nor be made perfect while they live in this World And they may as well say plainly that God is an hard Master and commands Impossibilities or that he is unjust in requiring and commanding his People and Children to forsake all Sin and to be perfect but doth not afford them sufficient means or power so to do and so they seem to render God more unjust then the evil Men of which Christ spake If ye being evil Mat. 7.11 Luke 16.13 know how to give good Gifts to your Children how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things or give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him And also they may as well say that Christ promised that which he will not or cannot perform Mat. 7.7 and 21 22. Maâ—k 11.24 Luk. 11.9 John 16.23 24. for he said Whatsoever ye ask in Prayer believingly or in my Name ye shall receive or it shall be given unto you Now probably all Professor of Christianity will confess that all ought according to Christ's Command to Pray for Freedom from Sin and Perfection while they are in this World and that believingly too but if they believe that it is not attainable to what purpose then should they Pray continually for it For they that Pray and not in the Faith do not obtain what they pray for but if their Faith were in the Light and Power of Christ it might be otherwise with them for why may not Perfection be attainable as well in our Age which is under a Gospel Dispensation as it was before as the Scriptures of Truth testifie For Enoch walked with God which no Man while sinning can do Gen 5.22 Gen. 6 9 22. And Noah was a Just Man and perfect in his Generation and walked with God and it is said that according to all that God commanded him so did he Job 1.8 and 2.3 Luke 1.6 And Job was a Perfect and Upright Man And Zacharias and Elizabeth were both Righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Who can believe that these before mentioned were actually sinning And these were before or in the time of the outward Law which was given by Moses who typified Christ Rom. 10.4 who is the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth And under the more glorious Dispensation of the Gospel the Scripture is very plain and largely testifieth of Christians that they were made free from Sin for the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans saith Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye have your fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life He doth not say that they were continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed and must be so during their Lives And again he writes to the Ephesians thus But God who is rich in mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in Sins hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved and hath raised us up together Eph. 2.4 5 6 10. and hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus For saith he we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath ordained that we should walk in them Those that are daily or continually sinning are far from the state the Ephesians were in Now such who hold that Perfection or Freedom from Sin is not attainable by the Grace of God in this World will commonly confess that every degree of service done to Satan is an act of treachery and disloyalty against the King of Heaven and every Sin is certainly some degree of service done to Satan therefore such may as well hold that it is impossible while in this World to do any thing but act treachery and disloyalty against God the King of Heaven but certainly Death is the reward of treachery and disloyalty and the Wages of Sin And that Perfection or a state of being made free from Sin is required of true Christians is very plain from these Scripture Testimonies Matâ—h 5 48. 2 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 4 5 6. and Chap. 3.2 to 10. Which Scriptures contain the Words of the positive Commands of Christ and his Apostles and declare an absolute necessity to leave Sin and are therefore sufficient to shew the great Mistake of those who esteem themselves true Christians or Children of God while they continue in Sin And so let every particular Male and Female examine themselves in the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts whose Servants they are whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness and whose Children they are whether Children of the Light and of God or Children of Darkness and of the Devil for they are certainly of the one and also whose power rules in their Heart whether it be the power of God or the power of the Devil for the power of one of them will rule And let all consider the Apostle's sayings that The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness See G. Pa. Lex Rom. 1.18 and Vnrightenusness of Men who hold or rather with-hold detain or suppress see G. Pasor's Lexicon the Truth in Vnrighteousness and if the Righteous scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 Pet. 3.10 11 12. Luke 21.35 where shall the Vngodly and the Sinner appear And therefore let none put afar from them the Day of the Lord which will come as a Thief in the Night and as a Snare upon all them that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth And therefore according to Christ's Admonition let all Watch and Pray continually Luke 21.36 that they may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before him that Sinners cannot stand before in the Great Day of his Wrath when the Kings of the Earth and the Great Men and the Rich Men and the chief Captains and Bondmen and Free-men Rev. 6.15 16 17. shall hide themselves and say to the Rocks and to the Mountains Fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb for the great Day of his Wrath is come and who shall be able to stand And so let all Rich and Poor High and Low of what state or condition soever consider Amos 4.13 Isa 59.18 Eccles 12.14 Jer. 25.14 Rom. 2.6 7 8 9 10. that they must appear before him who not only knows but also by his Light in their Hearts declares unto them what their Thoughts are and that they must before him give an Account of their Deeds done in the Body whether good or evil and they must be recompensed accordingly and Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish shall be upon every Soul that doth Evil but to them who do well and patiently continue in well doing glory honour peace and eternal Life And all those who love their evil Deeds or
over and to exercise Lordship over others their fellow Creatures with much Pride and Austerity expecting and desiring to receive and receiving Honour from them and one from another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only and this sheweth according to the Words of Christ that they are out of the true living John 5.44 1 John 5.4 Eph. 6.16 1 John 2.13 14 15. Christian Faith and so in the false dead Antichristian Faith which giveth no Victory as the true Faith doth for such are overcome and captivated by the love of the Honours Pleasures Preferments and Vanities of the World which if any man love said the Apostle the love of the Father is not in him And so though the dark Power of the Man of Sin more and more prevail upon and captivate them yet the Light of Christ in their Hearts and Consciences often sheweth them their Sins and for Sin checks and reproves them and sheweth them the dangerous dismal consequences of Sin but they not believing in the Light of Christ the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 Heb 5.13 and the Word of Righteousness do not submit themselves unto the Righteousness of God nor unto Christ who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth no more then old Israel did Rom. 10.1 2 3 4. And so though they may be zealous for their several Professions and as the Jews were for their Traditions Ordinances and Ceremonies which they use some after one manner and some after another according to their particular Apprehensions and Imaginations seeking to find Souls-satisfaction by using outward typical shadowy things which they cannot find whilst they neglect the Light the Substance the Word of God's Grace in their Hearts the Word of Faith Act. 20.32 Act. 13.26 1 Joh. 1.11 Col. 1.5 Mat. 13.19 John 3.36 the Word of Salvation the Word of Wisdom the Word of Truth the Word of Christ the Word of Life the Word of Reconciliation the Word of the Kingdom of God which is in the Heart and so they being in unbelief the Wrath of God abideth on them in all their doings For whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 And so their best Performances their Prayers their Preaching and whatsoever they can do in that state is sinful as they generally confess But they who seek the Lord while he may be found with all their Hearts and Souls and cannot rest satisfied till he manifest himself in his Love but patiently in true brokenness and contrition of Heart wait under his Judgments till his Indignation for Sin be overpast as they continue faithful in true self-denyal bearing patiently the daily Cross to their own Wills the Lord will in his own time satisfie such with his Mercy and with his everlasting Kindness But if any flatter themselves that they shall have Peace although they walk in the stubbornness of their own Hearts they shut the Door of Mercy against themselves and when they have sinned out and slighted the Day of their Visitation wherein the love of God in and by his Light in their Hearts visiteth them and striveth with them then the Spirit of God ceaseth to strive any longer with them and they are wholly given up to be rul'd by the Man of Sin who is exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped Psal 14.1 2 3 4. and although some of them may be wickeder then others yet none of them are righteous at all there is none of them that doth good no not one but many of them do badly with eagerness eating up the People of the Lord as they eat Bread And they do not only prey upon those who depart from Iniquity who make themselves a Prey but they often prey upon one another Isa â— 15 and sometimes war about their Ceremonies and Ordinances and many thousands have been killed upon that account and many they have put to Death for their Testimony for God who have by his Spirit been raised up even in the darkest times of Apostasy to testifie against the Abominations set up by the ruling power of the Man of Sin the Devil and his Instruments And many call the Popes or Pope of Rome the Man of Sin which the Apostle said should be revealed who may by the Light of Christ in their own Hearts be sensible of the Man of Sin and his power and works in themselves unto them revealed and therefore it were good for such first by the Power of God to be cleansed from him and his power and works inwardly in themselves lest they become more and more like unto him But indeed the Popes of Rome have been the chief visible Rulers of the false Church drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.5 6. and the Mother of Harlots and the many Abominations of the Earth and the Inventers and setters up of the pestilent Traditions and idolatrous Ceremonies still used in the Apostasy from the Truth and many who look upon themselves as reformed from Popery are yet in a great measure found in many of their pernicious Practices and Inventions to get Money by For the Popes having been in a great degree influenced by the power and spirit of the Man of Sin the Devil and having had the highest outward Exaltation over the Nations and Kings of the Earth or at least having claimed or challenged it may fitly be said to have been or to be the highest Representatives of the Man of Sin And amongst the many Popish Cheats none seemeth greater then their Purgatory or their telling of a purging Place from Sin after this Life whereby many are cheated of Eternal Happiness by living in hopes thereof securely in Sin while they live and many cheated of their Money also for Pardon and Indulgences from the Pope to redeem the Souls of their deceased Friends out of Purgatory Which is contrary to the Truth and to the Record of the Holy Scriptures which say where the Tree falleth there shall it be and every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Ecc'e 11.3 Mat. 3.10 and Christ said Enter ye in at the straight Gate for wide is the Gate and broad is the Way that leadeth to Destruction and many there be that go in thereat because straight is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it And beware said he of false Prophets in Sheeps cloathing which are inwardly ravening Wolves ye shall know them by their Fruits A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Matth. 10.7 to 20. Now if a good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit how is it then that all good men are continually sinning for Sin is Evil Fruit And if every such a one as bringeth not forth good
270 to the end Antichrist Unvailed c. THE large Love of God in his Son Christ Jesus being freely tendered unto all Mankind it hath been and is the endeavour of the Devil the great Enemy of Man's Happiness by his Subtilty and Devilish Wisdom and oft by insinuating into them hopes of better Attainments to draw out the Minds of Mankind from the pure Obedience to what God hath made known in them and unto them of his Will and Mind and their Duty towards him and so by affecting their Minds with outward things to bring them into disobedience to the Will of God thereby to make them unworthy of the Goodness of God to their Souls and of his Bounteous Love in which he gives to every Man and Woman a measure of his Divine Light in their Hearts and Souls which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 12 7â— which is given to every man to profit withal which Christ said should comfort and lead them that follow it into all truth or into truth in every thing but should reprove the World of sin and of righteousness and of judgment John 16.8 13. Now the God of Mercy in the tender Bowels of his Love having for the Redemption of fallen Mankind sent his Son into the World in the Body that was prepared him who came a Light into the World which is the true Light that enlightens every Man and Woman that cometh into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not perish John 1.9 but have everlasting life Joh. 3.15 16 Man's grand Enemy at that time endeavoured as much as in him lay to keep Peoples Minds in a Love of the Ceremonies and Ordinances given to their Forefathers and in an outward shew and form of Worship in which they that were erred from and rebelled against God's good Spirit Neh. 9.20 which he had given them to instruct them Isa 1.13 were not accepted of him thereby to keep People from coming to the light or manifestation of the Spirit whereby they might have come to have believed in him the Messiah or Christ Prophesied of by the Prophets who spake by his Spirit whose Writings they had and believed them to be true according to which they expected him about that time Yet by erring from and rebelling against his Light and Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences many of the Jews who esteemed themselves the peculiar People of God were so darkned that they did not believe in him but they that walked in Obedience to the Light of his Spirit they believed in him and they received him as the only Messiah the Christ the Son of the Living God as Simeon did who took him up in his Arms and said Lord Luke 2.2 â— to 35. now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel The great Enemy of Mankind had then so far prevailed upon the Learned Rabbies and Doctors among the Jews that though they had the Scriptures which testified of him in their own Language yet being erred from the light of his Spirit in themselves they were so far from receiving Christ and believing in him that they agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ he should be put out of the Synagogue John 9.22 And although he did many Miracles among them yet they believed not but contended with him maliciously and falsly accused him and said He cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils and said that he brake the Sabbath with much more of the like kind of words as may be read in the Scriptures of Truth and at length were so desperately hardned in their wickedness that seeking opportunity to kill him when the Chief Priests had hired the false pretender Judas to betray him and deliver him unto them they put him to the Death of the Cross yet some of them said they found no fault in him And yet still his Love was towards them even upon the Cross and he prayed for them saying Father forgive them Luke 23.34 for they know not what they do So the Devil their great Enemy by his deceit had drawn them so far into darkness and from the light of Christ in themselves that they knew not what they did And indeed it may well be supposed that they knew not what they did when in the Service of the Enemy of their Souls they Crucified and put to Death him that came to save them from their Sins from Wrath and from the Devil their Enemy And so now all that oppose and contend against the Light which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in the Heart or envy them that profess it and walk according to it or any other People whosoever upon the account of Religion are certainly deceived by their great Enemy Satan whose Service they are in being erred from the Light and Spirit of Christ which teacheth them who walk in it good will towards all Men and love to their Neighbours though Enemies But when the Chief Priests and Pharisees and People of the Jews had with a general consent Crucified the Lord of Glory after they had mocked him and scourged him yet they and their Enemy whom they served missed of their expectation and desire for they were still in fear lest he should rise again as he had told before and therefore they watched him sealing the stone Mat. 27.62 to 66. Mat. 28.2 to 2. and making as they thought the Sepulchre sure but in the Lord 's appointed time there was a great Earthquake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sate upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men but the Angel said to the Women who were Friends of Jesus Fear not ye for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified he is not here he is risen So the Grave could not contain him Death had not dominion over him Hâ—b 2. â—â— but through death he destroyed and will destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil So the Devil and his deceived Servants had not their desire nor the power to destroy Christ but they came to destruction themselves And so now all that err from and disobey the Light and Spirit of Christ and follow the leadings and movings of their deceitful Enemy the Prince of Darkness if he shall prevail in them so far as to cause them to kill the Bodies of the People of God who walk in his Light and answer the manifestation of his Spirit of Love and in it are kept in true good will towards all Men because of their Religion on purpose thereby to root out and destroy
Righteousness and Redemption and Justification by Christ Jesus but also though they might perswade exhort and advise People thereunto as they without Commission from Christ took upon them yet they were unlike to bring any to the enjoyment of those good things which they exhorted and advised to being out of them themselves and being in unrighteousness and disobedience themselves they could not bring others unto those good things which they wanted themselves But the true Christian Ministers who lived in and preached in obedience to the Light and Spirit of Christ and directed and turned peoples Minds to the true Light the Manifestation of the Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences by taking heed thereunto and giving up freely with their Hearts to the obedience of it thereby many came to see not only the Snares and subtil Devices of the Devil but also to know power to avoid them and also to know Redemption Holiness Righteousness Justification and Salvation by Christ whose Light and Spirit in their Hearts they obeyed and lived in and walked in according to the advice and exhortation of the true Ministers of Christ But how could the Antichristian Ministers direct or turn Peoples Minds to the Light which they doing evil hated John 3 2â— For every are that doth evil hateth the Light and bringeth not his deeds to the Light lest thereby they should be reproved And how should such bring any out of Sin and Unrighteousness by their Preaching who hate the Light which leads out of Sin and Unrighteousness them that believe in it and obey it But they that are unfaithful and disobedient to it them it reproveth and condemneth in their Hearts and such hate it and love rather to bear the words of Men though false Teachers than to hear the voice of the Light the word of God's Grace in their Hearts that reproveth them for Sin and is the true Teacher that leadeth to Salvation from Sin and from the Devil the Author of Sin the deceitful Enemy of Mankind So the deceitful Antichristian Ministers hating the Light of Christ were unlike to speak well of it and more unlike to possess others with the love of it or to turn their Minds to it for they loved Darkness rather than the Light and endeavoured to keep their Followers in Darkness lest they should turn from them But the true Christian Ministers they loved the Light believed in it walked in it and in the love and authority of it they preached it and said 1 John 1.5 6 7. That the preaching of the Light was the Message which they had heard of God and declared unto People and they turned the Minds of many to it who in the love of it received it believed in it became Children of it walked in it had Fellowship one with another in it and knew a cleansing from all Sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ the Author of their Faith in it Mark the difference between the true Ministers of Christ and the Antichristian Ministers and all that desire the Salvation of their Souls ought to beware what they hear and whom they follow And the difference between the Ministers of Christ and the Ministers of Antichrist is yet more fully declared of by the Scriptures of Truth for the true Christian Ministers preached that all should believe in the Name of Christ Jesus Rev. 19.13 Heb. 4.12 whose Name is called the Word of God which Word they said was quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the Joints and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Hearts And they preached that this Word ought to be believed in which was nigh even in the mouth Rom. 10.8 1 Pet. 1.23 and in the heart being the word of Faith which they preached By which Word which liveth and abideth for ever the true Christians were Born again and so were the Children of God and Heirs of Eternal Life through Christ Jesus who is called the Word John 1.1 2 4 9.12 13. which was in the beginning with God and was and is God in whom was Life and the Life was the Light of Men that was the true Light which enlighteneth every Man and Woman that cometh into the World And they preached that as many as received him and believed in his Name to them he gave power to become the Sons of God which were Born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh John 12.36 John 1.5 Rev. 21.24 nor of the will of Man but of God and so they were Children of the Light by believing in it and Children of God who is Light in which Light the Nations of them which are saved must walk And the true Christian Ministers preached that this Light 1 Cor. 12.7 Jam. 1.21 or Word or Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every Man to profit withal was the engraffed Word which is able to save the Soul and they called it the Word of God's Grace which brings Salvation and which is able to build up Isa 20.32 and to give an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified Tit. 2.11.12 and they said that this Grace of God hath appeared to all Men teaching them who obeyed it to live godly righteously and soberly and to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and thus all the true Christians as Christ said were to be taught of God John 6.45 Rom. 5.21 Rom. 8.2 and so Sin should not have dominion over them they being not under the Law but under Grace And they said as Sin had reigned unto Death so Grace might reign through Righteousness to Eternal Life And so the true Christians could say the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made them free from the Law of Sin and Death Jer. 31.32 33 which Law according to the Promise of God in his Covenant of Light and Grace was put into their Minds and written in their Hearts so that they should not need to teach every Man his Neighbour and his Brother saying Know the Lord Heb. 8.10.11 for all should know him from the least even to the greatest And they preached that what was spoken of by the Prophet Joel Joel 2.28 Acts 2.16.17 Rom. 8.14 Rom. 8.9 Cor. 3.16.17 Gal. 5.5 25. was fulfilled which God said That he would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and they said As many as are led of the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God And if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.1 he is none of his and so consequently is no true Christian for the Spirit of God dwelleth in true Christians who through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith And as they lived in the Spirit so they exhorted to walk in the Spirit saying There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after
Hours or two Months or two Years before Death for that Power is the same for ever and the Righteousness and Praise thereof endureth for ever And they that think themselves to be true Christians and Members of Christ and yet believe that they and every other Member of his Body while in this World must be as the pleaders for Sin commonly confess themselves full of Bruises and Wounds and putrifying Sores which daily and continually renewed Sin makes in them from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot 1 Cor. 6.15 16. Chap. 12.12 to 27. Eph. 4.15 16. Chap. 5.26 27. 1 John 4.17 such surely suppose that Christ hath a very corrupt putrid imperfect Body which is his Church contrary to what the Apostle Paul speaks of it being holy and without blemish spot or wrinkle or any such thing and contrary to what the Apostle John wrote saying Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this World speaking of God which he truly could not have said if they had not been free from Sin but full of Bruises Wounds and putrifying Sores which Sin makes in the Soul but contrary to that he saith plainly This is the Love of God 1 John 5.3 that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous And although there be some three places in the Scriptures which are translated as if they implied that all men sin to wit Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not And 1 Kings 8.46 and 2 Chron. 6.36 If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not Yet in all the said places the Latin Translations as Iunius Tremellius and Vatablus render it instead of that sinneth not that may not sin or cannot sin it being the very same Word that is used in Psalm 119.11 to wit I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I may not sin against thee And any sensible one may see that it is imperfect Sence to say If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not for if all Men sin continually there would be no occasion here to say if they sin but it is good sence to say if they sin against thee for there is no Man that may not sin or that cannot sin which only implieth a possibility and not a continuation of Sin as likewise the next Verse but one after the last mentioned places doth where it is said If they turn unto thee that is to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul which Words plainly intimate a possibility to leave Sin for such a turning is certainly no Sin But there is no Man but he may sin if he be not continually watchful in the Light against the Man of Sin the Devil who is continually endeavouring to tempt Mankind to sin but as Man waits in the true Light of Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Jam. 4.7 which is the Word of Faith and the Word of God's Power in his Heart and Soul as he is truly faithful in the obedience of it and walketh in it he cometh to feel Power in the Faith of it to resist the Devil in all his Temptations and the Devil will flee from such a one and hath not power to take him captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 as he hath over his own whom he perswades that it is impossible for them to recover themselves from under his sinful power Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 while they live in this World and so they confess that their best Daties are intermix'd with Sin and so they are for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and it is plain that such are not turned to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul whatsoever they profess For the Holy Scriptures say plainly That as many as received Christ and believed on his Name John 1.1 to 14. Rev. 19.13 Rom. 10.8 1 John 3.1 to the end which is called the Word of God which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God and such do not commit Sin But admit that the common English Translation of the aforesaid Words of Solomon were true Heb. 7.19 Heb. 9.9 Heb. 10.1 to 24. yet that was under the time of the Law which could not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and that which was not attainable under that Law may by the Grace of God be attained in a Gospel state Rom. 8.1 to 5. And although the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans saith The Good that I would I do not but the Evil that I would not Rom. 7.9 to 25. that I do Yet it is plain by what he wrote before and after that in the same Epistle that he wrote not of his own then present condition but of himself as well as others passing thro' that Condition for in that continued kind of Speech he likewise there saith I am carnal sold under Sin but a little before he had told them Rom. 8.7 the Carnal Mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be And saith he The Natural or Carnal Man cannot receive the Things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 for they are fool shness unto him neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned And in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans aforesaid he expresseth himself to be able to impart unto them Spiritual Gifts Rom. 1.11 which a Carnal Man could not do By which it is plain that when he wrote that Epistle he was not Carnal sold under Sin neither a Servant of Sin and therefore he was in another condition than he had been in of which he wrote the said objectible Words And that which renders it more plain is that in the same Epistle before the said Words Rom. 6.16 to 24. he gave testimony of the Romans to whom he wrote that they were made free from Sin and become Servants of Righteousness and Servants to God But they that are carnal sold under Sin are not so for how can they be free from Sin who remain carnal sold under Sin And the Apostle immediately after that kind of Speech which intimated his former condition declared plainly that he had when he wrote that Epistle attained to a better state for in the conclusion of that kind of speech he writes thus I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my Members O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Now for what doth he give thanks
it can do them no hurt It is granted that whilst they are not capable of understanding it can neither do them hurt nor good but when they come to be taught a Lye that is to believe that by Baptism in their Infancy they were made Christians and Members of Christ that doth them much hurt as I have in my own particular experienced for because of such teachings when I was young I was ready to conclude my self to be a Christian and a Child of God whenas the Grace of God in my own Heart which they told me my Baptism was a sign of testified plainly to me that it was not so with me and that my condition was very dangerous and yet I then should have thought my self highly affronted if any Man had told me so And so I know by experience that my being taught to believe and depend upon the outward visible Sign made me to neglect the Teachings of the inward spiritual Grace of God in my own Heart and Conscience and made me more secure and careless of my Duty towards God in not answering the requirings and teachings of his Grace in order that I might be prepared to render an account to God of his Talent which he had given me and so I saw perfectly before I left them that my Teachers had deceived me as it was formerly the Leaders of the People caused them to err Isa 5.16 and they that were led of them were destroyed 〈◊〉 is recorded that Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France in the Year 1500 ordained that Infants Baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved as a Command from the Scriptures and yet many that profess Reformation from Popery and profess the Scriptures to be their Rule are contending for it and practising it to get Money by having no warrant from God nor the Scriptures of Truth for it nor any Example but Popish Tradition and such are certainly Deceivers and deceived But some may think that outward Water Baptism is a Seal of Christianity and therefore to be used because in some Cases and to some People it was used by the Apostles among the Primitive Chrisitans as they can read As to its being a Seal of Christianity if it were a Seal to one it is likewise so to others that have it and so a Seal to them all but no outward Sign is needful to be a Seal to true Christianity for it is Inward and Spiritual and therefore cannot be known by any outward Seal neither doth it admit of the impression of any such outward Seal for true Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 and so they need no outward Seal for if an outward seal would do many would get that upon their own terms and so many get outward Baptism for Money which pleaseth the Priests well though it profiteth nothing to the buyer of it But it is the true inward Spiritual Baptism of Christ that is the true Seal wherewith all true Christians are sealed to the Day of Redemption by the Spirit of God And although it is said that Abraham received the Sign of Circumcision Rom. 4.11 to 17. a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised yet it was that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised whereby it is plain that true Christians who are of the Faith of Abraham who saw the Day of Christ may truly be called Children of Abraham though they have not the Sign nor Seal of Circumcision outwardly but they who were naturally the Children of Abraham and were not in the Faith of Abraham Mat. 3.9 that would not avail them And although Circumcision of Infants was commanded by the Law of Moses which Law of Ceremonies and Types was abolished by the offering up of Christ the Substance the Antitype who is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 read the 8th 9th and 10th Chapters of the Hebrews yet concerning Circumcision which was a cutting off the Foreskin of the Flesh and typified the Substantial Spiritual Circumcision by Christ Rom. 2.29 and the cutting off the foreskin of the Heart which thing true Christians witness Paul the Apostle of Christ said 1 Cor. 7.1 Circumcision is nothing nor Vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping the Commandments of God and also in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision Gal. 5.6 Gal. 6.15 but Faith which worketh by Love or a New Creature And so though some alledge that outward Water Baptism was instituted in the stead of outward Circumcision yet there is no proof for it neither doth the Apostle mention any such thing but saith that Faith that worketh by Love and the keeping of the Commandments of God and being a New Creature availeth but not Circumsion Also to the Collosians he writeth thus to wit In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptism wherein also you are risen with him through the Faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the Dead And he saith to them of Christ's Blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross and saith he to them Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments * See Margined Bibles or Elements of the world why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances or as some translate burdened with Traditions touch not taste not handle not which are all to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Col. 2.11 12 14 20 21 22. Thus it is very plain that the Apostle here writeth of the Spiritual Circumsion of Christ and of his Spiritual Baptism through the Faith of the operation or working of God and was far from preaching up such outward Ordinances declaring that they were against them and contrary to them who were true Christians and he bad them not to touch taste nor handle such things saying they were all to perish with the using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men And so now the Commanders and Teachers of their Ordinance of Water-Baptism as also of their other Ordinances and Traditions some of them command and teach it after one way and others after other ways and yet all profess the Scriptures to be their Rule and therefore some of them are erred from the direction of their Rule yea are they not all erred from their professed Rule for the Scriptures plainly testifie against such Ordinances and Traditions as being contrary to true Christians But these Baptizers for Money are so far erred from the Light and Grace of Christ in themselves which the Scriptures
it will teach also to take up thy daily Cross to thy own Lusts and to follow Christ in the Regeneration or New Birth Luk. 9.23 John 8.12 Rev. 14.4 and so thou mayest come inwardly to know the true Spiritual Baptism of Christ with his Spiritual Fire and Fan and Water to burn up Sin root and branch in thee and to blow away all Lightness and Vanity and to wash thee inwardly from sin which hath defiled thee and so thou mayst know a walking as a Child of the Light in newness of Life and enjoy the Salvation of God For it is plaâ—n that true Christians are truly baptized with the inward and spiritual Baptism of Christ and are Children of God who is Light through believing in the Light of Christ in their Hearts Tâ—ess 5 John 12.35 36 46. and the Spirit of God beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and Heirs of God Rom. 8.16 17. and Joint Heirs with Christ and they are led of his Spirit and walk in his Light Rom. 8.14 1 Cor. 12.13 Luk. 12.32 and they are also members of Chrst being baptized by his one Spirit into his one Body and they are also Inheritours of the Kingdom of Heaven by the obedience of Faith in the Word of his Kingdom in their Hearts And I know by certain experience that though I was in my Childhood and Youth told by my Parents and others that I was baptized in my Infancy and that such were my Godfathers and such a one was my Godmother of whom I was taught Idolatrously to ask Blessing and also was taught according to their Catechism that in that Baptism I was made a Member of Christ and a Child of God and an Inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven and I was so trained up in my Youth by my Parents yet in a somewhat moderate manner and being held in this implicite Faith by yielding to the power of Darkness I was prevailed upon to stand as a Godfather as they term it to three Children which were sprinkled with Water Yet ever when I took a serious view of my own condition by the Light of Christ Jesus in my own Heart though I knew not then what it was I plainly saw that I was not in such a condition as I heard the Preachers Preach of and I my self could read of that the Children of God were inâ— for the Light and Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ instead of bearing witness with my Spirit that I was a Child of God it bore witness in my Heart and Conscience against my Sins and reproved me for them and so witnessed with my Spirit and Conscience that I was not a Child of God though no Man was my Accuser And so it shewed me how unclean I was as the Preachers used to confess in their Prayers even full of Bruises and Wounds and putrifying Sores inwardly as from the Crown of the Head to the Soles of my Feet and therefore unlike a Child of God or a Member of Christ and unfit to be an Inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven which no unclean thing can enter And blessed be the Day wherein I first received the reproof of the Light in the Love of it for there had been a time wherein I had slighted its Reproofs and when it troubled me in my Heart and Conscience for my Sins then I sometimes gat amongst such as are called merry Company to put the trouble away but well was it for me that the reproof pursued me until I inwardly received it in its love and then in some little time I saw Sin to be exceeding sinful yea and loathsom too and I became weary of it and could no longer delight in folly and vanity where Sin ever dweleth no more then a man can delight to see others to laugh at him for his being outwardly full of grievous Wounds and Bruises and putrifying loathsom Sores as I was inwardly And so my greatest need and desire was to be inwardly healed for I saw I was unlike to heal others or to assist to make them Children of God being in that forlorn condition for I saw my self to be in extream need of an able Physician and therefore I consulted them that had been my Teachers who pretended to be Divines and spiritual Physicians having great need of such a one and they told me that my distemper could not be cured on this side the Grave and said it was not to be expected that any Soul of Man can be cleansed from Sin and from the contagion of it and have the grievous Wourds and Bruises and loathsome Sores that Sin hath made all over it to be cured till its Body dye And when I had considered their dismal Opinion for they could not tell me where my Soul could certainly be cleansed or cured after the death of my Body but judged it could not be before then I preceived they were all like Job's Visitants when he was afflicted outwardly as I was inwardly to whom he said Job 1â— 4 15 16 ye are all Physicians of no value and speaking of God he said though he slay me yet will I trust in him and he also shall be my Salvation for an Hypocrite shall not come before him and so Job had a confidence and faith in God that he would save him and whatever became of aim he would curst in God And I then had a little Grain of the Faith in which Job was that God would cleanse me and heal me if I continued Faithful unto him and would be my Salvation and therefore though my said Teachers and pretending Physicians offered me then not questioning their Pay if I would Buy more of their Physick and Salve yet I durst Buy no more of them but refused both their Physick and Merchandize knowing it to be certainly of a pernicious quality and that it would but cast me into a Spiritual Lethargy and so stupifie my Senses that I should not be sensible of my dangerous condition for while I bought of it before-time I knew it was apt to make me so but though I left Trading with them then which is now some Years since and had paid formerly as freely and duly as other their Customers and owed them nothing and since that time never bought nor offered to Buy any more such Physick c. yet Men have Yearly made spoil of my Goods pretending they want Pay of me for their Physick which I would not have taken upon their Gift for I have met with a far better Physician who can Cure all manner of Diseases and therefore I wtll deal with them and their Physick no more and this is a Physician of Value who can and is willing to Cure all manner of inward Diseases of the Souls of those who with all their Hearts commit themselves to him and his Heavenly Orderings and neither requireth nor plundereth for Tythes nor other Wages for his Excellent Cure when fully performed But these Men that
pretend to be Spiritual Physicians though they confess themselves to be all overspread with the Contagion and Leprosie of Sin and believe that they and all People must be so whilst their Bodies live for their Preaching and Confessing is to that effect and so they are not like to Cure others of it though they hold their Trade of advising People against Sin that brings this Contagion and Leprosie upon them and others might as needfully advise the Pretended Physicians for they themselves know not how to be rid of their Leprosie yet these Pretenders claim and rob and make havock of Peoples Goods and cast them into Prison for Tythes and Wages for their Advice and pay for their unprofitable Physick though People have not had it nor would have neither Buy any of their deadly Physick And so they are worse than Gehazi who when his Master Elisha would receive nothing though freely offered for the Cure of the Leprosie of Naaman the Syrian being thro' Elisha's Advice 2 Kings 5. by dipping himself Seven times in Jordan fully performed yet this Gehazi being Covetous ran after Naaman and took somewhat of that he offered to Elisha which was given to Gehazi very freely and yet Elisha by the Manifestation of the Spirit of God knowing what he had done said to his Servant Gehazi The Leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and unto thy Seed for ever and he went out from his presence a Leper as white as Snow And now these Pretenders to be Spiritual Physicians though the Cure never be performed nor can be by their Directions and though People have nothing of Advice or Physick from them they are like Gehazi and so of his Seed spiritually for Gifts and Rewards yea and more for Tythes and Wages for their Advice or Physick and take it by force and so worse than their Father Gehazi and so the Leprosie of Naaman which clave unto Gehazi and unto his Seed cleaveth unto these Pretenders being spiritually of Gehazi his Seed and so they are all spiritually Lepers as indeed they know it and confess themselves to be spiritually Leprous being sensible of it by the Light in their own Hearts which they hate because it reproveth for their unrighteous Doings and the Children of the Light see their Leprosie which cleaveth to them spiritually to be even as white as Snow so plain to be seen But the Light of Christ Jesus which reproveth for Sin in the Hearts and in the Consciences of People though it may be despised and rejected 2 Kings 5.11 12. as Naaman despised Jordan before he tryed it as in the Love of it any receiveth it and with a true Heart obeyeth it it will direct such a one to the spiritual Jordan which is by Interpretation the River of Judgment which is inwardly to be known where Christ Baptizeth with his Holy Spirit and washeth away the Contagious Leprosie of Sin and healeth the Bruises and Wounds and loathsom putâ—ifying Sores which Sin had made in the Soul as the dipping and washing in it is time after time abode in and that in true faithfulness and therefore they who have tryed the Vertue of it do freely recommend the tryal of its Vertue to all who are ignorant of it and are willing to be recovered from the spiritual Leprosie of Sin And now I heartily acknowledge my great Errour who being in a wretched sinful state my self did undertake and promise for Infants that which I then believed impossible for me ever to perform my self to wit That they should forsake the Devil and all his Works and keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the Days of their lives Oh what an abominable thing is it thus to Promise and Vow unto God who knoweth the Secrets of all Hearts that Children shall do that which a Man who promiseth it believeth that he shall never be able to do himself God accepteth of no such Sureties For it is a Ridiculous thing amongst Man for a Man to become Surety for the Debt of others that is never like to be able to pay the one half of his own Debt And then certainly God will not so be mocked and therefore let this serve for a warning to all that hear or read this that they undertake no such thing for the Lord will plead with all who are found in such things by his Light in their Consciences and he will fight against them with the Sword of his Mouth Rev. 2.16 Acts 3.22 23. Joh. 13.7 8 9. and every Soul that will not hear his Voice the Word of his Grace and Light in their Hearts and Consciences and suffer him thereby to wash them in his spiritual Baptism they have no part in him but shall be cut off And though some pretend that the Children sprinkled may receive Benefit by the Faith of their Sureties 1 King 17.17 to 24. 2 King 4.18 to 37. Luke 8.49 Luke 7.10 called Godfathers and Godmothers and alledge Examples to prove it as the Widows Son being raised to Life and Jairus Daughter also by the Faith of their Parents and the Centurions Servant restored to Health by the Faith of his Master and such others but this proveth nothing at all to their purpose for there is no mention made of Godfathers nor Godmothers nor of them promising any thing for the Parties restored nor yet of Water Baptism nor of paying the Priest for it and the Lord is often pleased and hath been formerly to answer the Desires and Cries that he hath begotten in the Hearts of his Faithful Ones upon the behalf of others in making them Instrumental in his Hand for the Benefit of whom it pleaseth him but it doth not follow that God requireth one Man to be Surety for another and especially to perform that which he believeth he cannot not perform himself Rom. 14.12 Mat. 12.36 but every one must give account of himself to God and that of every idle word And what a Ridiculous Prophane and Foolish thing doth it appear to be and without the least Ground of Scripture to Teach Children to say Such a one is my Godfather 2 Cor. 1.11 12. or Godmother Is it not far more absurd than that which Paul reproved the Corinthians for because they said I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cophas and I of Christ Nevertheless it is of absolute Necessity to Salvation that every one be truly careful to perform that which they say was promised in their Baptism to wit That they should forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flish but do not their Teachers teach them when they have their Money and this Promise of them to believe that they cannot perform this Promise whilst they live in this World And is not that confused Baptizing and Teaching And how should it be otherwise being composed in Babylon that is in Confusion in the False
Brimstone mark this they must be so cast alive And the Remnant must be slain with the Sword that proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb and so the Lamb and his Followers shall have the Victory And the pure Everlasting Gospel Rom. 1.16 which is the Power of God which is now Preached again if it be hid it is hid in them that are lost as the Scripture saith though some Translate to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not 2 Cor. 4.34 lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God who is Light should shine unto them 2 John 1.5 and so they that believe in the Light of the Gospel in them it will shine unto them as they are Faithful to it but the Man of Sin the God of this World with his Signs and all the means that he and his Ministers or Members can use endeavoureth to blind the Minds of People that he may keep them in Darkness unto Destruction with himself And those that God maketh Instruments Acts 20.24 Tit. 2.11 1 Cor. 2.4 to 14. in his Power to Preach the Everlasting Gospel of his Grace that bringeth Salvation they Preach not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom nor in the words that Man's Wisdom teacheth as Man-made Preachers do but which the Holy Spirit teacheth and they Preach not themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and their selves Servants for Jesus sake for God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness 2 Cor. 4.3 to 7. hath shined in their Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Acts 26.18 and so their Errand is to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan which is the Power of Darkness unto God who is Light And so the Message of the true Ministers of the Gospel in this Day and the Message of the true Ministers of it in the Primitive Times of Christianity is one and the very same for the Message of the true Ministers of the Gospel which they had heard of God and declared unto People was that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and they that walk in Darkness have no Fellowship with him and they Preached 1 John â— 1 to 7. and wrote to People that they should walk in the Light that they might have Fellowship with them whose Fellowship truly was with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ And they preached not neither wrote that which they had not Experience of but of that which was from the beginning which they had spiritually heard and seen and handled of the Word of Life and they Preached not up Carnal Ordinances nor Signs nor Shadows but against them and Preached the true Doctrine of Christ Jesus the Substance And the Doctrine of Christ concerning Faith without which it is impossible to please God is this Heb. 11 6. John 12.10 to 37. while ye have Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of Light and yet many believed not because the God of this World had blinded their Minds and hardened their Hearts and the Chief Priests were Cruel against him for his Doctrine in those Days as they are against the Light now and consulted to put him to Death And the true Ministers of Christ they preached this Doctrine that it is the Life in the Word which is Christ that is the Light of Men Joh. 1.1 to 12 and the true Light that lighteth every Man and Woman that cometh into the World 1 Cot. 12.7 Eph. 5.7 to 15. and they called the Light also the manifestation of the Spirit given to every Man to profit withal and said Whatsoever doth make manifest is Light and all things that are reproved Rom. 1.18 19. are made manifest by the Light and whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within and they called it the Word of Faith nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart which they preached Rom. 10.8 Jam. 6.21 to 26. and the Engraffed Word that is able to save the Soul and the Word of God's Grace that bringeth Salvation Acts 20.32 Tit. 2.11 1.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Phil. 2.16 Col. 3.16 Luke 17.20 21. Mat. 13.18 to 23. which hath appeared to all Men to teach and they called it the Word of Reconciliation which God had put in them as Margined Bibles truly say it is in the Greek and the Word of Life and the Word of Salvation and the VVord of Christ which they advised some to let it dwell in them richly and the VVord of Righteousness And Christ himself called it the VVord of the Kingdom of God which is within which is sown in the Heart And many other suitable Names and significant Appellations hath Christ and his Ministers given to the Light which they preached that People might believe in it Recorded in the Holy Scriptures and this was and is and is to be the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers But this is terrible Doctrine to the Devil the Man of Sin the Power of Darkness for when People believe in the Light of Christ in their Hearts and in the Sufficiency of it and come into the Obedience of it then the very Foundation of the Devil's Kingdom cometh to be shaken and the Kingdom of Christ in some measure cometh to be enjoyed in them And this Doctrine is also terrible to the Ministers of the Man of Sin who undertake to teach People and tell them that the way to Christ is in the frequenting of their Ordinances Preachings Prayers and VVorships and in the use of their Elements Ceremonies and Traditions when as all of it is but for their Tythes Benefices Wages worldly Interest and Promotion for when any come to believe in the Light of Christ in their Hearts and to receive its Teachings in the Love of it they will know the free Teachings of Christ by his Light to teach them to profit in Spiritual Things and first to deny themselves of their Beloved Sins and so they will find ease and satisfaction of Soul which all their former Teachers with all their fair words John 6.45 Isa 48.17 Isa 54.23 Jer. 23.32 Psal 119.165 John 14.16 to 27. and preachings never so much against sin could not profit them in at all but God freely teacheth all his People to profit and in their profiting in his Fear and Obedience great shall be their Peace and therefore they who truly learn the Teachings of God by his Light they will never Hire other Teachers neither pay towards the Elements and Ordinances of the Worships of Mens Institutions or Doctrines but they will deny them all and Worsip the Image of the Beast no more And they who in the Faith and Obedience of the Light in their Hearts have in true Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness forsaken all for the Gain of its Rich
their deceit and they often with much exercise experience that such as claim Tythes c. for their Preaching and Ceremonies though in the Serpents Wisdom they may cover as with Sheeps cloathing they are inwardly and often manifest it outwardly as ravening Wolves amongst Sheep and not as Sheep amongst Wolves and so they observe not Christ's Command of being harmless as Doves And likewise Christ and his Apostle commanded saying Mat. 5.33 to 38. Jam. 5.12 Swear not at all neither by heaven neither by the earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay lest ye fall into Condemnation and this the Apostle commanded above all things And Christ said Whatsoever is more than yea yea and nay nay cometh of evil but the Pleaders for Ceremonies Signs and Shadows they make light of this great Command and plead generally for Swearing and at their very entrance into their Office or Calling to get their Tythes or Wages c. they must Swear and so break the Commandment of Christ at the beginning of their pretended Ministry of his Gospel in which they Preach up Signs and Ceremonies for which they can find no such plain nor positive Command from Christ or from his Apostles as they may find against any Swearing at all And of what success to the good of any can their Ministry be the beginning of which is indisobedience to the strict and positive Command of Christ And it is evident by many undoubted Histories and Records of the Transactions of former Times that true Christians as well under Apostatized Titular Christians as under Heathens have deeply suffered for their Obedience to Christ's Command in denying to Swear upon any account and it is also evident that the Preachers up of Signs and Ceremonies who plead for Swearing get more Tythes and Money for their Preaching than they could get by denying of Swearing but if according to the Apostles intimation by Swearing they are fallen into Condemnation who can get them out again though they should give him all their Tythes and Money to get them out So it is very plain that they who pretend by Command from Christ to preach up Ceremonies Signs or what they call Sacraments do practice disobedience to several of the plain and positive Commands of Christ but above all that weighty and positive Command of Christ concerning Faith Heb. 11.6 without which it is impossible to please God which Command is this John 12.36 While ye have light believe in the light that ye may be children of light this they cannot endure to hear of they are far surely from keeping it and what a Faith have they who believe not as Christ commandeth to believe Now every one that doth evil hateth the light John 3.16 to 21. neither cometh to the light lest his Deeds should be reproved and so such are far from believing in the light neither would they have others to believe in it who hate and speak evil of the light as the Ceremony-Preachers generally appear to do but they who have come to the light and brought their Deeds to the light Mat. 24.24 Mat. 7.15 to 20. and thro' Faith in it are become Children of light these know False Prophets by their Fruits and their Signs as Christ foretold and many of their own Followers also are convinced by the light of Christ in their own Hearts though but as strangers to it of much Deceit and Hypocrifie amongst them and they that take heed to this light that inwardly reproveth for sin and give up their Hearts in the love of it to answer the requirings of it to them it will discover daily more and more but they that resist it and go from it the God of this World even the Spirit of the Man of Sin who prevaileth upon such with his Power and Signs blindeth their Minds and so the Blind leading Mat. 15.14 and following the Blind both fall into the Ditch And if any reckon their Ceremonies as necessary to distinguish them from others as Turks Mahometans and Jews c. who do not at all believe that Christ the Messiah is come in the Flesh yet there is no ground for such an Assertion for they are more distinct from them who use no such Ceremonies Ordinances nor Traditional Observations at all for the Turks Mahometans Jews and Heathens all of them have many such things though not the same yet as ridiculous as any of theirs that profess Christianity and they are not like to change their own Ceremonies and Observations for others with them or by the Perswasions of them who can shew no better ground for their own than can be shown for sprinkling of Infants and having to them Godfathers and God mothers so called c. And so that which maketh the People of God to be best distinguished from Turks Mahometans outward Jews and Heathens is to take heed unto believe in and obey the true light of Christ in their Hearts and Consciences wherewith he lighteth all without exception which is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation â—â—t 2.11 12. and hath appeared to all Men teaching those that are willing to be taught of it to deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts to wit Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Gal. 5.14.20 21. Wrath Strife Covetousness Emulations Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revelling and such like things in which Turks Mahometans outward Jews and Heathens are generally too apt to be sound and all that are in these or any of these things though they profess Christianity are yet but as in the same ground with them and so little distinction but in Name can be made betwixt them But they that are faithfully given up in their Hearts and Minds to obey the light the saving Grace of God it teacheth them to live soberly Gal. 5.22 23 24. righteously and godly in this present World and so to live in peace love long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness and temperance and so here is a clear distinction between these who are true Christians and these called turks Mahometans outward Jews and Heathens who generally live in ungodliness and worldly Lusts though some of them for Temperance and Moderation have far exceeded many Professors of Christianity who unworthily claimed the Name of Christians But they seem to imitate the Jews who have and plead for Typical Ceremonies Heb. 9.9 10.11 12. and Ordinances for Meats and Drinks and divers Washings and Observations of certain Days Gal. 2. and Times wherein they command to abstain from some sorts of Meats or from labour but they seem to exceed the Jews concerning Times of Marriage Col. 2. who forbid Marriage at some particular Days Rom. 14.6 or Months or Times or to their Priests some forbid Marriage at any time But such were Prophesied of by the Apostle of Christ who accounted forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats 1 Tim. 4.1 2
only by his Light in his Faithful People revealeth the Man of Sin but also with the Spirit of his Mouth will consume and with the Brightness of his Coming will destroy the Man of Sin and his Works these having tasted and experienced something of the Goodness of God to their Souls not only of the Revelation but also of the Destruction of the Man of Sin and his Works in themselves and also having sweet and satisfactory Comfort and Consolation in their Hearts in the Love of God given unto them these cannot with the Times turn as Hypocrites do from one Profession of Religion to another for these are fully satisfied concerning the Way of God which is straight and narrow and not like the Ways of the Man of Sin the Devil the Serpent which are crooked like himself and broad and wide and can hold of all sorts of Professors and too many go in thereat But these being Children of the God of Truth who is Light they love to walk in their Fathers way which is the true Light and so they cannot neither dare they go out of it into the Ways of the Man of Sin and so serve him again in the least for they have had too much of his Tyrannical Servitude before and though his Children love his Ways wherein they have their pain bringing Pleasures yet the Children of God love them not but in the fear of God hate them all and love the Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts the Way of God their Father And so it is in vain for Men to offer to force them out of God's Way into their ways for they dare not for fear of offending their Heavenly Father comply in the least to Worship God after any other Way or Manner but as he manifesteth himself in the Light of his Spirit of Truth in their Hearts and Consciences in which only with acceptance he is to be worshipped Neither can they again embrace or come into the Bondage of Corruptible Elements Ceremonies or Traditions of Men Gal. 4.9 Rom. 8.14 to 22. for which there is no warrant from God their Father lest they forfeit their glorious liberty of the Children of God Gal. 5.1 Tim. 2.12 Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 4.12 to 19. Col. 1.23 to 28. whose Spirit beareth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ And they know that if they suffer with him they shall also be glorified together and they account that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in them And such can truly rejoice that unto them it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake and this was the state of the Primitive Christians And as there is a great difference between the outward husk sign or shew of Religion of the Followers of the Man of Sin who are his Children and the pure spiritual undefiled Worship and Religion of the Followers of Christ who are Children of God so there is as great a difference between the Nature of the true Christians and false and between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil and also between the Persecutor for Religion and the Persecuted for true Religion and so doubtless as great a difference will and must be between their Rewards And so every one Male or Female Rich or Poor High or Low as they tender the Eternal Salvation of their precious Souls are to examine themselves in and by the true Light of Christ Jesus which is the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Hearts whether they Worship God in his Light John 4.20 to 25. Mat. 15.7 8 9. Isa 29.13 14. Acts 17 22 to 31. Col. 2.6 to 23. Mat. 15.2 to 15. and Spirit and Truth in which only his pure spiritual undefiled Worship is acceptably performed Or whether their Worship â—e formal and taught and prescribed by the Traditions Precepts and Commandments of Men and so but a sign or shew of Religion being Will-worship and Voluntary Humility which Christ and his Apostles warned People to beware of For all such Worshippers worship God in vain or worship they know not what and the Reward of Hypocrisie shall be their Portion for they be Blind leading of the Blind and if the Blind lead the Blind both shall fall into the Ditch And likewise it concerneth all truly to examine themselves inwardly in the Light of Christ whether they be Baptized truly with the one Baptism of Christ by his spiritual Water and the Fire and Fan of his Spirit with which he will and is able thorowly to purge his Floor Mat. 3.11.12 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.22 23. even the Hearts Souls and Consciences of true Believers and that only maketh fit to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven And so whether they be Children of the Light and of God who is Light and Born again of the Water and of the Spirit whose witness agreeth in one witnessing with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Born of his Incorruptible Word which liveth and abideth for ever Or whether they have only been Baptized or Sprinkled with Water by a Man and because thereof are taught to believe that then they were made Children of God and Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven And if they have no better Assurance than such Baptizing or Sprinkling with outward Water then the Light and Spirit of Christ will bear witness in their Hearts that they are not Children of Light nor of God and then whose Children are they And likewise all may examine themselves in and by the true Light in their Hearts whether they be in the true Religion or not That is Whether or no they be true Christians John 6.45 who are all taught of God by the Light Grace and Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus in their Hearts Or they be but Pretenders to Christianity having a Profession or Form of Godliness but denying the Life and Power thereof resisting and rebelling against the strivings and movings and teachings of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and embracing and complying with the temptations motions and teachings of the Spirit of Antichrist and the Power of Darkness which is the Devil And such can profess that they know God Tit. 1.15 16. but in Works they deny him which is abominable And every one that doth Truth John 3.18.19 20 21. cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God but every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered and so loving Darkness rather than the Light that is the Condemnation And it is certain that all who love not the Light of Christ Jesus in themselves and believe not in the sufficiency of it are deceived by the deceivableness of