never divide the Word of Truth aright nor know Truth from Error neither have they a Will or Affection to follow the one or eschew the other for Man of himself not having Christ in him can neither think nor do any thing to please God 2 Cor. 2.17 The old Translation saith We do not sell the Word for Mony The last Translation saith We are not as many which corrupt the Word of God But such as sell for Mony making Merchandize of the Word and Prayer corrupt the Word and Prayer and are Simon Magus his Ministers and none of Christ's Ministers For as they receive freely so they give freely Allelujah In one place of the Common Prayer you say There is no health in us In another you pray quite contrary That God will not take his Holy Spirit from us also that God would cleanse the Thoughts of our Hearts by the Inspiration of his Holy Spirit And you acknowledg That all the ends of the Earth have seen the Salvation of God Also that God hath openly shewed his Righteousness in the sight of all the Heathen And is not this what the Scriptures say John 1.9 That Christ the true Light enlightneth every one that cometh into the World And 1 Cor. 12.7 that a manifestation of the Spirit is given as a Talent to every one to profit with that thereby every one may work out his own Salvation if he will And Tit. 2.11 that the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to and in all Men that none may truly say there is no health in us for there is that Spirit of Grace in every one which is the saving Health of all that obey it and the Condemnation of all that disobey despise reject and hate it read John 3.19 c. So let all Men honour this Spirit of Light the Son as they do honour the Father of Lights Allelujah Our Father I observe you oft repeat Our Father which art in Heaven c. Which Prayer is good for a Disciple of Christ to pray one that is born of the Spirit such have right to call God their Father and such God owns for his Children but those that are unregenerate who serve the World the Flesh and the Devil whose Works they will do for such to call the Holy God Father is not this Blasphemy and a breach of the first Commandment to take the Name of God in vain And for any to teach this Prayer to unsanctified and unholy Men Is not this an Abomination that maketh desolate As I am a Priest to God I do declare That all Services Sacrifices Prayers and Acts of Religion offered up to God in any kind of Devotion whatsoever in an unclean unsanctified unregenerate Heart are an abomination to him but if any Man be a worshipper of God according to his Will writ in our Hearts him he heareth read Isa 66.3 Prov. 15.8 28.9 Psal 66.18 with John 9.31 Luke 16.15 Rev. 21.17 Seeing God doth not hear Sinners but only heareth his Son his Spirit the Word in the Heart go to him and in his Son's Name ask of the Father what ye want who heareth him and giveth liberally and upbraideth no Man ask of him to create in you a clean Heart and a right Spirit to be put within you who giveth his Holy Spirit to them that in sincerity ask it then shall ye have a Heart according to God's own Heart which will do all his Will here on Earth as it is done in Heaven This right Spirit God's Son within us worketh Miracles in the Saints as in the Son it raiseth our Souls out of the Grave of Trespasses and Sins to live in his Presence in Peace Joy and Tranquillity all the days of our Lives Amen Allelujah Athanasius his Creed Athanasius his Creed is also of great Authority in our Church which imposeth a necessity of believing the same on no less tearms than our Eternal Salvation yet I judg that there are amongst many useful Truths some things asserted in that Creed which are neither needful to Salvation nor can be made good by the Scriptures of Truth nor yet by Reason Humane or Divine First he saith There is one Person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost and that the belief hereof as he expresseth it is absolutely necessary to Salvation 'T is true the Eternal God who filleth Heaven and Earth with his Presence as he is pleased to hold forth himself in the various manifestations of his absolute Greatness Wisdom and Love to the World so he is thereby known to us under several Names and Appellations as most proper to those manifestations of himself for what is the Father but God the Eternal Creator of all things who forms the Light and creates the Darkness and of nothing hath made all things to appear in their order out of the first Chaos and Darkness of Confusion And what is the Son but the same Eternal God manifest in Flesh the Word in the beginning with God and was and is God the Way the Truth the Life the Covenant of God's Salvation to the World This Son as I conceive is no distinguished Person from the Father but is in Deed and in Truth the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace the Word by which the Worlds were made humbling himself into humane Nature to seek out lost Man and to gather him into a nearer acquaintance with his God And what is the Holy Ghost but the same Eternal Spirit Witnessing Quickning Renewing Sanctifying Purifying Cleansing and Comforting the Hearts of the Faithful where God is pleased to pitch his Tent and Tabernacle These are the Three that bear witness in Heaven and these Three are one not divided by personal distinction but one Individual and Eternal God in variety of manifestation Then he saith In this Trinity none is afore nor after another and none is greater nor less than another Yet in contradiction he saith the Son is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten Certainly he that begets must be before and greater than he that is begotten For my part I am more charitable than to believe all Men damned that never heard of Athanasius his Creed and am well satisfied that whosoever believes in Christ that was that is and is to come God's Everlasting Covenant of Light and Grace to Jew and Gentile and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth shall be saved even all of every Nation that feareth God and worketh Righteousness Allelujah Infant Baptism Concerning Infant Baptism with Water I may not say it is an Ordinance of Christ nor dare I call it Christ's Baptism neither do I think there is that virtue in it as is said That it ingrafts into Christ's Church makes a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven And whether those God-Fathers and God-Mothers that undertake promise and vow on behalf of the Child That when of Age he shall forsake the Devil
Reason in the Letter beget and bring Men into a Sect and into an Opinion so strong that he may come to die for it as we see in the Quakers and Papists c. yet for the sake of Christ and his Leadings will not forsake their Lusts nor their own Self-Wills This is as Dr. Taylor saith false Martyrdom Also I know you Three are all One in many other Opinions You agree with Calvin viz. That the Scriptures are the Word of God and a sufficient Rule of Life to measure and try Doctrines and Spirits by under the Gospel and the only Judg of Controversies And as is printed before the Bible with Marginal Notes Here is the Spring where Waters flow to quench the heat of Sin c. Here is the Bread that feeds the Life that Death cannot assail c. The Fortress of our Faith is here and Shield of our Defence c. Whereas in truth the Scriptures without the Spirit are but a dead Letter put in the place of Christ who is the only true Bread and Water of Life But instead of Christ in us the New Creature the Word in the Heart and only Rule of Life that ends all Controversies and leads into Love and Union even all that walk therein you place the Dead Letter which increaseth but never endeth Strife and Controversies amongst Christians And indeed how can it be that the Scriptures should ever end Controversies seeing there are so many false Copies and every one differing from each other that no Man knows the True nor do I think there is any without Error nor any so false but that there is much Truth in it St. Hierom saith That the Hebrew and Greek Copies were much perverted by Jews and Hereticks so that he rather chose the Vulgar Latin though many Faults were committed by Writers in that also which having amended he laid aside all other Latin Versions which he saith in his Time were almost innumerable So that I see in those Primitive Times there were no True Copies to be found and that if you make the Written Scriptures your full Rule it will be but a crooked one such as every Man by his private Interpretation makes as a Nose of Wax to turn every way and putting that Authority upon the Scriptures by making them the Rule of Christian Life and End of Controversies is so far from working this End that it hath broched more Heresies and false Opinions than ever were known in the World before these last and perilous Times And there can be no recovery out of this Gulph of Misery but as Men come to forsake this great Idol the Letter and putting no more stress and confidence in it than in a Declaration of Truth when first written and uncorrupted and that Men return to the Word of God the Volumn of God's Book the Word in the Heart which never can be corrupted nor changed the sure Word of Prophecy which if a Man obey will surely lead into Life Eternal Allelujah And this setting up the Letter above the Spirit and Man by Carnal Force making himself Judg thereof hath bin the cause of all the Innocent Blood shed upon the account of Religion from Abel to this day Dr. Gell a pious Man and well read in the Oriental Tongues hath writ a Book in Folio printed Anno 1659 entituled An Essay towards an amendment of the last English Translation of the Bible wherein many Faults are found and amended by him And the Makers of the last Translation say in their Preface They had amended many thousand Words that were amiss in the former Translation Wherefore my Advice is That all accounted Christians do avoid vain Jangling and Disputing about Religion and the Letter which eats as a Canker and is as a Pest in the Church and destroys all true Religion which consists in brotherly Love and Kindness which Love edifies and is the Sum and Substance both of Law and Gospel Rather learn to judg and condemn your selves than your Brethren this is the way to have Peace with God and Unity and Amity one with another though of different Opinions and Perswasions Allelujah Likewise with Calvin ye agree That Predestination to Life and Death depends not on Man's Obedience or Disobedience but on God's Choice and that God from all Eternity elected a certain number to Salvation and reprobated the residue to Eternal Damnation Which Opinion I take to be greatly inconsistent with the Nature of God and most unprofitable to maintain as Doctrinal amongst Men for God would have all Men saved by coming to the Knowledg of the Truth and by obeying the same To which end our most gracious Lord God hath so loved the World as to send his only begotten Son into the World the Word in the Heart that was in the beginning with God and is God his Covenant of Light to the World and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth to enlighten every one that cometh into the World that all Men of all Opinions and Religions might believe in him that was before Abraham was and by following and obeying him who is the Truth in every one all might come to see their Souls redeemed out of Death and so come to enjoy Life Eternal which Life is in his Son Immanuel Allelujah Ye also believe with Calvin That by Christ's outward Life and Sufferings in his fleshly Testimony God's Justice was satisfied for Sins and Justification compleatly wrought for the Elect not only by forgiving sins past but reputing really just whilst actually sinful I apprehend them more sound in the Faith who believe that Christ cannot so properly be said to be the Cause as the Effect of the Father's Love for God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son c. And although such are forgiven who truly repent and that Remission is sealed by Christ's Blood the Sacrifice and Blood of Sprinkling on our Consciences yet Men are not made Righteous within by any Imputation from another's Righteousness without whilst they are really unrighteous within themselves Ye also deny the Light the Word in the Heart to be Christ that shines in his Spiritual Appearance in his People which is certainly a great Error and contrary to Scripture and the Saints Experience read John 1.4 9. 12.46 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Isa 42.6 49.6 51.4 John 3.19 Ye also deny that Christ's Light can lead Men that obey it unto Salvation which also is contrary to Scripture and the Saints Experience read Job 29.3 Psal 36.9 43.3 119.105 Joh. 8.12 12.36 Rev. 21.23 Ye also deny the Spirit to be poured out in these Days as in former Ages or that Men ought to wait for the Motions of it to Preach Pray or praise God which is also contrary to the Scriptures and the Saints Experience read Joel 2.28 29. Isa 25.9 30.18 40.31 Acts 1.4 Luke 2.25 2 Thess 3.5 Thus far all Three agree in one as concerning the main Points of your Faith
meerly Worldly and Carnal hath caused betwixt Prince and Prince And doth not this plainly shew that such a State or Church as hath brought so great a Curse over God's Creation where-ever it hath bin received is not Christ's Church whose Church and Kingdom is not of this World who loved his Enemies and came to save Mens Lives and not to destroy them So by their Fruits all Men may know the True Church from the False the Church of Christ from Antichrist's Church As I am a Priest of God after the Order of Melchisedeck who was of the Order of the Holy Ghost and born of the Spirit without Carnal Father or Carnal Mother I say as I am a Priest of God ordained by having Christ Jesus in me my Priest my Prophet my King I have something from God my Father to the high and mighty Men of the Earth in whose hands the Almighty God hath placed the Rule and Government of things Terrestrial as his Vicegerents in all the Earth to them I humbly make this Request First That they would look up unto him who bestowed on them this great Honour and Glory and acknowledg him God of Gods King of Kings and Lord over all Lords Allelujah Next that they would seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof which having found I most humbly intreat them to adore worship and serve the Lord our God therein and therewith which Worship only stands in the Spirit of Truth the Spirit of Grace given to every one to profit withal which Worship the Omnipotent Lord God will accept and no other Service nor Worship but what proceeds from a pure sincere Heart to the Commands of Christ in Spirit the Word in the Heart And that none may be ignorant what this Kingdom of God is and wherein it doth consist and where it is to be found I most humbly offer and say The Kingdom of God stands not in any outward Observation of Man's prescription but is placed within every Man a Light to lighten the Gentiles and to be God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth which Light is called the Word in the Heart Christ the Vnction the Messiah the Anointed of the Lord which God in his great Love to the World hath given to and in every Man a Talent to profit withal that so every Man in it might work out his own Salvation the which as it is received and obeyed giveth power to repent and forsake Sin and leadeth into Truth and Righteousness and thereby we become the Sons of God being led by his Spirit This Talent in Scripture is also called by divers Names viz. The Grace of God which appeareth to and in every one teaching those that love his appearance to deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts c. It is also called A Measure of the Spirit given to every Man to profit with also Truth in the inward Parts the Word in the Heart Christ the New Birth and New Creature God's Covenant of Light and Life to all the World who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and so is God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth the way to God and Godliness that whosoever believeth in him and followeth him faithfully shall have Life Everlasting Allelujah Read Deut. 30.11 c. with Rom. 10.6 c. Isa 42.6 49.6 57.10 54.13 60.3 Jer. 31.3 c. with Heb. 8.8 c. John 1.9 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 And this Light of Life the Kingdom of God within every Man is compared to many things in Scripture He is the Lamb of God not the Pope's Agnus Dei that taketh away the Sins of the World the Lord our Righteousness the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth and the one thing only needful is that we hear and obey the Spirit of Truth and our Souls shall live Allelujah This Kingdom of God is likewise compared to a grain of Mustard-Seed sown in the Heart of every Man by God the Seed of Abraham which Seed is Christ the Light of the World also the Kingdom of God is compared to Leaven placed in a Man's Heart sufficient to leaven the whole Lump from the leaven of Malice and Uncharitableness into a lump of Truth and Love to Righteousness which Leaven is the Bread from Heaven which nourisheth the Souls of true Believers into Eternal Life Allelujah Thus you see what the Kingdom of God is where it is to be found and the blessed Effects it produceth in all that receive God's Heavenly Gift and are found walking therein and when ye know and feel this Kingdom of God in the movings thereof to be within you in the next place my most humble request and advice is That you would thenceforth seek the Righteousness thereof and walk in the same all the days of your Life in which you will find Peace with God Joy in your own Spirits and good Will from and to all Men but as you do undervalue this Small Seed the true Light and Spirit of Grace the Gift of God and prefer this present evil World Man's Prescriptions Traditions and Impositions above it then a Woe and a Curse from God to your Souls and Bodies in your Basket and in your Store but walking in the Righteousness of God's Kingdom you will know how to give God his due and to please him in things Spiritual and Temporal If you leave the Conscience of your Subjects to God alone for him to rule and guide which is God's due then will God give to Caesar his due viz. the Hearts of his Subjects to obey their Soveraigns in all things Temporal Natural and Civil then will Unity and Concord spring up Righteousness Peace and Love will kiss each other And then God will give his Blessing bless us in our Bodies and in our Souls in our Basket and in our Store in our Wives and in our Children in what we eat and what we drink and in whatsoever we set our hands unto both Prince and People Rulers and Ruled all blessed and happy and so will all the ends of the Earth fear the Lord our God bless and magnify him for ever Allelujah The Contents hereof I most humbly and heartily recommend to your most holy Father the Pope of Rome and his Clergy as they will answer it at the Day of God's Tribunal that they communicate these Matters to the Emperor and to all other Kings Rulers and Princes over whose Souls God I hope by his blessed Spirit of Grace hath made them Overseers who being born of the Spirit and having Christ Jesus the new Man in you the only begotten Son of God the Father in you go and preach Him to and in all the World a Saviour to all that believe in him and that follow him who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that comes into the World Yet know that no Man can preach truly to the converting of Souls neither can turn any from
Spirit of Grace they in him and he in them made perfect in one to them Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Which Spirit of Light begot Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good will towards all his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved in me in the Year 1666 to send Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of the Episcopal Protestant Church as a sign of my dear love and good will to them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for thirty pieces of Silver but as from one that witnessed the Resurrection of Christ who had bin dead in Trespasses and Sins whose Soul was raised out of the Grave of Sin and Death wherein it had long lain Thus by the Incarnation or Indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace I came to see what St. Peter saw that of all Religions Those that feared God and acted Righteously towards Man are accepted with him as it is written Acts 10.34 35. Mat. 16.17 Through which Grace I came to understand the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath given and sent his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light and Grace into the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith he doth enlighten every one Jew and Gentile that comes into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him that is the Way the Truth and the Life of God who is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth as you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 38.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Rom. 10.6 7 8 9. Heb. 8.8 c. 2 Cor. 4.4 6. By which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word in the Heart moving on the face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which God pitched in me I say I in the same Light found freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions even in that Light which shewed me Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Episcopal Protestants viz. something of Bishop Andrews Bishop Hall but most of Dr. Jeremy Taylors Dr. Hammonds Dr. Stillingfleets Dr. Tillotsons with divers others of like kind Which Books I read with delight having unity with them feeling the Spirit of Love to Truth and Righteousness to be their Dictator which Spirit of Grace taught them to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World which made them honourable in this World and glorious in the World to come Allelujah In reading of which Books I took notice of many worthy and true Sayings viz. Dr. Jeremy Taylor in his Great Exampler saith That Christ Jesus is our Example in his Birth Life and Death Also what I have read in Ancient Fathers that Disputes amongst Christians is the scab of the Church and destroys Charity which only edifies That God's Will and Commandments are made known in all Mens Spirits that they may do them The Word Incarnate is God's Preacher to all the World That Christian Religion is nothing else but a Restorer of the perfect Law of Nature for God gave Man at first a reasonable intelligible Nature both to love and serve him That Man 's Original Sin was to leave God the Good and go to the Creature the Evil. Man may keep or break the Law of Nature so sin against God his Neighbour and Himself Well-being is when right Reason and the Law of Nature is satisfied and evil Doing is to transgress the Law of Nature or right Reason this brings guilt of Conscience and torments And in this Obedience to the Law of Nature consists Heaven and in Disobedience Hell Christian Religion is to worship God in Spirit and in Truth and so to serve our Neighbour Revelation is both Natural and Reasonable so is Self-denial Death and Martyrdom to those that have an Ear to hear the Spirit 's Reason Self-denial is but confining the Appetite within the Limits of Nature The Philosophers were commended of old for preserving Reason and Religion in Practice before the School-men that fight about Opions Jesus his Life was sweet and affable and for our Example to Life Eternal Christ who dwells within the limits of Love gives us boldness with God and not fear In Christ are two Natures the Body but the upper Garment of the Soul his Soul was of the same Nature and Substance with ours in this inferior to the Angels One Grace succeeds another well prest and sometimes running over till we come to the fulness and stature of Christ Jesus even filled with the Spirit which hath no measure but is Infinite and Eternal God crowns and accepts his Grace in all Sects even the most Heathenish and accepts that when in Conscience they worship Idols Original Sin or one Sin committed makes us more apt for another so we have no cause to charge Adam but our selves only every one of us is the Adam the Man of Sin Obedience unites to God and conforms to his Will the which sanctifies Isaac offered is our Heart and Will offered up to God which he accepts Nothing so able to do Miracles as Love nor so certainly acceptable All exteriour Acts of Religion to be guided by our Superior that is by God only for no Man in Religion is Superior No act of Corporal Austerity or External Religion acceptable to God unless commanded by him The first Baptism Appearance or Resurrection of Christ is to kill Sin or to put off Sin The second Resurrection is to put on Christ the New Man and to walk in him God requires no more of Man than to receive and entertain his Grace that appears to every Man Though the Son of Man hath no where to hide his Head yet many Houses to convey his Grace Grace works Miracles in Saints as in Christ When Faith and Charity meet then Christians indeed and in Truth all else false and Antichristians God's House is the sanctified Heart where he dwells and is a House of Prayer for all Nations Every graceless wicked Man is a Devil No Sin hath Guilt but when a Man hath Understanding and Abilities to do better By the help of the Spirit it is possible to please God in all things One may die for Christ's Name that will not love his Nature nor quit one evil Lust for him this is false Martyrdom The law of Love in our Spirits
go it is a flaming light c. Psal 130.5 6. In God I put my whole trust my soul waits on his will For his promise is most just and I hope therein still c. Psal 146.1 My soul praise thou the Lord always my God I will confess While breath and life prolong my days my tongue no time shall cease Allelujah These and the rest of David's Psalms are good and excellent to those that can sing them with David's Spirit that have within them a clean Heart and right Spirit as David had Allelujah But to those that sing them with an impure unclean and unrepenting Heart all things performed by them in the Worship and Service of God are impure even their very Prayers and Praises are Sin Thus to the Pure all things are pure to all such as sing in the movings and joy of God's Spirit with understanding making melody in their hearts to the Lord. So let Christ the Word dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord Blessed are the People that are in such a case who have Christ the Lord for their God working all their Works in them and for them both to will and to do of his good Pleasure Allelujah I do believe the Church of England the best constituted National Church in the World and adorned with many of her Worthies the best Learned and most sound in Doctrine and for integrity of Life and Conversation most Sweet most Humble Meek and Charitable whose Plat-forms of Religion of all the National Professions I judg the most large and likely to gather together and build up into Love and good Works which is the Sum of all true Christian Religion and the End both of the Law and Gospel Yet as I know there may be many things amended some left out and some added in the Nine and thirty Articles and Common-Prayer Book so I well know there is that Wisdom and Understanding in the Church of England if called together to weigh and consider of these Matters as will not only correct and amend what is amiss but also add those things that may much illustrate Truth to the Edification and Salvation of Souls and to the building up and uniting several different perswasions in the Truth and in Love towards each other who now at present are much divided I do also know that there are and ever were Operations and Administrations of God in the World all wrought by one and the same Spirit The first Dispensation is from Adam to Moses under which Administration Men were taught to serve and worship God by the seven Precepts of Noah taught from Father to Son and such as were sincere and upright hearted in that Worship pleased God and were accepted of him who requires no more of any than what they have and not what they have not The second Administration was from Moses through the Prophets unto John the Baptist and such are taught by wise Rules taken out of the Law and Prophets and need a learned National Ministry such as are well read in Natural Philosophy and in Divinity to expound and preach to the People those things that tend to Peace and Godliness to love God the Light and Life of our Souls above all things Terrestrial and our Neighbour which is all mankind as our selves In these two consist the Sum and Substance of all true Religion but by no means to preach those things that are Doubtful or Controversal all that tends to the dividing of Christ's seamless Coat and not to unite in the Truth but to destroy it Truth in the inward Parts is that which all Men of all Religions agree to without Dispute Which Dispute ever was and is as saith Dr. Taylor the Scab of the Church and Bane of all true Religion The third and last Administration is from John the greatest of all Prophets born of a Woman or that stick in Form or outward ward Observations unto Christ the Word in the Heart who is without form or comliness the eternal and only begotten Son of God before Abraham he was and is and is to come without Carnal Father or Carnal Mother without beginning of Days or end of Life God's High Priest for ever after the Order Melchisedeck which is the Order of the Holy Ghost and all such born of God's Spirit of Grace having Christ Jesus in them are the only Sons and Daughters of God and need no other Teacher save God alone Allelujah I likewise know there are dividings of Names and Opinions in the Church of England some receive the Doctrines and Interpretations of Luther and Calvin others rather chuse Socinus and Arminius for their Guides Thus is Christ divided when in Truth Christ is but one Eternal Universal Spirit of Love Light and Life in all Men of all Religions in the World and God's Salvation through Him is to the ends of the Earth For the sake of those that thus disagree I have looked into and considered the Grounds and Causes of their Divisions Luther's Doctrine I find chiefly to consist first Against Indulgences and that they were unlawful against Free-will against the Pope's Supremacy and his Excommunication against Temporal Possessions of the Clergy against Merit of Works and Monastick Life against Canonical Obedience and distinction of Meats against Transubstantiation and Communion under one kind against the Mass and Aurigular Confession against Absolution and Purgatory against extream Unction and five of the Sacraments He also held That General Councils might err that Antichrist was not a particular Person but a Spirit contrary and against Christ's Spirit that Faith only justifieth yet Man is not saved without good Works that a faithful Man might have assurance of his Salvation that the Sacrament did not convey Grace but was a sign of it that to the Faithful Sin is not imputed And some of his Followers say That we are not justified by Faith or Works but by the essential Righteousness of Christ dwelling in us And by Luther's protesting against the Church of Rome in these Things first began the Name Protestant Calvin's Doctrine I find to consist herein First he saith The Scriptures are a sufficient Rule to Life the only Judg of Controversies that the Elect only have saving Faith that Predestination to Life and Death depends not in Man's Obedience or Disobedience but on God's Choice that the true Church of God consisteth only of the Elect that the Church and Magistrate may not make Laws to bind the Conscience in Matters Religious and Divine that Sins are inherent in us though not imputed to us that Faith is a more excellent Vertue than Charity that there is no merit in us that there is but two Sacraments and these can neither justify nor confer Grace Socinus's Doctrines I find chiefly to consist in this First That there is no Origninal Sin in us derived from Adam that there is a
free-will to Goodness in us that we may here fulfil the Law of God if we walk in the Grace given us to profit with as Rom. 8.13 Tit. 2.11 that the Causes of Predestination are not in God but in our selves who obey or disobey the Grace of God given as a Talent to every one to work out his own Salvation that Christ did not satisfy for us but gives power by his Grace to satisfy for our Selves that there is not a Trinity of Persons in one God he denies that God hath elected a certain number to Salvation and reprobated the residue to eternal Damnation he denies that God's Justice was satisfied by Christ's Sufferings and that God needed no such rigid Satisfaction that Men are not made really Righteous by any imputation from another's Righteousness without whilst they are really unrighteous within he doth not believe that Christ ascended into Heaven with his humane Body of Flesh Blood and Bones but that Body which he hath is more Spiritual and Glorious he owns the Spirit of Grace in every Man sufficient to all that obey and follow it to lead into Life Eternal Arminius his Doctrines I find chiefly to be these First That God hath not elected some and reprobated others that God is just in saving those that believe and obey his Gospel and in condemning those only that reject and disobey it Which I take to be according to Truth read John 3.19 Deut. 30.14 15 19. That Men are not made just by Imputative Righteousness only but Inherent that Man is not made Righteous within by any imputation from another's Righteousness from without whilst he is really unrighteous within which I take to be sound Doctrine read Rom. 8.9 10 11 13 14. 2 Cor. 5.17 10.5 13.5 Gal. 2.20 Col. 1.27 2.6 He affirms That the Grace of God is sufficient to lead Men that obey and follow it into Eternal Life This I take also to be sound Doctrine agreeable to Truth read Tit. 2.11 He says Christ's Carnal Flesh Blood and Bones is not ascended into Heaven read 1 Cor. 15.50 2 Cor. 5.16 John 3.13 6.63 Eph. 4.10 That God hath not decreed to leave any Man in the state of Damnation This also agrees with the Scriptures read Prov. 21.15 28.18 Isa 59.2 Jer. 4.14 Ephes 2.5 1 Tim. 2.4 That God affordeth sufficient means to bring to the knowledg of Christ by his Light and Spirit of Grace within every one read John 1.4 9. 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 That Christ did not die for the Elect only but tasted death for every Man even his Enemies by giving his Light and Life unto every one as John 1.4 9. Which Spirit of Grace if any resist or despise such crucify to themselves the Lord of Life afresh That Original Sin of it self is not sufficient to condemn Mankind to eternal punishment This also is a Truth read Jer. 31.30 Ezek. 18.2 3 4. That an unregenerate Man is not totally and finally dead to Sin and destitute of spiritual Strength but that he may by God's Grace hunger and thirst after Righteousness and live this also agrees with Ephes 2.1.5 5.14 That Grace and Free-Will are cooperating Causes in our Conversion and that Perseverance is not the effect of Election but is attained by virtue of the New Covenant read Jer. 31.33 c. Rom. 10.6 8. 2 Cor. 4.6 7. Heb. 8.8 13.5 That there is no Original Sin conveyed from Adam to his Posterity read Gen. 4.7 Ezek. 18.2 3 4. 33.11 18. Rom. 6.22 23. That there is free Will to Goodness in us by God's free Grace read Tit. 2.11 That God could justly pardon our Sins when by his Grace we repent without any other satisfaction than his own free Mercy and Grace That God doth not predestinate any to Damnation but as they obey or disobey his Laws read Gen. 22.18 Deut. 4.30 13.4 Job 36.11 Isa 1.19 Acts 5.32 Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 1.2 22. I humbly beg pardon that I have presumed to illustrate the Sentiments of the Arminian Doctrines with Scriptures it is because they have bin much cried out against as errant Hereticks although upon examination I find them more sound in the True Faith than those that call them so And by that small experience I have obtained both by reading and otherwise I find and observe that those that are indeed the greatest Hereticks cry Hereticks first Thus the blessed Apostle St. Paul was estemed an Heretick when he said After that way you call Heresy do I worship the God of my Fathers And how was Holy Jesus cried out against as a Blasphemer and otherwise only for preaching the New Covenant the Gospel of Christ Jesus which the Scribes and Pharisees would not receive because against their Traditions and outward observation of the old Law which made void the New And I have known one of late Years much cried out against as a notorious Heretick and Blasphemer for preaching up Christ in the Saints God's New Covenant and the Way to Life Eternal Allelujah And certainly there is no greater mark of a false persecuting Church as learned Mr. Joseph Glanvil observes than to give evil Names to Dissenters in Matters of Opinion in Religien Lastly I humbly beseech and intreat all that undertake the Cure of Souls that they preach nothing save Christ and him Crucified that is to say His Spirit of Light crucifying and killing of Sin in us and Him risen that is to say That we seek in the Heavenly Spirit those things that are Heavenly And as by God's especial Grace he puts into our Minds those things that be Holy Just and Good so by his continual help we may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Allelujah And my truly devout and hearty Prayer to thee O God of my Salvation is That thou wouldst be pleased to send down upon our Bishops and Curats and all Congregations committed to their Charge the healthful Spirit of thy Grace And that they may truly please tâ—â—e pour upon them the continual Dâ—â— of thy Blessing and so replenish them with thy Heavenly Grace that both by their Life and Doctriâ—â— they may set forth thy Glory and sit forward the Salvation of all Men through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Allelujah Finally my Brethren all you of the Clergy that are the Inheritance of God how-ever you are externally dignified or qualified that have Christ Jesus God's High Priest in you his blessed and holy Spirit to guide you 't is You that are truly Reverend in my esteem and are certainly precious in the sight of God Ye are his Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People able to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God the Word of God dwells plentifully in You whereby you are made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter which kills but of the Spirit which gives Life and ministers Grace to the Hearers 'T is You reverend and worthy Sirs that
can hold forth the blessing of Peace and Establishment to the World and I am perswaded God hath fitted you for such a Work as this therefore I beseech you suffer a word of Exhortation Be faithful to the Testimony of the Lord with which he hath inspired you stand forth in the Name and Power of that Spirit which dwells in you lay by all carnal Ends and self Interests and come forth in the nakedness and simplicity of the Love of God in which you will breath out the blessing of Peace amongst us O let not Sion be built up any longer with Blood nor her Mourners wander about in the Defarts to seek for shelter and safety let the searchings of your Hearts and the yearnings of your Bowels be for the Breaches and Divisions that are among the People of God 'T is You that the great expectation of many of the Lord's People in this Nation is now towards Our Wounds Breaches in the Circumstantials of Religion are too wide and extensive for a formal outward and literal Ministry to heal and cement We have languished in Divisions too long already under these Physicians 't is only a Spirit-Ministry with evidence demonstration and power that proceeds from an innate Principle of the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts that can compose all our Differences satisfy all Parties and Interests and settle us upon a sure Foundation of Peace Rest and Happiness If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies fulfil ye the Joy of the People of God in these Nations that ye come forth with the like Mind and Spirit in your Ministry amongst us and in the Power of the same Love preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace I know there is wisdom and largeness enough in the Love of God to accomplish these noble Ends and the witness of this upon your Hearts must necessarily strengthen your Faith in this Ministry for certainly that Love so ample that can redeem the World when and where 't is witnessed by the Spirit will appear large enough to cover all our Infirmities abate all our Contentions and quiet all the Clamours that abound among us If thus you can appear and stand forth this day as indeed Priests unto God and true Ministers of Christ Jesus you shall worthily be called The Healers of our Breaches and the Restorers of our Paths to dwell and walk in with love and pleasantness one towards another In which Spirit of Universal Love and good Will I Rest a Friend to you and the Souls of all whilst I am and when I am no more R. R. To all Teachers Preachers and Dispensers of the Word and Sacraments under the Dispensations of those called Presbyterians Independents and Anabaptists ROBERT RICH a Servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God which Gospel was promised and preached by the Holy Men of God ever since the Foundation of the World was Laid as in the Scriptures of Truth you may read Gen. 3.8 15. 12.1 3. with Gal. 3.8 Deut. 30.11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 10.6 8. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Heb. 8.8 to the end Isa 52.7 with Rom. 10.15 Isa 61.1 with Luke 4.18 9.6 Mark 16.15 2 Cor. 4.4 6. 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.12 25. In the power and strength of which Gospel the Word in the Heart or Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts doth R. R. send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah TO you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit who have Christ Jesus the New Man in you and are Members of his Body Spiritual through Sanctification of the Holy Spirit of Grace you in him and he in you made perfect in one to you Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven which Spirit of Light begat Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good-will towards his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved me in the Year 1666 to send to the People called Presbyterians Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst their Poor that were in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity The like Sum I also sent to them called Independents As likewise to those called Anabaptists to be distributed to the Poor that were amongst them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for Thirty pieces of Silver but from one that witnessed the Resurrection from the Dead one who had long crucified the Lord of Life in my Self and by many and often Transgressions had slain the Witness of God his Holy Spirit of Grace and Light which oft cried in me Why wilt thou die Return to me the Light and Life of the Soul and thou shalt live At length I hearkened to the Voice of the Son of God in me in obedience to which Voice my Soul came to live in whose Life I have Rest Peace and Joy in the Lord my Saviour Allelujah Thus by the Incarnation or indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace and Revelation of Christ in me I came to see what Peter saw Acts 10.34 35. Matth. 16.17 That of all Nations and Religions those that feared God and acted righteously towards Man are accepted with him Also by the same Revelation of God's Spirit I understood the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath sent and given his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light to be the Life of the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith every one is enlightned both Jew and Gentile that cometh into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him who is the Way the Truth the Life and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah As you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 30.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 c. with Rom. 10.6 8. Heb. 8.8 to the end John 1.4 9. 8.12 12.46 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word incarnate in the Heart moved on the Face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which Tabernacle God pitched in me in whose Light I saw Light which gave me freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions which Light opened my Understanding so as to know Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Presbyterians Independents
THE EPISTLES OF Mr. ROBERT RICH TO THE Seven Churches so called by Him Viz. 1. To the Roman Catholick 2. The Episcopal-Protestant 3. The Presbyterian in one Ternary 4. The Independent in one Ternary 5. The Anabaptist in one Ternary 6. The Quaker 7. The Church of the First-Born Containing his Testimony to God's Approbation of the Good and Aversation to the Evil in all Persuasions Published by particular direction given by the Author in his life-time Together with an Abstract of a Letter of the Authors declaring his Gift or Benevolence sent to each of the said Churches London Printed And are to be sold by Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhil below the Royal Exchange 1680. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THe Author of these ensuing Epistles after he arrived at a true understanding of Things did not value himself upon the account of that splendor and magnificence wherein he formerly appeared upon the Stage of this World For though he were born of a worthy Family had many great and noble Relations enjoyed the accession of a comely Personage and Presence lived in high Estimation Opulency and Credit in the state and condition of a Merchant in the City of London for many Years yet all these things he passeth by in the Character which he hereafter gives of himself For after he was once truly enlightned none of them did elate or lift up his Mind nay he was willing to sacrifice them all to a better prospect even a Pisgah-view of the Heavenly Canaan Hence it was that he chose rather to suffer Affliction with a despised People than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season Hence also it came to pass that as the Work of Conversion is called a New Birth as if the true Date of our Lives did Commence therefrom so our Author over-looked the former part of his Life as I hinted but now in the account he gives of himself neither did it any otherwise affect him than with regret and sorrow for having lived so unfruitfully so long a time To eat drink and be cloathed and so to walk up and down on the face of the Earth as the manner of most Men is is but a low mean and unprofitable Life For then we begin to live profitably when we come to understand the use of Life and when we devote it to the prosecution of those ends for which it was given us which are The Glory of God the Good of our Neighbour and the Salvation of our own and others Souls It pleased God to carry the Author above the Temptations of this World by breaking in upon his Soul in a Divine and Heavenly Work wherewith he was exercised for some Years Having thus changed his Station and given up his Name to Christ he was first engaged in a particular FOrm amongst the People called Quakers The manner how he came to be engaged in that Administration his carriage therein and recession therefrom cannot be better expressed than in his own words in a Letter of his sent from Barbadoes where he for above twenty Years resided dated Novemb. 30. 1678. In the Year 1654 says he I became a Quaker in which Dispensation of John I was truly baptized into Repentance and amendment of Life which blotted out all my former Sins and for two Years time was in the strength of this Baptism carried with delight both to do and to suffer even above and beyond my Equals All which time I lived after the Mode of that Sect a severe strict Life a Pharisee of Pharisees till in the Year 1656 when my dear Brother J. N. suffered for confessing to Christ in the Saints my love to that Testimony made me willing to stand by him in his Sufferings and to bear his Cross for which Testimony the World the Powers of Darkness then ruling my Kindred and my Brethren the Quakers hated me and sold me into Egypt by their many false Reports Yet there the Lord my God appeared to me and finding me in my Innocency wherewith he had cloathed me hath ever since become my exceeding great Reward He being thus in great part disingaged from that particular Form of Profession having a deep insight into things and judging that the whole Body of Truth was not circumscribed within the Bounds of one particular Persuasion but lay scattered and dispersed amongst the Outcasts of Israel i.e. The several Parties and Opinions which did all though some more mistakingly and with less refinedness than others lay claim to Religion and to hopes of Eternal Happiness therein and hereby attaining a more universal Spirit he found freedom in his mind to dive into the several Forms of Professors now appearing in this or other Lands with a design to cull out the Gold i.e. that which was good in all and to reject the Dross A Work as requiring a discerning Judgment into things that differ so apt to expose the Undertaker to the dislike of most Parties few especially in things of the Mind being willing to have Errors Misapprehensions or Mistakes imputed to them He that endeavours to interpose himself an Arbiter or Reconciler between Disagreeing Parties especially in the heat of their Contentions may receive blows from both but thanks from neither at least till the Fit be over and the Mind retiring to a sedate Recollection becomes more sensible of and thankful for such friendly Interposures Our Friend then being engaged in His Thoughts in this Work and knowing it to be a Character of pure and undefiled Religion to visit the Fatherless and Willows in their distress finding also that a particular Spirit was very predominant among Professors the Apostle complaining of it in his time That all sought their own and that few did naturally care for the Estate one of another insomuch that James makes Beneficence and doing good to others the Symptom of True Faith Hence it was that in his first Address he was willing to visit the Poor of every Congregation rather than the Rich and That he did by his early Liberality transmitting Thirty pounds apiece to the Necessitous and Indigent of every Party which it seems was received by them all as a Testimony of his general Love as by their Acquittances hereafter mentioned may appear The manner of transmitting the said Sums and the distributing of them as aforesaid hath bin formerly published in print in a Letter of R. R. to J. R. his Friend an Abstract whereof is here also presented and in each of the subsequent Epistles it is also further hinted therefore I need say no more of it in this place Having made that fair Introduction his next Work was according to his Promise to give each Party his words of Advice and Counsel which are contained in the ensuing Epistles The Differences between each Party are described in the Epistles themselves and therefore my labour here in endeavouring to make out their disagreement may be superseded One thing more the Publishers hereof think fit to declare That
the Kingdom of Heaven Which Holy Spirit wrought so mightily as to beget the New Man Christ Jesus in me by whom I had peace with God and good will to all his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved me to send Thirty Pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of the Roman-Catholick Church as a sign of my Love and good Will to them which I understood you received in the same Spirit of loving-kindness I sent it Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for Thirty pieces of Silver but from one that witnesseth the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead whom by my sins I had formerly crucified and put to open shame but having repented and amended my former bad Life by help of his Holy Spirit of Grace Christ in me I came to see that those of all Religions that feared God and acted righteously towards Men were accepted of him and dearly beloved by me in which Spirit of Love the Ground and Pillar of Truth the End of the Law and Bond of Perfection I found freedom in my self to look into all sorts of Religions and knowing the Rock Christ Jesus on whom all the Holy Men of God are built and having a discerning by God's Grace between the Precious and the Vile between him that serveth God in the Spirit of Truth and him that only pretendeth to serve him but with a false Spirit in which Spirit of God I saw the difference between the true Church of God and that which is the false Church In this Understanding I did read many Books written and allowed by the Roman Church viz. The Bible translated out of the Vulgar Latin by St. Jerom the Old Testament Printed in two Tomes by the English-College at Doway and the New Testament printed at Rhemes and have weighed and considered the Reasons St. Jerome gives for translating it out of the Vulgar Latin rather than out of the Hebrew and Greek which were much corrupted as he saith by Jews and Hereticks c. And having purged the Latin Version from Faults committed by Writers c. laying aside all other Latin Editions which St. Jerome saith were in his time almost innumerable which Translation out of Vulgar Latin though in many things defective yet in some I find better to agree with the Truth than that translated into English out of the Hebrew and Greek As for Instance The Vulgar Latin translates Isa 12.3 You shall draw Water in joy out of the Saviour's Fountains The other You shall draw Waters out of the Wells of Salvation Psal 38.6 the Vulgar Latin saith Doubtless all things are Vanity The other Psal 39.5 saith Verily every Man at his best estate is altogether vanity which seems not to be true for the Regenerate Man which is born of the Spirit and hath Christ the New Man in him is not altogether Vanity for Christ is the Eternal and only begotten Son of God full of Grace and full of Truth Allelujah John 1.14 the Vulgar Latin saith The Word was made Flesh and dwelt IN us The other The Word was made Flesh and dwelt AMONGST us Which Translation I apprehend was to gratify those that deny Christ come in the Flesh of the Sanctified and so exalt the Flesh of Jesus equal to or above the Spirit which dwelleth in all true Believers Allelujah 1 Pet. 1.13 the Vulgar saith Trust perfectly in the Grace which is offered you in the Revelation of Jesus Christ The other Hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ This I also apprehend was to gratify those that say Revelation is ceased and also deny Revelation to continue in the Church of Christ to the end of the World which is contrary to Scripture and the Saints experience Read Mat. 11.27 Gal. 1.16 1 Cor. 2.10 Mat. 28.10 Romans 16.26 the Vulgar Latin saith To the obedience of Faith in all Gentiles The other saith Made known to all Nations This I suppose is also to gratify those that deny Christ the true Light that enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World whom to obey is Eternal Life and Salvation both to Jew and Gentile Allelujah Heb. 1.1 The Latin saith God spake to the Fathers in the Prophets and last of all spake to us IN his Son The other saith God spoke to the Fathers by the Prophets and hath in the last days spoken to us BY his Son Which Translation is to set up Man the Letter to be our Teacher and to lay aside Christ the Word in the Heart the Saints only Teacher Heb. 12.15 The Latin saith Lest any Man be wanting to the Grace of God The other Lest any Man fail of the Grace of God Which seems to deny that the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation and hath appeared to and in every Man to be sufficient to Salvation And in the Margent the Latin saith on that Text If we be not good there is no lack on God's part who offereth his Grace freely to all the defect is in our selves that answer not God's calling by his Grace Which I take to be sound Orthodox Doctrine Jude 14. The Vulgar Latin hath it Our Lord is come in his holy Thousands that numberless number which no Man can number The other saith The Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints Which doubtless is to countenance a carnal personal appearance of Christ at his second coming who as he went a Cloud received him out of their sight even so in the like manner shall he return in a Cloud of Witnesses in his holy Thousands Allelujah Zach. 5.10 The Vulgar Latin hath it And I said to the Angel that spake in me The other I spake to the Angel that talked with me Which later Translation most assuredly was to gratify them that deny Christ God's Angel to come in the Flesh of the Sanctified Allelujah 1 Pet. 1.3 4. The Latin hath it Who according to his great Mercy hath regenerated us into an Inheritance that cannot fade conserved in the Heavens in you The other saith Reserved in the Heavens for you This likewise I apprehend is to gratify that Spirit which denies Christ to be in the Saints and Heaven to be there where Christ is which Spirit I take to be the Spirit of Antichrist I have likewise read and considered the Arguments Annotations Tables and other helps for the better understanding of the Text which I find in Divine things both useful and profitable As for Example Annotation before the Psalms saith That the whole Sacred Bible is a sealed Book and not rightly understood till the Seals be opened by the Key of God's Spirit And you say on Gal. 4.24 The Scriptures besides the literal Sense have a more deep spiritual and allegorical Sense not to be understood but by the same Spirit that writ them And you also say That there is no way to know Canonical Scriptures but by the Church Which is a Truth if you mean the Spirit
is the Rule of a Christian not an outward literal Command as the Jews had To exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees is to be clean within as in outward Acts. Jews and Turks better than Christians who transgress Christ's Law when they will not Moses's nor Mahomets The clean Soul of a Christian is the House of God and so the House of Prayer whose Body is his Temple Disciples did greater Miracles than Jesus when Christ was risen in them Every Man living in the state of Grace is a perpetual Miracle so our Water is turned into Wine Christ's Father and Mother are not Carnal but Spiritual Adam's Sin nor our natural Infirmities not imputed to us neither are our actual and malicious Sins our Infirmities Vertue conduces infinitely to the length and content of our Lives and Vice the contrary 'T is a vast Sum that will pay the Debt of Intemperance and Lust Though most deny Scripture to be an Allegory yet all Men in most things use it so and it is then rightly used when by Inspiration we see the Heavenly through the Earthly and the Spiritual through the Carnal I also lately read a worthy Treatise writ by Mr. Edw. Fowler of North-hill in Bedfordshire printed Anno 1671 holding forth the Principles of certain Moderate Divines of the Church of England in which they declare That the design of Christianity is to work real inward Righteousness and that love to God and Goodness is the highest Principle and that true Righteousness is the New Creature in us And that John the Baptist Christ's Forerunner's Work was to preach Repentance and to cleanse and purify the Heart and Soul Mal. 3.1 3 4. Acts 10.35 Dan. 9.24 that Christ may enter in and bring forth everlasting Righteousness I have likewise read a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London by Mr. John Sharp upon 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable c. wherein he most excellently sets forth the happiness and profitableness of a vertuous Religious Life even in the straitest Paths of Repentance and putting off the Old Man with his Deeds of Darkness and afterwards to put on the New Man begot by the Word and Spirit of Grace in the Heart God's Covenant of Light to all the World read Deut. 30.6 11 to 15. with Rom. 10.6 8. Jer. 31.31 32 33. with Heb. 8.8 Isa 42.6 49.6 Luke 2.30 31 32. John 1.4 9. 3.16 Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 the which teacheth and enableth every one that will receive him to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly and religiously in this present World Which certainly as saith the Preacher is the most profitable happy and blessed Life both for Soul and Body imaginable Likewise I have read a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London by Mr. Joseph Glanvil upon 1 Pet. 1.2 See that ye love one another Wherein are delivered most excellent Truths both Catholick and Apostolick his desire is to unite all Perswasions into this Principle of Love in which Work my Soul hath long travelled In which Discourse he also saith Love is extensive to all Mankind and the more General the more Christian and like God To love for Opinion sake that is self-Love but to love the Principle and Image of God as Christ loves the Poor the Blind and Ignorant though his Enemies is God-like Also that Love is the Image of God pourtray'd and lively drawn on the Regenerate Soul Love is the Bond of Christian Union and when that breaks all goes into Confusion both in Church and State Christ Reigns when all unite in the Principle of Love and a holy Life which will be the fall of Antichrist Vertue and Goodness is to be owned in all Parties and Opinions and if they were practised it would reconcile all Men to each other True Religion is not to fill Heads with Notions and Opinions but to sow in the Mind the Seed of Vertue to direct to govern Passions and to destroy Self-will Christian Love is necessary but agreement in Opinions is neither necessary nor possible In eager and passionate Disputes Charity is always lost and Truth seldom or never found To give evil Names to Dissenters is Persecution Likewise I have read a Discourse concerning the Knowledg of Jesus Christ and of our Union and Communion with him made by Mr. William Sherlock who wrote an Answer to some new opinionated Doctors as he calls them which teach That by being acquainted with the Person of Christ and rouling themselves on him and believing the History of his Life Death and Resurrection that this Faith alone is imputed for Righteousness to them without having any thing that is good wrought in them by Christ or they doing any thing that is good and righteous in themselves That we are saved by Grace though we be disobedient to the Spirit of Grace God's Talent given to every one to profit withal Also they teach That God hath elected some to Salvation and others to Reprobation without regard had to Man's Obedience or Disobedience to the Gospel of Christ Jesus which Gospel is Christ the Word in the Heart as saith Rom. 10.6 7 8. To which and much more of this nature Mr. Sherlock maketh answer That the Person of Christ will never save those whom his Gospel the Word in the Heart and their own Consciences condemn who walk contrary to his Grace the Spirit of Light That Christ's Kingdom is erected by conquering Mens Minds by his Spirit to the Obedience of God such he pardons their sins and raiseth them unto an immortal Life For this end God sent his Son the Word in the beginning into the World to destroy the Works of the Devil to regenerate and redeem Man to the Obedience of Christ the Word And that nothing avails with God but the New Creature which is Christ in the Saints that came to be our Example and Guide to Heaven as well as our Mediator and Advocate and therefore we must imitate his Life if we would enjoy the benefit of his Death and Intercession God in the first Creation designed all Men for happiness and certainly in the second Creation he would have all Men saved and come to the Knowledg of Christ the Truth the Word in the Heart by yielding Obedience to Christ his Gospel and Spirit of Grace That nothing can be the happiness of a reasonable Creature but conformity to the Divine Nature That the great Mystery of the Recovery of Mankind out of the Fall consists only in repairing the Divine Image As in the first Creation we were made after God's Image so in the second we are renewed in the Spirit of our Minds after his Image which by Disobedience we lost and is recovered no other way than by obedience True expressions of Love to Christ is Obedience to his Laws writ in the Heart And that the Soul and Mind of a good Man or regenerate Man is the Palace or Temple of God That
and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and that he shall keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of his life I say it would be inquired into Whether those God-Fathers and God-Mothers do perform and keep this Oath Promise and Vow themselves If not then why should they undertake for another what they perform not themselves And if I mistake not it is a Tenent of the Church of Englands That we cannot live free from sin so long as we live in this World If so were it not far better never to Swear and Vow than afterwards to break them Is not this to add Sin unto Sin and so bring a greater condemnation on our selves As I am a Priest to God by having Christ Jesus in me I declare That Infant Baptism is no Ordinance of Christ's neither is John's Baptism with Water Christ's Baptism Christ's Baptism is to be baptized into the Name Nature and Spirit of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost which Baptism of the Spirit is the one Lord one Faith and one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all through all and in us all that are born of and baptized with the Spirit of Grace This Baptism is that alone which saveth by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and not by putting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God And this Baptism of the Spirit which followed John's Baptism of Repentance is that only which can initiate into the Church of God make a Child of God and give an entrance into and an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Allelujah And I query Whether Infant Baptism were not the Invention of Man rather than the Command of God brought in by the false Church for advantage-sake in the long dark night of Apostacy after that the True Church was fled into the Wilderness there fed and preserved of God whilst the Whore the Beast and false Prophet ruled who set up Shadows instead of Christ the Substance the Letter above the Spirit Man's Baptism which is with Water instead of Christ's by Fire which is the Holy Ghost And instead of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ the New Man which is the Saints Righteousness they put on a white Linnen Surplice to make them seem outwardly Holy that inwardly were full of Sin and Uncleanness full of Self-love Hypocrisy and Pride full of Covetousness Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness And instead of bowing at the Name of God which is the Command of God Isa 45.23 that every knee should bow to him you bow at the Name of a Man not greater than is Immanuel which is the Name God himself gave the Virgin 's Birth Isa 7.14 who is the only begotten Son of God in all the Sanctified that saves his People from their Sins And your bowing at the Name of Jesus rather than at the Name Immanuel doth it not demonstrate you to be worshippers of Angels rather than the true God And for you to bow down to any Letters or Syllables joined into a Name of God or Man is this think you to worship God in Spirit and in Truth as he requireth And for any to bow down and worship any Thing or Name that is not purely God alone is most certainly Idolatry and false Worship And be not ignorant that the Name of God is his Power his Love shed abroad in our Hearts his Immanuel a strong Tower whereinto the Righteous flee and are there in Peace Rest and Safety Allelujah Holy Days Holy Days both Fasting Days and Feasting Days were they brought in by the Command of God or prescribed and imposed by Man Was not St. Paul afraid of his Galatians that he had bestowed his labour on them in vain who instead of setting up and forming of Christ the Day-Star in their Hearts fell to the observation of Days and Months and Times and Years setting up of Meats and Drinks what to Eat and when to eat and what and when to forbear respecting of New Moons and Sabbath Days one day more holy than another all which in the first Covenant were but shadows of good Things to come which the Saints possess and enjoy in the second Covenant which is Christ in them the end of the first Covenant their Hope their Crown and Glory Allelujah In the fourth Commandment you pray That God would incline your hearts to keep this Law which is to keep holy the Seventh day according to God's Command to the Jews Thus by your Traditions ye make void the Law of God and change the Truth of God into a Lie and by bringing in the Old Covenant which stands in divers outward Observations which maketh nothing perfect ye have thrust out the New Covenant Christ the Word in the Heart the Saints Teacher which perfecteth for ever those that are sanctified Allelujah The Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper I humbly declare to be a great Mystery not rightly understood by Man in the Fall It is not Carnal Bread and Wine neither Carnal Flesh and Blood as unregenerate Men apprehend and imagine Christ's Words and Works are more Spiritual than for Carnal Men to understand them it is the Spirit that quickneth and the Inspiration of God alone that giveth to man understanding in the things of God The true Supper of our Lord is when Christ stands at the door of our Hearts and knocks that we then open to him and he comes in to us and sups with us This is the right Supper of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus who is the First and the Last the Alpha and Omega of all our Graces and Mercies Wherefore my dear Hearts Open O ye Gates and be lift up ye everlasting Doors that Christ the King of Glory may come in and sup with you Allelujah So the Flesh and Blood Bread and Wine that comes from Heaven is Christ's Spirit of Light his Body which he gives for the Life of the World this is Meat indeed and Drink indeed that feeds and nourisheth the Soul up to Eternal Life which Cup of the New Testament is the saving Health of all Nations that dwell upon the Face of the whole Earth O my dearly Beloved take and receive eat and drink abundantly of this Cup of Salvation it is the new Wine in our Father's Kingdom a Fountain of Life that can never be drawn dry Allelujah Behold I shew to you a Mystery the Word in the Heart the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts is the Leaves of the Tree of Life St. John speaks of in the Revelations given for the healing of the Nations for the uniting of all Sects and Opinions in Religion into the one true Religion both Jews and Gentiles Barbarians and Scythians as well as Christians of all Sorts or Names whatsoever whether called Roman Catholicks Episcopal Protestants Presbyterians Independents Baptists Quakers Seekers Socinians Arminians or
and Baptists which Three I find so neerly united together as to the many Doctrines they place Salvation in that I join you in one Epistle together I confess I find you differing one from another and amongst your selves in Matters of Discipline and some other few Opinions wherein the Kingdom of God doth not consist and which a little Charity and Brotherly Love would easily unite and reconcile I know such and the like Things you much contend for and divide from each other as did and doth the Protestant from the Papist the Presbyterian from the Episcopal Protestant the Independent from the Presbyterian the Baptist from the Independent the Quaker as Ismael hath his hand against every one and all for nothing else than about Words and some outward Observations so that Christ's seamless Coat made of Good-will to all is much divided torn and rent who is one Spirit of Love to you all sent down from the Father of Spirits a Light to Jew and Gentile and to be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Him who is the Eternal Son and Heir of God's Kingdom Him who is come into the World to save Sinners and to bless us by turning every one of us from the evil of our ways Against him do the Husbandmen Gog and Magog all Sects though never so different unite and join as Herod and Pilat did against the Lord 's Anointed in the Sanctified who is now coming to take his Kingdom though the Heathen never so much rage thereat and shall must and will rule and reign in them for ever and ever Amen Allelujah I know by what I have read in your Books that you Three all agree as do many other of the Sects in Christendom in the Birth of Christ as he was the Son of Man born of a Virgin that he lived a Holy Life was crucified dead and buried that he arose the third day and ascended into Heaven with his Natural Body of Flesh Blood and Bones And that your believing of what Christ did and suffered here on Earth in his own Person is your Salvation which Faith of yours I humbly crave leave to examine by the Scriptures of Truth And as I am a Priest of God to the World by having Christ Jesus in me I say and declare That unless ye be born of the Spirit and have the same Spirit in you that was in Christ Jesus to lead into Truth and Righteousness as it did him ye are no true Christians nor ever can see the Kingdom of God read John 3.3 Rom. 8.9 c. 2 Cor. 13.5 And except the Spirit of God's Grace kill Sin in us as in him Christ's Death at Jerusalem will do us but little good read Rom. 6.4 5 8. 8.6 10 11. 1 Cor. 15.31 Gal. 2.20 Ephes 2.5 Phil. 3.10 Col. 2.13 And as for Christ's Resurrection and Ascension without us this will do us no good unless in the Power of the same Spirit we be raised with him to sit down in Heavenly Places together with Christ Jesus read Rom. 6.4 8 11. 1 Cor. 6.14 Ephes 2.6 Col. 2.12 3.1 I also know and declare That in the true Christ are two Natures united in one Person First As he was the Son of God from all Eternity and is the Birth of God in all the Sanctified He is God blessed for ever Secondly As he was the Son of Man born of Humane Nature and of a Reasonable Soul subsisting as such he could do nothing of himself and denied himself and his own Will and was compassed about with many Infirmities like unto other Men Sin only excepted read John 5.30 Matth. 26.39 Heb. 5.2 As he was the Son of Man he was but a Creature having beginning of Days and end of Life But as he was the Son of God he was Alpha and Omega without beginning of Days and end of Life God's Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life to the World As he was the Son of Man filled with the Holy Ghost he had a Body prepared to do the Will of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven as all that are born of God have not only as our Example but for our Consolation and Salvation and thus it is with all that are born of the Spirit read 2 Cor. 1.5 6 7. John 13.15 Phil. 3.15 16 17. 1 Tim. 4.12 James 5.10 1 Pet. 1.21 So you see it is the Birth of the Spirit in all the Sanctified and not the Humane Nature that is the Saviour Not what Jesus did as he was the Son of Man at Jerusalem in his own Person only but what he did and for ever doth in the Saints as he was is and for ever shall be one and the same God's only begotten Son the Word in the Heart his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life to Jew and Gentile and so he is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah Moreover I would you might understand That all born of the Spirit are born of God and have the mind and Spirit in them that was in Christ Jesus and do the same Works and greater Works When as Dr. Taylor saith Christ is risen in them for are they not the Light of the World and Salt of the Earth walk as Christ walked and are in this World as he is in Heaven read Gen. 5.24 2 Cor. 6.16 Gal. 5.16 Col. 2.6 1 John 2.6 1 Cor. 2.16 Phil. 2.5 Matth. 5.14 Gal. 2.20 1 John 4.17 Mark 16.17 18. John 14.12 Rev. 1.5 6. As Christ by the Spirit of the Father was filled with the Holy Ghost in which Spirit the fulness of the Godhead doth dwell bodily of whose fulness is given to all the Sanctified Grace for Grace And as they receive the Spirit of Grace freely so they dispense the Word and Spirit of Grace freely for did not Paul give the Spirit read Acts 19.3 to 7. And was not that the Spirit Timothy received by the laying on of his hands called The Gift of God 2 Tim. 1.6 And did not he that ministred the Spirit to the Galatians give the Spirit to them read Gal. 3.5 And did not Paul by virtue and power of the Spirit 's Administration convert Thousands turning them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God And was it not by the virtue of the same Power of the Spirit that Peter converted at one Sermon about Five thousand And was it not the Power of the same Spirit in Christ Jesus in the Apostles and their Followers and in Moses and Aaron and in all the Prophets and Men of God that wrought and did all the Wonders and Miracles ever since the World began And this I do further declare to all the World as my Opinion That whosoever is not born of this Spirit and led by this Spirit of God is no true Christian nor Minister of Christ nor ever can profit the People or convert Souls to God I know that a Man void of the Spirit may through the Light of
and Religion but in some things Doctrinal and concerning Discipline and other outward Observations I know you disagree The Presbyterians Rule of Publick Worship is their Directory put together by their Synod which sat 1644 and 45 gathered out of the Scriptures and imposed on the People of England by an Act then made Which Worship as it was prescribed and imposed by Man I query Whether it be the Worship which God requires the which consists in the Spirit of Truth or is it think you more acceptable to God than the former Service you threw out to set up your own devised Service in the place thereof And in so doing whether you did not more aim at the Fleece than the saving of Souls I leave to the Witness of God to determine in your selves And I pray give me liberty further to enquire Whether the Nation in General had any benefit by your change of Church Government And whether Tithes were not as acceptably retained by you as by those you thrust out Besides great Augmentations given to Preachers by a Law for their Encouragement and a Law for treble Dammages from all who though for Conscience sake could not pay the Tithes and were you less troublesom to such than those you ejected or were you less persecutive or had you more humble meek charitable Spirits than they to which your own actings may speak and answer What Spirit was that which acted Calvin against Servetus Hugo Grotius a most learned Man in all kind of Learning both Humane and Divine saith That Michael Servetus by the procurement of Calvin was burnt alive at Geneva and for nothing more than that he differed in some Opinions concerning Galvin's rigid Predestination and something concerning the Trinity And did not this Spirit of Calvin so act against Luther's Disciples that they were twice expelled the Palatinate And how did this bitter Spirit act in the Synod at Dort Were not many learned pious and good Men condemned and afterwards banished and expelled the Land and all this for some few Opinions perhaps more true than their own And was it not this Spirit in others which so bitterly persecuted those Innocent People called Quakers whom they Imprisoned Banished Scourged Stigmatized putting them to greater torture than if they had killed them outright And was not this the same Spirit in them who leaving Old England for Conscience-sake went to New England where they persecuted their Innocent Brethren that differed from them in some small Points banishing them into the remotest Desarts where they were murthered by the Savage Indians And did they not deal after the same manner with Mr. Samuel Gorton Mr. Roger Williams and others that went under the Name of Antinomians Seekers Anabaptists c. Lastly To manifest your Spirit one and the same from first to last and to shew that you are no true Members of Christ's Church in this particular not being covered with his Spirit of Love to Brethren and to Enemies the only mark of his Disciples did not you lately hang and take away the lives of five Innocent Quakers and Banishing Whipping and cutting off Ears c. of many others who had not broken any just Law either of God or Man only as the Medes and Persians made a Law against Innocent Daniel and his Brethren and as did the Jews against Holy Jesus who said They had made a Law and by that Law he ought to die even so did you make a Law against the Quakers on purpose to ensnare them and to take away their Lives Which Spirit of Persecution for Matters of Religion is most certainly the Spirit of Antichrist the Whore and false Prophet which Spirit hath no agreement in the least measure with Christ and his Church And did not you as you came into Power all three agree in this Spirit to persecute those that differed from you and more especially those that had Christ the Word in the Heart and preached Christ in the Spirit to be the Gâ—ide the Way the Truth and the Life the Sanctification Redemption and Salvation of God in all the Sanctified even to the ends of the Earth Allelujah Although in many things you agree yet in some small Matters you are divided and zealously persecute each other for those things wherein you differ The difference between the Presbyterian and the Independent consists chiefly in their National Church and particular Gatherings which assemble together by a Covenant made amongst themselves whereby they are admitted as Members and their Children only admitted to Baptism under the Notion of the Promise being made to Believers and their Seed In the Fundamentals of their Faith no material difference The Anabaptist is distinguished from the Independent Gatherings by the difference of the Administration of Water-Baptism the former only admitting such Subjects to that Ordinance as are able to render a laudable Confession of their Faith in God and also of their holy and just Conversation amongst Men and by this Baptism they hold That such Subjects are initiated into the Church of Christ and are from thence-forth esteemed Brethren and not before These also are different from each other among themselves about General Redemption Free-Will Original Sin falling away totally from Grace Predestination Election and Reprobation Herein they Dispute Quarrel and Fight each with other for and about such things as the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Men are no ways concern'd in but Brotherly Love the Image of God and mark of a true Christian is utterly lost and defaced I have lately read a Book writ by Mr. Richard Baxter intituled The Cure of Church-Divisions the third Edition printed 1670 Whose Spirit and Design therein I well approve of and have unity and amity therewith He is much against that bitter rending tearing devouring Spirit that reigneth amongst Professors and will not give the same liberty of Conscience to others in Religious Matters as they desire for themselves Also he saith There be some seem wise and good themselves by making others seem foolish and bad and they are all for Concord but it is only on their narrow factious Tearms they are for Peace but it is not of the whole Street but of their House alone or not of the whole City but of their Street alone He likes not those new-made multiplied Articles of Religion these Additions to Christianity prescribed and imposed on others This proud Church Tyranny saith he I doubt not is the great Cause of Schism in the World Love is not an appearance of my Religion but my Religion it self God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him Love is the fulfilling of the Law the end of the Gospel the nature and mark of Christ's Disciples the Divine Nature the Sum of Holiness to the Lord the proper Note to know what is the Man and what his State and how far any of his other Acts are acceptable unto God without which if we had all Knowledg and Belief all Gifts of Utterance
saith in his Heart there is no God and bray a Fool in a Mortar and he will never be the wiser and that this folly hath bin with him ever since the days of J.N. All this and much more for nought else than for R. R. his Gift to the Poor of their People Which Language let G. F. and his Friends well consider whether it proceeded from the Spirit of the Lamb that loves Enemies or from the Dragon that casts his Floods after the Man-Child to devour him who is the only begotten of God in the Saints he must rule and reign though G. F. and his Men of War never so much rave and rage I say that the only begotten of God by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost in the Saints the Virgin Daughter of Sion whose Name is Immanuel must surely rule reign Even so Amen Allelujah What had you against J. N. more than that God had taken away his Judgment from him and then led him into the Wilderness to be tried and tempted by G. F. and others and to suffer by that Spirit that then ruled in the Children of Disobedience who in all meekness and patience did bear and suffer the enmity and cruelty of all his Persecutors as a good Example And what had you against R. R. more than that he stood by J. N. in his Sufferings and for pulling off his Hat at the Command of the Lord as a sign of Love to them that understood that sign better than if he had saluted after your mode and fashion in giving the Hand Also that he pulled off his Hat which was to testify that the Hat might be made an Idol both in keeping it on and in pulling it off And what had you against J. P. more than for owning the Light of Christ in Presbyterians Independents Baptists Seekers and others even in all that believed in it and followed it And is not the Light of Christ in every one the Ensign to gather together all of every Sect and Nation those that follow it into Unity with the Lord and Amity one with another And why was G. F. so bitter against J.P. for declaring that no such beggarly Element as the Hat off or on is any part of God's Worship And if G. F. must be obeyed in these things rather than the Light of Christ in our selves whether then G. F. and his prescribed and imposed Forms be not the greatest Idol that ever was set up by a Professing People let the Witness of God in every one be Judg. I have lately read a Manuscript subscribed George Fox writ to all that would know what those People called Quakers are and shewing their Experiences which they have seen and gone through to Priests and Professors Which Paper contains fifty Paragraphs In the first and second G. F. saith We thought it a hard thing for Cain to kill Righteous Abel but when we look'd within our selves we saw that envious wrathful Man that slew every appearance of God within and ready to slay the Righteous without Then G. F. goes on speaks against Adam's Fall and against Joseph's Brethren for selling of him into Egypt c. and tells Priests and Professors That if they look within they shall find this Nature in themselves And I tell G. F. that he need not go so far to seek this evil Nature in Priests and Professors Let him look but within himself and consider his own Actings against his Innocent Brethren and he will find Cain's Nature there and Cain's Sin to lie at his own Door and will know him that sold Joseph into Egypt c. And this Spirit was the Cause of G. F's own Fall who was once an Angel of Light and had a place in Heaven but is fallen from thence like Lightning and is now become an Angel of the Bottomless Pit where he rules and governs over all that have not their Names written in the Lambs Book of Life continuing their forms of Godliness their long Preachings and long Prayers from the Comprehension of Truth but not with the Life and Power thereof thus ye suffer that Woman Jezebel which calls her self a Prophetess by good Words and fair Speeches to seduce and deceive the Innocent amongst you keeping them always learning but can never come to the Knowledg of the Truth as it is in Jesus unless they cease from man's Teachings and come to the Teachings of God in themselves which alone truly teacheth the way to Life and Salvation Allelujah I have also read a Testimony from the Brethren met at London the third Month 1666 subscribed by eleven of your Ministry Also from a Meeting at Bristol the 27th day of the 7th Month 1669 subscribed by 36 Persons Also from a Meeting at Ellis Hooks the 12th of the 4th Month 1677 against John Wilkinson and John Story subscribed by 66 of your Ministers All which in general contain very bitter Censures and high Condemnations against many of your own People who have divided from the Body of Friends so called by your selves wherein you testify That those ingaged in the Spirit of Separation ought not to have any Rule or Dominion in the Church of God whereof the Holy Spirit that was poured forth upon you as you say hath made you Overseers But your Fruits will make you more manifest than your Words Also That all that are joined to that Spirit of Separation who stand not in Vnity with your Ministry their Judgments ought not to be regarded amongst Friends And further You declare your selves the Witnesses and Ambassadors of the Vnchangeable Truth and the Elders of the Church of God who of right having kept your Habitations in the Truth ought to judg of things which differ and this your Judgment to stand good and valid amongst Friends against all that oppose it Also that if any pretending to be of your Membership will not admit to be tried in case of Controversy by the Elders and Members of this your Body but oppose it as the Judgment of Man you then testify in the Name of the Lord against them that he or she with all those that countenance these Refusers are to be rejected as joined in one with Infidels and Heathens These together with G. F's Paper in vindication of Prescriptions dated the 4th Month 1678 imposing upon the Consciences of Men as also the particular Invectives against John Wilkinson and John Story both importing the same Spirit of Dominion and Rule over the Conscience which is the proper Heritage of God I have both seen well-weighed and considered and while I contemplate your present State by comparing it with the Principles with which you were first inspired I cannot but take up that Lamentation concerning you which the Prophet of old did concerning Israel How is the Mighty fallen How is the Gold become dim the fine Gold how is it changed Even the Sea-Monsters draw out the Breasts and give suck to their young Ones but the Daughters of my People are become cruel like
second and third Rule of Perfection and his Idiot with others of the like Divine Nature all tending to a Holy Life by virtue of Christ's Holy Spirit in us the only way to Life and Salvation Allelujah I have also read many Divine Works writ by H. N. Jacob Behm John Saltmarsh Dr. Everard William Sedgwick William Erbery Dr. Gill Dr. Taylor with others that were inspired of God and spake of the second Coming of Chrit in the Sanctified and of that blessed Day which should attend his Appearance Allelujah I have also read with much delight two Books writ by J. N. called Love to the Lost and A Salutation to the Seed of God in all Also one small Book writ by John Perrot entituled An Epistle for the most pure Amity and Vnity in the Spirit and Life of God to all sincere-hearted Souls I have likewise lately read some Prophecies and Predictions of that Holy Learned Man James Vsher Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh who through Inspiration of God's Spirit spake of many things which long after came to pass that which is to me most remarkable in that Sheet of Paper is that he being intreated to write in brief of Justification and Sanctification desired he might be excused notwithstanding the Person soliciting through importunity obtained a promise A while after his Promise being claimed he replied He had not writ yet could not charge himself with breach of Promise for said he I did begin to write but when I came to write of Sanctification that is of the New Creature which God formeth by his Spirit in every Soul which he doth truly regenerate I found so little wrought of it in my self that I could speak of it only as a Parrot by rote without knowledg and understanding and therefore durst not proceed any further upon it Adding I must tell you we do not well understand what Sanctification and the New Birth is It is no less than for a Man to be brought to an entire Resignation of his own Will to the Will of God and to live in the offering up of his Soul continually in the flames of Love as a holy burnt Offering to Christ And how little says he are many of those that profess Christianity experimentally acquainted with this Work of Regeneration in their Souls Moreover he desires his Friend to look he be not found a Worshipper in the outward Court which outward Court says he is the formal Christian whose Religion lies in performing the out-side Duties of Christianity without having an inward Life and Power of Faith and Love uniting them to Christ and these God will leave to be trodden down and swept away by the Gentiles the Prophane that call themselves Christians but are the Synagogue of Satan The Worshippers within the Temple and before the Altar are those that do worship God in Spirit and in Truth whose Souls are made his Temples and he is honoured and adored in the most inward Thoughts of their Hearts and they Sacrifice their Lusts and vile Affections yea and their own Wills to him and these God will hide in the hollow of his Hand and under the shadow of his Wings and shall be preserved as a Seed to partake of that Glory which shall immediately follow I have also lately read two Treatises writ by Sir Henry Vane First An Epistle General to the Mystical Body of Christ on Earth the Church Vniversal in Babylon The second The Face of the Times Wherein he well discovers the Rise Progress and Issue of the Enmity and Contest between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent He saith That till the Seventh Trump sound 1666 the Woman's Seed must suffer afterwards the Seed of the Woman being risen with Christ must reign with him and then the Head of the Serpent should be bruised He speaketh most excellently of the first and second Covenant and of a single and double Portion of the Spirit of Regeneration and Restoration into the first Estate in Paradise which may fall also of the New Creation or Second Birth the Seed of God in Man which endures and never will nor ever can fall Hallelujah He saith The Quakers Principle is To restore out of the Fall into the first State who though they are Angels yet may fall He shews how Angels fell who through pride oppose all higher Lights than themselves and that such fallen Angels become the greatest Enemies to the Birth of Christ in the Saints which Spirit is the great Antichrist the Old Serpent the Devil that is to be cast into the Bottomless-Pit with all his Angels who outwardly appear as Angels of Light but inwardly they devour the Innocent This I have seen to be a Truth in the bitter contests betwixt G. F. and his Angels and the self-denying humble meek Spirit that was in J. N. and J. P. and those that suffered with them for bearing their Testimony to Christ in the Saints which is the last the most glorious and highest Dispensation as saith Sir H. V. now at the very Doors a Truth which many can Witness He further saith The Lamb will overcome by Sufferings and that the first sign of Christ's second Coming is distress of Nations that the Potsherds of the Earth dashing one against the other wil lmake way for Christ's Reign in which War none but Hypocrites and Apostates which make the outward Court will suffer whilst God's People will be preserved in Peace and Safety Sir H. V. also saith The Holy City and Temple measured are Saints in Power That the Woman clothed with the Sun is Christ's dead Body raised Vrim and Thummim he saith are the two great Lights Righteousness and Truth when they meet in our Hearts It is he saith a fickle and foolish Religion that depends on the Magistrates Power either to set up or pull down That Believers Rewards in Sufferings is inward Peace and Joy in a serene quiet Mind He was also in his day a great Prophet he saith Israel's Captivity is near an end at which time the Sons of God shall be made manifest so soon as that is come there will need little other help than the Grave it self to cast them forth as the Womb doth the Fruit then shall you know the Lord is God when he hath opened and brought you up out of your Graves such will the Lord own visibly for his People by putting his wonderful Spirit in them and then will God's Indignation be poured out upon his Enemies That the Nation that hath kept the Seed of God in Bondage himself God will judg more signally than he did Pharaoh and the Egyptians in this day shall the Tabernacle of God in Men be visible He also saith Doubtless great and precious Promises are to be accomplished in and upon Believers here on Earth to the making of Christ admired in them That this dark Night and black Shade that God hath drawn over his work in the midst of us may be the Ground Colour to some beautiful Piece