors by his Servants and Prophets, both by words and signs, what a day he would bring upon them for these things, except they repented and turned from the evil of their wayes to his Light; but they would not hear nor regard: therefore in righteous Judgments is it now come and coming to be fulfilled; but yet in mercy, that so he might bring you down to himself, whose Love is yet to many of you freely held forth in the Light of his Son; whom I exhort you all to bow unto, Psal. 2.12. and kiss him, lest he be angry, and in his Wrath withdraw from you, shutting the door of mercy; because when he called, you would not answer: but O my spirit yet breathes towards you, saying, Oh that you [Page 29]would cease hunting without, like Esau, for so you miss of the blessing; but turn in home to the Light of Christ, and, like Jacob, keep at home, and there you will meet with the Blessing, which will satisfie your souls; Col. 2.16, 17. where you will feel the ingrafted Word of Life to be the full sum and substance of all outward shadows, and far exceeding all Types or Re­presentations that can ever be made of it; the which when you come indeed to know and find, your hearts will be over­joyed, insomuch that you will be ready to call to your neigh­bours and friends to rejoyce with you; even like the woman who had lost her groat in her own house, Luk. 15 8, 9. and went abroad to seek it, but at last turned home, and in sweeping and making clean her own house, found it there: This is your state; therefore be still, and see the Salvation of God, which is nigh unto you, and believe not those who draw you without, say­ing, Lo here, or there; for the Kingdom of God is within you, which your souls breath after: Luk. 17 21, 23. Therefore hew no more bro­ken cisterns that can hold no water to satisfie your thirsty souls, but to the Fountain of living Waters all come and drink freely, then shall you never thirst again; then shall you know what it is to drink new Wine with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, and to sup with him; then will you never go more to seek him in the dead letter, and other dead creatures, but will come to know him and his Life made manifest in you: this is the sum and substance of all, even to know the Bread of Life in your own houses, and your own Fig-tree, that you may sit under it, where none can make you afraid; then will you know the Mystery of Godliness, which is very great, even God manifest in the flesh.

But now I feel some weak understandings will be ready to say, You seem here to deny the Ordinances of the Lord's Supper, Object. which we believe are to stand for ever; and other outward means; and speak as if we must come to live above Ordinances.

To which I have these words to signifie:

Although Christ took the Cup, saying, This is my Blood; Answ. and likewise the Bread, saying, This is my Body; this do in remembrance of me, &c.

I say, this being all the Command you have for it, is not [Page 30]sufficient to prove it to remain an Ordinance for ever: for he did not say, 1 Cor. 11.26. you shall alwayes do this, (but, Do this) which signifieth only at that time; to keep them in remembrance of him till he came to them again: And if after he was come, they did use it, because of the weakness of some, yet that is not sufficient for you to rely upon, and so to rest only in the shadows, denying the substance, as ye do, (which is to say) the Power of God which sets free from sin in this life, which in­deed is the sum of all, John 6.33, 35, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56. even the Life and Blood of the Lamb of God, except which a man partakes of, he hath no life in him; to which I testifie a man may attain to, and not use those things; and then, what need is there of them, the sub­stance being enjoyed?

And now to speak more plainer to the matter, this I say; Even as Paul by the Spirit of God, cryed down that which God himself commanded, Gal. 6.15. (which is to say) Circumcision, say­ing, it availed nothing, but only the new creature, which was not wrought in any measure by that outward act, but by the Circumcision of the heart, in and by the Spirit, which was the substance of that outward type; for the attaining of which he did not preach the outward, Gal. 5.6 to be used for the means to bring to the inward, but saw plainly that the use of the outward, drawed their minds therein to rest, Rom. 2.29. Gal. 5.2 short of the thing it self: therefore he said, If they were circumcised, Christ (the true Circumcision) should profit them nothing. And had he any proof for this, but onely the Spirit in himself: and therefore by the Spirit, in the Fear and Authority of God, this I say unto you all (Bread and Wine, Joh. 6.53, 54, 55. or no Bread and Wine) availeth nothing, but onely the Body and Blood of the Lamb, which is spiritual (or all spirit) is the main thing, even the very sub­stance it self, which only is felt and enjoyed by staying the mind inwardly in the Light and Spirit of God, and not by eating and drinking in the remembrance thereof, and never coming to witness the thing remembred, which (if you say, Yea, we do by Faith) I tell ye, Nay; not by the true Faith, while you witness not freedom from all sin in this life, 1 Joh. 3.3. & 5.18. nei­ther believe you shall do; for they who had the living Faith, it purifies them, even as Christ was pure, who came not to [Page 31]this pure cleansing by such outward things and means as you plead for; but they said it was by walking in the Light, 1 John 1.7. as God was in the Light, that they had their fellowship with him, and the Blood of his Son, to cleanse them from all sin; Jam. 2.20. so there your Faith, without these fruits, is but a dead faith: And now let me appeal to the Witness of God in those, who have done it in the most sincerest abundance to God; and in so doing it, have felt something, as ye have thought, of the Love of God; Yet, I say, it hath been because your minds were at such times in consideration of the weight of the mat­ter, circumspectly stayed upon God in the Spirit, and not be­cause you ate the Bread and Wine: So then cease making an Idol of it, as thinking you cannot enjoy God without it; or that the dead creature conveyes any thing of him into you; and come down into the Spirit, and in it dwell continually, which is that, that only can and doth do it; and so when you come truly in this condition, and in it do abide, Joh. 14.23. (which is to say) not only to sup with Christ sometimes, but alwayes in the Spirit to make your abode with him, and he with you, you will then say with me that all these outward things are nothing, but the Spirit is all in this matter; which whosoever denies, Col. 2.21, 22. resisteth the everlasting Ordinance of God: wherefore, touch not, taste not, handle not, any thing that perisheth with the using, after the doctrine and commandments of men; nor make to your selves the likeness of any earthly thing of the invisible Body and Blood of the heavenly Son of God; for if ye do, may I not say, Oh! miserable is your condition! and little are your hearts affected with him, who cannot keep in the living re­membrance of him, without eating and drinking in remem­brance of his Death. Wherefore, O come down to that which crosseth the carnal mind, to take up the Cross, that it may be crucified thereon; then shall you know a dying with him, and be made partakers of his Resurrection, wherein the sting of Death, and the victory of the Grave will be remembred no more.

And yet, further; May I not say unto you, that the Papists, whom you condemn as Idolaters, may plead for their using of Images in like manner, as you do for your Bread and Wine; [Page 32]for they say they worship them not as gods, but look upon them in their worshipping of God, that so thereby their minds may be fervently fixed upon him, having conceived in their hearts that they cannot be so fervent with him without them, as with them.

But, Object. you say, they are deceived; for they may draw nearer to God without them.

Even so say I: Answ. But mind a little how you in condemning them herein, condemn your selves also; who have conceived in your selves that you cannot so well keep in the remem­brance of Christ, and have such communion with the invi­sible God, without the exercise of some visible outward things in the likeness of him (as with them;) Wherefore I say unto you, Come up higher out of these things, and you shall see greater than these, (as saith the Spirit.) Oh then, rest not in the lesser, lest by so doing you miss of the greater; for the Glory of all Glories is appearing, and that which you think to be the greatest light unto you, shall become but meer darkness, in comparison of the marvelous Light that shall yet appear in the day that is already dawned: Oh therefore, prepare, pre­pare to meet the Bridegroom, for the Marriage of the Lamb draws nigh; yet none but those who have on the pure Wed­ding-Garment shall enter with him into the Bride-Chamber, neither taste of the Supper of the Lamb.