writing of the Law in the heart of the Commandment in the heart of the testimony of Life there For he had the Testimony within the Spirit within the Law within the Light within the inward and spiritual Kingdom wherein the holy dominion of God is revealed he knew within and so believing could speak of the power and glory thereof and of Gods wonderous works Psal 145. And when he said Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path What Word did he mean Did he mean the Letter or Law outward or the Word nigh in the mouth and heart which Moses had testified of and directed the Jews to and he himself had been very well acquainted with When again he saith Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way and immediately giveth the answer By taking heed according to thy word Doth he mean the Letter without or the Word within What is it that cleanseth the heart that cleanseth the way Is it any less then the Water of Life then the Blood of the everlasting Covenant then the Word and Life of Truth within Sanctifie them by thy Truth thy Word is Truth In the sense of that inwardly and obedience to it is the renewing and Sanctification felt And so this brings to be undefiled in the way and to keep the testimonies of Life and preserves from doing iniquity Blessed are the undefiled in the way saith he who walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his Testimonies that seek him with the whole heart They also do no iniquity c. Had he no experience of these things himself Yea surely He knew the holy heart the pure heart the new and heavenly Image the heart after Gods own heart and he knew what it was to walk in innocency and to be kept out of Sin Hear what he himself saith Psal 18.21 c. For I have kept the Wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God For all his Judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity What was that Was not that it which had most power over him and was most apt to entangle and ensnare him Now he that arrives here he that doth this that keeps himself from his iniquity doubtless witnesseth great power and victory over lesser and smaller Sins Was not David strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might did not the Word of God abide in him did not he overcome the wicked one by the Power thereof How else could he walk thus in the Wayes of the Lord as he expresseth and keep himself from his iniquity Now this Word of Life these living Testimonies and Precepts yea the everlasting Ordinances and Statutes of the new Covenant with the sure mercies of David which Word Moses had testified of and directed to and David had experienced it being the Pearl he had treasured up and hid in his heart and which was the Word of Faith which Paul and the other Apostles preached and testified of turning men from darkness to this inward Light I say this Word this living Word and the inward Ministration thereof God hath revealed and made manifest in this our day and hath turned the minds of many to it and is daily inviting men to Shiloh's Streams to the living Waters to the Light and Habitation of the Living Blessed are they that hear the joyful sound and come to the holy Mount and City of our God where Life lives and reigns and is fed on by all the living who are Gods elect Gods Heritage Gods Vineyard of Red Wine Gods enclosed Garden whom he watcheth over night and day and watereth every moment and in whom he dwelleth and walketh and is to them a God and Father and maketh them daily sensible that they are his Servants Children and Spouse in whom is his great delight and on whose hearts and fore-heads is written Holiness to the Lord. Yea and the Lord will bless thee forever O Habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness and every tongue that riseth up in judgement against thee will the Lord God condemn for evermore This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord whom the Lord hath gathered by the Arm of his mighty Power inwardly revealed and stretched forth in them and for them and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord. Postscript There is a Scripture now openeth in me as it hath often done and it hath been very sweet to my Taste but I have not had freedom to give it forth to others as at this time it is with me to do It is that Scripture Rom. 9.18 Therefore hath he Mercy on whom he will have Mercy and whom he will he Hardeneth NOw many apprehend from this Scripture as I also formerly did That God hath Chosen out a certain Number of Persons on whom he will have Mercy and Save by Christ Jesus the Lord and that he hath passed over the rest so that they were never intended to have any Benefit by Christ's death as to their Eternal Salvation This the wisdom of man from the Letter of this Scripture and many other places may easily apprehend and strongly reason for But as the Lord openeth the mind and men come to a sense of his Nature and Spirit and his Intent in sending his Son and receive the Key which opens the Truth as it is in Jesus they will easily see that this is contrary to Gods Nature and his Intent in sending his Son and the universall Covenant of Light and Life and the manifest Testimony of the Scriptures First As touching the Nature of God His Nature is Love Love to all his Creatures He would not have it go ill with any of them He needeth not their Misery to make himself Happy His Nature is to love to Bless to Save not to Destroy or Cut off not to Afflict or Grieve the Children of men not to Hurt either the Body or Soul of any He preserveth man and Beast Psal 36.6 Secondly As touching his sending his Son He sent him in his Love to Mankind to save Mankind His Love was not to a few only but he loved all his Creatures he loved all lost Souls and he sent his Son to save them all He gave him Light to enlighten them all and he gave him Life to quicken them all only he dispenceth this in various wayes according to the Infinite Wisdom and Good Pleasure of his Father So that Thirdly the Covenant of Light and Life is universal and nigh all Mankind by which the darkest parts and corners of the Earth are at sometimes enlightened and feel somewhat of the Quickning Life For the life is the light of men and the light comes from the life and is a quick piercing quickning Light conveying Warmth and Life yea living Vertue into the darkest hearts as it moves and finds entertainment in them Lastly As for the Testimony
ignorance and darkness God winketh at or passeth over being very tender towards men in that estate yea a little that is of him turned to and heeded according to the Measure of Understanding that God gives will be owned and accepted even in the midst of a great deal of Darkness and evil-working against it There was a time before the Law for the Law was given by Moses what saved then Was it any thing but the saving Grace the saving Light the saving Spirit the holy Anointing Could any be saved but thereby What saved under the Law Did the Shadows then save or the Substance of Life vailed under them Did not the Spirit then work inwardly redeem inwardly save inwardly Did not the Word or Commandments nigh in the mouth and heart to which Moses by Gods direction had turned their minds enlighten and save inwardly And any of the Gentiles as this Word or Spirit of Life did work in them did it not circumcise inwardly and save them also So that though they had not the Law or Ministration of Moses outward yet they had the inward Writing from God on their hearts and shewed the work and efficacy of it there and shall at last be justified by and according to the everlasting Gospel which justifieth all whatsoever so far as in any measure they receive and are subject to the Light and Law of Gods pure Spirit which the carnal mind cannot receive nor be subject to O that men could dye to themselves even to their own wisdom and prudency and not lean to their own understandings nor idolize their own apprehensions and conceivings but wait to receive understanding from God who giveth liberally of the true Wisdom to those that ask and wait a right And how doth God give true Wisdom and Understanding Is it not by the shining of his Light in the heart O that men were turned inwardly thither and inwardly dead to that wisdom and prudency from which God ever hid things and ever will He that will be truly wise must first become a Fool that he may be wise that is He must not strive to learn in the comprehensive way of mans wisdom and prudency the things of Gods Kingdom but feel the begettings of life in his heart and in that receive somewhat of the new heavenly Understanding and so dye to the other know no more the things of God after the flesh that is as a wise man as a learned Scribe as a great Disputant for where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this World Can they find out the mystery of life the Mystery of Gods Kingdom in this Age any more then they could in former Ages but become a Babe a Fool and so receive and bow to that which his own wisdom will call foolishness and account weakness but the other Birth which is begotten and born of God will know and daily experience to be the Wisdom and Power of God unto Salvation An APPEAL to the Witness of God in all Consciences which is the More Sure Word of Prophesie the Testimony of the Scriptures Without or the Voice and Testimony of the Light and Spirit of God Within in the Heart THe Apostle Peter speaks of a more sure word of Prophesie or of a more sure prophetical word as the Greek hath it then that voice which came from Heaven which they heard when they were with Christ in the holy Mount 2 Pet. 1.18 19. Now what this more sure word is which ought to be given heed to in the most especial manner more then to such an eminent Voice and Testimony from Heaven even from the excellent Glory it is a very great and weighty Question Now some affirm that it is the word and testimony of the Scriptures without others affirm that its the voice sound and testimony of the Word of Life within I do not know a Scripture that my heart hath been more tenderly sollicitous about desiring to give due honour both to the Spirit of God and to the holy Scriptures and also to understand what the Lord would have me in the most especial manner give heed to until the season came from him in which he should cause the Day to dawn and the Day-Star to arise in my heart And now that others might come to the same understanding and satisfaction also are these following Considerations proposed in the weight of my Spirit to them First consider how sure the Word of Prophesie was how sure the Voice and Testimony from Heaven was then which the Apostle directs them to somewhat as more sure This I may clearly say of it It was undoubtedly from God and that in a very extraordinary manner even in Christs presence when Moses and Elias were with him and God bestowing upon him honour and glory transfiguring him before his Disciples causing his face to shine as the Sun and making his Raiment white as the Light Mat. 17.2 And the intent of it was to give the Disciples full evidence and satisfaction for the Voice was not for his sake but for theirs or rather that they might have a full ground after his death and resurrection to testifie for the satisfaction and confirmation of others for till then they were to keep it secret ver 9. Now that which was thus provided for this end doubtless it was very sure testified by them who were chosen to be faithful Witnesses in this respect 2dly Consider Whether the Testimonies of the Prophets concerning Christ were surer then this immediate Voice from God himself Were they surer to those that lived in those dayes or to those that should come after then this Testimony was to the Apostles and to those they did communicate it in the Will and Counsel of the Lord The Prophets did testifie from Gods holy unerring Spirit but they that lived in those dayes did not alwayes believe and receive their Prophesies but sometimes doubted of them and questioned them yea their Prophesies were not alwayes evident and clearly understood by those who desired to understand but their Visions were many times a Book sealed both to the learned and unlearned But this Testimony this Word of Prophesie this Voice from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son hear him is a very plain evident full Testimony easie to be understood by any in that present or in after Ages and I must confess as to my self the reading of it did alwayes deeply affect and satisfie my heart 3dly Consider the manner of Gods appearing to the Prophets and compare it with the manner of this Appearance God appeared to them sometimes in Visions sometimes in Dreams Moses saw a Bush burning and heard a Voice The Vision of Isaiah the son of Amos Isa 1.1 and Ezekiel saw Visions Chap. 1.1 and Daniel had a Dream and Visions on his Bed Dan. 7.1 And Jeremiah had that sweet Prophesie of Gods satiating the weary soul and replenishing every sorrowful soul in his sleep Jer. 31.26 Now here to these
Apostle Peter in this place can prefer the Testimonies of the Prophets for that which is called the new Testament was not yet written and added to the old before this glorious immediate Testimony from God Almighty which Christ was honoured with and they were greatly honoured in being admitted to be Beholders and Witnesses of Yet somewhat sticks with me namely those words of the Apostle ver 20.21 wherein he plainly seems to me to speak of the Scriptures or Writings of the Prophets as if that had been the more sure Word of Prophesie which in this place he had directed to For why should he say thus Knowing this first c. unless he had intended the same Word of Prophesie which he had been speaking of before and directing their minds how they might make use of that Word of Prophesie Answ Peter was the Minister of the Circumcision and he was to deal with people who were great Admirers and Studiers of the Letter Therefore though he as well as Paul and John and the other Apostles Rom. 10. and Acts 26.18 and 1 John 1. was to direct men to the Word within and Light within yet he knew it was of great concernment to them rightly to read and be able to understand the Letter without Therefore having first directed them to the Word of prophesie to the Path of the Just which is the inward shining Light to the Light which shines more and more in the dark place to them that give heed to it in the next place it was very proper useful and necessary to direct them how to read the Scriptures aright For indeed the Oracles of God were given to them Rom. 3.2 and they ought to be diligent in the reading of them that they might understand the holy Prophesies and precious Promises c. and reap the hope and comfort of them and be made Partakers of the divine Nature which is the thing promised And not only to the Jews but to the Christians gathered from among the Gentiles in that Age were the Scriptures greatly useful and so they are also to such as are gathered by the holy Spirit and Power of God in this Age. The Prophesies the Judgments the Promises the Mercies the Experience c. are all useful and profitable to those that read and understand them in the Light of Gods holy Spirit But the first thing needful is to turn a mans mind to the Light that he may have somewhat to guide him somwhat to stay his mind upon in reading the Scriptures somwhat to open and unseal the holy and divine Words and Mysteries to him For no man can truly and rightly understand the Scriptures but as his mind is opened by the Lord and the understanding of words and things given him So that this is exceeding necessary to be known after a man is turned to the Light and Word of Prophesie within and comes to read the outward Oracles and Testmonies of the holy Spirit that all holy men spake not in their own wills not in the will of the Flesh not in the will of man but as the Spirit of God gave them words and moved them to speak And those words spoken by Gods Spirit knoweth none but that Spirit which spake them So that no man ought to venture by his private Spirit to undertake to open and interpret those words but he must first receive the same Word of Life the same Spirit of Prophesie within and wait upon him and learn to know his Voice who openeth what and when he pleaseth to the sons of men either of what he spake formerly or of what he pleaseth to speak now And so when the same Word of Life speaks in a mans heart now shewing things to come either concerning a mans self or others that man must be careful to retire and lie very low before the Lord waiting upon him for the true understanding and right interpreting of his own words else a man may easily mis-understand and mis-apply what was truly and rightly spoken So that this is the right way of understanding the Words of Prophesie from the holy men of God in former Ages and the Instructions of the Word of Life in the heart The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him In the true fear the Ear is opened and the right Understanding given but in the wisdom of the Flesh and in the confidence thereof it is easie erring at any time from the true sense and right use of that which was opened and given by God either for the souls own good or for the good of others To Conclude this appeal There is one consideration on my heart to propose to the serious and sober minded and Oh that they might rightly consider and understand it David was a man after Gods own heart a wise man an inwardly exercised man an experienced man an holy spiritual heavenly man a man who knew the inward everlasting Kingdom and had the Spirit of God and witnessed his Truth in the inward parts Can ye think that David did not know the Word and Commandment of Life within Did not God write his Law in his heart how else could he become a man after Gods own heart Did not he witness the everlasting Covenant and the Law thereof the new Law the living Law even the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Now when David said The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul What Law did he mean What is the Law which converts the soul to God Can any thing less then an inward Power an inward Light an inward Law an inward Life then the inward drawings and teachings of Gods Spirit convert the soul to God And what testimony is that which makes wise the simple Is it not the inward testimony What made him wiser then the Ancients and then his Teachers who knew and could teach the Law outward were they not the inward teachings and inward precepts of Gods holy Spirit from the Word of Life within which doubtless was very nigh him he being a man so exercised by Gods Spirit and so formed after his heart And what are those right Statutes which rejoyce the heart and the pure Commandment which enlightens the eyes and the clean fear and the righteous Judgments Are not these all things known within and received within Doth not God put his fear within in the heart Doth not God reveal his righteous Judgements within against sin and iniquity O how did David cry out because of Gods dreadful judgements upon him for sin and said his Sore ran in the night and he watered his Couch with his Tears and in another place My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgements And when he speaketh so much as in Psal 119. of Gods Word Gods Law his Testimonies Precepts Statutes Judgements c. what doth he speak of Doth he speak of the outward or inward ministration of the word in the heart Doth he not speak of the inward
be done as Deut. 30. And this was the reason why God so often commanded the Jews to circumcise their hearts and to wash them and make them clean from their wicked wayes and vain thoughts because Moses had directed their minds to that and that was near to them wherein and whereby it might be done In another place he bids them make them a new heart Ezek. 18.31 how could that be done Why by turning to Gods Spirit which strove with them his Power would effect it in them and men are said to purifie their hearts through the Spirit in loving and obeying the Truth which doth it 1 Pet. 1.22 Joh. 17.17 2 dly by Job who speaks of Gods Candle shining upon his Head and of walking through Darkness by his Light Chap. 29.30 He speaks likewise of those that rebel against the Light that know not the wayes thereof nor abide in the paths thereof Chap. 24.13 3 dly By David who by it saw through the tipes and shadows to the substance and grew wiser then his Teachers he knowing the Word within and having his Candle lighted by it so that he knew the inward Law which converts the soul and was led by Gods Light and Truth shining in his inward parts Psal 43.3 4 thly By Solomon The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law Light and the reproofs of instruction the way of Life Prov. 6.23 Every one that experienceth the Light the Law the Commandment within knoweth it to be thus Again saith he The Path of the just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Chap. 4.18 Just as a Light which shines outwardly is to the outward man such is the inward Light to the inward man ye more for inwardly the Light and the Way is all one Christ is the way the Truth and the Life which are three names of one and the same thing And he that walks in the Light walks in the way of Life and Holiness which he that walks in the darkness walks out of I shall mention but one place more which is very differently rendred it is Chap. 20.27 The new Translation renders it thus The Spirit of man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly The Old thus The Light of the Lord is the breath of man and searcheth all the bowels of the belly The heart of man the unregenerate mind the unregenerate spirit is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked that whereby God searcheth it is his Light his Candle his own Holy Spirit 5 thly By the Prophets as Jsaiah Jeremy Ezekiel Micah c. who said He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to Love mercy and to humble thy self to walk with thy God Chap. 6.8 How doth God shew this to mankind but by the inward Light of his Spirit 6 thly By John Baptist who was the fore-runner and testified of Christ as of the inward and spiritual Baptizer who had his Fan in his hand what is that What doth Christ Fan with What doth he fan and with what The Light within is a Fan the Spirit within is a Spirit of Judgment and burning it scatters the darkness yeâ— it consumes and burns up the Dross and Stubble there 7 thly By Christ himself who said This is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather then Light because their deeds were evil John 3.19 Mark how Christ preached the Light the Seed the Kingdom the Leaven and bid men bring their deeds to it and blamed them that did not ver 20.21 How can there be an inward Jew an inward Circumcision without an inward Law inward Light an inward Testimony and to this inward Law and Testimony must the inward Jew daily have recourse and bring his deeds thither to be judged and scanned there Again Christ saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life Chap. 8.12 How is Christ the Light of the World or how was Christ the Light of the World Was he only so as he appeared in that body of flesh Is he not so in his inward and spiritual appearance Is he not the Universal Light the Son of Righteousness which enlighteneth the whole dark World Yet again he saith Yet a little while is the light with you walk while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light Chap. 12.35.36 This is Christs direction to men how they may become true Believers to wit by believing in the Light The Light shines in the darkness ye were darkness and by believing in it men become Children of it 8 thly By the Apostles and Evangelists They were sent to turn men from Darkness to Light Acts. 26.18 and they testified of the Light they were to turn men to delivered their message that God was Light and that in him was no darkness at all They preached Christ the Light the Life the Way the Truth They turned men from Satans spirit which is darkness to Gods Spirit which is Light John the Evangelist testified of the Word which was in the beginning and said In him was life and the Life was the Light of men And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not Chap. 1.4 5. And again saith speaking of him That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world vers 9. Paul saith whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ehes 5.3 Wherefore Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead vers 14. for God hath sent forth the Light of his Son to rouse thee Again he professedly averreth that the word nigh in the mouth and heart was that Word of Faith which he preached Rom. 10.8 If so then that is the Word of faith which is to be believed in if men would believe in Christ and be saved by him James speaketh of God as the father of Lights from whom every good and perfect Gift proceedeth Chap. 1.17 Then surely from him is the Grace and the Gift the free Gift by Grace which is upon all to Justification of life that receive it and follow the teachings of it Peter speaks of the more sure word of prophesie to which men should take heed and wait in taking heed to that for the dawning of the day and the arising of the Day-Star in the heart 2 Pet. 1.19 Indeed all men ought to wait for and give heed to the Light of God's holy Spirit and the holy Prophesies Warnings and Directions thereof in their hearts And John at last as I may say in that Book of the Revelation closing up the Testimony of that Age and Generation speaks of walking in the Light of the Lamb Chap. 21.23 24. which every one