Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	believe_v	faith_n	know_v	4,869	5	4.2588	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59955	The true Christian's faith and experience briefly declared, concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, the Gospel, and the doctrines thereof also, the titular Christian's faith and profession try'd, examin'd, and judg'd : written for the confirmation, and consolation of the one, and for the information in order to the restoration and salvation of the other : also, a few words to such who are newly turned in their minds to the light within, & are believers in it / by William Shewen.	Shewen, William, 1631?-1695.	1675 (1675)	Wing S3424; ESTC R24530	87,397	208

and to know of himself but Death Misery and Ignorance followed and Shame Fear and Guilt appeared and many Inventions and Contrivances how to cover the Nakedness and Shame and excuse the Guilt was invented This was the Work of Transgressing Man in the Beginning and is the same at this day among all the Children of Men of what Nation Name or Sect soever who abide in the transgressing State of the First Adam Now the State of Perfection that the Children of the Second Adam do attain unto while in the Body is a True Self-denyal and Resignation into the Will of God throughout all Tryals ☞ and over all Temptations he is a Perfect Man in Christ who is not only Restored and Redeemed by him into a State of Innocency Harmlesness and Uprightness but also in this State is resigned and given up in his Mind Will Thoughts and Desires into the Will of God as clearly knowing it so that his Mind being the Mind of Christ ☞ is eying his Heavenly Father and his Mind is stay'd upon him where the perfect Peace is And his Will Thoughts and Desires though Harmless as Christ's were yet subject to his Father truly saying as Christ did Not my will but thine In this State of true Resignation unto and Unity with the Father's Will stands the True Christian's Safety and Perfection and that which preserveth him in the same is the Power of God that throughly debaseth Self subjecteth Man's Will and saves to the uttermost through Faith in it And in this State of Perfection as he lives and remains he is cloathed with the Spirit of Glory and Humil●ty the greater his Attainments are and the higher the Heavenly Place is he fits in the lower is his Mind and the lesser he is in his own Eyes the greater he is in the Kingdom of God the more he is replenisht with true Love Goodness Humility here the greatest is the Servant a Helper of others the highest the lowest here the Servant is as his Lord and the Lord as him that serveth And among these True Christians there is no Strife nor Dispute ☞ who shall be Greatest though they are Elders and have Crowns upon their Heads yet they throw them down at the Feet of him that sits upon the Throne and give Glory to him forever Rev. 4.10 11. XX. A Few Words by Way of Advice Counsel and Exhortation to such as are newly turned in their Minds from Darkness within to Light within from the Power of Satan within to the Power of God within whereby the Work of Regeneration is begun within that such may not miscarry in the same nor sit down by the Way short of the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus is what follows written seriously to be Read Weighed and Considered TEnder Friend who art turned to this Light and Power and art a Believer in it and desirest to hear and obey the Word in thy Mouth and in thy Heart to this Light thou dost well to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place and as a Voice that calleth unto thee saying Come up hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's Wife In Order thereto thou must understand and regard the End of the precious Appearance of the Light within though it be and appear unto thee but as Light that breaketh forth before the Day dawn within or before the Day-star arise in thy Heart yet the End of its Appearance and Shining in thee is that thou shouldst fix the Eye of Faith upon it and keep thy Mind towards it till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise within and this is the Star of the Messias and the Angel of the Lord that will lead thee to the Inn where the Virgin is delivered of a Son and where the Babe of Glory lyes swadled in a Manger unregarded by all the Guests thereof and thou following this Star and finding him wilt not spare thy Cold Incense and Mirth but offer up thy precious Things unto him as the Wise Men did And when the Light within the Day-star within hath led thee thus far thou must not think within thy self that thou hast now attained to the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus because thy Eye seeth the Salvation which God hath prepared before the Face of all People think not with thy self that thou presently possessest and enjoyest the same because of the Joy Delight and Pleasure that accompanies the Sight thereof yet take thou heed of sitting down in the Appearance of Light and Heavenly Discoveries and in the bare Sight and Knowledge of the Man-Child that 's born but wait thou and walk in the same Light within which will discover unto thee that Spirit that secks its Life within thy self even after it is born ☞ under the Pretence of worshipping of it as Herod did and in it thou wilt receive Wisdom and Counsel to cherish and preserve it till the Death of its Enemies as J●seph did in the Light thou mayst come to read and understand those Things which are written for thy Learning Now whatsoever makes manifest is Light Darkness and the Works of it is and hath been wrought within the Light that expels the Darkness and the Power that destroyes the Works of it is also to be known within None walk in the Light further then they bring their Thoughts Words and Works to the Light to be proved and tryed whether they proceed from or are wrought in God or no Joh. 3.21 thou must believe continue walking in the Light that thou mayest become a Child of it and abide with the Power that thou mayest know witness the Work of it within thy self proceeding in Order from the first Day to the seventh or Sabbath of Rest And thou mayst understand that thou dost not become a Child of Light so soon as thou seest the Shining of it and begins to believe and walk in it thou must not only have Faith but thou must add unto thy Faith Patience c. for thou hast as much need as some of old had which Paul wrote to when he said You had need have Patience that after you have done the Will of God you may wait to receive the Promise and it was after they believed that the Primitive Christians were sealed with the Spirit of Promise the End of Faith is not soon attained unto ☞ he that believes must not make hast neither must he will nor run but in Patience wait in the Faith without Doubt and Wavering till he receives the End of it as some of old did viz. the Salvation of their Souls And so thou wilt know as in the Light thou waitest Salvation come nearer and nearer one Day then another unto thee and wilt witness to the Truth of what the Apostle wrote when he said Now is Salvation nearer then when you first believed Now tender Friend I have this principally to advise thee of that

he saith he hath heard the Sound of the Gospel and that he obeyes the Gospel but how doth he shew forth the Truth hereof let him examine himself doth he know the Light of the glorious Gospel to shine in his Heart whereby the Mystery of it is revealed unto him Hath he repented or turned to the Light and believed the Gospel Doth he know it to be the Power of God unto Salvation And is he saved by it as Abraham was when preached unto him and as the Primitive Christians were when they received it Doth he know Life Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel Hath he obeyed the Gospel And is his Feet shod with the Preparation of it And doth be adorn the Gospel with a Holy Life and Conversation No the Titular Christian knows no such Gospel nor the Light of it to shine in his Heart nor the Mystery of it to be revealed in him for he hates the Light and denyes Revelation and saith it is ceased and that there is no Revelation to be expected in these Dayes nor no Possibility to live a holy Life as becometh the Gospel nor no inheriting the precious Promises nor enjoying the glorious Things prophesied of while on this side the Grave nor no having the Vail taken off the Heart nor Tears wiped away nor the Cause of them removed nor Death swallowed up in Victory while he remains in the Body nor that the Anti-Type of the Year of Jubilee which is perfect Liberty and Redemption can be witnessed and enjoyed by believing in the Gospel nor that the Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established upon the Top of all Mountains or that any can dwell in that where no Destroyer is nor that the Sabbath or Rest wherein he shall not speak his own Words nor think his own Thoughts nor bear any Burden can be entered into or dwelled in while on this Side the Grave ☞ The Titular Christian hath no Faith in any of these Things therefore his Faith is feigned and the Object of it is Imaginary and is indeed that which may be called another Gospel which he that bringeth is accursed and is not of God but of Man And the Titular Christian can be a professor of this Gospel and a Hearer of this Gospel and yet never hear the Voice of the Son of God nor never come to be quickned unto Life nor never receive Remission of Sin nor Inheritance among them that are sanctified nor never come to enjoy the Priviledges of the Gospel signified and shewed forth by divers Types Figures and Shadows under the Law and seen and prophecied of by the holy Prophets yet can talk of all these Things even while in Death will talk of the Fame of Wisdom and the glorious Things her Children formerly enjoyed while he himself is poor blind and miserable and wants the Possession and Experimental Enjoyment thereof And indeed the Mystery of Iniquity hath so far prevailed and the Darkness is grown so thick by Reason of the Smoak that ascend out of the Bottomless Pit in this Night o● Apostacy which hath spread over this Part o● the World called Christendom since the Apostles Dayes that the Titular Christian which hates the Light and dwells in this Darkness is grown so great a Friend to the Devil that old Serpent ☞ that he will not endure the preaching any other Gospel then such an one which will admit of living under the Bondage Service and Slavery of the Devil Term of Life this is he that cannot endure sound Doctrine Now the joyful Sound of this Gospel which whole Christendom rings of is No perfect Victory over Sin no Overcoming the Devil no withstanding him in all his Temptations no abstaining from every Appearance of Evil The Message and Sound of the Ministers of Darkness who preach another Gospel no perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God no ceasing from committing of Sin no dispossessing the strong Man and spoiling all his Goods no sweeping the House and garnishing it with Heavenly Goods no pulling down the strong Holds of Sin and Satan no bringing every Thought and Imagination into the Obedience of Christ no putting off the old Man with his Deeds nor putting on the new nor bearing the Heavenly Image nor any such Regeneration or new Birth to be known which committeth not Sin no repairing the Breach which our first Parents made no finding again that which is lost no Restoration into Innocency and a sinless State again while Men dwell in these Earthly To bernacles none of these Things can be effected saith the Sound of this Gospel or the Preachers of it in all Sects Oh! how greatly is it to be lamented not only to see and behold the Garden and Vineyard of the Lord become so great a Wilderness and so overgrow with Bryars and Thorns Thistles and noysome Weeds where many venemous and hurtful Things are nourished but also to see those who count themselves Labourers in the Vineyard and Dressers of the Garden sit down and conclude that it can never be dressed nor the Vineyard purged from all that doth offend the tender Grapes and that the wild Bore and the little Foxes can never be driven out nor those Plants which the Heavenly Father never planted be pulled up nor that this Wilderness can ever become a fruitful Field nor like Eden again and that there are so many Believers of this sorrowful Tidings and miserable Messengers and Ministers of Satan The Sorrow and Misery of Mankind is much encreas'd and continu'd by this Vnbelief and Sound of bad Tidings or another Gospel which they that have brought are accursed Evil Unbelieving Spies who discourage and perswade the People they can never inherit the good Land nor overcome their Enemies Oh thou God of Heaven appear more and more and disperse and remove this Unbelief and gross Darkness and stop the ascending of this Smoak which ariseth out of the Bottomless Pit and darkens the Air and gather thy scattered People from under those Idol Shepherds and false Vine Dressers blind Guides and miserable Comforters thou hast gathered a Remnant from under them and made their Folly manifest and to them their Gospel is accursed do so for Thousands and Ten Thousands which yet know thee not is the Breathing of the Soul of the Righteous and remove this Monstrous Faith out of the Hearts of all Men which holds up the Devil's Kingdom there TERM OF LIFE And let thy POWER be known and Magnified over all who art God Blessed forever XVII The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning Grace and Living under it and Growing up in it from one Degree unto another and of the Possibility of Falling Away from it THE Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Grace is the free Gift of God for the Salvation of all and hath appeared unto all men but all men did not nor do receive it so know not the Teachings and Virtue of it nor its Sufficiency

Harmlesness Righteousness and Heavenly-mindedness of Jesus which he and his Followers were and are indued withal the quite contrary abounds and yet a Profession of Jesus in Words is not wanting in these Nations called Christendom so that Isaiah's Vision Sight or Prophesie is fulfilled therein The shew of their Countenance doth witness against them Isa 3.9 12. and they declare their Sin as Sodom they hide it not Wo unto their Soul for they have rewarded Evil unto themselves Children are their Oppressors and Women rule over them Oh my People they which lead thee cause thee to Err and destroy the Way of thy Paths c. In this day also this Prophecy is fulfilled in Christendom Seaven Women shall take hold of one Man Isa 4.1 saying We will eat our own Bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy Name to take away our Reproach ☞ These seven Women are or may fitly be compared to the perfect full Number of all the Titular Christians of all the diverse Sects and Opinions in whole Christendom who profess the Name of Christ and call Christ their Husband but play the Harlot with other Lovers and eat their own Bread which is the forbidden Fruit and the old gather'd Manna and wear their own Apparel which they have sowed together with their own Hands and formed by their own Inventions to cover thei Nakedness in Transgression But the Lord God whom they have transgressed against is come down to walk in his Garden and he finds it overgrown with Weeds Thorns Bryars and Thistles but neither the Weeds Trees nor Fig-tree Leaves of Profession though sowed together and made like a Garment of Modefty and Righteousness ☞ can hide from his All-seeing Eye the Word Adam where art thou is sounded forth and he and all his Works are found out and the hidden things of Esau are sought out and the Earth can no longer cover her slain But the Blood of Righteous Abel cryes and the Souls under the Altar cry How long Lord how long will it be ere thou avenge thy self on them that dwell on the Earth and yet profess thy Name and thy Son's Name and say Thus saith the Lord when they have not heard thy Voice nor seen thy Shape nor known thy wonderous Works in the Deep nor regarded the Operation of thy Hand Because of these things the Cry of the Righteous hath been unto the Lord in all Ages and is now in this Age even because of the Hatred and Bloodiness of Cain about Religion and Worship and because of the Envy of Esau about the Blessing and because the great Whore who sits upon the Waters and rides upon the Beast and calls her self the Lamb's Wife and holds forth her Golden Cup full of Abominations with which the Nations even those called Christendom are made drunk hath so far prevailed And because the Waters on which the Whore sitteth which are Nations Tongues and People and the Beast on whom she rides takes her Golden Cup for the Cup of Blessing and for the Gold that is tryed in the Fire and the Wine of Fornication for the New Wine of the Kingdom And because this great Whore is taken for the Bride the Lamb's Wife the Harlot for the Spouse of Christ the Titular Christian for the True finally because Light is called Darkness and Darkness Light Good Evil and Evil Good I say This made Jeremy wish his Head were Waters and his Eyes a Fountain of Tears that he might weep day and night for the Slain of the Daughter of his People Jer. 9.1 2. This made Christ to weep over Jerusalem and Paul to wish himself separate from Christ for his Brethrens sake This made the Prophets Apostles Ministers willing to spend and be spent and to run to and fro that Knowledge might be encreased and People undeceived because of these things the Cry Breathing of the Souls of the Righteous is unto the Lord that he would take away the Vail that is spread over the Hearts of all People by Transgression and open the Blind Eye and unstop the Deaf Ear that his Glory may be seen and his Voyce heard and the two great Mysteries of Godliness and Iniquity revealed And that People may come to look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn over him even him whom they have kissed with their Lips but betrayed in their Hearts and so come to that Godly Sorrow which leadeth to Repentance and a Turning unto him who redeemeth from all these things and bringeth into Favour with God again and giveth Right to eat of the Tree of Life and to enter through the Gate into the City even the heavenly Jerusalem which that all may partake of and inherit is the Desire of the True Christian who hath received the Gospel of Peace and Good-will to all men the which that thou may attain unto take the Counsel of one who was a Child of Wrath as well as others and once lived in the Nature of Cain and Esau and was one of them on whom the Whore sate and was deceived by her Golden Cup and drank of the Wine of her Fornication and once took the Whore for the Lamb's Wife the Harlot for the true Woman Babylon for Jerusalem Antichrist for Christ the Titular Christian for the True But now knoweth that the Son of God is come and a good Understanding given whereby he knoweth him that is true and is in him that is true and hath received Wisdom to trace the Eagle in the Air and the Serpent on the Rock and the Adulterous Woman who eateth the Forbidden Fruit and wipeth her Mouth and saith She hath done none Evil and is now acquainted with the Wiles and Mysterious Workings of him who is more subtil then all the Beasts of the Field and is come to the Rending of the Vail and the taking off the Covering and to the falling of the Scales from his Eyes and to the Revelation of the two great Mysteries of Godliness and Iniquity I say unto thee whosoever thou art that readest these words and knowest not the same Turn thy Mind inward ☞ commune with thy own Heart and be still stand in Awe and sin not fear to offend that holy Spirit which searcheth thy Heart and love the Reproofs thereof for its the Way of Life and wait low in the same until that Eye be opened in thee that can see God's Salvation that he hath appointed unto the ends of the Earth then wilt thou Rejoyce therein And cease from Man ☞ whose Breath is in his own Nostrils and speaks the studied Inventions of his own corrupt Heart and the Traditions of his Fore-Fathers and yet saith Thus saith the Lord when he hath not spoaken unto him nor heard his Voice nor seen his Shape but speaks the Conceivings and Divinations of his own Brain and the Uncertain Notions of his own Spirit The * The Root of all Division Erroneous Opinions and Sects listening

Devil and Anti-christ rules there teacheth there thou art a poor Captive and Bondslave thereof profess what thou wilt and if the Power of God thou knowest not working within thy self and operating in thy Heart not only to shake pull down and remove that which can be shaken and removed but also to bring in that which cannot be shaken nor removed viz. Everlasting Righteousness I say if this thou knowest not the Power of the Enemy of God and thy Soul worketh in thee and prevaileth over thee by working in thy Imaginations Will and Affections Mind and Members that which is Evil either in self-Sinning or self Righteousness which are both Abomination to the Lord So if thou knowest not the Word of God within thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart with the Virtues and Properties thereof as a Hammer as a Fire quick and powerful sharper then a two-edged Sword and hearest and obeyest the Voice thereof I say if this Word thou knowest not within thou art not made clean nor sanctified by it but those Things stand in thee against which it is as a Hammer Fire Sword sharp and powerful and the Word and Commands of the old Serpent that Betrayer sounds lo●d in thy Ears and pierceth deep into thy Heart and thou art carryed away with the Wind thereof and enterest into his Temptations daily and knowest not Power against them so thou canst not say as David once did Psal 119.11 I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against thee neither hast thou received with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save but art of those whom Christ spoak to Ye have not his Word speaking of his Father abiding in yo● John 5.38 And if thou knowest not the Law of the Spirit of Life within thee written in thy Inward Parts thou art a Stranger to the New-Covenant Jer. 31.33 the Law of Sin Death hath Power over thee the Law that is in thy Members leads thee Captive thereto and the Carnal Mind which is Enmity against God and cannot be subject to his Law reigns in thee though thou professest the Law of God with thy Tongue thou dost not love it nor delight in it in thy Hearr neither is it better in thy Esteem then Thousands of Gold and Silver So in short If thou art not Partaker Possessor of the Heavenly Treasures in thy Earthen Vessel thou art fraighted with Earthly Treasures Vanities if thou knowest not thy Body the Temple of the Living God and thy Heart his Throne then is it as a Cage for Unclean Birds and as a Habitation for Wild Beasts and as a Nest for Venemous Creeping Things and the Prince of Darkness sits upon the Throne of thy Heart and rules there let thy Opinion and Talk of Religion be what it will Now be thou warned and advised to watch against that Spirit in thy self which moveth thee to sleight deride and mock at the Appearance and Manifestation of the Light Crace Spirit Power Word and Law of God within And learn to cease also from those Teachers without which have caused thee to err who hate the Light within and despise the Shining of it and give it despicable Names as Ignis Fatuus 〈◊〉 certain or Falce Fire Natural Light and the Checks and Reproofs of it but the Checks of a Natural Conscience and despise the Grace that appears to all men and call it Common and not Saving Crace and sleight and reject the Power and Spirit of God within which moves and works against all Evil and to all Good not allowing it to be the principal Rule and Guide of a Christian and also endeavour to demolish race out the Word and Law of God within under Pretence of directing thee to a more sure Word and Law without viz. the Holy Scriptures which contain divers Words Precepts and Commandments c. spoaken by holy men to whom the Word of the Lord came which was before the Words were and by this Word and Spirit that came to them and was in them were they moved to speak them and that is greater then the Words and till thou knowest a Measure of the same Word and Spirit within thy self thou canst neither truly understand nor obey the Words and holy Precepts and Exhortations that proceeded from it that indeed being the Original Cause Root and Ground from whence all the Good Words and Good Works that ever sprang up in the Heart of Mankind proceeded Such Teachers have ran ●ut God hath not sent them so People are not profitted but spoiled by them they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men they neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and under the Name of Ministers of Christ are direct Ministers of Antichrist from such turn thou away learn of the Grace of God which Teacheth to deny Ungodliness c. and love the Light and bring thy Deeds to it John 3.21 and walk in it so shalt thou become a Child of it and have Right to inherit the precious Promises and possess and enjoy the Glorious Priviledges which thou hast hitherto only profess'd heard and read of in the holy Scriptures so wilt thou come to inherit Substance and soon be wiser then thy former Teachers and of a Titular Christian thou wilt become a Christian indeed an Israelite indeed a Jew inward indeed whose Praise is of God and not of Men. W. S. THE True Christian's FAITH AND EXPERIENCE DECLARED Concerning God Christ the Spirit c. First Concerning God THE True Christian believes there is One God who is a Spirit pure in Essence God is infinite and incomprehensible in himself and all the Words of Men and Angels cannot define him as he is being in all through all and above all And the various Names given him throughout the holy Scriptures were according to the Manifestation or Appearance and Operation of his Spirit in their Hearts that wrote them and according to the State it found them in when it appeared to them hence he was call'd a Consuming Fire Our God is a Consuming Fire and his Word as a Hammer and as a Fire and a Jealous and Angry God who as a Devouring Fire goes through the Bryars and Thorns and consumes them and the Day of his Appearance among these Bryars and Thorns Thi●les and Stubble is compared to the burning of Fire in an Oven in which the Wicked cannot dwell And others could call him by quite contrary Names even according to the Operation of his Spirit in them by the same could say that God is Love and his Word was as Milk and sweeter then Hony or the Hony-Comb and that the Light of his Countenance was better then the Encrease of Corn Wine and Oyl and that he was a Shield and a Shaddow of a Rock in a Weary Land his Name as a strong Tower and safe-dwelling-Place and as precious Oyntment pour'd forth and his Face or Presence

Glory and Power which is Terrible to the Worker of Iniquity is pleasant and desirable by those that witness Sion's Redemption by the Spirit of Judgment and Burning from Iniquity these things are known now as in former Ages The same Ark whose Presence troubled and plagued the Philistians was the Glory of Israel the same Hand and Power that smites and destroyeth the Egyptian saves and delivers the Israelite the same Spirit of Truth that reproveth the World of Sin is the Comforter of those that are made free by it from Sin the same Breath that breathed Life in the beginning before Sin entred kind'eth the Fire that tormenteth the Wicked He that can understand let him ●mnipresent in Be●●g incomprehensi●●e and Almighty in Power And he demonstrateth his Faith and Experience after this manner He has received a Manifestation of him in his own Heart Mind and Spirit and so is come to know him pore Omni-present by his Work and Operation therein he can say that God is pure of a Truth because he findeth his Appearance so pure and holy in his Heart that it will not allow nor suffer so much as a vain Thought to lodge there nor no unclean thing to be touched And this True Christian is a true witness of the Truth of those Scriptures Hab. 1.13 Jer. 17.10 15.19 which saith that God is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity and that He searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and divideth betwixt the Precious and the Vile betwixt Thought Thought Word and Word Work and Work And further He is a True Witness that God is Almighty in Power because he hath by his mighty Power broaken down those Strong Holds formerly builded in his Heart by the Enemy of his Soul Cast down Imaginations and every High Thing that exalted 〈◊〉 self against the Knowledge of God ●inging into Captivity very Thought into the ●bedience of Christ And he knoweth the ●rk Mountains at ●●ich his Feet stumbled removed the Rocks rended the Raging Waves stilled and that Tongue and Nature bridled which no Man could tame But before this be witnessed he hath known him to sit as a Refiners Fire Mal. 3.3 and as Fullers Sope and as a Spirit of Judgment and Burning and so became a living Witness of what he hath seen felt heard understood by the mighty Working of his Holy Spirit in his Mortal Body The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in one God who is pure omnipresent and Almighty take his Word and there is no Difference But how doth he demonstrate his Faith that to him there is but one God why he hath heard a Relation of him his Oneness his Purity and Almightiness in the Holy Scriptures and he hath been educated and trained up in the Traditions of his Fore-fathers and so his Knowledge of God he professeth is acquired therefrom he hath read in some Book or some Body hath told him that God is One Pure Omnipresent and Almighty and he grounds his Faith and Knowledge upon this Tradition and History and sorofesseth God and his Attributes in Words but is not a living Witness of the same within himself And so notwithstanding he professeth one God he liveth in the World which hath many Gods and worships and falls down before them every beloved Lust obeyed is a God Let the Titular Christian profess what he will he that committeth Sin is the Servant of it and therein is no Believer Worshipper nor Knower of the True God his Purity nor Almightiness because his Heart remaineth Corrupt and Rocky and the Mountains of Darkness Ignorance remain unremoved and the strong Holds of Satan unbroaken down his Thoughts and Imaginations unsubjected to the Obedience of Christ his Will Tongue and Nature unbridled the Dross Tin and Rubbage remains and is as a Grave to the pure Mettal this Titular Christian contents himself to hear or read of God as a Refiner's Fire and as Fuller's Sope and as a Spirit of Judgment and Burning and of his cleansing and purifying some in former Generations but loves not nor cares not to know him so in himself but rather despiseth and hateth his pure Appearance in him whose first Work is to convince him of Sin Righteousnes Judgment which is compared to a little Silver amongst much Dross a little Seed amongst many great ones to a little Leaven hid in three Measures of Meal which Silver can't be parted separated enjoy'd but by the Appearance of God within as a Refiners Fire to purge away the Dross take away the Tin also which is somewhat like the Silver whereby indeed the Titular Christian is deceived neither can the little Seed grow up till the Rubbish be taken away and the Ground that is Cursed removed and the Heart made honest which is the good Ground wherein the Seed of the Kingdom grows to Perfection neither can the little Leaven work through and leaven the three Measures of Meal till that be taken away which lets and hinders viz. Unbelief and Hardness of Heart Now this Day of small Things this Day of Jacob's Troubles wherein he goes through the Refiners Fire this little Seed this little Leaven is overlook'd despised and flighted by the Titular Christian who in his own Conceit is exalted and puffed up above the pure Appearance of God in his Heart which to know and obey is the Gate of all true Wisdom and Knowledge and is grown so tall great and Wise in his own Thoughts and Imaginations that he cannot walk in the straight Way nor go in at the Door of the Sheepfold but would climb up some other Way and so contents himself with a Traditional Historical Profession of God in Words and deny him in Works And all the Knowledge and Experience he hath of God his Purity Oneness and Almightiness is but as some Body hath told him or as he hath in an Unsanctified and Unprepared Heart read in the Holy Scriptures which Knowledge avails nothing except accompanied with a living Expe●ience of the same Power working after the same Manner as it did in others in Times past who have left their Testimonies thereof upon Record II. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Lord Jesus Christ THE True Christian believes in one Lord Jesus Christ who came from the Bosom of the Father who is the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer Sanctifier and Cleanser by his precious Blood and is to him as a King Priest and Prophet c. And he demonstrateth his Faith in this Manner in being Obedient to him as he is Lord in being saved by him from Sin as he is Jesus and by his learning of him and being taught by him as he is Christ or the Anointing So he can call him Lord Jesus Christ in Truth and Righteousness having truly learned his Name and Nature through Obedience to his Cross and a Cleansing by his

a being led by the Spirit in the Way of Holiness and so cannot fulfil the Lust of the Flesh but by the same doth mortifie them and gain Victory over them and is sanctified and cleansed from them and is taught by the Spirit the true Knowledge of God how to worship him aright in Spirit Truth and so prayes in the Spirit and with the Understanding and sings in the Spirit and praiseth God in the Spirit and the Law of the Spirit is in his Heart and this Law of the Spirit of Life makes him free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit of God which raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in him and quickneth his Mortal Body And this True Christian is the Spiritual Man which discerneth all Things but is not discerned by another out of the same Spirit which searcheth all Things yea the deep Things of God and he is led by the Spirit from under the Law and through the Law to him which was before the Law and so is under Grace and brings forth the Fruits thereof which is Love Peace Joy Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against this Christian there is no Law The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Holy Spirit c. But how doth he demonstrate his Faith and Belief he is ready to make a Mock of receiving the Spirit and being led by the Spirit mov'd taught by the Spirit this seems strange Doctrine to him that he should know his Lusts mortified by the Spirit and that he should walk in the Spirit and be sanctified by the Spirit from all Sin and Uncleaness and that he should attend the Motion and Guidance of the Spirit and in all his Conversation to do nothing but what will stand justified by this Holy Spirit and that he should pray in the Spirit and sing with the Spirit and worship in the Spirit c. These are new Doctrines to the Titular Christian he knows not what to make of them except it be to brand them with despicable Names And the Law of the Spirit of Life which should free him from the Law of Sin and Death he is a Stranger to and wholy ignorant of the Indwelling of that Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead to quicken his mortal Body this he counts Fanatick Doctrine c. And instead of being a spiritual Man which discerneth all Things he is Carnal and seeth not far off the Vail being over his Heart cannot see nor regard the Glory of God when it appeareth in the Inward Temple but opposeth slighteth the Appearance of that Holy Spirit which searcheth his Heart and all Things and so is not led by it from under the Law which Law was added because of Transgression and this Titular Christian which liveth in the Nature and Act of Transgression and that knows not the Cursed Ground removed which bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns from whence all Evil Thoughts Words and Works proceed and is a Stranger to the Mortification of them by the Spirit he is under the Law and liable to the Punishment thereof and not under Grace let him profess what he will if he brings not forth the Fruit of the Spirit in his Life and Conversation he clearly sheweth he doth not believe in it nor walk in it neither hath received it nor come to any true Knowledge of it by its Work and Operation in his Heart he only talks of it with his Tongue as some Book or Body hath told him this is the Property and State of a Titular Christian IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Scriptures THE True Christian truly honoureth the Holy Scriptures in their Places and believeth and receiveth their Testimony and is a living Witness of the Truth thereof and he domonstrateth it as followeth By believing receiving and obeying him viz. Christ Jesus of whom they testifie whereby he receives Power to order his Conversation according to them and the True Christian believeth that they were spoaken and written by the Motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God in Holy Men Prophets and Apostles and that it is his Duty to Wait upon God to receive the Spirit of Grace and Glory and the Gifts thereof of whom they testifie that thereby be may be enabled to read them with Understanding and to receive the Comfort of them and to be made wise through Faith in Christ unto Salvation by them And this Christian knows rightwell That all the Vniversity or Acad mi●al Learning in the World is not able to give the true Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit in the holy Scriptures they are as a seal'd Book to all the Wit Reason Comprehension and Acquired Parts of all Mankind in the Fall Learned and Unlearned And until man comes to receive regard and improve the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal as the Scriptures witness he is wholy ignorant and a Stranger to the Key of true Knowledge and the Treasures of Life and Wisdom are hid from him and secured as with seven Seals and the Cherubim● with a Flaming Sword that turns every Way and guards the Tree of Life with the Fruits thereof from the faln Wisdom of Man And this the True Christian knows by Experience having tryed what the Wisdom of this World in all its Perfection can do and hath seen it confounded and brought to nought in himself being discovered to be no part of the Key of true everlasting Knowledge but rather that which hides it makes the Vail the thicker and shuts the Door of the Kingdom the faster and those that abound in it neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and this the Holy Scriptures testifie The Titular Christian he saith He honoureth the Scriptures and believeth the Testimony of them c. But how doth he demonstrate his Honour to them and Belief of them Doth he order his Conversation according to them They exhort To abstain from every Appearance of Evil and from every fleshly Lust which wars against the Soul and to put on the whole Armour of God and thereby resist the Devil and make him flee The Titular Christian doth not obey this Exhortation neither doth he believe that it 's possible that any should obey it on this side the Grave So while he pretends to honour them he gives them the Lye for what 's more ridiculous and unreasonablethen to profess a Belief that the Spirit of God in Holy Men hath left Holy Precepts and Exhortations upon Record in the Scriptures which are unpossible to be obeyed Yet this is the Language of the Titular Christian who honoureth them with his Lips and cryes them up with his Tongue but in Works denyes them Sometimes he will give them more Titles of Honour then to them is due as when he calls them The Word of God The Touch-stone and Tryer of all Spirits The Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice so in his