laid up for me in the Lord Jesus and by the power of the Word of their Testimony there was a secret hope raised up in me to wait for his coming there I waited till the Administration of Iohn and I witness that of all that is born of a Woman there is none greater then Iohn for he is a burning and a shining Light who discovered more of the mystery of iniquity in me in his Administration and the sence of my condition was more manifest and the cry of my condemned Soul was great and could not be satisfied but breathed and thirsted after Christ to saye me freely through his Blood or I perished for ever and in this condemned estate I lay waiting for the coming of Christ Jesus who in the appointed time of the Father appeared to my Soul as the Lightnings from the East to the West and my dead Soul heard his voice and by his voice was made to live who created me to a lively hope and sealed me up in the everlasting Covenant of life with his Blood then I witnessed the wages of Sin and Death and the Gift of God eternal Life through Jesus Christ my Lord and I witnessed according to Testimony of Scripture Death raigns over all from Adam to Moses and Moses untill the Prophets and the Prophets untill Iohn and from this day the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force there is no rest to the Soul till Christ be manifest and this the Scripture witnesseth and I witness these Scriptures fulfilled in me in the year according to the accoâ—t 1645. The Witnesses that stood before the God of the Earth and had power to plague the Earth having finished their Testimony the Beast ascends out of the bottomless Pit and makes War against them and kills them and their dead Bodies lay in the Streets of the great City spiritual Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was Crucified and this Scripture was fulfilled in me in the year according to account 1648. Then Kindreds Tongues and the Nations of the Earthmade merry over the Witnesses and I see the abomination that maketh desolate which is spoken of by Daniel the Prophet standing in the holy place where it ought not and then was I led by the Spirit into the Wilderness and tempted of the Devil that the Scripture might be fulfiled Luke 4.1 In that day and hour of temptation which was in the time as the lines following giveth Testimony I witnessed these Scriptures fulfilled in me of Pauls condition wherein he complained as I then did who found a Law in my members Warring against the Law of my minde that when I would do good evil was present with me the sence of which caused me to cry Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death And as I was crying to the Lord to free me from the burthen I groaned under the Word of the Lord came unto me saying My Grace is sufficient for thee I will deliver thee and by the power of this Word I was armed with Patience to wait in his Counsel groaning under the body of Sin in the day and hour of temptation until it pleased the Lord to manifest his Power to free me which was in the year according to the account 1651. The Spirit of Life from God entred into the Witnesses and they stood upon their Feet then great fear fell upon all that saw them and the Temple of God was opened in Heaven and I saw in the Temple the Ark of his Testament and there were Lightnings Voyces Thunder Earthquakes and great Hail then mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and the Abomination of the Earth which made all Nations drunk with the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication she was discovered in me and God remembred her when the mighty day of the Lords power was manifest upon her Jesus Christ was revealed from Heaven in flaming fire pouring vials of wrath upon her and rendring vengeance upon all in me that knew him not and disobeyed his Gospel and purged away the filthy nature that did me imbondage with the Spirit of judgement and with the Spirit of burning so through the righteous Law of life in Christ Jesus I was made free and am from the body of Sin and Death and through these great tribulations my Garments is washed and made white in the Blood of the Lamb who hath led me through the Gates of the City into the new Ierusalem where there is nothing enters that works abomination or makes a lie but what is written in the Lambs book of Life where my Soul now feeds upon the Tree of Life which I had so long hungred and thirsted after that stands in the Paradise of God where there is no more curse not night but the Lord God and the Lamb is my Light and Life for ever and ever I witness I am regenerated and born again of the immortal Seed and hath partaked on the first Resurrection on whom the second Death hath no power And this I declare to all the Inhabitants in England and all that dwell upon the Earth that God alone is the Teacher of his People and hath given to every one a measure of Grace which is the Light that comes from Christ that checks and reproves for Sin in the secrets of the Heart and Conscience and all that wait in that Light which comes from Christ which is the free Grace of God for the Power of Jesus Christ to destroy Sin and to guide them in obedience to the Light so shall they come to know the only true God and Father of Light in Christ Jesus who is the way to him And this I witness to all the Sons of men that the knowledge of eternal Life I came not to by the Letter of the Scripture nor hearing men speak of the Name of God I came to the true knowledge of the Scripture and the eternal rest they testifie it in Christ by the Inspiration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah who alone is found worthy to open the Seals of the Book and I witness none else can for he alone opened the Seals of the Book in me and sealed it up to my Soul by the Testimony of his own Spirit according to his own promise I will bind up the Testimony and seal the Law amongst my Disciples and I will write my Law in their Hearts and put my Spirit in their inward parts and they shall not depart from me neither shall they need to teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother for all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest for I will be merciful to their Vnrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more and all my Childern shall be taught of me saith the
the Hearts of the great and mighty Men of the Earth shall fail and paleness shall gather into their Faces the dread of the holy God will be with you who faithfully give up to be guided by his Counsel in the power of his own Spirit one shall chase a Thousand and five put ten Thousand to flight the Decree is gone forth Christ shall be King in Gods time over all the Nations of the World and all the powers of the World that him withstand he will break them to pieces like a Potters Vessel so shall they become as Dust before his Breath the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who is giving the Kingdoms of this World to his Son and to you that wait for his appearance the living sound is come that doth witness that not any Weapon formed against him shall prosper in this day of his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints In the presence of the Lord I charge you stand fast in the Counsel of our Lord Jesus Christ the Light in the Conscience and according to the measure you have received be faithful in walking with God in perfect obedience to his Will freely giving up your Bodies to finish your Testimony in Sufferings if the Lord call you for it is not given to believe but to suffer with him and they that suffer with him shall Raign with him and the Son of Man is perfect in sufferings and you that are faithful to the 〈◊〉 he will lay no more upon you then he gives you strength to bear he will guard you with the Angel of his presence and compass you about with Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks and you shall know this is to you the Word of the Lord God the day will declare it All people who dwell upon the Earth fear the living God who hath Created the Heavens and Earth and the Fountains of Waters and all turn to the Light of Christ that witnesses for God in the Conscience against Sin in its appearance in the secret of the Heart and diligently incline your Ear to the Counsel of Christ the Light that he may guide you by his Spirit least through your disobedience you perish before him in this mighty day of the Lords Power in which he is coming with Fire and Sword to plead with all Flesh and not any that transgresseth his Righteous Law in their Consciences shall escape his Righteous Judgments in this his day he is bringing down the loftiness of Man and the haughtiness of Spirit he is laying low and is exalting his Son Christ Jesus to be King and over all to Rule the Heathen he will give him for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession and the Kingdom he will establish to his Son whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and of his Dominion there shall be no end therefore let all the Kings and Princes of this World mind the Light of Christ to guide them to rule for God to break the bonds of Iniquity and let the oppressed go free that in all things they may have an Eye to the glory of God in obeying the Righteous Law of God in your Consciences to do as you would be done unto in taking up the daily Cross to that nature which would hinder for doing Justice and for shewing Mercy and 〈◊〉 humbly with the Lord. Given forth by the movings of the Spirit of God in and through his Servant W. D. DEar Friends Servants and Children of the most high God whom he hath called and chosen out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel wait his Power to guide you in all your Thoughts Words and Works in his pure fear in obedience to his Will I charge you in his presence be valiant for your freedom in dwelling in the Power of the living God that he may arm you against the fiery Darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his Wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to draw you every way seeking to get your minds from the pure to draw into the visible things your Affections there to captivate your Wills to satisfie in created and perishing Objects or in the knowledg of the Truth in the fleshly Wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Huskes the form and image of what you have injoyed or what you see in the vision what you do not injoy in the possession and speak in a Drunken Spirit words without knowledg and with them sits a painted Beast the will at liberty out of the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin turned from the pure Wisdom of God the Light of Christ that convinced thee of Sin and now appearest in the outward formallity in the sight of Men with a Lamp like the wise Virgins but not dwelling in the Power of God wants the Oyle of joy and glâ—dness in the power of his Love which the wise Virgins hath in their Lamps which exerciseth their Conscience and keeps all their affections in order to the Spirit of Truth which bridles their Tongues not to utter words before the Lord but in true silence wait upon him until his Spirit move his mind to declare from the living Power the Soul possesses and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgins whom he moves his mind to declare from the living Power the Soul enjoys in true possession in Christ who is the Bride the Lambs Wife who by his Power keeps her Lamp trimed always breathing and thirsting for him to manifest his Power to take away Sin and renew the Image of God and the perfect Man to witness in Christ Jesus the Souls life to raign in her for ever And beloved are you that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for you are the Children of the Kingdom of my Father and with you my life is bound up and to you this is the Word of the Lord fear not lift up your heads and wait in the Light with boldness in it look up to Christ your King he will appear as the Lightning from the East to the West and you shall behold him Riding upon the wilde Asses Coalt your wilde nature subjecting it to himself and skiping over all Mountains and leaping over all Hills that hath separated you from the presence of God and will heal your Infirmities and satisfie your thirsty Souls and give you the end of your hope the Salvation of your Souls where you shall sit down with him in the Kingdom of the Father to rejoyce in the Power of eternal love and life which is in his presence for ever and evâ—r and this is the Childrens Bread that comes down from Heaven But you foolish Virgins that sits in the outward form and profession of the Truth your Lamps are empty of the Power of God which should cast down your Wills and keep them in the daily Cross so you are possessed with a dull sottish drousie earthly careless spirit which is weary of waiting upon
Anointed and lay your Plots in the deep and fetch your counsel out of the bottomless Pit that you may ensnare the righteous Seed whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who in love to your Souls do you warn as you will eternally answer before the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to give over Plotting against the Righteous and inventing evil devices against the Innocent for in the eternal Light you are seen and in your secret works of darkness you are discovered and all you that will not take warning now when the Lord calls you to turn to his Light but his Counsel rejects and continue in the evil of your doings To you this is the Word of the Lord All your Plots and Counsels shall not prosper against the Righteous for he that sits in Heaven doth laugh the Lord shall have you in derision for not any Plot shall prevail against Israel nor unrighteous Counsel stand before Zions King who will break you with the rod of Iron and dash you in pieces like a Potters Vessel that plots against him to oppose him in his appearance In the Hearts of his Saints for in what you do to the least of those you do it to me saith Christ and better a Milstone were hanged about your Neck and you cast into the bottom of the Sea than to offend the least of those that believe in my Name From the Spirit of the Lord that will not always strive with Man you are once more warned now while you have time prize it and turn to the Light of Christ in your Consciences which lets you see the secret evil of your Hearts and wait in the Light for the Power of Christ to destroy the plotting wicked inventing minde and to guide you in the strait and narrow way of self-denial and the daily Cross in perfect obedience to the Law of God least you perish in your disobedience for the Lord God of Israel is arising in mighty Power to plead the Cause of his persecuted oppressed People and to scatter all their Enemies that plot against them as Dust before the Wind for they that plot against the People of God and for them digs a Pit shall fall into it themselves for not any Weapon formed against them shall prosper for all shall know the mighty God is with Israel his People and that the King of eternal glory dwells in Mount-Sion who is the strength of his people and of his Dominion there shall be no end and in that day all both high and low rich and poor that slight the comfort of the Lord and continue in enmity against him and his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints then will you know what hath been and is declared to you from the righteous Seed is to you the Word of the Lord God He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear Witnessed by the righteous Seed whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who are in the common Goal in Northampton for the Truths sake REad with understanding in the fear of the Lord this is the Word of the Lord to you Dear Friends Servants and Children of the most high God whom he hath called out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel to wait for his Power you to guide in all your thoughts words and works in his pure fear in obedience to his Will I charge you in the presence of God be valiant for your freedom in your dwelling in the Power of God that he may be your Arm against the fiery Darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his Wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to devour you every way seeking to get into you your minds from the pure to draw into the vibsile things your affections there to captivate your wills to satisfie in created and perishing objects as in the knowledge of the Truth in the fleshly wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Husk the Form and Image of what you have enjoyed or of what you see in the Light and Vision and doth not enjoy it in the Possession but spake in the airy drunken spirit Words without knowledge with them sits decked a painted Beast above the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin that appears in the ouâ—ward formality in the sight of Men with a Lamp like the wise Virgin but not dwelling in the Power of God wants the Oyle of joy and gladness in the power of his love which the wise Virgins have in their Lamps that dwell in the pure Light and Power of God which keeps all the affections in order to the Spirit of Truth and bridles the Tongue not to utter words before the Lord but in the silence on him to wait till his Spirit move his mind to declare from the living Power what the Soul possesses and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgin who is the Bride the Lambs Wife I charge and command you all in the presence of the living God who make mention of his Name examine your Hearts search them and try your ways with the Light that comes from Christ which will discover all your conditions in the Book of Concience there you will see how you stand in the presence of God wherein the state of the foolish Virgin in the airy Spirit feeding upon words spoken in the Light and Viâ—ion there boasting in pride of what thou possessest not and through the subtilty of the Devil is turned from the pure Power to flee the Cross and so make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience or whether you be in the state of the wise Virgin that in the pure Light waits and dwells in the Power which chastiseth that which would your Garments defile keep daily in the Cross and then the Soul is kept pure and clean to follow the Lamb with boldness whithersoever he goes and enters with him into the rest prepared for the People of God where thou the foolish Virgin shalt not come until thou from thy folly and fleshly wisdom return to the pure Light with it to judge and in it to wait for his Power Christ Jesus the Fountain of wisdom thee to guide in faithful obedience to the Father of Light. All dear Children of the Lord be valiant bold and faithful that in the pure Light Power and Life of God you may all stand in the day of tryal which the Lord will bring upon you all that make mention of his Name for power shall be given to the Beast his Horn to exalt even to the host of Heaven for the cleansing of the Sanctuary that all painted Beasts that are enemies to the Cross that hath defiled the Sanctuary of the living God in coming before him amongst his Saints and Children for from among them shall they come trembling before the power of the Beast when he utters his voice for all to come to his Image him to worship then shall all you Children of the most high God whom
Conscience towards God and Men and fear not Man whose breath is in his nostrils who stands up to oppose the Lord in this mighty Day of his Power wherein he is exalting Christ Jesus the Light to be King for ever in his Light be faithful to the Lord and though you be haled before Rulers Governours and Kings for a Testimony against them take no thought what you shall say but keep within staid in the Counsel of God it will be given you in the self-same hour my Heavenly Father will in you speak and his Enemies confound before his mighty Power in you and the Hearts of the great and mighty Men of the Earth shall fail and paleness shall gather into their Faces the dread of the holy God will be with you who faithfully give up to be guided by his Counsel in the Power of his Spirit one shall chase a Thousand and five put ten thousand to Flight the decree is gone forth Christ shall be King over all the Nations of the World and all the Powers of the World that him withstand he will break them with his iron rod and dash them in pieces like a potters Vessel so shall they become as dust before his breath the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who is giving the Kingdoms of the World to his Son and to you that wait for his apperance the living â—ound is come that doth witness that not any weapon formed against him shall prosper in this day of his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints In the presence of the Lord I you Warn and Charge stand fast in the Counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ the Light in the Conscience and according to the measure you have received be faithful in walking with God in perfect obedience to his Will freely giving up your Bodies to finish your Testimony in sufferings if the Lord call you for it is not given only to believe in him but to suffer with him and they that suffer with him shall Raign with him and the Son of Man is perfect in sufferings and you that are faithful to the Lord he will lay no more upon you then he gives you strength to bear with the Angel of his presence he will you guard and campass you about with Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks and you shall know this is to you the Word of the Lord God The Day will declare it ALL People who dwell upon the Earth from the highest to the lowest fear the most high and living God who hath Created Heaven and Earth and the Fountains of Waters all return to his Counsel the Light of Christ that witnesseth for God in the Conscience against Sin in its appearance in the secret of the Heart and diligently encline your Ear to the Counsel of Christ the Light that he may guide you by his Spirit least through your disobedience you perish before him in this mighty Day of the Lords Power in which he is coming with Fire and Sword to plead with all Flesh and not any that transgresseth his righteous Law in the Conscience shall escape his righteous Judgment in this his Day He is bringing down the loftiness of Man and the haughtiness of his Spirit laying low and exalting his Son Christ Jesus to be King over all to Rule The Heathen he will give him for his Inheritance and the uttermost Parts of the Earth for his Possession and the Kingdom he will establish to his Son whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and of his Dominion there shall be no end Come down ye Kings Princes and Rulers in the World who in the Throne sit in Pride exalted to rule in your Wills contrary to the pure perfect Law of God the Light of Christ in your Consciences to which you must come and own your Condemnation for your Pride and Disobedience and to his Counsel the Light in your Consciences return in subjection to Christ the Son of God and at his Feet your Crowns lay down and Honours in the Dust before him and wait on him in his Counsel the Light that he may guide you by his Spirit in the fear of God to walk humbly before him in your Places to Rule for God to break the Bonds of iniquity and let the Oppressed go free that the glory of the most high God alone you seek and not great things for your selves as you have done and in this day of darkness while you have lived without the fear of God not regarding to be guided by his pure perfect Law the Light of Christ in the Conscience let the time past be sufficient you have lived to your selves without God in the World and with all diligence obey the Word of the Lord which is to you declared in this day of your Visitation wherein the Lord tenders eternal Salvation to you in Christ the Light in whom the Father is well pleased with all that obey him which if you be obedient to Christ and wait on him to guide you by his Counsel the Light he will you lead in the strait and narrow way of self-denial and daily Cross into the holy City new Ierusalem the Light of which all Nations that are saved walk therein and the Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory and Honour unto it where your Souls will be refreshed with the living mercies of God in Christ the Light to praise him for ever in the beauty of Holiness but if you his Counsel reject and walk in Pride self-Love delighting your Hearts in the glory of the World and the pleasures therein and so slight this day of your Visitation then the things belonging to your Peace will be hid from your Eyes and sudden Destruction as a Whirlwind shall overtake you for Sions King whom you disobey will break you with his Rod of Iron and dash you to pieces like a Potters Vessel and you shall be cut down and slain with the Sword that proceeds out of the Mouth of him whose Name is called the Word of God. Now while you have time to him submit and kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel the Light in the Conscience least you perish in the way for if his anger be kindled a little Blessed are all they that trust in him Remember you are warned in your Life-time he that hath an Ear to hear let him hear The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Raign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 He that can receive it let him Dear Friends BRethren and Sisters in the Eternal Light of Christ Jesus whom my Heavenly Father hath gathered you to wait upon him that you might be the holy Presthood and Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus every one in particular mind your calling in the Light and watch diligently in the Light the Life to feel a raising you up in the pure being with God in Christ your Souls to delight in the pure Fellowship with the Father in the Lord Jesus and
the week there was a Meeting where it was said there might be two Thousand My God was mighty in his Power to the glory of his Name If God will I may be at Justice Cripse's in Gloustershire the next third day and at Slettingford twelve Miles from Bristol the fourth day if God-will I may be at Bristol the sixth or the first day being the 18th of this Month further then as my freedom is in my moving in the Lord the presence of God keep you with me in his Life and all the Elect faithful to the end Amen W. D. Dear Friends IN the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ walk to reign over all contrary to the Light that in the Light and glory of God you may all shine forth living Witnesses of the Name of the everlasting holy pure God who hath looked on you in his tender love to gather you in the Everlasting Power of God to stand against all deceit blessed are you thaâ— are faithful in obeying the Light of Christ to foâ—low him in the Cross and straight way of self-denial you are my Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus our Captain over all he will Crown you with his Almighty Power to stand in Faith and Patience to follow him until every tongue that lifts up it self against you shall fall in Judgment withal that stumble at Christ Jesus our Life and Light who will gather a large People to himself in that Country many shall come in that is yet wandering upon the Mountains where they find no rest Blessed are all you that abide and walk faithful with the Lord whom he hath called and chosen in the Light to be the first Fruits what ever ariseth contrary to the Light within or without watch to the Light you will descern stay your Hearts on the Lord in the Light holding fast your Confidence in the Lord he will deliver you forth of all contrary to the Light and cause you to rejoyce in the daily Cross to the crucifying you to the World and the World to you and over the World will cause you to rejoyce withal its pomps and glory and evil therein you shall over it stand in the Power of God to his Praise and Glory even so be it with you all in the Almighty Power of God in whom my Soul salutes you that faithfully walk humbly before the Lord in Obedience to his Counsel the Light. DEar Lambs called in the Light to lye down in the safe Fold of rest in Christ our life in the tender bowels of love in him I beseech you that you be faithful in meeting together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and diligently watch to know your own measure of Grace in Christ him to feel in you to judge your thoughts and every vain Imagination that over them you may reign and delight in the refreshing of his presence and all take heed of many words at all times let them be few but what is from the savory Spirit of Life in Christ the Light in him the blessing of the Lord rest on you all for evermore there to farewel with me in the everlasting love of the Father in Christ the Light Amen W. D. Given forth the 24 th of the 7 th Month 1658 at Leeth near Edenborough Scotland Let Copies of this carefully be written and sent to the Churches when they are met together in the Fear of God to be read amongst them Dear Friends BRethren and Sisters called in the Light to feel the Power of Almighty God burying self in the Death and raising up his own immortal Birth of himself in all your Hearts which hungereth and thirsteth after his Righteousness and cannot be satisfied but in the Light of the Countenance of the Eternal God of Heaven Grace and Peace be multiplied to you all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ the Light c. This to you all is the Word of the Lord God to watch diligently to the Light that you may see all the workings of the Enemy who would draw you from the Light and as the Lord discoveâ—eth him judge him in all his appearances with the Light that you may be kept out of all his Temptations that the Power of God you may all feel guiding of you that not any receive the knowledge of the Truth in the wrong ground as many have done who have received the knowledge of the Truth and for want of the watch to the Light the false birth in them raiseth its self with what is known and received in the day of tenderness and so hath run out in a drunken hard Spirit spending the Talent upon the lust out of Gods fear so hath grieved the Spirit of the Lord and burthened his dear People and hear is the ground of all that came out with us and go from us and are not of us who in the day of their coming forth were tender and at that time God manifested himself in measure but not watching to the Light the Enemy entered and the false birth rise in its strength and enriched it self with Gods gift then the Swine got the Pearl and turned again and all to rend so here is the ground of strife that hath been or ever shall be with all that came out in the acknowledgment of Truth and flee the true Judgment of God from his witness in their own particulars and through his People in whom he dwelleth All dear Children of God who love the Light prize the Mercy of the everlasting Father of Light who hath counted you worthy to wait upon him watch watch to the Light that the Judgment of the Lord may pass upon the first Man which is of the Earth that he may truely be buried into the one Baptism into the death that the birth Immortal you may feel generated in you by the working of the Immortal Word the true Birth which makes self of no reputation which humbleth self in the Cross and Thirsts and Hungers in you for the presence of the Lord or otherwise you cannot live fear you not you Children of my Father lift up your Heads in the Light of the Lord for the Bowels of the God of Heaven earns towards you stay your Hearts upon him in the Light and the Lord will rebuke the furious Enemy of your peace he will not break the bruised Reed neither will he quench the smoking Flax until he hath brought Judgment forth into Victory so let not any of you be bowed down any longer but all arise arise in the Light of the Lord God hold fast your confidence in the measure of the Light of Jesus and the Enemy of your peace he will rebuke and all unbelief and deceit he will throw down and raise you in the strength of his own Life to delight in the strait way of self-denial and the daily Cross where the Immortal Babe will receive the Crown of the Glory of the Lord and in the light of his Countenance shall be refreshed forever
63. To all the Faithful in CHRIST Who Have stood in his Counsel the Light to be led in the Foot-steps of the Flock of the Companions and to all that profess the Light of Christ to be their Guide To you I write these following Lines to be seriously weighed in the weighty and ponderous Spirit wherein you may discern a Discovery of a false Birth in some that came forth with us as to own the Light in their Iudgments and go forth from us in rejecting the stroak of the pure judgments of God through the working of the mystery of iniquity and so become as the untimely Birth that doth not see the Sun in his glory nor the beauty of Sion who hath passed through death unâ—o life in her comely unity in the Spirit and bond of peace He that can receive it let him nâ—w in the cool of â—he day when Counsel may be hearkened unto and rightly understood in the Truth as it is in Iesus DEar Friends called and chosen of God in the Eternal Light and Power of the most high who have been and are his living Witnesses from the beginning of the dawning of his powerful and glorious day of his dreadful appearance which hath caused the Earth to shake and the Keepers of the House to tremble in this day of your visitation from on high And all you that in true watchâ—ulness wait on the Lord in the measure of his life you are sensible of what he did hath done and doth in the ordering of his dear and tender Children as in the subjection both of the inward and outward Man in every exercise of the Spirit as in exhortation prayer or praises which the most high God hath and doth accompany with his blessed presence in which he hath made all that hath kept their Habitations in the powerful life of the first Love to stand as Saviours upon Mount Sion to gather the scattered of Israel and to bring again the dispersed of Iacob And this is the work of all that are truly sent of the Lord to labour in his Vineyard who seeks not their own things neither sets up nor serves themselves with what the Lord hath given unto them but alone seeks the glory of God and serveth him with uprightness of Heart in the exercise of all the Gifts and riches of his Grace with which he hath cloathed them to the perfecting of his Praise and Glory and the comfort of his Heritage forever therefore do they shine as the Stars in the Firmament of Heaven in turning many Souls to Righteousness in which they enter into the heavenly Habitation of the most high God where it is known the Lord to be one and his Name one and there alone stands the union of all the flock of the Companions who have been truly baptized and buried with Christ in his Death where we could not cover our naked Souls with a Fig-leaf Garment of our own works or with any self-created gesture or posture of the outward Man but in true obedience to the Light waiting in the sence of our misery crying out of the great Deep to the God of mercy who in his appointed time in his tender compassions he casts the Skirts of his Garment over us and said unto us live In which Life we in eternal unity bear our Testimony to all the World in the Light of his Covenant sitting and feeding together at his Table cloathed with the wedding Garment where there never was noâ— ever shall be any rent but eternal harmonious joyful unity in the everlasting felicity where every Child of this Inheritance as moved of the Lord casts in their Mite in the returns of his Spirit offering up the Sacrifice of high praises to the most high God over all blessed forever Dear and tender Friends This ariseth in my Heart to exhort all that are convinced of the Truth that every one with diligent watchfulness search your own Hearts with the Light and in it know your own estates and seriously know your own conditions and that you may certainly understand what Spirits you are on and to have the seal of the Spirit of God demonstrating to you in full assurance that you walk with him in true self-denial according to your measures in uprightness of Heart with all the flock of the Companions as before written then will the Lord give you a sound and perfect judgment to weigh and try all Spirits and taste the breath from whence the words proceed and not to lay your Hands hastily upon any whatever they pretend but in that which tries and weighs your own spirits in coolness and singleness of Heart try and taste what Spirits they are on that comes amongst you in this day wherein many comes forth with us as to the owning of the Truth in their judgments and regulates the outward Man in some outward gestures like to the Children of the Truth and some have felt the stroak of the Judgment of the Lord which hath caused them to forsake some things which formerly they delighted in and in some measure of Zeal have born a Testimony to the Light enduring both stripes and imprisonment both in this Nation and some beyond the Seas while they stood in the Fear of the Lord who for his Names sake hath delivered them from the Winter Storms that they suffered under but they for want of watchfulness the Mystery of Iniquity hath wrought and drawn them from the Light into the pride of their Hearts to deck themselves with the jewels and gifts of the Spirit God gave unto them when they were humble before him but they departing from the redeeming judgment of God the Beast gets the deadly wound heal'd again and instead of giving glory to God for their deliverance they in this time of some measure of rest take their flight on the Sabbath day upon the Mountains of their high Imaginations and Sacrifices upon the high places and doth not regard to make their peace with Christ in them their Elder Brother and so to bring their gift to the Altar in the humble meek Spirit which gathers into unity and answereth to the witness in every Conscience but though they pretend zeal and Obedience to God in what they do they being gone from the Light they neither regard the Glory of God nor the good of his People for all that they now do is wrought in a self-serving Spirit where they enter into the mysterious working of the deceit of their Hearts to set up and cover themselves with a voluntary humility and feigned love gathering all the eloquent and inticeing words of mans wisdom with which they make a flourish in a discoursative spirit speaking high words of that they never did know to get entrance upon the affection of the tender hearted ones that are afraid to judge any but themselves with others that look more at high words then to feel from whence they came or to know the end for what they are spoken and these they
in the Earth for his Seed sake and many that shall have their lives given them for a prey shall receive the Word of Eternal Life in that City and great shall be the number who shall submit to the Government of Christ and they shall bless the Lord for you that love not your lives to death for the Glory of God and gathering the Sons and Daughters of Men to the Knowledge of God by your holy lives and sweet walking in all holiness of Conversation Oh blessed be the day that ever you were born yea my Soul Glorifies God for you that ever you had a being you faithful Lambs in the City of London and else where scattered according to the Will God Though you now drink a Cup of great Affliction the day of Eternal Joy is sprung up to thee which none can take away an eternal Freedom shall be unto thee Oh Sion Kings shall come unto thee and Princes to the rising of this thy Glorious Day and all thy Enemies shall fall before thee and thou shalt be the Glory over all the Earth and the chosen Diadem in the Hand of thy God amongst the People who shall as much love thee as they now hate thee and esteem of thee as they now despise thee for thou Oh Sion art the Plant of the Lord the Tree of Righteousness in whom is the vertue of the mighty God of Heaven and the leaf of thy Tree shall heal the Nations and put an end to all their distractions the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Through one that dwells within thy Gates thou Glorious and Beautiful Sion Church of the first Born the Beloved Bride the Lambs Wife forever Blessings Glory and Praises Hallelujahs Eternal Honour and Renown be unto thy God and King who reigneth in thee and is exalting his Kingdom over all the Kingdoms of this World and of his Dominion there shall be no end W. D. From the Common Goal in Warwick the 12 th of the 6 th Meneth 1665. For the dear Daughters of Sion whom the Lord hath or shall suffer their dear and tender Husbands to be separated from them beyond the Seas or else-where for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. DEar Handmaids of Glory whom the Lord hath counted worthy to part with your dear and tender and beloved Husbands for the Name of the Lord assuredly many puts their Shoulders to help to bear the Burthen of your Tryals this day O the Tears and breakings of Heart that is poured forth before the Lord for your dear Husbands and you and your tender Children you are Families of many prayers and assuredly shall be known to be Families of many Mercies O dear Daughters of Sion be content with your Cup handed forth to you this day and bless the Name of the Lord that you are accounted worthy to be the first Fruits among the beloved Daughters What could the Lord do more for you then to count you worthy to suffer in this nature to give you such blessed Husbands that are set as glorious Lights in the face of all People Dear chosen beloved Daughters of Sion let it be seen you love the Lord Jesus more then your dear Husbands and stand over the affectionate Part and solace your Souls in the Love and Life of the Lord Jesus your eternal and beloved Husband and Comforter of your real Husbands and will make us all to rejoyce in whatever he calls us unto we diligently watching and judging our selves and resting in the Light and Will of God in which the Lord establish you you deâ—r beloved Daughters of Sion for whom breathes the Soul of your dear Brother daily to the Lord to strengthen you and your dear Husbands and all that love the Lord Jesus Christ In whom fare you well W. D. Warwick common Gaol the 10 th of the 8 th Month 1664. For my dear honorable Brethren who are or may be sentenced to be Transported to the Isles beyond the Sea for the Testimony of the Name of the Lord Jesus MY dear Friends in the suffering of the Lamb who liveth and reigneth forever and ever and shall overcome all his Enemies in the day determined that all his Enemies shall bow under the Soles of his Feet then shall all that oppress you call you the blessed of the Lord forever O my dear Brethren lift up your Heads in the Light and Life of Jesus for whom you suffer abide in his Light reign over your thoughts of either Wife or Children or whatever would trouble your minds for giving up freely in this your Testimony O you valiants among the People the first Fruits and the leading Champions the Lord is with you and Thousands and ten Thousands shall bless the Name of the Lord for your faithful Testimony which shall sound over Nations to the gathering the People and bringing in our little Sister who hath no Breasts to feel the Consolation of the life of our Beloved for whom we suffer this day O my dear Brethren triumph trimuph in the face of all your Enemies it shall be well with you wheresoever the Lord suffers you to be carried and as to your tender Wives and Children the Lord hath said to my Soul it shall be well with them the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon them forever and ever and with you to the comfort of the Isles that wait for his Law therefore in the peaceable power of the Lord go on you chosen Brethren of the suffering seed which the Lord hath blessed O happy men that ever you were born and blessed be the day that ever the Lord called you in his Power to stand faithful in what the Lord requires of you in which living Testimony you stream through the whole Body as a River of Oyle and vertuous refreshings whose memorial shall never perish but preach to Ages and Generations to the Glory of the Name of our God forever O go on with gladness with trimuph for it is to bring in the Seed from all the ends of the Earth that our Brethren may come from far and Sisters from the end of the World O mighty God cover thy faithful Servants with thy glorious Power and cause them and their Families to rejoyce in thy disposing of them forever and ever Amen My Life in the suffering Spirit go with you in the Name of the Lord forever my dear Companions in these bonds Salute you in the Love of the Lord. Farewel W. D. From the Common Gaol of Worwick the â—0 th of the 8 th Month 1665. The Word of the Lord to all Children born again of the Immortal Seed as the Salutation of the Bowels of the unlimitted Love of the Father flowing forth to you in the forcible Power of his own Life thorow your Brother and Companion in Tribulation and Kingdom of Patience in the Lord Jesus Christ. DEar and honourable Brethren and Sisters Oh how doth my Soul bless the Name of the Lord for you who stands faithful to God in your living
Ellington whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who have been and is in Bonds for the Truths sake and as near as remembred the substance of what the Judge who made a Goal Delivery of all the Transgressors of the Law did express to the Servants of the Lord that was brought Prisoners before him whom no breach of Law was proved against and also as near as remembred here is declared the substance of what the Servants of the Lord did express so long as they were permitted to declare the Truth which did stop the Mouth of all that did object any thing against it and though the Judge could not gainsay the Truth declared by them nor Read them a Law that they had transgressed yet were they not suffered to have the benefit of the Law that Murtherers and Felons had that their Accusers might appear face to face and they have a Tryal and speak for themselves to clear the Truth from false Accusations cast upon it and them but we are again committed to Prison as the following Lines make manifest With a true Discovery of the Persecution of Iohn Huckin Michael Pâ—ttâ—sâ—â— and Thomas Goodayre who is Imprisoned in Northampton for the Truthâ— sake wherein the great enmity that is in Thomas Andrews Priest of Wâ—llinâ—orrow and Thomas Pentlow of Wilby c alled Justice and also of the Magistrates of Northampton made manifest Also the Word of the Lord to the Rulers and Judges and all that Plot against the righteous Seed the World in scorn calls Qâ—akers ABout the time of the eleventh hour of the one and twentieth day of the fifth Month the Goaler called William Deusbery Ioseph Storr Henry Williamson Iohn Whitehead Marmaduke Storr Thomas Cocket and Francis Ellington and he set them all together at the Bar before the Court the Judge looked upon them and after a little silence said to the Goaler Are these Prisoners the Goaler answered yea my Lord the Judge said to the Goaler do you use to bring Prisoners before the Court in this manner you deserve to be Fined ten Pound for bringing them before the Court cover'd the Goaler answered if you command me I shall take off their Hats then the Judge gave command and the Goalers Man took them off which being done the Judge having knowledge given which was William Deusbery spoke to him as followeth Judge Atkins said to William Deusbery what art thou here for William Deusbery answered The Mittimus will express what I was committed for but a Copy of it I am denied by the Keeper of the Goal I. A. What is thy name W. D. Unknown to the World. I. A. Let us hear what that name is that the World knows not W. D. It is known in the Light and not any can know it but him that hath it but the name the World knows me by is William Deusbery I. A. What Country-Man art thou W. D. Of the Land of Canaan I. A. That is afar off W. D. Nay it is near for all that dwell in God is in the holy City new Ierusalem which comes down from Heaven where the Souls is in rest and enjoys the love of God in Jesus Christ in whom the union is with the Father of Light. I. A. That is true but are you ashamed of your Countrey is it a disparagement for you to be born in England W. D. Nay for the Truths sake I am free to declare according to the Knowledg of the World my natural Birth was in York-Shire nine Miles from York towards Hull I. A. You pretend to be extraordinary Men and to have an extraordinary Knowledg of God. W. D. We witness the Work of Regeneration to be an extraordinary Work wrought in us by the Spirit of God. I. A. But the Apostles wrought with their Hands in their Callings W. D. They had Callings in the World some were Fishermen Paul a Tent-maker but when they were called to the Ministry of Christ they left their Callings to follow Christ where he led them by his Spirit to Preach the Word and I had a Calling in the World as they had and in it did abide until the Father revealed his Son in me and called me from my Calling I had in the World to Preach the eternal Word he had made known to me in the great Work of Regeneration I. A. Why didst thou not abide in thy own Countrey and Teach People in them Parts W. D. There I did stay until I was called from thence to go where I was led by the Spirit of the Lord and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons and Daughters of God and they that have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his I. A. You say well for we must in charity conclude that every one in this place hath the Spirit of God in them but how do you know that you are guided by the Spirit of God W. D. They that have the Spirit of God are known by their fruits and he that believeth in Jesus Christ and is guided by his Spirit hath the witness in himself I. A. That is true yet notwithstanding I see by your carriage that what my Brother Hails did at the last Assizes in requiring Bonds for your good behaviour he might justly do it for you are against Magistrates and Ministers W. D. Make that manifest wherein we are against them I. A. Said to Robert Guy Clark of the Peace What have you against these men R. Guy Here is an Information given in upon Oath by Mr Robert Beeton that William Deusbury on the twenty nineth of December 1654. did go into the Church in Wellingborrow and stood with his Hat on in the time of Sermon and Prayer and after the Minister had done he spake these words The Priests preach for hire and the People love to have it so But what will you do in the end thereof with other railing words which made disturbance amongst the people I. A. What have you against Storr and Williamson not any one spoke openly against them I shall take course that those that have disturbed the Ministers before I go forth of the Town that they shall be indicted W. D. It is the Liberty of the Law of this Nation that any which is brought Prisoner before those that sits to judge their Cause may speak for themselves the truth to witness against the false information given in against them and that Liberty I take to manifest the ground and cause of my going into the Steeple-house at Wellingborrow As I was going in the Street Thomas Andrews called Minister of that Town called to me with these words Give over deceiving the People lest the Plagues of God fall on thee I replyed these words Doest thou say I deceive the People make it manifest wherein I deceive them Thomas Andrews said Thou saidst there is not any Original Sin I replied Didst thou hear me say so to which he would not answer but fled away I being falsly accused by Thomas Andrews
must increase whose Baptism we own according as is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth and since he ascended there is no Scripture doth witness his sending any to Baptize with Water Paul who was sent after he ascended what he did in the liberty given him his liberty he knew when he circumcised Timothy and Baptized Crispus and Gaius and the Household of Stephanus besides I know not that I Baptized any other saith Paul for Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be of none effect 1 Cor. 1.16 17. And Iohn who bore record of the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 14.6 saith I saw an Angel in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to Preach to them that dwell in the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred Tongue and People John did not say he did fly through the midst of Heaven Preaching the everlasting Gospel and Baptizing with Water we know Iohn was faithful in his Testimony of Jesus Christ who is now revealed and the Angel is come and the Gospel Preached and the Shadows done away And Bread and Wine were the Supper of the Lord in the Dispensation of time a Figure of his Death which were fulfilled when he had suffered and rose again and now he is known to stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my voice and open the Door I will come in and Sup with him and he with me saith Christ Rev. 3.20 And we being many are one Bread and one Body c. 1 Cor. 10.17 and know the Wine renewed in our Fathers Kingdom Christ the Substance we now witness Shadows and Figures done away he that can receive it let him And the Churches set up by the will of Man we deny and the fixed Ministry set up over them by the will of Man that watch for the Fleece bear rule by their means and seeks their gain from their Quarter these we deny Ieremiah 5.31 and Isaiah 56.11 And those in scorn called Quakers do watch over the Flock of God every one as the Lord them calls and not for filthy Lucre as the Priests that bear Rule by their means do neither by constraint but of a ready mind 1 Pet. 5.2 in obedience to the Spirit of the Lord as he them move and thy Slanders thou hast not yet proved our Consciences do witness it that what thou hast accused us with is a Lie and not the Truth And thou further sayes that William Deusbery in a lying Paper as thou calls it which is entituled A true Prophecy of the mighty Day of the Lord already risen in the North of England c. In which Paper he makes it his work to slander the Ordinances of Gospel worship under the notion of outward Observations which Christs Kingdom comes not in Luke 17.20 and thus he accounts of all the Ordinances and Institutions prescribed by Christ himself in the Apostolical Churches and accounts all the strict observing of outward Forms of worship is but imitating the Saints practices in their Babilonish and Heathenish wisdom all these outward Forms are the outward Court without the Temple Pag. 1.2 Reply The Lie will be found in thy own Mouth in calling that a lying Paper a true Prophecy it is of the mighty day of the Lord and for thy saying William Deusbery makes it his work c. as before written thy Charge is false and the Truth is witnessed against vain Man who in his dark mind seeks the Kingdom of God in Observations where it comes not Luke 17.20 neither shall men say Lo here or lo there he called by name as before written doth witness they are not the Ordinances of Christ according as is declared of them they will be found and made manifest to the shame and confusion of their Faces who in their own wisdom imitates the Saints practices in Forms which they did practice in Life and Power in the Dispensation of time they served their Generation in the manifestation of the Spirit according to the Will of God. And whereas thou sayst in Pag. 4. it is more clear that he prophanely compares the holy Ordinances and Institutions of the Lord to that great Image set up by Nebuchadnezars proud nature spoken of by Daniel and that that Image was but a Tipe and Figure of this which now shines gloriously in Forms and Observations And thou sayst that in his speaking to the Anabaptists and Independents he tells them they have set up a finer Image in the Gospel Ordinances as they call them and what other Ordinances thou sayst doth these or you set up but what was practised in the Apostolical Churches thus you may see how this Impostor doth reproach the holy things of God. Reply Blush for shame who sayst William Dewsberry compares the holy Ordinances and Institutions of our Lord to that great Image c. Holy Ordinances and Institutions of the Lord is not rhere exprest by him where thou sayst he then so compares he witnesses against the Image you have set up in your minds of the Truth as you conceive where you are in confusion that doth you divide into Forms and Observations as before written to look for the Kingdom of God to come and though you call them the Ordinances of Christ you denying Christ the Light you to guide in the daily cross you are in the same nature wherein Nebuchadnazar cast the Lord Servants into the fiery Furnace because they witnessed against his Image so do you who walk in your imaginations and deny Christ the Light cause the Servants of the Lord that walk in the Life and cannot bow to your Image but witness against it to be haled out of your Meeting Places beaten stoned whipt stockt imprisoned which are the fruits of Nebuchadnezâ—rs nature as is manifest this day amongst those against whom he witnesseth and who is the Impostor and reproaches the holy things of God the fruit makes manifest he that hath an Eye to see let him see And further thou sayst that he in the height of his insolent rashness and madness saith thus The Word of the Lord came unto me saying I will gather my Peopel out of all Forms and Observations and out of all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and I will pour out my Spirit upon them And this thou sayst he writes in a different Character as if it were all Scripture by this you may see is proved what I have accused them with in denying the Ordinances and Administrations of the Gospel Churches true and yet this impudent Lyar tells me it s a lying slander they would render me a Lyar for telling them the Truth but it seems they can rather and with more ease deny the Accusation then prove themselves Saints and stand to it thus when they are pincht they will say and unsay and any thing to evade Rashness and Madness is thy own in speaking evil of that thou knowest not the day