of purity and righteousness doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 So it is written without and so it is testified within by him that is born of God in whom the Seed remaineth which overcometh the wicked one bruiseth him and keepeth him under and the just live by the Faith which giveth victory over him A PREFACE TO THE EXPERIENCES IT hath pleased the Lord to unseal and open the Fountain of Life in the midst of his Heritage so that in his Light do they see Light and in his Life do they reap and enjoy Life And the precious Promises are fulfilled in the midst of them of sending the Comforter and pouring out of the Holy Spirit so that he that believeth out of his belly do flow rivers of living water Yea the Lord hath a vineyard of his own planting which he keepeth night and day lest any hurt it and watereth every moment O the streams of Life the streams of Love the streams of Grace the streams of Mercy the streams of Peace the streams of Joy and Consolation which flow from him into the Bosoms of his Children Indeed Grace and Mercy and Peace is multiplyed from God our Father in and through the Lord Jesus Christ daily insomuch as that saying of Christ to his disciples Joh. 14.26 27. is now fulfilled I say not that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you c. the Father in his Love hath brought us to the Son and the Son in the same Love hath brought us back to the Father and now the Love flows from the Father in and through the Son most naturally and abundantly And where the heart is Circumcised and much forgiven there also Love returns back most truly and naturally So that the Lord our God in the Lord Jesus Christ is loved with all the heart and with all the Soul and nothing is thought too good to sacrifice to him nor any thing too much to suffer for him O the pure Love that Springs and Flows between the heavenly Father and the Spiritual Child The best love that is to be found in this world in the Men of this World is not worthy to be a shadow of it God is Love and his Children are of him and partake of and dwell in the same love though the enmity and highest Wisdom of this World know them not nor can know them even as it never could know the Children of the true Wisdom sormerly Now from this Fountain do not only issue Springs and Streams of Life to refresh our own hearts but testimonies concerning the Life which we feel and partake of and concerning our travels from the dark Land through the valley of tears where he who gave us Life was our well towards our resting place These many times Spring up in us for the sakes of others of which nature are the things which follow For not for my own sake did they Spring up in me at this time but to signify to others of the Mercy the Lord hath shewn me and the way wherein he hath led me and what he hath given me to taste of an experience in the way which will answer every true paalate every palate that is seasoned with life and with the true experience And having received them from the Lord for this very end to hold them forth to others in Love and tenderness of Spirit my heart is freely given up to him therein not aiming at any thing thereby but his glory singly and the good of such Souls to whom he shall please to extend favour and shew Mercy in opening the heavenly Mistery of Life and Salvation to them I have often said in my heart Who hath begotten me these Who would have said that Sarah should have given Children Suck My wound was deep and seemed incurable But blessed be the Lord who hath made known to me the Phisitian of value for whom no disease is too hard but he is able to cure sickness and to relieve and rescue all that are captived and oppressed by the Devil that come unto him and wait upon him in the way of his righteous judgments and most tender Mercies For after all my Religion and deep exercises and inward experiences and knowledg I came to such a less of what I once had that I sensibly felt I knew not the Lord and lay continually groaning and Mourning after him and deeply afflicted for want of him O the pure Light and precious Life and sweet presence of my God that my Soul wanted insomuch that my moisture was turned into the drought of summer and my bones grown dry and withered But at length the Lord in his goodness O blessed for ever be his name breathed upon the dry bones and I felt Life enter from him into me and the days of deep sorrow and distress were at length forgotten because a man-child was at length conceived and brought forth And now wher 's the Sack-Cloth Wher 's the Ashes Oh ther 's beauty in Life instead of the Ashes in the state without Life and the garment of praise instead of the Spirit of heaviness O Glory Glory to the binder up of the bruised and broken-hearted to the redemer of the captives to the repairer of the breaches to the builder up of the wasted and des laâ—e ones Glory to his tender Mercy Glory to his Grace Glory to his Love Glory to his Wisdom Glory to his Power for ever and ever Amen Some Experiences added I. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom COncerning the Seed of the Kingdom this I have experienced that it consists not in words or notions of the Mind but is an inward thing an inward spiritual substance in the heart as real inwardly in its kind as other Seeds are outwardly in their kind and that being received by faith and taking root in man his heart his earth being ploughed up and prepared for it it groweth up inwardly and bringeth forth fruit inwardly as truly and really as any outward Seed doth outwardly This Seed is known by its contrariety and enmity against the Seed of the Serpent against all the Seeds of evil in the heart of Men it discovering them turning the mind from them and warning against them and bruising and overcoming them in all that receive it and let in its holy nature which as an holy leaven or salt worketh out that which is unholy and unrighteous dark and dead and seasoneth with Light with Life with Grace with the Holiness and Righteousness of truth II. Concerning the Souls Food The Souls Food is that which nourisheth it which is the same with that which giveth it Life Every word proceeding out of the mouth of God every motion every quickning every operation of his Spirit is living and nourisheth the Soul with Life which receiveth it and feedeth on it The spiritual Manna the spiritual water from the holy Well or Fountain the Milk of the word the flesh and bloud of the Son of the
Naked Truth OR TRUTH nakedly manifesting it self in several Particulars for the removing of Hinderances out of the way of the Simple-hearted that they may come to true Knowledge Life Liberty Peace and Joy in the Lord through the vertue and power of his precious Truth revealed and working in them Given forth by way of Question and Answer Whereunto are added some Experiences with some Scriptures very sweet and necessary to be experienced in the Gospel-state As also A few words concerning the True Christ and a few words in the Bowels of tender love and good-will to my native Country By a long Mourner and Traveller after but at length an happy Experiencer of the Truth as it is in Jesus ISAAC PENINGTON Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see Luke 10.23 London Printed in the Year 1674. The Preface TRue Knowledg and true Experience especially concerning things of necessity and great concern to the Soul is very precious As to know the true Foundation the Corner-Stone which God layes in his Spiritual Sion and the Heavenly Jerusalem which is the Mother of all that are born of God and the gathering out of the spirit of this World with the vanity and falshood thereof into God's Spirit which is Truth and no Lye and the building up of the holy Temple in which God appears and is worshipped and the heavenly Communion with the Father and Son in the one pure Light which shines from them into the heart and the one Faith the one Circumcision the one Baptism the one holy Mountain the one feast of sat things made thereon the one Water of Life the one Bread the one Cup of Salvation c. Now the things of the Kingdom are all at the dispose of the King thereof To him all Power is given in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge he hath life in himself and he hath life to dispose of and dispense to his He gives the true Knowledge which is Life Eternal He gives Repentance and Remission of Sins He teacheth to believe in the Father and he giveth Faith also He is the Shepherd of the Sheep who by his Voice quickeneth and maketh alive and leadeth and preserveth and nourisheth up to Life eternal Therefore whoever will understand aright must receive understanding from him And whoever will repent aright must receive repentance from him And whoever will believe aright must receive Faith from him And whoever will hear and see aright must receive an ear and eye from him and whoever will come unto him and receive him must witness that new heart forming or formed in him wherewith and whereby he is received Men greatly mistake and erre about the Gospel-knowledge and Religion by beginning therein without the Gospel-Spirit and Power Therefore that man that would not be deceived and lose his Soul for ever let him take heed how he begins how he stands and how he proceeds in his Religion The Jews-state stood in the Revelation of God's Spirit and Power outwardly and the state of the Christians the New-Covenant-state stands in the revelation of Gods Spirit and Power inwardly For none can beget a new birth to God inwardly but his own Spirit and Power working inwardly in the heart Therefore thou that wouldest live with God for ever and not perish from the Presence and Glory of his Power mind these three things First God's inward visiting thee and making a real change in thee I do not mean a change in thy mind from one notion to another but a change in thy heart from one nature and spirit to another This is the great Work which nothing but the mighty Power of God which raised Jesus from the dead can effect in the hearts of the children of men Now that this may be wrought out in thee wait for the appearing and working of that Power which by its appearing and working doth effect it daily more and more in these that unite to it and give up to its operations O wait to feel the Power begetting somewhat of its own nature in thee leavening thee into its nature by the pure heavenly leaven where with God waits to leaven thy heart Thu◠feel thy beginning from the true Root from the holy Principle from the Seed of th◠Kingdom and then wait to feel that grows up in thee and to grow up therefrom tha◠as the beginning is pure so the growth may be pure also For after God hath visite◠thee and begotten somewhat in thee an◠leavened thee in some measure so th◠there is true life true sense true hungerings true breathings after the Lord an◠his Righteousness after the Fountain 〈◊〉 living Waters then in the next place mind and wait to learn of the true Teache◠how to come to the true Waters that th◠mayst drink thereof and of no dirty puddle of thy own or any others forming Where are these Waters dispensed and where are they to be found why in the New-Covenant which God makes with the hungry and thirsty Souls as they come to the Shepherd and hear his Voice and learn of him and follow him Therefore thou must wait to distinguish Spirits and the knocks of Spirits in thy own heart Thou must know when the Shepherd knocks and when the stranger knocks and let in the Shepherd when he knocks and not let in the stranger when he knocks Thus by knowing him enclining thine ear to him and hearing his voice thou comest to have the everlasting Covenant made with thy Soul even the sure Mercies of David wherein the union with God is sure the Teacher sure never more to be removed from thee the fear which God puts into the heart sure the Law of the new life sure being so written in thy heart by the finger of Gods Spirit as none can blot out the love of God sure his preservation sure the inheritance of life sure O sweet Covenant O holy Covenant O blessed Covenant and blessed are all those Souls with whom God makes this Covenant and who are kept by him in the sense and enjoyment of it Now lastly After God hath made this Covenant with thee and spoken peace to thee and given thee of the Power Righteousness and joy of the Kingdom and set the holy Hedge of his Power and Wall of Salvation about thee thou must take heed of going forth after any lust after any desire of the flesh after any temptation of the enemy thou must keep within the holy limits and not touch any dead or unclean thing lest thou be defiled and so in degree separated from him who is pure The occasion of what follows was briefly thus There was a controversie between me and another about many of these things towards whom my love was in a travel And having a sense on my heart that the enemy makes use of the wrong apprehensions and mistakes he begets in mens minds about these things contrary to the true knowledg and experience which God giveth to the Children which
are born of the Heavenly Womb who indeed alone can rightly plead for and justifie their Mother in this day of great strife and contention about the Kingdom and right Heir thereof I say having this sense on my heart and these things naturally springing up and opening in me upon this occasion I was drawn in love and in the motion of life thus to give them forth to others hoping that the Lord may thereby open the minds of some towards and confirm the minds of others in the sense and belief of the Truth and the inward manifestation of his Spirit which discovers and strives against the darkness lusts and corruptions in them The Lord give People the sense of the strivings and reproofs of his holy Spirit inwardly in their hearts and joyn their spirits thereto that they may receive Light Life Vertue and Strength from his holy Spirit and thereby witness the overcoming and keeping under the enemy of their souls that they may know what it is to have the seed of the Woman bruise the Serpents head in their own particulars that so the holy Child Jesus may be exalted his Horn exalted in them and he may reign and exercise his Government in them and they may become Kings and Priests to God and reign in him over all that his Power is ordained to break and keep under yea utterly consume and destroy in the hearts of those that submit themselves willingly to him and walk in the Light and Leadings of his holy Spirit Amen NAKED TRUTH OR Truth manifesting it self in several Particulars for the removing of Hinderances c. Given forth by way of Question and Answer I. Concerning understanding the Holy Scriptures truly and aright Quest WHether the Scriptures can be understood aright without the Light of God's holy Spirit shining inwardly in the heart and giving the true understanding of them Answ No not possibly for as the outward eye cannot possibly see without the shining of some outward Light no more can the inward Eye see without the shining of the inward Light God who commanded Light to shine out of darkness causeth the Light of his Spirit to shine in the hearts of People according to his holy pleasure and thereby they come to see God seeth all things in his own Light in the light of his own pure eternal Spirit and in his Light do the Children of Light see Light The things of Gods Kingdom are holy Mysteries and the words which he speaks concerning those holy Mysteries none can understand but as he pleaseth to open and reveal them He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true 1 Joh. 5.20 The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Job 32.8 without which Man is dead and can neither hear nor see nor understand any of the things of God's Kingdom II. Concerning the Illuminating Spirit and Sanctifying Spirit Quest Whether the Illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit be one and the same Spirit or no Because it is affirmed by some and written by one to me as a sound distinction of Divines which distinction he saith he hath a mind I should learn that there is a Spirit of Sanctification and that is peculiar to the Godly and there is a Spirit illuminating and that is oft vouchsafed to the wicked as it was to Balaam Answ The Spirit which illuminateth and the Spirit which sanctifieth is one and the same Spirit and the illumination of the Spirit is in order unto Sanctification The same Light which discovereth the Darkness also chaseth away the Darkness as it is received and subjected to and purifieth the mind for the Light hath not only a property of enlightening but also of cleansing and sanctifying And the reason why Men are not changed justified and sanctified in and by the Light is because they love it not and bring not their hearts and deeds to it and so it is their reprover and condemner and not their Justifier and Sanctifier But the same Spirit Light and Life which Enlighteneth also Sanctifieth and there is not another III. Concerning the holy Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures Quest Whether they be alwayes joyned or some may have the Spirit who have not the Scriptures and some may have the Scriptures who have not the Spirit Answ The holy Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures are not always joyned together for some in the dark corners of the Earth may be visited by the Spirit become sensible of the Spirit and receive the Spirit who never heard of the Scriptures and many may have the Scriptures and yet be very ignorant of and strangers to Gods holy Spirit as the Jews were who had them read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day and yet Christ told them you neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God IV. Concerning the Law of the Lord which is perfect and which converts the Soul Quest What is the Law of the Lord which is perfect and converts the Soul is it the outward Law or Writing in the Letter or the inward Law and Writing in the Spirit Answ No Man is or ever was or ever can be converted to God from the inward Law of Sin and Death but by the inward Law of Life and Righteousness written in his heart And I am sure that Law is perfect The New-Covenant is perfect and the Law thereof perfect the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus perfect which converts the mind to Christ the Righteousness of God and sets it free from the Law of Sin and Death And David was a spiritual Man and knew the inward Covenant and the inward creating of the heart a new and Gods holy and free Spirit and the Law and Testimony thereof I will grant a great deal to the Letter and ministration outward but I must attribute more to the inward or else Gods Light and the holy Experience which he hath given me will condemn me And as the Jew outward had the Law and Testimony and Statutes outward so I am sure the true Jew the Jew inward hath the Law and Testimony and Statutes inward written in his heart by the finger of Gods Spirit yea and the same Spirit put within him to cause him to keep this Law and the holy Testimony Statutes and Judgments of the Lord and the spiritual Jacob and Israel of God in this the day of their Redemption and Salvation from on high do follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes and walk in the Light of the Lord. V. Concerning David's longings exprest in Psal 42. Psal 43. and Psal 119. and other places Quest Were Davids longings more after the Law outward or after the Law and Light of Gods Spirit inward Answ David was a man after Gods own heart a man that knew an inward and clean heart of Gods creating and knew the free Spirit of the Lord and the fresh springing Life thereof and the leadings of the pure living Truth inwardly in his heart and this was it he most especially prized and longed after
Children XXIV Concerning Obedience Quest What is the true Obedience Answ The Obedience which slows from thâ— true understanding of God's will and from thâ— holy nature which he begets in the heart It is the Obedience which slows from true sense true understanding and true faith There is no birth can believe aright but one nor is there any birth can obey aright but that birth which believes aright The true believing is from the quickning vertue of God's spirit all other Faith is but dead Faith and the true Obedience is in the newness of the spirit Rom. 6.4 anâ— 7.6 Man may strive to understand and obey all his days but he can do neither but as he iâ— quickned taught and enabled of the Lord Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes Psal 119.33 There is a mystical path of life Thâ— way of wisdom the way of holiness the holy skill of obeying the truth is hid from all living from all mankind but such as are begotten and brought up by him in the holy skill and mystery of subjection to the Lord. The people shall be a willing people in the any of thy â—â—â—er It is the power of God that works the will in the heart and the same power works to do also and none can learn either to will or to do â—righâ—â— but as they come to be acquainted with that power joyned to that power and feel that power working in them And here in this power to this new birth faith and the Holy Obedience are as natural as unbelief and disobedience is to the birth of the flesh It is frequently and abundantly experienced by his holy birth by the child of his begetting Blessed be the name of the Lord. XXV Concerning Justification Quest What is Justification or how is a man justified in the sight of God Answ By a true sense of and Faith in that which justifies which is the spirit the life the water the bloud the vertue the power of the Lord Jesus All these are one in nature and they go together Man is sinful naturally fallen from God found a transgressor against him Now he needs Justification from his sins and he needs Justification in respect of what God hath entrusted him with and requires of him and in the new birth and joyning to the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ he meets with both Being quickned by his holy spirit turned from the darkness coming into the light and walking in the light there his sins are done away blotted out as if they had never been for his names sake and there he receiveth a new ability a new heart a new spirit yea the spirit of the living God to quicken him and work in him and whatever he doth in this spirit or rather what God doth by him in and through this spirit is justified owned and accepted God finds no fault in any of the fruits of his own spirit in any of the children of men but only in the fruits of the flesh And if for want of watchfulness the enemy should prevail and draw into a snare yet upon turning to the light of Gods holy Spirit which discovers and reproves for it in the holy light the water flows the bloud is sprinkled the conscience is cleansed and so becomes clean even in God's sight O blessed is he who is not deceived with dead notions of Justification but feels the Justification which comes from God and is accompanied with a living sense and with the testimony of his holy Spirit XXVI Concerning Good Works Quest What are Good Works Answ The Works that flow from God's good Spirit the Works that are wrought in God they are good Works The Works of the new birth of the new creature are good Works whereas all the works of the flesh are bad though never so onely painted All its thoughts imaginations reasonings willings runnings hunting to find out God and heavenly things with all its sacrifices are corrupt and evil having of the bad leaven of the bad nature in them Make the tree good or its fruit can never be good So that they are only the good Works that flow from the good tree from the good root And here all the works of the flesh though never so glorious and taking in mans eye are shut out by Gods measure by Gods line and plummet of righteousness and true Judgment and every work of God's Spirit the meanest work of faith the least labour of true love the least shining of life in the heart and the giving up thereto â—s owned by God as coming from him and wrought in him who worketh both to will and â—o do of his own good pleasure He that is gaâ—hered to the light which God hath enlightned him with hath received the light dwelleth in the light and walketh in the light thâ— spirit of the living God is near him and dwelleth with him and worketh in him and hâ— bringeth his deeds to the Light where it 〈◊〉 manifest that they are wrought in God Bâ— he that is out of the inward Light of God's holy Spirit his works are not wrought in God and so can but make a fair shew in the Flesh 〈◊〉 the fleshly eye but are not good in God's sighâ— The erring mans way and works are often rigiâ— in his own eyes ah but blessed is he wheâ— way and works are good and right in the eyâ— of the Lord in the judgment of his searchinâ— unerring Light and Spirit XXVII Concerning Love Quest Which is the true Love Answ The Love which ariseth from the nâ—ture which God begets and from his circumcising the heart from the other nature Loâ—â— is the beautiful thing What can be highâ—â— expressed concerning God himself than to saâ— he is Love Love is greatly commended and admired and there are many pretenders to it bâ—â— none have the true Love but only those that arâ— born of God and circumcised by him Tâ— Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live Deut. 30.6 Mark The true Love ariseth from the true circumcision And the more a man comes to have his heart circumcised from the fleshly nature and to grow up in the pure and heavenly nature the more he loves God is Love and the nigher any one comes to him and the more he partakes of him the more he becomes Love in the Lord and the more he is taught of God to love the Lord his God and his brethren in the spirit and all mankind who are of his bloud for of one bloud God made all mankind according to the flesh or according to a natural consideration XXVIII Concerning Meekness and Patience Quest Which is the true Meekness and Patience Answ The Meekness and Patience which ariseth from the Lambs nature Deceit will put on an appearance of Love and deceit will put on also an appearance of Meekness and Patience but it cannot put on the
fresh Life in him My flesh is Meat indeed and my â—loud is Drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud dwelleth in me and â—in him Joh. 6.55.56 We are of his Flesh and of his Bone said they that did eat his Flesh and drink his Bloud They that eat Christ the one bread are by that Food made partakers of his divine nature and become one bread for we being many are one bread as said the Apostle so that now they are no longer darkness but Light in the Lord. O the pure flesh and bloud of the immaculate Lamb O the incorruptible food which gives Life to the Soul O the living word O the milk of this word the Milk of the heavenly breast which nourisheth the babes but the bread the flesh the Bloud is stronger nourishment O how brightly might this be opened in the demonstration of Life to the spiritual ear and understanding but the carnal-minded are thick and gross being drowned in their own apprehensions and sense of the letter but having no sense of the mystery what it is mystically to Eat and Drink the Flesh and Bloud of Christ of him who is Life and gives Life and to dwell together with him in the one Spirit Light Life and Power eternal For with thee is the Fountain of Life in thy Light shall we see Light Psal 36.9 Oh blessed are they that can experimentally speak thus who know the Fountain of Life and dwell there where Light Shines more and more Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and Eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without money and without price Wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not hearken diligently unto me and Eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isa 55.1 2 3. Here 's happiness true happiness full happiness He that experiences this one portion of Scripture is happy He that knows the true thirst after the true waters and comes to the waters which he thirsts after and knows how to buy and hath bought the Wine and Milk which is to be had at the waters Oh who knows what this buying is This is beyond all talk and outward profession concerning he thing concerning the precious pearl this is the real hearty trafficking of the wise Merchant for it And then to hearken diligently and eat that which is good and to have the soul delight it self in the fatness of God's House in the riches and fatness of his Goodness and Mercy in Christ Jesus and not only to taste of Mercy but to witness it sure in the everlasting Covenant that God will never be wroth with me more never be a stranger to me more never depart from me more nor suffer me to depart from him but preserve me pure and chast to him through his love shed abroad in my heart and his holy fear which constrains me to abide with him and to keep his Commandments But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life Joh. 4.14 Is not this an universal Promise to be made good to every one that drinks of the water of Life of the water that Christ gives Did not Christ promise it should be a Well a springing Well The Fountain is of a springing nature and is not every drop of the same nature of a living nature of a springing nature He that rightly drinks doth he not receive a Well O the Water which Christ giveth doth it not become a Well in the true disciple in the living disciple out of which Well the Water is still springing and flowing to nourish up with Life and unto Life even with Life of an everlasting nature and unto Life everlasting O the pure glory that is revealed in the Gospel-dispensation why is it so hid from mens eyes who profess themselves to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to be his disciples For the Life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 J h. 1. v. 2 3. This is precious to experience the Life inwardly manifested and to come out of death inwardly felt into Life inwardly manifested and so to come into the holy fellowship with the Father and Son and with the Saints in Light for he that comes out of the darkness into the Light comes out of the Fellowship of the dead into the Fellowship of the Living Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls For my Yoke is easy and my Burthen is light Mat. 11.28 29 30. This invitation of Christ was to be fulfilled in the hearts of his disciples it is precious inwardly to witness it effectually in the heart as really as ever it was spoken by him To be able to say in the evidence and demonstration of his Spirit It is true I did labour I was heavy-laden none could ease or help me till he called till he knocked at the door of my heart and till I came to him and received him in and he hath made good his word to my soul he hath given me rest from my labours and heavy Loads He hath laid his Yoke upon me and I have took it and born it and have learned of him to be meek and lowly in heart like him and I have found rest to my Soul And now I shall never complain more of his yoke or burthen he hath made it and doth daily make it so easy and light to me And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given 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 eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.20 There is an inward spiritual coming of the Son of God into the heart by which Coming to them that receive him he giveth a new and Spiritual understanding whereby they know him that is true and without it they cannot and are ingraffed into him a d found in him partaking of his Life and righteousness to the glory of God the Father and so in true understanding are able to say Lo this is the God this is the Saviour we waited for This is the true
have the witness in themselves the living testimony which none can put out or take away from them He hath opened mine eyes he hath opened my heart he hath raised me out of the grave he hath given me eternal Life He hath changed me inwardly created me inwardly by the working of his mighty power and I daily live am preserved and grow by the same power I feel his Life his vertue his power his presence day by day He is with me he lives in me and I live not of my self but by feeling him to live in me finding life spring up from him into me and through me and therein lies all my ability and strength for evermore A few words in the Bowels of tender Love and Good Will to my Native Country It is written When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the World shall learn Righteousness O that this might be verified concerning thee O England even that thou mightest learn Righteousness and that the dayes of thy unrighteousness might come to an end Have not God's judgments been upon thee Yea are not God's Judgments still upon thee And can any thing divert them from coming more upon thee but thy speedy returning unto the Lord in breaking off thy sins by unfeigned Repentance O that thou mightest be sensible of the hand of the Lord and mightest hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it The Lord hath power over all Nations and can break them in peices as a Potters Vessel They are but as the drop of a Bucket as the small dust of the Ballance they are before him as nothing and are counted to him less than nothing and vanity Read Isa 24. See how God will plead with Nations and consider whether he be not dealing thus with thee O hath not that been found in thee and is not that found in thee which provoketh the Lord exceedingly O that the weighty sense of thy sins were upon thee and that thou mightest truly repent and turn from them that thou mightest reap the benefit of God's Judgments and learn Righteousness and his Indignation might be removed from thee and his tender Bowels of compassion move towards thee But perhaps some may say What is the Righteousness we should learn Answ O learn to know God that is a righteous thing Learn to fear God Learn to worship him aright How is that Why in his own Spirit and Truth in which he seeks to be worshiped Learn Humility towards God learn Justice and Mercy towards Men. Learn to love thy Enemies If ye will be Christians that is the Law of Christ But that which is called the Christian world many of them have not yet learned so much as to love their Friends but hate and persecute such as fear the Lord and seek their good and stand in the gap to keep back the Wrath of the Lord from breaking in upon them and are wrestling mightily with him with strong cries that he would stay the sharpness thereof that it might not break forth to their destruction Learn to do to others as ye would be done to Do not do to any because of their Religion and tender Consciences towards the Lord what ye would not have done to your selves because of your Religion How long will it be ere ye learn this how many Judgments and Distresses shall come upon you before ye bow in Spirit under the mighty hand of God and yield your selves in submission to him to learn things of him Quest But how shall we learn Righteousness Answ Retire inwardly to that and harken inwardly to that which gives the sence of Judgments and learn of that and that will wean you inwardly from all your unrighteousness and teach you Righteousness There is that inwardly in the unregenerate which hardens and misleads there is also that inwardly which tenders melts teacheth and leadeth aright as it is believed in and obeyed O that men knew the difference between these two and how to turn from the one to the other For out of the heart proceeds all that is evil and vain and out of the heart are the issues of Life also The well or puddle of the muddy Waters of the Waters of Egypt of the Wine of Sodom and Waters of Babylon is there and the Well and Cistern of the pure Waters is there also O my native Country that thou mightest be the first Nation in this age of the World that might pass through the judgments of God and be cleansed thereby and be happy O that thy Rulers and Governors were weaned from the spirit and wisdom of this World and might receive of God's holy Spirit and Wisdom and Judge and Govern themselves and the people thereby When the Jew outward was chosen to be the people of God did not he pour out of his Spirit to govern them by Were the Judges Kings and Leaders thereof only anointed with outward Oyl were they not also anointed with God's Spirit And can any Christian Magistrate govern aright any Christian Nation without the assistance and guidance of the same Spirit And O that all the people were anointed also that they might be inwardly Kings and Priests to the Lord and the Kingdom of Christ might be inwardly set up in all their hearts and every man might reign in and through him over the enemies of his own soul O that the Power and Glory of the Lord might cover thy Governors and Inhabitants O England O the prayers that have been long put up in bowels of tenderness for thee O the besome of the Lord the besome of his Righteous Judgments that it might sweep the hearts of men inwardly that this Nation might be prepared for the Glory of the Lord for the Glory which he reveals in his Heavenly birth to break forth outwardly to the admiration and magnifying of the work of his Power in the eyes of all beholders Amen Amen THE END A Brief TABLE of the CONTENTS 1. COncerning understanding the Scriptures Page 11 2. Concerning the illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit Page 12 3. Concerning the Spirit of God and the Scriptures Page 13 4. Concerning the perfect and converting Law of God Page 14 5. Concerning David's Longings Page 15 6. Concerning the Spiritual Sun Page 16 7. Concerning the Words being a fire and hammer Page 17 8. Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Page 18 9. Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Page 19 10. Concerning the Gospel-Ministers and Ministry Page 20 11. Concerning trying of Spirits c. Page 22 12. Concerning things necessary to Salvation Page 23 13. Concerning the True Gospel-Church Page 24 14. Concerning the way to Salvation Page 25 15. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Page 26 16. Concerning Regeneration Page 27 17. Concerning true Holiness ibid. 18. Concerning Christs works Page 28 19. Concerning the Yoke or Cross of Christ Page 29 20. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure ibid 21. Concerning Prayer Page 31 22. Concerning Repentance Page 32 23. Concerning Faith Page 33 24. Concerning Obedience Page 34 25. Concerning Justification Page 35 26. Concerning good Works Page 37 27. Concerning Love Page 38 28. Concerning Meekness and Patience Page 39 29. Concerning the knowledg of the new Covenant Page 40 30. Concerning the Fear of the new Covenant Page 42 31. Concerning Hope Page 43 32. Concerning Peace Page 44 33 Concerning Joy Page 45 34. Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility Page 46 The Conclusion Page 49 EXPERIENCES 1. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 57 2. Concerning the Souls food Page 58 3. Concerning Gods power Page 59 4. Concerning Temptations Page 60 5. Concerning Prayer Page 62 6. Concerning Justification and Sanctification Page 63 7. Concerning Faith Page 67 8. Concerning Obedience Page 71 9. Concerning the Cross of Christ Page 74 10. Concerning the Mystery Page 77 11. Right judging experienced Page 80 12. About knowing God's Spirit Page 84 13. Queries concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 85 14. Postcript to the experiences Page 91 Some Scriptures very sweet c. Page 93 A few words Concerning the true Christ Page 111 A few words to my native Country Page 115 ERRATA THe Stops have been much misplaced and many left out which the Reader is desired by his careful observation of the matter to supply the defect herein Some Errors which alter or may hinder the understanding of the sense are here taken notice of PAg. 6. lin 6. read those l. 14. r. grow P. 16. l. 3. f. they r. thy P. 22. l. 8. r. and the life P. 24. l. 20. r. meet together P. 27. l. 3. Blot out the first the. P. 54. l. 21. r. and experience P. 55. l. 16. r. to cure every Sickness P. 57. l. 17. r. Warring against them P. 61. l. 16. r. in the patience P. 64. l. 13. blot out the word for P. 68. l. 14. r. from P. 73. l. 8. Lord and Master P. 74. l 7. r. producing l. 17. r. hath this power P. 83. l. 12. r. bring Through the misunderstanding of the Printer the Titles over the pages belonging to that part of the Book called Experiences were omitted and the Title belonging to the following part put in heir stead which the Reader is desired thus to amend Experiences pag. 57 to p. 63. Concerning Justification and Sanctification p. 63 to 67. Experiences concerning Faith p. 67 to 71. Experiences concerning Obedience p. 71 to 74. The Cross of Christ experienced p. 74 to 77. The Mystery experienced p. 77 to 80. Right Judging experienced p. 80 to 84. How to know God's Spirit p. 84. Experimental Queries p. 85 to 90. How to know the Seed A serious Examination A Postscript to the Experiences p. 91 to 93.
the true holiness up and down in several professions but there is no real holiness to be found nor righteousnes neither but in the trees of Gods planting in the branches which are by him ingraffed into the true Vine and Olive-tree whose strength of vertue and holiness lies in the lap which they daily receive from him XVIII Concerning Christs works outwardly in the days of his flesh and inwardly in the day and inward shining of the light of his spirit in the heart Quest Which are greater the works which Christ did outwardly on the Bodies of men in the days of his flesh or which he doth inwardly in mens Minds and Spirits by the powerful appearance and operation of his Spirit because Christ said the works that he did those that believed on him should do and greater also because he went to the Father Joh. 14.12 Answ Doubtless to reach to the Soul and quicken the Soul and raise the Soul out of the grave of death and cure the blindness deafness hardness and diseases of the soul is greater than the outward and was signified by the outward XIX Concerning the yoke or cross of Christ Quest What is the yoke or cross of Christ Answ It is inward as that which is to be crucified is chiefly inward It is that gift of God that light of his Spirit which is contrary to the darkness contrary to all that is corrupt which wills against it and wars against it and being received subjected to and born patiently takes away the life of the flesh the will and wisdom of the flesh and all the subtile reasonings and devices of the fleshly part and so that languishes and dies and Gods plant is eased of it and the soul abiding under this cross comes into the true pure and perfect liberty where it hath scope unto holiness freedom unto righteousness and is in strait bonds and holy chains from all liberty to the flesh and from all unholiness and unrighteousness of every kind XX. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure Quest How may a man make his Calling and Election sure Answ By making the gift of God sure to him by making that sure to him wherein the Calling and Election is For the choice is of the seed the holy seed the inward seed the seed of Gods Spirit and of the creature as joyned to the seed God would have none to perish but would have all come to the knowledg of Christ the Truth who is the seed in whom the Election stands and his holy advice to men is whom he begins to call and to lead towards the Election To make their Calling and Election sure So that the way of making the Calling and Election sure is to make the gift sure the seed sure the leaven sure the pearl sure which God will never reject nor any that are found in true union with it and in the love and obedience of it O therefore as God visits with power with his powerful gift and as thou receivest power dominion and authority over sin for in this gift is God's dominion and authority revealed be faithful to the gift be faithful to the power give up to the truth in the inward parts come into it dwell in it that thou mayst feel its vertue and delivering nature from every enslaving and embondaging thing and then stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ the Lord by the life vertue and power of his truth sets thee free And so here thou wilt read thy Calling and read thy Election day by day and find them sealed and sure to thee in that truth in that gift in that Heavenly Light in that holy seed which came from God and is of him and which he delights to own and will never reject XXI Concerning Prayer Quest Which is the true Prayer Answ The breathings which arise from the true birth from the living sense which God gives to the true birth that is the true prayer There is a spirit of prayer and supplication given by God to his children to wrestle and prevail with him by All prayer that arises from and is given by that Spirit is true prayer all other prayer is not right and true but at best but an imitation of the true We know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Mark the very groanings that come from Gods Spirit from his breathing and work upon the heart are right prayers in Gods sight but other sighs and groans are not so XXII Concerning Repentance Quest Which is the true Repentance Answ That which Christ gives whom God hath exalted to be the Prince and Saviour to give Repentance and forgiveness of sins Acts 5.31 It is not in man's power to repent his heart is hard and impenitent It is God's power which melteth tendereth and changeth the heart So that there is a great difference between the sense and sorrow of mans nature and the sense and sorrow which God gives to the heart which he renews and changes The one is of an earthly the other of a heavenly nature The one is like the early dew or morning cloud it soon passeth away the other is written in the new heart and abideth So that in it there is a real sorrow and mourning over the corrupt nature and all the dead works of the flesh and a turning from them and medling no more with them This is the Repentance of the renewed ones which is the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ unto them and is a godly sorrow for sin not to be repented of XXIII Concerning Faith Quest What is the true Faith Answ It is a belief in the power which saves from a true sense and experience of it in the heart For the power which saves must first manifest it self before it can be believed in And how doth it manifest it self but by shining in the heart which hath been darkened by transgression to open the eye of the understanding which the God of the World hath Blinded and to unstop the deaf Ear and so it begets and creats somewhat capable to receive its further manifestation The Scripture speaks of a new Creation in Christ Indeed all true believers are so and they have the ability the faculty the power of believing from him who creates them anew There is that which is called Faith in unregenerate men but that is not the Faith I am now speaking of but that which is the gift of God to his own birth to his own begotten To you it is given not only to believe c. Phil. 1.29 Mark it is given to believe O this holy gift this Faith of the new birth is the Faith which pleaseth God prevaileth with him purifieth the heart to which it is given giveth access to God interest in his power and promises and victory over the worldly nature and over all the Soul's enemies Blessed be the Lord for bestowing and increasing it in the hearts of his
true Love the true Meekness and Patience That is only learned of the Lamb and received of him by receiving of his Spirit and nature from him And O how precious is this how sweet is it felt in the heart To feel a meek a quiet a patient spirit in the midst of all trials all troubles all fears all doubts all temptations of every kind Indeed this is of much price in the sight of the Lord and also in the eye of him who hath received it from the Lord and enjoyeth it in him and possesseth his soul in it XXIX Concerning the Knowledg of the new Covenant Quest What is the knowledg of the new Covenant Answ The Knowledg which is given by God to the new birth for to it the new Covenant belongs and the knowledg thereof The truly begotten of God the true disciples of Christ to them it is given to know the Kingdom of God but to others it is not given The Jew outward the first birth the birth after the flesh for hem the Priests lips were to preserve knowledg and they were to seek the law aâ—â— his mouth and to them God sent Prophets to speak to them and taught them by his prophets but concerning the inward Jews the Children of the new Covenant the Children of the Jerusalem which is above concerning her seed it was prophesied that they all should be taught of the Lord they all should hear and know the voice of the Shepheard himself they should all be gathered to the Sheepherd and Bishop of the Soul and taught by him So that in this new holy living Covenant God himself is the Sheepherd God himself is the Teacher not only of the greatest but of the very least Heb. 8. For he teacheth them all to know the Lord and to know his Son and to come to his Son and to love him their Father and one another So that he that is taught of God he hath the true knowledg the living knowledg the substantial knowledg the knowledg of the thing it self of the life eternal it self All that are not thus taught but learn only from a literal description and relations of things have not the knowledg of the new Covenant the knowledg of the thing it self but only an outward knowledg such as the first birth may catch at lay hold on and comprehend XXX Concerning the Fear of the new Covenant Quest What is the Fear of the new Covenant Answ It is the Fear which God puts in the hearts of his children which Fear cleanseth their hearts and keepeth them from departing from their God There is a great deal of difference between the Fear which may be learned from precepts from without and the Fear which God puts into the hearts of his Children from a root of life within which Fear is of an heavenly nature and is the free gift of God to his own heavenly Birth and none else which no man can possibly attain by any thoughts or reasonings of his own but only by the springings of life from God And he that would have this Fear must know the place of wisdom and wait there for it and when he hath it this Fear will soon begin to make him wise towards Salvation and teach him to depart from evil which is the cause of destruction Job 28.28 XXXI Concerning Hope Quest What is the true Hope Answ The stay of the Mind upon the Lord the stay of the heavenly birth upon its Father For we must distinguish between Hope and Hope There is the Hope of the hypocrite or false birth which shall perish and the Hope of the true birth which will never fail it nor make it ashamed because that birth is taught of God to hope aright Now in Hope there is both the ground of it and the Hope it self The ground of the Hope is God's Love God's Truth God's Faithfulness God's Grace his Seed his Christ felt within being of him united to him in him he in me here 's the ground of my assurance of the everlasting glory and inheritance which is sure to the seed and to all that are of and in the seed So knowing Christ within me feeling Christ within me living in him and he in me I have an anchor sure and steadfast within the vail which no storm no tempests no tryals no temptations present or to come have power over And then there is the Hope or hoping it self that is the staying of the Mind upon the Lord the leaning upon the Lord the retireing beyond all thought or reasonings or lookings out to the inward life to feel somewhat spring from it for the soul to Hope and trust in beyond all outward appearance And this Hope never deceives nor makes ashamed those who are taught of God thus to stay their minds upon him Nay though the state be darkness and no Light seen yet beneath the darkness there is somewhat to stay the Mind of the Child and Servant of the Lord till he appear and cause light to break out of obscurity for light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright even in their darkest saddest and most distressed conditions in all which the Lord is near them and there is still ground for them to Hope in him XXXII Concerning Peace Quest Which is the true Peace Answ The Peace which God speaks to the Soul the Peace which Christ gives to his own disciples The way of Truth the way of Life leads to Peace and the Peace which is found therein is of God's giving and is the true Peace First God breaths upon the heart begets a right birth a true Child then he leads him into the holy way the righteous way from that which loads and burthens to that wherein is the ease and rest Thus in the believing and following him there 's Joy and Peace This is experienced by all the true travellers and by none else No man with all his wisdom knowledg and understanding can so much as guess at what this Peace is The Peace of God the Peace which he speaks to his Children the nature of it the sweetness of it the heavenliness of it passeth mans understanding but he who is born from above who hath a new and heavenly understanding he knoweth the nature excellency and preciousness of it and would not for all this World for any fear or danger or expectation of any thing from without hazard the breaking off this precious Peace and Rest of his Soul in his God XXXIII Concerning Joy Quest Which is the true Joy Answ The Joy which flows from God's presence and the work of his power in the heart and the assured expectation which he gives of the full inheritance and glory of life everlasting When the Bridegroom is present when the soul is gathered home to him married to him in union with him in the holy living fellowship when he appears against the enemies of the Soul rising up against them breaking scattering them and giving of his good things filling with
and partake of Justification according to the Law thereof Thirdly That Justification and Sanctification are both of and through Grace It s so in the beginning and it is so all along By grace ye are saved saith the Apostle The whole work of Salvation is began and carried on through Grace It is through that God visits and reaches to the Soul with his quickening Vertue and Power He regenerates also thereby Through that he Just fies Through that he Sanctifies c. So that as the work goes on Grace Grace is to be cryed for to him that does the work from his very laying the Foundation and fastning the Soul thereupon to his very laying on of the top-stone Fourthly Though Justification and Sanctification be of God's Grace and Mercy in Christ yet this doth not exclude Faith but they are also through Faith and not without it God doth not Justify man in the unbelieving state in the dead state in his abiding there but in the coming out of it in the repenting and turning from the dead works to the living God and in believing in him and so he also Sanctifies him Fifthly Faith and Obedience are of the same nature and always go together So that wherever there is Faith there is Obedience likewise and wherever there is Obedience there is Faith Obedience flows from Faith and cannot be without it for the very nature and vertue of Faith is in it And Faith is Obedience For this is the command of God that the soul believe on him and in his appearances whom he hath sent to save and this Believing is Obedience unto him that commands it And this Faith and this Obedience is Holy and Just in God's sight and through it but not without it the Soul is the both Justified and Sanctified Sixtly That the works of Faith the works of the new Life are not the works of the Law the works of the old Covenant nor are excluded Justification as the Works of the old Covenant are For I have found the Lord who hath condemned and excluded all my doings which ever I have been able to do of my self still Justify and accept what his Spirit and Holy Power hath done in me They are not of the same nature in themselves nor are they so accounted of in the eye of the Lord. For the Lord distinguisheth between root and root and what springeth from the holy Root he Justifieth as holy and what ariseth from the unholy root he condemneth as unholy Seventhly That by the Law of Faith all boasting is excluded in the whole work both of Justification and Sanctification What is the Law of Faith Is not this its Law to fetch all from the Son to do all in the Son to quit self and its own ability and to perform all in the newness of the Spirit in the ability which is of God given and continued in and through his Grace and Mercy to the Soul in the Lord Jesus Christ All the veins of Life all the strains of the new Covenant run here Here is no boasting of the Creature here can be no boasting for all its ability and strength is shut out and that which is given of God to it is all and doth all Yet every Jew here hath praise of God His Faith is commended his Love is commended his Faithfulness is commended his Zeal for the Lord his Obedience to the Lord his Patience in suffering is commended c. but the praise and honour of all redounds not to his flesh but to the Spirit and Grace of God in him So that here flesh is laid low and kept in the dust for ever and God alone exalted in this day of his pure power in the heart He that truly believeth entreth into rest How into rest From what doth he rest Why from his own works from the works of the flesh yea from the Works of the Old Covenant from the Works that arise from his own ability from the works wherein he can never be Justified with the Gospel-Justification But doth he cease from the works of Faith doth he cease from the Labour of Love doth he cease from Obedience to any thing that God requires Nay then surely he rather beginneth to work and labour in the Vine-yard and his labour is not in vain in the Lord. VII Concerning Faith Several things I have experienced both concerning the nature vertue and operations of it some whereof as I feel them spring up livingly in my heart I may mention at this time First This I have often experienced that it is an hard thing truly and rightly to believe It is an easy matter to believe notions concerning God and concerning Christ but to believe in God to believe in Christ to believe in him that raised up Jesus to believe in the Light Life and Power which flows from Jesus this indeed is hard by reason of the great Darkness and Ignorance which man is faln into through transgression Secondly I have experienced this also that Faith is God's gift and that it flows from the power of his Life There is first a quickening first a touching of the heart by the holy pure Power of the Lord and when a man is touched and quickened then in and by and through that vertue which flows into him he can believe in that which toucheth and quickneth him Thirdly That Faith never stands in a mans own power but alwayes in the vertue and power of the life of the Son So that he that will believe aright must wait to feel the Life of the Son revealed in him and Faith flowing therefrom For the true belief springs from the Life of the holy root and from the flowing up and springing up of that Life Faith receives its nourishment and daily vertue Fourthly I have observed this in my travels that the Earthly Wisdom and Notions there from got into the Mind and held in the Mind out of the sense of life are a great let to Faith For these strengthen and nourish that in man which is to be weakned and die that Life and the birth of life may be all in the heart Man is to die man is to be ceased from his understanding his Wisdom is to be brought to nought But after it hath had a stroke and wound from God's holy Spirit and Power even the very wound which tends to death yet it will be getting Life again getting its deadly wound healed and nourishing its Life by those very notions which came from that Life and Power which in measure slew it And thus the Jew outward hath his Life in the outwardness of knowledg in the outwardness of the Law in the letter which killeth for the relation and outward knowledg of things killeth and deadneth more and more unless man come into the inward Life and Vertue and daily feel them quickned there If ye live in the Spirit walk in the Spirit said the Apostle A man cannot live in an outwardness of knowledg concerning the Spirit and Power of
enemy the Soul can now sing because of that strength and heavenly authority which the Lord putteth forth and exerciseth in the heare against him When the Well of Life the Well of Salvation the Saviours Well is kept open and the Philistins the uncircumcised Spirit Power and nature cast out that they can stop it no more but the soul can draw the water of Life out of the Well and Fountain of Life with Joy Ah then the Gospel-dispensation is indeed known and the blessed estate thereof witnessed and experienced I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the Fire that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayst see Rev. 3.18 What is the Gold tryed in the fire which man is to buy of Christ that he may be made rich therewith What is the white raiment which the soul is to be clothed with without which it is naked in God's sight and in the sight of the truly discerning and there is a time when the shame of its nakedness will appear more generally as it doth already to the eye of the spiritual man who Judgeth all things What is the eye-salve wherewith the eye is to be anointed or it cannot see Is it not precious to purchase this Gold and Raiment of Christ and to have this eye-salve to anoint the eye with and to keep it open that it may daily see its way and walk in the Light of the Lord Certainly this is all inward and Spiritual as a remnant witness it this day Glory to the Lord God But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 Joh. 2.27 The outward anointing was a shadow of the inward and had a glory in it under the dispensation of the Law and the inward anointing in the Gospel-dispensation is Spiritual and Divine and exceeding glorious Christ the anointed one anoints all his No being a Son without being begotten by the Spirit and Power of the Father and no abiding a Son but by the Virtue and Power of the same Spirit remaining in and with the Soul so that every Son receives of the anointing of the Father Christ received the Spirit the fulness that he might give to them a proportion Now to experience this anointing and to experience it abiding and teaching all things and to know this voice the voice of the Sheepherd the voice of the anointing which the Sheep still finds to be true and no lye and to abide in the Vine in the Life in the Spirit in the Power as this Spirit or Anointing teacheth Oh here 's the sweet state the clear state the blessed state Here the Promises and Blessings are Yea and Amen in Christ and the Soul can say He is Faithful and Just who hath Promised who hath opened the treasures of Life to his Family to his House to his Children to his Servants and blesseth them with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land Mercy and Truth are met Righteousness and Peace have kissed Truth shall spring out of the earth and Righteousness shall look down from heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yield her increase Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps Psal 85.9 to the end Is it not precious to witness that fear of God in the heart to which Salvation is nigh and the Land wherein Glory dwells Where Mercy and Truth meet Righteousness and Peace kiss Where Truth springs out of the Earth and Righteousness looks down from Heaven Where God gives that which is good and the Land of the Living yields the increase of Life to him Where righteousness goes before him and he sets his in the way of his steps Where the Lamb goes before and the way is not known but as the Lamb goes before and leads into it Where God is the Sheepherd and the Soul doth not want because he maketh it to lie down in pastures of tender grass and leadeth by the waters of quietness where it drinks of the brook in the way and in the paths of righteousness for his names sake see Psal 23. Is there not a Kingdom of darkness a Land of iniquity inwardly and do not they they that dwell here and sit there dwell in darkness and sit in the region and shadow of death And is there not a travel out of this Land into the holy Land the Land of Light the Land of the Living and a translation out of this Kingdom into the Kingdom of the dear Son And is not God the Sheepherd there Christ the Bishop of the Soul there and doth not he oversee and take care of souls there leading them into fresh pastures and by the soft flowing waters Is not Salvation nigh there yea round about that Land doth not Mercy and Truth meet there Righteousness and Peace kiss there yea doth not the glory of the most high dwell in and overshadow that Land Is not the eye of the Lord upon it for good from one end of the year to the other doth not he watch over it night and day that none hurt it and water it in the proper seasons O who can utter the Goodness and Glory of the Lord which is revealed and shines here Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me Here are several things which in their order and seasons the living come to a certain and sensible experience of As first Christs standing at the door and knocking What is the door at which he stands and how doth he knock How doth the contrary Spirit knock how doth his Spirit knock Secondly What is his Voice and how is his Voice heard To hear Wisdoms cry within in the inward streets his call at the door at which he would enter Must not the true ear in some measure be opened first Can any one hear without an ear Thirdly What it is to open the door there is a door-keepers state to be witnessed and the right door-keeper knows how to open and how to shut the door and is exercised in opening and shutting the door The King of glory is to be opened to and let in but no wolf no stranger no strange Spirit is to be hearkned or opened to Fourthly What Christ's coming in is at the door opened to him When he knocks would he not come in Would he stand alwayes at the door knocking Nay nay when the door is opened at which he knocks he who is the