which set up a Kingdom over the whole world and caused all people upon earth to worship the beast the beast hath been great in his power and he hath ruled over the world in great dominion and all that would not worship him he hath had power to kill and hath killed them so that the true Christian life and Religion as the Apostles received it and practised it hath been extinguished for many generations and people hath had the form of godlinesse but denied the power and lived under the name and profession of Christianity but hath been without the life and this is to be considered of and diligently searched into by all you that go under the name of Christians through all the world for unto you onely I direct my words And now it remains to be shewed what the state of Christians are at this day and wherein particularly they are Apostatized and degenerated from the true life and practize of the postles who were the fâ—…rst Christians for wherin the Christians now are contrary and not agreeable to the Apostles in Faith in practice in Worship in Ministry and in the enterance into Christianity and in any other thing whatsoever I say wherein they are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians of old to wit the Apostles therein are they degenerated and fallen from the true life of Christianity and this shall be the Rule of judgement to try all you that are called Christians upon the face of the earth wherefore awake and come forth to judgement for the measuring rod is laid upon you all whereby you shall be truly measured and compared with them that were the first Christians upon earth and the Heathens shall see your nakedness and your shame and hiss at you when they behold how wofully you are fallen from that 〈◊〉 in the purity thereof of which you do professe the words 〈◊〉 shall not they rise up in judgement against you who never had the name of Christians who are not fallen nor degressed from what they have profest in any measure comparable to you who now retaineth onely the name of Christian 〈◊〉 are departed from the life of Christ First concerning the entrance into Christianity and the way and means whereby people are now made Christians 〈◊〉 receives that name In this will your fall and degeneration appear For the Apostles and first Christians upon Earth before they were Christians or were called so they were first converted and changed and translated from death to life as you 〈◊〉 read 1 Iohn 3. 14. and Col. 1. 13. and they first received Christ and became followers of him and received his spirit to teach them and to guide them For the Apostle said If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. to wit no Christians and the Apostle said as many as were the sons of God were led by the spirit of God and also it was promised by Christ to all that were his the Comforter should come the spirit of truth and he should lead them into all truth which promise all that were Christians did receive and they were led into all truth by the teachings of the spirit of Christ which dwelt in them for all that were sons God sent the spirit of his Son into their hearts which spirit sanctified them through the obedience thereof Now these were Christians and were truly so called For they had the mark of Christ and his Image upon them and he dwelt in their hearts by Faith Ephes. 3. 17. These I say were truly called Christians and none but such at that day of their Original were called Christians or had Fellowship in the Christian life nor were any looked upon by the Apostles to be Christians but by them that were such But look back all ye Christians upon earth and see your â—…all and wherein you are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians in their first and pure estate I say look back to your Original and see how you are Apostatized from them in your entrance into your profession of Christianity foâ—… though you have the name of Christians yet you were noâ—… made so nor received that name by being first converted and changed and translated from death to life and 〈◊〉 being the children of disobedience to be the children of God through the work and operation of the spirit of God in you for hereof are thousands and ten thousands of Christians now wholly ignorant and altogether without the feeling of the spirit of God to change them to convert them and to translate them but are accounted Christians bâ—… tradition or natural education and because of being sprinkled with a little water upon the face being Infantâ—… or by a bare confession and profession of the name of Christ in words and professing of a bare belief in the Scriptures by this way and means were you made and received you the name of Christians without any real change from darkness to light and from Satan to God as I have said Now here appeares to be a woful degeneration in the very entrance of the thing and this is not agreeable but rather contrary unto that way of Christianity wherein the Christians in their beginning were so made and called for then none were Christians or so called but who through the preaching of the Gospel were first converted changed and renewed as I have â—…aid but now in these nations all are called Christians that are sprinkled upon their faces with water by a teacher when they are infants or that doth but professe Christ in words though they are not guided particulerly by his spirit neither hath received Christ to dwell in them and to be King over them and here again appeares a woâ—…ul Apostacy for none in the beginning of Christianity in the world were made Christians or so called but who received Christ and in whom he dwelt and was in them as you may read 2 Cor. 13. 5. and who were followers of him and had his spirit in them the comforter to teach them and to lead them into all truth but now thousands upon thousands who hath the name of Christians have not received Christ to dwell in 〈◊〉 nor to rule them neither is he manifest in them by his spirit to teach them and they are not led into all truth but lives in 〈◊〉 and unrighteousness and are not followers of Christ 〈◊〉 followes their own hearts desires and their own hearts lusts and are condemned in their own consciences and hath not received the comforter the holy Spirit to be their guide and leader out of all unrighteousness and here appears a woful degeneration and that you Christians through all the world are revolted and gone backward from Christianity as it was in its Original a lamentation may be taken up because of this woful fall into which you Christians are fallen consider of your own state and return and repent Again the Christians were begotten of God and born
have said were the people of God never called Christians in any generation and ever since that time through all ages all that professed Christ and believed in him throughout the whole world were called by the name of Christians and the Name and Religion of Christians were honourable and greatly beloved of God for that people were the peculiar people a chosen generation as you may read 1 Pet. 2. 19. and whilst the life of Christ was manifest and the Spirit of Christ did lead them and teach them in all their wayes and practices of Religion and whilst I say they retained the power and life of that of which they had the name the power and presence of the Lord was amongst them and above all the people of the earth were they blessed and more then all people upon the earth besides had they the countenance of God shining amongst them and upon them and pure unity with God and one with another had they in his life whereby they were made a terror and a fear to all nations while they stood in the councel of God and were Christians in life and power and practice as well as in name and the Lord greatly increased them in number for as you may read through the Acts of the Apostles through all the world many believed in Christ and became followers of him and received the knowledge of him and became anointed people and received the name of Christians sometimes thousands at one Sermon were converted to the faith of Christ and became subject to his spirit and had his mark upon them and all such were called Christians and the Apostles went through many Nations and of the Iews and Greeks and of the Heathen and all other people some of each were converted from that way in which they had walked to follow Christ and they became Christians and here was the increase of Christianity and through many 〈◊〉 of the world they planted Churches and assemblies of Christians and as I said while they stood in the councel 〈◊〉 the Name and Religion was of him greatly beloved But now the Christians are Apostatized and degenerated from the spirit of Christ and from that which gave theâ—… the true Name of Christian and the name is retained onely and the life and power lost and now many have a name to live but are dead and that is departed from which gave the true interest and title in the name Hear this all ye Christians that life light and power of God which was amonâ—… the Apostles and Christians once you are departed from and have lost the sence and knowledge of and hath the naâ—…e and not the thing which was the reason and ground of the name wherefore all ye through the world that are called Christians look back to your original look unto the Apostleâ—… who were the first that were called Christians from whoâ—… you had the name and see how you are degenerated and 〈◊〉 len from the life that they were in and though you retain the name of Christians yet you are not followers of Christ noâ—… taught by his Spirit and none in the dayes of the Apostleâ—… were truly counted or called Christians but who followed the Spirit of Christ and were first converted to him and changed by his power from sin to righteousness and fromâ—… death to life and such as were so were truly called Christians But now all such as are called by that name and 〈◊〉 not followers of the Spirit of Christ nor converted to hiâ—… neither changed by his power from death to life and 〈◊〉 sin to righteousness such are in the degeneration from 〈◊〉 life of Christianity and hath a name without the life 〈◊〉 power thereof And now it remains to be shewed how and when the degeneration came upon the Christians and wherâ—…in they are apostatized and degenerated from that life and spirit and practice which was amongst the Apostles thâ—…t were first called Christians The Spirit of the Lord spoke through the Apostles and foretold of a falling away from the truth and from the true Christian life and Paul said Acts 20 29 30. said he Grievous â—…olves shall arise and enter in who would not spare the flock 〈◊〉 from among themselves should men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them and he also said 1 Tim. 4. 1. That some should depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and he also said that it should come to pass that people should become wicked departing from the truth having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof and such were led away with divers lusts and men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the faith and the Apostle â—…eter also foretold that there should false teachers arise among the Christians who should bring in damnable heresies and many Christians should follow their pernicious wayes by reason of which the way of truth should be evil spoken of And the Apostle Iohn 〈◊〉 that many false Prophets were gone out then and many Antichrists were then come in among the Christians now all these doth shew and declare of a degeneration and falling away of Christians from the life of Christianity and we see these Propheâ—…ies fulfilled and flocks of Christians are devoured from the life of Christ by devouring wolves which hath entred among them who hath led them into pernicious wayes and into damnable heresies whereby the name of Christianity is become reproachful among the Heathens that never were called Christians and many thousands are departed from the true faith from that faith which did purifie the hearts of the Saints and many of the Christians have given heed to seducing spirits and hath the form of godliness but denyes the power thereof and they are led of divers lusts and are become men of corrupt minds and are reprobate and without the true faith and the Apostles prophesied of the degeneration which we see fulfilled in these our dayes and even while some of the Apostles were yet living they saw the Christians Apostatizing and falling away and the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Iohn Rev. 2. 3. to the Christian Churches in Asia who were already departing from the Christian life some of them was departed already from their first work and some of them were given to the doctrine of Bâ—…laam and to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing the Lord did hate and others of them were seduced by Jezabel and taught to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols and others oâ—… them had a name to live but were dead and others of them were neither hot nor cold and the Lord said he would 〈◊〉 them out of his mouth Now here the Christians were falling away you may see and as before it had increased so now the true Christian life began to decrease and the glory thereof became darkned through all Asia And also Rev. 13. 11. 1. 16. Iohn saw one beast arise out of the Sea and another out of the earth
be fuel for this fire of his anger he will pluck it up and not plant it again because it is degenerated Gâ—…e car all ye Christians to the Testimony which is concerning you you are fallen you are fallen and being compared to what the Christians were you are no whit equal but aâ—… diverted in all your practices from that spirit which led the Apostles and Christian Churches and your works shew another spirit then the spirit of Jesus Wherefore great iâ—… your fall and to be lamented and though you have the name of Christians yet you want the life THE END AN OBJECTION BUt whereas it may be objected by some and said seeing the state of Christianity is thus discovered what it was iâ—… its beginning and purity and what it now is in its degeneration and seeing the present state of Christians is thus condemned what do I believe concerning the state of Christianity to come what shall succeed this present degeneration And may it be expected that ever Christianity shall be restored to that state of purity as it was in its beginning And whether may people expect to come into the same life again and to know the same power and worship and unity which was amongst the Apostles and first Christians Churches And whether do I judge that ever the Ministry can be again received by the gift of the holy spirit onely without natural learning and languages And whether the same spirit is to be waited for and received And whether the same anointing can be known in this age or any age to come as it was in and among the Apostles and Christians before the Apostacy and degeneration ANSWER To all this I answer and do say that the present state of Christianity is woful and to be condemned of the Lord as being degenerated from his life power and spirit whereby all hearts are darkened and all minds estranged from the Covenant of life and peace and from the sence and feeling of the life of God and now in all the wayes and worships and practices of Christians they are fallen and degenerated from that life in which the Christians once were and the beast hath raigned over all for many ages and because of his power and greatness and dominion who hath been able to make war with him he hath killed the Saints and hath subjected all Nations under his power and every Nation hath received the mark of the beast and born his Image for generations and all flesh hath sâ—…ggered and hath been made drunk with the â—…up of fornication that hath been iâ—… the hand of the whore who hath set upon this beast who hath caused both small and great to worship him and all that would not he hath had power to kill them and this Government hath ruled over the whole Christendom and the worship practised hath been but the worship of the beast while people have been erred from the spirit of Christ and not guided by it onely and people hath been compelled to worship by Laws of men they have been compelled to sprinkle their Infants and they have been compelled to go to Steeple houses and compelled to keep a Sabboth and compelled to hire Priests and to pay them wages against their wills and all this compelling by an outward power hath not been the worship of God but savoured altogether of the worship of the beast for you may read Rev. 13. 12 15 16 17. how the beast caused all both small and great to worship him and all that would not worship him by his power he hath had power to kill them and all compelling and causing to worship by an outward power is the worship of the beast for Christ nor his Apostles never caused any to worship God by an outward power for while Christianity kept its purity and authority they begot people to God and to worship him by the word of God and by the power of the spirit and they did not bring any into their Sect nor to worship with them by an outward Law and authority for that is in the Government of the beast it was he that first caused both small and great to conform to his worship and it is his power that upholds it and maintains it unto this day But now the seed of God is arising which is able to make war with the Beast and his kingdome and his worship shall be thrown down to the ground and all this causing and compelling to worship causing to keep a day and causing to hire Teachers to maintain them and this causing to go to Steeple-houses and to maintain them and all this causing to pay tythes it shall all fall to the ground and be beat down by the 〈◊〉 of God which is a rising and it shall be no more found among true Christians nor the Beast shall not be worshipped 〈◊〉 his authority any more of force for the day of the Lord hath now appeared and the light is sprung forth which hath made all things manifest and now the difference is known between the worship of the beast and the worship of the true God And concerning the state of Christianity to come this I â—…new believe a glorious restauration thereof shall appear throughout the whole christendom christianity shall again be restored to its former purity and Christians shall and may receive the same spirit from which the Christians hath been degenerated and the same life the same power and the same worship and Unity shall be revived amongst Christians in the restoration even the same that was in the beginning before the Apostacy and the glory of God shall again appeare among his people and they shall again worship him in spirit and in truth onely as they did before the Apostacy and all this traditionall worship and false imitations which hath been set up since the Apostles dayes shall be overthrown and confounded the Lord is risen and will dash down and overthrow all this idolatry now practised amongst Christians And a great shaking and counfounding shall suddenly come among Christians for the Lord will break down that which hath been builded because it is polluted and he will pluck â—…p that which hath been planted because it is defiled and a mighty work will the Lord work in the Earth the kingdoms of this world will he change into the kingdoms of Christ and Christ shall reigne in and among his people and his spirit shall be the teacher and leader of his people and all false â—…chers will the Lord confound and consume all these hirelings who go for gifts and rewards and all this manner of preaching and teaching which are come up since the Apostles dayes all this preaching which they study for and by a 〈◊〉 and for so much money a year all this shall be tumbled down into the pit Gods vengeance shall come upon it all and the annoynting shall be received and it shall dwell in people as it did in the Apostles and the people shall need no other