Philip. 3. 15 16 17. Observe here It was the Apostles belief that if any among the Believers in the Light were of another mind than he was in any thing that he in the Light practised God would reveal the same unto them also they abiding stedfast with the Light to which they were turn'd and as he believed so do we believe in this matter 'T is possible that some persons who are turned to the Light of Christ within who have believed and in some measure obeyed the same who in many things have Unity with the most antient grown and establish'd of the Children of the Light yet in some things may not be so opened and clear in their Understandings as to see them and joyn in Faith in the practice of them We believe and therefore say That if such abide in the Light faithful to what they know God will reveal these things unto them And we believe and therefore say They keeping in the Light it will keep them from contending against or opposing others in the practice of that which God has revealed to them and required of them What is not of Faith is sin as saith the Apostle Such therefore that are weak in the Faith we ought not to reject but to receive though not to doubtful Disputations but to hear their infirmities or weaknesses to be good Examples to them and to make intercession to God for them and to hold forth Truth to them in sound Doctrine that they may be strengthened with his glorious power in their Inward man and that he may increase their Faith and more and more fill them with that Wisdom and Knowledge which is pure and peaceable from above But observe where persons have been long convinced and are become Teachers of others and by their so doing would be look'd upon to be Elders wise and strong shall under the profession of the Light oppose and teach others to oppose the faithful Followers of Christ in things which they practise in the Faith of Christ accompanied with his Power and a good Understanding This Case is greatly differing from the before-mentioned For these will not grant that their refusing the practice of some things and the opposing the Practisers thereof proceeds from weakness or short-sightedness through their Infancy in the knowledge of the Truth Much less that it proceeds from Apostacy and Rebellion the latter of which is true upon some in our Age but these give out reviling Speeches against the Faithful calling them Apostates and many other evil names which I here omit to mention having no pleasure to repeat them Observe we are of the Apostles Faith and Judgment who writ thus to the Church at Galatia Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ See Gal. 6. 1 2. read the Chapter through Christ our Souls Bishop hath taught us how to seek to restore those that commit Offences against him and his People and several hath been so sought and recovered out of the Snare in which they were taken and others so sought have not been gained but have persisted in their evil doing until God has ceased any longer to strive with them through his Servants and then his Servants have witnessed against them and declared their disunion with them according to Christs command and some such being declared against as aforesaid have appeared in great wrath against us like the raging Waves of the Sea foming out their own shame but we pity them and should greatly rejoyce on their behalf if they could yet find a place of repentance and return for 't is true which Christ saith Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. Again it is true which the Apostle James writ Brethren if any of you do erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Again to them that say they do not see as aforesaid hear what Christ saith by his Angel to the Church in Laodicea viz. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I counsel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white rayment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see as many as I love I rebuke chasten Be zealous therefore and repent behold I stand at the door and knock If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me c. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 3. 14. to the end 1. Observe this Church or Congregation was gathered into the Profession of Christ and his Light within 2. Observe how greatly they were mistaken concerning their own state and condition a most gross and lamentable Errour were they in as the before-cited words of Christ do plainly shew They were puffed up with Self-conceit that they wanted nothing when in reality and truth they Wanted all things that should have rendered them to be that which they professed to be Namely such who were Compleat in Christ Jesus the Head of His Church who is the fulness who Cloaths his Members with the Robes of his own Righteousness and fills them with the bright Beams of his Divine Light so that they see clearly and he fills their Hearts with the Riches of his Grace in the abundance of which their Hearts and Souls pour forth Praises and Thanksgiving to the Lord God and the Lamb who is Worthy for evermore 3. Observe Though their State was so miserable yet in his tender Mercy he calls them to Repentance Oh consider this thou Back-slider whoever thou art and let the sence thereof seize upon thee and break thy Heart Repent and Turn to the Lord with whom is forgiveness 4. Observe How Christ charges this Congregation to be blind and being blind they could not see their State as it was but in their blind Self-conceit said It was What it was not 5. Observe That these blind Self-conceited ones while they remained such could not see that to be their Duty which the Children of Light saw to be theirs 6. Observe That we do not here read that these blind self-conceited Laodiceans did so oppose the Children of Light in their Faithful Obedience to it as some do oppose in our day we do not read they called them Apostates 7. Observe That some blind Self-conceited ones in our Age have appeared worse than they who are not contented with that ungodly
that is faithful in a little I will make him Ruler over much The Path of the Just is as the shining light which shines more and more unto the perfect day as 't is written And again The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven days c. Now if those weak ones with whom the Primitive Christians bore in these things should have called them Aâ—â—states and Innovaâ—ors and have called their Epistles rotten Orders Mâ—ns Prescriptions and Edicts and have judged them in their Christian freedom because they did not continue with them in Bondage in Eating Herbs Observation of Days Years and Times and should have cryed up their Jewish bondage to have been Christian Liberty and themselves to be strong Christians and the others to be weak or darkned and Apostatized Would the Apostles and Primitive Christians have owned them as Brethren in Vnity and have had Fellowship with them in their so doing Yea or Nay Let Gods faithful Witness in all that know it answer this Question Oh! my Friends I am grieved in Spirit because of the hardness wilfulness and self-conceitedness of some whose work at this day is to unsettle the minds of Gods people by drawing them from their diligent attendance unto the Spirit Light and Voice of God in their own hearts and souls and in the mouths of his faithful Servants which Spirit Light and Voice in their hearts and in the mouths of his Servants is not contradictory to it self in the one or the other after them into ungodly jealousies evil surmises thoughts and imaginations words and actions by which evil work several persons whom the Lord in mercy had gathered near to himself have been drawn out from the simplicity which is in Christ into prejudice evil jealousies and also into some practices which are inconsistent with the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus divers of whom the Lord hath in mercy given the sense thereof and through his righteous Judgments upon the evil hath restored them into Unity with himself and with his tender people who in his tender bowels have travelled for their restauration who now greatly rejoyce in their return Glory yea Glory to his Eternal Name for the same and that for evermore 'T is my Faith that God will disintangle some who are yet held by the aforesaid Snares for whose return my Soul travels in Prayers and Supplications to God Faithful is that saying of the Apostle Rom. 14. 22. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing which he alloweth Again he saith Now I beseech you Brethren by our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no division among you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment For it hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren by them which are of the House of Cloe that there are Contentions among you Now this I say that every one of you saith that I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided Was Paul Crucified for you Or were you Baptized in the name of Paul Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of God For it is written I wâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—he wisdom of the wise c. We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling Block and unto the Greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God c. 1 Cor. 1. 10 to 19. Oh! my dear Friends and all you who profess the Divine Light of Christ to be your Teacher seriously consider of these things My earnest desire for you all is that you may all diligently wait in the Light of Christ therein to receive a right understanding thereof for if you therein diligently wait you will see that it was not the Apostles desire or pleasure that they should contend or be in strife for Apollo or Cephas or Him or for them one against another but that they should all exalt and magnifie Christ who died for them and rose again to govern and lead them in righteousness and to uphold and justifie them in the same And also consider that he Preached not the Gospel with the wisdom of words or the words which mans wisdom teacheth lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect but he Preached the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven in the words which it taught him that their Faith who heard him might not stand in the wisdom of those words which mans wisdom teacheth but in the power of God for as he saith in 1 Cor. 4. 19 20. I will come to you shortly if the Lord will and will know not the â—peeâ—h or words of them which are puffed up but the Power for the Kingdom of God is not in 〈◊〉 but in poâ—â—r neither doth it stand in meats or drinks but in righteousness and peace and â—â—y in the Holy Ghost into which Kingdom God hath gathered and is gathering them that have or yet do or hereafter may in sincerity Hunger and Thurst after it Again consider the Apostle took great Care in his Preaching that the Cross of Christ might Not be made of none Effect that those who were come to bear it might Not be weary of it and Cast it off because of the offence taken by the wicked at them for their Obedience thereunto nor for any other cause for it is true as he writ the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us it is the power of God and as it was then so it is now he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit and they that live godlike on in the likeness of God in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Again Consider oh my friends and all you who profess the Light of Christ within to be your Teacher Ruler and Guide what is the cause that some professing the Light within make such a Noyse against that wholsome Method or Order which the God of Order hath brought forth amongst us in taking Care of his Glory and the good one of another that the professors of the Gospel and its Light may walk Orderly in the Light as becomes the same that their Light might so shine before men that they might see their good works and glorifie their Father which is in Heaven according to Christs Command Is it not obvious and plain that their Noise and Clamour is because they seek a Liberty which Christ and the bearing of the Cross Admits not
sons and daughters of God is a work that is carried on by Degrees as Christ hath shewed and set it forth in many Parables shewing the smalness of its beginning as to the sence and apprehension of the Creature in whom it is begun The Kingdom of God in the unregenerate is Compared to a grain of Wheat cast into the Earth which first suffers or dyes but in its suffering or dying brings forth the fruit of its own kind first the blade then the ear then the full or â—ipe Corn in the Ear It is also Compared to a grain of Musâ—ard Seed cast into the Earth which being small yet in the Appointed season of him that gives the increase brings forth fruit plentifully Again it is Compared to Leaven put in three measures of Meal till the whole was Levened Again it is Compared to a Net cast into the Sea which gather good and bad to the shore and gathers the good into Vessels but casts the bad away Observe still here is a glorious Order in the work of mans Regeneration and Restoration to God Man who is turned from Darkness to Light from Sathans power to God with the Light he is come to see his sin Now he is to wait to know God who is a Consuming fire to sin and wickedness to appear in him to burn up and Consume his Sins to Slay that Dragon or Serpent in him who has led him into Sin and hath kept him in it and caused him to take pleasure in the same Now he is to wait to know the Mighty Liveing Dreadful God to appear in him as a refiners fire and as Fullers soap Now he is patiently to bear the Indignation of the Lord because he hath sinned untill he hath Mercy on him for he will not Contend forever with the Repenting believing Penitent ones because he delights in Mercy Now he that thus believes waits and submits to the Chastising hand of the Lord doth not always Continue under his rebukes Chastisement or Judgment in the midest of Judgment he remembers Mercy to such under Judgment he supports the Spirits of these Contrite ones he strengthens them in this Winter season and he Leads them through it as a man of God hath written Behold the Winter is over and gone the time of Rejoycing is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land Thus they that have set their faces Sion-wards and are travelling with their faces thither-wards go on and grow from glory to glory from strength to strength from one degree in the grace of Christ Jesus unto another untill they appear in Sion in perfect beauty so these are not like a Dwarff that doth not grow for a Dwarff was by the Law of God forbiden to be a Priest and so was a Lepor but such who believe wait and grow as aforesaid are not as the Dwarff or Lepor and Diseased who are all Corrupt from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot and who hath no Health in them as they say but these are come to Christ the Physician of Value yea the saving Health of all Nations as it s written of him though these can do nothing of themselves yet they can do all things through Christ that strengthens them which the Apostle knew and writ of These have put on the Lord Jesus Christ These make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the Lust thereof these are strengthened by Christ who is Gods glorious power and wisdom in their Inward man as it s written these grow strong in the Lord by degrees these put on the whole Armor of God by which they are defended from all the fiery Darts of the Devil these are made Conquerors in Christ who Destroys the Devil and his works in them To these is given the Spirit of Praise instead of that of heaviness these are returned to Sion with songs of diliverance and Everlasting joy amongst these God reigns in and through them he shines to enlighten the dark World which lyes in wickedness Thus it s written Out of Sion the perfection of beauty God hath shined Again the Apostle writing of the Beautiful Order of the work of God in Heaven Earth saith There is one Glory of the Sun and another Glory of the Moon and another Glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another Star in Glory so also is the Resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. Observe here what the Apostle hath written concerning the Different Order of the Sun Moon and Stars in Heaven saith so is the Resurrection of the dead shewing that the several States and Conditions of those whom Christ hath Quickened or raised in some degree from death to life do also differ in their several degrees of growth in Life Stature and Strength and accordingly do differ in their gifts and places and glory and beauty in the Resurrection from Death to Life Christ said to them whom he had Quickened I am come that you might have life and that you may have it more abundantly Againe The Psalmist who was Anointed by God and his appointment both Prophet and King writ thus Praise ye the Lord Praise the Lord from the Heavens Praise him in the heights Praise ye him all ye his Angels Praise ye him all ye his hosts Praise ye him Sun and Moon Praise ye him all ye Stars of Light Praise him ye Heavens of Heavens and ye Waters that be above the Heavens Let them praise the Name of Lord for he commanded and they were Created he hath also Established them forever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass Praise the Lord from the Earth ye Dragons and all deeps Fire and Haile Snow and Vapour Stormy Wind fulfilling his word Mountains and all Hills fruitfull trees and all Cedars Beasts and all Cattle Creeping things and flying Fouls Kings of the Earth and all People Princes and all Judges of the Earth both young Men and Maidens old Men and Children let them Praise the Name of the Lord for his name alone is Excellent his Glory is above the Earth and Heaven c. Pâ—al 148. read it through Here again Observe the great God of Order who in the beginning Created all things in Order and placed them in their Order in Heaven and Earth all which was very good he calls of them in Order by the mouth of his Prophet to praise Magnifie and Glorifie him for whose glory and honour they all were Created good in the beginning Oh vain Man who under the Dark power of Satan has been bred up in thy Transgression as a Wild Asses Colt or as a Wild Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke or thou that hast known the yoke of Christ and cast it off wouldest thou in thy folly limit the Holy one of Israel in the beginning Carrying on and Compleating of his Creating anew in Christ Jesus the fallen degenerated and dead Sons and Daughters of Adam who have believed in his divine Spirit
and Christ and the Divine Light within of living without Sin of Perfection or of perfecting Holiness in Gods Fear yet being out of the Light and Life of Christ in Death and Darkness and the Works and Fruits thereof It is but Death and Darkness in them which talks of Light and Life and Faith Holiness Perfection c. Their talk of these good things with their Mouths is an Abomination to God Almighty while their hearts are far away from him while they are not in the Love and Obedience to God and Christ and his Divine Light they make profession of such profession without Subjection and Obedience God doth reject it is loathsome to him neither can his tender people whom he hath sanctified by his Spirit of Judgment and Burning have unity with these dead talkers nor their dead words and works for Light hath no communion with Darkness though Darkness talk of Light Something concerning Self Separation JVDE the Servant of Christ writ concerning the Self-Separated ones thus viz. they are the RAging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame to whom is reserved the mist of Darkness for ever and Enoch also the seventh from Adam prophesied of those saying Behold the Lord câ—meth in Ten thousands of his Saints mark so it is rendred from the Greek and is so in some English Translations to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodlily they have spoken against him c. these be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the Love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life and of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear hating even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude 13 and 19 to the end see also 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2 Pet 3. 3. Oh my dear Friends seriously consider that as in the Primitive Gospel days there were such Self-separated ones makers of Sects or Parties which caused great grief and deep Exercise to the Faithful in Christ Jesus some such like have been in our Age and some such like yet are who having been convinced of the Truth have come amongst us under the Christian Profession of the Spirit and Light of Christ within who for some time did in some measure follow and obey the Teachings of it but have since turned from it yet keep in a Profession of it these are they who separate themselves without it in opposition to it and the Children of it blessed be God that their number is but small but alas they are too many for we have received the mind of God and Christ and his Apostles whose will was and is that all Men might know the Truth and not only know it but obey it that so they might be saved but alas a few restless spirited Instruments of Satan who under the pretence of the Spirit and Light of Christ make War against the God of Peace against Christ the Prince of Peace and against the Subjects of his Peaceable Kingdom these are in danger to deceive others and bring them to be restless like themselves the Lord in Mercy stop these evil Works and Workers Oh that there might be a place of Repentance yet found by them Oh that they could yet see from whence they are fallen and Repent and come into that simplicity and loving and peaceable frame of mind into which the Truth had once in some measure drawn them Oh! this would be matter of great joy to those whom they in their darkness account their Enemies as some â—loting dark Notionists did the faithful Apostle Paul for his faithful and stedfast Testimony against their Looseness Confusion and Disorder It is my stedfast belief in God that he will not long suffer this Evil Work to go on to the grief of his People and the indangering the loss of Souls but he will plead with these Evil Workers these Serpentine wise and self-conceited he will stop and drive them backward and woe will be to them if they cannot find a place of Repentance which will be hard for some of them to find they have so highly magnified themselves against God his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven but as Jude the Servant of Christ well observed in his Epistle that there was a difference to be put betwixt them who were so gone out into disorder loosness or confusion in his time some no doubt of those were unwarily through the subtilty of Satans Agents drawn from the simplicity honest mindedness and good intention which the Spirit of Truth had wrought in them into ungodly Jealousies and a wrong liberty from their obedience to the Cross of Christ Jude saw there was a Compassion to such and therefore wisely in the Wisdom of God put the Churches in mind of it and we are sensible such there hath been in our day who hath been betrayed and prevailed upon by Satan and his Agents as aforesaid these have been sought in the Love of God and Bowels of Jesus Christ their Advocate with the Father travelling for them in his Faithful ones who hath kept their Habitation in God and we have seen the travels and desires of our Souls answered in their returning into Unity with God and his People through their unfeigned Repentance and Condemnation upon the Spirit of Darkness which led them from God and upon the evil Words and Works it led them into and we believe that there are divers that yet remain in the same Snare for whose return to God we travelin Spir it and Hope that we shall see the Fruit of the Travel of our Souls in the Love and Power of God for their good and shall have cause to rejoyce and praise God for the same Wherefore oh my dear and well beloved Friends who are exercised by these sorts of Evil Agents and their Evil Works under a spacious profession of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ and the Teachings of it All keep in the love of God and in the patience of Jesus Christ let Patience have its perfect work in those your deep Tribulations and sorrowful Exercises fret not because of evil Men nor their evil Works for behold the Judg of Heaven and Earth he sees them and you he will not suffer you to be tryed by them above what he will give you Ability to travel through without hurt and fear without loss or disadvantage to your Eternal Estates if you diligently wait upon him and move speak and act in his Council It is true which was anciently written