how came in that distinction of holy Spirit and of uncleane spirit which are phrases often used Answ Before man rejected the spirit his maker the spirit was his breath and life And he lived in the spirit treading the objects of the creation under his feet in comparison but after that man began to look after the objects of the earth delighting himself to live upon or among fellow creatures more then the spirit And so chose to himself another livelihood and protection then his master then his breath or power that guided him became mixed and turned uncleane Qu. Vnfold your meaning in this a little more Answ The spirit made the flesh to be his house to dwell in and set man in the midst of the creation as a lord to govern the creature which while he governed according to the light of his maker within him he did alâ— in righteousnesse but when he fell off and delighted to follow the lusts of his eye the lusts of his heart and guidance of the flesh then he governed al in unrighteousnesse and so pulling death and curse upon himself and upon the earth For the spirit that made all creatures did know that man as he was flesh would be looking after fellow creatures and take delight in the creation more then in the spirit of the creation who was his maker that dwelt within and lay covered from the eyes of flesh Therefore Reason the essentiall Father gave this Law that in that day that man left off to own his maker that dwelt within him and to suck delight from the creation he should then die or be cast into a condition to live below the spirit that is to live upon the creature and not upon the spirit And the spirit would suffer himself thus for a time to be trod under foot til the fulnesse of time came that he would rise up like seed of wheat from under those darke and heavy clods of fleshy earth and so himself the seed out of whom all things came would bruise the serpents head that powerfull proves that was in flesh to looke after objects without him rather then into the spirit within him Qu. Why then you seeme to say that the Law which Reason gives occasioned man to fall Answ Very true for if there had been no Law there had been no transgression if there had beene no binding law of reason to require him to cleave only to his maker and to eye and own him principally then he had not done evill though he had placed his delight in the objects of the earth his fellow creatures For note here it is one thing to live in and upon the spirit and another thing to fleight the spirit and to live in and upon the creation that came out or forth of the spirit Qu. I intreat you to tell me what you meane by the Spirit Answ The Spirit is the alone being of himself that gave a being to whatsoever we see and hear for whatsoever you see or hear is but the breathings forth or declaration of an infinite being that was before them as the words of a mans mouth are the declaration of the spirit or power within and are created by the spirit and so hold forth as a creature to the creation And therefore the Spirit is called the Father the King the mighty God or Governor Jehovah Elohim the Lord and the like Now he is called the Lord because he is the power that rules in and over the whole globe of heaven and earth for they are all governed by this one spirit Qu. But is death and darknesse made by this one Spirit likewise Answ The one spirit made light and drrknesse as in the great body of night and day so in the litle body man for that power of darknesse that dwels in humane flesh and which leads the creature captive into complainings and sorrow was made by the Spirit by these words In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die As well as he made that power of light liberty and life by those words Live yea I say Live Qu. I pray explaine this a little more An. After the Spirit had made the creation and mankinde to governe it Now Reason would manifest himself to this creation by the works of his own hands therefore let any man stand alone to the Law of Reason his Maker to see whether he would stick to the one spirit and live in him or cleave to the creatures and live in them and man rejected the spirit and cleaved to the creature and so by virtue of the Law cast himself under the power of death and darknesse which was the curse that Reason inflicted And thereupon the spirit within man being a prisoner to the flesh or divell As Reason would have it so for a time that when he comes to arise up in flesh like a corne of wheat from under the clods of the earth the creation may then come to know the spirit that is within it is the mighty Power and that al the creation being rested upon is still but weaknesse and cannot give true Rest that so the Father alone may be all in all Qu. What is the devill Answ The flesh of man within and the objects of the creation without is the divel under which the spirit within is for a timâ— buried and lies silent and while man is subject to his flesh or to the objects before him he is carried away prisoner under the poweâ— of darknesse for let him goe from creaturâ— to creature all are too weake to worke hiâ— peace or let him have all the desires of hiâ— flesh satisfied even that delight brings paiâ— and sorrow no true peace Qu. And why is the flesh of man within aâ— objects without called the devill Answ Because when it is King it leads the spirit of man into darknesse yea into utter darknesse and sorrow far from light liâ— and true peace for it drawes men to live uâ—on the creation and to reject the spirit the is that you call the serpent which tempteâ—Adam Qu. How doe you mean make it more clear Answ The flesh of man having lifted â— his hee le against the Spirit within which was his Maker seeks life and contentment from objects without in the globe not from the Spirit Reason that dwels within and that holds altogether by the Power As for example covetous flesh delights in the enjoyment of riches or creatures pride of the flesh delights in the enjoyment of the sight of the eye or inward delights placed upon visible objects Now the man lives in and upon the creation not in and upon the Spirit in the creation and though he say that the Father is his God yet he lies for he is led and ruled by the flesh which is the devil or father of lies which throwes the man into vexation and sorrow every foot for if his covetousnesse pride and lusts be satisfied he hath peace but this is the peace of the flesh or
hate the motions of the flesh Qu. But what reason is there that other men should oppresse me Ans. Still to let you see your owne unrighteousnesse to others therefore other unrighteous men are suffered to deale unrighteously with you to let you see that the wayes of unrighteousnesse brings nothing but paine and when you are brought to this the spirit which hath beene sleighted by you is now owned and honoured Secondly Reason suffers the flesh of other men to tyrannize over you for a time that in the day when he will sit upon the throne all flesh may be silent before him and confesse his Justice to be righteous upon them for their unrighteousnesse one to another Now Reason suffers all these things to be that the flesh may forsake himselfe he seeing in Reasons light that he being nothing but envy and misery to himselfe and so may returne to the spirit and submit thereunto in whom his life and peace lyes Qu. And what is the end that Reason hath in all this Ans. To destroy the powers of the flesh which leades creatures into divers waies of opposition one against another and to bring all into pure experience of that sweet rest and peace that is in the unity of himselfe the one spirit Qu. Is Reason to be seene in every creature Ans. Yes Qu. What Reason is to be seene in a Horse Ans. Reason carries him along to eate his meat that he may doe worke for the use of man Qu. But the horse doth not know this Reason that rules him Ans. No Neither hath any creature that priviledge to see and know that Reason rules him but man Therefore he is said to be the Lord of creatures because he knowes how to govern them by reason that is within himselfe Qu. But all men doe not see and know Reason to rule in them Ans. No Therefore some are called unreasonable men and though they are in the shape of men yet their actings are like their horses and they know the spirit that rules them no more then their horses But now when a man knowes that this King of righteousnesse Reason doth dwell in him and rule in him to which all the powers of his flesh are made subject which indeed is Christ dwelling in the flesh Now he may be said to be a perfect man for he acts like a man righteously and so as the Father lives in him he lives in the Father Qu. Who is he that cals men to an account for their unrighteousnesse Ans. It is the mighty spirit Reason who is King of righteousnesse and King of peace wherefore art thou proud saith Reason Wherefore art thou covetous Wherefore art thou envious and bitter spirited against thy fellow creatures Wherefore art thou unclean Ans. The Flesh answers It is to please my selfe Qu. Reason answers Didst thou make thy selfe that thou shouldst live to thy selfe Or did not I the Lord make thee to live unto me I tell you when Reason puts these questions to the heart the heart will be struck dead Qu. What is it to walke righteously or in the sight of Reason An. First When a man lives in all acts of love to his fellow creatures feeding the hungry cloathing the naked relieving the oppressed seeking the preservation of others as well as himselfe looking upon himselfe as a fellow creature though he be Lord of all creatures to all other creatures of all kinds and so doing to them as he would have them doe to him to this end that the Creation may be upheld and kept together by the spirit of love tendernes and onenesse and that no creature may complaine of any act of unrighteousnesse and oppression from him Secondly when a man lives in the knowledge and love of the Father seeing the Father in every creature and so loves delights obeyes and honours the Spirit which he sees in the creature and so acts rightly towards that creature in whom hee sees the spirit of the Father for to rest according to its measure And whereas before he exercised outward senses to follow creatures now he lives in the exercise of his spirituall senses and hee doth rightly and he knowes wherefore for his soul now sees feels tasts smels and hears the Father spiritually in all things and so doth all things in love and cheerfull obedience to the Spirit that discovers all things to him inwardly whereby he is made able to doe acts of righteousnesse outwardly This man that is thus drawn up knowes what it is to live in community with the Globe and to live in community with the Spirit of the Globe In the next place I said that Jesus Christ at a distance from thee will not save thee and that it is not the humane flesh but the Spirit in that body that is the Saviour and the Seed that must bruise the Serpents head in mankind And hence they say I deny Christ Therefore I shall give accompt here unto by these questions Qu. What is Jesus Christ I answer He is a man taken up to live wholly in the Father or a meek spirit drawn up to live in the light of Reason And here note two things 1. That Jesus Christ that dyed at Jerusalem by the hands of the Jewes he was the first in whom the Father did appeare bodily to dwell in and that humane body was the Lambe that answered all the types of Moses Law But that body tooke its name from the spirit that dwelt within it Qu. What was that Spirit Ans. He was the spirit of meeknesse and humility which saved humane flesh from all distempers that ariseth from pride or covetuousnesse and this is the Child Jesus a Saviour for he destroyes the covetuousnesse and pride in flesh frees the creature from all distempring fears and passions and rules King in meeknesse and quiet humility 2. He was the spirit of the Father that lived in the exâ—rcise and use of all the spirituall senses and therâ—fore as the Father was said to live in him so he was said to live in the Father Qu. But shall not that humane body of Christ save me by his death Ans The Spirit in that humane body is the Saviour The flesh profits nothing the patient death of that humane body declares the exellent power of the Spirit within it to be the alone Saviour of humane flesh from the curse and power of darknesse that workes and rules in it and so hath taken it prisoner And therefore when the same Anointing or Spirit that was sent downe into that body is sent down into yours changing your vile bodies and making them like that glorious body killing all the cursed powers in the flesh making your flesh subject to the Spirit now you are become one with Christ and with the Father which is your salvation Qu. But shall I not looke upon that body which was called Iesus Christ and expect salvation from him Ans. Jesus Christ at a distance from thee will never save thee but a Christ within is thy
devil and let his covetousnesse or pride be crost and then he is filled with vexation which is hel or darknesse even the torments of the flesh or devil And the Law of Reason suffered the flesh thus to fall and to weary out himself in his own folly that when the Spirit is pleased to breake forth and manifest himself to rule in flesh then man may see his wise flesh hath nothing that is good in al his selfish actings but that the spirit that brought it forth is the mighty Power And when the Fathers time is come to manifest himself to any one he will then dispell the darknesse which by his Law he made and will set the creature free from the bondage of that darknes burne up all those thornes and briars that flesh hath brought to terrifie it self and will take up the creature into his own liberty and life And then the Spirit shall be all in all whereas the flesh generally living up on objects is all in all or chiefe ruler in every man Qu. What is it to live in the Spirit Answ When flesh is made to see and to be subject to the spirit that brought it forth and is guided by the light of Reason and righteousnesse that might tie power ruling it And not led away like a bear by the nose by every object before his eyes which the flesh lusts after to enjoy and places contentment in They slander me And say I deny Prayer And to this I shall give this accompt Qu. What is Prayer Answ Prayer is of a threefold nature First it is to pay the king of righteousnesse his due and that is for every man to act according to the-creation of a man which is to righteously to all fellow creatures he being the lord of the creatures As first to doe righteously to his own body in taking food moderately for the preservation of the health of it and not to be excessive in drunkennesse and gluttony and not to give away to the unclean lusts of the flesh which tends to the destruction of himself for if the Spirit Reason within a man let the flesh alone and doth not govern and moderate it in righteousnesse it will destroy it selfe in a short time let the flesh walke in Reasons law of moderation and righteousnesse and it shall be preserved from heart breaking sorrows Secondly act righteousnesse to all fellow creatures till the ground according to Reason use the labour of your cattell with Reason follow your course of trading in righteousnesse as Reason requires doe to men and women as you would have them doe to you and by so doing you shall live as Reasonable creatures you shall act according to the creation of a man and so pay the King of Righteousnesse his due for when you hold forth him in your conversation to the view of others you honour him you glorifie his name and give him thanks and this is one part of prayer Qu. Thus the heathen walked according to the light of nature but Christians must live above nature Answ Then English Christians are in a lower and worser condition then the heathens for they doe not so much Men that are guided by principles of fair dealing void of deceit knowes not this day how to live but he will be cheated and cosoned and is this life of Christians for all England is so called above the life of the heathens Surely the life of the heathens shall rise up in judgement against you from the greatest to the least But let me tell you that that man whosoever he be that is not carefull to look into the light of his nature and follow the rules of that light to do as he would be don unto shall never come to see the Spirit that made and that dwels in nature which is the Father of the whole creation And if you know not him then I pray tell me what God you worship or pray to But secondly Prayer lies in the Reasonings of the heart as thus Ask this question within thy selfe Is covetousnesse the name of the Lord or the name of the flesh the answer within thee will be it is the name of the flesh not the name of the Lord now if thou walke in covetousnesse how can thou be said to honor the Lord by thy words in prayer when thou honorest the name of the flesh in thy practise And so is pride is envy is rash anger is hypocrisie is self-will is unmercifull cruelty is zeale without knowledge is uncleannesse the name of the flesh or the name of the Lord thy owne heart will give answer they be the name of the flesh not the name of the Lord and thou lives in the practise and power of those lusts and gives the Lord a few customary words and thinks his service lies in them I will have thee to know that the time is now breaking forth yea it is began that they that worship the Father shall worship him in spirit and truth and not in lip labor and custome according to the imagination of flesh Qu. What is the name of the Lord then I propound this question within thy heart Answ The name of the Lord is Love joy peace meeknesse obedience self-denial chastafie humility mercifulnesse Reason Now he that is drawne up thus to Reason within himself and to see himself this man is praying continually and calling upon the name of the Lord continually whatsoever he doth whatsoever he thinkes which way soever he goes he shall have still fresh occasions thus to be reasoning within himself and this reasoning will do two things First it will strike the heart dead when thou comest to see that for all thy praying in words yet thou art at a losse for thou honorest the name of the flesh in practise and only worships the Lord with wind like the way of the world your servant Sir when he could kill him in his heart when these things comes home to thee thou wilt be struck dead and thy mouth be stopped and this is a great power that stops the rage of flesh Secondly this way of prayer or calling upon the name of the Lord will kill thy distempers as they arise and wil keep thy heart in peace this I know if thou wilt beleeve anothers testimony for now the name of the flesh is spied out and the poyson of it killed for when once Reason begins to enlighten thee he will be thy keeper The name of the Lord likewise is hereby advanced first within thy selfe thou fearest and tremblest before him Secondly outwardly thou art moved to act righteousnesse to others from the savour of this sweet oyntment Now that man doth not live lesse or more in the practise of those two rules laid down did never pray in all his life though he use the words of prayer every day Words and actions going together are the declaration of a sincere heart but words in prayer without acting according to creation as the generall practise is are declarations
TRUTH Lifting up its head above SCANDALS Wherein is declared What God Christ Father Son Holy Ghost Scriptures Gospel Prayer Ordinances of God are By GERRARD WINSTANLY Professors of all forms behold the Bridgroom is in coming your profession wil be try'd to purpose your hypocricy shall be hid no longer You shall feed no longer upon the Oyle that was in other mens Lamps the Scriptures for now it is required that every one have Oyle in his own Lamp even the pure testimony of truth within himself For he that wants this though he have the report of it in his book he shall not enter with the Bridegroome into the chamber of peace LONDON Printed in the year 1649. TO THE SCHOLlars of Oxford and Cambridge and to all that call themselves Ministers of the Gospel in City and Country SIRS YOu are the men that stand up assuming the power to your selves to teach the People the mystery of the Spirit and that you are the onely men sent of him for that office therefore you are called spirituall men or men that are all spirit Many differences you see about spirituall things arises up daily amongst the people it doth not belong to you to make parties but to judge of these differences with a moderate and meek spirit between people and people you are not to suffer flesh or selfish distemper to breake forth from you a hasty rash spirit cannot judge any thing There are onely these two roots from whence these differences spring up that is either from the Spirit that made all things or from humane flesh which is the Creature that is gone astray and he that walks after the flesh denies the Spirit Now if you be spirituall as you say you are to judge of these differences and declare what is of the Spirit that it may stand and what is of the flesh that it may be trod under foot that so the Lord alone that made flesh may be exalted above flesh in the day of his power that doth begin to shine forth The rule that you judge by you say are the Scriptures of Prophets Apostles and ancient writers if so then you are not spirituall or all spirit neither have you the alone priviledge to judge for the People having the Scriptures may judge by them as well as you If you say no the People cannot judge because they know not the originall I answer neither doe you know the originall though by your learning you may be able to translate a writing out of Hebrew or Greek into our mother tongue English but to say this is the originall Scripture you cannot for those very Copies which the Prophets and Apostles writ are not to be seen in your Universities You say you have the just Copies of their writings you doe not know that but as your Fathers have told you which may be as well false as true if you have no better ground then tradition You say that the interpretation of Scripture into our mother tongue is according to the mind of the spirit you cannot tell that neither unlesse you were able to say that those who did â—nterpret those writings had had the same testimony of Spirit as the pen-men of Scriptures had for it is the Spirit within that must prove those copies to be true now you know that there are many translations and interpretations which differ much one from another which of them must the People take to be truest seeing you yourselves are at losse One company of you sayes this translation is the truth and then the People must be forced to follow you loe here is Christ saith the Prelats another company of yours saies such a translation is the truest and then the People must be forced to follow them as this halfe-day of the Beast cry loe here is Christ First here in the Presâ—ytery then there in the Independency and thus you leade the People like horses by the noses ride upon them at your pleasure from one forme and custome to another and so quite from the Spirit You presse the People with much violence to maintain the Gospel the People demands What is the Gospel You say it is the Scriptures The People replies again How can these Scriptures be called the everlasting Gospel seeing it is torne in peeces daily amongst your selves by various translations inferences and conclusions one pressing this another that and the People are lost in the midst of your waters If you say you can judge by the Spirit why then you have not the alone priviledge to judge neither for the Spirit is not confined to your Universities but it spreads from East to West and enlightens sons and daughters in all parts If you say that visions and revelations are ceased and that the Spirit and Scriptures are still together then you erre mightily in spending constructions upon the Scriptures which is a revelation and doth not rather leave the Scriptures to their own genuine language that People may read the very lettter without alteration Two things as you are Scripture men you must judge of First what is the Gospel Secondly what is the report or declaration of the Gospel I declare positively what I know doe you take the Scriptures and disprove me if you can First The Gospel is the Spirit that ruled in the Prophets and Apostles which testified to them that in the later daies the same Spirit should be poured out upon all flesh Secondly then their writings is not the Spirit but a report or declaration of that law and testimony which was within them Now the Spirit spreading it selfe from East to West from North to South in sonnes and daughters is everlasting and never dies but is still everlasting and rising higher and higher in manifesting himselfe in and to mankinde But now the declaration of the Spirit being but words gon out of the mouth may be and daily are corrupted by the subtilty of imaginary flesh it is the Spirit within every man that tries all things words cannot try all things he that speakes from the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption shall tast of misery that flesh brings upon himselfe but he that speaks from the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life or he that preaches the Gospel shall live of the Gospel that is he that speakes from the Spirit shall have inward peace life and liberty from the Spirit in the midst of all worldly straights he shall not want life and peace within You will say what of all this I answer it is matter of the greatest concernment your Pulpit wrings against Errors The People cries what are those errors You answere that there are a company of men roâ— up that denies God and Christ and the Scriptures and the Gospel and prayer and all Ordinances and yet yoâ— have not considered with a meek spiriâ— what these men say but cry then down without tryall is this spiritual judging Well matters of this nature are to be judged with a wary and moderate spirit
covetous rashnesse can judge of nothing I my selfe being branded by some of your mouthes as guilty of horrid blasphemy for denying all these as you say though you cannot prove it was drawn forth by the Spirit to write what here followes which I leave to the spirituall men all the world over to judge Whether you your selves be not the very men that doe deny God Scriptures and Ordinances of God and that turnes the trâ—thes of the Spirit into a lye by leaving the letter and walking in your own inferences and so by holding forth spirituall things by that imagination of the flesh and not by the law and testimony of the Spirit within and let them likewise judge whether those men you count such blasphemers be not those men that doth advance God Christ Scriptures and Ordinances in the spirituality of them When the Apostolicall gifts ceased which was to speak from an inward testimony of what they heard and saw as the Father did will it should cease for a time times and halfe time or fourty two moneths then began the false Christs and false Prophets to arise that speak from tradition of what they had read in Books expounding those writings from their imaginary thoughts getting a power from the Magistrate to protect them and to punish such as speak from the testimony of Christ within them which flesh is willinâ— to oppose And then the flesh began to be advanced above the Spirit from the time that the universall Bishop was raised to this very hour and so in every government which imagination hath set up since that time false Christs and false Prophets have arose from your Schools and have filled the Earth with darknesse so that now when the King of righteousnesse begins to arise and fill the earth with his light the Earth growes mad full of rage but though flesh be angry assure your selves Christ will take the Kingdome and rule in flesh And here I rest A servant to the Faher Gerrard Winstanly Oct. 16. 1648. To the gentle Reader DEAR friend it is slanderously reported by reason whereof some of you may be troubled to hear that Chamberlain the Redding man called after the flesh William Everard doth hold blasphemous opinions as to deny God and Christ and Scriptures and prayer and they call him a deceiver and many â—ilt by names and upon this report of the raging multitude some that call themselves Ministers and some common people the Bayliffs of Kingston have put him in prison as he came through their Towne and took a nights lodging and hath kept him there this weeke upon these supposed scandals Now I was moved to write what here followes as a vindication of the man and my selfe being slandered as well as he by some of the Ministers having been in his company that all the world may judge of his and my innâ—cency in these particular scandals and that it may appear as it will upon tryall that the parish Ministers themselves and every one that followes their way of worship doth turn the Scriptures into a lye by leaving the old letter that the Apostles writ and new moulding those Scriptures into their own language walking according to their owne inferences and conjectures thereupon and by holding forth God and Christ to be at a distance from men they are the only men that deny God and Christ and Scriptures and Ordinances walking in the practise of their own invention to which ignorant flesh closeth without examination and so the greatest theeves cry stop theefe first And here I shall adde one word as an accompt wherefore I use the word Reason instead of the word God in my writings as you shall meet mithall If I demand of you who made all things And your answer God If I demand what is God You answer the spirituall power that as he made so he governs and preserves all things so that the sum of all is this God is the chief Maker or Governor this maker governor is God Now I am lost in this wheel that runs round and lies under darknes But if you demand of mee why I say Reason did make and doth governe and preserve all things I answer Reason is that living power of light that is in all things it is the salt that savours all things it is the fire that burns up drosse and so restores what is corrupted and preserves what is pure he is the Lord our righteousnesse It lies in the bottom of love of justice of wisdome for if the Spirit Reason did not uphold and moderate these they would be madnesse nay they could not be called by them names for Reason guids them in order and leads them to their right end which is not to preserve a part but the whole creation But is mans reason that which you cal God I answer mans reasoning is a creature which flâ—ws from that Spirit to this end to draw up man into himselfe it is but a candle lighted by that soul and this light shining through flesh is darkened by the imagination of flesh so that many times men act contrary to reason though they thinke they act according to reason By that light of Reason that is in man he may see a sutablenesse in many things but not in all things for the reason that acts in another man may see a weaknesse of reason that acts in me but now the Spirit Reason which I call God the Maker and Ruler of all things is that spirituall power that guids all mens reasoning in right order and to a right end for the Spirit Reason doth not preserve one creature and destroy onother as many times mens reasonings doth being blind by the imagination of the flesh but it hath a regard to the whole creation and knits every creature together into a onenesse making every creature to be an upholder of his fellow and so every one is an assistant to preserve the whole and the neerer that mans reasoning comes to â—his the more spirituall they are the farther off they be the more selfish and fleshy they be Now this word Reason is not the alone name of this spirituall power but every one may give him a name according to that spirituall Power that they feel and see rules in them carrying them forth in actions to preserve their fellow creatures as well as themselves Therefore some may call him King of righteousnesse and Prince of peace some may call him Love and the like but I can and I doe call him Reason because I see him to be that living powerfull light that is in righteousnesse making righteousnesse to be righteousnesse or justice to be justice or love to be love for without this moderaâ—er and ruler they would be madnesse nay the selfewillednesse of the flesh and not that which we call them Lastly I am made to change the name from God to Reason because I have been held under darknesse by that word as I see many people are and likewise that people
with him that is that the curse shall â—e removed and the power of it killed and consumed And that created flesh by that mighty power the man of truth should be made subject to the spirit that made it so â—hat the spirit which is the Father may beâ—ome all in all the chiefe ruler in flesh And truly this is but according to the â—urrent of the whole Scripture that in the â—ay of Christ every one shall be made of one â—eart and one spirit that is all shall bee â—rought in to acknowledge the Father to â—bey him walke humbly before him and â—ive in peace and love in him This is the â—octrine of Christ and the Gospell This is â—lad tydings to heare of But when you are â—ade to enjoy this doctrine as yours then you shall know what it is to know the Son and what it is to be set free by the Sonne therfore wait upon the Father till he makâ— forth himself in you Qu. I waite that 's true but I must use the meanes Answ That which you call meanes doth harden your hearts and blind your eyes iâ— shuts you out from sweet enjoyment thaâ— is to run after men for teachings I speakâ— not rashly I speak what I know and yoâ— shall finde before your soules taste of truâ— peace that whosoever takes those Scriptures and makes exposition upon them from theiâ— imagination and â—els you that is the worâ— of God and hath seen nothing That they are the false Christs and false Prophets anâ— their way of teaching is meer deceit both to your soules and to your purses for now in this day of Christ which is begun and which will have a greater appearance ere long in the great world Men must speak their own experienced words and must not speake thoughts For thoughts and studies and imagination of flesh are the men that are found gathering sticks upon this sabbath day and these are stoned to death by the Power that is arising in some already and shall be stoned to death in all that the Lord alone may be exalte in this day of his Power Qu. Must I use no meanes at all or what meanes must I use An. These 3 first let your chief endeavour be to act according to your creation that is to doe as you would be done unto by all creatures as I have shewed and I le tell you this is as needfull a gospell doctrine to be practised as any I know for the present for I le assure you the world is at such a passe yea and among imaginary professors especially that I know not who I can say is a sincere hearted friend so that I am sure the sonne of man at his coming finds no faith in earth neither in my flesh nor in the flesh of other he brings it with him and gives it to us Secondly waite upon the Father with a meek spirit for his teaching And you shall find it a very hard thing to performe these â—wo meanes for the flesh is both very unâ—ighteous to seek it self and it is very hasty â—o have all knowledge peace and experience â—n a sudden it s so proud and hasty it will â—ot wait Thirdly if you would hear other men â—peak you may doe two things First read the record and there see what the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets your fellow servants were but do not alter their words by forceing a meaning till the Father teach you Secondly if you would hear then acquaint your selves with such as can speake from a testimony within for as they received what they have from the pure teachings of the Father so this second hand teaching will be pure teaching to you but be sure you do not prefer this second hand teaching before the first for now the everlasting word and gospel must reveale himself to you or else you cannot be satisfied I have now discharged my service to the Father in this declaration remember what is tould you despise not the Fathers meanes by preferring the way and meanes of the flesh above the wayes of the Father They say I deny the Scriptures because I say that the Scriptures were not appointed for a rule to the world to walke by without the spirit but were the testimony of the Father in those men that writ them for the comfort and benefit of those that are drawn up into communion with the same spirit And to this I shall give this accompt Qu. What is the Law and Testimony which if a man speak not according to it it is because there is no light in him An. This Law and Testimony to which I must have recourse for my comfort is not the words or writings of other men without me But the spirit of the Father in me teaching me to know him by experience and when I can speake purely what I doe see and heare from the Father this is the Law and Testimony within me from which I speake and if I speak not from this Law within I have no knowledge in me Qu. But are not the Scriptures the Law and Testimony of the Father Answ It was the Law and Testimony of the spirit which rested in and upon the Prophets and Apostles for they writ what they saw in vision and they spake what they heard by voice speaking to them spiritually Qu. But are not those Scriptures the Law and Testimony for people to walk by in these dayes Answ No For this is to walke by the eyes of other men and the spirit is not so scanty that a dozen or 20 pair of eyes shall serve the whole world but every sonne and daughter as they are called children of light have light within themselves The same spirit that fils one fils all and makes the whole number of them according to their severall measures to be of one heart and one mind Qu. But may not men take these Scriptures and spend construction upon them and hold forth those constructions to others as perfect light by way of office An. I answer no neither reason nor Scripture allowes any man to speake any words but what he knowes positively to be truth And he that spends constructions thereupon speaking from his imagination he speaks from the flesh and devill and so he makes himself to be a traytor to the father inholding forth that to be truth which is no truth And a thief robber and unrighteous dealer with the Prophets and Apostles First in taking their words as his own and secondly in expounding their meaning and so putting his own meaning upon their words But yet he that hath the same spirit may speak the same word where the Father hath given him the same sight and experience for no man can safely tell another this is a positive truth of God till he have the same testimoniall experience within himself as the penmen of Scripture had and this I am sure all that stand up to teach by way of office have not therefore it is clear that the power that