do not see those things required of them or believe them to be their duty and because they do not see the practice of those things to be their duty or required of them therefore they oppose Friends in the practice of them What these things are these Opposers know and the Faithful who are opposed by them therein know them also They are not things which are evil or scandalous or of evil same or report amongst serious sober persons we are not afraid to bring them to the Light they are practised by many thousands in Unity to their comfort and tends to preserve both young and old sweet and orderly in their Marriages and in the rest of their Conversations and is for the Relief of the Poor Widows and Fatherless Children Some have done hurt in their selfish and wilful striving against these things and when they have done the hurt they would lay the blame upon the things which they strive against and the Instruments who have and do incourage those things And thus they judge unrighteously the Innocent and justifying themselves who are guilty Again the Apostle exhorted saying Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report If there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise think on these things These things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Philip. 4. 8 9. Observe that Meeting together in the Love Fear of Almighty God to take care of his glory in providing for the Poor Widows and Fatherless Children and others who have need of help assistance among us in their bodily Weakness Temptations Trials and Exercises is good is honest is Just is lovely is of good report and is worthy of praise These things are done in our Meetings both by Male and Female Such Meetings have the vertuous Presence of the Lord God them Such Meetings God doth gather own uphold and justifie by his powerful presence in the midst of them Again In those Meetings care is taken that such who profess the truth as it is in Christ Jesus and walk amongst us do proceed in their Marriages sweetly in good order according to the example of holy men and women of God in former time and in our days those proceedings are briefly though plainly touched at in the Scriptures of Truth Again In those Meetings care is taken that those whose proceedings in relation to Marriage are not as they ought to be that such be admonished that they may come into a right sense of the dishonour they bring to God thereby that they may repent and condemn the same and give glory to God therein that they may obtain forgiveness at his hand and that his People whom they have grieved by their unfaithfulness therein may be comforted in seeing this good Work of God wrought in them Again In these Meetings care is taken that those who profess the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus and walk amongst us do in their Conversations walk orderly as becomes the Gospel that no Professor thereof wrong another or any other person whomsoever in any matter or thing whatsoever This is endeavoured by the faithful Children of God Children of Light both Male and Female in their particular and distinct and also in their more general Meeting as much as in them lieth And where any professing the Truth amongst us do or have done the contrary care hath been and is to labour with them in the love of God and Meekness and Patience which Christ Jesus the meek and lowly Lamb of God hath taught us to bring them into a right sense of the dishonour they have brought to God by their evil doings and that they might repent of and sensually judge themselves for the same that so through unfeigned Repentance and forsaking the same they might obtain Forgiveness of their sins at the hand of God for the Lord God who is merciful delighteth not in the destruction of the sinner but rather that he should repent and turn from the evil of his ways and live and so come into unity with his tender People Again In these Meetings the faithful in Christ Jesus do watch one over another in Love to be helpful one to another in their Temptations Tryals and Afflictions labouring to build up each other in the holy Faith which works by Love as the Apostle saith herein they manifest their love one to another according to Christs command Their love is without dissimulation by which they are known to be the Disciples of Christ in fulfilling the Royal Law of Love in his Divine Light according the Scriptures of Truth Again in those Meetings care is taken that the Professors of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Teachings of his Divine Light within do walk in the Light which they make profession of that according to Christs command their Light may so shine before men that they may see their good works in Christ Jesus and glorifie our Father which is in Heaven that as the Salt of the Earth we may always keep that heavenly â—avour which God in Christ hath given us and that we may grow in it more and more that therein we may be a good savour both in them that are saved and in them that perish even as the Apostle exhorted All the before mentioned things are true honest just good virtuous lovely and of good report worthy of praise Hereby God is honoured and his children profited benefited comforted edified and built up in unfeigned Love Peace and sweet Unity to his praise and glory who is over all Heaven and Earth worthy of Honour Glory Dominion and Praise now and for ever more Amen Observe that which opposeth condemneth and â—â—orneth the faithful in Christ Jesus in these their services and labour of love is neither true just honest lovely virtuous â—or oâ— good report neither is it worthy of praise but the contrary Therefore all you who profess to be led and guided by the Light of Christ within you in the Light of Christ Jesus I tell you that his Light in you will not lead any of you to oppose any of the good things before mentioned And where any person professing to be led by the Light of Christ within do oppose any of the before-mentioned Meetings or the aforesaid good services in them it is Darkness and not the Light of Christ which so leads and perswades them He that was a Liar from the beginning hath deceived such Oh that they might see his Snare and come out of it this is our tender desire for them for their eternal good The Lord God who is Light in whom there is no Darkness at all said by the mouth of his holy Prophet Wo unto them that call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness Wo unto them that are wise
all such he honours with the honour that is from above which comes from himself and all these do honour each other and prefer each other according to the Order of the Work of God amongst them in their several Gifts and Services in the Body of Christ his Church All keeping to and walking in the Divine Light of Christ all will be kept in Humility and in Unity yea cloathed with it according to the Apostles Exhortation and according to the Command and Example of Christ the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls who said Learn of me I am meek and lowly in Heart and ye shall find rest to your Souls A Remnant hath learned Humility of him in this Age and he hath given us rest to our Souls which to us far excels all the Riches and Glory of this World Praises to the Lord God and the Lamb for the same Blessed are all they that walk in his Light they find the fruit of it in them to be unfeigned Love to Friends and also to Enemies and Meekness Patience Gentleness Justice Equity and Righteousness towards all Men and a good Understanding and holy right Zeal for the honour of the Lord and the good of his People who walks here will not be puffed up with self conceit or self wilfulness or be filled with Wrath Malice Strife nor strive to Honour or Exalt themselves as Lords over Gods People such are not Lords over that Faith which God hath wrought in his People but in the Love of God Meekness and Humility of Christ Jesus these build up one another in their most Holy Faith and are Fellow helpers of one anothers Joy in the Lord as the Apostle hath writ and Exhorted And as the Primitive true Christians practised Concerning Rule and Government in the Church of Christ CHrist Jesus after he arose from the Dead spake unto his Disciples saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them into the Name for so the Greek renders it of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have comanded you and lo I am with you always c. Matt. 28. 18 19 20. First Observe Christ who was always spiritually present with those whom he sent to preach the Gospel gave them many things in Charge to teach the People to observe those who believed received and obeyed the Gospel preach'd by the Apostles did obey the Commands and Doctrines of Christ given by or through the Apostles who were his Embassadors those who did continue stedfast unto the end were by degrees Taught and inabled by the powerful Spirit and Light of Christ in the Apostles and in their own hearts to observe do all things that Christ commanded them 2. Observe Christ in and by the Apostles did command and teach those who believed and received the Gospel and walked in the Light of it and those who did believe and obey those Commands and Doctrines were not therein subject or obedient to the Traditions Doctrines or Commandments of men who were without the Spiritual Presence and Authority of Christ But they were obedient unto the Commandements and Doctrines of Christ delivered in and by the Faithful Apostles those holy Men of God 3. Observe Here is Order and Rule in the Work of God they that are Novices or young Scholars in the Faith and Doctrine of Christianity are Learners others Elders or Teachers these are to be Taught and watch'd over by those to whom God hath given an oversight of them in his power and wisdom for the Salvation Preservation and everlasting good of their Souls these Stewards of God who labour for and watch over Souls for the good end aforesaid God requires them to be faithful in this great Charge which he hath laid upon them for they must give an account to him of their stewardship and blessed are all those who have believed the Gospel who obey and walk in the Light of the same receiving and obeying the Commands Doctrines and Precepts of the Lord Jesus Christ given unto them by his Light and Spirit in his Stewards and Embassadors which they see and receive in the same Light Spirit of Christ in their own Hearts and Souls An account will be given of them with joy unto Christ the chief Shepherd and great Overseer of Souls 4. Observe They who after they have believed in the Spirit and Light of God and Christ within and have partaken of the vertue and power thereof fall away when Temptations and Tryals come upon them for Christ and the Gospel's sake these become like the stony ground which Christ speaks of in the Parables of the Kingdom that young and tender Blade which appeared in them being withered an account cannot be given of these with joy but with sorrow though they who have laboured faithfully with them for their good are clear of their Fall and Misery 5. Observe Those who have come to a farther growth and knowledg of the Truth than those last mentioned who have come not only to know the Truth but also further to obey it and suffer for it yet they after they have thus done and suffered have fallen away from their first love and obedience to the Cross of Christ by rejecting and slighting the Counsel of God by his Light and Spirit in their own hearts and in the hearts and mouths of his Servants and these having cast off the Yoke of Christ are become as Sons of Belial without Yoke gone into the World into the Cumbersom Cares of it and the Deceitfulness of the Riches Lusts and Glory of it such has made ill use of the grace or favour of God given unto them such in their works whatever their Words be deny the only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ such are the despisers of the Government of Christ in his Church who though they retain yet something of the Christian form of Godliness yet are out of the life and power thereof and Enemies to it as by their Evil Works and Words do and will appear The Stewards and Embassadors of Christ cannot give a joyous account of these though having faithfully laboured with them for their preservation and well being are therefore cleer of their blood or of being in any wise guilty of their Fall and Ruin Observe further what the Apostle saith concerning Rule and Government in the Church of Christ he writing to the believing Hebrews writes thus Remember them which have the Rule over you who hath spoken unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation obey them that hath the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Salute all them that have the Rule over you and all the Saints they of Italy salute you
and Christ and the Divine Light within of living without Sin of Perfection or of perfecting Holiness in Gods Fear yet being out of the Light and Life of Christ in Death and Darkness and the Works and Fruits thereof It is but Death and Darkness in them which talks of Light and Life and Faith Holiness Perfection c. Their talk of these good things with their Mouths is an Abomination to God Almighty while their hearts are far away from him while they are not in the Love and Obedience to God and Christ and his Divine Light they make profession of such profession without Subjection and Obedience God doth reject it is loathsome to him neither can his tender people whom he hath sanctified by his Spirit of Judgment and Burning have unity with these dead talkers nor their dead words and works for Light hath no communion with Darkness though Darkness talk of Light Something concerning Self Separation JVDE the Servant of Christ writ concerning the Self-Separated ones thus viz. they are the RAging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame to whom is reserved the mist of Darkness for ever and Enoch also the seventh from Adam prophesied of those saying Behold the Lord câ—meth in Ten thousands of his Saints mark so it is rendred from the Greek and is so in some English Translations to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodlily they have spoken against him c. these be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the Love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life and of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear hating even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 13 and 19 to the end see also 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2 Pet 3. 3. Oh my dear Friends seriously consider that as in the Primitive Gospel days there were such Self-separated ones makers of Sects or Parties which caused great grief and deep Exercise to the Faithful in Christ Jesus some such like have been in our Age and some such like yet are who having been convinced of the Truth have come amongst us under the Christian Profession of the Spirit and Light of Christ within who for some time did in some measure follow and obey the Teachings of it but have since turned from it yet keep in a Profession of it these are they who separate themselves without it in opposition to it and the Children of it blessed be God that their number is but small but alas they are too many for we have received the mind of God and Christ and his Apostles whose will was and is that all Men might know the Truth and not only know it but obey it that so they might be saved but alas a few restless spirited Instruments of Satan who under the pretence of the Spirit and Light of Christ make War against the God of Peace against Christ the Prince of Peace and against the Subjects of his Peaceable Kingdom these are in danger to deceive others and bring them to be restless like themselves the Lord in Mercy stop these evil Works and Workers Oh that there might be a place of Repentance yet found by them Oh that they could yet see from whence they are fallen and Repent and come into that simplicity and loving and peaceable frame of mind into which the Truth had once in some measure drawn them Oh! this would be matter of great joy to those whom they in their darkness account their Enemies as some â—loting dark Notionists did the faithful Apostle Paul for his faithful and stedfast Testimony against their Looseness Confusion and Disorder It is my stedfast belief in God that he will not long suffer this Evil Work to go on to the grief of his People and the indangering the loss of Souls but he will plead with these Evil Workers these Serpentine wise and self-conceited he will stop and drive them backward and woe will be to them if they cannot find a place of Repentance which will be hard for some of them to find they have so highly magnified themselves against God his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven but as Jude the Servant of Christ well observed in his Epistle that there was a difference to be put betwixt them who were so gone out into disorder loosness or confusion in his time some no doubt of those were unwarily through the subtilty of Satans Agents drawn from the simplicity honest mindedness and good intention which the Spirit of Truth had wrought in them into ungodly Jealousies and a wrong liberty from their obedience to the Cross of Christ Jude saw there was a Compassion to such and therefore wisely in the Wisdom of God put the Churches in mind of it and we are sensible such there hath been in our day who hath been betrayed and prevailed upon by Satan and his Agents as aforesaid these have been sought in the Love of God and Bowels of Jesus Christ their Advocate with the Father travelling for them in his Faithful ones who hath kept their Habitation in God and we have seen the travels and desires of our Souls answered in their returning into Unity with God and his People through their unfeigned Repentance and Condemnation upon the Spirit of Darkness which led them from God and upon the evil Words and Works it led them into and we believe that there are divers that yet remain in the same Snare for whose return to God we travelin Spir it and Hope that we shall see the Fruit of the Travel of our Souls in the Love and Power of God for their good and shall have cause to rejoyce and praise God for the same Wherefore oh my dear and well beloved Friends who are exercised by these sorts of Evil Agents and their Evil Works under a spacious profession of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and the Teachings of it All keep in the love of God and in the patience of Jesus Christ let Patience have its perfect work in those your deep Tribulations and sorrowful Exercises fret not because of evil Men nor their evil Works for behold the Judg of Heaven and Earth he sees them and you he will not suffer you to be tryed by them above what he will give you Ability to travel through without hurt and fear without loss or disadvantage to your Eternal Estates if you diligently wait upon him and move speak and act in his Council It is true which was anciently written
and Spirit in his People is one in its kind or Nature with himself he being the Fountain of it and it of himself it cannot contradict him or itself in the several Measures Manifestations Dispensations of it in those who receive it believe and obey it For if it should or could do so then God by it would be rendered the Author of Confusion and not of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints which to believe or suppose is very highly blasphemous against him and directly contrary to the holy Apostles Doctrine who saith God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints The same Apostle saith The Fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness Righteousness und Truth proving what is acceptable unto the Lâ—rd And he exhorted the Saints saying Have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them To those who walked in the Spirit and Light of God he said Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us To these also he said Ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Lighi in the Lord walk as Children of the Light See Eph. 5. Again he saith The Fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy and Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law and they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain Glory provoking one another envying one another Again he saith The Works of the Flesh are manifest which are Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Darâ—ance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in times past that they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. Again the holy Apostle John in the Holy Ghost saith He that saith he is in the Light and hates his Brother is in Darkness even until now he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is none occasion of Stumbling in him But he that hateth his Brother is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that Darkness hath blinded his Eyes If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his Brother also See 1 John 4. My dear Friends Observe That where the Fruits of the Spirit and Light of God and Christ are wanting in those who profess the same to be their Teacher Ruler and Orderer and contrariwise the Fruits or Works of the Flesh do appear this is a plain proof that their saying they are taught lâ—d and governed by the Spirit and Light of God and Christ is very notoriously false yea blasphemous against God Christ and his Divine Light and Spirit For when Christ told his Disciples that false Prophets Anti-Christs Deceivers c. should come saying Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves he said Ye shall know them by their Fruits Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Even so every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Wherefore by their Fruits ye shall know them Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven See Math. 7. 15. and 24. Again he saith Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. See Matth. 24. 11 12 13 24. see Mark 13. 22. he repeating the same words of Christ and there he saith Take heed I have told you before Observe Christ's Promise to the faithful chosen Elect notwithstanding all the deceiveableness of unrighteousness which then did now doth or hereafter may work in the Instruments of Satan by feigned Words or fair or flattering Speeches false signs or lying wonders whereby he lieth in wait to betray and deceive by which he hath prevailed upon some unstable unwatchful unfaithful and therefore unskilful Souls who are not acquainted with the depths of Satan speaking in his Agents yet can he not in his Agents deceive the Elect the chosen of God Observe all that are convinced of the truth and come to some degree of Obedience to it are not come to the settled State of Election although they are come to a sight and feeling of the Spirit of Christ in whom the Election stands in which State it is impossible to be deceived Let not the weakest amongst the Believers in and Obeyers of the Light of Christ Within be discouraged at these sayings for as they keep to the Light God the Fountain of it will keep them from falling God set Adam in a State of Innocency in which it was possible for him to stand yet it was not impossible for him to fall for we both read and believe he did fall he could not stand in his own strength but in the strength of the Lord his Maker through want of his diligent attendance and waiting upon God his Maker for preservation he fell under the power of the Deceiver But Christ who never fell spake of a State brings those who continue diligent watchful into it which is beyond that as his forecited words do plainly imply The Apostles writ unto the Believers in the Light of Christ thus viz. Wherefore Brethren give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 10. Read the Chapter through c. Again he saith Beware lest ye being led away with the Errour of the wicked fall from your own Stedfastness But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Christ to him be Glory now and for ever Amen Chap. 3. 17 18. Again Juâ—e writes thus Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 24 25. read the Epistle throughout Observe further that the Settled State of Election where deceit cannot enter is not a State above or beyond Watchfulness and the holy Fear of God the Son of God himself in the daies of his Flesh watched and
growth and prosperity in the Truth doth answer this parable Yea or Nay And observe what Isaiah Prophesied concerning Christs Kingdom and Government He saith Of the Increase of His Government and Peace there shal be no End Now they who under the profession of the Light within are against this pure Government of Christ and the increase of it in the particuler and in his Church in generall who are for bringing in and Practising a corrupt fleshly Liberty Contrary to Christ these are the Apostates and Innovaâ—ors with such the Faithful Christian Apostles and Elders c. were Exercised and greâ—ved in the Primitive times as the Epistles of Paul Peter John Jude c. do shew Hear what Peter saith Concerning this matter viz. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punisht but Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the Last of Vncleanness and dispise Government presumtuous are they self-willed having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin beguiling unstable Souls These are wells without Water Clouds that are Carryed with a Tempest to whom the mist of Darkness is reserved for ever for when they speake great swelling words of vanity they alure through the Lust of the flesh through much wantonness those that were Clean Escaped from them who live in Errour while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought into bondage 2 Peter 2. 9 10 14 17 18. 19. read the Chapter through And as it was in their dayes so is it in ours some fell away then from the faith and Obedience to the Cross of Christ who had been Enlightened and tasted of the Heavenly Gift and of the power of the World to Come who while they therein abode were as Stars in the Firmament of the power of God and as the Clouds that are filled with rain and as the Trees of the Lords Planting which brought forth some fruit to him but when they fell away from Christ the root seed Light and fountain of life then their fruit withered and so they came to be without fruit as Jude writeth Trees twice dead pluckt up by the Roots c. and could not grow any more Now observe it is not with these as it was in the beginning when they were first turned to the Light of Christ by which they come to see their Sins and to be led to Repent of them and to forsake them the latter End of these is and will be worse than their beginning as the Apostle Peter writes concerning such for saith he It had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered to them but it is come to pass according to the true Proverb the dog is returned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Peter 21. 22. such in former time became the Agents of Sathan to seduce and draw others from the Faith and Obedience of the Cross of Christ some such have been and are in our day All you that Love the Light of our Lord Jesus Christ which makes Manifest all things as they are and reproves that which is Evil wait dilligently in the Light that therein you may see all the Mysterious workings of Sathan and his Agents that therein waiting and a biding stedfast you may Escape all their Snares Something more Concerning the order of the works of God in Heaven and Earth and particularly in his People THE great God who made Heaven and Earth and the fountains of Water who made all things good in the beginning he is the great God of Order he works his works in Order In the begining God Created the Heaven and the Earth and the Earth was without form and void and Darkness was upon the face of the Deep and the spirit of God Moved upon the Face of the Waters and God said let there be * Note God Commanded the Light to be and appear the first day Light and there was Light and God saw the Light that it was Good and God divided the Light from the Darkness and God called the Light Day and the Darkness he called Night and the Evening and the morning were the first day and God said let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters and let it divide the Waters from the Waters and God made the Firmament and divided the Waters which were under the Firmament from the Waters which were above the Firmament and it was so and God called the Firmament Heaven and the Evening and the Morning were the second day and God said let the waters under the Heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry Land appear and it was so and God called the dry Land earth and the gathering together of the waters called he seas and God saw that it was good and God said Let the Earth bring forth grass the Herb yeilding seed and the fruit-tree yeilding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it self upon the Earth and it was so and the Earth brought forth grass and Herb yeilding seed after his kind and the tree yeilding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kind and God saw that it was good and the Evening and the morning were the Third day and God said let there be Lights in the Firmament of the Heaven to divide the Day from the Night and let them be for Signes and for Seaâ—ous and for Dayes and Years and let them be for Lights in the Firmament of Heaven to give Light upon the Earth and it was so and God made two great Lights the greater Light to Rule the day and the lesser Light to Rule the Night he made the Stars also and God set them in the Firmament of the Heaven to give Light upon the Earth and to Rule over the Day and over the Night and to divide the Light from the Darkness and God saw that it was good and the Evening and the Morning were the Fourth day and God said let the waters bring forth aboundantly the moving Creature that hath life and Foul that may fly above the Earth in the open Firmament of Heaven and God Created great Whales and every living Creature that moveth which the waters brought forth aboundantly after their kind and every winged Foul after his kind and God saw that it was good and God blessed them saying be fruitful and Multiply and fill the waters in the Seas and let Foul Multiply in the Earth and the Evening and the Morning were the Fifth day and God said let the Earth bring forth the Living Creature after his kind Cattle and Creeping thing and Beast of the Earth after his kind and it was so and God made the Beast of the Earth after his kind and Cattle after
the Dead the Third Day and appeared to his Disciples and gave them many things in Charge particularly to feed his Lambs and Sheep and to love one another and love Enemies c. after which he ascended according to the Scriptures and is on the right-hand of the Majesty on High from whence be shall proceed to Judg the World in righteousness the man Christ Iesus this is he who was with the Church in the Wilderness the spiritual Rock for saith the Apostle He was with the Church in the Wilderness for saith he They all eat the same spiritual meat they all drink the same spiritual drink they eat and drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ this is hâ— of whom John in the Revelations testifies saying He rides upon a White Horse his Vesture is dipt in blood his Name is called the Word of God and the Armies which are in Heaven follow him This is he that was dead and is alive and lives for evermore who hath the Keys of Hell and of Death who slays the Dragon that plays in the Sea who destroys Death and him that hath the Power of Death which is the Devil this is he who is the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the Living this is he who said He that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live and said he that liveth and believeth shall never dye Martha believest thou this this is he of whom the Apostle writ to the Saints saying Ye that some time were dead in trespasses and sins hath he quickened by Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves for it is the gift of God Again this is he of whom the Apostle writ saying We have all been gone astray as Sheep without a Shepherd but now we are returned to the Captain of our Salvation and Bishop of our Souls this is he of whom t is written That there is no Name given under Heaven by which man can be saved but by the name of Jesus Christ it is also written of him That there is not Salvation in any other he himself hath said I am the way to the Father no man can come to the Father but by me I am the Way the Truth and the Life I am the Door he that enters in by me the Door shall go in and find Pasture I am the good Shepherd I lay down my Life for my Sheep all that came before me they are Thieves and Robbers The Apostle saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. they who Preach the Words of God spoken by his Spirit in and by his Son or in by his Prophets or Apostles without the Spirit of God and Christ they steal the Lord is against them see Jer. 23. Ezekel 13 1. to the end 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 3. Observe This is he by whom God brings forth his New Creation in man who was fallen dead in Trespasses and Sins the Apostle saith If any man be in Christ he is a New Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become New and all things are of God and he writ to the Saints saying We are Gods workmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God before Ordained that we should walk in them Observe This is he that burns up the old Heavens and the old Earth which Satan hath filled with Sin and Wickedness this is he that Baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire who burns up all the false Joy false Pleasure which is as a false Heaven for as the Kingdom of God the true Heaven consists in true Joy and Peace so Satan transforms himself in his dark Kingdom in fallen man which he has filled with sin and gives him for a short time a false Joy and Peace in Evil doing this is that Joy that must be turned into Sorrow this is that Peace which is not the Peace of God therefore God will destroy it Heaven and Earth and all things were good in the beginning and man was good yea very good his Spirit Soul and Body but being fallen from God degenerated into a Plant of a strange Vine his Heart Mind Spirit Will and Affections all Corrupted Poisoned Slain Dead from God he is now become as the corrupt Earth which brings forth Bryers and Thorns whose end is to be burned Mankind in the fall is accounted by the Prophet as a Forest or Wilderness overgrown with Bryers and Thorns and he Prophesies of the day of the Lord that shall come upon this Wilderness Bryers and Thorns Sin and Wickedness and shall burn them up And again the Prophet of the Lord saith The day of the Lord shall come which shall burn as an Oven and the Proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and it shall burn them up and leave them neither Root nor Branch All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Sin brought Death and Separation from God God saith by the Prophet Your Sins separate betwixt you and your God your sins with-hold good things from you wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes and then draw near and let us reason together though your sins were as Crimson I will make them as Snow though they were as blood I will make them as Wool I will carry them into a Land of forgetfulness and Will remove them as far from you as the East is from the West Again God commands by the Apostle saying Cleanse your hands you sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded be afflicted and mourn let your laughter be turned into heaviness and your joy into mourning humble your selves under the mighty hand of God and he shall exalt you in due time And the Apostle saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ shall give thee Light Ephes 5. 14. Observe That all the fallen dead sons and daughters of Adam who come to be made alive to God to become a generation to him to bring forth fruit to his Glory they must come to be Awakened by the Spirit and Voice of God sounding an alarum in their own Hearts and Souls to have their ears opened to his voice the eyes of their unberstandings opened to see him a God nigh at hand they must know the Revelation of the Righteous Judgments of God upon the head of the Serpent in their own Hearts Minds Wills and Affections and through his Righteous Judgments to know the old man with his deeds which are Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts of the flesh put off and so to know the fulfilling of the Apostles words who said They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts He that is in Christ is a New Creature Again observe this work of Redemption of the Creature out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the
received of us Again the Apostle saith Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether By Word or our Epistles 2 Thess 2. 15. See 2 Thess 3. 4 5. Again he writes to Timothy thus These things Command and teach let no Man dispise thy Youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity See 1 Tim. 4. 11 12. read the Chapter through Again hear what the Apostle Peter saith unto the Saints in Light viz. This Second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of Remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the Last days Scoffers walking after their own Lusts c. Again Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Errour of the Wicked fall from your own Stedfastness but grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To Him be Glory both now and forever Amen 2 Peter 3. 1 2 3 and 17 18. Reader who ever thou art this I say to thee in the Presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all Hearts before whom all things are naked and bare who judgeth righteously That I do Not bring the Commands Ordinances or Doctrines given and spoken by the Apostles of Christ with Any Design to wrong strein or wrest them or any of them to exâ—lt any Friend Brother or Brethren Sister or Sisters above or out of their Place in which Christ the one Head hath set them in his Body his Church or in anywise to exalt them or any oâ—e of them as Lords over Gods Peoples Faith which our Lord Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of by which Faith they live to God and please Him But my design therein is to Exalt Christ the Head â—n them All and over them All who is One in the Male and Female He hath given us a Command to Learn of Him saying Lâ—â—â—n of me I am meek and Low in heaâ—t and ye sâ—â—ll find rest to your Souls â—f him we have learned Humility tâ—ue 〈◊〉 of Mind in this we have found abundance oâ— Peace Joy Comfort and Rest to our Sâ—â—ls This to us is of much more value thâ—n all the Riches and Glory of this World â—ere is the Pleasant and comfortable Dwelling Place here we desire to dwell forever The Humble God doth teach he guides the Meek in Judgment and cloaths them with Salvation Eternal â—lory be given to Him for the same My Design in bringing these things to thy View is to shew that the Apostles who preach't the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as it 's written did in the Movings and Authority of the same give forth those Commands Ordinances and Doctrines unto the Believers in the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light by which Light they saw and understood the Truth Soundness and Serviceableness of them and by the same were they led Not to Oppose them and speak Evil of them but to Obey and practise them Now those that profess to be governed by the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light within if they possess what they profess therein they will see that the same Holy Ghost is In some measure given to some in our Day and that by it Some are made Able Ministers and thereby have been Moved to give out Soâ—â— Commands Not in their own Name but in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ the chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls and such Professors of the Light who Poâ—â—ess what they Profess and dilligently attend upon God in the same they will herein See and thereby be Led to Obey and practise those things Not as the Precepts Traditions or Doctrines of Men But as the Commands Precepts and Doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gives and speaks by the Mouths of his Servants which answers that Light of Christ in the Consciences of his People And such who reject them they therein reject God and Christ These things so Commanded are Not contrary to the Commands of Christ and his Apostles recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but Agreeable to them in the fulfilling the precious Promises of God spoken by the Mouths of his Holy Prophets who said I will pour forth my Spirit upon all Flesh c. For Christ said to his Disciples When they shall lead you and deliver you up take no thought before hand what you shall speak neither do you premeditate but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour that speak ye For it is Not you that speak but the Holy Ghost Mark 31. 11. In the Apostles and Primitive Christians observe the Holy Ghost that spake to the Magistrates and Rulers that persecuted them the same spake in them to the Church of Christ and gave forth Commands Precepts Ordinances c. And the Believers unto whom they wrote having a measure of the same Holy Ghost were thereby given to understand the same and thereby led to the Obedience thereof Again the Apostle Paul said unto the Saints You know how we Exhorted and Comforted and Charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that you would walk worthy Of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory for this Cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it Not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2. 11 12 13. Observe here the Apostle commends the Saints for receiving the Word or Testimony of God by him and others not as the Word of Man or Men but as it was indeed the Word and Testimony of the Lord which wrought Effectually in them as he saith And as â—t was then so is it now God having given by his Servants his Word his Commands and Doctrines he hath by his powerful enlightning Spirit of Life opened many to receive the same Not as the Word Doctrines Precepts Decrees Edicts or Orders of One Man Many Men or Any Men but as the Word Commands and Precepts and Doctrines of the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ Glory yea glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for the same The Objection that some make concerning the practice of some things in the Church of Christ at this day is because they were not practised when we were first turned to the Light and came into the belief and profession of it This Objection is fully answered before in this Epistle where the divers growths and statures of Gods people are written of But the great Objection that is used by some at this day is That they An Objection answered