Fourthly Observe Christ calls those that were to be fed Lambs and Sheep which signifies they were not of a Woolfish or Dogish Nature or Spirit that is Bitter Cruel and Ravenous but as Lambs and Sheep they were meek and â—uâ—et Oh that all the professors of the Light of Christ within were such then would not some of them cause such dishonour to the Lord as they do neither would they cause such grief and travel to the faithful Labourers in the Gospel of Peace as they do Again Paul writ to Timothy thus viz. take heed unto thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them for in doeing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 1 Tim. 16. read the Chapter throughout The same Apostle to the Church of the Thessalonians writ thus viz. Now we Command you Bretheren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition which ye received of us c. 2 Thess 3. 6. Again he writ thus viz. We Exhort you Brethren warn them that are unruly or disorderly Comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient towards all men I Charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy Brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen 1 Thess 5. 14 to the end And to the Thessalonians again he saith in his second Epistle viz. for we hear that there are some among you which walk Disorderly working not at all but are busi-bodies Now them that are such we Command and Exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with Quietness they Work and Eat their own Bread but ye Brethren be not Weary in well Doing and if any man obey not our word by this Epistle Note that man and have no Company with him that he may be ashamed yet count him not as an Enemy but Admonish him as a Brother Now the Lord of Peace himself give you peace always by all meanes the Lord be with you all 2 Thess 3. 11 to the End Observe here if any of these to whom Paul wrote and to whom he Charges his Epistle to be Read should have called his Epistle his rotten Orders his Edicts mans Prescriptions Imposition upon Conscience Innovations or Apostacy and such like could he or any other of the faithful in Christ Jesus have owned such therein to be Brethren in the Unity and fellowship of the Gospel or could he or they have owned such words and sayings aâ— these to be the fruit of the Divine Light and Spirit of Christ within as applyed tâ— the faithful in Christ Jesus Oh Certainly Nay Concerning the form of the Apostles Doctrine c. The Apostle writ thus to the beleiving Obedient Romans viz. But God be thanked ye have obeyed from the heart that forme of Doctrine which was delivered unto you Note here that it was the Apostles Joy that they obeyed that forme of sound Doctrine which was delivered to them for this he thanked God he was not of the mind of some who formerly as also some of late were and have been who under the profession of the Light within and its teaching have spoken preached or written that the way of Gods People must or ought or may be as the way of a Serpent upon a rock or as the way of a ship on the Sea which leaves noe formâ— or Impression behind them this neither was nor is the way of Gods People either under his Law or Gospel but the way of an Adulterous woman as it is written Prov. 30. 19 20. And further observe Stedfastness of the true Christians in the Apostles Doctrine viz. And they Continued Stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship Acts 2. 42. Moses the man of God and the holy Prophets Christ and his holy Apostles left good forms of Doctrine in sound words behind them under the several Dispensations of God in which they Lived which is contained in the holy Scriptures of Truth which form of sound Words and Doctrines are both Comfortable and Profitable to the man of God in this day and will be to the People of God in Ages to come and it is gross Darkness and Spiritual Blindness that is come upon them who have spoken Preach or believe that the way of Gods People must be as the way of a Serpent on a Rock or as the way of a Ship in the Sea which leaves now Impresion or form behind it It were to be desired ineed that the Devil and Wicked men might leave â—â— form or Impression of their wickedness behind them seeing their wicked formes others are Apt to follow them in to their own hurt and danger of Eternal Ruine God Almighty in his own Appointed time will root out and destroy all the wicked formes of Imaging speaking and Acting wickedly which the Devil in whom there is no Truth hath led men and women into by which he hath led them to destroy themselves and each other Concerning the Commands of the Apostles of Christ whiâ—h they gave not of Themselves or by their own Power but by and in His Power Wisdom Strength and Authority for they were His Ambassadors over them He Reigned in them He spake and gave Commands who is Head of His Church and One in the Male and Female THe Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Corinth concerning the Things that were Not in good Order amongst them writing of many things in his First Epistle to them in the 14 Chapter concludes thus If any Man thinks himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him know that the things That I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. Let all Things be done Honestly Desently and in Order vers â—7 and 40. Again the Apostle writing to the Church of the Thessalonians writ thus viz. We beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as you have Received of us how you ought to walk and please God so you would abound more and more for you know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus for this is the Will of God even your Sanctification That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honour Not in the Lusts of Concupiscence as other Gentiles that know not God that No Man go beyond and defraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the Avenger of such as we have forewarned and testified for God hath not called us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness He therefore who despiseth despiseth not Man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thess 4. 1. to the 9th Again the Apostle Paul writes thus to the Thessalonians viz. We have Confidence in the Lord touching you that you both do and will do the things which we Command you Now we Command you Brethren that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh Disorderly and not after the Traditions or Ordinances which ye
do not see those things required of them or believe them to be their duty and because they do not see the practice of those things to be their duty or required of them therefore they oppose Friends in the practice of them What these things are these Opposers know and the Faithful who are opposed by them therein know them also They are not things which are evil or scandalous or of evil same or report amongst serious sober persons we are not afraid to bring them to the Light they are practised by many thousands in Unity to their comfort and tends to preserve both young and old sweet and orderly in their Marriages and in the rest of their Conversations and is for the Relief of the Poor Widows and Fatherless Children Some have done hurt in their selfish and wilful striving against these things and when they have done the hurt they would lay the blame upon the things which they strive against and the Instruments who have and do incourage those things And thus they judge unrighteously the Innocent and justifying themselves who are guilty Again the Apostle exhorted saying Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report If there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise think on these things These things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Philip. 4. 8 9. Observe that Meeting together in the Love Fear of Almighty God to take care of his glory in providing for the Poor Widows and Fatherless Children and others who have need of help assistance among us in their bodily Weakness Temptations Trials and Exercises is good is honest is Just is lovely is of good report and is worthy of praise These things are done in our Meetings both by Male and Female Such Meetings have the vertuous Presence of the Lord God them Such Meetings God doth gather own uphold and justifie by his powerful presence in the midst of them Again In those Meetings care is taken that such who profess the truth as it is in Christ Jesus and walk amongst us do proceed in their Marriages sweetly in good order according to the example of holy men and women of God in former time and in our days those proceedings are briefly though plainly touched at in the Scriptures of Truth Again In those Meetings care is taken that those whose proceedings in relation to Marriage are not as they ought to be that such be admonished that they may come into a right sense of the dishonour they bring to God thereby that they may repent and condemn the same and give glory to God therein that they may obtain forgiveness at his hand and that his People whom they have grieved by their unfaithfulness therein may be comforted in seeing this good Work of God wrought in them Again In these Meetings care is taken that those who profess the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus and walk amongst us do in their Conversations walk orderly as becomes the Gospel that no Professor thereof wrong another or any other person whomsoever in any matter or thing whatsoever This is endeavoured by the faithful Children of God Children of Light both Male and Female in their particular and distinct and also in their more general Meeting as much as in them lieth And where any professing the Truth amongst us do or have done the contrary care hath been and is to labour with them in the love of God and Meekness and Patience which Christ Jesus the meek and lowly Lamb of God hath taught us to bring them into a right sense of the dishonour they have brought to God by their evil doings and that they might repent of and sensually judge themselves for the same that so through unfeigned Repentance and forsaking the same they might obtain Forgiveness of their sins at the hand of God for the Lord God who is merciful delighteth not in the destruction of the sinner but rather that he should repent and turn from the evil of his ways and live and so come into unity with his tender People Again In these Meetings the faithful in Christ Jesus do watch one over another in Love to be helpful one to another in their Temptations Tryals and Afflictions labouring to build up each other in the holy Faith which works by Love as the Apostle saith herein they manifest their love one to another according to Christs command Their love is without dissimulation by which they are known to be the Disciples of Christ in fulfilling the Royal Law of Love in his Divine Light according the Scriptures of Truth Again in those Meetings care is taken that the Professors of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Teachings of his Divine Light within do walk in the Light which they make profession of that according to Christs command their Light may so shine before men that they may see their good works in Christ Jesus and glorifie our Father which is in Heaven that as the Salt of the Earth we may always keep that heavenly â—avour which God in Christ hath given us and that we may grow in it more and more that therein we may be a good savour both in them that are saved and in them that perish even as the Apostle exhorted All the before mentioned things are true honest just good virtuous lovely and of good report worthy of praise Hereby God is honoured and his children profited benefited comforted edified and built up in unfeigned Love Peace and sweet Unity to his praise and glory who is over all Heaven and Earth worthy of Honour Glory Dominion and Praise now and for ever more Amen Observe that which opposeth condemneth and â—â—orneth the faithful in Christ Jesus in these their services and labour of love is neither true just honest lovely virtuous â—or oâ— good report neither is it worthy of praise but the contrary Therefore all you who profess to be led and guided by the Light of Christ within you in the Light of Christ Jesus I tell you that his Light in you will not lead any of you to oppose any of the good things before mentioned And where any person professing to be led by the Light of Christ within do oppose any of the before-mentioned Meetings or the aforesaid good services in them it is Darkness and not the Light of Christ which so leads and perswades them He that was a Liar from the beginning hath deceived such Oh that they might see his Snare and come out of it this is our tender desire for them for their eternal good The Lord God who is Light in whom there is no Darkness at all said by the mouth of his holy Prophet Wo unto them that call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness Wo unto them that are wise
have done before them until God cut them off in his Anger as he hath done such like already My dear Friends you who have anciently been turned to the Divine Light of Christ who have and do walk in it you know what I have here briefly touched at is true and you in this divine Light may see the Old Enemy of our Peace pure Christian Fellowship Unity at work against the same under a Profession of the Light to darken and draw persons from it into the works of Darkness And thus as in the Apostles days he hath and doth transform himself as like an Angel of Light as he can how should he appear like an Angel of Light if he should in words deny the Light of Christ Within Man and Woman The Apostle writing of false Apostles saith thus viz. For such False Apostles are deceitful Workers and fashion themselves like unto the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an Angel of Light Therefore is it no great thing though his Ministers fashion themselves as though they were the Ministers of Righteousness whose end shall be according to their Deeds Thus 't is rendered in 2 Cor. 10. Old Translation Printed in 1566. O consider of it all such whom it concerns And how should the False Apostles in the True Apostles days have transformed themselves like unto them if they should have in Words denied the Light of Christ Within though in Works they did Seeing Christ's Command was and is to believe in the Light and walk in at that Men and Women might then may now and hereafter be Children of the Light as the faithful Followers of the Light then were and now are The great Message and Work of John Baptist and the Apostles Paul John Peter and the rest was to bear witness of the Light and to turn People to it that they might all believe in it and obey and walk therein that they might be saved Now for Satan to send his Apostles or Preachers amoâ—gst us to seek to deceive us if they should come blaspheming against the Light of Christ Within mocking and scoffing at it as many dark Preachers and Professors of this Age do who have been bred up in Darkness and Ignorance from their Youth who yet never understood what the Light of Christ Within is he were not like to prevail upon those who have been turned to it and have had their Hearts tendered and in some measure opened by it But if he come under a Profession of it and his Ministers confessing it and in words owning of it professing to be taught and led by it in their talking of it and in the rest of their Conversation especially if they do keep out of the common gross Debaucheries that are in the World then they are like to prevail upon such who do not faithfully watch in the Light which maketh all things manifest as they are Christ hath commanded us to Watch and pray lest we fall into the Temptation of the Devil He said to his Disciples What I say unto one I say unto all watch The holy Prophet said I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak Peace to his People and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly O blessed are all they who so do they are the Children of the Wisdom that comes down from above their Eye being kept single to God they are kept by his mighty Power through Faith so that they shall not stumble nor walk in the crooked ways of Satan which leads to the Chambers of Death even to take hold on Hell My Friends you who are anciently convinced of the blessed Truth as 't is in Christ Jesus our Lord and have kept your Habitations therein some of you may remember what great Evils some run into when they made a Profession of the Light of Christ Within and when they had so done and were reproved for it and admonished to repent and reform they would tell us We must leave them to their own Measures of the Light of Christ and what they did they were justified therein by it And such would say The Light Within is sufficient to teach us will not you leave us to it And when some had acted things which were evil and scandalous they would say That they were justified by the Light in them They would have persuaded us that the Light of Christ Within did lead them into those evil and confused disorderly Practices which they run into But the Lord Jesus Christ by his Light shewed us plainly that those things which they said the Light Within taught them led them into and justified them in were the Works and Fruits of Darkness proceeding through them from Satan who had betrayed and deceived them as he did Eve And as we then withstood those who blasphemed against the Divine Light of Christ Within by seeking to father their Works of Darkness upon it by rendering it the Author thereof so in the Light of Christ we do withstand those vain Talkers of the Light at this time whose Walking and Works are in Darkness and in the Light of Christ we testifie to the sufficiency of it against all Priests and Professors whatsoever who blaspheme against it calling it a Natural Insufficient Light c. Take notice Oh my Friends That Satan the Prince of Darkness and his dark wicked prophane Generation or Offspring long have and at this day do profess the great true and living God Christ Jesus whom he hath sent in Words but in Works they do deny both the Father and the Son And although Satan the Prince of Darkness may in some of his confused dark Instruments confess to and profess the Light of Christ Within yet he is still Satan the Adversary the Prince of Darkness and his Professing and Talking of the Light is only with design the more readily to prevail upon and destroy those who through Love to the Light delight to hear it spoken of and commended And Satan and his dark Instruments have done more harm to some such in their false feigned Profession Commendation of the Light than ever they did or could do by their direct opposition to it and blasphemous words against it My dear Friends Consider what our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles have testified concerning the only true God and left the same upon Record in the Scriptures of Truth Christs Testimony is That God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth The Apostle John's Testimony is That God is Light and in him there is no darkness at all If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another c. Observe that this living true God who is a Spirit and Light is one God his Light
nor allowes of Oh Consider the sayings of Christ Strait is the Gate and Narrow is the Way that Leads to life c. and broad is the Gate and wide is the Way that Leadeth unto destruction and many there be that go in thereat but Labour ye To Enter in at the strait gate Many Ancient Faithful friends who have kept their habitations in the Light and their first Love therein to God the fountain of it and one to another have not forgotten what Exercisâ— was gone through Twenty Years ago and upward through the unsound Notions Doctrinâ— and Practices of some who not only professed the Light within but Largly talked and Preached in Commendation of it when they were out of it and in their works Enemies to it Oh how were some at unawars beguiled through their fair words fine speeches in their feigned Commendation of and in words Magnifying the Light within they told us in those dayes They were come to a greater Dispensation and Glory then we were in and they told us that we were in the form without the power and told us God would break our form and scatter us but they proved false Prophets for God hath broken them and scattered them but â—reserved and kept his People who have been kept by his Mighty power through Faith in the true form of Godliness while divers of them with their high and vain pretentions have not only been estranged from the Life and Power of Godlyness but also from the very form thereof turning into the Liberty and Lusts of the flesh and so became Enemies to the Cross of Christ whose minds went downward into the Earth and Earthly things from the Heavenly the Latter-end of such we have seen to be worse than their beginning though many that were so subtâ—ly prevailed upon and hurt in those days came through the tender Mercy of God to see the snare in which they were taken and came out of it and as it was then so will it be with respect to divers who through â—uâ—tâ—lty and at unawars for want of watchfulness in the Holy fear of God have been of late years and yet are ensnared and entangled as others were before them tho some whom Satan hath made use of to ensnare them may not return to the Lord by Repentance but be cut off in his displeasure And oh my friends and all you that profess the Light within to be your Teacher Consider doth not some at this time who profess the same Light within to be their Teacher pay Tithes to a Priest or â—riests go to a Pâ—â—â—â—â— to be married or be married by him use the unchristian Customs and fashons of the People of the Nation in their unsound speech and vain Complyments and some in their superfluous and needâ—â—s â—apparâ—â— and some in swearing and some in seeking to and complying with and trusting in the Arm of flesh for their security and do not these Cry we must be left to â—ur Liberty in these things We must havâ— Liberty of Concience and have Not some of them presumptuously said that the spirit or Light of God might allow them to do so and to cover and justifie themselves in this unchristian Liberty have not some of them sought to strain and wrest the afore cited sayings of the Apostles Concerning eating of Herbs Meats and the Observation of days and other parts of the Scripture of Truth Would not some straâ—â— and â—orest these Scriptures in our time to cover themselves in the aforesaid unchristian practices let Gods faithful witness in their own hearts speak in this Matter and let the words that have falen from the Mouthes of some of the professors of the Light within made publick of late Witness against them in this matter The Lord God said by the mouth of his Prophet Wo to the Rebellious Children that take Councell but not of me and that Cover with a Covering but not of my spirit that they may add sin unto sin Isa 30. 1. My tender desires are for all that profess the Light Spirit of God withtin that they may walk in it be covered by it that the woes of God they may Escape but the unruly loose and disorderly professors of it will not Ecape the woes and wrath of God if they do not unfeignedly Repent and amend their doings and Cease from their unchristian deeds which they have done and words which they have spoken against the Lord God Christ and his tender faithful servants who have Anciently and to this day do labour in the Word and Doctrine of the Gospel in turning many from darkness to Light from the power of Satan unto God and for their Preservation Confirmation and Establishment therein Something concerning Christian Order or Order in the Church of Christ THe Apostle writes thus God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints Again he exhorts or commands saying Let all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 33 40. The Apostle James writes thus Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom But if ye have bitter Endyings and Strife in your Hearts glory not and lie not against the Truth This wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensual Devilish for where Envy and Strife is there is Confusion and every evil work but the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of Mercy and of good Fruits without partiality and without hypocrisie and the fruit of Righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace James 3. 13. to the end Again Paul saith Be ye followers of me even as I am of Christ Now I praise you Brethren that ye remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you c. and the rest will I set in order when I come 1 Cor. 11. 1 2 3 4. And again writing to Titus he saith For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Titus 1. 5. read it through Again the Apostle writing to the Church at Corinth saith Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye 1 Cor. 16. 1. Observe here that all things were not set in order at once by the Apostles amongst the Believers and Professors of Christ but as the work of Faith Repentance and Regeneration was wrought in order by degrees even so good outward Order and Government they grew into gradually or by degrees so hath it been and is in our day with those who to the light of Christ are turned who therein wait and more and more follow on to know the Lord such do not build again the things which the Truth in them hath destroyed They
received of us Again the Apostle saith Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether By Word or our Epistles 2 Thess 2. 15. See 2 Thess 3. 4 5. Again he writes to Timothy thus These things Command and teach let no Man dispise thy Youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity See 1 Tim. 4. 11 12. read the Chapter through Again hear what the Apostle Peter saith unto the Saints in Light viz. This Second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of Remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the Last days Scoffers walking after their own Lusts c. Again Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Errour of the Wicked fall from your own Stedfastness but grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To Him be Glory both now and forever Amen 2 Peter 3. 1 2 3 and 17 18. Reader who ever thou art this I say to thee in the Presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all Hearts before whom all things are naked and bare who judgeth righteously That I do Not bring the Commands Ordinances or Doctrines given and spoken by the Apostles of Christ with Any Design to wrong strein or wrest them or any of them to exâ—lt any Friend Brother or Brethren Sister or Sisters above or out of their Place in which Christ the one Head hath set them in his Body his Church or in anywise to exalt them or any oâ—e of them as Lords over Gods Peoples Faith which our Lord Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of by which Faith they live to God and please Him But my design therein is to Exalt Christ the Head â—n them All and over them All who is One in the Male and Female He hath given us a Command to Learn of Him saying Lâ—â—â—n of me I am meek and Low in heaâ—t and ye sâ—â—ll find rest to your Souls â—f him we have learned Humility tâ—ue 〈◊〉 of Mind in this we have found abundance oâ— Peace Joy Comfort and Rest to our Sâ—â—ls This to us is of much more value thâ—n all the Riches and Glory of this World â—ere is the Pleasant and comfortable Dwelling Place here we desire to dwell forever The Humble God doth teach he guides the Meek in Judgment and cloaths them with Salvation Eternal â—lory be given to Him for the same My Design in bringing these things to thy View is to shew that the Apostles who preach't the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as it 's written did in the Movings and Authority of the same give forth those Commands Ordinances and Doctrines unto the Believers in the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light by which Light they saw and understood the Truth Soundness and Serviceableness of them and by the same were they led Not to Oppose them and speak Evil of them but to Obey and practise them Now those that profess to be governed by the same Holy Ghost Spirit or Light within if they possess what they profess therein they will see that the same Holy Ghost is In some measure given to some in our Day and that by it Some are made Able Ministers and thereby have been Moved to give out Soâ—â— Commands Not in their own Name but in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ the chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls and such Professors of the Light who Poâ—â—ess what they Profess and dilligently attend upon God in the same they will herein See and thereby be Led to Obey and practise those things Not as the Precepts Traditions or Doctrines of Men But as the Commands Precepts and Doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gives and speaks by the Mouths of his Servants which answers that Light of Christ in the Consciences of his People And such who reject them they therein reject God and Christ These things so Commanded are Not contrary to the Commands of Christ and his Apostles recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but Agreeable to them in the fulfilling the precious Promises of God spoken by the Mouths of his Holy Prophets who said I will pour forth my Spirit upon all Flesh c. For Christ said to his Disciples When they shall lead you and deliver you up take no thought before hand what you shall speak neither do you premeditate but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour that speak ye For it is Not you that speak but the Holy Ghost Mark 31. 11. In the Apostles and Primitive Christians observe the Holy Ghost that spake to the Magistrates and Rulers that persecuted them the same spake in them to the Church of Christ and gave forth Commands Precepts Ordinances c. And the Believers unto whom they wrote having a measure of the same Holy Ghost were thereby given to understand the same and thereby led to the Obedience thereof Again the Apostle Paul said unto the Saints You know how we Exhorted and Comforted and Charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that you would walk worthy Of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory for this Cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it Not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2. 11 12 13. Observe here the Apostle commends the Saints for receiving the Word or Testimony of God by him and others not as the Word of Man or Men but as it was indeed the Word and Testimony of the Lord which wrought Effectually in them as he saith And as â—t was then so is it now God having given by his Servants his Word his Commands and Doctrines he hath by his powerful enlightning Spirit of Life opened many to receive the same Not as the Word Doctrines Precepts Decrees Edicts or Orders of One Man Many Men or Any Men but as the Word Commands and Precepts and Doctrines of the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ Glory yea glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for the same The Objection that some make concerning the practice of some things in the Church of Christ at this day is because they were not practised when we were first turned to the Light and came into the belief and profession of it This Objection is fully answered before in this Epistle where the divers growths and statures of Gods people are written of But the great Objection that is used by some at this day is That they An Objection answered
Gideon and of Baruck and of Sampson of Jephtha and of David also and of Samuel and of the Prophets c. see Heb. 10. 38 39. Read the 11 Chapter through Habbakkuk 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Again the Apostle Peter writ to the Saints concerning Faith vâ—z Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation see 1 Pet. 1. 5. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering Heb. 10. 23. Now the Apostle James who writ of this Faith writ also of the works and fruits of it which the rest also did hear what he saith in this matter viz. What doth it prâ—fit my Brethren though a Man say he hath Faith can Faith save him If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of dayly Food and one of you say unto them Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not thâ—se things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Even so Faith if it hath not works is dead being alone yea a man may say Thou hast Faith and I have works shew me thy Faith without thy works and I will shew thee my Fath by my works Thou believest there is one God c. But wilt thou know oh vain man that Faith without works is dead Was not Abraham our Father justified by Works seest thou how Faith wrought with his Works and by works was Faith made perfect and the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and was imputed to him for Righteousness and he was called the friend of God ye see then how that by works a Man is justified and not by Faith only for as the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also James 2. 14 to the end Again the Apostle John writ to the Children of Light concerning this Faith viz. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith 1 John 5. 4. Again Peter Exhorts those who were come to some degree of this Faith saying Give all diligence add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg and to Knowledg Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that laâ—keth these things is blind c. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if you do these things you shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 4 11. Again the Apostle Paul writing to the believing Thessalonians said unto them We are bound to thank God always for you Brethren as it is meet because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth 2 Thess 1. 3. Again Paul writ to the Galatians viz. Knowing that a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified but if while we seek to be justified by Christ we our selves are found sinners is Christ therefore the Minister of sin God forbid for if I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a Transgressor for I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the â—on of God c. Gal. 2. 16 17 18 19 20. Again he writ thus to the believing Ephesians viz. We are Gods â—â—â—kmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained we should walk in them Ephesians 2. 10. The same Apostle writing to the believing Philipians writ thus viz. For it is God which worketh in you â—â—th to will and to do of his own good pleasure do all things without murmuring and disputing that you may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World Philip. 2. 13 14 15. Again he writ to the Ephesians thus viz. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be Glory in the Church throughout all Ages world without end Amen Eph. 3. 20 21. Again the Author to the Hebrews writing to them saith viz. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. O all you who profess your selves to be Christians and to be led and guided by the Spirit and Light of Christ within seriously consider of the faithful sayings of these faithful Apostles and Servants of Christ concerning Faith in God and Christ and the Gospel and Christian works which God in Christ works in all those who comes to the Baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and Fire which burns up the works of Satan to with Sin who destroys the old man with his deeds which are corrupt and which renews and restores man again into the likness or image of God who created him All who come to drink into the one Spirit and be Baptized by it into the one Body come thereby to be made of one Heart and Soul and to Worship and Serve God with one consent these have not Faith without Works which is dead but they have the living Faith which God hath wrought in them which by the Apostle is called the Faith of the Operation or Work of God and with this living Faith they have the living Works and Fruits which Faith and Works prove them to be the generation and living off-spring of God Further observe How sweetly all the before-mentioned Apostles in their sayings are in Harmony and Unity concerning this living Faith and its living Works or Fruits Again observe Where many Professors of Faith and Christianity have been grosly mistaken concerning Faith and Works The Apostle Paul in some of his Epistles writing much against the upholding of the shadowy works of the Law after Christ had ended them by his one offering many Professors of Christianity of latter times have been willing to exclude all works as with respect to Salvation or Acceptance with God under the Gospel dispensation though the holy Apostle Exhorted the Believers in Christ to work out their