then anger and passion arises and so the old man is alive and the old garments are on these are the tokens and marks of a Heathen Therefore in the fear and name of the Lord I do exhort you to put off the old garments which defile you put off the old man with his deeds put away lying and swearing pride and vain pleasures drunkenness quarrelling whoredoms murders scoffing and jeering and such like deeds of darkness these are the filthy garments which defile you the old man which is to be put off otherwise you cannot enter into the kingdom of God and these garments must be put off before the new garments of righteousnesse be put on there must be a putting off the deeds of darkness before there be a putting on the armour of light for the new garments of righteousness must not be put upon the old garments of unrighteousnesse but first there must be a stripping off all the old coverings both of unrighteousness and self-righteousnesse for that righteousnesse is as filthy as the unrighteousness arising all from one ground and root and is both alike abomination to the Lord though many things may be acted and done amongst the formal professours which in themselves are good yet not being acted from a good ground it is evil The prayers of the wicked are abomination in the eyes of the Lord therefore cease to do evil that is the first thing to be done Let every one that nameth the Name of Jesus Christ depart from iniquity for indeed none else ought to name his Name but those who depart from iniquity for all that live in sin and filthinesse do name the Name of Christ in vain and are to depart from the presence of the Lord into the pit of darknesse therefore all and every one who seeks to be saved fear God for the fear of God is very pretious it is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death and where it is placed in the heart it keeps clean the heart and the old deeds of darknesse are put off and all the old coverings and cloathings even to be naked as a child and then the cloathing of truth is put on and the pure treasure is put into the pure heart and these are Christians and are blessed as it is written Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God for the pure eye which is the light being in the head which is Christ God who is pure is seen and felt a God near at hand dwelling in the pure heart guiding and leading all his children out of the crooked wayes and snares of death into the pure way of life and peace to worship him in spirit and in truth according as his spirit which dwells in them doth teach them these are the children of God who are taught of God and serves him in truth and uprightness of heart singly and purely in the new life of righteousness these are Christians who have put off the old garments that is all the deeds of darkness and have put on the new garments the white robes that is truth and righteousness and they are cloathed with equity having put off the old man and put on the new man Christ Jesus and are one in him and like unto him in name and in nature the same love being shed abroad in their hearts and the same mind as was in Christ and the same spirit according as it is written love one another with the same love that I have loved you withal and let the same mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus and the same spirit for he that hath not the same spirit is none of his so these are Christians who are in Christ and if any be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away and behold all things are become new new heart new mind new love new life new words and new actions new name and new nature these are them who have come through the fire and have passed through many tribulations having denied themselves and the pomp and glory of the low world and have taken up the Cross and followed Christ through the sufferings and death whereby they are crucified to the world and worldly pride and pleasures and have learned of Christ meekness and humility and so are sent forth into the world to bear witness against the unrighteousness of the world and they are willing to bear and to suffer the reproach of the world knowing it is their portion from the world But all they who are professed Christians in England and other parts who have gotten the words of the true Christians and are guilded over with glorious words and makes a fair shew outwardly as though they were a a people that did delight in the Commandements of God yet the new life of a Christian is not brought forth amongst them as was in the followers of Christ but the old life of the Heathens is in them old heart old mind old love old life old words which are corrupt old actions old name and nature deceitful hearts full of filth and abomination pride and envy wrath malice lust and covetousness double minded feigned love corrupt life filthy communication wicked actions and so the old bottle poures forth the old wine and such things as these are acted and done amongst them which are called Christians which are an ill smell and an ill savour so that the name of a Christian is become abomination among the heathen such filthiness and such abominations are acted and done amongst the Professed Christians that causes the name of Christ to be blasphemed amongst the heathens Consider well all you who say you are Christians whether indeed these things be not so is not the old man alive in you and are not you doing and fulfilling the lusts of the Devil You who say you are Christs and layes claim to him as though he were your inheritance come and let us reason together and try what right you have to this inheritance You will say the heathens are without Christ and have no right to the promise of life and so say I yet he is given a light to the Gentiles but who are the Heathens you put them a far off into other nations as to the Turks and Pagans who have not the outward name of Christians But come near and try your selves and see if you be not found the heathens All who are in Christ are Christians and all who are out of Christ are Heathens of what Nation or countrey soever they be for he is not a Christian which is one outwardly neither is that the Baptism which is outward in the flesh with outward water but he is a Christian which is baptised into Christ by the spirit and power of Christ and so is one in Christ a new creature the heart being sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed with pure water and the pure life of Christ is brought forth which witnesseth against the unrighteous
denies the true Ministers work and leads silly men and women captive laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning but never comes to the true knowledge of God nor perfection such as speak from the letter and not from the spirit and cannot preach but at certain times when they have time to study and so by their industry and paines provide themselves not having freely received from the Lord such called Ministers as are thus fitted and prepared are by the will of man and are so sent forth in to the world but are not sanctified by the pure living Word of God neither do abide in the pure Doctrine of Christ 2 John 9. 1 John 2.18 26. nor bring any to perfection such we do deny and turne from them and testify against them as Antichristian and deceivers of the people 1 Joh. 3.7 8. The Church of Christ we own Secondly 1 Tim. 3. â—â— which is the pillar and ground of truth which is built of living stones elect and pretious which is the body of which Christ Jesus is the head 1 Pet. 2.5 â— and gave himself for it and purchased with his own blood that he might present it to himself a glorious Church Eph. 5.23.26 27 30. not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish this Church we own Col. 2.19 and through the love and tender mercy of our God are made members of it and so we receive nourishment from the head to nourish the body for we are members of his body of his flesh Eph. 5.29 3â— and of his bones But that which the world calls a church which is built of dead stones we do deny which is a steeple house which carnal people that know not the Church do call the Church Acts 17.24.25 but doe lie and blaspheme for Christ is not the head or a steeple-house as he is the head of his Church neither are those who are earthly carnal proud covetous envious wrathfull malicious blood-thirsty murderous 1 Cor. 6.3 10. persecuting drunken 1 Cor. 6.9 10. lying prophane light wanton ungodly ones that meet in those idolatrous places which they call Churches they are not members of Christ but limbs and members of Antichrist and them and their Church all their Services we do deny Thirdly Joh. 4.23 24. and against them testifie All the commands and Ordinances of Christ which are durable pure spiritual and substantial which tends to a godly and upright life according as we are moved and guided by the pure spirit and power of the Lord we own and practice Col. 2.14 Heb. 9.10 but all those things which are fading carnal and shadowish though once they were commands of God and of Christ yet not being given to us in Commission it is no breach of the commands in not practising those outward things to us Is 66.1 2 3. Rom. 2.28 29. no more then it was in the Prophets and Apostles in not practising the commands of God which were outward but testified against them For if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances Col. 2.20 21 22. Christ Jesus the beloved Son of God gave forth many precepts and commands all which we dearly own in their time and place but one command that he gave forth is chiefly to be observed above all others John 15.12 Joh. 13.34 35 and that is to love one another this is an enduring and a substantial command and not to be neglected for this is a true token and mark whereby the children of God are known from others as it is written Hereby shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another Joh. 4.7 this command of love is the old commandement which was in the beginning and it is the new commandement which John the beloved Disciple doth so much press unto saying Beloved let us love one another for God is love and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God he that loveth not knowes not God for God is love Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another 1 Joh. 4. Love endures for ever 1 Cor. 13. and without love all preaching praying reading singing and all other the Ordinances of God are in vain this is the chief thing love which is grown cold amongst many of those who cry up the commands and Ordinances of Christ in words but iniquity doth abound and their love is grown cold Mat. 24.12 and that is the cause of all these divisions and distractions and wrangling about Religion it is want of true love For where the love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of his people it links and joynes them together in one love and life Joh. 27.21 22 Acts 4 32. and pure way and one spiritual worship and all strife and contention and wrangling ceaseth and so they are all of one heart and mind and one faith which we own which works by love Eph. 4.4 5 6. Gal. 5.6 Another command Christ gave forth which is not to be neglected by any of his and that is this Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye likewise unto them this is an enduring and substantial command and ought duly to be observed for this is the Law and the Prophets and this command we own and teach people to observe and many others there be of like force and effect and ought not to be neglected as if any on smite thee on the one cheek Mat. 5. chap. turn the other and Christ saith Swear not at all but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more is evil These and all other the commands of Christ which tends to purity and leads to truth even that which the Lord loveth 1 Per. 3.4 Psal 51.6 which is truth in the inward parts to serve the Lord in truth and righteousnes all the dayes of our lives we own and practice Luke 1.74 75 and I challenge all the world to come forth and mention what they can lay to our charge But as for the outward things which are but shadowes and figures as bread wine and outward water 1 Pet. 3.21 which many of the professers in England do so much idolize and cry up though the weightier matters be neglected we are dead with Christ from such weak elements Col. 2.21 22.23 Joh. 5.50 51. and cannot be subject to such empty shadowes having tasted of the living bread and drunk of the fountain of life where satisfaction and refreshment we have found to our hungry thirsting souls And no new gospel do we preach Rom. 1.16 but the same which hath been declared by the Servants of God and Ministers of righteousness And this was that bread of life which the Saints did feed on and the Communion-Table where
to the truth and witness the glory of his power revealed in me praises praises to his name for ever therefore do deny all the worlds glory and honour pleasure and profit and esteem it great riches to be worthy to suffer persecution and reproach with his dear people who are reviled of the world and scornfully called Quakers but known to me by another name and I to them by the same but to the world by Morgan Watkins A TRYAL OF A CHRISTIAN It is not the outward name of Christian that differs from a heathen but the inward life and nature TRy your selves with the touch-stone of Truth all you who bear the name and are professed Christians see and read within with a single eye whether you be in Truth what you profess in words and have the nature and life of Christ manifest in you or you have the bare name and are one in nature and life with the heathens the day is dawned which doth discover each name and nature and it is not the outward name of a Christian that will avail where the life and nature of Christ is wanting Many there be who are called Christians because they have been sprinkled with outward water which hath been called baptizing into the faith and into the Church but all are not Christians who are so called it is not the outward name nor the outward sprinkling or dipping that doth make a true Christian no more then the outward name and the outward Circumcision did make a true Jew as it is written by the Christians He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcission which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter So it is of a Christian not the outward washing or sprinkling but the inward washing with the blood or life of Jesus whereby the heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed with pure water so as many as are baptized into Christ by the holy Ghost have put on Christ and are one in Christ one heart one mind one soul and are like unto Christ in name and nature they bear his Image and his name is written in their foreheads and they are marked and known to be his and followers of him by their meekness and lamb-like harmlesness by their gentleness patience and long suffering by their soberness and temperance moderation and vertuous chaste conversations by their humility and true love one toward another these are tokens and marks of a true Christian but all those who have the name of Christians and profess God and Christ and scriptures and do not live according to what they do profess but are in nature like unto the heathens and so they are marked out and known by their fruits All those that live in rage envy wrath and malice these are marks of a heathen and not of a Christian and they are of their Father the Devil and bears his mark in their foreheads so every one doth bear the image of him that begat him There are two births the one from above the other from below that from above is pure and that from below is impure and these are contrary one to the other even as light and darkness all the Children that are begotten of God who is pure and born of the spirit are hated and persecuted by them who are begotten by the Devil and born of the flesh and so as it was in former ages they that were born after the flesh did persecute them that were born of the spirit even so it is now in this age but they that were born of the spirit did never persecute any but did bear and suffer even as Christ the forerunner hath lest an example and all that follow him and will live godly in him they must suffer persecution for it can be no otherwise for enmity is put between the two seeds and there is no agreement nor fellowship betwixt them so every child is of the nature of him that begat him All the Children of God who are born from above they bear Gods Image and are like unto their father as the Lord is righteous and just and loves truth and righteousness and cannot behold but hates iniquity even so all his children they are pure and loves truth and righteousness and cannot have fellowship with the unfruitful workers of darkness but it is a burden and a grief to be in company with the wicked and presses and grievs their righteous spirits as it did just Lot who was grieved with the sins of Sodom hearing and seeing their wickedness and profaneness it grieved his righteous spirit day by day so it is with the Children of God what their father loves they love and what he hates they hate also But the Children of the wicked one who are born from below are contrary in nature to the Children of the holy one and bears a contrary Image and so contrary fruits and are of the same nature with their father the wicked one which is the devil who is unclean and hates the truth and loves iniquity so all his children are naturally inclined to evil and hates the truth and lives in iniquity and loves darkness rather then the light because their deeds be evil and so are under the wo and condemnation aliens and strangers from the living God and from the covenant of promise for the wicked have no right unto the promises of life but their portion is wo and misery in the lake of fire Now thou that reads this read within thy self with that of God in thee which is light and it will let thee see whose child thou art and whose Image thou bears whether the Image of the holy one or the Image of the wicked one and what thy nature is inclined unto whether to good or to evil and whether thou takest delight in the Law of God and his commandments or whether thy delight be in the things of the world which fades away whosoever thou art whether Professor or prophane one thou canst not serve two masters thou canst not be heir of two kingdoms thou canst not have enjoy the love of God and the love of the world at one time for the love and friendship of the world is enmity against God therefore saith the Apostle love not the world neither the things that be in the world for if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life this is not of God but of the world and if thy heart and affections be hankring after the things of the world whether gold or silver lands or livings wife or children goods or cattel pleasures or earthly honour or seeking earthly preferment if thy love be drawn away to any of these earthly things and there takes pleasure and delight thou art not a childe
out of the deceitful and wicked heart and the Devil he is the father and the Author of it and of all sin and whosoever commits sin is of the Devil and so out of the heart from the cursed ground it springs and arises for lust after it hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death for the wages of sin is death Therefore every one in particular mind the leadings and movings of the pure spirit of Light for there is your strength near you and if ye thorow the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body then shall ye live and be made sensible of the workings of God destroying the Devils works and defacing his image and renewing in you a pure image like unto himself and so the pure Truth ye will really be possessed of that which the Lord doth love and desire even Truth in the inward parts and offer up a sacrifice in righteousness to the Lord which is a broken heart and a contrite spirit which ever was and is acceptable in the eyes of the pure God for God is pure and loves righteousness and to know him and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is life eternal Now to have a literal knowledge of him and so to speak of him from the Scripture letter and not from the spirit and power of God within this is not a saving knowledge but puss up into pride and soto reject and despise the cross of Christ Such a knowledge had they who crucified the Son of God and such a knowledge have many in our age but are persecuting the appearance of Christ in his Saints But this I say none knows the Lord in Truth and Righteousness but as he is revealed and manifested by his spirit within for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep and hidden things of God So all turn in your minds and wait upon the Lord in the Light of his spirit that into his house you may be led there to feed upon the living bread soul-satisfying food upon the hidden Manna that which the world knowes not but it is hid from them who be without feeding amongst the swine upon the husks and empty shadowes but through love and mercy is revealed unto us by the spirit of our God and freely imparted unto you to invite you to come in to our Fathers house that you may eat with us and be satisfied and praise the Lord with us in the Land of the living for ever and ever Oh my dearly beloved whom my soul longs and breaths after whom in the truth I dearly love you are as a lively Epistle written in my heart and I cannot forget you go on in the Name and Power of the Lord look not back there is nothing behind you but death and darkness for if any one draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in them therefore press on towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus let not the rage of the heathen daunt you knowing that it is our portion from that wicked and untoward generation to be reproached and reviled But blessed are ye when men revile you and reproach you and persecute you and speak all manuer of evil against you falsely for the Name of Christ rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets and the holy Apostles which which were before you for if you were of the world then would the world love you but because Christ Jesus hath chosen you out of the world to be unto him a holy People therefore do they of the world who know not God hate and revile you but herein they are discovered and made manifest of what generation they are of even of cursed Cains who slew his brother and where envy and rage is they bear the mark of Cain and so in this day of the Lord they are made manifest for wherever persecution is it is a mark of the beast that makes war against the Lamb and it is not the mark or token of a Christian for the Nature of a Christian is to suffer and not to persecute therefore though ye suffer and be reproached yet be not discouraged but put on the strength of God the armour of righteousness whereby ye may all be kept safe and the fiery darts of the wicked cannot pierce you Dwell in meekness and love and pure innocency these are the Garments of the Lamb which the world cannot stain though they may cast dirt and filth upon you by their lies and false slanders yet your innocency and uprightness shall stand a witness against them and so their mouths shall be stopped and the witness of God in their own consciences shall testifie against them and answer for you and for the Lords Truth which you profess and make them to acknowledge though against their wills that God is in you of a Truth I do by the power of the Lord charge you all in the presence of the Lord who profess the light that you walk in the light that every one may be in life and substance what you seem and profess your selves to be in words that no hypocricy may be amongst you nor deceit nor feigned love nor seeming shew of feigned humility for that is gross and wicked abomination in the eyes of the pure God but that indeed and in truth your love may flow forth one towards another without dissimulation for this is a true mark and token that you are the Lords chosen ones for hereby shall all men know that you are followers of the Lord if ye love one another for love is of God and all who dwell in love they dwell in God for God is love Oh let this love constrain you to deney your selves freely and follow him who by his love invites you to come and eat and drink freely at his Table Let not the love of the world nor any other earthly enjoyment draw away your hearts and affections from the pure love of God into the love of the visible and creaturely enjoyments and so for a messe of pottage Esau like sell your birth-right for want of a small thing of self-denyal chusing the pleasures of the World as many do rather then to suffer with the people of God despising and counting the Cross of Christ foolishness and so lose the Crown of glory Oh let it not be so with any of you but take up the Cross willingly and despise not the day of small things but whatsoever the light of Christ doth shew you to be evil or vain cast off and deny that evil and vanity otherwise you cannot have true peace for whilst the wild nature is at liberty and the unruly affections and lusts they war against the soul therefore saith Christ take my yoke upon you and learn of me I am meek and lowly in spirit and you shall find rest unto your souls So the yoke of Christ being laid upon the
wilde it tames and brings down and leavens the whole and brings it into the nature of Christ to meekness and gentleness and lowliness of mind and brokenness and tenderness of spirit and so the fountain comes to be opened and the pure streams flowes forth to water the City of the living God Therefore hide not the enemies of your peace in your own bosoms neither let any prejudice or evil thoughts lodge in your hearts if you do it will eat as a canker untill the pure love be grown cold and then comes a cloud of darkness and hides the glory of the Son of Righteousness that it doth not shine in its brightness and the earth will grow thick and stop the passage that the streams of love cannot run to water and refresh the plants of God therefore be faithful in following the light and yielding up to the pure obedience to what the light makes manifest though it be never so small or foolish to worldly wisdom for that which stumbles at little things will never obey greater and whilst you are disobedient to the light after convincement of any fin you not turning from that sin which the light of Christ makes manifest and reproves for it you are still in the same nature with the world under the same condemnation being condemned by the light in your own consciences Therefore every one be faithful according to your measures and so in love and joy you will be kept in the unity of the spirit and bond of peace and grow up in the vine as lively plants and encrease in grace until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man even to the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ Take heed of reasoning and consulting withflesh and blood for that betrayes the simplicity for many have been convinced of the Truth and tender and honest desires and a true love raised in them by hearing of the sound or declaration of Truth but not abiding in that love to wait in the Cross of Christ but reasoning with flesh and blood they have lost their tenderness and simplicity and those true desires are choaked and the iniquity got up and their love grown cold and such though they may come to your meetings Yet are dead barren empty and possessed with a dull and sluggish drowfie spirit when others are feeding and sitting in peace and rest under their own vine having oyl in their vessels these careless ones are ready to starve and are weary in waiting when words are not ministred I say unto all such repent and fear the living God and cause not the holy Name of our God to be blasphemed amongst the Heathen return to your first love and wait in patience until refreshment come into your souls from the presence of the Lord. And all you dearly beloved ones who keep your garments white and clean you are as my own life and dear unto me as the Apple of mine eye with you I am present in the spirit of pure love though in the body I be absent from you Dear hearts let my bowels be refreshed to hear of your faithfulness and growth in the truth that the labour and travel of the Messengers of the Lord may not be in vain but that we may rejoyce in our labours and see the fruits springing up to the glory of God this will be our joy and your comfort So all of you in patience wait until the work of the Lord be perfected in you turn not to the right hand nor to the left but keep in the plain way that leads to life eternal meet often together accordingly as you have been directed and when you are met together wait upon God in his pure fear with the loins of your minds girt up that his voice you may hear and his counsel receive and stand in so shall your meetings be for the better and not for the worse and your strength renewed though there be no sound of words spoken to your outward ears yet coming once to taste of the sweetness of the love of God you will find the union more pure more dear and more neer then pen or tongue can declare for if there be a sweetness and a refreshment to hear words as I know there is when they are spoken from the pure life and spirit of the Lord then much more is there sweetness and more pure refreshment in the spirit of the Lord from whence the words do proceed and all words and writings given forth from the spirit are to bring to the spirits worship this is the sum and the end of all the shadows and carnal observances to know God and to worship him in Spirit and in truth according as it is written for there is no man knowes the things of God but the spirit of God so without the spirit guiding and teaching all words and writings will but little avail onely serve to add to the condemnation of all those that are hearers but are not doers of the Word of God Therefore every one retire your selves into your inward habitations and wait upon God in the manifestation of his spirit as you have received and as the pure spirit of the Lord doth move in any of you so be obedient either to act or speak for the Word of the Lord is not limited but if any one have the Word of the Lord let him speak it faithfully for you may all prophesie one by one and if any thing be revealed to another that stands by let the first hold his peace quench not the spirit for it is my desire that all the Lords people were Prophets but let all flesh be silent I charge you by the Lord and none to speak before the Lord for that is but as chaff and what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord is not my word as a fire and as a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces So all dear friends wait that the Word of the Lord you may feel within you and tast of it which is quick and powerful and cuts down sin and removes the earth and breaks the hard heart and purifies it and purges the conscience from dead works and so the body is made a holy Temple for the Lord to dwell in as it is written I will dwell in them and walk in them I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore saith he come forth and be ye separate touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty All mind the call of a loving Father and be obedient to his voice that you may be heirs of the promise and have a right unto the tree of life and live and reign with the Lord God and the Lamb and sing the songs of deliverance praises and haleluja's for ever and ever The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and teach you to live soberly and righteously and establish you in the truth that your words and actions may be gracious and savory proceeding from the grace of God that you may have salt in your selves to savour withal no more to be tossed to and fro with mens doctrines but be built upon the rock of ages even Jesus Christ the light of the World the same to day as yesterday and shall continue the same forever The peace of God which passeth understanding keep your hearts and minds up to God in love and unity all to grow that God may delight to do you good and to dwell amongst and his pure power to compass you about 〈◊〉 keep you upright and single-hearted This so large an Epistle with my own hand have I wriâ—ten unto you because my love is enlarged toward you The Lord God Almighty breath forth his spirit upon you and guide you in his pure wisdom that with chearfulness you may run the race set before you Faint not 〈◊〉 the way but be ye faithful unto death and you shall have 〈◊〉 Crown of life Read this with a meek and sober spirit in the fear of the Lord when in his name you are met together For friends in the Truth in the West parts of England or else where it may come Written from the movings of the Lord as I was directed by his spirit by your dear brother in the Lord who is a Labourer in his Vineyard Known to you by a nearer name then Alexander Parker THE END