that Spirit which never erred and who ever is lead out by any other is Erred already though unknown to them who are so deceived For Error could never Judge of Error nor darkness of light though it will be doing to shew enmity So Error Cryes Take heed of being deceived which is deceived already but the Spirit of light searcheth out that deceipt but who walks not in the spirit and light of Christ is blind and knows not by what he is lead nor whither and stumbles at the light which should Judge his blindness and become his Leader and such a one though he be in Error yet knows not whence he is fallen who never knew the right way as many at this day who are talking of blindnes but themselves in the pitt and must be till they own the light to lead them out of it which never Erred which is of God even as they who received it are of God and they that were of God knew that all that would not heare them had the Spirit of Error and thereby they knew it and the Spirit of truth And what ever that be which leads out into the Worlds Conformity and pleads for it or any thing that is come in by the Fall that is the Spirit of Error But that Spirit which testifies against all that is in the fall and convinceth of it and leads out of it that 's the Spirit of truth comes to testifie of the redeemer Christ Jesus who is to set free out of it which all that lives in lives in Error So all who desire to know the Spirit of Error you must turn to the Spirit of light from whence you have Erred for no other thing shews the Error but that which reproves the fruit of Error that which reproves for sin is that from which man hath Erred the faithfull and true witness which is in the beginning of the Creation of God to which all must give an account and which alone is appointed for a light and leader of the people that sit in darkness to shew the darkness and the way out of it So to that which was in the beginning all must come that with the light from which man hath Erred you may know the wayes of Error and the way of truth Concerning Faith HE that hath living faith which is in Christ lives by it and the life that he lives is above all the world and the powers of darknesse and the least measure of that Faith â—s perfect and is present power against all the assaults of â—acan if in it the Creature abide faithfull and run not to other helps and so lay himself open to distrust for it is the gift of God whereof whosoever receives a measure he hath a measure of the Son above which he Father will not suffer any temptation for the true faith laies hold upon Gods righteousnesse against which no unrighteousnesse can prevaile which righteousnesse is received by faith in Christ Jesus wherein the Creature so believing stands armed against all the fierie darts and temptations of the Devill with Gods righteousnesse seene in the light and wrought in the Spirit whereby the Creature becomes Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works by which he becomes free from the evill dead to sin but alive to Gods righteousnesse waiting in faith to see it revealed through obedience thereto from faith to faith and it is written The just shall live by faith and this is the living faith which purifies the heart unto the life of godlinesse and so reveales the righteousnesse of faith for an inheritance everlasting righteousnesse ever growing and springing whereby the Creature grows into the knowledge of God with him to walke by faith out of the knowledge of all the world translated out of the pleasures and kingdoms of it into the kingdom of the Son of God where the reproach of Christ is esteemed great riches laying hold upon the invisible which the worlds faith cannot reach which caryes them no higher then visible reasonings and consulting with sensuall wisdom and carnall helps and so brings nothing to perfection because it sees nothing that is perfect but the liying faith sees him that is invisible and layes hold on the measure of God made manifest in Spirit which measure of the Spirit is that which in the faith worketh out the old and worketh the new both will and deed whose worke is perfect to kill and make alive But the worlds faith is not of this nature and power who heare a thing with the outward care and so set themselves to believe or not believe it in their wills or outward perswasion from others or in their own imagination and as their imaginations thoughts and conceivings changes so their faith changes also and so it cannot be steadfast because it stands not in the measure of God known in the heart which changes not and this faith serves not God nor can it please him nor doth it see him that is invisible And so not standing in that which is contrary to the will of man and power of sin it lies under the wills of men and power of the Prince of this world and as the world and times changes so doth that faith but can never lead out of the world and all time up to the redeemer of the soul And to all who are in that nature the living faith that stands in that which is of God in a pure conscience is a mystery not known nor received and so cannot be improved which is the true faith which is the gift of God which none Tim. 3. 9. can receive but in the Spirit So the faith of Christ and the faith of the world are two and have their severall effects and fruits the one professeth freedome and redemption in the imaginations and comprehensions but is a servant of sin the other hath the living faith which gives the life of freedom and so as is their ground and roote so is their fruits and effects and the one of these is against the other For that Act. 13. 27. faith which stands in Christ believes in purity and perfection and holynesse and slays sin and by that faith alone the just lives and justice and righteousnesse is brought forth to light in the godly conversation but that faith which stands in the imaginations and wisdom of man which believes salvation without holynesse of life that slaies the just and keeps alive the unjust and this faith they had which believed the Scriptures and the words of the Prophets and that God was their Father but not having the word of Faith in their hearts these slew the Son of God and set the murtherer free and as that faith which is dead works death so that faith which is living worketh life And a profession of faith without righteousnesse is like a body without life and like as a living man is known by his actions so is the living faith by its fruits And as the man cannot live
the hidden man of the heart must you look to find it which is not Corruptible Concerning Light and Life GOd is the life of every Creature though few there be that know it for the darknesse sees him not nor his life though the Children of Darknesse have got words in the Scripture which were given forth from the light to talk of yet God such know not present for the first beginning of God in the world is lighr God said let there he light and it was so And this light God saw that it was good This is that which was in the beginning with God the Word by which all things were made and seen and without this was nothing made that was made nor any thing seen to be good and darknesse was over the face of all the waters till the light which from the Word came who is the Life which life is the light of men So none can see the life but with the light which from the life comes which to the life leads all that follow it So this that was in the beginning is given to keep in order all the Creation That is good but the darknesse comprehends it not though it shine in it so all that abide in the darknesse are destroyed not discerning the life to order and govern the Creation in the light So all that go out of the light go into the darknesse and there the life and Image of God is lost and there is the Fall and all who there abide are reserved in Chaines of darknesse not knowing the life which breaks the Bonds and Chains of Iniquity and opens the Grave and Prison door And here the Soul being in death breathing after the Life but Darknesse got above In the darknesse is the Creature led into Sects Opinions and Errours after the Imaginations to seek life but further it runs here to the sensuall Wisdome further into Death and Darknesse till the Creature be so blinded in the understanding that he thinks and imagins he doth God service when he is acting against the life of God both in himself and others so comes the Creature of God and his Life wherewith God did furnish him to do his Will wholly to be lost and the Gospel hid that should recover him again the God of this World having so blinded the mind and thereby so farre alienated him from the life of God that he neither hath power and life to do the will of God nor light to know where to have it yet in this condition of death and darknesse and without the life of God shall the Creature never be without profession or some conceit or other to keep in a vain hope of salvation And here is the sole ground and cause why we have so many sorts of formes and opinions and wayes of worship but none that doth good nor lives in what they say because all have lost the life of God which onely is able to briâ—g forth the righteousnesse of God And selfe having got the form into the Imagination above the life cannot receive the light that lâ—es under that condemns it So all the world lies in darkensse yea thick darknesse is upon all the seas and great depths is covered with grosse darknesse and from thence is the Imagination spread over all so that none can witnesse the work of God neither knows the beginning nor end thereof And this is the cause of condemnation and it rests upon all who are out of the life of God And no other way there is appointed of the Father to come out of this condition but Christ Jesus the light and life of men who is the light that is in the world though the world know him not which light shines in darknesse but cannot therewith be comprehended which light is the revealer of darknesse and manifests the deeds thereof and the first appearance of this in the Creature shews the darknesse and captivity that is in the darknesse till which the Creature never comes to see the wretched condition that man is in who is without God the life nor till then will the Creature be willing to stand still to see Gods salvation but is full with vain hopes conceits and Imaginations and the vaile is over the heart and what God hath there written is not seen and so being whole needs not the physitian And with this blind heart the creature reads the Scriptures and steals the promises that the Children of light spoke of who had the life whereby the seed was raised out of the grave to which the promise is but neither knowes law nor Gospel neither came so far as Moses yet boasting of Christ But when the light is minded the Creature comes to see death raigning and self alive without the law with that light which was given to keep out of the pollution and defilements and so to keep the life clear and unspotted With that light that is seen and judged which hath passed over the life and defiled it and that which hath gendered to bondage is seen and the hardnesse of heart comes to be felt and the cause seen even the great transgression of the pure law so comes the fear of the God to take hold of the man that hath lived out of the life of God and taketh pleasure in unrighteousnesse and the Creature then finds trouble within even where the strong man did keep the house in peace and abiding in the light the cause and end of it is seen and d welling in the fear Wisdom is received from above to depart from the iniquity and in departing from the iniquity there is a coming nearer to God so the light growes and springs as there is a comming nearer of the just paths of life And as the light ariseth the Creation is seene and how the enmity hath spread over and how the lust hath defiled it and how that which was planted as a vineyard is become as a wildernesse for barrenness growne over with thornes and bryars sturdy Oaks and tall Cedars for want of the Vinedresser and where the Lilly should grow it s growne over with Weeds Thistles and Nettles so that God walks not there because of the great abomination and that is the cause of all your woe even his absence And when you see this the lamentation begins in the house of laughter even after him from whom you have fallen and as you follow the light and come nearer to the Lord from whence it comes you will see that it is onely your own wills and wayes that hath separated you from the holy one And with the light you will come to see how often you have beene moved by the spirit of light from your evill wayes and that the cause why you have beene thus long in the Fall hath beene in selfe-will and worldly pleasures whereby the life hath suffered never till then comes any to see him whom you have peirced nor to lament over him nor to see what it is that oppresseth the just
have bowed down to the god of this World and his begettings are in all houses and assemblies and the name of the Lord you have polluted before all the world yet will you lean upon the Lord and say The righteousnesse of Christ the righteousnesse of Christ so that you have more dishonoured his Righteousnesse then all that ever were before you and the name of a Christian is become a reproach in all the world because of your unfaithfulnesse to his righteousnesse For this will he plead with you and will take from you the Covering that you may appear and he will bring forth his Righteousnesse to your Confusion and his own shall witnesse him in the Gate and his work shall praise him openly so shall sinners be afraid and fearfulnesse surprize the Hypocrite when God shall own his own righteousnesse and judge the wicked after the works of their hands Concerning the Word THe Word is that which was in the beginning and was the beginning of all visible things and that by which all things were made but it self is invisible which though it be the Upholder of all visible things yet can no visible thing reveal it yet doth it reveal the ground and use and end of all visibles And as without it was nothing made that was made so without it is nothing soen as it was made nor any thing can be guided nor used in its pure place but what ever man medles with not having the Word in him to guide order and sanctifie the same he defiles and it is polluted as to him Nor can this Word be comprehended in Heaven or Earth without this Word can no Scripture be read with profit for it opens the Scriptures and the Scriptures declare of it yet cannot the Scriptures nor all the Writings of the World comprehend it nor declare the depth and extent of it which is beyond all Generations yet is it the Teacher and Guide of his own in all Generations and in all Generations of Saints hath been known in measure more or lesse immediatly though it hath no place in the worlds profession So hearing of a Word but not knowing it they say The Letter is it But who hath the Word hath that which comprehends Death and Hell and the Grave that which binds and chains Satan overcomes the World gives the issues of Life and Light whereby the new Creation is known wherein dwels Righteousnesse and this every one hath so far as he hath the Word abiding in him but so hath not every one that hath the Letter Nor can any mans will change the Word for it is contrary to all mens Wills nor can any mans Wit open or expound this Word which confounds the Wisdome of the Wise and brings the understanding of the Prudent to nought that hides from the Wise and Prudent and reveals to Babes and the Word grows and increases within the Babes but so doth not the Letter and as it grows it sanctifies all that have it but so doth not the Letter and it s as a Fire and a Hammer to all that have it but so is not the Letter It is quick and powerful to the dividing asunder the Joynts and Marrow the Soul and Spirit where ever it is so is not the Letter And the Word is a Reproach to every Carnal Mind even to them especially who profess the Letter Whosoever have the Word with it are washed and cleansed and translated from the World and conformed to God so far as they have it and it reconciles to God all that have it but many have the Letter who know not God but are in the unclean Customes and Fashions and wayes of the World not changed nor reconciled None can keep the Word and his sins both but the Letter without he may for where ever the Word is known the new Creature is witnessed who is created to walk in Righteousnesse and who hath the Word sees all who say they know the Word and walk not in Righteousnesse to be Lyars and do not the Truth and with the Word of Truth are such cast out and judged to be those who dishonour the Word as though it were a polluted thing or could dwell with pollution which is a Fire to burn up all uncleannesse where ever it is and where sinne stands the Word is not known But such reading of the word which came to the Saints in obedience to which they were washed and purified and in which they were begotten again they finding that the Saints had this word but not knowing it they say the Letter is it which doth but declare of it and so their word hath not power in them to overcome the Devil break the bonds of wickedness whereas the word of God is not bound but free sets free all that have it abiding in them which breaks down the seat of sin and raises up and quickens the seed of God which lives in the life of God which through sin death hath passed over and so quickens the mortall body to newness of life So that the old life and the word cannot stand together in one body nor doth the old man who lives in that life know any word but the letter and the life of that he knows not but in the Imaginations searches with the fallen wisdome for that which God hath in his wisdome hid from it and in this is all the darknesse to this the Scriptures are spoken as a Parable and Mystery which in that disobedient wisdome cannot be found out so is the Simplicity deceived with Meanings Addings and Wrestings which are all in that man that cannot enter in whom the Word dwells not nor can any thing such do be accepted because it is not from the Word for all that comes not from the Word by the Word is condemned not to be the Work of God for all that God made he made it by the Word and it was seen in the light to be good which was made with the Word and here all stood in the reconciliation to God but when man went out from the Word then he went out from the good and so with the Light was seen to be in the evil and so was accursed from the same Word against which he had sinned and so long as out of that Word he acts all is accursed being Self and not God that works it And so man being gone out into the world the light of the Gospel is preached to turne man again to know the word that coming to the knowledge thereof in his heart and having his mind stayed thereto in the light he may come to see the power of the word working in Spirit working out the unclean nature and the rebellious will and working in the pure nature in the Cross slaying the carnall man with all his affections and so through death thereof raising up the new man making a new Creation in Christ Jesus with power unto Good works from the eternall word and this God owns when he is
the mover thereof and worker also and the creature only servant therein in the same power And this is not a self taken on performance from the Letter but is in the eternall counsell and strength of God commanded moved and performed in Gods will and time contrary to the will of the flesh whereby the will of all flesh is subdued even all that is come in since the beginning till all be seen in the light to be good and the work of God and so his works praise him from a good understanding of the spirit and power of the Living God And with the living word is the living soul witnessed and the life of Christ made manifest in the mortal body and the creature comes to have fellowship in the life and is transformed thereinto and united in one and this is the word of reconciliation which unites God and the Creature in Spirit which who ever knows needs not go forth for wisdom counsell or strength against all the powers of darkness nor wiles of the enemy but by diligent taking heed to the word which is nigh in the heart from thence finds the issues of life spiritual strength and power against the spiritual wickedness which all who run out for help lye under become servants of Concerning Worship THe worship of the true and living God stands out of mans will and knowledge wisdom or prudence as in the naturall for God is a Spirit and in Spirit he is worshipped not with mens hands nor with bodily exercise further then by the eternall Spirit the body is exercised nor doth it stand in meats and drinks nor divers washings nor carnall ordinances taken on by tradition nor imitation of others but as every Creature is moved by the Spirit of the living God who is that Spirit who will be served with his own alone not with any thing in man which is come in since the fall so the imaginations thinkings and conceavings are shut out all mans ways mans times and formes nationall customes mans decency and orders by men devised and added are all shut out and condemned with that Spirit in which God alone is worshipped and his people taught his worship and the manner of it and the times are in his hand whose the worship is So that before any can rightly worship God they must waite to know his Spirit that leads to know him and his worship and the matter and manner for all who do the same thing as to the outward performance do not worship God because they worship not in Spirit and power of God himselfe So that all who would so worship him as to be accepted you must know the light and in it waite to know what God calls for at your hands for it is not what men appoint you to do or not to do that will acquit you before the Lord for this know that God made man for himselfe and for his service and the living God is not as the dumbe Idolls that people should imagine a way to serve him as may best sute with the fashion and custome of a Nation or people but he that made man hath given him a life from himself to improve in his service and a light hath he given wherewith to see the moving of this Spirit of life which ever moves after the will of God because it is of him and so where it is awakned it ever draws the Creature towards God the mind and will and affections and love of God is in it and who walks in the light sees this But the Creature running before this or without this there comes all the dead works and worships And the ground of all this ariseth out of darkness and disobedience for when the Creature hath beene out in the world and unrighteous wayes thereof doing that which is evill then that in the heart condemns for the evill and neglect of good then the same mind runs to act a worship to get peace when both the evill and the worship is in one nature and so the prayer becomes abomination as the others was for he that regards the iniquity God will not heare his prayers nor accept his worships that 's Cains sacrifice and Esaus prayers but either must your worship be performed in one that never sinned or it cannot be accepted with the pure God So that the way to be well pleasing to the Father is to waite in the light till you see somthing of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus moving in you and then to that joyne in its power to worship and that being of God he cannot forget himselfe and that is done in the name of Christ which is done in his light and power and wisdom and strength and what ever is done in his name is not denyed of the Father and so far as any are in him so far sons and so far accepted in him without whom you can doe nothing nor be respected nor did ever any worship in this nature but they found acceptance and the knowledge thereof and you who know not this to lead and guide you in your worships are worshiping you know not what nor with what and though you say that God works all your works in you and that it is his work and worship you are about yet when it comes upon tryall he will not own it for his which the worker of iniquity hath wrought For the evil worker hath not onely his hand in the deceitfull works of the unrighteous Mammom but in the deceitfull works of Worship too For did he not deceive in worship to hide his wickednesse with pretence of godlinesse and long prayers he could not keepe people in any peace in his wicked wayes so they who joyne to him herein receive the greater damnation for the false worshippers were alwayes greatest enemies to Christ and so to their own souls and woe to him that hides his sin thus So all who desire to worship in truth you must know the truth even the Spirit of truth to lead into all truth which Spirit of truth takes of Christ and testifies of his life and power in the Creature worshiping who believes in the light and such know they are in him and he in them who is true in whom they worship the Father of the truth and so God is served with his own and no further then this is known can any worship God in Spirit which the light doth manifest So you having received a light from Christ in that waite till therein you find the Spirits leading acting and ordering and here the least in the light is in Gods service when on him you are waiting in Spirit and such as abide in the light waiting upon God in the light are kept from serving the Prince of darknesse and having your loynes gire and your light burning you are always ready to know the voyce and answer it with obedience and then you serve God and not men when you have a command from the living God not
in bondage Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification THe wisdom of men in the Fall finding these several words in Scripture hath in their imaginations run them into divisions and separated that which is in one and cannot be devided in the possession for it is one that worketh all these where he is present according to the measure received And this is the just one who by faith lives in the Creature and the Creature in him and so becomes the justifier and sanctifier of all that believe and the mortifier of that nature which is out of the faith and one of these is not alone without the rest For that which sanctifies that mortifies and the same justifies and all that know what it is to have these in the life knows this I know there are a people who have a desire to Heaven more then to holynesse and they lest they should spoyle their Carnal delights have in their brain-imag'nation conceipted a Justification without santification or mortification wresting those Scriptures which condemns the works of the law and therewith they would exclude the righteousnesse of faith also And because the Scripture saith God justifies the ungodly through faith therefore they conclude themselves justified in their ungodlinesse by a fancy which they call faith but are without faith in Christ For that faith which laies not hold upon Gods righteousnesse is not the faith of Christ but a dead thing for so far as any hath the faith of Christ so far it reveals Gods righteousnesse without the law from faith to faith by which righteousnesse of God the just lives and the unjust dies and so justified as they are sanctified and mortified and no further even as the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleive without respect of persons No righteousnesse no faith in Christ but where Gods righteousnesse is unto all and upon all there the belief is witnessed and the faith is shewed by the works which cannot be shewed without the works for that faith that hath not works is dead being alone as the body without the Spirit so is your faith without workes and so is your justification without holinesse and mortification of life And you will find in the end that he that justifies the wicked in you is the same that condemneth the just and they are both abomination to the Lord And this is your state who plead for sin and live in pleasure and wantonly on the earth you slay the just and holy one and save the unjust alive and so know not him that is just who justifies mortifies sanctifies and redeemes who of God is made so to us that in all things we are and have we may glory in him And although the Scriptures mention these three yet not to devide them so as to make people believe they may have one and not all but as to shew the severall effects of that one work of mans redemption all wrought by one thing in the creature For the blood of Christ it washes away the filth and so puts off the old man and mortifies the deeds of that body and so sanctifies and justifies The Spirit it mortifies and sanctifies and justifies now though the Saints named both these it was not to devide them but being one they might declare it by either for none could have the one without the other and all that have them are thereby mortified sanctified and justified yet none of these without the creature being works of faith and not of selfe for by the law of faith is selfe-sanctification self-mortification and self-justification excluded though they who had received the Spirit were called to all these by faith in his blood yet it is the work of God wrought by Christ in the believer and in the light are they called to behold the work of God herein and joyne to it in the faith and obedience thereto being the work of God which he will work in all that beleive in the light that they may receive his Son in whom the promise is and the power to mortification sanctification and justification as by faith he is received from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised againe for our justification but such who would share in his Justification but not have fellowship in his sufferings and obedience are such as are justified in conceipt but sin raignes and the unjust lives and acts in them and this is selfe that justifies selfe but is not just before God the just being dead in trespasses and sins but God justifies the living and not the dead Therefore the Saints suffered the losse of all things counting them as doung that they might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death These through death came to the power and fellowship of his resurrection whereby they are justified being raised with him to newnesse of life by faith receiving the gift of Gods righteousnesse and becoming servants thereto and thereby became free from sin and this is true justification where there is no condemnation where the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the creature walks no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for the condemnation is to him that walks after the flesh but he Gal. 5. 16. that walks in the Spirit is justified for he that walks in the Spirit shal not Rom. 8 3 4 fulfill the lusts of the flesh and there is mortification to that nature that breaks the law and the just is seen who fulfils the law in such as walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit So not the hearers of the law are just Rom. 2 13. before God but the doers of the law shall be justified In the first mans state the law is broken and there mortification and sanctification is denyed and there the man would be justified from the guilt of sin but not from the love and power of sin but would have his carnall delights in the world and Heaven also but this is vaine hope and will perish But in the second mans state the law is fulfilled through mortification sanctification Justification of the Spirit And no man can be justified where the just lives not for that by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified Concerning the Law IN this thing are many people confounded yea all who know not the ministration of the Spirit for such going into the Scriptures and finding the ministration of the Letter and the ministration of the Spirit and themselves being under neither of these but in Notion as they have received it in their imaginations and not from the Mouth of the Lord some say they are under the Law and that it continues still others say but some part of it which is Morall others say nay but it
is done away and they are not under any ministration of Law but under grace and so by their faith make voyd the Law not knowing what they say herein And this is all such know either of Law or Gospel who in their wisdom and prudence read the letter and from thence imagine what is Law and what is Grace not having that spirit by which they were ministred to the Saints and by them received who had the law in their hearts and grace there also and such do know that the one of these doth not make voyd the other but establish the other for the coming of Christ was not to make voyd but to fulfill the Law and he doth not come to put the Law afatre off but to bring it neare that with his light all may see it as it is written in the heart by the living God and he is so farre from destroying or taking away the Law that he declares it in its force and purity saying That one jot or tittle should not passe till it be fulfilled And whereas it was said in the letter Thou shalt not commit adultery saith he Thou shalt not lust In the letter it was said thou shalt not sweare falsely but in the Spirit he saith Swear not at all In the letter Thou shalt not kill but in the Spirit Thou shalt not be angry and whosoever doth any of these things is guilty before God and this is farre from making it voy'd which declares it in its purity so as they who might seeme to be cleare in the letter might be found guilty in the Law of the Spirit that by Christ Jesus who is the end of that Law they may come to see their condemnation and by faith in him become set free not by the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer and carnall Sacrifices Oracle Temple or Altar or Days or Sabbaths without in the letter but by all these in Spirit which are in Christ Jesus ministred to the soule and conscience to wash away sin and purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God which the ministration of the letter and carnall Ordinances could not do And for this cause is the ministration of the letter done away because it could not make perfect the commers thereto as pertaining to the conscience And the Ministration of the Spirit preached in its steed which gives perfect knowledge of sin and perfect redemption from it and from all things from which the Law without could not and the same Spirit doth testifie it perfectly in the conscience which the letter cannot though the letter may shew a man his condemnation yet it cannot give life it can shew the duty but not give power to performe it so the letter kils but the Spirit giveth life And hence it is that all you who read your duty in the letter but want power to performe what you read you set up your imaginations instead of performance and some say the Law is done away and none now shall be condemned by it others say Christ fulfilled it in his own person and to believe what he did sixteene hundred yeares since is all we need to do others say nay but we must do what we can of what the Scriptures commands and he will do the rest with his Father others say that what we do he makes it accepted which the Father as though we did performe all that is required but none in that state knows his commands in Spirit which gives life and power to performe what is commanded in Spirit which none knows who reads what others did but want their Spirit and power to performe the same This was the selfe righteousnesse and is the selfe righteousnesse which is by the letter of the Law taken-on without the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus And here is the weaknesse of the Law taken-on through the flesh but the power of the law to such as receive it in Spirit and life for the Law is fulfilled in Spirit and not in the letter and so in Christ and not in selfe and so by faith and not by works even by the everlasting righteousnesse of God freely given and received by faith and revealed in the creature from faith to faith in every one that beleives and not by works of the Law which the creatures see in the letter and sets themselves a doing who are carnall and sold under sin not quickened by the Spirit of righteousnesse for the letter of the Law gives the knowledge of sinne but the Law in the Spirit gives not only the knowledge of sin he knowledg of God and his righteousnesse in Christ Jesus for fulfilling the Law which is life eternall according to his promise I will write my Law in your hearts and put it in your inward parts and you shall all know me from the greatest to the least so the letter kills but the Spirit giveth life So all you who read the commands in the letter without from thence you may fetch your own Condemnation but from thence can you not fetch power for obedience to justification of life From within is the Life in Spirit and not in the letter And here is change of the Law to that which is Spirituall the Preisthood Spirituall The Temple Spiritual The Altar the Circumcision the offering the blood the Oracle the Anointing the washings and the whole worship which was without and could make nothing perfect is become Spirituall and within which is the better hope being more pure then that without could be and so more perfect even as he is perfect Now the Law was added because of transgression till the promised seed should come of whom it is prophesied in types and figures which seed is Christ the end of the Law to every one that believes without respect of persons and so it is in the spirit A Law hath God written in the heart whereby the transgressor is condemned in his own Conscience and this Law is upon the first Man who is the Transgressor and hath power over that man as long as he lives Judging reproving and condemning And prophesying of one that is to come to fulfill the Law in every one who minds the light And so is as a Scool-master to bring to Christ And till he come to fulfill it who is the end of it there is Condemnation upon the Creature because the pure Law of God is broken And this is testified by the light in the conscience a witnesse against the first Man and his deeds which is contrary to the perfect Law of God And so by that which perfect is he condemned who is imperfect where the Image of God is lost and the seed lyes in death because of trespasses and sins For God did not give a Law to condemne his own work but the work of the Devil And where the transgressor is there is the work of the Devil And the law hath power over that man as long as the transgressor lives
Love to the Lost AND A HAND HELD FORTH To the Helpless to lead out of the Dark Wherein is plainly held out divers perticular things as they are learned of Christ and are most needfull to be known in all who professe godliness Set forth chiefly for the directing the Simple into the living way of Truth as it is in Christ Jesus the Righteous that therein they may come to the life and power of that which the World hath in words which being received satisfies the weary Soul and makes the Creature well-pleasing to his Maker Wherein also there is some Reproofs to the Dark World By one that seeks the redemption of Sions Seed and a Lover of the Creation of God who is called JAMES NAYLOR London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the west end of Pauls 1650. Let him that reads understand FRiends The things following which I have declared of are not things of Man nor by Man did I receive them but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is contrary to the Wisdom and Will of Man Nor to the wisdome and will of Man do I commend them to be received for the natural mans wisdome receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God therefore would devour that which is born thereof so to that wisdom I appear not being a leight thing to me to be judged thereof But if any one know the gift of God and a measure of that Spirit which openeth the bosome of the Father and reveales his secrets unto Babes The least measure of that if not clouded with the Imaginations will savour these things and to such they may be profitable So to the light of Christ that which changeth not in every one I appear to be judged and discerned which is one in the Male and in the Female for therein alone both these things and all other that proceeds from that root makes for gathering Creatures together into that One Name and Seed wherein all the Nations of the earth are blessed As therewith they are gathered into the one Word of Faith and Power of Life to believe and speak the same things in the godly Conversation which leadeth to the end of all Rents Schisms Heresies and Errours Sects and Divisions into that one Name to be baptized where the fulness of God is Blessed for ever So whoever thou art that shall read these particulars following or any thereof and shall find any thing which for the present thou canst not receive be not hasty in judging that which yet thou know'st not nor kick not against that which comes contrary to thy will lest thou put far from thee in thy will that which therewith thou canst not call again and the day of thy visitation pass over unawares and in the evil day thou be made to cry out How have I hated Instruction and resisted the day of Healing And this know that no Prophecie of old ever came by the will of man nor by the will of man could be received but by those that stood in their own wills was ever resisted And so must it be in these things unless with the eye that never changeth thou read'st them which if thou know'st such a thing in thee and stand single therein in the meek Spirit not lifted up above thy measure thou wilt come to feel how that of God in thee answers to the things of God as face answers face and find them to agree with the life of the Scriptures though for the present some things appear darkly for to that Seed which is not of this world which savours spiritually and judgeth not according to outward appearance is my service And to that of God in every Conscience am I manifest if therein I be received however a good savour am I unto the Lord in them that are saved and in them that perish at that day when it shall appear that I have not handled the Word of God deceitfully Though with the Swine who feeds on the Husk this may be trampled on and I sought to be rent if to such it come to whom I send it not A Table of the several Particulars following Concerning the Fall of Man Pag. I. Concerning Light and Life p. 1. Concerning Righteousnesse p. 3. Concerning the Word p. 8. Concerning Worship p. 8. Concerning Errour Heresie c. p. 11. Concerning Faith p. 13. Concerning Hope p. 15. Concerning Love p. 17. Concerning Judgment p. 19. Concerning Perfection p. 21. Concerning Government or Magistracy p. 24. Concerning Obedience p. 27. Concerning good Works p. 29. Concerning Election and Reprobation p. 32. Concerning the New Birth p. 34. Concerning the Baptism of Christ from that the World so calls p. 37. Concerning the Lords Supper p. 43. Concerning Redemption p 47. Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification p. 50. Concerning the Law p. 52. Concerning Christ Jesus p. 56. Concerning the Ministry of Christ p. 59. Concerning Free-Will p. 62. Concerning the Fall of Man IN the beginning God made all things good so did he Man whom then he made in his own Image and placed in him his own Wisdome and Power whereby he was compleatly furnished with Dominion Power and Authority over the Works of Gods hands knowing the nature and use of each Creature by what God had placed in him of Himself who in that state was the Son of God whose seed was in himself God also made the Tree of Life in the mid'st of the Garden and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and both of these was good in their place but the Tree of Knowledge not good for food Therefore did he that made it forewarn of it as the thing wherein death was placed as in the other Tree was Life And herein was the Blessing and the Curse placed the Life and the Death the Obedience and the Disobedience Election and Reprobation And this was good for man in their place whilst man stood in his place guided by that which placed him in the good and fore-warned him of the knowledge and gave him power against it whilst he stood in that Wil which had set all these things in their place which Will was free for God and from sinne and the will of God and the will of Man was one and so at unity with all the Creation But when man looked out into the other where he ruled who abids not in the Truth wherein the disobedience was received in of that which was contrary to the will of God to feed upon then he joyned to that which was contrary wherein the weakenesse was and the death darknesse and blindnesse as to the things of God and that which freely he had received of God And grew subtil within himself and wise to do evil so that he had lost the will that was free to wait upon God in his wisdome and counsel freely to be cared for by him and so from the uprightnesse and innocency and pure wisdome and spiritual power which God had placed in his heart he
fell and into the self-inventions which he had chosen in the contrary will and so entring into the forbidden thing became accursed lost the measure of God his honour and likenesse in which he stood above the Creation and so became bruitish in his Understanding and as to the things of God as the Beast that perish for the Seed he had lost wherein the Election the Wisdome the Authority and all haopinesse present and eternal did consist and so became led by another Seed wherein God had placed emptinesse of himself which he had raised up for dishonour And here it is that man hath lost his dominion over the Devil by letting him in which otherwise had never power further then to proffer which now being got in with a shew of God and godlinesse into the Temple of God the principle part in man and man having joyned in one with him now is become his Captive in whom he makes havock beguiling him of the life of simplicity and godlinesse and perverting his ways as to the end for which man was made yea all the mercies that God gives to that Creature he being above and Ruler in the heart are turned to the Lust that is Carnal and Self-ended and to that Lust and Self-ended things the man becomes a Servant yea hath so lost his dominion as he is brought to serve the Creature over which he â—as Ruler Hence it is that some become servants and are captivated some with Covetousnesse some with Pride some with Lust and many other several things which are become Lords in the heart of man whereby he is hurried with all eagernesse out of all moderation hunting after vanity and folly yea what vain toyes and foolish trifles hath led away the heart of man from the pure wisdom of his God till he scarce knows any end of running after changable things gluttony and excesse in dyet yet not satisfied foolery in apparel without all stay or stop being wholly fallen from that which is unchangable the true satisfaction and honour and the further man goes in this state the more emptinesse and darknesse comes in upon himself and being fallen under the earthly principle he is covered with thick darknesse so that the mind of God he knows not nor his woful state he sees not the God of this world having blinded the eye which should show him his misery and the ear being stopt which should hear the voyce of the souls shepheard whereby he should be quickned his eye and ear being led out to Carnall things and there captivated so that the voyce of the Spirit he knowes not And so being become heart-blind cannot receive the way in Spirit and whatsoever is spoken to man in this state in love to the soul which lies in death the Serpent being above upon the earth catcheth the thing into the Imaginations and the Creature being led to consult with him there in the flesh he beguils the Creature of the simplicity and keeps the Creature so in Self that he regards not the Seed of God which is fallen under all this death and darknesse and so long as the Creature will but hearken to him and his lying promises he will lead him from one thing to another in things without but never to see that from whence he is faln Therefore to all in this state Christ and all his Ministers preached repentance that all might turn their minds from these dead works to the living God who is a Spirit known in Spirit and so worshipped whose Kingdom is within and whose light is in the midst of all this darknesse though the darknesse comprehend it not but as many as repenâ—â— of their following this way of self-wisdom and knowledge and come to stand still to such he shows his Salvation and his Kingdome near at hand which the Serpent whilst they follow him doth put afar off And as the mind is staid to wait for the Kingdome of God in Spirit the god of the world comes to be denied and resisted And as the mind is staid in the light from hearkning to the earthly So that Seed which lies in Death comes to hear the voyce of the Sonne of God and to receive life and strength from the Word whereby it is raised out of the grave and appears above the earth to receive from the Father the dew of heaven whereby it is nourished and refreshed and as man beholds the Seed growing so he comes to see the new Creation and what he lost in the Fall and so is restored by the power of the Word in the Son of God into his Dominion power and purity made able to resist the Devil to chuse the thing that is good and delight in it as before he delighted in the contrary so comes man to be reconciled to his Maker in the Eternal Unity beyond what is to be expressed The wisdome and power received from above whereby the heart is set free from Corruption and made able to escape the pollutions of the world and to run the pure ways with delight which is the glorious liberty of the Sons of God the resurrection from the dead and the entrance into the everlasting rest And now all you who find your selves fallen from your Dominon that measure of God which he placed in man from which he received power and wisdome over the evill one and now find your selves led Captive with the evil one into the ways of Death Sinne and Evill so that Corruption hath got dominion in you and over you never look to be restored by that which leads out for that which acts in the flesh is onely evill and will but lead you from Mountain to Hill and so keep you doing without in self without life and power healing your selves in false perswasions which will not stand in stead in the evil day nor reconcile to God to be accepted in any thing you do for that is the first man with his righteousnesse But to that from which you are fallen must you look return into that from which you are gone out that by the light that 's in the midst of all this darknes and death you may be led in again by the blood of the Cross through the fire and sword into the Garden of God where he plants and feeds into which the old man with his will and works cannot enter nor he whose Leader is any visible thing for by the Spirit from whence man is fallen and gone out by the same must he be led in again and that seed which man hath sinned against must make the atonement to which the Promise is which is free and sets all free as they were born thereof So that which leads out into the Knowledge is the Fall but that which leads into the Simplicity of Life which is manifest in the Spirit and not in the Knowledge of the first man that leads to the Resurrection of Life for it is the hidden wisdome that God ordained before the world unto glory So to
nor to hate that which God hates and love that which he loves in any measure but joynes with that which destroyes the soul and devoures the life and yet makes a profession and a prayer against it in words and that 's the pharisee and hypocrite who with the words destroys the life who makes a profession above the life but not in the life and this is he that climeth up some other way then the life which is the doore to which the light leads And in this state are all the high minded lofty ones whose mouths speake of great things swelling words of vanity for so are words without life empty Brasse giving a pleasant voyce to the carnall eare but cannot evidence the life and the works of it who have the Saints words present but their righteousnesse is as far off as Judea Corinth Thessalonica c and these are they who in words confesse God but in works deny him who have a large faith in words but to the good worke reprobate for none can be of any true judgment concerning the work of God who are strangers to the life that workes it Concerning Righteousness THat Righteousness which God accepts is but one which is his own perfectly fulfilled and manifest in the world in Christ Jesus the light and Saviour thereof which Righteousness is not of the world nor manifest to the world nor in the world received but by the world ever Judged as unrighteousness nor can the world inherit it but only they who believe in the light of Christ which God hath given into the world to lead out of the world to Christ where Gods righteousness is And there be many talkers of this righteousness but none inherit it further then by faith they receive the Son of righteousness and with him his righteousness is freely imputed or put into the creature a free gift from the Father and with this righteousness is the creature made righteous even as he is righteous even as the measure of Christ is received and no further and whose life is kept in the measure of him as he is so are we in this present world and not of this world even as he is of not of this world and herein is boldness in the day of Judgment in that which is perfect And all that is not perfect is self and with the righteousness of Christ denied in the light which condemns all self-actings under what pretence soever So who abides in the righteousness abides in that which denies Self and all the world and so lives in obedience to that which is contrary to all mens wills and so every where evil-spoken on for the will of men works not the righteousness of God but this righteousness is wrought into the Creature in that obedience which is contrary to the will of the flesh and in the faith by the eternall Spirit is the new begetting both of the will and the deed and so the new is born of the Spirit and life And so farr as any have this righteousness he doth not lye under sin nor give place to the Divell but it is as a brest-plate against all assaults on the right hand and on the left and all who have not this are they who have that which will not stand in stead in the evil day So you that say your righteousness is as filthy Raggs why do you abide in that Gods righteousness is not so wherefore Cease from that and own that which is perfect even that everlasting righteousness in which his all Saints have been gathered unto himself who can receive nothing but what 's his own and it must be yours also else can you not be received in it In vain do you plow wickedness and sow iniquity and think to reap righteousness So with the light you may see what works in you and to what you yeeld your selves servants to That you bring forth while you live that will go with you so if you own no works in you but what God works you shall have no righteousness but what is perfect even the least measure of it And as you obey unto this righteousness you shall see the Spirituall man raised and living and the bonds of death broken and that living which gives power over hell and death Then may you say the spirit is life because of righteousness and your dead profession will be Judged with the life as it arises and seen to be fruitless But this is blasphemy in your own eyes who have made Christs righteousness a cover for your abominations What wickedness is so vile now in these nations but the righteousness of Christ is made a Cover men blesse themselves there-with in the greatest abomination And this hath its beginning at the head of deceit and is gone over all the whole body For to cover your own wickedness pride and covetuousness have you teachers invented this faith That its sufficient to believe in a righteousness you read of in the letter through you be not obedient to it in Spirit But you that are not servants of Righteousnesse are no servants of Christs and his Workes and your Faith without his Works will be little worth to Salvation and even as it saves you out of sinne so will it save you out of condemnation and no further And this that in your Conscience will witnesse if you take counsel at it no further then you find the power of his righteousnesse working in you and you owning it in obedience and subjection and joyning to it against all unrighteousnesse no more of it you can inherit nor be made the righteousnesse of God in him And at that day when he comes to separate the precious from the vile then will you see in what stead your notions of righteousness are when the Worker of iniquity is found and judged with Christs righteousnesse of which you have been boasting in words without the power of it By the power and purity of it shall all the workers of iniquity be judged and condemned So deceive not your selves He that workes righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous but he that talks of this and commits sin is of the Devil and with him must inherit by whom he is acted and guided for Gods righteousness will not mixe with nor cover deceipt nor was it ever given for that purpose but as it is obeyed it reveales and destroys mans righteousness and unrighteousnesse as it is revealed from Faith to Faith by which the just lives and the unjust perisheth and passeth into death And all who have Christs righteousnesse can witnesse this effect to kill and make alive as by Faith it is received and this is Zions righteousnesse that goes forth as brightnesse and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth that the Gentiles may see it and its glory Be ashamed you Heathens who have hid the Lords righteousnesse under your Pride and Covetousnesse who have exalted the Idols of the World and bring forth to the Oppressor who
without action no more Jeames 2. 18. can faith in Christ without righteousnesse these are inseparable Rom. 10 6. 10. therefore it s called the righteousnesse of faith where the heart believes unto righteousnesse there the mouth confesseth to salvation without hypocrisie of selfe righteousnesse And so Gods righteousnesse is received in the heart by faith and by obedience thereto brought forth into the world a witnesse against all the unrighteousnesse of the world and so the righteousnesse of God is preached through faith in all whose faith stands in Christ Jesus but that is a dead faith which brings not forth the life of Christ into the 1 Tim. 6. 10. 21. world and that 's the reprobate faith which is to the good worke reprobate and he that errs from the righteousnesse errs from the faith also which is held in a pure conscience and he that makes shipwrack of a good conscience and puts that away makes shipwrack of faith also And in the eternall light is all your faith seene and judged to be without Christ and without foundation who are out of the light and out of the life And your Faith is seen to be the same with the Scribes and Pharisees who believed the Scriptures and thought to find life therein but did not believe in the Light and so would not come to Christ that they might have life So all your Faith which is out of the Light which from the Letter you have formed is a Faith set up in your own Wills and not that which is given of God For that Faith that is the gift of God believes in the Light and follows it and so leads to the Life and this Faith that stands in the Light and Life is the living Faith and never without Works which Works are Love Meeknesse Patience Mortification Sanctification Justification c. the Works of God in Christ Jesus in which Gods Workmanship is seen in the new Creation received in the Faith and in the obedience to which the Soul is purified and Victory witnessed over the World Sinne and Death But you who believe not in the Light are Enemies to this Faith and yet you get the Words of the Scripture given forth from the Light and so your Faith stands in the Wisdome of words into which you have been searching with your wisdome but not in the power of God and his Work so you are they who say and do not whose practice could never suit your Profession Concerning Hope HOpe is a gift of God and is pure and stands in that which is pure shewing that purity of God and his righteousness Rom. 4. 8. in Christ Jesus the beholding whereof stayes the soul Rom. 5. 4 5 from Joyning to the wicked one when he tempteth because 2 Joh. 3. 2 3 he sees in the light a better worke to serve so that untill the time of that work being manifest the hope is as an Anchor to stay from following the unclean one and so keeps out of the sin and so makes not ashamed even in the time of want it hopes against 2 Tim. 1. 1â— hope When that life of Christ is not yet seen in its full power yet it is evidenced in the hope which is wrought in the patience experience 1 Pet. 1. 1â— 12 1â— whereby the love appeares and the faith workes whereby Gods righteousnes is revealed and the Son is seen who is the redeemer and he that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure And this is that hope that enters within the vail into the holy place where the life and immortality is brought to light which the mortall eye nor carnall senses cannot approach to and this is the living hope which hopes to the end That Christ and his righteousness may be revealed to take away sin and save from it and out of it and in hope of this the Children and babes of Christ wait in the obedience of the Spirit not fashioning themselves after the lusts of ignorance but as he who hath called to that hope is holy so in his holiness is their conversation who are in his hope But the Devill hath begotten an other hope as like this as may be in his servants who beleive him and are acted by his Spirit which stands in an other ground and brings forth an other fruit And that is That though they be servants to sin for that must be Concluded in all his Covenants and graces yet there is hopes of salvation and such hopes as may not be Judged false nor questioned although the witness of God in the conscience doth testifie to the contrary yet it must not be heeded lest they be deluded So that where he is become teacher â— Cor. 1. 12 a tender conscience to is be resisted as the greatest Error and foolery in the world and that To wait for the testimony or witness within is to deny Christ at Jerusalem and the greatest blasphemy that can be spoken of and to wait for that mystery that hath been hid from ages to wit Christ Col. 2. 17. within the hope of glory is to deny the person of Christ and his blood and sufferings And many such imaginations hath he begott in peoples brains to scare them from â—â—inding the light of Christ within that so he may Ephe. 4. 18. 19. keep the heart in darkness and his seat there undiscovered So he sets them to look for the kingdom of Christ without them and a spirit without and a light without and a word without and righteousness without and in that to hope while he dwells in the heart and there in darkness Luke 17. 21. upholds his kingdom of sin and seat of unrighteousness all their life and feeds them with a hope after they be dead by a profession without power Gal. 4. 6. and life and spirit and truth in them to order them and their Conversation 2 Cor. 4. 6 a right towards God and man in their generation Psal 119. 11. and this is the hope of the hypocrite that must perish in the end and come short of salvation whose hope is not in God nor gives being Rom. 10. 8 in his righteousness but he hath a hope and lives in the world without 2 Cor. 5. 21. God and his hope And this is not the hope of Christ which lives in sin and hopes for salvation but this is his hope that hopes to freedom Rom. 1. 17. and perfection which never comes short of its end in all that Iob 17. 8. wait in it and this hope only is it that maketh not ashamed But you Ephe. 7. 17. may be ashamed of your hope who are found in your sins and Hab. 7. 19. encouraging your selves therein that you shall not dye That 's the Devils hope which hopes not freedome from sinne as much as freedome from Hell And with this hope would he make God a Lyar and partial like himself that
And in the time of such governors hath the Lambe borne testimony in much patience meekenesse and long suffering bearing all the venom and envie that the Serpent could cast out upon him where he was manifest in the creature for a witnesse against all such rulers that his long suffering might lead them to repentance and leave them without excuse in the day of his wrath and against such is he finishing his testimony at this day And a blinder generation never was in any age who have run from all tendernesse so far into that wisdom that many are grown wholly past feeling imprisoning whipping and torturing their brethren for such things as never any age of persecution can paralell And it must needs be so for as every generation of that seed growes more subtill so to the things of Christ more blind and deafe So that its rare to find one who hath an eare to heare oppression but not one whose heart is perfect to deny the worlds favour to beare witnesse against the ground of oppression so the just man perisheth and none layes it to heart nor can any lay it to heart whose hearts are filled with selfish passion and selfe will for none can rule for God whose heart is not ruled by God but when the Lord rules in the heart then the just raignes and the cause of the just is heard and he that rules for the just rules for God and with God over the unjust first in himself then in all the world otherwise though an unjust Judge may heare the cause of the poore in some case or time yet it is not for God nor from obedience to the Spirit of Judgment which is of God the heart being filled with self ends So that he that is a selfe lover or proud or covetous or respects gifts or rewards cannot rule for God nor he that respects persons cannot rule for God nor with God who is no respecter of persons but only hath respect to such as walk in obedience to that just principle of himself nor such as seeke for honour from men cannot rule for God for such are out of the faith of Christ and in the unreasonable nature seeking the praise of men and so cannot have the praise of God for the friendship of the world is enmity with God and he that seeks the one loses the other And such as are out of the feare of God cannot rule for God for such are subject to be drawne with feare or favour of men from the just principle of God out of which none can rule for God And herein is the cleare difference betwixt Heathens and Christians The one exercise Justice and Judgment and righteousnesse which is of God and in his will whereby they rule over all unrighteousnesse of men of corrupt minds and principles whatsoever and stand in the authority of God a terror to the evill doer The other execise Lordship over mens persons in their own wills which they set up in their selfish principle in carnall pollicy who lay the sword upon the just as on the unjust if he bow not to their wills which who stands in the will of God may not do and so they that abide in the feare of God do ever suffer by such as are out of his feare And though these be set in their places by the permission or appointment of God yet not knowing him who ordereth all things to order them though they are restrained from evill or made to do his will yet have they no reward nor share in it not doing it in obedience to God nor from a principle of equity not knowing Christ guiding and leading them therein they are no Christians what-ever they may call themselves And to such as these who mind not that of God to governe withall hath God sent his servants to testifie to their faces of their departure from the just principle and so cannot please God with his government yet did they never plot against them nor murmur which if they did heare they rejoyced to see them established as a blessing to the place and people which the people of God ever seeke to God for but if they heare not then they are made to mourne that God should be grieved and his Creature lost especially in such a place by which God may be so dishonoured and a Nation or Towne plagued from the Lord for his sake who hath the sword of God in his hand and suffers sin but punishes the innocent both which the Lord will revenge and seldom but the place where it is done tastes thereof which such as rule with God and for him prevent yea by such the peace hath beene lengthned after the Judgment hath beene pronounced So when the righteous raignes God is honoured and good men rejoyce but when wickednesse gets up in the King then the Lord is dishonoured and the glory departs Concerning Obedience SPiritual and living obedience is not that of mans way and will wherein men and women in the firstbirth and wisdom therein read the Scriptures and there find what the Saints performed in the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus and from that set themselves on work to do the like and so make an imitation instead of obedience and set up selfe works instead of Christs works and obey selfe righteousnesse instead of Gods righteousnesse and so cover themselves with filthy Raggs instead of ever lasting righteousnesse But all who will know true obedience must first know a measure of Gods Spirit in the light of Jesus and therein moveing and drawing towards Christ Jesus wherein the faith is which laies hold on Gods righteousnesse which is in Christ Jesus and by the moving of this Spirit in the light the truth is seene and the obedience that is one in Christ Jesus the second Adam And as the Creature is joyned in the light to that Spirit of Christ and in believing there is the life of Jesus made manifest quickning the body unto that one obedience which is contrary to the will of man and the mind being kept spirituall in the measure the seed is raised and the new is borne of that Spirit to which seed the promise and power is wherein the creature is joyned heire with Christ Jesus who is Gods righteousnesse and so in the faith is the glad tydings of good things preached to the soule and by the power of the Gospel preached to the creature the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith and the just lives in that faith and Christ is manifest for obedience to the faith and all that are in this faith are in the one obedience which is in Christ Jesus which he learned of the Father for us that in that obedience many may be made righteous and all that learnes Christ learnes his obedience which was not what he see or heard from men but what he saw and heard of the Father not in his own time or will but in the Fathers nor in his own strength could
he do any thing but what he see the Father do in that worke he was found doing the same as he was taught of the Father in his obedience to him not what the Scribes and Pharisees did though they sat in Moses seat nor what the world approved but what was contrary to all the world and contrary to his own will onely submitting to the moving of the Spirit of the Father that dwelt in him by which alone he was to be guided and furnished to every good work And all that believe in him and follow his light he leads into the same knowledge and obedience out of all carnall knowledge power and obedience and by faith the creature is made partaker of this obedience and the power thereof from faith to faith And all that have learned him as he is so are they in this present world both in law and life and power and Spirit and in all this in the measure as he is learned and as any comes to the unity of the faith in him to his measure stature and fulnesse so the obedience is but one the power one the way one and the Son one and the Father one And this is not any thing from without but in Spirit it is learned and obtained and the mystery of it is hid from all who are without and the ministration of it is spirituall within whereby that obedience is known which is to the truth through the Spirit which is in life and not in imitation in the will of God and not in self will which obedience stands not in any thing seen from man or by man done thereby to imitate or doe the like for that is two obediences but it stands in Christ Jesus and in his one obedience to the Father seene in the light and in the faith received whereby the believer is made one in it and it in him that as the same Father calls for the same obedience in Spirit so in the same Spirit doth the believer offer up himself and all he hath in the same power and obedience in Christ Jesus And so as the creature by faith partakes of that one obedience in the second Adam he is made righteous and no further even as all are made sinners as they partake of the disobedience of the first Adam and no further And who knows to partake of this obedience knows the eternal Spirit in which all the Children of God have been taught and enabled to this one obedience in their several measures ever since the world was which is not works by them done but the everlasting righteousnesse of God obeyed in that Spirit according to the motions thereof seene in the light of Christ which none knows who are heart-blind and who minds the motions of the flesh and obeys them their minds being gone out to carnall pleasures the Call to this obedience is not by them heard neverthelesse the same carnall Spirit that leads out into the world teaches to make an imitation of this obedience and so deceives the simplicity by setting up a likenesse without life and so glories in appearance but not in heart And the witnesse of God in the heart or Conscience of such testifying to the face of truth that their obedience is not perfect nor accepted they conclude that there can be no perfect obedience attained in this world they not knowing the mighty powerful working of God in Spirit which worketh in them perfectly who believe and walk in the light whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into his obedience and his obedience into them in their measure till they become of one heart one mind one soul one spirit one flesh and bone and blood and one obedience and one life that it is no more we that lives but Christ that lives in us and the life that we now live is by Faith in the Son of God and though the fulnesse of this obedience is not attained at once yet the least measure of it is perfect and accepted and so accepted in him in whom it is wrought as the obedience of a Child is as pure clear and willing as the strong mans even so is the new Birth in Christ Jesus according to what God requires thereof who never requires but what he gives and never gives but what is perfect and what he perfectly accepts which gifts are all in his Son and in him the least is accepted and every one that therein exercise themselves without mixture Concerning good Works AS there is but one good so there is but one Worker of good in Heaven and in Earth who by the Word of his Power made all good in the beginning and in this good Work and Will was Man wrought in the Will of God in his Image and goodnesse he stood but falling from this stedfastnesse that was in God and be taking him unto self thereby to become wise he became subtill and proud in himself seeking to be as God was cast out from God his Power Love and goodnesse and being fallen into the dark Imaginary of his own heart and finding himself under the Curse whereof the Light of Christ in the Conscience is a Witnesse he hath set himself to make a likenesse of God Christ and Gods Worship and good Works Faith Hope Patience Love c. but being under the powers of darknesse neither knows God nor his Work but is deceived by the Prince of Darknesse and so doth please himself with an Imitation of God and his Work but without power and so as he imagines is doing good but the testimony of God in his heart bears witnesse against him that his Work is not perfect nor accepted He also imagines that he is redeemed but is still under the commanding power of Satan led Captive at his will who that he may the more strongly blind him he leads him sometimes into a seeming worship that so he may not so much suspect his way nor be too much troubled at his other unrighteous practices so that the worst of men in this state have a worship and each sort thinks they are right though there be but one way and they all without it and each in their thoughts are not so bad as others but have their severall good works though there be but one good work and they all out of it in their own works And it is no small work to undeceive the least of these who are thus conceited though men of greater wits and parts as they call them which is but a higher deceipt may lead them from one deceipt to another yet all the worlds wisdome cannot bring them into the good work nor the way wherein it is wrought Onely such who mind the light of Christ in their dark hearts which manifests to them their Evill deeds and reproves them for them and can believe it to be the light of Christ and thereto take heed to follow it out of the world and carnall mindednesse and in that light wait till the Living-Word
they come to receive in their hearts onely such come into the good work and will of God For without the Word was nothing made nor without it can any be redeemed For it is the Word of the Lord heard and received that quickens the Dead and raises to Life that which is dead in the trespasses and sins and the Spiritual man being quickned the power of the Word brings forth in him the work of Gods righteousnesse which was from everlasting which in the measure thereof confirms the Creature unto God in righteousnesse who lost the Image in unrighteousnesse and so is the Creature renewed in the Spirit of the mind and inward parts to receive wisdom and power in the hidden man how to escape the evil and resist it and to bring to light what God begets in the heart and so the new Creature is seen created in Christ Jesus unto good works to walk therein as was fore-ordained And as the Believer is found diligent in the light waiting and in the Spirit obedient to this work in this work he comes still more to learn Gods Power and Teaching and Christs obedience and Gods wisdome and care over him in leading into the sufferings and tribulations tryals and temptations and the Faith and Fellowship with Christ therein in which if the creature stand not a hair can fall but he is sure to come out more pure then gold and so in all this work he grows in the knowledge of Christ and his Sonship toward the measure and stature and fulnesse of the perfect man into the likenesse of God And thus the Saints were made conformable to God by his mighty working whereby he wrought powerfully in them after his good pleasure contrary to their fleshly pleasures And what is thus wrought is good because it comes from the Fountain of all good and this is not a new work but the everlasting good work of God manifest to the Creature and through the Creature to the World by which God is glorified who is the Father and Author and Finisher thereof in every one that believes And this is no self-work nor can it be wrought in any but where self is denyed and a Crosse to self taken up so boasting is excluded the Creature having nothing but what he hath received neither by his own Will nor Deed but by believing in the Light and in obedience of Faith And with this Faith and Work are all the world judged who are in their own works and all that are without works whose Faith is dead and to every good work reprobate And whose works are their own their prayers are abomination where the Works come not from this one everlasting Work and Workings For though there be many Works as to the Creatures obedience and measures yet they all compleat but this one work of the Creatures Redemption and Gods praise therein the beginning and end of all And of this work of God is all the world ignorant who are preaching pressing and acting their good works as they call them but all their works do not manifest a Power that brings them out of sinne and the worlds Conformity and service thereof in his ways and worship but every good work of God in his Saints who become obedient to his working as they subject to bring forth the good work and will of God every work begets the Creature nearer to God and into his likenesse and nature and this is the reward of good works to every one who are exercised therein that thereby they are wrought out of the worlds likenesse and conformity and so out of their friendship till all manner of evil they suffer for the name of God that is in them and the nature of his works which is abomination to the Worlds works and the world to them And so their name being cast out as evil among men they are received into the love of the Father of the Work for which they are hated of the world and so the reproach of the world becomes great riches to all who love God and are obedient to his work which none who stands in their own wills can inherit And so self-works and Gods works are manifest in the light The one is that which men see or hear or imagine and so set themselves to imitate the same in their own Wills and Ways which they have conceived in their fallen wisdome and earthly minds not in Spirit new born but in the old letter or tradition from men But Gods works are those which are from everlasting before the Will of Man or the Worlds Customs and therefore must conform to neither but every one who into this Work will come must deny the world and their own Wills and all that is in them must bow and conform to the motion of the Spirit and to its Workings which is seen to such as in the Light dwels and in its way and time must bring forth the fruits of the Spirit in due season not the works of the flesh nor to the flesh but the working of the Spirit to God in the sight of God and the praise of such is not of the world who bring not forth to the World but of God who bring forth to God and the World praises it own Concerning Election and Reprobation THis is that which is Sealed from all the world nor can any know it nor receive it who is in the reprobate state though many be disputing about it in the dark which none know but the children of light So as one who have obtained favour to have this mystery revealed I shall according to permission write a few words as is received in Jesus yet can be received by no mans wisdom nor any who are born after the flesh but who knows what it is to walk in the Spirit shall witness me herein And I deny all of that Spirit who would foolishly Charge God to have concluded the condemnation of some persons before they come into the world and though they seek after God yet they cannot be sayed because God hath purposed the contrary And on the contrary some are concluded to salvation though they live and dye in their sins And this is the Spirit of the world which knowes not the secrets of God revealed in Spirit and therefore judges from the letter from the figures and shadows but knows not the uprightness that lyes in the mystery but being without so he imagins But none knows the purpose of God but who comes to the beginning for in the beginning was the Election and reprobation established by an eternal decree unalterable in the two seeds that after the flesh and that after the Spirit and he that can Judge of these two he knows the two vessels ordained to honour and dishonour and as every one is found in these so is Gods purpose touching them Now in the fall all are in the dishonour and so children of wrath under the curse and â—heirs thereof and so without God or the promise