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A91119 A testimony of the Light within. A glorious truth, which all the holy men of God did bear testimony unto, and from which they spoke forth the Sciptures, and the end of all preachings and writings was to bring to Light within, to worship God in spirit and truth, and to Christ within, the hope of glory. The truth cleared from scandals, and some of the errors and false doctrines of two Cornish teachers laid open and testified against. With a description of the true ministers of Christ, and of the free ministery both under the law and Gospell administration; ... Also a testimony of the dawning of the glorious day of the Lord, ... Here is likewise, in short, declared the differences between the old Covenant, ... & the new covenant, ... Given forth from Christ the light within in love to the souls of all people, ... that they may have union with me in my fathers love ... whose name according to the flesh is Alexander Parker. Written chiefly to the inhabitants of the town and parish of Austell, in the county, of Cornwall, but may serve for any others who are in the same nature and condition with them. Parker, Alexander, 1628-1689. 1657 (1657) Wing P385; Thomason E909_6; ESTC R203124 42,617 54

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the deep things of God for what man knows the things of a man but the Spirit of a man that is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God then all they that deny the Spirit and say there is no Ministers of the Spirit now as Priest Vpcot did knows not the things of God but what they know naturally which Jude speaks of as bruit beasts in those things they corrupt themselves woe unto them for they have run in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward read Iude 10 11. And wo unto all such now that deny the Ministration of the Spirit and saies there is no Ministers of the Spirit now their knowledge is natutal and carnal and they go in the way of Cain which is envy and run greedily after the error of Balaam for gifts and rewards as the Priests and Parish Ministers in England do and as Vpcot your Teacher doth therefore turn from him and all such for the Lords hand is stretched forth against them The Ministers of Christ were not called by Man nor made Ministers by the will of Man Cal. 1.1.12 2 Cor. 5.19 they were not brought up at Schools to get human learning to fit them but they were called by God Rom. 10.8 John 17.17 1 Cor. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.20.21 and made Ministers according to the will of God and fitted and prepared by God and had the word of Life and Reconciliation committed to them which was within them quick and powerfull and wrought powerfully in their hearts by which word they were sanctified and the holy Spirit was within them and as the holy Spirit moved so they spoke forth the Scripture not by mans will but by the will of God as they were moved by the holy Ghost But the Teachers of England are not so made nor called For in the first place they are sent to School to learn humane wisdom in the will of man after they are sent to Oxford or Cambridge and there by their cunning Craft they learn the Trade of Preaching having men over them and Books for that purpose And when they have learned their Trade served their Apprentiship then their Masters give them the Commission to preach and commit unto them the Scriptures which were the Saints testimony within them but these Priests have it without them and it is neither quick nor powerful but weak and dead and their hearts are not sanctified but they plead against purity and holiness of life telling people it is impossible to live without sin in this world and they do not preach as they are moved by the Spirit but they study in the week daies what to speak and many of them have an hour-glasse and most of them limit themselves to a time and when they have uttered forth all that they have many times tell the people they would have enlarged if the time would permit when indeed they have no more to say and so decieve the people telling them they preach the word of the Lord when it is no more but a divination of their own brain and though they use some Texts of Scriptures that is the greater deceit to colour their hypocrisie and to make their ware the better to go off But the Lord is coming to lay open their deceit and to take from them their stollen garments and the shame of their nakednesse shall appear and none shall buy their Merchandize any longer Rev. 18.11 Here you may see their call into the Ministery is contrary to the Ministers of Christ and their preaching contrary and so they are to be denied When Jesus Christ sent forth his Ministers he did not give them power to take tythes Mat. 10. chap. Luke 10. chap. nor any set or forced maintenance but as they had recived freely so they were to minister freely And into what City Town or Countrey ye come enquire who is worthy and if they receive you there stay and abide eating and drinking such things as they set before you Mat. 10 14. for the Labourer is worthy of his Hire and the Workman is worthy of his Meat Here he gave them power to eat and to drink with such as were worthy to receive them but they were not to do so amongst those that did not receive them but depart and shake the dust off their feet they were not to compell them to give them maintenance nor meat nor any thing else but they were to minister freely 1 Tim 6.8 and if any did freely set meat before them if they would use their power they might eat freely And I do not read in the the testimony of the Apostles and Disciples and Ministers of Christ that they did ever receive any thing further than to supply their wants and necessities for having food and rayment they were therewith content I never read that ever any one was compelled to feed them Gal. 4.14 15. or give them maintenance neither indeed was there any need for the Lord whom they served sent his power along with them and such a love was raised up among them that they did receive their testimony that Paul declares of some that if it had been possible they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him and it is so now with those that receive the Truth in the love of it nothing can be too dear for them for they are as one anothers lives and as they are hated by the world and opposers and gainsayers of the Truth with a perfect batred so they are loved by all those that in singleness of heart and uprightness receive the Truth with a perfect love But the professed Teachers of England are not so but they have usurped a power to take Tythes and set and forced maintenances of 100 200 or 300 pounds or as much as they can get by the year for they not having received freely as the Ministers of Christ did but have given a great deal of monies for gaining of their Art no more can they minister freely And they are more like to Heathens than to Christians they do not Christian-like Seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of it Mat. 6.32 33. Mat. 10.11 in the first place neither do they according to command Enquire who is worthy For their first and chief thing is what place or some great fat Parsonage that is vacant is sought after and enquire what the people will give and so make a bargain with them for so much by the year to be paid at such and such times and they are very loath to preach untill they have their maintenance made sure unto them and yet they will tell people to believe in God and trust God for food for their souls when they themselves dare not trust God for their Bellies and they make little conscience who they be that they take wages of believers or not believers so they can but get it
in the Lord Jesus Christ And this makes the heathen to rage and the world to wonder at the mighty works of the Lord our God But it is no new thing to be reproached by the world who knowes not God For saith Christ If ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth it hate you While we were of the world we were loved of the world 1 Pet. 1.14 when we were alive in the old nature and did partake with them in their wayes of worship and in their vain conversation being one with them in vanity and run with them to pleasures and vain delights in vain and foolish jesting and idle and vain talking our tongues being our own and our wild natu●e not being tamed but we could do as they did and speak our own words and think our own thoughts and do our own works no knowing the Crosse of Christ nor bearing his yoak but were at ease in the flesh and in the carnall liberty feeding upon perishing things and created objects loving the world and the things of it and delighting in and loving the Creature more than the Creator I say when we were in that condition one with the world in most things then were we esteemed and loved of the world and they spake well of us if we did not crosse their wills but even then though we could talk of God and Christ and Scriptures we were strangers from God and Christ Eph. 2.1 2 3. Gal. 1.15 16. and from that pure life that the holy men of God lived in that spake forth Scriptures but then it pleased the Lord to manifest himself unto us and revealed his truth within us our understanding was opened by his pure light shining within whereby we saw the deceits of the world and their worship and the hypocrifie and dissimulation of professors Priests and people and that their religion was but a shew and shadow and meer outside seeming colour and talk of words and names Isai 29.13 drawing neer to God with their lips and mouthes when their hearts were after the things of the world and there was no life appearing nor fruits of righteousness from a true ground brought forth but pride and self-self-love and covetousness every one seeking themselves and to advance themselves by fraud and deceit guile and hypocrisie yea and all manner of wickedness we saw acted amongst them which did grieve our spirits and w●s a burden to our tender consciences and we separated from them and could not partake with them neither in their wayes of worship as it is established nor in their conversations but we seeing in the light of the Lord 2 Cor. 6.1 that they are out of the way and their worship doctrine and practices are contrary to the pure worship of God and the doctrine and practices of the holy men of God declared of in Scripture Tir. 1.16 as I have shewed before We seeing these things for Sions sake we cannot hold our peace but in love to the souls of all people do declare and testifie against the world and the unrighteousness of it and against the deceits and hypocrisie of the Parish Teachers and Hirelings of these times and against all the formall and carnall professors who in words profess God but in works deny him and for this cause are we hated reviled reproached beaten whipped stocked stoned and sent up and down the Countrey as Vagabonds and abused and sent to prison and this is manifest at this day in England the war is begun already betwixt the Beast and the Lamb but the Lamb shal get the victory though all joyn hand in hand against the innocent it shall all be in vain they shall not prevail Rev. 17.14 Mica 4.1 2. Mat. 5.10 11 12. John 16.20 21. Psal 30.35 2 Pet. 1.19 Rev. 21.23 24 Heb. 11.26 but the Lord over all shall be exalted and his kingdom shall be established in righteousness and the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and it shall be ex●lted above the Hills and people shall flow unto it and though we now be persecuted and hated and troubled on every side yet it shall not be long for the Lord will plead the cause of the innocent and though sorrow and trouble may endure for a night yet joy will come in the morning when the glorious day of the Lord doth dawn within and the day-star doth arise in the heart then shall darkness be expelled and all the children of the Lord shall walk in the light of the Lord and rejoyce in his presence and reproaches to us are great riches for we know it is our portion from the worldly and carnall professors those who have the name and form of godliness but are not in the life they are and were ever found persecuters of the life where ever it did appear As in the time of Moses administration when the Lord did appear darkly as it were under types and shadowes Mar. 23.31 John 5.35 John 1.14 and the people for a time were held under that administration And in the times of the Prophets more light was discovered and they saw through the shadows and declared against them and those who were in the types and shadows persecuted the Prophets The Law and the Prophets were untill Iohn and amongst all that were born of women there was not a greater than Iohn for he was a burning and a shining light and this was a greater light than the prophets yet the least in the kingdom is greater than Iohn And in the admistration of the Gospel when the fulness of time was come when Christ was manifest in the flesh who was the end of the Law and the Prophets Those who had the form of the Law and the Prophets words Mat. 26 3.4 Mark 15 15. Col. 1.20.21 22 23. they persecuted Christ the life of the Law and the Prophets as many do now in these our days who have got the words of Christ and the Apostles and cryes up names and words as the Ordinances of Christ and the Church of Christ and the Ministers of the Gospel and notwithstanding all this are persecuting the appearance of Christ and his life that is now manifest in his people as it was in former times under the Law those that multiplied their Sacrifices and burnt offerings but their hearts were far off and the bond of iniquity was not broken nor the oppressed set free but they lived in their sins and so were testified against by the Prophet as thou mayst read Isaia chapter 1. The Ox knoweth his Owner and the Asse his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider a sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evill doers children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the holy one of Israel to anger they have gone away backward The whole
in the of the house of the ruder sort 2 Thes 1 7 8 9 10. did threaten mischief against me but neither of the Priests nor any other did reprove them for it but did encourage them rather in their wickedness but the Lord God of power is now appearing and will render vengeance in flames of fire upon all that know not God Psal 111 2 3 Rom 11.33 Rom 1 21 to the end and that do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe read 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. and truly his work is wonderful and marvellous in our eyes his waies are past finding out by any worldy wit or wisdom as it is written the world by wisdom knows not God for the preaching of the Cross of Christ is foolishness to worldly wise and Scripture-learned ones but unto all that believe both Jews and Gentiles Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men for saith the Apostle Ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are Christ Jesus the beloved son of God when he chose himself disciples and Ministers he did not choose them by their greatness in the world nor by their great learning and Scripture knowledge he did not choose him disciples of the great Doctors and learned Rabbies of those times neither of the Rulers nor chief of the people and this made the Rulers and chief Priests to rage and despise and called him a Carpenter Mark 6 3. Jo 7 48 49. Mat 26 3 4. Acts 4 13. Mat 4 18 21. and those that followed him a cursed people that knew not the Law and the Rulers and chief Priests took counsel against Christ to put him to death such as were of great esteem in the world he did not choose but he choosed ignorant and unlearned men and despised ones in the worlds account many of them Fisher men such did Christ make-choice of 1 Cor. 2 cha that the power might be of God and not of man that no flesh should glory in his presence but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. And when Paul came to the Corinthians he came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto them the testimony of God for saith he I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ and him crucified and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling but now trembling is despised and made a mock and a scoff at in your Towns streets and villages and most places the Children of God who fear God and tremble at his word are made a mock and a by-word under the name of Quakers it is become their Table talk and at their Ale-houses and Taverns and indeed most places where they come the children of God are become the reproach and as a by-word amongst them every one giving their censures Jer 6 10. Mat 10 22. Jam 3 15. one crying one thing another crying another thing and all are in confusion but these are them whom the Lord doth love and regard who tremble at his word as it is written in the prophets Heaven is my Throne Isa 66 1 2. and Earth is my footstool what house will ye build unto me saith the Lord or what is the place of my rest hath not my hand made all these things and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look to and regard he that is of a meek and a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word But such are now reproached and beaten and whipped and stocked and sent up and down the Country as Vagabonds Prov. 19 29. Prov 10 6 7. Phil 2 12. and abused and sent to prison but God will plead the cause of the innocent and the scoffers and scorners he will judge and bless and preserve them that love righteousness that work out their salvation with fear and trembling And further Paul declares that his speech and his preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that their faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God howbeit saith he we speak wisdome amongst them that are perfect yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought but we speak the wisdome of God in a Mistery even the hidden wisdome which God ordained afore unto our glory And this wisdome and this mistery the Lord hath revealed unto us for his Names sake that we might be to him a praise and a glory and an honor in walking answerable and worthy of his love in all humility and godly conversation and we cannot partake with the world in their waies of worship Ephes 4 1 2. Col 1 10. Ephes 5 11. Jam 3 15. Tit 1 16. Rom 1 18. which is carnal invented intheir faln estate by their carnal wisdome which is earthly sensual devillish the root and ground of sin and the body and many branches of the cursed Tree is alive and not killed and they live in sin and pleads for a continuance in sin while they live on the earth such are they who profess God in words but in works deny him and such are they who hold the truth in unrighteousness gathering in the Saints words the Scriptures which were given forth from pure life and spirit within these they gather into their unrighteous minds and talks of God and Christ with their vain minds but deceit and iniquity lodgeth in their hearts Mat 23 28. such a Worship and a formal profession we do deny and against them do testifie and cannot joyn with them nor have fellowship with them and therefore are we hated and reviled and made a prey upon and so the Scripture is fulfilled which saith Isa 59 15. they that depart from iniquity are become a prey to this generation 1 Cor 2 9 10 and this wisdome and mistery is hid from the worlds eye and from their ear they cannot see nor hear nor understand the things of God as it is written eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea
example for its innocency and shewes that all must become as innocent as little children for whosoever doth not receive the kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein But what example is this for any one to sprinkle wa●er on the innocent childs face or what advantage is it for a proud covetous heady high minded sinfull carnall man to take the innocent little child which is not capable of believing what can his prayers or any thing he doth John 9.31 profit or advantage the innocent child Read without prejudice and let that of God in your consciences judge There is one Lord one Faith one Baptism and that one Baptism I own which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Eph. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.21 Gal. 6.15 1 Cor. 12 13. Heb. 10 22. 1 Pet. 3. 21 For it is neither dipping or sprinkling or not dipping or sprinkling that avails any thing at all but a new creature for that is not the baptism which is outward with the water but baptism is that of the Spirit having the heart sprinkled from an evil conscience the body washed with pure water and as many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ and in Christ all are one Gal. 3.27.28 And for their Sacrament which they tell people of I deny the Scripture knows no such word as Sacrament but the Supper of the Lord I own and witness which is a spirituall eating and drinking of the Body and Blood of Christ whereby we being many are one bread and one body For the cup of Blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ John 6.56.63 John 8.12 the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ for we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.16 This bread is Iesus Christ the light of the world as you may read Iohn 6.35 I am the bread of life I am the living bread that came down from above he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever and he shall not hunger and they that drink of this cup shall never thirst but it shall be a Well of living water springing up unto eternall life John 4.14 But I say That the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Divels and not to God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with Divels ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Divels 1 Cor. 10.21 Now for a company of profane sinfull people as drunkards swearers lyars scoffers scorners proud lofty John 8.44 1 John 3 8. John 6.70 high-minded ones Whoremongers Adultere●s Covetous cruell oppressors and the like for these to meet and eat bread wine and call it a communion I do it deny to be the Communion or Table of the Lord but the Table of Divels Likewise their standing praying before and after their Sermons as they call them and their pulpit and their taking a Text as they call it and add to it the divination of their own brain and speak forth their conceivings and not the word of God these and all or most things that are used and practiced by them in the steeple-house or Idol-Temple are contrary to the practice of the Ministers of Christ and they are to be turned away from for they do not neither shall they profit the people at all for if they had stood in the councell of God they should have turned the people from the evill of their wayes but they run and the Lord never sent them therefore they shal not profit the people at all Jer. 23.32 Thus I have declared and laid open their deceits and contrary walkings to the holy men of God and cleared the truth from their lies and slanders and do deny them and all their way of worship John 4.24 Col. 3.16 John 1.3 1 Cor. 3.3 Phil. 3.3 and do own the worship of God in Spirit and Truth and the Ordinances of God in Spirit preaching praying and singing with the Spirit and with understanding singing with grace and making melody in our hearts to the Lord and Baptism and the Lords Supper and the Scripture in the life and spirituality of them and the Gospel of peace and glad tidings and the word of life and reconciliation I own and witness which separates from sin and joyns to the Lord to be one with him in Sp●rit where a I the children of God have union even in the pure Spirit and love of God and are written in one anothers hearts not with paper and ink but with the Spirit of the living God and are taught of God and worship him in Spirit and rejoyceth in his love and patience for evermore Awake awake all people awake to righteousness and sin not 1 Cor. 15.34 Eph 5.14 R●m 13.12 Luke 21 27 28. Isai 4. chap. 2 Cor 4.6 arise from your dead sleep of carnall security put off the works of darkness and put on the armer of light stand up from the d●ad that Christ may give you light For now is the Lord appearing and arising in his mighty power for the redemption of Sion and to put an end to sin and finish transgression his day is dawned and the glorious light of the everlasting Gospel is broken forth and shines in the hearts of the Lords people the Lord is gathering his scattered-flock together in this his day where they have many years been feeding upon the dry husks and running from mountain to hill and from hill to mountain all this cloudy dark day Now is the Lord coming to bring back again that which was driven away and to seek and to save that which was lost and bring his sheep into the fold of the the true shepheard where the sheep shall lie down in peace and feed together in one fold and the Lord alone will be the Teacher and Feeder of his Flock and no ravenous beast shall pluck them out of his hand for he is the good shepheard that will lay down his life for his sheep John 10 1● and will not flye when the Wolfe comes to devour the Lambs but he doth preserve them all and carries his lambs in his arms and gently leads out all that are with young all his tender babes he seeds with milk and nourishes the tender plants with the water of life and this is the Lord bringing to passe in these our days glory be to his name for evermore he is fulfilling his promises made of old gathering his people into union and fellowship with himself Jer. 23 5 6 7.8 Isai 55 3.4 Psal 2.1 2. Acts 13.40 41 John 15.18 19. where they shall all rejoyce together and be one in the everlasting covenant of love and life
the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will wri●e my Law in their hearts and put my Spirit in their inward parts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for all shall knew me from the least to the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness their sins and iniquities I will remember no more This is the new Covenant prophesied of the dayes of Jeremiah Luke 4.21 A s 2.16 17 Exod. 34.1 Exod. 31 14 15 16 Exod 40 12 13. 1 Chron 17.12 Gen. 17.10 Exod. 37.29 2 Cor. 3.3 1 Cor. 3.16 17 Rom. 2 28 29. Matth. 12.8 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Mat. 10.28 29 1 Iohn 2 27. Heb 4 12 Rom 10.8 1 Cor 6.11 Heb. 9 13 14 and was sulfilled in the days of Christ the Apostles and is now fulfilled and fulfilling in these our dayes and as in the old covenant the Law without written in Tables of Stone and the Sabbath was without and the Priests were without whose lipps were to preserve knowledg and the Temple was withont circumcision and many other things were without and the anointing Oyl these things were outward but did not make the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience they did but cleanse the outside But in the new Covenant the life and substance is within the Law is written in the Tables of the Heart and the Spirit is within to teach them and their Bodies are the Temple of God and Circumcision of the Heart with the Spirit and the Sabbath or rest is witnessed which is Jesus Christ who is the Rest and the Rock and Refuge to flye unto and whosoever doth come unto him and take his yoak upon them and learn of him they shall find rest to their souls And the Anointing is within and the Word of Life and Reconciliation which is as a sharp Sword to cut down all sin and all the lusts of the flesh This word is within nigh in the heart and in the mouth and by this Word of Life and power within were the Saints and holy men of God purified and cleansed and their consciences purged from dead workes and were created anew to serve God in the new life of Righteousness and it is the work of God within that doth make perfect from sin Eph 2.10 Rom 8.2 2 Pet. 1.19 21 even the law of the Spirit of Life that Paul speaks of that made him free from the law of Sin and Death And from this Word and Spirit of Light within was all the Scriptures given forth and all words or writings that are spoken or written are to bring to the Word and Spirit within For whatsoever was written or spoken by Moses or by the Prophets Christ or the Apostles John 4.24 1 John 1 7 being spoken and written from the Spirit and Light within they are all to bring out of all Shadowes and Figures Luke 17.20 Col 2 20 21 22. Heb 9.9 10 Heb. 10.1 Luke 15.16 Isaiah 55.2 Luke 24.5 Jer. 2.13 Ezek 3 4 5 6 Mica 6 6.14 Mat 7 22 23. Mal 3 5 John 3.17 20 and carnall Observations to the worship of God within in the Spirit where the Saints union and fellowship is in the Spirit and Light within So all you both Priests and People in this generation who are seeking the kingdom in your Observations whose worship and Ordinances and Light and Word and Rule and other things are without I say unto you your worship is but carnall and all that which you practise it doth not cleanse you nor make you perfect you are but feeding upon the husks you are spending your labour for that which doth not satisfie and spending your money for the which is not bread you are seeking the living amongst the dead you are seeking water among the broken Cisterns that will hold no water you are as the woman that sought the lost Groat without you are as sheep without a Shepheard scattered upon the mountains but find no rest you are hungry but are not satisfied Nay I know there is a cry within you for purity and holiness of life and notwithstanding all your talking and your observations your preaching and your praying you are condemned in your selves for your unrighteous walking and this is the condemnation of the world because light is come into the world and yet men love darkness better than light because their deeds be evill Therefore take heed of despising the light within 2 Pet. 1 19 John 1.5 John 8 12 1 John 3 5 but take heed to and mind the light that shines in your dark hearts and reproves you for your sin that out of transgression ye may come and follow Christ in the light which whosoever follows shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life John 14.6 Acts 4.12 John 1.9 for God is light and he out of his love hath given his Son for a covenant of light unto the people to lead them out of darkness and to separate them from sin and to joyn them to the Lord and there is no way to life but by the Son of God there is no other name under heaven given by which any man can be saved than by the name of Jesus who is the light of the world and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world and this light is true and pure and testifies against sin and evill though you act sin never so closely that none in the world can accuse you yet this light within you doth stand a witnesse against you condemn you and though you may alter and change your wayes and be tossed to and fro by mens changeable Doctrines yet this light of Christ within you doth never change but doth reprove you for sin and evill make manifest darkness the deeds of darkness Eph 5.13 that is the light or all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light whatsoever makes manifest is light that which tels you that lying is a sin and swearing is a sin and whoredom drunkenness and pride and covetousness that which doth reprove you when you act any evill that is the light that I speak of and do direct your minds unto to wait upon God in the light for teaching and power over sin and as you have many years been seeking without and talking of Christ and Saviour without but have not found peace nor freedom but are alive in your sins and laden with iniquity so now turn in your minds to the light of Christ and there wait for the appearance of Christ in you 2 Tim. 3.6 7 Col 1.27 2 Cor 4.10 11. 1 John 3.8 1 John 5.12 29. 1 Cor. 3.17 Eph. 3.17 Rom. 8.10 and for his life and power to be made manifest in your mortall bodies to kill and
slay sin and to purifie your bearts that your inside may be clean by the pure power and life of Christ within that so your bodies may be Temples of God holy and pure that God who is Light may dwell within you and Christ Jesus who is light may appeare within you For he is not known in power to kill and destroy the workes of the Divell but as he is known within and where he is witnessed come in the flesh there is peace abiding in him but while you live in your sins there is no peace and as you love that little light within you 2 Cor. 13 5 Iohn 14 27. Isal 48.22 Mat. 13.31 32 1 Iohn 2.27 Iohn 3.19 20 21. 1 Tim 3.9 Ezra 3.19 Psalm 1.6 which at first is but small like a grain of Mustard-seed but waiting in patience and bringing your deeds to it to be tried by it it will grow and spring in you and fill your hearts with joy and teach you continually but if you hate this light and run to men for teaching and live in your old nature where the curse and wrath is this light will be your condemnation and truly this I say unto you That if ever you own God or his truth as it is in Christ Jesus or if ever you own a good conscience where the mystery of faith is held you must own this light to be your guide and teacher so take warning in your life time and let not the love of God be tendered to you in vain lest you perish in your sins Written in love to your Souls by a Labourer in the Lords Vineyard known to the world by the name of Alexander Parker To all those who are separated from the Worlds publick Worship as it is called and for conscience sake cannot joyn with them DEarly beloved friends you whose hearts are touched and understandings opened with the light of Jesus whereby you are come to see the deadness and emptiness of all the Formall and Carnall Worships and profession that stands in mans will gathered in by the strength of the wisdom of the subtile Serpent whose head is not bruised but doth rule as King in faln Man and leads him captive at his will to do his lusts Such are those who professe God in words but in works deny him drawing nigh unto him with their lips and mouthes crying Lord Lord but their hearts are far off the Divell he keeps possession there and sits as King and they are his slaves who live in envy wrath and malice pride lust covetousnesse lying swearing railing and reviling and the like Such beares the mark of their father the Divel who hath begotten them into his image and likenesse and their prayers and and sacrisices are abomination and stinks in the nostrils of the pure God and they do not neither shall they profit the people at all but leads them captive laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning but never come to the true knowledge of God as it is plainly manifest to the children of light And these things friends the Lord hath let you see and turned you from them and their carnall worships Now wait in patience upon the Lord in his light that you may receive his power and word of life and reconciliation in your hearts to separate you from all sin and uncleannesse That as the separation is made without in a measure so the separation may be made within by the pure power that your hearts may be purified and your consciences purged from all sin and your Bodies made Temples holy and pure for the Lord God to dwell in that you may worship God in Spirit in his holy Temple and be taught of him in Spirit according as he hath promised and according as you have been directed by his servants and faithfull witnesses so wait and walk with the loyns of your minds girt up and stayed upon the Lord that his living Word may abide in you and quicken your mort all bodies and raise you up from death and dead works to serve and worship God in the new life that you may truly witnesse Jesus to be your Teacher and Feeder If you should never behold the Face of man more this is that which I and and all my friends do wait for that all of you may eat your own bread have oyl in your own vessels for the time draweth nigh that all who have not oyl in their vessels will be shut out of the Kingdom It will then be in vain to beg or buy from others Therefore beloved as you and many others have long been looking without and seeking the kingdom of God in Observations without and talking of a Christ and a Saviour without but no peace nor salvation was found there Now return home and seek the lost groat in your own house and wait in the light for the glorious appearance of Christ in you that his life and power may be manifest in you to save you from your sins So as branches abide in the vine Christ Jesus that you may be fruitfull and abound in love and all the gifts of God This I write unto you by way of remembrance to stir up your pure minds that you may be kept watchfull and diligent waiting in patience untill the work of the Lord be perfected in you So the Lord God of power breath forth his Spirit upon you and enrich you with his spirituall blessings that you may abound in all good things and be kept blamelesse and harmlesse amongst this wicked and untoward generation of men standing faithfull to the Lord in all things that you may finish your course with joy and be crowned with glory and reign with the Lord God and the Lamb and praise his holy Name and worship him in the beauty of his Holinesse for every and ever A. P.