and the Promise of Life was unto his Seed wherein all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed and the Promise of God unto Abraham was That his Seed should inherit the Land wherein he was a Stranger so God blessed Abraham and multiplied his Seed as the Stars of Heaven and they encreased unto a multitude in the Land of Egypt and the Egyptians intreated them evilly and afflicted them Foâ—â— Hundred Years Gen. 15.13 and afterwards God remembred his Covenant made with Abraham and raised up a Prophet to wit Moses who was faithful in all God's House and by mighty Signs and Yokens of his Judgments upon Egypt God brought them forth by a mighty Hand and an out stretched Arm and preserved them by the Way from the Expectation of their Enemies and kept them in the Red Sea from being overtaken with the Egyptians and God did this for them to the end they might be unto him a Chosen People to set forth his Praises to the Ends of the Earth But soon after this great Deliverance when they came into the Wilderness the Devil by his Subtilty turned their Hearts from the Lord and so Iniquity was found within their Camp and Murmurings amongst the People and so God was displeased and cut down their chosen men who lusted by the way and raised up another Generation amongst them and they enter'd the Land and God gave them his Law and his Statutes that they might be a People known to the Lord in obeying him forever but soon after they came into that Inheritance the Devil wrought again to turn their Hearts from the Lord and they followed the Wayes of the Heathen whom God cast out before them and then the Lord was grieved with them and gave them into the Hands of their Enemies who ruled over them until they should remember the Lord against whom they had sinned and when they remembred the Lord he sent Deliverance unto them which brought them again to their Land And so all may read who have Vnderstanding what the Cause is this day why people do not injoy the Blessings of God unto their Souls it s certainly because they are in the Transgression But God will remember such though they may be in spiritual Captivity that desire after him and forsake their Sins which is the Cause of their Souls Captivity for when the Heart shall return unto the Lord he will take away the Vails and give an Vnderstanding of the thing that 's Heavenly So Israel dealt treachtrously with the Lord from time to time but the Lord often times when they cryed unto him raised up faithful Messengers which declared unto them the Way of the Lord and David whom God chose with whom he confirmed his Premise before made unto Abraham and said David shall not want a Man to sit upon his Throne forever but this People to 〈◊〉 Israel were Corrupters and followed their own Inventions and rebelled against the Spirit of God and slew the Prophets of the Lord which he sent unto them And so the Time came when God according to his Promise sent his Son the Seed wherein the Blessing consists in which all the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed which is to gather into one all things in Christ whether in Heaven or in Earth Ephes 1.10 But the Jews though they were the Seed of Abraham outwardly yet did not know this spiritual Seed Christ but rose against him and put him to Death hâ—â—beit God raised him from the Dead by his Glorious Power and received him again into his ancient Glory that he had with him before the World began but God turned his Hand against these professing Persecutors and the Time came over them that Distress and Sorrow compassed them in and Affliction and Tribulations from day to day attended them because of that bloody Action in Consenting to the Death of Jesus and so God's Fury was poured forth upon them from time to time until they were disinherited and driven out of their Possession which if they had received him and believed that it was he Eternal Life and Glory would have been their Reward for evermore And about this time God who is rich in Grace after Christ Jesus the Son of his Love was raised up from the Dead began to appear in him and to work by him inwardly in many and raised up many to bear witness of God that he had raised up his Son from the Dead whom he furnished with the Gift of Life Power and Wisdom to declare unto the Sons of Men That Jesus was the Christ and this was the Gospel which before was preached unto Abraham unto whose Seed the Promise was forever which Seed is Christ and many Thousands by this glorious Gospel were gathered to God and a glorious Way they were brought into and also into the injoyment of the sure Mercies of David Isa 55.3 never to be forsaken nor yet to want a Man to execute Judgment in their Behalf in Truth and Righteousness But here comes the Misery again the Devil who was ever an Enemy to God's Heritage under every Dispensation he begins to work again and to seduce the Minds of such as profess Christ Jesus and then Wickedness again began to spring and as Wickedness abounded so people were darkened in their Vnderstanding and as the Wicked One prevailed so people were corrupted and this was the beginning of falling away again from God after the Appearance of Jesus Christ And now as the Jews and all Apostates in days past have rebelled against God so have these called Christians rebelled against Christ and so Darkness and Ignorance came over those called Christians also and the Devil hath ruled and hath had Dominion and then God who first appeared to them in his Son Christ Jesus when they thus rebelled and grieved him he with drew his Presence from them and so they have been a wandring People from Generation to Generation but God who is Everlasting though Man hath changed in his Mind yet God is the same and changeth not and that Blessed Truth and Everlasting Gospel which is not another in these last dayes hath God revealed again and it s now profest injoyed and preacht by the despised People called Quakers whom God hath gathered by the Right Hand of his Righteousness to bear forth a Testimony for his Name in this Generation whom God will support uphold and strengthen against all Oppositions that his ancient Truth may be proclaimed to the Ends of the Earth that so such as are afar off may be brought nigh to God the Devil shall be defeated whose Power of darkness hath reigned and Christ Jesus shall reign whose Right it is and he shall bring us into the Possession of the spiritual Canaan that Land of Eternal Rest which remains for the People of God and he will chain the Devil that has deceived the Nations cast him into the Bottomless Pit and his holy People shall possess and inherit forever the blessed Kingdom and the Wicked and Abominable and Murderers and Adulterers and all Lyars shall have their Part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev 21.8 R. S. THE END
there to give an Account for the Deeds done in the Body 2 Cor. 5.10 and such as have done well shall receive a Crown of Life and Peace with God forever and they that have done Evil shall go into Everlasting Punishment Mat. 25.46 And therefore as you have been Transgressors against God and Strangers to the Life of Holiness it is upon my Spirit from the Lord God to warn you speedily to turn every one from the Evil of your Wayes that out of Darkness you all may come and out of Ignorance and Blindness unto Christ Jesus the true Way that you may have Life who said I am come that you may have Life and that you may have it more abundantly John 10.10 And therefore turn unto him in your Hearts whose Spiritual Appearance is inwardly whom God hath sent a Light into the World John 1.9 Now that all may come unto him and believe in your Hearts the Lord Jesus and be saved for people have been in a great Mistake concerning the Faith that saves and overcomes the World for the true Faith is the Gift of God Ephes 2.8 arising from the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart Rom. 10.8 which Faith Christ is the Author of and the Finisher also Heb. 12.2 and without this Faith you cannot please God Hebr. 11.6 And so all People read your States and Condition in the Light of Christ within you which shews unto you what you are and declares unto you your Thoughts this is the Record which God hath given of his Son in the Earth which is Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son John 5.11 this reproves you in secret for sin this is the Holy Spirit of Promise that was to come whom the Prophets prophesied of in the dayes of old whom God hath given for a Leader and a Commander of the People Isa 55.4 the Gentiles Light and Israel's Glory Luke 2.32 and unto him you must turn who stands at the Door of your Hearts and knocks Revel 3.20 who is come to destroy Sin in the Flesh whose living Power was felt in the Hearts of many Thousands in dayes past after his Resurrection in the dayes of the Apostles when he returned to his Glory that he had with the Father before the World was who descended first into the lowest parts of the Earth and ascended up far above all Heavens Ephes 4.9 10. that he might fill all things whose Glory fills Heaven and Earth neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open to the Eye of him with whom we have to do Hebr. 4.13 who dyed for our Sins and rose again for our Redemption and Justification Rom. 4.25 who appeared first to Mary Magdalen and made her a Preacher of his Resurrection Mat. 28.10 Mark 16.9 and then to his Disciples before he ascended into Heavenly Glory And when he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive und gave Gifts unto Men Ephes 4.8 And though he appeared to his Disciples as they sate at Meat yet he bad them wait for the Gift of the Spirit when he asecended unto the Father Luke 4.49 And so they were made Witnesses of his Resurrection that he rose out of the Grave and not only so but that he was in Heavenly Glory who came again as he had foretold his Disciples who said Ye have heard how I said I go away and come again unto you c. John 14.28 And as the Apostle said he was offered up once for all and to every one that looks for him will he appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation and by his spiritual Appearance were many Thousands gathered and many were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 And this Spirit of Grace taught them to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly and righteously in this present World Tit. 2.12 And this Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men Tit. 2.11 even to Jew and Gentile the Grace of God the pure Spirit of Christ the Light of the Gentiles unto which Light the Apostles were sent to turn the Heathen that had no wrâ—tten Law in those Days and from the Power of Satan unto God Acts 28.8 Thus the Lord stretched forth his Everlasting Arm of Strength and Power in those Days that People might be gathered unto him and raised up by Christ Jesus out of Death and spiritual Bondage and those Preachers of the Glorious Gospel of God's Kingdom travailed chearfully in the Lord's Work and preached freely as they had received freely Mat. 10.8 declaring both to Jew and Gentile that God hath raised his Son from the dead Acts 2.24 25. and that the Day of Joy and Glad tidings was come wherein Deliverance from the wicked one was to be known and Redemption from dead Works to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 who waited for the Son from Heaven mark that you that are Preachers in this Nation The Apostles did not come to People with Enticing Words of Man's Wisdom but directed them to the Light that was revealed from Heaven to wit the Son of God the Light of the World Thes 1.10 1 Cor. 2.4 John 1.9 and if you turn not People to the Son of God the Light of the World to wait for him inwardly then ye are blinded and are in Darkness and preach another Gospel then Christ jesus whom the Apostles did preach Gal. 1.8 for Christ Jesussaid Seek not the Kingdom in Observations for behold the Kingdom of Heaven is within you Luke 17.21 And Paul to the Romans saith That which may be known of God is manifested in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1.19 And the true Gospel is the Power of God wherein the Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1.16 17. and the Light of this Glorious Gospel shines within and if this glorious Gospel be hid it is to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not 2 Cor. 4.3 4. And you that have not this Gospel take heed how you preach lest you be found false Witnesses runnning before the true Guide Christ Jesus and professing God and Christ and yet dead in Sin all such Preachers and Hearers that are not come to the Gospel within to the Word of Eternal Life in their Hearts 1 John 5.12 are out of the Truth in the Fall and so abiding in Death for he that hath not the Son who is the Truth hath not Life for this living Word within was the Foundation of the Holy Prophets and Apostles by which they were made alive and this did divide between the good bad which Word is quick and powerful and searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins Heb. 4.12 Rev. 2.23 And it is the same to this Day as ever it was yea it lives and abides for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 And the
A TESTIMONY Unto the TRUTH AND A Warning unto the World IN GENERAL But more particularly to the Inhabitants of Enoder parish in Cornwall By one whom God hath called out to bear witness of the Truth as it is in Jesus called by the Name of RICHARD SAMBLE Printed in the Year 1676. TO THE READER READER THou art desired to be considerate when thou readest this following Book and to be very ponderous in thy Mind as touching the things therein contained that thy Understanding may be opened by the invisible God who giveth unto us Life Breath and Being and also that thou wouldst lay to Heart this very Thing How that Almighty God hath risen in many Ages of the World in his Judgments and Fury to stain the Glory of all Flesh and to set up Righteousness in the Earth and hath caused his Truth to spring and flourish amongst his People under every Dispensation until they departed from the Lord and served other Gods and followed their own Inventions and then Darkness came over them and so their Hearts were hardened from his Fear Prov. 1.29 30. And this thou art also to consider That Sin hath been the very Cause of Man's Destruction from Generation to Generation and therefore if thou dye in thy Sins thou art like to have no part amongst the Living in the Kingdom of Christ but the same will be thy Portion that hath been the portion of the Wicked in all Ages which is perpetual Sorrow Distress and Anguish for evermore And this consider also That whatever thou dost profess or what Shew of Religion soever thou mayest make whilst thy sins remain I am to tell thee and that in the Name of Christ Jesus Thou art not accepted of God but all thy Prayers are an Abomination to the Lord Ezek. 8.17 18. Isa 1.15 because thou art in the Transgression in that which the pure God of Glory hateth and upon which he will pour out his Fury and Indignation for evermore and if thou art one that lives in Pleasure thy daily Satisfaction is in following these Evil Devices that are very common amongst men in this Generation to wit Drunkenness Swearing Lying or other Prophane Practices and that which is called Pastime or sporting thy self amongst such as count it Pleasure to Riot in the day time Jam. 5.5 6. know this that all these things will be a Hindrance to thy eternal Well-fare for such as do such things cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 20 21. And also thou art to consider That there hath been a Night of gross Darkness over the Hearts of the Children of men since the Apostles dayes and that Saving Grace which was common in that Generation people have lost in the Night and are become dry and barren as a Desert or Wilderness as relating to Matters of Spiritual Concerns wherein consists the Stability of their Souls Peace with God And this also I am to tell thee That God who is unchangeable and immortal hath revealed his blessed Truth again and the Gospel of his blessed Kingdom is now preached to the Nations and if ever thou comest to God's Kingdom thou must come to know him that is the Everlasting Teacher to wit Christ Jesus and him to know in thy own Particular who is the Man of God's Right Hand a quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.45 and so thou wilt come out of thy lost Condition wherein thou art in the Fall in the first Man Adam into the Life of Holiness and Righteousness into the Restoration by Christ Jesus the second Adam the Heavenly Man And this know also That thou canst not come to him by any other way but as thou comest into Self denyal and believest in thy Heart the Record that God hath given of his Son which is the true Light that shines within thee and lets thee see thy Sins And farther That as sin hath been the very Cause of Man's Separation from the Lord yet when thou shalt return again and come to know a Godly Sorrow in the Secret of thy Heart and when thou shalt feel in thy self a Tenderness and a Broken-heartedness before the invisible God who sees in secret Mat. 6.6 he will grant thee Repentance unto Life and he will return unto thee in his Everlasting Mercies and blot out thy sins out of his Remembrance And this also I am to tell thee in the Fear of God and in his Name That as the Lord hath appeared in dayes past and in Generations that are gone in his Indignation and hath smitten many Nations and Peoples in his Wrath sometimes overturning the World by Water and sometimes destroying Cities and Peoples by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Luke 17.29 Gen. 19.24 25. and again by Plagues Pestilence and at certain Seasons the Lord God because of the Abominations of the Children of Men hath visited them in his Wrath and hot Displeasure and greatly afflicted them and the End of the Lord hath been that such as remain upon the Earth might fear before him and dread his great Name who is Mighty and none can escape him And people in these last dayes and times have greatly grieved the Lord and therefore except they Repent his Fury will he pour forth upon them until that which is in his Heart be accomplished and they shall not escape his heavy Hand And so Reader whoever thou art that reads these following Lines the Desire of my Soul is that thou mayest be impartial concerning me and conclude in thy Mind that it s written in tender Love to thy Soul and so thou wilt see my honest Intent who am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness desiring thy Eternal Well-fare when this Time and Day of thine is at an End I rest Thy Friend and Well-Wisher RICHARD SAMBLE A TESTIMONY UNTO THE TRUTH c. IN the deep Consideration of the States and Conditions of the Sons and Daughters of men in the Fall and seeing how the World lies in the Extremity of Wickedness being overcome by the Old Serpent called the Devil and Satan who hath tyed and bound them with his Chains of Sin who is the Author of all Sin I am drawn in Spirit to warn them to Repentance and to declare to the World the Way that the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath ordained which is Christ Jesus who is Everlasting and was with the Father before the World began John 17.5 who is the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 by whom my Soul hath been redeemed and who raised me up out of Sin and therefore having obtained Mercy through the Love of God in Christ Jesus whom he hath sent a Light into the World and I having known in measure the Judgments of the Lord and the Terrors of the Almighty because of my Transgressions therefore cannot but perswade men to turn from Ungodliness even all people that lie in Wickedness knowing assuredly that all People shall be called to an Account before the Tribunal Seat of Christ
Sin nay for man comes short of all spiritual Blessings notwithstanding all his Wisdom Parts and Abilities for God hath placed Cherubims and a Flaming-Sword which turns every Way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life Gen. 3.24 and here man is defeated notwithstanding all his fair outward Shew or Pretence of Religion for without Obedience to Christ he is undone and lost though he may retain the Name Christian and as some in Dayes past who had a Name to live and were dead Rev. 3.1 and stood as though they were Rich and had need of nothing but knew not that they were Poor Blind Wretched Naked and Miserable and so were without the City New Jerusalem without a Part or Inheritance in the Kingdom of God though they had a Name yet were dead to God in the Profession only without the Life and so were threatned as said the Spirit I will kill her Children with Death and all the Churches shall know that I am the Lord that searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins and give to every one according as his Work shall be Rev. 2.23 3.17 And so dear People come into the Light of Christ that is within you before your Glass be run that you may find a Place of Repentance lest the Dayes come over you when Repentance shall be hid from your Eyes Hosea 13.14 and so with Esau seek the Blessing when it is too late and a Place of Repentance with Tears and could not find it therefore while it is called to day if you will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 3.7 8. but draw near unto the Lord and he will draw nigh unto you and gather you unto himself and you shall no more wander without the Knowledge of him but the gathering Arm of God's Power will keep you from the Enemy of your Immortal Souls who is a Thief and a Lyar from the Beginning and a Murderer who abode not in the Truth John 8.44 and so you will be with the Redeemed of the Lord whose Hearts are in Covenant with him who are come to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaks better Things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 and so you will know a sure Teacher even Jesus Christ who is a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek whose Ministration is Life who hath the Words of Eternal Life John 6.48 And this Teacher cannot be removed into a Corner Isa 30.20 who is the tender gathering Shepherd and careful over-seeing Bishop 1 Pet. 2.25 which leads by the Springs of Living Water and guides to the Fountain of Life Rev. 7.17 and here you will find Power and Wisdom Strength and all things needful for God hath laid Help on one that is mighty which is the mighty Redeemer and Reconciler of Man to God and this is that secret Joy that springeth up in my Soul from day to day feeling the holy Power of the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World who hath delivered my Soul and now he doth minister Joy and Comfort to my inner Man in the Sense whereof my Soul saith Come all ye scattered ones who are yet wandring as Sheep having no Shepheâ—d come to the Fold of Rest Oh! let your Hearts be bowed down and tendred before the Lord who is risen in this the Day of his Power and hath made a little Remnant willing to follow him whose Eye is render and seeth every secret thing and beholdeth the Breathings of the Souls of the Children of Men who have Desires after him and all you that mourn in secret cleave unto him who hath toucht your hearts and go not forth but be retired in your Minds and he will make way for you through all and so Fear not them that can kill the Body but fear him that hath Power to cast both Body and Soul into Hell Luke 12.5 and so such as will obtain Life let them take up the Cross and despise the Shame Hebr. 12.2 and turn your Backs upon all the World's Pleasures Delights and follow Christ in the Regeneration and be of Moses 's Mind who esteemed it greater Riches to suffer Persecution with the People of God then to injoy the Pleasure of Sin for a season Hebr. 11.24 25. for the Wo reacheth forever to Man and Woman in the Transgression if they Repent not and that State is attended with the Wrath of God and the Lord's Displeasure which is a sufficient Discouragement And so read these Lines in Coolness of spirit and in a ponderous weighty sense of your present Conditions then you will receive Benefit thereby and the End will be answered for which this is written so being clear in my Conscience in that I have done as I was drawn in Spirit by the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to declare unto the World in general and to some more particularly that which was opened to my Understanding to warn People concerned herein to turn unto the Lord I shall leave the Issue of all unto him who knoweth all Hearts and return into my Rest in that Measure of Grace given me of God where with my Brethren and Sisters who are redeemed out of the Sins of the World I shall give Glory to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for evermore Rev. 5.13 which was and is and is to come who is our God our King and Law-giver before whom all must appear who is God over all blessed forever Amen Richard Samble POSTSCRIPT GOD who is Everlasting in his Being and Mighty over all in his Power rewarding such as obey him with Life eternal Joy Peace and everlasting Comfort and also rewarding the Wicked with Punishment and Sorrow for evermore When first he created Man and Woman he created them in his own Image in Righteousness and true Holiness but soon after the Creation the Devil prevailed over them and corrupted their Hearts and so they lost the pure Presence of the Lord and then as the World came to be peopled so did Wickedness abound in the Earth although the Lord did strive with them by his Spirit that they might return and live but they continued in the Rebellion against the Lord and then the Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man c. Gen. 6.3 and so God brought the Flood upon them and their Blood was upon their own Heads And after the Flood though great was the Deliverance of Noah and his Family in that great Deluge wherein many Thousands were overthrown yet one of the Sons of Noah became a Wicked Man and the Curse came over him Gen. 9.25 and as the World became peopled again so did Wickedness encrease and people grew up in Ignorance without the Knowledge of the true God in Rebellion against the Lord and then God appeared unto Abraham and commanded him to forsake his Father's House and his Kindred Gen. 12.1 and Abraham believed and obeyed God and was faithful in all things before him with whom the Lord made a Covenant