all as saith the Apostle see Rom. 3. 24 25. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Again the Apostle Peter said He commanded us to Preach unto the People and to Testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead to him all the Prophets gave witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive Remission of Sins see Acts 10. 42 43. Acts 2. 28. Note Reader The Command which the Apostles received from Christ concerning Remission of sins it was that they should preach the Remission or Forgivness of the sins that were PAST they did NOT receive Command from Christ to preach unto people that they must continue in sin all their Dayes NEITHER did he Command them to preach that he had paid the DEBT for all sins past PRESENT and to COME NO he nor his Apostles never preached this Doctrine this Doctrine proceeds from him whose Kingdom stands in Sin who is the Father of Lyes who first LEADS people into sin then tells them that they can NEVER come out of it while they are on this side the Grave and to encourage and embolden them to continue in sin all their dayes HE tells them Christ has paid the DEBT for it ALL and he tells them that God sees no sin in them the Debt being paid for all c. So tells them that they are the Elect and therefore cannot totally fall c. It s greatly to be Lamented that many do GIVE UP themselves to believe these his Lyes to their own Ruin and Destruction We do say that NOT only the sins which Man and Woman doth commit in their Dark Unbelieving State is forgiven when they come to believe repent but ALSO those who through unwatchfulness negligence fall into some sin after they have believed and Repented if THEY find a place of Repentance so Forgivness this forgiveness also is in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ but we do utterly DENY that God or Christ doth WILL or Ordain that any Man or Woman should live in sin ALL their DAYES upon Earth And those who do continue in sin all their dayes who Repent not who Forsake not this their sin will sink them into the Pit of Everlasting Destruction where there is Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth and when they are THERE they will see how the Devil hath deceived and cheated them and then they will know that Christ hath NOT paid the Debt for all their sins past present and to come but they shall know he hath not paid the Debt for their sins which they do never Repent of for which they must suffer Vengeance of Eternal Fire as a just Reward from the Hand of the Lord God who said Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Concerning Eternal Life JEsus Christ said unto the Unbelieving Jews Search the Scriptures or ye search the Scriptures for in them you think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and YE will NOT come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 39 40. Note Reader Christ told them not that they COULD NOT come unto him but told them that they WOULD NOT come unto him so their NOT coming unto him Christ doth not place upon the fore-ordination or appointment of God but he placeth it upon their CORRUPT SELF-WILL for as it is before expressed in this Book God's will is that all Men might come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be SAVED This is a Gospel Truth spoken by the holy Apostle as he was moved by the holy Ghost Well said the Apostle Peter the Scripture came not in Old Time by the Will of Man but holy men of God gave them forth as they were moved by the holy Ghost or Spirit the holy Scriptures are things of God The Apostle saith What man knoweth the things of a man SAVE the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God know no man but the Spirit of God but that Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. There is two weighty things to be considered and understood from the afore-said Words of Christ the one I have said something to Namely that it was NOT the Fore-appointment or Decree of God which HINDRED those Jews from coming to Christ but their own Corrupt WILL c. for Christ saith That men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him John 5. 23. Christ the Son of God saith I am the Light of the World Mark that he is not the Light of the Saints and true Believers ONLY for he said unto the Saints Ye are not of the World c. but he is the Light of the World that lieth in Wickedness by his Light in their Consciences he doth convince them of their sins and wickedness Now all that honour the Son according to the Will of the Father they do believe this is Doctrine and â—o do believe in the Light where-with he has enlightned them who is the true Light that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the World according to John 1. 9. he said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light He tasted Death for every man as saith the holy Scripture He is a Propitiation not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole World as saith the Apostle John as the Will of God is that all men should believe in the Father so his Will is that all men should believe in the Son and so in believing and obeying both honour the Father and the Son The second thing which I may speak something to upon the foresaid words of Christ concerning the grand Mistake of those Jews who would not come to Christ their Mistake was that they thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures for though the Scripture testifies of him as he saith yet the Scripture doth NO where say that Eternal Life is IN THEM but they do testifie that Life is in HIM Therefore GREAT was their Error who thought to have Eternal Life where it was not to be had and the same Error some are fallen into in our day and their Error in this weighty matter is greatly to be LAMENTED and my Soul with many more do greatly desire that out of this great Mistake they may be delivered There are two great EXTREAMS which many run into concerning the holy Scriptures in this our day the one is that which I have spoken to already which IS in those who think to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures where it is not to be FOUND but IN Christ as I said before the other Extream is run into by Prophane persons who do not value them and esteem them as they are truly worthy but in their Pride and Presumption greatly slight them yet make EVIL use of them many times in wresting of them to uphold
whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in Darkness out of the Prison-house Isa 42. 1 6 7. He is the blessed Seed in whom the blessing is to whom the Promise is That he shall bruise the Serpents Head who brought in the Curse and Reprobation He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. he is ordained of the Father to put an end to Sin to finish Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteouâ—ness He is the Lamb of God who takâ—th away the Sin of the World he is â—the Author of eternal Saltation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Mark here obedience unto Christ is required in order to Salvation this is a Gospel-truth The Apostle Peter said unto the Jews God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Mark those who are blessed by Jesus Christ and Elect in him they are turned away from their Iniquities by him and in vain do they profess him and to be his Elect who continue in their sins and plead for their continuance therein for term of Life God said by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isaiah Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else Isa 45. 22. read the Chapter through God doth largely therein express by plain words his Universal Love to Man-kind Observe Reader he calls to the Heathen even to all the Ends of the Earth to look to him for Salvation Mark that for which one man is called to look to him for the same all Man-kind is called to look to him every one in the Day of their Visitation viz. for Salvation Christ is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World according to John 1 9. he is the Light of the World as he said John 8 12. 12. 46 He said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light So all being onlightned by Chr st in the Light they may look unto God and be saved if they believe in it but if they believe not in the Light but hate it they cannot have Salvation Joh. 3. 19 20. 1 Joh. 1 5. and such Perish whose Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear for the Unbelief and the Disobedience of those who Perish is not of God but of the wicked One. God said by the Mouth of David â—y People would not hearken to my Voice and Israel would none of me So I gave them up unto their own Hearts Lusts and they walked in their own wayes O that my People had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes Psal 81. 11 12 13. God spake by the Mouth of Hosea unto Israel saying O Israel thou destroyest thy self but in me is thy help Hosea 13. 9. God said by the Mouth of the Apostle Peter That the Wicked bring Destruction upon themselves 2 Pet. 2. 1. Read the Chapter through Christ Jesus said O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them who are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Matth. 23. 37. Luk. 13. â—4 Reader when Christ would have garnered the Inhabitants of Jerusalem unto their Immortal Souls Rest they rejected him And he did not tell them that they could not come to him for they might have come to him or else it had been vain Words for him to tell them that he would have gathered them But he told them they WOULD NOT come to him So it was their own Self-will which did hinder them from coming to Christ and not Gods holy Will for his will is that all might be saved God said by the Mouth of Solomon That the Wicked would have none of his Counsel And he said they dispised all his Reproof Therefore said God they shall eat the Fruit of their own way c. Prov. 1. 30 31. Christ is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World as I have shewed before and he hath tasted Death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. The Apostle John said Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2. 2. And he further said We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 John 4. 14. The Apostle Paul said There is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for ALL mark for all And he said God's will is that ALL MEN might be saved mark that 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. Reader by what I have cited and writ in the holy Scripture words and according to them it doth plainly appear that God hath not Created nor Fore-ordained any Man or Woman on purpose that they should be Wicked so to be Damned or Destroyed or cast into Hell but he doth give to all People a Day or Time of Visitation by his Grace Light and Spirit by the same to lead them out of the broad way that leads to Destruction all those that continue therein till the Lord cease to strive with them for their Salvation such perishing their Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear I have no pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 32. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the Death of the WICKED but that the Wicked turn from his evil way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil Wayes for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. The Apostle Peter Exhorted those who had believed in Christ saying Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure giving all diligence add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge 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 Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these things is Blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old Sins For if you do these things YE SHALL NEVER FALL for so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Reader here thou mayst see that the Apostle took great care of those who had believed in Christ that they might make their Calling and Election sure So it appears that
and justifie themselves in their Ranterism and Debauched Wicked Conversations the State also of the latter is greatly to be Lamented and it is the earnest desire of my Soul with many more that those might come to Unfeigned Repentance for this their great EVIL that so they might come to a true and godly use Esteem of the holy Scriptures and so to have profit by them and comfort in them as the true Believers had in Primitive Times and such now have Glory to the Lord God for the same it is the Spirit or Light of Truth which leads the true Believers into all Truth and convinceth the World of sin that giveth a right Understanding and leadeth to a right use of the Scripâ—â—â—es this Spirit was mans Guide before the Scriptures were written by it men were made holy before they gave forth the holy Scriptures this is the Key which openeth them and leadeth to a right use and application of them but they whose Minds are gone ASTRAY from this Spirit who have not do not LEARN of it those do WREST the Scriptures to their own Destruction as some did in the Apostle Peter's Dayes against whom he testified Christ told some amongst the earthy Wise Jews Ye neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God yet those were great Talkers of them and even as they knew them not not owning the Key that openeth them so many in our day knoweth them NOT because they believe not in the Spirit of Truth which ONLY openeth them Concerning Good Example CHrist suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth 1 Pet. â— 21 22. Here the holy Apostle shews that it is the Duty and Practice of all true Christians to follow the Example and the holy clean Steps of the holy man Christ Jesus who did not Sin But those who do continue in Sin and plead for a continuance in the same all their dayes upon Earth who Sin as they say in their most Holy Duties these are very far from the holy Faith and holy Conversation of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ and all true Christians and very far from following his pure Examples and his holy clean Steps The Apostle John saith concerning Christ Hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar But whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 John 2. 3 4 5 6. Reader see how these holy men of God agree in their Testimony in this weighty matter these holy men did abide in Christ and Christ in them they by virtue of his divine spiritual dwelling in them were strengthned and enabled in their Lives and Conversations to follow that holy Example which he gave them in the dayes of his Flesh who went about doing Good who never did Evil and though they had sinned he redeemed them from it and from the Devil the Author or Original of it And so many came to behold their good Conversation in Christ COUPLED WITH FEAR as the Apostle exhorteth 1 Pet. 3. 2. John saith We know that whosoever is Born of God sinneth NOT And we know that we are of God and the whole World lieth IN WICKEDNESS And we know that the Son of God is come and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and Life eternal Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen 1 John 5. 18 19 20 21. Here the Apostle shews plainly who are true Christians and who are not the true Christians are in Christ who hath redeemed them out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God and such have the Spirit of Christ bearing witness with or unto their Spirits that they are the Children of God according to the promise of God Rom. 8. 16 21. And they are NOT TRUE Christians who Lye or continue all their dayes in Sin and Wickedness these are the World as John saith Certain it is those who go on in Sin who plead a necessity to continue in it all their days they live or abide upon Earth these are NOT the Bride the Lambs Wife the true Church whom HE presents to the Father a glorious Church WITHOUT spot or wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish as in Ephes 5. 27. But those pleaders for and continuers in Sin all their dayes these are the Harlot these are the World that lieth in Wickedness whom the cursed One is the God of who hath BLINDED THEIR MINDS these are in the broad way that leads to Destruction IN VAIN DO these call Jesus Lord who do not believe his Commands who are not governed by him who do not that which he saith he said Learn of me I AM MEEK AND LOWLY and ye shall find rest to your Souls A Remnant hath learned of him in this Age and hath found his Promise true Glory to the Lord God for the same they have found Rest and Peace to their Souls in him THEIR PRINCE of PEACE though they have Trouble Oppression in the World for his SAKE yet these can truly say as the holy Apostles said of the faithful followers of Christ of Old GREATER IS HE that is in you then he that is in them to wit the World by whom we overcome them they are of the World therefore speak they of the World the World heareth them We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth NOT US hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error 1 John 4. 4 5 6. The Apostle Paul said unto the the Philippians Brethren be followers together of me and mark them who walk so as ye have VS for an ENSAMPLE for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even WEEPING that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3. 17 18. to the end of the Chapter The same Apostle said to the Corinthians Be ye followers of ME even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor 11. 1. The Apostle Peter writ unto the Elders of the Church of Christ saying Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof NOT by constraint but willingly NOT for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind NEITHER as being LORDS over Gods Heritage but as ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Reader there are several things worthy of thy serious and weighty Consideration in these words of the holy Apostle Peter the first is that the Elders of the Church of God and Christ did and do as Instruments in â—od's Hand Ministring that is Serving
saith Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness And further saith Gal. 6. 7. If you live after the Flesh you shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live he that sows to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Now who reads what is here written with a spiritual Understanding may see that John's Saying if we say we have no sin c. doth not prove that he was THEN AN ACTUAL SINNER though it doth shew that the little Children who stood in some relation to him as aforesaid had not yet over grown all sin as we have EXPERIENCE in this Day of Gods mighty Power wherein he is making his People WILLING and also ABLE to forsake Sin and the Devil who is the author of it and we do say there is a TIME which is given by the Lord God to Mankind to see their sins and a time to be made truly Sorrowful for them and UNFEIGNEDLY TO REPENT and to be forgiven in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who tasted Death for EVERY MAN and a TIME to grow up IN Christ into Dominion over Sin and the Devil who is the Author of it so that we say this Work is wrought GRADUALLY in men women people are not so soon converted washed and cleansed from all their sins as they come to the sight of them but there is a STRONG Spiritual Combat or Warfare to be known after man is convinced of his sin before he be WHOLLY dead to it and redeemed from it and the Devil who is the Author of it and all who believe in the Spiritual and Divine Light of Christ which sheweth them their sins and PATIENTLY wait THEREIN they will see this Work wrought in order to their Salvation though they first sow in Tears they shall certainly afterwards reap in Joy and though their Temptations Troubles and Sorrows may be many God will certainly deliver them out of them all J. B. As for thy interpretation of John's Words that is He that is born of God doth not commit Sin It is Unscriptural Unreasonable and Ungodly it is not the holy Scriptures nor the Greek Copies which thou callest the Original that is thy Rule for this thy Ungodly Writing and Perverting of John's Words but thy own Wicked Dark and Sinfull Imaginations I desire thou may find a place of Repentance and so forgiveness at Gods hand and cease from such Ungodly Work as this for if thou do not God will reward thee according to thy Ungodly Deeds and the Cup which thou must drink as the reward of thy Work will be Bitter John saith In this is the Children of God made manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God But thou arguest That the born of God do commit sin which is Blasphemy but seeing this is thy Ungodly Opinion that the born of God doth commit sin I say the born of the Devil doth no more but commit sin so here thou put'st not a right difference betwixt the Righteous and the Wicked and so thou art not God's Minister or Mouth to the People but in these thy Ungodly Interpretations of the holy Scriptures thou art the Minister and Mouth of the Father of Lyes who hath led people into sin who tellest them they must never come out of it on this side the Grave Thus thou and many others have made agreement with Death and a Covenant with Hell for Term of Life and if you do not know this Covenant broken by Christ Jesus and by him be led out of sin your Reward will be Miserable in the World to come but we greatly desire your Unseigned Repentance and Salvation What a Wild Distracted Interpreter of the holy Scriptures is this J. B If he go on to interpret the rest of the Commands of God and Christ as he hath done these Commands to be Perfect Holy c. what Mad Work will he make it appears it is not the Scriptures of Truth nor the Spirit of God that must be his Rule but rather the Temptations of the Wicked One which hath large room in his Unbelieving Heart as this Ungodly Plea doth largely manifest Gods Command is Thou shalt do no Murder Now according to J. B's Wild Interpretation of the before-mentioned Commands he may say Those who are born of God may or must Murder But they may not Murther with that allowance that some other Murderers do or they must not do so much Murder as some others do Again God saith Thou shalt not Steal But J. B. may say by his Mad Rule of arguing they may or must Steal but they who are born of God may not or must not Steal with that allowance that others who are not born of God do or they must not stteal so much as such do And after this his Ungodly way of arguing he may deal thus with the rest of the Commands of God and Christ J. B. to strengthen thy Plea for the Devil and Sin which is his Work thou mentionest Paul's Words who said That which I would not do that do I. Answ Paul and all the Saints who did and do wait diligently upon God did and do grow from one degree of Grace unto another and Paul did grow up in Christ unto a better and stronger State He said I am Crucified with Christ c. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God And he said I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me And he said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith c. And he said The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath set me Free from the Law of Sin and Death Thus it doth appear that he did out-grow those Weaknesses which he doth mention in the 7th Chapter to â—he Romans see Chap. 8. J. B. saith David brake the sixth and seventh Commandment Answ I say David repented bore the Righteous Judgments of God for so doing and did so no more and was forgiven he did not say that he must continue breaking the commands of God all his dayes as many of the Priests and Professors of England and other Nations do he prayed to God to cleanse him from his secret Sins and from Blood guiltiness and God heard his Prayer and did so and it is written that David turned not aside from any thing that God commanded him all the dayes of his Life save only in the matter of Vriah the Hittite 1 Kings 15. 5. David is said to be a man after God's own Heart 1 Sam. 13. 14. So he was before he committed that great Sin in the case of Vriah and his
the Light of the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring the Prisoner out of the Prison house as it s written in the Scriptures of Truth he is the Eternal Word who was in the beginning by whom God made all things as it s written Joh. 1. God created all things by Jesus Christ as saith the holy Apostle Paul he is the Rock that followed Israel of which Rock they drank and of which they did eat they all eat the same spiritual meat and drank the same spiritual drink they eat and drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ By Faith in this Rock Abel offered a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain by Faith in this Rock Abraham offered up his Isaac believed God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness by Faith in him all the Just lives to God through all Ages he is the Rock on which the true Church is builded against which the Gates of Hell can never prevail let them open as wide as they can It is as true in all man-kind as it was in the holy Apostle he said of my self I can do nothing but he also said I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me he is the blessed Seed who bruiseth the Serpents head in all who believe in and follow him in him the Election stands Gods will is that all men may know him and believe in him and be saved as the holy Apostle saith and God who cannot Lye said by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isaiah Look unto me O all ye ends of the Earth and be ye saved the Apostle John saith that we have seen and do testifie that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World and the Apostle Paul saith Christ gave himself a Ransom for All mark that here is none Reprobated by him from this Ransom The holy Ghost spake by the mouth of the holy Prophet God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the Children of men Lament 3. 33. read the Chapter through and the will of God is the Sanctification of man-kind as saith the holy Apostle holiness becomes man-kind through all Generations but sin is a Reproach unto any people as it s written but more especially to the Professors of Christianity The holy fear of the Lord God is the beginning of true pure heavenly Wisdom and the secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him as saith the holy man of God let this holy fear have place in thy heart and then the pure peaceable wisdom of God will over-shadow thee So unto the Grace of God which doth appear to thee to teach thee to deny all Vngodliness I do commend thee W. G. London the 8th day of the 10th Moneth ELECTION AND REPROBATION Scripturally Experimentally Witnessed unto c. Concerning Election and Reprobation IOhn Blaneh Hath taken upon him to speak concerning Jacob and Esau pag. 157. of his Manuscript he saith Before the Children knew good or evil Jacob have I Loved and Esau have I hated Answ Reader J. B. no doubt would have us take these words as words of the holy Scriptures but the Scriptures do not say that God said he Hated Esau before he knew Good or Evil but when the Woman felt the Children strugling in her Womb she did enquire of the Lord saying How is it that it is thus with me and the Lord said unto her Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowels and the Elder should serve the Younger But he did not say when the Children were in the Womb that he hated Esau though many Professors in England Scotland and else-where have so taken it but their mistake herein hath been great and greatly Hurtfull and destructive unto many Reader take notice that after the Apostle in the 9th Chapter to the Romans hath repeated what God said to the Woman while the Children were in her Womb he brings the following words As it is written Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated out of the first Chapter of Malachi where the Lord said to Israel by Malachi Was not Esau Jacob 's Brother yet I loved Jacob and I hated Esau and I laid his Mountains waste for the Dragons of the Wilderness These words were spoken by the Lord through the Prophet Malachi unto the Off-spring of Jacob long after Jacob and Esau had finished their Dayes upon Earth Jacob was a plain faithfull Man made so and kept so by the Spirit of the Lord whom he loved Esau was a prophane Man who relected the Counsel of God in Disobeying his good Spirit which he gave him to Instruct him by which he was lighted to know Good from Evil and therein Power was freely tendred to him and Time to believe and obey so it was possible that he might believe and obey so that his Unbelief and Disobedience was not of God but of the Devil not according to the Will of God who would have all Men and Women saved but according to the Will of the Devil who would have all Men and Women destroyed whom that prophane Spirit the Prince of the power of the Air did Defile Corrupt and brought into Prophaneness so he that was the False Teacher to Adam and Eve who led them to break the holy Law of God and sin against him the same led Esau into his Prophaneness because of which he was hated of God and the same Evil teacher led Cain to Kill his Righteous Brother Abel whose Sacrifice was accepted of the pure God because it was offered up with a Clean Right and Harmless Mind into which Mind he was brought and in the same kept by God his Maker out of the Evil Spirit which corrupted his Brother Cain and his God who never slumbers nor sleeps kept him yea he gave him Dominion over the Evil Hurtfull Spirit and he is Eternally blessed though he was slain by his Ungodly Brother And God said unto Cain before he killed his Brother Why art thou Wroth And why is thy Countenance fallen If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted And if thou dost not well sin lieth at thy Door Gen. 4. 6 7. God who said unto Cain If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted did not Limit or hinder him from doing well nor did God fore-appoint him to do Evil neither did he limit nor hinder Esau from doing well neither did he fore-appoint himself to do Evil. Edom the Generation of Esau said We are impoverished we will return and build the Desolate places The Lord said They shall build but I will throw down and they shall call them the border of Wickedness against whom the Lord hath Indignation c. This Generation of Esau were rejected of God because of their Wickedness which not God but the Devil was the Author of and so their Destruction was of themselves who rejected the Counsel of God who as the holy Apostle saith Would have all men to be saved
righteous in the sight of men For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against ALL Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men c. Because that which may be known of God IS manifest IN them for God hath SHEWED it unto them For the Invisible things OF HIM from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and GODHEAD so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE Rom. 1. 18 19 20. Mark the WRATH of God is against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men for one and the same cause namely because that which may be known of God is manifest IN THEM here the holy just merciful God shews that he is not PARTIAL Reader it is certain that the Spirit of Truth which doth Convince the World of Sin and leaves those without Excuse justly to be punished who do not believe Repent and Forsake their Sins and turn to God the same IS sufficient to GIVE Faith unto ALL men and Women But God said Israel would have none of ME. And Christ said to the Jews Ye will NOT come to ME that ye might have Life And Christ in pity and tender compassion WEPT over the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and said I would have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would NOT. He did NOT say Ye could not for he KNEW that it was possible that they might have come unto him while the day of their Visitation lasted but after that time was ended they could not he said O that thou hadst known or experienced and enjoyed in this thy day the things which belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Now your House is left unto you Desolate Now those that would not and will not have God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Grace and Truth which God hath given to lead out of the Sin of Unbelief c. these WILL NOT have Faith For they in their stubborn corrupt Self-will refuse God and Christ the Author of it and the holy Spirit which is given to lead into the true Faith which purifieth the Heart the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience as saith the holy Apostle Those who are so hardened by the Devil that great hardener of Hearts that they will not have God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Grace and Truth nor Faith this their refusing of God and Christ the Spirit Faith c. is NOT according to the WILL and mind of God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Truth but according to the cursed Will and Mind of the old Deceiver who led Adam and Eve to Sin against God and against their own Souls and according to their own cursed will and mind which he the old Deceiver and Destroyer hath begotten in them against God Christ the Spirit of Truth c. And such hardened ONES Perish whose Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth is clear which hath Convinced them of their Sin and Reproved them for the same in secret and hath waited and long striven to lead them out of the same into Faith INTO love and pure obedience to the pure holy God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Christ pronounced Wo against the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for OMITTING Faith see Matth. 23. 23. Note Reader here he pronounceth Wo against them because they had not Faith or were not in the true Faith here the just God shews that he did not with-hold the true and real means and cause of Faith from them but they in their corrupt wicked WILL did resist the working of the same till God ceased to strive with them for their Salvation So their being without Faith and perishing for want of it was of themselves and the Lord God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth was and is clear of them and all such It would be blasphemous to say that it was God's will that they should have no Faith though he cryed Wo against them because they omitted it and condemned them for not being found in it But it is no very strange thing that all men have not Faith seeing many in former Ages and divers in this have made SHIPWRACK of the true Faith which they ONCE HAD The Apostle Paul charged Timothy to Hold FAITH and a GOOD CONSCIENCE which some having put AWAY concerning Faith have made Shipwrack 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. Moreover Paul said to Timothy The Spirit speaks expresly that in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared with a hot iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Moreover Paul told Timothy that Hymaeneus and Philetus had erred c. who had overthrown the Faith of some see 1 Tim. 2. 18. Again Paul said to Timothy Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in FAITH and Love this thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me 2 Tim. 1. 13. 15. Again O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy TRUST avoiding prophane and vain Bablings and oppositions of Science falsly so called which some professing have enred concerning the Faith 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Reader thus it doth plainly appear that those who once had the true Faith did depart from it and fell into Apostacy and so made Shipwrack of that Faith which the Spirit of Truth had begotten in them and such became as Trees twice Dead plucked up by the Roots c. and as wandring Stars or wandring restless Spirits for whom is reserved the mist of Darkness forever as it s written in the holy Scriptures the Hearts and Consciences of such were grown very hard benumed and greatly insensible eyen answering in a Spiritual sense that saying viz. Having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron such are forward and bold to commit Sin with pleasure and greediness and to make a mock at true Tenderness holy Fear and true Watchfulness and at the godly Sorrow and unfeigned Repentance of those whose Hearts God hath broken by his Righteous Judgments through the effectual operation of the Word of FAITH which is to be known nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which Word is as a Hammer to break the hard Heart and as an Ax or Sword to cut down the Lust and Wickedness thereof and as a Fire to burn up the same and as a strong Wind to drive away the Ashes thereof Wo wo to the Ranters and Atheists who have sold themselves to work Wickedness with greediness who make a Mock at God at his Works in Judgment and in Mercy unto the Children of men who sport themselves in their Devilish prophane Conversations wo to them it had been better for them that they had not been Born And wo to all Apostates who are departed from the true
Faith which they once had who have sinned out the Day of Gods tender Visitation to them who are the Trees twice dead pluckt up by the Roots whose end is to be burned it had been better for them that they had not had Faith then after they had it to depart from it Therefore let all People who have not sinned out the day of God's tender Visitation HEAR and Fear the mighty God who is a consuming Fire unto the Wicked as it s written and let all such bow their Hearts and Minds unto God's searching Spirit and Word nigh in their Hearts and that will work true Faith and encrease the same and will preserve them from making Shipwrack of Faith and it will beget a good tender Conscience and it will continue and uphold the same in all those who continue to HEAR and Fear the living God who as the Apostle saith Is the Saviour of all men but especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. His Sun shines upon the Evil and the Good and his Rain falls upon the Just and the Unjust he is good unto the Unthankful and to the Evil as is shewed before So God sends and gives his Mercies unto the Wicked and Rebellious in some degree not only in things Temporal but also in things Spiritual as is largely shewed in this Book so that in the day of Gods Visitation unto them he is a Saviour unto them and saves and preserves them from Destruction and he doth suffer long to lead the Wicked to Repentance who saith As I live I have no pleasure in the Death or Damnation or Destruction of the Wicked but that the Wicked should turn and live But when they will not turn unto him in the day of his Long-suffering and tender Visitation he casts them out of his favour forever as Christ hath said unto the Goats set on the Left Hand Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil his Angels The Counsel of the holy Ghost is Seek ye the Lord while he MAY be found call upon him while he is NEAR Isa 55. 6. Again They hated Knowledge and did NOT CHUSE the fear of the Lord they would NONE of my Counsel they despised all my Reproof therefore shall they eat of the Fruit of their own wayes and be filled with their own Devices For the turning AWAY of the Simple shall SLAY them and the Prophecying of Fools shall DESTROY them But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell SAFELY and shall be QUIET from FEAR of Evil Prov. 1. 29 30 31 32 33. In Romans the first Chapter the Apostle Paul speaks largely concerning some who When they knew God they did NOT glorisie him AS God neither were THANKFUL but became vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Hearts were darkened they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an IMAGE made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and Fore-footed Beasts and Creeping things wherefore God gave them up to Vncleaness Who changed the Truth of God into a Lye or rather for a Lye and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed forever Amen And they became HATERS of God and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them up to a Reprobate mind c. Such become like the deaf Adder that stopeth his Ear which will not hearken to the Voice of Charmers Charming never so wisely see Psalm 58. 4 5. The Apostle Paul saith Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of man that doth Evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile for there is NO respect of PERSONS with God Rom. 2. 9 11. but Glory Honour and Peace to every man that WORKETH Good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile ver 10. Christ said concerning the Wicked This Peoples Heart is waxed gross and their Ears are dull of hearing and their Eyes THEY have closed c. Note Reader by what is above written it doth plainly appear that there is a time when man may seek after God and find him and have eternal Salvation given by him yea there is a time when HE is near and then he being call'd upon will hear and answer But if man IN his SELF-WILL carelesness and negligence REFUSE this seasonable time then he may seek and NOT find call and NOT be answered Therefore blessed are all they who prize and imbrace the time and day of Gods tender Visitation who said TO day if ye will hear my Voice HARDEN NOT your Hearts c. Again They that hated Knowledge who did NOT CHUSE his fear these did harden their Hearts contrary to the will and mind of God they set at naught ALL his Counsel and would have NONE of his Reproof Therefore saith God they shall eat the Fruit of their own wayes c. For the turning away of the Simple shall slay or destroy them c. But saith God whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil O blessed happy are all they who INCLINE their Ears diligently hearken unto his Voice and obey the same with such he will make an everlasting Covenant and will give unto them the sure Mercies of David he will give them unfeigned Repentance as he gave unto him and forgiveness of their Sins as he did unto him yea he will remove their Sins as far from them as the East is from the West Psal 103. 12. Isa 55. 3. Object It s written some are sensual not having the Spirit and they who have not the Spirit cannot have Faith for faith is the fruit of the Spirit and those who have not the Spirit they have not faith and those who have not faith cannot be saved Therefore all such God did ordain or fore-appoint to be damned before they were Born Answ I have before largely and clearly proved that Gods will is that all men might be saved he calls to all the ends of the Earth to look unto him saying Look unto me and be ye saved He giveth all a Day and Time of Visitation wherein they may all seek him and find him call upon him and be heard and answered by him and receive in his tender Mercy everlasting Salvation It is true that the holy Man of God hath said that some of Old did I say many now do separate themselves Sensual not having the Spirit but this doth NOT at all prove that such never had the Spirit in any measure but the Scriptures of Truth do clearly prove the contrary For the Lord gave his Spirit unto Saul but because of his Disobedience and Rebellion against the Lord the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil Spirit troubled him c. see 1 Chron. 16. 14. And Saul said The Lord is departed from me Chap. 28. 15. When David had sinned against God in the case of Vriah he greatly lamented and unfeignedly Repented of his Sin and prayed unto the Lord saying Cast me not
Sin and Reprove it for the same IN THAT is Faith offered to all People the work of that Spirit within doth give in some degree a true and real Testimony in the Souls of all Men and Women that there is a God unto whom Worship doth belong by this Spirit God doth give just cause unto all Men and Women to believe in him every one in the time of their Visitation and if they believe NOT THEIR Unbelief is their SIN which doth shut them out of the Kingdom of God and such do destroy themselves as God hath said O Israel thou Destroyest thy self There are degrees or measures of the Spirit of Truth freely tendred as Gods free gift to all to profit withall and as the measure or degree differeth not in Nature but in measure or proportion so the enlightning of the darkned understanding thereby is greater or less according to that which God hath given and the Faith wrought thereby is more or less accordingly and every one that delightly improveth the little or LEAST measure God who is faithful to perform hath promised that they shall be made Ruler over much yea they shall enter into the Joy and Peace of their Lord and the Faith of such diligent Improvers of the little shall grow exceedingly as did the Faith of the diligent Ones of Old witnessed unto by the holy Apostle as is shewed before The Lord God is just and equal who requireth Faith and Obedience according or answerable to what he gives in all Ages and Dispensations be it more or less and NOT otherwise for he is equal in ALL his doings just in all his Judgments to him be all Glory Honour Dominion and Praise throughout all Ages yea World without End Amen Paul declared unto King Agrippa saying That Christ sent him to the Gentiles to open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith that is in me saith Christ see Acts 26. 14 15 16 17 18. Again Paul said We Preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ but we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us see 2 Cor. 4. 5 6 7. Christ said I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life John 8. 12. Again He saith I am the Light of the World c. I came not to destroy the World but to save the World He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my Words hath one that judgeth him the WORD that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last Day John 12. 46 47 48. Note Reader that Christ is the Author and Finisher of true Faith as it is written of him Heb. 12. 2. To believe in him as he is the Light of the World is true Belief or true Faith He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are evil for every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deed should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God see John 3. 18 19 20 21. see also the 14 15 16 17 verses God is Light in him 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 onother and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin see 1 John 1. 5 6 7. Reader thus it plainly clearly and evidently appears in the words of the holy Scripture that God and Christ is Light and by God in and through Christ are all Men and Women enlightned in some measure or degree to know good and evil the one from the other in and by this Light is true and saving Faith tendred or offered to ALL. They who take heed unto this Light which shineth in their dark sinful Hearts and there convinceth them of and reproveth them for Sin they do well as saith the Apostle see 2 Pet. 1. 19. By this spiritual and divine Light which cometh from God who is a Spirit in and through Christ the second Adam who is made a quickning Spirit as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth is all true saving Faith begun increased and finished Now those who strive to enter the Kingdom of God out of this Light and Faith are as Thieves and Robbers who will not come to Christ the Light the Door to enter in by him but would climb up by another way and therefore must be cast down and though they strive never so much in their fallen corrupt Self-will out of the true Light and Spirit of God and Christ yet can they not be able to enter The Apostle saith And if a man strive for mastery yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully see 2 Tim. 2. 5. Again Christ compareth or likeneth the Kingdom of Heaven unto ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went out to meet the Bride-groom and five of them were Wise and five of them were Foolish while the Bride-groom tarried they all slumbred c. and at mid-night there was a Cry made Behold the Bride-groom cometh go you out to meet him then all those Virgins arose and trimed their Lamps and the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your Oyl for OUR Lamps are gone OUT but the wise answered saying NOT so c. buy for your selves c. and while they went to buy the Bride-groom came and they that were ready went in with him into the Marriage and the DOOR was SHUT afterwards came also the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us but he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not Watch ye therefore for ye know not neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of man cometh see Matth. 25. to the 14. verse Note Reader the Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto ten Virgins five Wise and five Foolish both wise and foolish had Lamps yea and both had Oyl ONCE for the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your Oyl for our Lamps are gone out This sheweth that they were once IN lighted and burning but through sloathfulness they neglected to renew their Lamps with Oyl and so
Repent and turn to the Lord from these abominable things that so they might not be forever shut out of the Kingdom of God! O that the Inhabitants of England and all Nations would believe in God that made them who is spiritual Light who is a holy pure Spirit who is Omnipresent or present every where who said Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Foot-stool c. see Isa 66. 1. read the Chapter through 1 King 8. 27. his pure Spirit lighteth every one that cometh into the World O that the great multitudes in England and all Nations who are in Strife and Contention Hatred and Envying Murthering and Killing one another about Religion and about Earthly things WOULD BELIEVE in this Heavenly Spirit that enlightneth them which giveth them to understand in some measure or degree what is Good and also what is Evil O that they would bow down unto it and become subject unto the leadings and teachings of it then would it teach them to love one another NOT to be like Cain who slew his Brother because his own works were evil and his Brothers righteous but it would teach them to do to all men as they would be done unto as God hath commanded yea it would teach them as it did good Joseph who was kind unto his Brethren who was cruel to him who sold him to the Ishmalites yea it would teach them to overcome the evil with the good as Joseph did and as God commandeth But because Multitudes and Nations believe not in this holy pure peaceable loving and long-suffering Spirit therefore it is that they are as the raging Sea that casts up Mire and Dirt and many are as the cruel merciless Beasts of Prey destroying one another yea many oppressing and seeking to destroy Gods tender People who have true love to all and desire the temporal and eternal good of all who Worship him in his holy Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth the faithful followers of it and because that Vengeance is not executed speedily or suddenly for these crying Abominations therefore are the Hearts of the Sons of men fully set in them to do Evil as it was of Old see Eccles 8. 11. and because it is thus that many have given up themselves to Unbelief and hardness of Heart who have closed their Eyes and stopped their Ears against the Convictions and Reproofs of this pure meek merciful and compassionate Spirit of God and Christ whom he hath sent and have given up themselves to work Wickedness with greediness therefore there is great cause to take up a dolefull Lamentation and Mourning and those whom God hath made skilfull in Mourning who greatly desire the Salvation of the Multitudes Tongues Languages and People these have Mourned and do Mourn to see Multitudes running on swiftly toward the Pit of everlasting Destruction suddenly to be sunk into it Thus as of Old many say in their Hearts unto the Almighty God Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Thus they hate the knowledge of God they do not chuse his holy fear which is the beginning of the pure peaceable Wisdom which cometh from above as saith the holy Scriptures see Job 21. 14. read the Chapter through see Prov. 1. 4 7 22 29. read the Chapter through Well said the Apostle Peter Our beloved Brother Paul in all his Epistles writes things which are hard to be understood which they who are Vnlearned Vnstable wrest as they do the other Scriptures unto their own DESTRUCTION Peter was an Illiterate man and so an Unlearned man in Natural or Artificial Learning of Tongues and Languages but he was a man of great Learning in the Heavenly Spiritual School of Christ all who come to learn of Christ Paul and Peters heavenly Master they are taught by to understand their Words and to have unity with them and such are of one mind concerning them But they who are not yet come to learn of Christ as he is the Light of the World they are not come to a right understanding of the holy mens Words which are Recorded in the holy Scriptures and this is the cause that they are not of one mind concerning them but in very many contrary minds and in tumultuous Controversies about the meanings of them Paul doth say as is shewed before that God's Will is that ALL men should know the Truth and be SAVED This have I written in the love of God concerning Election and Reprobation for the Comfort and Encouragement of all those who are weary of and heavy laden with their Sins who hunger and thirst after Righteousness that they may come to Christ Jesus who dyed for them and rose again and ascended as it is written of him in the Scriptures of Truth who hath promised that he will give them Rest see Matth. 11. 28 29 30. This is also written as a Warning unto those who are at ease in their Sins flattering themselves speaking Peace unto themselves in their Unchristian Conversations and pleading for a necessity of continuing in the act of Sin unto the end of their dayes upon Earth and yet vainly imagin that they are the Elect and Chosen of God Jesus said I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life The Pharisees therefore said unto him Thou bearest Record of thy self and thy Record is NOT true But Jesus said unto these Unbelieving Jews If ye believe NOT that I am he ye shall die in your Sins whither I go ye CANNOT come see John 8. 12 24. Note Reader These great professing Pharisees Opposed Christ Jesus and denyed him to be the Light of the World Too like these Pharisees are many Teachers high Professors of Christ in Words in our Age who though they will talk much of Christ as he was born and dyed and rose again according to the Flesh yet can they not endure to hear him preached as he preached himself and as the holy Apostles preached him to wit the Light of the World the true Light which lighteth every one that cometh into the World This is the Stone which all the Builders do reject and set at nought who build up their VAIN Religions Faiths and Worships in the Serpentine Earthly Devilish Wisdom in Murther Cruelty Oppression and Idolatry but when this Stone falls on them in Judgment it will grind them all to Powder see Luke 20. 17. Psal 118. 22. Mat. 21. 24. O Blessed will all they be who come unto and believe in this Living Stone their hard Hearts shall be broken by it and made soft and tender and thereby be made fit to enter into the Kingdom of God into which nothing that is Unclean can enter and their sins that are past though they be many God will freely Pardon Remit and Forgive them in his tender Mercy and forbearance in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself a Ransom for
concerning Christs putting an End to the Work of the Law we do NOT believe that Christ has put an end to the Command of God who said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not Steal nor Covet any thing that is thy Neighbours Thou shalt not bear False Witness nor remove the Antient Land-mark c. But we believe that Christ fulfills these Commands in all them that through Faith and Obedience grow up in him who is the true Vine by leading them to do those before-mentioned things which God Commands so the true Christians cease from the Shadows and in Christ by his Vertue and Power do Love God with all their Hearts and their Neighbour as themselves on which Commands as Christ saith hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 40. Concerning Perfection IN page 24. J. B. saith speaking to the People called Quakers You hold that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life Answ We do own the command of God who said unto Abraham I am God all-sufficient walk thou before me and be thou Perfect We say God was sufficient to enable him to keep his command and we believe he did so And we do believe the Command of Christ who said Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And we do believe it is possible to keep this command of Christ by and through the Virtuous spiritual Presence of Christ in and with the believing DILIGENT SOUL And we do believe that the Gifts which were and are given for the PERFECTING of the Saints did and do accomplish that for which they were and are GIVEN The Apostle said We Labour that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus And we do believe that many were perfected in Christ Jesus though some Crucified Christ unto themselves afresh and put him to open shame as the Apostle saith We do believe the holy Apostle who said Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is Born of God Now as to J. B's Charge That we hold forth and own that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life I Answer The Word Degree concerning Perfection is neither our Word nor did I ever read it in the Scriptures of Truth as used by him concerning Perfection But this word Degree he hath thrust into his Charge against us thinking no doubt thereby to make it the more strong but all his labour is in vain He doth not declare what he meaneth by the word DEGREE but if by Degree he mean a freedom from acting or committing Sin such a Perfection we do believe is attainable in this Life by and through the mighty working of God and Christ in men and women and this is according to the command of God Christ the Doctrine and Experience of the holy Apostles But if by the word Degree J. B. mean a Perfection of Glory in the HIGHEST attainment of Glory that can EVER be enjoyed then we DEEM that such a Perfection is attainable in this Life or while we dwell here upon Earth For WE are of the same Faith the holy Apostle was of who when he was near to depart out of this World said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judge shall give unto me at that day and not to me only but to all those that love his appearance J. B. hath taken upon him to interpret the Apostle John's words who saith Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit Sin he cannot Sin c. J. B. saith The meaning of these Words can be but this Whosoever is Born of God doth not make it his practice to Sin Answ What Confusion Falsness and Nonsence is this to say that he who commits Sin doth not practise Sin this is horrible abuse and wresting the holy Scriptures which God will bring him to Judgment for and if he do not Repent and cease from such Ungodly silly work as this he will bring Destruction upon himself As I do understand this J. B. is one of that sort of men who do in their Confessions tell the Lord God that they do Sin in their most holy Duties Now if their most holy Duties have Sin in them then there is Sin in all those other things which they call Duties and consequently in their Actions which they do not account Holy Duties and so they make it their Practice to Sin and so according to his own Argument Such who make it their Practice to Sin are not born of God But to speak his mind more fully I do apprehend his meaning is that the Children of God do not commit so much Sin as the Children of the Devil do Answ When the Apostle saith He that is Born of God doth not commit Sin he also saith He that commits Sin is of the Devil In the next verse he saith In this is the Children of God manifest and the Children of the Devil c. 1 John 3. 10. J. B. I ask thee dost not thou believe that God is GREATER then the Devil why then must Sin needs be in those who are Born of God as thou wouldst have it Oh that thou saw thy Blasphemy herein it would surely make thee ashamed and bring Sorrow upon thee But if in thy judgment those whom God BEGETS who are BORN of him must commit Sin and live in it all their dayes and Sin in their most Holy Duties I ask what DIFFERENCE dost thou put between God's Children and the Devil's Children whom he begets and who are Born of him for the Devil hath a Generation of whom he is the Father as Christ said see John 8. 44. For we believe that he that is Born of God is REGENERATED that is washed and cleansed through the virtue of the holy Spirit of Christ which is shed abroad abundantly in the Hearts Souls of the true Believers by virtue of this growing up in it as the Branches in the living Vine are they redeemed out of the ACT of Sin and have dominion given them in and by Christ over IT and the Devil who is the Author of it and such can say as the Apostle said Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World to wit the Wicked BY WHOM we overcome them and such can say as the Apostle said Of my self I can do nothing but I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me and such can say as the Apostle said We are CONQUERORS and more than Conquerors through him that hath loved us and such do know Satan BRUISED under their Feet BY CHRIST the blessed Seed whom God promised should bruise his HEAD and the Apostle told the Believers in Christ That God whom they waited for should suddainly come and
Wife and so he was after God had sanctified him through his Righteous Judgments and Mercy he prayed to God to Wash him and he said I shall be whiter than Snow make me to hear joy and gladness that the Bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Create in me a new Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal 51. 7 to the 15th J. B. in pag. 26. thou chargest the Apostles That they all at one clap forsook or denyed Christ To prove this thy Charge thou bringest Mark 14. 50. 66. which doth not prove thy Charge against them ALL Peter did deny him but when the Cock crew he turned about and Wept bitterly Here was timely and unfeigned Repentance he did not say he must continue denying his Master all his Dayes but he soon became a valiant follower of Christ and a sufferer with him and for him Mark saith the others fled but doth not say they all at once denyed their Master but it appears by their leaving of him at that time that they did not so boldly confess him before his Enemies as afterwards they did But let J. B. consider that this weakness which appeared in them was before the Holy Ghost was come upon them in that FULNESS which after the Death and Resurrection of their Master they received The Holy Ghost was NOT yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified John 7. 39. But after theywere endewed with Power from on high they confessed him with great boldness suffered with him for him Boldly J. B. here thou makest Ungodly shifts to plead for Sin term of Life which plea of thine is to uphold the Devil's Kingdom which stands in Sin and thy plea is against the Kingdom of Christ which doth stand in Holiness and Righteousness God will reward thee according to thy Deeds if thou do not come to unseigned Repentance but it is thy Repentance and Salvation that we desire In the aforesaid page J. B. quotes David's words who said in Psalms 14. 1. 53. 1 3. There is none that doth good c. Which Paul repeats in Rom. 3. 11 12. to the 20. where he doth plainly open the Words of David thus Now saith he we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every Mouth may be stopped and all the WORLD may become guilty before God The same Apostle saith Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes Rom. 10. 4. The same Apostle said to the Saints Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. The same Apostle saith Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin Rom. 6. 6. And he saith How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Rom. 6. 2. And the same Apostle saith to the Galatians If ye be led by the Spirit ye are not under the Law Gal. 5. 18. None are true Christians but those who are led by the Spirit of Christ as the Apostle saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God saith the holy man of God and such are not under the Law being come out of the Transgression upon which or because of which the Law was added Besides in the 14. 53. Psalms and in Rom. 3. David and Paul shew that God had a People in those Dayes which he distinguished from those workers of Iniquity he said Have the workers of Iniquity no Knowledge who eat up my People as they eat Bread and call not upon the Lord and he said The Wicked were in great fear for God is in the Congregations of the Righteous Mark God had a Righteous Congregation then though they might be few in Number Psalms 14. 4 5. 53. 4. J. B. quotes Jer. 17. 9. The Heart is desperately wicked who can know it The Prophet doth answer the Question in the Name of the Lord saying I the Lord search the Heart I try Reins to give unto every man according to his wayes and according to the Fruit of his doings God hath promised by the Mouth of his holy Prophet that he will take away the Stony Heart out of the Flesh and that he will give a Heart of Flesh that People may walk in his Statutes Ezek. 11. 19. And the Spirit of Truth which doth lead the Saints into all Truth the same doth Convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and Judgment and whatsoever is reproved and condemned by God in Men and Women the same is made known to be Evil by the spiritual Light of Christ Jesus Every one that doth Evil hates the Light and will not bring his Deeds to it But he that doth Truth bringeth his Deeds to the Light that they may be made manifest that they are wrought in God as saith the Apostle J. B. God saith Wo unto the Rebellious Children who take counsel but not of me that cover with a covering but not of my Spirit that they may add Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. Thou hast given large Proof in this thy Pamphlet that thou art not covered with the Spirit of God for if thou wert thou wouldst not thus wickedly wrest the holy Scriptures to cover thy self in thy Sins neither wouldst thou rake up the weakness and failings of such amongst God's People who at sometimes did Evil but Repented and forsook their Evils and were forgiven by the Lord as in the cases of David and Peter God made Man perfect and the Devil hath brought man into Imperfection by leading him into Sin and Rebellion against God So thy Plea for Sin and Imperfection term of Life is a plea for the Devil and his Kingdom whose Kingdom stands in Sin and thou art in this thy plea against Christ Jesus and his Kingdom which stands in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost So be ashamed of thy Ungodly Work and Repent Concerning God's dwelling in his People In page 23. J. B. saith If there be that in us which if obeyed leads to Heaven then sure we bear a part in our Justification our selves which giveth the Apostle to the Ephesians the Lye who tells us we are saved by Grace through Faith c. Answ God who cannot Lye hath promised that he will walk and dwell in his People and teach them himself And the Apostle said to the Saints There is one God over all through all and in you all Mark God was in them all and the Apostle said I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and he said to some who questioned whether Christ did speak in him or no Try your selves know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And the Apostle John
said God is Love he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him mark God in him and the Apostle John said We know that the Son of God is come hath given us an under standing that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ and this is the true God and Life eternal 1 Joh. 5. 19 20. And it 's written He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath the Son hath the Father also Christ in his Prayer to the Father said of his Disciples I in them and thou in me John 17. 21. to the end of the Chapter Thus it plainly appears that the Christians did and do enjoy God and Christ within God is a Spirit as Christ said and the second Adam was made a quickning Spirit as the Apostle saith So God and Christ within is sufficient to lead unto Salvation being obeyed and thus to own God and Christ within did not nor doth not lead the Christians to justifie themselves or as J. B. phrases it To bear a part in their own Justification nor to give the Apostle the Lye who saith Ye are saved by Grace through Faith Now mark the great Ignorance of this J. B. he grants that People are saved by Grace through Faith I ask J. B. then must not they who are so saved have this Grace this Faith within them would he have them to be saved by Grace through Faith and yet have neither Grace nor Faith in them Oh gross Ignorance The Martyr Stephen was a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost or Spirit And the Apostle exhorted saying Be not drunk with Wine wherein is Excess but be ye filled with the Spirit The Apostle saith It is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace And sure this Grace must be in their Hearts with which their Hearts were to be established The Apostle exhorted the Saints to teach and admonish c. with Grace in their Hearts Col. 3. 16. And the Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience as it s written in the holy Scriptures The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men as saith the Apostle Tit. 2. 11. And the appearance of it is within Man and Woman as I have proved by the Scriptures and the Lord said unto the Apostle My Grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in weakness They who do believe in the Grace do know the sufficiency of it yea of the least measure of it to their comfort to preserve save them but those who do despight unto it and continue in Unbelief shall come to know the sufficiency of it to condemn them And by this Grace which hath appeared to all men the Lord will be clear of all the Wicked who perish in their Wickedness yea he will overcome them all when he brings his Righteous Judgments upon them for their Rebellion Happy are all they who do believe and continue stedfast in obedience unto the Grace of God but Wo to the Wicked who continue in Rebellion against it The People of God in scorn called Quakers do believe and say as the holy Apostle did who said We are not able to think a good Thought of our selves of our selves we can do nothing that is good But we do believe that its possible to grow to such a stature in Christ Jesus by virtue of his spiritual presence WITHIN as that by virtue thereof the TRUE BELIEVER may be ENABLED to do all things which God doth require of HIM and of this belief was the Apostle who said I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Through the tender Mercy of God we are made sensible that as Christ said so it is Without him we can do nothing And the Apostle said We are God's Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God before ordained that we should walk in them And it is God that worketh all our Works in us And so said the Prophet and so say WE see Isa 20. 12. Ephes 2. 10. Postscript Being a Scriptural Testimony to the perfect Works of God in his People COme out from amongst them and be ye seperate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be your Father and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty see Isa 52. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. read the Chapter through The holy Apostle saith God forbid that I should glory SAVE or except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World For IN Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but A NEW CREATURE and as many as WALK according TO THIS RULE PEACE be on them c. Gal. 6. 14 15 16. Note Reader they that come out from amongst the unclean who touch no unclean thing these are the Elect of God these are his Sons and Daughters Servants and Hand-maids these are new Creatures in Christ Jesus these are Crucified with Christ these are in and through him Crucified to the World and the World is Crucified to them and as many as WALK according to these new Creatures RULE they walk according to the commands of God and Christ expressed in the holy Scriptures of Truth who saith Be Perfect be Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy And God is perfect and his way is perfect and his work is perfect as it is written 2 Sam. 22. 31. Psal 18. 30. Deut. 32. 4. Christ saith Except a man be Born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 5. Matth. 19. 28. Tit. 3. 5. Those who are Born again are new Creatures these Worship God in the newness of the Spirit of God and of Christ in which they come to see the Promises of God and Christ fulfilled who said I will walk in them c. I will teach my People my self I will write my Law in their Heart c. Ephes 46. Levit. 26. 12. Rev. 21. 3. Jer. 31. 33. Christ said I and my Father we will come and make our ABODE with you The Conversations of all such are sweet and clean according to the commands of God and Christ and the Doctrines and Examples of Christ and his holy Apostles and such are the true owners and lovers and esteemers of the holy Scriptures And NOT those who make their bost of their love to God and Christ and to them and yet in their EVIL Lives and Conversations denyboth God and Christ and them living in and loving and pleading for a continuance in Sin to the end of their dayes all which is directly contrary to the commands of God and Christ plainly laid down in the Scriptures And God said unto Rebellious Israel O that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments then had thy Peace have been as a River thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea
Isa 48. 18. Blessed are they who do his Commandment that they may have right to the Tree of Life may enter in through the Gate into the City for WITHOUT are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a LYE Rev. 22. 14. Christ prayed for his Disciples saying I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst PRESERVE them FROM the EVIL John 17. 15. Again when he taught them to Pray he said Pray thus Deliver us FROM ALL EVIL c. And Jesus said Whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son John 14. 13. The Apostle John saith And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight c. And he that keepeth his Commandments DWELLETH IN HIM and he IN him And hereby we know that he abideth IN US by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 John 3. 22 24. see also John â—â— 23. Again Jesus said All things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer believing ye shall receive Matth. 21. 22. Christ said If ye abide IN ME c. ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be given unto you John 15. 7. Jesus who saith Be perfect c. also saith If a man love me he WILL keep my words and my Father will love him and WE will COME unto him and make OUR ABODE with him he that loveth me NOT keepeth NOT my Sayings c. John 14. 23 24. Again He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them HE it is that LOVETH ME and he that loveth ME shall he beloved of my Father see verse 21. Again Jesus said If ye KEEP my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and abide in his Love Chap. 15. verse 10. Again the holy Apostle John saith By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and KEEP HIS Commandments For this is the love of God that we KEEP his Commandment and his Commandments are NOT GRIEVOUS 1 John 5. 2 3. Again Circumcision is nothing and Vncircumcision is nothing but the KEEPING the commands of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. God who said unto Abraham I am God All sufficieâ—â— walk thou before me and be thou perfect He said Abraham obeyed my Voice and kept my Charge my Commandments my Statutes and my Laws Gen. 26. 5. And Christ said unto the Rebellious Jews If ye were Abraham's Children ye would do the Works of Abraham Christ saith Every one that is perfect shall be as his Master Luke 6. 4. The Apostle Peter prayed for the Believers that God would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5. 10. Jesus said unto the Rich Young-man If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me see Matth. 19 21. Again he prayed to the Father for his Disciples he said The Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as WE are one I IN them and thou in me that they may be made PERFECT in one see John 17. 22 23. And Jesus said Neither Pray I for these ALONE but for them ALSO that shall believe on me c. verse 21. Note Reader this blessed Prayer of Christ Jesus was and is for or on the behalf of ALL who truly believe in him t his is truly comfortable to all true Believers in this age glory to the Lord God for the same The Apostle said We speak Wisdom among them that are PERFECT not the Wisdom of this world c. but the wisdom of God in a Mystery c. see 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. Again Paul exhorted saying Be PERFECT 2 Cor. 13. 11. The Apostles laboured that they might present every man PERFECT IN Christ Jesus see Col. 1. 28. Paul preached Christ WITHIN the Colossians the hope of Glory verse 27. Again Epaphras who is one of you a Servant of Christ saluteth you alwayes labouring for you fervently in PRAYERS that ye may stand PERFECT and Compleat in ALL the will of God see Chap. 4. verse 12. Again the Apostle gives Testimony to the Inspiration of God which giveth a right understanding of the things of God and to the holy Scriptures c. saying These Gifts are given that the man of God may be PERFECT THROUGHLY furnished unto ALL GOOD WORKS 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Again the Author to the Hebrews prayed for them That God would make them PERFECT in every good Work to do his Will Heb. 13. 21. Again Strong Meat belongeth to them that are PERFECT so it is rendred in the Margin who by Reason of use have their Senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil Chap. 4. 14. Moses the Man of God said Give ear O ye Heavens and I will speak and Hear O Earth the words of my Mouth My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain my speech shall distil as the Dew as the small Rain upon the tender Herb and as the Showers upon the Grass because I will publish the Name of the Lord ascribe ye greatness unto our God he is the ROCK his Work is PERFECT c. a God of Truth and without Iniquity Just and Right is he THEY have Corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his Children c. Do you thus requite the Lord O Foolish People Deut. 32. 1 2 3 4 5 6. read the Chapter through see Chap. 31. 27. to the end Reader Many Sweet Heavenly and Comfortable Sayings I have Collected out of the holy Scriptures whereby Gods Love unto all Men and Women is clearly held forth IN CHRIST Jesus the blessed Seed whom God hath promised shall bruise the Serpents Head who brought in the Curse Death and Reprobation by leading Man and Woman into sin Your Sins saith God have with-holden good things from you Jer. 5. 25. Christ is God's free Gift as I have plainly shewed before both unto Jews and Gentiles to be his Salvation to the ends of the Earth he tasted Death for every man as the Apostle saith He is the true Light who lighteth every one that cometh into the World he saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life He said Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light as is shewed before The Children of Light are the Children of God for God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all as saith the Apostle 1 John 1. 5. Again Chap. 3. Vers 5 6. John saith unto the Saints concerning Christ Ye know that he was manifest to TAKE AWAY our Sins whosoabideth in him sinneth NOT. Again He is able to save them to the uttermost them that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. O blessed are all they
yet he passed away and lo he was not I sought him but he could not be sound Mark the PERFECT MAN and behold the Vpright for the end of that man is PEACE see Psal 37. 27 35 36 37. Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which WAR against the SOUL Having your Conversation Honest among the Gentiles whereas they speak against you as Evil-doers they may by your GOOD WORKS which they shall behold glorifie God in the Day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Reader Take notice here David owns Perfection he saith Mark the Perfect Man behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Thus it plainly appears that God and Christ and the true Prophets and Apostles and holy Men and Women were and are for Perfection Holiness and Uprightness but the Devil Anti-christ False Prophets False Apostles and all Wicked Men and Women are for Imperfection Ungodliness Unholiness Sin and Wickedness who plead for a continuance in Sin until Men and Women go to the Grave This Plea for Sin and Wickedness is not a Plea for God and Christ but for the Devil who is the author of Sin In the Grave there is no Repentance neither is there any Purgatory as some do falsly teach to purge people from their sins after they are dead and put in their Graves No Unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven therefore blessed are they who come to Christ Jesus and follow him who came to take away Sin and bring in Everlasting Righteousness to wash and cleanse from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to strengthen his to perfect Holiness in the fear of the Lord God unto which the holy Apostle exhorted as is shewed before These things have I written in Testimony to God's Universal Love to all People and of his delight in Holiness and Purity and of his Hatred to all Sin and Wickedness I am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness and a real Lover NOT of only my Friends but also of mine Enemies according to the Command and Example of Christ Jesus my Lord William Gibson THe Author of this Book desires that it may be diligently spread among those People who think that Christ did not dye for all men who think that God would NOT have all People to be saved but vainly imagin that he hath ordained some to be Damned before they were Born that by the Spirit and Light of Truth shining in their Hearts and the plain Scripture Testimony they may be convicted of this their great and destructive Mistake ERRATA PAge 1. Line 2. for 157. read 15. p. 3. l. 5. f. himself r. him p. 5. l. 26. f. 38. r. 3. 36. p. 11. l. 13. put in not p. 12. l. 21. put out Heb. 6. p. 21. l. 26. put in of p. 37. l. 18. put in renew next before purifie p. 43. l. 8. f. profecy r. prosperity l. 17. f. forefooted r. fourfooted p. 60. l. 29. put out the Parentheses p. 171. l. 21. f. Judger r. Judge p. 74. l. 20. put in him p. 78. l. 4. f. is r. his p. 89. l. 31. f. deem r. deny Reader this is a great Error and it wholly alters the sense of the matter it renders me as though I did affirm that which in reality I do deny P. 94 l. 14. r. Gal. 6. 7 8. p 98 l 36 r the Reins p 104 l 9 f Commandment r Commandments THE END Mal. 1 2 3 4. Gal. 3. 16. Gen. 3 15. Heb. 3. 12 13. Gen. 3. 1. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 14 16. Note here the Darkness is within in the Heart of man in the Fall and the Light shines to expell the Darkness within the Day is to dawn and the Day-star is to arise in the darkened fallen mans Heart Some who believed not in Christ said unto him What shall we do that we might work the works of God he said unto them This is the work of God to believe in him whom God hath sent see John 6. 28 29. It is said in the holy Scriptures The Curse causless or without cause shall NOT COME But a Rod is for the fools Back see Prov. 26. 2 3. They are cursed Children or the Children of the curse who have forsaken the right way see 2 Pet. 2. 14 15. Christ preached unto his Disciples saying Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your GOOD WORKS and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 14. The Apostle who preached down the shadowy works of the Law said We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God before ordained that we should walk IN THEM Ephes 2. 10. The Apostle James saith Faith without Works IS DEAD being alone as the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by Faith only Abraham believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness and he was called the Friend of God These are not the shadowy Works of the Law by which no Flesh can be justified in the sight of God but these are the substantial Works of the Gospel wrought in through Christ in all his true and real Disciples see Ja. 2. 17. to the end The Apostle prayed for the Hebrews or Jews saying 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 forever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. O all ye several sorts of Teachers Writers and Disputers who have been are striving to draw keep people from this swift faithful and true witness which searcheth the Hearts and shews People their Evil Thoughts Words and Actions and Reproves and Condemns them for the same Repent and cease from this your Vngodly Work or else God will take you away from this Cursed Work in his fierce Anger See Gen. 17. Gen. 6. 0. Deut. 18. 13. Psalm 37. 37. Matth. 5. 48. Luke 6. 40. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ephes 4. 11 12. 13. Heb. 5. 14. Col. 1. 28. 4 12. 2 Tim. 3. 17. Heb. 12. 22 23 13 21 6. 1. James 1. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 9. 1 John 3. 9. ☞